tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-66750475305926004962024-03-13T14:09:55.578-04:00Jennifer Young - Children's WriterAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10581876204776919003noreply@blogger.comBlogger138125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6675047530592600496.post-31893571202308655512014-07-02T11:18:00.001-04:002014-09-12T07:36:02.463-04:00Why Take The Challenge?MeeGenius is the publisher for two of my children's picture books. They are running a picture book contest right now! The deadline to enter is July 13th 2014.<br />
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They recently asked me to be featured on the MeeGenius Kids website as a guest blogger. Please check it out here:<br />
<a href="http://blog.meegenius.com/2014/07/01/why-take-the-challenge/">http://blog.meegenius.com/2014/07/01/why-take-the-challenge/</a><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10581876204776919003noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6675047530592600496.post-14713954782393319632014-04-09T09:27:00.005-04:002014-04-10T10:21:56.685-04:00You're invited to my Giveaway and a Book Birthday!<span class="fsl"></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://openclipart.org/detail/166567/red-balloon-by-caig" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img alt="Red balloon by Caig - A simple red balloon" src="http://openclipart.org/image/800px/svg_to_png/166567/red_balloon.png" height="200" itemprop="contentUrl" width="56" /></a></td></tr>
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<span class="fsl">I'm throwing a online book birthday for my newest picture book with <a data-hovercard="/ajax/hovercard/page.php?id=353949271301864&extragetparams=%7B%22directed_target_id%22%3A0%7D" href="https://www.facebook.com/meegenius">MeeGenius Kids</a> that will be published this month on April 18th 2014. BABY BUG'S YAWN will be available through MeeGenius Kids as an eBook: <a href="https://www.meegenius.com/" rel="nofollow nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.meegenius.com/</a></span></div>
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<span class="fsl"><span style="font-size: large;">*NOW FOR THE GIVEAWAY*<span class="text_exposed_show"> </span></span><span class="text_exposed_show"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span class="fsl"><span class="text_exposed_show"><em>So, what do you have to do to win a prize?</em></span></span><br />
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<span class="fsl"><span class="text_exposed_show" style="font-size: small;">First , click here to join</span></span></div>
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<span class="fsl"><span class="text_exposed_show"> the fun on facebook--> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/1424614767787772/?ref_dashboard_filter=upcoming" target="_blank">THE FUN</a></span><span class="text_exposed_show"></span></span><br />
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<span class="fsl"><span class="text_exposed_show">After you join it's easy peasy! Just share your favorite bug or even your kid's favorite bug</span></span></div>
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<span class="fsl"><span class="text_exposed_show">-post a photo of the bug</span></span></div>
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<span class="text_exposed_show">-draw a picture of the bug</span></div>
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<span class="text_exposed_show">- or just leave the name of the bug in comments</span></div>
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<span class="text_exposed_show">Then on April 19th I will enter your name into the raffle for the giveaway. There will be two winners. (I'll use rafflecopter to pick)</span><span class="text_exposed_show"> </span></div>
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<span class="text_exposed_show">Since I can't give away a physical copy of my eBook, BABY BUG'S YAWN, I had to think up some other prizes. :)</span></div>
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<span class="text_exposed_show"><strong>PRIZES</strong></span></div>
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<span class="text_exposed_show"><em>-A MeeGenius Gift Card (3 month Gift Subscription)</em></span></div>
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<span class="text_exposed_show"><em>-A Signed copy of my second book A CHERRY TOMATO ON TOP</em></span></div>
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<span class="text_exposed_show"><span class="text_exposed_show">(MAKE SURE YOUR COMMENT IS ON THE FACEBOOK PAGE) </span></span></div>
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<span class="text_exposed_show"><span class="text_exposed_show">*if you don't have facebook you can leave your favorite bug below in comments and I'll enter you into the contest.</span></span></div>
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Good Luck! Hope to see you there!</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10581876204776919003noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6675047530592600496.post-82553852222760651142014-03-20T10:20:00.003-04:002014-03-20T10:21:44.216-04:00The March Madness Writing Contest!<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: magenta;">The</span><span style="color: orange;"> </span><span style="color: blue;">M</span><span style="color: purple;">a</span><span style="color: magenta;">r</span><span style="color: blue;">c</span><span style="color: orange;">h </span><span style="color: blue;">M</span><span style="color: purple;">a</span><span style="color: magenta;">d</span><span style="color: lime;">n</span><span style="color: blue;">e</span><span style="color: purple;">s</span><span style="color: magenta;">s</span><span style="color: orange;"> </span><span style="color: magenta;">Writing</span><span style="color: orange;"> </span><span style="color: magenta;">Contest</span><span style="color: orange;">!</span></span></span></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span style="color: orange;">Hosted over at Susanna Hill's blog <a href="http://susannahill.blogspot.com/2014/03/the-march-madness-writing-contest-is.html" target="_blank">CLICK HERE</a> </span></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: orange;"><b><span style="color: blue;">The Contest</span></b>: Write a <b>children's story</b>, in <b>poetry or prose</b>, <b>maximum 400 words</b>, that is a <b>fractured fairy tale</b>. Feel free to add a theme of spring, or mix in one of the spring holidays if you like - St. Patrick's Day, April Fools Day, Easter or Passover, Arbor Day, Earth Day... Have fun with it! The madder* the better! :)<br /> *as in wild and wacky, not angry :)</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span style="color: orange;">Here's my entry: </span></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: orange;">HANSEL AND GRETEL'S SWEET TOOTH</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Hansel and Gretel didn’t stick around after escaping the old
witch’s candy cottage. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">It was told: They ran back home.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">But how did they get home if all their breadcrumbs were
eaten?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Here’s what really happened after they ditched the witch…</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The candy cottage magically called out to them,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">“Hey! Get back here and try the jelly beans! They’re the
best!” </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">And they were! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">By day, they picked and chewed…</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">And by night they rubbed their swollen tummies.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">“We’re gonna need bigger pants!”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The cottage kept whispering, “Try the shingles! They’re mouth-watering!”
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">They ate and ate and ATE!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Until, they were down to one jelly bean.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">“Let’s grow more,” said Gretel.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">They planted the jelly bean, like a seed, in the garden.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">They waited for one long hour.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">“Hello in there? Come on out,” said Gretel, tapping her
foot.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Hansel’s tummy gurgled. He dug up the jelly bean and ate it.
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Yup- It had dirt on it. He was that hungry.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">On their walk, they wobbled and rested, wobbled and rested. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">This went on for hours until finally they found…</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">… ANOTHER cottage.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">It had huge layers of sliced beets, potato trimmings, and a
celery stalk chimney.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">It seemed to call out to them, “Try my asparagus! It’s tasty!”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">“What’s asparagus?” Gretel asked Hansel.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">A large burly hand pointed at them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">It was their old gym teacher. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">“Have you been skipping my class?” he said.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">“We got lost,” explained Hansel.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The gym teacher picked an onion off his cottage.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">“Try my onions! They’re the sweetest!” </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Sweet like candy?” asked
Gretel. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">“No thanks!” said Hansel. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Their teacher made a few veggie concoctions. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">He said, “Try this carrot shake!”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">“Did you say carrot cake?” asked Gretel, “I’ll have a BIG
slice!” </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Hansel tried a sip of raw beet juice. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">But her taste buds ONLY wanted candy. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">It took some time to change their minds. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But once they did, there was no stopping their
eating.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">By day, they picked and chewed their veggies…</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">And by night they rubbed their full tummies.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“We’re gonna need
bigger plants!”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">With the help from their gym teacher, Hansel and Gretel planted
their very own cottage. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">But NOT a veggie one….</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">It had huge layers of sliced strawberries, blueberry
trimmings, and a banana top chimney.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Gretel called out to Hansel, “Try the watermelon! It’s mouth-watering!”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">They never ate candy houses again and they lived <u>healthier
</u>ever after. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span style="color: orange;">Happy spring everyone!!</span></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span style="color: orange;">And thank you Susanna for hosting this fun contest!</span></b></span></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10581876204776919003noreply@blogger.com44tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6675047530592600496.post-57396656261327171962014-01-30T12:28:00.001-05:002014-01-30T12:33:53.601-05:00Phyllis’s Fun Fashion Show!<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><strong> Watch out Bruno here comes Phyllis</strong></span></div>
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Is it February 2nd yet? You know, Groundhog Day? Super bowl Sunday?<br />
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It is for Punxsutawney Phyllis! She was asked to join Bruno Mars at Halftime to perform with him. What do you think? Will she woo the crowd and steal the show? Watch out Bruno!!!<br />
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<img alt="" aria-busy="false" aria-describedby="fbPhotosSnowliftCaption" class="spotlight" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-a-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/1601408_10202107290338399_406759542_n.jpg" style="height: 557px; width: 508px;" /></div>
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Author Susanna Hill, who wrote <a href="http://www.susannahill.com/punxsutawneyphyllis.html" target="_blank" title="Punxsutawney Phyllis"><span style="color: #ba1717;">Punxsutawney Phyllis</span></a> and <a href="http://www.susannahill.com/april_fool_phyllis.html" target="_blank" title="April Fool, Phyllis!"><span style="color: #ba1717;">April Fool, Phyllis!</span></a>, is hosting a special fashion show for Phyllis. Entries for the show must be in by Saturday February 1st. Visit Susanna's post here for the details: <a href="http://susannahill.blogspot.com/2014/01/time-for-some-fun.html">http://susannahill.blogspot.com/2014/01/time-for-some-fun.html</a><br />
Be sure to visit even if you aren't entering so you can check out and root on others!<br />
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<a href="http://www.stacysjensen.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/Phyllis-Divergent.jpg"></a><br /></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10581876204776919003noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6675047530592600496.post-85923897545844599562014-01-22T06:53:00.001-05:002014-01-22T07:52:45.333-05:00Interview with Author Patti Richards<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="color: blue; font-size: large;">Please give a warm welcome </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="color: blue; font-size: large;">for Author Patti Richards!</span></span><br />
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<img align="right" class="yssImg yssImgE" height="155" src="http://pgwrites.com/yahoo_site_admin/assets/images/P2280490.58145941_std.JPG" style="height: 155px; text-align: right; width: 183px;" width="183" /></blockquote>
<br /></a><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="color: blue;">How long have you
been writing picture books?</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Monotype Corsiva"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: large;">I’ve been
writing picture books for 13 years now. It’s easy to remember because I wrote
my first story when my daughter who is now 16 was three years old.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span><br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: blue;">Was there
something specific that inspired you to write SNOW ANGELS or was it just one of those
moments of pure inspiration?</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Monotype Corsiva"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: large;">My first
picture book was based on my daughter. The one who was three at the time. She
inspired me to write about her upcoming birthday because it’s was the most
important thing on her little mind at the time and she talked about it
constantly. I was inspired to write my upcoming title from MeeGenius, call Snow
Angels, from my memories of making snow angels with my sister. I always
imagined what it would be like if the snow angels came to life when we weren’t
looking.</span> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Monotype Corsiva"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Monotype Corsiva"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Monotype Corsiva"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="color: blue;">What are some of
your favorite picture books?</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Monotype Corsiva"; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: large;">Some of my favorite picture books are, Bear Has a
Story to Tell by Philip C. Stead and Erin Stead, Sophie’s Squash by </span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Pat-Zietlow-Miller/e/B00BAVW0J2/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1"><span style="background: white; color: windowtext;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;">Pat Zietlow Miller</span></span></a><span style="background: white;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: large;">, Blueberries for Sal and Make Way for Ducklings
by Robert McCloskey Going to Sleep on a Farm by </span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Wendy-Cheyette-Lewison/e/B001ILMDR8/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1"><span style="background: white; color: windowtext;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;">Wendy Cheyette Lewison</span></span></a><span style="font-size: large;"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and The Sweet Smell of Christmas by </span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Monotype Corsiva"; font-weight: normal;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Monotype Corsiva"; font-weight: normal;">Patricia
M. Scarry</span><span style="font-family: "Monotype Corsiva"; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">. You can read about a few of
these titles and why I like them by visiting my blog at </span><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><a href="http://www.pgwrites.com/blog/"><span style="color: magenta; font-size: small;">http://www.pgwrites.com/blog/</span></a></span></span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><br /></span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="color: blue;">What was the
pathway like for you to get your first book published?</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Monotype Corsiva"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: large;">I began my
writing journey by doing freelance work for our local newspaper and some of our
regional magazines. This was after I retired from teaching so I could be a
stay-at-home mom. The local work I did eventually opened doors for more
regional work and many of my articles on parenting and women’s health have
appeared in national magazines as well. While writing for a living I began
working on books of my own and joined SCBWI. I started attending conferences
and submitting for critique sessions which eventually led to submitting
manuscripts to publishing houses and literary agencies. I got many champagne
rejections along the way and eventually signed with my first agent. During our
two years together I completed work on my first middle grade novel and many
more picture books. When our time together came to an end, I began submitting
on my own again and was offered a contract for Snow Angles from MeeGenius late
last year.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Monotype Corsiva"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="color: blue;">Were you ever
discouraged along the way? If so, how did you deal with it?</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Monotype Corsiva"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: large;">Discouragement
is simply a part of this journey. I love writing for children. If I didn’t, I
certainly would not do it. But I’ve been at it for so long, worked with so many
editors and received so many rejections I’ve grown a pretty thick skin. I still
love it when my muse is working overtime and I’m getting new ideas for new
stories. Imaging children with my books in their hands bringing them joy is the
only thing I need to keep me going.</span> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Monotype Corsiva"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="color: blue;">Besides writing
what other talents or hobbies do you have?</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="color: blue;"><br /></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Monotype Corsiva"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: large;">Well, I’m a
musician. I play the piano, dabble a bit in guitar and I sing. My husband and
kids are all very musical so we sing together as a family for our church and
really enjoy it! I also love to draw, paint and crochet when I have the time.</span> </span></span></div>
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</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Monotype Corsiva"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></span></div>
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</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><strong>
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</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="color: blue;">Where can readers
go to find your books and order them?</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="color: blue;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
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</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">
</span><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Monotype Corsiva"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: large;">My book is
due out from MeeGenius sometime in January of 2014. Stop by my blog for the
official announcement, hopefully soon, for ordering information. <span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><a href="http://www.pgwrites.com/blog/"><span style="color: magenta; font-size: small;">http://www.pgwrites.com/blog/</span></a></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><div class="yiv3311354841MsoNormal" id="yui_3_13_0_ym1_1_1390356595156_2358" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman", "new york", times, serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal;">
Patti Richard's Bio:</div>
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Patti Richards is a freelance writer and editor, former teacher, wife and mother of three. Patti writes children’s books and has had her stories appear in Boys’ Quest Magazine, Bumples Magazine and MeeGenius EBooks for Children. Her articles on parenting, women's health and education have been published in a variety of magazines and on websites. Patti’s 25 years of experience in the publishing industry give her unique insight into a variety of subjects and genres. Patti's credits include Livestrong.com, Ehow.com, UPtv.com, Chron.com, Homelife Magazine, Metro Parent Magazine, San Diego Parent Magazine and many others. She and her family live in Farmington Hills, Michigan. Patti enjoys reading, painting and taking care of her family, which includes two dogs, a cat and a rabbit.</div>
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Other writing samples on the web...</div>
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<a href="http://education.seattlepi.com/characteristics-outstanding-k8-schools-2203.html"><span style="color: blue;">http://education.seattlepi.com/characteristics-outstanding-k8-schools-2203.html</span></a></div>
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<a href="http://preschooler.thebump.com/measure-parent-involvement-6375.html"><span style="color: blue;">http://preschooler.thebump.com/measure-parent-involvement-6375.html</span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><strong>Thank
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><strong>It’s a real honor to get your insights.</strong></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10581876204776919003noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6675047530592600496.post-30399400752165467322014-01-20T08:52:00.000-05:002014-01-21T21:16:57.973-05:00Author, Catherine Johnson Guest Blogging Today!<div style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">
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<em>Please welcome my friend Catherine today! While I hop over to </em><em><a href="http://catherinemjohnson.wordpress.com/2014/01/20/jenny-lee-young-pops-by/#comment-17740" target="_blank">her place</a> </em><em>to talk about A CHERRY TOMATO ON TOP. Take it away Catherine...</em><br />
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Hi there! Sorry to be a bother but I need some help locating a Zebra. He's a bit shy and is easily startled. Unfortunately there is a lot to be startled at here at Weirdo Zoo, so Zebra is going a bit nuts.<br />
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Personally I like a bit more action so I'm heading to the water. I've heard (and don't quote me on this) but there might be a stork waterskiing with a hawk. I know - Bonkers! But hey waterskiing sounds fun. Oh look there they are! Everyone wave.</div>
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Oh I'm all wet now, that was fun! Have you been down to Weirdo Zoo yet?<a class="irc_mutl" data-ved="0CAUQjRw" href="http://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&docid=JLO-k_XA-uiUCM&tbnid=MyvyObpDokzYHM:&ved=0CAUQjRw&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.pinterest.com%2Fpin%2F268386459017513369%2F&ei=uz_YUquBN-_jsASm2IHAAQ&bvm=bv.59568121,d.eW0&psig=AFQjCNFCNgxJGCSxlZCEfsoiP8TYdt1YNw&ust=1389990199957685"><img alt="Weirdo Zoo by Catherine Johnson, http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00HFDTUF6/ref=cm_sw_r_pi_dp_gt2Ssb17J04PX < Children's book of poetry (available in ebook and paperback)" class="pinImage" src="http://media-cache-ec0.pinimg.com/736x/d7/80/6a/d7806a637603d4f01ba119163d47baec.jpg" height="200" style="height: 500px; margin: 0px auto; padding: 40px 0px; width: 386px;" width="154" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> Catherine Johnson is a British Ex-Pat living in Canada with her weird enough family. She writes poetry for children and draws wacky animals. <span style="font-size: large;">Her first poetry collection for children is called Weirdo Zoo and is out now on Amazon. <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Weirdo-Zoo-Mrs-Catherine-Johnson/dp/1491019328/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1389894710&sr=8-2&keywords=weirdo+zoo" target="_blank">Check it Out Here</a> </span></span></div>
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You can find her blogging away at: <a href="http://catherinemjohnson.wordpress.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://catherinemjohnson.wordpress.com</a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Just a few favorite pbs of mine</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo by Jennifer Young</td></tr>
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<span id="yui_3_13_0_ym1_1_1389785424472_2101" style="font-family: garamond, new york, times, serif; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span id="goog_1765058360"><strong>Here are six of my favorite </strong></span></span></span><span style="font-family: garamond, new york, times, serif; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong>groups</strong></span></span><span style="font-family: garamond, new york, times, serif; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong> </strong></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: garamond, new york, times, serif; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong>to join for picture book writers</strong></span></span></div>
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Julie Hedlund’s 12 x 12 <a href="http://www.juliehedlund.com/registration-for-2014/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://www.juliehedlund.com/registration-for-2014/</a></div>
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This is my third year as a member. The premise is you will end up writing 12 picture book drafts in 12 months. The group has tons of info, a forum for fellow writers, a community for joining or starting a critique group and a chance to send your manuscript to agents every month and much much more! There are three levels of membership. Sign ups are only open for one more month (until Feb 28th, 2014).</div>
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Tara Lazar’s PiBoIdMo <a href="http://taralazar.com/piboidmo/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://taralazar.com/piboidmo/</a></div>
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Another helpful group made up of picture book writers. It's set up for you to write down 31 picture book ideas during the month of November. Its free of charge. Join the facebook group too! <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/265963663444660/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><span style="color: purple;">https://www.facebook.com/groups/265963663444660/</span></a></div>
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The SCBWI <a href="http://www.scbwi.org/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://www.scbwi.org/</a></div>
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I was a member last year. I’d like rejoin once I start attending conferences. </div>
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CBI Clubhouse <a href="http://cbiclubhouse.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://cbiclubhouse.com/</a></div>
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I was a member of this group before the SCBWI group. It's a wonderful community of writers and full of extremely helpful info.</div>
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<a href="http://childrensbookhub.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://childrensbookhub.com/</a></div>
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I have not been a member of this group but I always hear great reviews. I am a member of their facebook group <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/childrensbookhub/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><span style="color: purple;">https://www.facebook.com/groups/childrensbookhub/</span></a></div>
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6. Making Picture Book Magic [this is an online class] </div>
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<a href="http://susannahill.com/MAKING_PICTURE_BOOK_MAGIC.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://susannahill.com/MAKING_PICTURE_BOOK_MAGIC.html</a> </div>
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I took this class in November of 2013. It’s was unbelievably helpful. I’m still using the </div>
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instructor’s techniques with my current manuscripts. You can’t beat the price either. Make sure to </div>
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follow Susanna’s blog <a href="http://susannahill.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://susannahill.blogspot.com/</a> it’s loaded with info for picture book writers. </div>
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And she always hosts fun contests.</div>
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</span><br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10581876204776919003noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6675047530592600496.post-61792605529001682882014-01-02T08:53:00.000-05:002014-01-02T10:24:41.156-05:00Interview With Author Kirsten Larson<div style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>Please welcome, my amazing and creative critique partner Kirsten Larson. Find out what she's been up to and don't forget to check out all her links below. Before we start the interview, did you know Kirsten recently had two articles for kids published? One in ASK Magazine and the other in ODYSSEY. “Adventures in Extreme Recycling” (ASK) and “Calling All Martians” (ODYSSEY). </strong></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>So proud of her!!!</strong></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kirsten's Article "Adventures in Extreme Recycling" </td></tr>
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JY- What was your experience like working with ASK? <br />
<span style="color: purple;">KL-
Working with ASK Magazine was a wonderful experience. It was so good in fact, that I'm working on another article for the magazine as we speak. The editor helped me shape the manuscript, and was very exacting when it came to fact checking. As a beginner, I found the editor to be very patient.</span><br />
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JY- How long did it take for your article to be published from start to finish?<br />
<span style="color: purple;">KL-
I submitted a proposal to the magazine in January. The proposal included a bibliography, outline, and my opening paragraph. I received the go-ahead for the article in late May. I had about a month to write the rough draft, and then we worked on final edits in early July. It was about five more months before the issue was published. So, it takes about a year from start -- the proposal -- to holding the magazine in your hand.</span><br />
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JY- What was the most exciting part of getting published?<br />
<span style="color: purple;">KL-
It's been a long time since I had a byline! I worked for newspapers in college, but that was years ago. For me, it was exciting to have something tangible to show my family. My kids talk about my books "in my computer," but they really want something they can touch. When the piece was published, I was eager to show them something more than text on my computer screen.</span><br />
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JY- What is your article about? And did you have to do much research for it? If so, what type of research?
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<span style="color: purple;">KL- The article explores a way astronauts might stay alive on a future trip to Mars. It's way to expensive to pack all the water they would need for a year-long trip. This system recycles water over and over again, making drinking water from the moisture in the air and even astronauts' pee. </span><br />
<span style="color: purple;">I did several hours of research about the system, called WaterWalls. I looked at newspaper articles, powerpoint presentations, and conference presentations. I read technical papers. But the best way for me to research is always to talk to people. I interviewed two experts, Michael Flynn and Dr. Sherwin Gormly, who are developing the system.</span> <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJuBBR9PvQg1WOSCsfT0truqBRyJUUhjAs2-GBxdxWWaak6ezULzsAjqAoiOQ9ZLfGHgwE_fmJqU_te8Lbm01W1eNw1kyPeG7A5sO2bY72AHNRl_vKLGbLnFm1-bsrCg_tG-tuT98FFBM/s1600/odyssey.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJuBBR9PvQg1WOSCsfT0truqBRyJUUhjAs2-GBxdxWWaak6ezULzsAjqAoiOQ9ZLfGHgwE_fmJqU_te8Lbm01W1eNw1kyPeG7A5sO2bY72AHNRl_vKLGbLnFm1-bsrCg_tG-tuT98FFBM/s320/odyssey.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
JY- Do you have anymore articles coming out soon? If so, is it with the same magazine?
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<span style="color: purple;">KL- I got really lucky with my magazine queries for 2013. I have another Mars article in January 2014's ODYSSEY that explores whether life ever existed on Mars. I have seven more articles in ASK, ODYSSEY, Boys' Quest, and AppleSeeds that will appear throughout the year.</span><br />
<span style="color: purple;">Any current wips/projects you're working on?
Right now I'm working on two science books for the educational market, as well as an article about Vikings for ASK that will come out this summer. I also have a historical picture book I'm trying to get down on paper. The research has been extensive, including reading letters and autobiographies from the 1800s.</span><br />
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JY- Where can we buy your work? <br />
<span style="color: purple;">KL-
You can check your local bookstore for issues of the magazines. Sadly, many bookstores carry fewer and fewer kids magazines. You can order individual issues from the publishers at their Web sites. Or better yet, get a subscription! Each issue is designed around a theme that explores one concept in depth.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Fun questions:</span><br />
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JY- Do you have a favorite museum?
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<span style="color: purple;">KL- I am a museum junky, so that's a really difficult question for me. I get some of my best story ideas from museum visits. The California Science Center, which is home to Space Shuttle Endeavour, is a family favorite. I used to work at NASA and worked with news media during many Space Shuttle launches. And my husband flew a plane that escorted Endeavour to Los Angeles International Airport, where it began its journey through the streets of LA to the museum. Whenever we watch the movies of the event at the museum, my five-year-old yells, "There's Daddy!"</span><br />
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JY- If you were to pack for Mars what is one thing you couldn't leave without?
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<span style="color: purple;">KL- Chocolate! It would be fun to float M&Ms and then gobble them up.</span><br />
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More about Kirsten:<br />
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Kirsten is a children’s science writer and book author. She freelances for <a href="http://birdbrainscience.com/" sl-processed="1" target="_blank" title="BirdBrain Science"><em><span style="color: #0da4d3;">BirdBrain Science</span></em></a>, a computer-based science curriculum that marries literacy and science, as well as children’s magazines. She currently is at work on her first two book projects.</div>
Kirsten spent six years at NASA, where she represented the Space Shuttle and Space Station programs, as well as a number of aviation programs. She also has worked as a <nobr><a class="FAtxtL" href="http://kirsten-w-larson.com/about-kirsten/#" id="FALINK_3_0_2"><span style="color: #0da4d3;">nonprofit fundraiser</span></a></nobr>, grant writer, and college instructor.<br />
Faced with the prospect of two school-age children, Kirsten pondered what to do when she grew up. Then she decided not to grow up and <nobr><a class="FAtxtL" href="http://kirsten-w-larson.com/about-kirsten/#" id="FALINK_2_0_1"><span style="color: #0da4d3;">write books</span></a></nobr> for children and parents instead.<br />
Kirsten enjoys swimming, walking, and traveling. When not at work, she’s a volunteer school librarian and book fair coordinator. She coaches a Jr. FIRST LEGO League team of five- through eight-year-olds.<br />
Kirsten graduated from the University of Virginia with a double major in English Language and Literature and History. Her undergraduate thesis on American portraiture in the Early Republic was published in the journal, <em>Essays in History. </em>Her writing also has appeared in <em>The Daily Press</em> (Newport News, Va.), <em>The Virginian-Pilot and Ledger-Star </em>(Virginia Beach, Va.), <em>The Cavalier Daily </em>(Charlottesville, Va.) and <em>Aviation Illustrated. </em>She is the winner of a Virginia Press Association Award (3rd Place) for a series she co-wrote called, <em>Thomas Jefferson’s Vision of UVa. </em>She holds an <nobr><a class="FAtxtL" href="http://kirsten-w-larson.com/about-kirsten/#" id="FALINK_1_0_0"><span style="color: #0da4d3;">MBA</span></a></nobr> from the University of Maryland.<br />
Kirsten is a member of the <a href="http://scbwi.org/" sl-processed="1" target="_blank" title="SCBWI"><span style="color: #0da4d3;">SCBWI</span></a> and the <a href="http://www.juliehedlund.com/12-x-12/" sl-processed="1" target="_blank" title="12 x 12"><span style="color: #0da4d3;">12 x 12 Picture Book Challenge</span></a><br />
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Kirsten's Website: <a href="http://kirsten-w-larson.com/"><span style="color: purple;">http://kirsten-w-larson.com/</span></a><br />
Kirsten's Blog: <a href="http://kirsten-w-larson.com/updates/"><span style="color: purple;">http://kirsten-w-larson.com/updates/</span></a><br />
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<strong>Look for Kirsten's work in these magazines:</strong><br />
Boys Quest- <a class="_553k" href="http://funforkidzmagazines.com/boysquest" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><span style="color: purple;">http://funforkidzmagazines.com/boysquest</span></a>
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Ask- <a class="_553k" href="http://www.askmagkids.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><span style="color: purple;">http://www.askmagkids.com/</span></a>
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Odyssey- <a class="_553k" href="http://www.odysseymagazine.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><span style="color: purple;">http://www.odysseymagazine.com/</span></a>
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AppleSeeds-<span style="color: purple;"> </span><a class="_553k" href="http://www.cricketmag.com/APP-APPLESEEDS-Magazine-for-Kids-ages-6-9" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><span style="color: purple;">http://www.cricketmag.com/APP-APPLESEEDS-Magazine-for-Kids-ages-6-9</span></a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10581876204776919003noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6675047530592600496.post-62282216952392362112013-12-06T07:06:00.000-05:002013-12-06T10:35:54.507-05:00Interview With Three MeeGenius Authors<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin: 12pt 0in;">
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<span lang="EN" style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Please welcome </span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">three amazing</span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Terri Rowe, Lisa Rose and Romelle Broas!!!</b></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">All three authors have their second book published with MeeGenius. First, I asked each author two specific questions about their book with MeeGenius. Then, I asked all three authors the same five questions. </span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">First up...Terri Rowe</span></span><br />
<span lang="EN" style="color: #333333;"><br /></span><span lang="EN" style="color: #333333;"><span style="clear: left; color: #333333; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;">JLY-<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQZyHIrMBcPb5Urg-vN3C1gKjALbokb-xfQIqAWB39y6gziOD6hOKspTxI93VYFnPpYTwzfsEY7RRrpKlTL25v2k8rD9aOln0xX7mZaJlmeNZue-kdnEbGxEL4k7vA7HNDsm3pTq587gM/s1600/Happy+Terr%5B1%5D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"> Terri, what inspired you to write EMILY CAT’S TALE?</a></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: #e06666;"> TR-With Emily Cat's Tale-I again drew
inspiration from a true incident in my life. My niece was about 8 or 9 and she
was going to be the flower girl in my wedding. She was already very poised and
a great singer/performer/dancer even at that age. Someone said in
passing-because she is also very good natured-that no one would ever have to
worry about her being a diva-and she had never heard that term before---and
wasn't sure if it was a compliment or otherwise. So I built the story around
that. My husband and I have rescued cats before-so it seemed natural to have
animals tell this story.</span><span style="color: #333333;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 16px;">JLY- Will you consider making this book into a play like your last picture book, GREEN GOO?</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: #e06666;">TR- I would love to see
this storybook come alive as a play-maybe be part of a set of sketches based on
other storybooks. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>About Terri:</b> My day/night I have been a factory worker for 20+ years, now I have moved into a logistics role. And this move will allow me a schedule to pursue the dream I have worked at for as long as I can remember, around age 4, to be a writer. I just keep working at it every free moment that I have-whether writing/reading/marketing/sharing.</span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">Terri's blog-</span><a href="http://terrikrowe-writer.blogspot.com/" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #3b5998; text-decoration: none;">http://terrikrowe-writer.blogspot.com/</span></a><span style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">Terri's Twitter @TerrRowe </span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">The writing of this essay is what helped me focus myself and change how I related to my work and life: </span><span style="color: #3b5998; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><a href="http://workstew.com/2011/08/31/my-secret-identity/" target="_blank">http://workstew.com/2011/08/31/my-secret-identity/</a></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">Facebook page for Green Goo. </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/GreenGooStorybook?ref=hl" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #3b5998; text-decoration: none;">https://www.facebook.com/GreenGooStorybook?ref=hl</span></a></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fterrikrowe-writer.blogspot.com%2F&h=AAQF9xEsD&enc=AZM9MZfpueq3CkZmkhG_4SHg-9lt6GD1cWJmPaYTIiptkniafP7RdZa8vAvvsnQf3bp2PsRSrxXK5oFq-adq6UPWkMWa6XJ1nVLTPxEj7PwSpw&s=1" target="_blank"><span style="color: #3b5998; text-decoration: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></a></span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fterrikrowe-writer.blogspot.com%2F&h=AAQF9xEsD&enc=AZM9MZfpueq3CkZmkhG_4SHg-9lt6GD1cWJmPaYTIiptkniafP7RdZa8vAvvsnQf3bp2PsRSrxXK5oFq-adq6UPWkMWa6XJ1nVLTPxEj7PwSpw&s=1" target="_blank">Miss Terri, Writing of Life's Mysteries</a>: </span></b><span style="color: #3b5998; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; text-decoration: none;"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fterrikrowe-writer.blogspot.com%2F&h=AAQF9xEsD&enc=AZM9MZfpueq3CkZmkhG_4SHg-9lt6GD1cWJmPaYTIiptkniafP7RdZa8vAvvsnQf3bp2PsRSrxXK5oFq-adq6UPWkMWa6XJ1nVLTPxEj7PwSpw&s=1" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;" target="_blank">terrikrowe-writer.blogspot.com</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Second up...Lisa Rose </span></div>
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<span style="text-indent: -24px;">JLY- Lisa, what inspired you to write your first picture book OH NO! THE EASTER BUNNY IS ALLERGIC TO EGGS!?</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://meegenius.com/book/6071/oh-no-the-easter-bunny-is-allergic-to-eggs" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">http://meegenius.com/book/6071/oh-no-the-easter-bunny-is-allergic-to-eggs</span></a></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #6aa84f; text-indent: 0px;"> LR- I wanted to write a holiday book that was fresh and new. Something that wasn’t done and redone so many times. On a long family ride to visit my in-laws in Syracuse, I composed the first draft. Sometimes good ideas happen in weird places. But also something very unexpected happened with this story. As I said, my inspiration was “holidays” but I received an even bigger reaction from families with children who have food allergies. Parents expressed how much they loved how I addressed the issue in such a fun way. They said that their kids loved that even the Easter Bunny had food allergies. Also, the ironic thing about this story is that I don’t celebrate Easter. I am Jewish.</span> <span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"> JLY - How is your second picture book, OH NO! THE TOOTH FAIRY BROKE HER WING! similar
and different than your first book with MeeGenius?</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent;"><span style="color: #6aa84f;">LR-This book is similar in pattern. I
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<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Third up...Romelle Broas</span></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.meegenius.com/readers/1/b6a3df5912d783c2d7a842d49f24273d" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHxfI8pTh90KjgncMg1Cuwfgu1BXz7fp8TK7yY4UCesTUizsBFDS_6X8l-p9TyeNYH0Sdt1k13dj5OQ3b-T1HkJLnRnvHLJfCbIMZGx6LhQoQHrGIithKEJT73_dHnu-TzlEnUi2fB4Xc/s320/tummy+monster00cover.jpg" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7V9bQShlJeL9GsgnF2y_Eb36b3ULH7mPoA807-PIx1K1zzQV13geMR6QOM-t5qKNGVRQtXFKyAPkMomMkjjQcngenXNoTrTotM_I9fgKpwGdNdiNdmlZYfTIJ6oqpsH6ifftodJSsH7s/s1600/8918538.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7V9bQShlJeL9GsgnF2y_Eb36b3ULH7mPoA807-PIx1K1zzQV13geMR6QOM-t5qKNGVRQtXFKyAPkMomMkjjQcngenXNoTrTotM_I9fgKpwGdNdiNdmlZYfTIJ6oqpsH6ifftodJSsH7s/s1600/8918538.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">JLY- Romelle, what inspired you to
write TUMMY MONSTER?</span><br />
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<span style="color: purple;">RB- It was two years ago when I participated in the Picture Book Marathon with Jean Reagan and Lora Koehler. I was sitting at my desk scribbling in my notebook trying to come up with a story to write when my tummy monster growled. He would not leave me alone. As time passed, I realized that my tummy monster was trying to tell me something. So I wrote about him.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">JLY- Was your experience with publishing your
second picture book any different than when you published your first picture
book through Flying Books? </span><br />
<span style="color: purple;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span>RB- In my first book, I was able to work closely with the illustrator, Lydia Ferron, who was assigned to me by Flying Books. I had full creative control of my story. Lydia was great at keeping me in the loop with her progress and always checked in with me, making sure I approved her illustrations as she went along.</span><br />
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<span id="yui_3_13_0_ym1_1_1386328300478_8148"><span style="color: purple;">With MeeGenius, they have a creative director who manages the entire illustration process. So much of the design was left to them. When my book was done, it was like opening a present. Sam Luu did a wonderful job.</span></span></div>
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<b id="yui_3_13_0_ym1_1_1386328300478_7418"><i id="yui_3_13_0_ym1_1_1386328300478_7417">Casey Chameleon</i></b> (eBook) by<a href="http://www.romellebroas.com/" target="_blank"> Romelle Broas</a> available now at<a href="http://www.flyingbooks.me/books/show/264" target="_blank">: Flying Books</a> or visit the app store. Coming Soon in 2014: <i><b>Running Boy</b></i> and <i id="yui_3_13_0_ym1_1_1386328300478_8155"><b id="yui_3_13_0_ym1_1_1386328300478_8154">Tummy Monster</b></i> published by <a href="http://www.meegenius.com/" target="_blank">MeeGenius</a></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><b> Is there anything you find particularly
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<span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Terri: </span><span style="color: #e06666;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">I find that I start off
with wild enthusiasm, but I still need to work on my focus when it comes to
seeing projects through to the end.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></span><br />
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<span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Romelle: </span><span style="color: purple;">Ideas come pretty easy for me, but it's the execution of the idea that I find challenging. Writing a story with a complete plot in under 500 words is one thing. Writing a story that is supposed to create a visual experience with very few words, as in a picture book, is another thing. Writing picture books is so much different from writing magazine stories. It's a big learning curve for me.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Terri: </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: #e06666;">My advice-besides never
give up-is-you never know what shape/form your dream will acquire along the
way. When I started dreaming of being a writer at the age of 4...I could not
have envisioned the digital era we live in now. We had just started using
computers when I was in junior high. So far, all my books have been digitally
published. It has been a great experience for me.</span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Lisa: </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #6aa84f;">If you want to be a writer, you have to be persistent
and be prepared for lots of disappointments. I was a swimmer, before I
was writer. I was used to swimming as fast as I could to cement
walls. It was excellent training. Writers must always go hard and
be prepared to make sudden flip turns. </span></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Romelle: </span><span style="color: purple;">Try to be an expert in the genre of your choice by participating and reading all things related to it. For me, I tried to enroll in writing classes specifically for picture books. I joined a picture book only critique group, and I read a lot of picture books. Get the picture?</span><br />
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<span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><b>3. Can you share a little
of your current work with us?</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Terri:</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">. </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: #e06666;">I am still editing my
mid-grade chapter-book from last year...it is a mystery-as that style of book
is my first love. I am also converting a screenplay I wrote to a novel for
young adults. It turns out that the screenplay is like an awesome, detailed
outline!</span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: #e06666;">This is from my mystery
book: "Leah sleepily wondered what she might do as she chased the last
fruity flakes in her bowl of neon pink tinted milk. It was so relaxing to be
able to still be sitting in her pajamas at 8:30 in the morning. It was contrast
to how the last few weeks of school had been. There had been the class picnic,
the field trips, and field day. And of coursed, there was now the wait for the
end of the year report cards that would be mailed out soon. Leah was a good student,
but she worried anyway. All the time, actually. Today was Leah’s day to clean
the bathroom she shared with her messy brother. She would rather clean the
chicken coup. Her great hope was that Noah would trade with her. He didn't even
like the chickens. Leah loved to gather their warm eggs and place them
carefully in the kitchen towel that was folded in the basket. Her girls would
come running, clucking their greetings. Thinking of the chickens running always
made Leah laugh out loud. "What?" asked Noah as he stuffed the last
of his toast in his mouth. "Nothing. I was just thinking," Leah
answered, still giggling. "Why? We're not in school. My brain's on break.
I don't have to think any more," said Noah. “Haven’t you learned anything
in school yet? You think all the time. It’s automatic, like breathing,” said
Leah."</span><span style="color: #333333;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Lisa: </span><span style="background-color: transparent;">. </span><span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 17px;"><span style="color: #6aa84f;">It is a really exciting time to be a writer. The traditional publishing model is not the only way to produce books anymore. Currently, I am working with rapper Eminem’s former producer, Jeff Bass. He has a Grammy and Oscar for the film 8 Mile. Together, along with a fabulous team we are developing a new way to add music to digital books. It is called BookJAMZ. Also, I am developing a chapter book series for urban boys. Fel3000ft who is a well-known graffiti artist in Detroit will be working on the illustrations. Visit Fel3000ft at: </span></span></span><span style="color: #6aa84f;"><a href="http://www.fel3000ft.com/" id="yui_3_13_0_ym1_1_1386344017811_2500" rel="nofollow" shape="rect" target="_blank">www.fel3000ft.com</a> </span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Romelle: </span><span style="color: purple;">I have another eBook coming out with MeeGenius, hopefully by the end of the year. It's titled, RUNNING BOY. I also have three other picture books that are making its rounds in the agent circuit. And soon, I will be fleshing out my story ideas from Tara Lazar's PiBoIdMo into picture books when Julie Hedlund's 12x12 rolls around again in 2014.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><b>4. If you could know the
answer to any question, </b></span><b style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">besides “What is the meaning of life?” what would it
be?</b></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Terri: </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #e06666;"> I would want to know so much...so it is hard to narrow it down...I
suppose...how to have confidence in any new situation. Now that song from The
Sound of Music will probably be stuck in my head all day-"I have
confidence in sunshine, I have confidence in rain..."</span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Lisa:</span><span style="color: #6aa84f;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I have always been interested in tales about the Loch Ness Monster. (I like Bigfoot, Mermaids, and Aliens too.) But I think I would like to know if Nessie exists.</span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Romelle: </span><span lang="EN" style="color: purple; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Is there life beyond planet earth? You know, an alternate universe. It would be cool to find out how far along they are in technology. </span><br />
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<b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">5. </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">What was your favorite food when you were a child?</span></b></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Terri: </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #e06666;">At first I didn't like tomatoes-but by the time I was around 9-I loved
them-and I still love a tomato sandwich-bread, mayo, tomato-or bread Miracle
Whip and tomato!</span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Lisa: </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #6aa84f;">My favorite food as a child is still my favorite
food. Ice Cream!!! I believe a person can survive a long time on
ice cream and diet pepsi. I love chocolate, but as I grow older I like
vanilla more and more. There is something very comforting in the
flavor—like mother’s milk. It nurtures and loves you.</span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Romelle: </span><span lang="EN" style="color: purple; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">I was a picky eater as a child. But there is one thing that I loved to eat- Mangos! I grew up in Hawaii so mangos were plentiful. I could eat it for breakfast, lunch, dinner, snack, and dessert! </span><br />
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Thank you for the interview Terri, Lisa and Romelle!</span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10581876204776919003noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6675047530592600496.post-50276885461458563012013-10-29T21:00:00.002-04:002013-11-05T06:52:41.718-05:00Liebster AwardI love the Liebster Award!<br />
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It gives you a chance to get to know your fellow blogger friends and a chance to make up your own questions for those you tag when passing along this award.</div>
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<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"> About a week ago, I was nominated by the amazing <a aria-haspopup="true" aria-owns="js_142" data-hovercard="/ajax/hovercard/hovercard.php?id=100004996984323&extragetparams=%7B%7D" href="http://www.wendygreenley.com/2013/10/the-liebster-award-my-turn.html" id="js_143" target="_blank"><strong><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">Wendy Greenley</span></strong></a> for the...</span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"> ...<b>The Liebster Award. </b></span></span></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyPNlL_pjFaiBilPatPU2IoEt5pFgwvO1hkd4-rTOiNUWssBdRl5yMvTo5vGYpJa-WYPqAX6U8pd1WgFY5fq78t3AygOGwgi8bdkC5p4M_tD3cuma9U1UmKA-SLHZKSmdNqgMx3YKaYY0/s1600/Liebster+Award.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyPNlL_pjFaiBilPatPU2IoEt5pFgwvO1hkd4-rTOiNUWssBdRl5yMvTo5vGYpJa-WYPqAX6U8pd1WgFY5fq78t3AygOGwgi8bdkC5p4M_tD3cuma9U1UmKA-SLHZKSmdNqgMx3YKaYY0/s1600/Liebster+Award.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"> About the award: </span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"> This </span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;"><span style="color: black;">award is given to blogs with under 200 followers. </span></span> <span style="color: black;"></span><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;"><span style="color: black;">In accepting this award, I am now obligated to answer 10 questions of Wendy's choosing, and then ask/beg 5-10 other people to answer my similarly worded questions. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;"><span style="color: black;"> But seriously, it's a fast, easy way for bloggers to connect with each other. And there is no time limit. If you want to participate, you get to it when you can. So now, here are my answers!</span></span> <span style="color: black;"></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="-moz-font-feature-settings: normal; -moz-font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11.5pt;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: windowtext;"><b>1.</b> <strong>If you go anywhere to research your next book, where would that be?</strong> I love stories about witches and monsters. Sooo, I guess it would be neat to visit different haunted houses around the US. I'm not sure how much I would be able to use for a children's book but perhaps I can make a collection of scary stories out of it. I've been wanting to do that for a while now.</span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11.5pt;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: windowtext;"><b>2.</b> <strong>List three books that made you laugh or cry:</strong></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11.5pt;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: windowtext;">Cry- The Notebook and Suzanne's Diary for Nicholas</span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11.5pt;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: windowtext;">Laugh- Fifty Shades of Grey <!-----></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11.5pt;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: windowtext;"></span></span></span></span><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11.5pt;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: windowtext;"><b>3.</b> <strong>Dresses or slacks?</strong> slacks usually, but I love spring dresses</span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11.5pt;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: windowtext;"><b>4.</b> <strong>Favorite book from childhood?</strong> Miss Nelson is Missing</span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11.5pt;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: windowtext;"><b>5.</b> <strong>"I get my best writing done___________"</strong> [in the morning]</span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11.5pt;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: windowtext;"><strong>6. Your writing goal for the next month is_________"</strong> [Take Susanna Hill's Making Picture Book Magic course, draft out a new pb idea about a witch and complete Tara Lazar's PiBoIdMo challenge]</span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11.5pt;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: windowtext;"><b>7.</b> <strong>Share a tidbit of writing advice.</strong> Try not to make it a race to get published- it's a long process and you'll need patience. Since I </span></span></span></span><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11.5pt;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: windowtext;">love to write I stick with it even if I feel like the worst writer in the world some days. I read as many children's books from the library that I can take out and I write as often as I can. When I'm not writing I'm critiquing other group member's manuscripts. I'm continually learning about the publishing world through Julie Hedlund's 12 x 12 group and also by reading writer's blogs. </span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11.5pt;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: windowtext;"><b>8.</b> <strong>What fuels your writing?</strong> Everyday things, my kids, old stories, today's news and movies, being by a campfire, and I'm sure I have more. </span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11.5pt;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: windowtext;"><strong>9. What did you think you would be when you were growing up?</strong> a children's book illustrator. I still want to in a way. Maybe I will try someday.</span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11.5pt;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: windowtext;"><b>10.</b> <strong>Why did you decide to become a writer?</strong> Timing and inspiration from reading to my own kids. Plus being home- I had time to write and research. </span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 11.5pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">NOW, I'm supposed to tag other bloggers and ask them 10 questions similar to these. Let's go worldwide and extend to new genres. Here goes!</span></div>
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<span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11.5pt;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: windowtext;"><i><b><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11.5pt;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: windowtext;"><i><b>TAG, YOU’RE IT! </b></i></span></span></span></span></b></i></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11.5pt;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: windowtext;"><a href="http://terrikrowe-writer.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Terri Rowe</a></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11.5pt;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: windowtext;"><a href="http://www.romellebroas.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Romelle Broas</a></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11.5pt;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: windowtext;"><a href="http://thewritestuff-sandi.blogspot.com/2012/05/words-from-wise-12-pamela-courtney.html" target="_blank">Pamela Courtney</a> </span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11.5pt;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: windowtext;"><a class="url" href="http://pennyklostermann.com/" rel="external " sl-processed="1" target="_blank"><span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">Penny Parker Klostermann</span></a> </span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11.5pt;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: windowtext;"><a href="http://www.jenniferrumberger.com/" target="_blank">Jennifer Rumberger</a></span></span></span></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11.5pt;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: windowtext;">Your questions:</span></span></span></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11.5pt;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: windowtext;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11.5pt;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: windowtext;"><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Times;">1.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> If you could meet your favorite author what question would you ask him/her?</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></b></div>
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<strong><span style="font-family: Times;">2. Favorite part of your day to write? </span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="font-family: Times;"></span></strong> <strong><span style="font-family: Times;">3. Funniest picture book you ever read?</span></strong><strong><span style="font-family: Times;"></span></strong> </div>
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<strong><span style="font-family: Times;">4. What age group do you write for and why?</span></strong><strong><span style="font-family: Times;"></span></strong> </div>
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<strong><span style="font-family: Times;">5. If there were no more computers would you still write?</span></strong><strong><span style="font-family: Times;"></span></strong> </div>
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<strong><span style="font-family: Times;">6. A book you've read more than three times?</span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="font-family: Times;"></span></strong> <strong><span style="font-family: Times;">7. Three books that made you cry or laugh?</span></strong></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times;"><b>8. Most fascinating world an author took you to in their book?</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times;"><b>9. What was your favorite blog post you published? I want to check it out :) </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times;"><b>10. Thanksgiving is coming... What are you thankful for this year that's different then last year?</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times;"><b><br /></b></span><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 11.5pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">That's it! If I tagged you and you want to participate:</span></div>
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<span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11.5pt;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: windowtext;"> 1) copy and paste these questions into your blog</span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11.5pt;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: windowtext;">2) link back to mine and </span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11.5pt;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: windowtext;">3) tag five or more bloggers for the next round with 10 questions of your own (previously used questions are acceptable!). </span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11.5pt;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: windowtext;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;"></span></span></span></span></span></span></span> </div>
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<span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11.5pt;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: windowtext;">Easy peasy right? </span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11.5pt;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: windowtext;">I had fun reading Wendy's answers and checking the blogs she linked to (if I wasn't subscribed already :) ) Go meet your fellow bloggers!</span></span></span></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10581876204776919003noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6675047530592600496.post-38064789144210681612013-09-28T07:43:00.003-04:002013-09-28T07:43:52.097-04:00Second Annual Author Meet & GreetOn Thursday the 26th I attended my second annual author meet and greet at my local town library.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwvaW8y-AeYhOTLfuPdrm_swpO5sMpDPhDQeM1_0jf4V_IqdnWvlaFjIMJeDrc9cXq7d6l_Hr7f7tIrW7o2ZlDpb95LZutRGq-FMX_C7AdthjzNz_-d2iY0NtCPHjckKLsbsN1xj9Aprw/s1600/second+annual+author+meet+and+greet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwvaW8y-AeYhOTLfuPdrm_swpO5sMpDPhDQeM1_0jf4V_IqdnWvlaFjIMJeDrc9cXq7d6l_Hr7f7tIrW7o2ZlDpb95LZutRGq-FMX_C7AdthjzNz_-d2iY0NtCPHjckKLsbsN1xj9Aprw/s320/second+annual+author+meet+and+greet.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My son Vincent was a great little helper</td></tr>
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I chatted with authors that attended from last year and I met with new ones. A few picture book authors had published even more books which was great to see. <br />
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Before I left, a local author who owns the downtown nursery was really interested in the vegetable theme my book had and invited me to a book signing this Thanksgiving. She said she would like to display it in her store- which blew me away.<br />
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The librarians and organizers, Linda and Denise, did a amazing job just like last year. Thank you ladies! <br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10581876204776919003noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6675047530592600496.post-23516570578609570602013-09-06T17:12:00.001-04:002013-09-06T17:12:31.960-04:00Back-to-School The kids are all in school. It's time to start writing again. I'm signing up for Susanna Hill's class in October and hope to send out some more submissions after that.<br />
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Since all three of my kids are in school now, I knew it was time to get serious about organizing their sports and school schedules.<br />
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Here's what I came up with...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjno48Qi2WUKQx50vK5dehmNdUP99f0xDSEqz0_1A24nc8swzNLvhvYUfTHeZCISOrUUFMTLelPGKtNl9gfnHCTwTGCZ2R-PnZYUj6ctzRIvcgK-O5Y8-05G31KyfXaPX8XQHfksMPB3io/s1600/IMG_1822.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjno48Qi2WUKQx50vK5dehmNdUP99f0xDSEqz0_1A24nc8swzNLvhvYUfTHeZCISOrUUFMTLelPGKtNl9gfnHCTwTGCZ2R-PnZYUj6ctzRIvcgK-O5Y8-05G31KyfXaPX8XQHfksMPB3io/s320/IMG_1822.JPG" width="239" /></a></div>
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Happy writing!</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10581876204776919003noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6675047530592600496.post-68818700416627229752013-08-01T13:02:00.003-04:002013-08-01T13:14:00.991-04:00July's Doodles <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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We just finished a whole month doodling over at the <a href="http://alisonhertz.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">On My Mind</a> blog hosted by Alison K Hertz. Each day a new doodle prompt was posted on her blog and on her facebook page <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/285157148286597/" target="_blank">Doodle Day May</a>. Alison has a Character-A-Day challenge coming up at the end of August so stay tuned for that.<br />
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I put together each of my doodles below. Check them out if you like.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh86lXiKOLQdcuj2NEfHTN00F-rwZav3ZWBbQw8mqsO9lh_DdH6LhoxJtwtzLBYqHSlh6x14KhWwwhJkupoCAsWwWSwS_ERQDCqBXZYwKYwWFhIlDjzivSwZuWp1ng-rjDM67HY_K0tQsY/s1600/doodle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh86lXiKOLQdcuj2NEfHTN00F-rwZav3ZWBbQw8mqsO9lh_DdH6LhoxJtwtzLBYqHSlh6x14KhWwwhJkupoCAsWwWSwS_ERQDCqBXZYwKYwWFhIlDjzivSwZuWp1ng-rjDM67HY_K0tQsY/s320/doodle.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #4e2800; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 8pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="http://alisonhertz.blogspot.com/2013/07/doodle-day-july-day-2.html" target="_blank"><strong><span style="color: purple; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">DAY 2 - SKYLINE</span></strong></a></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGQlgULCAo_uUgIIF9mpILKF5sgEqtExXLO0tPlYcA896gAJs_QeE3Dq_rECFAa4RZyv_yNcllWB5TNJeWfDfhekJ6jmTl7r6KKs1e-IDsvGMKq-oOFo1haY0cmU6WCX7Rc7f5IP_qqVk/s1600/skyline.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGQlgULCAo_uUgIIF9mpILKF5sgEqtExXLO0tPlYcA896gAJs_QeE3Dq_rECFAa4RZyv_yNcllWB5TNJeWfDfhekJ6jmTl7r6KKs1e-IDsvGMKq-oOFo1haY0cmU6WCX7Rc7f5IP_qqVk/s320/skyline.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #4e2800; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 8pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="http://alisonhertz.blogspot.com/2013/07/doodle-day-july-day-3.html" target="_blank"><strong><span style="color: purple; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">DAY 3 - MANDALA</span></strong></a></span></div>
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<strong><span style="color: purple; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">DAY 4 - SPARKLE</span></strong></span><strong><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 8pt; line-height: 115%;"> and Swing</span></strong></div>
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<a href="http://alisonhertz.blogspot.com/2013/07/doodle-day-july-day-7.html" target="_blank"><strong><span style="color: purple; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">DAY 7 - STORM</span></strong></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizPsbBJgT7Dvvi8ZhfxO9fnd_PB53QdcbgyvS37iAxOFzLw5pgtu3IWcGbjTdybEi811Bb0EZwQC8YJhTbdhtfMT2guQ4YSv1XsivSgN_6-Z3CockmO125aGPmAQnPSVD_PZJ1Hw4WJdo/s1600/Notan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">My Elephant Notan</a><br />
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<span style="color: #4e2800; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 8pt; line-height: 115%;"> My 9 year old's Notan of Timmy Turner</span></div>
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<a href="http://alisonhertz.blogspot.com/2013/07/doodle-day-july-day-9.html" target="_blank"><strong><span style="color: purple; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">DAY 9 - DUCKLING</span></strong></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI2hxmGeUto9cH7QbN_vT4B4yf0JI0vm1GaBZy9ytmcol_Ye9M5oz2FFqxOKWuSvcpsptrCkMPS8rRNyGg3Du5GTqU5y1XkqTZ138BdU48xVXJemQoZZLf5UEhfRPUQfn6L4VX8TIwT1M/s1600/duck.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI2hxmGeUto9cH7QbN_vT4B4yf0JI0vm1GaBZy9ytmcol_Ye9M5oz2FFqxOKWuSvcpsptrCkMPS8rRNyGg3Du5GTqU5y1XkqTZ138BdU48xVXJemQoZZLf5UEhfRPUQfn6L4VX8TIwT1M/s320/duck.jpg" width="234" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://alisonhertz.blogspot.com/2013/07/doodle-day-july-day-1o.html" target="_blank"><strong><span style="color: purple; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">DAY 10 - PICNIC</span></strong></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh511jBMPJmWGLXF-ZT64F0ij2Eo6soSbJeiMcWlJmDIeH5SIbMYkRxsAW-QW6k0hrWeGZVfQ7muVe042i8bPFddIO9JLR4DHDd66z7P7S-VKucB5LySRiQyQMw8RzVgeF1KClVBWIHfeg/s1600/picnic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh511jBMPJmWGLXF-ZT64F0ij2Eo6soSbJeiMcWlJmDIeH5SIbMYkRxsAW-QW6k0hrWeGZVfQ7muVe042i8bPFddIO9JLR4DHDd66z7P7S-VKucB5LySRiQyQMw8RzVgeF1KClVBWIHfeg/s320/picnic.jpg" width="234" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://alisonhertz.blogspot.com/2013/07/doodle-day-july-day-11.html" target="_blank"><strong><span style="color: purple; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">DAY 11 - CRUSTACEAN</span></strong></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibE_1HI8CeUI8w-n3i76vgKhlWQUPItjLkWIs6QrEyaN_JeG3KrschUWDyNn_G9JO1hmanc6-PSqffp3Y4imA6y7XpOrx0I2burhFdNL2q8xSwHz3vkQlFvFJ0nawrcxJ7spvDl9A7leo/s1600/crustacean.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibE_1HI8CeUI8w-n3i76vgKhlWQUPItjLkWIs6QrEyaN_JeG3KrschUWDyNn_G9JO1hmanc6-PSqffp3Y4imA6y7XpOrx0I2burhFdNL2q8xSwHz3vkQlFvFJ0nawrcxJ7spvDl9A7leo/s320/crustacean.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #4e2800; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 8pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="http://alisonhertz.blogspot.com/2013/07/doodle-day-july-day-12.html" target="_blank"><strong><span style="color: purple; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">DAY 12 - ROBOT</span></strong></a> and dance</span><br />
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<span style="color: #4e2800; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 8pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsWRtk9M8qvfWzfmwKKnsN6lK7oziqjGZpA5iBFtnZzTr7lh_Bm5po0OW4XGLdv0j1pozJuvoZSIlGlYx-TJ5xmf9YueH-PDXO3qVb0w952YQM3RxRmkpbXjFzHlUQgs2KyGS-zd7oGjI/s1600/robot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsWRtk9M8qvfWzfmwKKnsN6lK7oziqjGZpA5iBFtnZzTr7lh_Bm5po0OW4XGLdv0j1pozJuvoZSIlGlYx-TJ5xmf9YueH-PDXO3qVb0w952YQM3RxRmkpbXjFzHlUQgs2KyGS-zd7oGjI/s320/robot.jpg" width="234" /></a></span></div>
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<a href="http://alisonhertz.blogspot.com/2013/07/doodle-day-july-day-13.html" target="_blank"><strong><span style="color: purple; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">DAY 13 - CAR</span></strong></a> (See number 25)<br />
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<a href="http://alisonhertz.blogspot.com/2013/07/doodle-day-july-day-14.html" target="_blank"><strong><span style="color: purple; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">DAY 14 - CLOUD</span></strong></a> (see number 25)</span><br />
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<a href="http://alisonhertz.blogspot.com/2013/07/doodle-day-july-day-15.html" target="_blank"><strong><span style="color: purple; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">DAY 15 - DANCE</span></strong></a> (see number 12)<br />
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<a href="http://alisonhertz.blogspot.com/2013/07/doodle-day-july-day-16.html" target="_blank"><strong><span style="color: purple; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">DAY 16 - WORDLES</span></strong></a><br />
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<span style="color: #4e2800; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 8pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSlgGRb779mrX0xXYcxOw8_Kw2j99YZuzMt2iTa-v0VSnLJga9_6rZY0G8f2XxX6tpi06_Lz-zNbvJlwKKq_3pOvFzAWajzy3SOVLgUpO-tshG2_luTlDYtxZqEJJ11XzPv9mJlgDlCnU/s1600/wordles+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSlgGRb779mrX0xXYcxOw8_Kw2j99YZuzMt2iTa-v0VSnLJga9_6rZY0G8f2XxX6tpi06_Lz-zNbvJlwKKq_3pOvFzAWajzy3SOVLgUpO-tshG2_luTlDYtxZqEJJ11XzPv9mJlgDlCnU/s320/wordles+1.jpg" width="234" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="color: #4e2800; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 8pt; line-height: 115%;">Holey Knight = Oh Holy Night</span></div>
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<span style="color: #4e2800; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 8pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj09euWJY5FIsmxX-j7FsrQHhuiZh2G8NbZaQ6PHu10esUeInMR_FTyayxARcsUO47Kn77wMncmXuXPJbWIh9oFdJXMv5kMoWrbvT90X2RrLNskYV7BDaEX2xZpRjvrZDpqdmnWjuClnQ/s1600/wordles.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj09euWJY5FIsmxX-j7FsrQHhuiZh2G8NbZaQ6PHu10esUeInMR_FTyayxARcsUO47Kn77wMncmXuXPJbWIh9oFdJXMv5kMoWrbvT90X2RrLNskYV7BDaEX2xZpRjvrZDpqdmnWjuClnQ/s320/wordles.jpg" width="234" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="color: #4e2800; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 8pt; line-height: 115%;">Ham Stir = Hamster</span></div>
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Pen Knees = Pennies</div>
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Chalk Late = Chocolate</div>
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<a href="http://alisonhertz.blogspot.com/2013/07/doodle-day-july-day-17.html" target="_blank"><strong><span style="color: purple; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">DAY 17 - ROCK</span></strong></a></span><strong><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 8pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></strong><br />
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<span style="color: #4e2800; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 8pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigbnZHoIQAdzmLbMGWx4oSqGNv5SYZZqHBIJqwqfaMjOC6qDLvI_5Ijwqdezz2Vf2sG7ITj5c3gHQF4MNBIhCxnoP52GoH7B-5mFc5easOw1pox7yGN4TJVMuwJC53H_Y6YbzD2Z9EPq8/s1600/rock.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigbnZHoIQAdzmLbMGWx4oSqGNv5SYZZqHBIJqwqfaMjOC6qDLvI_5Ijwqdezz2Vf2sG7ITj5c3gHQF4MNBIhCxnoP52GoH7B-5mFc5easOw1pox7yGN4TJVMuwJC53H_Y6YbzD2Z9EPq8/s320/rock.jpg" width="234" /></a></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.alisonhertz.blogspot.com/2013/07/doodle-day-july-day-18.html" target="_blank"><strong><span style="color: purple; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">DAY 18 - BOOK</span></strong></a></span><strong><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 8pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></strong><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-45l_vAGKqVciKjMUfQ7RcjzsPOWz21IfK_6c4G_f3sGZwrLUVv_DBJ6njoC2MhkwwL7o0GVZbIbxGDWXkKC0OxlLV4GEoHE2l5z2Cm3EoaZ0eXgr5_miew-DrCSS1TNbSOBNXnLnVuU/s1600/book.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-45l_vAGKqVciKjMUfQ7RcjzsPOWz21IfK_6c4G_f3sGZwrLUVv_DBJ6njoC2MhkwwL7o0GVZbIbxGDWXkKC0OxlLV4GEoHE2l5z2Cm3EoaZ0eXgr5_miew-DrCSS1TNbSOBNXnLnVuU/s320/book.jpg" width="234" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.alisonhertz.blogspot.com/2013/07/doodle-day-july-day-19.html" target="_blank"><strong><span style="color: purple; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">DAY 19 - KITE</span></strong></a><br />
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<span style="color: #4e2800; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 8pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVBByUZt3UwY078PKb5gqFU4aVBBGv84OjUgUqI0KyZpj-N10wB74PdArwkuKbdRE91RuRLQXnDHDeF1nhjOPj9YFagHR0l6Mrh-kRNb0zAzGRddDexIF26h_Uh81GLLlGS2VxVpTyDpY/s1600/kite+doodle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVBByUZt3UwY078PKb5gqFU4aVBBGv84OjUgUqI0KyZpj-N10wB74PdArwkuKbdRE91RuRLQXnDHDeF1nhjOPj9YFagHR0l6Mrh-kRNb0zAzGRddDexIF26h_Uh81GLLlGS2VxVpTyDpY/s320/kite+doodle.jpg" width="234" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="color: #4e2800; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 8pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvmSp_GB1Qs7gsIX2_TKxxUJlPOwxcvXZycxcIMp5fgHmaKIRCRFKfoZLLKqFpFbVdQEfuEWJmemi0A8zer7PToyJduQyDxMfyLWM542nxQUC6w6ta_ywIc9-mMXfdiHXlq9Gp5RrCiZQ/s1600/hair.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a> </span></div>
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<span style="color: #4e2800; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 8pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="http://www.alisonhertz.blogspot.com/2013/07/doodle-day-july-day-20.html" target="_blank"><strong><span style="color: purple; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">DAY 20 - HAIR</span></strong></a></span><br />
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<span style="color: #4e2800; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 8pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNG7f4CbgoMMamotqtbQL0Rw1ShYHd2N1431yjZi6EwI9Hn5MoeJrhS03KpSP8fkeHFVh5muVYIyRwUnVhm-tcKIUlM11AjCdpobf-FsmFgLimhbQpsuVwd-HoTH_1U6Q7VaG_-JgML_k/s1600/hair.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNG7f4CbgoMMamotqtbQL0Rw1ShYHd2N1431yjZi6EwI9Hn5MoeJrhS03KpSP8fkeHFVh5muVYIyRwUnVhm-tcKIUlM11AjCdpobf-FsmFgLimhbQpsuVwd-HoTH_1U6Q7VaG_-JgML_k/s320/hair.jpg" width="234" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="color: #4e2800; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 8pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0msrAZ2x78leUVBUw6hyphenhyphenZ1o8JTao6I4csIYb3v0cdU0chXCu-gDpVWIYHIboeM6KQu1MOS0q3xHYxS4ZGGZEQuLerdoPyddwTQmdl11UkGgoXBKJ6nPl4RHeNX1JaLz51Hm6BQew3mhc/s1600/madula.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a> </span></div>
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<a href="http://www.alisonhertz.blogspot.com/2013/07/doodle-day-july-day-21.html" target="_blank"><strong><span style="color: purple; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">DAY 21 - BOX</span></strong></a><br />
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<span style="color: #4e2800; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 8pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfgU2vui37XH-ylruRdeXAbzVihI61AabbHHxxaieLhsyXmDAObJSOBCJ7p-Mt8-YEp0sPlg8h1gz1fE0MpKYp2dM_ISlnD1g0bS671f3wdy2U2TDocHSiMDxrDik3hEWwMlG9RocfK6U/s1600/box.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfgU2vui37XH-ylruRdeXAbzVihI61AabbHHxxaieLhsyXmDAObJSOBCJ7p-Mt8-YEp0sPlg8h1gz1fE0MpKYp2dM_ISlnD1g0bS671f3wdy2U2TDocHSiMDxrDik3hEWwMlG9RocfK6U/s320/box.jpg" width="234" /></a></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.alisonhertz.blogspot.com/2013/07/doodle-day-july-day-22.html" target="_blank"><strong><span style="color: purple; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">DAY 22 - MONKEY</span></strong></a><br />
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My Monkey</div>
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My son drew his stuffed monkey <br />
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<a href="http://www.alisonhertz.blogspot.com/2013/07/doodle-day-july-day-23.html" target="_blank"><strong><span style="color: purple; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">DAY 23 - PUPPY</span></strong></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.alisonhertz.blogspot.com/2013/07/doodle-day-july-day-24.html" target="_blank"><strong><span style="color: purple; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">DAY 24 - TOTEM POLE</span></strong></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.alisonhertz.blogspot.com/2013/07/doodle-day-july-day-25.html" target="_blank"><strong><span style="color: purple; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">DAY 25 - WISH</span></strong></a>, Cloud and Car<br />
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<a href="http://www.alisonhertz.blogspot.com/2013/07/doodle-day-july-day-26.html" target="_blank"><strong><span style="color: purple; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">DAY 26 - WIGGLE</span></strong></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.alisonhertz.blogspot.com/2013/07/doodle-day-july-day-27.html" target="_blank"><strong><span style="color: purple; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">DAY 27 - ANXIETY</span></strong></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.alisonhertz.blogspot.com/2013/07/doodle-day-july-day-28.html" target="_blank"><strong><span style="color: purple; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">DAY 28 - COW</span></strong></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.alisonhertz.blogspot.com/2013/07/doodle-day-july-day-29.html" target="_blank"><strong><span style="color: purple; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">DAY 29 - SCHOOL</span></strong></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.alisonhertz.blogspot.com/2013/07/doodle-day-july-day-30.html" target="_blank"><strong><span style="color: purple; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">DAY 30 - FLIP, FLAP, & FLY</span></strong></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.alisonhertz.blogspot.com/2013/07/doodle-day-july-day-30.html" target="_blank"><strong><span style="color: purple; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">DAY 31 - Scribble</span></strong></a><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10581876204776919003noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6675047530592600496.post-30087586197202674312013-07-24T07:13:00.001-04:002013-07-24T07:13:14.121-04:00Doodle A Day - Totem Poles<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Doodle Prompt - Totem Poles</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcJmbq6aX8T-h9Eu978pNUHyw1W1LH86U6wVDFc8xBkqnsPDvdLFm5WUkk016XOPWILlIvN8UQzd4jELLF05YECzRvfk8GQuU8G8Ih-jrtvapxiWIqslGDuDWjs4i98Nr1iqmja6O0xTY/s1600/totem-poles-carved-in-wood.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" iya="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcJmbq6aX8T-h9Eu978pNUHyw1W1LH86U6wVDFc8xBkqnsPDvdLFm5WUkk016XOPWILlIvN8UQzd4jELLF05YECzRvfk8GQuU8G8Ih-jrtvapxiWIqslGDuDWjs4i98Nr1iqmja6O0xTY/s320/totem-poles-carved-in-wood.gif" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo credit from <a href="http://www.coloring-pictures.net/">www.coloring-pictures.net</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Alison K Hertz is blog host at <a href="http://alisonhertz.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #38761d;">On My Mind</span></a> and she is the creator of <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/285157148286597/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #38761d;">Doodle Day May</span></a><span style="color: #38761d;">.</span> For July, she asked for participants to help come up with doodle prompts. Today is my turn (YAY) and I picked totem poles. I think they are <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">fascinating </span>to look at and are very beautiful. <br />
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<strong>What is a totem pole?</strong><br />
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"Totem pole " is the name given by Europeans to the carved wooden pillars made by Indian villages of the Northwest coast. The basic idea is that the differences existing in nature are used to identify or stand for groups of people most likely families.<br />
The popularity of carving totem poles increased, because it was felt that they were very impressive in trade. Back then, there were only really two basic types of poles: the memorial (to honor dead relatives) and the decorative house pole." - <span style="font-size: x-small;">says the Library Think Quest website</span><br />
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<strong>What can a totem pole be decorated with? </strong><br />
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Historically, they had symbols like the ones below: (for today's prompt you can add anything you want to your totem pole doodle)<br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>Raven</strong> - <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Mischievous</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>Sea Turtle</strong> - Mother Earth</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>Thunderbird</strong> - Mystical</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>Eagle</strong> - Leadership</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>Wolf </strong>- Loyal</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>Beaver </strong>- Builder</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>Bear</strong> - Motherhood</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>Frog </strong>- Survivalist </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>Otter </strong>- Laughter</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>Salmon</strong> - Provider</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>Whale</strong> - Family Centered</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>Hawk</strong> - Messenger</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>Owl </strong>- Respected</span><br />
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If you like to research these symbols more click here: <a href="http://www.d123.org/olhms/hmccarthy/documents/NW_Indian_Totem_Poles.pdf">http://www.d123.org/olhms/hmccarthy/documents/NW_Indian_Totem_Poles.pdf</a><br />
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Or<br />
This link here for additional symbols:<br />
<a href="http://www.gullitotempoles.com/TotemPoleSymbols.html">http://www.gullitotempoles.com/TotemPoleSymbols.html</a><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
Below, is my totem pole doodle with some symbols that represent my life/family. </div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj84J8hCf7kizCj6jI75alQxwcKnFYL_V5yPCEUBC9YL7m-7BF2pZI3IHU2frN2Jsl-F7dHFiuq5oBIaFYs4POcqeVfnYYtcc5flddGq5QR4revEWyyjvQoEBOFo8uoBGCcwkMB4uDbxps/s1600/totem+mine.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img bba="true" border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj84J8hCf7kizCj6jI75alQxwcKnFYL_V5yPCEUBC9YL7m-7BF2pZI3IHU2frN2Jsl-F7dHFiuq5oBIaFYs4POcqeVfnYYtcc5flddGq5QR4revEWyyjvQoEBOFo8uoBGCcwkMB4uDbxps/s320/totem+mine.jpg" width="238" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo credit Jennifer Young</td></tr>
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Good luck with your own totem pole doodles and make sure to check out Alison's blog for the rest of the challenge prompts previous posted and yet to come.<br />
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Click here for Alison's blog: <span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;"><a href="http://alisonhertz.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">On My Mind</a></span></div>
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Click here for the Doodle Facebook group page: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/#!/groups/285157148286597/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;">Doodle A Day May</span></a></div>
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Need more inspiration?<br />
Then scroll down for more totem poles</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" iya="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEjscOY1oLMqt4dVDmtjj4658wr5qCaHBL93w8rn3ZkETuX59TFnZEKDY3TLGrRuvCPcZTDISirOlz3Q9nxVa4RpUOOU3ib5nJJ3YPduyYIsKhCH6O2htfTW8mzKcaJFwL6g44-l0sbLo/s320/totem-pole.png" width="182" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo credit from <a href="http://artisthelpingchildren.org/">artisthelpingchildren.org</a></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo credit from website <a href="http://www.bestofbanff.com/">www.bestofbanff.com</a><br />
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I took this picture at a water park. </div>
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It's a shower in the likeness of a totem pole.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho2u6zpihp-AFnehgQlPhSfrzxwTVUibpIYDtpmJsUiOw3DUDgInpIuKpq4xngS3LmiVQMwRLpMUrtsBBzHyJnWuY-RnNxRWGy6kurYHlenVdOb3EIrpa8JHQ3K_i5f_fdWxDnZQm8Gko/s1600/New+Image.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" iya="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho2u6zpihp-AFnehgQlPhSfrzxwTVUibpIYDtpmJsUiOw3DUDgInpIuKpq4xngS3LmiVQMwRLpMUrtsBBzHyJnWuY-RnNxRWGy6kurYHlenVdOb3EIrpa8JHQ3K_i5f_fdWxDnZQm8Gko/s320/New+Image.JPG" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo Credit Jennifer Young</td></tr>
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I took this picture at the boardwalk. </div>
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It's a decorative item in the likeness of a totem pole </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglrkvWSLXORT7xGfZJLypPKq9Em-I_-sKtR6MgdHmnuNsrXwxyx6aEIlAevWG2AjBgWtnCCW7B41yRc933N2AKPnyr_NgByKqft-6PmNP_x-aenmhIS5vG910FvbhopYt7484HLJLlfO4/s1600/totem.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" iya="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglrkvWSLXORT7xGfZJLypPKq9Em-I_-sKtR6MgdHmnuNsrXwxyx6aEIlAevWG2AjBgWtnCCW7B41yRc933N2AKPnyr_NgByKqft-6PmNP_x-aenmhIS5vG910FvbhopYt7484HLJLlfO4/s320/totem.JPG" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo credit Jennifer Young</td></tr>
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<a href="http://www.lizaphoenix.com/seattle/totempole.shtml" target="_blank"></a><br />
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A thunderbird spreads it's wings on the top of this totem pole. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.lizaphoenix.com/seattle/totempole.shtml" target="_blank">Photo Credit Seattle Online</a></td></tr>
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For many more pictures and more information about the history of the totem pole please visit here : <a href="http://www.nps.gov/sitk/historyculture/totem-poles.htm">http://www.nps.gov/sitk/historyculture/totem-poles.htm</a><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10581876204776919003noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6675047530592600496.post-25101180121869656142013-07-19T08:30:00.001-04:002013-07-19T08:30:21.950-04:00Green Goo the Play - Interview with Author Terri RoweHi you guys out there! Today is a good day to drop by my blog. Why you ask? Well, we have the author of the Children's Picture Book <span style="color: #38761d;">GREEN GOO</span> with us today.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.meegenius.com/book/6074/green-goo" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="320" iya="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGeaWruUEV6AdREkDw678DzM96H2Muyq-lENKeSuqiJ8uZ8dFsBKQd7pGD4AcZLm9Y0eMHNGce_4zBmvc5MBpmadRJQDQemJB3zE_4F7Lujyrjwm0cyRCufZoGQ800Bp3D9plSLmbtrsQ/s320/537044_453742608037986_561037752_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
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<strong>JY</strong>- <span style="color: #38761d;">GREEN GOO</span> is an amusing and fun picture book for those picky eaters. <br />
It is filled with bright and humorous illustrations that make you wonder… what in the world is green goo Terri?<br />
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<span style="color: red;">Terri -</span> I generally let that little mini-mystery unfold as I read the book to kids. A friend of mine had suggested almost a year ago that I contact local schools-for March is Reading Month programs-to see if I could do book readings. I was able to do readings at several local elementary schools, a children's museum, a playhouse, and a preschool. It was amazing to be able to get feed back from my intended audience-all the fabulous children that I met!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo of author Terri Rowe (Right) and illustrator Trey Chavez (left)<br />
of the Storybook <span style="color: #38761d;">GREEN GOO</span></td></tr>
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<strong>JY-</strong> How did you come up with the title of your children’s book, <span style="color: #38761d;">GREEN GOO</span>?<br />
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<span style="color: red;">Terri-</span> Well, that is what the substance is called that our hero finds on his plate. It fit well for the rhyming scheme I came up with for my story format. It was a bit of an homage to the very first book I ever read on my own-"Green Eggs and Ham." My parents made an 8 track recording of that reading decades ago. That memory stuck with me-the fun and important emphasis my family placed on reading and story telling.<br />
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<strong>JY-</strong> How did <span style="color: #38761d;">GREEN GOO</span> become an interactive play?<br />
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<span style="color: red;">Terri-</span> I was at a family gathering and the producer/owner of TRUE JEM productions approached me on the idea of converting the storybook into an interactive play experience for teaching kids about theater and about trying new things-such as fabulous new foods! Then it was decided that we would produce it as afundraiser and to raise awareness of Deanna's Playhouse and Parenting Center. We were able to also present the shows there.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo of cast in one of the scenes in the play <span style="color: #38761d;">GREEN GOO</span></td></tr>
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<strong>JY-</strong> Were you able to contribute to the show’s directions? <br />
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<span style="color: red;">Terri-</span> I was able to offer suggestions and I wrote the core script. Then I let the director, producers, actors, song writers do what they do best-and a fantastic show was created through all our efforts. <br />
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<strong>JY-</strong> Can you share any interesting/funny stories that happened during the show? Any bloopers? <br />
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<span style="color: red;">Terri-</span> I loved the variety of answers that the kids came up with for what green goo is---my favorite was the young boy that was certain-even til the very end that it was green cheese! He was so enthusiastic with his answer each time the question was asked-and I loved seeing the kids drawn into the story like that!<br />
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<strong>JY-</strong> What was your favorite part of seeing your children’s book come alive on stage? <br />
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<span style="color: red;">Terri-</span> I loved watching how the actors brought the little family to life. I loved seeing kids react to the story and get excited to see if Gus tried the green goo. Hearing the songs and then having the songs get stuck in my head was fun. The biggest highlight for me was when the illustrator for the storybook "Green Goo" was able to come up from Chicago and see the play here in Holland, Mi. What really makes this amazing is ordinarily he is in Texas for school!<br />
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<strong>JY-</strong> Anything else interesting about the show you’d like to share? <br />
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<span style="color: red;">Terri-</span> It was well received and we hope to be able to perform it at some other area school fun nights. One audience member even suggested a location in Chicago where we might be able to do a production!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From left to right - Photo of songwriter Mindy Gerdes, author Terri Rowe,<br />
Tyler Scott as Jack the dog, and producer/director of <span style="color: #38761d;">GREEN GOO</span> Jo-Ellen Ming</td></tr>
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<strong>JY-</strong> Will there be a sequel to <span style="color: #38761d;">GREEN GOO</span> or are there any other stories in the boiling pot? <br />
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<span style="color: red;">Terri-</span> I am currently working on two stories, as well as other adventures for Gus and his family.<br />
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Thanks for the fun interview Terri! Best of luck with the show, I wish you much success. p.s. Love the t-shirts!<br />
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Now for all you readers, go check out busy Terri at all the links below and thanks for your visit!!!<br />
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You can check out or buy Terri’s picture book Green Goo at the MeeGenius website. Here is a direct link: <a href="http://www.meegenius.com/book/6074/green-goo">http://www.meegenius.com/book/6074/green-goo</a><br />
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Check out Terri’s blog : <a href="http://terrikrowe-writer.blogspot.com/">http://terrikrowe-writer.blogspot.com/</a><br />
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A note from Terri- "This is an essay I wrote back in 2011 for another blog site-where people write about their relationship with their jobs...this is where I came out-as a writer---not just the factory worker/technical operator that people had perceived me as for years-myself included. This was the start of a real turning point for me."<br />
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<a href="http://workstew.com/2011/08/31/my-secret-identity/">http://workstew.com/2011/08/31/my-secret-identity/</a><br />
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Don’t forget to visit her Facebook pages here: <br />
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/GreenGooStorybook?ref=tn_tnmn">https://www.facebook.com/GreenGooStorybook?ref=tn_tnmn</a><br />
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/terri.rowe.399">https://www.facebook.com/terri.rowe.399</a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVpNF1o7osyC3Ag75O6j-pxJZ8bNyjlVWEmBH4QTaikuLQ4Z6OnSONonu70vD2ZYObU0DjyY4hMiqHPVKvuLOZd45g8LxOF8tnsGQ6bNJgIdTHmj1LPBOwWsAygYGmPgRq0lqcOCM234w/s1600/Happy%252520Terr%255B1%255D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" iya="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVpNF1o7osyC3Ag75O6j-pxJZ8bNyjlVWEmBH4QTaikuLQ4Z6OnSONonu70vD2ZYObU0DjyY4hMiqHPVKvuLOZd45g8LxOF8tnsGQ6bNJgIdTHmj1LPBOwWsAygYGmPgRq0lqcOCM234w/s200/Happy%252520Terr%255B1%255D.JPG" width="142" /></a><span style="font-size: x-small;"><em> <span style="font-size: small;"> Since Terri was four years old she had known she wanted to be a writer even though she didn't really know for sure what that meant. She loved to tell stories and had lots of imaginary friends. Terri spent years writing and never shared her stories because she wasn't sure how to do so. She has been blessed by so many helpful people-friends she met on Three Minute Fiction Contest through NPR and fellow writers from so many venues. </span></em></span></div>
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<em>Terri has a lovely husband-that is very supportive of the fact that she disappear sometimes for weeks at a time--as she goes on a tear trying to get a story out---and she has three cats. Two like to sit on her lap and critic as she writes. Terri is the oldest of four. She has two younger brothers and a younger sister. They all love books of some sort!</em></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10581876204776919003noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6675047530592600496.post-20759653277917451582013-05-17T06:57:00.001-04:002013-05-17T06:58:20.432-04:00Before & After Play Oven<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong>How to Make Your Own Play Oven</strong></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzlkXOG8rle34gMVSIhPHFxP_JeRf0VbqHPd_Qnm2Odb4PaCdZr4mz0BY49Q1mZsoCtnQQI7F7BNJ1_JJpXPfzda-8E85med-0tjZUZFfaHrHGUBxsv7PAcQtzr7IinpwwznB5e4sjZiw/s1600/before+after.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="214" pua="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzlkXOG8rle34gMVSIhPHFxP_JeRf0VbqHPd_Qnm2Odb4PaCdZr4mz0BY49Q1mZsoCtnQQI7F7BNJ1_JJpXPfzda-8E85med-0tjZUZFfaHrHGUBxsv7PAcQtzr7IinpwwznB5e4sjZiw/s320/before+after.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo taken by Jennifer Young</td></tr>
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Steps 1-6<br />
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1) Find/Buy a microwave stand. I found mine at a thrift store for $15<br />
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2) Make sure when you paint it the paint doesn't scratch off. It did for me because I'm clueless about wood. So I had to come up with a plan B. <br />
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3) I used contact paper that looked like marble.<br />
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4) I needed to make the stove top oven burners so I used a butter lid.<br />
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5) I added a window by cutting out a magazine clipping and an old photo frame. <br />
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6) I added some minor details with the nobs and curtains. And whala, it's done!<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10581876204776919003noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6675047530592600496.post-76994362263398350272013-05-01T06:27:00.001-04:002013-05-01T06:41:19.189-04:00Book Release: I Really Love You, Ava<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Amberly Kristen Clowe, Children’s Book Author</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">eBook release</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8MJBVDnAhN38g8UkNkQuHBVzUeR-LLdEe-w-rgnerpfL9Z4WDaDPzumEo-jjmp_SIkG8BAxN-HjxTTXRxzwW69gVAoyGlgzKj2A5b7B8kYDzf7hJxaNcdT2Jrp944f52eyl9DRTnWkkE/s1600/IRLYA.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" lua="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8MJBVDnAhN38g8UkNkQuHBVzUeR-LLdEe-w-rgnerpfL9Z4WDaDPzumEo-jjmp_SIkG8BAxN-HjxTTXRxzwW69gVAoyGlgzKj2A5b7B8kYDzf7hJxaNcdT2Jrp944f52eyl9DRTnWkkE/s320/IRLYA.bmp" width="320" /></a></div>
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<strong>Title of Picture Book:</strong> <em>I Really Love You, Ave </em><br />
<strong>Author:</strong> Amber Kristen Clowe<br />
<strong>Illustrator:</strong> Kelsey C. Roy<br />
<strong>Publisher:</strong> Willow Moon Publishing <br />
<strong>eBook Publication date:</strong> April 19th, 2013<br />
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<em>I Really Love You, Ava</em> was just released as an eBook. Below is a little about the story as well as an excerpt. <br />
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What is real love? Little Ava Jacobs is dying to find the answer to this seemingly simple question. Through a mother's patience, grandparents' joy, and a couple's kindness, Ava finds the meaning of real love.<br />
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<strong>Excerpt:</strong><br />
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<em>Daddy put his fork in the sink, refusing to eat the last bite.</em><br />
<em><br /></em><em>Why would Daddy not eat the last bite of his favorite dessert? A smile grew on Ava’s face.</em><br />
<em><br /></em><em>“Daddy has real love for Mama,” she whispered, but not quietly enough. </em><br />
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<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nF7RA4W5Pv0" target="_blank">CLICK HERE FOR THE BOOK TRAILER</a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnRELqqQwg6WBEGenAbghWZ-FohO9ozTLG7m55MLat3RYXv2G0tqiQ5unn1jupjk3ud1X9bXUOa_vryyn4XM-kow8mP0ZosH9SIyw55gU9NNrZ9Ry359bfJ15a5SCDYiAH9dwP7OuRBMQ/s1600/IRLYA+trailer.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" lua="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnRELqqQwg6WBEGenAbghWZ-FohO9ozTLG7m55MLat3RYXv2G0tqiQ5unn1jupjk3ud1X9bXUOa_vryyn4XM-kow8mP0ZosH9SIyw55gU9NNrZ9Ry359bfJ15a5SCDYiAH9dwP7OuRBMQ/s1600/IRLYA+trailer.bmp" /></a></div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Now it's time for the Q & A</span></strong></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo of Amber Kristen Clowe</td></tr>
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<strong>Krissy, where does your inspiration come from?</strong><br />
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With their sparkly bracelets and frilly scarves, the girls in my class inspired me to write my first published book, Katie Ling Fashion Queen. After teaching several years, I decided to stay home with my son. The unconditional love I and my family have for my son inspired my second picture book, I Really Love You, Ava. The Bouquet That Lost its Way will be my third picture book. The ideas behind this picture book came from spending time with a florist for many years, my mom. The book blossomed from her passion for flowers coupled with my experiences with students who were dealing with various emotional issues. I am anxious to share both of these new books during school visits and book signings. <br />
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<strong>Would you like to share some advice for writers?</strong></div>
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The biggest mistake that I made earlier on was sending out my stories to early. They just weren’t ready and needed other eyes, like from a critique group, to help better the stories. Do your research. Read, read, read the genre that you want to write. This will help you understand what’s selling and where your writing may need tweaking. Research how other authors are marketing their published works, also. You will be better prepared when you do get that “YES.”<br />
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<strong>Can we hear about a memorable moment of yours?</strong></div>
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Last year, I visited a school that I taught at only two years before. I was able to see my former students. That was so special. We were both beside ourselves. Me, because I hadn’t seen them in so long, and I was sharing my inspiration for stories which was actually them as well as my son. I was pregnant with my son the last year I worked there. So, it was neat to have pictures of him to share. Them, because they seemed truly inspired that their teacher was now a published author. So very sweet. <br />
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<strong>Krissy, thank you for sharing your picture book and story with us. Also, congratulations!</strong><br />
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Thank you so much for having me, Jennifer. Below are links to my Facebook Page, Website and Blog. I constantly update these pages, so if you’d like to know about book signings and more, you will definitely want to follow these sites. Thanks!!<br />
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<a href="http://www.amberlykclowe.yolasite.com/">www.amberlykclowe.yolasite.com</a><br />
<a href="http://www.facebook.com/amberlykclowe">http://www.facebook.com/amberlykclowe</a><br />
<a href="http://www.amberlykclowe.blogspot.com/">http://www.amberlykclowe.blogspot.com/</a><br />
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To purchase the<em> I Really Love You, Ava</em> eBook check out the links below. <br />
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Print coming soon!<br />
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Amazon<br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Really-Love-You-Ava-ebook/dp/B00CDXFSE0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1366241517&sr=8-1&keywords=amberly+clowe">http://www.amazon.com/Really-Love-You-Ava-ebook/dp/B00CDXFSE0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1366241517&sr=8-1&keywords=amberly+clowe</a><br />
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Barnes and Noble<br />
<a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/i-really-love-you-ava-amberly-kristen-clowe/1115131291?ean=2940016750767">http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/i-really-love-you-ava-amberly-kristen-clowe/1115131291?ean=2940016750767</a><br />
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Willow Moon Publishing<br />
<a href="http://willowmoonpublishing.com/cosoireloyoa.html">http://willowmoonpublishing.com/cosoireloyoa.html</a><br />
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<em>Amberly Kristen Clowe has been writing stories since she was a little girl. Creative writing was always her favorite class in school. She studied children’s literature in college and graduated with a degree in early childhood education. After college, she taught second grade. Krissy's students inspired her to revisit her passion for writing children’s literature. She is married to the love of her life and has been for nine years. She is now a stay-at-home mom to her son, George, and her daughter, Emma.</em></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10581876204776919003noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6675047530592600496.post-63833855455596349002013-03-26T08:36:00.000-04:002013-03-26T08:50:36.036-04:00A Purple Craft for Purple Day<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBGwIdlgF0kay7o_xJDzN53Rhtu4NdwpUXx-Rm75W0GoJVvGJn9XwiqsyfaVZg0Yw_8XpZ9D7h0C7m9LXpMSXjsSZ91IKnLNaZ-49h1-t5koOgswG_mwbJmTU4I91UB7ftNmIFuB-jEgY/s1600/epilespy.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="247" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBGwIdlgF0kay7o_xJDzN53Rhtu4NdwpUXx-Rm75W0GoJVvGJn9XwiqsyfaVZg0Yw_8XpZ9D7h0C7m9LXpMSXjsSZ91IKnLNaZ-49h1-t5koOgswG_mwbJmTU4I91UB7ftNmIFuB-jEgY/s320/epilespy.bmp" usa="true" width="320" /></a></div>
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Today is <span style="color: purple; font-size: large;">Purple</span> Day to support epilepsy around the world. My dear friend Bethany invited me to participate in <a href="http://www.facebook.com/events/489117841151502/" target="_blank">Craftopia.</a> Bethany's little boy Renn has epilepsy. To get involved or to learn more about it click <a href="http://thebrainofajedi.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">here.</a> </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3QnmT9fLPnGDQnv8nO6OLLlSJM_U8wpjJ8xzRC1l4i9IaB66DXrlpoqCz0gS5SQz8CRjxdsZRLCVp5Xz9UEFIau8xXry-rHuIr06pCRoxd1n9cisL1eGjgWg2sDXzTIeUyqUo70SQHIY/s1600/IMG_1727.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3QnmT9fLPnGDQnv8nO6OLLlSJM_U8wpjJ8xzRC1l4i9IaB66DXrlpoqCz0gS5SQz8CRjxdsZRLCVp5Xz9UEFIau8xXry-rHuIr06pCRoxd1n9cisL1eGjgWg2sDXzTIeUyqUo70SQHIY/s320/IMG_1727.JPG" ssa="true" width="320" /></a>Since I couldn't make it Fresno California, my kids and I decided to collect all the <span style="color: purple; font-size: large;">purple</span> stickers in the house and some sunglasses to participate.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Vincent, Julia and Susie are sticking stickers on their sunglasses <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;">Vincent wrote Renn or tried to anyway. <br />
As you can see he has trouble listening to me and thinks he can spell better than I can.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Julia, looking fabulous in her sunglasses. <br />
This is before the <span style="color: purple; font-size: large;">purple</span> stickers :)<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8dOpME8w9cquia6FC7BY4WqSag-2Pei1PbveJsvvRG5kmlrnzK5o0WEyTDIryrtSkJsuahvf1Y7lpRrC_AmaVCQHv7NIwDmeqE6DK8Bw-27Rz6M3Oc82RFRWd1w5f2U4Szr71YeopkVo/s1600/IMG_1730.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8dOpME8w9cquia6FC7BY4WqSag-2Pei1PbveJsvvRG5kmlrnzK5o0WEyTDIryrtSkJsuahvf1Y7lpRrC_AmaVCQHv7NIwDmeqE6DK8Bw-27Rz6M3Oc82RFRWd1w5f2U4Szr71YeopkVo/s320/IMG_1730.JPG" ssa="true" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Susie looking serious <br />
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Two lovely <span style="color: purple; font-size: large;">purple</span> dots, stuck on by Susie.</div>
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Here we go Julia! That's pretty <span style="color: purple; font-size: large;">purply</span> </div>
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Remember to wear your <span style="color: purple; font-size: large;">purple</span> today!</div>
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For more information, please visit <a href="http://www.purpleday.org/">www.purpleday.org</a></div>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10581876204776919003noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6675047530592600496.post-65135212335142699612013-03-15T12:27:00.004-04:002013-03-15T14:56:46.668-04:00Susanna Hill's In Just Spring Contest <br />
I entered into Susanna Hill's In Just Spring contest that starts today March 15 and ends March 18th.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_lb0TNsY2qd5MjvI6mdE2HZV5XmbqDH2ZzJVWHLLIjIiRtr4uQ9Ng0FysNT5YTCfC2AGpyl5LVOlmnZTY-XOvvP5C7fVGoCDX4CNnHZnVJ2j2r0CuC2A7M1VTAF4F-m9tHXvFQiQRCCQ/s1600/susanna+photo.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" psa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_lb0TNsY2qd5MjvI6mdE2HZV5XmbqDH2ZzJVWHLLIjIiRtr4uQ9Ng0FysNT5YTCfC2AGpyl5LVOlmnZTY-XOvvP5C7fVGoCDX4CNnHZnVJ2j2r0CuC2A7M1VTAF4F-m9tHXvFQiQRCCQ/s1600/susanna+photo.bmp" /></a></div>
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Here are the rules taken from Susanna's blog:<br />
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<span style="background-color: #fff2cc;"><span style="color: black;">The story must be about something that really says "SPRING" to you - something that really makes you feel that spring is here! It can be nature oriented - the robins or geese returning, eggs hatching, flowers blooming, baby animals being born, bears waking up, sunshine or rain, etc. It can be holiday oriented - St. Patrick's Day, Easter, April Fools' Day etc. It can be school oriented - the spring pageant, spring vacation, the spring talent show. It can be activity oriented - picnics, bike riding, baseball - anything at all that makes you think spring.</span><span style="color: black;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="color: white;"><span style="background-color: #fff2cc;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;">The only other requirement is that the last line must be "[Character Name] knew Spring was really here!" or "[Character Name] knew Spring was here at last!"</span> (You can also write in first person if you want - e.g. I knew Spring was really here.... and present tense is fine too.) I've given the rhymers amongst you a choice... but if you can't make either option work with your rhyme scheme you have permission to tweak it slightly as long as the essential meaning stays the same</span>.</span></span></blockquote>
Click <a href="http://susannahill.blogspot.com/2013/02/monday-short-sweet-and-actual-contest.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">here</span></a> if you would like to read Susanna's entire blog post. This link <a href="http://susannahill.blogspot.com/2013/03/the-in-just-spring-contest.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">here</span></a> will take you to all the contest entries. <br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Slurp! Plop! Spring is Here!</span></strong></div>
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Mama Bunny hollered, “Keep your shoes clean.” <br />
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“I know Ma,” said Miles closing the door. <br />
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The sun warmed his white furry neck. The air felt crisp and light. He hopped on each patch of grass that lead to the fence where his brother Toby waited.<br />
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When he stepped on day-old snow it sounded funny.<br />
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Crunch! Squeak!<br />
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He wondered what the wet mud would sound like. He hung his shoes on the fence and found out.<br />
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Slurp! Plop!<br />
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"When you get out of there," yelled Toby, "I'm going to start counting."<br />
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"One! Two! Three!"<br />
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“Nah-nah-nah-boo-boo! You can’t catch me!” said Miles.<br />
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Toby opened his eyes and Miles was gone.<br />
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“Where are you?” <br />
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A voice whispered from the mud puddle, “Right here.”<br />
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Toby jumped off the fence and fell on Miles.<br />
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“Tricked you,” laughed Miles, all muddy.<br />
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“Mama’s going to be SO mad.”<br />
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Miles giggled and pulled out a water balloon. <br />
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“Too cold for that,” said Toby.<br />
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But still Miles handed it to him.<br />
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“A HOT water balloon,” Toby grinned and said...<br />
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"One! Two! Three!"<br />
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“Nah-nah-nah-boo-boo! You can’t catch me!” said Miles.<br />
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He found a dark cave and hid in it.<br />
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Miles felt something harry.<br />
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Grunt! Growl! <br />
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“I smell something yummy,” sniffed Bear.<br />
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“I’m just a little mouse, no bigger than a bite,” fibbed Miles.<br />
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“Mmm, you’re as big as a rat,” said Bear.<br />
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“Yes, but much faster,” said Miles.</div>
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He didn’t count to three. <br />
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He said, “Nah-nah-nah-boo-boo! You can’t catch me!”<br />
Miles dove under the snow but his muddy feet poked out like breadsticks.<br />
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“Mmmm…breadsticks,” said Bear digging after him.<br />
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Then, overhead a figure appeared.<br />
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“TAKE THAT!" said Toby, throwing his balloon.<br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-size: large;">KERSPLAT! </span><br />
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Miles's muddy fur washed from brown to white. <br />
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Bear couldn't see him and dug faster.<br />
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Toby and Miles bolted,<br />
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Past the mud puddle, <br />
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Slurp! Plop!<br />
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Past the day-old snow,<br />
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Crunch! Squeak!<br />
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And back to the fence.<br />
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“Mama’s going to be SO mad,” said Toby.<br />
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Miles giggled at his muddy feet, then showed Toby his clean shoes.<br />
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“What can I say? Spring is really here!” <br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10581876204776919003noreply@blogger.com48tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6675047530592600496.post-6169084369087374102013-03-11T07:00:00.000-04:002013-03-11T08:52:47.812-04:00FOR RENN<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Today's post is for Renn Telles. He is five years old and loves Star Wars. </div>
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Since last year, Renn has been visiting the hospital and his doctors to figure out some issues with his epilepsy. For more info on his progress click--> <a href="http://thebrainofajedi.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">HERE.</a> Two lovely ladies, Susanna & Beth, have invited us to make something special for little Renn and post it on our blogs. To read all the other posts for Renn created by other bloggers click --> <a href="http://susannahill.blogspot.com/2013/03/may-force-be-with-you-young-renn.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: orange;">HERE</span></a><span style="color: orange;">.</span> </div>
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To learn more about epilepsy you can visit <a href="http://www.purpleday.org/" target="_blank"><span style="color: orange;">HERE</span></a></div>
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To help cheer up Renn, I made him a VERY SHORT Star Wars comic strip, </div>
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with the help of my husband's Star Wars action figures from the 80's.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhppPG4dvEYXkfdtPiUhZPKDek80ZgMYOecsvISdM21ncmeFLMQXT_xoBH2I8UMlAyuBYpvpQxnfS_fkv_uZoGhIstNuaQvZewlE3Z05fkg3IyRwbuVyHcOd56aKRKQMD0bZ-0i2NTJl4U/s1600/renn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" jea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhppPG4dvEYXkfdtPiUhZPKDek80ZgMYOecsvISdM21ncmeFLMQXT_xoBH2I8UMlAyuBYpvpQxnfS_fkv_uZoGhIstNuaQvZewlE3Z05fkg3IyRwbuVyHcOd56aKRKQMD0bZ-0i2NTJl4U/s200/renn.jpg" width="150" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">STARRING...</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>"Renn" </strong></span><br />
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Playing Luke Skywalker's good friend -----><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Star Wars Eposode VI and 1/2 </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc8ae5hsdL0kDz5-TeGPOSWUVMC5ocNrQqKZ9iyISMa6zq8ekYmuqLciKldUVNaB-7rv9SiDM50cWwux3eZBVyfbjHPEJb15cCUQ78Rr-FWyXGHsltFeyxRr26zDZgCX_gc7wy4kHJKF4/s1600/comic+strip+part+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="211" jea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc8ae5hsdL0kDz5-TeGPOSWUVMC5ocNrQqKZ9iyISMa6zq8ekYmuqLciKldUVNaB-7rv9SiDM50cWwux3eZBVyfbjHPEJb15cCUQ78Rr-FWyXGHsltFeyxRr26zDZgCX_gc7wy4kHJKF4/s320/comic+strip+part+1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfFFzI6pPleqvZOQ7-ZovkXevpTEQGpVZwB5h0Vcx2o_5-f-_mGUn2Go5MHcoFCGzUUlJ62CleSRaE9Ojc2Lxk2cewIcWPMEvzbqPUv-k4fdIjQGm8TxfzHRSdkqUBTEA_jBnkBr_bMKE/s1600/i+knew+it.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" jea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfFFzI6pPleqvZOQ7-ZovkXevpTEQGpVZwB5h0Vcx2o_5-f-_mGUn2Go5MHcoFCGzUUlJ62CleSRaE9Ojc2Lxk2cewIcWPMEvzbqPUv-k4fdIjQGm8TxfzHRSdkqUBTEA_jBnkBr_bMKE/s320/i+knew+it.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Now Introducing the cast of supporting characters</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdL73nQgnK2FjwJrRmaKAj4EGpK4zzLIBZ3cOsexaCyp46n9jxt5f_diVjA9E9Q6fZdFgOS8cWZLVAcuRYfD4fdnqR-kruhyphenhyphen_HZfFO0ZM97jpEa3H0u450xLojnbZSDwI1vR_eZjKenGo/s1600/0205131411a%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" jea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdL73nQgnK2FjwJrRmaKAj4EGpK4zzLIBZ3cOsexaCyp46n9jxt5f_diVjA9E9Q6fZdFgOS8cWZLVAcuRYfD4fdnqR-kruhyphenhyphen_HZfFO0ZM97jpEa3H0u450xLojnbZSDwI1vR_eZjKenGo/s320/0205131411a%5B1%5D.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Darth Vader "Head Case Holder", The Storm Troopers, </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Luke Skywalker, R2D2, 3-CPO, Princess Leia Organa, </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Wicket W. Warrick and an Ewok (not sure his name - that's why he's cut off)</span></td></tr>
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Before you go, my two daughters wanted to share a picture they each made for Renn.</div>
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<strong>Susie</strong> (2 years old) Chalk on canvas </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB-NDKIoH1c9G2zYD3aso6zuwJc8zdts_-zr9r59Ae41HXtfnNQXiBKuoIMkZfTly7MqBDXuNRc7Xab_-jKS8G88Oszp1sBneklpjCXwPv1OSqDkyfo_1eF83qKkRqOn8MfNr0Lf42Fmg/s1600/sus+card.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" jea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB-NDKIoH1c9G2zYD3aso6zuwJc8zdts_-zr9r59Ae41HXtfnNQXiBKuoIMkZfTly7MqBDXuNRc7Xab_-jKS8G88Oszp1sBneklpjCXwPv1OSqDkyfo_1eF83qKkRqOn8MfNr0Lf42Fmg/s320/sus+card.jpg" width="239" /></a></div>
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<strong>Julia</strong> (6 years old) Markers on paper </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgozJjF1t_s4I73PSm_rXqwOx2HXSDyxvA_EvjqPZsIY-IoVGcdsVDZ4d45ktunQJj6xNEpp282dUN4h2X8MPlkB6DjMVLh5xpFFpCE246FZm_aZi6367Jx3dMh6rTchuSdJV_fgW5xh-M/s1600/julia+card.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" jea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgozJjF1t_s4I73PSm_rXqwOx2HXSDyxvA_EvjqPZsIY-IoVGcdsVDZ4d45ktunQJj6xNEpp282dUN4h2X8MPlkB6DjMVLh5xpFFpCE246FZm_aZi6367Jx3dMh6rTchuSdJV_fgW5xh-M/s320/julia+card.jpg" width="227" /></a></div>
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Her card says:</div>
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<em>Dear Renn,</em></div>
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<em>I hope you feel good soon.</em></div>
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<em>From Julia</em></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Renn, we are thinking of you here in New Jersey </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">and we are always wishing you and your family well.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10581876204776919003noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6675047530592600496.post-8420011350678613862013-03-10T21:30:00.000-04:002013-03-11T13:41:31.968-04:00FOOD FIGHT contest concluded with a doggy bag<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://writeroutine.blogspot.com/2013/02/world-read-aloud-day-celebrating-with.html" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img border="0" jsa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDG3Q6-q8dyhp4GgP-d6s0jSJ32_QTgsA4Cleg6wwx3Y48os4aIYrCKIgNUC5TVBxB0RxH74jY6_DEiJT-h5jZ2nS8gYg9PeZVVx1lSbzxPU5k6Bbr6RXQpa5RlGazetvMVVMkDcDh3ek/s1600/FFparticipantbadge300p%5B1%5D.png" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Badge by Julie Rowan-2och <br />
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<strong><span style="color: #a64d79; font-size: x-large;">O</span></strong>n March 4th the Food Fight zesty Onomatopoeia Slinging contest began hosted by Marcie Colleen on her blog The Write Routine. It was the Write Routine's First Annual FOOD FIGHT! in celebration of World Read Aloud Day on March 6th. To read all the entries, visit Marcie's blog --> <a href="http://writeroutine.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">The Write Routine </span></a><br />
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To follow contest rules I had to make up a story with one clear setting and at least one clear character. I had to stop my story right where the food fight breaks out. Then I had to post the story on March 4th and gave other bloggers the opportunity to add to my story using at least one word of onomatopoeia and one thrown item of food. The onomatopoeia must be a word that has not been used already in that story.<br />
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So below is my original posted story on March 4th plus all the comments from other bloggers that helped me make my story grow and sound funny as heck. Thanks everyone who helped and who stopping by to read it! Thank you MARCIE COLLEEN for putting together this very fun contest. <br />
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One last rule was I had to wrap up my story with a satisfying ending. <br />
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Here is my post on March 4th if you want to compare the before and after --> <a href="http://jennyleeyoung.blogspot.com/2013/03/food-fight-contest.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">CLICK HERE</span></a><br />
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Hope you enjoy it!<br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Tea with the Snooties</span></strong></div>
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Veta didn’t like change. No witch ever did. Especially ones that live in cozy cottages with their sister and not a soul around to bother them. <br />
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But one day Veta and her sister received a fancy letter with a royal stamp on it.<br />
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<em><strong>Dear Wicked Witches,</strong></em></div>
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<em><strong>Your presence is requested </strong></em></div>
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<em><strong>for tea and pastries at the castle.</strong></em></div>
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<em><strong>Kiss the hands, </strong></em></div>
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<em><strong>The Princesses </strong></em></div>
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“Yuck!” said Veta, “I’m NOT eating with those snooties - even if they serve us worms.”<br />
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“I think I’ll make a batch of chewy gooey bat whisker cookies,” said Dory, “And you’ll need to make something too.”<br />
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“Oh no - NOT me!”<br />
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“But they’ll love your special dish?” said Dory.<br />
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Hmm, thought Veta. Maybe I can make them something special…something extra special.<br />
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The next day the sisters arrived for tea at the castle. Before Dory knocked...<br />
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...Veta blurted out, “If any of those snooty princess force us to eat their puffy pastries with sprinkles, I’ll turn them into toads.”<br />
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“Cool it!” said Dory.<br />
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When the doors opened they were escorted down an elegant corridor. Another set of doors opened up to a great dining hall with a table decorated in a shimmery clothe and dressed with the finest china.<br />
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“Welcome sisters,” said the queen. <br />
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Then she introduced her daughters one by one.<br />
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“This is Martha, Bartha and Dartha.”<br />
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Veta giggled.<br />
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“Shhhh,” said Dory.<br />
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When Veta sat down next to either Bartha or Dartha, they plugged their snooty little noses. But Veta didn’t smell anything.<br />
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“We heard you two witches make the best food in the kingdom,” said the queen. <br />
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“We do,” said Dory and she uncovered her tray. <br />
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“Try one,” said Dory handing a cookie to Martha.<br />
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<strong><span style="color: blue; font-size: large;">CRUNCH</span></strong><br />
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“Ouch, your cookie bit me,” she cried.<br />
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“I must have added too much spice,” said Dory.<br />
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“We do NOT eat spice,” sneered Martha, “Anyway, try our much better food.”<br />
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Trays with lids were placed in front of the sisters with cups of hot tea. Under the first lid were puffy pastries with sprinkles.<br />
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Veta stood up, “If you make me eat that- I will croak!” <br />
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“Sit down,” ordered Martha.<br />
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Veta plopped down with a growl. Then she remembered her surprise dish.<br />
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“I made something special.” said Veta, “Extra special.”<br />
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She peeled back the lid and a dark spooky haze seeped out. <br />
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"TA-DA," said Veta.<br />
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Everyone gasped, including Dory. <br />
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Martha spoke slowly, “We cannot possibly eat that rubbish.”<br />
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“Then we cannot possibly try yours,” said Veta.<br />
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“That’s right!” said Dory bravely, “We’ll pass on your puffy pastries with sprinkles!”<br />
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“I find that hard to believe,” snorted Martha, “It’s the best.”<br />
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And she dipped a finger in the pastry topping and smeared a blob on Veta’s forehead.<br />
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Veta gritted her teeth.<br />
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That’s the last straw, thought Veta and dug deep into her extra special dish. She pulled out a solid handful of cross-eyed newt of cream paste. <br />
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“Would you like a taste?” asked Veta with a wicked smile. <br />
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<strong><span style="color: blue; font-size: large;">KAPOW</span></strong><br />
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Martha couldn't answer - her mouth was wide open when that handful of newt-eyed cream hit! But her hands were free, and she slung back half a dozen chocolate pudding tarts.<br />
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<span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-size: large;"><strong>Thwack! Smack! Fump!</strong> </span></span><br />
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Standing dumbstruck and dripping with pudding sludge were Bartha, Dartha and...the queen- <span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: blue;"><strong>OUCH!</strong> </span></span><br />
Veta and Dory had ducked just in time.<br />
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As the tossing and splatting continued an eerie, foggy haze started to swirl about the princesses. A wisp of the green-tinted mist swirled by Veta's nose, she took a deep breath and smiled just as a large tart went <strong><span style="color: blue; font-size: large;">Flump!</span></strong> - onto her face.<br />
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Veta snorted and then sneezed, <strong><span style="color: blue; font-size: large;">ATCHOODLE</span></strong>, a long slimy noodle-booger of tart sprayed across the table at Bartha's bulbous nose. She screeched and launched one of her puffy pastries, up, up in the air in response.<br />
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Dory quickly bewitched the puffy pastries and their sprinkles. She made them soar above the princess sisters, rain down, and stick soundly in their once beautifully curled hair. <br />
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<strong><span style="color: blue; font-size: large;">PITTER-PATTER, PLINK!</span></strong><br />
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"Enough!" the queen bellowed. "We do not blow noodle boogers in this castle." The room fell quiet. "But we do fling frosting!" Hideously pink frosting hit Dory's wart with a <strong><span style="color: blue; font-size: large;">splat!</span></strong><br />
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Whew, the flying pink, gooey frosting landed smack dab in the middle of Dory's shiny red dress after falling from her face. <br />
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"Oh my," she cried out, "I'll never visit here again." <br />
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<strong><span style="color: blue; font-size: large;">WHAM, BONGO!</span></strong> - and the pink blob of frosting flew across the room landing in a heap at the queen's feet.<br />
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The queen shrieked as slimy snakes, wearing rose-tinted glasses, slithered from the frosting and across her shiny glass slippers.<br />
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<strong><span style="color: blue; font-size: large;">"EEW!" </span></strong><br />
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The queen quickly grabbed the hot tea and poured it on the snakes.<br />
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<strong><span style="color: blue; font-size: large;">SIZZLE, SIZZLE..."OUCH! OUCH!"</span></strong><br />
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"What the heck was I thinking?" cried the queen, as she gasped down at her scalded feet.<br />
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Quickly the queen stuck her burning feet into the pitcher of ice water on the tray.<br />
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<strong><span style="color: blue; font-size: large;">HISSSSS</span></strong><br />
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The steam rose and filled the room, hindering everyone's vision.<br />
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<strong><span style="color: blue; font-size: large;">Smack, thwack, tinkle, tunk! </span></strong><br />
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Something hard and sprinkly with just a touch of toad-chocolate bounced across the room. It made it's way through the fog and the steam toward the queen. Two bounces, maybe three and much to the queen's surprise there was something<span style="color: blue; font-size: large;"> </span><strong><span style="color: blue; font-size: large;">karunching</span> </strong>crazily up onto her arm and on and up and on and up until it flipped and twisted first a little to the left, then a little to the right. <br />
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<strong><span style="color: blue; font-size: large;">BAWOOOSH!</span></strong><br />
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It met the queen's face not in a good way, but in a rather gooey way. The queen did not say, <strong><span style="color: blue; font-size: large;">"Ouch,"</span></strong> nor did she say, <strong><span style="color: blue; font-size: large;">"Dadblatt."</span></strong><br />
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But she did say, "That tasted good. May I have a little more."<br />
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<strong><span style="color: blue; font-size: large;">"MMMMM....MMMMM...MMMM.</span></strong> This is truly delectable," the queen said, as she chewed the gooey thing. <br />
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At the same time, Dory had taken a tentative lick of the pink frosting, and beamed widely. <br />
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"What do you put in this frosting, woman?" <br />
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"Sugar and spice and everything nice, what else," answered Bartha, as she dragged a finger across her mother's face and ventured to taste the something hard and sprinkly with just a touch of toad-chocolate concoction herself. <br />
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"Who'd of believed that something so grotesque would be so <strong><span style="color: blue; font-size: large;">BLEEPING</span></strong> lip smacking yummy!" <br />
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She put down the stardust-sprinkled cookie she was about to throw, and ran another finger down the queen's face instead.<br />
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<strong><span style="color: blue; font-size: large;">CHOMP!</span></strong><br />
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"Find your own eats, girl," the queen cried, as Bartha grabbed back her bloody finger with surprise.<br />
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"MOTHER," moaned Bartha, and stomped her foot hard, "What about me?"<br />
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The queen kept eating and so did everyone else. Veta and Dory gobbled all the puffy pastries with sprinkles and licked every last glop of pink frosting.<br />
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Meanwhile, Martha and Dartha chowed on every last gunk of the touch of toad chocolate. <br />
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When nobody was looking, Bartha picked up Veta's extra special dish, which was making funny noises.<br />
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"BaRtHa," it bubbled.<br />
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<strong><span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;">GuRgLe! GuRgLe!</span></strong><br />
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Bartha opened wide and...<br />
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<strong><span style="color: blue; font-size: large;">SLURP!</span></strong><br />
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The entire cross-eyed newt of cream paste was devoured.<br />
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"NOOOOO!" Veta cried, "I put a wicked spell on it!"<br />
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But it was too late.<br />
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"CROAK!" croaked Bartha. <br />
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The queen leaped on her chair shaking in her high heels. Martha and Dartha covered their squealing mouths.<br />
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Veta and Dory were never asked to return for tea again. <br />
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A few days later the princesses received a letter in the mail.<br />
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<em><strong>Dear Princesses,</strong></em></div>
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<em><strong>Your pastries and pink frosting were awful...</strong></em></div>
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<em><strong>Awfully good that is!</strong></em></div>
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<em><strong>If you want your Bartha back,</strong></em></div>
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<em><strong>tell her the only way to break the spell is to -</strong></em></div>
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<em><strong>"Kiss the hands...</strong></em></div>
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<em><strong>...of a prince"</strong></em></div>
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<em><strong>The Wicked Witches </strong></em><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">BIG THANKS TO:</span><br />
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<span style="color: blue;">Julie Rowan zoch</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue;">Gretchen Fogelstrom</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue;">Joanna Marple</span> <br />
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<span style="color: blue;">Mamma D - This Average American Home</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue;">Lauri Meyers</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue;">Theresastales - Granny's World</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue;">Mary Flynn</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue;">Robb Terranova</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue;">Sylvia Liu</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue;">DonnaLouise</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue;">Patricia Nozell</span><br />
<span style="color: blue;">and</span><br />
<span style="color: blue;">Marcie Colleen</span><br />
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You guys are "Thwack-smack-ouch-fumping-atchoodle-fluming-pitter-patter-plinking-splatting-wham-bongo-SIZZLE-SIZZLING-hissss-thwacking-tinkle-tunking-bawoosh-mmmmmming-chomp-bleeping" awesome!!!</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10581876204776919003noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6675047530592600496.post-64295775144404915862013-03-04T07:17:00.000-05:002013-03-09T13:53:07.458-05:00FOOD FIGHT contest <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Badge by Julie Rowan-2och</td></tr>
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Today is the start to the Food Fight <span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">z</span>esty Onomataopoeia Slinging contest over at Marcie Colleen's blog The Write Routine. It's the Write Routine's First Annual FOOD FIGHT! in celebration of World Read Aloud Day. To read all the entries, visit Marcie's blog --> <a href="http://writeroutine.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">The Write Routine</span></a><br />
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Okay here goes mine-<br />
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<strong><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Tea with the Snooties</span></strong></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Veta didn’t like change. No witch ever did. Especially ones that live in cozy cottages with their sister and not a soul around to bother them. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">But one day Veta and her sister received a fancy letter with a royal stamp on it.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Dear Wicked Witches,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Your presence is requested for tea and pastries at the castle.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Kiss the hands, </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">The Princesses </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">“Yuck!” said Veta, “I’m NOT eating with those snooties - even if they serve us worms.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">“I think I’ll make a batch of chewy gooey bat whisker cookies,” said Dory, “And you’ll need to make something too.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">“Oh no - NOT me!”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">“But they’ll love your special dish?” said Dory.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><em>Hmm</em>, thought Veta. <em>Maybe I can make them something special…something extra special</em>.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">The next day the sisters arrived for tea at the castle.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Before Dory knocked,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"> Veta blurted out, “If any of those snooty princess force us to eat their puffy pastries with sprinkles, I’ll turn them into toads.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">“Cool it!” said Dory.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">When the doors opened they were escorted down an elegant corridor.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Another set of doors opened up to a great dining hall with a table decorated in a shimmery clothe and dressed with the finest china.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">“Welcome sisters,” said the queen. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Then she introduced her daughters one by one.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">“This is Martha, Bartha and Dartha”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Veta giggled.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">“Shhhh,” said Dory.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">When Veta sat down next to either Bartha or Dartha, they plugged their snooty little noses.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">But Veta didn’t smell anything.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">“We heard you two witches make the best food in the kingdom,” said the queen. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">“We do,” said Dory and she uncovered her tray. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">“Try one,” said Dory handing a cookie to Martha.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">CRUNCH</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">“Ouch, your cookie bit me,” she cried.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">“I must have added too much spice,” said Dory.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">“We do NOT eat spice,” sneered Martha, “Anyway, try our much better food.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Trays with lids were placed in front of the sisters with cups of hot tea. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Under the first lid were puffy pastries with sprinkles.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Veta stood up, “If you make me eat that- I will croak!” </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">“Sit down,” ordered Martha.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Veta plopped down with a growl. Then she remembered her surprise dish.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">“I made something special.” said Veta, “Extra special.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">She peeled back the lid and a dark spooky haze seeped out. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">"TA-DA," said Veta</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Everyone gasped- including Dory. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Martha spoke slowly, “We cannot possibly try that rubbish.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">“Then we cannot try yours,” said Veta.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">“That’s right!” said Dory bravely, “We’ll pass on your puffy pastries with sprinkles!”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">“I find that hard to believe,” snorted Martha, “it’s the best.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">And she dipped a finger in the pastry topping and smeared a blob on Veta’s forehead.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Veta gritted her teeth.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><em>That’s the last straw</em>, thought Veta and dug deep into her extra special dish.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">She pulled out a solid handful of cross-eyed newt of cream paste. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">“Would you like a taste?” asked Veta with a wicked smile. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">KAPOW</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><br /><br /><br />NOW FOR THE RULES ON POSTING YOUR COMMENT:<br /><br /><br /><br />If you liked to add to the story below, here's what you do:<br /><br />1. Read the posted story and all of the comments that precede you. <br />2. Post your comment.<br />3. Be sure to build on and further the existing story. Your comment should flow. <br />4. The story should read as if it was written by one person when read from beginning to end. <br />5. ALSO, your comment needs to include at least one word of onomatopoeia and one thrown item of food. <br /><br />*note- Your onomatopoeia must be a word that has not been used already in that story.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Please join in the fight and help me finish my story. You can comment up until March 8th!<br /><br />
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SORRY COMMENTS ARE NOW CLOSED! </div>
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Thanks for partipating<br /><br /></div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></span><br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10581876204776919003noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6675047530592600496.post-73234694460851773212013-02-20T09:34:00.000-05:002013-02-20T09:55:02.417-05:00Giveaway Winner Update and Joyce Sweeney<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> Last week I was giving away the Emotion Thesaurus (ebook Edition) and today I get to share the lucky winner. Don't worry if you didn't win, I'll be giving away another one in the spring. </span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-size: large;">And the lucky winner is...</span><br />
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<span style="color: yellow; font-size: x-large;"><a href="http://daisycarter.com/" target="_blank">Daisy Carter </a></span><br />
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<span style="color: yellow; font-size: x-large;"> <strong>CONGRATS!!!</strong></span><br />
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<span style="color: #009933;"> </span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Also, I wanted to share a wonderful resource for all you writers. </span><span style="font-size: large;">Joyce Sweeney is a writing coach and an award winning author who offers one-day workshops, online classes, manuscript critiques and personal consultations to writers all across the country. Last week she critiqued on of my picture book manscripts. She shared fantastic advice and offered useful line edits as well. Please check out Joyce Sweeney's website at:</span></span><span style="color: #009933;"> <a href="http://www.joycesweeney.net/"><span style="color: blue; font-size: large;">www.joycesweeney.net/</span></a></span><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">YA Books by Joyce Sweeney</span></strong></div>
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<span style="color: #009933;"></span><br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10581876204776919003noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6675047530592600496.post-33831860347152474692013-02-02T21:09:00.000-05:002013-02-02T21:11:17.294-05:00New Seasonal Giveaway - Who needs The Emotion Thesaurus? Would you like to own an ebook version of the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Emotion-Thesaurus-Writers-Character-Expression/dp/1475004958." target="_blank">The Emotion Thesaurus</a> by Angela Ackerman and Becca Puglisi?<br />
GREAT! Because this year I'm giving <u>one</u> away each season. (an ebook version for your Nook or Kindle) Yuppers! One in the Winter, Spring, Summer and Fall. So don't forget to drop in at the beginning of the seasons and win a chance at this amazing book. <br />
I finally bought my own copy. It really helps convey a character's emotions, not only for novelist but for children's book writers. It's so helpful. <br />
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I haven't done a giveaway in a while and lately I have been thinking that most of the time when I write blog posts I tend to write about myself. I wanted to do something different. I'm not the best blogger, actually have a really hard time blogging. The whole "pouring out your guts" thing makes me a tad uncomfortable. Wait, did I just pour some guts out? Soooo, since you guys have been subjected to my suckish blogging (at times) I wanted to give back to you somehow. Or give to at least one lucky winner every four months. <br />
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Okay, now for the giveaway. Here's what you have to do to try and win The Emotion Thesaurus.<br />
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<li>Be a follower on my blog</li>
<li>Comment on this post however you like. Some extremely clever examples: "Hola"- or - "What's up Jen!" - or - "Holy cow! I've always wanted that book!"</li>
<li>Leave your email address with a secure format. Ex.yourname at yahoo dot com</li>
<li>Comment before Feb 15th 2013th to be entered. </li>
<li>That's it!</li>
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I'll use random.com to select a winner and I'll contact the winner by email before Feb 20th 2013. <br />
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Ready. Set. Go!<br />
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p.s. I can't help myself. I have to at least share some fun stuff I've been up to lately. I've re-joined<a href="http://www.juliehedlund.com/12-x-12/" target="_blank"> Julie Hedlund's 12 x 12</a> group last month. And I've joined another fantastic pb group all because I joined Julie's 12 x 12 group. Hi Christine, Jennifer & Janet *waves* <br />
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One more thing, let's hear about you!!! What have you been up to lately? Anything worth sharing? I always love hearing more about you guys. <br />
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Thank you for stopping by!</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10581876204776919003noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6675047530592600496.post-67149717086347695982012-12-12T13:30:00.001-05:002012-12-13T07:23:14.109-05:0012 x 12 in 2012 Blog Party<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
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It's December already, which means it's blog party time for our 12 x 12 in 2012-ers. I put together a mini video of my picture book writing challenges and accomplishments in 2012. I just wanted to thank Julie Hedlund and everyone involved with her group for helping me learn more about the wonderful world of picture books. Click on the badge below to find out more about the challenge. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.juliehedlund.com/2012/12/11/121212-blog-party/" target="_blank"><img bea="true" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9nGrfSm1ccWYTqOQnt555_1TA23qy6r_G3zJyDbe-PJxIhUfZ7LO7J-dw_TgIDJwGW6FVNFz8uA3YNO71v-bUs1OvY5wJhiyO2nl-dErvFjHwrep4HnjTrgArH2ffmpCEpkJWJ_qYQAo/s1600/yVBaQ91354924306.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.juliehedlund.com/2012/12/11/121212-blog-party/" target="_blank">Badge by <span style="color: #fa7638;"> Linda Silvestri</span></a></td></tr>
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<strong>Before you check out the 30 second video below</strong></div>
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<strong> I"ll share my list of 12 writing tips I enjoyed learning or doing this year. </strong></div>
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1. Writers love helping other writers</div>
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2. To stop editing as I go and just write</div>
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3. To pick just one of my kids and write for them </div>
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4. Write in other types of styles. I practiced poetry this year - Yikes! It was fun though.</div>
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5. Practicing more dialogue writing </div>
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6. Passive is the enemy</div>
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7. I took a few timeouts and enjoyed reading adult books</div>
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8. I asked for help. Professionals, critiques, and online conferences.</div>
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9. Joined the SCBWI</div>
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10. Exclamation marks are the enemy!!!!!</div>
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11. To never forget my pen & paper when I'm out</div>
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12. I need to remember not to treat my writing like it's a job</div>
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rather write about things that inspire me.</div>
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I know, these are easier said than done, but I will try to follow them and the many more tips of advice I've received throughout this year and previous ones. </div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/Pd6yC-n3u8Y?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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Happy holidays everyone, and thanks for visiting!<br />
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"Substitute "damn" for every time you're inclined to write 'very;' you editor will delete it and your writing will just be as it should." <br />
- Mark TwainAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10581876204776919003noreply@blogger.com51