tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-46614457060080452862024-02-06T22:10:01.071-08:00Imagine! Create! Write!Come in and take a seat. There is plenty to read here (or there will be once I get past my procrastination problem), including excerpts from the novels I am working on, some of my children's stories, links to other helpful blogs and articles on writing, and tips to help writers along the path to getting published! Come in, take a seat and learn something new!Becky Fyfehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01595020500346331076noreply@blogger.comBlogger275125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4661445706008045286.post-91101351075185174202016-01-11T04:04:00.001-08:002016-01-11T11:11:35.513-08:00Now taking submissions for the Fae World anthologies #FaeWorld<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 20px;"><u><b><span style="font-size: large;">Fae World</span></b></u></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBukpqlsVpK1P0JVQwr9WNp7HTC54nBS2Y-SrmRTVsflm_zRYo12-buLbNHgky37YTFFQLH94ycigG-7cZ4T3SXTfKaVpZbTU3_GEyhuxY1Sjtf7dYFlBBcj2IOrQzi2ueGyrIM2EgksYu/s1600/Faeries+of+the+Summer+Court+e-book+cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBukpqlsVpK1P0JVQwr9WNp7HTC54nBS2Y-SrmRTVsflm_zRYo12-buLbNHgky37YTFFQLH94ycigG-7cZ4T3SXTfKaVpZbTU3_GEyhuxY1Sjtf7dYFlBBcj2IOrQzi2ueGyrIM2EgksYu/s200/Faeries+of+the+Summer+Court+e-book+cover.jpg" width="141" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ-4wNbk6iDQ541yYzCSkkAUMWx3wtLBxjP8m7jNfpL6V3QFO-m1RlxAIi8_UL88DHuyW03ccgF1GwzVsGYZ9OfWYKJzLc5EAdhniv8OaIZQU6qcjmHA59riJ82Mx1HTSOfuwSqDMnNIxg/s1600/Faeries+of+the+Autumn+Court+e-book+cover2e.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ-4wNbk6iDQ541yYzCSkkAUMWx3wtLBxjP8m7jNfpL6V3QFO-m1RlxAIi8_UL88DHuyW03ccgF1GwzVsGYZ9OfWYKJzLc5EAdhniv8OaIZQU6qcjmHA59riJ82Mx1HTSOfuwSqDMnNIxg/s200/Faeries+of+the+Autumn+Court+e-book+cover2e.jpg" width="141" /></a><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 20px;"><span style="font-size: 15px;"></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 20px;"><span style="font-size: 15px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 20px;"><span style="font-size: 15px;"><a href="http://www.melusinemusepress.com/" target="_blank">Melusine Muse Press</a> is currently taking submissions for the Fae World series of anthologies.</span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 20px;"><span style="font-size: 15px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 20px;"><span style="font-size: 15px;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 20px;"><span style="font-size: 15px;">This one will either be one large anthology or four smaller ones. </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 20px;"><span style="font-size: 15px;"><br /></span></span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 20px;"><span style="font-size: 15px;">The four themes are <span style="color: orange;"><b>Autumn Court</b></span>, <span style="color: #3d85c6;"><b>Winter Court</b></span>, <span style="color: #38761d;"><b>Spring Court</b></span> and <span style="color: red;"><b>Summer Court</b></span> and may include both dark and light Fae (Seelie and Unseelie). </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 20px;"><span style="font-size: 15px;"><br /></span></span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 20px;"><span style="font-size: 15px;">The word count should be between 300 and 3,000 words. </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 20px;"><span style="font-size: 15px;"><br /></span></span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 20px;"><span style="font-size: 15px;">Not all submissions will be accepted. </span></span></span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwela3IyfNN5UyDLdHo6L_kv9QiYYAcsOP63Fb_eJhdm3XY7CmrzvHM9OWnF94yzKwEHPo5mMxK57src-R3Cq2mtfBz7ffQ2DKn2_wbkmgRIW6jgICijEgilYcQOYUnzG8w5OKFhuel5n3/s1600/Faeries+of+the+Spring+Court+e-book+cover1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwela3IyfNN5UyDLdHo6L_kv9QiYYAcsOP63Fb_eJhdm3XY7CmrzvHM9OWnF94yzKwEHPo5mMxK57src-R3Cq2mtfBz7ffQ2DKn2_wbkmgRIW6jgICijEgilYcQOYUnzG8w5OKFhuel5n3/s200/Faeries+of+the+Spring+Court+e-book+cover1.jpg" width="141" /></a><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 20px;"><span style="font-size: 15px;">These are adult stories, but </span></span><i style="background-color: white; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">gratuitous</i><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"> sex, </span><i style="background-color: white; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">gratuitous</i><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"> foul language and </span><i style="background-color: white; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">gratuitous</i><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"> violence will earn a rejection. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">Depending on the quality of the stories sent in, there will either be a one volume, 50+-story anthology or four volumes with 25 to 35 stories in each (depending on average length of stories). </span></span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx7T_RPSuFADuoTHm6llvkRrqGdg4LfsEV2pniiMz6rykWSo-xhwnhh5CgEgl8t87dd3rlhFRhmfHcIenXaetnC0id9AvDZa71nZR7V0YlxN4vgaFq_LPwBDPlJLw0ZPULigh51AbNX8Tn/s1600/Fairies+of+the+Winter+Court+e-book+cover1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx7T_RPSuFADuoTHm6llvkRrqGdg4LfsEV2pniiMz6rykWSo-xhwnhh5CgEgl8t87dd3rlhFRhmfHcIenXaetnC0id9AvDZa71nZR7V0YlxN4vgaFq_LPwBDPlJLw0ZPULigh51AbNX8Tn/s200/Fairies+of+the+Winter+Court+e-book+cover1.jpg" width="140" /></a><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">At this moment, I cannot afford to pay for stories that are accepted, but <span style="color: red;"><b>there will be a $10 Amazon gift certificate awarded to the best story in each category ("court") and a $25 gift certificate for the best story overall (once the required number of stories has been submitted and accepted).</b></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 20px;"><b>At the moment, the closing date remains open. Submissions </b></span></span><b style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 20px;">will remain open until the correct number of acceptable stories is reached. Each book needs to be a minimum of 50,000 words (if broken into four separate books) or 125,000 words (if published as one book).</b><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">Once all stories have been chosen for the anthology, winners will be chosen. All those with stories accepted in the anthology will get badges for their blogs or websites. Winners in each category and the over-all winner will get separate "winner" badges.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">I am hoping to be able to begin work on the anthology during 2016, so the earlier submissions come in, the better.<br /><br /><i>Please include a one-paragraph, third-person author bio with your submission. Website links to your sites may are allowed within reason.</i></span></span><br />
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<a class="twitter-share-button" data-count="none" data-related="story_magic" data-via="moonduster" href="http://twitter.com/share">Tweet</a><script src="http://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" type="text/javascript"></script>Becky Fyfehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01595020500346331076noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4661445706008045286.post-14996466211975166112016-01-01T15:35:00.000-08:002016-01-01T15:35:50.407-08:002016 - Planning for the year ahead<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-emhpPXmKXjswjnw9-SnMW96op_5Qa7rCztocl5Z0q0mU9u8RfBQpm9WfTdcl_7Bg63itIJNm_cXfLxo4gSQl6t_DzmthCcHNUZbQrQyPG_hoaOfNQcqRo79hlkThse0jCLe7m06PFpWx/s1600/Chase+your+dreams+castle+in+the+clouds+quote+by+me.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-emhpPXmKXjswjnw9-SnMW96op_5Qa7rCztocl5Z0q0mU9u8RfBQpm9WfTdcl_7Bg63itIJNm_cXfLxo4gSQl6t_DzmthCcHNUZbQrQyPG_hoaOfNQcqRo79hlkThse0jCLe7m06PFpWx/s400/Chase+your+dreams+castle+in+the+clouds+quote+by+me.jpg" width="351" /></a></div>
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On New Year's Day, I like to create a long list of things I want to achieve for the year ahead. Although this is a writing-themed blog, not all of these goals will be writing related.<br />
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Here is my list of goals:<br />
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1 - Finish my novel "Ink" and complete several rounds of editing and revising on it. It needs to be ready for publication sometime within 2016, and that includes having an ISBN, a cover and formatting for it, whether the extra stuff is done by me or I pay to have someone else do it.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2bg-NSLe0LBPp4Mc6570nrKdeDkB-jgDCWxyYsWXFSt2sYt3351t8kGyo4Wq1SjooUiRGeTKiYiRYWq1Sy0XtaGr2oGxxcLTm7FxIiLWqyS-64VDEivC4upolNg0B1UZ0ZD806t7ZYtUZ/s1600/Paranormal+Instinct+ebook+cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2bg-NSLe0LBPp4Mc6570nrKdeDkB-jgDCWxyYsWXFSt2sYt3351t8kGyo4Wq1SjooUiRGeTKiYiRYWq1Sy0XtaGr2oGxxcLTm7FxIiLWqyS-64VDEivC4upolNg0B1UZ0ZD806t7ZYtUZ/s200/Paranormal+Instinct+ebook+cover.jpg" width="136" /></a></div>
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2 - Complete, edit and publish at least two of the novellas I began during this year's NaNoWriMo - the ones that are set in the same world as "Ink."<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV6dmUu_3lNCMzI8eetauLeln8vj1svBefOc8Vtoi4CHoZs2YbtJ6GqjRlN1scqVNi0QUxmNidqDdDujqVc8putEfph_SOGunQAqkIpa15_GV5WH-MRdlr5o34cjKltvkdDn5RxS6UmrE4/s1600/Ink+Sample+Back+ebook+cover+sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV6dmUu_3lNCMzI8eetauLeln8vj1svBefOc8Vtoi4CHoZs2YbtJ6GqjRlN1scqVNi0QUxmNidqDdDujqVc8putEfph_SOGunQAqkIpa15_GV5WH-MRdlr5o34cjKltvkdDn5RxS6UmrE4/s200/Ink+Sample+Back+ebook+cover+sm.jpg" width="138" /></a></div>
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3 - Begin the sequel to "Ink." Write at least 3 chapters of the novel before 2016 ends.<br />
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4 - Begin writing the first of the series of nine novels for the Daughters of Poseidon series. Maybe use this book as my NaNoWriMo novel to write this year.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe285whJh1UjNVrfJvikC9S0sxYzWsLt06HVIlawgM4D9LTczDk7TSrn-730Gd8hydbs-d_C-p-ySxaK8Lz-zhhxhXRG_cW2_wthzrStBlcoa8rWn9Kp_BVY4Mtu58rN60jq994yPp5uiI/s1600/The+Day+My+Shadow+Tried+to+Kill+Me.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe285whJh1UjNVrfJvikC9S0sxYzWsLt06HVIlawgM4D9LTczDk7TSrn-730Gd8hydbs-d_C-p-ySxaK8Lz-zhhxhXRG_cW2_wthzrStBlcoa8rWn9Kp_BVY4Mtu58rN60jq994yPp5uiI/s200/The+Day+My+Shadow+Tried+to+Kill+Me.jpg" width="135" /></a></div>
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5 - Do some more work on my middle grade book "The Day My Shadow Tried to Kill Me." I need to make some changes to the plot and get writing on it again. I wrote the original draft for a ChaBooCha challenge, but I'm beginning it almost from scratch this time because of the changes that need to be made, so maybe use it as the book to write during this year's Chapter Book Challenge.<br />
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6 - Spend more time writing. Don't let a day slip by without spending at least 30 minutes writing. On most days during the work week, spend <i>more</i> time though. Although a large part of my day is taken up transporting the kids to and from school and making meals, etc, I can still manage to treat my writing as a part time job by committing at least 10 hours a week to writing and 5 hours a week to promoting/marketing/networking.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3J3t1SkdJJg3AG16UzRol9ole9_5_AbduCuJAWqhu8HZrUckucuSOkjsLcKJoSDoEJ8cqFL4_LVK5mULrL7mDb0yzsVZkvDi4_YbdIvvHbBbnBLH51DjoO4WlBBY2xUevS8LGC_1V-xbq/s1600/Mermaids+Muse+sample+ebook+cover1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3J3t1SkdJJg3AG16UzRol9ole9_5_AbduCuJAWqhu8HZrUckucuSOkjsLcKJoSDoEJ8cqFL4_LVK5mULrL7mDb0yzsVZkvDi4_YbdIvvHbBbnBLH51DjoO4WlBBY2xUevS8LGC_1V-xbq/s200/Mermaids+Muse+sample+ebook+cover1.png" width="147" /></a></div>
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7 - Finish preparing my collection "Mermaid's Muse" for publication. Make sure it is ready and published in early 2016.<br />
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8 - Work on perfecting "The 28 Day Fitness Challenge" so I can get it published. Finish creating the accompanying Food and Fitness Journal. Things I still need to do before finalizing the book: Alter some of the steps in the challenge and rearrange the formatting. Take photos of the different exercises being performed for instructional purposes.<br /><br />
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9 - Work on my own health this year. Steps to take: Step up my exercise routine. Try not to do as much as I used to do, but don't do as little as I am currently doing. Find a middle ground. Eat healthier. Lose the pounds I put back on this year. Visit the doctor and find out what other tests can be done to find the reason for my health issues. Keep trying to find a way to cure my chronic pain caused by plantar fasciitis.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXiUd1Ou9om7pO403TRXwj2YunpnQ9UKbibAhVgH6aX11kceGXNcUwLt9-msw5DGafBRDzi8gO21459y-IilODaimXmU1234nZgTJ7xMlSbh7_SBluLUPvpMzU3cI2T6j6Ytrx2Jj_xKvX/s1600/PC075440.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXiUd1Ou9om7pO403TRXwj2YunpnQ9UKbibAhVgH6aX11kceGXNcUwLt9-msw5DGafBRDzi8gO21459y-IilODaimXmU1234nZgTJ7xMlSbh7_SBluLUPvpMzU3cI2T6j6Ytrx2Jj_xKvX/s200/PC075440.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
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10 - Spend more time doing silly and fun stuff with the kids. These are the kinds of activities that will build memories for them.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWp0TWDO_5ZCQZD0tchMREXhpgnnDGwfoZY-KDj4KrixeiR5sdjFXGREDhNT-VuTvh99rj27cvhXiZsxxnuqSnuTA5L6eCDWWdkcZTb-jAKhc-piWhHeTnD0mnTzAhoivORDfsAtq-bjYo/s1600/Fairy+Magic+Bella+mermaid+sitting+on+stone+slab+with+gargoyle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWp0TWDO_5ZCQZD0tchMREXhpgnnDGwfoZY-KDj4KrixeiR5sdjFXGREDhNT-VuTvh99rj27cvhXiZsxxnuqSnuTA5L6eCDWWdkcZTb-jAKhc-piWhHeTnD0mnTzAhoivORDfsAtq-bjYo/s200/Fairy+Magic+Bella+mermaid+sitting+on+stone+slab+with+gargoyle.jpg" width="160" /></a></div>
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11 - Start swimming again. And while I'm at it, teach my kids to swim. I can teach them more than they are learning in the few classes they get every other year at school anyway. Help Isabella get to a skill level that will make it possible for me to then teach her how to swim in a monofin (which will help her on her way to her goal of becoming a professional mermaid someday).<br /><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYmaNCSEO3ud6iUunGnm35LQ6tdMY829crHE5qZSJlsVP8ZTZHDklZ4U1WMcili5NfkOWDvKQdBmJWITfe2m3RXLNMAejkE8JtGZeAyRQwHqW5zA4oG4k6XtzVL1xXAMdgrguyxBdttZFk/s1600/P1224176.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYmaNCSEO3ud6iUunGnm35LQ6tdMY829crHE5qZSJlsVP8ZTZHDklZ4U1WMcili5NfkOWDvKQdBmJWITfe2m3RXLNMAejkE8JtGZeAyRQwHqW5zA4oG4k6XtzVL1xXAMdgrguyxBdttZFk/s200/P1224176.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
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12 - Perfect my picture book, the one that came to me while I grieved over the loss of my cat Pagan. I love this book, and I think it needs to be out in the world for others to read. Perfect it and either send it out to get an agent/publisher or find an amazing illustrator willing to illustrate it and save up to pay for it to get done well.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSbpoB2b6-7WE3PrVAslZlvFgq8NPuLe89xOfzdO-xAARWA56m2Wb0goOgFdTIfTxOPmGxsyqDVLdupGT45E0wrnT-gbSXkfjvzOPJNtnvNFXLBQTrb3q9Rt22-4iuvOwAg0acu9YSOq4r/s1600/Melusine_Muse_Press_Color+no+border.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSbpoB2b6-7WE3PrVAslZlvFgq8NPuLe89xOfzdO-xAARWA56m2Wb0goOgFdTIfTxOPmGxsyqDVLdupGT45E0wrnT-gbSXkfjvzOPJNtnvNFXLBQTrb3q9Rt22-4iuvOwAg0acu9YSOq4r/s200/Melusine_Muse_Press_Color+no+border.png" width="137" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6HHsiTTC9EXsf6xi55Ns00OG-xKXqxXF2UY0lhmEzFIA0KLEIPd1JANXaxv_9sij43OAhyphenhyphenoPQIqIPQHSv8n8mXX66YdSYGj78URlP-IKbsAycUgGr23EYH6wyiKME24wKrhYXXf9fPYKc/s1600/Your+Kids%2527+Creations+artist+pallet1+sq.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6HHsiTTC9EXsf6xi55Ns00OG-xKXqxXF2UY0lhmEzFIA0KLEIPd1JANXaxv_9sij43OAhyphenhyphenoPQIqIPQHSv8n8mXX66YdSYGj78URlP-IKbsAycUgGr23EYH6wyiKME24wKrhYXXf9fPYKc/s200/Your+Kids%2527+Creations+artist+pallet1+sq.png" width="200" /></a></div>
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13 - Publish more books through Melusine Muse Press, not just anthologies and not just my own books. Get more editing jobs, more book cover jobs and formatting jobs to help pay for publication of books. Publish another Teapot Tales anthology and another SuperHERo tales anthology. Likewise, publish another anthology in the Kids' Chronicles series of anthologies through Your Kids' Creations.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihOa6xVCdO1_eWkslDHIWXKi5XX3AIEeUod7nKQ__oFEbOU3nnaPozmH5Nw4_oS3SNc4s-cgzFlJLvQkHUsyrb64GGZlyzr4__fQ-MmTkw-kxlafx4IwVxiXHiMzkBN5_bfRlVMfzJT8ML/s1600/Banner+of+all+three+Fae+World+anthologies.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="137" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihOa6xVCdO1_eWkslDHIWXKi5XX3AIEeUod7nKQ__oFEbOU3nnaPozmH5Nw4_oS3SNc4s-cgzFlJLvQkHUsyrb64GGZlyzr4__fQ-MmTkw-kxlafx4IwVxiXHiMzkBN5_bfRlVMfzJT8ML/s400/Banner+of+all+three+Fae+World+anthologies.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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14 - Increase promotion for the Fae World anthology series and take in more submissions for it. this will be an amazing anthology series when it is completed, but it will never be completed without word getting out about it. It needs submissions to make it spectacular, especially as this is one anthology series that will be choosier about what gets chosen to publish.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik53yA9rU7aBh6EGrt2gz8dYYLdGUP2WVFnMMabuPvXG2KxCZdjEmXcARJ5Jwa2tS6NkO_H6xBb7DdD2EP4CZf-t2mfRjqMMinoTEPYTBNKW6e_qOfFtVXsc_jeuniGOPgelZWlWm_HeAS/s1600/Blog+Your+Book+in+30+Days.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik53yA9rU7aBh6EGrt2gz8dYYLdGUP2WVFnMMabuPvXG2KxCZdjEmXcARJ5Jwa2tS6NkO_H6xBb7DdD2EP4CZf-t2mfRjqMMinoTEPYTBNKW6e_qOfFtVXsc_jeuniGOPgelZWlWm_HeAS/s200/Blog+Your+Book+in+30+Days.jpg" width="198" /></a></div>
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15 - Write more on my blogs. Spend time writing a post on at least one of your blog's every week.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9hp5eRgJgDJaJQfLgSPGEVFRNmW9gszGsxQTxweQ9RbjjuEslfyG31CrnL7GIT6kmHMxBPLoXGmohBFJn_2l9eE5jGCST-5P1EpQZR2iuRGrcoMKfUgLIUvshty0FlwIg28CMDlpwYch2/s1600/Fairy+Magic+Photos+Ad+through+Christmas.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="142" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9hp5eRgJgDJaJQfLgSPGEVFRNmW9gszGsxQTxweQ9RbjjuEslfyG31CrnL7GIT6kmHMxBPLoXGmohBFJn_2l9eE5jGCST-5P1EpQZR2iuRGrcoMKfUgLIUvshty0FlwIg28CMDlpwYch2/s200/Fairy+Magic+Photos+Ad+through+Christmas.jpg" width="200" /></a><br /></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpTwyStZ71zypHJ7JvazELhXGGzXInl7SgjP98fiGRwTgofsbb7gg6oY28SHERQ0HjB3tfnU-2wIaKAphNMQzhpuSZdk0QVXm2XZOxCFcBVXvP-00jEUoj-ZnBFNXWuY3fGnhMRcxOLixW/s1600/Fairy+Magic+Photos+Ad+through+Christmas2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="142" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpTwyStZ71zypHJ7JvazELhXGGzXInl7SgjP98fiGRwTgofsbb7gg6oY28SHERQ0HjB3tfnU-2wIaKAphNMQzhpuSZdk0QVXm2XZOxCFcBVXvP-00jEUoj-ZnBFNXWuY3fGnhMRcxOLixW/s200/Fairy+Magic+Photos+Ad+through+Christmas2.jpg" width="200" /> </a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVBhrS3snj30QHvszyOwzIE9WHxkyI3msdtXkJYnj0Sa0eKPvwp305DPazbgbHMSf0PDMTEa5QRRCed6e8Tvjh8S2ThG8MUUYNiuAlPdca-qoFrRIxcwwk9taUJGfPlgVQAK-2ib5EYCjk/s1600/Fairy+Magic+Photos+Ad+through+Christmas1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="142" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVBhrS3snj30QHvszyOwzIE9WHxkyI3msdtXkJYnj0Sa0eKPvwp305DPazbgbHMSf0PDMTEa5QRRCed6e8Tvjh8S2ThG8MUUYNiuAlPdca-qoFrRIxcwwk9taUJGfPlgVQAK-2ib5EYCjk/s200/Fairy+Magic+Photos+Ad+through+Christmas1.jpg" width="200" /></a>16 - Work more on creating book covers and improving your skill at doing so. Have more sales on Fairy Magic Photos in order to get more practice at photo-manipulating by creating fairy photo images for customers.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3SdgSOXdmpiri1XvBI1RTYBNj8Mvx0ohmtU_9gauPn9k3DT8jMQwpBtyX-uOO5tt8WMY4bsZ8D7d7lS1UTatmYuVN9-ooqeGItJ4OFrcGNrlq8ceUWXw5wmJ-EGVYRvYc5_Vjssf0xduk/s1600/FIN+%25281%2529.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="141" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3SdgSOXdmpiri1XvBI1RTYBNj8Mvx0ohmtU_9gauPn9k3DT8jMQwpBtyX-uOO5tt8WMY4bsZ8D7d7lS1UTatmYuVN9-ooqeGItJ4OFrcGNrlq8ceUWXw5wmJ-EGVYRvYc5_Vjssf0xduk/s200/FIN+%25281%2529.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkIZJx7pOyzzoq5pLpr_E3VPvaaN3AzShctoguB9ZSn2aAfOVCDcsQ0_AItwL6TYNCTd-aDGH1SbEniNNPkKqYDrjnOMb9qYaz8PtkJqoLKKXr3I52UqP44K3Umk9JPL9tanKfca0kTuXh/s1600/10439390_10152964011373645_7019200418803077368_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkIZJx7pOyzzoq5pLpr_E3VPvaaN3AzShctoguB9ZSn2aAfOVCDcsQ0_AItwL6TYNCTd-aDGH1SbEniNNPkKqYDrjnOMb9qYaz8PtkJqoLKKXr3I52UqP44K3Umk9JPL9tanKfca0kTuXh/s200/10439390_10152964011373645_7019200418803077368_n.jpg" width="141" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidG0BKdzJrgU95S8oH1uRiC_egNtDr1WXbO66HS6FtMgZ-MT60l_oZ6gKhuw-2Qy4AXY9omBXteh-TwTVhITLXSMCPzgy9DjIyMjv5sZk8WEuL3UzhiUDTAmsNKdg0dpD0QTuByO8HR7HQ/s1600/angel+superhero+by+Becky+22nd+Oct+2014+ed+color.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidG0BKdzJrgU95S8oH1uRiC_egNtDr1WXbO66HS6FtMgZ-MT60l_oZ6gKhuw-2Qy4AXY9omBXteh-TwTVhITLXSMCPzgy9DjIyMjv5sZk8WEuL3UzhiUDTAmsNKdg0dpD0QTuByO8HR7HQ/s200/angel+superhero+by+Becky+22nd+Oct+2014+ed+color.png" width="148" /></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFq9eZDlZrn4k0-UY4A2NGpuOmof1v9o3D6MCE1HUuj_3AfR9H3pONRm3w7lDCuN7THx1bBPdXXhgzSz9RtFUKGkGeTGsAsXVc6HZAPQyuFZFzweZxHtb5uk19YcGqGbz3hAiaoxm1ZSH1/s1600/Superheroine+by+Becky+19th+Oct+2014+color1.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFq9eZDlZrn4k0-UY4A2NGpuOmof1v9o3D6MCE1HUuj_3AfR9H3pONRm3w7lDCuN7THx1bBPdXXhgzSz9RtFUKGkGeTGsAsXVc6HZAPQyuFZFzweZxHtb5uk19YcGqGbz3hAiaoxm1ZSH1/s200/Superheroine+by+Becky+19th+Oct+2014+color1.png" width="110" /></a>17 - Find out everything you need to know to get your Kickstarter campaign for the resin toy figures of the SuperHERp Tales' superheroes off the ground. Find a 3D artist, find a manufacturer, get the total cost worked out, find someone to design the video and get this campaign going! Children NEED these female superhero toys! So get to it!<br />
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<a class="twitter-share-button" data-count="none" data-related="story_magic" data-via="moonduster" href="http://twitter.com/share">Tweet</a><script src="http://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" type="text/javascript"></script>Becky Fyfehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01595020500346331076noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4661445706008045286.post-70503487818396092702016-01-01T04:30:00.000-08:002016-01-01T04:30:00.619-08:00Advice for 2016<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDt2dY5CrqoXVDL-YZMMVDU-c_zWJalVXBDgtZD_v1dh5fHP26_8DiAoQg9LOCXlPk1gXhOBwHBmn7Tcv2Is9n4eheKfuhcEYfmkNE34J1m28W4bJjr6j208Ov_vvoAm1eNLu-h_MamMHv/s1600/Happy+New+Year+2016.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="233" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDt2dY5CrqoXVDL-YZMMVDU-c_zWJalVXBDgtZD_v1dh5fHP26_8DiAoQg9LOCXlPk1gXhOBwHBmn7Tcv2Is9n4eheKfuhcEYfmkNE34J1m28W4bJjr6j208Ov_vvoAm1eNLu-h_MamMHv/s400/Happy+New+Year+2016.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Happy New Year!<br />
My 2016 advice for you:<br />
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Don't let yourself have any regrets by the time 2016 ends.<br />
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- Travel somewhere new. If you can afford it, go somewhere you've never been before, somewhere where the culture is different from yours and the world is more colourful. If you can't afford that kind of trip, go somewhere local that you've never been before. Find out more about the special beauty that your own town or city displays.<br />
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- Learn something new. You are never too old to learn a new skill or try a new hobby. Learn how to do something you have never done before. You might find out you enjoy it.<br />
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- Appreciate your loved ones and let them know they are loved, not just by your words but by your actions. Do something caring for someone you love. Spend more time giving out hugs this year.<br />
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- Live in love instead of in fear. Do something kind for a stranger. Stop making decisions based on the fear of what *might* happen, and start basing your life on love and service to others. Remember that the kindness you send out into the world will always find its way back to you.<br />
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- Do something good for the planet. Go out and spend some time cleaning up litter in your neighbourhood or at the beach, give to a charity that aids the environment, spend more time walking instead of driving places. Find a way that you can help fight climate change and then do it.<br />
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- Spend some time at the ocean. If you can swim, go for a swim in the waves. If you can't swim, just sit on the warm sand and watch the waves crashing against the shore. Trust me - it's therapeutic.<br />
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- Spend more time in nature. This world we live in is a beautiful place, full of its own special magic. Take time to appreciate the beauty all around you.<br />
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- Learn to love yourself. This might possibly be the most difficult challenge any of us will face, but it's one of the most important ones. Your body is not YOU. Your appearance does not define who you are. You have a soul, a spirit, a mind, and that part of you, that hidden part, is who you are. Don't let others who can't see that part of you define you. You know who you are; you know your strengths and your flaws, and, deep down, you know you are worthy of love. Embrace this.<br />
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- Take care of your body. While it is only the vessel that carries your soul, it can get sick and it can break down much earlier in life if it is not taken care of properly. So only put food into it that strengthens it and nourishes it, and make sure to exercise your body on a regular basis.<br />
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- Pursue your dreams. Don't let society tell you what dreams you should and shouldn't have. If your dreams don't hurt anyone else, then by all means, go after them. Start by taking small steps towards them and build from there.<br />
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- Create something. Whether it's art, crafts, the written word or something else entirely, be creative this year. It nurtures your soul, and, sometimes, it helps nurture the souls of others too.<br />
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- Be silly. Spend some time just being silly. Let yourself be taken over by a fit of the giggles, make corny jokes, and laugh a lot. Laughter improves your quality of life.<br />
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<a class="twitter-share-button" data-count="none" data-related="story_magic" data-via="moonduster" href="http://twitter.com/share">Tweet</a><script src="http://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" type="text/javascript"></script>Becky Fyfehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01595020500346331076noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4661445706008045286.post-15126139181042020812015-12-31T04:53:00.002-08:002015-12-31T14:57:02.124-08:00Looking back at 2015<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Sadly, all of my 2015 memories are overshadowed by the death of my cat Pagan in September. Pagan and I had a special relationship, and I miss him like crazy. It means that, for me, 2015 is a year I'd rather forget.<br />
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However, in my writing life, there were some good things that happened too, and so I am making an effort to remember the more positive things that occurred, at least in my writing life, in 2015.<br />
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1 - I created several new book covers this year, including some for me, some for others and some for sale, and I have been growing in confidence in my ability to create the kinds of book covers that will sell and also growing in my cover-creating skills.<br />
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2 - I came up with several picture book ideas, and some new drafts of picture books, but, more importantly, I wrote the first draft of a new picture book which I really, really love. It's become my new "baby." And I will do whatever it takes to bring this picture book into the world and to make it the best it possibly can be, because it means a lot to me.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBAGcZumc25hEGdJFvK_pvss-MPnQcGABFqXqe-mZ6S8jMI49c83AvnukAVWsHoAglS__jS6wrzSANacubZ0rNUBtO5TaMEmd17xD1vQkw4BoCfQ5fiu-mtsod_1tiLVYFqqBMaVbmoIwF/s1600/Your+Kids%2527+Creations+artist+pallet1+sq.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBAGcZumc25hEGdJFvK_pvss-MPnQcGABFqXqe-mZ6S8jMI49c83AvnukAVWsHoAglS__jS6wrzSANacubZ0rNUBtO5TaMEmd17xD1vQkw4BoCfQ5fiu-mtsod_1tiLVYFqqBMaVbmoIwF/s200/Your+Kids%2527+Creations+artist+pallet1+sq.png" width="200" /></a></div>
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3 - I, through my <a href="http://yourkidscreations.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Your Kids' Creations</a> imprint, published another anthology in the Kids' Chronicles series of anthologies - "<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Superhero-Chronicles-Collection-Illustrated-Children/dp/1517296846" target="_blank">The Superhero Chronicles: A Collection of Superhero Stories Written & Illustrated by Children</a>" - and published three more books for children written by my children. "<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Dark-Unicorn-Isabella-Fyfe/dp/1505398347" target="_blank">Dark Unicorn</a>," written by my daughter Isabella, came out last year and has grown significantly in sales this year. "<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Heros-Adventure-Connor-Fyfe/dp/1517069211" target="_blank">A Hero's Adventure</a>, " written by my son Connor, came out in August. "<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Grabbed-Shadows-Gabriella-Fyfe/dp/1517620406" target="_blank">Grabbed by the Shadows</a>," written by my daughter Gabriella, came out in October. And "<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Tiger-Boy-Chronicles/dp/1519346271" target="_blank">Tiger Boy</a>," written by my youngest son Cameron, came out in November.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQU4fYE3qs9OMTgKtoUSseDadhWyELuiMKi5aexwC9c9bTFHPlrXwg0a2HQO6jf5FfpWB1qfiqgbZPqDx-CtfMe9jWcVl50JKm4n9YO8b7F_UmLAc2KapWte4qMlVytXzj1q5-PPoNGkqg/s1600/The+Superhero+Chronicles+Special+Edition+EBook+Cover.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQU4fYE3qs9OMTgKtoUSseDadhWyELuiMKi5aexwC9c9bTFHPlrXwg0a2HQO6jf5FfpWB1qfiqgbZPqDx-CtfMe9jWcVl50JKm4n9YO8b7F_UmLAc2KapWte4qMlVytXzj1q5-PPoNGkqg/s200/The+Superhero+Chronicles+Special+Edition+EBook+Cover.png" width="136" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6JY3sLsPTrJTP2rTwVWSNHHgyEL2niXAz2rJIgjYhXqP11FQmRS32ZC_Dv6n_Ylw41P3IHxD3t82O_k7pFQ_1KzJnJq5n2y9AZCw_tfp47Pghlbbmb9ZY1-GWS-3R5jh9_cnyWTQEv3tn/s1600/Grabbed+by+the+Shadows+ebook+cover1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6JY3sLsPTrJTP2rTwVWSNHHgyEL2niXAz2rJIgjYhXqP11FQmRS32ZC_Dv6n_Ylw41P3IHxD3t82O_k7pFQ_1KzJnJq5n2y9AZCw_tfp47Pghlbbmb9ZY1-GWS-3R5jh9_cnyWTQEv3tn/s200/Grabbed+by+the+Shadows+ebook+cover1.jpg" width="138" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6jrHZKuA5GugQF-nJiL_RTfxr0SciUvm7a-KweqHcoqruHLVP35QZsHRvzpX-nhgDA-Mo-b33-k-8TXI2G7NFzdGBJzYTm9AH8QeIxCUgcc67Gbg1aO3-jiw7jpxNb8JGMLnu-YsIcnX8/s1600/Tigerboy+ebook+cover1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6jrHZKuA5GugQF-nJiL_RTfxr0SciUvm7a-KweqHcoqruHLVP35QZsHRvzpX-nhgDA-Mo-b33-k-8TXI2G7NFzdGBJzYTm9AH8QeIxCUgcc67Gbg1aO3-jiw7jpxNb8JGMLnu-YsIcnX8/s200/Tigerboy+ebook+cover1.png" width="145" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0_OU7YzFMZEq9-708U8gHE2USBpGP5d5In5vqML7jK__125FBvpeh1k7TqFIaP9_XEQpcpQSicC4kFvrIh-pcMrrWGIBFmaLoeJNLLSaUYLWhopwQyLlRAyM1XmKqtM5YPHnf1lv4f-2F/s1600/Dark_Unicorn_Cover_for_Kindle.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0_OU7YzFMZEq9-708U8gHE2USBpGP5d5In5vqML7jK__125FBvpeh1k7TqFIaP9_XEQpcpQSicC4kFvrIh-pcMrrWGIBFmaLoeJNLLSaUYLWhopwQyLlRAyM1XmKqtM5YPHnf1lv4f-2F/s200/Dark_Unicorn_Cover_for_Kindle.png" width="133" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhntrf6Ck_XOKEehYe3lRgvLONAnHV9MSWybdmRtxsoy5oyyGYHPG3kk1RaJRTuyDty5QtZrH7OpiYbkOh7_0QEXb4tm7woeF9Pc-1GbsKyEUJUf6eRRYdjHfDDusyoOhxiLov4-sIqjhUG/s1600/The+Superhero+Chronicles+sample+ebook+cover+art.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhntrf6Ck_XOKEehYe3lRgvLONAnHV9MSWybdmRtxsoy5oyyGYHPG3kk1RaJRTuyDty5QtZrH7OpiYbkOh7_0QEXb4tm7woeF9Pc-1GbsKyEUJUf6eRRYdjHfDDusyoOhxiLov4-sIqjhUG/s200/The+Superhero+Chronicles+sample+ebook+cover+art.png" width="139" /></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd-L9XTh9CH8uETvG-lkYYF5WJTf4AvA-SvDdBHEtFz7LD4ctqV81bboOhIgcs_2fzCZBd3vS5BO-fpatorw8ZiIOmAg9SVZZbU2CPFX0TFvDG8D0C16t3xSomEI4YqR0-az5t193zJSS3/s1600/A+Heros+Adventure+EBook+Cover+2.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd-L9XTh9CH8uETvG-lkYYF5WJTf4AvA-SvDdBHEtFz7LD4ctqV81bboOhIgcs_2fzCZBd3vS5BO-fpatorw8ZiIOmAg9SVZZbU2CPFX0TFvDG8D0C16t3xSomEI4YqR0-az5t193zJSS3/s200/A+Heros+Adventure+EBook+Cover+2.png" width="138" /></a><br />
Children who contributed to the anthology have been very excited about it and very positive about the experience and are pushing me to start taking stories for another anthology. I only create these anthologies written and illustrated by kids FOR the kids, so the positive responses I am getting from them makes it worthwhile, even though it takes a lot more work than any of the other anthologies. The whole point of the <a href="http://www.facebook.com/talismanchronicles" target="_blank">Kids' Chronicles</a> series of anthologies is to encourage children to write, and to build up their confidence in their story-telling abilities, so with these goals in mind, the anthologies have been a success.<br />
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Both Isabella and Cameron have had really wonderful responses to their books and both of them have gained some real fans of their books, kids who can't wait for them to write sequels to their stories.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEYV9Do6n2hfzzVJBJ18fzr3Y4RwbG4DIPEEvGQxsk0kLgnDygEhF5VLF7-g81B0N-GNfvR6Zq6v5tIVaxYBjeKnld5zd5iC39j5foSqcPyRHDQm6dQep7Jbf36es-azwaWNY8Ts0k9njy/s1600/SuperHERo+Tales+2+final+ebook+cover.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEYV9Do6n2hfzzVJBJ18fzr3Y4RwbG4DIPEEvGQxsk0kLgnDygEhF5VLF7-g81B0N-GNfvR6Zq6v5tIVaxYBjeKnld5zd5iC39j5foSqcPyRHDQm6dQep7Jbf36es-azwaWNY8Ts0k9njy/s200/SuperHERo+Tales+2+final+ebook+cover.png" width="133" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRvvan9x19AK3vvxd1y7breQ3-ygbdy2nyHzPrMUtUpis4l6acDjd2SN_yRGoBCn64PgUYm1E_Rop4wiAoPilrxirb2Vmz0qNC9fbvhX8hvgaSCgu5HVM5OjAxkbxZId_FMpkdxQeSpZYR/s1600/Teapot+Tales+3+Final+EBookCover.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRvvan9x19AK3vvxd1y7breQ3-ygbdy2nyHzPrMUtUpis4l6acDjd2SN_yRGoBCn64PgUYm1E_Rop4wiAoPilrxirb2Vmz0qNC9fbvhX8hvgaSCgu5HVM5OjAxkbxZId_FMpkdxQeSpZYR/s200/Teapot+Tales+3+Final+EBookCover.png" width="129" /></a></div>
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4 - Through <a href="http://www.melusinemusepress.com/" target="_blank">Melusine Muse Press</a>, I published two anthologies this year - the third volume of Teapot Tales, "<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Teapot-Tales-Collection-Unusual-Fairy/dp/1519452837" target="_blank">Teapot Tales: A Collection of Unusual Fairy Tales</a>" with proceeds that go towards the <a href="http://www.chapterbookchallenge.com/" target="_blank">Chapter Book Challenge (ChaBooCha)</a> and the second volume of "<a href="http://www.amazon.com/SuperHERo-Tales-Collection-Superhero-anthologies/dp/1514144239" target="_blank">SuperHERo Tales: A Collection of Female Superhero Stories</a>" with proceeds that go towards the charity <a href="https://plan-international.org/what-we-do/because-i-am-girl" target="_blank">Because I am a Girl</a> (which helps girls in 3rd world countries).<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4mCsq_2cTD7eayn-p_lLGRgoYvAttfCY-9jO1_XL5C_LdwoHbAFJUEXz4tDo_K_ZeuIuxpEH-F2FKzv0eOB33PBoTQLEFEj7iVX0qW6Qh8o_jCINEMpxWDZ-XCDIXy9FdMq5xSqw7w_mo/s1600/Mermaids+Muse+sample+ebook+cover1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4mCsq_2cTD7eayn-p_lLGRgoYvAttfCY-9jO1_XL5C_LdwoHbAFJUEXz4tDo_K_ZeuIuxpEH-F2FKzv0eOB33PBoTQLEFEj7iVX0qW6Qh8o_jCINEMpxWDZ-XCDIXy9FdMq5xSqw7w_mo/s200/Mermaids+Muse+sample+ebook+cover1.png" width="147" /></a></div>
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5 - I started compiling all of my mermaid stories into one collection, and created the book cover for it. With some editing and formatting, and then sending out to beta readers, I might be able to get this collection, <a href="http://mermaidsmuse.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Mermaid's Muse</a>, out in early 2016.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-9zeVxYPEoNMaPCvMcLs0Qi_sFUxc5Hfda_WIcLFSRXKbsGNC1hPc76FxQdoocZhUtUDTHz58cwq4l0Pc4jtYVfMq9AtFq23BNEbVs3VJD-OM2JdHVPBRYijLrOguD0YkQfGV716VQI1a/s1600/Ink+Sample+ebook+cover.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-9zeVxYPEoNMaPCvMcLs0Qi_sFUxc5Hfda_WIcLFSRXKbsGNC1hPc76FxQdoocZhUtUDTHz58cwq4l0Pc4jtYVfMq9AtFq23BNEbVs3VJD-OM2JdHVPBRYijLrOguD0YkQfGV716VQI1a/s200/Ink+Sample+ebook+cover.png" width="138" /></a></div>
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6 - While my novel "Ink" was set on the back burner for this year, I spent this year's NaNoWriMo working on a series of novellas that are set in the same world as "Ink." There were seven novels I worked on, in total. I think three of them will develop into full-length novels. None of them are complete yet, but I found myself getting wrapped up in this fictional world of my creation again, and I am really enjoying writing about characters who live in this world, these female heroes who are determined to do something good and worthwhile to make this crazy world they live in a better place.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikq2TvSIyxisTSlQZSX71NXcOwvv_19mEK4JReAnHKasxoZOPU5-rNTMUbkBPeWlKZ40cKPcPSsOEQ7UJVueSSWbnpZVyI9TYiTuNKBdvGwqrObLiWZGd9Im3R1AAyjphuWO8u3dPiaALr/s1600/Melusine_Muse_Press_Color+no+border.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikq2TvSIyxisTSlQZSX71NXcOwvv_19mEK4JReAnHKasxoZOPU5-rNTMUbkBPeWlKZ40cKPcPSsOEQ7UJVueSSWbnpZVyI9TYiTuNKBdvGwqrObLiWZGd9Im3R1AAyjphuWO8u3dPiaALr/s200/Melusine_Muse_Press_Color+no+border.png" width="137" /></a></div>
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7 - I did not send out any queries this year, which might sound like a failure rather than a success, except for the fact that I used this year to work on improving my writing and on improving the stories I have already written. I'm also not sure I want to send my stories off for someone else to judge and possibly publish, because I really like having the creative control over my books, the kind of creative control that one can only get through self-publishing. I have improved in every area of my formatting and publishing skills in the meantime. I just haven't fully decided yet which road I will take when it comes to publishing my novels. I may, in the end, decide to go the hybrid route, but that hasn't been decided yet.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipwCSEYfBOi9eYXfBsLPSohlQIGq6U_cM4rHQrnbceJygk0rR25PAChhQw7HbfmEZAoU359q5iD20082mObYVTY4SIovfTzQZkqYKtvEAZp_dPXdu66tL3SFy82WxWV3n_s0AKteQRxsh2/s1600/ChaBooCha+2015+Badge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipwCSEYfBOi9eYXfBsLPSohlQIGq6U_cM4rHQrnbceJygk0rR25PAChhQw7HbfmEZAoU359q5iD20082mObYVTY4SIovfTzQZkqYKtvEAZp_dPXdu66tL3SFy82WxWV3n_s0AKteQRxsh2/s200/ChaBooCha+2015+Badge.jpg" width="139" /></a></div>
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8 - I managed to get some wonderful authors, many of them well-known, such as Tamora Pierce, Darren Shan, Lee Wardlaw, Wendy Orr, Patti Larsen, Adam Wallace and Nancy I. Sanders to guest post on the <a href="http://www.chapterbookchallenge.com/" target="_blank">Chapter Book Challenge</a> last March. With only around 300 participants, it would have been a simple thing for these very busy authors to turn me down, but they didn't, and I'm such a fan-girl! The only problem with getting big-name authors to guest post during 2015 is figuring out HOW I am going to top it for 2016's challenge! (If any of my friends and followers happen to be friends with J. K. Rowling, Meg Cabot or Neil Gaiman, please put in a good word with them about the Chapter Book Challenge and get them in touch with me.)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikowhrbuiDes7ZNwIUsOlOMeCOnt3CWOeoLkra0LOaHjfeIF0MqD4CqcuVSRIXeZKwM9XuDnro1aqiEgDhPz5wKaIXjtqklQ2yc4ms8U62zdJrcYxROqR5w7axB4OSmgxwOz6vjTNR7kL3/s1600/FLICKERFINN.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikowhrbuiDes7ZNwIUsOlOMeCOnt3CWOeoLkra0LOaHjfeIF0MqD4CqcuVSRIXeZKwM9XuDnro1aqiEgDhPz5wKaIXjtqklQ2yc4ms8U62zdJrcYxROqR5w7axB4OSmgxwOz6vjTNR7kL3/s200/FLICKERFINN.png" width="141" /></a></div>
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9 - I started <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/1645837858965975/" target="_blank">a group</a> to discuss a plan for something I think would be really great. The whole point of the SuperHERo Tales anthologies is to increase the amount of female superheroes out there in media for little girls to look up to. It doesn't solve the problem of there not being enough merchandise featuring female superheroes though. An idea I had for something to crowdfund was to take the characters created by different authors within the anthologies and have them made into action figures and/or resin figurines - the kind kids can play with. The idea is there and, so far, I have permission to create about 13 of the characters. But, in order to get started, I need to find an artist skilled in creating 3D figures, a company that can create these figures in limited runs, and somehow get a really compelling video made that will encourage people to contribute to the campaign. I need to work out the costs, and and it all needs to be affordable so that people won't have to pay much more than what a collectible toy figure would normally cost. I have not managed to figure any of the details out yet, but the idea is there and I've done quite a lot of research on it so far. (I am open to suggestions.)<br />
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<a class="twitter-share-button" data-count="none" data-related="story_magic" data-via="moonduster" href="http://twitter.com/share">Tweet</a><script src="http://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" type="text/javascript"></script>Becky Fyfehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01595020500346331076noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4661445706008045286.post-67911071591424822852015-08-03T04:06:00.002-07:002015-08-04T08:44:35.599-07:00Idea-generating for the Fae World anthology series #FaeWorld<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-DR019G9VLCZOUedD7kFl95raxoz9Uwa7RTA23GPaYCaDUIEWh3ZGuk9Pi0eMfASGBxH4nF_8qlDNlrB_3x7_lRqVjITuze6e7iq156WA6_g18yi2oqlQvikbbj7KtwB__pY7yF3S774c/s1600/Banner+of+all+three+Fae+World+anthologies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="219" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-DR019G9VLCZOUedD7kFl95raxoz9Uwa7RTA23GPaYCaDUIEWh3ZGuk9Pi0eMfASGBxH4nF_8qlDNlrB_3x7_lRqVjITuze6e7iq156WA6_g18yi2oqlQvikbbj7KtwB__pY7yF3S774c/s640/Banner+of+all+three+Fae+World+anthologies.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Do you plan on submitting some stories for the Fae World anthology series? You can refer to the post <a href="http://melusinemusepress.blogspot.co.uk/2014/10/about-fae-world-and-its-four-courts-for.html" target="_blank">about the Fae World</a> for more information on the world you will be setting your story in and you can refer to <a href="http://melusinemusepress.blogspot.co.uk/2014/02/now-taking-submissions-for-world-of-fae.html" target="_blank">the submission page</a> to find out more about the <a href="http://melusinemusepress.blogspot.co.uk/p/formatting-your-submissions-for.html" target="_blank">rules for submissions</a> for this anthology series.<br />
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzVFo_Qr_L4_BsMejVuqMX-Lzek1ha6ZqrEHQmmuM6H53cP59xxRdP7G0-m0h9bDNN5Ly1LLDYWKMImxeHDpaavr-tdxTsz8Jr54WmKCOzDp9PKV8dTY0yQtci7zNQo3dAjQm0UPliFagz/s1600/Fawn+0f36f866561eec9e2518e6a1dc33345d.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzVFo_Qr_L4_BsMejVuqMX-Lzek1ha6ZqrEHQmmuM6H53cP59xxRdP7G0-m0h9bDNN5Ly1LLDYWKMImxeHDpaavr-tdxTsz8Jr54WmKCOzDp9PKV8dTY0yQtci7zNQo3dAjQm0UPliFagz/s200/Fawn+0f36f866561eec9e2518e6a1dc33345d.jpg" width="130" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><a href="https://www.pinterest.com/pin/42432421466747664/" target="_blank">From Pinterest board</a></span></i></td></tr>
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You might be finding it difficult to come up with an original idea for your story. To help generate ideas, there is a wonderful <a href="https://www.pinterest.com/rebeccafyfe/magical-realm-faeries-elves-unicorns-more/" target="_blank">Pinterest board</a>, full of fantastical creatures and magical images, for you to peruse.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtGddy1qa6QBJGDq3B3aF6QYF5wJrCi_byZvk8M9ntLeYJc-bJuPBhALWeK_qGQgSjqUHOwBXioqXWfUV6S0MZNIaMQQ-ST3rtph-bnwv1YsFp2j5ElCMZp57p1t9JotfQoBWdGued16Rk/s1600/Mermaid+and+harpy+male+6abbc0609edb3e1b7efc26e7be69cfdc.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtGddy1qa6QBJGDq3B3aF6QYF5wJrCi_byZvk8M9ntLeYJc-bJuPBhALWeK_qGQgSjqUHOwBXioqXWfUV6S0MZNIaMQQ-ST3rtph-bnwv1YsFp2j5ElCMZp57p1t9JotfQoBWdGued16Rk/s200/Mermaid+and+harpy+male+6abbc0609edb3e1b7efc26e7be69cfdc.jpg" width="111" /></span></a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.pinterest.com/pin/42432421466676001/" target="_blank"><span style="color: black; font-size: small;">From the Pinterest board</span></a></td></tr>
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<a href="http://melusinemusepress.blogspot.co.uk/p/formatting-your-submissions-for.html" target="_blank">Formatting your submission</a><br />
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<a href="http://melusinemusepress.blogspot.co.uk/2014/02/now-taking-submissions-for-world-of-fae.html" target="_blank">Now taking submissions for the Fae World anthology series</a><br />
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<a href="http://melusinemusepress.blogspot.co.uk/2014/10/about-fae-world-and-its-four-courts-for.html" target="_blank">About the Fae World and its four courts for the Fae World anthology series</a><br />
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<a href="https://www.pinterest.com/rebeccafyfe/magical-realm-faeries-elves-unicorns-more/" target="_blank">Pinterest: Magical Realm: Faeries, Elves, Unicorns and more</a><br />
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<a href="https://www.pinterest.com/pin/42432421466779229/" target="_blank">Quick visual anthology of some mythical creatures</a><br />
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<a class="twitter-share-button" data-count="none" data-related="story_magic" data-via="moonduster" href="http://twitter.com/share">Tweet</a><script src="http://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" type="text/javascript"></script>Becky Fyfehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01595020500346331076noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4661445706008045286.post-5447883194865203902015-02-24T04:04:00.000-08:002015-02-24T04:04:06.174-08:00Fae World anthology series - Melusine Muse Press still taking submissions! #FaeWorld<div style="text-align: center;">
We are taking submissions for the Fae World series of anthologies.</div>
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<b style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit; line-height: 20px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><u><br /></u></span></b><b style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit; line-height: 20px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><u>Fae World </u> </span></b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnKJddJaXCU4HCorRwWHQN-884NHRNdru_OkbfBMX-pDVVUoF3He4zcfR7XaEiY0EQtbP6LGNqTCzFkZ1lX_te3yuXubNWanjqVYqGiQ_TNrwSi0kk1JOh895Hkmpome5Slne9SHrHNtaA/s1600/Faeries+of+the+Spring+Court+e-book+cover1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnKJddJaXCU4HCorRwWHQN-884NHRNdru_OkbfBMX-pDVVUoF3He4zcfR7XaEiY0EQtbP6LGNqTCzFkZ1lX_te3yuXubNWanjqVYqGiQ_TNrwSi0kk1JOh895Hkmpome5Slne9SHrHNtaA/s1600/Faeries+of+the+Spring+Court+e-book+cover1.jpg" height="200" width="141" /></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.4799995422363px;"><span style="line-height: 20px;"><span style="font-size: 15px;"> </span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><br />This anthology will either be one large anthology or four smaller ones. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.4799995422363px;"><span style="line-height: 20px;"><span style="font-size: 15px;"><br /></span></span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.4799995422363px;"></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.4799995422363px;"><span style="line-height: 20px;"><span style="font-size: 15px;">The four themes are <span style="color: orange;"><b>Autumn Court</b></span>, <span style="color: #3d85c6;"><b>Winter Court</b></span>, <span style="color: #38761d;"><b>Spring Court</b></span> and <span style="color: red;"><b>Summer Court</b></span> and may include both dark and light Fae (Seelie and Unseelie). </span></span></span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDBlVzg82TwCnFxQ39_5EMB6gHrVxJCATFQhHIbSYUT83vqi2Qxu-kDPyzSSDU6TP0hW47hwq43W2mJDYOOOqwaqHlCQUuty8ZHmQexu9H39V9Ej__pWG-GxucOdu2dLZA44vXT0Nm2u15/s1600/Faeries+of+the+Summer+Court+e-book+cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDBlVzg82TwCnFxQ39_5EMB6gHrVxJCATFQhHIbSYUT83vqi2Qxu-kDPyzSSDU6TP0hW47hwq43W2mJDYOOOqwaqHlCQUuty8ZHmQexu9H39V9Ej__pWG-GxucOdu2dLZA44vXT0Nm2u15/s1600/Faeries+of+the+Summer+Court+e-book+cover.jpg" height="200" width="141" /></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.4799995422363px;"><span style="line-height: 20px;"><span style="font-size: 15px;"><br /></span></span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.4799995422363px;"></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.4799995422363px;"><span style="line-height: 20px;"><span style="font-size: 15px;">The word count should be between 300 and 3,000 words. </span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.4799995422363px;"><span style="line-height: 20px;"><span style="font-size: 15px;"><br /></span></span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.4799995422363px;"></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.4799995422363px;"><span style="line-height: 20px;"><span style="font-size: 15px;">Not all submissions will be accepted. </span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.4799995422363px;"><span style="line-height: 20px;"><span style="font-size: 15px;"><br /></span></span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.4799995422363px;"></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.4799995422363px;"><span style="line-height: 20px;"><span style="font-size: 15px;">These are adult stories, but </span></span><i style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">gratuitous</i><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"> sex, </span><i style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">gratuitous</i><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"> foul language and </span><i style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">gratuitous</i><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"> violence will earn a rejection. </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.4799995422363px;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><br /></span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.4799995422363px;"></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.4799995422363px;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">Depending on the quality of the stories sent in, there will either be a one volume, 50+-story anthology or four volumes with 25 to 35 stories in each (depending on average length of stories). </span></span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidgdjF7YVYXci9_n9C8j7Cs96xJGl-e53XphV6H6ejVmtV7OMfVUJ-ZaQTSW-s5aOpbgsroWfSSJb2akribVsTYDWRnK6xD9Kz1UtPc2NXAI6n4H-5axwTagJ_VKhcs1jawxTXnXC0WHH8/s1600/Faeries+of+the+Autumn+Court+e-book+cover2e.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidgdjF7YVYXci9_n9C8j7Cs96xJGl-e53XphV6H6ejVmtV7OMfVUJ-ZaQTSW-s5aOpbgsroWfSSJb2akribVsTYDWRnK6xD9Kz1UtPc2NXAI6n4H-5axwTagJ_VKhcs1jawxTXnXC0WHH8/s1600/Faeries+of+the+Autumn+Court+e-book+cover2e.jpg" height="200" width="141" /></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.4799995422363px;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><br /></span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.4799995422363px;"></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.4799995422363px;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">At this moment, I cannot afford to pay for stories that are accepted, but there will be a $10 Amazon gift certificate awarded to the best story in each category ("court") and a $25 gift certificate for the best story overall. (The overall winner will be ineligible for the section winner prizes. That means that there will be four $10 winners and one $25 winner.)</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.4799995422363px;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><br /></span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.4799995422363px;"></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.4799995422363px;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><b><span style="color: red;">For now, the closing date remains open.</span></b><span style="color: #222222;"> Submissions will remain open until the correct number of acceptable stories is reached. </span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.4799995422363px;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><br /></span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.4799995422363px;"></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.4799995422363px;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">Once all stories have been chosen for the anthology, winners will be chosen. Winners will get winner badges for their blogs or websites. </span></span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXRpiyf5O4RaeSPpr7FEhUxD3wldONBDXLNfAohq-Tux6OjgJGNVTDBQl_jW8GIOGdLueTXNjghVdc7K7HeMlZtIDv2F1D8h-SJ7JpsSaaHKOhEMFTrRmTeVJN4m55-uc9SPfmzAQs4Yv7/s1600/Fairies+of+the+Winter+Court+e-book+cover1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXRpiyf5O4RaeSPpr7FEhUxD3wldONBDXLNfAohq-Tux6OjgJGNVTDBQl_jW8GIOGdLueTXNjghVdc7K7HeMlZtIDv2F1D8h-SJ7JpsSaaHKOhEMFTrRmTeVJN4m55-uc9SPfmzAQs4Yv7/s1600/Fairies+of+the+Winter+Court+e-book+cover1.jpg" height="200" width="140" /></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.4799995422363px;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><br /></span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.4799995422363px;"></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.4799995422363px;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">I am hoping to be able to begin work on the anthology during 2015, so the earlier submissions come in, the better.<br /><br />You may submit multiple stories. Please follow the <a href="http://melusinemusepress.blogspot.com/p/formatting-your-submissions-for.html" target="_blank">guidelines for submissions</a>.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.4799995422363px;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><br /></span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.4799995422363px;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">E-mail stories to Rebecca (at) Fyfe (dot) net</span></span><br />
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<i>Authors retain all rights to submitted stories. If your story is accepted, you will be e-mailed a contract.</i></div>
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<a class="twitter-share-button" data-count="none" data-related="story_magic" data-via="moonduster" href="http://twitter.com/share">Tweet</a><script src="http://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" type="text/javascript"></script>Becky Fyfehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01595020500346331076noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4661445706008045286.post-33757698838063671582015-02-10T01:00:00.000-08:002015-02-10T14:31:47.060-08:00Cursed by Fire by Danielle Annett - Review<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjf_HD0ucOt6iBsTdsxsK58pgDYJC-W6-MT3wkDIgcBPqUVmHkC6-dSeLnUZL3fcYR-iCdkXiYsnT0j5acT55xuATRVKIxPOv6hHKmbhBPzYynIlGKJNJFitSK-OLyp-d97vnmoES-CApy/s1600/CursedFire_Available.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjf_HD0ucOt6iBsTdsxsK58pgDYJC-W6-MT3wkDIgcBPqUVmHkC6-dSeLnUZL3fcYR-iCdkXiYsnT0j5acT55xuATRVKIxPOv6hHKmbhBPzYynIlGKJNJFitSK-OLyp-d97vnmoES-CApy/s1600/CursedFire_Available.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Book Blast & Review for Cursed by Fire<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Release Date: January 28<sup>th</sup>, 2015<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Blurb: <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">It has been six years since the Awakening and
peace in Spokane, Washington is still tenuous at best. The vampires and
shifters are all vying for control of the city and the humans seem to be the
ones suffering the consequences, or so it seems.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Aria Naveed has spent the last two years of
her life fighting to make the many wrongs of the world right, but soon finds
out that the humans aren’t as weak as they appear and may be a more terrifying
foe than any of the other races combined.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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on his heels, Aria finds herself trapped in the middle of a battle that could
cost her more than she has bargained for as a fight for justice turns into an
unexpected fight for her life.</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Behind the scenes look at how
Cursed by Fire’s cover came to be:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: large;">Giveaway:</span><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Print copy
of Cursed by Fire and 3 e-copies<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a class="rcptr" data-raflid="cc7ac88065" data-template="" data-theme="classic" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/cc7ac88065/" id="rcwidget_tgx2y7y8" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLE97wCLTBCOKC2JqCMAgW27s6rt0975g7hFzgRlPjUb2FOogETIcfZOiI-gaxSooTHQ__cLNCMsBKonhewuHeSLFdMeq0w7cNZnkY4SR8JL5-Nw2ZT4C3blT5_J0zZLZDaTJBATvZ2dFx/s1600/Danielle+Annett.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLE97wCLTBCOKC2JqCMAgW27s6rt0975g7hFzgRlPjUb2FOogETIcfZOiI-gaxSooTHQ__cLNCMsBKonhewuHeSLFdMeq0w7cNZnkY4SR8JL5-Nw2ZT4C3blT5_J0zZLZDaTJBATvZ2dFx/s1600/Danielle+Annett.jpg" height="200" width="200" /></a></div>
<b><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: large;">About Danielle Annett</span><br />
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Danielle Annett is a reader, writer, photographer, and the blogger behind
Coffee </span><br />
<a class="twitter-share-button" data-count="none" data-related="story_magic" data-via="moonduster" href="http://twitter.com/share">Tweet</a><script src="http://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" type="text/javascript"></script><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7X7VZG6ywGwAkleS9Ym9mev90r0B9TlYpz12LHdcqLojlk8NDWRK8FDvU9KCXsD6cXS381YBxgtGBPCRKUsDNt_PLkuctvKFQXrZBtvD_mZwBRutf6SEtbR5msvGTba8Htaoc_4oJ-uMt/s1600/CursedFire_teaser1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7X7VZG6ywGwAkleS9Ym9mev90r0B9TlYpz12LHdcqLojlk8NDWRK8FDvU9KCXsD6cXS381YBxgtGBPCRKUsDNt_PLkuctvKFQXrZBtvD_mZwBRutf6SEtbR5msvGTba8Htaoc_4oJ-uMt/s1600/CursedFire_teaser1.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">My review:</span></b></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.8000001907349px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">I need to preface this by stating that Danielle is my cousin (the daughter of a first cousin), and I have known her since she was a baby. However, this book is in my favorite genre, and I have given the review my honest opinion despite the fact that she is extended family.<br /><br />I really enjoyed reading this début novel by author Danielle Annett. It is in a genre I normally enjoy and Danielle did not disappoint.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.8000001907349px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">I'm struggling with how to write this review without giving anything away from the plot. But I will try.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.8000001907349px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;"><b>The book's appearance:</b></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.8000001907349px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">I think the cover is beautiful. And the interior formatting is well-done, and there are some nice accents on the pages as well. This is the kind of cover that, if I saw this book in the book store, would definitely draw my attention.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.8000001907349px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;"><b>The editing/proofreading:</b></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.8000001907349px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">There were a few grammatical mistakes, which, as an editor, I couldn't help but notice, however, there weren't enough of them to pull me, as a reader, out of the story, and thus not enough to affect my rating of the book. Most readers probably won't even notice them.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.8000001907349px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;"><b>The story:</b></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.8000001907349px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">I had trouble really sinking into the story in the beginning. That might just be because I have been ill with a really bad head cold though, so it took me longer to focus on what I was reading. Despite my head cold, a little ways into the book, I was fully immersed in the world Danielle created in this novel.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.8000001907349px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">I love the interactions between Aria and the different men in the story, and I like the action that started to come much more quickly as the story went along. There were some great twists and unexpected events in the story which helped to keep the story from being too clichéd.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.8000001907349px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">There were moments when emotions were pulled from me as I read the story and, by the time I finished the novel, I was sorry to come to the end. I really, really hope that the second in this series won't take too long to write. I wish I could read it right now!</span></div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20564142-cursed-by-fire?from_search=true"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20564142-cursed-by-fire?from_search=true</span></a><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Kindle: </span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Cursed-Fire-Blood-Magic-Book-ebook/dp/B00QKYB57M/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1421730354&sr=8-2&keywords=cursed+by+fire"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">http://www.amazon.com/Cursed-Fire-Blood-Magic-Book-ebook/dp/B00QKYB57M/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1421730354&sr=8-2&keywords=cursed+by+fire</span></a><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br />Becky Fyfehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01595020500346331076noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4661445706008045286.post-49270769648564661132015-02-10T00:30:00.001-08:002015-02-10T14:31:28.308-08:00The Bad Picture Book Blog Hop - Day2<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">The Bad Picture Book Blog Hop - Day 2 </span></b></div>
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Today marks the second day of The "Bad" Picture Book Blog Hop! "Bad" as in Picture books that were created in High School or before. This blog hop is just for fun and giggles. Dani Duck am the organizer of this blog hop.<br />
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Here is the list so far:<br />
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Feb 9 - Dani Duck <a href="http://daniduckart.blogspot.ca/" style="color: #7d181e; text-decoration: none;">http://daniduckart.blogspot.ca/</a><br />
Feb 10- Becky Fyfe <a href="http://imaginecreatewrite.blogspot.ca/" style="color: #7d181e; text-decoration: none;">http://imaginecreatewrite.blogspot.ca/</a><br />
Feb 11- Marcie Colleen <a href="http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwriteroutine.blogspot.com%2F&h=oAQFLLxsv" style="color: #d52a33;">http://writeroutine.blogspot.com</a><br />
Feb 12- Mandy Yates <a href="http://www.childrensbookacademy.com/mondays-with-mandy-or-mira" style="color: #7d181e; text-decoration: none;">http://www.childrensbookacademy.com/mondays-with-mandy-or-mira</a><br />
Feb 13- Sylvia Liu <a href="http://www.sylvialiuland.com/" style="color: #7d181e; text-decoration: none;">www.sylvialiuland.com</a><br />
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Feb 16 Rachel Elizabeth Cole <a href="http://www.rachelelizabethcole.com/" style="color: #7d181e; text-decoration: none;">http://www.rachelelizabethcole.com/</a><br />
Feb 17 Annina Wildermuth <a href="https://allmycharacters.wordpress.com/" style="color: #7d181e; text-decoration: none;">https://allmycharacters.wordpress.com/</a><br />
Feb 18 Teresa MI Schaefer <a href="http://www.teresamischaefer.com/#!blog/c66p" style="color: #7d181e; text-decoration: none;">http://www.teresamischaefer.com/#!blog/c66p</a>
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Unfortunately, due to many moves over my lifetime (one overseas), I was unable to find any of the books I wrote when I was younger. But I can tell you about some of them.<br />
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I remember finding a piece of writing I did when I was around 10 or 11. I had written it soon after our family cat, Bibsy, had died. The story began with the death of my character's cat which left her heartbroken and then went on to become a monotonous litany of all of the animals, both domestic and wild that my character kept finding, helping and keeping as pets.<br />
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In junior high, I was required to write a picture book. I had no drawing ability. This was required of me on two separate occasions. The first one I wrote was a very forgettable story about a dog - the topic chosen because I could draw a very simple cartoon dog in only one pose. For the second one, I used my Polaroid camera. I knew a three year old girl who was absolutely adorable, so I dressed her up in rags and took pictures of her near a creek and wrote a really trite little story about a girl raised by wolves. I even had a dog to pose as one of the wolves in my photos - a sheltie. Ha!<br />
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If I ever do find those stories, I will come back and post some pictures from them here. Trust me - you'll laugh!<br />
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<a class="twitter-share-button" data-count="none" data-related="story_magic" data-via="moonduster" href="http://twitter.com/share">Tweet</a><script src="http://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" type="text/javascript"></script>Becky Fyfehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01595020500346331076noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4661445706008045286.post-4017340272447957982015-01-01T07:18:00.000-08:002015-01-01T07:18:27.405-08:002015 - A New Year<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlu56SQ2yLuLnd1Ezk70v6QxTZkE2cimc8IxsBf8PBwCw2YOEyVua_RMV6XsEW3-f9jpBpDfTuuYhkOqu9cghhE7b0wIo93aykM0GuzNFaNDq3Aex8x9fsTzqnmxpjePpVwxyAt1tuIeR9/s1600/Happy+New+Year+2015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlu56SQ2yLuLnd1Ezk70v6QxTZkE2cimc8IxsBf8PBwCw2YOEyVua_RMV6XsEW3-f9jpBpDfTuuYhkOqu9cghhE7b0wIo93aykM0GuzNFaNDq3Aex8x9fsTzqnmxpjePpVwxyAt1tuIeR9/s1600/Happy+New+Year+2015.jpg" height="320" width="311" /></a></div>
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There is an increasing trend for people to denigrate the idea of making New Year's resolutions. This makes no sense to me as I don't see anything wrong with taking stock in the new year and looking at what we have achieved and what we still want to achieve. "Resolutions" is just another word for "goals." What is wrong with making goals? </div>
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Some of the nay-sayers point out that many people make these resolutions and then forget about them. While it's sad that they forget their resolutions and don't make any strides towards achieving them, that doesn't make resolution-making (or goal-setting) as a whole a bad thing. Some people are better at sticking to their goals and working towards their goals than others - It doesn't matter what time of the year you set your goals; this fact will still be true.</div>
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So if you are making new year's resolutions (and it doesn't matter if you call them resolutions, goals or a to-do list), just keep one thing in mind while you do; these goals you are making are meant to be worked towards throughout the year, not just set and then forgotten.</div>
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<b>Here are my writing-and-publishing-related goals for 2015:</b></div>
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1. Edit, revise, re-write and otherwise make my novel "Ink" ready for publication and publish it.</div>
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2. Edit, revise, re-write, add pictures and otherwise make my non-fiction book "<a href="http://www.skinnydreaming.com/" target="_blank">The 28 Day Fitness Challenge</a>" and its accompanying food journal ready for publication and publish it.</div>
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3. Edit, revise, re-write, illustrate and otherwise make my collection of mermaid-themed stories "<a href="https://www.facebook.com/theMermaidsMuse" target="_blank">Mermaid's Muse</a>" ready for publication and publish it.</div>
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4. Grow <a href="http://www.melusinemusepress.com/" target="_blank">Melusine Muse Press</a>. (Below are possible ways to do so, in no particular order.)</div>
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4a. Buy a large amount of ISBNs.<br /> 4b. Get the website created.<br /> 4c. Publish novels by others, not just in anthologies.</div>
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4d. Publish at least two picture books.</div>
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4e. Find out what things would work more efficiently when crowd-sourced.</div>
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4f. Work on press releases.</div>
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4g. Publish through venues other than just Amazon/CreateSpace/Kindle.</div>
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4h. Hire others to work for Melusine Muse Press.</div>
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4i. Check out small indie company grants.</div>
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4j. Crowdsourcing?</div>
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4k. Registering the company.</div>
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5. Work on my <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Daughters-of-Poseidon/249606301868218" target="_blank">Daughters of Poseidon series</a>. Get the first draft of book one in the series written.</div>
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6. Edit, revise and rewrite middle-grade book "The Day My Shadow Tried to Kill Me."<br /><br />7. Find and convince some amazing published authors, agents and editors to guest post for this year's <a href="http://www.chapterbookchallenge.com/" target="_blank">Chapter Book Challenge</a>.</div>
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8. Get all of the 2015 anthologies published no later than November 1st. (Finish publication of the two remaining 2014 anthologies - "SuperHERo Tales: Volume Two" (<a href="http://www.melusinemusepress.com/" target="_blank">Melusine Muse Press</a>) and "The Superhero Chronicles" (<a href="http://yourkidscreations.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Your Kids' Creations</a>) within January.)<br />
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9. Help more kids with their writing and publication goals through <a href="http://yourkidscreations.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Your Kids' Creations</a>. Maybe coordinate something with local schools. (Also get a new logo created for the site.)<br />
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10. Schedule my writing time into set periods of time throughout the day and do not deviate.<br />
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<a class="twitter-share-button" data-count="none" data-related="story_magic" data-via="moonduster" href="http://twitter.com/share">Tweet</a><script src="http://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" type="text/javascript"></script>Becky Fyfehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01595020500346331076noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4661445706008045286.post-56724665697255390602014-12-31T06:03:00.000-08:002015-01-01T06:38:10.292-08:0030 Days of Snippets from "Ink," my 2014 NaNoWriMo NovelDuring NaNoWriMo in November, I usually share a small excerpt or snippet from each day's writing on my Facebook profile and author page. Normally, on december 1st, right when NaNoWriMo has ended, I collect all of those snippets together into one big post sharing them here on the blog. I'm a little late doing it this year, but here it is.<br />
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Please keep in mind that these are all snippets from a FIRST DRAFT. These snippets might not even be in the completed novel, once it has gone through editing, revisions and rewrites. Or they might exist in completely different forms to what you read here. <br />
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Here they are:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoLsnpZM3HbCZp_7JzOzVVNnZ7a0Xdj1ejMzcGLaKUSjnst8OPydZ2RaJ3HsLwJYvwkL2j79EGxJAZWsjHL73abJzaYaDPNDGeL_RxAKU8GxT_ox8IUlfxpyF_c2ZtGeFI5pKKCAfZoxWf/s1600/Ink+Sample+ebook+cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoLsnpZM3HbCZp_7JzOzVVNnZ7a0Xdj1ejMzcGLaKUSjnst8OPydZ2RaJ3HsLwJYvwkL2j79EGxJAZWsjHL73abJzaYaDPNDGeL_RxAKU8GxT_ox8IUlfxpyF_c2ZtGeFI5pKKCAfZoxWf/s1600/Ink+Sample+ebook+cover.jpg" height="320" width="221" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">30 Days of Snippets from "Ink"</span></b></div>
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<b>Day 1:</b><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14.4444446563721px; line-height: 20px;">Of course, we don’t yet know what else is out there. When I think about how many fairy tale creatures like the taste of human meat,</span><span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #141823; display: inline; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14.4444446563721px; line-height: 20px;"> I become very scared for humanity. I like to think that it’s why my powers showed up when they did, so I can do something about it, so I can help save people. Maybe it’s so I can help even up the odds between Normals and Paranormals.</span><br />
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<b>Day 2:</b><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14.4444446563721px; line-height: 20px;">The vampire screeched and released me, moving a step back.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14.4444446563721px; line-height: 20px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14.4444446563721px; line-height: 20px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14.4444446563721px; line-height: 20px;">“What the hell are you?” he asked. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14.4444446563721px; line-height: 20px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14.4444446563721px; line-height: 20px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14.4444446563721px; line-height: 20px;">I didn’t answer him. I just spoke one word to my tiger. “Feast.” </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14.4444446563721px; line-height: 20px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14.4444446563721px; line-height: 20px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14.4444446563721px; line-height: 20px;">And my tiger did. By the time my tiger tattoo returned to its place on my upper arm, there was nothing left of the vampire. Once the tiger’s teeth had reached his heart, the vampire scattered into a million particles of dust.</span><br />
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<b>Day 3:</b><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14.4444446563721px; line-height: 20px;">“Stop that!” I could feel my eyes already starting to go black, my tattoos felt as though they wanted to come to life. I’d never felt that from them before. I shook my head and loosened my shoulders, concentrating briefly on stopping my metamorphosis. A secret identity wouldn’t do me any good if everyone in the park saw me change.</span><br />
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<b>Day 4: </b><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14.4444446563721px; line-height: 20px;">The corpse was of a woman, or what used to be a woman. At least, that’s what it looked like from what I could see. She was wearing a short red dress that was lifted up high on her thighs because of the way her legs were skewed. They were both laying at unnatural angles, as though they’</span><span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #141823; display: inline; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14.4444446563721px; line-height: 20px;">d been pulled out of socket and twisted. Her chest was covered in knife marks, as precise as scratches from a cat, only about ten times bigger and deeper. The killer had literally shredded her breasts, even pulling some of the bones of her ribcage loose.<br /><br />But the worst was her face, or what had once been her face. It looked like something had chewed her face off. Her neck was still intact, but there was nothing but a bloody, pulpy mess topped by long blonde, blood-soaked hair.<br /><br />I was thankful that I was still outside, because I’d read that the smell of blood would have turned my stomach even more. I didn’t want to find out if it was true.</span><br />
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<b>Day 5:</b><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQeHyVip_oOo1rzTXZNMzuR_CZi_0MOIhBvEtZu-Gt1TNmsba1UrtjAnYvsAq6iaQ0z5FphZeJcFdUdUiug6av6ivAl3UskUc0RgH74_trVj3g4ImFAQYRncWNN2SvZdIcxz804cpoKQQ3/s1600/Ink+Sample+Back+ebook+cover+sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQeHyVip_oOo1rzTXZNMzuR_CZi_0MOIhBvEtZu-Gt1TNmsba1UrtjAnYvsAq6iaQ0z5FphZeJcFdUdUiug6av6ivAl3UskUc0RgH74_trVj3g4ImFAQYRncWNN2SvZdIcxz804cpoKQQ3/s1600/Ink+Sample+Back+ebook+cover+sm.jpg" height="200" width="138" /></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14.4444446563721px; line-height: 20px;">I held the dagger like a pro. It was clear I knew how to use it. Black ink from the many tattoos I sported coalesced into dark, inky smoke which surrounded me, weaving through my hair, changing it from dark red to inky black. More of it swirled around my waist. Different shapes could be seen periodically in the black mist surrounding me, shapes of dragons and tigers and more, but none of it fully took form.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14.4444446563721px; line-height: 20px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14.4444446563721px; line-height: 20px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14.4444446563721px; line-height: 20px;">One of the tattoos on my face oozed and spun, changing shape, reforming into a dark mask over my eyes. Some of the tattoo ink covered my irises and the whites of my eyes. I knew it made my eyes look completely black.<br /></span><br />
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<b>Day 6:</b><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">I suppose if evil was something we could easily see in people, no one would get hurt because everyone would know who to stay away from. But it was never that easy. Evil has always sat amongst us, hiding itself in ordinary faces or charismatic personalities. It could reside in the politician you just voted for in the election, in the neighbor who smiles and says “good morning” to you each day, or in the bank official who helps you secure a loan for your dream house. Evil looks no different than kindness looks on a person’s face. Each heart has its own secrets, and we, the observer, cannot see what those secrets are just by peering into eyes and taking in the way someone appears. Appearances can, and often do, lie.</span><br />
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<b>Day 7:</b><br />
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I watched, horrified, as several large gashes opened up in the man’s chest, crossing from one armpit and down towards his waist on the other side. I couldn’t see what was attacking him; it was as if the very air itself was shredding him. He screamed, and it galvanized me into action.</div>
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I could feel my tattoos shifting and forming around me, disguising me. My dragon tattoo swirled into a mist from my thigh and materialized into a large dragon beside me. I knew my tiger was somewhere behind me as well. My dagger tattoos formed into daggers in each of my hands. My other tattoos just misted around me, cloaking me in shadows.</div>
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This only took seconds and yet, I could see that the man already had several more wounds opened up on him. It was as if someone was peeling his skin away, one slice at a time. I ran to him, but I didn’t know how to help. How do you fight what you can’t see?</div>
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<b>Day 8:</b><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14.4444446563721px; line-height: 20px;">“You’re the one who told me that my powers made me a superhero. You’re the one who told me I should use them to help people, that I had a responsibility to help others,” I reminded Jack. “I can’t help people if I’m so concerned about myself and my own problems that I give up at the first sign of trouble.”</span><br />
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<b>Day 9:</b><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14.4444446563721px; line-height: 20px;">I was frustrated with this whole case. Eventually, I went to bed and had troubled dreams only to wake up to hear on the news that yesterday’s victim had died from his injuries. I hadn’t saved him after all.</span><br />
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<b>Day 10:</b><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14.4444446563721px; line-height: 20px;">“No,” I shook my head. “What do you think about the figure in the smoke? Could it have been a ghost?”</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14.4444446563721px; line-height: 20px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14.4444446563721px; line-height: 20px;">“A ghost? You think a ghost killed that man? No way!”</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14.4444446563721px; line-height: 20px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14.4444446563721px; line-height: 20px;">“So it’s not possible?”</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14.4444446563721px; line-height: 20px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14.4444446563721px; line-height: 20px;">“Well,” she said, “it’s not possible that a ghost did it but there are other beings out there who might have been able to do it while maintaining an incorporeal form.”</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14.4444446563721px; line-height: 20px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14.4444446563721px; line-height: 20px;">“There are?” I didn’t keep the surprise out of my voice.</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14.4444446563721px; line-height: 20px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14.4444446563721px; line-height: 20px;">“Well, yah. Of course. You didn’t think ghosts were the only things out there did you?”</span><br />
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<b>Day 11:</b><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14.4444446563721px; line-height: 20px;">I knew my shoulders were stiff, and I could feel the muscles in my legs tense as if prepared for flight. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14.4444446563721px; line-height: 20px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14.4444446563721px; line-height: 20px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14.4444446563721px; line-height: 20px;">“Um, your eyes –“ Aerin looked worri</span><span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #141823; display: inline; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14.4444446563721px; line-height: 20px;">ed.<br /><br />Dang it! My eyes must have been turning black. My body ink seemed to be responding to my moods lately. I concentrated on pulling it back, and looked at Aerin with normal eyes a moment later.<br /><br />“Uh, what was that?”<br /><br />“Nothing,” I said, brushing past him.</span><br />
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<b>Day 12:</b><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14.4444446563721px; line-height: 20px;">He led us over to two men who were discussing something between themselves. I couldn’t help but cringe when I saw which two detectives we were about to be introduced to. I grabbed Aerin’s sleeve. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14.4444446563721px; line-height: 20px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14.4444446563721px; line-height: 20px;">“Uh, you don’t want the detectives to see me.”</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14.4444446563721px; line-height: 20px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14.4444446563721px; line-height: 20px;">“What do you mean? Why n</span><span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #141823; display: inline; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14.4444446563721px; line-height: 20px;">ot?” Aerin frowned slightly at me.</span><br />
<span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #141823; display: inline; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14.4444446563721px; line-height: 20px;"><br />“Because I was a witness to a murder recently and they treated me as a suspect.”</span><br />
<span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #141823; display: inline; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14.4444446563721px; line-height: 20px;"><br />He was about to say something back to me, but we were interrupted by the captain.</span><br />
<span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #141823; display: inline; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14.4444446563721px; line-height: 20px;"><br />“Detectives Mason and Detective James, this is Aerin Castle, the consultant I told you about, and this is, ah…” he looked at me, “I’m sorry, I didn’t catch your name.”</span><br />
<span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #141823; display: inline; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14.4444446563721px; line-height: 20px;"><br />My voice came out as almost a whisper. “Jasmine Storm.” I could see the surprise on both detectives’ faces as they turned to face me.</span><br />
<span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #141823; display: inline; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14.4444446563721px; line-height: 20px;"><br />“Miss Storm is an intern at the Paranormal Investigations Consultancy,” he explained to the detectives while I cringed internally.</span><br />
<span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #141823; display: inline; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14.4444446563721px; line-height: 20px;"><br /></span>
<span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #141823; display: inline; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14.4444446563721px; line-height: 20px;">“We’ve already met Miss Storm,” Detective James said. “I’m afraid she won’t be able to accompany you into the crime scene.” </span><br />
<span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #141823; display: inline; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14.4444446563721px; line-height: 20px;"><br />Detective Mason was scowling, but I was beginning to think he didn’t have any other expression.</span><br />
<br />
<b>Day 13:</b><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14.4444446563721px; line-height: 20px;">This crime scene was different than the previous ones in one way; there was blood everywhere. It coated the walls and dripped from the lampshade, pooling under the dresser. It soaked the bed and covered the floor. How could one person leave so much blood?</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14.4444446563721px; line-height: 20px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14.4444446563721px; line-height: 20px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14.4444446563721px; line-height: 20px;">That’s when I noticed another glaring difference about this crime scene; there were two bodies on the bed, both eviscerated. The smell hit me at about the same time that I noticed the two bodies, a cloying, coppery tang that had me instantly heaving and fighting not to vomit.</span><br />
<br />
<b>Day 14:</b><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14.4444446563721px; line-height: 20px;">“What are you? Seriously. A witch, maybe?”</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14.4444446563721px; line-height: 20px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14.4444446563721px; line-height: 20px;">“I already told you. I don’t know what I am. I’m something – different.” I couldn’t help letting some sadness into my voice. I hated not knowing anything about my paranormal ability and where it came from. It was lonely, not knowing anyone like myself.</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14.4444446563721px; line-height: 20px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14.4444446563721px; line-height: 20px;">“Your turn,” I said. “Now you get to tell me what you are.”</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14.4444446563721px; line-height: 20px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14.4444446563721px; line-height: 20px;">“Fair’s fair,” he said. When we stopped at a light, he pulled his hair back, showing a slightly pointed ear.</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14.4444446563721px; line-height: 20px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14.4444446563721px; line-height: 20px;">“What does that make you? Some kind of elf?”</span><br />
<br />
<b>Day 15:</b><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14.4444446563721px; line-height: 20px;">“There’s a Paranormal Council?”</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14.4444446563721px; line-height: 20px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14.4444446563721px; line-height: 20px;">“Yes,” I answered, “and they’re known to the world as a company called Paranormal Investigative Consulting. No Normals are supposed to know about them, so don’t let on to him that you know.”</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14.4444446563721px; line-height: 20px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14.4444446563721px; line-height: 20px;">“Why? Would he have to kill me to keep it a secret?” Jack joked.</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14.4444446563721px; line-height: 20px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14.4444446563721px; line-height: 20px;">“Let’s not find out.” I frowned at him.</span><br />
<br />
<b>Day 16:</b><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14.4444446563721px; line-height: 20px;">That’s when Aerin stood in front of me, blocking my sight of the ghost. “Jasmine,” he whispered for my ears only, leaning down so his lips almost touched my ear. “You’re eyes have turned completely black.”</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14.4444446563721px; line-height: 20px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14.4444446563721px; line-height: 20px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14.4444446563721px; line-height: 20px;">I blinked and concentrated on calling back the ink that had coated my eyes. I hadn’t even realized it had been happening. What if Gina had seen my eyes?</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14.4444446563721px; line-height: 20px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14.4444446563721px; line-height: 20px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14.4444446563721px; line-height: 20px;">“Did she see?” I whispered back.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14.4444446563721px; line-height: 20px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14.4444446563721px; line-height: 20px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14.4444446563721px; line-height: 20px;">He shook his head, and I breathed a sigh of relief.</span><br />
<br />
<b>Day 17:</b><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14.4444446563721px; line-height: 20px;">The shadow moved quickly towards Jack and then just seemed to meld into him. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14.4444446563721px; line-height: 20px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14.4444446563721px; line-height: 20px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14.4444446563721px; line-height: 20px;">“Jack!” I said, “Jack, are you okay?” I took a step towards him.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14.4444446563721px; line-height: 20px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14.4444446563721px; line-height: 20px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14.4444446563721px; line-height: 20px;">“Stand back,” Aerin said, a low tone to his voice.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14.4444446563721px; line-height: 20px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14.4444446563721px; line-height: 20px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14.4444446563721px; line-height: 20px;">“Help us.” Jack’s mouth was moving, voicing the words, but his eyes had turned completely white and the voice coming from him was high and child-like.</span><br />
<br />
<b>Day 18:</b><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14.4444446563721px; line-height: 20px;">“No,” I shook my head emphatically. “I can take care of myself. Besides, sending someone to watch over my place will be costly.” I glanced towards the hallway, but the detective was still out there on his phone, nowhere near the door, so I allowed my wrist dagger tatt</span><span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #141823; display: inline; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14.4444446563721px; line-height: 20px;">oo to ooze off my wrist and form as a formidable-looking dagger in my hand. “See? I can take care of myself.” I sent the dagger back into its tattoo form.<br /><br />Until now, Aerin had never seen that part of my ability, or, at least, he hadn’t seen enough to connect my ability and my tattoos. I’d just let him in on my secret. I had to trust that he would keep it a secret.</span><br />
<br />
<b>Day 19:</b><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14.4444446563721px; line-height: 20px;">I sipped my coffee and looked up to find Hunter looking at me. I was suddenly uncomfortable. My morning look was not a good one – messy hair, no make-up; I hadn’t even brushed my teeth yet. I started running my fingers through my hair self-consciously.</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14.4444446563721px; line-height: 20px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14.4444446563721px; line-height: 20px;">“You look beautiful,” Hunter said, making me blush even more. I was never very good at taking compliments.</span><br />
<br />
<b>Day 20:</b><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14.4444446563721px; line-height: 20px;">I stepped into the entrance of the alley. The sun was bright, glinting off of discarded beer cans and odd bits of junk here and there. A large dumpster sat to the right about halfway down the alley, a light breeze blowing its stench past my nose. I raised my hands up </span><span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #141823; display: inline; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14.4444446563721px; line-height: 20px;">to cup them over my nose and that’s when I saw something move behind the dumpster.<br /><br />I took a few steps to the left and forward and a furry head poked out from behind the dumpster, looking right at me. I immediately stepped back. Wolf eyes, unusually large wolf eyes, shone back at me from a furry, grey face. A low growl rumbled through the alley.<br /><br />“Werewolf,” I didn’t even realize that I had voiced the word out loud.</span><br />
<br />
<b>Day 21:</b><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14.4444446563721px; line-height: 20px;">My wolf tattoo twitched. I’d never felt a tattoo twitch before, but that’s the only way I could describe the sensation. It started twitching and straining and then it misted up off my upper ankle, taking form as a massive wolf by my side.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14.4444446563721px; line-height: 20px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14.4444446563721px; line-height: 20px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14.4444446563721px; line-height: 20px;">This created chaos within th</span><span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #141823; display: inline; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14.4444446563721px; line-height: 20px;">e werewolf ranks before me. Some cowered and whimpered; some bristled and growled deeper. One, the first one to have shown itself, stepped forward, stiff-legged and snarling.<br /><br />My ink wolf stepped in front of me, blocking the werewolf’s access to me. I knew that my one wolf against so many werewolves would not be enough.</span><br />
<br />
<b>Day 22:</b><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14.4444446563721px; line-height: 20px;">He grabbed me by my arms. “I am supposed to be protecting you. I can’t do that if you keep wandering off on your own.”</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14.4444446563721px; line-height: 20px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14.4444446563721px; line-height: 20px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14.4444446563721px; line-height: 20px;">His hands tightened a bit. He wasn’t hurting me, but I didn’t like being held in place either, so I shrugged his grip off of me.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14.4444446563721px; line-height: 20px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14.4444446563721px; line-height: 20px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14.4444446563721px; line-height: 20px;">“I wasn’t hurt, and I found out something that might help. Believe it or not, my ability to take care of myself hasn't lessened just because someone is threatening me. You need to chill.”</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14.4444446563721px; line-height: 20px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14.4444446563721px; line-height: 20px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14.4444446563721px; line-height: 20px;">He scowled. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14.4444446563721px; line-height: 20px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14.4444446563721px; line-height: 20px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14.4444446563721px; line-height: 20px;">“You’re starting to resemble Detective Mason. Are you sure you two aren’t related?” I teased, trying to lighten the mood.</span><br />
<br />
<b>Day 23:</b><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14.4444446563721px; line-height: 20px;">“Your boss should be arriving back at the crime scene right about now. Shall we head back?”</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14.4444446563721px; line-height: 20px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14.4444446563721px; line-height: 20px;">“My boss?”</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14.4444446563721px; line-height: 20px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14.4444446563721px; line-height: 20px;">“Mr. Castle.”</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14.4444446563721px; line-height: 20px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14.4444446563721px; line-height: 20px;">“Oh, him.” I said. “He’s not my boss. He’s just trying to convince me to come and work at his company.”</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14.4444446563721px; line-height: 20px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14.4444446563721px; line-height: 20px;">“He said you were an intern.”</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14.4444446563721px; line-height: 20px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14.4444446563721px; line-height: 20px;">“If I’d accepted </span><span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #141823; display: inline; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14.4444446563721px; line-height: 20px;">his offer of employment, I guess I would have been.”</span><br />
<span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #141823; display: inline; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14.4444446563721px; line-height: 20px;"><br />“You don’t want to work at PIC?”</span><br />
<span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #141823; display: inline; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14.4444446563721px; line-height: 20px;"><br />“I don’t work well with authority.”</span><br />
<span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #141823; display: inline; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14.4444446563721px; line-height: 20px;"><br />“They’re not an authority.”</span><br />
<span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #141823; display: inline; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14.4444446563721px; line-height: 20px;"><br />“If they work with the police, they are,” I covered, almost having forgotten that Normals like Hunter were not supposed to know about the Paranormal Council.</span><br />
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<b>Day 24:</b><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14.4444446563721px; line-height: 20px;">“Understood,” I said, “but, since this guy is out there following me and taking photos of me, I’m not going to be standing around twiddling my thumbs and waiting for him to make his move. As long as you understand that, then we’re good.”</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14.4444446563721px; line-height: 20px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14.4444446563721px; line-height: 20px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14.4444446563721px; line-height: 20px;">Hunter looked like he wa</span><span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #141823; display: inline; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14.4444446563721px; line-height: 20px;">s about to say something, but he was interrupted before he got the chance.<br /><br />“Don’t bother, Detective. I’ve not known her long, but even I know you’d be wasting your breath to argue with her,” Aerin said.<br /><br />It was good to know they understood me enough to at least have learned that much about me. My mom used to say I had a stubborn streak so wide a person could walk across the Atlantic Ocean on it.</span><br />
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<b>Day 25:</b><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14.4444446563721px; line-height: 20px;">I had managed to evade them both and gain some freedom from their male interference, even if only temporarily. Hunter and Aerin were going to be pissed. A pleased grin spread over my face and I walked with more of a jaunt to my step at the thought. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14.4444446563721px; line-height: 20px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14.4444446563721px; line-height: 20px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14.4444446563721px; line-height: 20px;">It would be good for them. Someone needed to keep them on their toes. Why shouldn’t it be me?</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14.4444446563721px; line-height: 20px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14.4444446563721px; line-height: 20px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14.4444446563721px; line-height: 20px;">As I walked, I pulled out my phone and rang Jack. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14.4444446563721px; line-height: 20px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14.4444446563721px; line-height: 20px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14.4444446563721px; line-height: 20px;">“Hi, Jack. Feel like getting some lunch?”</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14.4444446563721px; line-height: 20px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14.4444446563721px; line-height: 20px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14.4444446563721px; line-height: 20px;">“You ditched your police escort, didn’t you?” Jack knew me so well.</span><br />
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<b>Day 26:</b><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14.4444446563721px; line-height: 20px;">The guys were being really quiet. I snuck a peek at them and found them both staring intently at my exposed side. I couldn’t tell if they were more interested in the tattoo-in-progress or me, but I got the impression they both worried that any sound from them might mess up Jack’s concentration and ruin my tattoo. They didn’t know Jack very well. Nothing broke his concentration when he was working on a tattoo.</span><br />
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<b>Day 27:</b><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14.4444446563721px; line-height: 20px;">I burst from the bathroom. If I had looked in a mirror at that moment, I knew exactly what I would see: black hair, demonic black eyes, blackened lips, black eye mask and inky black smoke swirling all around me in a stormy torrent, as though hurricane winds</span><span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #141823; display: inline; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14.4444446563721px; line-height: 20px;"> were blowing around me. My new tattoo, the sword, was in my right hand, held low and my wolf was beside me on my right. My tiger was beside me on my left.<br /><br />I didn’t even look at Jack. I just moved straight for the door, filled with a sense of purpose. We hadn’t been home for long, so the killer had been here recently, maybe recently enough that I could track him. Or, at least, my wolf could track him. He was already sniffing the ground around us by the time we reached outside.</span><br />
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<b>Day 28:</b><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14.4444446563721px; line-height: 20px;">My wolf leapt at the creature. I couldn’t see what was happening, only hear the battle and watch my wolf attack something that only appeared to me in short glimpses. It looked like he was biting down on something and hanging on at one point, so I knew he could somehow affect the creature, as intangible as the creature seemed, but the creature was also doing damage to my wolf. I could feel him weakening. He would return to his tattoo form soon, and I could still barely breathe past the pain. I wouldn’t last long without my wolf.</span><br />
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<b>Day 29:</b><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14.4444446563721px; line-height: 20px;">The wolves came back to me, circling around me and just watching with eyes that glowed in the faint light. I knew that the smell of my blood as it seeped from the wounds in my stomach, would most likely urge them into a hunger frenzy. Blood had that effect on werewolves. But they just stood there. I recognized the alpha from the pack I had met in the alley, just before I felt myself falling and everything went black.</span><br />
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<b>Day 30:</b><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14.4444446563721px; line-height: 20px;">I let my wolf materialize beside me, which he did in a cloud of inky black smoke.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14.4444446563721px; line-height: 20px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14.4444446563721px; line-height: 20px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14.4444446563721px; line-height: 20px;">I could feel Bryce’s arm against my back tense. I felt his power sweeping through me as he tried to assert his dominance over my wolf, but my wolf wasn’t a werewolf, my wolf wasn’t even a real wolf, so he had no power over it. I patted my leg and my wolf came to my side and leaned against my legs, lending me its support.</span><br />
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<a class="twitter-share-button" data-count="none" data-related="story_magic" data-via="moonduster" href="http://twitter.com/share">Tweet</a><script src="http://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" type="text/javascript"></script>Becky Fyfehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01595020500346331076noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4661445706008045286.post-56503185338341852422014-12-25T00:41:00.000-08:002014-12-26T12:26:52.114-08:00A Superhero for Christmas #StoryAdventCalendar<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/AVvXsEi4jo5YFuMH3u57YRphyphenhypheniVJSCT6Pg9DrZNIxpWcAo18_l9YJE3k4yifxK1mh0gzbHrySW9IUOIrkRkE4qh3YhwsPge2J3BBUeZXHR4haorl3v31k_LvecgIpQXgAy8SnXtVZB276WLs9VRd/s1600/Christmas+Wreath.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4jo5YFuMH3u57YRphyphenhypheniVJSCT6Pg9DrZNIxpWcAo18_l9YJE3k4yifxK1mh0gzbHrySW9IUOIrkRkE4qh3YhwsPge2J3BBUeZXHR4haorl3v31k_LvecgIpQXgAy8SnXtVZB276WLs9VRd/s1600/Christmas+Wreath.png" height="320" width="283" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><i>art by Rebecca Fyfe</i></span></td></tr>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">A Superhero Christmas</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>by Rebecca Fyfe</i></div>
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Santa Claus shook his head at Dancer. </div>
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"I know you are anxious to get going, but the accident means we won't be able to deliver presents. Prancer and Blitzen both have broken legs, my back is out and the sleigh's landing gear got smashed. I'm afraid Christmas isn't going to happen this year." Santa sighed heavily.</div>
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Blitzen looked at Santa intently. </div>
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"Well, I suppose you're right," Santa said. "I could call the Superhero Official Force Task. SOFT might have a way to save Christmas."</div>
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Santa picked up the phone and made the call.</div>
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"Superhero Official Task Force here. How may we help?" The receptionist at SOFT rarely took any holiday time off.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRPxesAReddbF917wHeG8K-hVbdSnGsARCpFGRp_L7lWHZfIdLUyA-_b5rzZvRVcpOFdrcQG2xrlVhYs1Pr9LG38LS8wK-rTi3C8GiFgk3hPIxYGefp0FgLrW54E-si8OIFIbssY7Ahs-i/s1600/Mermaid+by+Robert+5th+Jan+2012+ed.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRPxesAReddbF917wHeG8K-hVbdSnGsARCpFGRp_L7lWHZfIdLUyA-_b5rzZvRVcpOFdrcQG2xrlVhYs1Pr9LG38LS8wK-rTi3C8GiFgk3hPIxYGefp0FgLrW54E-si8OIFIbssY7Ahs-i/s1600/Mermaid+by+Robert+5th+Jan+2012+ed.png" height="200" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><i>art by Robert Fyfe</i></span></td></tr>
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"This is Santa Claus," Santa said into the phone. "I have an emergency. There's been an accident, and I'm afraid my sleigh and reindeer are out of commission. With my back out too, I'm afraid Christmas will have to be cancelled unless you have a superhero there who can save the day."</div>
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The members of the Superhero Official Task Force who were on duty all gathered in the SOFT conference room to discuss how they were going to save Christmas. </div>
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Sea Siren offered up her water creatures to traverse the sea, bringing gifts to far-off locations. She even had some waterproof storage for the gifts and toys.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikDmQgRdpDKfWwpMb5GKGSsU3lqq5JBn__KDPWhGYLImZ2IRSnT6NGWLG2SKqL5jDvGASZRRUc4747icLH9lGbsWt6cE5P9nH5WUFurC_MKEpuPS0bXoVUF2jqOZW0dIaXaqAPcHI2llcx/s1600/Girl+superhero+Ink+with+tattoos+by+Becky.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikDmQgRdpDKfWwpMb5GKGSsU3lqq5JBn__KDPWhGYLImZ2IRSnT6NGWLG2SKqL5jDvGASZRRUc4747icLH9lGbsWt6cE5P9nH5WUFurC_MKEpuPS0bXoVUF2jqOZW0dIaXaqAPcHI2llcx/s1600/Girl+superhero+Ink+with+tattoos+by+Becky.png" height="200" width="80" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: xx-small;">art by Rebecca Fyfe</span></i></td></tr>
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Ink allowed her tattoo beasts to mist up off of her skin and form into living creatures. "My tiger, wolf and dragons will help," she said. Her tattoo wings burst forth into real ones on her back. "And I can take some gifts too."</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmWE4e_erhdRTPdLeNljHZOX0I7FPU6dQg2t4IKivzdiVejtvx7fMrAJqZFY-aJaT3UA7zvrWlcZ6RRxaIqZuYIy4WMdWtG1QsreLCC7aA6fyd6JBTpRhWQOKRf1BDfUInj9oiQV4GJxR4/s1600/angel+superhero+by+Becky+22nd+Oct+2014+ed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmWE4e_erhdRTPdLeNljHZOX0I7FPU6dQg2t4IKivzdiVejtvx7fMrAJqZFY-aJaT3UA7zvrWlcZ6RRxaIqZuYIy4WMdWtG1QsreLCC7aA6fyd6JBTpRhWQOKRf1BDfUInj9oiQV4GJxR4/s1600/angel+superhero+by+Becky+22nd+Oct+2014+ed.jpg" height="200" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: xx-small;">art by Rebecca Fyfe</span></i></td></tr>
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Fire Angel let her huge feathered wings expand across the room. "I can deliver toys too."</div>
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Shadow smiled, pulling the shadows in the room around her. "I can form a shadow sleigh and reindeer and deliver gifts. I've been practising, so it shouldn't be too hard to hold the form through the night."</div>
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Demon Huntress pouted. "None of my special abilities will help deliver presents." She really wanted to help.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbJlIDuzxmT5oCgR09mlnE_DJv1P37hVj2NhFENHyPf8rVR6_5wxZgiZYF3O-y5MPdYOsqmLsbXsmkQ56Cjsa_UmDKiDygWqZiXW7GohUbTzF0_FWp2wMoOSyd_G-cdcNnbktCCOHzIEqt/s1600/Superheroine1+by+Becky+20th+October+2014+color+b&w.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbJlIDuzxmT5oCgR09mlnE_DJv1P37hVj2NhFENHyPf8rVR6_5wxZgiZYF3O-y5MPdYOsqmLsbXsmkQ56Cjsa_UmDKiDygWqZiXW7GohUbTzF0_FWp2wMoOSyd_G-cdcNnbktCCOHzIEqt/s1600/Superheroine1+by+Becky+20th+October+2014+color+b&w.png" height="200" width="86" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: xx-small;">art by Rebecca Fyfe</span></i></td></tr>
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"Neither will mine," said Warrior Mom. "But I would hate any children to go without presents from Santa this Christmas."</div>
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"Well," Demon Huntress had an idea. "I know of a dragon nearby. It's been terrorizing a local neighbourhood and killing people. I was going to head out to fight and kill it, but if you fight with me, maybe we can tame it long enough to deliver some of the gifts."</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMl5Lrzu6uJBAeP7nNxmTEiVS7Js_Q4znG2V1azJohyVkpz_-T9uM46CZ6D5RF3I9kPQS46fqN3DJn5EIckJv3HmDzSRFbhWZiVYbmIrHJxvxBDiQlgyjCNKzbUlAfxuVrbwNMjPexFP8A/s1600/Superheroine+by+Becky+19th+Oct+2014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMl5Lrzu6uJBAeP7nNxmTEiVS7Js_Q4znG2V1azJohyVkpz_-T9uM46CZ6D5RF3I9kPQS46fqN3DJn5EIckJv3HmDzSRFbhWZiVYbmIrHJxvxBDiQlgyjCNKzbUlAfxuVrbwNMjPexFP8A/s1600/Superheroine+by+Becky+19th+Oct+2014.jpg" height="200" width="110" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: xx-small;">art by Rebecca Fyfe</span></i></td></tr>
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<span style="text-align: center;">"Let's go," Warrior Mom said, and the two of them suited up, grabbed their weapons and headed out.</span></div>
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All of the children with toys from Santa got their toys that Christmas. But for the few children who were naughty enough to try and sneak a peek to see if Santa was real, they got to see something else entirely. They either saw two women riding a dragon, dolphins and whales speeding across the ocean with giant red sacks on their backs, inky black tigers, wolves and dragons delivering their gifts along with a dark-looking fairy of some sort or a sleigh and reindeer made of shadows.</div>
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<i>The superheroes in this story were pulled from my creations for "SuperHERo Tales: A Collection of Female Superhero Stories" - Volume One and Volume Two. Volume One is out now and Volume Two will be out in January.</i></div>
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<b><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Merry Christmas! I hope you have enjoyed all of the stories in this Story Advent Calendar!</span></b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYt7LwdG7Zi749HrWDHpEzp_dBiilqyO2BS888pDquNGE_6m-W_nPE3Xc-CHGOnCW4_BEYpl8DQOBuwKPx70M4-TT9vFD9vr_FcUfZOhxQbbPml4GS76WDzAbzkXx8mwrQncyrvbRAdRV3/s1600/2014+Story+advent-calendar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYt7LwdG7Zi749HrWDHpEzp_dBiilqyO2BS888pDquNGE_6m-W_nPE3Xc-CHGOnCW4_BEYpl8DQOBuwKPx70M4-TT9vFD9vr_FcUfZOhxQbbPml4GS76WDzAbzkXx8mwrQncyrvbRAdRV3/s1600/2014+Story+advent-calendar.jpg" height="320" width="217" /></a>
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This story is part of the <a href="http://chapterbookchallenge.blogspot.com/2014/11/story-advent-calendar-blog-hop.html" target="_blank">Story Advent Calendar Blog Hop</a>. Every day from December 1st through December 25th, a variety of authors are providing you with one story to read to your child on the lead-up to Christmas. Check out the posts below to see which one to read to your child tomorrow!
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV41M0-k-hEEChiyLaPp3EXr6rLqeVL2kxQiwAehjFY-ktfEaqFEEL9771-1hqey8ezg3RBg3yW7QvkU87smD0zmhr7lgJxZrC-bmP7HSVaN1dajH5Iakohm1iwhVRWubJT5oIlX-Qyaoo/s1600/Newer_teddy_bear.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV41M0-k-hEEChiyLaPp3EXr6rLqeVL2kxQiwAehjFY-ktfEaqFEEL9771-1hqey8ezg3RBg3yW7QvkU87smD0zmhr7lgJxZrC-bmP7HSVaN1dajH5Iakohm1iwhVRWubJT5oIlX-Qyaoo/s1600/Newer_teddy_bear.png" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">The Teddy Bear </span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>by Rebecca Fyfe</i></div>
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Tina Diggle and her husband James Diggle had always wanted a baby of their own, but they were unable to have one. All of the children on their street adored them, because the two of them were especially kind to children. Sometimes, Mrs. Diggle made gooey chocolate chip cookies for the neighbourhood's kids, and she would often find small toys to give to the children which she knew each one would love. She knew each child on her street by name.<br />
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But, no matter how much the children on the street loved her, she still felt a hole in her heart because she couldn't have a child of her own to raise and love. Mr. Diggle knew how sad this made her. A few days before Christmas one year, he bought his wife a cute little tan teddy bear. It was soft and chubby and had a pacifier in its mouth. He knew it was nowhere near the same as having a real baby, but he just wanted to bring something home that might cheer her up, even a tiny bit.<br />
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Mrs. Diggle thought the teddy bear was adorable. She decided to name it Connor. She set it under her Christmas tree with some of the Christmas teddy bears and presents.<br />
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"I wish you were a real baby," Tina Diggle said to the teddy bear, before leaving to get ready for bed that night.<br />
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Connor the teddy bear felt very sad upon hearing her words. He wanted only to be loved by someone and to love that person back. But he couldn't change what he was. He had been a teddy bear all of his life. If he could change himself into the baby that Mrs. Diggle so badly wanted, he would. He sighed as he sat under the tree.<br />
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"Why so sad?" asked the Christmas teddy bear beside him.<br />
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"I wish I was a real baby, instead of a teddy bear, so that Mrs. Diggle would be happy." The teddy bear sighed again.<br />
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"Well then, what are you worrying about? Tonight is Christmas Eve. Santa Claus will be coming, and he always lets us teddy bears have one wish."<br />
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"Really? What do you usually wish for?" asked Connor.<br />
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"Last year, I wished for a name, and the Diggles gave me one first thing in the morning. They named me Chris. This year, I think I'll wish for my vest to get washed. It's looking a little bit dirty lately."<br />
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"Those are very small wishes," Connor said. "What if Santa can only give small wishes? What if my wish is too big?"<br />
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"Well, you won't know unless you ask," said Chris matter-of-factly.<br />
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Connor tried very hard to stay awake long enough to ask Santa to turn him into a real boy, but, long before Santa ever arrived, Connor fell asleep.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLCsNe81gj0MFsbub0swuCGWc_2-ICKPErfwnFxcXJm_Jgci2RxhJ3ccH4ubtDMV7CAguKM7d-U1GRQ_13iwTLWjz-ShsZ2p9aVCqlHdCTid_75mSrytyDK3Y1bTjc0FzxhcZJO2sh74vy/s1600/Santas_sack_of_toys_by_moonduster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLCsNe81gj0MFsbub0swuCGWc_2-ICKPErfwnFxcXJm_Jgci2RxhJ3ccH4ubtDMV7CAguKM7d-U1GRQ_13iwTLWjz-ShsZ2p9aVCqlHdCTid_75mSrytyDK3Y1bTjc0FzxhcZJO2sh74vy/s1600/Santas_sack_of_toys_by_moonduster.jpg" height="239" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a><br />
In the morning, Mr. and Mrs. Diggle entered the living room to open their presents. Connor the teddy bear was gone and, in his place, a tiny baby wearing a teddy bear costume slept in a special red Christmas sack.<br />
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Mr. and Mrs. Diggle were over-joyed to finally have a baby of their own, and Connor got all the love any former teddy bear could ever hope for and then more.<br />
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This story is part of the <a href="http://chapterbookchallenge.blogspot.com/2014/11/story-advent-calendar-blog-hop.html" target="_blank">Story Advent Calendar Blog Hop</a>. Every day from December 1st through December 25th, a variety of authors are providing you with one story to read to your child on the lead-up to Christmas. Check out the posts below to see which one to read to your child tomorrow!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMUxZ1lWx0WgCKkljQY771bcpEQ4J6KjJx-FiETSEwl9dtAuUNjTE_XUbA-D1td2tgj38OmgIa-wtqWFBSBynj-j-nqfIxgHRGFC_8-asbYBlQ9BTt7CHptls4VspejPiPexXjFuJfAS0X/s1600/1238002_10153319491045122_1580645723_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMUxZ1lWx0WgCKkljQY771bcpEQ4J6KjJx-FiETSEwl9dtAuUNjTE_XUbA-D1td2tgj38OmgIa-wtqWFBSBynj-j-nqfIxgHRGFC_8-asbYBlQ9BTt7CHptls4VspejPiPexXjFuJfAS0X/s1600/1238002_10153319491045122_1580645723_n.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Fairy Christmas Bauble</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>by Rebecca Fyfe</i></div>
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"Mommy, how does this Christmas ornament light up?" asked Cameron. He held the pretty red bauble and watched the glowing light that flitted around inside the ornament. "Is there a lightning bug inside?" Cameron had never seen a lightning bug, but he had heard that they lit up at night time.<br />
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Cameron's mom smiled. "No, honey. It's not a lightning bug. I think it probably has some sort of light bulb inside and runs on batteries."<br />
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"You think? Does that mean you aren't sure?" Cameron asked. "But how does it move around inside the bauble? Wouldn't a light bulb break?"<br />
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His mom frowned a little. "Hmm, you have a good point there. Now I'm wondering how it lights up too." She gently took the bauble from his hand. She had bought the bauble from the craft fair just the other day from a fortune teller who had some trinkets for sale to go along with her fortune-telling business.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvcqlSW9GCTGCH5tLcualsE4lXjTSgiMOcZWG_dhYNikaLyvxrJHV0vClaQcOBFeWtsotJqqF9-ilwkOdLeyw9GTNMjxzlzZWnzD6XLEPfvWro0zne59d1RIcvzEwz0F24UZU6H80jh-7_/s1600/file0001903096184.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvcqlSW9GCTGCH5tLcualsE4lXjTSgiMOcZWG_dhYNikaLyvxrJHV0vClaQcOBFeWtsotJqqF9-ilwkOdLeyw9GTNMjxzlzZWnzD6XLEPfvWro0zne59d1RIcvzEwz0F24UZU6H80jh-7_/s1600/file0001903096184.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a>"Maybe if I see the fortune teller again," his mom said, "I'll ask her about it." She gently hung the ornament on the Christmas tree, and then she and Cameron continued decorating the rest of the tree.<br />
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That night, just as his mom was about to tell him it was time for bed, their new kitten raced across the living room floor and jumped into the Christmas tree, knocking over several of the ornaments.<br />
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<i>Crash!</i> The pretty red bauble lay broken in pieces on the floor. Cameron walked over to it. His mom told him not to get too close, but he saw something sitting amongst the broken pieces of the ornament.<br />
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"Mommy, I think you need to see this."<br />
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His mom walked over to join him, already holding the dust pan and broom, ready to sweep up the mess. <br />
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The two of them stood transfixed at what they saw amongst the shiny, broken pieces of the red bauble.<br />
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A tiny fairy with glowing wings sat amongst the broken pieces. As they watched, she stood and dusted some loose fragments from the ornament off her clothes and flew away, straight out their window.<br />
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"Wow," Cameron said. "I never would have guessed that was how they got the light inside the ornament."<br />
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"Well, the British call those little lights that decorate houses for Christmas 'fairy lights,' but I don't think even the British would have expected this," Cameron's mom said.<br />
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"Do you think the fortune teller has trapped more fairies inside ornaments?" Cameron asked his mom.<br />
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"We'll go buy the rest of them tomorrow and free them," his mom assured him.<br />
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Cameron went to sleep that night dreaming about fairies and Christmas magic.<br />
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This story is part of the <a href="http://chapterbookchallenge.blogspot.com/2014/11/story-advent-calendar-blog-hop.html" target="_blank">Story Advent Calendar Blog Hop</a>. Every day from December 1st through December 25th, a variety of authors are providing you with one story to read to your child on the lead-up to Christmas. Check out the posts below to see which one to read to your child tomorrow!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigj3yPciO0aBk018aAgKisZDI3QeHek8rSeF_7SPez-Fzq7vNo_6u-SYsczyUYcZaxvx-OTLHdriNBhb1iRkcrgEUHxqUSmVP1p8BwAS6CmDo0o-b8rPR3gbwCLkbyL6sULUVU1oxdd6Wk/s1600/Talisman+in+stocking.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigj3yPciO0aBk018aAgKisZDI3QeHek8rSeF_7SPez-Fzq7vNo_6u-SYsczyUYcZaxvx-OTLHdriNBhb1iRkcrgEUHxqUSmVP1p8BwAS6CmDo0o-b8rPR3gbwCLkbyL6sULUVU1oxdd6Wk/s1600/Talisman+in+stocking.png" height="320" width="200" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Christmas Kitten</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><i>by Rebecca Fyfe</i></i><br />
<i><i><br /></i></i></div>
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The tiny kitten shivered in the cold snow as he huddled under a wooden porch. His mother had been picked up by a white van two days ago. The people in the van had been kind to his mother; he'd watched from his hiding spot and seen that they stroked her fur and gave her food.<br />
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But it was so cold out here and his stomach was rumbling. He hadn't eaten in so long.<br />
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A little girl and boy came out of the house and sprinted down the porch stairs, giggling and laughing. They were bundled up in layers of clothes to keep them warm outside, and they were making balls of the white, cold snow to throw at each other.<br />
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The kitten felt warmth coming from above him and he crept out of his hiding place to see what was so warm. The kids had left the door slightly ajar. It looked so warm and dry inside. The kitten decided to sneak into the house and find a nice, warm hiding place.<br />
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The kitten saw a large tree decorated with lots of pretty baubles, but he chose to hide under a large couch. It was so warm in here. He settled down to a nice nap, trying to ignore the fact that he was still hungry.<br />
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When he woke up, he peered out from under the couch. There was a fat man in a red suit placing gifts under a tree in the living room. The man looked the kitten's way and he was sure the man had seen him. He didn't want to be sent back out into the cold, so he needed to find a different place to hide before the man came over to look closer.<br />
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The kitten spotted a large, red sock on the floor. It was too large for anyone to actually wear as a sock and it had a few bits and bobs inside it, but there was enough room for him to slip inside. It was extra warm inside the sock and he knew it was a good hiding place so the man in red wouldn't see him. When nothing happened for a while, the kitten drifted off to sleep again. He didn't even notice when the sock he was resting in was lifted and placed hanging from the fireplace.<br />
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In the morning, the kitten heard children's voices. He peeked out of his hiding place and the two children squealed in delight.<br />
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"Mommy, look what Santa brought us! I've always wanted a kitten," said the girl.<br />
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Her mom looked surprised at first, but when she looked at the tiny, hungry kitten peeking out of the stocking, her heart melted.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggD8BSE51nWCWvkWuiluUR2mgVRPCZSOwONwvnEfLYUyl1G_TI1Bsf7BV5pysmpjuG4Pb17KOrwWPA3Lxog6_EYwXEZpd875IoX1mowC0cp_wGgkTAphSDaqmzjMFQhREfx6Vc_Hj1RJPE/s1600/1011781_10154784394955122_2277046536594808233_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggD8BSE51nWCWvkWuiluUR2mgVRPCZSOwONwvnEfLYUyl1G_TI1Bsf7BV5pysmpjuG4Pb17KOrwWPA3Lxog6_EYwXEZpd875IoX1mowC0cp_wGgkTAphSDaqmzjMFQhREfx6Vc_Hj1RJPE/s1600/1011781_10154784394955122_2277046536594808233_n.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a><br />
"I'll go get some of the chicken left over from last night's dinner to feed him while you two choose a name."<br />
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The little girl picked up the kitten and held him in her hands. He couldn't believe his ears. He was going to get food and he was going to get to stay here in this nice, warm place.<br />
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"I already love you, little kitten," said the girl to him, stoking his fur gently.<br />
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<br />
This story is part of the <a href="http://chapterbookchallenge.blogspot.com/2014/11/story-advent-calendar-blog-hop.html" target="_blank">Story Advent Calendar Blog Hop</a>. Every day from December 1st through December 25th, a variety of authors are providing you with one story to read to your child on the lead-up to Christmas. Check out the posts below to see which one to read to your child tomorrow!<br />
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<a class="twitter-share-button" data-count="none" data-related="story_magic" data-via="moonduster" href="http://twitter.com/share">Tweet</a><script src="http://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" type="text/javascript"></script>Becky Fyfehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01595020500346331076noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4661445706008045286.post-52305059182607315222014-12-13T03:46:00.000-08:002014-12-13T12:17:15.174-08:00But We're Not Sleepy by Robert Fyfe #StoryAdventCalendar<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/AVvXsEgsDSRoklA5DBWX-5RNTvpaWn-UJzhbScTvxA4U-Hm6kW7KZZ5m0-WvI8VMyW0WlWTSCkc3SAe51caW2hZgCppMDRfoIxZ5K82qvpjkzouwEb0obKfu5xMHtfzs5H-ln-G7Xgqk80GNbjfa/s1600/Santa+Sleigh+and+Snowy+Day.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsDSRoklA5DBWX-5RNTvpaWn-UJzhbScTvxA4U-Hm6kW7KZZ5m0-WvI8VMyW0WlWTSCkc3SAe51caW2hZgCppMDRfoIxZ5K82qvpjkzouwEb0obKfu5xMHtfzs5H-ln-G7Xgqk80GNbjfa/s1600/Santa+Sleigh+and+Snowy+Day.png" height="400" width="291" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: xx-small;">illustration by <a href="http://www.fairymagicphotography.com/" target="_blank">Robert Fyfe</a></span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">But We're Not Sleepy</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>by Robert Fyfe</i></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">“But we’re not sleepy!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">Jenny sat scowling at her mother, arms
folded tight across her chest. Tommy was not really an active part of the
conversation as what could a three year old add that would be important?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">“Santa won’t come until you’re asleep, ”
Mommy warned in a kindly voice.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">‘How will Santa know? I don’t believe you,
” Jenny said. She was determined to stay up and see Santa tonight.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">Mommy swept Tommy up in her arms from the
floor, and gently placed him in his cot. She sang him a lullaby and kissed him
while tucking his blanket snuggly around him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">“Good night, my cuddle bug. Mommy loves you
lots.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">Tommy’s eyes shone brightly and warmly. Then
he blinked once, twice and on the third time his eyes stayed closed. Mommy
smiled. Funny how he and his sister were so different when it came to bedtime.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">She turned to Jenny who had kicked her
blanket off the bed and was now doing handstands against the wall. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">“Santa has his friends, and they tell him
when the children are asleep,” she said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiOc9ezEa_pbzW2IGHvVnkMBHbREJzyYysZ2E5U3Yl4WYTdrGTY-vjomnvTAzozqzAgbNC4nDtAlrRfc6HO7q4Ke9QQ4KRYesAYaB9UCdNtlL2fgW-NiVlWiDzw7i3HPiVB7JyfYO07uvO/s1600/Cat.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiOc9ezEa_pbzW2IGHvVnkMBHbREJzyYysZ2E5U3Yl4WYTdrGTY-vjomnvTAzozqzAgbNC4nDtAlrRfc6HO7q4Ke9QQ4KRYesAYaB9UCdNtlL2fgW-NiVlWiDzw7i3HPiVB7JyfYO07uvO/s1600/Cat.png" height="252" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><i>illustration by <a href="http://bfg.deviantart.com/" target="_blank">Robert Fyfe</a></i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">“Santa has a spy in the house? I don’t
believe you.” Jenny was now trying to stuff her pillow into her pyjamas.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">“Oh, it’s true. I think that, in this house,
it's Waggs or Ginger. I’m not sure which but one of them I am sure is watching.”
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">Mommy smiled at Jenny who was now looking
questioningly at the big ginger cat that was at that moment sitting on the
chest of drawers, pushing her hairbrush closer and closer to the edge until it
fell off.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">“Can’t be Waggs. He can’t see us from downstairs,”
Jenny said while still looking doubtfully at the cat. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">Mommy had now carefully removed the pillow
and plumped it back up as she placed it back on the bed. She picked the blanket
up from the floor and shook the folds and dust from it. Then she slid it over Jenny. She kissed Jenny and then moved to the door.<br />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">“He can hear you talking though.” <br />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">Jenny lay on her bed and thought about
that, and decided that she would stay awake and see Santa. But she wouldn't
make a noise, in case her dog ‘snitched’ on her.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">Ginger dropped down off the drawers and
jumped up on the bed next to Jenny who stroked him. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">“You wouldn't snitch on me, would you,
Ginge’? You’re my friend.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">Ginger just grinned at Jenny, his deep purr
hypnotic and calming as he curled up at her side. Jenny’s stroking began slowing,
slowing until her hand slipped down onto the bed covers. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgatDwCX0RE1-61D05sjI_NGCm4W5Prh2fKBbag1N-jVdXzETGIr0MY603pP_mNIoEtRNEhm-HskQlffQYcxUS2VFaTj6GPn6oMpQ6L5MdN5HwvoXsPGjSPxMsIZZ7TzQfEbrX3QZsM5oPN/s1600/Dog.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgatDwCX0RE1-61D05sjI_NGCm4W5Prh2fKBbag1N-jVdXzETGIr0MY603pP_mNIoEtRNEhm-HskQlffQYcxUS2VFaTj6GPn6oMpQ6L5MdN5HwvoXsPGjSPxMsIZZ7TzQfEbrX3QZsM5oPN/s1600/Dog.png" height="320" width="306" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: xx-small;">illustration by <a href="http://www.facebook.com/fairymagicphotos" target="_blank">Robert Fyfe</a></span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">As the house grew quiet and Mommy and Daddy
had gone to bed, Ginger quietly stretched, jumped down onto the floor and then
up onto the drawers. He checked on Tommy and then jumped back down onto the floor,
walked out the bedroom and to the top of the stairs. At the bottom of the
stairs, Waggs, the dog, looked up, his tail waving quietly. Ginger blinked twice
and then went back to the children’s room. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">Waggs listened to the sounds from outside.
A gentle breeze carried the sounds of the night: the sound of bells and the
sound of hooves on the air. Waggs gave a quiet bark and, there, by his side, a
large man dressed in red with a big white beard popped into view. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">”Ho, Waggs. Thank you and Ginger for keeping
an eye out for me,” he said.</span><br />
<span style="text-align: center;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
*****</div>
</div>
<br />
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<br />
This story is part of the <a href="http://chapterbookchallenge.blogspot.com/2014/11/story-advent-calendar-blog-hop.html" target="_blank">Story Advent Calendar Blog Hop</a>. Every day from December 1st through December 25th, a variety of authors are providing you with one story to read to your child on the lead-up to Christmas. Check out the posts below to see which one to read to your child tomorrow!<br />
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Becky Fyfehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01595020500346331076noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4661445706008045286.post-30683192781475810242014-12-12T02:58:00.000-08:002014-12-12T03:02:40.288-08:00Santa Gets Stuck #StoryAdventCalendar<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlPrD5IZi-p8M0n1K4s93jcVpLCwxb-AEJOV2RkoHOp69VtLmEKU_EIeZJRVR7htOfKpJtDfkhXk1YZuRnzJlMsiNusEzNAwLcYGnRsHFOyadYnfIiP6IM3PB_N5KToVAr4EjtPIBQsAjT/s1600/Stuck+Santa.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlPrD5IZi-p8M0n1K4s93jcVpLCwxb-AEJOV2RkoHOp69VtLmEKU_EIeZJRVR7htOfKpJtDfkhXk1YZuRnzJlMsiNusEzNAwLcYGnRsHFOyadYnfIiP6IM3PB_N5KToVAr4EjtPIBQsAjT/s1600/Stuck+Santa.png" height="277" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
The reindeer landed smoothly along the rooftop, hardly jarring the sleigh at all. This was Santa's 500,000th Christmas delivery. He grabbed his sack full of gifts for the children living inside the house. Santa walked around the tiny chimney stack.<br />
<br />
"I'll never fit in there," he said. "I'd better use the pixie dust." Santa always kept a supply of pixie dust on hand for his Christmas eve deliveries. The magic of the pixie dust helped him create chimneys on houses that didn't have them and make chimneys larger when they were too narrow for him to fit through. He had to limit how much pixie dust he used on each house to make sure he wouldn't run out before the night's deliveries were completed.<br />
<br />
Santa took a small pinch of pixie dust out of his pocket. He kept the small amount clasped between his finger and thumb, just a pinch. As he reached towards the chimney to throw the pixie dust in, a few sprinkles of it fell from his fingers and landed on the roof top, nowhere near the chimney. Santa didn't notice.<br />
<br />
The chimney rumbled and groaned, though the sound it made was not too loud because it would never work to wake the family inside the house. It expanded to a much larger size.<br />
<br />
"Does it look smaller than the last one?" Santa asked Blitzen, peering closely at the chimney.<br />
<br />
Blitzen didn't answer. Reindeer understand humans, but they can't speak like humans. Santa hadn't expected an answer anyway.<br />
<br />
"Well, I'd better get inside," Santa said. "I hope they have some more cookies and milk for me. My stomach is rumbling again." Santa had a very big appetite.<br />
<br />
When Santa jumped into the chimney, he found that something was very wrong. He didn't fit! He fell down the chimney but got stuck inside before he could come out from it inside the house.<br />
<br />
Oh no! Santa had no time to be stuck! He had other houses needing his deliveries and he couldn't let the children in this house see him.<br />
<br />
Santa hit a button on the watch on his wrist. It signalled the elves back at the North Pole that Santa needed help.<br />
<br />
The Emergency Response Elf Team got to work right away, loading up their backpacks with things that Santa might need and going through a magic portal which always took them straight to wherever Santa was at the time.<br />
<br />
They emerged from the portal in the living room of the house. Once there, they noticed Santa's legs dangling from inside the fireplace.<br />
<br />
"I've got just the thing for this," said the lead elf, Tonks. Tonks took out a pinch of the extra pixie dust he had brought along with him in his backpaack and sprinkled it over the entrance to the fireplace.<br />
<br />
With a quiet groan and rumble, the fireplace widened and Santa emerged. They quickly set out the gifts under the Christmas tree and then leapt back into the fireplace, where they were magically whisked back to the roof. One last pinch of pixie dust returned the chimney back to its normal size.<br />
<br />
"Thanks, Tonks! That was close," Santa said, sending the Emergency Response Elf Team on its way back to the North Pole and returning to his deliveries.<br />
<br />
Inside the house, two children were waking up, hearing the jingling of the sleigh bells as Santa's reindeer and sleigh travelled off into the night.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
*****</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />
This story is part of the <a href="http://chapterbookchallenge.blogspot.com/2014/11/story-advent-calendar-blog-hop.html" target="_blank">Story Advent Calendar Blog Hop</a>. Every day from December 1st through December 25th, a variety of authors are providing you with one story to read to your child on the lead-up to Christmas. Check out the posts below to see which one to read to your child tomorrow!
<br />
<br />
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<span lang="EN-AU"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large; font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span lang="EN-AU"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large; font-weight: bold;">Hope </span><br /><i>by Sharon Giltrow</i><b><o:p></o:p></b></span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-AU"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-AU"><span style="font-family: inherit;">In a little
village not far from here nor there, lived a young girl named Hope. She lived in
a rose covered cottage, nestled at the edge of a woods. Every morning she woke
to the sounds of the chirping blue jays, and twittering red robins. Life for
Hope was good, peaceful and tranquil. Hope was good, peaceful and tranquil and
this beautiful young girl had a special gift, she made everyone around her
smile. Her smile bought joy to the lives of all the villagers</span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-AU"><span style="font-family: inherit;">But sadly Hope
was unable to return the smile of the villagers. Hope was cursed. When she was
a baby her mother took her berry picking. She placed Hope’s cradle next to a
brook and then went to pick berries. A cloaked figure stepped out of the woods
and up to the cradle. Hope, who had only ever known kindness, smiled up at the
stranger.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-AU"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-AU"><span style="font-family: inherit;">“Oh, my little
one, your smile, could light up the darkest corners of the world,” said the cloaked
figure as she picked Hope up and stole away into the dark woods.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-AU"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-AU"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Hope’s mother returned
to find the cradle empty. She cried out and fainted. Later that day, Hope’s father
went searching for his wife and daughter. He found his wife sobbing on the bank
of the brook.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-AU"><span style="font-family: inherit;">He began
searching the crystal clear water of the brook, where he saw his daughter’s bootie,
he feared that his daughter had been stolen and he thought he knew by whom. The
locals spoke of a young woman who fled into these woods grief stricken at the loss
of her infant daughter and her husband in a tragic carriage accident.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-AU"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-AU"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Hope’s father
wasted no time. He splashed across the brook and raced into the woods. He had
not gone far when he came to a tumbled down cottage where he heard a lullaby.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-AU"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-AU"><span style="font-family: inherit;">“Lullaby, and
good night, you're your mother's delight. Shining angels beside my darling
abide. Soft and warm is your bed, close your eyes and rest your head.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-AU"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-AU"><span style="font-family: inherit;">He rushed into
the cottage and snatched Hope from the woman, who let out an ear piercing scream
and collapsed to the ground shouting, “Take her, take her, but from this day
forth, she will be cursed. She will never know or be able to see how beautiful
she is and none will see her smile ever again.” Hope began to cry in her
father’s arms.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-AU"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-AU"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Time passed and
life for the family continued, the curse forgotten. All who met Hope saw a
beautiful, gentle, young lady who spread happiness and joy wherever she went.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-AU"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-AU"><span style="font-family: inherit;">One day, a travelling
artist came to the village. He sketched people from village to village, for bed
and board. He was blind and he asked his subjects to describe themselves.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-AU"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-AU"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The first cottage
he came to was Hope’s. He asked if he could sketch someone. Hope’s parents,
believing her to be the most beautiful person in all of the land, suggested her.
<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-AU"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-AU"><span style="font-family: inherit;">“Tell me about
your hair,” the artist asked Hope.<br />~<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-AU"><span style="font-family: inherit;">“Tell me about
your face, what is its shape?” He continued.<br /><br /><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-AU"><span style="font-family: inherit;">“Your jaw, your
chin, your nose – describe these?”<br /><br /><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-AU"><span style="font-family: inherit;">“Now your eyes –
the colour, the shape, the light that shines from them.”<br /><br /><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-AU"><span style="font-family: inherit;">“What would be
your most enduring feature?” he finally asked her. <br /><br /><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-AU"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Hope answered
each of his questions truthfully and honestly, but the artist was not happy with
her description. He asked for a villager to come and describe her. <br /><br />The villager
said, </span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">“Her hair is the
colour of gold. Her face is the shape of love. Her jaw is strong, her chin is
soft and her nose is as cute as a button. Her lips are full, and a ghost of a
smile lies beneath them. Her eyes are as blue as the cobalt sky. It is a face
that makes you want to smile even on the darkest days.”</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-AU"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The artist now had
two sketches of Hope, her description and the villagers. He showed them both to
Hope and for the first time in sixteen years she smiled and the curse was
broken.</span><span style="font-family: Bookman Old Style, serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-AU"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<span lang="EN-AU"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
*****<br />
<br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU_vyd8ShDpY24-d3Tela7qvVbWsH7AHgj0gU2VrfOb6Er-_lVvt3QZY4NLcgPgk_OKa1BedrJ0y-AK9UTFf097_y6tRNRVGAcdAoUBi21IPYfeEHxMAyOv9YkbhmAlYG3a5ANmDMan6w9/s1600/2014+Story+advent-calendar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU_vyd8ShDpY24-d3Tela7qvVbWsH7AHgj0gU2VrfOb6Er-_lVvt3QZY4NLcgPgk_OKa1BedrJ0y-AK9UTFf097_y6tRNRVGAcdAoUBi21IPYfeEHxMAyOv9YkbhmAlYG3a5ANmDMan6w9/s1600/2014+Story+advent-calendar.jpg" height="320" width="217" /></a></div>
<span lang="EN-AU"></span><br />
This story is part of the <a href="http://chapterbookchallenge.blogspot.com/2014/11/story-advent-calendar-blog-hop.html" target="_blank">Story Advent Calendar Blog Hop</a>. Every day from December 1st through December 25th, a variety of authors are providing you with one story to read to your child on the lead-up to Christmas. Check out the posts below to see which one to read to your child tomorrow!</div>
<br />
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</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</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/AVvXsEh5r-ClQYiuL_b6Ii2rg15o8nOuoDHFBX7Yr1tacumm_8NYT8_7AXoR2nI62-b0wOC9gT8wlj81LohYV8ae2FAmm8ooGbZe6GQ3VUpMg6WOcn49YamDq-66LUkmn9ArAa2rPcNQKnBhgKfx/s1600/The+Girl+Who+Danced+in+the+Snow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5r-ClQYiuL_b6Ii2rg15o8nOuoDHFBX7Yr1tacumm_8NYT8_7AXoR2nI62-b0wOC9gT8wlj81LohYV8ae2FAmm8ooGbZe6GQ3VUpMg6WOcn49YamDq-66LUkmn9ArAa2rPcNQKnBhgKfx/s1600/The+Girl+Who+Danced+in+the+Snow.jpg" height="320" width="256" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">art by Rebecca Fyfe</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b style="font-size: 16pt;">The Girl Who
Danced in the Snow</b><br />
<i>by Rebecca Fyfe</i></div>
<br />
Isabella twirled and spun as icy white snowflakes fell around her. A giggle
escaped her as she threw her arms up while she rotated.<o:p></o:p><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br />
“Isabella, we need to get you to school now,” said her mother. “Come on. There isn’t
time for dancing.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
Isabella stopped spinning and followed her mother down the road
to her school. When school let out for recess, Isabella threw her arms up in
the air and started twirling and spinning, making herself dizzy. She laughed
and squealed with joy.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
Some of the kids laughed at her, but a few joined her and
leaped and danced in the falling snow right alongside her. <i>I love to dance</i>, thought Isabella.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
She danced and twirled all the way home, and her mother didn’t <i>once</i> complain once about how much longer it took to get home because of her dancing.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
While sitting at the dinner table that night, she ate her
food and watched out the window at the drifting snowflakes. <i>Snowflakes know how to dance</i>, she
thought. <i>Look at how they spin and leap,
twisting and gliding through the air like little sparkly ballerinas. I wish I
was snowflake.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
That night, while she was in bed trying to get to sleep, something
tapped at her window. Isabella slipped out of bed and went to the window, but
she couldn’t see anyone out there. She opened it a tiny bit and a little snowflake
drifted in.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
The snowflake giggled. In her surprise, Isabella almost
missed the tiny little face on the snowflake. It had eyes and a mouth, and its
giggle had been light and soft, almost like the <i>memory</i> of laughter.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
“You like to dance. We’ve seen you,” said the snowflake. “Would
you like to come and dance with us tonight?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
Isabella loved the idea, but she didn’t know how she could go
outside in the middle of the night and dance with the snowflakes.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
The snowflake jumped up into the air and drifted on
invisible currents over to land gently on Isabella’s shoulder. “I just
have to take care of one thing before you come with me,” the snowflake said,
and that’s when Isabella noticed she was shrinking. Her nightgown was changing
too. It turned into a beautiful, sparkling and shimmering frosty white ball
gown. When she was as small as the snowflake, the snowflake stood beside her
and Isabella noticed that the snowflake looked like a beautiful girl in a
similar pretty white ball gown. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
“All snowflakes look like me. People just can’t see us as we
are, because they are so very big and they don’t know how to see through winter
magic.” The snowflake answered Isabella’s unspoken question.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
The two of them jumped into the air and let a slight breeze
carry them outside where they spent the night dancing with other snowflakes,
spinning and twirling, gliding and leaping all night long until the morning sun
peaked through the clouds. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
“Time for you to go home,” said the snowflake.<br />
<br />
“Thank you,” said Isabella. “I will never forget this night.”<br />
<br />
“You will eventually. People always forget about the magic when they grow up,”
said the snowflake with sorrow in her voice. “But promise me you will never
stop dancing, especially when it’s snowing.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
“I promise,” Isabella said.</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
Isabella climbed back into her bed and she began growing
until she was her normal size again. Her pretty white ball gown changed back
into her nightgown, and, as she started to fall asleep for the few moments she
had left before her mother would come in to wake her, she promised herself, “I
will <i>never</i> forget about the magic.
And when the snow starts to fall, I will <i>always</i>
dance in the snow.”<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
*****<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU_vyd8ShDpY24-d3Tela7qvVbWsH7AHgj0gU2VrfOb6Er-_lVvt3QZY4NLcgPgk_OKa1BedrJ0y-AK9UTFf097_y6tRNRVGAcdAoUBi21IPYfeEHxMAyOv9YkbhmAlYG3a5ANmDMan6w9/s1600/2014+Story+advent-calendar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU_vyd8ShDpY24-d3Tela7qvVbWsH7AHgj0gU2VrfOb6Er-_lVvt3QZY4NLcgPgk_OKa1BedrJ0y-AK9UTFf097_y6tRNRVGAcdAoUBi21IPYfeEHxMAyOv9YkbhmAlYG3a5ANmDMan6w9/s1600/2014+Story+advent-calendar.jpg" height="320" width="217" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
This story is part of the <a href="http://chapterbookchallenge.blogspot.com/2014/11/story-advent-calendar-blog-hop.html" target="_blank">Story Advent Calendar Blog Hop</a>. Every day from December 1st through December 25th, a variety of authors are providing you with one story to read to your child on the lead-up to Christmas. Check out the posts below to see which one to read to your child tomorrow!<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPTzf5SElwe8Woi4AA6O7d25cgfKwq5K3D2xCW0QCss6iPg6HOtR2-K4hu6so-DkB0XV2nV8lf5_UCCpW7JSf8fSv4WVmqd2t3ctGA2h0E4DmQIYCTFsXsFjbYXotOYxSV5M71ZonWPJOi/s1600/1011781_10154784394955122_2277046536594808233_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPTzf5SElwe8Woi4AA6O7d25cgfKwq5K3D2xCW0QCss6iPg6HOtR2-K4hu6so-DkB0XV2nV8lf5_UCCpW7JSf8fSv4WVmqd2t3ctGA2h0E4DmQIYCTFsXsFjbYXotOYxSV5M71ZonWPJOi/s1600/1011781_10154784394955122_2277046536594808233_n.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQedriCW8hyphenhyphenHOLIicjr9zhowWEhq6FaE-DIKDCgJuH56RisMVrXDphoh2kp7H0td1pvJh4J7rSb5FX9mpmvVb835o-zfzGjRZno81DMcyWDXUAd-6qPAj8I46pfb0X9hnKrEaQzmWfRji8/s1600/PA096093.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQedriCW8hyphenhyphenHOLIicjr9zhowWEhq6FaE-DIKDCgJuH56RisMVrXDphoh2kp7H0td1pvJh4J7rSb5FX9mpmvVb835o-zfzGjRZno81DMcyWDXUAd-6qPAj8I46pfb0X9hnKrEaQzmWfRji8/s1600/PA096093.JPG" height="150" width="200" /></a><br />
<br />
Some of you know I make custom covers for myself or others. I use stock photos, and sometimes I use photos I photographed myself for stock photos. (I have a large family and many props, so there is a lot of variety for models.) I also take scenic photos wherever I go.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: right;">
</div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs8IrxR-JfTZ19-pM8grls7aWquJ9znnQuBRDbW7gFY9D4V4tRsClXV41wTn8Jx_DAa3nFW45PZz1hp6C-RyDx9YJDnNEcpFsVvK3qHi9N0Y3cHmrq4KyAytJFugG38_g4ykPKN7W1qmFS/s1600/10409207_10154899935315122_6130002940178497025_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs8IrxR-JfTZ19-pM8grls7aWquJ9znnQuBRDbW7gFY9D4V4tRsClXV41wTn8Jx_DAa3nFW45PZz1hp6C-RyDx9YJDnNEcpFsVvK3qHi9N0Y3cHmrq4KyAytJFugG38_g4ykPKN7W1qmFS/s1600/10409207_10154899935315122_6130002940178497025_n.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a>Having a custom cover made can be costly. That's why I learned to do most of the work myself. When I have difficulty with something or don't have the skill to crate exactly what I want, I turn to my husband who has been doing photo-manipulations longer than I have.<br />
<br />
Well, we've had a minor, but expensive family emergency this past month. Our kitten, new to the family, somehow managed to break a bone in his paw. We don't know how he broke it. One minute he was fine and speeding around the house, as kittens do, and the next, he was favoring his right front paw and unable to put any weight on it. We took him straight to the vet where he had an x-ray and we found out he had broken the middle bone (metacarpal?) in his paw. The poor thing has had to remain in a crate for the past three weeks.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix3e1aTuh-MDiUI2ELRIVhLYivq7dlhFOADkO8xGKosOF14EV1nJMBxgcWd6YdywC37wsibvh8PJmXgFa-xl2SqdolSJlrkT8xo4Wqj50oijfBAbpPd47VPPWfOr14reQn2JoIqOwKxlT4/s1600/1601436_10154964818110122_3548758392971691448_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix3e1aTuh-MDiUI2ELRIVhLYivq7dlhFOADkO8xGKosOF14EV1nJMBxgcWd6YdywC37wsibvh8PJmXgFa-xl2SqdolSJlrkT8xo4Wqj50oijfBAbpPd47VPPWfOr14reQn2JoIqOwKxlT4/s1600/1601436_10154964818110122_3548758392971691448_n.jpg" height="200" width="150" /></a><br />
He just had his follow-up x-ray at the vet's, and his bone is healing but not completely healed. The vet understands that, even being in a crate had not kept the kitten from leaping and running, despite his broken paw, so she has given him permission to be on room-rest, as long as we keep an eye on him so that he doesn't jump too much.<br />
<br />
All of this was very expensive, which, under normal circumstances, would have caused us a bit of a financial strain, but we would have been okay. But this time of year could hardly be considered normal circumstances. Our 5 year old turns 6 in two days' time. My eldest daughter turns 23 on the 26th of December, and, of course, Christmas is nearly here.<br />
<br />
My children do not <i>NEED</i> anything. They have more than they could ever need, and we have decided that this year, presents will be small and simple, and most likely hand-crafted. But it will still be a stretch to pay all of the bills this month after paying all of Loki's vet bills.<br />
<br />
That was very long-winded, wasn't it? Well, I am explaining all of this in order to explain why I am running a huge sale on my custom book covers. (They are made using photos, not illustrations.) If you would like a custom book cover made for you, as long as it is not immensely difficult and complicated, I will make it for you for $25. You contact me and tell me what you want, what vision you have for it. If it's do-able, I will agree and you will pay the money through PayPal. I will then make your custom book cover, and you may have up to three revisions after the orginal. I will make you an ebook cover, and, for an additional $15, you can also have a print cover version of it. Your book cover will be sent as png, jpg and psd files.<br />
<br />
Here are some examples of previous custom book covers:<br />
<br />
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I also create fairy photo-manipulations (and occasionally mermaid photo-manipulations for people to print as gifts. (sent to you as png and jpeg files). Check out <a href="http://www.facebook.com/fairymagicphotos" target="_blank">Fairy Magic Photos on Facebook</a> and go into the folder with the photos "by Rebecca" to see examples. I am having a similar sale on these.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjys8MZEYFQ7eC-remoExAUpy82bjrGf4NjCVofSsB37QmABlHfhJhADBkj5J5zKEhkxCA3GQA7MHXaG9KyBoDetmIJxT5ieqlYgMA1pzmjyQpaHfY7LC_jKtYI0iSYP8A0AFXGMoTr-TdO/s1600/Bella+fairy+in+CharmedWoodlandsBONUS7a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjys8MZEYFQ7eC-remoExAUpy82bjrGf4NjCVofSsB37QmABlHfhJhADBkj5J5zKEhkxCA3GQA7MHXaG9KyBoDetmIJxT5ieqlYgMA1pzmjyQpaHfY7LC_jKtYI0iSYP8A0AFXGMoTr-TdO/s1600/Bella+fairy+in+CharmedWoodlandsBONUS7a.jpg" height="200" width="146" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoozyD_oD7njY5aImK7zuysnqOOu_5zrL2rf5tfOCYAQTAUKbf4fvrrQ9v5tlcQt1cS6Jy5mgs8V0sBfTkxcfVXGWEGe-CtJIbSQ4VytLEIK2kbcae-2VR84kyurJj4XCGYjPhqvTjiaY2/s1600/Bella+ladybug+fairy+CharmedWoodlands3a.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoozyD_oD7njY5aImK7zuysnqOOu_5zrL2rf5tfOCYAQTAUKbf4fvrrQ9v5tlcQt1cS6Jy5mgs8V0sBfTkxcfVXGWEGe-CtJIbSQ4VytLEIK2kbcae-2VR84kyurJj4XCGYjPhqvTjiaY2/s1600/Bella+ladybug+fairy+CharmedWoodlands3a.png" height="200" width="146" /></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">I want to illustrate a picture book entirely through photo-manipulations. </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 16px;">This might not be an entirely new way to illustrate a picture book; I'm sure someone somewhere had already done this, but it's a new idea for me. If anyone knows of a quality picture book that uses photo-manipulation for its illustrations, I'd love for you to let me know the title so I can have a look at it.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQMQwJi-zfnNYtCPyRqEV_O4PW-ebAPj7yAJsbV4Bw_0R6872FCcNV_5wmjQg0HkNR0LsACf-NQw2MdHXm3A4n7lqmOWwbawtftXdU_LkrfJMwU_q0PvOyfDPcnLADEUaihewLyJXGd8vE/s1600/Bella+and+Mommy+in+CharmedWoodlands+on+white+unicorn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQMQwJi-zfnNYtCPyRqEV_O4PW-ebAPj7yAJsbV4Bw_0R6872FCcNV_5wmjQg0HkNR0LsACf-NQw2MdHXm3A4n7lqmOWwbawtftXdU_LkrfJMwU_q0PvOyfDPcnLADEUaihewLyJXGd8vE/s1600/Bella+and+Mommy+in+CharmedWoodlands+on+white+unicorn.jpg" height="200" width="146" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhxQQcAVbsC8IoXT-372J-CDt42EwfUPaIVS62e9P1ANTgJFrHupz0h0oAUgmddFayDQB-MYsBG73CN-K1eVF7XP8ZeyHCyak7aoXsZ8DH35XliekbMtn2RsrKvJiSKyWDljDIZre2vEy5/s1600/Little+October+Fairy+Swinging.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhxQQcAVbsC8IoXT-372J-CDt42EwfUPaIVS62e9P1ANTgJFrHupz0h0oAUgmddFayDQB-MYsBG73CN-K1eVF7XP8ZeyHCyak7aoXsZ8DH35XliekbMtn2RsrKvJiSKyWDljDIZre2vEy5/s1600/Little+October+Fairy+Swinging.jpg" height="200" width="146" /></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">I
often write picture book manuscripts. I rarely submit them to agents or
publishers, but I know that, when I do, the publisher who takes on one of my
picture books will choose an artist to illustrate my book, and I won't get much
say over the choice or the illustrator's style. I would love to have the
control over my picture books that self-publishing gives, but I cannot really
afford the cost of an illustrator to illustrate the book.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdRJM4LtpplH97DT0MUCWWuE7bz-63Zt7_0ayQ0Hkt2FEwfVCXOWskmGIUfe0fnH1A7QNYaJs4nQ2RFNjMvILLJLNowKKxO9qnhajUvEXUymzYhNcGFM2q7lURrNW6B1lKC5uw452YDM6A/s1600/Isabella+and+the+Dark+Unicorn+.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdRJM4LtpplH97DT0MUCWWuE7bz-63Zt7_0ayQ0Hkt2FEwfVCXOWskmGIUfe0fnH1A7QNYaJs4nQ2RFNjMvILLJLNowKKxO9qnhajUvEXUymzYhNcGFM2q7lURrNW6B1lKC5uw452YDM6A/s1600/Isabella+and+the+Dark+Unicorn+.jpg" height="200" width="146" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7N7Ol13-1EqEyPnZxPDZfH18rZv20g-wtPr6XuquBlXqPZEJXQsCSfR3yZ-X_GKqC2GSDtczVAqw1yKg0kHR9aYv93Gq8xpEvD9Xzy-ZWpbnEz9wNCjWVBwwW7AYjJ8ywFBidNZLCUTsg/s1600/Bella+Fairy+laying+in+CharmedWoodlands.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7N7Ol13-1EqEyPnZxPDZfH18rZv20g-wtPr6XuquBlXqPZEJXQsCSfR3yZ-X_GKqC2GSDtczVAqw1yKg0kHR9aYv93Gq8xpEvD9Xzy-ZWpbnEz9wNCjWVBwwW7AYjJ8ywFBidNZLCUTsg/s1600/Bella+Fairy+laying+in+CharmedWoodlands.jpg" height="200" width="146" /></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Here's how the idea started percolating in my mind. My husband is great at
sketching, but he's not quite at the level of an illustrator and I am far
behind him in ability when it comes to drawing. However, he is incredibly
skilled when it comes to photo-manipulations, often seeing and thinking of
little details that would escape most of us. I am also learning quite a bit
about photo-manipulations and how to create some stunning work.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">So
the idea is to choose one of my picture book manuscripts to illustrate entirely
through photo-manipulations. It would have to be one that would be well-suited
for this type of art. But the idea intrigues me, and of course, my mind is now
running a million miles a minute with ideas for the art.<br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">The
main question is: Can I convince my husband to take the time away from his
limited relaxation time to work with me on this project? (He works a lot of
hours at the day job and spends hours a day commuting.) And, following on that question is: If he can't make the time to help, am I far enough along in my abilities to create the photo-manipulation illustrations myself?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Here are just a few examples of my husband's photo-manipulations (below):<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-5tzfkQ54x1JHj6h3VY9fLO3vRga89vKsvXei6gtBV0RhyphenhyphenyP9fOf9YnJ3uFmN69NvsX3ZIoKZiunvuxPmNyV9za0nE9s5uwuYOm_sbgpiR9W8HjS2Q0yA2YiIkYp8AOZnZRhBS2pT96BY/s1600/Breath_of_Fresh_Air_by_BFG.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-5tzfkQ54x1JHj6h3VY9fLO3vRga89vKsvXei6gtBV0RhyphenhyphenyP9fOf9YnJ3uFmN69NvsX3ZIoKZiunvuxPmNyV9za0nE9s5uwuYOm_sbgpiR9W8HjS2Q0yA2YiIkYp8AOZnZRhBS2pT96BY/s1600/Breath_of_Fresh_Air_by_BFG.jpg" height="195" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4HNEavVXPVrXkR0ZzuxCAQ8bIT3qMyyxqR-mZHdGllM3ok8sDDH6Ia_p8vZda70Egm7xma87j4DLdGe2AQW5o432UhEUcrYDF-GgPEUy-7UmyjrqyUQpdMQ_ENtNtyTvZKBCxJ35yR_Xo/s1600/gabby+mermaid+large.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4HNEavVXPVrXkR0ZzuxCAQ8bIT3qMyyxqR-mZHdGllM3ok8sDDH6Ia_p8vZda70Egm7xma87j4DLdGe2AQW5o432UhEUcrYDF-GgPEUy-7UmyjrqyUQpdMQ_ENtNtyTvZKBCxJ35yR_Xo/s1600/gabby+mermaid+large.jpg" height="166" width="200" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4LR17aHtb0Tv3hgyKIW1qMNjWkQnlV8_GftkSTknTkcshDGDag5wpfn2fH6cms8nlwsiXl4cOtC-9Aps-5LDfQO5Ho-fh-K155y5gAmDE0e_91vkUOd3ene6Xr4rSZ2iGq9gEx4uUDaVw/s1600/Late_for_the_ball_by_BFG.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4LR17aHtb0Tv3hgyKIW1qMNjWkQnlV8_GftkSTknTkcshDGDag5wpfn2fH6cms8nlwsiXl4cOtC-9Aps-5LDfQO5Ho-fh-K155y5gAmDE0e_91vkUOd3ene6Xr4rSZ2iGq9gEx4uUDaVw/s1600/Late_for_the_ball_by_BFG.jpg" height="160" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFx0DlWK0DGjwyJ44OEXnmPhyYs1NrOtf4YYK884XO5kPmwtNMBGMgIqHiCUgLlfO2wSS8VUPLcZO1hg6PXbu_Y7oW1Z6wwu8rrGDY-JoDOO5tXrQm6piI5aTAbjURJ1DDF6ITP1u7Qo71/s1600/Pixie_Forest_by_BFG.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFx0DlWK0DGjwyJ44OEXnmPhyYs1NrOtf4YYK884XO5kPmwtNMBGMgIqHiCUgLlfO2wSS8VUPLcZO1hg6PXbu_Y7oW1Z6wwu8rrGDY-JoDOO5tXrQm6piI5aTAbjURJ1DDF6ITP1u7Qo71/s1600/Pixie_Forest_by_BFG.jpg" height="165" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg85F95qp7EOuj7I85pRz6VhywrYyFMSnkjxLFq4fFmkpVuUPFay4YerZhTPIBtnMXv1P9bIAtj9R7gQr7u08z6VNQHulT97hbIJ7heEnRBl5LUVRTjX-IQXiBIRYqmAGrZq2ZHolDJsyLg/s1600/Rose_Fairy_by_BFG.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg85F95qp7EOuj7I85pRz6VhywrYyFMSnkjxLFq4fFmkpVuUPFay4YerZhTPIBtnMXv1P9bIAtj9R7gQr7u08z6VNQHulT97hbIJ7heEnRBl5LUVRTjX-IQXiBIRYqmAGrZq2ZHolDJsyLg/s1600/Rose_Fairy_by_BFG.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-gUzEo5FK9ReVtkCtCw-uvm5pXq-UE9kXVl7gvXH_OsEprd-MF0Rykh4QcrczLv2bT1GklIpPmxMig0O1gwjkM5-tWuGGco2XSMbiEWvsKTjojKgbPBo4QQ-rRIeSyeRK9MVHblFRaWf9/s1600/sandscorpion_lrg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-gUzEo5FK9ReVtkCtCw-uvm5pXq-UE9kXVl7gvXH_OsEprd-MF0Rykh4QcrczLv2bT1GklIpPmxMig0O1gwjkM5-tWuGGco2XSMbiEWvsKTjojKgbPBo4QQ-rRIeSyeRK9MVHblFRaWf9/s1600/sandscorpion_lrg.jpg" height="200" width="140" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Sand Scorpion by Michael Norwiz</span></i></b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil-yT84QHHO5D9f-cjM8fwNm_SMo7ThelbRLX9f8NVS949Vk2cs58vXzoyhrhkjaOjwhhwTjgS1hNl6tB88ncH-UuMu7SipsOP_rBJehdJXdI_Sf40sLUshXl1Fk4uOiZk2LD0zeHJLS-z/s1600/Cover_final+by+Julia+Lela+Stilchen+ebook.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil-yT84QHHO5D9f-cjM8fwNm_SMo7ThelbRLX9f8NVS949Vk2cs58vXzoyhrhkjaOjwhhwTjgS1hNl6tB88ncH-UuMu7SipsOP_rBJehdJXdI_Sf40sLUshXl1Fk4uOiZk2LD0zeHJLS-z/s1600/Cover_final+by+Julia+Lela+Stilchen+ebook.jpg" height="200" width="133" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Volume One</span></i></b></td></tr>
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First of all, I am putting together two anthologies, one to be published through my indie publishing company <a href="http://www.melusinemusepress.com/" target="_blank">Melusine Muse Press</a> and the other to be published through it's subsidiary publishing division Your Kids' Creations. Melusine Muse Press will be publishing a second volume of SuperHERo Tales called "SuperHERo Tales: Volume Two: A Second Collection of Female Superhero Stories," hopefully within a week from now. This one will be very much like the first volume, except that, along with some brand new female superheroes, some of the stories will be new scenes from some of the superheroes you got to meet in the first volume, plus this volume will have more sketches of the superheroes to go with the stories. As per the first volume, the proceeds form the second volume will go towards the Because I am a Girl organization.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc0QZ_5NI4JDfHSGXtn4bWWf44o_qGeIH0ewvenA49DhLTjHd3_JcYIDWOo34O3n6iJ46ppLYNCX3HXJ4xZooVS91UUO3TptT3E_6-wchqtu1ym94gnFX_glwCNfA1qIV-95qc04LEuuin/s1600/The+Superhero+Chronicles+by+children+Sample+book+cover.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc0QZ_5NI4JDfHSGXtn4bWWf44o_qGeIH0ewvenA49DhLTjHd3_JcYIDWOo34O3n6iJ46ppLYNCX3HXJ4xZooVS91UUO3TptT3E_6-wchqtu1ym94gnFX_glwCNfA1qIV-95qc04LEuuin/s1600/The+Superhero+Chronicles+by+children+Sample+book+cover.png" height="200" width="141" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="font-size: xx-small;">not the actual cover</span></i></b></td></tr>
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The anthology that will be published through Your Kids' Creations is also an anthology of superhero stories - this one written and illustrated entirely by children. This one is more complicated to put together as some of the children are having to do major revisions of their stories and the scanned drawings from children require a lot of work to make them show up better in print (they tend to be drawn in colored pencil or, sometimes, crayon). I was hoping to also have this one completed by today, but it is delayed. If I work really, really hard on it, it will be available for purchase by December 1st. That's my current goal for it. you'll have to wait and see if I can manage it. I think one of the things that made this one more difficult to compile is that it was a more difficult topic for kids to cover, so some kids needed a lot of extra time to prepare their stories. The next kids one we do will be another "pick your own topic per story" kind of anthology like the stories in "The Talisman Chronicles."<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIStkXsxbVkETAIrFMU5A5QTPPDuGzcFfE67YAB-VaeJc9eastXZNepm70knaUVfRAjUne4SiPnSrp6yQ6CZG-_6ZBsEPDPFd65ayNQj2OeEQTVZ3vm_2zhOZ633GA5ndCtxZLSqqETQ0m/s1600/Ink+Sample+ebook+cover.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIStkXsxbVkETAIrFMU5A5QTPPDuGzcFfE67YAB-VaeJc9eastXZNepm70knaUVfRAjUne4SiPnSrp6yQ6CZG-_6ZBsEPDPFd65ayNQj2OeEQTVZ3vm_2zhOZ633GA5ndCtxZLSqqETQ0m/s1600/Ink+Sample+ebook+cover.png" height="200" width="138" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg1J-lGClF9PbW0paVu1SQdFVxe8HLx5yy1oXa3ge-8hu2xc8VCr-R8Lbzg9wi09DV8fA_w2PiX_bgmXGX2Wm65cD_2RfgkZNmLYE2tTTGwH78Xaq7VITE0IYOgqi2r4UNMyFcZcEZIY_s/s1600/Call+of+the+Siren+sample+ebook+cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg1J-lGClF9PbW0paVu1SQdFVxe8HLx5yy1oXa3ge-8hu2xc8VCr-R8Lbzg9wi09DV8fA_w2PiX_bgmXGX2Wm65cD_2RfgkZNmLYE2tTTGwH78Xaq7VITE0IYOgqi2r4UNMyFcZcEZIY_s/s1600/Call+of+the+Siren+sample+ebook+cover.jpg" height="200" width="145" /></a>While trying to put these together, I am also working on writing a brand new novel for this year's National Novel Writing Month. I was undecided between writing the first novel in my Daughters of Poseidon series, "Call of the Siren," or writing a new idea for a novel called "Ink" about a girl who lives in a world where the existence of paranormal creatures has been discovered and they live out in the open. Werewolves, vampires, witches and ghosts are known to live among humans but other paranormals have not yet been discovered and some of the known creatures are a threat to humans. This girl develops some paranormal powers of her own, namely the power to control ink. She gets tattoos which she can use by making them become solid and living for as long as she needs them. She uses her power to help others and becomes a sort-of superhero. I decided in the end to write "Ink," and I am really loving the story so far. I have been posting snippets from my daily writing of it on <a href="http://www.facebook.com/rebeccafyfe" target="_blank">my author page on Facebook</a>. I have also written about 3,000 words of the Daughters of Poseidon novel, which is not counted in my overall <a href="http://www.nanowrimo.org/" target="_blank">NaNoWriMo</a> word count.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbgWM9l4XTcF7lqIT-Qvh0GvmU5Py5mHdNOcO4ZdFH37Voho0KJD2PbW7QP8dJsUte2hNIdRP06QBwDMmiutgZ4QeOh0w_9aJtye_CGRdl27EK2nPVwmH-H-g4Su9TPwMbFsYX470CQKeG/s1600/Isabellas+Dark+Unicorn+sample+book+cover1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbgWM9l4XTcF7lqIT-Qvh0GvmU5Py5mHdNOcO4ZdFH37Voho0KJD2PbW7QP8dJsUte2hNIdRP06QBwDMmiutgZ4QeOh0w_9aJtye_CGRdl27EK2nPVwmH-H-g4Su9TPwMbFsYX470CQKeG/s1600/Isabellas+Dark+Unicorn+sample+book+cover1.jpg" height="200" width="146" /></a><br />
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I'm also creating pre-made book covers for sale over on <a href="http://www.melusinemusepress.com/" target="_blank">Melusine Muse Press</a>. I offer custom-made book covers too. I recently made a book cover for my daughter Isabella's story which she is writing for <a href="http://ywp.nanowrimo.org/" target="_blank">NaNoWriMo's Young Writers Program</a>. I am offering my services (on sale right now) for making fairy photos for people too.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaleLh9IL0GrpOBHbdwgSyzq0Z_H3v461hNWxrKNnROyoklQ-_1K4MYDWEmsikyVgI6elGRaQou0qKDPOLJKBneVstXqyy4E_7HQjULXwlNYzYFTmoocqlTkuJwGvVjY47XpNhi-SIhyphenhyphen1v/s1600/Story+Starters.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaleLh9IL0GrpOBHbdwgSyzq0Z_H3v461hNWxrKNnROyoklQ-_1K4MYDWEmsikyVgI6elGRaQou0qKDPOLJKBneVstXqyy4E_7HQjULXwlNYzYFTmoocqlTkuJwGvVjY47XpNhi-SIhyphenhyphen1v/s1600/Story+Starters.png" height="150" width="200" /></a><br />
To top off the work I am doing with everything mentioned above, I am also posting a weekly Story Starter over on Story Starters, and editing my collection of mermaid stories, Mermaid's Muse, for publication in December.<br /><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs-xKeC9wNvTtPsiur2bbsTpvBEW-ZejLUqiQ9BvYUHzIb4FmHrRqQtjqFFK3kzMGcvy2hrKm6MacY4evTFvA7PjS2EpDwAkjiJUPeDNCA-5QOIqMQGL5LJ29qhpVMmj0ZKt46TbJZkJGU/s1600/Skinny+Dreamings+28+Day+fitness+Challenge+sample+cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs-xKeC9wNvTtPsiur2bbsTpvBEW-ZejLUqiQ9BvYUHzIb4FmHrRqQtjqFFK3kzMGcvy2hrKm6MacY4evTFvA7PjS2EpDwAkjiJUPeDNCA-5QOIqMQGL5LJ29qhpVMmj0ZKt46TbJZkJGU/s1600/Skinny+Dreamings+28+Day+fitness+Challenge+sample+cover.jpg" height="200" width="134" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b><i>not the actual cover</i></b></span></td></tr>
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And I am hoping to get my non-fiction book the "28 Day Fitness Challenge," and its companion food journal, ready for publication in December as well, although it might need to be pushed back until January.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGSzIvmEIPRhuZSA6IxDu0uiqSsgXZoAqkkJQjRLo4ZJB5LTaa_JQUXrQWe0PUbifkHjEXEAbRsujbVJVhKhlm99Yw924SysIDCqH5zjV7WeXjS4piRJNNg4ViOIDM36-RKFiRsFm2ShbS/s1600/Paw+Prints+cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGSzIvmEIPRhuZSA6IxDu0uiqSsgXZoAqkkJQjRLo4ZJB5LTaa_JQUXrQWe0PUbifkHjEXEAbRsujbVJVhKhlm99Yw924SysIDCqH5zjV7WeXjS4piRJNNg4ViOIDM36-RKFiRsFm2ShbS/s1600/Paw+Prints+cover.jpg" height="200" width="150" /></a><br />
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There are other anthologies which I will have to begin work on soon, but stories are still coming in for them at the moment. From Paw Prints, an anthology of cat stories with proceeds going towards the Swindon Cats Protection League, to four anthologies for the four courts of the Fae World. There is also a call for letters from fathers to daughters for another anthology.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9CCbTgkObk9Mv74ZDcDQrahtpWqyk9X_hddgwt3E_EbQZLV0ieoxwJxDHAVmToaagq20SouJ5n3wON7zilPfJ5th5X0o64TC4iuRwZxkt3QHUEktAnl3aKyv-7m-epWjH8bbMJdq82ljD/s1600/1011781_10154784394955122_2277046536594808233_n+(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9CCbTgkObk9Mv74ZDcDQrahtpWqyk9X_hddgwt3E_EbQZLV0ieoxwJxDHAVmToaagq20SouJ5n3wON7zilPfJ5th5X0o64TC4iuRwZxkt3QHUEktAnl3aKyv-7m-epWjH8bbMJdq82ljD/s1600/1011781_10154784394955122_2277046536594808233_n+(1).jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a></div>
I have also recently acquired a new kitten, and this adorable little kitten named Loki has somehow managed to break a bone in his right paw, so he has required a crate to keep him from using it too much (which hasn't really stopped him), daily medication and a ton of money which I don't really have at this time for X-rays and treatments and veterinary visits.<br />
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And there you have it. These are the things that have been keeping me too busy to write on here recently.<br />
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What have you been up to lately? I'd love to hear about the things you've been working on. Please share in the comments!Becky Fyfehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01595020500346331076noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4661445706008045286.post-48814285932933172312014-09-30T08:52:00.000-07:002014-09-30T08:56:41.927-07:00"The Test of Time" by Nicole Zoltack - Cover Reveal & Review!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<i>My talented friend, Nicole Zoltack has an eighth novel out now. "The Test of Time" is a time-travel romance. And look at the beautiful cover given to the book! She has written several novels and has stories in numerous anthologies, including some of the same ones I have stories in and which I have read, so I can say unequivocally that she is a FANTASTIC writer, and you should not hesitate to go buy her books.</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0Dol5YzIpIMR-KOqO4oxxTzpMVOLzA4ql480XIamNAsYPqV7CcKm_RfJRkcal9L095OqJdbCslWMpXqO8oCBU8uXC-sUdk1v6-BOiVJzC2b-sh0LiQidWufcRQdwwld67vrPfP2wfowFO/s1600/ThetestoftimeSmall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0Dol5YzIpIMR-KOqO4oxxTzpMVOLzA4ql480XIamNAsYPqV7CcKm_RfJRkcal9L095OqJdbCslWMpXqO8oCBU8uXC-sUdk1v6-BOiVJzC2b-sh0LiQidWufcRQdwwld67vrPfP2wfowFO/s1600/ThetestoftimeSmall.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Katia
jumps at the chance to go to England with her best friend after Rose ditches
her deadbeat boyfriend. While walking through the market, she spies a large
mansion and recognizes the guy out front as her high school friend Tony. Just
as they start to reconnect, Katia passes through times and lands in the arms of
Lord Landon, who looks like Tony but certainly doesn’t act like him.</i></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Soon,
Katia learns that this 1815 is different from the one in history books. Trapped
in a parallel world, Katia struggles to not fall for Landon but his charm
proves too much for her. Just when she is about to confess her love for him,
Katia travels through time yet again.</i></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>The
course of love never did run smooth and if Katia can’t figure out and master
the test of time, she’ll never see or friends again, or worse, never be
reunited with Landon.</i></span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Add
it on Goodreads! <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23125044-the-test-of-time">https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23125044-the-test-of-time</a></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
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Check in on this post from time to time as I will be adding my review of her book later in the week. I can't wait to read it!</div>
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<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Buy
Links:</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Amazon:
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Test-Time-Nicole-Zoltack-ebook/dp/B00NU948BU/">http://www.amazon.com/Test-Time-Nicole-Zoltack-ebook/dp/B00NU948BU/</a></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Barnes
and Noble: <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-test-of-time-nicole-zoltack/1120381395?ean=2940150743984">http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-test-of-time-nicole-zoltack/1120381395?ean=2940150743984</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">iTunes:
<a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/the-test-of-time/id922220162?mt=11">https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/the-test-of-time/id922220162?mt=11</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Smashwords:
<a href="https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/479151">https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/479151</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Kobo:
<a href="http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/the-test-of-time-3">http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/the-test-of-time-3</a><br /><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp7u1zgzDk3mMJ5TM0L5fxw1VFYx8whbi37SnmMHq2c_wQGwLH5Kb1jhkuPoy_KELHhs_I1AbrFAWqtqtL5xcwT4qOJ-QomV56e37enS2SdeMFQg8xJ-FSqh-40spCgZeHhyphenhyphenCIldsPLiI3/s1600/Nicole+Zoltack+author+pic_b&w.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp7u1zgzDk3mMJ5TM0L5fxw1VFYx8whbi37SnmMHq2c_wQGwLH5Kb1jhkuPoy_KELHhs_I1AbrFAWqtqtL5xcwT4qOJ-QomV56e37enS2SdeMFQg8xJ-FSqh-40spCgZeHhyphenhyphenCIldsPLiI3/s1600/Nicole+Zoltack+author+pic_b&w.jpg" height="200" width="133" /></a><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>About the Author:</b><br />Nicole
Zoltack loves to write in many genres, especially romance, whether fantasy,
paranormal, or regency. When she’s not writing about knights, superheroes, or
zombies, she loves to spend time with her loving husband and three energetic
young boys. She enjoys riding horses (pretending they’re unicorns, of course!)
and going to the PA Renaissance Faire, dressed in garb. She’ll also read
anything she can get her hands on. Her current favorite TV show is The Walking
Dead. To learn more about Nicole and her writing, visit <u><span style="text-decoration: none;"><a href="http://nicolezoltack.blogspot.com/">http://NicoleZoltack.blogspot.com</a>.</span></u><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Follow Nicole Zokltack's Blog: <a href="http://nicolezoltack.blogspot.com/"><span style="text-decoration: none;">http://NicoleZoltack.blogspot.com</span></a> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Friend Nicole Zoltack on Facebook: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/NicoleZoltack"><span style="text-decoration: none;">http://www.facebook.com/NicoleZoltack</span></a> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Like Nicole Zoltack's Facebook Fan Page: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/authorNicoleZoltack"><span style="text-decoration: none;">http://www.facebook.com/authorNicoleZoltack</span></a> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Become a Goodreads Fan: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2887586.Nicole_Zoltack"><span style="text-decoration: none;">https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2887586.Nicole_Zoltack</span></a> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Tweet with Nicole on Twitter: <a href="http://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Ftwitter.com%2FNicoleZoltack&h=pAQGHgpUM&enc=AZMldAwWf6cnWt_QIAmqx2i5MzVz6rJNqww21FBrwrMc55nTCmy6IlMGQX1irZ-bxNJM7eHt762AneK4_V3KN9hA92YJlvOP696kzCwGrHUJlm1tUGt28IHoVa_Wi3h7tPWs3uxqjXVPdU1J_II8Fx2-&s=1"><span style="text-decoration: none;">http://twitter.com/NicoleZoltack</span></a> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Pin with Nicole on Pinterest: <a href="http://www.pinterest.com/nicolezoltack/"><span style="text-decoration: none;">http://www.pinterest.com/nicolezoltack/</span></a> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Follow Nicole on Wattpad so you can read the paranormal serial she's going to start posting soon: <a href="http://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.wattpad.com%2Fuser%2FNicoleZoltack&h=uAQFhX9_X&enc=AZNcOME_kp-d6W4S2AK7SlRe5CcXQrp7ReYydzqDynoR7kAv3mIc_viE2Gpc1UvM18jjS8C-G-AHau_nLYM_Ed1zEgGVrKYU7I2ol7_KPsOLftm49PNtTp1J7Vkr2UmrfQWIPAWoAB-kiLyvKah54Cpx&s=1"><span style="text-decoration: none;">http://www.wattpad.com/user/NicoleZoltack</span></a> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Tumble with Nicole on Tumblr: <a href="http://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fnicolezoltack.tumblr.com%2F&h=zAQFe17k1&enc=AZORrUUKkay-zKYtQ_hvHc5aiIXWjLEWOFKFcTSmCQ_6DAcg-7C27ExJ3huFdtGGvqEh6j7M9AiDSsuAv72y_8YmvGYYpi7H03sC-bEHURBxCTPiyXxpXtL435oyICuTm7VvpDMv_wyZlG9v0DYgF2y_&s=1"><span style="text-decoration: none;">http://nicolezoltack.tumblr.com</span></a> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Sign up for Nicole's Author newsletter: <a href="http://nicolezoltack.us2.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=2f8ea3d70f54c40f7be57fcd3&id=0eb487465e"><span style="text-decoration: none;">http://nicolezoltack.us2.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=2f8ea3d70f54c40f7be57fcd3&id=0eb487465e</span></a> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Like Nicole Zoltack on her Amazon Author Central page: <a href="http://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2FNicole-Zoltack%2Fe%2FB00304YARW%2F&h=nAQGD82KN&enc=AZN6r5x8hBRLLJZL7B9pDWVqSFQM99HzIohJl1o8SUYolak8qYUXn1btNuu2y8RLlop55v2OozTdu4_aOrbXdAMcdSGFn41PC3JLRSc7K8etMeF2MXxIfpx9w2yv5uJzE4PTUFArhXXlAiK5q4-hJZnV&s=1"><span style="text-decoration: none;">http://www.amazon.com/Nicole-Zoltack/e/B00304YARW/</span></a></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<a class="twitter-share-button" data-count="none" data-related="story_magic" data-via="moonduster" href="http://twitter.com/share">Tweet</a><script src="http://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" type="text/javascript"></script>Becky Fyfehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01595020500346331076noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4661445706008045286.post-81674744052986583332014-09-16T03:06:00.002-07:002014-09-16T09:38:34.551-07:00Talk Like a Pirate Day - Teapot Tales Volume 2 Book Blast & Giveaway!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNzCGFVD4ZzXQBdExZXUTIwp3lygjthu52N3AV7e5TSEYATqGlA7gLDnNCzWfCGxw1w7-ifsfBgnIxrR7cizZ_eHDLnGbL_dMwqO7omUSQIeiJMNjfQtG3EmTbCB7YTmaYHozKhzaPMhs/s1600/teapot+Tales+ebook+cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNzCGFVD4ZzXQBdExZXUTIwp3lygjthu52N3AV7e5TSEYATqGlA7gLDnNCzWfCGxw1w7-ifsfBgnIxrR7cizZ_eHDLnGbL_dMwqO7omUSQIeiJMNjfQtG3EmTbCB7YTmaYHozKhzaPMhs/s1600/teapot+Tales+ebook+cover.jpg" height="320" width="226" /></a></div>
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<i><span style="color: #6fa8dc;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">“I'm no longer a child and I still want to be, to live with the pirates. Because I want to live forever in wonder. The difference between me as a child and me as an adult is this and only this: when I was a child, I longed to travel into, to live in wonder. Now, I know, as much as I can know anything, that to travel into wonder is to be wonder. So it matters little whether I travel by plane, by rowboat, or by book. Or, by dream. I do not see, for there is no I to see. That is what the pirates know. There is only seeing and, in order to go to see, one must be a pirate.”</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;"> ~Kathy Acker</span></span></i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEUPPYwoBhASu02IeY4xVoUITDT6IY99by5ubq18iqGHt-5XuJXCxzD9dYXRftBNxA7B5SGQkFTP6XpPRH1_Mz0Dk5uc-_KLoa7xzJnY2NxrS6qTKR0qeskyEvevMAVwPfU3LJJ2d_Bnk/s1600/Pirate+ship+silhouette+by+Rebecca+Fyfe.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEUPPYwoBhASu02IeY4xVoUITDT6IY99by5ubq18iqGHt-5XuJXCxzD9dYXRftBNxA7B5SGQkFTP6XpPRH1_Mz0Dk5uc-_KLoa7xzJnY2NxrS6qTKR0qeskyEvevMAVwPfU3LJJ2d_Bnk/s1600/Pirate+ship+silhouette+by+Rebecca+Fyfe.png" height="140" width="200" /></a></div>
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"<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Teapot-Tales-Pirates-Mermaids-Monsters-ebook/dp/B00N5493FG" target="_blank">Teapot Tales: Pirates, Mermaids and Monsters of the Sea</a>" is having its very own book blast and giveaway in honor of "Talk Like a Pirate Day" which falls on September 19th this year.<br />
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About the anthology:<br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">In the spirit of “Teapot Tales: A Collection of Unique Fairy Tales” is this wonderful second volume of short stories to enjoy! With stories to enchant readers of all ages, this collection of pirate and mermaid stories will open your eyes to the magic that can be found under the sea. Let yourself be pulled into the magical worlds found within these stories. From pirates and sea monsters to kind-hearted mermaids and flesh-eating sirens, let these charming ocean tales sweep you away into the realm of fantasy. With twenty-six stories, including four poems, written by seventeen different authors from around the world, “Teapot Tales: Pirates, Mermaids and Monsters of the Sea” is a wonderful collection of short stories, each story just long enough to enjoy with a cup of tea.</span></span></blockquote>
The proceeds from this anthology go exclusively towards providing for the <a href="http://www.chapterbookchallenge.com/" target="_blank">Chapter Book Challenge</a>, and the stories in this anthology were written and illustrated entirely by <a href="http://www.chaboocha.com/" target="_blank">ChaBooCha</a> members.<br />
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There are two separate versions of the book, both in kindle and <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Teapot-Tales-Pirates-Mermaids-Monsters/dp/1501005529" target="_blank">paperback</a>, a version with US spellings and a <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Teapot-Tales-Pirates-Mermaids-Monsters-ebook/dp/B00N4YUDK6" target="_blank">UK edition</a> with UK spellings and language.<br />
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This is the second volume of the Teapot Tales anthologies. The first one was published in 2013, and it was called "<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Teapot-Tales-Collection-Unique-Fairy-ebook/dp/B00EGST6HU/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1410778015&sr=8-1&keywords=teapot+tales%3A+a+collection+of+unique+fairy+tales" target="_blank">Teapot Tales: A Collection of Unique Fairy Tales</a>."<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpAWkiB5TiU4YRdC5z1Eo-hJldNI0DMjA7oqwDBe4-lfdc52N7iVzhmmKp0qR1r7gzNV8CtKBBNaTX_mU5vXY-zL2Yya76q2zhR_ZR-Vuw8C02p6j4UI0VPGW125vrD0SxzvLOJo80WPQ/s1600/Lounging+mermaid+silhouette+by+Rebecca+fyfe.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpAWkiB5TiU4YRdC5z1Eo-hJldNI0DMjA7oqwDBe4-lfdc52N7iVzhmmKp0qR1r7gzNV8CtKBBNaTX_mU5vXY-zL2Yya76q2zhR_ZR-Vuw8C02p6j4UI0VPGW125vrD0SxzvLOJo80WPQ/s1600/Lounging+mermaid+silhouette+by+Rebecca+fyfe.png" height="116" width="200" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;"><i><span style="color: #3d85c6;">“Darwin may have been quite correct in his theory that man descended from the apes of the forest, but surely woman rose from the frothy sea, as resplendent as Aphrodite on her scalloped chariot.” ~Margot Datz, "A Survival Guide for Landlocked Mermaids"</span></i></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;"><i><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><br /></span></i></span><span style="background-color: white; color: purple; font-family: georgia, serif; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-size: large; font-weight: bold;">Other Book Blast Participants:</span>(Go check out their blogs!)<br /><br /><span style="font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://juliastilchenwrites.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Julia Stilchen</a></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://www.melissagijsbers.com/" target="_blank">Melissa Gijsbers</a></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://ahowland.org/" target="_blank">Ashley Howland</a></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: 14px;"><b><a href="http://www.melusinemusepress.com/" target="_blank">Melusine Muse Press</a></b></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://www.chaboocha.com/" target="_blank">Chapter Book Challenge</a></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://thegracefuldoe.wordpress.com./" target="_blank">Jo Hart</a></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: purple; font-family: inherit; line-height: 18px;"><b><a href="http://www.melissawrites.com.au/" target="_blank">Melissa Writes</a></b></span><br />
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Now that you know all about this wonderful anthology, it's time to let you know what the you might win by filling in the Rafflecopter for this giveaway.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9viCf18cBW7ln-6ZSiBLkIfWCncdZCZNYT9qBSDagC7T_UQHdBnMhE7yyPWuRg1QCBwf8yXchd736XwAijRy1naRaXIR9pTy44lJAsIuAK3KoMMjUVX-G9mvaKlCcobV6ZZ7jHe7ijYk/s1600/teapot_tales_pirates_mermaids_and_magnets.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9viCf18cBW7ln-6ZSiBLkIfWCncdZCZNYT9qBSDagC7T_UQHdBnMhE7yyPWuRg1QCBwf8yXchd736XwAijRy1naRaXIR9pTy44lJAsIuAK3KoMMjUVX-G9mvaKlCcobV6ZZ7jHe7ijYk/s1600/teapot_tales_pirates_mermaids_and_magnets.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">magnet</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSbKjBZMOB-kAXH7SlL-8unsa-rPoSEE3U6oR6AvbSkSF-e3WVxf9aPa-_7f6GMZokewY-kyLFQaDk_nnqDT97bvO6hFYcjL6NnDtlTEYd_LLGzhZCX1MXNQAtQVNPRub4E6ErAfyQI1c/s1600/teapot_tales_pirates_mermaids_posters.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSbKjBZMOB-kAXH7SlL-8unsa-rPoSEE3U6oR6AvbSkSF-e3WVxf9aPa-_7f6GMZokewY-kyLFQaDk_nnqDT97bvO6hFYcjL6NnDtlTEYd_LLGzhZCX1MXNQAtQVNPRub4E6ErAfyQI1c/s1600/teapot_tales_pirates_mermaids_posters.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">mini poster print</td></tr>
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHLDEEWuqGimYk9WYMQQi9C5Pgi32j9__HT-v_cndFvBi1tBgBRYSPd61A6wmMK9-Ngy9SESgnrlVZ8O45P1g4-WcEBvVSXZCGlgnnagpVTMyhhCSw5oSD_lIrRVsrdXPt65P8gtvnLVA/s1600/Teapot+Tales+2+&+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHLDEEWuqGimYk9WYMQQi9C5Pgi32j9__HT-v_cndFvBi1tBgBRYSPd61A6wmMK9-Ngy9SESgnrlVZ8O45P1g4-WcEBvVSXZCGlgnnagpVTMyhhCSw5oSD_lIrRVsrdXPt65P8gtvnLVA/s1600/Teapot+Tales+2+&+1.jpg" height="260" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">Teapot Tales Volume 1 and Volume 2</td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: inherit; font-size: large; line-height: 12.2880001068115px; text-align: left;">- a </span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large; line-height: 12.2880001068115px; text-align: left;"><span style="color: purple;">print copy</span></span><span style="color: blue; font-family: inherit; font-size: large; line-height: 12.2880001068115px; text-align: left;"> of "Teapot Tales" (Volume 2)<br /></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: blue; font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 12.2880001068115px;"><br /></span></span><span style="color: blue; font-size: large; line-height: 12.2880001068115px; text-align: left;">- a </span><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 12.2880001068115px; text-align: left;"><span style="color: purple;">kindle copy</span></span><span style="color: blue; font-size: large; line-height: 12.2880001068115px; text-align: left;"> of "Teapot Tales" (Volume 2)<br /></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: blue; font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 12.2880001068115px;"><br /></span></span><span style="color: blue; font-family: inherit; font-size: large; line-height: 12.2880001068115px; text-align: left;"> - a mermaid-themed </span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large; line-height: 12.2880001068115px; text-align: left;"><span style="color: purple;">bookmark</span></span><span style="color: blue; font-family: inherit; font-size: large; line-height: 12.2880001068115px; text-align: left;"> (with charms)<br /><br /> </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: inherit; font-size: large; line-height: 12.2880001068115px; text-align: left;">- a </span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large; line-height: 12.2880001068115px; text-align: left;"><span style="color: purple;">magnet </span></span><span style="color: blue; font-family: inherit; font-size: large; line-height: 12.2880001068115px; text-align: left;">with the "Teapot Tales" (Volume 2) cover on it<br /><br /></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: inherit; font-size: large; line-height: 12.2880001068115px; text-align: left;">- a </span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large; line-height: 12.2880001068115px; text-align: left;"><span style="color: purple;">mini poster print</span></span><span style="color: blue; font-family: inherit; font-size: large; line-height: 12.2880001068115px; text-align: left;"> of the "Teapot Tales" (Volume 2) book cover<br /> </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: inherit; font-size: large; line-height: 12.2880001068115px; text-align: left;"></span><br /></span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: inherit; font-size: large; line-height: 12.2880001068115px; text-align: left;">- an </span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large; line-height: 12.2880001068115px; text-align: left;"><span style="color: purple;">e-book</span></span><span style="color: blue; font-family: inherit; font-size: large; line-height: 12.2880001068115px; text-align: left;"> copy of "Swallow Me, Now" by Melissa Gijsbers</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f6f7f8;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: inherit; line-height: 12.2880001068115px;"></span></span>To enter for a chance to win one of the above prizes listed above, fill in the Rafflecopter. Come back and check in as new prizes will be added and new ways to earn points. The winners will be chosen and announced on September 25th.<br />
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<a class="twitter-share-button" data-count="none" data-related="story_magic" data-via="moonduster" href="http://twitter.com/share">Tweet</a><script src="http://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" type="text/javascript"></script>Becky Fyfehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01595020500346331076noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4661445706008045286.post-36534903397710247872014-09-13T09:41:00.002-07:002014-09-13T09:44:33.081-07:00"Swallow Me, Now!" by Melissa Gijsbers - Go support a talented new author!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKr3FZzssLIJ7l1ml9rUxCi5H3zkGDwo5mpwcuMLbvGA_eM6J3ZxnqCQ1CVlktxIDZnxVdf5nII56YMzE4aTOkkHIQEQdsr8BLhlx0hc9FTExNDLcnss9-gQNhLt-WKljgoBtpSNynu5da/s1600/Swallow+Me+Now.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKr3FZzssLIJ7l1ml9rUxCi5H3zkGDwo5mpwcuMLbvGA_eM6J3ZxnqCQ1CVlktxIDZnxVdf5nII56YMzE4aTOkkHIQEQdsr8BLhlx0hc9FTExNDLcnss9-gQNhLt-WKljgoBtpSNynu5da/s1600/Swallow+Me+Now.png" height="320" width="259" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;">There's only a week left of my friend Melissa Gijsbers's crowdfunding campaign for her new kids book "Swallow Me, NOW!" It's aimed at kids aged 9-12 and is about a girl who is dealing with a new school, a new country, and a new bully. If anyone would like to support it by pledging and/or sharing, that would be awesome.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">The project: <a href="http://www.pozible.com/project/184562" rel="noreferrer" style="background-color: white; color: #0186ba;" target="_blank">http://www.pozible.c<wbr></wbr>om/project/184562</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"> </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;">She's aiming for a book launch on 25 October in Oakleigh, Victoria, but with only one week left and still only half-way there, she's going to need all of our help.<br /><br />Here's the information she has posted on the crowdfunding page about the book:</span></span><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="font-family: ProximaNovaRgRegular, OpenSansRegular, Arial, 'Hiragino Sans GB', 'Microsoft YaHei', 微软雅黑, STHeiti, 'WenQuanYi Micro Hei', SimSun, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: blue;">"</span><b style="color: blue;">The story of the project</b><br /><span style="color: blue;">‘Swallow Me, NOW!’ is the story of Samantha Phillips, a ten year old kid in grade 5 who relocates back to Australia after spending three years in Nepal. On her first day she meets Felicity, the most popular girl at Green Oaks Primary School, who bullies her, first with exclusion, and then escalating to teasing. The story tells the tale of how Sam overcomes the bullies and builds her confidence to find some new friends.</span><br /><span style="color: red;">‘Swallow Me, NOW!’ was written during the 2013 Chapter Book Challenge</span><span style="color: blue;">, and draws on my own experiences as a missionary kid adjusting back to life in Australia in the 1980s. I found it very hard to make friends and was bullied, mostly due to differences in experiences, but also due to a lack of confidence.<br />My younger son partly inspired the ending to ‘Swallow Me, NOW!’ after one incident. The teacher was reading a story about bullying where the bully and victim became best friends at the end of the book. He told me that he just wanted the bully to stop and that he didn’t want to be friends. Looking in to other stories that were available, I found similar endings, or that the bully got in trouble and changed their ways.<br />The other aspect I noticed was that many stories were trying to get children to solve the issue of bullying by themselves. With my story, I want to encourage children to tell someone if they or someone they know, are being bullied. They may be able to come up with a solution, however they should do this with the support of the adults around them.<br />My goal with this book is to give children an understanding of bullying as well as encouraging them to speak up if it’s happening to them or someone they know."</span></span></blockquote>
The part highlighted in red is highlighted by me to point out that, not only is this a book about bullies, intended to help kids through their own bullying problems, but it was also <b><i>written during <a href="http://www.chaboocha.com/" target="_blank">ChaBooCha</a>!</i></b><br />
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A $6 donation helps her reach her goal and also gets you an e-book copy of the book once it's published. If you want to donate more, there is an option to buy a copy for yourself and have a second copy donated to a local school library.<br />
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<a class="twitter-share-button" data-count="none" data-related="story_magic" data-via="moonduster" href="http://twitter.com/share">Tweet</a><script src="http://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" type="text/javascript"></script>Becky Fyfehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01595020500346331076noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4661445706008045286.post-40894354714220134892014-09-06T02:48:00.001-07:002014-09-06T02:48:59.485-07:00Now taking submissions for "Fae World" anthology series<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQxJIsO6US5JXCZYlNc0r0gDuE4zQnj_WDFx8yed_UVTlzdjCpsRDWMn4SDqCb892GXX008dG1qkwtLFG53Pcj2NZEoLq033_f1gSXzkwRUbLrmctRBc1td8GCbP9MXiBWbp72vCgd9H8C/s1600/Faeries+of+the+Spring+Court+e-book+cover1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQxJIsO6US5JXCZYlNc0r0gDuE4zQnj_WDFx8yed_UVTlzdjCpsRDWMn4SDqCb892GXX008dG1qkwtLFG53Pcj2NZEoLq033_f1gSXzkwRUbLrmctRBc1td8GCbP9MXiBWbp72vCgd9H8C/s1600/Faeries+of+the+Spring+Court+e-book+cover1.jpg" height="200" width="141" /></a></div>
<a href="http://www.melusinemusepress.com/" target="_blank">Melusine Muse Press</a> is taking submissions for the Fae World series of anthologies.<br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.479999542236328px;"><span style="line-height: 20px;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 15px;"><br /></span></span></b></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit; line-height: 18.479999542236328px;"><span style="line-height: 20px;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><u>World of the Fae </u> </span></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.479999542236328px;"><span style="line-height: 20px;"><span style="font-size: 15px;"><br /></span></span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.479999542236328px;"></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.479999542236328px;"><span style="line-height: 20px;"><span style="font-size: 15px;">This one will either be one large anthology or four smaller ones. </span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.479999542236328px;"><span style="line-height: 20px;"><span style="font-size: 15px;"><br /></span></span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.479999542236328px;"></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.479999542236328px;"><span style="line-height: 20px;"><span style="font-size: 15px;">The four themes are <span style="color: orange;"><b>Autumn Court</b></span>, <span style="color: #3d85c6;"><b>Winter Court</b></span>, <span style="color: #38761d;"><b>Spring Court</b></span> and <span style="color: red;"><b>Summer Court</b></span> and may include both dark and light Fae (Seelie and Unseelie). </span></span></span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDBlVzg82TwCnFxQ39_5EMB6gHrVxJCATFQhHIbSYUT83vqi2Qxu-kDPyzSSDU6TP0hW47hwq43W2mJDYOOOqwaqHlCQUuty8ZHmQexu9H39V9Ej__pWG-GxucOdu2dLZA44vXT0Nm2u15/s1600/Faeries+of+the+Summer+Court+e-book+cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDBlVzg82TwCnFxQ39_5EMB6gHrVxJCATFQhHIbSYUT83vqi2Qxu-kDPyzSSDU6TP0hW47hwq43W2mJDYOOOqwaqHlCQUuty8ZHmQexu9H39V9Ej__pWG-GxucOdu2dLZA44vXT0Nm2u15/s1600/Faeries+of+the+Summer+Court+e-book+cover.jpg" height="200" width="141" /></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.479999542236328px;"><span style="line-height: 20px;"><span style="font-size: 15px;"><br /></span></span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.479999542236328px;"></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.479999542236328px;"><span style="line-height: 20px;"><span style="font-size: 15px;">The word count should be between 300 and 3,000 words. </span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.479999542236328px;"><span style="line-height: 20px;"><span style="font-size: 15px;"><br /></span></span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.479999542236328px;"></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.479999542236328px;"><span style="line-height: 20px;"><span style="font-size: 15px;">Not all submissions will be accepted. </span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.479999542236328px;"><span style="line-height: 20px;"><span style="font-size: 15px;"><br /></span></span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.479999542236328px;"></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.479999542236328px;"><span style="line-height: 20px;"><span style="font-size: 15px;">These are adult stories, but </span></span><i style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">gratuitous</i><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"> sex, </span><i style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">gratuitous</i><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"> foul language and </span><i style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">gratuitous</i><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"> violence will earn a rejection. </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.479999542236328px;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><br /></span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.479999542236328px;"></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.479999542236328px;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">Depending on the quality of the stories sent in, there will either be a one volume, 50+-story anthology or four volumes with 25 to 35 stories in each (depending on average length of stories). </span></span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiuDaaHeEKsyghCQjK4lHHqPEeYniwywHIrJotBA2OWWNehEP2QKDBhZWwuQXlHrAMXIVbunPAex_CWX8qezUB8WEuh6TJgEYueiNRgaK7ZZtwUGh3wEQMHiXxl_iJP-i3dICT7Pjyjx7a/s1600/Faeries+of+the+Autumn+Court+e-book+cover2a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiuDaaHeEKsyghCQjK4lHHqPEeYniwywHIrJotBA2OWWNehEP2QKDBhZWwuQXlHrAMXIVbunPAex_CWX8qezUB8WEuh6TJgEYueiNRgaK7ZZtwUGh3wEQMHiXxl_iJP-i3dICT7Pjyjx7a/s1600/Faeries+of+the+Autumn+Court+e-book+cover2a.jpg" height="200" width="141" /></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.479999542236328px;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><br /></span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.479999542236328px;"></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.479999542236328px;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">At this moment, I cannot afford to pay for stories that are accepted, but there will be a $10 Amazon gift certificate awarded to the best story in each category ("court") and a $25 gift certificate for the best story overall. (The overall winner will be ineligible for the section winner prizes. That means that there will be four $10 winners and one $25 winner.)</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.479999542236328px;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><br /></span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.479999542236328px;"></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.479999542236328px;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">For now, the closing date remains open. Submissions will remain open until the correct number of acceptable stories is reached. </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.479999542236328px;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><br /></span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.479999542236328px;"></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.479999542236328px;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">Once all stories have been chosen for the anthology, winners will be chosen. Winners will get winner badges for their blogs or websites. </span></span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXRpiyf5O4RaeSPpr7FEhUxD3wldONBDXLNfAohq-Tux6OjgJGNVTDBQl_jW8GIOGdLueTXNjghVdc7K7HeMlZtIDv2F1D8h-SJ7JpsSaaHKOhEMFTrRmTeVJN4m55-uc9SPfmzAQs4Yv7/s1600/Fairies+of+the+Winter+Court+e-book+cover1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXRpiyf5O4RaeSPpr7FEhUxD3wldONBDXLNfAohq-Tux6OjgJGNVTDBQl_jW8GIOGdLueTXNjghVdc7K7HeMlZtIDv2F1D8h-SJ7JpsSaaHKOhEMFTrRmTeVJN4m55-uc9SPfmzAQs4Yv7/s1600/Fairies+of+the+Winter+Court+e-book+cover1.jpg" height="200" width="140" /></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.479999542236328px;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><br /></span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.479999542236328px;"></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.479999542236328px;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">I am hoping to be able to begin work on the anthology during 2014, so the earlier submissions come in, the better.<br /><br />You may submit multiple stories. Please follow the <a href="http://melusinemusepress.blogspot.com/p/formatting-your-submissions-for.html" target="_blank">guidelines for submissions</a>.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.479999542236328px;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><br /></span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.479999542236328px;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">E-mail stories to Rebecca (at) Fyfe (dot) net</span></span><br />
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<i>Authors retain all rights to submitted stories. If your story is accepted, you will be e-mailed a contract.</i><br />
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