tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-60018257439605520082024-03-18T08:01:25.936-04:00Murder by 4A place for writers and book lovers to come togetherMarta Stephenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14126647102399666578noreply@blogger.comBlogger1455125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6001825743960552008.post-66040136914535375302024-03-17T14:34:00.003-04:002024-03-18T08:00:54.907-04:00Spring is almost here! (and a few free books)<p style="text-align: center;"><span face=""Merriweather Sans", Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: 20px;"><strong>Welcome, dear friends and readers. </strong></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"> </p><p style="text-align: center;"><strong style="font-family: "Merriweather Sans", Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 20px;">Spring is coming!</strong></p><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOeQTY4zRtmK8fcJCjTMZZSbygX6fRTfn-C0JDnjvE-oIX-pEpCQpFLLG1WtGk0Ur1ESFzSMAewOkMCQyCZKMjJt_L76TzFrBK_VLbdFVe7V3IFUqemYb4CteadYZMmOdUYmHQVCwdRS3FYZjObPg_34YGd-TW-s3lyua-0q3G32Hk8dFGmIlQeExDgnOR/s4032/IMG_2276.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOeQTY4zRtmK8fcJCjTMZZSbygX6fRTfn-C0JDnjvE-oIX-pEpCQpFLLG1WtGk0Ur1ESFzSMAewOkMCQyCZKMjJt_L76TzFrBK_VLbdFVe7V3IFUqemYb4CteadYZMmOdUYmHQVCwdRS3FYZjObPg_34YGd-TW-s3lyua-0q3G32Hk8dFGmIlQeExDgnOR/s320/IMG_2276.jpeg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br />I saw my snowdrops happily nodding their pristine white heads the other day. And the purple crocus as coming up in their usual spots and in some surprising areas, where I guess the chipmunks moved them very steathily. Little rascals.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I love it. Spring makes my spirits soar, even in this time of huge adjustment.</span></p><p><strong><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: verdana;">Free eBooks</span></strong></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Today I'm going to share two FREE eBooks with you, Robert Sells' new romantic murder mystery,</span><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Affair-Murder-Robert-Sells-ebook/dp/B0CVV86C98/ref=sr_1_2?crid=2UDVTEADHV4BM&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.qHYPTxJWrq84XaaOFo7RJnt5k7bl09UHVcL4uT9EbW0DdIUR_UvKoTijFrWwGG-Tdail-u_iyc7LZBfiB5oVw1st08UyV3QUJr4CN8tz-lQ1PfmyNc7rDGunsiarRtifEYqp-14R4SfBU3CGUXN1rWGcmana-C1yglk6UQ7vNmAhDbY0qo9je0GQlD2RzmO2O3rOKt2gHdN8daDWFWhFbbGrWL64BPC1BXe063yMBoM.0VWjO_5wQTC-mRrIBtk84b1IC27LqZhRMqF2TdD4cWA&dib_tag=se&keywords=an+affair+with+murder&qid=1710173049&sprefix=an+affair+with+murder%2Caps%2C171&sr=8-2" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="font-family: verdana;" target="_blank"><i>An Affair with Murde</i>r</a><span style="font-family: verdana;">, and my first "Young Gus" mystery from the LeGarde Mystery series,</span><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span><i style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Tremolo-cry-loon-LeGarde-Mysteries/dp/1546594825" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="font-family: verdana;" target="_blank">Tremolo: cry of the loon. </a></i></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><i><b><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Affair-Murder-Robert-Sells-ebook/dp/B0CVV86C98/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1QK2H540EIZJW&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.ehfsjbhwQViducBgBzjQcdjq5GNUWrHYdhsjE2_M_CvqdZDhagvvCeuTs0JrFYXUi79zk2v95IWAnqrDSUMInqUyee7e0LMLqDJ42X2j8NLbRiLUXDSLpFu-up6wQKkf_o4satc6ID9VyQnp5k2kzUSlgB8D2LiAQXhr8LnDcfFE61HMtxUPizmepHkP5TXfRLsF6m-0quV1VusEZ28a1zNeQNjV7rkfju9Wy8kTjtY.EOInq8DCWYeXfgnqqc3hOdWGrC5adNmB2oa6y0UKouY&dib_tag=se&keywords=an+affair+with+murder&qid=1710688468&s=digital-text&sprefix=an+affair+with+murder%2Cdigital-text%2C155&sr=1-1" target="_blank">An Affair with Murder</a></b></i></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Rob Sells is an all-round great guy. One of the best I've ever known. Compassionate, giving, and more. Oh, and he can also write!!! So I took him on as a client ;o) <i>(Just for the record, I don't get any money for promoting clients' books that I love and believe in - I just want to share.) </i></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></p><p><i><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Affair-Murder-Robert-Sells-ebook/dp/B0CVV86C98/ref=sr_1_2?crid=2UDVTEADHV4BM&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.qHYPTxJWrq84XaaOFo7RJnt5k7bl09UHVcL4uT9EbW0DdIUR_UvKoTijFrWwGG-Tdail-u_iyc7LZBfiB5oVw1st08UyV3QUJr4CN8tz-lQ1PfmyNc7rDGunsiarRtifEYqp-14R4SfBU3CGUXN1rWGcmana-C1yglk6UQ7vNmAhDbY0qo9je0GQlD2RzmO2O3rOKt2gHdN8daDWFWhFbbGrWL64BPC1BXe063yMBoM.0VWjO_5wQTC-mRrIBtk84b1IC27LqZhRMqF2TdD4cWA&dib_tag=se&keywords=an+affair+with+murder&qid=1710173049&sprefix=an+affair+with+murder%2Caps%2C171&sr=8-2" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong></strong></a></span></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: verdana;"><strong><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Affair-Murder-Robert-Sells-ebook/dp/B0CVV86C98/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1QK2H540EIZJW&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.ehfsjbhwQViducBgBzjQcdjq5GNUWrHYdhsjE2_M_CvqdZDhagvvCeuTs0JrFYXUi79zk2v95IWAnqrDSUMInqUyee7e0LMLqDJ42X2j8NLbRiLUXDSLpFu-up6wQKkf_o4satc6ID9VyQnp5k2kzUSlgB8D2LiAQXhr8LnDcfFE61HMtxUPizmepHkP5TXfRLsF6m-0quV1VusEZ28a1zNeQNjV7rkfju9Wy8kTjtY.EOInq8DCWYeXfgnqqc3hOdWGrC5adNmB2oa6y0UKouY&dib_tag=se&keywords=an+affair+with+murder&qid=1710688468&s=digital-text&sprefix=an+affair+with+murder%2Cdigital-text%2C155&sr=1-1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="2560" data-original-width="1600" height="518" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5WLvxXMNZkY8uIyzBpSP01-AQkQYRXiG44Nt8DpzrmtHnmbujjEMomOjgsrkcEun2EGK4nhKfB8Y12rTjYEuoCU5LLa4dx5Oaazq5LB1s-csRT2kbWgNYgIi0_BbsUfqmjxN902jWY4MQ0rHc5ohSbCZ8tyKnv6GiZUZCbf8zV9qnx-3WtOv9pOlUgLQe/w324-h518/eBook.jpg" width="324" /></a></strong></span></i></div><i><span style="font-family: verdana;"><strong><br />FREE 3/18 - 3/22/24.</strong> </span></i><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Affair-Murder-Robert-Sells-ebook/dp/B0CVV86C98/ref=sr_1_2?crid=2UDVTEADHV4BM&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.qHYPTxJWrq84XaaOFo7RJnt5k7bl09UHVcL4uT9EbW0DdIUR_UvKoTijFrWwGG-Tdail-u_iyc7LZBfiB5oVw1st08UyV3QUJr4CN8tz-lQ1PfmyNc7rDGunsiarRtifEYqp-14R4SfBU3CGUXN1rWGcmana-C1yglk6UQ7vNmAhDbY0qo9je0GQlD2RzmO2O3rOKt2gHdN8daDWFWhFbbGrWL64BPC1BXe063yMBoM.0VWjO_5wQTC-mRrIBtk84b1IC27LqZhRMqF2TdD4cWA&dib_tag=se&keywords=an+affair+with+murder&qid=1710173049&sprefix=an+affair+with+murder%2Caps%2C171&sr=8-2" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><i>An Affair with Murder</i></a><i> </i>is set in a small town and bristles with intrigue, suspense, and plot-twisting romance. The main character is a writer (who doesn't love that?), but past traumas haunt her. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">When a a formerly dormant serial killer starts stealing and murdering women, she wants to help, and reaches out to old friends on the police force. But she doesn't know who to trust, and has very good reasons to doubt each one.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Here's the official book blurb:</span></p><p style="text-align: center;">***</p><p><strong><span style="font-family: verdana;">Devastated by the murder of her best friend after the prom, Rebecca has a nervous breakdown and flees her hometown. </span></strong></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Twelve years later, now a successful author, she struggles with agoraphobia. Her therapist insists she return home for closure. But when she arrives, she's horrified to find there’s been another grisly murder identical to the first one.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">The three officers of the law handling the investigation are former friends of Rebecca and, coincidentally, love interests in high school. Knowing she is writing a murder-mystery, the three men agree to share their findings with her. Rebecca stumbles upon a note from the original homicide suggesting that the killer has be one of the three investigators. But which one? </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Not knowing who to trust, Rebecca decides to solve the case on her own. As she gets closer to uncovering the truth, it looks like she will be the next victim.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">***</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Affair-Murder-Robert-Sells-ebook/dp/B0CVV86C98/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1QK2H540EIZJW&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.ehfsjbhwQViducBgBzjQcdjq5GNUWrHYdhsjE2_M_CvqdZDhagvvCeuTs0JrFYXUi79zk2v95IWAnqrDSUMInqUyee7e0LMLqDJ42X2j8NLbRiLUXDSLpFu-up6wQKkf_o4satc6ID9VyQnp5k2kzUSlgB8D2LiAQXhr8LnDcfFE61HMtxUPizmepHkP5TXfRLsF6m-0quV1VusEZ28a1zNeQNjV7rkfju9Wy8kTjtY.EOInq8DCWYeXfgnqqc3hOdWGrC5adNmB2oa6y0UKouY&dib_tag=se&keywords=an+affair+with+murder&qid=1710688468&s=digital-text&sprefix=an+affair+with+murder%2Cdigital-text%2C155&sr=1-1" target="_blank">Grab a copy of the free eBook this week<i>. </i></a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>***</i></span></strong></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">NEXT: One of my books will be free in parallel with Rob's book. </span></p><p><strong><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Tremolo-loon-LeGarde-Mysteries-Book-ebook/dp/B0719F862X/ref=sr_1_1?crid=37YN7RA1S7QY9&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.gmZdhKsHvqTCCrRPvHOVPg.oBp17eRVuVfq9VmdDZ_jWxRSNC2yqxwkLJp-fnmbv3M&dib_tag=se&keywords=tremolo%3A+cry+of+the+loon&qid=1710700581&sprefix=tremolo+cry+of+the+loon%2Caps%2C186&sr=8-1" target="_blank"><i>Tremolo: cry of the loon, </i>book one in the "Young Gus Mysteries."</a></span></strong></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><strong><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Affair-Murder-Robert-Sells-ebook/dp/B0CVV86C98/ref=sr_1_2?crid=2UDVTEADHV4BM&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.qHYPTxJWrq84XaaOFo7RJnt5k7bl09UHVcL4uT9EbW0DdIUR_UvKoTijFrWwGG-Tdail-u_iyc7LZBfiB5oVw1st08UyV3QUJr4CN8tz-lQ1PfmyNc7rDGunsiarRtifEYqp-14R4SfBU3CGUXN1rWGcmana-C1yglk6UQ7vNmAhDbY0qo9je0GQlD2RzmO2O3rOKt2gHdN8daDWFWhFbbGrWL64BPC1BXe063yMBoM.0VWjO_5wQTC-mRrIBtk84b1IC27LqZhRMqF2TdD4cWA&dib_tag=se&keywords=an+affair+with+murder&qid=1710173049&sprefix=an+affair+with+murder%2Caps%2C171&sr=8-2" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Get your free eBook March 18th - 22nd. </a></strong> </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Tremolo-loon-LeGarde-Mysteries-Book-ebook/dp/B0719F862X/ref=sr_1_1?crid=37YN7RA1S7QY9&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.gmZdhKsHvqTCCrRPvHOVPg.oBp17eRVuVfq9VmdDZ_jWxRSNC2yqxwkLJp-fnmbv3M&dib_tag=se&keywords=tremolo%3A+cry+of+the+loon&qid=1710700581&sprefix=tremolo+cry+of+the+loon%2Caps%2C186&sr=8-1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMxaFkd5SkYdEowGMVwllHRniRgr3QZ6jREDbWDkoHaL4j-KDJXjhz5w4AS2DCe3UonSieVRX5o7kfMeuqxNiVHg3V71R6oxovxY-YbnVYyVUG2cH-6HHa5j7NI5jj_EXPP9dqVcdaf_AllX9XAWbSn78UrqLbTj5rsIQnnHPn2ebJh1QSbLdpuZfsduyA/s320/A%20Gus%20LeGarde%20Mystery%20Poster.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">"As in other great literary works, the description of meals, pastimes and interests are a wonderful satisfying eavesdropping that takes this babyboomer back to a slower time. There is an innocence that is difficult to find in current living and yet these young people still were presented with the evils we all have in our lives today." - DC from Washington</span></p><p><strong><span style="font-family: verdana;">Summer, 1964: Beatlemania hits the States, and the world mourns the loss of JFK. </span></strong></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">For eleven-year-old Gus LeGarde, the powerful events that rocked the nation serve as a backdrop for the most challenging summer of his life. After Gus and his best friends capsize their boat at his grandparents’ lakeside camp, they witness a drunk chasing a girl through the foggy Maine woods. She’s scared. She’s hurt. And she disappears. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">The camp is thrown into turmoil as the frantic search for Sharon begins. Reports of stolen relics arise, including a church bell cast by Paul Revere. When Gus stumbles on a scepter that may be part of the spoils, he becomes a target for the evil lurking around the lake. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Will he find Sharon before the villain does? And how can Gus--armed only with a big heart, a motorboat, and a nosy beagle--survive the menacing attacks on his life?</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-qY5qPzJmMIzTp20fsuRG785nERMFiBQNRQ7c4BEQP8RQm1T9rMpZ6HGyFGlf4uxyuWWK2LXbodzqjyMLZIMqm4PKqXajkuD0aObVX27kgNGL6i_7C-pBbb9lf4SpBLbZB9ttYhqE3lIx6jPeSLHg5CDbzWH0PC9ufkDrHq-t7bJI6R3YtwH1CigMjFC-/s2768/Wee%20Castle.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2056" data-original-width="2768" height="215" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-qY5qPzJmMIzTp20fsuRG785nERMFiBQNRQ7c4BEQP8RQm1T9rMpZ6HGyFGlf4uxyuWWK2LXbodzqjyMLZIMqm4PKqXajkuD0aObVX27kgNGL6i_7C-pBbb9lf4SpBLbZB9ttYhqE3lIx6jPeSLHg5CDbzWH0PC9ufkDrHq-t7bJI6R3YtwH1CigMjFC-/w289-h215/Wee%20Castle.jpeg" width="289" /></a></div><br /> <p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">This is the actual "Loon Harbor" Camp where Gus spent his childhood summers. It was named "Snug Harbor" in real life and belonged to my grandparents. This is a photo of the cabin Gus lived in, "Wee Castle." See the that room that juts out front? That's where Gus and Shadow slept. And there's his grandfather's boat, rocking in the waves.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I loved writing this book. It basically was a testimonial to the nostalgia I felt for "Camp," one of the best parts of my childhood. It's not there anymore, but I wanted to keep it alive, as it still is in my memory. The mysteries that go on in the background are just gravy, ha ha. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">"Anyone who's read any of Aaron Paul Lazar's Gus LeGarde mysteries will recognize the protagonist in this coming of age novel. Young Gus hangs out round the lake with his friends Siegfried and Elsbeth, slowly learning that girls are not boys, just beginning to feel that protectiveness and curiosity that give depth to his later life. JFK's death was recent news; someone's robbing local churches; and a young girl has disappeared--the safety of childhood is tipping on the cusp of slipping away." - Sheila Deeth</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">***</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">If you enjoy <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Tremolo-loon-LeGarde-Mysteries-Book-ebook/dp/B0719F862X/ref=sr_1_1?crid=37YN7RA1S7QY9&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.gmZdhKsHvqTCCrRPvHOVPg.oBp17eRVuVfq9VmdDZ_jWxRSNC2yqxwkLJp-fnmbv3M&dib_tag=se&keywords=tremolo%3A+cry+of+the+loon&qid=1710700581&sprefix=tremolo+cry+of+the+loon%2Caps%2C186&sr=8-1" target="_blank"><i>Tremolo</i>,</a> there are two more books in the "Young Gus" series. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Dont-Wind-Catch-LeGarde-Mysteries-ebook/dp/B073XQJKTB/ref=sr_1_1?crid=30FQS16BF1W2M&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.yR2D2GCW8lgGbg7-SEKBhDxSI1xcl_mAv0CWDme-ne2oO1yzJ2nFH02sH0xVEtSQlRgR_y3uM20iIaHVJxdEUExJ2csKpMWqNZfXPKnV-_t4BKnRVzUVRVVJz1hBgwdSeN0kOC_AzQRw5sa24dUTpMj8y8_vu87U0kNh59wcqsA.NyDgs1DPap7Iz-aYlnZd7UKGREVhQsjCS1nveMPrF4A&dib_tag=se&keywords=Don%27t+Let+the+Wind+Catch+You&qid=1710175321&s=books&sprefix=don%27t+let+the+wind+catch+you%2Cstripbooks%2C139&sr=1-1" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><i>Don't Let the Wind Catch You</i></a><i> is the second book. </i></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">"Aaron Paul Lazar has written a beautiful story, one that will stay with me for a long time. The characters have become friends I don’t want to lose. I laughed out loud at some of their antics, held my breath in some places, and at times wiped away tears...Lazar’s writing flows smoothly throughout; he created scenes so rich I felt I was there and shared in the experiences. <i>Don’t Let the Wind Catch You</i> is a coming of age story that reveals deep understanding of the human condition. There’s tragedy, humor, compassion, and love. It touched me on many levels--definitely a keeper." -- Ellis, Amazon reviewer</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01CYXKW0S?ref_=dbs_m_mng_rwt_calw_tkin_10&storeType=ebooks" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><i>Voodoo Summer </i></a><i>finishes up the Young Gus series.</i></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>"Voodoo Summer </i>by Aaron Paul Lazar is an incredible read. Although it is actually the 11th book in the LeGarde Mysteries, this one flashes back to the summer when Gus is 13. There have been so many references to this summer in the previous books, yet I was strangely unprepared for the impact it would have on me. Lazar is a master of the details and that has always been my favorite aspect of his writings. In <i>Voodoo Summer</i>, I was brought back to childhood emotions and misunderstandings. Wanting so much to grasp the adult world and being too far removed from the facts to reach the realities. Although I already knew the events told in this novel, the emotions are astounding. This is an excellent read, as are all books in this series. Lazar is a master. And <i>Voodoo Summer </i>is flawless</span><i><span style="font-family: verdana;">." Marsha Jean Thalleen </span> </i></p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><img alt="" class="model" height="224" src="https://hostedimages-cdn.aweber-static.com/MTA5MDM3Mw==/optimized/b6ea05145ad04438a0dec94a3d381ff0.jpeg" style="display: block; height: 224px; width: 224px;" width="224" /></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">So, I'm moving through this whole process of losing the love of my life. Above is a picture Alli took of my hand over Dale's. I cherish it. She had such petite hands and feet. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Anyway, I'm okay. I'm keeping extremely busy... yet I'd be lying if I said it was easy. I still feel kind of raw and broken inside, but on the outside, I'm functioning, laughing with grandkids and dog, and starting to heal. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Bless you all, </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Aaron Lazar </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">PS You know I love hearing from you. Write if you like, and if you have thoughts about any of the books above, please let me know!</span></p>Aaron Paul Lazarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06117814221437165664noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6001825743960552008.post-41358078765066605782024-03-04T06:29:00.000-05:002024-03-04T06:29:05.588-05:00Brokenhearted here...<p> </p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="aw-bgc" style="background-color: white; border-collapse: collapse; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: Heebo, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-variant-caps: normal; letter-spacing: 0.25px; width: 1280px;"><tbody style="--tw-backdrop-blur: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-brightness: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-contrast: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-grayscale: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-hue-rotate: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-invert: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-opacity: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-saturate: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-sepia: var(--tw-empty, ); 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--tw-numeric-fraction: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-spacing: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-ordinal: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-pan-x: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-pan-y: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-pinch-zoom: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-inset: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-saturate: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-sepia: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-slashed-zero: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; box-sizing: border-box;"><table class="row aw-stack" role="presentation" style="--tw-backdrop-blur: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-brightness: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-contrast: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-grayscale: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-hue-rotate: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-invert: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-opacity: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-saturate: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-sepia: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-blur: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-brightness: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-contrast: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-drop-shadow: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-grayscale: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-hue-rotate: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-invert: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-figure: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-fraction: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-spacing: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-ordinal: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-pan-x: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-pan-y: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-pinch-zoom: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-inset: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-saturate: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-sepia: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-slashed-zero: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border-collapse: collapse; width: 600px;"><tbody style="--tw-backdrop-blur: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-brightness: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-contrast: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-grayscale: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-hue-rotate: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-invert: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-opacity: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-saturate: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-sepia: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-blur: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-brightness: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-contrast: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-drop-shadow: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-grayscale: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-hue-rotate: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-invert: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-figure: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-fraction: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-spacing: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-ordinal: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-pan-x: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-pan-y: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-pinch-zoom: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-inset: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-saturate: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-sepia: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-slashed-zero: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; box-sizing: border-box;"><tr style="--tw-backdrop-blur: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-brightness: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-contrast: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-grayscale: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-hue-rotate: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-invert: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-opacity: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-saturate: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-sepia: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-blur: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-brightness: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-contrast: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-drop-shadow: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-grayscale: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-hue-rotate: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-invert: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-figure: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-fraction: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-spacing: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-ordinal: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-pan-x: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-pan-y: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-pinch-zoom: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-inset: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-saturate: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-sepia: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-slashed-zero: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; box-sizing: border-box;"><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF" class="container" style="--tw-backdrop-blur: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-brightness: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-contrast: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-grayscale: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-hue-rotate: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-invert: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-opacity: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-saturate: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-sepia: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-blur: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-brightness: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-contrast: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-drop-shadow: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-grayscale: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-hue-rotate: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-invert: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-figure: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-fraction: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-spacing: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-ordinal: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-pan-x: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-pan-y: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-pinch-zoom: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-inset: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-saturate: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-sepia: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-slashed-zero: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border-radius: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; padding: 20px; width: 600px;" valign="top" width="100%"><div class="definition-parent" style="--tw-backdrop-blur: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-brightness: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-contrast: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-grayscale: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-hue-rotate: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-invert: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-opacity: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-saturate: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-sepia: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-blur: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-brightness: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-contrast: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-drop-shadow: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-grayscale: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-hue-rotate: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-invert: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-figure: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-fraction: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-spacing: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-ordinal: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-pan-x: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-pan-y: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-pinch-zoom: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-inset: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-saturate: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-sepia: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-slashed-zero: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="--tw-backdrop-blur: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-brightness: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-contrast: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-grayscale: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-hue-rotate: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-invert: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-opacity: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-saturate: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-sepia: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-blur: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-brightness: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-contrast: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-drop-shadow: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-grayscale: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-hue-rotate: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-invert: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-figure: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-fraction: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-spacing: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-ordinal: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-pan-x: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-pan-y: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-pinch-zoom: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-inset: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-saturate: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-sepia: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-slashed-zero: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; box-sizing: border-box;"><table cellspacing="0" class="floated-none" role="presentation" style="--tw-backdrop-blur: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-brightness: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-contrast: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-grayscale: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-hue-rotate: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-invert: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-opacity: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-saturate: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-sepia: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-blur: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-brightness: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-contrast: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-drop-shadow: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-grayscale: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-hue-rotate: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-invert: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-figure: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-fraction: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-spacing: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-ordinal: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-pan-x: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-pan-y: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-pinch-zoom: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-inset: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-saturate: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-sepia: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-slashed-zero: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border-collapse: collapse; float: none; text-align: center; width: 560px;"><tbody style="--tw-backdrop-blur: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-brightness: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-contrast: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-grayscale: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-hue-rotate: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-invert: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-opacity: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-saturate: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-sepia: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-blur: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-brightness: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-contrast: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-drop-shadow: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-grayscale: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-hue-rotate: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-invert: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-figure: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-fraction: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-spacing: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-ordinal: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-pan-x: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-pan-y: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-pinch-zoom: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-inset: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-saturate: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-sepia: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-slashed-zero: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; box-sizing: border-box;"><tr style="--tw-backdrop-blur: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-brightness: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-contrast: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-grayscale: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-hue-rotate: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-invert: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-opacity: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-saturate: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-sepia: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-blur: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-brightness: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-contrast: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-drop-shadow: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-grayscale: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-hue-rotate: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-invert: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-figure: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-fraction: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-spacing: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-ordinal: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-pan-x: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-pan-y: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-pinch-zoom: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-inset: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-saturate: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-sepia: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-slashed-zero: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; box-sizing: border-box;"><td style="--tw-backdrop-blur: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-brightness: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-contrast: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-grayscale: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-hue-rotate: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-invert: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-opacity: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-saturate: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-sepia: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-blur: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-brightness: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-contrast: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-drop-shadow: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-grayscale: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-hue-rotate: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-invert: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-figure: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-fraction: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-spacing: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-ordinal: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-pan-x: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-pan-y: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-pinch-zoom: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-inset: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-saturate: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-sepia: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-slashed-zero: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; box-sizing: border-box; padding: 0px;"></td></tr></tbody></table></span></div></td></tr></tbody></table></div></div></div></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table><h2 style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: Heebo, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 24px; letter-spacing: 0.25px; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0.5em 0px;">Hello, dear friends and readers.</h2><p style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: Heebo, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.25px; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px;"> </p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: Heebo, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.25px; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px;">I know I've been essentially absent for the past few years. No new books. No regular newsletters. I didn't say too much about it then, but now I'm ready to share. </p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: Heebo, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.25px; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px;"> </p><div style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: Heebo, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.25px; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px;"><div style="--tw-backdrop-blur: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-brightness: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-contrast: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-grayscale: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-hue-rotate: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-invert: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-opacity: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-saturate: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-sepia: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-blur: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-brightness: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-contrast: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-drop-shadow: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-grayscale: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-hue-rotate: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-invert: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-figure: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-fraction: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-spacing: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-ordinal: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-pan-x: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-pan-y: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-pinch-zoom: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-inset: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-saturate: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-sepia: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-slashed-zero: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px;">My wife and soulmate, Dale, passed on January 20th, 2024 due to covid pneumonia. She'd been so sick with complications from her MS for several years that it was a blessing for her to be released, as heartbreaking as it is for those of us left behind. She was ready to go.</div><div style="--tw-backdrop-blur: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-brightness: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-contrast: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-grayscale: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-hue-rotate: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-invert: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-opacity: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-saturate: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-sepia: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-blur: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-brightness: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-contrast: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-drop-shadow: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-grayscale: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-hue-rotate: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-invert: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-figure: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-fraction: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-spacing: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-ordinal: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-pan-x: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-pan-y: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-pinch-zoom: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-inset: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-saturate: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-sepia: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-slashed-zero: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px;"> </div></div><div style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: Heebo, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.25px; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px;"><div style="--tw-backdrop-blur: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-brightness: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-contrast: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-grayscale: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-hue-rotate: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-invert: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-opacity: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-saturate: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-sepia: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-blur: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-brightness: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-contrast: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-drop-shadow: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-grayscale: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-hue-rotate: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-invert: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-figure: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-fraction: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-spacing: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-ordinal: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-pan-x: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-pan-y: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-pinch-zoom: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-inset: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-saturate: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-sepia: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-slashed-zero: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px;">We were married almost 43 years and there's a great, ripping hole in my heart right now. It's hard to talk about it, which is why I put this off for so long.</div><div style="--tw-backdrop-blur: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-brightness: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-contrast: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-grayscale: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-hue-rotate: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-invert: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-opacity: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-saturate: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-sepia: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-blur: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-brightness: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-contrast: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-drop-shadow: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-grayscale: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-hue-rotate: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-invert: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-figure: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-fraction: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-spacing: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-ordinal: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-pan-x: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-pan-y: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-pinch-zoom: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-inset: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-saturate: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-sepia: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-slashed-zero: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px;"> </div></div><div style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: Heebo, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.25px; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px;"><div style="--tw-backdrop-blur: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-brightness: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-contrast: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-grayscale: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-hue-rotate: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-invert: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-opacity: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-saturate: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-sepia: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-blur: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-brightness: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-contrast: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-drop-shadow: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-grayscale: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-hue-rotate: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-invert: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-figure: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-fraction: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-spacing: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-ordinal: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-pan-x: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-pan-y: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-pinch-zoom: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-inset: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-saturate: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-sepia: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-slashed-zero: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px;">Thankfully, she was able to be with and communicate with (most) of her family the day before she passed. Love spilled from that ICU room.</div><div style="--tw-backdrop-blur: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-brightness: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-contrast: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-grayscale: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-hue-rotate: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-invert: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-opacity: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-saturate: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-sepia: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-blur: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-brightness: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-contrast: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-drop-shadow: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-grayscale: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-hue-rotate: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-invert: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-figure: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-fraction: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-spacing: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-ordinal: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-pan-x: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-pan-y: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-pinch-zoom: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-inset: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-saturate: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-sepia: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-slashed-zero: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px;"><br /></div></div><div style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: Heebo, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.25px; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px;"><div style="--tw-backdrop-blur: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-brightness: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-contrast: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-grayscale: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-hue-rotate: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-invert: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-opacity: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-saturate: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-sepia: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-blur: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-brightness: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-contrast: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-drop-shadow: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-grayscale: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-hue-rotate: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-invert: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-figure: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-fraction: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-spacing: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-ordinal: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-pan-x: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-pan-y: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-pinch-zoom: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-inset: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-saturate: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-sepia: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-slashed-zero: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px;">I'll link to the obituary, but for now I wanted to share again her experience she had in 2012 when almost died. This is the story as I captured it. Do you remember it? Now she is with Him and her parents and all our animals we've loved and lost along the way. <a href="https://www.johnwmartinfuneralhome.com/obituary/dale-lazar">https://www.johnwmartinfuneralhome.com/obituary/dale-lazar</a></div><div style="--tw-backdrop-blur: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-brightness: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-contrast: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-grayscale: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-hue-rotate: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-invert: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-opacity: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-saturate: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-sepia: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-blur: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-brightness: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-contrast: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-drop-shadow: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-grayscale: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-hue-rotate: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-invert: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-figure: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-fraction: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-spacing: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-ordinal: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-pan-x: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-pan-y: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-pinch-zoom: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-inset: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-saturate: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-sepia: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-slashed-zero: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px;"> </div><div style="--tw-backdrop-blur: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-brightness: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-contrast: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-grayscale: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-hue-rotate: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-invert: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-opacity: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-saturate: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-sepia: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-blur: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-brightness: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-contrast: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-drop-shadow: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-grayscale: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-hue-rotate: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-invert: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-figure: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-fraction: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-spacing: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-ordinal: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-pan-x: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-pan-y: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-pinch-zoom: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-inset: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-saturate: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-sepia: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-slashed-zero: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px;">I still talk to her all the time and I know she's preparing a beautiful spot for us up there as we agreed before she died - a cabin near a crystal clear lake, gardens riotous with color and NO weeds, and a field full of all the horses we've loved over the years. Of course the dogs and cats are everywhere.</div><div style="--tw-backdrop-blur: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-brightness: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-contrast: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-grayscale: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-hue-rotate: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-invert: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-opacity: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-saturate: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-sepia: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-blur: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-brightness: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-contrast: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-drop-shadow: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-grayscale: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-hue-rotate: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-invert: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-figure: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-fraction: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-spacing: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-ordinal: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-pan-x: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-pan-y: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-pinch-zoom: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-inset: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-saturate: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-sepia: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-slashed-zero: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px;"> </div></div><div style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: Heebo, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.25px; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px;"><div style="--tw-backdrop-blur: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-brightness: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-contrast: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-grayscale: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-hue-rotate: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-invert: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-opacity: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-saturate: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-sepia: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-blur: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-brightness: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-contrast: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-drop-shadow: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-grayscale: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-hue-rotate: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-invert: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-figure: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-fraction: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-spacing: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-ordinal: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-pan-x: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-pan-y: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-pinch-zoom: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-inset: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-saturate: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-sepia: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-slashed-zero: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px;"><a href="https://murderby4.blogspot.com/2012/01/message-from-god.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="--tw-backdrop-blur: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-brightness: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-contrast: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-grayscale: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-hue-rotate: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-invert: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-opacity: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-saturate: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-sepia: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-blur: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-brightness: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-contrast: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-drop-shadow: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-grayscale: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-hue-rotate: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-invert: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-figure: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-fraction: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-spacing: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-ordinal: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-pan-x: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-pan-y: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-pinch-zoom: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-inset: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-saturate: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-sepia: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-slashed-zero: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration-color: currentcolor; word-break: break-word;" target="_blank">A Message From God.</a></div></div><div style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: Heebo, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.25px; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px;"><div style="--tw-backdrop-blur: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-brightness: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-contrast: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-grayscale: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-hue-rotate: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-invert: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-opacity: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-saturate: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-sepia: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-blur: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-brightness: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-contrast: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-drop-shadow: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-grayscale: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-hue-rotate: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-invert: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-figure: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-fraction: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-spacing: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-ordinal: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-pan-x: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-pan-y: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-pinch-zoom: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-inset: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-saturate: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-sepia: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-slashed-zero: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px;"><a class="x1i10hfl xjbqb8w x6umtig x1b1mbwd xaqea5y xav7gou x9f619 x1ypdohk xt0psk2 xe8uvvx xdj266r x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r xexx8yu x4uap5 x18d9i69 xkhd6sd x16tdsg8 x1hl2dhg xggy1nq x1a2a7pz xt0b8zv x1fey0fg" href="https://murderby4.blogspot.com/2012/01/message-from-god.html?fbclid=IwAR1JZEHSM1AMP9T56tvIeW17GYgnNZrOAI9XPYHQ3rTAzCZ90SUaBY_REvk" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="--tw-backdrop-blur: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-brightness: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-contrast: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-grayscale: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-hue-rotate: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-invert: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-opacity: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-saturate: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-sepia: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-blur: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-brightness: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-contrast: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-drop-shadow: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-grayscale: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-hue-rotate: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-invert: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-figure: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-fraction: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-spacing: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-ordinal: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-pan-x: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-pan-y: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-pinch-zoom: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-inset: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-saturate: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-sepia: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-slashed-zero: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border-color: currentcolor; border-style: none; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: var(--blue-link); cursor: pointer; display: inline; font-family: inherit; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: currentcolor; padding: 0px; text-align: inherit; text-decoration-color: currentcolor; text-decoration: none; touch-action: manipulation; word-break: break-word;" target="_blank">https://murderby4.blogspot.com/2012/01/message-from-god.html</a></div><div style="--tw-backdrop-blur: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-brightness: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-contrast: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-grayscale: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-hue-rotate: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-invert: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-opacity: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-saturate: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-sepia: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-blur: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-brightness: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-contrast: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-drop-shadow: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-grayscale: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-hue-rotate: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-invert: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-figure: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-fraction: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-spacing: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-ordinal: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-pan-x: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-pan-y: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-pinch-zoom: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-inset: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-saturate: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-sepia: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-slashed-zero: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px;"><br /></div><div style="--tw-backdrop-blur: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-brightness: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-contrast: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-grayscale: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-hue-rotate: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-invert: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-opacity: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-saturate: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-sepia: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-blur: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-brightness: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-contrast: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-drop-shadow: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-grayscale: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-hue-rotate: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-invert: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-figure: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-fraction: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-spacing: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-ordinal: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-pan-x: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-pan-y: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-pinch-zoom: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-inset: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-saturate: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-sepia: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-slashed-zero: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px;"><br /></div><div style="--tw-backdrop-blur: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-brightness: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-contrast: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-grayscale: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-hue-rotate: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-invert: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-opacity: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-saturate: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-sepia: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-blur: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-brightness: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-contrast: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-drop-shadow: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-grayscale: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-hue-rotate: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-invert: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-figure: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-fraction: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-spacing: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-ordinal: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-pan-x: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-pan-y: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-pinch-zoom: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-inset: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-saturate: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-sepia: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-slashed-zero: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px;"><img alt="" class="model" height="354" src="https://hostedimages-cdn.aweber-static.com/MTA5MDM3Mw==/optimized/7af7a9ddb05a4e7a9deb9bd6c5660bbe.jpeg" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 238); color: #0000ee; display: block; font-size: 14px; height: 354px; line-height: 14px; max-width: 100%; outline: currentcolor; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; width: 366px;" width="366" /></div><div style="--tw-backdrop-blur: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-brightness: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-contrast: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-grayscale: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-hue-rotate: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-invert: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-opacity: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-saturate: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-sepia: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-blur: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-brightness: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-contrast: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-drop-shadow: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-grayscale: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-hue-rotate: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-invert: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-figure: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-fraction: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-spacing: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-ordinal: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-pan-x: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-pan-y: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-pinch-zoom: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-inset: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-saturate: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-sepia: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-slashed-zero: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px;"><br /></div><div style="--tw-backdrop-blur: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-brightness: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-contrast: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-grayscale: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-hue-rotate: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-invert: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-opacity: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-saturate: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-sepia: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-blur: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-brightness: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-contrast: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-drop-shadow: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-grayscale: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-hue-rotate: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-invert: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-figure: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-fraction: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-spacing: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-ordinal: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-pan-x: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-pan-y: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-pinch-zoom: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-inset: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-saturate: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-sepia: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-slashed-zero: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px;">This photo needs editing for scratches and dust spots, but I no longer have my Photoshop program so I have to search for a way to fix it. Dale is young in all these pictures because that's how I imagine her now in Heaven. Deliriously happy, overwhelmed at the beauty of Heaven, and thankfully no longer in pain. She promised she'd take each of our past horses on rides every day when she arrived. </p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px;"> </p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px;">If you read my books, you know Elsbeth, Camille, and Rachel. These three characters are all based on parts of Dale. It wasn't intentional, really, but she found her way into all of them. </p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px;"><img alt="" class="model" height="600" src="https://hostedimages-cdn.aweber-static.com/MTA5MDM3Mw==/optimized/023c8eb39096462da8718c1256961d4d.jpeg" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 238); color: #0000ee; display: block; font-size: 14px; height: 600px; line-height: 14px; max-width: 100%; outline: currentcolor; padding: 0px; text-align: -webkit-center; text-decoration: underline; width: 419px;" width="419" /></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><div class="definition-parent" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14px;"><span style="--tw-backdrop-blur: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-brightness: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-contrast: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-grayscale: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-hue-rotate: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-invert: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-opacity: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-saturate: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-sepia: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-blur: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-brightness: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-contrast: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-drop-shadow: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-grayscale: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-hue-rotate: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-invert: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-figure: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-fraction: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-spacing: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-ordinal: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-pan-x: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-pan-y: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-pinch-zoom: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-inset: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-saturate: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-sepia: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-slashed-zero: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; box-sizing: border-box;"><table align="center" cellspacing="0" class="floated-none" role="presentation" style="--tw-backdrop-blur: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-brightness: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-contrast: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-grayscale: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-hue-rotate: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-invert: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-opacity: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-saturate: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-sepia: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-blur: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-brightness: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-contrast: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-drop-shadow: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-grayscale: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-hue-rotate: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-invert: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-figure: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-fraction: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-spacing: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-ordinal: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-pan-x: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-pan-y: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-pinch-zoom: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-inset: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-saturate: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-sepia: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-slashed-zero: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border-collapse: collapse; float: none; text-align: center; width: 684px;"><tbody style="--tw-backdrop-blur: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-brightness: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-contrast: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-grayscale: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-hue-rotate: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-invert: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-opacity: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-saturate: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-sepia: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-blur: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-brightness: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-contrast: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-drop-shadow: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-grayscale: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-hue-rotate: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-invert: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-figure: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-fraction: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-spacing: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-ordinal: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-pan-x: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-pan-y: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-pinch-zoom: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-inset: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-saturate: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-sepia: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-slashed-zero: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; box-sizing: border-box;"><tr style="--tw-backdrop-blur: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-brightness: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-contrast: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-grayscale: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-hue-rotate: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-invert: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-opacity: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-saturate: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-sepia: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-blur: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-brightness: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-contrast: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-drop-shadow: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-grayscale: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-hue-rotate: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-invert: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-figure: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-fraction: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-spacing: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-ordinal: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-pan-x: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-pan-y: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-pinch-zoom: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-inset: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-saturate: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-sepia: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-slashed-zero: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; box-sizing: border-box;"><td align="center" style="--tw-backdrop-blur: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-brightness: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-contrast: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-grayscale: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-hue-rotate: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-invert: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-opacity: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-saturate: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-sepia: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-blur: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-brightness: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-contrast: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-drop-shadow: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-grayscale: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-hue-rotate: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-invert: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-figure: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-fraction: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-spacing: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-ordinal: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-pan-x: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-pan-y: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-pinch-zoom: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-inset: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-saturate: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-sepia: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-slashed-zero: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; box-sizing: border-box; padding: 0px;"><a class="aw-image-link" href="http://www.lazarbooks.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="--tw-backdrop-blur: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-brightness: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-contrast: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-grayscale: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-hue-rotate: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-invert: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-opacity: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-saturate: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-sepia: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-blur: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-brightness: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-contrast: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-drop-shadow: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-grayscale: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-hue-rotate: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-invert: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-figure: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-fraction: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-spacing: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-ordinal: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-pan-x: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-pan-y: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-pinch-zoom: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-inset: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-saturate: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-sepia: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-slashed-zero: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration-color: currentcolor; word-break: break-word;"><img alt="" class="model" height="493" src="https://hostedimages-cdn.aweber-static.com/MTA5MDM3Mw==/optimized/6d8df3f58b3840ff9e79361d9c012bcb.jpeg" style="--tw-backdrop-blur: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-brightness: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-contrast: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-grayscale: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-hue-rotate: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-invert: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-opacity: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-saturate: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-sepia: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-blur: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-brightness: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-contrast: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-drop-shadow: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-grayscale: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-hue-rotate: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-invert: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-figure: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-fraction: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-spacing: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-ordinal: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-pan-x: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-pan-y: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-pinch-zoom: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-inset: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-saturate: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-sepia: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-slashed-zero: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; display: block; height: 493px; line-height: 14px; max-width: 100%; outline: currentcolor; padding: 0px; width: 404px;" width="404" /></a></td></tr></tbody></table></span></div><div class="definition-parent" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14px;"><div class="text-element" style="--tw-backdrop-blur: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-brightness: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-contrast: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-grayscale: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-hue-rotate: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-invert: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-opacity: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-saturate: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-sepia: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-blur: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-brightness: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-contrast: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-drop-shadow: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-grayscale: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-hue-rotate: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-invert: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-figure: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-fraction: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-spacing: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-ordinal: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-pan-x: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-pan-y: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-pinch-zoom: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-inset: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-saturate: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-sepia: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-slashed-zero: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; box-sizing: border-box;"><p style="--tw-backdrop-blur: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-brightness: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-contrast: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-grayscale: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-hue-rotate: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-invert: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-opacity: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-saturate: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-sepia: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-blur: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-brightness: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-contrast: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-drop-shadow: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-grayscale: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-hue-rotate: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-invert: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-figure: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-fraction: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-spacing: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-ordinal: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-pan-x: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-pan-y: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-pinch-zoom: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-inset: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-saturate: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-sepia: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-slashed-zero: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px;"> </p><p style="--tw-backdrop-blur: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-brightness: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-contrast: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-grayscale: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-hue-rotate: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-invert: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-opacity: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-saturate: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-sepia: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-blur: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-brightness: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-contrast: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-drop-shadow: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-grayscale: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-hue-rotate: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-invert: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-figure: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-fraction: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-spacing: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-ordinal: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-pan-x: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-pan-y: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-pinch-zoom: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-inset: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-saturate: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-sepia: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-slashed-zero: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px;">My daughters have been taking excellent care of me. Even though they’ve all lost their mother, they are coming together to check in with me every day. I'm so lucky to have all three of them. It’s a strange feeling, when I’ve always been the caretaker. Then again, it’s very nice. I’m also taking great solace in my beautiful grandchildren and of course, in dear little Biscuit. He has been such a comfort, all day long. </p><p style="--tw-backdrop-blur: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-brightness: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-contrast: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-grayscale: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-hue-rotate: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-invert: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-opacity: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-saturate: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-sepia: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-blur: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-brightness: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-contrast: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-drop-shadow: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-grayscale: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-hue-rotate: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-invert: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-figure: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-fraction: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-spacing: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-ordinal: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-pan-x: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-pan-y: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-pinch-zoom: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-inset: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-saturate: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-sepia: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-slashed-zero: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><div class="definition-parent" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><div class="divider" style="--tw-backdrop-blur: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-brightness: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-contrast: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-grayscale: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-hue-rotate: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-invert: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-opacity: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-saturate: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-sepia: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-blur: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-brightness: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-contrast: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-drop-shadow: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-grayscale: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-hue-rotate: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-invert: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-figure: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-fraction: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-spacing: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-ordinal: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-pan-x: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-pan-y: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-pinch-zoom: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-inset: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-saturate: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-sepia: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; 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--tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-slashed-zero: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border-collapse: collapse; float: none; text-align: center; width: 684px;"><tbody style="--tw-backdrop-blur: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-brightness: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-contrast: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-grayscale: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-hue-rotate: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-invert: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-opacity: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-saturate: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-sepia: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-blur: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-brightness: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-contrast: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-drop-shadow: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-grayscale: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-hue-rotate: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-invert: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-figure: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-fraction: var(--tw-empty, ); 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--tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-slashed-zero: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; box-sizing: border-box;"><td align="center" style="--tw-backdrop-blur: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-brightness: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-contrast: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-grayscale: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-hue-rotate: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-invert: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-opacity: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-saturate: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-sepia: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-blur: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-brightness: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-contrast: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-drop-shadow: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-grayscale: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-hue-rotate: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-invert: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-figure: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-fraction: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-spacing: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-ordinal: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-pan-x: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-pan-y: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-pinch-zoom: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-inset: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-saturate: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-sepia: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-slashed-zero: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; box-sizing: border-box; padding: 0px;"><a class="aw-image-link" href="http://www.lazarbooks.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="--tw-backdrop-blur: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-brightness: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-contrast: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-grayscale: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-hue-rotate: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-invert: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-opacity: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-saturate: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-sepia: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-blur: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-brightness: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-contrast: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-drop-shadow: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-grayscale: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-hue-rotate: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-invert: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-figure: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-fraction: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-spacing: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-ordinal: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-pan-x: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-pan-y: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-pinch-zoom: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-inset: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-saturate: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-sepia: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-slashed-zero: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration-color: currentcolor; word-break: break-word;"><img alt="" class="model" height="371" src="https://hostedimages-cdn.aweber-static.com/MTA5MDM3Mw==/optimized/2e0fae8a161641dfaeefbcc0775e27e3.jpeg" style="--tw-backdrop-blur: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-brightness: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-contrast: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-grayscale: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-hue-rotate: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-invert: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-opacity: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-saturate: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-sepia: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-blur: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-brightness: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-contrast: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-drop-shadow: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-grayscale: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-hue-rotate: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-invert: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-figure: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-fraction: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-spacing: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-ordinal: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-pan-x: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-pan-y: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-pinch-zoom: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-inset: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-saturate: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-sepia: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-slashed-zero: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; display: block; height: 371px; line-height: 14px; max-width: 100%; outline: currentcolor; padding: 0px; width: 278px;" width="278" /></a><br /><br /><p style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">Thank you for hanging in there with me, dear friends. I'll be back soon to share some new books from my authors that I want you to take advantage of. Stay tuned.</p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"> </p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">God bless you all,</p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"> </p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">Aaron Lazar</p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><a href="mailto:aaron.lazar@yahoo.com" style="--tw-backdrop-blur: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-brightness: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-contrast: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-grayscale: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-hue-rotate: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-invert: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-opacity: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-saturate: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-sepia: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-blur: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-brightness: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-contrast: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-drop-shadow: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-grayscale: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-hue-rotate: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-invert: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-figure: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-fraction: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-spacing: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-ordinal: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-pan-x: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-pan-y: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-pinch-zoom: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-inset: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-saturate: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-sepia: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-slashed-zero: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration-color: currentcolor; word-break: break-word;">aaron.lazar@yahoo.com</a></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><a href="mailto:author@lazarbooks.com" style="--tw-backdrop-blur: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-brightness: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-contrast: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-grayscale: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-hue-rotate: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-invert: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-opacity: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-saturate: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-backdrop-sepia: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-blur: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-brightness: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-contrast: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-drop-shadow: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-grayscale: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-hue-rotate: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-invert: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-figure: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-fraction: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-numeric-spacing: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-ordinal: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-pan-x: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-pan-y: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-pinch-zoom: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-inset: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-saturate: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-sepia: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-slashed-zero: var(--tw-empty, ); --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration-color: currentcolor; word-break: break-word;">author@lazarbooks.com</a></p></td></tr></tbody></table></span></div></div></div></div></div>Aaron Paul Lazarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06117814221437165664noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6001825743960552008.post-33973946806277388502023-03-18T15:32:00.001-04:002023-03-18T15:32:27.962-04:00Best in the Whole Wide World, by Nattalia Nealls<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7sG2gPGqPPoWEKhtSQbKZLX7l7rDY2_crs51dB_2FHmzeCbW0YcHzLnrgXrLJEfbvpwlsNIIrYRqSuGM0JAE-sMhqdW3cix9ZF5HTVcWf0_hycdwqPCjJjNWDq9sCpBt0jRfVR8dkDQ4I5wDuGz0YSCd5elI2OT8BS41adSpC2-8WjjtoqlG1Iv0VeA/s2700/BK1%20Best%20in%20the%20Whole%20Wide%20World%20E-Book%20Cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2700" data-original-width="1800" height="553" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7sG2gPGqPPoWEKhtSQbKZLX7l7rDY2_crs51dB_2FHmzeCbW0YcHzLnrgXrLJEfbvpwlsNIIrYRqSuGM0JAE-sMhqdW3cix9ZF5HTVcWf0_hycdwqPCjJjNWDq9sCpBt0jRfVR8dkDQ4I5wDuGz0YSCd5elI2OT8BS41adSpC2-8WjjtoqlG1Iv0VeA/w368-h553/BK1%20Best%20in%20the%20Whole%20Wide%20World%20E-Book%20Cover.jpg" width="368" /></a></div><br />Today I’d like to introduce Nattalia Nealls, author of the newly released epic Western saga, <i>Best in the Whole Wide World</i>. <span style="background-color: white;"><o:p></o:p></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white;">Aaron: Nattalia, can you tell us what historic anniversary inspired you to write <i>Best in the Whole Wide World?</i></span><i><span style="background-color: white;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white;">Nattalia: July, </span>2005 was the 200th anniversary of Lewis and Clark’s triumphant return from the Pacific Ocean to their native American guide<span style="background-color: white;"> Sacajawea’s home village on the Salmon River as they made their way back to</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: "New serif", serif; font-size: 18pt;"> </span></span><span class="yiv0620117860gmaildefault"><span style="color: #1d2228; font-family: "New serif", serif;">the nation's capitol</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: "New serif", serif; font-size: 18pt;"> </span><span style="background-color: white;">to report about their</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: "New serif", serif; font-size: 18pt;"> </span></span></span><span style="caret-color: rgb(29, 34, 40); outline: none !important;">"<span style="background-color: white;">Voyage of Discovery</span></span><span style="caret-color: rgb(29, 34, 40); outline: none !important;">"<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: "New serif", serif; font-size: 18pt;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: white;">to President Thomas Jefferson. </span><span style="background-color: white;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white;">Aaron: How did this pique your interest? </span><span style="background-color: white;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white;">Nattalia: Two hundred years after Lewis and Clark had long since departed, the town of Salmon, Idaho was teeming with “re-en</span><span class="yiv0620117860gmaildefault"><span style="color: #1d2228; font-family: "New serif", serif;">-</span></span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(29, 34, 40);">actors” dressed in clothing perfect in every detail, representing</span><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white;">the events and the ambiance of that historic passage</span><span class="yiv0620117860gmaildefault"><span style="color: #1d2228; font-family: "New serif", serif;">,</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: "New serif", serif; font-size: 18pt;"> </span><span style="background-color: white;">while I was sitting in an auction barn witnessing the sights and sounds of ranch country interspersed with glimpses of that historic occasion. I knew then what is meant by the expression, “Déjà vu”. Everything that was whirling around me impacted my senses and stirred my imagination. And very soon, I was to be a witness to the auction scene which introduces the two main characters in my novel,</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: "New serif", serif; font-size: 18pt;"> </span></span></span><i>Best in the Whole Wide World<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(29, 34, 40);">.</span></span></i><span style="background-color: white;"> I watched as that back-and-forth exchange took place. I bid on that Heiser saddle myself as I watched the two individuals near me partner up to win it. I took my own purchases home – a couple of pottery crocks and a set of dining chairs from the old Scoble ranch – thinking about what I’d witnessed. </span><span style="background-color: white;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white;">Aaron: How did this inspire you to write <i>Best in the Whole Wide World?</i></span><span style="background-color: white;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white;">Nattalia: That auction kept going around and around inside my head until I simply sat down and wrote about everything I’d seen that day. I began to think about what I’d witnessed between the two people who had partnered up to win that Heiser saddle. Who were </span>they? What had become of them? These two interesting people soon became fully fleshed out characters with lives of their own. They spoke to me and I took dictation. I continued to write about them, throwing in background materials from my own experience, stories I knew from summers spent in the Idaho wilderness, details observed, conversations overheard, anything and everything that simply fell onto the page about how these two people were living their lives, and about how life in general is lived here in the ranch country of the Central Rocky Mountains of Idaho.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white;">Aaron: Best in the Whole Wide World evolved into three complete novels, called The Rocky Mountain Trilogy. Do you have a website where readers can check out the new releases? </span><span style="background-color: white;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white;">Nattalia: Absolutely</span>! <a href="http://www.rockymountaintrilogy.com/"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none;">www.rockymountaintrilogy.com</span></a><span style="background-color: white;">.</span><span style="background-color: white;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white;">Aaron: Thank you for joining us today, Nattalia. We hope to have you back when book two, Noble Souls, hits the shelves!</span><span style="background-color: white;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white;">Aaron: Here’s a synopsis of book 1. </span><span style="background-color: white;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">When Tracy Goodwin takes a leave of absence to run rivers and hike trails in the Rocky Mountains, she doesn't expect to meet saddle maker James C. James. A widower and devoted father, James dotes on his children and steadfastly manages his ranches in Idaho's Lemhi Valley. Now, for the first time in three years, he is drawn to a woman who electrifies his spirit - this copper-haired woman who runs hot and cold.</span><span style="color: #0f1111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span style="background-color: white;">Tracy doesn't know why she alternately attracts and rebuffs this rugged, honest, handsome man, but when her own plans fail to satisfy, she accepts his offer to accompany him on horseback into the mountains, where the power of her experience and the majesty of the rugged landscape renew her spirit.</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span style="background-color: white;">Unable to accept the chaos of her emotions, Tracy returns to the predictable life she left behind in California, until she receives a poignant call asking for her help.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">About the Author<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">Nattalia Nealls believes in Love, History and the Mystery that Moves in All Things. She lives and writes in a tiny house on the banks of a large river in the Central Rocky Mountains of Idaho.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p>Aaron Paul Lazarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06117814221437165664noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6001825743960552008.post-18617096696435910942023-02-15T10:40:00.001-05:002023-02-15T10:47:27.150-05:00Bobish: A brilliant and evocative poetic story by Magdalena Ball<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 10pt;"></span></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/1922571601?psc=1&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&ref_=chk_typ_imgToDp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="499" data-original-width="352" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5CRSH2sC6u7rgdNY-TNgCQJT2GVmVvdJU_k0aN2i9H9VG00bTHlJWnrDfq1blUhwVLMWZ8dxT9mHWsAENDK5aSKlSGmVyhkvmLqxuir2OgeAb3-YQQRNDAQ10n18uqLnVabcnUlt3qShogdTwLqE9nBsn2PRijGUboNhmwUYRlsW2gwOm-kVpBqhmfA/s320/Bobish%20Cover.jpg" width="226" /></a></i></div><i><br />Bobish</i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 10pt;"> by Magdalena Ball, reviewed by Aaron Paul Lazar<o:p></o:p></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 10pt;">It has been a long time since a book has profoundly impacted me and lingered in my soul for weeks on end. Occasionally--in the past--I’ve been compelled to reread passages or savor sentences because of their intense beauty. Some of these have belonged to novels by Dean Koontz, who has a magical way with words when he allows himself to wax poetic. But I’ve never read a poem or novel that made me repeatedly recite “word-pearls” like those populating <i>Bobish</i>, a poetic story. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 10pt;">Magdalena Ball has accomplished this with great tenderness and brilliance. I can’t stop thinking about the book.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 10pt;">Based on facts and careful interpretation of Ms. Ball’s Jewish grandmother’s journey from Eastern Europe’s Pale of Settlement in 1907 to America, the snippets about Bobish’s life are poignant and deeply moving. The construction is pure poetry, no pun intended. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 10pt;">Take a look at this segment which refers to Bobish’s journey and arrival in New York City:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><i><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light", sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">From “Small Woman with a Big Bag” <o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in;"><i><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light", sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">She didn’t choose so much<br />as let the motion of time take her. <o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in;"><i><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light", sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Not for herself, but for her children not yet conceived<br />who were already pulling her forward by the handles of her valise <o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in;"><i><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light", sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">a suitcase full of dirt and longing.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">“A suitcase full of dirt and longing” – isn’t that perfectly evocative of a young immigrant hoping for life-as-advertised in America?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">This woman is drawn between memories of her sweet homeland (albeit extraordinarily dangerous with an impending invasion) and the free world she now inhabits in New York. The streets are not paved with gold and she must work her fingers to the bone to survive. Yet the sweet recollections of her past haunt and comfort her at the same time. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Bobish married for love but sadly ended up the victim of domestic abuse. These passages broke my heart.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in;"><i><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light", sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">“Silence and Monkeys” by Magdalena Ball<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in;"><i><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light", sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">She was not musical <o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in;"><i><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light", sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">kept quiet<br />to avoid setting off <o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in;"><i><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light", sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">the bear inside him <o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in;"><i><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light", sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">he hated dirty floors. <o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in;"><i><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light", sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">If she kept the house clean if she didn’t blink too hard if she didn’t hum <o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in;"><i><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light", sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">beneath her breath <o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in;"><i><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light", sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">she would make it<br />to tomorrow <o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in;"><i><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light", sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">though there was always an urge to let go and scream <o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in;"><i><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light", sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">break every chipped dish the monkey box chattering and whining <o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in;"><i><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light", sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">across the surface of her skull <o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in;"><i><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light", sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">let me out let me out <o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in;"><i><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light", sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">when she was trying<br />so hard to be still.</span></i><span style="font-family: WalbaumMTStd, serif; font-size: 11pt;"></span><o:p></o:p></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">In spite of the hardships she endured, there were sweet moments in this brave woman’s life as well. See this excerpt from “Nickel Empire.” It made me crave summer and hotdogs. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in;"><i><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light", sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">From “Nickel Empire” <o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in;"><i><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light", sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">no, here was pure sound, the children’s pockets jangling with nickels home-made swimmers <o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in;"><i><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light", sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">a basket full of food walking across the promenade the boardwalk, the sound of the Atlantic Ocean <o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in;"><i><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light", sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">lapping indifferent to the growing crowds, hotdogs<br />red hots, ice cream dripping down the arm, sprinkles <o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Another memory of Coney Island follows:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in;"><i><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light", sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">From “Low Chroma (Coney Island, 1946)” <o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in;"><i><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light", sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Eyelids down, body on damp rock there is no day or night, only rotation this close<br />ultraviolet might be visible<br />as to a hummingbird<br />fired in a harlequin kiln<br />against hillside moss<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">I read these last three lines over and over again. The imagery is just magnificent.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">And who can’t imagine this beautiful scene? I must admit I’m partial to blue flax, green dragonflies, and orange butterflies.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in;"><i><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light", sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">From “Yennevelt” <o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in;"><i><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light", sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">not just to another mythical place where her art could bloom <o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in;"><i><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light", sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">tiny blue flax flowers with green dragonflies and bright orange butterflies <o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">In the heartbreaking end to the story, we learn of Bobish’s fate. She grows closer to her childhood nirvana, and thoughts turn to nature.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in;"><i><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light", sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">From “Subject to Dispersal”<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in;"><i><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light", sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">there were bees on the Primulas sweet scent like orange lollies <o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in;"><i><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light", sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">the smell continues to linger <o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in;"><i><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light", sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">even as it dissolves into a past she can barely access <o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 10pt;">Orange lollipops, like orange popsicles, are one of the best and most evocative of childhood memories. How can one not taste that flavor on their tongue?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 10pt;">Magdalena Ball has created a magnificent work which I know I’ll go back to reread soon. Thank you for such a well-crafted book. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 10pt;">Highly recommended by Aaron Paul Lazar, USA Today Bestselling Author.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 10pt;">www.lazarbooks.com</span></p>Aaron Paul Lazarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06117814221437165664noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6001825743960552008.post-8812153222065848262022-08-24T15:27:00.002-04:002022-08-28T12:58:05.946-04:00<h1 style="break-before: page; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 16pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqQwxc9Y2loHLXUntGqXuJUT6lhA8sJGaT25oRX0rW5-0fHRNc4i3m-ZcZvmA5hCrjVeMoTPgiXLza-9NG_WxU1GZaMH-7v5y7ui1o60ZzeBr8WHjGgi3drZbJw8Z4O2fbmctCzcJA6MrRVjc9qDZSbOkbrRVa12hQ37i7CyiC7s8CWdiq1KReUExs4g/s366/Aaron%20July%2008%20smaller-MOTION.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="366" data-original-width="250" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqQwxc9Y2loHLXUntGqXuJUT6lhA8sJGaT25oRX0rW5-0fHRNc4i3m-ZcZvmA5hCrjVeMoTPgiXLza-9NG_WxU1GZaMH-7v5y7ui1o60ZzeBr8WHjGgi3drZbJw8Z4O2fbmctCzcJA6MrRVjc9qDZSbOkbrRVa12hQ37i7CyiC7s8CWdiq1KReUExs4g/s320/Aaron%20July%2008%20smaller-MOTION.gif" width="219" /></a></div><br />Forbidden Words</h1><h1 style="break-before: page; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 16pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">Aaron Paul Lazar</span></h1><p><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>From</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><i>"Write Like the Wind" volume 1 </i></p><div></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria, serif; margin: 0in 0in 4pt; text-indent: 0.4in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria, serif; margin: 0in 0in 4pt; text-indent: 0.4in;">One of the most surprising rules I learned in my early writing days was the realization that there is a phantom list of “forbidden” words that writers should try to avoid. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria, serif; margin: 0in 0in 4pt; text-indent: 0.4in;">Don’t misunderstand; these aren’t lewd words, or sacrilegious words. Instead, they’re everyday words we use in speech. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria, serif; margin: 0in 0in 4pt; text-indent: 0.4in;">When I discovered this, I began to shake in my proverbial writing boots. Would I reveal my novice status by inadvertently using these forbidden words in my writing? How many more unacceptable words are out there? How long would my own list become? Would I become so tongue-tied that I’d never be able to write again?<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria, serif; margin: 0in 0in 4pt; text-indent: 0.4in;">I never saw a compilation of these suspect words in print. Nor did I discover a secret website where they existed. Instead, I compiled the list, one by one, with the help of writing mentors and critics. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria, serif; margin: 0in 0in 4pt; text-indent: 0.4in;">Has it happened to you yet?<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria, serif; margin: 0in 0in 4pt; text-indent: 0.4in;">At first, you may experience an online frown when someone spots the word “suddenly” in an excerpt you posted. There may be a hint of sneering involved. Or perhaps you enter a writing contest, and someone with very little tact and a hint of glee points out your “as” affliction. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria, serif; margin: 0in 0in 4pt; text-indent: 0.4in;">It can be paralyzing. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria, serif; margin: 0in 0in 4pt; text-indent: 0.4in;">Every time you use a gerund in your prose, does your heart beat wildly? Do you worry and think, “Does this belong here? Does it make my work sound amateurish?”<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria, serif; margin: 0in 0in 4pt; text-indent: 0.4in;">It’s almost impossible to avoid the words on the list. You can’t completely eliminate them. And it’s especially true with dialog. You want your characters to sound as natural as possible. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria, serif; margin: 0in 0in 4pt; text-indent: 0.4in;">Following is a list of some words to consider:<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria, serif; margin: 0in 0in 4pt; text-indent: 0.4in;">1) “To be” verbs. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria, serif; margin: 0in 0in 4pt; text-indent: 0.4in;">This is one of the hardest lessons to learn, and you’ll find many examples of it not being followed in bestsellers and classic literature. However, as a rule of thumb, instead of:<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria, serif; margin: 0in 0in 4pt; text-indent: 0.4in;">“Quinn’s hair was black and curly, and it was dripping with water. He was lunging at Tiramisu and his head was like a battering ram.” <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria, serif; margin: 0in 0in 4pt; text-indent: 0.4in;">You might consider:<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria, serif; margin: 0in 0in 4pt; text-indent: 0.4in;">“Quinn’s curly black hair dripped with water, obscuring his vision. In spite of this, he lunged at Tiramisu, using his head like a battering ram.”<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria, serif; margin: 0in 0in 4pt; text-indent: 0.4in;">In general, it’s best not to describe a character’s appearance with “was” or “were” type words. Try to sneak in these descriptions in a more innovative fashion. However, and there always will be exceptions to these cases, using “to be” forms to describe people is very natural in patterns of speech. You want to strive to make your writing sound natural, but not amateurish. There’s the balance we all need to seek.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria, serif; margin: 0in 0in 4pt; text-indent: 0.4in;">2) “Down” and “Up”<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria, serif; margin: 0in 0in 4pt; text-indent: 0.4in;">“Horatio sat down at the kitchen table and stared down at the congealed eggs on his plate.” <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria, serif; margin: 0in 0in 4pt; text-indent: 0.4in;">May sound better this way:<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria, serif; margin: 0in 0in 4pt; text-indent: 0.4in;">“Horatio sat at the kitchen table and stared at the congealed eggs on his plate.”<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria, serif; margin: 0in 0in 4pt; text-indent: 0.4in;">This rule of thumb is almost universally applicable. In America, we use “up,” all the time in natural conversation. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria, serif; margin: 0in 0in 4pt; text-indent: 0.4in;">“Bubba ate up all of Cat’s French Fries.” <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria, serif; margin: 0in 0in 4pt; text-indent: 0.4in;">“Nancy stared up at the ceiling, searching for the right word.” <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria, serif; margin: 0in 0in 4pt; text-indent: 0.4in;">“Sonya ripped up Veronica’s report card and jumped overboard.” <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria, serif; margin: 0in 0in 4pt; text-indent: 0.4in;">Most of those “ups” could be eliminated without loss of understanding. The sentences would read more smoothly. Be careful not to cut them in your characters’ dialog, however. You don’t want them to sound stilted. It’s perfectly okay to use common phrases such as: <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria, serif; margin: 0in 0in 4pt; text-indent: 0.4in;">“Margaret, get down here! Your toast is up.”<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria, serif; margin: 0in 0in 4pt; text-indent: 0.4in;">3) Minimizing “ing” verbs. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria, serif; margin: 0in 0in 4pt; text-indent: 0.4in;">One of the first pieces of advice I received as a new writer was to avoid the use of “ing” verbs. “It’s much stronger,” I was told, “to use the simple past tense, or ‘ed’ verbs.” So, like a good student, I went through my first four books (at that time not yet submitted to publishers or agents) and scoured them for “ing”s. I was merciless. Barely an “ing” survived. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria, serif; margin: 0in 0in 4pt; text-indent: 0.4in;">A few years later, I realized I went too far. The words sounded robotic, stilted. I needed some of those “ing” verbs to vary the rhythm of the sentences, to make them sound more natural. So, with diligence, I returned to my growing list of novels and revamped them. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria, serif; margin: 0in 0in 4pt; text-indent: 0.4in;">Keep in mind in might be better to write, “Mabel watched the plane land,” than “Mabel was watching the plane land.”<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria, serif; margin: 0in 0in 4pt; text-indent: 0.4in;">Examine verbs ending in “ing,” especially in conjunction with “was” and “were.” Sprinkle them into your prose to vary the rhythm, but avoid cases like “I was watching the birds while drumming my fingers on the table.” You might consider breaking it up. “Watching the birds, I drummed my fingers on the table.” Or: “I watched the birds and drummed my fingers on the table.”<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria, serif; margin: 0in 0in 4pt; text-indent: 0.4in;">4) Using “had” in flashbacks or past perfect applications<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria, serif; margin: 0in 0in 4pt; text-indent: 0.4in;">Most of us learned the proper way to conjugate verbs and use tenses, such as the past perfect. When something happens in the past, like a flashback in one of your stories, it’s taking place before the current action, which is already in the past tense. Therefore, the flashback needs to be cast into the past perfect, using the word “had.” <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria, serif; margin: 0in 0in 4pt; text-indent: 0.4in;">Right?<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria, serif; margin: 0in 0in 4pt; text-indent: 0.4in;">Not always. It is grammatically correct to write the following paragraph when referring to a recap of an event in your story:<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria, serif; margin: 0in 0in 4pt; text-indent: 0.4in;"><span style="background-color: white;">“A pang of sorrow hit me. I thought back to the dreadful day two years ago when I had lost him. He’d fought the cancer as bravely as he had stood up to the Germans on D Day in Normandy. Just before we’d learned the dreaded disease had returned to claim him, we had shared one final, peaceful day of fishing on Hemlock Lake.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria, serif; margin: 0in 0in 4pt; text-indent: 0.4in;"><span style="background-color: white;">However, it could read more smoothly like this:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria, serif; margin: 0in 0in 4pt; text-indent: 0.4in;"><span style="background-color: white;">“A pang of sorrow hit me. I thought back to the dreadful time two years ago when I lost him. He’d fought the cancer as bravely as he stood up to the Germans on D Day in Normandy. Just before we learned the dreaded disease had returned to claim him, we shared one final, peaceful day of fishing on Hemlock Lake.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria, serif; margin: 0in 0in 4pt; text-indent: 0.4in;"><span style="background-color: white;">Can you see how a few well-placed “hads” retain the meaning of the memory, but don’t bog it down? Of course, there’s always the opposite viewpoint. My editor added in a number of “hads” in my current manuscript, because I’d gone too far. So there’s a lesson to be</span> learned in over-applying one’s new skills. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria, serif; margin: 0in 0in 4pt; text-indent: 0.4in;">Don’t pepper your backstories with “hads,” and use contractions to make your writing sound more natural.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria, serif; margin: 0in 0in 4pt; text-indent: 0.4in;">5) Remove unnecessary adverbs and instead, use stronger verbs. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria, serif; margin: 0in 0in 4pt; text-indent: 0.4in;">After I read Stephen King’s, <i>On Writing</i> (highly recommended) I realized I’d been over-using adverbs. The great adverb purge followed. I became an adverb Nazi. No “ly’s” would sully my prose. I’d search for the choicest verbs. They’d glow from my pages because of their utter perfection. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria, serif; margin: 0in 0in 4pt; text-indent: 0.4in;">After this phase, I backed off a bit, allowing a few adverbs here and there. Sometimes, it just sounds better with them, doesn’t it? It’s all a matter of balance.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria, serif; margin: 0in 0in 4pt; text-indent: 0.4in;">It’s always best, however, to change sentences like “Judy looked sullenly at me” to “Judy glowered at me.” <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria, serif; margin: 0in 0in 4pt; text-indent: 0.4in;">6) “Then”<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria, serif; margin: 0in 0in 4pt; text-indent: 0.4in;">In my first novels, my characters were always doing something, “then” going onto the next action. I preferred it over joining the phrases with “and.” It seemed to fit better and also sounded more natural. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria, serif; margin: 0in 0in 4pt; text-indent: 0.4in;">Several years ago, while participating in an online writers’ critique forum, I was surprised to learn when the host editors spotted the word “then” in submitted manuscripts, they immediately pronounced it amateurish and went on to the next piece in the slush pile.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria, serif; margin: 0in 0in 4pt; text-indent: 0.4in;">Still aching to learn the “rules” that would graduate me to “professional writer status,” I dutifully reduced the instances of “then” from my current work in progress. It seems to have made them read more smoothly. But I still use the word “then” a fair amount, because it just seems natural. See which you prefer:<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria, serif; margin: 0in 0in 4pt; text-indent: 0.4in;">“Inspector Barnaby ordered the suspect to halt, then read him his rights.”<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria, serif; margin: 0in 0in 4pt; text-indent: 0.4in;">“Inspector Barnaby ordered the suspect to halt and read him his rights.” <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria, serif; margin: 0in 0in 4pt; text-indent: 0.4in;">7) Eliminate the extraneous “the” <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria, serif; margin: 0in 0in 4pt; text-indent: 0.4in;">When the word “the” precedes a noun that could stand alone, it is superfluous. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria, serif; margin: 0in 0in 4pt; text-indent: 0.4in;">“The guilt rode heavily on my shoulders, slicing through my self confidence.” <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria, serif; margin: 0in 0in 4pt; text-indent: 0.4in;">Consider: “Guilt rode heavily on my shoulders, slicing through my self-confidence.”<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria, serif; margin: 0in 0in 4pt; text-indent: 0.4in;">“The frigid water swirled around our ankles,” can be just as effective without the “the.” “Frigid water swirled around our ankles.”<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria, serif; margin: 0in 0in 4pt; text-indent: 0.4in;">8) Minimize contiguous prepositions <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria, serif; margin: 0in 0in 4pt; text-indent: 0.4in;">In speech, we commonly use words like “over” and “back” in series.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria, serif; margin: 0in 0in 4pt; text-indent: 0.4in;">“Mary threw the ball back over to Tom.” <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria, serif; margin: 0in 0in 4pt; text-indent: 0.4in;">Instead, try this:<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria, serif; margin: 0in 0in 4pt; text-indent: 0.4in;">“Mary threw the ball to Tom,” or “Mary returned the ball with a vengeance.” <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria, serif; margin: 0in 0in 4pt; text-indent: 0.4in;">Avoid constructions like “The boy ran over to the counter,” or “I trotted back along the trail.”<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria, serif; margin: 0in 0in 4pt; text-indent: 0.4in;">9) Avoid using “that” (except in dialog). <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria, serif; margin: 0in 0in 4pt; text-indent: 0.4in;">We use “that” as a connecting word far too often, and we don’t always need it. I’ve already removed a number of “that’s” from this chapter. It really does smooth out the prose. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria, serif; margin: 0in 0in 4pt; text-indent: 0.4in;">“The President discovered that his agent was a spy.” <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria, serif; margin: 0in 0in 4pt; text-indent: 0.4in;">Instead: “The President discovered his agent was a spy.”<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria, serif; margin: 0in 0in 4pt; text-indent: 0.4in;">In contrast, the following use of “that” can’t be avoided. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria, serif; margin: 0in 0in 4pt; text-indent: 0.4in;">“I wondered if I would actually escape the reminder that I’d been a penny-pinching idiot.”<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria, serif; margin: 0in 0in 4pt; text-indent: 0.4in;">Go through your current manuscript and do a search for “that.” See how many you can eliminate.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria, serif; margin: 0in 0in 4pt; text-indent: 0.4in;">10) “Suddenly” <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria, serif; margin: 0in 0in 4pt; text-indent: 0.4in;">In my early writing days, I used “suddenly” interchangeably with “without warning,” “instantly,” or “in seconds,” yet was chastised for its use in a forum run by agents. I’m still confused about the legitimacy of this one. A good friend whose manuscript is currently being scoured by her editor (a big New York publisher’s editor) said she’d removed all of the “suddenly’s,” only to have her editor put them back in. It’s not always cut and dry. It recently happened to me as well. My Twilight Times editor put back in a “suddenly” that I’d culled. Remember, much of this is subjective, so don’t get too married to any one rule and let yourself be flexible. If your editor likes “suddenly,” then by all means, use it, but sparingly. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria, serif; margin: 0in 0in 4pt; text-indent: 0.4in;">11) “Very” and “Just”<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria, serif; margin: 0in 0in 4pt; text-indent: 0.4in;">Two words we use a great deal in conversation are “very” and “just.” Try not to use them in prose. Find a better way to emphasize your words.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria, serif; margin: 0in 0in 4pt; text-indent: 0.4in;">“The giant was very tall,” works better as “The giant towered over us.”<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria, serif; margin: 0in 0in 4pt; text-indent: 0.4in;">“Mary just barely fit into the dress,” can be improved as: “Mary barely fit into the dress.”<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria, serif; margin: 0in 0in 4pt; text-indent: 0.4in;">12) “Because” <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria, serif; margin: 0in 0in 4pt; text-indent: 0.4in;">This word can be used sparingly, but not in the following way: <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria, serif; margin: 0in 0in 4pt; text-indent: 0.4in;">“She craved the hamburger because she was hungry.” Find another construction to show how hungry she was, such as a growling stomach or feeling of faintness.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria, serif; margin: 0in 0in 4pt; text-indent: 0.4in;">The following example of “because” works: “Because of his history, he avoided the cops.”<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria, serif; margin: 0in 0in 4pt; text-indent: 0.4in;"><b>In Summary<o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria, serif; margin: 0in 0in 4pt; text-indent: 0.4in;">You’ll probably find more words to add to this list. And if you’re totally confused by now, join the club. This whole game of “rules” can be daunting, and frequently the “experts” don’t agree on their usage.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria, serif; margin: 0in 0in 4pt; text-indent: 0.4in;">Don’t be too concerned if any or all of the “forbidden” words pepper your prose. Take heart. You will find every single example of “what not to do” in the classics and best sellers. <o:p></o:p></p><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt;">My advice? Don’t go crazy each time you learn a new “forbidden” word. Simply do the best you can, write from your heart, and try to tighten your prose without squelching your own style.</span><p> Aaron Paul Lazar</p><p>www.lazarbooks.com</p><p><br /></p>Aaron Paul Lazarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06117814221437165664noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6001825743960552008.post-89299452739056837902022-08-14T01:00:00.000-04:002022-08-14T13:40:41.776-04:00<br />
<div align="center" style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img alt="For Keeps: A Green Marble Mystery (Green Marble Mysteries Book 3) by [Aaron Lazar]" class="a-dynamic-image frontImage" data-a-dynamic-image="{"https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41tTNsyxqmL.jpg":[333,500],"https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41tTNsyxqmL._SY346_.jpg":[230,346]}" data-a-image-name="ebooksImageBlockFront" data-a-manual-replacement="true" id="ebooksImgBlkFront" src="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41tTNsyxqmL.jpg" style="left: 0px; position: relative; text-align: start; top: 0px;" width="230px" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><br /></span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: 16pt;">Writing the Tough Stuff (Or
Killing the One You Love)</span></b></div>
</div>
<div align="center" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><i>copyright
2022, Aaron Paul Lazar</i></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">I</span>t’s not easy writing a scene where you kill the one you love.<br /><br />Of course I don’t mean your actual spouse or lover. I mean the wife, husband, or sweetheart of your main character.<br /><br />I’ve done it in FOR KEEPS. Thinking about it tears my heart out every single time. <br /><br />That’s
what I mean by “writing the tough stuff.” Sam Moore—a retired family
doctor who is our resident hero in Moore Mysteries—is very much like me,
except he’s twelve years older and retired with enough money to putter
around in his gardens all day. Let me repeat that. All day!<br /><br />I hate him for that.<br /><br />Okay,
so maybe that’s a little extreme, considering he’s fictional. Shall we
say, I am exceedingly jealous of his lifestyle? Although Sam was a
family doctor and I am an engineer, we’re still a lot alike. We both
love to plunge our hands into the soft earth and grow things. We both
love our grandkids so much it hurts. And we both have spouses with
multiple sclerosis. There are plenty of differences, too. I cook, I
write, and I take photos. Sam doesn’t. But of course, it’s not a
competition. At least I don’t think so…<br /><br />In spite of the fact that
he’s not real (at least not in the traditional sense, LOL), I relate to
this man and feel his pain when he’s hurting. Sure, you say, writers
should feel ALL their characters’ pain. We have to, to get into their
heads and nail the characterization. Don’t we?<br /><br />But I’ll bet some characters are closer to your heart than others.<br /><br />Sam’s
wife, Rachel, shares many qualities with my dear wife, Dale. They both
endure MS, they both love to read, they are both chair-caning artists.
Some of their symptoms are the same, but that’s where they split apart.
Rachel loves to cook (that’s my job in our marriage), she’s in a
wheelchair, and she stays pretty upbeat, considering her challenges.
They both adore their grandchildren and both love to read. Rachel’s a
tribute to Dale, in all honesty. But she also has morphed into her “own
woman,” too, and I love her deeply. Er... through Sam, of course.
(Honey, don’t be jealous!)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br />In the first
two books of the Moore Mysteries series, Rachel sticks by Sam’s side,
supports him when he’s overcome with grief and is plagued by strange
paranormal events, and loves him deeply enough to keep him sane. <br /><br />That’s why it really hurt when I had to kill her.<br /><br />In
For Keeps, the third book in the series, life takes an awful turn. When
Rachel is murdered by a serial killer, it puts Sam back in the psych
ward, the same place he was thrown when his little brother disappeared
without a trace fifty years earlier. Desperate to fix things, he calls
on the power of the green marble, the talisman his little brother Billy
controls from afar that whisks him back and forth through his past.<br /><br />Unlike
those of us in real life, Sam gets a “do over.” He flies back in time
to desperately try to fix the problems that lead to this gruesome act,
and over and over again, he attempts to tweak the past to bring his dear
Rachel back to life.<br /><br />How do you write such a scene without
losing it? How do you make it feel authentic to your readers? How much
is too much? And how can you be certain that your character’s reaction
will ring true?<br /><br />It’s not easy. Matter of fact, since I loosely
base Rachel on my own wife, and since Sam and I are really quite alike,
it was close to torture. <br /><br />I called upon my darkest, most powerful
emotions experienced when my father died and also when my own dear wife
almost died several times in the past few years. I’ll never forget the
time the nurse in the ER called the nun on duty to bring me to a little
room where no one would see my reaction to her impending news that Dale
might not make it. She carried a box of Kleenex under one arm and a
bible in the other. She was so sweet. Yet it was one of the scariest
moments of my life. Thankfully, my wife pulled through and is doing okay
today.<br /><br />That hollow-gut, black-sludge-in-your-heart feeling is
horrible when you lose someone dear to you, isn’t it? It’s all
encompassing. Sometimes you just want to deny that awful truth, and pull
away—far away—like Sam does in the following excerpt. I tried to
channel those feelings when getting inside Sam’s head. Let me know if
you think it worked.<br /><br />Here’s the setup. Sam just picked up his
son, Andy, from the airport and they enter the house after arriving
home. Andy’s just arrived from his second tour of duty in Iraq, and this
is his long-awaited homecoming. Rachel’s been cooking all morning to
welcome her boy home. All day, Sam has ignored the insistence of the
green marble, which has been pulsing, glowing, and searing his leg all
day from his pocket; little brother Billy—who communicates from beyond
through this talisman—was trying to “warn” him that something was
terribly wrong.<br /><br /><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Keeps-Green-Marble-Mystery-Mysteries-ebook/dp/B08KSJHYGN/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3KX4FYKT7PZ9N&keywords=for+keeps%2C+lazar&qid=1660498562&sprefix=for+keeps%2C+lazar%2Caps%2C93&sr=8-1" target="_blank">For Keeps</a>
is book #3 in Moore Mysteries, and is now available through Amazon.com. The series can be read in any order. <br /><br /><br />***<br /><br />Sam
raced toward the laundry room in a panic. Rachel’s wheelchair sat
abandoned in the hall, and his son froze in the doorway, hands clenching
and unclenching at his side.<br /><br />Andy’s voice thickened. “Maybe you shouldn’t come in here.” He spun and tried to hold Sam back.<br /><br />One
of Rachel’s shoes lay beside the doorjamb. The brown clogs. Slip on.
With lambswool lining. She loved them so much she wore them even in
summer.<br /><br />Sam drifted closer, terror pooling in his stomach. As if
in anaphylactic shock, his throat tightened and threatened to close off
his air. His heart beat wildly now, in his throat, ears, chest.<br /><br />Sam barreled past his son and stumbled into the room, his voice hoarse. “What happened?”<br /><br />Rachel
lay on a basket of laundry, her eyes wide open, looking with blank
surprise at the ceiling. Sam’s garden shears protruded from her heart.
The image danced before him like heat waves on tar, shimmering with
unreality. Blood ran from Rachel’s floral print blouse to the sheets
stained red in the basket, pooling on the white linoleum floor.<br /><br />The
room tilted. A series of screams of No No No No No resonated in his
head. Or maybe he yelled it aloud. He couldn’t tell as he shoved Andy
aside and collapsed beside her, checking for the pulse that evaded him
like a cruel tormentor. Neck. Wrist. Ankles. No beating met his probing
fingers.<br /><br />“NO!” He drew the shears from her chest, sickened by the
soft sucking sound it made, then wadded up a compress of pillowcases
and held it over the wound to stem the flow. More blood dribbled from
the wound and curled around her pearl buttons. He realized with a start
that she was still warm.<br /><br />He looked wildly about the room, as if a
solution lay beneath the neatly folded piles of towels and linen. “Call
911. Hurry!” He cradled Rachel in his arms, smearing the blood between
them, and feeling her arms dangle away from him, as if she didn’t have
the strength to return his embrace.<br /><br />Andy cried out, his anguish
pinging across the small room. He squeezed between his mother’s body and
the washing machine, holding his hand out to his father. “Dad. It’s too
late. She has no pulse. I checked, too.”<br /><br />“NO!” Sam’s mind
reeled, his vision clouded, and the scent of blood tasted metallic on
his tongue. “Who did this? Is he still here? She’s still warm, Andy.
Find the bastard!” He stiffened when his brain repeated a phrase he’d
heard during some of Rachel’s favorite shows.<br /><br /><i>Don’t disturb the evidence.</i><br /><br />Panic slewed over him, boiling inside his head, freezing his arms and legs.<br /><br />My garden shears. The killer took them from the barn. Used them on my Rachel. And my prints are all over them.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">A great gulping scream filled his throat, tearing out of him like a primal scream. “RACHEL!”<br /><br />Her
head slumped sideways when he moved away, as if she was rejecting him.
He checked her pulse again, muttering under his breath. “No way. No.
No.” In a sudden manic thrust, he stood and reached for the marble,
searching his pockets, patting madly at his pants and shirt. “My God.
Where is it? What did I do with it?” Sam asked aloud. “Billy! Why didn’t
you warn me?”<br /><br />Inside the double-stuffed world that batted him
between reality and nightmare, he remembered the marble’s insistent
throbbing all morning. Billy had tried to warn him, had tried hard.<br /><br />“Dad,
come on. You can’t help her now.” In spite of Andy’s two tours of duty
in the heat of battle in Iraq, the bodies he had seen and possibly
created, and his soldier-toughened soul, he wept. Loud and strong, he
wept and choked on his words. “Dad. Please. Leave her be. It’s over.”<br /><br />Andy
pulled him to his feet. Sam stared at his son as if he’d never seen him
before. His eyes widened, trying to piece together a puzzle. Who is
this nice young man? And why does he look so familiar?<br /><br />Andy took him by the elbow and started to shuffle him toward the living room.<br /><br />“Come on, Dad. Let’s go sit down.”<br /><br />“No. Please. My wife needs me. She has multiple sclerosis, you know.”<br /><br />Andy’s
eyes popped open. Tears still streamed from them, and he shook his
father’s shoulders as if he could not only snap him out of it, but maybe
bring back his mother, too.<br /><br />“Dad! Come on. Hold it together. Don’t do this.”<br /><br />Sam
stopped and stared at his bloodied hands. His legs weakened to jelly.
He stumbled, then braced himself against the wall as sobs wracked him in
waves of increasing amplitude. He slid to the floor and buried his face
in his hands.<br /><br />Rachel.<br /><br />Dear God.<br /><br />Not Rachel.<br /><br />***<br /><br />Thanks
for reading! I hope you were drawn into Sam’s world, and that you might
want to see how our favorite retired family doctor gets out of this
one.<br /><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhikMhO7tvNI6-RsxKM7JpwObjt3TccFvKk38bwmGpVn67Us7r-QdQXX9K-3iiXGElQ-nLHmP-LAN8fHbZL6sWQDRBKsYcVmjzeAvi2IU3lKzGOQTUooJ4Oc_4tuRbldG51UFLZuVk_mz8/s1600/Aaron+b,+smaller.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhikMhO7tvNI6-RsxKM7JpwObjt3TccFvKk38bwmGpVn67Us7r-QdQXX9K-3iiXGElQ-nLHmP-LAN8fHbZL6sWQDRBKsYcVmjzeAvi2IU3lKzGOQTUooJ4Oc_4tuRbldG51UFLZuVk_mz8/s1600/Aaron+b,+smaller.jpg" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: small;">Aaron Paul Lazar</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.lazarbooks.com/">www.lazarbooks.com</a></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
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Aaron Paul Lazarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06117814221437165664noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6001825743960552008.post-29784643765099631262022-02-02T14:04:00.001-05:002022-02-02T14:04:22.643-05:00Introducing Heidi Skarie and Call of the Wind<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjVYbmUg6xmqn98P0dTD7ie4nv8BqcBbFLVzNJMMeVUpHNseopt8hpSC5_LatzyAauTGXkG4fnc1njJF-rSZgD-ZVt7m_802ahXdLC5CuEvOMBnm5lVV31jn8sV62jEzMxrui6fQE7wiRFpYzo29B7mEq1KUrOW0BH244jKyD950fhbyJB1w_k=s2097" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2097" data-original-width="1499" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjVYbmUg6xmqn98P0dTD7ie4nv8BqcBbFLVzNJMMeVUpHNseopt8hpSC5_LatzyAauTGXkG4fnc1njJF-rSZgD-ZVt7m_802ahXdLC5CuEvOMBnm5lVV31jn8sV62jEzMxrui6fQE7wiRFpYzo29B7mEq1KUrOW0BH244jKyD950fhbyJB1w_k=s320" width="229" /></a> </p><p>Hello, book lovers. </p><p></p><p>I've always been addicted to writing. It was (and is) my cheap therapy. For years I wrote mysteries—and more—that provided wonderful virtual adventures in my challenging life. Many of you know about these various traumas, from my posts over the past years. Guess what? We survived and/or learned to deal with all of it. In the meantime, I published twenty-nine books in the background. </p><p>When the pandemic started, I lost my "day" job and needed to find another way to keep the family going. I decided to capitalize on my absolute passion for helping other authors with their books. So I added "writing coach" to my resume and now am pleased to announce that I have a number of superb clients I help with polishing, formatting, and getting them ready to publish on Amazon KDP. </p><p>This month, Heidi Skarie has published a book in her Star Rider series, <i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Call-Wind-Sci-fi-Space-Fantasy-ebook/dp/B09P4GHK2Y/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1JV0GRIH97U1Q&keywords=Heidi+skarie&qid=1643827847&sprefix=heidi+skarie%2Caps%2C82&sr=8-1" target="_blank">Call of the Wind</a></i>. I'm so proud of her. You can read a bit about the story as well as learn about her in the following interview. Let us know what you think in the comments, below. </p><p>Stay safe and warm this February. </p><p>All my best,</p><p>Aaron Paul Lazar</p><p>www.lazarbooks.com</p><h3 style="text-align: center;">Meet Heidi Skarie and <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Call-Wind-Sci-fi-Space-Fantasy-ebook/dp/B09P4GHK2Y/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1JV0GRIH97U1Q&keywords=Heidi+skarie&qid=1643827847&sprefix=heidi+skarie%2Caps%2C82&sr=8-1" target="_blank">Call of the Wind</a></h3><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiwDvbApuCHQTuRDyYrzmcznHETEINb5iycRBvBcUnDAX5GQmVzI0hpHI24_FatXTqAuA30YJjjjWRC73QqIBfYFwfbgb2aPlZuO1fLuFTt85OqKNwSsz-tJciGhfMV26LuuuNTeATIlkd11kF2uvCw1rIpMgy_rHF-pqPwWLhaAsWg5xQDJXk=s1350" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1350" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiwDvbApuCHQTuRDyYrzmcznHETEINb5iycRBvBcUnDAX5GQmVzI0hpHI24_FatXTqAuA30YJjjjWRC73QqIBfYFwfbgb2aPlZuO1fLuFTt85OqKNwSsz-tJciGhfMV26LuuuNTeATIlkd11kF2uvCw1rIpMgy_rHF-pqPwWLhaAsWg5xQDJXk=s320" width="256" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><b>What inspired you to become a writer and eventually write <i>Call of the Wind</i>?</b></span><span style="color: #222222;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span><span style="color: #222222;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">I had a series of six dreams that was like watching an exciting space opera, sci-fi movie such as Star Wars. Each dream continued where the last one had left off. The story had such a great plot and interesting characters that I was inspired to turn it into a novel. After writing the first book, it was as if I’d turned on a faucet to a creative waterfall. The next novels flowed out as I continued to write about the same characters. Writing became my passion. The first three books center around a strong female protagonist who is an undercover operative during an interplanetary war. This book is about her son who continues in his mother’s footsteps and becomes an intergalactic fighter pilot. <i>Call of the Wind</i> can be read and enjoyed as a standalone novel since it focuses on new characters.</span><span style="color: #222222;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span><span style="color: #222222;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">What do you think your readers will love about <i>Call of the Wind</i>?</span><span style="color: #222222;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><b> </b></span><span style="color: #222222;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">It’s a powerful coming-of-age story of a young man told in the story-within-a-story structure. Baymond is a young fighter pilot sentenced to be executed in five days. While awaiting his death, he shares his life story with a fellow prisoner. The novel has brave heroes and heroines, exciting adventures, a tender love story, and space battles. But as one reviewer said, “It’s also a compelling vision of the enlightened who can transcend the confines of time and space, even death.”</span><span style="color: #222222;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span><span style="color: #222222;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><b></b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEivb_AWMKh4QvhPibas8GnEW96LyK5Q69hixJCGRC9Dn_AoZY1E60RgDmPx-zCetRyzC1no_WRny39ytd1ScnlpdUpiGnYdr_dgs3vwZo1R8dqlqpyrC0bLcrFWR7IBRkoZXdJAyGv-CT9oYz-t2ke9pCSe1S3nriHDdE87HeX61qhunPsD-1g=s500" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="313" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEivb_AWMKh4QvhPibas8GnEW96LyK5Q69hixJCGRC9Dn_AoZY1E60RgDmPx-zCetRyzC1no_WRny39ytd1ScnlpdUpiGnYdr_dgs3vwZo1R8dqlqpyrC0bLcrFWR7IBRkoZXdJAyGv-CT9oYz-t2ke9pCSe1S3nriHDdE87HeX61qhunPsD-1g=s320" width="200" /></a></b></div><b><br />What is your writing process?</b><span style="color: #222222;"><o:p></o:p></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span><span style="color: #222222;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">I write the first draft without getting any feedback that would interfere with my vision of the novel. Depending on the complexity of the plot I may use storyboards, character sketches and detailed outlines. Then I work with a critique group and go through each chapter until it shines. Next, several beta readers read the entire novel and give feedback. Last, I hire an editor and go through it again.</span><span style="color: #222222;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span><span style="color: #222222;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><b>What other books have you written?</b></span><span style="color: #222222;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span><span style="color: #222222;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">I’ve published four books in the Star Rider series, a science fiction, space opera set in a futuristic world during an interplanetary war. <i>Star Rider on the Razor’s Edge</i> is the first in the series. <i>Call of the </i>Wind is about the next generation.</span><span style="color: #222222;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">I’ve also written two historical novels. </span><i style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">Red Willow’s Quest</i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> about a Native American woman studying to become a medicine woman. </span><i style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">Annoure and the Dragon Ships</i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> about a young woman kidnapped off the coast of England by the Vikings.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">What are you currently working on?</span><span style="color: #222222;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><b> </b></span><span style="color: #222222;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">I’m in the final edits of <i>Call of the Eagle</i>, which continues the story of Baymond and Fawn as the interplanetary war escalates.</span><span style="color: #222222;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /><b>Your book is so unique in that it is full of spiritual references to "Soul" and "Inner Light" and so many more wonderful themes involving a greater being and His teachings. Are these references fictional? Or were you inspired by another part of your life to include these in the stories? </b><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">The original idea for the Star Rider series came from a dream about a female undercover operative, Toemeka, who works for the Coalition of Free Nations. She’s sent on a mission to help an occupied country regain their freedom during an interplanetary war against world conqueror, Samrat Condor. What makes the story unique is that Toemeka is a spiritually awakened person. She is able to communicate with her friends telepathically, leave her physical body and travel into higher levels of existence, and remember some of her past lives. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">The novels were influenced by my own spiritual beliefs. I’m a member of ECKANKAR, the Path of Spiritual Freedom and believe that we are Soul, a part of God. I believe that when we die we, as Soul, leave this body and go into the higher worlds, what some religions refer to as the heavenly worlds. We don’t stay there according to the teachings of ECKANKAR, but return to earth many times for Soul’s education. Eventually we awaken spiritually and live in the higher worlds of God permanently.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">In the series, Toemeka follows the Secret Teachings of Light and Sound. The Light and Sound are essential aspects of the ECKANKAR teachings. It’s the voice of God. In the novels Toemeka sings HU, an ancient love song to God, to attune herself to the presence of God. She follows a living master who is the leader of the Secret Teachings. This is also drawn from ECKANKAR that has a living spiritual leader, Sri Harold Klemp, who keeps the teachings pure. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">Toemeka’s spiritual training is an important element in the story because Samrat Condor, is a powerful black magician who portrays himself as a god. Toemeka uses her spiritual training to see a higher truth and fight his spread of evil psychic powers. The series is the struggle between good and evil, the light and the dark forces.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">The Call of the Wind</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> is about Toemeka’s son, Baymond, who follows in his mother’s footsteps and joins the Coalition as a fighter pilot. He is also a student of the Secret Teachings. Toemeka is a minor character, but still plays an important role in this novel.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><b>Your books are full of luscious natural settings and descriptions. They are most artistic. Do you enjoy creating on any other level? Are you fond of the outdoors? </b><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">Before I became a writer I was a visual artist. My mother encouraged my art abilities because learning to read was hard for me and she wanted me to excel in something. I started college as an art major, but switched to getting a teaching degree, specializing in helping children learn to read. I studied pottery, painting, drawing, etching and engraving, and photography. I continued painting and doing photography after college. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">The visual arts teach us to look at the world differently. When I gaze at the fresh snow outside my window, I don’t see white snow with gray shadows. I see the sun reflecting golden light on the snow and the light blue shadows infused with violet. When I’m writing, I drew on my background as a painter and photographer to create vivid descriptions that can transport the reader so they can see the scene and feel like they are there.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">I also love nature and have enjoyed backpacking in the Rocky Mountains and the Bitterroot Mountains. I’ve also gone canoeing in the wilderness Boundary Waters of northern Minnesota. My own experiences of enjoying the beauty of the woods and mountains, cooking over a fire, dealing with bugs and encounters with wild animals—like bears—has also helped me to write more vivid descriptions and write more authentically. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">For example, once I was walking along on a narrow wilderness trail in the Rocky Mountains when I came face to face with a large moose coming straight toward me. There was a moment where we both looked at each other in surprise. Then he slipped into the woods before I could move. I was fortunate as moose can be ornery—my father was once chased by one. I drew on that experience as I wrote <i>Call of the Wind</i>. My characters sing and wear bells on their backpacks so they don’t startled wild animals.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><b>Did you enjoy reading science fiction as a youth? What was your favorite genre?</b><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">When I was a child my parents read me fantasy books by George MacDonald such as <i>Back of the North Wind</i> and <i>Princess and the Goblin</i>. They also read me classics like <i>Heidi </i>by Johanna Spyri, which takes place in the mountains of Switzerland. In sixth grade I discovered the <i>Hobbit </i>and <i>Lord of the Rings, and Gone with the Wind</i>. I also liked Mary Stewart’s mysteries <i>Nine Coaches Waiting</i> and later her Arthurian Saga. Another favorite was <i>The Once and Future King</i>by T. H. White. These novels opened the doors to the enjoyment of a good story with wonderful characters that take place in the interesting worlds.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">My interest in science fiction came later. In the fifties and sixties science fiction was just gaining popularity with nuclear energy and space exploration. Ideas of space, dystopia, robots, computers, and alternate futures became of interest after World War II. The genre was just getting going. I didn’t really get into science fiction until Star Wars came out and sci-fi space operas novels became popular.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">***</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">Thank you so much for your time, Heidi!</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span></p>Aaron Paul Lazarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06117814221437165664noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6001825743960552008.post-41229950305594798862022-01-21T13:22:00.003-05:002022-01-23T07:18:17.855-05:00For Writers: Updating Your Backlist - Add Some Pizazz!<p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><o:p> </o:p></p><br /><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: medium; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh36NrkJRyCMefQcAZTIW4YE_Cz7btpqExeAs2pJ_m-IISLpKMZrTeqeYofW_jXiokb0ppSpvBg5V6Kj6261JQSu2svBOMTcOXbUnACvJZLNoJE7w3E8gyl_dJ6l5PZRucQV9mxTHLV0cYXvdZm8u2IYo_-bwwXEFY2OPKst5DPMCCBcztA5gXJAiR2UA=s360" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="270" data-original-width="360" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh36NrkJRyCMefQcAZTIW4YE_Cz7btpqExeAs2pJ_m-IISLpKMZrTeqeYofW_jXiokb0ppSpvBg5V6Kj6261JQSu2svBOMTcOXbUnACvJZLNoJE7w3E8gyl_dJ6l5PZRucQV9mxTHLV0cYXvdZm8u2IYo_-bwwXEFY2OPKst5DPMCCBcztA5gXJAiR2UA=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br /></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: small;">So, how do you know when you’ve written enough books? Is it when your muse holds up her hands and says, “Enough already!” Or is it when living through a pandemic makes you so overwhelmed that you—the one who wrote twenty-nine books with endless story lines in sixteen years—can no longer summon another plot? (I mean, how many awful things can happen to Gus LeGarde?) Or is it when you finally realize that all twenty-nine books have old links, incomplete book lists, and your defunct email address?<o:p></o:p></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: small;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">For me, it’s been a combination of the above. I’m not saying I’m “done,” writing. I needed a hiatus and I’m actually starting to get the writing bug again. But one day as I was working on another author’s book to help her polish, format, and prepare it for publishing, I realized that she was using color cover images for her backlist, her author picture, etc. I was motivated! Why do I stilI have boring text links to my books? And no pictures of my ugly mug? Where’s the glamor? Where’s the color? </span><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">I took a look through my horribly neglected backlist of <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Aaron-Paul-Lazar/e/B001JOZR2M/ref=dp_byline_cont_pop_ebooks_1" style="color: #954f72; text-decoration: underline;">books</a> and decided to go for it. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><b>Updating “front and back matter” in your backlist<o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">What is front and back matter? Here are some examples. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><i>Front matter</i>: copyright page, dedication, forward, request for reviews, free book link (to get signups on your newsletter), etc. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><i>Back matter</i>: Links and chapter excerpts to the next book in the series, afterword, review request, newsletter signup, author biography, contacts, websites, etc.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">So – after far too many years of neglect – I’m in the process of updating book lists, contact information, links, and adding lovely color photos to my eBook and print books.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">Easy, right? <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">Well, so far, I’ve only done two of the twenty-nine books in the past week. I’ve reached some stumbling blocks (because SO much changes on Amazon in a year or two!), researched the heck out of each issue, and applied my new knowledge. But, I’m on a roll now, and I think I’ve got the process down. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">I gathered random some tidbits of info to share with you which might prove helpful if you decide, like me, that it’s time to get your books up to date! <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><b>EBooks<o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoListParagraph" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman"; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Although required several years ago, mobi and epub files are no longer needed to load eBooks up to Amazon KDP. But you can still use mobi and epub files to give to reviewers to read on their Kindles, tablets, etc. for reviews. I use the free download of <a href="https://calibre-ebook.com/download" style="color: #954f72; text-decoration: underline;">Calibre</a> to convert an html file to mobi and epub. It also includes the book cover, which many of the other free conversion sites don’t do. (Although it’s slightly dated now, I have instructions on how to use Calibre in my <i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Write-Like-Wind-Marketing-Bestselling-ebook/dp/B018ER3HO6/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3SWIP5VF40SX8&keywords=Write+like+the+wind%2C+volume+3&qid=1642785232&sprefix=write+like+the+wind%2C+volume+3%2Caps%2C74&sr=8-1" style="color: #954f72; text-decoration: underline;">Write Like the Wind</a></i> eBook, volume 3.)<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.25in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman"; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Amazon KDP (Kindle Direct Publishing) now accepts Microsoft Word documents (doc or docx) and still accepts Kindle Create files (kpf). A few years back I converted all my original mobi files (the old way to upload to KDP) into Kindle Create files, a monumental task at best! The Kindle Create automatic TOC (table of contents) was foolproof and it seemed to work best for me. But in past years, Amazon KDP started accepting Word documents for manuscript uploads. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.5in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman"; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->I tried to upload Word documents using two different eBooks with multiple color images, links to other books, author picture, etc., but the spacing was all goofed up in the KDP Preview screen, in spite of the fact that it looked fine in the Word doc. There may be some trick I’m missing, but for now I’m sticking to Kindle Create when I load up a book with color images. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.5in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman"; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Kindle Create does has its own quirks and I could write a five-page article about what to watch out for. However, the best advice is proof every single page using the preview feature before you generate that file to upload. Then proof it on KDP Previewer as well. Page by agonizing page. It’s the only way! <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.5in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman"; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->For eBook cover art, continue to use a properly sized and formatted jpeg image.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.5in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.25in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><b>Paperback Books<o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoListParagraph" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman"; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->If you’re just updating an old file, you should have a suitably formatted version to work with. This includes page size, margin setups, page numbers, headers, footers, etc. (again, if you want to, you can refer to <i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Write-Like-Wind-Marketing-Bestselling-ebook/dp/B018ER3HO6/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3SWIP5VF40SX8&keywords=Write+like+the+wind%2C+volume+3&qid=1642785232&sprefix=write+like+the+wind%2C+volume+3%2Caps%2C74&sr=8-1" style="color: #954f72; text-decoration: underline;">Write Like the Wind</a></i>, volume 3 for instructions that still work)<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.25in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoListParagraph" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman"; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Loading the paperback Word KDP books using a Word docx file works fine. I’m not sure if this is because I don’t have any color images or live links in the print version. Don’t forget to remove all links and just spell them out. Either way, a print book will be b&w for all images unless you choose a pricey, color print book. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoListParagraph" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman"; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Continue to save your jpg print wrap cover art as a PDF for loading onto KDP. This is a continuous image of front cover, spine, and back cover that your skilled cover designer can create for you. (my beloved designer is Kellie Dennis at <a href="http://www.bookcoverbydesign.uk.co/" style="color: #954f72; text-decoration: underline;">bookcoverbydesign.uk.co</a>)<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoListParagraph" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman"; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Remove automated TOC for print book, unless it is a non-fiction book. Then manually type in the TOC. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoListParagraph" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman"; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->PAGE COUNT: When you are updating your front and back matter, you may add or delete pages compared to your original book. Remember that the cover art is <i>optimized for the page count</i> to within just a few pages to allow the spine to fit on the wrap based on paper thickness and number of pages. You must keep the page count close to the original book if you are changing anything, or you will need a new resized print wrap cover. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">Miscellaneous<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoListParagraph" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman"; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->If you “gift” an eBook to a potential reviewer, it is counted as a verified review. Use the “Buy for Others” link. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><b>Sample of Front Matter with color images/links.<o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">Here’s an example of one of the updated front/back matter pages that I’m adding. The beauty of this is that for now, I can use most of my new pages for all twenty-nine books and just customize some parts like the dedication, afterword, etc. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><a name="_Toc339815064"></a><a name="_Toc339857095"><span><b><span style="color: #44546a; font-size: 20pt;"></span></b></span></a></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjTsVLF96RF-pkGlAtTyzxWgtyy0yfiVHKrxk80Gi5PURq91qzSLDYqDjC-hKtkgNNgtcuQUB1CsrM4SO07g38Jz0J205mddSsNqAvDJ0oJ3YesxRncf7ZrvagE7gHbPNbUAcapfRihA4rmQwDgxKWDgYXvQJ3YcdugMfeZvSOyx5a67sME6MHJSdZCDQ=s240" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="240" data-original-width="160" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjTsVLF96RF-pkGlAtTyzxWgtyy0yfiVHKrxk80Gi5PURq91qzSLDYqDjC-hKtkgNNgtcuQUB1CsrM4SO07g38Jz0J205mddSsNqAvDJ0oJ3YesxRncf7ZrvagE7gHbPNbUAcapfRihA4rmQwDgxKWDgYXvQJ3YcdugMfeZvSOyx5a67sME6MHJSdZCDQ" width="160" /></a></b></div><b>Free eBook</b><b><span style="color: #44546a; font-size: 20pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b><p></p><br /><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><a href="http://www.lazarbooks.com/sign-up-form" style="color: #954f72; text-decoration: underline;"><span style="font-size: 20pt;">Devil’s Lake</span></a><i><span style="color: #8496b0; font-size: 20pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><i><span>Bittersweet Hollow, book 1<span style="color: #8496b0;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></i></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><i><span><br /></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span>Two years ago, Portia Lamont disappeared from a small town in Vermont, devastating her parents and sister, who spent every waking hour searching for her. When she suddenly shows up on their horse farm in a stolen truck with a little mutt on her lap, they want to know what happened. Was she taken? Or did she run away?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span><br /></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10pt;">2015 Finalist Readers’ Favorites Awards<o:p></o:p></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10pt;">2015 Semi-finalist in Kindle Book Review Awards<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><b>What else should you update?<o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">While you’re at it, you should update your Amazon retail book details page and take a fresh look at your sales categories. If you’ve neglected it, like me, you may not have all your titles listed below the book description. (Edit this through your KDP bookshelf, edit book details page) This would be a great time to page through your old and new book reviews, grab some choice blurbs from several of them, and paste them below your book description. Here’s what I did for <i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Upstaged-LeGarde-Mysteries-Book-2-ebook/dp/B01G91QCS2/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2C6PZ3Z32CKGF&keywords=upstaged%2C+legarde&qid=1642786691&sprefix=upstaged%2C+legarde%2Caps%2C77&sr=8-1" style="color: #954f72; text-decoration: underline;">Upstaged</a></i>, book 2 in the LeGarde Mysteries series.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><b>Sample of Updated Book Details <o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">Here is the book description followed by review blurbs, and finally by the complete list of books. It’s long, but it’s all in one place for easy reference.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111; font-size: 10.5pt;">When Gus LeGarde agrees to play piano for the high school drama club’s production of “Spirit Me Away,” a sixties-style musical he wrote in college, he doesn’t expect to face a series of menacing pranks played on his fiancée Camille and the drama club. Who’s sabotaging the show? And what do they have against Camille? Is it sex-crazed Armand, the Latino teen infatuated with her?</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #0f1111; font-size: 10.5pt;"><br /><br /><span style="background-color: white;">Something happened last year that Camille won’t talk about, and it has to do with Armand. Gus wants to know what happened, but she’s not talking. Could it be Superintendent Marshall, whose past holds horrific secrets related to one of the worst crimes of the 20th century? And why did someone break into Camille’s home to steal her intimate undergarments and her beloved mini-dachshund, Boris?</span><br /><br /><span style="background-color: white;">Gus must unravel the mystery before the backstage saboteur stakes his final, deadly claim.</span><br /><br /><span style="background-color: white;">"There is so much pure goodness in Mr. Lazar's books, from the innocent purity of grandchildren and pets, the beauty of nature, the bounty of a glorious garden, to love that is enduring and eternal; all the while weaving strands of mystery throughout the pages with suspense and surprises around every corner. I find myself craving more...only one left unread in the series. I will try to savor it slowly but to no avail. I devour these books like melting chocolate." Janice D. Adams</span><br /><br /><span style="background-color: white;">"Mr. Lazar's magnificent tapestry is a work of art without holes, missing threads or shades or stitches that do not fit." D.C. from WA USA</span><br /><br /><span style="background-color: white;">"Upstaged is a mystery that is well told, with subtle clues, red herrings and lots of surprises. Mystery fans will appreciate the challenge and all readers will want to become part of LeGarde’s extended family. The characters are unique, diverse, quirky, friendly, funny and memorable." Janice L. Smith</span><br /><br /><span style="background-color: white;">"If you equally divide your time between audiobooks and reading, I would suggest the audiobook. Not because of any misspelled words or bad formatting. No, his writing is clean and well formatted. The production quality of the audiobook is excellent. It is made even more excellent by the songs that were composed and recorded specifically for the audiobook. I was delighted to later discover it was Mr. Lazar's daughter who played and sang the songs. Amazing voice and talent." Clay Boutwell</span><br /><br /><span style="background-color: white;">"High school dialog and atmosphere feel spot on; a blinding eagerness to get the part; magical joy of dance; rising excitement as the date of the show approaches. But behind the scenes there are evil deeds afoot and no-one knows if the attacker is aiming for the people, the school, or both. Will the show go on, or will it be upstaged by danger and deceit?" Sheila Deeth</span><br /><br /><span style="background-color: white;">Books by award-winning author, Aaron Lazar:</span><br /><br /><span style="background-color: white;">LEGARDE MYSTERIES</span><br /><br /><span style="background-color: white;">1. DOUBLE FORTÉ</span><br /><span style="background-color: white;">2. UPSTAGED</span><br /><span style="background-color: white;">3. MAZURKA</span><br /><span style="background-color: white;">4. FIRESONG</span><br /><span style="background-color: white;">5. TREMOLO: CRY OF THE LOON</span><br /><span style="background-color: white;">6. DON’T LET THE WIND CATCH YOU</span><br /><span style="background-color: white;">7. THE LIAR’S GALLERY</span><br /><span style="background-color: white;">8. SPIRIT ME AWAY</span><br /><span style="background-color: white;">9. UNDER THE ICE</span><br /><span style="background-color: white;">10. LADY BLUES</span><br /><span style="background-color: white;">11. VOODOO SUMMER</span><br /><span style="background-color: white;">12. MURDER ON THE BREWSTER FLATS</span><br /><span style="background-color: white;">13. THE RETURN </span><br /><span style="background-color: white;">THE LEGARDE MYSTERIES BOXED SET</span><br /><span style="background-color: white;">YOUNG GUS BOXED SET </span><br /><br /><span style="background-color: white;">GREEN MARBLE MYSTERIES</span><br /><br /><span style="background-color: white;">1. THE DISAPPEARANCE OF BILLY MOORE (formerly Healey’s Cave)</span><br /><span style="background-color: white;">2. TERROR COMES KNOCKING</span><br /><span style="background-color: white;">3. FOR KEEPS</span><br /><br /><span style="background-color: white;">GREEN MARBLE MYSTERIES BOXED SET</span><br /><br /><br /><span style="background-color: white;">TALL PINES MYSTERIES</span><br /><br /><span style="background-color: white;">1. FOR THE BIRDS</span><br /><span style="background-color: white;">2. ESSENTIALLY YOURS</span><br /><span style="background-color: white;">3. SANCTUARY</span><br /><span style="background-color: white;">4. BETRAYAL</span><br /><br /><span style="background-color: white;">TALL PINES MYSTERIES BOXED SET</span><br /><br /><span style="background-color: white;">PAINES CREEK BEACH, love stories</span><br /><br /><span style="background-color: white;">1. THE SEACREST</span><br /><span style="background-color: white;">2. THE SEACROFT</span><br /><span style="background-color: white;">3. THE SEADOG</span><br /><br /><span style="background-color: white;">PAINES CREEK BEACH LOVE STORIES BOXED SET</span><br /><br /><span style="background-color: white;">BITTERSWEET HOLLOW, romantic suspense</span><br /><br /><span style="background-color: white;">1. DEVIL’S LAKE</span><br /><span style="background-color: white;">2. DEVIL’S CREEK</span><br /><span style="background-color: white;">3. DEVIL’S SPRING</span><br /><span style="background-color: white;">BITTERSWEET HOLLOW BOXED SET</span><br /><span style="background-color: white;">4. THE ASYLUM</span><br /><br /><span style="background-color: white;">WRITING GUIDES</span><br /><span style="background-color: white;">1. WRITE LIKE THE WIND, volume 1</span><br /><span style="background-color: white;">2. WRITE LIKE THE WIND, volume 2</span><br /><span style="background-color: white;">3. WRITE LIKE THE WIND, volume 3</span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><b>What else could you update?<o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">I’m going to update my Author Central page in the near future, and then, someday, get into that massive <a href="http://www.lazarbooks.com/" style="color: #954f72; text-decoration: underline;">website</a> that certainly needs an overhaul. It also wouldn't be a bad idea to check through your mailing list subscribers and eliminate those who never open your newsletters. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">Well, that’s it for now. Sometimes when I gather new information I get the uncontrollable urge to share it with fellow writers. Today was one of those days!<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">Let me know if you have questions or would like to learn about other aspects of this process. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: right; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">Aaron Paul Lazar<o:p></o:p></p><p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: right; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">Writing Coach<o:p></o:p></p><p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: right; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><a href="http://www.lazarbooks.com/" style="color: #954f72; text-decoration: underline;">www.lazarbooks.com</a><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p><style class="WebKit-mso-list-quirks-style">
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</style></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><o:p> </o:p></p><br />Aaron Paul Lazarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06117814221437165664noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6001825743960552008.post-59513011713114700102021-09-07T15:32:00.001-04:002021-09-07T15:32:30.079-04:00Lost Shots<p> <br />
</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvJ28sYbqMYPR13mGN85r4O5mY20la88e2H9e3LkDMD_3wL1VIsv7VraC8rSv5gcaCiafCWbjhY_ttwTvPzk6fQBNY-D3k8p7ZnJqH3hQzuZX3UyIL0nOz8cppfj2TvPXLgE0zI_REwekn/s1600/IMG_6403.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="131" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvJ28sYbqMYPR13mGN85r4O5mY20la88e2H9e3LkDMD_3wL1VIsv7VraC8rSv5gcaCiafCWbjhY_ttwTvPzk6fQBNY-D3k8p7ZnJqH3hQzuZX3UyIL0nOz8cppfj2TvPXLgE0zI_REwekn/w276-h131/IMG_6403.JPG" width="276" /></a></div>
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How long will it take before we can burn images stored in
our brain onto a computer? Do you think it will ever come to pass? I hope so, because
even though I used to dabble in art in college, I never inherited the landscape
gene. I could do portraits, from live models or pictures, but I didn’t have the
knack to capture a glowing sunset or wavy grasses, or a frothy seascape.
Perhaps, with the proper training, I could make a decent stab at it, but for
now the only way I can immortalize scenes of nature is through the lens or with
my pen. Figuratively speaking, that is, since I haven’t written books with a pen and paper
in many years. </div>
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Lately, I’ve been lamenting potentially award-winning photos
that I’ve missed. Lost shots. Those showstoppers, the gorgeous scenes I
couldn’t acquire because of unsafe driving conditions or a timetable that
didn’t allow lollygagging. I still see them, clear as cold lake water,
simmering and shimmering in my mind’s eye. </div>
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The first lost shot occurred one fall, many years ago. We’d been scurrying
around all morning, getting ready to deliver chairs to our customers. One of my
side jobs, besides engineering, writing, and photography, is chair caning. My
wife does the hand caning, and I do the rush, splint, flat reed, and pressed
cane. Every Saturday morning, we load up the van with chairs and head for
Honeoye Falls and East Bloomfield, where we deliver them to the shops that hire
us. My wife and daughter were with me that morning, since we were going to
squeeze in a little breakfast at George’s, our favorite small town diner. We were
hungry. We were late. And I forgot my camera. Of course, this was before iPhones with their handy dandy cameras.</div>
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It happened only five minutes from the house, and I’ll never
stop kicking myself for not turning around to go back. The night had
been cold, and the morning dawned sunny. Frost crackled under our shoes as
we tromped across the lawn, and there was a freshness to the air, heightened by
the icy morning. We traveled north on Lakeville-Groveland Road, and when we
passed Booher Hill, I glanced eastward. This is one of my favorite stretches of
land, where multiple layers of trees, fields, and hills delineate the ridges
that cradle Conesus Lake. When the sun rises over the eastern shore, it kisses
the lake valley with rose, orange, lavender, and hot yellow. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3tGTzvrsoGGCZk59mi3qun0DM1NfUeldJ_N59iVhThWqz3_n6VUtn6Nb6oEz-ZVHcBpjIj_-3eX72sCqzrXh-DJf5UFVGr2hk0Hh0k_AGFdKbjHQEREl0GzhlqoORPT1vrjzEvTWhBsYs/s1600/IMG_6388.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="80" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3tGTzvrsoGGCZk59mi3qun0DM1NfUeldJ_N59iVhThWqz3_n6VUtn6Nb6oEz-ZVHcBpjIj_-3eX72sCqzrXh-DJf5UFVGr2hk0Hh0k_AGFdKbjHQEREl0GzhlqoORPT1vrjzEvTWhBsYs/s1600/IMG_6388.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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This morning, however, the sun had risen hours earlier. But
what greeted my eager eyes was not the sun, but a cloud. </div>
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I’m talking about a fully-fleshed, cotton ball cloud. It sat
directly on top of the lake, lying like a thick eiderdown on the water. This
cloud was not filmy, like mist or fog. It wasn’t transparent. It was rock solid
puffy white, and it rose at least 1000 feet over the lake, stretching
north-south along fourteen miles of the narrow trench carved many years ago by
a glaciers. I’ve never seen anything like it before, and fear I’ll never see it
again. </div>
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The memory is sharp, but I really wish I could show it to
you.</div>
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The next two scenes that haunt me happened in winter. The
frustrating part was that I had the camera with me both times, but just couldn’t
stop because it wasn’t safe to pull over on the snowy roads.</div>
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The first was a scene I pass every day on the way to work.
Normally, I admire the textures and contrasts of this spot with an almost
casual, see-it-every-day insouciance. I do take pleasure in the old barns,
dilapidated farmhouse, antique cars in the open sided shelter, and the young
Thoroughbred who paces in a small paddock. And each time I pass the old milk
shed, I admire the faded white paint and the attractive timeworn look it has
from years of exposure to sun and wind. My fingers itch for the camera here
most mornings, but it’s private property, 6:30 in the morning, and its
positioned near a country intersection, which makes it a bit awkward to stop
and snap pictures of this venerable old building.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKur-lqB0waTKCE0V5WPpYxeHXNhW7M55YRynZE66OpotcNa7-mKKPk_Q47Gpk7NbH_ni0_cM8FrjuzXcpXBezotgVZ3gowePgq0ssQfJZDpl4ESk6v9hk7fVUOHr1AfHqY7SEQzxu6gqy/s1600/Sunlit+fog+and+trees,1+1800.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="141" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKur-lqB0waTKCE0V5WPpYxeHXNhW7M55YRynZE66OpotcNa7-mKKPk_Q47Gpk7NbH_ni0_cM8FrjuzXcpXBezotgVZ3gowePgq0ssQfJZDpl4ESk6v9hk7fVUOHr1AfHqY7SEQzxu6gqy/s1600/Sunlit+fog+and+trees,1+1800.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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This particular morning, however, snow blasted sideways
across the road in such ferocity and beauty, it quickened my heartbeat. It was
a fierce burst of white, constant and rippling, blinding whoever crossed its
path. The contrast electrified me. Deep turquoise metal-sided barn, cement
block barn nearby, white post and board fence swaying in the storm…they were
simultaneously shadowed and revealed by the spraying snow.</div>
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<br /></div>
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But I didn’t stop. I worried about arriving late to work,
and the sides of the road looked very slippery. So… another lost shot. </div>
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<br /></div>
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Later that week, they closed the whole county for whiteouts.
I had to get home, I was determined to get home, and I sure as heck didn’t want
to spend the night in my office. So, I spent an hour and a half dodging
blinding whiteouts, and finally made my perilous way down Groveland Road,
almost home. Another half mile, and I’d be safe in the driveway.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi97lVZVLCGw1NZG-rxQyiUXY6wgDftHOZzphUy6aVQFns4_-sLguAlEAAwd4stJszm5DO6FwmyVt7dmm1RZI8uDMRiCr77qXEjA0BuPMSuhs-FZMfRuzV1e1jUiXkgdZ0QOrSxw2-R4juK/s1600/River+Road+1a_edited-1+2011.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi97lVZVLCGw1NZG-rxQyiUXY6wgDftHOZzphUy6aVQFns4_-sLguAlEAAwd4stJszm5DO6FwmyVt7dmm1RZI8uDMRiCr77qXEjA0BuPMSuhs-FZMfRuzV1e1jUiXkgdZ0QOrSxw2-R4juK/s1600/River+Road+1a_edited-1+2011.jpg" width="240" /></a>And then I saw them. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Snow devils. Cyclones of white. Billowing and flowing over
the hills to the west, up the sides of the valley, rolling across the fields
like massive sheet-white tornadoes. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
My jaw dropped. My insides thrilled. And I gripped the
steering wheel tighter to stay in the snowy lane. I didn’t get the shot. Once
again.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Don’t get me wrong. I’m not really complaining. I’ve
captured dozens of deeply satisfying photos and have been blessed
with pastoral scenes of breath-taking beauty year-round. I’ve snapped hundreds
and hundreds of photos. But those lost shots… they keep haunting me. Which, I
guess, is why I’ve written about them today. When visions haunt me, they spill
out of my fingertips. </div>
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<br /></div>
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There is one consolation. The images still reside in my
brain. And someday, maybe soon, I’ll download them and be able to show you. ;o)</div>
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<br /></div>
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***</div>
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<br /></div>
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</div>
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<span style="font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Books by multi-award winning author,
Aaron Lazar: </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; mso-outline-level: 1;">
<a href="http://www.lazarbooks.com/guslegardemysteries.htm"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">LEGARDE MYSTERIES</span></b></a></div>
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FORTÉ</span></a><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> (print, eBook, </span><a href="http://www.audible.com/pd/ref=sr_1_1?asin=B008XO7GLG&qid=1357041505&sr=1-1"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">audio
book</span></a><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">)</span></div>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Upstaged-A-Gus-LeGarde-Mystery/dp/1413772587/ref=sr_1_cc_1?s=aps&ie=UTF8&qid=1344280164&sr=1-1-catcorr&keywords=upstaged%2C+lazar"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">UPSTAGED</span></a><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">
(print, eBook, </span><a href="http://www.audible.com/pd/ref=sr_1_2?asin=B00BOXF8X6&qid=1367663272&sr=1-2"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">audio
book</span></a><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Tremolo-cry-loon-ebook/dp/B0042RULTM/ref=tmm_kin_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1344280191&sr=1-1"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">TREMOLO:
CRY OF THE LOON</span></a><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> (print, eBook, </span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Tremolo-Cry-of-the-Loon/dp/B006ORK9ZE/ref=tmm_aud_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1344280191&sr=1-1"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">audio
book</span></a><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">)</span></div>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Mazurka-ebook/dp/B0042RULSS/ref=sr_1_1_title_1_kin?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1344280252&sr=1-1&keywords=mazurka%2C+lazar"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">MAZURKA</span></a><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">
(print, eBook, </span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Mazurka-A-Gus-LeGarde-Mystery/dp/B006RCLG0I/ref=tmm_aud_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1344280252&sr=1-1"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">audio
book</span></a><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">)</span></div>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/FireSong-ebook/dp/B004VF698W/ref=sr_1_1_title_1_kin?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1344280298&sr=1-1&keywords=firesong%2C+lazar"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">FIRESONG</span></a><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">
(print, eBook, </span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/FireSong/dp/B0074RRD2U/ref=tmm_aud_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1344280298&sr=1-1"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">audio
book</span></a><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">)</span></div>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Dont-Let-Wind-Catch-ebook/dp/B00ECNEOTE/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">DON’T
LET THE WIND CATCH YOU</span></a><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> (print, eBook, audio book)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;">
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Liars-Gallery-LeGarde-Mystery-Mysteries-ebook/dp/B00LMD7ZSO/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1404947480&sr=1-1&keywords=liar%27s+gallery"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">THE</span></a><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Liars-Gallery-LeGarde-Mystery-Mysteries-ebook/dp/B00LMD7ZSO/ref=sr_1_1%3Fie=UTF8%26qid=1406023005%26sr=8-1%26keywords=liar%27s+gallery"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">LIARS’</span></a><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> GALLERY (</span></span><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">print, eBook, audio
book<span class="MsoHyperlink">)</span></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Spirit-Me-Away-LeGarde-Mysteries-ebook/dp/B00K7RA8QW/ref=sr_1_1%3Fie=UTF8%26qid=1406023048%26sr=8-1%26keywords=spirit+me+away"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">SPIRIT
ME AWAY (</span><span color="windowtext" style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">print,
eBook, audio book</span><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">)</span></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.lazarbooks.com/"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">UNDER</span></a><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> THE ICE (</span></span><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">print, eBook<span class="MsoHyperlink">)</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;">
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Lady-Blues-forget-me-not-LeGarde-Mysteries-ebook/dp/B00IS6EXG0/ref=cm_cr_pr_pb_t"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">LADY
BLUES (print, eBook, and audio book)</span></a><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">MURDER ON THE BREWSTER FLATS</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">THE RETURN <br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; mso-outline-level: 1;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; mso-outline-level: 1;">
<a href="http://www.lazarbooks.com/sammooremysteries.htm"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">MOORE MYSTERIES</span></b></a></div>
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CAVE</span></a><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> (print, eBook, </span><a href="http://www.audible.com/pd/ref=sr_1_1?asin=B006MYNZ96&qid=1357041647&sr=1-1"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">audio
book</span></a><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; mso-outline-level: 1;">
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Terror-Comes-Knocking-mystery-ebook/dp/B0079MNVEE/ref=sr_1_1_title_1_kin?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1344280416&sr=1-1&keywords=terror+comes+knocking"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">TERROR
COMES KNOCKING</span></a><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> (print, eBook, </span><a href="http://www.audible.com/pd/ref=sr_1_1?asin=B0084H7YPK&qid=1357041709&sr=1-1"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">audio
book</span></a><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; mso-outline-level: 1;">
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Keeps-Sam-Moore-mystery-ebook/dp/B008OXZLR2/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1344280484&sr=1-1&keywords=for+keeps%2C+lazar"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">FOR
KEEPS</span></a><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> (print, eBook, </span><a href="http://www.audible.com/pd/ref=sr_1_1?asin=B009DJNBPU&qid=1357041770&sr=1-1"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">audio
book</span></a><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; mso-outline-level: 1;">
<a href="http://www.lazarbooks.com/tallpinesmysteries.htm"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">TALL PINES MYSTERIES</span></b></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;">
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Birds-Tall-Pines-Mysteries-ebook/dp/B005W629E2/ref=tmm_kin_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1344280583&sr=1-1"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">FOR
THE BIRDS</span></a><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> (print, eBook, </span><a href="mailto:http://www.audible.com/pd/ref=sr_1_1%3Fasin=B00DQ9WCYO%26qid=1373469035%26sr=1-1"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">audio
book</span></a><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; mso-outline-level: 1;">
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Essentially-Yours-ebook/dp/B007KPBBP6/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1344280637&sr=1-1&keywords=essentially+yours%2C+lazar"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">ESSENTIALLY
YOURS</span></a><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> (print, eBook, </span><a href="http://www.audible.com/pd/ref=sr_1_1?asin=B00CPPRF92&qid=1368399804&sr=1-1"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">audio
book</span></a><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;">
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Sanctuary-Tall-Pines-Mystery-Mysteries-ebook/dp/B00MU76KCS/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1411139382&sr=1-1&keywords=sanctuary%2C+lazar"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">SANCTUARY</span></a><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">
(print, eBook, audio book)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;">
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Betrayal-Tall-Pines-Mystery-Mysteries-ebook/dp/B00N2134W0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=undefined&sr=8-1&keywords=betrayal%2C+lazar"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">BETRAYAL
(</span><span color="windowtext" style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">print,
eBook, audio book</span><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">)</span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span class="MsoHyperlink"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">LOVE STORIES</span></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;">
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Seacrest-Aaron-Lazar-ebook/dp/B00G1TDBRI/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1383042885&sr=8-1&keywords=the+seacrest"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">THE
SEACREST</span></a><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> (print, eBook, and
audio book)</span></span></div>
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<span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">THE
SEACROFT </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">THE SEADOG <br /></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span class="MsoHyperlink"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">ROMANTIC THRILLERS</span></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;">
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Devils-Lake-Aaron-Lazar-ebook/dp/B00LNFP8XU/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1404989796&sr=1-1&keywords=Devil%27s+Lake"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">DEVIL’S
LAKE</span></a><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> (print, eBook, and
audio book)</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">DEVIL’S CREEK</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">DEVIL'S SPRING</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">THE ASYLUM <br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">WRITING
ADVICE: </span></div>
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<a href="http://www.lazarbooks.com/forwriters.htm"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">WRITE LIKE THE WIND</span></a><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">,
volumes 1, 2, 3 <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(</span><a href="http://www.audible.com/pd/ref=sr_1_2?asin=B00BMSIDE4&qid=1367663389&sr=1-2"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">audio
books</span></a><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">)</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Aaron Paul Lazar writes to soothe his soul. An award-winning,
bestselling Kindle author of three addictive mystery series, thrillers, love
stories, and writing guides, Aaron enjoys the Genesee Valley countryside in
upstate New York, where his characters embrace life, play with their dogs and
grandkids, grow sumptuous gardens, and chase bad guys. Visit his website at
http://www.lazarbooks.com. </span></div>
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Aaron Paul Lazarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06117814221437165664noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6001825743960552008.post-28102096494026136202021-08-10T06:10:00.000-04:002021-08-10T06:10:52.885-04:00Dialog Tags - Still Valid in 2021!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtRgaC1jcPW_v8G7i9Q_O3GBX-0csFS2CDr_M5X5ieCgP-ZKaZwSMbrQ9pd3mhIQlIFk71DCKD5qaMqmHvN6Jb36taPbUTZOR5KPpe5SbQ-wGsnaJLTF9E8y5zGPh9ZUcVQW_ZzwactFQ/s1600-h/Dialog+Bubble.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5341258788413587346" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 193px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 125px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtRgaC1jcPW_v8G7i9Q_O3GBX-0csFS2CDr_M5X5ieCgP-ZKaZwSMbrQ9pd3mhIQlIFk71DCKD5qaMqmHvN6Jb36taPbUTZOR5KPpe5SbQ-wGsnaJLTF9E8y5zGPh9ZUcVQW_ZzwactFQ/s320/Dialog+Bubble.jpg" border="0" /></a>
<div align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;"><em>copyright Aaron Lazar 2009</em></span></div>
<div></div>
<div>
When I first started writing over a decade ago, I exulted in every new dialog tag I could think up. I preened over “he croaked” and purred over “she grumbled.” Finding new and inventive ways to say “he said” became my quest.
</div>
<div>My early works were peppered with gloats, murmurs, and barks. I even started a most coveted (only by me) list.
</div>
<div>How many words can you think of to say “he said” or “she said?” Here are some, in no particular order:
Mumbled
Murmured
Expostulated
Grunted
Groaned
Whispered
Purred
Spat
Huffed
Croaked
Barked
Choked
Queried
Cackled
Harrumphed
Stuttered
Muttered
Moaned
Hissed
Grumbled
Whined
Sang
Twittered
Tittered
Griped
Yelped
Cried
Stammered
Shrieked
Crooned
Wheedled
Retorted
Pressured
Cajoled
How many more can you think of? There are probably hundreds.
</div>
<div>...</div>
<div></div>
<div></div><div>Okay, now that you’ve wracked your brain for tantalizing tags, let me tell you one very important lesson.
</div><div><strong><span style="color:#ff0000;">DON’T * EVER * USE * THEM</span></strong>.
</div><div>What? Such brilliance? Such innovative thought?
</div><div>Yeah. Sorry. Forget it. Never use anything but “said,” “asked,” or an occasional “whisper” or “mumble.”
</div>
<div>Once in a great while, if you feel you really need it, slip in a “spat” or “croaked.” But I’m here to tell you that dialog tags, for the most part, should be invisible. “Said,” is invisible. “Asked,” is invisible. “Barked” stops the flow of the dialog. Anything that makes your story stutter needs to be eliminated, including these juicy but totally distracting tags.
</div>
<div>Got that part?
</div>
<div>Now that I’ve encouraged you to use “said,” I’m going to retract it.
</div>
<div>Forgive me, but that’s just the way it is. If you can avoid a tag altogether–through the clever use of action “beats”– then more power to you.
</div>
<div>Here’s an example of changing a passage from lush useless tags, to he said/she said tags, to using beats instead of tags:
</div>
<div align="center"><strong><span style="color:#ff6666;">Case A:</span></strong> </div>
<div align="left">
I maneuvered the van around the next pothole, and was about to congratulate myself for my superior driving skills when a series of washboard ruts nearly popped the fillings out of my teeth.
“Want me to take over?” Tony wheedled.
“Why? Am I making you nervous?” I retorted, gripping the steering wheel until my knuckles turned white.
“Of course not, sweetums. You’re a great driver. Just thought you might want a break,” he crooned.
We rounded the bend and the road disappeared. The crater before us could hold three elephants. Big elephants. </div>
<div align="left">“Whoa! Watch it, honey. Don’t wanna blow a tire,” Tony groaned.
</div>
<div align="center">
<strong><span style="color:#ff0000;">Case B</span></strong> </div>
<div align="left">
I maneuvered the van around the next pothole, and was about to congratulate myself for my superior driving skills when a series of washboard ruts nearly popped the fillings out of my teeth.
“Want me to take over?” Tony said, leaning on the dashboard.
“Why? Am I making you nervous?” I said with a frown.
All smiles, he said, “Of course not, sweetums. You’re a great driver. Just thought you might want a break.”
We rounded the bend and the road disappeared. The crater before us could hold three elephants. Big elephants.
“Whoa! Watch it, honey. Don’t wanna blow a tire,” Tony said in a panic.
</div>
<div align="left">***
</div>
<div align="center"><strong><span style="color:#ff6666;">Case C</span></strong> </div>
<div align="left">
I maneuvered the van around the next pothole, and was about to congratulate myself for my superior driving skills when a series of washboard ruts nearly popped the fillings out of my teeth.
Tony braced himself on the dash. “Want me to take over?”
My knuckles turned white. “Why? Am I making you nervous?”
“Of course not, sweetums.” He forced an innocent smile. “You’re a great driver. Just thought you might want a break.”
We rounded the bend and the road disappeared. The crater before us could hold three elephants. Big elephants.
Tony’s frozen smile barely hid his panic. “Whoa! Watch it, honey. Don’t wanna blow a tire.”
</div>
<div align="left"></div><div align="left">***
</div><div align="left"></div><div align="left">These examples aren’t beautifully written or perfectly rendered. But they should give you the gist of what I’m trying to illustrate today.
</div>
<div align="left">Add your own examples below, if you’d like. Let’s see some Case A, B, and C’s in the comments section! </div>Aaron Paul Lazarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06117814221437165664noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6001825743960552008.post-50666470016160801632021-07-06T09:56:00.003-04:002021-07-06T09:56:26.949-04:00How Covid Affected This Writer<p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglhWsSQcntQKchKhPC2HUmya6JSLhlz-Q7wJDGpdr-iFTSkUc8WLevqZWf3ho_ByvNEqGhgfT_BSZRMI93ev4j0xUeE0bBAZ8Xssi0_oFK4fFYIYh2148II_Zv3ytOAaH8tlgH6FwgPbey/s366/Aaron+July+08+smaller-MOTION.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="366" data-original-width="250" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglhWsSQcntQKchKhPC2HUmya6JSLhlz-Q7wJDGpdr-iFTSkUc8WLevqZWf3ho_ByvNEqGhgfT_BSZRMI93ev4j0xUeE0bBAZ8Xssi0_oFK4fFYIYh2148II_Zv3ytOAaH8tlgH6FwgPbey/s320/Aaron+July+08+smaller-MOTION.gif" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />Hello, dear friends and book lovers!</span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql oi732d6d ik7dh3pa ht8s03o8 a8c37x1j keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d3f4x2em fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb iv3no6db jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v knj5qynh oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"> I've
been conspicuously absent from... everywhere... this year. If you've
missed me, you can read about my life, losses, and books here.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql oi732d6d ik7dh3pa ht8s03o8 a8c37x1j keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d3f4x2em fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb iv3no6db jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v knj5qynh oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto">Always, </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql oi732d6d ik7dh3pa ht8s03o8 a8c37x1j keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d3f4x2em fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb iv3no6db jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v knj5qynh oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto">Aaron Paul Lazar</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql oi732d6d ik7dh3pa ht8s03o8 a8c37x1j keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d3f4x2em fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb iv3no6db jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v knj5qynh oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto">www.lazarbooks.com</span></span></p><p> </p><div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lora,Times,serif;"><span style="font-size: 20px;"><strong>USA Today Bestselling Author</strong></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"> </div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lora,Times,serif;"><span style="font-size: 20px;"><strong> </strong><em> </em></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lora,Times,serif;"><span style="font-size: 20px;"><em>"If Mark Twain and Mary Higgins Clark got married, their author-child would be Aaron Paul Lazar.” </em></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"> </div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="font-family: Lora,Times,serif;"><span style="font-size: 20px;">- Joan Hall Hovey, best-selling author</span></span></em></div>
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<div class="definition-parent"><div class="paragraph" style="font-size: 12px;"><div><div> </div>
<div>
<div><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather,Times,serif;"><span>I
hope you have all emerged from the past year with your health intact
and your hearts full of appreciation for what pleasures lie ahead.
Please let me know how you're doing by replying to this email - I miss
our chats!</span></span></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;">
</span><div><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></div><span style="font-size: medium;">
</span><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather,Times,serif;"><span>After
giving up so much over the past fifteen months - some lost loved ones
to the dreaded disease, suffered in hospitals themselves, and everyone
sacrificed freedom and family, things are somewhat settling down, and
every little opportunity seems like a gift, doesn't it?</span></span></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;">
</span><div><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></div><span style="font-size: medium;">
</span><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather,Times,serif;"><span>My
"day" job ended last December (thank you, Covid!), and for several
months we suffered untold uncertainty about our future - where we'd
live, how we'd survive, etc. But after lots of research and finagling
finances, we found a way to stay in our beloved home. Dale and I weren't
able to see two of our three girls and five of our seven grandchildren
since Christmas of 2019. Since this past May, each time we
reconnect with one of them we feel incredibly blessed. We're still
waiting to see Melanie and Luke (5) from New Hampshire, but are looking
forward to a visit this summer. ;o)</span></span></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;">
</span><div><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></div><span style="font-size: medium;">
</span><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather,Times,serif;"><span><em>Blatant request:</em>
I am offering editing services now for fiction, technical, or
engineering content. I will help you write your dreamed of novel, get it
formatted and published, and put you in touch with cover artists. Or, I
can help your engineering firm write reports, specifications,
procedures, etc. in straightforward, easy-to-understand formats. If you
know anyone who is hiring for part time, remote
work, give me a heads up! (Thanks!)</span></span></span></div>
<div> </div>
</div>
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<a class="aw-image-link" href="https://www.amazon.com/LeGarde-Mysteries-Mystery-Suspense-Boxed-ebook/dp/B016LHA488/ref=sr_1_2?dchild=1&qid=1625575110&refinements=p_27%3AAaron+Lazar&s=digital-text&sr=1-2&text=Aaron+Lazar" rel="nofollow">
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<div> </div>
<div><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather,Times,serif;"><span>In
spite of the tragic losses of 2019/2020, there were a number of good
things that happened. Being isolated with someone you've loved since you
were a teenager is a very good thing. Aside from not seeing family and
friends, we actually didn't mind hanging out at home one bit. (okay, so
we missed eating out, but that was a small price to pay for being safe.)
We focused on fixing up our home, cooking fun and
healthy meals, obsessively organizing closets, and playing tons of board
games with Chris (7) and Joey(5) who fortunately still live with us.
They provided such comic relief all year and kept us very busy! I also
found a passion in re-purposing old stuff, like our 30-year-old outdoor
metal table and chairs. Spray paint in multiple colors is so much fun!
;o) (see the spiderwebs I left on our white iron bench before spraying,
below.)</span></span></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;">
</span><div><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></div><span style="font-size: medium;">
</span><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather,Times,serif;"><span>Oddly enough, I didn't write a thing. </span></span></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;">
</span><div><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></div><span style="font-size: medium;">
</span><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather,Times,serif;"><span>I
know, crazy, right? After 29 books, I lost my urge to write and simply
focused on other things (like becoming OCD over organizing, as I said
above! You should see my tool closet!! LOL.) I suspect the writing bug
will return, but I'm not worried about it. </span></span></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;">
</span><div><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></div><span style="font-size: medium;">
</span><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather,Times,serif;"><span>As you read this, Pete Milan is recording the audiobook for <em>The Return</em> (book 13 in the LeGarde Mystery series) and it promises to be stellar! </span></span></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;">
</span><div><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></div><span style="font-size: medium;">
</span><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather,Times,serif;"><span>Right
now, I'm filling the future well of creativity by collecting all the
sights, scents, tastes of today. I've been drowning in glorious colors
in my gardens, already harvesting veggies galore (squash, peas, beets,
greens, basil, etc), and have been manically weeding and mulching. I do
love it, and it's good exercise. You'll find an assortment of all kinds
of photos inserted in here, from flowers to veggies to
book covers. What can I say? It's just who I am. ;o)</span></span></span></div>
<div> </div>
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<div> </div>
<div><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather,Times,serif;"><span>I
hope you were able to enjoy your July 4th weekend. Our Independence Day
holiday was suffused with sadness. On July 3rd we had to put our
beloved Balto to sleep. He was the best family dog ever, and is the
model for Gus's new puppy Siegfried gave him in the last chapter in <em>Murder on the Brewster Flats</em>.
He had lost almost all of his faculties at the age of fifteen, and it
was time. But he had a
wonderful life and provided us with untold joy. Little Amber, his
lifelong pal, is confused and lonely. We're giving her extra special
love and treats. You may have noticed many of my books are dedicated to
"Balto and Amber." It's so hard losing your furry friends, isn't it?</span></span></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather,Times,serif;"><span> </span></span></span></div>
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<div><span style="font-size: medium;">
</span><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather,Times,serif;"><span>I
love sharing my books with readers, and as I've said over the years,
the best part of being a writer is connecting with people. I've given
tens of thousands of my books away, but now the Lazar coffers are low
and I need to try to sell some actual copies, lol. I hope you've enjoyed
them, and perhaps you'd like to discover or rediscover some more?</span></span>
</span><div><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></div><span style="font-size: medium;">
</span><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather,Times,serif;"><span>Today I'm going to give you links to all five series, and hope you can find something you love for your summer reading fun. ;o) </span></span></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;">
</span><div><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></div>
</div>
</div>
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<div><span style="font-size: medium;"><span><span style="font-family: Merriweather,Times,serif;">Please
let me know how you're doing! And if you'd like, I'd love to hear which
of the series and/or books are your favorites. I might be coming back
to ask you for more ideas, because after 29 stories where almost
everything possible happens to my characters, I'm looking for
inspiration! ;o)</span></span></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;">
</span><div><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></div><span style="font-size: medium;">
</span></div></div></div><div class="definition-parent"><div class="paragraph" style="font-size: 12px;"><div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather,Times,serif;"><span>By
the way, my email address author@lazarbooks.com hasn't worked in
forever. I'm just using aaron.lazar@yahoo.com for now. I've tried half a
dozen times to get webs.com to fix it, but it never works, ugh!</span></span></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;">
</span><div><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></div><span style="font-size: medium;">
</span><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather,Times,serif;"><span>So if you want to connect, please email me at aaron.lazar@yahoo.com or gusandcamille@yahoo.com. ;o)</span></span></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;">
</span><div><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></div><span style="font-size: medium;">
</span><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather,Times,serif;"><span>Take
good care! If you haven't been vaccinated, please seriously consider
it. And as I always say, take pleasure in the little things!</span></span></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;">
</span><div><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></div><span style="font-size: medium;">
</span><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather,Times,serif;"><span>Always,</span></span></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;">
</span><div><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></div><span style="font-size: medium;">
</span><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather,Times,serif;"><span>Aaron </span></span></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;">
</span><div><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></div><span style="font-size: medium;">
</span><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><a class="validating" href="https://www.lazarbooks.com" rel="nofollow"><span style="font-family: Merriweather,Times,serif;"><span>www.lazarbooks.com</span></span></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;">
</span><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather,Times,serif;"><span>aaron.lazar@yahoo.com</span></span></span></div>
<div> </div>
<div> </div>
</div></div></div><div class="definition-parent"><span><table align="center" class="floated-none" role="presentation" style="border-spacing: 0px; border-style: none; border-width: medium; float: none; text-align: center; width: 100%px;">
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<a class="aw-image-link" href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08L18ZQRG/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_hsch_vapi_taft_p3_i6" rel="nofollow">
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</a>
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<p> </p>
<p><span style="font-size: 22px;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"><a class="validating" href="http://www.lazarbooks.com" rel="nofollow" style="color: blue; text-decoration: underline;"><strong><span style="color: #3366ff;">Lazarbooks.com</span></strong></a></span></span></p>
<p> </p>
<p><span style="font-size: 18px;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"><a class="validating" href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0181UD7ZK/ref=series_rw_dp_sw" rel="nofollow" style="color: blue; text-decoration: underline;"><strong><span style="font-family: Times;">LEGARDE MYSTERIES</span></strong></a></span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 18px;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"><a class="validating" href="http://www.amazon.com/Green-Marble-mysteries-3-Book/dp/B017YO76MO/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1458070069&sr=1-1&keywords=green+marble+mysteries" rel="nofollow" style="color: blue; text-decoration: underline;"><strong><span style="font-family: Times;">GREEN MARBLE MYSTERIES</span></strong></a></span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 18px;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"><a class="validating" href="http://www.amazon.com/Tall-Pines-Mysteries-4-Book/dp/B01CMO3968/ref=sr_1_2?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1458070089&sr=1-2&keywords=tall+pines+mysteries" rel="nofollow" style="color: blue; text-decoration: underline;"><strong><span style="font-family: Times;">TALL PINES MYSTERIES</span></strong></a></span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 18px;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"><a class="validating" href="http://www.amazon.com/Paines-Creek-Beach-3-Book/dp/B01BGHQK8G/ref=sr_1_1_ha?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1458070126&sr=1-1&keywords=paines+creek+beach+series" rel="nofollow" style="color: blue; text-decoration: underline;"><strong>PAINES CREEK BEACH (Love Stories</strong></a><strong>)</strong></span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 18px;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"><a class="validating" href="http://www.amazon.com/Bittersweet-Hollow-2-Book-Series/dp/B0161WH0SK/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1458070157&sr=1-1&keywords=bittersweet+hollow" rel="nofollow" style="color: blue; text-decoration: underline;"><strong>BITTERSWEET HOLLOW (Romantic Suspense</strong></a><strong>)</strong></span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 18px;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"><a class="validating" href="http://www.amazon.com/Writing-Guides-3-Book-Series/dp/B018M2WRJ4/ref=sr_1_1_ha?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1458070194&sr=1-1&keywords=write+like+the+wind" rel="nofollow" style="color: blue; text-decoration: underline;"><strong><span style="font-family: Times;">WRITING GUIDES</span></strong></a></span></span></p>
<p> </p>
</div>
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<p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"><span lang="EN-GB">Aaron
Paul Lazar writes to soothe his soul. An award-winning, bestselling
Kindle author of many mystery and suspense series, love stories, and
writing guides, Aaron enjoys the Genesee Valley countryside in upstate
New York, where his characters embrace life, play with their dogs and
grandkids, grow sumptuous gardens, and chase bad guys. Visit his website
at
http://www.lazarbooks.com and watch for his upcoming releases.</span></span></span></span></p><span style="font-size: medium;">
</span><p><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></p><span style="font-size: medium;">
</span><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"><span><span style="font-family: "Apple Chancery";">“Addictive, award-winning fiction.” </span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"><a class="validating" href="http://www.lazarbooks.com" rel="nofollow" style="color: blue; text-decoration: underline;"><strong><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="color: #3366ff;">Lazarbooks.com</span></span></strong></a></span></span></p>
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<a class="aw-image-link" href="https://www.amazon.com/Bittersweet-Hollow-Boxed-Set-Devils-ebook/dp/B08FXFYLST/ref=sr_1_18?dchild=1&qid=1625574755&refinements=p_27%3AAaron+Lazar&s=digital-text&sr=1-18&text=Aaron+Lazar" rel="nofollow">
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<p align="left" class="Centered" style="margin-bottom: 5px; text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/AaronPaulLazar?ref=tn_tnmn" rel="nofollow"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "Cambria",serif;"><strong><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="color: black;">Connect with the author:</span></span></strong></span></span></a></p>
<p align="left" class="Centered" style="margin-bottom: 5px; text-align: left;"> </p>
<p align="left" class="Centered" style="margin-bottom: 5px; text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/AaronPaulLazar?ref=tn_tnmn" rel="nofollow"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "Cambria",serif;"><strong><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="color: black;">Facebook:</span></span></strong><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="color: black;"> </span></span></span></span></a></p>
<p align="left" class="Centered" style="margin-bottom: 5px; text-align: left;"> </p>
<p align="left" class="Centered" style="margin-bottom: 5px; text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.bookbub.com/authors/aaron-paul-lazar" rel="nofollow"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "Cambria",serif;"><strong><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Bookbub:</span></strong></span></span></a></p>
<p align="left" class="Centered" style="margin-bottom: 5px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "Cambria",serif;"><a href="https://twitter.com/aplazar" rel="nofollow"><strong><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Twitter</span></strong></a><span class="MsoHyperlink" style="color: blue;"><u style="text-decoration: underline;"><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">: </span></u></span></span></span></p>
<p align="left" class="Centered" style="margin-bottom: 5px; text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/AaronPaulLazar" rel="nofollow"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "Cambria",serif;"><strong><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Goodreads: </span></strong></span></span></a></p>
<p align="left" class="Centered" style="margin-bottom: 5px; text-align: left;"> </p>
<p align="left" class="Centered" style="margin-bottom: 5px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "Cambria",serif;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Aaron-Paul-Lazar/e/B001JOZR2M/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1" rel="nofollow"><strong><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Amazon Author Page</span></strong></a><span class="MsoHyperlink" style="color: blue;"><u style="text-decoration: underline;"><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">: </span></u></span></span></span></p>
<p align="left" class="Centered" style="margin-bottom: 5px; text-align: left;"> </p>
<p align="left" class="Centered" style="margin-bottom: 5px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "Cambria",serif;"><strong><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="http://www.linkedin.com/pub/aaron-lazar/4/b50/a2a/" rel="nofollow">LinkedIn</a>: </span></strong></span></span></p>
<p align="left" class="Centered" style="margin-bottom: 5px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "Cambria",serif;"><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="color: black;"><br /></span></span></span></span></p>
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Aaron Paul Lazarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06117814221437165664noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6001825743960552008.post-82507607909006582752020-08-08T08:22:00.000-04:002020-08-08T08:22:29.472-04:00August 2020 Newsletter<p> </p><div id="aweber_container"><div class="aweber_single" id="aweber_rightcolumn_index"><div><div class="aweber_message_body">
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</tbody></table></span></div><div class="definition-parent"><div class="paragraph" style="font-size: 12px;"><div><div><span face="" style="font-family: "merriweather", "times", serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px;"> </span></span></div><div><span face="" style="font-family: "merriweather", "times", serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px;">Hi, folks! </span></span></div>
<div> </div>
<div><span face="" style="font-family: "merriweather", "times", serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px;">Welcome, new subscribers and thanks to all my loyal readers who have stayed the course since <i>Double Forte'</i>
was released way back in in 2004. I value each and every one of you and
thank you from the bottom of my heart for continuing to read, share my
books with friends and family, and stay in touch. I sincerely hope you
have managed to stay safe in this challenging time. </span></span></div>
<div> </div>
<div><span face="" style="font-family: "merriweather", "times", serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px;">Before I dive into my usual "newsy"</span></span> <span face="" style="font-family: "merriweather", "times", serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px;"> update, I want to mention a special deal. </span></span></div>
<div> </div>
<div><span face="" style="font-family: "merriweather", "times", serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px;">Have
you ever wanted to try audiobooks? During the quarantine lots of folks
have had more time at home. Audiobooks provide an amazing source of
entertainment that you can enjoy while doing other tasks like household
chores, gardening, and of course driving. And heck, right now some
wholesome mysteries (or wild sensual adventures, lol) are much more
appealing than the troubles we're all facing in real life.
</span></span></div>
<div> </div>
<div><span face="" style="font-family: "merriweather", "times", serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px;">To
do my part, I'm offering my audiobooks for FREE (usually $20-30 each!).
Audiobooks have never been a big income producer, but this opportunity
is a win-win for all. It will help me immensely if you download as many
as you can and post a little review if you enjoyed them. </span></span></div>
<div> </div>
<div><span face="" style="font-family: "merriweather", "times", serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px;">Once
in a while, some of the books run out of codes. Just try the next book
if that happens. Feel free to go in and get all 28 books if you want.
They'll stay in your library forever, so go ahead and get them all and
then listen at your leisure over the years to come. Enjoy and tell your
friends!</span></span></div>
<div> </div>
<div><span face="" style="font-family: "merriweather", "times", serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px;">Listen <a class="validating" href="https://www.audible.com/pd/Under-The-Ice-A-Gus-LeGarde-Mystery-Audiobook/B0170OA05S?qid=1596801020&sr=1-3&ref=a_search_c3_lProduct_1_3&pf_rd_p=e81b7c27-6880-467a-b5a7-13cef5d729fe&pf_rd_r=7QE7FS7CG8CDB6056Z17" rel="nofollow">here</a> for a sample from <i>Under the Ice</i>. (click on "sample" under the cover)</span></span></div>
<div> </div>
<div><span face="" style="font-family: "merriweather", "times", serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px;">And try <a class="validating" href="https://www.audible.com/pd/Sanctuary-Audiobook/B00OHTVP8G?qid=1596801020&sr=1-13&ref=a_search_c3_lProduct_1_13&pf_rd_p=e81b7c27-6880-467a-b5a7-13cef5d729fe&pf_rd_r=7QE7FS7CG8CDB6056Z17" rel="nofollow">this one</a>, from <i>Sanctuary</i>. </span></span></div>
<div> </div>
<div><span face="" style="font-family: "merriweather", "times", serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px;">And to try all books to hear narrators up front, <a class="validating" href="https://www.audible.com/search?keywords=aaron+paul+lazar&ref=a_hp_t1_header_search" rel="nofollow">here's</a> the page with all my audiobooks. </span></span></div>
<div> </div>
<div><span face="" style="font-family: "merriweather", "times", serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px;">It's really easy - you just follow the links you get when you ask for a book.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: red;"><a href="https://bit.ly/2D1KDod" rel="nofollow" style="border-radius: 5px; border: 1px solid rgb(48, 154, 212); display: inline-block; font-family: "trebuchet ms", "helvetica", sans-serif; font-size: 18px; padding: 8px 14px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span face="" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", "helvetica", sans-serif; font-size: 18px;">LAZAR'S FREE
AUDIOBOOKS</span></a></span>
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<div><span face="" style="font-family: "merriweather", "times", serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px;">So,
here we are in August, when I had originally thought all this Covid19
stuff would have been resolved. Boy, was I naive. Looks like we're in
for the long haul here. Dale and I are still isolating at home, except
for trying to catch up on all our doctors, dentist, and eye
appointments. It was kind of scary going into these places at first, but
I must say most of them have been exemplary in keeping their
places clean. And I'm fortunate that my "day job" still lets me work at
home . I'm grateful for that. Two of my daughters, however, are on the
front line in nursing and mental health care, and we appreciate any
prayers to keep them safe.</span></span></div>
<div> </div>
<div><span face="" style="font-family: "merriweather", "times", serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px;">My
little grandsons and I are really enjoying our pool (nothing fancy but
it cools you off!) The garden has been thriving in spite of the hottest
July since 1921! It was also the wettest July in many years, lol, so
you'd think we had some kind of rain forest here, right? No, the rain
came in single days, with parching weeks in between. A very odd time.
But my tomatoes are coming in really fast now and we've
been giving away baskets of zucchini and cucumbers for a month now. If I
could just get that little rabbit to go find another garden... he's
eaten so many of my bean plants, I had to replant four times. We've
finally foiled him with a spray of soap and peppermint oil. ;o)</span></span></div>
<div> </div>
<div><span face="" style="font-family: "merriweather", "times", serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px;">My 13th Gus LeGarde Mystery, <i>The Return</i>,
is coming along and just reached 50,000 words, probably about 75% done.
Gus and Sig are in some really hot water now, and need to devote more
time to my morning writing to get him out of trouble! I find myself too
tempted to roam the gardens, pick veggies, and go for a quick swim these
days before I start the day job. But it's all good and the images,
scents,
and tastes of that garden produce usually ends up in a Gus book in the
end, anyway. You know I love sharing this stuff, virtually and with my
neighbors.</span></span></div>
<div> </div>
<div><span face="" style="font-family: "merriweather", "times", serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px;">Please
take care and continue to be safe. I want to hear from you if you have
the time, so let me know how you're doing when you can. </span></span></div>
<div> </div>
<div><span face="" style="font-family: "merriweather", "times", serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px;">Happy listening,</span></span></div>
<div> </div>
<div><span face="" style="font-family: "merriweather", "times", serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px;">Aaron</span></span></div>
<div><span face="" style="font-family: "merriweather", "times", serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px;">www.lazarbooks.com</span></span></div>
<div> </div>
</div></div></div><div class="definition-parent"><span><table align="center" class="floated-none" role="presentation" style="border-spacing: 0px; border-style: none; border-width: medium; float: none; text-align: center; width: 100%;">
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</div><div class="definition-parent"><div class="paragraph" style="font-size: 12px;"><div><div><span face="" style="font-family: "merriweather", "times", serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px;">If
you haven't yet "met" Quinn and Marcella Hollister in the Tall Pines
Mystery series, here's your chance to read book 1 for $1.99. ;o) This is a
fresh, fun, and quirky mystery set in the beautiful Adirondacks Park.
It's a nice change from reality right now. ;o)</span></span></div>
<div> </div>
</div></div></div><div class="definition-parent"><span><table align="center" class="floated-none" role="presentation" style="border-spacing: 0px; border-style: none; border-width: medium; float: none; text-align: center; width: 100%;">
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<a class="aw-image-link" href="https://www.amazon.com/Birds-Tall-Pines-Mysteries-Book-ebook/dp/B016WENW5W/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=for+the+birds%2C+lazar&qid=1596653270&sr=8-1" rel="nofollow">
<img alt="Image" class="model" height="390" src="https://hostedimages-cdn.aweber-static.com/MTA5MDM3Mw==/optimized/48f3c84351c1401e9318c3d6217c0cca.jpeg" style="border-style: none; border-width: 0px; display: block; height: 390px; max-width: 100%; outline-style: none; outline-width: medium; text-decoration: none; width: 390px;" width="390" />
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<div><span face="" style="font-family: "merriweather", "times", serif;"><span style="font-size: 18px;"><b><i><a class="validating" href="https://www.amazon.com/Birds-Tall-Pines-Mysteries-Book-ebook/dp/B016WENW5W/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=for+the+birds%2C+lazar&qid=1596653270&sr=8-1" rel="nofollow">For the Birds</a> </i>eBook.</b></span><span style="font-size: 15px;"><b> </b></span></span></div>
<div> </div>
<div><span face="" style="font-family: "merriweather", "times", serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px;">When
Marcella Hollister’s prize parakeet gets zapped by a wayward power line
in a swimming pool with her mother, the ensuing psychic link helps
Marcella chase her mother’s kidnappers through the Adirondack Mountains,
where she unearths a fifty-year-old secret about her dear father with
shocking links to a hidden treasure. (Book 1 of 4)</span></span></div>
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<a class="aw-image-link" href="http://www.lazarbooks.com" rel="nofollow">
<img alt="Image" class="model" height="287" src="https://hostedimages-cdn.aweber-static.com/MTA5MDM3Mw==/optimized/1b4e3b7d3f9f4c04a919368cf4d9dd46.jpeg" style="border-style: none; border-width: 0px; display: block; height: 287px; max-width: 100%; outline-style: none; outline-width: medium; text-decoration: none; width: 382px;" width="382" /></a></td></tr></tbody></table></span></div></td></tr></tbody></table></div></div></div></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></div></center></div></div>
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<span style="-moz-osx-font-smoothing: grayscale; background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-color: #e60023; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 3px 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat; background-size: 14px 14px; border-radius: 3px; border: medium none; color: white; cursor: pointer; display: block; left: 479px; opacity: 1; padding: 0px 4px 0px 0px; position: absolute; text-align: center; text-indent: 20px; top: 3751px; width: auto; z-index: 8675309;">Save</span>Aaron Paul Lazarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06117814221437165664noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6001825743960552008.post-51918563803841269302020-07-30T07:37:00.001-04:002020-07-30T07:37:17.051-04:00Giving back - FREE audiobooks (limited time)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2pk-1aGlASsxqOgn_kRzBUq9pctW2o8EVbyZYMwW7F6Z6muAb2DwnyndC7YoQnQO-HCOdtzX8o6CVc2mzk_p109hzDr-LmV_dPF4NE-Z_98moX13onQb42aQaUTrd5lBYXiLOqPbs6L2N/s1600/IMG_6018.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2pk-1aGlASsxqOgn_kRzBUq9pctW2o8EVbyZYMwW7F6Z6muAb2DwnyndC7YoQnQO-HCOdtzX8o6CVc2mzk_p109hzDr-LmV_dPF4NE-Z_98moX13onQb42aQaUTrd5lBYXiLOqPbs6L2N/s320/IMG_6018.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span class="oi732d6d ik7dh3pa d2edcug0 qv66sw1b c1et5uql a8c37x1j irj2b8pg enqfppq2 jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v knj5qynh oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto">Hi, folks. </span><br />
<br />
<span class="oi732d6d ik7dh3pa d2edcug0 qv66sw1b c1et5uql a8c37x1j irj2b8pg enqfppq2 jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v knj5qynh oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto">In
the spirit of giving during this trying time, I'm providing copies of all my audiobooks for free. Stop by and
snag a free code. A few of the titles have run
out of codes (<i>Betrayal </i>and <i>The Liar's Gallery</i>) but keep trying, there
are plenty to take advantage of. Happy listening and I hope this provides a bit of comfort and a few thrills during our continued stay-at-home time.</span><br />
<br />
<span class="oi732d6d ik7dh3pa d2edcug0 qv66sw1b c1et5uql a8c37x1j irj2b8pg enqfppq2 jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v knj5qynh oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"><a href="https://bit.ly/2D1KDod" target="_blank">https://bit.ly/2D1KDod</a> </span><br />
<br />
<span class="oi732d6d ik7dh3pa d2edcug0 qv66sw1b c1et5uql a8c37x1j irj2b8pg enqfppq2 jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v knj5qynh oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"> Stay safe,</span><br />
<span class="oi732d6d ik7dh3pa d2edcug0 qv66sw1b c1et5uql a8c37x1j irj2b8pg enqfppq2 jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v knj5qynh oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"><br /></span>
<span class="oi732d6d ik7dh3pa d2edcug0 qv66sw1b c1et5uql a8c37x1j irj2b8pg enqfppq2 jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v knj5qynh oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto">Aaron Paul Lazar</span><br />
<span class="oi732d6d ik7dh3pa d2edcug0 qv66sw1b c1et5uql a8c37x1j irj2b8pg enqfppq2 jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v knj5qynh oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto">www.lazarbooks.com</span><br />
<span class="oi732d6d ik7dh3pa d2edcug0 qv66sw1b c1et5uql a8c37x1j irj2b8pg enqfppq2 jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v knj5qynh oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"><br /></span>
<span class="oi732d6d ik7dh3pa d2edcug0 qv66sw1b c1et5uql a8c37x1j irj2b8pg enqfppq2 jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v knj5qynh oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"><br /></span>Aaron Paul Lazarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06117814221437165664noreply@blogger.com39tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6001825743960552008.post-38157415220136235442019-10-04T12:44:00.003-04:002019-10-04T12:44:52.641-04:00Connecting with Fellow Authors<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUItYkVIcAMrfUVAlLpcm8B9y2v3IucG4AyywsLyk5ubOF4HZI_DVr8nwNzyFcc53-_74W9YwvFCdPnAhfFnaZPr5YWgxUN9jTthag_TIJthmKqM-NEhRkBz5OuMNs9E7n2YKJ5LgeJ4EK/s1600/IMG_2387.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUItYkVIcAMrfUVAlLpcm8B9y2v3IucG4AyywsLyk5ubOF4HZI_DVr8nwNzyFcc53-_74W9YwvFCdPnAhfFnaZPr5YWgxUN9jTthag_TIJthmKqM-NEhRkBz5OuMNs9E7n2YKJ5LgeJ4EK/s200/IMG_2387.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Hello, writers and readers!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Can you believe it's already October? <span style="color: #333333; font-size: small;">The summer just flew by, didn't it?</span><span style="font-size: small;"> </span>We had a wonderful season here in Western NY. Plenty of good "swimming" days and one of the best growing seasons ever. I fed seven different families with my tomatoes and cukes this summer! The weather has been phenomenal, perfect for morning walks, where I snapped this photo of Jerulsalem Artichokes and wild purple asters. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">I'm working on my twenty-ninth book, book 13 in the LeGarde Mystery series. But it's going slowly. Sometimes I feel discouraged, but when I reach out to my author friends, things get better fast. ;o)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">One of the best ways to feel connected with other writers is to share in the process of creation and to finish the cycle by reviewing your friends' work. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Some of my closest writer pals and I swap chapters as we write them. We catch errors and provide feedback to each other as the stories develop. It's incredibly rewarding with well-chosen writing partners.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">I also belong to a group of wonderful authors who swap books and post honest reviews for each other. Fortunately, each of the members was carefully selected by our leader and so far I've really enjoyed each title. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">I thought I'd share some of these books and reviews with you today. Sound good?</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Happy reading and writing!</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Aaron</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Aaron Paul Lazar </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">USA Today Bestselling Author </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">www.lazarbooks.com </span><br />
<br />
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<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Reign-Fire-Deep-State-Mysteries-ebook/dp/B07MBCJ4JM/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_pdt_img_top?ie=UTF8" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="https://www.amazon.com/Reign-Fire-Deep-State-Mysteries-ebook/dp/B07MBCJ4JM/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_pdt_img_top?ie=UTF8" border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="313" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKtAHRjK3na6x-D-0NUH927h_Hjzse9htEYgPhUsF9jlp8jZRItF4RS1nphyO4HayKFiWBz-ha_J4ZpD29JI5wQHLicKgY-R9-32bMfpbGWNe01jxsELxsV-j2E-9XXy9owKpe8JJt090B/s320/51GeHt1aYgL.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Reign-Fire-Deep-State-Mysteries-ebook/product-reviews/B07MBCJ4JM/ref=cm_cr_dp_d_show_all_btm?ie=UTF8&reviewerType=all_reviews" target="_blank">Reign of Fire</a></i> by Casi McClean</b></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span class="a-size-base review-text review-text-content" data-hook="review-body"><span class=""><i>Reign
of Fire</i> by USA Today bestselling author, Casi McClean, is the first
book in the Deep State Mysteries series. Set in dazzling Washington DC,
this fast paced mystery is also part political thriller, part steamy
romance, and part paranormal.<br /><br />I’m not going to rehash the plot,
because you can easily read about it in the book description or in the
many other reviews. I’d rather tell you what I enjoyed.<br /><br />Several
characters dominate the story, including the fiery protagonist, Emily
Rose, dynamic detective Ashton Frasier, Emily's murdered twin sister
Alyssa, who appears as a spirit, her amazing war veteran brother, Wyatt,
and the brave Pets for Vets dog, Duke.<br /><br />As always, although it
wasn’t the primary theme in this story, I absolutely love the elements
of the wounded warrior and the dog who I’m hoping will become his best
companion in the next books in the series.<br /><br />I also really
appreciated the deep sense of true patriotism shown by the author in her
analysis of what’s gone wrong in government, why we need to return to
our ideals as a nation, and how the “Deep State” has taken control of so
many aspects of our lives purely for power and money. Many of the
fundamental ideas discussed by the characters rang true to me and I
cheered them on as they tried to “drain the swamp” and expose the sleazy
politicians.<br /><br />While there is a great deal of political theorizing
and revelation going on, there are also many action-packed scenes that
move the plot forward. My favorite scene was the sting set up between
the heroes and the villain in a Washington park at night. The tension
was high, the action was well-depicted, and the environment was
beautifully described. I felt as if I were right beside Ash and Emily. I
could feel the cool March breeze on my face, smell the cherry blossoms,
and relate to the adrenaline shooting through the heroes’ veins.<br /><br />Anyone
who reads this first story in the series will want to continue to see
what ungodly secrets our new heroic team discovers about our government.
I, for one, will be cheering them on throughout the series!</span></span></span><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>www.casimclean.com</b></span></div>
<br />
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<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Overdose-Suspense-Thrillers-Dash-Romance-ebook/dp/B07VP4S6PK/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=overdose+by+uvi&qid=1570205638&s=digital-text&sr=1-1-catcorr" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="https://www.amazon.com/Overdose-Suspense-Thrillers-Dash-Romance-ebook/dp/B07VP4S6PK/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=overdose+by+uvi&qid=1570205638&s=digital-text&sr=1-1-catcorr" border="0" data-original-height="436" data-original-width="290" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDijkSCuf9cOCRQY59UcQ59tMHR2ey5VFNi1Wc_OJehdxF_awqlzk8tCIfHDGqOQU8fgr3-ctXWIv9KyEFCy9VXdNQxauTq_JkcTSAJFAzh6cxhGaE7BQ0zLe37OveC1JVGNFTyxiDXIuy/s320/81Dk5CExD8L._AC_UY436_QL65_ML3_.jpg" width="212" /></a></div>
<h1 class="a-size-large a-spacing-none" id="title">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="a-size-extra-large" id="ebooksProductTitle">Overdose (Ash Suspense Thrillers with a Dash of Romance Book 3)</span></span></h1>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Overdose</i> is the third volume in the “Ash Suspense
Thrillers with a Dash of Romance” series. I’ve enjoyed all three books and must
say this one was just as good if not even a tad better than the others! </span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Ash is a young college girl to whom terrible things happen,
but she always comes through with guts and courage to survive, thrive, and get
even with the villains. In this edition, Ash becomes a victim of a very
powerful player, whose name I’ve withheld so as not to spoil the story for you!</span></span></div>
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</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The characters created by Ms. Poznansky are vivid and truly
enjoyable. I especially love the dialog and relationship between Ash and her
mother, otherwise known as “Ma.” We didn’t see much of Browny (her beloved dog)
in this episode, but I’m sure he’ll be back for more in the future. Love the
dog!</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">After surviving a harrowing ordeal in the last book, where
she barely survived a horrible attack and ensuing coma, Ash now suffers from
mysterious and frequent headaches with other bizarre symptoms. Buy the book and
discover the nefarious plot behind her symptoms that has far-reaching
consequences.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I read both the eBook and listened to the new audiobook,
which I found extremely well done. The narrator was a pleasure to listen to. </span></span></div>
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</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I’ve always enjoyed Ms. Poznansky’s writing. It is smooth, lyrical,
and original. Well done! </span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Highly recommended by Aaron Paul Lazar. </span></span></div>
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<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Dark-Moon-DeathSpeaker-Codex-Book-ebook/dp/B07Y9Y2KRQ/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=dark+of+the+moon+sonya&qid=1570205948&s=digital-text&sr=1-1#reader_B07Y9Y2KRQ" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="https://www.amazon.com/Dark-Moon-DeathSpeaker-Codex-Book-ebook/dp/B07Y9Y2KRQ/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=dark+of+the+moon+sonya&qid=1570205948&s=digital-text&sr=1-1#reader_B07Y9Y2KRQ" border="0" data-original-height="1023" data-original-width="682" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqEuq4P25yH-UIuMhCB6Ezo5zyBXG2MNgTf4uZxgT-Qnkoe91LbMnVQAzIVUaVSWij1-kUJa92WA-S5wttnn3W87gKdWGWiYEO7rBfQY5euxHcZOKSrZtOM_eWBaa0Pzj3149r5-BrkffG/s320/270659164.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<h1 class="a-size-large a-spacing-none" id="title">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="a-size-extra-large" id="ebooksProductTitle">Dark of the Moon (The DeathSpeaker Codex Book 9)</span></span></h1>
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</span></span></h1>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I’ve loved every one of the DeathSpeaker series, in spite of
the fact that I don’t normally read this genre. I’m usually an “it’s all mysteries”
kind of reader. But it’s the author I love, and her amazing ability to create
addictive characters whose worlds become so real you truly think you’re there
standing alongside Gideon Black and his family and friends. </span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">In this book, <i>Dark of the Moon</i>, everything is
racheted up tenfold! The action, the wild and colorful environments, the
emotions…. Oh, the emotions! If you read the last heartbreaking edition, you’ll
know what I mean. </span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Gideon is suffering from a terrible, black-hole kind of
loss. His brother, Taeral, died in the last book to save Gideon’s life. This
crusty, grumpy, wonderful, and also lovable guy was a huge loss, and I was MAD
at Bateman for taking him away from us. </span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">But in this book, well, let me say without spoiling things
that Bateman has a chance at redemption.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The vivid descriptions of lands you could never imagine in
your whole life, the ACTION (oh my gosh, the action was incredible), the
nonstop suspense and the thrills were just out of this world. Well, much of it
did happen “out of this world,” but really, no pun intended. ;o)</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Give yourself a treat and read what may become your very
favorite of all the great books in this series! </span></span></div>
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<h1 class="a-size-large a-spacing-none" id="title">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="a-size-extra-large" id="ebooksProductTitle">Revelations by Robert Sells</span></span></h1>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="background: white none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #333333; line-height: 107%;">Revelations</span></i><span style="background: white none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #333333; line-height: 107%;"> by Robert Sells captured me from page one. The
story is full of suspense and doesn’t let up for a minute. I’m normally a
“mysteries only” kind of reader, but I made an exception for this book as I’ve
enjoyed many of Sells’ previous titles, including <i>Reap the Whirlwind, </i>another
story that required incredible imagination. I found <i>Revelations</i> to be engrossing
and immensely entertaining. </span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background: white none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #333333; line-height: 107%;">Robert Sells has a
background teaching physics, and his knowledge is beautifully showcased in this
book. Not only is he a man of science, but he’s also one heck of a writer. </span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background: white none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #333333; line-height: 107%;">I loved his ability to put
together a story from multiple points of view set over the expanse of the
entire nation. His characters jumped off the page, used “true to life” genuine
dialog, and made you either root for them or jeer them as the story progressed.
Being invested in the characters is the most important element for this reader.
If you don’t care about them, you might as well stop reading!</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background: white none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #333333; line-height: 107%;">You have to be a bit
impervious to gore in certain sections, because the nature of a fight against
alien insect-like creatures must, by needs, be brutal!</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background: white none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #333333; line-height: 107%;">My favorite characters were
by far scientist Aster Worthington and the army Ranger Brock Adamson, who was
assigned to help protect her and beat the teeming hive of aliens living in the
giant Dome. Loved the oppositional personalities (at first) and the surprising
resultant relationship. </span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background: white none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #333333; line-height: 107%;">Well done, Mr. Sells!</span></span></span></div>
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Aaron Paul Lazarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06117814221437165664noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6001825743960552008.post-21739178125616404312019-06-14T14:32:00.001-04:002019-06-14T14:32:44.464-04:00Coming Clean...and Queen.<div class="definition-parent" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333015441895px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 15px;">Hello, friends!</span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 15px;">For the past year I've been trying to gloss over what was happening to me when I posted. After all, who wants to hear about a writer who's too sick to write??? Sure, I mentioned a bit about the strange form of esophageal reflux I had (LPRD) but I really didn't share the whole truth. Now that I've had surgery and am feeling pretty darned good again, I thought I'd "come clean."</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 15px;">So, it's a long and complicated story, but I'll try to spare you the gory details. After one year, eight very specialized "specialists," a gazillion tests that were absolutely not fun, and multiple appointments every week, I'm finally getting back to my old self. Since last May I could barely walk to the mailbox and back without getting horribly out of breath and coughing up a storm. I was even breathless when I bent over to tie my shoes! Ack! And I could barely get out to the garden to pick my beautiful tomatoes. My flower beds and veggie garden sported four foot high weeds...a nightmare for the gardener in me. They put me on oxygen at night and tried to figure out why my O2 dropped to 75 every time I did any little thing. On top of that, work cut me to half time due to business pressures, and we have been seriously struggling ever since. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtyYBVmx3ljWQWLYXns610_NXx3K1SFRyBh_3O44mToPuglHWYceapzu_bRylJF-gcTIDU1EFrcwh1jhBnHrSAge_rekxazoTYqxOafE_Q29TelMXn9yAS8u3E4YE-HXGdlXFiM9AVxN2e/s1600/IMG_0978.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtyYBVmx3ljWQWLYXns610_NXx3K1SFRyBh_3O44mToPuglHWYceapzu_bRylJF-gcTIDU1EFrcwh1jhBnHrSAge_rekxazoTYqxOafE_Q29TelMXn9yAS8u3E4YE-HXGdlXFiM9AVxN2e/s320/IMG_0978.JPG" width="320" /></a><span style="color: black; font-size: 15px;"> </span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 15px;">Well, long story short, they found that although I have existing issues with scarring in the lungs, and I've always had big time asthma, the whole mess was exacerbated by tons of acid coming up from my stomach and going down into my lungs. So, I got fundoplication surgery ("toupet" variety, this is where they fix the esophagus/stomach interface to make the valve stronger) on April 3rd. I was back to work 3 weeks later, and now at 9 weeks later I'm so sore all over I can barely move, because I WEEDED my gardens for hours and hours every day this past weekend! Woo hoo! I know that's a weird thing to be happy about, but I was outside! I was in the sunlight and felt the fresh breeze on my skin! And guess what? In mid-May, I planted my garden full of tomatoes, kale, collards, squash, melons, cukes, beets, beans and more. ;o) Everything's doing great and we even had a few strawberries this week. The flower pix I'm inserting within here are all my morning walks through my flower beds - they have been the most lush I've ever seen this year. ;o)<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span> </span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 15px;">I honestly thought my gardening and writing days were over, which I'm sure contributed to the deep depression. Thank goodness, that's over.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span> </span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 15px;">So, I guess you could say, I'm "back." And although last year I didn't have any energy or even care about writing much, now I've got the writing bug back and I'm planning the next Gus LeGarde mystery. I have ideas that are starting to gel, and some of them will be based a little bit on stuff that happened to me.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span> </span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 15px;">No, Gus and his family won't be getting sick. My gosh, I've had enough of that! But I think my Chopin-lovin' guy is going to fall in love with some rock music that might surprise you. I'm tempted to tell you all about it, shall I? I know this article is already too long by conventional standards, but here goes.</span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 15px;">When I was in college for engineering (1973-81) I basically tuned out modern day music. I turned back to classical, started playing my Chopin waltzes and mazurkas again, and went nuts for opera, finding and falling in love with the best tenors and sopranos. It goes without saying, Pavarotti was my all time favorite. My wife and I had loved rock and blues and folk in the sixties and early seventies. We went to all the concerts. We saw Led Zep in 1969, as well as tons of other "new" British bands who performed in Boston in tiny little clubs. Oh, we just loved The Doors, Stones, Beatles, Jeff Beck, J.Geils, PP&M, Rod Stewart, Traffic, and so many more cool bands. But we thought it all ended there and that "nothing" in modern day (translate that to 1973 and beyond) rock would ever, ever touch the beauty of the bands we already loved.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 15px;">Boy, were we wrong.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span> </span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 15px;">Dale and I saw Bohemian Rhapsody a month ago. We had known absolutely nothing about the band Queen. Nothing! Okay, so a few songs like "We Are the Champions" and "We Will Rock You" were familiar from television, etc. But we both were absolutely seriously and fundamentally moved by that film, and immediately watched the live concert, then bought the greatest hits album. Now I play these tunes EVERY SINGLE day on my way to work, and while I'm weeding outside, and while on the treadmill, etc. My wife is doing the same and blasts them from our apple TVs. We are so hooked And I'm just amazed at how incredible the musicianship is, including the beautiful ballads, complex harmonies, arpeggios that make my spirit soar, and of course, the driving beat. Wow. Now we discovered (yes, we were absolutely like aliens coming down to earth for the first time in this regard!) that there's another "greatest hits II" album and a ton of individual albums as well. Can't wait to explore them all.</span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 15px;">Just imagine Gus tooling down the country roads with hard rock blasting out of his car windows. I can just see the looks on his students' faces as he pulls into the school parking lot. Heh heh.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span> </span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 15px;">What else will happen in this new book? What about Sig and Lily, who are pregnant with their first child? Now living in their new log cabin, Sig and Lily will have their baby (boy or girl? What's your guess?), Shelby will get into a lot more trouble than usual, and there will be a new creepy neighbor who buys the old Marggrander farm next to Gus. We have to have a villain, right? So stay tuned for more as I start writing this one soon. ;o)</span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 15px;">Speaking of rock music, have you read<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a class="validating" href="https://clicks.aweber.com/y/ct/?l=9t_0z&m=gph05SPKsKld4Fk&b=cj2c06hXUbla87yIUKDp6Q" style="color: blue;" target="_blank"><i style="color: black;">Spirit Me Away</i>?</a><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>This LeGarde Mystery takes place in Boston in 1969 (when I lived there) and is full of hippies, music, and mysteries galore. Gus even gets chased by a peacock while trying to rescue Elsbeth. And yes, that also happened to me. LOL. I'll tell you about it some day.</span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 15px;">Here's a bit about the story:</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">Boston, Massachusetts: It’s the summer of ’69—the parks are flooded with flower children and a hot new band called Led Zeppelin is set to appear at the Boston Tea Party. But for one newlywed couple just beginning their lives together, there will be no peace.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">In the cradle of sex, drugs, and rock ’n roll, Gus and Elsbeth LeGarde are music students attending the New England Conservatory of Music, after a wedding kept secret from their families. When they discover a bruised and sobbing teenage girl on the Boston Commons who can’t remember who she is, or how she got there, the couple decides to “adopt” her to help uncover her identity.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">But Gus and Elsbeth aren’t prepared to be plunged into a violent world of rape, abuse, and a ring of white slave traders who’ll stop at nothing to take back their property—or to acquire new flesh in the form of Gus’s beautiful young bride.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">At times nostalgic, heart-stopping, and breathlessly dramatic,<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><i style="color: black;">Spirit Me Away</i><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>is a thrilling romantic mystery set against the colorful backdrop of the sixties—with an unforgettable conclusion at the greatest rock festival of all time.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 14px;">Chapter 1</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 14px;">June 28, 1969</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 14px;">The girl slumped on a park bench clutching a battered old guitar case. Long copper curls tumbled forward in an untidy mass, nearly obscuring her eyes. She covered her face with her hands, and it was at that moment I noticed her shoulders shaking.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 14px;">The poor thing was crying.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 14px;">Concerned, I stepped closer to the balcony railing to get a better look, wondering what was wrong.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 14px;">I’d just wandered out to our terrace after working for two solid hours on my music theory homework. I needed fresh air, because I didn’t think my brain could process any more post tonal theory, 12-tone series, octotonic scales, or especially the impossible analysis of Bartok's String Quartet Number 4, first movement. And although the scenes on the Boston Public Garden were usually quite lively, filled with hippies sitting cross-legged on the grass, mothers pushing strollers, and dogs chasing Frisbees, I hadn’t expected to see this poor creature sobbing on the park bench.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 14px;">I called to Elsbeth, who’d been playing a salty Brazilian tango on our beat-up baby grand. “Honey? Can you come here for a minute?”</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 14px;">The expression in Elsbeth’s dark eyes swung from musical enchantment to mild curiosity. She pushed back from the piano and joined me on the balcony. “What is it?”</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 14px;">I pointed to the girl. “Over there.”</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 14px;">My wife peered across Beacon Street to the sidewalk bordering the park, where the girl sat on the bench, weeping harder now.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 14px;">“Oh, the poor thing. Another lost flower child.”</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 14px;">“Yeah.” A pang of empathy banged through me, which was always a bad sign. It meant I’d probably do something I’d regret. </span></div>
<div style="color: black;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 14px;">Regardless, I couldn’t help but wonder what had happened to the girl, who looked to be about our age, maybe eighteen or twenty. She wore typical hippie garb, like most of our Bean Town flower children, with patched bellbottom jeans, sandals, a tie-dyed tee shirt, and a suede vest with beaded fringe.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 14px;">I slid my arm around Elsbeth’s waist, watching the street below bustling with activity. Groups of vibrant young hippies, flowing with beads, long hair, and whorls of colorful fabric, tripped and laughed, floating across the park to gather and play music.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 14px;">Fat pigeons gathered and cooed at the girl’s feet, as if in tune with her sorrow. Their green metallic feathers winked in the sunlight. </span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 14px;">Strains of the Doors’ “Break on Through” wafted from someone’s transistor radio. Taxis, cars, and buses engorged with passengers trundled past, honking and billowing black smoke. Throngs of businessmen hurried through the park, dressed in neatly pressed suits and crisp white shirts, ignoring the forlorn figure on the bench.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 14px;">No one stopped. </span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 14px;">No one gave her a second glance. </span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 14px;">I turned to my wife. “We can’t leave her there.”</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 14px;">“I know.” She grabbed my hand, pulling me toward the door. “Come on.”</span></div>
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<a class="validating" href="https://clicks.aweber.com/y/ct/?l=9t_0z&m=gph05SPKsKld4Fk&b=g8rOeB8DaP5P_F1tIWVq6g" style="color: blue;" target="_blank">Read more here.</a></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 24px;"><b style="color: black;">Donations to Pets for Vets</b></span></div>
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</div>
<div style="color: black;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 15px;">Remember the<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><i style="color: black;">Love Under Fire</i><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>boxed set, with 21 books? It was only available for a short time, and we told you we'd give half of our profits to Pets for Vets. I promised the pictures when they were available.;o)<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></div>
<div style="color: black;">
</div>
<div style="color: black;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 15px;">We were honored when Kathryn Knight, one of our authors, presented this wonderful organization with $1,725.00 in their Maine chapter. Two of the other authors in the set just presented our other donation...another check for $1,725.00 to Pets For Vets, Washington, D.C. Chapter! Thank you to everyone who helped raise this money, and if you'd like to learn more about the set and support the authors involved, you can read more<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a class="validating" href="https://clicks.aweber.com/y/ct/?l=9t_0z&m=gph05SPKsKld4Fk&b=8AgWKvy1sp3umYKSnnU22Q" style="color: blue;" target="_blank">here</a>.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 15px;">Following are a few deals from author friends. Enjoy!</span></div>
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<h2 style="color: black;">
DO NO HARM is an extraordinary, limited collection of medical thrillers written by USA Today, Wall Street Journal and Amazon best-selling authors!</h2>
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<a class="validating" href="https://clicks.aweber.com/y/ct/?l=9t_0z&m=gph05SPKsKld4Fk&b=eJQGKpZ_YX0Lr5ZYrPb9MQ" style="color: blue;" target="_blank"><span style="color: black; font-size: 20px;">99 cents on Amazon for a limited time.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></a></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 20px;">And check out this FREE story by wonderful author and artist, Uvi Poznansky.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></div>
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<tr style="color: black;"><td align="center" bgcolor="#6B71E0" style="border-radius: 5px;"><span style="color: red;"><strike><a href="https://clicks.aweber.com/y/ct/?l=9t_0z&m=gph05SPKsKld4Fk&b=4M9jeyBcfHplwecXXEi7bw" style="border-radius: 5px; border: 1px solid rgb(107, 113, 224); display: inline-block; font-family: "merriweather", "times", serif; font-size: 25px; padding: 8px 14px;" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "merriweather" , "times" , serif; font-size: 25px;">Get Apart from Love on Amazon FREE</span></a></strike></span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "merriweather sans" , "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 20px;"><b style="color: black;">IN SUMMARY...</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 15px;">Thanks for reading my rant today. I know many of you are amazingly supportive folks who I consider friends, so thanks again for all you do to pass on the word of this starving artist!<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span> </span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: black; font-size: 15px;">Send me an email if you have any comments, ideas for Gus's new book, or questions. If you don't know this already, I LOVE hearing from my readers. It's the best part of being an author.</span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 15px;">Best always,</span><br />
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<br />
<span style="color: black; font-size: 15px;">Aaron Paul Lazar</span></div>
<div style="color: black;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 15px;">www.lazarbooks.com</span></div>
<div style="color: black;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 15px;">aaron dot lazar@yahoo.com </span><br />
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Aaron Paul Lazarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06117814221437165664noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6001825743960552008.post-73511851524182157592019-04-26T06:44:00.000-04:002019-04-26T06:58:41.337-04:00Finding the Right Plot - by mystery author Susan Cory<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxM5HGGth2fxTwCbtrJCOQi0aDtq4lN-nJlGb3MXOZgxxezyDPxlKn9-iKu5gd4SOFliRnwiboDXeTdxD8ho6SZfMKj8gcYiQoT8W3T3DcSzraF26rlVpc-qjLSExte24DJl7tMufCgJ6d/s1600/PC240019.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="439" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxM5HGGth2fxTwCbtrJCOQi0aDtq4lN-nJlGb3MXOZgxxezyDPxlKn9-iKu5gd4SOFliRnwiboDXeTdxD8ho6SZfMKj8gcYiQoT8W3T3DcSzraF26rlVpc-qjLSExte24DJl7tMufCgJ6d/s320/PC240019.jpeg" width="219" /></a></div>
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Have you ever wondered what could happen if you didn't
totally wipe your hard drive before getting rid of your old computer? Or what
could happen if any of the blank checks sent by credit cards fell into the
wrong hands?</div>
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I live in a close-knit community in Cambridge, Mass. Most of us
know Joe, our long-time mail deliverer, and he knows us. So when Joe was
instructed to forward a certain household's mail to an address in a neighboring
town, he knew that the family hadn't moved. He alerted the police who
discovered a ring of con artists who were diverting people's mail in order to
steal their identities and checks.</div>
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While this scam was coming to light, I was busy trying to
figure out how to get rid of my old computer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Some computer stores and charities advertise that they'll remove your
personal information before recycling your old equipment, but what if one of
their employees is less than honest?</div>
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These two ideas came together to suggest a plot for my third
book in the Iris Reid mystery series, DOPPELGANGER. A family of grifters uses Iris
Reid's stolen identity to commit a crime. While stripping Iris' data off of her
old computer, Rosica Bakalov, notices her own striking resemblance to this new
“mark”. She becomes fascinated with Iris and starts to stalk her. Meanwhile,
Iris, out on bail, is desperate to pick up her doppellgänger's trail before her
case goes to trial.</div>
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Kirkus reviews says: <span style="font-family: "timesnewromanpsmt" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT; mso-fareast-font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">“The plot becomes more unnerving as it progresses, and an
impressive twist leads to a lengthy final act featuring Rosica
(the Doppelgänger) at her most ferocious...Cory’s concise prose
establishes a consistent pace that never wavers, and even her descriptions of
architecture are exhilarating. An engagingly nerve-wracking tale with
gradually escalating suspense.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "timesnewromanpsmt" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT; mso-fareast-font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">I'd love to know how YOU get rid of your old computers,
and also, what you think of DOPPELGANGER.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "timesnewromanpsmt" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT; mso-fareast-font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">By the way, my husband smashed my hard drive with a
hammer before I took my last computer to be recycled. I wasn't taking any
chances...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "timesnewromanpsmt" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT; mso-fareast-font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">Let me know on my author's facebook page: </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/authorsusancory"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">https://www.facebook.com/authorsusancory</span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "timesnewromanpsmt" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT; mso-fareast-font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">or check out my author's website:</span><span style="font-family: "timesnewromanpsmt" , serif; font-size: 15.0pt;">
</span><a href="http://www.susancory.com/"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">http://www.susancory.com/</span></a></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT; mso-fareast-font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">CONUNDRUM, FACADE
and DOPPELGANGER are all available here:<i> </i></span><i><u style="text-underline: #386EFF;"><span style="color: #386eff; font-family: "timesnewromanpsmt" , serif; font-size: 15.0pt;">ht</span></u></i><u style="text-underline: #386EFF;"><span style="color: #386eff; font-family: "timesnewromanpsmt" , serif; font-size: 15.0pt;">tps://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B075V2LWNX/</span></u></div>
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<a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B075V2LWNX/" target="_blank"><img alt="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B075V2LWNX/" border="0" data-original-height="211" data-original-width="144" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiorQjvxeGZw3eEqjpTfphDoDSNxsFfVfPXHZIICDRSHtWquKX1zDg-rPUF4CqzFsbsJT7YyJ7ryBGgXn4w_ogzUUhZtVpCsKPNt1bc-NssGAVqjEblC3Dl-6OA3OvA7b1NCLh7xasQnSF/s320/Doppelganger+ebook+-+small.jpeg" width="218" /></a></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Susan Cory lives in Cambridge, Massachusetts with her architect husband and bossy rescue dog, Chloe. Like her sleuth, she is a residential architect practicing out of a turreted office. Also, like Iris Reid, she has a brown belt in karate.</span></span></i><br />
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<i><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Susan grew up in New Jersey devouring mysteries and loved seeing order restored by ingenious sleuths. But the visual arts were her medium of expression. As an Art major at Dartmouth, she imagined that designing buildings was just a larger-scaled version of creating sculpture. Susan soon discovered the many differences. At graduate school at Harvard's G.S.D., she found a setting—insecurities and egos riding a runaway train of Design Obsession—just ripe for murder.</span></span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br />Conundrum, Facade and Doppelgänger are odes to her profession and all the deviously clever practitioners within it. She's hard at work on Book 4 in the series in which Iris Reid will continue to uncover the architecture of evil in her world.</span></span></i>Aaron Paul Lazarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06117814221437165664noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6001825743960552008.post-91877364120251480152019-04-21T10:19:00.002-04:002019-04-21T10:19:48.113-04:00Happy Easter: FREE AUDIOBOOK SAMPLES!<div class="definition-parent" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333015441895px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Merriweather, Times, serif;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 15px;">Happy Easter!</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Merriweather, Times, serif;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 15px;">I
wish you a blessed day and hope you get a bit of warmth and blooming
flowers today. We've had some beautiful days this past week but it's
gotten all cool and rainy again. Today dawned with heavy fog! I hope the
Easter Bunny can find his way out there. ;o)</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Merriweather, Times, serif;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 15px;">I
haven't posted in a while 'cause I had surgery a few weeks ago, on
April 3rd. It was to hopefully fix my reflux that was getting into my
lungs and stopping me from doing pretty much anything, such as walking
to the mailbox or carrying a laundry basket or especially planting or
weeding. You should have seen the weeds last summer! It wasn't a fun
experience, but the operations is in my past now and I'm getting a
little bit better every day.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Merriweather, Times, serif;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 15px;"><a class="validating" href="https://www.audible.com/pd/The-Asylum-A-Carmen-Garcia-Romantic-Suspense-Novel-Audiobook/B07QFY6S7Q?qid=1555846766&sr=1-1&ref=a_search_c3_lProduct_1_1&pf_rd_p=e81b7c27-6880-467a-b5a7-13cef5d729fe&pf_rd_r=W5DZ5F9ZM4ZEXVGRCEHV" style="color: blue;" target="_blank"><em style="color: black;">The Asylum</em></a><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>has
just been released as an audiobook, and it you'd like to listen and
review I will have a limited amount of special codes to share soon. It's
recorded by the phenomenal Gwendolyn Druyor, who can create any voice
type in the world. The way she represents Carmen and Rosita, my two
Mexican American heroines, or Rocco, a warmhearted African American
gentle giant, is simply outstanding. She really "gets" my writing and
every nuance is just as I intended.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Merriweather, Times, serif;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 15px;">I'll only be able to choose a few special listeners to do this, so let me know if you'd like to review. ;o)<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Merriweather, Times, serif;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 15px;">All
of my books are available as audiobooks and if you haven't tried them
yet, it's really easy and fun. You just download the Audible app on your
phone and sign in. You can even use your Amazon account ID and
password. Once you select a book, you can listen while you walk, drive
(via Bluetooth), fall to sleep, or do household chores. I love
audiobooks and listen constantly. ;o) The cool thing is you have them
forever in your Audible library, to listen and re-listen whenever you
wish.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Merriweather, Times, serif;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 15px;">I'm often asked which of my books is my favorite. It's a hard question to answer. I enjoyed writing them all so much.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><em style="color: black;">The Seadog</em><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>springs
to mind first. I'm not sure if it's because I can uncover secrets on
Cape Cod again, or because of the awesome dog, "Bubba," who my
character, Scout, gets to adopt. Then there's<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><em style="color: black;">The Disappearance of Billy Moore</em>, a green marble time travel novel steeped in nostalgia and mystery.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><em style="color: black;">Lady Blues: forget-me-not,</em><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>is
another favorite, where Gus is an integral part of saving a man's
memory and reuniting him with his forbidden, lost love. And then there's<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><em style="color: black;">Essentially Yours,<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></em>with
a case of the most delicious unrequited love supporting one of the
wildest chase scenes through the Adirondack wilderness. But if I was
forced to choose, I think I'd go back to Gus's childhood, in<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><em style="color: black;">Don't Let the Wind Catch You</em>,
where young Gus befriends a hermit and the spirit of a Native American
girl in the woods. Riding horses in the woods with young Siegfried and
Elsbeth is the best. And the secrets Gus uncovers include some deep life
lessons about tolerance and love.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Merriweather, Times, serif;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 15px;">It's hard to choose. Almost like picking a favorite child, which is impossible!</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Merriweather, Times, serif;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 15px;">I've
decided to load up some audiobook samples for you to listen to at
Soundcloud.com. Just click on the play button and see who is your
favorite narrator of all. I'd love to hear what you think. ;o)</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Merriweather, Times, serif;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 15px;">I've included some books by fellow authors, below, for you to browse and enjoy.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Merriweather, Times, serif;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 15px;">I hope you have a wonderful Easter Sunday and can enjoy family and friends today.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Merriweather, Times, serif;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 15px;">Best wishes always,</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Merriweather, Times, serif;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 15px;">Aaron Lazar</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Merriweather, Times, serif;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 15px;">www.lazarbooks.com</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #f50505;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 20px;"><strong style="color: black;">Free audiobook excerpts (click on image for sound link)</strong></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #161963;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 20px;"><strong style="color: black;"><em style="color: black;">The Asylum</em>, narrated by Gwendolyn Druyor:</strong></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://soundcloud.com/aaron-paul-lazar/the-asylum-chapter-11" target="_blank"><span style="color: black;"><table align="center" class="floated-none" style="border-style: none; border-width: medium; color: black; float: none; font-size: inherit; text-align: center; width: 100%px;"><tbody style="color: black;">
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 20px;"><strong style="color: black;"><em style="color: black;">The Seadog,<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></em>narrated by Gwendolyn Druyor:</strong></span></div>
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<a href="https://soundcloud.com/aaron-paul-lazar/sample-chapter-from-upcoming-audiobook-the-seadog" target="_blank"><span style="color: black;"><table align="center" class="floated-none" style="border-style: none; border-width: medium; color: black; float: none; font-size: inherit; text-align: center; width: 100%px;"><tbody style="color: black;">
<tr style="color: black;"><td style="color: black; padding: 0px 0px 12px;"><img align="middle" alt="Image" border="0" class="model externalImage" height="320" src="https://hostedimages-cdn.aweber-static.com/MTA5MDM3Mw==/optimized/650a74b907824a9b8b809f9edc00a0ea.png" style="border-style: none; border-width: 0px; color: black; height: auto; margin: auto; max-width: 100%; outline-style: none; outline-width: medium; text-decoration: none; width: 600px;" width="320" /></td></tr>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 20px;"><strong style="color: black;"><em style="color: black;">The Disappearance of Billy Moore,</em><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>narrated by George Kuch:</strong></span></div>
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<a href="https://soundcloud.com/aaron-paul-lazar/the-disappearance-of-billy-moore-chapter-1#" target="_blank"><span style="color: black;"><table align="center" class="floated-none" style="border-style: none; border-width: medium; color: black; float: none; font-size: inherit; text-align: center; width: 100%px;"><tbody style="color: black;">
<tr style="color: black;"><td style="color: black; padding: 0px 0px 12px;"><img align="middle" alt="Image" border="0" class="model externalImage" height="600" src="https://hostedimages-cdn.aweber-static.com/MTA5MDM3Mw==/optimized/82e1fbd48fa14b57a236a6bd0066bbbb.jpeg" style="border-style: none; border-width: 0px; color: black; height: auto; margin: auto; max-width: 100%; outline-style: none; outline-width: medium; text-decoration: none; width: 600px;" width="600" /></td></tr>
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<strong style="color: black;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 20px;"><em style="color: black;">Lady Blues</em>, narrated by David Kudler:</span></strong></div>
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<a href="https://soundcloud.com/aaron-paul-lazar/lady-blues-forget-me-not-chapter-1" target="_blank"><span style="color: black;"><table align="center" class="floated-none" style="border-style: none; border-width: medium; color: black; float: none; font-size: inherit; text-align: center; width: 100%px;"><tbody style="color: black;">
<tr style="color: black;"><td style="color: black; padding: 0px 0px 12px;"><img align="middle" alt="Image" border="0" class="model externalImage" height="600" src="https://hostedimages-cdn.aweber-static.com/MTA5MDM3Mw==/optimized/df82911afa9b44cd99946a2fb6c269fd.jpeg" style="border-style: none; border-width: 0px; color: black; height: auto; margin: auto; max-width: 100%; outline-style: none; outline-width: medium; text-decoration: none; width: 600px;" width="600" /></td></tr>
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<strong style="color: black;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 20px;"><em style="color: black;">Don't Let the Wind Catch You</em>, narrated by Erik Synnestvedt:</span></strong></div>
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<a href="https://soundcloud.com/aaron-paul-lazar/dont-let-the-wind-catch-you-chapter-16" target="_blank"><span style="color: black;"><table align="center" class="floated-none" style="border-style: none; border-width: medium; color: black; float: none; font-size: inherit; text-align: center; width: 100%px;"><tbody style="color: black;">
<tr style="color: black;"><td style="color: black; padding: 0px 0px 12px;"><img align="middle" alt="Image" border="0" class="model externalImage" height="600" src="https://hostedimages-cdn.aweber-static.com/MTA5MDM3Mw==/optimized/c49e2abb31a44fa0a720e022e9a9f725.jpeg" style="border-style: none; border-width: 0px; color: black; height: auto; margin: auto; max-width: 100%; outline-style: none; outline-width: medium; text-decoration: none; width: 600px;" width="600" /></td></tr>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Merriweather, Times, serif;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 20px;"><em style="color: black;">Don't Let the Wind Catch You</em></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 15px;">When young Gus LeGarde befriends a cranky old hermit in the woods who speaks to an<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: Merriweather, Times, serif;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 15px;">Indian
spirit, he wonders if the man is nuts. But when the ghostly Penni
rattles tin cups, draws on dusty mirrors, and flips book pages,
pestering him to find evidence to avenge her past, things change.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Merriweather, Times, serif;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 15px;">What
Gus doesn’t understand is why his mother hates Tully, until his
relentless investigation uncovers a hint of scandal about Tully and
Gus’s grandfather, Marlowe Wright.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Merriweather, Times, serif;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 15px;">On
horseback, Gus and his friends ride through woods overlooking Conesus
Lake to Tully’s abandoned house, reportedly still infected with the
Genesee Valley Fever from the 1700s. Unafraid, they enter and find
shocking evidence that could rewrite history.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Merriweather, Times, serif;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 15px;">Can
Gus convince his mother to forgive Tully? And will the proof he found
free Penni’s spirit? Gus summons courage beyond his years in this
poignant and powerful telling of the summer of 1965.</span></span></div>
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<strong style="color: black;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 15px;"><a class="validating" href="https://www.amazon.com/Dont-Wind-Catch-LeGarde-Mysteries-ebook/dp/B073XQJKTB/ref=sr_1_2?keywords=don%27t+let+the+wind+catch+you&qid=1555846290&s=digital-text&sr=1-2-catcorr" style="color: blue;" target="_blank"><em style="color: black;">Don't Let the Wind Catch You</em></a><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>- Amazon</span></span></strong></div>
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<strong style="color: black;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 15px;"><a class="validating" href="https://www.audible.com/pd/Dont-Let-the-Wind-Catch-You-Audiobook/B00H7J5HUK?qid=1555702638&sr=1-1&ref=a_search_c3_lProduct_1_1&pf_rd_p=e81b7c27-6880-467a-b5a7-13cef5d729fe&pf_rd_r=4WEZ5GE7115Q8P24BSJD" style="color: blue;" target="_blank"><em style="color: black;">Don't Let the Wind Catch You</em></a><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>- Audible</span></span></strong></div>
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Aaron Paul Lazarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06117814221437165664noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6001825743960552008.post-65522628152224933732019-01-26T08:42:00.000-05:002019-01-26T08:42:31.103-05:00New Book by Aaron Paul Lazar - The Asylum<div class="definition-parent" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333015441895px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">
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<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Asylum-Carmen-Garcia-Bittersweet-Hollow-ebook/dp/B07MXFCWLJ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1548507944&sr=8-1&keywords=the+asylum%2C+lazar" target="_blank"><img alt="https://www.amazon.com/Asylum-Carmen-Garcia-Bittersweet-Hollow-ebook/dp/B07MXFCWLJ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1548507944&sr=8-1&keywords=the+asylum%2C+lazar" border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRziNcWZrQ3JngVPqerwc0-_LlVe1LN7UQLtIqi6bTZ7yz506n8ixy5Y8M9hKbxemutjLwB-l5d6k7ceZLQKxWMqjFRzEVd4fDAilAK8kWstvzQbvB80JpWTxctFeOFN2sKEUg9OGdx2Z-/s400/The+Asylum+E-Book+Cover.jpg" width="265" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 15px;">Hi, folks.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 15px;">How are you all doing? Surviving this crazy winter? Last weekend we had a huge snowstorm. It was only the third significant storm since November, but it dumped well over a foot of snow on us with tons of gigantic drifts. Before we got a path shoveled for them, my poor dogs had to pee on the back porch! See Balto, below, with the appalled expression on his face.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPPE59lKRSf_AU-SvwjruW_WOsZwHDShFD3m9BjK-VAYr2FnSpz25EOTbzbm6yur4RE8dKbpmhDwkBrScXoGoKnHp66lStMQV_35J90VQWD8Vs5HJpoGxGOjRFK8pdvsfZ-PVkrn6x-uTT/s1600/IMG_0359.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPPE59lKRSf_AU-SvwjruW_WOsZwHDShFD3m9BjK-VAYr2FnSpz25EOTbzbm6yur4RE8dKbpmhDwkBrScXoGoKnHp66lStMQV_35J90VQWD8Vs5HJpoGxGOjRFK8pdvsfZ-PVkrn6x-uTT/s200/IMG_0359.JPG" width="150" /></a><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 15px;">Temps dropped to MINUS six on Monday, and a few days later, it rained all day in the forties! Crazy, huh? For those of you in the warmer climates, I hope you're enjoying your nice weather!</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 15px;">I can't believe January's almost gone. One more month for us of guaranteed cold and snow, then comes March, where we sometimes get nice little hints of spring. Or sometimes we get another monster snowstorm, lol.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 15px;">Our grill on the back porch always gets this tall mound of snow on it, and my four-year-old grandson Chris insists it's a snowman. So, of course, we go out and give him eyes, a carrot nose, a scarf (not easy on a grill!), and a hat.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 15px;">Although I'd love to go on and on about my grandchildren and how they've kept us in stitches during this cold weather, I should probably talk about books, huh? </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 15px;">After a very long wait,<em style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></em>my 28th book,<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><em style="color: black;">The Asylum,</em><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>is now ready to order! This novella was first released last year as part of the limited edition<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><em style="color: black;">USA Today Bestselling boxed set, Love Under Fire</em><span class="Apple-converted-space"></span>.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><em style="color: black;">The Asylum</em><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>features Carmen Garcia, granddaughter to Rosita Garcia, who appeared in<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><em style="color: black;">Devil's Spring,</em><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>book 3 of the Bittersweet Hollow romantic suspense series. Set on the wintry coast of Maine, it's a fun read and will be available on March 1st, 2019. I've set the price at 99 cents, but it will go up to the usual $3.99 soon thereafter. ;o) Print and audiobooks to follow. Check out the cover and synopsis, below.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 15px;">Keep safe and warm!</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 15px;">All my best,</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 15px;">USA Today Bestselling Author Aaron Paul Lazar</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 15px;">www.lazarbooks.com</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Asylum-Carmen-Garcia-Bittersweet-Hollow-ebook/dp/B07MXFCWLJ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1548507944&sr=8-1&keywords=the+asylum%2C+lazar" target="_blank"><span style="color: black;"><table align="center" class="floated-none" style="border-style: none; border-width: medium; color: black; float: none; font-size: inherit; text-align: center; width: 100%px;"><tbody style="color: black;">
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 18px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong style="color: black;">Carmen has a secret, and his name is Dr. Micah Worthy.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></strong></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 15px;">Affairs aren’t permitted between staff members at St. Michael’s Asylum, but Carmen and her handsome young psychiatrist find a way to sneak in a kiss or two in empty storerooms when no one’s looking. It doesn’t take long for her suspicions to rise, however, as she gets to know some of the patients. Why are some kept locked in their rooms, doped to the gills? And where are the two-dozen patients whose names appear on the med lists, but whom she’s never met? Moreover, what’s so forbidden about the ancient passages snaking beneath the two-hundred-year old monastery?<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 15px;">Something’s off in the asylum, and when nothing seems to add up, Carmen and Micah unite to uncover the truth.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 15px;">When staff members learn she’s on to them, the threats begin. Can Carmen report her findings before she ends up in the icy Atlantic?</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 15px;">Set on the rugged Maine coast in the dead of winter, The Asylum is an intriguing story of romance and danger, filled with characters you’ll love and breathless action that’ll keep you up way past your bedtime.</span></span></div>
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<h2 style="color: black; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 15px;"><b><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Asylum-Carmen-Garcia-Bittersweet-Hollow-ebook/dp/B07MXFCWLJ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1548507944&sr=8-1&keywords=the+asylum%2C+lazar" target="_blank">Order The Asylum Here</a></b> </span></span></h2>
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Aaron Paul Lazarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06117814221437165664noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6001825743960552008.post-81772336231960242562018-12-29T08:57:00.001-05:002018-12-29T08:57:11.545-05:00HOW TO INJECT EMOTION INTO YOUR WRITING BY JP O'Donnell
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Dear Murderby4 friends and fans. </span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">I hope you had a wonderful Christmas and that you'll enjoy an equally marvelous New Year's Eve.<b> </b>Please help me welcome back</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> </b><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">writer Joe O'Donnell today with his brand new article on how to evoke genuine emotion from readers. And don't forget to check out his books and movie below!</span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><br /></span><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">- Aaron Paul Lazar, USA Today bestselling author</span></div>
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<a href="http://www.lazarbooks.com/"><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">www.lazarbooks.com</span></a><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">HOW TO INJECT EMOTION INTO YOUR WRITING</b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><a href="http://www.jpodonnell.com/" target="_blank"><img alt="http://www.jpodonnell.com/" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0IuRzysaaaKIec9V2L8lALptZHpstAR6PSWCi-28w98kV5wbqB8V9HORT3I0Sky79RXkvfsVYvfHsrXstlMEKWDazHzH3upjmGe2yoGzlHG7WOwAM8rhqzrnvh93DG__IiKMbyBp3S3-5/s320/Cover%2520Picture%2520JPO%2520edited%5B1%5D.jpg" /></a> </b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">By</b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">JP O’Donnell</b></div>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> </b>
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<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>One of the most
difficult concepts for writers of mystery fiction to master is the art of
injecting emotion into their writing. Too often, the description of a scene or passages
of dialogue come off as being trite or too familiar and, as a result, the
intended emotion completely misses the mark. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even worse, the reader chuckles rather than
being touched or moved by the story. Why do so many writers struggle with this
concept? The answer is simple: it’s a really hard concept to master. </div>
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<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Fiction editor
Beth Hill of the Editor’s Blog (theeditorsblog.net) has written a number of
excellent essays that deal with the subject of emotion in fiction writing.
These essays are “must” reading for any writer of mystery fiction. In her blog
of January 30, 2011, “Creating Emotion in the Reader,” Beth states:<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> “</span><span style="background: white; color: #303030; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">One technique the writer can make use of to create reality
out of fiction is to induce emotion in readers, make them feel something of
what the characters are experiencing. Writer and reader know the fictional
events aren’t real, but the emotion can be. Readers can fear and feel joy and
be excited and know grief. They can laugh and cry, shiver and rage. All from
reading a story.”</span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #303030; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>So, how does a writer do this? First of all, don’t just “tell”
how one of your characters reacts to an event; make sure you “show” how the
character reacts. If, for example, a female character in your novel is being
held captive, and you want to convey a feeling of fright and hopelessness,
don’t just write, “Susan was frightened and feared that she would never get out
of this captivity alive.<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">” </i>Rather, try
to show the depth of her fear and create a vivid, emotional image of Susan as
follows<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">: </i></span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: #303030; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“For Susan, the nights were the most
frightening time of all. She struggled to fall asleep. Every sound startled
her. She felt a chill as she stared up at the ceiling. Her hand trembled as she
reached for her cup of water.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She was
isolated and alone in this cabin—held captive for six days and too afraid to
attempt an escape. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She began to sob
quietly. Tears streamed down her cheeks as she said to herself, “Will I ever
get out of this place alive?”</span></i><span style="background: white; color: #303030; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #303030; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>If you want to elicit emotion in your readers, you need to practice
writing about those times in your own life that affected you emotionally. Write
a paragraph or two about an event that brought you to tears. Was it a wedding
ceremony, a death, your first public speaking event or the break-up with your
first love? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Describe how you felt. Did
you feel overwhelmed? Helpless? Did you swallow hard or did your mouth go dry? Was
your body quivering uncontrollably? If you were frightened at some point, did
you sweat, stammer, or find it difficult to breathe? Was your heart pounding? Did
your knees feel weak? Were you hyperventilating? </span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #303030; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>All of these descriptive phrases help readers to fully grasp
the emotion of your characters. Remember, you are trying to create a clear
image in the mind of your readers. Is your character truly feeling joy, pain,
fear or despair? You want this image to be impactful and draw them into your
story—to feel connected and want to read more. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .2in; margin-right: .2in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="background: white; color: #303030; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Love scenes can also pose a difficult challenge. Too often
they are formulaic and present a sweaty, X-rated, four-letter-worded anatomy
lesson rather than creating a compelling emotional bond between two lovers that
will truly inspire a reader. One of the best ways to improve your ability to
put emotion into love scenes is to listen to the lyrics of love songs. Take
notes on how the words affect you. Do they grab at your heart? Make you look
back at a lost love? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Recall a special
moment in your life? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Make you feel regret?
Make you appreciate your current relationship more than ever? Put these
feelings into writing—don’t hesitate to dig deep into your own emotions—and
soon enough you will be creating passages and dialogue that will be full of
emotions that will not only affect you, but will bring your reader closer to
your characters. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .2in; margin-right: .2in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: .3in;">
<span style="background: white; color: #303030; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In
a passage from <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Pulse-My-Heart-Gallagher-Novel-ebook/dp/B07JG8N1X9/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1538842749&sr=8-1" target="_blank"><i><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Pulse of My</b> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Heart: A Gallagher Novel</b></i></a>, the once
vibrant relationship between my protagonist, Gallagher and his love interest,
Kate, had become strained and distant. He struggled to get close to her, but
she had pushed him away—both physically and emotionally. See how the following
scene ignores the temptation to use hard-core descriptive phrases and, instead,
delivers vivid, emotional imagery in order to create a memorable connection—a
true bond—between the reader and the characters. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .2in; margin-right: .2in; margin-top: 0in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: #303030; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Then one night,
while he slept on the couch, he felt her hand on his face. She leaned over and
kissed him.</span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: #303030; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Softly.</span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: #303030; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Tenderly.</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .2in; margin-right: .2in; margin-top: 0in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: #303030; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>No words had been
spoken. She had rested her head on his chest and caressed his neck. Then she
had led him back to the bedroom.</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .2in; margin-right: .2in; margin-top: 0in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: #303030; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>He remembered
lying next to her naked body, feeling her smooth warm skin once again.</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .2in; margin-right: .2in; margin-top: 0in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: #303030; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>But that was
Kate—always warm.</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .2in; margin-right: .2in; margin-top: 0in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: #303030; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>At times it
seemed like a fire burned within her.</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .2in; margin-right: .2in; margin-top: 0in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: #303030; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>After weeks of
ice, their bodies had melted together passionately that night. Kate’s body had
come alive with a new level of arousal and urgency. </span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .2in; margin-right: .2in; margin-top: 0in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: #303030; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>She had pulled
him closer, desperate to feel him within her in order to satisfy a deep
longing.</span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: #303030; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Perhaps to create
a lasting memory.</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .2in; margin-right: .2in; margin-top: 0in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: #303030; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>An hour later, as
they rested quietly on the bed, he had looked at her.</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .2in; margin-right: .2in; margin-top: 0in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: #303030; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“A chuisle mo
chroi,” he had said, reciting again the Irish phrase “pulse of my heart.” Words
that always perfectly summed up his feeling for her.</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .2in; margin-right: .2in; margin-top: 0in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: #303030; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>He loved her more
than ever.</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .2in; margin-right: .2in; margin-top: 0in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: #303030; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Mo chuisle,” she
had said softly. But her voice had quivered. Her eyes had filled with tears. She
had looked away.</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .2in; margin-right: .2in; margin-top: 0in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: #303030; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Nothing more had
been said, but he had known what was about to happen.</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .2in; margin-right: .2in; margin-top: 0in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: #303030; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>He was powerless
to stop her.</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .2in; margin-right: .2in; margin-top: 0in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: #303030; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The next day she
was gone.</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .2in; margin-right: .2in; margin-top: 0in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: #303030; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>And his life had
been torn apart.</span></i></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #303030; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Similarly, your dialogue can help to create a vivid image of
your main character, or even a minor character without the use of descriptive
passages. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Is he/she clever, sharp-witted,
intelligent, or shrewd? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These are only a
few of the dozens of characteristics that can be demonstrated through good use
of dialogue. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .2in; margin-right: .2in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="background: white; color: #303030; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Take, for example, this brief encounter in a hospital
emergency triage room after Gallagher is attacked by an intruder and suffers a
knife wound to his abdomen. For a variety of reasons, Gallagher prefers to keep
the police from knowing about the attack.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .2in; margin-right: .2in; margin-top: 0in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: #303030; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The triage nurse
in the emergency room lifted the towel away from the wound in Gallagher’s side.</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .2in; margin-right: .2in; margin-top: 0in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: #303030; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“You’re lucky.
It’s not too deep, but it’s going to need some stitches,” she said with
authority. </span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .2in; margin-right: .2in; margin-top: 0in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: #303030; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“I figured it
needed stitches. That’s why I came here,” said Gallagher.</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .2in; margin-right: .2in; margin-top: 0in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: #303030; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Who brought
you?”</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .2in; margin-right: .2in; margin-top: 0in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: #303030; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Drove myself.”</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .2in; margin-right: .2in; margin-top: 0in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: #303030; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“With a gash like
this?”</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .2in; margin-right: .2in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="background: white; color: #303030; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“Didn’t want to wait for
a cab.”</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .2in; margin-right: .2in; margin-top: 0in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: #303030; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“What happened?”</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .2in; margin-right: .2in; margin-top: 0in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: #303030; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Cut myself
shaving.”</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .2in; margin-right: .2in; margin-top: 0in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: #303030; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>She flashed a
skeptical smirk. “Maybe you should try a Norelco.”</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .2in; margin-right: .2in; margin-top: 0in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: #303030; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>He smiled. Her
spunky retort had momentarily taken his mind off the pain in his side. </span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .2in; margin-right: .2in; margin-top: 0in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: #303030; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>She placed a
clean towel over his wound, turned and began to walk out of the cubicle. Then
she looked back at Gallagher with a parting shot. </span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .2in; margin-right: .2in; margin-top: 0in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: #303030; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“If you stick to
that story about the shaving accident, I’ll tell the doctor to just have you
bite on a bullet while he’s placing the stitches.”</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .2in; margin-right: .2in; margin-top: 0in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: #303030; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Gallagher gave
her a thumbs up, acknowledging the good comeback. She winked as she pulled back
the curtain and left the cubicle. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .2in; margin-right: .2in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="background: white; color: #303030; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Although this scene has no physical description of the triage
nurse, her dialogue alone creates a striking, positive image in the reader’s
mind. Notice that the lines are short—more like everyday speech. Long lines of
dialogue should be used sparingly. Also note that you don’t have to use the
dialogue tags, “said” or “replied,” after every line. Pacing is so important in
fiction writing. Once you establish the back and forth of the communication
exchange, the tags only serve to slow things down and distract the reader. </span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #303030; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Always remember: Write to please yourself. If a passage in
your novel strikes you emotionally and causes you to well up, it’s likely to do
the same to your readers. If you continue writing with this focus, the door to
success is clearly within your reach.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0.2in 10pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background: white; color: #303030; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">*** </span></div>
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<img alt="JP O'Donnell" id="B002CB2IPU" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/71zm6tPSosL._SY200_.jpg" /><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Pulse-My-Heart-Gallagher-Novel/dp/1977201776/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1538842749&sr=8-1&keywords=pulse+of+my+heart+jp+o%27donnell" target="_blank"><span style="background: white; color: #303030; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></a></div>
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</span></span></div>
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JP O’Donnell is the author of <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Fatal-Gamble-Novel-JP-ODonnell-ebook/dp/B0791LNL55/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1546090038&sr=8-1&keywords=fatal+gamble" target="_blank"><i><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Fatal Gamble</b></i></a> and <i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Deadly-Codes-JP-ODonnell/dp/0595514111/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1546090204&sr=8-2-fkmr0&keywords=author+jp+o%27donnell" target="_blank"><b>DeadlyCodes: A Gallagher Novel</b>.</a><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><b> </b></span><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Pulse-My-Heart-Gallagher-Novel-ebook/dp/B07JG8N1X9/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1546090253&sr=8-1&keywords=pulse+of+my+heart" target="_blank"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Pulse of My Heart</b></a></i> is the latest in JP’s
Gallagher series. <b><i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Pulse-My-Heart-Gallagher-Novel-ebook/dp/B07JG8N1X9/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1538842749&sr=8-1" target="_blank">Pulse of My Heart</a></i></b> is available on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Outskirts Press as a soft cover,
hard cover and digital format.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>An
audiobook version will be released in January 2019.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
The feature length motion picture, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i>Bent</i> (2018) </b>is based on characters
created by JP in his Gallagher novels. <i><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Bent</b></i>
stars Karl Urban as Gallagher, Sofia Vergara as Rebecca, and Andy Garcia and
Grace Byers in supporting roles.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Bobby
Moresco, Academy Award winner for <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Crash</b>
(Best Picture 2004), is the screenwriter and director of Bent.<br />
<br />
For more
information, please visit the author’s <a href="http://www.jpodonnell.com/" target="_blank">website</a>:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>www.jpodonnell.com.
<br />
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</style>Aaron Paul Lazarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06117814221437165664noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6001825743960552008.post-87256884512973837362018-12-02T08:37:00.001-05:002018-12-02T08:42:28.515-05:00Your First Line: The "Hook" That Gets Your Novel Off the BookShelves and Onto the Check-out Counter. <div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">© JP O’Donnell 2018 all rights reserved</span></div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.jpodonnell.com/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0IuRzysaaaKIec9V2L8lALptZHpstAR6PSWCi-28w98kV5wbqB8V9HORT3I0Sky79RXkvfsVYvfHsrXstlMEKWDazHzH3upjmGe2yoGzlHG7WOwAM8rhqzrnvh93DG__IiKMbyBp3S3-5/s320/Cover%2520Picture%2520JPO%2520edited%5B1%5D.jpg" yr="true" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.jpodonnell.com/">JP O'Donnell</a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Author of FATAL GAMBLE and DEADLY CODES: A GALLAGHER NOVEL</div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<br /></div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<br /></div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOWtpmXYC72JlCQbvNXrpbWziyiJ2OJiiWEno5in5FTnqJNBB9iqOWYlzIASInnFxPzzBY-4tUIf0Bp5YNlksyZzOxLg9jTnw9uDD-LCMK-wUHFd8xJUqaKKH6KRCfMbuETagmkZ57RUtZ/s1600/FatalGamble-SoftCover-FrontPage%5B1%5D.jpg" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOWtpmXYC72JlCQbvNXrpbWziyiJ2OJiiWEno5in5FTnqJNBB9iqOWYlzIASInnFxPzzBY-4tUIf0Bp5YNlksyZzOxLg9jTnw9uDD-LCMK-wUHFd8xJUqaKKH6KRCfMbuETagmkZ57RUtZ/s200/FatalGamble-SoftCover-FrontPage%5B1%5D.jpg" yr="true" /></a>Charles
Dickens could never have imagined that his first line in A TALE OF TWO
CITIES would become a benchmark in the lexicon of literary fiction. “It
was the best of times, it was the worst of times …” It was also the
perfect choice of words to make us want to read more. Authors,
particularly those in the genre of mystery fiction, have long since
recognized the critical importance of the first line. Without an
attention-grabbing, knock ‘em dead first line, your novel is destined to
gather dust on the shelves of the local bookshop, if it ever gets that
far. </div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<br /></div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
If
you want to test this theory, simply observe the behavior of browsers
at a bookstore. Unless they are looking for the latest effort by James
Patterson, Mary Higgins Clark or any of the other prominent best-selling
mystery writers, they walk down the aisles slowly until a title or a
book cover attracts their attention. Then they open the book and read
the first line. If it grabs their interest, they read on; if not, the
book is placed back on the shelf in a heartbeat. </div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<br /></div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-WIPr-cdw6oO9xLHqAMx-yxnDNQHRuMOLfp4CCRrO1fiPDHdgBbvCHMWBm0J9Ze1CzRxifvjuDPzSMwdr-xwc0UtgfQRZOym9qCCcN9kcIuPWTMO1KOpS3_IgaX069vcCVe3fQh9TqDRC/s1600/DeadlyCodes-SoftCover-FrontPage%5B1%5D.jpg" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-WIPr-cdw6oO9xLHqAMx-yxnDNQHRuMOLfp4CCRrO1fiPDHdgBbvCHMWBm0J9Ze1CzRxifvjuDPzSMwdr-xwc0UtgfQRZOym9qCCcN9kcIuPWTMO1KOpS3_IgaX069vcCVe3fQh9TqDRC/s200/DeadlyCodes-SoftCover-FrontPage%5B1%5D.jpg" yr="true" /></a>Your first line—you have less than ten seconds to sink your hook or else the reader will move on to another option. </div>
<br />
What
is the essence of a great first line? First of all, it can’t be bland
or trite. Avoid overused references to the elements or time of the year.
If you choose to write about the weather, be careful. You run the risk
of inviting comparisons to “It was a dark and stormy night,” (Edward
Bulwer-Lytton’s classic first line from his 1830 novel, PAUL CLIFFORD)
and your book won’t stand a chance. Instead, try to incorporate the mood
or theme of your story. Begin to establish the background of the
mystery that will unfold in the coming pages. If the weather is
important to your opening scene, you’ll have plenty of time to write
about it in the ensuing lines of the first chapter. <br />
<br />
Some
of the most successful mystery authors of our time are masters at
writing a great first line. Consider Harlan Coben in GONE FOR GOOD:
“Three days before her death, my mother told me—they weren’t her last
words but they were pretty close—that my brother was still alive.” Did
the narrator think that his brother was dead? The reader has to wonder
why the narrator’s mother kept this secret and never told him about his
brother. Certainly, more pages have to be read. A chilling first line is
also found in another Harlan Coben thriller, THE WOODS: “I see my
father with that shovel.” One has to keep reading to find out the
significance of the shovel in his father’s hands. Is he burying
something? Has he used it as a weapon? Our interest is piqued; we read
on.<br />
<br />
Or this from Jesse Kellerman in TROUBLE: “Jonah
Stern heard a scream. He was walking to Times Square at two-forty five
in the morning to buy new shoes.” Again, the reader asks why this person
would be buying shoes at that hour of the morning. And what caused
someone to scream? A brutal assault or a frightening discovery? The hook
has been sunk; more pages will be turned. Notice how a brief first line
can be immediately tied to a second line to create a continuous
compelling thought. Be creative; let your imagination explore all of the
possibilities in garnering the reader’s interest. But keep in mind that
word efficiency is critical in writing a first line. Don’t be overly
descriptive or your line will lose its punch. In THE MEPHISTO CLUB, Tess
Gerritsen begins with, “They looked like the perfect family.” Short,
but to the point. However, shades of doubt creep into our minds. We
wonder what’s wrong with this family; we want to read more about them.<br />
<br />
Agatha
Christie, the most popular mystery writer of all time, considered THE
MOVING FINGER as one of her best novels. She masterfully draws us into
the story with a brilliant opening line: “I have often recalled the
morning when the first of the anonymous letters came.” The mystery is
immediately established! We ask: More than one anonymous letter? What
did the letters say? Who wrote them? We can’t resist the temptation to
keep reading and discover the answers.<br />
<br />
Plato said, “The
beginning is the most important part of the work.” A mystery writer,
therefore, can’t spend too much time working on a first line. Don’t be
surprised if you have to finish the initial draft of your manuscript
before the right first line crystallizes in your mind. Sometimes it
takes knowing where your story begins and how it ends in order to come
up with the “hook” you need. <br />
<br />
If you have a friend or a
fellow writer who can be brutally honest about your writing, ask them
to review samples of your first line. They can tell you if it delivers
an impact and stimulates interest. What you’re looking for is someone to
say, “That’s it! Now I want to read more.” <br />
<br />
<b><span style="background-color: white; color: #660000;">About the author:</span></b><br />
<br />
<div>
JP O'Donnell is the author of <b>Fatal Gamble </b>and its sequel, <b>Deadly Codes: A Gallagher Novel.</b> <b> Pulse of My Heart, </b>described
as a "skillfully crafted, page-turning mystery thriller", is the third
in his Gallagher series. For a recent review of this
novel, go to <b>https://featheredquill.com/pulse-of-my-heart/ </b> </div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
The feature length motion picture, <b>Bent</b>, is based on characters created by JP O'Donnell in the Gallagher novels. <b>Bent</b> stars
Karl Urban as Gallagher, with Sofia Vergara as Rebecca, and Andy Garcia
and Grace Byers in supporting roles. Bobby Moresco, Academy Award
winner for <b>Crash, </b>is the screenwriter and director of Bent. </div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
<a href="http://www.jpodonnell.com/" rel="nofollow" shape="rect" target="_blank">http://www.jpodonnell.com</a></div>
Aaron Paul Lazarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06117814221437165664noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6001825743960552008.post-46305590671845580872018-11-24T08:01:00.000-05:002018-11-24T13:12:27.173-05:00Giving Thanks 2018<div class="definition-parent" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333015441895px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0LozdSiA8ZE3BrE9GSVhN1YCLb94YKnB7v27RcEbzEll5IO-7HBc9tyOP8XDYwY1Bk1hwx5TJQ_Xr4A0axOd50LfIqsVRZ9CacrNPNyJxdKjE_11eqUvIMm0zIfpfhme_kHT4rUQzFP5O/s1600/Pomegranite+and+Nuts.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0LozdSiA8ZE3BrE9GSVhN1YCLb94YKnB7v27RcEbzEll5IO-7HBc9tyOP8XDYwY1Bk1hwx5TJQ_Xr4A0axOd50LfIqsVRZ9CacrNPNyJxdKjE_11eqUvIMm0zIfpfhme_kHT4rUQzFP5O/s200/Pomegranite+and+Nuts.jpg" width="150" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit6vhd39QIJzqA4kVwG4A3x3EboML33KUE-qTKxnuGqz9uGU5Sh8V72euHQNqCL4OqGeOjf6QJ4te6tHErpaP1sGsiGPCqKoXzyA1AywAPKqdEaWAg7fb5VVQhOSfEXVXJi41sUm4uSMHr/s1600/P0001466.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1072" data-original-width="1600" height="132" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit6vhd39QIJzqA4kVwG4A3x3EboML33KUE-qTKxnuGqz9uGU5Sh8V72euHQNqCL4OqGeOjf6QJ4te6tHErpaP1sGsiGPCqKoXzyA1AywAPKqdEaWAg7fb5VVQhOSfEXVXJi41sUm4uSMHr/s200/P0001466.JPG" width="200" /></a><span style="color: black; font-family: "trebuchet ms";"><span style="color: black; font-size: 15px;">Hi, folks. </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "trebuchet ms";"><span style="color: black; font-size: 15px;">I hope you are all warm and safe. We had a FOOT of snow a week ago, in November! Usually we can't count on such substantial snowfall 'til January. It is beautiful, though. My daughter, Allison, took Chris out to play in the white stuff and they built the snowman he's been begging to make for the past month! I kept telling him we couldn't do it until we had "enough" snow. That morning, he asked, "Is it enough, Papa?" I laughed and said, "Absolutely!" It wasn't good packing snow, but they managed to make a little snowman anyway. ;o)<span class="Apple-converted-space"> And it sure makes for good writing or reading weather, doesn't it?</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "trebuchet ms";"><span style="color: black; font-size: 15px;">How is your November going so far? Did you have a nice Thanksgiving? I'm so thankful for family and friends, and very thankful for you, our MB4 writers and readers! Below you'll find a bunch of specials that will save you money if you need some more food for your Kindle. ;o</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ3wZ184ETuP-ug3is-veUmYqyB-PX_xOhV9j7ljHEVrxyBrsjiCt6Nkb3HaOJXvQbrihdt5wBxBR1eYSTiulus32yIkTwqrL_xVpaE_wiJTKVSmhVNo-XV8KPKqeDGC8CkffqYRTC-RBW/s1600/Herbs+and+Butter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="340" data-original-width="360" height="188" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ3wZ184ETuP-ug3is-veUmYqyB-PX_xOhV9j7ljHEVrxyBrsjiCt6Nkb3HaOJXvQbrihdt5wBxBR1eYSTiulus32yIkTwqrL_xVpaE_wiJTKVSmhVNo-XV8KPKqeDGC8CkffqYRTC-RBW/s200/Herbs+and+Butter.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="color: black; font-family: "trebuchet ms";"><span style="color: black; font-size: 15px;">Most of my family came on Thanksgiving and I cooked up a feast, as usual. How was your day? Did you host your family or visit at someone else's place?<span class="Apple-converted-space"> Either way, I hope it was enjoyable!</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "trebuchet ms";"><span style="color: black; font-size: 15px;">Here's wishing you a very happy holiday season. </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "trebuchet ms";"><span style="color: black; font-size: 15px;">Always,</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "trebuchet ms";"><span style="color: black; font-size: 15px;">Aaron</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "trebuchet ms";"><span style="color: black; font-size: 15px;">USA Today Bestselling Author </span></span></div>
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<a class="validating" href="http://clicks.aweber.com/y/ct/?l=9t_0z&m=gKoYAhQ83qld4Fk&b=I7iNLROhmuhSXw.gg8P07A" style="color: blue;" target="_blank"><span style="color: black; font-family: "trebuchet ms";"><span style="color: black; font-size: 15px;">www.lazarbooks.com</span></span></a></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "trebuchet ms";"><span style="color: black; font-size: 15px;">I couldn't help but share this Thanksgiving photo from quite a few years ago. That's mischievous Gordie (now 15), Julian (now 16), and our little princess, Bella (now 10).<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "trebuchet ms";"><span style="color: black; font-size: 15px;">Once again, I want to thank our military personnel for all they do for our country. This boxed set is donating 50% of the profits to Pets for Vets, which will help house and train unwanted dogs and cats as well as help Vets in need. We are so thankful for our servicemen and women and for the great people at Pets for Vets!</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "trebuchet ms";"><span style="color: black; font-size: 15px;">After our long wait,<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><i style="color: black;">Love Under Fire</i><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>is finally available. I'm so thankful that we just learned it has became a USA Today BESTSELLER on November 18th, 2018. What a thrill!</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "trebuchet ms";"><span style="color: black; font-size: 15px;">Now you can read any or all of the 21 novels in the set, including<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><span style="color: black;">my unpublished novel, </span><i style="color: black;">The Asylum</i>. If you haven't grabbed your copy yet, it's still 99 cents for a couple more days, then the price goes up to $4.99. ;o)<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "trebuchet ms";"><span style="color: black; font-size: 15px;">If you have read<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><i style="color: black;">The Asylum</i><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>or any of the books in the set and liked them, would you consider posting a review on Amazon? We'd all be very grateful! Thank you!</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "trebuchet ms";"><span style="color: black; font-size: 15px;"><b><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Love-Under-Fire-Judith-Lucci-ebook/dp/B07GCTP7CJ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1543062777&sr=8-1&keywords=love+under+fire" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;">Love Under Fire on Amazon - 99 cents </span></a></b></span></span></div>
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<b style="color: black;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "trebuchet ms";"><span style="color: black; font-size: 18px;">On sale now for 99 cents on Amazon, FOR THE BIRDS, book 1 in the Tall Pines Mystery series, set in the beautiful Adirondack Mountains. Have any of you been there before? It's so amazing - lakes, rivers, woods, mountains...six million acres! I'd love to know what you think of Marcella and Quinn... and of course, Ruby. ;o)</span></span></b></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "trebuchet ms";"><span style="color: black; font-size: 15px;">No one could accuse Marcella Hollister’s family of being normal. Her gorgeous Native American husband, Quinn, has a compulsive cleaning problem—which works for her, since she gets a pass on housework. Her mother, who insists on being called Thelma, lives to irritate her husband. And then, there’s Ruby. Sometimes Marcella’s not sure who Quinn loves more…his wife, or his prize parakeet.<br style="color: black;" /><br style="color: black;" />After Marcella’s beloved stepfather passes away, leaving a sizable inheritance, the family heads to the scenic Adirondacks for a much-needed vacation at the prestigious Adirondack National Bird Show. But things soon take a strange turn—a bizarre accident involving Thelma, Ruby, and an electrified hotel pool has Thelma asking for crackers and Ruby suddenly spouting Thelma’s favorite phrases.<br style="color: black;" /><br style="color: black;" />Then Thelma is kidnapped—and Marcella learns that the inheritance her stepfather left may be connected to the largest unsolved bank heist in U.S. history.<br style="color: black;" /><br style="color: black;" />Now Marcella and Quinn must contend with an eccentric bird psychic, mysterious white vans, aggressive FBI agents, and a dangerous chase through the mountains as they rush to find her mother, with only Ruby’s newly acquired “Thelma-vision” to guide them. Can they uncover the secrets buried with her stepfather before it’s too late?</span></span></div>
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<li style="color: black;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 15px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "times";">2011 ForeWord Book Awards, FINALIST in Mystery</span></span></span></li>
<li style="color: black;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 15px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "times";">2012 Carolyn Howard-Johnson's Top 10 Reads </span></span></span></li>
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<tr style="color: black;"><td align="center" bgcolor="#D77271" style="border-radius: 5px;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="color: cyan;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms"; font-size: 24px;"><b><span style="color: blue;"><span style="background-color: white;"><a href="https://www.ahttps//www.lazarbooks.com/forthebirds.htm" target="_blank">For the Birds: Read an Excerpt</a></span> </span></b></span></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: cyan;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms"; font-size: 24px;"><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="background-color: white;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Birds-Tall-Pines-Mysteries-Book-ebook/dp/B016WENW5W/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1543063799&sr=8-1&keywords=for+the+birds%2C+lazar" target="_blank">For the Birds: Buy for 99 cents on Amazon</a></span> </span></b></span></span></span></div>
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<b style="color: black;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 15px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "trebuchet ms";">The first book in the 12 book LeGarde Mystery series is FREE. Check out this romantic wintry mystery on Amazon.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "trebuchet ms";"><span style="color: black; font-size: 15px;">After four lonely years, music professor Gus LeGarde is still reeling from the death of his wife Elsbeth. To deal with the loss, he plays endless Chopin etudes on his piano and lavishes love on his grandson and dog, but nothing lessens the pain.<br style="color: black;" /><br style="color: black;" />Life spirals out of control when Gus heads for the snow-covered hills on an early morning skiing excursion to find a mute child shackled to a bedpost in a cabin. Gus rescues the child but the kidnapper, Baxter, escapes into the woods to stew in hot revenge.<br style="color: black;" /><br style="color: black;" />Unexpectedly thrown together with Camille, a social worker who takes the child into her own home, Gus falls hard. The first woman who’s stirred his soul since his Elsbeth, Camille is polite enough toward him -- but her own dark secrets have her pulling away despite the mutual attraction.<br style="color: black;" /><br style="color: black;" />When Gus’s little grandson goes missing, he fears the worse. Does Baxter have the little boy? Does he want to trade for the mute child? Gus braces for the fight of his life, struggling to protect Camille and his family before time runs out.<br style="color: black;" />.<br style="color: black;" />“Double Forté is a satisfyingly riveting tale with an appealing hero, whose love of music and gourmet food is as fundamental as his courage.” Laurel Wemett, Finger Lakes Magazine<br style="color: black;" /><br style="color: black;" />ForeWord Book of the Year Award FINALIST.</span></span></div>
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<tr style="color: black;"><td align="center" bgcolor="#CD8513" style="border-radius: 5px;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms"; font-size: 24px;"><a href="https://www.lazarbooks.com/doubleforte.htm" target="_blank"><b>Double Forte': Read an Excerpt </b></a></span></span></span></span></td></tr>
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<tr style="color: black;"><td align="center" bgcolor="#AA3230" style="border-radius: 5px;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms"; font-size: 24px;"><b><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Double-Fort%C3%A9-LeGarde-Mysteries-Book-ebook/dp/B01697UIW2/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1543063923&sr=8-1&keywords=double+forte%2C+lazar" target="_blank">Double Forte': Download FREE </a></b></span></span></span></span></td></tr>
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Aaron Paul Lazarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06117814221437165664noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6001825743960552008.post-86192587100212133192018-09-07T07:01:00.005-04:002018-09-07T07:01:54.736-04:00Mystery Lovers Mega Sale - Sept 7-9th 2018<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://writeravamallory.wixsite.com/avamallory/mystery-lovers-mega-sale" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="http://writeravamallory.wixsite.com/avamallory/mystery-lovers-mega-sale" border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhamU50AmGV45OoCp4c91R0Pxr8T5chl1nRrLJ_39trkGWc0Yzy2W-1FXlQXf2t5o-RBTfzSu9jmpARJ5X4zZUPDZx_Xf8zVtxOpfy-4htVDGX8YL_gvAC7XbDbZGdbBb4AvM0qlgpjA5O3/s320/megamystery+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Hi, folks!<br />
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Just a quick post today to let you know about this amazing weekend deal. Tons of books to choose from - all mysteries! All are free or 99 cents!<br />
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Hope you can take advantage of these amazing selections. ;o)<br />
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Two of my books are also included - Double Forte', book 1 in the LeGarde Mystery series (FREE) and Under the Ice, also in the same series (99 cents).<br />
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Enjoy!!<br />
<br />
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<a href="http://writeravamallory.wixsite.com/avamallory/mystery-lovers-mega-sale" target="_blank"><b>MYSTERY LOVERS MEGA SALE</b></a></h2>
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<b>Have a great weekend, all!</b></h2>
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<b> </b></h2>
<h2 style="text-align: left;">
<b>Aaron Paul Lazar</b></h2>
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<b>www.lazarbooks.com </b></h2>
Aaron Paul Lazarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06117814221437165664noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6001825743960552008.post-27314962750279920782018-08-29T13:35:00.000-04:002018-08-30T14:37:41.030-04:00What a deal...Get 21 books from bestselling authors for 99 cents!! <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Love-Under-Fire-Judith-Lucci-ebook/dp/B07GCTP7CJ/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1535653982&sr=1-1&keywords=love+under+fire"><img alt="https://www.amazon.com/Love-Under-Fire-Judith-Lucci-ebook/dp/B07GCTP7CJ/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1535653982&sr=1-1&keywords=love+under+fire" border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbZHk4cvRKCpBuriQWa4EMa_hgF6E3qsIMtymqmOd0Y9O-skfIwFqSP1WaOZGYYv0VPJXS69kDZJCQrJcPJlSPlXUSsMzqS1KhfQRPICiEpVAZ-XhGDo_r6Jvyg2AB9ORcRns8Flizz8k2/s320/black+lab.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Hello, fellow book lovers!<br />
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I'm sorry I've been a little distant this summer. I've been dealing with so many family issues, and also had to get a little surgery on my poor nose because of not wearing sunscreen as a child. Ugh! It was not fun, but it's healing up pretty well and I'm glad to say it's all behind me. So wear your sunscreen, folks!!! <br />
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Meanwhile, I'm honored to be part of <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Love-Under-Fire-Judith-Lucci-ebook/dp/B07GCTP7CJ/ref=sr_1_5?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1534191928&sr=1-5&keywords=%22love+under+fire%22">LOVE UNDER FIRE</a>, an amazing boxed set with 20 other authors. My offering is <i>The Asylum</i>, a brand new novella that's a spin off from <i>Devil's Spring</i>, book 3 in the <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Bittersweet-Hollow-3-Book-Series/dp/B01N8T2CNZ/ref=sr_1_4?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1535653521&sr=1-4&keywords=bittersweet+hollow+series">Bittersweet Hollow series</a>.<br />
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<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Love-Under-Fire-Judith-Lucci-ebook/dp/B07GCTP7CJ/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1535653982&sr=1-1&keywords=love+under+fire" target="_blank"><img alt="https://books2read.com/LoveUnderFire" border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBrSyiSStaagw_uM0S1QV-OsJf7AWLBT9i55mLaDF2CvifoYKJqVMkBnBXdWy2tQcEn2dbumSEgo3HB8LCmxsSrIsrCpbqgPzQYakn3pzul4wtDokQhK6sIboaIfk3paqhYZVE2l5TloIB/s320/flag+gold+sea.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
You really ought to take a look, because each author is outstanding. I've been reading some of the excerpts today<a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/861198264076315/permalink/905564459639695/">,</a> and wow! These folks are really talented. ;o) <br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Love-Under-Fire-Judith-Lucci-ebook/dp/B07GCTP7CJ/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1535653982&sr=1-1&keywords=love+under+fire" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Carmen has a secret, and his name is Dr. Micah Worthy. Affairs aren’t permitted between staff members at St. Michael’s Asylum, but Carmen and her handsome young psychiatrist find a way to sneak in a kiss or two in empty storerooms when no one’s looking. It doesn’t take long for her suspicions to rise, however, as she gets to know some of the patients. Why are some kept locked in their rooms, doped to the gills? And where are the two-dozen patients whose names appear on the med lists, but whom she’s never met? Moreover, what’s so forbidden about the ancient passages snaking beneath the two-hundred-year old monastery? Something’s off in the asylum, and when nothing seems to add up, Carmen and Micah unite to uncover the truth. When staff members learn she’s on to them, the threats begin. Can Carmen report her findings before she ends up in the icy Atlantic? Set on the rugged Maine coast in the dead of winter, The Asylum is an intriguing story of romance and danger, filled with characters you’ll love and breathless action that’ll keep you up way past your bedtime. " border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhkgDXMzXEQ1XJQ-WvdJq6SOXE74i_twscQgCULgiaYd-6ULIhBCe1mMjBzuV-gILaY0I7QshCMQ8fBDjRngZA4uSR0p70zdx4imKpzS3jPf_5AnyTiczpr7SFaTqvvIrY6cfU2ht79qj5/s320/The+Asylum+E-Book+Cover.jpg" width="213" /></a>You can pre-order this amazing 21 boxed set today on <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Love-Under-Fire-Judith-Lucci-ebook/dp/B07GCTP7CJ/ref=sr_1_5?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1534191928&sr=1-5&keywords=%22love+under+fire%22">Amazon</a>. Romantic
suspense at its best - what a deal! Help us raise money for PETS FOR
VETS. ;o) It'll go "live" on November 13th, but is only available for a very limited time before it's whisked off the market.<br />
<br />
Here's a blurb from <i>The Asylum</i>, featuring Rosita, Rocco, and Carmen Garcia, Rosita's daughter.<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Carmen has a secret, and his name is Dr. Micah Worthy. </b></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><br />Affairs aren’t permitted between staff members at St. Michael’s Asylum, but Carmen and her handsome young psychiatrist find a way to sneak in a kiss or two in empty storerooms when no one’s looking. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">It doesn’t take long for her suspicions to rise, however, as she gets to know some of the patients. Why are some kept locked in their rooms, doped to the gills? And where are the two-dozen patients whose names appear on the med lists, but whom she’s never met? Moreover, what’s so forbidden about the ancient passages snaking beneath the two-hundred-year old monastery?<br /><br />Something’s off in the asylum, and when nothing seems to add up, Carmen and Micah unite to uncover the truth.<br /><br />When staff members learn she’s on to them, the threats begin. Can Carmen report her findings before she ends up in the icy Atlantic?<br /><br />Set on the rugged Maine coast in the dead of winter, The Asylum is an intriguing story of romance and danger, filled with characters you’ll love and breathless action that’ll keep you up way past your bedtime. </span><span style="font-size: small;">
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Love-Under-Fire-Judith-Lucci-ebook/dp/B07GCTP7CJ/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1535653982&sr=1-1&keywords=love+under+fire" target="_blank"><img alt="Carmen has a secret, and his name is Dr. Micah Worthy. Affairs aren’t permitted between staff members at St. Michael’s Asylum, but Carmen and her handsome young psychiatrist find a way to sneak in a kiss or two in empty storerooms when no one’s looking. It doesn’t take long for her suspicions to rise, however, as she gets to know some of the patients. Why are some kept locked in their rooms, doped to the gills? And where are the two-dozen patients whose names appear on the med lists, but whom she’s never met? Moreover, what’s so forbidden about the ancient passages snaking beneath the two-hundred-year old monastery? Something’s off in the asylum, and when nothing seems to add up, Carmen and Micah unite to uncover the truth. When staff members learn she’s on to them, the threats begin. Can Carmen report her findings before she ends up in the icy Atlantic? Set on the rugged Maine coast in the dead of winter, The Asylum is an intriguing story of romance and danger, filled with characters you’ll love and breathless action that’ll keep you up way past your bedtime. " border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVABt8IVb4lLydblNPbPGISbCqIFtRImzwvN4LWq1scx4CdR2UBQeO4b2HH1w1hebEG7_w0M4GzDn3GsEbmqSnG9h1tamAFI6PIwINRaBA3gNheRKUiNGtpCHhgiZP0Ph30Tuce9BXooXJ/s320/Asylum+with+book+set+1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Here’s a rundown of the titles:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Kathryn
Knight - <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Haunting of Hillwood Farm</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 14.0pt;">Stephanie Queen - <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Ace
Under Fire </i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Casi
McLean - <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Reign Of Fire</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 14.0pt;">Valerie J. Clarizio – <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The
Code Enforcer</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Chris
Patchell - <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Deception Bay</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Aaron Paul
Lazar - <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Asylum: a Carmen Garcia
romantic suspense novel</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Alyssa
Richards - <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Chasing Secrets</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">K.M. Hodge
- <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Summer of ‘78</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Pamela
Fagan Hutchins - <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Buckle Bunny</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">Judith Lucci – <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">RUN for your
life</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">Stephany Tullis – <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Blue
Lady’s MISSION UNDER FIRE</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">Fiona Quinn – <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Cold Red</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 14.0pt;">Anna Celeste Burke – <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Lily’s Homecoming Under Fire</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">Margaret A. Daly- <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Monsters
in my Closet</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">Linda Watkins - <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Witches
of Storm Island, Book I: The Turning</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">Tamara Ferguson - <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Two Hearts
Under Fire</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">Suzanne Jenkins - <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Running
with Horses</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 14.0pt;">Inge-Lise Goss – <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Diamonds
and Lies</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">S.R. Mallery – <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Tender
Enemies</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">Jinx Schwartz - <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Baja Get
Away</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">Uvi Poznansky - <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Virtually
Lace</i></span><br />
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">Have a great rest of August!!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: small;">Happy reading,</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: small;">Aaron Paul Lazar</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">www.lazarbooks.com</span><br />
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</style> Aaron Paul Lazarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06117814221437165664noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6001825743960552008.post-49775820399996732522018-06-18T18:33:00.003-04:002018-06-18T18:33:54.331-04:00Cover Reveal! (and a free book for you!)<h2 style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: blue;"><b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Happy "Almost" Summer!</span></b></span></span></h2>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Who doesn’t love a cover reveal?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s so exciting to see the “face” of a book
you’ve been working on, or in this case, the box set you’re contributing
to.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s right, I’m part of a incredible
Romantic Suspense Box Set, <b><i>Love Under Fire,</i></b> with 21 tales of thrilling romantic suspense, mystery,
and danger—all NEW stories from USA Today, Wall Street Journal, and Amazon
Bestselling Authors.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The best part? We’re donating a large portion of our
proceeds to <b>Pets for Vets</b>, a charity that pairs rescued animals with military
vets in need of companion animals.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am thrilled
about this.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Rescuing animals and helping
our vets are such important issues. ;o)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">To get the ball rolling and maximize visibility, we’re
offering the entire set for 99 cents—yes, 99 pennies for 21 books—if you
Pre-order NOW. That means you can order the set today, and have it hit your
e-reader on release day, November 13<sup>th</sup>, automatically—a fun surprise
just in time for holiday travels and a little escapism when the chaos of the
season gets too stressful, or a snowstorm gives you some time to unwind. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">While
it’s true that just a few 99 cent purchases might not make up a considerable
donation, we’re going for thousands of downloads, with so many authors
participating and a deal too good to pass up. We hope you’ll help us meet our
goal, and enjoy the stories and perhaps find some new authors to love!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Okay, without further ado…here it is, the box set cover of
LOVE UNDER FIRE!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">What do you think? I also adore my personal
cover for the story I’m contributing, <i>The Asylum:</i> a Carmen Garcia romantic
suspense novel. (Scroll down for that cover reveal, as well.) </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Here’s a rundown of the titles:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Kathryn
Knight - <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Haunting of Hillwood Farm</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 14.0pt;">Stephanie Queen - <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Ace
Under Fire </i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Casi
McLean - <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Reign Of Fire</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 14.0pt;">Valerie J. Clarizio – <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The
Code Enforcer</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Chris
Patchell - <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Deception Bay</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Aaron Paul
Lazar - <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Asylum: a Carmen Garcia
romantic suspense novel</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Alyssa
Richards - <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Chasing Secrets</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">K.M. Hodge
- <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Summer of ‘78</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Pamela
Fagan Hutchins - <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Buckle Bunny</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">Judith Lucci – <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">RUN for your
life</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">Stephany Tullis – <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Blue
Lady’s MISSION UNDER FIRE</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">Fiona Quinn – <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Cold Red</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 14.0pt;">Anna Celeste Burke – <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Lily’s Homecoming Under Fire</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">Margaret A. Daly- <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Monsters
in my Closet</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">Linda Watkins - <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Witches
of Storm Island, Book I: The Turning</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">Tamara Ferguson - <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Two Hearts
Under Fire</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">Suzanne Jenkins - <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Running
with Horses</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 14.0pt;">Inge-Lise Goss – <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Diamonds
and Lies</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">S.R. Mallery – <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Tender
Enemies</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">Jinx Schwartz - <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Baja Get
Away</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">Uvi Poznansky - <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Virtually
Lace</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">If
you'd like to see a little bit more about the stories, check out <a href="https://uviart.blogspot.com/2018/06/want-to-know-what-each-one-of-21-novels.html">Uvi Poznansky's post.</a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Pre-order links are now up for <i>Love Under Fire</i>, everywhere
but Amazon, which will go live on August 13<sup>th</sup>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you have a Nook, iTunes, or Kobo account,
help us—and Pets for Vets--out and get your copy today!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thanks and please share the news to all your
reader friends!</span></div>
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<a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/id1392147503"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Love
Under Fire on iTunes</span></a></div>
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<a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/love-under-fire-judith-lucci/1128780222"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Love
Under Fire on Nook/Barnes & Noble</span></a></div>
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<a href="https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/love-under-fire-13"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Love
Under Fire on Kobo</span></a></div>
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<a href="https://www.books2read.com/u/mleeJP"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Love
Under Fire additional links</span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Available to Pre-Order on Kindle beginning August 13<sup>th</sup>!
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdUxlOMEAAMOo4fydVN0pehr8K6NKfofutMdsDAnT-PrSaMRsTsANC5zlMESytsdC_D9XlmFNgG_oly8W2p4riBrvUGF787uVScHcUniDSQcqhbnBmDY2qItevG288OBhVqc1EzNJY_4Qu/s1600/LUF+Image+1.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="351" data-original-width="550" height="203" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdUxlOMEAAMOo4fydVN0pehr8K6NKfofutMdsDAnT-PrSaMRsTsANC5zlMESytsdC_D9XlmFNgG_oly8W2p4riBrvUGF787uVScHcUniDSQcqhbnBmDY2qItevG288OBhVqc1EzNJY_4Qu/s320/LUF+Image+1.png" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi94QhvMeY6OZEQ529aUVK-Iwz_kasYic12WbPaEErXxbQW69pJDFqddmp3zX6dRFcRaPz4iK0q5zhfz6_g8usBX_rUSerzZchVu2g7lrohDQnckiLvBoUVSaiDIYz29_QTWt7UDTDPoIlN/s1600/The+Asylum+E-Book+Cover.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi94QhvMeY6OZEQ529aUVK-Iwz_kasYic12WbPaEErXxbQW69pJDFqddmp3zX6dRFcRaPz4iK0q5zhfz6_g8usBX_rUSerzZchVu2g7lrohDQnckiLvBoUVSaiDIYz29_QTWt7UDTDPoIlN/s320/The+Asylum+E-Book+Cover.png" width="213" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">One more goodie for you - I am giving away one of the LeGarde Mystery series eBooks this week from June 18 - 23rd: <i>Under the Ice. </i>This
won't happen for another few years, so if you haven't read this one
(book 9 of 12; they can be read in any order), then go ahead and
download your freebie!</span><br />
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<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Under-Ice-LeGarde-Mystery-Mysteries-ebook/dp/B00RBU83YM/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1529347005&sr=8-1&keywords=under+the+ice" target="_blank"><img alt="https://www.amazon.com/Under-Ice-LeGarde-Mystery-Mysteries-ebook/dp/B00RBU83YM/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1529347005&sr=8-1&keywords=under+the+ice" border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp8F36CDxhs6RKY_dL_QjYTG6NbVvpSQv8x12_G4vjpsgNcqLvkzH0qz8-7nEM8P8NticwqzwXCXfrx7skYT__zQ4WCopQPwKT9Y1KG_O4sQu2hrq2iBZ1R0a7kW_q9d9OO-0n3GfmnIH1/s320/UNDER+THE+ICE+E-Book+Cover.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Camille’s new life is going well. She’s
remarried to her new love, Gus LeGarde, and her teenage daughter is finally flourishing.
But the specter of her past always hovers nearby—and memories of abuse haunt
her.<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">When her ex-husband gets out of jail, Camille’s world crumbles.
Shelby is lured to the madman’s hideaway in the worst ice storm of the century,
prompting a desperate race to rescue her from the icy shores of Keuka Lake.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Under-Ice-LeGarde-Mystery-Mysteries-ebook/dp/B00RBU83YM/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1529347005&sr=8-1&keywords=under+the+ice" target="_blank">Download eBook on Amazon through June 23rd. </a></span></div>
Aaron Paul Lazarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06117814221437165664noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6001825743960552008.post-35885295497889544312018-04-01T10:28:00.000-04:002018-04-01T10:28:36.910-04:00Happy Easter! (and help me name my next book!)<div class="definition-parent" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333015441895px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">
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<span style="color: #6b71e0;">Happy Easter!</span></div>
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<tr style="color: black;"><td style="color: black; padding: 0px 0px 12px;"><a class="aw-image-link" href="http://www.lazarbooks.com/" style="color: blue;" target="_blank"><img align="middle" alt="Image" border="0" class="model externalImage" height="450" src="https://hostedimages-cdn.aweber-static.com/MTA5MDM3Mw==/optimized/16074dd04adf4e8d934c64af573c5b53.jpeg" style="border-style: none; border-width: 0px; color: black; height: auto; margin: auto; max-width: 100%; outline-style: none; outline-width: medium; text-decoration: none; width: 600px;" width="600" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "verdana";"><span style="color: black; font-size: 15px;">Hello, MB4 book lovers!</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "verdana";"><span style="color: black; font-size: 15px;">Happy Easter and Happy Passover.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "verdana";"><span style="color: black; font-size: 15px;">There are light flurries in the air today, but yesterday actually felt like spring at 53 degrees! Today it's back to 30s, but at least we had a taste of what's to come. I worked outside picking up branches, sticks, etc. around the yard and trimming some of last fall's perennials back down to the ground. There's so much work ahead - but it was amazing to hear the birds singing their little hearts out yesterday. And yes, my crocuses are actually blooming.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "verdana";"><span style="color: black; font-size: 15px;">I need your help today.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "verdana";"><span style="color: black; font-size: 15px;">I'm writing a new romantic suspense novella to be included in a beautiful, new bookset called<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><i style="color: black;">Love Under Fire<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></i>next October. For now, I'm calling it<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><i style="color: black;">Carmen's Story</i><i style="color: black;">,<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></i>just to have a placeholder name. The book's based on characters from<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><i style="color: black;">Devil's Spring.</i><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Do you remember Rosita and Rocco? Well, Carmen is Rosita's granddaughter, a spunky, sweet gal that I hope you'll love. I'm about halfway done, but for promotional purposes I need a cover, title, and synopsis by mid-May.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "verdana";"><span style="color: black; font-size: 15px;">Would you help me choose a title? (or suggest one of your own?) I've share the names I brainstormed below and also have shown you the rough draft synopsis so you'll know what it's about and can pick an appropriate title based on that. I have to say, many of the titles I "thought up" on my own are actually already used by tons of authors. It seems it's hard to find a unique title these days that hasn't been already thought of by others! However, there's no rule that says you can't use the same title that another writer has chosen, especially if you differentiate it with a subtitle.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "verdana";"><span style="color: black; font-size: 15px;">Thank you in advance for your help! You folks are awesome. ;o)</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "verdana";"><span style="color: black; font-size: 15px;"></span></span><br style="color: black;" /></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "verdana";"><span style="color: black; font-size: 15px;">Aaron Paul Lazar</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "verdana";"><span style="color: black; font-size: 15px;">www.lazarbooks.com</span></span></div>
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PS I've also included a few giveaways that I'm hosting below for free books!</div>
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<span style="color: #6b71e0;"><b style="color: black;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "verdana";"><span style="color: black; font-size: 15px;">SYNOPSIS</span></span></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "courier new";"><span style="color: black; font-size: 15px;"><span style="color: black; line-height: 16.049999237060547px;"><b style="color: black;">Carmen has a secret, and his name is Dr. Micah Worthy.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></b></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "courier new";"><span style="color: black; font-size: 15px;"><span style="color: black; line-height: 16.049999237060547px;">Affairs aren’t permitted between staff members at The Seabreeze Sanitarium, but Carmen and her handsome young psychiatrist find a way to sneak in a kiss or two in empty storerooms when no one’s looking. It doesn’t take long for her suspicions to rise, however, as she gets to know some of the patients in the sanitarium. Why are some kept locked in their rooms, doped to the gills? And where are the two dozen patients whose names appear on the med lists, but who she’s never met? Moreover, what’s so forbidden about the ancient tunnels that snake beneath the Victorian structure?<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "courier new";"><span style="color: black; font-size: 15px;"><span style="color: black; line-height: 16.049999237060547px;">Something’s off in this weirdo psychiatric facility, and when nothing seems to add up, Carmen and Micah unite to uncover the truth.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "courier new";"><span style="color: black; font-size: 15px;"><span style="color: black; line-height: 16.049999237060547px;">When the authoritarian staff members learn that she’s on to them, the threats begin. Can Carmen and Micah report their findings before they end up in the icy Atlantic?</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "courier new";"><span style="color: black; font-size: 15px;"><span style="color: black; line-height: 16.049999237060547px;">Set on the rugged Maine coast in the dead of winter,<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><i style="color: black;">Carmen Under Fire</i><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>is an intriguing story of romance and danger, filled with characters you’ll love and breathless action that’ll keep you up way past your bedtime.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "verdana";"><span style="color: black; font-size: 15px;"><span style="color: #6b71e0;"><b style="color: black;">Possible Titles</b></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "verdana";"><span style="color: black; font-size: 15px;"><span style="color: #6b71e0;"><b style="color: black;"></b></span></span></span><br style="color: black;" /></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "verdana";"><span style="color: black; font-size: 15px;"><span style="color: #6b71e0;"><b style="color: black;"></b></span></span></span><br />
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<li style="color: black; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: black; line-height: 15.693333625793457px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "calibri";"><span style="background-color: white; color: black;">Carmen’s Revenge</span></span></span></span></li>
<li style="color: black; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: black; line-height: 15.693333625793457px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "calibri";"><span style="background-color: white; color: black;">No Way Out: Carmen’s story</span></span></span></span></li>
<li style="color: black; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: black; line-height: 15.693333625793457px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "calibri";"><span style="background-color: white; color: black;">Don’t Tell (many uses)</span></span></span></span></li>
<li style="color: black; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: black; line-height: 15.693333625793457px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "calibri";"><span style="background-color: white; color: black;">Tell No One (Harlan Coben)</span></span></span></span></li>
<li style="color: black; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: black; line-height: 15.693333625793457px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "calibri";"><span style="background-color: white; color: black;">Going Underground</span></span></span></span></li>
<li style="color: black; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: black; line-height: 15.693333625793457px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "calibri";"><span style="background-color: white; color: black;">Going Under<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></span></span></li>
<li style="color: black; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: black; line-height: 15.693333625793457px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "calibri";"><span style="background-color: white; color: black;">I’m Not Afraid of You<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></span></span></li>
<li style="color: black; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: black; line-height: 15.693333625793457px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "calibri";"><span style="background-color: white; color: black;">I’m Not Afraid</span></span></span></span></li>
<li style="color: black; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: black; line-height: 15.693333625793457px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "calibri";"><span style="background-color: white; color: black;">Carmen’s Secret</span></span></span></span></li>
<li style="color: black; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: black; line-height: 15.693333625793457px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "calibri";"><span style="background-color: white; color: black;">Carmen Under Fire</span></span></span></span></li>
<li style="color: black; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: black; line-height: 15.693333625793457px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "calibri";"><span style="background-color: white; color: black;">The Fire in Her Eyes (many uses)</span></span></span></span><span style="color: black; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: black; line-height: 15.693333625793457px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "calibri";"><span style="background-color: white; color: black;"></span></span></span></span></li>
<li style="color: black; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: black; line-height: 15.693333625793457px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "calibri";"><span style="background-color: white; color: black;">Run for Your Life (many)</span></span></span></span></li>
<li style="color: black; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: black; line-height: 15.693333625793457px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "calibri";"><span style="background-color: white; color: black;">Run (many uses)</span></span></span></span></li>
<li style="color: black; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: black; line-height: 15.693333625793457px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "calibri";"><span style="background-color: white; color: black;">Get Out</span></span></span></span></li>
<li style="color: black; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: black; line-height: 15.693333625793457px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "calibri";"><span style="background-color: white; color: black;">Trust No one (many)</span></span></span></span></li>
<li style="color: black; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: black; line-height: 15.693333625793457px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "calibri";"><span style="background-color: white; color: black;">No one to Trust</span></span></span></span></li>
<li style="color: black;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: black; line-height: 15.693333625793457px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "calibri";"><span style="background-color: white; color: black;">Saving Miss Stephanie</span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></li>
</ul>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: black; line-height: 15.693333625793457px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "calibri";"><span style="background-color: white; color: black;">Your suggestions are also welcome! If I use your title, I'll thank you in the credits. ;o)</span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: black; line-height: 15.693333625793457px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "calibri";"><span style="background-color: white; color: black;"></span></span></span></span><br style="color: black;" /></div>
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<tr style="color: black;"><td style="color: black; padding: 0px 0px 12px;"><a class="aw-image-link" href="http://www.lazarbooks.com/" style="color: blue;" target="_blank"><img align="middle" alt="Image" border="0" class="model externalImage" height="270" src="https://hostedimages-cdn.aweber-static.com/MTA5MDM3Mw==/original/b94aa4b908314a9e8ef7c8a48e63bfc4.jpeg" style="border-style: none; border-width: 0px; color: black; height: auto; margin: auto; max-width: 100%; outline-style: none; outline-width: medium; text-decoration: none; width: 360px;" width="360" /></a></td></tr>
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<div class="definition-parent" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333015441895px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-style: none; border-width: medium; color: black; font-size: inherit; width: 100%px;"><tbody style="color: black;">
<tr style="color: black;"><td style="color: black; padding: 10px 0px;"><table style="border-spacing: 0px; border-style: none; border-width: medium; color: black; font-size: inherit; width: 100%px;"><tbody style="color: black;">
<tr style="color: black;"><td style="border-collapse: collapse; border-top-color: rgb(107, 113, 224); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 3px; color: black; font-size: 4px;"></td></tr>
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<div class="definition-parent" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333015441895px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">
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<div style="color: black;">
<div style="color: black;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "verdana";"><span style="color: black; font-size: 15px;">Win a print copy of Harlan Coben's SIX YEARS!</span></span></div>
<div style="color: black;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "verdana";"><span style="color: black; font-size: 15px;"></span></span><br style="color: black;" /></div>
<div style="color: black;">
<div style="color: black;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "verdana";"><span style="color: black; font-size: 15px;">Prize:<a class="validating" href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/045141411X/?ref_=aga_h_cl_dashboard_pl" style="color: blue;" target="_blank">Six Years</a></span></span></div>
<div style="color: black;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "verdana";"><span style="color: black; font-size: 15px;"><br style="color: black;" /></span></span></div>
<div style="color: black;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "verdana";"><span style="color: black; font-size: 15px;">Host name:Aaron Paul Lazar</span></span></div>
</div>
<div style="color: black;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "verdana";"><span style="color: black; font-size: 15px;"><br style="color: black;" /></span></span>
<ul style="color: black;">
<li style="color: black;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "verdana";"><span style="color: black; font-size: 15px;">Winner:Randomly selected after Giveaway has ended, up to 2 winners.</span></span></li>
</ul>
<ul style="color: black;">
<li style="color: black;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "verdana";"><span style="color: black; font-size: 15px;">Requirements for participation:</span></span><ul style="color: black;">
<li style="color: black;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "verdana";"><span style="color: black; font-size: 15px;">Resident of the 50 United States or the District of Columbia</span></span></li>
<li style="color: black;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "verdana";"><span style="color: black; font-size: 15px;">18+ years of age (or legal age)</span></span></li>
<li style="color: black;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "verdana";"><span style="color: black; font-size: 15px;">Follow Aaron Paul Lazar on Amazon</span></span></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<div style="color: black;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "verdana";"><span style="color: black; font-size: 15px;"><a class="validating" href="https://giveaway.amazon.com/p/4acee4f984d278ab" style="color: blue;" target="_blank">https://giveaway.amazon.com/p/4acee4f984d278ab</a></span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "verdana";"><span style="color: black; font-size: 15px;"></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "verdana";"><span style="color: black; font-size: 15px;"></span></span><br style="color: black;" /></div>
<div style="color: black;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "verdana";"><span style="color: black; font-size: 15px;"></span></span><br />
<div style="color: black;">
Start:Mar 30, 2018 10:10 AM PDT</div>
<div style="color: black;">
End:Apr 6, 2018 11:59 PM PDT</div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: "verdana";"><span style="color: black; font-size: 15px;"></span></span></div>
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<div class="definition-parent" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333015441895px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="color: black;"><table align="center" class="floated-none" style="border-style: none; border-width: medium; color: black; float: none; font-size: inherit; text-align: center; width: 100%px;"><tbody style="color: black;">
<tr style="color: black;"><td style="color: black; padding: 0px 0px 12px;"><a class="aw-image-link" href="https://giveaway.amazon.com/p/4acee4f984d278ab" style="color: blue;" target="_blank"><img align="middle" alt="Image" border="0" class="model externalImage" height="498" src="https://hostedimages-cdn.aweber-static.com/MTA5MDM3Mw==/original/781754b04c0041fb839be2cc13e0ed90.jpeg" style="border-style: none; border-width: 0px; color: black; height: auto; margin: auto; max-width: 100%; outline-style: none; outline-width: medium; text-decoration: none; width: 283px;" width="283" /></a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
<div class="definition-parent" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333015441895px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div class="divider" style="color: black;">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-style: none; border-width: medium; color: black; font-size: inherit; width: 100%px;"><tbody style="color: black;">
<tr style="color: black;"><td style="color: black; padding: 10px 0px;"><table style="border-spacing: 0px; border-style: none; border-width: medium; color: black; font-size: inherit; width: 100%px;"><tbody style="color: black;">
<tr style="color: black;"><td style="border-collapse: collapse; border-top-color: rgb(107, 113, 224); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 3px; color: black; font-size: 4px;"></td></tr>
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<div class="definition-parent" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333015441895px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div class="paragraph" style="color: black; font-size: 12px;">
<div style="color: black;">
<div style="color: black;">
<div style="color: black;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "verdana";"><span style="color: black; font-size: 15px;">Prize:<a class="validating" href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01AY4877O/?ref_=aga_h_cl_dashboard_pl" style="color: blue;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>The Seadog: a love story (Paines Creek Beach Book 3) (Kindle Edition)</a></span></span></div>
<div style="color: black;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "verdana";"><span style="color: black; font-size: 15px;"><br style="color: black;" />Host name:Aaron Paul Lazar</span></span></div>
</div>
<div style="color: black;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "verdana";"><span style="color: black; font-size: 15px;"><br style="color: black;" /></span></span>
<ul style="color: black;">
<li style="color: black;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "verdana";"><span style="color: black; font-size: 15px;">Winner:Randomly selected after Giveaway has ended, up to 2 winners.</span></span></li>
</ul>
<ul style="color: black;">
<li style="color: black;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "verdana";"><span style="color: black; font-size: 15px;">Requirements for participation:</span></span><ul style="color: black;">
<li style="color: black;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "verdana";"><span style="color: black; font-size: 15px;">Resident of the 50 United States or the District of Columbia</span></span></li>
<li style="color: black;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "verdana";"><span style="color: black; font-size: 15px;">18+ years of age (or legal age)</span></span></li>
<li style="color: black;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "verdana";"><span style="color: black; font-size: 15px;">Follow Aaron Paul Lazar on Amazon</span></span></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<ul style="color: black;">
<li style="color: black;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "verdana";"><span style="color: black; font-size: 15px;">Your giveaway link:<br style="color: black;" /><a class="validating" href="https://giveaway.amazon.com/p/0f946f57901ba002" style="color: blue;" target="_blank">https://giveaway.amazon.com/p/0f946f57901ba002</a></span></span></li>
</ul>
</div>
<div style="color: black;">
<br />
<div style="color: black;">
Start:Mar 30, 2018 3:34 AM PDT</div>
<div style="color: black;">
End:Apr 13, 2018 11:59 PM PDT</div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: "verdana";"><span style="color: black; font-size: 15px;"></span></span></div>
</div>
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</div>
<div class="definition-parent" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333015441895px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="color: black;"><table align="center" class="floated-none" style="border-style: none; border-width: medium; color: black; float: none; font-size: inherit; text-align: center; width: 100%px;"><tbody style="color: black;">
<tr style="color: black;"><td style="color: black; padding: 0px 0px 12px;"><a class="aw-image-link" href="https://giveaway.amazon.com/p/0f946f57901ba002" style="color: blue;" target="_blank"><img align="middle" alt="Image" border="0" class="model externalImage" height="510" src="https://hostedimages-cdn.aweber-static.com/MTA5MDM3Mw==/optimized/76a062485ca24c009b8d6cec1512effc.jpeg" style="border-style: none; border-width: 0px; color: black; height: auto; margin: auto; max-width: 100%; outline-style: none; outline-width: medium; text-decoration: none; width: 340px;" width="340" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana";"><span style="font-size: 15px;"></span></span>Aaron Paul Lazarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06117814221437165664noreply@blogger.com4