tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29819333403788258492024-02-19T17:49:43.004-06:00Karen AdairYA authorKaren Adairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12990067167164364256noreply@blogger.comBlogger166125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2981933340378825849.post-17406681874319306202015-02-25T21:34:00.000-06:002015-02-25T21:51:39.028-06:00The Importance of Writer ConferencesI had the most incredible week.<br />
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Seriously, ask anyone who was there. I. Was. Flying. It might have had something to do with attending my first conference. Or meeting all my online friends. Or all the awesome workshops I attended. Or not having to cook for myself. Or make my own bed. Or maybe it was getting so much help on my pitch and query. Or having people squeal with me when my pitch went well. REALLY well. :)<br />
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I had planned to make the most of this conference. And looking back on it all, I'm pretty sure I did.<br />
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I was preparing to pitch my book at this conference and knew I could use all the help I could get. And man did I ever get it. Getting with other writers is so essential. I learned so much from them and received so much encouragement. Our presenter was Lisa Mangum, and what an awesome lady. Can I just tell you? All sorts of awesomeness rolled into one. And my night was made even more exiting when Brandon Mull, author of the Fablehaven series, walked into the room. People, I literally squealed.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From author sighting to a picture together.<br />
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Yes, there were witnesses and yes they got a kick out of my display. This guy is one of my children's favorite authors and I won big points with them by getting to meet him in person. :) He is SUCH a cool guy. And what a great laugh. Seriously.<br />
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<li>WINNING A BOOK! If you follow me on Facebook you saw all my pictures. They were not only part of making memories but of a scavenger hunt. I like winning things. Just so you know. :) Some of the pictures I've reposted here. And some I've spared you. :)</li>
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Sarah Eden's books are not only fantastic, but they played a major role in my staying sane during my difficult pregnancy with the twins and then subsequently their loss. Her stories brought laughter into my laugh and hope to a person who was struggling to hold on to every bit she could. Meeting Sarah in person was a dream and what an awesome gal! She was just as wonderful as her writings and her classes had me in stitches. I am forever changed for knowing her.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My first award!!!</td></tr>
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<li>I WON AN AWARD!!! Conferences are great opportunities to enter contests and let your work be seen and judged. I placed 2nd in the Young Adult category for the Beginning of Book Contest. What an honor! And yes, I was shaking for a loooooong time afterwards. Can you blame me? It's cool!!!</li>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stacy inspires me. So many wonderful friends here!<br />
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<li>Friends who inspire me. </li>
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I have met so many incredible people on social media, but there is nothing so amazing as meeting them in person and experiencing their energy and friendship. No comparison. Trust me. I MISS YOU ALL ALREADY!!</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My roomie Stephanie Abney!! What a kindred spirit!!!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kari is such a dear friend. She has such a happy smile!<br />
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There is something awesome about dressing up and becoming characters in books. You can do it at home, but I'm sorry, it's just not the same. </div>
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I could write an entire blogpost on everything that I learned at the conference, but it's better to just say, "GO TO ONE!" Experience the energy of the speakers. Ask questions on how to become a better writer, or how to best "Harness the crazy," as Brandon explained.<br />
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That's us. Crazy. We spend our time day dreaming and making up stories to help others escape, give them hope, laugh, cry, or to share personal experiences we think will help someone. Besides ourselves. I need to write. It's a need, not just a want. And after this first experience, a writer's conference has gone from a want to a need.</div>
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Happy Conferencing!!!<br />
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Karen Adairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17146562470962017172noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2981933340378825849.post-65078217850552694502014-04-24T07:06:00.001-05:002014-04-24T08:08:22.735-05:00Connecting<div>
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I have nine children. Seven that I juggle on a day to day basis. :) I love them all. So much.<br />
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And yes, seven takes work to keep up with AND do it well. There's never enough time for each one. Each day. We do our best, but sometimes a child needs more. So we run errands together, talk by bedsides, do dishes, and make cookies together. </div>
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But inevitably there's a lot of noise to compete with. Nay, lovely excitement. :) I don't consider the love here noise. Not really. But it does make it hard for the ones with trials to get some of the talk time they need. And even when they do, they seem to forget all those happy thoughts when they are caught in another hard spot and I'm not there.</div>
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So they have journals. Like this one.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">10 year old's brand new journal</td></tr>
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And we write back and forth to each other. They tell me everything they want me to know, and then I write back all the words of comfort I can. They reread it. They treasure it. Or so I'm told. :) Through the journal writing they have my undivided attention, and through our correspondence we console one another. Mostly the consoling comes from me. :) </div>
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Kids are faced with so many trials, ones I've already been through and thus can help lend support. They make me glad I had those trials of my own, so I have SOME knowledge to help lift them up. Or just tell them they are loved and not alone. Worth my time. TOTALLY worth my time. Always.</div>
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<b>How do you help support your children? What challenges do you face in the world today?</b></div>
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Karen Adairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17146562470962017172noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2981933340378825849.post-78621840597473799452013-12-17T16:15:00.003-06:002013-12-17T16:15:57.945-06:00Never too old...Our dinner table is always full of lively conversation, and the other night was no exception. Except for one thing.<br />
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Our usual dinnertime "topic" conversation posed the question to the table, "What was your favorite bedtime story as a child?"<br />
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Our children's eyes immediately lit up, while our daughter's boyfriend shrugged his shoulders with a polite, "I don't know. I wasn't really read to as a child."<br />
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Now before you begin a rant about poor parenting or some such opinionated statement, you would need to know this particular fellow and his devoted parents. I won't go into it, because that's not really the point of this post. The point is...<br />
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You're never too old to enjoy a children's book.<br />
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My oldest daughter truly has fond memories of bedtime stories, practically has the books memorized. So I decided to step up the conversation by grabbing her most favorite and reading it to the entire table. <i>Inside a barn in the country</i>. She insisted I do the voices as well.<br />
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The low chuckles accompanied that of my high-pitched giggling daughters and the mid-range laughter of my 13 year old son. :) I got a certain thrill at hearing their thorough enjoyment. I think there was clapping at the end.<br />
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We read MY favorite bedtime story next. Well, <i>Tuesday</i> isn't so much something to be read, as is something to be experienced. There are like six words in the entire book. It's mostly pictures. And yet there was a story behind the pictures that magically changed from night to night as my husband "read" the books to our children.<br />
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It was precious to see the effect the books have had on my children and their continued love of reading. I also realized that my littlest ones didn't have a favorite one, nor are they read to as much as the older ones were. A product of a busy household I suppose (and yet hasn't dampened their enthusiasm for reading books themselves).<br />
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But I'm not worried about spending more time reading to them, because...yup. You're never too old...<br />
<br />Karen Adairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17146562470962017172noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2981933340378825849.post-10655366166898143202013-11-07T14:14:00.001-06:002013-11-07T14:30:56.592-06:00Just StartTwo little words, yet so hard to do sometimes.<br />
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Will I regret my decision? Will I succeed? Will I be able to finish what I start?</div>
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I have two words in response: Who cares? You will never know <i>what</i> you can do, if it's worth it, and whether or not you will fail if you don't even start. </div>
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I can't count how many crafts I've never finished, or stories that are waiting their turn to be told. Whether or not I'm afraid of failing <i>should</i> be irrelevant. But it's not. It's real. We don't like committing ourselves to things we're not sure we can finish. Why start if we have little chance of finishing? Nanowrimo anyone? 50,000 words in 30 days. Why? Why I ask you?</div>
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Because the joy is in the journey, not the end result.</div>
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Why do we feel so accomplished when we achieve a goal we've set? Because we finished what we intended, obviously. What if our goal was to simply have joy along the way? It wouldn't matter if or when we finished because our goal wouldn't be determined by an end result, but rather an ongoing love for what we are doing.</div>
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This has been a profound concept for me this year and is at the heart of my Nanowrimo story. It was also the means to my taking on a difficult task both physically and emotionally: my boys' Christmas stockings. Each of my children have one, and so will my boys. They take around 70 hours to complete. Each. So you can imagine how daunting it is to start, not to mention the feelings of making something your boys will never actually use. </div>
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But WE will. We have a special plan for them, and it's pretty wonderful. But that's another post for a later time. Meanwhile...</div>
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I started.<br />
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Karen Adairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17146562470962017172noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2981933340378825849.post-76703608174267309462013-11-01T07:59:00.002-05:002013-11-01T08:32:07.589-05:00IT'S NANO TIME!!<br />
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Whaaaaaaaa?<br />
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Nanowrimo. Say it with me....naaaaa.....noooo wrimo. It's not hard to do. Well, yeah, kind of. I mean, 50,000 words in 30 days? Yeah, it's some of the hardest fun you'll ever have.<br />
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Here's how it works:<br />
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<li><b>Pick a plot </b>(hopefully you've got an idea or rough outline going into it. Unless you're like me. :) I'm a total pantser. Don't worry though, at this stage I'm the only one who gets to see the embarrassing, ugly polka dot underwear. <i>You </i>get to see my daily word count. :)</li>
<li><b>November 1st start typing like mad. </b>You need about 1667 words a day to make it to the 50,000 by the end of the month.</li>
<li><b>Chat on the forums!</b></li>
<li><b>Read comics on the <a href="http://www.nanowrimo.org/" target="_blank">main page</a>!</b></li>
<li><b>Shop at the store and buy cool t-shirts and mugs!</b></li>
<li><b>Waste time playing Candy Crush!</b></li>
<li><b>Facebook like crazy!</b></li>
<li><b>Find Writing Buddies and distract them--I mean help them!</b></li>
<li><b>Try and get back to writing.</b> *sigh*</li>
<li><b>Discover amazing plot twist and fist pump the room. </b></li>
<li><b>Eats lots and lots of energy snacks. </b>Is this why it starts right after Halloween? Hmmmmm</li>
<li><b>Type and type and type some more.</b></li>
<li><b>Think about Thanksgiving Day looming and type faster. </b></li>
<li><b>Finish! Validate! Claim your prizes. </b>Seriously. Since I started in 2005 the folks at Nanowrimo have really pulled in some awesome prizes for us to claim. Soooo cool.</li>
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I've been nano-ing since 2005. There was a couple years in there that I was working on my senior Honors Thesis and trying to graduate from college, so yeah....my word count was wrapped up in term papers and such.</div>
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Times and seasons. </div>
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It's a tough month for me to do Nanowrimo. Okay, okay, every month is hard when you're a mom of seven and especially right now as I work to recover from a difficult and painful summer. But being a writer means that NO time will be perfect for writing. You have to carve the time out to do it. Life won't stop for us. And quite frankly, writing is better due to our experiences. It's the stuff that gives us something to write ABOUT.</div>
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So what are you waiting for? Go! Sign up! NANO!!!! And come be my buddy <a href="http://nanowrimo.org/participants/karenadairya" target="_blank">here</a>. :)</div>
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Happy Writing!</div>
Karen Adairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17146562470962017172noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2981933340378825849.post-50652486478274744152013-09-05T08:05:00.001-05:002013-09-05T08:05:27.169-05:00Birthdays and MilestonesSo excited about my birthday today, but probably not for the reasons you're thinking. I mean sure, it rocked having people throw me an early party yesterday, and then being handed a new iPad mini (on which I'm writing this post). :) <div><br></div><div>Today is a big deal because I hit the 23 week mark!!</div><div><br></div><div>No, that's not the number of weeks on the Bestseller list. (Someday...someday...) It's the age of my sweet twin boys yet to be born. A month ago I was happily growing bigger and older with few worries beyond the start of the school year and whether we could we sneak in a few more trips to the pool before summer ended. </div><div><br></div><div>Then the unimaginable happened. My water broke. And the miracles began. Instead of going into labor my body held on, refusing to give in. Didn't know that was possible. The not laboring part. I'd like to think of myself as a fighter, after all. :)</div><div><br></div><div>And indeed the battle began. We had to make it to 23 weeks before the doctors could do anything more for the babies. So the remainder of my summer consisted of bed rest, machines, and doctors galore. Then the other sac broke. On the first day of school. Last year a school bus ran into our car parked on the street. This year? Yeah...not a big fan of the first day of school these days. :) But older kids got little ones out the door AND managed to take the traditional first day pictures. Have I mentioned how much my children rock? Yup. They're awesome.</div><div><br></div><div>We were admitted to the hospital full time for watchful care. And boy do wonderful nurses and doctors make all the difference. A few scary nights were smoothed over because of their vigilance. And looking back, I can honestly say I didn't mind my time here. I was well taken care of, as was my family at home. The amount of people pulling for our family has left me in utter awe. To give you an idea, my husband bought me a box of thank you cards so I could use my hospital stay(and boredom) to thank everyone. One day he said, I think you need another box.</div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div>Yup. And here we are. My birthday became something more to look forward to this year. It was a chance at life and birth for our boys. I've never been so excited to turn another year older. It holds a special place in my heart for the miracles it has given me. Not that we're out of the woods, but this was the first milestone. Now onto the next. A new hospital, special doctors, and a hope for more weeks of rest and writing out thank you cards.</div><div><br></div><div>Some have suggested there may be a story in this. Hmmmm...you never know. Life is full of surprises. And miracles.</div>Karen Adairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17146562470962017172noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2981933340378825849.post-31992125820084173772013-07-24T00:01:00.000-05:002013-07-25T11:46:56.837-05:00Penumbras Blog Tour and Giveaway!PENUMBRAS by Braden Bell<br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Iup2VlhVB8c/Ue9TeCFlenI/AAAAAAAAA5Q/KkUZ36_WipY/s1600/Penumbras+2x3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Iup2VlhVB8c/Ue9TeCFlenI/AAAAAAAAA5Q/KkUZ36_WipY/s1600/Penumbras+2x3.jpg" height="320" width="212" /></a><br />
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<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Conner
Dell didn't meant to blow up the school bus.<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Or the
bathrooms.<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>In fact,
he only wanted to go to sleep and possibly dream about Melanie Stephens.<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>But
explosions had a funny way of happening when Conner and his friends were
around.<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>***<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Conner Dell
wants to be good--he really does. But he is terrified that he might be turning
into a Darkhand, especially when new powers start to surface. What's worse, the
Stalker is following Conner, but no one else seems to be able to see him. The
Magi think he might be hallucinating, the guilt of what happened in the
Shadowbox keeps weighing on him, and his relationship with Melanie Stephens is
complicating things. Even for a Magi, Conner knows his life is anything but
normal. </i></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<!--EndFragment--><br />
<br />
<br />
Want a roller coaster ride without all the hassle of an amusement park? The constant action and challenges Conner and his friends face will have you holding on for dear life. Just like poor Conner. I've read through Penumbras multiple times, and let me say each time has only pulled me in more. <b>The characterization is awesome. </b>I mean, let's take a few kids whose worst initial fear about Middle School was probably fitting in, and give them powers. And relationship problems. And relationship problems enhanced by their powers. Oi!<br />
<br />
But that's not all. The story's message of dark versus light goes far deeper than mere troubles with homework and issues of jealousy. It delves deep into the aspect of what is real. That gray area, that succeeds in confusing the best of us, grabs hold of each Penumbras character and seeks to bring their nightmares to life. Hope becomes ever more illusive as the Light in each of them struggles to win.<br />
<br />
And for that, I just love Pilaf. Always the optimist. Always grateful for what he has. He stands to remind others of who they are, what they have, and life's possibilities if they all just keep trying. And I just loved that. "I knew it!" was the common phrase amongst the teen readers in my house, cheering for the characters as they continued their journey into becoming something more than themselves.<br />
<br />
The plot was excellent in its ability to bring the reader up to speed from the first book, while building the tension for the ever increasing challenges they faced in this one. And let's be honest...few books have made me laugh out loud. This was one of them. There are some <i>great</i> lines that are just SO spot on.<br />
<br />
Well done, Braden. Well done.<br />
<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>You can find all the magic <a href="http://www.bradenbell.com/penumbras.html" style="background-color: #d5a6bd;" target="_blank">here</a>, at the Penumbras website, where there are trailers, photos, and sample chapters to read. </li>
<li>Both Penumbras and The Kindling (first one in the series) are also for sale via the website <a href="http://www.bradenbell.com/penumbras-order.html" style="background-color: #d5a6bd;" target="_blank">here</a> for a steep discount--$9.99 (plus s/h)!</li>
<li>They're also available through Amazon <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Penumbras-Middle-School-Magic-Braden/dp/146211220X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1372273805&sr=8-1&keywords=penumbras+braden+bell" style="background-color: #d5a6bd;" target="_blank">here</a> and Barnes and Noble <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/penumbras-braden-bell/1114516270?ean=9781462112203" style="background-color: #d5a6bd;" target="_blank">here</a>!</li>
</ul>
AND DON'T FORGET THE CONTEST!!! Hop on over to Braden's blog for a chance to win!!! August 9th is the last day to enter the contest for $50.00 worth of Amazon Gift Cards. You don't want to miss it!!<br />
<br />
HAPPY READING!!<br />
________________________________<br />
<br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--j0zIrtrmMY/Ue9TWw1lzcI/AAAAAAAAA5I/6QVDkxdr5-0/s1600/Braden+headshot+2012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--j0zIrtrmMY/Ue9TWw1lzcI/AAAAAAAAA5I/6QVDkxdr5-0/s1600/Braden+headshot+2012.jpg" height="200" width="133" /></a><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt;">Braden Bell grew
up in Farmington, Utah and graduated from Davis High School. He earned
bachelor’s and master’s degrees in theatre from Brigham Young University and a
Ph.D. in educational theatre from New York University. He and his wife,
Meredith live with their five children on a quiet, wooded lot outside of
Nashville, Tennessee, where he teaches theatre and music at a private school.
An experienced performer, Braden enjoys singing, acting, reading, gardening,
and long walks with the dog. </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="background-color: white;">To learn more about Braden you can follow him on </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Braden-Bell-author/107471269272359?ref=hl" style="background-color: #9fc5e8;" target="_blank">Facebook</a><span style="background-color: white;">, </span><a href="http://twitter.com/bradenbellcom" style="background-color: #9fc5e8;" target="_blank">Twitter</a><span style="background-color: white;">, and on his </span><a href="http://www.bradenbell.com/bradens-blog.html" style="background-color: #9fc5e8;" target="_blank">blog</a><span style="background-color: white;">.</span></span></div>
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Karen Adairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17146562470962017172noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2981933340378825849.post-8164831031966424292013-04-29T06:00:00.000-05:002013-04-29T06:00:19.589-05:00eXamine Your Zipper and other embarrassing momentsIt was in middle school. PE. Gym class. Uh....let's just end it there shall we?<br />
<br />
The point is, we're all human. *pinches arm, takes blood test...yup, definitely human* We all make mistakes. And of course some of them aren't really our fault. The ones that are? Own them and move on.<br />
<br />
Life's a learning curve.<br />
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As writers we face an ever bigger curve than most. Why? Because we're living so many lives simultaneously. There's this character, and this one, and then oh! this poor misunderstood villain over here!! With all those lives to figure out, it's bound to happen that we forget who we are. And embarrass ourselves.<br />
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Like maybe by sending a query letter addressed to the wrong person. Or attaching the wrong manuscript to a requested full. Not that I've had these things happen to me. I'm still gearing myself up for querying, remember? But I've known other writers who have faced these...trials. :)<br />
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And because of their honesty I might avoid them myself. A quick check on a name. A double check on the MS. Writers are so good to each other. We're not in competition with each other for the number of sit ups we can do in PE class. I mean...uh...writers care about helping one another out. We give each other tips, reviews, and blurbs on books. We WANT readers to explore other authors' books.<br />
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It's not middle school. We can handle a little competition.<br />
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<b>So what is the most embarrassing thing a writer can do? Has anything embarrassing ever happened to you? Any words of wisdom to impart to us?</b>Karen Adairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17146562470962017172noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2981933340378825849.post-13208216868971364812013-04-26T07:11:00.002-05:002013-04-26T07:11:52.018-05:00Underestimating our Value and WorthWe are our worst critics.<br />
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You've no doubt heard this phrase before. Along with:<br />
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<ul>
<li>There's nothing to fear but fear itself.</li>
<li>You've only failed once you've stopped trying.</li>
<li>Doubt has killed more dreams than actual rejection.</li>
</ul>
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There are so many out there. Proof that we can be our worst enemies when it comes to fulfilling our dreams. It isn't the agent who rejected us, but the fact that we only sent out 1000 queries. What about the 1001th?! That could have been the one!</div>
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I've already talked about the fear of rejection here this month. Underestimating ourselves goes much deeper though. Not valuing what our story is worth, the lives it can change, or simply the good laugh it can be. Underestimating ourselves will cut us off from our dreams more effectively than any agent, publisher or well-meaning friend.</div>
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I let someone scare me into studying something else right out of high school. I didn't think my writing was worth enough to support myself with. Money is such an evil word. As though that's the only reason that people write. As though only things of value have a price tag on them. As if.</div>
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Write your story. Share it with others. Don't let anyone tell you that your time is misspent. Don't believe me? Here's a little motivation. :)</div>
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Karen Adairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17146562470962017172noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2981933340378825849.post-34263245602827488982013-04-25T17:16:00.002-05:002013-04-25T17:16:26.088-05:00Think Tank*glug...glug..blurp*<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cUGjQXDWi5A/UXmrHrms9wI/AAAAAAAAA4I/C1AjKQJp0mk/s1600/Author's+think+tank.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cUGjQXDWi5A/UXmrHrms9wI/AAAAAAAAA4I/C1AjKQJp0mk/s1600/Author's+think+tank.jpg" height="104" width="320" /></a></div>
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No, not that kind of tank. A "think" tank. Where all the ideas of many are all pooled together to create mass awesomeness and wonder!!!</div>
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And did you know that the think tank has an actual presence online? It's true. I swear. I'm part of the Facebook group, Authors' Think Tank. The website is ForeverWriters.com. And recently they started a podcast series. People! THE THINK TANK IS REAL!! And they have a theme song, so you know...they pretty much rock.</div>
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Facebook: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/304642892947739/" target="_blank">Click here</a></div>
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Website: <a href="http://www.foreverwriters.com/" target="_blank">Click here</a></div>
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Podcasts: <a href="http://www.foreverwriters.com/category/podcast/" target="_blank">Click here</a></div>
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You're welcome. :)</div>
Karen Adairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17146562470962017172noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2981933340378825849.post-63769712657968204272013-04-23T19:55:00.002-05:002013-04-23T19:55:22.824-05:00Social Media and SushiNot long ago my husband took me to a sushi grill. It's one of the many ways he says, "I love you!" Honestly, any dinner I don't have to cook is an "I love you," but sushi has an exclamation mark attached to it. Just sayin'.<br />
<br />
So this one night we're seated at the grill next to a man and two children. They're busying themselves on their phones and iPads. A standard thing when you're killing time.<br />
<br />
And then the chef came out. And the electronics...stayed on. While this fellow flipped and sizzled and entertained all of us, the three to our left were entertaining themselves. I was a little aghast. Who goes to a sushi grill and ignores the show? Apparently these three.<br />
<br />
What the chef did next had my husband and I laughing the rest of the night. He slapped his spatula down to get their attention and then said, "You like your toys more than my show?" Mortified, the girls turned off their devices. The man resisted a little longer, probably out of spite.<br />
<br />
I nudged my husband under the table and we shared a smile, proud of the chef for calling them out. They were being rude, in our opinion. Sushi grills are for socializing. And these guys were missing out on the very best kind. Life has so much to offer than just what people tweet or blog. Experiencing things for yourself will IMPACT you differently.<br />
<br />
With all the wonderful things we can share with one another, don't live vicariously through someone else. That will leave you little satisfaction in the end. Live...and then live to tweet another day.<br />
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<b>Do you have trouble putting your electronics down? What's the number one reason you check social media?</b>Karen Adairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17146562470962017172noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2981933340378825849.post-34923694612027929242013-04-21T21:49:00.001-05:002013-04-21T21:49:05.565-05:00Rejection<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-J33k2ThJ8Xo/UXSkWBeN-eI/AAAAAAAAA34/iTNOcItyvAw/s1600/DSC_8309.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-J33k2ThJ8Xo/UXSkWBeN-eI/AAAAAAAAA34/iTNOcItyvAw/s1600/DSC_8309.JPG" height="132" width="200" /></a>I'm a day late (and very late at that) in posting because I was at the TeenBookCon yesterday. It was fabulous. I took my daughter. We fan-girled all day. And took pictures. Totally awesome.<br />
<br />
We listened to authors tell us their publishing stories; all the times they've failed and succeeded, even after publishing multiple books. Each one is hard, they said. There's no guarantee, just because you've been published before.<br />
<br />
Rejection, or the fear thereof, is one of the hardest things a writer will face. Well, after writing the actual book that is. WHY WON'T THIS THING JUST WRITE ITSELF. :) The fear that someone won't like our work sometimes keeps us from ever sending it out. But you'll never know if someone will like it or not, unless you TRY.<br />
<br />
To date I've sent out one query. One. I got a rejection the following day.<br />
<br />
I had to laugh. Mostly out of relief because the torture had been quickly. No drawn out agony for weeks and weeks. One day. One look. Nope, not for her. No problem, I said. In fact, I had only sent it out because my husband asked me to. Practically insisted. He could see that I was being held back by fear, and he wanted me to get past that hurdle as quickly as possible. I didn't feel ready. And that the work wasn't ready. But he knew me well enough to know that that feeling would never change. I would always fear that it wasn't ready. I wanted it to be perfect before sending it out. As if. Pfst!<br />
<br />
I've learned a few things since that first and only query and soon I'll be ready to do battle again. The book is stronger.<i> I'm</i> stronger. And I know that what I want is to find it the right home. I'm not going to worry about whether or not someone doesn't like it or why. I'm willing to find the right person who will love it as much as I do. It deserves nothing less. <i>I </i>deserve nothing less.<br />
<br />
<b>How do you view rejections in the publishing world? What are your worst fears when it comes to publishing?</b>Karen Adairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17146562470962017172noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2981933340378825849.post-24899692695639281292013-04-19T08:52:00.000-05:002013-04-19T08:52:32.761-05:00QuirksYou know what they are: Art Quirk, American Major League Baseball player. Billy Quirk, American silent film actor. Daniel Quick, American professional wrestler---WAIT, WAIT, WAIT. That's not the kind of Quirks I'm talking about, although I have no doubt they lead interesting lives.<br />
<br />
I'm talking about quirks: odd mannerisms, peculiarities, something that makes you, YOU. Quirks let you know who you're dealing with, throwing out clues as to their character and demeanor. Or it may cause you to wonder about them even more. You either Love 'em or hate 'em. The quirks, not the people. Unless the quirk is <i>really</i> annoying and then yeah, Hasta la vista, friend.<br />
<br />
For writers, quirks are what make people interesting. It's what separates one character from one another. They give you clues as to the perpetrators. Give bullies a purpose in life. They're...quirks.<br />
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<b>What are some of your favorite character quirks? Who writes quirkiness really well? </b>Karen Adairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17146562470962017172noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2981933340378825849.post-59966507135013641042013-04-18T07:38:00.004-05:002013-04-18T07:40:54.492-05:00Patience<span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">According to Dictionary.com:</span></span><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4NRssEsVecc/UW_o6Gls0vI/AAAAAAAAA3o/ceDmHcBWwuE/s1600/DSC_8449.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4NRssEsVecc/UW_o6Gls0vI/AAAAAAAAA3o/ceDmHcBWwuE/s1600/DSC_8449.JPG" height="131" width="200" /></a><br />
<h2 class="me" style="color: black; display: inline; font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">
pa·tience</h2>
<span style="background-color: white;"> </span><span class="pronset" style="background-color: white;"><span class="show_spellpr" style="display: inline;"><span class="prondelim" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">[</span><span class="pron" style="display: inline; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="boldface" style="font-weight: 700;">pey</span>-sh<span class="ital-inline" style="display: inline; font-family: Georgia, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-style: italic;">uh</span><img alt="" border="0" class="luna-Img" src="http://static.sfdict.com/dictstatic/dictionary/graphics/luna/thinsp.png" style="border: 0px; vertical-align: text-top;" /><img alt="" border="0" class="luna-Img" src="http://static.sfdict.com/dictstatic/dictionary/graphics/luna/thinsp.png" style="border: 0px; vertical-align: text-top;" />ns</span><span class="prondelim" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">]</span></span></span></div>
<div class="body" style="margin: 0em 0px 0em 0em; padding: 0px;">
<div class="pbk" style="font-size: small; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">
<span class="pg" style="display: inline; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; padding-right: 3px;"><span id="hotword"><span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="cursor: default;">noun</span></span></span><br />
<div class="luna-Ent" style="background-image: none; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 1em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 5px;">
<span class="dnindex" style="color: #7b7b7b; display: block; float: left; font-weight: bold; width: 28px;"><span id="hotword">1.</span></span><br />
<div class="dndata" style="font-family: verdana; font-size: small; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 37px;">
<span id="hotword"><span id="hotword" name="hotword">the</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="cursor: default;">quality</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="cursor: default;">of</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">being</span> </span><a href="http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/patient" style="color: #333333;">patient</a><span id="hotword">, <span id="hotword" name="hotword">as</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">the</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">bearing</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">of</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">provocation,</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">annoyance,</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">misfortune,</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">or</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">pain,</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">without</span><span id="hotword" name="hotword">complaint,</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">loss</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">of</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">temper,</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">irritation,</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">or</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">the</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">like.</span></span></div>
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<div class="luna-Ent" style="background-image: none; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 1em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 5px;">
<span class="dnindex" style="color: #7b7b7b; display: block; float: left; font-weight: bold; width: 28px;"><span id="hotword">2.</span></span><br />
<div class="dndata" style="font-family: verdana; font-size: small; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 37px;">
<span id="hotword"><span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="cursor: default;">an</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">ability</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">or</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">willingness</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">to</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">suppress</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">restlessness</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">or</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">annoyance</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">when</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">confronted</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">with</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">delay:</span> </span><span class="ital-inline" style="display: inline; font-family: Georgia, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-style: italic;"><span id="hotword"><span id="hotword" name="hotword">to</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">have</span><span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="cursor: default;">patience</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">with</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">a</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">slow</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">learner.</span></span></span></div>
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<div class="luna-Ent" style="background-image: none; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 1em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 5px;">
<span class="dnindex" style="color: #7b7b7b; display: block; float: left; font-weight: bold; width: 28px;"><span id="hotword">3.</span></span><br />
<div class="dndata" style="font-family: verdana; font-size: small; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 37px;">
<span id="hotword"><span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="cursor: default;">quiet,</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">steady</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">perseverance;</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">even-tempered</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">care;</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="cursor: default;">diligence:</span> </span><span class="ital-inline" style="display: inline; font-family: Georgia, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-style: italic;"><span id="hotword"><span id="hotword" name="hotword">to</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">work</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">with</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">patience.</span></span></span></div>
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<div class="luna-Ent" style="background-image: none; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 1em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 5px;">
<span class="dnindex" style="color: #7b7b7b; display: block; float: left; font-weight: bold; width: 28px;"><span id="hotword">4.</span></span><br />
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<span class="labset" style="display: inline;"><span id="hotword">( </span><span class="ital-inline" style="display: inline; font-family: Georgia, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-style: italic;"><span id="hotword"><span id="hotword" name="hotword">Cards</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">chiefly</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">British</span> </span></span><span id="hotword"> ) </span></span><a href="http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/solitaire" style="color: #333333;">solitaire</a> <span class="dn" style="display: inline;">( </span><span id="hotword"> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">def</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">1</span> </span><span class="dn" style="display: inline;">) </span><span id="hotword">.</span></div>
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<div class="luna-Ent" style="background-image: none; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 1em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 5px;">
<span class="dnindex" style="color: #7b7b7b; display: block; float: left; font-weight: bold; width: 28px;"><span id="hotword">5.</span></span><br />
<div class="dndata" style="font-family: verdana; font-size: small; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 37px;">
<span class="varf"><span id="hotword"><span id="hotword" name="hotword">Also</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">called</span> </span><span class="secondary-bf" style="display: inline; font-size: 13px; font-weight: bold;"><span id="hotword"><span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="cursor: default;">patience</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">dock.</span> </span></span></span><span id="hotword"><span id="hotword" name="hotword">a</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">European</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">dock,</span> </span><span class="ital-inline" style="display: inline; font-family: Georgia, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-style: italic;"><span id="hotword" name="hotword">Rumex</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">patientia,</span> </span><span id="hotword"> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">of</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">the</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">buckwheat</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">family,</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">whose</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">leaves</span><span id="hotword" name="hotword">are</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">often</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">used</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">as</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">a</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="cursor: default;">vegetable.</span></span></div>
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I did not know some of these definitions. A card game? Really? *googles up the game* I guess I've always had a more "life-experience" kind of definition. It goes like this: </div>
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According to Karen; aka, Mom, Wife, Writer:</div>
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<b>Patience is</b>: a virtue, HARD, not always quiet (especially when the mama bear claws come out). It's a VERB, it takes works. It's actively controlling your emotions and actions. It is not passive. Yes, it is kindness, friendship, and showing love for others. But it's watching those friends get published, happily, while you...still try. </div>
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It's repeating yourself for the third time to the child who's not listening, because they're not doing it out of spite--the TV's just too loud. Patience is turning down the TV without yelling at them. It's something that we seem to expect of others, but want to be forgiven of for our lack thereof. "What, I lack patience? Come say that to my face." lol Sorry...couldn't help myself.</div>
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Patience is a part of life's great struggle, the part that says, "Don't just do what's right. Do it with the right attitude. You'll be a much better person for it. And bring others with you."</div>
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<b>What do writers seem to be the most impatient about? Are we more impatient with ourselves? Or with others?</b></div>
Karen Adairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17146562470962017172noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2981933340378825849.post-51073086736079400032013-04-17T07:00:00.000-05:002013-04-17T07:16:07.923-05:00Opposing FansYou want to love them. Honestly you do. They bought your book, movie, or ticket to the baseball game. But they can also be our very worst critics. As though buying stock in our lives gives them a right to berate us. Sure, they may have some valid points to make, but I've sadly seen some be down right rude. It worries me.<br />
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Um...authors have feelings, too, you guys. Just because you may not like our work, can you be, um...a little kind? Please?<br />
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Poor Kim Kardashian lost a few fan over some automated tweets, mistimed amidst the unfolding tragedy at the Boston Marathon. Yes, we need to be careful about our online presence, but it's true that even our best won't always be enough for some people.<br />
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Take this heckler at the ball game for example. He's got a few opinions that he feels entitled to share. And so does Tony Gwynn, Jr. Ohhhhhhh, yes. :)<br />
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Reviews and hecklers are difficult things to experience. They've been known to make or break someone's day. I'm on Facebook, I know what I'm talking about. Even the toughest skin is still skin. It's going to affect us in some way or another. Most fans are ecstatic, exuberant, waiting in line all night to be one of the first. :) Some are...not so enthusiastic.<br />
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I've seen some really wonderful things lately about writers thanking authors, writing letters of gratitude to those who have made a difference in the reader's life. It's called #ThankAWriter Project headed up by Nathan Bransford and Maggie Mason. You can find out more about it <a href="http://blog.nathanbransford.com/2013/03/the-thankawriter-project.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">here</span></a> and how to join the crusade. :) I'm going to do that this week. They deserve it.<br />
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Our thanks shouldn't be just merely buying their book, watching their movie, yelling at players who are just doing their job. When a waiter gives you good service don't you give him a tip? And not the advice kind of tip. I know, some people seem to be full of that. I'm talking about an extra thank you for a job well done. <br />
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<b>Do you ever thank authors for the books they've written? Which books have changed your life the most?</b>Karen Adairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17146562470962017172noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2981933340378825849.post-52033693297140470752013-04-16T08:08:00.003-05:002013-04-16T10:19:57.411-05:00Nook, Kindle, Kobo...SPOCK<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MY73CsXzn4w/UW1NQTG7NhI/AAAAAAAAA3Y/2l412kFamYg/s1600/DSC_0883.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MY73CsXzn4w/UW1NQTG7NhI/AAAAAAAAA3Y/2l412kFamYg/s1600/DSC_0883.JPG" height="320" width="212" /></a>Reading apps sometimes feels like Rock, Paper, Scissors to me.<br />
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Thankfully I have a spock--I mean, iPad. For those who don't subscribe to Apple products I hope you'll indulge me for just a minute. :)<br />
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I am sooo grateful for my iPad. Why? The reasons are too numerous and it actually fought for a position on the letter "I" day, but Ben Wolverton's needs won out. Sorry, Apple....<br />
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But honestly, it makes my head spin a little to see all the different reading options and hear people complain about how they want this book or this book available in this version or this version because their device doesn't support the others. I get it. I do. Nook is Barnes and Noble, Kindle is Amazon, Kobo is....*excuse me while I go look it up.* Uh....looks like it's an independent looking to make its place in the market. I have no idea how it's doing, but the fact it's still around says something I guess. :) <br />
And yes, I'm aware that the computer can handle them all, but people aren't tied to their computers these days. They're on the move. They want their books to-go! I'll take a Jane Austen with a side of Sarah M. Eden if you please. Thanks!<br />
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I love my iPad because it handles them all. It's the Spock of rock, paper, scissors. Yes, it's a little more pricey than a Nook or Kindle but it also handles ALL my various email accounts...in one spot. And I can watch videos. And I can chat with people. And Skype. And, and, and...yeah, the list goes on. <br />
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Of course I can see why each major book supplier is going to offer and tout their own reading media, but in doing so they run the risk of excluding others. I hear the complaints so I know the problem exists. As a reader I'm lucky enough not to have to worry about it...yet. But as an aspiring writer my works will need to conform. The reader will have needs. Will I be able to meet them?<br />
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<b>What is your opinion on the different reading devices? Too many options? Not enough? </b><br />
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<br />Karen Adairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17146562470962017172noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2981933340378825849.post-47127140092117852092013-04-15T07:20:00.001-05:002013-04-15T07:25:32.513-05:00Looming Monsters<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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They’re everywhere: books, deadlines, year-end taxes, poised
to make your life miserable. Unless they kill you first.<o:p></o:p></div>
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In writing, there are many monsters you face, holding you back
from your goals and killing your dreams. They can have six heads, wings and
breathe fire and death. Or they can be small enemies covered in blue: we’ll
call them Facebook, Twitter, and Tumblr. They’re ever present, ever threatening,
to steal <s>my</s> your time and make you doubt yourselves. <i>You got an agent and a book deal </i>and<i> movie rights? Excuse me while I go back to
bed. <o:p></o:p></i></div>
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But wait! Monsters aren’t inherently evil, it’s just how
people have treated them. It’s not their fault that we forgot our armor, or
that someone came along before us and soundly abused them: infusing their walls
with mean, nasty thoughts. And yet with the proper strength we can use the
monsters for good. Get them on our side.
<i><o:p></o:p></i></div>
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Yes, I prefer to take care of my monsters. Nice words, a pat
on the back, never overextending my stay, lest they blow fire on me. (I’m sort
of flammable.) Sometimes you approach the monster and find other heroes, sharing
the same quest and willing to team up. Those are the ones who will have your
back, save your life, help you identify the monster and better prepare yourself.
<o:p></o:p></div>
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You see, the first few moments that a hero meets the monster
isn’t when the attack begins. Nope. You two (or more, if you open multiple
browsers like me) are too busy sizing each other up, getting the low-down, and
formulating a plan of attack. The outcome? It depends on how strong you are.
Can you wish someone well who just fulfilled <i>your</i> dream? I dare you to. Today. <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;">J</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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Because a true hero will formulate their plan <i>before</i> the monster appears. They
prepare, have a goal, and then carry it out. It’s a good thing too, because
some monsters are well-prepared. They know right where to hit, making or
breaking your <s>day </s>dream.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>So what are your "favorite" monsters and how do you tackle them? What’s your strategy for teaming up with
others? <o:p></o:p></b></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Karen Adairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17146562470962017172noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2981933340378825849.post-60956850502095930022013-04-12T09:08:00.002-05:002013-04-12T09:34:39.749-05:00Kelley Blue Book and the World of Publishing<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4oqOzZP-Jnw/UWf8NvfcUCI/AAAAAAAAA24/c98Hia7XpJA/s1600/DSC_8244.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4oqOzZP-Jnw/UWf8NvfcUCI/AAAAAAAAA24/c98Hia7XpJA/s320/DSC_8244.JPG" width="320" /></a>"This story will knock your socks off."<br />
"Move over Jane Austen, there's a new girl in town."<br />
"I know you will enjoy this new coming of age...yadda, yadda, yadda."<br />
<br />
You see it all the time over Facebook, Twitter, and in query letters. *ahhhh query letters* Writers touting their wares like they are the best out there. Nothing better. And they'd be right of course. We <i>should</i> be the biggest cheerleaders of our own work. Having friends on board is even better. Convincing agents and publishers is....rockin'.<br />
<br />
But ultimately it's the readers who pick up our work that decide their fate. Whether or not it continues to flourish, be purchased, or even picked up through a free download (a totally legal one of course).<br />
<br />
The value of a story is so suggestive, that as we're writing it we may find ourselves questioning its worth. As it fails to entice agents, we question it more. But that doesn't make it worthless. It's like buying or selling a car (or getting reimbursed when a school bus crashes into your vehicle on the first day of school--but we don't have time to go into that here).<br />
<br />
Books...they have value. Value that is going to differ depending on who is buying. We go online and see what the bottom line is. Reviews are great, but can they be trusted? We weigh the facts, find people we trust, and ultimately make our decision and hope we were right. Industry standard for cars uses Kelly Blue Book. They give you the bottom line facts for what the car is worth. In the publishing world it's a little more subjective. But still, we have a few trusted sources. There's the New York Times list, Goodreads and Amazon (now...uh...one in the same?). Not exactly a perfect means by which to measure a book, but you can get a pretty good idea what you're getting. Even some spoilers if you're <strike>lucky</strike> unlucky.<br />
<br />
So what are the best options for book shopping? Let's start by looking at the various options out there.<br />
<ul>
<li>Dealerships promise the buyer a perfect ride. No hiccups, bad editing or missing plot lines. They have that cool "NYT Bestseller" logo on the front that gives us all confidence that we've made the right choice and for writers makes fellow authors drool with envy. Of course that popular car will still fail to entice some. Too flashy. Too expensive. Not their style. </li>
<li>Private sellers offer a more mixed variety, offering their wares for less because they've left out the middle man, but they'll still get you to where you want to go. Some are a little wary without the dealership gaurantee, but after driving it around a while you're confident that you made the right choice. They may even ask someone else's opinion first or check the reviews via the automechanic. Yeah the new paint job may seem sort of amateur, inherently dropping its value, but inside everything works just fine. You're totally happy. </li>
<li>Even in the junkyard, where you dodge painful metaphors and may question the wisdom of your visit, some other shopper is going to leave there and tweet all about his awesome find. "I found the answers to life, the universe and the most awesome hubcap!!! Everyone needs this hubcap. Go buy this hubcap now!" (FYI: if all you do is tout your book everyday on Twitter I won't be following you. Just sayin' :))</li>
</ul>
<br />
<br />
Essentially I believe that many books have more value than people give them credit for, and that some well-touted books will never be read by me for various reasons. But what matters most is the beauty each of us sees in the created work. Finding the joy in the journey and in the stories we read. And you know what? That's good enough for me. That's what books are for. Getting paid for our work? Eh, it's a bonus. <br />
<br />
<b>So what frustrates you most about the publishing process? What do you love most about it? Do you ascribe to books based on public opinion alone?</b>Karen Adairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17146562470962017172noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2981933340378825849.post-56987321918668398872013-04-11T10:48:00.001-05:002013-04-11T10:48:23.504-05:00Juggling Life as a Writer<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rNZWwesQCJ8/UWbaw1VhE1I/AAAAAAAAA2o/zl_4CzwT0WA/s1600/Can't+talk+noveling+mug.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rNZWwesQCJ8/UWbaw1VhE1I/AAAAAAAAA2o/zl_4CzwT0WA/s1600/Can't+talk+noveling+mug.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a>I don't know how people do it. Juggling, that is. I've spent a lifetime messing with balls, bean bags, and pieces of fruit, but usually give up after getting hit on the head. By the way, that apple should have knocked Newton out. Just sayin'.<br />
<br />
Life as a writer is just as hard. Mostly because I'm also a Mom. And a Wife. And a Friend. And up until last year...a student. Yes, after years and years of online, summertime, and full semester classes I finally earned my degree in English with a Concentration in Creative Writing. I wrote a Senior Honors Thesis in place of a minor degree. It was hard. Dang hard.<br />
<br />
People asked me how I do it.<br />
<br />
I have help of course.<br />
<br />
It's like watching the jugglers who involve other people on stage. Sure they can do some cool tricks alone, but they can do SO many more with an extra pair of hands. Such is the case with the rest of us as well. Here how it works:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li><b>Set a goal.</b> I was six years old when I decided to become a writer. I never lost sight of that dream. Even when our family continued to grow. I figured I was gaining life experience to write about.</li>
<li><b>Do a little everyday.</b> I didn't get my Bachelor's degree all at once. Beginning to end was about 20 years. The finished product is worth the time you put in. Work hard. Be patient.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><b>Give birth to really great kids.</b> :) But seriously. Along with their chores, hugs, and complicated lives, my children also provide me a wealth of ideas, fodder, and beta readings. They rock. Totally and completely. But I also give them their due time. I'm a Mom first, a writer second. Of course the kids LOVE the candy jar I have on my desk. They get to sample some when I'm busy working. It's a reward for THEIR love and support. :)</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><b>Friends. </b>Get them. Online, real life, whatever. They're invaluable. Invest the time in them.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><b>Set a schedule.</b> I was never a big fan of planning out each hour of my day. Until I tried it one week. I got SO much work done. Giving things their due time, and then giving yourself permission to move onto something else, throws all the guilt out the window. </li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><b>Get out of the house. </b>Even if just for a moment. Sometimes I'll step foot out the door and instantly be hit with an idea or a scene. A song on the radio will spark some dialogue. I've solved <i>book plots</i> in a ten minute drive. Warning: it was kind of hard to drive through all my tears of joy. :)</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><b>Have fun. </b> If you're not enjoying it, then ask yourself why you're doing it. Yes, some writing is work and not very fun, *editing-cough cough* but take a look at the story and what you're trying to do. Even serious articles are driven by this basest emotion. If the article doesn't bring us some measure of joy (making a valid point, entertaining a group, inspiring others to be better), then it will reflect in our writing. And we'll be miserable. </li>
</ul>
<div>
<b>How do you keep a balance in life with a writing career?</b> <b>Any secrets you're willing to share?</b></div>
Karen Adairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17146562470962017172noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2981933340378825849.post-67609314285957024652013-04-10T08:43:00.000-05:002013-04-10T08:56:45.940-05:00I is for...YOU!<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZTs05hScDuI/UWVudGu3LDI/AAAAAAAAA2Y/B1njOUMq5VE/s1600/Nightingale-cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZTs05hScDuI/UWVudGu3LDI/AAAAAAAAA2Y/B1njOUMq5VE/s1600/Nightingale-cover.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a>Today is not about me. Or you. Or those who woke up this morning and whose biggest complaint is that they didn't get enough sleep.<br />
<br />
Today is about someone else's child who is still asleep and whose family is hopeful that he'll wake up.<br />
<br />
On Wednesday April 3, two boys were long boarding on a path alongside State Route 18, in St. George, one of which subsequently suffered life-threatening injuries from a terrible fall.<br />
<br />
From his father, David Farland/Wolverton, Bestselling author, writer mentor, and friend:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">About Ben's accident: Ben went long-boarding with a friend up near Snow Canyon, a scenic place with lots of rolling hills. They had never been there before, and Ben's friend, Tyler, went down a steep hill and thought that it was too difficult for Ben's board. He turned around to warn Ben, but by then Ben had already been thrown from his board. </span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">Apparently, Ben was thrown forward and rolled he</span><span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">ad-over-heels several times. That's why he crushed his skull (down near the hind brain), and then hit his back hard enough to bruise his lungs, then broke his pelvis/crushed his vertebrae, and so on. Beyond that, he has bad "road burn" on his knees, shoulder, back, hips, and so on, and a split lip. With the concussion, his ear drum broke, and he lost a lot of blood through his left ear and again through his nose.<br /><br />An ambulance reached him quickly, and stayed with him until a helicopter got there to evacuate him at about 45 minutes. It flew him to the hospital in Saint George, but they don't have the equipment/staff to handle severe head trauma cases, so they administered meds and flew him to Las Vegas.<br /><br />Ben is still in a coma, but his vitals are stable. They tried feeding him some solids through a tube yesterday, and he held it down well, so they're now starting him on more food. However, he hasn't moved since about 4 hours after the accident. We'll just have to hang on and see if he wakes up.</span> </blockquote>
And on top of their pain they have been uninsurable. So now his family needs our help.<br />
<br />
Aside of the joy David's books have brought to others, his <a href="http://www.davidfarland.net/writing_tips/?a=207" target="_blank">Daily Kick in the Pants</a> has been an inspiration to writers everywhere, his pay it forward mentality in much need of some payback. Today. :) A book bomb is making it's way around through the social-sphere today. <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B006P7SEBY/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il?ie=UTF8&camp=211189&creative=373489&creativeASIN=B006P7SEBY&link_code=as3&tag=davidfarnet-20" target="_blank">Nightingale</a> and <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00B9JYJ6W/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il?ie=UTF8&camp=211189&creative=373489&creativeASIN=B00B9JYJ6W&link_code=as3&tag=davidfarnet-20" target="_blank">Million Dollar Outlines</a> are the two main books being focused on. Nightingale is an award winning YA Fantasy and Million Dollar Outlines is for writers everywhere who want to improve their craft.<br />
<br />
Consider donating. Consider purchasing a copy (or two). Consider how fortunate you are to have rolled out of bed this morning. :) David is well-deserving of your caring today, as is his son Ben. <br />
<br />
You can follow Ben's story and find <b>all</b> the donation links on the website <a href="http://www.helpwolverton.com/p/about-ben.html" target="_blank">here</a> or on just about any writer's Facebook page that has a connection to Ben or his Dad, David Farland/Wolverton.<br />
<br />
Thank you!!Karen Adairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17146562470962017172noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2981933340378825849.post-62134247731011787692013-04-09T07:47:00.000-05:002013-04-09T07:47:01.108-05:00Hootsuite vs TweetdeckUm...both.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-de6B19oRVCg/UWQMhynZcGI/AAAAAAAAA2I/3uL0m76qTl4/s1600/Hoosuite+vs+Tweetdeck.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-de6B19oRVCg/UWQMhynZcGI/AAAAAAAAA2I/3uL0m76qTl4/s1600/Hoosuite+vs+Tweetdeck.jpg" height="243" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Seriously. I have to use both to keep up with the twittering world. On occasion, I even need the Twitter site itself. Why?<br />
<br />
I have a Mac. <br />
<br />
I love my Mac, don't get me wrong. But the difference in programming can cause the user some mild frustrations. Like with Twitter. It goes something like this:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Twitter? How fun!!! Look at all the cool people I've found!! Now how can I follow everyone easily without always logging on? Hmmmm...</li>
<li>Hurray for Tweetdeck! And it works on my iPad!</li>
<li>Uh...what's with the changes to the functions guys, and what happened to the app on my iPad?!</li>
<li>Forget it, I'm going with Hootsuite. It works on both.</li>
<li>Or not. Gah! So confusing! Hello Twitter site...uh...why can't I edit my retweets? *sigh*</li>
<li>Oh, look! Tweetdeck fixed its mistakes. Let's give it another try. What, still no app for the iPad?</li>
<li>Hurray! Hootsuite works on the iPad! But...uh...not on my new Mac. PEOPLE!!!!</li>
<li>So I guess it's Tweetdeck for my Mac laptop. Hootsuite for my iPad. Hurray?? And oh, I need the Twitter site when I have to borrow hubby's computer. Or add the twitter feed to my blog. (Yup, it's down there on the right a little ways.)</li>
</ul>
<br />
<br />
This is what it boils down to for me. I need multiple apps and duplicative networking sites in order to stay in touch. But hey, I guess that's life. :) It's like having multiple children, where there's a different approach I have to take depending on which one I'm interacting with. The message is the same no matter where I go. But getting it across? Well, it's just going to take a little extra patience on my part. :)<br />
<br />
How about you? <b>Do you tweet? Which program suits you best and why? Are you on Twitter? Can I stalk--I mean, can we be friends?</b>Karen Adairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17146562470962017172noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2981933340378825849.post-61179313192133220592013-04-08T09:21:00.003-05:002013-04-08T09:29:21.898-05:00Genres<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-v-nV64l7EuU/UWLR_-Fx-DI/AAAAAAAAA14/mXlFe8MWjnc/s1600/DSC_8737.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-v-nV64l7EuU/UWLR_-Fx-DI/AAAAAAAAA14/mXlFe8MWjnc/s1600/DSC_8737.JPG" height="200" width="320" /></a>Sci-fi<br />
Fantasy<br />
Science Fiction Fantasy<br />
Horror<br />
Romance<br />
Women's Fiction<br />
Non Fiction<br />
Children's<br />
Adult<br />
Contemporary<br />
Young Adult<br />
<br />
*breathe*<br />
<br />
My goodness there are a lot of genres out there. And I didn't even name them all. But I did have to think about them a lot when I started writing seriously. Asking myself, <b>"What kind of writing was I interested in?"</b><br />
<br />
As a reader, it's pretty much all of the above. Except for horror. Sorry, Mr. King. Just not interested. Monsters under the bed and all that...<br />
<br />
I found my preferred genre by the stories I wrote. I didn't know what or who I was writing for at first. I merely got an idea and ran with it. Literally. I think A LOT when I'm running. My legs already know what to do, so it frees my mind up for brainstorming. :)<br />
<br />
After a few stories I realized that I loved my years of being a teenager. *gasp* I know...I know...I'm weird. But it wasn't all the awkwardness of being a teen that I love to remember. It was the victories. Coming into your own. Making decisions. Finding the courage and strength and experience to stand on your own two feet. Because some day every teen will have to do it. <br />
<br />
As parents, educators and concerned adults, we long to have the teens act like adults. Only I think we often forget something important. We were like them once...maybe twice. :) We learn the most as teens when we made mistakes, tried to do as we were told, and mucked our way through the conflicting signals and messages we got from adults. "Be outgoing. Stop interrupting. Speak up! Be quiet. Be more responsible. Do what I say."<br />
<br />
It's a wonder anyone ever makes it out of the teen years alive. By all accounts my body did...but according to my writing my head's still in the game. Maybe because I have a house full of teens right now. Maybe because I can personally sympathize with them and the pains of growing up. Maybe because deep down inside I think we all still resemble teenagers but don't want to admit it.<br />
<br />
Well, I'm here to admit it. Rock on, teens! It's a beautiful time for you right now. A fantastic life ahead of you. The entire world is at your doorstep!!! Make the most of it! Learn! Have fun! And yeah...try and be a little responsible so you'll live to enjoy many more years of the same. Even if it means being called an adult. :)<br />
<br />
<b>Do you have a favorite genre to read or write in? Are they the same genre?</b>Karen Adairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17146562470962017172noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2981933340378825849.post-12326845887182134472013-04-06T09:22:00.004-05:002013-04-06T09:22:48.716-05:00Friends, Followers, and Fans<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dxYrAxHUIgc/UWAsMVuV12I/AAAAAAAAA1o/hXGMy4D1pfk/s1600/DSC_8414.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dxYrAxHUIgc/UWAsMVuV12I/AAAAAAAAA1o/hXGMy4D1pfk/s1600/DSC_8414.JPG" height="212" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I took a break one day and came back to this. Pure joy.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I'm a Mom. A writer. A friend. A follower. A fan.<br />
<br />
In the vast world of social media we wear all sorts of hats. We're bloggers. We're friends. We connect with other writers; offer valuable insights, critiques, and support for their writing. We friend writers we've never met in hopes of meeting, greeting, and networking with them. Then we squeal or fist bump someone when we score their signature or meet them in person. Or when they comment on our status. Right? Uh...maybe that's just me. :)<br />
<br />
Or maybe your fan club is related to you. I am so blessed to have such darling children that are not only my best friends, but followers of my writing career. They cheer me on. Give me a reason to write (or fodder, whether they realize it or not). And they proofread my chapters and squeal in delight. *sigh* They leave messages on my computer (like the one up above) so that despite my working a lot I know that they're thinking of me. *double sigh*<br />
<br />
In the vast world of social media we wear all sorts of hats. We're friends. We connect with other writers. Offer valuable insights, critiques, and support for their writing. We friend writers we've never met in hopes of meeting, greeting, and networking with them. Then we squeal or fist bump someone when we score their signature or meet them in person. Or when they comment on our status. Right? Uh...maybe that's just me again. :)<br />
<br />
I'm wondering what will become of the followers section on blogs, now that the Reader feed is going away. Will we still see/need the visual support? I think it's cool. I like seeing who I'm talking to. Like the little icons by people's comments. *waves at everyone*<br />
<br />
I've been so blessed to meet other writers through social media, watch their imaginations take shape, then query, then publish. It's exciting to watch. Makes me happy for them. And I feel sort of proud that I was their friend. Before they were famous. Of course I'm still going to get their signature, cause you know. They're FAMOUS. :)<br />
<br />
In all, I'm grateful for those who follow my writing journey. The love and support is invaluable.<br />
<br />
Thank you. Thank you all!<br />
<br />
<br />Karen Adairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17146562470962017172noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2981933340378825849.post-12396209754472477782013-04-05T08:27:00.002-05:002013-04-05T08:33:01.343-05:00E is for Entertainment and EbertRoger Joseph Ebert (1942-2013)<br />
<ul>
<li>Journalist, film critic and screenwriter.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Co-hosted <i>Sneak Preview</i> (PBS) with Gene Siskel. </li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Entertaining viewers while critiquing entertainment.</li>
</ul>
I was still pretty young when I came across "Siskel and Ebert" (as they were fondly referred to in our house). I remember a lot of arguing. They never seemed to agree on anything. It was like watching a political debate over an issue I didn't even know I needed to worry about. I was transfixed, trying to find out how their words affected <i>me</i>.<br />
<br />
I can only remember being concerned with shows like E.T., Star Wars, and Goonies (to name a few). I don't remember if they argued over those or not. Or how my parents condoned the time I spent watching two grown men argue on television. Maybe they thought it was educational. Maybe they didn't know I was watching it. :) Of course this was back before the internet, so Siskel and Ebert were one of the few sources for entertainment reviews. And it was PBS, so you know...it was legit. :)<br />
<br />
I remember liking Ebert's face. He seemed kind, even when he was debating an issue. I felt bad that I hadn't kept up with his life or the challenges he'd faced. I went in search <a href="http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/tv-movies/roger-ebert-dead-70-critic-joe-neumaier-reflects-article-1.1308410" target="_blank">here</a>, and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roger_Ebert" target="_blank">here</a> to see what else I had missed. It was a lot, I'm sad to say. I even heard on the radio this morning that he had suffered the loss of his voice some years back. How tragic not to be able to speak for yourself. And yet, with all the new mediums today I know that his voice was still being heard. Still is.<br />
<br />
You will be missed Mr. Ebert. You're an icon. A leader in the world of reasoning and talking things out. Educating viewers through your movies and reviews. Opening our eyes to what we might not have otherwise seen.<br />
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Thank you, Roger Ebert.<br />
<br />Karen Adairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17146562470962017172noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2981933340378825849.post-49189970347683384532013-04-04T08:48:00.004-05:002013-04-04T08:55:42.974-05:00DystopiansLove them. Don't know why.<br />
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I mean, why on earth would I use my "escape time" for reading about the end of the world, government take overs, and the destruction of the Earth itself? Maybe there's something about the fight against all odds (<a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Hunger-Games-Book/dp/0439023483/ref=tmm_hrd_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1365082699&sr=8-1" target="_blank">Hunger Games</a>). Surviving in a literally collapsing world (<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Life-As-We-Knew-Book/dp/0152061541/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1365082782&sr=1-1&keywords=life+as+we+knew+it" target="_blank">Life as we Knew it</a>). Cheering for the underdog against the unseen (or very visible) enemy, especially when that person is one's self (<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Shatter-Me-ebook/dp/B00526VVN2/ref=tmm_kin_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1365082819&sr=1-1" target="_blank">Shatter Me</a> and <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Divergent-Book-1-Veronica-Roth/dp/0062024027/ref=tmm_hrd_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1365082945&sr=1-1" target="_blank">Divergent</a>).<br />
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Maybe it's because the dystopian world is looking an awful lot like our own these days. Issues with our health, economy, environmental challenges, and the political unrest that continues to fuel writers' imagination. 1984 anyone? The Giver?<br />
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Or is it the other way around? Are books giving <i>people</i> the ideas about how to take over the world? :) Are we in fact fueling the inspiration for the many challenges we now face? It's been said that the power of writers is often underestimated. Makes one think...is it possible? Do we really have that much influence? In some cases, I would hope. It's what drives change. And the dystopian genre. The fight for good against evil. The will to survive.<br />
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Life.<br />
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<b>What do you think? Do writers have the power to change the world through our words? Or are we merely borrowing from the age-old cycle of "life" itself. Or is it both? And what are your favorite dystopians and why?</b><br />
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PS. Congratulations to Leah for winning the bookmark! Thank you ALL for your helpful and inspiring comments!!!Karen Adairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17146562470962017172noreply@blogger.com4