tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-60281471914455313582024-03-19T03:48:53.625-05:00PlottingPrincessesRoyally fabulous authors who plot and brainstorm to bring you the best novellas, stories, and books you've ever read.Plotting Princesseshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04498235738737791614noreply@blogger.comBlogger628125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6028147191445531358.post-57293964671411599952019-07-18T02:30:00.000-05:002019-07-18T02:30:00.531-05:00The new addition and the new edition! #newbook #newbaby #newparents #romanticcomedy<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Maybe by the time you read this</span>, our new granddaughter will be born. My daughter in law looks ready to pop and at her last check-up, the doctor said the baby will most likely come before her due date. </div>
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There's something special when the children you raise have children of their own. I can see how happy and excited #1son is. He is so ready. And thanks to changing times, he will be able to be home with her for a bit. I want to see him give her a bath, read to her, give her a kiss, hold her hand, see her run to him. </div>
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I want her to know and love Handsome and me. That she will think we are the cat's meow. LOL. That she will always know we have been there for her. That we can pass on a bit of knowledge and she will appreciate it. </div>
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I also have a new book. Sommerville days are three stories, featuring sassy heroines. Here's a bit:</div>
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Isn't the cover fabulous?</div>
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<i><span style="font-family: &quot; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Love
blossoms in the small town of Sommerville in these heartwarming tales, filled
with fun and forever possibilities.</span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: &quot; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Store Wars:</span> <span style="font-family: &quot; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The competition is heating up when Janie's old
flame returns to town and is running his family's store. Could following dreams
break her heart?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: &quot; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Raving Beauty:</span> <span style="font-family: &quot; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">What if the love of your life was in front of you
all along?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: &quot; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">San Diego or Bust:</span> <span style="font-family: &quot; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">When a young woman plans a romantic getaway with
her boyfriend, disaster strikes—is her Mr. Right the right Mr. Right?</span></div>
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<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><br /></div>
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<b>And from a favorite story, "Raving Beauty," (the end made my sister cry):</b></div>
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<span style="font-family: &quot; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> "I can't believe I
let your loony brother, who's tormented me all my life, talk me into
this." </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: &quot; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">With
my eye on the teenage competition standing off to one side, I tugged the
swimsuit’s leg opening into place to better cover my hip. "Just because I
did some modeling in college doesn't make me a pageant diva. Back then, I was
incredibly skinny, and clothes fit easily."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: &quot; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span> </span>"Daniel is a rat. He took advantage of your third,
or was it your fourth, margarita, Kelly?" Maggie Ackerman, my best friend
and roommate, adjusted the scarlet satin sash draped across my body. Glittery
stick-on letters spelled out Miss Yahoo! Ranch Steakhouse. "Don’t worry.
You’re beautiful and will be fine. Now, hold still." </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: &quot; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span> </span>I watched her pick my brown hair at the crown of my head
with an old-fashioned teasing comb. When the eerie suspicion I resembled a
scary dame with Big Texas hair from the television show, “Dallas,” I turned my
head to avoid the mirror. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: &quot; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span> </span>"Close your eyes." She blasted my hair with
several short bursts of super freeze-it hairspray. "Now, that ain't goin'
nowhere."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: &quot; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">FYI: "Raving Beauty" comes from an incident where I was a beauty contestant. Fortunately, what happened to our sassy heroine didn't happen to me.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: &quot; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Find yours at: <span style="font-family: &quot; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07V4NPYFP/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: &quot;">Amazon</span></a></span></span></div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><br />Vicki Batman, sassy writerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13846704675542248648noreply@blogger.com129tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6028147191445531358.post-56638346943673144912019-06-20T04:00:00.000-05:002019-06-20T04:00:09.193-05:00Blog: Have You Ever Wished You Could? #cutemeet #lightheartedromance #MFRWauthor<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Have you every wished you could do something but were too embarrassed
to do so? Or to shy? Or worried about what others would think?</span><br />
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<br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I grew up a shy girl. I know that might contradict with what
you know about me now. I love meeting new people and doing fun things. And as
for embarrassing myself? Well, the likelihood of meeting those folks again is
zilch.</span><br />
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<br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I have always had in the background these wishes—</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I wish I could draw/paint (and I don’t mean the walls of the
house. I can do that). I’ve never had an </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik6n4X6cJMkO3lo_tg2jmPspc1xENOoegZDiVekPZmS23zuvDcDu2CzOANuLChbC2sPa5nlgOcA0xig0xxHWMD91PfzIJGlAeVZKmrMqGxVWaXJg69pSE0y6q_30rLDpx9cfwTyVcmrSve/s1600/vb+painting.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="253" data-original-width="320" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik6n4X6cJMkO3lo_tg2jmPspc1xENOoegZDiVekPZmS23zuvDcDu2CzOANuLChbC2sPa5nlgOcA0xig0xxHWMD91PfzIJGlAeVZKmrMqGxVWaXJg69pSE0y6q_30rLDpx9cfwTyVcmrSve/s200/vb+painting.jpg" width="200" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">art lesson. The closest I ever came
was a wine and paint class. I didn’t do badly because the instructor gave great
directions. And now, I’m happy expressing myself through stitching embroidery
and needlepoint. So maybe I'm okay with not learning how right now.</span><br />
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<br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I wish I could dance. All I wanted in high school was to be
a member of the dance team. But there was one drawback-I’d never had a dance
lesson. I tried out my sophomore year and didn’t make it. In my junior year, I
decided to be a manager based on the prior year. I worked out with the other girls and could
do what they did. So why didn’t I try? The teacher agreed to let me. I
high-kicked my way perfectly. But jazz dance? That’s where no training showed.
The teacher must have known how much I wanted to be a dance team member. She
told me I’d have to work extra hard (which I did). And as a married woman, I
found Jazzercise and have been happily dancing ever since. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I wish I could write. Ever since I read Dick Francis’ mysteries,
I had the urge to write. But I had no guts. I knew deep inside I couldn’t take
the rejection. After a friend pushed me to try, I felt more comfortable in my
writing shoes. I worked and worked and joined Romance Writers of America and
the local chapter. There I made friends and honed my craft. I had the rejections,
but I’d learned how to handle that and plowed on. I’m glad I did. I’ve learned
so much and grown immensely. </span><br />
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<br />
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<b><i><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I know many of you have had “I wishes.” Is it too late? What
would you do?</span></i></b><br />
<b><i><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span></i></b>
<b><i><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span></i></b>
<b><i><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Creativity abounds in this fun, light-hearted, cute-meet collection:</span></i></b><br />
<b><i><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span></i></b>
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<b><i><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span></i></b>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Find yours at: </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Just-Desserts-Other-Short-Stories-ebook/dp/B07CT8XC5F/" target="_blank">Amazon</a></span> <span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Just-Desserts-Other-Stories-writer/dp/1718719302/ref=sr_1_28?keywords=just+desserts&qid=1554829514&s=books&sr=1-28/" target="_blank">Print</a></span><span style="color: black;"> </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/just-desserts-and-other-short-stories-vicki-batman/1128592107?ean=2940155242031/" target="_blank">Nook</a><span style="color: black;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><a href="https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/823338/" target="_blank">Other</a><span style="color: black;"> </span></span><br />
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span>Vicki Batman, sassy writerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13846704675542248648noreply@blogger.com46tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6028147191445531358.post-60709508425017591412019-06-04T04:00:00.000-05:002019-06-04T14:55:39.964-05:00Michelle Miles: Milestones<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I’m supposed to be working on a weekly report and an agenda for a meeting. Instead I’m thinking about milestones and the next phases of life. <br />
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My son recently graduated from high school. Don’t we look awesome in this picture? I’m very proud of all he’s accomplished. <br />
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People have been congratulating me, which I thought was odd. I mentioned it to my husband. He looked at me like I’d grown a third head. “Am I going to have to explain this to you, really?” <br />
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So, he did. <br />
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All those times I got him up and ready for school, even when he didn’t want to go.<br />
All those school lunches I made.<br />
All those school functions I volunteered to chaperone.<br />
All those school parties.<br />
All those band concerts/competitions/football games.<br />
All those times I was a shuttle/taxi/chauffeur.<br />
All those birthday parties.<br />
All those school plays.<br />
All those band fees I happily paid for because I knew he was doing something he loved.<br />
All those times I sat with him at the kitchen table and helped with homework. And then when I couldn’t help him, made sure he was turning in school work.<br />
All those times I pushed him to do something I knew he should do because he would regret it if he didn’t.<br />
All those times I bought him school clothes and supplies.<br />
All those times I took him to the doctor/dentist/orthodontist/eye doctor. ALL.THOSE.TIMES.<br />
Most of these things I did by myself because I was a single mom.<br />
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And, of course, that’s not all. We are now entering the next phase of his life. He was awarded a scholarship to the community college. He’s enrolled and registered and begins his next adventure in the fall. <br />
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As we were leaving graduation, his 4th grade and 5th grade teachers made their way to us outside the convention center and hugged him and congratulated him. I can’t even begin to express how wonderful that was that not only did they remember HIM, but they remembered ME, too. And made a point to find him in the crowd. <br />
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What he doesn’t know is that this time in his life is special. It’s fleeting. I’m sure he’ll have some regrets—we all do. He can’t see into the future like I can and that’s okay. That’s part of growing up. <br />
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There are many more milestones to come. As we age, we hit different ones. College graduation. Marriage. Deaths. Raising kids. New jobs. Job changes. Hitting those “big” birthdays. I guess I’m feeling nostalgic and a little sad that this phase is over. But you know what? The best is yet to come.</div>
Michelle Mileshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05442813530538808627noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6028147191445531358.post-31259134368553736082019-05-16T03:30:00.000-05:002019-05-16T03:30:09.388-05:00blog w @VickiBatman - There’s No Escape! EMFRWauthor #readromance #escaperoom<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="color: red; font-size: large;"><b>Recently, #2son had a big birthday</b></span> and when I asked what he
would like to do, he said an escape room. I had read about different ones. My
DIL and #1son had done some. So I was game to try.</div>
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Eight of us arrived and picked Alien Blood Bank Robbery. The
hostess demonstrated how different locks worked. Gave us gear to wear—lab coats
and head bopper headbands (the kind with hearts, stars, etc. which bob on a
spring). We were told we could ask for three clues and had one hour to complete
the task.</div>
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Here’s the background:</div>
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<i>For decades, the
aliens have been modifying human DNA. Eddie the Alien cleans the lab every
night and has developed a secret love for humans. He wants to help and has left
clues for us to use to break in and steal the blood samples.</i><i><br /></i></div>
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Inside the first room, we found a school locker, table,
various locked boxed. Magnetic board. We wandered around to get accustomed to
the room, and secretly thinking something would magically pop out and we would
be on our way. Yea, that didn’t happen. We asked for a clue. </div>
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The clue enabled us to work one lock, which enabled us to
work another lock, etc. Finally, a door opened to an adjacent room set up with
more locks, boards, etc.<span> </span>We solved those
and eventually, were able to unlock a safe and procure the DNA. </div>
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We finished with minutes to spare. LOL</div>
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Would I do an escape room again? Yes! Using our brains is a
good thing. And our group worked well together. I’d like to try the Wild West
Bank Robbery. All that bandana and hat stuff sounds like fun. </div>
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<b><i>Have you done an escape room?</i></b></div>
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<b><i><br /></i></b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP_9AQiFkbBPnVzWga7g-7ig4laFJkVsc18LgbFEX4zHCQLL3_cA009IAjCowwEl7_lkO3TfxVcQbIgb-f5lOvOI3ew2Is_FT_k9JwkuKGZuhsdW7GWpRd8pvogEffsaUckiZpzc4Yk3E/s1600/asteriks+2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="47" data-original-width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP_9AQiFkbBPnVzWga7g-7ig4laFJkVsc18LgbFEX4zHCQLL3_cA009IAjCowwEl7_lkO3TfxVcQbIgb-f5lOvOI3ew2Is_FT_k9JwkuKGZuhsdW7GWpRd8pvogEffsaUckiZpzc4Yk3E/s1600/asteriks+2.png" style="cursor: move;" /></a></div>
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<b></b><i></i><br /></div>
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Want to submerse yourself in a great read and escape? Why
not try Just Desserts…and other stories:</div>
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<i>Vicki's newly released collection of 11
sweet short-fiction reads is where ordinary life </i></div>
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<i>takes cute and unexpected turns.</i></div>
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<i><br /></i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8sqMvnMyVZ7kWOnAzItxC90eANzwFAf0mFbPPTlrbrZxqCv6s7vJz0XK5eDUX8OSa98uUxOLtP2iv-jJkXCEHAEzBknWuAMdZ003bVuDPjKvfe2G0WxN9YJdlw6kZBNKA_oKI-chUsDc/s1600/Just+Desserts+400x600+72dpi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: #0066cc; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="400" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8sqMvnMyVZ7kWOnAzItxC90eANzwFAf0mFbPPTlrbrZxqCv6s7vJz0XK5eDUX8OSa98uUxOLtP2iv-jJkXCEHAEzBknWuAMdZ003bVuDPjKvfe2G0WxN9YJdlw6kZBNKA_oKI-chUsDc/s320/Just+Desserts+400x600+72dpi.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="213" /></a><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike></div>
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<b>Find your
copy at:</b></div>
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<b>Amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/Just-Desserts-Other-Short-Stories-ebook/dp/B07CT8XC5F/ </b></div>
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<b>Print:
https://www.amazon.com/Just-Desserts-Other-Stories-writer/dp/1718719302/ref=sr_1_28?keywords=just+desserts&qid=1554829514&s=books&sr=1-28/
</b></div>
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</div>
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<b>Barnes
& Noble:
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/just-desserts-and-other-short-stories-vicki-batman/1128592107?ean=2940155242031/
</b></div>
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<b>Smashwords:
https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/823338/</b></div>
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<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike></div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><br />Vicki Batman, sassy writerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13846704675542248648noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6028147191445531358.post-1914645880607587912019-04-18T03:00:00.000-05:002019-04-18T03:00:01.154-05:00Plotting Princesses - Vicki Batman: I Failed at Painting #paintbynumbers #MFRWauthor #shortstories<br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">I like to think I’m something of a creative person. After all,
I write books and short stories. I stitch needlepoint and embroider. I can do
lots of things. But I can’t paint.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">Every morning, I work out, come home and have a bit of
breakfast while perusing the paper. Last week in the metro section at the top
of the page, I saw an obit for Dan Robbins followed by the heading “Artist
created first paint-by-numbers pictures.”</span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">I had to read the whole obituary to learn more about Mr. Robbins
and paint-by-numbers. He developed his idea based on an inspiration from
Leonardo da Vinci. He remembered “Leonardo used numbered background patterns
for his students and apprentices.” He decided to try that too.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">His boss hated it but saw potential. Mr. Robbins created
landscapes, horses, puppies, and kitties. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPnpshRCo5gs-aAxG6MzYdDObbUwGMyn9UWW-cA-a-tR-CccQ73_iIpLLpWfuaxjgTZos3b18mb3QaHsp2EEtbuFD6mNr20mVt3Hukkmjpsv6K7AmpMP2UDcrhhqWBUmTiC9T8GlUgs6Bn/s1600/paint+by+number+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="256" data-original-width="373" height="218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPnpshRCo5gs-aAxG6MzYdDObbUwGMyn9UWW-cA-a-tR-CccQ73_iIpLLpWfuaxjgTZos3b18mb3QaHsp2EEtbuFD6mNr20mVt3Hukkmjpsv6K7AmpMP2UDcrhhqWBUmTiC9T8GlUgs6Bn/s320/paint+by+number+1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">Sales reached at peak at 20 million in 1955. </span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">I remember going to the five and dime stores and seeing the
kits. I tried once. Lousy. I didn’t have a good steady hand for painting.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJdiK92gIUkWp_0-l51-vU7zJkmAe9Q4FYVcizLt6kOkaaGuyoKij7wToG4QPj4D0KeVMlsZBujuTiYVLVIsut2P5FK8miuHxaID4SZXifp0BpaagVgRiHDB_gLN3dp6q80Z4F1IvRjsw/s1600/paint+by+number+2.png" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; clear: right; color: #0066cc; float: right; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="241" data-original-width="260" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJdiK92gIUkWp_0-l51-vU7zJkmAe9Q4FYVcizLt6kOkaaGuyoKij7wToG4QPj4D0KeVMlsZBujuTiYVLVIsut2P5FK8miuHxaID4SZXifp0BpaagVgRiHDB_gLN3dp6q80Z4F1IvRjsw/s1600/paint+by+number+2.png" /></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"> </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">Nowadays, I’ve seen finished paintings at flea markets and
antique malls. Some are pretty good. I searched the internet and found many
places where one can purchase a kit. I even found a museum: <a href="https://www.paintbynumbermuseum.com/catalog-page/8565"><span style="color: #0563c1;">https://www.paintbynumbermuseum.com/catalog-page/8565</span></a></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">Not long ago, I went to an event where an instructor taught a
class in how to paint a specific painting. She really broke down the elements
and I enjoyed what I’d done immensely. The most interesting thing happened
after we broke for lunch. At the back of the room, I turned and looked at the
tables topped with paintings. All were different. Just like the artists.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAFJKeQ6pSG2KMAlENor_D0hB6tFsEGxAd6piRFL3h2hj0A9JdJczihyphenhyphenxzX2YdBGWbW8jcQxoiVSecPtc__bIw6P04mARil6JRD018TACSe9rby9iLrkR_RyHeoEdcpfvCqE3Lhv0MJfQJ/s1600/vb+painting.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="253" data-original-width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAFJKeQ6pSG2KMAlENor_D0hB6tFsEGxAd6piRFL3h2hj0A9JdJczihyphenhyphenxzX2YdBGWbW8jcQxoiVSecPtc__bIw6P04mARil6JRD018TACSe9rby9iLrkR_RyHeoEdcpfvCqE3Lhv0MJfQJ/s1600/vb+painting.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">Were
you bitten by the “paint-by-numbers” bug?</span></i></b></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"><br /></span></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 17.33px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">Here's my creative bit--Just Desserts...and other stories:</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGsSEFi4Yywd3Ne3ckI5N6ViPnC3Lx89RIONJGk9YHZxx3V4n-YH_Y07tUtyW-lRkeTM7LtCCsIF8C8fVP3YUFyquv2d5yW2HsNC0ueonSeOuTWwfXlkswb0Q3pNISltyFtfWshR6z4iYy/s1600/Just+Desserts+400x600+72dpi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="400" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGsSEFi4Yywd3Ne3ckI5N6ViPnC3Lx89RIONJGk9YHZxx3V4n-YH_Y07tUtyW-lRkeTM7LtCCsIF8C8fVP3YUFyquv2d5yW2HsNC0ueonSeOuTWwfXlkswb0Q3pNISltyFtfWshR6z4iYy/s320/Just+Desserts+400x600+72dpi.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 16px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 17.33px; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 16px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 17.33px; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "merriweather"; font-size: 17.6px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 24.64px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
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<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="_Hlk2259521"></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="_Hlk513726971"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; margin: 0px;">Amazon:</span> </span></a><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Just-Desserts-Other-Short-Stories-ebook/dp/B07CT8XC5F/"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: blue;">https://www.amazon.com/Just-Desserts-Other-Short-Stories-ebook/dp/B07CT8XC5F/</span></span></span></span></a><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; margin: 0px;"></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; margin: 0px;">Print: </span></span><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Just-Desserts-Other-Stories-writer/dp/1718719302/ref=sr_1_28?keywords=just+desserts&qid=1554829514&s=books&sr=1-28/"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: blue;">https://www.amazon.com/Just-Desserts-Other-Stories-writer/dp/1718719302/ref=sr_1_28?keywords=just+desserts&qid=1554829514&s=books&sr=1-28/</span></span></span></a><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; margin: 0px;"> </span></span><br />
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<span style="margin: 0px;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="_Hlk513726991"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; margin: 0px;">Barnes & Noble: </span></a></span><a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/just-desserts-and-other-short-stories-vicki-batman/1128592107?ean=2940155242031/"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: blue;">https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/just-desserts-and-other-short-stories-vicki-batman/1128592107?ean=2940155242031/</span></span></span></span></a><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; margin: 0px;"> </span></span></span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; margin: 0px;"></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; margin: 0px;">Smashwords: </span></span><a href="https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/823338/"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: blue;">https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/823338/</span></span></span></a><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; margin: 0px;"> </span></span><br />
</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Merriweather; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 17.33px; margin: 0px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 16px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 17.33px; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 17.33px; margin: 0px; text-align: center; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
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Vicki Batman, sassy writerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13846704675542248648noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6028147191445531358.post-58111400631194892842019-03-21T03:30:00.000-05:002019-03-21T03:30:00.223-05:00Handbags, Books...Whatever - Tick-Tock Clock #findingatreasure #familyheirloom #shortstories
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">Over the past couple of years, my sisters
and I have been sorting my parents’ things. Each of us claimed jewelry,
pictures, other odds and ends. From one of Dad’s boxes, I picked up an Elgin
watch. I had to laugh because the band was the classic expand-o-matic kind that
I remembered being advertised constantly on TV. </span></div>
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<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 16px 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">Just for grins, I gave it a wind, and sure
enough, it ticked. I wound some more and set the correct time. Sliding it on my
arm, every now and again, I would look to see if the time was holding up and it
had! I wore the watch over the next few weeks just to confirm how it ran. All
was good. So I took it to the jeweler for a check.</span></div>
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<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 16px 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">The jeweler said the watch came from the
fifties, that the band was probably the original – surprise! I asked to have it
cleaned and<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>his initials engraved on the
back. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLbPv0yaQcDGCS-qh7b87-vTmklQRZ4gkSPpkOm6oWjJ5O502RWBE_PDiK6Uc_zllWq2Vz7wc6yOE54KxhddiP4xJM6kLAPI47Bs4uEFZoI0t_Zsizv9pQ81LNosVTnKnHrCGX4BrRuHfh/s1600/03+19+19+watches.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLbPv0yaQcDGCS-qh7b87-vTmklQRZ4gkSPpkOm6oWjJ5O502RWBE_PDiK6Uc_zllWq2Vz7wc6yOE54KxhddiP4xJM6kLAPI47Bs4uEFZoI0t_Zsizv9pQ81LNosVTnKnHrCGX4BrRuHfh/s1600/03+19+19+watches.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">Not long ago, my mother-in-law passed, and
as my sisters-in-laws and niece went threw her precious belongings, I picked up
a small gold watch. Just for grins, I gave it a wind and set the time. This
watch, too, stayed on time. The band didn’t snap properly. I thought “what the
heck” and took it to the jeweler’s for his thoughts.</span><br />
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<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 16px 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">We didn’t guesstimate the era the watch
came from. She was born in the mid-thirties; so I’m thinking she received the
watch in the forties. He did listen and watch and was impressed that something
so old kept good time. He said the watch repair man could fix the catch and
would clean it as well. I opted to have the back engraved with all of her
initials. </span></div>
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<div style="border-bottom: dotted windowtext 3.0pt; border: none; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in;">
<div style="border-image: none; border: medium; line-height: normal; margin: 16px 0px; padding: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">I like wearing multiple
things together on my left wrist-bracelets, watches. I have no problem in
putting on two watches and something else. The more the merrier. I’m excited
about having something that once belonged to family and now belongs to me.</span></div>
</div>
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<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">Is it dessert time? I’m a chocolate a day kind of gal and
rarely pass up cake. In that vein, how about delving into these dessert
stories: </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGJNGsZ9O30vMT3Kpwjnvjd_Tb1gzCxv2WQRZN8OV5WAn1Vn3MnaMyDKBddAH9Lw0zI4HsojtWbT5GVR79w4rnqWhmKuoiWNAhrSh-uMDlnJE2q0g6mfewp4A0fcQ0vE5PL7EAtPY7M79g/s1600/Just+Desserts+400x600+72dpi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="400" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGJNGsZ9O30vMT3Kpwjnvjd_Tb1gzCxv2WQRZN8OV5WAn1Vn3MnaMyDKBddAH9Lw0zI4HsojtWbT5GVR79w4rnqWhmKuoiWNAhrSh-uMDlnJE2q0g6mfewp4A0fcQ0vE5PL7EAtPY7M79g/s400/Just+Desserts+400x600+72dpi.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
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<br />
<div align="center" style="margin: 16px 0px; text-align: center;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">Love blossoms in the small town of
Sommerville in these heartwarming, “cute meet” tales, </span></i></div>
<br />
<div align="center" style="margin: 16px 0px; text-align: center;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">filled with fun and forever possibilities.</span></i></div>
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<div align="center" style="margin: 16px 0px; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 16px 0px; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"> <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Just-Desserts-Other-Short-Stories-ebook/dp/B07CT8XC5F/" target="_blank">ebook</a> </span><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Just-Desserts-Other-Stories-writer/dp/1718719302/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1527956600&sr=8-2&keywords=just+desserts+and+other+stories/" target="_blank">print</a> </span><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"><a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/just-desserts-and-other-short-stories-vicki-batman/1128592107?ean=2940155242031/" target="_blank">B&N</a> </span><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"> <a href="https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/823338/" target="_blank">other e vendors</a></span></div>
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<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>Vicki Batman, sassy writerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13846704675542248648noreply@blogger.com23tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6028147191445531358.post-92127978230647390122019-02-21T03:30:00.000-06:002019-05-15T17:13:17.722-05:00Vicki Batman - It’s really Simplicity, isn’t it? @Simplicitypatterns #craftingwithmom #readromance #MFRWauthor<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman";"></span><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 16px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 16px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">My sisters and I grew
up</span> with Mom making our clothes and hers as well. It made money sense to do so and
back then, my parents were all about stretching every penny. There were huge
fabric stores like Cloth World and Hancock’s. Sometimes, we would go with Mom
to those stores and go through the pattern books, like Simplicity, McCalls, and
Butterick, but never Vogue because those were more complicated and she had
little time for that. </span></div>
</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 16px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 16px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Patterns allowed people
to create their own clothing. The books we thumbed through were our version of
stylish fashion magazines and offered a glimpse of glamor. We could imagine
ourselves garbed in gorgeous outfits. Mom often made us matching dresses for
Easter, like these: </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcHLSDl2QRSJSh7yt5ATpFNOsaC0IY_cBm2qQFeYeAaxJOlFgWEM-dqTNk-YFN0Jq0XaBYnl4lOdntVvIzaUsftaixB0Uq5dwegWwE40yK8lQWiywMCo_zK1RaBw9s4S0rgMs-pjLWesE/s1600/kid+dresses.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 16px; margin-right: 16px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="309" data-original-width="320" height="385" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcHLSDl2QRSJSh7yt5ATpFNOsaC0IY_cBm2qQFeYeAaxJOlFgWEM-dqTNk-YFN0Jq0XaBYnl4lOdntVvIzaUsftaixB0Uq5dwegWwE40yK8lQWiywMCo_zK1RaBw9s4S0rgMs-pjLWesE/s400/kid+dresses.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="400" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia"; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></span><br />
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 16px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 16px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">Aren't we cute? </span><br />
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 16px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 16px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">We would help my mom
lay the printed tissue on the fabric and learned how to pin it into place. If
we could cut straight (not me, Mom said), we cut along the lines. Mom pinned
the pieces together and then sewed them. One time, I did try to make a dress
with her help. She was a tough teacher, and mostly, I learned how to rip and
sew again. And again. Since ripping was not fun, my creativity did not go into
sewing.</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 16px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 16px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">After I graduated from
college, I worked for a local department store. I <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">desperately </i>needed new work clothes. Who did I turn to? Mom! She
made me several Chanel-styled suits in various fabrics, sometimes, dresses, and
special evening wear. I loved them!</span></div>
</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 16px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 16px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">In 2018 while shopping
in my favorite Joann’s, I ran across several Simplicity collectibles. Memories
crowded my head and of course, I purchased a few items, like these: </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoXzguV-psrXBBehDZ6EGOAmFDKHwh-b94HLYb315yOLgJVxakfUG54QTL8ydhmn8gFPzyGQxX2xUThBCyzQaq0KEtLVTEgxVpMd84whPRbjHagGCuE5P_nO1JG2VEtJ71whzCYYBxz2s/s1600/simplicity+gifts.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 16px; margin-right: 16px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="278" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoXzguV-psrXBBehDZ6EGOAmFDKHwh-b94HLYb315yOLgJVxakfUG54QTL8ydhmn8gFPzyGQxX2xUThBCyzQaq0KEtLVTEgxVpMd84whPRbjHagGCuE5P_nO1JG2VEtJ71whzCYYBxz2s/s1600/simplicity+gifts.jpg" style="cursor: move;" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b><i>Are you into sewing
clothes?</i></b></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh74_OL4Vic4yrEfZDjf5bJi4XiCBmxGM4JXMo0B9z9EbU1SINDowSFP5h7vJPbFoa50qBsHkVv9OoWuNnL-MkqctkabbhGah3k4sLbOk8JYkuwlB4Cf8iJ_OTJ3GwSCxPt4GqXc6B1MRk/s1600/asteriks+2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 16px; margin-right: 16px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="47" data-original-width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh74_OL4Vic4yrEfZDjf5bJi4XiCBmxGM4JXMo0B9z9EbU1SINDowSFP5h7vJPbFoa50qBsHkVv9OoWuNnL-MkqctkabbhGah3k4sLbOk8JYkuwlB4Cf8iJ_OTJ3GwSCxPt4GqXc6B1MRk/s1600/asteriks+2.png" style="cursor: move;" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">And here’s more
creative fun—Just Desserts…and other stories, eleven romantic comedy short
stories sure to make you feel good.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmR9d91RvcMeWOeYxtquKR2LMS0QnRE3nXfUCC7QOiL-MLBuLo9g8prKV_06GxxnmnsmqyiXZBkguEkKm9eNP_f2EBA0kYUzQY6csuP1t45MpMgB2cytNvYLfQ-MPViFv8vmEnpRBd13s/s1600/Just+Desserts+400x600+72dpi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 16px; margin-right: 16px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="400" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmR9d91RvcMeWOeYxtquKR2LMS0QnRE3nXfUCC7QOiL-MLBuLo9g8prKV_06GxxnmnsmqyiXZBkguEkKm9eNP_f2EBA0kYUzQY6csuP1t45MpMgB2cytNvYLfQ-MPViFv8vmEnpRBd13s/s400/Just+Desserts+400x600+72dpi.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="266" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"> <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Just-Desserts-Other-Short-Stories-ebook/dp/B07CT8XC5F/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1525792619&sr=1-1&keywords=just+desserts+and+other+stories/" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;" target="_blank">Amazon ebook</a> <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Just-Desserts-Other-Stories-writer/dp/1718719302/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1527956600&sr=8-2&keywords=just+desserts+and+other+stories/" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;" target="_blank">Amazon PB</a> <a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/just-desserts-and-other-short-stories-vicki-batman/1128592107?ean=2940155242031/" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;" target="_blank">B&N</a> <a href="https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/823338/" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;" target="_blank">Smashwords</a></span></span></div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><br />Vicki Batman, sassy writerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13846704675542248648noreply@blogger.com49tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6028147191445531358.post-3127505742253341782019-02-05T04:00:00.000-06:002019-02-05T04:00:14.943-06:00Michelle Miles: Adventure is Coming<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxXe_SOfuyqtgaVUvz3_jX2757JvZmSz6R2jtP_oxWPC1yg8dht7LIBdpiFDkxfBvxHURRu-B27_f-fqtQfzXnKfeq-uw0cnN1AXx2yKdkCigwxHQzcN7UoKSB31e-u41iltip9SY8-tg/s1600/1-HighlandFling.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxXe_SOfuyqtgaVUvz3_jX2757JvZmSz6R2jtP_oxWPC1yg8dht7LIBdpiFDkxfBvxHURRu-B27_f-fqtQfzXnKfeq-uw0cnN1AXx2yKdkCigwxHQzcN7UoKSB31e-u41iltip9SY8-tg/s320/1-HighlandFling.jpg" width="213" /></a>
Back in the early 2000s, I started writing a twice-weekly serial for the now-defunct Keep it Coming. I'd wanted to write something fun and different. A time travel. With lots of action and adventure and maybe a splash of romance.<br />
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Then Keep it Coming closed but Inara Press was born. They specialized in serialized fiction. I was able to land a contract with them…and then they folded shortly thereafter. But the person who was my editor there was also an editor at Samhain Publishing and she invited me to compile the serials into a novel format and send it to her. It was accepted.<br />
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A Bend in Time, the first book in the Adventures of Ransom & Fortune, was released in 2007 by Samhain. The second book, A Break in Time, followed shortly thereafter. They were both in print at one time. And then Samhain folded and I got my rights back, not necessarily in that order but you get the idea.<br />
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I’ve had the rights back to these books for a long time while I decided what to do with them. I wanted to make sure I did the series right and gave Skye and Dane another crack at being published. I loved writing this series. They were so much fun. But I’d made Dane a hit man and redeeming him was…hard. He was not a nice guy in the original series. In fact, he was kind of an ass. Not really a good quality for the hero.<br />
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One day I printed off the first book and did a read-through. My writing has certainly changed in the last ten years, so I knew it would need to be updated. Plus, having Dane as the hit man just really bothered me. I broke the novel into two novellas. Part one would now become volume one; Part two would be volume two.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0gWQcdS1bMhrd0HaDBpWy9EbxZhjYq_1nQO1FEXYDFY0AabdKzegnKuoFmJCumiGCHW573JXBHbQAB2hpVkeEMZmAt5bLzGd2YA0Elmp1auMmd7AUQouWgAbqEXYJ82IGUgeUlUx9vE4/s1600/2-DeadofWinter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0gWQcdS1bMhrd0HaDBpWy9EbxZhjYq_1nQO1FEXYDFY0AabdKzegnKuoFmJCumiGCHW573JXBHbQAB2hpVkeEMZmAt5bLzGd2YA0Elmp1auMmd7AUQouWgAbqEXYJ82IGUgeUlUx9vE4/s320/2-DeadofWinter.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
Part of the story was that there was a hit man, so I split that part off from Dane’s character and made a totally new villain that was 100% villainy, thereby making Dane 100% heroic. It meant I didn’t have to work as hard to redeem him, because he didn’t need redeeming at that point. As for the villain, well, he’s just a super bad guy working for the ultimate bad guys. But I didn’t know who those bad guys truly were.<br />
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Then one day I was binge-ing Person of Interest on Netflix for about the tenth time. I loved this show when it was on TV and miss it a lot. I got to thinking about the root of the show. There was The Machine and then there was Samaritan, one being controlled by our heroes and one being controlled by the baddies. Then Timeless premiered on TV, the short-lived time travel series on NBC. It was a pretty decent show and I was sad when it was canceled. And so while I was working on editing Highland Fling, I started putting some things together and well…I sort of borrowed some ideas from both those shows for my adventure series.<br />
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I will tell you this. It’s a time travel; it’s adventure; it’s action…and while each volume has story threads that are wrapped up, the overall story arc is ongoing throughout the series. There will be more than two volumes. How many volumes is still up in the air.<br />
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I’m really excited to re-release these stories once again with all new, gorgeous covers and totally edited and updated stories. I think you are going to love hanging out with Skye and Dane. I know I do! It’s up for pre-order right now at Apple, Barnes & Noble and Kobo. Amazon pre-order coming soon.<br />
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In the coming months, I’ll be sending my newsletter subscribers exclusive excerpts that will not be posted anywhere else. Be sure to subscribe today if you're not already to be the first to read the all-new revised opening of volume one! In the meantime, click one of the buttons below to pre-order your copy today, both for $0.99 until after release.<br />
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<b>Get Highland Fling <a href="https://www.books2read.com/HighlandFling" target="_blank">here</a>. Releases February 19, 2019.</b></div>
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<b>Get Dead of Winter <a href="https://www.books2read.com/DeadofWinter" target="_blank">here</a>. Releases March 5, 2019.</b></div>
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Michelle Mileshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05442813530538808627noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6028147191445531358.post-9565988846690511102019-01-17T03:30:00.000-06:002019-01-17T03:30:01.938-06:00Book and Bag - Vicki Batman Yikes! #badbook #readromance #MFRWauthor<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I just finished the January book club selection and
did not like it. Not. At. All. I didn’t like it from the get-go. Our group thought the book would be a mystery, like the cover blurb said. Only it wasn’t. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">The author is quite notable in his field and has
written books about his subject. The book club book was a combination of his
expertise with the mystery. Only the book was predominantly the history and
very little of the mystery.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I was sorely disappointed. This book was greatly
reviewed and won prizes. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">We began reading for our December meeting. When
that day rolled around, we were all whining and agreed to extend to January
with the idea we needed the extra month because of the holidays. I used the
time off to read my favorites—romance and mysteries. When January 1 came, I put
on my big girl panties and finished. I gladly admit I skipped over the
historical stuff to get to the mystery. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Finished! Uh, no. There were notes, a biography,
and pages more. I truly didn’t care to read that either.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHT7Iy9qYlHLZmDsEd58oNvg6IXESn4XDuNomba99WwjONbTTERywlN1sLMv7p2oWUANwt0indUlMwPXn5LG9pRm6C9SyPUQ8SeWurf-7-mYsIU_V6mas3flXxOxg_BHUDzp5MCykcm8WY/s1600/girl+w+bag+and+book+100+x+100.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="100" data-original-width="95" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHT7Iy9qYlHLZmDsEd58oNvg6IXESn4XDuNomba99WwjONbTTERywlN1sLMv7p2oWUANwt0indUlMwPXn5LG9pRm6C9SyPUQ8SeWurf-7-mYsIU_V6mas3flXxOxg_BHUDzp5MCykcm8WY/s1600/girl+w+bag+and+book+100+x+100.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">However, guilt set it. Not enough to make me go
back and read the skipped pages, though. I began to think what if my books were
boring?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Coincidentally, I did some website maintenance and
noticed I didn’t have a buy link for one site. I scooted over there and found…a
two starred review. Yikes! It was hard for me to read. She didn’t like the book
at all; however, she did say some nice things, too. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I went back to my website, made the changes, and
noticed all the four and five starred reviews. Overall, my books get high
marks. I felt a whole lot better.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So back to the book club selection… I went to
Amazon to read the reviews. There were tons (the book is that famous). I
scrolled to the one stars and voila! Everything the readers had said was
exactly how I felt. It wasn’t me. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The interesting about book club books we don’t
like is we have the best discussions. So next week, I’m looking forward to what
my friends have to say.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i>So what stops you from reading? </i></b></span></div>
<div style="margin: 16px 0px;">
<b><i><span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></i></b></div>
<div style="margin: 16px 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">Got the winter doldrums? Try this winter anthology, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07GVNX2LZ/" target="_blank">Whispers of Winter</a></span></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2zqB_q4v6Mz41q9TUml7_VttNI_2TMWX9cTNO1S97zUt6hXSPm1OipQLoP7_cqIrS2RVUFGjIExksEMeIXw2rFLSYFlr-8xA7BiLFFjPK3_mg3l8QnWNmcegAJ6NxEzVhV4bp8c34YUKA/s1600/08+27+18+wow+final+cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="655" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2zqB_q4v6Mz41q9TUml7_VttNI_2TMWX9cTNO1S97zUt6hXSPm1OipQLoP7_cqIrS2RVUFGjIExksEMeIXw2rFLSYFlr-8xA7BiLFFjPK3_mg3l8QnWNmcegAJ6NxEzVhV4bp8c34YUKA/s320/08+27+18+wow+final+cover.jpg" width="218" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0px;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07GVNX2LZ/"><span style="color: blue;">https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07GVNX2LZ/</span></a></span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0px;"> </span></td></tr>
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<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><b></b><i></i><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>Vicki Batman, sassy writerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13846704675542248648noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6028147191445531358.post-26852019853838670132019-01-01T04:00:00.000-06:002019-01-01T08:32:33.467-06:00Michelle Miles: Hello, 2019!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjckPOmFk3pYJDTPHM-v1AdhH7xNEaUinQ-RoAyOjfGqFJLa_pbde196gES0544xYQG6YNfVkadPBxibwr4xwBscRwkwcU3-t3TufdUK0fYJaYtD-OaSQFNRmI-oHA_45yu1Cf2kemWNDM/s1600/2019.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjckPOmFk3pYJDTPHM-v1AdhH7xNEaUinQ-RoAyOjfGqFJLa_pbde196gES0544xYQG6YNfVkadPBxibwr4xwBscRwkwcU3-t3TufdUK0fYJaYtD-OaSQFNRmI-oHA_45yu1Cf2kemWNDM/s320/2019.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Another year has closed and the start of a new one is officially off the ground. <br />
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I, for one, am glad to see the old year go. The last six months were rife with breaking things--cars, oven, house heater, windshields. And also new things--fix cars and heater, new windshields, oven, new cookware. I treated myself on Cyber Monday with a set of Calphalon cookware and I can honestly say it's the best cookware I've ever had.<br />
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Aside from all that, the last year was a hard one for me, creatively. I let all the awful things happening in the industry stifle my writing (Cocky Gate, book stuffing). I think I just got caught up in the drama, which is something I try never to do but I had a hard time looking away from that Cocky Gate thing. I stopped writing for a good six months when I got depressed over sales and everything happening in the industry and had a very "why bother?" attitude.<br />
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Towards the end of the summer, though, I got off Twitter and started thinking, seriously, about my future writing.<br />
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For 2019, I’ve decided I want to focus on the writing and publishing my backlist as well as some new material. After 60+ rejections, it makes you re-evaluate your writing life and make decisions about the career. Even though I have a day job, I do consider this a second career, so it was time to move forward instead of standing still. I’m throwing myself into indie publishing and looking forward to getting those stories told and in the hands of readers. My focus is all on the writing and the books and not so much on the marketing, though I do understand that plays a role as well. <br />
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I don’t want to get hung up on the money aspect of it like I have in the past. It’s a soul-crushing feeling sometimes to look at sales and see nothing for weeks or sometimes months. And I know that’s mostly my fault. I haven’t been producing like I should or want to. I haven’t been talking to my 3000+ newsletter subscribers. I hope to change that for 2019. <br />
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I haven’t given up on the dream that someday my books will be on the bookshelves or they’ll be turned into movies. I have very specific ideas about who should play my lead characters. Heck, I’d even settle for an HBO series. *grin* <br />
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There are other non-writing things I want to accomplish, too. Declutting is always high on my list. Getting the kid graduated and into college is another. Overall, though, I’m proclaiming 2019 Year of the Books. <br />
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How about you? What are you plans for the new year?Michelle Mileshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05442813530538808627noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6028147191445531358.post-44603337161674502552018-12-20T02:30:00.000-06:002019-01-01T14:23:27.191-06:00Book and Bag: Stars in the Night Sky #Christmasisalmosthere #readromance #awardwinningfilm<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Stars. </span>How many times have we looked up and noticed them twinkling? And have you noticed them elsewhere? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">For a long time, I have traveled with girlfriends to a small town for their Christmas Candlelight Home Tour. The historic homes are decorated and docents tell interesting historical things. We eat great food, exchange gifts, and stay up til the wee hours, munching on M&Ms and chatting.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">And a part of our visit is to The Enchanted Forest where we wander through approximately 75 Christmas trees. One year, the tree toppers entranced me. Many were star-shaped. Here's one I found:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Long ago, my sister introduced me to a special movie, A Star in the Night. It's a post-WW2 nativity story, set in the West. A couple looking for a place to stay the night. A disgruntled motel owner's only available room is a barn. Lots of folks pitch in to help with the baby. All were led to the motel by the lit star on the water tower. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">My gift to you is this short, Academy award-winning film.</span></div>
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https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=youtube+star+in+the+night&view=detail&mid=A44E932708E48D154FE5A44E932708E48D154FE5&FORM=VIRE/ </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuq00vNkaJ0miRlPKh1b8SlcXzeEMYUL7dsiAR79zVlG10FhC6dwfDaMov70a9Ve6eqEdon4X6B-vy97ljyKALbAjfnZMHaBVmQaDm5nPt-es_SMpixVDhGYwPkjsbmLeXKyIFO5y05A8/s1600/merry+christmas+ornament.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #0066cc; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: 16px; margin-right: 16px; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="400" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuq00vNkaJ0miRlPKh1b8SlcXzeEMYUL7dsiAR79zVlG10FhC6dwfDaMov70a9Ve6eqEdon4X6B-vy97ljyKALbAjfnZMHaBVmQaDm5nPt-es_SMpixVDhGYwPkjsbmLeXKyIFO5y05A8/s320/merry+christmas+ornament.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>Vicki Batman, sassy writerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13846704675542248648noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6028147191445531358.post-37527362371444618242018-12-04T04:00:00.000-06:002019-01-01T14:23:54.068-06:00Michelle Miles: How to make $3 million writing books<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Do I have your attention? :)<br />
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This post isn't about how to make $3 million from writing books. I don't have the secret formula. Sorry about about the click-bait.<br />
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I’ve been writing for publication since 2001. The entire lifespan of my son. I’ve seen the industry change from the traditional houses ruling to indie publishing booming. To Amazon claiming its own stake in the publishing game. The rise and fall of small presses. The downsize of traditional publishing. <br />
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I joined RWA in 2004 and was so happy to find a writing home, a place where others understood me. A place where I could make connections with other writers. I was hungry to learn everything from craft to industry. Back then, the contest circuit was the way to go. The only way to catch the eye of an agent or editor. Careers were launched that way (I can think of two off the top of my head). <br />
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But things changed. The world changed. The industry changed. <br />
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One scroll through my Facebook newsfeed shows me ad after ad of someone hawking their latest get rich scheme. And that’s what it feels like to me. Buy their stuff and make an obscene amount of money writing books! <br />
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To which I snort. <br />
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I have no doubt in my mind that it absolutely works for some people. I know, in fact, there are several courses that DO work and are well-worth the money. But what about the other ones? The ones with promises of endless money just by publishing a book? <br />
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I’m not bashing indie publishing—not at all. I’m not bashing anyone who knows how to make money selling anything. Lord knows I suck at it myself. If you can make a living doing something that affords your mortgage, paper towels and laundry soap, I think that’s great. But I also think it’s far too easy to get caught up in the money of books and not the storytelling of books. <br />
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I made the mistake myself. I got so pissed off I wasn’t making money writing, I quit for nearly eight months. EIGHT MONTHS of my life I let slip away, not writing, because I was holding a grudge against…nothing tangible. And so I started sending out queries to agents thinking since I couldn’t afford indie publishing then, by God, I would get in with one of the bigger houses and show them! <br />
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<i>Wrong. </i><br />
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Sixty-five rejections later… I said, eff this sh*t.<br />
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With four completed novels sitting on my hard drive, I got back to work. I rewrote one of my backlist and got it ready for publishing. Then I decided maybe I could buy cover art a little bit at a time and figure out a way to get some inexpensive editing and put these books back out. <br />
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I’d already had cover art for my paranormal shifter romance. I decided it may as well make me pennies than sit collecting dust on my hard drive. I put it up for sale and had a nice initial response, a few good reviews. The more I thought about it, the more I decided I’d give indie publishing another go. But this time, I would not let myself be distracted by the “noise” of social media, the lure of getting a publishing contract. I could still write my books and be happy. <br />
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Writing is hard, y’all. There is nothing easy about it, really. Is it fun? Hell, yeah. Is it worthwhile? Of course, it is. Do I feel full-filled when I finish a book? Yes! I also get a little zing of excitement when I order cover art and see it land in my email because I know that means my book has finally come to life.<br />
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A little piece of me feels likes I'm giving up on that big dream of getting an agent and writing for a "big" publisher. But the other part of me can't stand the thought of letting those books linger, unpublished and unloved. It took a lot of thought and soul-searching, but I finally decided the only person responsible for how I feel about my writing, how successful I think I am, is me. I'm not abandoning my ultimate dream altogether. I'm just modifying it.<br />
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So here’s what I think. Do your thing. Write your words. Tell your stories. Don’t worry about what everyone else is doing or listen to the social media noise or worry about the almighty dollar. Be informed, YES. Stay on top of the industry changes, ALWAYS. Know your readers. Know yourself! <br />
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Find your worth and keep writing.</div>
Michelle Mileshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05442813530538808627noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6028147191445531358.post-15740897405246338062018-11-15T02:30:00.000-06:002019-01-01T14:24:08.828-06:00Blog: Happy Release Day for Whispers of Winter, a holiday anthology #fruitcakelovers #romanticcomedy #MFRWauthor<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #1d2129; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
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<span style="color: red; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">HAPPY RELEASE DAY!!</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>Whispers of Winter holiday anthology which includes my romantic comedy short story, The Great Fruitcake Bake-off.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i> When five-time champion Samantha Greene teams up with her new neighbor, Dixon Roberts, for The Great Fruitcake Bake-off, they discover baking a prize-winning entry is complicated, bad guys are plotting to take the crown, and first prize isn't just about a ribbon.</i></span><br />
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<span style="line-height: 18.66px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">“I’m not entering
this year.” I pinned an unbreakable stare on Bethany, my co-worker and
long-time friend who lived in the same apartment complex as me. Standing firm,
I crossed my arms. “Period.” </span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 18.66px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">We'd arrived early
for work and were piddling over coffee in her cubical like we always did before
diving into the nuts and bolts of company business. She rolled her eyes in the
“I'm so not believing this” fashion and tweaked the Santa garland decorating
her cube's walls. “Why not, Samantha? You should be proud to be the five-time
winner of The Great Fruitcake Bake-off. You're a-a”--her words trailed off as
she searched the ceiling for the ultimate in descriptive--“legend.” </span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 18.66px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"> </span>I
dropped my arms to twitch my black skirt in place, then I tucked my
shoulder-length hair behind my ear. I let loose a long exhale, “Is being a
legend in the fruitcake world a good thing?”</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 18.66px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">“What’s your point?”
Bethany asked.</span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 18.66px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">“Alright already,
it's exhausting. Finding the perfect recipe, then bake and exhibit it. The
tension comes close to killing my holiday enjoyment. Besides”-–I shoved my
finger in her direction—-“shouldn't the love be spread? Shouldn’t somebody else
win the Bake-off?” </span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 18.66px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"> </span>“Oh,
by golly, Sam.” Bethany's hands covered her eyes. A few seconds passed, then
she clasped them to her chest, inhaled, and composed her annoyance before
saying, “We're talking fruitcake here. It's not groundbreaking like-like the
Declaration of Independence. Or the Pyramids.”</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b> Find this one and many other great stories at: </b></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Amazon: </span><span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07GVNX2LZ/"><span style="color: blue;">https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07GVNX2LZ/</span></a></span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"> </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Barnes & Noble: </span><span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/whispers-of-winter-nicole-morgan/1129416841?ean=2940161939208/"><span style="color: blue;">https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/whispers-of-winter-nicole-morgan/1129416841?ean=2940161939208/</span></a></span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"> </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Kobo: </span><span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/whispers-of-winter-2/"><span style="color: blue;">https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/whispers-of-winter-2/</span></a></span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"> </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">iBooks: </span><span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/whispers-of-winter/id1441003491?mt=11&fbclid=IwAR0adp-71OzhnmSp40SB-AzIgj8s5B01xgKM5ePnUFgk_dY_dq17AhVY5G8/"><span style="color: blue;">https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/whispers-of-winter/id1441003491?mt=11&fbclid=IwAR0adp-71OzhnmSp40SB-AzIgj8s5B01xgKM5ePnUFgk_dY_dq17AhVY5G8/</span></a></span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"> </span></div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><br />Vicki Batman, sassy writerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13846704675542248648noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6028147191445531358.post-35042724714721155202018-11-13T04:00:00.000-06:002019-01-01T14:25:00.401-06:00Michelle Miles: NaNo<img height="150" src="https://nanowrimo.org/widget/LiveParticipant/mlmiles21.png" width="200" /><br />
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I’m participating in NaNoWriMo this year. I mean like really participating. Not just signing up and then ignoring my book for the next 30 days. <br />
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(For those who may not know, NaNoWriMo is National Novel Writing Month during November where you write 50,000 in 30 days AND survive the Thanksgiving holiday!) <br />
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Anyway…I decided to get off my duff and start working on book two in my Dragon Protectors series. I really hadn’t intended to start writing that book yet but when I put the first one up for preorder and it started getting a good response, I figured I better get on it. I even went so far as to go ahead and upload a preorder over at Draft2Digital and gave myself six months to complete it and get it ready for sale. <br />
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<i>I can do this. </i><br />
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I sat down and read through the first few pages I’d already had and realized that the story wasn’t half bad. I was kind of impressed. <br />
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And then my friend and fellow princess, Elizabeth Essex, mentioned there was a NaNo support group over on FB and invited me to join. <br />
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So, I did. <br />
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<i>I can totally do this. </i><br />
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I found the ladies over there were posting their daily check-ins with word count and rewards. And so I started writing my butt off. <br />
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I sat at the keyboard one Sunday night and hammered out 2100 words. And then I got the 5-day streak badge from NaNo. <br />
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<i>Yes, yes. I can do this. </i><br />
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When I logged into NaNo, I also noticed I’d hit the 1,677, 5,000, 10,000 and 25,000 badges. At the time of this writing, I’m hovering at around 28,000 words. I really want to hit that 40,000 mark so I can earn that next badge. <br />
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I can tell you with complete confidence, the book is crap. But, hey, I can fix crap. I’m just gonna keep on keeping on. <br />
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<i>I'm doing this.</i></div>
Michelle Mileshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05442813530538808627noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6028147191445531358.post-11395886877235626362018-10-18T02:30:00.000-05:002019-01-01T14:25:32.409-06:00Blog: Quilting Magic with Ties #holidayanthology #crafting #readromance<br />
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<span style="color: red; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;">A lot of you know I call my husband Handsome.</span><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> When we first
married, he gave me a card signed with Handsome Husband. I shortened it. (</span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">And Handsome is a pretty nice looking guy. )</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">I grew up when working men wore suits to their job and to
church, to shows, etc. I like the look. Handsome’s career began at a large
accounting firm and he wore the “uniform” too. He especially liked ties and for
a long time, never threw any away.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">An employee at his company makes quilts. After a chat, he
decided to have one made into a quilt. Take a look:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXI-hpAcbdeXkHmWw05y5YU8K69VYl-OAX2-WYx8kK1F_B0B-Ztpen1fUDFdGixV8UFEYpsXz4H1Cxh8xzv9e9mB_FaffFgGu0KSpNRaqPnRSt3hf-Hidp7isifm2NX-rJnTN3ysU3CAJZ/s1600/1+quilt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="276" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXI-hpAcbdeXkHmWw05y5YU8K69VYl-OAX2-WYx8kK1F_B0B-Ztpen1fUDFdGixV8UFEYpsXz4H1Cxh8xzv9e9mB_FaffFgGu0KSpNRaqPnRSt3hf-Hidp7isifm2NX-rJnTN3ysU3CAJZ/s1600/1+quilt.jpg" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">He had her put on the back his philosophy about ties: </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV024BzIw5EKCOvs3dddpP9i3nRIbr7um_-hzBNEuYa-UwKWVPziBugNT29F9j-TFy3eSXVx9jaKu00HdO7YERfRrJuOG1R9NaByo1bnpSc0_vIf5cVrslV9K-iicWCdsx7BlDTrDaP6Ah/s1600/tie+philo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV024BzIw5EKCOvs3dddpP9i3nRIbr7um_-hzBNEuYa-UwKWVPziBugNT29F9j-TFy3eSXVx9jaKu00HdO7YERfRrJuOG1R9NaByo1bnpSc0_vIf5cVrslV9K-iicWCdsx7BlDTrDaP6Ah/s1600/tie+philo.jpg" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">The good news is he culled through his ties again and had a
second quilt made, and a third one: </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrk91CnFWwQNrNrpSttmlFoX5VdTlWv5JAzk13pQPpVp-EVLdWh8URkShcbPfRg9-SqBWZImF1sKbAamsYIiQGTPQRHKo8Z2roiDwQPSLVrGD6xhRSfPdCeBN_Dl4KvttFeOwHoZnXby23/s1600/2+quilt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="248" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrk91CnFWwQNrNrpSttmlFoX5VdTlWv5JAzk13pQPpVp-EVLdWh8URkShcbPfRg9-SqBWZImF1sKbAamsYIiQGTPQRHKo8Z2roiDwQPSLVrGD6xhRSfPdCeBN_Dl4KvttFeOwHoZnXby23/s1600/2+quilt.jpg" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKdSWTIr4AxfOQo9m9UHkfsQt90f9Z1mGsD7fwLrJ4c8HTR-VixAluD8e3ANPyypnA0yqmCdvui5rUyYWgsgFfLrBGdbZWSpLHRed3MsF_xkMzNPvZw5fRop25_2vq9vnr0GfHhi26tKQW/s1600/quilting+closeup.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="258" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKdSWTIr4AxfOQo9m9UHkfsQt90f9Z1mGsD7fwLrJ4c8HTR-VixAluD8e3ANPyypnA0yqmCdvui5rUyYWgsgFfLrBGdbZWSpLHRed3MsF_xkMzNPvZw5fRop25_2vq9vnr0GfHhi26tKQW/s200/quilting+closeup.jpg" width="161" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Here’s the sash detail and labels:</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-Wl4ss0zsgYPhXoDntaB3-ilYqfxecs0EQLgfsKRrSohH5j5LXg6zvS_hqX20L2N-YgPc2v4H-6o3KHhtrdzxmXZQNVEAGoIKWO1SuHLMeJDBrC1B0uTOdtts7FjyPmoMQIOfnQ-0w6yM/s1600/sash+detail.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="242" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-Wl4ss0zsgYPhXoDntaB3-ilYqfxecs0EQLgfsKRrSohH5j5LXg6zvS_hqX20L2N-YgPc2v4H-6o3KHhtrdzxmXZQNVEAGoIKWO1SuHLMeJDBrC1B0uTOdtts7FjyPmoMQIOfnQ-0w6yM/s200/sash+detail.jpg" width="151" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTKSlwOo3FipjuD8QHtmAx7cCcWvxzw4UTjBkGxcCdVhGvLbACRKe9RuiJhbJkRIlpk05FgGVMD_3YcUfHHMt1YM2TuDtO7D-q5oM7fOWaZVAMQLacy0oHYJuAfDH8n5zK4BGxd3gUnp47/s1600/tie+labels.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTKSlwOo3FipjuD8QHtmAx7cCcWvxzw4UTjBkGxcCdVhGvLbACRKe9RuiJhbJkRIlpk05FgGVMD_3YcUfHHMt1YM2TuDtO7D-q5oM7fOWaZVAMQLacy0oHYJuAfDH8n5zK4BGxd3gUnp47/s1600/tie+labels.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #0066cc; font-family: calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="240" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTKSlwOo3FipjuD8QHtmAx7cCcWvxzw4UTjBkGxcCdVhGvLbACRKe9RuiJhbJkRIlpk05FgGVMD_3YcUfHHMt1YM2TuDtO7D-q5oM7fOWaZVAMQLacy0oHYJuAfDH8n5zK4BGxd3gUnp47/s200/tie+labels.JPG" width="150" /></a></div>
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Some people are soooo creative.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjQ_oitF8aFqoEA_9Up1bHhNhbMhmtCDV93OLcDpfXJR_FOTvQEx6GYVHea2ilhJHoXjVosWDdV9Qr-i9kuUyqV-A48fXzvfzztWyhRU1pT3EusejgWAST6wYp3AnPMWO0kbvXEAyREejw/s1600/asteriks+2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="47" data-original-width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjQ_oitF8aFqoEA_9Up1bHhNhbMhmtCDV93OLcDpfXJR_FOTvQEx6GYVHea2ilhJHoXjVosWDdV9Qr-i9kuUyqV-A48fXzvfzztWyhRU1pT3EusejgWAST6wYp3AnPMWO0kbvXEAyREejw/s1600/asteriks+2.png" /></a></div>
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Creativity abounds in this holiday anthology, the Whispers of Winter, featuring my romantic comedy short story, The Great Fruitcake Bake-off:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg8b5-rDn1DbljXiWUcGmC19cEQzM-sb4LvM8gbNuF_syggF8wQA7sxCpNQNvrpisXW8MZqpeSqn5WyiG3PAjSiIbPu3as264G3EG_SIc3GpgGSWXbKrlYtvxwW2Hr50bp4CMh2Ep-iNYj/s1600/08+27+18+wow+final+cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="655" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg8b5-rDn1DbljXiWUcGmC19cEQzM-sb4LvM8gbNuF_syggF8wQA7sxCpNQNvrpisXW8MZqpeSqn5WyiG3PAjSiIbPu3as264G3EG_SIc3GpgGSWXbKrlYtvxwW2Hr50bp4CMh2Ep-iNYj/s400/08+27+18+wow+final+cover.jpg" width="272" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "quot"; font-size: 17.6px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">Amazon: </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #5d5d5d; font-family: "georgia" , "utopia" , "quot"; font-size: 17.6px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "quot"; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07GVNX2LZ/" style="color: #388edc; text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: blue;">https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07GVNX2LZ/</span></a></span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "quot"; font-size: 17.6px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "quot"; font-size: 17.6px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"></span><br />
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</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "quot"; font-size: 17.6px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">Barnes & Noble: </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #5d5d5d; font-family: "georgia" , "utopia" , "quot"; font-size: 17.6px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "quot"; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/whispers-of-winter-nicole-morgan/1129416841?ean=2940161939208/" style="color: #388edc; text-decoration: underline;"><span style="color: blue;">https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/whispers-of-winter-nicole-morgan/1129416841?ean=2940161939208/</span></a></span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "quot"; font-size: 17.6px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "quot"; font-size: 17.6px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"></span><br />
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</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "quot"; font-size: 17.6px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">Kobo: </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #5d5d5d; font-family: "georgia" , "utopia" , "quot"; font-size: 17.6px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "quot"; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/whispers-of-winter-2/" style="color: #388edc; text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: blue;">https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/whispers-of-winter-2/</span></a></span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "quot"; font-size: 17.6px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "quot"; font-size: 17.6px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"></span></div>
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<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><span style="font-family: "calibri";"></span>Vicki Batman, sassy writerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13846704675542248648noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6028147191445531358.post-43316219065118195602018-10-02T04:00:00.000-05:002019-01-01T14:26:10.699-06:00Michelle Miles: Crafty Crafts<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I’ve been in a bad funk with the writing lately (mostly ignoring it) so I decided to turn my attention elsewhere.<br />
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Most of you know I do other crafts. I opened my first Etsy shop to sell my handmade cross-stitch ornaments. I stitch A LOT of Santa faces. They are so cute. But I’m expanding and doing other little ornaments. <br />
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Stuff like this:
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe2_CDhf75x96ApMbbyvBboT3Zq1QTezaeHyCbfsxb4ZwQrBevU5-opqw2YX1Z3ZrK1XduuP90kQ9wR_RcrYxCKMHcXF0zY_f2qayoCuzbbnJaRn1Fsko6rLz8-ppVMxZvLMX1abNzq10/s1600/Christmas+Bells.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="960" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe2_CDhf75x96ApMbbyvBboT3Zq1QTezaeHyCbfsxb4ZwQrBevU5-opqw2YX1Z3ZrK1XduuP90kQ9wR_RcrYxCKMHcXF0zY_f2qayoCuzbbnJaRn1Fsko6rLz8-ppVMxZvLMX1abNzq10/s320/Christmas+Bells.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
And this:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMW4K8JC7HEJyysSxaDj-YFRWDLdwlgyIEzEvwglmFiivXWs94KeoOv_jiTB6oB_gDmf4RJMN2JIGroBJMwhcnKVs2IAkkvCKb4KbdMgigwZu9WaplQtvT66Mw4mADeDtHPFKmaxHc6MA/s1600/IMG_9437.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1199" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMW4K8JC7HEJyysSxaDj-YFRWDLdwlgyIEzEvwglmFiivXWs94KeoOv_jiTB6oB_gDmf4RJMN2JIGroBJMwhcnKVs2IAkkvCKb4KbdMgigwZu9WaplQtvT66Mw4mADeDtHPFKmaxHc6MA/s320/IMG_9437.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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All these will be post in the shop soon! Shameless plug: <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/Houseof1000Stitches">https://www.etsy.com/shop/Houseof1000Stitches</a> <br />
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In addition to that, I’ve discovered mason jars and how fun they are to paint. I started out simply, too. With these little handmade soap dispensers. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj35eBBNcno3KqxT5R5Ausj2ncbOo6LGYxOEM_HkD4gltrf23NrnyaIAhJZpCb_UA4fcH7URyAh8y5j7Q3EQz303gyDOlcFFS3WCzoE1vwwT_S9xbDrVF6uH86K_-wKnxTMbrYUSc68pCQ/s1600/cleanwash.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj35eBBNcno3KqxT5R5Ausj2ncbOo6LGYxOEM_HkD4gltrf23NrnyaIAhJZpCb_UA4fcH7URyAh8y5j7Q3EQz303gyDOlcFFS3WCzoE1vwwT_S9xbDrVF6uH86K_-wKnxTMbrYUSc68pCQ/s320/cleanwash.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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Now I’m painting wine bottles. I’ve got my first attempt going on right now but it’s not finished. Right now, it’s just painted with primer and kinda boring. <br />
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I also made this cute candy cane striped mason jar as a vase.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-tI5vnw380Cngq_oQgwEh7Vvdmml1CSNu1H5ATTym6AU_F2r278WaM84lp-4OxRii1MY1_3NXeOJi0YgIRN9LhF1oNBgOBPErBwsoDfmKxbugkHV8XEO33duqDsxxegWn-pw7KYywE98/s1600/candycanejar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-tI5vnw380Cngq_oQgwEh7Vvdmml1CSNu1H5ATTym6AU_F2r278WaM84lp-4OxRii1MY1_3NXeOJi0YgIRN9LhF1oNBgOBPErBwsoDfmKxbugkHV8XEO33duqDsxxegWn-pw7KYywE98/s320/candycanejar.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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I don’t think I’ll sell the jars since they take so long for me to make BUT I do love making them. I have a whole case of mason jars to experiment with. <br />
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Most writers I know have other creative passions. I think it’s that creative brain we have. <br />
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Do you do arts and crafts? What do you like to do?
Michelle Mileshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05442813530538808627noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6028147191445531358.post-77741331690723659382018-09-20T03:00:00.000-05:002018-09-20T03:00:05.679-05:00CUT! Costumes in Movies, part 4 #historicalromance #moviecostumes #readromance<div style="text-align: center;">
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From the CUT! Costumes in Movies exhibit, I'm focusing on evening gowns. And are there some doozies:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0MKB69_mqW5Wz2Kigtf3djsk1p7i5LQXGZy4bNxJgP6tmCqEk5sUtVLY7N8Kla5o6d-yzy4x2hJGmVchXB0mpZL5MiWOUC2pyfEmvC2fcjA02gzaKwpQfadqnqgTPC97kDa9R8Liqg5Y/s1600/chandelier.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #0066cc; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: 16px; margin-right: 16px; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="222" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0MKB69_mqW5Wz2Kigtf3djsk1p7i5LQXGZy4bNxJgP6tmCqEk5sUtVLY7N8Kla5o6d-yzy4x2hJGmVchXB0mpZL5MiWOUC2pyfEmvC2fcjA02gzaKwpQfadqnqgTPC97kDa9R8Liqg5Y/s1600/chandelier.JPG" style="cursor: move;" /></a></div>
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Who loved to play dress up? Me! Once, I went to a tag sale when I was about ten and for a very small fee, I bought a dark blue evening gown. I just loved it. Today is our last look at CUT!! and I'm featuring evening gowns. </div>
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From Phantom of the Opera, we have this lovely pink creation worn by Emily Rossum as Christine:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjssFWgnXS4ewd69tLc9YRFtXQScUjvvS-2n0tC-Q0zS57b9m8va9uwN9mB46-Y3bXO0HuwOWAL1Ch9hyphenhyphenRVM8X_vXcdVpq9SqF9qPjt1LIslJ4nSSU-CxWYdrOUkmC6h2KJrVXwYEUQPys/s1600/christine+dress+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #0066cc; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: 16px; margin-right: 16px; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjssFWgnXS4ewd69tLc9YRFtXQScUjvvS-2n0tC-Q0zS57b9m8va9uwN9mB46-Y3bXO0HuwOWAL1Ch9hyphenhyphenRVM8X_vXcdVpq9SqF9qPjt1LIslJ4nSSU-CxWYdrOUkmC6h2KJrVXwYEUQPys/s1600/christine+dress+4.jpg" style="cursor: move;" /></a></div>
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Isn't it gorgeous? Love the shade of pink, how the train is gathered and embellished with flowers and ribbons.</div>
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<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">Have I said how much I LOVE red? </span>This stunning red dress was worn by Laura Flynn Boyle:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2r8czzAPTnKyvKv8FB_Bc7xYFtmKB7jGL0F6ovdBboehZnX8nw9jX-dSd4z3qBCzC-TPKUcqngs18OR8ZXiHTOM60g0mOqMV9JOZuKpPqcrlKNzhjds8KwW1fWjbigmKPV3vFVlZ-MoU/s1600/red+gown+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #0066cc; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: 16px; margin-right: 16px; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2r8czzAPTnKyvKv8FB_Bc7xYFtmKB7jGL0F6ovdBboehZnX8nw9jX-dSd4z3qBCzC-TPKUcqngs18OR8ZXiHTOM60g0mOqMV9JOZuKpPqcrlKNzhjds8KwW1fWjbigmKPV3vFVlZ-MoU/s1600/red+gown+2.jpg" style="cursor: move;" /></a></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">A little art deco flavor, slimmer silhouette:</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy00MxIE_JaF-3ybhShLCgdI6k9Iyi_UmyNYMqNhcHTbMhKy7xerP9s2kVpUj4bpMtpAK_ampjCTfTpSk2C6KyLrdTc80qgC_P6jIPX-rAKP696Tk44F70zVxPznuP2XwGNuvg8-qqp14/s1600/deco+evening+gown.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #0066cc; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: 16px; margin-right: 16px; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="187" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy00MxIE_JaF-3ybhShLCgdI6k9Iyi_UmyNYMqNhcHTbMhKy7xerP9s2kVpUj4bpMtpAK_ampjCTfTpSk2C6KyLrdTc80qgC_P6jIPX-rAKP696Tk44F70zVxPznuP2XwGNuvg8-qqp14/s1600/deco+evening+gown.jpg" style="cursor: move;" /></a></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">And lastly, a slinky dress and suit:</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3x3d5gR4OnHuCvntAzRtEIzT2to55njNilFLAc3yRe59Jdz6a3Gep_qttD48bOYdHMdovTDdRXZg2smcGOCfpoUriqZZxuGRKcDXkZJZKgvO4deVrqHrMHKkGjdsT3O-FOmAYAo4Voa4/s1600/cut+dress+and+suit+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #0066cc; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: 16px; margin-right: 16px; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3x3d5gR4OnHuCvntAzRtEIzT2to55njNilFLAc3yRe59Jdz6a3Gep_qttD48bOYdHMdovTDdRXZg2smcGOCfpoUriqZZxuGRKcDXkZJZKgvO4deVrqHrMHKkGjdsT3O-FOmAYAo4Voa4/s1600/cut+dress+and+suit+4.jpg" /></a></div>
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Vicki Batman, sassy writerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13846704675542248648noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6028147191445531358.post-80760118702313108592018-08-16T03:00:00.000-05:002018-09-18T19:10:24.835-05:00Plotting Princesses: Vicki Batman - You know what’s really annoying? #MFRWorg #readromance #householdchores<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJWesStSiQTG5tu4YTE2oE1VfW058c4EIWfqgvBCCtN-VqmURitUOmwQ3V2ADaujLGfkKji0GzBQHaSnQRN08sn1siX15Zt1Zs0RZ6ZegzX88MNKXgr3pzJrMKUg1iuF1pdg0Ilr0enr5a/s1600/author+photo+160+x+160.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="160" data-original-width="128" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJWesStSiQTG5tu4YTE2oE1VfW058c4EIWfqgvBCCtN-VqmURitUOmwQ3V2ADaujLGfkKji0GzBQHaSnQRN08sn1siX15Zt1Zs0RZ6ZegzX88MNKXgr3pzJrMKUg1iuF1pdg0Ilr0enr5a/s1600/author+photo+160+x+160.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">I try not to be a gripey person. I take on tasks I dislike and finish them. There is one household chore I really dislike,
and I think you’ll be surprised when I say... </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Changing out the toilet paper tube for a fresh roll. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3Wm5MyGF_ECv4ohC4JlOESoyuf1291kpaGuKWoz3ydTX052jFLhvY9ntg403Ky9dS1Dk9f7GvjwSjD6Yfn0w9b2zoJypmg8-Z-GOto4u9Zazu5C_tX8WrRuJgYF7GG1lbw-V0GlO08our/s1600/toilet+tube.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3Wm5MyGF_ECv4ohC4JlOESoyuf1291kpaGuKWoz3ydTX052jFLhvY9ntg403Ky9dS1Dk9f7GvjwSjD6Yfn0w9b2zoJypmg8-Z-GOto4u9Zazu5C_tX8WrRuJgYF7GG1lbw-V0GlO08our/s1600/toilet+tube.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; clear: right; color: #0066cc; float: right; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3Wm5MyGF_ECv4ohC4JlOESoyuf1291kpaGuKWoz3ydTX052jFLhvY9ntg403Ky9dS1Dk9f7GvjwSjD6Yfn0w9b2zoJypmg8-Z-GOto4u9Zazu5C_tX8WrRuJgYF7GG1lbw-V0GlO08our/s1600/toilet+tube.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; clear: right; color: #0066cc; float: right; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="244" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3Wm5MyGF_ECv4ohC4JlOESoyuf1291kpaGuKWoz3ydTX052jFLhvY9ntg403Ky9dS1Dk9f7GvjwSjD6Yfn0w9b2zoJypmg8-Z-GOto4u9Zazu5C_tX8WrRuJgYF7GG1lbw-V0GlO08our/s200/toilet+tube.jpg" width="152" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Yep, the springy thing bouncing all over the room, getting
on hands and knees and finding it, and pushing all just so to get it back in
the holder drives me crazy. I wish I had installed the kind where the roll
slips over the rod. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><b><i>Silly, isn’t it?</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">A few years back, Handsome informed me he intensely dislikes
putting sheets on the bed. I have to admit our bed can be challenging. Even
using deep pocket sheets, tugging the corners into place takes a strong man.
Handsome has ripped a few. Finally, I decided to just cover the thick top pad
only. Problem solved? Yes; however, he still hates helping. He’d rather wash
the dogs.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Sometimes, writing drives me crazy. There will be a story
I’m working on with a difficult problem and I am reluctant to go back and tackle
it. My head will worry and worry and I’ll get some ideas. I write
them down, saving for when I’m ready. But the project is always there, almost
nagging me. Eventually, I do go back and when I do, HALLELUJAH! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">The truth is the problem may or may not be solved. I usually
chip away at it through rewriting and editing, and then my issue will be
resolved. Not ideal but is the truth.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Many years ago, I critiqued six 1,000 words short stories
for a friend and in doing so, learned how to write short stories. I also
learned what is really important for very short stories. Other authors say they
can’t write that short. I believe it is just a matter of keeping an eye on the
word count and determining what is needed for the story. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">A little hard work. Totally worth it. Better than changing
the toilet paper roll.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5JCQOv_abQVGxnlEjsmnlDRQ5OFejNJaVNc_yA6itt_vkPUVatKclZ-8DA1-kAfGYCHh9elaAlEH7b3x4yMnWGL-OmxBFTg_kSM_g5KV1b8c-6h9p2ytDLEvQLyRQA-T4bkjudOo7oazZ/s1600/asteriks+2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="47" data-original-width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5JCQOv_abQVGxnlEjsmnlDRQ5OFejNJaVNc_yA6itt_vkPUVatKclZ-8DA1-kAfGYCHh9elaAlEH7b3x4yMnWGL-OmxBFTg_kSM_g5KV1b8c-6h9p2ytDLEvQLyRQA-T4bkjudOo7oazZ/s1600/asteriks+2.png" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin8ZEUplzYn1bKf-EK609vTyXRKtgKBZ8yAJ2o46X4jAh599NAp-KSmsSo0bEFtuXHVSz0J0CBqoU-MgF6Z0xXzongOJ6TwtELuEw3SmaVJ3_fsNuxmAO6EzahYCrQnKDpjfA6ZuthcFlc/s1600/Just+Desserts+400x600+72dpi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #0066cc; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: 16px; margin-right: 16px; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="400" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin8ZEUplzYn1bKf-EK609vTyXRKtgKBZ8yAJ2o46X4jAh599NAp-KSmsSo0bEFtuXHVSz0J0CBqoU-MgF6Z0xXzongOJ6TwtELuEw3SmaVJ3_fsNuxmAO6EzahYCrQnKDpjfA6ZuthcFlc/s320/Just+Desserts+400x600+72dpi.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
Eleven 1,000 word cute meet, clean and whole some short stories full of fun and forever possibilities. Find yours at: <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Just-Desserts-Other-Short-Stories-ebook/dp/B07CT8XC5F/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1525792619&sr=1-1&keywords=just+desserts+and+other+stories/" target="_blank">Amazon</a><br />
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Like Short Stories? Check out my new venture: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Short-Stories-Rock-431222320706620/" target="_blank">Short Stories Rock</a> I'm giving away and e-book. Comment on the post on FB.</div>
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<b><i>What's your least favorite chore?</i></b></div>
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<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><span style="font-family: "calibri";"></span>Vicki Batman, sassy writerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13846704675542248648noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6028147191445531358.post-21905870368532209682018-07-12T03:00:00.000-05:002018-09-18T19:10:45.410-05:00Vicki Batman : A Writer’s Good Life #MFRWorg #readromance #RWA2018<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 16px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 16px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="color: red; font-size: large;">The best part of being a writer</span> is meeting writers.
Sharing, collaborating, buying books. And that’s what I’m doing. I’m at the
Romance Writer’s of American convention attending workshops, classes, dinners
and lunches, and signing books at the Indie Signing. </div>
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Last year was a huge one for me. I signed at the Indie
Signing and my mystery at the Signing for Literacy. I had so much fun. Many
writer friends I’ve made over fourteen years stopped by and picked up books.
There were strangers who came looking for me! A friend who made the call to
notify me I’d finalled in her chapter’s contest.</div>
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I think I broke my smile that day.</div>
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I’m not a fast writer lately. Life has pushed me
around and I do what I do. Though, when I have looked back, I have been amazed
at what I’ve done:</div>
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35 short stories and essays</div>
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2 romantic comedy mysteries</div>
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So I’m absorbing new information, hanging with old
and new friends, and soon shall be flexing my fingers and hitting the keyboard. </div>
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From a reviewer: Just Desserts was such a quick
and fun read. These cute little short stories will have you smiling and some
will have you laughing out loud. These stories are quick and give you a few
minutes away from reality. Stress relievers. Perfect for a summer beach read. I
read this book all in one sitting. This book is great if you don’t have a lot
of time. Vicki has a great sense of wit and humor which is what makes this book
so enjoyable. I would definitely recommend Just Desserts.</div>
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<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Just-Desserts-Other-Short-Stories-ebook/dp/B07CT8XC5F/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1525792619&sr=1-1&keywords=just+desserts+and+other+stories/" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;" target="_blank">Amazon</a> <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Just-Desserts-Other-Stories-writer/dp/1718719302/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1527956600&sr=8-2&keywords=just+desserts+and+other+stories/" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;" target="_blank">Print</a> <a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/just-desserts-and-other-short-stories-vicki-batman/1128592107?ean=2940155242031/" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;" target="_blank">Nook</a> <a href="https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/823338/" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;" target="_blank">Other e-retailers</a></div>
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2018 Literacy Autographing Information</h2>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;">When:</strong> Saturday, July 21, 3:00 - 5:00 p.m. MT</div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;">Where:</strong> <a href="http://www.starwoodhotels.com/sheraton/property/overview/index.html?language=en_US&propertyID=3205" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0762b1; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank" title="Sheraton link">Sheraton Denver Downtown Hotel</a>, Plaza Ballroom (Plaza Building, Concourse Level)</div>
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<em style="box-sizing: border-box;">Proceeds from book sales benefit ProLiteracy Worldwide and Literacy Coalition of Colorado</em></div>
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We look forward to having you at our event! Here are some things to know before you arrive:</div>
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<ul style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 0px;">
<li style="box-sizing: border-box;">This event is open to the public and is free of charge to attend.</li>
<li style="box-sizing: border-box;">You do not need to register to attend this event as a fan.</li>
<li style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="default" style="box-sizing: border-box;">Since this is a fundraiser event for literacy organizations, attendees will not be allowed to bring books from home into the event. Plan to purchase books on-site.</span></li>
<li style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="default" style="box-sizing: border-box;">We accept cash and major credit cards.</span></li>
</ul>
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<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><br />Vicki Batman, sassy writerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13846704675542248648noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6028147191445531358.post-9430152357026969132018-06-21T02:30:00.000-05:002018-09-18T19:11:10.394-05:00Author Vicki Batman on Handbag and Book - My Observations about Dogs #gettingapet #catsanddogs #romanticcomedy<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Some of you may be laughing hysterically</span> just from
the title of my blog because you know I grew up with cats, not dogs. My mom
didn’t want to fence the yard for a dog. Our first cat was a huge gray guy
named appropriately Smokey. He was born between our wooden and the neighbor’s
chain link fences. </div>
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Over the years, there were others, like Mischief,
Fuzzy, Snuffer. Our last two were farm cats from Kansas named Romper, aka Roo,
Roo-roo, Romp, and her sister, Scooter, aka Scoo. </div>
</div>
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Handsome, however, grew up with dogs. He loves to
tell the story of their sheepdog who ate the Thanksgiving turkey (Christmas
Story, anyone?). So when #1son was about three, he adopted Baxter, a sheep dog
who grew VERY LARGE. Baxter was too big for little kids and no one could walk
him well.</div>
</div>
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After Baxter and Snuffer passed, we adopted the
farm girls. They were little and squirmy and perfect for boys’ love. Both had a
long shy streak and would hide behind furniture when people came over.</div>
</div>
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Many years passed and Handsome began to yearn for
another dog. <br />
<a name='more'></a>This time, he did more research. I liked the size of beagles, but
he said no, he’d found the perfect pet – Malti-poo. They don’t shed, are smart
(poodles are second smartest dogs), and are good natured. Off he went one
Saturday and came home with TWO??!! I must add I wasn’t too surprised, but this
story I had to hear.</div>
</div>
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<br /></div>
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The pups were running in a large fenced area, and
the little white one, which we named Champ, seemed to be the ringleader. Handsome
was smitten. Then he watched a while longer and saw a slightly bigger gray one
watching everyone. His heart was struck and home he came with Jones (yep, like
in Indiana Jones).</div>
</div>
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These two are inseparable. Jones truly pines for
Champ when they are apart. Jones is incredibly fast and has caught squirrels,
lizards, and birds. Champ is our happy-go-lucky perpetual two-year old. On our
walks, he has to mark a spot every ten feet. (I now allow him to have three
stops). Jones gulps his food (probably picked up from being crowded out of food
as a puppy). Champ doesn’t care. They are tough dudes and rarely complain. For
a one-on-one, Champ likes to set his front feet on my chest. Jones will stretch
across our laps and sigh contentedly. They followed Roo and Scoo (mostly to
sniff their bottoms) and sat with them when they passed. They were easy to
train or maybe I was easy to train. LOL. They love everyone.</div>
</div>
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
So, my observation is this: if we ever get another
dog, I am letting Handsome pick because these two are priceless.</div>
</div>
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Do I write pets in my stories? Of course! Real
life has real pets. But I did write a hilarious one about a bug. She’s feisty and
quick. Check out “Bug Stuff” from Just Desserts…and Other Stories: </div>
</div>
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<br /></div>
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"> </span>“The
water bug kind?” </div>
</div>
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"> </span>“Yes.”
His gaze shifted around. “I’m positive it winked at me.” </div>
</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 16px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 16px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"> </span>“Must
be a female.” I chuckled. “So, squash it.” </div>
</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 16px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 16px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"> </span>“Easier
said than done.” </div>
</div>
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"> </span>“Why?” </div>
</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 16px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 16px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"> </span>“Cause
she’s sneaky?” He pointed. “See? She’s hiding behind the faucet.”</div>
</div>
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<br /></div>
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<b>Want more hilarious fun? Find Just Desserts at many
e-retailers and at: <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Just-Desserts-Other-Short-Stories-ebook/dp/B07CT8XC5F/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1525792619&sr=1-1&keywords=just+desserts+and+other+stories/" target="_blank">Amazon</a></b></div>
</div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><b></b><br />Vicki Batman, sassy writerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13846704675542248648noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6028147191445531358.post-61506322032105120912018-06-05T04:00:00.000-05:002018-09-18T19:11:33.843-05:00Michelle Miles: Living in a Fishbowl<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKdYkYiTmATHigA5hG-oR-y2UIW4eqNRMy5l5O6VpkuRqylkHcVPNzexAsBCH8jWMjUHc7cwtlC5hZypyK8evdYdSz9l2K18K3yz3LOgtuoU1CDiZG5QvK1Y9E4a9LewPuxSnMa9hVJEw/s1600/app-apps-communication-147413.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKdYkYiTmATHigA5hG-oR-y2UIW4eqNRMy5l5O6VpkuRqylkHcVPNzexAsBCH8jWMjUHc7cwtlC5hZypyK8evdYdSz9l2K18K3yz3LOgtuoU1CDiZG5QvK1Y9E4a9LewPuxSnMa9hVJEw/s320/app-apps-communication-147413.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
I had a recent experience on Facebook that has me questioning my very existence on Facebook. <br />
<br />
My post was somewhat controversial, though I had no intention of it being that way, and generated over 170 comments (don’t bother looking for it; the post is no longer available for public consumption). It was merely my observation of the double standard that exists in our world. What’s good for the goose is sometimes not good for the gander. <br />
<br />
When we put ourselves on social media, and post things that are considered hot topics, we unwittingly invite these people into our world. If our thought or opinion doesn’t align with theirs, then we’re open for attack. Everyone and everything comes under careful scrutiny by people who know better and people who have no problem telling us about it. <br />
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<a name='more'></a><br /><br />
A perfect example was the woman who replied to a picture of my cat to tell me I should be feeding him out of a plate instead of a bowl. My response was, “Are you seriously telling me how to feed my cat?” to which her reply was to call me a b*tch, unfriend and block me. <br />
<br />
So be it. I don’t need her on my friends list anyway. <br />
<br />
But it angered me. Why is it okay for her to come over to my profile, crap all over it and then unfriend and block me? <br />
<br />
Another post had a guy telling me I was irrational and ignorant. Um, okay? Because you know me personally, HOW? And you can tell that by reading ONE of my posts? Because I’d never seen him comment on anything of mine EVER and I’ve been on Facebook for over nine years. <br />
<br />
Being a somewhat public figure has its pitfalls, as we all know from the recent news about Roseanne. And LeBron stomping out of his interview carrying his man-purse has caused all sorts of ridicule on Twitter. <br />
<br />
I think I’m just weary of social media altogether. I’ve been saying this for a while now. Maybe I just need a break from it all, because it’s starting to feel like I live in a fishbowl.Michelle Mileshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05442813530538808627noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6028147191445531358.post-77081789632339816692018-05-17T01:30:00.000-05:002018-09-18T19:11:54.174-05:00Vicki Batman - Thirty-four #readromance #RLFblog #MFRWorg <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZtoLZO_HZZBfbAuYuc44Hn2BbAXHSXFtGx8ErwzE7tAcofScz2JIC6YmqaAIaEFKrD110B7pcI8lJSLy24lN-gIufwRRtiVvhewpcTHw-7m1QpE_qB5iwrg_9Bpd4X63LinMtkZ7vNUz1/s1600/author+100+x+100.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="100" data-original-width="88" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZtoLZO_HZZBfbAuYuc44Hn2BbAXHSXFtGx8ErwzE7tAcofScz2JIC6YmqaAIaEFKrD110B7pcI8lJSLy24lN-gIufwRRtiVvhewpcTHw-7m1QpE_qB5iwrg_9Bpd4X63LinMtkZ7vNUz1/s1600/author+100+x+100.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-size: x-large;"><b>34 </b></span> <span style="font-family: "calibri";">I counted just the other day because I kinda had thirty in
my head. So why the number? </span></div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br /></span>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">I’ve written thirty-four short stories. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">I began by writing my romantic comedy mystery, Temporarily
Employed. Then I critiqued six very short stories for a friend, and all of the
sudden, the rhythm of writing these fell into my head. Then an idea came, and I
was off. I churned out a lot of short stories, many of which were pubbed by
magazines and other publishers, some have been in anthologies.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">I really do like writing short. My life has been upside down
and concentrating on a book is hard for me. I can pop in and out of a short
story and feel as if I’ve accomplished a lot.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">As for<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> very</i> shorts…</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">I’ve collected eleven, two of which have never been pubbed
before. Here’s a bit about them:</span></div>
<br />
<a name='more'></a><br /><br />
<div align="center" style="margin: 16px 0px; text-align: center;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Love blossoms in the small town of
Sommerville in these heart-warming and very short tales, </i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">filled with fun and forever possibilities.</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD9725LbYk9hxbFt0xNbQyrm5ai4M55LBbdwNnTr2LRGh8DHsz6-5oPkySjTDOZOm6-8CC5Pfyx89jEPGHXQGajGkEfwcwxqlVXXFZL_aHTYCAXFgZWkcwcbOD3BniOz9ZLiKjMf-dBWpo/s1600/Just+Desserts+400x600+72dpi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="400" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD9725LbYk9hxbFt0xNbQyrm5ai4M55LBbdwNnTr2LRGh8DHsz6-5oPkySjTDOZOm6-8CC5Pfyx89jEPGHXQGajGkEfwcwxqlVXXFZL_aHTYCAXFgZWkcwcbOD3BniOz9ZLiKjMf-dBWpo/s400/Just+Desserts+400x600+72dpi.jpg" width="266" /></a><i></i></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 16px 0px;">
Included are:</div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 16px 0px;">
<span style="color: blue;">Bug Stuff</span> ~ An accountant unites with his
co-worker to exterminate a pesky adversary.</div>
<div style="margin: 16px 0px;">
<span style="color: blue;">Just Desserts</span> ~ A political dinner gone disastrous
brings together a reluctant attendee and her handsome seat-mate.</div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 16px 0px;">
<span style="color: blue;">With This Ring</span> ~ When a wife forgets the
all-important little black dress, the evening turns into something utterly
unforgettable.</div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 16px 0px;">
<span style="color: blue;">Good Girls Finish First </span>~ When men friends are
challenged to fix breakfast if they lose a race, one woman leads the pack and
discovers finishing first can lead to romance.</div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 16px 0px;">
<span style="color: blue;">Ouch</span> ~ Who knew a yoga class would be so
dangerous...and romantic?</div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 16px 0px;">
<span style="color: blue;">Man Theory</span> ~ When a geeky co-worker espouses his
theory on love, a friend risks her heart.</div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 16px 0px;">
<span style="color: blue;">Tommy and the Teacher</span> ~ A young boy steals from
the school’s book fair causing interesting possibilities to arise.</div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 16px 0px;">
<span style="color: blue;">Absolutely Positively Lost</span> ~ Helping a
map-challenged young man find his way is truly serendipitous.</div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 16px 0px;">
<span style="color: blue;">The Little Birdie Who </span>~ A new town, a new friend,
a new beginning. Who would have thought a little bird could bring two people
together?</div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 16px 0px;">
<span style="color: blue;">Check Her Out</span> ~ It’s a sticky situation,
especially between a store manager and Auntie Caren when her nephew must pay
for the gum he stole.</div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: "calibri";">This Is Not Working</span><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> ~ One of those days at a new job when
nothing is going right, and then the boss steps in.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiRyzB51axFC3RY7Gx_KoQ_nhLwmTTQVqFjm71mWnX6K4bWkf_rzNOa97vFdluUWzvwTJfGrAN6Vqq5bqfD8yWvhEXU7ShHpGHaFwM1A1gMKru-1iGP8sh5GZ8xqLgbwiT4x6riX4vIHY-/s1600/asteriks+2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="47" data-original-width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiRyzB51axFC3RY7Gx_KoQ_nhLwmTTQVqFjm71mWnX6K4bWkf_rzNOa97vFdluUWzvwTJfGrAN6Vqq5bqfD8yWvhEXU7ShHpGHaFwM1A1gMKru-1iGP8sh5GZ8xqLgbwiT4x6riX4vIHY-/s1600/asteriks+2.png" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><b><i>Are you thinking short stories are not as satisfying as a
book? </i></b>Shorts are VERY satisfying. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><b>Find Just Desserts…and Other Stories at: <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Just-Desserts-Other-Short-Stories-ebook/dp/B07CT8XC5F/" target="_blank">Amazon</a><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></b></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><b><a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/just-desserts-and-other-short-stories-vicki-batman/1128592107?ean=2940155242031/" target="_blank">Nook</a> <span style="margin: 0px;"> </span><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></b><span style="margin: 0px;"><b> </b> </span></span></div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><span style="font-family: "calibri";"></span>Vicki Batman, sassy writerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13846704675542248648noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6028147191445531358.post-16078803922763387502018-05-01T04:00:00.000-05:002018-05-01T04:00:00.324-05:00Michelle Miles: May Day<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh2gP7Wa0lJWiKAT8E7cK5LFaCR0XIHh0_eW4pg7DUz9nRrqFUYD_BY4zySSReK5QE-vbjWF9bRROXWIaRpCQolMV6gU5fhfW-5LVPFLVNDChxDU1Q0q18YCcI2VkJWckvRLyWVXCrUoA/s1600/Depositphotos_22594021_m-2015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="664" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh2gP7Wa0lJWiKAT8E7cK5LFaCR0XIHh0_eW4pg7DUz9nRrqFUYD_BY4zySSReK5QE-vbjWF9bRROXWIaRpCQolMV6gU5fhfW-5LVPFLVNDChxDU1Q0q18YCcI2VkJWckvRLyWVXCrUoA/s200/Depositphotos_22594021_m-2015.jpg" width="131" /></a></div>
It's May! Can you believe how fast it got here? Seems like we were just celebrating New Years Day.<br />
<br />
May is probably one of the best months of the year (besides October - I love Fall!). Lots of fun stuff happens in May. My birthday. My husband's birthday. Mother's Day. Memorial Day Weekend. The end of school. It's a busy month for sure.<br />
<br />
And this year, we have a royal wedding to look forward to! I can't wait. I enjoy following the royals from their wedding to the birth of their children.<br />
<br />
I had a blog post all written and ready to post but after re-reading it (and after my cool down period), I decided it was far too snarky. And so here I am talking about May 1/Beltane while The Fifth Element plays in the background.<br />
<br />
I like May even if it is the official beginning of our hot Texas summers. There's lots of shopping happening during the month and cake and ice cream. That just can't be beat.<br />
<br />
What do you love about May?<br />
<br />Michelle Mileshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05442813530538808627noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6028147191445531358.post-64304015116240139142018-04-19T01:00:00.000-05:002018-05-29T21:07:50.630-05:00Vicki Batman on What's inspiring you? #readromance #springishere #RLFblog<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; font-family: Times New Roman; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="color: red; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><b>Nature is!</b></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 16px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 16px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I have always liked the beautiful colors of
flowers; however, my obsession really began about three years ago when Handsome
and I traveled the Rhine on a river cruise. We began our journey in Lucerne,
Switzerland in late June. The weather was perfect, in fact, almost like spring
compared to the heat my area experiences in the summer. Many variety of flowers
bloomed everywhere. I became captivated and took many photos. Some flowers resembled
those grown at home. I also spotted new plants. Even the tiny orange weed in
the crack next to a white-washed building captured my fancy. </span></div>
</div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj73atl_7xnOofzbcZUHBxDgNcZeQuq_mKzZiAi_GJ2aO252eucJjVA9YiOPFQ0f0kJTxiA2TjFyMBTMO07H8oAkzj2ZAZ13LYrhWA6KQhFYMkrSMLskUJPYP-FPpmDcFVNed49vKKHY2g/s1600/flower+orange+weed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 16px; margin-left: 16px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj73atl_7xnOofzbcZUHBxDgNcZeQuq_mKzZiAi_GJ2aO252eucJjVA9YiOPFQ0f0kJTxiA2TjFyMBTMO07H8oAkzj2ZAZ13LYrhWA6KQhFYMkrSMLskUJPYP-FPpmDcFVNed49vKKHY2g/s1600/flower+orange+weed.jpg" style="cursor: move;" /></a></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">This year, the spring flowers are bountiful, most
likely due to the abundance of rain and cool temperatures. The antique climbing
roses is loaded with tiny pale yellow bouquets. (These are the same plants I
nearly chopped down, too.) Every day, I see new things—a snowball viburnum
bursting with large blossoms. Many colors of Iris. Hot pink Gerbera daises.
Green roses.</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 16px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 16px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The air is fresh, perfumed by the budding flowers.
The breeze lifts my hair and brushes across my mouth only to stick on my lip
balm (no flavor). On dog walks, Champ, our white malti-poo, toddles along,
stopping to pee every ten feet. His smoky gray brother, Jones, has long
straight legs and walks like he knows what he is doing, only he doesn’t most of
the time. Kids handling super-hero kites which are struggling to find lift. My
neighbor is dead-heading the yellow and purple pansies with their fanciful
smiles along her front walkway garden.</span></div>
</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 16px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 16px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>So how is all this loveliness inspiring?</i></span></div>
</div>
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I’ve been working harder at effective descriptions
by adding how I feel and what I see. Hopefully by doing so, you--the reader--are
experiencing a better mind picture.</span><br />
<a name='more'></a></div>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiex80GRH8JBtRyexa8osx5xWIT0Uc22D5Mg8kpGnteyz4tQbNIF-5JjdWi2R88y6ay4yMRzr0cw-pM27KDW971qNvz_UWrI8-_9fn7xjpePlmLh5IE72sUlKE29rWUqx78aY2qtQyNALU/s1600/asteriks+2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 16px; margin-right: 16px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="47" data-original-width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiex80GRH8JBtRyexa8osx5xWIT0Uc22D5Mg8kpGnteyz4tQbNIF-5JjdWi2R88y6ay4yMRzr0cw-pM27KDW971qNvz_UWrI8-_9fn7xjpePlmLh5IE72sUlKE29rWUqx78aY2qtQyNALU/s1600/asteriks+2.png" style="cursor: move;" /></a><span style="font-family: "georgia"; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri"; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc9pxD4ljPVBIHPXoSlRhoDGOs0doqhRXWFelqN2OKJLLaorHSDoxOkCo2rSWa0cBpGgU-_JAUKMvgS753d1p9bM280mMvrT8OgZfI0W8ZqBv_otX1LVnt4sRpBQG0peeRTCSy5xiT8v4/s1600/murder+%2526+mayhem+cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 16px; margin-right: 16px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="419" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc9pxD4ljPVBIHPXoSlRhoDGOs0doqhRXWFelqN2OKJLLaorHSDoxOkCo2rSWa0cBpGgU-_JAUKMvgS753d1p9bM280mMvrT8OgZfI0W8ZqBv_otX1LVnt4sRpBQG0peeRTCSy5xiT8v4/s320/murder+%2526+mayhem+cover.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="268" /></a></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Here’s an example from Temporarily Employed, my humorous
romantic mystery:</span></div>
</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 10.66px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">“Yuck.” Pretty much covered the whole freakin’ day. </span></div>
</div>
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<br /></div>
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">A blinding red-white, red-white strobe, reflected in my
brand new Wrangler’s rearview mirror, seized my attention. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The police.</i> </span></div>
</div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">I tossed my hands skyward, ready to surrender. I shouldn’t
have been too surprised. Like I’d commented this a.m. to my roommate, Jenny,
“Today, anything’s possible.” </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">My Bad Day checklist included: </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">- Crappy job interview, one which might have provided
desperately needed income. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">- Wore gut-busting panty hose on a hot day which had now
worked past my waist and strangled my diaphragm.</span></div>
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"> </span>- A barely blowing
air conditioner indicated something had malfunctioned in my new, fun car.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Hopefully, you are seeing a young woman having a bad day,
absolutely nothing going right. And the cherry on the sundae is the police
stopping her.</span></div>
</div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">If you would like to read more, the fun is at: <b><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Murder-Mayhem-Mystery-Boxed-Set-ebook/dp/B078Z594TJ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1523915223&sr=8-1&keywords=murder+%26+mayhem+boxed+set" target="_blank">Murder & Mayhem</a></b> . </span></div>
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<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><br />Vicki Batman, sassy writerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13846704675542248648noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6028147191445531358.post-38397465321977473432018-04-03T04:00:00.000-05:002018-05-29T21:07:26.917-05:00Michelle Miles: New Quarter…NEW GOALS! Sorta… <div style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">
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It’s really hard for me to get it in my head that it’s April. APRIL! The first three months of the year are gone in a puff of smoke. </div>
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<span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">I think I’ve mentioned before I have this journal I use daily to keep me on track for my goals. I discovered, too, long ago that it’s too hard for me to plan an entire year of goals. With the Best Self, it breaks down the year into 13-week increments. I set three goals for those 13 weeks. They can be anything I want. So, because I want to produce more books and get myself out of debt, I decided to start tracking these goals.</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">This quarter, I’m starting my fourth journal. As I look back at my previous journals, I’m kind of a one-trick pony. I have the same goals listed. Well, the same OVERALL goals. Ultimately, I want to write full time and have zero debt. But the journal allows me to break that down into manageable pieces I can achieve.</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">This last quarter, I finished drafting the second book in my urban fantasy series. Book 1 is still unpublished. I’ve been asked when it’s coming out and the truth is I don’t know. At the end of 2017, when I finally got back to writing the series, I had a wild idea. Write the entire 5-book series from start to finish. So that’s what I’m doing. I’ve started book three and hope to have it drafted by the end of June. Plus, I’m still tweaking book one. What I really like about writing them all at once is I can go back from book to book and add little foreshadowing moments to make it look like it was planned all along (I’m a </span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">pantser</span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">. Please don’t ask me to plot. My brain might explode.)</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">Anyhoo</span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">, one of the other things I want to do is get myself out of debt. It’s so hard, folks. Probably one of the hardest things I’ve ever done because I’m convinced the Universe is conspiring against me. Just when I start to make a little extra money, the house payment goes up. Tax Refund? SNORT. What’s that? We haven’t had one in years. I hate it so much. And so, it’s a struggle to get myself in order and keep on that budget and send large chunks of money to these credit cards. I feel like I’m climbing a mountain with no day pack. I may die of exhaust</span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">ion </span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">any minute now. </span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">And then I put on my happy face and decide to keep on keeping on. I can do this! </span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">Last quarter, I managed to accomplish 2 of my 3 goals. I’ll take that as a win.</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">This quarter, I want to accomplish all three goals. They’re pretty much the same as last quarter but that’s okay. I’m still working toward the big, overall goals. I talk more in depth about all of this over at my blog, which you can read </span><span class="s2" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"><a href="https://michellemiles.net/first-quarter-2018-in-the-books/" target="_blank">here</a></span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">. Also, if you’re interested in the Best Self Journal, you can find out more </span><span class="s2" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"><a href="http://bestself.co/?rfsn=668420.2a0055" target="_blank">here</a> </span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">as well as purchase.</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">I know I have my work cut out for me and to that I say BRING IT ON.</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">Oh, and happy April!</span></div>
Michelle Mileshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05442813530538808627noreply@blogger.com9