tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-65906994841485291902024-02-02T08:41:59.914-05:00Story PowerAdventures to the core of one's heart and soul. Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05872444343533261864noreply@blogger.comBlogger109125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6590699484148529190.post-37756464859397932522014-08-03T06:50:00.002-04:002014-08-03T06:50:33.644-04:00Author Cheryl Strayed Guides the Writing Workshop, "The Story You Have to Tell."<span class="userContent">I am so psyched to </span><span class="userContent">attend Author Cheryl Strayed's 5-day workshop, "The Story You Have to Tell" at The Omega Institute. Please come over to my new blog and share this journey with me! Just click:</span><span class="userContent"> <a href="http://thewritersloop.me/" rel="nofollow nofollow" target="_blank">http://thewritersloop.me/</a> </span><br />
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<span class="userContent">Follow me at my new site, along with my co-blogger, Susanne Poulette, if you're so inclined!</span><br />
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Cheryly Strayed, Author of the New York Times<br />
Bestseller, <em>Wild. </em>It will be released as a movie starring<br />
Reese Witherspoon on December 5, 2014.<br />
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<span class="userContent"></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05872444343533261864noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6590699484148529190.post-82138012461888144562014-06-29T16:07:00.002-04:002014-07-03T04:50:03.303-04:00I Moved!I've moved to a new and improved blog. Please visit me at The Write Draft. My new address is:<br />
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<a href="http://thewritedraft.me/">http://thewritedraft.me</a></div>
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I'd love some new followers if you are so inclined and always appreciate your comments.<br />
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I hope to see you at my new home.<br />
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PeggyAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05872444343533261864noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6590699484148529190.post-38408818245916076042014-03-15T08:56:00.000-04:002014-03-15T14:26:30.976-04:00The Second DraftI opened an email a few days ago from my local newspaper<i>, The Saratogian</i>. It said that my blog has been discontinued because a lack of activity, but I was welcome back any time. They missed me. It made me smile. I liked being missed. <br />
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I replied with an explanation about why I had stopped blogging. You know, the busy life thing which included writing my second novel, working full-time as a speech-language language pathologist, reading, socializing, and embarking on playful adventures.<br />
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Still, that email reminded me how much I enjoyed blogging. Blogs really are a free flow soap box, a public journal of sorts. I liked reading your comments and I liked connecting with so many people around the world. Just last month seventy-one visitors from France stopped by. I'm not quite sure how they discovered my minuscule, inactive blog. Regardless, "Hello France!"<br />
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I also crossed off a super-sized item from my to "want" list—finishing draft two of novel two. Hold your applause and don't head over to Amazon and look for it. Finishing draft two of a novel does not mean I'm ready to publish. What it means is, I deleted all of the really bad parts of draft one.<br />
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Writing a novel is like creating pottery. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The potter begins with a lump of clay. </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The writer begins with a blank page.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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The potter spins the wheel and maneuvers fingers to form an original design that is tailored in imagination. The writer does the same with pen and paper.<br />
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I can't speak for potters, or even for other writers, but for me the first draft is the most fun. It's when I let my thoughts spill onto the page without censor. I wouldn't however, try out a new recipe on a guest and I wouldn't let anyone, not even Mom, read my first draft. <br />
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The first draft is dreamlike. The second draft is realty. Mine took over one year to arrive at, "The End." It certainly is worth celebrating, but "the end" is such a deceitful little phrase. If I were a potter, I'd be at this point:<br />
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The story still needs detail, depth, color, glitter.<br />
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Eventually the creation will evolve.</div>
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The Second Draft....<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05872444343533261864noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6590699484148529190.post-19133922530832227422013-09-05T13:07:00.000-04:002013-09-05T14:05:51.932-04:00J.K. Rowling Finds an AngelI was outside helping my husband with yard work earlier in the year when my neighbor, Barbara, called, "Peggy."<br />
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I gladly abandoned my chore to have a nice chat.<br />
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"I just read the most moving book. You have to read it," Barbara said.<br />
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"What is it?" I asked.<br />
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"Wait, I'll get it for you." Barbara ran into her house and quickly returned with the book, <i>I Wouldn't Change a Thing</i> by Gina Peca.<br />
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"Oh yeah," I said. "I've been meaning to buy that."<br />
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Gina M. Peca</div>
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Gina is an amazing woman who took writing classes at East Line Books and Literary Center in Clifton Park, NY, just like me. Gina attended in the morning and I went in the evening. She was writing a memoir and I was writing a novel. Word about Gina's inspirational story of how she dealt with her daughter, Caitie's cancer and eventual death spread through the bookstore and our community. You see, it's not a tale of misery and hopelessness. It's a story of how Catie turned her cancer diagnosis into an unexpected adventure and took her mom along for the ride.<br />
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One of Catie's adventures involved an email she sent to J. K. Rowling. Gina explains in <i>I Wouldn't Change a Thing,</i> "Catie wanted the author to know how much Harry Potter meant to her, how much his antics amused her and kept her mind off her battle with cancer." Together, they searched the Internet for J.K. Rowling's email address. They couldn't find it, but sent the letter to her publishing company anyway. To their surprise, Ms. Rowling received the message and replied. Here is the first email Catie received from the beloved author:<br />
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<i>Dear Catie...Your friend Paul Steinberg has written to tell me how much you like Harry Potter books and I can't tell you how much it meant to me. I am working very hard on book four at the moment—on a bit that involves some new creatures Hagrid has bought along for the Care of Magical Creatures classes. This is TOP SECRET, so you are allowed to tell Paul, Simon and your mom and nobody else, or you'll be getting an owl from the Ministry of Magic for giving secrets away to Muggles. With lots of love, J.K. Rowling (Jo to anybody in Gryffindor). </i><br />
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That began an email correspondence between Catie and J.K. Rowling that continued until Catie's death in 2000. The author was so captivated by the nine-year-old's charm and courage, that she called Catie when the end was near and read from the unfinished Book 4 of the Harry Potter series. Here's what Gina says about their relationship, "No matter what was happening during Catie's treatment, Jo made everything better. Her kindness and willingness to take the time to write to Catie show that J.K. Rowling is more than an author. She is a sorceress who brought joy and excitement to a very sick child."<br />
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J.K. Rowling was certainly the most famous person in Catie's short life, but she also embarked on plenty of other escapades that would make Harry Potter proud. Attending a prom with her special friend, Kevin, cheering at a Yankee game, and convincing her parents to buy a husky puppy—all while she was going through chemotherapy, extensive tests, and hospital stays.<br />
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There is a warning if you decide to read <i>I Wouldn't Change a Thing</i>. You will cry, but it will be a mixed kind of cry. One of sadness about how a wonderful family lost their treasure of a child. But stronger...one of inspiration on how to live joyfully, to take chances, to stay positive, and to embrace each moment.<br />
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Of course, Gina was devastated when Caitie passed, but she didn't wallow in her sorrow. She took action. Gina and her husband, Larry, founded the Catie Hoch Foundation to help families of children with cancer. Guess who one of the first donors was?<br />
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J.K. Rowling. She made a donation of $100,000 along with this message:<br />
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"Catie left footprints on my heart."</div>
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It's impossible to summarize all of the heartwarming moments in this book. You'll just have to read it. All proceeds from this book benefit the Catie Hoch Foundation. You can learn more about the foundation and buy your copy <i>of I Wouldn't Change A Thing</i> at <a href="http://www.catiehochfoundation.org/">http://www.catiehochfoundation.org/</a> <br />
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<b><i><span style="color: blue; font-size: large;">"The stories we love best do live in us forever. So, whether you come back by page or by big screen, Hogwarts will always be there to welcome you home."—J.K. Rowling</span></i></b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhDxXrErbWsDQvuzyMhBrGz24QVMyTAbV7cpOphKnFtGDXP0pz2yGXtiiLp1SYAyAuSZ4RM1L-qyDqEwpUiVUBGhtM5ilBFQWUD-QXJqzmhFH1VcMaWzAftxm8BEAWHrR9fjmdGNe87SE/s1600/cpfence.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhDxXrErbWsDQvuzyMhBrGz24QVMyTAbV7cpOphKnFtGDXP0pz2yGXtiiLp1SYAyAuSZ4RM1L-qyDqEwpUiVUBGhtM5ilBFQWUD-QXJqzmhFH1VcMaWzAftxm8BEAWHrR9fjmdGNe87SE/s1600/cpfence.gif" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>J.K. Rowling &</b></span><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Catie Hoch</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A Special Friendship</span></b><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Gina Peca will be signing copies of <i>I Wouldn't Change a Thing</i></b> </span><br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">at Northshire Books, Broadway, Saratoga Springs, NY on Friday, September 13 from 6:00-8:00 p.m.</span></b><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05872444343533261864noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6590699484148529190.post-38110712958713263222013-08-16T08:26:00.000-04:002013-08-16T08:29:34.339-04:00Coffee Shops: A Writer's Studio<div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Writers have been taking their pens, notepads, typewriters, and computers to coffee shops to work on their stories for years. In fact, some of the most famous novels and literary moments of all time were inspired and written in cafes. For example:</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">J.K. Rowling sat writing <em>Harry Potter</em> in the back room of <em>the elephant house</em></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">in Edinburgh, Scotland</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><em>La Rontonde</em> in Paris hosted authors like Ernest Hemingway, F. Scott Fitzgerald,</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">and T.S. Eliot</span><br />
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I guess I'm in good company because I often leave the distractions of home, pack up my laptop, and drive into town to work on my day's writing. </div>
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Why do I find inspiration in a coffee shop?</div>
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Maybe I'm enthused by the energy of other writers. Maybe there's nothing else to do but write until my large cup of coffee is finished. Maybe the scents of cinnamon scones and a nutty Arabic dark blend stimulates creative power. Maybe its because they bake better blueberry muffins than me... </div>
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...and maybe there are similarities between writing a novel and ordering a cup of coffee. They have both become more complex in the 21st century. Just like tall, dark, and handsome is considered cliche when describing a male character, coffee with only cream and sugar is on the dull side. Look at some of the choices I have at one of my favorite writing studios, <em>Coffee Traders </em>in Saratoga Springs, NY. </div>
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Once you select the kind of coffee to add ambiance to your writing session, you must decide what to put in it: <br />
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Choosing your coffee du jour is just as difficult as choosing how to describe that handsome man in your story. Should he be a musician with a crooked smile, shoulder-length black silky hair, and electric blue eyes; a baseball player with tousled sandy brown hair, a lanky physique, and mocha eyes behind wire-rimmed glasses; a polished red-headed businessman with an Irish brogue whose wild eyes scream to escape from the confines of his three-piece suit. I guess I'll have to head to my favorite cafe and see who emerges on the page.</div>
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"My ideal writing space is a large cafe with a small corner table near a window overlooking an interesting street."—J. K. Rowling </div>
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Where do you go when you want a different milieu to write, work, read, etc.? </div>
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<strong><em><span style="color: blue;">BOOK OF THE WEEK:</span></em></strong></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><strong><em>The You Code </em>by<em> </em>Judi James & James Moore </strong>delineates what coffee choices say about your personality (among other unique personality indicators). A great tool for matching coffee and characters. Examples are:</span></div>
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The espresso drinker - "The unfiltered cigarette of the coffee drinking world." Espresso drinkers tend to be moody, hard-bitten, and hard working.</div>
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The black coffee drinker - This type is all about minimalism and take a no-frills, direct approach to life.</div>
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The latte drinker - Typically metrosexuals or cuddly-toy collectors, latte drinkers are pleasers with an overwhelming compulsion to be liked.</div>
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A Fun Book!</div>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-You-Code-Habits-About/dp/0091929547">http://www.amazon.com/The-You-Code-Habits-About/dp/0091929547</a>#_</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtUmPJwnnIm0ZzbaLM8MRW2G_pBMXz5rSrglTvKdrOtdSNTUBYX1U54mjnmZB8e0vE9_5EBBG-dHANMWPfpMwFgJT7-lT81nd-V1iUuUaaDz4kgTsrU53WOoFoInuSojCyVhQTREUx3uk/s1600/3-cafe-society-ceiling_38769_600x450.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtUmPJwnnIm0ZzbaLM8MRW2G_pBMXz5rSrglTvKdrOtdSNTUBYX1U54mjnmZB8e0vE9_5EBBG-dHANMWPfpMwFgJT7-lT81nd-V1iUuUaaDz4kgTsrU53WOoFoInuSojCyVhQTREUx3uk/s320/3-cafe-society-ceiling_38769_600x450.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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Cafes</div>
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Another joy along the novel journey! </div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05872444343533261864noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6590699484148529190.post-28484226084076570562013-07-27T12:39:00.000-04:002013-07-27T12:39:22.437-04:00Start Your Novel Like a Country Song<br />
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Why is Snoopy working so hard on the first line of his book? Is it really that important?<br />
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Here's how literary agent, Michelle L. Johnson answers in an interview on<em> Chasing the Crazies</em> blog. "I can’t stress enough how important it is to give a great first line. A good first line should catch the reader off guard and set up the tone of the book." <br />
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Like Snoopy, writers trying to break into the publishing industry are acutely aware about the significance of a extraordinary beginning for their story. It is rumored that literary agents receive between 100-to-200 query letters per week from debut authors seeking their representation. Most agents sign-on between two to ten new clients each year, and the vast majority of publishers won't look at an author's book without that agent.<br />
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Yup! It's competitive in the book world. That's why a writer has to grab an agent's attention with the first line. Talk about pressure. You could have written the next<em> Gone with the Wind</em>, but without a sizzling opening a potential bestseller could be tossed in a slush pile.<br />
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What make a great first line? Lucy told Snoopy to use, "Once upon a time."<br />
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What does Michelle Johnson say? "The most important thing to me is to connect with the main
character. If I care about the character quickly and deeply and that character
feels real to me, I will want to read the entire book. If the character is
intriguing but the writing not polished, it will quickly eliminate my desire to
read on."<br />
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Let's see how some recent bestsellers from my bookshelf start:<br />
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<em>Gone Girl</em> by Gillian Flynn: "When I think of my wife, I always think of her head."<br />
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<em>Wild</em> by Cheryl Strayed: "My solo three month hike on the Pacific Crest Trail had many beginnings."<br />
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<em>The Orphan Train</em> by Christina Baker Kline: "Through her bedroom wall Molly can hear her foster parents talking about her in the living room."<br />
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<em>The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry</em> by Rachel Joyce: "The letter that would change everything arrived on a Tuesday."<br />
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The first thing that came to mind about these beginnings is originality. I haven't read lines like this before, so I'm assuming the author is creative. The second thing is I find myself asking why. Why does the man (Nick) in<em> Gone </em>Girl think of his wife's head; Why did Cheryl Stray's trek have many beginnings?; Why is Molly in foster care and what are her temporary parents saying?; Why did the letter change everything? The authors have enticed me to move on to line two. Hopefully, the intrigue will continue (and it did in all of the above books). <br />
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Some of the best beginnings I've ever heard haven't been in books, however. They're hiding in country songs. Check out these opening lines:<br />
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"In a bar in Toledo, across from the depot, on a bar stool she took off her ring." from <em>Lucille</em> by Kenny Rogers <br />
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"Fifteen minutes left to throw me together for Mr. Right Now, not Mr. Forever." from <em>Settlin' </em>by Surgarland<br />
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"I'm on the side of the road with a car that won't go and the night won't even give me a moon." <em>Brokedown Cadillac </em>by Brokedown Cadillac<br />
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If those lines were written at the start of a book, I'd be instantly hooked. Instead of Lucy telling Snoopy to begin with <em>Once upon a time</em>, she should have advised him to turn on the radio. Lots of powerful examples are just a song away.<br />
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What are some of your favorite opening lines from either a book or a song? Did the remainder of the story live up to the expectation?<br />
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<strong><em><span style="color: blue;">A LITTLE SOMETHING EXTRA:</span></em></strong><br />
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<span style="color: black;">Here's the entire version of <em>Settlin' </em>by Surgarland<em>—</em>A winner from beginning to end:</span><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05872444343533261864noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6590699484148529190.post-68769054791265663922013-07-21T10:42:00.000-04:002013-07-21T10:49:18.650-04:00Writing Wisdom From Author Carol Fragale BrillSeveral years ago I took a creative writing course at a local college. The instructor asked me how I chose the books I read. I honestly replied, "I'm a front of the book store kind of buyer." She gaped at me in horror. I forgot exactly what she said, but I remember receiving a polite, but irritated lecture about mid list authors who create brilliant works.<br />
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I mulled over the instructor's point and decided to broaden my literary experiences. After all, reading only bestsellers is liking only going to arena concerts featuring superstar musicians while some of the best talent is performing at coffee houses, pubs, and intimate theaters.<br />
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Changing my habit was challenging. It's not easy finding an "I can't put it down" relatively unknown book. Right now there are over 8.5 million books offered on Amazon.com. Hmmm. Which one should I pick?<br />
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Amazon Warehouse<br />
No wonder they're pushing the Kindle!<br />
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That is why I'm a frequent user of the online book club, <em>Goodreads</em>. It makes the task of finding that perfect book so much easier. One author I discovered on <i>Goodreads </i>is Carol Fragale Brill. She wrote a provocative debut women's fiction novel called <i>Peace by Piece</i>. </div>
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Here's are the first four sentences from the back cover description:</div>
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Six years after Thomas's unfaithfulness in college, Maggie has nearly given up on love. Enter Izzie, a motherless eight-year-old, and every maternal instinct kicks in. With Izzie's dad, Maggie waits for the magic: a spark, a quiver racing up her spine. The thrill never comes, but the ordinariness of his kisses and marriage proposal make her feel safe.</div>
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You can just imagine the rest!</div>
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Who is Carol Fragale Brill and how did she embark on a novel journey? Read on...</div>
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Carol Fragale Brill</div>
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Carol's fiction received recognition from <em>Poets and Writers</em> and was a readers' favorite for <em>The Best of Philadelphia Stories</em>. Her work has also appeared in <em>Wide Array</em>, <em>New York Journal of Books</em>, the <em>Press of Atlantic City</em>, and various e-zines and business journals. She earned a MFA in Creative Writing from Fairleigh Dickson University. In her "day job" in Leadership Coaching and Organizational Development she frequently uses stories in training. </div>
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Carol answers to few questions about her novel quest:</div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><strong>1. Your novel, <em>Peace by Piece,</em> explores many facets of love. Where did you get the idea for your story?</strong></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">I’ve been a sucker for love stories ever since my parents read me
bedtime fairytales when I was five or six—my favorites where always the ones
where the girl overcame obstacles and got the prince.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">I read a lot of women’s fiction, and rarely see realistically
portrayed characters with anorexia and bulimia. I felt women were ready for a
character like Maggie, but didn’t want her to be simply a character with an
eating disorder. I wanted women to recognize themselves in Maggie’s desires and
relationships and to identify with her daily struggles. We all have loves,
relationships, and challenges. For Maggie, one of those challenges just happens
to be an eating disorder.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><strong>2. Do you have a favorite character? If so, who and why?</strong></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><strong><span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span></strong></span> </div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"></span> </div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">As the point of view character, Maggie is the character I know the
best. We lived in each other’s heads for years trying to tell this story just
right. I guess that makes her my favorite. But Lilly—for her unwavering
friendship, Nan—for her spirit, and Rose—for her sense of humor, are all women
I’d pick as friends. </span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><strong>3. Have you always wanted to be a writer? What helped you the most when studying creative writing?</strong></span> </span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"></span> </div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">I look back now and realize there were signs when I was pretty
young that I wanted to be a writer, but I misread them. As a child, I spent
hours browsing in the library, and by age ten had joined my first reading club,
kept a diary, and acquired a pen pal. Maybe the biggest hint of my desire to
write was that more than anything, I wanted a typewriter for Christmas when I
was twelve. At the time, I thought it meant I wanted to be a secretary! Now I
know my heart knew I wanted to write even though my head hadn’t gotten the
message yet. </span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><o:p></o:p></span> </div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">What helped me most on my writing journey is absolutely the
support of other writers. Like you, Peggy. </span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"></span> </div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><strong><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">4. Writing a novel is a major undertaking. What made you sit down the first day and begin your book? How long did it take from first word to finished product?</span></strong></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Sometime in my twenties, I began saying I wanted to write a book.
I had no idea whether it would be fiction or non-fiction. It took me another
twenty years to finally join a creative writing group. </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Empty-handed at my first meeting, the
other writers urged me to draft something to read at the next meeting. Two
weeks later, I timidly read the three handwritten pages it had taken me hours
to write. Our meeting host, Herb asked, “Where do you want to go with that?” </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">I
blurted out, “I want to write a book!” </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Now
mind you, I had just read three dreadfully over-written, scribbly pages—if they
had been typed, they would barely have filled one double-spaced page.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yet, Herb didn’t laugh, or say you must be
kidding, or (and this would have been warranted) your writing stinks. He smiled
reassuringly and said, “Good, you’ve got a start. Now, one page at a time,
write your book.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">That
was fifteen years ago. Since then, I’ve written countless drafts of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Peace by Piece</i>, earned an MFA, and
written a second novel, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Cape Maybe</i>
which will be published later this year.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><o:p></o:p></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Developing
as a writer, completing my novels, and facing down the publishing process has
been daunting at times.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>More than once,
I have asked myself, “If I knew then what I know now, would I have even tried?”
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">I
will always be grateful for Herb’s simple words of encouragement, inspiring me
to page by page write <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Peace by Piece</i><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">—</b>and nudging me, word by word, to
become the best writer I can be. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><strong>5. What is one of the most rewarding factors of having a book in print?</strong></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Over the years of my marriage, I caved in to pressure at work to
keep my name simple and reluctantly dropped my maiden name. I don’t have
children, nor do my brothers or male Fragale cousins, so our branch of the
Fragale family ends with our generation. I am thrilled to see my full name,
Carol <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Fragale</i></b> Brill in print and know that in a small way, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Peace by Piece</i> will carry on our family
legacy. </span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"></span> </div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><strong><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">6. What advice do you have for people who want to write/publish a novel or memoir?</span></strong></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"></span> </div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"></span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">When I
started writing creatively, I had no idea there were so many elements to
writing craft. Put in the time to study craft—characterization, plotting, show
don’t tell, creating a sense of time and place. Once you start to understand
craft, grab a few books in your genre and read them like a writer, dissecting
how the author uses craft to create emotion and drama. Also, the support of
other writers has been so valuable to me. Find critique partners, join a
writing group, and open yourself up to feedback. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Perhaps the
most important lesson is learning that writing is just the beginning, rewriting
is where the story becomes what it is meant to be. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Thank you Carol! I know I'm inspired. Feel free to leave a comment or question for Carol. Also, please share the name of a book/author that you loved, but hasn't made it onto the NY Times Bestseller List--YET!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Check out <em>Peace by Piece </em>by Carol Fragale Brill at: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Peace-Piece-Carol-Fragale-Brill/dp/0615741010">http://www.amazon.com/Peace-Piece-Carol-Fragale-Brill/dp/0615741010</a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> Carol's Blog: </span></span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><o:p><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> </span></span><a href="http://4broadminds.blogspot.com/search/label/Carol"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: darkblue;">http://4broadminds.blogspot.com/search/label/Carol</span></span></b></a> </span></o:p></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05872444343533261864noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6590699484148529190.post-5870287502419833552013-07-13T06:47:00.000-04:002013-07-13T19:20:54.596-04:00An Almost Ghost ExperienceA ghost is featured in my next novel. It/she (Does a ghost have a gender? Hmmm) isn't the main character, but it/she does have a significant influence on the decisions my protagonist makes. That creates a small problem. Even in fiction, a riveting story needs to be believable. A popular example of this is<i> Harry Potter</i>. Magical trains really don't appear in stations and boys don't turn into wizards, but J.K. Rowling made millions imagine that these scenarios were possible, if only for a moment. What a wonderful magical escape!<br />
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Creating a realistic ghost character may not be too difficult. After all, there are hundreds, if not thousands, of reports of actual sightings. <br />
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I'm not sure where this photo was taken, but I wouldn't want to see that image on my staircase when I wander into the kitchen at night for a glass of water. Are there actual facts about ghosts? Things they all have in common?<br />
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Almost as soon as I pondered that question, a friend told me about Lily Dale, NY, a place of pilgrimage for many Spiritualists and others
interested in the paranormal. A large population of mediums and Spiritualist
healers reside here and they host numerous events for visitors. I Googled it and saw that Lisa Williams was holding a two day workshop at Lily Dale. Here's her bio from the site, "Lisa has been able to communicate with the dead from a very young age. But it was
Merv Griffin who launched her extraordinary career with her own show, <i>Life Among
the Dead</i>. Two hit series, <i>Voices from the Other Side</i> and <i>Lisa Williams Live</i>
followed, and all three are now airing around the world. Lisa has enjoyed
sell-out international tours of her live show. She has also appeared on Oprah,
Good Morning America, Larry King Live, and Jimmy Kimmel Live. Lisa is the
author of two bestselling books, <i>Life Among the Dead</i> and <i>Survival of the Soul</i>. Her workshop was entitled, <i>Connecting Beyond.</i><br />
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From the HBO series </div>
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I figured I could get some good material for my novel, and I love an adventure, so decided to go. Like I always say, the joy is in the journey.<br />
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When I told my husband about it he said, "Don't go weird on me."<br />
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I said, "Too late."<br />
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When I told my girlfriends, they pleaded to come along. I would have loved the company, but it was the weekend after July 4th and most had plans. They sent me out as the guinea pig and made me promise that we'd all venture to this spiritual hot spot another time. <br />
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I've never even been to a psychic so was a bit nervous about making a trip to the unknown by myself, but my curiosity ruled. I rose at five o'clock the Friday morning of the event and was on the road by six. My GPS suggested a travel itinerary, but as usual I disagreed. I chose a slightly longer route, but with fewer traffic lights. Before I drove onto to the interstate, I stopped for a cup of coffee and selected a summer music playlist on my iPod. I was off to explore the world of ghosts.<br />
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The cruise control was set at sixty-five miles per hour and Kenny Chesney was singing about having a beer in Mexico when the unexpected happened. An adult deer leaped in front of my car. Before I had a chance to react, we collided.<br />
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No human was hurt, but the poor deer, and my car is in the body shop for at least two weeks. Instinctively, I pulled over to the side of the road and glanced at the dying animal. I thought I would be sick. I must have been in a bit of shock because I didn't even check the car. When I was on the road again, I realized that was a mistake. Fortunately, a rest area was only a mile away so I stopped, inspected the damage, and reported the incident to the state police.<br />
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I never made it to Lily Dale. Although my car was still drivable, the passenger door wouldn't open and the headlight was smashed. The obvious next step was to head home to deal with my grief and take care of business.<br />
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When a freak accident happens, it makes me wonder about time. How a mere thirty seconds can change everything. If I had made my coffee at home, if I had followed the GPS directions, if I had driven in silence instead of connecting my iPod, I would not have hit that deer. I would have gone to Lily Dale and who knows what would have happened. Something is telling me that my trip wasn't meant to be. <br />
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Will I try to go again?<br />
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Maybe with friends. It has the potential to be a fun trip. Then again, there are a lot of books written about ghosts, and really, can't a ghost be anything you want it to be. Like John Grisham said when he was questioned about inaccuracies in <i>The Broker</i>, "It's all fiction, folks."<br />
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<b>Warning: </b> Motorists hit over 80,000 deer on New York roadways between last July 1 and June
30 2012, according to estimates from the nation’s leading automobile
insurance company.
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State Farm used its own claims data and state licensed driver figures to
compile the statistics.<br />
New York drivers struck an estimated 80,262 whitetails during that period –
the third highest figure in the country, behind only Pennsylvania (115,571) and
Michigan (97,856).<br />
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<b><i>Be Careful Out There!</i></b></div>
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<b><i><span style="color: blue;">BOOK OF THE WEEK</span></i></b></div>
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One of my all time favorites, <i>Practical Magic </i>by one of my favorite authors, Alice Hoffman. If you feel like a getaway into a magical world, this is the novel for you.</div>
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“There are some things, after all, that Sally Owens knows for certain: Always throw spilled salt over your left shoulder. Keep rosemary by your garden gate. Add pepper to your mashed potatoes. Plant roses and lavender, for luck. Fall in love whenever you can.” <br />
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—Alice Hoffman, <i>Practical Magic</i></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05872444343533261864noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6590699484148529190.post-3176767855891216492013-07-05T20:27:00.000-04:002013-07-05T20:27:07.343-04:00To Tweet or not to Tweet? Around this time last year, I was thrilled to learn that Northshire Bookstore of Manchester, Vermont was going to build a second store on Broadway in my hometown of Saratoga Springs. Besides their shelves of eclectic books, a knowledgeable staff, and cozy cafe, Northshire hosts events featuring authors like Chris Bohjalian and Jodi Picoult. They also support debut and less known writers with signings, offer print on demand services, and stock critically acclaimed self-published books. Clearly, this shop will be a welcome addition to our literary starved main street.<br />
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To kick off their move to Saratoga Springs, Northshire celebrated by having Neil Gaiman, author of numerous bestsellers, his latest being <i>The Ocean at the End of the Lane.</i> Although I had heard of Neil Gaiman, I hadn't read any of his books. Still, I wanted to attend the interview, reading, and signing to help support Northshire and encourage more events like this. I bought two tickets for $45.00, which included a signed copy of Gaiman's new book<i>. Wow</i>, I thought. An author who actually can charge money for an appearance. Most simply hope that someone shows up when they do a signing.<br />
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Neil Gaiman (right) being interviewed</div>
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I suggested to my husband, Keith that we arrive at the City Center early to get a good seat. He wasn't convinced that was necessary and was quite surprised when a ballroom-sized hall was half-full an hour before Gaiman was scheduled to appear. At show time it was filled to capacity. Fifteen hundred fans gathered to hear words read by the author, then many waited hours for Gaiman's up close and personal book signature.<br />
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Capacity Crowd for a</div>
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Meet & Greet with Neil Gaiman</div>
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As a new author, I couldn't help but wonder how a writer goes from creating comic books to bestsellers. Of course, outstanding writing is part of the formula. I just finished reading<i>, The Ocean at the End of the Lane.</i> Gaiman's engaging story and clear, vivid prose kept the pages turning. He truly is a master of his craft. But there are so many outstanding novels that never see the top one hundred on any reading list. What's his secret?<br />
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Talent, persistence, and luck? <br />
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Absolutely, but what else?<br />
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Ask a question then count on<i> Poets and Writers Magazine</i> to provide the answer. When I received my copy, none other than Neil Gaiman was on the cover. The article was entitled: <i>Locked in the Sweetshop: Seven Questions for Neil Gaiman</i>. The one that really caught my attention was:<br />
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<i>You're engaged with your fans on social media in a way that not many best-selling authors are. Do you think every writer should be on Twitter?</i><br />
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I was intrigued by this question, because new authors are pressured to be active not only on Twitter, but Facebook, Linkedin, Goodreads, the blogosphere, etc. In fact, it is rumored that literary agents and traditional publishers consider a potential client's social media activity before signing them on. So between a day job, family, and creating an online presence, when does a writer have time to compose stories? How does Gaiman answer: <i>Should every writer be on Twitter</i>:<br />
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"No. Absolutely not. I do it because it's fun. People who are interested are going to sign up and stick around because I'm obviously enjoying it. If you are not enjoying it, for God's sake don't do it." He continues by saying that writers should not tweet just to promote their books. "If you want to do it, you join Twitter. Talk to people. Talk to friends. Talk to famous people. Talk with anybody you like. If you want to get something read: Establish, be there first, and then say to people who are interested and like you, 'By the way I've got a book coming out,' and people will go, 'Oh, we'll go check it out then.' As opposed to coming on and going, 'The book, the book, the book, I hate this. Are we done.'"<br />
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Gaiman has a point. How often do people go shopping for a book on Twitter or Facebook? They go there to connect with people. If someone they're communicating with and like happens to be selling a book, they just might take a look.<br />
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For me, I'm not a big fan of Twitter, but I do enjoy Facebook, blogging and Goodreads, so I'll stick with those forums, not because I'm a writer, but because it's fun for me. If selling a book happens because of it, so be it.<br />
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<b><i>Some recent Tweets by Neil Gaiman on Twitter:</i></b><br />
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"Took my Clarion Class to see a preview of Pacific Rim. We stumbled out happy from the adrenaline rush of a perfect monsters v robots film."<br />
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"Happy Independence Day. Buy a book to read this summer. It's like getting a whole world as a present, only somewhat more portable."<br />
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"I have just learned that drunk frat boys group-shouting "SWEET CAROLINE AH-AH-AH" is worse than Born in the USA, in case you were wondering."<br />
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<em><span style="color: blue; font-size: large;"><strong>Book of the Week:</strong></span></em><br />
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“Grown-ups don't look like grown-ups on the inside either. Outside, they're big and thoughtless and they always know what they're doing. Inside, they look just like they always have. Like they did when they were your age. Truth is, there aren't any grown-ups. Not one, in the whole wide world.” </div>
― Neil Gaiman, <i>The Ocean at the End of the Lane</i><i> </i></div>
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<b><span style="color: purple;">Question:</span></b></div>
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What's your favorite social media forum? Your least? Have you ever bought a book because you saw it on Facebook or Twitter? </div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05872444343533261864noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6590699484148529190.post-12769872377404285372013-06-28T06:19:00.003-04:002013-06-28T06:19:49.867-04:00Change is Good!It's been a few weeks since I last posted. There are reasons for that. First, I'm a speech-language pathologist working at a public school and June is one of the busiest months of the year. Second, I'm almost finished with the first <span style="font-family: inherit;">draft</span> of my second novel, and that's been consuming all of my writing time. Third, I need a change from <em>Kick Back Moments</em>. It certainly has been fun searching for spontaneous occurrences that settle the nerves, like seeing a spectacular sunrise while stuck in traffic. When I sit down to blog however, I find myself wanting to write about the book world, so why not go for it. Something fresh to start the summer. The new name for <em>Kick Back Moments </em>will be:<br />
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<strong><span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><em>A Novel Journey</em> </span></strong></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">It will be at the same place with the same address, but the content will be slightly different. What will you find?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">A variety of posts about the often crazy writing and publication process. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">The joys and frustrations of being a writer. For example, a joy are the places you go when writing a novel. In July, I'll be traveling to the spiritual center in Lily Dale, NY to visit with a medium. The main character in my book attempts to contact someone who has died in order to fulfill a wish</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">, so I need to experience it. I can't wait to see what happens and you'll hear all about it. In August, I'm visiting a coffee plantation on the Big Island in Hawaii because that's the setting for my story. I'll be sure to post plenty of photos. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">One of the frustrations of being a writer is the paycheck. In most cases, it doesn't exist. Thankfully, I have a great day job! It is true however, that artists create because the soul demands it, not for the money. </span></div>
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Great books I've read. No bad reviews here. If I don't like a book, you'll never know about it. One person's idea of a good read, may put someone else to sleep. It's all so subjective. I'd never want to dissuade anyone from trying a book just because I didn't like it.</div>
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Loved it!</div>
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Authors and more authors. Most authors have such interesting stories about how they started writing and how they became published. Many world class authors such as Neil Gaiman and Jodi Picoult visit the Saratoga Springs area when they do book tours. They will frequently be featured here. You'll also meet writers who may not be on the New York Times Best Sellers List yet, but are on the rise. </div>
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Garth Stein signing his novel,</div>
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<em>The Art of Racing in the Rain</em><br />
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You'll stay updated on publishing trends and related articles. There is so much happening in the publishing industry today and I do my best to keep up. When I find something interesting, I'll share. Like this, from Forbes Magazine: <em>Considering Self-Publishing? Don't Bother, Unless You Follow Guy Kawasaki's Advice: <a href="http://www.forbes.com/sites/kathycaprino/2013/01/21/considering-self-publishing-dont-bother-unless-you-follow-guy-kawasakis-advice/">http://www.forbes.com/sites/kathycaprino/2013/01/21/considering-self-publishing-dont-bother-unless-you-follow-guy-kawasakis-advice/</a></em></div>
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I'll also post a kick back moment every now and then along with other cool stuff like this eagle I spotted while I was kayaking last Sunday on Kaydeross Creek in Saratoga Springs, NY. After all, a novel journey can be about writing/reading a book or discoveries. </div>
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Bald eagle spotted on Kaydeross Creek</div>
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Saratoga Springs, NY</div>
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I sincerely have appreciated you stopping by <em>Kick Back Moments </em>and hope you continue to do so under it's new name. I started blogging because everything I read about becoming a successful writer said it was a must. In the beginning, it felt like I was talking to myself. Probably because I was, but I kept at it. Now, I get about 3,000 hits a month from all over the world. It has been fun and rewarding so I will continue with a slight twist. Please come back and visit <em>A Novel Journey.</em> After all:<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05872444343533261864noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6590699484148529190.post-13473572315930364822013-06-02T06:01:00.001-04:002013-06-02T06:01:33.900-04:00Stephen King Goes for Print, not Pixels Shortly after I get out of bed in the morning, I check my email on my laptop, desktop or tablet. <br />
<br />
After a cup of coffee, a shower, and finding something in my closet to wear that I don't have to iron, I turn on the TV to watch a few minutes of the news, primarily for the traffic report.<br />
<br />
Then off to work in my Toyota Corolla where I spend my commute listening to a book on CD, music from my iPod, or perhaps catching up on phone calls with my handy car blue tooth.<br />
<br />
When I settle in at the office, I check my e-mail and Outlook calendar. If I don't have any appointments scheduled, I click into Microsoft Word and write a report then head over to IEP Direct, my school district's electronic student data base. The work world certainly has become computer dependent. In fact, when systems are down, people emerge into the hallway in a bit of a panic because at least eighty percent of their workload requires digital cooperation. <br />
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<br />
In this day and age of machines, it really is hard to avoid to technological overload. Isn't it?<br />
<br />
When my day finally winds down and it's time to snuggle up on the couch with a novel, I don't want to have to turn on another electronic device. I know e-readers are popular and they have their advantages, but for me they just can't replace the 3-D sensory experience of reading a print book. I love the fact that books don't come with a manual of instructions or a battery, you don't have to plug them in, and they always work. For those reasons, I feel uneasy when I hear about another brick and mortar bookstore closing or that paper books will soon be obsolete.<br />
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Yikes!</div>
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That's why I was so pleased to learn that Stephen King will only be offering his new novel, <em>Joyland</em>, as a trade paperback with some hard copies available. <br />
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<br />
Mr. King wants to do his part to help save paper books and bookstores.
Here's what King's publisher Chrales Ardai says,
"Readers are going to have to read it the old way, as ink on paper,
not pixels on a screen. You’ve got your paperback and you’ve got your
hardcover, the same two choices you had for books when Steve was growing up and
when I was. Part of the decision is the desire to support traditional booksellers, something
Steve and I both care a great deal about—it’s frightening to see the decline
in the fortunes of bookstores over the last handful of years." <br />
You can read the entire article at: <a href="http://boingboing.net/2013/05/29/why-cling-to-the-past-exclusi.html">http://boingboing.net/2013/05/29/why-cling-to-the-past-exclusi.html</a><br />
<br />
<em>Joyland </em>will be released on June 4. If you want to make a statement that there still is a place for traditional books in a technologically dominant world, here's your chance. I know I'll be stopping by my favorite independent bookstore on that day to pick up a copy. Let's make June 4 <em>Black Tuesday</em> for independent bookstores!<br />
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<strong><em><span style="color: blue;">KICK BACK SONG OF THE WEEK: </span></em></strong><br />
A beautiful song that celebrates Main Street merchants, <em>Good Morning Morgantown</em> by Joni Mitchell accompanied by art work from a first grade class somewhere in the U.S.A.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/qKmZOwXfZCA?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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<strong><em><span style="color: purple;">A LITTLE SOMETHING EXTRA:</span></em></strong><br />
<strong><em><span style="color: purple;"></span></em></strong><br />
Finally, some good news for bookstores. Let's keep it going!<br />
<br />
According to a report in the <em>Christian Science Monitor</em>, sales at
independent bookstores are up:
"Sales at independent bookstores rose about 8 percent in 2012 over 2011,
according to a survey by the American Booksellers Association (ABA). This growth
was all the more remarkable since the sales of the national chain Barnes &
Noble were so tepid. “I think the worst days of the independents are behind
them,” says Jim Milliot, coeditorial director for Publishers Weekly magazine.
“The demise of traditional print books has been a bit overblown. Everybody is a
little anxious, but they are starting to think they’ve figured it out for the
time being.”Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05872444343533261864noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6590699484148529190.post-54139017136354303422013-05-25T11:11:00.001-04:002013-05-25T11:11:59.898-04:00Just Rest! Ok...But How?"Just rest, Greg," I said to my teenage son as he stood in the family room one Friday evening texting his friends about plans for the night."<br />
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He shrugged, sat on the edge of the couch, picked up the remote control, and began flipping through the twelve hundred digital cable channels.<br />
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I continued with my cleaning compulsion of bending over and picking things up like socks that didn't find their way to the laundry basket and papers that didn't find their way to the World Lit. homework bin at school. I choose to save my responsibility lecture for when my son, Max, returned from wherever. No sense hearing myself rant twice. (I am so glad those days are over!!!)<br />
<br />
"I don't like resting," Greg said before he reached channel seventy-something.<br />
<br />
I looked at him in disbelief. "You left for school at 6:45 in the morning and worked at the Y after that. Aren't you tired?"<br />
<br />
"Nope," he said as he switched off the TV and headed for the shower.<br />
<br />
"Do you want another tour of the bathroom? I think you forgot where the laundry basket is." I said.<br />
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Greg smiled. (I'm glad one of us did.)<br />
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I was reminded of this conversation last Saturday when my doctor came into my hospital room and told me I'd need two weeks of rest before resuming my normal activities. At the time it sounded good. My neck and throat were sore from the thyroidectomy he performed on the previous day and I felt groggy from the <i>feel better </i>drugs dripping into me from the IV. However, by Tuesday I found myself repeating Greg's words, 'I don't like resting.' <br />
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If I had the choice of spending a Saturday in a chair at the beach or one kayaking along the coast, I'd choose kayaking. The number one thing on my list of things to do when I travel to the Big Island of Hawaii is to climb Mauna Kea, the tallest sea mountain in the world. I enjoy resting for short periods of time, but two full weeks of no driving, working, physical activity, etc. seemed like too much.<br />
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I do, however, believe in allowing the body time to heal, so I adhered to my doctor's advice. What did I do? <br />
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I took naps whenever I felt a bit tired, even if they only lasted five minutes.<br />
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I made time to remember my dreams when I woke up!</div>
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I contemplated about important issues while I looked out my living room window. Things like why do leaves flutter in different directions when the wind blows and why do leaves from the same branch fly in various directions when they are released from the tree? I knew I should have taken physics.</div>
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I read <i>Gone Girl</i> in 48-hours—the ultimate woman scorned revenge book. Wow! I will also be buying Gillian Flynn's other two novels, <i>Sharp Edges </i>& <i>Dark Places</i>. I love finding new authors who really know how to tell a story.<br />
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I traveled to the Hawaii on the Internet and made plans for when I go for real.</div>
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I nearly completed draft one of novel two.<br />
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I watched Doctor Zhivago from start to finish. </div>
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Surprisingly, I never had watched this movie before in its entirety. </div>
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Wow!<br />
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I watched bits and pieces of the Today Show and learned why they've gone down in ratings. </div>
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Opinions on this are welcome.<br />
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I turned off the Today Show and welcomed the quiet.<br />
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<br />
I cooked.<br />
Maybe that doesn't count as resting,<br />
but it certainly was relaxing. <br />
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I watched <i>Life of Pi </i>for the second time.<br />
I definitely prefer the tiger story.<br />
How about you?<br />
This question will reappear on <i>Kick Back Moments </i>within<br />
a few weeks, so watch the movie or read the book,<br />
if you haven't already.<br />
<br />
<br />
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Resting is a lot more fun than I thought.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
By the time my two weeks of healing are over, </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I have a feeling I will have mastered the art.</div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>How about you?</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Do you prefer resting or moving?</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i> </i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>In other word, when you first step foot on the beach, do you head for the chair or the water? </i></span></span> <br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05872444343533261864noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6590699484148529190.post-31955804518847891012013-05-15T18:54:00.000-04:002013-05-15T19:37:16.443-04:00Take Care of Your Body!Hi Kick Back Friends,<br />
<br />
I'm taking a bit of a break from posting. I am having my thyroid removed on Friday and will need a little time to rest and recover. Just so you know, a nodule was found on my thyroid during a routine physical examination. That led to an ultrasound which led to a biopsy, and<em> suspicious</em> cells were found. I was also told that my thyroid was not functioning properly, which is why I was feeling exhausted, cranky, and gaining weight. I thought it was part of passing the 50-year-old mark.<br />
<br />
The good news is thyroid cancer has a high cure rate and I should be back to my energetic self again within two or three weeks post-surgery. <br />
<br />
The kick back advice for you is to make routine physical examinations a priority. I am the first one to put them on the back burner. When my husband asked me when was the last time I had a physical, I couldn't remember. He insisted I make an appointment, which not only may have saved my life, but will make me feel so much better once my dysfunctional, diseased thyroid is out of my body and my medication is regulated. So, if you're not able to find the time to visit your doctor, try harder. You are the most important person in your world. It's time to take care. I'm glad I did!!!<br />
<br />
I'll check in next week to let you know how I'm doing. Then...back to finding those kick back moments that make our world a little brighter.<br />
<br />
Fondly,<br />
<br />
Peggy <br />
<br />
<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05872444343533261864noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6590699484148529190.post-11880045301101633242013-05-05T08:26:00.001-04:002013-05-05T16:45:46.348-04:00The Fog Will ClearAddiction is hard. One day we try a substance whether it be caffeine, junk food, alcohol, or cocaine. Maybe a week later we try it again. A few days later, again. Soon our body craves the substance and before too long it demands it. We're officially addicted.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a> Simple things like a stroll through the park, reading at the beach, spending time with a friend no longer provide pleasure. A monster has taken control of our life. It numbs our senses. Sadness is anesthetized with the a bag of chips; happiness is delivered by a scotch on the rocks; bliss is contained in a chemical. More than 24 million US residents aged 12 or older are currently suffering from drug addiction, and that does not include compulsive eating.<br />
<br />
According to the website <a href="http://www.rehabinfo.net/">www.rehabinfo.net</a><em>,</em> "One of the biggest mistakes made about addiction is the assumption that those who are struggling under its control are weak or somehow lacking in willpower and moral integrity. On the contrary, drug addiction is a deadly disease, one that changes the chemistry of the brain and is characterized by relapse and compulsivity. Drugs work by either over-stimulating the pleasure and reward system or by mimicking neurotransmitters in the brain and altering the body’s ability to effectively communicate between systems.<br />
<br />
If you or a loved one is addicted to drugs, is it hopeless?<br />
<br />
No.<br />
<br />
There are over 13,000 drug rehabilitation facilities in the U.S. and families can provide support to loved ones as they go through recovery. There are many success stories and I'm going to share one with you. A friend's nephew, Kyle, just took a major step in his battle to break an addiction. He realized that he could experience joy without his drug. I was so moved when I read the words and saw the drawing that emerged from him at the moment he realized how wonderful life could be. I am honored to share this with you:<br />
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<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i><u><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 24pt;">THE
FOG WILL </span></u></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i><u><span style="font-size: 24pt;">CLEAR</span></u></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i><u><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 24pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></u></i></b></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: 14pt;">By: Kyle Kindlon<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i><o:p> </o:p></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 200%;">The road of life has
twists and turns ups and downs at the end is so real so pure. My life has been
covered with a fog that I was unable to see the light through the thick wet smoke
damp fog. As the fog clears it represents my mind state clearing making me able
to have a slight view of life with the light shining through the fog showing me
how real and pure it really is. Seeing a beautiful view of mountains as the
bright sky has the sun rising over the mountains, reflecting off a clear blue
body of water seems to make two suns as the cattails blow in the wind. All
these different sights represent a feeling of love emotion passion excitement distress
the care others have for me so deep so real is mesmerizing as staring into a
fire for hours days wanting it to stay this way forever. My whole life I spent
thinking this was all a fairytale but it’s real as my mind clears more and more
I can see how real it all really is. Not ever wanting that dark fog to mask
this again, that fog is the depressing darkness of death that taste of the
first sight of light seeing there is more to life.</span></i></b></div>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"></b><br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> </b></div>
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<i></i></b><br />
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<br /></div>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i>
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 200%;"></span></i></b><br />
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 200%;"><a href="file:///C:/Users/pegmmg/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><strong><em><img border="0" height="914" src="file:///C:/Users/pegmmg/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image002.jpg" v:shapes="Picture_x0020_1" width="686" /></em></strong></a><strong><em> <span style="color: blue;">Kyle has been drug free for more than thirty days!</span></em></strong><br />
<span style="color: blue;"></span><br />
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For anyone struggling with an addiction, <em>Heart of Life </em>by John Mayer:</div>
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<object width="320" height="266" class="BLOGGER-youtube-video" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0" data-thumbnail-src="http://img.youtube.com/vi/3uA_ya8DcLs/0.jpg"><param name="movie" value="http://youtube.googleapis.com/v/3uA_ya8DcLs&source=uds" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" /><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><embed width="320" height="266" src="http://youtube.googleapis.com/v/3uA_ya8DcLs&source=uds" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object></div>
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</span>"I know the heart of life is good."</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05872444343533261864noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6590699484148529190.post-54841094258187227372013-04-28T18:52:00.000-04:002013-04-28T18:52:28.798-04:00The Magic of a Signature GiveawayOne of my favorite characters from a novel is Mr. Jensen in <em>A Tree Grows in Brooklyn</em> by Betty Smith. He doesn't have a big part, but his role has made a lasting impression on me. He was the janitor in protagonist Francie's school. He taught the students to be compassionate by his own actions and to exhibit good
character, about “good citizenship and about a good world where everyone did the
best he could for the common good of all” (p. 175). When he signs the student's autograph
books, he does not briskly and sloppily make a mark, but he signs it with
purpose and precision. This in itself is a lesson, that even the simplest things
can be worthy of great care.<br />
<br />
I've watched several artists sign their creations over the past few months. I've noticed that when they autograph their work, a sense of pride and reflection appears on their face—like their a piece of their soul is being scrolled on the page. When they hand their product over, most smile and express their gratitude because you've taken the time to appreciate their efforts. For me, it's like their work comes alive with a dash of the pen. <br />
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Garth Stien signing his novel,<em>The Art of Racing in the Rain</em></div>
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Schenectady Public Library</div>
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As Pat Riley says, "Each Warrior wants to leave the mark of his will, his signature, on important acts he touches. This is not the voice of ego but of the human spirit, rising up and declaring that it has something to contribute to the solution of the hardest problems, no matter how vexing."</div>
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I think a signature is so special I'm offering a giveaway of signed art I've collected. Don't worry about me. I made sure to get two copies—one for you and one for me!</div>
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Here are the items I'm giving away to one lucky winner. Signed copies of:</div>
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<em>The Art of Racing in the Rain a novel </em>by Garth Stein</div>
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<em>The Poe Shadow</em> a novel by Matthew Pearl</div>
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<em>Under an Indigo Sky </em>a CD by guitarist, Laurence Juber</div>
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<em>The Adirondacks </em>a book of photos by photographer, Carl Heilman</div>
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Tai Chi Cookies by baker, Linda Kinlon, at Bake for You (She'll sign the box!)</div>
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Head on over to my Facebook Page and click "like" on the giveaway post and your entered. Check back on May 6 to see if you're the lucky winner. Facebook Address: <a href="http://www.facebook.com/peggystrack">http://www.facebook.com/peggystrack</a> </div>
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Have a great week and make sure your signature reflects your true character!</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05872444343533261864noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6590699484148529190.post-71744259522558799612013-04-21T12:42:00.002-04:002013-04-21T12:49:10.222-04:00Random Acts of Violence—The New Normal?I've cheered at many marathons as my husband, Keith, crossed the finish line. The culmination of hundreds of training hours, nutritional eating, and sacrificing other activities to take the challenge of pushing his body to an ultimate physical level. Crossing the finish line represents keeping an individualized commitment that would be so easy to break because of sore hip joints, early morning jaunts after parties that went past midnight, running through wind, rain, and snow (It's true!) and a wife that sometimes says, "Do you really have to do that eighteen mile run this Saturday? I was hoping we could take a walk in the park?" (Yes, I am guilty). Those runners who finish a marathon keep going through all this and when the race day finally arrives it's time for triumph and celebration.<br />
<br />
Tragically, two individuals turned the great Boston Marathon into a horror show on April 15. We all know the details and I'm not reiterating any of them. What I want to focus on is the quote by Fred Rogers that has been showing up all over Facebook and other social media sites:<br />
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<br />
<br />
The truth of Fred Roger's mother's words rang out loud and clear following the explosion in the Back Bay area of Boston. I'm giving myself five minutes to think of as many as I can. Here goes:<br />
<br />
<strong>First Responders </strong>— Those individuals who ran toward the victims instead of away from the explosion—Here's to the helpers!<br />
<br />
<strong>Police</strong>—Quick, smart, brave, action only begins to describe your heroism. Here's to the helpers!<br />
<br />
<strong>Medical Personnel</strong>—You saved hundreds of lives and never missed a beat. Here's to the helpers!<br />
<br />
<strong>FBI & Other Investigators</strong>—You scrutinized thousands of photos and videos until you identified the perpetrators. Here's to the helpers!<br />
<br />
<strong>Boston Citizens</strong>—You stayed strong and partnered with the police in the expeditious capture of the two men responsible for crippling so many lives. I was amazed as I watched your city come together to solve this crime. Here's to the helpers!<br />
<br />
<strong>People</strong>—There is no doubt in my mind that the outpouring of love and prayers traveling to Boston from around the world contributed to the spirit and healing of those involved with this tragedy. Here's to the helpers!<br />
<br />
My five minutes is up, but the list of helpers continues in my mind. It is evident that there is so much more good in the world than bad, and the good must continue to stand together. As New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo says, "It's a terrible situation in Boston. And, unfortunately, ... one gets the sense that
this is more reflective of the <strong>'new normal</strong>,' if you will," he explained. "So
much of society is changing so rapidly. We talk about a 'new normal' when it
comes to climate change and adjusting to a change in the weather patterns. 'New
normal' when it comes to public security in a post-9/11 world. Where these
random acts of violence, which at one time were implausible, now seem
all-too-frequent."<br />
<br />
Random acts of violence—the new normal? As hard as it is for me to admit it, I have to agree with Governor Cuomo. Outside of the Boston incident this week, I watched parents of the Sandy Hill victims in Washington D.C. lobby for background checks before gun purchases. On my way to work, I saw Albany, NY police barricade a street with yellow tape because of a shooting where one man was killed. I received an e-mail from our home owner's association that reported three home break-ins in my quiet, "safe" neighborhood. I clicked onto AOL News and saw that there was another shooting where two were killed at a Colorado rally on April 21.<br />
<br />
What do we do about this "new normal" of increasing violence?<br />
<br />
Be a helper!<br />
<br />
Be patient and cooperative with security checks in public places. Compromise some of your privacy as increased surveillance is implemented at shopping centers, college campuses, sporting events and on and on. Boston proved pictures and videos do work in capturing the bad guys. Like the Boston citizens, let's be part of the solution. Don't be paranoid, but be aware when stepping out into the world. If someone or something looks suspicious, report it. Better safe than sorry. If the helpers band together and prove, no one gets away with anything, the "new normal" may eventually turn into peace and security.<br />
<br />
My thoughts and love to all the victims of the Boston Marathon tragedy. May the helpers in your life be there for you as you grieve and recover. <br />
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05872444343533261864noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6590699484148529190.post-9450850930996095662013-04-14T12:49:00.000-04:002013-04-14T12:49:01.365-04:00The Five Senses of KayakingThe ice has melted on Saratoga Lake. For me, that means it's time to put away the skis and break out the kayak. I did exactly that this past Saturday with husband, Keith and friend, Dennis. Yes, it was chilly. Yes, we stayed close to shore just in case someone tipped their boat into the frigid water.<br />
<br />
A little risky?<br />
<br />
Probably, but there's something about being one of the season's first to launch a boat into the lake. It's adventurous and makes me feel like a pioneer. Not only that, I simply love kayaking. I don't think there's another sport that offers such an intimate encounter with a natural body of water without getting wet. With it comes a sense of calm and intrigue. <br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
Peggy gets ready to kayak!</div>
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<br />
<br />
What do I get out of kayaking?<br />
<br />
As with many outdoor activities, it correlates with a life journey. Paddling along a whispering stream or bouncing on top of a rippling lake is fun at first, but with each stroke, the paddle becomes heavier. Soon, my shoulders pinch and a crick emerges on the back of my neck, but the body keeps moving. If I persevere, the joy I gain from the voyage overshadows these minor aches. The next time out, I'm that much stronger, can travel a little further, and take on a more challenging route.<br />
<br />
Then there's the escape kayaking offers from the often daunting world we live in. According to Jan Sheehan, health and fitness journalist, "F<span style="font-size: 16px;">inding solace can be as simple as replacing nerve-jangling stimuli with soothing sights, sounds, textures, aromas, and flavors." These soothing senses are abundant on a motorless boat ride. Here are a few examples: </span><br />
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<b>Sight:</b> Pine tress, berry bushes, clouds, sky, geese, cattails, an endless trail of water or a bend in the route with something unknown waiting just around the corner.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkpBBHgIlbH8ArBGav3o0J7dY7KpKp_nxapHPWLBuiRvLXY8oAEE7b7gbFJIWYk9WHXshGY9qYPRelTIklrI0NeS9ceK-mF8a9h3jTk7yGEfUVXsqO5GLKowCYx_AMQcYVfdsNUHm9j8g/s1600/057.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkpBBHgIlbH8ArBGav3o0J7dY7KpKp_nxapHPWLBuiRvLXY8oAEE7b7gbFJIWYk9WHXshGY9qYPRelTIklrI0NeS9ceK-mF8a9h3jTk7yGEfUVXsqO5GLKowCYx_AMQcYVfdsNUHm9j8g/s320/057.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Lows Lake, Northern Adirondacks, NY</div>
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<b>Sound:</b> The woosh of water as the paddle moves me along. Birds chirping and cooing in an unrehearsed symphony that is somehow perfectly orchestrated. Resting my paddle on the cockpit hoping to catch that all too rare sound of silence.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWZIQJAhF_VikjLCMOCwZcW1nATCs60Pf0MA36hQhaXqvqxibaNESGysRSU5Ye0FdDP6UMwPtkcvHL6QcTKHv6JDcAvdjfTv3oefzIPG-PDGH5EcxYw6Vi-yxRY7d_8ibPsfMVpQtE2ko/s1600/006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWZIQJAhF_VikjLCMOCwZcW1nATCs60Pf0MA36hQhaXqvqxibaNESGysRSU5Ye0FdDP6UMwPtkcvHL6QcTKHv6JDcAvdjfTv3oefzIPG-PDGH5EcxYw6Vi-yxRY7d_8ibPsfMVpQtE2ko/s320/006.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Shhh! Just found myself some quiet.</div>
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<b>Smell:</b> That pure yet musty scent. The combination of fish and foliage; weather and fresh water; and an entire community that lives beneath the dark water and above the clouds.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjixa1CkG8AAD4h4m-q9xjybLIZqqpET_yb57QNEDMb7Me5IvNW2J2O-Tm34y852fOd5cbWdomtaGiD5S9M29S4y9GulnGO3nhODuLsj1ENLh61gwiPAnM5PGrxFjt_I3JadHFr1kKjf_A/s1600/011.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjixa1CkG8AAD4h4m-q9xjybLIZqqpET_yb57QNEDMb7Me5IvNW2J2O-Tm34y852fOd5cbWdomtaGiD5S9M29S4y9GulnGO3nhODuLsj1ENLh61gwiPAnM5PGrxFjt_I3JadHFr1kKjf_A/s320/011.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Fish Creek, Saratoga Springs, NY </div>
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<b>Touch: </b>The droplets of water that dribble on my skin when the paddle is lifted out of the water. The breeze that cools my skin. A branch or tree limb that brushes my back.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLVPjHRlwhaaR2PHvrM0-BCd0qRoym07uw8iUzcSoGw16OBxXhQJJhhhYl0ZU6yQbIN1mGB36rf265V6qG4xUHkG6rISfR-c9Zd4BBT6UqkOVof13JJ1DbREoUNSkY1goH2RKpmRUlbTc/s1600/056.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLVPjHRlwhaaR2PHvrM0-BCd0qRoym07uw8iUzcSoGw16OBxXhQJJhhhYl0ZU6yQbIN1mGB36rf265V6qG4xUHkG6rISfR-c9Zd4BBT6UqkOVof13JJ1DbREoUNSkY1goH2RKpmRUlbTc/s320/056.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Lows Lake, Northern Adirondacks, NY</div>
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<b>Taste:</b> Plants, animals, water, and air stirred in a pot and inhaled. The taste of nature, revitalizing and calorie free. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWbLnUrEIo0qu5pXT8BdBkdbvlHghy66w3d60IcTVfV0oKAQ-JNQBLvuZ7PYfwfpmdpSWoP18RzaA_6B4OLia8QtfBQQNtY_l-Oc3eQHxQZv_PGvF2TpoAMhzLrBZ6U2ebYE8s8yaAoPk/s1600/023.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWbLnUrEIo0qu5pXT8BdBkdbvlHghy66w3d60IcTVfV0oKAQ-JNQBLvuZ7PYfwfpmdpSWoP18RzaA_6B4OLia8QtfBQQNtY_l-Oc3eQHxQZv_PGvF2TpoAMhzLrBZ6U2ebYE8s8yaAoPk/s320/023.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Lows Lake, Northern Adirondacks, NY</div>
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Then, of course, there's the sixth sense. That unexplained phenomenon so often found in nature, but not easily explained. Look into the clouds. What do you see?<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZLqxhm4yNOTXcY6uvIGo1q7Ur_E-z2qj7LS19elitFsM32T12JBlfNHSf6K3FxK1vtAau1KGi4k8oONo8T19AlMc0kHm77Y6f-KWpCyy12iZDLVej4yfgi_lbGj7pDFME7k2B37Lg9h4/s1600/032.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZLqxhm4yNOTXcY6uvIGo1q7Ur_E-z2qj7LS19elitFsM32T12JBlfNHSf6K3FxK1vtAau1KGi4k8oONo8T19AlMc0kHm77Y6f-KWpCyy12iZDLVej4yfgi_lbGj7pDFME7k2B37Lg9h4/s320/032.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: blue;"><b><i><span id="goog_669560156"></span><span id="goog_669560157"></span>A LITTLE SOMETHING EXTRA:</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></div>
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"Row row, row your boat gently down the stream. Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily. Life is but a dream."— Eliphalet Oram Lyte</div>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05872444343533261864noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6590699484148529190.post-64271749521343162722013-04-07T10:37:00.000-04:002013-04-08T06:03:33.089-04:00A Crash Course in Dream ChasingIt's been seven months since I made my dream come true and published my first novel, <i>A Stop in the Park, </i>a candid story of a family's
struggle to rediscover their love and dreams amid the frenetic pace and
demanding schedules of life today.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-bqrPhXxnHdA44NsHdkh3cHASFMiQYwz4dRMsFMPOrmb7htPlSXX-l01BO0K5nmefle3aVGzaBsfb1-0YR0g2VwQh2KhFiiHk25ou2VFLsCSjRdwvCAfofIMAHjuoxgIYCB2_lJPM2ik/s1600/008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="287" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-bqrPhXxnHdA44NsHdkh3cHASFMiQYwz4dRMsFMPOrmb7htPlSXX-l01BO0K5nmefle3aVGzaBsfb1-0YR0g2VwQh2KhFiiHk25ou2VFLsCSjRdwvCAfofIMAHjuoxgIYCB2_lJPM2ik/s400/008.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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Besides the obvious satisfaction I felt by seeing my work in print, I also learned quite a bit about dream chasing that I'd like to share with you.<br />
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<b>Making a Dream Come True</b><br />
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<i>I'm following my dreams.</i> It sounds whimsical, almost
magical, doesn't it? Someone who knows what they want from life and is
willing to go after it. I know I admire individuals who abandon protocols and
traditions to venture off on a calling that may seem crazy or
unobtainable. Most of us however, opt for safety.<br />
<br />
Bronnie Ware, an Australian nurse, who became popular when she blogged about
the top five regrets of her dying patients revealed the number
one regret. You guessed it. "Letting dreams go unfulfilled."
They left earth without addressing what they were truly summoned to do, or at
least try.<br />
<br />
Why do we let this happen? We are given the gift of a life then
live it cautiously instead of spreading our wings and soaring into what
fascinates us most. It may be pursuing a competitive career such
as music, a physical challenge like walking the Appalachian Trail, or a
humanitarian goal like working on a mission in a foreign country.<br />
<br />
I suppose it's because we fear failure, worry about money, and don't have
the time. So we go about our days frustrated because we're not doing what
inspires us. Intrigued by the topic of dream neglect, I wrote a novel, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">A Stop in the Park,</i> about a
married couple who are following a prescription for a successful life. Michael,
the husband, has a lucrative job as an attorney, which allows his
wife, Jamie, a former journalist, to stay home with their two daughters.
They have all the luxuries money can buy, but are miserable and on
the brink of divorce.<br />
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Why?<br />
<br />
Because they aren't following their dreams—and they're not big dreams,
like being an NBA basketball player or a movie star. Michael discovers he would
like to teach music to disadvantaged kids and Jamie wants to be a farmer. How
can they embark on a new life when they are buried deep in obligations and
debt?<br />
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Here's what Michael says when he contemplates chasing his dream:<br />
<br />
“Maybe dream chasing is like climbing a mountain. You know, finding the
trail, stepping onto it. At first you're energetic and it's easy. Then you trip
over a root, face a huge boulder, or a steep incline. So you stand up after the
fall, find your way around the boulder, and trudge up the vertical. Eventually,
you're on top of the mountain with an expansive view of the world."
<br />
<br />
What do some people who have realized their dreams have to say:<br />
<br />
<i>"Think like a queen. A queen is not afraid to fail. Failure is
another stepping stone to greatness."—</i>Oprah Winfrey<br />
<br />
<i>"You're time is limited, so don't waste it living someone <span style="background: yellow;">else's</span>
dream. Don't be trapped by dogma—which is living with the results of other
people's thinking. Don't let the noise of other's opinions drown out your own
inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and
intuition. They already somehow know what you truly want to become."—</i>Steve
Jobs<br />
<br />
<i>"I've always believed that if you put in the work, the results will
come. I don't do things half-heatedly. Because I know if I do, then I can
expect half-hearted results."—</i>Michael Jordan<br />
<br />
<o:p> </o:p>Here are some their stumbling blocks, along with<a href="http://www.blogger.com/null" name="_GoBack"></a>others
who persisted with their dreams:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNBKlcyoKMR3N6HUMfRLD5SQHM2WzkygqFmWt3fBppJ3oH3_dJeuSI0mSpz8F9oK-qb0h2OO9FU-lGu-Sfr6oWuHgTB4nhJTUPLPcG8vBvSmDQVCzjbdLeXu5VeNL2kFb6WwOW15ZxO7M/s1600/famous-failures.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"></span></a><br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM-GO_JksaB_NOrHr0cEdNdeW2CIL-HmKwHux2KgqBxZeZOkNUcdtE2SJIa28hajoXZ54MHBQCHbiyXBg292gzbwJ9DRPoSmMpCZSexprTvjRl_0JM08WF-Yoihb1bqxSZXe30dpMQobY/s1600/famous-failures.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></a><br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCUkRrTIXU_CBpUzhw4yGkOjZ9exoXEOfYiRXolcfPOAzCS3Xb5yXdTH7OaPhjGh2CtwYcFmoG-wDBfyIrhQ8YvDKilA1FwBhawRM1Yv3aFgYzgVReopFqxHOAa7YFVzGtWuybgUqzgjg/s1600/famous-failures.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCUkRrTIXU_CBpUzhw4yGkOjZ9exoXEOfYiRXolcfPOAzCS3Xb5yXdTH7OaPhjGh2CtwYcFmoG-wDBfyIrhQ8YvDKilA1FwBhawRM1Yv3aFgYzgVReopFqxHOAa7YFVzGtWuybgUqzgjg/s640/famous-failures.jpg" width="427" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">What’s your dream? Have you stepped into it yet? If not, what’s stopping
you?</span></div>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05872444343533261864noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6590699484148529190.post-304494603371416222013-04-01T19:07:00.000-04:002013-04-01T19:07:01.983-04:00What I Found on my Easter Parade!I was walking down Broadway in my hometown of Saratoga Springs, NY late Easter morning feeling lucky. I may be biased, but I think I live in one of the most charming small cities in the country. The main street has so much to offer: restaurants, boutiques, cafes, a popcorn vendor, and yes, ice cream parlors.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NljLBKY4lA0/UVn_Z4SVnTI/AAAAAAAABas/asA3mwtp3p8/s1600/001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="232" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NljLBKY4lA0/UVn_Z4SVnTI/AAAAAAAABas/asA3mwtp3p8/s320/001.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Early in the Morning on Broadway</div>
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Saratoga Springs, NY</div>
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And I'm so excited that we'll soon be adding a Bow Tie Movie Theater and Northshire Book Store to the main street. Yes! We're actually opening a book store instead of closing one! Okay...enough bragging. I want to tell you what happened on my Easter walk.</div>
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As I left the focal part of town and headed toward Skidmore College...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwbWzced7UUlCibIiRPbtaQP0oBllIZd2AH6EgcHoTZk8R77mF2mhkc5DwpxW9H1JGA3UmdmWM4RAKdhwyuypDT4mMn2dipCMjEsDpVtFX9yuju2baGg9kF3CRJa4VteQJDggjIs76LSc/s1600/039.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwbWzced7UUlCibIiRPbtaQP0oBllIZd2AH6EgcHoTZk8R77mF2mhkc5DwpxW9H1JGA3UmdmWM4RAKdhwyuypDT4mMn2dipCMjEsDpVtFX9yuju2baGg9kF3CRJa4VteQJDggjIs76LSc/s320/039.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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...I saw a frenzy of activity in front of a prominent resident's home. She was throwing a surprise Easter party for the community. It's not unusual. Stopping at her house on Halloween is all the treat you need and she offers a dazzling display for all to enjoy around the holidays. </div>
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Because of privacy, I won't tell you her name, but look at the fun she offered all who stopped by on Easter. So glad I had my camera with me. </div>
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Baby Animals </div>
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A Jellybeans Buffet!</div>
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Mr. & Mrs. Easter Bunny</div>
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Spring Flowers!</div>
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Even the Horse got to Wear a Bonnet</div>
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It wasn't just about the beauty, treats, and stunning home, however. It was about people from all walks of life gathering at a neighbor's front yard for conversation and a few laughs. I love how some people go out of their way to make a community fun and unified. I know of one man in Albany, NY who tunes up the neighborhood children's bikes every spring and a woman who offers a story time on her porch for children during the summer. It can be anything from a senator in Peekskill hosting a barbecue to a school creating a neighborhood flower garden. It's simply about getting together and sharing with those who live close by. Here's to the people in our communities who realize how important kick back moments are and take the time to offer them.</div>
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Now, let's go to a concert...Sugarland, Jake Owens, and Little Big Town sing <em>Life in a Northern Town:</em></div>
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"A community needs a soul if it is to become a true home for human beings. You, the people must give it this soul."—Pope John Paul II</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05872444343533261864noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6590699484148529190.post-4893110422270552872013-03-24T20:32:00.000-04:002013-03-25T05:46:02.031-04:00Twenty-One Reasons to Live Like a Dog <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I had to share this moving story from a veterinarian (unknown) about a little boy who loses his dog to cancer. The end really struck me. If everyone lived life like a dog, it would be a much happier world.</span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Here it is:</span><br />
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Being a veterinarian, I had been called to examine a ten-year-old Irish Wolfhound named Belker. The dog’s owners, Ron, his wif<span class="text_exposed_show">e Lisa, and their little boy Shane, were all very attached to Belker, and they were hoping for a miracle.<br /> <br /> I examined Belker and found he was dying of cancer. I told the family we couldn’t do anything for Belker, and offered to perform the euthanasia procedure for the old dog in their home.<br /> <br /> As we made arrangements, Ron and Lisa told me they thought it would be good for six-year-old Shane to observe the procedure. They felt as though Shane might learn something from the experience.<br /> <br /> The next day, I felt the familiar catch in my throat as Belker ‘s family surrounded him. Shane seemed so calm, petting the old dog for the last time, that I wondered if he understood what was going on. Within a few minutes, Belker slipped peacefully away.<br /> <br /> The little boy seemed to accept Belker’s transition without any difficulty or confusion. We sat together for a while after Belker’s Death, wondering aloud about the sad fact that animal lives are shorter than human lives.<br /> </span><br />
<span class="text_exposed_show">Shane, who had been listening quietly, piped up, ”I know why.”<br /> <br /> Startled, we all turned to him. What came out of his mouth next stunned me. I’d never heard a more comforting explanation. It has changed the way I try to live.<br /> <br /> He said,”People are born so that they can learn how to live a good life — like loving everybody all the time and being nice, right?” The six-year-old continued, ”Well, dogs already know how to do that, so they don’t have to stay as long.”</span><br />
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When loved ones come home, always run to greet them.</div>
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Take naps.</div>
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Run, romp, and play daily.</div>
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Thrive on attention and let people touch you.</div>
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Avoid biting when a simple growl will do.</div>
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On hot days, drink lots of water and lie under a shady tree.</div>
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When you’re happy, dance around and wag your entire body.</div>
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Delight in the simple joy of a long walk.</div>
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Be loyal.</div>
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Never pretend to be something you’re not.</div>
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When someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by, and nuzzle them gently.</div>
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ENJOY EVERY MOMENT OF EVERY DAY!</div>
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<strong>My top three (couldn't pick just one):</strong> Be loyal; Allow the experience of fresh air and wind in your face to be pure ecstasy; If you want to know what lies buried, dig until you find it. </div>
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What's your favorite? </div>
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A moving short short story set to the music of <em>I Will Always Return</em> by Bryan Adams—really depicts the devotion of a faithful dog: </div>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05872444343533261864noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6590699484148529190.post-33248442008171903212013-03-13T19:52:00.002-04:002013-03-13T20:02:22.236-04:00The President Kennedy, James Bond & St. Patrick's Day Connection Most of us know that some of President Kennedy's greatest contributions include the successful handling of the Cuban Missile Crisis, creating the Peace Corps, and originating the American space program. However, I was surprised to learn that he inadvertently played a primary role in launching the career of entertainment superstar, Ian Fleming, author of the <em>James Bond Series</em>. <br />
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In 1953, Fleming published his first novel, <em>Casino Royale</em>, through Johnathan Cape Publishing House and it was moderately successful in England. More novels were published, but soon Fleming faced harsh reviews including this one from Paul Johnson of the <em>New Statesmen </em>about <em>Dr. No</em>: "Mr. Fleming has no literary skill, the construction of the book is chaotic, and entire incidents and situations are inserted, and then forgotten, in a haphazard manner." Fleming was also frequently criticized for his use of sex, snobbery, and sadism in his stories. According to Fleming's biographer, the spy novelist "went into personal and creative decline after marital problems and attacks on his work."<br />
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Despite self-doubt, Fleming persisted and wrote<em>: For Your Eyes Only, Thunderball</em>, and<em> Goldfinger</em>. Then came his big break. On March 17, 1961, an article in<em> Life Magazine</em> listed<em> From Russia, with Love</em> as one of President John F. Kennedy's ten favorite books. In one moment Ian Fleming's life changed. According to <em>Wikipedia</em>, "This accolade and the associated publicity led to a surge in sales that made Fleming the biggest-selling crime writer in the United States. <br />
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We all know what happened from there. At least one hundred million James Bond books have been sold since that article appeared and the films have grossed $4,910,000,000 (over $12,360,000,000 when adjusted for inflation). It's the second highest grossing film series behind<em> Harry Potter.</em><br />
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So when you're celebrating the Patron Saint of Ireland with shamrock balloons, parades and green beer this St. Patrick's Day, also pay tribute to our first Irish President, John F. Kennedy who gave Ian Fleming the boost he needed on March 17 fifty-two years ago. <br />
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Lesson to be learned: If you wrote a book and want some publicity, forget about mailing a copy to Oprah. The President of the U.S. might be a better choice. Hmm...I wonder what Barack Obama likes to read.<br />
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<strong><em><span style="color: blue;">A LITTLE SOMETHING EXTRA:</span></em></strong><br />
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<span style="color: black;">During <em>Casino Royale's </em>final draft stages, Fleming allowed his friend William Plomer to see a copy. Plomer remarked, "So far as I can see the element of suspense is completely absent."</span><br />
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In honor of James Bond, we need a video. Let's go with<em> </em>Goldeneye starring an Irish Bond, Pierce Brosnan, with Tina Turner singing the theme song:<br />
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What's your favorite Bond movie? Better yet, who's your favorite Bond? Mine: Pierce Brosnan!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05872444343533261864noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6590699484148529190.post-58737523665084988232013-03-07T06:09:00.000-05:002013-03-07T06:41:50.292-05:00The Ultimate RenewalWe all love kick back moments. Those snippets in our day that remind us to slow down, like hearing rain beat on the ground, singing along with Frank Sinatra when he pops up on our iPod, looking at the sky, which always offers us an inspirational image. Sometimes however, we need more than a moment to reconnect with ourselves—to experience peace and solitude. I had that opportunity one weekend in February when I spent three days at an immaculate, rustic lodge called Packbasket Adventures tucked on the far side of the Adirondack Mountains. Pristine snow was plentiful and silence was abundant. TV, Broadband Internet, and traffic were no where to be found. What was available were the scents of a crackling fire and fresh air, conversation among friends, outdoor activities, and the special energy that seeps through our skin when we're immersed in nature.<br />
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The big bonus was all meals were cooked for us by the owners, Rick and Angie, who also had plenty of stories about owning a farm in Vermont and their adventures in the Adirondacks, which resulted in hearty laughs. Showing is usually better then telling so take a look at these photos of what a true kick back weekend looks like:<br />
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Packbasket Adventures Lodge</div>
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Wanakena, NY<br />
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Relaxing with coffee in the great room<br />
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View from the kitchen<br />
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Rick and Angie cook for us.<br />
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Breakfast time!<br />
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The front yard</div>
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Into the woods</div>
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Lunch Break</div>
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Keith and I—Relaxed! </div>
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Rick and Angie provide supreme hospitality!</div>
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The only problem with my getaway to Packbasket Adventures is it ended. I did however, manage to bring a sense of tranquility home with me that I can call upon anytime I choose to sit back, close my eyes, and remember. In the spirit of sharing, please do yourself a favor and check out this wonderful spot: <a href="http://www.packbasketadventures.com/">http://www.packbasketadventures.com/</a>. Thanks for creating this haven, Rick and Angie!</div>
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Please share anyplace you've travled to that provided a true sense of clam—even if it's that comfy lounge chair in your backyard.</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05872444343533261864noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6590699484148529190.post-9737247984173560262013-03-03T09:01:00.000-05:002013-03-04T04:38:42.261-05:00The Joy of GivingI began seriously writing almost four years ago. It started with an idea I had while watching two men play chess in Dupont Circle, DC. Since then I have re-written my novel, "A Stop in in the Park", three times, edited it over and over, finally published it, created a blog, dabbled in short stories (much prefer the novel), am 2/3 through the first draft of my second novel, queried more literary agents than I care to list, learned a college degree's worth of information on fiction, made many new friends, and that's just the tip of the iceberg. Yes. I am on a writer's journey and I have encountered many peaks and valleys along the way.<br />
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One of the peaks is hosting a giveaway. They began as a way to promote "A Stop in the Park" and have evolved into a monthly (for now) marketing event that I sincerely enjoy. The prize may be a basket of comfort (a book, hot chocolate, cookies, and a candle), but prefer to select four books based on a theme—often accompanied by a dozen cookies from <em>Bake For You</em>. It's so much fun picking out the books, posting them on my Facebook page, getting "likes" as a way to enter. I also get a kick out of reading the comments people leave. When the winner is announced, there's genuine excitement and gratitude. The biggest joy however, is thanking those who have supported me on my writer's journey. My only regret is: everyone can't win. <br />
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The cost involved is minimal and I like being a consumer for the struggling publishing industry. It's important to support books, bookstores, and authors, or they will go away. It really is a win-win. I spread the word about "A Stop in the Park", always smile when I see a new "like" on my Facebook page, offer a contest that people get excited about, support books and a local baking business, nurture my innate joy of giving, and thank my customers and friends. <br />
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So.....what's my latest giveaway?<br />
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<em><span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;"><strong>St. Patrick's Day Giveaway!</strong></span></em> </div>
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<span style="color: #38761d;"><strong>at</strong></span></div>
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<strong><em><span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/peggystrack">http://www.facebook.com/peggystrack</a></span></em></strong></div>
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The winner will receive four books having something to do with Ireland:</div>
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<strong>Irish Travel</strong><em><strong>:</strong> <strong>Extraordinary Dreams of an Ireland</strong></em><strong> <em>Traveler</em> by Rosemary "Mamie" Adkins</strong> </div>
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<strong>Irish Mystery: <em>False Mermaid </em>by Erin Hart</strong></div>
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<strong>Irish Thriller: <em>Faithful Place </em>by Tana French</strong></div>
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<strong>Irish Green Cover: <em>A Stop in the Park</em> by Peggy Strack </strong>(had to think of some way to get my book in this giveaway :-)</div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">&</span></strong></div>
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<strong>One Dozen Shamrock Shortbread Cookies from <em>Bake For You</em></strong></div>
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Just go to my Facebook page, click "like" on the giveaway post and you're entered. I do mail, so you can live anywhere.</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05872444343533261864noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6590699484148529190.post-24806079546695009342013-02-24T17:42:00.000-05:002013-02-24T18:46:38.061-05:00Birthing an Elephant—I mean Novel!I am pleased to introduce you to Carol
Fragale
Brill. She is author to the recently released novel <em>Peace by Piece</em>. I for one love hearing about an author's journey from idea to published novel. Read and find out how Carol did it. I just bought her novel and can't wait to start reading! <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEE4uZ7F5_h6oKfkV6PHMfeszXg8xtxi0_-_mJ_0A_XvcgZZMWP4I1E7lHt5gSTYvC6263P_H7ekJYJfi7x-Y516JRxE5U-KsKJCxdkP1gcdGNqAfccS4hiMtkvuf74o6a0_fjiadvfdI/s1600/Carol-001-188x25072ppi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEE4uZ7F5_h6oKfkV6PHMfeszXg8xtxi0_-_mJ_0A_XvcgZZMWP4I1E7lHt5gSTYvC6263P_H7ekJYJfi7x-Y516JRxE5U-KsKJCxdkP1gcdGNqAfccS4hiMtkvuf74o6a0_fjiadvfdI/s1600/Carol-001-188x25072ppi.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Carol Fragale Brill</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Years ago, there was a poster on the conference room wall
where I worked that jokingly referred to birthing an elephant. Now, it’s been
over 20 years so I am paraphrasing, but it went something like, “Working here
is like birthing an elephant, it takes months and months, is accompanied by a
herd of screeching and grumbling, and often creates a huge mess.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Lately, I’ve wondered if the author of that quote was a
novelist—or more specifically, a novelist trying to get the fruits of their elephantine
labor published. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">When I started writing <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Peace
by Piece</b> about 15 years ago, I had no idea how amazing and challenging a journey
writing a novel would be. To say there have been ups and downs is an
understatement. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">On the up side—there was the thrill of reaching “The End” of
Peace by Piece the first time, over 10 years ago, and (on the down side) naively
thinking it was done! On the up side: the first time an agent offered me
representation—followed by her retirement from agenting a few months later with
my manuscript still in her unsold pile—a decidedly, gut wrenching down! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Over the years, there have been times that both my writing and
ego were shredded by other writers offering “supportive” critique. Like the
time a trusted mentor told me I was trying too hard to sound literary, should
scrap the 100+ plus pages I had written except for a few sentences, and start
my novel again. “OUCH.” The biggest downer after reflection was that he was
right. I cut and pasted that one salvageable paragraph, and started over from scratch.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">There were also remarkable highs—the first time a piece I
wrote placed at the Philadelphia Writer’s Conference, the time readers selected
my short story as a favorite for <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">The
Philadelphia Stories Anthology</b>, when Homerun Clara, the tribute essay about
my mom was accepted on the first submission, being named first runner-up in a <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Poets and Writers</i> contest—clearly my most
prestigious recognition rejection to date.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I don’t share this with you just to whine, or brag, or
discourage writers from writing, or others from following their passion. What I
have learned on this journey is priceless, and goes far beyond learning writing
craft. I have learned about me and my resilience and perseverance and what I am
willing to risk in order to follow my dream. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">And I share it to remind myself and others that like every
mother elephant has learned, the mess, and screeching, and woe melt away the
first time you see your name on your novel’s cover and cradle your book proof in
your hands.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">So what about you? What ups and down are you willing to bear
to see your dream come true?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">What is <em>Peace by Piece </em>about? </span></div>
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Front Cover</div>
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<em>Peace by Piece</em></div>
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<strong><span style="color: blue;">Congrtulations Carol!</span></strong></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Six years after fleeing college
and Thomas’s betrayal, Maggie has nearly given up on love.
</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Enter
Izzie, a motherless eight year old, and every maternal instinct kicks-in. There
is no first love thrill with Izzie's dad, but Maggie lets herself believe
loving Izzie will be enough to finally lock Thomas out of her
heart.</span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Dealing
with unshakable first love, family, relationships, the difficulties of being a
step-partent--all overshadowed by the curse of anorexia and bulimia--Peace by
Piece is ultimately about hope and second chances. <span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Carol Fragale Brill’s novel, Peace by Piece is available at:<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u> <o:p></o:p></u></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>Createspace</u></b>:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><a href="https://www.createspace.com/4075736" target="_blank"><span style="color: darkblue; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">https://www.createspace.com/4075736</span></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>Amazon: </u></b>Paperback:
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/0615741010"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">http://www.amazon.com/dp/0615741010</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>Amazon </u></b>e-book:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Peace-by-Piece-ebook/dp/B00B9H5IC8/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1361361695&sr=1-1&keywords=carol+brill"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">http://www.amazon.com/Peace-by-Piece-ebook/dp/B00B9H5IC8/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1361361695&sr=1-1&keywords=carol+brill</span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>Blog/Website:</u></b>
</span><a href="http://www.4broadminds.blogs.com/"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">www.4broadminds.blogspot.com/</span></a><span class="MsoHyperlink"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05872444343533261864noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6590699484148529190.post-85180872651209000962013-02-21T10:33:00.001-05:002013-02-21T11:59:06.071-05:00Kindness is the Answer According to Five ExpertsAs a speech-language pathologist who does evaluations for a large school district, I travel quite a bit during my work day. I am greeted by a variety of things as I enter different buildings. Perhaps, a congenial receptionist, the funky smell of cafeteria food, students walking through the hall in a straight line with a proud teacher leading them, music from the auditorium, shouts from the gymnasium. Last week I entered a middle school and was welcomed by this:<br />
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Twenty six acts of kindness surrounded by peaceful doves in remembrance of the the lives lost at Sandy Hill Elementary School. I stopped for a moment and read each one. Here are a few examples:<br />
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I felt warm inside and smiled as I perused each student's act of kindness. When I was through, I couldn't help but imagine being greeted by the opposite of these peaceful messages—a guard with a gun in his hand, which is what is being proposed by some to help prevent tragic events like the incident in Newtown, CT. It made me feel sad and nervous—not a planned reaction, just a reaction. I know violence on our planet is increasing. I know we as a society need to do our best to protect innocent people from harm, but is adding more guns to the world the answer, or will it make the problem worse? <br />
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My opinion is less is best. Has that solution been proven to work? When gun violence was on the rise in Australia, the government implemented tougher gun control laws, and shootings decreased by sixty per cent. Just saying. The facts are the facts.<br />
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Is gun control the true answer? If I knew, I'm sure I'd be featured on the cover of Time Magazine and headlining The Today Show. Having a strong security system and planned emergency responses are certainly important. It may be time to ban extremely violent video games that some kids spend hours a day playing. It's plain common sense to treat mentally ill individuals with psychiatric care and counseling, but not allow them to purchase guns. And what about stronger curriculums in kindness both at school and at home? Could being consciously kinder to each other really make a difference in decreasing violent crimes? Let's see what some experts have to say:<br />
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" Let us more and more insist on raising funds of love, of kindness, of understanding, of peace. The rest will be given."—Mother Teresa of Calcutta<br />
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"Since God chose you to be the holy people, he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience."—Colossians 3:12<br />
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"A mind at peace, a mind centered and not focused on harming others, is stronger than any physical force in the universe."—Wayne Dyer<br />
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"When deeds and words are in accord, the whole world is transformed."—Chaang Tzu<br />
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"Be kind whenever possible. It is always possible. Being kind isn't a sign of weakness, it's a sign of strength. How about thinking about a difficult or confrontational situation you're in? What is the kindest response you could choose? And how might that affect the outcome?"—Dali Lama<br />
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There you have it—from the ancient philosopher, Tzu to the New Testament and from modern day spiritual leaders: kindness can heal. The more we put out there, the more it will grow. I'd love to see more signs like the <em>26 Acts of Kindness</em>, not only in schools, but in malls, movie theaters, libraries, etc. One thing's for sure. It certainly wouldn't hurt.<br />
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If you were given the assignment of writing a kind act on a post it note, like the ones above, what would you say. Let's start spreading the kindness. <br />
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<strong>My act of kindness</strong>: "Taking some time to talk to a slightly offbeat woman at the gym this morning and sincerely wishing all of you a wonderful day!" <br />
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05872444343533261864noreply@blogger.com9