tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-195600582024-03-13T10:00:15.853-05:00Do Things DifferentA blog for those who like to read and do things different. (And yes, I fully realize "different" is grammatically incorrect. Kinda the point, right? ;-) )Kristin Tubbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05657534927169563930noreply@blogger.comBlogger85125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19560058.post-69029638442041076782014-10-10T11:22:00.000-05:002014-10-10T11:22:52.258-05:00A 13tastic Giveaway: 13 Classroom Sets + Skype Visits!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj8bkXiC1ZL3Kn0ZV7S7E40Jr4SacCu3qHj_xyXOh3Eoi7wXaOYTBlez0h5yPJaNZCp6HO31-OIowHiDMp6fQ0HxKFUvdVjIEnLQKBs3v1EI4rMdxJ2TEwiPCaKxCg0e66eu1Y/s1600/13th+sign+classroom+set+giveaway.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj8bkXiC1ZL3Kn0ZV7S7E40Jr4SacCu3qHj_xyXOh3Eoi7wXaOYTBlez0h5yPJaNZCp6HO31-OIowHiDMp6fQ0HxKFUvdVjIEnLQKBs3v1EI4rMdxJ2TEwiPCaKxCg0e66eu1Y/s1600/13th+sign+classroom+set+giveaway.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<br /><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Educator friends</b>, to celebrate the launch of <a href="http://www.indiebound.org/book/9781250050595" target="_blank">THE 13<span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span> SIGN</a> in paperback, Macmillan and I are teaming together to give away 13
classroom sets of THE 13<span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span> SIGN, along with Skype visits! Here’s
what’s included in each prize package:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
-5 signed paperback copies of THE 13<span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span> SIGN<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
-An educator’s guide for THE 13<span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span> SIGN<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
-30 bookmarks<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
-A free 45-minute Skype visit with your readers!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
How do you enter? Easy: simply <a href="mailto:ktubb@comcast.net" target="_blank">email me</a> anytime between
Monday, October 13 and Friday, October 31 with the following information: your name, the school you work for, and your
mailing address (in case you win!) Thirteen winners will be chosen from the
entries. Please note that this giveaway is for U.S. educators (teachers,
librarians, reading specialists, etc.) only. Thank you! <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>About the book: </b><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana;">What if there was
a 13th zodiac sign? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana;">You’re no longer
Sagittarius, but Ophiuchus, the healer, the 13th sign. </span>Your personality
has changed. So has your mom’s and your best friend’s. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana;">What about the
rest of the world? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana;">What if <i>you</i>
were the one who accidentally unlocked the 13th sign, causing this
world-altering change, and infuriating the other 12 signs? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana;">Jalen did it, and
now she must use every ounce of her strength and cunning to send the signs back
where they belong. Lives, including her own, depend upon it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
THE 13<span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span> SIGN is a retelling of the twelve labors of Hercules, so a nice fit with a
classics unit. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Kirkus</i> called it “the
ultimate astrological fantasy.” <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Booklist</i>
recommends THE 13<span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span> SIGN for grades 5 – 8. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:DocumentProperties>
<o:Revision>0</o:Revision>
<o:TotalTime>0</o:TotalTime>
<o:Pages>1</o:Pages>
<o:Words>248</o:Words>
<o:Characters>1418</o:Characters>
<o:Company>Creative Freelance Writing</o:Company>
<o:Lines>11</o:Lines>
<o:Paragraphs>3</o:Paragraphs>
<o:CharactersWithSpaces>1663</o:CharactersWithSpaces>
<o:Version>14.0</o:Version>
</o:DocumentProperties>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>JA</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
<w:UseFELayout/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="276">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-language:JA;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<!--EndFragment--><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana;">Thank you, friends! Good luck! </span><o:p></o:p></div>
Kristin Tubbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05657534927169563930noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19560058.post-80559697402728214512014-01-02T15:08:00.000-06:002014-01-02T15:08:14.495-06:00And the word for 2014 is...<div>
I played basketball for one year in seventh grade. (To be truly accurate, I played in A Basketball Game for 10 minutes or so in my seventh grade year.) <span style="line-height: 16.5pt;">So when my husband told me that the business buzzword of 2014 </span><span style="line-height: 22px;">would</span><span style="line-height: 16.5pt;"> be "pivot," the first thing that came to mind was Ms. Mitchell, my junior high basketball coach, yelling from the sidelines, "Pivot! Pivot!" </span></div>
<div>
<span style="line-height: 16.5pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie57BZIoQIuyatKtiPqgRnht4PSlDK3_BOBLIZLbwVH0fgpsINoe6XrX_nyzmJmMPCPSSSyAEUWgXN6radyAqweFs3CbApRz2dIhJixsV7DWseb5ppwBNNUXTc0DrF7KXIdq62/s1600/pivot+image.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie57BZIoQIuyatKtiPqgRnht4PSlDK3_BOBLIZLbwVH0fgpsINoe6XrX_nyzmJmMPCPSSSyAEUWgXN6radyAqweFs3CbApRz2dIhJixsV7DWseb5ppwBNNUXTc0DrF7KXIdq62/s1600/pivot+image.jpg" /></a></div>
<div>
<span style="line-height: 16.5pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pivot">Pivot.</a> "To spin about a central point." It sounds jargony. And lingotastic. And just vague enough/specific enough to have all the right qualities for a good buzzword. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
And the more I think about it, the more I like what pivot stands for: </div>
<div>
<span style="line-height: 16.5pt;">-to be both rooted and moving</span></div>
<div>
<div>
-to have a core, an anchoring point, and yet always searching for new opportunities</div>
<div>
-to seek out team players</div>
<div>
<span style="line-height: 16.5pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="line-height: 16.5pt;">To pivot means you're in a good position, but you are rotating to find a new perspective. To pivot is to see the same spot from many points of view. I am blessed in so many ways, and I feel centered (Usually! For the most part!) by these blessings. But like most folks, I could use a fresh perspective. I could be both rooted and rotating. I could seek out exciting new ways to do what I love, to search for avenues of improvement, to scan my surroundings and be AWARE. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="line-height: 16.5pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="line-height: 16.5pt;">I could pivot. </span></div>
</div>
<div>
<span style="line-height: 16.5pt;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div>
<span style="line-height: 16.5pt;">How about you? Care to share your word for 2014? </span></div>
Kristin Tubbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05657534927169563930noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19560058.post-37990004724778277982013-06-24T09:06:00.000-05:002013-06-24T09:07:57.630-05:00Cover Reveal for FAKING NORMAL by Courtney C. Stevens!<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:DocumentProperties>
<o:Revision>0</o:Revision>
<o:TotalTime>0</o:TotalTime>
<o:Pages>1</o:Pages>
<o:Words>898</o:Words>
<o:Characters>5124</o:Characters>
<o:Company>Creative Freelance Writing</o:Company>
<o:Lines>42</o:Lines>
<o:Paragraphs>12</o:Paragraphs>
<o:CharactersWithSpaces>6010</o:CharactersWithSpaces>
<o:Version>14.0</o:Version>
</o:DocumentProperties>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:PixelsPerInch>96</o:PixelsPerInch>
<o:TargetScreenSize>800x600</o:TargetScreenSize>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>JA</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="276">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Calibri;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i>Hello, friends! You might have thought that it would take an overwhelming, outstanding event to break me of my blog-posting silence. Well, you'd be right! Today, I'm sharing the cover of FAKING NORMAL, the amazing YA book by Courtney C. Stevens that will debut Spring of 2014. Courtney is in my critique group, so I had the honor of reading this book in its earlier stages. It's a beautiful, powerful story, guys. One you will read again and again, and absorb into your heart. So...here's more from Courtney! </i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Hello
awesome people! Before we get into the cover stuff, I want to thank all the
bloggers and authors who are helping today with this reveal. This is such a
fantastic and talented community, and I'm fortunate to be a part of it.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
And now on
to the main event, the cover of <em>Faking Normal</em>:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<a href="http://i1315.photobucket.com/albums/t596/thehouseworkcanwait/FakingNormalCover_zps84cd3151.jpg"><img alt="" class="aligncenter" height="680" src="http://i1315.photobucket.com/albums/t596/thehouseworkcanwait/FakingNormalCover_zps84cd3151.jpg" title="Faking Normal Cover" width="450" /></a><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<em>Designed by Laura Lyn
DiSiena</em></div>
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Reasons I
LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the cover:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
1. It’s
beautiful.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
2. It tells
a story without words.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
3. Have you
seen the awesome paper cut trees???<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<strong>Here's
what the publisher (HarperTeen) has to say about <em>Faking
Normal</em>:</strong><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<blockquote>
Alexi
Littrell hasn’t told anyone what happened to her over the summer. Ashamed and
embarrassed, she hides in her closet and compulsively scratches the back of her
neck, trying to make the outside hurt more than the inside does.<o:p></o:p></blockquote>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
At school,
nobody sees the scratches or her pain. The only person she connects with is the
mysterious Captain Lyric, who writes song lyrics on her fourth-period desk for
her to complete. With pencil marks and music, Alexi carves out a comfortable
space for herself as she and the Captain finish each other’s songs – words on a
desk feel safer than words spoken aloud.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
But when
Bodee Lennox, the quiet and awkward boy next door, comes to live with the
Littrells, Alexi discovers an unlikely friend who understands her better than
anyone. He has secrets of his own and knows all about suffering in silence. As
they lean on each other for support, Alexi gives him the strength to deal with
his past, and Bodee helps her find the courage to finally speak up.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
With her
powerful, moving debut novel, author Courtney C. Stevens emerges as an
extraordinary new talent to watch.</div>
<o:p></o:p>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<em>Faking
Normal will be released from HarperTeen on February 25, 2014. Yes, this is
earlier than the date listed on <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0062245384/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0062245384&linkCode=as2&tag=thehoucanwai-20" target="_blank">Amazon</a>. </em><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong>About the
author:</strong></div>
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong><a href="http://i1315.photobucket.com/albums/t596/thehouseworkcanwait/CourtneyStevens_zpsbc3ffec7.jpg"><img alt="" class="aligncenter" height="225" src="http://i1315.photobucket.com/albums/t596/thehouseworkcanwait/CourtneyStevens_zpsbc3ffec7.jpg" title="Courtney Stevens" width="150" /></a></strong></div>
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
Courtney C. Stevens grew up in
Kentucky and lives in Nashville, Tennessee. She is an adjunct professor and a
former youth minister. Her other skills include playing hide-and-seek, climbing
trees, and being an Olympic torch bearer. <em>Faking Normal</em> is
her first novel.</div>
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<strong>The
goods on the Cover Reveal Contest:</strong><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
You don’t
know me. Twitter doesn’t know me. Facebook doesn’t know me. Goodreads doesn’t
know me. Amazon pre-sales doesn’t know me. (This is one of the great challenges
of being a debut author.)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Please help
change my anonymity by placing <em>Faking Normal</em> on the radar
of readers, bloggers, reviewers, and you know … people who like to win stuff.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
A few deets
on the prize package-<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
The winner
receives:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
-
A signed ARC of Faking Normal<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
-
A hand-painted cover rock by Court<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
-
Signed postcard<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
-
Silicone “Channel Your Brave” bracelet<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Since
hand-painted cover rock isn’t usual book swag, I thought you might want a
little background. In my little family, we paint rocks for significant events.
I currently have three different book rocks that someone in my family made. One
for when I got an agent, another for when I went out on submission, and finally
one for when we sold <em>Faking Normal</em>.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<a href="http://i1315.photobucket.com/albums/t596/thehouseworkcanwait/CourtRocks_zps370ac35d.jpg?t=1371848040"><img alt="" class="aligncenter" height="250" src="http://i1315.photobucket.com/albums/t596/thehouseworkcanwait/CourtRocks_zps370ac35d.jpg?t=1371848040" title="CS Rocks" width="250" /></a><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
I thought it
would be cool if I shared the tradition with one lucky winner by making a
cover-inspired rock.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<a href="http://i1315.photobucket.com/albums/t596/thehouseworkcanwait/FNRock_zps18dcfe00.jpg"><img alt="" class="aligncenter" height="333" src="http://i1315.photobucket.com/albums/t596/thehouseworkcanwait/FNRock_zps18dcfe00.jpg" title="FN Rock" width="250" /></a><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
(You might
also be interested to know the bottom of the rock contains a spoiler: some of
the first lyric quotes written by the main character and her Captain Lyric.)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<strong>Enter
by filling out the Rafflecopter below.</strong><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
(U.S. only.
Giveaway ends July 8, 2013.)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<a class="rafl" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/4ed9e50/" id="rc-4ed9e50" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<script src="//d12vno17mo87cx.cloudfront.net/embed/rafl/cptr.js"></script><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<strong>You
can find Courtney here:</strong><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Email –
<a href="mailto:channelingbrave@gmail.com">channelingbrave@gmail.com</a><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<a href="https://twitter.com/Quartland" target="_blank">Twitter</a><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<a href="http://channelingbrave.tumblr.com/" target="_blank">Tumblr</a><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/CourtneyCStevens" target="_blank">Facebook</a><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
And she
would love if you would <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15726915-faking-normal" target="_blank">add <em>Faking Normal</em> to
your Goodreads shelf</a> and <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0062245384/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0062245384&linkCode=as2&tag=thehoucanwai-20" target="_blank">pre-order <em>Faking
Normal </em>on Amazon.</a><o:p></o:p></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Kristin Tubbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05657534927169563930noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19560058.post-74115239083481309402012-12-11T10:01:00.000-06:002012-12-11T10:01:20.096-06:00And the winners are...
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:DocumentProperties>
<o:Revision>0</o:Revision>
<o:TotalTime>0</o:TotalTime>
<o:Pages>1</o:Pages>
<o:Words>342</o:Words>
<o:Characters>1952</o:Characters>
<o:Company>Creative Freelance Writing</o:Company>
<o:Lines>16</o:Lines>
<o:Paragraphs>4</o:Paragraphs>
<o:CharactersWithSpaces>2290</o:CharactersWithSpaces>
<o:Version>14.0</o:Version>
</o:DocumentProperties>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>JA</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
<w:UseFELayout/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="276">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-language:JA;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Congratulations to the following folks who were winners in
the 13 Days of THE 13<sup>TH</sup> SIGN Preorder Contest! <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Day Aries, sponsored by <a href="http://thebookvortex.com/" target="_blank">The Book Vortex</a>: Lucile @ Book Sp(l)ot Review!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Day Taurus, sponsored by <a href="http://www.thehouseworkcanwait.com/" target="_blank">TheHousework Can Wait</a>: Becky Levine!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Day Gemini, sponsored by <a href="http://magnet4books.blogspot.com/">Magnet 4 Books</a>: CJ Schooler!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Day Cancer, sponsored by <a href="http://www.abbythelibrarian.com/">Abby the Librarian</a>: Julie Patton!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Day Leo, sponsored by the <a href="http://motherdaughterbookclub.com/">Mother-Daughter Book Club</a>: Penny Piva!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Day Virgo, sponsored by <a href="http://www.srjohannes.com/">Market
My Words</a>: Michael Gettel-Gilmartin!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Day Libra, sponsored by <a href="http://dulemba.blogspot.com/">Elizabeth O. Dulemba</a>: Betsy
Fitzpatrick!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Day Scorpio, sponsored by <a href="http://citrusreads.blogspot.com/">Citrus Reads</a>: <i>prize donated back by winner for launch<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; text-indent: -.5in;">
Day Ophiuchus,
sponsored by <a href="http://www.yabookscentral.com/">Young Adult Book Central</a>:
<i>prize donated back by winner for launch<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; text-indent: -.5in;">
Day Sagittarius,
sponsored by <a href="http://bloggers-heart-books.blogspot.com/">Bloggers
[heart] Books</a>: <i>prize donated back by
winner for launch<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; text-indent: -.5in;">
Day Capricorn,
sponsored by <a href="http://middlegrademafioso.blogspot.com/">Middle Grade
Mafioso</a>: Margo Sorensen!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; text-indent: -.5in;">
Day Aquarius,
sponsored by <a href="http://smack-dab-in-the-middle.blogspot.com/">Smack Dab
in the Middle</a>: Leane Gill!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; text-indent: -.5in;">
Day Pisces,
sponsored by <a href="http://www.fromthemixedupfiles.com/">From the Mixed-Up
Files of Middle-Grade Authors</a>: Kayla Beck!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; text-indent: -.5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; text-indent: -.5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; text-indent: -.5in;">
And the Grand
Prize Winner of the Nexus 7 ereader: Betsy Fitzpatrick! <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; text-indent: -.5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; text-indent: -.5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHtIa222n5VX1dSO12dU6W234_tY5Jp49Fz6DBRkftx12MXCVgWybqAiOfFuGtafAHLR3Jo1KUTusXK_VgMkI4kWqdrVvveueVcZk7QyGwxd9fPIoYwQ-_kxmRaQIZ6p9scAGb/s1600/fireworks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHtIa222n5VX1dSO12dU6W234_tY5Jp49Fz6DBRkftx12MXCVgWybqAiOfFuGtafAHLR3Jo1KUTusXK_VgMkI4kWqdrVvveueVcZk7QyGwxd9fPIoYwQ-_kxmRaQIZ6p9scAGb/s1600/fireworks.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; text-indent: -.5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; text-indent: -.5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Thank you to the 13 amazing bloggers who participated in
this event, and to everyone who preordered a copy of THE 13<sup>TH</sup> SIGN! A
$1-per-preorder matching donation has been made to <a href="http://www.rif.org/">Reading
Is Fundamental</a>. I’m delighted to support an organization that puts
books in the hands of kids who need them most. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And thank you, friends! I am floored by your enthusiasm and
generosity! And if you haven’t already, hop over to take the super-fun <a href="http://13thsignquiz.com/">13<sup>th</sup> Sign Quiz!</a><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
You guys are the greatest. I am one lucky/blessed/happy author! </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Kristin Tubbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05657534927169563930noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19560058.post-29913593492442124732012-11-24T08:57:00.000-06:002012-11-24T08:57:06.041-06:00Day Taurus of THE 13TH SIGN Preorder Contest......is up! It's over at <a href="http://www.thehouseworkcanwait.com/" target="_blank">The Housework Can Wait</a> blog, and there are some more great prizes today! Hop over and see how easy it is to enter! Preorder THE 13TH SIGN and make me give $$$ to RIF!<br />
<br />
<br />Kristin Tubbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05657534927169563930noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19560058.post-1003988992494977822012-11-23T10:09:00.000-06:002012-11-23T10:09:21.226-06:0013 Days of THE 13TH SIGN Preorder Contest!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrgYWlCnyaIlEi0U1CG-j7osh3LoGPru058w4BWqq4Ug4cKM8_KFZX_7-oN2kMW4PwZZ0cSDdK16xOu-coVOM0BVGtmFuvXoZ0OiW6n0DR3ysz632kotKpx3Ivhim61R71tolo/s1600/13thSign.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrgYWlCnyaIlEi0U1CG-j7osh3LoGPru058w4BWqq4Ug4cKM8_KFZX_7-oN2kMW4PwZZ0cSDdK16xOu-coVOM0BVGtmFuvXoZ0OiW6n0DR3ysz632kotKpx3Ivhim61R71tolo/s320/13thSign.jpg" width="211" /></a></div>
<br />
Greetings, everyone, and WELCOME, WELCOME to the 13 Days of THE 13TH SIGN Preorder Contest! I am lucky/blessed/very, very thankful to have 13 ahhh-mazing bloggers help me with this contest! There are over 80 prizes to be won (several each day for the next 13 days) and a grand prize of a <a href="https://play.google.com/store/devices/details?id=nexus_7_16gb" target="_blank">Nexus 7 ereader</a>, which can read ebooks bought from indie stores! (The grand prize winner will be announced here on Friday, December 7.)<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
AND! For EACH AND EVERY preorder receipt of THE 13th SIGN I receive, I will donate $1.00 to <a href="http://www.rif.org/" target="_blank">Reading Is Fundamental (RIF)</a>. RIF is dedicated to placing books in the hands of kids who need them the most. Please: make me give gobs and gobs of money to RIF!</div>
<br />
<br />
Day Aries of this contest is sponsored by Hannah Courtney over at <a href="http://thebookvortex.com/?p=1294" target="_blank">The Book Vortex</a>. Hop over there for all the details and see what TODAY'S prize is! There are many ways to enter the contest to win:<br />
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:DocumentProperties>
<o:Revision>0</o:Revision>
<o:TotalTime>0</o:TotalTime>
<o:Pages>1</o:Pages>
<o:Words>145</o:Words>
<o:Characters>830</o:Characters>
<o:Company>Creative Freelance Writing</o:Company>
<o:Lines>6</o:Lines>
<o:Paragraphs>1</o:Paragraphs>
<o:CharactersWithSpaces>974</o:CharactersWithSpaces>
<o:Version>14.0</o:Version>
</o:DocumentProperties>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>JA</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
<w:UseFELayout/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="276">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-language:JA;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
-Each preorder of THE 13th SIGN = 10 entries into
grand prize drawing and 10 entries into that day’s drawing<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
- Each person who blogs about the contest = 10 entries into
that day’s drawing<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
-Each person who changes Twitter or Facebook avatar to cover
= 5 entries into that day’s drawing (for each day it is present) <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
-Each Tweet or Facebook status mention of the book and
contest = 2 entries for that day’s drawing (must include hashtag #the13thsign)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
-Each RT of book and/or contest = 1 entry for that day’s
drawing<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
BUT. You have to preorder <a href="http://www.indiebound.org/book/9780312583521">THE 13<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">th</span> SIGN</a>
to enter to win the grand prize and to have your purchase matched with a <a href="http://www.rif.org/">RIF</a> donation. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
ALSO. To make sure you get the correct amount of entries, please
let me know if you’ve done any of the above! You can email me at <a href="mailto:ktubb@comcast.net">ktubb@comcast.net</a> with everything you’ve
done to enter. <o:p></o:p></div>
<!--EndFragment--><br />
<br />
So. Plan to visit each of these blogs over the next 13 days to see each day's prize package. There are books! And swag! Gift certificates! Jewelry! And MORE!<br />
<br />
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:DocumentProperties>
<o:Revision>0</o:Revision>
<o:TotalTime>0</o:TotalTime>
<o:Pages>1</o:Pages>
<o:Words>169</o:Words>
<o:Characters>966</o:Characters>
<o:Company>Creative Freelance Writing</o:Company>
<o:Lines>8</o:Lines>
<o:Paragraphs>2</o:Paragraphs>
<o:CharactersWithSpaces>1133</o:CharactersWithSpaces>
<o:Version>14.0</o:Version>
</o:DocumentProperties>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>JA</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
<w:UseFELayout/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="276">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-language:JA;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
DAY ARIES: <a href="http://thebookvortex.com/">The Book
Vortex</a><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
DAY TAURUS: <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><a href="http://www.thehouseworkcanwait.com/">The Housework Can Wait</a><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
DAY GEMINI:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><a href="http://magnet4books.blogspot.com/">Magnet 4 Books</a><u><span style="color: blue; mso-themecolor: hyperlink;"><o:p></o:p></span></u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
DAY CANCER: <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><a href="http://www.abbythelibrarian.com/">Abby the Librarian</a> <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
DAY LEO: <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><a href="http://motherdaughterbookclub.com/">Mother Daughter Book Club</a><span class="MsoHyperlink"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
DAY VIRGO: <a href="http://www.srjohannes.com/">S. R.
Johannes/Market My Words</a><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
DAY LIBRA: <a href="http://dulemba.blogspot.com/">Elizabeth
O. Dulemba</a><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
DAY SCORPIO:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><a href="http://citrusreads.blogspot.com/">Citrus Reads</a><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
DAY OPHIUCHUS: <a href="http://www.yabookscentral.com/">Young
Adult Books Central</a><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
DAY SAGITTARIUS: <a href="http://bloggers-heart-books.blogspot.com/">Bloggers [heart] Books</a><span class="MsoHyperlink"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
DAY CAPRICORN: - <a href="http://middlegrademafioso.blogspot.com/">Middle Grade Mafioso</a><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
DAY AQUARIUS: <a href="http://smack-dab-in-the-middle.blogspot.com/">Smack Dab in the Middle</a>
<span class="MsoHyperlink"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
DAY PISCES: <a href="http://www.fromthemixedupfiles.com/">From
the Mixed-Up Files of Middle Grade Authors</a><span class="MsoHyperlink"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<!--EndFragment--><br />
<br />
And finally, just for fun: there is now a <a href="http://13thsignquiz.com/" target="_blank">13th SIGN Quiz!</a> Take it and pass along the results of which horoscope sign YOU act like!<br />
<br />
<br />Kristin Tubbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05657534927169563930noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19560058.post-53415761252453506332012-07-17T17:25:00.000-05:002012-07-17T17:25:52.985-05:00An Author and Her ARCs: A Photo EssayToday I received (yippee! hooray! hip hip hootie hoo!) the Advance Reader Copies of THE 13TH SIGN! This is my third time to go through this stage, and it feels just as exciting and terrifying and wonderful and scary as the very first time. So, in honor of authors and their ARCs, I share with you the roller coaster of emotions an author goes through when she sees her BOOK for the very first time:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuDtSjpgGaRanzUwtGGouNisu-PQ1e8hh1yXwCHRsBhDqGDOeFVXGHzKVDGsPcITL-b5NH-smqgyWT-1F4TdC3f4R28Vd-xAshsUSVQZ3gFjN_w8AS0-dm5YBVGVDYMAyaYs26/s1600/photo+essay+one.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuDtSjpgGaRanzUwtGGouNisu-PQ1e8hh1yXwCHRsBhDqGDOeFVXGHzKVDGsPcITL-b5NH-smqgyWT-1F4TdC3f4R28Vd-xAshsUSVQZ3gFjN_w8AS0-dm5YBVGVDYMAyaYs26/s320/photo+essay+one.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFS6RuYKZATmmj6QDj6AjP7Hrj8d5dSBHQjAiAWbJx5-QIqPmMBVtzTiGI2gfQv5STxhe-K2TjHGhY0JzdmZ2DRLa_w8uqXV0Rl47qh3RHWzfl6ccBkU_3wAm3IWKumTnPnrZB/s1600/photo+essay+four.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFS6RuYKZATmmj6QDj6AjP7Hrj8d5dSBHQjAiAWbJx5-QIqPmMBVtzTiGI2gfQv5STxhe-K2TjHGhY0JzdmZ2DRLa_w8uqXV0Rl47qh3RHWzfl6ccBkU_3wAm3IWKumTnPnrZB/s320/photo+essay+four.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUiYo-2MaBlexJgSN4kcMxW4Lj5SKO-wvicn7igZjB6ni2_V7D6qXQ-su_qWtsxN4aa3lBSR5Mr1DHdIhHhfzDsBryjqMgpCOe0XvHcekVwz09K7QJC29N05_-M5oTLjCMjOcZ/s1600/photo+essay+three.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUiYo-2MaBlexJgSN4kcMxW4Lj5SKO-wvicn7igZjB6ni2_V7D6qXQ-su_qWtsxN4aa3lBSR5Mr1DHdIhHhfzDsBryjqMgpCOe0XvHcekVwz09K7QJC29N05_-M5oTLjCMjOcZ/s320/photo+essay+three.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbnGTgJca24WpnbeSzhcWmGz2TLQEe5DN9DEfErr4Mh2J7V6LEBEPoNgsOy3FVltgAKWeoXkXrWr8vKy8dVuZSOoGDQLuJu0lk1vjtI4xUTCVjx_BN_ACT9Z3GhN8PtkzN0Ri_/s1600/photo+essay+two.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbnGTgJca24WpnbeSzhcWmGz2TLQEe5DN9DEfErr4Mh2J7V6LEBEPoNgsOy3FVltgAKWeoXkXrWr8vKy8dVuZSOoGDQLuJu0lk1vjtI4xUTCVjx_BN_ACT9Z3GhN8PtkzN0Ri_/s320/photo+essay+two.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnPEcuQqm2tFwbFZJ9OK16aU2Csa3uhe99QWuzBjxQsGnuKGtSHG-5LdaRS7QUxBQNunnYQXA3LvGpeb-GSMrAmQVw5Ji3ZRHdMR_yQ8G-kVMo2b1Bquhvp9DNKv5oz5oJWmZ5/s1600/photo+essay+five.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnPEcuQqm2tFwbFZJ9OK16aU2Csa3uhe99QWuzBjxQsGnuKGtSHG-5LdaRS7QUxBQNunnYQXA3LvGpeb-GSMrAmQVw5Ji3ZRHdMR_yQ8G-kVMo2b1Bquhvp9DNKv5oz5oJWmZ5/s320/photo+essay+five.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
(photo credits: The Peanut)<br />
<br />
Did I miss one? I'm happy to (very goofily) portray one I've missed! :-) Thanks for sharing in the joy, everyone!<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Kristin Tubbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05657534927169563930noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19560058.post-31259023988080526232012-07-02T09:47:00.000-05:002012-07-02T09:47:08.821-05:00And the winners are...<div style="text-align: center;">
<img height="133" src="webkit-fake-url://45BB3D57-550A-4C5A-B10E-A4D1E98E0258/image.tiff" width="200" /></div>
<br />
Thank you, THANK YOU to everyone who participated in THE 13TH SIGN Cover Reveal Contest! Your answers made me laugh, and you guys saw more zodiac signs than I did! (The interpretations were a little loose at times, but I was impressed with the creativity in your answers!) The winners of the prizes are as follows:<br />
<br />
1. The $50 gift card to <a href="http://www.parnassusbooks.net/" target="_blank">Parnassus Books (</a>which WAS an IndieBound gift card, but I found out that IndieBound doesn't do that. Parnassus Books has a website, so the gift card can be used nationwide): CATHERINE DING!<br />
2. The signed copies of SELLING HOPE and AUTUMN WINIFRED OLVIER DOES THINGS DIFFERENT: ALYSSA SUSANNA!<br />
3. The book basket with 3 yummy middle grade books (see below): CASSIDY GRACE!<br />
<br />
Winners, I will contact you via email for shipping addresses, etc. Again, thank you to everyone who played along in the contest. You are ALL winners in my book! *smooshy reading hugs*Kristin Tubbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05657534927169563930noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19560058.post-67915006488502064712012-06-13T08:29:00.001-05:002012-06-13T08:29:35.269-05:00The Cover Reveal of THE 13th SIGN - and a CONTEST!<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:DocumentProperties>
<o:Revision>0</o:Revision>
<o:TotalTime>0</o:TotalTime>
<o:Pages>1</o:Pages>
<o:Words>316</o:Words>
<o:Characters>1803</o:Characters>
<o:Company>Creative Freelance Writing</o:Company>
<o:Lines>15</o:Lines>
<o:Paragraphs>4</o:Paragraphs>
<o:CharactersWithSpaces>2115</o:CharactersWithSpaces>
<o:Version>14.0</o:Version>
</o:DocumentProperties>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>JA</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
<w:UseFELayout/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="276">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-language:JA;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Here is it, friends: the aaaah-mazing cover for THE 13<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">th</span> SIGN:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQO-tE4My5d6obNLgsZRQMI6RlTS8oxtgCas0HWhdlrmxSyIQSAN3hYSG-I1ep57VXpaiBer95nk8M-PeJJv5qdmEfUXD-NytDLEVMHt76d-rcgtT_t_PTKhvS7xYNDucoypkk/s1600/13thSign.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQO-tE4My5d6obNLgsZRQMI6RlTS8oxtgCas0HWhdlrmxSyIQSAN3hYSG-I1ep57VXpaiBer95nk8M-PeJJv5qdmEfUXD-NytDLEVMHt76d-rcgtT_t_PTKhvS7xYNDucoypkk/s640/13thSign.jpg" width="419" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And the jacket copy:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-outline-level: 1;">
“<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana;">What if there was a 13th
zodiac sign? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana;">You’re no longer Sagittarius, but Ophiuchus, the
healer, the 13th sign. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana;">Your personality has changed. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-outline-level: 1;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana;">So has your mom’s and your
best friend’s. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana;">What about the rest of the world? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana;">What if <i>you</i> were the one who accidentally
unlocked the 13th sign, causing this world-altering change—and infuriating the
other 12 signs? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana;">Jalen did it, and now she must use every ounce of
her strength and cunning to send the signs back where they belong. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana;">Lives, including her own, depend on it.”</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Thank you, as always, to cover designer Rich Deas and the fantastic Feiwel &
Friends team for knocking it out of the ballpark again! <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And to celebrate the gorgeousness above, we’re having a
COVER REVEAL CONTEST! Here’s how it works:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
-Search the cover above for THREE zodiac symbols.
Got them? Good! Then…</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
-Email your answers by June 30 to <a href="mailto:ktubb@comcast.net">ktubb@comcast.net</a> to…</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
-Be entered into a drawing! The following will be
doled out randomly to three folks who send in correct answers:</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
-a $50 IndieBound gift card! <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
-a signed hardcover of SELLING HOPE
plus a signed paperback of AUTUMN WINIFRED OLIVER DOES THINGS DIFFERENT!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
-a book “basket” including three of
my favorite recent middle grade books: BRIDGE TO TIME by Lewis Buzbee, THE
STRANGE CASE OF ORIGAMI YODA by Tom Angleberger, and THE GIRL WHO
CIRCUMNAVIGATED FAIRYLAND IN A SHIP OF HER OWN MAKING by Catherynne M. Valente</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 31.5pt; text-indent: -13.5pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
BONUS! Anyone who includes a FOUTH zodiac symbol in their answers will get double entries for the above drawing!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And that’s it!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Start
searching and emailing! Thanks for playing, friends! (And please remember to email your answers, rather than post them in the comments below. But comments on the cover? OH SO WELCOME. :-) )<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
P.S. THE 13th SIGN comes out January 8, 2013, but if you’d like to preorder it, you
can do so <a href="http://www.amazon.com/13th-Sign-Kristin-Donnell-Tubb/dp/0312583524/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1339593586&sr=8-1&keywords=the+13th+sign+tubb" target="_blank">here</a> (Amazon) or <a href="http://www.indiebound.org/book/9780312583521" target="_blank">here </a>(Indiebound)!
You’ll be automatically be eligible for the upcoming THE 13<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">th</span> SIGN
Preorder Contest – more details on that coming soon! <span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Kristin Tubbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05657534927169563930noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19560058.post-14187479335500826342012-04-15T18:14:00.002-05:002012-04-15T18:52:11.436-05:00Young Writers Spotlight: The 100th Anniversary of the Sinking of the Titantic<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; ">In honor of the 100th anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic, I thought I'd share a haunting yet lovely poem by Christal H., a 6th-grader from Woodland Middle School:</span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; "><br />Prior to the tragedy,<br />She was sailing calmly<br />The sea is filled with shouts<br />Of the dead the living will now do without<br />Behold! The unsinkable Titanic<br />has sunken.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; "><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; ">Christal sent this to me after I visited her school, and I've reprinted it here with her permission. I *love* when kids share their amazing creations! Christal is so talented, isn't she?<br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; "><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;font-size:85%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">Please look for other Young Writers Spotlights here in the future - this kind of talent deserves to be shared! Thanks again for the poem, Christal! Happy writing, all!</span></span></div>Kristin Tubbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05657534927169563930noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19560058.post-80446243194848225072011-07-27T15:08:00.005-05:002011-07-27T15:26:38.369-05:00Interview with Crystal Kite Winner AND National Book Award Winner Kathryn Erskine!<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Know what I love about </span></span><a href="http://www.scbwi.org/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">SCBWI</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">? Many, many things, but one of them is the camaraderie you'll find among its members. Like recently, when I was so VERY honored to win the Crystal Kite Member's Choice Award for</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Kansas/Louisiana/Arkansas/Tennessee/Kentucky/Missouri (Thank you again, SCBWI friends!). </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> One of the fellow honorees (I don't remember who - sorry!) suggested that we invite one another onto our blogs. And so here I am, lucky enough to have NATIONAL BOOK AWARD WINNER Kathryn Erskine by for a visit! Kathryn won the Crystal Kite Award in </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Pennsylvania/Delaware/New Jersey/Wash DC/Virginia/West Virginia/Maryland</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> for MOCKINGBIRD. (And stay tuned for more Crystal Kite winners, too!) </span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:19px;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Helvetica;font-size:6;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:19px;"><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><img src="webkit-fake-url://453E4634-8CA0-4595-BF84-3E9CD0AA0872/mockingbird.jpg" alt="mockingbird.jpg" /></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><br /></p></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:19px;">Me: You've grown up all over the world! Do you think those experiences color your writing? How?</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:19px;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:19px;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:19px;">KE: Definitely.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I like looking at things from a different perspective.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I like understanding the differences in people and cultures.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I like the varied cadence of languages and music.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>All of that goes into my writing.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Also, growing up as the new kid on the block and odd one out (I went to 8 different schools) leaves its mark.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I understand that feeling of being on the outside that we all have at one time or another.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>That makes it easy to empathize with people, including my characters.</span></div> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:19px;">Me: Your latest book is THE ABSOLUTE VALUE OF MIKE. Can you tell us more about it?</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:19px;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:19px;">KE: Actually, if you take the two middle letters out of the main character’s name, you’re left with “me.”<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The story is really about you, the reader.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Finding what you’re good at.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Finding what you’re passionate about.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Finding your value.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Mike is trying to live up to others’ expectations and not be who he really is -- partly, because he doesn’t know what he’s good at.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>After a summer with some really wacky relatives and townspeople, he figures it out and has to stand up for who he really is.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>There’s lots of humor, and it’s lighter than Mockingbird, although finding out who you are is important business.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:19px;"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:19px;">Me: What one piece of advice would you give to aspiring writers? </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:19px;">KE: Keep at it.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>That means keep writing (and reading) and working on your craft, and keep going to workshops and conferences to continue to learn.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I love discovering information and having “Aha!” moments, and it’s great to see your writing improve.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:19px;">Me: And of course, I have to ask: THE NATIONAL BOOK AWARD for MOCKINGBIRD! Can you share with us getting The Call and what follows in the days after such a wonderful honor? </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:19px;">KE: Yes, when I got the call that Mockingbird was nominated I was so stunned that I said about three words, repeatedly.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Harold Augenbraum, National Book Foundation Executive Director, who made the call, was probably thinking, “This must be why she writes . . . she can’t actually speak.”</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:19px;">The award’s banquet was like the Oscars, complete with red carpet, and questions like, “Who are you wearing?”<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Only there was a dinner, too, so even better than the Oscars!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I wasn’t nervous because I really didn’t think my book would win, but my wise editor advised me to come up with an acceptance speech so I didn’t sound like I did during the phone call (see above).</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:19px;">Since then, it has been a whirlwind of travel, speeches, etc., and meeting many wonderful readers and supporters.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>It has been an incredible treat.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p> <!--EndFragment--> <div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-size:medium;">Having YOU visit has been an incredible treat, Kathy! Thank you for stopping by. Please, friends, go visit her on the web:</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-size:medium;"></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;"><a href="http://www.kathrynerskine.com/">http://www.kathrynerskine.com/</a></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;"><a href="http://www.kathrynerskine.com/"></a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;"><a href="http://kathyerskine.wordpress.com/">http://kathyerskine.wordpress.com/</a></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;"><a href="http://kathyerskine.wordpress.com/"></a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/kathy.erskine">http://www.facebook.com/kathy.erskine</a></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-size:medium;"> </span></span></div>Kristin Tubbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05657534927169563930noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19560058.post-61252295325303283242011-01-13T17:14:00.002-06:002011-01-13T17:20:12.941-06:00A Sneak Peek: The 13th Sign<!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in;line-height:200%">Twitter and Facebook have been all abuzz today thanks to <a href="http://chatter.latimes.com/chatter/2011/01/zodiac-signs-changed-ophiuchus.html">this article in the LA Times</a> announcing a “new” zodiac.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I’ve never been so excited to see the Twitter trends in my life, friends! My next middle grade novel, The 13<sup>th</sup> Sign, is all about the awakening of Ophiuchus and the lost sign of the zodiac.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> I'm delighted that everyone finds this as interesting as I do! </span>My Fabu Editor gave me permission to give everyone a “sneak peek.”<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>So here it is, a preview of The 13<sup>th</sup> Sign, coming from Feiwel & Friends/Macmillan in Fall 2012!</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in;line-height:200%">***</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in;line-height:200%">In the blue light of the attic, I held the pin next to the lock.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The snake on the pin was an exact match: tiny, intricately carved scales, a diamond-shaped head, a thin, slithery split tongue, emerald-green eyes.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Identical snakes, tangled together by fate.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in;line-height:200%">Before I considered the coincidence too much to scare me, I jammed the end of the pin - the point of the staff and the curl of the snake’s tail - into the lock on my new book.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in;line-height:200%">It fit.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in;line-height:200%">I turned the key in the lock, and the bodies of the snakes began to untangle.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The heads of the snakes twisted away from one another and toward me, sizing me up with blank emerald eyes.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The heart of the lock cracked slightly apart.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in;line-height:200%"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Click!<o:p></o:p></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in;line-height:200%">It was likely a tiny click, a small satisfying opening.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>But to me, that click echoed around this dark space, and I could feel it in my gut.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in;line-height:200%">“It worked!” Ellie said.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>She shot upright and slammed her head on a rafter.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>“I can’t believe that worked!”<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in;line-height:200%">“Me either,” I muttered.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in;line-height:200%">The lock had split apart just enough for me to remove the chains binding the book.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Which I did, carefully.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The cover was warped and crinkly stiff.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in;line-height:200%">I folded the book open, and its spine creaked.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>A yellowed piece of paper, obviously torn from the book, slid from the pages and floated to the floor of the attic.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>It was blank.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Or wait, no – it wasn’t blank?<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>A picture of the lock – the heart and snake lock I’d just opened – appeared in the middle of the page.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in;line-height:200%">Ellie nodded eagerly.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>“Put the lock there,” she said, nudging my shoulder.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I couldn’t see for sure in the dark attic, but I knew her eyes twinkled with anticipation.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in;line-height:200%">I picked up the lock, key still embedded, and placed it on the piece of paper on the floor.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I twisted the lock until its position matched the illustration.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The paper and the lock felt almost magnetized, drawn to one another in the pull of attraction, clicking precisely into position.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The moment it was aligned, the eyes of all three snakes – the two on the lock and the one on the key – flashed a burst of blinding green light.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in;line-height:200%"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Hisssssssssssss! </i>I jerked my hand away. A fine mist rose off the paper, a smoky, swirling, hissing mist.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>It stank like sulfur, like rotten eggs.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The eyes of the snakes dulled but continued to glow, pulsing in the dark attic.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in;line-height:200%">“What <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">is</i> that?” Ellie whispered, lifting her sweatshirt collar over her nose. I shook my head, too mesmerized to speak.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in;line-height:200%">The mist began to float and wind and twist to the outer edges of the piece of paper, revealing ink.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Moving, liquid-like ink.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>More snakes.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Black-ink snakes, darting and slithering toward one another, first forming letters…<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in;line-height:200%"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Unlock it. <o:p></o:p></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in;line-height:200%">And then a chart. <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in;line-height:200%">The ink soaked into the paper and I saw: It was a zodiac chart, round like the sun, divided into equal parts, one for each horoscope sign.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:200%"><span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>The mist cleared, the hissing faded, the pulsing green eyes lowered to a dull glow.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>But the sulfur smell remained, stinging my eyes and throat.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The lock, the paper, the chart remained as well.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:200%"><span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>Something was odd about this chart, aside from the fact that it had literally appeared from mist.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Nina was a staunch believer in astrology, so I’d seen plenty of zodiac charts, divided into the twelve horoscope signs. This one was different.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in;line-height:200%">And then I figured it out.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>This zodiac chart had thirteen signs.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Thirteen, not twelve.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I counted twice to make sure.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in;line-height:200%">“Thirteen signs…” I muttered to the paper.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>A new zodiac.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I didn’t believe in horoscopes or zodiacs or signs of any sort.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>And yet, staring at that new, crowded zodiac chart, a <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">zing </i>shot down my spine.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in;line-height:200%">“A sign between Sagittarius and Scorpio,” I said, studying the thirteen-sign chart, but still refusing to touch the paper.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I located my birth date.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>“Ophiuchus<span style="mso-bidi-font-size:16.0pt;line-height:200%;font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family:Arial">.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span></span>My new sign is Ophiuchus.”<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in;line-height:200%">Ellie flipped through the brittle pages of the book.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>“Hey, Ophiuchus is listed in here.” She read the description of the sign:</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:200%"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Ophiuchus, the snake.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Ophiuchus, thou art overlooked.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Thou hast a hunger, then, that thou strive to fill with knowledge, and thy seek the truth above all.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Because of this, thou art a favorite among authority figures. However, know that with hunger comes jealousy; the jealousy of the hungered cannot be matched.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Too, this black blood masks a vicious secretive streak, so that thou art wildly misinterpreted.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Because of this, thou lack trust and commitment.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>And yet, thy friends art thy lifeline; thou define thine own identity through the lens of others.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Should thou overcome thy crippling anger, thy healer’s hands have the power to revive lost souls.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in;line-height:200%">It was me.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in;line-height:200%">I hovered above the paper, studying this new zodiac chart – this <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">ancient </i>zodiac chart, according to what Ellie read in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">The Keypers of the Zodiack</i>.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>There were actually thirteen constellations in the path our planet took around the sun.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Thirteen signs, not twelve.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in;line-height:200%">“<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">’When the Babylonians first developed a zodiac chart</i>,’” Ellie read, “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">They rightly included all thirteen constellations.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The twelve-sign zodiac evolved later, from the Greeks.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The Greeks based their zodiac on the Legend of the Twelve Labours of Hercules.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>In this myth, Hercules had angered King Eurystheus, and the king demanded that Hercules perform Twelve Labours, or challenges, to spare his life.<o:p></o:p></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in;line-height:200%"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">“’As Hercules achieved victory after victory, he honored his challengers by casting them into the heavens as constellations.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>These twelve groupings of stars, the Greeks believed, were given the power to control our personalities</i>.’”<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in;line-height:200%">Ellie continued reading.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>“<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">’Over time, the twelve-sign zodiac became the standard.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The thirteenth sign, Ophiuchus, was forever lost.</i>’”<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in;line-height:200%">A lost sign.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in;line-height:200%"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes">***</span></p> <div style="text-indent: 48px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 32px;"><br /></span></div> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>So, friends, what do YOU think of the new zodiac?<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Does your new sign “fit?”<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>(Me: I’d be</p><p class="MsoNormal"> a Capricorn, not an Aquarian. And I relinquish the title very begrudgingly, thank you! <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Wingdings;">:-)</span>)</p><p class="MsoNormal">Please, chime in!<o:p></o:p></p> <!--EndFragment-->Kristin Tubbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05657534927169563930noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19560058.post-35710593019422838442011-01-05T21:09:00.003-06:002011-01-05T21:20:49.416-06:00the word of the year is...<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><a href="http://www.irenelatham.com/">Irene Latham</a>, author of the lovely middle-grade historical <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6532373-leaving-gee-s-bend">Leaving Gee's Bend</a>, posted this week about choosing a single word to help guide you through the year.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>A one-word resolution, if you will.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Irene, ever the poet, selected "deeper" as her word. Isn't that a wonderful word? And if I weren't so authorly-opposed to plagiarism, I might've just adopted that one, too. ;)</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal">Irene's idea to choose just one word really made me think. I've always been a huge fan of New Year's Resolutions - I do them every year, and I did them again this year.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>But to have one word that is your, well, <i>crutch</i> for an entire 12 months is appealing. There are far too many opportunistic moments that tiptoe by, and noticing them by thinking, "Oh, wow! That relates to Resolution #14-b" just seems unrealistic. (For the record, NO, I don't number my resolutions this way. As far as you know.)</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal">So let me start by sharing some of the words that were *almost* The Word, and the reasons why I ulmately passed on each:</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal">-"Content." It was the first word that came to mind when I started really thinking about this, and it's a perfectly lovely word. It's also something I do need to work on - being content, realizing how very blessed I truly am. But ultimately I passed on "content," not because I don't wish to count my blessings, but because I felt it carried an undertone of being stagnant. Learning and improving myself are very important to me. So "content" was shelved.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><o:p> </o:p>-"Brave." I thought of this one, originally, in the writing sense.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I'm in the middle of crafting a fantasy novel right now - my first.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I'm learning to try new things and take chances, and honestly, it's scary.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>But I passed on "brave," too, because it felt like it might correlate with "stubborn" once I considered...</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><o:p> </o:p>-"Open." This one was really, really close, folks.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I love everything about "open" - how, by its very nature, it means that new things have entered the picture.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Things that need opening.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Unlocking.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>It applies to spirituality, to family and parenting, to writing. And it, I believe, encompasses "brave." After all, you have to be brave to truly open yourself, no? So why did I pass on it? It feels passive to me, like that old portrait of a writer smoking a pipe and waiting for his muse to visit. Like waiting.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Those of you who know me well know that "passive" just ain't me.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal">So ultimately, the word I went with is... (drumroll please)...</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 114px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkt4hPdidukmtFIzTI-dlH-nszZgXwAh0vd_krZA3pKY2oYTatv_HQ0FBDdipliAYKv8pdppJWQzprHl5nwwvhfWf97f7bnmsCvNiAyOk72kX2iBfyo5aUvLMhUA031cDsTAl-/s200/present.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5558906137488599490" /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><o:p> </o:p>-"Present!" As in, to be present, in everything I do.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>One of my worst habits is rushingrushingrushing ahead, overcommitting, thinking of next hour, next week, next month, next story, nextnextnext. "Present" is the anti-next.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>It, too, applies to the most important aspects of my life: family, spirituality, writing.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>It's active, and it has such wonderful *other* connotations; who doesn't love presents?! To be fully present in one's writing, to be fully immersed in the story, in the character, in the NEED - that's what we're striving for as writers, isn't it? The immediate nature of this word, of how it roots you firmly in the now but still allows you to grow, is why "present" is my word of 2011.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><o:p> </o:p>So how about you? Have you ever selected one word as a guidepost? If not, give it a try! And if you have or do select one word, please, share! I'd love to hear what is guiding you and your art! </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><o:p></o:p></p> <!--EndFragment-->Kristin Tubbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05657534927169563930noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19560058.post-10350694366539265412010-11-09T09:46:00.004-06:002010-11-23T12:42:04.623-06:00The Sharing HOPE Contest!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPvuLXLGLPmMeu27h5RoYBFrEAeqDtfWLEGBl1Lf71pgr0ZProVI7zgFSQm78vcfmz-s9FlHQ379dDnjhupSXUdMwT1JKFMSDZ4jk7bndQSJO44G9Vo1Qy4avaSyntf5FyxCYo/s1600/SellingHopeFinalsmallsmall.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 138px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPvuLXLGLPmMeu27h5RoYBFrEAeqDtfWLEGBl1Lf71pgr0ZProVI7zgFSQm78vcfmz-s9FlHQ379dDnjhupSXUdMwT1JKFMSDZ4jk7bndQSJO44G9Vo1Qy4avaSyntf5FyxCYo/s200/SellingHopeFinalsmallsmall.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5537577895894714850" /></a><p class="MsoNormal">The Sharing <i>Hope </i>Contest!</p><p class="MsoNormal">November 9 – Month’s End</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Today is <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Selling Hope</i>’s official release date! I’m celebrating by giving away a book basket filled to the brim with fantastic new middle grade and YA books to one lucky winner who helps spread a little <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Selling Hope </i>love this month.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Here’s what’s up for grabs (these books ROCK, y’all):</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-left:.75in;mso-add-space:auto; text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l2 level1 lfo2"><span style="mso-bidi-mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin;font-family:Cambria;"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">1.<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">King of Ithaka </i>by Tracy Barrett</p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-left:.75in;mso-add-space:auto; text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l2 level1 lfo2"><span style="mso-bidi-mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin;font-family:Cambria;"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">2.<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Nice and Mean </i>by Jessica Leader</p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left:.75in;mso-add-space: auto;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l2 level1 lfo2"><span style="mso-bidi-mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin;font-family:Cambria;"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">3.<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Leaving Gee’s Bend </i>by Irene Latham</p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left:.75in;mso-add-space: auto;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l2 level1 lfo2"><span style="mso-bidi-mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin;font-family:Cambria;"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">4.<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">The Haunting of Charles Dickens </i>by Lewis Buzbee</p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left:.75in;mso-add-space: auto;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l2 level1 lfo2"><span style="mso-bidi-mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin;font-family:Cambria;"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">5.<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">This Means War! </i>by Ellen Wittlinger</p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left:.75in;mso-add-space: auto;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l2 level1 lfo2"><span style="mso-bidi-mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin;font-family:Cambria;"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">6.<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Autumn Winifred Oliver Does Things Different </i>– in paperback</p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left:.75in;mso-add-space:auto; text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l2 level1 lfo2"><span style="mso-bidi-mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin;font-family:Cambria;"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">7.<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Selling Hope </i>– signed to the winner</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">Plus, a few boxes of anti-comet pills, of course!</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">Here’s how the contest works:</p><p class="MsoNormal">1. Do one or more of the following things to help spread a little <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Hope</i>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"></span>2. Any time before the end of the month, post in the comments section of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">this post </i>what you did AND your email address.</p><p class="MsoNormal">3. The drawing will be in December; books will be shipped to the winner at that time.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">Promotional ideas:</p><p class="MsoNormal">1. Post in your Facebook status, “Halley’s Comet is coming and all I want to do is read <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Selling Hope!”</i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>2. </i>Include a link to a bookstore with the above</p><p class="MsoNormal">3. Post a picture of the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Selling Hope </i>cover on your Facebook wall (you’re welcome to nab the image above! ;-) )</p><p class="MsoNormal">4. Change your Facebook or Twitter profile pic to the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Selling Hope </i>cover. And uh, thank you, diehard! ;-) </p><p class="MsoNormal">5. Tweet or retweet about <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Selling Hope</i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>6. </i>Blog about <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Selling Hope</i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>7. </i>Write an Amazon.com/Barnes & Noble.com/Goodreads review</p><p class="MsoNormal">8. Any other ideas you might have – and please, share those with us in the comments!</p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast">Thank you for your help in spreading some <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Selling Hope </i>cheer!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Don’t forget to report in at the end of the month with what you did to share a little Hope!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>And <span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>remember to spread the love for ALL your favorite books and authors!</p> <p class="MsoNormal">THANK YOU, friends!</p><p class="MsoNormal">Addendum, 11/23/10: My FANTABULOUS Editor is sweetening the pot, y'all! There will now be 5 SIGNED copies of <i>Selling Hope </i>given to 5 runners up in the Sharing Hope Contest! Spread some cheer and report back here! :-)</p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Wingdings;mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria;mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-char-type:symbol;mso-symbol-font-family:Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type:symbol;mso-symbol-font-family:Wingdings;"><br /></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <!--EndFragment-->Kristin Tubbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05657534927169563930noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19560058.post-25589884450270621722010-10-26T11:52:00.004-05:002010-10-26T12:02:41.376-05:00SELLING HOPE gets a STARRED REVIEW from Booklist!Hi, all! I received some delightful news earlier: Selling Hope received a lovely starred review from the wonderful folks at Booklist! The entire review is below. Thank you so much, Booklist and Ian Chipman! What a thrill and honor. I am filled with gratitude. <div><br /></div><div>P.S. The star isn't coming through in my cut-and-paste action; just imagine a lovely star in the spot in front of the title, instead of the asterisk I've placed there. ;-) <div><br /></div><div><div class="OutlookMessageHeader" lang="en-us" dir="ltr" align="left" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "><b><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:100%;"><span style="font-weight: bold; font-size: 12pt; "><o:p> </o:p></span></span></b></div><div class="Section1" style="page: Section1; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: 12pt; margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; "><b><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:100%;"><span style="font-weight: bold; font-size: 12pt; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;">*</span>Selling Hope.<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: 12pt; margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; "><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:100%;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; ">Tubb, Kristin O' Donnell (Author)<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: 12pt; margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; "><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:100%;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; ">Nov 2010. 224 p. Feiwel and Friends, hardcover, $16.99. (9780312611224).<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: 12pt; margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; "><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:100%;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; ">In 1910, Halley’s Comet caused quite a pandemonium. Thirteen-year-old Hope, a smart and smarty-pants<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: 12pt; margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; "><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:100%;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; ">heroine, travels the country on the low-level vaudeville circuit with her magician dad, but she desperately<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: 12pt; margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; "><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:100%;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; ">wants to ditch the show and stay in <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Chicago</st1:place></st1:city>. To do that they’ll need money, and in a flash of inspiration,<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: 12pt; margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; "><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:100%;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; ">Hope whips up a side business selling “anti-comet” pills (thinly disguised mints) to hysterical people<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: 12pt; margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; "><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:100%;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; ">convinced the comet will bring any number of horrendous calamities with it. She gets help from another<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: 12pt; margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; "><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:100%;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; ">kid in the show, Buster Keaton, who, aside from being adept at slapstick, is handy at bringing a blush to<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: 12pt; margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; "><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:100%;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; ">Hope’s cheeks. Tubb deftly ingrains a thoughtful ethical question into the story (is Hope really helping<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: 12pt; margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; "><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:100%;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; ">people by assuaging their fears or simply ripping them off?) but never overdoes it in this bouncy tale<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: 12pt; margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; "><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:100%;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; ">populated by a terrific cast of characters. The well-synthesized period flavor extends right down to the<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: 12pt; margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; "><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:100%;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; ">one-liners that punctuate Hope’s earnest, easygoing, and perfectly pitched narration (“This morning’s<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: 12pt; margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; "><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:100%;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; ">gravy was so thick, when I stirred it, the room spun around!”). In the end, though, it’s Hope’s relationship<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: 12pt; margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; "><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:100%;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; ">with her father—a sort of proto-hippy-dippy naturalist who often seems more of a child than Hope—that<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: 12pt; margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; "><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:100%;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; ">steals the spotlight with a gentle and well-earned tug of the heartstrings.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: 12pt; margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0.5in; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; text-indent: -0.25in; "><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:100%;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; "><span>—<span style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:78%;"><span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman'; "> </span></span></span></span></span><i><span style="font-style: italic; ">Ian Chipman<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: 12pt; margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0.25in; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; "><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;color:black;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; color: black; font-family: Arial; "><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p></div></div></div>Kristin Tubbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05657534927169563930noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19560058.post-3520555264245911092010-10-07T09:04:00.004-05:002010-10-07T09:09:09.982-05:00Ho Ho Ho!If you haven't already started your Christmas shopping AND you happen to be a Southern peach (or know/love someone who is), check out the new picture book from the wonderful duo of Susan R. Spain and Elizabeth Dulemba! <div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; color: rgb(204, 0, 0); line-height: 18px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; "><a href="http://dulemba.com/ActivityPage-12Days.html"><img src="http://dulemba.com/BOOKS/12Days/12DaysBanner.jpg" width="400" height="200" border="0" /></a></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; color: rgb(204, 0, 0); line-height: 18px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; "><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:130%;color:#CC0000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: normal; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; font-size: 16px; ">Doesn't it look delicious? :-) Congratulations, Susan and e! </span></span></span></div>Kristin Tubbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05657534927169563930noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19560058.post-61764347248112683762010-09-27T20:57:00.003-05:002010-09-27T21:30:42.584-05:00Books Change Lives<!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal">It’s Banned Books Week, in which we celebrate our freedoms though choosing to read WHATEVER THE HECK WE WANT, THANK YOU.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I’ve been so inspired, reading blogs like <a href="http://mundiemoms.blogspot.com/2010/09/i-grew-up-in-government-housing.html">the one Saundra Mitchell posted on Mundie Moms</a>, which shows how reading powerful books transformed one desperate girl’s life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> Support for b</span>anned books is often placed in the context of how they can transform at-risk kids, and that is, indeed, the mightiest reason TO NEVER BAN BOOKS.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>EVER.</p><p class="MsoNormal">My own experience with banned books has been much quieter, far more subtle. My childhood was near-idyllic: two married parents, two siblings, a dog.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I attended the same elementary school, middle school and high school my entire scholarly years, as did most of my friends.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I was (and still am) very blessed.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Thankfully, my teacher-Mom allowed me to read WHATEVER THE HECK I WANTED, THANK YOU.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I soaked in everything from Peanuts cartoon books to <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Flowers in the Attic.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></i>Never once did she say, “That’s not right for you.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>In fact, she never even said, “Not yet.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>She let me read and read and read. *</p> <p class="MsoNormal">And all that reading? It allowed me to understand things I never experienced.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I sat in church every Sunday, but it wasn’t until I read <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Little House in the Big Woods</i> that I realized how I was blessed to have food on the table every night.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I had friends, but it wasn’t until I read <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Bridge to Terabithia </i>that I realized how much I treasured them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I had two married parents, but only through <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">A Wrinkle in Time </i>did I realize how much it would hurt to lose one of them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>All of these books have come under fire by book banners at one time or another.**<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Had they not been a part of my childhood, I wouldn’t be the adult I am now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">I’m lucky.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I didn’t live though much tragedy, but books helped me be more sympathetic, more caring. (This is not to say I’m the picture of gratitude and generosity– far from it. So very far…) Books like <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Speak </i>and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian </i>will do the same for kids like the one I was.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>These books not only have the power to heal broken readers, they have the power to open the eyes of readers who might otherwise tread the path with thick blinders.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">If books are being challenged in your community, please Speak Loudly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>You don’t have to love – or even like – the book being challenged.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>But someone out there might be moved by it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>It might make that person just inches more empathetic.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>And wouldn’t that alone be worth it?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Books change lives, whether they make you slightly more aware than you were before, or whether they heal your deepest wounds.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Taking that away is not only ignorant, it’s cruel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">The entry below contains a list of the Top Banned Books of 2009.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Read one and see if you aren’t a different person.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>And please, leave a comment and share how a banned book changed YOUR life! <span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">*This is not how every family operates, and I respect that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>If you choose to approve what your child reads, I think that involvement is wonderful. </p> <p class="MsoNormal">**Okay, technically, I think <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Little House on the Prairie </i>came under target, not <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Little House in the Big Woods. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></i></p> <!--EndFragment-->Kristin Tubbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05657534927169563930noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19560058.post-59731053060367574242010-09-21T09:03:00.005-05:002010-09-21T09:22:03.057-05:00Better than Sherwood Forest: Robyn Hood Black's Blog! And Banned Books!Hi, all! The fabulous <a href="http://tinyurl.com/2b93rhp">Robyn Hood Black </a>asked me to visit her blog and answer a few questions about Autumn Winifred Oliver and Hope McDaniels. Please <a href="http://tinyurl.com/2b93rhp">pop over</a> and say hello! (There's an excerpt of SELLING HOPE there, too. Hope you enjoy!) <div><br /></div><div>AND: Next week is Banned Books Week (Sept. 25 - Oct. 2). With all the love being poured forth from the kidlit community for Laurie Halse Anderson's Speak (follow the conversation on Twitter with the hashtag #speakloudly), I'm feeling inspired to discuss the importance of reading/discussing Banned Books. Who's with me? </div><div><br /></div><div>According to the American Library Association, here are the Top Ten Banned Books of 2009:</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 16px; "><p style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; ">1. ttyl, ttfn, l8r, g8r (series), by Lauren Myracle <br />Reasons: Nudity, Sexually Explicit, Offensive Language, Unsuited to Age Group, Drugs</p><p style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; ">2. “And Tango Makes Three” by Peter Parnell and Justin Richardson<br />Reasons: Homosexuality</p><p style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; ">3. “The Perks of Being A Wallflower,” by Stephen Chbosky<br />Reasons: Homosexuality, Sexually Explicit, Anti-Family, Offensive Language, Religious Viewpoint, Unsuited to Age Group, Drugs, Suicide</p><p style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; ">4. “To Kill A Mockingbird,” by Harper Lee <br />Reasons: Racism, Offensive Language, Unsuited to Age Group</p><p style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; ">5. Twilight (series) by Stephenie Meyer<br />Reasons: Sexually Explicit, Religious Viewpoint, Unsuited to Age Group</p><p style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; ">6. “Catcher in the Rye,” by J.D. Salinger<br />Reasons: Sexually Explicit, Offensive Language, Unsuited to Age Group</p><p style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; ">7. “My Sister’s Keeper,” by Jodi Picoult<br />Reasons: Sexism, Homosexuality, Sexually Explicit, Offensive Language, Religious Viewpoint, Unsuited to Age Group, Drugs, Suicide, Violence</p><p style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; ">8. “The Earth, My Butt, and Other Big, Round Things,” by Carolyn Mackler<br />Reasons: Sexually Explicit, Offensive Language, Unsuited to Age Group</p><p style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; ">9. “The Color Purple,” Alice Walker <br />Reasons: Sexually Explicit, Offensive Language, Unsuited to Age Group</p><p style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; ">10. “The Chocolate War,” by Robert Cormier<br />Reasons: Nudity, Sexually Explicit, Offensive Language, Unsuited to Age Group</p></span></div><div><br /></div><div>Check them out, read them, make certain they are available to any reader who wants them. ALL OTHER BOOKS, TOO. Support freedom through reading!</div><div><br /></div><div>I READ BANNED BOOKS! </div>Kristin Tubbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05657534927169563930noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19560058.post-50372850323049978422010-08-23T08:03:00.005-05:002010-08-23T08:16:48.523-05:00Skip a Starbucks Day: Are you ready to rescue?Today is Skip a Starbucks Day! My friend <a href="http://cjredwine.blogspot.com/2010/08/skip-starbucks-day_22.html">C.J. Redwine</a> and her family are seeking to adopt an orphan from China, and the process has been fraught with emotional highs and lows and procedural red tape. They finally - FINALLY, after years of going back and forth - received word that they could bring their little girl, Johanna, home. <div><br /></div><div>For $8,000 more dollars than they had originally planned. </div><div><br /></div><div>So lovely C.J. came up with the idea of Skip a Starbucks Day. She's asking that everyone skip a personal indulgence sometime this week, and donate the $5, $10, $15 or what-have-you to their family fund. As C.J. says:</div><div><br /></div><div>"<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; color: rgb(78, 40, 0); line-height: 18px; ">The thought behind <strong>Skip A Starbucks Day </strong>is that if every person who reads this and feels a tug on their heart to be part of Johanna's journey home would give up a personal indulgence (like a cup of coffee) and donate that money toward our adoption instead, we could raise the money needed to bring her home to her forever family." </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; color: rgb(78, 40, 0); line-height: 18px; "><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; color: rgb(78, 40, 0); line-height: 18px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: normal; font-size: 16px; ">If you'd like to donate or learn more, please hop over to <a href="http://cjredwine.blogspot.com/2010/08/skip-starbucks-day_22.html">C.J.'s blog</a>. As you read her entry, I think you'll see that little Johanna will be joining a family of love and warmth. Won't you Skip a Starbucks with me today? </span></span></div>Kristin Tubbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05657534927169563930noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19560058.post-43168301254230370212010-08-02T20:17:00.004-05:002010-08-02T20:51:29.786-05:00Tips from a Skype Visit Rookie<div style="text-align: left;">Today, I had my very first Skype visit with readers. It was a delight to be a part of the end-of-summer festivities with readers in Cleveland, TN. The public library chose <i>Autumn Winifred Oliver Does Things Different </i>for its One Book/One Community program this summer - what an honor! It was a wonderful experience, and the Skype visit moved me far beyond the technology of MY era:</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig2LQ_P7ehQVbPR-2lKYUH63Iq8Ul6CyxJbkXJn2au43yoeE9BQxRzC1vKwvrvFPgnE6xJ0H-xo4f45PJcJRb-_O6y3eGEFrIL3Ehz5B_HCiXn8tI9KHX8R0cy4LGp3TkANhJ-/s200/speakerphone+photo.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5500994478165651714" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 161px; height: 200px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div><div> <div><br /></div><div>A few things I learned from this Skype visit:</div><div><br /></div><div>-First, swap user names with the person on the other end prior to the event. This was librarian Andrew Hunt's idea, and it was a good one. He added my user name to his Skype address book before the event, and I added his to mine. This allows the caller to ring straight through, rather than us hunting for one another during the event. </div><div>-I'd heard to wear makeup (which I don't normally do!) and to be aware of my background. I did the interview in my office, where we have new (read: as-yet unfilled) bookshelves. Of course the kids asked about those empty bookcases! :-) Next visit I'll have all my books unpacked for sure.</div><div>-I had copies of <i>Autumn Winifred Oliver </i>and the cover for <i>Selling Hope </i>available to show them, but I didn't think to have copies of my activity books handy. I bring them to school visits, and sure enough, I could've used them during this interview.</div><div>-The library attendees could see me, but I couldn't see them. This was different from how I'd practiced using Skype prior to the event with my Dear Hubby. In that session, I could see him, too. Because I'm new to this technology, I wasn't aware that different users have different settings, so I was a little unprepared for this dynamic. It was like talking on the phone on my end, but they could see every movement of mine. It took a few minutes to get used to this. </div><div>-Because I couldn't see the participants on the other end, I had to listen very closely to the questions to hear them/know when they had been asked. Luckily, one of my childhood librarians, Kay Walker, moderated the event and she repeated many questions for me. Having this moderator moved things along much more smoothly, I believe. </div><div>-Our time was very limited (I had 15 minutes), so I quickly realized that I needed a "signal" of sorts to let them know I was done with my answer. (You'd think this wouldn't be an issue, but you don't see nonverbal cues too clearly via Skype.) So I started adding, "Thank you for asking that" at the end of each answer so they'd know to move to the next question. </div><div>-Look at the camera, not at your own image. Harder to do than it sounds! :-) </div><div>-WATER! Just like during school visits, you'll need water to whet the old whistle. I did not have this, and subsequently might've done the throat-clearing thing too much. </div><div><br /></div><div>Have you done Skype visits? If so, please leave any and all tips in the comments section. It was a blast, and I'd love to do it again! It's a cost-effective way to be directly in touch with readers, which is one of my favorite aspects of this job. </div></div>Kristin Tubbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05657534927169563930noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19560058.post-82533185467064699922010-06-23T20:02:00.004-05:002010-06-23T20:09:44.103-05:00Ta-Da! The SELLING HOPE Cover!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixyS26ILe2z6a9uLwhF15c11yU2TGWJ_oNUaXIk3TuQMUCTNeTbb-EPEwS6oF7ZR05FT8JE9GcouoTXifZPvEFbjqERKVabdAmo0lct2Jg5ElbVsmNtVMoAtaqpBFkOdCPLpEa/s1600/SellingHope.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 134px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixyS26ILe2z6a9uLwhF15c11yU2TGWJ_oNUaXIk3TuQMUCTNeTbb-EPEwS6oF7ZR05FT8JE9GcouoTXifZPvEFbjqERKVabdAmo0lct2Jg5ElbVsmNtVMoAtaqpBFkOdCPLpEa/s200/SellingHope.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486139462789576338" /></a>Isn't it sublime?<div><br /></div><div>*sighs*</div><div><br /></div><div>*thanks the cover gods for smiling upon her again*</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>About SELLING HOPE: </div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:small;">It’s May 1910, and Halley’s Comet is due to pass thru the Earth’s atmosphere. And thirteen-year-old Hope McDaniels and her father are due to pass through their hometown of Chicago with their ragtag vaudeville troupe. Hope wants out of vaudeville, and longs for a “normal” life—or as normal as life can be without her mother, who died five years before. Hope sees an opportunity: She invents “anti-comet” pills to sell to the working-class customers desperate for protection. Soon, she’s joined by a fellow troupe member, young Buster Keaton, and the two of them start to make good money. And just when Hope thinks she has all the answers, she has to decide: What is family? Where is home?</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">November 9, 2010 from Feiwel & Friends/Macmillan</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">___</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">What do you think, friends? I think I'm in love.... </span></div><div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div>Kristin Tubbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05657534927169563930noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19560058.post-63418219456135980132010-05-26T10:10:00.004-05:002010-05-26T10:16:36.268-05:00I'm on Mom 2 Mom!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpM9-93DfAt7QsOWFb_ZAX9Vk4Un-IZ-kGwZ9vFGqSlpYe03RqtBU-5ExiTmu0z7tm_2t93LWcolKExCbk5ZQjevTKJv_4H9wckOGX8oGza6kQDD2aaMGCwr5wtwXJa63gYu1S/s1600/smokies+photo+two.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 130px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpM9-93DfAt7QsOWFb_ZAX9Vk4Un-IZ-kGwZ9vFGqSlpYe03RqtBU-5ExiTmu0z7tm_2t93LWcolKExCbk5ZQjevTKJv_4H9wckOGX8oGza6kQDD2aaMGCwr5wtwXJa63gYu1S/s200/smokies+photo+two.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475597402173800850" /></a><br />Hi, all! The uber-nice Heather Ivester, whom I met at an SCBWI conference in Atlanta, has interviewed me for her Mom 2 Mom blog <a href="http://heatherivester.com/2010/05/24/author-interview-kristin-odonnell-tubb-does-things-different/">here.</a> Thanks for the opportunity to participate, Heather! (And I'm happy to report I've recruited yet another fan of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park! Heather and her family are planning a trip there this summer. Have a blast, Ivesters!) <div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Kristin Tubbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05657534927169563930noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19560058.post-12532433220080881992010-05-23T20:47:00.006-05:002010-05-25T10:35:27.636-05:00Writing Can Sometimes StinkI love writing. It is one of the most fulfilling things that I do. But sometimes, I just gotta tell ya, writing can really stink. <div><br /></div><div>I'm not talking about writer's block or the business of publishing. Yes, those can be rough, but they are more like bumblebees: they <i>can </i>be painful, but once you know how to act in their presence, they can produce wonderful, golden honey. </div><div><br /></div><div>Nope, the stinky part, for me, is this: because I have a family and two young children, I spend many, MANY of my spare moments writing. My house is a mess, my laundry, a mountain. Luckily, my family is very understanding of this. Until they have no clean underwear. </div><div><br /></div><div>And then I have to play catch-up. I spent a large portion of this glorious weekend indoors, doing laundry and cleaning cabinets and scrubbing days-old dishes. My family went to the pool. My neighbors went to the pool. Hilarity ensued. And I was playing catch-up.</div><div><br /></div><div>Today, some of my wonderful playgroup friends are meeting at the park. I have a deadline I've set for myself (which I take very seriously), so we won't be joining them today. Now, don't get me wrong - I'm welcoming the writing time I've carved out for the day. I just wish it didn't collide with a playgroup outing!</div><div><br /></div><div>Writers give up a large portion of themselves to write, but I'd say the part that suffers most is the social aspect. Family first, then writing, then house, then...then...then...friends. </div><div><br /></div><div>This is true, I know, of all working adults. It's part of being a grown-up. And I love writing. I feel blessed with understanding friends who know that I'll see them by the pool <i>next </i>weekend, that I'll meet them at the park <i>next </i>time. Especially now that my kids finally have clean underwear.</div><div><br /></div><div>(Any and all puns derived from the multiple uses of the terms "stinky" and "underwear" are purely coincidental.) </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Kristin Tubbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05657534927169563930noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19560058.post-9902846991723214812010-05-07T11:22:00.001-05:002010-05-07T11:25:12.210-05:00Auction to Benefit the Flood Victims of Middle TNI know, I know, it's been AGES since I've posted. *slaps own wrist* I've had a wonderfully busy spring, full of librarian events and school visits and book festivals. Will post pictures soon. But for now, I really want to show you this:<div><br /></div><div><a href="www.dothewritethingfornashville.blogspot.com">www.dothewritethingfornashville.blogspot.com</a></div><div><br /></div><div>Go! Bid! Give! </div><div><br /></div><div>(And thanks!)</div>Kristin Tubbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05657534927169563930noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19560058.post-7082470551224578582010-04-10T11:58:00.005-05:002010-04-10T12:19:01.257-05:00I Heart Libraries! (And Librarians!)<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaMwVZHCyMu2wdSeTRwDtJjD6ChRkk66oxKfbuxFZbAyRb7z49d9c3ac1aRdlIxqYGcppwMBJEpVq1_4YDSxB1rUHoJ3ZLXhDiiQQxjOW1ofeo-GsOMI-1QXCO2FIiErXX7V-Y/s1600/madeleine_lengle+photo.jpg"></a>It's Library Appreciation week, and the marvelous Shelli Johannes-Wells over at <a href="http://faeriality.blogspot.com/">Market My Words </a> had the uber-marvelous idea for a group of authors to share their favorite library/librarian stories. Where do I even begin?! I grew up in libraries, thanks to a book-loving mom who "tricked" me into reading all the Newbery and Caldecott books by telling me that the books with stickers on them were the "very best." Most of <i>Autumn Winifred Oliver Does Things Different </i>and <i>Selling Hope </i>were written in libraries (The Brentwood Library and The Williamson County Library, respectively). I find working in libraries both peaceful and inspirational. (Smell those books? Ahhhh!) And since the release of <i>Autumn, </i>I've had the pleasure of meeting some of the coolest librarians in the state, including Ms. Lindsey Wesson, who works for the Tennessee State Library, and Ms. Missy Dillingham, who works for the Brentwood Library. Both ladies are funny and smart and they love their jobs - just like you'd imagine a librarian being.<div><br /></div><div>But the librarian who influenced me the most is Ms. Sheila Rollins, the librarian at City Park Elementary School where I grew up, in Athens, TN. She had a wonderful program: any student who read three of an author's books and did book reports on them could then interview that author by telephone! The author I chose?</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaMwVZHCyMu2wdSeTRwDtJjD6ChRkk66oxKfbuxFZbAyRb7z49d9c3ac1aRdlIxqYGcppwMBJEpVq1_4YDSxB1rUHoJ3ZLXhDiiQQxjOW1ofeo-GsOMI-1QXCO2FIiErXX7V-Y/s200/madeleine_lengle+photo.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5458556678658940834" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 137px; height: 200px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;">Madeleine L'Engle! I remember two things about this experience:</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;">1. The interview was conducted over a speakerphone. Wowza! All you had to do was <i>talk, </i>and the other person could hear you! Tres high tech. Very <i>Charlie's Angels.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); ">2. When I told Ms. L'Engle that I, too, wanted to be a writer, she responded, "Good for you! Keep reading and you can do it!" </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;">Needless to say, that interview changed the path of my life. Thank you, Ms. Rollins, for your dedication to your students! </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;">Save the Libraries! </span></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Kristin Tubbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05657534927169563930noreply@blogger.com4