tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-88785495861163787592024-02-19T16:42:32.428-08:00Teddy's ThoughtsOn Writing, Books, and CreativityJordihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05674664318564286248noreply@blogger.comBlogger24125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8878549586116378759.post-32704613749851469652017-09-11T21:20:00.002-07:002017-09-12T07:39:41.484-07:00Teddy's Review of Heart of Rock by Becca Price<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOvJ3Zvw4mAAoLJEez_xi2ERBHyykuYGLxCwB8VKW53oUQ2mvAcayJElY6OFE-M_zeOROQcWwqvThKRziRY7ByK8TA79z6idzxx6VqyInDN6KvSOjaNBb7BxDW4NVdB6oXXo8AV-Bz8Q/s1600/Heart+of+Rock+-+cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="299" data-original-width="196" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOvJ3Zvw4mAAoLJEez_xi2ERBHyykuYGLxCwB8VKW53oUQ2mvAcayJElY6OFE-M_zeOROQcWwqvThKRziRY7ByK8TA79z6idzxx6VqyInDN6KvSOjaNBb7BxDW4NVdB6oXXo8AV-Bz8Q/s1600/Heart+of+Rock+-+cover.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman";"><span style="font-size: medium;"> I
recently read Heart of Rock by Becca Price. Heart of Rock is a book
about a village that believes they need a special rock in order to
protect their village from villains. Unfortunately, the rock they
took belongs to gargoyles who need it to live. If the gargoyles live,
then they could help protect the village.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman";"><span style="font-size: medium;">Each
of the villagers who sets out to find the heart of rock ends up
failing tests that have been set out for them by the gargoyles. But
one cobbler with a kind heart might just pass them.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman";"><span style="font-size: medium;">This
book is a wonderful read with a great moral message. It is also
entertaining, told in a very fairy-tale style that all children of
all ages will enjoy. This was one of my favorite styles of writing to
read when I was a child myself. It is a good length to read as a
bedtime story as well.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman";"><span style="font-size: medium;">This
book gave me warm feelings and happy memories of sitting with my mom,
reading out of my big fairy-tale book. Becca Price tells stories that
are perfect for modern day readers in a lovely old-fashioned style
that will capture the attention of anyone who reads her work. </span></span></span>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman";"><span style="font-size: medium;">Open
this book and let the adventure begin!</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman";"><span style="font-size: medium;">This review is part of the Back To School blog tour being hosted by Tiffany Turner.</span></span></span></div>
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Find an interview with Becca Price <a href="https://crystalkeeper.wordpress.com/2017/09/12/back-to-school-blog-tour-day-2-featured-author-becca-price/">here! </a><br />
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You can buy the book <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Heart-Rock-Becca-Price-ebook/dp/B00JK532WO/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1505226716&sr=8-1&keywords=heart+of+rock+becca+price">here!</a></div>
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Jordihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05674664318564286248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8878549586116378759.post-77451987934929996152017-09-01T10:36:00.001-07:002017-09-12T07:40:05.736-07:00New Release - Mia's Lists of Ten <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2M-OLyjeOdel84PzHX2p6HZhIN-4CIDRlV9xYyoHRSgpj9fD8XnZ2KPVuDLTo4mvbxd-l0Ruq5bXC3NToFdoUwQ_lyFXsXtxUB4_BTNie7FTFX2nqgqJlYldeJrQX6T0-JWVWZtzekQ/s1600/mia.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2M-OLyjeOdel84PzHX2p6HZhIN-4CIDRlV9xYyoHRSgpj9fD8XnZ2KPVuDLTo4mvbxd-l0Ruq5bXC3NToFdoUwQ_lyFXsXtxUB4_BTNie7FTFX2nqgqJlYldeJrQX6T0-JWVWZtzekQ/s320/mia.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Mia is here!</div>
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<b>A little bit about Mia:</b></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">14-year-old Mia can’t seem to stop making lists. Somehow, Michael Across The Hall gets into all of them. Before long, he and Mia are involved in a crazy adventure. And Mia’s lists now include murderous ducks and an out-of-control singing chef!</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><b>Some Quotes from Mia</b></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">"Daniella has two brothers and three sisters. Maybe this is why she is better at sharing things (like boyfriends) and I am not so good at it. We only children are not taught the fine art of sharing." - Mia, Mia's Lists of Ten</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">"He seems smart. He answered all the questions the teacher asked correctly. Okay, well, the one he answered he got right. And even though it was only one question, I still feel like he is smart." - Mia, Mia's Lists of Ten</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">"Daniella said that since I said I was going to do it then I should. Because apparently, I should stick to the things I say I am going to do. That is her opinion anyway." - Mia, Mia's Lists of Ten</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">You can read a first chapter preview for Mia's Lists of Ten<a href="http://teddyomalley.weebly.com/mias-lists-of-ten---chapter-1.html"> here.</a></span></div>
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Or head straight to <a href="http://mybook.to/MiasLists">Amazon.</a></div>
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Jordihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05674664318564286248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8878549586116378759.post-91730568727376783892017-05-10T23:53:00.001-07:002017-05-11T00:11:40.951-07:006 Tips to Help Your Child Love Reading<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl5uRUtI5BOeER59YE7Ky7Ju9gwbhe3Nnwk_m0XlOLHvn_XafLuhyIdCWQ1zix3q7ak1NKTPNA1EvqUvQO1K01GQ5KR7usuvk2oQ-wKCNgqIUBphEhI1eCEEZnQAv-AiFm-jY05QZ0aw/s1600/6+Tips.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl5uRUtI5BOeER59YE7Ky7Ju9gwbhe3Nnwk_m0XlOLHvn_XafLuhyIdCWQ1zix3q7ak1NKTPNA1EvqUvQO1K01GQ5KR7usuvk2oQ-wKCNgqIUBphEhI1eCEEZnQAv-AiFm-jY05QZ0aw/s320/6+Tips.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "q_serif" , "georgia" , "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px;">I originally published this post as an answer to a question on Quora. You can find that answer <a href="https://www.quora.com/My-8-year-old-daughter-is-not-a-fan-of-reading-and-no-matter-how-much-my-husband-and-I-try-she-refuses-to-read-How-do-I-get-her-to-read/answer/Teddy-O-Malley">here.</a> That is the main reason for the use of she/her pronouns. However, I thought this answer could be useful as an article as the advice applies to most children. I have adapted it a bit to make it better formatted for a blog post.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "q_serif" , "georgia" , "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px;"><b>1. Start early</b>. It is never too early to teach your child to love reading. Start by showing your child that you love reading. Get caught reading by your child. Read to your child. Start as soon as your child is born or as soon as you adopt them. Start as soon as possible. If it is already too late, the tips below will still help you.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "q_serif" , "georgia" , "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 15px;">2. </span><b style="color: #333333; font-family: q_serif, Georgia, Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 15px;">Read to your child.</b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "q_serif" , "georgia" , "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 15px;"> </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "q_serif" , "georgia" , "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 15px;">If you can’t get them to read, maybe you can get them to listen to you read. Make sure to pick an interesting book that is suited to their level and interest. (For an 8-year-old who loves horses, pick a low-level book about horses). Make reading to your child a routine. Try reading to them every night at bedtime. This is good bonding time that will help foster a love of books and reading.</span></div>
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<b style="color: #333333; font-family: q_serif, Georgia, Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 15px;">3. Pursue YOUR CHILD's interests</b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "q_serif" , "georgia" , "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 15px;">. Buy books with things they are interested in. Get books with bright covers and preferably those with pictures. Why pictures for an older child? Because pictures are one thing that can engage even the most struggling reader. They help tell the story. So don’t rule out picture books, no matter how old your child is.</span></div>
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<b style="color: #333333; font-family: q_serif, Georgia, Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 15px;">4. Consider going below your child's grade level</b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "q_serif" , "georgia" , "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 15px;">. Just because she is 8, doesn’t mean she needs to be reading at a 3rd grade level. Consider going down a couple of levels. But continue to choose books that maintain her interest. So if her interest is horses, get a picture book about horses. Read it aloud at bedtime.</span></div>
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<b style="color: #333333; font-family: q_serif, Georgia, Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 15px;">5. The important thing is not to love reading, but to love books</b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "q_serif" , "georgia" , "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 15px;">. Sounds crazy? Well, a love of books can lead to a love of reading. <i>NEVER make books a punishment</i>. Spend some time in a book store or library. Let your child pick whatever book (or books) they want. They don't have to read it either. They can just look at it. The important thing is that it is <i>the child's choice</i>. You don’t want your child to feel forced at any point during this journey.</span></div>
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<b style="color: #333333; font-family: q_serif, Georgia, Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 15px;">6. Let your child choose the medium.</b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "q_serif" , "georgia" , "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 15px;"> </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "q_serif" , "georgia" , "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 15px;">Some kids like to read when it isn’t in a book. I know, I know. You want your child to love reading books and stories. When I was about 14, I had an 8-year-old friend who I used to visit, and sometimes we would chat on Yahoo messenger. I saw her like a little sister and was concerned about her lack of interest in reading. She loved reading my messages to her on instant messenger, though. She was still reading, even if it wasn’t in a book. So let your child read emails, text messages, whatever (with supervision, of course). It’s all going to build their skills as a reader.</span></div>
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Jordihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05674664318564286248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8878549586116378759.post-11253510494618977762017-03-12T21:16:00.002-07:002017-03-19T18:48:46.402-07:00Write Tired, Edit Awake: Lowering Your Inhibitions as a Writer<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Once upon a time, a man
named Ernest Hemingway gave the following advice. Write drunk; edit sober. The
reason for this is probably because drinking causes people to lower their
inhibitions. But like me, many people don’t drink alcohol, and for them the
advice isn’t all that helpful. Or is it?</span></span></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPf_7nLoIHBdE2tTPmiMtjg82qDmYLJ-3IH_fcxQ9PfYOP8-U6QJCLYlnhnqiZGncVdMDFkDJnYkuqAKI5HvGD_54diOCx3S_M32311aXi09876p9HtAga0rmSAvQjn4n_Ol8h6eDjXA/s1600/Write+tired%253B+edit+awake..png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPf_7nLoIHBdE2tTPmiMtjg82qDmYLJ-3IH_fcxQ9PfYOP8-U6QJCLYlnhnqiZGncVdMDFkDJnYkuqAKI5HvGD_54diOCx3S_M32311aXi09876p9HtAga0rmSAvQjn4n_Ol8h6eDjXA/s320/Write+tired%253B+edit+awake..png" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span></span><br />
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<span style="line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">My own philosophy is like
Mr. Hemingway’s. Write tired; edit awake. Now, this doesn’t mean that you
should go to your computer and write after pulling an all-nighter. </span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">When you are a little bit tired, your inhibitions are lowered. For this reason, the words might simply flow better. You'll be less self-conscious and more likely to try new ideas. When
you’re awake enough, you can edit the story, and gut the truly unnecessary parts or
parts that simply strike you as “too weird”.</span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Another way to lower your
inhibitions when writing is to write for yourself. A lot of people open their
document and begin writing with the mindset that this is for someone else to
see. They already have it in their minds that they are going to publish
this book. Therefore, they are already thinking about what others are going to think
of their product.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Forget your audience for
a moment and think about what you really want to write. Try this exercise. Open a document,
and write a five-hundred-word story (or part of a story) which is only for you
and that you have no intention of sharing. Perhaps, you will see a difference
in your work.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">What are your thoughts on
writing tired and editing awake? Do you have any advice to help budding writers
lower their inhibitions when writing? Please share in the comments.</span></span></div>
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Jordihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05674664318564286248noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8878549586116378759.post-24834243439680032012016-12-16T14:34:00.001-08:002017-04-12T11:46:33.273-07:0011 Sites and Apps to Help Writers Get Organized<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje1xnYkvWOIwRG0aMlPqDKZYd1ZxFVCHdH4M65XRxMomSc6xC4HKuz8ZFnkU7kZI6Rv3fR23d7Ssp-lQAAG0pNPopVIQpfk2oWa_qgqqtrbrStUnZEwDHyTxqA9NdvCOtAvFyYeJJdXQ/s1600/11+Sites+and+Appsto+Help+Writers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje1xnYkvWOIwRG0aMlPqDKZYd1ZxFVCHdH4M65XRxMomSc6xC4HKuz8ZFnkU7kZI6Rv3fR23d7Ssp-lQAAG0pNPopVIQpfk2oWa_qgqqtrbrStUnZEwDHyTxqA9NdvCOtAvFyYeJJdXQ/s320/11+Sites+and+Appsto+Help+Writers.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 30.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Websites </span></b></div>
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<a href="http://www.finaldeadline.co.uk/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 30.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;">http://www.Finaldeadline.co.uk</span></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 30.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Set a deadline. Fill out a questionnaire about your characters. Lots of other nice features.</span></div>
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<a href="http://www.writeordie.com/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 30.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;">http://www.WriteOrDie.com</span></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 30.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Hit TRY in the lower right-hand corner of the black box to use this tool for free. Write or get a punishment (an annoying sound).</span></div>
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<a href="http://writtenkitten.net/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 30.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;">http://writtenkitten.net/</span></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 30.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Don’t like negative reinforcement? Written Kitten uses positive reinforcement. You get shown a kitten as a reward for writing.</span></div>
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<a href="http://www.stayfocusd.com/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 30.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;">http://www.StayFocusd.com</span></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 30.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Lock yourself out of all websites except the ones that will help you with your productivity.</span></div>
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<a href="http://www.hemingwayapp.com/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 30.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;">http://www.Hemingwayapp.com</span></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 30.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">This app is a real life saver. Tells you about sentences that might be too long. Tells you about adverbs. Just in general, a nice editing app.</span></div>
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<a href="http://www.wordcradle.com/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 30.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;">http://www.wordcradle.com/</span></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 30.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Write stories, create characters, brainstorm, and set deadlines</span></div>
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<a href="https://www.truenovelist.com/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 30.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;">https://www.truenovelist.com/</span></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 30.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Organize your novel and save it to the cloud.</span></div>
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<a href="http://www.docs.google.com/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 30.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;">http://www.docs.google.com</span></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 30.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">I swear by Google Docs. I write all my first drafts here, just in case! If your computer randomly restarts or crashes or something else awful happens, your work will still be waiting for you in Google Docs.</span></div>
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<a href="http://www.3pages.fr/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 30.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;">http://www.3pages.fr/</span></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 30.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Write 750 words (or 3 pages) a day. The site is in French.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 30.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Apps</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 30.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">WriteOMeter</span></div>
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<a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.thinkerers.writeometer" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 30.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;">https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.thinkerers.writeometer</span></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 30.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Set deadlines and reward yourself if you meet the deadlines. Sends you reminders about your word count.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 30.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Character Story Planner</span></div>
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<a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.lfantasia.android.outworld" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 30.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;">https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.lfantasia.android.outworld</span></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 30.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Like WordCradle, but a phone app.</span></div>
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Jordihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05674664318564286248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8878549586116378759.post-80549242608114469532016-07-02T15:14:00.001-07:002016-07-02T15:41:22.573-07:00The Princess Who Rescued Herself: A List Of Princess Books to Inspire<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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If you are raising a girl, then I'm sure you've heard of "princess culture", but who wants their daughter to end up with a Cinderella complex? That's why I've put together this list of princesses who can rescue themselves. Some of them even rescue others. Overall, this is a list of books with princesses AND positive messages.</div>
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#5 Don't Want To Be A Princess by Kally Mayer</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhuUcR1UXmbVGC-qBhPHY94I3XwZY1niNml3yZTqVWmm2QfDjUHONsFBZx7ZDdCg8EpHH2s_SavFyDcQUcpU0S2Pvd_6IS9dAHt_ia_nVLBOeCvzIWS9Vf7R1VoPRCXBMXNlaPOuB32w/s1600/book+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhuUcR1UXmbVGC-qBhPHY94I3XwZY1niNml3yZTqVWmm2QfDjUHONsFBZx7ZDdCg8EpHH2s_SavFyDcQUcpU0S2Pvd_6IS9dAHt_ia_nVLBOeCvzIWS9Vf7R1VoPRCXBMXNlaPOuB32w/s320/book+4.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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This little girl isn't sure why she would even want to be a princess! Are princesses allowed to fart or do fun things. The whole book is a fun romp for those who don't REALLY want to be a princess. This book also shows that girls can be whatever they want to be and shouldn't just limit themselves to princesses.</div>
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Amazon Link: https://www.amazon.com/PRINCESS-Rhyming-Picture-Beginner-Princess-ebook/dp/B00IZGKSR6/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1467496738&sr=1-1&keywords=Don%27t+want+to+be+a+princess+kally+mayer</div>
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#4 The Smartest Princess by Mary Lee</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqCcN7NIv1PIiaSZfz01PIYXyFkxIqqGsoGBuwI3a96y0helZ2ksW9qbc3GdzNCH6DyicfCAyAgeEinsseB3KrTm9N61xgPsksInXLiuUg-5R2zRJnnhGHc-aP8A5li9srb2sUYAez-A/s1600/book+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqCcN7NIv1PIiaSZfz01PIYXyFkxIqqGsoGBuwI3a96y0helZ2ksW9qbc3GdzNCH6DyicfCAyAgeEinsseB3KrTm9N61xgPsksInXLiuUg-5R2zRJnnhGHc-aP8A5li9srb2sUYAez-A/s320/book+2.jpg" width="256" /></a></div>
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You don't need to be pretty or dainty in The Smartest Princess. You just need to be smart. Princesses compete in an annual competition and if the winner is not already a princess, then she will become one. </div>
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Amazon Link: https://www.amazon.com/Smartest-Princess-Mary-Princesses-Book-ebook/dp/B00CYXW2JS/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1467496523&sr=1-1&keywords=the+smartest+princess+by+mary+lee</div>
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#3 Princess Charlotte And The Pea by Sally Huss</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZAgUYzZZ6S10gM5efDciTHxHeDUGYM3dt92IS4XBB0lq4NYj0yJkyH-pWk9N-tnb51qACrVxeZ2-g0_9P1k-IS5ONIL3YeBtaORYmj29cpk0lSaB3iQUXUpJgPJJ0FeqARhmWLLnsqg/s1600/book+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZAgUYzZZ6S10gM5efDciTHxHeDUGYM3dt92IS4XBB0lq4NYj0yJkyH-pWk9N-tnb51qACrVxeZ2-g0_9P1k-IS5ONIL3YeBtaORYmj29cpk0lSaB3iQUXUpJgPJJ0FeqARhmWLLnsqg/s320/book+3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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The prince wants to find a girl sensitive to find a pea under dozens of mattresses. You know, the classic story. And he finds her, but the story doesn't end there. Oh no. Princess Charlotte would also like to test the prince on how sensitive HE is. And that's why I love this retelling of The Princess And The Pea.</div>
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Amazon Link: https://www.amazon.com/Childrens-Books-PRINCESS-CHARLOTTE-Illustrations-ebook/dp/B0116JCU1K/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1467497579&sr=1-1&keywords=Sally+Huss+princess+charlotte+and+the+pea</div>
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#2 A Moat Is Not A Goat: Poems For Clever Little Girls By Elsa Takaoka</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAw2PZ9uJwERpSncXsD_CtYhIFC6j7Jzmbzo_-G69lhrJq1qHc4iDbcHtUQ24dI_r8T550AYYA3H-lWlyujZsD52ihi4iiu6-S50QOniyDdMgRo9g4ZkXIKqmQdDu0HIxpYVNJlGrvTg/s1600/a+moat+is+not+a+goat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="273" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAw2PZ9uJwERpSncXsD_CtYhIFC6j7Jzmbzo_-G69lhrJq1qHc4iDbcHtUQ24dI_r8T550AYYA3H-lWlyujZsD52ihi4iiu6-S50QOniyDdMgRo9g4ZkXIKqmQdDu0HIxpYVNJlGrvTg/s320/a+moat+is+not+a+goat.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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While this book isn't completely princesses focused, it does include princess characters, which is why I chose to include it on this list. It's also completely focused on empowering girls and encouraging them to be their authentic selves. I have a paperback copy of this book and I treasure it.</div>
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There are lots of adorable poems and the stories will make you feel proud to be a girl!</div>
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Amazon Link: https://www.amazon.com/Moat-Not-Goat-Clever-Little-ebook/dp/B00Q1NTJ5C/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1467497227&sr=1-1&keywords=a+moat+is++not+a+goat</div>
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#1 The Mystic Princesses And The Whirlpool</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieIdI4hmlPJCctE1LzxNSdKh5c3_AgTEyd4FhDiC3Hv9MBJSXKXAzOuX67FObGS6nWaPF6PmyXsO0zvQsLFkoQpcX_2SnSk_Uulblo46q7TX0ID-5bGHsVuWDQFu1kBJxPVlvlDmBZnw/s1600/book+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieIdI4hmlPJCctE1LzxNSdKh5c3_AgTEyd4FhDiC3Hv9MBJSXKXAzOuX67FObGS6nWaPF6PmyXsO0zvQsLFkoQpcX_2SnSk_Uulblo46q7TX0ID-5bGHsVuWDQFu1kBJxPVlvlDmBZnw/s320/book+5.jpg" width="207" /></a></div>
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This is one of my absolute favorite princess books for a multitude of reasons. The biggest one is not only are the princesses in this book capable of rescuing themselves, but they also rescue someone else. A girl named Harmony needs protection from the children of Ares and the princesses are up for the job. Kids who read this book will learn about important life skills like self-defense and being aware of your surroundings while sliding down rainbows, riding dolphins, turning into birds. What more could you ask for in a princess book?</div>
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I own a paperback of this one too and cherish it as well!</div>
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Amazon Link: https://www.amazon.com/Childrens-Book-Mystic-Princesses-Whirlpool-ebook/dp/B00LE0N0WA/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1467497283&sr=1-1&keywords=the+mystic+princesses+and+the+whirlpool</div>
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I'd love to hear from you. What books would you add to this list?</div>
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Jordihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05674664318564286248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8878549586116378759.post-40683147289724614052016-04-05T11:40:00.001-07:002016-04-05T11:41:59.662-07:00Disney's Zootopia Sends A Much Needed Message For Everyone<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc9qNX_huXDv8wqWGFvx0kKV7PXA5eFexFBKjZRnNLxLXkoOdrf7URIL8SrITMuz7G81azz84IIie64qaHflwYK9Y8ImgA7Qwwkh56sFXvE5W-RzouKLCowRD9JXL241AldbLvvbxI8g/s1600/zootopia-title.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc9qNX_huXDv8wqWGFvx0kKV7PXA5eFexFBKjZRnNLxLXkoOdrf7URIL8SrITMuz7G81azz84IIie64qaHflwYK9Y8ImgA7Qwwkh56sFXvE5W-RzouKLCowRD9JXL241AldbLvvbxI8g/s320/zootopia-title.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Disney's Zootopia is cute from front to back, especially with an adorable bunny as the lead character. All Judy Hopps has ever wanted is to be a police officer, and she'll stop at nothing until she achieves her dream. Despite several setbacks, such as being beaten up by a bully, being told by her father, "It's okay to have dreams, as long as you don't believe in them to hard", and being pushed around in the police academy, Judy never gives up.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">But that's not the only take home message in this great movie. There's a not-so-subtle message in this movie about how prejudice can hurt groups of people. And it's a message that kids today need to hear. I won't get too deep into detail, because I don't want to spoil the movie for you, but I will say this. In this movie, predators and prey live together in "harmony" in the city of Zootopia. However, prey still have some internalized beliefs about the predators that may be harmful. But here's the question, can they overcome their prejudice to once again live in harmony? Or will the predators be banished.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNYJWhDUPVG1ZI3nB5DvqoLkhaAWN0ajO2DWorjD3nb98c67SJkKDvU2XEtnDhpLO7Nf_BYUpouI7-tslSef-jpUJ6q5H2sICRztx0_EWZqvallVQvSVobfVTZpWNxOMKi66IGz7Ev-g/s1600/Zootopia-Social-Commentary-Draw-Meaningful-Parallels.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNYJWhDUPVG1ZI3nB5DvqoLkhaAWN0ajO2DWorjD3nb98c67SJkKDvU2XEtnDhpLO7Nf_BYUpouI7-tslSef-jpUJ6q5H2sICRztx0_EWZqvallVQvSVobfVTZpWNxOMKi66IGz7Ev-g/s320/Zootopia-Social-Commentary-Draw-Meaningful-Parallels.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Aside from the good messages, the movie is cute, funny, and smart. And while the ending is somewhat predictable, the movie is still sure to become a favorite of kids and adults. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Upon checking other reviews, after writing this one, I've noticed that some people think Zootopia's anti-prejudice message is a miss. I disagree.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Have you seen it? What are your thoughts on Zootopia?</span></div>
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Jordihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05674664318564286248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8878549586116378759.post-33619817815908104922016-03-12T13:51:00.000-08:002016-03-12T13:51:33.177-08:00New Book Announcement: THE FAIRY'S BUBBLE WAND<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjemVIPMSwwAuHGdlDFqfjKsOGOiX9jiHQ6Fbk1CkRzM9mpWizUaloYmzHa4fvElenJGIW8luAbu5o0Vu3_z_jAV7N8odKXsYe-rgp6rXKxV_hzckzPOkJTP7FodrU0e6MLDnoYQDqOtA/s1600/The+Fairy%2527s+Bubble+Wand+Centered.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjemVIPMSwwAuHGdlDFqfjKsOGOiX9jiHQ6Fbk1CkRzM9mpWizUaloYmzHa4fvElenJGIW8luAbu5o0Vu3_z_jAV7N8odKXsYe-rgp6rXKxV_hzckzPOkJTP7FodrU0e6MLDnoYQDqOtA/s320/The+Fairy%2527s+Bubble+Wand+Centered.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I'm pleased to announce that over the last few months I've been working on a new children's book, The Fairy's Bubble Wand. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">In The Fairy's Bubble Wand, two girls from entirely different worlds must go on the journey of a life time and learn to believe in themselves while they're at it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Here is the description from Amazon:</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 22.4px; text-align: start;">Fay feels like a fairy failure when she doesn't pass her test. Because her father is the king, she worries that she'll just be a disappointment to everyone. But when her father turns out to be missing, Fay knows she's the right person to search for him. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 22.4px; text-align: start;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 22.4px; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 22.4px; text-align: start;">Vidaya doesn't want her sister to go away for college. She has very few friends and is worried that she'll be lonely. But things change for Vidaya when her sister's gift opens up a magical new world. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 22.4px; text-align: start;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 22.4px; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 22.4px; text-align: start;">Vidaya and Fay go on a journey to remember, taking on marshmallow pirates, ice fairies, and even a changing forest. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 22.4px; text-align: start;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 22.4px; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 22.4px; text-align: start;">99 cents until April 5, 2016 only! Regularly priced at $2.99</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 22.4px; text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Why do I believe this book is so important? It's essential for kids to learn to become independent, and in order to become independent, they need to believe in themselves. I hope that kids will read The Fairy's Bubble Wand and absorb that message. I can believe in myself. I can be independent. I can do anything I put my mind to.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 22.4px; text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The Fairy's Bubble Wand is now available for pre-order and will be released on March 25, 2016.</span></span></div>
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Jordihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05674664318564286248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8878549586116378759.post-78544222393102600882015-02-16T19:09:00.003-08:002015-02-16T19:16:21.128-08:00The Book That Made Me Smile<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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If you look at the date of the last post on this blog, you will notice that it was quite a while ago! I haven't really blogged since the car accident I was in 9 months and a day ago. Thanks to a very dear friend, <a href="http://words-with-women.com/author/pj-larue/">PJ LaRue</a>, there was a blog blast hosted by Mother Daughter book reviews. If you are curious about what happened to me you can read more here. </div>
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<a href="http://motherdaughterbookreviews.com/50-book-blast-giveaway-destiny-and-faith-go-to-twincentric-academy/">http://motherdaughterbookreviews.com/50-book-blast-giveaway-destiny-and-faith-go-to-twincentric-academy/</a></div>
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By this time you're probably wondering why I'm blogging. To tell you about my accident? No, I'm not ready to rehash that yet. </div>
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Earlier today I passed photo of myself taken shortly after my accident. In this photo, I hadn't woken up yet. It's a very somber photo and it's also a cruel reminder of things lost in the accident. I can't tell you why, but I broke down and I began to cry very hard. I could no longer focus on my art which is what I was originally intending to look at. So I closed that folder. </div>
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When I closed it there was a book up on my Kindle Cloud Reader. It's called <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23214020-doc-tails?ac=1">Doc Tails: Snow On My Face.</a></div>
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So I started reading this book, and then my tears dissipated. I broke into a grin. When that silly dog licked his face I started giggling. This book erased every bad feeling I was having and reminded me that life is great.</div>
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It is a short, sweet, and simple book about a dog named Doc playing in the snow. The pictures are bright and the text is very easy to follow. I loved this book and it now holds a special place in my heart.</div>
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Who knew a happy puppy playing in the snow would get me blogging again?</div>
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You can find Doc Tails: Snow On My Face on Amazon.</div>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Doc-Tails-Snow-My-Face-ebook/dp/B00NKW1O3C/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1424142168&sr=8-1&keywords=Doc+Tails+Snow+On+My+Face">http://www.amazon.com/Doc-Tails-Snow-My-Face-ebook/dp/B00NKW1O3C/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1424142168&sr=8-1&keywords=Doc+Tails+Snow+On+My+Face</a></div>
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Jordihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05674664318564286248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8878549586116378759.post-6120076206955708402014-05-10T12:31:00.003-07:002014-05-10T12:31:55.208-07:00Featured In The Gaurdian Witness! Plus, representing underrepresented characters.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://witness.theguardian.com/assignment/53636472e4b08a82d90e008c/966982">https://witness.theguardian.com/assignment/53636472e4b08a82d90e008c/966982</a><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Destiny and Faith love to explore and love to learn. But there's something else that makes these girls and their friends unique. They are rare in children's books.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><em>"Mixed race twins go on a ghost hunt, accompanied by a friend who happens to be deaf. Lots of fun, with useful ghost hunting hints plus a sign language diagram."</em> is how Destiny And Faith's Summer Adventures is described on the GuardianWitness site, submitted by Magiciansfire.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Why were the twins featured on this website. Because they are the answer to a question that many readers have been asking. <em>Why aren't there more characters like me?</em></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Not too long ago there was a huge Twitter campaign with the hashtag #weneeddiversebooks and many Tweeters sent in reasons why they think we need more diverse books!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The Guardian's campaign has extended to include #diversifyyourshelves and is having people send in their books with underrepresented characters.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">You can see a list of their featured diverse books<a href="https://witness.theguardian.com/assignment/53636472e4b08a82d90e008c"> here</a>.</span><br />
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<a href="https://witness.theguardian.com/assignment/53636472e4b08a82d90e008c">https://witness.theguardian.com/assignment/53636472e4b08a82d90e008c</a><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">You can visit my friend Magiciansfire <a href="http://www.magiciansfire.com/">here</a>. </span><br />
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Jordihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05674664318564286248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8878549586116378759.post-35471246145404786862014-04-24T16:47:00.002-07:002014-04-24T16:47:58.860-07:0013 Crazy Promotion Ideas For Your Book!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I try to dream up ways to get a book
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"># Donate a copy to the library</span></div>
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# Request small or second hand book
shops carry a few copies and share the profit. (This would probably
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;"><u>Shops that carry my books</u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Book-Shop/249150980667?ref=ts&fref=ts">The Book Shop</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Ajs-Fashion-beauty-supplies/139108406235166?ref=ts&fref=ts">AJ's Fashion And Beauty Supplies</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;"><a href="http://www.yellowpages.com/poplar-bluff-mo/pets-r-us">Pets R Us</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">(Notice they're not all book stores? Not every place you approach has to be a bookshop!)</span></div>
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</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"># Slip flyers, bookmarks, or business
cards with your website/book name on them into similar books at the
library. (For example, if you write mystery then slip it in a mystery
book)</span></div>
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</span></div>
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</span></div>
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# Ask the library if you can do a
reading. My local children's library likes to have people come in and
read picture books to the children.</span></div>
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</span></div>
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# Email everybody in your address book
about your new book or your website</span></div>
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</span></div>
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# Blog about it (Isn't this one
mentioned way too much)</span></div>
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</span></div>
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# Make trailers (using copyright
free material) and post them on Youtube. I actually did this for
Tokka Tuomela: Sixth Grader At Large</span></div>
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</span></div>
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# Someone in this forum mentioned
standing near a stop-light and selling books to passing cars. People
in my town sell newspapers this way and I would consider also handing
out flyers to passing cars (since it's quicker and flyers are free)</span></div>
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</span></div>
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# Have an author website. If you
don't have one you should get one. I use weebly as a host. They have
a very user-friendly interface.</span></div>
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</span></div>
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</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"># Have an eBay auction with a signed
copy of your book as the prize. You could also include other prizes
such as related bookmarks and a signed photo of the author. You could
include a better known book (and auction it off as a two book set).
You could consider giving all or part of the money won to a charity.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span> </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">#Consider Doing a giveaway with a noteworthy blogger. I did a giveaway of a signed </span><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20507253-tell-me-how-you-say-good-night?from_search=true"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Tell Me How You Say Good Night</span></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> with Marilyn Panton of </span><a href="http://babybookworms.blogspot.com/"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Storywraps</span></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">.
</span></div>
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</span></div>
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<br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"># Ask local bookshops and your library
to post flyers in their windows/on their bulletin boards. A lot of
the places in my small town have bulletin boards full of flyers. In
some small towns, especially where the internet is still not in every
household, a flyer may be worth more than a website.</span></div>
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</span></div>
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<br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
# Ask review sites/review blogs to
review your book. It's better to go to the smaller, independent
blogs. They have more time and are more likely to get to your book.
They tend to have dedicated readers as well.</span></div>
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</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
<span style="color: black;">#
Post a free sample chapter of each book on your website or blog.</span></span></div>
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Jordihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05674664318564286248noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8878549586116378759.post-10148742431629004812014-03-22T17:17:00.000-07:002014-03-22T17:17:03.371-07:0010 Sites That Every Author Should Know About!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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This list was inspired by a few author friends. So I hope you all enjoy it and find it useful!</div>
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First, I'll start off by listing the places that you<em> need</em> to catalog your books.</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">1. Shelfari, </span><a href="http://www.shelfari.com/"><span style="font-size: large;">http://www.shelfari.com</span></a> </div>
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Shelfari is great because not only can you catalog your book, but you can build up the value of sharing your book there by adding fun quotes from your book and facts about your characters. There is also a place to add related tags. Readers can edit your book's listing on Shelfari and add reviews as well as quotes or tags that they think are relevant.</div>
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This is probably one of the most important sites you will catalog your book on.</div>
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There is also a nice little forum where you can exchange writing advice, swap reviews, and hang out with authors.</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="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif6xae7roGO6oD38wTEQdpZylDJ5GNMU7dJndUcP3yO56cBHKDN6VtnylynWU4pgfuSazltLZ2-z2J0MgFXRDJOxSOXB-q3U6eYqUZTbFs1oB6wuZlys-wSoHNhmWXZqGQ0MFmJMH7sw/s1600/Fullscreen+capture+3222014+51126+PM.bmp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif6xae7roGO6oD38wTEQdpZylDJ5GNMU7dJndUcP3yO56cBHKDN6VtnylynWU4pgfuSazltLZ2-z2J0MgFXRDJOxSOXB-q3U6eYqUZTbFs1oB6wuZlys-wSoHNhmWXZqGQ0MFmJMH7sw/s1600/Fullscreen+capture+3222014+51126+PM.bmp.jpg" height="197" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shelfari is fun because it's interactive in a sense, allowing the reader to add things they feel are important.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Goodreads, </span><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/"><span style="font-size: large;">http://www.goodreads.com</span></a></div>
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Goodreads is the other "most important site" to list your book on. You can list your book, add information about it, write a good description (just like the others), but you can also add your book to relevant lists. If there isn't a list that your book fits into, you can always create one.</div>
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Like Shelfari, Goodreads also has a forum where you can hang out with authors, exchange writing advice, and swap reviews. Goodreads' forums seem to be a little more active than Shelfari.</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Jacketflap, </span><a href="http://www.jacketflap.com/"><span style="font-size: large;">http://www.jacketflap.com</span></a></div>
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Jacketflap is a great little place to list you book, because alongside your description, it also lists places your book is sold as well as the reviews you have received there. You can also add links to any site that has reviewed your books.</div>
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You can also share book trailers, readings, and interviews in the video section. </div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Bookdaily, </span><a href="http://www.bookdaily.com/"><span style="font-size: large;">http://www.bookdaily.com</span></a></div>
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Like the others, you can share the title and description of your book. But on bookdaily, you can also share a first chapter excerpt of your book. This is great, because it gives readers the chance to get hooked.</div>
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Bookdaily has a paid option (you don't have to us it), to promote your book to 50,000 readers for about $47 USD. This could be a deal, but I have never tried it so cannot vouch for it. If anyone has tried it and found it useful, please let me know in the comments!</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Librarything, </span><a href="http://www.librarything.com/"><span style="font-size: large;">http://www.librarything.com</span></a></div>
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I can't say a whole lot about this one, because I need to investigate it some more. But it is a place to add your book, title, description, and some tags. It appears that you can add your books to lists on the site as well. It's worth at least listing your book on the site!</div>
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Wise Gray Owl, <a href="http://www.wisegrayowl.co.uk/">http://www.wisegrayowl.co.uk</a></div>
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You've heard the old saying, "Don't judge a book by its cover." Get ready to ignore that advice, because the whole point of Wise Gray Owl. You are shown a selection of books and pick the ones you are interested in based on the cover. It's that simple! So go add your book.</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="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghVlafb5lz7vO5hYYpRwHAzXt0rxjx6ucFQUWQmRbRlNYqByKyvMJlxA-s8rsBF_Q1RuUJqpt9wBp-awVt5T5XSXFXEe60CwUHTKxkbEjNHoqouw5OnC_kCmhVzcLKYaIb8y5IjzrLCw/s1600/Fullscreen+capture+3222014+64437+PM.bmp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghVlafb5lz7vO5hYYpRwHAzXt0rxjx6ucFQUWQmRbRlNYqByKyvMJlxA-s8rsBF_Q1RuUJqpt9wBp-awVt5T5XSXFXEe60CwUHTKxkbEjNHoqouw5OnC_kCmhVzcLKYaIb8y5IjzrLCw/s1600/Fullscreen+capture+3222014+64437+PM.bmp.jpg" height="320" width="282" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of the first books I saw when I entered the site was Our Poems For Kids by my friend, Melinda Kinsman</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Second, places where you can lend your book out.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Book Lending, </span><a href="http://www.booklending.com/"><span style="font-size: large;">http://www.booklending.com</span></a></div>
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Book Lending is a virtual library, which I discovered the way I discover most great things, completely on accident. Booklending is essentially a virtual library where you can "check out" Kindle books. The way this works is pretty simple. </div>
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1. List books you own on Amazon so that others can borrow them.</div>
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2. Search for a book you want. If somebody owns it they can then "Loan" it to you.</div>
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3. You can keep the book for 14 days. Then is returned to its owner automatically.</div>
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The other virtual library,</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Lendle, </span><a href="http://www.lendle.me/"><span style="font-size: large;">http://www.lendle.me</span></a></div>
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This "virtual library" has the same concept as Booklending, although there is a limit to how many books you can check out before you have to upgrade to a pro account.</div>
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Why add your book to a virtual library? A few reasons.</div>
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1. It's an easy way to share with someone who might be interested in reviewing it.</div>
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2. Just like a real library, it's a great way for new potential readers to check out your work. If they love it, they may just want to keep it for more than 14 days!</div>
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3. Having your book in any kind of library increases your exposure and the possibility of new readers!</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Last, but not least, book trailers!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"></span> </div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Youtube, <a href="http://www.youtube.com/">www.youtube.com</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"></span> </div>
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This might be obvious to some of you, but probably not to all of you. Raise your hand if you didn't even think of creating a book trailer before I mentioned it. You should definitely consider creating (or hiring someone to create) a book trailer for your book.</div>
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It gives you exposure to a new audience (the video viewing audience which makes up a large part of the internet) and gives your fans an easy way to share your work with their friends without having to pitch it themselves, though fans are often better at that than the author! </div>
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Youtube is a good first place to upload your book trailer because of it's versatility. You can then easily share the trailer on many other sites <em>(Facebook, Google +, Pinterest, etc)</em></div>
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<em></em> </div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Book Trailer Central, </span><a href="http://www.booktrailercentral.co/"><span style="font-size: large;">http://www.booktrailercentral.co</span></a></div>
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This is a site that is dedicated to book trailers. So far it's pretty simple and mainly about book trailers, sharing and watching them. I believe in the future they may have book trailers compete against each other. (Feel free to correct me if I'm thinking of the wrong site.)</div>
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And that's all I have to share for now. Those are some great links to get you started! Even if you're not a new author, you're sure to find at least one or two of them handy. So go check them out. And let me know if there are any useful, important, or in your opinion, completely necessary sites for authors to be on!</div>
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<em>Till next time,</em></div>
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<em></em> </div>
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<em>Teddy</em></div>
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Jordihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05674664318564286248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8878549586116378759.post-26799512589464315662014-03-17T14:41:00.000-07:002014-03-17T14:41:54.211-07:00The Inspiration Behind My Art Style<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<br />
To be perfectly honest with you, when I started out at the beginning of the long, winding road of becoming an author, I had no intention of illustrating my own books. None. I honestly did not believe I was good enough. And I think every artist is doubtful of there own work at some point in time. You just have to keep pressing forward.<br />
<br />
Well, when it all came down to it, I ended up illustrating my own book because one of my own biggest influence's suggested it. My mom told me that I should illustrate my own books. At first I was still hesitant. Not because I didn't want to. But because of that little voice in the back of my mind. <br />
<br />
That one that enjoys my grimace whenever it gets the chance to whisper, "You're just not quite good enough!"<br />
<br />
But good enough by whose standards? I shared my illustrations with my circle who approved. And it was decided. I illustrated <strong><u>Destiny And Faith Go To Twincentric Academy</u></strong> myself.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjHeDno7oa1H-FIit4soH8nTqxwNGQ5ychAvbkOMRkvHr5zi-EizXd7DRaKxq32q1XkLSxkAI_9aHhJ-gFBcJ_FFBldMicv8mhMspXY-_449Zna_RmitOuqoVChjTtfSAacPb-6J_MBQ/s1600/Destiny.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjHeDno7oa1H-FIit4soH8nTqxwNGQ5ychAvbkOMRkvHr5zi-EizXd7DRaKxq32q1XkLSxkAI_9aHhJ-gFBcJ_FFBldMicv8mhMspXY-_449Zna_RmitOuqoVChjTtfSAacPb-6J_MBQ/s1600/Destiny.jpg" height="320" width="312" /></a></div>
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Some people think the book's illustrations are great. Some don't think much of them at all. They are not "beautifully painted" or "masterfully created". They were simply sketched in a sketchbook. But why?</div>
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Some of my favorite reads as a kid included what I like to call "primitive" style sketches. I would stare at them for hours before trying to copy them. If these people could "sketch in books", why couldn't I?</div>
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Once of my major influences toward Destiny and Faith's style was, believe it or not,<strong> Ramona Quimby.</strong></div>
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" 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Louis Darling's illustrations of Ramona and her friends and family were rough and comical, exactly as I believed a chapter book illustration should be! And despite the fact that it is not a style many people would call a masterpiece, it fit Beverly Cleary's characters perfectly!<br />
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And isn't that the point of illustrating a book? To capture the character? Their personality, their essence, their humor, their overall being.<br />
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I think so.<br />
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One of the things I loved about Louis Darling's illustrations and the illustrations that I found inside many chapter books for kids was the fact that they looked like they had been sketched into the book.<br />
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Illustrators like Darling, who dared to sketch in their own unique style, are what truly inspired my artwork!<br />
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So if you are thinking about doing something, and you just keep hearing that little nagging voice in the back of your head, "You're just not good enough!" Ignore that voice! Go out and try it!<br />
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You just might find that you're better than you think!</div>
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Jordihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05674664318564286248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8878549586116378759.post-58516338455138920932014-02-25T11:11:00.001-08:002014-02-25T11:11:05.474-08:00Things To Come<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Admittedly, keeping up a blog is harder than it seems. I've been to Saint Louis to help take care of my best friend (and sister-by-heart), the infamous Hope, while she underwent surgery. I am planning on going back up to Saint Louis for other reasons. So I have been traveling a lot which can make it super difficult to keep a blog. But enough with excuses!</div>
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Here are some of the things to come on this blog.</div>
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Office Tour (Yep, I'm going to give you a tour of my office because I just think it would be fun.)</div>
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More Book Trailers (I'm working on book trailers for Bristol's Big Wish and Destiny and Faith's Summer Adventures)</div>
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More Book Information (I'll be posting updates about some upcoming books and projects I am working on, as well as some updates to current books)</div>
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Please don't give up on me!</div>
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Love,</div>
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Teddy</div>
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Jordihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05674664318564286248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8878549586116378759.post-72848570436992462292014-01-07T16:51:00.000-08:002014-01-07T16:55:44.090-08:00Bristol's Big Wish: An Interview With Bristol!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Teddy:</b> Hello, Bristol. Thanks for letting me interview you. I know picture book characters are very busy these days.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8FOW5jaw6JC4B2qmeheUFQ19MivqpCZz97RqOifbPi5TZxBjLytzslq9rMZZ9raDxL8zZD5_5DG6Aqv2fyK0PNKgEYC6OstEtowfQ5SOyAmKLlr6ji1oGPw5GjVtKGGQnQ_2yUxsS1A/s1600/Bristol-quicksketch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8FOW5jaw6JC4B2qmeheUFQ19MivqpCZz97RqOifbPi5TZxBjLytzslq9rMZZ9raDxL8zZD5_5DG6Aqv2fyK0PNKgEYC6OstEtowfQ5SOyAmKLlr6ji1oGPw5GjVtKGGQnQ_2yUxsS1A/s1600/Bristol-quicksketch.jpg" height="320" width="215" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Bristol: </b>The pleasure is mine. I've never been interviewed before.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Teddy: </b>So Bristol, why don't you tell us a bit about your book? Bristol's Big Wish.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Bristol:</b> Well, I was very lonely. I wished that my favorite doll Mallory would come to life and be my friend. Then I had to solve the problem of where Mallory was going to live!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Teddy: </b>So it's not a secret that you get your wish granted in the book.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Bristol:</b> No, that's what the whole book is about! The secret is more of how I deal with the wish that I was granted. I guess it's like that phrase. You know, "Watch out what you wish for."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Teddy: </b>Great. So tell me more about you. What would you like to be when you grow up?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Bristol:</b> I want to be a professional illustrator and illustrate lots of books. I might even write some.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Teddy: </b>Fantastic! What else do you like to do? What's your favorite hobby?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Bristol:</b> I really like playing outside, jumping rope, and learning new things. There is a scene in the book where Mallory and I jump rope together. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd4O4A4MPb4K833-F1Ioe3ghD-VxeecOwqNM7vwP4CLCB0gWeneMra5G7Wg2L6mrg3roBVAbkYJQqKtfm_YbMg05whmSSwFFBsskc1NHos0pr-1OE6SDKIK_IegLVka6fQGLJEbrsP8Q/s1600/page+7-signedteddyomalley.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd4O4A4MPb4K833-F1Ioe3ghD-VxeecOwqNM7vwP4CLCB0gWeneMra5G7Wg2L6mrg3roBVAbkYJQqKtfm_YbMg05whmSSwFFBsskc1NHos0pr-1OE6SDKIK_IegLVka6fQGLJEbrsP8Q/s1600/page+7-signedteddyomalley.jpg" height="320" width="246" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Teddy:</b> That is one of my favorite scenes in the book! You both look so happy.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Bristol: </b>We were very happy that day.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Teddy:</b> That's great. Could you tell us a bit about Mallory? What does she like to do?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Bristol:</b> She loves math and science. They are her favorite subjects. She wants to be a scientist when she grows up. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Teddy: </b>That's fantastic! Mallory also dreams big.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Bristol:</b> Yes, she does.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Teddy:</b> Okay, I just have a few more questions for you.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Bristol:</b> Alright.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Teddy: </b>You are seen wearing a jumper over a pink t-shirt a lot. Would you say this is your signature outfit.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Bristol:</b> Yes, it's my favorite outfit.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Teddy:</b> And can you tell us why?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Bristol: </b>Because I love jumpers and overalls. They make people look fun and friendly.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Teddy:</b> Ah, cool! One last question. Do you hope that you achieve fame with your new book? I know you have big dreams for yourself.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Bristol:</b> Yes! I think Mallory and I will be famous.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Teddy: </b>I hope so! Well, that concludes our interview. Thank you for your time, Bristol.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Bristol: </b>You're welcome.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Teddy: </b>Do you have something you would like to say to your fans?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Bristol:</b> Always dream big!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">You can learn more about Bristol on her facebook page. Visit </span><a href="http://www.facebook.com/bristolsbigwish" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">http://www.facebook.com/bristolsbigwish</a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
Jordihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05674664318564286248noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8878549586116378759.post-36318251465906893942013-12-01T16:50:00.001-08:002013-12-01T16:50:59.022-08:00Why Are Destiny And Faith Biracial?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">A few days ago a fan asked me the million dollar question. Okay, maybe it's not a million dollar question, but it's definitely one worth answering. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Why are Destiny and Faith biracial?</span></b></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I could answer this in many ways. I choose this one.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I was eight. I wasn't popular. Most of the kids didn't even notice my existence. I still remember the day clearly in my head.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"We're going to be having a new student tomorrow. Her name is Hope. She is going to sit next to Teddy.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I tried to picture Hope in my head. Another kid who would be mean to me. Another kid who would refuse to acknowledge my existence. Another kid who would make fast friends with all the popular kids. Another kid who wouldn't like me.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The next day came and I got to meet my new seat mate.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"Hi, I'm hope," she informed me.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"I'm Teddy," I responded shyly.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">She didn't stop talking to me after that. We talked more and more every day, until the teacher eventually separated us. I was never in trouble in class until Hope came along, but I had never had a true friend either.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We spent each recess together, began going back and forth to each other's houses, and were bullied together. For different reasons, though.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I was the weird kid. Hope was biracial. Her mom was white and her dad was black. Due to her race, Hope spent a lot of time being caught in the middle. She wasn't quite white enough...or quite black enough. She was forced to choose role models who were outside her "race".</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiginkv2PSI7zGSYeqUHavOkgqn33h6yLUKBwX7yZ4wLfZeVt1p_fvCpo9mQ9xHi7lz7kYTh1sk-5JGDLN-0yShXTxlsq7GvldmodJi8QEUklmQccEd9FjAA6XPivrZ932Ztovslo_acg/s1600/teddyandhope.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiginkv2PSI7zGSYeqUHavOkgqn33h6yLUKBwX7yZ4wLfZeVt1p_fvCpo9mQ9xHi7lz7kYTh1sk-5JGDLN-0yShXTxlsq7GvldmodJi8QEUklmQccEd9FjAA6XPivrZ932Ztovslo_acg/s320/teddyandhope.jpg" width="228" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We spent a lot of time writing and drawing. I would illustrate her stories, and we would dream up new ideas together. One of these ideas would be Fillie and Lillie, the inspirations behind Destiny and Faith.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We talked about the twins a lot. When we were eighteen I realized that I needed to settle on a look if I was every going to publish a book about them. We mulled over a couple different options. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"I want to make them biracial," I decided.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"Are you sure?" Hope asked.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"Yeah, I want to make them biracial like you. I want biracial kids to have role models. And be able to read books about other biracial kids. The book doesn't have to be about being biracial."</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"It might be controversial," Hope warned me.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"That's okay," I told her.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">And that is the short story behind why Destiny and Faith are biracial. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Because biracial kids need role models too. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Because not every main character has to be white, or even black. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Because biracial children do exist. In fact, there are lots of them.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Because even if you're not biracial, you can still read about and have fun with biracial characters.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Because they just are.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipK5T8-1SGA2ySR3Qw4_c1uxPThcGm_Tk-k0-HkqimXgkrTPkZu36iaUeixP-9K2OOfL1c5Q-U5xa5SRUbYB7ga8VBM3NdLOe7Ej1JsGDDHcocitjLKGbkpHnGXYkOaar7K_HozhcMFA/s1600/Destiny's+Natural+Hair+Coloured+In.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipK5T8-1SGA2ySR3Qw4_c1uxPThcGm_Tk-k0-HkqimXgkrTPkZu36iaUeixP-9K2OOfL1c5Q-U5xa5SRUbYB7ga8VBM3NdLOe7Ej1JsGDDHcocitjLKGbkpHnGXYkOaar7K_HozhcMFA/s320/Destiny's+Natural+Hair+Coloured+In.png" width="314" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Faith rocks her natural curls.</i></div>
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Jordihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05674664318564286248noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8878549586116378759.post-6583609092054545862013-11-27T17:06:00.001-08:002013-11-27T17:06:51.451-08:00Book Signing And Release!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I will be doing a book signing on release on December, 14, 2013. I will have copies of my newest book Destiny And Faith's Summer Adventures as well as a few copies of Tell Me How You Say Good Night and Destiny And Faith Go To Twincentric Academy in case anybody hasn't read the first book yet!<br />
<br />
I will be willing to sign any book you buy or any book (that I wrote) that you bring in. Feel free to take bring your cellphone cameras for pictures.<br />
<br />
Link to the facebook event:<br />
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/726226077390051/?ref_dashboard_filter=upcoming">https://www.facebook.com/events/726226077390051/?ref_dashboard_filter=upcoming</a><br />
<br />
<img src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-h-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn2/1397638_670112273009510_202918002_o.jpg" /></div>
Jordihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05674664318564286248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8878549586116378759.post-25166634738067718942013-11-22T13:44:00.002-08:002013-11-22T13:44:15.308-08:00Review And A Giveaway<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>"Wrap your mind and heart around a good story,"</i> is the motto for Marilyn Panton's blog Storywraps. We can definitely get on board with that motto! </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Marilyn Panton's blog is cute and adorable with lots of great books and reviews. There is plenty of information, but the site is not confusing at all. That's why we thought Marilyn would be a perfect reviewer for Tell Me How You Say Good Night.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Well, Marilyn also decided to do a giveaway with the book. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">It is signed by Angie Dickens.</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>It is signed by Teddy O'Malley</b> (that's me.)</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>And it is a limited edition cover.</b> (Alistair wrapped in blankets)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmkObk8o8yKXsJpb8J8VyYs-ZaZLkSywGj8KrJuYMI-O6u1C-rpCWxFBcXTgJoKKX-AVwmrbq8p9ArrLexDBmmpRz_OOjGPfQ2wi0zmhdGoDDK3dVhvvqFlEbvd7D_JOeKEXC7uz9lXQ/s1600/Tell+Me+How+You+Say+Good+Night+Front+Cover+-+Cropped-2-teddyomalley.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmkObk8o8yKXsJpb8J8VyYs-ZaZLkSywGj8KrJuYMI-O6u1C-rpCWxFBcXTgJoKKX-AVwmrbq8p9ArrLexDBmmpRz_OOjGPfQ2wi0zmhdGoDDK3dVhvvqFlEbvd7D_JOeKEXC7uz9lXQ/s320/Tell+Me+How+You+Say+Good+Night+Front+Cover+-+Cropped-2-teddyomalley.jpg" width="260" /></span></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"<span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.479999542236328px; text-align: justify;">Who doesn't love an adorable, sweet puppy? Who doesn't like a snuggly bedtime story while you're all curled up in your bed with mommy reading to you, cuddling with you and getting ready to say good night? These furry, puppy beauties will warm your heart as you flip the pages and see those adorable faces looking back at you with their big brown eyes. They make you want to reach into the book and give each one a big hug! What makes this book unique and stand out from other bed time stories out there? Let me tell you."</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.479999542236328px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.479999542236328px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Continue reading this review and check out the giveaway on Marilyn's blog!</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.479999542236328px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18.479999542236328px; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #454545; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://www.babybookworms.blogspot.ca/2013/11/lullabyand-goodnight.html">http://www.babybookworms.blogspot.ca/2013/11/lullabyand-goodnight.html</a></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18.479999542236328px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18.479999542236328px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">P.S She's also posted the first three pages of the book for viewers of her blog to sample.</span></span></div>
</div>
Jordihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05674664318564286248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8878549586116378759.post-62468475108858316922013-11-16T17:10:00.000-08:002013-11-16T17:10:00.386-08:00Selling Books At The Lunch Table: A Crash Course In Self-Promotion<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKqaaSYWjI-wPLyasn-LauWhI-HlqpOdg3-25g3zBlRuAoFQJTesbpt7o-nr15jY5AdRVU56gHw9LxQvvwYdeOGeDhsOVRQBTlS30RF90iJniB3wiXCS25BkN3hYie8yjrLhT38g2IAA/s1600/P1020084.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKqaaSYWjI-wPLyasn-LauWhI-HlqpOdg3-25g3zBlRuAoFQJTesbpt7o-nr15jY5AdRVU56gHw9LxQvvwYdeOGeDhsOVRQBTlS30RF90iJniB3wiXCS25BkN3hYie8yjrLhT38g2IAA/s320/P1020084.JPG" width="248" /></a></div>
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
When I had just published <b>Destiny
And Faith Go To Twincentric Academy,</b> which as I mentioned earlier
is my first book, I really had no idea how to promote myself. But I
did have a lunchbox.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
A lunchbox? You're thinking. What does
a lunchbox have to do with self-promotion?</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
For me, it had a lot to do with
self-promotion.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
I bought a plain pink lunchbox to take
food and a drink to my job as a CNA. The lunchbox was plain, pink,
and boring.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
I drew <b>Destiny and Faith</b> on the
front and back. Then I wrote lines from their books in the space left
over.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Every once in a while I would catch
someone staring at my lunchbox. One or two people pulled it closer to
them to read the writing. Many people asked questions.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
“Did you decorate your lunch box?”</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
“Yes, those are your characters?”</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
“Yes, they're from my book, Destiny
And Faith Go To Twincentric Academy.”</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
“Oh, you're a published author,”
they would say with enthusiasm as if they'd just stumbled upon some
kind of gold.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
“Yes, I'm an author.” I'd respond.
Then we'd talk about my book. This resulted in sales many times.</div>
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And that's how I built a small group of
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The lunchbox had proved valuable. Word
spread throughout the building and I was soon bringing and boxes of
books and distributing them on lunch break.</div>
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Life was good. Eventually, I would
learn that word of mouth was only the beginning, but it was a great
crash course in self-promotion.</div>
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Jordihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05674664318564286248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8878549586116378759.post-32103968704318022892013-11-13T18:11:00.000-08:002013-11-13T18:11:00.656-08:00My First "Book Tour"<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
On June 13, 2013, I convinced my mom to go walking downtown with me. We took a few copies of the books with us.<br />
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We visited the library. After oohing and ahhing over the cute puppies in Tell Me How You Say Good Night, they graciously accepted my donation of a copy.<br />
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We visited <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Ajs-Fashion-beauty-supplies/139108406235166?fref=ts">AJ's Fashion And Beauty Supplies</a>. We had been here once before. We had talked to AJ and he had agreed to carry a few consigned copies of both my books. I provided him with a few copies of <b>Tell Me How You Say Good Night</b> and the only copy of <b>Destiny And Faith Go To Twincentric Academy</b> that I had left.<br />
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He bought <b>Destiny And Faith</b> and two copies of<b> Tell Me How You Say Good Night</b> for his own grandkids.<br />
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Then he added the remaining books to the display.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS8UlX1LopNz-JWgKWL_SREDA4_Lm_Gu8OUO5nw61KBx73POcI4JK28nU-RHl93Sdqek_ZFQopBca6YZ_P3R-zNykVyKRRtlSlX4h_hzsORpbuSWKoM5ndqbaH-D7cDcfeFNt-zZbK7Q/s1600/P1010360.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="254" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS8UlX1LopNz-JWgKWL_SREDA4_Lm_Gu8OUO5nw61KBx73POcI4JK28nU-RHl93Sdqek_ZFQopBca6YZ_P3R-zNykVyKRRtlSlX4h_hzsORpbuSWKoM5ndqbaH-D7cDcfeFNt-zZbK7Q/s320/P1010360.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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With a borrowed outfit from the store, I posed as Julia's Twin which was a whole lot of fun.<br />
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In order to help promote the store, I stood outside as Julia waving to cars that went by. I didn't expect to receive much response, but a few people waved back or honked.</div>
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After AJ's, we moved on and went to visit <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Book-Shop/249150980667?fref=ts">The Book Shop</a> on Main Street. The Book Shop's owner, Carl Miller, graciously offered me a spot to carry consigned copies in the store. The books could stay there as long as they needed! He cleared a spot on the front display where the books could easily be seen. </div>
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I was so excited, I had my mom take a picture.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGLSpuLnGV6SFJm7mjUtfbLlsOTYh6OfbHtZeXppfscOApkJ1HEyWR0cm5_BEWw_eH9J1zRCiWx4vgSXIbJoKnKRjszRPVfWGuXoafT5HhevZCs_DXm9-C3G6nzMHby8k4JDQjxctn6Q/s1600/P1010363-blurredbackground.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGLSpuLnGV6SFJm7mjUtfbLlsOTYh6OfbHtZeXppfscOApkJ1HEyWR0cm5_BEWw_eH9J1zRCiWx4vgSXIbJoKnKRjszRPVfWGuXoafT5HhevZCs_DXm9-C3G6nzMHby8k4JDQjxctn6Q/s320/P1010363-blurredbackground.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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At this point, I really couldn't help feeling a bit like a celebrity.</div>
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We took my photo outside of The Book Shop, and I promised that I would post the photos of the shop on my Facebook and website and encourage people to check out the shop.</div>
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If you live in Poplar Bluff, Missouri or are simply vacationing here, I do highly recommend The Book Shop and Aj's Fashion And Beauty Supplies. </div>
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They are both great shops with very friendly people working in them!</div>
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Jordihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05674664318564286248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8878549586116378759.post-7309344525674475612013-11-11T17:44:00.000-08:002013-11-11T17:44:00.566-08:00Tell Me How You Say Good Night: My First Picture Book<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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In February 2013, my rescue dog gave birth to six beautiful puppies. I took lots of pictures. </div>
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After Alistair became sick and died on April 9, 2013, putting the pictures together to make a book became a grief project. It was part of my healing.</div>
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Eventually, I decided on the theme of saying "Good Night" in different languages. My mom, Angie Dickens, and I began working together on the project. She helped me think of cute, rhyme-y stuff to say and picking the best pictures. </div>
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We turned out to be a great team.</div>
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In May 2013, <b>Tell Me How You Say Good Night</b> was released. I was so excited that I immediately had my mom take pictures of me holding the book. </div>
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I learned something new. The photographs got way more attention than simply posting the cover and linking to Amazon. </div>
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Also, I had joined the ranks of picture book authors. My road had expanded, become wider.</div>
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New doors were open to me.<br />
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Jordihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05674664318564286248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8878549586116378759.post-54080440935968569012013-11-10T18:15:00.000-08:002013-11-10T18:15:00.085-08:006 Reasons Why I Put Put Off Blogging (and why you shouldn't)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>I didn't think I had anything to write about,</b> because I wasn't some <i>big, successful NYT bestseller yet</i>. But the truth is...we begin at the beginning. I realized that I could write about my experiences and trials learning to write, getting published, and getting my book noticed. We can all appreciate stories about how others initially marketed their books whether you were selling books at the lunch table like me or passing them off on people as birthday gifts <i>(which isn't actually a bad idea by the way)</i></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> I didn't think anyone would read it.</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Ever heard that expression, "If you build it, they will come."? Well, it's pretty much true. But you can't just build it. You have to build it and make it interesting. If you're one of those people who is like I was and you're saying to myself, "No one will read my writing" you need to change your line of thinking. </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">For every person in the world who has something to say, there is someone waiting to hear it. Believe me. It's true. You're not boring. Being a writer isn't boring. It's a wonderful journey and guess what! We all share your pain! You're trials and tribulations? Your fellow authors who will end up reading your blog have probably been there and we can probably relate. This leads me to...</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I have nothing to share.</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">If you're a write <i>(and I'm assuming you are one)</i> then I think it's safe to also assume that you've written something. If you've written something then you can share excerpts of it on your blog. You can share a first chapter of your published blog or illustrations from an upcoming book. If you're not published you can share bits and pieces of your writing, potentially get feedback, and maybe even gather a following. How cool would that be? Very cool! If you read blogs<i> (which you should if you're thinking about starting one)</i> then you probably have<i> (or will end up having)</i> a favourite blogger. I have a few. It's always fun to read their posts because you enjoy their writing style and in some ways you might even feel like you know the person. </span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Blogging is passé. (Okay, I didn't think this one, but I've heard it)</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Blogging is by far, not passé, and not only is not passé, it's a great way to reach out to people you might never touch otherwise. Many others are doing it. Some give out writing advice. Some review books by other authors. Some talk about the trials and tribulations of the author's life. Some are a mixed-bag. A blog is different than a website. It reaches out to people in ways a website can't. It's interactive. Commenting on posts and hearing replies from the author really bring the two worlds together. If they want to know something about your book? They can ask you. If you are not sure what direction to go next? Ask your readers.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>I have no experience</b> in the writing world. If you have ever written anything then you have some experience in the writing world. The "writing world" is not limited to NYT best-sellers like Stephen King or Janet Evanovich. They are simply part of the writing world. That little kid writing stories and illustrating them on notebook paper? She's a writer too, and she also has experiences to share. <span style="background-color: white;">Nobody is more or less a writer</span> because they are or aren't published or because of the way they published. We're all in the same boat and I think most of us have the same goal. Our own private island and jets? Um, well, those would be nice, but the one I'm talking about is the goal to get our stories read.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>I'm not writing a non-fiction book.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">When I was first searching the web for advice to new authors and came to the inevitable part about starting a blog <i>(this piece of advice is in almost every article for new authors there is, I think)</i> they always suggest writing on your topic of knowledge. If you've written a science book then blog about science-y thing or if you've written a book on architecture you could talk about building things. But I didn't write a science book or an architecture manual. I wrote a few children's books. What I didn't realize at the time was that I wasn't limited to talking about the subjects of my books<i> (though that's a great idea)</i>, but I could also talk about my life and experiences as an author. I could tell people about myself in my own voice. And it was a wonderful realization.</span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Did you put off blogging? If so, why? What advice do you have for writers who want to start a blog but are putting it off?</span></i></div>
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Jordihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05674664318564286248noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8878549586116378759.post-7580096859692600252013-11-09T16:35:00.000-08:002013-11-09T17:56:14.269-08:00First Chapter Excerpt From Destiny And Faith Go To Twincentric Academy<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-size: 16pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Teddy
O'Malley</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 20pt;">Destiny
And Faith</span></div>
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To</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 20pt;">Twincentric
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: medium;"><b>First
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><b>Copyright
<span style="color: black;">© Teddy O'Malley</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><b>All
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Chapter
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 16pt;"> “Destiny!
Faith! I have something important to tell you girls!” my mother
called from downstairs.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 16pt;"> “What
do you think she wants?” I asked.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 16pt;"> Faith
shrugged. “I just hope it's not something I did. Race?”</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;"> “Yeah!”
I agreed. Faith and I raced down the stairs. She won only because she
cheated. </span></span>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 16pt;"> “Girls,
please sit.” Mom pointed to the chairs. Our four-year-old sister
Olive sat near her, crashing her toy airplane into her muffin.</span></span></div>
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</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 16pt;"> “Your
father and I have made an important decision. We wanted to let you
girls know about it and see what your thoughts and opinions are.”</span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 16pt;"> Faith
and I turned and gave each other an “uh-oh” look. When Mom wanted
our thoughts and opinions it usually meant something not-so-good was
coming up like her deciding to send us to our old Aunt Hazel's house.</span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 16pt;"> The
only thing Aunt Hazel let us eat was chocolate chip pancakes. I love
chocolate but that was a little too much pancake for me!</span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 16pt;"> Mom
must not have known how to word it because she simply pushed a
brochure towards Faith and me.</span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 16pt;"> The
headline read</span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 16pt;">Twincentric
Academy</span></span></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 16pt;">Where
twins reign supreme!</span></span></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 16pt;"> I
grabbed the brochure, opened it and read, “Give your twins the
benefits they deserve. Twins are not like singletons. They have
special twin needs. Our school supports important twin issues such as
twin bonding, twin telepathy, and twin development. No other school
pays special attention to twins like Twincentric does!”</span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 16pt;"> “What
do you think, girls?” Mom asked.</span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 16pt;"> Before
Faith and I could give our opinions she threw in, “I have already
enrolled you girls for second grade in Twincentric so I hope you'll
like it.”</span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 16pt;"> “I
don't know,” we both said. We looked at each other, both of us
contemplating a school that paid special attention to twinship. It
was true our first school did not.</span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 16pt;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 16pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">There
teachers had made a few attempts to separate us. They even asked us
to “please stop dressing alike”.</span></span></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 16pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv8tkgHYpNaNt5kPQHDkYyQvrzFNL7suyuLVkKhwztBbD_FvMp4TR9rPLFvWrExlE3B3wTxHJbsMu0WhFZsaKCzQKDV13rvrkGv7RJVg2uIT46FMbJnnxSM_9u1iUuJb5yXHt5120AdA/s1600/For+my+blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv8tkgHYpNaNt5kPQHDkYyQvrzFNL7suyuLVkKhwztBbD_FvMp4TR9rPLFvWrExlE3B3wTxHJbsMu0WhFZsaKCzQKDV13rvrkGv7RJVg2uIT46FMbJnnxSM_9u1iUuJb5yXHt5120AdA/s320/For+my+blog.jpg" width="276" /></a></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 16pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
~End of Excerpt~<br />
<br />
You can also download a PDF copy of the excert from my website.<br />
<a href="http://www.teddyomalley.weebly.com/">http://www.teddyomalley.weebly.com</a><br />
<br />
You can purchase <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Destiny-Faith-Go-Twincentric-Academy/dp/1463664621/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1383089711&sr=8-1&keywords=destiny+and+faith+go+to+twincentric+academy">Destiny And Faith Go To Twincentric Academy</a> on Amazon too!<br />
<br /></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
</div>
Jordihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05674664318564286248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8878549586116378759.post-75543209963813071932013-11-02T16:25:00.000-07:002013-11-04T12:39:42.861-08:00How I Got My Start<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4MBxzEbKFcNJ45pRx_RsvbQLO78zAD7GUPffLwKVqAW41emVPJcGLTVQ4oflpKbh3G2d495ssUXEi_fYLCAhCxMZYn8Y-UtFPWGJFC_rWWiKWFPeTZipi7ZFP74vOVcvtm7jqLQ1cBw/s1600/letter_0029.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4MBxzEbKFcNJ45pRx_RsvbQLO78zAD7GUPffLwKVqAW41emVPJcGLTVQ4oflpKbh3G2d495ssUXEi_fYLCAhCxMZYn8Y-UtFPWGJFC_rWWiKWFPeTZipi7ZFP74vOVcvtm7jqLQ1cBw/s320/letter_0029.jpg" width="264" /></a></div>
<br />
It was a quiet afternoon. I had just
finished about ten pages worth of story and illustrations. Smiling
proudly, I handed them to my mother. “Here, go and get these
published.”<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
My mom didn't want to disappoint me, so
she agreed. But the truth was, she didn't know anything about the
publishing industry. I didn't either. I was only nine.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
In the meantime, I kept writing and
illustrating, hoping that I would be able to publish my books one
day.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
When I was fourteen, I had a computer
in my room for the first time. Now I had easy access to learn about
the publishing industry. I opened a search site and typed in “publish
your book”. Several results came up. I was overwhelmed.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
After reading the first two sites, I
felt a little sick to my stomach. This was going to be a long,
grueling process. And I might never become an author. That thought
alone terrified me. I decided to write some more and worry about the
research later. I didn't look up publishing again for almost two
years.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
When I was sixteen I moved to New Port
Richey, Florida with my family to be closer to my grandmother. My
grandmother, who was an artist herself, saw my raw talent and began
working with me, teaching me art, and giving me constructive
criticism on my stories. We spent a lot of time at the local library.
I delved back into my publishing research. I checked out every book
the library had.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
This time I read them all. I learned
that there were many different routes to becoming a published author.
None of them were wrong or bad. All of them had their own trials and
tribulations. I learned about traditional publishing, vanity
publishing, and later POD (print on demand publishing).</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
I dreamed, I made lists, and I mulled
over the pros and cons of each type of publishing.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
When I was nineteen, and barely out of
high school, I finished my first book, <b>Destiny And Faith Go To
Twincentric Academy</b>. Destiny and Faith were based off of two twin
babies I had written about when I was younger (about ten years old)
named Lillian and Filana <i>(Destiny and Faith's middle names are a
tribute to these original characters)</i>. </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
I wasn't ready to publish the
story yet, though. It wasn't ready. I wasn't ready.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
I had read that a great start for new
authors was to get a short story published in a magazine. So I
focused on that. I pulled my short story <b>Bristol's Big Wish</b> out and
began cutting the word count until it was acceptable for a magazine
submission. When I was finished, it was only 800 words.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
I sent it to Highlights For Children
without really knowing the criteria for submission. I was rejected.
But it was the nicest rejection letter that I could have probably
received. The letter mentioned how I was talented and the story was
great. It just wasn't a right fit for their magazine. Maybe they were
just being nice. I don't know. But I moved on.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Between nineteen and twenty-two I
focused on writing fiction for adults. This was mainly romance and
mystery romance. It was a whole different ball game than writing for
kids. I liked it more and less at the same time.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
While I had more freedom of expression,
I also had less freedom for creativity. Or at least that's the way it
felt. </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
At twenty-two, I dug up<b> Destiny And Faith Go To Twincentric
Academy</b> and decided that it was time to get it published. My mom was
a nurse to a patient who also happened to be a former editor. She
looked over my book, edited the grammar mistakes, and thought it was
a great story.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
In late 2011, we moved back to
Missouri, using Poplar Bluff as a landing point. We ended up staying
here.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
In 2012, I finally finished publishing
<b>Destiny And Faith Go To Twincentric Academy</b> with Createspace. I had
chosen this route for a few reasons.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
One, I wanted to keep all the rights to
my book.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Two, I wanted to illustrate my own
book.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Three, and most importantly, my father
was dying of cancer and I wanted him to see me as a published author
before he died.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>Destiny And Faith Go To Twincentric
Academy</b> came out in January 2012.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
My father received his own signed copy.
He passed away two months later on March 9, 2012.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihfkc84se0eoB9akbAlEE79e1iq-odGRjxX9G6FKMLMvwBr4tw-upfTBHJjXdUmu0zZQiL7WLAVV6eYT30Cn4DdwgxWymyJjrLEU0h56p9XArhLPbLc84s_VkfAnX7qaEfj6ILWKLYWQ/s1600/P010812_1456%5B01%5D-4teddyomalley.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihfkc84se0eoB9akbAlEE79e1iq-odGRjxX9G6FKMLMvwBr4tw-upfTBHJjXdUmu0zZQiL7WLAVV6eYT30Cn4DdwgxWymyJjrLEU0h56p9XArhLPbLc84s_VkfAnX7qaEfj6ILWKLYWQ/s320/P010812_1456%5B01%5D-4teddyomalley.jpg" width="214" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
But for me, this was just the beginning.</div>
<br /></div>
Jordihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05674664318564286248noreply@blogger.com3