tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16029869086407453922024-02-22T01:42:45.330-08:00Maggie Devine – Romance AuthorMaggie Devinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08201232103032451404noreply@blogger.comBlogger22125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1602986908640745392.post-63069653782602497202013-03-19T00:08:00.000-07:002013-04-14T00:47:47.897-07:00STILL MOMENTS PUBLISHING is no more...I need a new Publisher...anyone want me?<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyrHHb19h3Fdp5Vn2QD8wjg0oURgIu7TrVzV77RoG4dk1Ih8bkZnYTjLDeSBLIHMGdd9DHCeeqqi6P0nIczAH4hiqNnKT-BvU6QZewAeDS-E_n4vbzcF0HiPDvindsccQIs5YB7FxDjUo/s1600/73.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyrHHb19h3Fdp5Vn2QD8wjg0oURgIu7TrVzV77RoG4dk1Ih8bkZnYTjLDeSBLIHMGdd9DHCeeqqi6P0nIczAH4hiqNnKT-BvU6QZewAeDS-E_n4vbzcF0HiPDvindsccQIs5YB7FxDjUo/s400/73.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Changing Times....</span><span style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I received a 'Notice to all SMP Authors' today that
read...<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>"Still Moments Publishing and The Wild Rose
Press, Inc. are excited to announce that effective immediately, The Wild
Rose Press will be acquiring SMP"</b></span></blockquote>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">So, as of April 1, 2013 the rights to my short
stories have been reverted back to myself and so, 'said' stories are in fact,
'homeless' at the moment. But hopefully only for a moment.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I wish Darlene Fredette and all of the SMP crew who
are making the move, all the best and very good luck. They will always be
my 'FIRST' Publisher and I have appreciated the opportunity they afforded me. I
will be eternally grateful.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">For now, I will go in search of a new publisher and
will send out inquires as to who is accepting any submissions, and if anyone
out there knows anyone who is looking for a few really great short
stories...then please pass their names on.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Thanks all!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Maggie</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<br />Maggie Devinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08201232103032451404noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1602986908640745392.post-30274843844520740202013-02-14T17:53:00.003-08:002013-04-14T00:02:01.300-07:00WILL YOU BE MINE?<br />
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<span style="color: white; font-size: large;">FEBRUARY 14th!</span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: white; font-size: large;">I was going to come up with some deep words of wisdom today but then I came across the following link from The National Post which says it all.</span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: white; font-size: large;">What is this world missing on this special day? It's missing a few good writers....like Gordon Bottomley...</span><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="color: white; font-size: large;">"...Gordon Bottomley did, somewhere in the midst of the 500 dispatches....penned to artist Emily Burton in the years before they were married in 1905, that he really, really loved her...."</span></blockquote>
<span style="color: white; font-size: large;">500 Love Letters....when was the last time you received one?</span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: white; font-size: large;">ENJOY!</span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<a href="http://news.nationalpost.com/2013/02/14/expressing-affairs-of-the-heart-frivolous-emails-texts-have-replaced-the-sappy-love-letter/"><span style="color: white; font-size: large;">http://news.nationalpost.com/2013/02/14/expressing-affairs-of-the-heart-frivolous-emails-texts-have-replaced-the-sappy-love-letter/</span></a><br />
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<br /></div>
Maggie Devinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08201232103032451404noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1602986908640745392.post-18041116508645899232013-02-09T21:02:00.002-08:002013-02-14T17:55:54.236-08:00Will You Be My Valentine....?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b><span style="font-size: 24pt;">As Valentines Day Approaches...</span></b></h2>
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<b><span style="font-size: 19pt;">And we watch our mailboxes with anticipation...<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt; font-weight: normal;">Or do we
do that anymore? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt; font-weight: normal;">It seems
to me that everything is done digitally so naturally, we can assume any
expected Valentines Day sentiments to be delivered in a similar manner. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt; font-weight: normal;">Humph,
not very romantic if you ask me. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt; font-weight: normal;">What
happened to the old fashioned Valentines Day card? I see them in the stores,
but are they starting to go by the wayside like the age-old Christmas Card?
Call me outdated, but isn't it simply a traditional part of the season to
send cards at Christmas?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt; font-weight: normal;">To be
honest, I got a new job at the end of November and did not have the time to get
my Christmas Cards off, and only received about 5 myself – thank you
Bernadette, Yael, Lara, Kathy, Karen and families. I have no real excuse and I
am usually on top of this tradition. Next year I will definitely go back to my
old ways and send my cards, but can almost bet, I will only receive the same five, 'happily anticipated' cards.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
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<br /></div>
</div>
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<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: 16pt; font-weight: normal;">That brings me back to the much longed for, Valentines Day Card. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: 16pt; font-weight: normal;">When was the last time any of you received an anonymous note in a REAL
CARD for Valentines Day? Perhaps I am asking the wrong people. Maybe all of you
have spouse’s, girlfriends, boyfriends, partners-in-crime etc., who are on top
of this very important day.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: 16pt; font-weight: normal;">But what about the rest of us ‘singletons’? Singletons of all ages from
my friend’s 18 year old daughter who is having a hard time finding a boyfriend
in Calgary (of all places to have difficulty), to my gorgeous sixty-year-old
aunt who doesn’t look a day over fifty and doesn’t let the grass grow under her
feet? And those of us in between – what about us?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
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<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: 16pt; font-weight: normal;">And I am not talking about the dear, sweet, and much valued cards I/you
get from my/your friends children. When was the last time any of you single,
unattached people actually received a Valentines Day card in the mail from a
‘secret admirer’? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: 16pt; font-weight: normal;">To be honest, I can’t even remember whether my last boyfriend sent me a
card, which is probably why we are no longer together. And once again as it
happens every year, the approach of Valentines Day has got me thinking – when
was the last time someone popped out of the woodwork and into my life?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: 16pt; font-weight: normal;">The last time I received a card (with a heart-shaped box of chocolates
attached to it) with an anonymous declaration of love, was in High School. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: 16pt; font-weight: normal;">Yes, I did eventually find out whom it was from, and no, the feeling
wasn’t mutual. But for a whole day I was left wondering if it really was the
boy I was secretly crushing. When I found out who my secret admire was, I was
flattered. He was a friend and I had no idea he liked me, and though I didn’t
reciprocate the fuzzy, romantic feelings he had for me, we remained friends. I
remember asking him about it a few years later and his comment to me was:</span><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: 16pt; font-weight: normal;">“Why
not? What did I have to lose? This way, I would never be left wondering years
from now…if only I had told her, what would she have said? So there are no
regrets Maggie, because I put it out there, got my answer, and moved on.”</span></blockquote>
</div>
</div>
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<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: 16pt; font-weight: normal;">Well done he-who-shall-not-be-identified-to-protect-the-innocent…you've got nerves of steel! The most important thing I learnt from this was, “…I got my
answer, and moved on.” But I did not learn this lesson right away – it only sunk in years later as I got older and began to reflect upon my life.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: 16pt; font-weight: normal;">How many people out there could do this now, especially as we age? For
some reason high-school students and to a degree, the college aged set seem to
have this romantic incline in spades. So when does it start to disappear? Or
does it just fade away as we move through life? Maybe it is merely that we become
more sensitive to rejection after having experienced it in its many forms so
many times – work, relationships, sports, your bodies relationship with junk
food and exercise ‘now’ as opposed to when you were a teenager, etc. Let’s face
it, it’s easier to keep our feelings to ourselves and wait for the other person
to make the first move, it's safer that way – but there is a problem with this thinking. If you
don’t get up off your bottom and tell that person how you really feel, you risk
losing them to someone else who is willing to put it all out on the line. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: 16pt; font-weight: normal;">Perhaps that other person got tired/will get tired of waiting for you.
Which is why he/she has/will wander off into the sunset with the one who <i>comes-a-calling. </i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: 16pt; font-weight: normal;">So Romeo/Juliette, what are you going to do about it?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: 16pt; font-weight: normal;">As Valentines Day descends upon us once more, I challenge all singletons
out there who have been secretly pining away for someone, to lay it all out on
the line. Make this year different. At
least this way, you’ll have your answer. And if it doesn’t go your way, it
opens a door for someone else to enter.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: 16pt; font-weight: normal;">Seriously, what have you got to lose?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
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<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: 16pt; font-weight: normal;">Maggie D.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 16pt; font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
</h2>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
Maggie Devinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08201232103032451404noreply@blogger.com0West End, Vancouver, BC, Canada49.2789232744049 -123.1306637842528749.273743774404906 -123.14074878425288 49.2841027744049 -123.12057878425287tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1602986908640745392.post-53087328919297600232012-12-02T23:01:00.000-08:002012-12-04T07:49:38.332-08:00STILL MOMENTS CHRISTMAS BLOG HOP<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh63sSkcWz_FJ07oHvlSzSWsCbApQSjNbTw1X79RztJGn_z875yAFdGYI4YW0sHCt6125YW5iTAuwiSMGe2AsM3siUOFcyzT9WrgoRZKt0h_tU9wN0NYEWxblJCW3DjKDRU_7HKtII1l5Y/s1600/IMGP0120.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh63sSkcWz_FJ07oHvlSzSWsCbApQSjNbTw1X79RztJGn_z875yAFdGYI4YW0sHCt6125YW5iTAuwiSMGe2AsM3siUOFcyzT9WrgoRZKt0h_tU9wN0NYEWxblJCW3DjKDRU_7HKtII1l5Y/s640/IMGP0120.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Someone recently
asked about my favourite Christmas memory ever - and to keep it under 100 words - and it got me thinking. I love
the season and with so many memories to choose from it was a tough slog through
my memory-bank. </div>
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<br /></div>
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There are the standard memories that stand out from a child’s point
of view, like the time when I was five and woke up to my very own Barbie camper van, or the following year when I woke up to find my very own Barbie House - to this day I have no idea where my parents found it because it wasn't your standard house, it was a mansion. It
was not in any
catalogue I had seen, and I was up on my Barbie gear so I knew Santa thought I
was special.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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As lovely as those are, it was neither. <o:p></o:p></div>
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My favourite
Christmas memory would have to be when I was at school in England, in 1992. I can't believe it was 20 years ago now. I
had never celebrated Christmas in England before, but it felt like I was home
because of my mother’s two sisters, and my cousins. My <i><b>other</b> </i>cousins from New Zealand, whom I happened to have spent
Christmas with in their home country in 1988, were also in England at the time (my mother had three
sisters and two brothers, all spread out around the globe) so we were quite a large group that year. I remember looking about the sitting
room at one point during the holidays, surrounded by my mother's family - my family - wondering if I would ever get to spend Christmas with all of them again. It was a very special time, and I knew then, in those hours, how exceptionally rare that moment was, and I cherished
it, placing it into a corner of my mind forever as a pivotal moment in my life.</div>
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You need to
understand my mother’s family – they hail from Liverpool and as everyone knows,
Liverpulian’s have a wickedly dry sense of humour. We were not short of laughs
at any point over the holidays, we had fun. I did miss my parents, brothers and my father's side of the family that I grew up with in Canada, but knew I would have many Christmases ahead with them, so I wasn’t too torn up about missing Christmas at home. I went back to school on the 2nd of January, happy and content, and full of great memories of a wonderful Christmas - this is one of my favourite Christmas memories.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Fast forward 19
years to last Christmas. I went back to England, but not for the Holidays. My
mother’s youngest sister had been sick. She left us all behind on the 14<sup>th
</sup>of December, and we buried her on the 23<sup>rd</sup>. And as I looked about
the sitting room on Christmas Day, it was clear to myself and others someone was missing. But before
the melancholy struck we pulled out some pictures – and there they were – the
memories of a Christmas that felt like yesterday. That joyous Christmas when we
were all together, when we were all happy, and when we were all healthy and
walking somewhere upon this earth. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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When I think of
my happiest Christmas memory I think of Christmas 1992. It is always the one
that comes to mind. And it will live in my memory forever.<o:p></o:p></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Maggie Devinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08201232103032451404noreply@blogger.com141225 Burrard St, Vancouver, BC V6Z 1Z5, Canada49.278864616337735 -123.1297659873962449.277569616337736 -123.13223348739623 49.280159616337734 -123.12729848739625tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1602986908640745392.post-69241192537566005342012-10-23T17:31:00.000-07:002012-12-04T07:49:19.404-08:00HALLOWEEN BLOG HOP with Still Moments Publishing....<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4LD2Vx_-55KrbtJIBEMmcinJDGjN8a_8mqENhi5gxHfHoMpvqmgDKJASztzywdfjCyAjWXpQPttbJvPBoe1ZwFXd6oH4AMDu7wu8EEzAF-K8Wl-dtoPjWkcMfvHZo-PsGl_20PZnHm5U/s1600/Halloween+2005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4LD2Vx_-55KrbtJIBEMmcinJDGjN8a_8mqENhi5gxHfHoMpvqmgDKJASztzywdfjCyAjWXpQPttbJvPBoe1ZwFXd6oH4AMDu7wu8EEzAF-K8Wl-dtoPjWkcMfvHZo-PsGl_20PZnHm5U/s640/Halloween+2005.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
Recently I was asked by Still Moments Publishing to come up
with a scary Halloween story so I gave it some thought. It is meant to be a
true story if at all possible so when I was having tea with my friend
Bernadette one afternoon a couple of weeks ago, I asked her if she had any
scary stories I might be able to pilfer.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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I picked a good day to go pilfering.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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No sooner had I asked the question than we heard footsteps
in her hallway, but seeing as we were the only two home at the time, naturally
our ears pricked up. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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You have to understand, Bernadette’s house it is well over
7,500 square feet and one-hundred and five years old and there is a lot of wood
– wood floors, wood paneling, wooden shaker roof at one time – so one would
expect things to go creak in the night, and the day as chance would have it. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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On this particular day just before we sat down, we had been
searching the house high and low for her son’s blue and green striped blanket.
We tore the playroom apart and looked in all the usual nooks and crannies, and
we even looked in his sister’s easy-bake oven in case he decided to make, <b><i>blanquette
de veau</i></b>, but we found nothing. We went on to search the rest of the
house, but it was gone. Dash (name changed to protect the innocent) would be
dashed when he came home from pre-school to find his blanket still MIA. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Bernadette and I reconvened at her kitchen table to re-trace
Dash’s steps in the last forty-eight hours when, as I was brining my teacup to
my lips we heard the above noted, creak-creak-creak-pad-pad-pad. The mysterious
footsteps had walked down the hall and gone up the stairs and I could now hear
them travel across the floor above my head as they went into Michael’s room.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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“Is Rico home?”<o:p></o:p></div>
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“No,” said Bernadette. “He’s out of town at a conference.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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“Sarah?”<o:p></o:p></div>
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“No,” she said again. “The Nanny is sick today which is why
Dash is at pre-school.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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“Michael and Wendy?” (Bernadette has two stepchildren)<o:p></o:p></div>
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“No, they are with their mum this week.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Bernadette was looking heavenward with me. She too appeared
to be listening to where the footsteps were going to go next. Then the door
slammed.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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We looked at each other and I raised a questioning eyebrow. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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“Well if no one is home, who was that?”<o:p></o:p></div>
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“Our ghost,” she replied as calmly as if she had just said
it was one of the children.<o:p></o:p></div>
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“You have a ghost? Since when?”<o:p></o:p></div>
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“Probably since we moved in.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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“Do I know about this?” I asked, thinking I may have tuned
out on a prior conversation we may have had.<o:p></o:p></div>
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“No, probably not. We have only recently acknowledged the
fact that it lives with us.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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I was not really surprised at this news. I had often wondered
about Bernadette’s house but how do you ask a friend without raising an alarm, <i>‘have you noticed anything unusual going
bump in the night since you’ve moved in?’</i> The movie, <i>The Walls Have Eyes</i> comes to mind when I walk into Bernadette’s
house, but not in the scary, horror movie way that Hollywood likes to portray.
Bernadette’s ghost seems to be rather friendly and it clearly has a sense of
humour – or a sense of <b><i>‘I feel like annoying you, so I am going to
hide your shoes on you…wait, maybe I will only hide one of your shoes…!’</i></b><i> </i>and my favourite on this particular
day,<i> <b>‘I
really want to make that little boy cry, so I am going to hide his blanket! Ha
Ha! Made you cry and made you two go on a fruitless quest!!’ </b></i><o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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So this is what we talked about for the next half hour.
Bernadette told me about all the things the ghost would hide from shoes, to
clothing, to homework. Yes, even the children’s homework is not off limits for
this ghost. The ghost even hides diapers and this lead to us discussing an
incident that happened not long after they moved in. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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When Dash was about one, Bernadette and I could hear her
husband Rico upstairs asking us where we had put the diapers. We had been to
Costco and we dumped the box in the middle of Dash’s room. When we stomped up
three flights of stairs to point out the obvious, we noticed the box was gone.
The odd thing was, no one had been upstairs.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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I will never forget Bernadette’s astonishment when she said,
“I swear, they were right there. We just went to Costco, how on earth could such
a massive box of diapers just disappear into thin air?” <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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At the time we hadn’t thought anything of it. I assumed Dash
had probably slid them off somewhere, perhaps pushed them into the closet while
he was hanging on to them as he tried to stand. It never occurred to me that a
one year old child would not have the body mass or muscle to move such a heavy
object. Seeing, as the box was nowhere to be found, Rico was sent on a diaper
run to London Drugs, along with instructions to bring home some chocolate. When
Rico returned he handed us our oversized Cadbury bar and went back upstairs to
change Dash only to return a short time later shaking his head at us. He smiled
and said:<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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“You two are unbelievable. You could have just asked me to
go out on a chocolate run, you didn’t have to disguise it as a diaper run.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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We looked at him as if he had two heads. “Huh?” we asked in
unison. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Rico informed us the big box of diapers that had disappeared,
was now sitting in the middle of the carpet in the middle of the room – right
where we had <i>said</i> we left it. He
laughed at us and made some noise about women and chocolate and
how <b><i>‘they
will do anything for it’. </i></b>He seriously thought we were messing with him back then.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Fast-forward a few years to a couple of weeks ago and the
case of the missing blanket. It was the first time we discussed Bernadette’s
ghost, and after re-visiting the diaper story and a few more strange happenings,
I agreed. It was the only explanation for all of the odd things that
disappeared in the house, only to magically reappear again a few days later. <o:p></o:p></div>
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“Well then,” I said. “Now that I know you have a ghost, I’ll
get your blanket back.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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“Really?” Bernadette asked hopefully. “How?”<o:p></o:p></div>
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“I’ll show you.” I took a sip of my tea and looked up to the
ceiling to where the ghost had just passed by and said, “Hello? Hi. Yes, you,
ghosty-ghost. We really need to get that blanket back so if you wouldn’t mind
putting it back where you found it, we would really appreciate it.” I looked at Bernadette and nodded. “There you
go.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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“<i>There I go</i> what?
Where is it?”<o:p></o:p></div>
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“I don’t know, but I am sure it is exactly where Dash said
he left it.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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“He said he left it in the easy-bake oven, but we checked
there - twice. You even had a look in there as well.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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“We’ll just have to see if it resurfaces then. Have you
never just asked the ghost for the things it takes?”<o:p></o:p></div>
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“No.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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“This will be a real test of faith then, won’t it? And
you’ll know if your ghost is helpful.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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Bernadette was now looking at <i>me</i> like I had two heads. I
just smiled and kept sipping my tea.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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We went on to chat about other things, forgetting about the
ghost for a while, but then it came time for me to leave. But before I went I
said to Bernadette, “Let’s just go have one more look in the playroom.” <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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So we went downstairs to the playroom, and knelt down in
front of the easy-bake oven. I looked at Bernadette, she looked at me, and I
told her she could do the honors. She leaned in, grasped the handle and opened
the door. The two of us nearly jumped out of our skin and we actually screamed
but then started to laugh. There it was. Dash’s blue and green striped,
chenille blanket, tucked away in the easy-bake oven as if it had been there the
whole time. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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“Seriously!” cried Bernadette. “What the #&%!? I swear,
it was not in there! And I looked three times!”<o:p></o:p></div>
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“I know, I was there, I saw you,” I confirmed. “But this
proves all you have to do is ask next time something goes missing – and <i>ye-shall-receive</i>.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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“I can’t believe it….”<br />
“Neither can I, but there it is.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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“That is just crazy,” Bernadette said as she pulled the
blanket out.<o:p></o:p></div>
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“Yup,” I agreed. “And kind of creepy, but also kind of
cool.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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TRUE STORY<o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
AND - Still Moments is giving away three grand prizes. Just leave a comment below and you'll be entered into a drawing for a beautiful handmade piece of jewellery and one of the books published by Still Moments. Three lucky winners will be selected from ALL the comments left on ALL the blogs in the hop. Please be sure to leave your email address in your comment below, so we will know how to contact you if you win! And have a look at the other participants in Still Moments Halloween Blog Hop listed below:<br />
<br />
October 22, 2012<br />
Terri Rochenski -<a href="http://www.terrirochenski.blogspot.com/">http://www.terrirochenski.blogspot.com/</a><br />
Jennifer Eaton - <a href="http://www.jennifermeaton.com/">http://www.jennifermeaton.com/</a><br />
Ceri Hebert -<a href="http://cerihebert.wordpress.com/" target="_blank"> http://cerihebert.wordpress.com/</a><br />
<br />
October 23, 2012<br />
Liv Rancourt - <a href="http://www.livrancourt.com/">http://www.livrancourt.com</a><br />
Denise Moncrief - <a href="http://denisemoncrief.blogspot.com/">http://denisemoncrief.blogspot.com/</a><br />
Dani-Lyn Alexander -<a href="http://www.danilynalexander.com/blog.html">http://www.danilynalexander.com/blog.html</a><br />
<br />
October 24, 2012<br />
Mackenzie Crowne - <a href="http://mackenziecrowne.com/">http://mackenziecrowne.com/</a><br />
Maggie Devine -<a href="http://maggiedevine.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"> http://maggiedevine.blogspot.com/</a><br />
Liberty Blake - <a href="http://libertysspells.blogspot.com/">http://libertysspells.blogspot.com/</a><br />
<br />
October 25, 2012<br />
Darlene Henderson -<a href="http://dandwh.wordpress.com/" target="_blank"> http://dandwh.wordpress.com/</a><br />
Em Epe - <a href="http://www.emeperomances.blogspot.com/">http://www.emeperomances.blogspot.com/</a><br />
Clara Waibel - <a href="http://www.pomadness.blogspot.com/">http://www.pomadness.blogspot.com/</a><br />
<br />
Thanks for stopping by.<br />
<br />
Maggie<br />
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<h2>
<o:p> </o:p></h2>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px; font-family: 'Book Antiqua';"><br /></span></div>
Maggie Devinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08201232103032451404noreply@blogger.com101707-3637 Angus Dr, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada49.253856933627574 -123.1439495086669949.248674933627576 -123.153820008667 49.259038933627572 -123.13407900866699tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1602986908640745392.post-35180893476015051882012-10-18T21:38:00.002-07:002012-10-23T21:45:23.444-07:00OH THE AGONY OF EDITS: My poor aching hands - and my manuscript was finished<h2 style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #b4a7d6;">TOP 28 Finalist in</span></h2>
<h2 style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #b4a7d6;"><b>HARLEQUIN's SYTYCW CONTEST 2012 </b></span></h2>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
I guess the truth is, I never thought I would make the cut, and to say it was <i><b>a bit of a shock</b></i> is an understatement. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
I practically fell out of my chair on Monday morning when I opened my e-mail and saw a message with <b style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><i>Congratulations</i></b> in the subject line.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
My first thought was, <i><b>wow, I won a free book! </b></i>ha ha. So I opened the e-mail and much to my delight and surprise, there it was. My first official contest letter telling me congratulations and that I had made the cut! It even had and official, <b style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><i>Dear Carolyn, </i></b>(oops, so much for the pseudonym - and I thought I was being so mysterious) letter, which made it even more personal. The letter went on to say, Francesca My Love had been selected as one of the top 28 finalists in the So You Think You Can Write contest for 2012.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
That is about as far as I got when I picked up the phone in one hand and tweeted/texted/e-mailed in the other. I still don't think I have read the whole letter because every time I pick it up my eyes only manage to get as far at the first sentence - which I have memorised now. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
October 15 will never be quite the same for me again. There are times in all of our lives when things happen and somehow the dates get seared upon your soul. October 15 will be added to the handful of dates that already reside there.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><u>Fast-Forward Four Days:</u></b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Today, after four days of madly editing my manuscript I sent my baby off into cyberspace with a tear in my eye and a song in my hear....and an hour to spare. I thought I was alone in taking it out to the eleventh hour, but according to a few of my fellow top 28er's who are Tweeting away, I am in good company. One of them only left herself 8 minutes! Another in the crew wrote 25,000 words in the last 48 hours - well done Bridgette!! So I am sure that it is not only my hands that are achy today. And having had to edit 85,000 words in three days was certainly a test of my endurance.<br />
<br />
I am not kidding myself, thinking what I sent in is perfect. I am sure I missed a lot of 'things', in fact I <b><i>know</i></b> I missed a lot of things. I am sure when my manuscript is read many will find some major errors and a lot of what our primary school teachers used to refer to as, 'stupid mistakes'. Let's look at that term - stupid mistakes.....Hmmm, here are some of the really choice ones I caught myself in:<br />
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b>grown vs. groan</b> - I mean seriously, how did I get that one wrong? I blame the automatic spell check/change thingy my computer has built into it.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><br /></b>
<b>breeches vs. breaches</b> - one is pants which I wear when I ride horses, and one is what the orcas do out here on the west coast...as in, when I am riding by the ocean on a horse wearing my breeches and see a pod of orca's swimming by, breaching and frolicking about in the water.... </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><br /></b>
<b>definately - defiantly -</b> <b>definitely</b> - why can I never spell this word? definitely. <br />
<br />
See, I clearly know what I am talking about on all counts so is it the spell check? Is it the "I am sooooo tired...." excuse? Am I just plain lazy? Or am I thinking faster than I can type? <br />
<br />
I also had a slip of the hand at 2 AM Thursday morning. I did a search for the word "led" because for some reason my spell check (pesky spell check excuse again) changed my 'lead' to led. So, in my infinite wisdom, I decided to change all "led"s to "lead"......and I was meant to go, one by one, but I accidentally clicked the wrong little box - I really should have put on my glasses, it was late after all. You can guess what happened next. My computer went ahead and did its thing, and when it finished, a little box flashed up on the screen, proudly announcing, <i>"Number of words <b>automatically</b> changed - 700"</i> I looked at it with blurry eyes and thought, <i>'...hmmm, 700 words. Wait, 700 words? </i><b><i>700 word!!! OMG, WHAT DOES IT MEAN, 700 WORDS??!!! THERE SHOULD ONLY BE 20 OF THEM!!!'</i> </b>And as an FYI to all of you, the UNDO command does not work in this situation. Flip, this was a disaster.....<br />
<br />
<b><i>fled</i></b> became <i><b>flead</b></i><br />
<i><b>ledge</b></i> became <b><i>leadge</i></b><br />
<b style="font-style: italic;">pledge </b>became<i> <b>pleadge</b> </i><br />
<br />
....and all I could think was, HOLY S#@T!!! Did that just happen? OMG! NOOOOOOOO! IT'S 2 IN THE MORNING, I AM TIRED, I NEED SLEEP!!!<br />
<br />
Yup, I only had 12 hours left and I needed some sleep so I went to bed and got up at 5 AM to fix it. Which is why, I know there are going to be some major faux pas in there and I began to wonder if I had just shot my own dream out of the air. I will almost guarantee that if I open any page on my manuscript right now, I will be able to find something wrong. Hey, just for giggles, let's try it!<br />
<br />
I've just opened my manuscript to page 237 (and you will be able to check this when it gets posted on-line shortly).....I'll be back after I read it.....stay tuned...<br />
<br />
Okay, so maybe page 237 is not a good example, but I am sure there are major errors in there somewhere - I still can't find the 'pleadge', and I'm not talking about the wood polish. So, if any of you find something that 'screams' at you, feel free to let me know. Fresh eyes are much better than those that have fallen upon the 83,326 words numerous times. I was up to 86,978 at one point, but I do have a tendency to ramble so slashed and burned as much as I could. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
And finally, the last dismal thought as I am running through Francesca My Love one last time, the inevitable questions arise - is my pacing right? Do I have enough conflict? Do I have enough happy? Is this masterpiece actually interesting enough that someone might just want to buy it? Or am I flattering myself? Naaaaa, it's all good, I think...<br />
<br />
I turned back to the SYTYCW site and had a look at the residual tweets that were still chirping around. I feel anxiety for those TWEETING who are still waiting to hear back, hoping for a call, because if I know anything, I know all about rejection, my heart goes out to them. My only advice, 'keep going' because eventually you will get somewhere. And rejection gets easier the more you experience it. I of all people know this, and I promise you, it hurts a lot less as you go along. It is also good because then people tell you what your problem is (manuscript not you personally) and you can choose to learn from the critiques, or fob them off as, 'they have no idea of what they are talking about'. And remember, you are both right.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
That's it. So with two really sore hands (and forearms) from all the typing I did in the last four days, I am off to bed. A BIG THANK YOU to Harlequin for running this contest and providing me with this opportunity. It feels good. Real good.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Maggie</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
Maggie Devinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08201232103032451404noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1602986908640745392.post-26815746833792366112012-10-16T09:30:00.000-07:002012-10-23T21:40:44.422-07:00My manuscript, Francesca My Love lands in the TOP 28 out of over 700 entries in Harlequin's So You Think You Can Write Contest<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px; font-family: 'Book Antiqua';"></span><br />
<div>
WE MADE IT!! </div>
<div>
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Out of almost 800 entries, my manuscript <b>"Francesca My Love" </b>was selected to be one of the 28 finalists in <b>HARLEQUIN's</b> <b>So You Think You Can Write Contest 2012</b>. </div>
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I just wanted to take the time to say a <b>BIG THANK YOU</b> to everyone who supported me with votes, the passing on of my link and some really kind word and comments. </div>
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As well, thank you for allowing me to e-mail each and every one of you who were on my list, I think you are all absolutely brilliant and I know I got into the top 28 because of you.</div>
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As an FYI - in the next step, the Harlequin/Mills & Boon editors will be reading all 28 manuscripts and on/around November 5th, they will contact the top 3 finalists who will move on to a second round of public voting - I will let you know if it comes to that.<br />
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They will also be featuring my 'entire' manuscript (I think it will be on in its entirety) on the site during their review phase if you'd like to have a look. BUT, please note, it is a rough draft and edited to the best of my abilities. I have 4 days to try to tweeze out any pacing issues, grammatical errors, spelling errors, etc. so don't hold it against me when you find something.....it's going to be really difficult to get through 85,000 words with a fine tooth come - let me tell you.</div>
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Once again, you can't begin to know what your support has meant to me during this process.</div>
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Maggie</div>
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<a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_185168943"><br /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.soyouthinkyoucanwrite.com/manuscripts-sytycw-2012/francesca-my-love/">http://www.soyouthinkyoucanwrite.com/manuscripts-sytycw-2012/francesca-my-love/</a></div>
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Maggie Devinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08201232103032451404noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1602986908640745392.post-83731519303063021372012-10-09T09:05:00.001-07:002012-10-23T21:41:34.529-07:00HARLEQUIN "So You Think You Can Write" Contest UPDATE (ONLY 3 MORE DAYS):<span style="color: #741b47; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, Palatino Linotype, Palatino, serif; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #b4a7d6; line-height: 22px;">VOTE REMINDER for TUESDAY - ONLY 3 MORE DAYS!!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, Palatino Linotype, Palatino, serif; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #b4a7d6; line-height: 22px;">HARLEQUIN "So You Think You Can Write" Contest UPDATE:</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, Palatino Linotype, Palatino, serif; font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 22px;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_898130318"><br /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, Palatino Linotype, Palatino, serif; font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 22px;"><a href="http://www.soyouthinkyoucanwrite.com/manuscripts/francesca-my-love/">http://www.soyouthinkyoucanwrite.com/manuscripts/francesca-my-love/</a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, Palatino Linotype, Palatino, serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 22px;">As I sit here and make the mad dash to the finish line, begging everyone I know for a vote or 12 per day (one vote per device per day - Andrea & Brett have 12 in their home) I wonder about how many votes I actually have.... To my knowledge, there is no tally board nor do they inform us when all is said and done.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, Palatino Linotype, Palatino, serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 22px;">So, with that in mind, if you are reading this, please hit the link below and vote today! They are taking three wild card entries, but I was also informed via TWITTER they are keeping their eyes open for others that they will be contacting at a later date.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, Palatino Linotype, Palatino, serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 22px;">Fingers crossed...</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, Palatino Linotype, Palatino, serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 22px;">Maggie</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, Palatino Linotype, Palatino, serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 22px;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, Palatino Linotype, Palatino, serif; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #b4a7d6; line-height: 22px;">Francesca My Love</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, Palatino Linotype, Palatino, serif; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #b4a7d6; line-height: 22px;">Harlequin® Historical (Mills & Boon Historical Romance)</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, Palatino Linotype, Palatino, serif; font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 22px;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, Palatino Linotype, Palatino, serif; font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 22px;"><a href="http://www.soyouthinkyoucanwrite.com/manuscripts/francesca-my-love/">http://www.soyouthinkyoucanwrite.com/manuscripts/francesca-my-love/</a></span></span></div>
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Maggie Devinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08201232103032451404noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1602986908640745392.post-1113591135978788222012-10-05T14:55:00.001-07:002012-10-23T21:41:59.752-07:00VOTE REMINDER for FRIDAY - ONLY 6 MORE DAYS!!<span style="color: #741b47;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
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<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-size: large;">HARLEQUIN "So You Think You Can Write" Contest UPDATE:</span><br />
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<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: inherit; font-size: 28px; font-weight: normal;">Francesca My Love</span></h3>
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<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: inherit; font-size: large; font-weight: normal;">Harlequin® Historical (Mills & Boon Historical Romance)</span></h3>
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<a href="http://www.soyouthinkyoucanwrite.com/manuscripts/francesca-my-love/"><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-size: x-large;">http://www.soyouthinkyoucanwrite.com/manuscripts/francesca-my-love/</span></a></div>
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Hello Friends,</div>
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Thanks for the support thus far. I am not sure how many votes I have behind the scenes but according you all of you, I think it is growing. </div>
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The FB LIKES on the Harlequin website is also growing - I truly appreciate the support you are giving me in this contest, and I promise, it is only for 6 more days. SO.....</div>
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If you could please keep voting for my entry once per day per device that would be great. They do impose an exact 24 hour time period on each IP Address if you are wondering why you could see the big red button yesterday and not today.</div>
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AND - Please press the LIKE button for FB via the 'so you think you can write...' website too. I can gather some extra votes there as well.</div>
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And please feel free to Re-TWEET on TWITTER if you TWEET - there is also a button on the Harlequin site to do this. I can be found at @Maggie_Devine_ on TWITTER.</div>
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Thanks everyone.</div>
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Now I must run as I am in the middle of editing my manuscript - which is finished - in case I make it into the<span style="font-size: large;"> top 25...</span></div>
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Maggie</div>
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xoxo</div>
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<br />Maggie Devinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08201232103032451404noreply@blogger.com0SB Burrard St FS Burnaby St, Vancouver, BC V6E, Canada49.278332669948995 -123.1306457519531249.267973669948994 -123.15038675195312 49.288691669948996 -123.11090475195313tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1602986908640745392.post-17249283653444085222012-09-29T03:40:00.000-07:002012-10-23T21:43:13.355-07:00HARLEQUIN's SYTYCW !!<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span style="color: #b4a7d6; font-family: inherit; font-size: large; font-weight: normal;">Submit Your First Chapter and 100-Word Pitch</span></h3>
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<span style="color: #b4a7d6; font-family: inherit; font-size: 28px; font-weight: normal;">Francesca My Love</span></h3>
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<span style="color: #b4a7d6; font-family: inherit; font-size: large; font-weight: normal;">Harlequin® Historical (Mills & Boon Historical Romance)</span></h3>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4xBS3Vw103_svGDuBOAnJh_AK4HuMuGwLEacht-R9De8axZRefqxUYyGEZkq28iENpNKE3xcNhk16tx3GW0zabQgu9QcMCIM6KkSQ7ihY8xpwVV_2BuSoiSZHT5gUjyarmYLW87O3rdw/s1600/IMGP3771.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4xBS3Vw103_svGDuBOAnJh_AK4HuMuGwLEacht-R9De8axZRefqxUYyGEZkq28iENpNKE3xcNhk16tx3GW0zabQgu9QcMCIM6KkSQ7ihY8xpwVV_2BuSoiSZHT5gUjyarmYLW87O3rdw/s400/IMGP3771.JPG" width="300" /></a>The interesting thing about this contest is that I does not allow you to use your PSEUDONYM, so, above you will notice the name of the story I wrote and its genre. I was up until three-forty AM this morning because it was getting close to the wire and I wasn't sure which time zone they were working with. I am sure if I had dug around I could have found it but here we are - I am officially submitted. </div>
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This manuscript is completed but it does need some serious editing - that is the next step in the process. I have until October 21st to review and revise so I am anticipating a very busy few weeks.</div>
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Please see below for the link that will get you to the contest site, and if you could please vote for my story, I need to be in the top 25 to get this manuscript in front of Harlequin. Voting starts on October 2nd and runs until the 11th and you are allowed one vote daily.</div>
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<span style="font-size: 20.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><a href="http://www.soyouthinkyoucanwrite.com/manuscripts/francesca-my-love/"><span style="color: #b4a7d6;">http://www.soyouthinkyoucanwrite.com/manuscripts/francesca-my-love/</span><o:p></o:p></a></span></div>
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Last year I didn't do so well because I had no idea I was
meant to be "SELF-PROMOTING".
So, If you could please LIKE me via the above noted link on FaceBook while we wait for the POLLS TO OPEN, that would be
great.<o:p></o:p></div>
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This manuscript I have submitted in set in Regency England
so it is a HISTORICAL ROMANCE.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Thanks in advance for your help in the self-promotion of this manuscript, I really appreciate it.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Maggie<o:p></o:p></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Maggie Devinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08201232103032451404noreply@blogger.com0233 Broadway #1001, New York, NY 10038, USA40.7123159 -74.008015340.7108114 -74.010482799999991 40.7138204 -74.0055478tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1602986908640745392.post-49797171355434718802012-09-14T09:28:00.002-07:002012-10-23T21:43:49.801-07:00Friday Flirt Excerpt Day with Mistletoe Accomplished by Maggie Devine<div style="text-align: justify;">
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Today at The Author's Den, come see the Friday Flirt Excerpt Day with from the story MISTLETOE ACCOMPLISHED by Maggie Devine at the following Link:</div>
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<a href="http://stillmomentspub.blogspot.ca/2012/09/friday-flirt-excerpt-day_14.html"><span style="color: #b4a7d6;">http://stillmomentspub.blogspot.ca/2012/09/friday-flirt-excerpt-day_14.html</span></a></div>
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I loved writing this story! There is something about winter with its short days and long nights that I find magical, especially around Christmas with the added romance of twinkling decorations and glowing lights. When I was young, my parents would take me and my brothers to Vermont skiing at March break and that is where I realised how much I love quaint small towns, especially those hidden away in the mountains of Vermont. We would make the journey by car and it never seemed long at all, there was always so much to look at. With every town we drove through my imagination soared, and for the week that we were there, I felt as if I was in heaven. I love Vermont, so what better place to set up this story than in one of my favourite American states, and at my favourite time of year, Christmastime.</div>
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I hope you like it.</div>
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Maggie</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGnVsEfB02ip0VB5wBd8fE_LmZ2qcpK3P-54rjBDg19Oj58E6eARQ7xRN8ZzABSGcHLTLGT0K0fnuH_oZeIE0LcGD3D0yOpt6ceZhEGEia-yLhFfklC5qAxH4vKmWJDpYU5Wu_Xmzb_Cg/s1600/Mistletoe+Accomplished.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGnVsEfB02ip0VB5wBd8fE_LmZ2qcpK3P-54rjBDg19Oj58E6eARQ7xRN8ZzABSGcHLTLGT0K0fnuH_oZeIE0LcGD3D0yOpt6ceZhEGEia-yLhFfklC5qAxH4vKmWJDpYU5Wu_Xmzb_Cg/s400/Mistletoe+Accomplished.jpg" width="307" /></a></div>
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<br />Maggie Devinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08201232103032451404noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1602986908640745392.post-44695944478885780412012-09-10T23:54:00.002-07:002012-10-23T21:44:06.692-07:00All About HEROES With Maggie Devine - Where do they really come from....?<div style="text-align: justify;">
Today is another big day for me. I was recently interviewed by Denise Moncrief, another well respected author out in the world, doing what she was born to do. Her questions (see link below) were interesting and something I had not given much thought to until she posed them in early August. Because I had not paid much attention to exactly where my men materialised from (I assumed they were merely figments of my imagination), it took a while to come up with the answers and it got me thinking, <b><span style="font-size: large;"><i>where do they really come from? </i></span></b></div>
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Are my heroes men <b><i>I</i></b> secretly desire to get to know better? This is an easy answer - no. Not one of my Heroes fall into this category of unrequited love on my part. I can honestly say, there is no one in the world at this very moment that I feel remotely interested in, which is a happy thought indeed because it gives me something to look forward to! I look forward to finally connecting with 'him'.</div>
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Are my Heroes men from my past who are (hopefully) inconspicuously disguised as Heroes in my books? My original answer to this was also "No, there is no one from my past that is playing the role of Hero in any of my book(s)..." or at least, nobody who makes an appearance <b><i>'</i><i>in full'</i></b>. There are certain aspects from some of the really great men I have dated along the way, but none appear <i><b>'in whole'</b></i> as any of my Heroes. If I were to tease out characteristics of them individually, I could say "yes, that one is like CT because he's sporty without arrogance, and that one is like CS because of his philanthropic ways, and that sexy voice <i><b>definitely</b></i> belongs to MVdW...sigh... These were very important men from my past who have, in essence, given shape to <i><b>certain</b></i> Heroes within my books, but none of my Heroes are completely based on any of them as none are real. And any similarities to the above mentioned are embellished/changed/and mostly a figment of my imagination of what the perfect man would need to be for my Heroine - I always give her the man she needs to help her carry on in life, in a manner to which she deserves. </div>
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But what about the sub-characters, such as the the good-for-nothing men from my Heroine's past who show up to rock the proverbial boat every now and then, and the ne'er-do-well women who take great pleasure in their attempts to move in on my Hero so as to get in the way of my Heroine's happy ending? Who are these people? Upon on deeper reflection a few more new thoughts occurred to me. I know we are suppose to be talking about my Heroes, but what of the villainous mongrel(s) and the shrewish floozy(s) whom inevitably make an appearance and ultimately FAIL in their vain attempts to ruin my Heroine's life for their own selfish and disingenuous reasons...who are they? I will say this - I may never have known you personally, and we may never have met, but I am glad you came into my life when you did and were there to stop me from making a colossal mistake....so thank you. I can honestly say I truly appreciate all of the good things that you have helped bring to my life through your act of kindness, so may God bless you. You educated me and made me a wiser person. AND I now have a clear idea of what a true 'slapper' really is which has assisted me in my portrayal of certain character flaws in my antagonists. </div>
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What would I have done without you? All of you, the good, the bad, and the ugly.</div>
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God Bless</div>
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xoxo</div>
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Maggie</div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="http://denisemoncrief.blogspot.ca/2012/09/all-about-heroes-with-maggie-devine.html">http://denisemoncrief.blogspot.ca/2012/09/all-about-heroes-with-maggie-devine.html</a></div>
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Denise Moncrief can be found at the following links:</div>
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<a href="http://www.denisemoncrief.blogspot.com/">www.denisemoncrief.blogspot.com</a></div>
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<a href="https://twitter.com/dmoncrief0131">https://twitter.com/dmoncrief0131</a></div>
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<a href="http://www.facebook.com/DeniseMoncriefAuthor">www.facebook.com/DeniseMoncriefAuthor</a></div>
Maggie Devinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08201232103032451404noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1602986908640745392.post-44207440373767654862012-08-25T00:00:00.000-07:002012-09-04T12:51:59.972-07:00MANATEE KEY - Released today in LOVE's A BEACH<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuZFr-Dy9OBkVKGLOovaQTT0KV5nJQYOWVJonUZiWECuHfk8H0_rGorrBQ9hchJbR8x4gFu_tvJFhyCZoPYV95DRBo_eLhNzRxmvrnwM6yu35lchrnU62zN9SWrgoixtqI7JnLdlNa_6k/s1600/Love's+A+Beach.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuZFr-Dy9OBkVKGLOovaQTT0KV5nJQYOWVJonUZiWECuHfk8H0_rGorrBQ9hchJbR8x4gFu_tvJFhyCZoPYV95DRBo_eLhNzRxmvrnwM6yu35lchrnU62zN9SWrgoixtqI7JnLdlNa_6k/s640/Love's+A+Beach.jpg" width="492" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Released today, the latest short story by Maggie Devine entitled MANATEE KEY. You can find this short story int he compilation book, LOVE's A BEACH by Still Moment's Publishing.</div>
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
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<i style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">MANATEE KEY</span></i></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>All she has to do is deliver a couple of jet skis and leave, but when Jade McIvor comes face to face with ex-Navy seal, Bryce Adams, his surprise appearance sends her off balance and into a sea of trouble.</i></span></div>
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I am very excited to announce my latest short story which is being published today. Below I have noted the purchase links for your convenience:<br />
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Still Moments Publishing:<br />
<a href="http://www.stillmomentspublishing.com/p/ebook-store.html">http://www.stillmomentspublishing.com/p/ebook-store.html</a><br />
<br />
Link to Love's A Beach on Amazon:<br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B008UCL68A">http://www.amazon.com/dp/B008UCL68A</a><br />
<br />
Smashwords:<br />
<a href="https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/212732">https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/212732</a><br />
<br />
Link to Love's A Beach in SMP Library:<br />
<a href="http://www.stillmomentspublishing.com/2012/08/loves-beach.html">http://www.stillmomentspublishing.com/2012/08/loves-beach.html</a><br />
<br />
Link to Love's A Beach on Goodreads (for reviews): <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15798464-love-s-a-beach">http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15798464-love-s-a-beach</a><br />
<br />Maggie Devinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08201232103032451404noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1602986908640745392.post-20088612392144432532012-08-23T16:00:00.000-07:002012-09-04T12:36:21.008-07:00USA TODAY BOOKS - Interview with the Author's from Life's A Beach<br />
So much has happened over the summer it was very difficult to keep up. So, in the spirit of BLOGGING and in an attempt to "<i>catch up</i>" I will try to date stamp these in the order in which they happened (fingers crossed) as I am still relatively new to this BLOG thing...<br />
<br />
USA TODAY - BOOKS Interview:<br />
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USA TODAY BOOKS has an on-line section called 'happy ever after' and "Love's A Beach"has been reviewed. You can have a look at my interview at the following link:<br />
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<a href="http://books.usatoday.com/happyeverafter/post/2012-08-23/maggie-devine-em-epe-sandra-tilley-interview-loves-a-beach/829574/1">http://books.usatoday.com/happyeverafter/post/2012-08-23/maggie-devine-em-epe-sandra-tilley-interview-loves-a-beach/829574/1</a><br />
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<br />Maggie Devinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08201232103032451404noreply@blogger.com0McLean, VA, USA38.9338676 -77.177260438.8844616 -77.2562244 38.9832736 -77.0982964tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1602986908640745392.post-32526363849734834792012-08-21T07:00:00.000-07:002012-09-04T12:50:43.560-07:00To be RE-RELEASED this fall as a SINGLE SHORT!<div style="text-align: justify;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlaQrsN6D_N2v5D2TbS65GwxZUmq_EspPWeKWpxlHqtPmAOH_mSaoRDLVNdra4wlBxL3sLgwIX-5rz1rJw94u3ZBeIgOhBnQ6bC6-GtYrpC35p28x4_xa-7ZnX-lHZlboUHoZ07SLjkIc/s1600/Mistletoe+Accomplished.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: justify;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlaQrsN6D_N2v5D2TbS65GwxZUmq_EspPWeKWpxlHqtPmAOH_mSaoRDLVNdra4wlBxL3sLgwIX-5rz1rJw94u3ZBeIgOhBnQ6bC6-GtYrpC35p28x4_xa-7ZnX-lHZlboUHoZ07SLjkIc/s400/Mistletoe+Accomplished.jpg" width="308" /></a><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
I received great news today, this Fall, "MISTLETOE ACCOMPLISHED" will be re-released as a single short. This was my first story ever published and is therefore, very dear to my heart.</div>
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Please keep your eyes open for it!</div>
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<br /></div>
<a href="http://www.stillmomentspublishing.com/2012/08/mistletoe-accomplished-cover-reveal.html">http://www.stillmomentspublishing.com/2012/08/mistletoe-accomplished-cover-reveal.html</a><br />
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<br />Maggie Devinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08201232103032451404noreply@blogger.com0Halifax, NS, Canada44.6488625 -63.575319644.5584915 -63.7332481 44.7392335 -63.4173911tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1602986908640745392.post-7569768958957159872012-08-15T09:00:00.000-07:002012-09-04T12:12:54.153-07:00AMAZON Author's Page<div style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbaBKFPMNM-PaiKIKe7_Pp2TJP7WmV-redpuzCOe1uhRuF9KOyXM35Xm7BcxhV6bLKplEGvNKebPr_d6AiRgS7D58ca9rUv8RhgMpUAYIl2E4zYTemMEVvYRQBaXd1Sbvb6sNvcQmVz8Q/s1600/_DSC1371_2_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbaBKFPMNM-PaiKIKe7_Pp2TJP7WmV-redpuzCOe1uhRuF9KOyXM35Xm7BcxhV6bLKplEGvNKebPr_d6AiRgS7D58ca9rUv8RhgMpUAYIl2E4zYTemMEVvYRQBaXd1Sbvb6sNvcQmVz8Q/s320/_DSC1371_2_2.jpg" width="213" /></a>Upon the suggestion of my publishing friends and co-author's down at Still Moments, it was recommended that I post an Author's Page on Amazon. So here it is if anyone is interested in a quick link to my stories.</div>
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<a href="https://www.amazon.com/author/maggiedevine">https://www.amazon.com/author/maggiedevine</a>Maggie Devinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08201232103032451404noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1602986908640745392.post-49115672487366297982012-08-10T00:00:00.000-07:002012-09-14T10:34:54.381-07:00Friday Flirt Excerpt Day with MAGGIE DEVINE<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG23C0ppcOQFXLYPY_pOFCWTkkVEEU1vYfCBngw_FUs9MHMT-5InsVObxqAV-41IOrPEaVf9aKpsNGgurCXwZy947NfDUEF2eVxaW-M2Vp_RvkFRVAwcqxF42hzix80eVLFX-v4TuCy6U/s1600/moreknip+(2)_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="237" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG23C0ppcOQFXLYPY_pOFCWTkkVEEU1vYfCBngw_FUs9MHMT-5InsVObxqAV-41IOrPEaVf9aKpsNGgurCXwZy947NfDUEF2eVxaW-M2Vp_RvkFRVAwcqxF42hzix80eVLFX-v4TuCy6U/s640/moreknip+(2)_2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<br />
Today at The Author's Den, come see the "Friday Flirt Excerpt Day with MAGGIE DEVINE"<br />
at the following link:<br />
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_1436074983"><br /></a>
<a href="http://stillmomentspub.blogspot.ca/2012/08/friday-flirt-excerpt-day_10.html">http://stillmomentspub.blogspot.ca/2012/08/friday-flirt-excerpt-day_10.html</a><br />
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<div style="font-family: 'Franklin Gothic Book'; font-size: 10px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Painting Courtesy of </span><span style="font-family: Zapfino; font-size: 11px; letter-spacing: 0px;">Paul Jursa</span></div>
Maggie Devinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08201232103032451404noreply@blogger.com0Halifax, NS, Canada44.6488625 -63.575319644.5584915 -63.7332481 44.7392335 -63.4173911tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1602986908640745392.post-16229186786076567762012-06-23T11:10:00.000-07:002012-09-04T12:50:11.372-07:00Stepping Stones<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWovAMEvTixzvc_BJHrG9Teyj3wmkXdZhhyphenhyphen-he9ShWI4znxyCbabHEOgcZBalHqEgUQySwGEyRJAvTWioOJ7pw4NlUwP-9avNp0WjFLa3Zdr5EhigWTj9wzzto4T-6izw3UdcYLXfdyOk/s1600/IMG_0729.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWovAMEvTixzvc_BJHrG9Teyj3wmkXdZhhyphenhyphen-he9ShWI4znxyCbabHEOgcZBalHqEgUQySwGEyRJAvTWioOJ7pw4NlUwP-9avNp0WjFLa3Zdr5EhigWTj9wzzto4T-6izw3UdcYLXfdyOk/s1600/IMG_0729.JPG" /></a></div>
<h2>
Goal - Motivation - Conflict...I am sure all of those are 'perfectly clear' in my writing...</h2>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Hmmm, perhaps not, after talking to fellow RWA'r Marlene yesterday, prior to our latest writing sprint. <i>I know</i> what my Hero's issues are (his need of a bride), and <i>I know</i> what his motivation is (keep the family happy), <i>and naturally</i> the conflict is obvious (he doesn't particularly want a wife) - clear, no? Well I thought it was until I started reassessing what I had already written, and nowhere in the early chapters is any of this mentioned, nor is it even eluded to. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
How on earth will I get Valerie Gray at MIRA Books (Harlequin) to take my pulitzer-prize-contender and turn it into a bestseller if my Hero refuses to give up his thoughts? Is it my fault he is tight-lipped about things? Apparently it is, so this weekend's goal is to go back and see if I can't add in a scene or two to help my readers understand the inner workings of 'said' Hero's mind.</div>
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Speaking of SCENE's, last week at our RWA-GVC Meeting, we had Mary Buckham come in to present her "Break Into Fiction" workshop and engage us in, <i>power openings, hooks</i> and s<i>cene survival</i>. What I really found interesting was the breakdown of a scene. As a new writer, I have all the ignorance of being a novice on my side - I am like a twenty-year-old in the writing world. Up until now, I thought it was a fairly easy process when writing a book:</div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
STEP ONE: Think of a story</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
STEP TWO: Pull in a few character and give them a problem or two to overcome</div>
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STEP THREE: Throw in a happy ending with a bunch of filler in-between</div>
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Ah yes, I can see Ms. Gray now as she peruses my masterpiece and then chucks it into the bin in the bottom right hand corner of her desktop, and follows up by blocking my e-mail address.</div>
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Valerie, I have learned a few things that will help you finally love my writing:</div>
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A SCENE (this has three parts)</div>
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Conflict</div>
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Disaster or Complication</div>
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This is followed up by:</div>
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A SEQUEL (this too has three parts but is shorter than a scene)</div>
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Reaction</div>
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Dilemma</div>
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Decision</div>
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By clarifying motivation for my character, I thus clarify it for my reader.</div>
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All books have more than one scene, all scene's must have sequels.</div>
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Brilliant! </div>
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Duh....how had I missed something so basic yet so brilliant? When broken down like this, I know it seems fairly easy, but it has since taken me a week to figure out how to do this smoothly as I am not a planner, I am a pantser. A scene, which is longer than a sequel, needs to set up my story. The sequel is the outcome of the scene. I think its clear, but just in case I forget again as I am sidetracked by my Heroine's frustration with her Hero, I picked up "Scene & Structure" by Jack Bickham as recommended by Mary Buckham.</div>
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(hmmm, interesting how those two are separated by only a vowel)</div>
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Mary opened up and closed our workshop last week by telling all of us that as writers, we need to develop the craft of writing no matter where we are in our careers. And as I looked around me at my fellow RWA-GVCr's, many of them were nodding in agreement. </div>
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Writing is no different than learning to play an instrument, learning a new sport, or learning to paint - practise, practise, practise. Like anything else worth doing, the smart person realises that no matter how good you are, there is always room for improvement....and I am a wide open space.</div>
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http://www.rwagvc.com/</div>
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http://www.marybuckham.com/</div>
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Maggie Devinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08201232103032451404noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1602986908640745392.post-29098959253917737202012-06-13T10:50:00.001-07:002012-09-04T12:50:03.783-07:00Oh The Struggles...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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STRUGGLE ONE:</h2>
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So here it is, the latest book - a Regency Romance. I often wonder about the time required for the Hero and Heroine to get together. I feel duty bound to tell the reader why they are where they are in their lives, the reasons that have led them down a particular path. But alas, I was told that if they don't meet in the first chapter the chance of my reader continuing on is slim - and if not by the end of the second chapter the chance of 'said' reader continuing on is next to none.</div>
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So I removed over five thousand words last week and have tried to shove them in elsewhere along the way. Hmmm, somehow the flow seems off. In an attempt to seek others advice (again), I sent my first chapter off to one of my Beta Readers, Bernadette, and sat waiting for the verdict. The answer I received was interesting. She asked, why? Why is she where she is and he where he is and what happened to get them.....etc. Yes, finally, evidence. All of those words I so casually ripped from the heart of my story which answered many of the 'why' questions, had my reader guessing. It made her want to read on. </div>
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Lesson learned. </div>
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STRUGGLE TWO:</h2>
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That was not my only struggle last week. I had my first experience where my characters were not doing what I wanted them to do - how dare they!? So I went on my RWA loop to see if this was normal. I am new to this game so naturally when my Hero and Heroine started working against me, I got a little concerned to say the least. My favourite answer was from Nora Snowden, "...kill one of them off and show them who's boss!" Cute Nora, but not a solution. All I was after was an answer to whether or not this was normal - apparently it is. Many of my fellow writers said that often the story they start out writing, is not the story they end with. What is worse, sometimes the Hero turns into a weak-willed-Wally just as another appears on the horizon, riding in to save the day - or book in this instance. When discussing the issue with some non-writing friends, they looked at me as though I had two heads and I got, "Well, you're the one writing the story, surely you can control a couple of fictional characters....?" Can you control your children? HA! No! And these are my children...at the moment, and they don't do as they are told at times. </div>
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What I have discovered this week with writing - you just don't know what is going to happen sometimes. Just like life, you can plan as much as you want but often the universe takes over and changes things up. Your characters can have a mind of their own, and sometimes it is like 'herding cats', the idea is novel, but near impossible to accomplish. You just have to let them all go off in separate directions and hope they come together again along the way.</div>
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Maggie Devinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08201232103032451404noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1602986908640745392.post-26438104404106962942012-06-03T01:19:00.001-07:002012-09-04T12:49:55.083-07:00MANATEE KEY - Final Edits Approved<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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My editor approved my final edits for MANATEE KEY (the new title) and sent them off to my publisher. I will now wait for the content editor to get his/her hands on it and we will go from there.</div>
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My first week of unemployment has gone well. For those of you who don’t know me, I am in sales full time, or in this case, I ‘was’ in full time sales. I really like sales, but sadly was laid off eighteen months ago from a job I loved. I picked up a contract for a year with a different company, but that has just ended and now I find myself in the same situation as 18 months ago, minus the termination package...sigh...oh well, that leaves me a lot of time for writing so this is really a blessing in disguise.</div>
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I managed to clean up my office this week and got rid of excess paper and old work ‘things’ no longer relevant to me. I also finally got around to tidying up my apartment - what a nightmare Vancouver is. There is never enough space and unless you have lived here, you can’t really appreciate the desperation one feels when trying to put things away. The only sure thing about Vancouver is you certainly do throw a lot of stuff out. No one can possibly be a pack-rat in this city, there is just no room for that luxury.</div>
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I went to the Firehall Library on Thursday with four of my fellow RWA peeps and wrote for three hours, uninterrupted. It was nice to have company. As a writer you can get really isolated in your space so it was good to get out and connect with fellow writers. I will include Nora’s website below just so you know who I am hanging out with these days.</div>
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I flirted with some random man in the Library and I think it's worth noting, because in Vancouver, it rarely goes well...picture this...</div>
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I was getting a wet-wipe for my work surface from the librarian when an age appropriate and handsome man strolls in (wearing a suit and carrying a briefcase) and he looks at the bathroom keys for a moment, confused as to which to pick. I can’t help but look at him because in Vancouver, rarely does a handsome man actually smile and acknowledge you...he pipes up and says,</div>
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“A real man would know which key to pick”.</div>
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I laugh and smile coyly (Hey, I’m single and straight, and he is hot and not wearing a wedding ring, what else is a girl to do? I’m thinking I will use him in my next book, salt and pepper hair, a few lines around those honest, wholesome eyes that smile right back at you...you get the picture).</div>
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So he picks the correct key and I give him my best smile. I manage to catch his eye and he drops his bathroom key. Suddenly, the world stands still. Do I reach for it? No, of course not. The handsome guy without the wedding ring reaches down and picks it up and says aloud,</div>
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“A real man wouldn’t have dropped the key.”</div>
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I think for a minute because this is going to be a moment in time where I only have one shot and out of my mouth comes,</div>
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“No, I am sure you are a real man. I would like to think that I just threw you off.</div>
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His eyes are really smiling now and he is laughing...as is the librarian (x 2) and five other people who were in the vicinity on the computers, in line behind me, looking at the sale bin (my library has a sale bin of old books).</div>
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It was one of my more quick-witted moments and whoever he was, I know he is telling the same story to his friends and family, but perhaps with a different twist.</div>
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Maggie Devinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08201232103032451404noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1602986908640745392.post-54770299244183307912012-05-31T09:39:00.002-07:002012-09-04T12:49:41.052-07:00WRITING SPRINT<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Doing a writing sprint today with RWA colleague, Marlene. We will be starting at 10 AM and I am not sure how long it will go. It could go all day if I turn my sprint into a marathon. I may have to clean off my desk top first, I can't work in chaos. I have stuff everywhere from a recently finishing a contract I was in for a year, so, messy desk.</div>
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Being unemployed at the moment, I was able to finish off the first round of edits for "Manatee Key", a short story coming out with Still Moments Publishing in June/July. It's a fun short story about a girl called Jade McIvor who returns home to the Florida Keys and runs into her first crush. Look for it soon!</div>
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Must run and clear off desk top - my sprint starts in 21 minutes.</div>
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www.stillmomentspublishing.comMaggie Devinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08201232103032451404noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1602986908640745392.post-91901668035170922902012-05-21T11:59:00.001-07:002012-09-04T12:49:28.127-07:00My NEW BLOG<div style="text-align: justify;">
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It's another rainy day in Vancouver (just for a change) and I am meant to be writing - but instead I find myself drawn to this blog.</div>
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I am not going to go through the cookbook backgrounds, shades and colours that make up an attractive BLOG at the moment, as Friday will be the last day of my 'real' job.</div>
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I could blog everyday and bore you with the minute details of my life (i.e.: watered plants, cleaned under the sink, colour coded closet....etc) but no, I won't do that either.</div>
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I may post quotes - I love quotes as they say so much in so few words like these two by C.S. LEWIS:</div>
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"We are what we believe we are"</div>
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"Let's pray that the human race never escapes from Earth to spread its iniquity elsewhere."</div>
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So much in so few words...</div>
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MY WEEK IN REVIEW:</div>
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I managed to get a few thousand words down this week (not nearly enough in my mind). My "Push-To-Pro" group and I have been given the challenge of writing for 1/2 an hour every day and thus far things are going well. I have set Francesca up for her meeting with Anton in the City of London in the late 1790's so we are about to get into the nitty-gritty of the mess she has found herself in.</div>
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And so begins the fun part where my mind goes faster than my fingers - my typing is not keeping up with the story!</div>
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Terribly exciting stuff if you ask me.</div>
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Maggie Devinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08201232103032451404noreply@blogger.com0