tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-65648088060125046142024-03-17T20:04:05.131-07:00Jacqueline Seewaldaward winning authorJacqueline Seewaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09177500620940251009noreply@blogger.comBlogger254125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6564808806012504614.post-72326419870977465672024-03-15T04:42:00.000-07:002024-03-15T04:42:12.836-07:00Luck in Literature<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfpRKosJMRuJ84_ej-AiTlh2jw6_F2XTrviF0aAvZ9e7E2kcJVBLtD_8rOFVHOArtOHdixbtxZqtj_H0rsJ3zi3PW89BStKVU3c1U0yFRPmrsWcrTOkgFbvQEVhv6ZWRUObHoAQK64IVyy7n5bdtFw8jEG79v7PtpEdOqiAZ756CBFynQXulcD9K_BkK0/s4608/St.%20Patrick's%20Day%20001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="4608" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfpRKosJMRuJ84_ej-AiTlh2jw6_F2XTrviF0aAvZ9e7E2kcJVBLtD_8rOFVHOArtOHdixbtxZqtj_H0rsJ3zi3PW89BStKVU3c1U0yFRPmrsWcrTOkgFbvQEVhv6ZWRUObHoAQK64IVyy7n5bdtFw8jEG79v7PtpEdOqiAZ756CBFynQXulcD9K_BkK0/s320/St.%20Patrick's%20Day%20001.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">The
Ides of March, the 15<sup>th</sup> and 16<sup>th</sup> of this month,
traditionally bode bad luck. For instance, in Shakespeare’s <i>Julius Caesar</i>,
the emperor is warned to “Beware the Ides of March” by the Soothsayer. Julius,
not being a superstitious sort of fellow and believing in his personal immortality,
sneers, ignores the warning, and refers to the Soothsayer as “a dreamer.” (Not
Caesar’s wisest decision).</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This Sunday is <span style="color: #a8d08d;">St.
Patrick’s Day</span> which supposedly brings good luck and fortune. Luck is a
reoccurring theme in Irish literature. People do at times have lucky things
happen to them and at other times suffer misfortunes like ill health, accidents
or assaults. But authors prefer to believe that for the most part we make our
own luck.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAi6fxNdDro9Lu53TwTNBSelk-PXgIzL6oHS1LlPOxO2ik6pQoNVAPVKEzyrBaxb7paBk341UC3lVjjlEkU1wr_YzIh0QQlgOq7kLNJoGaeUWMSt5k8ac-Yen6L0ugfWTa6JB0s3UtGigFw62fEGlAV5dR-q74pvFLJ09CQC9GkFeqc1uvGM-l13rv4yY/s4608/St.%20Patrick's%20Day.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="4608" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAi6fxNdDro9Lu53TwTNBSelk-PXgIzL6oHS1LlPOxO2ik6pQoNVAPVKEzyrBaxb7paBk341UC3lVjjlEkU1wr_YzIh0QQlgOq7kLNJoGaeUWMSt5k8ac-Yen6L0ugfWTa6JB0s3UtGigFw62fEGlAV5dR-q74pvFLJ09CQC9GkFeqc1uvGM-l13rv4yY/s320/St.%20Patrick's%20Day.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">According
to Napoleon: </span><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New";">“Luck occurs when preparation meets
opportunity.” I apply that statement to authors. We get lucky with our work
when we’ve done adequate preparation—that is being well-read, writing,
rewriting, and editing until we’ve created something of value and quality. If
we’re too lazy or too full of ourselves to make this kind of effort and commitment,
then alas we’ll never “get lucky.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New";">Luck is a common theme in literature. For
example, Thomas Hardy created characters that were unlucky like Tess or Jude.
Yet it could be argued that their bad luck came as a direct result of fatal flaws
in their own characters. This is where Greek tragedy derives from. Things don’t
just happen. There is a cause-and-effect relationship. Victorian writers used
coincidence commonly in their plot lines, something modern writers try to
avoid.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New";">I write about and admire main characters with
positive values who make their own good luck and overcome obstacles through
personal effort, not bemoaning their fate or bad luck. To quote Shakespeare’s <i>Julius
Caesar</i> again, as Cassius observes: “Our fate, dear Brutus, is not in our
stars but in ourselves.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New";">In tribute to Irish literature which as
observed often deals with themes related to luck, I want to mention a few of
the outstanding Irish writers I’ve appreciated over the years.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New";">As an undergraduate English major, I read
and enjoyed John Millington Synge’s <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The
Playboy of the Western World</i>. </span><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">Synge celebrated the lyrical speech
of the Irish in a boisterous play.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New";">In graduate school, I took a semester
seminar on the works of William Butler Yeats, a great Irish poet. I learned a
great deal about Irish mythology from his work.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New";">George Bernard Shaw was also of Irish
origins and a great playwright, another favorite of mine. His plays still hold
up because of thought-provoking themes and clever dialogue.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New";">I’ve read James Joyce’s stories and novels
but most appreciated his earlier work. I thought <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Portrait of the Artist</i> was brilliant as was <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Dubliners</i>, his short story collection. His style was original and
unique.</span></p>
<p style="background: #F2F4F5; line-height: 15.0pt; margin-bottom: .25in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; tab-stops: 207.0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">Satirist
Jonathan Swift is often thought of as a children’s writer, but this is, of
course, false.</span><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background: #F2F4F5; line-height: 15.0pt; margin-bottom: .25in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; tab-stops: 207.0pt;"><span style="background: #F2F4F5; color: black; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">Notable Works:<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><i>Gulliver’s Travels, Tale of a Tub,
A Modest Proposal, A Journal to Stella, Drapier’s Letters, An Argument Against
Abolishing Christianity, Verses on the Death of Dr. Swift.</i></span><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background: #F2F4F5; line-height: 15.0pt; margin-bottom: .25in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; tab-stops: 207.0pt;"><span style="background: #F2F4F5; color: black; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">Oscar Wilde was a talented Irish writer and playwright. Sentenced to
two years in prison for gross indecency (homosexuality), he eventually lost his
creative spark.</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-color-alt: windowtext;"> </span><span style="background: #F2F4F5; color: black; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">Notable Works:<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><i>The
Picture of Dorian Grey, The Importance of Being Earnest (play), Poems, The
Happy Prince and Other Tales (children’s book), A Woman of No Importance (play).</i></span><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background: #F2F4F5; line-height: 15.0pt; margin-bottom: .25in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; tab-stops: 207.0pt;"><span style="background: #F2F4F5; color: black; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">Abraham Stoker<span class="apple-converted-space"> (Bram Stoker) gave us <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Dracula</i> (enough said!) </span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">Lawrence
Sterne, Oliver Goldsmith, C.S. Lewis all had Irish origins as well, although
they left <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Ireland</st1:country-region></st1:place>
for <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">England</st1:country-region></st1:place>.
The list of outstanding Irish men and women who have provided great literature
is very long and therefore beyond the scope of this mere blog. </span><span style="background: #F2F4F5; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 207.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New";">Do you
believe in luck? Is it a factor in what you’ve read or written? Do you have any
favorite Irish authors you want to mention?</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 207.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New";">Your thoughts
and comments welcome!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>Jacqueline Seewaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09177500620940251009noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6564808806012504614.post-87999336037870337232024-02-14T07:06:00.000-08:002024-02-14T07:06:19.313-08:00Why Regency Novels Continue to Fascinate Readers <p> </p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">In honor of February, the month of Valentine’s
Day, I decided to dedicate my current blog to romance fiction. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMOgkOdv6jfI0Jn7ZF8_bMYHETiWauXPKJmCP8etydUNZOIQgzBGyVZoyjWM5-4yWk7FYkCCGCTeBwNBCidmybBKLRpJb9gFzDgVq4NpRY3LdcAkiQeN71UiH4g4uPIdcKcefLAqngIrXLadvS3gKYn2SYGKw7AZk8LrjF_qpxmdy_fozoGpD7nFmYUyU/s4608/IMG_0203.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="4608" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMOgkOdv6jfI0Jn7ZF8_bMYHETiWauXPKJmCP8etydUNZOIQgzBGyVZoyjWM5-4yWk7FYkCCGCTeBwNBCidmybBKLRpJb9gFzDgVq4NpRY3LdcAkiQeN71UiH4g4uPIdcKcefLAqngIrXLadvS3gKYn2SYGKw7AZk8LrjF_qpxmdy_fozoGpD7nFmYUyU/s320/IMG_0203.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;"><br /></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">I find Regency novels particularly fascinating. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve read hundreds of novels in the genre. In
this regard, I am like many other devoted readers. Regency romance has endured
for a long time, and I believe will continue to be popular. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For example, the Bridgerton romance series on
Netflix has drawn a vast audience.</span><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: black;"><span style="color: black; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: black;"> </span></span></span><em><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Bridgerton, </span></em><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt;">based on a series of eight novel written by Julia
Quinn and adapted for Netflix, has proven to have strong appeal.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">
For those who are not familiar with Regency, let’s define it.
When we talk about the Regency era, we mean the brief period lasting
between 1811-1820 in England. However, for the sake of the novels, the era
begins at the tail end of the Georgian period in about 1800. It includes the
scope of the French Revolution and the Napoleonic Wars in Europe, a period of
turmoil, social unrest and political revolution.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">
The novels of Jane Austen set in that era have caught the imagination of
both readers and writers for centuries. Her Regency romances like PRIDE
AND PREJUDICE entertain because they rely heavily on character and the humor of
human foibles. A much later author, Georgette Heyer, was one of the
writers who created her own novels set in the Regency era. These romances
have also influenced many readers and writers. Her novels even introduced their
own unique vocabulary.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">Some of the outstanding modern writers of this
genre are Mary Jo Putney, Jane Ashford and Mary Balogh, each known for depth of
characterization. Modern day Regency romance is longer and more sensual than
the earlier novels.</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">Today’s Regency romance fans are often very
particular about historical references. They want complete accuracy in such
matters as clothing, dialog, mores of the social scene and conventions of the
era. To this effect, I did extensive research, reading and collecting numerous
histories of this era as well as biographies of people who lived in those times
before I wrote my own sensual Regency romance TEA LEAVES AND TAROT CARDS. For
example, Mr. Brockton who is my heroine’s benefactor runs a posh gaming establishment
where many thousands of pounds exchange hands each night. It is frequented by
the cream of the <i>ton</i>. His character is based on an actual person who
went from fish monger to millionaire and then lost it all again. At the
time I initially wrote TEA LEAVES AND TAROT CARDS, I was working as a librarian
with access to a multitude of reference sources. My research proved both
enjoyable and relatively easy. Now the internet offers so much valuable
information on the Regency era which makes research more convenient.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">The latest edition of TEA LEAVES AND TAROT CARDS is
available in all e-book formats and paperback as well. </span><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt;">You’ll find this romance novel
and others I’ve written on the Luminosity website:</span><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt;"><a href="https://luminositypublishing.com/en/book/tea-leaves-and-tarot-cards/"><span style="color: black; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: black;"><span style="color: black; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: black;">https://luminositypublishing.com/en/book/tea-leaves-and-tarot-cards/</span></span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUrD1nrdDgrrU739UuAke1W6P08LhOX9tz2W3jMbgN9slSXq-TFvCjztIX7pg3sz-mj07ID5ViZfFP4wrGqmRJNN20N8r0IB53ss-_3YselfO5xE8YjWhThbBUgYP0YYUat83b2FTN_mVXY_XXY_wRJl97y2_V-UvyMBKUwxh-ESEglcR0o5vGyxjt9uE/s675/Tea%20Leaves%20Luminosity.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="450" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUrD1nrdDgrrU739UuAke1W6P08LhOX9tz2W3jMbgN9slSXq-TFvCjztIX7pg3sz-mj07ID5ViZfFP4wrGqmRJNN20N8r0IB53ss-_3YselfO5xE8YjWhThbBUgYP0YYUat83b2FTN_mVXY_XXY_wRJl97y2_V-UvyMBKUwxh-ESEglcR0o5vGyxjt9uE/s320/Tea%20Leaves%20Luminosity.jpg" width="213" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;"><br />Here are some snippets from the book reviews:<o:p></o:p></span><p></p>
<p><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt;">"Jacqueline
Seewald's <i>Tea Leaves and Tarot Cards</i> delivers an unusual and intriguing
heroine together with fast-paced historical romantic-suspense. Seewald is very
much at home in her early 19th century setting."<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>- Jayne Ann Krentz (Amanda Quick)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt;">“TEA
LEAVES AND TAROT CARDS is rich in secondary characters across the spectrum of
society...TEA LEAVES AND TAROT CARDS has a lot to offer with its original
characters and imaginative plot.” - <i>Romance Reviews Today</i><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt;">“It is clear that
Seewald's goal is to offer a deeply felt, emotional romance.” - <i>Library
Journal</i><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt;">“This is a
delightful lighthearted regency frolic.” - <i>Genre Go Round Reviews<o:p></o:p></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt;">Currently,
I am hard at work on the sequel to this novel entitled THE LOST LADY.</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt;">Do
you read romance? Why or why not? Do you prefer fiction or nonfiction?</span></b><b><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;"><br />
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 200%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>Jacqueline Seewaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09177500620940251009noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6564808806012504614.post-88671644216215323992024-02-02T04:29:00.000-08:002024-02-02T04:29:08.750-08:00How and Where to Get Your Novel Published<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5owHDyxDRgrAiekV5KUQ0anlOooj-Gw_4QEJAKD2rT2GciAPdt35SbH82Oh5D55LuQBrPJbbTYHTmpaZAxyH338Tyga5WVF-8au2rt7H-cemMjKnb1xFlIeDYF_va0eLQg4HNTgIyseArjnQ5skKppW9JMVkIIsA2tzErhNWdycnB-mCgPIHXUAGh308/s1280/IMG_8005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5owHDyxDRgrAiekV5KUQ0anlOooj-Gw_4QEJAKD2rT2GciAPdt35SbH82Oh5D55LuQBrPJbbTYHTmpaZAxyH338Tyga5WVF-8au2rt7H-cemMjKnb1xFlIeDYF_va0eLQg4HNTgIyseArjnQ5skKppW9JMVkIIsA2tzErhNWdycnB-mCgPIHXUAGh308/s320/IMG_8005.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">First, write your novel. Let
the words and ideas flow through to completion.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">Second, forget your novel for
at least a month. Work on other things.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16pt;">Third, put on your editor’s eyes and reread
your work. Consider: is your book too short? Usually, 60,000 words is novel
length. Is your novel the length of WAR AND PEACE? Publishers aren’t looking
for one volume epics either.</span><span style="font-size: 16pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">When I finish writing a
piece, I always think it’s great. When I read it with fresh eyes, I’m amazed to
find mistakes. I don’t mean grammar or spelling since I was an English teacher
for many years. I mean things like telling instead of showing or using too many
adjectives or adverbs or exclamation points. These are mistakes that will mark
you as an amateur.</span><span style="font-size: 16pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">All right, let’s assume
you’ve finished your novel and you believe it’s to die for, with fully
developed characters and a unique plot. You’ve written a solid synopsis and
query letter.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">Where to from here?</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">Time to check out one of two
things:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>literary agents and/or
publishers who accept novels like yours with no agent. Do your research.</span><span style="font-size: 16pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">You can do a lot of this
online. Also, use publications such as WRITER’S MARKET or THE WRITER’S
HANDBOOK. You can read them at your local library or buy your own.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">You can also join writers’
organizations. You’ll get help and you won’t be alone. You can attend
conferences which will provide further entrée.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">Is it easy to get a novel
published?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not particularly. But you can
very likely get a start with e-books if you’re a beginner. Personally, I
believe you should aim higher. I am not a fan of self-publishing unless you are
willing to invest a lot of money, time and effort into internet publicity. I
also believe you should avoid vanity presses. You should never pay to have your
work published. Money must flow to the author not from him/her.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">Many agents are looking for
new writers who offer a fresh perspective. Why can’t that be you? Also, some
publishers are still open to submission from new writers who don’t have agents.
Check them out as well. Investigate that they are legitimate and not scammers. Then
send out your query letters.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">To get you started, check
out:</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;"><a href="https://publishedtodeath.blogspot.com/">Publishing ... and Other Forms of
Insanity (publishedtodeath.blogspot.com)</a></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">This site is excellent for providing
current information from agents and publishers. You need to see which of them
will be a good fit for your work. For example, if you write adult romance, you
shouldn’t query a children’s books publisher since that would be a waste of
time and effort.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">My latest novel, my 21<sup>st</sup>
from a reputable publisher, is a combination of mystery and history. HEART OF
WISDOM was published by Level Best Books—which does not require agent
submission:</span><span style="font-size: 16pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1fokZPcJRBBUI_UjGX8R_vSgXvSeQfJ2Pbgx_xBkqF7Yxu3Zplanapwe6rMExTnrnMVRBYah-8Bf68STq4LPXFBvP2j5T2ih4bq7sX3bCx_aVmJZqSdz_iopgJxnY7etbkq3CfZ7ef5TACS4gus-_kejs8yhEcMlH6rfCz-b7dR3EID4Nx3vsyYmc8fw/s2000/HEART%20OF%20WISDOME%20cover%20concept%205.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="1333" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1fokZPcJRBBUI_UjGX8R_vSgXvSeQfJ2Pbgx_xBkqF7Yxu3Zplanapwe6rMExTnrnMVRBYah-8Bf68STq4LPXFBvP2j5T2ih4bq7sX3bCx_aVmJZqSdz_iopgJxnY7etbkq3CfZ7ef5TACS4gus-_kejs8yhEcMlH6rfCz-b7dR3EID4Nx3vsyYmc8fw/s320/HEART%20OF%20WISDOME%20cover%20concept%205.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">Give it your best shot, and
don’t get discouraged by rejections. We all get them! As for me, I’m working on
a new novel</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">Best of luck with your
writing!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>Jacqueline Seewaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09177500620940251009noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6564808806012504614.post-10585594860623101052024-01-26T04:37:00.000-08:002024-01-26T04:37:09.329-08:00Interview with Publisher/Editor/Author Jason J. Marchi<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNMjEva07A3j0xcor1CNQi1469ZDeDDccikRqtstWM2EFlbkgWQ0DCgrx7UskFXSIMnK0_faOj-BTcoZXkITMgVUkTmCCOfOB5-qMEzlNAHjIw-yW7pYvq2Q2fg1K3ytgAIE9rdUu9F25BcpbvJRGkPurW99I-DIhpeJ5PJSI1DcaBWqihtMZetV2x_KU/s1985/Automobilia%202.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1350" data-original-width="1985" height="218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNMjEva07A3j0xcor1CNQi1469ZDeDDccikRqtstWM2EFlbkgWQ0DCgrx7UskFXSIMnK0_faOj-BTcoZXkITMgVUkTmCCOfOB5-qMEzlNAHjIw-yW7pYvq2Q2fg1K3ytgAIE9rdUu9F25BcpbvJRGkPurW99I-DIhpeJ5PJSI1DcaBWqihtMZetV2x_KU/s320/Automobilia%202.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .3in;"><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; font-variant: small-caps; mso-bidi-font-family: Andalus; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: Batang;">Jason
J. Marchi</span><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; letter-spacing: 1.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Andalus; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: Batang;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; letter-spacing: 1.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Andalus; mso-fareast-font-family: Batang;">m</span><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Andalus; mso-fareast-font-family: Batang;">ade his first professional sale, a poem,
to <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Amazing Stories</i> magazine in 1988.
Since then, Mr. Marchi has sold over 900 articles, stories, poems, and essays
to magazines and newspapers, and won over a dozen awards presented by the Association
of American Publishers (a REVERE Award), National Federation of Press Women,
Connecticut Press Club, and the Society of Professional Journalists.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .3in;"><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Andalus; mso-fareast-font-family: Batang;">In November 2010, Mr. Marchi’s first collection
of poems, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Ode on a Martian Urn</i>, was
published as a chapbook, and a year later his first picture book, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Legend of Hobbomock: The Sleeping Giant,</i>
was published in hardcover. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Hobbomock</i>
is a perennial seller to elementary schools and summer reading lists. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Hobbomock was</i> also noted as a Barnes
& Noble regional bestseller in the first few years after its publication.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .3in;"><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Andalus; mso-fareast-font-family: Batang;">During the 16 years that Mr. Marchi worked for
McGraw-Hill/Dushkin, a higher education publisher, he founded and managed the
not-for-profit New Century Writer Awards (NCWA) contest that operated for six
years in close association with Francis Ford Coppola’s <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Zoetrope: All-Story</i> magazine. NCWA awarded over $65,000 in cash
prizes to several dozen writers. Mr. Marchi is also credited with discovering
the early literary talents of Joseph Hill (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Heart-Shaped
Box, Horns</i>) when the NCWA presented Mr. Hill with its first Ray Bradbury
Short Story Fellowship in 2002.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .3in;"><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Andalus; mso-fareast-font-family: Batang;">Mr. Marchi was closely mentored by Ray Bradbury
between 2000 and 2009 after the two became pen pals during the 1980s and 1990s.
Mr. Marchi and Mr. Bradbury maintained their extraordinary friendship until Mr.
Bradbury’s death in 2012 at the age of 91.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .3in;"><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Andalus; mso-fareast-font-family: Batang;">As an editor, Mr. Marchi launched <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Automobilia,</i> the first book in the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">SpeKulative Stories Anthology Series</i><span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">, published in January 2024. He is also a
30-year Active Member of the Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers Association,
Inc.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .3in;"><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Andalus; mso-fareast-font-family: Batang;">Mr. Marchi works from his boyhood home in
Guilford, Connecticut.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Question: What kind of books does OmicronWorld publish?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: yellow; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-highlight: yellow;">Answer:</span><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Under our Fahrenheit books imprint, which, upon
the suggestion of a writer friend I named in honor of my mentor and friend, Ray
Bradbury, I’ve published writers whose work I like but who have been unable to
break into traditional publishing and don’t want to assume all the work of self-publishing.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">I’ve published both fiction and
non-fiction by individual authors, but I’m currently moving away from single-author
titles to focus on my love of short fiction and poetry in the form the theme
anthologies.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">I started as a micro press—more
of a boutique publisher, really—meaning I published just one or two titles by
select authors each year. But I hope to grow into a small press publisher focused
on thematic short fiction anthologies (which include poetry) for the foreseeable
future.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Novels are more popular among
readers and tend to sell more copies than short story collections (stories by a
single author) and short story anthologies (stories by multiple authors). But I
loved the short story more than any other fictional form. And my first
professional sales as a writer were poems to science fiction magazines back in
the late 1980s and early 1990s. So, I’m focusing on those two literary forms
for the next several years—short stories and poems.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Question:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Can you tell readers about what’s involved in
your work as editor/publisher?</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: yellow; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-highlight: yellow;">Answer:</span><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"> Excitement and the mundane—those
are the two operative words in answer to this question.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">It's exciting to think of a
new anthology theme idea—something I consider striking, like the <i>Automobilia</i>
anthology idea, where automobiles are featured in each story. And it's fun to
get word out that you're looking for submissions from writers. Then it's a real
joy to see how many people respond and start sending you their work, hoping to
sell their words and see their story printed in a book. It's also a joy to read
through all those stories and see what really stands out and needs to be published
that hasn’t been published anywhere yet. That’s a wonderful discovery process.
And I like to reprint stories I like, because so many times a writer has
written a good or great story, but it only gets printed in a magazine or
anthology once and is never read again. A good story should be reprinted and
find new readers through the years.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">This is all part of the exciting
process. And it's especially fun to accept a work and pay the writer on
acceptance. I never liked the idea of publishers that pay on publication.
Writers should be paid immediately. That’s a pet peeve of mine. It's a real joy
to cut a check and pay a writer up front. I find that immensely satisfying even
when that money comes out of my own pocket, and I might never earn that money
back.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Then the mundane work begins.
Assembling the book takes some time and becomes rote, although working with a professional
cover designer is always fun. And then comes the arduous process of going
through the book looking for errors once it's typeset. Sometimes no matter how
many times you and others look at a manuscript, there's always some errors that
sneak through, but you try to minimize those as much as possible.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">So far I've only been using
the Amazon KDP print and digital publishing platform which I think might limit
sales to bookstores and the like, but with online marketing and with online
book buying—and getting to the proper book influencers through TikTok and other
social platforms—a book can still sell pretty well without having to be in
physical (known as brick and motor) bookstores.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">I've been thinking of also
issuing the books through the IngramSparks system, but I’ve found that
technically more difficult to do than through the Amazon KDP system. But brick
and mortar bookstores don’t like to buy and offer books from Amazon. Amazon is
a bookstore’s competitor. Bookstores like to work with a wholesaler, like Ingram
and their huge supply-chain system.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Selling books is difficult, no
matter what, unless you have a big staff which means big overhead and a bigger
level of stress. My ultimate goal is simply to break even on the expense of
every book I publish, to cover all the upfront costs of the permission fees for
the stories for the anthologies, and then there's also the cost of the cover designer,
and sometimes the cost of additional book cover artwork, and then there is a
cost to print advance reader copies for proofing, and the contributor’s free
copies to have for their own permanent bookshelf at home.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">With all of that said, it's
always a joy to put a book together, and like anything else, the middle of the
process can get bogged down with a lot of boring housekeeping. But then you get
your energy back again when the interior and cover files for the book are
finally ready and you get them up to the publishing platform website and you
get the marketing for the title going and before you know it you have another
book out in the marketplace.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">I find the single biggest
challenge is getting enough word out about each title to try and drive sales as
far as a book can sell. I learned a long time ago that only the big publishers
with deep pockets can pay for ads for huge named authors, but for most writers
you have to try and market your books by word-of-mouth. You try and market the
book and let people know about the book as much as possible without spending
any money (only time) because it's gonna be very hard to get that money back in
book sales down the road.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Acting as an editor and
publisher is mostly a labor of love at this point. If a book takes off and sells
well, that’s the icing on the cake. That financial success paves the way to
take a financial risk on future books.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">So far, I’ve had only one
book sell well beyond its $12,000 production cost and earn a profit to compensate
for the losses on other books. That book was my own, the children’s book <i>The
Legend of Hobbomock</i>. Twelve years later it still sells a few hundred copies
a year. Not a wealth-maker, but a steady survivor in the book marketplace.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Question:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What
are you working on now?<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b><span style="background: yellow; font-size: 14pt;">Answer:</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> I’m presently launching a call-for-submissions
for the next two books in the SpeKulative<sup>TM</sup> Stories Anthology Series.
Those two books are <i>Train Tales</i> and <i>Aliens Among Us</i>. The
submission guidelines appear on the OmicronWorld/Fahrenheit Books website: https://www.omicronworld.com/anthology-submissions</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">I'm also trying to work on my
own writing and getting some of my own books out there, I'm mainly a short
story writer, as I mentioned before, and I’m almost done writing the stories
for three different theme-linked story collections.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">I’ve tried to write novels,
and I still might finish one or two yet, but I really love the short story. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As I mentioned before, Ray Bradbury was my
mentor. I first wrote to him when I was 19 and he made the mistake of writing
back. So, over the next 20 years we became pen pals, And then we became close
personal friends during the last 13 years of his life. Bradbury was mainly a
short story writer. He wrote very few novels in his career. So that's why I
fell in love with the short story, and then I fell in love with the short
stories of Ernest Hemingway and Shirley Jackson, and many others whose stories
appear in those college fiction anthologies.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Thus, I've decided to spend
most of my own time writing short stories, while also finding short stories by others
to include in each forthcoming thematic anthology.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Like the <i>Automobilia</i> anthology,
I've already got a number of famous writers whose stories I have for the train
tales anthology. I love placing new writers side-by-side with classic/known
writers. I think that’s a cool thing to do for writers alive today who are trying
to get their work and their name out there.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Question:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What
made you start working as an editor/publisher?</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: yellow; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-highlight: yellow;">Answer:</span><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"> Several different or
disparate things coalesce into my interest in becoming an editor and publisher.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">I started out selling poems
to <i>Amazing Stories</i> and <i>Weird Tales </i>magazines. And then I sold a
few more works and then short stories to some small magazines.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">About that same time, I
started working for a division of a small higher educational publishing company
that became part of Times Mirror and then McGraw-Hill towards the end of my 16-year
career there. The company was small in the early years, and I was able to see
books developed from the very start—from acquisition of articles and
manuscripts all the way through the typesetting and printing/binding of the
books, and then the marketing and fulfillment. I paid close attention to what
was going on—and I had directed access to the president of the company at any
time—so I fell in love with the idea of producing books and developing books as
much as I loved holding books in my hands and reading books.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Later, when I learned how
difficult it is for many really good writers to break into mainstream publishing
because the competition is so fierce, I decided that maybe I could help some of
those writers end up with a book in their hands because their work was good,
and they deserved to have a published book.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">You see, I was rejected more
times that I can count. My first two children’s books were rejected by every publishing
house. The manuscripts would win in contests, the judges loved the stories, but
editors and publishing houses said, sorry, not for us. I was also told by some editors
and publishers that a book like <i>The Legend of Hobbomock</i> (a Native
American myth legend story) would never sell.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">I got so tired of hearing NO I
took the advice of other accomplished writers who loved my Hobbomock story, and
that was to “publish the book yourself,” they said, which I did, under my own
start-up press, Fahrenheit Books. I took all I had learned from the educational
publisher over 16 years and applied it to starting my own press. That book, by
the way, ended up becoming a regional best seller in Connecticut in the first
three years after its publication. It was an immediate hit. So much for the editor
who said it would not sell, huh? Sometimes you just HAVE to believe in yourself
and work against the naysayers.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Having experienced so many
blockades—which I still hit to this day with traditional book publishers and
all of these newer, on-line literary magazines—I was driven to try and help
other writers as much as I can.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">I can only help a few, but it’s
very satisfying to give new writers a chance. It’s far too easy—and I think
lazy—to say NO to every creative idea that does not fit the current cultural
narrative. Visionaries ignore current culture and pop-culture, and invent the
future. Not that I’m a visionary, but those are the types of people I most admire
and would like to emulate, In my case, I hope to follow the beat of a different
drummer through micro-press publishing.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Lastly, by publishing <i>Automobilia</i>
I have had the great pleasure of meeting new, wondrous writers, such as yourself,
and a few of these new people have become close friends. This is an added benefit
of editing and publishing books. It’s not all about me trying to get my own
writing out into the world. I loved to help others just as much if not more.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Question:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What
advice would you offer to those who are currently writing and want to be
published?</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: yellow; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-highlight: yellow;">Answer:</span><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The unique thing about writing is that you
can do it in just about any place that you can get your words down on paper, or
onto a computer, or even recorded onto a voice recording app on a smartphone.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">I often “write” to my phone
recording app when hiking trails on preserve lands near me. I transcribe the
stories when I get home, also through an app that turns my spoken words into
text, thus saving a lot of time not having to type. I mentioned this only
because no matter where you are and when you are you can write something down
that hits you and not lose it forever to the ether.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">As for general publishing advice,
study every print and on-line magazine market you can find, and send out your work.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Robert Heinlein, the great
science fiction writer of the mid-20<sup>th</sup> century had five rules of
writing. The are: 1. Write regularly. 2. Finish what you start. 3. Market your
work promptly. 4. Rewrite to editorial demand. 5. Push your work until it is
sold.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">I live by this, even today. The
last three are key.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">I also suggest that fiction writers
try to expand their world view and write non-fiction in the form of articles. For
a long time, I found it very difficult to sell my fiction, even though that’s
what I loved to write the most. But when I started writing non-fiction for newspapers
and magazines, I started getting published each week, saw my name in the byline
for each article, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and got paid for it! My
writing also got better due to all the regular wiring I was doing for the newspaper,
which later turned into assignments by editors at bigger, glossy regional magazines.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">For 16 years I wrote for a weekly
newspaper group and made an okay living from it. I was able to pay modest bills.
Things have changed in the newspaper business as they have lost advertising
sales revenue over the past several years and slashed freelance and staff
writing budgets. But if a writer really needs to see their work in print, and
be paid money for that writing, news reporting and magazine article writing is
very satisfying, while you continue to work on your fiction.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">And keep sending your work
out to editors an agents, like Heinlein said.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Thank you, Jacqueline, for inviting
me to answers these questions for your readers. Happy 2024 to you and all your
readers and writers!</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Question:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Where
and when will readers be able to obtain your latest published anthology
AUTOMOBILIA?</span></b><b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: yellow; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-highlight: yellow;">Answer:</span><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Automobilia-SpeKulative-Stories-Anthology-Book-ebook/dp/B0CSWWY3T2/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3ST6PC02U5SAC&keywords=automobilia+jason+marchi&qid=1705983461&sprefix=%2Caps%2C135&sr=8-1">https://www.amazon.com/Automobilia-SpeKulative-Stories-Anthology-Book-ebook/dp/B0CSWWY3T2/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3ST6PC02U5SAC&keywords=automobilia+jason+marchi&qid=1705983461&sprefix=%2Caps%2C135&sr=8-1</a></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">And, if your readers are
interested in some of the other books I have published through Fahrenhiet
Books, please visit the OmicronWorld website at: <a href="https://www.omicronworld.com/fahrenheit-books">https://www.omicronworld.com/fahrenheit-books</a></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Comments and
questions for Jason are welcome here.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><b><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; font-variant: small-caps; mso-bidi-font-family: Andalus; mso-fareast-font-family: Batang;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>Jacqueline Seewaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09177500620940251009noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6564808806012504614.post-13658431414095211802024-01-05T04:36:00.000-08:002024-01-05T04:36:11.387-08:00Starting the New Year Right 2024<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFNkV8pAmbux_KHKWcgTs0hHoBPVy1_aATZHEDpEv7ovtT0QE2TPXVWKuHf_Q1SXMh98ikXGtvdLp3zq7AceJp1eQt7MRX9A0TMAoEa14XZ2LqLed9mohCqJLMI4PLMX7Ddc9E1KutldMFzN80IpvFaGId1ByiSKUdbg3mZuseqIB1HsJhMRgR-el9TSg/s3888/surise.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2592" data-original-width="3888" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFNkV8pAmbux_KHKWcgTs0hHoBPVy1_aATZHEDpEv7ovtT0QE2TPXVWKuHf_Q1SXMh98ikXGtvdLp3zq7AceJp1eQt7MRX9A0TMAoEa14XZ2LqLed9mohCqJLMI4PLMX7Ddc9E1KutldMFzN80IpvFaGId1ByiSKUdbg3mZuseqIB1HsJhMRgR-el9TSg/s320/surise.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">January
symbolically marks a new beginning and a fresh start. With that in mind, I have
resolved to continue writing. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">I
will continue to send my work out, short stories in particular to various
publishers and publications regardless of acceptances. Most writers meet with a
lot more rejection than acceptance. In that respect, I am typical. But if
writing is something you feel compelled to do—like me—than you work at it
regardless.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">HEART
OF WISDOM, published by Level Best Books in 2023, is, I believe, one of my best
novels. I have resolved to begin working on a new one.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqPutTip73C5gkHSnBqRJBDUqZYGtxt48uUMFuZKyz4ar7TxlLeQCApE40izT71lrwjPRsj1ghdT_FQtCzArMuvVki8IpTQS-yYQyGJQrtk3ZAMFIuMtLBZ2Oksg0TF5mhDaiYAqdkX-TZf9I4Ws_Alw5VjCpXwCCpfLZBipPn1lytu_6WXhdv3x5rHfA/s2000/HEART%20OF%20WISDOME%20cover%20concept%205.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="1333" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqPutTip73C5gkHSnBqRJBDUqZYGtxt48uUMFuZKyz4ar7TxlLeQCApE40izT71lrwjPRsj1ghdT_FQtCzArMuvVki8IpTQS-yYQyGJQrtk3ZAMFIuMtLBZ2Oksg0TF5mhDaiYAqdkX-TZf9I4Ws_Alw5VjCpXwCCpfLZBipPn1lytu_6WXhdv3x5rHfA/s320/HEART%20OF%20WISDOME%20cover%20concept%205.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">Another
of my continuing resolutions is striving to improve the quality of my work.
With that in mind, I pay attention to editorial and reader comments.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">Building
a readership is not easy. I hope to increase mine. I also intend to continue reading
diverse books and writing reviews of those I truly enjoy.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>What
are some of your plans or resolutions for the year ahead? Are they the same as
last year or have they changed?</b><o:p></o:p></span></p>Jacqueline Seewaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09177500620940251009noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6564808806012504614.post-90047446329598357652023-12-15T04:34:00.000-08:002023-12-15T04:34:51.400-08:00Sharing Reading Suggestions for the Holidays 2023<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyb1zZTl6HP2HEvTjJhrcwhwdXHV8Wg1NsvwwZqggDxR1waL8fA-lSWeed7sglhI-SpxjS9V9kM7BQK3i4OYZkltTj8auMw_3gQyyJLfeTPaIJMverSYTBDnzy3C250DCMNqOuQIEo8eOmRowRraUJ5yxwFgiSWMo94alz8pqHzSPk8NiEHor1PjCHQO8/s4608/Christmas.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="4608" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyb1zZTl6HP2HEvTjJhrcwhwdXHV8Wg1NsvwwZqggDxR1waL8fA-lSWeed7sglhI-SpxjS9V9kM7BQK3i4OYZkltTj8auMw_3gQyyJLfeTPaIJMverSYTBDnzy3C250DCMNqOuQIEo8eOmRowRraUJ5yxwFgiSWMo94alz8pqHzSPk8NiEHor1PjCHQO8/s320/Christmas.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">The holidays are a great time to gift friends,
family and yourself with books to read. And there certainly are a lot of them
being published! You can find books to suit every age and taste whether fiction
or nonfiction. Let’s share recommendations, whether it be your own work or that
of others.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">I’ll start things going. I recently finished reading
PORTRAIT OF AN UNKNOWN WOMAN by Daniel Silva. This mystery thriller is part of
a series. It’s a fast read with some surprising twists.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">I was gifted with the 4<sup>th</sup> Witch Way Librarian
Mystery entitled WITCH UPON A STAR print edition and have just started reading
it. I’ve enjoyed the first three books in this series by Angela M. Sanders.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">I both read and write historical romance as well as
mysteries. My most recent novel combining historical family saga and mystery is
entitled HEART OF WISDOM and was released by Level Best Books in September.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Okay, now it’s your turn. Please share the books
and publications you think will make for good holiday reading.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><b>Feel free to talk about work you’ve recently had
published if you’re an author. Readers, please mention books you have on your
wish list and/or recently read, enjoyed, and can recommend. <o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p><b> </b></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>Jacqueline Seewaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09177500620940251009noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6564808806012504614.post-42526209362333549302023-12-08T04:10:00.000-08:002023-12-08T04:10:53.432-08:00Interview with Author Kathleen Marple Kalb <p> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 107%; margin-bottom: 8.0pt;"><b><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Kathleen Marple
Kalb</span></b><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"> <span style="background: white; color: black;">describes herself as an
Author/Anchor/Mom…not in that order. An award-winning weekend anchor at New
York’s 1010 WINS Radio, she writes short stories and novels including <i>The
Stuff of Murder</i>, and the upcoming Ella Shane mystery, <i>A Fatal Reception</i>,
both from Level Best Books. As Nikki Knight, she writes the Grace the Hit Mom
and Vermont Radio mysteries. Her stories have appeared in <i>Alfred Hitchcock’s
Mystery Magazine, Black Cat Weekly</i>, and others, and been short-listed for
Derringer and Black Orchid Novella Awards. She’s currently the Vice President
of the Short Mystery Fiction Society and a co-VP of the New York/Tri-State
Chapter of Sisters in Crime. She, her husband, and son live in a Connecticut
house owned by their cat.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"></span></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgtwMKqJZQaGo99uaoJlIpt14JVzck-CyrORQzY7YtVHIVtBEvbV_-f5pegSrt0pKK9npre3ymYYjIHgnAEw0mQRg-GS6XcdO2bvxlq6Dyqg9l-5I6NAOSD2kueEHkd6auDnug-p5Ctjs8c2JdC2w6Sm-4nULIC6pkwFQYtT6JiQzFz3nIhrt266LiEuo/s300/KMK%20Author%20Small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="300" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgtwMKqJZQaGo99uaoJlIpt14JVzck-CyrORQzY7YtVHIVtBEvbV_-f5pegSrt0pKK9npre3ymYYjIHgnAEw0mQRg-GS6XcdO2bvxlq6Dyqg9l-5I6NAOSD2kueEHkd6auDnug-p5Ctjs8c2JdC2w6Sm-4nULIC6pkwFQYtT6JiQzFz3nIhrt266LiEuo/s1600/KMK%20Author%20Small.jpg" width="300" /></a></b></div><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><br />Question: What is the
title and genre of your novel?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why did
you select them?</b><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: yellow; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-highlight: yellow;">Answer:</span><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"> THE STUFF OF MURDER, modern cozy
mystery, first in the Old Stuff series. The main character, Christian Shaw, is
an expert in 18<sup>th</sup> and 19<sup>th</sup> century household goods – old
stuff. I’ve been a series mystery girl since I borrowed my grandpa’s Agatha
Christie’s!</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv5YQ_Ngjq5HlZBwLzitxjJ4pKKnWLUrOrNgJMcpJ3_QfCZ-W2cR8CoxWT2ivXS1YC5pAali9WQE2OHjNOc33a3e42A1JTmaG3IUZH5Z3HvbdcoqFClGT8F-TN4NNYPwUMUEaPJ_KeFEnRjxP9t2yvP5wIQIcyUb3Jm4_b82dzEFE8s_MBvNd7eMWoAvc/s6000/THE%20STUFF%20OF%20MURDER%20cover%20FINAL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6000" data-original-width="3882" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv5YQ_Ngjq5HlZBwLzitxjJ4pKKnWLUrOrNgJMcpJ3_QfCZ-W2cR8CoxWT2ivXS1YC5pAali9WQE2OHjNOc33a3e42A1JTmaG3IUZH5Z3HvbdcoqFClGT8F-TN4NNYPwUMUEaPJ_KeFEnRjxP9t2yvP5wIQIcyUb3Jm4_b82dzEFE8s_MBvNd7eMWoAvc/s320/THE%20STUFF%20OF%20MURDER%20cover%20FINAL.jpg" width="207" /></a></div><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"><br /></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">Question:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What
inspired this novel? How did it come about?</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: yellow; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-highlight: yellow;">Answer:</span><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"> My first published series is the Ella
Shane historical mysteries, set in Gilded Age New York. There was a lot of
social history/daily life research that didn’t make it into the books, and I
started thinking about what the things we use say about us…or how objects might
be used in solving a crime. That gave me the idea for this series: old stuff –
everything from tankards to bibles to bayonets – helps in the solution.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">Question:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Could you tell us a little bit about the heroine
and/or hero of your novel?</span></b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: yellow; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-highlight: yellow;">Answer</span><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">: Christian Shaw is a former history
professor and current director of the Unity, Connecticut Historical Society,
where she runs a small museum and has a nice little side hustle consulting on
movies and TV shows. She’s also the widowed single mother of Henry Glaser, a
feisty eight-year-old with a photographic memory and Type-1 Diabetes.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">Question:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Can you tell us about some of your other
published novels or work?</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: yellow; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-highlight: yellow;">Answer</span><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">: My first series is the Ella Shane
Mysteries – starting at Kensington, and resuming next April at Level Best Books
– featuring an opera singer who plays male soprano roles and challenges
expectations in 1900 New York. As Nikki Knight, I also write contemporary
mysteries and short stories featuring Vermont DJ Jaye Jordan and Grace the Hit
Mom. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b><b><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">Question: What are you working on now?</span></b><b><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: yellow; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-highlight: yellow;">Answer</span><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">: A massive revision of THE STUFF OF
MAYHEM, the second Old Stuff Mystery. This is the kind of thing I can only say
to a fellow writer: I killed the wrong person!</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">Question:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What made you start writing?</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: yellow; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-highlight: yellow;">Answer</span><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">: (Sheepish shrug) I don’t honestly
REMEMBER not writing! I probably started in middle school, and by the time I
was sixteen I was banging out my first novel on an electric typewriter. I’ve
always loved telling stories, escaping to some interesting place with lovable
people, and making everything come out right. As for serious professional
writing, that came after my son started kindergarten, and I decided to try my
hand at writing and selling a mystery.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">Question:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What advice would you offer to those who are
currently writing novels?</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: yellow; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-highlight: yellow;">Answer:</span><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"> Keep at it. Don’t take rejection as
anything other than “No, today” on one piece of work, and don’t assume everyone
knows better than you do. If you’re getting good edits and learning from them,
being professional in your presentation, and casting a wide net for
opportunities, it WILL happen.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">Question:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Where and when will readers be able to obtain
your novel?</span></b><b><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: yellow; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-highlight: yellow;">Answer:</span><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"> (Buy Links) THE STUFF OF MURDER is
out now from Level Best Books: </span><a href="https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-stuff-of-murder-an-old-stuff-mystery-kathleen-marple-kalb/20845144?ean=9781685125165"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">The Stuff
of Murder: An Old Stuff Mystery a book by Kathleen Marple Kalb (bookshop.org)</span></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">Comments
and or questions for Kathleen welcome here.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>Jacqueline Seewaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09177500620940251009noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6564808806012504614.post-69945419981093795222023-11-24T05:13:00.000-08:002023-11-24T05:13:10.235-08:00Interview with Author Carol Pouliot <p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgEm8tUPvzcEc2VFTwUgvzY-3y9oWR1WfnKhyYuEtw8s17aF3LBmvlnVaBRmGUovySX7OXUbx8acPvccBObKotWTs4kJqTfDJf6bMWINaL8Witt4pp_hJANLl9-ZpLAn5CkA-t7GTeTnfG0Q1MBAt2O2ljU3PoimGqQQcgnGBs8-_6fktXyhjyH1NvSjo/s1360/POULIOT,CAROL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="869" data-original-width="1360" height="204" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgEm8tUPvzcEc2VFTwUgvzY-3y9oWR1WfnKhyYuEtw8s17aF3LBmvlnVaBRmGUovySX7OXUbx8acPvccBObKotWTs4kJqTfDJf6bMWINaL8Witt4pp_hJANLl9-ZpLAn5CkA-t7GTeTnfG0Q1MBAt2O2ljU3PoimGqQQcgnGBs8-_6fktXyhjyH1NvSjo/s320/POULIOT,CAROL.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> <p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">A
Francophile at age 11, Carol Pouliot dreamed of getting her passport and going
to Paris. After a Master’s degree in French, she headed to France for her first
teaching job. She taught French and Spanish for 34 years in Upstate New York.
She also founded an agency that provided translations in over 24 languages.
Carol is the author of acclaimed The Blackwell and Watson Time-Travel
Mysteries, traditional police procedurals with a time-travel twist and a
seemingly impossible relationship between a Depression-era cop and a 21<sup>st</sup>-century
journalist. With their fast pace and unexpected twists and turns, the books
have earned praise from readers and mystery authors alike. Carol is the
President of the Upper Hudson SinC chapter (the Mavens of Mayhem) and a
founding member of Sleuths and Sidekicks. Sign up for Carol’s newsletter and
learn more at <a href="https://www.carolpouliot.com/">https://www.carolpouliot.com</a><span class="MsoHyperlink"> </span><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">and</span></span><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"> https://www.sleuthsandsidekicks.com/</span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">Question: What is the
title and genre of your novel?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why did
you select them?</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: yellow; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-highlight: yellow;">Answer:</span><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My latest book in The Blackwell and Watson
Time-Travel Mysteries is <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">RSVP to Murder</i>.
Actually, my best friend came up with the title one night while we were on the
phone. It refers to an invitation to attend a Christmas party that my
characters Steven and Olivia received.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">My
books are traditional police procedurals with a time travel twist and a
seemingly impossible romance. I like the structure of a police procedural. I
like knowing what my cop needs to do to solve the case. However, I wanted to
add something different in my novels, something no one else was doing. I
happened upon an article about Einstein one day. Einstein believed there was no
past, present, or future, that all time happened simultaneously, and that time could
fold over revealing another time. When I read this, I knew I had my twist! I
chose 1934 and 2014 because I needed two times where some of the characters
could appear in both Steven’s and Olivia’s lives. One character will be the key
to the entire series.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX7OajFSoqpOzta4Uo80fpMa3Wvp8YagjzjCtvMkavCM-bUmC2Z6geAppgtof3fnbXLrCY8u14OdSNER69_tuIsuFVbGS9ygVXLZlNY1C4QTozSQJ-mM1FEcazaJvuoeXy2E3c17RX62E2kz1gWkS2b7NT5xqNXDbGTLvT8mIRQCyCZztBoC4i5HMv26k/s2000/RSVP%20TO%20MURDER%20cover%20FINAL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="1294" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX7OajFSoqpOzta4Uo80fpMa3Wvp8YagjzjCtvMkavCM-bUmC2Z6geAppgtof3fnbXLrCY8u14OdSNER69_tuIsuFVbGS9ygVXLZlNY1C4QTozSQJ-mM1FEcazaJvuoeXy2E3c17RX62E2kz1gWkS2b7NT5xqNXDbGTLvT8mIRQCyCZztBoC4i5HMv26k/s320/RSVP%20TO%20MURDER%20cover%20FINAL.jpg" width="207" /></a></div><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"><br /></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">Question:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What
inspired this novel? How did it come about?</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: yellow; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-highlight: yellow;">Answer:</span><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"> I love the classic English country
house mysteries, especially those by Agatha Christie. I wanted to write a new
twist on that wonderful subgenre. My cop, Steven, and his partner-in-crime,
Olivia, live in Upstate New York, in the Mohawk Valley near the Adirondack
Mountains. I thought an Adirondack Great Camp would be the perfect stand-in for
a country mansion. The Great Camps were built around the turn of the last
century by the nation’s wealthiest families, like the Vanderbilts and the
Rockefellers. Their isolated location makes them the perfect setting for a
murder. A bonus is the unpredictability of the weather in the mountains—a
blizzard can develop without warning. In <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">RSVP
to Murder</i>, Steven and Olivia find themselves trapped with a killer, in a
house full of suspects, all with motive, means, and opportunity—and the very
real possibility of a second murder. I have to say that I was thrilled beyond
words when I saw several reviews compare <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">RSVP
to Murder</i> to Agatha Christie’s novels. It doesn’t get any better than that
for a writer.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">Question:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Could you tell us a little bit about the heroine
and/or hero of your novel?</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: yellow; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-highlight: yellow;">Answer</span><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">: Depression-era cop Steven Blackwell
and 21<sup>st</sup>-century journalist Olivia Watson live in the same house 80
years apart—he in 1934, she in 2014. One night, time folds over and they see
each other. After proving they are who they say they are, they begin to explore
the possibility of traveling to the other person’s time. Steven is not your
average 1930s man. He was raised by a French artist mother, who instilled in
him a curiosity about the world and an acceptance of people for who they are.
He does not have the prejudices you might expect from a man of that time.
Olivia has a nostalgia for the 1930s and is fascinated by Steven. She left her
job as a newspaper reporter and now owns a research agency. She’s an
independent woman who travels frequently. Even though they live in two
different centuries, Steven and Olivia find common ground and forge a deep
friendship.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">Question:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Can you tell us about some of your other
published novels or work?</span></b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: yellow; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-highlight: yellow;">Answer</span><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">: <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Doorway
to Murder</i> is where it all begins. I established how the time-travel would work
and introduced the series’ characters. Steven is investigating the murder of
the bank president. He reaches a point where he doesn’t know who he can trust
in his own time, so he turns to Olivia for help in solving the case. In book two,
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Threshold of Deceit</i>, Olivia leaves
the house in 1934 for the first time and accidentally befriends Steven’s main
suspect in the murder of the town’s ladies man. In each book, the danger in the
time-travel experiments increases. In <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Death
Rang the Bell,</i> book three, Olivia attends a Halloween party with Steven in
1934 and witnesses the murder. This throws her right in the middle of the case.
Not only is their secret at risk of being discovered, but Olivia faces the
life-and-death decision of whether to break the number one rule in
time-travel—don’t change anything that has happened.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">Question:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What are you working on now?</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: yellow; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-highlight: yellow;">Answer</span><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">: Book five, working title <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Murder at the Moulin Rouge</i>. This one is
going to require a bit of research. I used to be very familiar with Paris
during <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">La Belle Epoque</i>, but I haven’t
taught those classes (dealing with the art and literature of that time) in many
years. I need to immerse myself in that world again. Steven and Olivia travel
back in time to help Toulouse-Lautrec investigate the murder of one of his
models.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">Question:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What made you start writing?</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: yellow; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-highlight: yellow;">Answer</span><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">: I’d been retired for five years and
still thought of </span><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">a favorite memory from when I was
fifteen. I had earned a fair amount of money that summer. When my mother took
my sister and me back-to-school shopping, I bought something for myself. This
was the first time I’d done so and the experience was exhilarating—especially
since I bought the sweater in the Addis Company, Syracuse’s answer to Saks Fifth
Avenue. I remember that day as if it were yesterday!</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I had subscribed to <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Victoria</i> magazine since its inception.
The publication had a monthly feature on the last page called “Chimes,” and it
was always a memoir. I had read enough of them to know that my memory would be
a perfect fit. I decided to take the plunge and put my thrilling experience
into words. As I wrote, I felt a wave of deep contentment wash over me. It was
truly a transformative experience, one of the most satisfying things that I'd
ever done. I knew at that moment I wanted to spend the rest of my life writing.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">Question:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What advice would you offer to those who are
currently writing novels?</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: yellow; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-highlight: yellow;">Answer:</span><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"> Join a group of like-minded people.
Joining Sisters in Crime (a professional crime writer’s organization) was the
best thing I did for my writing career. It opened up the mystery community to
me. I learned about the publishing industry, honed my craft, and made lifelong
friendships. Writers need other writers for many things—to help with a research
question, write a blurb, beta read, cross-promote, and simply to talk about a
shared experience. Being part of the mystery community has been an
extraordinary gift.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">Question:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Where and when will readers be able to obtain
your novel?</span></b><b><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: yellow; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-highlight: yellow;">Answer:</span><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"> Online at:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/s?k=carol+pouliot&i=stripbooks&ref=nb_sb_noss_1">https://www.amazon.com/s?k=carol+pouliot&i=stripbooks&ref=nb_sb_noss_1</a><o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"><a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/carol%20pouliot">https://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/carol%20pouliot</a><o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"><a href="https://bookshop.org/search?keywords=carol+pouliot">https://bookshop.org/search?keywords=carol+pouliot</a><o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"><a href="https://www.kobo.com/us/en/search?query=carol+pouliot">https://www.kobo.com/us/en/search?query=carol+pouliot</a><o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"><a href="https://www.kobo.com/us/en/search?query=carol+pouliot">https://www.kobo.com/us/en/search?query=carol+pouliot</a></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">And
any bookstore or library can order the books.</span><b><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">Comments
or questions for Carol are welcome here.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>Jacqueline Seewaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09177500620940251009noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6564808806012504614.post-59344550446763745412023-11-17T04:18:00.000-08:002023-11-17T04:18:54.669-08:00Thoughts on Thanksgiving<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLjCVgUIBdQbLcL1oKJLDGZ9cqD-O8NaPECHDaWewjrTIAZOnK1WTrs-eQXH8WX_tuvCjc7LMk7eFBjC0w_f4MtRH7UcdDhpGHR6UjhElpfFUBmGUEZgg8u7XWZPBUG-xgOqBGxVMVjv3g8lsDWORIczDSa8bsEzcWYwKWO-n7WrpEPtrfq9rYX377uqA/s4608/Halloween%202018%202nd%20002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="4608" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLjCVgUIBdQbLcL1oKJLDGZ9cqD-O8NaPECHDaWewjrTIAZOnK1WTrs-eQXH8WX_tuvCjc7LMk7eFBjC0w_f4MtRH7UcdDhpGHR6UjhElpfFUBmGUEZgg8u7XWZPBUG-xgOqBGxVMVjv3g8lsDWORIczDSa8bsEzcWYwKWO-n7WrpEPtrfq9rYX377uqA/s320/Halloween%202018%202nd%20002.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p style="background: white; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #141823; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">As
we once again approach our national Thanksgiving holiday, considering what to
be thankful for seems particularly appropriate.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background: white; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #141823; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p style="background: white; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #141823; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">First
and foremost, I treasured my husband and the many years we shared. I am
thankful for my children and my grandchildren. I value good health. I also
appreciate the fact that I am able to write full-time.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background: white; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #141823; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p style="background: white; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">My
husband, Monte, encouraged me to write work that would be meaningful and
significant. I thought long and hard about how to fulfill that suggestion. Two
of my works are uniquely suited for Thanksgiving reads.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">My
novella THE BURNING was published by Annurlunda Enterprises. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Burning</i> is based on a play I wrote
which won the Playhouse 22 Playwrights Award and was performed on stage.<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> </i>I decided to approach it in another
genre.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnBRILA3-8Gdp0TG5HRfSHifmb9Ze9jIQ5Lz7tOpqhP7KrXBMfg3DhmgfBqmkw0DGpcTyh_Oev6gi9O7WhEFH-wJ1JIQZPP0FJaYMxvoOXEzhSyZwcAT8GQq4n5fTV7oRwe0_W9abJJ_s67ZWteFk4UIGVGox9dZdOGsgzIfrVfH3yPB0mESiFvoprPWY/s484/The_Burning_300%20(2).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="484" data-original-width="300" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnBRILA3-8Gdp0TG5HRfSHifmb9Ze9jIQ5Lz7tOpqhP7KrXBMfg3DhmgfBqmkw0DGpcTyh_Oev6gi9O7WhEFH-wJ1JIQZPP0FJaYMxvoOXEzhSyZwcAT8GQq4n5fTV7oRwe0_W9abJJ_s67ZWteFk4UIGVGox9dZdOGsgzIfrVfH3yPB0mESiFvoprPWY/s320/The_Burning_300%20(2).jpg" width="198" /></a></div><br /><p></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">THE
BURNING is faction, part fact, but also fiction, about what happens to a family
in Pennsylvania as the result of a coal fire burning under the town. Members of
the Ferris family face his or her personal hell, barely coming through it
alive, forced to acknowledge painful truths and deal with issues of faith. It’s
based on real events that occurred in Centralia. Unfortunately, such problems
continue to plague coal-mining communities in different places. Climate change
is a very serious problem causing all sorts of environmental problems. And
there are no easy answers.</span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">My
latest novel, HEART OF WISDOM, was published by Level Best Books in September. Part
I of HEART OF WISDOM is historical family saga featuring an immigrant family,
husband, wife and four daughters, during the years 1920 through 1946 as they
face the challenges of surviving life, love and loss in Newark, New Jersey.
Part II is mainly Sora’s story, youngest daughter of the family, and develops
as a mystery in which her husband is accused of a crime he did not commit. Sora
with the help of a local lawyer is determined to prove Eli innocent. Some
members of her family rally to lend support. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Heart-Wisdom-Jacqueline-Seewald-ebook/dp/B0C8BRFM86/"></a></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Heart-Wisdom-Jacqueline-Seewald-ebook/dp/B0C8BRFM86/"><img border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="1333" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9CsSTF88KZuHH19yCF49VkYMFXdnaPXWxIMIgQXVyGwDNuJ4vEUEf5qTJl1ywrC2jbli60wahX0H7_4RXsOTUgCshtXvhxPMtZGoEUsEAN6Mv6IC6urJUrPrNpYK0DczZkaYPctUWVTDWB20VOYb4dgS2dRUZ4agoCYjn33GZFA9q4Oneycxw6gbdtRY/s320/HEART%20OF%20WISDOME%20cover%20concept%205.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Heart-Wisdom-Jacqueline-Seewald-ebook/dp/B0C8BRFM86/"><br /><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"><br />
https://www.amazon.com/Heart-Wisdom-Jacqueline-Seewald-ebook/dp/B0C8BRFM86/</span></a><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/books/1144049440"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/books/1144049440</span></a><span style="color: black; font-size: 11.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><a href="https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/heart-of-wisdom-4"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">Heart of Wisdom eBook
by Jacqueline Seewald - EPUB Book | Rakuten Kobo United States</span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"> </span><span style="color: black; font-size: 11.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><a href="https://books.apple.com/us/book/heart-of-wisdom/id6465572120"><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">Heart of Wisdom on Apple Books</span></a><span style="color: black; font-size: 11.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><a href="https://bookshop.org/p/books/heart-of-wisdom-jacqueline-seewald/20598287?aid=11404&ean=9781685124014&listref=level-best-2023-releases"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">https://bookshop.org/p/books/heart-of-wisdom-jacqueline-seewald/20598287?aid=11404&ean=9781685124014&listref=level-best-2023-releases</span></a></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">Both
HEART OF WISDOM and THE BURNING are available in print and all e-book formats
from Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Apple, etc.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText"><br /></p>
<pre><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>What are you thankful for? Your health, your accomplishments,</b></span></pre><pre><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"><b> family, friends? Your thoughts and comments welcome!<o:p></o:p></b></span></pre>
<p class="MsoPlainText"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p><b> </b></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p><b> </b></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p><b> </b></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>Jacqueline Seewaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09177500620940251009noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6564808806012504614.post-47818139105676838562023-11-03T05:01:00.001-07:002023-11-03T05:01:15.983-07:00Interview with Author Daniella Bernett<p> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a name="_Hlk149828242"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">Daniella Bernett</span></b></a><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk149828242;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">is a member of the International Thriller Writers (ITW), Mystery
Writers of America (MWA) and the Crime Writers Association<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">. </i>She graduated summa cum laude with a B.S. in Journalism from St.
John’s University. <a name="_Hlk134020149"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Lead
Me Into Danger</i>, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Deadly Legacy</i>, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">From Beyond The Grave</i>, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">A Checkered Past</i>, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">When Blood Runs Cold</i>, <i>Old Sins Never Die</i>, <i>Viper’s Nest of
Lies</i>, <i>A Mind To Murder</i> </a>and <i>Betrayed By The Truth</i> are the books
in the Emmeline Kirby-Gregory Longdon mystery series. She has served as a
panelist at ITW’s ThrillerFest conference and for MWA. She also is the author
of two poetry collections, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Timeless
Allure </i>and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Silken Reflections</i>. Daniella
is currently working on Emmeline and Gregory’s next adventure. Visit <a href="http://www.daniellabernett.com/">www.daniellabernett.com</a> or follow her
on Facebook at <a href="https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100008802318282">https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100008802318282</a>
or on Goodreads <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/40690254-daniella-bernett">https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/40690254-daniella-bernett</a>.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbSWhrnZMg9VIHC42DZ7cmwRKe1ZG53V-BCCiuw3xAamda4-laAXRPkpFsS2tIT8BbkShUr4aSPiTQAFuHimKENy3pRRVUAFkUXOlaWtcBDTDItbhCFcbL1saem5vfUKdLcbDw1Fdaskwz1kkJBxiGhpuhgGWhD9nZVdN_hW7C1ntBTNxLBvrW_TYtHfo/s5184/Daniella%20Bernett%20Author%20Photo%20(2023).JPG.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3888" data-original-width="5184" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbSWhrnZMg9VIHC42DZ7cmwRKe1ZG53V-BCCiuw3xAamda4-laAXRPkpFsS2tIT8BbkShUr4aSPiTQAFuHimKENy3pRRVUAFkUXOlaWtcBDTDItbhCFcbL1saem5vfUKdLcbDw1Fdaskwz1kkJBxiGhpuhgGWhD9nZVdN_hW7C1ntBTNxLBvrW_TYtHfo/s320/Daniella%20Bernett%20Author%20Photo%20(2023).JPG.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">Question: What is the
title and genre of your novel?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why did
you select them?</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: yellow; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-highlight: yellow;">Answer:</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">Betrayed By The Truth
</span></i><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">is the latest book</span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"> </span></i><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">in my Emmeline Kirby-Gregory Longdon mystery series. It’s set in London
and Switzerland.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">My mother got my sister and me hooked on mysteries
and spy thrillers, when we were little. That’s why I wanted to create my own
mystery series. As for the title, I explore the idea that in certain
circumstances the truth can be a double-edged sword with serious repercussions
for the guilty and the innocent. Also, friends make the worst enemies because
they know one’s weaknesses and how to twist the knife to exploit them.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQUzLT4YfBTpH03vtQLyNzponTdmEIGjtA1yGMJIuBi7KUMdLJEojxeoilcRSEfFNv-qzxp5GH7YTDt-aHqnXzKiESIJPWxOWOw590CdG4VnvVCM1R4ENw80BFCXebLqIaP34BDjzpmOw_-O5l51z2rO7FemvCean0UnndsDuKhuiuaI6BJEsIF7rwCaY/s2475/BETRAYED%20BY%20THE%20TRUTH%20Front%20Cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2475" data-original-width="1635" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQUzLT4YfBTpH03vtQLyNzponTdmEIGjtA1yGMJIuBi7KUMdLJEojxeoilcRSEfFNv-qzxp5GH7YTDt-aHqnXzKiESIJPWxOWOw590CdG4VnvVCM1R4ENw80BFCXebLqIaP34BDjzpmOw_-O5l51z2rO7FemvCean0UnndsDuKhuiuaI6BJEsIF7rwCaY/s320/BETRAYED%20BY%20THE%20TRUTH%20Front%20Cover.jpg" width="211" /></a></div><br /> <o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">Question:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What
inspired this novel? How did it come about?</span></b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: yellow; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-highlight: yellow;">Answer:</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">I
have a confession. I see murder everywhere. In beauty, there’s danger. Even the
most bucolic and genteel of settings are fair game. In this instance, I was on a
boat ride along Lake Thun in Switzerland, when the ember kindled in my mind. The
lake is 700 feet deep in places, a juicy fact for one whose imagination has
lethal impulses. I pictured it in December with a frigid wind gathering indigo
clouds in the midnight sky. Emmeline was stumbling across a meadow covered in
an opalescent crust of ice that sloped down to the lake. Before she could reach
the woods, a killer’s hand clamps down on her shoulder. Oh, my. Curiosity left
me no choice but to follow the Muse.</span><b><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">Question:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Could you tell us a little bit about the heroine
and/or hero of your novel?</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: yellow; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-highlight: yellow;">Answer</span><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">:</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">Emmeline
and Gregory are British. They are married and live in London. Emmeline is the
editorial director of investigative features at <i>The Clarion</i> newspaper.
She is a petite bundle of fiery determination, who seeks to discover the truth
at all costs. She’s fiercely loyal to those she loves. At the same time, she
has a short temper and is impatient, a combination which frequently sends her
hurtling into perilous predicaments.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">Gregory
is suave and dashing. He’s an insurance investigator and “former” jewel thief,
who carries out the occasional heist to keep life from becoming too tame. It
would be a pity to allow his skills to atrophy. Much of his past remains
cloaked in shadows and oftentimes he goes off on secret forays of his own.
Emmeline has vowed to find out every little detail because she hates being left
in the dark.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">Question:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Can you tell us about some of your other
published novels or work?</span></b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: yellow; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-highlight: yellow;">Answer</span><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">:</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">There are eight previous books in my series. All are
laced with murder, deception, treachery and espionage. Setting plays an
important role in all my books. It’s like a character all its own. I like to
provide an escape for my readers and make them feel as if they are walking in
my characters’ footsteps. Each book can stand alone. However, I include enough
backstory in the books because I’m conscious that some readers may be discovering
my work for the first time.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Before I started to focus exclusively on my series,
I wrote two poetry collections. The poems are descriptive and emotive.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">Question:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What are you working on now?</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: yellow; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-highlight: yellow;">Answer</span><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">:</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">I’m
working on <i>Don’t Breathe A Word</i>, Book 10 in the series. Lean in close
and I’ll whisper a hint. Secrets, lies, kidnapping and revenge plunge Emmeline
and Gregory into a simmering cauldron of deadly intrigue.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">Question:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What made you start writing?</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: yellow; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-highlight: yellow;">Answer</span><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">:</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">It
began with a love affair with reading. I thank my parents for reading to me and
my sister from a very young age. This developed into an appreciation for the
written word. All writers are readers at heart. Writing is like breathing. It’s
something I must do. I can’t imagine not writing. I would be like an empty shell,
lost and forlorn on a stretch of silken sands. I love devising plots, adding
twists and turns, and leaving a string of red herrings in my characters’ wake
just for a bit of fun.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">Question:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What advice would you offer to those who are
currently writing novels?</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: yellow; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-highlight: yellow;">Answer:</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">I
would tell aspiring authors to write the story that they want to write and not
what others tell them or what the current market trends are. To write a great
story, you have to breathe it, live with it, and nurture it in your dreams and
waking hours.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">Question:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Where and when will readers be able to obtain
your novel?</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: yellow; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-highlight: yellow;">Answer:</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">SIGNED
Copies at the Mysterious Bookshop:<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"><a href="https://www.mysteriousbookshop.com/products/daniella-bernett-betrayed-by-the-truth-preorder-signed-paperback?_pos=1&_sid=0784103a2&_ss=r">https://www.mysteriousbookshop.com/products/daniella-bernett-betrayed-by-the-truth-preorder-signed-paperback?_pos=1&_sid=0784103a2&_ss=r</a></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">Amazon:<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Betrayed-Truth-Emmeline-Gregory-Longdon-ebook/dp/B0CJ66BZJG/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=daniella+bernett&qid=1697468153&sr=8-1">https://www.amazon.com/Betrayed-Truth-Emmeline-Gregory-Longdon-ebook/dp/B0CJ66BZJG/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=daniella+bernett&qid=1697468153&sr=8-1</a></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">Barnes
& Noble:<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"><a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/betrayed-by-the-truth-daniella-bernett/1144096917;jsessionid=3F265A4E93E6CCA1B2375068BC67004E.prodny_store01-atgap12?ean=9781960050236">https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/betrayed-by-the-truth-daniella-bernett/1144096917;jsessionid=3F265A4E93E6CCA1B2375068BC67004E.prodny_store01-atgap12?ean=9781960050236</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"><a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/betrayed-by-the-truth-daniella-bernett/1144089124;jsessionid=3F265A4E93E6CCA1B2375068BC67004E.prodny_store01-atgap12?ean=2940166109552">https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/betrayed-by-the-truth-daniella-bernett/1144089124;jsessionid=3F265A4E93E6CCA1B2375068BC67004E.prodny_store01-atgap12?ean=2940166109552</a></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">Waterstones:<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"><a href="https://www.waterstones.com/book/betrayed-by-the-truth/daniella-bernett/9781960050236">https://www.waterstones.com/book/betrayed-by-the-truth/daniella-bernett/9781960050236</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">&
wherever books are sold</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">Comments
and/or questions for Daniella are welcome.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>Jacqueline Seewaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09177500620940251009noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6564808806012504614.post-27276466783765255702023-10-30T04:26:00.003-07:002023-10-30T04:26:55.706-07:00The Truth about Halloween <p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0dX7wm-iE8YiNjDjR9kXcCjdavOtLPkOT4dpxb0KVDSOeaO_WvDhJN0-5Ho1xAI1tRz4j7KOQjsvTypBloV9Hr5JWsxo-bV-VL3KR6scd9CjxzPB8T4k65oyMQJtzLH3_0Au4fdm24NyVFxGWT5q4eRfmAMq-MFSquGEIvMdEgt1pLL2-ssfFMaSazXM/s4608/Halloween%202018%202nd.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="4608" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0dX7wm-iE8YiNjDjR9kXcCjdavOtLPkOT4dpxb0KVDSOeaO_WvDhJN0-5Ho1xAI1tRz4j7KOQjsvTypBloV9Hr5JWsxo-bV-VL3KR6scd9CjxzPB8T4k65oyMQJtzLH3_0Au4fdm24NyVFxGWT5q4eRfmAMq-MFSquGEIvMdEgt1pLL2-ssfFMaSazXM/s320/Halloween%202018%202nd.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p class="NormalWeb6" style="background: white;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 160%; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">Ever wonder what the
real deal is concerning this holiday? The paranormal aura and mystique
surrounding </span><span style="color: #ff6600; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 160%;">Halloween</span><span style="color: black; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 160%; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">
connects to a series of beliefs, traditions and superstitions. </span><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 160%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="NormalWeb6" style="background: white;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 160%; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">What is the actual
origin of Halloween? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It appears to date
back to the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>By Celts we refer to the people who lived approximately 2,000 years ago
in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Ireland</st1:country-region></st1:place>,
the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">United Kingdom</st1:country-region></st1:place>,
and northern <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">France</st1:country-region></st1:place>,
celebrating their new year on November 1. This day marked the end of summer harvest
and the beginning of dark, cold winter, a time of year often associated with
human death. </span><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 160%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="NormalWeb6" style="background: white; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 160%; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">Celts
believed that on the night before the new year, the boundary between the worlds
of the living and the dead became blurred. On the night of October 31, they
celebrated Samhain, believing that ghosts of the dead returned to earth. In
addition to causing trouble and damaging crops, Celts thought that the presence
of the otherworldly spirits made it easier for the Druids, or Celtic priests,
to make predictions about the future.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The Druids built huge sacred bonfires, where the people gathered to burn
crops and animals as sacrifices to the Celtic deities.</span><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 160%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="NormalWeb6" style="background: white;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 160%; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">During these celebrations,
Celts wore costumes, typically consisting of animal heads and skins, and attempted
to tell each other's fortunes. When the celebration was over, they re-lit their
hearth fires, which they put out earlier that evening. This symbolic lighting
was done from the sacred bonfire to serve as a protection during the coming
winter.</span><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 160%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="NormalWeb6" style="background: white;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 160%; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">By 43 A.D., the Romans
had conquered a majority of Celtic territory. During the course of the four
hundred years that they ruled the Celtic lands, two festivals of Roman origin
were combined with the traditional Celtic celebration of Samhain. The first was
Feralia, a day in late October when the Romans traditionally commemorated the
passing of the dead. The second was a day to honor <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Pomona</st1:city></st1:place>, the Roman goddess of fruit and trees.
The symbol of <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Pomona</st1:city></st1:place>
is the apple and the incorporation of this celebration into Samhain probably
explains the tradition of "bobbing" for apples that is practiced
today on Halloween.</span><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 160%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="NormalWeb6" style="background: white;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 160%; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">By the 800’s, the
influence of Christianity had spread into Celtic lands. In the seventh century,
Pope Boniface IV designated November 1 as All Saints' Day, a time to honor
saints and martyrs. The pope was attempting to replace the Celtic festival of
the dead with a related, but church-sanctioned holiday. The celebration was
also called All-hallows or All-hallowmas (All Saints' Day) and the night before
it, the night of Samhain, began to be called All-hallows Eve and, eventually,
Halloween. Even later, in 1000 A.D., the church designated November 2 All
Souls' Day, a day to honor the dead. It was celebrated similarly to Samhain,
with big bonfires, parades, and dressing up in costumes as saints, angels, and
devils. </span><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 160%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="NormalWeb6" style="background: white; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 160%; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">Tales
of the supernatural and paranormal are ever popular during the </span><span style="color: #ff6600; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 160%;">Halloween</span><span style="color: black; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 160%; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">
season. </span><span style="font-size: 14pt; text-indent: 0in;">Black
Opal Books published WITCH WISH, my YA novel with a supernatural twist:</span></p>
<pre style="background: white;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07DRB3VVH">https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07DRB3VVH</a></span></pre><pre style="background: white;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"><a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/witch-wish/id1401568260?mt=11">https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/witch-wish/id1401568260?mt=11</a></span></pre><pre style="background: white;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"><a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/witch-wish-jacqueline-seewald/1128937209?ean=2940162153894">https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/witch-wish-jacqueline-seewald/1128937209?ean=2940162153894</a></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></pre>
<p class="NormalWeb6" style="background: white; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 160%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_fLB2YTfg7sAwCtf_tyez6oo-Jr3c8gCrS4R_vzjNzFsk3kbBvTU_oHhCGqadUzoCpJP7K_6W6nHy839vG_NmbQGzQbjcD82043p8O4CFxoh3IW36Z6mXXBevAznD9CdyONjaiq1IV9U-aFN4JfHmkGDMc8UYBSe4MTy7EPAYdgbEqs-jyPMf2MP-pFo/s2700/front%20cover%20(6).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2700" data-original-width="1800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_fLB2YTfg7sAwCtf_tyez6oo-Jr3c8gCrS4R_vzjNzFsk3kbBvTU_oHhCGqadUzoCpJP7K_6W6nHy839vG_NmbQGzQbjcD82043p8O4CFxoh3IW36Z6mXXBevAznD9CdyONjaiq1IV9U-aFN4JfHmkGDMc8UYBSe4MTy7EPAYdgbEqs-jyPMf2MP-pFo/s320/front%20cover%20(6).jpg" width="213" /></a></div><p></p>
<p class="NormalWeb6" style="background: white; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 160%; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">DARK
MOON RISING, Gothic romantic suspense from Luminosity for adult reading, is
available in all e-book formats and print. </span><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 160%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00Z7824A4/">http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00Z7824A4/</a></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"><a href="http://luminositypublishing.com/product/dark-moon-rising/">http://luminositypublishing.com/product/dark-moon-rising/</a></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"><a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/dark-moon-rising/id1020852100?mt=11">https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/dark-moon-rising/id1020852100?mt=11</a></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"><a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/dark-moon-rising-jacqueline-seewald/1122376394?ean=2940150766686">http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/dark-moon-rising-jacqueline-seewald/1122376394?ean=2940150766686</a></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"><a href="https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-darkmoonrising-1856071-340.html">https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-darkmoonrising-1856071-340.html</a></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><span style="color: #0f1419; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Segoe UI"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Regency
for Halloween, TEA LEAVES AND TAROT CARDS, is in print+ALL ebook formats:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><a name="_Hlk124055832"><span style="color: #1d9bf0; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Segoe UI"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">https://luminositypublishing.com/en/book/tea-leaves-and-tarot-cards/</span></a><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk124055832;"><span style="color: #0f1419; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Segoe UI"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><a name="_Hlk124055832" style="font-size: 18.6667px;"><span style="color: #1d9bf0; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">https://www.amazon.com/Tea-Leaves-Tarot-Cards-Regency-ebook/dp/B0BKP31G8Y</span></a></p>
<span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk124055832;"></span>
<p style="background: white; margin: 0in;"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">"Jacqueline Seewald's Tea Leaves and Tarot Cards
delivers an unusual and intriguing heroine together with fast-paced historical
romantic-suspense."</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><br />
<span style="background: white;">Jayne Ann Krentz/Amanda Quick</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="color: #292f33; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8I73uxcy3L4giZ_X2cllsHefZ1R4wIlILFCrU_raSMxivJZ5G0-t0RWlbaYSLfvvistOn9rpaFL_3UGfoCOAWmWPXlqz4ixInex5JDkKM7www2K5MqdiRD4YqcOoLeL9PsLNCtNVYwBjvAhk8S_geI-BazG56EbHPNa89WyipmNQedJ-PSzujSNYE3sc/s675/Tea%20Leaves%20Luminosity.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="450" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8I73uxcy3L4giZ_X2cllsHefZ1R4wIlILFCrU_raSMxivJZ5G0-t0RWlbaYSLfvvistOn9rpaFL_3UGfoCOAWmWPXlqz4ixInex5JDkKM7www2K5MqdiRD4YqcOoLeL9PsLNCtNVYwBjvAhk8S_geI-BazG56EbHPNa89WyipmNQedJ-PSzujSNYE3sc/s320/Tea%20Leaves%20Luminosity.jpg" width="213" /></a></b></div><b><br /></b><p></p>
<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="text-indent: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Do you have any
favorite books/stories you’d recommend or want to read for Halloween?<o:p></o:p></span></p>Jacqueline Seewaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09177500620940251009noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6564808806012504614.post-76519136534803506502023-10-20T04:12:00.000-07:002023-10-20T04:12:36.813-07:00 Ghost Stories (Part Two) <p> <span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Verdana, Verdana_EmbeddedFont, Verdana_MSFontService, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIQU7ScznmcByfCCYQsuS1nOvF3qGK4_73hsCXiE2rTmuQTcjm8PObSdV6AHSJoqRfUfG26nlWPWKYB0BT5AiU-0ZJystqrcXO4w-hNCn4DHAAM9dZUh0cCgjwr8OOO8HrmrQV7H1YTABueFeJ0fxphp9iJjIh_nIP7NUded2tgivYpXL-ahh7NjhFdgY/s4608/Halloween%202018.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="4608" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIQU7ScznmcByfCCYQsuS1nOvF3qGK4_73hsCXiE2rTmuQTcjm8PObSdV6AHSJoqRfUfG26nlWPWKYB0BT5AiU-0ZJystqrcXO4w-hNCn4DHAAM9dZUh0cCgjwr8OOO8HrmrQV7H1YTABueFeJ0fxphp9iJjIh_nIP7NUded2tgivYpXL-ahh7NjhFdgY/s320/Halloween%202018.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW53624018 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW53624018 BCX8" paraeid="{689dd3ba-5161-4e2a-bd1c-8a71e5759470}{181}" paraid="1620999930" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span class="TextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: Verdana, Verdana_EmbeddedFont, Verdana_MSFontService, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 24.8208px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">It seems ghost stories</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> have been haunting us forever.</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Whether in a Medieval castle with turrets or the Pine Barrens of New Jersey, stories of ghosts continue as part of literature. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">The fact is, </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">I’ve</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> written quite a few myself</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">,</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> both in short stories and novels.</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW53624018 BCX8" data-ccp-props="{}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: Verdana, Verdana_EmbeddedFont, Verdana_MSFontService, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 24.8208px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW53624018 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW53624018 BCX8" paraeid="{689dd3ba-5161-4e2a-bd1c-8a71e5759470}{195}" paraid="171397149" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span class="TextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: Verdana, Verdana_EmbeddedFont, Verdana_MSFontService, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 24.8208px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"></span></span><span class="EOP SCXW53624018 BCX8" data-ccp-props="{}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: Verdana, Verdana_EmbeddedFont, Verdana_MSFontService, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 24.8208px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW53624018 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW53624018 BCX8" paraeid="{689dd3ba-5161-4e2a-bd1c-8a71e5759470}{199}" paraid="909426003" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span class="TextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: Verdana, Verdana_EmbeddedFont, Verdana_MSFontService, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 24.8208px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Why the continued interest? Sarah Begley in her TIME article discusse</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">d</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> GHOSTLAND: An American History in Haunted Places</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> in which a</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">uthor Colin Dickey </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">wa</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">s quoted as </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">stating</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> in </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">his</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> nonfiction book that ghost stories reveal “the contours of our anxieties” and “the nature of our collective fears and desires.” </span></span><span class="EOP SCXW53624018 BCX8" data-ccp-props="{}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: Verdana, Verdana_EmbeddedFont, Verdana_MSFontService, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 24.8208px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW53624018 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW53624018 BCX8" paraeid="{689dd3ba-5161-4e2a-bd1c-8a71e5759470}{223}" paraid="1571515515" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span class="TextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: Verdana, Verdana_EmbeddedFont, Verdana_MSFontService, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 24.8208px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"></span></span><span class="EOP SCXW53624018 BCX8" data-ccp-props="{}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: Verdana, Verdana_EmbeddedFont, Verdana_MSFontService, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 24.8208px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW53624018 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW53624018 BCX8" paraeid="{689dd3ba-5161-4e2a-bd1c-8a71e5759470}{227}" paraid="274603095" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span class="TextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: Verdana, Verdana_EmbeddedFont, Verdana_MSFontService, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 24.8208px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Why are we inclined to want to believe that ghosts or spirits exist beyond death? </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">There’s</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> an old spiritual that says: “Everybody wants to go to </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">heaven,</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> but nobody wants to die.”</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">We would like to believe that we do in fact have souls</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> and the possibility of an afterlife</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span></span><span class="EOP SCXW53624018 BCX8" data-ccp-props="{}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: Verdana, Verdana_EmbeddedFont, Verdana_MSFontService, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 24.8208px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW53624018 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW53624018 BCX8" paraeid="{689dd3ba-5161-4e2a-bd1c-8a71e5759470}{245}" paraid="48969615" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span class="TextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: Verdana, Verdana_EmbeddedFont, Verdana_MSFontService, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 24.8208px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"></span></span><span class="EOP SCXW53624018 BCX8" data-ccp-props="{}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: Verdana, Verdana_EmbeddedFont, Verdana_MSFontService, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 24.8208px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW53624018 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW53624018 BCX8" paraeid="{689dd3ba-5161-4e2a-bd1c-8a71e5759470}{249}" paraid="1354555338" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span class="TextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" data-contrast="none" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: Verdana, Verdana_EmbeddedFont, Verdana_MSFontService, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">The popular 1986 motion picture, </span><span class="TextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" data-contrast="none" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: Verdana, Verdana_EmbeddedFont, Verdana_MSFontService, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">Ghostbusters,</span><span class="TextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" data-contrast="none" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: Verdana, Verdana_EmbeddedFont, Verdana_MSFontService, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" data-ccp-parastyle="Body Text Indent" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> set off a virtual mania </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" data-ccp-parastyle="Body Text Indent" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">regarding</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" data-ccp-parastyle="Body Text Indent" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> ghost hunting. It was followed by an animated cartoon series which pursued the same theme for children and met with enthusiasm</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" data-ccp-parastyle="Body Text Indent" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. There was also an</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" data-ccp-parastyle="Body Text Indent" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> updated adult film with a female cast. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" data-ccp-parastyle="Body Text Indent" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">T</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" data-ccp-parastyle="Body Text Indent" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">he TV series </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" data-contrast="none" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: Verdana, Verdana_EmbeddedFont, Verdana_MSFontService, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">Ghosts</span><span class="TextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" data-contrast="none" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: Verdana, Verdana_EmbeddedFont, Verdana_MSFontService, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" data-ccp-parastyle="Body Text Indent" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" data-ccp-parastyle="Body Text Indent" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">was</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" data-ccp-parastyle="Body Text Indent" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" data-ccp-parastyle="Body Text Indent" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">a </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" data-ccp-parastyle="Body Text Indent" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Thursday night favorite on CBS</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" data-ccp-parastyle="Body Text Indent" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> last season</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" data-ccp-parastyle="Body Text Indent" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">.</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" data-ccp-parastyle="Body Text Indent" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span><span class="NormalTextRun ContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2Themed SCXW53624018 BCX8" data-ccp-parastyle="Body Text Indent" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-image: var(--urlContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2, url('data:image/svg+xml;base64,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')); background-position: left bottom; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Hallmark has</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" data-ccp-parastyle="Body Text Indent" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> done ghost stories as well.</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW53624018 BCX8" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559731":0,"335559740":240}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: Verdana, Verdana_EmbeddedFont, Verdana_MSFontService, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW53624018 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW53624018 BCX8" paraeid="{fd013615-e1fe-41ac-8548-69d5ec83bb60}{30}" paraid="1778755593" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span class="TextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" data-contrast="none" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: Verdana, Verdana_EmbeddedFont, Verdana_MSFontService, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" data-ccp-parastyle="Body Text Indent" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"></span></span><span class="EOP SCXW53624018 BCX8" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559731":0,"335559740":240}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: Verdana, Verdana_EmbeddedFont, Verdana_MSFontService, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW53624018 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW53624018 BCX8" paraeid="{fd013615-e1fe-41ac-8548-69d5ec83bb60}{34}" paraid="957471090" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span class="TextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" data-contrast="none" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: Verdana, Verdana_EmbeddedFont, Verdana_MSFontService, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" data-ccp-parastyle="Body Text Indent" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">But truth is stranger than fiction. Ghost hunting has become an avid though admittedly unusual hobby for many people. These individuals are joining groups or organizations that hunt for spirits of the dead. Groups are proliferating that </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" data-ccp-parastyle="Body Text Indent" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">attempt</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" data-ccp-parastyle="Body Text Indent" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> to use scientific methods to </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" data-ccp-parastyle="Body Text Indent" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">locate</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" data-ccp-parastyle="Body Text Indent" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> ghosts. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" data-ccp-parastyle="Body Text Indent" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">In fact, </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" data-ccp-parastyle="Body Text Indent" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">it’s</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" data-ccp-parastyle="Body Text Indent" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> a hobby that many people enjoy throughout the world.</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" data-ccp-parastyle="Body Text Indent" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> These organizations research, photograph, document, and, in some instances, </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" data-ccp-parastyle="Body Text Indent" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">seek</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" data-ccp-parastyle="Body Text Indent" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> to remove those ghosts that have proved inconvenient. </span></span><span class="EOP SCXW53624018 BCX8" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559731":0,"335559740":240}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: Verdana, Verdana_EmbeddedFont, Verdana_MSFontService, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW53624018 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW53624018 BCX8" paraeid="{fd013615-e1fe-41ac-8548-69d5ec83bb60}{40}" paraid="1513733091" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span class="TextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" data-contrast="none" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: Verdana, Verdana_EmbeddedFont, Verdana_MSFontService, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" data-ccp-parastyle="Body Text Indent" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"></span></span><span class="EOP SCXW53624018 BCX8" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559731":0,"335559740":240}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: Verdana, Verdana_EmbeddedFont, Verdana_MSFontService, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW53624018 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW53624018 BCX8" paraeid="{fd013615-e1fe-41ac-8548-69d5ec83bb60}{44}" paraid="128245982" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span class="TextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" data-contrast="none" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: Verdana, Verdana_EmbeddedFont, Verdana_MSFontService, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" data-ccp-parastyle="Body Text Indent" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Groups have sprung up across </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" data-ccp-parastyle="Body Text Indent" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">America</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" data-ccp-parastyle="Body Text Indent" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> in such diverse states as: </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" data-ccp-parastyle="Body Text Indent" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Alabama</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" data-ccp-parastyle="Body Text Indent" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">, </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" data-ccp-parastyle="Body Text Indent" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Arizona</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" data-ccp-parastyle="Body Text Indent" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">, </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" data-ccp-parastyle="Body Text Indent" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">California</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" data-ccp-parastyle="Body Text Indent" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">, </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" data-ccp-parastyle="Body Text Indent" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Florida</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" data-ccp-parastyle="Body Text Indent" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">, </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" data-ccp-parastyle="Body Text Indent" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Georgia</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" data-ccp-parastyle="Body Text Indent" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">, </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" data-ccp-parastyle="Body Text Indent" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Hawaii</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" data-ccp-parastyle="Body Text Indent" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">, </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" data-ccp-parastyle="Body Text Indent" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Illinois</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" data-ccp-parastyle="Body Text Indent" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">, </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" data-ccp-parastyle="Body Text Indent" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Kentucky</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" data-ccp-parastyle="Body Text Indent" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">, </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" data-ccp-parastyle="Body Text Indent" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Louisiana</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" data-ccp-parastyle="Body Text Indent" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">, </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" data-ccp-parastyle="Body Text Indent" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Maine</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" data-ccp-parastyle="Body Text Indent" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">, </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" data-ccp-parastyle="Body Text Indent" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Maryland</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" data-ccp-parastyle="Body Text Indent" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">, </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" data-ccp-parastyle="Body Text Indent" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Massachusetts</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" data-ccp-parastyle="Body Text Indent" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">, </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" data-ccp-parastyle="Body Text Indent" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Michigan</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" data-ccp-parastyle="Body Text Indent" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">, </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" data-ccp-parastyle="Body Text Indent" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Nebraska</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" data-ccp-parastyle="Body Text Indent" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">, </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" data-ccp-parastyle="Body Text Indent" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Nevada</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" data-ccp-parastyle="Body Text Indent" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">, </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" data-ccp-parastyle="Body Text Indent" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">New Hampshire</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" data-ccp-parastyle="Body Text Indent" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">, </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" data-ccp-parastyle="Body Text Indent" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">New Jersey</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" data-ccp-parastyle="Body Text Indent" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">, </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" data-ccp-parastyle="Body Text Indent" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">New Mexico</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" data-ccp-parastyle="Body Text Indent" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">, </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" data-ccp-parastyle="Body Text Indent" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">New York</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" data-ccp-parastyle="Body Text Indent" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">, </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" data-ccp-parastyle="Body Text Indent" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Ohio</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" data-ccp-parastyle="Body Text Indent" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">, </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" data-ccp-parastyle="Body Text Indent" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Oklahoma</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" data-ccp-parastyle="Body Text Indent" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">, </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" data-ccp-parastyle="Body Text Indent" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Oregon</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" data-ccp-parastyle="Body Text Indent" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">, </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" data-ccp-parastyle="Body Text Indent" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Pennsylvania</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" data-ccp-parastyle="Body Text Indent" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">, </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" data-ccp-parastyle="Body Text Indent" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">South Carolina</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" data-ccp-parastyle="Body Text Indent" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">, </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" data-ccp-parastyle="Body Text Indent" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Tennessee</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" data-ccp-parastyle="Body Text Indent" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">, </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" data-ccp-parastyle="Body Text Indent" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Texas</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" data-ccp-parastyle="Body Text Indent" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">, </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" data-ccp-parastyle="Body Text Indent" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Utah</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" data-ccp-parastyle="Body Text Indent" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">, </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" data-ccp-parastyle="Body Text Indent" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Washington</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" data-ccp-parastyle="Body Text Indent" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">, </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" data-ccp-parastyle="Body Text Indent" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">West Virginia</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" data-ccp-parastyle="Body Text Indent" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> and </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" data-ccp-parastyle="Body Text Indent" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Wisconsin</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" data-ccp-parastyle="Body Text Indent" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">.</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" data-ccp-parastyle="Body Text Indent" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> From the number of ghost-hunting organizations with websites, there appear to be hundreds of groups with thousands of members worldwide.</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW53624018 BCX8" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559731":0,"335559740":240}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: Verdana, Verdana_EmbeddedFont, Verdana_MSFontService, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW53624018 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW53624018 BCX8" paraeid="{fd013615-e1fe-41ac-8548-69d5ec83bb60}{176}" paraid="1103688598" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span class="TextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" data-contrast="none" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: Verdana, Verdana_EmbeddedFont, Verdana_MSFontService, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" data-ccp-parastyle="Body Text Indent" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"></span></span><span class="EOP SCXW53624018 BCX8" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559731":0,"335559740":240}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: Verdana, Verdana_EmbeddedFont, Verdana_MSFontService, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW53624018 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW53624018 BCX8" paraeid="{fd013615-e1fe-41ac-8548-69d5ec83bb60}{180}" paraid="1041656255" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span class="TextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" data-contrast="none" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: Verdana, Verdana_EmbeddedFont, Verdana_MSFontService, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" data-ccp-parastyle="Body Text Indent" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">International organizations exist everywhere. Their purpose is to find scientific evidence of ghosts and an afterlife. Organizations exist in such places as the </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" data-ccp-parastyle="Body Text Indent" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">United Kingdom</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" data-ccp-parastyle="Body Text Indent" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">, including </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" data-ccp-parastyle="Body Text Indent" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Scotland</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" data-ccp-parastyle="Body Text Indent" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">, </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" data-ccp-parastyle="Body Text Indent" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Australia</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" data-ccp-parastyle="Body Text Indent" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">, </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" data-ccp-parastyle="Body Text Indent" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">New Zealand</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" data-ccp-parastyle="Body Text Indent" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">, </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" data-ccp-parastyle="Body Text Indent" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Belgium</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" data-ccp-parastyle="Body Text Indent" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">, and </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" data-ccp-parastyle="Body Text Indent" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Sweden</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" data-ccp-parastyle="Body Text Indent" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. There have been ghost sightings in </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" data-ccp-parastyle="Body Text Indent" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Asia</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" data-ccp-parastyle="Body Text Indent" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">, in such </span><span class="NormalTextRun ContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2Themed SCXW53624018 BCX8" data-ccp-parastyle="Body Text Indent" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-image: var(--urlContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2, url('data:image/svg+xml;base64,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')); background-position: left bottom; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">far-flung</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" data-ccp-parastyle="Body Text Indent" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> locations as </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" data-ccp-parastyle="Body Text Indent" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Singapore</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" data-ccp-parastyle="Body Text Indent" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">--and in short, the entire world. </span></span><span class="EOP SCXW53624018 BCX8" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559731":0,"335559740":240}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; 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-webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: Verdana, Verdana_EmbeddedFont, Verdana_MSFontService, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" data-ccp-parastyle="Body Text Indent" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"></span></span><span class="EOP SCXW53624018 BCX8" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559731":0,"335559740":240}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: Verdana, Verdana_EmbeddedFont, Verdana_MSFontService, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW53624018 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW53624018 BCX8" paraeid="{fd013615-e1fe-41ac-8548-69d5ec83bb60}{222}" paraid="1461946895" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span class="TextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" data-contrast="none" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: Verdana, Verdana_EmbeddedFont, Verdana_MSFontService, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" data-ccp-parastyle="Body Text Indent" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Today’s ghost hunting organizations take pride in using the most modern technology possible. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" data-ccp-parastyle="Body Text Indent" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">A variety of recording and measuring technology are used by ghost hunters who visit haunted houses, </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" data-ccp-parastyle="Body Text Indent" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">graveyards</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" data-ccp-parastyle="Body Text Indent" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> and other eerie locations, </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" data-ccp-parastyle="Body Text Indent" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">attempting</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" data-ccp-parastyle="Body Text Indent" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> to capture empirical evidence of paranormal beings. These ghost hunters </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" data-ccp-parastyle="Body Text Indent" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">utilize</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" data-ccp-parastyle="Body Text Indent" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> the latest in sound, </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" data-ccp-parastyle="Body Text Indent" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">video</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" data-ccp-parastyle="Body Text Indent" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> and still-image recording, as well as sensors that detect changes in temperature, electromagnetic </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" data-ccp-parastyle="Body Text Indent" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">fields</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" data-ccp-parastyle="Body Text Indent" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> and radiation. </span></span><span class="EOP SCXW53624018 BCX8" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559731":0,"335559740":240}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: Verdana, Verdana_EmbeddedFont, Verdana_MSFontService, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW53624018 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW53624018 BCX8" paraeid="{fd013615-e1fe-41ac-8548-69d5ec83bb60}{230}" paraid="218862605" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span class="TextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" data-contrast="none" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: Verdana, Verdana_EmbeddedFont, Verdana_MSFontService, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 24.8208px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"></span></span><span class="EOP SCXW53624018 BCX8" data-ccp-props="{}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: Verdana, Verdana_EmbeddedFont, Verdana_MSFontService, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 24.8208px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW53624018 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW53624018 BCX8" paraeid="{fd013615-e1fe-41ac-8548-69d5ec83bb60}{234}" paraid="1029587637" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span class="TextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: Verdana, Verdana_EmbeddedFont, Verdana_MSFontService, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 24.8208px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">Every state, every country, has its own unexplained paranormal spirit phenomena. Many ghost hobby organizations make the distinction that they are not hunting ghosts so much as investigating paranormal phenomena. They even offer to examine private dwellings and businesses for free. </span><span class="TextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" data-contrast="none" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: Verdana, Verdana_EmbeddedFont, Verdana_MSFontService, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 24.8208px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">One reason these groups shy away from the term ghost hunting is because the term “hunting” suggests the sport or hobby of pursuing something with intent of killing it. The groups merely intend to investigate, carrying out a detailed examination or inquiry, especially with documentation with intent of finding truth, reason, and cause. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">For the most part, they</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> are ordinary people, curious and fascinated with the paranormal.</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW53624018 BCX8" data-ccp-props="{}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: Verdana, Verdana_EmbeddedFont, Verdana_MSFontService, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 24.8208px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW53624018 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW53624018 BCX8" paraeid="{fd013615-e1fe-41ac-8548-69d5ec83bb60}{242}" paraid="237481994" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span class="TextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" data-contrast="none" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: Verdana, Verdana_EmbeddedFont, Verdana_MSFontService, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 24.8208px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"></span></span><span class="EOP SCXW53624018 BCX8" data-ccp-props="{}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: Verdana, Verdana_EmbeddedFont, Verdana_MSFontService, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 24.8208px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW53624018 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW53624018 BCX8" paraeid="{fd013615-e1fe-41ac-8548-69d5ec83bb60}{246}" paraid="947145612" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span class="TextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" data-contrast="none" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: Verdana, Verdana_EmbeddedFont, Verdana_MSFontService, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 24.8208px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">The groups take several </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">initial</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> steps when starting an investigation. They use video cameras, digital recorders, heat sensors, and motion and electric magnetic field detectors to record whatever may be happening at a particular site. Clairvoyants also </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">provide</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> their impressions. Psychic mediums serve as a channel between the living and the dead. Eventually, the groups put together a report and discuss </span><span class="NormalTextRun ContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2Themed SCXW53624018 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-image: var(--urlContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2, url('data:image/svg+xml;base64,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')); background-position: left bottom; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">findings</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> with the owner. Group members are known to specialize in electronic voice phenomenon, commonly called EVP; these are voices that </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">supposedly do</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> not come from a human source. Special software is used to </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">determine</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> whether a voice is in human or paranormal range. Findings are then authenticated by experts with a group called Haunted Voices. </span></span><span class="EOP SCXW53624018 BCX8" data-ccp-props="{}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: Verdana, Verdana_EmbeddedFont, Verdana_MSFontService, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 24.8208px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p><p class="Paragraph SCXW53624018 BCX8" paraeid="{fd013615-e1fe-41ac-8548-69d5ec83bb60}{246}" paraid="947145612" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span class="EOP SCXW53624018 BCX8" data-ccp-props="{}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: Verdana, Verdana_EmbeddedFont, Verdana_MSFontService, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 24.8208px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"><br /></span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW53624018 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW53624018 BCX8" paraeid="{fd013615-e1fe-41ac-8548-69d5ec83bb60}{252}" paraid="2037450522" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span class="TextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" data-contrast="none" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: Verdana, Verdana_EmbeddedFont, Verdana_MSFontService, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 24.8208px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" data-ccp-parastyle="Normal (Web)" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">The groups consist of volunteers, people with regular jobs who have a serious interest in ghosts. Members range in age from young adults to retirees, and include secretaries, cooks, office workers, crossing guards, a lawyer and computer programmers</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" data-ccp-parastyle="Normal (Web)" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" data-ccp-parastyle="Normal (Web)" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">They take investigations seriously, but also have fun together. They are not glory-hunters. In fact, they are conscientious about </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" data-ccp-parastyle="Normal (Web)" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">maintaining</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" data-ccp-parastyle="Normal (Web)" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> client confidentiality when investigating a potential haunting. They do not </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" data-ccp-parastyle="Normal (Web)" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">disclose</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" data-ccp-parastyle="Normal (Web)" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> exact locations.</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW53624018 BCX8" data-ccp-props="{"134233117":true,"134233118":true}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: Verdana, Verdana_EmbeddedFont, Verdana_MSFontService, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 24.8208px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p><p class="Paragraph SCXW53624018 BCX8" paraeid="{fd013615-e1fe-41ac-8548-69d5ec83bb60}{252}" paraid="2037450522" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span class="EOP SCXW53624018 BCX8" data-ccp-props="{"134233117":true,"134233118":true}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: Verdana, Verdana_EmbeddedFont, Verdana_MSFontService, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 24.8208px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"><br /></span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW53624018 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW53624018 BCX8" paraeid="{e5c3e541-316b-4b53-a658-be4fcf2b42cb}{3}" paraid="1003137803" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span class="TextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" data-contrast="none" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: Verdana, Verdana_EmbeddedFont, Verdana_MSFontService, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 24.8208px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" data-ccp-parastyle="Normal (Web)" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Supposedly, there</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" data-ccp-parastyle="Normal (Web)" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> is a difference between “spirits” who died in a normal way and can communicate and move around and ghosts whose souls do not know </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" data-ccp-parastyle="Normal (Web)" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">they’re</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" data-ccp-parastyle="Normal (Web)" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> dead. In the case of the ghosts, they are believed to have died tragically and are stuck in space and time and </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" data-ccp-parastyle="Normal (Web)" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">can’t</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" data-ccp-parastyle="Normal (Web)" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> move or go from place to place; they </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" data-ccp-parastyle="Normal (Web)" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">don’t</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" data-ccp-parastyle="Normal (Web)" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> understand their predicament and need help </span><span class="NormalTextRun AdvancedProofingIssueV2Themed SCXW53624018 BCX8" data-ccp-parastyle="Normal (Web)" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-image: var(--urlAdvancedProofingIssueV2, url('data:image/svg+xml;base64,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')); background-position: left bottom; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">in order to</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" data-ccp-parastyle="Normal (Web)" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> move on. Unlike poltergeists, who are nasty, and know </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" data-ccp-parastyle="Normal (Web)" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">they’re</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" data-ccp-parastyle="Normal (Web)" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> dead, ghosts </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" data-ccp-parastyle="Normal (Web)" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">don’t</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" data-ccp-parastyle="Normal (Web)" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> harm the living. </span></span><span class="EOP SCXW53624018 BCX8" data-ccp-props="{"134233117":true,"134233118":true}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: Verdana, Verdana_EmbeddedFont, Verdana_MSFontService, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 24.8208px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW53624018 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW53624018 BCX8" paraeid="{e5c3e541-316b-4b53-a658-be4fcf2b42cb}{9}" paraid="1989704183" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span class="TextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" data-contrast="none" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: Verdana, Verdana_EmbeddedFont, Verdana_MSFontService, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 24.8208px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" data-ccp-parastyle="Normal (Web)" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Do average people really believe in “spooks”? </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" data-ccp-parastyle="Normal (Web)" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">It appears that worldwide interest</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" data-ccp-parastyle="Normal (Web)" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> in the paranormal will not soon abate. Many people would like to believe there is an afterlife, a beyond. Ghost researching continues to remain an enthusiastic leisure activity for hobbyists. </span></span></p><p class="Paragraph SCXW53624018 BCX8" paraeid="{e5c3e541-316b-4b53-a658-be4fcf2b42cb}{9}" paraid="1989704183" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span class="EOP SCXW53624018 BCX8" data-ccp-props="{"134233117":true,"134233118":true}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: Verdana, Verdana_EmbeddedFont, Verdana_MSFontService, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 24.8208px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW53624018 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW53624018 BCX8" paraeid="{e5c3e541-316b-4b53-a658-be4fcf2b42cb}{15}" paraid="1947233865" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span class="TextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" data-contrast="none" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; color: #0f1419; font-family: Verdana, Verdana_EmbeddedFont, Verdana_MSFontService, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 24.8208px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">My spooky historical SINFUL SEDUCTION is set in the Pine Barrens, home of the Jersey Devil.</span><span class="EOP SCXW53624018 BCX8" data-ccp-props="{}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; color: #0f1419; font-family: Verdana, Verdana_EmbeddedFont, Verdana_MSFontService, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 24.8208px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW53624018 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW53624018 BCX8" paraeid="{e5c3e541-316b-4b53-a658-be4fcf2b42cb}{21}" paraid="1899214140" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span class="TextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" data-contrast="none" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; color: #1d9bf0; font-family: Verdana, Verdana_EmbeddedFont, Verdana_MSFontService, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 24.8208px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07XFN1S8X</span><span class="EOP SCXW53624018 BCX8" data-ccp-props="{}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; color: #1d9bf0; font-family: Verdana, Verdana_EmbeddedFont, Verdana_MSFontService, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 24.8208px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW53624018 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW53624018 BCX8" paraeid="{e5c3e541-316b-4b53-a658-be4fcf2b42cb}{27}" paraid="1067732043" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span class="TextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" data-contrast="none" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; color: #1d9bf0; font-family: Verdana, Verdana_EmbeddedFont, Verdana_MSFontService, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 24.8208px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">https://luminositypublishing.com/book/sinful-seduction/</span><span class="EOP SCXW53624018 BCX8" data-ccp-props="{}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; color: #1d9bf0; font-family: Verdana, Verdana_EmbeddedFont, Verdana_MSFontService, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 24.8208px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p><p class="Paragraph SCXW53624018 BCX8" paraeid="{e5c3e541-316b-4b53-a658-be4fcf2b42cb}{27}" paraid="1067732043" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span class="EOP SCXW53624018 BCX8" data-ccp-props="{}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; color: #1d9bf0; font-family: Verdana, Verdana_EmbeddedFont, Verdana_MSFontService, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 24.8208px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"><br /></span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW53624018 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW53624018 BCX8" paraeid="{e5c3e541-316b-4b53-a658-be4fcf2b42cb}{33}" paraid="695389991" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span class="TextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" data-contrast="none" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: Verdana, Verdana_EmbeddedFont, Verdana_MSFontService, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 24.8208px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" data-ccp-parastyle="Normal (Web)" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">I’ve</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" data-ccp-parastyle="Normal (Web)" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" data-ccp-parastyle="Normal (Web)" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">also </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" data-ccp-parastyle="Normal (Web)" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">written about the legends of the Jersey Devil in my co-authored novel THE THIRD EYE: A PINE BARRENS MYSTERY. </span></span></p><p class="Paragraph SCXW53624018 BCX8" paraeid="{e5c3e541-316b-4b53-a658-be4fcf2b42cb}{33}" paraid="695389991" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span class="EOP SCXW53624018 BCX8" data-ccp-props="{"134233117":true,"134233118":true}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: Verdana, Verdana_EmbeddedFont, Verdana_MSFontService, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 24.8208px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW53624018 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW53624018 BCX8" paraeid="{e5c3e541-316b-4b53-a658-be4fcf2b42cb}{43}" paraid="1031699853" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span class="TextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" data-contrast="none" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: Verdana, Verdana_EmbeddedFont, Verdana_MSFontService, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 24.8208px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" data-ccp-parastyle="Normal (Web)" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">My Gothic rom</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" data-ccp-parastyle="Normal (Web)" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">antic suspense novel</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" data-ccp-parastyle="Normal (Web)" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> DARK MOON RISIN</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" data-ccp-parastyle="Normal (Web)" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">G involves </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" data-ccp-parastyle="Normal (Web)" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">not </span><span class="NormalTextRun ContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2Themed SCXW53624018 BCX8" data-ccp-parastyle="Normal (Web)" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-image: var(--urlContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2, url('data:image/svg+xml;base64,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')); background-position: left bottom; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">one</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" data-ccp-parastyle="Normal (Web)" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> but two</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" data-ccp-parastyle="Normal (Web)" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span><span class="NormalTextRun ContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2Themed SCXW53624018 BCX8" data-ccp-parastyle="Normal (Web)" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-image: var(--urlContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2, url('data:image/svg+xml;base64,PD94bWwgdmVyc2lvbj0iMS4wIiBlbmNvZGluZz0iVVRGLTgiPz4KPHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iNXB4IiBoZWlnaHQ9IjNweCIgdmlld0JveD0iMCAwIDUgMyIgdmVyc2lvbj0iMS4xIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHhtbG5zOnhsaW5rPSJodHRwOi8vd3d3LnczLm9yZy8xOTk5L3hsaW5rIj4KICAgIDwhLS0gR2VuZXJhdG9yOiBTa2V0Y2ggNTUuMiAoNzgxODEpIC0gaHR0cHM6Ly9za2V0Y2hhcHAuY29tIC0tPgogICAgPHRpdGxlPmdyYW1tYXJfZG91YmxlX2xpbmU8L3RpdGxlPgogICAgPGRlc2M+Q3JlYXRlZCB3aXRoIFNrZXRjaC48L2Rlc2M+CiAgICA8ZyBpZD0iZ3JhbW1hcl9kb3VibGVfbGluZSIgc3Ryb2tlPSJub25lIiBzdHJva2Utd2lkdGg9IjEiIGZpbGw9Im5vbmUiIGZpbGwtcnVsZT0iZXZlbm9kZCIgc3Ryb2tlLWxpbmVjYXA9InJvdW5kIj4KICAgICAgICA8ZyBpZD0iR3JhbW1hci1UaWxlLUNvcHkiIHN0cm9rZT0iIzMzNTVGRiI+CiAgICAgICAgICAgIDxwYXRoIGQ9Ik0wLDAuNSBMNSwwLjUiIGlkPSJMaW5lLTItQ29weS0xMCI+PC9wYXRoPgogICAgICAgICAgICA8cGF0aCBkPSJNMCwyLjUgTDUsMi41IiBpZD0iTGluZS0yLUNvcHktMTEiPjwvcGF0aD4KICAgICAgICA8L2c+CiAgICA8L2c+Cjwvc3ZnPg==')); background-position: left bottom; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">ghost stor</span><span class="NormalTextRun ContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2Themed SCXW53624018 BCX8" data-ccp-parastyle="Normal (Web)" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-image: var(--urlContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2, url('data:image/svg+xml;base64,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')); 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background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span class="TextRun EmptyTextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 24.8208px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"></span><a class="Hyperlink SCXW53624018 BCX8" href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00Z7824A4/" rel="noreferrer noopener" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; user-select: text;" target="_blank"><span class="TextRun Underlined SCXW53624018 BCX8" data-contrast="none" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; 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font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW53624018 BCX8" paraeid="{e5c3e541-316b-4b53-a658-be4fcf2b42cb}{74}" paraid="528076124" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span class="TextRun EmptyTextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 24.8208px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"></span><a class="Hyperlink SCXW53624018 BCX8" href="http://luminositypublishing.com/product/dark-moon-rising/" rel="noreferrer noopener" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; 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margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW53624018 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW53624018 BCX8" paraeid="{e5c3e541-316b-4b53-a658-be4fcf2b42cb}{85}" paraid="2032767217" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span class="TextRun EmptyTextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 24.8208px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"></span><a class="Hyperlink SCXW53624018 BCX8" href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/dark-moon-rising/id1020852100?mt=11" rel="noreferrer noopener" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; user-select: text;" target="_blank"><span class="TextRun Underlined SCXW53624018 BCX8" data-contrast="none" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; color: blue; font-family: Verdana, Verdana_EmbeddedFont, Verdana_MSFontService, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 24.8208px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: underline; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" data-ccp-charstyle="Hyperlink" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/dark-moon-rising/id1020852100?mt=11</span></span></a><span class="TextRun EmptyTextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: Verdana, Verdana_EmbeddedFont, Verdana_MSFontService, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 24.8208px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"></span><span class="EOP SCXW53624018 BCX8" data-ccp-props="{}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: Verdana, Verdana_EmbeddedFont, Verdana_MSFontService, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 24.8208px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW53624018 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW53624018 BCX8" paraeid="{e5c3e541-316b-4b53-a658-be4fcf2b42cb}{92}" paraid="701935695" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span class="TextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: Verdana, Verdana_EmbeddedFont, Verdana_MSFontService, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 24.8208px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"> </span><span class="EOP SCXW53624018 BCX8" data-ccp-props="{}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; 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-webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 24.8208px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"></span><a class="Hyperlink SCXW53624018 BCX8" href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/dark-moon-rising-jacqueline-seewald/1122376394?ean=2940150766686" rel="noreferrer noopener" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; user-select: text;" target="_blank"><span class="TextRun Underlined SCXW53624018 BCX8" data-contrast="none" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; color: blue; font-family: Verdana, Verdana_EmbeddedFont, Verdana_MSFontService, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 24.8208px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: underline; 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padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW53624018 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW53624018 BCX8" paraeid="{e5c3e541-316b-4b53-a658-be4fcf2b42cb}{105}" paraid="1268045221" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span class="TextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: Verdana, Verdana_EmbeddedFont, Verdana_MSFontService, sans-serif; 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-webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span class="TextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: Verdana, Verdana_EmbeddedFont, Verdana_MSFontService, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 24.8208px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Some of my </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">short </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">ghost stories have appeared in the anthologies</span><span class="NormalTextRun ContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2Themed SCXW53624018 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-image: var(--urlContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2, url('data:image/svg+xml;base64,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')); background-position: left bottom; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">: BETWEEN</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> THERE, VOL. 2, LIVING DEAD, and MISSOURI GHOST STORIES</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> as well as</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> such magazines as BLIGHT and HYPNOS.</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW53624018 BCX8" data-ccp-props="{}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: Verdana, Verdana_EmbeddedFont, Verdana_MSFontService, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 24.8208px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW53624018 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW53624018 BCX8" paraeid="{e5c3e541-316b-4b53-a658-be4fcf2b42cb}{123}" paraid="1039058537" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span class="TextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: Verdana, Verdana_EmbeddedFont, Verdana_MSFontService, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 24.8208px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"></span></span><span class="EOP SCXW53624018 BCX8" data-ccp-props="{}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: Verdana, Verdana_EmbeddedFont, Verdana_MSFontService, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 24.8208px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW53624018 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW53624018 BCX8" paraeid="{e5c3e541-316b-4b53-a658-be4fcf2b42cb}{127}" paraid="695611315" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 48px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span class="TextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: Verdana, Verdana_EmbeddedFont, Verdana_MSFontService, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 24.8208px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">For a short spooky story that combines mystery and the supernatural, I </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">suggest</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> a free read, my short story “The </span><span class="NormalTextRun SpellingErrorV2Themed SCXW53624018 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-image: var(--urlSpellingErrorV2, url('data:image/svg+xml;base64,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')); background-position: left bottom; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Bokur</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">”</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW53624018 BCX8" data-ccp-props="{"335559685":720}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: Verdana, Verdana_EmbeddedFont, Verdana_MSFontService, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 24.8208px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW53624018 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW53624018 BCX8" paraeid="{e5c3e541-316b-4b53-a658-be4fcf2b42cb}{141}" paraid="911653291" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 48px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span class="TextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: Verdana, Verdana_EmbeddedFont, Verdana_MSFontService, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 24.8208px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"></span></span><span class="EOP SCXW53624018 BCX8" data-ccp-props="{"335559685":720}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: Verdana, Verdana_EmbeddedFont, Verdana_MSFontService, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 24.8208px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW53624018 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW53624018 BCX8" paraeid="{e5c3e541-316b-4b53-a658-be4fcf2b42cb}{145}" paraid="627990547" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 48px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span class="TextRun EmptyTextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 24.8208px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"></span><a class="Hyperlink SCXW53624018 BCX8" href="https://pressfuls.com/2023/01/01/the-bokor/" rel="noreferrer noopener" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; user-select: text;" target="_blank"><span class="TextRun Underlined SCXW53624018 BCX8" data-contrast="none" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; color: blue; font-family: Verdana, Verdana_EmbeddedFont, Verdana_MSFontService, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 24.8208px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: underline; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" data-ccp-charstyle="Hyperlink" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">https://pressfuls.com/2023/01/01/the-bokor/</span></span></a><span class="TextRun EmptyTextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: Verdana, Verdana_EmbeddedFont, Verdana_MSFontService, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 24.8208px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"></span><span class="EOP SCXW53624018 BCX8" data-ccp-props="{"335559685":720}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: Verdana, Verdana_EmbeddedFont, Verdana_MSFontService, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 24.8208px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW53624018 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW53624018 BCX8" paraeid="{e5c3e541-316b-4b53-a658-be4fcf2b42cb}{152}" paraid="1174079512" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span class="TextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: Verdana, Verdana_EmbeddedFont, Verdana_MSFontService, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 24.8208px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"></span></span><span class="EOP SCXW53624018 BCX8" data-ccp-props="{}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: Verdana, Verdana_EmbeddedFont, Verdana_MSFontService, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 24.8208px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-family: Verdana, Verdana_EmbeddedFont, Verdana_MSFontService, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW53624018 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW53624018 BCX8" paraeid="{e5c3e541-316b-4b53-a658-be4fcf2b42cb}{160}" paraid="1733529949" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span class="TextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: Verdana, Verdana_EmbeddedFont, Verdana_MSFontService, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 24.8208px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Do you believe ghosts exist? </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">If you a</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">re a writer, do you write ghost stories</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">? Tell us something about your most recent work in the genre.</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> Are there any that you would </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">recommend as good Halloween reading choices?</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW53624018 BCX8" data-ccp-props="{}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: Verdana, Verdana_EmbeddedFont, Verdana_MSFontService, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 24.8208px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW53624018 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW53624018 BCX8" paraeid="{e5c3e541-316b-4b53-a658-be4fcf2b42cb}{176}" paraid="1393721953" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span class="TextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: Verdana, Verdana_EmbeddedFont, Verdana_MSFontService, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 24.8208px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"></span></span><span class="EOP SCXW53624018 BCX8" data-ccp-props="{}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: Verdana, Verdana_EmbeddedFont, Verdana_MSFontService, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 24.8208px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW53624018 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW53624018 BCX8" paraeid="{e5c3e541-316b-4b53-a658-be4fcf2b42cb}{180}" paraid="1648913413" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span class="TextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" data-contrast="none" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: Verdana, Verdana_EmbeddedFont, Verdana_MSFontService, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 24.8208px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW53624018 BCX8" data-ccp-parastyle="Normal (Web)" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"></span></span><span class="EOP SCXW53624018 BCX8" data-ccp-props="{"134233117":true,"134233118":true}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: Verdana, Verdana_EmbeddedFont, Verdana_MSFontService, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 24.8208px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div>Jacqueline Seewaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09177500620940251009noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6564808806012504614.post-78080716682539580342023-10-13T04:16:00.000-07:002023-10-13T04:16:46.967-07:00Why Do Ghost Stories Persist? (Part One)<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #121212; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; letter-spacing: .25pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPXsjUoVBcpz0-SnJK8ehNljw8JQhyphenhyphen6o1I6M4R5AyJtwM4GbMXAA0iRoOBvAH8o81ry-h-kbxxuwnv-JJf3oBx42Lkqc22ORuKwUAP1-Cprlu1T6_ISH_iPg52aZdWniDLMWWbojRRHWs3Zm0vS4jCx1OhTsR-fS1te2vsS-BaiAvGFH_fluFiW3qKHCU/s4608/Halloween%202018.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="4608" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPXsjUoVBcpz0-SnJK8ehNljw8JQhyphenhyphen6o1I6M4R5AyJtwM4GbMXAA0iRoOBvAH8o81ry-h-kbxxuwnv-JJf3oBx42Lkqc22ORuKwUAP1-Cprlu1T6_ISH_iPg52aZdWniDLMWWbojRRHWs3Zm0vS4jCx1OhTsR-fS1te2vsS-BaiAvGFH_fluFiW3qKHCU/s320/Halloween%202018.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />An essay by<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="css-1baulvz"><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">Parul Sehgal was previously published</span></span><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"> in THE NEW YORK
TIMES Book Review. The topic was appropriate for Halloween:<b><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: #121212; letter-spacing: .25pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;"> </span></b>Why the ghost story
persists.</span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">Sehgal observed: “<span style="background: white; color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">Literature — the
top-shelf, award-winning stuff — is positively ectoplasmic these days, crawling
with hauntings, haints and wraiths of every stripe and disposition.” I myself
have found much more of a demand for stories with a supernatural edge than
those set in the verisimilitude of reality. Maybe people are looking for
psychological escapes from the real world more than ever.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">Many of the classics of literature
such as Henry James’ “Turn of the Screw” or Shirley Jackson’s “The Haunting of
Hill House” provide us with eerie ghost stories. Today’s ghost stories vary.
They may be written in the classic mold or entirely unique. They may reflect
our modern society or hearken back to the past. Sehgal observed: “</span><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.5pt; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">ghost stories are never just
reflections. They are social critiques…”</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.5pt;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">In my novel DARK MOON RISING, there are two
ghosts, women from two different centuries who haunt the family home of the men
who wronged them. These ghosts seek justice via revenge.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">https://<a href="https://luminositypublishing.com/en/book/dark-moon-rising/">luminositypublishing</a>.com/book/dark-moon-rising/</span></b><b><span style="background: #F5F8FA; color: #292f33; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;"><b><span style="background: #F5F8FA; color: #292f33; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></b><b><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"><a href="http://t.co/CxxxkM40MC" target="_blank" title="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00Z7824A4/"><span class="invisible"><span style="background: #F5F8FA; color: #0084b4; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">http://www.</span></span><span class="js-display-url"><span style="background: #F5F8FA; color: #0084b4; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">amazon.com/dp/B00Z7824A4/</span></span><span class="invisible"><span style="background: #F5F8FA; color: #0084b4; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"> </span></span></a></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">Sehgal commented that ghost stories are often
drenched in sex and violence. But obviously that is not the only thing that
makes them appealing to readers. I think that one strong appeal of ghost
stories is the suggestion that there is life after death.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">For a short spooky Halloween story that
combines mystery and the supernatural, I offer a free read, my short story “The
Bokur”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><a href="https://pressfuls.com/2023/01/01/the-bokor/" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">https://pressfuls.com/2023/01/01/the-bokor/</a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">If you enjoy sci-fi horror, try another free read:</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"><a href="https://whitecatpublications.com/2022/03/26/dark-matter/">https://whitecatpublications.com/2022/03/26/dark-matter/</a></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">Are there any ghost stories that particularly
have appeal to you or you found memorable?<o:p></o:p></span></p>Jacqueline Seewaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09177500620940251009noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6564808806012504614.post-70272182412815085492023-10-06T04:10:00.000-07:002023-10-06T04:10:01.659-07:00Interview with Author Skye Alexander<p> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a name="_Hlk147385281"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">Skye Alexander is the author of nearly fifty fiction
and nonfiction books.</span></a><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">
Her stories have appeared in anthologies internationally, and her work has been
translated into more than a dozen languages. In 2003, she cofounded Level Best
Books with fellow crime writers Kate Flora and Susan Oleksiw. The third novel
in her Lizzie Crane Mystery Series <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The
Goddess of Shipwrecked Sailors,</i> has just been released. After living in
Massachusetts for more than thirty years, Skye now makes her home in Texas with
her black Manx cat Zoe.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKg17iqEhsyMgGeovqBGkBFOQe7ug-KrrlK-PZW4d3t-2UKffpWI1fmTZZT4ftJeiVo2hUOSPZY9Y-M_KVBM7dUxaEzIAHF2KlvJGKsLuY8zcqbFcuIz1pSotZKL85q2clw_N1798B3vvkv5cwWSw2hJpe_7obSH26NYtPbC0849DqYeYFFejxVdpnKQk/s2079/Skye.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2079" data-original-width="1559" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKg17iqEhsyMgGeovqBGkBFOQe7ug-KrrlK-PZW4d3t-2UKffpWI1fmTZZT4ftJeiVo2hUOSPZY9Y-M_KVBM7dUxaEzIAHF2KlvJGKsLuY8zcqbFcuIz1pSotZKL85q2clw_N1798B3vvkv5cwWSw2hJpe_7obSH26NYtPbC0849DqYeYFFejxVdpnKQk/s320/Skye.png" width="240" /></a></div><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">Question: What is the
title and genre of your novel?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why did
you select them?</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: yellow; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-highlight: yellow;">Answer:</span><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"> My most recent book in the series,
published in September, is <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Goddess of
Shipwrecked Sailors. </i>It’s a traditional, historical mystery set in Salem,
Massachusetts during the Christmas holiday season 1925. I chose the genre
because I love historical novels––especially mysteries such as those by Agatha
Christie and Dorothy Sayers––and the Roaring Twenties was such a colorful time period
that I thought it would be fun to explore it. Also, I wanted to write books
that pretty much anyone could enjoy and that wouldn’t offend readers who don’t
like a lot of graphic violence, sex, or strong language.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilmQlXSIBA853R5ypyo1tQEi2WYMot6O589A719uT_R9vOGGeV0D5qUmbEE-jltiymJfXPdRIgHCVRx01izXipYHiQcf02VoVDYA55GzMfvmPz0T-m_Y4JMlrWt_0wNTmgw43eHJsSb5zFkuNqt0YOYDGk__U_UkHKfHUMEslqbeN1q3_qqwFhU0Qp1p0/s2000/THE%20GODDESS%20OF%20SHIPWRECKED%20SAILORS%20cover%20concept%202%20rev.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="1333" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilmQlXSIBA853R5ypyo1tQEi2WYMot6O589A719uT_R9vOGGeV0D5qUmbEE-jltiymJfXPdRIgHCVRx01izXipYHiQcf02VoVDYA55GzMfvmPz0T-m_Y4JMlrWt_0wNTmgw43eHJsSb5zFkuNqt0YOYDGk__U_UkHKfHUMEslqbeN1q3_qqwFhU0Qp1p0/s320/THE%20GODDESS%20OF%20SHIPWRECKED%20SAILORS%20cover%20concept%202%20rev.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">Question:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What inspired
this novel? How did it come about?</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: yellow; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-highlight: yellow;">Answer:</span><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"> I usually start with a location. The
first four novels in my series are set in historic towns north of Boston, the
most recent one in Salem, which is a beautiful city and rich with all sorts of
history––I was fortunate to live there for eight years. During the clipper ship
era of the mid-nineteenth century, Salem was a major port in the China trade and
I wanted to learn more about it. Unlike the axiom that tells us to “write what
you know” I write about what I <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">want </i>to
know, and I discover so much in the process. Not only did I study shipping, I
learned about jigsaw puzzles, tunnels built beneath the city to smuggle imported
goods and avoid paying taxes, and a lot more. The title is based on the Chinese
goddess Quan Yin, who’s considered to be the goddess of shipwrecked sailors, because
the wreck of a clipper ship plays a major role in this book.</span><b><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">Question:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Could you tell us a little bit about the heroine
and/or hero of your novel?</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: yellow; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-highlight: yellow;">Answer</span><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">: Lizzie Crane is a beautiful and
talented twenty-six-year-old jazz singer and actress from New York City, who
comes from a poor Irish immigrant family and has ambitions to make it big in
the world of music. She and the three other members of her band hire themselves
out to perform at special events such as weddings, birthday parties, etc. to
wealthy people for stints of a few days or longer––twelve days in the case of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Goddess of Shipwrecked Sailors. </i>She’s
a spunky, liberated single woman who wears flapper dresses and has bobbed hair,
drinks, parties, and enjoys the company of attractive men. She’s also a bit too
curious, and when people turn up dead at her venues she can’t resist poking
into the crimes, which gets her into a lot of trouble. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">Question:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Can you tell us about some of your other
published novels or work?</span></b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: yellow; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-highlight: yellow;">Answer</span><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">: <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The
Goddess of Shipwrecked Sailors </i>is the third in my series. The previous two,
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Never Try to Catch a Falling Knife </i>and
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">What the Walls Know, </i>were published
by Level Best Books in 2021 and 2022 respectively. All three feature the team
of New York jazz musicians known as The Troubadours, including my protagonist
singer (and amateur sleuth) Lizzie Crane, and are set in historic cities north
of Boston. I’m best known, though, for my nonfiction work and have more than forty
books to my credit, most of them in the metaphysical field. The newest of
these, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Kitchen Witch</i>, was published
by Adams Media/Simon & Schuster in July and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Modern Witchcraft Introductory Boxed Set </i>of my three
bestselling books comes out in October. I also write books about mythology, spirituality,
holistic healing, and self-help.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">Question:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What are you working on now?</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: yellow; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-highlight: yellow;">Answer</span><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">: Currently I’m working on the sixth
novel in my Lizzie Crane Mystery Series, set in New Orleans in November 1926. I
don’t have a title for it yet. The fourth (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Running
in the Shadows</i>) and fifth (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">When the Blues
Come Calling</i>) are finished and I hope will be published in 2024 and 2025.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">Question:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What made you start writing?</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: yellow; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-highlight: yellow;">Answer</span><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">: I started telling stories even
before I could actually read or write and knew from a very early age that I
wanted to be a writer when I grew up. As a kid, I attended poor, country schools
in the south where I was terribly bored, so I spent most of my class time
writing to amuse myself. I started writing for my local newspaper when I was
fifteen and for radio when I was eighteen. I got my first job in the book
publishing industry in 1983 and over the years have worked as an editor, marketing
director, publicist, and copywriter. I feel very fortunate to be able to make a
good living working at what I love doing.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">Question:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What advice would you offer to those who are
currently writing novels?</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: yellow; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-highlight: yellow;">Answer:</span><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"> Don’t give up. There’s an old saying
that you can’t consider yourself a real writer until you can paper a wall with
rejection slips. It’s not easy to succeed in this business, and the people who
do not only have talent, they also work very hard. You need a lot of
determination and self-discipline. Make writing a priority. Faulkner once said
he only wrote when he felt like it, and he felt like it every day. That’s good
advice. Many people tell me they want to write, but they just don’t have time.
I ask them if they have a TV and if they say yes, I say, “Turn it off.” <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">Question:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Where and when will readers be able to obtain
your novel?</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: yellow; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-highlight: yellow;">Answer:</span><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"> It’s available now.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">(Buy
Links)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"><a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/books/1144045510?ean=9781685124342">https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/books/1144045510?ean=9781685124342</a></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/1685124348/">https://www.amazon.com/dp/1685124348/</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">Comments
and or questions for Skye welcome here!<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>Jacqueline Seewaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09177500620940251009noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6564808806012504614.post-8852584881130191812023-09-22T04:15:00.000-07:002023-09-22T04:15:09.362-07:00Interview with Author Erica Miner<p> </p><p><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">Award-winning Seattle-based
author Erica Miner balances her reviews and interviews of real-world musical
artists with her fanciful plot fabrications that reveal the dark side of the
fascinating world of opera. Drawing on her 21 years as a violinist at the world-renowned
Metropolitan Opera, Erica guides her readers through a dramatized version of
the opera world in her Julia Kogan Opera Mystery series.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p><i><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">Aria for
Murder</span></i><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">,
the first in the series, published by Level Best Books in 2022, was a finalist
in the 2023 Eric Hoffer Book Awards. The sequel, <i>Prelude to Murder</i>, released
in September 2023, is set at the Santa Fe Opera. The third book, due for
release in 2024, takes place at the San Francisco Opera.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 107%; margin-bottom: 8.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Erica’s
debut novel, Travels with My Lovers, won the Fiction Prize in the Direct from
the Author Book Awards. Her screenplays have won awards in the WinFemme, Santa Fe,
and Writers Digest competitions. Erica lectures widely on opera for the Seattle
Symphony, the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute, and numerous Wagner Societies throughout
the U.S. and abroad.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkLGM4cRnn7EWaMoE5_vrIkcAAJ2TK_omlUKizcsihA5sTaRZavvFpLEz4MQIGtwINHRw7ZwPiD83rL2N6gtohQywv2V-Fihb0bYCcsdoQawrZcnPa8Z-1c58Xgb__YHk9QKBwY9wUJkZGkgp37ae0yphmubiNnn0aE2xHo_h1yGze5SJjFMz6J-MVaYw/s197/EM%20Headshot%208-23.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="186" data-original-width="197" height="186" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkLGM4cRnn7EWaMoE5_vrIkcAAJ2TK_omlUKizcsihA5sTaRZavvFpLEz4MQIGtwINHRw7ZwPiD83rL2N6gtohQywv2V-Fihb0bYCcsdoQawrZcnPa8Z-1c58Xgb__YHk9QKBwY9wUJkZGkgp37ae0yphmubiNnn0aE2xHo_h1yGze5SJjFMz6J-MVaYw/s1600/EM%20Headshot%208-23.png" width="197" /></a></div><br /><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">Question: What is the
title and genre of your novel?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why did
you select them?</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: yellow; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-highlight: yellow;">Answer:</span><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"> PRELUDE TO MURDER is a mystery. It is
the second in my Julia Kogan Opera Mystery series. The title seemed the perfect
segue to the title of the first book in the series, ARIA FOR MURDER, and
reflects the musical world in which it takes place.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 18.6667px;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBe-Bj3uBeakp8_2g2aK5WIHLDW4qI8ftT4UPxeHC5Ndsfg1Ia7CrsveK4lLQLkdsfJ8iZCQtvlVJZejsAYrrtl-CV4WSNQ4nZDD43UYHrG9eBZeYS5Xfm7h8EJ4TrejTyjdGfe-4BmXS5fV2SdHMRiE0ALp4Y3rb5vMe3_sdcnDBgGgfel_OXOg7GkhI/s777/Eric's%20book.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="777" data-original-width="523" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBe-Bj3uBeakp8_2g2aK5WIHLDW4qI8ftT4UPxeHC5Ndsfg1Ia7CrsveK4lLQLkdsfJ8iZCQtvlVJZejsAYrrtl-CV4WSNQ4nZDD43UYHrG9eBZeYS5Xfm7h8EJ4TrejTyjdGfe-4BmXS5fV2SdHMRiE0ALp4Y3rb5vMe3_sdcnDBgGgfel_OXOg7GkhI/s320/Eric's%20book.png" width="215" /></a></div><br /><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">Question:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What
inspired this novel? How did it come about?</span></b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: yellow; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-highlight: yellow;">Answer:</span><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"> An opera house is a fascinating,
colorful place, with loads of quirky, sometimes maddening people working there.
During my 21 years playing violin in the Met Opera Orchestra, I witnessed any
number of operatic disasters and nefarious happenings, many of them involving
these people and their constant conflicts with each other. It occurred to me
that the opera would be a perfect setting for murder and mayhem: art imitates
life and vice versa. The drama unfolding onstage is nothing compared to what
goes on behind the scenes. Sooner or later, someone’s going to want to kill
someone. I let my wicked imagination take over, and <i>voilà</i>, the first
novel in the series was born.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigJPa7Rzn3BbLdixzBn-KgqIj5x5cm0vM47yV4IP1hV3C152kVHo23GkzcHfEQT_4ytBDfintTbn3drUFm-cS8m58qHHyvsO1QUOKb9vrTSBEi5sybwu5EdOJEmxKHrxJMyYERo6P7IN55qaFaGiw7qgBHWBVPo3MkcgOk8agbtCUjaZ4Kp1-Nr3C6aNU/s497/Erica's%20new%20book.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="497" data-original-width="323" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigJPa7Rzn3BbLdixzBn-KgqIj5x5cm0vM47yV4IP1hV3C152kVHo23GkzcHfEQT_4ytBDfintTbn3drUFm-cS8m58qHHyvsO1QUOKb9vrTSBEi5sybwu5EdOJEmxKHrxJMyYERo6P7IN55qaFaGiw7qgBHWBVPo3MkcgOk8agbtCUjaZ4Kp1-Nr3C6aNU/s320/Erica's%20new%20book.png" width="208" /></a></b></div><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><br /></b><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">Question:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Could you tell us a little bit about the heroine
and/or hero of your novel?</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: yellow; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-highlight: yellow;">Answer</span><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">: Intrepid young violinist Julia is a
brilliant prodigy and a rising star in the orchestra pit at the Met. She has
had a tough life, having lost both of her parents when she was a child, and has
learned to fend for herself. But she is naïve in the ways of a prestigious
opera house, where the professional politics are complex and difficult to
maneuver, and the stakes are high. On the night of her first performance, a
terrible disaster occurs, and much to her surprise she becomes entangled in a
murder investigation. She then discovers she has an inner strength she never
knew existed and must use that to escape from a life-threatening situation.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">Question:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Can you tell us about some of your other
published novels or work?</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: yellow; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-highlight: yellow;">Answer</span><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">: Before I started writing murder
mysteries, I wrote a romance, <i>Travels with my Lovers</i>, which won the Fiction
Prize in the Direct from the Author Book Awards. Next came my coming-of-age
novel, <i>Fourever Friends</i>. <i>Aria for Murder </i>was the first in my
current mystery series. <i>Prelude to Murder </i>is the first sequel. The next
sequel is due for release in September 2024. I also publish frequent reviews
and interviews of performances and musical artists for major arts websites.</span><b><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">Question:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What are you working on now?</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: yellow; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-highlight: yellow;">Answer</span><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">: I’m working on the next sequel in
the series, title TBA, due for release in 2024, which takes place at the San
Francisco Opera.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">Question:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What made you start writing?</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: yellow; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-highlight: yellow;">Answer</span><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">: I actually started writing before I played
the violin. At the time when I was growing up in Detroit—a very long time ago!—there
was an excellent afterschool program in the public schools. I was placed in a program
for Creative Writing. I suppose one of my teachers must have seen that “spark”
in me. I don’t remember much of what I wrote, but I do remember loving the
process of creating characters and plot lines and weaving them all together to
turn into stories. My love for writing was generated from that experience, and I
have been passionate about writing ever since.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">Question:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What advice would you offer to those who are
currently writing novels?</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: yellow; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-highlight: yellow;">Answer:</span><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"> I would tell them to study the craft
as much as they can before they attempt the writing. I know what it feels like
to have an idea for a story and to want to let it flow as soon and as quickly
as possible. But writing is a difficult process, and it’s essential to learn about
the technique of putting the story together first. Once they’ve got that under
their belt, their stories will be that much more compelling.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">Question:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Where and when will readers be able to obtain
your novel?</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: yellow; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-highlight: yellow;">Answer:</span><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"> <span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0CFTR3CRM?ref_=dbs_m_mng_rwt_calw_tkin_1&storeType=ebooks&qid=1692203865&sr=1-1">https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0CFTR3CRM?ref_=dbs_m_mng_rwt_calw_tkin_1&storeType=ebooks&qid=1692203865&sr=1-1</a></span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"><a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/books/1144067662?ean=9781685124427">https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/books/1144067662?ean=9781685124427</a></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: yellow; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-highlight: yellow;">Questions and/or Comments for Erica are
welcome!</span><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>Jacqueline Seewaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09177500620940251009noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6564808806012504614.post-76769996610094447172023-09-15T04:12:00.001-07:002023-09-15T04:12:29.147-07:00Tips on Publicity and Promotion <p> </p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">Many
people in the public eye believe that there is no such thing as bad publicity. Publicity,
positive or negative, promotes a career because it puts that person in the limelight.
Of course, writers would like to be recognized for the quality of their work.
Bad reviews hurt a writer’s sales and recognition as a serious author.
Nevertheless, being ignored by reviewers is not something that authors appreciate
either. Readers aren’t going to buy books they’ve never heard of. No reviews? No
publicity? No sales.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">So
how do authors go about reaching readers, building a following among those who
buy books? After all, it’s not just the small independent publishers who do
little to promote their authors. These days even the major publishers do not
put much effort and money into book promotion either. Writers must think proactively.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">How
should writers go about reaching and building a readership? I’m going to offer
a few suggestions that won’t break your bank account.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">l.
<span style="background: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow;">Use the internet</span>:</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">a.
Create a website. Every professional writer should have one.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">b.
Do social media networking such as blogging. Create your own blog and also
guest blog on other sites. Interview other authors. Offer to do interviews on
other sites, not those only for writers. Reach out to a more general, larger
audience. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Create a presence on such
popular internet sites as: Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram, Bookbub, Booktown,
etc.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">d.
Join internet writer groups of authors with common interests. Be an active
reader and comment often in group and on their blogs. Not everyone can be an
“influencer” but it helps to connect.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">e.
Be willing to read and review the work of other writers.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">f.
Ask other authors in your genre to read and review your books as well. You want
as many reviews as possible on Amazon, B&N, Goodreads, Kobo, etc.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">g.
Send out advance review copies to internet reviewers who read in your genre.
Reviews are important and we can’t always get them from the major review
publications.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">h.
Possibly offer ARCs as giveaways both on your site, other sites. Is giving away
free books a good method of increasing overall sales and getting publicity for
an author’s brand? It appears to do so for ebooks. Many writers are offering
free ebooks on Amazon. Usually this creates awareness of an author who has
numerous books to offer. I don’t have the statistics on how well this is
working out. If you do, please comment.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">2.
Bookstore signings and events are great. However, unless you are a famous
author, these opportunities have diminished. My advice is to see if there are
any independent bookstores locally that you can contact. Be prepared to
advertise your “event”/signing on your own.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">3.
Library Events. Offer to do a program at your local library. You can have a
book signing and selling afterward if the library approves.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">4.
Don’t forget to advertise every program you do. Contact the local newspapers
and offer a “news release.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">5.
Your college probably has a graduate publication, magazine or newsletter. The
publication of your book is certainly a newsworthy item.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">6.
Consider selling books at various unexpected places. Book fairs sponsored by
local libraries are great and so are craft shows, however, you might think of a
more creative venue. Try to think outside the box. For example, suppose your
novel is about a baker. Is there a local bakery that might display and sell
your books on consignment?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Is your novel
set in a beauty parlor? Would a beauty shop owner allow your books selling
space for a cut of the profits?</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">7.
Attending conferences. Many writers swear by them. It’s a great place for
networking and connecting. You can meet editors, agents and other authors. At
the very least, you can interact and get interesting feedback and share ideas.
Since our work is solitary, this is a good way to know you are not alone.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">8.
Some writers publish their own newsletters which advertise the release of their
new books as they come out.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">9.
You might also keep friends and relatives in the loop through e-mail
announcements.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">10.
Send out announcements to acquisition librarians, especially if your book has
had good reviews which you can quote. This can be done inexpensively via
e-mail.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">11.
Podcasts are popular as are YouTube videos. TikTok has a BookTok where videos
gain publicity. If you have a talent for creating either one, it might benefit
sales.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">This
article is as much for me as any writer. My latest novel </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">HEART
OF WISDOM was just published by Level Best Books in print and ebook:</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsM21T4K3KJpwya4Y9zGnAZVixn8nhPFOp-Ejt1Ay1Io5fry59dvrNAUWoQnr1VtDgmCI8r-4M6ef-VnE4VeJJqL0xWmGM956h7BLWglC-PdX--BcLliPNzvnMJGzjvhf0dGzVFRBLutfyIwEYtIPAbKHSbYXajCM4vik7p4g_u0NajzImXHTIRadPb48/s2000/HEART%20OF%20WISDOME%20cover%20concept%205.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="1333" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsM21T4K3KJpwya4Y9zGnAZVixn8nhPFOp-Ejt1Ay1Io5fry59dvrNAUWoQnr1VtDgmCI8r-4M6ef-VnE4VeJJqL0xWmGM956h7BLWglC-PdX--BcLliPNzvnMJGzjvhf0dGzVFRBLutfyIwEYtIPAbKHSbYXajCM4vik7p4g_u0NajzImXHTIRadPb48/s320/HEART%20OF%20WISDOME%20cover%20concept%205.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><br /><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Heart-Wisdom-Jacqueline-Seewald-ebook/dp/B0C8BRFM86/">https://www.amazon.com/Heart-Wisdom-Jacqueline-Seewald-ebook/dp/B0C8BRFM86/</a></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"><a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/books/1144049440">https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/books/1144049440</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"><a href="https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/heart-of-wisdom-4">Heart of Wisdom eBook
by Jacqueline Seewald - EPUB Book | Rakuten Kobo United States</a></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"><a href="https://bookshop.org/p/books/heart-of-wisdom-jacqueline-seewald/20598287?aid=11404&ean=9781685124014&listref=level-best-2023-releases">https://bookshop.org/p/books/heart-of-wisdom-jacqueline-seewald/20598287?aid=11404&ean=9781685124014&listref=level-best-2023-releases</a></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">Have
I left out anything that I should be mentioning? As a writer, what promotion
and or publicity ideas have worked well for you and might work well for other
authors?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">Readers,
what determines the books you select? I love to share ideas in this
forum.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>Jacqueline Seewaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09177500620940251009noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6564808806012504614.post-66575768590824631532023-09-07T07:43:00.000-07:002023-09-07T07:43:04.014-07:00DEALING WITH BOOK RELEASE DATES<p> </p><p class="MsoPlainText"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">As
writers, we often wonder: when are the best times for our books to be released?
I’ve read that February and March are considered best because the weather is
generally bad. People are more likely to stay at home and buy or borrow books.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #212529; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">I’ve also read that the biggest mistake authors make is assuming
their book, no matter the genre, would make a great Christmas gift. Therefore,
they want to release the book in Q4 and take advantage of the buying
season. But this is not usually the case. Books that sell well
during this time of year are holiday themed books like holiday cookbooks,
holiday children’s books, holiday novels and big movie tie-ins. Any other
type of book gets lost in the multitude of titles, making it hard to garner
attention.</span><span style="color: #212529; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">My
twenty-first novel, HEART OF WISDOM, was released on September 5<sup>th </sup>by
the publisher Level Best Books.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So far,
only a Kindle version appears, and there’s no listing for the print edition as
yet. I believe this will not take place until the end of September. So only one
buy link as of now: <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Heart-Wisdom-Jacqueline-Seewald-ebook/dp/B0C8BRFM86/">https://www.amazon.com/Heart-Wisdom-Jacqueline-Seewald-ebook/dp/B0C8BRFM86/</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN5JyEvjsdErBoK9XWXK52ISOCLgbnw0J8hZZ8IxS5qHxuH4XPBJ7yQLSp8Ah4Jpq3pp_XTGT8ab0B0OoOB9WqC67gZV6RzU5erhPjXgBczpOJBWletzBcw-jw4nBqgVDqKA6nTvoFfkIzL-ps7LL5eVIKKIvjOdP3gLoOKIOde0Zx82sus5r-m8j7SWw/s2000/HEART%20OF%20WISDOME%20cover%20concept%205.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="1333" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN5JyEvjsdErBoK9XWXK52ISOCLgbnw0J8hZZ8IxS5qHxuH4XPBJ7yQLSp8Ah4Jpq3pp_XTGT8ab0B0OoOB9WqC67gZV6RzU5erhPjXgBczpOJBWletzBcw-jw4nBqgVDqKA6nTvoFfkIzL-ps7LL5eVIKKIvjOdP3gLoOKIOde0Zx82sus5r-m8j7SWw/s320/HEART%20OF%20WISDOME%20cover%20concept%205.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><br /><p></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">This
happens with many books from a variety of publishers. It is frustrating to
writers like me. Several people have asked me when they can order the new
novel. I’ve had to explain it’s published, but not fully. It’s embarrassing to
have to say that.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">Nevertheless,
I’ll introduce the book today on my blog. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">First
off, I suppose you could call this novel multi-genre.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">Part
I of HEART OF WISDOM is in the nature of an historical family saga featuring a
Jewish immigrant family, husband, wife and four daughters, during the years
1920 through 1946 as they face the challenges of surviving life, love and loss
in Newark, New Jersey. Part II is mainly Sora’s story, youngest daughter of the
family, and develops as a murder mystery in which her husband is accused of a
crime he did not commit. Sora with the help of a local lawyer is determined to
prove Eli innocent. Some members of her family rally to lend support.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">I
sent out several advance review copies in print and pdf. Here’s some responses
I received:</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">“An
excellent two generation family saga of Polish immigrants to America set
against the backdrop of the Great Wars and The Depression. With Loyalty as a
captivating theme, point of view character Sora caught my heart and never let
go.”—Muddy Rose Reviews</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">“A
steady tale of a tight-knit family with four sisters building their lives in a
new country in changing times.” Author Susan Oleksiw</span></p>
<p class="ydpee648affmsonormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">“<span style="color: black;">Literally a genuine page-turner.” Author Steve Slavin<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="ydpee648affmsonormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">“Through the tumultuous years between 1920 and 1945, sibling
rivalry, love, marriage, births, death, and an arrest for murder, the Demsky
family knows, in the end, family is everything.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="ydpee648affmsonormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">Sandra Murphy, Author</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">“Heart
of Wisdom </span></i><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">is
well worth reading: for its historical value, for its insights into the family
life of the immigrants who made our country what it is, and for its elements of
mystery. Highly recommend.” Author Erica Miner</span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">Hopefully,
readers will find this book worthy.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>Jacqueline Seewaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09177500620940251009noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6564808806012504614.post-44649465539551417392023-08-18T03:46:00.000-07:002023-08-18T03:46:10.963-07:00Interview with Author Cathi Stoler<p><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Cathi
Stoler is an Amazon Best Selling author and Derringer winner. She has written <i>Nick
Of Time and Out Of Time,</i> in the <i>Nick Donahue Adventures</i> and <i>Bar
None, Last Call,</i> The Silver Falchion finalist Best Suspense Novel 2020<i>,
Straight Up</i></span><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">, </span><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">and <i>With A Twist,</i> in the Murder On the Rocks
Series,<i> </i>as well as <i>The Laurel and Helen NY Mysteries,</i> plus
multiple short stories. </span><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">She
is a board member<b> </b>of<b> </b>SinC, and a member of MWA. and ITW. You can
find her at www.cathistoler.com or email her at cathi@cathistoler.com.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqibslRdi0Fp8mxMMavqS6aIPrpZJCVTQONZSdV4PCXjL3vNEQr4z_z5XwsoZTacwK1Qhl7ZEvSodKXqckKeTE3SxNA-IXJ4PljdcqLOtMa1YBHEcFn-6-CidiArDdQb4rnSSa_vYKm7BBiJWG_mBWBrXbAimNbCyYcOXGOIo_30AKYn-QT4M9ViTtNOA/s2562/CathiStoler.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2562" data-original-width="2308" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqibslRdi0Fp8mxMMavqS6aIPrpZJCVTQONZSdV4PCXjL3vNEQr4z_z5XwsoZTacwK1Qhl7ZEvSodKXqckKeTE3SxNA-IXJ4PljdcqLOtMa1YBHEcFn-6-CidiArDdQb4rnSSa_vYKm7BBiJWG_mBWBrXbAimNbCyYcOXGOIo_30AKYn-QT4M9ViTtNOA/s320/CathiStoler.jpg" width="288" /></a></div><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"><br /></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">Question: What is the
title and genre of your novel?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why did
you select them?</span></b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: yellow; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-highlight: yellow;">Answer:</span><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"> NICK OF TIME A Nick Donahue Adventure
is a fast-paced mystery/suspense story. I’d been writing stories with female protagonists,
and I felt it was time for a change, creating a male protagonist as my main
character. And I knew I had to make him special enough to stand out in a
crowded suspense field.<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><o:p></o:p></i></span></p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibrVh1PWv96pbMe4e44X27_V9_S6kKrwxG-LeOVeZ9ksmLVpHFqsG-VOi9WyFwxndtTf1bYQ5QbvZVlqjAaOIPf88bd0QOSLGMP6mJgiHiLNBLSvvGsBgX0AgN_OIAyZbxohGI-RNjEzIbAZ6rRXr-U_IgP7c6hMMkpMgFgINiNfCrS3ky5Uz4f28EvSw/s600/Nick%20of%20Time.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="400" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibrVh1PWv96pbMe4e44X27_V9_S6kKrwxG-LeOVeZ9ksmLVpHFqsG-VOi9WyFwxndtTf1bYQ5QbvZVlqjAaOIPf88bd0QOSLGMP6mJgiHiLNBLSvvGsBgX0AgN_OIAyZbxohGI-RNjEzIbAZ6rRXr-U_IgP7c6hMMkpMgFgINiNfCrS3ky5Uz4f28EvSw/s320/Nick%20of%20Time.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">Question:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What
inspired this novel? How did it come about?</span></b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: yellow; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-highlight: yellow;">Answer:</span><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"> We were on vacation in Venice and
trying out luck at one of the casinos. The people at the high-stakes Blackjack
tables were far more dressed up than the people who frequented the casinos in
the states. Most of the men wore tuxedos and looked very James Bondish. That
gave me the idea to mix some of the elegance and confidence I was witnessing into
a smart, sexy, and successful professional Blackjack player and Nick Donahue
emerged. I could almost hear him saying “Donahue. Nick Donahue,” when
introducing himself.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">Question:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Could you tell us a little bit about the heroine
and/or hero of your novel?</span></b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: yellow; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-highlight: yellow;">Answer</span><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">: Nick Donahue is very successful as a
professional Blackjack player and travels the world playing the game. In NICK
OF TIME, his tendency to take risks in life as well as in gambling, is almost
his undoing. When he helps a beautiful woman, Marina DiPietro who is in danger,
he’s nearly killed. Marina manages to save him, and he is immediately enmeshed
in another heart-pounding situation coming to the aid of his younger brother,
Alex, who works for the world’s largest Swiss bank who has double-crossed the
New York Mob.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">Question:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Can you tell us about some of your other
published novels or work?</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: yellow; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-highlight: yellow;">Answer</span><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">: My latest series is the four-volume mystery/suspense
Murder On The Rocks Mysteries, BAR NONE, LAST CALL, STRAIGHT UP, and WITH A
TWIST. They feature Jude Dillane, owner of The Corner Lounge on Tenth Street
and Avenue B on Manhattan’s Lower East Side. I’ve also written the three-volume
Laurel and Helen New York Mysteries, KEEPING SECRETS, TELLING LIES, and THE
HARD WAY. I’ve also written several short stories and am a three-time finalist,
and winner of the Derringer for Best Short Story.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">Question: <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What are you working on now?</span></b><b><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: yellow; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-highlight: yellow;">Answer</span><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">: I’m working on the edits for the
rerelease of book two in The Nick Donahue Adventures, OUT OF TIME, as well as book
three, NO GOOD TIME, and a psychological thriller, HEAR NO EVIL.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">Question:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What made you start writing?</span></b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: yellow; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-highlight: yellow;">Answer</span><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">: I’ve always loved reading,
especially mysteries and spy thrillers and hoped that one day I would write
one. After many years as an advertising copywriter/creative director, I decided
to channel my writing abilities into writing a novel, which had always been at
the back of my mind. Of course, I chose the mystery crime fiction genre which
is my favorite.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">Question:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What advice would you offer to those who are
currently writing novels?</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: yellow; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-highlight: yellow;">Answer:</span><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"> The actual writing is not easy, but
it’s not as hard as what comes next: revisions, the search for an agent, an
editor, and a publisher for your final manuscript. It can take years to achieve
this goal. So don’t be discouraged. And, know you are not alone. Joining a
group such as Sisters in Crime, or Mystery Writers of America, gives you access
to other writers and experts who share their knowledge and expertise through
meetings, readings, panel discussions, and more.</span><b><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">Question:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Where and when will readers be able to obtain
your novel?</span></b><b><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: yellow; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-highlight: yellow;">Answer:</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">Amazon<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">https://amzn.to/3MpColu</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">Barnes & Noble<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"><a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/nick-of-time-cathi-stoler/1117616743?ean=9781685123567">https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/nick-of-time-cathi-stoler/1117616743?ean=9781685123567</a></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">Kobo<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"><a href="https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/nick-of-time-28">https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/nick-of-time-28</a></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">Apple<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"><a href="https://books.apple.com/us/book/nickoftime">https://books.apple.com/us/book/nickoftime</a></span><i><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="background: yellow; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-highlight: yellow;">Questions and/or comments for Cathi
appreciated here.</span></b><b><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>Jacqueline Seewaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09177500620940251009noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6564808806012504614.post-28106447470704115792023-08-04T03:39:00.001-07:002023-08-04T03:39:41.455-07:00ROMAN FORENSICS by June Trop<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Guest Blog: June
Trop, author of <i>The Deadliest Deceptions</i>. (Level Best Books, 2023).<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO6ox3lhDcHDhhYIpN90agTIXMuSkEOu6SPN7fVr-HX_yY2NpHtON5Yp6QKch6wd2DNwNEbAASyx8MLNQn5ZGDwDMojokv7ySBWW9elwXXgRoMLL0lzo3mMqb4nRi5rToVyMC86uLJINnu10EMVOhF0uByLmuGva7UukQH-kkndPApWeT6E0YfOmt9tzc/s160/June%20portrait%20larger.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="160" data-original-width="160" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO6ox3lhDcHDhhYIpN90agTIXMuSkEOu6SPN7fVr-HX_yY2NpHtON5Yp6QKch6wd2DNwNEbAASyx8MLNQn5ZGDwDMojokv7ySBWW9elwXXgRoMLL0lzo3mMqb4nRi5rToVyMC86uLJINnu10EMVOhF0uByLmuGva7UukQH-kkndPApWeT6E0YfOmt9tzc/w320-h320/June%20portrait%20larger.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">As the author of
the Miriam bat Isaac Mystery Series set in first-century CE Roman Alexandria, I
regularly research criminal investigative techniques used in ancient times. In writing
my latest book, <i>The Deadliest Deceptions</i>, a collection of short
mysteries ranging from cozy to noir, I found myself focusing on Roman forensics.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The term
forensics—from the Latin word <i>forum</i> because the Romans presented their
charges in a public square—became widely used during the second half of the 19<sup>th</sup>
century. That’s when new techniques in toxicology, fingerprint analysis, and
ballistics were used in response to cases like Jack the Ripper in England and
the Parker-Webster murder case in the United States. While the Romans did not
use the term forensics or know about fingerprints and DNA, some historical
examples show they used bloody prints, dental characteristics, and pattern
recognition marks to identify the villain.<span style="color: #00b0f0;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Perhaps the most
famous case based on bloody prints was “The Wall of Handprints”, in which a
blind son was accused of killing his father for his inheritance. The
prosecution argued that the father was asleep with his wife, his son’s
stepmother, when his son stabbed him to death. Furthermore, he argued that the
father died instantly without awakening his wife and that the son left an
intermittent trail of bloody handprints on the wall from their room back to his
own.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The defense
attorney claimed that it was the stepmother who killed her husband. Upset that
she would lose the inheritance, she framed her stepson. The lawyer successfully
argued that the son, being blind, would not have left intermittent prints.
Rather he would have dragged his hand along the wall. So, despite their lack of
knowledge about the components of blood, the Romans used its prints to
reconstruct the crime. <span style="color: #00b050;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Julia Agrippina,
aka Agrippina the Younger, used dental characteristics to confirm that her
rival Lollia Paulina was dead. Paulina was Caligula’s beautiful and wealthy
third wife. After Caligula’s death, the new emperor, Claudius, began to court her
but nevertheless had an interest in Agrippina. To eliminate Paulina, Agrippina
accused her rival of witchcraft, had her exiled from Italy, and forced her to
commit suicide. To confirm her death, Agrippina asked for Paulina’s head and
inspected the teeth herself. She must have been satisfied because she did not
have anyone else killed for five more years. <span style="color: #00b050;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Pattern
recognition marks convinced the Roman emperor Tiberius that a murder not
suicide had been committed. He saw drag marks and other signs of a struggle to
contradict the husband’s claim that his wife had jumped out the window while he
was sound asleep. Tiberius referred the matter to the Senate, but alas, the
husband opened his veins instead. <span style="color: #00b050;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Roman forensics
may date back thousand years, but even modern evidence from bloody prints,
dental characteristics, and pattern recognition marks can be wrongfully
interpreted. Just not in my stories. You can depend on Miriam bat Isaac and her
assistants to look at bloody prints, dental characteristics, and pattern
recognition marks to assess a crime correctly—at least most of the time.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZzsbhARK0gQ2cQZVM8any-I3PYwggOiFqjpM3x2UxZ-1qihBM00MMdb3cMCokx6AoW1L6ImzSjAM0czesoRJGOjwCFmkXkXqZoOEZXjQd5HQoTbbtAkuKzO11UL6p1oyxww9lDGgoe1-djQZHZW6MFTA8vae_Dd7oSxVdvgzMtUZqp7yTTKOkLW1GE-A/s2000/THE%20DEADLIEST%20DECEPTIONS%20cover%20FINAL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-size: 14pt; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="1333" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZzsbhARK0gQ2cQZVM8any-I3PYwggOiFqjpM3x2UxZ-1qihBM00MMdb3cMCokx6AoW1L6ImzSjAM0czesoRJGOjwCFmkXkXqZoOEZXjQd5HQoTbbtAkuKzO11UL6p1oyxww9lDGgoe1-djQZHZW6MFTA8vae_Dd7oSxVdvgzMtUZqp7yTTKOkLW1GE-A/s320/THE%20DEADLIEST%20DECEPTIONS%20cover%20FINAL.jpg" width="213" /></a><br /><br /></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: yellow; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-highlight: yellow;">Comments for June welcome here!</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>Jacqueline Seewaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09177500620940251009noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6564808806012504614.post-34167520714976219862023-07-28T07:48:00.000-07:002023-07-28T07:48:12.124-07:00Westerns in Media<p> <span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The popularity of the dime store novel was part of the
Western tradition. But well before that time, the Frontier was a major theme in
American literature. The Leather Stocking Tales by James Fenimore Cooper remain
favorites. <i>The Last of the Mohicans</i> is a classic.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>People moved West
for many reasons. Owning their own land was one important reason for the push
Westward. Others looked to wealth from mining. <span style="background: white; color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">In 1854, Horace Greeley, a New York
newspaper editor,</span></span><span style="background: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"> gave </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">Josiah
B.<span style="background: white;"> </span>Grinnell<span style="background: white;"> a famous piece of advice. "Go West,
young man, and grow up with the country." Many people listened to him.
Westward Ho!</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="background: white;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">My father was a fan of Westerns. As a child, I recall
sitting in front of the television watching countless Western shows with him: <i>Hopalong
Cassidy, The Cisco Kid, The Lone Ranger, Roy Rodgers, Bonanza, Wanted Dead or
Alive, Rawhide, Walker, Texas Ranger, Gunsmoke, Little House on the Prairie, Have
Gun, Will Travel, The Virginian, and many others.</i> <i>Yellowstone</i> and <i>1883</i>
are currently very popular. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The West has inspired filmmakers since the inception of
the movie industry. <i>Stagecoach </i>rocketed<i> </i>John Wayne to
super-stardom in 1939 (a banner year for movies). He starred in many fine
Westerns like <i>The Searchers</i>. Clint Eastwood took the spaghetti Western
to new heights. <i>The Unforgiven</i> is his most outstanding unique Western.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">My personal tribute to the Western is a novel entitled:
THE KILLING LAND. Originally published in hardcover by Five Star/Cengage, I’m
happy to announce it is now published in a newly revised edition both in
paperback and ebook by Luminosity. There is also new cover art.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJDXNw45XhJSeD0TrqYACbLzTDUX5I0Ik2m6uXmuz439mynad-E-TF1b9Nkjdj5OOTuhn3u31wCGgvxHAD-ySHIgy9QaRi00FIQKnPZ-SaVJ26IRFwfKQTFzhQPfk7X69eBYH7anBOMbjoWdxODQMpA7e7isV3QvQh-ihfNBgr5vhumtrhfSzoPvk0iXA/s2700/tkl-full%20the%20killing%20land.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2700" data-original-width="1800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJDXNw45XhJSeD0TrqYACbLzTDUX5I0Ik2m6uXmuz439mynad-E-TF1b9Nkjdj5OOTuhn3u31wCGgvxHAD-ySHIgy9QaRi00FIQKnPZ-SaVJ26IRFwfKQTFzhQPfk7X69eBYH7anBOMbjoWdxODQMpA7e7isV3QvQh-ihfNBgr5vhumtrhfSzoPvk0iXA/s320/tkl-full%20the%20killing%20land.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoPlainText"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">This novel is set
principally in the Arizona Territory of the early l880's where a courageous
settler from the East and an aristocratic cattle baron become involved in a
love/hate relationship. The two, although attracted to each other, are
initially distrustful and antagonistic toward one another. The dangers they
face draw them together.</span></p>
<p style="background: white; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">Mary suspects that Cal is responsible for trying to drive
the homesteaders and sheepherders off the land cattlemen consider rightfully
theirs. When her uncle is murdered, Mary intends to discover who is responsible
and why. In so doing, she becomes a person of interest to a vicious outlaw.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Here’s a review sample:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">"The
Killing Land is set in the Arizona territory of the 1880s, and opens with an
intriguing hook that snags the reader's attention quickly...Seewald does a fine
job with character development, including with her secondary characters...The
plot itself is quite detailed as well...Fans of western romance should be pleased
with this novel."</span><span style="color: #0f1111; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><br />
<br />
<span style="background: white;">--Historical Novel Society</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Buy
Links:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-field-code: " HYPERLINK \0022\0022 ";"><span style="color: black;"><a href="https://luminositypublishing.com/book/the-killing-land/">https://luminositypublishing.com/book/the-killing-land/</a><o:p></o:p></span></span></span>
</p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CCGLM2D5">https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CCGLM2D5</a><span style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/1426758">https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/1426758</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://play.google.com/store/books/details?id=ClnNEAAAQBAJ">https://play.google.com/store/books/details?id=ClnNEAAAQBAJ</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-killing-land-jacqueline-seewald/1122846630">https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-killing-land-jacqueline-seewald/1122846630</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://books.apple.com/ca/book/the-killing-land/id6451543969">https://books.apple.com/ca/book/the-killing-land/id6451543969</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p></p>Jacqueline Seewaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09177500620940251009noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6564808806012504614.post-46360336179274580272023-07-21T03:17:00.000-07:002023-07-21T03:17:04.483-07:00Interview with Author Maggie Toussaint<p> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Southern author Maggie Toussaint
writes cozy and paranormal mysteries, romantic suspense, and dystopian fiction,
with more than twenty-five novels of fiction published. Her upcoming release,
IN THE WICK OF TIME, book two in A Magic Candle Shop Mysteries, is a cozy
paranormal mystery series written under the pen name of Valona Jones. A
multi-year finalist for Georgia Author of the Year, she’s won Silver Falchions,
two Readers’ Choice awards, and the EPIC Award. She’s past president of Mystery
Writers of America-Southeast chapter and a member of Sisters In Crime. She
lives in coastal Georgia, where time and tide wait for no one. Visit her at <a href="https://maggietoussaint.com/">https://maggietoussaint.com/</a> and <a href="https://valonajones.com/">https://valonajones.com</a> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4qQtulohPv9mKdbE1SLqnJ0OffH9T_LW0c57XtDM3vd6i6PQ7jENVvVf-AAc_48hDHb7qZTK674V74dQSfXUlUBNkagf1tpe9AlxG32FjIbIAoywK5tjooIRq7hrmNKEaMbnal6gAB1HM-2hyMGpKQ_2AIYcg2J2uRUCuNw86ikQl4kR7Xi1T4nPeS_8/s600/Maggie%20Toussaint%203%20web.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4qQtulohPv9mKdbE1SLqnJ0OffH9T_LW0c57XtDM3vd6i6PQ7jENVvVf-AAc_48hDHb7qZTK674V74dQSfXUlUBNkagf1tpe9AlxG32FjIbIAoywK5tjooIRq7hrmNKEaMbnal6gAB1HM-2hyMGpKQ_2AIYcg2J2uRUCuNw86ikQl4kR7Xi1T4nPeS_8/s320/Maggie%20Toussaint%203%20web.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: yellow; color: #2a2a2a; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-highlight: yellow;">First
off, thanks to Jacquie inviting me to visit her blog site today. You are much appreciated!</span><span style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #c45911; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">Thank
you, Maggie!</span></b><span style="color: #c45911; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">Question: What is the
title and genre of your novel?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why did
you select them?</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: yellow; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-highlight: yellow;">Answer:</span><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"> My Oct 17, 2023, release is titled In
The Wick Of Time, and it’s genre is cozy paranormal mystery. This is the second
book in my A Magic Candle Shop Mystery. With my scientist background and a history
of running out of energy, I was drawn to writing a series about twins with
energy manipulation abilities. As such, they can give and take energy if they
so desire. One twin is keen on sharing her energy, while the other always wants
her sister to “top off her tank.” My great grandfather was a twin, and I’ve always
been fascinated by twins.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv5KR9FP0oteDyF2lVSVMVdHKmCAzC7-P1H6vKi1JsEnsc8rgNry4HpH5_QRi7qvuNX2kqRoTNfe0LLxAEf7Dr9-cUfzQiUnNboJzKKdyourVOnLbm8V5Au2k-DccKvfrZe5VjHX3HS7O7XcFYbx2RDqdLwQ84E3CUXyiNDMYFtGPzq1hTDq2Q6yFPpuE/s690/3%20Candle%20Shop%20Mysteries.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="345" data-original-width="690" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv5KR9FP0oteDyF2lVSVMVdHKmCAzC7-P1H6vKi1JsEnsc8rgNry4HpH5_QRi7qvuNX2kqRoTNfe0LLxAEf7Dr9-cUfzQiUnNboJzKKdyourVOnLbm8V5Au2k-DccKvfrZe5VjHX3HS7O7XcFYbx2RDqdLwQ84E3CUXyiNDMYFtGPzq1hTDq2Q6yFPpuE/s320/3%20Candle%20Shop%20Mysteries.jpg" width="320" /></a></b></div><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"><br /></span></b><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">Question:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What
inspired this novel? How did it come about?</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: yellow; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-highlight: yellow;">Answer:</span><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the first book of the series, amateur
sleuth Tabby Winslow (with some help from her twin Sage) solved a homicide to
save the clerk from her family’s candle shop. In book two, In The Wick Of Time,
Sage’s boss is fatally poisoned. The cops zero in on Sage because of the
apothecary fixings in the candle shop and also because of the shouting match
they had the day before he died. I’ve been interested in poisons as a fictional
murder weapon ever since I met the “Poison Lady” Lucy Zahray, at the Malice
Domestic conference. I set this book at Christmas because of the use of candle
luminaries in many holiday celebrations. If you are unfamiliar with luminaries,
they are basically a lunch bag with about a cup of sand and a votive or tea
light candle. When the sidewalk is lined with them it is a sight to behold.
Candles are an integral part of all the books in the series as well as the
titles.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">Question:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Could you tell us a little bit about the heroine
and/or hero of your novel?</span></b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: yellow; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-highlight: yellow;">Answer</span><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">: Much to Sage’s regret, her twin
sister is the heroine/protagonist of this book. Tabby is more grounded,
compassionate, and known for her ability to follow through, while her twin wears
her emotions on her sleeve, is a bit capricious, and never forgets a slight.
Sage would not make a likeable main character. Tabby was a reluctant amateur
sleuth because she needed to use her suppressed paranormal powers to help save
their clerk, Gerard. Then once she got a handle on how to manage them, she
became more confident about her abilities. That’s not all. She can also bend
light to make herself and anyone/anything she’s touching go invisible. It comes
in handy with their sleuthing. Sage also helps them get into places by learning
how to pick locks from her boyfriend. Together the twins make a powerful tool
for getting into forbidden places and uncovering the truth.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">Question:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Can you tell us about some of your other
published novels or work?</span></b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: yellow; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-highlight: yellow;">Answer</span><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">: My series before this one was a
culinary cozy (written as Maggie Toussaint). The three-book Seafood Caper
Mysteries is about caterer River Holloway on a coastal GA island. She’s asked to
use her superb finding skills to locate a childhood friend, now a full grown man
names Chili, who’s gone missing. This series is fun of coastal scenery, lots of
food and catering, with a bushel barrel of murder and mayhem thrown in. The
titles in order are: Seas the Day, Spawning Suspicion, and Shrimply Dead.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">Question:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What are you working on now?</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: yellow; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-highlight: yellow;">Answer</span><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">: I’m writing book 4 in the A Magic
Candle Shop Mystery Series. Book three is written and has been subbed to the
publisher. Book four is coming along nicely. I just hit 40,000 words in the
rough draft. For these books, I like to end the first draft at about 65.000
words and then through edits, end up with a final word count of 72,000-75,000
words. So far in the book a police detective was seriously injured in a possible
case of road rage, a friend of Sage’s was murdered in his home, and now a
former classmate has gone missing. The twins are wondering what is happening in
their fair town of Savannah, Georgia. I write these stories as I go which makes
them much more exciting as a writer. I don’t know whodunnit yet, but I’ll know
before I get to the end.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">Question:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What made you start writing?</span></b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: yellow; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-highlight: yellow;">Answer</span><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">: My big mouth! That’s the absolute
truth. In 1991 when I was laid up with a back injury and I’d read everything in
the house, my husband brought home some random books from the grocery store
checkout line. About halfway through the second book that I did not finish, I
chucked it across the room and announced to the universe that I could do better
than that. It took me nearly ten years to learn how to write saleable
commercial fiction. Along the way, I learned that you don’t write to the bottom
of the market. Publishers and agents are interested in having a project that’s
at the top of its game.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">Question:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What advice would you offer to those who are
currently writing novels?</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: yellow; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-highlight: yellow;">Answer:</span><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Keep a clear goal in mind and align your
expectations accordingly. I’ve known many people who write exceedingly well,
but they keep tinkering with their books and never submit them. I also have
known writers quit after their first rejection letter or their first critique.
If you are writing for yourself only, that’s fine. But if you expect to be published,
you must have a well-edited and polished book, and then you must launch it out
into the world.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">Question:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Where and when will readers be able to obtain
your novel?</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: yellow; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-highlight: yellow;">Answer:</span><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"> In The Wick of Time will be available
Oct 17 of this year in ebook and hardcover. The audiobook was just announced
and there aren’t links yet for that at the time of this post. Here are the
links:</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">Kindle<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></b><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BSKWTKZN/"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BSKWTKZN/</span></a></span><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">Amazon
Hardcover link<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></b><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Wick-Time-Magic-Candle-Mystery/dp/1639105077/"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">https://www.amazon.com/Wick-Time-Magic-Candle-Mystery/dp/1639105077/</span></a></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">Barnes
and Noble Hardcover link<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></b><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"><a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/in-the-wick-of-time-valona-jones/1142954173?ean=9781639105076">https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/in-the-wick-of-time-valona-jones/1142954173?ean=9781639105076</a></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">Nook<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></b><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/in-the-wick-of-time-valona-jones/1142954173?ean=9781639105083"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/in-the-wick-of-time-valona-jones/1142954173?ean=9781639105083</span></a></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">Kobo
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></b><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/in-the-wick-of-time"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">In the Wick of Time eBook by Valona Jones - EPUB |
Rakuten Kobo United States</span></a></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="background: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow;">Comments and/or questions for Maggie welcome here!</span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>Jacqueline Seewaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09177500620940251009noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6564808806012504614.post-6731639752224955112023-07-07T03:18:00.001-07:002023-07-07T03:21:08.779-07:00Summer Reading 2023<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifeK6FHo8uMe0OwVXRGqS1FpnF0DqrZwiUDxukQzkGxgD7hou5_nOCcAsQrx9Ix4OIsSSY2sK_aykVJaajPzRjKytEE0NlfOuhTHiyxfCMRUpQJmDQUe3k1HD0xAJ_J0Tw9QyErXM0RO4k09NF4gDcZIPDLkvh4SUsbvVLnuRenqWzupdVBnqY4oEjINo/s1816/beach%20(1%20of%201).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1158" data-original-width="1816" height="204" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifeK6FHo8uMe0OwVXRGqS1FpnF0DqrZwiUDxukQzkGxgD7hou5_nOCcAsQrx9Ix4OIsSSY2sK_aykVJaajPzRjKytEE0NlfOuhTHiyxfCMRUpQJmDQUe3k1HD0xAJ_J0Tw9QyErXM0RO4k09NF4gDcZIPDLkvh4SUsbvVLnuRenqWzupdVBnqY4oEjINo/s320/beach%20(1%20of%201).jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">It’s
that time of year again when every magazine, newspaper and newsletter offer
suggestions on summer reading. So why should this blog be any different?</span></p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;">Summer
is the perfect time to spend some time vacationing or just relaxing. Sit in the
sun, lie on a chaise poolside, rest by the ocean or a lake, or under the shade
of a tree, sip a cool drink, and read a book—hard cover, soft cover, audio or
digital. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;">Mysteries
remain one of the most popular genres for summer reading. Why? Because they
entertain us. They also engage our intellect in a satisfying manner. Romances
provide us with a happy ever after ending, good escape reading. If you like
reading for enjoyment, it’s the way to go. I just finished reading THE BRIDE
WORE WHITE by Amanda Quick (Jayne Ann Krentz). This romantic suspense/mystery
continues the popular Burning Cove series set in the 1930’s. It’s great escape
literature.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;">Two
other mystery writers I’ve enjoyed reading this year are Laura Bradford, A PLUS
ONE FOR MURDER, and Angela M. Sanders WITCH AND FAMOUS—both in continuing
series. Level Best Books will publish my hybrid mystery HEART OF WISDOM
September 2<sup>nd</sup>.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;">I’ve
also continued to read a lot of Regency fiction. One of the authors I
particularly enjoy is Jane Ashford who has written numerous Regency romances.
Another is Mary Balogh. Just to mention, Luminosity has published my backlist
Regency title TEA LEAVES AND TAROT CARDS in a new edition.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglhjlm7x81iEJoptl4FROcJM50K6s2qySLP14v8nsW6Sv8tYBZ87YyyStp0DKmj2JabwGv3dWFeJiAafwCM41VKp2hz5Ym8JUlxS5VzP8eqNDBBtyPbUF-XIF-qTzpt8FA4iDxmFifR6XUwW9GHgY1a-AiejJvpDc_lJASKx3p8ttoRUEUfuyKuup2nDU/s675/Tea%20Leaves%20Luminosity.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="450" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglhjlm7x81iEJoptl4FROcJM50K6s2qySLP14v8nsW6Sv8tYBZ87YyyStp0DKmj2JabwGv3dWFeJiAafwCM41VKp2hz5Ym8JUlxS5VzP8eqNDBBtyPbUF-XIF-qTzpt8FA4iDxmFifR6XUwW9GHgY1a-AiejJvpDc_lJASKx3p8ttoRUEUfuyKuup2nDU/s320/Tea%20Leaves%20Luminosity.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;">Lots
of good summer reading on the bestseller list.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;">However,
there are excellent authors who write for small independent presses and provide
us with quality fiction but don’t get as much publicity because they are not
with the big publishers.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;">If
you enjoy historical romance, I suggest my novels: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;">SINFUL
SEDUCTION from Luminosity, set during the American Revolution, or HIGHLAND
HEART, </span><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #333333; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">historical romance
set in England and the Scottish Highlands in 1745 at the time of the second Jacobite
Rebellion. Luminosity will also publish my Western romance THE KILLING LAND next
month. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizl66daMEOmWSicgdDQudw892DRnBjygJVtuAaCA8AGZjuHBT3bJFVaL_CeFTtHGqUwjMqSiGFPrCy4nWgX6saMPMaeg5kSN9BKVYooOEroQWFTp5WEeMpBMz1S9mtCo7ECmZXLFxaa_9MoofBfwLDGjo8Hv9FgY0FRppyB29j7BJm7gt3TS7E9y-pqfo/s675/hh-450-675%20(2).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="450" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizl66daMEOmWSicgdDQudw892DRnBjygJVtuAaCA8AGZjuHBT3bJFVaL_CeFTtHGqUwjMqSiGFPrCy4nWgX6saMPMaeg5kSN9BKVYooOEroQWFTp5WEeMpBMz1S9mtCo7ECmZXLFxaa_9MoofBfwLDGjo8Hv9FgY0FRppyB29j7BJm7gt3TS7E9y-pqfo/s320/hh-450-675%20(2).jpg" width="213" /></a></div><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #333333; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5SVZ8ogSB0tko5KJn218k8O0_AuEsP5q7lEtXC2jzr5GqPk0B5sc8mvrqubAqwwRRqxD67Khwe1zYcOPxELO4b39X2z82r0mEM1_HRIqjuz1FvXXK_6zSbiIOzuEl5bd9mSKk5lxKWuyUnhMRWqyKX_bzYXkkZv58StYU9jXdoBDwBGGKE05G3kqTSSA/s675/book-cover-sinful-seduction1%20(2).jpg" style="font-size: 14pt; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="450" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5SVZ8ogSB0tko5KJn218k8O0_AuEsP5q7lEtXC2jzr5GqPk0B5sc8mvrqubAqwwRRqxD67Khwe1zYcOPxELO4b39X2z82r0mEM1_HRIqjuz1FvXXK_6zSbiIOzuEl5bd9mSKk5lxKWuyUnhMRWqyKX_bzYXkkZv58StYU9jXdoBDwBGGKE05G3kqTSSA/s320/book-cover-sinful-seduction1%20(2).jpg" width="213" /></a><br /><br /></o:p></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="background: yellow; font-size: 14pt; mso-highlight: yellow;">What are you reading? You are also most
welcome to recommend your own books so others will become aware of them!</span><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p>
<p><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span> </p>Jacqueline Seewaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09177500620940251009noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6564808806012504614.post-38079178551072033032023-06-02T03:56:00.000-07:002023-06-02T03:56:26.433-07:00Sparking Creativity and Innovative Productivity<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim8YYJkcyZdzo3ORb3v3mozdxvHK3IJ28IX47yxH-PPo5k7_I4r-QoOGWmS6HlIm2Nlwy78LYNy-Db0pYe6xg36ER9YAu4xD3kMJUgRB92m0ViWjf7KqcHmdVLeE1gVwgbt8ElJz5nq1ALJBDX8u8PNxeM_UE0BfU7bhUjrVBnjfXfeCXPNEulo4QT/s4608/spring%20azaleas.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="4608" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim8YYJkcyZdzo3ORb3v3mozdxvHK3IJ28IX47yxH-PPo5k7_I4r-QoOGWmS6HlIm2Nlwy78LYNy-Db0pYe6xg36ER9YAu4xD3kMJUgRB92m0ViWjf7KqcHmdVLeE1gVwgbt8ElJz5nq1ALJBDX8u8PNxeM_UE0BfU7bhUjrVBnjfXfeCXPNEulo4QT/s320/spring%20azaleas.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p class="MsoPlainText"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">What to do when you need to spark your life force,
rev up your engine? I’m not just talking about the creative arts. Every human
being needs revitalization at some point. If we become discouraged, suffer a
loss of productivity in our field of endeavor, there are ways to deal with it:</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Get started by making some life changes. Get out of
your normal rut or routine. Consider doing things you’ve never tried before or
haven’t done lately. They don’t have to be dangerous or extreme either.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Here’s one suggestion:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">One health-booster is Meditation. Not something new
but certainly beneficial. It’s referred to as “mindfulness.” Apparently, it
creates “bodybuilding for the brain.” It is both “anxiety-busting” and “attention-boosting”.
I would refer to it as awareness and focus. By its very nature, meditation
encourages creativity.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Here are some suggested activities that increase
mindfulness:</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Breathe deeply concentrating on the act itself.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Hug someone, focusing on the interaction. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Eat slowly while paying attention to what you are eating.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Take a walk somewhere engaging in awareness of your
surroundings.</span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">The key is to keep <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">focused</span> on an activity and not let your mind wander or worry, concentrating
on positive thoughts.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">This is just one method of increasing creativity
which can lead to innovative productivity.</span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">I
admit there are times when my creativity dries up like a plant in a parched
desert. Writer’s block is something most authors face at one time or another.
We lose that sense of purpose or inspiration. Sometimes it happens while we’re
working on a story, article, or book. It’s happened to me when I get
discouraged collecting rejection slips—a fate common to many writers. There are
ways to get back on track.</span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">l.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">Get
away from the computer and go for a walk. If it’s too cold or nasty outside,
use a treadmill or drive over to a mall and walk around inside.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">2.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">Visit
a bookstore and browse. Buy a book that you’d like to read.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">3.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">Visit
a library and browse. Borrow a book that looks interesting.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">If
you’re a fiction writer, read some nonfiction: books, magazines, and
newspapers, in print or online. If you’re a nonfiction writer, pick up a novel
to read. Try to read something you wouldn’t ordinarily peruse. Broaden your
horizons.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">Talk
to friends and family. Communicate with other people. Listen in on conversations
you overhear in restaurants and at gatherings.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">Visit
a museum. Study the displays. Take notes on those things that interest you.</span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">Go
to an art gallery and study the paintings there for inspiration.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Put yourself into a painting. Who are you?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Where are you?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What are you doing?</span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">Take
a trip somewhere you’ve never been before.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">Memory
writing is a useful resource. You don't have to be famous to write an
autobiography. However, many well-known writers have used memories effectively
in their writing. Some examples are:</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">JAMES
JOYCE--<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">A PORTRAIT OF THE ARTIST AS A
YOUNG MAN</i></span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">TRUMAN
CAPOTE--<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">A CHRISTMAS MEMORY</i></span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">EUGENE
O'NEILL--<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">LONG DAY'S JOURNEY INTO NIGHT</i></span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">Here's
a writing exercise guaranteed to produce results:</span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">WRITE
THE FOLLOWING:</span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">1.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>YOUR FIRST MEMORY.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">2.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>YOUR BEST MEMORY OR A GOOD MEMORY.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">3.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>YOUR WORST MEMORY OR A BAD MEMORY.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">DESCRIBE
IN DETAIL.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>TRY TO RECREATE EACH MEMORY
SO THAT SOMEONE ELSE CAN EXPERIENCE IT.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">Another
suggestion: keep a journal or diary. With this kind of writing, there is a
sense of immediacy. We can capture feelings and impressions that might
otherwise be lost. This can serve as excellent material for future work.</span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">3.
From Biblical times, dreams have been thought to be prophetic. Freud certainly
found much to analyze. Keep a notebook and pen beside your bed. When waking
after a particularly vivid dream, describe it in as much detail as possible.</span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Whenever possible, read magazine and newspaper
articles and clip those you find of particular interest. You can obtain many
ideas and inspiration for your own writing from them.</span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">There's
an old saying that a picture is worth a thousand words. A good picture is worth
at least that and probably a lot more. Inspiration for writers can come not
only from reading newspaper and magazine articles but also from looking at the
photos. Interesting photographs are all around us and are worth saving as a
resource.</span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">There
are many ways to improve your skill or writing technique. If, for instance, you
have trouble creating good descriptive passages, try doing some sense imagery
exercises. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Select
a piece of fruit like a lemon or orange. Describe in writing what it looks
like: color, shape, etc. Hold it in your hand. Describe the feel or texture of
the fruit. Cut the fruit in half. Now describe the smell and taste.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">Music
and sound can create mood and stimulate writing. Try writing
stream-of-consciousness technique while listening to music. Play three
different types of instrumental music for at least ten minutes. Pause between
each. Possible musical choices:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>classical, jazz, rock.</span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">Be
curious, interested in the world around you, and you can't help but find
inspiration and ideas for your writing. Writer’s block is only temporary. Most
important, never give up, not if writing is what you really want to do.
Publishing success will come if you keep perfecting your craft.</span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">Now
it’s time for me to take my own advice! How about you?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText" style="text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText" style="text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>Jacqueline Seewaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09177500620940251009noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6564808806012504614.post-38460642657794486542023-05-12T03:27:00.002-07:002023-05-12T03:27:32.751-07:00Interview with Author/Editor Vernon Smith<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">Introduction:</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">Today
I am interviewing Vern Smith, who<i> LitReactor</i> recently crowned “a<strong><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;"> </span></strong><strong><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-weight: normal;">new crime-fiction
intelligentsia.” Smith</span></strong> is the author of the novel, <i>Scratching
the Flint</i>, just released by Run Amok Crime. He is also the author of the
novels <i>Under the Table</i> and <i>The Green Ghetto</i>. His novelette, <i>The
Gimmick</i>—a finalist for Canada’s highest crime-writing honor, the Arthur
Ellis Award—is the title track of his second collection of fiction.<span style="color: black;"> </span>A former investigative journalist, self-described political
hack, broadcaster, and caddy (yes, golf), the Windsor, Ontario native and longtime
resident of downtown Toronto now lives on the outskirts of Chicago, which is
where I caught up to him to talk about his new novel and the state of policing,
as well as his process, Thomas Pynchon, Artificial Intelligence, Joe Strummer,
the Hays Code, and his brand new Chinaski Award.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgiXu17PtKQ6W8oaAHeOVR4EmuJ8udYyOrb85H4mYsyhmUcW9duqMG8bt5FA5Z7rbYjbQ4GiQaI3Z5QUBFMwpfRwrc3QsZgJrqIj0fiQ2bwJ-8zmCRo0b490wnYRA4_n-PjDzmVk4UmlMcCVM7PGzwvpnXOrctNx6DcepvNuK8iKukhup_GKG61A4a/s4032/IMG_4538.jpg" imageanchor="1" 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/AVvXsEjgiXu17PtKQ6W8oaAHeOVR4EmuJ8udYyOrb85H4mYsyhmUcW9duqMG8bt5FA5Z7rbYjbQ4GiQaI3Z5QUBFMwpfRwrc3QsZgJrqIj0fiQ2bwJ-8zmCRo0b490wnYRA4_n-PjDzmVk4UmlMcCVM7PGzwvpnXOrctNx6DcepvNuK8iKukhup_GKG61A4a/s320/IMG_4538.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">Question: What is the
genre of your novel? And how do you unpack it for people?</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: yellow; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-highlight: yellow;">Answer:</span><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"> <i>Scratching the Flint</i> is a hardboiled
literary crime thriller that puts here and now into proper historical context
by casting a harsh light on the lowest common denominators of policing. Set in (just)
pre-9/11 Toronto, it’s the story of how conflicts of interest, casual racism, petty
dissention, gatekeeping, and the slow death of real information came to
destabilize North American law enforcement, and, in turn, society. As much as
it’s a crime story, it’s the story of institutional failure. For comic relief, I’m
told I give you absurdities of the same.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8sgOr7jHKr6nWwPfKHjOHTkQtepp2VoU8MU4eJSopNwYoHviyjeix1vary6uzx2xWalKEy6uNDSZKDiMqM_6TFxMYQkcnwQAoIzqY32BEJno-3eHfZQBsCZjhd1h9uSzSVRPfNxf9gxdZ-wCP1vfDw1O5LaH9zFPwaFcI54KHTNVLSyJbog9JuCLr/s2474/STF%20Front-5.10.23.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2474" data-original-width="1610" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8sgOr7jHKr6nWwPfKHjOHTkQtepp2VoU8MU4eJSopNwYoHviyjeix1vary6uzx2xWalKEy6uNDSZKDiMqM_6TFxMYQkcnwQAoIzqY32BEJno-3eHfZQBsCZjhd1h9uSzSVRPfNxf9gxdZ-wCP1vfDw1O5LaH9zFPwaFcI54KHTNVLSyJbog9JuCLr/s320/STF%20Front-5.10.23.jpg" width="208" /></a></div><br /><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">Question: Indeed, they
say it’s Pynchon-esque.</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: yellow; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-highlight: yellow;">Answer:</span><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"> They say—I have no idea what they are
on about, and that’s the beauty of it. Upon the release of all three of my
novels, someone has invariably mentioned Mr. Thomas Pynchon and I in the same
breath. I feel myself get hot and blush every time, because Mr. Pynchon is seriously
accomplished and I haven’t read any of his works. Whenever I say that, people
are quick to tell me which of Mr. Pynchon’s books to read first. I mean no disrespect
whatsoever and intend to correct the issue when things wind down in a few months.
While that’s going on, I do believe in reciprocity, so maybe someone aware of Mr.
Pynchon’s whereabouts could tell him which of my books to read first. Now that would
be a community service.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">Question: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">Over the years, your name
has also been mentioned in the same breath as Phyllis Diller, William S.
Burroughs, Quentin Tarantino, Elmore Leonard, Jim Dodge, and Ishmael Reed,
among others. What do you make of all that?</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: yellow; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-highlight: yellow;">Answer:</span><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"> First off, I’m terrified of Ms. Diller
rising from the ashes and ripping my face off. I like to have a good time, yes,
but I’m not a comedian and I can’t carry her cigarette holder. As for the rest,
I haven’t read some of them, either. Still, while that’s all valuable for
blurbs, which do sell books, something we need to do, I have not accomplished even
a sliver-of-a-sliver-of-a-sliver-of-a-sliver of what those artists have accomplished.
So again, I feel myself get hot and blush. I guess people need to pigeonhole
matter—me too, as much as I try to avoid it—and that’s fine because they’re usually
trying to express that they like the book, which is all I can reasonably hope for.
But I don’t deserve or desire to be anyone other than myself, and I like to
believe that makes my work singular, however it is pigeonholed.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">Question: What inspired
this novel? How did it come about?</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: yellow; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-highlight: yellow;">Answer:</span><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> It’s a collaboration
between my younger self and me as old man Smith. The story started round about
the turn of the century when I was reporting on crime in Toronto, then
forgotten during my most-excellent adventure in broadcasting. I found it in a
box of manuscripts when I was piecing together my short-fiction collection, <i>The
Gimmick</i>. At that point, <i>Scratching the Flint</i> was a 27,000-word
novella, a mystery. I decided that I liked it and put it aside while I finished
other projects. When I returned to it, I further decided that I don’t write
mysteries. I write crime. So I made adjustments that way, which gave me an
opportunity to flush out my criminal characters, because I didn’t need them
hiding the in shadows anymore. But what really inspired me to get down and
finish this story was the news coverage of anti-police actions from about 2016
to 2020. Let me be clear: Plenty of individuals on the ground protesting were
talking about all the things enabling police policy and behavior—not the least
of which was U.S. private-prison interests donating large to both parties long
before and through the 2020 election. Little of that was being reported because
it is impolite to talk about where political parties here get their money. Instead,
the news coverage across North America sort of degenerated into vague
platitudes roughly translating into “bad cop, no donut.” <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">As a former crime reporter in Toronto, I knew,
frustratingly, that the reality was deeper, and I felt <i>Scratching the Flint</i>
was already tracking towards becoming a useful document of institutional
failure when I found it, so I just let myself keep going in that direction
until the final cut hit 70,000 words and change. While I did not cherry-pick
the future, hindsight most definitely gave me a focus for the things that were
of chief importance in the first draft, the things that made the story plausible
in the first place.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">The complicated reality is that, for all the media’s
bluster, we still haven’t earnestly got down to even talking about how to change</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"> the ways
our political bureaucracies operate around policing and related matters in
terms of money, power, and race, as well as influence over policy, procedure, and
institutional culture. In short, we should be very interested in police
malfeasance, yes, and we should be just as interested in what informs and
enables the same. I like to think <i>Scratching the Flint</i> helps square that
up.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">Question: Could you
tell us a little bit about the heroine and/or hero of your novel?</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: yellow; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-highlight: yellow;">Answer</span><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">: While a fair number of readers have
expressed a vague desire to pal around with Mitchell Hosowich, the main protagonist
in my first novel, <i>The Green Ghetto</i>, there are no role models,</span><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> saviors, heroines or heroes in any of my novels, I’m pretty
sure. For me, they make it difficult to blur the lines between good and bad, and</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"> I like
to see those lines blurred. So, what we have here is an aging black fraud detective,
Alex Johnson, trying to keep a leash on his mouthy young white partner, Cecil
Bolan, who’s childhood friend has just been mocked and executed. While I had no
end of fun spending time in their heads, listening to them argue over music, relationships,
clothes, decorum, socio-political matters, and police issues, the sober matter here
is that our political bureaucracies have historically provided the necessary camouflage
for cops like Alex and particularly Cecil to operate. In other words, on both
micro and macro levels, it’s no mistake that either made detective, let alone
cop, but it is absurd. They are who the power structure wanted and that is why
they were protected. That’s what makes their story plausible in 2001 and relevant
today. Given Cecil’s age, he is likely still in the police system and making
the news for all the wrong reasons. To a certain extent, he was and is representative
of a police subculture. So long as he’s still there, <i>Scratching the Flint</i>
is the story you get, and that’s a story lacking justice. Don’t anyone put that
on me. Put that on your elected representatives.</span><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">Question: Can you
tell us about some of your other published novels or work?</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: yellow; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-highlight: yellow;">Answer</span><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">:</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">Jacked</span></i><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">, the crime fiction
anthology I edited and curated, just won the Chinaski Award from the
Independent Fiction Alliance. So please raise a short glass of port to the 21-derful
authors of Jacked and my colleagues at Run Amok Crime who made it all happen.
And please grab a copy for yourself to see what all the fuss is about. The
reviews of these 21 authors are through the roof.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1bYOmBJPpHCbI5wUkVUx2kPGzSO9t7o-QQv3hXlB5s2UGaeWb1LUJ8a_BGqPnZW-F5-PTOxALmtViC_zClqltYzJIaKXoS8-exkqy2Ck63anRqydYDhcOwSSSdxGxig1E9ywJNcQ-GTczAvKj5MS6T3mNUtiSsmZupKW2wdVX581R6XuwkhuTiNYk/s1920/Jacked-front_1920x1920-white.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1920" data-original-width="1920" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1bYOmBJPpHCbI5wUkVUx2kPGzSO9t7o-QQv3hXlB5s2UGaeWb1LUJ8a_BGqPnZW-F5-PTOxALmtViC_zClqltYzJIaKXoS8-exkqy2Ck63anRqydYDhcOwSSSdxGxig1E9ywJNcQ-GTczAvKj5MS6T3mNUtiSsmZupKW2wdVX581R6XuwkhuTiNYk/s320/Jacked-front_1920x1920-white.png" width="320" /></a></div><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">As
for my own work,<i> Under the Table</i>, my second novel, is a payroll heist set
on a Hollywood North TV shoot, circa 1989. I was briefly a production assistant
during my second youth and that’s what inspired the book. Hook of it is that
Hollywood North grunts used to be paid in cash at the end of their shoot, so
that put a great deal of hard currency in one place at one time, sans security,
which paves the way to the payroll heist.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">My
first novel, <i>The Green Ghetto, </i>is set in the most depopulated region of Detroit.
And so, crime-fiction collides with an urban western when a dope-growing,
mail-order cowboy gets caught up in the war on terror in post 9/11 Detroit.
Old-time country musicologists will love it, I think.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">My
novelette, <i>The Gimmick</i>, introduces readers to Alex and Cecil, and that’s
the title story of my second collection of fiction, which came out on the first
official day of the pandemic in America.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">Otherwise,
I did a handful of chapbooks in the ‘90s, two of which were collaborations with
the great Toronto pop artist, Joey DAMMIT!. I’m proud of those, as I am of the
lost wrestling zine I did with a future NHLer in the ’70s. And I lovingly refer
to my first collection of short fiction—it’s really a naïve novel in stories—<i>Glue
for Breakfast</i>, as my disco album.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">Question: What are
you working on now?</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: yellow; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-highlight: yellow;">Answer</span><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">: Other than beating the drums for <i>Scratching
the Flint</i>, I sort of went over the dark side after editing <i>Jacked</i>.
Gary Anderson, the ME at Run Amok, was pleased with the way that turned out, so
he made me Editor at Large, which, as I’ve said, essentially makes me a glorified
manuscript scout, so I’ve already brought in some new titles and I’m aiding and
abetting our fab editor Krysta Winsheimer, the unsung hero of <i>Jacked</i>, in
helping to guide some of our new books through the publication process. We’re wrapping
the guts on<b> </b><i>A Good Rush of Blood</i> by<b> </b>Matt Phillips, and I just
saw the first cover mock-up from our man at the border, Garth Jackson. That’s
going to be a great Run Amok Crime title, and readers will thank Krysta for having
the foresight to bring that one in. Look for it in the fall. A couple months
from now, you’ll see a novel from Aaron Jacobs called <i>Time Will Break the World</i>.
A long-time fan of Aaron’s, I’m looking forward to that as I haven’t seen it
yet. Otherwise, I will be co-editing a yet-to-be-announced anthology on a
separate press and I’ll have news on that down the pipe.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">Question: What made
you start writing?</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: yellow; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-highlight: yellow;">Answer</span><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">: I always seemed to have an aptitude
for skills that don’t pay well enough, and most everything I’ve done up until
now—journalism, backroom politics, and broadcasting—relied on my ability to
write. Even caddying—which is probably the favorite of all my jobs—relied on my
ability to do research, anticipate weather and wind patterns, take notes,
document, measure, and communicate my findings in short order. But I didn’t
really get serious about writing fiction until I was trying to impress an artsy
academic feminist who took me to a depressing East German film round about the
turn of the century. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">Question: Did it
work?</span></b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: yellow; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-highlight: yellow;">Answer</span><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">: Yes. We’ve been sleeping together
ever since.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">Question: What advice
would you offer to those who are currently writing novels?</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: yellow; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-highlight: yellow;">Answer:</span><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"> As someone who made major life
decisions at 15 on the basis of Joe Strummer lyrics, I’m not sure answering
this would be entirely responsible, but what the hell? You asked.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">First
off, while I do not wish to discourage people, you must have your eyes wide open,
especially if you’re just starting. Know what you’re getting yourself into
before you leap. Given the rapid progression of AI, for instance, I can confirm—as
someone who read 400-some short-story subs last year—that you will be competing
against “content-technicians” who are leaning on machines for editorial input
well beyond spellcheck. And as much as the odd La-La Land talking head is
blowing AI off as no biggie, it is being actively deployed and refined. So, you
know, have a plan to deal with that as an ethics matter and stick to your plan.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Beyond,
you want a good snapshot of the general state of publishing, bookstore failures,
and the impending recession, something else we’re not supposed to discuss. I
don’t think life-changing sales are a reasonable expectation for most at this
very point in history, what with the way the written word continues to be devalued,
and that includes Big 5 authors. You need to be aware of all that and come up
with reasonable goals and navigation strategies. Me, I try to bow to the
artefact and be satisfied with the fact that my work is out there the way I
want it. I mean, you do need to do your utmost in terms of promo, supporting
your publisher who is supporting you, but for me personally, everything beyond
the artefact is pure gravy.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">In
order to do it like so—<i>if</i> that’s consistent with your goals—you just
need to follow mom’s advice. She would always tell me, know who you are and
know what you think, and she still says it. I didn’t entirely understand what
she was on about until maybe the last 15 years. And if there’s ever a time when
that’s important, particularly as a writer, it’s now. Societies across the spectrum
are demanding a certain amount of sameness, hence Hollywood’s lust for AI which,
according to my sources, will further sanitize stories, and if you disagree on
one thing—just one thing—someone’s going to displace their dookie and everyone’s
going to cry. So, you certainly want to be human enough to hear out reasonable
people who disagree with you, and you want to challenge yourself, learn from
those conversations, and take something to metaphorically chew on as you evolve.
Otherwise—and I don’t care what side you’re on—you’re probably roughly the same
kind of jackass you’re complaining about.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">All
the while, if you’re going to write something singular, you will need a vague
yet tangible foundation to keep your feet on the ground. So yeah, other than to
suggest that my American friends might want to unlearn parts of the Hays Code
that somehow seeped into their psyches, yuck, I would defer to mom here: Know
who you are and know what you think. Worst case, that advice will keep you somewhat
sane in a world that is so clearly otherwise.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">Question: Where and
when will readers be able to obtain your novel?</span></b><b><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background-color: yellow; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 18.6667px;">Answer: </span><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">If your bookstore doesn’t carry <i>Scratching the
Flint</i>, please tell the manager to get on it. Otherwise, here are four ways
to buy it online:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"> (Buy Links)</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"><a href="https://bookshop.org/p/books/scratching-the-flint-vern-smith/19843759?ean=9798986993010">https://bookshop.org/p/books/scratching-the-flint-vern-smith/19843759?ean=9798986993010</a></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Scratching-Flint-Vern-Smith/dp/B0BY3RHXSB">https://www.amazon.com/Scratching-Flint-Vern-Smith/dp/B0BY3RHXSB</a></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"><a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/scratching-the-flint-vern-smith/1143195694">https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/scratching-the-flint-vern-smith/1143195694</a></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"><a href="https://www.walmart.com/ip/Scratching-the-Flint-Paperback-9798986993010/3096879445">https://www.walmart.com/ip/Scratching-the-Flint-Paperback-9798986993010/3096879445</a></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: yellow; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-highlight: yellow;">Comments or questions for Vern are
welcome!</span><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>Jacqueline Seewaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09177500620940251009noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6564808806012504614.post-45205425973400454232023-04-28T03:30:00.000-07:002023-04-28T03:30:27.357-07:00Interview with Author Sarah Bewley<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #2a2a2a;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 10pt;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #333333; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Sarah Bewley writes, climbs rock walls and takes boxing lessons. She was
born young, grew old very quickly, then entered her second childhood which she
found far more satisfying than her first. BURNING EDEN is her first mystery and
the first book the Eden County Mysteries series. She shares her life with
Patrick Payne, who likes things that burn and explode, knives that are too
sharp, and is a photographic artist. She’s worked as a licensed private
investigator and now works in utilities security, which is physical protection
for critical infrastructure.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihaJpTJAQlkAsLSHp6V5t4W1p0IVwVA_iOsD0IgmECInF5Fubwc2BKLT4ggI9_p0oUSA2VpJcM9HDck2_p98gRpBn8lEET5DtvX_flKpFGlqClk_fLhBlLmhSzHeaEInuF5BiuqOJcFZ0oHi6so3MkqBOyUCslFLuRTAj9pdN21xiE4nIPRixM3Uug/s482/Sarah%20Bewley.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="482" data-original-width="354" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihaJpTJAQlkAsLSHp6V5t4W1p0IVwVA_iOsD0IgmECInF5Fubwc2BKLT4ggI9_p0oUSA2VpJcM9HDck2_p98gRpBn8lEET5DtvX_flKpFGlqClk_fLhBlLmhSzHeaEInuF5BiuqOJcFZ0oHi6so3MkqBOyUCslFLuRTAj9pdN21xiE4nIPRixM3Uug/s320/Sarah%20Bewley.jpg" width="235" /></a></span></div><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;">Question: What is the
title and genre of your novel?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why did
you select them?</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="background: yellow; font-size: 14pt; mso-highlight: yellow;">Answer:</span><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;"> BURNING EDEN is a police procedural
mystery. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;">I
love procedurals. They are my favorite type of mystery, and when I decided to
try to write one, I naturally wanted to write what I loved.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnDDCEZxjxrco0hUfpKYCdPHgmLVg63TsdXeA55DJcTuWey5wAuLFUXZRAUkKuy6V2N6HNl_5nS9X1QWtImskKUTAAEYLg1ll1nk1JQIQv0AyOOuYrIHKjPw4b1cwjx7tuC73vZbm1Qd3hGb5b6QTE4SPxoZpSewY4R-pbPkvoPa0aoT2STTEWNhIr/s2000/BURNING%20EDEN%20cover%20FINAL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="1333" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnDDCEZxjxrco0hUfpKYCdPHgmLVg63TsdXeA55DJcTuWey5wAuLFUXZRAUkKuy6V2N6HNl_5nS9X1QWtImskKUTAAEYLg1ll1nk1JQIQv0AyOOuYrIHKjPw4b1cwjx7tuC73vZbm1Qd3hGb5b6QTE4SPxoZpSewY4R-pbPkvoPa0aoT2STTEWNhIr/s320/BURNING%20EDEN%20cover%20FINAL.jpg" width="213" /></a></b></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;">Question:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What
inspired this novel? How did it come about?</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="background: yellow; font-size: 14pt; mso-highlight: yellow;">Answer:</span><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;"> In 1998 North Central Florida was
swept by wildfires. Many small towns had to be evacuated, and rural counties
suffered a great deal of damage. I wanted to write about that time in Florida,
and I wanted to set a mystery in a rural county of the area. I live in North
Central Florida in Gainesville. I wanted to capture this region of the South
and how different it is here than South Florida is.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;">Question:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Could you tell us a little bit about the heroine
and/or hero of your novel?</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="background: yellow; font-size: 14pt; mso-highlight: yellow;">Answer</span><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;">: There are two points of view in my
novel. The first is Sheriff Jim Sheppard. His father, grandfather and
great-grandfather were all sheriffs of this same rural county. He did not want
to be Sheriff, but became a deputy after his wife died. He had a baby son and
needed a place to raise him. So he dropped out of a Master’s program in History
at the University of Florida to do that.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;">The
second is Dr. Ryan Edwards. He was an emergency room physician in Washington,
D.C. When he and his wife are attacked, he ends up with brain damage that
causes aphasia. His wife dies from her injuries. So, he can no longer work in
the fast-paced ER. When he is offered a job as a partner in the small practice
of the doctor in Eden County. He takes it.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;">Question:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Can you tell us about some of your other
published novels or work?</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="background: yellow; font-size: 14pt; mso-highlight: yellow;">Answer</span><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;">: I’ve mostly written plays in the
past, and none of them have been published. I worked as a freelance writer and
had a lot of magazine articles published during that time. I’ve had two short
stories published. One in 1994 in The Sun Magazine, and another in an online
publication 2017.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;">Question:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What are you working on now?</span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="background: yellow; font-size: 14pt; mso-highlight: yellow;">Answer</span><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;">: The second book in the Eden County
series – Frozen Eden. It will be released in 2024.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;">Question:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What made you start writing?</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="background: yellow; font-size: 14pt; mso-highlight: yellow;">Answer</span><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;">: I have been writing since I was a
child. I wrote stories and then plays, and never got over it. I love reading,
and I think writing came naturally as a part of my love of stories.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;">Question:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What advice would you offer to those who are
currently writing novels?</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="background: yellow; font-size: 14pt; mso-highlight: yellow;">Answer:</span><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Don’t get discouraged. Get to know other
people who write and listen to them and try to filter what they say into things
that you can use. Workshops can also help.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;">Question:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Where and when will readers be able to obtain
your novel?</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="background: yellow; font-size: 14pt; mso-highlight: yellow;">Answer:</span><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;"> BURNING EDEN has been released as an
e-book on Amazon, and it will be offered as a paperback as well. It will be
available through Ingram and other regular sources, so if it’s not in your
local bookstore, you should be able to order it. It will be on Amazon. Level
Best Books is the publisher.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;">Comments
and/or questions for Sarah are welcome!<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>Jacqueline Seewaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09177500620940251009noreply@blogger.com11