tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-67290487503023684352024-03-05T02:32:55.162-07:00Confessions of a LogophiliacChris Todd Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12368447190407755035noreply@blogger.comBlogger77125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6729048750302368435.post-59423392343773156962020-01-28T16:09:00.000-07:002020-01-29T12:22:08.864-07:00NYC Midnight Short Story Challenge: Audition of a Lifetime<br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "trebuchet" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">For a number of years, I've participated in the NYC Midnight Short Story Challenge. They give you three prompts and eight days to write a short story using these three prompts. The word count is capped at 2500. This year more than 4700 people from around the world participated.</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;" />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "trebuchet" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">My prompts were:</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;" />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "trebuchet" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Genre: Ghost Story</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "trebuchet" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">A thing: An Audition</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "trebuchet" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;">A character: A Divorcée</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Audition
of a Lifetime<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">by <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Chris
Todd Miller<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Samantha Morrison stepped over the homeless man
sleeping at the bottom of the steps that led from the subway to the sidewalk,
but not before depositing the last of her change in the cup still held in his
hand. Her last table that night, an eighteen topper, tipped her $100 on a bill
of $265, forty percent, not bad at all. The restaurant had been busy lately,
which meant she could almost get caught up on rent. Now, she’d only be one
month past due. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The
subway stop was just a few blocks from her apartment. Headlights shown on
passing cars, and neon signs were just coming on. The sun cast long shadows, a
final bow to the day’s audience. The streets still hummed with traffic and enough
pedestrians that she didn’t feel the need to keep her pepper spray at the
ready. Jack would already be asleep, or he better be. Mrs. Clawson, who lived a
few doors down, was kind enough to watch him while she worked her night shifts.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Her
little man. Already so independent, tying his own shoes and everything. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">She
felt her hand bag buzz and pulled out her phone. The caller ID said, Favorite
Agent. She touched the green dot. “Hey Neil, what’s up?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">“Hey,
Sam. I got a question for you. Who’s your emergency contact?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">“My
emergency contact? Why? Am I dying?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">“Not
yet, but play your cards right, and you will.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">“It’s
been a long day, Neil, what the fuck are you talking about?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">“I
got you an audition with . . .”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Sam’s
stomach tightened and she inhaled just a bit. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">“HBO.
Game of Thrones.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">She
shrieked. Pedestrians turned to look. “Are you kidding me?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">“I
like a good joke, but I wouldn’t kid you about this. You need to be there by
nine a.m. I’ll text you the address.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">“Tomorrow
morning? Shit, I’ve got to get my shift covered.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">“Quit
if you have to,” Neil said. “You’re a shoo-in. And I haven’t even told you the
best part yet. It’s not a leading role but it is a recurring role, so there’s a
signing bonus. A big one. This almost never happens but it’s Game of Thrones.
They do things their own way. And it doesn’t hurt that you have the world’s
greatest agent.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">“Oh,
Neil, you have no idea how much I need this.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">“I
have some idea. You and Jack won’t have to worry about rent for a long while.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Sam
saw her apartment building in at the end of the block. “Why did you ask about
emergency contact?” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">“I
said I like a good joke. This may not be one of them. You’re going to be on
Game of Thrones. Eventually, you’ll be killed off, so I figure you’ll want your
affairs in order.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">“Hilarious,”
Sam said, with a dead-pan tone. “Don’t quit your day job. And, for the record,
it’s my sister, Lexy.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">She
hung up and started climbing the three flights to her apartment. She nearly
flew up the stairs she was so excited. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">The
first door at the end of the third floor was Mrs. Clawson’s. Sam knocked
quietly, hoping that her son was asleep. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Mrs.
Clawson opened the door. “Come in, Sugar.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Sam
slipped through and followed Mrs. Clawson down the hallway. “Was he good for
you tonight?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">“Honey,
he’s always good. That boy’s an angel.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">“We
are talking about my son, Jack, right?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">“Go
on, you know he’s a good kid.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">“I
know,” Sam said. She eyed the framed pictures that covered the walls. Mrs.
Clawson’s family, and family’s family. Some of the photos were in black and
white. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Mrs.
Clawson saw Sam looking over the photos. “There’s three generations on those
walls. You’re off to a good start.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Jack
lay on the couch, asleep, wrapped in his favorite blanket. Sam gathered him up.
“Thank you so much for watching him.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Sam
repositioned Jack on her shoulder so she could rip off the eviction notice on
her door. She stuffed it in her back pocket and dug out her keys. Thirty days. “At
least they didn’t change the locks,” she muttered. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>She
dropped the eviction notice on the kitchen table next to a stack of unpaid
bills. She put Jack to bed and left him with a kiss on his forehead, then
pulled out her phone. First, a text to her coworker Cami:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Hey Cami<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 6;"> </span>Hey<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Sorry
to drop this on you so late, <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">but
can you cover my morning shift? <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">I
just landed a huge audition. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 6;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Hang on<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">I totally would if I could but . . .<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">It took three more tries until she found Luis,
who agreed to cover her shift. People at work were always talking about their
big auditions, yet there they were, night after night, still waiting tables.
This time would be different, Sam told herself. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Next
she called her sister, Lexy, who agreed to watch Jack in the morning. Sam set
the alarm on her phone to six so she’d have plenty of time to make a big
breakfast for Lexy and Jack, and still get to her audition on time. “This time
will be different,” she said, before turning out the light. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Sam
placed two eggs, sunny side up, on top of a large pancake to form the eyes of
the smiley face—a pad of butter made the nose, and a strip of curled bacon the
mouth—when the doorbell rang. She opened the door and gave her sister a big
hug. “Come in, come in.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Lexy
put her purse on the couch and went straight for the plate of bacon, her curls
bouncing with each step. “Fancy breakfast.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">“I
wanted to put some happy vibes into the universe, and this is Jack’s favorite.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">With
a strip of bacon hanging out of her mouth, Lexy picked up the crumpled eviction
notice. “They’re kicking you out?” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Sam
dished up a plate for her and Lexy. “That’s what happens when you’re
perpetually behind on the rent.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Again?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Still.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Is
Jared late with child support, again?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Again?
Still. Shit, Lexy, I haven’t seen a dime in over six months.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Have
the state garnish his wages.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">“They’ve
got to find him to garnish him.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">“Why
didn’t you tell me?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Sam
shrugged. “What good would it do? You already work two jobs and have a
roommate, and you’re barely getting by.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Not
true. I no longer have a roommate. She moved out. Still owes me for rent this
month, though.” She picked up the eviction notice. “Call it karma, or kismet,
or just the divine, but this is perfect. You and Jack should move in with me.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“I
don’t know. I’m no charity case.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“This
isn’t charity. I need a roommate, and who better than my big sis? Plus, Jack
needs more Lexy in his life.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Oh,
really?” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Most
people do. Today, you’ll kick ass at the audition, then this weekend we’ll pack
up all your shit and move you into my place—our place. Don’t pay that landlord
another fuckin’ dime.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Sam
teared up a little and smiled at her sister. “Okay. Let’s do it.” Sam hugged
her sister. “Go give Jack some more Lexy and get him out here before his
breakfast gets cold.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Lexy
came back with Jack on her hip. He still wore his Avengers pajamas, and rubbed
sleep out of his eyes. Sam took him and set him at the table. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Jack
gave a delighted gasp. “Smiley face pancakes? These are my most favorite.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“I
know.” She kissed him on his head. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Is
aunt Lexy watching me today?” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“I
sure am. Your mom’s got a big audition today for a famous TV show.” She splayed
her hands for emphasis. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Cool.
Can I play Candy Crush on your phone?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Lexy
smiled. “I’m sure there will be time for that. Now eat up.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Sam
finished her bacon, eggs, and avocado. “You two finish up. I need to get
dressed.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Fifteen
minutes later Sam emerged from the bedroom ready to go. She bent down in front
of Jack. “Give me a hug.” He hugged her tightly around the neck and kissed her
cheek.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">“Break
your legs today,” he said. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">“I
will, buddy, thanks.” She looked at Lexy, who gave a nod that said, you got
this. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Outside,
Sam pulled up the text Neil sent her with the address and her lines. She’d
stayed up late practicing her part. This morning, she only put on minimal
makeup to hid her tired eyes. The studio would take care of that. She thought
about hailing a cab, but one of her mother’s axioms about chickens, and eggs,
and math came to mind. She decided she could make it to the subway. With only
one changeover she would make it with ten minutes to spare. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">On
the train, she practiced her lines again and again. Nobody interrupted her. In
fact, barely a head turned her way. “I guess people talking to themselves on
the subway is not unusual.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">At
her stop, she gathered her purse, and with phone in hand, stepped off the
train, making sure to mind the gap. The sun felt warm and pleasant on her face
as she merged into the throng of people on the sidewalk. Every so often she had
a moment like this, where she observed the strangers before, behind, and to
either side of her and paused, just for a second, to consider how each person was
living his or her own life in the world. Hustling and bustling to get to some
place, entirely oblivious to everyone else, caught up in their own joys and
sorrows, yet somehow the universe managed to weave them altogether to make the
world go round. After today she would owe the universe a big thank you. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">She
was only a couple of blocks from the studio. Sam pulled up her lines again. She
knew she knew them, but couldn’t stop reading them. She managed to read and
project without running into anyone and before she realized it, she was across
the street from the studio. She waited with the crowd for the light to change
and moved in unison with everyone else when the signal chirped. The next sound
she heard was the squeal of tires on asphalt and people screaming. A yellow
taxi cab barreled into the crosswalk. Sam dropped her phone and put both hands
out as if to stop the car by using “the Force.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Sam
opened her eyes to see a man leaning over her saying something. His mouth was
moving but she couldn’t make out what he was saying. A crowd had assembled
around her. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Fear
grasped her chest. She started to get up. “What time is?” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">The
man didn’t respond but kept shouting at the people around them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">She
picked up her phone, and to her relief, found the screen wasn’t even cracked. “It’s
five to nine. I can still make it.” To her surprise, she felt okay. Although
she knew that people in car accidents often didn’t feel the effects until days
or weeks later, but she didn’t have time for that. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">* *
* * *<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Ms.
Morrison, I appreciate you having come in today to read for us,” said Mr. Benioff.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Yes,
we know it was sort of short notice,” echoed Mr. Weiss. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“It
was no trouble, really. Thank you for the opportunity,” Sam said, barely able
to control her nerves. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“You’ve
probably never done an audition quite like this one,” Mr. Benioff continued,
“but it was really more of a formality than anything else. I’ve known Neil for
years and he suggested you. We looked up your past work and we think you’re
perfect for the role. Your performance today only reinforced that decision.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“So,
I got it? Sam asked. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Mr.
Weiss opened his arms wide. “Welcome to Game of Thrones.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Sam
squeed and gave them each a hug. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“To
continue the unorthodox nature of this audition, we have a contract ready for
your signature. Neil has already read it and signed off on it. All we’re
missing is your name right here.” He pointed to the bottom of the last page
where a yellow sticky note shaped like an arrow indicated where to sign. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Her
hand only shook a little as she signed her name. With a steady income, and
forever royalties, not to mention a hefty signing bonus, she knew she and Jack
and Lexy would be okay. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She pulled out
her phone and sent Lexy a quick text: <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Grab
a jacket because</i> <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">winter is coming! I
got it!<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">_______________________________<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">“Hello?”
Lexy said, as she answered her phone to a number she didn’t recognize. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">“Is
this Alexis Simmons?” asked a somber voice.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">“Lexy,
yes, this is she. Who is this?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">“Ms.
Simmons, this is Officer Clarke. I’m afraid there’s been an accident involving
your sister.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Lexy
looked at Jack drawing a picture of him with Sam and Lexy on either side of
him. They were holding hands. She kept a calm demeanor as she listened to the
officer describe the accident. “Ms. Morrison died en route to the hospital. I’m
sorry for your loss.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Lexy
looked at Sam’s last message: <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Grab a
jacket because winter is coming! I got it!</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Was
that mommy?” Jack asked. “When is she coming home. I want to show her my
picture.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Lexy
wiped a tear from her cheek and put her arms around her nephew. “Mommy’s not
coming home, sweetie.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 3.0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 3.0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 3.0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 3.0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 3.0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 3.0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 3.0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<br />Chris Todd Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12368447190407755035noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6729048750302368435.post-1110257753948189792019-01-29T17:46:00.000-07:002019-02-04T08:03:50.985-07:00NYC Midnight Short Story Challenge: Lobster Bisque<br />
For a number of years, I've participated in the NYC Midnight Short Story Challenge. They give you three prompts and eight days to write a short story using these three prompts. The word count is capped at 2500. This year more than 4500 people from around the world participated.<br />
<br />
My prompts were:<br />
<br />
Genre: Romance<br />
A Thing: A blank check<br />
A character: A sea captain<br />
<br />
My story takes place in prison, where all great romances begin.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvJEypgQqG8A8-Nlufgc28aZ2VJ9tc2zHEg1hKEO-JimvGFiw5poAV-1hBkDmVhanxN8ZNB_bxxIoFW9awvDROu-tn7Pkrq1Mno11sqt3v8pnI6qSuGSVPa5paB-KfpCrEGcoGx5TZbHY8/s1600/alex-piper.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="546" data-original-width="970" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvJEypgQqG8A8-Nlufgc28aZ2VJ9tc2zHEg1hKEO-JimvGFiw5poAV-1hBkDmVhanxN8ZNB_bxxIoFW9awvDROu-tn7Pkrq1Mno11sqt3v8pnI6qSuGSVPa5paB-KfpCrEGcoGx5TZbHY8/s320/alex-piper.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
Without further ado, I give you: Lobster Bisque.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Lobster
Bisque<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">by<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Chris
Todd Miller<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Portland
Harbor, Casco Bay<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Marion
R Jensen Correctional facility <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Rec
Room<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Free
time in the rec-room at the Marion R Jensen Correctional facility in Portland,
Maine resembled a playground, except there were no females, plenty of
profanity, and in place of kickball, an old television clung to the wall. The
corner of the screen was cracked, but the picture was clear. They even had a
playground monitor, Correctional Officer Mendoza. A dozen inmates gathered around
the idiot box. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Currently
the Caucasians had the room, which today included a handful of skinheads.
Access to the TV room rotated on a schedule between the Hispanics, Asians,
Blacks, and the White Supremacists. Subcategories of those groups included everyone
else: the mentally ill, the born-agains, the guys just trying to do their time,
and any other hard ass that nobody wanted to mess with. As hard asses go, former
Master Chief Petty Officer Curtis Oliver of the US Navy Seals was the baddest
motherfucker on the block. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">A
dispute started over what to watch. Before things got heated they realized the
channel was stuck on a local affiliate showing a <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Friends</i> rerun. “Who the fuck was watching this?” asked Warchild, the
skinhead leader. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">“Probably
a schitzo,” replied another follicle-challenged brother. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Curtis
smirked. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">It was rhetorical, you dumb
hick.</i> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Warchild
left taking most of his cronies with him. Everyone else settled down to watch <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Friends</i>, given it was their only option.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">A
new face pulled an orange plastic chair near Curtis and sat down. “Oh, this is
the one where Phoebe tells Ross that Rachel is his lobster and she’s his.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">“Spoiler
alert,” Curtis glared at the new guy. “Look, I don’t know who you are but I have
two questions: one, what’re you talking about? And two: who the hell are you
and why are you sitting next to me?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">“That
was three questions.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">“You
have exactly three seconds to get the fuck out of my face,” Curtis said. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">The
man put up his hands in a surrender gesture. “I’m Petty Officer 3<sup>rd</sup>
Class, James Coleman, sir. You are Curtis Oliver and you’re a goddamn legend.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Curtis
looked at James for a long second. “That was a good answer. You can stay, for
the moment.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">James
slid his chair closer. His face shone like he was just asked to prom by the
head cheerleader. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">“You
know my story?” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">“Yes
sir,” said James. “I don’t blame you one bit either. That son-of-bitch had it
coming. He got off easy if you ask me.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">“Oh,
I see. So you actually don’t know shit.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">“Sir?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">“Just
answer my other question,” Curtis said pointing at the television. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">“Oh,
yes sir.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">“And
stop calling me sir. That’s not who I am anymore.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">“Yes
si—um, okay. This is the episode where Ross is freaking out because he thinks
he might lose Rachel and to calm him down Phoebe explains how lobsters mate for
life and Ross and Rachel are lobsters to each other.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">“And
this was a hit show?” Curtis asked. “It’s bullshit, by the way.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">“The
show?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">“Yeah,
but the lobsters, too. That’s not how they mate. Lobsters get it on with several
mates.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">James
scrunched his face. “Really, how do you know that?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Curtis
leaned forward and put his forearms on his knees. “Like I said, you don’t know
shit about me. If you did, you’d know that before I ended up in here, my wife
and I ran a lobster trawler. She still does, in fact.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">“You
were the captain of a troller?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Curtis
shook his head. “Trawler.” He emphasized the AW. “And I never said I was the
captain. That’s my woman. We own it, but I do whatever she says from emptying
traps to eatin’ pussy.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">James
nodded his head in deep contemplation. Curtis slapped James’ knee with the back
of his hand. “You got a lady waiting on you?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">“Yeah,
yeah I do.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">“Then
you’d be wise to follow my advice. What’s her name?” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">“Freyja.
And she’s pregnant. Due in a few months.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">“No
shit. When do you get out?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">“A
lot longer than a trimester. This new administration is going to deport her and
there’s not thing one I can do about it.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">“You
married?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">“Engaged.
Even if we were married, Trump’s ban would still kick her out.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">“Hashtag
MAGA,” Curtis spat.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">____________<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Portland Harbor, Casco Bay<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Marion
R Jensen Correctional facility <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">The Prison
Yard<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Curtis
and James met regularly in the yard. Curtis shared war stories and James, who
never saw combat, shared Icelandic culture. James was convicted of forgery and
immigration fraud trying to loophole the citizenship process for his fiancée. They
met while James was stationed at the US Naval Base in Iceland at the Keflavik
International Airport. When Curtis prodded him for details all James would say was
“it’s complicated.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">On
this day, the wind blew off the harbor and carried to the prison yard with a
unique crispness. “It’s its own kind of punishment, you know?” Curtis said.
“Putting us this close to the ocean and making it so far away.” They watched
the trawlers come and go around the oil tankers, ferries, cargo and cruise
ships, and the handful of yachts.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">“Did
you see that?” Curtis asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">“What?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">“See
those trawlers to the north. Look for a flashing light. That’s my Jessie. She
flashes that halogen light three times to let me know she’s close.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">“That’s
the most romantic thing I’ve ever heard,” said James. They stared at the harbor
for a minute or maybe an eternity, Curtis wasn’t sure. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">“Let’s
think about something else,” James said. “What’s the first thing you’re going
to eat when you get out?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">“That’s
easy, lobster bisque. Jessie makes the best lobster bisque in New England.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">They
walked alongside the chain link fence, razor wire circled the top. James picked
up a rock and threw it over. “You’ve never told me her name before.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">“Yeah,
well, I’m starting to not not like you.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">“Sea
captain and she can cook. Doesn’t get much better than that.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">“No
it doesn’t,” Curtis smiled and winked. They walked for a few more minutes. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">“Can
I ask you something else?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">“You
can ask,” replied Curtis.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">“What’s
your real story? You said I don’t know shit about you. What don’t I know?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Curtis
squatted on his heels and sighed. “I never killed anyone. I mean, outside of a
sanctioned maneuver. I know everyone here tells you they’re innocent, but I
really am.” He stood and they continued to pace the perimeter. “Jessie’s dad
died right after she was born. When she was sixteen, her mother remarried. Before
long, her step-dad started touching her and it escalated from there. When she
turned eighteen, she left. Got work as a deckhand. Worked her way up to first
mate. Eventually, we met, bought a boat and went into business for ourselves.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">“You
walked away from the SEALS to catch lobster?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">“I
was in a dark place, Jimmy.” He looked out over the bay. “She silenced the
demons. I think it’s because she’d beaten her own demons. There’s not much that
salt water can’t cure.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">“What
did you name your boat?” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">“Blank
Check. It was the key to our earning potential, a veritable boatload.” He
laughed at his own joke. “It also symbolized what we were trying to do. A clean
slate. A fresh start.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">“But
then?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">“Step-dad
knocked up Jessie’s mom. Ultrasound said girl. Jessie about lost it. There’s no
way on God’s green Earth she would let what happened to her happen to her
sister. She found her step-dad and shot him. There’s no way in hell I’d let my
woman go to prison. I took the fall. I had a good lawyer. Got it knocked down
to manslaughter. Now I’m here and she’s out there.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">“I
can’t imagine doing that. I mean, I’d want to, I just don’t know that I could.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">“You
could. For the woman who quiets the demons, you could do anything.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">They
stopped near a corner of the yard. “You see this spot?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">“Here
where we’re standing?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">“Yeah.
Remember it.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">“Why?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">“It’s
a dead spot. Come on, let’s head back. Hey, are you any good at forgery? I mean
you’re here so maybe you suck at it.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">“I’m
good. I’m real good. Like I said, it’s complicated.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>As
they approached the main area, Warchild stepped in front of Jimmy. “Where have
you two lovebirds been?” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Curtis
motioned Jimmy behind him. “Leave it alone, Warchild.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Leave
what alone? Your boyfriend? I knew you two were fags. Come’re sweetheart, I’ll
show you a real man.” Warchild reached for Jimmy. Curtis grabbed Warchild by
the wrist, did a step-pivot-twist and Warchild was on the ground. Curtis put a
foot on his throat and didn’t release the wrist hold. The skinhead circle moved
in. “Back the fuck off,” Curtis said. He didn’t yell it. He didn’t need to. “Try
something and he’ll be jerking off lefty for the rest of his life.” He applied
more pressure to Warchild’s wrist. “Do we understand each other?” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Fuck
you,” Warchild said. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Curtis
applied more pressure. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">“Yes,
goddammit,” he said through clenched teeth. “Everybody, back off.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Say
you understand.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“I
understand. God, please. I understand.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Curtis
released him. He motioned to Jimmy and they walked away. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">“I
can handle myself,” Jimmy said. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“I
know you think you can.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>James
scoffed. “Then why?” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Like
I said, I’m not not liking you more and more, Jimmy.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The
next morning Curtis and Jimmy sat across from each other at a table near the
middle of the pod. Two trays sat between them consisting of oatmeal, eggs, toast,
and sausage links.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Curtis
cut up his sausage and mixed it with the oatmeal.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Jimmy
speared a link and put it in his mouth.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“I
wouldn’t do that,” Curtis said. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Jimmy
made a face as if he’d just licked the floor. Curtis put a hand over his mouth.
“Swallow it. If the guards see you spit it out that’s all you’ll get for a
week.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Jimmy
choked it down. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“The
oatmeal makes it go down easier.” He removed his hand. “About your special
skills. Let’s say I found a way out of this place.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“I’m
listening.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“If
I take you with me, can you make passports and other documents?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Absofuckinglutely,
but I’m not going anywhere without my Freyja.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Curtis
sporked a mouthful of eggs into his mouth. “Jessie will pick her up and meet us
at a designated time and place, then we make a run to Canada.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“The
dead spot?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Curtis
nodded. “The dead spot.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">____________<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Portland
Harbor, Casco Bay<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Marion
R Jensen Correctional facility <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">The
Dead Spot<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">A
handful of stars fought a losing battle with the pre-dawn. Curtis and Jimmy slipped
away from the work detail where they were supposed to report to laundry.
Officer Rodriguez would make sure their absence went unnoticed until it was too
late. They followed the fence until they reached the dead spot where Jessie
would be waiting with bolt cutters and his beloved SIG Sauer P226, just in
case. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">They
made it through the yard without incident. When they reached the dead spot,
Jessie wasn’t there. Curtis scanned the area looking for her. “Jessie!” he whispered
and yelled at the same time. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">“Where
is she?” Jimmy asked. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">“She’ll
be here.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">“We
don’t have—”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">“There,”
Curtis pointed at dark figured, approaching north by north-east. “Come on,
baby, daylight’s coming.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">There
was no prescribed love scene like in the movies, they didn’t kiss between the
chain-link or grasp hands. Jessie just went to work with the bolt cutters. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">“You’re
a minute late. What happened?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">“Ground
patrol was late. Idiots. I nearly ambushed <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">them</i>.
I’m surprised you haven’t broken out of this place on your own by now.” She
worked the bolt cutter with an easy rhythm. She’d cut through about a dozen links
when Curtis grabbed the fence with both hands and wrenched back the opening. Jimmy
wriggled through then he held the opening for Curtis. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">“Did
you bring it?” Curtis asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Jessie
gave him a WTF look and withdrew a Sig Sauer and shoulder holster from a nap
sack. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">“Come
to me, baby.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Jessie
handed it to him and he cinched it up with a practiced movement. Jessie already
wore hers. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">“You
both have one?” Jimmy asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">“Jessie,
this is Jimmy.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Jessie
cocked her head. “Where’d you find this guy?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Curtis
laughed. “Iceland, as it turns out.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">She
looked at Jimmy. “Freyja’s on my trawler. She’s fine but we need to go.” She
looked at Curtis. “And for you, a thermos of lobster bisque waits below deck.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">“Can’t
wait.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">“Does
that mean what I think it means?” Jimmy asked. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Alarms
shattered the peaceful morning. Spotlights raced each other across the yard and
stopped on the three fugitives.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">“Shit,
go,” Curtis yelled. The three of them took off down the hillside, Jessie in the
lead. The terrain was largely kept clear to deter escapees, but the city also
had an ordinance that basically said it needed to look pretty. Clumps of trees
dotted the area partially obscuring the prison and still giving the locals
their fall colors.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">The
three zig-zagged from clump to clump until they ran out of trees. Between them
and the bay was a hundred yards of open ground. An ATV crested the rise to
either side of them, their headlights blazed into the remnants of the night. Curtis
put a hand on the back of Jimmy and Jessie, pushed them forward and yelled, “Go.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">The
three sprinted for the dock. Curtis calculated the intercept point. They
weren’t going to make it. He stopped and fired his Sig at one ATV then turned
on the other. He aimed high, hoping the shots would slow them down. It worked.
The pursuers came to a halt, only to pull out rifles and return fire. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Jessie
and Jimmy stopped when they heard the shots.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Curtis
went down. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Jimmy
froze. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Jessie
shrieked. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Jimmy did an awkward dance as he tried to flee and run back to Curtis at the same time. Jessie
sprinted back to her Master Chief. “Come on,” she yelled. When she reached him, she turned
and laid down cover fire in one direction while Curtis mirrored her. Curtis
yelled at Jimmy, “Go, get to the boat!” Jimmy bee-lined it for the dock, but
hesitated before boarding. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Curtis
fired a shot over his head and waved him on. Jimmy would have sense enough to
know that meant shove-off and don’t look back. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Jessie
put his arm around her shoulder and the two of them humped it back to the
nearest cluster of trees. Through the crimson and gold leaves, they watched
their Blank Check merged into the harbor traffic and disappear. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">She looked
at his wound. “How much time do we have?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">“Two
minutes, maybe less. Look, they don’t know about you. I can get you a head
start.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">“Shut
the fuck up.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">He
blinked back tears. “If you stay, know this: I’m not going back to prison.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">She slapped
a new magazine into her Sig, racked the slide, and kissed him. “I go where you
go.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">fin<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<br />Chris Todd Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12368447190407755035noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6729048750302368435.post-63296322921076812018-08-26T23:01:00.003-06:002018-08-26T23:01:37.083-06:00League of Utah Writers 2018 Writing Contest Results
<br />
<div class="page" title="Page 1">
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<div class="column">
<span style="font-size: 20pt;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">NEW WRITER
</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'JuiceITC'; font-size: 20.000000pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: 'Calibri'; font-size: 11.000000pt; font-weight: 700;">New Writer: Creative Non-Fiction 2018
</span><br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Third Honorable Mention: Making Sense of Mormonism by <span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;">Brian Perrin </span></li>
<li>Second Honorable Mention: Another Rule Broken by <span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;">Jacquelene Rivers </span></li>
<li>First Honorable Mention: Dog-ma by <span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;">Colleen Callahan </span></li>
<li>Third Place: By the Short Hairs by <span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;">Jelene Kirkland </span></li>
<li>Second Place Fishing with Heber Stock by <span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;">Kathy Davidson </span></li>
<li>First Place: What Are You Living For? by <span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;">Samantha Thorup </span></li>
</ul>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Calibri'; font-size: 11.000000pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: 'Calibri'; font-size: 11.000000pt; font-weight: 700;">New Writer: Fiction 2018
</span><br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Third Honorable Mention: Erotic Hallucinations by <span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.6667px;">Ramiro Torres</span></li>
<li>Second Honorable Mention: A War to Bring Peace by <span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.6667px;">Krystal Gerber</span></li>
<li>First Honorable Mention: Lester by <span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.6667px;">Patrick Hare</span></li>
<li>Third Place: A Painted Smile by <span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.6667px;">Jonathan Humphries </span></li>
<li>Second Place: The Maiden's Request by <span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.6667px;">Gregory Lemon</span></li>
<li>First Place: Stumblecookies by <span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.6667px;">Garrett Faulkner</span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<span style="font-family: 'Calibri'; font-size: 11.000000pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: 'Calibri'; font-size: 11.000000pt; font-weight: 700;">New Writer: First Chapter (Fiction or Non-Fiction) 2018
</span><br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Third Honorable Mention: CHARLY&NELLA by <span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.6667px;">Tara Creel</span></li>
<li>Second Honorable Mention: MIDNIGHT by <span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.6667px;">Natalie Evjen</span></li>
<li>First Honorable Mention: The Shadow Master by <span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.6667px;">Justin Cole</span></li>
<li>Third Place: Weight of It All by <span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.6667px;">Paul Warburton</span></li>
<li>Second Place: Quests & Confusion by <span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.6667px;">Jenna Harris</span></li>
<li>First Place: Ruthless by <span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.6667px;">Patrick Hare</span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<span style="font-family: 'Calibri'; font-size: 11.000000pt; font-weight: 700;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: 'Calibri'; font-size: 11.000000pt; font-weight: 700;">New Writer: Poetry 2018
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Calibri'; font-size: 11.000000pt;">(only three entries </span><span style="font-family: 'Calibri'; font-size: 11.000000pt;">– </span><span style="font-family: 'Calibri'; font-size: 11.000000pt;">no honorable mentions)
</span><br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Third Place: Charge of the Dark Brigade by <span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.6667px;">Zoe Stoffel </span></li>
<li>Second Place: The Passenger by <span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.6667px;">Lori Reichard</span></li>
<li>First Place: Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School February 2018 by <span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.6667px;">Daniel Cureton</span></li>
</ul>
</div>
</div>
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<div class="column">
<br />
<span style="font-size: 20pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">POETRY</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: BradleyHandITC; font-size: 20pt;"><br /></span>
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<span style="font-family: 'Calibri'; font-size: 11.000000pt; font-weight: 700;">Poetry: Encore Poetry (any category) 2018
</span><br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Third Honorable Mention: OUT SLIPS MY THUMB by <span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.6667px;">Jef Huntsman</span></li>
<li>Second Honorable Mention: The Tainting of My World by <span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.6667px;">Lorraine Jeffery</span></li>
<li>First Honorable Mention: This Mundane Life by <span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.6667px;">Anna Marasco</span></li>
<li>Third Place: STEPPING INTO LIGHT by <span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.6667px;">Marie Tollstrup</span></li>
<li>Second Place: Rebel by <span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.6667px;"> Anna Marasco</span></li>
<li>First Place: THE REUNION by <span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.6667px;">Jef Huntsman</span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<span style="font-family: 'Calibri'; font-size: 11.000000pt; font-weight: 700;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: 'Calibri'; font-size: 11.000000pt; font-weight: 700;">Poetry: Prose Poem 2018
</span><br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Third Honorable Mention: METHOD TO MADNESS by <span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.6667px;">Marie Tollstrup</span></li>
<li>Second Honorable Mention: Norihiko's Bonsai by <span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.6667px;">Jo Harline</span></li>
<li>First Honorable Mention: The Ride Home by <span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.6667px;">C.H. Hung</span></li>
<li>Third Place: ARCHES by <span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.6667px;">Marie Tollstrup </span></li>
<li>Second Place: RED RIVER CHURCH by <span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.6667px;">Marie Tollstrup</span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.6667px;"> </span></li>
<li>First Place: Scapegoat by <span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.6667px;">Alex Leavens</span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<br /></div>
</div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Calibri'; font-size: 11.000000pt; font-weight: 700;">Poetry: Light Verse (Rhyming, Metrical, and/or Humorous) 2018
</span><br />
</div>
</div>
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<div class="column">
<br />
<ul>
<li>Third Honorable Mention: Raincheck by <span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.6667px;">Jeremy Gohier</span></li>
<li>Second Honorable Mention: Video Game Guy by <span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.6667px;">Cesanne Greathouse</span></li>
<li>First Honorable Mention: The Perfect Pancake by <span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.6667px;">Nathan Wright</span></li>
<li>Third Place: Old Gooselbine's Pumpkin Strudel by <span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.6667px;">Alexis Tate</span></li>
<li>Second Place: Wrangler Jeans by <span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.6667px;">Josie Hulme</span></li>
<li>First Place: Summer Sandcastles by <span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.6667px;">Charlene Harmon</span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<span style="font-family: 'Calibri'; font-size: 11.000000pt; font-weight: 700;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: 'Calibri'; font-size: 11.000000pt; font-weight: 700;">Poetry: Narrative Poetry (Open or Closed Form) 2018
</span><br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Third Honorable Mention: ON SEAFORD HEAD by <span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.6667px;">Kevin Shannon</span></li>
<li>Second Honorable Mention: Out of Reach by <span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.6667px;">Alexis Tate</span></li>
<li>First Honorable Mention: WAR'S BEAUTIFUL FACE by <span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.6667px;">Marie Tollstrup</span></li>
<li>Third Place: This by <span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.6667px;">Lorraine Jeffery</span></li>
<li>Second Place: Stepmom by <span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.6667px;"> Felicia Rose</span></li>
<li>First Place: Straining to Hear by <span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.6667px;">Lorraine Jeffery</span></li>
</ul>
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<span style="font-family: 'Calibri'; font-size: 11.000000pt; font-weight: 700;">Poetry: Word Play 2018
</span><br />
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<ul>
<li>Third Honorable Mention: Traffic Jam by <span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.6667px;">Amy Leskowski</span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.6667px;"> </span></li>
<li>Second Honorable Mention: The 105 by <span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.6667px;">Daniel Cureton</span></li>
<li>First Honorable Mention: Magpies are Bitches by <span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.6667px;">Candie Thomas</span></li>
<li>Third Place: A Body of Work by <span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.6667px;">Denis Feehan</span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.6667px;"> </span></li>
<li>Second Place: Pineapple Rules by <span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.6667px;">Pam Tucker</span></li>
<li>First Place: X-ploring by <span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.6667px;"> Grace Jessen </span></li>
</ul>
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<span style="font-family: 'Calibri'; font-size: 11.000000pt; font-weight: 700;">Prose: Children's Story 2018
</span><br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Third Honorable Mention: As to Plan by <span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.6667px;">Johnny Worthen </span></li>
<li>Second Honorable Mention: Heroes Inside of Me by <span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.6667px;">Rachael Jessop</span></li>
<li>First Honorable Mention: Just Like Max by <span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.6667px;">Robyn Buttars</span></li>
<li>Third Place: The Elusive Socks by <span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.6667px;">Jo Ann Stringer</span></li>
<li>Second Place: The Day the Spigot Broke by <span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.6667px;">James Crofts</span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.6667px;"> </span></li>
<li>First Place: S Is For Small by <span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.6667px;">Robyn Buttars</span></li>
</ul>
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<span style="font-family: 'Calibri'; font-size: 11.000000pt; font-weight: 700;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: 'Calibri'; font-size: 11.000000pt; font-weight: 700;">Prose: Creative Non-Fiction 2018
</span><br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Third Honorable Mention: Switchbacks by <span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.6667px;">Jill Bowers</span></li>
<li>Second Honorable Mention: SWIFT CURRENT by <span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.6667px;">Jef Huntsman</span></li>
<li>First Honorable Mention: Boyfriend by <span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.6667px;">Rena Lesué</span></li>
<li>Third Place: Aura by <span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.6667px;">Dianne Hardy</span></li>
<li>Second Place: Why We Live on a Homestead by <span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.6667px;">Felicia Rose</span></li>
<li>First Place: Klatch by <span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.6667px;">Tim Keller</span></li>
</ul>
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<span style="font-family: 'Calibri'; font-size: 11.000000pt; font-weight: 700;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: 'Calibri'; font-size: 11.000000pt; font-weight: 700;">Prose: Encore Prose (any category) 2018
</span><br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Third Honorable Mention: Bubble by <span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.6667px;">Lorraine Jeffery</span></li>
<li>Second Honorable Mention: Tempest by <span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.6667px;">Tim Keller</span></li>
<li>First Honorable Mention: Jamaica Rush by <span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.6667px;">Jef Huntsman</span></li>
<li>Third Place: Matching Baggage by <span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.6667px;">Tim Keller</span></li>
<li>Second Place: Thing That I AM by <span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.6667px;">Paul Warburton</span></li>
<li>First Place: THE SIREN CALL by <span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.6667px;">Marie Tollstrup</span></li>
</ul>
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<span style="font-family: 'Calibri'; font-size: 11.000000pt; font-weight: 700;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: 'Calibri'; font-size: 11.000000pt; font-weight: 700;">Prose: First Chapter (Novel) 2018
</span><br />
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<ul>
<li>Third Honorable Mention: The Fates of Stars and People by <span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.6667px;">Daniel Martin</span></li>
<li>Second Honorable Mention: Forever, Ethan by <span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.6667px;">Rachel DeFriez </span></li>
<li>First Honorable Mention: Salt Lake Sorceress by <span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.6667px;">Heidi Voss</span></li>
<li>Third Place: What Comes From Darkness by <span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.6667px;">Amanda Luzzader</span></li>
<li>Second Place: A Killer Frost by <span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.6667px;">Amanda Luzzader</span></li>
<li>First Place: COYOTE SPILL by <span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.6667px;">Jef Huntsman</span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<span style="font-family: 'Calibri'; font-size: 11.000000pt; font-weight: 700;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: 'Calibri'; font-size: 11.000000pt; font-weight: 700;">Prose: First Chapter (Young Adult) 2018
</span><br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Third Honorable Mention: The Unenchanted by <span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.6667px;">Emily Wheeler</span></li>
<li>Second Honorable Mention: Felicity by Lynne Allen</li>
<li>First Honorable Mention: Paige Sampson: Misfit Rebel by <span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;">Kathryn Ferriello </span></li>
<li>Third Place: Grey Matters by <span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;">Rachel DeFriez </span></li>
<li>Second Place: SUNK by <span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;">Maggie Adams </span></li>
<li>First Place: THE CHIME CHILD by <span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;">Lisa Taylor </span></li>
</ul>
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<span style="font-family: 'Calibri'; font-size: 11.000000pt; font-weight: 700;">Prose: Flash Fiction 2018
</span><br />
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<ul>
<li>Third Honorable Mention: Exhibition by <span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;">Jeremy Gohier </span></li>
<li>Second Honorable Mention: Flash Ants by <span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;">Kathy Davidson </span></li>
<li>First Honorable Mention: Suburbia by <span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;">Tim Keller </span></li>
<li>Third Place: Falling Off My Shoes by <span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;">David Rodeback </span></li>
<li>Second Place: Marie by <span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;">David Rodeback </span></li>
<li>First Place: No Man's Land by <span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;">Krystal Gerber </span></li>
</ul>
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<span style="font-family: 'Calibri'; font-size: 11.000000pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: 'Calibri'; font-size: 11.000000pt; font-weight: 700;">Prose: General Fiction 2018
</span><br />
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<ul>
<li>Third Honorable Mention: I Made Muffins by <span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;">David Rodeback </span></li>
<li>Second Honorable Mention: SANCTUARY WITHIN by <span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;">Marie Tollstrup </span></li>
<li>First Honorable Mention: THE DEATH OF SAMANTHA ROSE by <span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;">Warren Stucki </span></li>
<li>Third Place: MASKS by <span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;">Marie Tollstrup </span></li>
<li>Second Place: Synthetic Heart by <span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;">September Roberts </span></li>
<li>First Place: The Switchboard Operator by <span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;">Denis Feehan </span></li>
</ul>
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<span style="font-family: 'Calibri'; font-size: 11.000000pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: 'Calibri'; font-size: 11.000000pt; font-weight: 700;">Prose: Media Article 2018
</span><br />
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<ul>
<li>Third Honorable Mention: Faceless But Not Forgotten by <span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;">Robyn Buttars </span></li>
<li>Second Honorable Mention: CONFRONTING SUICIDE by <span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;">Marie Tollstrup </span></li>
<li>First Honorable Mention: Heels by <span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;">Felicia Rose </span></li>
<li>Third Place: "Flaunt It Friday" or "One Woman's Domestic Tale" by <span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;">Alice Batzel </span></li>
<li>Second Place: The Hunger, Anthology, Book Review by <span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;">Daniel Yocom </span></li>
<li>First Place: Local Governments in Ancient Egypt by <span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;">Sariah Horowitz </span></li>
</ul>
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<span style="font-family: 'Calibri'; font-size: 11.000000pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: 'Calibri'; font-size: 11.000000pt; font-weight: 700;">Prose: Mystery / Thriller 2018
</span><br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Third Honorable Mention: New Job by <span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;">Denise Johnson </span></li>
<li>Second Honorable Mention: Hunger Moon by <span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;">Sariah Horowitz </span></li>
<li>First Honorable Mention: The Model by <span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;">Neil Dabb </span></li>
<li>Third Place: A Cup of Hot Chocolate by <span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;">Lorraine Jeffery </span></li>
<li>Second Place: Regret by <span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;">Keri Montgomery </span></li>
<li>First Place: DISTURBED by <span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;">Jef Huntsman </span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<span style="font-family: 'Calibri'; font-size: 11.000000pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: 'Calibri'; font-size: 11.000000pt; font-weight: 700;">Prose: Speculative Fiction 2018 </span><br />
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<ul>
<li>Third Honorable Mention: Tilting Scales by <span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;">Richard Timothy </span></li>
<li>Second Honorable Mention: Breaking Up With an Angel by <span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;">Heidi Voss</span></li>
<li>First Honorable Mention: City of the Bees by <span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;">Carol Nicolas </span></li>
<li>Third Place: A Friend in Need by <span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;">Caryn Larrinaga </span></li>
<li>Second Place: Missing Persons by <span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;">Emily Wheeler </span></li>
<li>First Place: Life Blossoms by <span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;">Chris Todd Miller </span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<span style="font-family: 'Calibri'; font-size: 11.000000pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: 'Calibri'; font-size: 11.000000pt; font-weight: 700;">Prose: Spiritual Personal Essay 2018
</span><br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Third Honorable Mention: THE TELLING OF THE BEES by <span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;">Katharine Goodman </span></li>
<li>Second Honorable Mention: Of Crayons and Angels by <span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;">Amanda Luzzader </span></li>
<li>First Honorable Mention: Seek, Find, Be by <span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;">Julie Walton </span></li>
<li>Third Place: The Piglet by <span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;">Felicia Rose </span></li>
<li>Second Place: The Topsy-Turvey World of Our Inherited Wolf-Stories by <span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;">Shaunna goldberry </span></li>
<li>First Place: Within My Glass Box by <span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;">Joni Haws </span></li>
</ul>
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<br />Chris Todd Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12368447190407755035noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6729048750302368435.post-70974791117762290992017-01-31T17:22:00.001-07:002017-03-24T09:09:05.700-06:00The Terminator: A Love Story<div class="MsoNormal">
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">A little background on how this story came about. I took part in a contest put on by NYCMidnight.com. You are given three prompts. With those three prompts you have 8 days to write a short story. No more than 2500 words. Here's what 3 prompts and 8 days produced.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Prompts: Romance / First time on an airplane / a librarian</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: 11.0pt;"><b>The
Terminator: A Love Story<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: 11.0pt;"><b>A
foul-mouthed librarian flies to Seattle to meet her online suitor for the first
time. <o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: 11.0pt;"><b>Chris
Todd Miller<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: 11.0pt;"><b>Naomi Adams maneuvered her olive-green name-brand
sauté pan to a side burner as quickly as possible without spilling her latest
attempt at tasty vegetarian—sliced zucchini in olive oil and garlic. She mostly
succeeded, at not spilling dinner. Whether she succeeded at “tasty” vegetarian
was another matter altogether.<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: 11.0pt;"><b>The chimes echoed again. FaceTime told her
that Michael was calling. She skittered across the <gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="4c8cd760-bed4-4a59-9895-06e1f3766e75" id="8d867d01-85db-4ecb-b02f-5db953bf50c0"><gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="b37e591d-8cd5-4e35-ba0b-b67660d548c1" id="fa6adb6d-fde5-4524-9ef6-6bc8d7bf465e"><gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="575fd396-99cf-4068-8618-d3bb3af17eae" id="253cb576-4b79-4aa5-9cde-80c050a3763e">hard wood</gs></gs></gs> floor in her
stocking feet to her reading nook. Her cat, Mr. Darcy, sat perched on her
laptop keyboard. Stacks of books rose up around him like a metropolis under
construction, not a one had fewer than six Post-it notes peeking out from the
pages. Mr. Darcy voiced his displeasure at being removed from his spot. “Oh,
hush, you old charmer.”<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: 11.0pt;"><b>She clicked the green button and
Michael’s face appeared. Her heart <gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="7ab9eb2b-776f-4a06-90c0-b4fa91dcf1b3" id="2ababc5e-8825-4256-a0a7-5051fda5c4ae"><gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="467afe2f-1f09-4eb8-b586-c62991f07f0d" id="441eb4c7-f4bc-4220-b786-67bcbaa41d06"><gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="57fac9a8-fefb-4eaf-87fe-8fe3182d0728" id="15c2348e-0b1d-40bc-aace-116ab7f4bd9e">flittered</gs></gs></gs> like a school girl on prom night
waiting for her Prince Charming to pull up in the drive. At this point in her
life, he didn’t need a white stallion either, Kevin Bacon in a beat-up VW bug
would do just fine. <o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: 11.0pt;"><b>“Hi, Darling,” Michael said. <o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: 11.0pt;"><b>“Hi, yourself,” she replied. “Didn’t we
agree not to do this? It’s like seeing the bride before the wedding.” She could
hardly take her eyes off his smile. So enchanting, so, sigh, Mr. Darcy-<gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="75d1808d-b683-4844-a072-7fa69d86f343" id="14f343d6-9324-4e3a-84a0-1c2c6d48742e"><gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="9dd03a81-50c9-4b8a-a61f-9f6406c02bdc" id="49b65651-897f-494f-9940-d84a59370229"><gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="da1bfa6d-3dbd-4135-a15e-246e207e4408" id="d9b29da4-0df6-4c38-b557-c89e21820475">esque</gs></gs></gs>.“<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: 11.0pt;"><b>“I know. I know. But I couldn’t stop
thinking about you. I can’t hardly wait to see you in the flesh.” <o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: 11.0pt;"><b>She felt her face go hot, and cleared
her throat. “Michael,” she said with a coquettish lilt, and looked away. <o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: 11.0pt;"><b>He chuckled. “In person, I mean.”<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><b>Neither
spoke, and as the silence teetered on the edge of awkwardness, she asked,
“How’s your licensing coming along?” <o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><b>“Technically,
they’re certifications, and it’s fine. Lots of acronyms and stuff.”<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><b>“Like
what?” <o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><b>“You
know, <gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="be73d8ef-cf74-4565-96de-47b697db42aa" id="b54f0aca-47e0-4639-b270-3dd8dd5e8306"><gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="0566f3f7-a67d-49ab-9f8f-ebba3032f811" id="1c0b2653-bf0e-4ba3-9208-a0b532080919">transfering</gs></gs> domain names and websites, and making sure nobody hacks the Gibson. What
about you? Are you nervous for your flight?”<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><b>“A
little, but I’m doing what I can.”<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><b>His
brow furrowed. “What do you mean?”<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><b>“Let
me show you.” She held up a laminated sheet with checklists, timelines, maps, itineraries,
and notes, including highlighted sections in three colors. “I have my entire trip
plotted out to make my first ever flight as uneventful as possible. And if that
doesn’t work, there’s always vodka.”<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><b>He
shook his head and laughed. “You never cease to amaze me. With that kind of a game
plan, you could be the head coach of the Seahawks.”<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><b>“That’s
football, right?” she asked.<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><b>“Right.”<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><b>“I
know we have the Falcons here, but I’ve really never understood the game. Why
do they smack each other on the butt?”<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><b>She
tucked her legs underneath her and they talked about the dynamics of muscle-bound
men fighting over an inflated ellipse, inflated to, she would learn, 12.5 to 13.5 pounds
per square inch. The conversation proceeded to all the things they would do
when she got to Seattle. By the time they signed off, the zucchini was cold. </b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: 11.0pt;"><b>“Excuse me,” Naomi said to the guy
sitting in the aisle seat of her row. If she was getting on a plane for the
first time in her life, she wanted the full experience. He obviously wanted the
aisle seat due to his height, but rather than stand up so she could get past, he
shifted his knees to the side. She clambered over him, and her copy of Diana
Gabaldon’s <i>Outlander</i> tumbled out of
her bag and landed between his feet. <o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: 11.0pt;"><b>“Shit,” she said. She looked at the N<gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="ee649cff-9e0d-43dd-a43a-ec4b0b208cf3" id="c87160ce-fa68-4cd8-b9dd-5d7dfb07c736">BA-<gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="5414c429-df9e-447f-a526-fbc4595b1ceb" id="4c32fb32-2f0b-4003-9053-373e37c6a7ef"></gs></gs><gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="82445c77-bbbd-4494-adea-8f527c182b3e" id="4641d3d3-22d7-4a29-a3e9-1412ed703a89"><gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="ee649cff-9e0d-43dd-a43a-ec4b0b208cf3" id="c87160ce-fa68-4cd8-b9dd-5d7dfb07c736"><gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="5414c429-df9e-447f-a526-fbc4595b1ceb" id="4c32fb32-2f0b-4003-9053-373e37c6a7ef">wa</gs></gs><gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="5414c429-df9e-447f-a526-fbc4595b1ceb" id="4c32fb32-2f0b-4003-9053-373e37c6a7ef"></gs><gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="5414c429-df9e-447f-a526-fbc4595b1ceb" id="4c32fb32-2f0b-4003-9053-373e37c6a7ef">nna</gs></gs><gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="5414c429-df9e-447f-a526-fbc4595b1ceb" id="4c32fb32-2f0b-4003-9053-373e37c6a7ef"></gs>-be.
“Sorry.”<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: 11.0pt;"><b>“It’s okay,” he said. “I’ve got it.” He
handed her the book. <o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: 11.0pt;"><b>She took her seat next to the window. Relax,
Naomi. Millions of people do this every day, she told herself. <o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: 11.0pt;"><b>The plane systematically filled as the
other passengers arrived. Naomi was beginning to think that she wouldn’t be
forced to share an armrest, when a guy squeezed past the hatch just before the flight
attendant latched it behind him. He had a backpack slung over one shoulder, and
he spent several minutes trying to find an overhead compartment that would
accommodate his pack. He found one with space enough for a handbag. He pulled
out the two bags already in place, turned them around, and forced his bag in. <o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: 11.0pt;"><b>“Sir,” said the flight attendant.
“Please take your seat.”<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: 11.0pt;"><b>“Sorry. Sorry. One second.” He grunted
as he made his third attempt to slam closed the overhead bin. <o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: 11.0pt;"><b>Naomi gave herself a mental high-five for
reserving a window seat. She feared for the person sitting beneath those bags.
A strong sneeze would jolt the compartment open, let alone turbulence. <o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: 11.0pt;"><b>As she feared, mister
everybody-wait-for-me took the seat next to her. As he sat, she laid her arm
across her lap, atop her worn copy of <i>Outlander</i>. </b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: 11.0pt;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">A pleasant voice came over the
intercom. “Ladies and Gentlemen, welcome aboard flight 636 to Seattle,
Washington. My name is Maria. My crew and I will be taking care of you today. Our
anticipated flight time is five hours and twenty-three minutes. Now we request
your full attention as the flight attendants demonstrate the safety features of
this aircraft.” </span><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: 11.0pt;"><b>Naomi turned her attention to the safety
demonstration. The guy next to her leaned over and said, “I can give you the
Cliff Notes version.”<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: 11.0pt;"><b>Naomi glared at him. “I suspect you’re
very familiar with Cliff Notes.” She turned back to the demo. <o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: 11.0pt;"><b>He smirked. “You look like a smart
girl. I suspect you’ll figure out how that seat belt works, but if you need
help, let me know. I helped an old lady through security a minute ago.”<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: 11.0pt;"><b>She shushed him.<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: 11.0pt;"><b>“Wait a minute. Is this your first
time?”<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: 11.0pt;"><b>She looked at him from the corner of
her eye.<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: 11.0pt;"><b>“It is your first time! Seems like we
ought to be flying Virgin Airlines, then. You know what I’m saying?” <o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: 11.0pt;"><b>Naomi sighed and summoned her best Ms.
Manners voice. “Yes, it’s my first time. Would you be so kind as to shut the
fuck up so I can make sure I don’t die on this flight?”<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: 11.0pt;"><b>He laughed. “Oh, salty. You’ll be just
fine. Most people on this plane aren’t even listening. Besides, flying is safer
than driving.”<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: 11.0pt;"><b>She looked at him. “What’s your name?”<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: 11.0pt;"><b>“Nick.”<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: 11.0pt;"><b>“Nick, I’m well aware of that statistic;
however, you may note that we’re not in an automobile. The fact that I’m on an
airplane flying twenty-six hundred miles to meet a man I found by playing Words
with Friends overrides logical thinking. It’s all I can do to suppress the
fight or flight instinct.” <o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: 11.0pt;"><b>“I see what you did there. Not bad. Not
bad at all.”<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: 11.0pt;"><b>She chuckled. “I can’t help myself. I
make bad jokes when I’m nervous, and I cuss.”<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: 11.0pt;"><b>“Later on, I'll buy you a drink. We'll drink <gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="194f3fd1-79f4-449e-a4c3-07cb0e0cbef7" id="90c3afcc-0ad8-4a5c-8e1c-75476f5ebbac">to </gs><gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="5909e002-e387-450e-bb14-ebbb9b45e4a7" id="c00f4740-a401-4725-aecd-d89618c4fb3d"><gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="194f3fd1-79f4-449e-a4c3-07cb0e0cbef7" id="90c3afcc-0ad8-4a5c-8e1c-75476f5ebbac">pop</gs>pin</gs>' your aviation cherry, a<gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="194f3fd1-79f4-449e-a4c3-07cb0e0cbef7" id="d8340f26-9865-4798-aa52-ae3ae502cab2">nd </gs><gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="5909e002-e387-450e-bb14-ebbb9b45e4a7" id="0a43fd18-5e35-4841-9376-a6e81fb1c1d7"><gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="194f3fd1-79f4-449e-a4c3-07cb0e0cbef7" id="d8340f26-9865-4798-aa52-ae3ae502cab2">motherfuc</gs>kin</gs>' profanity." </b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b><br /></b></span><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b style="font-size: 14.6667px;">Naomi gave an exasperated sigh</b><b style="font-family: courier;">. "Whatever. Shut up, already!"</b></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: 11.0pt;"><b>He raised his palms in surrender. “All right. Shutting up.”<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b><span style="font-size: 11pt;">They sat in silence while the flight
attendants completed their spiel, although she caught him glancing her way from time to time. <gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="6854f5d0-06b1-40dc-be4b-3a0ab0afe893" id="c7a38eea-7a92-41e0-a78d-863759f670ac">As <gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="0713d66a-3217-40ec-9639-106573a155be" id="613e8be1-5cca-408b-9882-d7a6471bf91a"></gs><gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="0713d66a-3217-40ec-9639-106573a155be" id="613e8be1-5cca-408b-9882-d7a6471bf91a"></gs><gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="0713d66a-3217-40ec-9639-106573a155be" id="613e8be1-5cca-408b-9882-d7a6471bf91a"></gs></gs><gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="15513b1f-e9b7-4f33-a739-1cbbc444ddad" id="b52c38e2-1d83-47e3-ba02-11aa78c9ffba"><gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="6854f5d0-06b1-40dc-be4b-3a0ab0afe893" id="c7a38eea-7a92-41e0-a78d-863759f670ac"><gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="0713d66a-3217-40ec-9639-106573a155be" id="613e8be1-5cca-408b-9882-d7a6471bf91a">th</gs><gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="0713d66a-3217-40ec-9639-106573a155be" id="613e8be1-5cca-408b-9882-d7a6471bf91a">e plane taxied </gs></gs><gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="0713d66a-3217-40ec-9639-106573a155be" id="613e8be1-5cca-408b-9882-d7a6471bf91a"></gs><gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="0713d66a-3217-40ec-9639-106573a155be" id="613e8be1-5cca-408b-9882-d7a6471bf91a">the</gs></gs><gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="0713d66a-3217-40ec-9639-106573a155be" id="613e8be1-5cca-408b-9882-d7a6471bf91a"></gs><gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="0713d66a-3217-40ec-9639-106573a155be" id="613e8be1-5cca-408b-9882-d7a6471bf91a"></gs><gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="0713d66a-3217-40ec-9639-106573a155be" id="613e8be1-5cca-408b-9882-d7a6471bf91a"></gs> runway, Naomi
repeated the motions in her head of how to utilize her seat cushion as a </span><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;">flotation</span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> device. <o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: 11.0pt;"><b>The plane positioned itself on the
runway and accelerated. The wheels rumbled and the world outside whipped by as
the aircraft approached lift. Naomi felt herself forced back in her seat. She
inhaled sharply. When the wheels left the ground, she grasped Nick’s hand. <o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: 11.0pt;"><b>The plane reached cruising altitude
before Nick said, “If you’re finished with that,” motioni<gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="07f3c679-ece1-45f5-ac91-ad5caabd1313" id="ea2b90f0-15b5-487c-bad2-5c51ce32e0fb"><gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="9690cdb7-1957-4d0f-baf8-d2c76ff885b1" id="7fa3fcf9-f514-43d0-94db-f5a5174e191d">ng</gs></gs> <gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="db782774-c367-4887-929c-8affc717dbd4" id="f6a66a35-4a93-4eca-b2a2-47c794704abc"><gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="0b2169ca-9f01-477c-915a-3fb8d7045239" id="df7ddaf4-f0c8-4637-a616-359855975064">to</gs></gs> his hand, “I’m
going to need it back.”<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: 11.0pt;"><b>She released her grasp. “Sorry.<gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="4a861826-3f61-40b1-9630-58fda6959e39" id="3ac4cfc5-13ed-4a03-8583-9101bfb67f32"> I
<gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="f59714a4-fc10-4f00-b9e2-f7826aa9d91a" id="efb0fbbd-6374-4188-bf80-d6a7b191238d"></gs></gs><gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="8fe0cee3-6839-4378-8486-ced06d46be6f" id="05d9edff-6792-4bb3-9255-010c6e75a5f6"><gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="4a861826-3f61-40b1-9630-58fda6959e39" id="3ac4cfc5-13ed-4a03-8583-9101bfb67f32"><gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="f59714a4-fc10-4f00-b9e2-f7826aa9d91a" id="efb0fbbd-6374-4188-bf80-d6a7b191238d">ju</gs></gs><gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="f59714a4-fc10-4f00-b9e2-f7826aa9d91a" id="efb0fbbd-6374-4188-bf80-d6a7b191238d"></gs><gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="f59714a4-fc10-4f00-b9e2-f7826aa9d91a" id="efb0fbbd-6374-4188-bf80-d6a7b191238d"></gs><gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="f59714a4-fc10-4f00-b9e2-f7826aa9d91a" id="efb0fbbd-6374-4188-bf80-d6a7b191238d"></gs><gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="f59714a4-fc10-4f00-b9e2-f7826aa9d91a" id="efb0fbbd-6374-4188-bf80-d6a7b191238d">st—</gs></gs><gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="f59714a4-fc10-4f00-b9e2-f7826aa9d91a" id="efb0fbbd-6374-4188-bf80-d6a7b191238d"></gs>”<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: 11.0pt;"><b>“I know. Never been on a plane before.
It is a pretty cool experience, and there’s only one first time. What did you
bring with you to read?”<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: 11.0pt;"><b>She perked up. “<i>Outlander, </i>by Diana Gabaldon. It’s my favorite. Do you know it?”<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: 11.0pt;"><b>“Never heard of it.”<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: 11.0pt;"><b>“She’s kind of the Jane Austen of our
day.”<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: 11.0pt;"><b>“I have to admit; I don’t read a lot.
Particularly romance.”<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: 11.0pt;"><b>“You might like it. The romance aside,
there’s plenty of warring and fisticuffs. Bound to be a classic.”<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: 11.0pt;"><b>“My idea of a classic is Linda Hamilton
and Schwarzenegger in <i>The Terminator</i>.
Do you know it?”<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: 11.0pt;"><b>His mocking jab did not escape her, but
she found it oddly charming. “It’s not that far a leap from Scottish Highlander
to futuristic killing machine.”<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: 11.0pt;"><b>“Have you been drinking?”<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: 11.0pt;"><b>“A little, but only to calm <gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="6f25aa19-613b-4a4a-a52a-3d9db0eb87e6" id="6ba8b0ad-e195-41e4-b8fb-5a1250907dc1"><gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="71fb15bb-1f62-4a9d-9bec-9583f10dff80" id="9dc9b913-ff7e-4235-aee5-23314d2a47b6">my
</gs></gs><gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="6f25aa19-613b-4a4a-a52a-3d9db0eb87e6" id="6ba8b0ad-e195-41e4-b8fb-5a1250907dc1"><gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="71fb15bb-1f62-4a9d-9bec-9583f10dff80" id="9dc9b913-ff7e-4235-aee5-23314d2a47b6"></gs></gs><gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="6f25aa19-613b-4a4a-a52a-3d9db0eb87e6" id="6ba8b0ad-e195-41e4-b8fb-5a1250907dc1"><gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="71fb15bb-1f62-4a9d-9bec-9583f10dff80" id="9dc9b913-ff7e-4235-aee5-23314d2a47b6"></gs></gs><gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="94f86416-3c41-4e3e-bde4-b94c5131737a" id="ac199420-fa01-42bb-ad64-b9e2ee42b0a9"><gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="6f25aa19-613b-4a4a-a52a-3d9db0eb87e6" id="6ba8b0ad-e195-41e4-b8fb-5a1250907dc1"><gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="71fb15bb-1f62-4a9d-9bec-9583f10dff80" id="9dc9b913-ff7e-4235-aee5-23314d2a47b6">nervousn</gs></gs>ous</gs> <gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="6f25aa19-613b-4a4a-a52a-3d9db0eb87e6" id="a10778e5-c694-4327-9473-ee89776ab69e"><gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="71fb15bb-1f62-4a9d-9bec-9583f10dff80" id="b9eb7d7f-bd9e-4c3f-989b-b282babf96a5">an</gs></gs>d<gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="94f86416-3c41-4e3e-bde4-b94c5131737a" id="25b8baac-5db1-489d-b461-475a6cd4fa2b"> .</gs> .<gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="c35d3464-62ce-485a-9607-ae865bb4a459" id="4c27caf7-ab38-4fc2-a1e6-68adcb065730"><gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="111b82ca-975a-473b-87a2-f7cd3f887592" id="fcea7efa-e8b6-4ec1-9eb6-698d8d6ef453"> . <gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="5628491f-d2c1-4e48-a213-702b1c0fbb98" id="716cbc1b-dbb9-4985-88ed-77dbe77ac807"></gs></gs></gs><gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="d9b98b6b-8538-4edf-bc44-9dfb233b4b3d" id="5481eba0-d29e-49a2-98b9-7a66eb3f006a"><gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="c35d3464-62ce-485a-9607-ae865bb4a459" id="4c27caf7-ab38-4fc2-a1e6-68adcb065730"><gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="111b82ca-975a-473b-87a2-f7cd3f887592" id="fcea7efa-e8b6-4ec1-9eb6-698d8d6ef453"><gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="5628491f-d2c1-4e48-a213-702b1c0fbb98" id="716cbc1b-dbb9-4985-88ed-77dbe77ac807">ner</gs></gs><gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="5628491f-d2c1-4e48-a213-702b1c0fbb98" id="716cbc1b-dbb9-4985-88ed-77dbe77ac807"></gs><gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="5628491f-d2c1-4e48-a213-702b1c0fbb98" id="716cbc1b-dbb9-4985-88ed-77dbe77ac807"></gs><gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="5628491f-d2c1-4e48-a213-702b1c0fbb98" id="716cbc1b-dbb9-4985-88ed-77dbe77ac807"></gs></gs><gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="5628491f-d2c1-4e48-a213-702b1c0fbb98" id="716cbc1b-dbb9-4985-88ed-77dbe77ac807"></gs><gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="5628491f-d2c1-4e48-a213-702b1c0fbb98" id="716cbc1b-dbb9-4985-88ed-77dbe77ac807"></gs><gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="5628491f-d2c1-4e48-a213-702b1c0fbb98" id="716cbc1b-dbb9-4985-88ed-77dbe77ac807"></gs><gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="5628491f-d2c1-4e48-a213-702b1c0fbb98" id="716cbc1b-dbb9-4985-88ed-77dbe77ac807">ves</gs></gs><gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="5628491f-d2c1-4e48-a213-702b1c0fbb98" id="716cbc1b-dbb9-4985-88ed-77dbe77ac807"></gs>.” She made an exasperated face. “Whatever. When it
comes to romance, I’m stone cold sober.”<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: 11.0pt;"><b>He raised his eyebrows. “I was
kidding.”<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: 11.0pt;"><b>“You like war? Sex? Violence? An
underdog? Time travel?” She patted her book. “It’s all here. Besides, I could
argue that the original Terminator is more of a romance story than science-fiction.”<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: 11.0pt;"><b>“Now I know you’re drunk.” He motioned
for the flight attendant. “Miss? No alcohol for this one. Diet Coke only.”<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: 11.0pt;"><b>“I’ll take a Jack and Coke.” <o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: 11.0pt;"><b>Nick held up two fingers. <o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: 11.0pt;"><b>She turned toward him. “I’m serious.”<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: 11.0pt;"><b>“Prove it.”<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: 11.0pt;"><b>“How about a wager?”<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: 11.0pt;"><b>“Name it.” <o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: 11.0pt;"><b>“If I’m right, you pay for my drink,”
s<gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="af4ce422-c3dc-4a91-bc69-995ffc61352b" id="6036ceea-f046-462b-9af4-abab9ff9e83c">he </gs>sai</b></span><b style="font-family: "courier new", courier, monospace; font-size: 11pt;">d</b><b style="font-family: "courier new", courier, monospace; font-size: 11pt;">.</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: 11.0pt;"><b></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: 11.0pt;"><b>“</b></span><b style="font-family: "courier new", courier, monospace; font-size: 11pt;"><gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="e2c289c7-a37c-4133-a545-cbc75eea187a" id="2ab1cd0e-cd34-4974-aad1-3cddfcdb3af1"></gs></b><b style="font-family: "courier new", courier, monospace; font-size: 11pt;"><gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="e2c289c7-a37c-4133-a545-cbc75eea187a" id="2ab1cd0e-cd34-4974-aad1-3cddfcdb3af1"></gs></b><b style="font-family: "courier new", courier, monospace; font-size: 11pt;"><gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="e2c289c7-a37c-4133-a545-cbc75eea187a" id="2ab1cd0e-cd34-4974-aad1-3cddfcdb3af1"></gs></b><b style="font-family: "courier new", courier, monospace; font-size: 11pt;"><gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="e2c289c7-a37c-4133-a545-cbc75eea187a" id="2ab1cd0e-cd34-4974-aad1-3cddfcdb3af1"></gs></b><b style="font-family: "courier new", courier, monospace; font-size: 11pt;"><gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="e2c289c7-a37c-4133-a545-cbc75eea187a" id="2ab1cd0e-cd34-4974-aad1-3cddfcdb3af1"></gs></b><gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="1f58933f-a0f1-45a7-a00e-d71cc706d683" id="5f42fe20-56b9-4bba-a47a-765cc5cdc862"><b style="font-family: "courier new", courier, monospace; font-size: 11pt;"><gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="e2c289c7-a37c-4133-a545-cbc75eea187a" id="2ab1cd0e-cd34-4974-aad1-3cddfcdb3af1">P</gs></b><b style="font-family: "courier new", courier, monospace; font-size: 11pt;"><gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="e2c289c7-a37c-4133-a545-cbc75eea187a" id="2ab1cd0e-cd34-4974-aad1-3cddfcdb3af1">ff</gs></b><b style="font-family: "courier new", courier, monospace; font-size: 11pt;"><gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="e2c289c7-a37c-4133-a545-cbc75eea187a" id="2ab1cd0e-cd34-4974-aad1-3cddfcdb3af1">t</gs></b></gs><b style="font-family: "courier new", courier, monospace; font-size: 11pt;"><gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="e2c289c7-a37c-4133-a545-cbc75eea187a" id="2ab1cd0e-cd34-4974-aad1-3cddfcdb3af1"></gs></b><b style="font-family: "courier new", courier, monospace; font-size: 11pt;"><gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="e2c289c7-a37c-4133-a545-cbc75eea187a" id="2ab1cd0e-cd34-4974-aad1-3cddfcdb3af1"></gs></b><b style="font-family: "courier new", courier, monospace; font-size: 11pt;"><gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="e2c289c7-a37c-4133-a545-cbc75eea187a" id="2ab1cd0e-cd34-4974-aad1-3cddfcdb3af1"></gs></b><b style="font-family: "courier new", courier, monospace; font-size: 11pt;"><gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="e2c289c7-a37c-4133-a545-cbc75eea187a" id="2ab1cd0e-cd34-4974-aad1-3cddfcdb3af1"></gs>. Done.”</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: 11.0pt;"><b>She cleared her throat. “What was the
point of the movie?”<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: 11.0pt;"><b>He raised his hands in a “duh” gesture.
“To kill Sarah Connor so she could never give birth to her son, John, who leads
the rebellion against the machines in the future.”<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: 11.0pt;"><b>She noted t<gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="f93ccb21-2da8-4867-87f2-2f5a994ead98" id="8b7ea0fd-db50-4877-ba1a-9cca2df272ac">he </gs><gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="205117a9-7bfc-4917-9184-a5a26e282281" id="a318178f-8d8a-4131-8a35-9b7c547ae31d"><gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="96bd6e34-93c8-4940-922a-970bb9859b2d" id="9020d727-7385-41fc-acaa-3303207a5efa">mic</gs></gs>-drop look on his
face. “Of all the soldiers, why did John Conner send Reese back?”<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: 11.0pt;"><b>“Trick question. Reese volunteered.”<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: 11.0pt;"><b>“Why?”<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: 11.0pt;"><b>The attendant came by with their drinks
and passed them over the guy now sleeping in the aisle seat. <o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: 11.0pt;"><b>“To meet the mother of the legendary
John Conner. She would have been like a religious figure to them. He couldn’t
pass up that opportunity,” Nick said.<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: 11.0pt;"><b>“Yeah, he says something like that
initially, but later he talks about the picture that John gave him. The picture
of Sarah.”<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: 11.0pt;"><b>She saw realization sett<gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="e0f44fbf-0e3f-4b43-b755-5c16750d9249" id="e7b71b76-9f61-433e-82f5-a27521b537d7">le</gs> <gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="2fc442d4-1432-47d7-8d9e-617cd0104641" id="3c77eb59-3a19-4717-b0d5-d1444f562007"><gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="a380d89c-5213-4685-928d-29585e463653" id="5a6375de-b01e-4e46-94b2-08278643885c">in</gs></gs> his face.
“He was in love with her before he ever met her,” Nick said.<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: 11.0pt;"><b>“Bingo. Anybody else goes back to
protect her, he either fails, because he does it out of duty instead of love,
or succeeds in protecting her but doesn’t knock her up. This is a love story
with a sci-fi sub-plot. No love story—no story. Period.” She tossed back the
remainder of her drink. “You owe me eight dollars.”<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: 11.0pt;"><b>“How do you know all of this?” He peeled
off a ten-dollar bill from a fold of bills in his front pocket. “Here, but I
refuse to admit it.” <o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: 11.0pt;"><b>“Your money is acknowledgment enough.”<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: 11.0pt;"><b>“Seriously, how do you know about stuff
like Jane Austen <i>and</i> The Terminator.
Are you some kind of a savant?”<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: 11.0pt;"><b>“Jane Austen and the Terminator. That
could be the ne<gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="5e6e2ee4-8ac8-4cc1-bcee-5fd2e4fab2be" id="c9ae0ed0-c7b7-4db1-a806-e6e2007a7ca3">xt <gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="ab0fc247-409d-4ab4-b57b-21ea891f7202" id="deb88fc2-c8b7-47d7-bd49-1c0da91d9ce7"></gs></gs><gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="57d9fe33-5caa-44d7-bdfd-790a8b412940" id="dc011cef-9395-48b6-82cc-d217dd9a23f8"><gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="5e6e2ee4-8ac8-4cc1-bcee-5fd2e4fab2be" id="c9ae0ed0-c7b7-4db1-a806-e6e2007a7ca3"><gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="ab0fc247-409d-4ab4-b57b-21ea891f7202" id="deb88fc2-c8b7-47d7-bd49-1c0da91d9ce7">mash</gs></gs><gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="ab0fc247-409d-4ab4-b57b-21ea891f7202" id="deb88fc2-c8b7-47d7-bd49-1c0da91d9ce7"></gs><gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="ab0fc247-409d-4ab4-b57b-21ea891f7202" id="deb88fc2-c8b7-47d7-bd49-1c0da91d9ce7">-up</gs></gs><gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="ab0fc247-409d-4ab4-b57b-21ea891f7202" id="deb88fc2-c8b7-47d7-bd49-1c0da91d9ce7"></gs> movie hit.” She reached into her purse and pulled out
what looked like a credit card. <o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: 11.0pt;"><b>“What’s that?”<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: 11.0pt;"><b>She handed it to him.<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: 11.0pt;"><b>“A library card? You go to the library
a lot?”<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: 11.0pt;"><b>“I am the library, bitch.” She put her
hand over her mouth. “Sorry. I mean, I’m a librarian.” <o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Nick laughed so hard Jack and Coke came
out of his nose. He wiped his face with the </span><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;">minuscule</span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> napkin that came with his
drink. “At least now I know your name, Naomi Adams.”<o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: 11.0pt;"><b> <o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: 11.0pt;"><b>The plane jumped as it hit a pocket of
turbulence. Naomi gasped and grabbed Nick’s hand.<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: 11.0pt;"><b>“You keep latching on to me and people
will think we’re engaged.” <o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: 11.0pt;"><b>The turbulence persisted and she held
on for another minute. <o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: 11.0pt;"><b>“Thanks.” She released his hand. “And I
don’t care what they think.”<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: 11.0pt;"><b>“Why don’t you two get a room, or go to
the lavatory and join the mile-high club, already,” said the man in the aisle
seat, who she thought had been asleep since takeoff.<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: 11.0pt;"><b>Nick leaned over and whispered
something in the man’s ear. T<gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="ba68b829-24a6-430c-8d21-ea1b476f7622" id="267430a3-fca6-46e9-ac3c-04ca17e3537e">he <gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="527caf35-4268-496a-9914-b793b855ebdb" id="c019a7b9-caa0-4866-9b39-b9286d3c78a6"></gs></gs><gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="2ddbd53a-ad8f-4d4c-bf43-5fc377f9ef19" id="44a7ec35-af4e-44e6-9ea5-b2469592877c"><gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="ba68b829-24a6-430c-8d21-ea1b476f7622" id="267430a3-fca6-46e9-ac3c-04ca17e3537e"><gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="527caf35-4268-496a-9914-b793b855ebdb" id="c019a7b9-caa0-4866-9b39-b9286d3c78a6">harangue</gs></gs><gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="527caf35-4268-496a-9914-b793b855ebdb" id="c019a7b9-caa0-4866-9b39-b9286d3c78a6"></gs><gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="527caf35-4268-496a-9914-b793b855ebdb" id="c019a7b9-caa0-4866-9b39-b9286d3c78a6">r’s</gs></gs><gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="527caf35-4268-496a-9914-b793b855ebdb" id="c019a7b9-caa0-4866-9b39-b9286d3c78a6"></gs> eyes widened. <o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: 11.0pt;"><b>“Sorry. Sorry, man.”<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: 11.0pt;"><b>Nick tilted his head.<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: 11.0pt;"><b>The man leaned forward and looked at
Naomi. “Sorry, miss.”<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: 11.0pt;"><b>“What did you say?” she whispered. <o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: 11.0pt;"><b>Nick shrugged. “Nobody fucks with the
librarian.”<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: 11.0pt;"><b>She touched his arm. “You can be quite
charming, you know that?”<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: 11.0pt;"><b>“I have my moments. Tell me about your guy
in Seattle. He’s got to be something to win the heart of the world’s most
foul-mouthed curator of the written word.”<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: 11.0pt;"><b>She cocked her head. “There’s a rumor
in some circles that Christopher Marlow had quite the potty mouth.” She
gestured with both palms down. “Okay. Don’t laugh. Like I said, we met playing
a random match of Words with Friends. After about a dozen games, we started
chatting and ultimately, FaceTime.” <o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: 11.0pt;"><b>“Did you give him money?” <o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: 11.0pt;"><b>“Cynic, much?”<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: 11.0pt;"><b>“Some. Did you?”<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: 11.0pt;"><b>She pursed her lips. “How do <i>you</i> know so much?”<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: 11.0pt;"><b>“Pardon the expression, but it seems I
can read you like a book.”<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: 11.0pt;"><b>“He needed it for his certifications
and licensing. He’s in IT Security.”<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: 11.0pt;"><b>“I’m not even going to ask how much.”<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: 11.0pt;"><b>“Good, ‘cause I’m not going to tell
you.”<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: 11.0pt;"><b>“Let’s change the subject, shall we?”
he asked.<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: 11.0pt;"><b>“Let’s.”<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: 11.0pt;"><b>Nick’s versatility amazed her. He had
something to say on every topic she presented. Once she got past his initial
bravado, she decided she liked him. She got the impression he couldn’t find his
way around the Dewey Decimal system, but found herself enveloped in his stories
abo<gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="70cfb2b4-d54a-4091-a4d2-5fd30da5b561" id="daed841d-4680-4252-918a-a3e6097d2983">ut <gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="e2cf3a8b-7a5d-43ad-b587-b7be488b09c5" id="6a191fb6-c76d-4c3a-ab01-6e986cfacf91"></gs></gs><gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="aeef7208-3140-49b1-83ac-d1101dda467c" id="40499ecd-6dd5-481b-b29d-cbf9b710964f"><gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="70cfb2b4-d54a-4091-a4d2-5fd30da5b561" id="daed841d-4680-4252-918a-a3e6097d2983"><gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="e2cf3a8b-7a5d-43ad-b587-b7be488b09c5" id="6a191fb6-c76d-4c3a-ab01-6e986cfacf91">cit</gs></gs><gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="e2cf3a8b-7a5d-43ad-b587-b7be488b09c5" id="6a191fb6-c76d-4c3a-ab01-6e986cfacf91"></gs><gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="e2cf3a8b-7a5d-43ad-b587-b7be488b09c5" id="6a191fb6-c76d-4c3a-ab01-6e986cfacf91">ies</gs></gs><gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="e2cf3a8b-7a5d-43ad-b587-b7be488b09c5" id="6a191fb6-c76d-4c3a-ab01-6e986cfacf91"></gs> he’d visited on every continent, except “that cold one.” He’d
never been there. She surprised herself
by the disappointment she felt when the Space Need<gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="05132757-5b6a-4d33-aa38-df11a93d9555" id="ebfb33c4-a9b9-43f2-9b0c-746bfa0bc7e3">le <gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="affcf602-2c27-400b-b536-b85d7d8cfb2f" id="6a55d673-4a0a-452b-9436-b45d74864fed"></gs></gs><gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="629e8a37-403e-48c1-9aab-d3d6e5210156" id="aa69deda-1e10-417a-8b5e-5c81a9fbad5f"><gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="05132757-5b6a-4d33-aa38-df11a93d9555" id="ebfb33c4-a9b9-43f2-9b0c-746bfa0bc7e3"><gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="affcf602-2c27-400b-b536-b85d7d8cfb2f" id="6a55d673-4a0a-452b-9436-b45d74864fed">punctu</gs></gs><gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="affcf602-2c27-400b-b536-b85d7d8cfb2f" id="6a55d673-4a0a-452b-9436-b45d74864fed"></gs><gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="affcf602-2c27-400b-b536-b85d7d8cfb2f" id="6a55d673-4a0a-452b-9436-b45d74864fed">red</gs></gs><gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="affcf602-2c27-400b-b536-b85d7d8cfb2f" id="6a55d673-4a0a-452b-9436-b45d74864fed"></gs> the horizon. She
hadn’t expected to feel that way. Hadn’t expected it at all. <o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: 11.0pt;"><b>The seatbelt light went dark,
underscored by a succession of clicks. </b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: 11.0pt;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: 11.0pt;"><b>“Well,
Naomi Adams, we should do this again some time, may<gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="6a575bdc-e2b1-430b-801d-6cd3ae71a388" id="8b899644-0811-46c4-a30c-f3e610980871">be <gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="99330090-c8a5-4921-b855-1d07f71cefd7" id="9de293e7-1762-4de8-88ea-158dac7412d5"></gs></gs><gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="3dfdcade-0d29-4140-b249-5d65b61f3050" id="fed51fbb-a1b5-4950-8555-35055680782d"><gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="6a575bdc-e2b1-430b-801d-6cd3ae71a388" id="8b899644-0811-46c4-a30c-f3e610980871"><gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="99330090-c8a5-4921-b855-1d07f71cefd7" id="9de293e7-1762-4de8-88ea-158dac7412d5">ev</gs></gs><gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="99330090-c8a5-4921-b855-1d07f71cefd7" id="9de293e7-1762-4de8-88ea-158dac7412d5"></gs><gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="99330090-c8a5-4921-b855-1d07f71cefd7" id="9de293e7-1762-4de8-88ea-158dac7412d5">en—</gs></gs><gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="99330090-c8a5-4921-b855-1d07f71cefd7" id="9de293e7-1762-4de8-88ea-158dac7412d5"></gs>”<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: 11.0pt;"><b>“Shut up. Don’t ruin this.” She
gathered her bag and her book and clambered over Nick and the sleeping giant.
She allowed herself one look back before she stepped into t<gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="5d8354cf-608e-4cc7-a5ff-541c5eb021b6" id="e2fc767a-33d5-422b-a38a-ed5b18acc47d">he <gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="ac0a9e86-b3aa-4443-a57a-6b19b6cd0ec4" id="9f2539f8-99a5-4744-aa86-dc0fd658830f"></gs></gs><gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="9be07c4f-2c1d-45f8-a072-694d91d0f7e9" id="2ca26a49-05bd-4b9a-9489-bb1f8b5c92c5"><gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="5d8354cf-608e-4cc7-a5ff-541c5eb021b6" id="e2fc767a-33d5-422b-a38a-ed5b18acc47d"><gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="ac0a9e86-b3aa-4443-a57a-6b19b6cd0ec4" id="9f2539f8-99a5-4744-aa86-dc0fd658830f">jet</gs></gs><gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="ac0a9e86-b3aa-4443-a57a-6b19b6cd0ec4" id="9f2539f8-99a5-4744-aa86-dc0fd658830f"></gs><gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="ac0a9e86-b3aa-4443-a57a-6b19b6cd0ec4" id="9f2539f8-99a5-4744-aa86-dc0fd658830f">way</gs></gs><gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="ac0a9e86-b3aa-4443-a57a-6b19b6cd0ec4" id="9f2539f8-99a5-4744-aa86-dc0fd658830f"></gs>. <o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Nick found her at the baggage carousel.
One battered olive green </span><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;">duffel</span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> bag circled the carousel. He shoulder<gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="8f07efaa-c849-4047-858f-4d1e55f3d71e" id="8dd8e4a5-cbe8-4529-9239-228e5c011039">ed <gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="b6af8ce3-d6d3-4240-9dd5-581437621eb9" id="826e3ec6-1a48-4b6b-8e35-d70834c95207"></gs></gs><gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="ef29b641-63fd-46dc-b0c1-00f7663c18a0" id="0fa72715-5cf8-485e-8e9e-d2551c09e5e0"><gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="8f07efaa-c849-4047-858f-4d1e55f3d71e" id="8dd8e4a5-cbe8-4529-9239-228e5c011039"><gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="b6af8ce3-d6d3-4240-9dd5-581437621eb9" id="826e3ec6-1a48-4b6b-8e35-d70834c95207">it t</gs></gs><gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="b6af8ce3-d6d3-4240-9dd5-581437621eb9" id="826e3ec6-1a48-4b6b-8e35-d70834c95207"></gs><gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="b6af8ce3-d6d3-4240-9dd5-581437621eb9" id="826e3ec6-1a48-4b6b-8e35-d70834c95207">hen</gs></gs><gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="b6af8ce3-d6d3-4240-9dd5-581437621eb9" id="826e3ec6-1a48-4b6b-8e35-d70834c95207"></gs>
walked over to Naomi. She sat on her suitcase, alone. <o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: 11.0pt;"><b>She held up her phone so Nick could see
it. “His number is no longer working or has been disconnected.” Shame welled up
inside her and she fought to keep her composure.<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: 11.0pt;"><b>Nick sighed. “May I speak?”<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: 11.0pt;"><b>She nodded.<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: 11.0pt;"><b>“Can I buy you a cup of coffee? I
understand it’s kind of a thing here.”<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: 11.0pt;"><b>For the third time that day, she took
his hand. <o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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Chris Todd Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12368447190407755035noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6729048750302368435.post-30445321271929542742016-09-26T20:50:00.000-06:002016-09-26T20:50:52.447-06:00League of Utah Writers 2016 Writing Contest Results<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "garamond"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Best in Show (prose): Dustin Earl “Kami No Itte”<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "garamond"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Best in Show (poetry): Isaac Timm “Beast-man”<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "garamond"; font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "garamond"; font-size: 11.0pt;">Short fiction:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "garamond"; font-size: 11.0pt;">1<sup>st</sup> Amahl (Scott Tarbet)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "garamond"; font-size: 11.0pt;">2<sup>nd</sup> Aren’t You the Kid? (Denis Feehan)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "garamond"; font-size: 11.0pt;">3<sup>rd</sup> And Once She Could Fly (Chadd VanZanten)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "garamond"; font-size: 11.0pt;">Honorable Mentions:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "garamond"; font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Dirty
George (Jef Huntsman)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "garamond"; font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The
Right Note (Anne Stark)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "garamond"; font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Just
Wait for the Answer (Chadd VanZanten)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "garamond"; font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "garamond"; font-size: 11.0pt;">Short genre fiction:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "garamond"; font-size: 11.0pt;">1<sup>st</sup> The Boy Who Could Not Sleep (Denis Feehan)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "garamond"; font-size: 11.0pt;">2<sup>nd</sup> The Half Door (Crystal Vail)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "garamond"; font-size: 11.0pt;">3<sup>rd</sup> Daphne, the Girl in the Armor (Amanda
Luzzader)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "garamond"; font-size: 11.0pt;">Honorable Mentions:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "garamond"; font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The
Screensaver’s Footprints (Jeffery Bateman)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 1.0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "garamond"; font-size: 11.0pt;">Lovecraft’s Pillow (Scott Forman)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 1.0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "garamond"; font-size: 11.0pt;">The Albatross (Jennifer Stevens)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "garamond"; font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "garamond"; font-size: 11.0pt;">Flash:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "garamond"; font-size: 11.0pt;">1<sup>st</sup> Initiation (Millie Tullis)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "garamond"; font-size: 11.0pt;">2<sup>nd</sup> The Thaw (Karla Jay)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "garamond"; font-size: 11.0pt;">3<sup>rd</sup> Ghost Herder (Emily Wheeler)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "garamond"; font-size: 11.0pt;">Honorable Mentions:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "garamond"; font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Déjà Vu
(Sherrie Lynn Clarke)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "garamond"; font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Home
(Sabrina Watts)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "garamond"; font-size: 11.0pt;">Road to Nowhere (Amanda Luzzader)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "garamond"; font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">4.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "garamond"; font-size: 11.0pt;">Creative nonfiction:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "garamond"; font-size: 11.0pt;">1<sup>st</sup> Kami No Itte (Dustin Earl)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "garamond"; font-size: 11.0pt;">2<sup>nd</sup> Tete-a-Tete: The Secret Language of Hair
(Felicia Rose)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "garamond"; font-size: 11.0pt;">3<sup>rd</sup> Shooter (Jeffery Bateman)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "garamond"; font-size: 11.0pt;">Honorable Mentions:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "garamond"; font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>My
Pick-Me-Up (Lora Stead)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "garamond"; font-size: 11.0pt;">The Libertine (Felicia Rose)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "garamond"; font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Klatch
(Timothy James)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "garamond"; font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">5.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "garamond"; font-size: 11.0pt;">First chapter (Novel):<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "garamond"; font-size: 11.0pt;">1<sup>ST</sup> Pretender to the Crown (Melissa McShane)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "garamond"; font-size: 11.0pt;">2<sup>nd</sup> A Shot at Justice (Karla Jay)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "garamond"; font-size: 11.0pt;">3<sup>rd</sup> Camdon Cain (Christauna Asay)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 1.0in;">
<span style="font-family: "garamond"; font-size: 11.0pt;">Honorable Mentions:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "garamond"; font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Memoirs
of a Synth: Gold Record (Lyn Worthen)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "garamond"; font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Clocking
Out (Margot Hovley)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "garamond"; font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The
Passenger (Gregory Deluca)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "garamond"; font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">6.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "garamond"; font-size: 11.0pt;">First chapter (YA):<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "garamond"; font-size: 11.0pt;">1<sup>st</sup> The Runes of
Rahmanhatenweep (James Beers)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "garamond"; font-size: 11.0pt;">2<sup>nd</sup> Snakes Are
Terrible at Running Away (Abby Thorne)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "garamond"; font-size: 11.0pt;">3<sup>rd</sup> Killing Nightmares
(Leah Garriott)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "garamond"; font-size: 11.0pt;">Honorable Mentions:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "garamond"; font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Snotty’s
Revenge (Robin Glassey)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "garamond"; font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The
Fox on Fire (Rosalie Ledezma)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "garamond"; font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The
Sea Child (Carol Nicolas)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "garamond"; font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">7.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "garamond"; font-size: 11.0pt;">Romance:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 1.0in;">
<span style="font-family: "garamond"; font-size: 11.0pt;">1<sup>st</sup> Across the Lines (Emily Wheeler)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 1.0in;">
<span style="font-family: "garamond"; font-size: 11.0pt;">2<sup>nd</sup> Beyond Dracula (Kendra Ellis)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 1.0in;">
<span style="font-family: "garamond"; font-size: 11.0pt;">3<sup>rd</sup> Intersections (Lyn Worthen)<sup><o:p></o:p></sup></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 1.0in;">
<span style="font-family: "garamond"; font-size: 11.0pt;">Honorable Mentions:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 1.0in;">
<span style="font-family: "garamond"; font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Maple
Mind Madness (Lori Parker)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 1.0in;">
<span style="font-family: "garamond"; font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The
Union (Dawnene Wilson)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 1.0in;">
<span style="font-family: "garamond"; font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Rite of
Passage (Linne Marsh)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 1.0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "garamond"; font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">8.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "garamond"; font-size: 11.0pt;">Media article:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "garamond"; font-size: 11.0pt;">1<sup>st</sup> On Writing: Never,
Never, Never Quit (unless you should) (Jeffery Bateman)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "garamond"; font-size: 11.0pt;">2<sup>nd</sup> A Good Death
(Marie Tollstrup)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "garamond"; font-size: 11.0pt;">3<sup>rd</sup> Surviving SIDS
(Sherrie Lynn Clarke)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "garamond"; font-size: 11.0pt;">Honorable Mentions:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "garamond"; font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Observation
of an Apprentice (Lyn Worthen)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "garamond"; font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Rows
of Flags—Too Close to Home (Jeffery Bateman)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "garamond"; font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Harnessing
Your Design Personality (Sue Leth)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "garamond"; font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">9.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "garamond"; font-size: 11.0pt;">Children’s book: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 1.0in;">
<span style="font-family: "garamond"; font-size: 11.0pt;">1<sup>st</sup> Blending (Christy Monson)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 1.0in;">
<span style="font-family: "garamond"; font-size: 11.0pt;">2<sup>nd</sup> Sawyer Grace Ropes a Calf (Jeffery
Bateman)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 1.0in;">
<span style="font-family: "garamond"; font-size: 11.0pt;">3<sup>rd</sup> The Best Cheesy Sandwich Ever (Wayne
Gledhill)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 1.0in;">
<span style="font-family: "garamond"; font-size: 11.0pt;">Honorable Mentions:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 1.0in;">
<span style="font-family: "garamond"; font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Willowbee’s
Workshop (Jeffrey Huenke)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 1.0in;">
<span style="font-family: "garamond"; font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Bedtime
Battle (Christy Monson)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 1.0in;">
<span style="font-family: "garamond"; font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Everyone
Up Front (Megan Jones)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "garamond"; font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">10.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "garamond"; font-size: 11.0pt;">Encore prose:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "garamond"; font-size: 11.0pt;">1<sup>st</sup> The Thriller Book Killer
(Shirley Spain)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 1.0in;">
<span style="font-family: "garamond"; font-size: 11.0pt;">2<sup>nd</sup> Living Pictures (Sherrie Lynn Clarke)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 1.0in;">
<span style="font-family: "garamond"; font-size: 11.0pt;">3<sup>rd</sup> Wordless (Emily Wheeler)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 1.0in;">
<span style="font-family: "garamond"; font-size: 11.0pt;">Honorable Mentions:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 1.0in;">
<span style="font-family: "garamond"; font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The
Scarlet Letter 2.0 (Julie Walton) <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 1.0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "garamond"; font-size: 11.0pt;">Razor Wire (Lorraine Jeffery)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 1.0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "garamond"; font-size: 11.0pt;">A Little Magic (Carol Nicolas)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "garamond"; font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">11.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "garamond"; font-size: 11.0pt;">Narrative poetry:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 1.0in;">
<span style="font-family: "garamond"; font-size: 11.0pt;">1<sup>st</sup> Beast-man (Isaac Timm)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 1.0in;">
<span style="font-family: "garamond"; font-size: 11.0pt;">2<sup>nd</sup> Mirror Worlds (Stephen Proskauer)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 1.0in;">
<span style="font-family: "garamond"; font-size: 11.0pt;">3<sup>rd</sup> They Dance to “Fly Me to the Moon” (Millie
Tullis)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 1.0in;">
<span style="font-family: "garamond"; font-size: 11.0pt;">Honorable Mentions:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 1.0in;">
<span style="font-family: "garamond"; font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Little
Birds in Love (Shirley Manning)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 1.0in;">
<span style="font-family: "garamond"; font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Beyond
Icarus (Shirley Manning)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 1.0in;">
<span style="font-family: "garamond"; font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Optimist
Prime (Isaac Timm)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "garamond"; font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">12.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "garamond"; font-size: 11.0pt;">Light verse:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 1.0in;">
<span style="font-family: "garamond"; font-size: 11.0pt;">1<sup>st</sup> Engaged or Not (Grace Jessen)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 1.0in;">
<span style="font-family: "garamond"; font-size: 11.0pt;">2<sup>nd</sup> Only in the Ditches (Lorraine Jeffery)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 1.0in;">
<span style="font-family: "garamond"; font-size: 11.0pt;">3<sup>rd</sup> Homonymium (Jef Huntsman)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 1.0in;">
<span style="font-family: "garamond"; font-size: 11.0pt;">Honorable Mentions:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 1.0in;">
<span style="font-family: "garamond"; font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Unlocked
(John Olsen)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 1.0in;">
<span style="font-family: "garamond"; font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Computer
Drain (Robyn Buttars)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 1.0in;">
<span style="font-family: "garamond"; font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>An Echo
(Trish Hopkinson) <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "garamond"; font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">13.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "garamond"; font-size: 11.0pt;">Humor:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 1.0in;">
<span style="font-family: "garamond"; font-size: 11.0pt;">1<sup>st</sup> For Thumb’s Sake (Marie Tollstrup)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 1.0in;">
<span style="font-family: "garamond"; font-size: 11.0pt;">2<sup>nd</sup> Bray (Joshua Sorensen) <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 1.0in;">
<span style="font-family: "garamond"; font-size: 11.0pt;">3<sup>rd</sup> Click (Lori McDonald)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 1.0in;">
<span style="font-family: "garamond"; font-size: 11.0pt;">Honorable Mentions: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 1.0in;">
<span style="font-family: "garamond"; font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Sweetie
(Millie Tullis)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 1.0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "garamond"; font-size: 11.0pt;">Ode to Sills (Marie Tollstrup)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 1.0in;">
<span style="font-family: "garamond"; font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Growling
Toilet (Jef Huntsman)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 1.0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "garamond"; font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">14.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "garamond"; font-size: 11.0pt;">Word play poetry:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 1.0in;">
<span style="font-family: "garamond"; font-size: 11.0pt;">1<sup>st</sup> The Octopus (Denis Feehan)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 1.0in;">
<span style="font-family: "garamond"; font-size: 11.0pt;">2<sup>nd</sup> The Naked Me (Amanda Luzzader)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 1.0in;">
<span style="font-family: "garamond"; font-size: 11.0pt;">3<sup>rd</sup> Grand Canyon Canopy (Marie Tollstrup)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 1.0in;">
<span style="font-family: "garamond"; font-size: 11.0pt;">Honorable Mentions:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 1.0in;">
<span style="font-family: "garamond"; font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Facing
Despair (Jeremy Gohier)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 1.0in;">
<span style="font-family: "garamond"; font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Mollusk
II (Trish Hopkinson)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 1.0in;">
<span style="font-family: "garamond"; font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Embraceable
Me (Marilyn Richardson)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 1.0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "garamond"; font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">15.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "garamond"; font-size: 11.0pt;">Encore poetry:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 1.0in;">
<span style="font-family: "garamond"; font-size: 11.0pt;">1<sup>st</sup> Unsuspecting (Robyn Buttars)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 1.0in;">
<span style="font-family: "garamond"; font-size: 11.0pt;">2<sup>nd</sup> Hard Saddle on a Cold Day (Jeffery
Bateman)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 1.0in;">
<span style="font-family: "garamond"; font-size: 11.0pt;">3<sup>rd</sup> Message from a Crow (Shirley Manning)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 1.0in;">
<span style="font-family: "garamond"; font-size: 11.0pt;">Honorable Mentions:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 1.0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "garamond"; font-size: 11.0pt;">Embers (Marie Tollstrup)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 1.0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "garamond"; font-size: 11.0pt;">White Peaches (Irene Hastings)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 1.0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "garamond"; font-size: 11.0pt;">Raccoon Shuffle (Marie Tollstrup)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" QFormat="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" QFormat="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="41" Name="Plain Table 1"/>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="43" Name="Plain Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="44" Name="Plain Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="45" Name="Plain Table 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="40" Name="Grid Table Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46" Name="Grid Table 1 Light"/>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51" Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52" Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
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Chris Todd Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12368447190407755035noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6729048750302368435.post-29362286984915487032016-01-17T22:34:00.000-07:002016-01-17T22:34:23.322-07:00One Bit of AdviceThis weekend I had the pleasure of attending a panel put on as part of the <a href="http://www.calliopewritingcoach.com/" target="_blank">Calliope Writing Course</a>.<br />
<br />
This is a no-holds-barred bare-knuckle writing course, put on by best-selling author Angie Fenimore and her husband <a href="http://www.dandelionplatformdesign.com/#home" target="_blank">Michael Sheen</a>, that will strip away everything that's holding you back as a writer.<br />
<br />
<br />
I attended a panel that they put on. After almost an hour of instruction from the panel, Michael ended it with this:<br />
<br />
If you were to give one piece of advice . . . to these young budding writers, what would it be?<br />
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TJ Da Roza (editorial director for <a href="http://www.jollyfishpress.com/" target="_blank">Jolly Fish Press</a>) - Just write.<br />
<br />
Lisa Mangum (acquisitions editor at <a href="http://www.shadowmountain.com/" target="_blank">Shadow Mountain Press</a>) - This is the advice that I alway share from my good friend Rick Walton . . . quit. But if you can't, do the work.<br />
<br />
Christopher Loke (executive editor and publisher for <a href="http://www.jollyfishpress.com/" target="_blank">Jolly Fish Press</a>) - Always be willing and ready to accept that your writing sucks. Once you acknowledge that, then you can improve.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://cani-jo.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Candace Thomas </a>(young adult fantasy author) - Don't keep rewriting the first three chapters over and over again. Please just finish the book, because if you don't know how it ends, you don't know how to fix the problems. Just keep going. I know you want to re-write, but just keep going until you know the ending.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.johnnyworthen.com/" target="_blank">Johnny Worthen</a> (author extraordinaire and tie-dye enthusiast) - 1) Finish what you start. 2) You can fix anything but a blank page. 3) Write your first draft as fast as you humanly can.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.bridgetinspires.com/" target="_blank">Bridget Cook-Burch</a> (NY Times Bestselling author and Transformational Speaker) - Yes, you may suck as a writer, but you were meant to shine.<br />
<br />
Heather Rubert (acquisitions editor at <a href="http://www.futurehousepublishing.com/" target="_blank">Future House Publishing</a>) - I'm going to encourage you all to commit blasphemy, write in books . . . if you like something mark it. Pick it apart and see how it works.<br />
<br />
This list is what we call a teaser. In the coming weeks, I'll add my own thoughts to each of these. Stay tuned!<br />
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<br />Chris Todd Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12368447190407755035noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6729048750302368435.post-30065167036054041122015-05-13T21:33:00.000-06:002015-05-13T21:35:04.853-06:00The Finger Trap: A Tony Flaner Mystery<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKxYDVAWv6tfYDaz1YOSnx72vyG94hAnIeCGlEOmGhMekJ-IXHsmGLmCOzY8VIDw8TsBbJWjAZ25rRW6kXZYQivsgeBSiwvYgPluKfJKb0ffcn5OYj8f20o1wAb1HD7r2O9FmSEiSo4lBU/s1600/TFTCover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKxYDVAWv6tfYDaz1YOSnx72vyG94hAnIeCGlEOmGhMekJ-IXHsmGLmCOzY8VIDw8TsBbJWjAZ25rRW6kXZYQivsgeBSiwvYgPluKfJKb0ffcn5OYj8f20o1wAb1HD7r2O9FmSEiSo4lBU/s640/TFTCover.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I'm please to offer a sneak preview of one of my favorite people and authors, <a href="http://johnnyworthen.com/index.html" target="_blank">MR. JOHNNY WORTHEN!</a> <insert applause="" uproarious=""></insert></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Johnny's got a new book coming out and you can <a href="http://tinyurl.com/nka8rtp" target="_blank">pre-order it here</a>.</span><br />
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<img align="middle" src="http://johnnyworthen.com/images/FingerTrap.jpg" height="156" hspace="120" width="400" /></div>
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<em><br /></em></div>
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<em>When the only way out is deeper in, even slackers get ambitious.</em></div>
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<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">
Tony Flaner is a malingering part-time comedian, full-time sarcastic, who’s never had it hard, and never finished a thing in his life. He’s had twelve years to prepare for his divorce and didn’t. He had his entire life to choose a career and hasn’t. Now time’s up, and he’s in a world of trouble. But it gets worse. A first date and a drunken party ends with Tony facing prison for the murder of a girl he hardly knew.<br />
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Other than that, it was a pretty great party.</div>
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To save himself, wise-cracking Tony must discover who the mysterious girl was, what she was involved in, and what the hell she saw in him in the first place. Their lives are linked together at the ends of a Chinese finger trap, like life and death, friends and enemies, arugula quiche and pigs knuckles.</div>
<blockquote style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">
<strong>THE FINGER TRAP</strong><br />
<strong>Genre</strong>: Detective Mystery/Comedy<br />
<strong>Words</strong>: 135,000<br />
<strong>Status</strong>: Coming November 10, 2015 from <a href="http://www.jollyfishpress.com/" style="text-decoration: none;">Jolly Fish Press</a>.</blockquote>
Chris Todd Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12368447190407755035noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6729048750302368435.post-29889599081962541592014-11-19T22:38:00.001-07:002014-11-19T22:39:26.245-07:00Family Talk: How to Organize Family Meetings to Solve Problems and Strengthen Relationships<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_FG7qU6Xy_D2_ps8Isdz0mYKqnhnDEJHkVRAx-Tu1EWAVZMZxBC9lWYI2NE_tapc-DYJwKZLuTJSaDmun9itWz4pHSCVPngV0uoq4Z-LpIyhKUAERL1rNyvVKWDiQ0W3mWdoo2XnZiToB/s1600/Family+Talk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_FG7qU6Xy_D2_ps8Isdz0mYKqnhnDEJHkVRAx-Tu1EWAVZMZxBC9lWYI2NE_tapc-DYJwKZLuTJSaDmun9itWz4pHSCVPngV0uoq4Z-LpIyhKUAERL1rNyvVKWDiQ0W3mWdoo2XnZiToB/s1600/Family+Talk.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I'm happy to introduce you to a great new book, a manual of sorts. Family Talk is a practical guide to having real conversations with family members, primarily through organized family meetings. Christy's book is packed with real life experiences addressing real life problems, drawing on her own family and forty years of practice as a Family Therapist. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In fact, Familius editor, Christopher Robbins, came to her and asked her to write this book. Christy says: </span><br />
<i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></i>
<i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"At first
I felt a little overwhelmed by the task, but as I got into it, I had a
wonderful time remembering all the funny things, the problems, and challenges our
family and other's in my counseling practice faced as they raised their
children. I could feel something greater than myself helping me write this
book. So, as I got into the manuscript, I began to have a great time. It is one
of the most fun writing projects I've done in a long time."</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></i>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Nobody teaches you how raise children, it's primarily on the job training and by the time you've got it kind of figured out, your kids are mostly grown. This is a nonfiction book about
strengthening family relationships and increasing the love in your family. I've read it and I love it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzTHOLemMR_vuNzEogRX74_OzlhDfRUcvhLYzMXCwaXeBdwMmx3IygX5I_EVQG3mWHnpPgFPg_0kh7wnMyN9rE8NsqarhX4uwADW0RiS6g_UL5FrjJlHriZ0EY3XmAznqJ4DdypUKTCtyD/s1600/Family+talk+pic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzTHOLemMR_vuNzEogRX74_OzlhDfRUcvhLYzMXCwaXeBdwMmx3IygX5I_EVQG3mWHnpPgFPg_0kh7wnMyN9rE8NsqarhX4uwADW0RiS6g_UL5FrjJlHriZ0EY3XmAznqJ4DdypUKTCtyD/s1600/Family+talk+pic.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Praise
for <i>Family Talk</i><o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></i></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><span style="color: #222222;">The Family Council
Guidebook</span></i><span style="color: #222222;"> is a vital and
necessary addition to every home. In this day and age when emails, chat rooms,
and staring at computer screens are rapidly replacing real-time human
interaction, what better corrective could there be than a guidebook to how to
talk with one another in meaningful, productive and healing ways. Christy
Monson knows what she is talking about. It is a great blessing that she is
sharing it with all of us.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">—Ben Bernstein,
PhD, Author of <i>Test Success!</i> and <i>A Teen's Guide
to Success</i><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222;"><i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Check out the great reviews already coming in on Amazon!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Links to buy Family Talk:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Family-Talk-Organize-Strengthen-Relationships/dp/193830179X/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1412041743&sr=1-1&keywords=Family+Talk+How+to+organize+family+meetings+to+Solve+Problems" target="_blank">Buy on Amazon</a><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.familius.com/family-talk" target="_blank">Buy at Familius</a><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.christymonson.com/familytalk.htm" target="_blank">Buy the book on her website</a><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /> </span>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>About the Author:</b> Christy Monson established a successful counseling practice
in Las Vegas, Nevada, as a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. Her books, <i>Love, Hugs, and Hope: When</i> Scary <i>Things Happen</i> and <i>Becoming Free: A Woman's Guide To Internal Strength</i> are published
by Familius. </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<o:p></o:p>Chris Todd Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12368447190407755035noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6729048750302368435.post-58177399095936033012014-08-31T19:03:00.000-06:002017-03-23T22:10:42.427-06:0010 Books That Left a Lasting Impression<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir2LSB4hx8e9L7zhNVaoGWicboXjJQFKTvNCNgBML3UV1qU-4A8WZWeA51TDoTbaj6i0jqSE0YcgJVqWEEVeUpbCbS4sg1QAY2WtQXko1XwwhyZN5B2jz4mkF20x2GlbcXUJVxdLJgZC7c/s1600/Book+Magic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir2LSB4hx8e9L7zhNVaoGWicboXjJQFKTvNCNgBML3UV1qU-4A8WZWeA51TDoTbaj6i0jqSE0YcgJVqWEEVeUpbCbS4sg1QAY2WtQXko1XwwhyZN5B2jz4mkF20x2GlbcXUJVxdLJgZC7c/s1600/Book+Magic.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Recently a friend tagged
me with one of those Facebook challenges.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">10 books that have touched me or changed my life in some way.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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Anyone who loves books can’t possibly be expected to name only ten books
that are particularly significant to them. Most of us who’ve done this
challenge tend to list the ones that first come to mind. Given some time, we
could come up with many more. The fact that these particular ones came to mind
first though is also telling. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I tagged a couple of
author friends who I greatly admire because I wanted to know the books that
they found significant, the books that helped mold them into who they are (<a href="http://www.josiskilpack.com/" target="_blank">Josi Kilpack</a> and <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1425239.Luisa_M_Perkins" target="_blank">Luisa Perkins</a>). What a great way to peek into someone’s make-up and
find some new books!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">After I made my list, I
really wanted to add why all of these books are significant to me, but that’s
too much for a FB post. Predicaments such as this are why I have a blog. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br />
<span style="background: white;">My books (not in any particular order)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background: white;">1. To Kill a Mockingbird - Harper Lee</span></span></div>
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<span style="background: white;"><o:p><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimiLRGgb8fX84cdroDoEPZc1TVE_T5XfxyhyBMHSddRQDbwFHFTUC-UrFizPTeXRzB0yoqy538QQjQkgMClft3FlOYlgwGQY5TuJGVPMN5kBtdbdfcQwSDwo-6Im1mMm4Qm_R7cBTttfYp/s1600/TKAM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimiLRGgb8fX84cdroDoEPZc1TVE_T5XfxyhyBMHSddRQDbwFHFTUC-UrFizPTeXRzB0yoqy538QQjQkgMClft3FlOYlgwGQY5TuJGVPMN5kBtdbdfcQwSDwo-6Im1mMm4Qm_R7cBTttfYp/s1600/TKAM.jpg" width="125" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">When
I was in the 8th grade, my junior high was still doing those classroom book
order forms. I’d heard of the book To Kill a Mockingbird, but I didn’t know
anything about it. I just knew it was considered a classic and it had an
intriguing title, so I ordered it. My copy had the yellow cover with red block lettering. It was a seminal moment for me because it was the
first (what I considered) adult book I voluntarily read and it was the first time I realized a book
could be about more than one thing. Yes, it’s about the trial, but it’s about
so much more.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br />
<span style="background: white;">2. The Fault in Our Stars - John Green<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7EufpaqG9dbhM7Mrybyx6Mf0ezMvfeNL4pOLGUam0iN4fOYM80Yxndc3HyWRAiTmJx__vGuLmk9qTJiUw2qsV79mNtECfqxeEqj3YY8hWId8HFCtkRCEAwJWjdEKkCDzh5ydWOz16Ql0f/s1600/tfios1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7EufpaqG9dbhM7Mrybyx6Mf0ezMvfeNL4pOLGUam0iN4fOYM80Yxndc3HyWRAiTmJx__vGuLmk9qTJiUw2qsV79mNtECfqxeEqj3YY8hWId8HFCtkRCEAwJWjdEKkCDzh5ydWOz16Ql0f/s1600/tfios1.jpg" width="133" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I’m
not a big YA reader, but if one catches my attention, I’ll give it a shot. A lot
of my friends who are YA enthusiasts had talked about this one, and to be
honest, the cover and title were intriguing, so I tried it. Okay, confession
time, I’m a sucker for quirky romances. For Love of the Game is one of my
favorite movies, because it’s a love story disguised as a baseball movie. A
book doesn’t have to have a happy ending for me to love it. All it has to do <gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="eeabeee7-6319-44c7-96bb-c0c9f29242de" id="2c9933e3-6bba-4b89-ae64-007d82f23773">is
move</gs> me in some way, and this one does just that.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background: white;">3. Ender's Game - Orson Scott Card<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgavL_el2swEG051M8ar2qQFrDfmOptS15d2yQ_MvA3NbyPtSpHr2tdjyKwHY6_umVdGv_A34Dj1x7ZVkcdgsiSXA7v5kzqtqZUbJ8LckRd9zqd-7kMZBehxIWpZBxrPQFbYCyyOqgI6Gfl/s1600/EndersGamecover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgavL_el2swEG051M8ar2qQFrDfmOptS15d2yQ_MvA3NbyPtSpHr2tdjyKwHY6_umVdGv_A34Dj1x7ZVkcdgsiSXA7v5kzqtqZUbJ8LckRd9zqd-7kMZBehxIWpZBxrPQFbYCyyOqgI6Gfl/s1600/EndersGamecover.jpg" width="131" /></a><span style="background: white;"><o:p><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Growing
up, I never read SciFi or Fantasy. I read plenty, but those genres didn’t
interest me. As an adult, I finally read Ender’s Game, based on the
recommendation of my wife. I’m now a freelance editor working primarily in
SciFi and Fantasy. Ender’s Game was a gateway novel for me (followed immediately
by Enchantment, also OSC).<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background: white;">4. Mistborn: The Final Empire - Brandon Sanderson<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Had
I never read Ender’s Game, I would have never read the Mistborn series. I love the magic
system, it’s so unique and creates scenes that I’ve yet to see equaled. The MC,
Vin, is a strong, smart, sassy girl who grows into an amazing woman. I really
connected with her. One of my reservations about reading Fantasy was the sheer
amount of pages. How could someone create and then maintain a compelling story
over eight hundred pages (in just one book)? Brandon showed me how. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilVCH3Mzl78pw46G3f27ntg8FFTj-ZlY2AJZ9jrYNJ2ZfJntmtbu1RTToPuM3DTsPAW5gY7qxRv_AYWR94B8KwdY6WlJIafmw9_JCAMsuvSzg-veqDezg1UnTOkVKVpH7INHCh8fSnU1g3/s1600/Mistborn+Covers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilVCH3Mzl78pw46G3f27ntg8FFTj-ZlY2AJZ9jrYNJ2ZfJntmtbu1RTToPuM3DTsPAW5gY7qxRv_AYWR94B8KwdY6WlJIafmw9_JCAMsuvSzg-veqDezg1UnTOkVKVpH7INHCh8fSnU1g3/s1600/Mistborn+Covers.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="background: white;">5. Wild Seed - Octavia Butler<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-IOXl8g61LL5ofkVqn-BHFiQtXi_W0NSqKsF1OVf-2IRYFw9SXbr00KofYUtejnbLsbIssxsI61xWsN9yMeFY5o9FUsMdWYUO3yUZvG3qQzUqxGj3tfZ1T0HqdSKCgqTR7OIo-MkXHN09/s1600/WildSeed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-IOXl8g61LL5ofkVqn-BHFiQtXi_W0NSqKsF1OVf-2IRYFw9SXbr00KofYUtejnbLsbIssxsI61xWsN9yMeFY5o9FUsMdWYUO3yUZvG3qQzUqxGj3tfZ1T0HqdSKCgqTR7OIo-MkXHN09/s1600/WildSeed.jpg" width="128" /></a><span style="background: white;"><o:p><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="background: white;">Octavia
Butler is unique among writers. She is one of the few African-American female
science fiction writers. Another story of a unique female main character, both
Octavia and the MC, </span><span style="background: white;">Anyanwu</span><span style="background: white;">. I love
her defiance to Doro and her commitment to family. I love her spirit across
different lands and times. I love her devotion to family, and I love the
fantasy magic elements: Doro’s ability to posses other bodies. <gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="8bf8c938-55dd-4d19-9553-250b4b78e0d1" id="bdbe6efe-6139-461a-a664-7df62f2cfa43">Anyanwu’s</gs> shape-shifting
and healing abilities. The book gives a fascinating look into colonial life and
plantation slavery, examining themes of control, freedom, family, and hope.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br />6. The Time Traveler's Wife - Audrey Niffenegger<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkhg5xitfiC_qinMZfDRKY5t3AWOo7qMLvc5PzWPKUHrLdUIHbb605mV6I5oX8Izg-2sBrzylD14mzTld5XEqi9ZbwiZm2JwhOiqICAjYiIITdHuYjVJ6NbjCBJmL20L5Q8MIOxuuud63b/s1600/TTW.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkhg5xitfiC_qinMZfDRKY5t3AWOo7qMLvc5PzWPKUHrLdUIHbb605mV6I5oX8Izg-2sBrzylD14mzTld5XEqi9ZbwiZm2JwhOiqICAjYiIITdHuYjVJ6NbjCBJmL20L5Q8MIOxuuud63b/s1600/TTW.jpg" width="134" /></a><span style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Because
Henry can be yanked out of any moment and thrust into any other moment in time, the book is
written in a similar construct. It is not sequential. It’s unlike any other
novel I’ve ever read and it works. And it’s a <gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="f74bffa2-f883-40f3-82ee-f1f7e18ef234" id="e37ca999-4570-4982-b43c-ef3e7ee14ede">deep passionate</gs> quirky love
story. The main characters are faced with an <gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="10263068-2fbf-420f-92c7-6ac7472dcf0a" id="4ebc44ef-96c2-4dbf-8363-2dc317dcd0d8">existence none</gs> of us could
possibly experience, but it also says, if they could do it, so can we. On a
side note, it also has one of my favorite movie scores. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br />7. A Million Miles in a Thousand Years - Donald Miller<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSb-edSFK5ISU4cMwtrUfthvJL936Xnh6tkCfwzB1iz6nLp9o-jVmWRi99MU-F4VIdZS0QpCQjNjgEMALuCZoVfi1xEU7Su15Kqr6UOTcAgtg4hr45zrCBqIp7xdIPo6Jg59QQgGGSOeZH/s1600/Million+Miles.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSb-edSFK5ISU4cMwtrUfthvJL936Xnh6tkCfwzB1iz6nLp9o-jVmWRi99MU-F4VIdZS0QpCQjNjgEMALuCZoVfi1xEU7Su15Kqr6UOTcAgtg4hr45zrCBqIp7xdIPo6Jg59QQgGGSOeZH/s1600/Million+Miles.jpg" width="131" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">This
one is non-fiction. It espouses the idea that we need conflict in our lives,
that we are the main character of our own life. We seek out conflict in our
entertainment—it’s at the core of our favorite movies and books, but in our own
world we try to avoid it and bemoan our state when confronted with it. Donald
Miller says, hey, conflict makes for a great story and a great life. Every
great story has conflict, struggle, and triumph. God is the author and we are
the characters, and he has written a story for each of us. Every book has
difficult scenes, but those aren’t the entire story, just a few chapters. Our
story can be so much greater and fulfilling if we trust in His story-making
abilities. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixcDKQu2gWlHLgYJhBbFf0nT0Pf8jM5a1M0XilrXihTpDdzBWKW4lG5h_IKRe04gdpWsi4vljrkG4RpOCTJDtfKZhw8C83dUTOsx_QWQ1yva53KxM5o4sF83ykGRSd6ADfB9oYrvVvvArw/s1600/Blood+Bound.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixcDKQu2gWlHLgYJhBbFf0nT0Pf8jM5a1M0XilrXihTpDdzBWKW4lG5h_IKRe04gdpWsi4vljrkG4RpOCTJDtfKZhw8C83dUTOsx_QWQ1yva53KxM5o4sF83ykGRSd6ADfB9oYrvVvvArw/s1600/Blood+Bound.jpg" width="125" /></a><span style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br />8. Blood Bound - Rachel Vincent<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">This
is a three book series. I love each of them, but Blood Bound is the first book.
It is Urban Fantasy and has a very cool magic system that exists in our
world—not a far off fantasy world, but right here on Earth in our modern time. The plot is deliciously <gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="9d929f5e-5492-4097-a33a-f4a003e939ba" id="dbe06cf0-faaf-47e2-89b6-43461f28364b">complicated but</gs> not confusing. An ongoing theme is free will and how we are figuratively and literally bound
by our choices. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br />9. The Gingerbread Girl - Stephen King<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcBLQbL-XTxZrXs5a4Fnzi8RC1k1Gu9ruWRD7qSAGDPhQ4-1DT_3Dhx2dZPzsu4CF0wOaw6IvK_1UzfDfI5qGD1gxtWQCi-hrKcE2D6cSq1Mml6CI1N88n58l3afmS5zpmNeCoW0lT_pBn/s1600/Gingerbreadgirl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcBLQbL-XTxZrXs5a4Fnzi8RC1k1Gu9ruWRD7qSAGDPhQ4-1DT_3Dhx2dZPzsu4CF0wOaw6IvK_1UzfDfI5qGD1gxtWQCi-hrKcE2D6cSq1Mml6CI1N88n58l3afmS5zpmNeCoW0lT_pBn/s1600/Gingerbreadgirl.jpg" width="156" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It
wasn’t until I read On Writing by Stephen King that I realized he isn’t just a
horror writer. He is a writer—period. Many people don’t realize the scope of
his work, until you mention The Shawshank Redemption or The Green Mile and they
tell you how much they love those movies. The Gingerbread Girl is from one of
his anthologies. I have it on <gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="96dbf060-b1bb-4284-afbd-de6436140822" id="daabfdb4-676a-44f8-aeb9-e7c830d5d891">Kindle</gs> and audio and I’ve listened to it probably
half a dozen times. The characters are so strong, but especially the voice of
the main character and how she sees the world, how she deals with her grief,
and comes to accept it. Stephen King deftly weaves backstory and flashback into
a novella without distracting the reader or affecting the pace.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGVDR8Ra6-vEuHNxQWHpdJu09MnB3j8RiDhFAsZ6lbHD_QbYvSt0gMhMSum7q8uUvCZsyxvRd4Rmw7bpr4wcbfZ2pL3YUt12_G1VDsxAfCBMwA84QSnCbE0PZF0OPAOUgMJi2BFIPf9NYE/s1600/Suspect.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGVDR8Ra6-vEuHNxQWHpdJu09MnB3j8RiDhFAsZ6lbHD_QbYvSt0gMhMSum7q8uUvCZsyxvRd4Rmw7bpr4wcbfZ2pL3YUt12_G1VDsxAfCBMwA84QSnCbE0PZF0OPAOUgMJi2BFIPf9NYE/s1600/Suspect.jpg" width="131" /></a><span style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="background: white;">10. Suspect - Robert Crais<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="background: white;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Opening scene. A squad of Marines in the Middle East. Part of their squadron is a German Shepard. The scene is told from the </span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">perspective of the dog. It’s amazing.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="background: white;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="background: white;"><o:p><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="background: white;"><o:p><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="background: white;"><o:p><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="background: white;"><o:p><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="background: white;"><o:p><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I
had to add one more:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikgx6OKNipA1G7Hjf2wRLXYfKXmJg3-hUXExsp_3DjcNBBsD2Dze9EbT7l9My6pTtKdG7ILoYmnWf7john68_bbRp29M3myWupBaxgEtv6erO90oclY70a4mt87qc_uXKmgrTp5FP77DJl/s1600/drawingdragons.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikgx6OKNipA1G7Hjf2wRLXYfKXmJg3-hUXExsp_3DjcNBBsD2Dze9EbT7l9My6pTtKdG7ILoYmnWf7john68_bbRp29M3myWupBaxgEtv6erO90oclY70a4mt87qc_uXKmgrTp5FP77DJl/s1600/drawingdragons.jpg" width="150" /></a><span style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br />
11. Drawing Out the Dragons - James Artimus Owen<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">This
is also non-fiction. It’s essentially a memoir and there are two things that
stand out for me: a) never give up what you want most for what you want most at
the moment and, as an extension of that idea, b) never give up, not even when
things are so bad that no one would blame you if you walked away. When I think
of what he endured and overcame to make his dream a reality and compare his
life to mine, I have no excuses. I have it on my phone so I can read it any
time I want or need to. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpPzbJ5hYVkpR_S8vypMeQidjVk1qMhbb8VzIhv-JGYIvnRNs8L0LqP3VhFPav5s5VV7ZlR3BVvbaRQvbm1eRqi2TVBqR4Fed-QiAlPvZlkG0UGP3SDdWdeCIBY_5NwBsiuYs5gRdoVF6m/s1600/the+shining.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpPzbJ5hYVkpR_S8vypMeQidjVk1qMhbb8VzIhv-JGYIvnRNs8L0LqP3VhFPav5s5VV7ZlR3BVvbaRQvbm1eRqi2TVBqR4Fed-QiAlPvZlkG0UGP3SDdWdeCIBY_5NwBsiuYs5gRdoVF6m/s1600/the+shining.jpg" width="121" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Honorable Mention: </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The Shining - Stephen King</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The first book that actually scared me while reading it. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">So
there you go. That’s my initial list. Any of these resonate with you? What are
some of your <gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="5a90b260-88b3-4df9-9bce-a1f8a9184083" id="47207eaf-50d7-46d0-b5df-615125fe1186">favs</gs> and why?</span><span style="color: #37404e; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
Chris Todd Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12368447190407755035noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6729048750302368435.post-82171607360291809052014-07-17T00:30:00.000-06:002014-07-17T00:30:02.817-06:00The Practical Prepper by Kylene and Jonathan Jones <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Perhaps you've heard of the Doomsday Preppers on the National Geographic Channel? The folks who "are preparing for the end of the world . . . and are testing the limits of ingenuity as they develop extreme doomsday survival machines, high-tech shelters, and <a href="http://channel.nationalgeographic.com/channel/doomsday-preppers/" target="_blank">specialized escape routes</a>."
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Well, these guys ain't them. Kylene and Jonathan Jones have written a prepper's guide for the common man. I'm not going to dig a shelter in my back yard, arm it with booby traps, and have a cache of weapons in the forest. BUT, survival kit? Yeah, I could do that. Water storage? Don't look to FEMA. Superdome anyone? Emergency heating? Oh yeah, bad stuff can happen in the winter time too.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUtqOahyphenhyphenFGNP6NQ2J7KekIr5Be3CZnApalnkZVrhqjt1cCjDxjzVPm67UjS3FLFlJnxKUQIaN5jcDZ6J5sRS9XD5IWCY_bZQaYHqRaFfgFkdhF4qRhDfeJVl5_l0QEbfWFCwQ5ptcZZDbg/s1600/practical_prepper_cover_online.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUtqOahyphenhyphenFGNP6NQ2J7KekIr5Be3CZnApalnkZVrhqjt1cCjDxjzVPm67UjS3FLFlJnxKUQIaN5jcDZ6J5sRS9XD5IWCY_bZQaYHqRaFfgFkdhF4qRhDfeJVl5_l0QEbfWFCwQ5ptcZZDbg/s1600/practical_prepper_cover_online.jpg" height="400" width="266" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I give you:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="first-para" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.27199935913086px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><em style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b>The Practical Prepper: A Common-Sense Guide to Preparing for Emergencies</b> by</em> <i>Kylene and Jonathan Jones</i></span><br />
<i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></i>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><strong style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">Available on Kindle or paperback:</strong> 368 pages</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><strong style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">Genre:</strong> Nonfiction/Emergency Preparedness</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.27199935913086px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span></b></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">With all the information out there about emergency and disaster preparedness, you might feel overwhelmed. If you're thinking, "I wouldn't know where to start," well, you're in luck:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Practical Prepper: Chapter 1: Where Do I Begin?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The lines defining many traditional gender expectations are blurred and even transparent. My family and I pretty much make our own rules, but at the end of the day, if something were to happen and we had to live out of tent, I think my family would first look to me, the dad, and say, "Now what do we do?" Never would my instinct to provide for my family be stronger than in that moment.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I speak three languages but I'm not particularly fluent in this subject, which is why I was so pleased by this book. It's not a rote agenda of must have's and must do's (although I think you'd be wise to pay attention). Kylene and Jonathan take a practical approach to prepping. Whether you're just starting out and want to make a few changes or you've been-there-and-done-that, you'll find something in The Practical Prepper that you didn't know before (at least I did). The book starts with the basics and simple things you can do to start preparing yourself, then goes into greater detail about extended or severe events.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">They understand that not one method will fit everybody and so they've crafted their advice to be both general and specific. You can take what you need and apply it to your circumstance. If you need more, they've got sections that cite additional resources.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If we're honest with ourselves we'll admit that it's not a matter of if, but when and to what degree.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You don't need one of these:</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1E2tDlA-srdYQx33J4StSMfxRoxMdnP-AVyKxfTjlrZSiTuMCFUR4Ud8rgOBIufcQxUckzqOJAxIM_ZMt8jB_PICQAqozFnuVJSVYt-RQ94L4u7K-8BaFUcIWIGBC1edd85PGEaILiVeU/s1600/gas-mask.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1E2tDlA-srdYQx33J4StSMfxRoxMdnP-AVyKxfTjlrZSiTuMCFUR4Ud8rgOBIufcQxUckzqOJAxIM_ZMt8jB_PICQAqozFnuVJSVYt-RQ94L4u7K-8BaFUcIWIGBC1edd85PGEaILiVeU/s1600/gas-mask.jpg" height="216" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Just get the book!</span><br />
<br />
<div class="first-para" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.27199935913086px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">
<br /></div>
Chris Todd Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12368447190407755035noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6729048750302368435.post-23275713445367659702014-05-13T23:32:00.000-06:002014-05-20T11:14:19.743-06:00Mother's Day 2014: Never Count It Toil<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Mother’s Day Talk
2014<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Chris Todd Miller<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Last Sunday I was asked to speak in church on Mother's day. I don't often wear my faith on my sleeve, but after a couple of days, I thought, why not share it on my blog--that's kind of what blogs are for. Here you go:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">When Josh
called to “ask” me to speak in church, I figured it was some sort of karma
for missing the Stake Priesthood Leadership meeting. I was out of town at a
conference. Then he said it was for Mother’s day and it got me thinking, last
year we had the women speak, and that seems like the way to go to me. I don’t
know what it feels like to be a mother, particularly an LDS mother. I don’t know what it means to mothers to take
on that role. I gave it a lot of thought and this is what I came up with. It’s not
perfect, but maybe it’s in the ball park.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We don’t
have mothers speak on Mother’s day, because too often I think you forget how
the rest of us perceive you. And sometimes you might even begin to underestimate
and question yourselves and you need to be reminded how we see you. How we
cherish you.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The church group, Elevation Church, asked several moms to come in and do one
thing: Describe yourself as a mother.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I'm a perfectionist and so that's
hard with kids.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">There's definitely days when I
have my doubts about my abilities.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I struggle with my temper. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I wish I knew how to calm myself
before speaking to them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I wish I was better at just
taking time to sit down and listen more to my child.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I wish I was more confident in
being a mom.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Patience is far and away the
biggest struggle.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I want them to know just how much
I love them. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A couple of days later, the moms were asked to come back in,
sit down and see what their kids had to say about them, as a mother. In between
this time, they brought in the kids (2-6 grade) and asked them: What are your
favorite things about your mom? Tell us about your mom.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My mom is totally awesome.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">She's fun to snuggle with.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Pretty and funny.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">She does cook a lot of food for me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">She's just unique. That's why I
love her so much.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I have a lot of favorite things
about my mom. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We like to watch movies together
and color and stuff. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We go to church together and
volunteer together.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My favorite thing is to jump on a
trampoline with my mom. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">She's like my heart, I guess you
could say, because she's that close to me. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My mom is my hero.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">She will care about me and always
love me forever. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You can <a href="http://vimeo.com/66058153" target="_blank">see the video here</a>.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Take a moment to contrast those two lists.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Max
Brooks is an author who wrote a book that was well received. It’s called World
War Z. After the story ends, there’s one more page, the very last page of
the book. It has one sentence on it, right in the middle of the page—I love
you, mom. As kids grow up, our answers may get a little more articulate, but the
gist is the same.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We love you
for who you are. We love you for your sacrifices. We love you for mama bear
protective streak. We love you for wisdom, for your caring, for your
perspective.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">David O McKay<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“Motherhood is the greatest
potential influence either for good or ill in human life. The mother's image is
the first that stamps itself on the unwritten page of the young child's mind.
It is <i>her</i> caress that first awakens a
sense of security; her kiss, the first realization of affection; her sympathy
and tenderness, the first assurance that there is <i>love</i> in the world.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">( Gospel Ideals, [1953],
452.) <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">That was in in 1953. In 2004, <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">James E. Faust said: “There is no
greater good in all the world than motherhood. The influence of a mother in the
lives of her children is beyond calculation” (“Fathers, Mothers, Marriage,”
Liahona and Ensign, Aug. 2004, 3).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My
children’s mother has given them a wonderful gift. As you know, we have two
daughters and no matter how much I tell them and teach them, and guide them
about making their way in the world, I don’t have the perspective that my wife
has. Through her life, through her example, she is teaching them that anything
is possible. That preconceived notions are just notions not absolutes. That
their lives can be anything they want them to be. This is true for us all, but
a word of warning, you’d better hurry, because we only get one life here on
Earth and that’s not a lot of time. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">What if you
have sons? What then? What better perspective on how boys should treat girls,
men should treat women, than their own mothers.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Perhaps the
reason we respond so universally to our mothers’ love is because it typifies
<a href="https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2010/04/mother-told-me?lang=eng" target="_blank">the love of our Savior. </a>As President Joseph F. Smith said, “The love of a true
mother comes nearer [to] being like the love of God than any other kind of
love” (“The Love of Mother,” Improvement Era, Jan. 1910, 278).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Kate and I
both grew up in the South Davis area. Our parents still live in those homes.
When we got married we both tried really hard not to live in South Davis. But
after 10 years, we ended up buying the home we’re in now, two and a
half blocks from my parents. And it’s been great. So many blessings have come
from having grandparents so near. I’m not making any promises for the future,
but for now it’s good. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Let me close
with Joseph Smith. Joseph and Emma were married for 17 years. Joseph traveled
extensively for the Church and was often obliged to find safety among friends
to avoid angry mobs or numerous legal harassments. While he was away, Joseph
and Emma wrote consistently to one another. We are fortunate <a href="https://www.lds.org/ensign/2008/09/my-dear-and-beloved-companion-the-letters-of-joseph-and-emma-smith?lang=eng" target="_blank">to have some of those letters.</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Joseph
frequently wrote of his love and affection for Emma and his children. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">He wrote to Emma: “If
you want to know how much I want to see you, examine your feelings, how much
you want to see me. … I would gladly walk from here to you barefoot and
bareheaded … to see you and think it great pleasure, and never count it toil.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Sons,
daughters, and husbands, let us all follow the prophet’s lead and never count
it as toil. We are who we are because of our mothers.</span><o:p></o:p><br />
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Chris Todd Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12368447190407755035noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6729048750302368435.post-49063249497900364542014-03-09T23:01:00.001-06:002014-03-10T13:29:36.520-06:00Frozen: People See What They Want to See<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">and I see plot holes.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As the title of this website indicates, I will <i>confess</i> my thoughts on <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2294629/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1" target="_blank">Disney's Frozen</a>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I only saw the movie this weekend, taking my 13 year-old with me. She loves the movie (and we all love the soundtrack--it's on every iPod-like device we own). I suggested a daddy-daughter afternoon and thus found myself at the Megaplex, balancing a steam shovel of popcorn and a "large" sugar-water that would take more than a few big gulps to finish off. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I mentioned on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/author.christoddmiller/posts/10203633093450512?comment_id=8379018&offset=0&total_comments=5&notif_t=feed_comment" target="_blank">Facebook </a>that my daughter took offense when I mentioned that there were a few plot points that I did not agree with. As a writer, I tend to view movies through a different lens than most. Several of my writer friends (who suffer from the same affliction) wanted to know my thoughts. I understand that it is quite possible I was last person to see the movie, yet not wanting an unsuspecting movie-goer to stumble upon my examination and cry foul at my disregard for spoilers, I decided to voice them here.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If you are reading this and have not seen the movie, then proceed at your own peril *insert lawyer speak*.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Kristoff returns the near-frozen Anna to the castle.</b> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This is probably the only true plot hole, IMO. My other points are really more of preferences. Kristoff returns Anna and they are received at the gate. He turns her over to some people? not official guards or court representatives, staff perhaps, and they thank him and slam the door. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I cannot fathom any actual scenario short of small pox where those receiving the princess would not say, "Kind sir, oh thank the Heavens, you've returned our beloved Anna. Thank you. Please <b>COME IN</b> and warm yourself by the fire. Let me get you something warm to eat and drink." They then cast a blanket over his shoulders and bring him in to rest and recuperate. I know that the gates were alternately open to the public and closed. I don't remember which state they were at this point, although I believe Hans was still playing Prince Charming and letting the towns folk in and <i>caring for them</i> with warm broth and blankets. Regardless, when the beloved princess is returned to you, you don't treat her rescuer like a census taker.</span><br />
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<a href="http://img3.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20131212012410/disney/images/a/a5/Disney-frozen-kristoff-sven.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://img3.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20131212012410/disney/images/a/a5/Disney-frozen-kristoff-sven.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I also understand that they (writers, producers, whomever) needed to get Kristoff away from the castle so he and Sven could have their I'm-not-the-one discussion (and we could laugh at the clever non-speak animation of Sven, and I did laugh), Kristoff could see the freezing cloud form over the city and have the super-dramatic desperate dash to render what we think will be the act of true love that leads to the you-didn't-see-it-coming actual act of true love. Disney oh so cleverly played on our acceptance of Disney-esque tropes to execute a very satisfying plot twist. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">All of that hinged on Kristoff not being invited in, but it doesn't work for me. You've got to think of a different reason to get him away from the castle. </span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Anna and Elsa's upbringing.</span></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">After the parents decide to lock Elsa away for her own good (Really? What kind of parenting is that? A whole different blog post, I suppose.) am I really to believe that the sisters had no further contact? That Elsa became a shut in of sorts, never communicating with Anna other than through the keyhole? And limited not-so-sisterly communication at that? This is the bulk of their childhood? If that's the case, then I think they turned out surprisingly well adjusted, all things considered.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I get that they (again they) didn't have time to dwell on the childhood and needed to get to the main story. </span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The King and trolls?</span></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So, the king. The guy who rules the kingdom, the most powerful dude in the land, when faced with a crises readily and willing submits himself to a wise old mystical troll? Okay, I guess it's possible. In my experience it's not the sort of thing men of power readily do. If there'd been some sort of effort to previously justify this behavior then maybe . . . perhaps that was what the book written in runes was for. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Okay, it is a kid's movie with adult appeal, not Game of Thrones. We don't need to spend time dwelling on these minor characters. I'm really just nit-picking now. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Like I said, Kristoff at the gates is my only real beef. I can let the others slide. In fact, I can let that slide, too. None of these weak points were compelling enough to spoil my overall experience, and hey, ultimately, it's not my story. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I just have to let it go. Cue Adele Dazeem. </span><br />
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<br />Chris Todd Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12368447190407755035noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6729048750302368435.post-68860517798791490372014-01-24T10:06:00.002-07:002014-01-24T10:07:52.492-07:00Elana Johnson: Elevated<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It is my pleasure to host a new release by ELANA JOHNSON: ELEVATED</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI1PjnISI6TDaK7StGkaacZXjeRQ3fYWSWXnUj8COx1T3-ZI7b3WpMLEGHjQmf-Rt8Ucjc8OONSSEWtKqsIQTBG-j_bk0ADc3S4UTVnuYR7TL9REy92lTypVFE4gaUkZKoVnB1xB9npwbc/s1600/ELEVATED+final+cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI1PjnISI6TDaK7StGkaacZXjeRQ3fYWSWXnUj8COx1T3-ZI7b3WpMLEGHjQmf-Rt8Ucjc8OONSSEWtKqsIQTBG-j_bk0ADc3S4UTVnuYR7TL9REy92lTypVFE4gaUkZKoVnB1xB9npwbc/s1600/ELEVATED+final+cover.jpg" height="640" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>About ELEVATED:</b> The
last person seventeen-year-old Eleanor Livingston wants to see on the
elevator—let alone get stuck with—is her ex-boyfriend Travis, the guy she's
been avoiding for five months.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Plagued with the belief that when she speaks the truth, bad things happen, Elly
hasn’t told Trav anything. Not why she broke up with him and cut off all
contact. Not what happened the day her father returned from his deployment to
Afghanistan. And certainly not that she misses him and still thinks about him
everyday.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But with nowhere to hide and Travis so close it hurts, Elly’s worried she won’t
be able to contain her secrets for long. She’s terrified of finally revealing
the truth, because she can’t bear to watch a tragedy befall the boy she still
loves.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Buy Links:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Kobo: <a href="http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/elevated">http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/elevated</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">On Goodreads: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18947183-elevated">https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18947183-elevated</a>
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Praise for ELEVATED:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"ELEVATED will take you on an emotionally gripping
journey through the highs and lows of first love."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">~Carolee Dean, author of <i>Take Me There </i>and <i>Forget
Me Not</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"Poignant, raw, and intense, ELEVATED is a novel that
will grip your heart and linger in your mind long after you turn the last
page."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">~Stasia Ward Kehoe, author of <i>Audition</i> and </span><i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The
Sound of Letting Go</span><o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsZjDuooSir2EPyoTwzd4Ms19RatG_8FNYZpI7ZcHEX4TzJCAxaIe3ue1sTqjzies8XUDyFes_3fImCKniZugrT4xY5ab2CZauEC-gYn52uhFUS5asLP3EQuIF4PBKA0ZckhPyK4vNV9NQ/s1600/Elana+Johnson.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsZjDuooSir2EPyoTwzd4Ms19RatG_8FNYZpI7ZcHEX4TzJCAxaIe3ue1sTqjzies8XUDyFes_3fImCKniZugrT4xY5ab2CZauEC-gYn52uhFUS5asLP3EQuIF4PBKA0ZckhPyK4vNV9NQ/s1600/Elana+Johnson.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>About Elana Johnson:</b>
Elana Johnson’s work, including Possession, Surrender,
Abandon, and Regret, published by Simon Pulse (Simon & Schuster),
is available now everywhere books are sold. Her popular ebook, <i>From the Query to the Call</i>, is also
available for <a href="http://www.docstoc.com/docs/123185124/From-the-Query-to-the-Call-by-Elana-Johnson" target="_blank"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">download</span></a>, as well as a <i>Possession</i> short
story, <a href="https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/106783" target="_blank"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Resist</span></a>. School teacher by day, Query Ninja by night, you
can find her online at her <a href="http://elanajohnson.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">personal blog</span></a> or <a href="http://twitter.com/elanaj/" target="_blank"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Twitter</span></a>. She also co-founded the <a href="http://querytracker.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Query Tracker
blog</span></a>, and contributes to the <a href="http://leaguewriters.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">League of
Extraordinary Writers</span></a>.</span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Social Media Links:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Website/blog: <a href="http://elanajohnson.blogspot.com/">http://elanajohnson.blogspot.com/</a>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/ElanaJ">https://twitter.com/ElanaJ</a>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Facebook: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/possessionthebook">https://www.facebook.com/possessionthebook</a>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Tumblr: <a href="http://elanajohnson.tumblr.com/">http://elanajohnson.tumblr.com/</a>
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Wattpad: <a href="http://www.wattpad.com/user/elanajohnson">http://www.wattpad.com/user/elanajohnson</a>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">League of Extraordinary Writers: <a href="http://leaguewriters.blogspot.com/">http://leaguewriters.blogspot.com/</a>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">WriteOnCon: <a href="http://writeoncon.com/">http://writeoncon.com/</a>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Elana on Goodreads: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4044383.Elana_Johnson">https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4044383.Elana_Johnson</a>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Rafflecopter Code:
Copy and paste this into the HTML side of your website/blog.</b> People can
enter to win $15 Paypal cash by helping to spread the word about ELEVATED. </span><span style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Chris Todd Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12368447190407755035noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6729048750302368435.post-72189814086167296392013-10-19T14:23:00.000-06:002017-03-23T22:29:25.218-06:00Not Like My Good Neighbors: How This State Farm Ad Aligns with Rape Culture<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Something's been bothering me for <gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="8114e112-d55c-47d8-89b4-ec26368dc6d5" id="d998d4ad-e199-4d73-872f-33b25a08ea8f"><gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="8114e112-d55c-47d8-89b4-ec26368dc6d5" id="d998d4ad-e199-4d73-872f-33b25a08ea8f"><gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="da017cc8-8b97-477d-b4c5-5d6f868ddb5f" id="f7bf5715-7497-4a59-96e7-0c07f0fa5ff8"><gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="da017cc8-8b97-477d-b4c5-5d6f868ddb5f" id="f7bf5715-7497-4a59-96e7-0c07f0fa5ff8"><gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="aa38728f-fc36-44f9-ba2f-a0e37a1c43d8" id="7a74193c-6fc6-4e44-992b-20809a74b466"><gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="aa38728f-fc36-44f9-ba2f-a0e37a1c43d8" id="7a74193c-6fc6-4e44-992b-20809a74b466"><gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="68a039e4-71eb-44a1-b57e-6f75d9ab3e73" id="ce2b5699-41ad-414c-8113-47894a78b0e4"><gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="5ea5682d-2e04-44ae-ba15-40a16867207f" id="5dd3fa12-c2dc-4c98-abb0-eeb39cc780a9"><gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="5ea5682d-2e04-44ae-ba15-40a16867207f" id="5dd3fa12-c2dc-4c98-abb0-eeb39cc780a9">awhile</gs></gs></gs></gs></gs></gs></gs></gs></gs> now, and what's a blog for if not to air your thoughts?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">State Farm Insurance.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I hold no ill will toward the company as a whole. I also understand that marketing is in the business of selling, and it's a tough business. In fact, I like the Jake from State Farm commercial. It's funny and we don't take it seriously:</span><br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="270" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/foHqdleEuvc" width="480"></iframe>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Perhaps it fits my demographic.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This ad, the Girl From 4e, seems to be targeted at a different demographic and I do take it seriously.</span><br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="270" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/OB6r2Wi0E98" width="480"></iframe>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I can't blame State Farm for wanting to appeal to such a demographic, but I can question their judgment for how they market to men ages 18 - 25.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Why do I object to this commercial?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">1) There's the whole thing about referring to an adult woman as a girl. That conversation has been going on for decades. I don't think I need to say any more about it in this post.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">2) It caters to a sense of entitlement, specifically men entitled to women. Do we really think that the woman in 4e is happy about being summoned from her space at the whim of this guy? She does give a coquettish smile when she "appears," but I attribute that to the director.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">". . . State Farm is there. With a sandwich." Does this sound at all like, "Hey woman, go make me a sandwich."? (<gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="c2289595-f851-4d9d-ad7c-abbbeffa940e" id="4cf890fb-7acc-4212-8e10-db1808ea8af6">while</gs> I sit on the couch)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">3) Rape culture is based on the idea that men are entitled to do whatever they want with women and, to a somewhat lesser degree, women are compliant and even happy to participate.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">You might make the claim that Unilever is doing the exact same thing. Unilever owns both Dove and <gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="5f0f34c5-1d19-4a52-bc13-42f82231ae64" id="879b52f4-79a7-4263-80af-ad8d9ce633b5"><gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="bcb427ca-8a25-4971-bc9c-167e29a8f31b" id="6d7bb55e-534b-490f-8900-a82341aff0c4">Axe</gs></gs>. If you are familiar with their <gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="236ebc92-8a51-4b31-a20b-d4e53671af01" id="a169d013-5ea7-4cdc-b9e2-c9a411defc26"><gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="36ab748b-4a89-434a-a577-8034bb7c143b" id="fa77f055-015f-42cd-ad4e-d71009c15251">ad campaigns it</gs></gs> may seem dichotomous. Unilever wants to sell soap. To do so, they have to cater to the demographics, just like any business. Within the context of selling soap, they do a pretty good job, but does anybody over the age of thirteen actually believe bikini-clad women will become <gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="64044d6c-3852-4bc5-bb4a-78e04f9ecd86" id="a68c3a19-4f65-4c29-9795-a7014de03833"><gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="4a4c4a2f-fb85-414e-ae8e-f1a9490d7e63" id="5b39690d-dbe3-49c1-a46a-f6e44c9e22dd">entranced</gs></gs> and flock to you simply because of your body wash? It's <gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="14eb9e8b-9a06-48b2-8d08-1c2a6827dcf3" id="28b6ab0c-0cf5-401e-8fc5-c0a3c85dd44b"><gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="5d8f3d97-d3e4-4847-82dd-d7ea86976848" id="48d60b31-14e8-4d8a-8164-6f59407b231c">overt</gs></gs> and over-the-top.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">"The Girl in 4e" is <gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="5aa298cc-3bb1-4aac-b43b-0e1ce8e9ed3d" id="509090ae-7aa9-434b-aa10-1d28330f1e2d"><gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="0cfa252b-802f-484f-9d20-b16270485c19" id="f2ca33f0-489a-413b-9d5e-53c5dddf24ee">subvert</gs></gs> and subtle. It goes beyond selling insurance and instead promotes chauvinism and rape culture. Don't agree? Think I'm making mountains out of mole hills? I just need to chill out? Let's ask <a href="http://www.cleveland.com/steubenville-rape-case/index.ssf/2013/03/steubenville_rape_case_verdict_2.html" target="_blank">Steubenville </a>what they think.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">4) The agent. When the hot tub is introduced, with the implicit purpose that the "girl in 4e" would like nothing better than to strip down with these three men she doesn't even know (you'd think if they even had a passing acquaintance they'd at least use her name) and jump in, the agent gives a nod of approval and says, "Nice."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Filing the claim and fixing the window in a quick and efficient manner? That's selling insurance. The sandwich, the girl from 4e, and the hot tub? That's selling something else.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Again, subversive and subtle.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">To bring this full circle, my good neighbors are in fact <i>good </i>neighbors, raising conscientious families that don't align at all with this State Farm ad.</span><br />
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<br />Chris Todd Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12368447190407755035noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6729048750302368435.post-64119602415545804752013-09-26T21:43:00.000-06:002013-09-26T21:44:39.922-06:00Awakening: Book One of The Geis<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9dl3CkyGVGuKYQyjXgGq1IYebS0akKSP8PTgKFpzD8uxg6fhkIhEKnW82-Y2LQb0UbGpJF4teRXxv3_AWL_s17gAUeNoIm5hoUu_yding2iHZA5_16OOD-NlGM_YXH9V_43asT_ix6zw/s1600/Blog-Tour-banner.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="183" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9dl3CkyGVGuKYQyjXgGq1IYebS0akKSP8PTgKFpzD8uxg6fhkIhEKnW82-Y2LQb0UbGpJF4teRXxv3_AWL_s17gAUeNoIm5hoUu_yding2iHZA5_16OOD-NlGM_YXH9V_43asT_ix6zw/s640/Blog-Tour-banner.jpg" width="550" /></a></div>
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<b>About the Book</b><br />
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<i>. . . because some Celtic stories won’t be contained in myth.</i><br />
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<i>A little magic has always run in sixteen-year-old McKayla McCleery's family—at least that’s what she’s been told. McKayla’s eccentric Aunt Avril travels the world as a psychic for the FBI, and her mother can make amazing delicacies out of the most basic of ingredients. But McKayla doesn't think for a second that the magic is real—it’s just good storytelling. Besides, McKayla doesn’t need magic. She recently moved to beautiful Star Valley, Wyoming, and already she has a best friend, a solo in her upcoming ballet recital—and the gorgeous guy in her physics class keeps looking her way.</i><br />
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<i>When an unexpected fascination with Irish dance leads McKayla to seek instruction from the mute, crippled janitor at her high school, she learns that her family is not the only one with unexplained abilities.
After Aunt Avril comes to Star Valley in pursuit of a supernatural killer, people begin disappearing, and the lives of those McKayla holds most dear are threatened.</i><br />
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<i>When the janitor reveals that an ancient curse, known as a geis, has awakened deadly powers that defy explanation, McKayla is forced to come to terms with what is real and what is fantasy.
A thrilling debut novel based in Celtic mythology, Awakening is a gripping young adult fantasy rife with magic, romance, and mystery.</i><br />
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/isbn/1940427029" style="border: none;" target="_blank"><img alt="Awakening (The Geis, #1)" src="https://www.goodreads.com/images/atmb_add_book-70x25.png" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhz6FUWOshQSt6LXZRmOIH0vpPP-R_A9r9MUBKNgJCHiWLDaFM-AutrOIV7cLsMDwDMSsl4W9o9zPDQBus7HrV8qT6vIwZJQtm5-hKr7rage49sFQzORYHnjNWnP8dOufvdnhDNg913_M/s1600/AwakeningFrontCoverHighRes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhz6FUWOshQSt6LXZRmOIH0vpPP-R_A9r9MUBKNgJCHiWLDaFM-AutrOIV7cLsMDwDMSsl4W9o9zPDQBus7HrV8qT6vIwZJQtm5-hKr7rage49sFQzORYHnjNWnP8dOufvdnhDNg913_M/s320/AwakeningFrontCoverHighRes.jpg" width="210" /></a><b></b></div>
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<b><b>Praise for Awakening</b></b></div>
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"AWAKENING is a wonder and a delight. Christy Dorrity is a talent to watch."
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~David Farland, <i>New York Times</i> bestselling author of Nightingale<br />
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"I thoroughly enjoyed AWAKENING, a captivating and unique debut novel that creatively integrates Irish dance."<br />
~ CHRIS NAISH, Riverdance member and Creative Director of Fusion Fighters Irish dancers.
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdHYLvU61n-VRrN1nyS8S3SIJmF9ldQUTCBW5abSZteA2XOsnXGedZ3dadx3heaSal2zVPFRqnb-VeVWX0HIttMSOxHm3e1o8HQq0pZx9SWYusKisi_X6sQ7kl9dcC4WmwfQAGW5eZJm4/s1600/Christycolorfull.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdHYLvU61n-VRrN1nyS8S3SIJmF9ldQUTCBW5abSZteA2XOsnXGedZ3dadx3heaSal2zVPFRqnb-VeVWX0HIttMSOxHm3e1o8HQq0pZx9SWYusKisi_X6sQ7kl9dcC4WmwfQAGW5eZJm4/s320/Christycolorfull.jpg" width="237" /></a><b>About the Author</b><br />
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<span style="text-align: center;">Christy Dorrity lives in the mountains with her husband, five children, and a cocker spaniel. She grew up on a trout ranch in Star Valley, Wyoming, and is the author of The Geis series for young adults, and The Book Blogger’s Cookbooks. Christy is a champion Irish dancer and when she’s not reading or writing, she’s probably trying out a new recipe in the kitchen.</span></div>
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<b>Purchase Awakening by Christy Dorrity:</b></div>
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<a href="http://amzn.com/B00F996AGU"><img alt="Purchase Kindle Book" border="0" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7282/9795096723_5432a4d96d_o.png" title="Purchase at Amazon" /></a>
<a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/awakening-christy-dorrity/1116907467" target="_blank"><img alt="Purchase Nook Book" border="0" src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3790/9795049886_50c4ea3113_o.png" title="Purchase at Barnes & Noble" /></a> </div>
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<br />Chris Todd Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12368447190407755035noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6729048750302368435.post-37608598218570638712013-09-06T23:51:00.002-06:002013-09-07T23:42:06.823-06:00Love, Hugs, & Hope: A Message of HealingI'm very pleased to welcome Christy Monson to C.O.A.L., perhaps I can get her to confess something! She is a fellow logophiliac. Christy is one of my favorite authors. With a career as a therapist, specializing in family counseling, Christy always shares great insights to human behavior.<br />
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She has two new books out:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP4TQB7TWwyAnJKQ4RXGkEk0v7y1qaCWahulzk-cuqWKUH4WMlAzM_qHxoyCm-vhurxFMz6A7zBYw3HsNpxlp3aEHCn9mR_qxChuvPUqr5RrZSbJs2881ockm-ejz-DXfs0Ni_KSwXgXAJ/s1600/lovehugshope.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP4TQB7TWwyAnJKQ4RXGkEk0v7y1qaCWahulzk-cuqWKUH4WMlAzM_qHxoyCm-vhurxFMz6A7zBYw3HsNpxlp3aEHCn9mR_qxChuvPUqr5RrZSbJs2881ockm-ejz-DXfs0Ni_KSwXgXAJ/s400/lovehugshope.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;">Written after the tragic Newtown, Connecticut, shooting, this book is an invaluable tool to help </span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;">children work through feelings after a tragedy. Our kids deal, not only with national tragedies, but every day ones like death of a grandparent, loss of a puppy, or divorce. This book guides readers through emotions of fear, sadness and anger, then offers constructive ideas for managing these feelings. The message of the book is that love chases away hate and light banishes darkness. Lori Nawyn's engaging illustrations help the reader know that hope is only a hug away. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Love-Hugs-Hope-Things-Happen/dp/1938301609/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1377552519&sr=1-2&keywords=love+hugs+and+hope" target="_blank">Buy it Now!</a></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjocVALeOxqbU4pbcUPd76sh1rUWleVg8hjvCNCAilF3pQVOElbfq0rLuCsAnzf_bIrKAu6UNrASBQ0nFSHalSmr85K0a2dlcMhd-c9ElXErHkcP6xnk6UentfollI25GFO_657Mfy2JEfk/s1600/Becoming+Free+Small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjocVALeOxqbU4pbcUPd76sh1rUWleVg8hjvCNCAilF3pQVOElbfq0rLuCsAnzf_bIrKAu6UNrASBQ0nFSHalSmr85K0a2dlcMhd-c9ElXErHkcP6xnk6UentfollI25GFO_657Mfy2JEfk/s400/Becoming+Free+Small.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> An abundant and happier life can be yours, but you must identify and release the obstructions that keep you from the wisdom and wealth you want. Christy Monson, a successful family therapist for over thirty years, has written Becoming Free to help you achieve your goals and find deeper happiness in your life. Becoming Free is a step-by-step book to help you to shed your armor, expand your optimistic thinking, and enhance your ability to give and receive. Once you become free of the armor you’ve built around you to protect yourself, you’ll find the abundant life you have always sought.</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Becoming-Free-Womans-Internal-Strength/dp/1938301846/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1377554679&sr=1-1&keywords=becoming+free+a+woman%27s+guide+to+internal+strength" target="_blank">Buy it Now!</a></span></span><br />
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Here's a few minutes, one-on-one:<br />
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<b><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Love, Hugs and Hope<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><b>How did you meet Lori? How did your
collaboration work?</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Lori Nawyn did the art and I wrote
the script for this picture book, <i>Love
Hugs and Hope</i>, and we are both very happy about it. However, we didn't
start out to work together. Lori and I knew each other from a couple of SCBWI
Conferences. We had formed a picture book critique group that met each month so
we were friends. But it was the publisher that teamed us up. Lori is a darling,
and I love her art. We never collaborated on the book at all. I turned in the
manuscript and Lori and the publishers did the rest.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><b>How long have you been writing?</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I have been writing about 7 years
and loving every minute of it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><b>Do you have children? If so, did you
draw on your own experience as a mother in writing this book?</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">My experience as a mom has really
helped me in writing this book. Children just need to talk things out a lot of
times. They want love and reassurance. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><b>You're a retired family counselor.
How did your training and/or years of practice help you with this book?</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I kind of had a sense about how to
process with kids from being a mom, but my training as a therapist really gave
me the knowledge I needed to help children heal. In my practice I saw a lot of
kids that were dealing with tragedy of some kind or another. Talk therapy is
good for kids, but art is a wonderful way for them to release feelings. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><b>How long did this book take to
create?</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><b><br /></b></span></div>
It took me about a week to write the first draft of this manuscript. I felt
so sad for those who had experienced loss in the school shooting at Sandy Hook.
Shortly after that a gunman shot up the Clackamas Towne Center in Oregon. Our
daughter, son-in-law, and two granddaughters live about three miles from the
center. The parents monitored the events carefully, but turned off all media to
protect the kids from knowing about it. However, the next day at school the children
were all talking about it, so you can't protect children from knowing about
tragedies like this.<o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
As I thought about these two catastrophes, I felt something needed to be
written to help parents and children look at disasters like these, be able to share
their feelings, and find hope in the world around them.<o:p></o:p><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><b>Do you have other book ideas along
the lines of children's self-help/picture books? </b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I love writing picture books. I have
many other book ideas I'm thinking about, but right now I'm focused on a series about children's feelings.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><b>How did you find a publisher for the
book?</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I am so fortunate to have found my
publisher, Christopher Robbins, and Familius. At LDS Storymakers Boot Camp,
Rick Walton was conducting out picture
book section. He began talking about Familius and what a great new company it
was. When he found out I was a retired therapist, he suggested I contact
Familius, and I'm so happy I did.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Becoming Free<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><b>I see you have another book coming
out for electronic book format. How is writing for ebook different from a
regular "paper" book?</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Writing an ebook is the same as
writing a paper book. In fact, I didn't know that <i>Becoming Free</i> would be an ebook at first. But I'm excited for the
new experience. I'm looking forward to promoting it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><b>What gave you the idea for this
women's self-help book?</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">My clients were the ones who
inspired me to write <i>Becoming Free</i>. I
learned so much from them and was so impressed by their hard work in therapy, I
wanted to share their stories and their healing process with everyone.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><b>How do you envision women use this
book?</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Understanding the concepts in this book can benefit
all of us. The discussion on motivation and work ethic (First Section) is
something I think we all need to review often. The chapters on understanding of
self and communication (Second and Third Sections) are skills everyone uses
daily. I love the last part (Fourth Section) on healing techniques. It a
compilation of the most effective concepts and procedures I have gathered together
over the years--methods that will lead us all to live a life full of peace and
positive energy. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">You can read the book straight through, but it's really
designed to create change by being used slowly over time to alter your habits
and establish positive thinking skills. Enjoy! Happy Reading!.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Both books are published by <a href="http://www.familius.com/becoming-free#.UhvRjD9tXTo" target="_blank">Familius</a>.</span></div>
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<b>Rafflecopter widget
for Becoming Free<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<a class="rafl" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/c469b43/" id="rc-c469b43" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a><o:p></o:p></div>
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<script src="//d12vno17mo87cx.cloudfront.net/embed/rafl/cptr.js"></script><o:p></o:p></div>
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<br />Chris Todd Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12368447190407755035noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6729048750302368435.post-28882811857997636312013-08-27T19:26:00.000-06:002013-08-27T21:59:29.782-06:00I Write Epic Urban Fantasy with a New Adult Literary Romance Horror EdgeConfused by what makes New Adult different than Young Adult? Contemporary Fantasy v. Urban Fantasy? Well, you're not alone.<br />
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I recently had the pleasure of attending a book launch for <a href="http://www.sarahmeden.com/" target="_blank">Sarah M. Eden</a> held at the <a href="http://www.kingsenglish.com/" target="_blank">King's English </a>bookshop.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg63_TBra-xElKSk7NBqWigemXERZjruM2Ihauz1yywwp5rDhb1NsDfqgxWe3jEhKTOltrAM-UuvfIQO7paZ-vfTtnapI1_zZYqNA_Hlw4Dc0H3YzIKRi6wh_C1ULBS4cqGIvHUbYXiu64S/s1600/LongingforHome.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg63_TBra-xElKSk7NBqWigemXERZjruM2Ihauz1yywwp5rDhb1NsDfqgxWe3jEhKTOltrAM-UuvfIQO7paZ-vfTtnapI1_zZYqNA_Hlw4Dc0H3YzIKRi6wh_C1ULBS4cqGIvHUbYXiu64S/s400/LongingforHome.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
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Aside from the terrific address Sarah made to throngs of adoring fans, and the delicious authentic Irish cuisine (no, there was no haggis, besides, that's a Scottish dish), I had the opportunity to mingle with other like-minded folk. </div>
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During this mingling, I got into a conversation regarding the differences between urban fantasy and contemporary fantasy. I read a fair bit of both but tend to write contemporary. Not only is it good to know what constitutes one genre over another so you can speak to a particular ilk, as a writer, you have to know your audience if you want anyone other than your mom to read your books. That starts by knowing your genres.</div>
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The fine people over at <a href="http://www.bookcountry.com/" target="_blank">Book Country</a> have created an interactive map to help you navigate the more than sixty genres of literature. Credit goes to <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2830341.Lisa_Mangum" target="_blank">Lisa Mangum</a> for sharing this groovy resource.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGGCdfyCm9QJLqYfugYAI7YsXFED5xRZa0jDMc9I4yJ-aildIvRTGST9ip2YaJIk9KXg-_yJweixan0pTl4m88p4kaYPXH3aPkVt1AzHb577LUjDPEEtJ4q2Oo7zWUy7nwGJUNHPo_DW-t/s1600/bookmap.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGGCdfyCm9QJLqYfugYAI7YsXFED5xRZa0jDMc9I4yJ-aildIvRTGST9ip2YaJIk9KXg-_yJweixan0pTl4m88p4kaYPXH3aPkVt1AzHb577LUjDPEEtJ4q2Oo7zWUy7nwGJUNHPo_DW-t/s1600/bookmap.jpg" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.bookcountry.com/books/map/default.aspx" target="_blank">Click here</a> and wander/wonder no more.</div>
<br />Chris Todd Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12368447190407755035noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6729048750302368435.post-28225229096271870042013-06-05T22:32:00.001-06:002013-06-05T22:32:48.695-06:00Gates' Gears: Gearing Up For Those Who Can't<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEuhUf84SQZp0wGpbbZ3sBhENerS9FDvbebEqIuEK50mweBkDCBJwmaWYcrSvC5AFjgofn7UMOmndbDGAxHwJ96NpekQXT8WZT7ddB-1bImelYdbOTdEX_i2AoN6aKH_XKbVcVu8xxrq0N/s1600/Gates-Gears-11-17-flyer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="258" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEuhUf84SQZp0wGpbbZ3sBhENerS9FDvbebEqIuEK50mweBkDCBJwmaWYcrSvC5AFjgofn7UMOmndbDGAxHwJ96NpekQXT8WZT7ddB-1bImelYdbOTdEX_i2AoN6aKH_XKbVcVu8xxrq0N/s400/Gates-Gears-11-17-flyer.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This is the new slogan for our Bike MS team. My father-in-law passed away due to complications from MS, and this was back in the day when they didn't have any therapies other than, "try to make him as comfortable as you can." The ramifications of his illness on his family are evident even a generation later. Now, thanks to funding and research, there are eight therapies.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Last year Gates' Gears received the Rookie Fundraising Award. We raised the most funds of any rookie team. Since we are no longer rookies, our fundraising goals have increased dramatically. To that end I want to share a couple of fundraising events.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">1) On Friday, June 7th, I am cutting my ponytail and donating it to <a href="http://www.locksoflove.org/" target="_blank">Locks of Love</a>. I do this every two - three years. My grandmother always said I had no business having hair like this. It should be on a pretty girl. The minimum donation length is 10 inches. For every minimum donation of $25.00 to my <a href="http://main.nationalmssociety.org/site/TR/Bike/UTUBikeEvents?px=11418745&pg=personal&fr_id=19245" target="_blank">Bike MS fundraising page</a>, I'll add a centimeter to length. There are 2.5 centimeters in an inch. I'll keep adding centimeters until we reach the back of my head. At that point there's only one place left to go--the Yul Brynner.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">That's right. If the total donated from June 3rd to June 7th reaches $750.00, I'll bic my head. Please, help me go bald.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">2) Our Bike MS team is named Gates' Gears after my late father-in-law. Gates' Gears has teamed up with the <a href="http://www.3v3live.com/" target="_blank">Utah Youth Soccer Association</a> to host a tournament on Saturday June 29th. Go to <a href="http://www.3v3live.com/">www.3v3live.com</a> to register. A portion of the entry fee will go toward the MS Society. All participating teams will qualify for the Rapids Regional, July 14th at Dicks Sporting Goods Park in Denver, CO.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Multiple Sclerosis is a disease that attacks the myelin sheath around our nervous system, which means it can attack pretty much any part of the body. There are commonalities for all who suffer from MS, but it affects nearly everyone differently, which is one reason it's so hard to treat. Utah has one of the highest rates of MS in the nation, with one in every 300 affected. Help us create a world free of MS. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Thank you!</span></div>
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<br />Chris Todd Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12368447190407755035noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6729048750302368435.post-83008573574003532952013-05-16T08:49:00.001-06:002013-05-16T18:13:25.591-06:00It's All In The Voice <span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Time for a spot of fun.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I'm participating in the </span><a href="http://www.heatherwebb.net/blog/its-all-in-the-voice-contest/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It's All In The Voice blog hop</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">. Here are the first 250ish words of my WIP. It's adult contemporary fantasy, titled: <b>PIGMENTS</b>.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Chapter 1 -- Black</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<em><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I need a tattoo.</span></em><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Jeff Graham looked at his watch. He’d been standing across the street from the Voodoo Tattoo for an hour. He’d chosen it not by reputation or recommendation, not even by its most recent Health Code inspection, which he got from a guy at work who knows a guy. He chose the Voodoo Tattoo because he liked the way it sounded. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Jeff leaned his back against the wall of the Java Jive and ran his hands down his sweater vest, smoothing out invisible wrinkles. A white T-shirt poked out underneath. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The legal age to obtain a tattoo was eighteen. He’d thought on-and-off about getting a tattoo, but once he turned eighteen, the possibility became real. Now, ten years past that point, he was still debating. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Jeff shook out his hands and made them into fists—opening and closing them several times. He pulled off his sweater vest—no Argyles or stripes, just a solid blue as per the interpreter’s dress code—folded it once, and hung it on a bike rack in front of the Java Jive. Guys with tattoos don’t wear sweater vests.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">An envelope made from heavy textured paper fell out of his back pocket. He snatched it up and he stuffed it back in.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">He pressed his back against the uneven brick of the coffee shop, put one foot on the wall and propelled himself toward the Voodoo Tattoo only to halt at the curb.</span> Chris Todd Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12368447190407755035noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6729048750302368435.post-82130930252429722102013-05-15T17:11:00.000-06:002013-05-15T18:30:37.630-06:00I Fart in Your General Direction: Taking Criticism<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If you are a sad creature who has not experienced Monty Python and the Search for the Holy Grail, then my intro is lost on you. Get thee hence and seek out Netflix with due haste!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Recently I participated in a first chapter contest. This is one of the better contests of its sort because the judges give you detailed feedback via a score sheet. Not only do you get a rating, you get comments. These forms cover things like: hook, conflict, characters, pacing, and setting, among others. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I'm going to share with you some comments I received from two of the judges.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Judge #1</b> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This judge gave me 18 out of a total 40 points.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Overall Enjoyment:</b> Was this a story you'd recommend to others?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Comments: It's a little early yet for me to tell, but I would have to say that yes, I would. Because of the uniqueness of the story. I'm really curious about where it's going to go.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Additional Notes: </b>I'm afraid that everything I've said will discourage you. That certainly isn't what I want to do. I hope that you keep writing. You have an interesting idea. I could see what you wanted to do and the kind of story you want to write. What you need to do is learn all the intricacies of the craft. Unfortunately writing right now is very competitive. If you have the dream go for it, but you have to learn and read everything you can get your hands on. That's how you'll get better and you'll be able to write for the rest of your life. What I hope you'll do is get some <i>how to write</i> books, take a lot of classes, (even established authors continue to take classes from others*) and practice your craft. That's the reason I gave you some things here that will help you with your story. Keep working and make this the best story out there. I think you've got what it takes. </span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Judge #2</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This judge gave me 38 out of a total 40 points.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Overall Enjoyment:</b> Was this a story you'd recommend to others?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Comments: Yes, I would recommend this story. The characters seemed real and had diversified personalities.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Additional Notes:</b> I enjoyed the unique personalities of the characters. I enjoyed the idea of having an ability to read the land and go barefoot to feel vibrations through the earth. I had fun speculating that "Name Day" was a birthday. The action was appropriate, the mannerisms believable. This was a rewarding piece of literature to read.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">What am I to think of these two reviews?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">They are both positive. Judge #1 is encouraging even if s/he feels the writing is inferior. Clearly, we didn't click. Judge #2 is also encouraging while praising the writing (CLICK!).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This experience can be summed up in one word: subjective. Writing is art. Like any art form, it's subjective. What you put on the page will never be received in the manner you intend it to be. Every reader receives your art via his own perspective and applies the lens of his own life experiences. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I hold no ill will toward Judge #1. S/he gave me some great advice. I'll review it and incorporate it as I see fit. Conversely, what I wrote resonated (in a good way) with Judge #2; and, despite my school girl crush on Judge #2, I can't let myself get too carried away.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In the end, it doesn't matter what I intended to convey with what I wrote. All that matters is the reader's response to what I wrote, and that response is wholly and completely his. I have no claim on it or rights to it. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Where do I go from here? I'll keep writing. I'll keep reading (both how-to books and books in my genre, and even some not in my genre), and I'll continue to attend classes and hone my craft. You should do the same.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">*One of my favorite authors, <a href="http://www.johndbrown.com/" target="_blank">John Brown</a> does this at every conference where he presents. When he's not presenting, he's attending classes taught by other writers. Aside from his writing, and his classes, this is one of the things I love about him.</span><br />
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Chris Todd Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12368447190407755035noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6729048750302368435.post-38851529482842660212013-04-22T22:02:00.000-06:002013-04-22T22:02:52.054-06:00Belonging to Heaven by Gale Sears<h3>
A Story of Sacrifice and Unyielding Devotion</h3>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em>Descended from the Hawaiian royal line, Jonathan Napela became one of the first—and most influential—converts to the Church in Hawaii. A man of intelligence, social status, and wealth, he used his considerable position to further the gospel in his native land. He developed a lifelong bond of brotherhood with Elder George Q. Cannon, helping to translate the Book of Mormon into Hawaiian and establish a gathering place for the Hawaiian saints in Laie, Oahu.</em> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">That much alone is enough to convey a compelling story. There are numerous less pithy books on the history of the LDS church; but, wait, there's more.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em>But when his beloved wife, Kitty, was stricken with leprosy, Jonathan made the defining decision of his life. He would leave his life of privilege to become her caretaker and spend the rest of his life on Moloka'i, the island of lepers. To those who suffered similar heartbreak and banishment, Jonathan’s self-sacrifice became their lifeline. Based on a true story, this is an extraordinary novel of a man who chose love in the face of death.</em> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As interesting as this story of missionary work in the Sandwich islands (aka the Hawaiian islands) is (and I would wager it's one of the more interesting tales, given the local and the exhaustive reseach done by Gale Sears) it's the second half of this book that truly elevates it. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The book starts with a prologue that takes place in 1843 on the
island of Maui. The section depicts the royal wedding of Jonathan Napela and
Catherine Keliikuaaina Richardson. The historical backstory of life in this
culture is interesting but the concentrated detail bogged things down a bit for
my taste. I would have liked to have seen this prologue interspersed in small
chunks between latter chapters in the book, or maybe even as chapter headings. This is a minor complaint. Keeping
reading; it’s worth it.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Chapter one begins in California in 1850. Elder George Q. Cannon
looked forward to his mission call, like most young elders, anticipating where
the Lord might call him to serve. He hoped that perhaps it would be to his
homeland of England, or a number of other exotic locales.</span></span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“Brother Cannon, I
wish to call you on a mission to the goldfields of California.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">That’s right. He was called to mine gold to help support the
young Church. Despite his devotion, his efforts yield little precious metal--little,
until, his assignment changed. When he is reassigned, to the Hawaiian Islands,
the ground yields up enough gold to pay for their passage.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">It’s during his time on the islands, while struggling to learn the
local language and customs, that he meets Jonathan Napela. Along with his royal
lineage, Jonathan has become a district court judge. Jonathan eventually gets baptized
and he and George go about establishing the Church as well as translating the
Book of Mormon. As I said in the introduction, there are enough stories of
faith, charity, and determination just to this point in the book to leave you
satisfied.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8sVfDaUZJC3p6BfUzbQO_AjZo5eiKdt0dZPYdCpY6IohsXTn3Jv-RROjH5vngFFRIh-Q2oaMDQQDSySUzdgOZhnZ6-qcfAYsB0ilCTcC3bLRKSbwEEaBxpS9_H8ZUsK9qIjk0ia224kre/s1600/galesears.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8sVfDaUZJC3p6BfUzbQO_AjZo5eiKdt0dZPYdCpY6IohsXTn3Jv-RROjH5vngFFRIh-Q2oaMDQQDSySUzdgOZhnZ6-qcfAYsB0ilCTcC3bLRKSbwEEaBxpS9_H8ZUsK9qIjk0ia224kre/s1600/galesears.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Gale’s exhaustive research shows through again as she describes the island of Moloka'i
and the day to day lives of those living with leprosy. Jonathan’s wife, Kitty,
contracts leprosy and instead of sending his wife to the leper colony to live
out his days, he goes with her. With the help of a Catholic priest, Father
Damien, the two care for the colony. Along with their physical care, Jonathan presides
over the Saints of the colony as well, until he too passes away of leprosy. </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em>Belonging to Heaven</em> is not a quick read, but it’s satisfying and
deeply moving, especially for those of the LDS faith.</span></span><br />
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<b><span style="color: #4c4b4c; font-family: "Georgia","serif";"></span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #4c4b4c; font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Book Details:</span></b><span style="color: #4c4b4c; font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: #4c4b4c; font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Author: <a href="http://www.galesears.com/"><span style="color: #004b91;">Gale
Sears</span></a><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: #4c4b4c; font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Release Date: April 2013<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: #4c4b4c; font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Publisher: Deseret Book<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: #4c4b4c; font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Genre: Historical Fiction<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<br />Chris Todd Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12368447190407755035noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6729048750302368435.post-36576298220558553992013-03-26T23:24:00.003-06:002013-03-26T23:39:26.468-06:00Poison? Um . . . Yes, Please. <span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">Bridget Zinn and <i>Poison</i>, her first and last novel.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">It is my great pleasure to take part in a blog tour today for <a href="http://www.bridgetzinn.com/" target="_blank">Bridget Zinn</a> and her debut novel, <i>Poison</i>.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">First off, just look at that cover! It does everything a cover is supposed to do. Even if fantasy is not you genre, I'd bet my lunch that this cover would at the very least catch your eye, and probably get you to pick it up.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">Before we talk about the book, let's talk about the author: Bridget Zinn.</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0xpDa6eR9gM-1r12_UAbGeoc_CPK5MqAerZPQ5eszwQgpmU6HdIHWJWd4aYKC41kxUQRQGxwMQnQfBqQ714-RgDriyu6PXXJ8I1yO_fnBqHTXAV4EEIVF8sUaeeuNBKLVjqp4nFQyUbWA/s1600/bridget_zinn_photo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0xpDa6eR9gM-1r12_UAbGeoc_CPK5MqAerZPQ5eszwQgpmU6HdIHWJWd4aYKC41kxUQRQGxwMQnQfBqQ714-RgDriyu6PXXJ8I1yO_fnBqHTXAV4EEIVF8sUaeeuNBKLVjqp4nFQyUbWA/s1600/bridget_zinn_photo.jpg" /></a><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">Bridget grew up in Wisconsin. She went to the county fair where she met the love of her life, Barrett Dowell. They got married right before she went in for exploratory surgery which revealed she had colon cancer. They christened that summer the "summer of love" and the two celebrated with several more weddings. Bridget continued to read and write until the day she died. Her last tweet was "Sunshine and a brand new book. Perfect."</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">Bridget wanted to make people laugh and hoped readers would enjoy spending time with the characters she created. As a librarian/writer she loved books with strong young women with aspirations. She also felt teens needed more humorous reads. She really wanted to write a book with pockets of warmth and happiness and hoped that her readers' copies would show the watermarks of many bath time reads.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">That's right--her first and last novel. In the spirit of this blog tour, we were asked to share a first of our own. I'm 40-years-old and I just published my first book, <a href="http://amzn.to/12h7jGm" target="_blank"><i>By Blood Bequeathed</i></a>. But the real first I want to highlight was my first book launch/reading. I've been to countless author readings and for me to finally be the author was thrilling. There were about twenty five people there for no other reason than to support me and my first book. It's an experience I will never forget.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">Much like Bridget, I espouse the idea of <a href="http://www.millerchris.com/2013/02/we-were-meant-to-be-awesome.html" target="_blank">doing what you were meant to do</a>. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">Now, about this fantastic book:</span></span></div>
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<h2>
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="color: #990000; font-size: x-large;">Poison</span></span></h2>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">Sixteen-year-old Kyra, a highly-skilled potions master, is the only one who knows her kingdom is on the verge of destruction—which means she's the only one who can save it. Faced with no other choice, Kyra decides to do what she does best: poison the kingdom's future ruler, who also happens to be her former best friend. But, for the first time ever, her poisoned dart…misses.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">Now a fugitive instead of a hero, Kyra is caught in a game of hide-and-seek with the king's army and her potioner ex-boyfriend, Hal. At least she's not alone. She's armed with her vital potions, a too-cute pig, and Fred, the charming adventurer she can't stop thinking about. Kyra is determined to get herself a second chance (at murder), but will she be able to find and defeat the princess before Hal and the army find her?</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">Kyra is not your typical murderer, and she's certainly no damsel-in-distress—she's the lovable and quick-witted hero of this romantic novel that has all the right ingredients to make teen girls swoon.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">Check out some of the reviews:</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><i><b><span style="color: #990000;">Don't let the title or cover fool you! No grim dark teen fantasy or
angst-y heroines here; just a frothy confection of a fairy tale
featuring poisoners, princesses, perfumers and pigs, none of whom are
exactly what they appear (except maybe the pigs)…. Good silly fun—a
refreshing antidote to a genre overflowing with grit and gloom.<br />
<i>—<b>Kirkus Reviews</b></i></span></b></i></span> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="color: #990000; font-size: large;"><i><b>The late Zinn's debut novel unfolds as a romping, fairy-tale quest with
more than one twist up its sleeve. The story is vivid, headlong, and
occasionally tongue in cheek, and the narrative's dark moments never get
too scary because everything else is so much fun.<span style="font-size: large;"> </span>Ages 12–18. Agent:
Michael Stearns, Upstart Crow Literary. <i>—<b>Publishers Weekly</b></i></b></i></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000; font-size: large;"><i><a href="http://goo.gl/qRiOG">Publishers Weekly Article</a></i></span></h2>
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="color: #990000; font-size: large;"><i><b>A wonderful article written by Alexis Burling in Publishers Weekly, <a href="http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/international/international-book-news/article/56328-promoting-a-late-author-s-debut-novel-poison-by-bridget-zinn.html" target="_blank">Promoting a Late Author's Debut Novel: 'Poison' by Bridget Zinn</a></b></i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: #990000;"><i>Recommended for anyone who loves fairy tales, memorized The Princess
Bride, or has always dreamed of saving the kingdom (with a piglet).</i></span></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">Do yourself and your young teens a favor and purchase your copy today: </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Poison-Bridget-Zinn/dp/1423139933/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1361422901&sr=1-1&keywords=bridget+zinn" target="_blank">Amazon</a></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><http: book="" www.indiebound.org=""><https: book="" id586771278="" itunes.apple.com="" mt="11" poison="" us=""><http: biblio="" www.powells.com=""><http: book="" poison="" show="" www.goodreads.com=""></http:></http:></https:></http:><a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/poison-bridget-zinn/1110606774?ean=9781423139935" target="_blank">Barnes & Noble</a> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="http://www.indiebound.org/book/9781423139935" target="_blank">Indie Bound </a></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/poison/id586771278?mt=11" target="_blank">iTunes Bookstore </a></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="http://www.powells.com/biblio/62-9781423139935-0" target="_blank">Powell's Books</a></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">Add Poison to your <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8113512-poison" target="_blank">Goodreads </a>Pile!</span></span><br />
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<http: book="" www.indiebound.org=""><https: book="" id586771278="" itunes.apple.com="" mt="11" poison="" us=""><http: biblio="" www.powells.com=""><http: book="" poison="" show="" www.goodreads.com="">
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Chris Todd Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12368447190407755035noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6729048750302368435.post-20905164256759729672013-03-20T08:28:00.000-06:002013-04-01T19:37:58.289-06:00Inciting Incident and Story Worthy Problem as Conflict: Can You Tell the Difference?<link href="/imgs.inkfrog.com/pix/lecriveur/Bras_fotalia.jpg" rel="image_src"></link>
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">The Inciting Incident<span style="font-size: large;">. </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">The</span> Initial Surface Problem<span style="font-size: large;">. </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">The </span>Story Worthy Problem. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">These are all examples of conflict, but they do different things<span style="font-size: large;">. Use them in the wrong place and your story is dead in the water.</span></span></span><br />
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</span><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;">I've started reading Les Edgerton's <a href="http://www.writersdigest.com/qp7-migration-all-articles/hooked" target="_blank">Hooked</a>.</span>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDpApUDoJT8QuoBDp3bgCTLiJsmUf55VX_9FviezUfIQ3JNXQskYgg1-uLz1OrvFERBeeN0AyzwYY2URQnnX6ejCHFblw_qRLpFxxeRqen-ZvrpKfBKreaqgJ83HHH8Ye5JvrrLWNf2QK6/s1600/Hooked.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDpApUDoJT8QuoBDp3bgCTLiJsmUf55VX_9FviezUfIQ3JNXQskYgg1-uLz1OrvFERBeeN0AyzwYY2URQnnX6ejCHFblw_qRLpFxxeRqen-ZvrpKfBKreaqgJ83HHH8Ye5JvrrLWNf2QK6/s400/Hooked.jpg" width="278" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;">I know what a hook is. I understand the concept. I also understand that hooks come in many shapes . . .</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjccmoLDNJvu6zbObFUwfyPTZHv1XYvchsQzjRup6T7D2e3iGS7gVmV5nmONVuEJiCsQxnNq4n99d0kgkSLxbewZxXxR8WDkxdQZSl81Z6VSBZTKJJ1dm-6XZVgzo61dXZWMIIM-YwwXnT3/s1600/Fishing_lures_vert_fotalia.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjccmoLDNJvu6zbObFUwfyPTZHv1XYvchsQzjRup6T7D2e3iGS7gVmV5nmONVuEJiCsQxnNq4n99d0kgkSLxbewZxXxR8WDkxdQZSl81Z6VSBZTKJJ1dm-6XZVgzo61dXZWMIIM-YwwXnT3/s400/Fishing_lures_vert_fotalia.jpg" width="361" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;">and sizes. </span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvkv0RDN5QmzRUqxPoTOAMIvJ6QgOV_bWojmAMtrwGltK-PG3Npl1gZwbWibICdyBXNfCN9vXJ3PevzlbuI5U1gNFlu3BarIkV588jE9G_iqzY2SgTZWQHDWeH6uXqnavS3sTs7xaQFEg5/s1600/Bras_fotalia.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvkv0RDN5QmzRUqxPoTOAMIvJ6QgOV_bWojmAMtrwGltK-PG3Npl1gZwbWibICdyBXNfCN9vXJ3PevzlbuI5U1gNFlu3BarIkV588jE9G_iqzY2SgTZWQHDWeH6uXqnavS3sTs7xaQFEg5/s400/Bras_fotalia.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">(now that I think about it, the items in the last two images, along with having hooks, could also be considered lures--but that's a whole other topic) My point being that hooks don't always have to be in-your-face explosive to be effective.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">Thus I was reluctant to buy and read a book devoted entirely to openings. Well, I'm about a fourth of the way into it and I already want to talk about it. In<span style="font-size: large;"> </span>fact, I applied what I've learned so far and created an exercise we can share.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">But first, some definitions, from Les Edgerton, (so we're all on the same page:)</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;"><b>THE INCITING INCIDENT</b></span></div>
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<li><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;">The inciting incident is the event that creates the character’s initial surface problem and introduces the first inklings of the story-worthy problem.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;">This is the action part of the story, the part that is plot-based. This happens to the protagonist then she does this to resolve it then this and so on.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;">The inciting incident is NOT the protagonist’s current situation, no matter how deplorable or dramatic it may be. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;">The Inciting Incident is what alters the day to day existence (or situation). This can be something large and obvious or small and subtle.</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;">IMO, small and subtle is usually more powerful.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;"><b>THE INITIAL SURFACE PROBLEM</b></span></div>
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<li><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;">This is the problem that occurs as a direct result of the inciting incident. And while it may seem at first glance that solving this problem is what the story is really all about, it’s not.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;">Every story is ultimately about solving the deeper, more complicated story-worthy problem.</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;"><b>THE STORY-WORTHY PROBLEM</b></span><br />
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<li><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;">The inciting incident sets the stage for the story-worthy problem, which functions just beneath the surface of the story on a more psychological level. Consider it the driving force behind the initial surface problem as it’s ultimately what the protagonist must reconcile at the end of the story. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;">A true story-worthy problem is closely associated with the protagonist’s inner self, while a surface problem is merely symptomatic, a derivative of that larger problem. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;">The inciting incident introduces this problem by either bringing to the forefront a buried problem or creating a new one, thus beginning the gradual revealing process that will encompass the rest of the story as the protagonist’s—and the reader’s—understanding of the true nature of story-worthy problem deepens.</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;">Les also gives us a great example of subtle conflict and overt confl<span style="font-size: large;">ict</span>, using the movie <i><b>Thelma and Louise</b></i>:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;"><b>The Inciting Incident –</b> Thelma is about to ask Darryl if she can go on a trip with Louise. He replies condescendingly, “What?” She decides not to ask and just go. She has never openly defied her husband. This decision leads to the subsequent decisions (road house, dancing, flirting) that leads to the Initial Surface Problem.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;"><b>The Initial Surface Problem – </b>Harlan tries to rape Thelma. Louise kills him. <br /><b>The Story-Worthy Problem –</b> Thelma allows all men to dominate and take advantage of her. This she must overcome. <br /><br />Les gives us some great instruction and follows it up with perfect application. To further cement the concept in my head, I decided to replicate the example with some of my favorite movies. I tried to use older movies to avoid spoilers. If you haven't see any of these and think you may still, then scroll past that example.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;"><b>Aliens </b><i>(1986 Sigourney Weaver, Michael Biehn)</i><br /><br /><b>The Inciting Incident –</b> Lost contact with the colonists on LV426<br /><b>The Initial Surface Problem –</b> Colonists are farmed as alien hosts and the marines get attacked by aliens and get their butts kicked.<br /><b>The Story-Worthy Problem –</b> Trapped in the base, horde of attacking aliens likely to attack at dusk, emergency venting means the base will explode in 14 hours killing everyone—survive.<br /><br /><br /><b>Stranger than Fiction</b> <i>(2006 Will Ferrel, Emma Thompson)</i><br /><br /><b>The Inciting Incident –</b> Harold’s watch stops working and he hears the narrator say that the act of resetting the watch will bring about his imminent death.<br /><b>The Initial Surface Problem –</b> Harold must find out the other parts of the story the narrator is telling him in hopes of finding a way to change the ending<span style="font-size: large;">, thus preven<span style="font-size: large;">ting his death.</span></span><br /><b>The Story-Worthy Problem –</b> Harold must leave the calculations and all the rules and all the precision behind and instead learn to suck all the marrow out of life. If he can do that, then it doesn’t matter if he dies.<br /><br /><br /><b>The Matrix</b> <i>(1999 Keanu Reeves, Laurence Fishburne)</i><br /><br /><b>The Inciting Incident –</b> Mr. Anderson’s computer tells him to follow the white rabbit—and he does.<br /><b>The Initial Surface Problem –</b> Mr. Anderson is taken into custody by Agents where they plant a bug in him, via his navel.<br /><b>The Story-Worthy Problem –</b> Mr. Anderson needs to become Neo—the One who can save Zion.<br /><br /><br /><b>Ladyhawke </b><i>(1985 Matthew Broderick, Michelle Pfeiffer)</i><br /><br /><b>The Inciting Incident – </b>Philippe escapes the prisons of Aquila.<br /><b>The Initial Surface Problem –</b> He must help Navarre break into Aquila to kill the evil priest who cursed the knight and his lady.<br /><b>The Story-Worthy Problem –</b> Break the curse.<br /><br /><br /><b>Raiders of the Lost Ark</b> <i>(1981 Harrison Ford, Karen Allen)</i><br /><br /><b>The Inciting Incident –</b> Army intelligence recruits Jones to find the Ark of the Covenant<br /><b>The Initial Surface Problem –</b> Finding/obtaining the headpiece for the staff of Ra (from his ex, Marion)<br /><b>The Story-Worthy Problem –</b> Find the Ark before the Nazis do. Prevent them from using it.<br /><br /><br /><b>King Arthur</b> <i>(2004 Clive Owen, Keira Knightley)</i><br /><br /><b>The Inciting Incident –</b> After 15 years of bondage, Bishop Germanius refuses to release the Knights from their service to Rome unless they do one more task.<br /><b>The Initial Surface Problem – </b>Save a prominent Roman family from the approaching Saxon army (located deep in the north of England and Woad territory).<br /><b>The Story-Worthy Problem –</b> Arthur’s journey to find his true self and become King of England (starting by defeating the Saxon army).<br /><br /><br /><b>Star Trek</b> <i>(2009 Chris Pine, Zoe Saldana)</i><br /><br /><b>The Inciting Incident –</b> Commander Pike appeals to Kirk’s ego and conflicting feelings about his father, prompting Kirk to join Star Fleet. “Your father was captain of a star ship for 12 minutes. He saved 800 lives including your mother and yours. I dare you to do better.”<br /><b>The Initial Surface Problem –</b> A distress call from Vulcan, all cadets called to duty.<br /><b>The Story-Worthy Problem –</b> Prevent Romulans from obliterating Earth. <br /><br /><br /><b>The Hunger Games</b> <i>(2012 Jennifer Lawrence, Stanley Tucci)</i><br /><br /><b>The Inciting Incident –</b> Katniss volunteers.<br /><b>The Initial Surface Problem –</b> Don’t die.<br /><b>The Story-Worthy Problem –</b> Win the Hunger Games and keep Peeta alive.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;">And as all good lessons go, here's a little homework for you.<br /><br />Your Story: ________________________________________<br /><br /><b>The Inciting Incident --<br />The Initial Surface Problem --<br />The Story-Worthy Problem -- </b><br /><br />Do you agree with my conclusions? Let me know in the comments or share Your Story with us.<br /><br />Again, this is what I've gleaned from only a quarter of the book, much more awaits us. Go forth and <a href="http://amzn.to/Y27sNx" target="_blank">procure a copy</a> for yourself.</span><span style="font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span><br />
<br />Chris Todd Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12368447190407755035noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6729048750302368435.post-29112956223128037302013-03-11T07:03:00.005-06:002013-03-11T07:03:59.904-06:00National MS Awareness Week<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #f87217; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Burgers and Books for MS</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY7XDyDngMQGwEPU7txMYE0Sht_UzIkUhmPClT7hpyLrDw-UnK8Dwjt_gJghC1oVYuLdn-dZFxjvCHLRSeHhoKaqUJctiv6XTpT0oCiytS8CQddgMSP5jMfwpPvD-1Rco46qC68jsPjdem/s1600/End_BikeMS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY7XDyDngMQGwEPU7txMYE0Sht_UzIkUhmPClT7hpyLrDw-UnK8Dwjt_gJghC1oVYuLdn-dZFxjvCHLRSeHhoKaqUJctiv6XTpT0oCiytS8CQddgMSP5jMfwpPvD-1Rco46qC68jsPjdem/s1600/End_BikeMS.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight: normal;">March 11th - 17th is <a href="http://www.nationalmssociety.org/chapters/UTU/index.aspx" target="_blank">National MS Awareness Week</a>. If you live in Utah or southern Idaho, then there's a good chance that you know someone with MS--this region has an usually high concentration. MS affects one in 300 people in the Utah/Idaho area.<br />
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During MS Awareness Week, our Bike MS team <a href="https://www.facebook.com/GatesGears" target="_blank">Gates’ Gears</a> will be @ Wendy’s on 500 S and 200 W in Bountiful on Wednesday, Mar 13 from 5PM – 8PM to raise funds to eradicate MS. A percentage of all proceeds will be directly donated to the MS Society.</span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight: normal;">My wife and I have been involved with the Multiple Sclerosis society for many years and in recent years started riding in <a href="http://main.nationalmssociety.org/site/TR/Bike/UTUBikeEvents?px=11418745&pg=personal&fr_id=19245" target="_blank">Bike MS</a>. A quick plug for Bike MS, you can ride 40, 75, or 100 miles and the course is relatively flat with plenty of rest stops--if you think you can't do it, I think you can. Click <a href="http://main.nationalmssociety.org/site/TR/Bike/UTUBikeEvents?px=11418745&pg=personal&fr_id=19245" target="_blank">here</a> to see a bit more about our story.<br />
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Additionally, my most recent book, <i><a href="http://amzn.to/12h7jGm" target="_blank">By Blood Bequeathed</a> </i>is currently available for the Kindle and in paperback. I'm donating all sales from my book during MS Awareness week. It's a great read (if I do say so myself--see the side bar for reviews) and an even greater cause.</span></h3>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #f87217; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Help us create a world free of MS.</span></span></div>
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<br />Chris Todd Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12368447190407755035noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6729048750302368435.post-73275139418252353562013-03-05T22:36:00.003-07:002013-03-07T10:05:02.332-07:00Remembering Calvin Blossom<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> <span style="font-size: large;"> I’m a young
author (in terms of experience) and so much of what I do is geared around building
a platform and creating an audience: Facebook, Twitter, this blog, at its core
it’s about self-promotion. I hope that I do it in a manner that is rewarding
for people and not annoying. But today, I wish to put all that aside and
reflect for a moment on a man who was quite the opposite, whose every thought
and behavior was geared toward promoting others: Calvin Blossom.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"> Calvin
worked as a security officer at my business, my day job. It’s with a heavy
heart that we mourn his passing. Calvin excelled in his profession, even having
won national recognition, but that’s not what he will be remembered most for.
Calvin lived not so you would notice his presence (though he certainly noticed
yours--more on that in a minute) but lived in a way that you noticed his absence.
He went around doing everything that
needed doing, whether it was in his job description or not. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> He was much
like the center on the offensive line of a football team. It’s not a glory
position, there are no sponsors or sports drink promotions for centers,
but without him the core of the football team falls apart. That was Calvin. He
felt that his job was not just to preserve the work environment, but to preserve
the people who worked there. He knew everyone by name and for many of us, knew
about our spouses and children. I said he noticed our lives. It was common for
him to hold not only the outer door open for someone but follow them up the
stairs to open the inner door as well and you didn't even realize he was there. That's just one example of many. He cared for your well-being, not just as an employee, but as a person, and that’s
not in a job description, but it <i>is</i> how I describe Calvin.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: red;"> </span> <span style="color: #4c1130; font-size: large;"> <span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">I can’t
think of one person who touched more people on my work campus than Calvin did.
He was the most genuine and sincerely kind person I've ever known. As I write this, I keep thinking I need to say
more, I need to go on about him and list more and more affirming adjectives and
accolades, but the truth is they would all fall short of the greatness of this
man. He would be the first to downplay all that I've said, and not so we would
look at him and marvel at his humility. He wasn't wired that way. What he did
for all of us was not an act or to further an agenda, it was a way of life, an
identity. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> Sir, you
have more than earned your place in the heavens. Our world is a little darker and
a little more grim without you in it, but your memory will burn brightly. I’m sure you won’t heed what I’m about to
say. I’m sure you’ll go on watching over us as you always have, but I’ll say
it anyway: rest in peace, my friend.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #4c1130; font-size: large;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
Chris Todd Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12368447190407755035noreply@blogger.com0