tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14296640267334863832024-03-12T19:20:23.887-07:00Sasha Janel McBrayerWriter, Systems Analyst, Film Maven, Graphic Artist, Unofficial Protector of MankindStorybySashahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07264391447131553463noreply@blogger.comBlogger25125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1429664026733486383.post-57736859920094861292018-09-19T11:44:00.000-07:002018-09-19T11:44:03.852-07:00Storm Gusts<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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It has been entirely too long since I posted something. Perhaps I should say, "Hello," first. "Hello!" I'm Sasha and I'm an author of speculative fiction. The photo up above is not of me. Rather it is a photograph of 2018's hurricane Florence as seen from outer space. She's a behemoth alright and has caused catastrophic damage in the United States.I feel particularly empathetic for North Carolinians. Their streets are under water. Sinkholes abound. Structures have been demolished. It is hard to believe that I evacuated from Georgia to North Carolina two years ago.<br />
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Hang in there, folks!<br />
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As frightening and as terrible as hurricanes are, I'd like to think that I've had a short period of storm-like productivity in the past few weeks. Things at the day job slowed down just a smidgen while the storm loomed. I'm very grateful that Savannah has thus far been spared her wrath. Thanks to the lull, I've been able to dedicate some of my neurons to writing.<br />
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Woo hoo!<br />
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The books I've recently read are as follows:<br />
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<b>Children of Blood and Bone - Tomi Adeyemi</b><br />
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<b>Sunshine - Robin McKinley</b><br />
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I'm also finishing up:<br />
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<b>A Court of Frost and Starlight - Sarah J. Maas</b><br />
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<b>Warcross - Marie Lu</b><br />
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Hopefully, I can offer a little book review session soon!StorybySashahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07264391447131553463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1429664026733486383.post-87108460430847812482017-11-06T12:44:00.002-08:002018-10-05T06:18:36.850-07:00#NaNoWriMo<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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In which @StoryBy_Sasha writes a blog post instead of adding to her WIP's word count...</div>
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Did I mention that I have TWO WIPs...?</div>
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Happy November, Lads & Lassies! So many fun things are happening this month. Let's see...<br />
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1. The humid weather in Savannah, Georgia has cooled down considerably.<br />
2. It is National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo)!<br />
3. Authoress, aka Miss Snark's First Victim, is anonymous no more! Gasp!<br />
4. YALLFEST<br />
5. Did I mention NaNoWriMo??? Oh, I did? Okay...<br />
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"Georgia is very green," Wyatt Earp.<br />
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That is a Doc Holiday quotation from the film Wyatt Earp and it is very true. We don't get the whole spectrum of amazing colors down here in Savannah, but autumn is my favorite and I will take as much of it as I can get.<br />
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How green is it here? Well, I'll show you.<br />
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I am indeed participating in NaNoWriMo 2017. I have two young adult fantasy novels in the works and the nice thing about being in the unfortunate predicament of having two WIPs is variety. If I'm stuck on one, I can always work on the other.<br />
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I think the only reason I'm not completely insane yet is that both novels are in third-person present tense. Present tense is new to me as a writer (not as a reader), but I've decided I really like the immediacy of it.<br />
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UPDATE (11/7/2017 - I had the great honor of participating in the USVIPubFund auction to benefit the storm-torn US Virgin Islands and was the highest bidder for a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to have an incredible award-winning author critique some of my pages! She questioned my use of third-person present tense for one of my WIPs, which has me questioning it, too! Ruh-roh. )<br />
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So, have I made any progress with word count at all? Sure. It is day 6 of November and I have about 26,000 words in the WIP that seems to have the most of my attention this month.<br />
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If you know anyone else participating in NaNoWriMo, please ENCOURAGE them. Writing is a very solitary endeavor. It is full of rejection. For every best seller an author writes, there are countless manuscripts in their closets that didn't make the cut.<br />
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Speaking of encouragement... Have you been to the Miss Snark's First Victim blog lately?<br />
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I began writing for publication in 2009. It all started with the short fantasy story THE PHOENIX CROSSROADS. I sent it out for four months. I believe I got 3 rejections and a rewrite request. After four months I was ready to quit. Forever. The fifth market was Silverthought online, which gave me my first acceptance, my first paid publication, and went on to publish my second short story as well.<br />
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You know in your gut when a re-write request is valid. Often they are, but sometimes you just have to hang in there and keep the faith.<br />
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I say all that to say this:<br />
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...Since my journey began in 2009, there has only been one blogger I've followed consistently and that has been Authoress over at <a href="http://misssnarksfirstvictim.blogspot.com/">misssnarksfirstvictim.blogspot.com</a> Authoress is a wealth of encouragement. She provides us with a community. She allows for us to critique each other, strengthen each other, and even find our "happily ever after" with her great contests that often end in representation for some authors.<br />
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If you haven't visited her blog for a while, you're going to want to remedy that. Authoress is anonymous no longer! Her real story (parts two and three especially) had me in tears. What a journey!<br />
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UPDATE (11/8/2017 - I love getting to know Jill the Authoress better. She's active on Twitter and sharing so much on her blog this month. During the reveal I've been dying to ask whatever happened to her WIP about dragons. Today, without my asking, she answered this unspoken question. I'm dying with glee. Dragon WIP a.k.a. Jillian Boehm's GATHERING STORM is a book-baby at long last! Her due date is Summer 2019. Jill has a two-book deal with Tor Teen! *screams*)<br />
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During the Authoress Reveal festivities I even won a critique! That means I'll have solid feedback on each of my two WIPs this month. I'm feeling quite blessed.<br />
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*ahem* <br />
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My last bit of news is also encouraging in a way. I will be at <a href="http://r.search.yahoo.com/_ylt=A0LEVikTQgNapH0AoiYnnIlQ;_ylu=X3oDMTEyN2xsNTNqBGNvbG8DYmYxBHBvcwMxBHZ0aWQDQjQ3NzVfMQRzZWMDc3I-/RV=2/RE=1510191764/RO=10/RU=http%3a%2f%2fyallfest.org%2f/RK=1/RS=qz6MbVeuuypid.QPZY4S.h6qFYo-">YALLFEST</a> for the second year in a row. This year I'm dying to meet Laini Taylor and Stephanie Garber! I am very excited. I get on the road with two of my best friends in three days. All my books are packed...but none of my clothes are. Teehee.<br />
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I can say this with certainty -- My nails are ready for YALLFEST.<br />
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<b>CURRENTLY READING:</b><br />
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I am reading CROOKED KINGDOM the exciting sequel of SIX OF CROWS by Leigh Bardugo. I love Kaz Brekker. I think everyone does. But my book boyfriend is definitely Matthias Hevlar. If you know any spoilers about him, keep them to yourself!!! The lovely Ms Bardugo will also be at YALLFEST, but the line for her autograph was easily the longest of the festival last year. I'm not sure what to expect this time! <br />
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<b>TBR:</b><br />
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I'm a slow reader. Its a curse. But I'm hoping next to tackle SUNSHINE by Robin McKinley and THE LAST NAMSARA by Kristen Ciccarelli.<br />
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<b>CURRENTLY PLAYING:</b><br />
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I'm a big gamer. My former addiction was PARAGON, but lately I can be found as my human rogue, Ash, on DRAGONAGE: INQUISITION. Maybe next year I'll consider jumping on the DESTINY 2 bandwagon. I played the Beta and enjoyed it very much. <br />
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<b>CURRENTLY WATCHING:</b><br />
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STRANGER THINGS 2 was everything I wanted and more. I'm intensely proud of the little Netflix series that could. I can't wait to catch THOR: RAGNAROK. I also recently binged the Norwegian series: OCCUPIED.<br />
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<b>CURRENTLY WRITING:</b><br />
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<br />
<div class="xmsonormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
Bakar throws a
fleece blanket at him. It hits him square in the face, then falls around him,
draping him completely. Enclosed thus, Imperious feels his clammy breath bounce
warmly back onto his bearded face.</div>
<div class="xmsonormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
Footfalls
retreat.<br />
Bakar has left him to die.</div>
<div class="xmsonormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
Drinking may be
dying by the drop, but abstaining feels like dying, too.</div>
<div class="xmsonormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
Footfalls
regress. Bakar pulls the blanket away from Imperious’ face, swaddles his
shoulders in it, and uses it as leverage to heave the heavier man into a
sitting position. Imperious is still gently shivering.</div>
<div class="xmsonormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
“I suppose you’ve
had nothing to eat, too,” Bakar complains. “I see vomiting in your future, you
reckless cad.”</div>
<div class="xmsonormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
Bakar has
something in his hand, something that smells of fire. Fire and sugar. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Hell-juice</i>, Bakar called it before. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Pacha</i>. While Bakar cradles Imperious’
head, he guzzles several sloppy swallows of the distilled brew, wetting his
beard and chest, licking his lips.</div>
<div class="xmsonormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
When the flagon
is empty the shaking subsides into a mild tremor.</div>
<div class="xmsonormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
“Soup,” Bakar
says, rising to his feet, a hand on his hip. “You’ll need a belly-full before I
let you have anymore.” </div>
<div class="xmsonormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
Imperious doesn’t
have to look up to see the disappointment on his friend’s cursed face. </div>
<div class="xmsonormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
“Stay here,”
Bakar commands. He drops a metal pail on the floor loudly. “Try not to miss if
you empty your stomach.”</div>
<div class="xmsonormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Where could I go?</i><br />
Imperious intends to say this aloud, but doesn't hear his own voice. He's too weak to speak. Too weak to move.<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> </i> </div>
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<![endif]--><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span>StorybySashahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07264391447131553463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1429664026733486383.post-47828421536595035692017-07-25T07:02:00.002-07:002017-07-25T08:43:38.091-07:00Artists and Monsters - Get thee to Amazon!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Vxq6PWhDDbM/WXdABa1c6WI/AAAAAAAAAQk/zlMb5nus_UYi-9CFi7fg3kcYtYlDVcoDQCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_4335.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Vxq6PWhDDbM/WXdABa1c6WI/AAAAAAAAAQk/zlMb5nus_UYi-9CFi7fg3kcYtYlDVcoDQCLcBGAs/s320/IMG_4335.JPG" width="240" /> </a><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cZ1-GQ7wOYg/WXc_39JQF2I/AAAAAAAAAQg/appGhrj3_4kuDL9jMc2zzlhaUNOXUNLeQCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_4341.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cZ1-GQ7wOYg/WXc_39JQF2I/AAAAAAAAAQg/appGhrj3_4kuDL9jMc2zzlhaUNOXUNLeQCLcBGAs/s320/IMG_4341.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">T</span>here's nothing quite as exciting as finding dozens of little pieces of yourself on your doorstep. </div>
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I'll explain... </div>
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In Laini Taylor's delicious new fantasy, <b><i>Strange the Dreamer</i></b>, Chapter 16 is titled "A Hundred Smithereens of Darkness." It is one of the many hundred things I adore about Taylor, that she titles each of her Chapters in the most scrumptious ways. These titles aren't just poetic, they are teasing little morsels, always directly referenced at some point during that Chapter as it unfolds.</div>
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Now, I wouldn't exactly describe bits of myself as "Smithereens of Darkness," but there is an element of the dark in much of my work.</div>
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Before we get to the subject of <i>my</i> work, I simply must tell you more about <b><i>Strange the Dreamer</i></b>. </div>
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Those Smithereens, they belong to Sarai, Taylor's new female protagonist. Sarai is Godspawn, blessed (or cursed) with a magical gift. She is the Muse of Nightmares and every night she yawns one hundred tiny, beautiful moths made up of the stuff of bad dreams. The delicate creatures light upon the brows of sleepers, allowing Sarai's consciousness entrance to the sleepers' dreams. During the nightly yawn, Sarai is omnipresent, seeing through each moth as he flies, peering into each dream the dreamers dream. She can manipulate these dreams into something sweet or into something terrifying. But each moth, each Smithereen, Sarai recognizes always as a tiny part of herself.</div>
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..."salt and soot." </div>
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It is that way, seeing for the first time dozens of copies of your work, bound and neatly ordered, baring your printed name. </div>
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The book, <i>my book</i>, is called <i><b>Tributaries: An Anthology of the Savannah Writers Group</b></i>. And while <i>my dream</i> is to one day birth a fantasy novel that might sit on the same shelf (or at least some shelf very near) as the work of Laini Taylor, it is still pretty fantastic self-publishing a volume of stories and poetry from local authors.</div>
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...and seeing so many of them looking handsome all in a row.</div>
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The title <i><b>Tributaries</b></i> was partly inspired by the wickedly curving arms of the salty, marshy rivers in the Savannah area, which snake like lightning through landscapes painted by the sunset. They're reminiscent of the bundles of tangled Spanish Moss, which hang from creeping boughs downtown, casting shadows deep with history and intrigue. </div>
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The Anthology is packed with fifty pieces, all penned by authors (over twenty of them) who call themselves members of the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/WritersSavannah/">Savannah Writers Group</a>. Many of the pieces pay tribute to a person, a memory, a mystery, a genre... Thus carrying a double meaning.</div>
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<i><b>Tributaries: An Anthology of the Savannah Writers Group</b></i> is on sale now in soft cover and e-book format <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Tributaries-Anthology-Savannah-Writers-Group-ebook/dp/B072FJG62L/">on Amazon</a> and the Savannah Writers Group is working on plans for a formal book launch this autumn. </div>
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The role I played in the conjuring of this volume was mostly as an organizer and point of contact. I stumbled along, gathering hard workers to help me, creating a process, a method for collecting, curating, and editing the works we ultimately published. </div>
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I have one poem and one short story in the Anthology. My "Smithereen of Darkness" is called <b>"The Artist</b>." </div>
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Here is an excerpt:</div>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" SemiHidden="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="Table Grid"/>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid"/>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1"/>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" Name="Revision"/>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" QFormat="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" QFormat="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" QFormat="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" QFormat="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" QFormat="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" SemiHidden="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="41" Name="Plain Table 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="42" Name="Plain Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="43" Name="Plain Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="44" Name="Plain Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="45" Name="Plain Table 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="40" Name="Grid Table Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46" Name="Grid Table 1 Light"/>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51" Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52" Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 3"/>
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<div class="ecmsonormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
It was Ahmed’s
turn, and he had been giving very serious thought to which was his favorite
animal. A guinea pig would not do. When Peaches appeared and sat down beside
him; however, wearing a grin, he couldn’t speak. Ahmed, usually prone to
arguments, was sure he was going to marry Peaches Blair some day and always
gave the girl her way. </div>
<div class="ecmsonormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
“Hello, Sydney,”
Peaches said brightly.</div>
<div class="ecmsonormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
“Hi, Peaches.”</div>
<div class="ecmsonormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
“It’s my
birthday tomorrow. Can you draw my name with some butterflies all around it?”</div>
<div class="ecmsonormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
Sydney glanced
at Ahmed. His lips seemed glued shut. “Okay,” she agreed.</div>
<div class="ecmsonormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
Peaches placed a
pack of colored pencils on the lunch table. “I brought you these to work with.”</div>
<div class="ecmsonormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
“Thanks,”
replied Sydney, who began work right away.</div>
<div class="ecmsonormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
Cursive was not
Sydney’s strong suit, but she rigidly scrawled Peaches’ name in loops at the
center of a page. Then she drew butterflies all around the letters and colored
them in. Peaches was in Sydney’s class but was not among the artist’s best
friends, who were Ahmed, Colin, and Stacie. Peaches didn’t know what Sydney
could do with her animal drawings.</div>
<div class="ecmsonormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
Stacie
recognized the look in Sydney’s eyes and smiled knowingly, stealing a glance at
Ahmed, whose silent face held gentle anticipation. They both knew what would
happen next.</div>
<div class="ecmsonormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
Sydney was
coloring one butterfly black and gold and began her mental chant. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">I wish you real, I wish you real.</i> Without
delay, a golden butterfly outlined in black floated down to the lunch table.
Stacie and Ahmed made small smiles. Peaches laughed like the trickle of a
fountain.</div>
<div class="ecmsonormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
“Wow, look at
that! A real butterfly. Cool.”</div>
<div class="ecmsonormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
Peaches no doubt
believed the incident to be a simple coincidence.</div>
<div class="ecmsonormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="ecmsonormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
</div>
<b>"The Artist</b>" is about dueling child-artists in the third grade. It is about a gift and how it can be used to bring light or to bring darkness. When I wrote it, I thought it would make a lovely episode of <b>The X-Files</b>. <br />
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If you find you like my short speculative fiction you will also love "<b>Snakebit</b>," which re-imagines the Greek hero Perseus and the Gorgon Medusa as a modern day criminal profiler and serial killer. <b>Snakebit</b> takes place in the south and pays subtle tribute to the work of filmmaker Michael Mann. You can find it also <a href="https://www.amazon.com/9Tales-Elsewhere-9Elsewhere-Shawn-Madison-ebook/dp/B01JMA51HU/">on Amazon</a> in an Anthology called <i><b>9Tales From Elsewhere</b></i>.</div>
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...Now that I think on it, Snakebit would also be a spectacular episode of <b>The X-Files</b>.</div>
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<br />StorybySashahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07264391447131553463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1429664026733486383.post-46074035431945259632017-06-23T15:03:00.002-07:002017-06-28T10:10:01.003-07:00Dreaming of YALLFEST - Notes from November 2016<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YeY-ZV2uPD8/WUwXzV3c7eI/AAAAAAAAANc/c3zNXEDGM88ez9q5V113wkzyei-aD4KbwCLcBGAs/s1600/Yallfest.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="634" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YeY-ZV2uPD8/WUwXzV3c7eI/AAAAAAAAANc/c3zNXEDGM88ez9q5V113wkzyei-aD4KbwCLcBGAs/s400/Yallfest.jpg" width="396" /></a></div>
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Happy Summer Solstice, ya'll. That's right. It is summer 2017. I'm booking my trip and making my plans to visit Charleston this fall for my second adventure at YALLFEST (which is happening this November), and yet I am just now getting around to blogging about my first visit to the Young Adult Book Festival, which occurred back in November of 2016 in the beautiful city of Charleston, SC.<br />
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4eX2kZiPZ38/WUwZeeZHxoI/AAAAAAAAANo/FFd6fw3PB9wzIvKIcXu2Cz_aBgq7FOJvwCLcBGAs/s1600/Renee%2BAhdieh.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4eX2kZiPZ38/WUwZeeZHxoI/AAAAAAAAANo/FFd6fw3PB9wzIvKIcXu2Cz_aBgq7FOJvwCLcBGAs/s320/Renee%2BAhdieh.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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Did I have fun at the two day event? Of course! I was as happy as a southern girl with a sweet biscuit! <i>Nom nom nom</i>. On my first night I had the delightful opportunity to stand in a short line and have #1 New York Times Bestselling Author, Renee Ahdieh sign my kindle, say hello, and stop graciously for a photo! (I'm on the left and Renee is on the right.) Renee wrote <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18798983-the-wrath-and-the-dawn?from_search=true">The Wrath and the Daw</a>n, its sequel, The Rose and the Dagger, and the new book, <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23308087-flame-in-the-mist">Flame in the Mist</a>. I'm dying to read Fame in the Mist for the simple fact that is involves SAMURAI! *drools*<br />
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In <b>The Wrath and the Dawn</b>, daring young Shahrzad gives herself in marriage to the murderous boy-king, Khalid, knowing that he strangles each of his brides on the morning following their weddings. How does she survive? She tells him a story so beguiling that night after night he must learn what happens next. Though her intent is to stop the monster once and for all, what she discovers instead is that she is falling in love with him.<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ltP_tXUpqQU/WUwcVf_t8DI/AAAAAAAAAOE/x83S6vSv4bMdo9vwI5J5xhlsYbhVW8FwQCLcBGAs/s1600/Jay%2BAsher.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ltP_tXUpqQU/WUwcVf_t8DI/AAAAAAAAAOE/x83S6vSv4bMdo9vwI5J5xhlsYbhVW8FwQCLcBGAs/s320/Jay%2BAsher.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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The best thing about YALLFEST was the numerous opportunities to see a diverse bunch of writers in different settings. There were times I wasn't able to meet someone, but I was still able to hear him or her speak, answer questions, and even pose for photos. In one such case, I came face to face with Jay Asher, who has written three novels, one of which is <b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/29844228-thirteen-reasons-why?ac=1&from_search=true">Thirteen Reasons Why</a></b>, the book, which inspired the intensely binge-able Netflix series of the same name. Jay walked the YALLFEST red carpet at the Charleston Public Library just before giving a great talk with several other well-known writers. The event was packed--standing room only. I stood joyfully for the whole event!<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BwkDf8orOcQ/WUweWz7eexI/AAAAAAAAAOQ/vJif-XTjfN8viYg4qLV6SCQ-DPB_Vg1TgCLcBGAs/s1600/Libba%2BBray.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BwkDf8orOcQ/WUweWz7eexI/AAAAAAAAAOQ/vJif-XTjfN8viYg4qLV6SCQ-DPB_Vg1TgCLcBGAs/s320/Libba%2BBray.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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Jay was joined on the red carpet by the divine Libba Bray. The Bram Stoker Award winner has written a whole slew of Young Adult novels, just one of which is <b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9464733-beauty-queens?ac=1&from_search=true">Beauty Queens</a></b>, which holds a very unique brand of dark humor. Its literally a Miss America competition crossed with Lord of the Flies.<br />
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3tKXLkkJlrA/WUwfhRpUnBI/AAAAAAAAAOg/Qg1b4Cc7-8E7gsl6u23DHiskboe9xUYOQCLcBGAs/s1600/Brendan%2BReichs.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3tKXLkkJlrA/WUwfhRpUnBI/AAAAAAAAAOg/Qg1b4Cc7-8E7gsl6u23DHiskboe9xUYOQCLcBGAs/s320/Brendan%2BReichs.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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Pictured above is a gentleman who would have won the title for most enthusiastic red-carpet-walker. He struck many fun poses and had the shades to match his dark suit. His name is Brenden Reichs and his latest book is called <b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/30142139-nemesis">Nemesis</a></b>. </div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NboUI8UobCk/WUwflzJCZFI/AAAAAAAAAOk/JrcUaiIXfC8LooMve6j_89uEj5yFNekjQCLcBGAs/s1600/Alexandra%2BBracken.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="720" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NboUI8UobCk/WUwflzJCZFI/AAAAAAAAAOk/JrcUaiIXfC8LooMve6j_89uEj5yFNekjQCLcBGAs/s320/Alexandra%2BBracken.PNG" width="180" /></a></div>
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YALLFEST spreads itself across several blocks of downtown Charleston, but all of the events are easily within walking distance and some of the locations are super fun. Above you can see blogger (and one of my besties) Flora, meeting the beguiling Alexandra Bracken--where else--in a toy store! We love her Darker Minds series and are super stoked it will become a film! But her newest masterpiece is called <b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20983362-passenger?ac=1&from_search=true">Passenger</a></b>. It's being called an atmospheric time-travel story with a killer ending.</div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ils2un8CJ3w/WUwf9TldbXI/AAAAAAAAAOo/tougTd7UFIQdLRZ7bgjgtVk-Armr6_zewCLcBGAs/s1600/Jennifer%2BL%2BArmentrout.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ils2un8CJ3w/WUwf9TldbXI/AAAAAAAAAOo/tougTd7UFIQdLRZ7bgjgtVk-Armr6_zewCLcBGAs/s320/Jennifer%2BL%2BArmentrout.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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The highlight of Flora's time at YALLFEST was meeting her literary hero, Jennifer L. Armintrout, a super star of YA paranormal romance. Aren't they adorable?? <b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9680718-half-blood">Half-Blood</a></b>, for instance, is her first book in the Covenant series.</div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mqNLloKj214/WUwgQaFSidI/AAAAAAAAAOs/YgaFglJw8Ysd9FVFBCx5-F6LTOVPfUw6QCLcBGAs/s1600/Rosh%2Band%2BS%2BJae%2BJones.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="720" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mqNLloKj214/WUwgQaFSidI/AAAAAAAAAOs/YgaFglJw8Ysd9FVFBCx5-F6LTOVPfUw6QCLcBGAs/s400/Rosh%2Band%2BS%2BJae%2BJones.PNG" width="225" /></a><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-W-SEZHbjvOk/WUwgdJlyWzI/AAAAAAAAAO0/_6l8PVtgQFgEqZj1ykr3Z-8UdFT60ZivACLcBGAs/s1600/Wintersong.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="720" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-W-SEZHbjvOk/WUwgdJlyWzI/AAAAAAAAAO0/_6l8PVtgQFgEqZj1ykr3Z-8UdFT60ZivACLcBGAs/s400/Wintersong.PNG" width="225" /></a></div>
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The absolute worst thing that happened to me at YALLFEST was that my besties and I (Flora the fiery Greek pixie, and Seelie the tall, wise fae) stood about dying to win an ARC copy of Roshani Chokshi's <b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/29939047-a-crown-of-wishes?from_search=true">A Crown of Wishes</a></b> and totally walked away empty handed. </div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SIoJyINxfok/WVPiJE71r3I/AAAAAAAAAQE/8FYfymnWYPk5XfQyfvK9Kup8OV6ZBh3HACLcBGAs/s1600/200w_d.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="158" data-original-width="200" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SIoJyINxfok/WVPiJE71r3I/AAAAAAAAAQE/8FYfymnWYPk5XfQyfvK9Kup8OV6ZBh3HACLcBGAs/s1600/200w_d.gif" /></a></div>
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Her first book, <b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25203675-the-star-touched-queen?ac=1&from_search=true">The Star-Touched Queen</a></b> is a total stand-out in the world of new YA fantasy. It is a feast, drenched in delicious descriptions so vivid that you can taste and smell them!</div>
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Well, I follow Rosh on Twitter and even though she was not headlining the event she said there was a very good chance she would swing by. I was walking away from the ARC giveaway disappointed and then...there she was, walking around like a normal fangirl. I started stammering and hopping up and down and she was just as cool as a cucumber when I rushed toward her all giddy like. She was super chill and friendly and as she signed things for us, she made sure to introduce us to J.J. ...aka S. Jae Jones. </div>
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WHAT an exciting surprise!!! See that beautiful book pictured with twinkle lights?? Its called <b>WINTERSONG</b> and it is J.J.'s super daring and original first novel based on one of my favorite 80's films of all time...LABYRINTH. Had we known such a crazy happenstance might have occurred, we would have had the good sense to have J.J. sign some books. We hope to see you this year, lady!</div>
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Isn't Rosh fabulous? I think she's one of my favorite people, but then, there were so many humble rock stars at YALLFEST. 2016 was a very good year for me. The purple pin on my lapel in the photo was procured at the one and only COMIC-CON in San Diego that summer and the Penguin pin was a freebie from YALLFEST.</div>
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Here is the Goodreads description of <b>The Star-Touched Queen</b>:</div>
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<i><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14px;">Maya is cursed. With a horoscope that promises a marriage of death and destruction, she has earned only the scorn and fear of her father’s kingdom. Content to follow more scholarly pursuits, her whole world is torn apart when her father, the Raja, arranges a wedding of political convenience to quell outside rebellions. Soon Maya becomes the queen of Akaran and wife of Amar. Neither roles are what she expected: As Akaran’s queen, she finds her voice and power. As Amar’s wife, she finds something else entirely: Compassion. Protection. Desire…</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14px;">But Akaran has its own secrets—thousands of locked doors, gardens of glass, and a tree that bears memories instead of fruit. Soon, Maya suspects her life is in danger. Yet who, besides her husband, can she trust? With the fate of the human and Otherworldly realms hanging in the balance, Maya must unravel an ancient mystery that spans reincarnated lives to save those she loves the most…including herself.</span></i></div>
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I always tell newbies to the convention scene to choose one or two events you can't live without and plan around those. There is no way you can be everywhere at once, even if friends stand in the line of one event to save a place for you while you stand in another. Often you're in line far in advance, meaning you are missing some events. Most conventions, YALLFEST included, hold multiple events at any given time slot. </div>
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The event I decided I couldn't live without last fall was getting Sabaa Tahir's autograph. Authors usually sign the copies of their books that you bring along, but I asked most of the YALLFEST writers to pretty please sign my kindle cover. I had to wait about an hour to meet Sabaa, but I was near the front of the line and I got to take home one of her giveaways, a character card of my girl, Helene from <b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/27774758-an-ember-in-the-ashes?from_search=true">An Ember in the Ashes</a></b>, Sabaa's dynamite YA fantasy series set in a deadly Middle-Eastern flavored world.</div>
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To be so fortunate to wait at the front of Sabaa's line, I had to separate from Flora and Seelie. They kindly took my copy of <b>Shiver </b>to be signed by the one and only Maggie Stiefvater. I was unable to go with them (*cries a little*) so I hope to see her for myself next time. By then I should have a copy of her master work <b>The Raven Boys</b>, so that I can have that signed, too. </div>
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<b>The Raven Boys</b> follows a maybe clairvoyant who sees her first apparition, the spirit of someone soon to die, which is a common occurrence for her mystical family members though it has never happened to her before. She is seeing the vision of him either because he is her one true love or...because she's going to kill him. That makes sense because our poor heroine has always been told by the other clairvoyants that she will certainly kill her one true love. ...Now what??</div>
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So, off on my own, hunting desperately for Sabaa's line, I nearly plowed right into the green-haired goddess, Ryan Graudin. I was able to pre-order a signed copy of her first book <b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/24807186-wolf-by-wolf?from_search=true">Wolf by Wolf</a></b> and pick it up at Blue Bicycle Books, the sponsor of YALLFEST. I was embarrassed, but luckily didn't actually bum-rush Ryan. She remained unharmed, I swear. We later saw her in panel.</div>
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The panels were terrific. The DARK FANTASY panel was my favorite. Maggie Stiefvater was there, with Sabaa, and to my great excitement, Jay Kristoff and Kendare Blake.</div>
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I cannot say enough about Kendare's book <b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/28374007-three-dark-crowns?ac=1&from_search=true">THREE DARK CROWNS</a></b>. We met her and collected her signature following the panel. It's about a set of triplets, princesses all. To be queen, one must murder her sisters... Kill or be killed. ...Love, love, love. Meet the ill-fated queens, each with a remarkable (deadly) gift, right <a href="http://www.epicreads.com/blog/super-helpful-character-charts-for-the-three-dark-crowns-sisters/">here</a>.</div>
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Did I mention how amazing it was to see Jay Kristoff? The dashing, imposing Aussie wrote <b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/26114463-nevernight?from_search=true">Nevernight</a></b>, among other exciting novels. Goodreads describes it thus: </div>
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<i>I<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14px;">n a land where three suns almost never set, a fledgling killer joins a school of assassins, seeking vengeance against the powers who destroyed her family.</span></i></div>
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I won a copy of <b>Rebel of the Sands</b> while in Sabaa's line, too. </div>
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Flora, Seelie and I are dying to meet Leigh Bardugo. It didn't happen last year, so that's our goal for the next YALLFEST! I'm reading <b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23437156-six-of-crows?from_search=true">Six of Crows</a></b> now and it is easily one of the best YA fantasy novels I've ever read.</div>
<br />StorybySashahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07264391447131553463noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1429664026733486383.post-28158196989206836832016-12-10T11:57:00.001-08:002017-03-24T07:13:01.967-07:00What to Binge Over the Holidays - The Streaming Edition<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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1. <b>STRANGER THINGS</b> (<i>scifi</i>) If you like The Goonies and E.T. and all things 1980s, this X-Files flavored break-out drama is just what the doctor ordered. It's one of the best things I saw in 2016 and show-runners are hard at work on a second season now. There's a monster, but the scare factor was mild in my opinion. The rating is TV-14. NETFLIX - 1 Season available to stream instantly.<br />
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2. <b>JOHNATHAN STRANGE & MR. NORRELL</b> (<i>historical fantasy</i>) For me, this charming 7-episode adaptation of the novel of the same name was better than the book! Fans of Harry Potter and alternate history may take an episode or two to become fully invested, but will eventually be completely hooked by the antics of the last remaining practical magicians in England as they stave off Napoleon and a powerful trickster. NETFLIX - One season and the series is drawn to a satisfying conclusion.<br />
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3. <b>DAREDEVIL</b> (<i>comic book action</i>) Action fans rejoice. We rarely see John Wick level fight choreography on the small screen...is Netflix considered the small screen? At any rate, this on-going series delivers bone-crunching action as a young, blind lawyer comes into his own as a masked vigilante. Marvel True Believers will quake with glee as Daredevil's tutor, Stick, is finally seen in all his live action glory. Yes, there's a Punisher and an Elekta (oh-my-gosh-and-the-HAND!) as well. I hear LUKE CAGE is also all that and a bag of wonderful, but alas, I've not gotten to that one yet. NETFLIX.<br />
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4. <b>GRANTCHESTER</b> (<i>historical detective drama</i>) If there is a gaping hole in your heart left in the wake of Downtown Abbey's cancellation, Grantchester can fill it. When a young British vicar joins forces with a 1940s local copper, the two find they work well together solving crimes. AMAZON PRIME- There are currently 3 seasons, only 2 of which are available to stream. A 4th season is in the works.<br />
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5. <b>MARCELLA</b> (<i>detective drama</i>) Sorry if you start to see a theme, but I adore British and Danish cop stories. In the first season of Marcella we meet a tough lady cop on the verge of losing her family as she hunts a killer. The catch? The stress is causing black outs and the sketchy memories and flashes she does have suggest...she may be the killer she's hunting! NETFLIX. Note: If you dig Marcella, you'll like PARANOIA, also on Netflix. Who is my favorite British detective? That's tough, but I have to say Edris Elba as LUTHER. Guess what. You can also find him on Netflix.<br />
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6. <b>THE CROWN</b> (<i>historical drama</i>) How does a young girl ascend to the role of Queen? This is Queen Elizabeth's story. John Lithgow's turn as Winston Churchill will definitely draw award nominations. Netflix has stepped up its game in 2016. This series is compelling and even beautiful. Take note, fans of Out of Africa, and if you can, please watch the film, The King's Speech, prior to devouring The Crown.<br />
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7. <b>BIG EYES</b> (<i>true story</i>) Hey, there are movies on Netflix, too! This is the true story of "kitsch" artist Margaret Keane, whose husband took credit for her paintings for decades. There's a touch of whimsy in the film thanks to director Tim Burton, but that added charm for me and the added challenge of hunting Burton-esque Easter eggs. Christoph Waltz fans get to see the divine actor play another smiling villain. If you enjoyed Jack Black in BERNIE (another true story BTW), this may be for you.<br />
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8. <b>BRAINDEAD</b> (<i>political dram-edy/ scifi</i>) There aren't many comedies out there that don't either insult your intelligence or include ridiculously raunchy hi-jinks or unrealistic sitcom families. This gem is definitely a unique stand-out. Have you ever wondered why our politicians are so crazy? Could it be that tiny alien ants have taken over their brains? Amazon Prime is streaming BRAINDEAD now for fans of The Good Wife, The X-files and Monk. Its one season which comes to a full conclusion. Bonus: I adore actress Mary Elizabeth Winstead. Head to Redbox and see her in 10 Cloverfield Lane (JJ Abram's tense John Goodman thriller film) NOW if you haven't already. I've seen this movie twice this year!<br />
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10. <b>DEPARTMENT Q</b> (<i>gritty crime thriller</i>) I can't very well mention Danish cop shows and not have one on this list. For fans of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo and more traditional detective procedurals, I give you the three films THE KEEPER OF LOST CAUSES (the best one), THE ABSENT ONE (also good), and A CONSPIRACY OF FAITH (the weaker of the three). And you can stream them on Netflix now, so long as you don't mind reading subtitles. A down on his luck cop is banished to the basement Cold Case unit, where he stumbles upon the file of a missing woman who may just be alive and under the harsh imprisonment of a driven madman. Note: Once you grow accustomed to the subtitles and edge-of-your seat suspense, dive into HINTERLAND, also on Netflix. If you prefer a good, old-fashioned American detective (even if portrayed by an Aussie), check out LONGMIRE, the modern-day Western.StorybySashahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07264391447131553463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1429664026733486383.post-12763827834596116492016-09-09T05:43:00.000-07:002016-09-17T12:18:15.439-07:00SNAKEBIT Released!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Happy Pub Day to me! The latest edition of the digital magazine <a href="https://www.amazon.com/9Tales-Elsewhere-9Elsewhere-Shawn-Madison-ebook/dp/B01JMA51HU/">9Tales from Elsewhere</a> hit Amazon today. $2.99 gets you (9) twenty-five minute short stories of fantasy and science fiction, which you can read on your Kindle or via the FREE Kindle APP on your PC, Tablet or Smart Phone.<br />
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This includes my tale <a href="https://www.amazon.com/9Tales-Elsewhere-9Elsewhere-Shawn-Madison-ebook/dp/B01JMA51HU/">SNAKEBIT</a>, which re-imagines the Greek myth of Perseus and Medusa as the hunt for a female serial killer through the deep south.StorybySashahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07264391447131553463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1429664026733486383.post-5137448641916110792016-08-09T17:24:00.002-07:002016-08-09T17:30:59.195-07:00Spotlight on Sarah J. Maas - SDCC 2016<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px; line-height: 20.79px;">I'm a huge and very well-rounded GEEK. Comic-Con has long been on my bucket list. I still can't believe that I finally attended this summer. Thinking about the awesomeness for too long makes me want to cry. It was <i>that </i>fantastic! And<i> I </i>was there!</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px; line-height: 20.79px;">But let's get to the point.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px; line-height: 20.79px;">The highlight of Thursday's Comic-Con programming, for me, was the panel called <b>Spotlight on Sarah J. Maas </b>and now (you lucky people, you) I will describe what it was like!</span><br />
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For the first thirty minutes or so attendees of the panel were able to sit back and listen to YouTube star Christine Riccio ask our favorite author some questions. One such question, my dear ACOTAR fans, was...So...Um...Does Tamlin look like Chris Hemsworth or what? </div>
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SJMaas did give her approval on that casting choice, but also shared that she thought Mr. Alexander Skarsgård would also be a great option. I hope that she won't mind that I record the slightly embarrassing story that she shared next! </div>
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SJMaas regaled us with the tale of an encounter she had with the statuesque actor! Believe it or not, Maas, who was an enormous TRUE BLOOD fan at the time, had the opportunity to meet the actor at a party. She'd been schmoozing and shaking hands when she finally had the courage to introduce herself to Skarsgård. Maas made sure we understood she's a happily married gal, but after managing to awkwardly say she was a big fan of his work, Skarsgård shook her hand. Well...starstruck as she was, starstruck as any of us would be, when she turned away she sorta, well, licked her hand. All I could think as we all delighted in her fangirl moment was that Maas has more Rhysand in her than meets the eye!</div>
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Yum. Germs aside.</div>
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The only really mortifying part is Maas thinks its possible that Skarsgård was behind her to witness the hand licking, in which case he may think she's a little creepy.</div>
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Speaking of fangirling... SJMaas is extremely beautiful and very down to earth. It was just lovely to listen to her fangirl about "Jo" Rowling. She's a huge Potterhead. There I was, a huge Maas fan, listening to her speak about one of her own favorite authors. It is on that subject that she shared another endearing anecdote. </div>
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It seems SJMaas was always a very proud Gryffindor. And who wouldn't be? But she had never been properly sorted. To top things off, her husband, who was not into Potter at the time would often do or say things which would inspire Maas to remark, "You are such a Hufflepuff!" (Not that there's anything wrong with that.)</div>
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Well, one day a friend started asking Maas random questions. It turned out, she was sorting her using an online quiz. So, of course Maas was officially sorted into...you guessed it...Hufflepuff! She was devastated and took a long time to get over it! Any Potterhead can relate! </div>
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But now Maas is a proud Hufflepuff, having learned all of the pertinent characteristics and history.</div>
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The best part is she asked her hubs the questions and he, dear hearts, is the Gryffindor. <i>Can you</i> with how sweet that is? I love it.</div>
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The best thirty minutes of a Comic-Con panel are the last thirty minutes. That is when our host announces they'll open up for questions and we all run like crazy for the one microphone in the room, praying we will make it and our questions will be heard.</div>
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My strategy in choosing where to sit was based solely on getting as close to that beautiful microphone as I could possibly get. </div>
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Then it happened. The announcement was made. The mic shined before me. And I choked. I completely hesitated, my heartbeat pounding in my skull. But my best friend pushed me. She physically pushed me with every ounce of strength she had out of my seat and into the aisle.</div>
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SJMaas looked at me and she thanked me for being first. Our favorite author is a very humble person. She intimated that she couldn't even understand how she'd come to have her very own panel. How could she not?? Right?</div>
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I said: "Hi my name is Sasha, I'm an aspiring author and my question is, without giving away any spoilers, as you were writing ACOTAR, when did you know Rhysand would be so important?"</div>
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Small backstory: I am a discovery writer, which makes outlining very difficult. I had to know if Rhys was a character she knew in and out from the very beginning.</div>
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SJMaas said she knew as soon as he sauntered his hot butt onto the page. </div>
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She discovered Rhys and as soon as she did, she was hooked, intrigued and had to keep learning about--dare I say--the most surprising male character in YA fantasy to date.</div>
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As a writer, this gave me hope.</div>
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Another fan asked how SJMaas learned to do such clever foreshadowing. Like every good writer, Maas is a reader, too, and credits the Harry Potter series for getting her mind working properly.</div>
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Did I mention that during the panel I was sitting behind Wonder Woman? Because...Comic-Con.</div>
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The last story from the panel that I'll share was one that Christine Riccio posed. It was a mystery for me, too, so I'm so glad that she did. </div>
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Riccio asked: "So, the Rainbow Road in ACOMAF...is it a literal rainbow like Rainbow Road in Mario Kart?"</div>
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Oh, the belly laughter! That is so a legitimate question!</div>
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No, my friends, it was not at all meant to look like Mario Kart. The Rainbow Road, according to SJMaas, was inspired by artists' quarters around the world. Its colorful. Now I understand.</div>
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Thank you for reading.</div>
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And thank <i>you</i>, SJMaas for being so inspiring and gracious. It was an absolute honor attending your panel. Teardrop/ </div>
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We have the same initials. That has to mean something cosmic, right?</div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px; line-height: 20.79px;">So, you think you want to attend Comic-Con!? Check out my <a href="http://storybysasha.blogspot.com/2016/08/so-you-think-you-want-to-come-to-comic.html">previous blog post</a> on how to make that happen. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px; line-height: 20.79px;">+++</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px; line-height: 20.79px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px; line-height: 20.79px;">I am Sasha Janel McBrayer. I have a handful of short, speculative stories published and am an aspiring YA fantasy novelist. I sometimes review movies and TV for local media. I like to shoot skeet and paint my fingernails really loud, pretty colors. (You should totally follow me on Twitter! @storyby_sasha )</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px; line-height: 20.79px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px; line-height: 20.79px;">Yes, I am LADYHAWKE over at <a href="http://magicinthelibrary.com/">Magic in the Library</a> (@magiclibrary) where we review fantasy books.</span><br />
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<b><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.32px;">We're one month away from the exciting release of SNAKEBIT! My original short story follows the South's most notorious female serial killer, The Medusa Killer, as Special Agent Scott Perseus hunts her down. Does he stand a chance?</span><span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.32px;"> <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01JMA51HU#navbar">PRE-ORDER AVAILABLE NOW</a>. You can read the next issue of 9Tales on your kindle or on the FREE kindle app on your desktop or smart phone.</span></b><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px; line-height: 20.79px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px; line-height: 20.79px;"><br /></span>StorybySashahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07264391447131553463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1429664026733486383.post-85798984973306893882016-08-02T11:22:00.002-07:002017-03-24T10:39:25.044-07:00So, You Think You Want to Come to Comic-Con?This year, Comic-Con: International San Diego (#SDCC) took place 13 - 17 July 2016. What was different from years past? Me. This year, I was fortunate enough to be in attendance.<br />
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What is Comic-Con? Well, what started in 1970 as a modest comic book convention (peopled also by some film and sci-fi fans) has become THE media festival of the year and Mecca to geeks everywhere. According to Comic-Con's official website, the event has topped 130,000 attendees.<br />
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If you earn a ticket, you can expect access to an enormous exhibit hall where companies show off exclusive merchandise, hand-out giveaways, showcase unique paraphernalia, and even display video sneak-peeks. What sorts of companies man tables in the exhibit hall? Oh, you know, Top Cow Comics, BBC America (Can you say "Doctor Who?"), AMC's The Walking Dead, Penguin Books, Nintendo, Star Wars, Conan O'Brien, Lego, Funimation, MTV and much, much, MUCH more.<br />
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Occasionally, your favorite actors, authors and personalities even schedule visits to their affiliated table. For instance, I was very sad to miss it when Penguin Teen's booth gave away ARC copies of A Torch Against the Night by Sabaa Tahir at 3PM on Saturday or the day prior when Tahir herself sat at the booth to sign copies.<br />
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The exhibit hall is chaos; however, and daunting to navigate. If you really want to chill with your favorite celeb, there are also panels, which take place in nice meeting rooms above the exhibit hall and in ballrooms inside neighboring hotels. San Diego Comic-Con has taken over a solid chunk of the beautiful city's gas lamp district, right on the water. Needless to say, I've never walked so much in my life.<br />
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I'll speak more on panels later, but know that there are often three, at least, going on at any given time, so attendees have to major in prioritization FOR REAL. A panel could be anything from "How to Pitch your idea to Hollywood" (ya know, useful guides for we creative types), to Q & A with the cast of USA's Mr. Robot. Yes, I did attend that one this year and it was marvelous. A fan asked a question and the next thing you know, the whole world has learned that Christian Slater plays Pokemon Go!<br />
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Yes, I'd say about 1 or 2% of the crowd of attendees dress in costume. For the uninitiated, we call this cosplay. You don't have to actually "play" your character in any sort of formal setting. If you do dress up, just expect to be stopped by folks who want a picture with you.<br />
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There are also screenings of movies, new and old (this year you could celebrate 30 years of LABYRINTH or snag a ticket for an advance showing of Star Trek Beyond). You can learn how to play D&D or White Wolf. Or the serious cosplayer can attend contests or a proper masquerade.<br />
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My favorite part of Comic-Con is getting elbow to elbow with celebs. Okay, so 400 feet away isn't exactly elbow to elbow, but it is still very fun. Often your favorites have scheduled time slots for autograph signings also and unlike some newer, smaller, local conventions, there is NO COST to obtain an autograph at Comic-Con. That being said, a celeb can refuse to sign the item of your choosing, so...be reasonable. Kristen Bell may not want to sign your 9 month old's forehead. That's kind of weird and, ya know, alive.<br />
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Celebs I was in the room with were Slater, Bell, Ted Danson, Josh Holloway, Sarah Wayne Callies, Rami Malek and one of my favorite, favorite, favorite authors of all time, the beautiful Sarah J. Maas. There were more, not to mention directors, producers and writers for some pretty wonderful shows (BUFFY, yes, I just said BUFFY).<br />
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I'll continue to blog about my experience, which was totally fantastic, but for this first installment I want to make sure to explain how you, too, can take part in Comic-Con.<br />
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If you're reading all of this and you can barely sit still with excitement, you need to come. If you're reading all of this and you don't understand why a gal from the green state of Georgia would fly all the way to San Diego for such an event, but you'd like to see Christian Slater or, dare I say it, Daryl actor, The Walking Dead's Norman Reedus, what you need to do, my friend, is find a smaller, local convention.<br />
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Cons are all the rage right now. Walker Stalker will be in Atlanta, Orlando, London, Chicago...there's even a cruise now. If you're a fan of The Walking Dead, but not a whole lot else. Guess what? It's okay to go small. At least you'll save money on plane tickets.<br />
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Likewise, MEGACON takes place every year in Orlando. This year William Shatner and Stan Lee were there as well as actors from Harry Potter, Daredevil and The Walking Dead.<br />
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For me, THE Comic-Con had always been on my bucket list. I just had to go. If you feel the same, here's the bottom line. This is what you need to do.<br />
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Follow <a href="https://secure2.comic-con.org/memberid/">the link</a> right now, right this minute, and register with the official website to get your own, individual Comic-Con ID.<br />
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Here's the thing, fanboys and fangirls, getting tickets was HARD. The nice thing is, if you have a blog, some business cards, and have written three media reviews in the past year or so, you qualify as a member of the press and can get one day of Comic-Con free. Sorry, there's no plus one.<br />
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Even if you aren't a member of the press, SDCC is very, very affordable. The cost for tix is about $50 per day. What will get you is the flight and hotel.<br />
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Do not procrastinate in registering with the site and obtaining your ID. I believe I registered in the later months of 2014. I did this in order to have a chance to purchase tickets in February of 2015. Notice that while Comic-Con is every year in July, tickets go on sale for a minuscule, insane twenty minute window in February. In fact, if you are lucky enough to buy tickets, the official schedule of events isn't even released until two weeks prior to the actual convention in July.<br />
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The worst part of this for me was NOT getting tickets in February of 2015. I had already put aside money for the flight. I was heartbroken. I almost didn't try again in February of 2016, but obviously I did and this time with pleasing results.<br />
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So, once you have registered with the site an obtained your ID, you wait until February. Comic-Con will email you, informing you that in SEVEN days you'll be able to use the link and the code they send to get into the EPIC Registration Waiting Room. This is a webpage. You will login at the appropriate time and you will WAIT. You won't refresh. You'll wait and wait and wait.<br />
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Thousands of people login all over the world and wait for the algorithm to randomly select a few people at a time and drop them onto the page that allows ticket buying.<br />
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In addition to doing this myself, I gave my unique ID to two other people. Guess what. I never won this painful lottery. I never was scooped up and dropped onto the purchase page. My best friend WAS and there was lots of screaming (she was on her desktop and I was next to her on my smart phone).<br />
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So, yes, you can buy tix for a friend IF they registered and IF they gave you their ID. Likewise a friend who has registered and has your ID can buy tix for you. You cannot give away or buy scalped Comic-Con tix. My badge has my legal name on it.<br />
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This year, when my bestie was dropped onto the purchase page, after the screaming, the biggest days of Comic-Con were sold out. We simply didn't have the option to buy tix for Friday or Saturday. We chose Thursday (there's also a preview day on Wednesday and a regular convention day on Sunday available).<br />
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A clock then counts down, giving you a bare minimum amount of time to chose who is getting which tix (you need member ID and full legal name), input your credit card info and address and complete your purchase. Oh the humanity!!<br />
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This year about a month prior Comic-Con International mailed out our badges. They were sent to her address and we just had to like NOT lose them.<br />
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I hear you can guarantee yourself a ticket by volunteering to work at the convention. I'm not sure how the scheduling works, though. If I'm working concessions at the same time as a can't miss panel... Ug.<br />
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I also hear that now that I have been to the Con one time, I will get early bird access to buy tix next year. Would I go back? YES SIR (or ma'am)! Fingers crossed, I'll reveal what that's like another time.<br />
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So, THAT is the process in a nut shell. There's a lot of planning ahead here, folks, and very few guarantees.<br />
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<br />StorybySashahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07264391447131553463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1429664026733486383.post-2502854244892058492016-06-30T09:51:00.005-07:002016-06-30T09:51:57.091-07:00Brandon Sanderson Teaches YOU WritingThis is amazing and free and I shouldn't need to say more!<br />
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From the <a href="http://brandonsanderson.com/2016-sanderson-lectures/">author's official website</a>:<br />
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So, it is with great pleasure that I give you the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLH3mK1NZn9QqOSj3ObrP3xL8tEJQ12-vL">2016 Sanderson Lectures</a>, with thanks to Earl Cahill and his assistants for their camera work and editing. (Earl’s company, <a href="http://camerapanda.com/">Camera Panda</a>, gets a shout-out as well.)<br />
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I hope you find them useful!<br />
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Brandon<br />
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<br />StorybySashahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07264391447131553463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1429664026733486383.post-55810744460688883192016-02-05T08:14:00.001-08:002016-02-05T08:14:38.754-08:00And Whiskers on Kittens<span style="font-size: x-large;">S</span>peculative fiction is so rich. There are times when I believe science fiction or fantasy can say more about the human condition than can fiction without speculative elements. Perhaps it is in the juxtaposition of the real and the unreal that the human condition shines all the more, as with darkness contrasting to the light.<br />
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At any rate, here are a few of my favorite things.<br />
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<a href="http://tor.com/">Tor.com</a> has released a new story by <a href="https://kmferebee.wordpress.com/">K.M. Ferebee</a>. This gorgeous fantasy tale glows with imagery of wintertime and of dreams of wolves in the dark. Like most of my favorite yarns, there's a twist that appears late like a figure on the horizon.<br />
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The story is called <a href="http://www.tor.com/2016/02/03/tom-thom-km-ferebee/?utm_source=exacttarget&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_term=tordotcom-tordotcomnewsletter&utm_content=na-readblog-blogpost&utm_campaign=tor">"Tom, Thom."</a> The author is someone I look up to. Women have strong voices in short speculative fiction, too! The artwork for this piece is also exquisite.<br />
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<a href="http://www.silverthought.com/index01.html">Silverthought</a> is the first market to ever purchase and publish my short fiction. It holds a special place in my heart and is the place where I happened upon this gem by Shona Snowden called<a href="http://www.silverthought.com/snowden01.html"> "Puppy Love."</a> This is my kind of horror story. Talk about contrast. Anyone who can frighten you with a puppy is a true wizard.<br />
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I suppose to be fair I need to list a science fiction piece. I'll offer <a href="http://www.ideomancer.com/?p=758">"The Promse of Touch"</a> by Stephen Mohan, Jr., which I discovered in <a href="http://www.ideomancer.com/">Ideomancer</a>. Is a story written from the point of view of man's best friend, sci-fi or fantasy? Who is to say that dogs don't "talk" to each other? At any rate, this near-future tale has enough science in it for me to humbly label it sci-fi for our purposes here, at least.<br />
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Happy reading!StorybySashahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07264391447131553463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1429664026733486383.post-7888638063450693452015-01-23T06:44:00.001-08:002015-01-23T06:44:30.262-08:00To An Epic First Draft - Guest Blogger Galen Surlak-Ramsey<i>Some years ago I was fortunate enough to "meet" a complete stranger on a writing forum who would become my most trusted and cherished Beta reader. He always tells me like it is and that has proven invaluable. Let's check out what he had to say about his work in progress.</i><br />
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<br />StorybySashahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07264391447131553463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1429664026733486383.post-16998329184102268082014-10-21T10:49:00.003-07:002014-10-21T10:49:26.874-07:00THE WERE-TRAVELER Issue #15: Elves & Spacerockets (Fantasy & Science Fiction) featuring FROST BITETHE WERE-TRAVELER<br />
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<a href="http://theweretraveler.wordpress.com/2014/10/09/issue-15-elves-spacerockets-fantasy-science-fiction/">Issue #15: Elves & Spacerockets (Fantasy & Science Fiction)</a></h1>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;">In this fantastic volume you will find my latest short story to be published. It is called FROST BITE. Or as editor Maria Kelly so elegantly put it, The Accidental Vampire.</span></span></h1>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://wp.me/p1MMef-sT">ENJOY!</a></span></span></h1>
StorybySashahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07264391447131553463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1429664026733486383.post-3264582998862101162014-09-12T06:40:00.001-07:002014-09-12T06:40:21.209-07:00FREE!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Let's celebrate the weekend!<br />
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My short (but thrilling) story, HORROR MUSEUM is free free free to download this weekend!<br />
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Follow the link to purchase from the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Horror-Museum-Sasha-Janel-McBrayer-ebook/dp/B00EPPZQRS/">Amazon Kindle Store</a>. Don't forget you can read Kindle downloads on the computer or smart phone!StorybySashahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07264391447131553463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1429664026733486383.post-90386819425472644642014-07-08T16:29:00.002-07:002014-07-08T16:29:49.596-07:00The Quivering Pen - FRIDAY FREEBIE!!!This week's book giveaway is huge. Like Godzilla-Meets-Mothra huge.
Extra paperback copies of recently-published novels were piling up on
the shelves here at Chez Abrams, so I decided to dump all of them into
one big contest. ONE lucky reader will win ALL of the following books: <i><b><a href="http://www.iconoclastbooks.com/book/9780142424179" target="_blank">The Fault in Our Stars</a></b></i> by John Green, <i><b><a href="http://www.iconoclastbooks.com/book/9780062313638" target="_blank">Labor Day</a></b></i> by Joyce Maynard, <i><b><a href="http://www.iconoclastbooks.com/book/9781416589648" target="_blank">Little Bee</a></b></i> by Chris Cleave, <i><b><a href="http://www.iconoclastbooks.com/book/9780062107329" target="_blank">The Valley of Amazement</a></b></i> by Amy Tan, <i><b><a href="http://www.iconoclastbooks.com/book/9781616203818" target="_blank">The Explanation for Everything</a></b></i> by Lauren Grodstein, <i><b><a href="http://www.iconoclastbooks.com/book/9780062255662" target="_blank">The Ocean at the End of the Lane</a></b></i> by Neil Gaiman, <i><b><a href="http://www.iconoclastbooks.com/book/9780062069191" target="_blank">The Tilted World</a></b></i> by Tom Franklin & Beth Ann Fennelly, <i><b><a href="http://www.iconoclastbooks.com/book/9780374534677" target="_blank">Note to Self</a></b></i> by Alina Simone, <i><b><a href="http://www.iconoclastbooks.com/book/9780062280589" target="_blank">Tampa</a></b></i> by Alissa Nutting, and <i><b><a href="http://www.iconoclastbooks.com/book/9781616203801" target="_blank">Guests on Earth</a></b></i>
by Lee Smith. All the books are new trade paperback editions (a couple
have come from my personal library where they were treated with the
most tender loving care imaginable). For those of you who aren't
familiar with the books, here are the publishers' jacket copy
descriptions of each one...<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.davidabramsbooks.blogspot.com/2014/07/friday-freebie-big-book-bonanza-fault.html">JUST CLICK HERE!</a><br />
StorybySashahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07264391447131553463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1429664026733486383.post-48754589832694045032014-06-19T11:25:00.002-07:002014-06-19T11:25:16.553-07:00Don't Forget!<b>Ann Beardsley</b> has been a
professional freelance copyeditor for 15 years, specializing in
nonfiction but with occasional forays into fiction. She's also the
author of <u><i>Tilted Windmills</i></u>, a historical mystery (which she would edit again, if she had time). She is currently writing the<i> <u>Historical Dictionary of NASA and the Space Program</u></i> with several of her Mars One cohorts and self-editing her own<i> <u>Backyard Weather Forecasting: How to Be Your Own Weather Forecaster</u></i>.<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Aaaaaand...she's our guest speaker on Tuesday, June 24th! </b></span>StorybySashahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07264391447131553463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1429664026733486383.post-43182672933604300162014-06-03T04:45:00.003-07:002014-06-03T05:29:49.274-07:00The Phoenix Crossroads<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-N1s7Wjkq_Jc/U42yqsItFNI/AAAAAAAAAEI/vuLngkQTFrE/s1600/Ruins.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-N1s7Wjkq_Jc/U42yqsItFNI/AAAAAAAAAEI/vuLngkQTFrE/s1600/Ruins.jpg" height="138" width="200" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>The Phoenix Crossroads</b></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>By: Sasha Janel McBrayer</b></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><b><i>All stories begin somewhere. My journey into the murky waters of publishing began when Silverthought Online published my first short fantasy story in 2009. Here is an exclusive excerpt.</i></b></span><br />
<br />
<br />
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<div class="ecmsonormal" style="background: white; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">A</span>t lunchtime the wind was high. The hem of his robes blew
about, frustrating his pace. The sand went into his eyes. Lasos began to wonder
why in all of Cegria no architect ever stopped in the Phoenix Crossroads
and set to pave the streets. Then he remembered that everyone in town is merely
passing through. Those few locals, born to die on the warm patch of barren
Earth stamped into the center of the cardinal directions were fortunate to have
what buildings they did. As he continued from the library to Nikanor’s he found
those gathered at the Phoenix Pit obstructing his path.</span></div>
<div class="ecmsonormal" style="background: white; line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="ecmsonormal" style="background: white; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: #444444;">Lasos slowed his pace to watch the current episode at the
town’s namesake. He yawned as the latest participant walked toward the
seemingly innocuous hole in the earth. The man was lame. When he was nearly to
the edge, he dropped the hastily fashioned wood crutches and dipped his leg,
and the foot that had gone missing, likely from war, into the Pit. Smoke
flooded upward, past the man, whose face squished up like a fist. After some
moments, under his Uncle Kerkyon’s watchful eyes, attendants helped pull the
man backward. His foot had been restored.</span></div>
<div class="ecmsonormal" style="background: white; line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="ecmsonormal" style="background: white; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: #444444;">This was nothing new.</span></div>
<div class="ecmsonormal" style="background: white; line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="ecmsonormal" style="background: white; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: #444444;">Lasos continued on to scumble across the patchwork of
gray stones that surrounded the dry fountain at the town’s heart, appreciating
footfalls on something other than dirt. He passed the house of Lady Yaba,
soothsayer. It was among the largest private homes here, but it was not
beautiful and did double as Yaba’s place of business. Lasos regarded the sign
in her window relating she is closed for tea. That meant Yaba was drinking some
malicious smelling Orien brew with no more company than her many cats. He
passed the Kissish bathhouse. It was too beautiful, decadent enough to be
plucked up by the gods and placed in Earden City. They charged an
exorbitant fee for its use and the perpetual vacancy was ghostly. Lasos always rushed
as he passed it by. </span></div>
<div class="ecmsonormal" style="background: white; line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="ecmsonormal" style="background: white; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: #444444;">Finally, he reached Nikanor’s Inn. Inside he did not hear
the wind, only human bustle. Every manner of person traveled through the
Crossroads. Some were going west to Bettan or east to Femos. Some were
going to places far, of which the humble scribe has never dared dream. They were
dark and light. They traveled small or in bulbous caravans with horses and
camels and wagons. There were always men, women, children, and those difficult
to distinguish. Lasos sat elbow to elbow with them as he took his lunch. They
blurred into a rainbow of sameness. </span></div>
<div class="ecmsonormal" style="background: white; line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="ecmsonormal" style="background: white; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: #444444;">After eating, the scribe resigned himself to kindly carry
some hot lamb to his Uncle Kerkyon at the library. The library boasted a
strong, satisfactory arcade. Among the columns Lasos always felt serene and
safe. It was only the wide cell inside the big edifice, smelling of parchment
and ink that felt like a prison. His cynicism was due to the inevitable day
when Kerkyon’s wits or eyes or hands failed him, or his life ended, and Lasos
would inherit his Uncle’s role of town scribe. The notion of forever being
chained to the Phoenix Pit, merely to record events loomed over the younger man
like an ebon cloud.</span></div>
<div class="ecmsonormal" style="background: white; line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="ecmsonormal" style="background: white; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: #444444;">Few travelers knew of the Pit’s existence and the locals
who were not busy in service to the passers through were generally bored of it.
By <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>the time Lasos returned from lunch
the handful had dispersed, allowing Lasos to freely pass into the library, past
the exaggerated, tall walls full of scroll storage plots, and into to the main
cell. Pinned up deer hides insulated the cold white walls inside creating a
contrast to the long, stark hall. Kerkyon repeatedly dipped quill into ink and
scrawled several black lines onto the fresh, opalescent parchment. His
dedication to efficiency even after all these years bothered Lasos deeply and
the junior scribe tightened his grip on the darker, cheaper paper in which the
warm lamb shank was wrapped.</span></div>
<div class="ecmsonormal" style="background: white; line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="ecmsonormal" style="background: white; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: #444444;"> “Come in, Lasos,” Kerkyon commanded in his booming
alto. </span></div>
<div class="ecmsonormal" style="background: white; line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="ecmsonormal" style="background: white; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: #444444;">The rest of the day passed just the way many others had
passed. There was little more Lasos could learn about his future
occupation. </span></div>
<div class="ecmsonormal" style="background: white; line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="ecmsonormal" style="background: white; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: #444444;">The next day began as a reasonable facsimile of the last.
The wind was high again. Only there was a wedding procession stopped in front
of the dry fountain in time to meet Lasos at his lunchtime walk. Funerals and
weddings were rare in the Crossroads. Lasos noted this as he stopped, shielded
his eyes from the wind-blown dust, and watched the ceremony. Perhaps it was the
dry climate, he conjectured, which made the townsfolk live so long. More and
more modern physicians seemed to agree that dry air did all four humors well.
Then again it could be the dour days that gave the heart so little excitement
as to lengthen its life. Regardless, few people equaled few deaths and even
fewer pairings.</span></div>
<div class="ecmsonormal" style="background: white; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: #444444;"> It was a small ceremony. The participants were not
locals. The travelers must have felt, for one reason or another, they could not
wait until reaching their destination for the final marriage rites. By their
colorful garments, repeating in crimson and black geometric patterns, Lasos
recognized them as hailing from Kiss. Though the whole continent recognized the
same wedding tradition more or less, the process was varied in severity and
complexity, from country to country. People of Kiss were particularly
stringent. </span></div>
<div class="ecmsonormal" style="background: white; line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="ecmsonormal" style="background: white; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: #444444;">The process always began with the walk. A man who had his
eye on a particular woman would ask her to walk with him. On this outdoor
stroll he made his intentions known. In the Cegrian city-states, the walk was
usually a formality, but among the Kissish, the walk was key, sometimes
initiated though the man and woman were strangers and the woman was forbidden
from attending without a chaperone. Whether she was favorable or not he next
sought audience with the woman’s parents to gain their final permission. Lasos
remembered pretending at the walk in primary school with Old Nikanor’s youngest
red-haired daughter who eventually took her true walk with a sailor and was
never seen again.</span></div>
<div class="ecmsonormal" style="background: white; line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="ecmsonormal" style="background: white; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: #444444;"> If permission was granted the rest of the process
took just four weeks and ended in the final ceremony. This was the part Lasos
spied. The husband to be, in his finest Kissish turban, slid the fingerless
marriage glove onto his woman’s left hand. Not only would the lady’s marital
status be hence forward visible by this glove, but her station in life as well.
The wealthy had lavish marriage gloves, whereas the poor wore those of more
humble material. Even from his distance Lasos made out the most intricate black
lace overlay on the Kissish woman’s new accessory and the sparkling of a few
sewn in gems. Perhaps her man was a thriving merchant.</span></div>
<div class="ecmsonormal" style="background: white; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: #444444;"> It all ended with a kiss and someone throwing
yellow petals into the intemperate wind. Lasos continued after to Nikanor’s
Inn.</span></div>
<div class="ecmsonormal" style="background: white; line-height: 200%;">
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #444444;"><b>*</b></span><b><span style="color: #444444;"></span></b><span style="color: #444444;"></span></div>
</div>
<div class="ecmsonormal" style="background: white; line-height: 200%;">
</div>
<div class="ecmsonormal" style="background: white; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: #444444;"><br />
She had shiny, long, black hair, and unblemished olive skin. Her eyes were soft
and without the pride and boastfulness of women’s eyes who might rival her
splendor. Were those loudly colored roses standing tall and demanding all the
attention in the garden of the world, then this young woman was a lovely,
symmetrical vine. Your eyes might pass over the vine for all the greenery of
the garden, but when you did pause upon it and give it study, you soon found it
more appealing than any rose. Perhaps it was her deeply green eyes that made
Lasos think of perfect Bettan Ivy, though he was sure she had come from the
South East by her long, clean, linen dress; Nitkora perhaps. </span></div>
<div class="ecmsonormal" style="background: white; line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="ecmsonormal" style="background: white; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: #444444;">The ivy woman sat beside a big man who looked to the
scribe to be the spitting image of the mythic warrior O’Jaxor. Lasos would have
believed he was O’Jaxor should someone have said so. The man’s chest was as
wide as his muscled frame could withstand. He had a thick, bull-neck, eyes of a
muddled green-brown, a clean-shaven head, and a neatly trimmed, black,
short-beard that started beneath his nose and framed his lean lips. He wore no
weapons or armor, yet Lasos was certain the gargantuan could crush a man.</span></div>
<div class="ecmsonormal" style="background: white; line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="ecmsonormal" style="background: white; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: #444444;">The most unusual accessory of the strong man, the
green-eyed woman’s traveling companion, was what he carried with him always. It
was a small child. The tiny girl had not but 3 years and featured his same
muddy eyes. The settings of their jaws were the same, too, but the little one’s
hair was long and thin and the color of sand in sunlight. Lasos saw none of the
Nitkorian in the child. He was certain the girl was the product of the big man
and a rose kind of woman. In fact, the Nitkorian lady wore no marriage glove
yet it was quite unheard of for a man to travel alone with an unmarried woman
thus.</span></div>
<div class="ecmsonormal" style="background: white; line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="ecmsonormal" style="background: white; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: #444444;"> While Lasos was watching, the behemoth finished his
lunch, rose, hoisted up his child, pressed his beard into the Nitkorian’s ear
and departed. Lasos could barely wait the span of a minute to rise and sit back
down at the dark-haired woman’s side.</span></div>
<div class="ecmsonormal" style="background: white; line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="ecmsonormal" style="background: white; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: #444444;"> “I am Lasos,” he said in introduction, avoiding her
green eyes a little. “I do hope my lady’s escort has not abandoned her, but if
that were the case, and you should have need of anything whilst visiting the
Phoenix Crossroads, do let your servant know.” His own chivalry startled him.</span></div>
<div class="ecmsonormal" style="background: white; line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="ecmsonormal" style="background: white; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: #444444;"> The attention made the lady blush but she willed
the color away with majestic composure. She offered a polite smile. “My
servant, Lasos? I didn’t know I had any.”</span></div>
<div class="ecmsonormal" style="background: white; line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="ecmsonormal" style="background: white; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: black;"> “You do now. Ah…miss…er…Madame.” Lasos was baffled.
Did she belong to the big cheek kissing man? </span></div>
<div class="ecmsonormal" style="background: white; line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="ecmsonormal" style="background: white; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: black;"> “Miss,” she answered. “I am Prone. My escort has
retired to our room.”</span></div>
<div class="ecmsonormal" style="background: white; line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="ecmsonormal" style="background: white; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: black;"> </span><span style="color: #444444;">The scribe’s
stomach turned. Lasos’ searching eyes burned with curiosity, however her own
darted away from his as deftly as a deer evades a lion.</span></div>
<div class="ecmsonormal" style="background: white; line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="ecmsonormal" style="background: white; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: black;">“Miss, might your servant inquire about the man and child?”</span></div>
<div class="ecmsonormal" style="background: white; line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="ecmsonormal" style="background: white; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: black;"> She blinked rapidly. “Atys has asked me to marry
him,” she replied.</span></div>
<div class="ecmsonormal" style="background: white; line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="ecmsonormal" style="background: white; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: black;"> Lasos choked. Was this Atys a barbarian? He had
observed none of the proper customs. Traveling with her thus made the Bettan
Ivy into a harlot.</span></div>
<div class="ecmsonormal" style="background: white; line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="ecmsonormal" style="background: white; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: black;"> Prone continued, “His daughter is Aketa, an angel
down from heaven…a little spoiled though.”</span><span style="color: #444444;"></span></div>
<div class="ecmsonormal" style="background: white; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: black;"> “And her mother?” Lasos asked.</span><span style="color: #444444;"></span></div>
<div class="ecmsonormal" style="background: white; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: black;"> “Gone. Abandoned them flat,” she said. Her eyebrows
met each other helplessly.</span><span style="color: #444444;"></span></div>
<div class="ecmsonormal" style="background: white; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: black;"> </span><span style="color: #444444;"></span><span style="color: black;">“Forgive me,” Lasos continued, “but good Miss Prone, do you
dislike your Atys?”</span><span style="color: #444444;"></span>
</div>
<div class="ecmsonormal" style="background: white; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: black;"> She answered, “I like him more than I should and hate
myself for it.”</span></div>
<div class="ecmsonormal" style="background: white; line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="ecmsonormal" style="background: white; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: black;"> Lasos was both surprised by the Nitkorian’s honesty
and shaken by the gravity of the situation as related by the seriousness in her
ivy colored eyes. “Then fly, Prone,” he said, in an excited whisper, “Fly this
instant! Go before Atys can follow.”</span></div>
<div class="ecmsonormal" style="background: white; line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="ecmsonormal" style="background: white; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: black;"> She looked defeated. The deer of the scribe’s
imagination was now in a cage. </span><span style="color: #444444;"></span></div>
<div class="ecmsonormal" style="background: white; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: black;"> “I cannot. I am bewitched. I am lied to, and yet I
cling. I am so convinced of his need for me I am made to feel the villain,” she
explained. “Yet, Atys respects no custom, no tradition, and not my parents who
are left mourning the loss of me. His will is absolute and it has targeted me.
The child, equally bewitching also has need. I am sure she loves me. His body
is such a vile thing,” she continued, nearly as an afterthought. “I am sure it
was forged by Phesuez, god of the ironworks. A look, a touch, causes me to feel
gilded.”</span></div>
<div class="ecmsonormal" style="background: white; line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="ecmsonormal" style="background: white; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: black;"> “Take the child and go,” Lasos pleaded.</span><span style="color: #444444;"></span></div>
<div class="ecmsonormal" style="background: white; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: black;"> “She has more need of him than she shall ever have
for me.” Prone looked defeated, however she did not entirely dislike her
present company. After some small moments passed, she decided to change the
subject.</span></div>
<div class="ecmsonormal" style="background: white; line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="ecmsonormal" style="background: white; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: #444444;"> “Tell me one thing, Lasos,” she said, “Since
you are from here. What was that gathering near the library yesterday?”</span></div>
<div class="ecmsonormal" style="background: white; line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="ecmsonormal" style="background: white; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: #444444;"> Lasos proceeded to tell Prone about the town and
its pit. As he did, her eyes no longer evaded his. She seemed to hang on every
word, and so he continued almost feverishly. Her sadness remained notable. At
times during his tirade Prone looked like a lonely fawn. She buoyed herself now
and again, however, and took periodic sips from her cup. She nodded and urged
Lasos to continue.</span></div>
<div class="ecmsonormal" style="background: white; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: #444444;"> The scribe could not finish delivering the
information, for fear he’d never have Prone’s attention again. He was telling
the story of the rich man who had lost his fortune and made attempt at
regaining it by dipping his purse into the Phoenix Pit. </span></div>
<div class="ecmsonormal" style="background: white; line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="ecmsonormal" style="background: white; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: #444444;"> Before he could relay the outcome to that incident,
Prone’s slender fingers were touching the skin of the scribe’s arm. He stopped
speaking instantly. He stopped breathing also.</span></div>
<div class="ecmsonormal" style="background: white; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: #444444;"> “Was there any who ever put themselves into the Pit
entirely?” she questioned.</span></div>
<div class="ecmsonormal" style="background: white; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: #444444;"> Lasos nodded. “One man,” he said, “He had grown old
and was bent on finding his youth again.”</span></div>
<div class="ecmsonormal" style="background: white; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: #444444;">“What happened to him,” Prone asked.</span></div>
<div class="ecmsonormal" style="background: white; line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="ecmsonormal" style="background: white; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: #444444;"> The scribe’s shoulders rose toward his ears. “He
disappeared. My Uncle Kerkyon believes he may have somehow returned to the womb
of his mother.”</span></div>
<div class="ecmsonormal" style="background: white; line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="ecmsonormal" style="background: white; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: #444444;"> For the first time, Prone laughed. It was marvelous
to watch. Lasos’ mouth came opened and he smiled.</span></div>
<div class="ecmsonormal" style="background: white; line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="ecmsonormal" style="background: white; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: #444444;">“I felt certain,” she said eventually, “That your Pit
must be the answer for me. That providence put us here. But I am wrong. I can
no more put Atys inside it so that he might forget to want me, than I can place
little Aketa within to stop her fondness for me. The Pit cannot make her mother
return either.” </span></div>
<div class="ecmsonormal" style="background: white; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: #444444;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="ecmsonormal" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; line-height: 200%; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #444444;"><b>*</b></span></div>
<div class="ecmsonormal" style="background: white; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: #444444;"> </span><span style="color: #444444;"> </span></div>
<div class="ecmsonormal" style="background: white; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: #444444;">Lasos became alarmed. Throughout his speech about the
town he had forgotten to relate the most important aspect of the Phoenix Pit.
He had taken it for granted until now.</span></div>
<div class="ecmsonormal" style="background: white; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: #444444;"> </span>
</div>
<div class="ecmsonormal" style="background: white; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: #444444;"> “No, no, Miss Prone. You must keep away from the
Pit. It is truly unpredictable. The outcomes its seekers desire and the outcomes
which it deals out are never the same.”</span></div>
<div class="ecmsonormal" style="background: white; line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="ecmsonormal" style="background: white; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: #444444;">“I do not understand. The soldier yesterday,” she said.
“His foot was restored.”</span></div>
<div class="ecmsonormal" style="background: white; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: #444444;">“No, Prone,” Lasos continued. “Not in the way you would
expect. It was a child’s foot.”</span></div>
<div class="ecmsonormal" style="background: white; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: #444444;">“What,” Prone exclaimed.</span></div>
<div class="ecmsonormal" style="background: white; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: #444444;">“Yes. His foot was returned to him, but in a much newer
state than he anticipated. And the poverty stricken rich man,” he related, “His
leather purse was not filled with gold as was his desire. Instead that leather
satchel leapt out of the rushing smoke and laid him flat on the dirt. The purse
was a calf again, as if it had never been killed and worked by the tanner’s
hands.”</span></div>
<div class="ecmsonormal" style="background: white; line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="ecmsonormal" style="background: white; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: #444444;">Lasos was pleased that his words and tone had drained
color from Prone’s face. He wanted only her safety and happiness and could not
see where the Pit could produce these. Then her deep sadness seemed to veil
over her eyes again and his gladness left him.</span></div>
<div class="ecmsonormal" style="background: white; line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="ecmsonormal" style="background: white; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: #444444;">“There is another,” he said suddenly. Yabba had always
seemed a nuisance until now. “Prone, might I escort you, in all respect, to the
house of the town soothsayer? She is old and wise in many things. If you are
bewitched, she may know the remedy.”</span></div>
<div class="ecmsonormal" style="background: white; line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="ecmsonormal" style="background: white; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: #444444;">Prone’s lips thinned. Her use of the word had not been
literal. She did not believe there was any magic involved in the caging of her
heart. Atys was a force of nature. He was pleasing to the eye. He needed no
magic to aid him.</span></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
...<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />StorybySashahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07264391447131553463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1429664026733486383.post-3800183244473329262014-05-17T16:58:00.001-07:002014-05-17T17:04:42.153-07:00THE MIDWIFE Appearing Now In "Bloodbond"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Gbd43H8ZosY/U3f4K-wzqAI/AAAAAAAAAD4/2sSgjJnfzbk/s1600/Crossing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Gbd43H8ZosY/U3f4K-wzqAI/AAAAAAAAAD4/2sSgjJnfzbk/s1600/Crossing.jpg" height="239" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Vevina went on as
though there had never been a boy at all. She was more aloof than ever, more the
scouring maid than the midwife now that her lady’s progeny were all grown. She
never spoke of a black-haired son called Reynolds.</b></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>
</b></span><br />
<div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>It was when [the dog] “Pip”
was discovered near the garden quite thoroughly deceased, chewed and gnarly, in
fact, that the lord and lady began to question the safety of their warm weather
home.</b></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>
</b></span><br />
<div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Swans from the
lake were victims next, shredded to bloody ribbons.</b></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>
</b></span><br />
<div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Many assumed
whatever wolf or forest cat was responsible for the carnage might also have
been the author of the unspoken demise of the midwife’s son.</b></span></div>
</blockquote>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">My dark, short, fantasy tale, THE MIDWIFE, has been published in the May issue of "Bloodbond." The above is an exclusive excerpt. If you haven't guessed, the story involves a Sasquatch.</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">"Bloodbond" is available in print: <a class="" href="http://store.albanlake.com/product/bloodbond-may-2014/" target="_blank">http://store.albanlake.com/product/bloodbond-may-2014/</a><br /><br />And in PDF: <a href="https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/438215" target="_blank">https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/438215</a></span><br id="ecxFontBreak" /><u> </u></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><u>Bloodbond May 2014 Contents</u><br /> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">(short stories)<br />
Soil Samples by David W. Landrum<br />
Sex, Blood, and Whiskey by Eric Del Carlo<br />
The Last Of His Kind by John Bruni<br />
Symbiosis by Gary K. Shepherd<br />
<b>The Midwife by Sasha Janel McBrayer</b><br />
Aeok’s Vision by Bill Sinyard<br />
Necrotopia by Paul A. Dixon<br />
Companion For The Night by Andrew S. Taylor<br />
<br /><br />(poems)<br />
The Five Faces Of Dracula by Scott E. Green<br />
Vampire by Bray McDonald<br />
Meanwhile, On Kepler 62e by Francis W. Alexander<br />
The Hungering Host by Richard H. Fay<br />
A Quivering, Chilly Shell She Creates by Maura Gage Cavell<br />
What Use Is Immortality by Francis W. Alexander<br />
The Tokens by James Hartley<br />
The Vampire King by Matthew Wilson<br />
<br /><br />(articles)<br />
The Ancient One, review by Oliviu Craznic </span>StorybySashahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07264391447131553463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1429664026733486383.post-2127124533665694672014-02-27T07:29:00.000-08:002014-02-27T07:29:47.176-08:00Read Across America Day<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4sMCdS87Njo/Uw9YN8uILuI/AAAAAAAAADg/XDridXShsKA/s1600/booksspeced.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4sMCdS87Njo/Uw9YN8uILuI/AAAAAAAAADg/XDridXShsKA/s1600/booksspeced.jpg" height="200" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
To celebrate <b>Read Across America Day</b> (http://www.readacrossamerica.org/), my short story <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Horror-Museum-Sasha-Janel-McBrayer-ebook/dp/B00EPPZQRS/"><b>HORROR MUSEUM</b></a> will be free to download on March 1st through 3rd.StorybySashahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07264391447131553463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1429664026733486383.post-37052492158222699942014-01-07T09:35:00.001-08:002014-01-07T09:35:06.235-08:00Creative Writing Courses & The Local Authors' Corner<b>Creative Writing Courses:</b><br />
<br />
A new round of creative writing classes will begin in a couple of weeks
at the Coastal Georgia Center. I was hoping to reach out to you to let
the members of the Savannah Writers Group know about the classes and
encourage them to enroll if they are looking to further their immersion
in the craft of writing. Here is the information, <a href="http://academics.georgiasouthern.edu/ce/programs/personaldevelopment/writingclasses/" target="_blank">http://academics.georgiasouthern.edu/ce/programs/personaldevelopment/writingclasses/</a><br clear="all" />
<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
As the instructor, I work to create an encouraging,
safe and fun environment for all levels. And a few of the previous
students have gone on to publish. </div>
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Please don't hesitate to contact me should you have any questions. </div>
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-- <br />With warmest regards,<div>
<br /></div>
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<span style="color: blue;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<b><span style="color: blue;">Amy Paige Condon</span></b></div>
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</div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
* </div>
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<b> </b></div>
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<b>Local Authors' Corner @ the Black Heritage Festival:</b></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";">I am extending an invitation to you and the Savannah Writer's Group to participate in this year's Local Authors Corner. </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif";"> The Grand Festival Day will be held on <b>Saturday, February 8, 2014 </b>in the Savannah Civic Center's Martin Luther King, Jr. Arena.</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";"></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif";">In
the past, the organizers of the Black Heritage Festival (BHF) have
provided a room for the Local Authors Corner (LAC) and a vendor's table
to display our books. This year, we are asking the participating authors
to contribute $20.00 to <u>purchase</u><b> two (2) tables, </b>which
would allow us to be in a better location, and have more room. The cost
for two tables is $200. The deadline is January 17, 2014. So, time is of
the essence!</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif";"></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif";">Peace & Blessings,</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif";"></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif";">Brenda Roberts, Coordinator</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif";"></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif";">Local Authors Corner/2014 Black Heritage Festival</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b><i><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif";">Pamela Howard-Oglesby & Brenda L. Roberts <br />Authors, Savannah's Black "First Ladies", Vol. I</span></i></b><b><i><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"></span></i></b></span></div>
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<div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b><i><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif";">Finalist, Global e-Book Award- Inspirational/Visionary</span></i></b><b><i><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"></span></i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b><i><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif";">Finalist, USA Book News "Best Books" </span></i></b><b><i><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"></span></i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b><i><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif";">.........Forthcoming - Savannah's Black "First Ladies", Vol. II</span></i></b><b><i><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"></span></i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span class="ecxurl"><b><i><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/BlackFirstLadies" target="_blank">www</a><a href="http://www.facebook.com/BlackFirstLadies" target="_blank">.facebook.com/BlackFirstLadies</a></span></i></b></span><b><i><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span></i></b></span></div>
</div>
<span class="ecxurl"><b><i><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.blackfirstladies.net/" target="_blank">www</a><a href="http://www.blackfirstladies.net/" target="_blank">.blackfirstladies.net</a></span> </span></i></b></span></div>
StorybySashahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07264391447131553463noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1429664026733486383.post-49141560242442511222013-11-14T05:21:00.000-08:002013-11-14T05:21:00.445-08:00Allegory - "Volume 22/49"<h1 align="center">
<span style="color: #5c2c16; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>Honorable
Mentions </strong></span></h1>
<div align="center">
<strong>Allegory</strong> deals with submissions in
the way that, as far as I know, remains fairly unique in the publishing
world. Each story is individually reviewed and, if considered publishable,
is placed in our "Maybe" pile. At the end of each submission
period, these "Maybes" are reviewed, and the best eight chosen
to appear in the next issue. This final cut is made on the basis of
issue balance, and does NOT reflect the overall quality of these stories.</div>
<div align="center">
<br /></div>
That said, here - in no particular order - are the "Maybes"
who just missed publication in <strong>Allegory</strong>. Each one is
a fine tale that we would have been proud to publish. Remember these
names, friends and fellows. You'll be hearing from them in the future.
I guarantee it!<br />
<br />
<div align="center">
<strong>A Strike at the Heart of the Cannon Lord </strong>by
Steven Peck<br />
<strong>Sphere of Influence </strong>by Sean MacKendrick<br />
<strong>A Good Thing </strong>by Anna Sones<br />
<strong>The Song of the Beetles </strong>by Sheryl Normandeau<br />
<strong>Sorry, Wrong Planet </strong>by Chris Bolay<br />
<strong>Professor Paranormal's Definitive Guide for Ghost Hunters </strong>by
Antoinette McCormcick<br />
<strong>Perfection's Failure </strong> by Craig Meinhart<br />
<strong>A Father's Blessing </strong>by Jim Lee<br />
<strong>Milk Opal</strong> by Richard Wolkomir<br />
<strong>There She Stands </strong>by Nathaniel W. Phillips<br />
<strong>Always His Treasure and Pride </strong>by Nicole Bills<br />
<strong>The Good Fairy</strong> by Ed Ahern<br />
<strong>Waveson </strong>by Diana Rohlman<br />
<strong>Waste Not, Want Not </strong> by Adam Stehly<br />
<strong>The Chosen One </strong>by Huston Lowell<br />
<strong>Two Drifters </strong>by Carly Berg<br />
<strong>The League of Lame Superheroes </strong>by James Aquilone<br />
<span style="background-color: #ffe599;"><strong>The Artist </strong>by Sasha McBrayer</span><br />
<strong>Zombie Talk </strong>by William Rayst<br />
<strong>Lightning Flashed </strong>by Adam Gaylord<br />
<strong>First In, First Out </strong>by Matt West<br />
<strong>The Only Safe Place </strong>by Toby Vaughn<br />
<strong>The Evening of the Mule </strong>by Andrew Hook<br />
<strong>He Who Has Ears, Let Him Hear</strong> by Michael Haynes<br />
<strong>Fresh Dirt</strong> by Jason Bougger<br />
<strong>Time of the Loom </strong>by Corinna Rogers<br />
<strong>Tired Voices </strong>by Joseph E. Hulme</div>
StorybySashahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07264391447131553463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1429664026733486383.post-615287351513737602013-09-24T05:55:00.001-07:002013-09-24T05:55:39.203-07:00Downloaded 104 times<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lV_yP0Dy6VY/UkGJekd494I/AAAAAAAAADE/wYsRF_TrgPQ/s1600/Horror+Museum+Cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lV_yP0Dy6VY/UkGJekd494I/AAAAAAAAADE/wYsRF_TrgPQ/s1600/Horror+Museum+Cover.jpg" /></a></div>
Who has been downloaded 104 times? I have been downloaded 104 times! Or rather, my lightly chilling short story HORROR MUSEUM, now available on Amazon for the Kindle (and the Kindle app on your computer or smart phone) has been chosen by people all over the world, now including India, Italy and Japan! Hai!<br />
<br />
Get a copy of your own by following <a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00EPPZQRS">this link</a>.<br />
<br />
Though originally published under the pseudonym Mina Yan (the story's main character), you will now find HORROR MUSEUM in my name. That means I was also able to create a Amazon Author Central page! <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Sasha-Janel-McBrayer/e/B00F6JGZ8Q/ref=ntt_dp_epwbk_1">Look at the awesomeness</a>!<br />
<br />
When you check out my Author page, you will notice HORROR MUSEUM isn't my only offering. My short story GRAND-MONSTER is also available as a part of the fabulous anthology, titled <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Future-Imperfect-Best-Wily-Writers/dp/0983182426/ref=la_B00F6JGZ8Q_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1380027195&sr=1-1">FUTURE IMPERFECT: Best of Wily Writers, vol. 2</a>. This is a really great compilation of science fiction. Its a true honor to find a home among the other authors inside the book.<br />
<br />StorybySashahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07264391447131553463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1429664026733486383.post-42884939262263567312013-09-03T04:52:00.004-07:002013-09-03T04:52:56.871-07:00Good News!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VlyEd6Xsv0Y/UiXJPn4cfsI/AAAAAAAAACw/CalyTCwXvYc/s1600/Hooray.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VlyEd6Xsv0Y/UiXJPn4cfsI/AAAAAAAAACw/CalyTCwXvYc/s320/Hooray.jpg" width="314" /></a></div>
<br />
I have two bits of good news today, writerly friends.<br />
<br />
First, I must announce that I've taken the plunge into the murky waters of self-publishing.<br />
<br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00EPPZQRS">http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00EPPZQRS</a></div>
<br />
Mind you, when it comes to my long fiction (I have a handful of novels at various stages of completion), I still have my heart set on the traditional publishing model. That means, I very much want to attract a good literary agent.<br />
<br />
When it comes to short fiction, I've published five speculative fiction yarns with various zines and e-zines. In fact, one story is in an anthology book in print, which means I can hold the anthology in my hands. Because I'm a tad old-fashioned, that was a very rewarding accomplishment.<br />
<br />
One of my favorite science fiction tales, HORROR MUSEUM has been close to being accepted by one zine or another a few times, but ultimately remained unpublished. So, I decided to publish it myself. It's available now on Amazon for the Kindle. You can download your own copy by following the link up above.<br />
<br />
Here's a little description: <i>Mild-mannered museum administrative assistant, Mina Yan, is about to
discover that hiring someone new can be a killer undertaking.<br /><br />This short, science fiction yarn proves that sometimes monsters hide in plain sight.</i><br />
<br />
Because choosing the self-publishing route is an experiment for me, I decided to use a pseudonym. I published HORROR MUSEUM under the name of the story's protagonist, Mina Yan.<br />
<br />
You're probably wondering how this adventure has been going thus far. Well, I'll tell you. HORROR MUSEUM has been live for 13 days and it has been downloaded over 45 times! <i> </i><br />
<br />
I did promise a second bit of good news, so here it comes. Another of my short stories, THE MIDWIFE has been accepted for publication. I'll have the details for you soon. I'd describe it as a Gothic tale. It involves a coastal estate, a curse and a monstrous Sasquatch!<br />
StorybySashahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07264391447131553463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1429664026733486383.post-45680871439696862232013-08-20T10:34:00.003-07:002013-08-20T10:34:59.731-07:00Elmore Leonard has passed awayHe is a literary giant in my book. Today Elmore Leonard passed.<br />
<br />
Leonard's offered 10 tricks for good writing:<br />
<ol>
<li> Never open a book with weather.</li>
<li> Avoid prologues.</li>
<li> Never use a verb other than "said" to carry dialogue.</li>
<li> Never use an adverb to modify the verb "said”…he admonished gravely.</li>
<li> Keep your exclamation points under control. You are allowed no more than two or three per 100,000 words of prose. </li>
<li> Never use the words "suddenly" or "all hell broke loose."</li>
<li> Use regional dialect, patois, sparingly.</li>
<li> Avoid detailed descriptions of characters.</li>
<li> Don't go into great detail describing places and things.</li>
<li> Try to leave out the part that readers tend to skip.<br /><br />
... he added "My most important rule is one that sums up the 10. If it sounds like writing, I rewrite it."</li>
</ol>
StorybySashahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07264391447131553463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1429664026733486383.post-317953069511564132013-08-18T11:23:00.000-07:002013-08-18T11:24:46.475-07:00Positive News for THE ARTIST<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pHxoRiAEMrM/UhEPTaVsKmI/AAAAAAAAACg/LKU9a0oUkZA/s1600/child-painting.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pHxoRiAEMrM/UhEPTaVsKmI/AAAAAAAAACg/LKU9a0oUkZA/s1600/child-painting.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
My short tale of horror, entitled THE ARTIST was first published by TITLE GOES HERE and appeared in <span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Issue Eight on </span>July 13th, 2011<b>. </b>(Yes, the magazine is actually titled "Title Goes Here". I'm not making that up!)<b> </b>Although issues are available in
print and digital formats, TITLE GOES HERE is not free to read.<b> </b>That means<b> </b>you cannot currently read the story online.<br />
<br />
This summer I've been sending out THE ARTIST as a re-print, hoping to see it published again. If that wonderful sci-fi series The X-Files were still in production, I'd like to think the subject of this story would make a killer episode.<br />
<br />
At any rate, my fingers are still crossed, but my latest news is THE ARTIST will appear as an Honorable Mention in Volume 22/49 of ALLEGORY.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
I'll post a link when that edition is ready, but this is the language ALLEGORY uses to congratulate its Honorable Mentions (this comes from the current Volume, 21/48):<b> </b></div>
<div align="center">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i><b>Allegory</b> deals with submissions in
the way that, as far as I know, remains fairly unique in the publishing
world. Each story is individually reviewed and, if considered publishable,
is placed in our "Maybe" pile. At the end of each submission
period, these "Maybes" are reviewed, and the best eight chosen
to appear in the next issue. This final cut is made on the basis of
issue balance, and does NOT reflect the overall quality of these stories.</i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<i>
</i><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i>That said, here - in no particular order - are the "Maybes"
who just missed publication in <b>Allegory</b>. Each one is
a fine tale that we would have been proud to publish. Remember these
names, friends and fellows. You'll be hearing from them in the future.
I guarantee it!</i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<br />StorybySashahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07264391447131553463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1429664026733486383.post-40008566716135413832013-07-26T11:16:00.003-07:002013-07-26T11:16:50.113-07:00Playing the Waiting GameHello, I'm Sasha, I'll be your friendly neighborhood writer for the evening.<br />
<br />
I keep a writerly blog over at <a href="http://nikanors-inn.livejournal.com/">Live Journal</a>, but it has proven impossible to access from work for about a month now, so I'm in the process of switching here to Blogger, which has been much more convenient.<br />
<br />
As a writer, I always have multiple projects going on at once. I have a weekly movie review both in video and print format appearing in Hinesville, Fort Stewart, Richmond Hill and Statesboro, Georgia newspapers/ news sites. My short stories tend to be of the speculative fiction variety. I've published FIVE thus far. I am seeking an agent for my recently completed darkly comedic crime novel and for my Christian Young Reader book.<br />
<br />
I'm also the official blogger for the Savannah Writers Group. <br />
<br />
I enjoy sharing rejection letters and the like on Face Book so that non-writer types can see the perils we writers must go through. <br />
<br />
Here was one such update I posted today:<br />
<br />
<span class="userContent" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}">THREE
of my short stories have been SHORTLISTED this summer. The suspense is
KILLING me as I wait to hear the outcomes. One of the three was cut, but
only due to space restrictions. (Never mind that I'm also waiting to
hear about my crime novel and my children's book!)</span><br />
<span class="userContent" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}"><br /> ~</span><br />
<span class="userContent" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}"><br /> We have
good news and we have bad news. The good news is that your story has
made our second round, rarified company that more t<span class="text_exposed_show">han
90% of submissions do not reach. While half or more of our second round
stories will not ultimately see publication under the DSF rocket, this
story has reached the final go/no-go before launch.<br /> <br /> The bad
news--and I promised you some bad news--is that it will take us time to
make that final decision. Expect an additional two weeks or so, but
don't be surprised if it's a month from today. Thanks for your continued
patience, and thanks for sending us this worthy submission.</span></span>StorybySashahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07264391447131553463noreply@blogger.com0