tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-74689241257904167972024-03-05T00:56:18.817-05:00Lemons for LemonadeReflections on books, writing, and the stuff of life...Nora MacFarlanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00575333078760106784noreply@blogger.comBlogger179125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7468924125790416797.post-77752641814177381232014-03-16T00:03:00.000-04:002014-03-16T00:03:18.452-04:00Flowers, Fried Chicken, and FamilyMarch 15th was my Aunt Billie's birthday. Everyone called her Mildred, but to me, she was Aunt Billie. I'm not sure how that name difference came about, but my mom always called her Billie as well. I think she would have been 85.<br />
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Today on Facebook, someone asked me how Aunt Bille influenced my life. I didn't think Facebook could do it justice, so I'm dusting off the blog for a post. </div>
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This picture is of my mother (far right), her sisters from left to right, Aunt Mildred, Aunt Tena, Aunt Luella, and my youngest Uncle, Sherley. Not pictured are my other Uncles - Bob, Lawrence, and Ed. They are all gone now, except for my mom. We miss them all. </div>
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Some of my earliest memories of Aunt Billie are of her gardens. She had the most fabulous garden year after year. Lilies and poppies, wildflowers of every kind, hostas and ferns, and tons of hens and chicks. Her home in Fairborn had a detached garage that had a trellis that went over the top of the doors and sides. She planted purple Morning Glories that bloomed until noon. Then sometime around six in the evening big, white Moon Flowers would blossom. Her trees and flowers made that tiny house and yard seem like a magical place. I loved that little yard. </div>
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I'm a gardener too, although my gardens aren't nearly as nice as hers were. Mine start out nice at the beginning of the summer, but once August arrives and I have to think about the upcoming school year, everything goes to seed and gets weedy. I sometimes feel sorry for my neighbors. </div>
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Aunt Billie could cook! She loved to cook, and she would stop whatever she was doing if someone was hungry. All my three-year old little brother had to do was say "sgetti peas," and Aunt Billie had the pasta in the pan. Fried chicken was her company dish. She would make it when we came over to visit, and she made it when we had our large family reunions. Later in her life, I would come to visit her at her home in Kentucky. She still made me fried chicken. She was quite ill with diabetes by then. She suffered dreadful sores on her feet that wouldn't heal, and she had seven heart attacks. I am also diabetic, and I will not suffer like she did. I will find the will power to take care of myself. The other alternative is insane. </div>
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Aunt Billie loved her people. With abandon. Without question. With open arms, and cupboards, and lemonades and lawn chairs. She was bossy and boisterous and big-hearted, and I loved all of those things about her. Her family was the most important part of her life. She loved her children and grandchildren, her nieces and nephews, her brothers and sisters. I'm sure that wherever she is, if she can, she's celebrating her birthday with flowers, fried chicken and family. Happy Birthday, Aunt Billie. </div>
Nora MacFarlanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00575333078760106784noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7468924125790416797.post-58603554701039692992014-01-01T12:55:00.002-05:002014-01-01T17:50:23.226-05:00Happy New Year! Resolutions and Good Reads...I don't know how you feel about it, but 2013 went by FAST! It was cram full of mostly good stuff, so I'm not complaining -just surprised that it's gone already.<br />
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Some of the highlights:</div>
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<li>I let Daughter go to Nicaragua. It's scary sending your 15-year-old to another continent without you. Unnerving to put her on a plane and in the care of others - even when you know the folks she's traveling with are great people. The house was very quiet for those 10 days. I made a point to keep quite busy. She had a wonderful experience, and now has grand plans to travel the world. I'm certain she'll make that happen!</li>
<li>We took a family vacation to Hilton Head. It had a bit of a rocky start - major thunderstorm, lots of traffic, a hospital stay... but everything turned out okay. Hilton Head is a lovely place, but crowded. My favorite part was a dolphin tour. It was a small group - only my daughter, her friend, and me. We saw lots of dolphins. This guy came right up to the boat!</li>
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And Daughter got to drive!</div>
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<li>Last December I decided I wanted to learn how to quilt. I jumped right in and joined the Ohio Valley Quilter's Guild. Best decision ever! I learned a great deal from their fabulous speakers, and I've finished 2 1/2 queen-sized quilt tops along with a few smaller projects. </li>
<li>This one is directly related to last year's New Years Resolutions. I had lunch every month with my good friend and critique partner, Kathy Wiechman -who, by the way, <i>just sold her first novel to Boyds Mills Press! </i></li>
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I'm going to keep the <b>2014 Resolutions</b> simple this year:<br />
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<li>Continue to keep a balance in life - work is work, home is home, family comes first.</li>
<li>Continue to have extended lunches with Kathy at least once a month. </li>
<li>Learn everything I can about quilting, and begin designing my own quilts.</li>
<li>Dust off my most recent neglected novel, and finish writing the dang thing.</li>
<li>Read at least two novels each month. </li>
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And finally... <b>The Annual Good Reads List</b> from 2013! I didn't quite make my goal of two per month, but 20 is close!</div>
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THE MAZE RUNNER, James Dashner</div>
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DIVERGENT, Veronica Roth</div>
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INSURGENT, Veronica Roth</div>
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ALLEGIANT, Veronica Roth</div>
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THE ENCHANTER HEIR, Cinda Williams Chima</div>
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THE DREAM THIEVES, Maggie Stiefvater</div>
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TALES OF A FOURTH GRADE NOTHING, Judy Blume</div>
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MERLIN, T.A. Barron</div>
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AMERICANAH, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie</div>
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KILL ME SOFTLY, Sarah Cross</div>
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BETWEEN SHADES OF GREY, Ruta Sepetys</div>
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THE TROUBLE WITH HALF A MOON, Danette Vigilante</div>
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SCARLET, Marissa Meyer</div>
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CLOCKWORK PRINCESS, Cassandra Clare</div>
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BEAUTIFUL CREATURES, Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl</div>
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FLIGHT, Alyssa Rose Ivy</div>
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THE MADMAN'S DAUGHTER, Megan Shepherd</div>
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CRESCENDO, Becca Fitzpatrick</div>
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THE RAVEN BOYS, Maggie Stiefvater</div>
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GEEKS, GIRLS, AND SECRET IDENTITIES, Mike Jung</div>
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Happy New Year! May 2014 bring you many blessings! </div>
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Nora MacFarlanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00575333078760106784noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7468924125790416797.post-10038275058902376822013-05-27T03:43:00.001-04:002013-05-27T03:57:38.806-04:00Memories...<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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I visited my Papaw Taylor yesterday in a small cemetery in
a tiny town called Goddard. Actually, I think the church and
cemetery are all that’s left of Goddard. It’s a beautiful property and a bit
famous for the Goddard Covered Bridge that stands directly in front of the
church. The old wooden bridge spans Sand Lick Creek just off Kentucky 32, and
as you enter the structure, it perfectly frames the steepled white church and
graveyard. The Pea Ridge Mountains rise in the background. In the fall, the
colors are gorgeous. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj235_Nvy69eYUUZk5SOoFr_qkjWJbeHDXHIJ9XUviWHeUIDLa3DEyyIELT-hceDl3YT3E7h7kqA_eBia0DWWssuhyphenhyphenHxnnwnp8_MrZfD9RgoP-j311e-cSwqHzqPtltIlv4LnlNrotItc2p/s1600/Goddard+White+Bridge+2013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj235_Nvy69eYUUZk5SOoFr_qkjWJbeHDXHIJ9XUviWHeUIDLa3DEyyIELT-hceDl3YT3E7h7kqA_eBia0DWWssuhyphenhyphenHxnnwnp8_MrZfD9RgoP-j311e-cSwqHzqPtltIlv4LnlNrotItc2p/s320/Goddard+White+Bridge+2013.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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Papaw has been gone for many years, but I still think of him
often. He was a farmer. He raised a few dairy cattle and grew corn and tobacco.
He always had a few pigs and chickens. He was wiry and strong and called me
“Little Girl.” I used to think it was because he had so many grand children he
couldn’t remember my name. When I came to visit, he would take me in his old
truck up the long gravel drive to the General Store that was just down the
street. He would buy me Hostess Ding Dongs and a Strawberry Crush, and I would
sit in the corner on a wooden rocker with a woven seat and feast. I loved to listen
to Papaw talk to the other farmers who came to the store. They stood on the
creaky plank floor in their denim coveralls and cotton work shirts and talked
about their crops, families, local news, and church. I listened, and marveled
at the fact that I was allowed to eat my treat in the store before we paid.</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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It’s usually a smell that kicks up memories of Papaw. The
sweet scent of pipe tobacco puts me right back in his barn where the harvested
tobacco hung from the rafters, drying before it went to market. The smell of
the dairy case at Ameristop and Kroger remind me of the milk house and the
times he would let me try to milk the cows. I never liked getting swatted by a
cow’s tail, and they were pretty stinky beasts. I did like spending time with
Papaw, and he let me follow him when I wanted. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0i5R2_gNeYpGxaAtTYbRCd9DR8D4owXjewTDBNhOfrSpbWe7l-jWj88XOUdxh8N9GubV9a50sY1SXpLpPOF-_pYQhDGwCXfAPdY7Sc2N-3iLcwOWLsLD2iDgt0lO1UqMLx4CYJuXFM5E8/s1600/Papaw's+farm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0i5R2_gNeYpGxaAtTYbRCd9DR8D4owXjewTDBNhOfrSpbWe7l-jWj88XOUdxh8N9GubV9a50sY1SXpLpPOF-_pYQhDGwCXfAPdY7Sc2N-3iLcwOWLsLD2iDgt0lO1UqMLx4CYJuXFM5E8/s320/Papaw's+farm.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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There are other family members there in the graveyard. My
Mamaw is buried next to Papaw. I never knew her. She died when my mother was
eleven. Mom says that Mamaw was part Cherokee, but no one would ever talk to her about it. In the 1930’s,
40’s, and 50’s, south of the Mason Dixon Line, it apparently wasn’t approved
conversation. But Mom did say that Mamaw was very knowledgeable about medicinal
herbs, and people would come to the farm to buy her herbs and remedies. She
churned butter and raised chickens, and she sold the butter and eggs in
Flemingsburg on the weekends to buy fabric. She loved flowers, and behind the
farmhouse she grew flowers, herbs and vegetables.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Every spring there were lots of white peonies
in the yard.</div>
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<br />
Peonies also remind me of my Aunt Billie, Aunt Mildred to
the rest of my cousins. I never knew why we called her Billie and everyone else
called her Mildred. Aunt Billie was the ultimate flower gardener. Her entire
yard was flowers. She had the greenest thumb of anyone I ever knew. Two of my
favorite things she grew were Morning Glories and Moon Flowers. She had a
trellis that went up the sides and over the door of the front side of the
garage. It was covered with purple Morning Glory blooms until around noon, then
as the sun began to set, big, white Moon Flowers would bloom. So pretty…<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo81YGX1gNjItvKwjDhDglBt9x9o0tlLHdt4ZpLA9MNd7ustAfKjixQXkWMoSPzkqE62mq17vf5l2HUVSYzogLlFyVv4Q1c104scKXoZXiPQLpxNEh950IklBFMi1q38TMqvm4t9faci28/s1600/Papaw's+farm+-+backwards%3f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo81YGX1gNjItvKwjDhDglBt9x9o0tlLHdt4ZpLA9MNd7ustAfKjixQXkWMoSPzkqE62mq17vf5l2HUVSYzogLlFyVv4Q1c104scKXoZXiPQLpxNEh950IklBFMi1q38TMqvm4t9faci28/s320/Papaw's+farm+-+backwards%3f.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Yesterday’s visit ended with a trip to what used to be Papaw’s
property. The structures are all gone, and the once beautifully kept up
farmland is overgrown. The property behind the creek and up into the hills has
been divided and sold. Houses pop up through the trees. I hardly recognized the
land. If the Goddard Bridge and Church were gone, I don’t think I could find
the property again. I’ll never go back to the farm. It’s changed so much,
and I want to remember it like it was. But I will continue to visit the
cemetery and pay my respects to those I have loved.</div>
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I miss those folks. <o:p></o:p></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Nora MacFarlanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00575333078760106784noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7468924125790416797.post-70184542001483496042013-01-13T18:59:00.001-05:002013-01-13T19:00:00.229-05:00Advice From a Mentor...Whenever the school year begins, my writing has to be put aside - at least for awhile. I don't know why, but when January rolls around I seem to be able to squeeze in regular writing time again. Today I dusted off one of my manuscripts - the one this close (holds up finger and thumb to show an inch) to being ready for submission. After so long a time it's hard to wrap my mind around the process again, but it's also nice to have some distance from the writing. I regain a sense of perspective about the work, and it's easier to make cuts, see plot holes, or appreciate that you've done something well. I really like that last one.<br />
<div>
<br />
I've been fortunate on several occasions to spend significant one-on-one time with a wonderful lady named Patti Gauch. She is not one to hem or haw about what needs to be said. She will often preface a manuscript session with, "Our time is precious, so let's get right to it." And she does. Thorough is her middle name. Her advice is rich and dense with pointed observations and suggestions. It sometimes takes days to mentally sort through and process what she has said. She can be tough, but I feel like I'm a stronger writer because of her. </div>
<div>
<br />
Each time I have a significant hiatus from writing, I pull out a list of my favorite Patti-isms and re-read them before I begin. It helps me focus, so I thought I share them with you.</div>
<div>
<ul>
<li>Go to the well</li>
<li>Tell one hell of a tale</li>
<li>Keep voice front and center</li>
<li>Don't be stodgy</li>
<li>Get it all down first</li>
<li>Set it aside</li>
<li>Do it again...</li>
<li>Ask yourself: Does it go far enough?</li>
<li>Is it sassy enough?</li>
<li>Be extreme enough when making a point.</li>
<li>Don't pussyfoot around!</li>
<li>Make the reader worry. It means they care.</li>
</ul>
<div>
So there you have it. Wonderful advice from a mentor. Now back to work, everyone! </div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Keep writing,</div>
<div>
Nora</div>
Nora MacFarlanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00575333078760106784noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7468924125790416797.post-35261489519766307302013-01-13T17:12:00.002-05:002013-01-13T17:14:04.968-05:00Because It Made Me Laugh...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjinkhXQmQB3F7XpxqIXstkDzntOqghkyHfq0e6ST466L4BJLhPRabiC7MipB2aaE32SinnPWSx9g9PwMQHZ636prqpaJHAGvfpaoC5g66wLngmSeNdYq2b7BPtzdTIYMozNnXYfiTnV0Zz/s1600/Screen+shot+2013-01-13+at+5.11.12+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjinkhXQmQB3F7XpxqIXstkDzntOqghkyHfq0e6ST466L4BJLhPRabiC7MipB2aaE32SinnPWSx9g9PwMQHZ636prqpaJHAGvfpaoC5g66wLngmSeNdYq2b7BPtzdTIYMozNnXYfiTnV0Zz/s400/Screen+shot+2013-01-13+at+5.11.12+PM.png" width="311" /></a></div>
<br />Nora MacFarlanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00575333078760106784noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7468924125790416797.post-41776607214746782622012-12-31T01:28:00.001-05:002012-12-31T16:23:52.635-05:00Resolutions and Good Reads...It's that time again when you're supposed to look back and evaluate your progress on last year's New Year resolutions. I didn't make any resolutions last year. I don't remember why I didn't, except that at the time I was a bit overwhelmed with the change in my position at work. Making my to-do list longer wasn't exactly a priority. Still, there's something to be said for writing down your goals. I didn't accomplish as much creatively last year as I would have liked. Maybe if I had written down my goals I would have been more diligent about the pursuit.<br />
<br />
And so...<br />
<b>2013 New Year's Resolutions</b><br />
<ol>
<li>Keep a healthy balance in life - work is work, home is home, family comes first. </li>
<li>Eating right and daily exercise needs to become a bigger priority.</li>
<li>Take time to be creative daily - writing, quilting, singing, drawing.</li>
<li>Read at least two novels each month.</li>
<li>Write at least one blog post per month.</li>
</ol>
<div>
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;">***Addendum... I was just reminded by my friend and critique partner that I forgot a goal:</span></b><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;"> 6. Have an extended lunch with my friend and critique partner at least once a month.</span><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>As is the tradition of the final blogpost of the year, here is my 2012 Good Reads List</b>:</div>
<div>
<ul style="color: #4c4c4c; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 23px; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">
<li style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0.25em; padding-left: 15px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-indent: -15px;">DAYS OF BLOOD AND STARLIGHT, Laini Taylor</li>
<li style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0.25em; padding-left: 15px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-indent: -15px;">THE GOLDEN COMPASS, Philip Pullman</li>
<li style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0.25em; padding-left: 15px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-indent: -15px;">SUPERNATURALLY, Kiersten White</li>
<li style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0.25em; padding-left: 15px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-indent: -15px;">FLIGHT, Alyssa Rose Ivy</li>
<li style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0.25em; padding-left: 15px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-indent: -15px;">HUSH, HUSH, Becca Fitzpatrick</li>
<li style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0.25em; padding-left: 15px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-indent: -15px;">THE CRIMSON CROWN, Cinda Williams Chima</li>
<li style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0.25em; padding-left: 15px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-indent: -15px;">BLEAKER, Aimee Walker</li>
<li style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0.25em; padding-left: 15px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-indent: -15px;">THIRD GRADE ANGELS, Jerry Spinelli</li>
<li style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0.25em; padding-left: 15px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-indent: -15px;">A MOUSE CALLED WOLF, Dick King-Smith</li>
<li style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0.25em; padding-left: 15px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-indent: -15px;">DEAD END IN NORVELT, Jack Gantos</li>
<li style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0.25em; padding-left: 15px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-indent: -15px;">BITTERBLUE, Kristin Cashore</li>
<li style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0.25em; padding-left: 15px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-indent: -15px;">CITY OF LOST SOULS, Cassandra Clare</li>
<li style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0.25em; padding-left: 15px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-indent: -15px;">THE CAROUSEL GHOST, Andrea Pellecshi</li>
<li style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0.25em; padding-left: 15px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-indent: -15px;">THE ELEVENTH PLAGUE, by Jeff Hirsch</li>
<li style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0.25em; padding-left: 15px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-indent: -15px;">EAT, PRAY, LOVE, by Elizabeth Gilbert</li>
<li style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0.25em; padding-left: 15px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-indent: -15px;">THE SCORPIO RACES, Maggie Stiefvater</li>
<li style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0.25em; padding-left: 15px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-indent: -15px;">DAUGHTER OF SMOKE AND BONE, Laini Taylor</li>
<li style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0.25em; padding-left: 15px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-indent: -15px;">THE BOY PROJECT, Kami Kinard</li>
<li style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0.25em; padding-left: 15px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-indent: -15px;">THE GOOSE GIRL, Shannon Hale</li>
<li style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0.25em; padding-left: 15px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-indent: -15px;">LEGEND, Marie Lu</li>
<li style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0.25em; padding-left: 15px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-indent: -15px;">CINDER, Marissa Meyer</li>
<li style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0.25em; padding-left: 15px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-indent: -15px;">FIRE, Kristin Cashore</li>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #4c4c4c; font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 24px;"> <a href="http://noramacfarlane.blogspot.com/2012/01/happy-new-year-and-my-2011-good-reads.html" target="_blank">2011 Good Reads</a></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #4c4c4c; font-family: Georgia, serif;"> <a href="http://noramacfarlane.blogspot.com/2011/01/good-reads-and-happy-new-year.html" target="_blank">2010 Good Reads</a></span></div>
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<a href="http://noramacfarlane.blogspot.com/2010/01/resolution-time-and-book-list.html" target="_blank">2009 Good Reads </a></div>
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<a href="http://noramacfarlane.blogspot.com/2009/01/booklist-2008.html" target="_blank">2008 Good Reads</a></div>
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Happy New Year! May 2013 be a year of blessings and successes!</div>
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Nora MacFarlanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00575333078760106784noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7468924125790416797.post-63019758754834143202012-12-16T14:25:00.003-05:002012-12-16T14:27:27.856-05:005 SIGNS YOU SHOULD PROBABLY GO TO BED...<br />
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1. You can't find your keys. You search and search, but to no avail. You finally decide to stop and have a glass of ice water and mentally retrace your steps. That's when you find your keys - in the freezer next to the ice.</div>
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2. The cake you baked is not the rectangular shape it's supposed to be. It tilts to the side and looks more like a triangle than a rectangle. It's not until after the cake cools that you realize the oven rack is crooked. </div>
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3. You make yourself a sunny-side-up egg with toast for breakfast. You skip the salt and pull out the small pepper grinder for flavor. It's not until you take the first bite that you realize it wasn't the pepper grinder, but cinnamon. </div>
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4. You dress in your best black sparkles to accompany a program at church. Your pants are strangely dragging the ground, and you're tripping on them. They've never fit like that before. It's not until you are in the ladies room that you realize you've put them on backwards. </div>
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5. You are accompanying the Christmas program in your best black sparkles. Your mind wanders and begins to make mental lists of all the things that must be accomplished before the day is done. You accidentally turn three pages instead of one, and you become completely, totally, ridiculously, no way to hide it lost in the music. It takes two pages of this nonsense to find your place again. In the middle of a performance. Just you. And the poor soloist. </div>
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6. Your husband takes you out to dinner after the Christmas performance. You're still wearing the black sparkles. The meal is very good, but you find yourself falling asleep after the last bite. You can't keep your eyes open, or follow the conversation, or even pretend to care. </div>
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7. You realize you've posted six signs, now seven, but your title says five. </div>
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This is exhausted Nora. What's your story? </div>
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Nora MacFarlanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00575333078760106784noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7468924125790416797.post-62337885547021427632012-06-16T00:31:00.000-04:002013-06-27T00:52:19.809-04:00BECAUSE I KNEW YOU... (OR, "CANCER SUCKS")My wonderful friend, Linda Croucher, lost her long battle with breast cancer Thursday.<br />
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She was a remarkable woman whose light shined a little brighter than most. She had a special gift for making good friends, and if you spent any length of time with her, you laughed - deep, gut busting snort your ice tea through your nose kind of laughter. She lived a joyful life, had a deep faith, and fought her cancer battle with an unrelenting positive attitude. Rarely did she show despair about her illness. But if she did, she'd stop and say, "Cancer sucks!" Then she'd smile. Linda touched people. And whether you knew her personally or not, whether you <i>know</i> it or not, she's touched your life too.<br />
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A number of years ago I had lunch with Linda at a local restaurant. On this particular occasion we were celebrating my first manicure. Somehow the topic of manicures had come up at church, and I admitted to Linda that I'd never had one. Truthfully, I didn't care that I'd never had that experience. But Linda gave me a stern talking to that began with, <i>"Seriously??? How could you not know that every woman deserves to pamper herself?" </i>The next thing I know, I'm sitting in Linda's kitchen with my hands soaking in a bowl of something warm while her dog, Astro, kept watch beside me. With her assortment of surgical looking tools, Linda proceeded to work her manicure magic on my hands. We talked, we laughed, we talked some more, until she was satisfied with her work (which really was quite nice!). When she finished, we headed to the restaurant.<br />
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During lunch, Linda's phone rang. She took one look at the number and said, "I'm sorry, but it's business. I need to take this call." The phone conversation went something like this: "Yes, that's correct. No, probably not. We need all the help we can get. Thank you, Senator Frist. I really appreciate your support." This was the day that I learned Linda was a breast cancer survivor, and a tireless advocate in the fight to end breast cancer.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhso5dahmvO9xb2GxtAROmGSY3p57ZW4dMInV9L7L4WTMNywj-zxUju1ZQyzgJz0V0frtRxsPkjSkhJgCx9S_nJMLm-mT9_4v3LgSX6ExJCjWZpZLl8WK-4Ljo-TPnhXqFaHCMDTnpjn_un/s1600/Screen+shot+2012-06-11+at+10.42.09+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="308" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhso5dahmvO9xb2GxtAROmGSY3p57ZW4dMInV9L7L4WTMNywj-zxUju1ZQyzgJz0V0frtRxsPkjSkhJgCx9S_nJMLm-mT9_4v3LgSX6ExJCjWZpZLl8WK-4Ljo-TPnhXqFaHCMDTnpjn_un/s400/Screen+shot+2012-06-11+at+10.42.09+PM.png" width="400" /></a></div>
She told me about how she learned at age 35 that she had breast cancer. She was the fourth generation of her family to have the disease, and she was on a mission to ensure that her daughters, Sarah and Molly, would not be the fifth. Over the years, she worked with the National Breast Cancer Coalition in many roles - volunteer Lead Field Coordinator for Ohio, and eight-time Team Leader for NBCC's Lobby Day, and a two-term member of the Board of Directors of the Breast Cancer Alliance of Greater Cincinnati. Recently her efforts were recognized by NBCCF, and she was awarded the <i>Wo(men) Who Get It Right Award</i>. The other recipients that evening were Jackie Hill and Brooke Shields. Former President, Bill Clinton, presented her award.<br />
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Linda's cancer returned. But even though she had to make changes in her life - like resigning her teaching aide position because she was uncertain if her health would allow her to complete the school year, and learning to cope with the ongoing disappointment of chemo after chemo that didn't bring the needed results - treatments that often made her very, very ill -she remained positive, funny, and joyful.<br />
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And just for the record... NO ONE made bald look better than Linda! Hats loved Linda. Really. It didn't matter if it was a ball cap, a straw hat, or a fancy schmancy Sunday something or other, she always looked great! (Notice the caption - I loved her sense of humor!)</div>
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There is a wonderful song from the show WICKED that says these words.<br />
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<i>I've heard it said</i><br />
<i>that people come into our lives for a reason</i><br />
<i>Bringing something we must learn</i><br />
<i>And we are led</i><br />
<i>To those who help us most to grow</i><br />
<i>If we let them</i><br />
<i>And we help them in return</i><br />
<i>Well, I don't know if I believe that's true</i><br />
<i>But I know I'm who I am today</i><br />
<i>Because I knew you...</i><br />
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My dear Linda, I can say with certainty that because I knew you, I have have been changed for good. I will miss you more than I can ever express. You are and will always be loved. Rest in peace.<br />
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<br />Nora MacFarlanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00575333078760106784noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7468924125790416797.post-25879037650403174942012-05-05T12:55:00.002-04:002012-05-05T18:31:39.776-04:00Hello, again. Hello...It's been a long, long time since I last stopped by my dusty blog. This past year has been a whirlwind. My first year back in the regular classroom teaching 3rd grade has been eventful, frustrating, time-consuming, rewarding, and a joy. <i>Did I mention time consuming?</i> I love teaching, but I've missed writing. A lot.<br />
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I've cleared the calendar for the summer. No graduate classes. No committees. No major projects except one - finish that blasted novel I started working on a year ago! I've even practiced my response to those who would like to fill up my calendar with agenda other than my own. "Thank you for thinking of me, but no." <i>Do you think that'll work???</i><br />
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I plan to blog again, too. And visit the blogs of all of my long, lost blogger buddies...<br />
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Today I'll leave you with a great find on Kristin Nelson's vlog: <a href="http://pubrants.blogspot.com/2012/05/fridays-with-agent-kristin-episode-7.html">Fridays with Agent Kristin Nelson.</a> She is posting mini video webinars on the craft of writing. This one is titled, <i>Episode 7 - What is a Plot Catalyst?</i><br />
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Until next time (which will be soon. I promise!)...<br />
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Keep writing,<br />
Nora<br />
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<i><br /></i>Nora MacFarlanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00575333078760106784noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7468924125790416797.post-62061151933761101152012-01-21T22:56:00.002-05:002012-01-21T23:17:31.209-05:00Happy New Year and my 2011 Good Reads ListHello, and a happy belated New Year! Unless you're celebrating the Chinese New Year -then I'm right on time. It's the year of the dragon. A year meant for great deeds, big ideas and even bigger projects. My big project is on hold for the moment. School is fairly all consuming - there's not much time for anything else. But come June 2nd, my writing is back at the top of the project list. I wish you all a wonderful new year full of successes and big surprises!<br />
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I'm going to leave you today with my 2011 Good Reads List:<br />
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<ul style="list-style-type: none;"><li style="color: #4c4c4c; font: 16.0px Georgia; line-height: 23.0px; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">LIAR'S MOON, Elizabeth C. Bunce</li>
<li style="color: #4c4c4c; font: 16.0px Georgia; line-height: 23.0px; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">CLOCKWORK PRINCE, Cassandra Clare</li>
<li style="color: #4c4c4c; font: 16.0px Georgia; line-height: 23.0px; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">ASHFALL, Mike Mullin</li>
<li style="color: #4c4c4c; font: 16.0px Georgia; line-height: 23.0px; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">THE DRAGON HEIR, Cinda Chima</li>
<li style="color: #4c4c4c; font: 16.0px Georgia; line-height: 23.0px; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">THE WIZARD HEIR, Cinda Chima</li>
<li style="color: #4c4c4c; font: 16.0px Georgia; line-height: 23.0px; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">THE GRAY WOLF THRONE, Cinda Chima</li>
<li style="color: #4c4c4c; font: 16.0px Georgia; line-height: 23.0px; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">THE WARRIOR HEIR, Cinda Chima</li>
<li style="color: #4c4c4c; font: 16.0px Georgia; line-height: 23.0px; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">RIPPLE, Mandy Hubbard</li>
<li style="color: #4c4c4c; font: 16.0px Georgia; line-height: 23.0px; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">BUT I LOVE HIM, Amanda Grace</li>
<li style="color: #4c4c4c; font: 16.0px Georgia; line-height: 23.0px; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">OVERBITE, Meg Cabot</li>
<li style="color: #4c4c4c; font: 16.0px Georgia; line-height: 23.0px; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">SAVVY, Ingrid Law</li>
<li style="color: #4c4c4c; font: 16.0px Georgia; line-height: 23.0px; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">WILD MAGIC, Tamora Pierce</li>
<li style="color: #4c4c4c; font: 16.0px Georgia; line-height: 23.0px; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">RANGER'S APPRENTICE: THE RUINS OF GORLAN, John Flanagan</li>
<li style="color: #4c4c4c; font: 16.0px Georgia; line-height: 23.0px; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">THE UNDERNEATH, Kathi Appelt</li>
<li style="color: #4c4c4c; font: 16.0px Georgia; line-height: 23.0px; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">INSATIABLE, Meg Cabot</li>
<li style="color: #4c4c4c; font: 16.0px Georgia; line-height: 23.0px; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">CRYER'S CROSS, Lisa McMann</li>
<li style="color: #4c4c4c; font: 16.0px Georgia; line-height: 23.0px; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">SUGAR AND ICE, Kate Messner</li>
<li style="color: #4c4c4c; font: 16.0px Georgia; line-height: 23.0px; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">CITY OF FALLEN ANGELS, Cassandra Clare</li>
<li style="color: #4c4c4c; font: 16.0px Georgia; line-height: 23.0px; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">DON'T DIE DRAGONFLY, Linda Joy Singleton</li>
<li style="color: #4c4c4c; font: 16.0px Georgia; line-height: 23.0px; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">BEASTLY, Alex Finn</li>
<li style="color: #4c4c4c; font: 16.0px Georgia; line-height: 23.0px; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">GOING BOVINE, Libbra Bray</li>
<li style="color: #4c4c4c; font: 16.0px Georgia; line-height: 23.0px; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">SHIPBREAKER, Paolo Bacigalupi</li>
<li style="color: #4c4c4c; font: 16.0px Georgia; line-height: 23.0px; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">STAR GIRL, Jerry Spinelli</li>
<li style="color: #4c4c4c; font: 16.0px Georgia; line-height: 23.0px; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">MOON OVER MANIFEST, Clare Vanderpool</li>
<li style="color: #4c4c4c; font: 16.0px Georgia; line-height: 23.0px; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">THE REPLACEMENT, Brenna Yovanoff</li>
<li style="color: #4c4c4c; font: 16.0px Georgia; line-height: 23.0px; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">DARKEST MERCY, Melissa Marr</li>
<li style="color: #4c4c4c; font: 16.0px Georgia; line-height: 23.0px; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">FIRST DRAFT IN 30 DAYS, Karen S. Wiesner</li>
<li style="color: #4c4c4c; font: 16.0px Georgia; line-height: 23.0px; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">WATER FOR ELEPHANTS, Sara Gruen</li>
<li style="color: #4c4c4c; font: 16.0px Georgia; line-height: 23.0px; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">THE DELTA ANOMALY, Rick Barba</li>
<li style="color: #4c4c4c; font: 16.0px Georgia; line-height: 23.0px; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">THE ADORATION OF JENNA FOX, Mary E. Pearson</li>
<li style="color: #4c4c4c; font: 16.0px Georgia; line-height: 23.0px; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">THE GIVER, Lois Lowry</li>
<li style="color: #4c4c4c; font: 16.0px Georgia; line-height: 23.0px; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">PARANORMALCY, Kiersten White</li>
<li style="color: #4c4c4c; font: 16.0px Georgia; line-height: 23.0px; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">CLOCKWORK ANGEL, Cassandra Clare</li>
<li style="color: #4c4c4c; font: 16.0px Georgia; line-height: 23.0px; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">AS YOU WISH, Jackson Pearce</li>
</ul><br />
<a href="http://noramacfarlane.blogspot.com/2011/01/good-reads-and-happy-new-year.html">Books I've Read in 2010</a><br />
<a href="http://noramacfarlane.blogspot.com/2010/01/resolution-time-and-book-list.html">Books I've Read in 2009</a><br />
<a href="http://noramacfarlane.blogspot.com/2009/01/booklist-2008.html">Books I've Read in 2008</a>Nora MacFarlanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00575333078760106784noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7468924125790416797.post-79721903815762044262011-12-11T19:04:00.000-05:002011-12-11T19:04:08.090-05:00Because It Is A NeedCarolina Valdez Miller, writer and contributor to the <a href="http://www.thebookanistas.com/">Bookanistas Blog</a>, has an upcoming adventure that I feel is worth sharing. In January, she's volunteering to serve as part of Mission Haiti Medical, a work camp lasting 7-10 days. Three to five days are devoted to mobile clinics, in which the team travels to a rural area to provide a one-day clinic. Carolina says she'll be working with an orphanage in a remote village that might not otherwise ever receive medical care. You can learn more about her trip here: <a href="http://www.carolinavaldezmiller.com/2011/11/need.html">Carolina Valdez Miller: A NEED</a>.<br />
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Mission work is hard work. And expensive. The team is allowed to bring as much over-the-counter medicine as they can carry. They must also pay for their required immunizations, plane tickets, the cost of their accommodations, and the little things we take for granted - like a piece of candy or small toy for a child.<br />
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Will you help? Carolina says no donation is too small. To prevent scams, she only accepts Paypal donations from her blog or Facebook for her medical mission. You can find her Palpal account on her blog through the link above.<br />
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I hope that you will consider donating. I know I am.<br />
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Good luck, Carolina!Nora MacFarlanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00575333078760106784noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7468924125790416797.post-2106890350748551832011-10-05T19:33:00.000-04:002011-10-05T19:33:27.466-04:00Because It Made Me Laugh...This is so true... :)<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAJKZrKyR34KU8Id6RaFrI_Tk8Ks-RiRbYPF15tQQag6145OCMzRWns2kfWt1lVGPCRBlGLhVtb-lheJdfJMziuwtbDwkD7jtt68e6V8Xh7Rl_U1VlRnTP1UXnAkWv8oSy4iKLST-Wjkkb/s1600/Screen+shot+2011-10-05+at+7.30.41+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAJKZrKyR34KU8Id6RaFrI_Tk8Ks-RiRbYPF15tQQag6145OCMzRWns2kfWt1lVGPCRBlGLhVtb-lheJdfJMziuwtbDwkD7jtt68e6V8Xh7Rl_U1VlRnTP1UXnAkWv8oSy4iKLST-Wjkkb/s320/Screen+shot+2011-10-05+at+7.30.41+PM.png" width="320" /></a></div>Nora MacFarlanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00575333078760106784noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7468924125790416797.post-69938251677102445822011-09-22T21:08:00.000-04:002011-09-22T21:08:55.270-04:00It's Not You, It's Me...My manuscript and I aren't speaking.<br />
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It's a shame, because we have such a good thing going. It's a problem, because we've made a commitment to a complete draft in October. I don't know if we'll make it.<br />
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It all started with a hard drive crash. And now that I'm working full time, we don't see each other as often as I like -which is pretty much every night. I carry it over my heart in a travel drive, sneaking in moments here and there when opportunities arise. But it's awkward. In the moments we do have together, words pour onto the page for nearly thirty seconds, and then we stare at each other. In silence. Nothing to say at all.<br />
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I don't know if I can salvage the relationship. I hope I can, but it takes time, attention, and energy. I don't seem to have much of any those things these days. Still, I have to set my priorities. I WANT to make it work -to rekindle the word love.<br />
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Maybe I can plan time for a date...Nora MacFarlanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00575333078760106784noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7468924125790416797.post-6874219072650016792011-07-28T09:24:00.005-04:002011-07-28T11:01:31.203-04:00Lazy Summers and August BeginningsThe end of July is nearly here, and that means it's time to start preparing my classroom. For me, going back to work in August is a good thing. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE my summer break, but I never seem to accomplish much. I have grand plans to spend all morning or afternoon writing, knocking off one chapter after another, but I end up daydreaming at my computer instead. Or reading lots of novels. I've read thirteen so far this summer -- eight of them sitting in a beach chair with my toes in the surf. Ahhh!<br />
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That changes once school starts. My days are very, very busy, but oh so productive. I think I need the structure. I know my writing time is drastically reduced, but the quality and quantity is better. So bring on August! I've got things to get done.<br />
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I'll leave you with some pictures from our trip to Tybee Island and Savannah, Georgia. Beautiful area!<br />
This was the view from our condo.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjilRpSjQG7cCVU4JrgAbbC8Hb_BUio_Im7nGKItspLEdnJwC7np9dnqoyuedlwvrjkm6edD0hfzIEq58tWXDmUxdVU4IxOEpQD-qdvR4dCKbEcy9pJTpEHKVI_y_X87jJh9eDtmS-XVy0g/s1600/Tybee+Island+Condo+View3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjilRpSjQG7cCVU4JrgAbbC8Hb_BUio_Im7nGKItspLEdnJwC7np9dnqoyuedlwvrjkm6edD0hfzIEq58tWXDmUxdVU4IxOEpQD-qdvR4dCKbEcy9pJTpEHKVI_y_X87jJh9eDtmS-XVy0g/s320/Tybee+Island+Condo+View3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
These would pass by occasionally as they headed into the Savannah River and on to port. They were huge!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAt5F6gAuFB_4nKWPY037lP1yLn8OvI3snMuleZ2vYuBg4TIrVyrvw5ZjEqL7SOmmW00mlhXQQ2KmM3w44lfYgcns9f2-26FvzcNQOeVyOfLSOQFp82vzzzkDx4w2b-6w8pupissnYVbs3/s1600/Cargo+Ship1+7.2011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAt5F6gAuFB_4nKWPY037lP1yLn8OvI3snMuleZ2vYuBg4TIrVyrvw5ZjEqL7SOmmW00mlhXQQ2KmM3w44lfYgcns9f2-26FvzcNQOeVyOfLSOQFp82vzzzkDx4w2b-6w8pupissnYVbs3/s320/Cargo+Ship1+7.2011.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
This is the public beach by the pier on Tybee Island. There was a huge storm the night before, and the surf was up.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXhvhKgEOA8noTQVPMgqxOdH_7H7MgJmjpnh1N2TcA_Z31pWIbbB7SMfKCwFny20g1BgmBgAcJRMtXP-MhAISarPnAQe3ewTii_ebu-iQdzqbaH13RhQpcLBbJrsMEhnNtWS-GRqkVspFQ/s1600/Tybee+Island+Beach+after+a+storm+2011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXhvhKgEOA8noTQVPMgqxOdH_7H7MgJmjpnh1N2TcA_Z31pWIbbB7SMfKCwFny20g1BgmBgAcJRMtXP-MhAISarPnAQe3ewTii_ebu-iQdzqbaH13RhQpcLBbJrsMEhnNtWS-GRqkVspFQ/s320/Tybee+Island+Beach+after+a+storm+2011.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
My daughter, Taylor, is in Captain Mike's boat waiting for the dolphin tour to start. Great tour! We saw lots of dolphins, and the 1st Mate shared lots of local history as well.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifJ0eUn2Ftk4umTZmceh-GvOq1kRIldYIubyA_u1ggyUhnoLK98G-2iMlPutfSnlwujU94pOV0Xz0H9y58VPcSuFLyI-i1gj4Roabue0xGZ68Dar5x31-bTcNsL5SQgiC7kjl5GzaMpTnl/s1600/Taylor+-+Captain+Mike%2527s+Dolphin+Cruise.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifJ0eUn2Ftk4umTZmceh-GvOq1kRIldYIubyA_u1ggyUhnoLK98G-2iMlPutfSnlwujU94pOV0Xz0H9y58VPcSuFLyI-i1gj4Roabue0xGZ68Dar5x31-bTcNsL5SQgiC7kjl5GzaMpTnl/s320/Taylor+-+Captain+Mike%2527s+Dolphin+Cruise.jpg" width="180" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Blogger is acting up, so I'll share more pictures soon. Keep writing!</div>Nora MacFarlanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00575333078760106784noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7468924125790416797.post-44767474182005239372011-07-21T21:33:00.001-04:002011-07-21T21:34:34.393-04:00RIPPLE, by Mandy Hubbard<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Calibri; line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">It's pub day for RIPPLE, a paranormal romance for teens by author/ agent @MandyHubbard! Win a critique! </span><a href="http://tinyurl.com/3sh3sy9" rel="nofollow" style="color: #003366; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">http://tinyurl.com/3sh3sy9</span></a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Calibri; line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> #Ripple</span></span><br />
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</span> </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Calibri; line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I read Prada and Prejudice by Mandy and loved it! RIPPLE is definitely on my short list. </span></span><br />
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</span> </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Calibri; line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I'll have a longer blog post soon. Promise!</span></span><br />
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</span></span>Nora MacFarlanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00575333078760106784noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7468924125790416797.post-48593295411158271302011-07-09T11:45:00.001-04:002011-07-09T11:46:18.321-04:0010 Things I've Learned So Far on Vacation...<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px;">1) Tennessee has lots of churches. In 90 minutes, we passed 1 Church of God, 1 Methodist church, 1 Lutheran, and 49 Baptist churches. All were along country roads. </span><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">2) Eight lanes of bumper to bumper traffic and a sea of break lights on I-75 on a Friday evening rush hour through Atlanta is no where near as scary as I-75 through Cincinnati on any given day or time. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">3) Sunny days and an ocean side condo with the beach right outside your window are not helpful when you are supposed to be writing. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">4) Sunny days and an ocean side condo with the beach right outside your window is perfect for reading novels. Lots and lots of novels. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">5) Always book the top floor of the condo. That way your upstairs neighbor who smokes and doesn’t use an ashtray won’t coat your deck with their cigarette ashes. Daily. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">6) Dolphins are great fun to watch when the tide comes in.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">7) Teenage daughters should always bring a friend on vacation. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">8) Every meal in Georgia should include a Lipitor chaser. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">9) The Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta is a wonderful place to visit, but very, very crowded. We were packed in like sardines… <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">10) I love the coast. I may have to retire ocean side! <o:p></o:p></span></div>Nora MacFarlanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00575333078760106784noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7468924125790416797.post-6808117298585256442011-06-19T18:07:00.003-04:002011-06-19T18:08:32.151-04:00Happy Father's Day!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/DOKuSQIJlog?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>Nora MacFarlanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00575333078760106784noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7468924125790416797.post-55534605635050607132011-06-18T12:52:00.001-04:002011-06-18T12:53:40.277-04:00Summer ThoughtsIt's been an interesting summer. I've only been out of school for two weeks, but it seems much longer. I'm rested, and that's always the summer goal. I'm excited about teaching 3rd grade next year. Change is good, and I'll be working with a wonderful principal and staff. It's been twelve years since I've taught in a regular classroom. I took some time off when my daughter was little, and the last eight years I've taught gifted education.<br />
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Poison ivy has been a big part of my summer. Not just your ordinary case, but the kind that makes your mother gasp, strangers stare, your father get teary, your husband say 'ew', and your doctor quietly suggest you give up gardening (not happening!). There are parts of me that look and feel like I'm a burn victim. It's finally starting to get better. Hopefully I'll come out of the ordeal without too many scars.<br />
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I seriously considered giving up the garden. My dad even offered to bring his rototiller and put the whole thing to rest. But the thought of all that work being plowed under seems like such a waste. So I'll wear rubber shoes and gloves, long pants and long sleeves, and a healthy application of ivy guard when I head outside.<br />
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My daylilies are blooming now.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjydsGoGK1srM6bgiH49meeA_44HC7yvdZQEW1L0L322GXMFmOCPLzfAZKiQUHNWU8CbdnRRX6uQ0wNyOl6Q0jR7zBR_lhrv2m6_4XVbDO73T-HJf2nQmkK9hzHbfGjmudtJT2BeJJv0676/s1600/Lilies1+2009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjydsGoGK1srM6bgiH49meeA_44HC7yvdZQEW1L0L322GXMFmOCPLzfAZKiQUHNWU8CbdnRRX6uQ0wNyOl6Q0jR7zBR_lhrv2m6_4XVbDO73T-HJf2nQmkK9hzHbfGjmudtJT2BeJJv0676/s320/Lilies1+2009.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
They are so cheery! Why would I want to rip out these beds?<br />
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My other task this summer is to work on a new manuscript. I'm about nine chapters in and up to my neck with this challenge. It's my Heart of the Novel workshop project, and I'm supposed to have a complete first draft soon. That deadline is coming fast! It's raining today, like it seems to be doing a lot lately. I plan to open the garage doors and park myself where I can enjoy the weather while I write. Maybe I can conquer chapter nine!Nora MacFarlanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00575333078760106784noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7468924125790416797.post-57306281267501080822011-06-10T10:38:00.001-04:002011-06-10T10:38:04.236-04:00BECAUSE IT MADE MY DAY!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Thanks to <a href="http://renajjones.blogspot.com/">Rena</a> for sharing this on facebook. LOVE IT!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><object class="BLOGGER-youtube-video" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0" data-thumbnail-src="http://0.gvt0.com/vi/_AYEgwwCYWw/0.jpg" height="266" width="320"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/_AYEgwwCYWw&fs=1&source=uds" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" /><embed width="320" height="266" src="http://www.youtube.com/v/_AYEgwwCYWw&fs=1&source=uds" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"></embed></object></div>Nora MacFarlanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00575333078760106784noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7468924125790416797.post-2151064564258321922011-05-25T19:46:00.003-04:002011-05-25T19:46:55.168-04:00Because It Made Me Laugh!THE ROYAL WEDDING<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR_X2H0C_UeJdeDRERtM3DOyRML4w6L39RnOxTlFcztT7nCuwwi4AA8HCAdjO-SqBjYV-IqUhfshvTHyTaxi7DPw34yzzv6CYt4KqMAPUi0MNrfvCCzeU62vYcCl12wLnZkg4V4YdpJ6MG/s1600/Royal+Wedding.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR_X2H0C_UeJdeDRERtM3DOyRML4w6L39RnOxTlFcztT7nCuwwi4AA8HCAdjO-SqBjYV-IqUhfshvTHyTaxi7DPw34yzzv6CYt4KqMAPUi0MNrfvCCzeU62vYcCl12wLnZkg4V4YdpJ6MG/s320/Royal+Wedding.jpg" width="273" /></a></div>Nora MacFarlanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00575333078760106784noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7468924125790416797.post-8364689315669523902011-04-09T23:17:00.002-04:002011-04-10T00:41:15.120-04:00Nerdiness and ResearchI love researching for a new novel. Does that make me a nerd? I spend hours on the internet looking for details and tidbits that might help the story come alive for the reader. I search newspapers and libraries, and if a location is within a reasonable distance, I take a field trip. Those are the best!<br />
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I took such a trip this week. I'm on spring break, so I left children, husband and pets at home and hit the road. My destination was the <a href="http://www.museumofappalachia.org/">Museum of Appalachia </a>in Clinton, Tennessee. The drive there was beautiful. Once you cross the Ohio River into Kentucky the landscape is so pretty. I love the rolling hills as you pass by the cattle and horse farms. The mountain views farther south are spectacular. The only part of the drive I didn't like was over the top of Jellico Mountain in the dark. It was WINDY! I dodged tractor trailors with every gust.<br />
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When I start a novel, I keep a research binder that includes a tab for images. Here are some of the images I collected on my trip:<br />
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Peacocks and peahens were everywhere on the museum grounds. This pretty girl was out in the open, but most of them were hidden under bushes or in flower beds. Sometimes it surprised me when I'd unexpectedly spot one right by my foot. It was somewhat like an Easter egg hunt, but with colorful birds instead.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyvK_OEfV1BJ5WAU8LyH2YIIrsTl8BO4CifkJmm3c0l3I7Fpe3jzyPgDgNsE3-IapzvS5N1gW0XK-DofGRn2KioW1PsBXmh7J3f_qRd7PQAPI0xZuswVsp-P3pCNSKH0MwDfs7YkIUkXU-/s1600/2011-04-04_10-27-44_259.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyvK_OEfV1BJ5WAU8LyH2YIIrsTl8BO4CifkJmm3c0l3I7Fpe3jzyPgDgNsE3-IapzvS5N1gW0XK-DofGRn2KioW1PsBXmh7J3f_qRd7PQAPI0xZuswVsp-P3pCNSKH0MwDfs7YkIUkXU-/s400/2011-04-04_10-27-44_259.jpg" width="400" /></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/AVvXsEjjOZ41Rfsa-1PvhPWWjnuxG2ES_G0BxYg09peX___Fp7V3eKm9DXp3xoitIld0HNkVK0frtYwxf3ajc3yDx3co2CHt__PyvydKm7IPygiA_2ftYgW4bCyNDSvwfeuwBBekmLDP2e7YotMn/s1600/2011-04-04_10-27-51_273.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjOZ41Rfsa-1PvhPWWjnuxG2ES_G0BxYg09peX___Fp7V3eKm9DXp3xoitIld0HNkVK0frtYwxf3ajc3yDx3co2CHt__PyvydKm7IPygiA_2ftYgW4bCyNDSvwfeuwBBekmLDP2e7YotMn/s400/2011-04-04_10-27-51_273.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
How many peacocks do you see?<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEive6rSS86jLOkKbrHKEtmbWRb6QvWJmA0MtQCJla-48sT_hOk9vDt0cwSGNemjjTEUilh1J1Tk5Y8Q_DRIMT9roAis0ODAuHBwYZrgQmeQo7bx9XxEr56X9GYx2OfAVfqaFSGM8wtn8vzC/s1600/2011-04-04_12-38-29_676.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEive6rSS86jLOkKbrHKEtmbWRb6QvWJmA0MtQCJla-48sT_hOk9vDt0cwSGNemjjTEUilh1J1Tk5Y8Q_DRIMT9roAis0ODAuHBwYZrgQmeQo7bx9XxEr56X9GYx2OfAVfqaFSGM8wtn8vzC/s400/2011-04-04_12-38-29_676.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Nothing was wasted. This is a mule shoe chair. The sculptures were made from used matchsticks.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCABzPo1dom8ymrNxnZj8hsrNJT32C5MmSQImkpggBvJgNszHowIMmdbrwTQS6LRyvsmloir1VHaBTc-FtyBelgj_lppCWr75N9Zad-NgIEdsqsyI_MWRv8t9dWvsrYYdU4rR3EErJ_Hnj/s1600/2011-04-04_10-43-13_866.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCABzPo1dom8ymrNxnZj8hsrNJT32C5MmSQImkpggBvJgNszHowIMmdbrwTQS6LRyvsmloir1VHaBTc-FtyBelgj_lppCWr75N9Zad-NgIEdsqsyI_MWRv8t9dWvsrYYdU4rR3EErJ_Hnj/s400/2011-04-04_10-43-13_866.jpg" width="225" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhed6Rt9At3zxuxLK9O1Ulxef2ekFDK36uT0t1JrleW_uGAE-jrSjH34tfThzqRGL84Ktnon-CRriy3ac8aPvhO15PrK1PSwxL1lzcfRwwyD1ANf7FY6isbwpKZ7QFLOy_qen0Ee19iJ2Ge/s1600/2011-04-04_11-35-27_434.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhed6Rt9At3zxuxLK9O1Ulxef2ekFDK36uT0t1JrleW_uGAE-jrSjH34tfThzqRGL84Ktnon-CRriy3ac8aPvhO15PrK1PSwxL1lzcfRwwyD1ANf7FY6isbwpKZ7QFLOy_qen0Ee19iJ2Ge/s400/2011-04-04_11-35-27_434.jpg" width="222" /></a></div><br />
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My Papaw had a collection of hats very similar to these. He'd be 107 years old in 2011...<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDyvymT_if6ETnz1f0FBRaPD0-er5I1Kw1ZCeFBgzPrwxlL6oxI-InK3H1fpXLTir-qlzXTg2OjlewNoHVo5340VKYW_zA6GvBAnVCGv0OqcQHMkDE_lP5rTO0Ph4XBvvjTG1GykPL0gu-/s1600/2011-04-04_10-47-07_989.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="222" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDyvymT_if6ETnz1f0FBRaPD0-er5I1Kw1ZCeFBgzPrwxlL6oxI-InK3H1fpXLTir-qlzXTg2OjlewNoHVo5340VKYW_zA6GvBAnVCGv0OqcQHMkDE_lP5rTO0Ph4XBvvjTG1GykPL0gu-/s400/2011-04-04_10-47-07_989.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Papaw also had a pump organ in one of the upstairs bedrooms. It took two of us to play it -one to pump the foot pedals and one to tickle the (real) ivory.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie4OqHMVDZ832KEG9OX6MxZz1gNNpUO4tmxyHveXmPoTJngtZpUcIAr7hxzEfOPO2E5Y8faFFI2B8qB-yyqNqS2uU6F3iNWU7hHI_topvJ1dD0-Jf5VyWF3EkzTpaeElxEorxTWR1CwZI7/s1600/2011-04-04_10-47-50_443.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie4OqHMVDZ832KEG9OX6MxZz1gNNpUO4tmxyHveXmPoTJngtZpUcIAr7hxzEfOPO2E5Y8faFFI2B8qB-yyqNqS2uU6F3iNWU7hHI_topvJ1dD0-Jf5VyWF3EkzTpaeElxEorxTWR1CwZI7/s400/2011-04-04_10-47-50_443.jpg" width="225" /></a></div><br />
This made me giggle...<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijQpEu7Z7P14RcyOsIcfnTr7yN1sODwmm_NzBom8F9nVDmY6p-ELgxK10Y7Flbr85f9lbl1Wq5D32XRr3ycfbyrvPYqdqNPUApruXss2XghPCT4pLsrmlfwtaKAOuu1xVJzUoEjemSs1aY/s1600/2011-04-04_10-50-57_778.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="222" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijQpEu7Z7P14RcyOsIcfnTr7yN1sODwmm_NzBom8F9nVDmY6p-ELgxK10Y7Flbr85f9lbl1Wq5D32XRr3ycfbyrvPYqdqNPUApruXss2XghPCT4pLsrmlfwtaKAOuu1xVJzUoEjemSs1aY/s400/2011-04-04_10-50-57_778.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
I think I have to include this in a story! Also, I love the name of the quilter...<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqkmwDXjlNDujmzVJdRxLGvlKVwEoX_GD6UEjZTdJ9QVajRWTZpXfaUSskXMzgdzx-oY9XVhur5FstopTk3MuhUx9TDuO5OUB8lzy3k0cy7tR2PUngZMoYfQ-JIeKcNm_71IxnFQnSFuyL/s1600/2011-04-04_11-00-44_522.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqkmwDXjlNDujmzVJdRxLGvlKVwEoX_GD6UEjZTdJ9QVajRWTZpXfaUSskXMzgdzx-oY9XVhur5FstopTk3MuhUx9TDuO5OUB8lzy3k0cy7tR2PUngZMoYfQ-JIeKcNm_71IxnFQnSFuyL/s400/2011-04-04_11-00-44_522.jpg" width="222" /></a></div><br />
There were only about five other people at the museum while I was there. There are indoor exhibits as well as outdoor. I met this gentleman in the last cabin I visited. He was singing "I'll Fly Away." There was no one else around, so I joined in and sang harmony. When we finished, he grinned and said, "That was fun. Would you like to do another?" We ended up singing a few more before I had to go. He was right. It was fun!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2sM0-N7dXMydazd6y1fNDaDgZSVV1IONsWdFvUjepfiHICfniDTAXiNcjS9LPhxfLKUp89ohZr_gwetxFOg3eg8SBiPYgYCqcrNbMVk82t_OLSfw0GWlwz23S24aolWZtwKUfUsjpwPLV/s1600/2011-04-04_12-17-16_881.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2sM0-N7dXMydazd6y1fNDaDgZSVV1IONsWdFvUjepfiHICfniDTAXiNcjS9LPhxfLKUp89ohZr_gwetxFOg3eg8SBiPYgYCqcrNbMVk82t_OLSfw0GWlwz23S24aolWZtwKUfUsjpwPLV/s400/2011-04-04_12-17-16_881.jpg" width="225" /></a></div><br />
The museum grounds were beautiful.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpChjIdbisHO1Sx4R2cmNiEE_8_aAl4QS5kWZJemcH4qiPmVuORKQL4t_BDMgN3q7BXxgjoxkOoRjdV8MverkwrKqjYJiYk0DzS8oS68a0XCT8F5brpQOkV09_2VdJ4qnag9RVO1cS2l8x/s1600/2011-04-04_12-55-07_732.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpChjIdbisHO1Sx4R2cmNiEE_8_aAl4QS5kWZJemcH4qiPmVuORKQL4t_BDMgN3q7BXxgjoxkOoRjdV8MverkwrKqjYJiYk0DzS8oS68a0XCT8F5brpQOkV09_2VdJ4qnag9RVO1cS2l8x/s400/2011-04-04_12-55-07_732.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjguN8QaZ47gjcuUsnX4arTiJpA7HtdpNCDQYPcBn8xU5JslYDPLKTQMn1nULYUy9SfB-I9aWHy9ZHoG9NX8NO3nLYQaTpkAqa9-NSNy1sROWd3rjzYec7QZ8_YAZci61aYM4ag1vO9lY07/s1600/2011-04-04_12-10-28_731.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjguN8QaZ47gjcuUsnX4arTiJpA7HtdpNCDQYPcBn8xU5JslYDPLKTQMn1nULYUy9SfB-I9aWHy9ZHoG9NX8NO3nLYQaTpkAqa9-NSNy1sROWd3rjzYec7QZ8_YAZci61aYM4ag1vO9lY07/s400/2011-04-04_12-10-28_731.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
I highly recommend a trip to the Museum of Appalachia! <br />
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On my way back home, I decided to take a side trip through Cumberland Gap. I wish that I'd stopped and taken more pictures along the way, but I had to get back to Cincinnati on a deadline. I did take a few pictures from the pinnacle of Cumberland Gap. Just so you know, it was really cold up there!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVYcDcok56MmTvGbjh6VIOUqd5XpRve5t6Z3w8MkVgH7RzLhyphenhypheneQw83uZLKGrjliZLcH7GqMWKtY7Yerku5rgOu1YLOpyWud_vsl6V2wgEq-H4MvMzuRk8Cu0rBEScxWTqxdCCUjgcxnpD2/s1600/2011-04-05_10-56-14_471.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVYcDcok56MmTvGbjh6VIOUqd5XpRve5t6Z3w8MkVgH7RzLhyphenhypheneQw83uZLKGrjliZLcH7GqMWKtY7Yerku5rgOu1YLOpyWud_vsl6V2wgEq-H4MvMzuRk8Cu0rBEScxWTqxdCCUjgcxnpD2/s400/2011-04-05_10-56-14_471.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Keep Writing!<br />
NoraNora MacFarlanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00575333078760106784noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7468924125790416797.post-59589207089436143542011-02-28T21:31:00.001-05:002011-02-28T21:33:37.821-05:00Thoughts on BeginningsIt's always daunting beginning a new project. When I finally sit down with all of my research, character studies, images, and plot outlines it often overwhelms me. Who's story is it? Will it work best with one point of view? Two? Should I tell it in 1st person? 3rd person? What are the stakes? How can I raise them? How far can I take it. Is that far enough?<br />
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And then there's my worst enemy -my inner editor, who from the very first word on the page begins to criticize direction, question word choice and order. My inner editor is such a pain, that I've been known to throw a pillow case over the monitor just to shut him up. Yes. I've done that.<br />
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I almost always think I'm going to write a story in 1st person point of view. I'll write 10-15 chapters that way, and then I begin to feel restricted. I start all over again in 3rd person, but now I know my character. I can work the immediacy of 1st person thoughts into my 3rd person POV, and still have the flexibility that 3rd offers. Maybe someday I'll get a whole story down in 1st person and make it work. Maybe it'll be my current WIP. We'll see. <br />
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I tend to want perfection from the start. I forget that sometimes it's best to sit back and let the story come. This time I'm going to tell it all the first time, even those parts that won't make the final cut. Give myself permission to ramble. Edit later. *Puts a reminder post-it on the monitor* Yes, edit later... <br />
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I'll leave you with two articles I read this week that I thought worth sharing. They're basic, but sometimes it's good to be reminded of things you know but need to hear again. At least I do.<br />
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<a href="http://hollylisle.com/index.php/Writing-Life/ten-steps-to-finding-your-writing-voice.html">Ten Steps to Finding Your Writing Voice</a>, by Holly Lisle<br />
<a href="http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/understanding-voice-and-tone-in-writing.aspx">Understanding Voice and Tone in Writing</a>, by Julie Wildhaber<br />
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Keep writing,<br />
NoraNora MacFarlanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00575333078760106784noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7468924125790416797.post-41706146292857733342011-02-08T22:06:00.002-05:002011-02-08T22:07:01.581-05:00Tribute to a Master: Brian JacquesWe lost a wonderful, imaginative author this week. On February 5th, Brian Jacques passed away at age 71, from a heart attack. He was a British author who was best known for his fantasy series, Redwall.<br />
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I had the pleasure of hearing Mr. Jacques speak a few years ago at Northern Kentucky University. The auditorium was filled with a couple-hundred 10-14 year old boys and their parents, a few girls scattered here and there, and me. <br />
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The first thing he did was to school us in the correct pronunciation of his name (Jakes -with a long a). We listened to him talk about his life -which was quite an interesting adventure. His first story was written at age 10. When Mr. Jacques told us it was about a bird that cleaned a crocodile's teeth, his young audience laughed. They didn't think it so funny anymore when they learned Mr. Jacques' teacher called him a liar and caned him. His story was very good, and she didn't believe he wrote it. The punishment was given because he wouldn't admit that he copied it.<br />
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He talked briefly of becoming a sea merchant sailor at age 15, but what I remember most about his talk is why he started writing. He delivered milk to a school for the blind, and he began to spend time with the children. He starting writing stories for them, and because they were blind, he added lots of descriptive details.<br />
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I owe Brian Jacques a big thank you. I'm a teacher, and over the years I've had many boys who were reluctant readers. When they would come to me and say there wasn't <i>anything </i>interesting to read, I'd introduce them to <a href="http://www.redwall.org/">Redwall</a>. Inevitably, they would devour every book in the series I had on my shelves and ask for more.<br />
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Brian Jacques will certainly be missed. Rest in peace.Nora MacFarlanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00575333078760106784noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7468924125790416797.post-31209734436867368302011-02-07T08:51:00.001-05:002011-02-07T08:53:02.920-05:00Chautauqua Scholarship DeadlineI received this from Jo Lloyd at the Highlights Foundation. I highly recommend the Highlights Foundation Chautauqua Writer's Workshop. The faculty is top notch, and my experience was rich and though-provoking. Good luck!<br />
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Hi Folks,<br />
<br />
I know many of you have already spread the word about the scholarship program for the annual Highlights Foundation Writers Workshop at Chautauqua. The deadline for having applications in the mail to us is Saturday, Feb. 12, 2011. We'd love to see children's writers and illustrators, who need financial assistance in order to spend a week with our more than 25 exceptional faculty, be able to attend this workshop. It takes place July 16-23, 2011, in western New York at the Chautauqua Institution. For an application, and for more information, please contact Jo Lloyd, e-mail: jo.lloyd@highlightsfoundation.org, or phone, toll-free, 877-512-8365.<br />
<br />
Cordially,<br />
Jo<br />
<br />
Jo Lloyd<br />
Program Assistant<br />
Highlights Foundation, 814 Court Street, Honesdale, PA 18431<br />
Phone: (877) 512-8365 (toll-free) or (570) 251-4557<br />
Fax: (570) 253-0179<br />
jalloyd@highlightsfoundation.org<br />
http://www.highlightsfoundation.org/Nora MacFarlanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00575333078760106784noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7468924125790416797.post-32854494136667584472011-02-06T12:02:00.004-05:002011-02-07T08:54:20.734-05:00Odds & Ends and Fun Writer PostsHello All!<br />
<br />
It's been some time since I've last seen you. I haven't forgotten you, I've been writing. Lots. And when I'm productive in the writing department, I try to stay away from distractions -because the goal is, after all, to get published!<br />
<br />
I did write one post and not share it. I think I got distracted. Which, if you know me, doesn't surprise you one bit. <br />
<b><br />
</b><br />
<b>So here is a Late January Post:</b><br />
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<div class="p1">As I pulled into the garage today after school, a skateboard magically flew from its perch on the peg wall, hit the side of the van, and landed under the wheel. I backed over the skateboard and out of the garage. (There was no other way to do this since everything in the garage only fits one way.) Then I put the skateboard back in place. (The van was not wounded). As I walked under the eaves and back to the driver's seat, someone slammed the front door of the house causing much of the snow on the roof to land on my head, in my hood, and down my shirt.</div><div class="p2"><br />
</div><div class="p1">The van is in the garage, and I have decided to spend the rest of the day indoors.</div><div class="p1"><br />
</div><div class="p1"><b>And a Crock Pot Recipe I Thought Sounded Good:</b></div><div class="p1"><title></title> <style type="text/css">
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</style> </div><div class="p1" style="font-weight: bold;">BBQ Sauce - Pork Loin w/ Dr. Pepper & lots of garlic. Skim fat. Let cool. Add tomato paste and spices to taste.</div><div class="p1" style="font-weight: bold;"><br />
</div><div class="p1" style="font-weight: bold;"><b><u>And Some Great Blog Posts</u>!</b></div><div class="p1"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://riterdave.blogspot.com/">Just One More Page</a> - </i>A new blog by Dave Richardson. All of you Verlakay people know him as "dave r." Dave is an indie bookbuyer/seller for The Blue Marble Bookstore in Ft. Thomas, KY, and he writes a regular book review column for The International Reading Association's READING TODAY. His posts are informative, fun and funny! </div><div class="p1"><br />
</div><div class="p1"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_1583056569"><i style="font-weight: bold;">Jennifer Represents</i> -</a><i><a href="http://literaticat.blogspot.com/2011/01/nancy-drew-and-case-of-guilty-silence.html">Nancy Drew and the Case of the Guilty Silence</a> - </i>Have you ever wondered why an agent hasn't responded back to a request for a manuscript? </div><div class="p1"><br />
</div><div class="p1"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_1583056577">Also from Jennifer - </a><i style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://literaticat.blogspot.com/2011/01/when-to-keep-your-trap-shut-almost.html">When to Keep Your Trap Shut? Almost Always</a>. </i>This has some excellent advice for bloggers and others with an online presence. </div><div class="p1"><br />
</div><div class="p1"><b style="font-style: italic;"><a href="http://juleswatson.com/fictionworkshop.html">Jules Watson - Historical Fiction Workshop</a> - </b>Have you always wanted to attend a writing workshop, but it's never been in the budget? Jules Watson has posted a complete Historical Fiction Workshop, and it's FREE!</div><div class="p1"><br />
</div><div class="p1"><b><i><a href="http://jillcorcoran.blogspot.com/2011/01/how-to-sub-queries-full-ms-in-digital.html">Jill Corcoran - How to Sub Queries & Full Manuscripts in the Digital Age</a> "</i></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a1a1a; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;">Subbing your ms to agents has definitely changed. No more do you print out reams of paper and ship them off in a box. Now you query and send full requested manuscript via email. And we agents then forward your email with the requested full manuscript to our e-reader, which for me is a kindle. So here are some important tips to help you sub successfully in the digital age."</span></div><div class="p1"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a1a1a; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;"><br />
</span></div><div class="p1"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a1a1a; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;">Finally, because it made me laugh, and because it's TRUE, <a href="http://jackson-pearce.com/book/jackson-says-shut-up/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campain=Feed:+JacksonPearce+(Jackson+Pearce)">a video from Jackson Pearce,</a> author of <i>Sister's Red and As You Wish.</i></span></div><div class="p1"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"><br />
</span></div><div class="p1"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">Keep Writing!</span></div><div class="p1"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">Nora</span></div><div class="p1"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">I</span></div><br />
Nora MacFarlanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00575333078760106784noreply@blogger.com11