tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-75831333012791958572024-03-13T03:57:40.681-07:00Elements Of Mystery, by Terri Talley VentersTerri Talley Ventershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14000680923157707689noreply@blogger.comBlogger50125truetag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7583133301279195857.post-3913276776644041522014-06-01T01:00:00.000-07:002014-06-01T01:00:07.248-07:00Americium<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 20pt;">Americium</span></i></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">By: Terri Talley Venters<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">“Holy shit!” Terri said.
The <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">American</i> Alligator sunned himself
on the bank of the retention pond. The sun touched its reptilian hide and he
raised head, like he owned the joint.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">“Mom, language.” David
said, shaking his overgrown blonde head and rolling his blue eyes. The
thirteen-year-old already had the teenage attitude down pact. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">“David, look!” Terri
pointed to the gator on the bank between the retention pond and the tidal marsh
leading to the St. Johns River in Jacksonville, Florida.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">“What the…” even David
couldn’t act nonchalant about this. “OMG! That big gator is in our backyard!”
Standing on the rock next to the screened-in pool, he placed his hands on his
hips, looking incredulous.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">“It’s the start of
mating season. I hear the gators move from pond to pond in search of a mate.”
Terri said.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">“Mating season?” David’s
face, drenched in adorable freckles, looked at his mother.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">“You know, how babies
are made?” Terri laughed, knowing the embarrassing response before it even
happened.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">“Ugh, Moooom. You’re so
embarrassing.” He retrieved his iPhone 5 from his pocket, snapped a picture and
then typed away. Within 30 seconds he’d blasted all of his social media and
texted his friends. “This is so cool. We have a gator in our back yard.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">“Wait until your father
sees this. He’s on his way home from work now.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">“Can I go fishing?”
Davis asked.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">“Absolutely not! That
gator could eat you! It could eat me, just like that.” Terri snapped her
fingers.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">“What’s for dinner?”
David asked like a typical teenager, always hungry and worried about his next
meal.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">“Dad is bringing home
sushi for us and chicken fried rice for you. Oh, that reminds me, I need to thaw
out the ahi tuna for Daddy to sear.” Terri turned and entered the house through
the wall of glass doors leading from the screened-in pool to the gourmet
kitchen. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Opening the freezer side
section of the side-by-side stainless steel refrigerator/freezer, Terri
retrieved the frozen bag of Publix brand ahi tuna. She walked to the butcher
block, dropped the bag on the counter, and pulled out the large Wustoff butcher
knife to cut the tuna.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Glancing up, she froze
at the site of David. He stood on top of a stone bench along the perimeter of
the pond, less than twenty feet from the gator. She watched in horror as David
lost his balance on the sloping bench. Attempting to catch his balance, he
waved his arms and leaned backwards.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">“David, Nooo!” Terri
screamed as she watched David fall face first in the water, hitting his head on
a granite rock along the perimeter. He lay still as the gator dropped into the
water and swam towards her son.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Terri had already
started sprinting out the door towards her first born child. After hurdling the
fence like a track and field star, she ran like the dickens.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Still holding the large
butcher knife, she shouted to the gator. “Oh no you don’t, mother fucker!” </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Just before the gator
got to David, Terri jumped through the air and landed on the gator’s back. Its
head turned and opened his mouth towards her. With her left thumb, she gouged
one eye and stabbed its other eye with the knife. The gator struggled as it
moved its body sideways and snapped back. Terri pulled the knife out and
stabbed its head again and again. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">The gator backed up into
the water, dragging Terri down with it. Once it got in deep enough water, it
started twisting in a gator roll to drown its victim. Holding her breath, Terri
circled around in the water with the gator and continued to stab. Bubbles formed
at her lips as the air escaped her mouth. Her lungs burned as she continued to
stab the gator. Then everything went black.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">***</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">A bright light shone in
her eyes and she squinted. “Am I in heaven? Is David okay?”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">The light turned off and
she opened her eyes. The smile of a handsome man looked into her eyes. The sun
set behind him with lush palm trees swaying in the breeze. “Are you an angel?”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">The E.M.T. laughed. “No,
ma’am. I’m with Jacksonville Fire Rescue. Do you remember what happened?”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">The scene of her son
falling into the pond and hitting his head flashed through her mind. “How’s
David?”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">“I’m fine, Mom, just a
concussion,” David said, holding an icepack on his bandaged head.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">“Oh, thank God,
sweetheart.” Something squeezed her hand and she turned to see her husband of
twenty years at her side, holding her hand.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">“Hi, honey, I’m home.”
Garrison smiled down at her. Then he kissed her cheek. “You saved our son’s
life today. That was eight foot gator you killed. Guess it’s gator tail for dinner tomorrow.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6MDDxlWIA8U/U4Ok0Qm8txI/AAAAAAAAAeU/3Nq5xfzdUjY/s1600/Gator-Americanium+cropped.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6MDDxlWIA8U/U4Ok0Qm8txI/AAAAAAAAAeU/3Nq5xfzdUjY/s1600/Gator-Americanium+cropped.jpg" height="292" width="320" /></a></div>
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Terri Talley Ventershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14000680923157707689noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7583133301279195857.post-62550673272895583052014-05-12T03:00:00.000-07:002014-05-12T03:00:11.836-07:00Guest Blogger-Jenn Nixon, Author of Lucky's Break<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">Guest Blogger-Jenn Nixon, Author of <em>Lucky's Break</em></span></strong></div>
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<strong><em><span style="font-size: x-large;"></span></em></strong> </div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5a9czRMv7UE/U2944FTOtcI/AAAAAAAAAd4/uCdCaDskZmE/s1600/Lucky's+Break+M+cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5a9czRMv7UE/U2944FTOtcI/AAAAAAAAAd4/uCdCaDskZmE/s1600/Lucky's+Break+M+cover.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">After almost losing her Uncle Phen during
the investigation of her mother’s murder, Felicia “Lucky” Fascino cut all ties
and ran away, hoping her family would move on and forget the promises they
made. Putting the past behind her has never been easy, but Lucky knows the job is
slowly destroying her already fractured psyche. Staying away, especially now
that her family is in danger, is the only way to keep everyone safe. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Kenji Zinn, determined to locate his
ex-lover, tracks Lucky to a small island with her family’s help, and finds her
in a miserable and self-destructive condition. His connection to her is
strained after months apart but his feelings haven’t change, and he attempts to
persuade her to come home, to protect her family and keep her promise. Despite
her obvious mental fatigue, only Phen is able to convince her that the way to
get closure is finding an elusive man named Quimby and take him out
permanently. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Once home, Lucky breaks it off with
Kenji, and agrees to go back to work if Phen promises to let her go when it’s
done. While her family continues to track their target, Lucky returns to work
for the network—struggling through each job, aware that pushing her family away
won’t bring anyone the peace they deserve. As she begins to repair her
shattered relationships, her true feelings for Kenji are tested when she almost
loses him completely. Before it’s too late, Lucky realizes he’s her best ally
to help her finish what she started and find Quimby before he strikes again.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Excerpt 1 <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Kenji is at ‘the compound’
recovering…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Kenji jerked up, waking the instant the doors shut. Looking over, he
saw her walk in. His heart thumped. His stomach churned, causing the wound to
throb. It felt like he was dying a slow, poisonous death.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Wearing a sports bra and tight spandex shorts, Felicia moved to the mat
and stretched. The thick, curly locks pulled back to reveal her stunning face
and bright golden, catlike eyes. She appeared healthier, vibrant again. Filled
out, with the curves he loved to trace.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Kenji shuddered, attempting to ignore his natural
response to her as he stood up. Noticing immediately, she spun around and
gawked at him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Didn’t know anyone was here.” She turned, picked up her
towel, and went for the door.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Felicia,” he said and crossed the room, forcing his body
to move faster than it liked. He winced near the treadmill, paused, and grabbed
the rail. She lurched forward.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Easy,” she chided and bit her lip.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“I am fine,” he said. “I will be leaving shortly.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Okay,” she said while hanging her head. “As long as
you’re well enough.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Irrelevant. I have stayed too long.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Don’t let me being here stop you from getting better.
You won’t see me again.” Her tone turned tight, sharp.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>He bridged the distance slowly, nearing the weight bench.
“Until you sneak into my room again.” Felicia whipped around, storming toward
the exit. “How long will you ignore what you feel for me?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“What?” She seemed genuinely shocked by his question but
didn’t miss a beat with her retort: “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Why did you come to my room?” He followed her to the
exit.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“To say good-bye,” she said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Every word you speak is a lie. You do not want me to
leave anymore than I want to go.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Keep telling yourself that, maybe you’ll believe it one
day.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">“Is it so hard to admit you care?” She paused at the door and stared at
him, emotionless. “No, you are too stubborn. You </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">will</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> realize you want me, and it will be too late. I hope you are willing
to live with your choice.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“I am,” she said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Go. All you do is run away.” He wave at hand to the door
and shook his head.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="justify" style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">“Fuck you.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="justify" style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">“Do you fear what I make you feel that much?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="justify" style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">“Listen, I just wanted to tell you my side, okay? That’s all. I know
what I did was wrong. I tried to make that perfectly clear. It was despicable
and hurtful. The drinking wasn’t an excuse; it’s just an explanation. I wasn’t
myself. I don’t expect you to accept my apology. I just wanted you to have it
because it’s the right thing to do. Gives us both a clean break.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="justify" style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Kenji wasn’t getting through; Felicia ignored everything
he said. He didn’t care about that anymore. He wanted her to admit the truth.
Confess what he saw in her eyes. Want him to stay. “You think a few words
etched on a sheet of paper are a proper apology? Why not tell me to my face?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="justify" style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Her pitch rose. “You didn’t want me to know you were
here. Why would I think you’d want to see me?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="justify" style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“You were on assignment. I know you did not need </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">another </span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">disruption.” He looked knowingly into her
eyes; she glanced away. “I said I would never trouble you again, and I have
stayed true to my word. You approached me.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="justify" style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“You barged in on <i>my</i> family!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="justify" style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“They offered help if I ever needed it. I left you
alone,” he said, the anger seething like an overcooked broth, rising to the
rim. “If not for you, this injury would not be here!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="justify" style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Oh, so it’s my fault you did a shitty job?” She placed
both hands on her hips in defiance. His blood boiled, but he didn’t dare move
closer. Then she laughed. Kenji almost snapped. “It’s all over your face; you
fucked up all on your own, fella.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="justify" style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“You know that is a lie. Have you been flawless these
last few months?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="justify" style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“I’m fine,” she said, slapping her thighs.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="justify" style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“You have wanted to tell me how <i>sorry</i> you are, for
this long, and I am supposed to believe you are fine? The shame must have been
torture for you; a confession only helps so much.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">“It was an <i>explanation.</i>”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">“How long have you wallowed in your suffering?” When she glared at him,
he smirked. He had ammunition to use as well. “I know you, Felicia.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="justify" style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“You used to.” She crossed her arms over her chest.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="justify" style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“I see through your armor, remember?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Felicia tilted her chin higher, eyes narrowing. “I’m
bulletproof now.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="justify" style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“I waste my words on you,” he said and approached. The
slight trembles in her body told him the truth. Yet she stood there, resistant
as ever. He looked down at her before passing. “</span><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Sayōnara</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">, Felicia.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Excerpt
2<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Lucky
and Kenji regroup after taking out an obstacle…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</div>
<div class="MsoHeader" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; tab-stops: .5in; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“That’s about as bad
as it gets. Most of my marks are from a distance,” Lucky said with a shrug of
her shoulders. “Up close and I tend to get….”<o:p></o:p></div>
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</div>
<div class="MsoHeader" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; tab-stops: .5in;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Forceful.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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</div>
<div class="MsoHeader" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; tab-stops: .5in;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Brutal,
Kenji. I wanted him to hurt. I had to walk away, afraid I was going to pummel
him just for the hell of it.” Her body shuddered under his hands.<o:p></o:p></div>
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</div>
<div class="MsoHeader" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; tab-stops: .5in;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“You
were not brutal. You did what you needed to do.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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</div>
<div class="MsoHeader" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; tab-stops: .5in;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“I
didn’t need to kill him. I wanted to.” She stepped back out of his grasp and
walked to the bed. “I’m not some sadistic fuck who gets off on hurting people,
but sometimes…and with you there this time….” When she sat down, she pulled her
legs to her chest. “Everything that happened yesterday, being with you in the field
and letting you see me that way….”<o:p></o:p></div>
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</div>
<div class="MsoHeader" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; tab-stops: .5in;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“The
last few days have been taxing,” he said, sitting beside her. She reached the
edge of every thought but held back, afraid to speak her mind. He kept his
distance despite the desire to hold her.<o:p></o:p></div>
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</div>
<div class="MsoHeader" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; tab-stops: .5in;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“I’m
still trying to wade through it all.” She put her head on her knees. “What were
you thinking, after I killed him?”<o:p></o:p></div>
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</div>
<div class="MsoHeader" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; tab-stops: .5in;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“I
thought you extracted all you could from him and finished the job.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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</div>
<div class="MsoHeader" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; tab-stops: .5in;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>She
turned her head to face him, seemingly agitated. “Then what were you feeling?”<o:p></o:p></div>
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</div>
<div class="MsoHeader" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; tab-stops: .5in;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Satisfied
it was over and impressed with your methods.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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</div>
<div class="MsoHeader" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; tab-stops: .5in;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Felicia
huffed, got up from the bed, and started to walk away. He grabbed her wrist.
“Let go.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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</div>
<div class="MsoHeader" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; tab-stops: .5in;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>He
held tighter and stood. “What do you want to know, Felicia? Stop being vague.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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</div>
<div class="MsoHeader" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; tab-stops: .5in;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“How
did you feel toward <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">me</i>?” Her voice
was heated, sharp. “You were watching me like a hawk.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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</div>
<div class="MsoHeader" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; tab-stops: .5in;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Mostly,
I admired your abilities and thought of little else. There were moments I felt
intimidated, other times aroused. Watching you overpower and manipulate that
man was invigorating.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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</div>
<div class="MsoHeader" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; tab-stops: .5in;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Why
were you intimidated?”<o:p></o:p></div>
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</div>
<div class="MsoHeader" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; tab-stops: .5in;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“The
way you handled the situation astounds me. I was not needed, yet you allowed me
to help.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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</div>
<div class="MsoHeader" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; tab-stops: .5in;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>She
broke from his grip and walked to the opposite side of the room. He stood,
silently waiting to see what she’d do. Rubbing the back of her neck, she turned
around with wide eyes.<o:p></o:p></div>
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</div>
<div class="MsoHeader" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; tab-stops: .5in; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“After all that, you
still want me.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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</div>
<div class="MsoHeader" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; tab-stops: .5in;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“I
have never wanted you more.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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</div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mgclAgflYJE/U295ej0_18I/AAAAAAAAAeA/WdBjqwxunn8/s1600/JennBW+(2).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mgclAgflYJE/U295ej0_18I/AAAAAAAAAeA/WdBjqwxunn8/s1600/JennBW+(2).jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Author Bio: Jenn’s love of writing started the year
she received her first diary and Nancy Drew novel. Throughout her teenage
years, she kept a diary of her personal thoughts and feelings but graduated
from Nancy Drew to other mystery suspense novels.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Jenn often adds a thriller and suspense element to
anything she writes be it Romance, Science Fiction, or Fantasy. When not
writing, she spends her time reading, observing pop culture, playing with her
two dogs, and working on various charitable projects in her home state of New
Jersey.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Website:
</span><a href="http://www.jennnixon.com/"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: blue;">www.jennnixon.com</span></span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Facebook:
</span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/JennNixonAuthor"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: blue;">facebook.com/JennNixonAuthor</span></span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Blog:
</span><a href="http://www.jennafern.blogspot.com/"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: blue;">www.jennafern.blogspot.com</span></span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<a href="http://twitter.com/jennnixon"><span style="color: blue;">http://twitter.com/jennnixon</span></a><span style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Purchase
links:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Jenn-Nixon/e/B002BLNBBQ"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="color: blue;">Amazon</span></span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Jenn-Nixon/e/B002BLNBBQ"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="color: blue;">http://www.amazon.com/Jenn-Nixon/e/B002BLNBBQ</span></span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.wildchildpublishing.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=449"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="color: blue;">Wild Child Publishing</span></span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><a href="http://www.wildchildpublishing.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=449"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="color: blue;">http://www.wildchildpublishing.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=449</span></span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Terri Talley Ventershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14000680923157707689noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7583133301279195857.post-55663007556473205832014-04-01T02:00:00.000-07:002014-04-01T02:00:02.713-07:00Francium<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: large;">Francium</span></span></i></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">by: Terri Talley Venters<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">“Finally!” Yvette said, handing over thirty
Euros to enter the Catacombs beneath Paris, France. She tucked her black hair
behind her ear and then dropped her change into the zipper compartment of her
hot pink cinch sack.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">“I can’t believe we waited four hours in line
for this,” Yvette’s lover, Antoine, complained.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">“I’m sorry, my love, but I hear it’s to die for.”
Yvette turned on her heel with a flirtatious smile. Her yellow sundress twirled
around her summer-tanned legs.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Yvette descended over two-hundred stairs with
Antione in tow. She walked briskly to the main “display areas” of the Catacombs.
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">“This is creepy.” Antoine stuffed his hands in
his pockets and grimaced at the macabre display of skeletons. He snapped a few
photos to commemorate their visit. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">“Don’t be a ‘fraidy cat, you wuss.” Yvette
admired each morbid pattern of human bones decorating the winding tunnels of
the Catacombs.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">“I’m not a wuss, I’m just hungry. Can we go
soon?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">“No way! We waited four hours, we may as well
make the most of the time we have left until closing.” Yvette stopped in front
of a wrought-iron gated door blocking a side tunnel.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">“Don’t even think about it,” Antoine put his
foot down. “See the sign? ‘Do not stray from the main tunnel’.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">“Oh, now you want to obey the signs. I noticed
you didn’t have a problem taking flash pictures.” Yvette pointed to the “No
flash photography” sign. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">‘Touché.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">“I just want to see what’s back here.” Yvette
tugged on the gated door and stepped back, pleasantly surprised that the door
wasn’t locked.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">“What if we get caught?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Yvette shrugged with a wicked grin. “I don’t see
any cameras or guards.” Yvette stepped through the open gate and used her phone
as a flashlight.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">“Arrghh, okay, you win.” Antoine begrudgingly
followed his truant girlfriend into the forbidden tunnels of the Catacombs.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">“Wow, this is fascinating! Look at all these
hallowed out niches in the walls. There’s dozens of skeletons here. I wonder
why they don’t include this as part of the tourist path.” She stepped through an
opening and into an enormous cavern.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">“Wow! It must be at least fifty feet high.” Antoine
gazed up in awe. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">“Are those stairs up there?” Yvette pointed
towards a crumbling staircase.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">“It looks like they lead to more tunnels.” Antione,
now committed to the adventure, led Yvette up the narrow brick stair case.
“Better let me test them first. If I fall, don’t try to grab me or you’ll go
down with me.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">“Ahh, how valiant.” Yvette cooed.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Antoine gingerly ascended the stairs, using the
decorative bones as hand rails. “Careful, this part is tricky and we’re almost
at the top.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">“Give me a break, I’m not going to…..” Yvette’s
foot slipped as she reached her hand to grab the skull imbedded into the
wall.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Help me!”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">With quick reflexes, Antoine grabbed her arm and
tried to pull her up. “I got you, don’t look down.” Antoine’s calm tone tried
to soothe her, but his panicked eyes revealed his fear of losing her.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">“Antoine, let go or we’ll both die.” Yvette’s
mind worked rationally to sacrifice her life for his.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">“No, I’d rather die with you than live without
you!” He pulled her arm up and slowly lifted her torso to meet his.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">“Oh, Antoine! You saved me.” Yvette hugged her
lover with relief.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">‘There, I got you, my love. Let’s go home.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Rumbling noises vibrated through the cavern.
Rocks and bricks crumbled beneath their feet and they fell five stories, still
entwined in each other’s arms.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">***</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">“Here’s two more, Andre,” Yvette heard a
Catacomb worker sigh. His tone dripped with a combination of disdain, exasperation,
and just a tad of sympathy.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">“How awful, Philippe. Why do we bother to post
signs warning tourists not to veer off the carefully tunneled path?” A younger
worker asked rhetorically.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Oh, thank
goodness you found us. </span></i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yvette’s comment went
unnoticed.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">“Stupid Americans.” Philippe started to pull the
lifeless forms out into the center of the aisle.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">I’m not
American! I live in the south of France.</span></i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> Yvette retorted, defending her nationality. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">“How long do you think they’ve been down here?”
Andre asked.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">“Years. The rats ate the flesh. Just bones and
tattered clothes left.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">“Should we report it?” Andre asked?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">“No, it’s almost closing time. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m too old to deal with the hassle and
paperwork. Besides, you’re meeting that sexy Mademoiselle, at the café in an
hour.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">“Great point, my Manon, does not like to be kept
waiting, especially since she is always late herself.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">“That settles it, then. Here give me a hand with
this skull.” Philippe pulled the head off of Yvette.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Nooo! What
are you doing? That hurts. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Yvette screamed as loud
as she could. Her head snapped off of her spine and the older worker
meticulously stacked it on top of the pile of hundreds of other skulls. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">“Did you hear something? It sounds like a faint
scream.” Andre said. He crossed his arms and warded off a chill.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">“Yeah, sometimes the spirits lingers, like they
don’t realize they’re dead,” Philippe said. He pulled apart the rest of the
bones and removed the tattered clothing.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">“Toss ‘em in the back?” Andre asked, even though
he knew the drill.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">“Yeah, then we’ll split the loot.” </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Philippe and Andre pulled apart the big bones,
and tossed the partially dismantled skeletons behind the neatly stacked rows of
skulls. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">The bones of Yvette and Antoine, now forever
rest with the millions of bones in the Catacombs beneath Paris.<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
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Terri Talley Ventershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14000680923157707689noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7583133301279195857.post-31834286059325246602013-10-21T12:30:00.001-07:002013-10-21T12:39:01.825-07:00Guest Blogger Dorothy Bell<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-e17q87Om7Gw/UmV_mu6cUoI/AAAAAAAAAc0/pfm5J0uIecs/s1600/Dorothy+Bell+pic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="215" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-e17q87Om7Gw/UmV_mu6cUoI/AAAAAAAAAc0/pfm5J0uIecs/s320/Dorothy+Bell+pic.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Hi, everybody, Dorothy A. Bell here.
Thank you, Terri Talley Venters for hosting me on your beautiful blog. As an
introduction, I thought I would give visitors a glimpse into my life so far.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I grew up in southern Iowa, moved to
Oregon’s Willamette Valley at the age of eleven. I was in the sixth grade when
I started school in Oregon. On my first day of school, I encountered the boy I
would eventually marry. He kept pestering me, trying to kiss me. I held out until
I turned sixteen, then I kind’a got the hang of the kissing thing. We’ve been
married for forty-eight years, he’s still a pest, bless him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I started out writing Regency
Romances to entertain myself. I took writing courses, but I think I learned the
most by submitting my work to publishers, editors and agents, and getting
feedback. Laid low for nearly twenty-five years with arthritis, forced to use a
battery-powered cart, I took up aquatic exercise and became an instructor.
After two surgeries to replace my knees, I went to work on myself and lost
eighty-five pounds, which I have kept off.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">My husband and I live in Central
Oregon with two West Highland White terriers, an energetic, longhaired
Dachshund and one big, angora tuxedo cat. When I need a break from writing
Oregon historical western romances, I work in the yard or my garden.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">This year I am proud to announce the
release of two Laura Creek romances “The Reprobate” and “The Cost of Revenge”,
available on Amazon,</span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Kindle-eBooks/b?ie=UTF8&node=154606011"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: blue;">http://www.amazon.com/Kindle-eBooks/b?ie=UTF8&node=154606011</span></span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Barnes and Noble,</span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span><a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/u/NOOK-Book-eBook-store/379003094"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: blue;">http://www.barnesandnoble.com/u/NOOK-Book-eBook-store/379003094</span></span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Good Reads, https://www.goodreads.com/
and Freya’s Bower, </span><a href="http://freyasbower.com/"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: blue;">http://freyasbower.com</span></span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">
as e-books.</span><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FErTMFeG-5s/UmV_98OoE4I/AAAAAAAAAc8/xRKvtVdcAqI/s1600/Reprobate+cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FErTMFeG-5s/UmV_98OoE4I/AAAAAAAAAc8/xRKvtVdcAqI/s320/Reprobate+cover.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14pt;">The
Reprobate<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14pt;">A Laura
Creek Western Romance</span></u></b><u><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></u></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Fiddle
playing, hard drinking Royce O’Bannon believes he’s worthless like his old man,
no woman should have anything to do with him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Music
teacher Cleantha Arnaud, her virtue long spent, believes her life is over;
crippled and barren, no man would want her. When these two outcasts become
lovers, hopes and dreams blossom within their parched souls.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Royce’s
vengeful daddy begins a campaign of retaliation against his traitorous sons and
the town that gave them a second chance.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Driven
by a fledgling sense of responsibility, Royce follows his daddy into the dark
tunnels beneath Pendleton’s streets intent on putting a stop to the old man’s
vengeful crusade. With a swift crack on the head, all of Royce’s newly found
hopes and dreams could be shattered like candied glass. Who would miss a
reprobate, a worthless man?</span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qyZ8yiPqF3c/UmWAXJoQyBI/AAAAAAAAAdE/BU7ASMnyi38/s1600/cost+of+revenge+cover.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qyZ8yiPqF3c/UmWAXJoQyBI/AAAAAAAAAdE/BU7ASMnyi38/s320/cost+of+revenge+cover.png" width="222" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14pt;">The
Cost of Revenge<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">A Laura Creek Western
Romance</span></u></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Quinn
O’Bannon knows it’s time he settled down. He has two likely candidates, both
sensible, attractive, young women. However, his fantasies keep straying to Tru
McAdam, that thieving, sloe-eyed vixen with the grudge against the whole darn
O’Bannon family.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Tru McAdam
wants to believe the O’Bannons, all of them are rotten, heartless cheats. God help
her, most of all she wants to believe the handsome, arrogant flirt Quinn
O’Bannon is the worst of the lot.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">When
destiny shuffles the cards, strange pairs show up in the hand. Who can fight
destiny, not the handsome, flirtatious Quinn O’Bannon, not the thieving,
sloe-eyed vixen, Tru McAdam.</span><span style="font-family: BernhardModern; font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-w8ai1R0Fi3w/UmWAsth0v_I/AAAAAAAAAdM/4jBpG0d2SEU/s1600/kid+in+me.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-w8ai1R0Fi3w/UmWAsth0v_I/AAAAAAAAAdM/4jBpG0d2SEU/s320/kid+in+me.jpg" width="214" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Caption: I will not forget this. Someday I will get even.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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There’s a little kid inside of me that cannot resist donning
a disguise of some sort when Halloween comes around. When my children were
small, I dressed up with them and went door to door. Then I had grandchildren,
and I dressed up and went door to door. Then the grandkids grew up and no longer
wanted to go out with grandma. But I found a way to dress up—celebrate. Not
only get in disguise, I inspired others to follow suit.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<o:p></o:p> </div>
Terri Talley Ventershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14000680923157707689noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7583133301279195857.post-69705292410283671032013-09-23T02:00:00.000-07:002013-09-24T14:13:59.763-07:00Take the Train Autumn Blog Hop<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9jeqEmSXDKI/UjsN5gItbUI/AAAAAAAAAb0/VT3LFllOL_0/s1600/autumn+train+promo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9jeqEmSXDKI/UjsN5gItbUI/AAAAAAAAAb0/VT3LFllOL_0/s1600/autumn+train+promo.JPG" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 13.5pt;"><strong>Join the authors of Wild Child publishing and Freya’s Bower as we Take an Autumn Train Ride through our blogs.</strong></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12pt;">Prizes will include</span></div>
<ul type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 13.5pt;">Four $50 gift certificates (two for Wild Child and two for Freya's Bower)</span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 13.5pt;">An awesome swag package that includes:</span></li>
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<li class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 1.0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 13.5pt;">Bookmarks</span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 1.0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 13.5pt;">Books</span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 1.0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 13.5pt;">Wild Child T-shirt and mug</span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 1.0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 13.5pt;">Wild Child and Freya's Bower bags</span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 1.0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 13.5pt;">Four handmade, crochet coasters by Kit Wylde</span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 1.0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 13.5pt;">An autographed copy of Rosemary and Rue by Seanan McGuire</span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 1.0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 13.5pt;">A rare DVD copy of the Matheson/Furst classic "Up The Creek" (lovingly used)</span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 1.0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 13.5pt;">One ebook copy of Nita Wick’s short story, The Dream (previously published as part of a Freya’s Bower anthology.)</span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 1.0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 13.5pt;">Book trading cards</span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 1.0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 13.5pt;">Signed Dangerous Waters poster</span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 1.0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 13.5pt;">copy of "Battle for Blood: The Blood Feud"</span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 1.0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 13.5pt;">the winner’s name as a character in Kissa Starling’s next sweet romance story.</span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 1.0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 13.5pt;">A Yankee Candle</span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 1.0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 13.5pt;">and more...</span></li>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Chromium</span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><br />
The train from Rome arrived at the armpit of Italy, also known as Naples.
Luckily, Gabriella only had to stop in Naples long enough to transfer to the </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Circumvesuviana</span></i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">, the train which
would take the dark-haired beauty to Sorrento. Then a ferry would whisk her
away to her final destination--the beautiful and serene Isle of Capri just off
of the Amalfi coast. Although she could’ve taken a longer ferry ride directly
from Naples, Gabriella opted to detour via Sorrento just for pizza. The wood-burning
oven at<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> Ristorante Pizzeria da Gigino </i>makes
the best Neopolitan-style pizzas. She licked her lips, tasting the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Quatro formaggi </i>with a glass of chianti
already.<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><br />
</i><br />
The train’s engine expelled its exhaust as it stopped, and the doors opened.
She retrieved her pink suitcase from the chrome luggage rack, extended the
handle, and pulled it down the narrow aisle of the first class car. A woman
dressed in a cobalt blue suit and matching hat exited her first class
compartment. Gabriella did a double take because the lady reminded her of Queen
Elizabeth II. Only this woman appeared as a platinum blonde in her fifties
instead of the white haired monarch. The queen’s younger clone retrieved two
pieces of her matching Louis Vuitton luggage, while a young Italian man helped
her with the other three. The dark haired man didn’t resemble a relative. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Man servant? Boy toy?</i> Shaking off the
notion, Gabriella vowed to mind her own business. <br />
<br />
After patting herself on the back for not packing so much crap, she gingerly
descended the three narrow steps. Setting foot onto the cement platform at <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Napoli Termini</i>, she met with an early
autumn breeze. Gabriella pulled her pink suitcase and briskly traversed the
platform to the main terminal. Checking the enormous round clock at the
station, her stomach grumbled. Ignoring the hunger pains, she bypassed
purchasing a sandwich at the stand and followed the signs to the<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> </i></span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Circumvesuviana</span></i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">. She avoided the ticket window and its long line thanks to the Italy
Rail Pass next to her passport which safely hung in a pouch under her shirt.
Pick pockets and Gypsies lurked at train stations, just waiting to steal from
careless tourists.<br />
<br />
Gabriella stepped onboard the third car of the train and couldn’t find a seat
anywhere, at least not a seat with any available room in the luggage rack
above. Not wanting to let her luggage leave her sight, she placed it against
the wall by the bathroom and sat on it. The thought of risotto,<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> Limoncello</i>, and a swim in the Blue
Grotto beneath the Isle of Capri tonight with her lover got her through the
next two hours of the hell train. That, and the beautiful scenery--the ocean on
the right and Mount Vesuvius on the horizon. <br />
<br />
She arose from her perch on the suitcase as the train pulled into the small Sorrento
station. Gabriella promptly found the WC, relieved to have held her bladder for
the last two hours and to have avoided the putrid bathroom on the train. She
freshened up her appearance before meeting her handsome Italian lover, Giovanni,
for the weekend. Excitement filled Gabriella at the thought of great food,
wine, and toe-curling sex on the beautiful Amalfi coast. <br />
<br />
Before descending all of the steps from the train station to the streets of Sorrento,
she spotted the lady she’d seen on the train from Rome to Naples who resembled
the queen. Only this time, the lady stood alone<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> without</i> her five matching pieces of Louis Vuitton luggage and boy
toy.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">The lady scanned the train’s platform as the </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Circumvesuviana</span></i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> prepared for its return trip to Napoli. Making eye contact, the lady
walked towards her with a waving arm and a look of panic.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">“Excuse me, do you speak English?” </span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"></span><br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<br />
“Yes, are you okay?”</div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><br />
“No, I can’t find my porter. This nice Italian man helped me with all of my luggage
back in Naples. He said he’d get it on the </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Circumvesuviana</span></i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> for me and I could pick it up once I arrived in Sorrento.” A tear
dropped onto her cheek as the realization sank in. <br />
<br />
Gabriella’s heart broke for the woman as Rick Steve’s words of warning rolled
off her tongue. “Ma’am, there aren’t any porters at train stations in Italy.” </span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HlOQ-mjMxH4/UjxGqSNV-WI/AAAAAAAAAcI/rYUgZvXCEs0/s1600/daGigino.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HlOQ-mjMxH4/UjxGqSNV-WI/AAAAAAAAAcI/rYUgZvXCEs0/s320/daGigino.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 13.5pt;"><strong>Take the Blog Train and Visit These Blogs for more chances to win</strong></span><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
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<a href="http://adriannebrennan.blogspot.com/"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #336699;">Where Love and Magic Meet</span></span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.kissastarling.com/blog"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #336699;">Kissa Starling</span></span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></div>
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<a href="http://mariannaheusler.typepad.com/"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #336699;">Marianna Heusler</span></span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></div>
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<a href="http://hellsambrosia.wordpress.com/"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #336699;">Hell’s Ambrosia</span></span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.cmmichaels.com/index.php/blog-posts/"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #336699;">C.M. Michaels</span></span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></div>
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<a href="http://theshadowportal.blogspot.com/"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #336699;">The Shadow Portal</span></span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></div>
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<a href="http://kimberlydana.blogspot.com/"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #336699;">The Blog Zone</span></span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.blogbyimagine.com/"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #336699;">Blog By iMagine</span></span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.ardythdebruyn.com/"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #336699;">Ardyth DeBruyn Author Blog</span></span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></div>
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<a href="http://shadowspastmystery.blogspot.ro/"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #336699;">Shadows of the Past</span></span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.roypatten.webs.com/"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #336699;">Dear Reader</span></span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></div>
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<a href="http://cassieexline.blogspot.com/"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #336699;">Cassie Exline -- Mystery and Romance</span></span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></div>
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<a href="http://victoriaroder.blogspot.com/"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #336699;">Sarcastic Rambling & Writing</span></span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></div>
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<a href="http://jchristianoauthor.blogspot.com/"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #336699;">That’s What I Think</span></span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></div>
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<a href="http://tsueversteeg.wordpress.com/"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #336699;">Sue’s Random Ramblings</span></span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></div>
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<a href="http://lesliestalley.blogspot.com/"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #336699;">Make Old Bones</span></span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.elementsofmystery.com/"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #336699;">Elements of Mystery</span></span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.mollydean.com/MollyDeanBlog.html"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #336699;">Molly Dean's Blog</span></span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></div>
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<a href="http://kenziemichaels.blogspot.com/"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #336699;">Kenzie’s Place</span></span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.cmhumphries.com/blog.html"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #336699;">The Forbidden Blog</span></span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></div>
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<a href="http://davidhuffstetler.blogspot.com/"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #336699;">David Huffstetler</span></span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></div>
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<a href="http://cassandraulrich.blogspot.com/"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #336699;">Cassandra Ulrich</span></span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></div>
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<a href="http://billiemccoy.blogspot.com.au/"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #336699;">Carol Marvell</span></span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></div>
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<a href="http://andrewjrichardson.blogspot.co.uk/"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #336699;">Andrew Richardson</span></span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></div>
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<a href="http://nicholaslloydblog.wordpress.com/"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #336699;">Nick Lloyd</span></span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></div>
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<a href="http://bekkaofthorns.com/"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #336699;">Fiddleeebod -- land of stories</span></span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.nitawick.com/blog2/"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #336699;">Nita Wick’s Blog</span></span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.ruthzonline.com/"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #336699;">Ruth G. Zavitsanos</span></span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.joedonnmartin.com/"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #336699;">Too Poor for Texas</span></span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></div>
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<a href="http://jennafern.blogspot.com/"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #336699;">Jenn Nixon</span></span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></div>
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<a href="http://bookcityofthieves.blogspot.com/"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #336699;">City of Thieves</span></span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></div>
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<a href="http://jansdoodlings.blogspot.com/"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #336699;">Musings and Doodles</span></span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.shanbreen.blogspot.com/"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #336699;">Husein</span></span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></div>
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<a href="http://larrypayneauthor.blogspot.com/"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #336699;">The Western Writer</span></span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></div>
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<a href="http://bikecopblog.blogspot.com/"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #336699;">Bike Cop Blog</span></span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.joylcampbell.com/"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #336699;">The Character Depot</span></span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.allencurrier.blogspot.com/"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #336699;">Allen Currier</span></span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.tracyholohan.com/"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #336699;">Tracy Holohan</span></span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></div>
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<span style="color: #336699;"><br /></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/badc9c2/"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 13.5pt;"><span style="color: #336699;">a Rafflecopter giveaway</span></span></a><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-i9bH2kQMUwo/UkH_HUZAPyI/AAAAAAAAAcU/AAsnh1ZWK3Q/s1600/Copper+Cauldron1800x2700.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-i9bH2kQMUwo/UkH_HUZAPyI/AAAAAAAAAcU/AAsnh1ZWK3Q/s320/Copper+Cauldron1800x2700.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<o:p></o:p> </div>
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt; text-align: center;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">Copper Cauldron </span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">Penelope Manchester, a good witch with one green
and one blue eye, awaits her destiny: a warrior of God with the face of an
angel, the heart of a saint, and eyes which match her own. St. Michael the
Archangel flies into her life and sweeps her off her feet. Meanwhile, an evil
sorcerer captures witches, steals their powers and most of their nine lives,
and shrinks them to the size of a doll--a Nuremberg doll. But when he turns two
of the Manchester witches into dolls, the Manchester clan fights back with St.
Michael and divine intervention. Armed with the legendary copper cauldron, a
fire breathing dragon, and an arsenal of spells, good battles evil. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt;">
Available from Wild Child Publishing</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ggZYeAaofHE/UkH_e08o92I/AAAAAAAAAcc/IISN3gTOS5g/s1600/carbon+copy300dpi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ggZYeAaofHE/UkH_e08o92I/AAAAAAAAAcc/IISN3gTOS5g/s320/carbon+copy300dpi.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;"><o:p></o:p></span> </div>
</div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 24pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Carbon Copy<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Lilly Allen has brains, beauty, and a trust fund.
She's living in New York City and her career as a reporter is taking off. She's
hoping the love of her life, Grier, will propose soon. She has it all, or so
she thinks.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Grier Garrison, Create Life executive, is running
the company while his father, Dr. Michael Garrison, is in the ICU awaiting a
heart transplant. Grier knows the truth about Create Life and its shady side
business. He fears Lilly and her twin brother, Luke, are in danger.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">While working on two unrelated stories, stolen
newborns and cloning, Lilly discovers a shocking connection. Horrific things
are happening, but who is behind it all?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Available from Wild Child Publishing</span></div>
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</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-295lIFu7h5c/UkH_6IcCfQI/AAAAAAAAAck/9HojzlwpK1M/s1600/Tin+Roof+book+cover+1800x2700.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-295lIFu7h5c/UkH_6IcCfQI/AAAAAAAAAck/9HojzlwpK1M/s320/Tin+Roof+book+cover+1800x2700.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"></span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><o:p> <span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 24pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Tin Roof<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">the sequel to <i>Carbon
Copy</i></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span></div>
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<span style="color: #111111; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Lucida Sans Unicode";">In the sequel to Carbon Copy, Lilly Allen
returns to her hometown of Charleston, South Carolina, to be closer to her
mother, help with her injured brother, and heal from the disappearance of her
fiancé Grier Garrison. While she awaits Grier's return, she busies herself with
her mansion renovations, her best friend's wedding, and her job as a news
reporter.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 1.45pt 1.2pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #111111; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Lucida Sans Unicode";"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 1.45pt 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #111111; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Lucida Sans Unicode";">But even her busy schedule cannot stem the
worry over her brother's persistent amnesia and changes in personality. Is he
her real twin? Or did they rescue a clone?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 1.45pt 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #111111; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Lucida Sans Unicode";">On top of this, the months of pining
without a word from Grier begin to take their toll. She finds herself growing
closer to her favorite cameraman, Joe. His confession of undying love, followed
by a passionate kiss, has her questioning how much longer she can wait, and
whether she wants to.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #111111; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Lucida Sans Unicode";">To further complicate matters, two
unrelated news stories drag her into the seamy underbelly of the Charleston
Police Department where murder and drugs are common occurrences. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #111111; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Lucida Sans Unicode";">In the chaos of a hurricane, another body
washes ashore, and Lilly comes face-to-face with the murderer.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Available October 16, 2013 from Wild Child Publishing</span></div>
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Terri Talley Ventershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14000680923157707689noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7583133301279195857.post-40007518332642635862013-09-17T02:00:00.000-07:002013-09-17T02:00:08.414-07:00Interview with Author, Jenn Nixon
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 16pt;">Interview with author,
Jenn Nixon<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">If you could date any
character from any book, who would it be?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Jack
Reacher, hands down, and not the Tom Cruise version…the one that’s in MY head.
He’s a total man’s man without all the angsty alpha-male-ness, who has a big
soft spot for righting wrongs. If not him, I’d take Kenji from my book Lucky’s
Charm. He’s a hottie too. </span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Georgia; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Georgia; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">If you could transport
to any place during any time period, where and when would you go? <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">I
would want to go to the future. Earth. Maybe a hundred years from now, or two. The
mass amount of science and technology our planet has created in the last fifty
years is amazing to me. I remember playing PONG on a black and white
rabbit-eared television, now my nephew plays games on a tiny iPod. Now we have
wireless technology, 3D printing, deep space travel…I can only imagine what it
will be like in our future and I wish I could be there to see it.</span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Oh,
and I want to know, for certain, if aliens are real, too.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span></b> </div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">When and why did you
start writing?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">I’ve
been writing for as long as I can remember. My first “publication” was a book
of poetry I wrote in the 5<sup>th</sup> grade. While I still write poetry
occasionally, I moved into short stories and fan fiction in my teen years. Yes,
I was doing fan-fiction before the internet made it popular. I wrote myself
into my favorite TV shows, Homicide: Life on the Streets, X-Files, then
eventually move onto CSI and Star Wars. When I finished my first “original”
Star Wars fan-fiction from start to finish, I was hooked. I wrote an original
story after that, a very bad one mind you, but my friends loved it and it
fueled my desire to keep writing. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">What is your favorite
part about writing? <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">This
may sound a little weird and probably egotistical, but I love re-reading my
stories when they are done. It also serves as a way of helping me become a
better writer because with every novel, I learn something new. It’s fun and a
little embarrassing sometimes to go back and read what I’ve written and see
where I could have made improvements. It also helps me see where I have already
improved. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Another
favorite part about writing for me is connecting with other writers and
readers, without them, none of us would be here. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b><br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">What are you working on
now and what are your writing goals/plans for the future?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Right
now, I’m working this blog tour for MIND: The Beginning and it’s been a blast!
I am also editing the second book in the Lucky series, my Romantic Suspense
from Wild Child Publishing. I have a Sci-Fi/Fantasy novel, Tiva Boon: Royal
Guardian coming out this fall from Hydra Publications. In the future, I have a
novella anthology re-print coming out as well as Lucky #3 and Tiva #2 in
completed and ready for editing! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">I’m
brainstorming my next big project, but I’m not quite there yet. I’m hoping this
one will be the book to get me an agent!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Favorite book(s)?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">My
favorite types of books are Suspense/Thrillers, Mysteries, and Romantic
Suspense. I’ve been reading more small press and indy authors recently.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Favorite movie(s)?</span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">I
love movies. Any type. I’ll usually watch anything. I recently watch Olympus
Has Fallen, Skyfall, and Star Trek: Into Darkness, very entertaining. My go to
movies are usually Romantic Comedies like Sliding Doors and Never Been Kissed
are two of my all time favorites.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Favorite TV show(s)?</span></b><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">How
long is this blog? LOL I watch way to much TV thanks to DVRs, though I have to
say, I did trim it down a little this year. I used to watch cop procedural
shows all the time. Sadly, they are so predictable now that I’ve cut the list down
tremendously and added in some new shows to change it up. I’m into the
paranormal and sci-fi shows right now like Vampire Diaries, True Blood (We love
you Eric!), Walking Dead, Grimm, Lost Girl, Once Upon a Time, and Arrow. I
can’t wait for S.H.I.E.L.D!! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span><br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">What is on your
"Bucket List" <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Skydiving,
Trip back to the UK,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and a Road Trip
across the county.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">I’d
also love to write an episode of Doctor Who…hey, a girl can dream! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ogePS7vYWmI/UicqzOgUmzI/AAAAAAAAAa8/MsulTHgkPbk/s1600/LgMind+(2).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ogePS7vYWmI/UicqzOgUmzI/AAAAAAAAAa8/MsulTHgkPbk/s1600/LgMind+(2).jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">After Dina Ranger
loses telepathic contact with her brother, she breaks into his apartment and
stumbles onto a special government unit responsible for monitoring the psychic
population. She’s offered a job where she can use her psionic gifts to help people.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Stranded on earth
over a hundred years ago, Liam of Shria is searching for a metal needed to
repair his ship when he finds Dina, a telepathic investigator, and narrowly
saves her from an exploding alien pod. Together, they uncover a plot to rebuild
an ancient weapon and discover the truth behind Dina’s abilities while
unlocking dangerous secrets about the alien presence on earth.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Can they stop a
powerful weapon meant to enslave the human race? Can their relationship survive
the secrets of the past or will it tear them apart?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WPtWCIXJDE0/UicrH7HbIvI/AAAAAAAAAbI/1U9r1Dq74kE/s1600/JennBW+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WPtWCIXJDE0/UicrH7HbIvI/AAAAAAAAAbI/1U9r1Dq74kE/s1600/JennBW+%25282%2529.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Author Bio: Jenn’s
love of writing started the year she received her first diary and Nancy Drew
novel. Throughout her teenage years, she kept a diary of her personal thoughts
and feelings but graduated from Nancy Drew to other mystery suspense novels.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Jenn often adds a
thriller and suspense element to anything she writes be it Romance, Science
Fiction, or Fantasy. When not writing, she spends her time reading, observing
pop culture, playing with her two dogs, and working on various charitable
projects in her home state of New Jersey.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">MIND: The Beginning Purchase Link: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><a href="http://crescentmoonpress.com/books/Mind.html"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: blue;">http://crescentmoonpress.com/books/Mind.html</span></span></a></span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Website: </span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><a href="http://www.jennnixon.com/"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: blue;">www.jennnixon.com</span></span></a></span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Facebook: </span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/JennNixonAuthor"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: blue;">facebook.com/JennNixonAuthor</span></span></a></span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Blog: </span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><a href="http://www.jennafern.blogspot.com/"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: blue;">www.jennafern.blogspot.com</span></span></a></span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Twitter:
<a href="http://twitter.com/jennnixon"><span style="color: blue;">http://twitter.com/jennnixon</span></a><span style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Amazon:
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Jenn-Nixon/e/B002BLNBBQ/"><span style="color: blue;">http://www.amazon.com/Jenn-Nixon/e/B002BLNBBQ/</span></a><span style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Past Release:
Romantic Suspense, </span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Luckys-Charm-ebook/dp/B008RG8V4Q"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: blue;">Lucky’s
Charm</span></span></a></span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Terri Talley Ventershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14000680923157707689noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7583133301279195857.post-22670697511388670872013-09-16T02:00:00.000-07:002013-09-16T02:00:07.973-07:00Interviw with Author, C. M. Michaels<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Interview with C. M. Michaels</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Consolas;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">If you could
date any character from any book, who would it be</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">? Hmm… I would
have to say Rose Hathaway from the Vampire Academy series. She is stubborn and
impulsive, which often gets her into hot water, but she is also incredibly
brave, has unshakable morals and is fiercely loyal to her friends. And let’s
not forget she’s a half-human / half-vampire trained assassin. Something tells
me our dates would never be boring </span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">
</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">If you could
transport to any place during any time period, where and when would you go</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">? I’m torn
between western North America in the time before humans and the Jurassic
period. I am a huge nature lover, and both would be fascinating, but I guess
I’d go with the former rather than face a hungry T-Rex.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">When and why did
you start writing?</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">
I have always had an overactive imagination which writing has provided an
outlet for. When I was 9 or 10 I used to exchange letters with my oldest
brother each week while he was at college. Our fantasy creatures were mortal
enemies, and battled each other in our imaginary world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have fond memories of reading my first book,
a children’s novella that I still have tucked away in my closet, to local grade
schools when I was 14.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">What is your
favorite part about writing?</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> Being surprised by where my characters
take me. Listening to impulse thoughts of what your character would do in a
given moment doesn’t always pan out—and can take you off on some pretty odd
tangents—but I’ve learned to let myself run with them and see if I like where I
end up rather than rigidly sticking to my chapter outline.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">What are you
working on now and what are your writing goals/plans for the future?</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> The book I am
working on now, Kerrigan’s Race, is a fantasy romance set in a water world that
features mermaid-like creatures and griffins. I hope to have the first draft
completed before the end of the year. I will also be starting on the sequel to
Dangerous Waters in the next month or so.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Favorite
book(s)?</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">
The Otherworld series by Kelley Armstrong, The Vampire Academy and Bloodcurse
series by Richelle Mead, Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor, Desert
Spear and Daylight War by Peter V. Brett.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Favorite
movie(s)?</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">
The Matrix, Troy, Gladiator, Braveheart, Dances with Wolves<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Favorite TV
show(s)?</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">
24, Big Bang Theory, Game of Thrones, Cougar Town, The Middle<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">What is on your
"Bucket List"</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> Visit Alaska, visit Scotland and Ireland, go whale
watching, renew our vows in Yellowstone National Park.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-86m3MGXAi5s/Uicx3VDcgOI/AAAAAAAAAbU/Z2dt6fA26hA/s1600/DW-large+(2).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-86m3MGXAi5s/Uicx3VDcgOI/AAAAAAAAAbU/Z2dt6fA26hA/s320/DW-large+(2).jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></i></b> </div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></i></b> </div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Dangerous Waters<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<br />
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<span style="background: white; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">For Emily Waters, a nature-loving, small-town girl with an
overprotective father, heading off to Boston University to study conservation
biology is a dream come true—until a chance encounter catapults her into a
mythical world she’d do anything to escape. </span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br />
<span style="background: white;"><br />
The latest victim in a rash of abductions near campus, Emily is brutally
attacked before being rescued by a powerful new friend. She survives the
ordeal, only to find herself held captive and presented with an impossible
choice. While preparing for the unimaginable life she must now embrace clues
soon emerge that Emily may not be entirely human, and her physical
transformation awakens goddess-like powers that her new family cannot begin to
explain. Dealing with her human first love, the not-so-platonic relationship
with her coven “sister,” and her new vampire sort-of-boyfriend further
complicates matters, not to mention being secretly hunted by the psychopaths
who attacked her. And as the only known offspring of a once all-powerful race,
the climactic battle is only the beginning of her journey.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="background: white;"></span></span> </div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SwxG2v5WlJA/UicyK0EIDwI/AAAAAAAAAbc/XcATlPzTOmg/s1600/Chad+pic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SwxG2v5WlJA/UicyK0EIDwI/AAAAAAAAAbc/XcATlPzTOmg/s320/Chad+pic.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #757575; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
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C.M Michaels grew up in a small town in northern Michigan as the youngest
child of a close-knit family of seven. He met his wife, Teresa, while attending
Saginaw Valley State University. Together they’ve provided a loving home for
several four-legged “kids”, including Sophie, their eternally young at heart,
hopelessly spoiled Spaniel. <o:p></o:p><br />
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</div>
He has always enjoyed writing, and still has fond memories of reading his
first book, a children’s novella, to local grade schools when he was 14.
Dangerous Waters, the first book in the Sisters in Blood series, is being
published by Freya’s Bower on September 5<sup>th</sup>, 2013. C.M. is currently
working on the second book in the Sisters in Blood series along with a Fantasy
romance. <o:p></o:p><br />
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</div>
When he’s not writing, C.M. can be found curled up with a good book,
watching movies or hitting the hiking trails with his wife. An avid reader
since discovering Jim Kjelgaard novels in early childhood, his favorite authors
include Kelley Armstrong, Peter V. Brett, Richelle Mead, Rachel Caine,
Cassandra Claire, J.R. Ward, Laini Taylor and Tessa Dawn. <o:p></o:p><br />
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C.M. currently resides in Louisville, Kentucky.<o:p></o:p><br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Social Media links:</b><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">Facebook
- </span><a href="http://www.facebook.com/UFAuthorCMMichaels"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><span style="color: blue;">http://www.facebook.com/UFAuthorCMMichaels</span></span></a><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><br />
Twitter - </span><a href="https://twitter.com/UFAuthor"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><span style="color: blue;">https://twitter.com/UFAuthor</span></span></a><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><br />
Blog - </span><a href="http://cmmichaels.blogspot.com/"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><span style="color: blue;">http://cmmichaels.blogspot.com/</span></span></a><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><br />
Website - </span><a href="http://cmmichaels.com/"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><span style="color: blue;">http://cmmichaels.com/</span></span></a><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">YouTube</span>
- <a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/authorcmmichaels"><span style="color: blue;">https://www.youtube.com/user/authorcmmichaels</span></a><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">Book trailer:</span>
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z7Q7m0MrwlQ"><span style="color: blue;">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z7Q7m0MrwlQ</span></a><o:p></o:p><br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Buy links:<br />
</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt;">Freya’s
Bower (Paperback):<span style="color: #757575;"> </span></span><a href="http://www.freyasbower.com/books-c-3/dangerous-waters-p-290.html"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt;"><span style="color: blue;">http://www.freyasbower.com/books-c-3/dangerous-waters-p-290.html</span></span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15pt; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt;">Freya’s Bower (eBook):
</span><a href="http://www.freyasbower.com/urban-fantasy-c-46/dangerous-waters-p-289.html"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt;"><span style="color: blue;">http://www.freyasbower.com/urban-fantasy-c-46/dangerous-waters-p-289.html</span></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt;">Amazon (Paperback):<span style="color: #757575;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt;"><span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Dangerous-Waters-C-M-Michaels/dp/1617981044/ref=sr_1_27_title_0_main?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1378349287&sr=1-27&keywords=dangerous+waters">http://www.amazon.com/Dangerous-Waters-C-M-Michaels/dp/1617981044/ref=sr_1_27_title_0_main?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1378349287&sr=1-27&keywords=dangerous+waters</a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Amazon (Kindle):
</span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Dangerous-Waters-Sisters-Blood-ebook/dp/B00EZY2046/ref=sr_1_28_title_0_main?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1378511032&sr=1-28&keywords=dangerous+waters"><span style="background: white; color: #1c5c76; font-family: "Segoe UI","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt;">http://www.amazon.com/Dangerous-Waters-Sisters-Blood-ebook/dp/B00EZY2046/ref=sr_1_28_title_0_main?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1378511032&sr=1-28&keywords=dangerous+waters</span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt;">Barnes & Noble
(Paperback):<span style="color: #757575;"> </span></span><a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/dangerous-waters-c-m-michaels/1116827370?ean=9781617981043"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt;"><span style="color: blue;">http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/dangerous-waters-c-m-michaels/1116827370?ean=9781617981043</span></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Barnes &
Noble (Nook): </span><a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/dangerous-waters-c-m-michaels/1116827370?ean=2940148669821"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/dangerous-waters-c-m-michaels/1116827370?ean=2940148669821</span></a></div>
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<span style="color: #757575; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt;">All
Romance eBooks: </span><a href="https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-dangerouswaters-1280168-349.html"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-dangerouswaters-1280168-349.html</span></a><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Kobo: </span><a href="http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/dangerous-waters-14"><span style="background: white; color: #1c5c76; font-family: "Segoe UI","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 115%;">http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/dangerous-waters-14</span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: "Segoe UI","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" /></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"></span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sXGvNGoVwcM/UicycC8tq-I/AAAAAAAAAbk/k73AB7pHzTE/s1600/Book+jacket+(2).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sXGvNGoVwcM/UicycC8tq-I/AAAAAAAAAbk/k73AB7pHzTE/s320/Book+jacket+(2).jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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</span><br />
<h1 align="center" style="margin: 12pt 0in 3pt 0.25in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Prologue</span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></h1>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><span style="color: black;">The ornately carved golden doors of the
global court swung open, and the raucous crowd settled into their seats.
Soldiers outfitted in full battle gear streamed in, marching down the long
marble aisle to the raised gallery that formed a half circle behind the five
vampire containment chairs. They each carried a debilitating knockout stick and
a shoulder-fired laser rifle. The electromagnetic waves generated by the RF
frequency systems in their helmets shielded their thoughts and ensured that not
even the strongest of their enemy could hijack their minds. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><span style="color: black;">Once they were positioned, the bailiff
typed a code into the touch pad on the wall, and a steel panel slid open. Four
hooded figures emerged, surrounded by several more guards who forcefully
escorted them to their chairs. Their shackled ankles and wrists were smeared
with conductive jelly and attached to electrical leads. As soon as they were
seated, thick metal bands extended around their shins, thighs, chests, biceps
and forearms, firmly securing them in place. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><span style="color: black;">None of the prisoners made a sound,
knowing that even a whimper would be met with another punishing jolt of current
from the collars fastened around their necks, but that did little to lessen the
deafening noise in the room. Every seat of the three-story grand hall was
occupied for this momentous event, with another 750,000 people crammed into
Central Park outside. Reporters from around the globe scrambled to get their
last pretrial clips recorded before the court was called to order. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><span style="color: black;">“Some are questioning the tactics of the
global court this morning,” an Austrian reporter stated in her native German,
“using vampires and humans as bait in an effort to lure what most people
consider to be the Vampire Queen out of hiding. So far their plan doesn’t seem
to have worked, as there have been no sensor reports of vampire activity in or
around New York, but with the executions moving forward today, things are
expected to intensify.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;">
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><span style="color: black;">“All rise!” the bailiff bellowed out
through the hall. “This court is now in session. The honorable global court
inquisitor O’Callaghan presiding.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><span style="color: black;">An imposing figure with short, golden
locks entered from behind the bailiff, motioning for people to take their
seats. He gathered his floor-length white and purple robes in his left hand,
made his way over to the furthest prisoner and yanked the hood from her head. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><span style="color: black;">“So this is the all-powerful Sienna,” the
inquisitor mocked, squeezing the bound woman’s cheeks with his hand. “How
disappointing.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><span style="color: black;">Her once beautiful face was disfigured by
several charred-black electrical burns. Blood and pus oozed out of the open
wounds. The pungent salve packed into her broken nose made her eyes tear up and
prevented her from smelling anything. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;">
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><span style="color: black;">“Do you have anything you wish to say in
your defense before I render my verdict?” the inquisitor asked, deactivating
the device around her throat so she could speak.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;">
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><span style="color: black;">“This will never work—she knows her life
is far more important than mine.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;">
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><span style="color: black;">“It’s possible she’d let you die,” he
acknowledged. “But both of her parents, her mate and her best friend? No, I
think that’s far too much to expect her to endure. Sooner or later she’ll come,
and the world will celebrate her execution.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;">
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><span style="color: black;">Sienna snapped to attention, her green
eyes widening in horror at the news of who else had been captured. “You have no
idea what you’ve done—everyone in this building’s going to die.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><span style="color: black;">The crowd erupted at her outburst, and
the inquisitor held up his hand to silence them. “And how exactly is your
precious queen going to manage that? She’ll be welcomed to our fair city by
twenty thousand volts from the first alarm she trips. Not enough to kill your
kind, but plenty to leave her unconscious until—”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><span style="color: black;">“Sir, a perimeter alarm’s been triggered
just outside the north gate,” a soldier interrupted from the gallery.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><span style="color: black;">He wheeled on the man in a fit of anger.
“Interrupt me again, and I’ll disembowel you! People have been jumping the
fence all day—contact the guards at the gate and have them check it out.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><span style="color: black;">“We tried sir. Calls have been placed to
the guard desk, the three closest perimeter sweep teams and the north tactical
unit—they’re not responding.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><span style="color: black;">“Who’s not responding, you imbecile!”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><span style="color: black;">“Any of them.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><span style="color: black;">“It’s too late,” Sienna said, gazing at
his panic-stricken face. “She’s here.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><span style="color: black;">“Clear the courtroom and take the
prisoners back into custody!” he commanded.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><span style="color: black;">Before anyone could move, a massive
explosion rocked the third-floor balcony, raining debris and body parts down on
the crowd below. The auditorium filled with a choking white smoke. The crowd
flooded for the exits, which were soon hopelessly jammed. They started to push
and trample each other in a desperate attempt to escape.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><span style="color: black;">The lone set of stairs to the balcony was
located outside the courtroom, so the soldiers had no choice but to yield the
high ground to their unseen enemy. Several of them panicked and fired blindly
into the smoke, only adding to the chaos. The commanding officer who’d been
talking with the inquisitor raised his rifle—his body no longer under his
control—and sent a chest high laser beam though the entire gallery, cutting
several of his fellow soldiers in half. The ones who survived were turned to
dust by an energy burst that blew out the entire back of the building.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><span style="color: black;">Moments later, a woman dressed in
skin-tight black leather swooped down onto the marble floor, drawing two
broadswords from the sheaths on her back. Her vengeful glare bore into the
inquisitor, who took three running steps and dove for a knockout stick that had
come to rest a few feet in front of him. His body was suspended mid leap. The
inquisitor glanced down in total disbelief at the marble tile he was now
hovering over before being catapulted sideways into the solid steel outer wall
of the holding cells. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><span style="color: black;">The vampire advanced but had to break off
her attack when a laser tore through the floor inches in front of her black
leather boots. In a move too fast to be seen, she coiled and launched herself
across the courtroom, landing amongst the small group of soldiers who had
fought their way through the crowd. A bright red mist filled the air as she
executed her elegant dance of death, moving with the grace and agility of a
jungle cat.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><span style="color: black;">By the time she returned to the
inquisitor, he’d managed to pull his body up into a sitting position and was
taking short, labored breaths. She raised his chin with the tip of her
blood-covered blade, wanting him to see who was delivering him to hell.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><span style="color: black;">He let out something between a choking
sound and a chuckle, spitting blood from his mouth. “Releasing the locks
requires an order from me, and the code can only be entered remotely by central
command. They’re all going to burn.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><span style="color: black;">“Don’t flatter yourself—there’s nothing I
need from you.” She fixed her gaze on the restraints binding Sienna to the
chair. Within seconds they started to rattle, shaking more and more violently
until they broke free and dropped to the floor.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><span style="color: black;">His lower lip trembled in fear. “Wh—what
are you?”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><span style="color: black;">“The last thing your wife and three kids
are ever going to see.” She flicked her wrist, and his severed head fell into
his lap.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><span style="color: black;">Fire was rapidly engulfing the courtroom,
and waves of torrid heat washed over her face. She scanned the hall in search
of any additional threats. Most of the remaining people had succumbed to the
noxious gas that was making her gag. Those who were left were sprawled out on
the floor, clinging to the last threads of life. Assured that they weren’t in
any imminent danger, she sheathed her weapons and turned toward Sienna. “Hi
Mom.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><span style="color: black;">“I told you not to come.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><span style="color: black;">She laughed, wiping some of the blood
from her face. “You can ground me when we get home. Can you walk?”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><span style="color: black;">Sienna took a tentative step forward
before gripping her side and doubling over in pain. “Not far. Your father’s in
worse shape, though. Brooke, his heart—”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><span style="color: black;">“I know—I can hear it.” Brooke reached
behind her back, pulled a sports bottle out of the top of her pants and tossed
it to Sienna. “You’ll need your strength.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><span style="color: black;">“Thanks.” Using both hands, she reset the
bones in her nose, and then popped the top, poured about a quarter of the
bottle over her face and chugged down the rest. Within a few seconds the wounds
healed over. They both jumped when one of the rafters crashed to the floor
behind them. “I think that’s our cue. Let’s get out of here.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><span style="color: black;">Brooke concentrated on her father’s
restraints. As soon as they broke free, his hunched-over body pitched forward
into Sienna’s waiting arms, and she eased him onto his back. “Hang in there,
David,” she whispered, removing his hood. “We’ll get you to a hospital soon.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><span style="color: black;">The whirling noise from dozens of
approaching helicopters sent them scrambling to free the others. Countless
soldiers—an entire brigade at least—charged into the mouth of the blown-out
opening just as the last of the restraints fell.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><span style="color: black;">“My God,” Sienna gasped. “There’s too
many, sweetheart, even for you.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><span style="color: black;">“I’m what they want,” Brooke said with a
resigned nod. “Take my father and head north. Stick to the rooftops until you
get outside the city so you don’t trip any alarms.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><span style="color: black;">Sienna was appalled. “We’re not leaving
you here to die.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><span style="color: black;">“No fucking way!” Her quirky, endlessly
compassionate soul mate grabbed her by the shoulders, glaring at her. “You’re
my wife—I’m not going anywhere without you.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><span style="color: black;">Stepping forward to flank her mate, her
goddess of a best friend—still looking runway ready in spite of her
ordeal—flashed a warm but determined smile. “Neither am I. Like it or not,
we’re in this together.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><span style="color: black;">Tears pricked the corners of her eyes.
Part of her wanted to say yes, to have them all fight together to the end, but
she knew how selfish that was. Three vampires with too weak of a trance ability
to penetrate the RF jamming would be all but useless against an army this size,
and if she fled with them, any chance they had of escaping vanished. She’d
resisted the stupid “Queen” title from the moment it’d been forced upon her—the
first and only order she’d ever given her family was that they never bow to
her—but invoking that authority was the only way she’d get them to leave. Using
her telekinetic ability, Brooke pushed them away, knocking her mate to the
floor. “As your queen I command it! Move!”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><span style="color: black;">They all shot her stunned looks laced
with an edge of betrayal. Without another word, Sienna hoisted David into her
arms and disappeared into what remained of the third floor balcony, the other
two vampires close behind. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><span style="color: black;">The exchange had cost her precious
seconds she could have used to move to a far more defensible position. As it
was, she was now surrounded, with the only gap coming from the roaring wall of
flames at her back. All of the soldiers had their knockout sticks in hand.
Apparently they were intent on taking her alive. Brooke arched her hands out in
front of her, and a glimmering light began to radiate between them. Once it had
fully materialized, she thrust her arms forward, hurling a ball of plasma into
the advancing troops that obliterated the entire first wave. The hundreds
behind them closed in, driving her back toward the flames. There was no escape.
She defiantly drew her swords before the first blow from a knockout stick sent
her tumbling to her knees. The second incapacitated her completely.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><span style="color: black;">When she came to, she was in the cargo
hold of a Blackhawk helicopter, and a soldier was fitting a voice restraint
collar around her neck. Her boots had been removed, and her wrists and ankles
were bound together with the latest alloy composite, stronger than even she
could break with sheer force alone.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><span style="color: black;">“Sir? We’ve got her,” the commanding
officer called over his satellite phone. He listened for a few moments, and
then handed the phone back to his first lieutenant. “Bring me the laser shears.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><span style="color: black;">“Yes, Colonel.” The first lieutenant
relayed the order and soon had them in his hand. “Here you go, sir.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><span style="color: black;">“Prop her up.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><span style="color: black;">Two soldiers stepped forward and raised
Brooke into a sitting position. The Colonel flipped on the shears, took hold of
her chin and shaved off all of her milk-chocolate colored hair.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><span style="color: black;">“This cap is packed with lorazepam,” he
said, sliding a black swim cap onto her now bald head. “It’s a potent
tranquilizer that’s absorbed through your skin. In a couple minutes you won’t
be able to remember your name, let alone trance anyone.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><span style="color: black;">He started to walk away, and then stopped
and turned back toward her. “And this is a gift from me, for killing over three
hundred of my men.” The Colonel removed the guard from the shears and stuck the
tip of his combat knife into the beam, heating it to a molten red. The other
soldiers moved aside as he bent down over her and burned a large V deep into
her forehead. Brooke screamed in agony, and five thousand volts fired into her
throat. Her eyes rolled back in her head, and her jaw fell slack.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="background: white;"><o:p></o:p></span></span> </div>
Terri Talley Ventershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14000680923157707689noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7583133301279195857.post-55070944497573162172013-04-01T08:00:00.002-07:002013-04-01T08:00:15.463-07:00GOLD - Deleted scene from Body Of Gold<br />
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<b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: large; mso-font-kerning: 14.0pt;">Gold</span></i></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-font-kerning: 14.0pt;">By: Terri Talley Venters<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-font-kerning: 14.0pt;">Deleted Scene from</span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-font-kerning: 14.0pt;">Body Of Gold<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-font-kerning: 14.0pt;">Klaus
placed the last gold ingots, Chip Gold, into the leather pouches as he waited
for Mr. Smith to arrive at his smelting shop in the Old Town district of
Chicago.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Klaus spent most of his days
making wrought-iron chandeliers and headboards, but the last twenty-four hours
he spent laboring over this special project. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-font-kerning: 14.0pt;">Like
his father, grand-father, and great-grandfather, Klaus worked as a
fourth-generation smelter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In fact, he
worked in the same shop his forefathers did since 1890.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He even lived in the same apartment above the
shop, just like his ancestors.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Only
these days, Klaus rarely fitted a horse for new shoes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now he ran the shop with his son, Hans, while
he taught him the trade, as the tradition dictated.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-font-kerning: 14.0pt;">The
fifty-three-year-old, widower, Kraut, kept in excellent physical
condition.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His blonde-hair and blue-eyes
kept the women turning their heads as he walked down the streets of his beloved
Chicago, the only city he’d ever lived in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>His labor-intensive trade kept his muscles strong, especially his
forearms.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-font-kerning: 14.0pt;">His
German genes, simple lifestyle, and low-stress occupation kept the brutal signs
of aging from rearing their ugly head.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Since he looked twenty years younger, most people mistook Hans for his
younger brother instead of his son.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-font-kerning: 14.0pt;">Only
today, Klaus felt seventy-three instead of fifty-three.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This last project took its toll on him, but
he didn’t have a choice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He felt certain
Mr. Smith would make him “sleep with the fishes,” if he failed to comply with
his unusual request.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-font-kerning: 14.0pt;">Klaus’s
family occasionally dealt with the Mob for the last ninety years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He recalled hearing the tales of the “Chicago
Wise Guys” in his youth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Only they told
him as bedtime stories like the Brothers Grimm Fairy Tales. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-font-kerning: 14.0pt;">He
knew enough to fear their wrath, so he simply did as instructed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Klaus wasn’t convinced Mr. Smith represented
a “made man,” but he treated him as such just in case.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mr. Smith appeared to be in his forties with
dark hair and pale skin, a real charmer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He wore expensive suits and acted above the law.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-font-kerning: 14.0pt;">“Klaus,
<i>mein Freund</i>, is my treasure ready?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Mr. Smith asked.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He appeared with
his henchman, ready to take delivery of his gold ingots.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-font-kerning: 14.0pt;">“<i>Gross
Gott, Herr Smith</i>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yes, your treasure
awaits,” Klaus said.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His arm waved
towards the wooden crate, filled with leather pouches of gold ingots which
Klaus painstakingly yielded from gold bars.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-font-kerning: 14.0pt;">Klaus
took every precaution when he melted the gold bars, rolled the metal into thin
sheets, and then cut the sheets into small pieces weighing twenty-grams each. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He properly ventilated his shop, wore a mask
and gloves, and made certain to shield his body and lungs from the precious
metal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Klaus worked with enough metals
and alloys over his lifetime to know of the danger of cyanide residue.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-font-kerning: 14.0pt;">“Danke,”
</span></i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-font-kerning: 14.0pt;">Thank you, Mr. Smith said.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He nodded his head towards his henchman,
instructing him to retrieve the gold-filled, wooden crate which rested on the
flatbed, wheeled dolly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mr. Smith handed
Klaus a check and led the treasure out to the awaiting truck.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-font-kerning: 14.0pt;">“Guten
Nacht, Herr Smith,” </span></i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-font-kerning: 14.0pt;">good night, Mr. Smith, Klaus said as the two men
exited his workshop.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He felt relieved
having accomplished his special commission without any negative repercussions. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-font-kerning: 14.0pt;">Klaus
starred at the check in his hand for $150,000.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He wondered if the bank would even honor it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He almost hoped the check bounced because he
felt like he earned dirty money.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It
wasn’t how his ancestors raised him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Klaus’s
parents raised a good, hard-working, German.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And Klaus raised his son to be a hard-working German too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Klaus decided to deposit the check into his
account, none-the-less, it represented a nice nest egg for him and his
twenty-three-year-old son, Hans.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-font-kerning: 14.0pt;">Klaus
placed a hand on his forehead in a futile attempt to stop the intense pain
throbbing behind his eyes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He stooped
over and put his hands on his knees as he vomited all over the workshop
floor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
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Terri Talley Ventershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14000680923157707689noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7583133301279195857.post-8693899108459912052013-03-06T06:40:00.004-08:002013-03-06T06:40:51.773-08:00Interview with Larry Payne, author of Ride The Savage Land
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Interview with Larry Payne, <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Author of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Ride
The Savage Land</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"></i></span> </div>
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
<br />
</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">If
you could transport to any place during any time period, where and when would
you go?</span></b><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> <br />
Has to be the American West post Civil War 1860s-1890s...Surprise, Surprise!!<br />
<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">When and why did you start writing?</b><br />
<br />
I started writing as a hobby, mostly, about 15 years ago, but started to take
it serious about 12 years ago when my brother read a piece I'd written and
said, “Dude, you need to think about getting this stuff published.” The rest is
history.<br />
<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><br />
What is your favorite part about writing?</b><br />
<br />
Watching everything come together. I write without an outline, always have and
always will. I find them too confining. I tried it one time and after the
before the first chapter was complete, I threw the outline in the trash. I know
how I'm going to start and I know how I want to end it. Getting from Point A to
Point B is sometimes a surprise to me. And some of the characters in the story
just happen to “show up”. It's crazy!<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><br />
What are you working on now and what are your writing goals/plans for the
future?</b><br />
<br />
I always have a couple of projects simmering, but I got a good review from an
editor on one of my writer's sites on a currently unpublished PI short story
that he thought should be published. So, I'm incorporating that short story
into I,TANNER, Book 1 of the Blake Tanner PI series, circa 1970s. <br />
<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Favorite book(s)?</b><br />
<br />
Has to be the westerns of Louis L'Amour and I'm also a raving fan of W.E.B.
Griffin's Men in Blue cop series. <br />
<br />
<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Favorite movie(s)?</b><br />
<br />
I have two, hands down, the best westerns ever!<br />
1a...The Searchers...John Wayne should have won the Academy Award for this one
before True Grit.<br />
1b...The Magnificent Seven...Best cast ever put together for one movie. You get
to see acting legends before they became legends.<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><br />
Favorite TV show(s)?</b><br />
<br />
I don't think we have enough space for this one, but, Person Of Interest and
Blue Bloods have taken over for me as the have to, positively, watch every week
shows. You can never go wrong with a Tom Selleck show and Jim Caviezel has
filed in right behind him. Then, of course, there's always the western tv
classics on The Encore Westerns Channel.<br />
<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">What is on your "Bucket List"?</b><br />
<br />
WOW! I never really gave it much thought, but to be able to write for a living
would let me die a happy man!!<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
</span><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-a5LTf50CBdU/UTdUQntOmHI/AAAAAAAAAZs/XQjtzJVqOfI/s1600/SAVAGELAND-200x300-72dpi%5B1%5D+(2).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-a5LTf50CBdU/UTdUQntOmHI/AAAAAAAAAZs/XQjtzJVqOfI/s1600/SAVAGELAND-200x300-72dpi%5B1%5D+(2).jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><div align="center" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 18pt;">Ride The
Savage Land<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<br />
<div align="center" style="text-align: center;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;">Available from Wild Child Publishing<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">When a Comanche raiding party abducts his
wife, Jake Hollister unpins his star and ventures out on a quest
to find his beloved Suzanne. Now, six years later, his close friend John Henry
Parker's wife, Sarah, has befallen the same fate. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Agreeing to ride together until
Sarah is found, Jake and John Henry enlist the aid of an ex-buffalo
soldier, Zachariah Benson. They follow a trail of death and destruction
until a Comanche war party forces them to return home to recover
from wounds. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Their relentless search
resumes when Jake visits an old friend, Charlie Bold Eagle, and
persuades the Indian tracker to join their quest. A chance encounter
with Lou Garvey, an Indian trader, soon brings them face to face with
the feared Comanche War Chief, White Buffalo. </span></div>
</span><div style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"></span><br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">About Larry Payne <o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Larry Payne grew
up in East Chicago, Indiana and now resides in Chandler, Arizona with his wife,
Susan, and their two cats, Molly and Emily. <br />
<br />
He is a US Navy veteran where he served as a Hospital Corpsman. He currently is
employed at Banner Heart Hospital in Mesa, AZ, as a Cardiac Monitor Technician.
<br />
<br />
Besides western fiction, he has written short stories of crime fiction and
science fiction. <br />
<br />
His western fiction novella, RIDE THE SAVAGE LAND, is available as an e-book
from Wild Child Publishing. <span class="usercontent"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><a href="http://www.wildchildpublishing.com/westerns-c-90/ride-the-savage-land-p-414.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: black; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: black;"><span style="color: black; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">http://www.wildchildpublishing.com/westerns-c-90/ride-the-savage-land-p-414.html</span></span></span></a><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and on Amazon. <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Ride-the-Savage-Land-ebook/dp/B00BMWE79A/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text" target="_blank"><span style="color: black; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: black;"><span style="color: black; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">http://www.amazon.com/Ride-the-Savage-Land-ebook/dp/B00BMWE79A/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text</span></span></span></a></span></span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">His short
stories appear in Rope and Wire Western Short Stories Volumes 2 & 4 and The
Best Of Frontier Tales Volume 1 as ebooks. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Find them on his
Amazon Author Page…www.amazon.com/-/e/B007O3HW1Q<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
<br />
Larry's e-mail address is <a href="mailto:ecwalum@yahoo.com"><span style="color: black; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: black;"><span style="color: black; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">ecwalum@yahoo.com</span></span></span></a>.<br />
Check out his web site at <a href="http://www.larrypayne.jimdo.com/"><span style="color: black; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: black;"><span style="color: black; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">www.larrypayne.jimdo.com</span></span></span></a><br />
and his blog at <a href="http://larrypayneauthor.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: black; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: black;"><span style="color: black; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">http://larrypayneauthor.blogspot.com</span></span></span></a><br />
Tweet him: @LarryPayne2<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">On
Facebook…https://www.facebook.com/pages/Author-Larry-Payne/218717748143926<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span></o:p></div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> </span><br />
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<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
Terri Talley Ventershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14000680923157707689noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7583133301279195857.post-9947652807677100582013-03-01T03:00:00.000-08:002013-03-01T03:00:02.913-08:00FIRE
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">FIRE<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">By: Terri Talley Venters<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">“You can bring the crate in here, if you don’t mind,” Barbie Butler
said to the mover. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">“No problem, Ma’am.” He maneuvered the wooden crate in front of the
fireplace in Mrs. Butler’s home.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">“Thank you so much for moving this from my husband’s office. I greatly
appreciate it.” Barbie handed the man an enormous tip.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">“You’re welcome, Ma’am.” He clenched the cash in his sweaty fist and
then left the palatial home. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">Barbie descended the stairs into the wine cellar. Her eyes scanned her
soon-to-be ex-husband’s extensive wine collection. She searched for what
appeared like the most expensive bottle of wine. She found a bottle of
Fifty-Seven Bordeaux. She figured the oldest bottle also represented the most
expensive bottle. She took the stairs back up and uncorked the dusty bottle to
let it breathe. Barbie never considered herself an expert in wine, but she’d
picked up a few things from Bill over the years. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">She started a fire in the enormous fireplace. Tonight felt
ceremonious. Tonight Barbie planned to purge Bill Butler from her life. She
took a seat in the oversized wing-back chair and watched the fire roar to life.
Watching the fresh logs slowly turn to ashes reminded her of her own failed
marriage—beginning as a roar of flames and ending with a pile of dirty ashes. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">Barbie blamed Bill for the entire mess. His constant infidelity and
lies made it impossible to forgive him. She smiled knowing she’d raped him in
the divorce. His seven figure paycheck provided a nice alimony payment for the
next ten years. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">She admired her size four frame and thought she still looked smoking’
hot for her forty-five years. Kickboxing and botox were her two best friends.
With half of Bill’s wealth and a point to prove, Barbie couldn’t wait to get
back into the meat market of the dating world. She took pride in her new cougar
status and hoped to run into Bill with a hot twenty-eight year old on her
arm.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">Barbie poured her first glass of wine and put her nose to the glass to
inhale the aroma. It smelled divine. She gently swirled the glass in a
clockwise motion as she watched the red wine dance along the upper inside of
the glass. She stopped swirling and witnessed the legs of the wine slowly slide
back down the inside of her glass. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">She took her first sip and felt the flavors dance along her taste
buds. Then she downed the entire contents in one gulp, just because she knew it
would’ve pissed Bill off had he been here to witness such an atrocity. Then she
poured herself a second glass. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">She slowly flipped the pages of her wedding album and recalled how
happy she’d been on her wedding day. She truly loved Bill back then. He acted
like such a charmer. He still proved himself charming, but just towards other,
much younger women.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">Barbie slowly removed the pictures with Bill in them. She’d keep the
ones with just her and her family. But she needed to see his face burn. She
painstakingly tossed each one into the fire. She smiled as the flames engulfed
Bill’s image right before her eyes. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">Now for the highlight of tonight’s festivities. She turned her
attention to the wooden crate dominating the study. She opened the lid with a
crowbar and beheld the antique medieval knight of armor.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">The Knight represented an important part of Bill’s family legacy and
had remained in his family for generations. He loved the hunk of metal more
than anything else in the world. So Barbie found it mandatory to destroy it.
She knew this act would hurt him more than anything else. And she needed to
hurt him as much as he’d hurt her. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">She started to remove the head of the Knight. She planned to set it on
the mantle so it could watch her destroy the rest of the body. She planned to
take him apart piece by piece, and then throw each one into the fire. She’d
drink the rest of the expensive French wine during the process.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">She tugged at the Knight’s head. It felt tighter than she had
expected. She braced her foot against the Knight’s chest and pulled with all of
her might. She felt the helmet give way and it came off into her hands. With
one swift motion, the rest of her life changed forever. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">The Knight’s head wasn’t hollow. A treasure beyond her wildest dreams
filled the antique helmet. Barbie stood in awe as she stared at the diamonds,
rubies, emeralds, sapphires, and gold.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
Terri Talley Ventershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14000680923157707689noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7583133301279195857.post-65671763121711960782013-02-01T03:00:00.000-08:002013-02-01T05:59:43.704-08:00GERMANIUM<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center; text-indent: 0.3in;">
<i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">GERMANIUM<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;"><o:p> </o:p></span></i><br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center; text-indent: 0.3in;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">By: Terri Talley Venters<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center; text-indent: 0.3in;">
<i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">Dachau, Germany</span></i></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">Joseph regretted not fleeing Nazi-occupied Austria sooner. And he
regretted taking the train. But he didn’t want his pregnant wife, Sara, and
three-year-old daughter, Rachel, traversing the mountainous terrain into
Switzerland on foot. When the Nazis boarded the train with their guns, he knew
it was over. “Papers please” they’d said. The instant they read his name,
Joseph Stein, the Nazis escorted him and his family off of the train. They
stripped them of their possessions, their clothes, their dignity, and their
freedom.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt; text-align: justify;">
<i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">Albeit Macht Frei. </span></i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">Translated: Work
Makes Free. Joseph read the wrought-iron sign above the arched gate. He slowly
marched into the concentration camp with hundreds of others. The shackles cut
into his wrists and ankles, but he dare not complain. His life depended on his
hard work and compliance.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">Joseph followed submissively into Dachau. Rows and rows of
long-rectangular barracks filled the camp. Joseph hadn’t seen his wife and
daughter since Austria, but he’d seen the Nazis load them onto a different
train with all the other women and children.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">He waited in line for his medical examination. The Nazi doctors
examined each prisoner. The doctors instructed the healthy ones to exit to the
right to start working immediately. They ordered the sickly and weak prisoners
to the left.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">“Where are they taking them?” Joseph whispered to the prisoner in
front of him.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">“To either the gas chamber or crematorium for extermination,” the man
whispered back.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">Joseph grimaced. His turn loomed. But his destiny didn’t concern him
as much as the fate of his pregnant wife and young daughter. The man in front
of Joseph stepped forward for his turn. The Nazis stripped him naked and
examined him, then motioned for him to turn right. Joseph exhaled with relief
for his new friend’s prolonged life expectancy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">Joseph stepped up for his medical exam. He held his head high and kept
his shoulders back to appear as strong and healthy as possible. He needed to stay
alive to rescue Sara, Rachel, and Benjamin, his unborn son. The Nazi doctor
stripped Joseph naked and listened to his heart and lungs with a
stethoscope.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The doctor ordered Joseph
to the right and another Nazi officer handed him his work coverall. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">Joseph dressed quickly and marched with the others to work. As he
marched, he saw a line of women and children waiting to be examined. He
searched frantically for Sara and Rachel. Then his eyes locked onto Sara’s. She
held hands with Rachel. Tears dropped down Sara’s and Rachel’s cheeks. Their
horrified expressions pleaded for help. But Joseph kept marching, helpless. He
mouthed “I love you,” and turned the corner with the others. They were out of
his sight and he feared the worst. The Nazis wouldn’t want the burden of a
pregnant woman and a helpless child.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">He arrived at an enormous hole and a Nazi handed him a shovel and
pointed. “Dig.” Joseph obeyed and forced the shovel into the earth. He dug with
tenacity. He needed to prove his value to stay alive, at least until he learned
of Sara and Rachel’s fate. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">After hours of digging, he followed his fellow prisoners back to the
barracks. He took the bowl of mush the Nazi guard handed him. Without an
appetite, Joseph forced the cold, tasteless dinner down his gullet. The vomit
rose into his mouth. He closed his lips and swallowed it back down, afraid if
he expelled the contents of his stomach, they’d exterminate him.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">Despite the hard wooden bed, putrid odor, and cold night air, sleep
took Joseph to a utopian dream. He and Sara danced in the flower-filled meadow.
The sound of their children’s laughter permeated the beautiful sunny day.
Majestic mountain peaks dominated the horizon. Birds chirped their songs as
they flew above the bountiful picnic lunch awaiting Joseph, Sara, Rachel, and
Benjamin.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt; text-align: justify;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">“Macht schnell!” </span></i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">The Natzi guard hollered into the barracks. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">Joseph bolted upright from his dream and filed in line promptly to
comply. He shuffled behind his friend and followed the line of prisoners back
to the enormous hole they’d dug the day before. His eyes scanned the
surroundings in a desperate search for Sarah and Rachel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">A Nazi handed Joseph a shovel and directed him towards the same hole.
Joseph arrived at the edge of the hole and stared into the thirty-foot deep
ditch. The horrific smell of rotted flesh filled his nostrils before he saw the
dozens of human corpses dumped into the mass grave. Joseph’s heart ached with
the pain they suffered. At least they were now at peace in heaven, and he
envied them.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">Something in the pile of death glistened in the morning sunlight.
Joseph spotted the long red curly hair and recognized the tendril. He followed
the hair to the face of his beloved Sarah. Her empty expression stared down at
their daughter, Rachel, whose lifeless form clung to her mother’s swollen
belly. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt; text-align: justify;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">“Nein!”</span></i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;"> Joseph screamed as he slumped to his knees. Tears streamed down his
cheeks as he stared at his dead family piled in the mass grave. With nothing to
live for, he stood up, prayed for forgiveness, and dove head first into the
grave.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt; text-align: justify;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">Snap. </span></i></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">***</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">The sun shone brilliantly through the peaks of the mountain top.
Flowers filled the meadow as Joseph held hands and danced with his beloved Sara
and Rachel. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
Terri Talley Ventershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14000680923157707689noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7583133301279195857.post-50769816767686505042013-01-17T21:00:00.000-08:002013-01-17T21:00:10.640-08:00Interview with Carmen Stefanescu, author of Shadows of the Past<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.1in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Interview with Carmen Stefanescu, author of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Shadows of the Past<br />
</i></span></b><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">1. If you could date any character from
any book, who would it be?<br />
</b><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Edmond</st1:city></st1:place> Dantes-The Count of Monte Cristo<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.1in 0pt;">
<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">2. If you could transport to any place
during any time period, where and when would you go? <br />
</b><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I would Escape to a paradise
island.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.1in 0pt;">
<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">3. When and why did you start writing?<br />
</b><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Reading</st1:city></st1:place> and writing have been an intricate
part of my life. I’ve been writing since I was a student. Satirical poems and
short stories at that time, in my native tongue, Romanian. Poems in English,
later. I was awarded the Silver Cup for poetry in 2004 for my English<span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span>poems.<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.1in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></o:p></span><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">4. What is your favorite part about
writing?<br />
</b><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>moment I write<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>two words: The End</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; margin: 1em 0in;">
<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">5. What are you working on now and what
are your writing goals/plans for the future?<br />
</b><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><em><span style="font-style: normal; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">I’ve recently finished my
second novel.</span> </em>Another paranormal. A historical one. It’s something
linked to Vlad the Imapaler’s life. So again, the Middle Ages, but this time in
<st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Romania</st1:country-region></st1:place>.
There are so many books on Vlad, written by foreigners who focus on the
“vampire” idea, and I think it’s time for one of his country people to show
what historical, political and social circumstances led to his being nicknamed
Dracula.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.1in 0pt;">
<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">6. Favorite book(s)?<br />
</b><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Paulette Mahurin -The Persecution of Mildred Dunlap, Catherine Cookson –
The Silent Lady, Th. Hardy -Tess D'Urbervilles, Jeffrey Archer - A Prisoner by
Birth, M. H. Clark – Remember Me, Alexandre Dumas - Twenty Years After. And
many, many others.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">7. Favorite movie(s)?<br />
</b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The
Bridges of Madison County;<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Philadelphia
Experiment; To Sir with love; Louis de Funes's movies; Vertigo<o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">8. Favorite TV show(s)?</b><br />
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The Mob's Doctor;<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>24;<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Downton Abbey; The Event<o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">9. What is on your "Bucket
List":<o:p></o:p></b><br />
<br />
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>-Be the best mum I can be.<o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>-Hit best sellers list<o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>-Experience
an OBE- out of body experience.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>-Try a hypnotic
regression to past lives.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>-Visit Walt
Disney <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">World</st1:city>, <st1:state w:st="on">Florida</st1:state>, <st1:country-region w:st="on">USA</st1:country-region></st1:place>.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>-Get
closure on all my hurt, and unhappiness of the past.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Thank you very much for hosting my interview!<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<u><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Author bio</span></u><span style="font-size: 14pt;">:</span> <o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria;">Carmen
Stefanescu was born in Romania, the native country of the infamous vampire
Count Dracula, but where, for about 50 years of communist dictatorship, just
speaking about God, faith, reincarnation or paranormal phenomena could have led
someone to great trouble - the psychiatric hospital if not to prison.<br />
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Cambria;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"></span>English<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and German teacher in her native country and
mother of two daughters, Carmen Stefanescu survived the grim years of
oppression, by escaping in a parallel world, that of the books. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria;">She
has dreamt all her life to become a writer, but many of the things she wrote
during those years remained just drawer projects. The fall of the Ceausescu’s
regime in 1989 and the opening of the country to the world meant a new
beginning for her. She started publishing.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-u_TmqqAEJtE/UOtMctQNNgI/AAAAAAAAAZU/zEan5z-8m8Q/s1600/shadowsofthepastbkcover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-u_TmqqAEJtE/UOtMctQNNgI/AAAAAAAAAZU/zEan5z-8m8Q/s320/shadowsofthepastbkcover.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Andalus","serif"; font-size: 9pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> <span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><u><span style="font-size: small;">Shadows of the Past<o:p></o:p></span></u></span></b></div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;">
</span><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Andalus","serif";"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: "Andalus","serif";"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Anne's
relationship with her boyfriend Neil has disintegrated. After a two-year
separation, they pack for a week vacation in hopes of reconciling. But fate has
other plans for them. <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Andalus","serif";"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The discovery of
a bejeweled cross and ancient human bones opens a door to a new and frightening
world--one where the ghost of a medieval nun named Genevieve will not let Anne
rest. This new world threatens not only to ruin Anne and Neil's vacation but to
end all hopes of reconciliation as Anne feels compelled to help free
Genevieve's soul from its torment. <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Andalus","serif";"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Can Anne save
her relationship and help Genevieve find her eternal rest? <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Andalus","serif";"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The twists and
turns in this paranormal tale keep the reader guessing up to the end and weave
themselves together into a quest to rekindle love. <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0in 0.1in 10pt; mso-add-space: auto;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><u><span style="font-family: "Andalus","serif";">Publish date</span></u><span style="font-family: "Andalus","serif";">: 4<sup>th</sup> December 2012<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;"></span><span style="font-family: "Andalus","serif";"><o:p><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: x-small;"> </span></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin: 0in 0.1in 10pt; mso-add-space: auto;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><u><span style="font-family: "Andalus","serif";">Publisher</span></u><span style="font-family: "Andalus","serif";">: Wild Child Publishing<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Andalus","serif";"><o:p><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: x-small;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<strong>Author, Carmen Stefanescu's<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Site</strong>: <a href="http://shadowspastmystery.blogspot.ro/" target="_blank" title="http://shadowspastmystery.blogspot.ro/"><span style="color: blue;">http://shadowspastmystery.blogspot.ro/</span></a><o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
Buy Link: <a href="http://www.wildchildpublishing.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=84&products_id=410" target="_blank" title="Buy "Shadows of the Past" at Wild Child Publishing"><span style="color: blue;">Wild
Child Publishing</span></a><o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 14pt;"><a href="http://www.wildchildpublishing.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=84&products_id=410"><span style="color: blue;">http://www.wildchildpublishing.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=84&products_id=410</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<o:p> </o:p><br />
<br />
<br />
Buy Link: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Shadows-of-the-Past-ebook/dp/B00AK2D9I8/ref=sr_1_15?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1354874514&sr=1-15&keywords=shadows+of+the+past" target="_blank" title="Buy "Shadows of the Past" at Amazon"><span style="color: blue;">Amazon</span></a><o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 14pt;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Shadows-of-the-Past-ebook/dp/B00AK2D9I8/ref=sr_1_15?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1354874514&sr=1-15&keywords=shadows+of+the+past"><span style="color: blue;">http://www.amazon.com/Shadows-of-the-Past-ebook/dp/B00AK2D9I8/ref=sr_1_15?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1354874514&sr=1-15&keywords=shadows+of+the+past</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<o:p> </o:p><br />
<br />
<br />
Buy Link: <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/shadows-of-the-past-carmen-stefanescu/1113910162?ean=2940015715026" target="_blank" title="Buy "Shadows of the Past" at Barnes & Noble"><span style="color: blue;">Barnes
& Noble</span></a><o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 14pt;"> <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/shadows-of-the-past-carmen-stefanescu/1113910162?ean=2940015715026"><span style="color: blue;">http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/shadows-of-the-past-carmen-stefanescu/1113910162?ean=2940015715026</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<o:p> </o:p><br />
<br />
<v:shapetype coordsize="21600,21600" filled="f" id="_x0000_t75" o:preferrelative="t" o:spt="75" path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe" stroked="f">
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</v:stroke></v:shapetype><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 14pt;"> <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6LmY-9yDl5s"><span style="color: blue;">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6LmY-9yDl5s</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p> </o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";">Find her on
Goodreads: <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6624397.Carmen_Stefanescu" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6624397.Carmen_Stefanescu</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p> </o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<a href="http://askdavid.com/reviews/book/paranormal-romance/3196"><span style="color: blue;">http://askdavid.com/reviews/book/paranormal-romance/3196</span></a><o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p> </o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p> </o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<a href="http://www.authorsden.com/visit/viewwork.asp?id=56296"><span style="color: blue;">http://www.authorsden.com/visit/viewwork.asp?id=56296</span></a><o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p> </o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p> </o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<a href="http://wildchildpublishing.com/blog/"><span style="color: blue;">http://wildchildpublishing.com/blog/</span></a><o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p> </o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 14pt;"><a href="http://openbooksociety.com/article/shadows-of-the-past-by-carmen-stefanescu-book-release/"><span style="color: blue;">http://openbooksociety.com/article/shadows-of-the-past-by-carmen-stefanescu-book-release/</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p> </o:p></div>
Terri Talley Ventershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14000680923157707689noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7583133301279195857.post-40299448525726585362013-01-01T03:00:00.000-08:002013-01-01T03:00:11.283-08:00HYDROGEN
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 115%;">HYDROGEN</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Frankfurt,
Germany</span></i></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 2.4pt; mso-para-margin-bottom: .2gd; text-align: center;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">May 3, 1937</span></i></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 2.4pt; mso-para-margin-bottom: .2gd; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Britta’s bright blue eyes widened as she walked
up the gangplank to board her flight. “It’s so big, Mommy.” The seven-year old
girl clasped her mother’s gloved hand.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 2.4pt; mso-para-margin-bottom: .2gd; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">“The top part is big, but where we sit is small.
There are only 36 passengers on this plane.” Gretchen looked down at her
beautiful blonde daughter and smiled with pride.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She presented their tickets to the officer
who checked their papers and escorted them to their seats.</span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 2.4pt; mso-para-margin-bottom: .2gd; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">“I wanna count. One, two, three…..” Britta,
distracted already, paused and looked out the window. The inflated fabric of
the blimp dominated her view from the tiny window. “Why can’t we go in the big
part mommy?” Britta pleaded as she looked at her mother.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 2.4pt; mso-para-margin-bottom: .2gd; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">“That’s where they keep the hydrogen, honey. We
couldn’t breathe the air in there.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 2.4pt; mso-para-margin-bottom: .2gd; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Gretchen tightened her grip on her handkerchief
as the aircraft slowly rose above the ground. “Mommy, look! We’re floating in
the air. Why does it take 3 days to go to America?” Britta continued looking
out of the window.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 2.4pt; mso-para-margin-bottom: .2gd; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">“America is far, far away, sweetheart.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 2.4pt; mso-para-margin-bottom: .2gd; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">“Can we go again?” Britta asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 2.4pt; mso-para-margin-bottom: .2gd; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">“No honey, we’re going to live in America for a
while. Besides, other people are waiting to fly from America to England to see
the coronation of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth.” Gretchen said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 2.4pt; mso-para-margin-bottom: .2gd; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">“I wanna go! <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I wanna be a princess.” Britta crossed her
arms and stomped her foot.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 2.4pt; mso-para-margin-bottom: .2gd; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">“We have to stay in America where it’s safe.
Then we can come home to Daddy.”</span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 2.4pt; mso-para-margin-bottom: .2gd; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">“I miss Daddy. Can I write him a postcard?”
Britta asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 2.4pt; mso-para-margin-bottom: .2gd; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">“That’s a great idea, honey. Daddy would love to
get a postcard from you.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 2.4pt; mso-para-margin-bottom: .2gd; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">“Can I take these gloves off? Please, Mommy?”
Britta stared up at her mother and expertly pouted her lips. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 2.4pt; mso-para-margin-bottom: .2gd; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">“Just this once.” Gretchen relented.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 2.4pt; mso-para-margin-bottom: .2gd; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">“Yippee!” Britta yanked off her gloves and
tucked them into her dainty handbag. She grabbed a pencil wrote on the postcard
to daddy:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 2.4pt; mso-para-margin-bottom: .2gd; text-align: center;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Dear Daddy,<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 2.4pt; mso-para-margin-bottom: .2gd; text-align: center;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">I miss you, Daddy. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 2.4pt; mso-para-margin-bottom: .2gd; text-align: center;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">I wish you were going to
New York with us.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 2.4pt; mso-para-margin-bottom: .2gd; text-align: center;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">I wanna be a princess
when I grow up.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 2.4pt; mso-para-margin-bottom: .2gd; text-align: center;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">I like flying on the
Hindenburg.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
Terri Talley Ventershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14000680923157707689noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7583133301279195857.post-40875306668641350922012-12-07T03:00:00.000-08:002012-12-07T03:00:08.551-08:00Interview with Cherie Reich, Author of the Nightmare Collection<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QyTVqiSWTCI/UMCmhkEct3I/AAAAAAAAAYk/kFXAetP6hqE/s1600/NewAuthorPic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QyTVqiSWTCI/UMCmhkEct3I/AAAAAAAAAYk/kFXAetP6hqE/s320/NewAuthorPic.jpg" width="301" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center; text-indent: 0in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 16pt;">Interview with Cherie Reich<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">If you could date any character from any
book (doesn't have to be one of yours) who would it be?</span></b><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"> Oh, wow! Good question, and it’s so hard
to pick just one. I must admit I like the loner, quiet, intelligent characters
the best, so I’d have to go with Sherlock Holmes ... or Severus Snape.<br />
<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">If you could transport to any place
during any time period, where and when would you go?</b> I would go to Rome
during Julius Caesar’s time, perhaps just before he was assassinated. I think
Caesar is one of the most fascinating men in history, and I’d love to see what
Ancient Rome was like in such a turbulent time before the fall of the Republic
and rise of the Emporers.<br />
<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">When and why did you start writing?</b>
Although I wrote some Harry Potter fan fiction, roleplayed, and wrote an
original short story or two, I started writing seriously on January 15, 2009. I
started writing because I had a story idea in my head for a YA Fantasy trilogy,
and I figured after daydreaming about it for three years, I should just start
writing it.<br />
<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">What is your favorite part about
writing?</b> Creating new worlds and people. I love imagining what will happen
next to them.<br />
<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">What are you working on now and what are
your writing goals/plans for the future?</b> I’m editing my YA Contemporary
Romance novel <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Starred</i> and hope to
query publishers for it sometime early next year. I am also writing a YA
Fantasy novella titled <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Loveless
Princess</i>, which I plan to self-publish sometime early next year. I plan to
keep writing and publishing. I swear I have enough ideas to carry me through at
least the next ten to twenty years.<br />
<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Favorite book(s)?</b> <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Picture of Dorian Gray</i> by Oscar
Wilde, the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Harry Potter</i> series by JK
Rowling, and the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Across the Universe</i>
series by Beth Revis<br />
<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Favorite movie(s)?</b> <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Red Violin</i>, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Harry Potter</i> series, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Lord of
the Rings</i>, and the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Dark Knight</i>
trilogy<br />
<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Favorite TV show(s)?</b> <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Psych</i>, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">CSI</i>, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Mentalist</i>, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Hart of Dixie</i>, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Survivor</i>, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The X-Files</i><br />
<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">What is on your "Bucket List"?</b>
I would love to eventually have enough money to travel the world. The only
other country I’ve been to is Mexico so far, and there are so many more places
I want to see.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_nVpR6dnCZw/UMCnG6mRh2I/AAAAAAAAAYs/FDhNQPcDycY/s1600/Nightmare+Collection+ebook+cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_nVpR6dnCZw/UMCnG6mRh2I/AAAAAAAAAYs/FDhNQPcDycY/s320/Nightmare+Collection+ebook+cover.jpg" width="219" /></a></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 18pt;">The Nightmare Collection</span></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 18pt;"> Information<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Book Description: <o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
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A legend is hungry tonight.<br />
<br />
A child monster will get its first taste of blood in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Nightmare at the Freak Show</i>. Four friend will enter the forest on
December night, but only one can survive in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Once
Upon a December Nightmare</i>. Almost ten years after Cassie's December
nightmare, the monster awakens to hunt again in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Nightmare Ever After</i>.</div>
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Publication Date: November 17, 2012</div>
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Add to Goodreads: <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16089321-the-nightmare-collection"><span style="color: blue;">http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16089321-the-nightmare-collection</span></a><o:p></o:p></div>
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Cover art by Nicemonkey at
Dreamstime.com. Cover design by Aubrie Dionne. Bookworm logo for Surrounded by
Books Publishing created by Cherie Reich.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Author Bio:<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
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A self-proclaimed bookworm, Cherie
Reich is a writer, freelance editor, book blogger, and library assistant living
in Virginia. Her short stories have appeared in magazines and anthologies. Her
e-books include the horror series <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Nightmare</i>,
a short story collection with authors Aubrie Dionne and Lisa Rusczyk titled <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Best of Raven and the Writing Desk</i>,
the futuristic space fantasy novelette trilogy <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Gravity</i>, and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Foxwick
Chronicles</i>, a series of fantasy stories. She is a member of Valley Writers
and the Virginia Writers Club.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Author Links:<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
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Website: <a href="http://cheriereich.webs.com/"><span style="color: blue;">http://cheriereich.webs.com</span></a><o:p></o:p></div>
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Blog: <a href="http://cheriereich.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: blue;">http://cheriereich.blogspot.com</span></a><o:p></o:p></div>
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Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/bookworm0753"><span style="color: blue;">https://twitter.com/bookworm0753</span></a><o:p></o:p></div>
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Facebook: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/authorcheriereich"><span style="color: blue;">https://www.facebook.com/authorcheriereich</span></a><o:p></o:p></div>
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Goodreads: <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4268457.Cherie_Reich"><span style="color: blue;">http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4268457.Cherie_Reich</span></a><o:p></o:p></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Rafflecopter Giveaway:<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
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I am giving away prizes to two lucky
people. The prize packages are open internationally and include: a signed copy of
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Nightmare Collection</i>, a signed
copy of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Gravity: The Complete Trilogy</i>,
and a $10 Amazon Gift Card.<o:p></o:p></div>
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You can use this html to copy and
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<a class="rafl" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/d2899e1/" id="rc-d2899e1" rel="nofollow">a
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Terri Talley Ventershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14000680923157707689noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7583133301279195857.post-7833089214770005592012-12-01T03:30:00.000-08:002012-12-01T03:30:02.240-08:00Carbon Copy Excerpt "The Swamp" chase scene
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><em>Carbon Copy</em> Excerpt </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">"The Swamp" chase scene</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><o:p><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">“Let’s go, Gators!” Clap,
clap, clap, clap, clap! “Let’s go, Gators!” Clap, clap, clap, clap, clap! Lilly
clapped her hands and sang one of the many Florida Gator cheers. She, and
seventy-five thousand other Gator fans, packed into The Swamp. Of course, this proved
typical for any Florida Gator football game, but especially a game as important
as Florida vs. Florida State. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Florida Gator fans nicknamed
Florida Field as “The Swamp.” The Swamp could hold over eighty-five thousand
people and represented more than just twenty-two players throwing a pigskin
ball on a one-hundred yard long grass field. The Swamp represented an
experience like none other.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Lilly and Luke usually sat in
a block of seats with her sorority sisters in the student section. Even though
they graduated two-and-half-years ago, there were always tickets to be found in
the student section. If one knew the right people, of course. Students quickly
learned the lucrative business of selling their much-desired seats for the best
games. The thought of one-hundred dollars or more in quick cash tempted many
starving college students. After all, one-hundred dollars lasted forever on a
bar tab at the Purple Porpoise.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Luckily, for this game, they
acquired four tickets in the Touchdown Terrace located in the north-end zone. Lilly
and Luke sat with their twin cousins, Kitty and Pat, who were also Florida
Alumni. Although the air-conditioned suite seemed exponentially tamer than the
standing room only seats of the student section, the crazy, hyped-up atmosphere
of The Swamp still filtered into their pores.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">The first half of the
football game flew by, along with their buzzes. The foursome tailgated prior to
kick-off. Kitty and Lilly sobered up as they watched their beloved Gators stay
ahead on the scoreboard. However, Luke and Pat acted drunker and drunker as the
game progressed. Lilly first became suspicious of their juvenile behavior as
she watched them consume numerous diet cokes. But their mysterious trips to the
men’s room confirmed her suspicions. She figured out their scheme. The boys
sneaked contraband into the game: Captain Morgan’s spiced rum. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Lilly never desired to sneak
booze into The Swamp; drinking both before and after the game seemed more than
sufficient. Besides, the thought of Luke and Pat, or anyone else, mixing drinks
in the men’s room at The Swamp repulsed her. She prayed the boys were smart
enough not to get caught. Lilly didn’t wish to witness Luke and Pat being
ejected from the football game. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Assuming security took the
intoxicated fans to jail. She’d made up her mind she and Kitty would wait until
after the game ended to bail their twin truants out of jail.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">It would completely screw up
her well-laid itinerary for the late afternoon, though. She didn’t want to miss
meeting up at the sorority with her friend, Rachel, after the game. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="color: red; font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><o:p><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">* * * *<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><o:p><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">The clock turned zero at
halftime, and Lilly hollered with the crowd. The Gators led by a touchdown. The
Florida State marching band filed onto the field. Lilly scrunched her nose in
distaste and turned to Kitty.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">“Hey, I’m going to the
student section to see my sorority sisters. Do you want to join me?” Lilly
asked Kitty.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Kitty, who was now in her
thirties, shook her head. “No, thanks. Each time I return here, the students
look younger and younger. It’s depressing.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">“Don’t be silly, you look
fantastic. You could pass for my twin,” Lilly gushed. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">“Thanks, Lil’.” Kitty smiled.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">“Can you tell Luke where I
went since we’re both without a cell phone?” <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">“If he and Pat don’t get
kicked out.” Kitty laughed. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Lilly exited the comfort of
the Touchdown Terrace in the north-end zone and entered the breezeway to the
east-side stands. In the student section, the fans were packed in like a herd
of cattle. Not because the seats were any smaller than the rest of the stadium,
but because the students tried to squeeze in twice as many bodies into the
bleachers. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">All of these extra bodies
crammed together, combined with the heat and humidity of Florida, made the
student section resemble a swamp. And everyone in this area stood the entire
game, too, all the way up to the top on row ninety.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lilly
finally made it to one of the gates to enter the student section. She hoped the
ticket attendants wouldn’t bother to check her ticket stub since she did not
have an assigned seat anywhere near this area. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Through the sea of heads
floating in the breezeway, Lilly saw a familiar plaid wool hat. She stopped
cold in her tracks. She recognized the same hat from the airport in Miami. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Oh shit!<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Standing by the gate, she saw
the man in the pink baseball cap who’d followed her in New York City. His eyes
scanned the crowd. He looked for someone—Lilly. And so did his Irish friend in
the wool cap. There were two men after her. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Shit,
shit, shit!</i><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Lilly froze for several
seconds in the crowd of football fans. She needed to do something, anything but
stand here like an easy target. She definitely did not want to wind up
face-to-face with her stalkers. So she ducked into the nearest safe-haven she
could find—the ladies’ room... through the exit door. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">This act of rudeness yielded
countless dirty looks from all of the other women who waited in the long line
to pee. She paused upon the realization of her own <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">faux pas<span style="color: red;">.</span></i> Unfortunately, her
hesitation only gained her several more looks of disdain. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">With a strong desire to avoid
a revolt from the mob of pissed-off looking women, Lilly wanted to prove to
everyone she’d never commit such a heinous crime as cutting line in the ladies
room. So she made a beeline to one of the many sinks against the wall. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Lilly splashed cold water on
her face and chest in a futile effort to cool off. Scared and trapped, she
looked at her flushed complexion in the mirror above the sink. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Calm down, Lilly</i>. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Think, think, think!<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">She reached for her cell
phone to call Luke, but in the small purse she found nothing but cash, lipstick,
a hairbrush and keys. “Shit!” Lilly blurted out her frustration. She forgot Grier
carried her BlackBerry. She thought about asking one of these ladies if she
could use their cell phone, but she wasn’t yet on speaking terms with anyone in
this room.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Maybe she should call
security. But without a phone or a friendly face nearby, the option evaporated.
The second she left the safety of the ladies’ room she would be captured by two
men who were most likely trying to kill her if she were to judge from the
earlier incident in the Keys. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">To escape them, she needed to
disguise her appearance and get the hell away from this part of the stadium. She
carefully studied her current appearance in the mirror and tried desperately to
figure out how to best blend in with all of the other women here today. She
couldn’t risk standing out in the crowd. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Lilly looked down at her
clothes. Her Gator-blue tank top and cut-off denim shorts barely covering her
ass could blend in with all of the other female students with a little
adjusting. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">She returned to her
reflection and now focused her attention on her most distinguishing feature—her
long-blonde hair. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Shit!</i> Her beautiful
hair! How can she possibly disguise her hair? Although the University of
Florida came fully loaded with drop-dead gorgeous blondes, she knew she needed
to remove her long, golden locks. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Shit!
Shit! Shit!<span style="color: red;"> <o:p></o:p></span></i></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">She could cut it, but the
thought brought tears to her eyes. How could she possibly cut off her locks
without scissors? Besides, she’d rather die a thousand deaths than cut-off all
of her hair. There had to be another way.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Her mind struggled to find a
practical solution to her dilemma. She looked at the girl standing next to her
in front of the mirror. The girl next to her wore a Gator baseball cap. It was
the perfect solution, but how to obtain it? <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Lilly reached into her pocket
and withdrew a wad of twenty-dollar bills. Cash in hand, she turned to look at
the girl. “I’ll give you twenty bucks for your baseball cap.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">The girl turned and looked at
Lilly. She stared at the wad of cash in Lilly’s hand. “You can have it for
forty.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">“Done.” Lilly handed the girl
two twenty-dollar bills. She took the baseball cap. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Lilly twirled her hair into a
bun and piled the whole thing on top of her head. She placed the newly
acquired, albeit expensive, baseball cap on top of her head. Each strand of
blonde hair was tucked under the cap, effectively hiding all traces of her
natural hair color. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Perfect.</i> <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Lilly placed the gargantuan
Chanel sunglasses over her eyes. The eyewear covered half of her face. She
studied herself in the mirror, satisfied with the transformation. Amazingly, no
one would know her.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Lilly turned to thank the
girl next to her. Without the benefit of a baseball cap to cover her head, the
girl since decided to brush out her hair—her long, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">blonde </i>hair. Another great opportunity presented itself. The tall
girl also wore a blue tank-top and short denim shorts.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">“Thanks again,” Lilly said to
the fellow Gator fan, now forty-dollars richer.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">“No problem,” she said
without looking away from her own reflection.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">“Excuse me, but can I buy
another favor?” <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">“Depends on the favor.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">“You see, I’m in a bit of a
bind here. Can you go out of the exit here, turn left, and walk down the ramp
in the breezeway?” Lilly asked.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">“Why would I want to go left?
My seat is to the right,” the girl said cunningly.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">“Because I’ll give you
one-hundred dollars,” Lilly said flatly. She revealed another fistful of cash
without missing a beat.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">“I’ll do it for two-hundred.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">“Look, this is all the money
I have,” Lilly pleaded as she lied through her pearly-white teeth.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">“But why do you need for me
do this for you?” <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">She certainly asked a fair
question. And Lilly’s request put the girl at great risk, but the greedy girl
didn’t need to know the details. “It’s a long story, but the bottom line is I’m
here at the game today with two different boyfriends. And I really don’t want
them to find out about each other while I decide which one I like better. One
of them may be outside waiting for me, and I don’t want him following me out of
the ladies’ room while I go and see the other guy.” Lilly hoped she wouldn’t
have to bullshit this story any more than necessary. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">“Oh, I see. Say no more.” The
girl snatched the money from Lilly’s hand and headed towards the exit of the
ladies’ room. “You go, girl!” she said proudly, just before she made her left
hand turn out of the bathroom and into the breezeway.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Lilly stayed behind for two
minutes, hoping enough time elapsed since her savior’s exit. Keeping her head
down, she walked out, turned right, and strode as fast as she could without
drawing any undesired attention to herself. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Did the men follow her? Unable
to resist any longer, she turned her head around to look back. The infamous
plaid, wool hat floated down the breezeway, headed in the opposite direction. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Hurrah!<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Relieved at the success of
her ruse, she traveled quickly through the half-time crowd. With the breezeway
heavily packed with fans who tried to purchase their concessions and take their
restroom breaks, she blended in with the masses. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Lilly turned the corner,
which connected the east-side of the stadium to the new north-end zone. And then
she hesitated. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Shit! </i>She couldn’t go
back to her seat. Her standing next to Luke would certainly make her more
noticeable. If one of her stalkers used a pair of binoculars, they’d spot them
with a methodical search of the stadium. Besides, she didn’t want to put Kitty,
Luke, and Pat at risk. The stalkers wanted her, although she failed to
understand why.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Lilly decided to leave the
stadium right then while the fans still crowded the area. She could always
watch the rest of the game at the sorority house where she could get in touch
with Luke. He’d worry about her once she failed to return to his side for the
second half of the football game. He might even wonder if the security guards
ejected her from the game. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">She decided to send him a
text message. She reached for her BlackBerry before she remembered its absence.
After cursing for leaving her phone on the Create Life jet, she figured she
could just call Kitty from the sorority house. So she walked until she exited The
Swamp. A crowd of people was already leaving the game. All of them headed to
either tailgate or drink at one of the many bars strategically located close to
the stadium. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">With countless other Gator
fans surrounding her and an abundance of big, strong males around, she calmed
down a bit. Lilly just kept on walking. She walked all the way to her sorority
house and her sisters. She arrived at the house and collapsed on the nearest
couch, still terrified. Was she completely paranoid? Or were those two men
really looking for her at the game?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
Terri Talley Ventershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14000680923157707689noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7583133301279195857.post-71669897218332978012012-11-07T03:30:00.000-08:002012-11-07T03:30:05.006-08:00Blog Hop-Interview with Terri Talley Venters<br />
Special Thanks to my awesome publisher, Marci Baun at Wild Child Publishing, who included me on her blog hop last week. You can read her post here: <a href="http://marcibaun.com/2012/10/31/the-next-big-thing-blog-hop/">Marci Baun's blog</a>. You can buy her books here. <a href="http://www.wildchildpublishing.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=84&products_id=314">Hierglyphs</a> & <a href="http://www.freyasbower.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=7&products_id=4">Last Chance</a><br />
<br />
Next week, these authors will be partcipating in the blog hop:<br />
<br />
Chad Mcpherson, Author of <em>Dangerous Waters</em>, coming soon from Freya's Bower.<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-no-proof: yes;">Facebook
- <a href="http://www.facebook.com/home.php%23!/chad.mcpherson.142" target="_blank"><span style="color: #247cd4;"><span style="color: #247cd4; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/chad.mcpherson.142</span></span></a></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-no-proof: yes;">Twitter
- <a href="https://twitter.com/UFAuthor" target="_blank"><span style="color: #247cd4;"><span style="color: #247cd4; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">https://twitter.com/UFAuthor</span></span></a><br />Blog
- <a href="http://cmmichaels.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #247cd4;"><span style="color: #247cd4; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">http://cmmichaels.blogspot.com/</span></span></a></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-no-proof: yes;">Freya's
Bower - </span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-no-proof: yes;"><a href="http://www.freyasbower.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #247cd4;"><span style="color: #247cd4; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">http://www.freyasbower.com/</span></span></a></span></span><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: Calibri; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<br />
And my mother, Leslie S. Talley, Author of<em> Make Old Bones</em>, now available from Wild Child Publishing.<br />
<a href="http://www.makeoldbones.com/">Make Old Bones website</a><br />
<a href="http://www.lesliestalley.blogspot.com/">Leslie S. Tallyey's blog</a><br />
<a href="http://www.wildchildpublishing.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=401">Buy Make Old Bones by Leslie S. Talley</a><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">HERE
ARE THE QUESTIONS-Terri Talley Venters</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">1: What is the working title of your
book? <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Carbon Copy</b><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 9.75pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">2: Where did the idea come from for the book? <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">For years, people would tell me they knew someone who looked exactly
like me. I’d respond, “I must’ve been cloned!” Then ideas for my story poured
into my head, and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Carbon Copy</i> was
born.<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">3: What genre does your book fall
under? <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Mystery/Romantic Suspense</b><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 11.0pt .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">4:
Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition? </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho";">Julia Stiles
or Scarlett Johansson portrays my heroine, Lilly Allen. Matthew McConaughey or
Bradley Cooper would play Grier Garrison. Eric Bana (with blue contacts) would
play Joe. And Cybill Shepherd would play Lilly’s mother, Charlotte Allen.<o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">5: What is the one-sentence synopsis
of your book<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">? What if someone cloned
you?</b><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">6: Will your book be self-published
or represented by an agency<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">? Published
by Wild Child Publishing.<o:p></o:p></b></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">7: How long did it take you to write
the first draft of your manuscript? <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Two
years to write my first draft and three more years to finish a submission
worthy manuscript. But I thought about Carbon Copy for eight years before I
started writing.<o:p></o:p></b></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">8: What other books would you
compare this story to within your genre? <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Sue
Grafton books.<o:p></o:p></b></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">9: Who or What inspired you to write
this book<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">? My mother, Leslie S. Talley,
author of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Make Old Bones.<o:p></o:p></i></b></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">10: What else about your book might
pique the reader’s interest?</span><span style="color: #274e13; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">A fast-paced page turner. Lilly Allen has brains, beauty,
and a trust fund. She's living in New York City and her career as a reporter is
taking off. She's hoping the love of her life, Grier, will propose soon. She
has it all, or so she thinks.Grier Garrison, Create Life executive, is running
the company while his father, Dr. Michael Garrison, is in the ICU awaiting a
heart transplant. Grier knows the truth about Create Life and its shady side
business. He fears Lilly and her twin brother, Luke, are in danger. While
working on two unrelated stories, stolen newborns and cloning, Lilly discovers
a shocking connection. Horrific things are happening, but who is behind it all?<o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<a href="http://www.elementsofmystery.com/"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">http://www.elementsofmystery.com/</span></span></a><u><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></u></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<a href="http://www.wildchildpublishing.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=83&products_id=382"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Click here to purchase Carbon Copy</span></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/carbon-copy-terri-talley-venters/1111652834?ean=2940014732345"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/carbon-copy-terri-talley-venters/1111652834?ean=2940014732345</span></span></a><u><span style="color: blue; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></u></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss/184-4294921-8962344?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=carbon+copy+by+terri+talley+venters"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss/184-4294921-8962344?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=carbon+copy+by+terri+talley+venters</span></span></a><u><span style="color: blue; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></u></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Carbon-Copy-by-Terri-Talley-Venters/167383506064?bookmark_t=page"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Like Facebook Fan Page</span></span></a><span style="color: black; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<a href="http://twitter.com/TerriVenters"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Follow Terri on Twitter</span></span></a><span style="color: black; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: black; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 12pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span></o:p></div>
Terri Talley Ventershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14000680923157707689noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7583133301279195857.post-52442044634456085112012-11-01T03:30:00.000-07:002012-11-01T03:30:03.083-07:00PHOSPHOROUS
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt; text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">PHOSPHOROUS<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">By: Terri Talley Venters</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">“We’re going to get into so much trouble!” Alice
crouched beneath the bunk in <i>Castillo de San Marcos</i>. A.k.a. the fort in
St. Augustine, Florida.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">“Shhhh! Only if we get caught.” Sam whispered. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">Alice grimaced as the stench of the old barracks
filled her nostrils. Her stomach turned from the vile odor, and the tour guide’s
mention of all the deaths which occurred here over the last four-hundred years.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">“How much longer do we have to wait? I can’t
believe I let you talk me into this. You’re the worst boyfriend ever.” She
fumed.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">“It’s dark now and everything should be locked up
for the night. I haven’t heard anything for a while,” he said.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">“I’m sure the tour guides wanted to leave the
second this place closed. They’re probably drinking at Scarlett O’Hara’s which
is where we should be right now.” Alice smacked his arm. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">“Okay, let’s go explore this place in the dark.”
Sam stood and extended his hand to assist her off of the dirt floor.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">“Do you really think the fort is haunted?” She
clung to him.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">“The Ghost Adventurers spent the night here. They
heard some stuff and saw some shadows,” he said.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">“The tour guide said he’d heard stories about
ghost sightings.” She grabbed Sam’s hand and kept close as they walked into the
courtyard in the center of the fort. The quarter moon provided little light.
The tidal waves of the nearby ocean crashed along Vilano Beach and Porpoise
Point at the nearby inlet.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">“This is so cool. We have the whole place to
ourselves.” Sam turned around and absorbed the view of the old walls forged
with coquina, the Spanish word for small shells.</span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">Creek. Groan.</span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">“What was that?” Alice jumped and clutched her
chest.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">“Are you scared?” Sam looked down at her as she
pulled him even closer.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">She nodded. “It’s so sad how many people died
here. So many were murdered and executed within these walls.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">“And their bodies dumped over the walls into the
moat.” Sam added.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">A shiver whipped through Alice as she grimaced. “And
the Indian Chief Osceola, beheaded. Gross.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">“And the dudes they trapped inside the walls
until their bodies rotted. How cool is that?” Sam smiled.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">“You’re sick.” Alice smacked him again.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">“Do you see that? Something’s up on top of the
wall. It looks like neon-green floating globe.” Sam pointed.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">“Yes, oh my, God. It’s glowing like phosphorous
in the sea. I can’t believe we’re seeing this.” Her hand covered her mouth in
shock.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">An apparition of Osceola’s head floated along the
wall of <i>Castillo de San Marcos</i>.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
Terri Talley Ventershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14000680923157707689noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7583133301279195857.post-75735684874640235292012-10-05T05:28:00.000-07:002012-10-05T05:34:39.499-07:00Guest Blogger Bob Horbaczewski<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_GUzquke3_k/UGrpuf34ClI/AAAAAAAAAYA/95Q6UA1X4-8/s1600/art+2.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_GUzquke3_k/UGrpuf34ClI/AAAAAAAAAYA/95Q6UA1X4-8/s320/art+2.jpeg" width="192" /></a></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: yellow; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Interview with Bob Horbaczewski</span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong><span style="color: yellow;">Author of <em>THE MALEF CHRONOCLES</em></span></strong></div>
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<span style="color: yellow; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span><br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: yellow; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Bio</span></b><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><br /><span style="color: yellow;">
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A child of the 80's, Bob Horbaczewski grew up immersed in both Science Fiction
and Fantasy. Inspired at a young age to write, Bob found a passion in story
telling and was rarely found without a pen and pad to write with. Lost to the
wonders of Star Wars, Star Trek, Lord of the Rings, Dune, Dungeons and Dragons,
Marvel, DC, and numerous other stories, Bob became determined to craft his own
tales. In every spare moment of his life, Bob found time to write. However, in
the summer of 2006 one idea began to consume his creative process. Born years
earlier in a wild hailstorm of thought, The Malef Chronicles found a pressure
to be brought to a more refined form. Years prior Bob had dreamed of crafting
an epic nine part story of galactic wars, betrayals, love, death, and wonder
and in 2006 he finally took the steps to begin that very story.</span></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: yellow; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">When and why did you start writing?</span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<span style="color: yellow;"></span><br />
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<span style="color: yellow; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The first time I
remember starting to write seriously was when I was in sixth grade. I remember
trying to pen my first novel in my spare time, a science fiction/action piece.
Unfortunately I was unable to finish that story as my family moved from Hawaii to
Arizona. The first time I seriously started approaching writing was in my early
twenties. After taking a hiatus from college to help my mother through a
divorce, I had to reevaluate what I wanted to do with my life. The first path I
chose was film, and consequently as I hoped to tell my own stories in that
medium I wrote my own screenplay. That movie, 'Into The Darkness', can be
viewed on YouTube in its entirety. Following that project I became driven to
write my own novel, as the story I envisioned seemed to obsess my thoughts. </span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="color: yellow;"></span><br />
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<span style="color: yellow; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The main reason that
I write is probably to get those stories out of my mind. I am constantly
consumed with thoughts towards my imagination, stories that play endlessly
until I finally put pen to paper and force them into a tangible form. I love
the idea behind crafting a world and placing characters in circumstances that
challenge the human condition.</span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="color: yellow;"></span><br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: yellow; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">What are you working on now and what
are your writing goals/plans for the future?</span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="color: yellow;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I am currently
working on a few separate projects. First and foremost, I am still trying to
promote my first book, 'The Malef Chronicles'. At the same time I am working on
writing the second book in that series. I have also written another screenplay,
that my friends and I are hoping to gain funding through Kickstarter to see
made. On the back burner is a second screenplay and a novel about a female
assassin and her exploits.</span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="color: yellow;"></span><br />
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<span style="color: yellow; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">My goals are to
continue to writing and see all of these projects through to their end. I am
hopeful that I can garner an audience for my work and one day make writing my
profession instead of just my passion.</span></div>
<span style="color: yellow;"></span><br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: yellow; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">What is your favorite part about
writing?</span></b></div>
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<span style="color: yellow; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">My favorite part of
writing is crafting a story. I enjoy having the ability and responsibility of
creating an entire universe. Being able to take that world and the characters
within and create a story that is both interconnected and exciting. I like
thinking that in some way I am able to tell a tale that can take someone out of
their life, a give them a chance to be lost in my imagination for whatever
length of time.</span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="color: yellow;"></span><br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: yellow; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Favorite book(s)?</span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<span style="color: yellow;"></span><br />
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<span style="color: yellow; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">My favorite book is
'Dune', by Frank Herbert. I still remember reading it for the first time in
high school and being so drawn into the world that Mr. Herbert had crafted. I
loved the depth that he had given his characters, and the dark elements of
death and battle that moved the story along. Beyond that I love reading as much
as I can squeeze into my day. One of my favorite series that I have read
recently was the Codex Alera series by Jim Butcher. The way in which Mr.
Butcher was able to take his characters and grow them over the course of the
series was inspiring. I never felt cheated in the way he connected events
between his novels, instead each seemed a logical progression of the story, and
I was genuinely sad when the series was over.</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<span style="color: yellow;"></span><br />
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<span style="color: yellow;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Favorite movie(s)?</span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div>
<span style="color: yellow;"></span><br />
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<span style="color: yellow;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">As a child, and still
to this day my favorite movie is 'Star Wars'. I remember at four years old
going with my mother to my older brother's elementary school to watch a bootleg
copy of 'Empire Strikes Back'. Schools were much more lenient of what kids
watched back in those days. We brought bags popcorn and as I sat there
watching, I was instantly hooked on not only the movie itself, but also the
genre.<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Favorite TV show(s)?</span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div>
<span style="color: yellow;"></span><br />
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<span style="color: yellow; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Right now my favorite
shows on television are 'Breaking Bad' and 'The Walking Dead'. I am a big fan
of science fiction shows and love 'Doctor Who' and 'Fringe'. I'm hopeful
'Revolution' will become a solid show. 'Burn Notice' and 'Royal Pains' help get
me through the summers. I also enjoy some of the more indulgent shows on
television like 'Wipeout', 'The Real World/The Challenge', and 'The Soup'. I
always loved food shows as a child, so I can usually tune to the Food Channel
and find something that will pique my interest.<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
</span><span style="color: yellow;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">What is on your "Bucket List"<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
</span></b><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I don't really have a
"Bucket List". I try my best to live for the now. If there is a place
or an event I have a drive to go to I will find a way to do as much. The same
could be said for activities and experiences in life. We are only given a short
amount of time in this life, so it is my belief to live as much in the present
as you can.</span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-T272c2cGrNk/UGrqjowyDeI/AAAAAAAAAYI/n29W2ceiV8w/s1600/Book+Cover.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: yellow;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-T272c2cGrNk/UGrqjowyDeI/AAAAAAAAAYI/n29W2ceiV8w/s320/Book+Cover.jpeg" width="212" /></span></a></div>
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</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><strong>SYNOPSIS</strong></span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br />
<br />
In the distant future, Colin Kinison, a brash, young and arrogant pilot is
thrust into the middle of an impeding galactic war after his ship is suddenly
attacked while investigating an unusual anomaly at the edge of known space.
O'Tel, king of the Ter'Ok'Zhu, an ancient race of mystics, recruits Colin to
help him stop Xyrus, Dark Lord of the Belgae, from assassinating a once thought
lost Princess. A tale of swordplay and space fights, bringing together fantasy
and science fiction, The Malef Chronicles offers an epic journey into the
fantastic.<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
</span><br />
</div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">EXCERPT FROM THE MALEF CHRONICLES</span></b><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><br />
<br />
ZOOM! A seasick breezed by Colin, shocking him back to reality. Now the
decisive moment had come. To turn back, Colin would face not only embarrassment
and shame from his squad, but he would never hear the end of it from Sasha. He
could not bear that fate, so out across the deck he walked to the seasick that
had so recently buzzed by him. It chirped in response to his presence. “Hey
there little buddy,” Colin quipped at the robot, not that it could understand
or respond to his comment, but the simple routine helped calm his nerves. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><br />
Colin removed a magnetic strip from his suit. A crude creation put together in
his spare time, this small black strip of silicon and steel was Colin’s ticket
to glory. In theory the strip would interfere with the Seasick’s primary
functions just enough for him to directly interface and take control of the
bot. Sasha had helped him design it, as countless failed attempts to dissuade
him from his prior stunts had taught her that it was better to help keep him as
safe as possible, than see what damage he would cause if left to his own
devices. As with most schemes thought up in the middle of the night, this one
sounded worse and worse with each passing moment. Colin reached the seasick.
There was no predicting how it would react to him jumping on board, yet alone
how its system would react to the interference from the magnetic strip. There
was only one-way to find out; Colin leapt. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br />
The most agile of leaps it was not, but it was beautiful nonetheless. Colin
landed square on the back of the Seasick and made a grotesque thud. The air
from his lungs rushed out of his mouth, leaving him mere seconds to regain his
composure. The Seasick would be alerting for help at any moment. This was his
shining moment and suddenly ego overtook him. Colin’s mind trailed off to the
future, of the stories that would be told with such brevity. He looked back at
his squad and waved in triumph. Not thinking Colin lost his grip and fumbled
the magnetic strip, dropping it to the empty depths of space. All of his glory
lost in a heartbeat, in a single act of foolish bravado. In desperation, Colin
lunged for the strip. His legs barely hung onto the side of the Seasick as the
strip floated further and further away, gone forever. The Seasick’s alarm
wailed. His failure was now complete. </span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--3rbRZlFfMw/UGrrgrirHtI/AAAAAAAAAYQ/CIdtknGWY60/s1600/art+1.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="192" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--3rbRZlFfMw/UGrrgrirHtI/AAAAAAAAAYQ/CIdtknGWY60/s320/art+1.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Terri Talley Ventershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14000680923157707689noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7583133301279195857.post-25107752171605586792012-10-01T05:00:00.000-07:002012-10-01T05:00:06.733-07:00Carbon Copy-Deleted Sex scene
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<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt; text-align: center;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14pt;">Carbon Copy</span></i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14pt;">-Deleted Sex Scene</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14pt;">By: Terri Talley Venters</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Grier lightly kissed Lilly’s ears. He
buried his face in the softness of her hair and breathed in her aroma,
instantly aroused from her scent. He slowly kissed her neck. His hot breath
sent chills down her spine. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Lilly’s body tingled all over. She
savored Grier’s kisses and longed for his touches. Neither of them could bear
to wait much longer. They were so happy and so in love, and needed to join
their bodies together. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Grier picked Lilly up and looked deep
into her eyes. His mouth covered hers possessively. He carried her below deck
and laid her down on the bed. He climbed on top of her and braced himself above
her with the strength of his arms. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Grier’s tongue circled her lips. Then he
plunged it deeply into her mouth and took possession of his woman. They don’t
remember their clothes coming off. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But
now they were both naked. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">His hands and mouth covered Lilly’s naked
body. Grier’s kisses and caresses were gentle at first. But as his desire grew
stronger, so did the pressure of his touch. Their naked bodies ignited as their
hot skin rubbed together.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Grier wanted Lilly more than anything in
the world. When he looked into her eyes, she saw his passion and longing. He
kissed her gently on the mouth. His arms braced himself above her. With a push
up like motion, he slowly lowered himself on top of her, crushing Lilly’s body
beneath his. He continued kissing her in a fever of passion. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">She loved the weight of his body on top
of hers. Lilly’s hips moved beneath his and arched up into his groin. Her legs
wrapped around one of his legs. She thrust her hips up and down and squeezed
her thighs together around his leg. The top of Lilly’s mons rubbed up and down
his leg. She writhed with anticipation.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Grier leaned back on his knees and sat
up. He grabbed a pillow and placed it under her bottom. She automatically
lifted her legs, perpendicular to her body. He grabbed her ankles with one hand
and rested them on his shoulder. He slowly entered her with one long stroke. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Oh, my God,” she said. Lilly’s eyes
rolled back in her head, savoring the raw pleasure between her legs. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Grier repeated the slow motion and slid
his cock slowly in and out with long smooth strokes. With Lilly’s legs
together, her tightness wrapped around Grier’s throbbing organ. She squeezed
her vaginal muscles together each time he fully submersed his manhood inside of
her. Then she released the pressure as he slid his shaft almost out. Their
rhythm synchronized perfectly with each other.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Their breathing grew heavier as Grier
picked up the pace of his deep thrusts—faster, faster, and faster. He pulled
Lilly’s legs apart, and gently spread her thighs down to the bed. Her legs
extended nearly horizontal with the bed in an upside down split. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Grier pulled out his rock-hard shaft,
leaving Lilly empty without the fullness of him inside of her. Then his mouth
went down on her hot, wet pussy. He licked her juices quickly, like a cat
lapping up milk from a dish. He proved amazing at this. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He focused the tip of his tongue on her clit,
and circled it in a repeating figure-eight pattern.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Without stopping the motion of his
tongue, he glided his index finger inside Lilly’s sheath. In a ‘come-hither’
motion, he rapidly moved the tip of his finger across the top of the inside of
her vaginal wall—the G-spot!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Oh, my God, that’s it,” Lilly said. She
grabbed her tits and fondled them roughly. She squeezed the tips of her nipples
and released a high-pitched moan. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Encouraged by her response, Grier
intensified his efforts. He moved his tongue faster and faster as he increased
the pressure on her clit. He slid a second finger inside of Lilly and rubbed
her G-spot with the tips of his fingers. He moaned as he pleasured her. He
thrived on her ecstasy.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Oh, my God!” Lilly screamed. Her hips
vibrated up and down. She held it for as long as she could. She loved this
intense pleasure. She wanted it to last forever. Her body enjoyed a wonderful
orgasm high. And she knew Grier’s climax drew near.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Ooooooooh, ooooooogh,” Lilly moaned in a
high pitch. “Oh, my, God!” Her legs started to shake. She closed her thighs
together, knocking Grier’s head out of the way. Lilly’s entire body shook like
fish out of water. The shaking slowed down and her entire body clenched
together tightly. She cupped her breasts gently to comfort herself.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Fuck me! Fuck me, now! Grier, please,
you gotta fuck me right now!” Lilly begged him to do her bidding.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Eager to oblige, Grier mounted Lilly in
missionary position and plunged into her with a frenzy of passion. He moved
inside her fast and hard. He plunged his rock-hard shaft deeper and deeper with
each thrust. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Oooh, oooh, aaah, aaah,” Lilly screamed
as her hips vibrated again. Her whole body clenched together. Her vaginal walls
tightened around Grier’s shaft as he shuddered with pleasure. He released
himself inside of her with one last deep plunge.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Uuuh, uuuh,” he moaned as he closed his
eyes. He hugged Lilly close and buried his face in her hair. She hugged him
tightly with her cheek against his neck. She wrapped her legs around his waist
and tried to get as close to him as humanly possible. They both cried from
sheer bliss before falling asleep with their limbs entangled.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<o:p> </o:p></div>
Terri Talley Ventershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14000680923157707689noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7583133301279195857.post-9301982972337173292012-09-01T05:00:00.000-07:002012-09-01T05:00:11.099-07:00Aluminum
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<i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">ALUMINUM</span></i><i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">By: Terri Talley Venters<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">David’s strength grew by the hour as he traveled
towards Florida’s east coast. The wind blew hard all around him as the rain
dumped into ocean. No one foresaw his epic journey. But he’d already set
records as he skimmed across the warm waters of the Atlantic. The entire world
awaited his momentous arrival. Everyone talked about him with such familiarity,
even without ever meeting him. None of his predecessors accomplished what he
was about to. Everyone watched the news and waited for him to turn, praying his
strength would diminish, praying the low tide coincided with his landfall. But
his center, calm, formed a perfect Eye. What David did when he arrived in
Florida would be discussed for centuries.</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt; text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">Report from the Weather Channel:</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">Hurricane David is due to make landfall this
evening in Jacksonville Beach, Florida during high tide. This category 5
hurricane has sustained winds exceeding 200 miles per hour. David's strength
surpasses all others Its barometric pressure dropped to 870 millibars, the
lowest, and strongest, ever recorded. Jacksonville never experienced a direct
hit from the east coast, let alone a category 5 storm. David is stronger than
many tornadoes. Mandatory evacuations for millions of Florida, Georgia, and
South Carolina residents began 3 days ago. Only concrete and brick structures
have a chance of partially surviving these record setting winds. All Aluminum
and wooden structures will be ripped to shreds. Hurricane David’s strength and
enormous span will destroy half of Florida and coastal Georgia & South
Carolina.</span></i><b><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
Terri Talley Ventershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14000680923157707689noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7583133301279195857.post-49282900353086994972012-08-20T05:00:00.000-07:002012-08-20T05:00:17.747-07:00Guest Blogger, Leslie S. Talley<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I'm honored to host my mother for the first stop on her blog tour. Her debut novel, <em>Make Old Bones,</em> releases 8/21/12!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OFHx3sQqPpI/UCZyyazUVqI/AAAAAAAAAXw/ATufrx-1uJc/s1600/makeoldbones-book+cover-1600x2400-300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OFHx3sQqPpI/UCZyyazUVqI/AAAAAAAAAXw/ATufrx-1uJc/s320/makeoldbones-book+cover-1600x2400-300.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14pt;">Make Old
Bones<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<br />
<div align="center" style="margin: 5pt 1.2pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif";">By: Leslie S. Talley<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 5pt 1.2pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Fifteen-year-old Connie Kittredge disappears in 1953, presumed
drowned, in Daytona Beach, Florida. Almost forty years later, her skeleton is
discovered in the disused dumbwaiter of historic Belgrath House, situated on an
island in the tidal Halifax River. The discovery coincides with the thirty-five
year reunion of Connie's Class of '57.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 5pt 1.2pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Clarice and Otis Campion function as caretakers of Belgrath, newly
restored and opened as a B & B. Clarice, along with their permanent guest
Miss Letty, ninety-year-old star of the silent screen, decides to investigate
the mystery. Could the murderer be one of Connie's classmates, now respectable
citizens? A rejected boy friend? A jealous girl? Connie, a sneaky child, loved
the power of finding out secrets; perhaps she found one just too dangerous for
her to live.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 5pt 1.2pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif";">At a wake for Connie held at Belgrath House, someone collapses
from iced tea laced with cherry laurel, proving that the murderer is still
around - and dangerous. Complications cloud the picture in the form of
suspicious bed and breakfasters, restoration society members, University of
Florida freshmen...and a certain pelican. Clarice and Miss Letty re-double
their efforts at sleuthing. The death of Connie Kittredge is tied directly to
the history of the house, they learn. The house will ultimately reveal its
secrets, but not before exposing Clarice to danger. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif";"></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Inadvertently left behind during a forced evacuation due to
Category Four Hurricane Aphrodite, Clarice finds herself confronting a killer -
and a rising tidal surge.</span><br />
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Excerpt
from <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Make Old Bones<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div style="margin: 5pt 1.2pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">What would the children think if they saw her? She
thought of the others that way: children. Why did she still bother with them?
Not much longer, she thought. An idea sprouted in her brain. Why not scare
them? Hide. Don’t come out. Let them think some Bogeyman found her. She knew
just the spot, too. She found it the previous week, the same trip that secured
for her the piece of map. She came to the house by herself – well, actually to
meet someone. Someone who didn’t show up. But he would. Oh, yes! And that other
she’d seen – Connie hugged herself as she thought of the power.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Stubbing out the cigarette in the stone urn on the
post, Connie groped her way to the kitchen at the rear of the house. Gleefully,
she opened the door of one of the pantries. She ran her hand along the wall
until she found the knob. She remembered that it looked just like one of the
other cabinets. She wedged herself inside the tiny space: a miniature elevator.
Perfect. They’d never look for her here. Best of all, she needn’t go near the
third floor.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The jolt jarred her, tipping her over so that her
head rested on the doorframe. A hollow noise reverberated down the shaft.
Slowly her crawlspace moved…upward.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p>
</o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Bio
of Leslie Talley</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Leslie Talley received her B.S. in nursing from the
University of Kentucky and a B.A. and M.A. in English from the University of
Central Florida, Orlando, where she subsequently taught, as an adjunct,
Technical Writing and Business Writing for ten years.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Leslie and her husband Luke have two children: Terri
Talley Venters, Wild Child Publishing author of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Carbon Copy, </i>and Damon Talley, education specialist in aerospace. Forty-four-year
residents of Titusville, Florida, Leslie and Luke also have four grandchildren.
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Links:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="http://www.wildchildpublishing.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=83&products_id=401&zenid=806d27b71f6d4524dd83c306afc08a86"><span style="color: blue;">http://www.wildchildpublishing.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=83&products_id=401&zenid=806d27b71f6d4524dd83c306afc08a86</span></a></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="http://lesliestalley.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: blue;">http://lesliestalley.blogspot.com/</span></a></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/#!/leslie.talley.12"><span style="color: blue;">https://www.facebook.com/#!/leslie.talley.12</span></a></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="https://twitter.com/LeslieSTalley"><span style="color: blue;">https://twitter.com/LeslieSTalley</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>Terri Talley Ventershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14000680923157707689noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7583133301279195857.post-52997997624994357362012-08-12T17:00:00.000-07:002012-08-12T17:00:04.330-07:00Guest Blogger, Carol Marvell<div class="ecxmsonormal">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Please welcome, Carol Marvell,
author of Slave Trader – In the Name of Freedom. Available from Wild Child Publishing!</span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QqNAO1ZkTJc/UCUwaDqNK3I/AAAAAAAAAXg/C4TQmkB_ivU/s1600/book+cover+Slave-Trader+-+In+the+Name+of+Freedom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QqNAO1ZkTJc/UCUwaDqNK3I/AAAAAAAAAXg/C4TQmkB_ivU/s320/book+cover+Slave-Trader+-+In+the+Name+of+Freedom.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<div class="ecxmsonormal">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="ecxmsonormal">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><b>Bio:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></b></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Carol lives on a
small property in Queensland, Australia. She works in a local primary school as
a School Officer / Librarian / Community Development Officer. Married with three
children, she has travelled extensively throughout the world, visiting the US,
UK, Europe, China, Japan, New Zealand and of course, Australia. Her other
passion is music. She plays bass guitar in a country rock band with her husband
and two other guys. She is also a member of a symphony orchestra. With over
fifty members, the orchestra is voluntary and visits retirement villages and
small towns.</span></span></div>
<div class="ecxmsonormal">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Slave Trader –
In the Name of Freedom is Carol’s first novel. The action/adventure story
follows Detective Billie McCoy in her fight for freedom after she is caught up
in a modern day slavery trade run by a corrupt cop. </span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Blurb for Slave Trader – In the Name of
Freedom:</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">For the past three years, young prostitutes and destitute
women have been vanishing without trace. Their fates unknown, the only common
links to their disappearances are their good looks and prison records.
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">Never
before has a cop been taken.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">Detective Billie McCoy, a member of an elite undercover
squad, is on assignment when she stumbles onto a slavery racket that goes deeper
than she could ever have imagined. Plunged into a web of corruption and evil,
not only does she have to contend with the slave traders, but her fellow
prisoners – all who hate cops. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">Stretching from the streets of Sydney to the rainforests
in far north Queensland, it’s a race against time. Filled with determination,
disappointment and twists, the story follows Billie’s fight for freedom and her
greatest ever challenge. She will need all her cunning and skill to get out
alive and see justice done.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">Blood will be spilt, hopes will be destroyed – all to
uncover a plot so unpredictable that only fate can decide . . .
.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Facts on slavery
today:</b></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Today, modern
slavery is as real and brutal as any history book. </span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">There
are more people in slavery now than at any other time</span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">.
</span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">It's estimated
twenty-seven million people across the world could be considered slaves, and the
industry of slavery and people trafficking makes $32 billion a
year.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">During the 1800’s, slaves were bought and sold at a high
price. Modern day slaves are worth far less than their weight in gold. At such
cheap prices, slaves are disposable and can easily be replaced. And while the
price of slaves has dropped dramatically, the return on the slaveholder's
investment has skyrocketed to hundreds of percent. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"> </span><br />
<br />
<div align="center" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">Excerpt from Slave Trader – In the Name of
Freedom</span></div>
<div align="center" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">Billie turned away. She leaned on the wall and stared up
at the ceiling, torn apart. She was here undercover about to set up a big gun
dealer and bring him to justice. If she helped this girl, it could blow
everything. All the work she'd put into getting this close to the gunrunners
could be in jeopardy. Her nature compelled her to aid someone in trouble.
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><i>Damn
it! Why did this have to happen now?</i></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"> She should just walk away and pretend she'd never
seen it. After all, it had nothing to do with her. </span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><i>Yeah
right.</i></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"> No
way could she turn a blind eye to this. Turning back, she peered through the
crack again.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">The redhead in the suit coat had pulled a small syringe
from his pocket. The sight of it upset the distressed girl even more. She stared
at it over the big hand clamped across her mouth, her eyes widened in horror. In
a desperate bid to deter his intentions, she kicked out. Only by chance her knee
knocked the redhead's hand. The needle rolled across the floor. He
cursed.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">The ponytail man snarled. His large, gangly hand dropped
from the girl's mouth, and he slugged her hard. The trapped girl grunted and
sank in his grasp.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">The blow sent Billie into action. She couldn't leave the
girl to these thugs. With a little luck, she could pull off both operations.
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">Sneaking
in, the detective picked up an old, wooden chair just inside the room. Although
tempted to use her gun, silence was of the utmost importance. She couldn't
afford to alert the men upstairs. They would be edgy enough, and the sound of a
gunshot would certainly send them on a runner.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">Both thugs had their backs
to Billie, their attention on their captive. Mumbling curses, the redhead's
rising temper dampened his cautiousness. The chase brought him into the closest
position to her. With the chair gripped in her hands, Billie jumped at the punk
and cracked it over his head. The chair shattered into pieces. He moaned and
collapsed to the floor with a heavy thud.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">His partner spun at the
noise. He stared at her with a startled expression before turning a stunned look
at his downed partner. Overcoming his surprise, he looked back up at her. The
thug's lips twisted in a snarl. He dumped the girl to the floor. She fell in a
heap. He lunged forward. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">Billie turned and faced him full on. She kicked up. Her
heel smashed into his nose well before he could touch her.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">The guy's head rocked
backwards. He recoiled with a couple of staggered steps. Billie followed, giving
him no time to recover. Using the same foot, she buried it into his stomach. The
impact doubled him over, driving the breath from his burning lungs. She stepped
forward and brought up her knee, slamming it into the side of his jaw. He reeled
sideways with a groan and collapsed, motionless. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">Billie looked at him, and
then glanced at the other guy. Neither looked like they'd be moving for a while.
She blew out a sigh and tossed the busted chair to the side. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">The detective crossed to
the dazed girl and knelt beside her. She studied her face. A bruise already
showed through on her cheek, marring her good looks. She lay relaxed in her
enforced sleep, her features free from the strain they'd carried only a few
moments before. Brown, shoulder-length hair bordered the girl's dainty face. A
clean, fresh complexion enhanced her attractiveness. Long eyelashes guarded her
closed eyes. She carried a 'girl next door' image, a guileless look that bathed
her in a simplistic innocence yet held a disguised beauty to catch any man's
eye. Her slender figure did her proud. Billie couldn't help wonder why she would
be in a dive like this, or why these men were after her. She was a pretty girl
and had a lot going for her, but something had definitely gone wrong for her to
end up here and in this kind of trouble.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">The girl stirred, bringing the detective out of
her thoughts. Her head rolled towards Billie. Her eyes flickered open. They
looked glazed and confused.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">"Take it easy. You're safe now," Billie said, brushing a
strand of the long, brown hair back off her face.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">The girl's confused gaze
focused on her rescuer, and she tensed. She sat upright. Her gaze darted around
the room in search of her would-be attackers.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">'Hey, it's okay!" Billie
took hold of her by the shoulders in a comforting gesture. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">Shooting her no more than
a brief glance, the frightened girl stared at the unconscious men. They were no
longer a threat. She turned back to the blonde kneeling beside her and relaxed
in Billie's grip.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">"Are you okay?" Billie dropped her hands from her
shoulders yet maintained a wary eye on her. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">The dishevelled girl
nodded. "Yeah, I think so." She turned away from her and studied the men. After
a lingering moment, she looked back at Billie. "Thank you very much," she said
in a whisper. "Who-who are you?"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">Before the detective could answer, a voice from the
doorway interrupted them.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">"So this is why they're taking so long."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">Billie's head snapped
around in surprise. Three men stood in the doorway. Billie gave them a quick,
assessing look. The guy in the middle, a short, plump, half-bald man in his late
fifties stood with a thin smile on his lips. His gaze was fixed on her. His
bright Hawaiian shirt boldly expressed his personality, loud and dominant. Short
tufts of curly grey hair overflowed from the vee of the collared shirt. His
round, beach-ball face was clean-shaven, like the top of his head. Only a strip
of grey-flecked hair ran from one ear around the back of his head to the
other.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">The
other two flanked him, their bulky frames towering above him. Dressed like the
two on the floor, they fell comfortably into their category: hired 'heavies'.
These paid henchmen eyed her with guarded looks.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">The guy on the left of the
fat man carried a scar down his right cheek. His hair was slicked back out of
his face, leaving the dark, distrusting eyes in clear view. The third guy, a
curly-haired blond, was shorter yet bulkier than his comrade. He stared with a
blank expression set on his bristled face, clearly expressing his dislike. They
stood protectively by their boss's side, like dogs on a leash waiting for a
command to please their master.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">The little, fat man's gaze remained locked on the blonde
girl in front of him. "My God." </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">His astonished tone snapped Billie's attention back to
him. She looked more closely, sensing something familiar about him. Her nerves
stiffened. Suddenly, she knew. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">"Bates?" The name slipped through her lips before she
could stop it. She'd failed to identify him in that first brief glimpse. The
bright clothes and menacing conditions engulfing the tense situation had thrown
her. He looked so different, and so out of place. She'd met this guy a couple of
times, and both times he'd been dressed in a full suit, tie and all-back in
police headquarters. So why would Captain Bates, head of Missing Persons, be
here? Why would he be interested in this girl, especially in a place like this?
And what was this well-respected police officer doing with these henchmen?
Slowly, she stood, not taking her eyes off him.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">"What's going on here?"
The young cop took a step towards him. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">"Ahh, what a pity, a sure pity." He sighed. His
hand reached in through the open neck of his shirt and pulled a pistol out from
under it. He dropped it to waist level, aiming at her chest. His tone may have
held some remorse, but his actions didn't. </span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Links:</span></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">My website: </span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.carolmarvell.webs.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">http://www.carolmarvell.webs.com</span></a></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />twitter me here:
</span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><a href="http://twitter.com/carolmarvell" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">http://twitter.com/carolmarvell</span></a></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />Come and like me here:
</span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Carol-Marvell/320383708039219" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">https://www.facebook.com/pages/Carol-Marvell/320383708039219</span></a></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">My blog: <a href="http://billiemccoy.blogspot.com.au/" target="_blank">http://billiemccoy.blogspot.com.au</a>/ </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">My publisher: </span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.wildchildpublishing.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=70&products_id=381" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">http://www.wildchildpublishing.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=70&products_id=381</span></a></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"> </span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" /></span></span></div>
<br />Terri Talley Ventershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14000680923157707689noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7583133301279195857.post-62500819349807358142012-08-01T02:00:00.000-07:002012-08-01T02:00:01.542-07:00EARTH<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center; text-indent: 0.3in;">
<i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">EARTH<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center; text-indent: 0.3in;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">By: Terri Talley Venters</span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">Maximus lounged in the courtyard of his Palazzo.
Sun poured through the open room and its rays illuminated the beautiful,
mosaic-tiled floor. As he admired the panoramic view of the Italian Coast, a
servant quietly placed a tray of assorted cheeses, bread, and a wine-filled
chalice before him. The flavors danced on his tongue as he sipped the wine and
basked in the tingles it sent down his throat.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">A beautiful woman, his woman, approached. Her
long, white gown clung to her curves and exposed her right breast. He opened
his arms to his beloved Maria. She fell into his embrace and awarded him with a
passionate kiss. <i>I think I’ll be late for today’s entertainment at the
Coloso</i>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">The ground rumbled beneath the lovers. They
looked up towards the mountain and watched the cloud of ash spew from its peak.
Rain slowly dropped onto the courtyard and sprinkled them. Only it wasn’t rain,
but volcanic ash. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">The ground rumbled again, even louder than
before. The volcano erupted. Earth spewed from Mount Vesuvius and covered the
city of Pompeii.<o:p></o:p></span></div>Terri Talley Ventershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14000680923157707689noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7583133301279195857.post-36693947134230694872012-07-30T05:00:00.000-07:002012-07-30T05:00:11.195-07:00Guest Blogger Jenn NixonPlease welcome today's guest blogger, Jenn Nixon. Her novel, Lucky's Charm releases 7/31 from Wild Child Publishing. Here's a sneak peek at her new release!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Sz29ETDS8G8/UBWTdw8oUNI/AAAAAAAAAXQ/RylLGouZizE/s1600/luckyscharm-final-432x648-300dpi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Sz29ETDS8G8/UBWTdw8oUNI/AAAAAAAAAXQ/RylLGouZizE/s320/luckyscharm-final-432x648-300dpi.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;">Lucky’s Charm<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">By: Jenn Nixon<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br /><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">To protect her
family and find a killer, Felicia “Lucky” Fascino assumed her adoptive father’s
identity and joined the network, an organization of moral assassins to finish
the job he began. Eliminating the man responsible for murdering her mother has
consumed her for the last five years. While keeping her Uncle Stephen and
cousin Elizabeth at arm’s length, Lucky begins to feel the weight of her career
choice and reclusive lifestyle. Then a chance encounter with an enigmatic hit
man, during one of her jobs, turns into a provocative and dangerous affair.
Distracted by the secret trysts with Kenji Zinn and mounting tension within her
family, Lucky makes reckless mistakes that threaten her livelihood and almost
claim her life.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br /><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Excerpt:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Two days after
her last job…</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Lucky Fascino sat at the back of the
plane, flipping through the complimentary magazine. She smiled up at the male
flight attendant when he stopped the beverage cart.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Drinks?” he asked.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Gin and tonic, thanks,” she said.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Make it two,” her neighbor added.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Her row mate, a pink-skinned, gray-haired
man, had curiosity etched on his face. Next to Lucky, any Caucasian looked pale
so she understood their interest. Being naturally bronzed, due in part to an
unknown, mixed heredity, gave her an all-year color most women would kill to
have. As part of her normally disguised travels, she hid her curly, honey-brown
hair and slight almond-shaped, amber eyes—now considered exotic instead of
strange—behind a jet-black wig and brown contacts.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Talking to a stranger was the last thing
she wanted to do. Getting far away from the job was the only thing on her mind.
She’d been in Vegas for nine days, watching the target, learning his habits,
hangouts, and daily rituals. During the last five, she’d seen him with three
women in two different motels.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Gotta
love Vegas</span></i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Afterward, she had worked off the
adrenaline high from the job in the hotel gym, while waiting for news of the
target’s death. It came in the form of a small article in the local newspaper.
The city had well over a hundred murders so far this year. One more, under
seedy circumstances, didn’t get much attention.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The man beside her tried to make
conversation while she nursed her drink. Mundane chitchat mostly. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">I really don’t care where you live. </i>It was
natural for normal people to want some type of contact to ease the boring
flight. Thanks to her second cocktail, she felt more social. Besides, she
didn’t have a choice. He wouldn’t shut up.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“So, what do you do for a living?”
Frank asked after the exchange of names and destinations.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Kill
people like you. </span></i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Well,
she didn’t really kill people like him, unless he had some sordid history of
crime. Unlike Andersen, who used his corporate success to embezzle, commit
fraud, and murder, Frank seemed like a regular guy.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I’m the Comptroller for an international
furniture company.” Lucky watched the man’s eyes glaze over when she described
what she did for “work.” Accountant types never impressed anyone. During long
jobs, she made up a personal history and itinerary to go along with whichever
fake ID she used for cases like this. Today she played Lucille Summers from <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Baltimore</st1:city>, <st1:state w:st="on">Maryland</st1:state></st1:place>.
It was one part of the job she still enjoyed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Sounds lucrative.” He rubbed the
side of his gin-reddened face and covertly tried to ogle her legs. “In Vegas
for business or pleasure?” The way he enunciated the latter made her skin
crawl. She wouldn’t give him the time of day if he were the last man on the
planet able to donate sperm to keep the species alive.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Business meetings, you know how it goes,
have to get those fiscal reports in order for the CFO,” she said, smiling,
mostly to suppress the gag reflex.<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>He laughed, continually eyeballing
her and gabbing about his trip. The trite, one-sided conversation continued
until the plane began its descent.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br /><br /><br /><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Bio: Jenn’s love
of writing started the year she received her first diary and Nancy Drew novel.
Throughout her teenage years, she kept a diary of her personal thoughts and
feelings but graduated from Nancy Drew to other mystery suspense novels.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Jenn often adds
a thriller and suspense element to anything she writes be it Romance, Science
Fiction, or Fantasy. When not writing, she spends her time reading, observing
pop culture, playing with her two dogs, and working on various charitable
projects in her home state of <st1:state w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">New
Jersey</st1:place></st1:state>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><a href="http://www.jennnixon.com/"><span style="color: blue;">www.jennnixon.com</span></a> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/JennNixonAuthor"><span style="color: blue;">www.facebook.com/JennNixonAuthor</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Twitter:
@jennnixon<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<br />Terri Talley Ventershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14000680923157707689noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7583133301279195857.post-54709526036079331892012-07-01T04:12:00.000-07:002012-07-01T07:46:07.457-07:00CARBON<span lang="EN"></span><br />
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<span lang="EN"><div align="CENTER">
<span lang="EN"><div align="CENTER">
<em><span style="font-size: large;">CARBON</span></em></div>
</span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;"></span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: medium;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: medium;"><div align="CENTER">
By: Terri Talley Venters</div>
</span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: small;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: small;"><div align="JUSTIFY">
Abducting a newborn topped Hilda’s agenda. At midnight, she entered the birthing suite at Manhattan’s Mercy Hospital where Alexandra and the birth mother bonded.<i> How sweet</i>, Hilda smirked. </div>
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“Excuse me, Mrs. Montgomery, I’m here to take your blood pressure.” Hilda approached the patient’s bed and prayed her nerves didn’t show. </div>
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“I’m so sick of being awakened all of the time,” Alexandra’s mother said.</div>
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“Well, I’m, sorry to bother you, Mrs. Montgomery, but I’m just doing my job,” Hilda said, even as she wished she no longer had to do this job. Why Tom-Tom insisted on abducting newborns from a hospital rather than from a house or a park irritated her.</div>
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This new mother sounded rude. But it made Hilda’s upcoming task much easier. She’d learned years ago the necessity of distancing herself from her emotions, and she stopped giving a rat’s ass about the patients a long time ago.</div>
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“Well, how about you do your job and get me medication to help me sleep, I’m exhausted.”</div>
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“I have just what you need. This should help you sleep.” Hilda handed a container of white pills to Mrs. Montgomery and poured her a glass of water. </div>
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“This won’t affect my breast milk will it? I know my milk hasn’t come in yet, but I plan on nursing my precious Alexandra.”</div>
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“I assure you, Mrs. Montgomery, Alexandra will be just fine. I’ll change her diaper for you, so you won’t have to worry about it for a while.”</div>
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“Thank you, I appreciate the gesture. My husband, the useless piece of shit, went home to sleep. Can you believe his nerve?” Mrs. Montgomery asked.</div>
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Hilda nodded her head sympathetically. Most new mothers acted cranky, due to the abrupt change in their hormone levels. Everyone and everything got on their nerves and they believed their husbands proved totally useless. Many referred to this as the “I-hate-you phase.”</div>
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Relieved about the absence of Alexandra’s father, she turned her back to the birth mother and approached Alexandra’s bassinet. Hilda’s wide girth obstructed Mrs. Montgomery’s view of the baby.</div>
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Hilda gazed upon the tiny, helpless newborn, a Carbon Copy of a newborn she’d abducted twenty-five years before. Hilda recalled helping transition the baby the night before. Shortly after babies are born, they are taken to the nursery where the baby is washed, weighed, measured, and given numerous tests. Hilda, the nurse who fastened the security tags on Baby Montgomery’s wrist and ankle, intentionally left Alexandra’s tags looser than normal. </div>
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Hilda grabbed a diaper and some wipes from underneath the bassinet. Before she removed the soiled diaper, Hilda slowly removed a tiny medicine dropper from her sweater pocket. She administered several drops of liquid into Alexandra’s tiny mouth. <i>This baby will sleep well tonight too. </i></div>
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</i><br />
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Hilda slid off both of Alexandra’s security tags and wrapped them in the dirty diaper. She tossed the soiled diaper into the trash can and wiped Alexandra’s bottom. Hilda put a fresh diaper on the baby and tightly wrapped up the baby girl in a blanket. Alexandra now resembled a large burrito. </div>
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“Sleep well, Mrs. Montgomery, I’ll see you in the morning,” Hilda said. She turned to look at Alexandra’s mother, who’d already fallen asleep.</div>
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Hilda unbuttoned her sweater to reveal the baby sling. She picked up Alexandra and placed her in the sling. She buttoned her sweater and looked into the mirror. <i>Perfect</i>, she thought. Hilda’s sturdy frame and overweight midsection provided the perfect camouflage. No one would suspect her wide girth or her bulging sweater concealed a newborn. </div>
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At least Tom-Tom stopped making her steal twins like she did twenty-five years ago. But back then, hospital security barely existed. Now this particular hospital utilized cameras in every nook and cranny of the maternity ward. Everywhere, except in the birthing suites. </div>
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Hilda walked slow down the hall and pushed the elevator button. She took out her cigarettes as the elevator door opened. A young doctor exited the elevator as she got on.</div>
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<div align="JUSTIFY">
“You shouldn’t smoke,” he said. </div>
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“I know, I know, I’ve been meaning to quit. But I’m a New Yorker, what can I say,” Hilda said.</div>
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<div align="JUSTIFY">
Once on the ground floor, Hilda headed toward the exit and nonchalantly stepped outside. She paused and lit up the second she could. She inhaled several puffs and looked up towards the sky. She meandered around the side of the building, just out of range of the security cameras. </div>
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“You got a light, Miss?” A very large man asked as he placed his own cigarette between his eager lips. </div>
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“Sure.” Hilda retrieved her lighter. “Here, let me light it for you.”</div>
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Hilda stepped close to the large man and attempted to light his cigarette. The lighter didn’t work. “I’m sorry, sir. This is one of those cheapo lighters which apparently do not work very well.” Hilda continued with several more failed attempts at lighting the man’s cigarette.</div>
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“I’m in no hurry, Ma’am.” He reached under Hilda’s sweater and found the newborn tucked into the baby sling. He removed the precious cargo, opened his jacket, and tucked the baby into his baby sling. </div>
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“There we go,” Hilda said, as the flame finally accomplished its task. </div>
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“Thank you, Ma’am. It sure is getting cold out here.” He buttoned up his overcoat.</div>
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“It’s supposed to get down into the teens tonight, or so I hear.” Hilda puffed on the last of her cigarette.</div>
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“Winter will be here before we know it.” The man puffed away like an addict.</div>
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“Well, I better get back to work.” Hilda stomped out her cigarette.</div>
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“Thanks again, you have a good night.” Pauley walked away with baby Alexandra Montgomery carefully hidden underneath his overcoat.</div>
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</div>Terri Talley Ventershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14000680923157707689noreply@blogger.com3