tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28402136859060042022024-03-17T04:00:30.626-05:00Lyrical PensSharing the music of words ...Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger825125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2840213685906004202.post-83722564543404350892024-03-17T04:00:00.015-05:002024-03-17T04:00:00.132-05:00A week of celebrations <div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;">cj Sez: Today, March 17, is the start of a week of celebrations: St. Patrick's Day</b><b style="font-family: verdana;">—</b><b style="font-family: verdana;">a day when everyone can claim to be Irish. Wishing you a safe and happy St.
Patrick’s Day.</b></div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b></b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAyQ0LiBVCPW1ugED3UqvwiM_YwURLzkQjCinCQNRStZu6QYWy5uaisopQXhdwc_02XKkOGiaRLN-oYuyx6hq2VWntqu5ve0CF6UAhr-_6nfSFGZjRhpncxbUTEXlj8aXS4DUENeB50M_Imfi_ptn5n_U_ZWi6b41LzXuLq7WzncwWv-JKjc82i0VrRPA/s960/st%20patricks%20day%20pwrpt%20jpeg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAyQ0LiBVCPW1ugED3UqvwiM_YwURLzkQjCinCQNRStZu6QYWy5uaisopQXhdwc_02XKkOGiaRLN-oYuyx6hq2VWntqu5ve0CF6UAhr-_6nfSFGZjRhpncxbUTEXlj8aXS4DUENeB50M_Imfi_ptn5n_U_ZWi6b41LzXuLq7WzncwWv-JKjc82i0VrRPA/w400-h300/st%20patricks%20day%20pwrpt%20jpeg.jpg" width="400" /></a></b></span></div><p></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>§§</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> The n</span>ext celebration on
the calendar is the arrival of Spring. It may or may not feel like it where you
are right now, but I’m here to inform you that<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Spring arrives on March 19. Well then, my question
is, can mosquitos be far behind? If you live where I do, they’re already here.</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Now for the science behind the changing of the season:</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The vernal equinox
is not a “solstice". The winter solstice is the shortest
day of the year, and the summer solstice is the longest day of the year.</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXPJHZbifLgETmYcgiryXwmFjxL9FhChpPOXTXiC9ZoXXnRV_Ps8fuDbObW1DqhNkItpHoJVnhM04tk3O4w9EwCoMXoVmH30mPU7i82fzOAKhR2kM65z8Ij3ugRmo9Y_cD1uY-IxOhzb9wNvDc0phxrGveOionFRUU4TuR3nnO7qn8bl3M_vgSgC42H50/s1296/equinox%20solstice%20seasons_6281.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1072" data-original-width="1296" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXPJHZbifLgETmYcgiryXwmFjxL9FhChpPOXTXiC9ZoXXnRV_Ps8fuDbObW1DqhNkItpHoJVnhM04tk3O4w9EwCoMXoVmH30mPU7i82fzOAKhR2kM65z8Ij3ugRmo9Y_cD1uY-IxOhzb9wNvDc0phxrGveOionFRUU4TuR3nnO7qn8bl3M_vgSgC42H50/s320/equinox%20solstice%20seasons_6281.png" width="320" /></a></div></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;"> An equinox occurs two
times every year—March and September—when the Earth’s axis is tilted
neither toward nor away from the sun. It’s that instant of time when the plane
of Earth’s equator passes through the center of the sun. That’s when the sun
shines directly on the equator and the lengths of day and night are nearly
equal.</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Seasons are reversed
on either side of the Equator. The equinox in September in the Northern
Hemisphere is called the autumnal (Fall) equinox, but it’s the vernal (Spring)
equinox in the Southern hemisphere.</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: right;"><b><span style="font-family: arial;">(Source Attribution: Various Google sites)</span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>§§</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> I'm thinking t</span>here must be a
story in there somewhere. Here’s the story prompt: What if the instant the equinox occurred could trigger some kind of awful device that put all of
earth in jeopardy? What if the world powers have hired the protagonist to find
the person(s) holding the earth ransom, but he has only a few short days to
prevent Armageddon? The characters can be in any country in the world.</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>§§</b></span></div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><u><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Mobile and near-Mobile readers and writers: Save the Date
to celebrate:</b></span></u></p>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaRAY8mNByzEIubMndWTgk2Z_7wKROhEJA7J61NwQEpbTrqd0vMlph_i_9GmcdAXDAtffxlwS-bD-qhr1yuYIdLhnuOGiS0Ix0rpcvdQ9zqojqi6duz94I_C5c0UiXRzyLJd6KG5Fh3dd9k9qI5yB6dZdB95grSpu2Sl5kLxrmbsIhcN5o1iOZVz4RiRY/s1640/MObile%20Lit%20Fest%202024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="924" data-original-width="1640" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaRAY8mNByzEIubMndWTgk2Z_7wKROhEJA7J61NwQEpbTrqd0vMlph_i_9GmcdAXDAtffxlwS-bD-qhr1yuYIdLhnuOGiS0Ix0rpcvdQ9zqojqi6duz94I_C5c0UiXRzyLJd6KG5Fh3dd9k9qI5yB6dZdB95grSpu2Sl5kLxrmbsIhcN5o1iOZVz4RiRY/w400-h225/MObile%20Lit%20Fest%202024.jpg" width="400" /></a></div></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Mobile Literary
Festival at the Ben May Main Library is the place to be on Saturday, March 23,
2024. Come on down to see what’s going on at this FREE event.</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here’s a copy of the
schedule so you can pre-plan your day. </b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOueqr5352bVaJE6lRLJ2FHdBz6AHDBiw3rYhlAGDue0M0TcYWOLC2thY8zCTXYALhG-3XzkdS0KxjJCvMWYpstEGwjl04zSBS5HS2chKSzQoH4399z-K3eRrVwaZ4RDlc6edQbLXtKO3hdD7HOJoQMieIIhwelNTsy3wYoCmUl7xxvkNsBiqZ1xD5sp4/s2000/MLF%20schedule%202024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="1545" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOueqr5352bVaJE6lRLJ2FHdBz6AHDBiw3rYhlAGDue0M0TcYWOLC2thY8zCTXYALhG-3XzkdS0KxjJCvMWYpstEGwjl04zSBS5HS2chKSzQoH4399z-K3eRrVwaZ4RDlc6edQbLXtKO3hdD7HOJoQMieIIhwelNTsy3wYoCmUl7xxvkNsBiqZ1xD5sp4/s320/MLF%20schedule%202024.jpg" width="247" /></a></div></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b> Check out the names of the prestigious
presenters on the schedule—everyone from a NYT best-selling author to a
Harper Lee Award winner to a State of Alabama former Poet
Laureate. </b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b> And it’s an open-house kind of event, so come and go as
you please.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>P.S. The Haunted
Book Shop will have a pop-up sales store (including some of my stories), and
some local authors will be in attendance to sign your purchase.</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>§§</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><u><br /></u></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;"><u>Writers, published and unpublished, take note</u>:</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On Jane Friedman’s
blog, the latest post by author <a href="https://amywrites.live/" target="_blank">Amy L. Bernstein</a> makes “The Case for Pursuing a
Traditional Publishing Deal Without an Agent.”</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: Libre Baskerville;">“But, dear authors, securing an agent is not the only path
to getting happily published (outside of self-publishing).”</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Read more here: </b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><a href="https://janefriedman.com/the-case-for-pursuing-a-traditional-publishing-deal-without-an-agent/">https://janefriedman.com/the-case-for-pursuing-a-traditional-publishing-deal-without-an-agent</a></b></span><b style="font-family: verdana;"> </b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>§§</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You-all guys keep on
keeping on, and I’ll try to do the same. Raising prayers for a happy and safe
you and yours. </b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><b>cj</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Now some words from my sponsors:</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZm7yAOqoy1iUlzKT3aAeiCliFIdgwFOlxztiwIBc7MOEIuLDclQUGUWT2Ylvwe618a14Za3YakChpt9SawlDI9M-Mtxg1qwb7FF4g78mGm3cQYQho_hYWBklPjJAVfyoEaOZCQ9834wIOxLhixwDUw7yGhXZ72u4hKeC4OaqlTvboIMLN5QxuHAbf6MQ/s960/DAWG%20DEATH%20dual%20photos.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZm7yAOqoy1iUlzKT3aAeiCliFIdgwFOlxztiwIBc7MOEIuLDclQUGUWT2Ylvwe618a14Za3YakChpt9SawlDI9M-Mtxg1qwb7FF4g78mGm3cQYQho_hYWBklPjJAVfyoEaOZCQ9834wIOxLhixwDUw7yGhXZ72u4hKeC4OaqlTvboIMLN5QxuHAbf6MQ/w400-h300/DAWG%20DEATH%20dual%20photos.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /></b></span><b style="font-family: verdana;"> For your to-be-read
stack: My novels, THE DAWGSTAR and DEATH ON THE YAMPA are fast-paced,
thriller/suspense stories with sassy banter and a touch of romance. The books
are available on Amazon or through your favorite eTailer and bookstore. Got a
library card? You can read the ebooks free from Hoopla.</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>TO ORDER on line
from The Haunted Book Shop, contact: <a href="https://www.thehauntedbookshopmobile.com/contact-us">https://www.thehauntedbookshopmobile.com/contact-us</a><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>. Tell them if you’d like a signed copy, and
I’ll run down and personalize it for you.</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>➜ Follow me on . . . <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;">➜ Amazon: <a href="http://amzn.to/1NIDKC0">Amazon
Central Author Page</a></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;">➜ Facebook: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/CjPettersonAuthor">https://www.facebook.com/CjPettersonAuthor</a></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;">➜ BookBub: <a href="https://www.bookbub.com/authors/cj-petterson">https://www.bookbub.com/authors/cj-petterson</a></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;">➜ Goodreads: <a href="https://bit.ly/3fcN3h6">https://bit.ly/3fcN3h6</a></b></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><o:p></o:p></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2840213685906004202.post-1559691504244089092024-03-10T04:00:00.012-05:002024-03-10T04:00:00.138-05:00Simply a matter of delayed discipline <div style="text-align: left;"><div><b><span style="font-family: verdana;">cj Sez: It used to be that I thought if I gave myself a
deadline, I’d have the incentive to keep working hard on the WIPs I have on my
computer. Found out that’s not true.</span></b></div><div><b><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihy_0GpTLdTsQpEC6nCRYiAAiq6xEVAKRlYwsvBJqukLRcxh9eC3f7s3Gb6sVYF7TY1SQO84wKdLf5aBdQQvZdEzr1S7-8P02a9vpVsdy97NJ1D0EIUYjIgEJIirzi2-1Sp-bnusEeRSFVAcFix-yzVCOhpTa93M8cZ-5ihsV1UlrdEGwqqLeCC_Si8pU/s600/writing%20a%20book%20page%20%23.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="543" data-original-width="600" height="290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihy_0GpTLdTsQpEC6nCRYiAAiq6xEVAKRlYwsvBJqukLRcxh9eC3f7s3Gb6sVYF7TY1SQO84wKdLf5aBdQQvZdEzr1S7-8P02a9vpVsdy97NJ1D0EIUYjIgEJIirzi2-1Sp-bnusEeRSFVAcFix-yzVCOhpTa93M8cZ-5ihsV1UlrdEGwqqLeCC_Si8pU/s320/writing%20a%20book%20page%20%23.jpg" width="320" /></a></div></span></b></div><div><b><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /> I manage to bury any deadlines under weeks of
what I have called “research.” It seems that the more I research,
the less creativity I have. I’m getting bogged down in discovering fascinating facts,
and the stories are suffering.<br /> <o:p> <br /></o:p> I suppose some of you might call that procrastinating…I’m
calling it delayed discipline.<br /> <o:p> <br /></o:p> How about you? How do you kick research to the curb and stay
on track?</span></b></div><div><b><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: verdana;">///</span></b></div> </span></b></div><div><b><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"> Speaking of research, I came across the word "bildungsroman"
while I was spiraling down a research rabbit hole looking for more information
on coming-of-age stories. In literary criticism, a bildungsroman is
a literary genre.</span></b></div><div><b><span style="background: white; font-family: verdana;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span><span style="font-family: verdana;"> Bildungsroman is the combination of two German words: Bildung, meaning "education,"
and Roman, meaning "novel." Fittingly, a
"bildungsroman" is a novel that deals with the formative years of the
main character, but takes a slightly different tack than modern coming-of-age stories. The
bildungsroman usually ends on a positive note with the hero's foolish mistakes
and painful disappointments over and a life of usefulness ahead. </span><br /> <o:p style="font-family: verdana;"> <br /><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: arial;">(Source: <a href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bildungsroman">https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bildungsroman</a>)</span></b></div></o:p></b></div><div><br /></div><div><b><o:p style="font-family: verdana;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: verdana;">§§</span></b></div></o:p><o:p style="font-family: verdana;"> <br /></o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51u7y56qD4L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="334" height="320" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51u7y56qD4L.jpg" width="214" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://amzn.to/2V3gmZT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Buy Nigel Now</b></span></a><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: left;"> </span></td></tr></tbody></table> And speaking of bildungsroman: “The Apprenticeship of Nigel
Blackthorn” is a Western historical fiction coming-of-age story from author
Frank Kelso, a friend of mine.</span></b></div><div><b><o:p style="font-family: verdana;"> </o:p></b></div><div><b><span style="font-family: verdana;"> In 1853 Texas, thirteen-year-old Nigel Blackthorn is the
spoiled son of a Protestant preacher. When his missionary family fall victims
to a Comanche attack, his easy childhood crumbles in an instant. How will he
find the grit to survive?</span><br /><o:p style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></o:p></b><b><span style="font-family: verdana;"> It’s 4.5-star novel with more than a thousand ratings. </span><a href="https://amzn.to/2V3gmZT" style="font-family: verdana;"> </a></b></div><div><o:p><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-weight: bold;">§§</span></div></span></o:p><o:p style="font-family: verdana; font-weight: bold;"> <br /></o:p><u style="font-family: verdana; font-weight: bold;">Writers take note</u><span style="font-family: verdana; font-weight: bold;">:</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /></b></span> <span style="font-family: verdana; font-weight: bold;"> </span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-weight: bold;">Jane Friedman takes
issue with a recent article at Vox that said: “With any book, but especially
nonfiction ones, publishers want a guarantee that a writer comes with a
built-in audience of people who already read and support their work.” Ms.
Friedman says it doesn’t hurt to have a platform, but it isn’t the all-end-all.</span><br />
<o:p style="font-family: verdana; font-weight: bold;"> <br /></o:p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-weight: bold;"> Read more here:</span><br /> <a href="https://janefriedman.com/author-platform-is-not-a-requirement-to-sell-your-novel-or-childrens-book/" style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: arial;">https://janefriedman.com/author-platform-is-not-a-requirement-to-sell-your-novel-or-childrens-book/</span><br /></a><o:p style="font-family: verdana; font-weight: bold;"> <br /><div style="text-align: center;">§§</div></o:p><o:p style="font-family: verdana; font-weight: bold;"> <br /></o:p><u style="font-family: verdana; font-weight: bold;">Mobile and near-Mobile readers and writers: Save the Date</u></div><div><u style="font-family: verdana; font-weight: bold;"><br /></u><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiegx4BGVXL0pQAcD-9e3f2LnJjcIVeW7ALT-Rmk5_T6Tta1B8O__tQHJQJ6voVEyGKgkdRvX2k5OFz_ey4GPg9lxhoYFgZ69Vk8l0zd1bIfZkpsCE1LJPNRnn2kzbEtzMO6A1WqM7kQuu0s1gnylcdXVVNv9GETiyhTY6Y0yMkOqlWhpWmk8uZL7GbU48/s1640/MObile%20Lit%20Fest%202024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="924" data-original-width="1640" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiegx4BGVXL0pQAcD-9e3f2LnJjcIVeW7ALT-Rmk5_T6Tta1B8O__tQHJQJ6voVEyGKgkdRvX2k5OFz_ey4GPg9lxhoYFgZ69Vk8l0zd1bIfZkpsCE1LJPNRnn2kzbEtzMO6A1WqM7kQuu0s1gnylcdXVVNv9GETiyhTY6Y0yMkOqlWhpWmk8uZL7GbU48/w320-h180/MObile%20Lit%20Fest%202024.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><o:p style="font-family: verdana; font-weight: bold;"><br /></o:p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-weight: bold;"> </span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-weight: bold;">The Mobile Literary
Festival at the Ben May Main Library is the place to be on Saturday, March 23,
2024. Come on down to see what’s going on at this FREE event.</span><br /><o:p style="font-family: verdana; font-weight: bold;"><br /></o:p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-weight: bold;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj60ifhgB1I9CH-3NuRpycUs_og8pzG0ATg0MNWMRnVTwLJ9ehuvH8nj-ZztQmQ19tYHdWyE3y8Qb3rMwhy4w2RB6KpT0UmEAooAKJ-YF44OSA0QdRHHuJiPjC8KYenmAE0ieQjNwpKFZ7sTPhnt1WqLmHg43MYOVuyNIlJcZmU42j2qlSXXZNbaofz2sw/s2000/MLF%20schedule%202024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="1545" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj60ifhgB1I9CH-3NuRpycUs_og8pzG0ATg0MNWMRnVTwLJ9ehuvH8nj-ZztQmQ19tYHdWyE3y8Qb3rMwhy4w2RB6KpT0UmEAooAKJ-YF44OSA0QdRHHuJiPjC8KYenmAE0ieQjNwpKFZ7sTPhnt1WqLmHg43MYOVuyNIlJcZmU42j2qlSXXZNbaofz2sw/s320/MLF%20schedule%202024.jpg" width="247" /></a></div> </span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-weight: bold;">Here’s a copy of the
schedule so you can pre-plan your day. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-weight: bold;"> Check out the names of the prestigious
presenters on the schedule</span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-weight: bold;">—</span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-weight: bold;">everyone
from a NYT best-selling author to a Harper Lee Award winner to a
State of Alabama former Poet Laureate. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-weight: bold;"> And it’s an open-house kind
of event, so come and go as you please.</span><br /><o:p style="font-family: verdana; font-weight: bold;"> <br /></o:p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-weight: bold;"> </span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-weight: bold;">P.S. The Haunted
Book Shop will have a pop-up sales store (including some of my stories), and
some local authors will be in attendance to sign your purchase.</span><br /><o:p style="font-family: verdana; font-weight: bold;"> <br /></o:p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-weight: bold;">§§</span><br /><o:p style="font-family: verdana; font-weight: bold;"> <br /></o:p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-weight: bold;"> </span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-weight: bold;">You-all guys keep on
keeping on, and I’ll try to do the same. Raising prayers for a happy and safe
you and yours.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: verdana; font-weight: bold;">cj</span><br /><o:p style="font-family: verdana; font-weight: bold;"> <br /></o:p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-weight: bold;">Now some words from my sponsors:</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /></b></span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-weight: bold;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT7MX9HGmI2-rboW8VEQnnS4PPuxcm4r3wpOftNFAXEYqQfiVwob3UqgvYforGh53EXvZ8elnPFhd7wpNT8aiHe2XkcLGg3rxDJEi1HubLFrPY7G2WHWqzWh_FCo8q1TitbGlQ_taD1q5lFYBgl9L07QmKoXkBrtK7BSBvSH29JqJxIbuIMhP8gr6iX8Y/s960/DAWG%20DEATH%20dual%20photos.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT7MX9HGmI2-rboW8VEQnnS4PPuxcm4r3wpOftNFAXEYqQfiVwob3UqgvYforGh53EXvZ8elnPFhd7wpNT8aiHe2XkcLGg3rxDJEi1HubLFrPY7G2WHWqzWh_FCo8q1TitbGlQ_taD1q5lFYBgl9L07QmKoXkBrtK7BSBvSH29JqJxIbuIMhP8gr6iX8Y/w400-h300/DAWG%20DEATH%20dual%20photos.jpg" width="400" /></a></div></span><br /><span style="font-family: verdana; font-weight: bold;"> </span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-weight: bold;">For your to-be-read
stack: My novels, THE DAWGSTAR and DEATH ON THE YAMPA are fast-paced,
thriller/suspense stories with sassy banter and a touch of romance. The books
are available on Amazon or through your favorite eTailer and bookstore. Got a
library card? You can read the ebooks free from Hoopla.</span><br /><o:p style="font-family: verdana; font-weight: bold;"> <br /></o:p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-weight: bold;"> </span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-weight: bold;">The Haunted Book
Shop has signed copies of my paperback books in stock. TO ORDER on line,
contact: </span><a href="https://www.thehauntedbookshopmobile.com/contact-us" style="font-family: verdana; font-weight: bold;">https://www.thehauntedbookshopmobile.com/contact-us</a><span style="font-family: verdana; font-weight: bold;"> </span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-weight: bold;">.</span><br /> <o:p style="font-family: verdana; font-weight: bold;"> <br /></o:p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-weight: bold;">➜ Follow me on . . . </span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-weight: bold;"> <br /> </span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-weight: bold;">➜ Amazon:</span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-weight: bold;"> </span><a href="http://amzn.to/1NIDKC0" style="font-family: verdana; font-weight: bold;">Amazon
Central Author Page<br /></a><span style="font-family: verdana; font-weight: bold;">➜ Facebook:</span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-weight: bold;"> </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/CjPettersonAuthor" style="font-family: verdana; font-weight: bold;">https://www.facebook.com/CjPettersonAuthor<br /></a><span style="font-family: verdana; font-weight: bold;">➜ BookBub:</span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-weight: bold;"> </span><a href="https://www.bookbub.com/authors/cj-petterson" style="font-family: verdana; font-weight: bold;">https://www.bookbub.com/authors/cj-petterson<br /></a><span style="font-family: verdana; font-weight: bold;">➜ Goodreads: </span><a href="https://bit.ly/3fcN3h6" style="font-family: verdana; font-weight: bold;">https://bit.ly/3fcN3h6</a><br /></div><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2840213685906004202.post-83707299838588773362024-03-03T04:00:00.135-06:002024-03-03T04:00:00.245-06:00Winter is warming <div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>cj Sez: Lyrical Pens readers, take heart. I have proof Spring
is about to get sprung.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the midst of
a dreary day in my yard yesterday morning, I found ample evidence that winter
is warming into spring. There, just there, at the edge of my “eyebrow garden” .
. .</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOIWdBiaYawsKso-HzNAyWuuvAhRCBY38_zr3Xhzzvy5iuwFB29Y8nkGDy6zgwECbPrDw889PYKF0x0ahHCqfdUqPv60E2x53k8UVL3j7Zyd5WnZxRby6l9Zx2jmcGwmkuykiWfF_O-PUFmARpgaM1onGaK3WbPhbUDqOTGCW16abjU4rLD7a9E_fDMII/s933/garden%20samurai%20azaleas%20March%202024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="699" data-original-width="933" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOIWdBiaYawsKso-HzNAyWuuvAhRCBY38_zr3Xhzzvy5iuwFB29Y8nkGDy6zgwECbPrDw889PYKF0x0ahHCqfdUqPv60E2x53k8UVL3j7Zyd5WnZxRby6l9Zx2jmcGwmkuykiWfF_O-PUFmARpgaM1onGaK3WbPhbUDqOTGCW16abjU4rLD7a9E_fDMII/w400-h300/garden%20samurai%20azaleas%20March%202024.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /></div></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>§§</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Writers Alert:</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you’re self
published, you might want to look into this Writer’s Digest competition (Info from
their website):</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKqKjnYx9IYWq5K-xAMaiLZ10gxY6gqJAaVtDD6FGX2aGxPkWcPf_yZRGNRh77q7IkPPP-WPkaKPaIEzWvXVjrcmmthmruYT7YcbO6o4kZnnPrRd4BtRzJAlvzoGoHJjmJPZPhaTlp_wz8ljlCFjVQtmJWbo4etgM-v40jXNNtsZijwZpCNZdi_NhEQrY/s468/writers%20digest%20logo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="103" data-original-width="468" height="70" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKqKjnYx9IYWq5K-xAMaiLZ10gxY6gqJAaVtDD6FGX2aGxPkWcPf_yZRGNRh77q7IkPPP-WPkaKPaIEzWvXVjrcmmthmruYT7YcbO6o4kZnnPrRd4BtRzJAlvzoGoHJjmJPZPhaTlp_wz8ljlCFjVQtmJWbo4etgM-v40jXNNtsZijwZpCNZdi_NhEQrY/s320/writers%20digest%20logo.jpg" width="320" /></a></div></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b> "Writer’s Digest’s Self-Published Book Awards is now
accepting submissions. This is the only Writer’s Digest competition exclusively
for self-published books. Whether you’re a professional writer, a part-time
freelancer or a self-starting student, here’s your chance to enter the premier
self-published competition exclusively for self-published books."</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><a href="https://www.writersdigest.com/writers-digest-competitions/self-published-book-awards">https://www.writersdigest.com/writers-digest-competitions/self-published-book-awards</a></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>///</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;"> Tropes: Hate ‘em, love ‘em, or meh, who cares? Everyone has
an opinion. What’s yours?</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b> A recent post on Jane Friedman’s blog by romance author and
book coach <a href="https://trishajennreads.com/" target="_blank">Trisha
Jenn Loehr</a> (<a href="https://www.instagram.com/trishajennreads" target="_blank">@trishajennreads</a>) delves deeper into the discussion.</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><a href="https://janefriedman.com/tropes-the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly/">https://janefriedman.com/tropes-the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly/</a></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>§§</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><u><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Mobile and near-Mobile readers and writers:</b></span></u></div><div style="text-align: left;"><u><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /></b></span></u></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mark your calendars
for Saturday, March 23, SAVE THE DATE, and come on down to the place to be …</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0brRTsC2AuclJ55IqBQGOUP4Lmuaz9cdAAVDm8vswRMBfTw5GjyQXGwpZBvDQyLuVfEHT6CxFyHVU083BCq_L4Ldh_4Dxo-q-7fMm8uwehpPZE1KuWOuu9E5IdgZABYzEiqulN5dmr2fTP8H4pYED8TqNZdXVvGx_SdSvRYYOmxuyUhV5VsGTVwHcpVQ/s1640/MObile%20Lit%20Fest%202024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="924" data-original-width="1640" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0brRTsC2AuclJ55IqBQGOUP4Lmuaz9cdAAVDm8vswRMBfTw5GjyQXGwpZBvDQyLuVfEHT6CxFyHVU083BCq_L4Ldh_4Dxo-q-7fMm8uwehpPZE1KuWOuu9E5IdgZABYzEiqulN5dmr2fTP8H4pYED8TqNZdXVvGx_SdSvRYYOmxuyUhV5VsGTVwHcpVQ/s320/MObile%20Lit%20Fest%202024.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Best of all, the awesome Mobile Literary Festival is FREE.</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></b></span><b style="font-family: verdana;">And here’s the schedule so you can pre-plan your day. </b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaiRhPIVLSnkB4NWT1q4-wzv1WszmVSJmYeTFkSf29VtKBquzqVJjLiCoYRldLnBIVU3HYoi4xONVl0L3mu872uNmPFEMjSTzBOVKg89heWHN_vv6Ms8W2QbSq7X4Pef6MTD0fMMlTc8zjTwhjFNlpZ5BALEp4SzHTeVcSFAdhPCjxM0gZ-nZT0FPGKFk/s2000/MLF%20schedule%202024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="1545" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaiRhPIVLSnkB4NWT1q4-wzv1WszmVSJmYeTFkSf29VtKBquzqVJjLiCoYRldLnBIVU3HYoi4xONVl0L3mu872uNmPFEMjSTzBOVKg89heWHN_vv6Ms8W2QbSq7X4Pef6MTD0fMMlTc8zjTwhjFNlpZ5BALEp4SzHTeVcSFAdhPCjxM0gZ-nZT0FPGKFk/w309-h400/MLF%20schedule%202024.jpg" width="309" /></a></div><b style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;"> At this one-day
conference published authors will present panels on character development,
setting, marketing, and plotting. The Haunted Book Shop will hold a pop-up
sales store (including some of my stories), and some local authors will be in
attendance to sign your purchase.</b></div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For more information
and to learn more about the panelists, click this link:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></b></span></p><div style="text-align: left;"><b><a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/MobileLiteraryFestival/?__cft__%5b0%5d=AZUmBEeWO1DkicSeSAu43evsiTdIZm80oRueYUGIPOtOhQA3mpRoF38C1R7iDxgtjltYO4aApXbOk--7bZOs17ZwE7p-sW7htxLTzW7vMqT5ws4IrePq-cAVMk4R2THLjYNMzGIWPTP3_VN6TXLgrQvY&__tn__=R%5d-R"><span style="font-family: arial;">https://www.facebook.com/groups/MobileLiteraryFestival/</span></a></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>§§</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> My C</span>ovid update: I’m feeling
blessed. My bout of Covid turned out to be mild—now over and done. I’ll be back
in the gym come Monday morning, working to re-new my energy. (yay) </b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You-all guys keep on
keeping on, and I’ll try to do the same. Raising prayers for a happy and safe
you and yours. </b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><b>cj</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Now some words from my sponsors:</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEe-EFSx6W9ov4cQHJGhg1Cv4UIH9oLR2pn1X3aqZaEs8d68v35ftx5VWEGg8N8QlhZ73roNwgNGlt34h7ocfLssWY0LT23ZX0IvW_Kt0jik3tU4KQl1ui_BXlVRsTNLs3pW2YS5Bkal0cJiVX5D1t-p0HPblqF_E1Uv4Ee1P-DeJwSrdDd7nSubPXpEE/s960/DAWG%20DEATH%20dual%20photos.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEe-EFSx6W9ov4cQHJGhg1Cv4UIH9oLR2pn1X3aqZaEs8d68v35ftx5VWEGg8N8QlhZ73roNwgNGlt34h7ocfLssWY0LT23ZX0IvW_Kt0jik3tU4KQl1ui_BXlVRsTNLs3pW2YS5Bkal0cJiVX5D1t-p0HPblqF_E1Uv4Ee1P-DeJwSrdDd7nSubPXpEE/w400-h300/DAWG%20DEATH%20dual%20photos.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For your to-be-read
stack: My novels, THE DAWGSTAR and DEATH ON THE YAMPA are fast-paced,
thriller/suspense stories with sassy banter and a touch of romance. The books
are available on Amazon or through your favorite eTailer and bookstore. Got a
library card? You can read the ebooks free from Hoopla.</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Haunted Book
Shop has signed copies of my paperback books in stock (and they’ll have more at
the Mobile Literary Festival). TO ORDER on line, contact: <a href="https://www.thehauntedbookshopmobile.com/contact-us">https://www.thehauntedbookshopmobile.com/contact-us</a><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>.</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>➜ Follow me on . . . <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;">➜ Amazon: <a href="http://amzn.to/1NIDKC0">Amazon
Central Author Page</a></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;">➜ Facebook: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/CjPettersonAuthor">https://www.facebook.com/CjPettersonAuthor</a></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;">➜ BookBub: <a href="https://www.bookbub.com/authors/cj-petterson">https://www.bookbub.com/authors/cj-petterson</a></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;">➜ Goodreads: <a href="https://bit.ly/3fcN3h6">https://bit.ly/3fcN3h6</a></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2840213685906004202.post-8802458183946074272024-02-25T04:00:00.022-06:002024-02-25T04:00:00.126-06:00Things to do coming soon<div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;">cj Sez: Let’s get to the Important News first: Local or
near-local readers and writers, mark your calendars for Saturday, March 23. SAVE
THE DATE, and come on down to the place to be . . .</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNoT2XwKsF0cSxJOtVYeigSS8lvk7IFxjIwIIEiTU9AOqBCWPk8_Nx5Vhh3AKYe5mCZd9_CrwsdwE7jfTN6lMW2hziJemj1DeaRaj3h8N7-x2XlCRMw_Yf2UYSNR8IQ5ySAhC-UAzG3A74OvXgiFKFAbLj0-A-EGbQ0GNzismaH_09O0krewTuMagodyA/s1640/MObile%20Lit%20Fest%202024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="924" data-original-width="1640" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNoT2XwKsF0cSxJOtVYeigSS8lvk7IFxjIwIIEiTU9AOqBCWPk8_Nx5Vhh3AKYe5mCZd9_CrwsdwE7jfTN6lMW2hziJemj1DeaRaj3h8N7-x2XlCRMw_Yf2UYSNR8IQ5ySAhC-UAzG3A74OvXgiFKFAbLj0-A-EGbQ0GNzismaH_09O0krewTuMagodyA/w400-h225/MObile%20Lit%20Fest%202024.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><b style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At this one-day
conference held at Mobile’s Ben May Library in conjunction with the Mobile Writers’
Guild, published authors will present panels on character development, setting,
marketing, and plotting. The Haunted Book Shop will hold a pop-up sales store,
and some of your favorite local authors will be in attendance to sign your
purchase.</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b> </b></span></o:p></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;"> Best of all, the
amazing Mobile Literary Festival is FREE.</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For more
information, click this link:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/MobileLiteraryFestival/?__cft__%5b0%5d=AZUmBEeWO1DkicSeSAu43evsiTdIZm80oRueYUGIPOtOhQA3mpRoF38C1R7iDxgtjltYO4aApXbOk--7bZOs17ZwE7p-sW7htxLTzW7vMqT5ws4IrePq-cAVMk4R2THLjYNMzGIWPTP3_VN6TXLgrQvY&__tn__=R%5d-R">https://www.facebook.com/groups/MobileLiteraryFestival</a></b></span><b style="font-family: verdana;"> </b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>§§</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><u>A reminder </u></b></span><b style="font-family: verdana;">(From a dot com news article.*)</b><b style="font-family: verdana;"><u>:</u></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><u><br /></u></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOBDu8xO6nDMrc0XhoQziaj7i4dcNsrkFMfjTSwoWsobnVFrvMYKEROFCPoC_BcIjXdmX1xf_cxJWFlYwKI8fMsRQYkktUEoo87fELzba1GveceJqqIi5zprnBCJ_qz5ZscMiQBUvZDsinpNOnVvzTEwgBqzSwbcCvBC_OHKRgpWqZH4KXYpcE4lpxRQ8/s1920/mardi-gras-decoration-and-mask-bead%20free%20stock%20image.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1281" data-original-width="1920" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOBDu8xO6nDMrc0XhoQziaj7i4dcNsrkFMfjTSwoWsobnVFrvMYKEROFCPoC_BcIjXdmX1xf_cxJWFlYwKI8fMsRQYkktUEoo87fELzba1GveceJqqIi5zprnBCJ_qz5ZscMiQBUvZDsinpNOnVvzTEwgBqzSwbcCvBC_OHKRgpWqZH4KXYpcE4lpxRQ8/s320/mardi-gras-decoration-and-mask-bead%20free%20stock%20image.jpg" width="320" /></a></div></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hey, all you local Mobile-area
peeps and post-Mardi Gras revelers! There’s a way you can put all the shiny
Mardi Gras beads you snagged at the parades to good use<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">, and it’s a two-fer: You can </span>give back to the
community and get rewarded with a sweet treat at the same time. </b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b> On March 2 and
March 3, bring 12 pounds of Mardi Gras beads (the article said "about a
grocery bagful") to Augusta Evans School (6301 Biloxi Ave.) and get a
Krispy Kreme coupon good for a dozen original glazed donuts. Augusta Evans students
get the beads ready for resale, and the proceeds help support programs at the
special needs school.</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: arial;">(* <a href="https://www.fox10tv.com/2024/02/15/augusta-evans-school-krispy-kreme-partner-beads-doughnuts-program/">https://www.fox10tv.com/2024/02/15/augusta-evans-school-krispy-kreme-partner-beads-doughnuts-program/</a>
)</span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>§§</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are no
absolutes in writing (my words), and I just found a bit of support for that comment
in a recent post by author Randall Silvis on Jane Friedman’s blog. Read on: <a href="https://janefriedman.com/writing-rules-that-beg-to-be-broken/">https://janefriedman.com/writing-rules-that-beg-to-be-broken/</a></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>§§</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Health follow-up: Son
Jeff bested his Covid bug and is doing fine. I, however, did test positive for
Covid . . . actually turned out to be one of my birthday presents . . . and I
am now in quarantine. According to CDC guidelines, if all continues as it has
(praying it does), I should be “free to move about” the world in a couple more
days.</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You-all guys keep on
keeping on, and I’ll try to do the same. Raising prayers for a happy and safe
you and yours. </b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>cj</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Now some words from my sponsors:</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipdaajnu-Q0g3K3snA4XNGmwJ5JcRzCFYKrN7axdP0e2U3OPYy1zxm754yrcDHFyJ35pvM5GUPz4jBd-ajf050_-zYTAOqIIkA6J7O9VVSAih-NcvCHHCVRd0bgvUTsfMLWFdCKXqHKP3xBUINMUON9tFMwHEeSO7AKlmAr_2ZodZSyo7cwVXdYZsrMgY/s960/DAWG%20DEATH%20dual%20photos.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipdaajnu-Q0g3K3snA4XNGmwJ5JcRzCFYKrN7axdP0e2U3OPYy1zxm754yrcDHFyJ35pvM5GUPz4jBd-ajf050_-zYTAOqIIkA6J7O9VVSAih-NcvCHHCVRd0bgvUTsfMLWFdCKXqHKP3xBUINMUON9tFMwHEeSO7AKlmAr_2ZodZSyo7cwVXdYZsrMgY/w400-h300/DAWG%20DEATH%20dual%20photos.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For your to-be-read
stack: My novels, THE DAWGSTAR and DEATH ON THE YAMPA are fast-paced,
thriller/suspense stories with sassy banter and a touch of romance. The books
are available on Amazon or through your favorite eTailer and bookstore. Got a
library card? You can read the ebooks free from Hoopla.</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Haunted Book
Shop has signed copies of my paperback books in stock. TO ORDER, contact: <a href="https://www.thehauntedbookshopmobile.com/contact-us">https://www.thehauntedbookshopmobile.com/contact-us</a><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;"> </b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: arial;">➜ Follow me on . . . </span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: arial;">➜ Amazon: <a href="http://amzn.to/1NIDKC0">Amazon
Central Author Page</a></span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: arial;">➜ Facebook: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/CjPettersonAuthor">https://www.facebook.com/CjPettersonAuthor</a></span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: arial;">➜ BookBub: <a href="https://www.bookbub.com/authors/cj-petterson">https://www.bookbub.com/authors/cj-petterson</a></span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: arial;">➜ Goodreads: <a href="https://bit.ly/3fcN3h6">https://bit.ly/3fcN3h6</a></span></b></div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b> </b></span></o:p></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2840213685906004202.post-51532775539098987542024-02-18T04:00:00.025-06:002024-02-18T04:00:00.139-06:00Call for applications <div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b> </b></span><b style="font-family: verdana;">cj Sez: Sisters in Crime is accepting applications for their 2024 Eleanor Taylor Bland Crime Fiction
Writers of Color Award.</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://cdn.ymaws.com/sistersincrime.site-ym.com/resource/resmgr/etb/etb_header.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="256" data-original-width="800" height="128" src="https://cdn.ymaws.com/sistersincrime.site-ym.com/resource/resmgr/etb/etb_header.png" width="400" /></a></div></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b> The Eleanor Taylor Bland grant is
administered by Sisters in Crime, a 4000+ member international
organization of mystery authors, readers, publishers, agents, booksellers and
librarians.</b></span></div><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><o:p> </o:p><span style="font-family: Libre Baskerville;"><b>“Submissions Now Open through March 31st!</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Libre Baskerville;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Libre Baskerville;"><b> The Eleanor Taylor Bland Crime Fiction Writers of Color Award is an annual
grant of $2,000 for an emerging writer of color. </b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: "Libre Baskerville";"><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: "Libre Baskerville";"> You do NOT have to be a member
of Sisters in Crime to submit an application.</b></div><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Libre Baskerville;"><b> This grant is intended to support the recipient in crime fiction writing and
career development activities. The grantee may choose to use the grant for
activities that include workshops, seminars, conferences, and retreats, online
courses, and research activities required for completion of the work.</b></span></div><span style="font-family: Libre Baskerville;"><b>
<br /> For complete details on thee award and the process of submission, go to:<br />
</b></span><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Libre Baskerville;"><b><a href="https://www.sistersincrime.org/page/EleanorTaylorBland?fbclid=IwAR2rKqhm7VWSk9jAfz-frxKDT1J5SKz0SZu3b_YWD9x63QraieYIFeyU8sw" target="_blank">https://www.sistersincrime.org/page/EleanorTaylorBland</a></b></span></div><p></p></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: verdana;">§§</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><u><br /></u></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><u>For readers and writers:</u></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><u><br /></u></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mark your calendars
and SAVE THE DATE . . . </b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFa564krv8IVDCNHSCsxYeVMj8pLhPjkXci9__sQ9iAdWKrTkaZ3EkTmFnD8bcZwQCKoyBT_2qmuXxP5fbx9XYKE6v_jcTXS2vOglRmObtv4yv0UKZHE2zXTsnU7d4u2runv-jVf-m5TOlbqsDHXOvnv6Hy50JB0LgSQMLToVmBXWm57AA9SHzg6XE5Yg/s1640/MObile%20Lit%20Fest%202024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="924" data-original-width="1640" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFa564krv8IVDCNHSCsxYeVMj8pLhPjkXci9__sQ9iAdWKrTkaZ3EkTmFnD8bcZwQCKoyBT_2qmuXxP5fbx9XYKE6v_jcTXS2vOglRmObtv4yv0UKZHE2zXTsnU7d4u2runv-jVf-m5TOlbqsDHXOvnv6Hy50JB0LgSQMLToVmBXWm57AA9SHzg6XE5Yg/w400-h225/MObile%20Lit%20Fest%202024.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>. . . for an upcoming one-day reader and
writer event—The Mobile Literary Festival at Mobile’s Ben May Library in
conjunction with the Mobile Writers’ Guild. Published authors will present
panels on character development, setting, marketing, and plotting. Pick up a
book and have it signed by the author!</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b> And best of all, this amazing literary
festival is FREE. For more information, click this link:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/MobileLiteraryFestival/?__cft__%5b0%5d=AZUmBEeWO1DkicSeSAu43evsiTdIZm80oRueYUGIPOtOhQA3mpRoF38C1R7iDxgtjltYO4aApXbOk--7bZOs17ZwE7p-sW7htxLTzW7vMqT5ws4IrePq-cAVMk4R2THLjYNMzGIWPTP3_VN6TXLgrQvY&__tn__=R%5d-R">https://www.facebook.com/groups/MobileLiteraryFestival/</a></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>§§</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Okay, that’s it for
today's abbreviated post . . . lots of life taking my mind in another
direction<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">—</span>son Jeff was
diagnosed with Covid after spending two days being the official photographer
for a couple of Mardi Gras krewes events. I tested negative but will need to do that
again in a couple of days.</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You-all guys keep on
keeping on, and I’ll try to do the same. Raising prayers for a happy and safe
you and yours. </b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><b>cj</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Now some words from my sponsors:</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71A+vETVxEL._SL1460_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="529" height="320" src="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71A+vETVxEL._SL1460_.jpg" width="212" /></a></div><br /> VALENTINE’S DAY PIECES, A Mobile Writers Guild anthology. Available
for $1.99 on Kindle at the time of this post: </b></span></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b> Filled with wonderful short stories and poems perfect for
every day of the year.</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Valentines-Day-Pieces-Writers-Anthology-ebook/dp/B083Y6FRXR/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2V25P51EEZ9SI&keywords=Valentines%27+Day+Pieces+anthology+Mobile+Writers+Guild&qid=1704599739&sprefix=valentines%27+day+pieces+anthology+mobile+writers+guild%2Caps%2C99&sr=8-1">Buy
Valentine’s Day Now</a></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Also for your
to-be-read stack: </b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b> My novels, THE DAWGSTAR and DEATH ON THE YAMPA are
fast-paced, thriller/suspense stories with sassy banter and a touch of romance. </b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b> The books are available on Amazon or through your favorite eTailer and
bookstore. Got a library card? You can read the ebooks free from Hoopla.</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Haunted Book
Shop has signed copies of my paperback books in stock. TO ORDER, contact: <a href="https://www.thehauntedbookshopmobile.com/contact-us">https://www.thehauntedbookshopmobile.com/contact-us</a><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b> If they happen to be sold out, shoot me an
email for a personalized copy. I have a small stash (for a discounted price plus shipping).</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>➜ Follow me on . . . </b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;">➜ Amazon: <a href="http://amzn.to/1NIDKC0">Amazon
Central Author Page</a></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;">➜ Facebook: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/CjPettersonAuthor">https://www.facebook.com/CjPettersonAuthor</a></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;">➜ BookBub: <a href="https://www.bookbub.com/authors/cj-petterson">https://www.bookbub.com/authors/cj-petterson</a></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;">➜ Goodreads: <a href="https://bit.ly/3fcN3h6">https://bit.ly/3fcN3h6</a></b></div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b> </b></span></o:p></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2840213685906004202.post-12713880938071793422024-02-11T04:00:00.046-06:002024-02-11T04:00:00.127-06:00Quiz: And the day before Lent is called . . . ?<div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;">cj Sez: After weeks of parades with brilliant kaleidoscope
floats, wonderful cacophonies of marching bands, and thousands of carnival throws,
the revelry all comes to an end on February 13—Mardi Gras/Fat Tuesday/Shrove
Tuesday, the day before the start of Lent, Ash Wednesday.</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglrGN9J7d6WszHF1ZhfB321rwyo7t22YJ86cwoA9uF3wcYGcz3ohIWy66EsrTiH4m_897hI2ufjdByu9x6EqcGpLsaIwUWs_JmLhWKz4gYMqSPTcHei6Lr3DwSeOfAfR6QLeRfmO8DrJoSX73EqJmfOLLh6K5Xj0JrysS9WH4FX4QQYueYarMv3Oy99yg/s1024/JDJ%20candy%20stripe%20mardi%20gras%20man.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="683" data-original-width="1024" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglrGN9J7d6WszHF1ZhfB321rwyo7t22YJ86cwoA9uF3wcYGcz3ohIWy66EsrTiH4m_897hI2ufjdByu9x6EqcGpLsaIwUWs_JmLhWKz4gYMqSPTcHei6Lr3DwSeOfAfR6QLeRfmO8DrJoSX73EqJmfOLLh6K5Xj0JrysS9WH4FX4QQYueYarMv3Oy99yg/w400-h266/JDJ%20candy%20stripe%20mardi%20gras%20man.jpg" width="400" /></a></div></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;"> Plush toys, shiny beads, and tasty Moon Pies are the
favorite things masked krewe members throw from their parade floats to the outstretched
hands of excited revelers.</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2jdzx7Xus62Scd9tl6xnJsDFwAoygm-vXxric-Lya1jBVRq3IgACgC-xUb-xyhu4FAgFaaEqxjFYmyhXVCDcrSQS_M1Bf9t6e6ChYov1tolwNjyq7lcISSBUtuqBUNP8WzDGM6Si4um7pnCks1pIUowbFC6IMibE9JgxhBOFVuATh78-hA3_C_-KP9NU/s800/Mardi%20Gras%20KOR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="800" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2jdzx7Xus62Scd9tl6xnJsDFwAoygm-vXxric-Lya1jBVRq3IgACgC-xUb-xyhu4FAgFaaEqxjFYmyhXVCDcrSQS_M1Bf9t6e6ChYov1tolwNjyq7lcISSBUtuqBUNP8WzDGM6Si4um7pnCks1pIUowbFC6IMibE9JgxhBOFVuATh78-hA3_C_-KP9NU/w200-h160/Mardi%20Gras%20KOR.jpg" width="200" /></a><br /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b> Knights of Revelry Krewe </b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;"> What is a krewe you ask? </b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;"> Krewes are clubs or organizations
that exist to celebrate carnival. They introduce their ceremonial kings, queens,
and royal courts at elegant formal balls.</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><u>Little history lesson</u>: </b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgylJxyvhlHiIhqauCThRc9urNbZSXpgAFPeu502O3tyj9aBrAurcBeNIe2B2g91IJDXlWSh3ma4h9LOsprRKwvjeWog1hmfMrYEi9r3_85oTZImHV_tps-acK3C15tv8Q3chfDAXhQVXZ19Z0z5xG0JmXD-mRFCcukr11A7S6JJRQLDHKoq4HF8sX9NeA/s685/Joe_Cain_Chief_Slacabamorinico_400px.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="685" data-original-width="400" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgylJxyvhlHiIhqauCThRc9urNbZSXpgAFPeu502O3tyj9aBrAurcBeNIe2B2g91IJDXlWSh3ma4h9LOsprRKwvjeWog1hmfMrYEi9r3_85oTZImHV_tps-acK3C15tv8Q3chfDAXhQVXZ19Z0z5xG0JmXD-mRFCcukr11A7S6JJRQLDHKoq4HF8sX9NeA/s320/Joe_Cain_Chief_Slacabamorinico_400px.jpg" width="187" /></a></div> “Mardi Gras” is French for "Fat
Tuesday." In Mobile, AL, however, Mardi Gras has evolved beyond
a one-day celebration into a weeks-long carnival that begins on January 6. New
Orleans’ claims notwithstanding, Mobile is the birthplace of America's original
Mardi Gras.</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b> The first celebration took place in 1703 and was revived after the
Civil War when Mobilian Joe Cain, dressed as his imagined Indian Chief named
Slacabamorinico, paraded through city streets.</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: verdana;"> (</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">unknown photographer,
photo in public domain</span><span style="font-family: verdana;">)</span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;"> When I lived in Detroit, Mardi Gras was a one-day affair
that many in the area called Pączki Day. Pączki (pronounced
"punch-kee" or "ponch-kee") are Polish pillows of pastry
with a variety of possible fillings</b><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt;">—my favorite was cherry. Detroiters lined up outside of bakeries to buy dozens of the special treats on Fat Tuesday.</span></b></span><b style="font-family: verdana;"> </b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB-N9mtkBS89tDZ7Upijrq5LnF1PiN_9ySkXbpvLUZbxvZapjXQlc-a5X2b0JBB5MOUWrwrx37XXDLWiBDzUJC1pQG_6RQ4vjVyR3hYo1GoXfgfkQppLZj2NRYOvHI6mxnEuL1gqIzSqzgXXBJzIMtIip7OJmeokOASobk9H4XyTwyQRacUD9CX6dQ4uY/s1200/Paczki_133%20waiting%20in%20line.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB-N9mtkBS89tDZ7Upijrq5LnF1PiN_9ySkXbpvLUZbxvZapjXQlc-a5X2b0JBB5MOUWrwrx37XXDLWiBDzUJC1pQG_6RQ4vjVyR3hYo1GoXfgfkQppLZj2NRYOvHI6mxnEuL1gqIzSqzgXXBJzIMtIip7OJmeokOASobk9H4XyTwyQRacUD9CX6dQ4uY/w200-h133/Paczki_133%20waiting%20in%20line.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><b style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;"> A generous co-worker in </b><b style="font-family: verdana;">the office next
to mine would get up at 5 a.m. to make a paczki run to his favorite bakery in the Polish community of Hamtramck where he might have to wait in line in sub-zero weather, in the snow, </b><b style="font-family: verdana;">barefoot</b><b style="font-family: verdana;"> (ha ha, not) for up to an hour to bring in several boxes of goodness for the crew (that part is true).</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: verdana;">§§</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><u>For readers and writers:</u></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><u><br /></u></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b> Mark your calendars and SAVE THE DATE. . . March 23, 2024 .
. . </b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZCLANYmONEJSyAhO2wDd-QR_yjut3zaa7exShhRF8Yz_vScRngZcb8DgukLGv7FfkdyZZHq7ake38U6VEA6tkuKTcFv7aqEF6TzgAJfXTMdg5QRSSrxGX20LVVBxUr0oDTlPMFRTypEjf7JvdcvaTMj9JtwABoH6ebTQNqCRGq0hUpNUjqmChsi80Kpk/s1640/MObile%20Lit%20Fest%202024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="924" data-original-width="1640" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZCLANYmONEJSyAhO2wDd-QR_yjut3zaa7exShhRF8Yz_vScRngZcb8DgukLGv7FfkdyZZHq7ake38U6VEA6tkuKTcFv7aqEF6TzgAJfXTMdg5QRSSrxGX20LVVBxUr0oDTlPMFRTypEjf7JvdcvaTMj9JtwABoH6ebTQNqCRGq0hUpNUjqmChsi80Kpk/s320/MObile%20Lit%20Fest%202024.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />for the upcoming one-day reader and writer event—The Mobile Literary
Festival at Mobile’s Ben May Library in conjunction with the Mobile Writers’
Guild. Published authors will present panels on character development, setting,
marketing, and plotting. Pick up a book and have it signed by the author! And
best of all, this amazing literary festival is FREE. For more information,
click this link:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/MobileLiteraryFestival/?__cft__%5b0%5d=AZUmBEeWO1DkicSeSAu43evsiTdIZm80oRueYUGIPOtOhQA3mpRoF38C1R7iDxgtjltYO4aApXbOk--7bZOs17ZwE7p-sW7htxLTzW7vMqT5ws4IrePq-cAVMk4R2THLjYNMzGIWPTP3_VN6TXLgrQvY&__tn__=R%5d-R">https://www.facebook.com/groups/MobileLiteraryFestival/</a></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>***</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b> Which is the correct spelling: “gray” or “grey”? Well, it
depends… on where you live and how the word/spelling is used. Find out more
here:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><a href="https://www.grammarly.com/blog/gray-grey/">https://www.grammarly.com/blog/gray-grey/</a></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>§§</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b> Okay, that’s it for today. You-all guys keep on keeping on,
and I’ll try to do the same. Raising prayers for a happy and safe you and
yours. </b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><b>cj</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Now some words from my sponsors:</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: verdana;">Mardi Gras season is alive and well in Mobile. </b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Laissez les bons temps rouler</i></b></div><div><b style="font-family: verdana;"><i><br /></i></b></div></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;"> Available! These two Mobile Writers Guild anthologies are filled
with wonderful short stories and poems to celebrate upcoming special days. They each have a theme, but the content is perfect for any day of the year.</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi92IOBimOLV2Q3XRQkEPeqXbv7f0IsHWk2c0E21Gj8X5io5Mk8tPk2pJ0hJ4rUzaFieEL_c49tKn2L_1H4Rj6A6pm_VH2O913Z0H7xQ6Pbp7PSNmsJQ-X52tsg7n6OjJdTj_0bLFuVAzMENYyqIQDm5yYLPgiT6kQjkqiDBAkhCpPUM_KdXBg8lYk5_Vw/s960/Valen%20Mardi%20available.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi92IOBimOLV2Q3XRQkEPeqXbv7f0IsHWk2c0E21Gj8X5io5Mk8tPk2pJ0hJ4rUzaFieEL_c49tKn2L_1H4Rj6A6pm_VH2O913Z0H7xQ6Pbp7PSNmsJQ-X52tsg7n6OjJdTj_0bLFuVAzMENYyqIQDm5yYLPgiT6kQjkqiDBAkhCpPUM_KdXBg8lYk5_Vw/w400-h300/Valen%20Mardi%20available.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Valentines-Day-Pieces-Writers-Anthology-ebook/dp/B083Y6FRXR/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2V25P51EEZ9SI&keywords=Valentines%27+Day+Pieces+anthology+Mobile+Writers+Guild&qid=1704599739&sprefix=valentines%27+day+pieces+anthology+mobile+writers+guild%2Caps%2C99&sr=8-1">Buy Valentine’s Day Now</a> </b><b style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Mardi-Gras-Pieces-Writers-Anthology-ebook/dp/B07NV2NVDT/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2SR2I4XCLUCZU&keywords=Mardi+Gras+anthology+Mobile+Writers+Guild&qid=1704599660&sprefix=mardi+gras+anthology+mobile+writers+guild%2Caps%2C110&sr=8-1">Buy Mardi Gras Now</a></b><b style="text-align: left;"> </b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b> </b></span></o:p><b style="font-family: verdana;">Also for your to-be-read stack: My novels, THE DAWGSTAR and
DEATH ON THE YAMPA are fast-paced, thriller/suspense stories with sassy banter
and a touch of romance. The books are available on Amazon or through your
favorite eTailer and bookstore. Got a library card? You can read the ebooks
free from Hoopla.</b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b> The Haunted Book Shop has signed copies of my paperback
books in stock. TO ORDER, contact: <a href="https://www.thehauntedbookshopmobile.com/contact-us">https://www.thehauntedbookshopmobile.com/contact-us</a><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b> If they happen to be sold out, tell them you want a signed copy and I'll run down to the shop and sign one. Or shoot me an
email. I have a small stash.</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>➜ Follow me on . . . </b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;">➜ Amazon: <a href="http://amzn.to/1NIDKC0">Amazon
Central Author Page</a></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;">➜ Facebook: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/CjPettersonAuthor">https://www.facebook.com/CjPettersonAuthor</a></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;">➜ BookBub: <a href="https://www.bookbub.com/authors/cj-petterson">https://www.bookbub.com/authors/cj-petterson</a></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;">➜ Goodreads: <a href="https://bit.ly/3fcN3h6">https://bit.ly/3fcN3h6</a></b></div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b> </b></span></o:p></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2840213685906004202.post-79479161288391829622024-02-04T04:00:00.007-06:002024-02-04T04:00:00.138-06:00Info, smiles, and truisms <div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>cj Sez: I know. I’m supposed to post an interesting and
informative blog for our Lyrical Pens followers. I thought I had this week’s
post almost done, except for the art, and procrastinated finishing it (or I
could blame the cats who insist on sitting in my lap, which means I cannot move
until they do). </b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbDvpm6uZTlK8Y9Rto8yv6mMWv0UO04u0VWRicvrCSxNtIrPkl47pHyRSa9CcrxJpuOAMyb0THL4QNZ2UpvPgrc0fnbJJOVQtEMOn60R10BzdFkwSYDTHzg6heYBYny25oODqNkLHPfHHtrJXgsv-OBzrRom1wUIP4a6ttWrrYC4b9B3fgZOEmMLFqJ1A/s666/procrastinating%20cat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="666" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbDvpm6uZTlK8Y9Rto8yv6mMWv0UO04u0VWRicvrCSxNtIrPkl47pHyRSa9CcrxJpuOAMyb0THL4QNZ2UpvPgrc0fnbJJOVQtEMOn60R10BzdFkwSYDTHzg6heYBYny25oODqNkLHPfHHtrJXgsv-OBzrRom1wUIP4a6ttWrrYC4b9B3fgZOEmMLFqJ1A/w400-h300/procrastinating%20cat.jpg" width="400" /></a></div></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b> </b></span><b style="font-family: verdana;">Upon re-reading the work I’d done, I decided the info was
better suited for next week. So today, I’ll pass along some smiles and truisms
that show up with regularity on my Facebook page.</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>***</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>I am a multitasking procrastinator. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can put off several things at once.</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>*** </b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><u>Noun-verb agreements: </u></b></span><b style="font-family: verdana;">I write. You write. He writes. She writes. They write. </b><b style="font-family: verdana;">We all revise.</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>***</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>It’s funny how Red, White, and Blue represent freedom . . .
until they’re flashing behind you.</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>***</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>A child who reads will be an adult who thinks.</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>***</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>I am a professional writer. I can tell lies with a straight
face. But I’m a piker when it comes to atoms. You can’t trust them. They make
up everything. </b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>***</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Martin Rooney: “Your life will not be measured by the things
you started but by the few you finished.”</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>***</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Every accomplishment starts with the decision to try.</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>***</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: verdana;">At two a.m.: "I need to stop, I whispered to myself as I
started another chapter." </span><span style="font-family: arial;"><i>(cj Sez: That’s the book I hope to write one day.)</i></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>***</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>I am currently unsupervised. I know. It freaks me out, too .
. . but the possibilities are endless!</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>***</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: verdana;">Diablo Cody: “I don’t have a formal rewrite process. I just
compulsively groom and re-groom scenes like a cat with OCD.”</span><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;"><i>(cj Sez: My method exactly.)</i></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>***</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>We are all precious in the sight of the Lord. </b></span><b style="font-family: verdana;">He may shake His head a lot, but we’re still precious.</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>§§</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;"><u> For readers and writers:</u> Mark your calendars and SAVE
THE DATE. . . March 23, 2024 . . . for an upcoming one-day reader and writer
event—</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikNh8-dEYT47brnQLNnd9ATmA1KfoKUmeF5vgmKx4eXD0TECbGQ5g4xOD05Q9tYDljxi-5NKx9tQvsNt_ix3c2RwKhZSjCWFVfSTVjF8c8xflT1mwCASWUM879tmKD3sg0zuDWpSTIk7nIBFzIC4fTCnYdXjAMNx8kUAoE0ScVaHtSHeOVYZHi2UZ-5lc/s1640/MObile%20Lit%20Fest%202024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="924" data-original-width="1640" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikNh8-dEYT47brnQLNnd9ATmA1KfoKUmeF5vgmKx4eXD0TECbGQ5g4xOD05Q9tYDljxi-5NKx9tQvsNt_ix3c2RwKhZSjCWFVfSTVjF8c8xflT1mwCASWUM879tmKD3sg0zuDWpSTIk7nIBFzIC4fTCnYdXjAMNx8kUAoE0ScVaHtSHeOVYZHi2UZ-5lc/s320/MObile%20Lit%20Fest%202024.jpg" width="320" /></a></div></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b> The Mobile Literary Festival at Mobile’s Ben May Library in
conjunction with the Mobile Writers’ Guild. Published authors will present
panels on character development, setting, marketing, and plotting. You’ll have
the opportunity to purchase a book and have it signed by the author! And best
of all, this amazing literary festival is FREE. </b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>For more information, click
this link:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/MobileLiteraryFestival/?__cft__%5b0%5d=AZUmBEeWO1DkicSeSAu43evsiTdIZm80oRueYUGIPOtOhQA3mpRoF38C1R7iDxgtjltYO4aApXbOk--7bZOs17ZwE7p-sW7htxLTzW7vMqT5ws4IrePq-cAVMk4R2THLjYNMzGIWPTP3_VN6TXLgrQvY&__tn__=R%5d-R">https://www.facebook.com/groups/MobileLiteraryFestival/</a></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>§§</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><u><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>For grins:</b></span></u></div><div style="text-align: left;"><u><span style="font-family: verdana;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_hf_hWB5A41xLxvnXQvaOpd4ZwDcZLswBhGP_POVuEJQd2tVq_2Uxp7OrLvMPuQQMKv2-_HOR5b5v729QRGcz5TWAxgIKoTdJu4TDGyH7proYIx4t7oG5At0SOjdx2ThfK-tbHra12oy20_HC-JsM8x48mDqurJyw4mLrYGeEvykRHaStM976h9IOlGg/s320/civil%20wae%20planes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="136" data-original-width="320" height="170" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_hf_hWB5A41xLxvnXQvaOpd4ZwDcZLswBhGP_POVuEJQd2tVq_2Uxp7OrLvMPuQQMKv2-_HOR5b5v729QRGcz5TWAxgIKoTdJu4TDGyH7proYIx4t7oG5At0SOjdx2ThfK-tbHra12oy20_HC-JsM8x48mDqurJyw4mLrYGeEvykRHaStM976h9IOlGg/w400-h170/civil%20wae%20planes.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><u style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>“Let me know how that works out.”</b></span></u></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></span></u></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i style="font-family: verdana;">“The difference between genius and stupid is that genius has
its limits.”</i> <span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Albert Einstein</span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>§§</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b> Okay, that’s it for today. You-all guys keep on keeping on,
and I’ll try to do the same. Raising prayers for a happy and safe you and
yours. </b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><b>cj</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b> Now some words from my sponsors:</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Available! Two Mobile Writers Guild PIECES anthologies filled
with wonderful short stories and poems to celebrate upcoming special days.</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt2P7_OPO2Gvszp91WYPkcn5-4Xw0GOEzBtwNW6TyJp4aEPQ-F_CO7EO9naSM9QOtngEKXdSTTAWZfIXbdMwtasZ1P0MpqSMnwsrD5VtuhVUrZbzVPVZFpKcXO9UWqA5Ns2HDPxn0YC0ZMHpDBE42od5k96-a0dWXVNsnay_quivKaA7LxybyBVXD1Keg/s960/Valen%20Mardi%20available.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt2P7_OPO2Gvszp91WYPkcn5-4Xw0GOEzBtwNW6TyJp4aEPQ-F_CO7EO9naSM9QOtngEKXdSTTAWZfIXbdMwtasZ1P0MpqSMnwsrD5VtuhVUrZbzVPVZFpKcXO9UWqA5Ns2HDPxn0YC0ZMHpDBE42od5k96-a0dWXVNsnay_quivKaA7LxybyBVXD1Keg/w400-h300/Valen%20Mardi%20available.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Valentines-Day-Pieces-Writers-Anthology-ebook/dp/B083Y6FRXR/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2V25P51EEZ9SI&keywords=Valentines%27+Day+Pieces+anthology+Mobile+Writers+Guild&qid=1704599739&sprefix=valentines%27+day+pieces+anthology+mobile+writers+guild%2Caps%2C99&sr=8-1">Buy Valentine’s Day Now</a> </b><b style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Mardi-Gras-Pieces-Writers-Anthology-ebook/dp/B07NV2NVDT/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2SR2I4XCLUCZU&keywords=Mardi+Gras+anthology+Mobile+Writers+Guild&qid=1704599660&sprefix=mardi+gras+anthology+mobile+writers+guild%2Caps%2C110&sr=8-1">Buy Mardi Gras Now</a></b></td></tr></tbody></table></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;"> Everyone from Mobile, Alabama, has a Mardi Gras story. In MARDI
GRAS PIECES, the second installment of the Mobile Writers Guild Pieces
anthology series, Guild members share their stories—some true, some fictional,
some funny, some touching, and some downright chilling. </b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;"> So don your beads, deck
yourself out in purple, gold, and green, grab a Moon Pie, and relax while you read
MARDI GRAS PIECES to enjoy a little bit of the Mobile Mardi Gras tradition.</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><i>Laissez les bons temps rouler</i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;"> Also for your to-be-read stack: My novels, THE DAWGSTAR and
DEATH ON THE YAMPA are fast-paced, thriller/suspense stories with a strong female protagonist, sassy banter, and a touch of romance. The books are available on Amazon or through your
favorite eTailer and bookstore. Got a library card? You can read the ebooks
free from Hoopla.</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b> The Haunted Book Shop has signed copies of my paperback
books in stock. TO ORDER, contact: <a href="https://www.thehauntedbookshopmobile.com/contact-us">https://www.thehauntedbookshopmobile.com/contact-us</a><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If they happen to be sold out, shoot me an
email. I have a small stash (for a discounted price plus shipping.</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: arial;">➜ Follow me on . . . </span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: arial;">➜ Amazon: <a href="http://amzn.to/1NIDKC0">Amazon
Central Author Page</a></span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: arial;">➜ Facebook: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/CjPettersonAuthor">https://www.facebook.com/CjPettersonAuthor</a></span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: arial;">➜ BookBub: <a href="https://www.bookbub.com/authors/cj-petterson">https://www.bookbub.com/authors/cj-petterson</a></span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: arial;">➜ Goodreads: <a href="https://bit.ly/3fcN3h6">https://bit.ly/3fcN3h6</a></span></b></div><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2840213685906004202.post-91300073174819019602024-01-28T04:00:00.147-06:002024-01-28T04:00:00.183-06:00Mobile Literary Festival<div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;">cj Sez: For readers and writers: Mark your calendars and</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjpicL64vi7dvyAyh07Gtb2pDMSYb_Vqxat2kBctB-Huqn58eFHZ3AhWRIxh8q5bQUwfi5hyWBLjmy51mYijUq1oHX7eTV4tG98ONZolLwqsR6OY8PSDzaJR_cdpnIIiV-9da7hslP3Il2o6ZV2CdW0LS0gjgOwBk53vjHdlhFu7Psf4fAPYFYwdvO7ns/s1640/MObile%20Lit%20Fest%202024.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="924" data-original-width="1640" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjpicL64vi7dvyAyh07Gtb2pDMSYb_Vqxat2kBctB-Huqn58eFHZ3AhWRIxh8q5bQUwfi5hyWBLjmy51mYijUq1oHX7eTV4tG98ONZolLwqsR6OY8PSDzaJR_cdpnIIiV-9da7hslP3Il2o6ZV2CdW0LS0gjgOwBk53vjHdlhFu7Psf4fAPYFYwdvO7ns/w400-h225/MObile%20Lit%20Fest%202024.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: verdana;">SAVE THE DATE. . . March 23, 2024 . . . </b></div><b style="font-family: verdana;"><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></b></div>for an upcoming one-day reader and writer
event—The Mobile Literary Festival at Mobile’s Ben May Library in conjunction with
the Mobile Writers Guild. Published authors will present panels on character
development, setting, marketing, and plotting. You can also purchase a book and have it
signed by the author! And best of all, this amazing literary festival is FREE. </b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;"> For
more information, click this link: </b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/MobileLiteraryFestival/?__cft__%5b0%5d=AZUmBEeWO1DkicSeSAu43evsiTdIZm80oRueYUGIPOtOhQA3mpRoF38C1R7iDxgtjltYO4aApXbOk--7bZOs17ZwE7p-sW7htxLTzW7vMqT5ws4IrePq-cAVMk4R2THLjYNMzGIWPTP3_VN6TXLgrQvY&__tn__=R%5d-R">https://www.facebook.com/groups/MobileLiteraryFestival/</a></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>§§</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b> Here’s a perspective I hadn’t thought of, though I’d like to
think this truth was swirling around somewhere in the back of my mind: “Mystery, thriller, and suspense (MTS) stories are the
villain’s story, as told and perceived by the protagonist.” </b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b> Author and book
coach <a href="https://click.convertkit-mail2.com/0vuvnn6gk9t9hovlemnulhwe50x55/7qh7h8ho9r4rzqbz/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2FtYW50aGFza2FsLmNvbQ==" target="_blank">Samantha Skal</a> dives into ideating twists that work when writing
thriller and mystery stories. </b></span><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>To read more of her post on Jane Friedman’s blog,
click the link here: </b></span><b style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://janefriedman.com/designing-thriller-and-mystery-twists-that-work/" target="_blank">https://janefriedman.com/designing-thriller-and-mystery-twists-that-work/</a></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: verdana;">§§</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b> I know, I know. The first day of spring is about two months
away in the Northern Hemisphere, but I’m antsy so I wanted you to know that U.S.
and Canadian Coast Guard ice cutters are getting ready to clear the shipping
lanes in the Great Lakes.</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLLPyXSexE16ECiJXe6IRMOKTkaZnVypJWzQtCWLDytMw-rD_umiiAosSohO7RNdNgPDJKqLV4OixDodd0nyCcvzgQ7JFJKJwoPmSFMMR5OW9RlX3bx9EPfjSYyaNAJGsyfslXbFIyZTyMntP2k34GclV9fbM2-gneo9sLMx7aFsAYlkl4lRJD7HsKRXs/s624/coast%20guard%20ice%20cutters%20jan%202024.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="416" data-original-width="624" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLLPyXSexE16ECiJXe6IRMOKTkaZnVypJWzQtCWLDytMw-rD_umiiAosSohO7RNdNgPDJKqLV4OixDodd0nyCcvzgQ7JFJKJwoPmSFMMR5OW9RlX3bx9EPfjSYyaNAJGsyfslXbFIyZTyMntP2k34GclV9fbM2-gneo9sLMx7aFsAYlkl4lRJD7HsKRXs/s320/coast%20guard%20ice%20cutters%20jan%202024.jpg" width="320" /></a></div></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b> Makes me feel happier already. On Thursday, Jan. 18, 2024,
the U.S. Coast Guard announced the annual onset of icebreaking in the lower
Great Lakes. According to their press release, they gave the task the tongue-in-cheek
name of Operation Coal Shovels. The picture (left) shows U.S. Coast Guard icebreakers in
operation as seen from the cutter Mackinaw. </b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b> (On a side note re the cutter Mackinaw: The name of the five-mile-long
“Mighty Mac” bridge connecting Michigan’s peninsulas is spelled Mackinac yet
still pronounced “mackinaw.” The Mackinac spelling is from the Mackinac Bands
of Chippewa and Ottawa Indians. a state recognized tribe of Ojibwe and Odawa
Native Americans who called the area Michilimackinac. <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9-xipr4qpkkxsSvTqmFYk8tfTbvmqfTLPciVYpuoMcxsPDMSzU5N4_AWsXHzA1sQ1DZu4_EETvPFUynIrB2mTfCDr1o2r5ZeL5TLfpHQk3fJ38DwxLWxGnG7H5e3LpDodbEeMbGYk5bhoTltI1eye3ObHHf4YK93wkZEfeIGbwwlRnMbg2I2uzQz_YZg/s1000/G19826-mackinacbridge.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="563" data-original-width="1000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9-xipr4qpkkxsSvTqmFYk8tfTbvmqfTLPciVYpuoMcxsPDMSzU5N4_AWsXHzA1sQ1DZu4_EETvPFUynIrB2mTfCDr1o2r5ZeL5TLfpHQk3fJ38DwxLWxGnG7H5e3LpDodbEeMbGYk5bhoTltI1eye3ObHHf4YK93wkZEfeIGbwwlRnMbg2I2uzQz_YZg/s320/G19826-mackinacbridge.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>The Mackinac Bridge</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b> The spelling was shortened
to Mackinac and pronounced “Mackinaw” by the French who settled in the area. That’s
my Googled history lesson for the day.)</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b> All those wintery-gray months of ice and snow helped
convince me to move from Michigan to the Gulf Coast, and what a difference 1,200
or so miles makes. </b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqg6TRsbXb71z8pvDWtj7-_k-GCQFI9wBAuFp5Z5yxJlgm8w7T1Jgio6PcQx389y0rQ9_adm8hco0vJkC5ILFI-3zRxi3SLucW6DITCEYviBgpKpSqrZVJn6KbYfF6SkiSiTQvG8sl_rwj-FpUeV-MSSDdxkRm3ABFaJ5VS1MRXM4x44_v4j_H5SlOu50/s2020/azalea%20west%20yard%20close-up%202023.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1167" data-original-width="2020" height="185" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqg6TRsbXb71z8pvDWtj7-_k-GCQFI9wBAuFp5Z5yxJlgm8w7T1Jgio6PcQx389y0rQ9_adm8hco0vJkC5ILFI-3zRxi3SLucW6DITCEYviBgpKpSqrZVJn6KbYfF6SkiSiTQvG8sl_rwj-FpUeV-MSSDdxkRm3ABFaJ5VS1MRXM4x44_v4j_H5SlOu50/s320/azalea%20west%20yard%20close-up%202023.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> The picture (left) is of about 50 feet of my side yard in
Mobile. Son Jeff took the photo last February. </b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b> I’m hoping for the same kaleidoscope of color this year (“hoping”
because we suffered a severe summer drought).</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>§§</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b> Okay, that’s it for today. You-all guys keep on keeping on,
and I’ll try to do the same. Raising prayers for a happy and safe you and
yours. </b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><b>cj</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b> </b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b> Now some words from my sponsors:</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhib2GD3XrPHtrWUANnMVT_61_lppwqyV4ZmXxuNqcAZbS88z_Pq43oJHiBjVf-Y31mVTTlV_piytpZZrlTv3Lg_dw0eZx_kLnoT_eg3kjD1HcMZO3ZUZYfUdyE-79CcxrNfbidZhV_i33usgaowxDWNozfMThmssFGXqpj67iVeWkWRBHMCNuNokHtolk/s960/Valen%20Mardi%20available.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhib2GD3XrPHtrWUANnMVT_61_lppwqyV4ZmXxuNqcAZbS88z_Pq43oJHiBjVf-Y31mVTTlV_piytpZZrlTv3Lg_dw0eZx_kLnoT_eg3kjD1HcMZO3ZUZYfUdyE-79CcxrNfbidZhV_i33usgaowxDWNozfMThmssFGXqpj67iVeWkWRBHMCNuNokHtolk/w400-h300/Valen%20Mardi%20available.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Valentines-Day-Pieces-Writers-Anthology-ebook/dp/B083Y6FRXR/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2V25P51EEZ9SI&keywords=Valentines%27+Day+Pieces+anthology+Mobile+Writers+Guild&qid=1704599739&sprefix=valentines%27+day+pieces+anthology+mobile+writers+guild%2Caps%2C99&sr=8-1">Buy Valentine’s Day Now</a> </b><b style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Mardi-Gras-Pieces-Writers-Anthology-ebook/dp/B07NV2NVDT/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2SR2I4XCLUCZU&keywords=Mardi+Gras+anthology+Mobile+Writers+Guild&qid=1704599660&sprefix=mardi+gras+anthology+mobile+writers+guild%2Caps%2C110&sr=8-1">Buy Mardi Gras Now</a></b><b style="text-align: left;"> </b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;"> Available! Two Mobile Writers Guild anthologies filled with wonderful
short stories and poems to celebrate upcoming special days. Mardi Gras season
is alive and well in Mobile, with parades and moon pies bringing crowds to
downtown streets. </b><b><span style="font-family: Libre Baskerville;"><i>Laissez les bons temps rouler</i></span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;"> <u>Also for your to-be-read stack:</u> My novels, THE DAWGSTAR and
DEATH ON THE YAMPA are fast-paced, thriller/suspense stories with sassy banter
and a touch of romance. The books are available on Amazon or through your
favorite eTailer and bookstore. Got a library card? You can read the ebooks
free from Hoopla.</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;"> The Haunted Book Shop has signed copies of my paperback
books in stock. TO ORDER, contact: <a href="https://www.thehauntedbookshopmobile.com/contact-us">https://www.thehauntedbookshopmobile.com/contact-us</a> </b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;"> If they happen to be sold out, shoot me an
email. I have a small stash available for a discounted price plus shipping.</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: arial;">➜ Follow me on . . . </span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: arial;">➜ Amazon: <a href="http://amzn.to/1NIDKC0">Amazon
Central Author Page</a></span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: arial;">➜ Facebook: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/CjPettersonAuthor">https://www.facebook.com/CjPettersonAuthor</a></span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: arial;">➜ BookBub: <a href="https://www.bookbub.com/authors/cj-petterson">https://www.bookbub.com/authors/cj-petterson</a></span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: arial;">➜ Goodreads: <a href="https://bit.ly/3fcN3h6">https://bit.ly/3fcN3h6</a></span></b></div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b> </b></span></o:p></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2840213685906004202.post-77938174189396592222024-01-21T04:00:00.009-06:002024-01-21T04:00:00.134-06:00The devil is in the details<div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">cj Sez:</span> My first drafts are crappy and sparse,
mainly for two reasons: First, I was once a corporate journalist/editor with
limited line space, and second, I got turned on to creative writing by a
screenwriter. </b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPFzjsmPre4k2j6mM0zesypHvy-J_D_MqpGHfgUOtSnRn3atgSeBwLrhFMfeh2lBvjJfrPym265CDr4_qki-A8DT82yMfoIEvgUN7kB6YtNxEz1XD2KhjLwOXjOse9pMx4h8_7P04JBmFp-zHp-Fm42OztN8PxS0-zACIHKVuxH0IKNfq83juoh1uKTk8/s645/first%20draft.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="440" data-original-width="645" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPFzjsmPre4k2j6mM0zesypHvy-J_D_MqpGHfgUOtSnRn3atgSeBwLrhFMfeh2lBvjJfrPym265CDr4_qki-A8DT82yMfoIEvgUN7kB6YtNxEz1XD2KhjLwOXjOse9pMx4h8_7P04JBmFp-zHp-Fm42OztN8PxS0-zACIHKVuxH0IKNfq83juoh1uKTk8/w400-h272/first%20draft.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b> I often get criticized for my lack of details, but once I’m
finished with the first go-through, my editing process expands on details of
the five senses…hear, see, taste, smell, feel… and the characters’ state of
mind.</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b> I do incorporate some action descriptors, but I consider too
many of them stage direction. Some writers use them to “tell” their readers what
the author means or as a way to add words to a short manuscript. </b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b> Action needs to have purpose. If describing an action
doesn't contribute to the reader's knowledge of the character, scene conflict,
or mood, then it’s stage direction. Because I write mostly suspense and
thrillers, I have a minimalist approach to action … using few words speeds up
the pace and heightens the tension. On the other hand, readers of cozy
mysteries or more narrative-based novels want (and expect) to know every
detail.</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b> Describing action is a good way to control the pace of your
novel. Even in suspense and thrillers, there are places where the reader needs
a respite from the action. These would be the spots where I add more detail…or
beats as authors call them. Places where I can reveal more of the characters’ growth, i.e., transformation,
as the plot progresses.</b></span><b style="font-family: verdana;"> </b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Hint: Adding detail words slows the pace; being
stingy speeds it up.</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUMs9Gp2vtrwDij04PTepYqHOcKIiuUsNce9C-DOSfazfr1BIal9XkcSbDiA7ZgERTeQty2ReRMcU575-lyB6fDtgwiP4FclRSLSQxjRAi116VKGpeGoKtqPJhlwThvLU_3OxfI4wUs9ASwnMZCRJzZmRQYft-j3PQ-2e2Nv17j1ZRBKsy09QQUjDW_iU/s575/details%20yoda.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="575" data-original-width="500" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUMs9Gp2vtrwDij04PTepYqHOcKIiuUsNce9C-DOSfazfr1BIal9XkcSbDiA7ZgERTeQty2ReRMcU575-lyB6fDtgwiP4FclRSLSQxjRAi116VKGpeGoKtqPJhlwThvLU_3OxfI4wUs9ASwnMZCRJzZmRQYft-j3PQ-2e2Nv17j1ZRBKsy09QQUjDW_iU/s320/details%20yoda.jpg" width="278" /></a></div> When action is needed to set some mood for the scene, then
yes, I detail the action. Sometimes I add details to slow the action and
increase the tension. If I want a character to give the reader a sense of
impending danger and fear, then I add more description to the action. I
tend to follow the lead of my favorite authors...Robert Parker, Stephen King,
James Lee Burke... their succinct style of writing is what I like to read, and
it is this reader who is my target market. Be sure you have identified who that is.</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Hint: Write for your target market what you like to read. </b></span></div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="font-family: verdana;"> When I write, I take my cues from screenwriting, except I’m
the actor. Since internal dialogue doesn’t convert easily o the movie screen, I
tend to develop most of the characterizations within action. I step through the
scene in my mind and react to the events as my characters would, physically and
mentally. I can do that because I know their personalities well enough to know
what they would do in a given situation. </b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b style="font-family: verdana;"> I know them because I create
backstory/biographies for each of them. I want my readers to identify the
character more by what s/he does and says rather than what I might tell them
(aka author intrusion).</b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="font-family: verdana;"></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimbDUUu-nn55Cq0WfDpriAqXALPAPxV5JTBXWkHKrdewKmAxSyneFtulNslCxW-V5DW7s4U45Uxe_HfX0BfGffHf1uzgNLO1fZagXCcWBR7dvJf4pb0Qb6GEjDNG69yVTrCHid5khaBH6KbgUKYYMhG7Wi8jz6_rNqD4MUAzDUTJFmk-sFO6Ebv5O2X5g/s787/give%20a%20book%20writer%20mired.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="787" data-original-width="530" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimbDUUu-nn55Cq0WfDpriAqXALPAPxV5JTBXWkHKrdewKmAxSyneFtulNslCxW-V5DW7s4U45Uxe_HfX0BfGffHf1uzgNLO1fZagXCcWBR7dvJf4pb0Qb6GEjDNG69yVTrCHid5khaBH6KbgUKYYMhG7Wi8jz6_rNqD4MUAzDUTJFmk-sFO6Ebv5O2X5g/s320/give%20a%20book%20writer%20mired.jpg" width="216" /></a></b></div><b style="font-family: verdana;"> Fiction, non-fiction, whatever the genre, each
has a different set of “rules” because the readers have different expectations
and wants. The key is to write for your target market . . . and make that the
genre you read and analyze. Over time, the structure of the genre will likely become
second nature.</b><p></p>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b> If you have any questions or more info to add to this post,
please leave a comment. Lyrical Pens would love to hear from you.</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>§§</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><u>For readers and writers</u> . . . Benefits of reading:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><a href="https://www.webmd.com/balance/health-benefits-of-reading-books">https://www.webmd.com/balance/health-benefits-of-reading-books</a></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>§§</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Here’s an explanation of when to use use or used (love that
usage): <a href="https://www.thesaurus.com/e/grammar/use-to-or-used-to/">https://www.thesaurus.com/e/grammar/use-to-or-used-to/</a></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>§§</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b> Okay, that’s it for today. You-all guys keep on keeping on,
and I’ll try to do the same. Raising prayers for a happy and safe you and yours.</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><b>cj</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;">Now some words from my sponsors:</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOlKiF1gjJ0VOvxgzfArOtVTqIxsxNgFHfsh8tmX0ShZqjPnrHrJ4a9aDMMuHbDBs2z3ckFJeVUiRW1inYutB42FvdgoEqB4DCGe_yZcXCNLt37iGSuO4pzAQAm4AWQ1ZfIwiOHFvh1aB9cut6-YQJZ6FlkBkuarXUSqGH3XxM8jMVkWeP7EzNu1RwjOU/s960/Valen%20Mardi%20available.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOlKiF1gjJ0VOvxgzfArOtVTqIxsxNgFHfsh8tmX0ShZqjPnrHrJ4a9aDMMuHbDBs2z3ckFJeVUiRW1inYutB42FvdgoEqB4DCGe_yZcXCNLt37iGSuO4pzAQAm4AWQ1ZfIwiOHFvh1aB9cut6-YQJZ6FlkBkuarXUSqGH3XxM8jMVkWeP7EzNu1RwjOU/w400-h300/Valen%20Mardi%20available.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: verdana; text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Valentines-Day-Pieces-Writers-Anthology-ebook/dp/B083Y6FRXR/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2V25P51EEZ9SI&keywords=Valentines%27+Day+Pieces+anthology+Mobile+Writers+Guild&qid=1704599739&sprefix=valentines%27+day+pieces+anthology+mobile+writers+guild%2Caps%2C99&sr=8-1">Buy Valentine’s Day Now</a> </b><b style="font-family: verdana; text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Mardi-Gras-Pieces-Writers-Anthology-ebook/dp/B07NV2NVDT/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2SR2I4XCLUCZU&keywords=Mardi+Gras+anthology+Mobile+Writers+Guild&qid=1704599660&sprefix=mardi+gras+anthology+mobile+writers+guild%2Caps%2C110&sr=8-1">Buy Mardi Gras Now</a></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><b style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;"> Available through your favorite book seller! Two fabulous Mobile Writers Guild anthologies with a
variety of wonderful short stories and poems to celebrate upcoming special
days. (P.S Mardi Gras celebrations have already started in Mobile. Krewe de la
Dauphine’s parade rolled through Dauphin Island on Jan. 13. <i>Laissez les bons temps rouler</i>)</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b> My novels, THE DAWGSTAR and DEATH ON THE YAMPA are
fast-paced, thriller/suspense stories with sassy banter and a smidgen of
romance. The books are available on Amazon or through your favorite eTailer and
bookstore. Got a library card? You can read the ebooks free from Hoopla.</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b> The Haunted Book Shop has signed copies of my paperback books
in stock. TO ORDER, contact: <a href="https://www.thehauntedbookshopmobile.com/contact-us">https://www.thehauntedbookshopmobile.com/contact-us</a><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If she happens to be sold out, shoot me an
email. I have a small stash (for a discounted price plus shipping).</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: arial;">➜ Follow me on . . . </span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: arial;">➜ Amazon: <a href="http://amzn.to/1NIDKC0">Amazon
Central Author Page</a></span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: arial;">➜ Facebook: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/CjPettersonAuthor">https://www.facebook.com/CjPettersonAuthor</a></span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: arial;">➜ BookBub: <a href="https://www.bookbub.com/authors/cj-petterson">https://www.bookbub.com/authors/cj-petterson</a></span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: arial;">➜ Goodreads: <a href="https://bit.ly/3fcN3h6">https://bit.ly/3fcN3h6</a></span></b></div><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2840213685906004202.post-7574814450063644762024-01-14T04:00:00.100-06:002024-01-14T04:00:00.131-06:00To-be-read and well-chosen details<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>cj Sez: The next story I plan to read from my to-be-read eBook list
is THE DARKLING, a horror novel from Carolyn Haines---that is, after I finish a
re-read of TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD for a Facebook group discussion. <o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b></b></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZZUERhmTMnOKNSYwkdmUxV4apy17pqmavz5ZPme5zz8BGqx7uQX7JTkE3RsqqiJlaRtaUIVaJDqEVcmpBUh7Z03-BC8uSa_TTOeSKyLQhODvrR1qkhGpC8qjHvu2VmtYp_upBEdjKu-ud7hrTXD2el5vAvYT6SuYmL_CZKb9m-9r6g3QKhNNvuda7anY/s640/astonishing%20book.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="500" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZZUERhmTMnOKNSYwkdmUxV4apy17pqmavz5ZPme5zz8BGqx7uQX7JTkE3RsqqiJlaRtaUIVaJDqEVcmpBUh7Z03-BC8uSa_TTOeSKyLQhODvrR1qkhGpC8qjHvu2VmtYp_upBEdjKu-ud7hrTXD2el5vAvYT6SuYmL_CZKb9m-9r6g3QKhNNvuda7anY/w313-h400/astonishing%20book.jpg" width="313" /></a></b></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /></b></span><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;"> I am not, however, a fast reader. The abundance of scarring
and floaters in my eyes (from a previous surgery and aging) breaks up the words
when I try to read a book. Working on my computer has also suffered, until a
friend recommended that I use a dark page background with white letters when I
write. That’s working better. Not perfect, but better.</b></div><p></p>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b> There are so many readers posting on Facebook who exclaim
about their favorite authors and series and have shelves and shelves of books waiting
to be read, I’m in awe. Are you one of those avid readers?</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>§§</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b> Do you have an opinion about showing versus telling, for or
against? Silly question. I think all authors will declare pro, con, or not
always on the subject. Not always appears to be the majority. I’m pro but can’t
always achieve it because it’s hard. It takes visualization, remembering, and
some poetic phrasing. I think of “showing” as writing from a deep point of view,
which I love to read.</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b> A white-haired, wrinkled, old woman, you say? How about this
example of showing, not telling—excerpted from “One Well-Chosen Detail: Write
Juicy Descriptions Without Overwhelming Your Reader,” a November 15, 2023, post
on Jane Friedman’s website by author and writing coach <a href="https://click.convertkit-mail2.com/75u9mmq68zu8hk3gl4whzhq0q4o66/m2h7h5h8omqvo7um/aHR0cHM6Ly9hcHJpbGRhdmlsYS5jb20v" target="_blank">April Dávila</a> (<a href="https://click.convertkit-mail2.com/75u9mmq68zu8hk3gl4whzhq0q4o66/dpheh0h0q8ovq7hm/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5zdGFncmFtLmNvbS9hcHJpbGRhdmlsYS8=" target="_blank">@aprildavila</a>)</b></span></div><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><blockquote><i>“… in the last years she continued to settle and began to
shrink. Her mouth bowed forward and her brow sloped back, and her skull shone
pink and speckled within a mere haze of hair, which hovered about her head like
the remembered shape of an altered thing. She looked as if the nimbus of
humanity were fading away and she were turning monkey. Tendrils grew from her
eyebrows and coarse white hairs sprouted on her lip and chin. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>///”</i></blockquote></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;"> Read more of the post by clicking this link:</b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><a href="https://janefriedman.com/one-well-chosen-detail-write-juicy-descriptions-without-overwhelming-your-reader/">https://janefriedman.com/one-well-chosen-detail-write-juicy-descriptions-without-overwhelming-your-reader/</a></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>§§</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b> Things to think about: If you replace “W” with “T” in What,
Where, and When, you get the answer to each of them.</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>§§</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b> </b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b> Okay, that’s it for today. You-all guys keep on keeping on,
and I’ll try to do the same. Raising prayers for a happy and safe you and yours.</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><b>cj</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk135509903;"></span>
</b></span><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Now some words from my sponsors:</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzu8Otmb0qLcpm-TPdZxo_fNbvBHw5vSX2f-H3UW-jB828IoPkSvBmZdQ9f7zGmsZeVs8EBeG-9CucxTo14BwlcrXth1Sp-fCSsoWRulSg-zhBUkrKKBxHKUUK033ek5AHKh4Zw5EvVPM2guScu3uklJPc0QKxyoTqDg27-RlBwzjF41ns7MUoBo-CU-I/s960/Valen%20Mardi%20available.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzu8Otmb0qLcpm-TPdZxo_fNbvBHw5vSX2f-H3UW-jB828IoPkSvBmZdQ9f7zGmsZeVs8EBeG-9CucxTo14BwlcrXth1Sp-fCSsoWRulSg-zhBUkrKKBxHKUUK033ek5AHKh4Zw5EvVPM2guScu3uklJPc0QKxyoTqDg27-RlBwzjF41ns7MUoBo-CU-I/w400-h300/Valen%20Mardi%20available.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Valentines-Day-Pieces-Writers-Anthology-ebook/dp/B083Y6FRXR/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2V25P51EEZ9SI&keywords=Valentines%27+Day+Pieces+anthology+Mobile+Writers+Guild&qid=1704599739&sprefix=valentines%27+day+pieces+anthology+mobile+writers+guild%2Caps%2C99&sr=8-1">Buy
Valentine’s Day Now</a> <span class="MsoHyperlink"><o:p></o:p></span><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Mardi-Gras-Pieces-Writers-Anthology-ebook/dp/B07NV2NVDT/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2SR2I4XCLUCZU&keywords=Mardi+Gras+anthology+Mobile+Writers+Guild&qid=1704599660&sprefix=mardi+gras+anthology+mobile+writers+guild%2Caps%2C110&sr=8-1">Buy
Mardi Gras Now</a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="MsoHyperlink"><o:p></o:p></span></p></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: verdana;"> These two Mobile Writers Guild anthologies include a
variety of wonderful short stories and poems to celebrate the upcoming special
days. (P.S Mardi Gras celebrations have already started in Mobile. Krewe de la
Dauphine’s parade rolled through Dauphin Island on Jan. 13. </span></b><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><i>Laissez les bons temps rouler</i>)</b></span></div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b> My novels, THE DAWGSTAR and DEATH ON THE YAMPA are
fast-paced, thriller/suspense stories with sassy banter and a smidgen of
romance. The books are available on Amazon or through your favorite eTailer and
bookstore. Got a library card? You can read the ebooks free from Hoopla.</b></span></p><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;">The Haunted Book Shop has signed copies of my paperback books
in stock. TO ORDER, contact: <a href="https://www.thehauntedbookshopmobile.com/contact-us">https://www.thehauntedbookshopmobile.com/contact-us</a> If she happens to be sold out, shoot me an
email. I have a small stash (with a discounted price plus shipping).</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>➜ Follow me on . . . <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;">➜ Amazon: <a href="http://amzn.to/1NIDKC0">Amazon
Central Author Page</a></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;">➜ Facebook: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/CjPettersonAuthor">https://www.facebook.com/CjPettersonAuthor</a></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;">➜ BookBub: <a href="https://www.bookbub.com/authors/cj-petterson">https://www.bookbub.com/authors/cj-petterson</a></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;">➜ Goodreads: <a href="https://bit.ly/3fcN3h6">https://bit.ly/3fcN3h6</a></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b> </b></span></o:p></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2840213685906004202.post-63875961999347744282024-01-07T04:00:00.150-06:002024-01-07T04:00:00.129-06:00Welcome back to Lyrical Pens in 2024<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>cj Sez: I hope your December holiday celebrations were wonderful,
and you made many lovely memories. Now, as Draft2Digital told me in a recent
email: “It’s time to soar in 2024!”</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdZ_Smfj6DX9kQA7z_jdk84YN5lxm-0TDhACgaxx41CY4nBZ1sln56VI7DffwP5Uc3ZK8jA_0pV5TRbh9xzaPulTA83_7_Q2YodALajw7qfbILxCHal-1qOJelpy1p6rPwNoFgdLyA0DWFHrWTyeOxLIrqoF0HJoI1xJTq2xhL00atbOKfft54r8UV5Vg/s1280/flight%202024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdZ_Smfj6DX9kQA7z_jdk84YN5lxm-0TDhACgaxx41CY4nBZ1sln56VI7DffwP5Uc3ZK8jA_0pV5TRbh9xzaPulTA83_7_Q2YodALajw7qfbILxCHal-1qOJelpy1p6rPwNoFgdLyA0DWFHrWTyeOxLIrqoF0HJoI1xJTq2xhL00atbOKfft54r8UV5Vg/w473-h266/flight%202024.jpg" width="473" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b> I want to continue my last contronym post with just a few more
examples from the article “40 Words and Phrases That Are Their Own Opposites” by
Judith Herman.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: verdana;"><u>14. Clip </u></span></b><b style="font-family: verdana;">Clip <a href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/clip" target="_blank">can mean</a> “to
bind together” or “to separate.” You clip sheets of paper to together or
separate part of a page by clipping something out. Clip is a pair of
homographs, words with different origins spelled the same. Old
English clyppan, <a href="https://www.oed.com/view/Entry/34429?rskey=SY64lY&result=4#eid" target="_blank">which means</a> “to clasp with the arms, embrace, hug,”
led to our current meaning, “to hold together with a clasp.” The other clip, “<a href="https://www.oed.com/view/Entry/34430?rskey=SY64lY&result=5#eid" target="_blank">to cut or snip (a part) away</a>,” is from Old
Norse klippa, which may come from the sound of a shears.</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><u>15. Continue</u> usually means “to persist in doing
something,” but as a legal term <a href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/continue" target="_blank">it
means</a> “to stop a proceeding temporarily.”</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><u>16. Fight with</u> can be interpreted three ways. “He
fought with his mother-in-law” could mean “They argued,” “They served together
in the war,” or “He used the old battle-ax as a weapon.” (Thanks to linguistics
professor Robert Hertz for this idea.)</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><u>17. Flog,</u> meaning “to punish by caning or whipping,” showed
up in school slang of the 17th century, but now it can have the <a href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/flog" target="_blank">contrary
meaning</a>, “to promote persistently,” as in “flogging a new book.” Perhaps
that meaning arose from the sense “<a href="https://www.oed.com/view/Entry/71798?redirectedFrom=flog#eid" target="_blank">to urge (a horse, etc.) forward by whipping</a>,” which grew
out of the earliest meaning.</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><u>18. Go</u> means “to proceed,” but also “give out or fail,”
i.e., “This car could really go until it started to go.”</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><u>19. Hold up</u> can mean “to support” or “to hinder”: “What
a friend! When I’m struggling to get on my feet, he’s always there to hold me
up.”</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><u>20. Out </u>can mean “visible” or “invisible.” For example,
“It’s a good thing the full moon was out when the lights went out.”</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><u>21. Out Of</u> </b></span><b style="font-family: verdana;">Out of means “outside” or “inside”: “I hardly get out
of the house because I work out of my home.”</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><u>22. Toss Out </u> </b></span><b style="font-family: verdana;">Toss out could be either “to suggest” or “to discard”:
“I decided to toss out the idea.”</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><u>23. Peer</u> </b></span><b style="font-family: verdana;">Peer is a person of equal status (as in a jury of one’s
peers), but some peers are more equal than others, like the members of the
peerage, the British or Irish nobility.</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><u>24. Original</u> </b></span><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><a href="https://www.dictionary.com/e/s/contronyms/#original" target="_blank">According to Dictionary.com</a>, original can mean
either “belonging to the beginning of something” or “new, fresh, inventive.”</b></span><b style="font-family: verdana;"> </b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>That’s it for this thread on Lyrical Pens. To read the rest
of the article, click on this link and enjoy: <a name="_Hlk153044988"></a><a href="https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/57032/25-words-are-their-own-opposites"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk153044988;">https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/57032/25-words-are-their-own-opposites</span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk153044988;"></span></a></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk153044988;"></span>
</b></span><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: verdana;">§§</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><u> For writers and readers:</u> The link below is to a recent article on Jane
Friedman’s blog directed to writers, but I think there are some clues in there that would serve any parent
of a teen well: <a href="https://janefriedman.com/4-things-every-ya-writer-should-know-about-teens/">https://janefriedman.com/4-things-every-ya-writer-should-know-about-teens/</a></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: verdana;">§§</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b> Okay, that’s the post for today. You-all guys keep on
keeping on, and I’ll try to do the same. Raising prayers for a happy and safe
you and yours.</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;">cj</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;">Now some words from my sponsors: </b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;">Available! Two Mobile Writers Guild anthologies with a variety of wonderful short stories and poems to celebrate upcoming special days. (P.S The city of Mobile, Al, has already started Mardi Gras celebrations.)</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif9yERY9OMpInjyD_X8_DnMyz1xXVr388bumvR1aM-eyVd4t9w1wPoA1G2kBl8MoNmbJbT5qRRZ93Q9hjM9MHG6MWnQB_JQFIR0iDooWt9MI-oT-_hgAAKMp843rxhuEB0720wVYS_KHPe1BNKaJ354w2op4BREJoyM-cdG8ebdNOSgm5sUfJZKwHXe7I/s960/Valen%20Mardi%20available.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif9yERY9OMpInjyD_X8_DnMyz1xXVr388bumvR1aM-eyVd4t9w1wPoA1G2kBl8MoNmbJbT5qRRZ93Q9hjM9MHG6MWnQB_JQFIR0iDooWt9MI-oT-_hgAAKMp843rxhuEB0720wVYS_KHPe1BNKaJ354w2op4BREJoyM-cdG8ebdNOSgm5sUfJZKwHXe7I/w400-h300/Valen%20Mardi%20available.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Valentines-Day-Pieces-Writers-Anthology-ebook/dp/B083Y6FRXR/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2V25P51EEZ9SI&keywords=Valentines%27+Day+Pieces+anthology+Mobile+Writers+Guild&qid=1704599739&sprefix=valentines%27+day+pieces+anthology+mobile+writers+guild%2Caps%2C99&sr=8-1">Buy
Valentine’s Day Now</a> </span><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Mardi-Gras-Pieces-Writers-Anthology-ebook/dp/B07NV2NVDT/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2SR2I4XCLUCZU&keywords=Mardi+Gras+anthology+Mobile+Writers+Guild&qid=1704599660&sprefix=mardi+gras+anthology+mobile+writers+guild%2Caps%2C110&sr=8-1">Buy
Mardi Gras Now</a></td></tr></tbody></table><b style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b> My novels, THE DAWGSTAR and DEATH ON THE YAMPA are
fast-paced, thriller/suspense stories with sassy banter and a smidgen of
romance. The books are available on Amazon or through your favorite eTailer and
bookstore. Got a library card? You can read the ebooks free from Hoopla.</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;"> The Haunted Book Shop
has a few signed copies of my paperback books in stock. TO ORDER, contact: <a href="https://www.thehauntedbookshopmobile.com/contact-us">https://www.thehauntedbookshopmobile.com/contact-us</a> If the shop happens to be sold out, shoot me
an email. I have a small stash (with a discounted price plus shipping).</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;">➜ Follow me on . . . </b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;">➜ Amazon: <a href="http://amzn.to/1NIDKC0">Amazon
Central Author Page</a></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;">➜ Facebook: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/CjPettersonAuthor">https://www.facebook.com/CjPettersonAuthor</a></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;">➜ BookBub: <a href="https://www.bookbub.com/authors/cj-petterson">https://www.bookbub.com/authors/cj-petterson</a></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;">➜ Goodreads: <a href="https://bit.ly/3fcN3h6">https://bit.ly/3fcN3h6</a></b></div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><br /></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2840213685906004202.post-59010923825062599512023-12-17T04:00:00.002-06:002023-12-17T04:00:00.136-06:00As 2023 winds down . . . <div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>cj Sez: In the midst of the angst of world-wide wars and
civil disruptions, it is with great joy that I celebrate the birth of Christ—a figure
of love and hope.</b></span></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_gDgomEWfLlC07k_vwiQlr73b2WqqVEBRKhiHvf2PrTk0xyFD7RUWZAyXHH4O_pBEf2TIdZcg1loFePKa56vi2dsX8-3gxtEAcpXuzuW3qBIUZN1S0Vr1fy4lMOzDqdX8Kya-bJE9UNlTYuF-JodCrIlRrqOkrqiEybmy68xeRhIO4-SPRp600J-VQKM/s576/baby%20jesus%20santa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="576" data-original-width="480" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_gDgomEWfLlC07k_vwiQlr73b2WqqVEBRKhiHvf2PrTk0xyFD7RUWZAyXHH4O_pBEf2TIdZcg1loFePKa56vi2dsX8-3gxtEAcpXuzuW3qBIUZN1S0Vr1fy4lMOzDqdX8Kya-bJE9UNlTYuF-JodCrIlRrqOkrqiEybmy68xeRhIO4-SPRp600J-VQKM/w334-h400/baby%20jesus%20santa.jpg" width="334" /></a></div><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b> </b></span></o:p><p></p>
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-family: Algerian; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Merry Christmas</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-family: Algerian; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">and</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-family: Algerian; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">HAPPY NEW YEAR</span></div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<div style="text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #c00000; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">I pray your holiday celebrations at
this sacred time of year </span></i></b></div>
<p style="text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #c00000; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">are filled to the brim with God’s
peace and joy</span></i></b></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #c00000; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">and the love of family and friends. May
love,<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #c00000; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">health, peace, and happiness<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #c00000; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">follow you through all<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p>
<div style="text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #c00000; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">the days of 2024.</span></i></b></div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"> </span></div></div>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "AR BLANCA"; font-size: 22pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #134f5c;">The Lord bless you and keep you;<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "AR BLANCA"; font-size: 22pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #134f5c;">The Lord make His face shine upon you,<br />
And be gracious to you;<br />
The Lord lift up His countenance upon you,<br /></span></span></b></p><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "AR BLANCA"; font-size: 22pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #134f5c;">
And give you peace.</span></span></b></div><p></p>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><i><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><b>Numbers 6:24-26</b></span></span></i></div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><o:p> </o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>§§</b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lyrical Pens is
taking the rest of the year off, but please know, I am profoundly grateful for each friend/fan/reader who visited this page during 2023 (and before). </b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b> </b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Thank you from the bottom of my heart.</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I hope to see all y’all
in 2024. Please join Lyrical Pens on January 7, 2024, for part 2 of “Contronyms”
and etc.</b></span></div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>cj</b></span></p>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>(PS:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you’re still wondering what to give
someone, give them an adventure…give them a book! Books are non-fattening, easy to
wrap, and lasts all year long and then some.)</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk135509903;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk135509903;"></span>
</b></span><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Here are two great anthologies for your shopping list:</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://amzn.to/2Kcgr9k"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b></b></span></a><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://amzn.to/2Kcgr9k"></a><a href="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81U2ESqMDlL._SL1500_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="521" height="200" src="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81U2ESqMDlL._SL1500_.jpg" width="130" /></a></div>Christmas Through a
Child’s Eyes</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 12pt;"> This anthology has 70 stories written by adults
recounting their extraordinary childhood Christmas memories. My story, written
under my maiden name of Marilyn Olsein, is titled “Dancing with Daddy,” and
relates how six-year-old me reconnected with my Swedish father after a major
upheaval in our lives. </b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 12pt;"> The anthology is
free on Kindle Unlimited </b><b style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://amzn.to/2Kcgr9k">Buy Now</a> </b></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71oQlgnH4NL._SL1360_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="500" height="200" src="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71oQlgnH4NL._SL1360_.jpg" width="125" /></a></div> <span style="font-family: verdana;"><b> FINALLY HOME brings you eight Christmas stories all about our four-legged
friends and the special people who rescue them. From funny, to sad, to
romantic, there’s something here to tug at everyone’s heart strings. </b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b> My short
story, Puppy Love, is included.</b></span></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<div style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Finally-Home-Carrie-Dalby/dp/0578618176/ref=sr_1_1?crid=UACMFSQ5OP6A&keywords=%22Finally+Home%22+anthology&qid=1700355455&s=books&sprefix=finally+home+anthology%2Cstripbooks%2C105&sr=1-1">Buy
Button</a>::<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></b></span></div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b style="font-family: verdana;"><u>Price Increase
Alert:</u> My novels, THE DAWGSTAR and DEATH ON THE YAMPA will be going up in
price on Jan 1, 2024. Right now, they are priced at only $2.99.</b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The novels are
fast-paced, thriller/suspense stories with sassy banter and a smidgen of
romance. They are available on Amazon or through your favorite eTailer and
bookstore. Got a library card? You can read the ebooks free from Hoopla. The
Haunted Book Shop has a few signed copies of my paperback books in stock and
will ship. TO ORDER, contact: <a href="https://www.thehauntedbookshopmobile.com/contact-us">https://www.thehauntedbookshopmobile.com/contact-us</a></b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></p>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>➜ Follow me on . . . <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>➜ Amazon: <a href="http://amzn.to/1NIDKC0">Amazon
Central Author Page</a></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>➜ Facebook: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/CjPettersonAuthor">https://www.facebook.com/CjPettersonAuthor</a></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>➜ BookBub: <a href="https://www.bookbub.com/authors/cj-petterson">https://www.bookbub.com/authors/cj-petterson</a></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>➜ Goodreads: <a href="https://bit.ly/3fcN3h6">https://bit.ly/3fcN3h6</a></b></span></div><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2840213685906004202.post-91892391522041586902023-12-10T04:00:00.083-06:002023-12-10T04:00:00.136-06:00Do you know what a contronym is? (Part 1 of 3)<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>cj Sez: Here’s a fascinating article on contronyms, explaining word usages by
Judith Herman. Did I ever mention that English is hard? The article started out as 25 words and in January
2023 became: “40 Words and Phrases That Are Their Own Opposites.” The article
is a bit too long for a single Lyrical Pens post, so today’s post will include thirteen
of the words. Watch for the rest of the words in January 2024. Can you believe
that? 2024! </b></span></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPxAQrdurJW7rDXA70xJ18EAVlKDYaHjPja4I0Zw8VeMYIMKA2ZS5co2qGCkKDa0k6jcQmkWiMLZVttOC56IzuZ0cSC4WaVjE5R4uzgsRPTDrh9tXmOYQPdEQOQDMfBkIoh1kK5OZY25A5Ru5GBVB1GWIrNXutrF5xKj4L8GvESQYkeHZ6JJNpOA7FWo4/s400/antonym%20synon%20dinosaur.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="400" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPxAQrdurJW7rDXA70xJ18EAVlKDYaHjPja4I0Zw8VeMYIMKA2ZS5co2qGCkKDa0k6jcQmkWiMLZVttOC56IzuZ0cSC4WaVjE5R4uzgsRPTDrh9tXmOYQPdEQOQDMfBkIoh1kK5OZY25A5Ru5GBVB1GWIrNXutrF5xKj4L8GvESQYkeHZ6JJNpOA7FWo4/w400-h400/antonym%20synon%20dinosaur.jpg" width="400" /></a></div></b></span></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b> Stumble into the looking-glass world of contronyms — Judith
Herman </b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b> Here’s an ambiguous sentence for you: “Because of the
agency’s oversight, the corporation’s behavior was sanctioned.” Does that mean,
“Because the agency oversaw the company’s behavior, they imposed a penalty for
some transgression,” or does it mean, “Because the agency was inattentive, they
overlooked the misbehavior and gave it their approval by default”? We’ve
stumbled into the looking-glass world of contronyms—words that are their own
antonyms. </b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTYcshxS5e6ypx0mwk1QADI0yhVR8sBc78buVCJtWucz7bpUntkF7TosW06KwoEbiLPDYi3Jy3SUxNiH0ff8qJg6UaksQ6BpsHUZfcvTYh4i-3lpxjFr2w1Yd5E1VFM1ZyxcHv5xVA46CyfHj1Irp2G4EMNaUj2LWpO6SCXH9hdWYijo8paxRre3HFu_0/s297/janus%20blue.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="240" data-original-width="297" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTYcshxS5e6ypx0mwk1QADI0yhVR8sBc78buVCJtWucz7bpUntkF7TosW06KwoEbiLPDYi3Jy3SUxNiH0ff8qJg6UaksQ6BpsHUZfcvTYh4i-3lpxjFr2w1Yd5E1VFM1ZyxcHv5xVA46CyfHj1Irp2G4EMNaUj2LWpO6SCXH9hdWYijo8paxRre3HFu_0/s1600/janus%20blue.jpg" width="297" /></a></div> The contronym (also spelled “contranym”) goes by many names,
including auto-antonym, antagonym, enantiodrome, self-antonym, antilogy, and
Janus word (from the Roman god of beginnings and endings, often depicted with
two faces looking in opposite directions). </b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Here are a few of them.</b></span></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>1. Sanction—which <a href="https://www.oed.com/view/Entry/170490?rskey=h0begF&result=1&isAdvanced=false#eid" target="_blank">came to English via French</a>, from Latin sanctio(n-) and sancire, “to
ratify,”—can mean “give official permission or approval for (an action)” or
conversely, “impose a penalty on.”</b></span></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>2. Oversight is the noun form of two verbs with <a href="https://www.oed.com/view/Entry/235559?rskey=4pBxdD&result=2#eid" target="_blank">contrary meanings</a>: “oversee” and “overlook.” Oversee, <a href="https://www.etymonline.com/search?q=oversee" target="_blank">from Old
English ofersēon</a> (“look at from above”) means “supervise”
(medieval Latin for <a href="https://www.etymonline.com/search?q=supervise" target="_blank">the same thing</a>: super-, “over” plus videre, “to
see”). Overlook usually means the opposite: “to fail to see or
observe; to pass over without noticing; to disregard, ignore,” <a href="https://www.oed.com/view/Entry/134802?rskey=ObtKtv&result=2#eid" target="_blank">according to</a> the Oxford English Dictionary.</b></span></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>3. Left can mean either remaining or departed. If the
gentlemen have withdrawn to the drawing room for after-dinner cigars, who’s
left? (The gentlemen have left and the ladies are left.)</b></span></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>4. Dust, along with the next two words, is a noun
turned into a verb <a href="https://www.oed.com/view/Entry/58685?rskey=JeAbMU&result=3#eid" target="_blank">meaning either</a> to add or to remove the thing in
question. Only the context will tell you which it is. When you dust are you
applying dust or removing it? It depends whether you’re dusting the crops or
the furniture.</b></span></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>5. <a href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/seed" target="_blank">Seed</a> can also go either way. If you seed the lawn you
add seeds, but if you seed a tomato you remove them.</b></span></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>6. Stone is another verb to use with caution. You can
stone some peaches, but please don’t stone your neighbor (even if he says he
likes to get stoned).</b></span></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>7. Trim as a verb predates the noun, but it can also mean
either adding or taking away. Arising from an Old English word meaning “to make
firm or strong; to settle, arrange,” <a href="https://www.oed.com/view/Entry/206108#eid17563603" target="_blank">according
to the OED</a>, trim came to mean “to prepare, make ready.” Depending
on whom or what was being readied, <a href="https://www.oed.com/view/Entry/206108?rskey=OxnyWJ&result=3&isAdvanced=false#eid" target="_blank">it could mean</a> either of two contradictory things: “to
decorate [something] with ribbons, laces, or the like ... to give it a finished
appearance” or “to cut off the [outgrowths] or irregularities of.” And the
context doesn’t always make it clear. If you’re trimming the tree are you using
tinsel or a chain saw?</b></span></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>8. Cleave can be cleaved into <a href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cleave" target="_blank">two
homographs</a>, words with different origins that end up spelled the
same. Cleave, meaning “to cling to or adhere,” comes from an Old English
word that took the forms cleofian, clifian, or clīfan. Cleave,
with the contrary <a href="https://www.oed.com/view/Entry/34105?rskey=5SSyLy&result=3#eid" target="_blank">meaning</a> “to split or sever (something)”—as you might
do with a cleaver—comes from a different Old English word, clēofan. The
past participle has taken various forms: cloven, which survives in the
phrase “cloven hoof,” “cleft,” as in a “cleft palate” or “cleaved.”</b></span></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>9. Fast <a href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fast" target="_blank">can mean</a> “moving
rapidly,” as in running fast, or “fixed, unmoving,” as in holding
fast. If colors are fast they will not run. The meaning “firm, steadfast” <a href="https://www.oed.com/view/Entry/68423?rskey=NL8gbZ&result=8#eid" target="_blank">came first</a>; the adverb took on the sense “strongly,
vigorously,” which evolved into “quickly,” a meaning that spread to the
adjective.</b></span></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>10. Off means “deactivated,” as in to turn off,
but also “activated,” as in the alarm went off.</b></span></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>11. Weather can mean “to withstand or come safely
through” (as in the company weathered the recession) or it can mean “to be
worn away” (the rock was weathered).</b></span></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>12. You'd screen a movie on this screen. Screen can mean “to show” (a movie) or “to hide” (an
unsightly view).</b></span></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>13. Help means “assist,” unless you can’t help doing
something, when it means “prevent. </b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>§§</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLLHD7hIzW4P3RxkcbagzLbZbStm4EhIM2y7oyueT_Ron3CoE-_Gab1e5r7nU_DnmBSRzZ7RJ8FBIOsYoSn-m-A0MLFLUUYm-AWjoxo6w_UrOtTzhlEciV-iCk_Iv2KFbGaAe8kVtrfyLlGVwkIE8Y-kn6yYINdFH_bbO1dQoikJVnEnLyGW2XHdoIPC8/s1200/hanukkah.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1200" height="178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLLHD7hIzW4P3RxkcbagzLbZbStm4EhIM2y7oyueT_Ron3CoE-_Gab1e5r7nU_DnmBSRzZ7RJ8FBIOsYoSn-m-A0MLFLUUYm-AWjoxo6w_UrOtTzhlEciV-iCk_Iv2KFbGaAe8kVtrfyLlGVwkIE8Y-kn6yYINdFH_bbO1dQoikJVnEnLyGW2XHdoIPC8/s320/hanukkah.jpg" width="320" /></a></div></b></span></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b> Google search info: The first night of Hanukkah 2023 started at nightfall on Thursday, Dec. 7, 2023, and the first candle is lit.
The final candles are lit on Thursday evening, Dec. 14, and the holiday
concludes the following day, Dec. 15.</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>§§</b></span></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b> Okay, that’s it for today. You-all guys keep on keeping on,
and I’ll try to do the same. Raising prayers for a happy and safe you and yours.</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><b>cj</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81U2ESqMDlL._SL1500_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="521" height="200" src="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81U2ESqMDlL._SL1500_.jpg" width="130" /></a></div><br /> Here are two anthologies to put on your shopping list:</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://amzn.to/2Kcgr9k"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Christmas Through a
Child’s Eyes</b></span></a> </div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b> Written under my maiden name of Marilyn Olsein,
my short story is titled “Dancing with Daddy,” and relates how, after a major
upheaval in our lives, six-year-old me reconnected with the Swedish father I
could no longer understand. The anthology is free on Kindle.</b></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><a href="https://amzn.to/2Kcgr9k">Buy Now</a> </b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71oQlgnH4NL._SL1360_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="500" height="200" src="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71oQlgnH4NL._SL1360_.jpg" width="125" /></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;">FINALLY HOME </b><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>brings you eight Christmas stories
all about our four-legged friends and the special people who rescue them. From
funny, to sad, to romantic, there’s something here to tug at everyone’s heart
strings. My short story, Puppy Love, is included.</b></span></span></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71oQlgnH4NL._SL1360_.jpg"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b></b></span></a></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Finally-Home-Carrie-Dalby/dp/0578618176/ref=sr_1_1?crid=UACMFSQ5OP6A&keywords=%22Finally+Home%22+anthology&qid=1700355455&s=books&sprefix=finally+home+anthology%2Cstripbooks%2C105&sr=1-1">Buy
Button</a>:: </b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b> <u>Price Increase
Alert:</u> My novels, THE DAWGSTAR and DEATH ON THE YAMPA will be going up in
price on Jan 1, 2024. Right now, they are priced at only $2.99.</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b> </b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b> The novels are
fast-paced, thriller/suspense stories with sassy banter and a smidgen of
romance. The books are available on Amazon or through your favorite eTailer and
bookstore. Got a library card? You can read the ebooks free from Hoopla.</b></span></div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b> Little note: Angela
Trigg, the RITA Award-winning author and owner of The Haunted Book Shop has a
few signed copies of my paperback books in stock. TO ORDER, contact: <a href="https://www.thehauntedbookshopmobile.com/contact-us">https://www.thehauntedbookshopmobile.com/contact-us</a> </b></span><o:p></o:p></p>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>➜ Follow me on . . . </b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>➜ Amazon: <a href="http://amzn.to/1NIDKC0">Amazon
Central Author Page</a></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>➜ Facebook: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/CjPettersonAuthor">https://www.facebook.com/CjPettersonAuthor</a></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>➜ BookBub: <a href="https://www.bookbub.com/authors/cj-petterson">https://www.bookbub.com/authors/cj-petterson</a></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>➜ Goodreads: <a href="https://bit.ly/3fcN3h6">https://bit.ly/3fcN3h6</a> </b></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2840213685906004202.post-92078745848562239172023-12-03T04:00:00.166-06:002023-12-03T04:00:00.137-06:00Let's talk villains and heroes<div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>cj Sez: Let’s talk about how to write a “real” villain. The
antagonist, like the protagonist, needs a yen and a yang to be a whole person—i.e.,
a personality where seemingly opposite forces may be complementary, where,
together, the dual personalities make the whole.</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><b style="text-align: left;"><br /></b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEYt9Qy6_l04FvbJb8Q_hl5MnsV5lWoKIUm-OT0Cw0XGZ35eghktk8MchkfCpF7OIAirbN-DX8M1c5ig44ShL-Zglnd9ZtA1vo4sa8w7dh6J38oni6AhNEYcgtjtCj4kqW3fOtDSqID6ROVIyR7mzlby0sX6PfJLpXJZS5DugMUlU-U4fsotgAAIneIxg/s260/260px-Yin_yang.svg.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="260" data-original-width="260" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEYt9Qy6_l04FvbJb8Q_hl5MnsV5lWoKIUm-OT0Cw0XGZ35eghktk8MchkfCpF7OIAirbN-DX8M1c5ig44ShL-Zglnd9ZtA1vo4sa8w7dh6J38oni6AhNEYcgtjtCj4kqW3fOtDSqID6ROVIyR7mzlby0sX6PfJLpXJZS5DugMUlU-U4fsotgAAIneIxg/w400-h400/260px-Yin_yang.svg.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The yin yang symbol is often referred to as "taijitu"<br /> —a Chinese symbol that represents the interconnection of two opposites</span>.</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Captivating stories require
that both protagonist and antagonist need some kind of flaw to make the
characters interesting. Perhaps the villain’s flaw is that s/he is not
thoroughly evil but hides some spark of sympathetic “good” inside. Maybe s/he
sends money to an animal rescue shelter because of the memory of a cherished childhood
pet. Or the antagonist supports an invalid mother with the money earned from
doing evil deeds. </b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8qnzVIxjzfwAXWftQiz7_-atarqjErVIujey_7c9Zh5sEW0rAIimGZYqGrviiWMQ3ipumxwViuCYqYWSXs5fSXj8T-0souujfC_IfNzUcQQG0QShq7DSiPPTNATsbvNdOVA_CvKoqoYAMwZUZvLQ2PZV463WuHBgn-eCUFqCH17t-yGgXXiSbKtd13OU/s620/24tjpq%20every%20sweet%20girl%20hs%20family.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="496" data-original-width="620" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8qnzVIxjzfwAXWftQiz7_-atarqjErVIujey_7c9Zh5sEW0rAIimGZYqGrviiWMQ3ipumxwViuCYqYWSXs5fSXj8T-0souujfC_IfNzUcQQG0QShq7DSiPPTNATsbvNdOVA_CvKoqoYAMwZUZvLQ2PZV463WuHBgn-eCUFqCH17t-yGgXXiSbKtd13OU/s320/24tjpq%20every%20sweet%20girl%20hs%20family.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> </span>Like the
protagonist, the antagonist needs motivation, a goal, and some psychological
reason for that motivation. A perfect villain is the same thing as a perfect
hero, a cartoon of a character. You have to ask the same questions of the
antagonist that you do of the protagonist; the questions that lead to the plot
and theme: What does s/he want, why, and what will s/he do to reach the goal?</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maybe s/he wants to
do something as benign as to cause a little family ruckus in order to get
attention. Or maybe s/he wants to kill someone. But why? The answer to that is
what helps to give the character dimension as s/he pushes toward their goal.</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Depending on how
involved they are in the story, it follows that tertiary characters require a bit of similar
development.</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Authors really have to
know their characters. I write little bios for all my characters, including the
villain. When I’ve created their background worlds, I know what makes them
tick, how they will react, and what they will say in the situation I create.
Their backgrounds are never inserted as an info dump, though pieces and bits
may surface during their dialogues. Knowing my characters inside and out also
helps me develop deep point of view scenes.</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As readers, what do
you expect from the characters? As writers, how do you get to know your
characters?</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>§§</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><a href="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81LXrVBu5lL._SL1500_.jpg"></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81LXrVBu5lL._SL1500_.jpg"></a><a href="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81LXrVBu5lL._SL1500_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="500" height="320" src="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81LXrVBu5lL._SL1500_.jpg" width="200" /></a></div></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;"> In last week’s post, LP wrote about
author brands. Mobile author Carrie Dalby has such a signature brand. She writes
Southern Gothic stories, incorporating the historic architecture of Mobile,
Alabama, in her settings. Her latest effort is ALLIANCE: WASHINGTON SQUARE
SECRETS 2, which launches on Tuesday, December 5…it’s available for pre-order
through your favorite bookstore/app.</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span><span style="font-family: verdana;">Carrie says: </span><span style="font-family: Libre Baskerville;">“<i>ALLIANCE is
a fast-paced paranormal Southern Gothic as opposed to the slower pace of my
family sagas. There is a new cast of diverse characters, as well as a few
familiar faces and locations. I hope you'll find time during this holiday
season to read. The main section of the book is set December 1912-January
1913 with Christmas and New Year's scenes.”</i></span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>§§</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A book signing is in
your future should you choose to stop by The Haunted Book Shop on Dec. 8, from 6
p.m.to 8 p.m. during Mobile’s LoDa Art Walk. Local authors, Rebecca Barrett and
Carrie Dalby are being featured, so if you’re in the Mobile, AL, area, you are
cordially invited to stop by and say “hey!”</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>§§</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b> Okay, that’s it for today. You-all guys keep on keeping on,
and I’ll try to do the same. Raising prayers for a happy and safe you and yours.</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><b>cj</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk135509903;"></span>
</b></span><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Now some words from my sponsors:</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCh7CMLMlgeyxEpVothK-gMcQl0m79SN3hwEN9iymwlYoUXGS4LC9EPhVNw0fZjHr-G_xGYfxtZBVqBmnKSNCLtM2AqMcJ-pwIHORG1ke8BoKS1rrsp6-kHDjEpxC_eyy8iCRVU_Hb1Bn-GGTUSWHqufHNLM2N5ameG0p8i0rBx9lFzMsQi7HY89IbHcM/s484/books%20great%20gifts.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="426" data-original-width="484" height="176" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCh7CMLMlgeyxEpVothK-gMcQl0m79SN3hwEN9iymwlYoUXGS4LC9EPhVNw0fZjHr-G_xGYfxtZBVqBmnKSNCLtM2AqMcJ-pwIHORG1ke8BoKS1rrsp6-kHDjEpxC_eyy8iCRVU_Hb1Bn-GGTUSWHqufHNLM2N5ameG0p8i0rBx9lFzMsQi7HY89IbHcM/w200-h176/books%20great%20gifts.jpg" width="200" /></a></div></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;"> Christmas is THE gift-giving holiday of the year, and books
are always great suggestions for gifts—they don’t require daily watering, they’re
not fattening, and they are very easy to wrap, even two or three at a time. </b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;"> I
have stories in several anthologies with Christmas as the theme. Here are two
to put on your shopping list:</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><a href="https://amzn.to/2Kcgr9k">Christmas Through a
Child’s Eyes</a></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><a href="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81U2ESqMDlL._SL1500_.jpg"></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81U2ESqMDlL._SL1500_.jpg"></a><a href="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81U2ESqMDlL._SL1500_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="521" height="200" src="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81U2ESqMDlL._SL1500_.jpg" width="130" /></a></div></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This anthology has
70 stories written by adults recounting their extraordinary childhood Christmas
memories. </b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b> </b><b>Written under my
maiden name of Marilyn Olsein, my short story is titled “Dancing with Daddy,”
and relates how, after a major upheaval in our lives, six-year-old me
reconnected with the Swedish father I could no longer understand.</b><b> </b></span><b style="font-family: verdana;">The anthology is free on Kindle. <a href="https://amzn.to/2Kcgr9k">Buy Now</a> </b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">§§</span></b></div><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Finally-Home-Carrie-Dalby/dp/0578618176/ref=sr_1_1?crid=UACMFSQ5OP6A&keywords=%22Finally+Home%22+anthology&qid=1700355455&s=books&sprefix=finally+home+anthology%2Cstripbooks%2C105&sr=1-1"></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Finally-Home-Carrie-Dalby/dp/0578618176/ref=sr_1_1?crid=UACMFSQ5OP6A&keywords=%22Finally+Home%22+anthology&qid=1700355455&s=books&sprefix=finally+home+anthology%2Cstripbooks%2C105&sr=1-1"></a><a href="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71oQlgnH4NL._SL1360_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="500" height="200" src="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71oQlgnH4NL._SL1360_.jpg" width="125" /></a></div></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;">FINALLY HOME brings you eight Christmas stories all about
our four-legged friends and the special people who rescue them. From funny, to
sad, to romantic, there’s something here to tug at everyone’s heart strings. </b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;"> My
short story, "Puppy Love," is included.</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b> <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Finally-Home-Carrie-Dalby/dp/0578618176/ref=sr_1_1?crid=UACMFSQ5OP6A&keywords=%22Finally+Home%22+anthology&qid=1700355455&s=books&sprefix=finally+home+anthology%2Cstripbooks%2C105&sr=1-1">Buy
Button</a>::<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;"><u><span style="color: red;">* </span>Price Increase
Alert:</u> My novels, THE DAWGSTAR and DEATH ON THE YAMPA will be going up in price
on Jan 1, 2024. Right now, they are priced at only $2.99.</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The novels are
fast-paced, thriller/suspense stories with sassy banter and a smidgen of
romance. The books are available on Amazon or through your favorite eTailer and
bookstore. Got a library card? You can read the ebooks free from Hoopla.</b></span></div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Little note: Angela
Trigg, the RITA Award-winning author and owner of The Haunted Book Shop has a
few signed copies of my paperback books in stock. TO ORDER, contact: <a href="https://www.thehauntedbookshopmobile.com/contact-us">https://www.thehauntedbookshopmobile.com/contact-us</a><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></b></span></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b> If she happens to be sold out, shoot me an
email. I have a small stash (with a discounted price plus shipping).</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: arial;">➜ Follow me on . . . <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> <br /></span></span></b><b><span style="font-family: arial;">➜ Amazon: <a href="http://amzn.to/1NIDKC0">Amazon
Central Author Page<br /></a></span></b><b><span style="font-family: arial;">➜ Facebook:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/CjPettersonAuthor">https://www.facebook.com/CjPettersonAuthor<br /></a></span></b><b><span style="font-family: arial;">➜ BookBub:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><a href="https://www.bookbub.com/authors/cj-petterson">https://www.bookbub.com/authors/cj-petterson<br /></a></span></b><b><span style="font-family: arial;">➜ Goodreads: <a href="https://bit.ly/3fcN3h6">https://bit.ly/3fcN3h6</a></span></b></div>
<br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2840213685906004202.post-64671865225869142952023-11-26T04:00:00.171-06:002023-11-26T04:00:00.142-06:00Author brands sell books<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>cj Sez: If you saw a new book and the author was Stephen
King, you’d expect to read a work of horror/psychological fiction from this
prolific storyteller. How about if the author was Dame Agatha Christie?
You’d expect something 180 degrees from King’s genre: cozy crime mysteries. </b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKjnUyDSuMIyAQHGrPtLKbcokhYbXs3ABA5LfU0_iOlC9UafdPdioL4otBmHFV-2m444KVc_8Tnnj889epuL4HNidcirh7ACjVG_K7fwnGJTbbUBdX0QA2Axo2vAH_tdA2ZvNzS_a3Vm4s8Pb4csT5icdKTTuliEmBdrmrq5iKq-C_1pJn3mFLWS3E5lU/s395/oh%20look%20a%20book.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="395" data-original-width="332" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKjnUyDSuMIyAQHGrPtLKbcokhYbXs3ABA5LfU0_iOlC9UafdPdioL4otBmHFV-2m444KVc_8Tnnj889epuL4HNidcirh7ACjVG_K7fwnGJTbbUBdX0QA2Axo2vAH_tdA2ZvNzS_a3Vm4s8Pb4csT5icdKTTuliEmBdrmrq5iKq-C_1pJn3mFLWS3E5lU/w336-h400/oh%20look%20a%20book.jpg" width="336" /></a></div><br /><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b> What you’ve just done is recognized these two authors’
unique brands. </b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;"> If I said, “Murder on the Orient Express,” you’d
automatically think cozy mystery written by Agatha Christie. If I said, “She’s been nominated for the
Agatha Award,” you’d know I meant Agatha Christie and you’d know what kind of
story is being considered for the award.</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;"> Stephen King + Misery (Or Cujo or Carrie or The Shining, et
al.) = Stephen King Brand: horror/psychological fiction.</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;"> When readers recognize your name, they’ve recognized your
brand.</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnKYZS_ymXN7Sph-6dNvDI6WDK11pG-57GYIfc9a0ntzHlDwhCm0QgxarIKVCNJqnh3LA6pRKYsx06zn9DiJ9gScR4FMMfbN7bn4CGZ0Qi2xpGJTsbOcOEEiZGjidQTDP94BRlIo_dGHYualdIvRFf1XQBslJflGFnRXZWN2wjhEBKOLKgpH_Q3AunRlU/s749/expert%20was%20beginner.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="749" data-original-width="499" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnKYZS_ymXN7Sph-6dNvDI6WDK11pG-57GYIfc9a0ntzHlDwhCm0QgxarIKVCNJqnh3LA6pRKYsx06zn9DiJ9gScR4FMMfbN7bn4CGZ0Qi2xpGJTsbOcOEEiZGjidQTDP94BRlIo_dGHYualdIvRFf1XQBslJflGFnRXZWN2wjhEBKOLKgpH_Q3AunRlU/s320/expert%20was%20beginner.jpg" width="213" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;"> Building your author brand needs to be one of the first
things you do, even if you are yet to be published. Start with a Facebook page.
It’s free. </b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;"> Set up a blog site, and make sure the theme, style and author voice
of the two are consistent. Use similar colors and fonts in signage, swag,
banners for book signings, and business cards. You want your readers to
identify you and your name by your ideas and concepts.</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;"> Now you can develop a brand summary by defining who “you”
are or what your books are about.</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDPE_nWe8O2ynHiTXbWUf39VTEvI-Fc-9YqI8L58BVMuqkUfoIU3ZfoRudw1qIFvq5no7qu3PYTmXwqMwDhNlS3ISt8ufC5swca97caqCmoTvt1jaWCUfN49SYZrvk_gAe4FnlyEplT780e84X6Yik4xF499pV5_vmE41GVK5spSjDvR1aowLL86G_5eA/s1160/cj%20author%20pix%20%20crop%202.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1160" data-original-width="858" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDPE_nWe8O2ynHiTXbWUf39VTEvI-Fc-9YqI8L58BVMuqkUfoIU3ZfoRudw1qIFvq5no7qu3PYTmXwqMwDhNlS3ISt8ufC5swca97caqCmoTvt1jaWCUfN49SYZrvk_gAe4FnlyEplT780e84X6Yik4xF499pV5_vmE41GVK5spSjDvR1aowLL86G_5eA/w148-h200/cj%20author%20pix%20%20crop%202.jpg" width="148" /></a></div><b style="font-family: verdana;"> Although I write in multiple genres, my “writer’s voice” and
pacing are pretty much the same. </b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;"> To reinforce my author image, I wear my squash
blossom necklace to every writerly event I attend (some social events as well). </b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: verdana;">§§</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;"> Tomorrow’s full moon (Monday, Nov. 27 at 4:16 a.m. EST) is known as the Beaver Moon. According to The Old Farmer's
Almanac, which lists monthly full moon names from Native American, Colonial
American and European folklore, the Beaver Moon's name refers to the time of
the year in which beavers take shelter in their lodges to prepare for winter,
and also the time in which beaver fur traps would be historically set up in
North America.</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: verdana;">§§</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: verdana;"><u>Writer Tips (cj sez: Good stuff.)</u></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;"> <a href="https://quoteinvestigator.com/2012/04/28/shorter-letter/" target="_blank">Benjamin
Franklin</a> once wrote to the Royal Society of London: “I have already
made this paper too long, for which I must crave pardon, not having now time to
make it shorter.” Jane Friedman’s guest
post by author <a href="https://amywrites.live/" target="_blank">Amy L.
Bernstein</a> is a keeper. </b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;"> </b><b style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://janefriedman.com/writing-short-book-description/">https://janefriedman.com/writing-short-book-description/</a></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>§§</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;"> Author/editor/professor Brenda Copeland has a guest post on
Career Authors site identifying POV and goes into wonderful examples of close
third person POV. Extremely illustrative. I’m keeping a copy of this teaching
moment for future reference. </b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://careerauthors.com/third-person-close-pov/">https://careerauthors.com/third-person-close-pov/</a></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>§§</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b> Okay, that’s it for today. You-all guys keep on keeping on,
and I’ll try to do the same. Raising prayers for a happy and safe you and yours.</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;">cj</span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;">Now some words from my sponsors:</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHpWQ65qQY__xX8Yuy3obxwNYyfDsRuirqF7D36lsjZ6k83zcZLnhH0RAxaASnZE0WllZqzGfi_ijd0RP-ap2_50EQT785eG6aThK-N8jaI-L677Qr_Yzi80AlraZys1wa1Mvusbw-wMcQbmT8yHYSbUP0FJ2t-OEwxy38aXqCBKMGBHK5_tx8Zvf_Y1U/s484/books%20great%20gifts.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="426" data-original-width="484" height="282" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHpWQ65qQY__xX8Yuy3obxwNYyfDsRuirqF7D36lsjZ6k83zcZLnhH0RAxaASnZE0WllZqzGfi_ijd0RP-ap2_50EQT785eG6aThK-N8jaI-L677Qr_Yzi80AlraZys1wa1Mvusbw-wMcQbmT8yHYSbUP0FJ2t-OEwxy38aXqCBKMGBHK5_tx8Zvf_Y1U/s320/books%20great%20gifts.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b> Books are always great suggestions for gifts. They don't need water, they're not fattening; and they're easy to wrap. And Christmas
is THE gift-giving holiday of the year. </b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b> I have stories in several anthologies
with Christmas as the theme. Here are two to put on your shopping list:</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71oQlgnH4NL._SL1360_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="500" height="200" src="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71oQlgnH4NL._SL1360_.jpg" width="125" /></a></div></b></span></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>FINALLY HOME brings you eight Christmas stories all about
our four-legged friends and the special people who rescue them. From funny, to
sad, to romantic, there’s something here to tug at everyone’s heart strings. My
short story, "</b></span><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Puppy Love,"</b></span><b style="font-family: verdana;"> is included.</b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;"> <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Finally-Home-Carrie-Dalby/dp/0578618176/ref=sr_1_1?crid=UACMFSQ5OP6A&keywords=%22Finally+Home%22+anthology&qid=1700355455&s=books&sprefix=finally+home+anthology%2Cstripbooks%2C105&sr=1-1">Buy
Button</a>:: </b></p>
<div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81U2ESqMDlL._SL1500_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="521" height="200" src="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81U2ESqMDlL._SL1500_.jpg" width="130" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://amzn.to/2Kcgr9k">Christmas Through a
Child’s Eyes</a></b></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;"> This anthology has 70 stories written by adults recounting
their extraordinary childhood Christmas memories. </b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;"> My story, written under my
maiden name of Marilyn Olsein, is titled “Dancing with Daddy,” and relates how
six-year-old me reconnected with my Swedish father after a major upheaval in
our lives.</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;"> The anthology is free on Kindle. <a href="https://amzn.to/2Kcgr9k">Buy Now</a> </b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b> My novels THE DAWGSTAR and DEATH ON THE YAMPA are
fast-paced, thriller/suspense stories with sassy banter and a smidgen of
romance. The books are available on Amazon or through your favorite eTailer and
bookstore. Got a library card? You can read the ebooks free from Hoopla.</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;"> Little note: Angela Trigg, the RITA Award-winning author and
owner of The Haunted Book Shop has a few signed copies of my books in stock. TO
ORDER, contact: <a href="https://www.thehauntedbookshopmobile.com/contact-us">https://www.thehauntedbookshopmobile.com/contact-us</a> If she happens to be sold out, shoot me an
email. I have a small stash (with a discounted price plus shipping).</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: arial;">➜ Follow me on . . . </span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: arial;">➜ Amazon: <a href="http://amzn.to/1NIDKC0">Amazon
Central Author Page</a></span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: arial;">➜ Facebook: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/CjPettersonAuthor">https://www.facebook.com/CjPettersonAuthor</a></span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: arial;">➜ BookBub: <a href="https://www.bookbub.com/authors/cj-petterson">https://www.bookbub.com/authors/cj-petterson</a></span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: arial;">➜ Goodreads: <a href="https://bit.ly/3fcN3h6">https://bit.ly/3fcN3h6</a></span></b></div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b> </b></span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /></b></span></o:p></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2840213685906004202.post-84306680034473567172023-11-19T04:00:00.047-06:002023-11-19T04:00:00.132-06:00Avoid Clichés Like the Plague? Or are they useful?<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>cj Sez:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was
reviewing some notes I have and the following paragraphs jumped out at me for
today’s blog. <span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">I think we can agree that
novels need a theme, a premise on which to hang the action and plot points. An
overall theme continues as a thread through the novel. It lets a writer connect
the dots of subplots to the main plot.<o:p></o:p></span></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b></b></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4cQt23Vavrhc0QK10OyRrYfNjZT09ifsBymYdHFIRWbwMyr4Xdfum8fa9znd7FF7dEljTV1PUxsX4GmJhIypaR_b0uP7x5G0GstmVj4-X1IkR-x0EwBc2a4xRAfc905bpEC37lv2BURaMgtsxnK-wQ4AHkpLZfBG8h2pfIckwNp0YqseIATpyZwoFDvw/s469/cliche%20trope.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="357" data-original-width="469" height="305" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4cQt23Vavrhc0QK10OyRrYfNjZT09ifsBymYdHFIRWbwMyr4Xdfum8fa9znd7FF7dEljTV1PUxsX4GmJhIypaR_b0uP7x5G0GstmVj4-X1IkR-x0EwBc2a4xRAfc905bpEC37lv2BURaMgtsxnK-wQ4AHkpLZfBG8h2pfIckwNp0YqseIATpyZwoFDvw/w400-h305/cliche%20trope.jpg" width="400" /></a></b></span></div><p></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><u>Caveat</u>: A cliché is, by
definition, a trite and overused expression, a figure of speech that has become
tiresome.</b></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One way to get a handle on finding your
theme/premise might be to describe your novel in one sentence, as with a
cliché.</b></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The neat thing is, once you’ve discovered
that one true sentence for your novel, you can polish it into a marketing
blurb.</b></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Consider this theme/premise/cliché for a
romance story: “Love will find a way.” Then every time you put an obstacle in a
character’s path on the way to happily ever after, that obstacle can be
overcome with some kind of act of love . . . even self-love (conceit, egotism)
is fair game. </b></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the premise/cliché, “<span style="color: #141414;">All’s fair in love and war,” the character is free to do
whatever s/he can in order to capture the heart of a lover</span>. </b></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For a love story, that beautiful,
angst-filled drama which doesn’t always end happily ever after, a perfect
cliché might be, “Always a bridesmaid, never a bride.” </b></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Or this tired, old saw for a YA or memoir:
“A coming of age story.” That keeps the threads of the story tied to some
agonizing affliction and growth of young people over a longer time span.</b></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b> </b></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Find your cliché and tape it to your desk.
It’ll keep you focused on the theme of your story, despite all those wonderful
obstacles you throw in the path of the protagonist.</b></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>NOTE: Several writer coaches/experts advise
against the use of any clichés in the story’s narrative. That said, I think
there are ways to use them</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">—f</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">or example, you might have one particular character who loves to rattle
off clichés.<o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>§§</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><u><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Writerly info:</b></span></u></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On Jane Friedman’s
blog: “One Well-Chosen Detail: Write Juicy Descriptions Without Overwhelming
Your Reader,” by author and writing coach April D<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">á</span>vila. </b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><a href="https://janefriedman.com/one-well-chosen-detail-write-juicy-descriptions-without-overwhelming-your-reader/">https://janefriedman.com/one-well-chosen-detail-write-juicy-descriptions-without-overwhelming-your-reader/</a></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>§§</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b> Did you know that the first “general day of thanksgiving
and prayer” was established by Presidential Proclamation in 1789?</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>And since we won’t be together on the holiday . . . </b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-yuHs0kO56pzROiLphT1kqJyedeGUpJI7RCGbQ36DG_68Ly-Sj4xz1cS5s3RcpI9ERdRDKaz8lB71zbLj5amf8VzSWdopa-UA4d1h1yAPuiLN7j6c_V33Z3OSf3E3TBKaYU7tF2oSc2zc8DTsocVb1ZWvmlaASnDe8fDAmVEwTxFxkpPFIyqSLuC63-c/s1280/thanksgiving%20emerson.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="853" data-original-width="1280" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-yuHs0kO56pzROiLphT1kqJyedeGUpJI7RCGbQ36DG_68Ly-Sj4xz1cS5s3RcpI9ERdRDKaz8lB71zbLj5amf8VzSWdopa-UA4d1h1yAPuiLN7j6c_V33Z3OSf3E3TBKaYU7tF2oSc2zc8DTsocVb1ZWvmlaASnDe8fDAmVEwTxFxkpPFIyqSLuC63-c/w400-h266/thanksgiving%20emerson.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /></b></span></div></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>§§</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b> Okay, that’s it for today. You-all guys keep on keeping on,
and I’ll try to do the same. Raising prayers for a happy and safe you and yours.
</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;">cj</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMxYxuqhSRTIYAW1h4_h8hVRir91ODJGmNcdz5qAbjcp7RzM3czhIebIpkq3R6hXenjQHMb_-GKLDqU1GhJfsHuRgyYaDlPI0945FOp7wy_9h3fOsn39qtjDELhJuH_J-44tVALtfeid90hDDT1tS0ypwROp9_p0qVkJ4m4ZO_IfRTTe0exPLbvwLv5jY/s484/books%20great%20gifts.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="426" data-original-width="484" height="176" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMxYxuqhSRTIYAW1h4_h8hVRir91ODJGmNcdz5qAbjcp7RzM3czhIebIpkq3R6hXenjQHMb_-GKLDqU1GhJfsHuRgyYaDlPI0945FOp7wy_9h3fOsn39qtjDELhJuH_J-44tVALtfeid90hDDT1tS0ypwROp9_p0qVkJ4m4ZO_IfRTTe0exPLbvwLv5jY/w200-h176/books%20great%20gifts.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>Now some words from my sponsors:</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b> Books are always great suggestions for gifts, and Christmas
is THE gift-giving holiday of the year. I have stories in several anthologies
with Christmas as the theme. Here are two to put on your shopping list:</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71oQlgnH4NL._SL1360_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="500" height="200" src="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71oQlgnH4NL._SL1360_.jpg" width="125" /></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b> FINALLY HOME </b></span><b style="font-family: verdana;">brings you eight Christmas stories all about our
four-legged friends and the special people who rescue them.</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;"><br /> From funny, to sad,
to romantic, there’s something here to tug at everyone’s heart strings. My
short story, Puppy Love, is included. </b><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Finally-Home-Carrie-Dalby/dp/0578618176/ref=sr_1_1?crid=UACMFSQ5OP6A&keywords=%22Finally+Home%22+anthology&qid=1700355455&s=books&sprefix=finally+home+anthology%2Cstripbooks%2C105&sr=1-1" style="font-size: 12pt;">Buy
Button</a><span style="font-size: 12pt;">::</span></b></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b> </b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://amzn.to/2Kcgr9k">Christmas Through a
Child’s Eyes</a></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><a href="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81U2ESqMDlL._SL1500_.jpg"></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81U2ESqMDlL._SL1500_.jpg"></a><a href="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81U2ESqMDlL._SL1500_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="521" height="200" src="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81U2ESqMDlL._SL1500_.jpg" width="130" /></a></div></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;"> This anthology has 70 stories written by adults recounting
their extraordinary childhood Christmas memories. </b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;"> My story, written under my
maiden name of Marilyn Olsein, is titled “Dancing with Daddy,” and relates how
six-year-old me reconnected with my Swedish father after a major upheaval in
our lives.</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;">The anthology is free on Kindle. </b><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><a href="https://amzn.to/2Kcgr9k"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Buy Now</b></span></a></span><b style="font-family: verdana;"> <a href="https://amzn.to/2Kcgr9k"></a></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b> My novels THE DAWGSTAR and DEATH ON THE YAMPA are
fast-paced, thriller/suspense stories with sassy banter and a smidgen of
romance.</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b> The books are available on Amazon or through your favorite eTailer and
bookstore. Got a library card? You can read the ebooks free from Hoopla.</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgkqcHjsHTxRSPgPbVrjpsO6B9LEt6c15xtEUSqV_aQUTNtX-yieNp2Hj9JCOGF_qiYR7C_oPc-W_YHKPTsGchOl9GtxGDtGr1CYui4kkPWi0fPxBoM7RmdA_WCugXd0J60p-CnRxQoR2dUY4GA0oYTWzATeTVrWrcqzewPj0G490ZfEyjQ_a4U2ahdag/s960/Dawg%20Death%20grabnGo%20perma%20sale.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgkqcHjsHTxRSPgPbVrjpsO6B9LEt6c15xtEUSqV_aQUTNtX-yieNp2Hj9JCOGF_qiYR7C_oPc-W_YHKPTsGchOl9GtxGDtGr1CYui4kkPWi0fPxBoM7RmdA_WCugXd0J60p-CnRxQoR2dUY4GA0oYTWzATeTVrWrcqzewPj0G490ZfEyjQ_a4U2ahdag/w320-h240/Dawg%20Death%20grabnGo%20perma%20sale.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;"> Little note: Angela Trigg, the RITA Award-winning author and
owner of The Haunted Book Shop has a few signed copies of my books in stock. TO
ORDER, contact: <a href="https://www.thehauntedbookshopmobile.com/contact-us">https://www.thehauntedbookshopmobile.com/contact-us</a> If she happens to be sold out, shoot me an
email. I have a small stash (with a discounted price plus shipping).</b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><o:p><b> <br /></b></o:p><b>➜ Follow me on . . . <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> <br /> </span></b><b>➜ Amazon:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><a href="http://amzn.to/1NIDKC0">Amazon
Central Author Page<br /></a></b><b>➜ Facebook:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/CjPettersonAuthor">https://www.facebook.com/CjPettersonAuthor<br /></a></b><b>➜ BookBub:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><a href="https://www.bookbub.com/authors/cj-petterson">https://www.bookbub.com/authors/cj-petterson<br /></a></b><b>➜ Goodreads: <a href="https://bit.ly/3fcN3h6">https://bit.ly/3fcN3h6</a></b></span></div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b> </b></span></o:p></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2840213685906004202.post-218140643464644762023-11-12T04:00:00.079-06:002023-11-12T04:00:00.262-06:00Word Warriors<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>cj Sez:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hey, all you
word warriors: You still have more than half a month to reach your NaNoWriMo
goal of 50,000 words. Keep up the good work…you got this!</b></span></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaXhhUlcuycFqDyHuaTy3n233n38lAxN2N12BhEvsxlWZRZArp1WQy9jIhfU7_fP0uo9if9AYYeQWTMFjDOufaDUkiBNnQKA5JbmrB0IgLU9LO7FkQFlAJJDWlIAPHEvn_z8RsHWUQONmYtCdyNAqYI3YRxPxzbWiVeGikWf55LT3JmIjmt78M34najEM/s1440/emotional_nanowrimo_wallpaper_wk2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1440" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaXhhUlcuycFqDyHuaTy3n233n38lAxN2N12BhEvsxlWZRZArp1WQy9jIhfU7_fP0uo9if9AYYeQWTMFjDOufaDUkiBNnQKA5JbmrB0IgLU9LO7FkQFlAJJDWlIAPHEvn_z8RsHWUQONmYtCdyNAqYI3YRxPxzbWiVeGikWf55LT3JmIjmt78M34najEM/w400-h250/emotional_nanowrimo_wallpaper_wk2.png" width="400" /></a></div><br /></b></span><b style="font-family: verdana;"> As for my story: After years (true) of pecking away at it
every time I think of a different direction, I’m re-editing, again, a story
that will probably end at about 70 words. Obviously, I am not a candidate for
the NaNoWriMo challenge, but I’ve got my fingers crossed that all you writing
warriors will carry through to the finish!</b></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>§§</b></span></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><u>Writerly info</u></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71nZU-k0pDL._SL1500_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="525" height="320" src="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71nZU-k0pDL._SL1500_.jpg" width="210" /></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b> Stephen King has published
65 novels/novellas, including seven under the pen name <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Bachman" title="Richard Bachman">Richard
Bachman</a>, and five nonfiction books, as well as more than 200 short stories.
All told, he has sold more than 400 million books, and many of them have been
adapted into feature films, miniseries, and television series. Even some comic
books. How does he do it? He has strategies for creating a story that people
love to read. One of those is to write the truth.</b></span></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71nZU-k0pDL._SL1500_.jpg"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b></b></span></a></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: Libre Baskerville;"><i>“Now comes the big question: What are you going to write
about? And the equally big answer: Anything you damn well want. Anything at
all... as long as you tell the truth... Write what you like, then imbue it with
life and make it unique by blending in your own personal knowledge of life,
friendship, relationships, sex, and work...What you know makes you unique in
some other way. Be brave.”</i></span></b></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>§§</b></span></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><blockquote><i>You can’t wait for inspiration. You have to go after it with
a club.</i> — Jack London </blockquote></b></span></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>§§</b></span></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On Jane Friedman’s
blog: “A Writer’s Guide to Fair Use and Permissions” . . .<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><a href="https://www.janefriedman.com/sample-permission-letter/">https://www.janefriedman.com/sample-permission-letter/</a><o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>§§</b></span></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Okay, that’s it for today. You-all guys keep on keeping on,
and I’ll try to do the same. Raising prayers for a happy and safe you.</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;">cj</span></b></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Now a note from my sponsors:</b></span></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8_AhAd-Fzlx3jo4gaD2kRBAwNBN0T05ZruxScwDXqPBiqP9FFsBucbbC_RV9xZeg0FrkjyzgwGl8KHKkZ-aWnGm6jbq7JcceNAd1VIhRIhrWMreirvDg7vMZJVWa10jRsmF0DMgzN5EmE7E9WzIR1nT0G3w-ss-XdaGN4JT_K98nkXFLnMUCfeRYO7Iw/s960/Dawg%20Death%20grabnGo%20perma%20sale.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8_AhAd-Fzlx3jo4gaD2kRBAwNBN0T05ZruxScwDXqPBiqP9FFsBucbbC_RV9xZeg0FrkjyzgwGl8KHKkZ-aWnGm6jbq7JcceNAd1VIhRIhrWMreirvDg7vMZJVWa10jRsmF0DMgzN5EmE7E9WzIR1nT0G3w-ss-XdaGN4JT_K98nkXFLnMUCfeRYO7Iw/w400-h300/Dawg%20Death%20grabnGo%20perma%20sale.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /></b></span></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b> My novels THE DAWGSTAR and DEATH ON THE YAMPA are
fast-paced, thriller/suspense stories with sassy banter and a smidgen of
romance. (Perfect diversions for a quick weekend getaway.) The books are
available on Amazon or through your favorite eTailer and bookstore. Got a
library card? You can read the ebooks free from Hoopla.</b></span></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b> Angela Trigg, the awesome owner and a RITA Award-winning
author in her own right (writing as Angela Quarles) will be happy to ship you
any book(s) by any author of your choice.</b></span></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b> <u>Little note:</u> The Haunted Book Shop has a few signed copies
of my books. TO ORDER, contact: <a href="https://www.thehauntedbookshopmobile.com/contact-us">https://www.thehauntedbookshopmobile.com/contact-us</a> If she happens to be sold out, shoot me an
email. I have a small stash (with a discounted price plus shipping).</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>➜ Follow me on . . . </b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: arial;">➜ Amazon: <a href="http://amzn.to/1NIDKC0">Amazon
Central Author Page</a></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>➜ Facebook: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/CjPettersonAuthor">https://www.facebook.com/CjPettersonAuthor</a></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>➜ BookBub: <a href="https://www.bookbub.com/authors/cj-petterson">https://www.bookbub.com/authors/cj-petterson</a></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>➜ Goodreads: <a href="https://bit.ly/3fcN3h6">https://bit.ly/3fcN3h6</a></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p></div><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2840213685906004202.post-88556326112620089132023-11-05T04:30:00.020-06:002023-11-05T04:30:00.143-06:00It's fall, y'all. Did you remember? <div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>cj Sez: Did you remember to turn your clock back an
hour?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifuB4W6WgCLjn9MgdzHHXjajEWHiUSNLVCYIWlzGbFAFQ-_3wZyU5EQ7CDhstGDXgDYTBBnlHvJ93TyxifSOuQUe6HPTzpssWvKdcphTVMYYfcIl0O5BNR2bSmnu3q8LJ8OazigpPvcBGyA0d7LdLg4Bw-ac4-TC8eSl6DT4nhq_zZ9D51oSOgF0oncXw/s480/fallback.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="480" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifuB4W6WgCLjn9MgdzHHXjajEWHiUSNLVCYIWlzGbFAFQ-_3wZyU5EQ7CDhstGDXgDYTBBnlHvJ93TyxifSOuQUe6HPTzpssWvKdcphTVMYYfcIl0O5BNR2bSmnu3q8LJ8OazigpPvcBGyA0d7LdLg4Bw-ac4-TC8eSl6DT4nhq_zZ9D51oSOgF0oncXw/w400-h250/fallback.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /></b></div></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b> By the by, the answer to why there is a time change twice a
year? According to a dot com news
article: “The U.S. first implemented daylight saving during World War I as a
way to conserve fuel with the Standard Time Act of 1918, also known as the
Calder Act.”</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b> In recent years, people have questioned the need to continue
to observe the act. In response, there are sages among the D.C. electorate who decided
they needed to save the sunshine. The Sunshine Protection Act that would have eliminated
“Fall Back” and “Spring Forward” was approved by the U.S. Senate in 2022, but
it never made it past the House of Representatives. </b></span><b style="font-family: verdana;">The national bill
is waiting in the wings, however. </b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsdhreFR69QIkXs-5BlGNXDBzWPrv7kTBIIeijTn6UYj6GSg3aM4fRAq7MBlEu3AHeT4Xr9NgogFiUPIgCoJJs0zkRAL6YYt-t1lk7Epd92s8xfGb7HAimL3ONh-T9gOZGafL_5nGqCgoLDJ3OfCb0iQZLjICtt0HaUG56sr6TGrj9javM7fN2Jw78ASg/s960/Daylight%20saving.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="960" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsdhreFR69QIkXs-5BlGNXDBzWPrv7kTBIIeijTn6UYj6GSg3aM4fRAq7MBlEu3AHeT4Xr9NgogFiUPIgCoJJs0zkRAL6YYt-t1lk7Epd92s8xfGb7HAimL3ONh-T9gOZGafL_5nGqCgoLDJ3OfCb0iQZLjICtt0HaUG56sr6TGrj9javM7fN2Jw78ASg/s320/Daylight%20saving.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> According to the </b><b><span style="font-family: georgia;">Farmers’ Almanac</span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">,</span></b><b style="font-family: verdana;"> at least
33 state legislatures have attempted to keep daylight saving time year-round.
Currently only Arizona (with the exception of the Navajo Nation) and Hawaii do
not observe daylight saving time.</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;">Tip:</b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b> The correct term is <a href="https://www.timeanddate.com/time/dst/daylight-savings-time.html">daylight
“saving” (<span style="color: red;">not savings</span>) time</a>. The AP Style Guide says it’s
properly all lower case, as does the “writers’ bible”<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">—</span>the Chicago Manual of Style. Initials, however, are
all caps: DST.</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>§§</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6MBzYKe0wdjQRqstM3AEqhk3POis3Pmd_-nGvC0vikoD4_FgqzU_fFsDUu8AFJcIBc-7JKohRQn2NJJqTPF6fHxGwtTlQGRPSP_sOO3AgNnJ0V7kqJJ56T0eXqnZ_muPZfkjSxOW49_WLsLJhKyYqrNrKygBwIMuIPxpQptijForonz5jKFjIIKNNxII/s303/reset%20odometer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="303" data-original-width="236" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6MBzYKe0wdjQRqstM3AEqhk3POis3Pmd_-nGvC0vikoD4_FgqzU_fFsDUu8AFJcIBc-7JKohRQn2NJJqTPF6fHxGwtTlQGRPSP_sOO3AgNnJ0V7kqJJ56T0eXqnZ_muPZfkjSxOW49_WLsLJhKyYqrNrKygBwIMuIPxpQptijForonz5jKFjIIKNNxII/w156-h200/reset%20odometer.jpg" width="156" /></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b> The idea of turning back time can be especially appealing
when thinking about aging: </b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b> Not me. I want people to know “why” I look this way. I've
traveled a long way and a lot of the roads were not paved. Points to remember:</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: arial;"><b> You know you are getting old when everything either dries up
or leaks.</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: arial;"><b> Being young is beautiful, but being old is comfortable.</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfdfWijjMPiEu-rWZsX1rtqMHgrZuJPO1s723R0w2kd58cQBUnU-WBUsHWL86axZ8Bjekz2xyCiJOhT0CBEvSVjaVrFQ7cwU8WwEvjOn5FXwsN1qFrsdV6RV8VEHtJMWujdJDJytJo-pGegSKjMogDES7fi6jl1qY47gX1p18YzWsgWxLJnng8p9-JNmQ/s809/I'm%20not%20aging.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="809" data-original-width="500" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfdfWijjMPiEu-rWZsX1rtqMHgrZuJPO1s723R0w2kd58cQBUnU-WBUsHWL86axZ8Bjekz2xyCiJOhT0CBEvSVjaVrFQ7cwU8WwEvjOn5FXwsN1qFrsdV6RV8VEHtJMWujdJDJytJo-pGegSKjMogDES7fi6jl1qY47gX1p18YzWsgWxLJnng8p9-JNmQ/w124-h200/I'm%20not%20aging.png" width="124" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;"> I'm grateful for each day that I’m lucky enough to grow
older. I can testify that eventually we reach a point when we stop lying about our
age and start bragging about it.</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b> Here’s a wonderful tongue-in-cheek essay on the younger
generation’s perception of "seenagers" (a senior who doesn’t act her/his age). My personal goal is to be one of those. </b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b> </b></span><b style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://writerswhokill.blogspot.com/2023/11/seniors-ageism-and-cozy-mysteries-by.html?spref=fb">https://writerswhokill.blogspot.com/2023/11/seniors-ageism-and-cozy-mysteries-by.html?spref=fb</a><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b> I actually experienced an episode of that perception when I
took my granddaughter to lunch last week. The waitress came back with my credit
card and the receipt for the tab I had paid, handed it to her, and spent a few
minutes suggesting she enter a contest after logging onto the restaurant’s
website. I was using Mac and PC computers for reports and graphic presentations
before either of them were born. I give Maggie Rose credit . . . she started
laughing before I did.</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b> I believe the following prayer will help keep the peace…if I
can remember it in time: </b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><b><blockquote><span style="font-family: Libre Baskerville;">Lord, keep your arm around my shoulder and your hand over my
mouth. Amen</span></blockquote></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>§§</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b> This weekend, Saturday, November 11, the U.S. respectfully
observes Veterans Day, a day set aside to honor all the veterans whose heroism
made and keep this country free. </b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBDMMvTbOD-h-O-AIIW4uqwbH6UNMVk5oZ68UGSgU7X73zDRIIpRESFc0GZCAWeNJU6KrZfHRbCgqmuRGtI16vyRAoNtkRMP3oTktdUHhfhjoq_Ou7AQM-w7sA_lOpEcM4OKJLGJQMOWqzxoMoBULF170tDJLA_8Z-JNUPVREooLgQMTmiX0iPfekWIww/s1600/Veterans-Day-Images%20vee.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1449" data-original-width="1600" height="290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBDMMvTbOD-h-O-AIIW4uqwbH6UNMVk5oZ68UGSgU7X73zDRIIpRESFc0GZCAWeNJU6KrZfHRbCgqmuRGtI16vyRAoNtkRMP3oTktdUHhfhjoq_Ou7AQM-w7sA_lOpEcM4OKJLGJQMOWqzxoMoBULF170tDJLA_8Z-JNUPVREooLgQMTmiX0iPfekWIww/s320/Veterans-Day-Images%20vee.jpg" width="320" /></a></div></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b> “When first celebrated as Armistice Day, the day marked the
end of World War I, formally recognized on the ‘11th hour, of the 11th day, of
the 11th month’ in 1918. The U.S. continues to honor the original connection to
WWI, and Veterans Day is celebrated on the same day every year—November 11—regardless of
which day of the week it falls.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>(Source: <a href="https://www.military.com/veterans-day">https://www.military.com/veterans-day</a>
)</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMa4ryxtLYIu-yhAg4hnyEdTVqelN7HkCrq1s6-eFRKU-GX2CYQjrwbjPcwfEncqn3N62VtdH6sGtp5gXkzv02t67Mowr7WEZD7mKBdtJ9bc1KIFmwGqUmRpxg7yZNT13gS8Em_g6DFA3tkawerlMrhoGkYWOPO2SH_0dyzm_L9GEIpDKj6V9xMe3FGfw/s960/Canada%20nov%2011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="824" data-original-width="960" height="275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMa4ryxtLYIu-yhAg4hnyEdTVqelN7HkCrq1s6-eFRKU-GX2CYQjrwbjPcwfEncqn3N62VtdH6sGtp5gXkzv02t67Mowr7WEZD7mKBdtJ9bc1KIFmwGqUmRpxg7yZNT13gS8Em_g6DFA3tkawerlMrhoGkYWOPO2SH_0dyzm_L9GEIpDKj6V9xMe3FGfw/s320/Canada%20nov%2011.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b> Canada honors its veterans on November 11 by
celebrating their heroism with “Remembrance Day.” <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>§§</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;"> Okay, that’s it for today. You-all guys keep on keeping on,
and I’ll try to do the same. Raising prayers for a happy and safe you.</b></div><h3 style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;">cj</b></h3><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;">Now a note from my sponsors:</b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyaUIZ2RA84iOeFwkYphNKo2ogVHW-ggcWwfCUNiou2CHcKzHQwIIbQsk0XOL8ZhvD6hrQi2zWzFcLSNEvPMylhfmIH_HjT3On5uqZsAD5BAnFzAziXtu-NOP2naeXF2mZP5iTpUqbIqtYCy4nrusEReg9j1ohVNJOkx9v0ka4G5eWLitHQTekqVCq_eg/s960/Dawg%20Death%20grabnGo%20perma%20sale.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyaUIZ2RA84iOeFwkYphNKo2ogVHW-ggcWwfCUNiou2CHcKzHQwIIbQsk0XOL8ZhvD6hrQi2zWzFcLSNEvPMylhfmIH_HjT3On5uqZsAD5BAnFzAziXtu-NOP2naeXF2mZP5iTpUqbIqtYCy4nrusEReg9j1ohVNJOkx9v0ka4G5eWLitHQTekqVCq_eg/s320/Dawg%20Death%20grabnGo%20perma%20sale.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> My novels THE DAWGSTAR and DEATH ON THE YAMPA are
fast-paced, thriller/suspense stories with sassy banter and a smidgen of
romance. (Perfect diversions for a quick weekend getaway.) The books are
available on Amazon or through your favorite eTailer and bookstore. </b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b> Got a
library card? You can read the ebooks free from Hoopla.</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b> Angela Trigg, the awesome owner and a RITA Award-winning
author in her own right (writing as Angela Quarles) will be happy to ship you
any book(s) by any author of your choice.</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b> Little note: The Haunted Book Shop has a few signed copies
of my books in stock. TO ORDER, contact: <a href="https://www.thehauntedbookshopmobile.com/contact-us">https://www.thehauntedbookshopmobile.com/contact-us</a><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If she happens to be sold out, shoot me an
email. I have a small stash (with a discounted price plus shipping).</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;">➜ Follow me on . . . </b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;">➜ Amazon: <a href="http://amzn.to/1NIDKC0">Amazon
Central Author Page</a></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;">➜ Facebook: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/CjPettersonAuthor">https://www.facebook.com/CjPettersonAuthor</a></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;">➜ BookBub: <a href="https://www.bookbub.com/authors/cj-petterson">https://www.bookbub.com/authors/cj-petterson</a></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;">➜ Goodreads: <a href="https://bit.ly/3fcN3h6">https://bit.ly/3fcN3h6</a></b></div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b> </b></span></o:p></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2840213685906004202.post-50227619435613238512023-10-29T04:00:00.002-05:002023-10-29T04:00:00.156-05:00How whitespace affects reading <div style="text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>cj Sez: Since Halloween is only a couple of days away, here’s
your next book to read: <o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51V5a75RJNL.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="313" height="500" src="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51V5a75RJNL.jpg" width="313" /></a></div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b> Perfect for the upcoming holiday: HALLOWEEN PIECES . . . An
anthology of 18 pieces of work by 17 authors</b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b></b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI5G5qZlv8ID-ti5wt_uCUNFYRoe01AQQKe7a6ouo7sMYcfbKAiwmyuK92JPoo_ez1d8EgZqMXypUliAP8kkW8hxo95EIcINPBZx3WVCbdzK9-5z_vd3tlThu2ilojyU3OuRnBsv8YNlOt8AkFsb7LRIXXofhy0Zp2ji2WPP9pgSDZJ-wXGAxXobspg9U/s960/HALLOWEEN%20PIECES%20once%20blue%20moon%2018%20pcs%20ad.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI5G5qZlv8ID-ti5wt_uCUNFYRoe01AQQKe7a6ouo7sMYcfbKAiwmyuK92JPoo_ez1d8EgZqMXypUliAP8kkW8hxo95EIcINPBZx3WVCbdzK9-5z_vd3tlThu2ilojyU3OuRnBsv8YNlOt8AkFsb7LRIXXofhy0Zp2ji2WPP9pgSDZJ-wXGAxXobspg9U/w200-h150/HALLOWEEN%20PIECES%20once%20blue%20moon%2018%20pcs%20ad.jpg" width="200" /></a></b></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br />A short paranormal story I’m kind of proud of, “Once in a
Blue Moon,” is included in this fourth installment of the Mobile Writers
Guild anthology PIECES series. Paperback and ebook available. Kindle is $1.99. <o:p></o:p></b></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b> </b></span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>§§<o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b> Searching my archives for blog ideas, I came across this 2020
post by Ellen Buikema on the Writers in the Storm blog. I am a big fan/follower
of the concept for all of my writing and believe it’s worthy of sharing. Granted
my excerpt from her post is directed more to formatters and self-publishers, but
the entire post speaks to presentations, too, whether as an author at a
conference or in the business world conference rooms.</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b> Since creating presentations for senior management was part
of my career in the automotive industry, I would add that for visual presentations
don’t use small, thin, script fonts (need 20 point or greater) and don’t use pastel
colors for text or graphs. They’re almost invisible to anyone beyond the first
row of your audience. </b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b> Read the full post by clicking on the link for Ellen’s
post below. </b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><u>Ellen Buikema</u> wrote: </b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: verdana;">Like a pause in a song, white space can help create drama,
emotion, a bit of quiet before a storm of words. </span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: verdana;">White space is the canvas where we paint our words.</span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: verdana;">Writers can affect readers with the use of white space in several
ways.</span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: verdana;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg38FmeH5dj_slxjohNQQjeKe8WcIqGVElprV0T84iHcLf3XtN34x0rkRCAfQAPhs1RPQ2gBIyj3PW4S_TwtdHKpozHNfVU-rvWY90H8mN7wYM2_68SDQV0Sy8469BgCXNwWF1a2-znQIV71fr6aWQo_nSr2vrQpbGfF7tK1-4IELKnBG99rXh64mtglOA/s1920/whitespace%20MemeToyStory.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1054" data-original-width="1920" height="176" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg38FmeH5dj_slxjohNQQjeKe8WcIqGVElprV0T84iHcLf3XtN34x0rkRCAfQAPhs1RPQ2gBIyj3PW4S_TwtdHKpozHNfVU-rvWY90H8mN7wYM2_68SDQV0Sy8469BgCXNwWF1a2-znQIV71fr6aWQo_nSr2vrQpbGfF7tK1-4IELKnBG99rXh64mtglOA/s320/whitespace%20MemeToyStory.png" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg38FmeH5dj_slxjohNQQjeKe8WcIqGVElprV0T84iHcLf3XtN34x0rkRCAfQAPhs1RPQ2gBIyj3PW4S_TwtdHKpozHNfVU-rvWY90H8mN7wYM2_68SDQV0Sy8469BgCXNwWF1a2-znQIV71fr6aWQo_nSr2vrQpbGfF7tK1-4IELKnBG99rXh64mtglOA/s1920/whitespace%20MemeToyStory.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a></div></span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: verdana;">1. White space draws the reader’s attention
to the words on the page, makes the print easier to read, and improves
comprehension.</span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: verdana;">2. Space on the page makes finding where the reader left off
reading quick and easy.</span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><b><span><span style="font-family: verdana;">3. Kerning, the space between letters, can change the look
of the print and add meaning. Just as using all capitals can be interpreted as
yelling, extra space between letters may emphasize speaking words slowly. “You
need to s l o w down.”</span><span style="font-family: verdana; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">(cj Sez…Personally, I’d use this only in advertising
and poetry.)</span></span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: verdana;">4. The use of white space at the beginning and ending of
chapters gives the reader a visual break. Some writers and formatters choose to
begin a new chapter halfway down the page. Others like to start all chapters on
the right-hand side of the book for physical copies. A new chapter beginning on
the same page as the previous chapter looks like a formatting error.</span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: verdana;">5. Line spacing may be adjusted to fit next to or around a
photo or illustration, or from left to right margin across the page. Avoiding a
line with the final word of a sentence dangling all by its lonesome self on the
following page is a good thing and can be done using line spacing as well as
kerning.</span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: verdana;">6. Blank pages are helpful in the case of an anthology of
short stories, particularly if the spacing and word count send the ending of
one story onto the right-hand page. A blank side gives the reader emotional
space to regroup for the next tale.</span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><b><u><span style="font-family: verdana;">Ways to create white space:</span></u></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: verdana;">1. The use of images surrounded by a margin of space:
illustrations, icons, graphs, photos, all give the reader a brief rest and let
the mind focus on something different.</span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: verdana;">2. Bullet points and numbered lists make reading quicker,
scan-able. </span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: verdana;">3. Variable sentence lengths make for more pleasurable
reading. Too many long sentences in a row create blocky text. If you pause and
go back to a big block of text. it is really difficult to find one’s place.</span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>4. Use shorter paragraphs.</b><b> </b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: arial;">( Source: <a href="https://writersinthestormblog.com/2020/03/white-space-in-writing/">https://writersinthestormblog.com/2020/03/white-space-in-writing/</a>
)</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>§§</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;"> Okay, that’s it for today. You-all guys keep on keeping on,
and I’ll try to do the same. Raising prayers for a happy and safe you.</b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><b>cj</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;">Now a note from my sponsors:</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLZGEVOK08bx4md92HCxiy4_eQ6X4FTH9OFCwMKu-Qtw9Po3AVjtzaOcPbLsYraRkPpJP60NAdaZ5pq88X_QVuEozOwVSC3USrP5U1kwog6KQLFeUY47wRsOtBuhARRSAQ9GLGlA2i_GAAsZAt0ZzwUnyV4zyEwjoL44rgDlgeOgH7g7UQyrfDVIrREXo/s960/Dawg%20Death%20grabnGo%20perma%20sale.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLZGEVOK08bx4md92HCxiy4_eQ6X4FTH9OFCwMKu-Qtw9Po3AVjtzaOcPbLsYraRkPpJP60NAdaZ5pq88X_QVuEozOwVSC3USrP5U1kwog6KQLFeUY47wRsOtBuhARRSAQ9GLGlA2i_GAAsZAt0ZzwUnyV4zyEwjoL44rgDlgeOgH7g7UQyrfDVIrREXo/s320/Dawg%20Death%20grabnGo%20perma%20sale.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b> My novels THE DAWGSTAR and DEATH ON THE YAMPA are
fast-paced, thriller/suspense stories with sassy banter and a smidgen of
romance. (Perfect diversions for a quick weekend getaway.)</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;"> The books are available on Amazon or through your favorite
eTailer and bookstore. Got a library card? You can read the ebooks free from
Hoopla.</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b> Little note: When you shop The Haunted Book Shop, I can drop in and sign copies
of my books for you. TO ORDER, contact: <a href="https://www.thehauntedbookshopmobile.com/contact-us">https://www.thehauntedbookshopmobile.com/contact-us</a><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Angela Trigg, the awesome owner and a RITA Award-winning author in her
own right (writing as Angela Quarles) will be happy to ship you any book(s) by
any author of your choice.</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;">➜ Follow me on . . . </b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;">➜ Amazon: <a href="http://amzn.to/1NIDKC0">Amazon
Central Author Page</a></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;">➜ Facebook: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/CjPettersonAuthor">https://www.facebook.com/CjPettersonAuthor</a></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;">➜ BookBub: <a href="https://www.bookbub.com/authors/cj-petterson">https://www.bookbub.com/authors/cj-petterson</a></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;">➜ Goodreads: <a href="https://bit.ly/3fcN3h6">https://bit.ly/3fcN3h6</a></b></div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b> </b></span></o:p></p><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2840213685906004202.post-18555495139591982032023-10-22T04:00:00.137-05:002023-10-22T04:00:00.147-05:00Are Writers' Conferences Worth It? <div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>cj Sez: It’s been a while since I’ve traveled out-of-state
to a writer’s conference, but it’s not because I think I don’t need to attend since I’m already published.</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><span style="color: red;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUYkB1i5IqOTA9fuL8ALdoe-i4jshRAlIKt4NTXP6M8IKHBjnZ4_rhxnfudHNHFEsVlfFkbN7M86-yejzdLbAC-ElAx4cEAcZvQKxUerU2V5J7vbILba0d8Ht4NCefmjAfe3ETfeZr2f3sHKKK6I_Nhc1mE9tB5FVrbHNnWJfJZyu8FVxsdWtibIxVMoU/s480/are%20writers%20conferences%20worth%20it.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="480" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUYkB1i5IqOTA9fuL8ALdoe-i4jshRAlIKt4NTXP6M8IKHBjnZ4_rhxnfudHNHFEsVlfFkbN7M86-yejzdLbAC-ElAx4cEAcZvQKxUerU2V5J7vbILba0d8Ht4NCefmjAfe3ETfeZr2f3sHKKK6I_Nhc1mE9tB5FVrbHNnWJfJZyu8FVxsdWtibIxVMoU/s320/are%20writers%20conferences%20worth%20it.jpg" width="320" /></a></div></span><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b> I’ll answer that question with a “yes, writers' conferences are worth it.” I always benefit
from some nuggets of helpful advice/information at any conference. And networking with fellow authors is a major plus. For me, though,
it’s a time and money thing. When I have the money, I can’t seem to break out
the time, and when I have the time, I’ve already spent my money on something
else. (sigh)</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b> That said, I thought making a conference plan for next year might
help. I’ve had my eye on the Mystery Writers of America Florida Chapter’s
Sleuthfest conference (<a href="http://www.sleuthfest.com/">www.sleuthfest.com</a>).
I’ve never been to this conference, and it’s about a day’s drive away from home.
Bouchercon is another maybe go-to. Their 2024 conference is scheduled to be in Nashville,
which is also a day’s drive. Do you have any other possibilities to share?</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;"> Maybe I can call a trip to a conference a gift to me. My
Christmas and birthday presents all rolled up into one gift. If the stars align
just right . . . just maybe.</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: verdana;">§§</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><u><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /></b></span></u></div><div style="text-align: left;"><u><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>For writers:</b></span></u></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;"> Some Helpful Hints: <a href="https://janefriedman.com/what-it-means-to-make-your-story-relatable/">https://janefriedman.com/what-it-means-to-make-your-story-relatable/</a></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;"> A Little Nudge. . . The beginning of National Novel Writing
Month is nearly here (November 1). Get more info here: <a href="https://nanowrimo.org/?fbclid=IwAR0VMLTKCVnT12p-SH5rF6C6sqs7abLgYjcqCeR1y0l2XPhVONzzXO1PtWE" target="_blank">https://nanowrimo.org/</a> </b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;"><em></em></b></div><blockquote><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: arial;"><em>This is how you do it: you sit down at the
keyboard and you put one word after another until it’s done. It’s that easy,
and that hard. — </em>Neil Gaiman</span></b></div></blockquote><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqvqki9D9apvDz1pD45KRWGDxK1Rj_b3em5bj-EGwEFmKn6KNgWl2q710XzeEWzFkjYUA4QXlh1jq-ZDi76jI5Ita4C2Udg7RmPagTQJUMEQRooE8fjqNU8FFHBG71KeEn90hQJ8Hq4LpT3OE_Vm5dlghsTrjo_Jq8QUsP59_wHcVhPmNkfI6FuGso3oI/s636/Peanuts%20editing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="552" data-original-width="636" height="278" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqvqki9D9apvDz1pD45KRWGDxK1Rj_b3em5bj-EGwEFmKn6KNgWl2q710XzeEWzFkjYUA4QXlh1jq-ZDi76jI5Ita4C2Udg7RmPagTQJUMEQRooE8fjqNU8FFHBG71KeEn90hQJ8Hq4LpT3OE_Vm5dlghsTrjo_Jq8QUsP59_wHcVhPmNkfI6FuGso3oI/s320/Peanuts%20editing.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><u> Getting ready to publish:</u> After I take my manuscript
as far as I can (several edit cycles, a manuscript exchange with out-of-state
authors that write in my genre, and if I’m really lucky, a beta reader), I need
the input of an expert, an editor, for her/his expertise in the character<br /> development
and plot enhancements that make the story work. Whether submitting queries to agents
or self-publishing, having the manuscript professionally edited is an essential
part of the process. Do not skip that step.</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: verdana;">§§</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><u><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /></b></span></u></div><div style="text-align: left;"><u><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>A review for readers (and writers because we are all readers):</b></span></u></div><div style="text-align: left;"><u><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /></b></span></u></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw_MF-UoEYNNLC-uv0rSXPdBPZy4BchHKH-HyBuB2Jj5uCWaF5EMusHKx3-4mmsAUOyhFhI46yVTmtXS6fm9CnbB_hX2Oh79aTn1EZo-WqFjKB9ZE50VnSvwIWmGdsUqIFr9UjAvr_ZnlqnsT_QgtbIOpDnSJiD69DsbltywIyL-dzEPvPS_8sXex771g/s600/writer%20is%20a%20reader.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="337" data-original-width="600" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw_MF-UoEYNNLC-uv0rSXPdBPZy4BchHKH-HyBuB2Jj5uCWaF5EMusHKx3-4mmsAUOyhFhI46yVTmtXS6fm9CnbB_hX2Oh79aTn1EZo-WqFjKB9ZE50VnSvwIWmGdsUqIFr9UjAvr_ZnlqnsT_QgtbIOpDnSJiD69DsbltywIyL-dzEPvPS_8sXex771g/w320-h181/writer%20is%20a%20reader.jpg" width="320" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Paradise Valley</span> by
<i>USAToday</i> best-selling author Rosanne
Bittner is not a new release but one that I happened across while doing
research.</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;"> The novel is historical fiction—a Western romance about Maggie McPhee Tucker and
Sage Lightfoot. Violated, battered, and widowed while on her way to Oregon,
Maggie is determined to exact vengeance for her husband’s murder. Sage lets her
tag along with him even though he has his doubts, but Maggie holds her own and
then some in untamed Wyoming in the mid-1880s.</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/515ocZYjweL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="305" height="320" src="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/515ocZYjweL.jpg" width="195" /></a></div><b style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;"> Ms. Bittner knows her historical facts but doesn’t beat the
reader over the head with them. I particularly enjoyed the fast pace and
conflict that were not interrupted by historical detail dumps that some writers
pack into one complex sentence.</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;"> I’m not into sappy romance stories with bleeding hearts, and
<span style="font-size: medium;">Paradise Valley </span>is none of that.
It’s tightly written, gritty, and tough, as I would<br /> expect the Wild West to be.
If you like strong women and men who will do what it takes to do more than just
survive, you’ll like this novel. I give it 4.5 Stars. </b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: verdana;">§§</b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b> Here’s a quiz for you…Can you name all of these felines from
my descriptions?</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;"> The daughter of a queen; the Pink Panther's valet; Hardee's
puts cheese, egg, and bacon on it; that can of specialty small corn kernels;
orange and sweet and spread on toast; female and friendly with all the boys;
Star Wars bad guy all in black with the raspy voice; he's starvin'.</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;"> Disclaimer: Not all of these kitties live in my house; some just
come for the free food on the patio or porch and leave.</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: verdana;">§§</b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Okay, that’s it for today. You-all guys keep on keeping on,
and I’ll try to do the same. Raising prayers for a happy and safe you.</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;">cj</span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;">Now a note from my sponsors:</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51V5a75RJNL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="313" height="320" src="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51V5a75RJNL.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>Perfect for the upcoming holiday: HALLOWEEN PIECES . . . 18 pieces
of </b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b></b></span><b style="font-family: verdana;">My short paranormal story I’m kind of proud of, “Once in a
Blue Moon,” included in this fourth installment of the Mobile Writers
Guild anthology PIECES series. Paperback and ebook available. Kindle is $1.99.</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;">My novels THE DAWGSTAR and DEATH ON THE YAMPA are
fast-paced, thriller/suspense stories with sassy banter and a smidgen of romance.
(Perfect diversions for a quick weekend getaway.)</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;">The books are available on Amazon or through your favorite
eTailer and bookstore. Got a library card? You can read the ebooks free from
Hoopla.</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;">The Haunted Book Shop has a few signed copies
of my books in stock. TO ORDER, contact: <a href="https://www.thehauntedbookshopmobile.com/contact-us">https://www.thehauntedbookshopmobile.com/contact-us</a> If she happens to be sold out, I have a small
stash. </b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;"> Angela Trigg, the awesome owner and a RITA Award-winning author in her
own right (writing as Angela Quarles) will be happy to ship you any book(s) by
any author of your choice.</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;">➜ Follow me on . . . </b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;">➜ Amazon: <a href="http://amzn.to/1NIDKC0">Amazon
Central Author Page</a></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;">➜ Facebook: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/CjPettersonAuthor">https://www.facebook.com/CjPettersonAuthor</a></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;">➜ BookBub: <a href="https://www.bookbub.com/authors/cj-petterson">https://www.bookbub.com/authors/cj-petterson</a></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;">➜ Goodreads: <a href="https://bit.ly/3fcN3h6">https://bit.ly/3fcN3h6</a></b></div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b> </b></span></o:p></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2840213685906004202.post-83884048527881429222023-10-15T04:30:00.095-05:002023-10-15T11:51:13.716-05:00Do or do not...the story behind the stories<div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;">cj Sez: I’ve been saying for a long time . . . way too long
a time . . . that I’m trying to learn how to write a mystery. In fact, sitting
in front of my keyboard staring at my WIP, I said it just the other day. Then I
saw this meme:</b></div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b></b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_SbZOFlOnyJAqS38Z5-3oG90BhjesVri0pmDR1yMh37zJ02JqMP9fQ3vsQk0Xw_Gg0GFocoQ4GZ2A39BIwGAn8k_BSxEVPzIVapMQTpEp_yXGYGxwqpmKTgPjtxSMmf4hGZZ0dN4I5FmuVUebxT5BirKP6iXZEmYc8aRSflbQV1-abklhTXsPQl7t1LE/s960/do%20or%20do%20not.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="960" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_SbZOFlOnyJAqS38Z5-3oG90BhjesVri0pmDR1yMh37zJ02JqMP9fQ3vsQk0Xw_Gg0GFocoQ4GZ2A39BIwGAn8k_BSxEVPzIVapMQTpEp_yXGYGxwqpmKTgPjtxSMmf4hGZZ0dN4I5FmuVUebxT5BirKP6iXZEmYc8aRSflbQV1-abklhTXsPQl7t1LE/w400-h400/do%20or%20do%20not.jpg" width="400" /></a></b></span></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b> It reminded me that it has always been my habit that if I
want to learn how to do something and have set an achievable goal, I have done what’s
necessary to reach it. In other words, if I really want to do something, I will
do it.</b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b></b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3MpSutU8i9kZHIyHfUvXpV5kuC6v0lVAGCX_dDsiXDYTPJTxQWXXA3J4EXySfOP8nicSF0j9nSddomP14BGFDHwk_Y_CWhZZLf86yg9w7fIYg6dmxcpw9N02JAWJK48nxEk0DM5XFiIK7dO35m-EBCCGHAuXSLTkXihi4g9d-9aBd3tgZJdI1xKT_oBw/s2476/DeathYampa%20eBook.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2476" data-original-width="1556" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3MpSutU8i9kZHIyHfUvXpV5kuC6v0lVAGCX_dDsiXDYTPJTxQWXXA3J4EXySfOP8nicSF0j9nSddomP14BGFDHwk_Y_CWhZZLf86yg9w7fIYg6dmxcpw9N02JAWJK48nxEk0DM5XFiIK7dO35m-EBCCGHAuXSLTkXihi4g9d-9aBd3tgZJdI1xKT_oBw/w126-h200/DeathYampa%20eBook.jpg" width="126" /></a></b></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b> I once had a wild hair thought and decided I wanted to go
white water rafting. When I was 50, I took six weeks of swimming lessons and
then <br />spent 5-1/2 days sleeping on the ground with 12 strangers on an Outward
Bound rafting trip on the Yampa River between Colorado and Utah. I had a great
adventure, made some interesting friends, and still don’t know how to swim. (That
adventure is part and parcel of my novel “Choosing Carter” which I revised/re-edited/self-published as DEATH ON THE YAMPA.)</b></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b> When I first wanted to learn how to write, I enrolled in a
creative writing class at a local community college. I flew to San Francisco
and spent three days immersed in Robert McKee’s Story screenwriting workshop. I
grabbed a bunch of how-to books. I read mystery novels and read some more of all genres.</b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b></b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAu368-JgxKx4GfXYFTaQuDv_-CHBFSvcNbuNEuWSmiLdLnQICrOvVd147KGc43gK2bHNpEEqpmS93S-ghDA6FnclXorgjX7xoL4L_xraMhCgKsxg-fMp5T3izF8iVdU7TH59Iwd-aNu5reH_mho_ZhLiSGkH2dVxAGDfD8wd0L6rBZcQpZyswW9vnlR4/s2476/Dawgstar%20eBook.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2476" data-original-width="1556" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAu368-JgxKx4GfXYFTaQuDv_-CHBFSvcNbuNEuWSmiLdLnQICrOvVd147KGc43gK2bHNpEEqpmS93S-ghDA6FnclXorgjX7xoL4L_xraMhCgKsxg-fMp5T3izF8iVdU7TH59Iwd-aNu5reH_mho_ZhLiSGkH2dVxAGDfD8wd0L6rBZcQpZyswW9vnlR4/w126-h200/Dawgstar%20eBook.jpg" width="126" /></a></b></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b> Over time, I discovered I was drawn to the books of Robert
B. Parker, Elmore Leonard, John Grisham, James Lee Burke, Robert Ludlum’s
Bourne series. You know the kind, heavy on the action and adventure with a smattering of sex. When I relocated from Detroit to Mobile, I took a continuing
education class at the University of South Alabama (“Storming the Walls of the
Publishing Industry”), wrote seven paragraphs based on a prompt from the
instructor, and, with a positive response written on the paper, decided I was
ready to write. (Those seven paragraphs eventually became “Deadly Star”, which I revised/re-edited/self-published
as THE DAWGSTAR.)</b></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b> Writing in vacuum doesn’t work. I thought my premise was
wonderful, the words and structure perfect. I wrote crap. There was no brilliant
beginning, middle, or end. There was only a quasi-beginning, a sagging middle,
and an unsatisfying end. And I couldn’t even edit out all the punctuation
errors because I would read right past them.</b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b> So, I joined a writers’ group and a critique group – a couple
of critique groups, in fact, in order to get the kind of varied writer/reader
responses I would get should my novel be on a library shelf. I went to
conferences and writer retreats and workshops. My first short story was
published in an anthology 2008, my first novel in 2013.</b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b> At first, my stories and novels were traditionally
published, but understanding that the publication world is a fickle place, I took
an intensive class in self-publishing and bought tons of back-up/how-to
reference materials. And you know what? It feels very good to know that I prepared
myself for the option because I requested my rights back from Simon and Schuster
then re-edited and renamed the novels and self-published them in 2021. I continue to submit my short stories to publishers.</b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b> The point I’m trying to make is that, whatever it is you
want to do, you have to make your “want to” a real goal in order to succeed. To be achievable, perhaps the goal is a first step. For
me, that means reassessing my want-to. I must own the task. I will either do or do not.</b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><u> Reader or writer, today’s lesson:</u> Set a goal and write it
down. You might be surprised at how far you can go.</b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>§§</b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><u> Readers:</u> This fourth installment of the Mobile Writers Guild
PIECES anthology series is a perfect complement to the first of the upcoming
holidays.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> . . 18 pieces of work by 17 authors.</span></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b></b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><a href="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81Biv5jBxOL._SL1500_.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="500" height="400" src="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81Biv5jBxOL._SL1500_.jpg" width="250" /></a></b></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><o:p></o:p></b></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b> “Once in a Blue Moon” is a paranormal short story that was
my first effort in that genre.</b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b> The book is readily available in paperback or ebook—Kindle
is $1.99.</b></span></p>
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>§§</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><u> Writers: </u>National Novel Writing Month is on the horizon. Get
more info here: <a href="https://nanowrimo.org/?fbclid=IwAR0VMLTKCVnT12p-SH5rF6C6sqs7abLgYjcqCeR1y0l2XPhVONzzXO1PtWE" target="_blank">https://nanowrimo.org/</a> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></b></span></div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>§§<o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b> Okay, that’s it for today. You-all guys keep on keeping on,
and I’ll try to do the same. Raising prayers for a happy and safe you.</b></span></div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>cj</b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk135509903;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Now a note from my
sponsors:<o:p></o:p></b></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk135509903;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>THE DAWGSTAR and DEATH ON THE YAMPA are
fast-paced, thriller/suspense stories with sassy banter and a smidgen of sweet
romance. (Perfect diversions for a quick weekend getaway.)</b></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk135509903;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The books are available on Amazon or through
your favorite eTailer and bookstore. Got a library card? You can read the
ebooks free from Hoopla.</b></span></span></p>
<span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk135509903;"></span>
</b></span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Little note: The
Haunted Book Shop has some signed copies of my books in stock. TO ORDER,
contact: <a href="https://www.thehauntedbookshopmobile.com/contact-us">https://www.thehauntedbookshopmobile.com/contact-us</a><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If she happens to be sold out, I have a small
stash. Angela Trigg, the awesome owner and a RITA Award-winning author in her
own right (writing as Angela Quarles) will be happy to ship you any book(s) by
any author of your choice.</b></span></p>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>➜ Follow me on . . . <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;">➜ Amazon: <a href="http://amzn.to/1NIDKC0">Amazon
Central Author Page</a></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;">➜ Facebook: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/CjPettersonAuthor">https://www.facebook.com/CjPettersonAuthor</a></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;">➜ BookBub: <a href="https://www.bookbub.com/authors/cj-petterson">https://www.bookbub.com/authors/cj-petterson</a></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;">➜ Goodreads: <a href="https://bit.ly/3fcN3h6">https://bit.ly/3fcN3h6</a></b></div><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2840213685906004202.post-61016992439449527472023-10-08T04:30:00.026-05:002023-10-08T04:30:00.133-05:00It's that time of year again <div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>cj Sez: It’s the time of year when all the stores, and I do
mean all, gather the end of the year holidays into one gigantic marketing blitz.
</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJh0rrjz8otK0r9DtoKXFLd5VJOvOB4Hmada-p1w1A3GEzgZmoRVeQWHg1c4Z5HmNl0_d_SJjgNmjIKjP-zt-4na01ERlHzAIfZqEIDqgHdmHS0VZ2HGfmw2eJSSldZUMTl0FA4ysUnfx99gkcUhJHuvyexRST67uDKCb5A03WisF9sB1aHWNT7nic0Ys/s600/happy%20hallowthanksmas.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="424" data-original-width="600" height="283" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJh0rrjz8otK0r9DtoKXFLd5VJOvOB4Hmada-p1w1A3GEzgZmoRVeQWHg1c4Z5HmNl0_d_SJjgNmjIKjP-zt-4na01ERlHzAIfZqEIDqgHdmHS0VZ2HGfmw2eJSSldZUMTl0FA4ysUnfx99gkcUhJHuvyexRST67uDKCb5A03WisF9sB1aHWNT7nic0Ys/w400-h283/happy%20hallowthanksmas.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of my regular favorite toons</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>So I ask you, “Do you have your Christmas shopping done yet?”</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>§§</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="text-align: left;"> </b></div></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwaxyrdN2y6ug7ZehqckPzNn-DDUf6BoSTiuPaFFabGcY1UJ9mh6lBbNLwQlKhDNPSewCwEYPqYoL2Xqmqccw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br /> This fourth installment of the Mobile Writers Guild PIECES anthology
series is a perfect complement to the first of the upcoming holidays.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><a href="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81Biv5jBxOL._SL1500_.jpg"></a></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;">“Once in a Blue Moon” is a paranormal short story that was
my first effort in that genre. I hope you enjoy the teaser…it was also a first
effort.</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;"> The book is readily
available in paperback or ebook—Kindle is $1.99.</b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>§§</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b> Writers: I don’t know about you, but my first thought when
someone says write a “pitch” is that brief, grab-the-gist-of-the-story elevator
pitch, boiled down to about 27 words—given the amount of time you might have to
describe your novel if you happen to get caught in an elevator with an agent.
Well, surprise, surprise. Did you know there is more than one kind of pitch?
Read more about it in author Amy L. Bernstein’s recent post on Jane Friedman’s
blog: <a href="https://janefriedman.com/the-other-pitch-packages-authors-should-prepare/">https://janefriedman.com/the-other-pitch-packages-authors-should-prepare/</a></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b> By the by, as the masthead of Lyrical Pens says, if you have
a book (new or old) you want to promote with a blog post, drop me a note. We
can arrange a blog date…the only caveat is that this site is PG 13.</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;"> </b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>§§</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>To quote a master . . . </b></span></div>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></b></div><blockquote><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: Libre Baskerville;">“Here's what I want from a book, what I demand, what I pray
for when I take up a novel and begin to read the first sentence: I want
everything and nothing less, the full measure of a writer's heart. I want a
novel so poetic that I do not have to turn to the standby anthologies of poetry
to satisfy that itch for music, for perfection and economy of phrasing, for
exactness of tone. Then, too, I want a book so filled with story and character
that I read page after page without thinking of food or drink because a writer
has possessed me, crazed with an unappeasable thirst to know what happens
next.” </span></b><b><span style="font-family: verdana;">― Pat Conroy (</span></b><b><span style="font-family: arial;"> <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/quotes/6942.Pat_Conroy?page=2">https://www.goodreads.com/author/quotes/6942.Pat_Conroy?page=2</a>
)</span></b></div></blockquote><p></p>
<div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: arial;">§§</span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;"> Okay, that’s it for
this post. You-all guys keep on keeping on, and I’ll try to do the same. Raising
prayers for a happy and safe you.</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>cj</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk135509903;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Now a note from my
sponsors:</b></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk135509903;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk135509903;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJv7fxADuvg3gc0PgxFIfQpFLHrrfXiOXzx-IfPo9MtDOYP1dztUPuTGIdzyBkaq_mQ95e4NYt2mc-5e7DL35Yp86MqcxZRtoLySlLNwNJhfBkDfGTTwyEBG3HQCImKgUC0od9y8xt2A7RIE6wxIm9dNymc83oKKaOtJqs1RUbMUMSMIznhKIyxXrNWaE/s960/Dawg%20Death%20grabnGo%20perma%20sale.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJv7fxADuvg3gc0PgxFIfQpFLHrrfXiOXzx-IfPo9MtDOYP1dztUPuTGIdzyBkaq_mQ95e4NYt2mc-5e7DL35Yp86MqcxZRtoLySlLNwNJhfBkDfGTTwyEBG3HQCImKgUC0od9y8xt2A7RIE6wxIm9dNymc83oKKaOtJqs1RUbMUMSMIznhKIyxXrNWaE/w400-h300/Dawg%20Death%20grabnGo%20perma%20sale.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><b><br /></b></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk135509903;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My novels THE DAWGSTAR and DEATH ON THE YAMPA
are fast-paced, thriller/suspense stories with sassy banter and a smidgen of
sweet romance. (Perfect diversions for a quick weekend getaway.)</b></span></span><b style="font-family: verdana;"> </b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk135509903;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The books are available on Amazon or through
your favorite eTailer and bookstore. Got a library card? You can read the
ebooks free from Hoopla.</b></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk135509903;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk135509903;"></span>
</b></span><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Little note: The
Haunted Book Shop has some signed copies of my books in stock. TO ORDER,
contact: <a href="https://www.thehauntedbookshopmobile.com/contact-us">https://www.thehauntedbookshopmobile.com/contact-us</a><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If she happens to be sold out, I have a small
stash. Angela Trigg, the awesome owner and a RITA Award-winning author in her
own right (writing as Angela Quarles) will be happy to ship you any book(s) by
any author of your choice.</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b> </b></span></o:p></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;">➜</b><b><span style="font-family: arial;"> Follow me on . . . </span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: arial;">➜ Amazon: <a href="http://amzn.to/1NIDKC0">Amazon
Central Author Page</a></span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: arial;">➜ Facebook: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/CjPettersonAuthor">https://www.facebook.com/CjPettersonAuthor</a></span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: arial;">➜ BookBub: <a href="https://www.bookbub.com/authors/cj-petterson">https://www.bookbub.com/authors/cj-petterson</a></span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: arial;">➜ Goodreads: <a href="https://bit.ly/3fcN3h6">https://bit.ly/3fcN3h6</a></span></b></div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b> </b></span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b> </b></span></o:p></p><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2840213685906004202.post-35214345366485624022023-10-01T04:00:00.147-05:002023-10-01T04:00:00.137-05:00Are you at the stage where you have a saggy middle?<div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;">cj Sez: My first dream in creative writing was to become a screenwriter. In case you don't remember my tale of how I got started, in 2001, I flew from Detroit to San Francisco to take a
three-day seminar called <i>Story</i> from internationally renowned, story
consultant Robert McKee. Didn't take long to discover I probably had no chance at that career. (Drop me a note and ask me why.)</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqZS0JZqbJ4ISXw3Ex5nQqoHG3MhZxdKNQRh91MPybsHlUoUNEP62PWnLrhyq_eL623qCA7J46Q7_tAa9H9sKc81zLXcNy289kCSFm3RnF_wmypYTP6syV5V3bpqZCAbmvFmQJQqMrZIM5HBPdXUc-EkahUmDDf452knl8CgxC_eKL3mU8i6y4VwD1heE/s1280/time-for-a-change-2015164_1280.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="852" data-original-width="1280" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqZS0JZqbJ4ISXw3Ex5nQqoHG3MhZxdKNQRh91MPybsHlUoUNEP62PWnLrhyq_eL623qCA7J46Q7_tAa9H9sKc81zLXcNy289kCSFm3RnF_wmypYTP6syV5V3bpqZCAbmvFmQJQqMrZIM5HBPdXUc-EkahUmDDf452knl8CgxC_eKL3mU8i6y4VwD1heE/s320/time-for-a-change-2015164_1280.jpg" width="320" /></a></div></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b> But the experience
was invaluable for my writing career, because I learned to visualize my story. I
saw that I needed to create characters who are archetypes not stereotypes and write
action/dialogue scenes that show their stories. I’m a work in progress in this deep point of view,
because I still learn something new every day. How characters react and what
they <u>don’t</u> say can speak volumes to readers who enjoy trying to solve
the crime or mystery as the story progresses.</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;"> </b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One of the ways I do
that is to create a bio for every character, including the antagonist</b></span><b style="font-family: verdana;">—they're the most fun</b><b style="font-family: verdana;">. Not just
the physical description but a lot of their life/backstory (which must never become
the dreaded “Info Dump”). Bios help me understand what they would say and how
they might react in the situation I create for them. I do bleed in a bit of their
background in some scenes, trying to help the reader see and understand the
character’s motivation.</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve talked with
writers who visualize some movie star or other playing a character in their
books. Is that something you do?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can’t
do that. I don’t see a specific person, I visualize the whole characterization
as I’ve written it—I’ll leave it to Stephen Spielberg or Francis Ford Coppola to
find the mega-star best suited for the role (ha ha).</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Most writers, and I
am very much included in that generalization, may or may not have an idea on a
theme. (They should. See the Jane Friedman link below.). We struggle with an
opening hook, but a lot of us also know how we want the story to end, so that’s
all set. It’s the middle that can be the real problem. It wants to sag. Like an
old married couple, sometimes the excitement fades away, unless, like that
married couple, we work at it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;"> Shoring up a saggy middle without adding a lot of blah-blah-blah always takes a lot of editing. </b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTjz9mPOogShyphenhyphenIqbLizzAXzAELlEEqmKLsFVwSbzdCxV8_e3E9XK1hEOKe5RKK__jpQRBfYiudwvVWs-9_hY-q-t5Ncg9nkr8T2yR9q66MhfunGYnMjxOOzIllMuNoBUoudEV_miqutIZg5SJcutO_MCCjaezH8Zc1Ik83BUajfBWxKG1x1G5s9TB-H0Q/s1280/contemplating%20saggy%20middle.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="890" data-original-width="1280" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTjz9mPOogShyphenhyphenIqbLizzAXzAELlEEqmKLsFVwSbzdCxV8_e3E9XK1hEOKe5RKK__jpQRBfYiudwvVWs-9_hY-q-t5Ncg9nkr8T2yR9q66MhfunGYnMjxOOzIllMuNoBUoudEV_miqutIZg5SJcutO_MCCjaezH8Zc1Ik83BUajfBWxKG1x1G5s9TB-H0Q/s320/contemplating%20saggy%20middle.png" width="320" /></a></div> To help me out in this process, I read the dialogue aloud as
I go along. Does it sound natural? Are the sentences too complete and so full
of blah-blah information that they slow the cadence and pace of the story? Adding unnecessary words can happen anywhere, but it very often happens in the middle part of a story
when I’m trying to reach the word count I want/need. Often, I have to change a
character’s name, a story thread, a sentence structure, or, as was true for my
first novel, the whole genre —it
started as an action/adventure love story that the publisher/editor changed to
a romantic suspense and which I, in 2021, changed to a thriller/suspense, THE
DAWGSTAR. </b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/61XHjuEaQpS._SL1500_.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="518" height="320" src="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/61XHjuEaQpS._SL1500_.jpg" width="208" /></a></div> A 5-star reviewer didn’t complain about a saggy middle, so I guess I
was successful. Now I work hard to keep that momentum going for all the rest of
my works.</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;"> What do you do to shore up the saggy middle of your story?
And if you don’t ever suffer a saggy middle, don’t tell me. I’d feel so inept.</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>§§</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In a recent post on
Jane Friedman’s blog, author, editor, and book coach Sharon Skinner writes that
“Theme is a critical element of story, but it is more than just the point you
are making.” Read more here: <a href="https://janefriedman.com/3-ways-to-use-theme-to-deepen-your-story/">https://janefriedman.com/3-ways-to-use-theme-to-deepen-your-story</a></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: verdana;">§§</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b> Okay, readers,
especially for you: Stop by my Facebook author page (at <a href="https://www.facebook.com/CjPettersonAuthor">https://www.facebook.com/CjPettersonAuthor</a>
) to follow my days-long series of posts spotlighting my stories<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> and each day introduce</span> a different
author in a different genre. Follow the link to their FB pages for info on what
they write, and you might just find some new favorite authors there.</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: verdana;">§§</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;"> That’s it for
today. You-all guys keep on keeping on, and I’ll try to do the same. Raising
prayers for a happy and safe you. </b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;">cj</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;">Now a note from my
sponsors:</b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk135509903;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b> Perfect for the
upcoming holiday: HALLOWEEN PIECES, the fourth installment of the Mobile
Writers Guild anthology PIECES series. </b></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk135509903;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><a href="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81Biv5jBxOL._SL1500_.jpg"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk135509903;"></span></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81Biv5jBxOL._SL1500_.jpg"></a><a href="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81Biv5jBxOL._SL1500_.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="500" height="320" src="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81Biv5jBxOL._SL1500_.jpg" width="200" /></a></div></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;"> “Once in a Blue Moon,” a paranormal short
story I’m kind of proud of, is included in this book. Paperback or ebook is
available—Kindle is $1.99.</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;"> My novels THE DAWGSTAR and DEATH ON THE YAMPA
are fast-paced, thriller/suspense stories with sassy banter and a smidgen of
sweet romance. (Perfect diversions for a quick weekend getaway.) </b><b style="font-family: verdana;">The books are available on Amazon or through
your favorite eTailer and bookstore. Got a library card? You can read the
ebooks free from Hoopla.</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;"> Little note: The
Haunted Book Shop has some signed copies of my books in stock. TO ORDER,
contact: <a href="https://www.thehauntedbookshopmobile.com/contact-us">https://www.thehauntedbookshopmobile.com/contact-us</a> If she happens to be sold out, I have a small
stash. Angela Trigg, the awesome owner and a RITA Award-winning author in her
own right (writing as Angela Quarles) will be happy to ship you any book(s) by
any author of your choice.</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;">➜ Follow me on . . . </b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;">➜ Amazon: <a href="http://amzn.to/1NIDKC0">Amazon
Central Author Page</a></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;">➜ Facebook: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/CjPettersonAuthor">https://www.facebook.com/CjPettersonAuthor</a></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;">➜ BookBub: <a href="https://www.bookbub.com/authors/cj-petterson">https://www.bookbub.com/authors/cj-petterson</a></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;">➜ Goodreads: <a href="https://bit.ly/3fcN3h6">https://bit.ly/3fcN3h6</a></b></div><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2840213685906004202.post-36378515331008622032023-09-24T04:00:00.063-05:002023-09-24T04:00:00.143-05:00Welcome fall and other stuff<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>cj Sez: Aah, at last. Yesterday the autumnal equinox ushered in the fall season—my favorite season—when cooler, shorter
days inspire flowers and trees to outdo themselves and burst into one last kaleidoscope of color. </b></span></div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b></b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh05TTJu0_7TWNXIZ1BS8xi9Qtgbj7t6S4ShjSbOMzzU3ZT9gJtkg7Kd7oBPJ1DZMU2Ewy2MCNIv9xXOQtGT4ZDrtTAKPXV9iwBkoX8Okg7k0LwTSeMEG8Z9n-0SXcu7FNrF5v_yklSn9yH59tRe6rS4oSrxbP0GCEPneB6aRSFRhDARDaNpLMvbNBysWQ/s1620/Fall%20Fence%20Line%20Colorado%20painting.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1620" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh05TTJu0_7TWNXIZ1BS8xi9Qtgbj7t6S4ShjSbOMzzU3ZT9gJtkg7Kd7oBPJ1DZMU2Ewy2MCNIv9xXOQtGT4ZDrtTAKPXV9iwBkoX8Okg7k0LwTSeMEG8Z9n-0SXcu7FNrF5v_yklSn9yH59tRe6rS4oSrxbP0GCEPneB6aRSFRhDARDaNpLMvbNBysWQ/w400-h266/Fall%20Fence%20Line%20Colorado%20painting.jpg" width="400" /></a></b></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /></b></span><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;"> The picture of a fence line of aspens above is one of
several beautiful compositions my photographer son took in Colorado a few years
ago. (He’s got an awesome artist’s eye.) He used a software program on the
photo to create the look of watercolor art. </b></div><p></p>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b> On the home front, Mobile doesn’t have a lot of leaf-peeper red,
orange, and gold on deciduous trees, but in a few weeks I’ll have a fence line
of camellias in many colors. What’s your favorite season where you live?</b></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b>§§</b></div></span><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b> I’ve been re-reading some of my old “how-to” posts and came
across this reminder as I edit my current WIP:</b></span></div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b></b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV6ro_UZO3ST1RCtkF_WFXFyraW28zLyVnZSqdvGnH6dHN5hPvb4Mp7X8nveXvmunywvLwVaLWFigxOZN1LZh2PlpPhsENCy3qm9PIbOGa63uq9AwOW1MUHUgLNI1TnraEOZ_WTxUe8pn51zPSq6Z1xf3HghC9Lque5javm8j6unGNiWWbj6rYKT8zt-k/s600/picard%20backstory.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="410" data-original-width="600" height="219" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV6ro_UZO3ST1RCtkF_WFXFyraW28zLyVnZSqdvGnH6dHN5hPvb4Mp7X8nveXvmunywvLwVaLWFigxOZN1LZh2PlpPhsENCy3qm9PIbOGa63uq9AwOW1MUHUgLNI1TnraEOZ_WTxUe8pn51zPSq6Z1xf3HghC9Lque5javm8j6unGNiWWbj6rYKT8zt-k/s320/picard%20backstory.jpg" width="320" /></a></b></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b> First page/first chapter turn-offs: The writing miscues that
can cause an agent to stop reading your manuscript:</b></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>* The beginning is too slow. Too many details, too much
description, too much backstory, or too many characters. The opening paragraphs
lack action or a hook to entice the readers to continue to read.</b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>* The story’s opening paragraphs fail to establish where the
story is taking place, the time, and the setting.</b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>* The writer didn’t establish a clear point of view.</b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>* Mechanical errors can earn a speedy rejection. Mechanical
errors are the typos, punctuation errors (including those involving dialogue),
and unclear syntax that can destroy a good story.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></b></span></p>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b> What agents or publishers see in the first few paragraphs of
a manuscript is what they expect to see throughout each chapter and scene. They
are looking for a reason to continue to read.</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>§§</b></span></div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b> Since I have “a ton” of old tech I’d like to recycle, I
searched the internet yesterday and found this:<o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b></b></p><blockquote><b><span style="font-family: Libre Baskerville;">“Staples has been offering free office electronics recycling
to all retail customers in the U.S. since 2012. Customers can bring any brand
of office technology in any condition, regardless of where they purchased it,
to Staples® stores for free recycling by our recycler, ERI Direct. We have
similar eWaste programs in Canada, with some variations and exclusions
depending on the province.”</span></b></blockquote><b><span style="font-family: verdana;"><o:p></o:p></span></b><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><a href="https://www.staples.com/sbd/cre/noheader/about_us/corporate-responsibility/environment/recycling-solutions/">https://www.staples.com/sbd/cre/noheader/about_us/corporate-responsibility/environment/recycling-solutions/</a></b></span></p>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b> The nearest Staples to me is in the next town over, but it’d
be worth the drive. I’ll be sure to call first. </b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>§§</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b> A brief syntax lesson: <span style="color: red;">different from</span> typically requires a
noun or noun form to complete the expression, while <span style="color: red;">different than</span> may be
followed by a clause.</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>§§</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b> Okay, that’s it for today. You-all guys keep on keeping on,
and I’ll try to do the same. Raising prayers for a happy and safe you. </b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>cj</b></span></div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a name="_Hlk135509903"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Now a note from my sponsors:<o:p></o:p></b></span></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk135509903;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Perfect for the
upcoming holiday: HALLOWEEN PIECES<o:p></o:p></b></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk135509903;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span></b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><a href="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51V5a75RJNL.jpg%20%20https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51V5a75RJNL._SY346_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="346" data-original-width="217" height="346" src="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51V5a75RJNL.jpg%20%20https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51V5a75RJNL._SY346_.jpg" width="217" /></a></b></span></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk135509903;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b> I have a short
paranormal story I’m kind of proud of, “Once in a Blue Moon,” included in
this fourth installment of the Mobile Writers Guild anthology PIECES series<o:p></o:p></b></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk135509903;"> Kindle is $1.99</span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk135509903;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">—</span>paperback
is out of print. I happen to have a very few paperback copies if you’ve a mind
to hold that book in your hands. First come, first served and sale priced at
$7.50 plus mailing. Just drop me a note: </span><a href="mailto:cjpetterson@gmail.com"></a><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk135509903;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><a href="mailto:cjpetterson@gmail.com"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk135509903;">cjpetterson@gmail.com</span></a></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk135509903;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b> My novels THE
DAWGSTAR and DEATH ON THE YAMPA are fast-paced, thriller/suspense stories with
sassy banter and a smidgen of sweet romance. (Perfect diversions for your quick
weekend getaway.)</b></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk135509903;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b> The books are
available on Amazon or through your favorite eTailer and bookstore. Got a
library card? You can read the ebooks free from Hoopla.<o:p></o:p></b></span></span></p>
<span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk135509903;"></span>
</b></span><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b> Little note: The Haunted Book Shop has a few signed copies
of my books in stock. TO ORDER, contact: <a href="https://www.thehauntedbookshopmobile.com/contact-us">https://www.thehauntedbookshopmobile.com/contact-us</a><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If she happens to be sold out, I have a small
stash. Angela Trigg, the awesome owner and a RITA Award-winning author in her
own right (writing as Angela Quarles) will be happy to ship you any book(s) by
any author of your choice.</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: arial;">➜ Follow me on . . . </span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: arial;">➜ Amazon: <a href="http://amzn.to/1NIDKC0">Amazon
Central Author Page</a></span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: arial;">➜ Facebook: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/CjPettersonAuthor">https://www.facebook.com/CjPettersonAuthor</a></span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: arial;">➜ BookBub: <a href="https://www.bookbub.com/authors/cj-petterson">https://www.bookbub.com/authors/cj-petterson</a></span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: arial;">➜ Goodreads: <a href="https://bit.ly/3fcN3h6">https://bit.ly/3fcN3h6</a></span></b></div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><b><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></b></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b> </b></span></o:p></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2840213685906004202.post-45827220832888191452023-09-17T04:00:00.063-05:002023-09-17T04:00:00.136-05:00The reader’s imagination is a powerful tool for writers.<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>cj Sez: A lot of the passion, or eroticism, a reader finds
in a story is often the part that’s left unwritten. For me, what one imagines
to be residing between the lines of a story—the perceived hidden meanings—can
be more erotic than detailed descriptions.</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheBZEWn7dJHWb03nWdR1wz3H9sAoVgc36VQInHBHWL-dBOjCWd9YkjjnCsdtRjP0zgPgprSVmVKcgFru0Et8uEhANHwDH1x1w-q5IXE2qh4VWntRwvmeVP3_v7VmXGxdb3inJO1ABNwQicJ-RelH9MmbSrJK66wRcbJweNPxc0Q-8InwR5QcHved3nJqs/s620/alberteinstein1%20logic%20imagination.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="620" height="258" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheBZEWn7dJHWb03nWdR1wz3H9sAoVgc36VQInHBHWL-dBOjCWd9YkjjnCsdtRjP0zgPgprSVmVKcgFru0Et8uEhANHwDH1x1w-q5IXE2qh4VWntRwvmeVP3_v7VmXGxdb3inJO1ABNwQicJ-RelH9MmbSrJK66wRcbJweNPxc0Q-8InwR5QcHved3nJqs/w400-h258/alberteinstein1%20logic%20imagination.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /> Writers can never predict how their words will be
interpreted because their readers are coming from a multitude of backgrounds with different sets of life experiences. </b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b> That’s both exciting and
fearful. Words, syntax, and semantics have to be as exact as we can make them,
all the while knowing that each reader will most likely interpret them
differently. I believe it is unfair and insulting to intelligent readers for
authors to tell them what they meant through the use of Italics and adverbs
attached to dialogue.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Example: “How dare
you do that,” she exclaimed angrily. Suggested alternative is just a plain-old
“How dare you do that.” This draws the reader into the story by allowing him or
her to place their own emphasis.<br /><o:p> <br /></o:p> I’ve had the pleasure of having a reader tell me how much
she enjoyed (or did not enjoy) a particular scene or dialogue exchange. When I
asked why, her interpretation of the scene or dialogue was nowhere near what I
had intended. Obviously, words and phrases do not have universal meanings. In
particular, writing with and about passion and eroticism tends to invite a lot
of critical judgment and opinion.<br /><o:p> <br /></o:p><u>Eroticism is far more than the sexual and sensuous
descriptions.</u></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><u><br /></u> <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzLLEmtQ0EuUlzWZ9h_GevJczywE0S19FNtK8tK-MohxrbkjJ4ommHlXz8eTFsnPV-z4qkIlnRkSmeRsX8AQep8ZQnw_sverxYN4IUx7vd6HRFEjHEm6x_0sV37fLl9XZaYsgZOYjBQ5-ZKLwjUSVwWAbYCXLLyk7YlK17pfdm1_NXAJA813S6rIBcRPM/s1280/andromeda-11004_1280%20free%20for%20use.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1280" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzLLEmtQ0EuUlzWZ9h_GevJczywE0S19FNtK8tK-MohxrbkjJ4ommHlXz8eTFsnPV-z4qkIlnRkSmeRsX8AQep8ZQnw_sverxYN4IUx7vd6HRFEjHEm6x_0sV37fLl9XZaYsgZOYjBQ5-ZKLwjUSVwWAbYCXLLyk7YlK17pfdm1_NXAJA813S6rIBcRPM/s320/andromeda-11004_1280%20free%20for%20use.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Andromeda Nebula</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table> For me, the definition of erotic pleasure is nebulous. It is
sitting on the floor of a darkened room immersed in music…it is snowflakes
melting in my eyelashes…the smooth caress of summer breezes...the warmth of the
morning sun…the whistle of an elk and the cry of a loon in the northern
wilderness...it is pleasure that fills me with laughter and the pain that makes
my heart ache…it is intelligence with a quick wit and gentle humor…it is the
harmonics of a deeply resonant baritone…the touch of a guiding, strong hand at
my waist…it is the feel of silk, satin, skin on skin…the velvetiness of a
baby’s cheek…the taste of dark chocolate melting on my tongue...it is the aroma
of a pipe and the coarseness of a woolen shirt…it is the heady sheen and smell
of an athlete…it is trees dressed up in spring green or autumn blaze…pewter
clouds and blue skies…it is sounds, feelings, sights, smells, tastes, touch,
memories…it is imagination.</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><b>§§</b></div></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtbyuOVPhPDPvZXHeubDmt2qPEwZaaUAoiIMIQ9w6geUXwxhI8L9cSW5At5pz4WTdnNLbIvxg_4g5d4UPNs_sr_mhUPFH2NoV2KJkpdhaTtSiQg3CHhuHDoexBZWZ2k9TWP8cWEZ8XHQXMTkixwj9ohSuXyZZtleu_qto08fmPTwOB295fA_2L2eddmi4/s1920/never%20enough%20time%20to%20do%20nothing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtbyuOVPhPDPvZXHeubDmt2qPEwZaaUAoiIMIQ9w6geUXwxhI8L9cSW5At5pz4WTdnNLbIvxg_4g5d4UPNs_sr_mhUPFH2NoV2KJkpdhaTtSiQg3CHhuHDoexBZWZ2k9TWP8cWEZ8XHQXMTkixwj9ohSuXyZZtleu_qto08fmPTwOB295fA_2L2eddmi4/w400-h225/never%20enough%20time%20to%20do%20nothing.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b> Summer is winding down, and one of my favorite cartoons
illustrates the lament of most everyone returning to their regular fall,
winter, and spring school and work schedules.</b></div></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /> Beyond that … I am so yearning for some moderating autumnal
temperatures on Alabama’s Gulf Coast. The summer heat has been hellacious this
year—a very long string of 100-plus-degree days with sauna-like humidity. In
fact, Mobile set its own record this year for 11 days of >=100 degrees.
I haven’t ventured into my yard for longer than an hour or so at a time since
June, and boy, do I have the weeds and vines to prove it.</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><div style="text-align: center;"><b>§§</b></div> </b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /> Okay, that’s it for today. You-all guys keep on keeping on,
and I’ll try to do the same. Raising prayers for a happy and safe you.</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /> cj</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /><a name="_Hlk135509903">Now a note from my sponsors:<br /></a><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk135509903;">Perfect for the
upcoming holiday: HALLOWEEN PIECES</span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk135509903;"><br /></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk135509903;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51V5a75RJNL.jpg%20https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51V5a75RJNL._SY346_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="346" data-original-width="217" height="346" src="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51V5a75RJNL.jpg%20https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51V5a75RJNL._SY346_.jpg" width="217" /></a></div></span></span><a href="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51V5a75RJNL._SY346_.jpg"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk135509903;"><br /></span></a><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk135509903;">I have a short paranormal story, “Once in a Blue Moon,” included in this fourth installment of the
Mobile Writers Guild anthology PIECES series.<br /></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk135509903;"><o:p> <br /></o:p></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk135509903;">Kindle is
$1.99/paperback is out of print. I happen to have four paperback copies if
you’ve a mind to hold that book in your hands. First come, first served and
sale priced at $7.50 plus mailing. Just drop me a note: </span><a href="mailto:cjpetterson@gmail.com"></a><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk135509903;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><a href="mailto:cjpetterson@gmail.com"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk135509903;">cjpetterson@gmail.com<br /></span></a><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk135509903;"><o:p> <br /></o:p></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk135509903;"><br /></span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk135509903;"> My novels THE
DAWGSTAR and DEATH ON THE YAMPA are fast-paced, thriller/suspense stories with
sassy banter and a smidgen of sweet romance. (Perfect diversions for a quick
weekend getaway.)<br /> </span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk135509903;"><o:p> <br /></o:p></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk135509903;"> The books are
available on Amazon or through your favorite eTailer and bookstore. Got a
library card? You can read the ebooks free from Hoopla.</span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk135509903;"><br /></span> <u>Little note:</u> The Haunted Book Shop has a few signed copies
of my books in stock. TO ORDER, contact: <a href="https://www.thehauntedbookshopmobile.com/contact-us">https://www.thehauntedbookshopmobile.com/contact-us</a><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If she happens to be sold out, I have a small
stash. Angela Trigg, the awesome owner and a RITA Award-winning author in her
own right (writing as Angela Quarles) will be happy to ship you any book(s) by
any author of your choice.<br /><o:p> <br /></o:p>➜ Follow me on . . . <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> <br /> </span>➜ Amazon:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><a href="http://amzn.to/1NIDKC0">Amazon
Central Author Page<br /></a>➜ Facebook:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/CjPettersonAuthor">https://www.facebook.com/CjPettersonAuthor<br /></a>➜ BookBub:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><a href="https://www.bookbub.com/authors/cj-petterson">https://www.bookbub.com/authors/cj-petterson<br /></a>➜ Goodreads: <a href="https://bit.ly/3fcN3h6">https://bit.ly/3fcN3h6<br /></a><o:p> </o:p></b></span></div><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
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