tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32256523069711816252024-03-13T18:12:01.882-04:00Down Write NutsChatter box, compulsive writer, bon vivant, stunt commuter, and as always, a ninja in her dreams.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger81125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3225652306971181625.post-52050414694100001002019-09-15T17:17:00.002-04:002019-09-15T17:17:59.723-04:00You know how you start one thing... ...and just get sucked into something else?<br />That's been me for the past two years with my Adult Romance pen name. I'm having a lot of fun, and I certainly don't regret it. I have a lot going on over there, and it's been a lot of fun.<br /><br />But, I have plans here too. Plans that including things like.<br />Better Living Through Chemistry: Faction Stories 3<br />
and<br />
Family Portraits: Royals of Grand Island 2<br />
<br />
...oh and there's those two more Witchlands books that are totally written and just not edited yet. And then I can show you my superheroes.<br />
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I'm currently planning on moving the Witchlands into Kindle Unlimited and giving you all few days to grab it free, so keep on the look out for that in the next few weeks! <3<br />
<br />
So don't worry. There's stuff happening, and I'll things to share with you all in 2020.<br />
<br />
OMG.<br />
2020?<br />
... crap I'm old.<br />
<br />
And for a tease...<br />
<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3225652306971181625.post-5769268617372710632018-01-25T23:18:00.000-05:002018-01-25T23:22:07.693-05:00Manly Meaty Meatballs <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">In an effort to close one of my other blogs that I don't use anymore, I'm going to be reposting things in here. The first is, of course, food. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Please Enjoy!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">-----------------</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I stumbled across this the other day: </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Now as awesome as they are, there were things in there I couldn't do. For example, veal. I don't do veal. I wasn't too keen on the idea of milk in my meatballs*** either. However, I followed the basic idea of the recipe- as in baking them. I even went a step further and used them to make a tomato/red gravy/sauce*. Here's my interpretation of the meatballs. And my friends, it is REALLY worth it, either with the original or my alterations. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">_______________________________________</span></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>Manly Meaty Meatballs: </b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">2lbs 80/20 ground beef (make sure you use 80/20!) </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">1 lb ground pork </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">1/2 lb pancetta or thick cut bacon, minced</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">2 eggs</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">1/3 cup finely diced yellow onion</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">8 garlic cloves, minced</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">1 tsp salt</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">1 tbls of adobo**</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">1/3 cup finely grated Parmigiano-Reggiano</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">1/2 cup bread crumbs</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">24 oz can of tomato puree</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">14 oz can of tomato sauce, unseasoned</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">12 oz can of tomato paste</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">1/4 cup oregano (you can absolutely decrease this-- I'm a huge fan) </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">1 tbls garlic power</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">2 cloves of garlic minced</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">2 tbls basil </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">1 tsp bay leaf</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">salt to taste</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">It's best to use dried herbs for this because it's not going simmer on the stove/in a crockpot like it should be.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">First, on the stove: </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Combine the tomato products with the herbs and blend it well; make sure the paste blends through- there should be no lumps. Allow this to heat through for about 1/2 an hour before proceeding to the second part. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Preheat the oven to 350*F </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Second: </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Mix the meat and eggs together by hand. It's squishy. Deal. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Add the onion and garlic, and mix well. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Add the rest of the ingredients and mix well.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Now: </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">In a 13X9 pan with high sides (or use a dutch oven if you have it), take a ladle or two of your gravy/sauce and coat the bottom. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Using an ice cream scoop, make the meatballs. Pack them well; you want to get rid of the air in them. Now pop it out and make sure it's round. repeat with all meat in the bowl. I got about 25 meatballs out of this. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Ladle the gravy/sauce over the meatball. Cover them with the sauce-- make sure there are no exposed parts of the meatballs. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Put the pan in the oven, uncovered and cooked for 1 1/2 to 2 hours. Mine were ready in 1 1/2. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Serve alone with crusty bread or over a little spaghetti. There should be WAY more tomato sauce than you need. Freeze or refrigerate for future use. I hope yours is as good as mine. Best Meatballs Ever. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">My picture is coming; I'm using an old camera**** with a CompactFlash card and I have to go find the cord to up load the shot. I also meant to Pin This to Pinterest last week so that I could have for my October challenge, but I messed up. I won't count it, but I WILL share it. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">_______________________________________</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">*I hate getting into the argument about sauce and gravy, so I always refer to it this way. However, in my house it's always tomato sauce. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">**I love adobo. I use it everywhere for everything.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">***I have been informed that using the milk with the breadcrumbs is meant to keep the meatballs moist; it's an interesting concept and I may give it a try next time, but these babies were plenty moist. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">****That camera thing is a whole other post. Argh.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">*****Original meatball post from here: http://www.esquire.com/food-drink/a24664/best-meatball-recipe/</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Originally posted Oct. 2nd, 2011 at 10:35 PM</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3225652306971181625.post-39880923972804487862017-12-29T11:03:00.001-05:002017-12-29T11:20:19.936-05:00Star Wars and Fandom<p dir="ltr">Let's talk about fandom and expectation for a moment.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Since we have a swath of fanboys who think they own Star Wars, let me explain this concept of "audience privilege" that's become an issue, and why all those who have started calling the FMC "Mary Sue Rey" are not allowed in the real fandom. </p>
<p dir="ltr">I'm an author. I spend many hours, weeks, months--and hell years, at this point crafting a story. I am also a HUGE Star Wars fan. Always have been. Since I was 4. I have fanfic, yup.  </p>
<p dir="ltr">I had, through the 90s, read most of the now-non-canonical expanded universe (EU) after Return of the Jedi. Somewhere around 100 out of 150 books. (I stopped when one of Han and Leia's children force exploded.) I had mad love for Mara Jade, and I adored the protagonists, the Yuzaan Vong. I would have paid serious money to see those guys on screen. </p>
<p dir="ltr">Imagine my delight when I heard there were 3 new movies in the works. Oh, my yes! Yes! Anakin's turn to the Dark Side! I was so excited! Thrilled! </p>
<p dir="ltr">But the reality... oh the painful reality. </p>
<p dir="ltr">Jar-Jar Binks. A child Anakin. Virgin birth and Midichlorians. A very stoned Yoda. Intergalactic C-SPAN. Jedi who don't DO ANYTHING about a slave trade. </p>
<p dir="ltr">...and that was just Episode 1. We had two more of these to endure, including more Intergalactic C-SPAN and what for all the world was a FDS hygiene commercial. </p>
<p dir="ltr">Walking out of the Intergalactic C-SPAN--I mean, Episode 1-- I felt betrayed. I felt let down. As I sat watching the credits roll, I decided to turn my fandom down from from an 11, to about 8. I would remain true to the originals, but not this horrible travesty. </p>
<p dir="ltr">But my fandom went to a 3 when I received a gift for my birthday. My friend skipped down the drive way happy as a clam, pleased with herself. "Jenn! Look what I found! I know how much you love Star Wars, and I know you'll love these!"</p>
<p dir="ltr"><b>Padmé Amidala Window Clings. </b></p>
<p dir="ltr">"I thought you'd love to put them on the back window of your car."</p>
<p dir="ltr">Not a chance in hell. Not in this life, not in any other life. </p>
<p dir="ltr">So, I had myself an introspection. I had, to that point, spent hundreds, if not thousands of hours, immersed in the SW EU. I had spent years writing stories about Luke, Leia, Han, and eventually their kids, Chewie, different partners for Luke. I watched and read everything I could on SW--even the Christmas Special, and the bizarre "Splinter of the Mind's Eye" book. </p>
<p dir="ltr">How had my dedication to this world, this fandom, chosen to repay me? </p>
<p dir="ltr">Jar-Jar Binks.<br>
Virgin birth.<br>
Midichlorians.<br>
A very stoned Yoda. <br>
<i>Intergalactic C-SPAN</i>.<br>
<b><i>Padmé Amidala Window Clings. </i></b></p>
<p dir="ltr">And I realized that there must be moderation in fandom. These stories, these characters were not mine. They weren't ever going to be the story *I* wanted. Not ever. And all my time and dedication and love spent would never be returned to me. No matter how much time, energy, and money (can't forget that!) I put towards this, it was never going to return any of it. </p>
<p dir="ltr">I was feeding a black hole. </p>
<p dir="ltr">It would continue to take and take. And I would watch, the accretion disc neither growing nor shrinking, simply pulling in every thing I would willingly give it. I thought that by feeding this monster, I could get it to love me. </p>
<p dir="ltr">But it was a monster, and all it did was eat. And it was devouring me.</p>
<p dir="ltr">This is true of ANY rabid fandom. If you keep feeding the monster in the black hole, you're stuck. You'll watch and feed, and be there forever. Hoping for some little sign that what you adore knows you're there, and sends you just a trickle of love.</p>
<p dir="ltr">It won't. Ever.</p>
<p dir="ltr">So I stopped talking about Star Wars. Stopped dead. Anyone asked me things, I didn't answer. I didn't read anymore of the books; I back away. </p>
<p dir="ltr">This was not MY story to tell. <br>
It was never was, and never will be. </p>
<p dir="ltr">And so, I found other things to like and enjoy. Harry Potter. Star Trek. New book series, like Black Dagger Brotherhood, and other genres, like romance. Gasp! But I found that by spreading my love around, I was happier. While I still say "Fuck the Space Diner!" to Ep. 2, it's countered by "Rhage is mine. Go find your own vampire," and, "I really don't like <i>The</i><i> Prisoner of Azkaban</i>."</p>
<p dir="ltr">And now. We have a new series. </p>
<p dir="ltr">I adored The Force Awakens with the gusto of a fangirl. It was wonderful story telling, new characters to love, new planets, fresh story telling. </p>
<p dir="ltr"><i>Of course </i>there were things I didn't like. I won't forgive them for deleting Mara Jade. </p>
<p dir="ltr">However this is not my story to tell. </p>
<p dir="ltr">And then came The Last Jedi. Oh, lemme tell you. The brilliance of the storytelling, the CGI, the dialogue! The use of thmes, real cinematography by someone who had studied it. The brilliant lack of sound in space for both Leia's survival and Holdo's suicide. My filmmaking nerd threw her head back and laughed and laughed in satisfaction. </p>
<p dir="ltr"><i>Of course</i> there were things I didn't like. Canto Bight and the casino? Unnecessary. Rose's character was shallow, a plot device. She could be used better. </p>
<p dir="ltr">But it's not my story to tell. </p>
<p dir="ltr">Repeat that. A million times if you have to. It's not my story to tell. I am there without expectations, to be entertained. </p>
<p dir="ltr">And I was. And it was good.</p>
<p dir="ltr">When I write a story, a book, I write the story as I believe it should be told. They are my characters and I control their destiny (we won't get into the psychology of character development). I am the author. You are the reader. I entertain you, you are entertained. </p>
<p dir="ltr">Will you experience disappointment if I kill off X? Duh, yes. Does that give you the right to go to my book at the retailer and essentially rip me a new asshole? </p>
<p dir="ltr">Hint: no. </p>
<p dir="ltr">But, Jenn--you killed X, and that shouldn't have been. You should have done Y or Z or perhaps even W. But he should never have died and for that you are a horrible writer and you suck and should be ashamed. I'm starting a petition to have you rewrite the story the way I want it!! </p>
<p dir="ltr">Okay, there. Right there. When did this become your story? Have you put in the time? The sleepless nights? The deleting of scenes? The torture of the story going off arc? The writer's fog? The days of blank pages taunting you? </p>
<p dir="ltr">No? </p>
<p dir="ltr">Not your story. </p>
<p dir="ltr">"Audience privilege" is not a thing. If you're not invited in on the project (i.e., they hand you a script and say 'welcome!'), you don't get a say.</p>
<p dir="ltr">That's where fandom gets dangerous. Really, really dangerous. The fanboys have actually created a petition to have Disney (ooh, is that an uncaring black hole I see before me?) to remove TLJ from canon. They will send death threats to people, they will bully and berate people [women] who enjoy it. <br><br></p>
<p dir="ltr">That is a step too far. Too far, gents.</p>
<p dir="ltr">(And, to be fair: MAJORITY male fans. Hence my choice of 'fanboys.')</p>
<p dir="ltr">Trekkies have a leg up on you. Why? They let go. They let the story happen. Come on, haven't you see Star Trek V: The Piece of Shit? And YET. ST: I, II, III, IV, VI, VII, VII, First Contact, Nemeshit--er Nemesis, The Reboot (fondly called Lens Flair the Movie), Into Darkness, Beyond, the TV shows... </p>
<p dir="ltr">Trekkies let it go. Trekkies have fun arguing about Picard vs. Kirk (Picard, btw, 100%). Trekkies are some of the most hard for fans you've ever seen, and they love it. All of the damn contradictions and opposing stories and 'what the hell--ah well. Enjoy!' moments. </p>
<p dir="ltr">Perhaps you think this is your story. </p>
<p dir="ltr">Feed the monster, boys. </p>
<p dir="ltr">This isn't going to go the way you think it is.</p>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3225652306971181625.post-25015527271121620462017-06-05T23:25:00.000-04:002017-06-05T23:25:12.953-04:00Snippet! "The Art of Living "<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 110%;">Billy
stood up. “What do you want, Shi? This is ridiculous.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 110%;">“I
want you dead!” he snapped at Billy, whirling around. “You and that other
bitch! But these people have other ideas for her, so I’m willing to compromise
and make sure that you and James Dobbes are done in.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 110%;">Lilly
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 110%;">Shi
stuck his finger in her face. “Sit down and shut up and you get to keep that
pretty little head of yours.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 110%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: .3in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 110%;">The
other men were heading straight for Nathan, and I ducked down, covering my
face. If they saw me, there was no way out of this. The shock on Nathan’s face
was brief and then disappeared. I was afraid he thought I was being a coward,
but I wasn’t. I was doing the only thing I could think of to get them all out
of this. They marched up to him and grabbed him under his arms. They ignored me,
and he went with them, fighting only a little.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 110%;">Several
of the lackeys started forcing everyone to one side, and we all started
crawling toward the back of the seating area, trying to get out. I crawled
along with the rest of the crowd, trying to get a read on what was going on
around me. I saw all the journalists heading down one aisle, and I chose
another to crawl through where there was no one. I glanced behind me, and I was
the last one crawling out. I peered around on either side, and I was quite
well-hidden in the chairs.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 110%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: .3in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 110%;">It
was now or never.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 110%;">Ninja note number—whatever. Always
take the chance when it comes up.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 110%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: .3in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 110%;">I
stopped crawling and curled in on myself. I brought my hands around to my face
where I could see them. I took a deep breath, then I went through the little
hand ritual Rebekah had set up for me: snap with each hand using the middle
finger, then tap on the back of my left hand with my pointer and middle finger
three times.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 110%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: .3in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 110%;">The
odd tingle flared quickly all over, and then just as quickly disappeared. My
hands were now covered in white gloves that led to the sleeves of the traditional
<i>ji</i> the White Ninja used. That <i>I</i>
used as the White Ninja. And holy moly, wasn’t this convenient? The clothes had
simply melted away and were replaced, that easily.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 110%;">Being
a little witchy was really proving to be handy.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 110%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: .3in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 110%;">I
stayed where I was and just waited. I had two ideas, which all depended on the lackeys
and their reaction or lack thereof. The direction was picked pretty quickly
when one of them came over and poked me in the back with a rifle. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 110%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: .3in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 110%;">“You
gonna move, bitch?” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 110%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: .3in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 110%;">I
shook my head and stayed where I was. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 110%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: .3in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 110%;">He
poked me again. “Come on, move it. I don’t care if you shit yourself, you need
to get going.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 110%;">I
shook my head again, and I heard him turn around, probably to talk to someone
else.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 110%;">I
tossed myself over onto my back and shot my legs out, catching the back of his
knees and knocking him forward onto his face. The gun went off as he hit, which
pissed me off because one, where was the safety on that thing? And two, that
was more attention than I wanted at that point. <i>Oh, well, moving on.</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 110%;">I
tossed my legs up over my head and flipped into a crouch. The guy I had knocked
down was trying to crane his neck around to see what had just happened to him.
I put a finger to my lips. “Ssh.” I could hear the smirk in my voice. “Don’t
tell.” I jabbed at his neck and knocked him out with a single push on a nerve.
I was more than happy with that move; Master hadn’t been sure we had really
mastered the spot. Clearly, I had, and I was now sure Billy had too.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 110%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: .3in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 110%;">I
peered around through the chairs, marking the locations of the lackeys. Two had
spotted their comrade go down and were heading over from the other side. I
grabbed the gun from where the guy had dropped it and pulled out the cartridge,
skidding it toward the other people at the exit where they corralled everyone, then
dropped the empty gun on the ground. I looked back, and they were just about to
see me hiding in the row of chairs. I shrugged and decided I could catch them
unawares if I moved.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 110%;">Welcome
back, White Ninja.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 110%;">I
tossed myself forward, launching over the unconscious lackey, landing on my
hands, and tucked and rolled back to my feet. The next lackey was standing in
shock, staring at me. I cocked my head and shot my fist out and caught him in
the stomach. He made an almost comic-book “oof” as I made contact. The other
guy came up from the side and brought his gun around. I managed to launch into
a round house and knocked the gun out of his hand, sending it flying.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 110%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: .3in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 110%;">I
walked up to the stunned lackey. “Boo.” My fist shot out and hooked him in the
jaw.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 110%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: .3in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 110%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<b><i><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">The
Art of Living<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 110%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: .3in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 110%;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Art-Living-Witchwolf-Chronicles-Book-ebook/dp/B06XS1DZ9P"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Amazon</span></a><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> | </span><a href="http://tiny.cc/WWtAoL4bn"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">BN</span></a><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> | </span><a href="http://tiny.cc/WW4taLiB"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">iBooks</span></a><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> | </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><a href="http://tiny.cc/WW4tAoLkbo">Kobo</a></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AytLnUpHGKc/WTOJta1UL2I/AAAAAAAAZLs/bC6pA9dZAoQM6sKFw0CkffkbTprUT7UVQCLcB/s1600/masters.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1590" data-original-width="1600" height="318" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AytLnUpHGKc/WTOJta1UL2I/AAAAAAAAZLs/bC6pA9dZAoQM6sKFw0CkffkbTprUT7UVQCLcB/s320/masters.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>What a bang-up year this had been. </i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>I'd started training as a ninja, discovered I was a witch, found out I was pregnant, had the father walk off and basically tell me to screw off. I discovered a best friend, a new cousin, got a new job, managed another New York Times best selling novel. I put on a mask and became a superhero, got to fly with another one, and was currently writing hilarious news pieces about myself and my cousin as superheroes while hiding in plain sight. </i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>After all that, I thought that life would calm down. </i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>I was naive. And I was not prepared for what was coming. Sometimes being a superhero didn't always mean you had to wear a mask.</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>But after mastering the art of dying, it was time for me to start learning the art of living.</i></div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3225652306971181625.post-53733934668700333532017-06-04T00:12:00.003-04:002017-06-04T00:12:34.225-04:00Snippet: "The Art of Dying" <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NldmZ5BkYnA/WTOH5sbgO7I/AAAAAAAAZLg/xQWGD0-IWn0cS9PQ88IHyhr1IGKGyieNgCLcB/s1600/artofdying.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="997" height="200" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NldmZ5BkYnA/WTOH5sbgO7I/AAAAAAAAZLg/xQWGD0-IWn0cS9PQ88IHyhr1IGKGyieNgCLcB/s200/artofdying.jpg" width="124" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<b><i><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">The Art of Dying<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://tiny.cc/AoDww3Az"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">Amazon</span></a><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"> | </span><a href="http://tiny.cc/AoDww3BN"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">BN</span></a><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"> | </span><a href="http://tiny.cc/AoDww3iB"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">iBooks</span></a><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"> | </span><a href="http://tiny.cc/AoDww3Kb"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">Kobo</span></a></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 105%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric; text-indent: .3in;">
The hallway we were in
curved around the oddly shaped building and just like Billy thought, it curved
all the way around to the other docent door. I was about to pull the door open
when I heard a few more gunshots way too close for comfort.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 105%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric; text-indent: .3in;">
“I think we’ve got a
problem.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 105%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric; text-indent: .3in;">
“Open it. That’s the only
way we’re going to find out.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 105%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric; text-indent: .3in;">
I leaned against the door
so it wouldn’t pop open and spill us out. I turned the knob and pulled slowly.
I peered through the crack to find two gunmen standing there with their backs
to us, tracking something above them.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 105%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric; text-indent: .3in;">
I looked back at Billy
and held up two fingers. He nodded, bracing himself. I counted down with my
finger from five, and on zero, I yanked the door open. Billy launched out the
door in flying kick. He slammed into the back of the gunman on the right,
dropping him to the ground face first slamming, his chin on the floor. The
other gunman was completely shocked by the sudden movement, and I took the
opportunity. I launched out and crescent kicked the other one from his blind
side and slammed him into the ground, hard.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 105%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric; text-indent: .3in;">
They were both out, and
now we had a group staring at us from across the gallery opening. I looked to
the right and saw the door into the other gallery. The other exit would be in
there, and I ducked in after motioning to Billy what I was doing.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 105%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric; text-indent: .3in;">
He nodded, and I ran in.
I spotted the door; it was locked and alarmed. I stared at it for just a moment
and then decided the alarm didn’t matter. I kicked it open and the lights and
trigged all the alarms.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 105%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric; text-indent: .3in;">
The group standing in the
gallery started streaming in, panicked. I just held the door open and motioned
them out. “Head for Madison.” I directed as they streamed out into the street.
“Go, go, run. Head for Madison.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 105%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric; text-indent: .3in;">
They were all running as
fast as they could and were gone down the street. I ducked behind the wall to
the gallery where I had left Billy to find him surrounded by a group of gunmen,
all pointing their weapons at him.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 105%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric; text-indent: .3in;">
<i>Damn</i>.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 105%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric; text-indent: .3in;">
The room was loud with
the alarms going off and the lights were distracting. I used that—I pulled out
a few of the shiruken. I set my feet and then threw them. I managed to get two
of them into gun barrels I was staring at, and then two of them ended up in the
wrists of the gunmen who were angled away from me.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 105%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric; text-indent: .3in;">
The rest of the gunmen
turned to find me standing there. I crooked my head and smiled. They didn’t see
Billy move and toss himself on the ground to sweep their legs out from under
them, landing them in a pile. That distracted them again and I ran over and
knocked out two more of them, while Billy went back to the two original gunmen
and took them down. They had been too stunned to move, and he took them down in
a heartbeat.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 105%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric; text-indent: .3in;">
The Wraith was standing
in front of the last group of guests, with the gunmen all moving slowly closer
to her. They were very soon going to be too close for her to stop the bullets
if they fired. Billy motioned me to the back of the line of gunmen and gave me
the signal.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 105%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric; text-indent: .3in;">
The signal. We had been
working on these moves for nearly a month now, and I wanted to be nervous, but
we didn’t have time for that. We both stepped forward and tucked into a roll,
vaulting up into a handstand. At the same time, we both pushed up into a series
of back hand springs that took us right into the gunmen.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 105%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric; text-indent: .3in;">
I used the momentum to
knock myself into two of them and slam them chest first into the floor. I used
still more of the momentum to turn a roundhouse at the gunman on my right,
shoving him into the one on his right. The gun went off and the first guy I
kicked got shot in the knee by the one he had fallen into. I turned back just
in time to hear the gun cock in my face. I dropped back into a bridge as the
trigger was pulled, and shot my foot up and into the elbow of the guy with the
gun. It snapped his arm up and launched the freshly fired gun into the air.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 105%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric; text-indent: .3in;">
I continued the back-hand
walk-over and popped up in front of another gunman who was stunned but bringing
his gun up. I cocked my head and shot my fist out. I snapped his head back and
his whole body snapped back with it, slamming him onto his back on the ground.
I heard the air rush out of his lungs.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 105%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric; text-indent: .3in;">
I turned around and saw
that they were all down. It was just me and Billy and the Wraith standing in
the middle of the floor. The cops were standing in the broken doors and even
they were shocked at what had just happened.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 105%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric; text-indent: .3in;">
Not nearly as much as
Billy and I were.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 105%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric; text-indent: .3in;">
The Wraith turned to the
cops standing there. “Gentlemen. It’s all yours. I believe the Ninjas sent the
other guests to Madison Ave.” She stepped up between us. “We’re done here.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 105%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric; text-indent: .3in;">
The Wraith grabbed each
of our arms. “Hang on,” she mumbled.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 105%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric; text-indent: .3in;">
“No, wait!” someone
yelled from the door.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 105%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric; text-indent: .3in;">
But she didn’t. We were
up off the floor and up through the broken ceiling window and to the roof next
door before we could even see who had yelled for the Wraith to wait. The flight
was again disconcerting and it freaked me out to have my feet off the ground.
Billy seemed to do better because when she landed, Billy grabbed the briefcase
and nodded to her to get us going again. We were up again and over to the rock
where she had first found us in the park.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 105%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric; text-indent: .3in;">
“You’re good?” she asked.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 105%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric; text-indent: .3in;">
“Wait!” came a yell from
the right.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 105%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric; text-indent: .3in;">
We all turned and saw
Cindy running for us.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 105%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric; text-indent: .3in;">
“She really wants to talk
to you.” I looked pointedly at the Wraith.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 105%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric; text-indent: .3in;">
“Not ready for that,” she
said. “She’d be happy with you two.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 105%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric; text-indent: .3in;">
I looked at Billy. “Four
weeks. Long enough for an interview?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 105%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric; text-indent: .3in;">
He nodded. “I think so.
I’m not going anywhere.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 105%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric; text-indent: .3in;">
“Me neither.” I laughed.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 105%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric; text-indent: .3in;">
“I’m going to go,” the
Wraith said. “Hide the case behind the rock when you’re done changing. I’ll
make sure that no one finds it, and that it gets back to your house.” She nodded
and was gone up into the sky.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 105%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric; text-indent: .3in;">
I heard Cindy swear as
she ran up to us. “Couldn’t she stay?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 105%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric; text-indent: .3in;">
“She’s not ready for that.
We shouldn’t have even stayed.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 105%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric; text-indent: .3in;">
“What do you need?” Billy
asked. “They’re going to be looking for you soon.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 105%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric; text-indent: .3in;">
“Who are you?” she asked.
“What are your names?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 105%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric; text-indent: .3in;">
Billy froze, and I
laughed. I knew he hadn’t thought about that. “We’re ninjas. For the sake of
simplicity in the tradition, we’re simply the White Ninja and Black Ninja.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 105%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric; text-indent: .3in;">
“Do you have real names?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 105%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric; text-indent: .3in;">
Billy put his fist on his
hip. “Yes, but do you really think we’re sharing?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 105%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric; text-indent: .3in;">
“Why do you do this? Dress
up in masks and costumes and save people?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 105%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric; text-indent: .3in;">
Taking over the
narrative, because he knew Cindy might recognize my voice, Billy explained, “We’ve
both suffered tragedies in our lives. Since we have the training and
wherewithal to do this…”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 105%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric; text-indent: .3in;">
“We thought we should try
to spare others the same tragedies.” I kept my voice rough.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 105%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric; text-indent: .3in;">
“Do you know who those attackers
were in there?” she asked.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 105%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric; text-indent: .3in;">
I looked at Billy, and he
gave me the eyebrow shrug. He didn’t know if we should say anything yet either.
Yamato had warned us off them, but now they were trying to attack us and hurt
people. “We do know who they are, but we aren’t yet at liberty to say. We don’t
want to go against the police or hinder their investigations, so it’s best we
don’t say anything.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 105%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric; text-indent: .3in;">
“Is there any way to get
in contact with you if the city needs saving?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 105%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric; text-indent: .3in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">“Like a Ninja Signal?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<b><i><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<b><i><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">The
Art of Dying<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://tiny.cc/AoDww3Az"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Amazon</span></a><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> | </span><a href="http://tiny.cc/AoDww3BN"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">BN</span></a><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> | </span><a href="http://tiny.cc/AoDww3iB"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">iBooks</span></a><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> | </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><a href="http://tiny.cc/AoDww3Kb">Kobo</a></span><br />
<br />
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<br />
<i>No one starts out to be a superhero.</i><br />
<i>But there's my cousin—mask and costume—and I'm convinced she's certifiably insane.</i><br />
<i>Beth hit it big in Hollywood and created a baseball team so I could play. She started taking martial art lessons and she decided she was going to start ninja'ing around New York City. And that had nothing to do with us losing our mothers and her brother when we were young</i><br />
<i>See? Insane. I mean, who the hell wants to be a moving target?</i><br />
<i>Well, I'm not really one to judge. After all, I took those lessons too. I'm out there with her: hiding in shadows, avenging the less- fortunate, saving the damsels in distress--and bachelors in a bind--getting shot at, threatened with death, chased with swords and tossed into situations we had no business being in. </i><br />
<i>Let's just say that we’re in trouble if phone booths ever go out of style.</i><br />
<i> We kinda liked it. I guess we're both nuts But no one starts out to be a superhero. No one wants to be the last of a breed of ninjas.</i><br />
<i>And, no one really wants to learn the art of dying.</i></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3225652306971181625.post-6502240037642103142017-03-21T00:33:00.000-04:002017-06-04T00:13:18.318-04:00May 19th: The Art of Living<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iawxdk7NwOU/WNCsOSuKnmI/AAAAAAAAWFM/udtIk8MujFESVRtO1KmwUE7bGomCYu2FQCLcB/s1600/Art%2Bof%2BLiving-front.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iawxdk7NwOU/WNCsOSuKnmI/AAAAAAAAWFM/udtIk8MujFESVRtO1KmwUE7bGomCYu2FQCLcB/s320/Art%2Bof%2BLiving-front.jpg" width="199" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Art-Living-Witchwolf-Chronicles-Book-ebook/dp/B06XS1DZ9P"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Amazon</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> | </span><a href="http://tiny.cc/WWtAoL4bn"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">BN</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> | </span><a href="http://tiny.cc/WW4taLiB"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">iBooks</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> | </span><a href="http://tiny.cc/WW4tAoLkbo"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Kobo</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
</h4>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 17.12px;">What a bang-up year this had been. </span></div>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 17.12px;">
</span>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 17.12px;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 17.12px;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
I'd started training as a ninja, discovered I was a witch, found out I was pregnant, had the father walk off and basically tell me to screw off. I discovered a best friend, a new cousin, got a new job, managed another New York Times best selling novel. I put on a mask and became a superhero, got to fly with another one, and was currently writing hilarious news pieces about myself and my cousin as superheroes while hiding in plain sight. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
After all that, I thought that life would calm down. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I was naive. And I was not prepared for what was coming. Sometimes being a superhero didn't always mean you had to wear a mask.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
But after mastering the art of dying, it was time for me to start learning the art of living.</div>
</span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3225652306971181625.post-40830789587704534052017-03-05T20:00:00.000-05:002017-03-21T11:13:59.068-04:00March 21st: The Art of Dying <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">
</div>
<br />
<br />
And finally, we arrive at the beginning of the superheroes. These are the stories that I have loved writing my whole life and I hope that you all enjoy them as well.<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Introducing: </div>
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
The Art of Dying</h3>
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://c2.staticflickr.com/4/3869/32870900000_6828e60fb3_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://c2.staticflickr.com/4/3869/32870900000_6828e60fb3_n.jpg" /></a></div>
<h4 style="text-align: center;">
<i><b><br /></b></i><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><b><a href="http://tiny.cc/AoDww3Az">Amazon</a><span id="goog_1948363461"></span><span id="goog_1948363462"></span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/"></a> | <a href="http://tiny.cc/AoDww3BN">Barnes & Noble</a> | <a href="http://tiny.cc/AoDww3Kb">Kobo</a> | <a href="http://tiny.cc/AoDww3iB">iBooks</a></b></span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><i>No one starts out to be A superhero.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><i>But there's my cousin—mask and costume—and I'm convinced
she's certifiably insane.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><i>Beth hit it big in Hollywood and created a baseball
team so I could play. She started taking martial art lessons and she decided
she was going to start ninja'ing around New York City. And that had nothing to
do with us losing our mothers and her brother when we were young<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><i>See? Insane. I mean, who the hell wants to be a moving
target?<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><i>Well, I'm not really one to judge. After all, I took
those lessons too. I'm out there with her: hiding in shadows, avenging the
less- fortunate, saving the damsels in distress--and bachelors in a
bind--getting shot at, threatened with death, chased with swords and tossed
into situations we had no business being in. <o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><i>Let's just say that we’re in trouble if phone booths
ever go out of style.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">We kinda liked it. I guess we're both nuts But no one
starts out to be a superhero. No one wants to be the last of a breed of ninjas.</span></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><i>And, no one really wants to learn the art of dying.</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br /></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3225652306971181625.post-11238149488784629402017-01-13T16:24:00.003-05:002017-01-13T16:25:33.077-05:00Slip the Waves<div dir="ltr">
Well, I certainly slacked off, didn't I? I guess that's what happens when you have stuff and things and kind of have a pseudo-life. Meh. I'd rather write.<br />
<br />
So this year is going to be the year of releases. It's time to get these stories moving! First up, for the new year is <b>Slip the Waves</b><i style="font-weight: bold;">, </i>an entry at the Hotel Paranormal. </div>
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<br /></div>
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March will bring you The Art of Dying, a part of the large superhero universe, and more of the WitchWolf Chronicles will follow. Keep your eyes peeled! </div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AIBAZsDxPyU/WHlFEeRBOnI/AAAAAAAAUCs/a77gnncu_b0m0KeZAGa5kUgmmOXd6ElawCLcB/s1600/slip-the-waves-500x750.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AIBAZsDxPyU/WHlFEeRBOnI/AAAAAAAAUCs/a77gnncu_b0m0KeZAGa5kUgmmOXd6ElawCLcB/s320/slip-the-waves-500x750.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
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<div dir="ltr">
<br /></div>
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<b><br /></b></div>
<h4 style="text-align: center;">
<b>SLIP THE WAVES</b></h4>
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://a.co/eZk938H">AMAZON</a></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;">
Prescott Darling is a single father, to all outward appearances. </div>
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;">
He gets up each morning, gets his children off to school. He drives to work, toils and negotiates, then comes home to pick up his little family from his mother's house. Dinner, homework, bed. It's been like this for years. He's tired of hearing she's not coming back. He's done with people trying to set him up on dates. He just wants to live this simple life. </div>
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;">
Because Prescott Darling hides a secret from everyone. Even from the three little children he's raising. Their mother is alive, well. She watches them each day as they grow and thrive and play. </div>
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;">
Until the sun sets, and she must slip the waves and disappear into her watery home once more...</div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="text-align: start;"><i>A Hotel Paranormal story.</i></span></div>
<span style="text-align: start;">The Hotel Paranormal is THE place for supernatural beings looking to get away from it all. Beings like werewolves, vampires, elves, sprites, djinn and more check in from all over the world for business and for pleasure -- and sometimes for both.</span><br />
<span style="text-align: start;">www.thehotelparanormal.com</span><br />
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<span style="text-align: start;"><br /></span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3225652306971181625.post-54443513848787144212016-06-15T23:32:00.002-04:002016-06-15T23:32:54.338-04:00EUNICA is LIVE!! <h3 style="text-align: center;">
Skeleton Key Series</h3>
<h2 style="text-align: center;">
Eunica</h2>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Her destiny was not in the shadow of death, but in the light of another life.</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></i></div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-I0WXzOp8RmU/VrQcpRCGDwI/AAAAAAAAFxg/06IwgaFwt6UqBkAYmgddROreUJA36jihgCKgB/s1600/EBOOK.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-I0WXzOp8RmU/VrQcpRCGDwI/AAAAAAAAFxg/06IwgaFwt6UqBkAYmgddROreUJA36jihgCKgB/s320/EBOOK.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>by J. Rose Alexander</i><br />
<br />
<a href="http://bit.ly/1TDoY0N" style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;">Amazon</a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> | </span><a href="http://bit.ly/28e1HwO" style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;">BN</a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> | </span><a href="http://apple.co/1WzD6io" style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;">iBooks</a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> | </span><a href="http://bit.ly/27qkogi" style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;">Kobo</a></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 22.4px;">A life full of death is no life at all. </span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 22.4px;">But Devon prefers to stay away from the living and deal with the dead. No social life, no parents, no family and only one friend, she hides away in the possessions of the deceased. One of the dead leaves behind a key-- a small piece of glass that transports Devon, quite literally, to her destiny.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 22.4px;"> </span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 22.4px;">Grandin is a sicutus -- a human with very little powers. Set into his corona, or circle, of Air elements, he has given up on his world as well and has chosen to guard the Eunia Crystal with twenty others. They are solitary people, revered but left alone. And it on his watch that the Eunia comes alive--and bring his destiny to him.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 22.4px;"> </span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 22.4px;">As the government of Cardinal Terrun sits on the precipice of disaster, only Grandin and Devon can make the decisions that save his world, or throw it into a war in which they are the generals --and the spoils.</span></div>
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<a href="http://bit.ly/1PIMM7T" style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;">Goodreads</a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px;">Skeleton Key Book Series </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px; text-align: start;" /><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px;">One Skeleton Key. Endless Adventures. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><a href="https://skeletonkeybookseries.com/">https://skeletonkeybookseries.com/</a></span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3225652306971181625.post-87973521437053708412016-06-05T20:30:00.000-04:002016-06-05T20:31:04.058-04:00Moonlight Calling is OUTI can't believe I never posted about this! MOONLIGHT CALLING is now a standalone novella and the first in "The Nightshift in New York" series! Grab it now everywhere!<br />
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<a href="http://jrosealexander.blogspot.com/p/nightshift-in-new-york.html"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HU6W1-LcUag/V1S2lSjVyKI/AAAAAAAAKks/Be8_WiQy3t0CzvuiHlPLFN21R5YJZnxEgCKgB/s320/Moonlight%2BCalling%2B-2.jpg" width="200" /></a><span id="goog_71290223"></span><span id="goog_71290224"></span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/"></a></div>
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When Melissa Donnelly discovered the stalker's note on her table, she was shaken to her very core. Her now-ex-boyfriend wasn't the *best* person in the world, but she didn't think Andrej would sink to this level.
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Detective Loren Acrioni knew Melissa was going to be a handful the instant he showed up at her house. Sassy, sexy, and smart-mouthed, she was a fierce woman determined to not let anyone stop her from living life. Not even her ex-boyfriend, the heir-apparent to the Russian mob in New York City.
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Very soon, it becomes aparent there's more going on than either of them expected. Melissa is in real, immediate danger and Loren decides it's time to call in the Nightshift--a special group of New York City police officers with odd abilities: witches, psychics... and shifters. </div>
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And the one thing Melissa never expected was her knight in shining armor would show up in the small, furry shape of a house cat named Alistair Meowly... </div>
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<a href="http://bit.ly/1U64UJt"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Amazon</span></a><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> | </span><a href="http://bit.ly/1MjeNfc"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">BN</span></a><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> | </span><a href="http://apple.co/1QTF2hM"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">iBooks</span></a><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> | </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><a href="http://bit.ly/1UciDyk">Kobo</a></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3225652306971181625.post-26766938690958271592016-02-04T22:54:00.002-05:002016-02-04T22:54:29.565-05:00Cover Reveal: EUNICA<div style="background-color: white; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em;">
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Coming June 15th in Skeleton Key<span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;"> Series </span></h3>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ztSFYLOV3IM/VrQcrjEoZSI/AAAAAAAAFxc/Lm_LjPsGUG8/s1600/TITLE%2BFONT%2B2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="51" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ztSFYLOV3IM/VrQcrjEoZSI/AAAAAAAAFxc/Lm_LjPsGUG8/s200/TITLE%2BFONT%2B2.png" width="200" /></a></div>
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A life full of death is no life at all.</div>
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But Devon prefers to stay away from the living and deal with the dead. No social life, no parents, no family and only one friend, she hides away in the possessions of the deceased. One of the dead leaves behind a key-- a small piece of metal that transports Devon, quite literally, to her destiny.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; text-align: center;">
Grandin is a sicutus -- a human with very little powers. Set into his corona, or circle, of Air elements, he has given up on his world as well and has chosen to guard the Eunia Crystal with twenty others. They are solitary people, revered but left alone. And it on his watch that the Eunia comes alive--and bring his destiny to him.</div>
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As the government of Cardinal Terrun sits on the precipice of disaster, only Grandin and Devon can make the decisions that save his world-- or throw it into a war in which they are both the generals and the victory prize.</div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3225652306971181625.post-14086951313976125912015-10-19T14:29:00.000-04:002015-10-19T14:29:07.132-04:00PENUMBRA is BACK!! <div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Re-edited, cleaned up and the same awesome story it was two years ago-- </i></div>
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<i>It's back up on Amazon and KU for you to share with your friends.</i></div>
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Penumbra: Equinox</h3>
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by<br />J. Rose Alexander</h4>
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<img height="400" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/609/22123381849_1162c7da0e.jpg" width="249" />
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<b><i>What would you do to keep your friends <o:p></o:p></i></b></div>
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<b><i>from falling into evil?<o:p></o:p></i></b></div>
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It wasn't a question the group of friends wanted to think about. With Vincent trying to hide his werewolf, Alia and Coray discovering their frightening powers, and Coleen getting slammed with the news she's adopted, they have enough to worry about.<o:p></o:p></div>
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(Never mind that they also have to to deal with Vincent's and Alia's crazy exes, Coray's mother, Coleen's father and the otherworldly creatures someone is sending after them to kill them-- There was really enough to keep anyone busy right through homecoming.)<o:p></o:p></div>
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But the day Vladimir Vaduva shows up at their school and people start turning up both dead and drained of blood, it becomes a question they have to have ask.<o:p></o:p></div>
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As Rosa and Billy get pulled into the vortex, they realize they need an answer...<o:p></o:p></div>
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And, they have the feeling they aren't going to like it.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: #111111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">Get it NOW on <a href="http://amzn.com/B016V3V9H2">AMAZON</a></span></div>
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Excerpt: </h3>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Alia woke up to the sound of a perversely happy bird chirping in a nearby tree. She was soaked to the bone and uncomfortable, though no longer cold. She was <i>not</i> in the mood to listen to cheerful little birds, whose only purpose in life was to tweet infernally pleasant tunes to those people of the world who could wake up at the crack of dawn.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">She pulled at the blanket and fluffed the pillow, though her choice of bed was apparently a cold hard surface that was in no way comfortable. She adjusted the blanket again and rolled onto her back to try and find a better sleeping position.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">“Do you often sleep in cemeteries? ‘Cause if you do, you’re weirder than I am.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Alia’s eyes shot open and she leapt up from her cold slab. Spinning around, she found the source of the voice: Coray was leaning against a headstone, arms folded, a twisted smirk on his face. She stared at him in disbelief for a few seconds, then realized what he had just said was dead accurate. She had fallen asleep on the steps of a mausoleum. She relaxed a little and grabbed the blanket. “Where am I? How’d you find me?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">“You’re at Green Knoll Cemetery,” Coray answered. “Apparently, napping with the dead. I was at Vincent’s last night when you busted in.” Coray leaned up from the headstone. “We tried to run after you, but the sky opened up on us as soon as we walked out the door. I ran to your house, and your mother was standing in the doorway, looking horrified. The front door was shattered, and the car is going to need some attention as well.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">“Your dad showed up on the porch looking a touch panic-stricken. He told me you ran and wanted to know if I knew where you’d go.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">She sighed. “This is all so screwed up. I guess the rest of them will be here in a few minutes?” Alia wrapped the blanket around herself.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Coray shook his head. “They don’t know I went to look for you. They think I left and went home. No one knows you’re here.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Alia slumped in relief. “Thanks, Coray.” She sat down on the tomb she had just leapt off of.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">“You’re welcome.” He took a seat next to her.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Alia looked at him. “Why did you tell me to let my parents know about the hogrodan’s wound?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">“I knew your parents would know how to take care of it.” Coray shrugged.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Alia shook her head. “Dad was <i>really</i> upset this thing was after us. And you said something about stopping it for good.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">“Yeah, I did,” he said. “Well, since I was the one who forced the hand, I guess I should explain what’s going on…” Coray looked over at her. “And I would guess a damn right better than the half explanation you got last night?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">“The half explanation?” Alia laughed sardonically. “You <i>are</i> joking. All I got last night was really confused. A brother I never knew claiming he was somewhere around nine hundred years old just appeared in the middle of my living room. My parents are lying to me.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Coray shook his head. “They aren’t lying to you, Alia. What did they tell you last night?” Coray said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">“That I’m a witch and have four siblings. There was something about wolf’s bane? Hen’s bane? Royalty? By the time they got to that I wasn’t listening. These mysterious siblings are about as fond of my mother as I am. Especially Jacob.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Coray nodded. “Okay. Well, they lied to you about a part of your life, not the whole thing. I would blame them, but I wouldn’t <i>completely</i> blame them for that. It’s some sort of stupid tradition that has gotten them in trouble before. You’re a witch, Alia. A full-blooded, natural witch. Just like I am.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Alia sighed. “For some reason, I didn’t think they were lying about that part.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">“Pissed me off too,” Coray commiserated. “Here.” He produced a cup of steaming tea, complete with tea bag still steeping. “Earl Grey?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Alia looked at the cup as though it were poison, and after realizing how cold and thirsty she was, took it from him. “You?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: AR-SA; mso-font-kerning: .5pt;">“Yeah, me.” Coray nodded. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">About The WitchWolf Chronicle and Origins</span></h3>
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Welcome to my world.<o:p></o:p></div>
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This is a world of witches, werewolves, vampires. Demons and daemons. Fae and strigoi. Superheroes, and superhumans. Masked avengers and heroes of all sort.<o:p></o:p></div>
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In my world, there are powerful men and strong women. There are other worlds and other dimensions. And it’s not a simple tale.<o:p></o:p></div>
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It starts in 1988, in upstate New York at a high school called Ulysses Grant Regional High School.<o:p></o:p></div>
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And it all starts with a lice infestation.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Where did I say my world was normal? Things like that happen a lot in my world. It’s the whole butterfly effect...<o:p></o:p></div>
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Welcome to New York.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Welcome to the Witchlands.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<o:p> </o:p><span style="line-height: 12pt;"> </span></div>
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Welcome to my world. </div>
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This story is just the beginning. <o:p></o:p></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3225652306971181625.post-51160396837049816132015-09-22T03:10:00.000-04:002015-09-22T08:51:24.536-04:00SHIFTED is LIVE<h2 style="text-align: center;">
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fRHu3z7DP0Y/Vf7zBk7kofI/AAAAAAAAB9Y/eU7UXvhl6Zo/s1600/Shifted%2BBlo%2BBanner%2BAll%2BCovers.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fRHu3z7DP0Y/Vf7zBk7kofI/AAAAAAAAB9Y/eU7UXvhl6Zo/s640/Shifted%2BBlo%2BBanner%2BAll%2BCovers.png" width="580" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6;">~10 of Today's Hottest Authors Tell You 10 Shifted Stories~</span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tv8fmT2wL1I/Vf7fjEOh7pI/AAAAAAAAB8s/JLIBQ0B3cwo/s1600/Shifted_Final%2B%2528web%2529.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tv8fmT2wL1I/Vf7fjEOh7pI/AAAAAAAAB8s/JLIBQ0B3cwo/s400/Shifted_Final%2B%2528web%2529.png" width="267" /></a></div>
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<strong style="font-size: x-large;">Authors: </strong><span style="font-size: large;">J.L. McCoy - Brandy L. Rivers</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Morgan Jane Mitchell - Emily Walker - Katie Salidas </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">V. Cantrell -Alexia Purdy - </span><span style="font-size: large;">Magen McMinimy </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> J. Rose Alexander - Dicey Grenor</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong><br /></strong></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>Genre:</strong> Paranormal. Shifters</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><strong><br /></strong></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>Cover Design: </strong><a href="http://www.magenmcminimy.com/-mcminimy-designs-cover-design.html">McMinimy Designs</a></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #3d85c6; font-size: x-large;"><b>ON SALE FOR $0.99</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #3d85c6;"><b>AVAILABLE FOR A LIMITED TIME ONLY</b></span></span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yV_LkC7TxrA/VMsptNQxJVI/AAAAAAAABG8/mOygvOqqUUc/s1600/Buy%2BLinks.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="120" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yV_LkC7TxrA/VMsptNQxJVI/AAAAAAAABG8/mOygvOqqUUc/s200/Buy%2BLinks.png" width="200" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Amazon <a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B012TCXDZ0" target="_blank">US</a> I <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B012TCXDZ0" target="_blank">UK</a> I <a href="http://www.amazon.ca/dp/B012TCXDZ0" target="_blank">CA</a> I <a href="http://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B012TCXDZ0" target="_blank">AU</a> </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/shifted-6" target="_blank">Kobo</a> I <a href="https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/564015" target="_blank">Smashwords</a> I <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/shifted-katie-salidas/1122415980?ean=2940152139877" target="_blank">Nook</a> I <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/id1025156469" target="_blank">Apple</a></span></div>
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<span style="color: #45818e; font-size: x-large;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span>
<span style="color: #45818e; font-size: x-large;"><b><i>This amazing anthology includes:</i></b></span></div>
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<b> </b><b></b><br />
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<b><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span></span></b></b>
<b><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #990000;">Blood Moon</span> (SMVS, #5.5) by J.L. McCoy</span></b></b></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QVtp7Uc0tbE/VfVUvRLY6YI/AAAAAAAAKkI/IC1U7fasT9c/s1600/Jen%2BMcCoy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="272" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QVtp7Uc0tbE/VfVUvRLY6YI/AAAAAAAAKkI/IC1U7fasT9c/s400/Jen%2BMcCoy.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/authorjlmccoy" target="_blank">Facebook</a> I <a href="http://twitter.com/authorjlmccoy" target="_blank">Twitter</a> I <a href="http://www.jlmccoy.com/" target="_blank">Blog</a></span></b></div>
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~~~</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #990000;">Pretty Little Werewolf </span>by Katie Salidas</span></b><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_imGHy-PlT8/Vf70y94FO0I/AAAAAAAAB9k/elp3r7DjfDU/s1600/Katie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_imGHy-PlT8/Vf70y94FO0I/AAAAAAAAB9k/elp3r7DjfDU/s400/Katie.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/katiesalidas" target="_blank">Facebook</a> I <a href="https://twitter.com/QuixoticKatie" target="_blank">Twitter</a> I <a href="http://www.katiesalidas.com/" target="_blank">Blog</a></b></div>
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<o:p> ~~~</o:p></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: #990000;">Wolf's Fire</span> by Dicey Grenor</b></span><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8MVd_lf9g2o/Vf7wTqhiopI/AAAAAAAAB88/jg9mSJoLxLA/s1600/Blog%2BDicey.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="272" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8MVd_lf9g2o/Vf7wTqhiopI/AAAAAAAAB88/jg9mSJoLxLA/s400/Blog%2BDicey.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div>
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<b style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="http://facebook.com/Diceygrenor" target="_blank">Facebook</a> I <a href="http://www.twitter.com/Diceygrenor" target="_blank">Twitter</a> I <a href="http://diceyblog.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">Blog</a></b></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> ~~~</span></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: #990000;">Primal Hunger</span> by Magen McMinimy</b></span><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IUELCeAcCzM/Vf7wjkkfXII/AAAAAAAAB9E/GT4j_f92DEQ/s1600/Blog%2Bme.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="273" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IUELCeAcCzM/Vf7wjkkfXII/AAAAAAAAB9E/GT4j_f92DEQ/s400/Blog%2Bme.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div>
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<b style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/AuthorMagenMcMinimy" target="_blank">Facebook</a> I <a href="http://twitter.com/magenmcminimy" target="_blank">Twitter</a> I <a href="http://www.magenmcminimy.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Blog</a> </b></div>
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<o:p> ~~~</o:p></div>
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<b style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #990000;">Moonlight Calling</span> by J. Rose Alexander </span></b></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VMTBKCL6c9s/VfVa64EtAfI/AAAAAAAAKk4/Dmox7v3eG0U/s1600/JRose.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="273" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VMTBKCL6c9s/VfVa64EtAfI/AAAAAAAAKk4/Dmox7v3eG0U/s400/JRose.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/jrosealexander" target="_blank">Facebook</a> I <a href="http://twitter.com/jrosealexander" target="_blank">Twitter</a> I <a href="http://www.jrosealexander.com/" target="_blank">Blog</a></span></b></div>
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~~~</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #990000;">In Too Deep</span> by Brandy L Rivers </span></b></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cPhEujktn0s/VfVdkZY2y3I/AAAAAAAAKlM/9VflohUmF2w/s1600/Brandy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="273" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cPhEujktn0s/VfVdkZY2y3I/AAAAAAAAKlM/9VflohUmF2w/s400/Brandy.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><a href="http://www.facebook.com/brandylrivers" target="_blank">Facebook</a> I <a href="http://twitter.com/brandylrivers" target="_blank">Twitter</a> I <a href="http://brandylrivers.com/" target="_blank">Blog</a></b></span></div>
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~~~</div>
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<b><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #990000;">The Shift </span>by Emily Walker</span></b></b></div>
<b> </b></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-z_Y6PUwD2RU/Vfct4N9UB6I/AAAAAAAAKlc/tZ2f42AXoFA/s1600/Emily.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="273" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-z_Y6PUwD2RU/Vfct4N9UB6I/AAAAAAAAKlc/tZ2f42AXoFA/s400/Emily.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/EmilyWalkerFans" target="_blank"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Facebook</span></b></a></div>
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~~~</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #990000;">More Than Survival</span> by V. Cantrell </span></b></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0_a_u8fe3Xg/Vfcuf8oMkgI/AAAAAAAAKlk/Wyctxp2MtKc/s1600/Virginia.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="273" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0_a_u8fe3Xg/Vfcuf8oMkgI/AAAAAAAAKlk/Wyctxp2MtKc/s400/Virginia.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/V.Cantrell.Author" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Facebook</b></span></a></div>
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~~~</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #990000;">Ardent</span> (The ArcKnight Chronicles) by Alexia Purdy </span></b></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9n-It5A9564/VfcvIba0eXI/AAAAAAAAKls/qNe2_VfSBLQ/s1600/Alexia.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="273" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9n-It5A9564/VfcvIba0eXI/AAAAAAAAKls/qNe2_VfSBLQ/s400/Alexia.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<b style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="http://facebook.com/alexiapurdyauthor" target="_blank">Facebook</a> I <a href="http://www.twitter.com/AlexiaPurdy" target="_blank">Twitter</a> I <a href="http://alexiaepurdy.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Blog</a></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
~~~</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #990000;">Twice Bitten</span> by Morgan Jane Mitchell </b></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HWCBBZMkHtc/Vfcvx65AytI/AAAAAAAAKl0/Ygv2SVzxgtE/s1600/Morgan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="273" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HWCBBZMkHtc/Vfcvx65AytI/AAAAAAAAKl0/Ygv2SVzxgtE/s400/Morgan.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/themorganjane" target="_blank">Facebook</a> I <a href="http://www.twitter.com/morgijane" target="_blank">Twitter</a> I <a href="http://www.themorganjane.com/" target="_blank">Blog</a></b><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Amazon <a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B012TCXDZ0" target="_blank">US</a> I <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B012TCXDZ0" target="_blank">UK</a> I <a href="http://www.amazon.ca/dp/B012TCXDZ0" target="_blank">CA</a> I <a href="http://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B012TCXDZ0" target="_blank">AU</a> </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/shifted-6" target="_blank">Kobo</a> I <a href="https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/564015" target="_blank">Smashwords</a> I <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/shifted-katie-salidas/1122415980?ean=2940152139877" target="_blank">Nook</a> I <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/id1025156469" target="_blank">Apple</a></span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3225652306971181625.post-7775576395671474742015-09-18T12:00:00.000-04:002015-09-18T12:00:02.697-04:00SHIFTED: An AnthologyLadies and gents--<br /><br />Penumbra: Equinox is back on October 19th! Re-edited, but still with the same awesome cover and story, it's the prelude to a crazy release schedule that encompasses the next two years! And Penumbra: Solstice is coming in JANUARY! Yeay!!! Also, on the 26th? Get ready for the Next Installment of <a href="http://downingcityfaction.blogspot.com/">The Faction Stories</a>!<br />
<br />
But first:<br />
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SHIFTED: An Anthology</h3>
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10 authors, 10 shifted stories</div>
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<b><i>JUST $0.99</i></b></h3>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_8sWImghhjw/VfwyfhclwBI/AAAAAAAAEwU/RZC5R0zZXcE/s1600/Shifted%2Bcover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_8sWImghhjw/VfwyfhclwBI/AAAAAAAAEwU/RZC5R0zZXcE/s320/Shifted%2Bcover.jpg" width="214" /></a></div>
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<div style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; line-height: 18px; padding: 10px 0px 0px; text-align: center;">
<span class="text_exposed_show"><strong>★SHIFTED – A Limited Edition Anthology★ includes…</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><strong>Blood Moon (SMVS, #5.5)</strong> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">by Author J.L. McCoy </span></div>
<em><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">~The moon and stars I secretly wanted to give this girl. I did not chase women…but I would chase her to the ends of the earth.</span></em><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Nikki St. James’ life changed when she was kidnapped by vampires, and Dean Cruz, local werewolf alpha, might just be what she needs to pick up the pieces of her broken life.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><strong>Pretty Little Werewolf</strong> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">by Katie Salidas </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">~<em>Pack life isn’t for all wolves, despite what everyone else tells you. </em></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">All Giselle Richards has ever wanted was acceptance for what she is, a werewolf. But acceptance comes at a price.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><strong>Wolf’s Fire (The Narcoleptic Vampire Series Vol. 3.2)</strong> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">by Dicey Grenor </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">~<em>Dragons and werewolves…hot shifters. Oh, my!</em></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">At the end of times, full of torment and tribulation, the world needs Punch, a man driven by purpose, love, and loyalty, even though he arrives…in the form of a beast.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><strong>Primal Hunger</strong> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">by Magen McMinimy </span></div>
<em><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">~He’d never forgive himself if this moment—just a kiss of blood—a simple drop of crimson—ruined them.</span></em><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Can a werewolf ever truly trust a vampire? Follow Andre and Savannah as they struggle with love, loss, betrayal and unexpected friendships.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><strong>Moonlight Calling (The Nightshift in New York #1)</strong> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">by J. Rose Alexander </span></div>
<em><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">~I have killed people, Melissa. I am a brutal criminal. Never mistake me for kind or caring.</span></em><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">When Melissa Donnelly discovered the stalker’s note on her table, she never expected her knight in shining armor would show up in the small, furry shape of a house cat named Alistair Meowly…</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><strong>In Too Deep</strong> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">by Brandy L Rivers </span></div>
<em><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">~All you werewolves think you’re the toughest shit out there. Just chill out and give me a minute. </span></em><br />
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<span class="text_exposed_show"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Werewolf crashes into druid. Sparks fly. Can they resist their chemistry long enough to survive Shadowstalkers.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><strong>The Shift</strong> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">by Emily Walker</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">As a shifter Ty Monroe is well aware of what goes on in the secret world of Anchor–but nothing on earth could prepare him for the shift of a full moon.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><strong>More Than Survival</strong> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">by V. Cantrell </span></div>
<em><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">~I’ve spent the last five years building my walls and making sure I don’t need anyone. And now I’m going to die because of it.</span></em><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Fleeing back into the arms of the man who once left her behind, Georgia discovers there is more to life than just surviving, but it might just break her.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><strong>Ardent (The ArcKnight Chronicles)</strong> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">by Alexia Purdy</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Teaming up with a handsome rival named Ephrem, the banished princess Lilliana must find her stolen Ardent talisman before an abstruse enemy uses it against both rival wolf pack strongholds, colliding these two would be lovers with their inevitable destinies.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><strong>Twice Bitten</strong> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">by Morgan Jane Mitchell </span></div>
<em><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">~Broad Gate Park has its secrets, Fia never knew she was one of them.</span></em><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Abnormally attracted to the moon, medical examiner Fia Ruiz discovers her true nature when she’s bit not once but twice as two supernatural rivals fight to claim her.</span></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">Kindle US – Amazon US – <a href="http://amzn.to/1Ky6T50">http://amzn.to/1Ky6T50</a></span></span></b></div>
<b><div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 18px;">Kindle UK – <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B012TCXDZ0">http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B012TCXDZ0</a></span></b></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 18px;"><div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Kobo – <a href="http://bit.ly/1NiAqjS">http://bit.ly/1NiAqjS</a></b></div>
</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 18px;"><div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Smashwords – <a href="http://bit.ly/1TSdqwg">http://bit.ly/1TSdqwg</a></b></div>
</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 18px;"><div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Nook – <a href="http://bit.ly/1hmREQf">http://bit.ly/1hmREQf</a></b></div>
</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 18px;"><div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Apple – <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/id1025156469">https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/id1025156469</a></b></div>
</span></b><br />
<div style="line-height: 18px; padding: 10px 0px 0px; text-align: center;">
<b>LIMITED TIME. GRAB IT NOW! </b></div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3225652306971181625.post-28402210399431336752015-08-26T09:00:00.000-04:002015-08-26T09:00:00.472-04:00Cover reveal! <h2 style="text-align: center;">
★•* Cover Reveal: <i>LEGACY</i>*•★</h2>
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By Michelle Lowe</h3>
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<i>Indigo Peachtree has spent his life making toys for children. </i></div>
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<i>The kindly old toymaker has carried a secret </i><i>with him that he wants to keep hidden</i><i>. Yet as with most secrets they tend to come up to the surface. </i></div>
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<i>Tarquin Norwich has learned of a journal containing everything Indigo desperately wants to protect. When Indigo goes underground, Tarquin seeks help from a witch. The witch--</i><i>Mother of Craft--tells him that to find Indigo, and his journal, he will need two outlaw brothers. </i></div>
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<i>Tarquin </i><i>sends his children, Archie and Clover, across the English Channel to snare Pierce Landcross, the first of the two outlaws, while </i><i>Tarquin and his eldest son, Ivor, capture Pierce’s estranged brother, Joaquin. All in an effort to find the missing toymaker.</i></div>
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<i>As Pierce is being pulled back to England, his desperate situation turns around when he’s saved by a crew of Apache privateers known as the Sea Warriors. And i</i><i>nstead of fleeing with his seabound mates, Pierce decides to return to England to try to save his old friend, Indigo. </i></div>
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<i>Going back means Pierce will encounter old dangers...as well as face a past he’d much rather leave behind.</i></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3pZag-w2RyU/Vd0TAr0aoHI/AAAAAAAAEgE/Q5wMlt1QPV0/s1600/Legacy-1%2BFront.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3pZag-w2RyU/Vd0TAr0aoHI/AAAAAAAAEgE/Q5wMlt1QPV0/s400/Legacy-1%2BFront.jpg" width="241" /></a></div>
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<br />
<br />
<b>COMING AUGUST 29th!!</b><br />
<i>Amazon • Barnes & Noble • Kobo • iBooks<br /><br />~~ADD IT ON GOODREADS NOW~~</i><br />
https://www.goodreads.com/review/new/26166507-legacy</div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3225652306971181625.post-3660413940938230932015-08-13T10:09:00.000-04:002015-08-13T10:09:19.763-04:00★•* Cover Reveal: ZENKO *•★<div style="color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px; margin-bottom: 6px;">
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<span style="line-height: 19.3199996948242px;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This November, come visit Woodland Creek, a sleepy little town a very big secret! </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Thirty Authors, Thirty Stories, One Big Day</span></div>
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<span style="color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;"><b>ZENKO </b></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;"><span style="line-height: 19.3199996948242px;"><i>by J. Rose Alexander</i></span></span><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-K2Btobq9WOk/VcyibDxhfgI/AAAAAAAAEYs/B9nmH8cLXOk/s1600/zenko-final.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-K2Btobq9WOk/VcyibDxhfgI/AAAAAAAAEYs/B9nmH8cLXOk/s320/zenko-final.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<span style="line-height: 19.3199996948242px;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Melody Hastings has gone missing.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sick and suffering from a teenage mishap, Melody is a child in a woman's body. The town of Woodland Creek turns out to help her father find her--but with Running Deer State Forest in their backyard, the search is going to be hard.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ava Tsukino knows where she is.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">No one will believe her if she tells </span>them,<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;"> because Ava harbors a secret like so many in Woodland Creek. She is a kami, a Japanese spirit who takes on the shape of a red fox. Ava knows there is very little time to find </span>Melody,<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;"> because someone is after the woman's blood at the full moon.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Blaze Riordan can find her.</span></div>
<div style="color: #141823; line-height: 19.3199996948242px; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">But he and his father are under the thumb of his grandmother. Forced to follow a path she's picked for him, he feels trapped and afraid to break out her safe, predictable, planned world. He wants to get </span>away,<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;"> but doesn't know what he can do to prove he's his own man.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Until a little red fox leads him deep into the woods, </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">begging his help to find the missing woman...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">See the whole series here: </span></div>
<div style="color: #141823; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://woodlandcreekseries.com/" rel="nofollow" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; line-height: 19.3199996948242px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">http://woodlandcreekseries.com/</a></span></div>
<div style="color: #141823; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Add it to Goodreads</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
<span style="color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25163194-zenko">https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25163194-zenko</a></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;"><br /></span></span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3225652306971181625.post-73858894182130421542015-08-03T09:00:00.000-04:002015-08-03T09:33:24.442-04:00SHIFTED Anthology <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cqBtTrsu3vE/VbkctjyqmbI/AAAAAAAABcE/AW9nMorZK4Q/s1600/Shifted_Title.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="115" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cqBtTrsu3vE/VbkctjyqmbI/AAAAAAAABcE/AW9nMorZK4Q/s320/Shifted_Title.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">~10 of Today's Hottest Authors Tell You 10 Shifted Stories~</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZGQNUVBlUpU/VbkehCAX3SI/AAAAAAAABcc/lgIKjVQmm34/s1600/Shifted%2BBox%2BSet.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="296" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZGQNUVBlUpU/VbkehCAX3SI/AAAAAAAABcc/lgIKjVQmm34/s640/Shifted%2BBox%2BSet.png" width="440" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">~10 of Today's Hottest Authors Tell You 10 Shifted Stories~</span><br />
<div class="" style="clear: both; color: black; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"> J.L. McCoy - Brandy L. Rivers - </span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">Morgan Jane Mitchell - </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">Emily Walker - Katie Salidas - </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">V. Cantrell - Alexia Purdy -</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"> Magen McMinimy - </span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">J. Rose Alexander - Dicey Grenor</span><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SH2WhKHRxLY/Vb9tNUDyUkI/AAAAAAAAEWA/zc51B1dAx4c/s1600/Moonlight%2BCalling-front.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SH2WhKHRxLY/Vb9tNUDyUkI/AAAAAAAAEWA/zc51B1dAx4c/s320/Moonlight%2BCalling-front.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"><br /></span>
<b style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 22.3999996185303px; text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></b><span style="text-align: start;"></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; text-align: start;"><b style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 22.3999996185303px; text-align: start;">Moonlight Calling by J. Rose Alexander</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 22.3999996185303px; text-align: start;">When Melissa Donnelly discovered the stalker's note on her table, she never expected her knight in shining armor would show up in the small, furry shape of a house cat named Alistair Meowly...</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">Along with...</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Blood Moon (SMVS, #5.5) by J.L. McCoy </span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 22.3999996185303px; text-align: start;">Nikki St. James' life changed when she was kidnapped by vampires, and Dean Cruz, local werewolf alpha, might just be what she needs to pick up the pieces of her broken life.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 22.3999996185303px; text-align: start;" /></span> <span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 22.3999996185303px; text-align: start;">Pretty Little Werewolf by Katie Salidas</b> <span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 22.3999996185303px; text-align: start;">All Giselle Richards has ever wanted was acceptance for what she is, a werewolf. But acceptance comes at a price.</span> </span><br />
<b style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 22.3999996185303px; text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></b> <span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 22.3999996185303px; text-align: start;">Wolf's Fire by Dicey Grenor</b> <span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 22.3999996185303px; text-align: start;">At the end of times, full of torment and tribulation, the world needs Punch, a man driven by purpose, love, and loyalty, even though he arrives...in the form of a beast.</span> </span><br />
<b style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 22.3999996185303px; text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></b> <span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 22.3999996185303px; text-align: start;">Primal Hunger by Magen Baxman McMinimy</b> <span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 22.3999996185303px; text-align: start;">Can a werewolf ever truly trust a vampire? Follow Andre and Savannah as they struggle with love, loss, betrayal and unexpected friendships.</span> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 22.3999996185303px; text-align: start;">In Too Deep by Brandy L Rivers</b> <span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 22.3999996185303px; text-align: start;">Werewolf crashes into druid. Sparks fly. Can they resist their chemistry long enough to survive Shadowstalkers.</span> </span><br />
<b style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 22.3999996185303px; text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></b> <span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 22.3999996185303px; text-align: start;">The Shift by Emily Walker</b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 22.3999996185303px; text-align: start;">As a shifter Ty Monroe is well aware of what goes on in the secret world of Anchor--but nothing on earth could prepare him for the shift of a full moon.</span> </span><br />
<b style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 22.3999996185303px; text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></b> <span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 22.3999996185303px; text-align: start;">More Than Survival by V. Cantrell</b> <span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 22.3999996185303px; text-align: start;">Fleeing back into the arms of the man who once left her behind, Georgia discovers there is more to life than just surviving, but it might just break her.</span> </span><br />
<b style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 22.3999996185303px; text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></b> <span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 22.3999996185303px; text-align: start;">Ardent (The ArcKnight Chronicles) by Alexia Purdy</b> <span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 22.3999996185303px; text-align: start;">Teaming up with a handsome rival named Ephrem, the banished princess Lilliana must find her stolen Ardent talisman before an abstruse enemy uses it against both rival wolf pack strongholds, colliding these two would be lovers with their inevitable destinies.</span> </span><br />
<b style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 22.3999996185303px; text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></b> <span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 22.3999996185303px; text-align: start;">Twice Bitten by Morgan Jane Mitchell</b> <span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 22.3999996185303px; text-align: start;">Abnormally attracted to the moon, medical examiner Fia Ruiz discovers her true nature when she's bit not once but twice as two supernatural rivals fight to claim her.</span></span>
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<i><span style="font-size: x-large;">Pre-Order Now! </span></i></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="http://amzn.to/1Ky6T50" target="_blank">Amazon US</a> | </span><span style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B012TCXDZ0" target="_blank">Amazon UK </a> | </span><span style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="https://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/shifted-6" target="_blank">Kobo</a> | </span><a href="https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/564015" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Smashwords </span></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Nook & </span><span style="font-size: x-large;">Apple Coming Soon</span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UyRqOUgVFfk/VbkbuK_2MzI/AAAAAAAABbw/m9rFoUgnU0U/s1600/Shifted%2BWolf%2BPromo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UyRqOUgVFfk/VbkbuK_2MzI/AAAAAAAABbw/m9rFoUgnU0U/s400/Shifted%2BWolf%2BPromo.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3225652306971181625.post-3561687940187265012015-07-03T20:29:00.000-04:002015-07-03T20:29:10.814-04:00COVER REVEAL! Tracy Kincaid's "Changing Lives"<h2 style="text-align: center;">
<span style="text-decoration: underline;">Changing Lives</span></h2>
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<em>by Tracy Kincaid</em></div>
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~~COMING JULY 20th~~</div>
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What if love-at-first-sight was not the "first-sight" after all?</h3>
Natalie Star is a modern woman, with modern sensibilities. Practical and realistic, she finds herself falling for a man named Thomas Andrews. Thomas is a perfect gentleman, but his love for her seems to be old, solid, staid—the kind that grows after years of love and life together. He speaks in riddles when she asks why he seems to know her so well—they were together in a time she can't remember yet.<br />
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Thomas longs to tell Natalie everything he knows about her, about them. But it's time that is the problem yet. There is a tragedy that they must endure before she can fully accept who they are, and why they are destined to be together. A tragedy that Thomas has been through once, and will go through again to find the piece of his heart that has been missing all these many years.<br />
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That tragedy is the Titanic...
<img alt="" class=" aligncenter" src="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/260/18676983893_a5058daf3a_z.jpg" />
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Coming July 20th!</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3225652306971181625.post-67462544580243584972015-05-05T09:52:00.000-04:002015-05-05T09:52:53.889-04:00Come on over to Red Bug, Iowa... See what all the fuss is about...<br />
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Aurora Zahni and I have a book out together. He's a bit nuts, and we kind of work together that way. Pretty well, actually. Anytime I work well with someone it's trouble.<br />
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ANYWAY-- Check it out.<br />
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<a href="http://downingcityfaction.blogspot.com/2015/05/and-thats-go-on-faction.html">The Faction Blogs</a>.</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-T1hZxWTcNq0/VUjKb487_5I/AAAAAAAADxc/fw83urx49Qg/s1600/HotEvil.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-T1hZxWTcNq0/VUjKb487_5I/AAAAAAAADxc/fw83urx49Qg/s320/HotEvil.jpg" width="193" /></a></div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3225652306971181625.post-59057176328052644582015-05-04T13:26:00.001-04:002015-05-04T13:26:45.772-04:00FanGirl NerditudeYeah, that's right. Fangirling.<br />
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I'm in full nerd mode lately after hearing about the new Star Wars movie. I have hope for the future on this one. Seriously. JarJar Binks can go rot-- I'm waiting for the new stuff. Because-- Annie Leibowitz + Star Wars = Nerdgasm.<br />
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What is she talking about? Oh my friend... have you not seen?<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-j8C-yApJD4g/VUep2KGfMzI/AAAAAAAADwI/K6RNcSmohhg/s1600/StarWarsVanityFair.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-j8C-yApJD4g/VUep2KGfMzI/AAAAAAAADwI/K6RNcSmohhg/s320/StarWarsVanityFair.jpg" width="227" /></a></div>
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Hngggg. God, this just makes me SEW HEPPY!!! Hello Harrison. Tell me that's Han's daughter, too. Please. Tell me her name is Jaina, and I'm dead. DEAD, I tell you. And that Annie Leibowitz is taking the photos? Yeah, that's like nerd paradise right there.<br />
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I would like to just quickly revisit my blogs from last year, lest you doubt the depth of my nerditude. Because my friends, I write-- but I write because STAR WARS. Honestly. I wanted more when I was 12, 14 years old, so I gave myself more.<br />
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These are--will be-- repurposed into my own vast space opera called The Vaheen Sagas, which take place over 10,000 years. But not for a while. My co-author and I are sitting on our hands, waiting to tell you that our book is ready.<br />
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Meanwhile. Please, enjoy my bad writing. I promise I will edit more thorough before the Vaheen Sagas are out.<br /><br />
<a href="http://jrosealexander.blogspot.com/2014/05/may-fourth-celebration-episode-i.html">Episode 1</a><br /><a href="http://jrosealexander.blogspot.com/2014/05/may-fourth-celebration-episode-2.html">Episode 2</a><br />
<a href="http://jrosealexander.blogspot.com/2014/05/may-fourth-episode-3-and-giveaway.html">Episode 3 </a><br />
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<h3>
MAY THE FOURTH BE WITH YOU</h3>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3225652306971181625.post-20342002027691500382015-01-26T10:49:00.003-05:002015-01-28T10:59:51.383-05:00Sword Fight PornI am ABSOLUTELY in love with this mash up. I can't stop watching it. And I'm going to make sure that I watch all the ones I'm missing from this list-- I'm going back and watching Zorro again. That sword fight is utterly epic.<br />
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Thank you, ClaraDarko, for making my WEEK with this.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="281" mozallowfullscreen="" src="//player.vimeo.com/video/99113746" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="500"></iframe> <br />
<a href="http://vimeo.com/99113746">Sword Fights Movie Montage</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/claradarko">ClaraDarko</a> on <a href="https://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a>.<br />
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--------------------<br />
If you're wondering, here's the list of movies from Vimeo.<br />
She listed each movie the only the first time it appears.<br />
00:01 - Kill Bill<br />
00:06 - Hero<br />
00:08 - Seven Samurai<br />
00:09 - The Princess bride<br />
00:11 - Hero<br />
00:13 - Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest<br />
00:14 - Gladiator<br />
00:16 - Conan the Barbarian<br />
00:17 - Troy<br />
00:19 - Batman begins<br />
00:21 - Dragonslayer<br />
00:23 - Kill Bill Vol. 2<br />
00:26 - The Empire strikes back<br />
00:29 - Crouching tiger, hidden dragon<br />
00:33 - Zatoichi<br />
00:35 - Hellboy 2<br />
00:37 - The mask of Zorro<br />
00:40 - The phantom menace<br />
00:45 - Peter Pan<br />
00:47 - Pirates of the Caribbean: The curse of the Black Pearl<br />
00:49 - Revenge of the Sith<br />
00:52 - The duelists<br />
00:54 - LadyHawke<br />
00:55 - The Count of Montecristo<br />
00:56 - Kingdom of Heaven<br />
00:58 - Blade<br />
01:03 - The 13th warrior<br />
01:05 - Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom<br />
01:06 - The Fellowship of the Ring<br />
01:07 - Highlander<br />
01:12 - Cutthroat Island<br />
01:13 - Dangerous liaisons<br />
01:14 - The adventres of Robin Hood (1938)<br />
01:20 - The attack of the clones<br />
01:26 - Stardust<br />
01:28 - House of Flying Daggers<br />
01:30 - Matrix Reloaded<br />
01:32 - The flame and the arrow<br />
01:35 - Willow<br />
01:36 - Cyrano de Bergerac<br />
01:48 - Robin Hood, Prince of Thieves<br />
01:49 - Monty Python and the Holy Grail<br />
01:50 - Hamlet (1996)<br />
01:52 - Rob Roy<br />
02:02 - Young Sherlock Holmes<br />
02:08 - The Crow<br />
02:12 - Casanova<br />
02:20 - Star Wars: A new hope<br />
02:29 - The Four Musketeers (1974)<br />
02:31 - Dragonheart<br />
02:33 - The return of the Jedi<br />
02:38 - Hook<br />
02:40 - Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull<br />
02:44 - Army of Darkness<br />
02:55 - Azumi<br />
02:57 - 300<br />
03:01 - Excalibur<br />
03:03 - Blind Fury<br />
03:05 - The Curse of the Golden Flower<br />
03:38 - EquilibriumUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3225652306971181625.post-8617496450916477232014-11-23T09:14:00.001-05:002014-11-23T09:57:54.663-05:00To My Fellow Authors: A Life Happening<p dir="ltr">I just feel like this has to be said: </p>
<p dir="ltr">I am so proud of ALL of you who are taking back your authorship: canceling editing until your done writing, changing release schedules, not doing $.99 sales every week. Writing what you want, when you want, on your terms.</p>
<p dir="ltr">It's not that we don't love you, dear readers, but we can't keep this pace up and give you the quality of the story that you deserve. </p>
<p dir="ltr">And we want to. </p>
<p dir="ltr">For most of us, writing is not a choice. We have these worlds and ideas in our heads and they don't shut up until we tell their story. It's necessary to write to get them out and remain sane. </p>
<p dir="ltr">Over time, be it a year or three decades or more, we've come to love those noisy bastards in our heads. We <i>want</i> to tell their stories. And we owe it to them to be told well. </p>
<p dir="ltr">Cranking books out month after month when we aren't feeling it, when we are struggling with real life around us, serves no one. We feel exhausted. The stories lack that magical touch. The editing is rushed. The whole process is rushed and we just make it all that much less enjoyable for everyone. </p>
<p dir="ltr">We too suffer real life. Sick children, work problems, housing disasters, car trouble, parties, pets, vacation, bingewatching a show, burning dinner, burning bridges. Divorce, death, uprooting, unpassable opportunities, depression, mania, and bad dates - both the fruit and with the opposite sex.</p>
<p dir="ltr">So, shit happens.</p>
<p dir="ltr">My fellow authors--think about this: Anne Rice released her Prince Lestat on 10/28- she announced it in March and it was probably already written. Her next one? April. Five months apart. And I'm sure it's been written for months. Everyone is 'pissed' that George RR Martin is taking so long with next Song of Fire and Ice, but guess what WILL hit the charts instantly. And just look what Sylvia Day did...</p>
<p dir="ltr">Readers, 90% of them, are forgiving and understanding. The last 10% are sadly vocal. As long as you engage them, even without a new release, most will sympathize with A Life Happening. </p>
<p dir="ltr">Writing takes the damn life out if you, and it has be on your own terms... not the terms of marketing or fans (sorry y'all, we love you but...). And to do that with life happening around you, sucking you dry? Well, if you're like me, and you do this because you don't know how <b>not</b> to write, and you love it and you need those characters to shut up... you need to step back and breathe for a while or you will start to hate it. And I love being an author too much to have that happen. </p>
<p dir="ltr">So, *slow clap* for everyone who is doing this on their terms, and learning what those terms are. </p>
<p dir="ltr">And *standing ovation* for the fans who stick with us, and understand-- we will get you that story. Just let us clean up the latest mess. <br>
</p>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3225652306971181625.post-18177616896954613542014-06-11T09:04:00.001-04:002014-06-11T09:04:24.789-04:00Go Hang With LolaI think that some of my fellow writers need to hear this. I know I have to remind myself of this once in a while. I've been writing for 30 years. Doesn't matter if it's published or not. I've noticed the trends in myself over all these years and here's what I've discovered:<br />
<span data-reactid=".2j.1:3:1:$comment309952525847765_310206995822318:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0.$end:0:$16:0"><br />-Your desire to write will ebb and flow. It's natural. You aren't burnt. You're just ebbing. </span><br />
<span data-reactid=".2j.1:3:1:$comment309952525847765_310206995822318:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0.$end:0:$16:0"><br />-Creativity is a <b><i>huge </i></b>brain-drain and people seem to forget that. Just as we all sleep at night to rest and reset for the next day, we all must walk away from writing and live in the world for a while. </span><br />
<span data-reactid=".2j.1:3:1:$comment309952525847765_310206995822318:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0.$end:0:$16:0"><br />-Pushing out a book when you don't feel it is not going to give you the material you want, or what you know you're capable of! (It's kind of like constipation... you have to go with it, if you force it's going hurt and suck and leave you with a bad feeling.) </span><br />
<span data-reactid=".2j.1:3:1:$comment309952525847765_310206995822318:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0.$end:0:$16:0"><br />-Your interest in your characters will also ebb and flow; just as one week we feel like hanging out with Susie because she bubbly and silly the very next week, we may feel like hanging out with Sharon because she amazingly intelligent and endlessly curious. And then the week after you want to hang with Lola because ♫ Lola L-O-L-A Lola ♫ If your brain isn't ready for your newest masterpiece right now, then go hang with Lola for a few days. The others will be waiting. <br /><br />And there's nothing wrong with that.</span><br />
<span data-reactid=".2j.1:3:1:$comment309952525847765_310206995822318:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0.$end:0:$16:0"><br /></span>
<span data-reactid=".2j.1:3:1:$comment309952525847765_310206995822318:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0.$end:0:$16:0">So you are hereby granted permission to go hang at the beach one day, go shopping even if you don't buy anything. Have lunch with a friend, your mother (she misses you, yo.), your kids. Watch the entire third season of Game of Thrones at a go. Start another manuscript-- I <i><b>promise </b></i>you, this is okay. </span><br />
<span data-reactid=".2j.1:3:1:$comment309952525847765_310206995822318:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0.$end:0:$16:0"><br /></span>
<span data-reactid=".2j.1:3:1:$comment309952525847765_310206995822318:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0.$end:0:$16:0">Your friends don't hate you when you don't call for a week. Your characters won't either. </span><br />
<span data-reactid=".2j.1:3:1:$comment309952525847765_310206995822318:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0.$end:0:$16:0"><br /></span>
<span data-reactid=".2j.1:3:1:$comment309952525847765_310206995822318:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0.$end:0:$16:0">Go forth. Live. Write. Hang with Lola. </span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3225652306971181625.post-63200214684851956702014-06-01T22:08:00.000-04:002014-06-03T11:17:05.016-04:00Shadow in Glass- Cover Reveal<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<div style="text-align: left;">
<i>I know that you've all seen the cover on the side over there, but after much thought and work, I've decided to go with a different cover, and tonight, I present that to you. "Shadow in Glass" will be coming to Amazon in the next few weeks. Watch this space for more news, contests, giveaway and APPEARANCES! *yeay* </i></div>
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<h3 style="text-align: center;">
Shadow in Glass</h3>
<h4 style="text-align: center;">
by J. Rose Alexander</h4>
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Every little girl dreams of waking up a Princess… <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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…the reality, Carrie finds out, isn't exactly a fairy tale.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Carrie Whitmore, aspiring journalist, wakes up after a
building collapse to find herself in a world where she is a spoiled, bratty
princess engaged to a self-indulgent egomaniac. She has no college education
and no friends at all. Carrie finds out that "she" wants nothing to
do with the crown after the death of her brother and is happy being bitter,
cruel and reclusive.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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But that's the old Princess Barbara, lost in the tragic
accident that slipped Carrie into the Princess's life. Carrie must change the
way the people of the Nation perceive her. Her journey to learn who she is in
this new world and to deal with the twists and turns of her unwillingly adopted
life will change her perception of everything and everyone around her. <o:p></o:p></div>
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And maybe, just maybe, she'll get the fairy tale princess
ending every little girl dreams of.<o:p></o:p><br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3225652306971181625.post-44936099139982641882014-05-04T08:00:00.000-04:002014-05-04T08:00:01.735-04:00May the Fourth! -Episode 3 and A Giveaway<div class="WordSection1">
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<o:p>Woo hooo!!! It's May the Fourth! Hooray Star Wars!<br /><br />My obsession with this move started when I was just 4 years old. My parents took me and my brother to see it on the ORIGINAL re-release in 1979. Then, HBO got their hands on it and they started playing all.the.time, as HBO is wont to do. It just got worse when in 1991, they release the franchised approved trilogy of books, called The Thrawn Trilogy. </o:p></div>
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<o:p>That was the very first time I ever waited for the release of a book. I scoured the primitive internet for information on the release of book 2 and book 3. I was at the book store the day book 2 and book 3 came out and I ate those books up in less than a day each. They were awesome, and still are to this day. </o:p></div>
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<o:p>I hope that you are enjoying these excerpts. When I reread the one from today to correct the horrible mistakes, I found a gem in it. Marchenta's explanation of the self versus Force to Luke. I completely forgot that was in there. I love it, and I'm so happy I decided to recycle these into the Vaheen Legacies stories. </o:p></div>
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<o:p>I also forgot about Huxley and Tricia and Vincent! They are from another story line I had years before this one. I forgot about Beloque (a direct rip off of the name from Indiana Jones, Beloq), and now I've discovered another story I can polish and put in the other story line. </o:p></div>
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<o:p>Now-- I promised a GIVEAWAY, right? Right! This is for an ecopy of the fabulous Aurora Zahni's "Terminal Romantic", book 2 in the Heller Park Series. (I trust you got book one free, yesterday? I will be sad if you did not, but it's still out there, and "Terminal Romantic" does stand alone.) </o:p></div>
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<o:p>Tell me:<br /><b>What was the original name of Star Wars that Lucas pitched the script with, and was on the script until well after shooting started?</b><br /><br />This is a tough one, and I'll give a lot of partial credit to you for a solid guess. One winner, and chosen at random. You can enter here through the comments, or on the Facebook or Google+ post that brought you here. (I have very little faith in the comments here; they really screwed me over on another contest.) </o:p></div>
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So now, without further ado, the last excerpt of "Empire of SixSuns"-- I hope that you'll come back often to check out my happening and keep an eye out for new stuff from me in the near future. </div>
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<u>Chapter Twenty‑Five</u><o:p></o:p></div>
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Han carefully steered the Falcon in
to the atmosphere of Buria. Jaina was asleep in the seat next to him, most of
the prickle bush rash gone now. He had scalded her for going down to the garden
room by herself, but not too harshly. That little attack by Beloque had
clinched his decision to go and get Luke away from SixSuns before anything else
could happen. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
It was only he and Jaina who were
going to Buria, the rest of the fleet was staying behind. They certainly
couldn't afford to lose any more time or people on going to pick up Luke. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
Han announce their arrival, and the
porttender insisted on getting them an escort, and informing the Clearwaters
that they were coming to visit. Han
didn't want anything at all like that. He just wanted to land, find Luke and
his son and go the hell back to Coruscant. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
But, he could see that there was
indeed someone waiting for them when the Falcon was getting ready to touch
down. It was an older lady (older? she couldn't have been older than he was!)
with no escort at all. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
The air escort veered off as soon
as he was near the groun, and Jaina's eyes fluttered open from her nap. She watched them go, and then turned her
attention to the lady on the ground.
After a minute of looking at her, Jaina turned to her father. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
"She doesn't want to be here,
daddy," she said. "She doesn't like us, she doesn't like Unca'Luke,
and she wants all of us to go away."<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
Han looked down at the woman.
"All I want to do is get Jacen and Luke and go home. I don't want to be
here. And I will be more than happy to go home once Luke and your brother on
the ship."</div>
</div>
<div class="WordSection2">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
Jaina continued to look down at the
lady until she was blocked from view by the other parts of the <i>Falcon</i>.
Han unbuckled her, took her hand, and they walked down the ramp. He looked at
the woman at the bottom of ramp with
suspicious eyes, and could feel Jaina fidgiting. She was an old version of
Rose, but with out the grace that a court up bringing had distilled into her
daughter. <o:p></o:p></div>
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"General Solo," she said,
with absolutely no sign of welcome to her voice. "I am Lauren Clearwaters,
the aunt of her highness The Empress Katarina.
I was sent here to escort you to our home."<o:p></o:p></div>
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"Thank you, Lady
Clearwaters," Han said. He was
amazed that he actually remembered
Leia's lessons on the proper titles for royal relations. "This is my
daughter, Jaina."<o:p></o:p></div>
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"I have made her brother's
aqaitance," Lauren said. "If you will follow me, I will take you to
our lodgings. You'll have to forgive us
if they are not as magnificant as your palace home on Coruscant. We are humble
people without much creature comforts."<o:p></o:p></div>
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"Humble my behind," Jaina
said. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Han looked down at his daughter,
shocked that she had said that, and wondering where she had ever picked up that
idea, or the concept behind it. "Jaina, appoligize, now, young lady."<o:p></o:p></div>
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Lauren looked at her, with the same
shocked look. Jaina bowed her head, and said, "I'm sorry, Lady
Clearwaters. That wasn't very nice of
me."<o:p></o:p></div>
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"I'll say," Lauren said.
"Is this what you teach your children, General?"</div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
Jaina's eyes filled with tears. Han
looked at the woman. "I will not have you scolding my kids. My wife and I
and their uncle Luke are the only ones allowed to yell at them, and I don't
think that you have any right criticise the way we teach our children. It's
clear to me that you do no better. She was well behaved enough to say she was
sorry, so you don't have to go and rub it in, do you?"<o:p></o:p></div>
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Lauren simply looked at him. "Follow me," she snapped. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Han didn't move. "Listen,
lady, I don't want to be here any more than you want me here. I came to get my brother and my son, and I
will be out of your hair, and you out of mine."<o:p></o:p></div>
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Lauren turned around. "I am
not yet in your hair, sir."<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
"Good, stay out of it, and
nothing bad will come of it." Han led Jaina ahead of her, hoping that the
vehicle that was stitting there was the one that they were going to be
using. Jaina climbed in and Han got in
after her. He could see that Lauren was not all that happy, but she was
probably just as stubborn as every other one of the Clearwaters he had heard
stories of.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Lauren got in the car and closed
the door. She stared the vehicle and pulled away from the space port. She spoke to them with out turning
around. "There is a dinner party this
evening. Luke and Rose will be out until six this evening. I hope that you have
brought something more suitable to wear."<o:p></o:p></div>
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"I am not planning to attend
your party," Han said. "I am planning to get my brother and my son
and get out of here."<o:p></o:p></div>
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*<o:p></o:p></div>
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Luke walked into Grammy's
livingroom where she was sitting and 'reading' a book. She was actually reading with her fingers, it
was an old style of book. She raised her
head when she felt Luke enter the room. <o:p></o:p></div>
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"You are worried about
Rose-darling, aren't you?" she asked.</div>
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"Yes," Luke said.
"Do you know where she is?"<o:p></o:p></div>
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"She's up at the castle,"
Grammy said. "She always goes there when bad things happen to her. She likes to be alone for a while and think
about things, and I think that sometimes it's better if she does that. Even if it annoys her mother."
Grammy stood and walked into the
kitchen, her voice floating back to Luke.
"Cup of tea?"<o:p></o:p></div>
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"Sure," Luke said. <o:p></o:p></div>
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"Relax, Luke," Grammy
called from inside. "She spent six weeks up there alone when her husband
died."<o:p></o:p></div>
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Luke jerked up at that. "Her
husband?"<o:p></o:p></div>
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Grammy walked back in carrying two
cups of tea and handed one to him. "She never told you about him? Well, that wasn't very nice of her. If you to are to have a working relationship,
you ought to know everything about one another." She sat down next to him.
"His name was General Richard Mohran. He and Rose had been sweet on each
other for years. His family used to live
down the road, and even after they moved, he kept in contact with Rose. H told
me ages ago that he wanted to marry her, but he didn't want to propose to her until
he had a secure future no matter who or what she was. <o:p></o:p></div>
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"He was promoted to general
about two years ago and he was here the next day to propose to her. She
accepted and they were married about eight months later. It was a grand ceremony at the palace, because here finally was the
hope of another heir to the throne of SixSuns.
Everyone watched on the vid as they said their vows. SixSuns was a blissful place during their engagment
and their short marriage.</div>
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"Richard was sent out to the
Rim, where not even the people who inhabit the planet know what lies
beyond. It was training, Katarina said.
So that we could be prepared for anything.
But we weren't, or Richard would be here now. Something fired on the
ship and slagged it and everyone on it.
They said their deaths were quick and painless, but I could hardly
believe that. Not after what Eve desribed to me. Eve was the only one of us
brave enough to go and look at what the ship had looked like out there. It's still there, supposedly, as a memorial to
those who died. That was about six months ago.
Rose went to Lake Cauldron as soon as she heard, and it was only her
father going up there and talking her down that got her away." Grammy
sighed into her tea. "That's why
she was happy to hear that Katya was pregnant.
She feels now like she has no responsiblity to the throne."<o:p></o:p></div>
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"But she does?"<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
"Yes," Grammy said.
"Just as Eve does and Mark does.
They are in line for the throne whether they like it or not. And this empire is older than your Republic
was. It would be an aweful crime to have it turned into fecal matter in one
generation. Katarina is too evil to be allowed to rule. No matter what the out come of this, Rose
will have to take the throne. Either
Katya will die, or she will be shamed into hiding forever. Her child will never sit on that throne. I
have forseen that."<o:p></o:p></div>
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Luke put the cup down. "How long do you think that she will be
up there?"<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
"I will give her one week to
think alone up there, and then I am going up there to bring her down by hell or
high water. " Grammy took a gentle sip.
"Please realize that she has discovered a betrayal than runs much
deeper than loyalties."</div>
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"A betrayal which runs as deep
as the blood that flows in her veins," Luke said, looking at his right
hand. "A betrayal that she will never ever be able to escape from, and an
evil that she will never ever be able to put completely right. She will spend her entire life trying to make
up for the short comings of her cousin and friend." <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
Grammy bowed her head. "I hadn't realized..... This is no worse than what you and I went
through."<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
Luke looked over at her sharply.
"You went through?"<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
"You forget, young Skywalker,
that I too was betrayed by your father.
He took your hand, and he took my sight." Grammy put her cup down. "I wonder what Katya will take from
Rose-Darling."<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
Luke stood. "I won't let her
take anything. I have to go."<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
He walked out the door before
Grammy could say anything to him. Grammy sighed and sat back in her chair.
"She has already taken her innocence and torn her heart in two. I hope that she realizes that you are here to
help her."<o:p></o:p></div>
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<u>Chapter Twenty-Six</u><o:p></o:p></div>
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Katarina
looked at the baby in her arms. Tender
and small and so young. Less than two days old.
The heir to the perfect empire that she was creating for her. Calesh was looking at her from across the
room, with a look of digust. <o:p></o:p></div>
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"Women. You have a child and you turn all
mushy," he said.<o:p></o:p></div>
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"You ought to shut up,"
Katarina snapped. "This child will
rule this empire one day, no thanks to you."<o:p></o:p></div>
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"That child wouldn't be here
if it weren't for me," Chalesh said, stepping forward. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
"Oh, now who's mushy. You are a bigger fool than your student,
Chalesh." She handed the child to the nurse carelessly. "Do you
realize that that fool you are teaching is more dangerous than you and I
combined. Not because he's powerful, but
because he's a total moron. He almost
ruined everything with his little attack on the Solo girl. He ought to learn
that she, and her two little brothers are of no consquence in this and they
ought to be left to die with their parents."<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
"Beloque accomplished the task
of getting Solo and his daughter out of the sh'Ris camp," he said.
"More than you have done."<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
"Oh, he got them out,"
she snapped, "and drove them right to my cousin's house. Pure genius. So
now, not only to we have to deal with Skywalker and the old woman, but Solo and
his twins. And a marvelous job your task force did trying to illiminate
Skywalker and my cousin."<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
"I was not aware your cousin
and Skywalker were so resourceful," he snapped.</div>
</div>
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<div class="WordSection8">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
"You should have been!!"
Katarina yelled. The baby started crying. "Get her out of here! I don't
want to hear that child crying!" The nurse was startled and ran out of the
room with the baby. "You should
have been aware of what Skywalker was capable of. He destroyed your spy on Coruscant, he broke through the old woman's wall. He was
certainly more than able to out think and out maneuver those half trained idiots
you sent after him!"
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
"They are not half trained
idiots, dear Katya. They are religious
fanatics who are more dangerous than any soldier you or I could train",
Calesh said.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
"You foolish little man,"
she said quietly walking down the stairs. "You are blind to anything but
what you want to see. Do you have any idea how close you came to losing me my
throne at least three times?! Tell me what you see on that throne!!"<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
He looked at Katarina. "I see
my daughter, not very old, sitting on that throne, with the Crown and Scepter
of SixSuns on her." He continued to stare at her. There was a loaded
pause. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
Katarina raised her eyebrow,
delicately. "That's all? That's all you see? I see my daughter, as you saw
her. I see my daughter, old and cripple sitting there. I see my cousin sitting there, young and
pretty, with Skywalker next to her. I
see my cousin, old, sitting there. I see Eve sitting there, with a young child
in her arms. I see that chair destroyed." She turned and walked away from
him. "You are a fool to blind yourself to the other possiblities of what
will be You are almost as moronic as
your little student. I plan to see my daughter on that throne when I am dead.
You may see what you like."<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
"If you are so worried about
the future, you ought to get yourself pregnant again as soon as possible,"
he walked toward her. "That's the way to assure your future."</div>
</div>
<br />
<div class="WordSection9">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
"You keep away from me,
Calesh," Katarina said, not moving. "I dare you to lay a hand on me.
You will find out how truly angry I can get. I will have another child at my
discretion, not at your's. And anyway, you have another child." Calesh
looked shocked, and Katarina smiled at him. "Oh, I know all about your
other child. A little boy, correct?
About three years old? And absolutely reeking with the Force. Except his mother has outsmarted you, hasn't
she? She's gone and hid where you can't
find her or the boy. She found out who you really were, and she took away the
only thing that you really wanted from her. She's some ruler's daughter too,
from what I know. On Atteraan, the president's daughter, or some such thing.
You ought to guard your secrets more carefully, dear Calesh. You really ought."<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
She walked back up to the throne
and sat down. "Now, go. Get out of my sight. I want a full report of
everything that is going on the sh'Ris systems, and I want you to eliminate
Skywalker and the old woman. Do not come back until you have succeeded. And if
you don't ever come back I will assume that you have failed and died
trying." She looked straight at him. "Rest assured, Calesh, to die
trying would be the far better fate in this case."<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
Calesh realized that he didn't want
to argue this with her. Katarina stayed exactly where she was, not looking at
him, not even knowing he was there any more.
Calesh gave her a sarcastic formal bow, and walked out of the throne room. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
Katarina stayed as she was for a
good minute before daring to move. And
when she did move, she only took a deep breath, and held it. She let the rage build inside her, and released
it with blast of the Force so powerful that it chipped the throne of
SixSuns. She spun around and looked up
at the Victory Carving.</div>
</div>
<br />
<div class="WordSection10">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
She pointed to the Victor in
the middle, and yelled at him. "I
don't know who you are, and I don't think anyone does. But I curse your very bones for having been a
Jedi, for having started the Jedi Order, and for ever even touching the
Force. Where ever you are now, and who
ever you were, I hope that you are roasting in your own personal
hell." She turned and stormed out
of the throne room.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 3.0in;">
*<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
Luke tossed the rock into the
pond. It broke the surface and caused
ripples to the very edge near the rock he sat on. He threw another one in to destroy those
ripples. He was angry. Did everything he
did have to have another meaning? He
couldn't even skip rocks on a pond without think of a metaphor for his own
life. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
He looked up at one of the moons
that was nearing full. He closed his
eyes in concentration, and he could feel Rose's worn presence near the ruins of
Lake Caulderon Castle. He suspected that
she hadn't slept in the four days she had been up there. He want to go up there
and comfort her, but she wasn't even acknowledging that he was looking for her.
She wasn't doing much of anything. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
This whole thing was a bad idea, he
told himself. Once Callista was gone, he
should have given up. There was no one
out there. No one. Callista might come back, she might not. But he had been alone this long, why not just
keep going like this. The first of the
new order of Jedi Knights makes a noble sacrifice for the good of the
order. Rose had already fallen love once
and had her heart broken, he ought to go away and leave her alone. He did owe a
lot of his life to the Force, and he couldn't see it completely unreasonable to
dedicate his whole life to it....<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
"Damn it!" he yelled, and
threw a handful of pebbles into the lake.
He pulled the muscles in his shoulder as he did so. The pain felt good, and helped him to calm
down a bit. Emotions in sentients were
not as convenient as they were for droids; sentients couldn't switch them off
as they pleased. Though there were days
he really wished he could.</div>
</div>
<br />
<div class="WordSection11">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
Through the mist of the years, he
could still hear Yoda's voice telling him, <i>For the Jedi, there is no
emotion, only peace.</i><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
"Troubled?" came Grammy's
voice. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
Luke hung his head. "Grammy,
it's two in the morning."<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
"So sue me, I'm an
insomniac," she said, sitting down next to him. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
Luke threw another pebble into the
lake. Grammy threw one in as well. Luke
sighed. "I guess that I'm angry.
About what, I don't know. I'm a
wreck, and through all of it, I can hear Yoda telling me that there are no
emotions, only peace."<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
He could feel Grammy smile.
"You've got it bad, Luke."<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
"Got what?" Luke asked,
very concerned. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
"You are in love," Grammy
said. "You've got it bad for Rose."<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
He began to boil at the suggestion,
and forced himself to calm down. "I guess that's where I am now. I don't
know if I can, or even should be in love with Rose. Maybe I am destined to be
alone."<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
"Well, she's in love with you,
Luke, whether you like it or not. She's
just very confused right now. Her secure little world crashed down around her
five days ago, and you know yourself, when your world crashes, it takes some
getting used to. Don't ever doubt that
she loves you. And you most certainly can be in love. What about your sister? What about me? I was,
and still very much am in love with my husband."<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
Luke took another pebble and tossed
it into the lake. "For the Jedi, there is no emotion; only peace. There is
no ignorance; there is knowledge. There is no passion; there is serenity. There
is no death; there is the Force."
He repeated the mantra that Yoda had taught him perfectly.</div>
</div>
<br />
<div class="WordSection12">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
Grammy shook her head with an
ironic laugh. "Oh, Luke. You are so
old and so young at the same time. Yoda gave the Jedi Code to a young man who
was a headstrong and reckless youth. You
are no longer that young man. You are a Jedi Master, and yet there is so much
that you were never taught. Perhaps you will take a lesson from an old and
feeble blind woman?" Grammy cocked her head to one side and didn't wait
for an answer. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
"There is no death; there is
the Force," she began at the end of the Jedi Code. "But when you are
in the Force, you have still known a death. Physical though it may have been,
it was still a death. You have not yet crossed to what is beyond, and you are
have no bearing on the world that you existed in. A death, no matter what. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
"There is no passion; there is
serenity. If there were no passions you
could have no serenity. Think. Without your passion for life, you would be
dead. Without your passion for knowledge, you would not be here now.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
"There is no ignorance; there
is knowledge. Quite true, but with out
having once been ignorant, you could not glean the knowledge that you now have.
And don't forget the other half of that coin, that knowledge can lead to
ignorance. Once person hellbent on what
they know can be ignorant to other options and aspects, and that can be their
undoing."<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
Luke looked at Grammy, and was
surprised at what he was seeing. On the
rock in the moonlight, she didn't look one bit like the eighty-five year old
woman that he had talked to earlier at dinner. She was replaced by a younger
version of Marchenta Windrunner, who had learned the lesson she was giving him
the hard way; the loss of her husband, the loss of her homeworld, the loss of
her sight, and the betrayal of her dearest friends. This was a true Jedi Master sitting next to
him. Some one who could teach far better
than he could. <o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
She straightened her head, and continued.
"There is no emotion; there is the Force. " She snorted somewhat
indignantly. "That is the most all
encompassing half truth that I have ever heard. What is peace but the ability
to identify emotions and live with them.<br />
<div class="WordSection13">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
"Pick up a rock, Luke,"
she instructed. He complied. "I
want you to throw it as far as you can without using the Force at all. Remember where it lands."<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
Luke tossed the rock as best he
could, and it landed about fifteen meters out. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
"Good," Grammy said.
"Now take another rock the same size, and do the same, except this time,
use the Force."<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
This time, the rock landed over a
hundred and twenty meters away.
Marchenta nodded. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
"You see Luke, you owe very
much to the Force. As much as the distance between where those two rocks
hit. That's how much the Force has given
you, and how much you have given in return.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
"But there's that distance
between the shore and the first rock.
The Force had nothing to do with that distance. That distance, that
space is<i> your's</i>, it was your doing. There is where you and only you
control. That is where your emotions hide; hate, anger, jealousy, pain,
resentment, happiness, joy, friendship, love...<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
"That is where the Force does
not tread, and will never. You can
decide your emotions. Fill that space up with whatever you like; joy or anger,
fear or happiness, jealousy or friendship, distrust or loyalty, hate.... or love. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
"Those are the most true
feelings you have. Believe and trust in those emotions and there.... there is
where you shall find peace."</div>
</div>
<br />
<div class="WordSection14">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
Marchenta stood and laid a hand on
Luke's shoulder. "Remember always, Luke. The Human mind is a wonderful
thing. With it, we can understand the Human heart."<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
She tousled his hair fondly as he
hadn't had done since he was 12. She walked away quietly to leave him to think
on what she had said. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<i>A Jedi, </i>he could hear
himself say to Threepio, <i>can't become so entangled with the galaxy that they
forget about individuals</i>. And wasn't that exactly what he was
doing? Forgetting that he was an
individual too, and forgetting that he needed to be remembered once and
while? He was so busy trying to give the
galaxy it's new Jedi, that he forgot that he was a person as well as a Jedi. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<i>You are so selfish!</i> Leia had
screamed at Han. And Han, calm as ever had looked at her and said, simply, <i>You
should try it once and while. It might do you some good.</i><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
And as wrong as it sounded to Jedi
Skywalker to be selfish, Luke knew that it was a part of him. He needed to think about himself once and
while. To be selfish, especially now,
would be a good thing. To be selfish
about Rose would be very, very good. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
In that spot that Marchenta had
shown him, the part that would always have been there whether or not he had
been Jedi, there was a rage of emotions.
Love and hate, and resentment, but most of all were his feelings for Rose. He realized that he didn't come here to play
ambassador, or try and sort out anything with Marchenta or Lauren, but to get
to know Rose better. He had fallen in
love with her when he first glimpsed her swinging braid as she walked off the ship, the look at
her slender figure, the first sign of her cheery disposition, and the first
time he glanced into her saber green eyes. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
Using the Force, he lifted some
pebbles off the ground, and juggled them through the air, and formed the words
'Luke loves Rose.' He encircled with the
very ancient symbol of the heart.</div>
</div>
<br />
<div class="WordSection15">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
"Uncl'Luke?" Jacen
giggled. "You're in love?"<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
The pebbles plunked noisily into
the water as Luke turned to find his nephew standing there in his pajamas. He had Han's lopsided grin plastered on his
face. Luke couldn't help smiling at him.
"I guess I am, Jace," he said, motioning for the boy to come
and sit next to him. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
Jacen plopped down next to
him. "Good," he said.
"Can I start calling Mark my cousin yet?"<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Luke laughed. "Not yet, Jacen. Give me a few days to talk to Rose."<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
"Rose is mad, isn't she."<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
"No, she's upset. She found out something that she didn't
like."<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
"Then just kiss her, "
Jacen said. "That's how mom and dad always make each other
un-upset." Luke laughed, and
tousled Jacen's hair. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 3.0in;">
*<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
Han was standing on the back porch
as Luke walked up. He did not look very happy standing there. He was watching as Jacen, Jaina, and Mark
were playing tag in the front yard. Luke walked up the stairs, and onto the porch,
looking confused. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
"Han?" he said.
"What are you doing here?"<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
Han looked up at him. "Luke,
good you're back. Jacen, get your
stuff."<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
"Han, what's going on? What are you doing here?" Luke asked. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
"Taking you and the kids
home," he said. He looked over at Lauren, who was standing the kitchen and
watching them. "I need to talk to you alone, away from here."<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
"Ok, but I don't understand
what's going on," Luke said, following him off the porch. "What are you doing here?"</div>
</div>
<br />
<div class="WordSection16">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
"Like I said," Han said,
"I'm here to get you out of here. You're in a lot of danger."<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
"Han, I am always in
danger."<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
"I know," he said, as
they walked into the wood, "But you haven't been in danger like this since
Palpatine's clones were bothering us.
Katarina is evil, Luke. She won't stop at anything. She nearly killed Anakin, me and Chewie.
Anakin is still unconscious, and they don't know if he'll ever wake up. She is
controlling the sh'Ris against their will, her call for help is bogus. She is just as bad as Palpatine, maybe
worse."<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
"Anakin?" Luke said. "What happened?"<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
"One of Katarina's little
friends sent out a request for some thorindian crystal, and the data chip was
tamper resistance. It stunned me and
Chewie, and knocked Anakin across the room.
They think that it may have done permanent brain damage to him."<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
Luke hung his head. "Oh, no." He looked back at Han.
"How was Leia taking all of this?"<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
Han looked very angry. "How do
you think she would take the near death of her youngest son?" He took a
deep breath and calmed down. "Luke, I want to get you out of here."<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
"I can't go," Luke said.
"Not yet."<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
"What?" Han hissed. "Are you blind? Didn't you hear me? Katarina is evil. She will stop at nothing to
kill you and Jacen and Jaina and Leia." <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
"And Rose, " Luke
added. "Han, I've known all along
that Katarina was no good. That's not
why I came here. Kirana Ti, Kyp and I
have known for a long time that something was going on out here in this
quadrant of the galaxy. When Rose showed
up looking for peace, we got really confused, but since I have been here,
everything fell into place."<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
"You've known?" Han
asked.</div>
</div>
<br />
<div class="WordSection17">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
"I have," Luke said.
"I didn't come here to be an ambassador, I came here to find out about
Rose and her family. Mostly Rose. Han I
love her, and I am not going to give her up to her cousin. I don't want to lose
her. If you want to, take Jacen and Jaina and get out of here. You are more than right about Katarina. She's crazy and she will do anything to kill
me and any Jedi. She thinks just like Palpatine did. That destroying the Jedi is the only way to
completely rule the galaxy. Jacen, Jaina,
Mark, Caylee, Carson, Eve and Sondra would all be better far away from
here. But for now, just get your kids
away."<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
Han sighed. "Sometimes Luke, I
don't know what to think about you."<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
"Me neither," came
Grammy's voice. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
"Grammy, what are you doing?
Following me everywhere?" Luke asked. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
"Maybe," Grammy said.
"Except you were talking right outside my window back there, and well, I
could help over hearing a few words and become very interested in what was
going on. You should not disregard this
man's advice to leave now, before Katya becomes obsessed with you and killing you."<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
"Your concern is noted,"
Luke said. "Han, this is Rose's grandmother, Marchenta Windrunner. Grammy, this is my brother in law, Han Solo,
Jacen's father."<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
"Nice to meet you,"
Grammy said, taking his hand before he could stick it out. "Don't lag,
Solo. Just because I can't see doesn't
mean that I can't be polite. Sheesh, don't you teach your friends manners, Luke?"<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
Han laughed in spite of himself.
"My mistake, ma'am."<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
"Please, call me Grammy.
Everyone else does. Luke, I think that it's time to get Rose off that hill. You
will bring me up there?"</div>
</div>
<br />
<div class="WordSection18">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
"Of course," Luke
said. "Han---"<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
"I can get back to the house,
kid," Han said. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
Luke smiled. "Thanks."<o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><br clear="all" style="mso-break-type: section-break; page-break-before: always;" />
</span>
<br />
<div class="WordSection19">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<u>Chapter Twenty-Six</u><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
Wedge looked at the screens in
front him. Perfect Clone War
antiques. Even more surprising than that
was that they worked. The sh'Ris had
kept them repaired and working for more than fifty years, and the New Republic
couldn't keep brand new units working for more than six months at a time. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
"Makes you feel like you don't
know what you're doing, doesn't it," Huxley said. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
Wedge looked at him.
"Yeah. These things are older than
I am, and I don't work half as good as they do any more. I guess you learn to work with what you have.
I wish that we would learn to do that." Wedged looked around the control
center. "Well, I think that we can
handle working from here. There certainly is the right equipment, and working
equipment."<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
Huxley walked over and punched up
some of the screens of the surrounding area of space. "Everything appears to be normal. Which means that we get to sit around and
wait for word from either Han or Coruscant.
Wonderful." <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
Wedge looked at him. "You are new to this stuff, Hux. Sitting around happens so very little that
you take all the time you can when it does come around. Trust me, the further
you get along into the New Republic, or into the Jedi Order you are going to
find your self sitting around less and less."<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
"I did enough sitting when I
was on that throne, trust me." Huxley punched up another set of screens. </div>
</div>
<br />
<div class="WordSection20">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
"It's really strange to think
that some one like you was once on a throne.
It doesn’t seem your style," Wedge said. "You and Tricia blend
right in with the common folk of the galaxy.
You aren't at all like any of those royals that visit Leia and Han all
the time, and you aren't like the senators either."<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
"Think about it," Huxley
said. "If you hadn't known all along that Leia was a princess, would you
ever guess now with the way she acts out of the private eye? Leia and I were just made of a different
royal mold than the others. We like high
society, but not all the time. There are so many regulations and rules and courtesies
that you have to follow that it gets very boring and very artificial. It is far easier to get along in life without
having to remember that when you have a High Lady from Gerolitan, you must seat
her on the host's right, put all the proper utensils on the right, the water
glass on the left, the wine in the middle, cover the plate with a napkin, never
ever serve nerf nuggets, meats must be on the left, and don't ever bring up the
economy or trade of any kind or you'll offend her ears." <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
"Oh," Wedge said. "I
can see that." <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
Huxley laughed. "Well, my
brother won the election fare and square, and I conceded the power of the crown
to the senate of the Gercanima. Not to
mention that Han had recently bumped into me, and introduced me to Luke. Tricia had always hinted that she knew about
my grandfather, and when Luke and Han visited that night, she out right told
them who he was. We didn't have anything
else to do then, and Vincent was just two, so he wouldn't know the difference
if we moved. So we did. Tricia moved right into the Massassi temple and whipped
the administration right into shape. She has gift for organization. While she
organized I trained. And we both took care of Vincent." <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
"How did you find out that
Tricia was Force talented? She hadn't shown it up that point, why all of a
sudden did it come out in her?"</div>
</div>
<br />
<div class="WordSection21">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
Huxley punched up yet another
screen. "We were outside doing the usual grounds maintenance. It has to be
done one a week or everything gets over grown again. So it was our rotation to help. Everyone pitches in whether or not you are
being trained. Tricia, Vin and me were
out there with about twelve other people. Tricia kept looking up, and walking
around the other side of the building.
After about an hour of this, I was getting annoyed by it. The next time she looked up and began to walk
away, I followed her. There was nothing
on the other side of the building except more overgrown forest. I asked what she found so fascinating on the
other side. She looked back at me and smiled,
and shrugged. I didn't think about it, and we went back to the maintenance.
About five minutes later, she looked up and saw me watching her. She smiled
again and went back to cutting some leaves. About ten seconds later, she
gasped, grabbed her hand dropped the sheers and went running around to the
other side of the building. Two of the
others doing maintenance ran after her. I wanted to know what she was doing, so
I followed her too.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
"As we were running around to
the other side of the building, I remembered that there were still some
unfinished repairs on that side. No one
had bothered to do them because no one
was living on that side of the building at that time, and there was no rush on
them. But when I rounded the corner I
realized that they should have been done right away. </div>
</div>
<br />
<div class="WordSection22">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
"Half of the temple looked as
though it should be toppling over at that very moment. But there were two trainees about half way up
the side, and they were stuck there. And they were cowering in awe and in fear. Tricia's voice cut through the awkward
silence. 'Are you going to do something Hux?
We can't hold this thing forever.'
I didn't think about what she said at that moment. I just started scaling the wall, using
everything I knew of the force to get to those two kids up there. They were two
young Lupans, and they were scared to death to move. When I got to them, them clung on to me like
was the only thing left in the universe.
I don't think I have ever seen two kids so frightened. I practically jumped to the bottom, and ran
out of the fall zone. The wall came
crashing down practically on my heals, and the two kids were crying like
mad. Tricia came over and took one of
them from me and tried to calm it down. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
"By then I had gathered my
wits enough to look who had held up the wall. It was Tricia and two new
students. And by new, I mean less than a week. Kirana Ti had shown up now and
she took the other Lupan from me and quieted it down as Luke and Kyp helped me
to my feet. I was so dumb struck that I
all I could do was stare at Tricia. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
"'Good job,' Luke said to
me. I was still staring at Tricia. 'How did you know?' I whispered to her. She
smiled and shrugged. Luke said something like he could feel the whole thing
through the Force. I shook him off and walked over to Tricia. How did you know,
how did you do that? I think that was what I said. I was still stunned. She
looked over at Luke, then back at me and said, 'I could feel it. How I did it was I imagined that it was
Vincent up there.' Luke's eyes went wide
as well at that point. He looked at her
and said,' You did that?' Tricia nodded.
I asked her, ' But how could you?'<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
"She smiled at me, and said,
'After all these years, you never asked me who MY grandfather was.' She rocked the Lupan and walked away from me
into the infirmary." Huxley
laughed. "I never did ask her who her grandfather was. Turns out, he was
MY grandfather's teacher." <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
Wedge laughed. "Seems like all
you Jedi are connected some how. It's almost funny."</div>
</div>
<br />
<div class="WordSection23">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
Hux nodded. "Almost. You know
that Luke is still surprised you aren't Force talented. He said that with some
of the stuff you pull, there's almost no way that you couldn't be." <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
Wedge shook his head. "Not an
ounce of the Force in me at all. My
uncle was. He had to go into hiding
eventually even though he was never trained. But not me. Luck and training, and
keeping both eyes open at all times.
That's all it is for me." <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
"Blip!" one of the
station monitor's yelled. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
Hux and Wedge ran over to see what
was going on, when someone else yelled, "Blip!" And seconds after
that, four other stations joined the chorus, and more after them as well. Hux
ran over to the intercom, and yelled, "Red Alert! All hands
scramble!!" <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
Wedge stared at the screen in front
of him. "Look's like the Empress."<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
Huxley looked over at him before he
ran out the door, and said, "I know it is." He left the room. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
Wedge still wished he was going up
there, but he could command the battle from the sh'Ris room better than from
his fighter. There were days when he
wished he hadn't be convinced to take the General's rank. He waited until he saw Hux's ready light
blink on to give the squadron the go ahead. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
"How many are you picking
up?" Wedge asked one of the lieutenants that had come down from the ship
with him. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
"Twenty large destroyer style
ships," she said. "I can't identify the type, or anything about
them. We have no records of any ships in
this configuration." She paused. "I have a weapons estimate, if you
really want it."<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
Wedge braced himself. "Go
ahead."<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
"Two thousand turbo lasers,
fifteen ion canons, and about 30 torpedo launch tubes."</div>
</div>
<br />
<div class="WordSection24">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
Wedge let his breath out.
"That's all?"<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
"That's per ship,
General," she said. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
"PER SHIP?" Wedge
exclaimed, running over to her station.
The estimate was there on the board.
"Holy.... per ship. "
He hung his head. "This
looks a little one-sided." <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
"General, we have a
transmission coming through, for Commander Alexander," came another voice.
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
"Put it through to him, and
over our speakers here," he said.
Why would anyone demand to speak to a commander when there was a general
listening in. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
The speaker crackled and came to
life. "Huxley Alexander, I have a proposal for you." It was a voice
that Wedge didn't recognize from the intercepted communiques from SixSuns to
the forces nearby. "Are you willing
to listen?"<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
"Shut up and fight,"
Huxley growled. There was a note of
strain that he had never heard in Hux's voice before.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
"You will die," the same
voice said. "You are massively outgunned. General Antilles, would you like
to confirm how badly you are outgunned?"<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
Wedge toggled the switch to the private
frequency in Hux's fighter. "Outgunned is putting it lightly, Hux. They
wouldn't even blink and wipe out what we've got here. I've never seen anything
so heavily armed in my life, with the exception of the Death Stars." <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
He heard Huxley sigh. "What's
your deal, Tyrone?"</div>
</div>
<br />
<div class="WordSection25">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
Wedge could almost see the smile in
the words. "My master would like to challenge you to a duel, dear cousin.
You and he, alone. Both fleets will
withdraw no matter what the outcome of the duel, that way, total causalities
will equal one. The combined sh'Ris/Rebellion forces will retreat deep into
sh'Ris territory, and the SixSuns Fleet will go back to Buria. You and my master will meet on a deserted
planet, and you will duel to the death." The voice paused. "You're
choice, dear cousin. One causality or thousands."<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
"Hux, you don't have to do
this," Wedge said. "We're totally prepared to fight." <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
"General, any good leader
would take the deal. Even if I lose,
I've won. My life in exchange for
thousands. And this can buy some time until the rest of the Fleet shows up
here. I have to accept on principle.
Don't worry about me. Luke taught
me well." He heard Hux toggle back
to the open frequency. "You have a deal, Tyrone. Your master and I alone.
You will order the withdrawl now, and so we will we. There is a planet on the
outskirts of the sh'Ris territory that has decent gravity and atmosphere. I am heading there now, I will be
waiting." <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
"He and I shall be
there," the voice said. "A true pleasure, cousin." <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
The voice broke off, and Wedge spoke. "Hux, you don't have
to. At least let us send an escort with you. You shouldn't have done
that." <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
"No escorts, Wedge,"Hux
said. "He'll blow them away. I know him." <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
"Who is this guy?" Wedge
asked. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
"My cousin. He was fourth in
line for the throne of Gercanima, after me and Vincent and my brother. He
thinks that we were fools for giving up that throne, and that we were wrong in
not asking him if he wanted it before we dissolved it. I'll be fine, don't worry." He paused.
"Just tell Tricia I love her."<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
"You're planning on coming
back, right," Wedge stated.</div>
</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
"I am, but you can never be
too careful." Hux was silent a
minute more. "I'll dump the coordinates to the planet, and if you don't
hear from me in two days, come and get the body. Ready for Hyperspace."<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
Wedge bowed his head. "Huxley,
thank you. You didn't have to." <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
"I did, and you're welcome.
Permission to engage?"<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
"Huxley?" <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
"General?"<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
"May the Force be with you.
Permission granted." <o:p></o:p></div>
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