tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27745067891609680962024-03-18T19:48:46.862+10:00Wagging TalesAuthor Charmaine Clancy's blog.Charmaine Clancyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18059559142070140041noreply@blogger.comBlogger463125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2774506789160968096.post-17161469538615296542015-01-31T08:13:00.000+10:002015-01-31T08:15:34.861+10:00WEBSITE FOR WRITERS<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">After SEVEN years of sharing writing tips, advice and discoveries, I've now moved my blog to my author website. You'll still get all the juicy secrets of the writing industry, enjoy guest posts from authors, publishers and editors, and learn techniques and strategies to get your work written and published. WAGGING TALES will remain active for anyone who's keen enough to search archives, but I hope you'll join us at the new blog: <a href="http://www.charmaineclancy.com/"><b>DREAM... WRITE... PUBLISH</b></a> at:</span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: x-large;"><a href="http://charmaineclancy.com/"><b>CharmaineClancy.com</b></a></span></div>
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Charmaine Clancyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18059559142070140041noreply@blogger.com61tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2774506789160968096.post-43861953996121208692014-06-03T05:00:00.000+10:002014-06-03T05:00:03.828+10:00STOP the Bully: How to Organise Author Events<div style="text-align: justify;">
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-size: x-large;">Karen Tyrrell - author of STOP the Bully.</span></h2>
Today I'm sharing news and tips from Karen Tyrrell, a talented author, prominent social media enthusiast, generous person, mental health advocate, and one of the most organised authors I know. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTQQ0coEssIcbzIMo6uvDO6ENrpsqvlm9O_a5VDVPefRhIb9_ibGwXzAgYXZvuSuZhHj6bCV79fOg1jVkfigZ4ruQjsRClEBlwwgryN6q8I_tfTsIp1r_WmUphLzkWX7io2i4Qc4NBJwCg/s1600/Karen+Tyrrell+BEST++457+KB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTQQ0coEssIcbzIMo6uvDO6ENrpsqvlm9O_a5VDVPefRhIb9_ibGwXzAgYXZvuSuZhHj6bCV79fOg1jVkfigZ4ruQjsRClEBlwwgryN6q8I_tfTsIp1r_WmUphLzkWX7io2i4Qc4NBJwCg/s1600/Karen+Tyrrell+BEST++457+KB.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a>Given the opportunity to help Karen launch her new book, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/STOP-Bully-Karen-Tyrrell-ebook/dp/B00KMFZM42/ref=as_sl_pc_ss_til?tag=waggtale03-20&linkCode=w01&linkId=PWCDDKS6QWHJ56Q5&creativeASIN=B00KMFZM42"><i>STOP the Bully</i></a>, and interview her on any writerly topics, I wanted to know how she manages to pull all her promotions together. Enjoy the interview, there's some great tips, and one lucky reader who leaves a comment will receive a <b>FREE</b> ebook copy of <b><i>STOP the Bully</i></b>!</div>
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<b>Karen, how are you promoting STOP the Bully</b>?<br />
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As widely as possible! I sought support and reviews from Kids Helpline and Kids Matter Australian curriculum. I sent out PDF review copies to reviewers. I emailed press releases to newspaper, radio and media. I rang bookshops, explaining the top selling points for<i> <a href="http://www.amazon.com/STOP-Bully-Karen-Tyrrell-ebook/dp/B00KMFZM42/ref=as_sl_pc_ss_til?tag=waggtale03-20&linkCode=w01&linkId=PWCDDKS6QWHJ56Q5&creativeASIN=B00KMFZM42">STOP the Bully</a></i>, following up with book information sheets. Later I made appointments to show booksellers <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/STOP-Bully-Karen-Tyrrell-ebook/dp/B00KMFZM42/ref=as_sl_pc_ss_til?tag=waggtale03-20&linkCode=w01&linkId=PWCDDKS6QWHJ56Q5&creativeASIN=B00KMFZM42">STOP the Bully</a>.</i></div>
<span style="text-align: justify;">I created Facebook event invitations and emailed out invitations too. I created an international Goodreads book giveaway event. Co-incidentally I’m presenting a seminar at QWC (Queensland Writers Centre) on author branding, an Author in School program for Gold Coast Writers Festival and speaking at the CYA Conference, sharing <a href="http://www.amazon.com/STOP-Bully-Karen-Tyrrell-ebook/dp/B00KMFZM42/ref=as_sl_pc_ss_til?tag=waggtale03-20&linkCode=w01&linkId=KQDDKPHXNEBY76HM&creativeASIN=B00KMFZM42"><i>STOP the Bully</i></a> and my other mental health books.</span><br />
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<b>How did you organize your book launch?</b><br />
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Four months ago, I chose <a href="http://www.amazon.com/STOP-Bully-Karen-Tyrrell-ebook/dp/B00KMFZM42/ref=as_sl_pc_ss_til?tag=waggtale03-20&linkCode=w01&linkId=PWCDDKS6QWHJ56Q5&creativeASIN=B00KMFZM42"><i>STOP the Bully</i></a> release date as May 31st. I booked into Black Cat Books in Brisbane, who I have a great relationship with. I made sure my manuscript was Beta-read, critiqued, edited and formatted well before that date. After that I organised my Amazon launch, Blog Tour and release into shops.</div>
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<b>How did you organise STOP the Bully Blog Tour?</b></div>
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I started months in advance, brainstorming authors and websites who supported me and my author brand. I sent out invitations to find out who’s available for the Blog Tour. I included a radio interview, written interviews and reviews. I pencilled-in a blog tour schedule then later I confirmed each blog hop. I’m giving away eBooks and signed copies for the best comments. My blog tour coincides with my Amazon launch.</div>
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<b>How did you apply and get accepted into author speaking events?</b><br />
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Research! Research! Research! I applied for events via an expression of interest, plus I sent them a tailor-made bio. After applying I made sure I followed-up.</div>
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<b>How do you keep track of all your writing submissions and author events?</b><br />
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I use a daily planner plus a monthly planner too. Each day I re-prioritise with a new to-do list with tick boxes, ticking off with red pen as I go. I tape up reminders and follow-ups onto my desk at eye level. Each night and morning I check my diary and motivate myself for the day ahead.<br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/STOP-Bully-Karen-Tyrrell-ebook/dp/B00KMFZM42/ref=as_sl_pc_ss_til?tag=waggtale03-20&linkCode=w01&linkId=KQDDKPHXNEBY76HM&creativeASIN=B00KMFZM42"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3I-PdjsVAQwNkiUn7rZFPmMKUjmUVE3kxl9PhHTPwflu9XTY4Tc3Oy3z_b5IY6YbiBj3NW0LcxVwN1UjHHJkpi49nAH2OgYVVMaX8Mh3IbKw3A3NV-grPNzXPxCg_qVKK9jEQIHTZ3ItX/s1600/ktyrrell-stopbully-cover-webpromo-lge.jpg" height="640" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b>SYNOPSIS: Eleven year old Brian is hiding something. His life is falling apart. Dad aban-doned the family. Brian hates his new school. And now an aggressive bully attacks him every day. Can Brian STOP the Bully without revealing his shameful secret? </b></div>
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<b><i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/STOP-Bully-Karen-Tyrrell-ebook/dp/B00KMFZM42/ref=as_sl_pc_ss_til?tag=waggtale03-20&linkCode=w01&linkId=BVNDUQBRNT5XPEIP&creativeASIN=B00KMFZM42">STOP the Bully</a></i> is a riveting junior novel to empower girls and boys with assertive strat-egies. The mystery reveals the bullying dilemma from all perspectives. </b></div>
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<b><i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/STOP-Bully-Karen-Tyrrell-ebook/dp/B00KMFZM42/ref=as_sl_pc_ss_til?tag=waggtale03-20&linkCode=w01&linkId=KQDDKPHXNEBY76HM&creativeASIN=B00KMFZM42">STOP the Bully</a></i> raises BIG issues: bullying, family break-ups, poverty, self-esteem, cop-ing with change, friendship, forgiveness and reconciliation. </b></div>
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<b>*5 STAR REVIEWS: Kids Book Review, teachers and school counselors. Aligned with Kids Matter: Australian curriculum. </b></div>
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<b>5% sales go to Kids Helpline to help Kids in Crisis. </b></div>
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<b>FREE teacher Notes FREE kids activities <a href="http://www.karentyrrell.com/">www.karentyrrell.com</a> </b></div>
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STOP the Bully Blog Tour & BookGiveAway</span></h3>
Empower KIDs with assertive anti-bullying strategies!<br />
WIN: Signed copies and eCopies of <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/STOP-Bully-Karen-Tyrrell-ebook/dp/B00KMFZM42/ref=as_sl_pc_ss_til?tag=waggtale03-20&linkCode=w01&linkId=KQDDKPHXNEBY76HM&creativeASIN=B00KMFZM42">STOP the Bully</a></i>.<br />
Leave a comment on any of the 15 hops June 2- 11<br />
The MORE comments you leave the MORE chances you WIN.<br />
WINNERS announced on June 16 <a href="http://www.karentyrrell.com/">http://www.karentyrrell.com</a><br />
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<b>Blog Tour June 2-11</b><br />
2 June STOP the Bully Release Party & Reviews <a href="http://www.karentyrrell.com/">http<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">://www.karentyrrell.com</span></a><br />
Sally Odgers Interview <a href="http://spinningpearls.blogspot.com.au/">http://spinningpearls.blogspot.com.au</a><br />
3 June Jill Smith Review <a href="http://authorjillsmith.wordpress.com/">http://authorjillsmith.wordpress.com</a><br />
Charmaine Clancy Interview <a href="http://clancytales.blogspot.com.au/">http://clancytales.blogspot.com.au</a><br />
4 June Kids Book Review CURLY Questions <a href="http://www.kids-bookreview.com/">http://www.kids-bookreview.com</a><br />
Sally Murphy QUICK Questions <a href="http://aussiereviews.com/2014/06/karen-tyrell-blog-tour">http://aussiereviews.com/2014/06/karen-tyrell-blog-tour</a><br />
5 June Melissa Wray Interview <a href="http://www.melissawray.blogspot.com.au/">http://www.melissawray.blogspot.com.au</a><br />
Yvonne Mes Interview <a href="http://www.yvonnemes.com/">http://www.yvonnemes.com</a><br />
6 June Ali Stegert Interview <a href="http://ali-stegert.com/">http://ali-stegert.com</a><br />
9 June Bug in a Book Review <a href="http://buginabook.org/category/childrens-books">http://buginabook.org/category/childrens-books</a><br />
Jackie Hosking Interview <a href="http://jackiehoskingpio.wordpress.com/school-magazine">http://jackiehoskingpio.wordpress.com/school-magazine</a><br />
10 June June Perkins Interview <a href="http://pearlz.wordpress.com/">http://pearlz.wordpress.com</a><br />
Robyn Parnell Interview <a href="http://www.robynopie.blogspot.com.au/">http://www.robynopie.blogspot.com.au</a><br />
11 June Nicky Johnson Review <a href="http://www.nickyjohnston.com.au/blog">http://www.nickyjohnston.com.au/blog</a><br />
Literati Radio Interview 9am AEST <a href="http://www.blogtalkradio.com/laliteraticarpelibrum">http://www.blogtalkradio.com/laliteraticarpelibrum</a><br />
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<span style="line-height: 14px;"><b><i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/STOP-Bully-Karen-Tyrrell-ebook/dp/B00KMFZM42/ref=as_sl_pc_ss_til?tag=waggtale03-20&linkCode=w01&linkId=KQDDKPHXNEBY76HM&creativeASIN=B00KMFZM42">STOP the Bully</a></i> </b>is </span><span style="line-height: 14px;">endorsed by <b>Kids Helpline </b><b></b>and<b> </b>aligned with <b>Kids Matter</b>, Australian curriculum</span><b>.</b></div>
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Download FREE children's activities and FREE teacher notes from <a href="http://www.karentyrrell.com/" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">www.karentyrrell.com</span></a></div>
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<span style="line-height: 14px;"><b>ISBN: </b>9780987274069 </span><span style="line-height: 14px;">STOP the Bully</span><span style="line-height: 14px;"> is now available from </span><b style="line-height: 14px;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/STOP-Bully-Karen-Tyrrell-ebook/dp/B00KMFZM42/ref=as_sl_pc_ss_til?tag=waggtale03-20&linkCode=w01&linkId=KQDDKPHXNEBY76HM&creativeASIN=B00KMFZM42">Amazon</a></b><span style="line-height: 14px;">.</span></div>
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Charmaine Clancyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18059559142070140041noreply@blogger.com27tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2774506789160968096.post-20350665057819720322014-05-20T18:59:00.000+10:002014-05-20T18:59:28.898+10:00WIN A KINDLE!<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The competition to win a Kindle has been extended! I'll be holding a book launch at my local book store June 7, and all the people who come along to purchase a book and get it signed can go into the draw. The new closing date for the competition is June 14.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheqX6MxBlwO77M9pgHK0eFYB4QTIQ7ienylkrkxLqdSBRJ3KsEBAGrz5yTzbj6syeviIX3tDLEFFvl3LXMOIFsvV5fD6HjUo4I5KSdsl6UZZksU411pBJwjeZHrS_HdWllRLFSdk36KBjY/s1600/book+launch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheqX6MxBlwO77M9pgHK0eFYB4QTIQ7ienylkrkxLqdSBRJ3KsEBAGrz5yTzbj6syeviIX3tDLEFFvl3LXMOIFsvV5fD6HjUo4I5KSdsl6UZZksU411pBJwjeZHrS_HdWllRLFSdk36KBjY/s1600/book+launch.jpg" height="235" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">To celebrate the rising of <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Undead-Kev-Zane-versus-Everything-ebook/dp/B00IFBSECW" target="_blank"><em><strong><span style="color: #134f5c;">Undead Kev</span></strong></em></a> I'm having a launch party and you're all invited! I'll be running an online book tour for Undead Kev and there will be some cool prizes; you could win a Kindle or an Amazon gift card, just by participating!</span>
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<a href="http://www.charmaineclancy.com/undeadkev/"><img alt="Win a kindle" class="aligncenter wp-image-398" src="http://charmaineclancy.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/Kindle.png" height="409" width="422" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The competition will run from now until the 31st of May and you can enter by:</span></div>
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<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Purchasing a copy of Undead Kev</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Purchasing one of my other books (<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Zombie-Dog-Zane-versus-Everything-ebook/dp/B007DSZHTQ" target="_blank"><em><strong>My Zombie Dog</strong></em></a>, or <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Dognapped-Dog-Show-Detective-Mystery-ebook/dp/B00CRF1BAE" target="_blank"><em><strong>Dognapped? A dog show detective mystery</strong></em></a>)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Blog about the book launch</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">To enter by purchasing one of my books, simply keep your receipt/order number and pop it into the rafflecopter entry form below. Hang onto your receipt for verification if you win! Purchases from the 1st of March to the 31st of May will be valid.</span></div>
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<script type="text/javascript">// <![CDATA[
document.write('<scr' + 'ipt type="text/javascript" src="http://www.inlinkz.com/cs.php?id=384918&' + new Date().getTime() + '"><\/script>');
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">To enter by blogging, simply create a blog about the book launch, or email me for a pre-prepared blog post (this come in html format, you simply cut and paste it into your blog post. You can of course edit this post to suit your readers). Alternatively, email me some questions and I'll answer them interview style, or review the book in a blog post, including links to where the book can be purchased and to this competition page.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The winner will be announce here on the blog (and contacted via email) June 4th.</span></div>
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<span style="color: red;">Enter</span></h2>
<a class="rafl" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/a872463/" id="rc-a872463" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a>
<script src="//d12vno17mo87cx.cloudfront.net/embed/rafl/cptr.js" type="text/javascript"></script>Charmaine Clancyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18059559142070140041noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2774506789160968096.post-17928959138658582592014-04-07T14:00:00.001+10:002014-04-07T14:00:28.609+10:00Undead Kev has risen! Children's book launch and prizes.<div style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Zombie-Dog-Zane-versus-Everything-ebook/dp/B007DSZHTQ" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="My Zombie Dog" class=" wp-image-74 alignleft" src="http://charmaineclancy.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/MyZombieDog-Cover-WebUse-Lge-187x300.jpg" height="300" width="187" /></a><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">To celebrate the launch of my new book, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Undead-Kev-Zane-versus-Everything-ebook/dp/B00IFBSECW" target="_blank"><em><strong><span style="color: #134f5c;">Undead Kev</span></strong></em></a>, I'll be giving away a Kindle and Amazon Gift Card!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">When I wrote <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Zombie-Dog-Zane-versus-Everything-ebook/dp/B007DSZHTQ" target="_blank"><em><strong><span style="color: #134f5c;">My Zombie Dog</span></strong></em></a>, a favourite amongst zombie-loving kids, teachers and grandparents, I never imagined turning the story into a series. The little undead dog told her story and that was the end of that. Until ...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Zombie-Dog-Zane-versus-Everything-ebook/dp/B007DSZHTQ" target="_blank"><em><strong><span style="color: #134f5c;">My Zombie Dog</span></strong></em></a> told the story of Zane, a teenage boy, who receives a horrible dog for his birthday. The dog dies, the dog rises... and there the adventure begins. However, one character who appeared just briefly won the hearts of many readers; his name is Kev.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I received emails, messages and pleas from readers to write another story with more Kev time. I wasn't so sure, but Kev thought it was a great idea. So... <em><strong><span style="color: #134f5c;">Undead Kev</span></strong></em> was created. Here's a little about the book:
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Undead-Kev-Zane-versus-Everything-ebook/dp/B00IFBSECW" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Undead Kev kids zombie books great read" class="alignright size-full wp-image-344" src="http://charmaineclancy.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/undead-kev-cover-webuse-lge.jpg" height="500" width="314" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-size: x-large;">UNDEAD KEV</span></h2>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Kev was strange, sluggish and smelled disgusting ... and that was before he became a zombie!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Zane and Kev, best mates forever. Side by side, they’ve been through crayon chewing (Kev), nose picking (Kev), and losing their trunks in the public pool (yep, that was Kev, too). They even faced the zombie apocalypse together... until Kev got bit. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"> Can their friendship survive if Kev is a zombie? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"> Zane feels guilty and blames himself for Kev’s condition. Kev blames him too. But then Kev is kidnapped by invisible stealth-monkeys and taken to an evil government facility to be their next experiment. Will Zane be brave enough to rescue his ex-best buddy and save the friendship?
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<span style="color: red; font-size: x-large;"><b>WIN</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">To celebrate the rising of <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Undead-Kev-Zane-versus-Everything-ebook/dp/B00IFBSECW" target="_blank"><em><strong><span style="color: #134f5c;">Undead Kev</span></strong></em></a> I'm having a launch party and you're all invited! I'll be running an online book tour for Undead Kev and there will be some cool prizes; you could win a Kindle or an Amazon gift card, just by participating!</span></div>
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<a href="http://www.charmaineclancy.com/undeadkev/"><img alt="Win a kindle" class="aligncenter wp-image-398" src="http://charmaineclancy.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/Kindle.png" height="409" width="422" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The competition will run from now until the 31st of May and you can enter by:</span></div>
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<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Purchasing a copy of Undead Kev</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Purchasing one of my other books (<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Zombie-Dog-Zane-versus-Everything-ebook/dp/B007DSZHTQ" target="_blank"><em><strong>My Zombie Dog</strong></em></a>, or <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Dognapped-Dog-Show-Detective-Mystery-ebook/dp/B00CRF1BAE" target="_blank"><em><strong>Dognapped? A dog show detective mystery</strong></em></a>)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Blog about the book launch</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">To enter by purchasing one of my books, simply keep your receipt/order number and pop it into the rafflecopter entry form below. Hang onto your receipt for verification if you win! Purchases from the 1st of March to the 31st of May will be valid.</span></div>
<!-- start InLinkz script -->
<script type="text/javascript">// <![CDATA[
document.write('<scr' + 'ipt type="text/javascript" src="http://www.inlinkz.com/cs.php?id=384918&' + new Date().getTime() + '"><\/script>');
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">To enter by blogging, simply create a blog about the book launch, or email me for a pre-prepared blog post (this come in html format, you simply cut and paste it into your blog post. You can of course edit this post to suit your readers). Alternatively, email me some questions and I'll answer them interview style, or review the book in a blog post, including links to where the book can be purchased and to this competition page.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The winner will be announce here on the blog (and contacted via email) June 4th.</span></div>
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<span style="color: red;">Enter</span></h2>
<a class="rafl" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/a872463/" id="rc-a872463" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a>
<script src="//d12vno17mo87cx.cloudfront.net/embed/rafl/cptr.js" type="text/javascript"></script>Charmaine Clancyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18059559142070140041noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2774506789160968096.post-16970199396462707662014-04-02T15:34:00.000+10:002014-04-02T15:34:48.997+10:00Focus Days - IWSG post<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://alexjcavanaugh.blogspot.com/p/the-insecure-writers-support-group.html"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEislKFUNenGiJsYky2ucef6E1MHo4rkQYyLDWc3-zD_JfJzDiyGdlvE5oM-D1aWTC16QvVp52VthfvBgZ8pLD18uuVhCdmyEB06rgrip_gW-a-L3ghW98_RgXbLcaCwqNhdGZaRGbSQX80/s320/InsecureWritersSupportGroup.jpg" height="171" width="200" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">My scattered brain has trouble keeping up with writing, blogging, studying and teaching lately, so I'm lucky to have a friend like <a href="http://laussieswritingblog.blogspot.com.au/2014/04/iwsg-post-i-finished-my-first-novel-now.html">Denise Covey</a> to remind me today is the Insecure Writers Support Group day! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">It's not surprising that I almost (and sometimes do) forget to post for <a href="http://alexjcavanaugh.blogspot.com/p/the-insecure-writers-support-group.html">IWSG</a> each month, I've always had trouble working on multiple projects at once. My mind becomes distracted by all my other to-do tasks. Now I've been introduced to a new time management system that seems to work well, perhaps you'll get some use out of it too.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;">Focus Days.</span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Jillanne, a friend from <b>Vannguard Writers</b>, explained that she juggles multiple novels by giving each a focus day. I like this idea, because I also need to focus on my current studies for my Master of Letters that I'm undertaking through Central Queensland University. Basically, each writing project is given a day, and on that day, I don't let myself wander into research for the other projects. Now I can't spend a whole day on writing, as there are other tasks I need to attend to, such as marketing, sales, writing workshops, studies, teaching, etc, etc. Instead I allocate roughly half a day to each novel. I split my day into sections. Here's my current schedule (the blank spaces are for notes on what I've accomplished or what my goal is for that day).</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrZL4BazDoic5hi6CD3rMUcTd6oECTPuUK1_V8hfglw0h0rP_KITSnPO8yc8aXEDI3PyHngApqMdrRlq3K9est3F__xOh001NDfzxSOwgmd07EIKfwtml8S804PsS-6Txc9Ilr9HZ0NAT7/s1600/Focus+Days.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrZL4BazDoic5hi6CD3rMUcTd6oECTPuUK1_V8hfglw0h0rP_KITSnPO8yc8aXEDI3PyHngApqMdrRlq3K9est3F__xOh001NDfzxSOwgmd07EIKfwtml8S804PsS-6Txc9Ilr9HZ0NAT7/s1600/Focus+Days.jpg" height="449" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I leave Sunday off, because if I scheduled EVERY day, I would be exhausted!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;"><i>Undead Kev</i> News</span></h2>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I'm running a blog tour for my new novel Undead Kev. There are some very cool prizes, including a Kindle!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">If you'd like to sign up, the post and details are at: </span><b style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large; text-align: justify;"><a href="http://charmaineclancy.com/undeadkev/">http://charmaineclancy.com/undeadkev/</a></b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU_33S46eRm6bR9skVYtJBSSqs-bIEoxbBGZhYXi5qthbtyz9DEVXeSwRSdrRuL0wAetpjjTMzXkcl9J9V0hc3uXTo834WSAwJAl7oNcyeG3Jqy2Ihf0oCwGvArhJsUOgXCKvqwS3vQ733/s1600/undead-kev-cover-webuse-bookstand.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU_33S46eRm6bR9skVYtJBSSqs-bIEoxbBGZhYXi5qthbtyz9DEVXeSwRSdrRuL0wAetpjjTMzXkcl9J9V0hc3uXTo834WSAwJAl7oNcyeG3Jqy2Ihf0oCwGvArhJsUOgXCKvqwS3vQ733/s1600/undead-kev-cover-webuse-bookstand.png" height="320" width="238" /></a><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Now I know there's the whole Blogger versus Wordpress issues for some people, so I'll also post the details and sign-up link here in the next day or two.</span></div>
Charmaine Clancyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18059559142070140041noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2774506789160968096.post-6226733854673614322014-03-28T10:48:00.000+10:002014-03-28T10:48:46.599+10:00Writing Prompt and Story<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Writing Prompt: Through the eyes of a child...</span><br />
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<a href="http://0.viki.io/c/20421c/9368c4dabf.jpg?x=b&s=590x330&q=h&e=t&f=t&cb=1" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://0.viki.io/c/20421c/9368c4dabf.jpg?x=b&s=590x330&q=h&e=t&f=t&cb=1" height="352" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b><i>Stevie Meets The Lone Ranger</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 1.5;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">S</span></b><span style="font-size: large;">tevie gulped for air, but there was none. Only water to fill his nostrils, throat, lungs. He twisted left and right, pushed his arms out in search of the surface, where the sun’s caress would ease life’s breath back into his aching chest. The sun fell further away and the water became dark, black, silent. There was nothing. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 1.5;"><span style="font-size: large;">Or was there? </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 1.5;"><span style="font-size: large;">A flicker. A quick blink at first, then the light grew, expanded and exploded in noiseless grandeur. Stevie was in the light, he was the light. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 1.5;"><span style="font-size: large;">Hello Steven.
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 1.5;"><span style="font-size: large;">He blinked three times, because the first two don’t count when you’re seeing things.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 1.5;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 1.5;"><span style="font-size: large;">'Who are you?'</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 1.5;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 1.5;"><span style="font-size: large;">You know who I am, who am I Steven?</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 1.5;"><span style="font-size: large;">'God?'</span></span></div>
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That’s right.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 1.5;"><span style="font-size: large;">The old man came into focus now, his long white beard billowing in the breeze.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large; line-height: 1.5;">'You look like Santa.'</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large; line-height: 1.5;">He smiled as though pleased with this comparison.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large; line-height: 1.5;">That’s how your mind chooses to see me. My image is your doing, but I assure you, I’m real and I have an important task for you.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large; line-height: 1.5;">'I can make you look however I want?'</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large; line-height: 1.5;">That’s correct. Listen now Steven, you’ll be returning. There’s something very important you must do. The people down there need your guidance, otherwise—</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large; line-height: 1.5;">'Sweet!'</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large; line-height: 1.5;">The beard dissolved, a Stetson formed on his head and a black mask over his eyes. The flowing white robe became a fitted grey shirt with dark trim.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large; line-height: 1.5;">—There’s going to be a flood. A great flood. A flood to wipe the earth clean. Unless—</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large; line-height: 1.5;">'Say hi ho Silver!'</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large; line-height: 1.5;">What?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large; line-height: 1.5;">Stevie chuckled and pointed a finger at the image. 'You look like The Lone Ranger.'</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large; line-height: 1.5;">Oh. Alright Steven, pay attention. This flood will come, but there is one way to avoid it. In your little town you must have the locals build a temple. Your family, friends and neighbours will think you are crazy Steven, they’ll… wait… The old man flicked his red arrowed tail and tentatively touched the curved horns on his head. That’s not funny Steven.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large; line-height: 1.5;">'Sorry.' Stevie looked down at his feet to appear shameful, but really he was hiding a grin.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large; line-height: 1.5;">You can save mankind from their own sins. Save them from the flood. You. One small boy from Warracknabeal can be their saviour. You want to be their saviour don’t you Steven?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large; line-height: 1.5;">Stevie looked up and nodded. Of course he did, he’d be just like… he blinked away the image of Superman before him. God wouldn’t like that. Problem was, thinking of the man of steel then got him to thinking…</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large; line-height: 1.5;">Convince the people of your town to build a temple. It must be the grandest and largest temple ever built. It must rival the pyramids, the great wall. People will come from all over the world. They will pray and they’ll be… Steven?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large; line-height: 1.5;">Tears streamed down Stevie’s cheeks, down past his jaw clenched tight.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large; line-height: 1.5;">God furrowed his arched brows and turned his face down to take in his blue, red and gold fitted costume barely constraining his ample bust. He held up the golden lasso questioningly.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large; line-height: 1.5;">'Wonder Woman.' Stevie spluttered the words then broke into sobs of laughter.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large; line-height: 1.5;">God’s hands rested on his curved hips. His pretty face grew red with fury.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large; line-height: 1.5;">Stevie quickly turned him back into The Lone Ranger.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large; line-height: 1.5;">Steven…</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large; line-height: 1.5;">'Stevie…' God was his mother?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large; line-height: 1.5;">'Stevie… Oh dear Lord, you’re alive!' She pulled him up to sitting and hugged the soaking wet boy, then covered his cheeks with smears of her cherry lipstick. Once he was well enough to squirm from her embrace she released him and helped him to his feet.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large; line-height: 1.5;">The sun warmed his bare back.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large; line-height: 1.5;">'Oh Stevie, are you okay? I should take you straight to Doctor Henderson.'</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large; line-height: 1.5;">'Aww Mum, I’m fine.'</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large; line-height: 1.5;">As they made their way up the cleared path leading from the waterhole, back to the house, Stevie relayed his experience. 'I met The Lone Ranger!'</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large; line-height: 1.5;">His mother laughed with relief. 'Yes? Please do tell me, what did he have to say?'</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large; line-height: 1.5;">Stevie shrugged. 'It’s gonna rain.'</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large; line-height: 1.5;"><b>* * *</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 30px;">This story is part of the <a href="http://writeeditpublishnow.blogspot.com.au/">Write Edit Publish</a> blog hop, each month you can complete and publish a story to their prompts. This month's prompt was... <i>Through the eyes of a child. </i>Now I'm off to read some of the great stories submitted!</span></span></div>
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Charmaine Clancyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18059559142070140041noreply@blogger.com6Brisbane QLD, Australia-27.4710107 153.02344889999995-29.2848802 150.43067539999996 -25.6571412 155.61622239999994tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2774506789160968096.post-1071641196284555442014-03-12T15:35:00.000+10:002014-03-12T15:37:13.721+10:00Fanfiction -- Granny Weatherwax in 'No Game of Chance'<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Trying my hand at fan-fiction based on characters from Terry Pratchett's </span><i style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Discworld</i><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> series. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Disclaimer</i>: I do not own Discworld or any of the characters in this story. They are owned by Terry Pratchett. It's hard to believe any mortal could own Granny Weatherwax, but I believe her and Sir Pratchett have an <i>understanding</i>. This story was written for my own perverse fun and I shall not profit from it in any way (a little like my own writing then).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If you're one of those poor people who've never read Terry Pratchett, but you're curious, these are the characters I nicked, um borrowed, okay nicked, from Pratchett (click on them to see their Wikipedia page):</span></div>
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<tr><td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Nanny_Ogg.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/8/80/Nanny_Ogg.jpg" height="149" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13.333333969116211px;">Nanny Ogg</td></tr>
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<tr><td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Granny_Weatherwax" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/2/27/Granny_Weatherwax.jpg/230px-Granny_Weatherwax.jpg" height="200" width="137" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13.333333969116211px;">Granny Weatherwax</td></tr>
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<tr><td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_(Discworld)" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/b/b9/Death_Discworld.png" height="320" width="157" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13.333333969116211px;">Death<br />
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<div style="font-family: Cochin; text-align: center;">
<i><b><span style="font-size: large;">No Game of Chance</span></b></i></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">'New wrap?' Nanny Ogg ogled the soft black fabric replacing the worn battered coat usually draped about Granny Weatherwax’s shoulders.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Cochin; text-align: justify; text-indent: 18px;">
<span style="font-size: large;">'No it ate’nt.'</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Cochin; text-align: justify; text-indent: 18px;">
<span style="font-size: large;">'Now you mention it, I do remember you wearing it once or twice before.' </span></div>
<div style="font-family: Cochin; text-align: justify; text-indent: 18px;">
<span style="font-size: large;">'No you don’t, you remember me wearing it many times before.'</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">'Uh huh.' Nanny Ogg nodded, but when Granny turned she leaned in with a pair of shears drawn from her knickers (where she keeps everything she needs) and snipped off a price tag dangling down Granny’s bony back. Always better not to argue with Granny, or you’d likely find yourself wanderin' the forest void of memory, or craving shell-fish even though you’re allergic, or… well, it was just best not to.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Granny paused at the door. Just a moment, but long enough to show a mix of smugness, sadness and nostalgia in the crinkling of her eyes. Strange combination, but Granny was the oldest witch to ever live, and she’d plenty of time to master these unusual amalgamations, like her infamous 'mischievous-amusement, gleeful-hunger mingled with disappointing resolve to kill you' gaze.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Then her knobby hand turned the… knob and she was off. At this time of night? Granny claimed to be a traditional witch, but she couldn’t abide late nights. Nanny Ogg peered up at the grandfather clock (who’d once been a young wizard). Its hands inched close to twelve. They wobbled with fear, because although Granny insisted it be set to gong at midnight, it would infuriate her if it woke her. Only wood and mechanics now, still, the clock retained enough memory to fear aggravating the old crone.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">'She looks like she’s got a date with destiny,’ Nanny Ogg confided to the trembling clock.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">'Oh I wouldn’t call 'im that,' Granny Weatherwax mused as she approached the old barn up the hill from the cottage. There was no point questioning how Granny could hear a mumble from the other side of the property and yet not respond to the calling of her name up close. Sometimes whispers were just louder than everyday talk. Like <i>his</i> whispers. Oh she knew he was coming and she knew what <i>he</i> wanted.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Granny lit every lamp until they flickered brilliantly. Good. Strong lighting was very important for this rendezvous.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">She sat at the small fold-up table and smoothed her hand over the iron-hard grey bun. Not a hair out of place (it wouldn’t dare). She pinched her cheeks and the last few surviving capillaries cracked.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>I may not 'ave the curves and complexion of a young woman, but I’ve me own allure.</i> She was wrong. There were curves. Just not in the right direction.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">She didn’t hear his arrival, but felt it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">'Esmerelda Weatherwax?' A deep voice resonated through Granny’s bones.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">She didn’t turn. Wasn’t quite ready to gaze into that face. She knew what she would see, or wouldn’t see.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">'Call me Granny, or Esme if you must.'</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Cochin; text-align: justify; text-indent: 18px;">
<span style="font-size: large;">'Uh, alright, Granny Weatherwax?' but the theatrical air of impending doom was lost on the second attempt.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Cochin; text-align: justify; text-indent: 18px;">
<span style="font-size: large;">'You’re late.'</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Cochin; text-align: justify; text-indent: 18px;">
<span style="font-size: large;">'It’s been a busy night.' His voice echoed everywhere and nowhere.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">'Ave a seat.' Granny waved to the chair opposite.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Cochin; text-align: justify; text-indent: 18px;">
<span style="font-size: large;">'We should be going—'</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Cochin; text-align: justify; text-indent: 18px;">
<span style="font-size: large;">'Come on, said yerself you’ve had a busy night, rest a little.’</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">'I… uh… thank you.' Death smoothed his robes and sat. 'Now Granny, you’ve had a long life, don’t you think it’s time you came along… peacefully?'</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">'No. I don’t.' She wiggled a gnarly finger at the place where his face should be. 'You’ve been around longer, I reckon you know the world needs people like me. I’ve still got a lot to do.'</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Death sighed. 'I don’t make the rules Granny—'</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Cochin; text-align: justify; text-indent: 18px;">
<span style="font-size: large;">'No but you can bloody well break 'em.'</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Cochin; text-align: justify; text-indent: 18px;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The elderly were always the hardest, they could be so stubborn. 'I can offer you a challenge, that’s the best I can do.'</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Cochin; text-align: justify; text-indent: 18px;">
<span style="font-size: large;">'I know.'</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Cochin; text-align: justify; text-indent: 18px;">
<span style="font-size: large;">'It’s not really a chance, I never lose.'</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Cochin; text-align: justify; text-indent: 18px;">
<span style="font-size: large;">'I pick the game?'</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Cochin; text-align: justify; text-indent: 18px;">
<span style="font-size: large;">'Yes.'</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Cochin;">'Good.' Granny reached into her carpet bag, pulled out a deck of cards and started shuffling. The cards flipped and arched through the air then were skilfully dispersed.</span></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Cochin; text-align: justify; text-indent: 18px;">
<span style="font-size: large;">'Poker Granny?'</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Cochin; text-align: justify; text-indent: 18px;">
<span style="font-size: large;">'<i>Strip</i> poker.' She winked.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">He shuddered.</span></div>
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<div style="font-family: Cochin; text-align: justify; text-indent: 18px;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Just as the sun began to push pink and orange through the sky, Nanny Ogg knocked on Granny’s door. No answer. She went in. Granny wasn’t there. She stepped out again and peered up and down the lane. Nothing. She turned her gaze up the hill to the old barn. Nothing. Wait. The door was open and there was a flicker of lanterns in the dim morning light.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Nanny Ogg hitched up her skirt and hopped from foot to foot through the long grass in a straight line for the barn. Just as she arrived huffing, a figure emerged. Or didn’t. Or he did emerge, but he wasn’t there. He most definitely wasn’t there and he was grasping his bundled black robes. He looked guiltily at Nanny Ogg, or didn’t, and hurried on his way.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Nanny stepped into the brightly lit barn just in time to see Granny doing up the clasp of her brassiere. </span></div>
<div style="font-family: Cochin; text-align: justify; text-indent: 18px;">
<span style="font-size: large;">'Don’t you knock?'</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Cochin; text-align: justify; text-indent: 18px;">
<span style="font-size: large;">'Um, sorry Granny, it’s only, was that Death leaving just now?</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Cochin; text-align: justify; text-indent: 18px;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Granny chuckled. 'Yep, don’t think he’ll be back for a while.'</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Cochin; text-align: justify; text-indent: 18px;">
<span style="font-size: large;">'He come for you?'</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Cochin; text-align: justify; text-indent: 18px;">
<span style="font-size: large;">'Tried to, but I bested him.'</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Cochin; text-align: justify; text-indent: 18px;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Nanny Ogg helped Granny into her wrap—it was still brisk out. 'But how? Death can’t be beat at any game.'</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Cochin; text-align: justify; text-indent: 18px;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Granny wore a smile combining knowing, victory and gas. 'Yep. But he didn’t want to win this one.'</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Nanny Ogg saw Granny snatch up the cards and it all came together. 'Ooh, you’re a sinful old hag Granny.'</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">'I still ate’nt dead.' And Granny winked.</span><br />
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Charmaine Clancyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18059559142070140041noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2774506789160968096.post-33175892095046986632014-02-06T09:57:00.000+10:002014-02-06T09:57:44.334+10:00Insecure Writers and Upcoming Releases<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEislKFUNenGiJsYky2ucef6E1MHo4rkQYyLDWc3-zD_JfJzDiyGdlvE5oM-D1aWTC16QvVp52VthfvBgZ8pLD18uuVhCdmyEB06rgrip_gW-a-L3ghW98_RgXbLcaCwqNhdGZaRGbSQX80/s320/InsecureWritersSupportGroup.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEislKFUNenGiJsYky2ucef6E1MHo4rkQYyLDWc3-zD_JfJzDiyGdlvE5oM-D1aWTC16QvVp52VthfvBgZ8pLD18uuVhCdmyEB06rgrip_gW-a-L3ghW98_RgXbLcaCwqNhdGZaRGbSQX80/s320/InsecureWritersSupportGroup.jpg" height="171" width="200" /></a></div>
Today is the Insecure Writers Support Group post. Each month we post about writing related things that we feel insecure about. This month I've felt more busy than insecure, as I have on my plate:<br />
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<li>Organising a Writers Retreat - a whole weekend of writing workshops in a gorgeous rainforest setting (for the curious: http://www.rainforestwritingretreat.com.au).</li>
<li>Presenting author talks - I've been invited to schools and organisations to talk about writing</li>
<li>Continuing my children's writing workshops.</li>
<li>Teaching. I've put in my application to teach again this year.</li>
<li>Learning. I'm undertaking my Masters in Writing through Central Queensland Uni, mostly I'll be doing research and writing a historical novel.</li>
<li>Finishing and releasing my children's novels. I'm writing <i>The Invisible Kid</i>, editing <i>An Accidental Mystery</i> and finishing off <i>Waracknabeal Kids.</i></li>
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Lots on! But I just take it one small bite at a time and I'll get through. Oh, and I should add to that list, releasing my next novel <i>Undead Kev</i>. Finally all ready to go to the printers! Here's a sneak at the cover:</div>
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Charmaine Clancyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18059559142070140041noreply@blogger.com19Brisbane QLD, Australia-27.4710107 153.02344889999995-29.2848802 150.43067539999996 -25.6571412 155.61622239999994tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2774506789160968096.post-10092986589408023032013-12-04T23:43:00.000+10:002013-12-05T06:16:56.895+10:00Introvert and Insecure about Networking - No More!<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Time for another Insecure Writers Support Group post. To join up, simply click on the badge:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://alexjcavanaugh.blogspot.com.au/p/the-insecure-writers-support-group.html"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEislKFUNenGiJsYky2ucef6E1MHo4rkQYyLDWc3-zD_JfJzDiyGdlvE5oM-D1aWTC16QvVp52VthfvBgZ8pLD18uuVhCdmyEB06rgrip_gW-a-L3ghW98_RgXbLcaCwqNhdGZaRGbSQX80/s320/InsecureWritersSupportGroup.jpg" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Drawing a topic from my long list of insecurities, today I thought I'd tackle 'networking'.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Networking is a great buzz word in business, but for me, it simply means connecting with peers. Sounds less intimidating that way, doesn't it? And yet, it still scares me.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">It's important to connect with others in your industry, especially for writers, as we are not conditioned to interact with the humans on a daily basis. Networking allows you to benefit from the wisdom of colleagues who have been through the trial and errors you're about to embark on. You can also meet industry professionals who can give you a helping hand to achieve your career goals. But I think, most importantly, it allows you to help emerging writers on their journey to publication -- that can be so rewarding.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0tqImPh_Wt-KJiGwwigsHJeytQ2nfXS7jt5cunovRxY3bVSww515G5jofADBWDDXPJUs5WT5zonSWVWr1X0rsxiwuxe1Q1PDUMTG6IWO8RU-88BHLkAjTvDbVeB1rDpNcdV4-JqSJxRmZ/s1600/shutterstock_80602333.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0tqImPh_Wt-KJiGwwigsHJeytQ2nfXS7jt5cunovRxY3bVSww515G5jofADBWDDXPJUs5WT5zonSWVWr1X0rsxiwuxe1Q1PDUMTG6IWO8RU-88BHLkAjTvDbVeB1rDpNcdV4-JqSJxRmZ/s400/shutterstock_80602333.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">And yet. I attend conferences, workshops, seminars, and I simply can not go up and speak to someone unless they speak to me first. I always convince myself I'm just bothering people.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Lucky for me I have the internet. You can approach people you don't know at all, converse, ask for favours, joke around, and all without ever having to look them in the eye!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjemL5G5IV5UI5vwTD3QwEAQZRmujyTmyXwQBWfzGRRfjS1JGMc1FMt2QMUE78W7z49x5v7oRRbkVftnMVfwxdDl43UFab1oDYM14k7q-CPOb5H7vQ2UESl97ebPfZnQh4Q-TMsxGCAzwC6/s1600/shutterstock_125683361.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjemL5G5IV5UI5vwTD3QwEAQZRmujyTmyXwQBWfzGRRfjS1JGMc1FMt2QMUE78W7z49x5v7oRRbkVftnMVfwxdDl43UFab1oDYM14k7q-CPOb5H7vQ2UESl97ebPfZnQh4Q-TMsxGCAzwC6/s400/shutterstock_125683361.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">But I would like to improve my networking skills, so, I've decided to create a networking opportunity to encourage introverts to connect with other writers, face to face, without the need for even a tiny bit of courage! I'm coordinating the Rainforest Writing Retreat - a two day retreat set in the beautiful Gold Coast hinterland (for our Aussie writers). We'll have writing masterclasses with expert presenters and publishing advice. But more than that, we'll be taking part in planned networking activities.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHyAlbZL9_ndgdLZyEOSY6KTa-BN7zk2x3kaVrDVpc19zuJnaSdixqk1wgoJym3Bu8wYx8oFpgnMJWkDpzXI9VFCSrdNg_CjzwUuxBiPFTBk5285s4YED9LB4UmxuRMy0zj1sodUTBc1bR/s1600/moonlight-dinner-355-x-190.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHyAlbZL9_ndgdLZyEOSY6KTa-BN7zk2x3kaVrDVpc19zuJnaSdixqk1wgoJym3Bu8wYx8oFpgnMJWkDpzXI9VFCSrdNg_CjzwUuxBiPFTBk5285s4YED9LB4UmxuRMy0zj1sodUTBc1bR/s400/moonlight-dinner-355-x-190.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Ever purchase hundreds of contact cards, but were too afraid to hand them out? One of our activities will have everyone swapping cards, you'll actually have a list of names that you must tick off as you collect their card. We'll also have 'get to know you' games, chat sessions and everyone teams up with a roomie for the twin-share accommodation.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">So, if you've wanted to attend an event that meets your dreams--don't wait for it to appear, create your own!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">My retreat:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/RainforestWritingRetreat">https://www.facebook.com/RainforestWritingRetreat</a></span></div>
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Charmaine Clancyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18059559142070140041noreply@blogger.com129Brisbane QLD, Australia-27.4710107 153.02344889999995-29.2848802 150.43067539999996 -25.6571412 155.61622239999994tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2774506789160968096.post-62060196738175936622013-11-27T22:00:00.002+10:002013-11-27T22:00:19.432+10:00HOW TO SELL A SEASON-THEMED BOOK <div class="p1" style="text-align: justify;">
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<a href="https://fbcdn-sphotos-h-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-frc3/1426738_10202583152648096_687254193_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-h-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-frc3/1426738_10202583152648096_687254193_n.jpg" width="238" /></a></div>
<span style="color: #45818e; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>Today I have a guest post from the vivacious Dimity Powell, author of '<a href="http://www.blogger.com/"><span id="goog_443539955"></span>PS Who Stole Santa's Mail?<span id="goog_443539956"></span></a>' -- Dimity will share the secrets for releasing and promoting a book written to seasons or annual events. Enjoy...</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">When I began writing my first junior novel for kids, I admit I was greener than a fir tree. I paid scant attention to season and time (and probably a lot of other things too) and how they would eventually factor into those all important publishing requirements – saleability and marketability.</span></div>
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<span class="s2"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">My intent in those days was purely to pour out the story which involved stolen <b>Christmas</b> mail, a crime that is most problematic and significant around <b>Christmas</b> time. Then, almost before I knew it, after four years, I had myself a published book and the rush was on to get it on the book shelves in time for its <b>seasonal debut</b>.</span></span><br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00ADPSNOW/ref=as_li_ss_til?tag=waggtale03-20&camp=0&creative=0&linkCode=as4&creativeASIN=B00ADPSNOW&adid=10CRAVG2TGMVKVKXVSNP" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/9156KCgwsVL._SL1500_.jpg" width="252" /></a><span class="s2"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i><b><a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00ADPSNOW/ref=as_li_ss_til?tag=waggtale03-20&camp=0&creative=0&linkCode=as4&creativeASIN=B00ADPSNOW&adid=10CRAVG2TGMVKVKXVSNP">PS Who Stole Santa’s Mail?</a></b></i> does not take place in a ‘season’ as such, especially when you consider Christmas falls within two opposing seasons. So my problem was not centred on children needing mittens versus sunglasses to read it, but rather would they bother reading it at any other time of year other than when the excitement of the festive season was burning bright in their eyes. Indeed, would anybody bother buying it for them at any other time of the year? Was I cutting myself short of any hope of return by targeting such a narrow time frame within which to sell? What type of publisher would even take such a risk?</span></span></div>
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<span class="s2"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Fortunately I found one who would and did. </span></span><br />
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<span class="s2"><b><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The Publisher: </span></b></span></h2>
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<span class="s2"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Look around and you’ll discover a number of independent, smaller publishing companies willing to add new unknown talent to their collection of established and respected authors. It homogenises their small select lists and keeps them vibrant and innovative.</span></span><br />
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<span class="s2"><b><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The Timing:</span></b></span></h2>
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<span class="s2"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Like any other publishing house, they are or should also be, in tune with the seasonal nuances peculiar to the publishing world, a world revolving around salient selling times. For instance, <b>post-Christmas</b>, early <b>New Year</b> is prime time for flooding a thirsty market with self-help and self-improvement titles. <b>Easter</b> is a popular time to launch books of religious content and anything for children. October, November; leave it later than this and you’ve missed the sleigh for the highest retail revenue season of the year for most titles including all kids lit. Times to avoid are the flattish months between May and July and any time a new <i><b>Diary of a Wimpy Kid</b></i> book is released. Your aim is to let your book loose at a time it is going to gain the most public notice and sales appeal.</span></span></div>
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<span class="s2"><b><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The PR:</span></b></span></h2>
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<span class="s2"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Don’t expect an Indie publisher to have a full time publicist to hold your hand and guide you through the post publishing phase of promoting your book either. If you are lucky, you will be able to work closely with your publisher who should negotiate most of the marketing steps for you but will still rely on you to be your own PR person. </span></span><br />
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<span class="s2"><b><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The Plan:</span></b></span></h2>
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<span class="s2"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">But how does this all translate to sales when you’ve got a book that screams Christmas and little else? Here are my <b>tops tips for selling a themed book</b>. They are by no means comprehensive nor fool proof and relate mainly to traditional publishing, but worth thinking about before you reach for your candy cane…err…pen.</span></span></div>
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<span class="s2"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>1.</b> <b>First and foremost: don’t write one!</b> No really, if you simply have to write a tale about Santa, then by all means do so. Write what wants to be written within you. Getting too caught up on ‘should dos’ will only hamper your creative flow.</span></span></div>
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<span class="s2"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>2. Identify</b> the seasonal or calendar relationships in your book. Mine, for example is clearly Christmas. Are there any niche markets that could benefit from this relationship? For example Christmasoholic collectors / hobbyists. They may have everything Christmas, but do they have your book?</span></span></div>
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<span class="s2"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>3. Find the right publisher.</b> Research and shop around for the right publisher to publish your book, themed or otherwise. Check out their lists, published authors, and read as much of their material as you can. Your kids’ picture book about the Easter bunny is not going to get past the front gate of Harlequin no matter how dazzling it is.</span></span></div>
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<span class="s2"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>4. Connect the Concept. </b>Have a clear and concise concept of how you intend to market and promote your book when the time comes. Include this in your query letter or submissions to prospective publishers to demonstrate that you’ve actually given the task serious thought. Connect the topic and date to all the potential markets for your book.</span></span></div>
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<span class="s2"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>5. Be creative.</b> Having a seasonally themed book is a superb launching pad from which to have a little fun and raise a lot of interest in your work. Think outside the square. I created a spread sheet for dozens of local and regional markets, and then rang each market organiser to gauge the best times to be there to sell my Christmas book. Turns out it’s not always before Christmas! Consider moving post-Christmas stock the same way the shops move last year’s tinsel and wrapping paper.</span></span></div>
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<span class="s2"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>6. Consider local media:</b> radio, newspapers, community newsletters, notice boards in local corner stores. Check out your local schools. Most include their own newsletters. Many welcome visits by published authors. Time this well though. Calling a school or local library to offer your services in November for December is often too late. Like everyone else, they book up in advance and schools vary significantly in their end of year term break-up dates. You may have to start your Christmas visits or the organisation of them in July. Use this in addition to your online and social media presence.</span></span></div>
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<span class="s2"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>7. Hit the streets. </b>Who are you really selling to? Seven year olds don’t usually buy their own books or presents. They may not even be in the position to be influenced by your amazing online presence and promotions, so think carefully about who is likely to buy your book for them. Who reads to or with the target audience you are writing for? These are the people who will want to know more about your book. Professional business clubs, groups and adult library sessions are all worthwhile places to offer your services. They are often in need of guest speakers about different topics and in exchange for sharing a bit about yourself and craft, may purchase a book or two. Again time these to suit your book topic or seasonal theme to cause greater impact and ‘need’.</span></span></div>
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<span class="s2"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>8. Celebrate your season</b> at different times of the year. Christmas in July for instance is taking a stronger and stronger hold in a society that needs little excuse to celebrate an event. Exploit this tendency to your advantage. </span></span></div>
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<span class="s2"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>9. Approach reviewers. </b>Book reviewers, especially children’s ones, often group theme based books together in reviews to showcase as many as possible to compliment that time of year. Think ANZAC based picture books, Christmas and so on. Don’t be afraid to send your books out there. The more you fire off, the more likely they will find their mark.</span></span></div>
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<span class="s2"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>10. Go nuts with the theming. </b>You’ve written your book about witches and goblins, so now go all out with the decorations and theming to accompany your presentations, book readings or launches. I have a grab box crammed with Chrissy things I use exclusively for my book, not to decorate the house with, for instance. It is always ready to go. Theme any activities you take along for kids to match. Collect other books that support your theme for extra visual interest. Is there music that suits or a book trailer? Use that too. Generate creative gifts to match your theme; pens, caps, Tees – or make your own. Create interesting give-aways for children if you are giving readings. In other words, <b><i>value-add</i></b> to your theme. I’m not suggesting you bake dozens of Harry Potter shaped biscuits to sell your witches book, (although I’d love to do this). It’s all about matching time, effort and expense with expected outcome. But the more pop and uniqueness you can associate with your seasonal book, the faster it will fly off the shelves.</span></span><br />
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<span class="s2"><b><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The Result:</span></b></span></h2>
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<span class="s2"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Of course it’s not wise to let your market theming get in the way of your main purpose; to write and share books with a largely paying audience. Just because you love tinsel and want to give out fruit mince pies at your book launch is not reason enough to pen a Christmas story. It simply won’t work. But if you have a season based book already, all is not lost. With a little lateral thinking you could be moving those elves off the shelves for many more Christmases to come.</span></span></div>
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<span class="s2"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Remember, there’s always next year! Now excuse me – I have a date with the Easter Bunny…</span></span><br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00ADPSNOW/ref=as_li_ss_til?tag=waggtale03-20&camp=0&creative=0&linkCode=as4&creativeASIN=B00ADPSNOW&adid=10CRAVG2TGMVKVKXVSNP" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/9156KCgwsVL._SL1500_.jpg" width="252" /></a></div>
<span class="s2"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>Cruise on by Dimity’s site, <b><a href="http://dimswritestuff.blogspot.com.au/p/ps-who-stole-santas-mail.html">Dim’s Write Stuff</a></b> to discover more about her addiction to Christmas and <b><a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00ADPSNOW/ref=as_li_ss_til?tag=waggtale03-20&camp=0&creative=0&linkCode=as4&creativeASIN=B00ADPSNOW&adid=10CRAVG2TGMVKVKXVSNP">PS Who Stole Santa’s Mail?</a></b></i></span></span></div>
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<span class="s2"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://dimswritestuff.blogspot.com.au/p/ps-who-stole-santas-mail.html">http://dimswritestuff.blogspot.com.au/p/ps-who-stole-santas-mail.html</a></span></span></div>
Charmaine Clancyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18059559142070140041noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2774506789160968096.post-4259506522738258782013-11-15T22:33:00.000+10:002013-11-15T22:33:50.324+10:00November - not just #NaNoWriMo<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">November certainly is a busy month! Not only are writers around the world rushing to complete 50,000 words in one month, and gents are combing out that Movember fuzz on their upper-lips, but it's also the month when plastic dinosaurs come to life!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Dinovember is the imaginative creation of Refe Tuma and his wife, as they dedicate every November to convincing their children the toy dinosaurs come to life at night. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I loved this idea and had to share it with my girls, wishing they were still young enough to believe in magic dino toys. Oh what fun I could have had with our elaborate collection of all things prehistoric when Emily was just a wee little palaeontologist in the making.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">'Do the kids really believe?' She asked me.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">'Id believe, if someone did it for me,' I responded, and perhaps my tone was a bit wistful and nostalgic, because the next morning I awoke to this:</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://fbcdn-sphotos-c-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn2/1456510_550779915006901_494700406_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-c-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn2/1456510_550779915006901_494700406_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The dinosaurs got out of their tub!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://fbcdn-sphotos-e-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn2/1471804_550780318340194_643399633_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-e-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn2/1471804_550780318340194_643399633_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">They snuck out of the garage...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://fbcdn-sphotos-g-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-frc3/1468569_550780625006830_1028913011_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-g-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-frc3/1468569_550780625006830_1028913011_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And migrated up the stairs.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://fbcdn-sphotos-a-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn2/1463096_550781548340071_1801735504_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-a-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn2/1463096_550781548340071_1801735504_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One got into the cat food...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://fbcdn-sphotos-d-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-frc3/1456558_550782048340021_2139067670_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-d-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-frc3/1456558_550782048340021_2139067670_n.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pinkachu was NOT impressed.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://fbcdn-sphotos-h-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn2/1469900_550761718342054_1029757671_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-h-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn2/1469900_550761718342054_1029757671_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Things may have gotten out of hand. It's always fun until a saurus gets stir-fried.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Want to check out the original Dinovember characters? Check out Refe Tuma's blog: </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><a href="https://medium.com/thoughts-on-creativity/6f4cb1886d41">Thoughts on Creativity</a></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">or join in the fun with your own pics on the Facebook page:</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><a href="https://www.facebook.com/dinovember">Dinovember</a></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Those whacky Dinos, what will they get up to next?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://fbcdn-sphotos-f-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/577533_551032878314938_2135551060_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-f-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/577533_551032878314938_2135551060_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Guest blog by:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>Wool. E. Mammoth</i>.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">'Forget Jurassic, Pilocene was the Coolest!'</span></div>
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<br /></div>
Charmaine Clancyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18059559142070140041noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2774506789160968096.post-77219692461971563182013-11-08T07:54:00.000+10:002013-11-08T08:25:48.500+10:00Karen Tyrrell - Bailey Beats the Blah<div style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjltfnoci-0OCO1zmpkTXTHfJNA0ZKzi0cG7lmiW6tun6F1CcYGhqJQN4sCSFCgHhpeCmGnB2QKv15Wuxc00L5ARi4zfe52tDYOGOMO0rDjHifUK-bF0BIF1dx61R3stffx9hV7TSiu0gKP/s1600/Karen+Tyrrell+BEST++457+KB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjltfnoci-0OCO1zmpkTXTHfJNA0ZKzi0cG7lmiW6tun6F1CcYGhqJQN4sCSFCgHhpeCmGnB2QKv15Wuxc00L5ARi4zfe52tDYOGOMO0rDjHifUK-bF0BIF1dx61R3stffx9hV7TSiu0gKP/s320/Karen+Tyrrell+BEST++457+KB.jpg" width="213" /></a><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Today I'd like to introduce you to an incredibly inspiring author. Karen Tyrrell, Australian and Author, has found her niche in writing by focusing on a cause close to her heart. Karen writes about mental illness; she's published two non-fiction books on the topic and is now releasing her picture book for children, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00G0O6GVW/ref=as_li_ss_til?tag=waggtale03-20&camp=0&creative=0&linkCode=as4&creativeASIN=B00G0O6GVW&adid=1YTKT2QH4QN20XN4X87S"><b><i>Bailey Beats the </i></b><b><i>BL</i></b><i><b>AH</b></i></a>, which deals with depression in children and strategies they can implement to deal with the condition. But it's not just for those touched by mental illness, Bailey could be an kid, after all, we all feel Blah some days!</span></div>
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<a href="http://www.clancytales.blogspot.com/" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="236" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-f-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/563110_590864297638899_377340536_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I was fortunate enough to attend the launch of </span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/098727404X/ref=as_li_ss_til?tag=waggtale03-20&camp=0&creative=0&linkCode=as4&creativeASIN=098727404X&adid=1MSYXGRWQZ38AH2WS5P7" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Bailey Beats the Blah</a><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> and even got to participate in a mini pantomime of the story! Okay, it wasn't the </span><i style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">leading</i><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> role, but I think I was well cast as Fuzzy, Bailey's dog.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>Enjoy Karen's interview:</i></span></div>
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<span class="s1"></span><br /></div>
<div class="p2" style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="s1" style="color: #a64d79; font-size: large;"><i><b>Karen, through your writing, you're fast becoming well known as an advocate for mental health issues, a topic often whispered about and swept under the rug in our culture-- when did you first realise you were needed as a mental health champion</b>?</i></span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="font-size: large;">I slipped into that role after my first shocking announcement of the title of my memoir, Me and Her: A Memoir of Madness. Word spread I spoke honestly about my experiences with mental illness and how I recovered. Community organizations requested I speak in public forums at hospitals, clubs, and groups and on radio and TV. Each time I spoke out I gained more confidence.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: #a64d79;"><i>Were you met with any resistance from friends, family or the public when you decided to produce your memoir and guide on mental health?</i></span></b> </span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="font-size: large;">I received different reactions ranging from curiosity and stigma to warm support. Some family members were concerned I would reveal their personal details. I chose to concentrate on my personal experiences only. With Me and Him: A guide to Recovery I focussed on my husband’s secrets and the profound impact his revelations had on both of us. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="color: #a64d79; font-size: large;"><b><i>And which people have been your biggest supporters in this journey?</i></b></span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="font-size: large;">Support has come from a wide cross-section: my family, friends, neighbours, teachers, writers and mental health organisations … and from complete strangers across the world.</span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="color: #a64d79; font-size: large;"><i><b>'Bailey Beats the BLAH' is a very unique idea for a children's picture book. Please share how the idea for this story formed</b>.</i></span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="font-size: large;">I wanted to write a story about a boy who didn’t want to go to school, who experienced tummy aches, who believed he had no friends. As a teacher I came across many kids like this. I wanted the reader to become emotionally aware of what Bailey was going through, so he/ she will be able to reflect on his/her Blah feelings too. And how he could change.</span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span class="s1" style="color: #a64d79; font-size: large;"><i><b>And lastly, how can parents or teachers use this book to help fight stress, depression or other mental health issues with children? Are there strategies they can implement</b>?</i></span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="font-size: large;">Bailey Beats the Blah can be used to initiate conversations on feelings, emotions, moods and simply how cope with ‘Blah’ days. Children can act out the story by downloading the puppets from my website. Teachers & parents can ask questions: how did Bailey overcome his Blah days. How can YOU change your day from Blah to ha-ha- ha? What can you do to keep yourself happy?</span></div>
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<a href="https://fbcdn-sphotos-f-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/563110_590864297638899_377340536_n.jpg"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAI0VMO36AoxW-bvrzWkCKqRq59rpaE58UqNoBZD2tEUrjHwmcYROn37z31hgEic_wiuSilUWM362NaQ2450f-iTr4L64Vo0xZ8-KhunBmeLXioHwRtMXt8h0thfBN0lYOShy2Xwhci0xK/s320/KarenTyrrell-Bailey-Cover-WebUse-Lge.jpg" width="256" /></a></div>
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<span class="s1" style="font-size: large;">Bailey is aligned with <b>Kids Matter</b> program, part of the National Education curriculum and supported by counselling service, <b>Kids Help Line.</b> </span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="font-size: large;">FREE children's activities and FREE teacher notes can be downloaded from <a href="http://www.karentyrrell.com/"><span class="s2">KarenTyrrell.com</span></a> </span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="font-size: large;"><i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/098727404X/ref=as_li_ss_til?tag=waggtale03-20&camp=0&creative=0&linkCode=as4&creativeASIN=098727404X&adid=1MSYXGRWQZ38AH2WS5P7">Bailey Beats the BLAH</a></i> is available from Amazon and <span class="s2"><a href="http://www.karentyrrell.com/">KarenTyrrell.com</a></span></span></div>
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<td><span style="color: white; font-size: 16px;"> 3rd Nov</span></td>
<td><span style="color: white; font-size: 16px;"><a href="http://www.creativekidstales.com.au/authors/pitch-ya-book/pitch-ya-book.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: white;">CreativeKidsTales.com.au</span></a></span></td>
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<td><span style="color: white; font-size: 16px;"> 4th Nov</span></td>
<td><span style="color: white; font-size: 16px;"><a href="http://blog.boomerangbooks.com.au/author/dpowell" target="_blank"><span style="color: white;">BoomerangBooks.com.au</span></a></span></td>
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<td><span style="color: white; font-size: 16px;"> 5th†Nov</span></td>
<td><span style="color: white; font-size: 16px;"><a href="http://diannedibates.blogspot.com.au/" target="_blank"><span style="color: white;">DianneDibates.blogspot.com.au</span></a></span></td>
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<td><span style="color: white; font-size: 16px;">6th†Nov</span></td>
<td><span style="color: white; font-size: 16px;"><a href="http://www.kids-bookreview.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: white;">Kids-Bookreview.com</span></a></span></td>
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<td><span style="color: white; font-size: 16px;"> 7th†Nov</span></td>
<td><span style="color: white; font-size: 16px;"><a href="http://www.robinadolphs.com/blog/" target="_blank"><span style="color: white;">RobinAdolphs.com</span></a></span></td>
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<td><span style="color: white; font-size: 16px;"> 8th†Nov</span></td>
<td><span style="color: white; font-size: 16px;"><a href="http://charmaineclancy.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: white;">CharmaineClancy.com</span></a></span></td>
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<td><span style="color: white; font-size: 16px;"> 9th†Nov</span></td>
<td><span style="color: white; font-size: 16px;"><a href="http://www.melissawray.blogspot.com.au/" target="_blank"><span style="color: white;">MelissaWray.blogspot.com.au</span></a></span></td>
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<td><span style="color: white; font-size: 16px;"> 10th†Nov</span></td>
<td><span style="color: white; font-size: 16px;"><a href="http://claireeverafter.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: white;">ClaireEverAfter.com</span></a></span></td>
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<td><span style="color: white; font-size: 16px;"> 11th†Nov</span></td>
<td><span style="color: white; font-size: 16px;"><a href="http://squigglemum.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: white;">Squigglemum.com</span></a></span></td>
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<td><span style="color: white; font-size: 16px;"> 12th†Nov</span></td>
<td><span style="color: white; font-size: 16px;"><a href="http://www.nickyjohnston.com.au/blog/" target="_blank"><span style="color: white;">NickyJohnston.com.au</span></a></span></td>
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<td><span style="color: white; font-size: 16px;"> 13th†Nov</span></td>
<td><span style="color: white; font-size: 16px;"><a href="http://nccparentsplace.wordpress.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: white;">NccParentsplace.wordpress.com</span></a></span></td>
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<td><span style="color: white; font-size: 16px;"> 14th†Nov</span></td>
<td><span style="color: white; font-size: 16px;"><a href="http://authorjillsmith.wordpress.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: white;">AuthorJillSmith.wordpress.com</span></a></span></td>
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<td><span style="color: white; font-size: 16px;"> 15th†Nov</span></td>
<td><span style="color: white; font-size: 16px;"><a href="http://natashatracy.com/topic/bipolar-blog/" target="_blank"><span style="color: white;">NatashaTracy.com</span></a></span></td>
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<td><span style="color: white; font-size: 16px;"> 16th†Nov</span></td>
<td><span style="color: white; font-size: 16px;"><a href="http://buginabook.org/category/childrens-books/" target="_blank"><span style="color: white;">Buginabook.org</span></a></span></td>
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<td><span style="color: white; font-size: 16px;"> 17th†Nov</span></td>
<td><span style="color: white; font-size: 16px;"><a href="http://www.writeawaywithme.com/blog/" target="_blank"><span style="color: white;">WriteAwayWithMe.com</span></a></span></td>
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<td><span style="color: white; font-size: 16px;"> 18th†Nov</span></td>
<td><span style="color: white; font-size: 16px;"><a href="http://angelasunde.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: white;">AngelaSunde.blogspot.com</span></a></span></td>
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<div class="p1">
<span class="s1" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="s1" style="font-size: large;"><b><a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/098727404X/ref=as_li_ss_til?tag=waggtale03-20&camp=0&creative=0&linkCode=as4&creativeASIN=098727404X&adid=1MSYXGRWQZ38AH2WS5P7">Bailey Beats the Blah</a> Book Giveaway</b></span></div>
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<div class="p1">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="s1" style="font-size: large;">Help Stamp out the BLAH!</span></div>
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<div class="p1">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="s1" style="font-size: large;"><b>WIN</b>: Copies of <i><a href="https://fbcdn-sphotos-f-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/563110_590864297638899_377340536_n.jpg">Bailey Beats the Blah</a></i>, a signed Bailey artwork by illustrator Aaron Pocock and a picture book assessment with chief editor at Book Cover Café. </span></div>
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<div class="p1">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1">Leave a comment on any of the 16 hops on the Bailey Beats the Blah tour Nov 3</span><span class="s2"><sup>rd</sup></span><span class="s1"> -18</span><span class="s2"><sup>th</sup></span><span class="s1">. The more comments you leave the MORE chances to WIN.</span></span></div>
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<div class="p1">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1">WINNERS announced on Nov 20</span><span class="s2"><sup>th</sup></span><span class="s1"> at <span class="s3"><a href="http://www.karentyrrell.com/">www. karentyrrell.com</a></span></span></span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://fbcdn-sphotos-c-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/936005_520923561331467_1168474280_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-c-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/936005_520923561331467_1168474280_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me as Fuzzy.</td></tr>
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Charmaine Clancyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18059559142070140041noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2774506789160968096.post-73139104456123831292013-11-07T13:53:00.003+10:002013-11-07T13:56:40.584+10:00Insecure about launching a book?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEislKFUNenGiJsYky2ucef6E1MHo4rkQYyLDWc3-zD_JfJzDiyGdlvE5oM-D1aWTC16QvVp52VthfvBgZ8pLD18uuVhCdmyEB06rgrip_gW-a-L3ghW98_RgXbLcaCwqNhdGZaRGbSQX80/s320/InsecureWritersSupportGroup.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="171" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEislKFUNenGiJsYky2ucef6E1MHo4rkQYyLDWc3-zD_JfJzDiyGdlvE5oM-D1aWTC16QvVp52VthfvBgZ8pLD18uuVhCdmyEB06rgrip_gW-a-L3ghW98_RgXbLcaCwqNhdGZaRGbSQX80/s200/InsecureWritersSupportGroup.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Today I am an insecure writer. Mostly I'm insecure about missing an insecure post. Seems every month I forget it's on. So, here, on <i>Thursday</i>, is my <i>Wednesday</i> Insecure Writer's Support Group.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">One of the many, many, many things I'm insecure about is launching a new book. How about you? I'm terrified no one will turn up to the book launch and when organising a virtual launch, I hate asking people to post for me. But I've learned two things that I hope help you too:</span></div>
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<ol>
<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">People <i><b>want</b></i> to help. Seriously. We love seeing one of our online buddies do well with their new book.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">We all know at least one person who does a brilliant job of launches. <b>Learn</b> from them. Watch them and basically, do what they do. Reach out to them and ask for advice.</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I have a friend who does an amazing book launch. For her new book <b><i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00G0O6GVW/ref=as_li_ss_til?tag=waggtale03-20&camp=0&creative=0&linkCode=as4&creativeASIN=B00G0O6GVW&adid=0H3V372BG4R4WFYXNK6W"><span style="color: #741b47;">Bailey Beats the Blah</span></a></i></b> (I'll be posting more about that tomorrow), <a href="http://www.karentyrrell.com/"><b><span style="color: #45818e;">Karen Tyrrell</span></b></a> presented a pantomime while she read her story to eager children! I adore Karen for the work she does promoted mental health issues (and because she's just a really nice person), but mostly I adore her for allowing me to dress up as Fuzzy and take part in the performance. It was my shining moment!</span></div>
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<a href="https://fbcdn-sphotos-f-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/p206x206/563110_590864297638899_377340536_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-f-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/p206x206/563110_590864297638899_377340536_n.jpg" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">dream... write... publish has moved!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">You can check out the new site at:</span></div>
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<a href="http://www.charmaineclancy.com/"><b><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">dream... write... publish</span></b></a></div>
Charmaine Clancyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18059559142070140041noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2774506789160968096.post-48988374410980713382013-10-30T22:22:00.000+10:002013-10-31T13:01:32.185+10:00Once Upon a Halloween...<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">As part of the WEP Blogfest, I'm sharing a Halloween-themed short story today. This story features Zane, Kev and Elise from MY ZOMBIE DOG in an all new tale:</span></div>
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<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-size: x-large;">Once Upon a Halloween</span></h2>
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<span style="color: #45818e; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>I</b></span><span style="font-size: large;"> lean in, the torch illuminating my solemn expression. Outside the wind howls and our tent rustles. It’s the perfect backdrop for my Halloween story. 'Once upon a time—'</span></div>
<div class="p2" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"> Elise exhales a dramatic sigh and makes a show of dropping her shoulders.</span></div>
<div class="p2" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"> 'Something wrong Elise?'</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> 'S-boring Zane. Don like 'pon time stories.'</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> 'Yeahsh,' Kev agrees through cheekfulls of marshmallow. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> My turn to sigh. 'Fine. A long time ago, in a faraway town—'</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> 'Uhhhghhh.' They complain in unison. A marshmallow bounces off my forehead.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> I point the torch at my little sister. 'Do you want to tell the story?'</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> Elise shrugs. 'Spose to be scary.'</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> Kev scrambles up from his sleeping bag. 'Zanie boy here doesn’t like scary stories—do you Zane?'</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> Elise giggles.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> 'He gets so scared he needs to leave all the lights in the house on when he sleeps.'</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> This is totally unfair of my so-called buddy. It was one sleepless night, I’m really not that easily scared. The torch light dims and we are thrust into a moment of darkness. I shake the torch until finally the light flickers back on. Phew.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> 'Wan a story with a sseep.'</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> 'A scary story with a sheep?' I ask.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> 'Yeah, and a turtle.' Thanks Kev.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> 'How is a sheep and a turtle scary?'</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> 'Zaaane.' Elise’s bottom lip pokes out.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> 'Okay… One dark and stormy night a sheep <i>and a turtle</i> set out to cross through forbidden tunnel—'</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> 'Why would a sheep and turtle want to go through a tunnel?' Kev asks.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> 'Because… they were meeting with a duck at the fountain in town. So anyway, they set toward the forbidden tunnel and the turtle says—'</span></div>
<div class="p2" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"> 'Why’s it forbidden?'</span></div>
<div class="p2" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"> 'Because there were rumours that a scary monster lived under it.' Pretty proud of that one, made it up on the spot.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> 'Eh, that’s alright, but it’d be better if one year ago to the day a horrible, horrible murder took place right in the middle of that very tunnel.' Kev snatches the light and flashes it on his face. His ginger eyebrows are casting fuzzy shadows on his forehead and it’s creeping me out.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> I cough and nod my head toward Elise.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> 'Wan’ scary hobbible murder story!' She squeals. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> Great. She’ll probably have nightmares.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> 'Ohh, I don’t know Elise,' Kev says, 'Zane might get too scared!' </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> Elise giggles.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> 'Will not! I’m fine!'</span></div>
<div class="p2" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"> 'You sure Dude? Remember what happened last time we went camping?'</span></div>
<div class="p2" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"> 'That was ages ago, and besides, I told you, I just had too much orange juice.'</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> 'All right then… so the sheep and turtle approach the tunnel and the turtle’s saying how it was exactly midnight that the last animals were slaughtered in this very tunnel one year ago. The sheep looks at his watch—'</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> 'Hey!' I protest, but Elise shushes me and turns attentively back to Kev’s illuminated face. I try not to look at his dancing eyebrows. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> 'The sheep looks at his watch and says, Hey it’s almost midnight now. Well sheep are pretty stupid because they continue on into the tunnel, which is very, very dark. Halfway through they stop and the sheep asks: did you hear that? They listen and there’s a scraping noise along the wall. It sounds just like a sharp knife being dragged along the stones. Scrape… scraaaape… scraaaape…'</span></div>
<div class="p2" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"> I grab Elise’s arm. You know, just to make sure she’s okay. We both lean in close.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> 'They try to run to reach the exit of the tunnel where they can see a slither of moonlight, but ahead of them comes that same scraaaape…. scraaaape… and they see…' Kev’s voice trails off into a whisper.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> I bite my lip and lean in closer.</span></div>
<div class="p2" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"> 'What? What do they see?'</span></div>
<div class="p2" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"> Kev leans in too, so we’re all really close and he whispers, 'They see a shadow, it becomes clearer in the moonlight … and that’s when they notice its face…'</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> Friday the 13<span class="s1"><sup>th</sup></span> stabbing music blasts from Kev’s phone.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> 'Eeeek!' I squeal, I mean, I think it was Elise who squealed.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> 'Zane scared!' Elise giggles.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> Kev speaks into the phone, 'Yep … no probs … I’ll ask.'</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> 'Dude,' he nods to me, 'it’s your mum, she wants to know if we want hot chocolate?'</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> I look out the flap of the tent and see mum waving from the kitchen window. Sure. Hot chocolate would be good, may as well have it inside, no point in making her bring it all the way out here. I very calmly agree and slowly make my way up to the house.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> 'Hey!' Kev calls after me, 'You don’t need to run!'</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Find more spooky stories, or join the blogfest at:</span></div>
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<a href="http://writeeditpublishnow.blogspot.com.au/"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDU8yrPLD3xjvpOQBfdWymhoOvDD1wkQsVOSqTVEVG2yArmcU4tq3tU-aXaweW6SnyRDNGSHopqmF_ruwZjGiguLZIRo9o_pLCSRsx6IeP8FzqUjhyphenhyphenPO0hv_O06M5UX130PkK3GiMUtMQ/s320/ahalloweenhousehaunting.jpg" /></a></div>
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Charmaine Clancyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18059559142070140041noreply@blogger.com24tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2774506789160968096.post-47922144026861989262013-10-27T20:34:00.000+10:002013-10-27T20:34:45.233+10:00Join the Spooky Blogfest for Halloween!<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Denise Covey is hosting a fun Halloween blogfest. We might not be big on the actual trick or treating here in Australia, but we do like our spooky stories!</span></div>
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<a href="http://writeeditpublishnow.blogspot.com.au/"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDU8yrPLD3xjvpOQBfdWymhoOvDD1wkQsVOSqTVEVG2yArmcU4tq3tU-aXaweW6SnyRDNGSHopqmF_ruwZjGiguLZIRo9o_pLCSRsx6IeP8FzqUjhyphenhyphenPO0hv_O06M5UX130PkK3GiMUtMQ/s320/ahalloweenhousehaunting.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Want to write something spooky for Halloween? Pop on over to Denise's site: </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://writeeditpublishnow.blogspot.com.au/">http://writeeditpublishnow.blogspot.com.au/</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> to join up. You could write a story... or a haiku!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">On my new site for kids and teens, I show how to write a spooky haiku - you can check it out at:</span></div>
<h2 style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;"><a href="http://www.iteenwrite.com/">iTeenWrite</a></span></h2>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I'll be sharing a story here on October 30, and I look forward to reading a few spooky tales!</span></div>
Charmaine Clancyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18059559142070140041noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2774506789160968096.post-1853395482504268122013-10-24T11:24:00.002+10:002013-10-24T11:28:27.641+10:00Why You Need a Writing Hero<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.joylcampbell.com/"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIzzkIiJyFG1ZoQCclwqAvHz2goSKF8Jv4alQ4iznN5D01aNGXuYgFE3Cqyqbk4j4mTJJktUoPzsibeF6te37WtYo-0VQaQ3_uFNPPMFkDKsRo9leydgdCMLk4YhGbQwcymLhFUYSUYFZ6/s200/Hero+Blogfest+Badge.jpg" width="168" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Lately I've been reading a lot of guides on business success. One thing I've noticed every good marketing, sales, or business success book includes is this <b>key piece of advice</b>:</span></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Find a mentor, someone who already does what you want to do. Model your actions and attitude on that successful example.</span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">In other words, <b>have a hero</b>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I have several heroes for various aspects of my life, but today I'll stick with <b>writing</b>. I admire many, but my hero would be:</span></div>
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<a href="http://media.wbur.org/wordpress/11/files/2012/06/0606_ray-bradbury21-e1339009882419.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="436" src="http://media.wbur.org/wordpress/11/files/2012/06/0606_ray-bradbury21-e1339009882419.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><i> <b><span style="color: magenta; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Ray Bradbury</span></b></i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-size: x-large;"><i>... because he gets it done.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">This blog hop is hosted by Joy Campbell and celebrates the release of <i><b><a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00FOANL70/ref=as_li_ss_til?tag=waggtale03-20&camp=0&creative=0&linkCode=as4&creativeASIN=B00FOANL70&adid=0VFXDSC4WT199M8C9544">Saving Sam</a></b></i>. Check it out on <b><a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00FOANL70/ref=as_li_ss_til?tag=waggtale03-20&camp=0&creative=0&linkCode=as4&creativeASIN=B00FOANL70&adid=0VFXDSC4WT199M8C9544">Amazon</a></b> today!</span></div>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00FOANL70/ref=as_li_ss_til?tag=waggtale03-20&camp=0&creative=0&linkCode=as4&creativeASIN=B00FOANL70&adid=0VFXDSC4WT199M8C9544"><img border="0" height="496" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4yz1uEr-ey7DRgHoFbSm95iX5I6SKcphVqPQlfAXA5cWfNHzmn0J15X4W6XtZYNF_vFIS5VDH64pwykOZlTuwfNz7r75e3vnsuIsr90ZwQHT97JrY_hVBGwVKSZyk67GqF8s8Y4WVaJbj/s640/Saving+Sam+Book+Blurb.png" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Who is your hero?</span></div>
Charmaine Clancyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18059559142070140041noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2774506789160968096.post-36439789174913234772013-10-18T21:32:00.000+10:002013-10-19T07:32:35.086+10:00Yolanda Renée's New Murderous Novel - and, sharing intimate words with her lead sleuth...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00FMJI6D2/ref=as_li_ss_til?tag=waggtale03-20&camp=0&creative=0&linkCode=as4&creativeASIN=B00FMJI6D2&adid=16J9NCYYEQXT1G4ZWV76" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/91zWMLcC9uL._SL1500_.jpg" width="224" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="s1">Today, as a celebration for Yolanda </span>Renée's new release, Memories of Murder, I sit down and get all cosy with the charismatic sleuth, Detective Quaid, and leave with a bit of a crush...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><b>An Interview with Hawk</b></span></div>
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<span class="s1">Emma, the housekeeper, ushered me into the great room and wow, what an understatement, more like a magnificent room. A huge stone fireplace warmed the space, and the huge windows provided amazing views of the valley to Anchorage. The furnishings were obviously antiques, but the room was comfortable and the amount of art was breathtaking. </span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1">Emma poured me a cup of coffee, and offered me a plate of cookies. I waved them off because Detective Quaid joined us. He shook my hand, and sat down opposite me in a wingback chair near the fire.</span></div>
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<span class="s1"><b>Quaid:</b> I'm sorry, but I only have a few minutes, please proceed. </span></div>
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<span class="s1">He did not settle back but sat up straight, his hands on his knees. I sensed he was sizing me up. He looked so serious, not tense, but rushed, almost worried. I considered the bad press he'd had recently and understood his reluctance to talk.</span></div>
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<span class="s1"><b>Charmaine:</b> Thank you for agreeing to see me, I understand you're a wealthy man, why did you choose to be a detective?</span></div>
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<span class="s1">He seemed surprised by the question. </span></div>
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<span class="s1"><b>Quaid:</b> Money has nothing to do with it. I owe society my best skills, we all do. I believe that a job any job, well done, is a service to the spirit. </span></div>
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<span class="s1">Then he shrugged.</span></div>
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<span class="s1"><b>Quaid:</b> I find the work challenging, and rewarding.</span></div>
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<span class="s1"><b>Charmaine:</b> I understand the Raven is an important symbol of the Tlingit tribe and that you're from the Eagle Clan, but your nickname is Hawk. How did that happen?</span></div>
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<span class="s1">He almost smiled.</span></div>
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<span class="s1"><b>Quaid:</b> A nickname by coworkers, it holds no bearing on the spirit or my place in Tlingit Culture.</span></div>
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<span class="s1"><b>Charmaine:</b> Can you share a secret with us that wasn't revealed in the book?</span></div>
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<span class="s1"><b>Quaid:</b> I have no secrets. Secrets are destructive in the wrong hands.</span></div>
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<span class="s1">A fluster of activity interrupts our session, as Sarah arrives and is immediately at Steven's side. </span></div>
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<span class="s1"><b>Sarah:</b> "I'm sorry, John was running late, forgive me. His arm went around her waist. He pulled her close and kissed her tenderly. He whispered something in her ear. </span></div>
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<span class="s1">She smiled, and kissed his cheek.</span></div>
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<span class="s1">He grinned. How handsome he was when he smiled. Not that he wasn't before, but wow, to have a man look at me like that, swooning would come back into vogue. </span></div>
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<span class="s1">She finally acknowledged me.</span></div>
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<span class="s1"><b>Sarah:</b> I don't mean to interrupt. </span></div>
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<span class="s1">I stepped forward to shake her hand, but those two only had eyes for the other.</span></div>
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<span class="s1"><b>Charmaine:</b> It's lovely to meet you. Why don't you join us?</span></div>
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<span class="s1"><b>Sarah:</b> Oh, no. I'm really running behind, please excuse me. I am sorry for the interruption.</span></div>
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<span class="s1">Steven walked her to the staircase, and watched as she ascended. I saw a changed man when he sat down. More relaxed, he couldn't wipe the smile from his face. I understood his earlier distraction.</span></div>
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<span class="s1"><b>Charmaine:</b> What do you notice about a person first?</span></div>
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<span class="s1"><b>Quaid:</b> Eyes, smile, ear lobes.</span></div>
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<span class="s1">I knew he was thinking of Sarah.</span></div>
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<span class="s1"><b>Charmaine:</b> What do people notice first about you?</span></div>
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<span class="s1"><b>Quaid:</b> Most likely my race, but I hope the badge. </span></div>
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<span class="s1">I disagreed, the first thing I noticed was his ice blue eyes, his long dark hair, and muscular build, but I kept my observance to myself.</span></div>
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<span class="s1"><b>Charmaine:</b> What's the most important thing in your life? What do you value most?</span></div>
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<span class="s1"><b>Quaid:</b> Sarah.</span></div>
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<span class="s1"><b>Charmaine:</b> What is your idea of perfect happiness?</span></div>
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<span class="s1"><b>Quaid:</b> Family.</span></div>
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<span class="s1"><b>Charmaine:</b> What is your biggest fear? Who have you shared this with? Who would you never tell this to? Why?</span></div>
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<span class="s1"><b>Quaid:</b> Losing Sarah. </span></div>
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<span class="s1">His smile disappeared. </span></div>
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<span class="s1"><b>Charmaine:</b> I understand you're engaged. Will it be a formal wedding? He grinned again, and looked upstairs to where Sarah had disappeared.</span></div>
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<span class="s1"><b>Quaid:</b> We haven't decided."</span></div>
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<span class="s1"><b>Charmaine:</b> Well, congratulations. Can I ask a more serious question?</span></div>
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<span class="s1">He nodded.</span></div>
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<span class="s1"><b>Charmaine:</b> What is the one strong memory that has stuck with you since childhood? Why is it so powerful and lasting?"</span></div>
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<span class="s1">His smile disappeared. He stood and walked to the windows. I followed; he turned to look at me. </span></div>
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<span class="s1"><b>Quaid:</b> I was fourteen when I found my uncle. He'd been murdered. It's an unsolved case, and very personal.</span></div>
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<span class="s1"><b>Charmaine:</b> I'm sorry for your loss. Are you working the case?</span></div>
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<span class="s1">Quaid: Always.</span></div>
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<span class="s1"><b>Charmaine:</b> Which living person do you most despise? I was told Scott Chase is a rival.</span></div>
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<span class="s1">Steven's entire body tensed. His jaw clenched. He looked at his watch, then me.</span></div>
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<span class="s1"><b>Quaid:</b> I'm sorry, it's late. We have a dinner engagement. Thank you for your patience.</span></div>
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<span class="s1">He shook my hand and then took the stairs two at a time. He disappeared behind the same door Sarah had.</span></div>
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<span class="s1">I was speechless. </span></div>
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<span class="s1">Emma hurried over. She looked at me and shook her head.</span></div>
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<span class="s1"><b>Charmaine:</b> What? What did I do, what did I say?</span></div>
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<span class="s1">She pretended to zip her lips closed. She wasn't talking.</span></div>
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<span class="s1"><b>Charmaine:</b> Off the record. Do you know what I had to do to get this interview, how far I've travelled? Tell me, what just happened?</span></div>
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<span class="s1"><b>Emma:</b> Off the record?</span></div>
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<span class="s1">I nod.</span></div>
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<span class="s1"><b>Emma:</b> You mentioned Chase.</span></div>
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<span class="s1">I was stunned. </span></div>
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<span class="s1"><b>Charmaine:</b> He's jealous of an ex-boyfriend?</span></div>
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<span class="s1">Emma nodded.</span></div>
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<span class="s1"><b>Charmaine:</b> I see. How does Sarah feel about that?</span></div>
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<span class="s1">Emma once again sealed her lips. The interview was officially over, and she walked me to the door.</span></div>
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<span class="s1">Detective Steven Quaid, is a talented sleuth, but so in love with Sarah that even the mention of Chase's name rises his ire.</span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">What do you think, is jealously a good thing, or a troublesome thing? What traits would you or have you overlooked for love?</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><b>***** *** *****</b></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><b><br /></b></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Memories of Murder</span></b></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Yolanda Renèe</span></b></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="color: #073763; font-size: large;">Decades ago, the seeds were planted …</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="color: #073763; font-size: large;">Today, dark, fathomless eyes rake the image before him. One final task and the transformation is complete. Steady fingers screw intricately carved horns on each side of a stiff brow, and a gargoyle suitable for Notre Dame scowls from the smokey mirror in satisfaction. </span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="color: #073763; font-size: large;">A jagged smile rips through his smooth, hairless face, and inked, reptilian scales caress his naked body. </span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="color: #073763; font-size: large;">A laugh of hideous resonance emanates from his gut as the demons of hell welcome Lucifer into their fold.</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="color: #073763; font-size: large;">In a dungeon-like chamber, his Lilith awaits. The kidnapped daughter of a nun, groomed to fit the final piece in the complex puzzle for world domination. Will Lucifer marry his bride, on the summer solstice? </span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="color: #073763; font-size: large;">Only two things stand in his way ...</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="color: #073763; font-size: large;">His greed ...</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="color: #073763; font-size: large;">And ...</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="color: #073763; font-size: large;">Detective Steven Quaid. </span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">***** *** *****</span></span></div>
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<span class="s2"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>~ </b><span class="s3"><b><a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00FMJI6D2/ref=as_li_ss_til?tag=waggtale03-20&camp=0&creative=0&linkCode=as4&creativeASIN=B00FMJI6D2&adid=16J9NCYYEQXT1G4ZWV76">Memories of Murder</a></b></span> ~</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">&</span></span></div>
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<span class="s2"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>~ </b><span class="s3"><b><a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00EN77770/ref=as_li_ss_til?tag=waggtale03-20&camp=0&creative=0&linkCode=as4&creativeASIN=B00EN77770&adid=1PV2GHZVNJ9VF4VYXEWK">Murder, Madness & Love</a></b></span><b> ~</b></span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">available at </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s3"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=ntt_athr_dp_sr_1?_encoding=UTF8&field-author=Yolanda%20Ren%C3%A9e&search-alias=digital-text&sort=relevancerank"><b>Amazon</b></a></span><span class="s2"> ~ <a href="http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/memories-of-murder-2"><span class="s3"><b>Kobo</b></span></a> ~ <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/memories-of-murder-yolanda-ren-eacute-e/1117041255?ean=2940148625827"><span class="s3"><b>B&N</b></span></a> ~</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">***** *** *****</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQv1cPsVvlAZxj8XwokcI8qbqnO1PU-H-wHPgAP2ZE582aqlnWQTmSy0kQiWwPRXLQ3JUjxzwxuA4I36eM3__sxN9C0vvgjkjMrf6qkWGrP5jxxJddiiv8Dtdnp2pVykN2cih9K5lMAYh8/s1600/Author+Photo+Official.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQv1cPsVvlAZxj8XwokcI8qbqnO1PU-H-wHPgAP2ZE582aqlnWQTmSy0kQiWwPRXLQ3JUjxzwxuA4I36eM3__sxN9C0vvgjkjMrf6qkWGrP5jxxJddiiv8Dtdnp2pVykN2cih9K5lMAYh8/s320/Author+Photo+Official.jpg" width="223" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1">Yolanda </span>Renée:</span></b></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">An adventurous spirit took Yolanda Renée to Alaska where she hiked the Brooks Range, traveled from Prudhoe Bay to Valdez, and learned to sleep under the midnight sun.</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">She claims her vivid imagination as a blessing, a habit, a hobby, a calling and sometimes a curse.</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">Renée now resides in Central Pennsylvania with her husband, two sons, and Boston terrier, Patches.</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><b><span style="font-size: large;">You can find Renée here: </span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s2">~ <a href="http://www.yolandarenee.blogspot.com/"><span class="s3"><b>Defending The Pen</b></span></a></span><span class="s3"><b> </b></span><span class="s1">~ <a href="https://www.facebook.com/yolandarenee"><span class="s4"><b>Facebook</b></span></a></span><span class="s3"><b> </b></span><span class="s1">~ <a href="https://twitter.com/yolandarenee"><span class="s4"><b>Twitter</b></span></a></span><span class="s3"><b> </b></span><span class="s1"><b>~ </b><a href="http://pinterest.com/renee0240/pins/"><span class="s4"><b>Pinterest</b></span></a></span><span class="s3"><b> </b></span><span class="s1">~</span></span></div>
Charmaine Clancyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18059559142070140041noreply@blogger.com36tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2774506789160968096.post-50548777235836329012013-10-02T10:10:00.000+10:002013-10-02T20:56:41.190+10:00Paul Collins on writing, Ford Street Publishing and pursuing dreams...<div class="p1" style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="s1"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Today I have a guest on dream... write... publish! Paul Collins, from Ford St Publishing has released a new book and shares with us the journey (there's a few good tips for us packed in here too).</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">First, a little about Paul...</span></span></h2>
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<span class="s1">Paul Collins has written over 140 books and 140 short stories. He is best known for <i><b>The Quentaris Chronicles</b> </i>(<i>The Spell of Undoing</i> is Book #1 in the new series), which he co-edits with Michael Pryor,<i> <b>The Jelindel Chronicles</b>,</i> <b><i>The</i> </b><i><b>Earthborn Wars</b> </i>and <i><b>The World of Grrym</b></i> trilogy in collaboration with Danny Willis. Paul’s latest book is <i><b>The Only Game in the Galaxy</b></i>, book three in <i>The Maximus Black Files</i>. </span></div>
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<span class="s1">Paul has been short-listed for many awards and won the <b>Aurealis</b>, <b>William Atheling</b> and the inaugural <b>Peter McNamara</b> awards. He recently received the <b>A Bertram Chandler Award</b> for lifetime achievement in Australian science fiction. He has had two Notable Books in the Children’s Book Council of Australia Awards.</span></div>
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<span class="s1">He has black belts in both ju jitsu and taekwondo – this experience can be seen in <i>The Jelindel Chronicles </i>and <i>The Maximus Black Files</i>.</span></div>
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<span class="s3">Visit Paul’s websites: </span></div>
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<span class="s3"><a href="http://www.fordstreetpublishing.com/"><span class="s4"><span style="font-size: large;">www.fordstreetpublishing.com</span></span></a></span></div>
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<span class="s3"><a href="http://www.paulcollins.com.au/"><span class="s4"><span style="font-size: large;">www.paulcollins.com.au</span></span></a></span></div>
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<span class="s3"><span class="s4"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.quentaris.com/">www.quentaris.com</a></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><i>The Beckoning</i>...</span></h2>
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<span class="s1"><i><b>The Beckoning</b></i> is Paul’s first adult novel. Check out the trailer:</span></div>
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<span class="s1">Here Paul tells us something of the background behind his latest books, both out this month.</span></div>
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<span class="s1"><i>Matt Brannigan is a lawyer living on the edge. His daughter Briony is psychic and trouble shadows his family wherever they go.</i></span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="color: #0c343d; font-size: large;"><i>Cult guru Brother Desmond knows that the power within Briony is the remaining key he needs to enter the next dimension. Once he controls this, he will have access to all that is presently denied him.</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0c343d; font-size: large;"><span class="s1"><i>When Briony is indoctrinated into the </i></span><span class="s5"><i>Zarathustrans</i></span><span class="s1"><i>, Matt and psychic Clarissa Pike enter the cult’s headquarters under the cover of night to rescue her. </i></span></span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="color: #0c343d; font-size: large;"><i>So begins Armageddon . . .</i></span></div>
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<span class="s1">When I give workshops or talks in schools I inevitably get asked by students (and a few teachers) for <b>tips on writing</b>. My best tip is <b>persistence</b>. I’ve heard of authors who get a few rejections and place their manuscripts in a bottom drawer or even throw them in the rubbish. Remember, numerous famous books received rejections before they were finally published. I’ll always remember <i>Confederacy of Dunces</i> by John Kennedy Toole. He committed suicide because everyone rejected it. His mother persisted with the book, and when it was finally published, it won a posthumous Pulitzer Prize for Fiction.</span></div>
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<span class="s1">Following my own advice I persevered for over thirty years with a book called <i><b><a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00F5I6ZWE/ref=as_li_ss_til?tag=waggtale03-20&camp=0&creative=0&linkCode=as4&creativeASIN=B00F5I6ZWE&adid=0PZM7S1PG83JH13S9A7X">The Beckoning</a></b></i>. Initially it was Wind Chill, then Evil Intent, and no matter how many name changes and revisions, it failed to sell. It was typed on a counter in a St Kilda second-hand bookshop in the early 80s. Over the years it’s been digitalised, stored on 3.5 floppies/discs, CDs, zip drives, USB sticks and no doubt a few storage devices I’ve long since forgotten. </span></div>
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<span class="s1">Damnation Books recently opened up for submissions. I thought, what the heck. I sent them three chapters as per the guidelines. Within two days they asked for the rest. Within two weeks they’d accepted it. Within five months it was published. My, how times have changed. It used to take up to 18 months to get a book into print.</span></div>
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<span class="s1">So now it’s available in both ebook and print at <b><a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00F5I6ZWE/ref=as_li_ss_til?tag=waggtale03-20&camp=0&creative=0&linkCode=as4&creativeASIN=B00F5I6ZWE&adid=0PZM7S1PG83JH13S9A7X">Amazon</a></b>.</span></div>
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<i><span style="color: #4c1130; font-size: large;">In a galaxy of cutthroat companies, shadowy clans and a million agendas, spy agency RIM barely wields enough control to keep order. Maximus Black is RIM’s star cadet.</span></i></div>
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<span class="s1"><i><span style="color: #4c1130; font-size: large;">But he has a problem. One of RIM’s best agents, Anneke Longshadow, knows there’s a mole in the organisation. And Maximus has a lot to hide.</span></i></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00FDJXF0K/ref=as_li_ss_til?tag=waggtale03-20&camp=0&creative=0&linkCode=as4&creativeASIN=B00FDJXF0K&adid=1MCN8YXH9MGVSTQVXG69" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/91eKMSgKrhL._SL1500_.jpg" width="219" /></a>As luck would have it, another book of mine came out this month, too. <b><i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00FDJXF0K/ref=as_li_ss_til?tag=waggtale03-20&camp=0&creative=0&linkCode=as4&creativeASIN=B00FDJXF0K&adid=1MCN8YXH9MGVSTQVXG69">The Only Game in the Galaxy</a></i> </b>is the third book in The Maximus Black Files trilogy. This is another tale of persistence. The first drafts were written many years ago. Ford Street published the first book, <i>Mole Hunt</i>, in 2011. It was a success, especially for a small press. <i>Dyson’s Drop</i> followed in 2012. So now <i><b><a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00FDJXF0K/ref=as_li_ss_til?tag=waggtale03-20&camp=0&creative=0&linkCode=as4&creativeASIN=B00FDJXF0K&adid=1MCN8YXH9MGVSTQVXG69">The Only Game in the Galaxy</a></b></i> is available at <b><a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00FDJXF0K/ref=as_li_ss_til?tag=waggtale03-20&camp=0&creative=0&linkCode=as4&creativeASIN=B00FDJXF0K&adid=1MCN8YXH9MGVSTQVXG69">Amazon</a></b> and at “any good bookshop” but also at <b>Ford St Publishing</b> (with PayPal): <a href="http://tinyurl.com/ojxxjz8"><span class="s2">http://tinyurl.com/ojxxjz8</span></a>.<span class="s1"></span></div>
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<span class="s1">I love anti-heroes – think Modesty Blaise and Artemus Fowl. They’re bad, really, in as much they’re up to illegal activities. But I always feel as though they’re Robin Hood characters in that they steal from the rich and give to the poor. Maximus Black is pure evil. He’s all out for himself and woe betide anyone who gets in his way.</span></div>
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<span class="s1">However, here’s the odd thing. So many people have told me they were rooting for Maximus! The reason I believe major publishers rejected The Maximus Black Files is because the lead character has no redeeming features. But in a survey ran by ROR, questioning readers whether characters needed redeeming features, not one respondent thought they did. This flies in the face of everything publishers/gatekeepers believe.</span></div>
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<span class="s1">Maximus does have a nemesis in Anneke Longshadow, but all the fan mail is directed at Max. Ah well. So much for my creating a unique character who everyone will loathe . . .</span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Wow. Thanks Paul for the insider's view of the publishing world!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I think the best lesson members of the Insecure Writers Support Group (IWSG) can take from Paul's post is to NEVER give up. Every manuscript has a different journey to travel and some may take longer than others to reach readers. Stay positive and keep writing!</span><br />
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<a href="http://alexjcavanaugh.blogspot.com.au/p/the-insecure-writers-support-group.html"><img border="0" height="170" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEislKFUNenGiJsYky2ucef6E1MHo4rkQYyLDWc3-zD_JfJzDiyGdlvE5oM-D1aWTC16QvVp52VthfvBgZ8pLD18uuVhCdmyEB06rgrip_gW-a-L3ghW98_RgXbLcaCwqNhdGZaRGbSQX80/s200/InsecureWritersSupportGroup.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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Charmaine Clancyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18059559142070140041noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2774506789160968096.post-51467554687983317972013-09-12T21:19:00.000+10:002013-09-12T21:19:29.463+10:00Tales of Australia - Great Southern Land - Landmark Australian Anthology<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i style="font-weight: bold;">Tales of Australia - Great Southern Land </i>an anthology with place as a theme. Not just any place... AUSTRALIA.</span></div>
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<a href="http://satalyte.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/GSL6-2EB-300x500.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://satalyte.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/GSL6-2EB-300x500.jpg" width="384" /></a><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">This collection of novelettes feature stories varying in genre and style, but all brought together with the focus of the Australian landscape. <b><a href="http://satalyte.com.au/product/tales-of-australia-great-southern-land-ebook/">Satalyte Publishing</a></b> will release this anthology on September 27 (pre-orders are now open). </span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">This up-and-coming small press publisher promises to reinvent Australian authors, and I must say, they've certainly succeeded with this Aussie author!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">When Stephen Ormsby, Chief Editor of <b><a href="http://satalyte.com.au/product/tales-of-australia-great-southern-land-ebook/">Satalyte</a></b> approached me about submitting a story for <b><i>Tales of Australia</i></b>, I immediately said yes. Then I panicked. I've written novels, I've written short stories, but I'd never tried to pace out a novelette before! And furthermore, with no more instruction than an Australian setting, what would I even write about?</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">After a cup of herbal tea and a nap (quick fix for EVERYTHING), I got over my writer tantrum and started to think about the land I wanted to portray. What elements of Australia are important to me?</span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The story came in the form of a myth. As a kid I was fascinated by Dreamtime stories, the Indigenous mythology of our land. I love the way they intermingled land and people. I wanted my story to show the struggle of people, but also the imposing and never-ending land. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">And thus, my post-apocalyptic tale,<b><i> After the Red Dust</i></b> was born. It's a story of belonging and longing and I'm thrilled to have it featured alongside some amazing Australian authors.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>Stories featured in the anthology include;</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>Disciple of the Torrent</i> by <a href="http://www.leebattersby.com/" style="text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Lee Battersby</a></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>This Corner of the Earth</i> by <a href="http://www.deanfromaustralia.com/" style="text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Dean Mayes</a></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>Acts of Chivalry</i> by <a href="http://seanmcmullen.net.au/" style="text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Sean McMullen</a></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>Bobby, Be Good</i> by <a href="http://www.hmcwriter.com/" style="text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">H.M.C</a></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>Dreams Didgeridoo</i> by <a href="https://www.facebook.com/salwasamra.poetsroom" style="text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Salwa Samra</a></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>After the Red Dust</i> by <a href="http://www.charmaineclancy.com/">Charmaine Clancy</a></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>Jaylin</i> by <a href="https://www.facebook.com/AllyFin?fref=ts" style="text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">A. Finlay</a></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>Set Your Face Toward the Darkness</i> by <a href="http://www.davidmcdonaldspage.com/" style="text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">David McDonald</a></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Want to find out how us Aussie spin yarns and wag tales (tell stories)? Grab your copy of </span><i style="color: #444444; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large; font-weight: bold;">Tales of Australia - Great Southern Land </i><span style="color: #444444; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">on Sept 27, or pre-order from Satalyte Publishing.</span></div>
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Charmaine Clancyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18059559142070140041noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2774506789160968096.post-37156010212110333792013-09-04T22:59:00.000+10:002013-09-04T22:59:49.703+10:00Insecure Writers and Self-editing<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i style="background-color: white; color: #500050; font-family: arial, sans, sans-serif; text-align: -webkit-auto; white-space: pre-wrap;">"I use Grammarly's <a href="http://www.grammarly.com/" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">plagiarism checker </a>because what I thought was an original idea for a novel about racism and poverty in the South, during the Depression, and told through the eyes of a 10yr old girl whose father is the local lawyer... might already exist."</i></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="http://alexjcavanaugh.blogspot.com.au/p/the-insecure-writers-support-group.html"><img border="0" height="170" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEislKFUNenGiJsYky2ucef6E1MHo4rkQYyLDWc3-zD_JfJzDiyGdlvE5oM-D1aWTC16QvVp52VthfvBgZ8pLD18uuVhCdmyEB06rgrip_gW-a-L3ghW98_RgXbLcaCwqNhdGZaRGbSQX80/s200/InsecureWritersSupportGroup.jpg" width="200" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="gmw_"><a href="http://alexjcavanaugh.blogspot.com.au/p/the-insecure-writers-support-group.html">Join IWSG and share your insecurities!</a></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">One of the main things I was insecure about when I first ventured into creative writing was editing. Turns out, I had good reason to worry.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I stupidly thought good novels were created from inspiration, sweat and fairy-dust; that certain authors just had the magic and breathed engaging narratives onto the pages. Of course I was delighted to learn the existence of 'drafts' and that my first one was allowed to 'suck' because I could edit it later. Easy, right?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Ha!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">My first manuscript to earn a finished draft was a girl's mystery novel filled with passive language, poor grammar and only one suspect character (not much of a mystery in this who-done-it). I was keen to polish the story, but had no idea how.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I sent it off to an editor. That was a mistake.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>What? Wait a minute Charmaine</i> (I hear you ask ... in a kind of a creepy little girl voice), <i>you always recommend getting a professional editor. What gives?</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">You should get your work edited professionally before publishing, but not before you edit your own work.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">My manuscript was in such a mess that after a few chapters of painful interactions back and forth, my editor gave up on it. Truth was, it wasn't <i>ready</i> for the editor yet.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>1.</b> You should polish your story as much as you possibly can before you send it out to editors or beta readers. So how can you best edit your own work?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Put your manuscript away for a while, come back to it with fresh eyes.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>2.</b> Utilise an editing program for the really obvious problems. Word Spellcheck is very flawed, but will at least get rid of some issues. A better version of this is </span><a href="http://www.grammarly.com/" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>Grammarly</b></a><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">, which I use for my online writing (there's also a check box for you to paste your work on their website).</span><br />
<b style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">3.</b><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> Read books on revising before you take another look at your manuscript. I found these ones very helpful: </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Take up a course to find the best strategies for tackling your manuscript. There are plenty offered through writing centres or online.</span></div>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/0399533958/ref=as_li_ss_til?tag=waggtale03-20&camp=0&creative=0&linkCode=as4&creativeASIN=0399533958&adid=1CCT85P70HJG2F1JQA4T" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51cwYZ7FiOL.jpg" width="212" /></a><a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/1599637065/ref=as_li_ss_til?tag=waggtale03-20&camp=0&creative=0&linkCode=as4&creativeASIN=1599637065&adid=1GTXMN72V90Z411ZGNF7" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51ijaHHS3DL.jpg" width="211" /></a></div>
<a href="http://howtothinksideways.com/101-major-first-draft-mistakes/?ap_id=charmaineclancy" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Manuscript hidden under your bed?" border="0" height="320" src="http://howtothinksideways.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/3-25-under-bed.jpg" width="213" /></a><b style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large; text-align: justify;">4.</b><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; text-align: justify;"> Study. You can find lots of courses on editing through your writers centre or online. I've said this many times before, Holly Lisle's How To Revise Your Novel is one of the best revisions courses I've ever undertaken (and there's been a few). Check it out, it will teach you so much about strengthening that first draft and tightening your story.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; text-align: justify;"><b>5. </b>Find a mentor. Someone who has more experience and can guide you through your manuscript's plot flaws and show you how to improve it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; text-align: justify;"><span class="gmw_">Still want more on editing? Check out Denise Covey's guest post on <a href="http://revisionseditions.blogspot.com.au/2013/08/denise-covey-on-writing-revising-editing.html">writing, revising and editing at <span class="gm_ gm_2ad340c6-98a4-4e35-182f-859cca1cb572 gm-spell">revisionseditions</span></a>.</span></span>Charmaine Clancyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18059559142070140041noreply@blogger.com32tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2774506789160968096.post-86696552579252574702013-08-21T22:17:00.000+10:002013-08-21T22:17:54.467+10:00Build A Better Website With Me - How to install WordPress to your hosted site.<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 25px;"><i style="font-weight: bold;">Build a better website with me</i> is a series I'm sharing, covering my migration from Blogger to a self-hosted WordPress site. I have no experience or skills in the area of web-development, so I'm sharing my steps to help other bloggers through the complex WordPress system.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 25px;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 25px;">In my last post on this topic I showed you <b><a href="http://www.clancytales.blogspot.com.au/2013/08/build-better-website-with-me-how-to.html">how to register your own domain name through your host</a></b>. I'm using </span></span><b style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.justhost.com/track/jh41099">Just Host</a></b><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 25px;"> for my set up because they are very cheap compared to most and they offer a lot of help along the way. You should be able to follow most of these steps with your own host.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 25px;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<h3>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 25px;">Installing WordPress</span></span></span></h3>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 25px;"><span class="gmw_">Log into your host site, and head straight to the <span class="gm_ gm_20c4cc06-e413-eed3-97c9-968c9940609d gm-spell">cPanel</span>, remember it looks like this:</span></span></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbPxxQCTEybtvvP-TdM0LjqYeUJ9sLmLiG9VwHKLe4aQ1jreKKBHJo_DKs_QOo0UiDzXezYzY7QJHGmzSp5clgIf3diGVLN9DVtdbleaTGxwJP8_WfwAhabBI9f3DiyHs-tlYCTjvWoJ1t/s1600/Just+Host+cPanel+ss.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="484" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbPxxQCTEybtvvP-TdM0LjqYeUJ9sLmLiG9VwHKLe4aQ1jreKKBHJo_DKs_QOo0UiDzXezYzY7QJHGmzSp5clgIf3diGVLN9DVtdbleaTGxwJP8_WfwAhabBI9f3DiyHs-tlYCTjvWoJ1t/s640/Just+Host+cPanel+ss.png" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The page scrolls down to show a LOT of options and management systems - you don't need to worry about any of that. All we will look at today is the section called 'Website Builders' (the one down from 'Mail' - I'll show you how to set up your own mail later).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The first icon under 'Website Builders' is 'WordPress'. You can click on that now.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">What will appear if you're using </span><b style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><a href="http://www.justhost.com/track/jh41099">Just Host</a> </b><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="gmw_">is a diversion to a site called <b><span class="gm_ gm_280620b6-056f-6b31-8310-e08327ea632e gm-spell">mojo</span> marketplace</b>. Don't panic, this is just the third-party company </span></span><b style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><a href="http://www.justhost.com/track/jh41099">Just Host</a> </b><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="gmw_">use to install WordPress themes (the backgrounds and designs). <span class="gm_ gm_d569374c-8642-965c-2d7a-1d9a478400ac gm-spell">Mojo</span><span class="gmw_"> Marketplace <span class="gm_ gm_554edf65-88ad-b172-c243-c2c1ea058cbc gm-spell">sell</span> lots of themes, but there are also plenty available from within WordPress for free. I'll show you where to get themes later.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="gmw_"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">This is what should appear once the page diverts:</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1N2VaEYl7SOBsC50IgLjp-vnJ0ag58A3es8hP0-ZD6XzVRlZvdlakdLXqb8RJ2toGrsFD_FIpda_4o9KIKGlf9r2yr9f7JbZcZ7UP00umdwV7A2RJsi5BapHfR5zZ2D0VPMBx7xjVPFXl/s1600/Mojo+WordPress+SS.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="420" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1N2VaEYl7SOBsC50IgLjp-vnJ0ag58A3es8hP0-ZD6XzVRlZvdlakdLXqb8RJ2toGrsFD_FIpda_4o9KIKGlf9r2yr9f7JbZcZ7UP00umdwV7A2RJsi5BapHfR5zZ2D0VPMBx7xjVPFXl/s640/Mojo+WordPress+SS.png" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Click on that shiny green 'Start' button!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Next, you have choose which domain you want to attach a WordPress site to. If this is your first site, you'll probably only have one choice.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTxSEsW-3DPxyFEmLNTV3fXMkM6HcNrlFggn1q91fr41Fub9a9BoD44DSav_1MS7Cw4bCJW5w8YyCQiFqpr8KfZMX6eXWBI_YuavQ4LeCq6F8P5_N9iDb1a9ti-mdbIeY-136k6wQpiag8/s1600/Mojo+2+ss.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="262" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTxSEsW-3DPxyFEmLNTV3fXMkM6HcNrlFggn1q91fr41Fub9a9BoD44DSav_1MS7Cw4bCJW5w8YyCQiFqpr8KfZMX6eXWBI_YuavQ4LeCq6F8P5_N9iDb1a9ti-mdbIeY-136k6wQpiag8/s640/Mojo+2+ss.png" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">With the drop down menu (next to the web domain name) it offered me a choice of including www. or leaving it out (http://charmaineclancy.com). I wasn't sure, so I use the name with the www. (If in doubt, have a guess and see what you can break!)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">You'll probably get a warning:</span></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>Install directory exists and is not empty. Please confirm that it is safe to overwrite any content in this directory.</i></span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">That's just because your host puts up stuff on your domain until you override it. Just tick the box to allow the installation to go ahead anyway.</span><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">On the next screen, don't rush to publish - first, tick the box for Advanced Options. Now you'll be able to put in the name of your website, and you can change the password (otherwise write down the one they show you because it's impossible to remember).</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjytRo2SSPvnWgdkZJ24RPFvIlSoTYRXTHD_ZeYVGfXXQiDhJjMJB_0cTI94_4GrcjKZGg_W9rtsx063Jhtq12hGub2KVGkLtvcMsCnHQ5h7r9qpTsZvAYzso9irSMFWu6qCXYMpW0h51pu/s1600/AdvancedOption+ss.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="147" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjytRo2SSPvnWgdkZJ24RPFvIlSoTYRXTHD_ZeYVGfXXQiDhJjMJB_0cTI94_4GrcjKZGg_W9rtsx063Jhtq12hGub2KVGkLtvcMsCnHQ5h7r9qpTsZvAYzso9irSMFWu6qCXYMpW0h51pu/s400/AdvancedOption+ss.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Click the green 'Install Now' button and your WordPress installation will begin!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Then you'll be greeted by this screen:</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD_2hmNeNqUCgEjNttHY7cQ-RvV1MXyBdjG3SWSFdnadIx9Ivqlxe4BnKW3W88rsZejvwLPjQfDezVgfIJHBKhBVm41wxdj_TLjkzmqyUD5t5mNCV6RElj4EpB4ygOiDkKmOh74PFyoIvH/s1600/last+step+intall+ss.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="316" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD_2hmNeNqUCgEjNttHY7cQ-RvV1MXyBdjG3SWSFdnadIx9Ivqlxe4BnKW3W88rsZejvwLPjQfDezVgfIJHBKhBVm41wxdj_TLjkzmqyUD5t5mNCV6RElj4EpB4ygOiDkKmOh74PFyoIvH/s640/last+step+intall+ss.png" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">At the bottom of the page you'll get the option to browse for templates through Mojo - those are paid templates to purchase. You can search for free templates from within WordPress.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">To head to your new WordPress site (which will be looking pretty bare at this stage), go to the Login URL - you can click on the hyperlink with the '/wp-admin extension'. Your password will be the one you entered earlier (and wrote down... I hope... otherwise attempt to sign in and you can request your password if you need to).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">You're all set! In my next <b><i>Build a better website with me</i></b> series, I'll show you how to install a template to your page (that's the layout and design of your website).</span></div>
Charmaine Clancyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18059559142070140041noreply@blogger.com24tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2774506789160968096.post-64582934963603401362013-08-20T08:05:00.001+10:002013-08-20T08:05:13.842+10:00Productivity, blogging and test subjects<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I've blogged over at the new <a href="http://www.charmaineclancy.com/">dream... write... publish...</a> website today. If you get a chance, please pop over to read:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b><a href="http://charmaineclancy.com/howtobeproductive/">Productivity - motivation for output, or creativity killer?</a></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">And now I have a big favour to ask. I'm testing the comment host, first I'm trying the WordPress comments with CommentLuv added (that means your latest post is automatically displayed in your comment). Some people expressed a problem commenting on WordPress sites, so I'm also looking at the Disqus option - a separate host to manage blog comments. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Do you have a preference?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I'm writing up my second post for the series Build A Better Website With Me - to show you how to install WordPress through your hosting site. I'll share that tomorrow - and a big thanks to everyone who's been helping me out with this transition!</span></div>
Charmaine Clancyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18059559142070140041noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2774506789160968096.post-89118743623191951822013-08-16T15:23:00.000+10:002013-08-16T19:16:37.569+10:00Build A Better Website With Me - How to register and activate your own .com domain name<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i style="font-weight: bold;">Build a better website with me </i>will be a series on blog posts covering my journey to migrate from Blogger to WordPress. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I outlined some of the reasons for my changeover in my previous post: <a href="http://clancytales.blogspot.com.au/2013/07/build-better-author-website-with-me.html">Build A Better Website With Me</a>. By keeping the beginning of each website-related post the same, those who are keen to learn how to use WordPress as their platform can follow along. But if you can do without the techie posts, it'll be easy for you to spot which ones to ignore.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Today's post is showing you how to gain a domain name through your host.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">My host is <b><a href="http://www.justhost.com/track/jh41099">Just Host</a> </b>(also called Host Clear). I can confidently recommend this host, they have treated me well, are easy to use and offer immediate online chat for solutions if you get stuck. There's a lot of others out there, and a few are ones I've tried that have disappointed me. There are other good hosts, but I can't recommend a product I haven't tried. Maybe ask around.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Once you're signed up with your host, and you have your log in details, go to the home page and log in.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">This will take you to the 'cPanel' (control panel). It looks pretty scary! Don't worry, you'll never need to touch most of those buttons.</span><br />
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<img border="0" height="484" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMldl4QexVmXAxJ2TTyt-Yg0e1F-0uPAx6NzraAjmbIDjUXLzlbIC62n0WtbRqSMijAFfBBo-4L18X2dj0fZOo3bWUBH5Q-Xi9oPI_RJW9l8gTzJU2YYWB7TD_jKpL_njkMN0KqGhMZhsh/s640/Just+Host+cPanel+ss.png" width="640" /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">For now, you just need to click on the word 'Domains' on that blue bar at the top.</span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0AAsbiXC78v1FvM9TytPv0Pw9FRSscjzW_Rgnxruv8Y-mzL0ywLNDPi6VkDks8PE_IMoQRthLS_sEnM07JG_q6hDb0mUIpUGm9vjzSt5WjNOm5qbYoIlJCEkInXB2Lym0ml4ZLPbYI8ji/s640/Just+Host+domains+ss.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yes, I have a lot of domains</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="gmw_">See the search box in the middle? Use that to see if the domain name you want is taken. For example, I might search for dreamwritepublish<span class="gmw_">.com (I did, and it's not available). I don't recommend changing to .net, if yours is not available, I think you are better off changing the name slightly (maybe dreamwritepublishonline.com).</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Of course, as an author, you want your pen name as your webpage. If your name is Stephen King, there's a good chance you won't score your name, maybe you could be stephenkingnovels.com or stephenkingsbooks4kids.com. Choose something that is easy to remember. Hyphens are a bad idea, no one remembers to put hyphens in. I'd rather dreamwritepublishonline than dream-write-publish.com. Click 'Next'.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">BEFORE YOU PURCHASE</span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">There is a box automatically clicked for Domain Privacy. This means your details will not show up as the person who registered the domain name. Go ahead and keep it if that's important to you. I choose to unclick the box, because I don't care if my name is associated with the domain (I don't have any scam websites), and it costs an extra $9.99 for every domain you purchase.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgkD-6JvfVv50lrksXxeOV4PTNuxlhdIZMuNZy8Mor3AANYgVeaTs9MHykC9dh0n6qCfJPXs0abuGEhrtQLNHgzcw_4O6OMLi7KI8Tu7umInCEzwT_Ygza02t0CNkK2wvTK0WEwAhoqlMd/s1600/Domain+Registration+Privacy+ss.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="72" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgkD-6JvfVv50lrksXxeOV4PTNuxlhdIZMuNZy8Mor3AANYgVeaTs9MHykC9dh0n6qCfJPXs0abuGEhrtQLNHgzcw_4O6OMLi7KI8Tu7umInCEzwT_Ygza02t0CNkK2wvTK0WEwAhoqlMd/s640/Domain+Registration+Privacy+ss.png" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="gmw_">You will have to tick the 'Terms of Service' box. And click 'Add to Cart'. Another good thing about <a href="http://www.justhost.com/track/jh41099">Just Host</a>, is they keep giving me free domain name credits (I don't know why), so today I'm purchasing iTeenMagic, because I think Matilda can add it to her magic site (she has big plans).</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Go ahead now and purchase your domain name. You can purchase domain names from other places a couple of dollars cheaper, but then you'd have to import them into <a href="http://www.justhost.com/track/jh41099">Just Host</a> (or your host). Being new to website creation, I don't know how easy that is.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">On the next page, click on the dark grey button 'Manage' (under 'manage my add on products).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="gmw_">Now you're at your 'domain list manager', and you'll see your domain name listed in a box in the bottom left-hand side of the screen. If this is your first domain and your main account, it should be called your 'primary'. See from the picture that charmaineclancy.com is my primary domain:</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm9TMw23fNeo1d9Qqe_BMAak6E0xQZ-NbSMkh4_UfbeZdYsVtq5VcbZnXCGyxJzLH4L6IL1u81dIRqWNe877aDosDAg0pFJcjC5e-SREDUZnM9ApPUXb1NzIZqnP_FfumHmX-Lk0rgMwC0/s1600/Unassigned+domain+ss.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="194" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm9TMw23fNeo1d9Qqe_BMAak6E0xQZ-NbSMkh4_UfbeZdYsVtq5VcbZnXCGyxJzLH4L6IL1u81dIRqWNe877aDosDAg0pFJcjC5e-SREDUZnM9ApPUXb1NzIZqnP_FfumHmX-Lk0rgMwC0/s320/Unassigned+domain+ss.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">If, like me, you've gone a bit nuts and purchased the entire internet, the extra domain names should be converted from 'Unassigned' to 'Addon'. <a href="http://www.justhost.com/track/jh41099">Just Host</a> lets you add on as many domain names as you like and you don't pay any extra for hosting those sites.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">You are all done registering your very groovy domain name! Maybe you chose your author name, or your blog name, or both. The next step is installing your WordPress theme, to do that you need to go to 'Hosting' (second word in the blue bar at the top of the page, right past 'Home'). </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="gmw_">This will take you back to the cPanel. I'll post all the instructions on installing WordPress to your new site in my next post!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">If you are not ready to set up a new website, but think you'll want this information, don't worry, I've decided to put all these posts together into a guide for everyone as soon as I'm done (for free of course, if you want to pay, there are better experts on the subject!).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">And if you get impatient and rush ahead and then get stuck? Don't worry, help is a click away! Up the top on the right-hand side, if you click on 'Help?', a drop-down menu appears:</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf0HDPXCYDn2RStiPG4A_853lA4VlB05r-x2oPvLnYBXr3CgogVoe9fxAqou4tsgCPpQNo7CenabF4xI8BvBh3FQKTBNq-4YfhM4PPczwOItSDjLmZuO58pZCz3rPXkDuNq2NUFdtoB8sL/s1600/Help+chat+ss.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf0HDPXCYDn2RStiPG4A_853lA4VlB05r-x2oPvLnYBXr3CgogVoe9fxAqou4tsgCPpQNo7CenabF4xI8BvBh3FQKTBNq-4YfhM4PPczwOItSDjLmZuO58pZCz3rPXkDuNq2NUFdtoB8sL/s320/Help+chat+ss.png" width="306" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">See that offer of a 'Live Chat'? Choose it! Don't be shy! The elves at <a href="http://www.justhost.com/track/jh41099">Just Host</a> are super friendly, can easily work out your problem and best of all, they don't judge you for making obvious mistakes (I know from experience).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Do you want to see how one of my sites is coming along?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Check out <b><a href="http://www.iteenwrite.com/">iTeenWrite</a> </b>- it's my new site for kids and teens, my aim is to inspire and teach teens to unleash their creative potential. I'm even offering free video tutorials. Let me know what you think of the design - what do you think the site could use?</span></div>
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Charmaine Clancyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18059559142070140041noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2774506789160968096.post-80279552147816889662013-08-09T12:36:00.002+10:002013-08-09T12:36:34.466+10:00The Philosophy of Marketing Online and Finding Your Creative Spark<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i1086.photobucket.com/albums/j448/charmaineclancy/screenprintforblog2-4-1-1-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="230" src="http://i1086.photobucket.com/albums/j448/charmaineclancy/screenprintforblog2-4-1-1-1.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-size: large;"></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Have you had a creative week? I have!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="gmw_">And it wouldn't have been creative at all, if it weren't for the participants of the <b><a href="http://clancytales.blogspot.com.au/2013/07/imagination-sparks-blogfest.html">Imagination Sparks <span class="gm_ gm_1529579f-83dd-3cb2-cd1c-ce40dc24a849 gm-spell">Blogfest</span></a></b>.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">My focus lately has been on building a couple of WordPress sites (and my first post on how to start with your WordPress site is coming very soon). I've also taken a side interest in content marketing and analysing social media. Can't really say why, I think I wanted to know one thing or another and the subject became fascinating to me. My thoughts so far? </span></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Connect, be yourself, talk to people not at them, drop the virtual - this IS the real world.</span></i></span></blockquote>
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<a href="http://projectlifemastery.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Tim-Ferriss-The-4-Hour-Work-Week-Review.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://projectlifemastery.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Tim-Ferriss-The-4-Hour-Work-Week-Review.jpg" width="140" /></a><span style="font-size: large;">Another topic tickling my fancy is business philosophy, and how we can bring that to our decisions on how we exist and trade online. I am enjoying Tim Ferriss' <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/0307465357/ref=as_li_ss_til?tag=waggtale03-20&camp=0&creative=0&linkCode=as4&creativeASIN=0307465357&adid=1CMY4F7QXJD47T0ATZYJ">The 4-Hour Work Week</a>. </i>I can relate to the line 'To have more quality and less clutter.'</span></div>
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I get carried away with research, and although I'm enjoying learning how to surf the new marketing wave, I've neglected my creative writing. So, I'm very grateful to the pa<span class="gmw_">rticipants of <b>Imagination Sparks </b><b><span class="gm_ gm_0e6b4283-8f0c-9428-2ce0-1b714de11f97 gm-spell">Blogfest</span></b> for providing me with some great writing prompts.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="gmw_">We had musical prompts, changes in POV, character interviews and lists, photo prompts and even studying commercials for story ideas. I love that everyone was relaxed about their posts, without giving or feeling any pressure to post at particular times - that was the message I hoped to convey. The end result? I would definitely do this <span class="gm_ gm_86354ada-099d-b33b-a098-a04b428b9b55 gm-spell">blogfest</span> again next year (watch this space... or the one over at WordPress).</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">After all, I'm all about lifting the stress at the moment :)</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">If you get the time, pop about and visit some of our participants:</span></div>
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<!-- end InLinkz script -->Charmaine Clancyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18059559142070140041noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2774506789160968096.post-62777034279631889122013-08-08T12:15:00.000+10:002013-08-08T12:24:39.652+10:00Overcoming Stress; or how I stopped being insecure about pressure and painted my nails instead.<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="gmw_"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: yellow;"><b>Deadlines</b>, <b>obligations</b>, <b>accomplishments</b>, and <b>expectations</b></span>... these words have been highlighted in my life lately with the big <span class="gm_ gm_1ed27d62-2a89-eeb6-5f4a-d9549490f663 gm-spell">fluro</span> yellow marker of stress. I need to let go a little.</span></span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1086.photobucket.com/albums/j448/charmaineclancy/screenprintforblog2-4-1-1-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="231" src="http://i1086.photobucket.com/albums/j448/charmaineclancy/screenprintforblog2-4-1-1-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.clancytales.blogspot.com.au/2013/08/imagination-sparks-blogfest.html"><span class="gmw_">Another self-imposed deadline! But a fun one.I'll post my wrap up of the <span class="gm_ gm_988ce1d0-d3c7-8bf4-8968-bc050fb983f9 gm-spell">blogfest</span> tomorrow. Want to visit the participants? Click on the image.</span></a></td></tr>
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<span class="gmw_"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Deadlines can be great for productivity, but not when the pressure outweighs the benefits. In <b><a href="http://clancytales.blogspot.com.au/2013/05/theories-of-productivity-for-writers.html">Theories of Productivity</a></b> I included the triangle theory - the idea that you can successfully prioritise up to three segments of your life at any one time, but accept that there are many more divisions which will have to wait their turn for attention (to read more, you can see that post <b><a href="http://clancytales.blogspot.com.au/2013/05/theories-of-productivity-for-writers.html">here</a></b>). The problem is, each of those departments wants to be at the top of the triangle all the time.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I love being <b>busy</b>. But I take advantage of that trait and pile it on too thick sometimes. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Do you convince yourself <b>everything needs to be done NOW</b>? I do. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">My natural rhythm is to be an early bird. I love, love, love sleep and can't wait to curl up in bed each night and get excited to jump out of bed early each day. Not lately. I've stayed up until midnight on my websites tweaking, fixing and then mumbling curse words at WordPress. Then I drag myself out of bed early ('cause, you know, I'm an early bird) and walk around in a daze. Of course that leads to being unproductive all day, so I feel I have to stay up late to catch up and... well, you can see the pattern.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The solution</span></h2>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">You didn't think I'd just depress you all for nothing? My solution was two part. </span></div>
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<ol>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Get to bed! </b>Sneaky me, set a challenge for the family. For one week we all must be asleep by 9pm and awake by 6am. They took the bait. Three days in and I'm feeling great and getting more done each day than I could in a week when I was tired.</span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Paint my nails.</b> I was never much of a nail painter. It involves sitting still too long for me. But during my weeks of no sleep and high stress, I realised that was exactly what I needed. I paint my nails and then I CAN'T move or touch anything, or do any tasks until they dry. I do several coats so it takes a good hour to dry properly. I've also noticed family members seem to value my nail-drying time more than my work time. They leave me alone, do things for themselves, even offer to do tasks for me, all because they don't want to ruin my nail polish.</span></li>
</ol>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkjMyEBayULrRMCUP1LMkX8HXmcU83eIiOqXL1HDefKHwDMw_nr4CAADwv2bfYp5MQd_rPHrsn-dzVJ4FqcAGrJoRbUUkqv-W6uXphHRuN-HbUEm60kZ4N828YirGL3_m_ofA0SIJ1Ruhi/s1600/IMG_3668.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkjMyEBayULrRMCUP1LMkX8HXmcU83eIiOqXL1HDefKHwDMw_nr4CAADwv2bfYp5MQd_rPHrsn-dzVJ4FqcAGrJoRbUUkqv-W6uXphHRuN-HbUEm60kZ4N828YirGL3_m_ofA0SIJ1Ruhi/s200/IMG_3668.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I appreciate that last suggestion might be tricky for some guys - but find something that makes you stop thinking and just sit still. You need time to take a big breath before you dive back under the ocean of deadlines, obligations, accomplishments and expectations waiting for you.</span></div>
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<a href="http://projectlifemastery.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Tim-Ferriss-The-4-Hour-Work-Week-Review.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://projectlifemastery.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Tim-Ferriss-The-4-Hour-Work-Week-Review.jpg" width="140" /></a><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">My next read is Tim Ferriss' <b><i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/0091929113/ref=as_li_ss_til?tag=waggtale03-20&camp=0&creative=0&linkCode=as4&creativeASIN=0091929113&adid=1FRZ9RGAAJCG5P6P2D54">The Four Hour Work Week</a></i></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">This post is part of the Insecure Writers Support Group. To join up, click <b><a href="http://alexjcavanaugh.blogspot.com.au/p/the-insecure-writers-support-group.html">here</a></b>:</span></div>
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Charmaine Clancyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18059559142070140041noreply@blogger.com34