tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1154350787837739812024-03-14T13:38:53.108+10:00RomanticFridayWritersdolorahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08715849844092553699noreply@blogger.comBlogger110125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-115435078783773981.post-86193986140375250192013-07-30T14:51:00.001+10:002013-07-30T14:53:28.357+10:00RomanticFridayWriters has closed down. Please click the new address to go to the new-look monthly blogfest.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-size: large;">RFW has closed down. The new-look monthly blogfest has its own blog -<a href="http://writeeditpublishnow.blogspot.com/"> Write...Edit...Publish</a><a href="http://write...edit...publish./">.</a> Please visit and re-follow.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">New URL: </span><br />
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http://writeeditpublishnow.blogspot.com<br />
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Denise Covey http://www.blogger.com/profile/07106490051555233439noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-115435078783773981.post-88284683298967649402013-07-26T10:42:00.000+10:002013-07-26T11:13:21.557+10:00'Honeymoon' Wrap Up...and...That's All, Folks!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Hi, all ye who come by!<br />
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Firstly, a brief wrap up of the July Honeymoon Challenge. Let me just simply say, all your stories were unique, all entertaining, all relished.<br />
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It was wonderful to welcome Nancy Williams back after a long hiatus from RFW, along with Madeleine who has not posted for what seems absolute ages. Linda, Nilanjana and Sally have been regulars for sometime, along with Yolanda and Charmaine who were both absent this month. I thank you for your loyalty to RFW. Donna and Anna nearly didn't post, but both slipped in under the wire.<br />
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So, from the above, you'll notice a problem...not many posted and this was Donna's and my last chance for RFW -- both agreed if we had low figures again, we were not going to put ourselves through the stress any longer -- and it is stressful waiting for entries each month, hoping for a good turnout, looking forward to many good reads, but, alas...<br />
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This has been brewing for some time. For several reasons, foremost being the lack of participation, RFW is closing down..<br />
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Donna and I have tossed up this possibility for some time, especially when our challenges have reached all-time lows. We always said: 'Let's give it till next month,' then one of us would be feeling upbeat, and convince the other to keep going, month after month. Since January, we have averaged sign-ups of 11. The last 2 challenges didn't even make double figures, even for June Wedding, which was a prize post. We know the web is wickedly busy, there are so many blogfests/memes/challenges out there demanding attention.<br />
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We spent lots of time jazzing up the blog recently, spent lots of time discussing forward plans, but all to no avail. Few were impressed...or visiting our Friday posts. (A warm thanks for those who did comment!)<br />
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So, reluctantly, after quite a long run, we are closing our doors, through which many authors, writers, poets, non-fiction writers have passed. We know at times we were used to publicise books, publicise blogs, publicise individuals...but we were also used for one of our main aims - to help writers improve their writing. Those loyal to RFW often said they believed their writing had improved and it does when you push yourself to write to a prompt, then edit to a word count and take on board feedback.<br />
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So, thank you to all those who've made RFW what it was -- a quite unique little online writing community that, except occasionally, never met the potential its hosts imagined for it.<br />
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(It is crazy to see up to 2324 people viewing each challenge sign up, but for some reason, never participating!)<br />
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We especially warmly thank those who have been loyal these last few months - Nilanjana's latest post was sent in from the Himalayas. Now if only everyone was so keen! We appreciate Nila prioritising RFW! Such a small group needed everyone to post each month to keep it operational.<br />
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RFW started with weekly posts of 400 words, then to fortnightly posts, then to monthly posts of 1,000 words which was a less onerous commitment, but, alas, that didn't work either! Without a goodly number of writers prioritising one Friday per month to post for us, RFW cannot continue to operate -Donna and I can no longer justify the huge time drain of maintaining the blog and the challenges.<br />
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We wish you all well. I'm sure we'll both support your blogs as we have done in the past, (not just at RFW times). We will watch your progress with interest and will clap along in the wings as you reach your writing goals. We hope you will visit our blogs from time to time and say hello.<br />
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I thank<a href="http://francinehowarth.blogspot.co.uk/"> Francine Howarth</a> for helping me set up RFW (she did all the techno stuff at the start up) and Donna Hole for her valued input for the past year (she's not into techno stuff, but she was great in forward planning and critiquing). My job would have been impossible without both of these wonderful authors.<br />
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I will leave the site open for the time being, so you can have your say. I'm not ready to let go just yet...maybe you have some positive ideas which would allow RFW to continue... But meanwhile, I will continue to use the left side bar to see what RFWers are posting and the right hand side bar to see where to send my stories. I urge you to use these too and please visit each other often.<br />
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For me, I will miss RFW deeply...heck, I've already got a Vacation story zooming around in my head...now what will I do with it? That's the most treasured thing I'll take away from RFW -- I wrote genres I'd never have attempted otherwise. I believe my writing has improved and that is invaluable. How about you?<br />
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Thank you one and all!<br />
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<span style="color: yellow; font-size: large;"><b>R.I.P. RomanticFridayWriters -- May 2011 - July 2013.</b></span><br />
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Denise Covey http://www.blogger.com/profile/07106490051555233439noreply@blogger.com27tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-115435078783773981.post-79040577667134949532013-07-12T14:23:00.000+10:002013-07-12T14:23:00.208+10:00Come with me on a journey to exotic lands -- Honeymoon travel possibilities with Denise.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Hello there RFWers and friends.<br />
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One of my other writing outlets is as a travel writer. I've been published in travel magazines in Australia but I've yet to hit the big time, like Conde's Nest, lol, but as I get more time...ah, when is that?...I will be submitting more...and another of my goals is to write a travel narrative to add to my huge collection!<br />
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There was a clunky, funky hit song on the radio when I was a kid -- "<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ov4epAJRPMw" target="_blank">I've Been Everywhere, Man</a>" (I think it was originally released, like, in the sixties, man...but was picked up by Johnny Cash of all people at a later time.) Well that song sums it up -- Aussies are intrepid travellers, probably because as one of our Prime Ministers said, "we inhabit the "'a?r**se' end of the world". So we jump on planes with great regularity and meander through the delights of Asia, the mind-boggling history and architecture of Old Europe and exotic African and Middle Eastern lands etc. As the plane fares to just about anywhere are atrociously expensive (takes about 21 hours to get to Paris from Brisbane!), when we hit the ground we go like blazes and eat it up, a bit like <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sLS3RGesIFQ">Crocodile Dundee </a>in New York, hahahah.<br />
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So I've travelled to many lands, and hopefully I will travel to many more. I've been to the UK several times, Western Europe even more times, and Africa once, but have never put my feet into the good ole USofA, sorry <a href="http://www.donnahole.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Donna</a>. Those Homeland Security guys scare me big time, haha.<br />
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Anyway, my point is to point out that there are many countries to travel to and enjoy, but not all are great honeymoon destinations, unless you're both into danger, sleeping rough and difficult customs to get your head around. If you're going to be true to the meaning of 'honeymoon' where you hide away and drink mead as <a href="http://romanticfridaywriters.blogspot.com.au/2013/07/introduction-to-honeymoon-challenge-for.html">Donna explained to us in her history post</a>,<br />
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Let's face it some of us probably had our 'honeymoon' many moons ago -- I got married at 19, yes, I repeat, 19 -- and am still married to the same fella. We grew up together and have had several honeymoons, but the first one was low-budget travel up and down the Queensland coast. Well, many of the Great Barrier Reef islands we visited now have very ritzy resorts for well-heeled honeymooners, but back in the day, we had all that paradise to ourselves. Queensland is a big state, so we travelled 4,000 miles in our classic Customline.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/wbNeIn3vVKM" width="480"></iframe><br />
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A long way from...<br />
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France or Italy, two of my favourite places...<br />
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So thinking of honeymoon destinations today, I would want more of a fantasy -- like some mead-drinking time in a pretty French village with trips to Paris thrown in, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/La_Roche-Guyon">(La Roche Guyon</a> is a favourite -- 6 kilometres from <a href="http://giverny.org/gardens/fcm/visitgb.htm">Monet's Garden</a> and 1 hour from Paris). Driving through country France is delightful. A sunset stop at <a href="http://www.chartres-tourisme.com/en">Chartres</a> is memorable as you'd swear the cathederal was crafted, as is a walk through the bottom of town to see where ladies once washed the clothes in the river.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://fbcdn-sphotos-a-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-frc1/228326_6465994615_3236_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-a-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-frc1/228326_6465994615_3236_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: white;">The River Eure in Chartres, France, where the washer ladies once did their laundry</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: white;">What a delight to see Monet's Water Lilies out of the frame - Monet's Garden is magical no matter what the season. I've been there in both winter and summer.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://encrypted-tbn2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSfgMMUkytt2FESuTOhxr7onZb06_Cl_PFbwROeGgMoSO8xqirf" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://encrypted-tbn2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSfgMMUkytt2FESuTOhxr7onZb06_Cl_PFbwROeGgMoSO8xqirf" width="299" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: white;">La Roche-Guyon - friendly locals to play petanque with, stunning setting along the Seine,<a href="http://www.tripadvisor.com.au/Hotel_Review-g644104-d634491-Reviews-Les_Bords_de_Seine_Hotel_Restaurant-La_Roche_Guyon_Val_d_Oise_Ile_de_France.html"> best regional food in France </a>at the hotel/restaurant we stayed at overlooking the river, IMHO</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: white;">How about visiting Juliet's garden and standing on her balcony or writing her a letter in the gorgeous Verona, Italy. Such an under-rated destination.</span></td></tr>
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My husband and I have had fabulous trips to Italy, completely fascinated by the gorgeous medieval hill towns and all that history. Remember, Australia was not even discovered until late medieval times. Who can ever forget seeing <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancient_Rome">Ancient Rome</a>, seeing <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Verona">Verona,</a> Romeo + Juliet's hometown, or boating to some of those gorgeous Italian islands like Capri?<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: white;">Capri, Italy, a short boat ride from wild Napoli (Naples) We wintered there once and it was still magical.</span></td></tr>
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Oh, how about an island off Italy for that first, second or third honeymoon? Sounds good to me. I've found an island which is simply a fantasy waiting for fairy dust. It was good enough for Napoleon, so it's good enough for me.<br />
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I often choose travel destinations according to books I've read -- I visited Tuscany before Frances Mayes wrote her <a href="http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_0_20?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=under%20the%20tuscan%20sun&sprefix=under+the+tuscan+sun%2Cstripbooks%2C811&rh=i%3Astripbooks%2Ck%3Aunder%20the%20tuscan%20sun">Under the Tuscan Sun</a>, but I went back and visited Cortona just because of her gorgeous descriptions (which describe hundreds of Italian medieval hilltowns), but it added a little fillip to the trip.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://wwwusers.di.uniroma1.it/ale/BICI/Cortona05/cortonaView.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://wwwusers.di.uniroma1.it/ale/BICI/Cortona05/cortonaView.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: white;">Cortona, a medieval hill city, full of history and great coffee</span></td></tr>
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But how about visiting a place made famous in a spy novel for a change -- <a href="http://www.infoelba.com/">The Isle of Elba</a>, a small Mediterranean island famous as Napolean's getaway and as the setting for <a href="http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=the%20constant%20gardener">John le Carre's The Constant Gardener</a> (Ralph Fiennes).<br />
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THE ISLE OF ELBA<br />
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Honeymoon heaven. Lovers strolling hand in hand, cyclists with wobbly legs pumping up and down cliff-like paths, old ladies hanging washing out of windows and absolutely gob-smacking scenery -- wine and olive estates running down to the sea below the ruins of a medieval fortress. Cool. The perfect hideaway. Maybe you could find a spot to curl up with your laptop and write?!<br />
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John le Carre's reluctant hero hid out here in a beautiful old estate called La Chiusa di Magazzine. There are a few cottages to rent. If you're lucky enough to find the other cottages empty, you will be in seventh heaven if you like rustic quarters with grapes ripening in the sun, birdsong in the morning, a limpid blue sea and the sound of waves lapping on a pebble beach (well, I prefer golden sand, but I'd be happy to slum it just one time). There are glorious sunsets over the ancient fortified harbour of Portoferraio, and you must wonder why Napolean ever left for St Helena. Crazy little guy.<br />
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When to go. This island is at its best in spring and autumn, with hills swathed in chesnut and pine, throbbing with colour. Everyone is languorous (love that word) and you can spend your days walking up a thirst which you can slake at the restaurants and bars lining quiet quays and beaches.<br />
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Ah...sounds idyllic, doesn't it? But, really, we don't all have the desire to travel to exotic places, do we? Some of you may be happy in your own little paradise...or perhaps you'd like to travel, but due to commitments or lack of funds, it's out of the question...for now. Reading about exotic places can transport us to places we'd love to see, watching videos can also bring places to life. But wherever you honeymoon, or would choose to honeymoon, a loving partner by your side guarantees a wonderful experience. A sunset in Capri is best shared with someone you love. (I have so many gorgeous photos of this experience but they're on another computer.)<br />
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<i><span style="color: yellow;">So just this morning my good fella and I finalised our planning for our next Grand Tour for the end of 2013 beginning of 2014 -- Paris, Crete, Spain and Portugal. What are you doing for Christmas?? Any trips planned?</span></i><br />
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Denise Covey http://www.blogger.com/profile/07106490051555233439noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-115435078783773981.post-38860258771966237702013-07-05T15:11:00.000+10:002013-07-05T15:11:00.690+10:00Introduction to Honeymoon challenge for July<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
The most logical prompt following Weddings is the Honeymoon. That period of blissful vacation after <br />
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(<a href="http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://img.brothersoft.com/screenshots/softimage/c/crazy_honeymoon-season-218277-1236674308.jpeg&imgrefurl=http://games.brothersoft.com/crazy-honeymoon-season.html&h=480&w=640&sz=169&tbnid=ZZ-nIdpZRYZcYM:&tbnh=90&tbnw=120&zoom=1&usg=__IevZZZpq3717oKZ9iX9P5y9AZiw=&docid=Y4bEqx7wOc-BEM&sa=X&ei=o8q2Ue39JcG2igLO44GgBA&ved=0CDUQ9QEwAg&dur=790" target="_blank">photo source)</a></div>
the nuptials have been pronounced and the reception has concluded.<br />
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According to <a href="http://wiki.answers.com/">wiki.answers.com</a>: The term 'honeymoon' first originated in Babylon, about 4,000 years ago. Honeymoon came into use for the month after a wedding, when the bride's father would give the groom all the mead he wanted. Mead is actually a honey beer, and being so, the Babylonian calendar was a lunar calendar, (based on the moon's cycle). They then started to call that month, the 'honey month', which we now have adapted to be 'honeymoon.'<br />
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Another article by <a href="http://www.hudsonvalleyweddings.com/guide/honey.htm" target="_blank">Hudson Valley Weddings</a> reports two alternatives for the honeymoon custom that are nearly as ancient. The article states that "Today's "happy ending" to the wedding event is a far cry from its much different beginnings. The word honeymoon has its roots in the Norse word "hjunottsmanathr" which was anything but blissful." It describes the ritual where the bride-groom steals his bride-to-be and hides her from her family, with the help of his friends and family.<br />
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The Scandinavian word for 'honeymoon', according to the same article, "is derived, in part, from an ancient Northern European custom in which newlyweds, for the first month of their married life, drank a daily cup of honeyed wine called mead. The ancient practices of kidnapping the bride and drinking the honeyed wine dates back to the history of Atilla, king of the Asiatic Huns from A.D. 433 to A.D. 453."<br />
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For a modern definition and application of the concept of honeymoon, I consulted <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honeymoon" target="_blank">Wikipedia</a>. "A honeymoon is the traditional holiday taken by newlyweds to celebrate their marriage in intimacy and seclusion." Today, honeymoons by Westerners are celebrated somewhere exotic or otherwise considered romantic...Originally "honeymoon" simply described the period just after the wedding when things are at their sweetest; it is assumed to wane in a month. This is the period when newly wed couples take a break to share some private and intimate moments that help establish love in the relationship. This privacy in turn is believed to ease the comfort zone towards the physical relationship, which is one of the primary means of bonding during the initial days of marriage. The earliest term for this in English was 'hony moone', which was recorded as early as 1546."<br />
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Other sources for the origins and meanings of honeymoon.<br />
<a href="http://www.wisegeek.org/what-is-the-history-of-the-honeymoon.htm" target="_blank">The Wise Geek</a><br />
<a href="http://beallmansion.com/Leisure/honeymoonsorigin.html" target="_blank">The Beall Mansion</a><br />
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All searches seem to agree that the word "honeymoon" involves the month long drinking of mead by either the bridegroom or both the newlyweds, and some amount of "hiding" is involved either before or after the nuptials.<br />
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Last month we had the Wedding; for July we'd like to focus on The Honeymoon.<br />
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Only for this challenge, RFW recognizes that not all honeymoon periods involve a wedding. The honeymoon could refer to that period after taking a platonic relationship to its next logical step; the phase in the DV cycle where the abuser is wooing back into the victim's good graces; that period of adjustment when blended families attempt to get along; the getting to know you phase after a promotion (who's the cutie in the next cubbie keeps making the "come here" eyes?); a relocation to a new city (who's the hottie lounging by the pool or mowing the lawn every other week?)<br />
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For writers of more contemporary or darker commitments: that period of blissful adjustment after being bitten by a shifter or vamp, feeling the relief after a bad break-up, the thrill of quitting a go-nowhere job.<br />
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Whatever the circumstances of the Honeymoon ritual, be sure to add some romance to the exuberant feeling of "the right decision"; even if the feeling is only a few moments, a few hours, or a few months. Honeymoons are essentially a celebration of a long anticipated decision come to fruition.<br />
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Any genre or POV, prose or poetry, fiction or non-fiction, up to 1000 words. The linky will be open from July 19 thru July 22. Be sure to link your DIRECT POST, and add the undertone of romance to whatever Honeymoon situation you create. Have fun!<br />
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See you next Friday for an exotic post from from co-host/travel writer Denise Covey<br />
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dolorahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08715849844092553699noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-115435078783773981.post-84676693916118426622013-06-28T16:10:00.001+10:002013-06-28T16:10:21.067+10:00Wrap Up Post - June Wedding - Prize winners announced.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Hello romantic writers!<br />
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Before beginning the wrap up, I'd like to thank our Guest Poster, Mills & Boon author Kate Walker, for her great guest post on weddings she has created in her novels. Thank you for those who visited and left positive comments. Much appreciated by Kate and your hosts.<br />
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Kate was very generous in choosing four winners to receive a print copy of one of her books. The lucky winners were:<br />
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<span style="background-color: #276291; color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: italic; line-height: 16px; text-align: justify;">SALLY - A Throne for the Taking</span><br />
<span style="background-color: #276291; color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: italic; line-height: 16px; text-align: justify;">DONNA - Sicilian Husband Blackmailed Bride</span><br />
<span style="background-color: #276291; color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: italic; line-height: 16px; text-align: justify;">NILANJANA and REKHA - The Duke's Secret Wife (novella)</span><br />
<span style="background-color: #276291; color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: italic; line-height: 16px; text-align: justify;"><br /></span>
Congratulations to each of the above commenters. I hope you've contacted Kate with your details so you can receive your gift in the mail.<br />
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The Wrap Up...Well, the first thing to comment on is the dearth of posts for June Wedding. Hopefully it was just life that got in the way of more entries, not something wrong with the challenge. Any comments welcome.Your hosts are spending much more time at RFW, hoping to make it a more fulfilling experience for all writers. Let us know what you think of the changes so far. We are always keen to hear from you.<br />
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Those who did post to the June Wedding challenge, we thank you. Perhaps our guidelines were a little too stringent which resulted in some of the entries unable to be considered for the prizes. Both Nilanjana and Yolanda acknowledged their entries broke the 'rules' which was a pity, as both were excellent.<br />
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NILANJANA: Poetry, Hennaed Hands, was fascinating. Set in medieval times, this poem resonated with the power of love.<br />
DONNA: Combined The Thrill of it All blogfest with RFW this month. A very modern wedding ceremony presented, replete with cell phones, texting, looking after siblings...and we just missed a dance up the aisle!!<br />
ANNA: Anna's post successfully combined Cat World Domination Day with her RFW entry. Anna's wedding story was told through the eyes of the cats Penelope and Miranda. Their conversation with the church cats was very cute.<br />
YOLANDA: Broken Vows was a very powerful and sensual entry. Told from the male POV it was a very passionate, regretful tale. Is it all over for Steven and Sarah?<br />
SALLY: Gave us a real-life wedding. Very nostalgic walk down memory lane. The lovely original photos remind me of the black and whites of various great grandies on my walls. <br />
ROLAND (linking as VICTOR): Took us to Ancient Egypt this month. An enjoyable creepy story with so many mythological references. I found the female Pharaohs especially fascinating.<br />
CHARMAINE: Shared a grisly horror story of murder/suicide. So well done...some foreshadowing, but still caught me at the end.<br />
DENISE: Took a trip to Venice to showcase a wonderful work of art and recounted the Biblical story of the wedding at Cana. Secondly, she primped the wedding scene from her most recent WIP Fijian Princess. I valued the feedback before submission.<br />
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Now, Donna and I have collaborated on the prizes for the month...(((drum roll))):<br />
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WINNER: Receives a $5 Amazon Gift Card -- Sally for real-life, creative non-fiction entry. Congratulations Sally. The Amazon Gift Card is yours. Please take the Featured Writer badge, post it onto your blog, and link it to your winning post.<br />
RUNNER UP: Receives a 2-chapter critique from either Donna or myself -- your choice -- don't be shy...<br />
For her grisly murder-suicide, we choose Charmaine. Congratulations, Charmaine. You are welcome to post the Runner Up badge on your site, linking to your story. We shall await your critiquer choice.<br />
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Our next challenge...be ready by July 19 to post your entry...we'll let you know when we add this challenge to the Challenges Page<br />
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See you on July 5th, for Donna's introduction to Honeymoon...</div>
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Denise Covey http://www.blogger.com/profile/07106490051555233439noreply@blogger.com23tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-115435078783773981.post-11532386876663672442013-06-21T12:07:00.000+10:002013-06-21T12:17:57.702+10:00June Wedding Inlinkz sign up. Give us your stories, poetry or non-fiction<!-- start InLinkz script -->
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<br /></div>Denise Covey http://www.blogger.com/profile/07106490051555233439noreply@blogger.com28tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-115435078783773981.post-17608785018851578532013-06-14T14:30:00.000+10:002013-06-14T20:02:30.090+10:00June Wedding Guest Post -- Romance Author Kate Walker<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Thanks Denise and Donna for offering me the Guest Post today. I've been specifically asked to talk about...<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b>Weddings I've Created</b> - for my hero and heroine, that is!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The cliché about a romance novel is that they all</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">start off with the hero and heroine at odds
with each other, deep in some form of conflict. That conflict is resolved as
the story progresses – and then there is the traditional</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Happy Ever After ending,</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">one that inevitably, naturally, leads to a
wonderful wedding at the end of the book.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Well, yes, that’s how it is sometimes. I’ve written 61
romances for Harlequin, some for the Romance line,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>but most for<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Presents<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Modern romance for
Mills & Boon in the UK) and over the years I’ve created all sorts of
stories, with all sorts of heroes and heroines, and yes, they do all end up
heading off ‘into the sunset’ and their 'happy ever after.' But the ways they get
there, the stories that<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>are behind them,
the conflicts they have to deal with, are all very different,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>unique to the man and woman in the story.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">And as a result, the wedding ceremony in each story can be
very different too. </span><br />
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Sometimes the wedding is right there, centre stage,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>described in some detail.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The wedding in <strong>The Konstantos Marriage Demand</strong>
was like that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My heroine, Sadie, was a wedding planner and the hero – Nikos Konstantos, whose family had held a long-running feud<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>with Sadie’s <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>– had tricked her </span></div>
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into coming to his private island
on the pretext that he wanted her to arrange his wedding for him. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Of course, in the end, the wedding she ends up planning is her own, and the final scene in which the couple is<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>married in the tiny chapel on the island was
needed to round off their story and show that as well as their happiness being complete,
the feud has ended too. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">But sometimes the wedding isn’t even ‘on stage’ in the book. If the story is a reunion story, where the hero and heroine have been married before, then that wedding may have taken place some years before and the couple have split up, even be on the verge of divorce. This is the way that <strong>The Proud
Wife</strong> begins <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>or perhaps the novella <strong>The
Duke’s Secret Wife</strong>. In this story, the <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>hero and heroine were secretly married (well
that’s obvious from the title isn’t it!) two years before. That was when the
hero, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Luis de Silva fell madly for <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Isabelle and rushed into marriage with her. A
sadly short-lived marriage when very soon he believed that she had been
unfaithful to him. But now, because </span></div>
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he is <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>to inherit <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>the family dukedom <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>after the death of his brother, he has to have a wife to provide him with an heir and as<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>his family doesn’t<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>accept divorce
, he comes to find his ‘Secret Wife’ to ask her to marry him all over
again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(At least that’s what he claims,
but anyone who reads the book carefully will see that really he has never been
able to forget her and that this is the only way he can think of<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>of <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>getting
her back.) Here I had some fun playing with the contrast<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>between the wedding that Luis and Isabelle
had had in the past – sweet,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>simple and
innocent – and the formal, elaborate ceremony that is being prepared for the
Duke and his<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Duchess.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Of course, the ceremony of a wedding, the way that <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>everyone is gathered together to enjoy the
ceremony gives such potential<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>drama, particularly
when that drama is acted out in front of a large crowd of family and
friends.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve always wondered<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>- as I’m sure you have – just what could happen
in those silent moments when the celebrant says the words - ‘If any person here
present knows of any reason why these two should not be joined. . .Then let him
speak now <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>or forever hold his peace . .
.’<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">What if<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>someone did
step forward<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>- and even worse, what if
they said :</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">‘I do . .<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know of a reason why these two should not
be joined together in holy matrimony.’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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It was such a wonderful scene that I just had to write
it<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>- and the of course I had to think of just who would step forward and say that. And I had to think of a reason why<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>they would say it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Inevitably, the person saying those words <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>had to be the hero, the wedding he broke
up<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and ruined was the heroine’s<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>- and the reason why he said them? Ah, you’d
have to read the book to find out. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That book was <b>Sicilian Husband, Blackmailed Bride</b> – and if I tell you that it starts with another, very different wedding – again a simpler, more innocent one like the one in the Duke’s Secret Wife, perhaps you can guess why my hero, Guido Corsentino, is so determined to stop this ceremony.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Weddings have this huge<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>scope for emotional upheaval and drama.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Everyone is hoping that the day goes perfectly, the bride will be beautiful,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>the<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>groom handsome and strong, the flowers gorgeous,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>the ceremony fabulous . . . so it’s great to
throw a spanner in the works and watch the resulting explosions! <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Romance writers are such sadists, really. We
love to make out heroes and heroines suffer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We put them into forced marriages as the result of blackmail, marriages
of convenience like the one in <strong>The Hired Husband</strong> where the heroine thinks that
the hero is agreeing to a marriage<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>in
name only – to discover that that’s not what he has in mind at all, and she’s committed
to a very real and very sexual relationship! Or what about the<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>bride in <strong>The Hostage Bride</strong>, who gets into the
car that has come to take her to her wedding only to find that she is being
driven in quite the opposite direction – by a handsome, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>sexy chauffeur!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">But perhaps the most intriguing wedding – for a writer anyway – that
I created for my heroine in <strong>Saturday's Bride</strong> - was the wedding that never was. The one I<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>almost
had to write backwards. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Puzzled? Well,
so was my hero! <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Connor Harding came back
to the town in which he’d grown up to discover that the girl he’d never been able<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>forget- Jenna Kenyon- was getting married in
a week - to the wrong man! But he knew that Jenna was determined to prove him
wrong, despite the passion still smouldering between them. Connor decided that
all was fair in love and war. Only five days remained before Jenna became
Saturday's bride, but that was more than long enough for him to persuade her to
change her mind. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The truth is that the wedding’s actually <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>for Jenna’s sister but all the way<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>through the story I had to make it look<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>as if it was going to be Jenna’s big day until the
truth finally dawns on Connor. So I had to make sure that every scene fitted
with the ending I had already planned- right at the gate to the church!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXdwUhY0NN3LoiDBMTTKCeVfMSNuX7gJiive_5Lgae7SHrc1rKMMca2sdUH9RX8Rs1Sx6hJZajKzetbOrNUOIdEaol-UixT7IXE6c9fYOOj99lg_WnXFcr3yof13EUJkLO5qXnKvAIR7Ko/s1600/Throne+For+The+Taking.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXdwUhY0NN3LoiDBMTTKCeVfMSNuX7gJiive_5Lgae7SHrc1rKMMca2sdUH9RX8Rs1Sx6hJZajKzetbOrNUOIdEaol-UixT7IXE6c9fYOOj99lg_WnXFcr3yof13EUJkLO5qXnKvAIR7Ko/s200/Throne+For+The+Taking.png" width="126" /></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Of course royal weddings have<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>a very special impact – all that glamour and
ceremony – at least here in the UK. The coaches, pulled by beautiful horses,
the jewels, the military uniforms,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>the
crowded streets, the cheering crowds.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It was as a result of the marriage of Prince William to Catherine
Middleton in 2011 that I wrote my first ever ‘Royal Romance’<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>- <strong>A Throne for The Taking</strong> - <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>the book that is out in the shops just now.
I<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>was asked to teach some workshops on
writing a royal romance and that set me thinking. Of course I could <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>never had planned the fact that it came out just
as the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are expecting the arrival<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>of their first baby any time soon -<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>that was just good luck! <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But it fits wonderfully into the time of
celebrating the 60<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span></sup> anniversary of the Queen’s coronation <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and the expected arrival of the new baby
prince or princess.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I have a special reason to celebrate this year too, and that
expected date of the royal baby’s arrival has a real significance for me. It’s
the date of<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>my wedding day – and this year
it’s really special. My DH<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and I are
celebrating our Ruby Wedding – I was a child bride, honest!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">So as I’m celebrating and I’d love to share the joy with you
– I am offering a giveaway to one person who comments on this post.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have either a copy of <strong>A Throne for The
Taking</strong><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>or one of those other books where
I’ve talked about the wedding ( <strong>The Duke’s Secret Wife</strong>, <strong>The Konstantos Marriage</strong>
<strong>Demand</strong> , <strong>Sicilian Husband, Blackmailed Bride</strong> –sorry, I don’t<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>have copies of the others) to give away. Just
tell me which of these weddings you’d most like to read about – or perhaps
which wedding in a novel you’d most like to have been at! <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And I’ll get Charlie the Maine Coon on the job
of picking a winner.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(If you’d like to
know more about Charlie he has his own post on the Pink Heart Society blog
tomorrow.)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">If you want to know more about my books then please check out <a href="http://www.kate-walker.com/">my web site</a> - or there's my <a href="http://kate-walker.blogspot.co.uk/">personal blog</a> where you'll find all the most up to date news. </span></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><i>Thank you Kate. Always a pleasure to host you here at RFW, where it's all about weddings this month. So RFWers and visitors, leave a comment for the chance to win one of Kate's books. I've read plenty of her romances and they're wonderful. I also swear by her '12 -Point Guide for Writing Romance.'</i></span></o:p><br />
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><i><br /></i></span></o:p>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><i>Donna and I hope you're all busy planning your entries for June Wedding for the 21st posting date.</i></span><br />
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Just to keep you in the romantic mood, here is Harrison Craig, a 19 year old who is tipped to win The Voice Australia next week. Amazing voice!</div>
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Denise Covey http://www.blogger.com/profile/07106490051555233439noreply@blogger.com146tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-115435078783773981.post-6460151006606663152013-06-07T14:30:00.000+10:002013-06-07T14:30:01.048+10:00Letters revisited - June kicks off with our Wedding theme with a real-life wedding ceremony, book reviews, movie review...and more...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-size: large;">H</span>ello fellow Correspondents!<br />
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Hasn't it been ages or is it just me? RFW has come back bigger and better. Note that from now on we're having themes across the whole month as per a schedule that will be posted at the beginning of each month. Check out our June Weddings schedule - look forward to a post about something wedding-related each Friday, starting today. In future the wrap up will be posted at the end of the month.<br />
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Now did you have fun writing
your <a href="http://romanticfridaywriters.blogspot.com/2013/05/inlinkz-sign-up-for-may-challenge.html" target="_blank">Letters </a>excerpts? Or if you didn't post, did you enjoy reading the submissions? There were a lot of interesting entries to this
challenge which was multi-generic, incorporating a different text into your stories.<br />
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Concepts ranged from journal entries, letters to/from lovers
away at war, a paranormal and letters received after death, hidden letters to
forbidden lovers, to online dating. The two most unique (for me) was returning
member<a href="http://lisavooght.blogspot.com/2011/04/felony.html" target="_blank"> Lisa Voight’s confession letter</a> from prison, and the <a href="http://clancytales.blogspot.com/2013/05/writing-for-challanges-rfw-and-win.html" target="_blank">blog/live journal entries from Charmaine Clancy</a>. And a late entry from <a href="http://writing-art-and-design.blogspot.com/2013/05/whos-floating-in-chicago-river.html" target="_blank">Michael DiGesu's Noir</a> continuation, which used a couple notes for the inciting incident for the scene, but was not the focus of the scene. Denise and I thank you all for your participation, and welcome those who are new to the blog, and those who have been away for an extended time.<br />
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I was a bit surprised that more of the Letters excerpts did not include wedding invitations, as marriage would be a most natural outcome of love letters. Many of the excerpts alluded to wedding potential though, or were written to spouses. Marriage is on my mind lately, as my daughter is marrying her long time live in boyfriend in July.</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">M</span>y daughter, Lori (and Dave), will be married in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Reno</st1:city> <st1:state w:st="on">Nevada</st1:state></st1:place>, at the Circus Circus hotel and casino. They've already booked the chapel, the minister, and their honeymoon suite. All very modern; non denominational minister, half an hour window to assemble the witnesses/attendees, say the devotional words, flash flash of pictures, corral it all along to the purchasing of the photo disc and/or DVD of the ceremony; then head out the exit to get to the casino, and hopefully a champagne celebration.</div>
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Although the bride is unlikely to wear a traditional white
dress and there will be no three tiered wedding cake with presents and a reception, there will still be some tradition followed. Bachelorette party the night before (she
promised me Chip N Dales), brides maids and grooms men, exchanging rings, the required kiss, tossing the bouquet, and the three ring circus that is mutual children,
in-laws, re-uniting of divorced parents, bickering about who sits where and who
pays for what; and most importantly, which grandparents sit with the children
while the rest go out and party and the bride and groom have their night alone
in their suite.</div>
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I think I’ll bring condoms, as three grandkids are quite enough already from this adorable couple. Yep, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Circus_Circus_Reno" target="_blank">Circus Circus</a> will be the perfect place for this wedding.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">H</span>ow about you, fellow RFWers? Are any of you hosting/attending a wedding in June? Share your story in the comments...we'd love to know about it. </div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">N</span>ow, if any of you have been around here a while, you know I’m not really a romance reader/writer, though I enjoy romance in novels and movies. Romance in epic fantasy mostly; but I do like some contemporary authors like Nicholas Sparks’ Choices, or the horror variety of Stephen King’s Misery or Lissy’s Story. I've even been known to approve of RomCom movies like Runaway Bride and Life As We Knew It. And anyone who doesn't think Star Wars (especially Episodes 1-3) isn't a romance should seriously watch it again.</div>
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And <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-xuugq7fito" target="_blank">Brokeback Mountain</a> made me cry and laugh and cheer as much as any hetero romance. And its a modern cowboy movie!</div>
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But fantasy will always be my favorite genre, and all quests
basically begin and end with romance. One of my favorite romantic fantasy
novels is <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Silverthorn-Riftwar-Saga-Volume-3/dp/0553270540/ref=sr_1_sc_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1369463912&sr=8-2-spell&keywords=raymone+e+feist+riftwar+saga" target="_blank">Silverthorn, book 3 of the Riftwar Saga</a>, written by Raymond E Feist. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinlZbnzKeM0YTGghV0kZ3dlU2FgwEo2Zbyi7QqMisvI85clcAB05SJj32GscyhrW4zYsPs6RlwmcFVhHFUsazfGQjTw4jzSPhH4pf7NilPS9jigxFXhwbE83rOS1lSb0bBU523lTLPGOI/s1600/magician+master.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinlZbnzKeM0YTGghV0kZ3dlU2FgwEo2Zbyi7QqMisvI85clcAB05SJj32GscyhrW4zYsPs6RlwmcFVhHFUsazfGQjTw4jzSPhH4pf7NilPS9jigxFXhwbE83rOS1lSb0bBU523lTLPGOI/s1600/magician+master.jpg" /></a>During <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Magician-Master-Riftwar-Saga-Book/dp/0553564935/ref=sr_1_sc_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1369463912&sr=8-1-spell&keywords=raymone+e+feist+riftwar+saga" target="_blank">book 2, Magician Master</a>, the broody Prince Arutha of Crydee is forced into hiding within the unfamiliar catacombs of <st1:city w:st="on">Krondor with the princess Anita while escaping the genocide attempts of of Duke du bas Tyra</st1:city>. Arutha is attracted to the young princess mostly as a sense of duty to aid in her protection and the preservation of the royal lineage; and of course she is of marriageable age and station. Not to mention she is beautiful.<br />
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But as the months of their refugee status lengthen, and the
dangers surrounding their discovery mount, Anita displays a strength of
character beyond her years and expectations. The traits Arutha falls in love with is her
ability to show compassion to all in need, regardless of their station or
profession, her quick mind in politics and protocol, and her refusal to shirk
from any task, no matter how menial. She did not try to command, but she knew
how to take charge and speak her mind.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWtK30tAYjXEv_yyVzaFy47L3v_poH77ZKIc1Mtr_6uRDer7Li07fA_o_VYP-Daq_9RDpUhz6RdtcNfN0oridj7Nds2yK2z2xfy3EGYD5jCgU8JWsQ7NJaqz8IioGT7l-9qE_13q2XbIc/s1600/silverthorn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWtK30tAYjXEv_yyVzaFy47L3v_poH77ZKIc1Mtr_6uRDer7Li07fA_o_VYP-Daq_9RDpUhz6RdtcNfN0oridj7Nds2yK2z2xfy3EGYD5jCgU8JWsQ7NJaqz8IioGT7l-9qE_13q2XbIc/s1600/silverthorn.jpg" /></a>Book three Silverthorn, could fool the reader into thinking it’s a category romance, if you had not already been invested in the characters and the continuing story. The reader does not see the love letters that have been exchanged between Arutha and Anita during the year long separation between book 2 an 3, but much teasing is made of the fact. And as soon as the Royal Fleet makes port in the crown city of <st1:city w:st="on">Rillanon</st1:city>, Arutha races to ask his true love for her hand in marriage.</div>
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Arutha’s brother, King Lyam, consents immediately to the betrothal, and plans are made for the royal family to travel to Krondor, the city that is the center of Arutha’s principality and will be the site of the marriage. Lots of devious story and character plots are explored in the first six chapters, but Chapter Seven is all about the wedding.</div>
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Well, not all about the wedding. The young thief Jimmy The
Hand is now Squire Jimmy, and most of his duties are to prowl the Thieves
Highway (rooftops) and deter any possible criminal activity within or near the castle, and in his prowls
on the day of the wedding he comes across a Night Hawk (Assassins Guild) in a
protected nook preparing to assassinate Prince Arutha as he takes his wedding
vows to Anita.</div>
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Being smaller and less skilled in the arts of hand to hand combat, the Night Hawk overpowers Jimmy, ties him up, and basically ignores the young squire as he awaits the perfect time to attack. Meanwhile, the wedding is proceeding as planned. The chief guard is checking security, the bride is having conversations with her ladies, Arutha and Anita have a stolen moment together, King Lyam and Arutha have a short meeting with the Keshian delegates.</div>
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The wedding is not just about the pompous ceremony and the
newlywed couple; the wedding is a plot point (inciting incident) for the overall story concept. Jimmy is able to break free of his bonds enough to deflect a killing cross bow bolt from striking Arutha, but the poisonous dart embeds into Anita instead. The rest of the story is the quest that takes Arutha and his trusted confederates on a quest to discover the antidote to cure Anita.</div>
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Thoroughout the quest, Arutha never forgets his purpose, the ultimate goal of saving his one true love, even as he makes ruthless decisions of who lives, who dies, and whether he is the one to enter the sacred temple to retrieve the antidote, or send another willing companion to possibly die in his stead. Does he eventually win through all the Dark Powers and discover the antidote, bring it back to his princedom, and eventually complete his marriage? Or does the quest continue to book 4, a Darkness at Sethanon? Or perhaps the Prince fails, becoming a bitter old man and leaving room for a secondary character to rise to herodom in the continuing saga.<br />
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Guess you have to read the stand alone novel to know how it all ends . .</div>
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And that is how I like my romance.</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">H</span>ow do you like your romance? Is it all about the love
interest and the ultimate wedding and happily ever after? Or do you like romance to contribute to your stories, but whether or not
the ending is satisfactory or HEA depends on the story and how invested you are
in the character plots?</div>
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RFW invites you to submit your romantic Wedding stories; in prose or poetry, fiction or non-fiction, published works or original creations, of up to 1000 words, for our June Challenge. Bring on the bride and groom!<br />
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Your stories or poems will celebrate the wedding motif, spotlighting anything from the culmination of a long-planned wedding, a sudden elopement to another city/town or a last minute civil ceremony at the local courthouse/registry office; and include anything from the HEA fairy tale ending, to the interrupted "any reason this couple should not be wed."<br />
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Or, You may like to treat this theme completely in an opposite way. Always A Bride's Maid/Groom's Man. Our lover could be at the wedding and find their true love - or have the true love declare their love at the wedding of another - or perhaps a long lost lover will show up and propose to a member of the wedding party or a member of the congregation.<br />
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For non-fiction authors, you may elect to report on your own wedding, a family member’s wedding, or some other wedding you attended that influenced your perceptions of romance in some way. All the RFW hostesses ask is that you adhere to the same criteria as non-fiction writers and poets.<br />
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Or you may like to work through a classic fairy tale story, jazzing it up for the modern day, or twisting it in some way, but of course, there still must be a bride and groom.<br />
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It would be very interesting to set your wedding in a foreign country, or a different culture, so we can all learn something new.<br />
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So many choices. We can't wait to get underway....<br />
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<b>THIS IS A PRIZE CHALLENGE</b></div>
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There will be no Featured Writer or Runner Up awards and no voting for people’s choice. However, the co-hosts have agreed that OUR favorite will receive a $5 Amazon gift certificate, and the second place choice will receive a 2 chapter critique from either myself or Denise, winner's choice.<br />
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Any genre, any POV, as long as a wedding is imminent, in progress, or just concluded; and one or both of the newlyweds MUST be present in the scene, however briefly.<br />
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Specific criteria to win the prize:<br />
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- a bride and/or groom MUST be present in the scene (even if they are not the focus of the scene)<br />
- setting is the wedding day; the place the wedding will commence or the reception hall<br />
- time frame is immediately before the wedding (1-2 hours), during the wedding, or during the reception (1-2 hours after the wedding)<br />
- 1000 word limit (post your word counts with the excerpts)<br />
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Linky will open on June 21 and close on June 24 (Australian time). Please add only your direct link to your post this time.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">P</span>lease return on June 14 for guest author Kate Walker (and a giveaway). Kate has guested at RFW before and this time she will be specifically discussing how she writes about weddings in some of her 61 Mills and Boon novels. <a href="http://kate-walker.blogspot.com.au/">A visit to her blog</a> is a treat as you can pick up all sorts of writing craft posts. You can check out Kate's guest post on Romance Writing <a href="http://romanticfridaywriters.blogspot.com.au/2011/11/guest-post-no-2-kate-walker-on-romance.html">here </a>and her post on Training Yourself as a Plotter <a href="http://romanticfridaywriters.blogspot.com.au/2011/11/guest-post-no-3-kate-walker-on-romance.html">here</a>.<br />
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dolorahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08715849844092553699noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-115435078783773981.post-25929625910688476772013-05-01T11:11:00.000+10:002013-05-01T12:44:06.806+10:00InLinkz Sign Up for the May Challenge - Letters<!-- start InLinkz script -->
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Denise Covey http://www.blogger.com/profile/07106490051555233439noreply@blogger.com37tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-115435078783773981.post-80528407403270306532013-03-27T14:22:00.000+10:002013-03-27T14:24:57.114+10:00Driven to Murder Wrap Up Post - SURPRISE AWARDS!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: "Edwardian Script ITC"; font-size: 36.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Hello there,<s> Romantic </s>Friday Writers<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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The stories this month were such a treat, <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Donna and I can't ignore the opportunity to hand out awards</span>.<br />
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I'm sure, like your hosts, you enjoyed reading the varied entries which certainly encapsulated what we had in mind when we set this challenge - the basic challenge was that it was to be a husband/wife or a lover commit murder, and mostly this was highlighted with aplomb.<br />
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We've had our usual email discussions re Featured Writer and Runner Up. We both chose the same person for FW, but this person is over word limit, which, actually, *several of you were. However, seeing no one knew this was to be an award challenge (including your hosts) we are not disqualifying anyone this time for being over the word count - we'll allow the academic 10% over - 1100 words.<br />
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THEREFORE, AWARDS ANNOUNCED, along with a critique of the stories in the challenge:<br />
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NILANJANA: <span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #0c343d;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">Both of us chose Nilanjana for the FW this month. I love poetry, especially epic poetry, and Nilanjana's poem had it all - <span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">the many stanzas had symmetry, the plot consistently progressed and added tension through each one and the ghosts of the lovers and the plot to kill the king lingered long after their deaths. </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #0c343d; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">Dwijen or his lady love may not exist, but they came alive in this powerful tale of self-sacrifice, deceit and...romance. Most of us struggled to find a romantic element...I think Nilanjana managed very well. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #0c343d;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">An epic tale, even if it was over word count. That second-last stanza was inspired.</span></span></span><br />
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CHARMAINE: Charmaine and Sally rivalled for RU. Both had excellent stories. In Charmaine's, the policeman was putting together the plot based on years of experience. The cliche "its always the husband" was used to good effect, showing that just because a theme is well used, it doesn't mean a good writer can't come up with her own twist and make it work. After much splitting of the atom, we voted for Charmaine as the RU this month. Her writing shone just that little bit more..<br />
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SALLY: Sally hit about all the motives too; love, money and power and a touch of revenge all tied together with the wife scheming on the husband's behalf. Sally had a more direct lover's link than Charmaine's story, although as noted above, Charmaine's was the more polished piece of writing. Sally, the Encouragement Award (which is for someone who missed out on RU by a cat's whisker) is for you.</div>
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FOR THE FIRST TIME WE ARE AWARDING A "HIGHLY COMMENDED". </div>
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DAWN: Dawn. we really loved the long term plot here; a serial killer in the making due to being jilted by a beautiful, callous, careless lover. All the plot planning was excellent, and the creepy feel was intense. This writing was also a bit unpolished, but it is obvious this is the beginning of a larger writing which could prove very successful as it is refreshingly different. Please take the Highly Commended award Dawn.</div>
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And on with the critiques:</div>
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ANNA: Anna continued the story of the lover's trio - Emil, Caroline and Romona, but there is no lover's plot -- (accidental death during a lover's quarrel doesn't count), and the plot was about hiding the body and avoiding discovery rather than murdering the lover. </div>
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ROLAND: Roland, grisly scene, and although Claus and Strasser were lovers, it's clear Strasser played no part in the death and there doesn't seem to be a love triangle for a jealous lover/affair to have killed Claus. </div>
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YOLANDA: Yolanda had the required plot to kill the ex-spouse - we loved the twist of the male partnership/black widow theme - but the action was a little clunky, and sometimes the First Person POV can be problematic when the perspective character is to die.Yolanda's story was very last minute so as a result it lacked that final polish, but the story ticked the boxes...creepy as... </div>
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Donna has critiqued both of us...</div>
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DONNA: Admits she had some problems with the flow of the story, some things were deleted to keep in word count so the plot looks a bit thrown together - and it was still over.<br />
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DENISE: Donna says she liked my husband-did-it murder - she noted a good twist to the plot and adding the Macbeth "out spot" theme was brilliant. Then letting the reader know it was the hubby, setting up the extra-marital lover for the blame; lots of good plotting in that writing.</div>
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*WORD COUNTS: Donna counted words on all excerpts (and went by author honesty on those with posted counts):</div>
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Dawn: 1053</div>
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Roland: 1803 even without the backstory which was considerable</div>
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Donna: 1015</div>
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Charmaine: 578</div>
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Anna: 999</div>
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Nilanjana: 1086</div>
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Yolanda: 993</div>
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Denise: 996</div>
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Sally: 1000</div>
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.Thank you all for planning, crafting and delivering creative stories for our March challenge.<br />
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Now onto our April Challenge...or lack of April Challenge. Some of you will be disappointed, some of you will be relieved...but after much "Yes, we will, No we won't, Yes, we will.." Donna and I have gone with "No, we won't". We've been around the A-Z Challenge long enough to know that those of you who are participating will be frazzled enough without planning a story for RFW. This is the first year I won't be committing to the challenge, but I will be happy to support you in your endeavours.<br />
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My plans are to have my novel submitted by the end of April and Donna has a lot of critique work to do, plus she really wants to get back to her own writing which has taken a back seat for sometime.<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">So...we will be back with a bang on Wednesday May 1st</span>. We will post the Inlinkz sign up for our May Challenge -- <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Letters</span>. Most of us will have letters of the alphabet on our minds during April, whether writing to the letter of the day or commenting. RFWer's Letters will be a little different.<br />
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LETTERS will be the central theme of our new challenge. You can use letters any way you like.<br />
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Multi-generic writing is popular ATM, probably always has been. Multi-generic writing includes embedding other text types within your prose/poetry. Within prose you could add letter/s to/from lovers, letters could form the bulk of your story. You could add other text forms -- death certificate, diary entries, appointment calendars, a found note..be as creative as you want! Your entry will be a free-flowing story interspersed with whispers from the lives of the lovers. A poetic entry could be interspersed with the same type of texts -- let your imagination have free rein.<br />
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HERE ARE A FEW IDEAS:<br />
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*One of the lovers may have gone away - to work, to war, has left the relationship, wants time out...<br />
* Someone has been left at home - fretting, upset, determined to save the relationship, determined to have revenge<br />
* Perhaps one of the lovers wants a holiday by themselves, (not unusual these days), and the one left at home is furious, feels unloved, or relieved to have some time out too<br />
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These are scenarios that just pop into my head. Your entry may use all/none of these suggestions. It is your story, your way, your era...just let's go back to a romantic element in whatever form we write for this challenge.<br />
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The <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Timeline</span> will be -- Inlinkz Submit List will be posted on May 1st. You will have until May 24th to post your story.<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #f1c232;"><i>If you're participating in the A-Z Challenge, please tell us in the comments and we will try to visit you.</i></span><br />
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Denise Covey http://www.blogger.com/profile/07106490051555233439noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-115435078783773981.post-83392002080191678122013-03-05T11:21:00.000+10:002013-03-05T11:21:00.340+10:00#RomanticFridayWriters March Challenge - Sign Up here - Driven to Murder <!-- start InLinkz script -->
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<br /></div>Denise Covey http://www.blogger.com/profile/07106490051555233439noreply@blogger.com26tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-115435078783773981.post-41456661716919489552013-03-04T13:11:00.000+10:002013-03-20T18:40:43.661+10:00How to write a murder mystery, by Charmaine Clancy<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I've been following along with writing prompts from Romantic Friday Writers to learn more about adding a little romance to my stories. I'm learning a lot from fellow RFW members, so I was very humbled when Denise invited me to share what I know about mystery writing. Thanks so much for having me here today! I hope what I have to share will help you write that murder for the March challenge.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I've been working on a mystery series for kids, and love reading crime fiction. If I was to pick one element of mystery writing that is essential (and writers sometimes overlook), it would be motive. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Motive is essential because we need to know why the killer was willing to risk everything to commit murder. It is usually the undoing of the criminal, once the detective figures out motive the rest is just comes down to proof. To make it trickier for the detective, every suspect should have a strong motive.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Motive drives every decision and action for your characters. So why did the killer stab Old-man Hubbard in the library with scissors? Is it the struggling writer who received a bad review? The fashion-designer wife who will lose everything in a divorce because of the pre-nupt? Or the wife's lover, too passionate to control his jealousy?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Motive is not just for suspects. The detective needs a strong motive to solve the case. They may face danger, so the motive needs to keep them going, especially if they're an amateur sleuth and not employed to reveal the murderer. Do they need to prove their own innocence, like in <i>The Fugitive</i>?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Here's a few of the top motives, can you think of others?</span></div>
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<li style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0.25em 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Greed</b> - character is usually seen following the money.</span></span></li>
<li style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0.25em 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Power/Fame</b> - this character is all about control.</span></span></li>
<li style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0.25em 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Fear</b> - possibly through paranoia or perhaps the threat is real.</span></span></li>
<li style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0.25em 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Protection</b> - someone the character cares about is at risk.</span></span></li>
<li style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0.25em 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Revenge</b> - driven by anger, bitterness.</span></span></li>
<li style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0.25em 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Passion</b> - love is the motivator and perhaps it's unrequited or there is a love triangle.</span></span></li>
<li style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0.25em 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Blackmail</b> - this character has a shady past they want to keep hidden.</span></span></li>
<li style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0.25em 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Shame</b> - this character acts through a sense of being unworthy.</span></span></li>
<li style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0.25em 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Faith</b> - even if it is misguided, it can be powerful enough to push a character.</span></span></li>
<li style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0.25em 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>A Rush</b> - wild and untamed, this character comes across as spoilt.</span></span></li>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXKBRmSLBPGrxK45HgXGs4ffxTNZjhVLxR_MlIuRUS0psTVLqCVKbZ6-p1Bu9N9p_Um9TJaI_Gth8LkawEp_QMsg-GvGnt_N4gIiH3BrCqHMkuRWlNSYjl5k4p1a-tzmbhcwUU9Zgmuiif/s220/CharmaineClancy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXKBRmSLBPGrxK45HgXGs4ffxTNZjhVLxR_MlIuRUS0psTVLqCVKbZ6-p1Bu9N9p_Um9TJaI_Gth8LkawEp_QMsg-GvGnt_N4gIiH3BrCqHMkuRWlNSYjl5k4p1a-tzmbhcwUU9Zgmuiif/s220/CharmaineClancy.JPG" /></a><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 33px;"><i>Once again, thank you for having me on Romantic Friday Writers - happy writing!</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #0c343d; color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Brisbane author Charmaine Clancy loves to create characters for mystery, fantasy and adventure.</span><br />
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<a href="http://clancytales.blogspot.com.au/p/who.html"><span style="background-color: #0c343d; color: white;">Visit Charmaine's blog.</span></a></div>
Denise Covey http://www.blogger.com/profile/07106490051555233439noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-115435078783773981.post-37497935536990796022013-03-02T12:45:00.004+10:002013-03-02T13:40:54.412+10:00Fan Fiction Wrap Up Post - A - Z Challenge - Announcing March challenge - Driven to Murder<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Hi RFWers and friends!Sorry<br />
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Sorry this blog has been a bit of a black hole, but both Donna and I have been flat out with our writing, and I have had visitors. <a href="http://laussieswritingblog.blogspot.com/">I've blogged about </a>one of the interesting workshops I attended yesterday on Plotting. You might like to have a read. It was excellent.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nas Dean, Myself, Charmaine Clancy (RFWer) and Jillanne Harrison (writing group member)<br />
All Plotting!</td></tr>
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Now onto our fan fiction...This was one of the most challenging challenges yet, I think, and judging by the comment stream under the sign up, many of you agree with me. It wasn't that easy to choose a couple, then write a fan fiction piece. Most of us had never attempted it before. Once I'd written my Heathcliff monologue, I checked the<a href="http://www.fanfiction.net/book/"> fan fiction site</a> to find that there are well over 100 fan fiction pieces for Wuthering Heights. Impressive.<br />
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Maybe I chose the easy way out by writing Heathcliff, one of the best-known wacky lovers in classic history. But I loved your takes on Gone With The Wind, (Linda, Yolanda), Lord of the Rings (Donna), Twilight (Rek, N R Williams ), Arthurian Legends (Sally), Anime (Dawn Embers), Terry Pratchett's <i>Discworld</i> series (Charmaine ), Selma Lagerlof's <i>Gosta Berlings</i> saga (Anna), the <span style="background-color: #0c343d; color: white;"><span style="font-size: 13px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Mahabharata</span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: justify;"> (Nilanjana), Pride and Prejudice (Erin Kane Spock), 80's Hindi movie, Ek Duuje Ke Liye (Janu). (I'm always worried I've missed someone out--if I have inadvertently done so, please let me know in the comments.) </span></span><br />
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I loved learning the stories from other cultures--this challenge was all about what is classic all over the world--and you delivered. I was thoroughly entertained. How about you?<br />
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A QUESTION<br />
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How many of you are participating in the A - Z Challenge? Donna and I are tossing ideas back and forth regarding an April challenge. The jury's still out on whether we will offer a challenge or not. If you want to massage it to fit a daily post for the A - Z Challenge, go for it. It'll probably be around the S. Please leave a comment and let us know.<br />
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NEXT CHALLENGE - MARCH MADNESS - DRIVEN TO MURDER</div>
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<span style="background-color: #274e13; color: white; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Anyone up for a bit of murder and mayhem; the intrigues of conspiracy and betrayal, either for political gain, money, or even - true love? RFW invites all stories of pose or poetry, up to 1000 words, with the theme that pays homage to the Roman God Mars (Greek equivalent Ares), patron of war and agriculture. Mars is depicted as a cold and impersonal God, caring more for the battle itself than the outcome.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #274e13;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">To honor Mars (March) your characters will plot and/or implement a deceitful act under the guise of love. We're looking for motives; what does the lover hope to gain by the nefarious or altruistic act. We want to see themes of vengeance, manipulation, self sacrifice.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #274e13; color: white; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Any POV, any genre; just be sure your MCs are in love and have a self serving reason for the plotted course of action.</span></div>
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The linky will go up on Monday, 4th March, giving you 3 weeks to plan/publish your story. The instant sign up worked last month, except for a couple of peeps who ran out of time. Usually it is quite easy to delete your link by hitting the little cross against your name. This saves readers the frustration of clicking on an entry that isn't there! Otherwise, send me a request to delete your name from the list. (I don't like to do it without your permission!)<br />
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Denise Covey http://www.blogger.com/profile/07106490051555233439noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-115435078783773981.post-3844918267745630822013-02-05T14:31:00.000+10:002013-02-05T17:04:13.282+10:00RomanticFridayWriters FEBRUARY Challenge - Fan Fiction - Sign up now!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Denise Covey http://www.blogger.com/profile/07106490051555233439noreply@blogger.com57tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-115435078783773981.post-30373896001093173872013-01-28T06:52:00.000+10:002013-01-28T06:52:01.457+10:00NEW YEAR-NEW LOVE WRAP UP...and new challenge announced - WE LOVE LOVERS! <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Hello my lovelies!<br />
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First off a big thank you to all who participated in RFW's first Challenge of 2013, New Year-New Love. This challenge was about moving forward; leaving a relationship or life that wasn't panning out, and opening our MC to the realm of possibility. I admit when I came up with this concept I was thinking along the chic-lit lines of boldly re-entering the dating world and taking all the opportunities by storm.<br />
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I was more than a little impressed with the unique directions the authors ventured into: a couple of life after death renewals, a death as a new beginning, a warning to avoid death with a new life abroad, acceptance of the inevitable, a trip to the past to view the beginning, and a few totally new and unexpected beginnings.<br />
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Overall, I think each entry reached the goal of forward movement, as even when our characters were looking into the past, they were learning from the experiences and committing to a new future. Well done on capturing the theme.<br />
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Moving forward into February's Challenge, I'm sure you can guess RFW will be looking for true romance. But not just Any romance;<b><i> we want you to write a fan-fiction involving your FAVORITE romance couples. </i></b>As examples: Heathcliffe/Kathy, Rhett/Scarlett, Edward/Bella, Christian/Anastasia, Mr Darcy/Elizabeth, Rick/Ilsa, Jack/Rose, Katniss/Peeta...<i>ad infinitum</i>.<br />
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Some of you may be asking "what the heck is fan-fiction?" I had to do a little research to familiarize myself with this writing style myself. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fan_fiction" target="_blank">According to Wikipedia</a>: "Works of fan fiction are rarely commissioned or authorized by the original work's owner, creator, or publisher; also, they are almost never professionally published. Because of this, many stories often contain a disclaimer stating that the creator of the work owns none of the characters."<br />
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<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_Jenkins" target="_blank">Media scholar Henry Jenkins</a> explains in his article on <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transmedia_storytelling" target="_blank">Transmedia Storytelling</a>:<span style="font-family: sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 19.1875px;"> The encyclopedic ambitions of transmedia texts often results in what might be seen as gaps or excesses in the unfolding of the story: that is, they introduce potential plots which can not be fully told or extra details which hint at more than can be revealed. Readers, thus, have a strong incentive to continue to elaborate on these story elements, working them over through their speculations, until they take on a life of their own.<b> Fan fiction can be seen as an unauthorized expansion of these media franchises into new directions which reflect the reader's desire to "fill in the gaps"</b></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 19.1875px;">The <a href="http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=fanfiction" target="_blank">Urban Dictionary</a> describes fan fiction as:<b> ". . when someone takes either the story or characters (or both) of a certain piece of work, whether it be a novel, tv show, movie, etc, and create their own story based on it."<i> (Perhaps think of the many takes on the Cinderella story.)</i> </b>And as: "Fiction written by fans for other fans about the <a href="http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=fandoms" target="_blank">fandoms</a> that they like. <b>Usually the author takes the characters and/or the setting of the fandom and writes a new or continuing plot."</b></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 19.1875px;"><b>FEBRUARY CHALLENGE</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 19.1875px;">For February's Challenge, your hosts invite authors to write up to 1000 words of fanfiction involving your favorite romance couple from TV, movie, literature or historical accounts. Remember; your post MUST include a credit/link back to the original author/creator of the characters. Your link can be: a movie/book trailer, link to a purchasing site for the novel, magazine article or other author interview in which the characters are described by the originating author, wiki or IMB article; or anything that gives full credit to the creator.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 19.1875px;">Do your own research on fanfiction if needed, (the most famous recent example is Shades of Gray which is a fan fiction piece based on Edward and Bella from Twilight), but aside from the linking requirement and 1k word count; anything goes, well...nearly anything.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 19.1875px;">If you have further questions regarding this prompt, leave a comment on this post, as it may help others who are wondering about the same thing. Of course, you are welcome to email Denise and Donna any time.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 19.1875px;">Have fun with the WE LOVE LOVERS challenge. The linky will open tentatively Wednesday, February 6, and close Sunday Feb 17 (Aussie time).</span></span><br />
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dolorahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08715849844092553699noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-115435078783773981.post-47763796935597959762013-01-07T08:22:00.000+10:002013-01-07T08:22:09.876+10:00#RomanticFridayWriters - New Year! New Love! Sign up here!<!-- start InLinkz script -->
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<br /></div>Denise Covey http://www.blogger.com/profile/07106490051555233439noreply@blogger.com38tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-115435078783773981.post-70946026017001429492013-01-04T19:59:00.001+10:002013-01-04T20:16:24.154+10:00WELCOME TO THE NEW YEAR and announcing our first challenge for 2013!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYgwKKkWFhZAzVVLXQ8kA22Cn_umF3WSmhw3Sl-2U9kb7UbHJczkHx1Gbzfr02O7MAlmnqALa_DYeL84_4FbmniyA00cjpsgmG4oRFwbU1CwLimzro4gzTMVBmHwYpQlxnvNI0RKxpHFo/s1600/mayan+calandar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYgwKKkWFhZAzVVLXQ8kA22Cn_umF3WSmhw3Sl-2U9kb7UbHJczkHx1Gbzfr02O7MAlmnqALa_DYeL84_4FbmniyA00cjpsgmG4oRFwbU1CwLimzro4gzTMVBmHwYpQlxnvNI0RKxpHFo/s200/mayan+calandar.jpg" width="167" /></a>Welcome back my fellow Mayan Apocalypse survivors. I hope you are as happy to still be here as I am.<br />
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RFW has experienced many changes over the last year--Francine stepped down as co-host--I came on board as partner--we gained and lost many followers and members--there were changes to our posting schedule and critiquing guidelines--a safety policy was implemented.<br />
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The biggest changes Denise and I noted were in the growth of our consistent authors. Many of the Challenges did just that; challenged our RFW authors to stretch themselves out of their comfort zones, to write in different POVs, different genres, or even different styles as poets wrote prose and fiction authors wrote memoir or other non-fiction pieces.<br />
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Judging for Featured Writer and Runner up became a conflicted challenge as authors submitted well polished and well written excerpts. The main purpose of RFW has always been a place for writers who enjoy a little romance to practice and hone their craft; to obtain critiques and writing tips, show off published works, or just write for the sake of writing and having a few laughs or warm and gushy moments.<br />
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RFW hosts thank all of you for your support of the site, the encouragement offered submitting members, and mostly for your participating in our prompt Challenges. Give yourselves a round of applause (and chocolate kisses) for a wonderful year of togetherness.<br />
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Moving forward into 2013, we expect more changes, and hope you continue your support and participation. We (Denise and I) would like you all to know that we have listened to your requests and complaints, even when we did not immediately respond. And your generosity and patience towards us as hosts while we figured out some complications and unexpected changes are greatly appreciated.<br />
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While many of our proposed improvements are still in the discussion phase, (we have been busy enjoying our families and holiday celebrations too), some changes we are able to implement immediately:<br />
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- <b>Posting schedule</b>: we realize that our members all have day lives and writing obligations outside of RFW, so we will only have one challenge a month as of right away. Tentatively, we will post the linky during either the first or the second week of the month (on Monday, at least in January) and the linky will remain open for three weeks. We will do a short wrap up post during the last week of the month, and announce the next challenge within the wrap up post.<br />
- <b>Word counts</b>: with the decreased number of challenges, we propose an increase in the word count for the challenges--up to 1000 words (but don't feel you have to struggle to reach this maximum.) This should alleviate the frustrations participants have encountered in developing a story concept in the limited 4-600 words, while still keeping the story a flash fiction piece. (see the "flash fiction" tab above for guidelines)<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXzx4fOGH5xa6JckiwU9NMYAuwS0GaRtDtQbC26XH-43zCEfhgg8H9b2J8NIRkPNewq4Swl4NcwSWFY6S8DWqhzYtFwhvoaQPCP50WP1jCNhflPNPRUrXuXN4983n36PyAwNzyzQEaxmU/s1600/RFWcode.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXzx4fOGH5xa6JckiwU9NMYAuwS0GaRtDtQbC26XH-43zCEfhgg8H9b2J8NIRkPNewq4Swl4NcwSWFY6S8DWqhzYtFwhvoaQPCP50WP1jCNhflPNPRUrXuXN4983n36PyAwNzyzQEaxmU/s200/RFWcode.jpg" width="200" /></a> -<b> Wrap up critiques</b>: It has become habit for the hosts to post mini-critiques (which are more like synopses) at each Challenge wrap up. This takes a lot of time on the part of the co-hosts; we generally read each entry several times and compare notes, and ya know, it's quite involved and has become onerous with the increase in entries. For these reasons, we have decided that those types of critiques should be reserved for FW/RU Challenges only.<br />
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There are feedback codes posted in the tab labeled "critiques" above which should be used to annotate the level and kind of acceptable feedback on any submitted challenge. (If you don't tell your readers what type of critique is acceptable to you, you will most likely just receive a short - 'I liked your story')...As mentioned earlier, wrap up posts will include an introduction to the next challenge, but the Challenges tab will still contain usual requirements/suggestions/guidelines for the particular prompt, which will change each time.<br />
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As always, please feel free to email Denise or Donna with any private concerns, suggestions, or questions; or leave your comments publicly at the RFW site. Member input at the site only makes RFW an enjoyable site for all. We LOVE discussions!!<br />
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Some changes have been made to some of the tabs - such as the Submissions tab. These will continue to be tweaked.<br />
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Now...on to more fun things . .<b> the first RFW Challenge of the New Year</b>.<br />
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Lets kick start this NEW YEAR with NEW LOVE and a challenge to get us all back into the writing mode. In keeping with the theme "out with the old, in with the new", RFW wants to see our protagonist/s venturing anew into the dating world with a new look/dating plan. Do tell - in 1000 words or less - what those New Years resolutions on the love life include. Make a list, plan an event, seek an oracle (therapist/best friend) for advice, or dive in unexpectedly with a spur of the moment resolve to make love happen. We’re looking for intent, not outcome<br />
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And that's a wrap for our first post of 2013. Welcome back everyone. We are looking forward to another fun and exciting year of reading and writing about romantic life.<br />
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Look for our first linky list of the year on Monday!<br />
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dolorahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08715849844092553699noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-115435078783773981.post-67911671009669674092012-12-12T12:00:00.000+10:002012-12-12T12:07:50.601+10:00RFW Holiday Spirit Blogfest Linky List - Sign up here!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Denise Covey http://www.blogger.com/profile/07106490051555233439noreply@blogger.com23tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-115435078783773981.post-43945895758148910612012-12-07T17:39:00.000+10:002012-12-07T17:41:34.593+10:00Countdown to Holiday Spirit Blogfest...meanwhile tell us about your November. NaNoWriMo? Another writing project or two?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Hello RFWers! Welcome back!<br />
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November is over - December is flying by and still no word from Donna and Denise - until now.<br />
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We'd like to hear how your November went. What did you get up to writing-wise? I'm happy to report my most successful NaNoWriMo yet, with 50,000+ words completed of a Harlequin-style novel set in Fiji . I am trying to find time to polish it most days, so I can get this one edited and off to the publisher at Harlequin Escape.<br />
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Donna didn't participate in NaNo, but had various writing projects to complete. She even finished a couple and felt pretty good about the results<br />
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As well as NaNo, I attended RFW and writing group member Charmaine's book launch for her middle-grade novel, My Zombie Dog. That was a fun-filled morning at Black Cat Books and Cafe in Brisbane. Indie bookstores are very strong in Oz! For the whole of November - and continuing still - Charmaine and I were/are writing buddies, meeting in the State Library of Queensland and writing up a storm.<br />
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Our Holiday Spirit Blogfest linky goes up next Wednesday 12 Dec. or even a little earlier if the spirit moves me. I hope you'll join us - post the badge on your blog and spread the word if you haven't already! There are no word limits - you can read the updated guidelines in the previous post by Donna and on the Challenges page. Go for it - anything holiday related - we want to hear about it. Remember, you can post more than one entry. </div>
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Please say hi in the comments and let us know about your writing successes/projects...</div>
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Denise Covey http://www.blogger.com/profile/07106490051555233439noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-115435078783773981.post-27195685607678989162012-11-02T11:39:00.001+10:002012-11-27T16:38:51.899+10:00HOLIDAY BREAK AND A BLOGFEST<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Hello out there, fellow RFWers (and other visitors). <span style="font-size: large;">A warm welcome to new followers and members!</span> As previously announced, Romantic Friday Writers will be on hiatus for the month of November due to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Novel_Writing_Month" target="_blank">National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo)</a> and other writing commitments of your hosts. Are you participating in NaNo this year? Have you got your NaNo buddy? <a href="http://www.nanowrimo.org/" target="_blank">Signed up at the Official Site</a>? We wish you good luck with your writing project, or whatever else you will be doing during RFW hiatus.<br />
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However, we couldn't finish out the year with all that spookiness of Halloween, so we're planning one more BIG BIG celebration to finish out 2012 and get us ready for a fresh New Year.<br />
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Memoir, Fiction, Recipes, Traditions...and more</div>
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<span style="color: red;">THIS POST HAS BEEN UPDATED</span><br />
For this Holiday Spirit blogfest, we are looking for excerpts<strike> of up to 800 words</strike> involving fiction or non-fiction stories of family tradition, favorite/unique recipes, inspirational articles, etc.; that involve the essence of the holiday spirit. <strike>(Recipes and news articles do not have to adhere to the 800 word limit.)</strike><br />
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RFW, and the blogsphere itself, include a multitude of countries, cultures, and citizenry of the world. Not every culture celebrates Thanksgiving, Christmas, Yom Kipper, Hanuka or any variety of holidays of the “giving spirit” during the same season. Because the RFW hosts are a part of western civilization, we choose this month for our yearly celebration, Christmas, and would like you to post whatever passes for the Holiday Spirit in your neck ‘a the world.<br />
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Your submission does not need to include an element of romance; however, we at RFW acknowledge that ANY writing involving family (their values, traditions, and conflicts) is a Romantic writing. What is more romantic than Family?<br />
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Because of the special nature of this Holiday Spirit blogfest, we are allowing up to two submissions; however, they must be in two separate categories. Meaning, you could post your favorite recipe AND an inspirational <strike>800 word </strike>excerpt; or a link to an inspirational news/magazine article and a recipe or true story; but not two of each (two recipes, two memoir posts, two articles). If you are posting two separate submissions, please add your blog link twice and add to your name/link what it contains - eg ; Donna Hole, 1, Recipe- so participants know to look for two separate posts.<br />
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The linky will open on December 12 and remain open thru December 31 to encourage linking to the direct post. However, if you decide to link then schedule a post (or two) later, just leave a comment to let everyone know when your excerpt will be available. The RFW hosts will be checking the comments and links, and if a direct link is available, we will edit your link(s) if you haven't done so.<br />
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Please join us in celebrating life, love, presents, good food, and of course Family Traditions of all types within all cultures.<br />
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<b>This is not a competition - it is a sharing. We hope we'll all get to know each other better!</b><br />
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We hope to have the Holiday Spirit wrap up posted by Jan 4 and post the link for the first 2013 RFW Challenge by Jan 7.<br />
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Happy Holidays everyone; and best wishes for your NaNoWriMo projects. Let us know how you go. Leave a comment any time. Your hosts will be checking in from time to time when they need a procrastination activity!<br />
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dolorahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08715849844092553699noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-115435078783773981.post-8955343499590528902012-10-29T13:00:00.000+10:002012-10-29T13:19:04.702+10:00Halloween House of Horrors Wrap Up. Featured Writer, Runner Up and Encouragement Award announced! Write romance for Harlequin Escape!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Hi Halloween Hellraisers!<br />
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What a great lot of creepy stories and poems! Did it surprise you the level of scariness we managed to conjure up for this challenge? Well done everyone. We had such a good time reading your entries we went back again to enjoy them all over. Thus one of the reasons for the lateness of this post.<br />
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Well as you know, our venerable judges, Ann Best and Nas Dean have been behind the scenes, reading, re-reading, printing out your stories, checking the guidelines and exchanging ideas for who had the best stories or prosetry this challenge. Before we make the announcement, here is a critique of each and every entry: All four of us have participated in the writing of critiques this time and we're not telling who did what. You can try to guess. Maybe our voice comes through. Unlikely seeing we each added bits and pieces to some.<br />
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The crits are somewhat more detailed than our usual mini critiques, partly due to the increased word limit, and partly because you have all put in so much effort for this challenge, your entries deserve respect. We wanted to hand out awards to more than 3 as there were so many contenders.<br />
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<span style="color: red;"><b>CRITIQUES</b></span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US">Mirror Mirror by Debra Ann Elliott</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">The beginning of this intriguing story of mirrors and ghosts immediately piqued my interest with its echoes of the fairy tale Sleeping Beauty: “Mirror, mirror in my bedroom.” A teenage girl wishes for a handsome bridegroom. But Megan gets more than she bargains for. It’s a good thing that Jax loves her as he battles to save her from the evil Slag. Mirrors. Ouija boards. Good versus evil. All the elements of a good Halloween story. I could follow this story line, and was impressed with the author’s writing skills. Very good dialogue and description.</span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US"><span lang="EN-US">Anna of Anna’s Adornment - 'Jenny's Robinson Crusoe - Halloween '<b><u></u><u></u></b></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: times new roman, new york, times, serif;">This story has the ingredients of romance, mystery and danger. But it didn't have the Halloween ending which I was looking for. It hooked us right in with its beginning (which set the scene right away) and there was good dialogue, easy to follow. Poor Jenny, the MC, has been on a deserted island for three years, so long that she prefers ghosts of her departed friends to no friends at all. "Please haunt me Jack." This is obviously part of a much-larger landscape I'm not familiar with, but from this excerpt I can see the making of a much-longer story, perhaps in novella form. It left me hankering for a slice of creamy, rich pumpkin pie...yum.<u></u></span></span></span><br />
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Peartree Cottage by Sally Stackhouse<span lang="EN-US"></span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US">I liked the build-up to the haunting event with the quirky MC Ellen and her less-quirky husband George moving into Peartree Cottage. There was backstory on the couple and their life, and a reason for them to be moving into a haunted house. There was a theme of following your heart - don't be afraid to break out - keep moving even when advice is to the contrary: "You've lived in that house since 1982 they gasped in shock...don't make any hasty decisions."</span> I like how connecting with the ghost and understanding his needs negated his scariness, and just made him a part of the new house and new life for the perspective couple.<br />
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Vampire Dreams by Francine Howarth<br />
From first sentence to last, I heard Vincent Price in my head as narrator to this story. There were some abstract concepts that escaped me (not sure if the Owl is the Mystical Phantom). "Too late, too late; He's opened his blood-lined cape;" There is no romantic element to this writing – unless you count the romance of blood lust - but overall this was spooky, passionate and evocative. A smooth, lyrical story that catches the eye and moves forward to the bitter end.<br />
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<span lang="EN-US">Wild Guardian by Kiru Taye</span></div>
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In legend, this freshwater swamp of the Edumanom forest was haunted with “ghouls, phantoms and otherworldly beasts [that] paraded at night.” In hauntingly vivid imagery, the author takes us into this scene through the eyes of Ama, who is a wildlife photographer with “an affinity to the forest.” At the end, with Timi, who is apparently her lover, she wonders: Was the forest a dream? Perhaps, as Timi says, “It’ll be clearer in the morning.” There’s only one metaphor that jars me: “her heart did a skid as it raced off.” Hearts don’t skid; nor do they “race off.” Otherwise, in my opinion the writing is perfect.</div>
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<span lang="EN-US">The Panettiere Cup by N. R. Williams</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;">Romance is paramount in this story and the author's skills as a published fantasy writer are evident. The beginning of the story and when her heroine takes flight to the old castle gave me chills. </span>This story has flawless descriptive passages, and credible characters. Aya’s the aging heroine, loved by her husband but haunted by what might have been if she had married the man her father chose for her. In this melancholy frame of mind, she is “bewitched,” but in the end realizes what true love really is. In a brief but beautiful ending that exhibits the author’s excellent skill with dialogue, her loving husband rescues her from her melancholy flight. I feel her joy as she realizes that love comes from the ordinary moments a husband and wife share through the years.</span></div>
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House of Horror by Roland Yeomans<br />
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<span lang="EN-US">I didn't find any romance in this excerpt, but it is definitely atmospheric. This author has an awesome command of dialogue and description. I love lines like: “I didn’t trust these two any further than I could throw Pittsburg.” Great hyperbole. And what spookier setting than New Orleans for “the LaLaurie mansion [that] towered over us like the House of Usher.” Shades of Edgar Allan Poe. Impressive!</span></div>
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At the Waters Edge by Panchali Sesngupta </div>
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Love the intro of the main character, and the
setting, and then the ghosts that are the main focus of this plot. I liked the broad world view that shifts and
focuses on the intimate scene, but doesn't lose contact with the initial
perspective character. An eerie
“telling” scene that works because the MC is an observer to something unique
and otherworldly without the need to expand or clarify. A sighting that is a full story because of
its transitory nature. Perhaps the author would benefit by running her work by others with a stronger grasp of the English language so those little mistakes can be corrected before publication.</div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Haunted Love by Donna Hole</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Donna has a good command of dialogue. However, I don’t find any real romance here. The setting is “ordinary,” not haunted. We don’t know until the end that they’re both ghosts. And the time sequence is confusing. Is the beginning in the past or the present? I personally think the problem is that there’s more story here than can accommodate a 1000-word piece. There are some minor details, some of them typos: “Tiredness dragged at his conscious and he fell asleep” Should be consciousness. IMO it would be better to simply say, He was tired and fell asleep, avoiding the weak repetition of consciousness. He “chocked” the life out of her should be “choked.”. I can see some “foreshadowing” in: “Marcy ignored him as if he wasn't there.” The problem for me is I just can't see what’s happening when.</span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US"><span lang="EN-US">Charmaine Clancy - John Opie's Portrait<b><u></u><u></u></b></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;">Charmaine writes with wry humour. No matter what the subject matter, there will be a thread of humour underpinning the text. I liked this story as it had romance and was spooky. The imagery took the reader back to another era: "...the wailing of mechanical monster..." so called as the MC didn't know what they were called. "So many inventions!" she wails. The ending gave the chills as the heroine made the mistake of getting into the demon’s arms instead of her hero's. "She tried to run but it was too late." The narration was evocative and I could </span><span style="font-family: times new roman, new york, times, serif;">visualize the events</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;"> all the way through.</span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">The O’Donnell House Case: Cade & Jules by Candilynn Fite</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">The author does well with dialogue. The setting is spooky. This is right on theme for this challenge. The characters are battling some kind of “entity.” I can see Cade and Jules, but I don’t see the significance of the O’Donnell House. And why is this a “case?” Jules has to catch this all on camera. Why? In the penultimate paragraph we’re introduced to Brody and Jack, two new characters we know nothing about. And in the last paragraph there’s a whole new story line. We’re also told that Cade and Jules have had a platonic relationship. So where’s the romance? I think there’s potential here for a very interesting story that explores the relationships that are only hinted at in this 1000-word piece.</span></div>
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Trick or Treat by Denise Covey<br />
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<span lang="EN-US">First paragraph is superb. Sets the creepy
scene immediately. Second paragraph, a one liner: stunning alliteration and
blinding image--“A white flare fizzed through the room”--the kind of writing
that continues through the story. The title itself is ironic, the plot clear
and suspenseful. The story begins with a “white flare” and ends with “the
flames flickered…and died.” Finally, masterful dialogue pulls me into the story
and the emotions of the characters as only great dialogue does. The dead and
the undead. Does one really want to be “tricked”
into the arms of a dead husband? Seems like a “treat” at first, but “absolute
evil” distorts. T</span><span style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;">he romance element was present in the heroine’s mind as she thought the hero to be her dead husband. </span><span style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;">Author trumped her story with adequate research.</span><span style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;"> </span>Unfortunately as a host, Denise's entry cannot be awarded a prize.<br />
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<span style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;"><span lang="EN-US">Michael Di Gesu - untitled excerpt from prospective novella</span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">This story sets up with romantic elements and there is adequate tension. It is noir with a ghostly feel set in the time of flappers, gangsters and...Liberace! The author evokes the atmosphere of the era, but I just felt there were<u> too</u> many adjectives. Author has done well with good dialogue from the era (obviously researched well) and ended with true Halloween gruesomeness. </span>“Bodies are paralyzed.” Bodies? Dead or alive? I love the ending: "As dawn breaks through a driftwood gray mist...a body floats in the Chicago River." I think this will be a gripping novella, but editors will certainly suggest the author tones down some of the description. </div>
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The Wife’s Return by The Red Angel<br />
This story starts with strong emotion, and escalates that emotional intensity through the story plot. What I like about this is that the spirit learns to cope with her change in circumstance. The character is strong and adaptable as a spirit, which implies she was equally a strong character as a living being. It is implied throughout the plot that she was suspicious and insecure in life, and that distrust is what brought her back as a ghost. The only incongruence is that our ghost/heroine wakes up “next to her own corpse, more than half decayed” but the story shows she has only been dead three weeks. An inconsistent timeline (and over word count) can be the “death” of an otherwise excellent story.<br />
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Spare Me The Horror by Ghazala Hossain<br />
The first line of this story doesn't work for me. Now familiar; newborn; well deserved rest; all create a concept inconsistency to me. The story actually starts with the second paragraph. There are some confusing elements to this plot concept, but the characters are vividly drawn, and the fear a consistent element. This was edgy; an undefined fear that is expounded upon until it is clearly explained by the end of the story. Mysteries abound, horrors are unleashed, and the apartment above is perfect for a haunted setting. This could be an excellent story deserving of more thorough editing.<br />
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<span style="font-family: times new roman, new york, times, serif;">Finding Ngozi by Nilanjana Bose</span><br />
<span style="font-family: times new roman, new york, times, serif;">Can I blame Nilanjana for keeping some of us up at night, reading then re-reading her poem? Written in Five Parts - each part having its own storyline. (I) The MC returns to his childhood town where "...the cavernous maw of a starred hotel..." stares at him, reminding him that his old town is gone - "...each road leads to the emptieth end." (II) Here is the strongest romantic element of the poem, with "She was a girl." The imagery in this part is softer, evoking the MC's memories of young love: "...fingers frisking firefly lights..." and "the doves went still...", but foreshadows the horror the author has prepared for us in the remaining Parts. "...the sun spat blood..." (III) For me, this part evoked Robert Frost's "Stopping by Woods..." as the MC looks for his 'princess dark'. (IV) Ah, the horror: "...I am running, my heart burns with a strange mix of love and fear..." (V) Shades of Poe scream at the reader: "Looking,..into the abyss...all things wither, and tales finish..." So they do Nilanjana. And what a Halloween tale. </span><br />
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Work in Progress by Erin Kane Spock;<br />
Erin posted an excerpt from a WiP. The excerpt shows our protagonist lovers Kay and Philippe preparing for a hurricane type storm. (Are you psychic too Erin?) I loved the sexual innuendo of Philippe racing through his apartment, shedding clothing as he closes up windows against the coming storm; and then ends on a balcony across from his charge and potential love Kay – aka Karma. The coming storm portents a mystical setting, and the dialogue discloses that the present is not set in reality; but without the author pre-write, this scene does not stand alone as a romance, or a ghostly story. It does however, have all the elements of an eerie, Halloween flash.<br />
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You Can't Escape the Darkness by A J Locke<br />
This story could be subtitled...Escape from Hell...such was its imagery of fear evoked from the beginning and sustained right to the horrific ending. In the opening paragraph, strong imagery of darkness: "...the type of darkness that could swallow the sun." The author has used flawless language to write her story which fits the theme of' love beyond the grave'. What's she doing in Hell? The author has certainly used a romantic element - the MC loves someone so much she chooses to follow them into hell. Oh, the burn,,,The final line, powerfully penned..."The worst thing about being tortured when you're dead is that you cannot die to escape." A Halloween tale to send chills down the spine.</div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Heaven- Weeping Willow<b><u></u><u></u></b></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">I could feel the tension and the haunting presence in this heartbreaking tale. The romantic element is present in the movement between past and present. </span>Heaven used a form of flashback to tell the story of two
lovers caught in a time-stream of strong emotions. The uniqueness of this prosetry is that the “lovers”
are not together. Strong imagery: "...trampled heads of wildflowers..." denote the destruction war brings but imagery like "...warmly scented with coffee and cream..." evoke a romantic feel. The two characters
interact in passing through their emotional burdens. In the end, the present man uses the loss and
regret from the ghostly woman to draw him closer to his own wife. Well integrated prose and storyline.<br />
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My Demon, My Lover by Raelene Purtill<br />
A book signing from hell - murder at the masquerade party.The author has delivered great action, imagery and quirky dialogue. As one commenter, Anna, said: "Getting published is enough of a nightmare without a murder!" This otherworldly crowd delivers a lot of laughs for the reader. I got humour rather than horror, although the murder was inopportune and unexpected. Ah, there's just too much pressure in this writing world! "I have been very efficient. Angela Connolly will write no more." Oh, the horror!<br />
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<span lang="EN-US">Happy Halloween by Yolanda Renee</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;">I’m not familiar with this authors writing style but she set up the scene perfectly with romance and sensuality. </span>I was intrigued by this story of appearance versus reality. The heroine’s next-door neighbor is a cross between Daniel Craig and Johnny Depp. She’s obviously sexually drawn to him. But who, or what, is he? With excellent use of dialogue and description, the author shows us he’s a passionate man. But the extreme passion quickly disintegrates the heroine’s passion as his so-called love-making turns “heat to ice” and “desire to fear.” The author</span><span style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;"> surprised me with her descriptive, gruesome ending in true Halloween style</span>, appropriate for an un-hallowed Halloween. Happy Halloween: a most ironic title.</div>
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And our Featured Writer is...(((drum roll))) N R Williams for 'The Panettiere Cup'.</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GrVF3MBQMtU/UId-orsgyEI/AAAAAAAAF3g/1lF3I6gwlHM/s309/aladyinred.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GrVF3MBQMtU/UId-orsgyEI/AAAAAAAAF3g/1lF3I6gwlHM/s309/aladyinred.jpg" /></a></div>
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Congratulations Nancy. We hope you will take the special FW badge and post it in your sidebar, post about it if you wish, tweet, fb and link to your winning entry!<br />
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And our Runner Up is...(((drum roll))) Happy Halloween by Yolanda Renee.<br />
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Congratulations Yolanda. Please take the badge, post it on your blog, and enjoy being the writer who nearly made it to Featured Writer this week.<br />
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And our Encouragement Award goes to (((drum roll))) Wild Guardian by Kiru Taye.<br />
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Congratulations Kiru. Your entry was noticed! Your entry was considered for one of the above prizes, but in the final cut others were chosen for FW and RU.<br />
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Thanks again everyone. You are all winners. You know how carefully all the entries were considered.<br />
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We would like to offer our judges, Ann and Nas, a virtual bouquet from Monet's Garden in France and a huge THANK YOU for the hours they have expended on our behalf. Thank you ladies! Much appreciated!<br />
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<span style="background-color: #0c343d;"><span style="color: white;">A NOTE FROM NAS</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #0c343d;"><span style="color: white;">Harlequin Australia recently launched their new digital only imprint, Harlequin Escape. And they asked for submissions from all aspiring and published writers out there. It was launched in August 2012. They are still looking for submissions.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #0c343d;"><span style="color: white;">Nas Dean has been taken on board for Editing. December 2012 will see the release of this new imprint.</span></span></div>
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<a href="http://harlequinescape.com/wordpress/" saprocessedanchor="true" target="_blank"><span style="color: white;"><span style="background-color: #0c343d;">http://harlequinescape.com/<wbr></wbr>wordpres</span><span style="background-color: white;">s/</span></span></a></div>
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As you know, RFW now goes into our November hiatus as many of us will be tapping out a complete novel, or 50,000 words. We return on December 12 to post the linky for our <a href="http://romanticfridaywriters.blogspot.com.au/p/challenges.html">Holiday Spirit blogfest</a>. We hope you will join us. We'd love it if you would post the badge on your blog and promote it for us. We are hoping to learn more about YOU!!<br />
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Memoir, Fiction, Traditions, Recipes...and more....</div>
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There are a lot of suggestions for what you could write for the Holiday Spirit blogfest. It is open to all. This time you can write non-fiction, fiction, whatever strikes your fancy. Watch for a post devoted to our blogfest on Friday, Nov 2.<br />
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Denise Covey http://www.blogger.com/profile/07106490051555233439noreply@blogger.com35tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-115435078783773981.post-30603882136673296262012-10-15T14:23:00.000+10:002012-10-19T14:23:19.045+10:00Linky Sign Up for Halloween House of Horrors - Friday October 19. <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Denise Covey http://www.blogger.com/profile/07106490051555233439noreply@blogger.com41tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-115435078783773981.post-67438482860429311542012-10-15T13:10:00.000+10:002012-10-15T13:24:11.545+10:00Author Guest Post - Maria McKenzie - The Most Important Tips for Independently Publishing Your Book. <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Hi one and all!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Today we have another treat for you - more on Indy publishing. Are we sending you a message? We know RFW members and followers are wonderful writers, and we hope to encourage each other to take the steps towards publishing, whether traditional or indy. Don't forget to check the Publishing links in our right sidebar. It contains some great publishing opportunities. (But first you have to finish that story!) </span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FSpy2_DyjlM/UGohCTN0pXI/AAAAAAAAFvw/r4q5NU8udYY/s299/Maria.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FSpy2_DyjlM/UGohCTN0pXI/AAAAAAAAFvw/r4q5NU8udYY/s299/Maria.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">So let me introduce to you - Maria McKenzie...who has some great tips to share with us, following those we've already learned...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><b><span style="font-size: large;">The
Most Important Tips for Independently Publishing Your Book</span></b><span style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Now
is the best possible time to be a writer!
With the advent of online publishing and e-books, authors can publish their
own work. However, if you’re considering
going independent, keep these tips in mind so you can create the most
professional product possible:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Write a Great
Story</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">
– Although your mother and your friends will love your book, make sure other
writers have read it and given you an honest opinion. Join a local or online writers group or find
a critique partner if you don’t have one already. If you need to, Google Online Writing Groups
or Critique Groups. To hone your skills,
don’t only read books on craft, read books similar to what you love to
write—that’s a great teaching tool in itself.
Some of my favorite craft books include Strunk and White’s </span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/ELEMENTS-All-Time-Bestselling-Elements-ebook/dp/B0058I7TFI/ref=sr_1_2?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1342451389&sr=1-2&keywords=elements+of+style"><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The Element’s</span></i></a><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/ELEMENTS-All-Time-Bestselling-Elements-ebook/dp/B0058I7TFI/ref=sr_1_2?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1342451389&sr=1-2&keywords=elements+of+style"><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">of Style</span></i></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">, Stephen King’s </span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/On-Writing-ebook/dp/B000FC0SIM/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1342451341&sr=1-1&keywords=on+writing"><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">On Writing</span></i></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">, Leigh Michaels’s </span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/On-Writing-Romance-Craft-ebook/dp/B00506WXDG/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1342451269&sr=8-2&keywords=on+writing+romance"><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">On</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> <i>Writing
Romance</i></span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">,
Debra Dixon’s </span><a href="http://www.gryphonbooksforwriters.com/?page=shop/flypage&wt=1.00&product_id=23&CLSN_1737=13269462991737ddf021dc4c07cbcf4dhttp://www.gryphonbooksforwriters.com/?page=shop/flypage&wt=1.00&product_id=23&CLSN_1737=13269462991737ddf021dc4c07cbcf4d"><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Goal, Motivation and Conflict</span></i></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> and Robert Masselo’s
</span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Roberts-Rules-Writing-Unconventional-Lessons/dp/1582973261/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1342451608&sr=1-1&keywords=roberts+rules+of+writing"><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Robert’s Rule’s of Writing</span></i></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Edit</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> - Once you’ve
completed your novel, have it professionally edited. You <b>cannot</b>
edit your own work! Once you’ve worked on a piece for months or years, it’s
very easy to overlook left out words, typos and misspellings (been there, done
that). An editor will not only catch these mistakes, but he/she can also help
fine tune your finished product by re-crafting sentences or cutting unnecessary
words to improve the flow of your story. If you don’t know of an editor, Google
eBook Editing Services. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">3.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Format</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> - Format your
book correctly! Formatting an e-book isn’t difficult, but it is tedious, not to
mention a little overwhelming for the non-technical among us—of which I am one!
I did my own formatting for the Kindle and Nook versions of my books, so if I
can do it anyone can. </span><a href="http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/52"><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The Smashwords Style Guide</span></i></a><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">(free) walks you through the formatting
process step by step to prepare your manuscript for upload to their site. The same formatting can be used for Barnes
and Noble Pubit. </span><a href="https://kdp.amazon.com/self-publishing/help?topicId=A37Z49E2DDQPP3"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Amazon</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> guidelines are
different, but very easy to follow. However,
if you don’t have time for the task, or you’re more comfortable letting a pro
do it, there are many out there who’ll do it for a reasonable price. Just
Google eBook Formatting Services.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">4.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Design an
Eye-catching Cover </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">–
Your cover is the first impression your book makes on the outside world, so it
needs to grab your readers’ attention. Even if your story is great, an ugly
cover will discourage readers from clicking on it. Hire a professional artist
to create an awesome cover for you! Google eBook Cover Design if you need help finding
one.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">These
are just a few tips, but some of the most important. However, if you’re seriously thinking about
going indie, I highly recommend reading some sources that will give you a
thorough overview of what to expect <b>before</b>
taking the plunge! Jeff Bennington’s </span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Indie-Authors-Guide-Universe-ebook/dp/B007D0HTFE/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1348158436&sr=1-1&keywords=indie+author%27s+guide+to+the+universe"><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The Indie Author’s Guide</span></i></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Indie-Authors-Guide-Universe-ebook/dp/B007D0HTFE/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1348158436&sr=1-1&keywords=indie+author%27s+guide+to+the+universe"><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">to the Universe</span></i></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> is great. I finished it recently, and wish I could have
read it before I dove in blindfolded!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Just
a few last words. You might have writer
friends who are experts in all of the above, but not the money to pay them.
Indies are usually on a shoestring budget, so don’t hesitate to barter
services. Can you edit, proofread or be
a beta reader? Exchange that service with a writer friend who’s a graphic
designer. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Visit
me any time at </span><a href="file:///C:/Maria%20McKenzie/Documents/www.mariamckenziewrites.com"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">www.mariamckenziewrites.com</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">. I’ve compiled
a </span><a href="http://readandwriteromance.blogspot.com/p/help-for-writers.html"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Help for
Writers Page”</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">
with great links to lots of free information to help you on your indie journey!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Maria McKenzie is the author of the Amazon
bestseller </span><i style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The Governor’s Sons</i><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">. </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Her newest release is </span><i style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Escape:
Book One of the Unchained Trilogy</i><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">, a family saga. </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">She is currently at work on </span><i style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Masquerade: Book II of The Unchained Trilogy</i><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Maria lives in Cincinnati with her husband
and two boys.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">She’s into fitness and enjoys running.</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">As long as she’s not listening to an audio
book, she comes up with story ideas during her morning runs.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Maria around the web:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Maria-McKenzie/248666388519348">Facebook</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/maria_mckenzie">Twitter</a> <a href="http://readandwriteromance.blogspot.com/"> Website
</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CbRuMIGUCRU/UGohjMA9wSI/AAAAAAAAFv4/FQo7l0mAm2g/s300/Escape.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CbRuMIGUCRU/UGohjMA9wSI/AAAAAAAAFv4/FQo7l0mAm2g/s200/Escape.jpg" width="160" /></a><span style="background-color: #0c343d; color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Maria has just released ESCAPE – Book One of the
Unchained Trilogy<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="background-color: #0c343d; color: white;">Daniel and Lori love each other, yet to
live as one in 1856, they must escape from the unyielding society that
imprisons them.<br />
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Lori was born a slave in North Carolina, yet by chance was raised alongside
Daniel in a wealthy abolitionist household. The sudden death of Daniel’s mother
catapults Lori back into bondage.<br />
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Relegated to chattel on a rice plantation, Lori lives in constant fear under
the tormenting scrutiny of Daniel’s wretched Aunt Lucinda. <br />
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After Daniel fails to convince his relatives to free Lori, he is compelled to
devise a daring escape. Although a life threatening endeavor for both of them,
Lori’s freedom is priceless to Daniel, and he’s willing to pay such a price for
her love.<br />
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Buy Links:</span><br /><span style="color: white;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B009080XNW" target="_blank">Amazon</a><br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Escape-Book-One-Unchained-Trilogy/dp/1477409157/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1347312530&sr=1-1" target="_blank">Amazon UK</a><br />
<a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/escape-maria-mckenzie/1112570732?ean=2940014888196" target="_blank">B&N</a></span></span><span style="color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<li><i style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><span style="color: yellow; font-size: large;">Have you independently published your book? If so, what are some important tips you’d like to share?</span></b></i></li>
</ul>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><span style="background-color: #073763; color: red;"><span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Webdings; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 17px;">YYYYY</span></span><span style="font-family: Webdings; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 17px;">YYYYY</span><span style="font-family: Webdings; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 17px;">YYYYY</span><span style="font-family: Webdings; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 17px;">YYYYY</span><span style="font-family: Webdings; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 17px;">YYYYY</span><span style="font-family: Webdings; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 17px;">YYY</span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: red; font-family: Webdings;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 17px;"><br style="background-color: #fb5e53;" /></span></span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><b><span style="color: yellow; font-size: large;">Don't forget to sign up TODAY for our <a href="http://romanticfridaywriters.blogspot.com.au/2012/10/linky-sign-up-for-halloween-house-of.html">Halloween House of Horrors Challenge</a>! 1,000 words of prose or poetry. Scroll down to the linky or check guidelines on the Challenges Page above!</span></b></i></span><br />
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Denise Covey http://www.blogger.com/profile/07106490051555233439noreply@blogger.com28tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-115435078783773981.post-5020935282050919892012-10-10T15:03:00.000+10:002012-10-10T15:10:05.711+10:00Wednesday Wrap Up Post - Birthday Madness. Linky sign up for Halloween House of Horrors and Meet the Judges!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Your hosts apologise for the length of this post, but there is so much to tell you and we're running out of time!</div>
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Thank you as always, members and friends for the wonderful stories and poems for our challenge! This week we welcome new followers - Kappu, Alyssa and RW Richard. New members are Ekta, Gyanban, Kappu and Heaven has re-joined us. We invite you to participate in our challenges!</div>
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Our entries were down from our record-busting 20s due to commitments from members. We especially wish Crystal's mother a full recovery from her heart attack. </div>
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<span style="background-color: #0c343d;"><span style="color: white;">400-WORD COUNT</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #0c343d; color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Looks like a lot of people carried on their Hate My Beautiful Friend writings; and a lot of sisterly rivalry. So cool. This also seemed a difficult write for a lot of people; yeah the normal word count limitation. We know all too well how difficult it is to develop a setting, plot and characters in a 400 (or even 600) word limit; especially for those authors fitting a work-in-progress or previously published novel segment into the challenges. But it helps cut down on reading time (many bloggers don't have a lot of time to spend reading lengthy stories and the comment feedback may reflect this); and also gives our authors practice for when they submit to publications. Your hosts appreciate the time and effort our contributors put into submissions; and a little over world count for RFW prompts is acceptable (except for special events with specific guidelines) and expected upon occasion.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #0c343d;"><span style="color: white;">CRITIQUES/FEEDBACK ISSUES</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #0c343d;"><span style="color: white;">Another comment we've noticed regards the request not to edit a submission based on critique feedback. If you are like your hosts, you read most - if not all - of the comments on every RFW post. (I confess we sometimes read them 2 or 3 times!) Many bloggers read at least one or two of the first comments and the one or two directly above their own. If you follow much of the comments, don't you think it's downright annoying to see a lot of feedback comments that have no reference in the post because the post has been edited in response to comments. The other outcome of the revised post is that later commenters may offer feedback that suggests to include all the changes that were deleted.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #0c343d;"><span style="color: white;">When a member is willing to accept critique type feedback and has posted FCA (Full Critique Acceptable) at the end of their entry, it is to their benefit to gather all requested feedback prior to revision so that all views are considered, and the author is not swayed by every comment. Our contributing authors are at every stage of writing skill level, from beginning to multi-published, and feedback on YOUR post may be helpful to others in their own projects. There have been many times when I've learned techniques from reading the critiques provided by other authors, and the discussion that sometimes continues in the comments.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #0c343d;"><span style="color: white;">We encourage our contributors to post the revisions when the challenge ends, or to exchange private e-mails as critique partners. Some of us would like to see how the feedback was interpreted, others just want to see that the feedback was appreciated. As a social writing group, RFW is pleased to see a number of writing relationships form within our membership.</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #0c343d;"><span style="color: white;">If you haven't already, please read the <a href="http://romanticfridaywriters.blogspot.com.au/p/critiquing.html">Critiques Page</a>.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #0c343d; color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">SHORT CRITIQUES OF BIRTHDAY MADNESS ENTRIES</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #0c343d;"><span style="color: white;"> Raelene: continued with Maxine and Blake, and the hatefully beautiful friend Lola at Lola’s birthday party. Ah, nothing like bringing a hand made gift and retching all over the expensive <span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;">hor d’oeuvres</span> to grind in the embarrassment. Good thing the rain washed away all the mess and the wind cleared the area of envy and deceit. A complete flash fiction scene. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #0c343d;"><span style="color: white;">Adura: posted from her WiP novel(la) with Michael feeling pressured by the flamboyance of his party, and Moji’s inappropriate emotional outburst. Loved how Sadi is in his thoughts just enough to help set the tone of rivalry, but doesn't stop us from hoping he doesn't go all soft on Moji. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #0c343d;"><span style="color: white;">Yolanda: a lonely birthday party for two; and an invite never opened. Tragic. It's tough being a secret keeper – and did I detect a hint of repressed love from body guard? Refreshing POV.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #0c343d;"><span style="color: white;">Nilanjana: wrote of inter-planetary social networking, and a much anticipated first meeting at a birthday party. An exquisitely built world, the nervousness of our party goer palpable. Our first sci-fi piece for RFW.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #0c343d;"><span style="color: white;">Roland: celebrated in Victor Standish style with a death-defying ménage a trios. Body parts and death are surely not an appropriate gift for anyone else; but at least there was devils food cake.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #0c343d;"><span style="color: white;">Donna: obviously had fun writing this, so much so that she had a spare 400 words on the cutting room floor. I loved the spooky tale, the battle of spell-casting wills. Ah those evil sisters.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #0c343d;"><span style="color: white;">Linda: has the ultimate “joke’s on you” birthday present for the lusty best friend. The innuendo is subtle, well formed, and gives a humorous twist to an irritating situation. Managed to make Nico detestable.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #0c343d;"><span style="color: white;">Denise: used an interesting dialogue to set the setting, tone, and mystery for a reverse gift giving for the purpose of retaining love. Diamonds may be a woman’s best friend, but they are a cold lover in the scheme of things.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #0c343d;"><span style="color: white;">Nancy: was visited by the dreaded 'malware' message so not everyone could access her story. Nancy sent it to me via email and what a great use of the Birthday Madness prompt. <span style="line-height: 18px;">This story had a lot of movement, mystery and cultural undertones different to our own - good use of birthday horoscope.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #0c343d;"><span style="color: white;">Anne: turned a typical lovers' quarrel scenario into a study of regret and understanding. The back and forth POV shifts gave insights into each lover’s feelings and motivations. A happy marriage is such a blessing.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #0c343d;"><span style="color: white;">Sally: a descriptive tale of sisterly rivalry, with a unique twist for cleansing the atmosphere. Descriptive grandeur and a funny twist.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #0c343d;"><span style="color: white;">Michael; continued his noir tale with the mysterious lady clothed in a lacy black hat and plume of cigarette smoke. The embarrassing moment is not hers, however, and a nervous party crasher makes his awkward appearance with a poorly wrapped present.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #0c343d;"><span style="color: white;">Anna: teased us with a prequel, and a foreshadowing of future events. My stomach growled at the thought of all that food to dream of for seven long years.</span></span></div>
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So well done, one and all.<br />
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Only 9 votes received out of 13 entries, but the majority choice was Linda Katmarian with 3 votes! <span style="text-align: center;">Congratulations Linda on your riveting story. Please post the badge on your blog and link to your winning story. Also congratulations to Sally who came in second!</span><br />
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<span style="text-align: left;">Now our hopefully huge challenge for Halloween is ready for sign ups. This time you only have to signal your intention to play - SIGN UP NOW at the bottom of this post with your blog URL if you are going to write a story/poem for this challenge. We will send a bulk email reminder on October 19 to remind you to post on your blog.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #0c343d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 14px;"><span style="color: #eeeeee;"><span style="font-size: large;">It's Halloween soon!</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #0c343d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 14px;"><span style="color: #eeeeee; font-size: medium;">Another FW/RU Challenge is here!</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #0c343d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 14px;"><span style="color: #eeeeee; font-size: medium;">This time your entries, both prose and poetry, will be judged by our most qualified judges, Ann Best and Nas Dean. (Read more about them below.)</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #0c343d; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #eeeeee; font-size: large;">R</span><span style="color: #eeeeee;">omanticFridayWriters is looking for chilling stories of ghosts and haunted locations – and maybe even love from beyond the grave. Come on, let your imagination soar to world's unknown... </span></b></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #0c343d; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #eeeeee; font-size: medium;">A romantic element is essential, but we’re looking for stories with a thrilling edge of fear and dread to add to the romantic tension building between our Hero/Heroine.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #0c343d; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #eeeeee; font-size: medium;">Have some ghouly fun with this one! </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #0c343d; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #eeeeee; font-size: medium;">Don't forget the Romantic Element! Or did I already say that?</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #0c343d; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #eeeeee; font-size: medium;">Let your head go! </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #0c343d; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #eeeeee; font-size: medium;">And this time, to cater to all who struggle with the 400 word limit, you can write between 800 to 1,000 words of prose/prosetry!</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #0c343d; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #eeeeee; font-size: medium;">If you choose to keep it much lower, I'm sure our judges will be grateful, but you have the option of 1,000 words. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #0c343d; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #eeeeee; font-size: medium;">This will be our last challenge until December where we will host a gigantic holiday blogfest. Stay turned for more details...</span></span></div>
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<i style="color: yellow; font-size: x-large;"><b>Let's introduce our judges...</b></i><br />
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<b>ABOUT ANN BEST:</b><br />
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<a href="http://1.gravatar.com/avatar/14c49ae17db2e3e933f071e04d7a049c?s=128&d=&r=G" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.gravatar.com/avatar/14c49ae17db2e3e933f071e04d7a049c?s=128&d=&r=G" width="200" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: #0c343d; color: white;"><span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: medium;">As far back as Ann can remember, she has loved to read and write, and signed up for every creative writing course she could manage through high school and into graduate school, eventually receiving a master of fine arts degree in creative writing. She's also been an editing intern and full-time proofreader, and has judged writing contests, both poetry and prose, along the way. Her full-length memoir, In the Mirror: A Memoir of Shattered Secrets, was published in May of 2011, and is currently a best seller on Amazon. </span><span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"> </span></span><br />
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To learn more about Ann's other books and more about Ann herself, check out her blog: <a href="http://annbestblog.wordpress.com/">http://annbestblog.wordpress.com/</a><br />
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<b>ABOUT NAS DEAN:</b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLNrP2Uyvi4MQHqiv_Vgu3nr00WE09jiJ18rzpOeFY2WwXiNyLTr0uskqnVUtyUQMt5NeoXvCtfqKpyPMEfiYBFunpM2-xySnnvd3yU75r07wApq5PtFuWehAutV0108Gk5UkFMAOykPY/s226/IMAG2712.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLNrP2Uyvi4MQHqiv_Vgu3nr00WE09jiJ18rzpOeFY2WwXiNyLTr0uskqnVUtyUQMt5NeoXvCtfqKpyPMEfiYBFunpM2-xySnnvd3yU75r07wApq5PtFuWehAutV0108Gk5UkFMAOykPY/s226/IMAG2712.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: #0c343d; color: white; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif;">An avid and passionate reader and reviewer of romance, Nas Dean loves reading and when not reading can be found gardening, her second favorite. She has written romances, including a Vampire/Witch, but has not sought publication as yet. Recently she started Freelance Editing. She edits and proofreads for Entangled Publishing and also for some Harlequin authors. She blogs at </span><a href="http://nas-dean.blogspot.com/" saprocessedanchor="true" style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif;" target="_blank">Romance Book Paradise</a><span style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif;">. Befriend her on </span><a href="http://www.facebook.com/NasDean?ref=tn_tnmn" saprocessedanchor="true" style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif;" target="_blank">Facebook</a><span style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif;">, follow her on </span><a href="https://twitter.com/#!/NasDean/" saprocessedanchor="true" style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif;" target="_blank">Twitter</a><span style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif;"> or 'Like' the </span><a href="http://www.facebook.com/RomanceBookParadise" saprocessedanchor="true" style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif;" target="_blank">ROMANCE BOOK PARADISE</a><span style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif;"> Facebook page!</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #0c343d; color: white;"><br /></span><strong><span style="background-color: #0c343d; color: white;">And you can join her <a href="http://www.facebook.com/groups/308106352544416/" saprocessedanchor="true" target="_blank">Romance Giveaway</a> group on Facebook for information on all the giveaways!</span></strong><br />
<span style="background-color: #0c343d; color: white;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: #0c343d; color: white;"><strong>Her reviews can also be found at</strong> </span></div>
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<li style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; margin-left: 15px;"><span style="background-color: #0c343d; color: white; font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/cdp/member-reviews/A2SD87LJJETQO5?ie=UTF8&ref_=cm_cr_pr_auth_rev&sort_by=MostRecentReview" saprocessedanchor="true" target="_blank">Amazon.co.uk</a> </span></li>
<li style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; margin-left: 15px;"><span style="background-color: #0c343d; color: white; font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/cdp/member-reviews/A2SD87LJJETQO5?ie=UTF8&ref_=cm_cr_dp_auth_rev&sort_by=MostRecentReview" saprocessedanchor="true" target="_blank">Amazon.com</a> </span></li>
<li style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; margin-left: 15px;"><span style="background-color: #0c343d; color: white; font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://my.barnesandnoble.com/communityportal/userprofile.aspx?x=" saprocessedanchor="true" target="_blank">Barnes & Noble</a> </span></li>
<li style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; margin-left: 15px;"><span style="background-color: #0c343d; color: white; font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/profile/NasD" saprocessedanchor="true" target="_blank">Goodreads</a> </span></li>
<li style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; margin-left: 15px;"><span style="background-color: #0c343d; color: white; font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://www.harlequin.com/" saprocessedanchor="true" target="_blank">Harlequin</a> </span></li>
<li style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; margin-left: 15px;"><span style="background-color: #0c343d; color: white; font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://en.librarything.com/profile/NasDean" saprocessedanchor="true" target="_blank">Library Thing</a> </span></li>
<li style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; margin-left: 15px;"><span style="background-color: #0c343d; color: white; font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://www.millsandboon.co.uk/" saprocessedanchor="true" target="_blank">Mills & Boon UK</a> </span></li>
<li style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; margin-left: 15px;"><span style="background-color: #0c343d; color: white; font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://www.shelfari.com/o1515079512" saprocessedanchor="true" target="_blank">My Shelfari</a> </span></li>
<li style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; margin-left: 15px;"><span style="background-color: #0c343d; color: white; font-size: x-small;"><a href="https://www.bookdepository.com/account/reviews" saprocessedanchor="true" target="_blank">The Book Depository</a><br /><br />And</span></li>
<li style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; margin-left: 15px;"><a href="http://www.rtbookreviews.com/rt-daily-blog/octobers-harlequin-medical-romances-are-heating-operating-room" saprocessedanchor="true" style="background-color: #0c343d;" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: white;"><img alt="I Review for..." height="18" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHwZatonyi88L2ctENE8C6GHW5rmAbmC0T9ypLRtthK5jRNXqiWv8jtJQLTuOCXLlyFZawzRXI4c7zRVElm0PAdqLebYVoi88c-FbTKYbNt7_cEsa80uXJBXa1Mshq6F4qRwGVM4AKS7M/s150/rtbookreviews.png" width="135" /></span><span style="color: #663399;"> </span></span></a></li>
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<span style="background-color: #0c343d;"><span style="color: white;">So as you can see, Ann and Nas are ably qualified to judge our forthcoming entries. Thank you dear ladies and friends for agreeing to take on this difficult task.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #0c343d;"><span style="color: white; font-size: large;">THIS IS THE LINKY SIGN UP FOR HALLOWEEN</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #0c343d;"><span style="color: white; font-size: large;">It will be re - posted soon in a post of its own...</span></span></div>
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Denise Covey http://www.blogger.com/profile/07106490051555233439noreply@blogger.com23tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-115435078783773981.post-71870548999845620842012-10-03T14:11:00.000+10:002012-10-03T17:06:09.759+10:00LINKY FOR RFW CHALLENGE #46, BIRTHDAY MADNESS<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-size: large;">We hope you will join us for the Halloween House of Horror challenge on October 19. Linky will go up October 12. This challenge will be judged by Ann Best and Nas Dean to find the Featured Writer and Runner Up.</span><br />
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Denise Covey http://www.blogger.com/profile/07106490051555233439noreply@blogger.com41