tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36003221310050206742024-03-13T13:59:59.088-07:00Morgan Shamy YA AuthorMorganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15747144518868320969noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3600322131005020674.post-72003487808854826612023-02-28T08:59:00.001-08:002023-02-28T08:59:06.129-08:00THE DOLLMAKER RELEASE DAY!!<p> <span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">THE DOLLMAKER is OUT TODAY!!!</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">Jack the Ripper retelling. 1920s. Ballet. Murder. Mystery. Romance. I’m so proud of this book and it’s a dream to have it out in the world! So much thanks to my agent and publisher for making this happen!!! The book is available pretty much everywhere! I’ll post the links below. Thank you for supporting me today!!<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_jQv40bURz_HtDveRvPSIz7tdDg7e-l8ALP6IO7MYqNUW2XRfTzIJJf1MA1VdNMUpK7QhTiKJgHr5CVimkYB1MQRWQ2lUJccNzmpF8hIPLYrq2-OGFxueTn-y8s48PjsMSEx-EuC9qsmNDkZ5XITMTOCqe3m6MzBVIYJuxgfyqdhSc18jsIgQRBBS/s1290/MorganDollmaker.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1290" data-original-width="924" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_jQv40bURz_HtDveRvPSIz7tdDg7e-l8ALP6IO7MYqNUW2XRfTzIJJf1MA1VdNMUpK7QhTiKJgHr5CVimkYB1MQRWQ2lUJccNzmpF8hIPLYrq2-OGFxueTn-y8s48PjsMSEx-EuC9qsmNDkZ5XITMTOCqe3m6MzBVIYJuxgfyqdhSc18jsIgQRBBS/s320/MorganDollmaker.jpeg" width="229" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyda1HRt9n_2r0IalUQJoB8DXDqxoPQdUT_KjG9Vw6gSnDGBrPua3YBBUuVKiWPKZGeAjZa--r5VYQRCS4r8wKOdj41gjaEstjwPyOW0q0fSUG2_Ky_Lw1agO0DGGF17R8Qtc4J07gg7x6L4JxKOQpN23-64ZaL1E1YrehKgOeg20nd79WtpzDEmvY/s1500/Dollmaker%20Cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="971" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyda1HRt9n_2r0IalUQJoB8DXDqxoPQdUT_KjG9Vw6gSnDGBrPua3YBBUuVKiWPKZGeAjZa--r5VYQRCS4r8wKOdj41gjaEstjwPyOW0q0fSUG2_Ky_Lw1agO0DGGF17R8Qtc4J07gg7x6L4JxKOQpN23-64ZaL1E1YrehKgOeg20nd79WtpzDEmvY/s320/Dollmaker%20Cover.jpg" width="207" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Dollmaker-Morgan-Shamy/dp/0744308623" target="_blank">Amazon</a></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><a href=" https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-dollmaker-morgan-shamy/1141356442" target="_blank">Barnes & Noble</a><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><a href="https://camcatbooks.com/Books/T/The-Dollmaker" target="_blank">CamCat Books Website</a><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><a href="https://www.target.com/p/the-dollmaker-by-morgan-shamy-hardcover/-/A-88202946" target="_blank">Target</a><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><a href="https://www.walmart.com/ip/The-Dollmaker-Hardcover-9780744308624/1222025987?wmlspartner=wlpa&selectedSellerId=0" target="_blank">Walmart</a><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><br /></p>Morganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15747144518868320969noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3600322131005020674.post-72661393990898122202022-09-19T09:59:00.004-07:002022-09-19T10:01:36.007-07:00The DARK NOCTURNE series! <p>It's been such a great summer! I traveled through Europe for a few weeks, and also traveled to the location where my trilogy takes place. It was so fun to see the places I wrote about! Here are a few highlights:</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI6FL73jPknPYL6oIZrp20orzb--xikmMPIJiqB7LcCBzgMQgWyd5QbQuXFahwS9HMghffBayI-VESYYaJEf_w_Rrd8n08WVXN6i57MV5ldfjVsnPbSjdA5GEbDCWNcMZhiSSylvZHGV6Gs8ElqLLLYCcpfwhcIDIi7Ck9PyUayK-oLOZuzS_A_bNw/s1000/Serenade.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="667" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI6FL73jPknPYL6oIZrp20orzb--xikmMPIJiqB7LcCBzgMQgWyd5QbQuXFahwS9HMghffBayI-VESYYaJEf_w_Rrd8n08WVXN6i57MV5ldfjVsnPbSjdA5GEbDCWNcMZhiSSylvZHGV6Gs8ElqLLLYCcpfwhcIDIi7Ck9PyUayK-oLOZuzS_A_bNw/s320/Serenade.jpeg" width="213" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLJvGEOxfDOC9i6UQcH3SMMTDDWHqw_ENkPsaxPsSwiP0h7qXmZAx0ACaxt8FG-t_GetLz0ebfoAjKbrce6Ut7mRJavnTKSvK39mRWn8iQEB7nsD83NMHK1fSDT1z9XEucTbBgsbSi_j0SXCtRSFBWpZggASyORVtUHzlYPlqJjCZg9rZJ_cBP9TbF/s1000/Etude.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="667" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLJvGEOxfDOC9i6UQcH3SMMTDDWHqw_ENkPsaxPsSwiP0h7qXmZAx0ACaxt8FG-t_GetLz0ebfoAjKbrce6Ut7mRJavnTKSvK39mRWn8iQEB7nsD83NMHK1fSDT1z9XEucTbBgsbSi_j0SXCtRSFBWpZggASyORVtUHzlYPlqJjCZg9rZJ_cBP9TbF/s320/Etude.jpeg" width="213" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb4wHv8KLzmo1w7yVzqRkbfn0JsDH3q3lcihUqx7YipcXbOL8xHJFeeQDmPsDIbVNl-4rABtQWvsMTbtoiIHQ_mcgjcNHRVKiL4-3Xgkwp9qooEqaO6rKIZ5_REP5hAGxoRJu7qiw2OK-Kwghag1p5oo7vGT5mpvkhuUjAhv85nZ-s7ANFdDkHXG-W/s1000/Promenade.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="667" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb4wHv8KLzmo1w7yVzqRkbfn0JsDH3q3lcihUqx7YipcXbOL8xHJFeeQDmPsDIbVNl-4rABtQWvsMTbtoiIHQ_mcgjcNHRVKiL4-3Xgkwp9qooEqaO6rKIZ5_REP5hAGxoRJu7qiw2OK-Kwghag1p5oo7vGT5mpvkhuUjAhv85nZ-s7ANFdDkHXG-W/s320/Promenade.jpeg" width="213" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(15, 17, 17); color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px 0px 14px; padding: 0px; text-align: start;"><span class="a-text-bold" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;">St. Paul’s Academy of the Arts isn’t your usual boarding school....</span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(15, 17, 17); color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: -4px 0px 14px; padding: 0px; text-align: start;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">When November Huntington is sent away to live with her long-lost family, she’s forced to attend a music school for the gifted—which wouldn’t be a problem if November were musical. She’s an athlete through and through, and hates being different.</span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(15, 17, 17); color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: -4px 0px 14px; padding: 0px; text-align: start;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">The kids at the school don’t welcome her; they’re wary of her presence, especially Vincent, a brooding teenage boy involved with dark spirits, who can make time stop when he plays his piano. In fact, all her classmates are all obsessed with playing their instruments. And odd things happen when the do.</span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(15, 17, 17); color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: -4px 0px 14px; padding: 0px; text-align: start;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">But something is off about the school. Deaths have occurred through the years, students showing up dead the same way November's parents were killed—with their throats ripped out.</span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(15, 17, 17); color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: -4px 0px 14px; padding: 0px; text-align: start;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">A killer is on the loose.... November must figure out a way to stop whoever it is, balance her feelings for Vincent, and solve her parents' past before she, too, is numbered among the dead.</span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(15, 17, 17); color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: -4px 0px 14px; padding: 0px; text-align: start;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><br /></span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(15, 17, 17); color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: -4px 0px 14px; padding: 0px; text-align: start;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXLlQMPHfHdMsue4oA4-pRbxZDbmRsyAT-gh7C-Lwhon4ZSb4bsoOCXVrSiQITGqj-xa9VvC9Sg5zaZvh0CPIUmOyW-Ly287zbCdwGRTV8oIG7qGdxNV_MV-6ThjglPr5qegbD4MxkLJ0g1tlzAc3mreOl9cJ8aJaLLZLmWXiRihQC6JCMBH-m9ljB/s4032/trip1.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXLlQMPHfHdMsue4oA4-pRbxZDbmRsyAT-gh7C-Lwhon4ZSb4bsoOCXVrSiQITGqj-xa9VvC9Sg5zaZvh0CPIUmOyW-Ly287zbCdwGRTV8oIG7qGdxNV_MV-6ThjglPr5qegbD4MxkLJ0g1tlzAc3mreOl9cJ8aJaLLZLmWXiRihQC6JCMBH-m9ljB/s320/trip1.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjvQ_dMxMp9o269R-5_G-Ri-PrHrej5VxmVt6Nyquz52geirB4MpeZSI1ucvJRzzIy0eR06DfwCpX1kNtIBY2FohiOHR4ZFccH8xFnL8irEqf24zvdF4N9aDIgZGAx46uKHtB0JQcul7YyEWRWnSU6Cn8xtHjVNtll0rS7tEELTaH67U3TYDwh4Dl1/s4032/trip2.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjvQ_dMxMp9o269R-5_G-Ri-PrHrej5VxmVt6Nyquz52geirB4MpeZSI1ucvJRzzIy0eR06DfwCpX1kNtIBY2FohiOHR4ZFccH8xFnL8irEqf24zvdF4N9aDIgZGAx46uKHtB0JQcul7YyEWRWnSU6Cn8xtHjVNtll0rS7tEELTaH67U3TYDwh4Dl1/s320/trip2.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieVRduh6Tb6NcrWlxbZ9EzfAxfe5pzudZzr2eMn7GriwAbjOdVKKmn-FVgSkb9Am7UhsmlD847SUE2d7T44GlgTIAZ-HfgI4Jd8BSe9fpxQLo60f1k6ZKWdNJ6WcNqzR-7n-Zxw1UCiBRD4Erl4hTg0vdLJBImjiKQrvyEgbOaBC6ZMuFBsg4_zwVF/s4032/trip3.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieVRduh6Tb6NcrWlxbZ9EzfAxfe5pzudZzr2eMn7GriwAbjOdVKKmn-FVgSkb9Am7UhsmlD847SUE2d7T44GlgTIAZ-HfgI4Jd8BSe9fpxQLo60f1k6ZKWdNJ6WcNqzR-7n-Zxw1UCiBRD4Erl4hTg0vdLJBImjiKQrvyEgbOaBC6ZMuFBsg4_zwVF/s320/trip3.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS0hcVeSZWvuWdEvEXhB7R5PNOJVem0ZRomcz6rX05SIAUo4F7bgw6Gm8-syKiOoZ8k3kKpZFUb0n0A-rHhQUtq03sHvdDeOTI6H5ktnomTm5NFsAHpBQE0cnZFP6UfjdU5UvYYqjOg0qkKAfjf_bBTg-bQ-biN_BmAl7BBUKjgtycLtMMMtdVpav3/s1615/trip4.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1343" data-original-width="1615" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS0hcVeSZWvuWdEvEXhB7R5PNOJVem0ZRomcz6rX05SIAUo4F7bgw6Gm8-syKiOoZ8k3kKpZFUb0n0A-rHhQUtq03sHvdDeOTI6H5ktnomTm5NFsAHpBQE0cnZFP6UfjdU5UvYYqjOg0qkKAfjf_bBTg-bQ-biN_BmAl7BBUKjgtycLtMMMtdVpav3/s320/trip4.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnnHoipQ46ZPiYyLME6urkpSixDqXeAEDqIWYg9GZ9LNBTVlSUHmJDVxnYTg2r_XpTR-y1_c60ojpkQrkMXRbnPcwfd6a6ymvQq7XAywp4zLg8VIuUNGbf3xqeRh-zWMVVtmxa6YhwsMnUyD4jlfGMAlo21tLQM36nhvfvBn5nrnGzOhVXIsFR0hxu/s4032/trip5.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnnHoipQ46ZPiYyLME6urkpSixDqXeAEDqIWYg9GZ9LNBTVlSUHmJDVxnYTg2r_XpTR-y1_c60ojpkQrkMXRbnPcwfd6a6ymvQq7XAywp4zLg8VIuUNGbf3xqeRh-zWMVVtmxa6YhwsMnUyD4jlfGMAlo21tLQM36nhvfvBn5nrnGzOhVXIsFR0hxu/s320/trip5.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk2ufa23JZkbMi_713J_jeHtdz6z3i82gbecAm-1MjC9RDUS6NFjUCHVU-k1psvlTFSNDbfV5JNRs5rZ8kwa7kqfNDZnsasAwus440I4hbx_otYpLGxYhpb4Ektgar117BQYWN7oYngJY756wa3sDViwsYDpAgN-KF_49xSKsSBZSsvlFBy351Vo09/s2400/trip6.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2400" data-original-width="2400" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk2ufa23JZkbMi_713J_jeHtdz6z3i82gbecAm-1MjC9RDUS6NFjUCHVU-k1psvlTFSNDbfV5JNRs5rZ8kwa7kqfNDZnsasAwus440I4hbx_otYpLGxYhpb4Ektgar117BQYWN7oYngJY756wa3sDViwsYDpAgN-KF_49xSKsSBZSsvlFBy351Vo09/s320/trip6.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvaCsTNLDgHEzJh00urxOs3p7SRHzY77rMqZT9aVl-gE-TyNYEUWPFxvn_ToedTSXZLfvAdn8GHfcHaESqhUOeb0Lb-DWaxlni07BgRA-Mn7wyNOl5gGR_QjqNwMgW0JF6Ol-IUU6v7Dk2hMWwu5yjU0-i5Mtl2WFk8CBvXHK3_sa7mX4TlRKIQ8se/s4032/trip7.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvaCsTNLDgHEzJh00urxOs3p7SRHzY77rMqZT9aVl-gE-TyNYEUWPFxvn_ToedTSXZLfvAdn8GHfcHaESqhUOeb0Lb-DWaxlni07BgRA-Mn7wyNOl5gGR_QjqNwMgW0JF6Ol-IUU6v7Dk2hMWwu5yjU0-i5Mtl2WFk8CBvXHK3_sa7mX4TlRKIQ8se/s320/trip7.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_zByeydLpKgJs6uWQlDshw8zDZo2Uu9iz8lzUCN8F6AbtlI5-yeHUtNw9vqGNSOC2s-vTdS4DFYy_2mw_M_xHGS3YS0UaB5wTM8YAQ5gCvav8AymO6UxvhfXTY-0Ivf9_v3J-b9ya6IbkNp2_qSRhU6ALhZo2Y-lEBpX51WTK0hkisbER9hPwIbGb/s2400/Trip8.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2400" data-original-width="2400" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_zByeydLpKgJs6uWQlDshw8zDZo2Uu9iz8lzUCN8F6AbtlI5-yeHUtNw9vqGNSOC2s-vTdS4DFYy_2mw_M_xHGS3YS0UaB5wTM8YAQ5gCvav8AymO6UxvhfXTY-0Ivf9_v3J-b9ya6IbkNp2_qSRhU6ALhZo2Y-lEBpX51WTK0hkisbER9hPwIbGb/s320/Trip8.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2UYKAzCB7nnOLVg3w1XtH96gtWq4-F6HKrCrb9s39RhR4sUKUdJzV9AazqsMfl-SHvM192zf5rLSQb-17w_jXA6uqPTOIvxSNZ0XaaMKMJlhnkqP7Y9mcIdF4WXj416eh7n93s5Np_vfm5oiK7w5gCXcLVXOI5XyP4FUOcoMJ6nHcAgeQ8qhFGWvC/s4032/trip9.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2UYKAzCB7nnOLVg3w1XtH96gtWq4-F6HKrCrb9s39RhR4sUKUdJzV9AazqsMfl-SHvM192zf5rLSQb-17w_jXA6uqPTOIvxSNZ0XaaMKMJlhnkqP7Y9mcIdF4WXj416eh7n93s5Np_vfm5oiK7w5gCXcLVXOI5XyP4FUOcoMJ6nHcAgeQ8qhFGWvC/s320/trip9.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvjfvGPHYehGfMB_h6v4yenWDTkSpNnjcjGMUCrNyTZBlaU8uePIUexatyXa_XmTKEkpRi5rz2WnEISi7m8sLZy5thAlF7ViRtaor7AdzLF8JriNpFkaGFzcOmzcfNhVnqJ9S9HczideoFhV1sGO2A6PzOSwcQcrVpk45babLMCK8t5ESRiQWU8cLr/s1000/trip10.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="750" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvjfvGPHYehGfMB_h6v4yenWDTkSpNnjcjGMUCrNyTZBlaU8uePIUexatyXa_XmTKEkpRi5rz2WnEISi7m8sLZy5thAlF7ViRtaor7AdzLF8JriNpFkaGFzcOmzcfNhVnqJ9S9HczideoFhV1sGO2A6PzOSwcQcrVpk45babLMCK8t5ESRiQWU8cLr/s320/trip10.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc6UJ5Ut3I3xJrMMUdnk8S_eZp5ghJRypGbO1_Sn4SuKC31-7PPCAraYEfMdk_lU-F6mGXU9J7Y9H4h4HNayJ9V-YxSdZ4TqRWul4d5ERAdOhy8HFW4jnK0IwRKpejbCJ9k7SnZoV5IgIFfSktWAN17Sn9CEIoltJPqEq3VHS_JUL-MuTOkS149hlU/s4032/trip11.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc6UJ5Ut3I3xJrMMUdnk8S_eZp5ghJRypGbO1_Sn4SuKC31-7PPCAraYEfMdk_lU-F6mGXU9J7Y9H4h4HNayJ9V-YxSdZ4TqRWul4d5ERAdOhy8HFW4jnK0IwRKpejbCJ9k7SnZoV5IgIFfSktWAN17Sn9CEIoltJPqEq3VHS_JUL-MuTOkS149hlU/s320/trip11.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(15, 17, 17); color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: -4px 0px 14px; padding: 0px; text-align: start;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"></span></p><p style="text-align: left;">You can purchase the books <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09W4K79GR?searchxofy=true&binding=kindle_edition&ref_=dbs_s_aps_series_rwt_tkin&qid=1663606816&sr=8-1" target="_blank">here</a>. </p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;">Thank you all for supporting me!!!</p></div>Morganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15747144518868320969noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3600322131005020674.post-16541447710568633812021-01-21T10:25:00.003-08:002021-01-21T10:25:36.606-08:00Audiobook for The Redpoint Crux!!!! <p>The audiobook for THE REDPOINT CRUX just dropped!! <span class="s1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px;">It’s SO much fun! It’s weird to have these fun little moments after years of hardship... </span><span class="s2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px;">😭🩰👻🔪🧗♀️✨</span><span class="s1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px;"> </span></p><p><span class="s1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px;"><br /></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CEDL23-OtUE/YAnGuSVH87I/AAAAAAAAN2Y/180HZrMshUY5uynlcdUA2sbF6-wqUxDhgCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/898949B5-312B-44F6-9203-0B11981B9215.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CEDL23-OtUE/YAnGuSVH87I/AAAAAAAAN2Y/180HZrMshUY5uynlcdUA2sbF6-wqUxDhgCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/898949B5-312B-44F6-9203-0B11981B9215.jpeg" /></a></div><br /><span class="s1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px;"><br /></span><p></p><p>To support me, here’s the link: <a href="https://www.amazon.com/The-Redpoint-Crux/dp/B08TFNX6TD/ref=tmm_aud_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=">Click here </a></p><p><br /></p><p>Love you guys!!! </p>Morganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15747144518868320969noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3600322131005020674.post-24243374062943278422020-05-11T13:22:00.000-07:002020-05-11T13:24:03.813-07:00The Redpoint Crux Blurbs!!!I'm so delighted to share two of my recent blurbs for The Redpoint Crux!!!One is from <strong style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Evelyn Skye, </strong><strong style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><span style="font-style: italic;">New York Times</span> bestselling author of <span style="font-style: italic;">The Crown’s Game, </span></strong>and the next is from <strong style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Wendy Higgins,</strong><strong style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"> <span style="font-style: italic;">New York Times</span> Bestselling Author. </strong> I've posted the blurbs below!!!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TvPZfMdOTSc/Xrmy9iYExmI/AAAAAAAANoU/WCUsQ-02fEMYKg29bj8CQr7lELpOuPOgwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/IMG_4714.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TvPZfMdOTSc/Xrmy9iYExmI/AAAAAAAANoU/WCUsQ-02fEMYKg29bj8CQr7lELpOuPOgwCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/IMG_4714.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0WvDdlKtK7k/XrmzImq6WkI/AAAAAAAANoY/_tCJkKlrwzgWwDzAIYmANuq93p_YDY73wCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/IMG_4681.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0WvDdlKtK7k/XrmzImq6WkI/AAAAAAAANoY/_tCJkKlrwzgWwDzAIYmANuq93p_YDY73wCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/IMG_4681.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Aren't they lovely??? I'm so excited for June 9th and it'll be out in the world!!! If any of you would like to share and promote, that would mean the world to me! Thank you!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Add on Goodreads: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/42188304-the-redpoint-crux?from_search=true&from_srp=true&qid=0VaypQACGN&rank=1">Here</a> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
PreOrder Link: <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Redpoint-Crux-Morgan-Shamy-ebook/dp/B084KPSZ8T/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=Morgan+Shamy&qid=1588812847&sr=8-1">Here </a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Thanks guys!!! Hope you are all wonderful! </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />Morganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15747144518868320969noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3600322131005020674.post-29650389938185419402015-05-06T22:29:00.000-07:002019-06-18T17:59:44.055-07:00The Year Of Lightning!!! <br />
Once upon a time… there was a nerdy writer girl who didn't have any friends on twitter:<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uxDjtCh6Yhw/VUmVukKw_1I/AAAAAAAACKg/945VR76MA34/s1600/NerdBlog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uxDjtCh6Yhw/VUmVukKw_1I/AAAAAAAACKg/945VR76MA34/s400/NerdBlog.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nerdy scared girl.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
But then she met a friend who was super nice and had the same writerly aspirations/interests as her. (Wanting to take over the universe by using orbital death rays, inventing cake vending machines, respect for evil overlords who executed rebels… yanno, the usual)</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XQOkINXeNwM/VUmZrHzwylI/AAAAAAAACK8/WHVEnwbTW6M/s1600/MorgRyanGrid.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XQOkINXeNwM/VUmZrHzwylI/AAAAAAAACK8/WHVEnwbTW6M/s400/MorgRyanGrid.jpg" width="283" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yay Friends!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
The two became great friends and even beta read for each other. The girl had beta read some scary books in her day, so she was relieved when her friend had real talent. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-t5Zp1fiyinY/VUmcKo_vXyI/AAAAAAAACLI/O0tklMaskus/s1600/BookGrid.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-t5Zp1fiyinY/VUmcKo_vXyI/AAAAAAAACLI/O0tklMaskus/s400/BookGrid.jpg" width="283" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
The friends even went to fun conferences together and plotted how some day they would be successful authors and teach classes on world-building, perseverance, and how to turn normal words into slang by adding apostrophes. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pUzW8i0XVGs/VUmfaLTIMBI/AAAAAAAACLU/fxF1SxYzq6c/s1600/Riboflavin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="268" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pUzW8i0XVGs/VUmfaLTIMBI/AAAAAAAACLU/fxF1SxYzq6c/s400/Riboflavin.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Aside from writing, these two friends were like-minded in other ways. Like how they felt about sports:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-A4Alx5GH50E/VUmhyt8yeuI/AAAAAAAACLg/9vJ6kd668Z0/s1600/SpotsBlog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="226" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-A4Alx5GH50E/VUmhyt8yeuI/AAAAAAAACLg/9vJ6kd668Z0/s400/SpotsBlog.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Or the questions about ninjas that kept them up at night:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-w55tVR8mVx0/VUmkQwmWZsI/AAAAAAAACLs/0Tpih3fbbjc/s1600/NinjaBlog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="304" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-w55tVR8mVx0/VUmkQwmWZsI/AAAAAAAACLs/0Tpih3fbbjc/s400/NinjaBlog.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Then something fabulous happened. The girl's friend signed a three-book-deal with Jolly Fish Press and she was SO happy she got to reveal his cover on her blog!!! </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Cue cover reveal:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_q8q3t-WMik/VUmk5NBTRxI/AAAAAAAACL8/k4ch9ZA03PI/s1600/Cover%2B-%2BTYoL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_q8q3t-WMik/VUmk5NBTRxI/AAAAAAAACL8/k4ch9ZA03PI/s1600/Cover%2B-%2BTYoL.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Amazon <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Year-Lightning-Time-Shift-Trilogy/dp/1631630504/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1430694555&sr=1-1&keywords=the+year+of+lightning">Pre-order link</a>. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Ryan is holding a contest! If you want to participate, here are the rules:</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>JA</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
<w:UseFELayout/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="276">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
border:none;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<br />
<div class="Default">
<br /></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">How would <i>you</i> fight a
lightning storm? In one paragraph, tell us exactly how you</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">’</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">d do
it, and don</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">’</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">t hold back! Get as crazy/silly/stupid/super-tough as you want.
The sky is literally the limit. We</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">’</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">ll pick a winner from
each participating blog, and I will send each winner a package containing an
awesome secret clue to the central mystery in THE YEAR OF LIGHTNING. </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Thank you, Ryan, for letting me be part of your cover reveal. You're a wonderful friend and I'm so excited for your success!!! </span></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Red. Head. Out. :) </span></div>
<!--EndFragment--></div>
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>JA</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
<w:UseFELayout/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="276">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment--><!--EndFragment--><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
</div>
Morganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15747144518868320969noreply@blogger.com47tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3600322131005020674.post-57872502358712525682015-02-04T20:11:00.000-08:002019-06-18T18:01:13.322-07:00A Day In The Life With WOVEN… <br />
We all know books can change your life.<br />
<br />
But they can also completely disrupt your life… unless you know how to function *while* reading them… especially one you can't put down…<br />
<br />
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jfHvoHrXvAQ/VNGOTtjjrQI/AAAAAAAACGI/C1AMmvnj2K8/s1600/WovenBook.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jfHvoHrXvAQ/VNGOTtjjrQI/AAAAAAAACGI/C1AMmvnj2K8/s400/WovenBook.jpg" width="224" /></a><br />
My experience with WOVEN…<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SJxNgE01n08/VNGOkViBq5I/AAAAAAAACG4/F0KIZiVoCjo/s1600/WOvenPiano.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SJxNgE01n08/VNGOkViBq5I/AAAAAAAACG4/F0KIZiVoCjo/s400/WOvenPiano.png" width="225" /></a></div>
Mr. Woven and I spent a few hours practicing the piano together… <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-n-QZVsNTMW0/VNGOb37vaJI/AAAAAAAACGs/0ZB62KF9E2E/s1600/WovenTreadmill.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-n-QZVsNTMW0/VNGOb37vaJI/AAAAAAAACGs/0ZB62KF9E2E/s400/WovenTreadmill.jpg" width="216" /></a></div>
We also spent some time on the treadmill together… <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UNC3zuM3Lwk/VNGOWUk5FqI/AAAAAAAACGQ/108UK1l-t9I/s1600/WOvenComputer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UNC3zuM3Lwk/VNGOWUk5FqI/AAAAAAAACGQ/108UK1l-t9I/s400/WOvenComputer.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
I managed to write and read at the same time… </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lLYHuncgTtA/VNGOamWYSDI/AAAAAAAACGo/78bFUK8oZgQ/s1600/WovenGame.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lLYHuncgTtA/VNGOamWYSDI/AAAAAAAACGo/78bFUK8oZgQ/s400/WovenGame.jpg" width="225" /></a><br />
My mad face when Mr. Woven beat me at Pictionary…<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mvsK_mmCki0/VNGOYYBYTQI/AAAAAAAACGY/1tlFk_XjpXE/s1600/WovenMovie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mvsK_mmCki0/VNGOYYBYTQI/AAAAAAAACGY/1tlFk_XjpXE/s400/WovenMovie.jpg" width="188" /></a><br />
He even comforted me in the scary part of movies…<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZyGa7kZNbMA/VNGOR7hMMOI/AAAAAAAACGA/AjGSy0GGd48/s1600/WovenPositions.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZyGa7kZNbMA/VNGOR7hMMOI/AAAAAAAACGA/AjGSy0GGd48/s400/WovenPositions.jpg" width="282" /></a><br />
<br />
I've lost count with how many different positions I read in…<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-g-PnZdfVkbs/VNGOZgjX63I/AAAAAAAACGg/CF2vpD9hkqc/s1600/WovenSunset.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-g-PnZdfVkbs/VNGOZgjX63I/AAAAAAAACGg/CF2vpD9hkqc/s400/WovenSunset.jpg" width="262" /></a><br />
<br />
A day wouldn't be complete without watching the sunset together…<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KlPwlpWWAX8/VNGOKO6D9qI/AAAAAAAACF4/WsWP3onujXI/s1600/WovenSmileReal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KlPwlpWWAX8/VNGOKO6D9qI/AAAAAAAACF4/WsWP3onujXI/s400/WovenSmileReal.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
And big smiles all around with what a fantastic book WOVEN is!!!!!!<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
I'm so proud of <a href="http://www.davidpowersking.com/">David Powers King</a> and Michael Jensen. I don't know Michael well (but I know he's wonderful!), and I consider David one of my most favorite friends. He's not only a talented writer, but he's one of the kindest, most genuine people I know. (He's also married to a gorgeous red head, which automatically gives him huge bonus points) :)<br />
<br />
My review:<br />
<br />
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>JA</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
<w:UseFELayout/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="276">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<!--EndFragment--><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Woven is such a beautiful story!!! This book contains the
kind of magic I’ve been missing in stories for a while. I love the uniqueness
of the fantasy world… I was sucked in from the start and immersed completely
with the plot and characters.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Pacing was
great. Writing was beautiful. It’s the kind of story that is timeless---where
it will easily hold its own in today’s crowded market and for years to come. Action,
adventure, ghosts, magic, romance… I thoroughly enjoyed this!!! <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Woven-Michael-Jensen-ebook/dp/B00LH4YYGE/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1423022093&sr=1-1&keywords=woven">BUY WOVEN HERE</a>. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Thanks, DPK for letting me be a part of your Woven tour, and I'm so excited to see more Woven success!!!!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Red. Head. Out. :) </div>
Morganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15747144518868320969noreply@blogger.com38tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3600322131005020674.post-4380424088212729942014-08-04T22:59:00.000-07:002018-02-22T21:15:45.273-08:00#LA14SCBWI Conference! <br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I’m not sure what it is about the <a href="http://www.scbwi.org/">SCBWI</a> LA conference, but each year I
attend, I seem to find exactly what I’m looking for. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This is my fourth year going to the conference, and each
time, I’ve been in a completely different place on this writing journey… whether with my emotional journey or my actual craft/ability/knowledge of the industry.
And for some reason, the SCBWI has always been able to reach me—to know exactly
what I need at the time and refuel my tank. I’m always able to find myself
again. To find what it is I want and what I need and where I want to go. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As we all know, sometimes that "magic something” leaves us.
We keep working without <i>really </i>remembering what it is that’s rooted inside of
us—that reason why we’re writing in the first place. And I’ve been to
conferences that focus only on craft or the industry or how to get from point A
to point B. But the SCBWI is different. They seem to <i>get</i> it. They focus on the
magic. The art. The heart. The reason why we pour our souls into our work and
spent sleepless nights crying over whether we have the ability to really
create.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They get that it’s not only
about the change that takes place within ourselves, but it’s that <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">books change people</i>. (A concept I could
go off forever about, but won’t) <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Recently, I’ve had to face some difficult decisions as far
as writing goes, and it’s because of this 2014 LA conference that I’ve been able to block
out all the different voices shouting at me and reaffirm my goals. I've found that no matter what you're looking for as a writer, the SCBWI has what you need. Including friends. </div>
<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="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3AyrfUIjKKw/U98Z-ezQ1-I/AAAAAAAABxw/19nEu2Ak7-o/s1600/Morg:Liz.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3AyrfUIjKKw/U98Z-ezQ1-I/AAAAAAAABxw/19nEu2Ak7-o/s1600/Morg:Liz.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">With the ridiculously talented Liz Briggs</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I’ve connected
with dozens of writers who really have become my best friends. (Each one of them much more talented and cooler than I) ;)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>JA</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
<w:UseFELayout/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="276">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<!--EndFragment--><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
And now for fun pics! <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZnyUR8ogapk/U98a6cX479I/AAAAAAAAByg/E1GuZ6WNhEM/s1600/Morg:Karen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZnyUR8ogapk/U98a6cX479I/AAAAAAAAByg/E1GuZ6WNhEM/s1600/Morg:Karen.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And with Karen Grencik, who will always be so special to me!<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: start;">
<span style="font-size: small;">If you're a YA, MG, or picture book writer, I highly urge you to become a SCBWI member. It's changed my life, opened up opportunities I never dreamed, and helped me take the necessary steps toward this crazy journey called publication. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: start;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: start;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Red. Head. Out. <3 </span></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Morganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15747144518868320969noreply@blogger.com32tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3600322131005020674.post-86790329079133498672014-04-12T10:18:00.000-07:002014-04-12T10:20:50.362-07:00Dancing. Magic. Sisters. Moments. <br />
You know those moments in life where time seems to stop and the universe aligns and for that brief moment, everything is right? <br />
<br />
My sister and I have shared that exact same moment—about seven years apart. By now, I’m sure you all know how much dancing was a part of my life before I found writing. And my sister and I talk all the time how much it hurts to leave the world and try to live a “normal” life. <br />
<br />
But this moment that I’m talking about happened when I was fifteen years old. The Lilac Fairy in Sleeping Beauty is the title (and coveted) role in that production. I was cast as this part, and years later my sister would play the same role. And we both had this magical experience—when standing on stage at the finale, we knew it would be the greatest role we’d ever play—and somehow we knew we’d never have a moment like it again. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-g3nTD7Xc6sc/U0l0T6wFhJI/AAAAAAAABsw/XusxS7FKYn8/s1600/BooMorg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-g3nTD7Xc6sc/U0l0T6wFhJI/AAAAAAAABsw/XusxS7FKYn8/s320/BooMorg.jpg" /></a>I don’t know why certain moments imprint themselves in our memories. Why some moments seem to slow down—so much so that you can feel the energy of it imbedded in your skin. Where it catches your breath and you have to pause—because there’s something different in the air—something that will stick with you for the rest of your life. <br />
<br />
So last night, my sister and I got to go see Sleeping Beauty. Sitting next to each other in the audience, we sighed and cried in the same moments, both remembering the choreography to a tee. It was so fun! But then… we shared a moment that transported us back to the original night we performed. <br />
<br />
At the end of the performance, we were called up on stage to be recognized as previous Lilac Fairies. And standing there, center stage, was a gift. Because it was a moment in life where we could look back and appreciate the life we had been given—the gift of being able to dance and have those moments in life to look back on, and smile. <br />
<br />
So in a way, spending last night with my sister was healing. Although it was bitter/sweet, and it still hurts to miss what was, we still get to look ahead and have those magical memories to be our companion as we travel forward. <br />
<br />
Red. Head. Out. <br />
<br />
***Oh! And if you’ve noticed, my site is all pretty and new! The amazing <a href="http://www.tianasmith.com/">Tiana Smith</a> is the brains behind this brilliance. If you guys haven’t checked out her <a href="http://www.theblogdecorator.com/">Blog Decorating Site</a>, check it our <a href="http://www.theblogdecorator.com/">here</a>! Thank you, Tiana!!!Morganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15747144518868320969noreply@blogger.com46tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3600322131005020674.post-3023050446044322272013-08-05T10:09:00.000-07:002017-03-09T16:20:09.422-08:002013 SCBWI LA Conference Recap:<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:DocumentProperties>
<o:Template>Normal</o:Template>
<o:Revision>0</o:Revision>
<o:TotalTime>0</o:TotalTime>
<o:Pages>1</o:Pages>
<o:Words>40</o:Words>
<o:Characters>233</o:Characters>
<o:Lines>1</o:Lines>
<o:Paragraphs>1</o:Paragraphs>
<o:CharactersWithSpaces>286</o:CharactersWithSpaces>
<o:Version>11.1025</o:Version>
</o:DocumentProperties>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:DoNotShowRevisions/>
<w:DoNotPrintRevisions/>
<w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:UseMarginsForDrawingGridOrigin/>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Phew.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Here we go:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
If I haven’t expressed it in the past, I have to now. If
you’re a children’s writer/illustrator, I can’t tell you enough how important
it is that you join <a href="http://www.scbwi.org/">SCBWI </a>(Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators).
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This organization is amazing. And it’s done so much for my
career up to date. I just returned from the 2013 LA Conference—my third year in
a row. I can’t imagine <i>not</i><span style="font-style: normal;"> attending
this conference. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
There’s something about this organization that stands out
from the others. I’ve been to other conferences, but all of the events that
SCBWI puts on are definitely miles above. Not only do they provide the best
keynote speakers from the most revered people in the industry, but there’s a
personal vibe in the air that unites all of us—regardless of status, genre, or
age. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
You’d think that being around so many
agents/editors/well-known authors would create a standoffish vibe, but it’s
completely the opposite. Even when you have a table war with the amazing Arthur
A. Levine… right, <a href="http://www.michaelpiercebooks.com/">Michael Pierce</a>? (A long story)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: "wingdings"; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Before this conference, I felt myself falling into a funk.
But emerging from the other side, I have such a clear head with what I want to
accomplish next—not only with my next project, but with how I want to keep my
mental perspective. Something changed in me this year… some sort of renewed
strength that gave me a long term POV, rather than just the present. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Too many highlights to name, but aside from the wonderful
classes, I enjoyed:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<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="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ovpS576PQJc/Uf_T8I_5iXI/AAAAAAAABU0/itZvg6DlO3Y/s1600/MorgandKaren.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ovpS576PQJc/Uf_T8I_5iXI/AAAAAAAABU0/itZvg6DlO3Y/s320/MorgandKaren.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The gorgeous Karen Grencik</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Breakfast with my amazing agent. I met her here two
conferences ago, and I can honestly say I haven’t met a more brilliant woman.
To get the full story, <a href="http://morganshamy.blogspot.com/2012/12/my-writing-journey-part-4the-completion.html">click here.</a> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:DocumentProperties>
<o:Template>Normal</o:Template>
<o:Revision>0</o:Revision>
<o:TotalTime>0</o:TotalTime>
<o:Pages>1</o:Pages>
<o:Words>18</o:Words>
<o:Characters>107</o:Characters>
<o:Lines>1</o:Lines>
<o:Paragraphs>1</o:Paragraphs>
<o:CharactersWithSpaces>131</o:CharactersWithSpaces>
<o:Version>11.1025</o:Version>
</o:DocumentProperties>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:DoNotShowRevisions/>
<w:DoNotPrintRevisions/>
<w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:UseMarginsForDrawingGridOrigin/>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Meeting up with writer friends. You guys are my sanity! It’s
so much fun to get together and talk the same language. Some pics:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IfW0LdQU510/Uf_UQg97m8I/AAAAAAAABU8/uhy9KstoZNk/s1600/RyanandJolene.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IfW0LdQU510/Uf_UQg97m8I/AAAAAAAABU8/uhy9KstoZNk/s320/RyanandJolene.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> <a href="http://ryandaltonwrites.com/">Ryan Dalton</a> and <a href="http://jolenesbeenwriting.blogspot.com/">Jolene Perry</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8UTGkl9T8kw/Uf_VOuM6lhI/AAAAAAAABVM/18vzDniVu04/s1600/MorgandJerry.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8UTGkl9T8kw/Uf_VOuM6lhI/AAAAAAAABVM/18vzDniVu04/s320/MorgandJerry.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">With <a href="https://www.facebook.com/artistjerrybennett">Jerry Bennett</a>, amazing illustrator</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qGzLLukYxyM/Uf_WMr3j7PI/AAAAAAAABVc/v8q-gAvVqIQ/s1600/Evelyn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qGzLLukYxyM/Uf_WMr3j7PI/AAAAAAAABVc/v8q-gAvVqIQ/s320/Evelyn.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> <a href="http://www.evelynehrlich.com/">Evelyn Ehrlich</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: right;">
</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ySj_Kuil5Zo/Uf_XOdE2grI/AAAAAAAABVs/ijOi6tAvWHM/s1600/MorgandMichael.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ySj_Kuil5Zo/Uf_XOdE2grI/AAAAAAAABVs/ijOi6tAvWHM/s320/MorgandMichael.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.michaelpiercebooks.com/">Michael Pierce</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:DocumentProperties>
<o:Template>Normal</o:Template>
<o:Revision>0</o:Revision>
<o:TotalTime>0</o:TotalTime>
<o:Pages>1</o:Pages>
<o:Words>40</o:Words>
<o:Characters>233</o:Characters>
<o:Lines>1</o:Lines>
<o:Paragraphs>1</o:Paragraphs>
<o:CharactersWithSpaces>286</o:CharactersWithSpaces>
<o:Version>11.1025</o:Version>
</o:DocumentProperties>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:DoNotShowRevisions/>
<w:DoNotPrintRevisions/>
<w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:UseMarginsForDrawingGridOrigin/>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<!--EndFragment--><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-agjrBzib7aQ/Uf_XlkX3JdI/AAAAAAAABV4/fXTnXcLkeAY/s1600/MorgandChrista.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-agjrBzib7aQ/Uf_XlkX3JdI/AAAAAAAABV4/fXTnXcLkeAY/s320/MorgandChrista.jpg" width="240" /></a> </td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://christadesir.com/">Christa Desir</a> <br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:DocumentProperties>
<o:Template>Normal</o:Template>
<o:Revision>0</o:Revision>
<o:TotalTime>0</o:TotalTime>
<o:Pages>1</o:Pages>
<o:Words>40</o:Words>
<o:Characters>233</o:Characters>
<o:Lines>1</o:Lines>
<o:Paragraphs>1</o:Paragraphs>
<o:CharactersWithSpaces>286</o:CharactersWithSpaces>
<o:Version>11.1025</o:Version>
</o:DocumentProperties>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:DoNotShowRevisions/>
<w:DoNotPrintRevisions/>
<w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:UseMarginsForDrawingGridOrigin/>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The great thing about SCBWI is that you don’t need to spend
loads of money to travel to the bigger conferences. There are smaller chapter
retreats in your area that are amazing too. Every writer needs a community. And
I know I’ve found a home with this one. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Red. Head. Out. :D </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<!--EndFragment--> </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<!--EndFragment--><br />
<!--EndFragment-->Morganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15747144518868320969noreply@blogger.com50tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3600322131005020674.post-5124864674943704332013-02-02T11:52:00.000-08:002013-02-02T11:52:20.061-08:00The Spouse's Survival Guide to Being Married to a Writer... <br />
<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="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0YpANSgsBQ8/UQ1rJJLv1-I/AAAAAAAABNM/lYwQmRfK_nM/s1600/Matterhorn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0YpANSgsBQ8/UQ1rJJLv1-I/AAAAAAAABNM/lYwQmRfK_nM/s320/Matterhorn.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Aaron on top of the Matterhorn</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Today, I'm privileged to have my cute hubby do a guest post. He's sort of this eccentric--funny--hard working--rock-climbing genius, who I'm totally in love with, and I'm excited to share him with you. He's here to share his thoughts on being a spouse of a writer:<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="font: 12.0px Times; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Do you qualify as a writer's spouse? Please use the following criteria to diagnose your current condition. "<b>You might be married to a writer if … "</b></span></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Times; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Times; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">***If your spouse tells you they have work to do and then they get on twitter, Facebook, or start blogging.</span></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Times; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Times; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">***Your spouse jumps out of bed in the middle of the night and runs out of the bedroom … you don’t worry because you know they are just going to write down some story idea. </span></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Times; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Times; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">***You have argued about plots, synonyms, or people who don’t exist.</span></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Times; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Times; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">***While reading a book, your spouse constantly tells you how much better of a writer they are and there is no good reason why they can’t be published. </span></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Times; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Times; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">***Receiving an email from an “Agent” makes your spouse <b>SO</b> happy that you begin to question whether marriage or the births of your children are at the top of the list for greatest days lived. </span></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Times; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Times; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">***Your time to connect as spouses during the day is spent discussing more about the latest WIP (whatever that stands for?) than anything else. </span></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Times; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Times; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">***Your annual family vacation includes a weekend stop at a writer’s conference. </span></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Times; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Times; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">***You have to remind your spouse to do things like bathe, eat, pick up their clothes, do their laundry, or wash their dishes. </span></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Times; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Times; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Ok, come on writers, don’t be offended, I needed to hook your spouse somehow. If they are at all like me and still reading this post then it's probably the most blogging they have ever done. <i>Pssst Congratulations spouse! </i></span></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Times; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Times; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I hope that the following 3 easy-to-follow guidelines will make your life better. As the spouse of a writer, I have made some dumb mistakes and hope that you may benefit from my missteps.</span></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Times; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font: 14.0px Times; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">The Spouse’s Survival Guide to Being Married to a Writer</span></b></div>
<div style="font: 14.0px Times; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Times; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<span style="text-decoration: underline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Steps 1-3 </span></span></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Times; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"></span><br /></span></div>
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li style="font: 12.0px Times; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> When your spouse says things like; <b>“This is too hard, I want to give up, why am I doing this?” </b>They are not looking for you to agree with them. Just listen; they have had a hard day. Do things that make them feel better; like a night out on the town, an act of service, a favorite treat. Advising them to give up or to focus more on their pastels and paints will backfire! When they are sad they want someone to be sad with them, they are not looking for you to solve this problem. <b>I repeat they are not looking for you to solve this problem, exclamation!</b> Time will heal this wound and they will be knee deep in character development, pacing, and correcting passive voice before you know it. </span></li>
</ul>
<div style="font: 12.0px Times; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li style="font: 12.0px Times; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">When they interrupt your television program to ask you about synonyms, characters, or plots, press pause on the DVR and listen. Don’t worry we will get you back to <i>Person of Interest</i> or <i>The Mentalist</i> in just a second. Give your spouse some of your genuine ideas, your spouse will quickly dismiss them as the most idiotic notions they have ever heard and tell you to return to your program. Don’t be offended by this, just smile and understand this is part of the creative process. Sometimes they really don’t want your ideas at all and just need to talk out loud for a minute. </span></li>
</ul>
<div style="font: 12.0px Times; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li style="font: 12.0px Times; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Remember this is their dream. It’s what they think about when they have nothing to think about (and sometimes when they have much else they should be thinking about). I have found great joy and liberation in supporting my wife’s dreams and goals. If I had to get a second job to pay for a writer’s conference or professional edit, she knows I would do it, because I love her. If this dream is never to come to fruition then let reality kill this dream, don’t you be a dream killer. This is the love of your life, to have and to hold … to support no matter what. I know I am no marriage expert and nothing qualifies me to give advice. However, after 10 years of marriage I have learned that when one spouse has a dream that it takes a <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><i>combined </i></span>effort for that dream to be accomplished. Heaven knows Morgan has stood by me for some really crazy dreams I have had and never once did she try to kill it, and I am happy to return the support. </span></li>
</ul>
<div style="font: 12.0px Times; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Times; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">A note to all Writers: On behalf of your spouse can I just say: We love you! We love your creativity and passion. It's part of the reason we fell in love with you in the first place. We are your biggest support! And though the trenches of real life may mask how profoundly proud we are of your efforts, we ask you to give us the benefit of the doubt, and remember the good moments during tough times. </span></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Times; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Times; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Oh, and when you get published (notice I did not say “IF”) you better darn well dedicate your first book to the spouse, maybe it can say something like: </span></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Times; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Times; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">“Dedicated to my loving and supportive spouse, without whom life would be meaningless, food would have no taste, and breathing would be without joy. This adventure and success celebrates us both, I could not have done it without you.”</span></i></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Times; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Times; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> Yeah, I think that would just about cover it. You can dedicate all your subsequently published books to old English professors, distant aunts, and other inspirations. The first one belongs to the spouse! </span></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Times; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Times; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Did any spouses make it through this entire thing? If so, below are text boxes where you can leave comments. Or you can just write “AMEN!” and then tell your writer spouse that for reading an entire blog post they begged you to read that you deserve a day at the golf course with the boys, lunch out with the girls, or to finally give you that foot rub promised way back when they started that last WIP (whatever that stands for?). </span></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Times; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">------------</span></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Times; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Times; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UodIhfUWl7I/UQ1qUF4e7FI/AAAAAAAABM8/OKP8DDja91Y/s1600/Trick.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UodIhfUWl7I/UQ1qUF4e7FI/AAAAAAAABM8/OKP8DDja91Y/s320/Trick.jpg" width="320" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Thanks, babe! (I think?) Personally, I think that me being a writer drives him to do mad things like this:</span></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Times; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_87MRntiRcQ/UQ1qdLdstNI/AAAAAAAABNE/kNSnP2FK5zw/s1600/Climb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_87MRntiRcQ/UQ1qdLdstNI/AAAAAAAABNE/kNSnP2FK5zw/s320/Climb.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Times; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">And this:</span></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Times; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Times; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Times; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Times; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Times; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Times; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Times; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Times; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Times; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Times; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Or this:</span></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Times; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--41vHcUKPIw/UQ1riAYLzXI/AAAAAAAABNU/_M81QNLwxG4/s1600/Boat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--41vHcUKPIw/UQ1riAYLzXI/AAAAAAAABNU/_M81QNLwxG4/s320/Boat.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Times; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Times; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">But heh, we all need to have our own "outlet" right? And I personally would rather be safe behind a keyboard... </span></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Times; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Times; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Times; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Red. Head. Out. :D </span></div>
Morganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15747144518868320969noreply@blogger.com74tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3600322131005020674.post-90676744801072192972013-01-15T21:33:00.000-08:002015-03-09T00:34:41.214-07:00Want To Meet My Inspiration? <br />
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:DocumentProperties>
<o:Template>Normal</o:Template>
<o:Revision>0</o:Revision>
<o:TotalTime>0</o:TotalTime>
<o:Pages>1</o:Pages>
<o:Words>502</o:Words>
<o:Characters>2864</o:Characters>
<o:Lines>23</o:Lines>
<o:Paragraphs>5</o:Paragraphs>
<o:CharactersWithSpaces>3517</o:CharactersWithSpaces>
<o:Version>11.1025</o:Version>
</o:DocumentProperties>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:DoNotShowRevisions/>
<w:DoNotPrintRevisions/>
<w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:UseMarginsForDrawingGridOrigin/>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Sometimes I feel guilty… when I chat with friends. Because I
can talk about my childhood like it’s the most magical thing ever. I really did
grow up inside a fairytale—where anything/everything was possible. I totally
believed in unearthly creatures and supernatural powers and the… impossible.
I’m not sure if it was something my parents did, or if it was just who we were
as kids, but all five of us children experienced this magic—particularly my
sister and me. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And this is <i>why</i><span style="font-style: normal;"> I
want to write. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I’m trying to tap into what made my childhood so special. To
create that magic on the page—because I haven’t been able to *really* find it
since I was young. But there still is a bit of that essence left—<i>my sister</i><span style="font-style: normal;">. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
My sister is the one person from my childhood who just “gets
it” … she understands what I’m trying to capture and how I feel when I look
back on life. We both approach life in a similar way, how we analyze things,
how our minds work, and where our feelings stem from. And I think a lot of it
has to do with dance. Ballet. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2xu_4kqrSxU/UPTowAPP69I/AAAAAAAABLs/gVb52JvmS1U/s1600/BooSplit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2xu_4kqrSxU/UPTowAPP69I/AAAAAAAABLs/gVb52JvmS1U/s320/BooSplit.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
There’s such magic in this art—and it really has connected
us forever. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It’s also what has inspired my latest project. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
My sister and I grew up in the dance world—hours and hours a
day dedicated to the art. There are 4 ½ years between us, so we were never
competitors, but if we had been closer in age, we would’ve been! I stopped
dancing and was teaching ballet full time when she really took off.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At age fifteen, she was the only person
in the state of Utah to be accepted to the <a href="http://www.sab.org/">School of American Ballet.</a> (Which is
a big deal in ballet world) It was a dream to fly out to New York with her and
drop her off—to see the facilities and the studios… little did I know ten
years later I would be drawing off this experience for my writing. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_ccLctmdT38/UPTo3CVEGJI/AAAAAAAABL0/69hDeHeJzNw/s1600/BooDance.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_ccLctmdT38/UPTo3CVEGJI/AAAAAAAABL0/69hDeHeJzNw/s320/BooDance.jpg" height="320" width="255" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I think the reason why my latest WIP has clicked is because
I’ve tapped into something I’m passionate about. It isn’t just a story—it’s my
world, my <i>life</i><span style="font-style: normal;">. And I think that when a
writer feels something so deeply, the truth can’t help but spring from the
page. Readers are smart, and they know when they’re being lied to—it’s why we,
as writers, need to fully immerse ourselves into our work—into the worlds we’re
creating, so it feels authentic past the page. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Same idea with characters. Not only have I drawn on real
personal experiences for the world I’m trying to create, but I’ve based my MC
off of my sister. Not only in name and looks, but in her essence—trying to
capture who she <i>is</i><span style="font-style: normal;">. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I know there’s an argument about whether or not to write
what you know, but I do think that whatever you write, it’s got to be so real
to you, that it can’t help but ring truth from the page. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jOe-NYGEEcc/UPTpqpFXJlI/AAAAAAAABMA/k0FZcKiFRi0/s1600/BooArabesque.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jOe-NYGEEcc/UPTpqpFXJlI/AAAAAAAABMA/k0FZcKiFRi0/s320/BooArabesque.jpg" height="320" width="255" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I want to leave with a quote from my sister. When I asked
her what it was that made dance so magical, she said, <i>“I feel beautiful and
different when I dance… like I *am* different. I feel special and graceful like
no one else. I love giving that pull or energy to the audience… giving all of
me that I possibly can.”</i><span style="font-style: normal;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I love this. And I think this is what we writers are trying
to do. Transport readers to a place where they feel different. Special. And I
know that we are giving as much of ourselves that we possibly can. Because if
we’re not, it just isn’t good enough. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Do you have people in your life who inspire your work? Who
carry that magic you’re trying to portray? And is your WIP a world that you
know well? Or is it a new world that you’re trying to discover? </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Red. Head. Out. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Morganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15747144518868320969noreply@blogger.com84tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3600322131005020674.post-2230039204950935662012-12-07T19:54:00.001-08:002023-03-16T11:56:33.630-07:00My Writing Journey: Part 4—The Conclusion<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:DocumentProperties>
<o:Template>Normal</o:Template>
<o:Revision>0</o:Revision>
<o:TotalTime>0</o:TotalTime>
<o:Pages>1</o:Pages>
<o:Words>1290</o:Words>
<o:Characters>7358</o:Characters>
<o:Lines>61</o:Lines>
<o:Paragraphs>14</o:Paragraphs>
<o:CharactersWithSpaces>9036</o:CharactersWithSpaces>
<o:Version>11.1025</o:Version>
</o:DocumentProperties>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:DoNotShowRevisions/>
<w:DoNotPrintRevisions/>
<w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:UseMarginsForDrawingGridOrigin/>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p><br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Thanks to all of you who have been dedicated in reading each
part of my journey. I don’t normally post so much in a week, so if you’re as
exhausted as I am, I understand! Because of the big <a href="http://morganshamy.blogspot.com/2012/11/cavanaugh-blogfest-reveal.html">Alexfest </a>(I mean <a href="http://morganshamy.blogspot.com/2012/11/cavanaugh-blogfest-reveal.html">Cheers, Cavanaugh Blogfest</a>) on Monday (If you haven’t signed up, click <a href="http://morganshamy.blogspot.com/2012/11/cavanaugh-blogfest-reveal.html">here</a>), I wanted
to finish my story this weekend. I originally had this planned in two more
posts, but wanted to finish up today. So, please forgive me with the extended
length—but I figured if you were interested, you’d read it. And if you weren’t,
you’d leave a generic comment anyway. ;-) </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
If you missed it, click here for <a href="http://morganshamy.blogspot.com/2012/11/my-writing-journey-part-i.html">Part I</a>, <a href="http://morganshamy.blogspot.com/2012/12/my-writing-journey-part-ii.html">Part II</a>, or <a href="http://morganshamy.blogspot.com/2012/12/my-writing-journey-part-iii.html">Part III</a>. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Part IV:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I had hope again. And I had a sparkly new idea for another
manuscript. I was okay shelving my first novel, because this next one was going
to be <i>it</i><span style="font-style: normal;">. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I threw myself into NaNoWriMo 2011 and vomited my MS out in
30 days. Then I took until March 2012 to polish it up and MAKE SURE I was ready
to query this time. I was NOT going to go through the same query experience
again. If I did, I was convinced I would <i>die</i><span style="font-style: normal;">. But I knew this manuscript was stronger, and had complete faith in
it.</span><i> Or complete faith that Karen was going to love this manuscript.</i><span style="font-style: normal;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Yes, I was still hung up on the fact that we were supposed
to work together. The feeling wouldn’t go away. My whole writing journey seemed
to be centered around her. The way her rejection had thrown me into the darkest
part of my journey and the way meeting her had pulled me out of it. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Karen was closed to unsolicited queries at this point, save
for those she met at conferences, so the fact that I had met and spoken with
her in LA was another sign we were <i>meant to be</i><span style="font-style: normal;">. So I emailed off a query and she immediately responded, remembering
who I was and told me to mail my full. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>I DIDN’T EVEN QUERY ANYONE ELSE</b> I was convinced Karen was
the one. I practically skipped to the mailbox and whistled a tune as the
postman took my package away. This was it. I had fought through hardship and I
was going to rise above the ashes and finally succeed. Karen was going to want
my manuscript.</div><div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
She didn’t. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Holy. Crap. Shock. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I think I stared at the rejection on my computer screen for
two days. I couldn’t believe it. My gut had failed me. AGAIN. With two
manuscripts. <i>(Do you have any idea how much work 2 novels are?!) </i><span style="font-style: normal;">With tears streaming down my cheeks, I typed out a
response, thanking her for taking the time to have a look, etc, etc. Of course,
with her being so kind, she wrote back and asked if I was going to the SCBWI
conference in LA again that year. And if I was, it’d be great if we could
connect and have coffee. I showed the email to my mom and mother-in-law, and
they both told me I HAD to go—that they would help sponsor and help with
kids. </span><i>(To which my mom also told me I better start drinking coffee,
because I don’t, lol) <o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So I continued to query, and continued to get great response
from my manuscript. Partials were upgraded, fulls were requested, but I didn’t
care about that. I was focused on pounding out a new project, and the looming
coffee date I had with Karen. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In May 2012, I sat down to write my third book. And
honestly, it was like all the stars aligned for me. This story flooded out of
me in 6 weeks, and it became the essence of who I am. It was like I had to
write those two books before SO I could write this book. I couldn’t believe I
had the capacity to write anything else. This story was <i>me. </i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
July 2012, I started querying. I sent out 10 test queries. Seven of which requested. I didn’t want to query Karen yet, because I wanted to
see if I could get helpful feedback from rejections before going there. I had
already made that mistake before. Plus, I was going to meet her in August, and
I’d much rather query her after. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Within the month, I received two R & R’s (revise and
resubmit), which told me I was close. I was<i> really</i><span style="font-style: normal;"> close with this one. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
August came and I flew to LA with my dear friend, <a href="http://www.cortneypearson.blogspot.com/">Cortney</a>,
who I had invited to come have “coffee” with Karen and me. It ended up being
breakfast. For two hours. And I swear it was the two most magical hours of my
life. The energy and passion around this woman was undeniable. My soul just
connected with hers, and it was so comfortable and easy and natural. And
there’s nothing better than talking the publishing business with someone who
knows their stuff. Karen also invited me to send her any future work. (Because
she was still closed to queries) She even mentioned me in her blog after the
conference, which made my month!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
September came. I was working on my R & R’s, when an
unexpected email came. Phew. <b>I GOT AN OFFER OF REPRESENTATION</b>. It was the most…
unexpected, crazy moment ever. It was the moment I had been waiting for
FOREVER, but I wasn’t ready yet! I had just started my revisions, and I hadn’t
even queried Karen yet! <i>(Not officially)</i><span style="font-style: normal;">
This wasn’t the way this was supposed to happen. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But of course I was delighted. And I would’ve been beyond
pleased to work with this person. So I threw myself into finishing the
requested revisions, and sent my updated manuscript to all the other agents who
requested. I also had 2 other requests that were thrown into the mix—one
AMAZING agent who contacted me, and another who wanted to see the story whose
client had referred me. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IncRo0Kk1qY/UMFb7O6BNiI/AAAAAAAABEU/mlmvMx_LY9k/s1600/IMG_1853.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IncRo0Kk1qY/UMFb7O6BNiI/AAAAAAAABEU/mlmvMx_LY9k/s320/IMG_1853.JPG" width="238" /></a>Thus began 2 of the craziest weeks of my life. <i>Note to
everyone: When offered rep, don’t ask for 2 weeks to consider the offer, just
ask for ONE. No need to torture yourself more than needed. <o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I informed the other agents who had requested about the
offer and waited. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And then I wrote Karen. I told her about the offer and how I
wouldn’t feel comfortable accepting rep from anyone else without at least
having her look at it. <i>(I of course wanted to scream, “WE’RE MEANT TO WORK
TOGETHER, AND THIS IS OUR LAST CHANCE! PLEASE WANT ME!”) </i><span style="font-style: normal;">She responded quickly and very graciously said I
could mail her the full. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And the waiting began. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Except, I didn’t have to wait too long. It took two days for
the MS to mail out. Karen emailed me that Friday afternoon when she received
the MS, and I NEVER EXPECTED to hear from her the NEXT DAY. Saturday night, I
received the longest email of my life, with Karen saying she’d love to
represent me with this series, and gave me a whole slew of notes. I’ll NEVER
forget running upstairs and shoving my phone in my hubby’s face and telling him
to READ. My gut feeling was right. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But I couldn’t accept right away, because I had given the
other agents 2 WEEKS to get back to me. <i>What was I thinking???</i><span style="font-style: normal;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Not two days later, I received my <b>THIRD</b> offer. From an
AMAZING agent. I loved speaking with her on the phone, and on paper, it made
total sense that I go with her! Then I received a <b>FOURTH</b>. And a <b>FIFTH</b>. And
a <b>SIXTH</b>. I spoke with each of these agents on the phone and (don’t
hate me) but I began to doubt the gut feeling I had had all along. The story
ideas these other agents were throwing at me sounded SO appealing, and their
passion for my story really shone through and I sorta fell in love with them. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EoYGS3Q7Ap4/UMFjNyptOpI/AAAAAAAABFE/WgYEx1-4t3I/s1600/images.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EoYGS3Q7Ap4/UMFjNyptOpI/AAAAAAAABFE/WgYEx1-4t3I/s1600/images.jpg" /></a></div>
I was seriously debating about which agent to go with—they
were all so awesome—one standing out more than the others—but my gut had always
been so strong about Karen. And we had such history! I honestly was physically
ill. I couldn’t eat, sleep, the works. My mind was playing tricks on me and I
knew I needed to get Karen on the phone and fast. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Karen called me on a layover on her way to a SCBWI
conference at which she was speaking. The conversation was amazing. The minute I hung
up, I felt better, not whole, but better. I knew the connection was there, but
I was still conflicted. It wasn’t 30 minutes later that Karen called back.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was after that second conversation
that it was sealed. I KNEW Karen would fight for me no matter what and I
suddenly felt stupid for EVER doubting my gut. I had NO DOUBT in my decision. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Writing rejection letters to the other amazing agents TRULY
was so difficult. I felt attached to some of them and not to be dramatic, but
it really was like cutting out a chunk of my heart. But it made the moment when
I could finally say, “YES!” to Karen so worth it. <i><o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I’m grateful for my journey so far. <span style="font-style: normal;">I’m glad it hasn't been easy. I've learned how to face rejection and now I’m not afraid anymore. I've learned how to
persevere even when I didn’t know if the work would be worth it. I've learned to
trust my gut, even though "reality" said my gut was nothing. I've learned that good
does happen to people who duck their heads and focus on the work. It doesn’t
matter what others are doing around you, all that matters is that we are each
doing our best, pushing ourselves to see how far we can stretch ourselves. And
the coolest part? Is that it isn’t about the writing. It’s about the journey,
and the change that takes place inside of us. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Thanks for reading. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Red. Head. Out.<br />
<br />
Other Parts: <a href="http://morganshamy.blogspot.com/2012/11/my-writing-journey-part-i.html">Part I. </a> <a href="http://morganshamy.blogspot.com/2012/12/my-writing-journey-part-ii.html">Part II. </a> <a href="http://morganshamy.blogspot.com/2012/12/my-writing-journey-part-iii.html">Part III. </a></div>
<!--EndFragment--><br />Morganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15747144518868320969noreply@blogger.com73tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3600322131005020674.post-91759797051180063692012-12-06T19:54:00.000-08:002012-12-08T00:50:55.045-08:00My Writing Journey Part III<br />
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:DocumentProperties>
<o:Template>Normal</o:Template>
<o:Revision>0</o:Revision>
<o:TotalTime>0</o:TotalTime>
<o:Pages>1</o:Pages>
<o:Words>650</o:Words>
<o:Characters>3708</o:Characters>
<o:Lines>30</o:Lines>
<o:Paragraphs>7</o:Paragraphs>
<o:CharactersWithSpaces>4553</o:CharactersWithSpaces>
<o:Version>11.1025</o:Version>
</o:DocumentProperties>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:DoNotShowRevisions/>
<w:DoNotPrintRevisions/>
<w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:UseMarginsForDrawingGridOrigin/>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
For those of you following my writing journey in parts, thanks so much for your support. If you need to catch up, part I is <a href="http://morganshamy.blogspot.com/2012/11/my-writing-journey-part-i.html">here</a>, and part II is <a href="http://morganshamy.blogspot.com/2012/12/my-writing-journey-part-ii.html">here</a>. And here's part III:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
January 2011. We just had our 4th child and the desire to
write came back with a vengeance. I knew I had to set goals—some serious goals
if I wanted to finish my first book. So it was actually <a href="http://www.thebigbangauthor.com/">Jason Matthews</a>, my
first writing mentor who dared me to finish the whole book by March 17<sup>th</sup>
that year. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I was on fire. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Every moment I could, I was in the document, typing away,
pushing myself to get this story out. Our newborn had colic, so he CRIED for
hours each night. But it actually worked in my favor, because that’s when I wrote. From Jan-March that year, 6 days a week, I woke up at 3:00 am and wrote
with the baby until the kids got up. (Hubby took the baby from 10-3 for me so I
could sleep).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There were SO many
moments when I just wanted to cry from lack of sleep, from the stress of a hard
newborn, and the other kids. But the desire to write kept me in check. I <i>knew
</i><span style="font-style: normal;">that if I didn’t </span><i>force </i><span style="font-style: normal;">myself to get this story out I’d never succeed. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But I did it. It was actually 2 days before my deadline that
I typed “The End” on my first manuscript. It was time to query. (I’m skipping
the part where I beta’d/perfected the MS)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
--Now to interrupt for a little bit where my head was at--</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I, like some of you (?) thought I had the best/most
creative masterpiece that the publishing world had ever seen. Two of my besties
had Big 6 deals on their first novels. Why couldn’t I? I honestly expected
agents to throw themselves at me. I had no doubt I could succeed, no doubt I
had something special to offer. And now I realize I’m coming off totally
cocky—which is not the case—I just really believed in myself. <i>(Oh how naïve
I was) </i><span style="font-style: normal;">The truth is, growing up, anything I
put my heart to, I succeeded at. Just a-matter-of-fact thing. In my mind, there
was no reason </span><i>not </i><span style="font-style: normal;">to succeed. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And when I started querying, the requests started pouring
in. But so did the rejections. With my first project, I received 28 full
requests, which ALL ended in a rejection. Now, I’m not sure how to convey how
crushing each rejection was. If you’ve felt it even once, you understand. Each
time I sent the manuscript off, I was <i>sure </i><span style="font-style: normal;">that
particular agent was going to feel the magic and want me. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Now, I’m a spiritual person. And I rely a lot on gut
feeling. And there was ONE particular agent who I just <i>knew </i><span style="font-style: normal;">I was supposed to work with. It was one of those “hit
by lightning” moments, where peace filled my whole frame and I just… knew.
So when I snail mailed off my manuscript to Karen, I ceased to have the anxiety
that came with querying. I knew she was going to say yes. To be cliché, every
fiber of my being screamed that we were supposed to work together. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
A week later my rejection came. It came through the mail,
and the handwritten note was the kindest rejection I ever received. She also
gave me $20 to pay for mailing costs! Honestly, what agent does that? </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TUh1KksRN2s/UMARE9vf9LI/AAAAAAAABD0/XHgPsFDeIlY/s1600/Picture+1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="135" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TUh1KksRN2s/UMARE9vf9LI/AAAAAAAABD0/XHgPsFDeIlY/s320/Picture+1.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I was heartbroken. And it was <i>this </i><span style="font-style: normal;">rejection that BROKE me. It sent me spiraling into a
place I never want to be again. You have to understand, I grew up not knowing
what rejection was. Failure wasn’t programmed into my brain. I didn’t know how
to handle it. I began to doubt everything about my journey—my gut had never
been wrong before. I </span><i>knew </i><span style="font-style: normal;">she was
the one! So how could my gut feeling fail me? </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So I put down the pencil, put away the keyboard, and tried
to ignore everything. I could just be a mom, right? I didn’t <i>need</i><span style="font-style: normal;"> to be a writer. Apparently it wasn’t for me. Staying
in the writing world was too hard, so I didn’t want any part of it. (</span><i>And
I realize this doesn’t put me in a very good light, but I want to be wholly
honest with how I felt.)</i><span style="font-style: normal;"> But I had already
signed up to go to the LA SCBWI conference with my dear friend, Leigh, so I
couldn’t back out. Not with the trip all planned. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So I went. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And I’m sooooo grateful I did. Long story short (<i>Trust
me, this is hard to condense), </i><span style="font-style: normal;">it was right
after a keynote speaker, when the thousand or so people stood to go to their
next class, that the crowd parted. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And in walks Karen. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It was one of those slow motion movie moments. It was a
miracle I spotted her in the crowd. <i>And she was walking right toward me</i>. I knew
without a doubt I had to go speak with her. So I marched right up to her, told
her who I was, thanked her profusely for the kind reimbursement, and her kind
words on my rejection. And something happened during our conversation. Speaking
with her brought the spark back. A piece of the hole in my heart healed. And I
wanted to try writing again. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And it KILLS me to stop here! Because this is where the story really takes off! Gah. It's definitely not over yet. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Red. Head. Out.<br />
<br />
Other Parts: <a href="http://morganshamy.blogspot.com/2012/11/my-writing-journey-part-i.html">Part I. </a> <a href="http://morganshamy.blogspot.com/2012/12/my-writing-journey-part-ii.html">Part II. </a> <a href="http://morganshamy.blogspot.com/2012/12/my-writing-journey-part-4the-completion.html">Part IV. </a></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Morganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15747144518868320969noreply@blogger.com37tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3600322131005020674.post-18818204593607884602012-12-02T12:23:00.000-08:002012-12-08T00:49:37.992-08:00My Writing Journey Part II<br />
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:DocumentProperties>
<o:Template>Normal</o:Template>
<o:Revision>0</o:Revision>
<o:TotalTime>0</o:TotalTime>
<o:Pages>1</o:Pages>
<o:Words>451</o:Words>
<o:Characters>2576</o:Characters>
<o:Lines>21</o:Lines>
<o:Paragraphs>5</o:Paragraphs>
<o:CharactersWithSpaces>3163</o:CharactersWithSpaces>
<o:Version>11.1025</o:Version>
</o:DocumentProperties>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:DoNotShowRevisions/>
<w:DoNotPrintRevisions/>
<w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:UseMarginsForDrawingGridOrigin/>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
As I said in an earlier <a href="http://www.morganshamy.blogspot.com/2012/11/my-writing-journey-part-i.html">post</a>, I’m telling my writing journey
in parts. If you missed part I, click <a href="http://www.morganshamy.blogspot.com/2012/11/my-writing-journey-part-i.html">here</a>. And now with part II:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Jan 19, 2009. The day I wrote my first sentence. (Strangely,
I’ve always remembered that date). We had finished two rounds of chemo
treatments with our son, and like I said, reading wasn’t enough anymore. It
couldn’t transport me—not with the stress. I needed a challenge. Something that
could distract me from real life. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So I thought, “I can write a book. If reading won’t give me
what I need, maybe I can create it.” </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So I wrote. I dug deep into who I used to be as a child and
tried to summon any kind of magic I still possessed and let it spill onto
paper. And I thought I was pretty good. <i>Thought. </i><span style="font-style: normal;">I joined an online critique group (on yahoo, I believe) and found out
pretty quick I had A LOT to learn. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But I wasn’t afraid to ask for help. I remember one guy
telling me I needed to learn how to “<i>Show not tell.</i>” I had no idea what that
meant, so I Googled it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yes, I
Googled “Show not tell!” </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-a4baKynTPd4/ULu25n0v3nI/AAAAAAAABCM/k6jnNJfggWk/s1600/MJ.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-a4baKynTPd4/ULu25n0v3nI/AAAAAAAABCM/k6jnNJfggWk/s1600/MJ.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And that’s when I met my first writing angel. For some
unknown reason, brilliant author,<a href="http://www.thebigbangauthor.com/"> Jason Matthews</a>, decided to take me under his
wing. He taught me how to write. Showed me the difference between passive and
active voice, how to eliminate unnecessary words, make my writing as tight as
possible. But at the same time, I immersed myself into any craft book I could
find. I had purpose again, and I wanted to master this craft. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I put myself out there, continued to do the online
critiquing, when I heard about an online community called inkpop. The idea of
this site was to upload your work, people would then vote or “pick” your
project, and if you made it into the top 5 by the end of the month, the prize
was a review from a HarperCollins editor. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So on Jan 1, 2010, I submitted the first 10,000 words of my
first novel. I didn’t expect what happened next. Within two weeks, my story
rocketed past 30,000 projects and landed in the number one spot. The
opportunity connected me to people I still consider my closest friends today. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
That was when I knew I could do this. Er… when I had
confidence and <i>thought </i><span style="font-style: normal;">I could do this.
Little did I know it was barely the beginning. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
A few months later (I’m 28 at this point), I got pregnant with our 4th
child. I still had only 10K written with my first novel and it stayed that way
for the rest of the year. For some reason (I blame it on preggo craziness), my
brain shut down completely for the next 9 months. I couldn’t write. But I <i>could
</i><span style="font-style: normal;">read again. I spent the whole pregnancy
devouring books, this time with a different eye. I knew that for whatever
reason the creative juices had left, but that didn’t mean I couldn’t still
progress. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I continued to study, as well as find the magic again in
reading. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It wasn’t two days after I had the baby that inspiration
struck hard. I was ready to write again, and this time with a vengeance. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And this is where I’m sad to stop the story, because in the
next segment, not only do I finish my first novel, query, and meet my agent for
the first time, it’s also the darkest part of my journey. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Red. Head. Out.<br />
<br />
Other Parts: <a href="http://morganshamy.blogspot.com/2012/11/my-writing-journey-part-i.html">Part I. </a> <a href="http://morganshamy.blogspot.com/2012/12/my-writing-journey-part-iii.html">Part III. </a> <a href="http://morganshamy.blogspot.com/2012/12/my-writing-journey-part-4the-completion.html">Part IV. </a></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Morganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15747144518868320969noreply@blogger.com42tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3600322131005020674.post-525725157106522082012-11-28T11:06:00.000-08:002012-12-08T00:48:10.701-08:00My Writing Journey Part I <br />
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:DocumentProperties>
<o:Template>Normal</o:Template>
<o:Revision>0</o:Revision>
<o:TotalTime>0</o:TotalTime>
<o:Pages>1</o:Pages>
<o:Words>443</o:Words>
<o:Characters>2530</o:Characters>
<o:Lines>21</o:Lines>
<o:Paragraphs>5</o:Paragraphs>
<o:CharactersWithSpaces>3107</o:CharactersWithSpaces>
<o:Version>11.1025</o:Version>
</o:DocumentProperties>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:DoNotShowRevisions/>
<w:DoNotPrintRevisions/>
<w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:UseMarginsForDrawingGridOrigin/>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
I’ve wanted to tell my story for a while. The story of how I
fell into writing and ended up where I am today—including connecting with
angels and my dear agent and everything in between. But I can’t do it justice
in one post, because really, I feel like my whole journey has been SO guided
and inspired. So I’ve decided to tell it in parts. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So here we go. Part I: </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Growing up, I hated reading. Loathed it. Which is crazy,
because my parents were pretty much the perfect parents—read to us every night,
the whole thing. But I wanted to <i>live </i><span style="font-style: normal;">my
experiences rather than read about them. I was always in my own little world—I
totally had secret passageways to other worlds and had invisible people who lived in my backyard. This worked as a
ballerina—because being a dancer gave me a reason to pretend and act out these
stories on stage. Long story short, I didn’t think I’d EVER be a writer. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Fast forward fall 2007. I was 26. My mother in law gave me
the first Twilight book and said, “You’ve got to read this.” I’m pretty sure I
patted her on the hand and said, “Sure, thanks.” </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I didn’t touch it. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
A few weeks went by and I gave her the book back. Told her
it wasn’t my thing. She wouldn’t have it. She had me sit down on her bed and
she read out loud. Read the first 14 pages. I still wasn’t interested. But she
MADE me take the book home again and told me to give it another try. <i>(Little
did I know this move alone would be a life-changing act!) <o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It collected dust for another couple weeks. I was 9 months
pregnant with our 3<sup>rd</sup> baby, and went into the hospital to be
induced. Hubby brought the book because he thought it’d be funny if I were
reading a vampire book in front of phlebotomists. Funny enough, each of the
phlebotomists commented on the book and told me I had to read it. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So I did. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lNABKTBfJsE/ULZeKzA_n7I/AAAAAAAABBs/Oag7SUEd1Jw/s1600/136_26961725416_7199_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lNABKTBfJsE/ULZeKzA_n7I/AAAAAAAABBs/Oag7SUEd1Jw/s320/136_26961725416_7199_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Heh, what else was I going to do stuck in a hospital bed? And funny enough, I have a picture. This was taken a few hours before I had the baby. Twilight in hand----></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I loved it. I fell in love with the magic of the story like
so many millions of other people. And something happened. I <i>liked </i><span style="font-style: normal;">reading. For the first time in my life, I actually </span><i>liked
</i><span style="font-style: normal;">reading. And then I couldn’t stop. I
devoured every book my mother in law threw at me. Romances, paranormals,
contemporaries, the works. It was </span><i>fun </i><span style="font-style: normal;">to escape into another world for a while. </span><i>Fun</i><span style="font-style: normal;"> to feel magic and experience life through another
person. I finally understood what the big hoopla was. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I read everything I could get my hands on for the next YEAR.
Of course, at the time, I had no idea I was unconsciously learning the craft, analyzing plot
structure, beautiful phrases, and how to put words on paper. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Fall 2008 came. Our second child was diagnosed with
Leukemia. This story is a whirlwind of it’s own--and not one I’m going into--but worth mentioning because it was this experience that took away the magic of
reading for me because I couldn’t ever get rid of the fear of having such a
sick child. Reading wasn’t enough anymore. Which is what spirals us into the
day I wrote my first sentence. And <i>why </i><span style="font-style: normal;">I
started writing. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Which will be told in the next segment! Which can be found here: <a href="http://morganshamy.blogspot.com/2012/12/my-writing-journey-part-ii.html">Part II. </a> <a href="http://morganshamy.blogspot.com/2012/12/my-writing-journey-part-iii.html">Part III. </a> <a href="http://morganshamy.blogspot.com/2012/12/my-writing-journey-part-4the-completion.html">Part IV. </a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Red. Head. Out. ;D <o:p></o:p></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Morganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15747144518868320969noreply@blogger.com70tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3600322131005020674.post-87605145406253345782012-08-06T11:31:00.001-07:002012-08-06T16:59:50.792-07:00SCBWI Goodness!<div>
<br /></div>
Guys.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I have one word. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Well, seven. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
SCBWI. or <b>S</b>ociety of <b>C</b>hildren's <b>B</b>ook <b>W</b>riters and<b> I</b>llustrators. If you're not a member, I highly encourage you to go sign up and become a member now. It's an amazing organization. I just got back from my third conference with them--the LA Summer conference. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Aside from meeting up with 1,234 other authors, you can bump shoulders with agents and editors and do what we love best. Talk "writer talk." </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The whole weekend was jam-packed with workshops on how to perfect your craft, key note speakers who were beyond inspiring, and plenty of time to network, schmooze, and learn. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Each conference I go to brings new conversations, connections, insights, and shifts in my own self-perception of what I want to accomplish and who I want to be as a writer. When you meet with other people who have the same passion and drive that you do, and when you're completely drenched in words that overfill the inspiration cup sitting in the middle of your chest, the fire that ignites is enough to carry you for a long while. It's fabulous. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I got to spend time with several writers I've had contact with in the past year--and several of my CP's. And each person was just as I expected them. Amazing. And I only got pictures with some (<a href="http://jolenesbeenwriting.blogspot.com/">Jolene Perry</a>, and <a href="http://nyraedawn.blogspot.com/">Nyrae Dawn</a>, <b>WHY</b> didn't we get pics together?!?!?)</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
But I did get to connect with:</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<a href="http://ryandaltonwrites.com/">Ryan Dalton</a> and <a href="http://www.cortneypearson.blogspot.com/">Cortney Pearson</a>: (Ryan who has a fabulous book he's about to query, and Cort who is my number one partner in crime)</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UBtt1fYfhYA/UCAJSbZWFvI/AAAAAAAAAr4/xg4roQIJK0k/s1600/IMG_1469.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UBtt1fYfhYA/UCAJSbZWFvI/AAAAAAAAAr4/xg4roQIJK0k/s320/IMG_1469.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<a href="http://www.wendyhigginswrites.com/">Wendy Higgins</a>: (Who is the cutest little person ever! I was bending down in this shot! Plug: Have you picked up her book Sweet Evil yet?)</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TNoe3SD-1QY/UCAJjmrjzyI/AAAAAAAAAsA/JZ7Vl7_-QrY/s1600/IMG_1480.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TNoe3SD-1QY/UCAJjmrjzyI/AAAAAAAAAsA/JZ7Vl7_-QrY/s320/IMG_1480.JPG" width="238" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<a href="http://elizabethbriggs.blogspot.com/">Liz Briggs</a> and <a href="http://rachelsearles.blogspot.com/">Rachel Searles</a>: (Liz who is probably the smartest person I know and Rachel is just plain cool--and cute Cort again, who was an amazing trooper being dragged around by me 4 months preg!)</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bRBgY1n51hk/UCAKeaFP_9I/AAAAAAAAAsI/JjiPTW1VmKY/s1600/IMG_1475.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bRBgY1n51hk/UCAKeaFP_9I/AAAAAAAAAsI/JjiPTW1VmKY/s320/IMG_1475.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Have I convinced you to join? SCBWI. Amazing. Any conferences for you this summer? Any in the future plans? </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Red. Head. Out. :D </div>Morganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15747144518868320969noreply@blogger.com44