tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-72034449930215169662024-02-19T12:03:11.475-05:00Cynde's Got The Write StuffEvery little girl has a dream & mine was to become a published writer. I recently reached that goal by having a short story that I wrote published in an arts & literary magazine. I also hope to have a novella or book published. I am currently writing paranormal historical romance along with crime-mystery type stories, both for young adults. I’ll still have interviews & contests, plus review books, so please join me on my journey. God bless you all. ~Cynde Bond Hammond, authorCynde L. Hammondhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15965516045079529435noreply@blogger.comBlogger94125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7203444993021516966.post-59005485694299404172011-09-23T16:40:00.004-04:002011-09-23T18:07:13.331-04:00"Update on What's Been Happening"<center><img src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Dividers/362492a1v8cf9dmn.gif"></center><br /><br /><img src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Angels-Fairies/vvmt56pz.jpg">Hello, everybody! It's been quite a while since my last posting and I apologize for that. A lot of things have been going on in my life lately and now I think I'll let you know what's been happening.<br /><br />Back in March of this year, I noticed a mole on the front of my right leg that was never there before. I showed it to Dion (my husband) and he wanted me to have it checked out right away, but I put it off. (That's why my father gave me the nickname of <b>"Ben"</b>, for <b>"Ben-puttin-it-off"</b>. I have a fear of doctors that goes way back, and I'm not exactly why it started, but I think it had to do with all the horror stories of what happened to my sister Carol Lee when she had her back surgeries. She was 16 and I was only 12 and well aware of what was happening to her. I felt helpless and ineffectual--I couldn't help her and I was terribly frightened for her, which also made me vow that I would never allow myself to be put in the position she had been in...ever. <br /><br /><center><img src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Dividers/362492a1v8cf9dmn.gif"></center><br /><br />Then, about two months ago, I happened to glance at my leg (I had been deliberately ignoring it because I was scared of what I might find) and now there were nine or ten moles instead of just one! It looked like a solar system had formed in the place where the moles were. It scared me, so I showed Dion again, and he wanted me to go to the doctor's <u>right away</u>, but I convinced him to let me wait until I went for my gynecological exam that was already scheduled for a little over two weeks away. My OB-GYN had sent me to have a biopsy on a mole once before, so I trusted him to know what he was looking at.<br /><br /><center><img src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Dividers/362492a1v8cf9dmn.gif"></center><br /><br />When my OB-GYN looked at my moles, he was alarmed. He told me that they looked very suspicious and he made me promise that I would get them looked at immediately and get in A.S.A.P.! It was too late to make an appointment when I got home that afternoon, so I called the next day. The dermatologist that I had been going to for years had retired, so I called a new one, and there was no opening until November.<br /><br /><center><img src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Dividers/362492a1v8cf9dmn.gif"></center> <br /><br />When the secretary heard my hesitation, she said, "Will that be alright?" I said, "I guess it will have to be, but if you have a cancellation, could you please call me? My gynecologist looked at some moles on my leg and said they looked suspicious and wanted them looked at right away." Then she said, "Oh, in that case, we had a cancellation today. Can you come in today?" I believe that was the Lord's intervention! We jumped on it and we in the doctor's office two and a half hours later.<br /><br /><center><img src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Dividers/362492a1v8cf9dmn.gif"></center><br /><br />When they did my body check, they said they were amazed at how many moles I had all over my body. We discussed my history, and I told them it started with my having my first mole removed from my bellybutton area within a few days of being born.<br /><br />After that, I have had a total of about 20 to 25 moles removed, either by surgery, having it burned off, or two of them almost fell off when it was time for them to be removed because I had ripped at them with my fingernails by mistake so many times (because they had been in my way). Only one of them had turned out to be melanoma, and it was benign. That was when I was a teenager--and my father took me to Geneva General Hospital for the surgery. I think I was somewhere between 17 and 19, but I'm not quite sure.<br /><br /><center><img src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Dividers/362492a1v8cf9dmn.gif"></center><br /><br />And now to the present. When I went to the Dermatologist's office, they were quite sure that I had a fast-growing melanoma, so they took two biopsies: a shave biopsy, and a plug biopsy, which was pretty deep because the melanoma is pretty extensive.<br /><br />I got my results back and they are <b>positive</b>. I have <b><i>malignant melanoma</i></b> and I am scheduled for a consultation with the <b><i>surgeon</i></b> who will be performing my <b><i>sentinel node biopsy</i></b>. That biopsy is for determining how far the <b><i>cancer</i></b> has spread, and she will also schedule how much <b><i>chemo</i></b> I need and she'll determine if I need <b><i>radiation</i></b> or not, too.<br /><br /><center><img src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Dividers/362492a1v8cf9dmn.gif"></center><br /><br />Also, my husband, Dion, has hurt his back at work again and in a lot of pain. I can't bear to see him in this much agony, but naturally, he has gone back to work, even though he can hardly stand up, because he knows we'll be needing the money very soon and we don't know what we're going to do. The Lord is going to have to provide for us this time, that's for sure. <br /><br /><center><img src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Dividers/362492a1v8cf9dmn.gif"></center><br /><br />Please pray for us if you think about it, and in your spare time. It doesn't have to be a long prayer--just a few words would do. We could use all the prayers we can get. Thank you for being our friends and for caring. <br /><br /><center><b><i>"The Lord bless you and keep you--the Lord make His face shine upon you, and be gracious unto you; the Lord lift up His countenance upon you, and give you peace."</i></b></center> <br /><br />Until next time...stay safe, stay well and as always, may the Lord bless you all.<br /><br /><i>Cynde</i><a href="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Critters/thCID_A122142574.gif"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 79px; height: 74px;" src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Critters/thCID_A122142574.gif" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br /><br />Please visit my other blogs:<br /><a href="http://cyndesdaybook.blogspot.com/"><font color=blue>Cynde's Daybook</font></a> ~and~ <a href="http://usurper-exposed.blogspot.com/"><font color=blue>Usurper Exposed</font></a>. Thank you!<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://howtothinksideways.com/members/?rid=1638"><img src="http://howtothinksideways.com/members/getimg.php?id=14"></a>Cynde L. Hammondhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15965516045079529435noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7203444993021516966.post-21554676621434725802011-08-05T00:03:00.003-04:002011-08-05T20:54:30.837-04:00"Check out: "CHUNKY BLING!"<center><img src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Dividers/2654878foeyjezyi0.gif"></center><br /><br /><br />Hi there, everybody! I have some IMPORTANT NEWS for you this morning.<br /><br /><br /><br /><center><img src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Dividers/757788cgbl2n7fds-1.gif"></center> <br /><br /><br /><center>I have recently come in contact with an <b><font color=RoyalBlue><i>AMAZING</i></font></b> jewelry company by the name of:</center><br /><br /> <center><a href="http://chunkybling.com?a=2449"><b><font color=RoyalBlue>Chunky Bling</font></b></a></center><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><center><img src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Dividers/1457745k8p286od3g.gif"></center><br /><br /><br /><center>You can click on each of the images below to shop at <a href="http://chunkybling.com?a=2449"><b><font color=RoyalBlue>Chunky Bling</font></b></a>:</center><br /><br /><center><a href="http://chunkybling.com/watches?a=2449&b=2"><img src="https://chunkybling.com/sites/default/files/banner_build_watch_animated_125_125.gif" alt="Beaded Watches"></a></center><br /><br /><center><a href="http://chunkybling.com/bracelets/mothers-birthstone-bracelet?a=2449&b=1"><img src="https://chunkybling.com/sites/default/files/banner_mothers_bracelet_animated_125_125.gif" alt="Mothers Bracelets"></a></center><br /><br /><br /><br /><center><img src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Dividers/1457745k8p286od3g.gif"></center><br /><br /><br /><br /><center>Until next time...stay safe, stay well, and may the Lord bless you all.<br /></center><br /><br /><br /><br /><center><img src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Dividers/757788cgbl2n7fds-1.gif"></center> <br /><br /><br /><i>Cynde</i><a href="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Critters/thCID_A122142574.gif"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 79px; height: 74px;" src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Critters/thCID_A122142574.gif" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br /><br />Please visit my other blogs:<br /><a href="http://cyndesdaybook.blogspot.com/"><font color=blue>Cynde's Daybook</font></a> ~and~ <a href="http://usurper-exposed.blogspot.com/"><font color=blue>Usurper Exposed</font></a>. Thank you!<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://howtothinksideways.com/members/?rid=1638"><img src="http://howtothinksideways.com/members/getimg.php?id=14"></a><br /><br /><br /><center><img src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Dividers/2654878foeyjezyi0.gif"></center>Cynde L. Hammondhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15965516045079529435noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7203444993021516966.post-40561893889819129512011-07-22T17:18:00.008-04:002011-07-23T14:26:20.519-04:00"Mr. Popper's Penguins GIVEAWAY!"<br /><center><img src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Critters/91391lbf5x3d3jw.gif"><img src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Critters/91391lbf5x3d3jw.gif"><img src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Critters/91391lbf5x3d3jw.gif"><img src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Critters/91391lbf5x3d3jw.gif"><img src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Critters/91391lbf5x3d3jw.gif"><img src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Critters/91391lbf5x3d3jw.gif"><img src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Critters/91391lbf5x3d3jw.gif"><img src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Critters/91391lbf5x3d3jw.gif"><img src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Critters/91391lbf5x3d3jw.gif"><img src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Critters/91391lbf5x3d3jw.gif"><img src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Critters/91391lbf5x3d3jw.gif"><img src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Critters/91391lbf5x3d3jw.gif"></center><br /><br /><br /><br />Because, overall, Mr. Popper's Penguins is such a great book....<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://the26letterimagination.blogspot.com/"><b><font color=deepskyblue>The Twenty-Six Letter Imagination</font color></b></a> is holding a giveaway!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk3H7aoEm5haAmuTFnbKaqUSLd-z69wH_2RtSkrHzkhAPTNHe2NjhMA7gLhnkLQLhGIDQJw0btAHEYE1UnCe7nc2EBUIlq3Tq9KzaTzsKU3opPzQ9ohmkf1_TzB1VoMR6xavTBUuXtRnfp/s1600/Mr.+Poppers+Penguins.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk3H7aoEm5haAmuTFnbKaqUSLd-z69wH_2RtSkrHzkhAPTNHe2NjhMA7gLhnkLQLhGIDQJw0btAHEYE1UnCe7nc2EBUIlq3Tq9KzaTzsKU3opPzQ9ohmkf1_TzB1VoMR6xavTBUuXtRnfp/s400/Mr.+Poppers+Penguins.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5632291377907321106" /></a><br /><br />Mr. Popper's Penguins GIVEAWAY!<br /><br /><br /><br /><center><img src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Critters/91391lbf5x3d3jw.gif"><img src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Critters/91391lbf5x3d3jw.gif"><img src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Critters/91391lbf5x3d3jw.gif"><img src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Critters/91391lbf5x3d3jw.gif"><img src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Critters/91391lbf5x3d3jw.gif"><img src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Critters/91391lbf5x3d3jw.gif"><img src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Critters/91391lbf5x3d3jw.gif"><img src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Critters/91391lbf5x3d3jw.gif"><img src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Critters/91391lbf5x3d3jw.gif"><img src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Critters/91391lbf5x3d3jw.gif"><img src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Critters/91391lbf5x3d3jw.gif"><img src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Critters/91391lbf5x3d3jw.gif"></center><br /><br /><br />Mr. Popper's Penguins<br />by Richard and Florence Atwater<br />Originally Released in 1938<br />From Little, Brown and Company<br />See the book review <a href="http://the26letterimagination.blogspot.com/2011/07/mr-poppers-penguins.html"><b><font color=deepskyblue>HERE</font color></b></a>.<br /><br /><br /><center><img src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Critters/91391lbf5x3d3jw.gif"><img src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Critters/91391lbf5x3d3jw.gif"><img src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Critters/91391lbf5x3d3jw.gif"><img src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Critters/91391lbf5x3d3jw.gif"><img src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Critters/91391lbf5x3d3jw.gif"><img src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Critters/91391lbf5x3d3jw.gif"><img src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Critters/91391lbf5x3d3jw.gif"><img src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Critters/91391lbf5x3d3jw.gif"><img src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Critters/91391lbf5x3d3jw.gif"><img src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Critters/91391lbf5x3d3jw.gif"><img src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Critters/91391lbf5x3d3jw.gif"><img src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Critters/91391lbf5x3d3jw.gif"></center><br /><br /><br /><b>And, on a side note...</b><br /><br />The folks at <a href="http://www.savvyauthors.com/"><b>Savvy Authors</b></a> who were in charge of the free chat session called <a href="http://www.savvyauthors.com/vb/showevent.php?eventid=1062"><b>WHAT EDITORS LOVE: Tight Third POV</b></a> on June 18th did something <b><i>amazing</i></b> for me!<br /><br />You may recall that I went to the chat session and tried to participate, but no one could even tell that I was there until the very end. Another participant finally emailed me after the event was over and said she was to busy to respond to my hails because she was copying & pasting the lessons and didn't want to miss it.<br /><br />Anyway, I had emailed <a href="http://www.savvyauthors.com/"><b>Savvy Authors</b></a> and told them what happened, and even though I am a little disappointed that I couldn't participate in real time, they <b>did</b> send me a complete transcript of the event, with the other participants questions and the responses that they received and all. So, overall, I am quite please.<br /><br />Once again, <a href="http://www.savvyauthors.com/"><b>Savvy Authors</b></a> has come through for me. They really are the best!<br /><br /><center><img src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Critters/91391lbf5x3d3jw.gif"><img src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Critters/91391lbf5x3d3jw.gif"><img src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Critters/91391lbf5x3d3jw.gif"><img src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Critters/91391lbf5x3d3jw.gif"><img src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Critters/91391lbf5x3d3jw.gif"><img src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Critters/91391lbf5x3d3jw.gif"><img src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Critters/91391lbf5x3d3jw.gif"><img src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Critters/91391lbf5x3d3jw.gif"><img src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Critters/91391lbf5x3d3jw.gif"><img src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Critters/91391lbf5x3d3jw.gif"><img src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Critters/91391lbf5x3d3jw.gif"><img src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Critters/91391lbf5x3d3jw.gif"></center><br /><br /><br /><center>Nightie-night, my friends. I'll write again soon.</center><br /><br /><br /><center>Until next time...stay safe, stay well, and may the Lord bless you all.<br /></center><br /><br /><center><img src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Critters/91391lbf5x3d3jw.gif"><img src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Critters/91391lbf5x3d3jw.gif"><img src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Critters/91391lbf5x3d3jw.gif"><img src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Critters/91391lbf5x3d3jw.gif"><img src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Critters/91391lbf5x3d3jw.gif"><img src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Critters/91391lbf5x3d3jw.gif"><img src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Critters/91391lbf5x3d3jw.gif"><img src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Critters/91391lbf5x3d3jw.gif"><img src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Critters/91391lbf5x3d3jw.gif"><img src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Critters/91391lbf5x3d3jw.gif"><img src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Critters/91391lbf5x3d3jw.gif"><img src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Critters/91391lbf5x3d3jw.gif"></center><br /><br /><br /><i>Cynde</i><a href="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Critters/thCID_A122142574.gif"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 79px; height: 74px;" src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Critters/thCID_A122142574.gif" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br /><br />Please visit my other blogs:<br /><a href="http://cyndesdaybook.blogspot.com/"><font color=blue>Cynde's Daybook</font></a> ~and~ <a href="http://usurper-exposed.blogspot.com/"><font color=blue>Usurper Exposed</font></a>. Thank you!<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://howtothinksideways.com/members/?rid=1638"><img src="http://howtothinksideways.com/members/getimg.php?id=14"></a><br /><br /><br /><center><img src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Critters/91391lbf5x3d3jw.gif"><img src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Critters/91391lbf5x3d3jw.gif"><img src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Critters/91391lbf5x3d3jw.gif"><img src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Critters/91391lbf5x3d3jw.gif"><img src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Critters/91391lbf5x3d3jw.gif"><img src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Critters/91391lbf5x3d3jw.gif"><img src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Critters/91391lbf5x3d3jw.gif"><img src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Critters/91391lbf5x3d3jw.gif"><img src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Critters/91391lbf5x3d3jw.gif"><img src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Critters/91391lbf5x3d3jw.gif"><img src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Critters/91391lbf5x3d3jw.gif"><img src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Critters/91391lbf5x3d3jw.gif"></center> Cynde L. Hammondhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15965516045079529435noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7203444993021516966.post-65004689714081503062011-06-19T23:28:00.005-04:002011-06-20T05:13:20.959-04:00"Disappointed Again!"<center><a href="http://photobucket.com/images/dividers%20hearts" target="_blank"><img src="http://i593.photobucket.com/albums/tt13/NoAngel75/Dividers/0130.gif" border="0" alt="Divider Pictures, Images and Photos"/></a></center><br /><br /><center>Hello, everyone.</center><br /><br /><center><a href="http://photobucket.com/images/dividers%20purple" target="_blank"><img src="http://i794.photobucket.com/albums/yy228/jade95_2010/Embellishment%20BF/BF%20Dividers/2rmlili.gif" border="0" alt="Gltr Purple BF Pictures, Images and Photos"/></a></center><br /><br /><center> I stayed up late last night (it's around 4 a. m. now) so that I could attend a free chat session sponsored by <a href="http://www.savvyauthors.com/"><b>Savvy Authors</b></a> called <a href="http://www.savvyauthors.com/vb/showevent.php?eventid=1062"><b>WHAT EDITORS LOVE: Tight Third POV</b></a>. The only this is that nothing happened. I logged in to the chat and everything was fine, but no one was there. People kept signing in and leaving the chat room, and I don't even know if they saw me. There was one girl there (I don't think I say her name) that I kept sending messages to, but either she didn't see me or she didn't want to be bothered with answering me. I guess I'll never know.</center><br /><br /><br /><center><a href="http://photobucket.com/images/dividers%20purple" target="_blank"><img src="http://i794.photobucket.com/albums/yy228/jade95_2010/Embellishment%20BF/BF%20Dividers/2rmlili.gif" border="0" alt="Gltr Purple BF Pictures, Images and Photos"/></a></center> <br /><br /><br /><center>Anyway, I am so disappointed. I don't think I'll sign up for another one of those chat thingies again any time soon. Doggone it. But I don't blame <a href="http://www.savvyauthors.com/"><b>Savvy Authors</b></a>, so don't get me wrong. It was just one of those things.</center><br /><br /><center>Nightie-night, my friends. I'll write again soon.</center><br /><br /><br /><center>Until next time...stay safe, stay well, and may the Lord bless you all.<br /></center><br /><br /><center><a href="http://photobucket.com/images/dividers%20purple" target="_blank"><img src="http://i794.photobucket.com/albums/yy228/jade95_2010/Embellishment%20BF/BF%20Dividers/2rmlili.gif" border="0" alt="Gltr Purple BF Pictures, Images and Photos"/></a></center><br /><br /><i>Cynde</i><a href="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Critters/thCID_A122142574.gif"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 79px; height: 74px;" src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Critters/thCID_A122142574.gif" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br /><br />Please visit my other blogs:<br /><a href="http://cyndesdaybook.blogspot.com/"><font color=blue>Cynde's Daybook</font></a> ~and~ <a href="http://usurper-exposed.blogspot.com/"><font color=blue>Usurper Exposed</font></a>. Thank you!<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://howtothinksideways.com/members/?rid=1638"><img src="http://howtothinksideways.com/members/getimg.php?id=14"></a><br /><br /><center><a href="http://photobucket.com/images/dividers%20hearts" target="_blank"><img src="http://i593.photobucket.com/albums/tt13/NoAngel75/Dividers/0130.gif" border="0" alt="Divider Pictures, Images and Photos"/></a></center>Cynde L. Hammondhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15965516045079529435noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7203444993021516966.post-38711264230734758612011-06-12T08:27:00.001-04:002011-06-12T08:31:50.902-04:00"We're Baaaa-aaaack!"<center><img src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Dividers/362492a1v8cf9dmn.gif"></center><br /><br /><center>Hi, everyone! It's been so long since I've posted that I have almost forgotten how to do it.</center><br /><br /><center>Well, <b><i>"we're baaaa-aaaack!"</i></b> We had a <i>fabulous</i> time and it was <i>so</i> romantic!</center><br /><br /><center>The weather was absolutely <i>perfect</i> the entire time we were in the Caribbean and everyone was so nice to us. The foldable cane that my husband, Dion, bought for me to use on the trip really helped me a lot. I don't think I could have made it without having it.<br /><br /><center><img src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Dividers/362492a1v8cf9dmn.gif"></center><br /><br /><center>Here are a few photos from our trip, just to <i>whet your whistles:</i></center><br /><br /><center><img src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Blogspot%20Photos/668.jpg"></center><center>This is our view from the ship at Ft. Lauderdale, FL. ~ You can see another cruise ship off in the distance, ready to set sail.</center><br /><br /><center><img src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Blogspot%20Photos/796.jpg"></center><center>I just had to show you this odd little <i>storm</i> out to sea. The little storm clouds got so close to us at one point, we could almost touch them, but we didn't catch it on film ~ it happened so fast we didn't realize what was happening!</center><br /><br /><center><img src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Blogspot%20Photos/800.jpg"></center><center>Then, almost as fast as it came upon us, the sun appeared and whisked it away. I hope you can see what I mean when looking at these photos. It was all <i>so vivid</i> out there on the deep, blue sea...</center><br /><br /><center><img src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Blogspot%20Photos/728.jpg"></center><center>Here's one of the beautiful white, sandy beaches that we got to visit. Isn't it gorgeous? The weather was perfect and the water temperature couldn't have been more ideal.</center><br /><br /><br /><center><img src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Blogspot%20Photos/733.jpg"></center><center>This is a close-up of that same beach. If I didn't know better, I would have thought it was like that <b>Chevy Chase</b> movie where he paid everyone in the town to act perfect during the Christmas season so that he and his wife could sell their home and get a divorce. <br /><br /><center><img src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Blogspot%20Photos/812.jpg"></center><center>And then, <i>"Oh, joy!"</i> This is the sight we came home to when we drove in to our driveway at our <i>home, sweet, home.</i> I must add that we <i>were</i> glad to get home, though, because afterall, <i>there's no place like home, there's no place like home, there's no place like home...</i><center><center><img src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Assorted/noplacelikehome-1.gif"></center><br /><br /><center><img src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Dividers/362492a1v8cf9dmn.gif"></center><br /><br /><center>Well, everyone, aside from our trip, I've been busy writing. I took a class at the Writer's Village University and it was awesome. I'm so glad I joined there! I've made lots of new friends and joined a critique group for the first time in my life, and I've learned so much from them. I should have joined a critique group a long time ago, but to tell you the truth, I was <i>too shy</i>. But now that I've taken the plunge, and the Lord lead me to the <i>perfect people</i>, I see that it's not so bad afterall.<br /><br /><center>I'll write again as soon as I can. And I promise it won't take me <i>five months</i> this time!</center><br /><br />Until next time...stay safe, stay well, and may the Lord bless you all.<br /><br /><i>Cynde</i><a href="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Critters/thCID_A122142574.gif"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 79px; height: 74px;" src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Critters/thCID_A122142574.gif" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br /><br />Please visit my other blogs:<br /><a href="http://cyndesdaybook.blogspot.com/"><font color=blue>Cynde's Daybook</font></a> ~and~ <a href="http://usurper-exposed.blogspot.com/"><font color=blue>Usurper Exposed</font></a>. Thank you!<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://howtothinksideways.com/members/?rid=1638"><img src="http://howtothinksideways.com/members/getimg.php?id=14"></a><br /><br /><center><img src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Dividers/362492a1v8cf9dmn.gif"></center> Cynde L. Hammondhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15965516045079529435noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7203444993021516966.post-54460919935431686052011-01-12T16:46:00.007-05:002011-01-13T13:39:17.850-05:00"We're Going On A Cruise!"<center><img src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Dividers/658736s9nfs1oa5m.gif"></center><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDdg2XvtQzoV_pgNtuFisaPDza1zSqaHvcwCRNfLiDyLxYvi2hxT4bGRQ1LOp3hKXy28t-ptkL6UrXtmEykWdH5J0Yuoj0lbRW-nCdItd9MzAOGVhu2lH6GZHjJfdA48Sle3ymZxSGj-Hg/s1600/1670994z87rnfx1pp.gif"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDdg2XvtQzoV_pgNtuFisaPDza1zSqaHvcwCRNfLiDyLxYvi2hxT4bGRQ1LOp3hKXy28t-ptkL6UrXtmEykWdH5J0Yuoj0lbRW-nCdItd9MzAOGVhu2lH6GZHjJfdA48Sle3ymZxSGj-Hg/s400/1670994z87rnfx1pp.gif" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5561419428191376674" /></a> Hi, everyone. <br /><br />Guess what. <b><i>My husband, Dion, and I are going on a cruise!</i></b> My husband's boss is sending us on a seven-day, all-expenses-paid-cruise aboard the <a href="http://www.princess.com/learn/ships/kp/index.html"><b><i>Crown Princess</i></b></a> to the Western Caribbean where we'll visit the Grand Cayman Islands; the island of Roatan, Hondoras; the island of Cozumel, Mexico; Princess Cays, Bahamas; plus we'll have three lovely, relaxing days out at sea.<br /><br /><center><img src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Dividers/658736s9nfs1oa5m.gif"></center><br /><br /><br />The weather out here is horrible; we've been having a blizzard and the roads have been icy and slick for two days now. I've been sick with a nasty cold since Christmas and now I have a double ear infection that oral antibiotics and antibiotic ear drops don't seem to help at all, so I have an appointment with an ear, nose and throat specialist tomorrow morning; I just hope the roads are clear enough for me to get there.<br /><br />I'm so afraid that either the weather or my ear infections will be the cause of our missing out on this wonderful blessing, and I would feel so guilty if that happened. I am looking so forward to going. When we went to the cruise in 2003 to the Mexican Riviera (his boss, Billy Fuccillo, paid for that cruise, also) we had an amazing time. <br /><br /> <center><img src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Dividers/658736s9nfs1oa5m.gif"></center><br /><br />Well, I guess I'll let you know how my trip went when I get back. I hope every one of you is doing fine and I miss you all. Can you believe it...I <b><i>still</i></b> have not hooked up my new laptop. Maybe this trip will be "just what the doctor ordered" and when I come back I'll finally feel like a human again. That sure would be an answer to prayer!<br /><br /> <center><img src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Dividers/658736s9nfs1oa5m.gif"></center><br /><br /><br />Until next time...stay safe, stay well, and may the Lord bless you all.<br /><br /><i>Cynde</i><a href="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Critters/thCID_A122142574.gif"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 79px; height: 74px;" src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Critters/thCID_A122142574.gif" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br /><br />Please visit my other blogs:<br /><a href="http://cyndesdaybook.blogspot.com/"><font color=blue>Cynde's Daybook</font></a> ~and~ <a href="http://usurper-exposed.blogspot.com/"><font color=blue>Usurper Exposed</font></a>. Thank you!<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://howtothinksideways.com/members/?rid=1638"><img src="http://howtothinksideways.com/members/getimg.php?id=14"></a><br /><br /><center><img src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Dividers/658736s9nfs1oa5m.gif"></center>Cynde L. Hammondhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15965516045079529435noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7203444993021516966.post-12566496012717697842010-12-24T10:30:00.004-05:002010-12-24T12:00:22.275-05:00<center><img src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Dividers/2568450hsps09p6gv.gif"></center><br /><br /><br />The UNIQUE/ARISE Exhibit which includes my short story, "The Rose", and is located at the Health Sciences Library, SUNY Upstate Medical University, 766 Irving Avenue, Syracuse, New York, and begun on, 01 December 2010 will remain in place through 31 December 2010. If you live in the area, please make an effort to visit the display; it really is incredible!<br /><br /><center><img src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Dividers/2568450hsps09p6gv.gif"></center><br /><br />I am still experiencing difficulties with my laptop. I have obtained a new one, but have not been able to set it up yet. My plan is to start the New Year off by using my new laptop in the first of a no less than bi-weekly (and preferably weekly) posting to my blog. That way it won't be so overwhelming for me, and you won't feel like I have disappeared from the face of the earth. <br /><br /><center><img src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Dividers/2568450hsps09p6gv.gif"></center><br /><br /><br />Tomorrow is Christmas and I would like to wish everyone a blessed, safe and Merry Christmas with their family and friends. Furthermore, may you all have the Happiest of New Years as well.<br /><br /><center><img src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Holidays/Christmas/1820866d5g6l2dcpo.gif"></center><br /><center><b><i>Merry Christmas to all and to all a good "write"!</i></b></center><br /><br /><center><img src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Dividers/2568450hsps09p6gv.gif"></center><br /><br />Until next time...stay safe, stay well, and may the Lord bless you all.<br /><br /><i>Cynde</i><a href="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Critters/thCID_A122142574.gif"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 79px; height: 74px;" src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Critters/thCID_A122142574.gif" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br /><br />Please visit my other blogs:<br /><a href="http://cyndesdaybook.blogspot.com/"><font color=blue>Cynde's Daybook</font></a> ~and~ <a href="http://usurper-exposed.blogspot.com/"><font color=blue>Usurper Exposed</font></a>. Thank you!<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://howtothinksideways.com/members/?rid=1638"><img src="http://howtothinksideways.com/members/getimg.php?id=14"></a><br /><br /><center><img src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Dividers/2568450hsps09p6gv.gif"></center>Cynde L. Hammondhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15965516045079529435noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7203444993021516966.post-62213006449380055112010-09-10T15:59:00.012-04:002010-09-10T22:03:43.787-04:00"Update On What's Been Happening!"<center><img src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Dividers/362492a1v8cf9dmn.gif"></center><br /><br /><img src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Greetings/Hello-Hi-there/1542618gjxr0b05d2.gif">Hello, everybody! It's been quite a while since I've been able to post on my blog and to some of you, my story may seem quite hilarious, but at the time, it was not funny to me at all.<br /><br />I had just signed on to my laptop, and I had only been on it for about ten minutes when it decided <u>on its own</u> to log off and do its own thing. It proceeded to do some strange number entries, then it went blank for a little while, and then (this is what scared me!) it said, "preparing desktop..." <br /><br />After another ten minutes, it opened up to my laptop's desktop, and do you know what I discovered? That blinking computer had wiped out <u>everything</u> that I had on my desktop! Plus, I did not recognize <u>anything</u>--the font looked weird and the setup looked like it did from my <u>very first computer</u>, back ten years ago. <br /><br /><img src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Critters/2523399g49o4kvnxg.gif">In addition to that, I went to see if it had done anything to my manuscripts or any of my short stories, etc. and it told me that I did not have access to <u><b>any</b></u> of those files. In fact, I went through everything, and I no longer had access to <i><b><u>any files!</u></b></i> It was like I was living in <b><i><font color=red>"The Twilight Zone"</font></i></b>. I didn't have access to my emails, it wouldn't let me log-in anywhere, and it wouldn't even send tweets to anyone. All I could do was get on the Internet and lurk. It was awful. And it's <u>still</u> like that. I can't do a <i>thing</i> with it. <br /><br /><center><b><i>"Do any of you have any idea how I can fix this?"</i></b></center><br /><br /><center><img src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Dividers/362492a1v8cf9dmn.gif"></center><br /><br />My husband is getting my a new laptop (Praise the Lord!), but I <u>still</u> won't have access to my manuscripts until I fix the other laptop, so I need to get that fixed right away. In the meantime, I will keep on writing.<br /><br /><b><i>Speaking of writing...</i></b><br /><br /><center><b><i><font color=red>I am now an official "published author"!</font></i></b></center> <br /><br /><img src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Flowers/006-1.gif">A short story that I wrote entitled <b><font color=red>"The Rose"</font></b> has been accepted for publication in an eMagazine called <a href="http://www.ariseinc.org/pdfs/Unique2009.pdf"><b><font color=red>"UNIQUE/Arise2010"</font></b></a>. It will not be available until sometime in October, following <b><font color=red>The Unveiling Celebration</font></b> and kick off of a two-week art show/exhibit at the <b><font color=red>Szozda-McGowan Gallery</font></b> in the <b><font color=red>Delavan Center</font></b> in Syracuse, NY, from <b><font color=red>5 to 7 PM</font></b> on <b><font color=red>Wednesday, 20 October 2010</font></b>, at which time I will post a story with photos <b>and</b> the short story. (I have been asked <u>not</u> to post my short story, <b><font color=red>"The Rose"</font></b>, until <u>after</u> it has already been published in the <a href="http://www.ariseinc.org/pdfs/Unique2009.pdf"><b><font color=red>"UNIQUE/Arise2010"</font></b></a> eMagazine.)<br /><br /> <center><img src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Dividers/362492a1v8cf9dmn.gif"></center><br /><br /><b><u><font color=red>OTHER NEWS:</font></u></b><br /><br />You may remember that I had a couple of workshops lined up to take at the <a href="http://www.savvyauthors.com/"><font color=red><b>"Savvy Authors.com"</b></font></a> website. Well, because of the <b><i>"snafu"</i></b> with my laptop, I missed quite a bit of the <b><font color=red>"Tickets to Ride: Basic Historical Research Workshop"</font></b>, Dates: <b><font color=red>30 Aug-05 Sept 2010</font></b>, with instructor: <a href="http://www.bethdaniels.com/"><font color=red><b>Beth Daniels</b></font></a>; however, she supplied a <b>pdf</b> of her entire workshop, and I made a <b>pdf</b> of the notes because there is so much good information in there. The little bit <u>I did</u> get to interact with her, I learned a lot! She is a wonderful teacher. <br /><br />And currently, I am borrowing a laptop so that I won't miss out on the other workshop, which is: <b><font color=red>"Creating Your Own Book Trailer"</font></b>, Dates: <b><font color=red>06 Sept-17 Sept 2010</font></b>, with instructor: <a href="http://www.kristualla.com/"><b><font color=red>Kris Tualla</font></b></a>. <br /><br />This workshop has been absolutely amazing so far. I have learned <u>so much</u>, and it's been a lot of fun, too.<br /><br />The instructor, <a href="http://www.kristualla.com/"><font color=red><b>Kris Tualla</font></b></a>, is not only an instructor, but she's an <u>incredible</u> author. Without even knowing who she was, back in July, I had already bought one of her books called <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Primer-Beginning-Authors-ebook/dp/B003DA43BQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&m=AG56TWVU5XWC2&s=books&qid=1284160585&sr=8-1"><b><font color=red>"A PRIMER FOR BEGINNING AUTHORS"</font></b></a> (it's <u>great</u>, by the way) and the other one that she has available, which I'm <u>definitely</u> going to buy is: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Woman-Choice-Hansen-ebook/dp/B0041D8AT0/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&m=AG56TWVU5XWC2&s=digital-text&qid=1284161188&sr=8-3"><font color=red><b>"A WOMAN OF CHOICE (The Hansen Series)"</font></b></a>. Be sure to check out: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_no...tualla&x=0&y=0"><font color=red><b>"Kris Tualla's Amazon & Kindle Books"</font></b></a> for any new releases because a new book will be released in November 2010.<br /><br /> <center><img src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Dividers/362492a1v8cf9dmn.gif"></center><br /><br />Well, I guess I've kept you long enough, huh? That's about all the writing-related news I have for you at this time. Stay tuned and keep checking back in, OK? I'll try not to be gone for so long next time. And I should be on my new computer for my next report, unless I sneak a quick one in before if arrives. <br /><br />Until next time...stay safe, stay well, and may the Lord bless you all.<br /><br /><i>Cynde</i><a href="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Critters/thCID_A122142574.gif"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 79px; height: 74px;" src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Critters/thCID_A122142574.gif" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br /><br />Please visit my other blogs:<br /><a href="http://cyndesdaybook.blogspot.com/"><font color=blue>Cynde's Daybook</font></a> ~and~ <a href="http://usurper-exposed.blogspot.com/"><font color=blue>Usurper Exposed</font></a>. Thank you!<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://howtothinksideways.com/members/?rid=1638"><img src="http://howtothinksideways.com/members/getimg.php?id=14"></a>Cynde L. Hammondhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15965516045079529435noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7203444993021516966.post-33161633548324294602010-08-16T22:51:00.019-04:002010-09-17T21:35:22.792-04:00"My Quick Review Of: The "Write On Con" Writing Conference"<center><img src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Dividers/658729g1em44wifu.gif"></center><br /><br />I don't know about the rest of you, but I thought the <a href="http://writeoncon.com/"><font color=navy><b>WriteOnCon.com</b></font></a> free writing conference for kidlit writers was absolutely <b><u>awesome</u></b>! Also, since the conference <i>was</i> free, any interested writer <i>was</i> encouraged to attend, <i>plus</i> the curriculum focused on picture book, middle grade, <b><i>and</i></b> young adult writers.<br /><br /><a href="http://writeoncon.com/"><font color=navy><b>WriteOnCon.com</b></font></a> did have a few temporary glitches due to the overwhelming response that they had. I'm not exactly sure, but I think that maybe <a href="http://www.google.com/"><b><font color=mediumblue>G</font><font color=red>o</font><font color=gold>o</font><font color=mediumblue>g</font><font color=green>l</font><font color=red>e</font></b></a> wasn't prepared for all of the creatively talented people that would be converging on one tiny little spot at the same time, and it blew their "little minds". Can you <i>imagine</i> what would have happened if <a href="http://writeoncon.com/"><font color=navy><b>WriteOnCon.com</b></font></a> had have offered the conference to more than just kidlit writers? Why, it probably would have closed down the <u><b>entire</b></u> <b><i>Internet!</i></b><br /><br /> <center><img src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Fun-Funny/948580o4ydccyumd.gif"></center><br /><br /><center><img src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Dividers/658729g1em44wifu.gif"></center> <br /><br />Then on top of that, after <a href="http://www.google.com/"><b><font color=mediumblue>G</font><font color=red>o</font><font color=gold>o</font><font color=mediumblue>g</font><font color=green>l</font><font color=red>e</font></b></a> finally got everything squared away, some of the participants (namely <b><u><font color=orangered>me</font></u></b>!) <b>still</b> had trouble getting on to the <a href="http://writeoncon.com/"><font color=navy><b>WriteOnCon.com</b></font></a> site because <u>now</u> their own individual <b>Internet Service Providers</b> (<b>ISP's</b>) were having problems with either <a href="http://www.google.com/"><b><font color=mediumblue>G</font><font color=red>o</font><font color=gold>o</font><font color=mediumblue>g</font><font color=green>l</font><font color=red>e</font></b></a> or the <a href="http://writeoncon.com/"><font color=navy><b>WriteOnCon.com</b></font></a> site itself. It was a little bit frustrating...<br /><br />But as far as I'm concerned, <b><i>none</i></b> of this should reflect negatively upon the founders/presenters of the <a href="http://writeoncon.com/"><font color=navy><b>WriteOnCon.com</b></font></a> event itself. Each one of the people involved in organizing, presenting and the actual nuts-n-bolts working at this fantastic conference are to be congratulated for the <b><font color=red>excellent</font></b> jobs that they did!<br /><br /><center><img src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Smileys/1502034srr39j70mx.gif"></center><br /> <br /><center><img src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Dividers/658729g1em44wifu.gif"></center><br /><br /><center><b><font color=limegreen>NOTE: The following are the people in the</font> <a href="http://writeoncon.com/"><font color=navy><b>WriteOnCon.com</b></font></a> <font color=limegreen>"gang" that are to be recognized for their outstanding work throughout this event:</font></b></center><br /><br /><b><u><font color=blueviolet>THE FOUNDERS:</font></u></b><br /><ol><br /><li> <a href="http://www.totallythebomb.com/"><b><font color=deeppink>Jamie Harrington</font></b></a></li><br /><li> <a href="http://www.elanajohnson.com/"><b><font color=deeppink>Elana Johnson</font></b></a></li><br /><li> <a href="http://caseylmccormick.blogspot.com/"><b><font color=deeppink>Casey McCormick</font></b></a></li><br /><li> <a href="http://ramblingsofawannabescribe.blogspot.com/"><b><font color=deeppink>Shannon Messenger</font></b></a></li><br /><li> <a href="http://lisaandlauraroecker.com/index2.php#/home/"><b><font color=deeppink>Lisa and Laura Roecker</font></b></a></li><br /><li> <a href="http://www.jenstayrook.com/"><b><font color=deeppink>Jennifer Stayrook</font></b></a></li><br /></ol><br /><br /><center><img src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Dividers/658729g1em44wifu.gif"></center><br /><br /><br /><br /><b><u><font color=darkgreen>THE AGENTS/EDITORS:</font></u></b><br /><ol><br /><li> <a href="http://twitter.com/michellelit"><b><font color=deeppink>Michelle Andelman</font></b></a> with <a href="http://www.regal-literary.com/"><b><font color=chartreuse>Regal Literary</font></b></a>.</li><br /><li> <a href="http://www.publishersmarketplace.com/members/serendipity/"><b><font color=deeppink>Regina Brooks</font></b></a> with <a href="http://www.serendipitylit.com/Old/"><b><font color=chartreuse>Serendipity Literary Agency, LLC</font></b></a>.</li><br /><li> <a href="http://www.authoradvance.com/agents/catherine-drayton"><b><font color=deeppink>Catherine Drayton</font></b></a> with <a href="http://www.inkwellmanagement.com/"><b><font color=chartreuse>InkWell Management</font></b></a>.</li><br /><li> <a href="http://aviewfromthetop-unfiltered.blogspot.com/2009/12/interview-natalie-m-fischer-literary.html"><b><font color=deeppink>Natalie M. Fischer</font></b></a> with <a href="http://www.dijkstraagency.com/meet-the-agents.html#natalie-fischer"><b><font color=chartreuse>The Sandra Dijkstra Literary Agency</font></b></a>.</li><br /><li> <a href="http://mandyhubbard.livejournal.com/"><b><font color=deeppink>Mandy Hubbard</font></b></a> with <a href="http://www.authoradvance.com/agencies/d4eo-literary-agency"><b><font color=chartreuse>D4EO Literary Agency</font></b></a>.</li><br /><li> <a href="http://www.weronikajanczuk.com/"><b><font color=deeppink>Weronika Janczuk</font></b></a> with <a href="http://www.authoradvance.com/agencies/d4eo-literary-agency"><b><font color=chartreuse>D4EO Literary Agency</font></b></a>.</li><br /><li> <a href="http://kidlit.com/about/"><b><font color=deeppink>Mary Kole</font></b></a> with <a href="http://www.andreabrownlit.com/agents.php"><b><font color=chartreuse>The Andrea Brown Literary Agency, Inc.</font></b></a>.</li><br /><li> <a href="http://literaticat.blogspot.com/"><b><font color=deeppink>Jennifer Laughran</font></b></a> with <a href="http://www.andreabrownlit.com/agents.php"><b><font color=chartreuse>The Andrea Brown Literary Agency, Inc.</font></b></a>.</li><br /><li> <a href="http://www.shewrites.com/profile/KendraLevin"><b><font color=deeppink>Kendra Levin</font></b></a> with <a href="http://kathytemean.wordpress.com/2009/06/01/kendra-levin-associate-editor-viking-books/"><b><font color=chartreuse>Viking Children's Books</font></b></a>.</li><br /><li> <a href="http://www.agentquery.com/agent.aspx?agentid=352"><b><font color=aqua>Steven Malk</font></b></a> with <a href="http://www.writershouse.com/"><b><font color=chartreuse>Writer's House Literary Agency</font></b></a>.</li><br /><li> <a href="http://themcveighagency.blogspot.com/"><b><font color=aqua>Mark McVeigh</font></b></a> with <a href="http://www.themcveighagency.com/"><b><font color=chartreuse>The McVeigh Agency</font></b></a>.</li><br /><li> <a href="http://marthamihalick.com/"><b><font color=deeppink>Martha Mihalick</font></b></a> with <a href="http://www.harpercollins.com/imprints/index.aspx?imprintid=517996"><b><font color=chartreuse>Greenwillow Books</font></b></a>.</li><br /><li> <a href="http://twitter.com/molly_oneill"><b><font color=deeppink>Molly O'Neill</font></b></a> with <a href="http://www.harpercollins.com/imprints/index.aspx?imprintid=517993"><b><font color=chartreuse>Katherine Tegen Books</font></b></a>.</li><br /><li> <a href="http://www.kathleenortiz.com/"><b><font color=deeppink>Kathleen Ortiz</font></b></a> with <a href="http://www.lowensteinassociates.com/agent_2.html"><b><font color=chartreuse>Lowenstein Assoiciates, Inc.</font></b></a>.</li><br /><li> <a href="http://twitter.com/psamuelson01"><b><font color=aqua>Paul Samuelson</font></b></a> with <a href="http://www.sourcebooks.com/"><b><font color=chartreuse>Sourcebooks, Inc.</font></b></a>.</li><br /><li> <a href="http://www.linkedin.com/in/anica"><b><font color=deeppink>Anica Rissi</font></b></a> with <a href="http://www.simonandschuster.com/"><b><font color=chartreuse>Simon & Schuster</font></b></a>.</li><br /><li> <a href="http://twitter.com/hroot"><b><font color=deeppink>Holly Root</font></b></a> with <a href="http://waxmanagency.wordpress.com/category/holly-root/"><b><font color=chartreuse>Waxman Literary Agency</font></b></a>.</li><br /><li> <a href="http://www.elanaroth.com/"><b><font color=deeppink>Elana Roth</font></b></a> with <a href="http://www.johnsonliterary.com/"><b><font color=chartreuse>The Caren Johnson Literary Agency</font></b></a>.</li><br /><li> <a href="http://twitter.com/JoSVolpe"><b><font color=deeppink>Joanna Stampfel-Volpe</font></b></a> with <a href="http://www.nancycoffeyliterary.com/"><b><font color=chartreuse>Nancy Coffey Literary and Media Representation</font></b></a>.</li><br /><li> <a href="http://www.jacketflap.com/profile.asp?member=ktliterary"><b><font color=deeppink>Kate Schafer Testerman</font></b></a> with <a href="http://ktliterary.com/"><b><font color=chartreuse>KT Literary</font></b></a>.</li><br /><li> <a href="http://twitter.com/sztownsend81"><b><font color=deeppink>Suzie Townsend</font></b></a> with <a href="http://fineprintlit.com/"><b><font color=chartreuse>FinePrint Literary Management</font></b></a>.</li><br /><li> <b><font color=deeppink>Michelle Wolfson</font></b> with <a href="http://www.wolfsonliterary.com/"><b><font color=chartreuse>Wolfson Literary Agency</font></b></a>.</li><br /></ol><br /><br /><center><img src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Dividers/658729g1em44wifu.gif"></center><br /><br /><br /><b><u><font color=dodgerblue>THE AUTHORS/ILLUSTRATORS:</font></u></b><br /><ol><br /><li> <a href="http://www.joshberkbooks.com/"><b><font color=aqua>Josh Berk</font></b></a></li><br /><li> <a href="http://www.teralynnchilds.com/"><b><font color=deeppink>Tera Lynn Childs</font></b></a></li><br /><li> <a href="http://www.rosemaryclementmoore.com/readrosemary/Home/Home.html"><b><font color=deeppink>Rosemary Clement-Moore</font></b></a></li><br /><li> <a href="http://www.kimberlyderting.com/"><b><font color=deeppink>Kimberly Derting</font></b></a></li><br /><li> <a href="http://lindsayeland.com/"><b><font color=deeppink>Lindsay Eland</font></b></a></li><br /><li> <a href="http://twitter.com/jenfos"><b><font color=deeppink>Jennifer Fosberry</font></b></a></li><br /><li> <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/31775.Risa_Green"><b><font color=deeppink>Risa Green</font></b></a></li><br /><li> <a href="http://www.rachel-hawkins.com/"><b><font color=deeppink>Rachel Hawkins</font></b></a></li><br /><li> <a href="http://www.pjhoover.com/"><b><font color=deeppink>P. J. Hoover</font></b></a></li><br /><li> <a href="http://www.facebook.com/srjohannes"><b><font color=deeppink>Shelli Johannes-Wells</font></b></a></li><br /><li> <a href="http://web.me.com/juliakarr/Julia_Karr/Julia_Karr_XVI_author_of_young_adult_books.html"><b><font color=deeppink>Julia Karr</font></b></a></li><br /><li> <a href="http://kodymekellkeplinger.blogspot.com/"><b><font color=deeppink>Kody Keplinger</font></b></li></a></li><br /><li> <a href="http://lindseyleavitt.com/"><b><font color=deeppink>Lindsey Leavitt</font></b></a></li><br /><li> <a href="http://www.tomleveen.com/"><b><font color=aqua>Tom Leveen</font></b></a></li> <br /><li> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J._S._Lewis"><b><font color=aqua>J. S. Lewis</font></b></a></li><br /><li> <a href="http://www.cynthealiu.com/"><b><font color=deeppink>Cynthea Liu</font></b></a></li><br /><li> <a href="http://www.jodimeadows.com/Home.html"><b><font color=deeppink>Jodi Meadows</font></b></a></li><br /><li> <a href="http://shelleymoorethomas.blogspot.com/"><b><font color=deeppink>Shelley Moore Thomas</font></b></a></li><br /><li> <a href="http://www.aprilynnepike.com/"> <b><font color=deeppink>Aprilynne Pike</font></b></a></li><br /><li> <a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.do"><b><font color=deeppink>Janette Rallison</font></b></a></li><br /><li> <a href="http://lisaschroederbooks.com/"><b><font color=deeppink>Lisa Schroeder</font></b></a></li><br /><li> <a href="http://crystalstranaghan.com/"><b><font color=deeppink>Crystal Stranaghan</font></b></a></li><br /><li> <a href="http://www.facebook.com/tshauthor?v=wall"><b><font color=deeppink>Tiffany Strelitz Haber</font></b></a></li><br /><li> <a href="http://stasiawardkehoe.com/"><b><font color=deeppink>Stasia Ward Kehoe</font></b></a></li><br /><li> <a href="http://daisywhitney.com/"><b><font color=deeppink>Daisy Whitney</font></b></a></li><br /><li> <a href="http://suzanne-young.blogspot.com/"> <b><font color=deeppink>Suzanne Young</font></b></a></li><br /><li> <a href="http://michellezinkbooks.wordpress.com/"><b><font color=deeppink>Michelle Zink</font></b></a></li><br /></ol><br /><br /><br /><center><img src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Dividers/658729g1em44wifu.gif"></center><br /><br /><br /><b><u><font color=mediumorchid>The Illustrators from <a href="http://studiofiveart.org/">"Studio Five" </a>are:</font></u></b><br /><ol><br /><li> <a href="http://studiofiveart.org/jh-everett/"><b><font color=aqua>J. H. Everett</font></b></a></li><br /><li> <a href="http://studiofiveart.org/bob-singer/"><b><font color=aqua>Bob Singer</font></b></a></li><br /><li> <a href="http://studiofiveart.org/alice-provensen/"><b><font color=deeppink>Alice</font> and <font color=aqua>Martin Provensen</font></b></a></li><br /><li> <a href="http://studiofiveart.org/andy-mitchell/"><b><font color=aqua>Andrew Mitchell</font></b></a></li><br /><li> <a href="http://studiofiveart.org/jr-johnson/"><b><font color=aqua>JR Johnson</font></b></a></li><br /><li> <a href="http://studiofiveart.org/marilyn-scott-waters/"><b><font color=deeppink>Marilyn Scott-Waters</font></b></a></li><br /></ol><br /><br /><center><img src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Dividers/658729g1em44wifu.gif"></center><br /><br />I just wanted to publicly acknowledge all of the people that went to so much work bringing us such a fabulous writer's conference...and all for <b><i>FREE</i></b>, too, I might add! In addition to that, I wanted to give them a great big <b><i>THANK YOU</i></b> from the bottom of my heart, because I don't know that I would be able to attend a conference any other way. <b><i>~If I have missed anyone in error, please accept my apology, then let me know so I can edit this posting right away! Thanks.~</i></b> So...here's a special thanks to all of you:<br /><br /><br /><center><img src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/cyndelouwho22-1/Thank%20you/thanksfortheadd79.gif"></center> <br /><br /><br /><center><img src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Dividers/658729g1em44wifu.gif"></center><br /><br /><br />I guess that's all for now, folks. Be sure to use the links above and visit the people that you're interested in checking out. <u>Every one</u> of them is <b><i>super talented & creative</i></b> and you'll be glad that you've gotten to know them in one way or another. <b><i>Trust me!</i></b><br /><br />Until next time...stay safe, stay well, and may the Lord bless you all.<br /><br /><i>Cynde</i><a href="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Critters/thCID_A122142574.gif"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 79px; height: 74px;" src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Critters/thCID_A122142574.gif" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br /><br />Please visit my other blogs:<br /><a href="http://cyndesdaybook.blogspot.com/"><font color=blue>Cynde's Daybook</font></a> ~and~ <a href="http://usurper-exposed.blogspot.com/"><font color=blue>Usurper Exposed</font></a>. Thank you!<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://howtothinksideways.com/members/?rid=1638"><img src="http://howtothinksideways.com/members/getimg.php?id=14"></a>Cynde L. Hammondhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15965516045079529435noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7203444993021516966.post-6813279937424904652010-08-04T10:26:00.013-04:002010-08-11T04:24:15.473-04:00"Update On My Latest News!"<center><img src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Dividers/362492a1v8cf9dmn.gif"></center><br /><br />Hello, everybody! <img src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Critters/550456bsej39uj0b.gif"><br /><br />I just completed the <a href="http://www.savvyauthors.com/vb/forumdisplay.php?332-Summer-Symposium-Workshops"><font color=tomato><b>"Summer Symposium Workshops"</b></font></a> hosted by <a href="http://www.savvyauthors.com/"><font color=blue><b>"Savvy Authors.com"</b></font></a>.<br /><br />While I was a "lurker" in several of the workshops, the workshops that I actually <b><i>participated</i></b> in are as follows:<br /><br /><ol><br /><li><b>"Great Characters--Great Hooks: How to Put 'Em Together"</b> with <a href="http://shannondonnelly.com/"><font color=tomato><b>Shannon Donnelly</b></font></a>.</li><br /><li>"<b>"Muse. Breathe. Focus. Achieve."</b> with <a href="http://www.mindbodyspiritworks.com/about"><font color=tomato><b>Stacia Kelly</b></font></a>.</li><br /><li><b>"Series Pitfalls"</b> with <a href="http://www.mindbodyspiritworks.com/about"><font color=tomato><b>Dyanne Davis</b></font></a>.</li><br /></ol><br /><br /><center><img src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Dividers/362492a1v8cf9dmn.gif"></center><br /><br /><br />Furthermore, <a href="http://www.mindbodyspiritworks.com/about"><font color=tomato><b>Dyanne Davis</b></font></a> has asked me to be a guest on her website; she will be interviewing me in the very near future. I am so honored! It will be my very first interview on a website <b><i><font color=blue>ever!</font></i></b><br /><br />And <b><i><font color=blue>guess what!</font></i></b> I was one of the blessed individuals that won a "raffle prize" from the <a href="http://www.savvyauthors.com/vb/forumdisplay.php?332-Summer-Symposium-Workshops"><font color=tomato><b>"Summer Symposium Workshops"</b></font></a>. My prize was a book entitled <b><i><font color=blue>"WRITING ROMANCE"</font></i></b> that was donated by Beth Barany. <center><b><i><font color=darkblue>"Thanks a lot, Beth!"</font></i></b></center><br /><br /><br /><center><img src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Dividers/362492a1v8cf9dmn.gif"></center><br /><br />The first thing on my agenda is the fabulous, <font color=salmon><b><i>FREE</i></b></font> online writer's conference called: <b><font color=blue>"WriteOnCon.com"</font></b> which will be held from <b>10 through 12 August 2010, inclusive.</b><br /><br /><br />Next in line for my events at the <a href="http://www.savvyauthors.com/"><font color=blue><b>"Savvy Authors.com"</b></font></a> site are the following workshops:<br /><br /><ol><br /><li><b>"Tickets to Ride: Basic Historical Research"</b>; Instructor: <a href="http://www.bethdaniels.com/"><font color=tomato><b>Beth Daniels</b></font></a>; Dates: <b>30 Aug-05 Sept 2010</b>.</li><br /><li><b>"Creating Your Own Book Trailer"</b>; Instructor: <a href="http://www.kristualla.com/"><b><font color=tomato>Kris Tualla</font></b></a>; Dates: <b>05 Sept-19 Sept 2010</b>.</li><br /></ol><br /><br />I guess that's all for now, folks. I'll check in as soon as I have any more news. I let you know when my interview with <a href="http://www.mindbodyspiritworks.com/about"><font color=tomato><b>Dyanne Davis</b></font></a> will be posted so you can check it out, OK?<br /><br /><center><img src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Dividers/362492a1v8cf9dmn.gif"></center><br /><br />Until next time...stay safe, stay well, and may the Lord bless you all.<br /><br /><i>Cynde</i><a href="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Critters/thCID_A122142574.gif"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 79px; height: 74px;" src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Critters/thCID_A122142574.gif" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br /><br />Please visit my other blogs:<br /><a href="http://cyndesdaybook.blogspot.com/"><font color=blue>Cynde's Daybook</font></a> ~and~ <a href="http://usurper-exposed.blogspot.com/"><font color=blue>Usurper Exposed</font></a>. Thank you!<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://howtothinksideways.com/members/?rid=1638"><img src="http://howtothinksideways.com/members/getimg.php?id=14"></a>Cynde L. Hammondhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15965516045079529435noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7203444993021516966.post-15465919486072162392010-07-18T18:22:00.012-04:002010-08-11T04:39:13.786-04:00"Check Out the: "Anniversary BLOG TOUR" on: '1RomanceEbooks.com'!"<center><img src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Dividers/362492a1v8cf9dmn.gif"></center><br /><br /><center><b><i><font color=maroon><font size=20>"Hi,</font></font></i></b></center><br /><center><b><i><font color=maroon><font size=20>Everybody!"</font></font></i></b></center><br /><br /><center><b>I just wanted to give you a quick heads up on the final half of the Anniversary Blog Tour that's being celebrated over at:</b></center><br /><br /> <center><a href="http://1romanceebooks.com/"><b><font color=maroon><font size=20>1RomanceEbooks.</font></font></b></a></center><br /><center><b><font color=maroon>(NOTE: "click" link (above) to visit contest site!)</font></b></center><br /><br /><center><img src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Dividers/362492a1v8cf9dmn.gif"></center><br /><br /><center><b><font color=maroon>"They are</font></b></center><br /><center><b><font color=maroon>ONE YEAR OLD!"</font></b></center> <br /><center><img src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Dividers/362492a1v8cf9dmn.gif"></center><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><center>They have lined up some of the <b>hottest</b> bloggers for a <b><font color=maroon>"BLOG TOUR"</font></b> and they have offered <b>dozens</b> of <b><u>fantastic prizes</u></b> just to <u>show up</u> and <u>comment</u> on their blogs!</center><br /><br /><center><img src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Dividers/362492a1v8cf9dmn.gif"></center><br /><br /><center><b><font color=maroon>One LUCKY reader will win the grand prize:</font></b></center><br /><center><b><font color=maroon><font size=20>"a Sony</font></font></b></center><br /><center><b><font color=maroon><font size=20>E-reader!"</font></font></b></center><br /><br /><center><img src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Dividers/362492a1v8cf9dmn.gif"></center><br /><br />Lots of the blogs along the way are also offering prizes, too, so you had better hurry so you don't miss out on the fun!<br /><br />The first thing you have to do is visit <a href="http://1romanceebooks.com/"><b><font color=maroon>1RomanceEbooks.com</font></b></a> and get a <b>"PARTICIPANT NUMBER"</b> from them, because you need to use it each time you comment on the blogs that you visit. For the rest of your instructions and the details on what blogs to visit, just visit <a href="http://1romanceebooks.com/"><b><font color=maroon>1RomanceEbooks.com</font></b></a>.<br /><br /><center><img src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Dividers/362492a1v8cf9dmn.gif"></center><br /><br />Until next time...stay safe, stay well, and may the Lord bless you all.<br /><br /><i>Cynde</i><a href="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Critters/thCID_A122142574.gif"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 79px; height: 74px;" src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Critters/thCID_A122142574.gif" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br /><br />Please visit my other blogs:<br /><a href="http://cyndesdaybook.blogspot.com/"><font color=blue>Cynde's Daybook</font></a> ~and~ <a href="http://usurper-exposed.blogspot.com/"><font color=blue>Usurper Exposed</font></a>. Thank you!<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://howtothinksideways.com/members/?rid=1638"><img src="http://howtothinksideways.com/members/getimg.php?id=14"></a>Cynde L. Hammondhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15965516045079529435noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7203444993021516966.post-50789390501874997272010-07-12T16:43:00.007-04:002010-10-28T19:36:39.063-04:00"Announcing: the WINNER of the Followers' CONTEST with Prizes!"<center><img src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Dividers/613191709_757952-C.gif"></center><br /><br /><center><font size=30><b>"Announcing the</b></center><br /> <center><b> Followers'</b></center> <br /> <center><b>Contest Winner"</b></font></center> <br /> <center><b> of the FREE, AUTOGRAPHED </b></center><br /> <center><b>Copy of: </b></center><br /><br /><center><font color=blue><font size=20><b><i>"ROSE: A</i></b></font></font></center><br /><center><font color=blue><font size=20><b><i>True Lady"</i></b></font></font></center><br /><center><font color=blue><font size=20><b>~by~</b></font></font></center><br /><center><font color=blue><font size=15><b><i>Diane L. Wood</i></b></font></font></center><br /><br /><center><a href="http://write-intention.com/Diane_L_Wood.html"><img src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Books/Rose-ATrueLady.jpg"></a></center><br /><br /><br /><center><font color=blue><font size=20><b><i>~and~</i></b></font></font></center><br /><br /><br /><center><font color=deeppink><font size=20><b>a</b></font></font></center><br /><center><font color=deeppink><font size=20><b>$15.00</b></font></font></center><br /><center><font color=deeppink><font size=20><b>Gift</b></font></font></center><br /><center><font color=deeppink><font size=20><b>Certificate</b></font></font></center><br /><center><font color=deeppink><font size=20><b>from</b></font></font></center><br /><center><font color=deeppink><font size=20><b>Amazon</b></font></font></center><br /><br /><center><img src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Dividers/613191709_757952-C.gif"></center><br /><br /><center><font color=deeppink><font size=20><b>~to~</b></font></font></center><br /><center><font color=deeppink><font size=30><b><i>Debbie</i></b></font></font></center><br /><center><font color=deeppink><font size=30><b><i>Thompson!</i></b></font></font></center><br /><br /><center><img src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Dividers/613191709_757952-C.gif"></center><br /><br /><center><img src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Blogspot%20Photos/076-1.jpg"></center><br /><center><b>(Note: Here's a picture of the winning ticket that I picked out of the winning fish bowl this afternoon!)</b></center>Cynde L. Hammondhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15965516045079529435noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7203444993021516966.post-38173871125750283262010-07-10T17:46:00.019-04:002010-07-13T22:02:02.321-04:00"Cynde's "Spectacular-Saturday" Guest Author Interview!"<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiukJ8pdk58XJX2gY9r1o9JzVn8RhVKP-qXK0eqfSGaGIW7mLzdLH0zpbWhOrQh37ThPPJsY7MyLNzmGKt1Hh-uWfLdUhygq3iApmHMYMFEjs1eOJuozWGXVluEcsUps-rHYVNAXE4pengo/s1600-h/493789nfy8xzi1n4.gif"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 374px; height: 44px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiukJ8pdk58XJX2gY9r1o9JzVn8RhVKP-qXK0eqfSGaGIW7mLzdLH0zpbWhOrQh37ThPPJsY7MyLNzmGKt1Hh-uWfLdUhygq3iApmHMYMFEjs1eOJuozWGXVluEcsUps-rHYVNAXE4pengo/s400/493789nfy8xzi1n4.gif" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5423731903582913842" /></a><br /><br /><img src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Blogspot%20Photos/DianeinBrisbane.jpg"align="left">I'm really happy to welcome someone to my blog today that I consider a friend of mine and her name is: <a href="http://write-intention.com/Diane_L_Wood.html"><b><font color=blue>Diane L. Wood</font></b></a>.<br /><a href="http://write-intention.com/Diane_L_Wood.html"><b><font color=blue>Diane</font></b></a> is the author of the book that I just recently reviewed, which is the book that will also be one of the prizes for the contest that ends at midnight, EST on Sunday, 11 July 2010. The title of that wonderful book is: <a href="http://roseatruelady.blogspot.com/"><b><i><font color=blue>"ROSE: A True Lady"</font></i></b></a>.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiukJ8pdk58XJX2gY9r1o9JzVn8RhVKP-qXK0eqfSGaGIW7mLzdLH0zpbWhOrQh37ThPPJsY7MyLNzmGKt1Hh-uWfLdUhygq3iApmHMYMFEjs1eOJuozWGXVluEcsUps-rHYVNAXE4pengo/s1600-h/493789nfy8xzi1n4.gif"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 374px; height: 44px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiukJ8pdk58XJX2gY9r1o9JzVn8RhVKP-qXK0eqfSGaGIW7mLzdLH0zpbWhOrQh37ThPPJsY7MyLNzmGKt1Hh-uWfLdUhygq3iApmHMYMFEjs1eOJuozWGXVluEcsUps-rHYVNAXE4pengo/s400/493789nfy8xzi1n4.gif" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5423731903582913842" /></a><br /><br />C: Welcome to my blog, Diane!<br /><br /><b><i>D: Thank you, Cynde. I feel honoured to have been included. Your blog is beautiful and it's a pleasure to read.</i></b> <br /><br />C: Awww...you made me blush. Thanks a lot, Diane. Now before any of my readers think that I have gone crazy and just not bothered to correct words that are misspelled or maybe you didn't even notice?). I better explain that Diane is from Australia. <img src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Patriotic/1673164apicoe7ag2Aussieflag.gif"align="right"> <b><i> "What does that have to do with it?"</i></b> you ask. Well, there are quite a few words that the Australia spells using the British spelling, for instance: <b>"honored"</b> in the U.S. is spelled <b>"honoured"</b> in the Australia and the UK. So, for the sake of clarity, when we come to one of <b>"those words"</b> in this interview, I will put the U.S. spelling in parentheses, to the right of the way Diane chose to spell the word, with one exception: the word Mum = Mom in the U.S.. I'll remind you once or twice when we come upon it, but I won't keep repeating it, because it will be too distracting if I do, OK? <br /><br />Now...my readers are quite interested about getting to know all about you, so let's get started.<br /><br />C: What inspired you to become a writer in the first place, Diane?<br /><br /><img src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Books/Rose-ATrueLady.jpg"align="left"><b><i>D: Our house was broken into, twice. I’d lived all my life in Melbourne and loved being close to family, friends, shops and everything else that there is an abundance of in big cities. The robberies however overshadowed those pleasures. We felt unsafe, violated. My husband had lived in sunny Queensland for five years when he was a kid and always wanted to return and live there. The robberies changed my mind about suburbia. I suddenly thought it was a good idea to move. <br /><br />After we relocated to this rural area I wrote many long letters (there were no computers in those days) to family and friends telling them all about our new life and home. It was a huge contrast to the suburban rush we’d left behind, so there was plenty to write about.<br /><br />It was then I discovered I loved writing which lead to the first of many writing courses.</i></b><br /><br />C: Who are your favorite authors?<br /><br /><b><i>D: My favourite (favorite) authors are those who write their own or family life stories and then one way or another get their books into print and into the hands of readers. Ordinary people do extraordinary things. They’re tremendously inspiring. <br /><br />The mainstream authors I favour (favor) are </i></b> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diana_Gabaldon"><b><font color=blue>Diana Gabaldon</font></b></a> <b><i><font color=blue>("Cross Stitch"</font></i></b> <a href="http://66.147.244.179/~dianagab/excerpts/gn_excerpts.html">(<b><i><font color=blue>"Overlander"</font></i></b></a> <b><i> in the US) and </i></b> <a href="http://66.147.244.179/~dianagab/excerpts/lj_excerpts.html"><b><i><font color=blue>"Lord John books")</font></i></b></a> <b><i> and </i></b> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephenie_Meyer"><b><font color=blue>Stephanie Meyer</font></b></a> <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Twilight-Book-1-Stephenie-Meyer/dp/0316160172">(<b><i><font color=blue>"The Twilight Saga" series)</font></i></b></a>. <b><i>Both tell great yarns. There are many great authors, these two in particular made me feel as if I was there, watching the story unfold before my eyes.</i></b><br /><br /><img src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Books/tarzan-book1.jpg"align="right">C: Is there a particular novel that you’ve read which made a lasting impression on you?<br /><br /><b><i>D: Yes. It was the first novel I read. I was about ten years old and we were away on a family holiday. I was bored. My father handed me a tattered old paperback,</i></b> <a href="http://www.online-literature.com/edgar_rice_burroughs/tarzan_apes/"><b><i><font color=blue>"Tarzan of the Apes"</font></i></b></a><b><i> by </i></b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edgar_Rice_Burroughs"><b><font color=blue>Edgar Rice Burroughs</font></b></a>. <b><i> I read the whole book in one sitting. It was leaps ahead of the library books at school. To this day I can recall pictures the story put in my brain.</i></b><br /><br />C: A project like writing about your grandmother’s life must have been a monumental task. Can you talk a little bit about how you went about gathering all your facts, and then how you organized them into the final masterpiece of <a href="http://roseatruelady.blogspot.com/"><b><i><font color=blue>"ROSE: A True Lady"</font></i></b></a>. (In other words, did you use an outline, etc.?)<br /><br /><b><i>D: It began with the idea of bringing together as many memories about Nana as I could possibly collect. To do that I realised (realized) I needed to talk with those who lived a good portion of their lives with her, namely her children. They were all (except Mum) (Mom) two states away in Melbourne or rural Victoria. As it happened, I was going to my niece's wedding in Melbourne and decided to extend my stay to visit those relatives. My parents were there and the three of us spent a day at each of my aunt’s and uncle’s places. The third brother was ill. I did a phone interview with him a month later. While there, I spent a day at the State Library going through old newspapers recorded on microfiche film. I gleaned as much information as time allowed about the 1918 flu epidemic and the horrendous 1939 bushfires.</i></b><br /><br /><center><img src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Blogspot%20Photos/BooklaunchMums80th-DianeLWood-1.jpg"></center><br /><center><b>(Above, is a photo of the "Book Launch" at the 80th birthday party for the author's mom. Seated is Diane's mom, and she perusing <b><i>"ROSE"</i></b> for the first time as Diane looks on.)</b></center> <br /> <br /><b><i>At home, I transcribed the taped interviews, including three shorter interviews I’d taped with Mum (Mom). People don’t usually remember events chronologically. Once the transcribing was complete, I put the stories from one interview into chronological order, with a subheading (for ease of recognition). Then, I merged the other interviews in with the first. I must add, there was a great deal of editing needed, because our spoken language is quite different from our written language.<br /><br /><img src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Smileys/824834ttykjfe6uz.gif"align="left">The Internet is a wonderful tool for writers. I used it for yet more research on events and historical facts, etc.<br /><br />All along the way, people were most willing to help when I asked for relevant information. A single phone call to The Royal Life-Saving Society in Victoria and Liz Moran mailed a heap of copies of old records about the Edithvale Branch. It was wonderful of her to do that.<br /><br />Warren, a friend, offered to do the hypnotherapy session which added another dimension to the story.<br /><br />Sadly, while working on the story, Mum’s older brother passed away. I knew then I had to give myself a deadline to get it into print. Mum’s 80th birthday was coming up, so I pulled out all the stops and went for it. Our southern rellies (relatives) came to Mum’s celebration along with my family living here and I surprised them all with the book launch.</i></b><br /><br />C: When can we expect something more from you and what will it be about?<br /><br /><img src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Smileys/bookwriting.gif"align="right"><b><i>D: My current project is the life and times of my Dad. It’s coming together faster because he’s jotting down all he can remember and I have one person to consult with instead of many. It’s an interesting read. He lived his younger days in a time when people made do with what they had or made it with their own hands or went without. And as he has said on a number of occasions, I don’t know why my mother didn’t shoot me when I was a kid. I was a spoilt (spoiled) terror.<br /><br />In his story, he grabbed a five pound note from off his sister’s hand. He ran with it, with the full intention of having her chase him. She did. You’ll never guess where the money finished up.<br /><br />Also, a short story is almost ready for posting on:</i></b> <a href="http://dianelwood.blogspot.com/"><b><font color=blue>http://dianelwood.blogspot.com/</font></b></a><br /><br />C: Tell us about the competition in which you won a car and a trip to Tahiti. What were all the particulars of the competition and what did it feel like to win such huge prizes? Was it a writing competition?<br /> <br /><img src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Name%20Tags/Diane/2684359fntrkhjq9f.gif"align="right"><b><i>D: It wasn’t a writing competition, Cynde. Many years ago, before I discovered writing, I lived in Melbourne and regularly bought the <b><i>"Family Circle"</i></b> magazine. In one edition, <b>"Eveready"</b> batteries had a competition in which the entrant was given clues to find the buried treasure on a little map. The spot was 2/3 of the way between point ‘A’ and point ‘B’. Being a stickler for accuracy, I used a ruler to find the <u>exact spot</u>, I marked it with a dot, and put a "cross" over the dot. Obviously, the officiator used a template to check entries, and I won second prize. I hear you wonder, "What was the <u>first</u> prize"? It was a fur coat and a gold ring with a <u>very</u> large diamond on it. I was extremely lucky to have won second prize; the prizes were the car and the trip! At the time, we had three young children and one income, and the win helped us financially, plus it also gave us, a set of struggling young parents, a relaxing, carefree break from our much-loved children.<br /><br />When I received the letter informing me of the win, I didn’t believe it. I rang the company to confirm it. Before I put the phone down, my heart raced, my body zinged! <img src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Assorted/1073084ndgmdgb5f2.gif"align="center"> I rang my husband at work. He had to come home. He couldn’t focus on the job at hand. He walked in the door with a huge grin on his face. I raced the length of the kitchen and jumped into his arms. We twirled around laughing and giggling like a couple of school kids.<br /><br />Over the following weeks we told all our family and friends. All of them <u>except my mother</u> said something like, "You dirty rat! Congratulations." It doesn’t sound like much, but everyone we knew called us rats or mongrels (or other stronger words) in the same congratulatory sentences. It got to us a bit. We swore we’d never tell anyone if we won something in the future. Mum simply said, "Good on you. Well done!"</i></b><br /><br />C: Your Mom sounds like a special lady. I'm really proud of you for winning that contest, too. It couldn't have happened to a nicer girl. Congratulations, and I hope you win another just like it, but this time for writing!<br /><br />Speaking of contests: What other contests/competitions have you won/placed in, and what advice could you pass on to aspiring writers about how to prepare for entering into contests themselves?<br /> <br /><img src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Name%20Tags/Diane/2658758b5zrsgqbfx.gif"align="left"><b><i>D: A few years back the local free newspaper ran a Valentines Day Competition. I won it one year and came in second the next. <br /> <br />I used to enter a lot of short story and poetry competitions. I entered one children’s story in a literary eistedford and it would have been a contender, according to the adjudicators critique, had I not used ‘it’s’ when the correct word was ‘its.’ I was so wrapped up in telling the story and getting the presentation right, I totally missed the error.<br /><br />My advice:<br />1. Make sure your story has a kick in the tail.<br /><img src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Assorted/2765213qryy2xussh.gif"align="right">2. Edit your story to within an inch of its life.<br />3. Ask others to read it, then edit it some more.<br />4. Read the competition guidelines several times and make sure your entry complies exactly.<br />5. Enter local competitions (because usually there are less entries), competitions which you are asked to pay a small entry fee (again there are usually less entries), and particularly competitions which supply a critique of you work. (Feedback is worth its weight in gold.)<br />6. Once you have submitted your entry, get on with your next project and keep writing.</i></b><br /><br />C: What other projects have you already completed and where can we find more of your work published and/or posted?<br /><br /><b><i>D: Over the years, Cynde, I have completed many short stories and children’s stories, many poems, a short play, a short song, a 62-part serial and three full-length manuscripts.</i></b><br /><br /><b><i>A serial entitled:</i></b> <a href="http://writingfelicity.blogspot.com/"><b><i><font color=blue>"SYNCHRO"</font></i></b></a> <br /><br /><b><i>A short, short story, entitled:</i></b> <a href="http://easywaytowrite.19.forumer.com/viewtopic.php?t=9"><b><i><font color=blue>"REVENGE"</font></i></b></a><br /><br /><b><i>A short story entitled:</i></b> <a href="http://ancientearthashortstory.blogspot.com/"><b><i><font color=blue>"Ancient Earth"</font></i></b></a><br /><br /><a href="http://write-intention.com/Diane_L_Wood.html"><b><font color=blue>"Diane L. Wood's writing bio"</font></b></a> <br /><br /><b><i>In 2000, I played a major role in publishing an anthology with our now defunct local writer’s group. It was a huge learning curve. I learned a lot about self-publishing. I recommend any aspiring writer to have a go at self-publishing. It’s the quickest way to get your work into the public arena. A mainstream publisher has its advantages, too. I can dream!</i></b><br /><br />C: What advice would you give to an aspiring writer?<br /><br /><img src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Name%20Tags/Diane/2670690ul1cmc97qx.gif"align="left"><b><i>D: To those who have just begun their writing path I would say, read a lot of what makes your heart sing, be it poetry, fiction, non-fiction, newsletters or whatever. When you find what you most love to read, start by writing in that area. When you’ve got a lot of experience in your heart-held field, you can try other stuff.<br /><br /><img src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Smileys/668904buj3406kha.gif"align="right">Join a writer’s group and/or a critique group. Be brave when told what is wrong with your story/poem and take it as a compliment that your piece has been read and the reader takes the time to give feedback. It’s invaluable. Ask friends and family to read and give honest critiques. Hope they do tell you where your piece needs attention and be grateful. Some writers pay a lot of money to have this done professionally.<br /> <br />Remember, everything can be changed.<br /><br /><img src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Assorted/2765213qryy2xussh.gif"align="left">Writing a story is the easy part. Editing takes many times longer. Sink your teeth into the long haul and you will produce the highest standard of writing. When you feel the 100 or so edits you’ve done has produced the best manuscript you can, send it to publishers or if you’re impatient like I am, publish it yourself through web-sites like</i></b> <a href="http://www.lulu.com/"><b><font color=blue>lulu.com</font></b></a>. <b><i>It’s free to use up to the point of buying a copy of your book.<br /><br />Write till you get it right. Most of all, enjoy it!</i></b><br /><br />C: Thank you so much for visiting my blog, Diane. I hope you enjoyed yourself and that you'll return when your next book is published. <br /><br /><b><i>D: I would be glad to. Thanks, Cynde.</i></b><br /><br /><center><img src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Dividers/493789nfy8xzi1n4.gif"></center><br /><br />Well, there you have it, folks! Another interesting interview with an up-and-coming author. Be sure to keep an eye out for the new stories that <a href="http://write-intention.com/Diane_L_Wood.html"><b><font color=blue>Diane</font></b></a> will be posting. She is <u>definitely</u> a writer to watch!!! <br /><br />Until next time...stay safe, stay well, and may the Lord bless you all.<br /><br /><i>Cynde</i><a href="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Critters/thCID_A122142574.gif"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 79px; height: 74px;" src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Critters/thCID_A122142574.gif" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br /><br />Please visit my other blogs:<br /><a href="http://cyndesdaybook.blogspot.com/"><font color=blue>Cynde's Daybook</font></a> ~and~ <a href="http://usurper-exposed.blogspot.com/"><font color=blue>Usurper Exposed</font></a>. Thank you!<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://howtothinksideways.com/members/?rid=1638"><img src="http://howtothinksideways.com/members/getimg.php?id=14"></a>Cynde L. Hammondhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15965516045079529435noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7203444993021516966.post-36175377325598734742010-07-04T18:29:00.012-04:002010-07-09T18:46:38.714-04:00"Awesome: "The 200 Followers Giveway" on Abby Annis' Blog!"<center><img src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Dividers/362492a1v8cf9dmn.gif"></center><br /><br /><a href="http://abbyannis.blogspot.com/"><img src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Assorted/200followercontestsm.jpg"align="left"></a>I have to fill you all in on a great contest that's going on right now. It's <b><i><font color=blue>"The 200 Followers Giveaway"</font></i></b> on <a href="http://abbyannis.blogspot.com/"><b><font color=blue>Abby Annis' blog</font></b></a>. <br /><br /><center><img src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Dividers/362492a1v8cf9dmn.gif"></center><br /><br />Included in the prizes are:<br /><br />1. <a href="http://www.ifistay.com/"><b><i><font color=blue>"IF I STAY"</font></i></b></a> by <a href="http://www.gayleforman.com/"><b><font color=blue>Gayle Forman</font></b></a>.<br />2. <a href="http://amyhuntley.com/gpage.html"><b><i><font color=blue>"THE EVERAFTER"</font></i></b></a> by <a href="http://amyhuntley.com/"><b><font color=blue>Amy Huntley</font></b></a>.<br />3. Some <b>really cool pens</b> called <a href="http://www.nicaboyne.com/shopdisplayproducts.asp?id=4&cat=Glow+Pens"><b><font color=blue>"Light-Up Pens"</font></b></a> (with black ink--one green and one red) that look like this:<br /><br /><center><img src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Assorted/pensdark-1.jpg"><img src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Assorted/pens-1.jpg"></center><br />4. And...to go with the <b>cool pen</b>, she will also be throwing in a <b>cool journal</b>! <br /><br /><center><img src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Dividers/362492a1v8cf9dmn.gif"></center><br /><br /><center><b><font color=blue>(TO ENTER THE CONTEST: click on <i>"The 200 Followers"</i> graphic, above ~OR~ visit <a href="http://abbyannis.blogspot.com/"><b><font color=blue>Abby Annis' blog</font></b></a>, where you can also get more details about the contest.)</font></b></center><br /><br /><center><b><font color=red>(NOTE: Contest ends at midnight, PST, on Saturday, 31 July 2010. The winner will be announced on August 2nd.)</font></b></center><br /><br /> <br /><br /><center><b>So, how's that for an <u>awesome</u> <font color=blue>"Giveaway Gift Package"</font>?</b></center> <br /><br /><center><img src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Dividers/362492a1v8cf9dmn.gif"></center><br /><br />Until next time...stay safe, stay well, and may the Lord bless you all.<br /><br /><i>Cynde</i><a href="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Critters/thCID_A122142574.gif"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 79px; height: 74px;" src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Critters/thCID_A122142574.gif" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br /><br />Please visit my other blogs:<br /><a href="http://cyndesdaybook.blogspot.com/"><font color=blue>Cynde's Daybook</font></a> ~and~ <a href="http://usurper-exposed.blogspot.com/"><font color=blue>Usurper Exposed</font></a>. Thank you!<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://howtothinksideways.com/members/?rid=1638"><img src="http://howtothinksideways.com/members/getimg.php?id=14"></a>Cynde L. Hammondhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15965516045079529435noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7203444993021516966.post-23909637017833711992010-07-04T11:29:00.003-04:002010-07-04T13:16:18.700-04:00"MOCKINGBIRD" CONTEST @ "Southern Princess" BLOG!<center><img src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Dividers/362492a1v8cf9dmn.gif"></center><br /><br /><a href="http://princesscourtneysbarr.blogspot.com/"><img src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Books/ad_anniversary-lg.gif"align="left"></a>To commemorate the Golden Anniversary of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/To_Kill_a_Mockingbird"><font color=limegreen><b><i>"TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD"</i></b></font></a> by <a href="http://www.harpercollins.com/authors/5737/Harper_Lee/index.aspx"><font color=limegreen><b>Nelle Harper Lee</b></font></a> heralded as the "Best Novel of the 20th Century", <a href="http://princesscourtneysbarr.blogspot.com/"><font color=blue><b>"Southern Princess" blog</b></font></a> is having a contest. One of the prizes will be: <b>the 50th anniversary edition</b> of one of the best-loved books in American history: Harper Lee’s Pulitzer Prize-winning classic <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/To_Kill_a_Mockingbird"><font color=limegreen><b><i>"TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD"</i></b></font></a>. Featuring some of the most memorable characters in literary history—attorney Atticus Finch, his children Scout and Jem, and of course Boo Radley—To Kill a Mockingbird is the indelible story of race, class, and growing up in the Deep South of the 1930s.<br /><br />Check out the <a href="http://princesscourtneysbarr.blogspot.com/"><font color=blue><b>"Southern Princess" blog</b></font></a> for additional <b>CONTEST details</b>. <b><font color=limegreen>Contest ends 28 July 2010!</font></b><br /><br /><center><b><font color=red><u>Please</u> be sure to tell <i>"the Princess"</i> that <i>I</i> sent you so <i>I</i> can get some <u>extra points!</u></b></font></center><br /><br /><br /><br /><center><img src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Dividers/362492a1v8cf9dmn.gif"></center><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.harpercollins.com/authors/5737/Harper_Lee/index.aspx"><font color=limegreen><b>Nelle Harper Lee</b></font></a> was born in 1926 in Monroeville, Alabama. She attended the local schools and studied law at the University of Alabama. For some years she spent most of her time in New York City, where, until she began writing, she was employed in the reservations department of an international airline. <b><i>"Aside from writing,"</i></b> says Miss Lee, <b><i>"my chief interests in life are collecting memoirs of nineteenth-century clergymen, golf, crime and music."</i></b><br /><br /><center><img src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Dividers/362492a1v8cf9dmn.gif"></center><br /><br />Until next time...stay safe, stay well, and may the Lord bless you all.<br /><br /><i>Cynde</i><a href="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Critters/thCID_A122142574.gif"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 79px; height: 74px;" src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Critters/thCID_A122142574.gif" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br /><br />Please visit my other blogs:<br /><a href="http://cyndesdaybook.blogspot.com/"><font color=blue>Cynde's Daybook</font></a> ~and~ <a href="http://usurper-exposed.blogspot.com/"><font color=blue>Usurper Exposed</font></a>. Thank you!<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://howtothinksideways.com/members/?rid=1638"><img src="http://howtothinksideways.com/members/getimg.php?id=14"></a>Cynde L. Hammondhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15965516045079529435noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7203444993021516966.post-59546920397639607682010-06-16T07:35:00.003-04:002010-06-16T07:46:55.726-04:00"Cynde's "What's-Up-Wednesday" Book Review!"<center><img src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Blogspot%20Photos/620496279_1027767-4.gif"></center><br /><br /><center><img src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Dividers/493789nfy8xzi1n4.gif"></center><br /><br /><br /><br /><img src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Books/Rose-ATrueLady.jpg"align="left">The book that I am going to review today is entitled <a href="http://roseatruelady.blogspot.com/"><b><i><font color=blue>"ROSE: A True Lady"</font></i></b></a> and it was written by <a href="http://write-intention.com/Diane_L_Wood.html"><b><font color=blue>Diane L. Wood</font></b></a>. Diane has attended a weekly, six-lesson creative writing class and she enjoys memberships in local writing groups, Romance Writers of Australia and Queensland Writing Centre. She has written many poems, a play, three novel-length manuscripts and many short stories. Two of her poems have won prizes and a short story entitled <b><i>"Revenge"</i></b> was published in a magazine. Her next project is going to be <b><i>"the life of her father"</i></b>.<br /><br /><br /><center><img src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Dividers/493789nfy8xzi1n4.gif"></center><br /><br /><br /><b><u>The Synopsis:</u></b><br /><br /><b><i>"Rose loved her family, endured the hardship of the economic depression of the 1930s, the savage widespread bushfires of 1939... and lay at death's door four times. By sheer luck or determination she refused to die. Losing her mother without closure hung heavily in her heart and affected her entire adult life. Set in Victoria, Australia during the 1900s this true story is about a family and a mother and glimpses everyday life of over a century ago. A valuable piece of Australian heritage."</i></b> <br /><br /><br /><center><img src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Dividers/493789nfy8xzi1n4.gif"></center><br /><br /><br /><b><u>My Review:</u></b><br /><br /><a href="http://roseatruelady.blogspot.com/"><b><i><font color=blue>"ROSE: A True Lady"</font></i></b></a> is the true-life account of the author's maternal grandmother. As you can see by the photo of her on the front cover of the book, she was a very beautiful woman and by all accounts, she was just as lovely on the inside as she was on the outside. She was a God-fearing woman who loved her family and did her best to raise them in the proper way; she was definitely a true lady.<br /><br />For Diane, this book was a labor of love. She spent hours contacting relatives by email, in person, whatever way she could to get to get as much information as possible about the life and struggles of her grandmother. The following is the <b><i>"Introduction"</i></b> to her book: <br /><br /><blockquote><br /><i>" A life-time fascination with my grandmother brought this story to fruition. Her life was one of illness, hardship and deathly incidents. She found humour where<br />appropriate and sometimes perhaps where it was not, and laughed at her own doings. She was deeply loved by her own family and friends who have generously shared their<br />memories of her. The documenting of this story is therefore a valuable collection of<br />memories. To those who were not fortunate in meeting her, her story is a fine example of living during the hard times of the early 1900s through to the 1970s and as such is a part of our heritage. It gives a glimpse of how it was back then. Through all of it Rose remained true to herself and her family.<br />In 2004, thirty years after her passing, she was contacted via the wonder of<br />hypnotherapy. The session was recorded and transcribed. The edited transcript has been slotted into the story in relevant sections and appears in blocks of Italics.<br />Hypnotherapy sessions can reveal a lot of information. The details are heard by<br />the subject while in a trance state, the subject then passes it on to the hypnotherapist, much like the party game where a sentence is whispered from ear to ear down a line of players. At the end of the line the sentence is said out loud. By the nature of the human brain the words are always altered slightly by each person and ends up totally different.<br />Similarly, during hypnotherapy the details said by the subject often are not the exact words or wording they hear. In this case it may not portray Rose’s exact manner of speech.<br />Everyone remembers from different perspectives. The police, for example, interviewing those present at an incident scene know they will hear a different story from each witness. The accounts herein are no exception and sometimes may seem<br />contradictory.<br />No-one’s life can be compacted down to a few hundred pages of text and be<br />complete. Life is complex and has many facets, too many to document in one volume.<br />The following collection of memories gives an overview of a mother and her family. It is a story of a family.<br />These most memorable moments are intended as a tribute to my grandmother and<br />her life achievements.<br />Where possible historical facts have been verified."</i><br /></blockquote><br /><br /><center><img src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Dividers/493789nfy8xzi1n4.gif"></center><br /><br /><b><u>My Rating: (poor, fair, good, great, or excellent)</u></b><br /><br /><center><img src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Comments/Good-Great%20Job/1418040d26gvgbpwk.gif"></center><br /><br />I thoroughly enjoyed this book and I would recommend it to: anyone who likes to read historical pieces or stories about the true-life struggles of women set in the early 1900's. In fact, anyone who likes non-fiction stories would enjoy this book. It was great. <br /><br />Ms. Wood did a wonderful job incorporating the transcript from the hynotherapy session. It was added to the text so seamlessly that after a while, it was hardly noticeable and just became another enhancement that added flair to her prose. <br /><br />I know that when people read the description of this book as <b><i>"a story about someone's grandmother"</i></b>, that you might think it was boring. Let me assure you that it <u>is not</u>! This story is well told, heart-warming, interesting, informational, and even funny in spots. It's a good book, I am so glad that I read it, and I hope that more people will read it, too.<br /><br />I read the book two times. I am so amazed that she was able to take snippets of her grandmother's life, plus her own memories and those of several family members, plus the account of a doctor's interview from the transcript, and piece them together into such a compelling, poignant and interesting account of a loving, complex, loyal, strong, and fascinating woman. <br /><br />This story shows interesting vignettes of how people lived in the past, struggling with extreme poverty and living gracefully in the midst of it, always hanging on to their strong faith and love of family. There were heartbreaks and cute little pranks. It was true-to-life throughout, plus delightfully honest and real. I enjoyed it immensely. I could tell it was written from the heart, and by the end, I felt I knew the essence of Rose, a true lady.<br /> <br />GREAT JOB, Diane! If you would like to learn more about <a href="http://write-intention.com/Diane_L_Wood.html"><b><font color=blue>Diane L. Wood</font></b></a>, <b>you can also check out her incredible short story</b> <a href="http://writingfelicity.blogspot.com/2009/01/passing-first-post.html"><b><i><font color=blue>"Writing Felicity"</font></i></b></a>.<br /><br /><center>* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * </center><br /><br /><b>DON'T FORGET:</b> Keep an eye out for the upcoming <b><i>"Guest Author Interview"</i></b> that I will be having with <a href="http://write-intention.com/Diane_L_Wood.html"><b><font color=blue>Diane L. Wood</font></b></a> in the very near future. You'll be able to learn more information about her and find out what she's working on next. <br /><br /><br /><center><img src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Dividers/493789nfy8xzi1n4.gif"></center><br /><br />Until next time...stay safe, stay well, and may the Lord bless you all.<br /><br /><i>Cynde</i><a href="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Critters/thCID_A122142574.gif"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 79px; height: 74px;" src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Critters/thCID_A122142574.gif" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br /><br />Please visit my other blogs:<br /><a href="http://cyndesdaybook.blogspot.com/"><font color=blue>Cynde's Daybook</font></a> ~and~ <a href="http://usurper-exposed.blogspot.com/"><font color=blue>Usurper Exposed</font></a>. Thank you!<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://howtothinksideways.com/members/?rid=1638"><img src="http://howtothinksideways.com/members/getimg.php?id=14"></a>Cynde L. Hammondhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15965516045079529435noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7203444993021516966.post-51956969634833938252010-05-27T13:44:00.029-04:002010-07-05T10:34:34.524-04:00"Announcing the: Followers' Contest with Prizes!"<center><img src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Dividers/613191709_757952-C.gif"></center><br /><br /><b>Hi, Everybody!</b><img src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Greetings/Hello-Hi-there/550456bsej39uj0b.gif"align="left"> In case you didn't notice, I have <b><i><font color=blue>84 "followers"</font></i></b> now. <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><center><img src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Comments/Woo-Hoo/1318753hrho4qy6r8.gif"></center><br /><br /><br /> and I'd like to reward my followers and maybe even reach the <b><i><font color=blue>100</font></i></b> mark, so...<br /><br /><center><b><i><font color=deeppink><font size=35>"Let's</font></font></i></b></center><br /><center><b><i><font color=deeppink><font size=35>Have a</font></font></i></b></center><br /><center><b><i><font color=deeppink><font size=35>Followers'</font></font></i></b></center><br /><center><b><i><font color=deeppink><font size=35>Contest!"</font></font></i></b></center><br /><br /><br /><center><img src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Dividers/613191709_757952-C.gif"></center><br /><br /><br /><center><b><font color=deepskyblue><font size=25>WIN A</font></font></b></center><br /><center><b><font color=deepskyblue><font size=35>$15.00</font></font></b></center><br /><center><b><font color=deepskyblue><font size=25><i>Amazon</i></font></font></b></center><br /><center><b><font color=deepskyblue><font size=25>Gift</font></font></b></center><br /><center><b><font color=deepskyblue><font size=25>Certificate</font></font></b></center><br /><center><b><font color=deepskyblue><font size=25><u><i>plus...</i></u></font></font></b></center><br /><br /><b>A <font color=red>FREE</font>, <font color=blue><i>AUTOGRAPHED</i></font> copy of <a href="http://roseatruelady.blogspot.com/"><i><font color=deeppink>"ROSE: A True Lady"</font></i></a> written by <a href="http://write-intention.com/Diane_L_Wood.html"><font color=blue>Diane L. Wood</font></b></a>.<br /><br />I'll be doing a review of the book within the new few weeks, so you'll be able to see how great a book it really is. And after that, I will be doing an interview with the author herself, <a href="http://write-intention.com/Diane_L_Wood.html"><b><font color=blue>Diane L. Wood</font></b></a>, so keep watching, OK?<br /><br /><br /><center><b><font color=deeppink>(Note: Contest ENDS at midnight on Sunday, 11 July 2010. WINNER will be announced on this blog on <i><u>"My Twin Sister, Sande's and My Birthday"</u></i>, Monday, 12 July 2010.)</font></b></center><br /><br /><center><b><font color=blue>(I have increased the gift certificate amount from $10.00 to $15.00 because I have postponed the "ending" date so many times. I promise, it <u>will</u> end on 11 July 2010. Thanks for your patience, guys!)</font></b></center> <br /><br /><br /><center><img src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Dividers/613191709_757952-C.gif"></center><br /><br /><br /><br /><iframe src="https://spreadsheets.google.com/embeddedform?formkey=dGZVclI5TUtBQTV2NUh5NC1xd2tkVnc6MQ" width="760" height="914" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0">Loading...</iframe><br /><br /><br /><br /><center><b><font color=deeppink>(<u>ATTENTION NEW FOLLOWERS:</u> If your were recruited by someone to follow Cynde's blog, please don't forget to enter the <u><i>recruiter's</i></u> name on the "CONTEST FORM". The <u><i>recruiter</i></u> must also be entered in the "CONTEST" to be eligible to use the bonus points. Only <u><i>one name</i></u> per entry, please. (Qualifying <u><i>"recruiters"</i></u> will be notified (by email) each time they qualify for bonus points, and also who submitted their names.) Thanks to everyone who has entered the contest and best of luck!)</font></b></center><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><center><img src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Dividers/613191709_757952-C.gif"></center><br /><br /><br /><br />Until next time...stay safe, stay well, and may the Lord bless you all.<br /><br /><i>Cynde</i><a href="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Critters/thCID_A122142574.gif"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 79px; height: 74px;" src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Critters/thCID_A122142574.gif" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br /><br />Please visit my other blogs:<br /><a href="http://cyndesdaybook.blogspot.com/"><font color=blue>Cynde's Daybook</font></a> ~and~ <a href="http://usurper-exposed.blogspot.com/"><font color=blue>Usurper Exposed</font></a>. Thank you!<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://howtothinksideways.com/members/?rid=1638"><img src="http://howtothinksideways.com/members/getimg.php?id=14"></a>Cynde L. Hammondhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15965516045079529435noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7203444993021516966.post-22897263154594067662010-05-20T15:04:00.011-04:002010-05-21T17:03:17.894-04:00"Thanks to Everyone Who Participated and Made "Blog Jog Day!" Such a Huge Success!"<center><img src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Dividers/362492a1v8cf9dmn.gif"></center><br /><br /><center><img src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Comments/Thanks/7d8b91d6.gif"></center><br /><br /><center><b><font color=firebrick><font size=20><i>Hi, Everyone!</i></font></font></b></center><br /><br />Thanks for everything you did to make this year's <a href="http://blogjogday.blogspot.com"><b><i><font color=firebrick>"Blog Jog Day!"</font></i></b></a> such a success for my blog and all of the other blogs participating in that fabulous event. We should all give a round of applause to <a href="http://abookinside.blogspot.com/"><b><font color=blue>Carol Denbow (a.k.a. Author 101)</font></b></a> who started it, organized it, and did the majority of the work, from what I've heard (and she did a beautiful job, too!)<br /><br />I gained an <u>amazing:</u> <br /><center><font size=20><font color=firebrick><b><i>48 New </i></b></font></font></center><br /><br /><center><font size=20><font color=firebrick><b><i>Followers!</i></b></font></font></center><br /><br />That's pretty good for my humble little blog, and I'm going to do my best to my every one of my followers, old and new, glad that they "follow" me. So thanks again, everybody.<br /><br /><br /><center><img src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Dividers/362492a1v8cf9dmn.gif"></center><br /><br /><br />My next order of business is going to be a review of <a href="http://roseatruelady.blogspot.com/"><b><i><font color=blue>"Rose: A True Lady"</font></i></b></a> written by <a href="http://write-intention.com/Diane_L_Wood.html"><b><font color=blue>Diane L. Wood</font></b></a>, plus a "Guest Author" interview as well. I <u>guarantee</u> you: they will be interesting!<br /><br />I think <a href="http://write-intention.com/Diane_L_Wood.html"><b><font color=blue>Diane L. Wood</font></b></a> is going to give away an <u><b><font color=firebrick>autographed</font></b></u> copy of her book, <a href="http://roseatruelady.blogspot.com/"><b><i><font color=blue>"Rose: A True Lady"</font></i></b></a> for my upcoming:<br /><br /><center><font size=20><font color=firebrick><b><i>"Followers'</i></b></font></font></center> <br /><br /><center><font size=20><font color=firebrick><b><i>Contest"</i></b></font></font></center><br /> <br />How cool is that? Be on the lookout...I'll be posting something about it within the next three or four days.<br /><br /><center><img src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Dividers/362492a1v8cf9dmn.gif"></center><br /><br />Until next time...stay safe, stay well, and may the Lord bless you all.<br /><br /><i>Cynde</i><a href="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Critters/thCID_A122142574.gif"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 79px; height: 74px;" src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Critters/thCID_A122142574.gif" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br /><br />Please visit my other blogs:<br /><a href="http://cyndesdaybook.blogspot.com/"><font color=blue>Cynde's Daybook</font></a> ~and~ <a href="http://usurper-exposed.blogspot.com/"><font color=blue>Usurper Exposed</font></a>. Thank you!<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://howtothinksideways.com/members/?rid=1638"><img src="http://howtothinksideways.com/members/getimg.php?id=14"></a>Cynde L. Hammondhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15965516045079529435noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7203444993021516966.post-64264082008737466142010-05-17T07:04:00.010-04:002010-05-17T15:39:03.722-04:00"Announcing The WINNER of the "Blog Jog Day!" CONTEST"<center><img src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Dividers/362492a1v8cf9dmn.gif"></center><br /><br />Hi, everyone! We have now reached the long-awaited moment—the time that so many of you have been waiting for...Yes, it is finally time to announce the winner of the <a href="http://blogjogday.blogspot.com"><b><font color=blue>"Blog Jog Day!"</font></b></a> <b>CONTEST</b>. But first, let me tell you what happened this morning.<br /><br /><img src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Assorted/550414shlnreztsc.gif"align="left"> I was up early, getting breakfast and packing a lunch for my husband, and I turned on the computer so I could quickly check once more to find out if there were any late entries into the contest. The last I had checked, it was 11:30 p.m. last night, and everything was all ready for the drawing this morning. <br /><br /><img src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Blogspot%20Photos/236-1.jpg"align="left">So...while I was checking on my laptop, <b><i>"TinkerBell"</i></b>, my husband snapped a sneaky shot of me. (the little stinker!) :o)<br /><br /><br /><br />There were no more entries. So...<br /><br /><br /><b>It was finally time.</b> Dion (my husband) and I went into the livingroom, and he sat on the couch. <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><img src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Blogspot%20Photos/239-3.jpg"align="right">Then he shook the fish bowl <img src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Assorted/1037741hlfauvwwpi.gif"> that contained the slips of papers with the names of the people who had entered the contest on them (they were all folded in half, then in half again), we said a little prayer, then he fished out the <b>winning name</b>.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />We couldn't see to get the camera to focus on the name while Dion was holding it, (maybe because I was shaking?) so I carefully laid it on the pillow next to him and he took the picture. Here it is (I prettied it up a little for the occasion): <img src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Blogspot%20Photos/609624215_354348-4.gif"align="left"><br /><br />I have been trying to download my post to Blogger most of the day, but for some reason my ISP has been A.W.O.L. most of the day, so when they're back on line, my post will go out. I am <b>so upset!</b> Murphy's Law, though, right? That's what I get for living in a small town...but really, I love it here. And this doesn't happen very often. Thankfully, it's not a life or death situation...<br /><br />And by the way...I thought you all might like to know that I gained <b>48 new followers</b> (<b><font color=deeppink>Thanks, everybody!</font></b>) during <a href="http://blogjogday.blogspot.com"><b><font color=blue>"Blog Jog Day!"</font></b></a>, which means that I will probably try to have another <b>contest</b> of some sort soon, because I'm close to having <b><font color=deeppink>100 followers!</font></b> So keep checking back so you don't miss out, OK?<br /> <br />And now is the time for us to finally <b>announce the winner!</b><img src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Assorted/1203264ad83bnu4e5.gif"align="left"><img src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Sports-Exercising-etc/2334000jrxxwupu0c.gif"align="right"> <br /><br /><br /><br /><center><img src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Dividers/362492a1v8cf9dmn.gif"></center><br /><br /><center><b><font color=firebrick><font size=20>The</font></font></b></center><br /><center><b><font color=firebrick><font size=20>WINNER</font></font></b></center><br /><center><b><font color=firebrick><font size=20>of the</font></font></b></center> <br /><center><b><font color=firebrick><font size=30>$20.00</font></font></b></center><br /><center><b><font color=firebrick><font size=20><i>Amazon</i></font></font></b></center><br /><center><b><font color=firebrick><font size=20>Gift</font></font></b></center><br /><center><b><font color=firebrick><font size=20>Certificate</font></font></b></center><br /><center><b><font color=firebrick><font size=20>for</font></font></b></center><br /><a href="http://blogjogday.blogspot.com"><center><b><font color=firebrick><font size=20>"Blog Jog Day!"</font></font></b></center></a><br /><br /><center><b><font color=firebrick><font size=20>IS:</font></font></b></center><br /><br /><center><b><font color=forestgreen><font size=30><i>Laura Ann Dunks!</i></font></font></b></center><br /><br /><center><img src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Dividers/362492a1v8cf9dmn.gif"></center><br /><br /><center><img src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Comments/Congratulations/2011972j9411xtwvp.gif"></center><br /><center><b><font color=forestgreen><font size=20>to</font></font></b></center><br /><center><b><font color=forestgreen><font size=40><i>Laura Ann!</i></font></font></b></center><br /><br />(<font color=forestgreen><b>Note to Laura Ann.:</b> I'll be contacting you by email today. I hope you saw this and were excited and happy that you won. ~Cynde)</font><br /><br /><center><img src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Dividers/362492a1v8cf9dmn.gif"></center><br /><br />Until next time...stay safe, stay well, and may the Lord bless you all.<br /><br /><i>Cynde</i><a href="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Critters/thCID_A122142574.gif"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 79px; height: 74px;" src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Critters/thCID_A122142574.gif" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br /><br />Please visit my other blogs:<br /><a href="http://cyndesdaybook.blogspot.com/"><font color=blue>Cynde's Daybook</font></a> ~and~ <a href="http://usurper-exposed.blogspot.com/"><font color=blue>Usurper Exposed</font></a>. Thank you!<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://howtothinksideways.com/members/?rid=1638"><img src="http://howtothinksideways.com/members/getimg.php?id=14"></a>Cynde L. Hammondhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15965516045079529435noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7203444993021516966.post-6040558374859952022010-05-09T02:30:00.015-04:002010-05-27T20:01:57.003-04:00"Today Is: Blog Jog Day!" and a "CONTEST!"<center><img src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Dividers/362492a1v8cf9dmn.gif"></center><br /><br />Thank you for stopping by my Blog! Please explore all this Blog has to offer, then jog on over to <a href="http://www.lwbcommunity.org/"><b><font color=blue>LWB (Love Without Boundaries) Community</font></b></a>. If you would like to visit a different Blog in the jog, then go to: <img src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Sports-Exercising-etc/2334000jrxxwupu0c.gif"align="right"><br /><center><a href="http://blogjogday.blogspot.com/"><img src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Blogspot%20Photos/BlogJogLogo.jpg" /></a></center><br /> <center><b><font color=blue><a href="http://blogjogday.blogspot.com">http://blogjogday.blogspot.com</a></font></b></center><br /><br /><center><img src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Dividers/362492a1v8cf9dmn.gif"></center><br /><br /><center><b><font color=firebrick><font size=20>WIN A</font></font></b></center><br /><center><b><font color=firebrick><font size=30>$20.00</font></font></b></center><br /><center><b><font color=firebrick><font size=20><i>Amazon</i></font></font></b></center><br /><center><b><font color=firebrick><font size=20>Gift</font></font></b></center><br /><center><b><font color=firebrick><font size=20>Certificate</font></font></b></center><br /><center><b><font color=firebrick><font size=20>for</font></font></b></center><br /><a href="http://blogjogday.blogspot.com"><center><b><font color=firebrick><font size=20>"Blog Jog Day!"</font></font></b></center></a><br /><br /><center><b><font color=firebrick>(Note: Contest ENDS at midnight on Sunday, 16 May 2010. WINNER will be announced on this blog on Monday, 17 May 2010.)</font></b></center><br /><br /><br /><center><img src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Dividers/362492a1v8cf9dmn.gif"></center><br /><br /><br /><iframe src="https://spreadsheets.google.com/embeddedform?formkey=dHAzNFVaNnM4ejRqVGc3RlNKQjJvR1E6MQ" width="760" height="712" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0">Loading...</iframe><br /><br /><br /><center><img src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Dividers/362492a1v8cf9dmn.gif"></center><br /><br /><br />Until next time...stay safe, stay well, and may the Lord bless you all.<br /><br /><i>Cynde</i><a href="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Critters/thCID_A122142574.gif"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 79px; height: 74px;" src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Critters/thCID_A122142574.gif" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br /><br />Please visit my other blogs:<br /><a href="http://cyndesdaybook.blogspot.com/"><font color=blue>Cynde's Daybook</font></a> ~and~ <a href="http://usurper-exposed.blogspot.com/"><font color=blue>Usurper Exposed</font></a>. Thank you!<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://howtothinksideways.com/members/?rid=1638"><img src="http://howtothinksideways.com/members/getimg.php?id=14"></a>Cynde L. Hammondhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15965516045079529435noreply@blogger.com32tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7203444993021516966.post-33488122989253247412010-05-06T17:52:00.016-04:002010-05-07T14:51:24.039-04:00"Spreading the Awesome": What's It All About?<center><img src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Dividers/362492a1v8cf9dmn.gif"></center><br /><br />Everyone is talking about <a href="http://elanajohnson.blogspot.com/2010/05/spreading-awesome.html"><b><font color=deeppink>"Spreading the Awesome!"</font></b></a> So, what's it all about?<br /><br /><b><u>Here are the facts:</u></b><br /><br />Young adult (YA) author, <a href="http://elanajohnson.blogspot.com/2010/05/spreading-awesome.html"><b><font color=blue>Elana Johnson</font></b></a> came up with the idea that it was about time that someone pay tribute to some of the seriously amazing authors—and their <b><font color=darkmagenta>ten-star-deserving</font></b> books, by having what <a href="http://lexiconluvr.blogspot.com/"><b><font color=blue>L. T. Elliot</font></b></a> referred to as a <a href="http://lexiconluvr.blogspot.com/2010/05/hug-author-jay-asher.html"><b><i><font color=green>"Hug an Author Day!"</font></i></b></a> So, <a href="http://elanajohnson.blogspot.com/2010/05/spreading-awesome.html"><b><font color=blue>Elana</font></b></a> has comprised a list of over 60 blog posts, each with their own tribute to their favorite book and some with <b><font color=red>contests</font></b> included. All you need to do is read the posts by the blog owners and decide if the book is the one you want to read, join their <b><font color=red>contest</font></b> if you like, and enjoy thoroughly yourself as you are <a href="http://elanajohnson.blogspot.com/2010/05/spreading-awesome.html"><b><font color=deeppink>"Spreading the Awesome!"</font></b></a><br /><br /><center><img src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Dividers/362492a1v8cf9dmn.gif"></center><br /><br /><center>Here's a list of <b>Recommended Reads:</b></center> <center><b>(Any Blogger/Blog Owner with <font color=red>***</font> have <font color=red><b>CONTESTS</b></font> on their sites!)</b></center> <br /><br /><b><u>Blogger/Blog Owner -- Author (Book):</u></b><br /><a href="http://elanajohnson.blogspot.com/2010/05/spreading-awesome.html">Elana Johnson</a> – Kathleen Duey (Skin Hunger, Sacred Scars)<br /><a href="http://christinefonseca.wordpress.com/2010/05/03/spreading-the-awesome-a-tribute-to-suzanne-collins/">Christine Fonseca</a><font color=red>***</font> – Suzanne Collins (Hunger Games, Catching Fire)<br /><a href="http://lisa-laura.blogspot.com/2010/05/spread-awesome-and-win-signed-copy.html">Lisa and Laura Roecker</a><font color=red>***</font> – Lauren Oliver (Before I Fall)<br /><a href="http://emilyannbenedict.blogspot.com/2010/05/spread-awesome-day-reviews-and-giveaway.html">Emily Ann Benedict</a><font color=red>***</font> - Deeanne Gist<br /><a href="http://lifelongbookworm.blogspot.com/2010/05/books-that-deserve-10-stars.html">Jenn Wilks</a><font color=red>***</font> – Mary E. Pearson (The Adoration of Jenna Fox)<br /><a href="http://jennjohansson.blogspot.com/2010/05/spreading-awesome-dan-wells-giveaway.html">Jenn Johannson</a><font color=red>***</font> – Dan Wells (I Am Not A Serial Killer)<br /><a href="http://hatshepsutnovel.blogspot.com/2010/05/spread-awesome-books-that-deserve-10.html">Stephanie Thornton</a> – Kate Quinn (The Mistress of Rome)<br /><a href="http://susanadrian.blogspot.com/2010/05/spread-awesome-courtney-summers.html">Susan Adrian</a> – Courtney Summers<br /><a href="http://heatherwpetty.livejournal.com/182320.html">Heather Petty</a> – Terri Farley (Seven Tears Into the Sea)<br /><a href="http://betweenfactandfiction.blogspot.com/2010/05/awesomeness-into-wild-nerd-yonder.html">Natalie Whipple</a> – Julie Halpern (Into the Wild Nerd Yonder)<br /><a href="http://www.totallythebomb.com/splendorfalls">Jamie Harrington</a><font color=red>***</font> – Rosemary Clement-Moore (Splendor Falls)<br /><a href="http://nataliebahm.blogspot.com/2010/05/spread-awesome-when-you-reach-me.html">Natalie Bahm</a> – Rebecca Stead (When You Reach Me)<br /><a href="http://windyaphayrath.blogspot.com/2010/05/spread-awesome-with-elizabeth-scott.html">Windy Aphayrath</a><font color=red>***</font> – Elizabeth Scott<br /><a href="http://paulgreci.wordpress.com/2010/05/03/author-spotlight-carol-lynch-williams/">Paul Greci</a><font color=red>***</font> – Carol Lynch Williams (The Chosen One)<br /><a href="http://amandaskeyboard.blogspot.com/2010/05/spread-awesome-books-that-deserve-ten.html">Amanda Bonilla</a> – Patricia Briggs (Silver Borne)<br /><a href="http://ramblingsofawannabescribe.blogspot.com/2010/05/spreading-awesometo-brandon-mull-and.html">Shannon Messenger</a><font color=red>***</font> – Brandon Mull (The Candy Shop Wars)<font color=red>(Shannon's <b>CONTEST</b> has FIVE Different, Exciting, FREE Prize Packages!) </font><br /><a href="http://www.kirstenhubbard.com/2010/05/spread-awesome-10-star-books-and.html">Kirsten Hubbard</a><font color=red>***</font> – Nina LeCour (Hold Still)<font color=red>(Kirsten's <b>CONTEST</b> includes a pocket Moleskin journal!)</font><br /><a href="http://carol-in-print.blogspot.com/2010/05/spreading-awesome-carol-style.html">Carolina Miller</a><font color=red>***</font> – John Green & David Levithan (Will Grayson, Will Grayson)<br /><a href="http://www.stinalindenblatt.com/2010/05/spreading-awesome-book-review-contest.html">Stina Lindenblatt</a><font color=red>***</font> – Sarah Ockler (Twenty Boy Summer)<br /><a href="http://somethingshewrote.blogspot.com/2010/05/janna-touts-joanna-spreading-awesome.html">Janna Qualman</a> – Joanna Trollope (Second Honeymoon)<br /><a href="http://gretchenmcneil.blogspot.com/2010/05/spreading-awesome-ash-by-malinda-lo.html">Gretchen McNeil</a><font color=red>***</font> – Melinda Lo (Ash)<br /><a href="http://solvangsherrie.blogspot.com/2010/05/spreading-awesome-marcelo-in-real-world.html">Sherrie Peterson</a><font color=red>***</font> – Francisco X. Stork (Marcelo in the Real World)<br /><a href="http://princesscourtneysbarr.blogspot.com/2010/05/spread-awesome-author-spotlight-bree.html">Courtney Barr</a><font color=red>***</font> – Bree Despain (The Dark Divine)<br /><a href="http://suzyhayze.blogspot.com/2010/05/spreading-greatness-kenneth-j-harveys.html">Suzanne Palmieri(Hayze)</a> – Kenneth Harvey (The Town That Forgot How to Breathe)<br /><a href="http://www.write-brained.com/2010/05/spread-awesome.html">Christina Lee</a><font color=red>***</font> – Lisa McMann (Wake)<br /><a href="http://carrieharrisbooks.blogspot.com/2010/05/spreading-awesome-books-that-deserve-10.html">Carrie Harris</a><font color=red>***</font> – Maureen Johnson<br /><a href="http://ellestraussbooks.blogspot.com/2010/05/spread-awesome.html">Elle Strauss</a> – Janette Rallison (My Fair Godmother)<br /><a href="http://veschwab.livejournal.com/152493.html">Victoria Schwab</a> – Neil Gaiman (The Graveyard Book)<br /><a href="http://michellemclean.blogspot.com/2010/05/spreading-awesome-pc-and-kristin-cast.html">Michelle McLean</a><font color=red>***</font> – P.C. and Kristin Cast (House of Night series)<br /><a href="http://faeriality.blogspot.com/2010/05/spreading-awesome-about-body-finder.html">Shelli Johannes-Wells</a><font color=red>***</font> – Kim Derting (The Body Finder)<br /><a href="http://www.angiesmibert.com/blog/?p=386">Angie Smibert</a><font color=red>***</font> – M.T. Anderson (Feed)<br /><a href="http://nicoleducleroir.blogspot.com/2010/05/spread-awesome.html">Nicole Ducleroir</a><font color=red>***</font> – Margaret Peterson Haddix (Among the Hidden)<br /><a href="http://bjanderson-write.blogspot.com/2010/05/spreading-awesome-kathleen-van-cleve.html">Bonny (B. J.) Anderson</a><font color=red>***</font> – Kathleen Van Cleve (Drizzle)<br /><a href="http://whiteplatonicdreams.blogspot.com/2010/05/spreading-awesome-secret-year.html">T. Anne Adams</a> – Jennifer R. Hubbard (The Secret Year)<br /><a href="http://www.weronikajanczuk.com/2010/05/spreading-awesome-hug-author-day.html">Weronika Janczuk</a> – Garth Stein (The Art of Racing in the Rain)<br /><a href="http://nicholegiles.blogspot.com/2010/05/spread-awesome-10-star-review-and.html">Nichole Giles</a><font color=red>***</font> – Catherine Fisher (Incarceron) <br /><a href="http://bethrevis.blogspot.com/2010/05/spreading-awesome-sharon-creechs-love.html">Beth Revis</a> – Sharon Creech (Love That Dog)<br /><a href="http://juliakarr.livejournal.com/128773.html">Julia Karr</a> – Saundra Mitchell (Shadowed Summer)<br /><a href="http://shannonkodonnell.blogspot.com/2010/05/spreading-awesome.html">Shannon O’Donnell</a><font color=red>***</font> – James Dashner (13th Reality)<br /><a href="http://caseylmccormick.blogspot.com/2010/05/spreading-awesome-signed-book-giveaway.html">Casey McCormick</a><font color=red>***</font> – Laurie Halse Anderson (Wintergirls)<br /><a href="http://carolinebyline.blogspot.com/2010/05/spread-awesome-books-that-deserve-ten.html">Caroline Starr Rose</a><font color=red>***</font> – Jamie Richards (Three Rivers Rising)<br /><a href="http://windedwords.blogspot.com/2010/05/spread-awesome-and-book-to-boot.html">Jackee Alston</a><font color=red>***</font> – Elizabeth Bunce (A Curse As Dark As Gold)<br /><a href="http://sometimesnonsense.blogspot.com/2010/05/spreading-awesome-bleeding-violet-by.html">Rebecca Sutton</a><font color=red>***</font> – Dia Reeves (Bleeding Violet)<br /><a href="http://cheboricuas.blogspot.com/2010/05/spreading-awesome-shadow-of-wind-review.html">Yamile Mendez</a><font color=red>***</font> – Carlos Zafon (Shadow of the Wind)<br /><a href="http://amyholderbooks.blogspot.com/2010/05/spread-awesome-getting-revenge-on.html">Amy Holder</a><font color=red>***</font> – Eileen Cook (Getting Revenge on Lauren Wood)<br /><a href="http://thebookshelfmuse.blogspot.com/2010/05/celebrate-awesome-book-pick-dead-tossed.html">Angela Ackerman</a> – Carrie Ryan (The Dead Tossed Waves)<br /><a href="http://jonathonarntson.blogspot.com/2010/05/spreading-awesome-why-i-love-shiver-and.html">Jon Arntson</a> – Maggie Steifvater (Shiver, Linger)<br /><a href="http://pjhoover.blogspot.com/2010/05/spreading-awesome.html">P. J. Hoover</a><font color=red>***</font> – Simone Elkeles (Perfect Chemistry)<br /><a href="http://plotthis.blogspot.com/2010/05/spread-awesome.html">Katie Anderson</a> – Laini Taylor (Lips Touch)<br /><a href="http://kathymcculloughbooks.weebly.com/1/post/2010/05/spread-the-awesome-the-evolution-of-calpurnia-tate-by-jacqueline-kelly.html">Kathy McCullough</a> – Jacqueline Kelly (Evolution of Calpurnia Tate)<br /><a href="http://sistersinscribe.blogspot.com/2010/05/spread-awesome-radiant-shadows-giveaway.html">Kristi Helvig</a><font color=red>***</font> – Melissa Marr (Radiant Shadows)<br /><a href="http://wordplayswordplay.blogspot.com/2010/05/spread-awesome.html">Nisa Lofthouse</a> – Brandon Sanderson (Elantris)<br /><a href="http://www.eternallyconfused.com/?p=99">Chantal Kirkland</a> - Jackson Pearce (As You Wish)<br /><a href="http://tiffanyneal.blogspot.com/2010/05/spread-awesome-books-that-deserve-10.html">Tiffany Neal</a> – Neal Shusterman (Unwind)<br /><a href="http://suzettesaxton.blogspot.com/2010/05/spread-awesome-contest.html">Suzette Saxton</a><font color=red>***</font> – Gary Paulsen (Woods Runner)<br /><a href="http://myth-takes.blogspot.com/2010/05/spread-awesome-forest-born-by-shannon.html">Danyelle Leafty</a> – Shannon Hale (Forest Born)<br /><a href="http://kristen-takeitasitcomes.blogspot.com/2010/05/spreading-awesome-books-that-deserve-10.html">Kristen Yard</a><font color=red>***</font> – Aprilynne Pike (Wings)<br /><a href="http://robinmellom.blogspot.com/2010/04/spreading-awesometo-kl-going.html">Robin Mellom</a> – KL Going (Fat Kid Rules the World)<br /><a href="http://colegibsen.blogspot.com/2010/05/spreading-love.html">Cole Gibsen</a> – Josie Bloss (Albatross)<br /><a href="http://dawn-metcalf.livejournal.com/71189.html">Dawn Metcalf</a><font color=red>***</font> – A.S. King (Dust of 100 Dogs)<br /><a href="http://www.tinalaurellee.com/2010/05/spreading-awesome-to-swati-avasthi.html">Tina Lee</a> – Swati Avashti (Split)<br /><a href="http://suzettesaxton.blogspot.com/2010/05/spread-awesome-contest.html">Bethany Wiggins</a><font color=red>***</font> - Lindsey Leavitt (Princess for Hire)<br /><a href="http://lexiconluvr.blogspot.com/2010/05/hug-author-jay-asher.html">L.T. Elliot</a> - Jay Asher (Thirteen Reasons Why) <br /><a href="http://marcieaf.blogspot.com/2010/05/spreading-awesome-10-stars-for-strange.html">Marcie Atkins</a> - Tom Angleberger (The Strange Case of Origami Yoda)<br /><a href="http://triciajobrien.blogspot.com/2010/05/spreading-awesome-for-books.html">Tricia J. O'Brien</a><font color=red>***</font> - Suzanne Crowley (The Stolen One)<br /><a href="http://triciajobrien.blogspot.com/2010/05/spreading-awesome-for-books.html">Kelly Polark</a> - S.E. Hinton (The Outsiders)<br /><a href="http://kasiewest.blogspot.com/2010/05/maddeningly-unhelpful-advice-how-to-win.html">Kasie West</a><font color=red>***</font> - Rachel Hawkins (Hex Hall)<br /><a href="http://valeriekwrites.blogspot.com/2010/05/spread-awesome-win-stolen-by-lucy.html">Valerie Kemp</a><font color=red>***</font> - Lucy Christopher (Stolen)<br /><a href="http://writersbuttdoesnotapplytome.blogspot.com/2010/05/spreading-author-awesomeness-with.html">Mary Campbell</a><font color=red>***</font> - Polly Shulman (Enthusiasm)<br /><a href="http://odetoblogging.blogspot.com/2010/05/spreading-awesome-books.html">Corinne O'Flynn</a><font color=red>***</font> - Catherine Ryan Hyde (Love in the Present Tense)<br /><a href="http://www.cmichaelfontes.com/2010/05/03/a-science-fiction-must-read-and-a-contest/">Chris Fontes</a><font color=red>***</font> - Orson Scott Card (Ender's Game)<br /><a href="http://lesserkey.blogspot.com/2010/05/recommended-reads.html">Tere Kirkland</a> – Libba Bray (A Great and Terrible Beauty)<br /><a href="http://www.pdwright.com/blog/?p=10">Paula Wright</a><font color=red>***</font> - Terry Pratchett (Guards! Guards!)<br /><a href="http://musingsofapalindrome.blogspot.com/2010/05/spreading-awesome.html">Hannah Oman</a> - Jonathan Carroll (Bones of the Moon)<br /><a href="http://cherstinieveen.wordpress.com/2010/05/05/summer-reading/">Chersti Nieveen</a> - Megan Whalen Turner<br /><br /><center><img src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Dividers/362492a1v8cf9dmn.gif"></center><br /><br />Until next time...stay safe, stay well, and may the Lord bless you all.<br /><br /><i>Cynde</i><a href="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Critters/thCID_A122142574.gif"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 79px; height: 74px;" src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Critters/thCID_A122142574.gif" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br /><br />Please visit my other blogs:<br /><a href="http://cyndesdaybook.blogspot.com/"><font color=blue>Cynde's Daybook</font></a> ~and~ <a href="http://usurper-exposed.blogspot.com/"><font color=blue>Usurper Exposed</font></a>. Thank you!<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://howtothinksideways.com/members/?rid=1638"><img src="http://howtothinksideways.com/members/getimg.php?id=14"></a>Cynde L. Hammondhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15965516045079529435noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7203444993021516966.post-89301994521440425792010-05-01T21:01:00.020-04:002010-11-09T18:40:41.178-05:00"Cynde's Kindle Review!"<a href="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Dividers/714989pekxp9bo5z.gif"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 317px; height: 55px;" src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Dividers/714989pekxp9bo5z.gif" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />It's long past the time I said I would review the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Kindle-Wireless-Reading-Display-Generation/dp/B0015T963C/ref=amb_link_174409822_3?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=center-1&pf_rd_r=15J8E6YYX0GCXWGE4HGR&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=1039291022&pf_rd_i=507846"><b><i><font color=limegreen>"Kindle2"</font></i></b></a> that my husband, Dion, bought for me. I have owned it for approximately two months now, and I totally <font color=deeppink>♥</font><i><b>lurve</b></i><font color=deeppink>♥</font> it!<br /><br /><a href="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Dividers/714989pekxp9bo5z.gif"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 317px; height: 55px;" src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Dividers/714989pekxp9bo5z.gif" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />Here is the front view of the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Kindle-Wireless-Reading-Display-Generation/dp/B0015T963C/ref=amb_link_174409822_3?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=center-1&pf_rd_r=15J8E6YYX0GCXWGE4HGR&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=1039291022&pf_rd_i=507846"><b><i><font color=limegreen>"Kindle2"</font></i></b></a>:<br /><br /><a href="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Blogspot%20Photos/IMG_1096-1.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 257px; height: 319px;" src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Blogspot%20Photos/IMG_1096-1.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Blogspot%20Photos/IMG_1093-1.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 261px; height: 319px;" src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Blogspot%20Photos/IMG_1093-1.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />And here is the back view:<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />I don't know about you, but I think my <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Kindle-Wireless-Reading-Display-Generation/dp/B0015T963C/ref=amb_link_174409822_3?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=center-1&pf_rd_r=15J8E6YYX0GCXWGE4HGR&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=1039291022&pf_rd_i=507846"><b><i><font color=limegreen>"Kindle2"</font></i></b></a> is absolutely <u>adorable!</u><br /><br />As you may recall, my husband also purchased a <a href="http://www.skinit.com/indexb.php"><b><i><font color=forestgreen>"SkinIt"</font></i></b></a> that is in a gorgeous <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tinker_Bell"><b><i><font color=deeppink>"Tinker Bell"</font></i></b></a> design, as you can see by looking at the photos, above. Otherwise, the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Kindle-Wireless-Reading-Display-Generation/dp/B0015T963C/ref=amb_link_174409822_3?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=center-1&pf_rd_r=15J8E6YYX0GCXWGE4HGR&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=1039291022&pf_rd_i=507846"><b><i><font color=limegreen>"Kindle2"</font></i></b></a> would have looked like this: <center><img src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Blogspot%20Photos/kindle-ww-slate-final-110509__SX320.jpg"></center><br />The original version is not hideous or anything; it's just not as pretty as it is with the awesome-looking, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tinker_Bell"><b><i><font color=deeppink>Tinker Bell</font></i></b></a>–<a href="http://www.skinit.com/indexb.php"><b><i><font color=forestgreen>SkinIt</font></i></b></a> on it. And the <a href="http://www.skinit.com/indexb.php"><b><i><font color=forestgreen>"SkinIts"</font></i></b></a> come in lots of different designs. I believe you can even have your own custom-made designs, if you want. I think they're <u>great</u>—and reasonably priced, too. <br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Dividers/714989pekxp9bo5z.gif"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 317px; height: 55px;" src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Dividers/714989pekxp9bo5z.gif" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />Here is a list of some of the things that you will be able to do with your <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Kindle-Wireless-Reading-Display-Generation/dp/B0015T963C/ref=amb_link_174409822_3?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=center-1&pf_rd_r=15J8E6YYX0GCXWGE4HGR&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=1039291022&pf_rd_i=507846"><b><i><font color=limegreen>"Kindle2"</font></i></b></a> (I've personally tried each one!):<br /><ol><br /><li>Read books easily (it's fun!) While you're reading, if there's a word you don't know, just rest the cursor on it, and the display will pop up telling you all about what the word means. Also, if the particular book that you are reading at the time allows the text-reading feature, the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Kindle-Wireless-Reading-Display-Generation/dp/B0015T963C/ref=amb_link_174409822_3?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=center-1&pf_rd_r=15J8E6YYX0GCXWGE4HGR&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=1039291022&pf_rd_i=507846"><b><i><font color=limegreen>"Kindle2"</font></i></b></a> will read the book out loud to you. How cool is that!?!</li><br /><li>Shop for books (lots of them <u>free</u>) at the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/kindle-store-ebooks-newspapers-blogs/b/ref=topnav_storetab_kinc?ie=UTF8&node=133141011">Kindle Store</a></li><br /><li>Obtain free books from several <u>different</u> sources online</li><br /><li>Download blogs, newspapers, magazines, audiobooks, mp3's and other text. <a href="https://www.amazon.com/">Amazon</a> will store a copy of them for you. That way if you delete them (by accident or otherwise), you will be able to download them (if you want to) without having to pay for them again.</li><br /><li>Shop on <a href="http://signin.ebay.com/">eBay</a>, and other shopping forums</li><br /><li>Search <a href="http://www.google.com/">Google</a>, <a href="http://search.yahoo.com/">Yahoo</a>, <a href="http://www.bing.com/">Bing</a>, and other search providers</li><br /><li>Bookmark each favorite website visited</li><br /><li>Add notes or highlights at special spots in the books that you are reading</li><br /><li>Forward <b>pdf</b> documents from your computer to your <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Kindle-Wireless-Reading-Display-Generation/dp/B0015T963C/ref=amb_link_174409822_3?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=center-1&pf_rd_r=15J8E6YYX0GCXWGE4HGR&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=1039291022&pf_rd_i=507846"><b><i><font color=limegreen>"Kindle2"</font></i></b></a> so they can be read more easily (I totally <font color=deeppink>♥</font><i><b>lurve</b></i><font color=deeppink>♥</font> that feature!) The same can be done with <a href="http://www.microsoftstore.com/s/word2010?WT.mc_id=pointitsem_ad_word_generic_2010&WT.srch=1&WT.term=microsoft+office+word+2010&WT.campaign=504&WT.source=google&WT.medium=cpc&WT.content=1736172&cshift_ck=1865195303cs1736172&WT.srch=1"><b>Microsoft Word</b></a>, TXT, HTML, RTF, or images like JPEG's and GIF's. If you send them to your dedicated <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Kindle-Wireless-Reading-Display-Generation/dp/B0015T963C/ref=amb_link_174409822_3?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=center-1&pf_rd_r=15J8E6YYX0GCXWGE4HGR&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=1039291022&pf_rd_i=507846"><b><i><font color=limegreen>"Kindle2"</font></i></b></a> email address, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/">Amazon</a> will convert the documents into the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Kindle-Wireless-Reading-Display-Generation/dp/B0015T963C/ref=amb_link_174409822_3?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=center-1&pf_rd_r=15J8E6YYX0GCXWGE4HGR&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=1039291022&pf_rd_i=507846"><b><i><font color=limegreen>"Kindle2"</font></i></b></a> format and wirelessly provide it to your <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Kindle-Wireless-Reading-Display-Generation/dp/B0015T963C/ref=amb_link_174409822_3?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=center-1&pf_rd_r=15J8E6YYX0GCXWGE4HGR&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=1039291022&pf_rd_i=507846"><b><i><font color=limegreen>"Kindle2"</font></i></b></a> via <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/help/customer/display.html?nodeId=200144530&#wireless"><b><i>"Whispernet"</i></b></a> for a small fee, or back to your computer for free. </li><br /></ol><br />I think that's about it except this: <br /><br />I purchased a book entitled: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Kindle-Cookbook-Everything-Manual-ebook/dp/B001GIPJ2Y/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&m=AG56TWVU5XWC2&s=digital-text&qid=1272910189&sr=1-1"><b><i>"The Kindle2 Cookbook: How To Do Everything the Manual Doesn't Tell You (Kindle Edition)"</i></b></a> by <a href="http://www.booksummit.com/profile/DavidEmberson"><b>David Emberson</b></a>, that's full of terrific information about how and where to get free books, plus lots of tips and tricks that the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Kindle-Wireless-Reading-Display-Generation/dp/B0015T963C/ref=amb_link_174409822_3?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=center-1&pf_rd_r=15J8E6YYX0GCXWGE4HGR&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=1039291022&pf_rd_i=507846"><b><i><font color=limegreen>"Kindle2"</font></i></b></a> <b>User's Guide, 4th Ed.</b> just <b><i>does not</i></b> provide for you. Furthermore, there are other books available on Amazon along these lines, but this one is my <b><i>favorite</i></b>. You, of course, are free to choose one of your own, but I do advise you to at least purchase <b><i>one</i></b> of them to supplement the <b>User's Guide</b>. Trust me: you'll be <b><i>glad</i></b> you did! <br /><br /><a href="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Dividers/714989pekxp9bo5z.gif"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 317px; height: 55px;" src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Dividers/714989pekxp9bo5z.gif" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br /><b><u>My Rating: (poor, fair, good, great, or excellent)</u></b><br /><br />If I were asked to give an overall evaluation of the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Kindle-Wireless-Reading-Display-Generation/dp/B0015T963C/ref=amb_link_174409822_3?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=center-1&pf_rd_r=15J8E6YYX0GCXWGE4HGR&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=1039291022&pf_rd_i=507846"><b><i><font color=limegreen>"Kindle2"</font></i></b></a>, I would definitely say:<br /><br /><center><img src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Excellent/ExcellentALR308Cpanda-vi.jpg"></center><br /><br /><center><img src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Thumbs%20Up/1147593ruje2t1xed.gif"></center><br /><br /><a href="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Dividers/714989pekxp9bo5z.gif"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 317px; height: 55px;" src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Dividers/714989pekxp9bo5z.gif" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />Until next time...stay safe, stay well, and may the Lord bless you all.<br /><br /><i>Cynde</i><a href="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Critters/thCID_A122142574.gif"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 79px; height: 74px;" src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Critters/thCID_A122142574.gif" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br /><br />Please visit my other blogs:<br /><a href="http://cyndesdaybook.blogspot.com/"><font color=blue>Cynde's Daybook</font></a> ~and~ <a href="http://usurper-exposed.blogspot.com/"><font color=blue>Usurper Exposed</font></a>. Thank you!<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://howtothinksideways.com/members/?rid=1638"><img src="http://howtothinksideways.com/members/getimg.php?id=14"></a>Cynde L. Hammondhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15965516045079529435noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7203444993021516966.post-57298077123241408592010-04-26T15:20:00.019-04:002010-04-27T15:25:29.685-04:00"Blog Jog Day!"<center><img src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Dividers/362492a1v8cf9dmn.gif"></center><br /><br /><a href="http://blogjogday.blogspot.com/"><img src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Blogspot%20Photos/BlogJogLogo.jpg"></a>Have you heard about the amazing event that my friend and fellow writer, <a href="http://booksbydenbow.weebly.com/"><b><font color=blue>Carol Denbow</font></b></a> (a.k.a. Author 101) is hosting on Sunday, 09 May 2010? It's called:<br /><br /> <center><b><font size=20><i><font color=maroon>"Blog Jog Day!"</font></i></font></b></center><br /><br /><i>"This is the type of event that is designed for the sole purpose of benefitting <u>any and all</u> of those individuals that own a blog. Also, the more that participate in <b><i><font color=maroon>"Blog Jog Day!"</font></i></b>, the better the results for <u>all!</u>"</i><br /><br /><center><img src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Dividers/362492a1v8cf9dmn.gif"></center><br /><br /><b>What is <b><font color=maroon><i>"Blog Jog Day"</i></font></b>?</b><br /><br /><i>"It’s a one-day event where bloggers are joining together for a "pyramid effect" promotional rally. We all post on the same day with each post leading the visitor to the next blog, and so on, full circle.<br /><br /><b>That’s it!</b> Visitors explore your blog, and then click on to the next one, bringing potentially thousands of unique visitors to <b><u>your site.</u></b>"</i><br /><br /><br /><center><img src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Dividers/362492a1v8cf9dmn.gif"></center><br /><br /><br /><b>"So...How Can <b><font color=maroon><i>"Blog Jog Day"</i></font></b> Benefit Bloggers"</b> did you say?<br /><ul><br /><li>More unique visitors to your Blog</li><br /><li>More subscribers</li><br /><li>More comments</li><br /><li>More inbound links</li><br /><li>More Followers</li> <br /><li>More exposure and sales</li><br /><li>Grow your daily hits</li><br /><br /><li>And all of these things look great to <a href="http://www.google.com/"><b><font color=blue>Google</font></b></a>, <a href="http://www.yahoo.com/"><b><font color=blue>Yahoo</font></b></a>, <a href="http://www.bing.com/"><b><font color=blue>Bing</font></b></a>, and the other search engines, which translates into greater popularity!</li> <br /><br /><li>And with greater popularity comes a higher Page Rank and greater exposure for your Blog!</li><br /><br /><li>So...<b><font size=15>How Cool</font></b></li><br /><br /> <br /><li><center><b><font size=15>Is That!?!</font></b></li></center></ul><br /><br /><center><img src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Dividers/362492a1v8cf9dmn.gif"></center><br /><br />So jog on over to the official <a href="http://blogjogday.blogspot.com/"><b><i><font color=maroon>"Blog Jog Day!"</font></i></b></a> blog and sign up. <img src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Sports-Exercising-etc/2334000jrxxwupu0c.gif"align="right"> There is a one-time $2.00 participation fee for each blog that you sign up to have in the event (a steal!), which helps support additional advertizing for <a href="http://blogjogday.blogspot.com/"><b><i><font color=maroon>"Blog Jog Day!"</font></i></b></a> Furthermore, all the information about <b>"how it works"</b> and <b>"where to sign <br />up"</b> is right: <br /><br /><center><a href="http://blogjogday.blogspot.com/2010/03/how-blog-jog-day-works-and-how-to-sign.html"><b><font color=red><font size=25>here</font></font></b></a></center><br /><br /><br /><b>These are some ADDITIONAL BENEFITS of the event:</b> <br /><ul><br /><li>You'll be able to <b>plug your blog</b></li><br /><br /><li>You could receive potentially <b>thousands of hits in one day!</b></li> <br /><br /><li>There will be <b>long-term positive results!</b></li> <br /><br /><li>You're bound to receive some <b>permanent links!</b></li></ul><br /><br /><center><img src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Dividers/362492a1v8cf9dmn.gif"></center><br /><br />Come On! Ask your friends to join us on <b><font color=maroon><i>"Blog Jog Day"</i></font></b> on <b>Sunday, 09 May 2010... <br /><br />and let's have some</b> <b><font color=blueviolet><font size=30><i>"FUN!"</i></font></font></b> <br /><br /><b><i>Check it all out by clicking on the official <b><font color=maroon><i>"Blog Jog Day"</i></font></b> logo, below:</i></b><br /> <br /><center><a href="http://blogjogday.blogspot.com/"><img src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Blogspot%20Photos/BlogJogLogo.jpg"></a></center><br /><center><b><font color=maroon>~http://blogjogday.blogspot.com~</font></b></center><br /><br /><center><b>and...</b></center><br /><br /><center><b>(DON'T FORGET TO: <i>"Pass The Word!")</i></b></center><br /><br /><center><img src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Dividers/362492a1v8cf9dmn.gif"></center><br /><br />Until next time...stay safe, stay well, and may the Lord bless you all.<br /><br /><i>Cynde</i><a href="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Critters/thCID_A122142574.gif"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 79px; height: 74px;" src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Critters/thCID_A122142574.gif" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br /><br />Please visit my other blogs:<br /><a href="http://cyndesdaybook.blogspot.com/"><font color=blue>Cynde's Daybook</font></a> ~and~ <a href="http://usurper-exposed.blogspot.com/"><font color=blue>Usurper Exposed</font></a>. Thank you!<br /><br /><a href="http://howtothinksideways.com/members/?rid=1638"><img src="http://howtothinksideways.com/members/getimg.php?id=14"></a>Cynde L. Hammondhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15965516045079529435noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7203444993021516966.post-15043264621847031452010-04-19T08:24:00.006-04:002010-04-22T11:28:47.862-04:00"Cynde's "Magnificent-Monday" Guest Author Interview!"<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiukJ8pdk58XJX2gY9r1o9JzVn8RhVKP-qXK0eqfSGaGIW7mLzdLH0zpbWhOrQh37ThPPJsY7MyLNzmGKt1Hh-uWfLdUhygq3iApmHMYMFEjs1eOJuozWGXVluEcsUps-rHYVNAXE4pengo/s1600-h/493789nfy8xzi1n4.gif"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 374px; height: 44px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiukJ8pdk58XJX2gY9r1o9JzVn8RhVKP-qXK0eqfSGaGIW7mLzdLH0zpbWhOrQh37ThPPJsY7MyLNzmGKt1Hh-uWfLdUhygq3iApmHMYMFEjs1eOJuozWGXVluEcsUps-rHYVNAXE4pengo/s400/493789nfy8xzi1n4.gif" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5423731903582913842" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcF83_dZSpqRRFwHJH5r8KiJnLoekvditvm5xAU4RNHb7tI7NAyi8LcWDMZOFo-3GzpMLNa7PMrUNQFfjohz7K0vB_a6Sb2JtvM7NbF5CDm98V6a1r27T1cNhqvUk-nGHyZOEQyb7Dqs-3/s1600/Mary+600-1.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 205px; height: 202px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcF83_dZSpqRRFwHJH5r8KiJnLoekvditvm5xAU4RNHb7tI7NAyi8LcWDMZOFo-3GzpMLNa7PMrUNQFfjohz7K0vB_a6Sb2JtvM7NbF5CDm98V6a1r27T1cNhqvUk-nGHyZOEQyb7Dqs-3/s400/Mary+600-1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5461576503405026130" /></a><b> I would like to take this opportunity to welcome <a href="http://marycunningham.wordpress.com/about/"><b><font color=gold>Mary Cunningham</font></b></a>, the author of the wonderful, four-book (so far) <a href="http://marycunningham.wordpress.com/"><b><i><font color=blue>"CYNTHIA'S ATTIC SERIES"</font></i></b></a>, to my blog.</b><br /><br />C: Welcome to my blog, Mary. It's an honor to have you here, and thank you for agreeing to do this interview.<br /><br /><b><i>M: You're welcome, Cynde.</i></b><br /><br />C: I have read in several of your personal interviews that your inspiration for the <a href="http://marycunningham.wordpress.com/"><b><i><font color=blue>“CYNTHIA'S ATTIC SERIES”</font></i></b></a> came from: a recurring dream that you had for more than 20 years about a mysterious attic. You stated that after finally telling a <img src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Name%20Tags/Mary/2274150cep44tu7my.gif"align="left">friend about the dream, you realized it took place in the attic of your childhood best friend, Cynthia and that unfortunately, you stopped having the dreams after that. However, lucky for us, it was then that you decided to write a 5-page memoir that turned into four (4) young reader books (so far).<br /><br /><a href="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Treasure%20chests%20etc/166814vx4l08qxma.gif"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 140px; height: 123px;" src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Treasure%20chests%20etc/166814vx4l08qxma.gif" border="0" alt="" /></a>Could you tell us who inspired you to become a writer in the first place and why?<br /><br /><b><i>M: I must have inherited the desire to write from my dad. He was a journalist for over 40 years and my inspiration and roll model. In fact, I'd go with him, on occasion, when he interviewed an interesting character for a story. He was also responsible for my love of fantasy/fiction. When I was a child, hardly a night went by that he wasn't making up a bedtime story. Wish he'd been around to see my books!</i></b><br /><br />C: Awww...I <u>love</u> that story, Mary. My dad inspired me, also. I bet our fathers are together, watching us from heaven, and talking about <i><b>your</b></i> books <u>right</u> now. <br /><br /><a href="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Blogspot%20Photos/1842972ve7bkgdhj7.gif"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 104px; height: 150px;" src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Blogspot%20Photos/1842972ve7bkgdhj7.gif" border="0" alt="" /></a>According to you, the character of “Cynthia” in your series represents your childhood best friend, Cynthia. Furthermore, the character of “Gus” is supposed to represent you, and “Molly” the dog is supposed to represent your beloved 16-year-old terrier/mix dog named Molly that died while you were writing <a href="http://marycunningham.wordpress.com/my-books/castle/"><b><i><font color=blue>“THE MAGICIAN'S CASTLE”</font></i></b></a>.<br /><br /> Do any of the other characters represent someone special and if so, who?<br /><br /><img src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Blogspot%20Photos/598626519_253194-2.gif"align="right"><b><i>M: Oh, there are so many! But, I'll try to name one of my favorites. In <a href="http://marycunningham.wordpress.com/my-books/the-magic-medallion/"><b><i><font color=orangered>"THE MAGIC MEDALLION"</font></i></b></a>, Cynthia and Gus travel back to 1934 where they meet a very familiar-looking cave guide. Without giving away too much of the story, Gus realizes that the teenage guide is her dad. This storyline is very special to me because, as you know from the previous question, my dad was very influential in my writing, and I loved hearing stories about his true experiences as a guide. That part of the story still gives me chills when I read it.</i></b> <br /><br />C: It gives me chills, too, Mary! It's great.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9UK6dL41lLzaEp0i7uldpPT8oqhnvfYnHEfluKxHZMKoxqwJsasg4MXf0IrUhGfi3ldpx-IbafYsemVojClZnlNk9EkdQdKVdy6Jyi2nMJ0xypzYQFw__Az0RkfDbeDbogOcVqxYjThnD/s1600/Cynthia,+Mary+Ballet+Recital-1.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 305px; height: 196px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9UK6dL41lLzaEp0i7uldpPT8oqhnvfYnHEfluKxHZMKoxqwJsasg4MXf0IrUhGfi3ldpx-IbafYsemVojClZnlNk9EkdQdKVdy6Jyi2nMJ0xypzYQFw__Az0RkfDbeDbogOcVqxYjThnD/s400/Cynthia,+Mary+Ballet+Recital-1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5461587958511978594" /></a>Also, excluding the characters of Cynthia and Gus (who represent your childhood friend and yourself, pictured in the photo on the right), plus Molly the dog, which character is your all-time favorite and why?<br /><br /><b><i>M: Without a doubt, my favorite character is Mud Bug from <a href="http://marycunningham.wordpress.com/my-books/bayou/"><b><i><font color=darkviolet>"CURSE OF THE BAYOU"</font></i></b></a> I love his intuitive spirit, his dialect, his sense of humor and his good heart. His character was so easy to get into because I could picture him perfectly and became very attached to his" voice." I lived in Louisiana for a year, and my heritage is French, so I felt much at home not only writing his character, but the entire story.</i></b> <br /> <br />C: I know that you have been asked several times about whether or not you would write a “book five” in the <a href="http://marycunningham.wordpress.com/"><b><i><font color=blue>“CYNTHIA'S ATTIC SERIES”</font></i></b></a>.<br /> <br />Have you made a decision on whether or not you will, and if not, which way do you think you are leaning? <br /><br /><a href="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Name%20Tags/Mary/598598553_840917-2.gif"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 160px; height: 139px;" src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Name%20Tags/Mary/598598553_840917-2.gif" border="0" alt="" /></a><b><i>M: Let's just say, I hope to! I was so mentally tired after the whole process getting the 4th book written and released that I felt the need to step away for awhile. My plan is to write book 5, but a great storyline has yet to jump into my thoughts. I can't, however, let Cynthia and Gus go, yet. Stay tuned!</i></b><br /> <br />C: Also if not, would you consider a bribe? (LOL!)<br /><br /><img src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Blogspot%20Photos/2598144uxs1j0iqo1.gif"align="left"><br /><b><i>M: A bribe? Most definitely! I'll accept a check or cash. LOL!</i></b><br /> <br />C: OK, fan--you <u>heard</u> her. Let's get that money rolling (Just kidding!)<br /><br />C: Do you have plans for a book/series following completion of the <a href="http://marycunningham.wordpress.com/"><b><i><font color=blue>“CYNTHIA'S ATTIC SERIES”</font></i></b></a>?<br /><br /><img src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Blogspot%20Photos/62865m38wsjddwn.gif"align="right"><b><i>M: Not sure I have a series on the horizon, but I'm working on two adult mysteries. One is a serious, time-travel and the other, a (co-written) mystery/satire. I'm having a tremendous amount of fun writing both of them, and am surprised that I'm able to leap from one to the other without getting the "voices" confused because they are very different.</i></b><br /> <br />C: If so, could you give us a tiny hint of what it/they might be about?<br /><br /><b><i>M: The serious mystery is about Marley and Kate, lifelong friends. Marley's teenage granddaughter, Claire, has just been killed in an auto accident. They have the ability to travel back in time and change the outcome, but, if successful, will another teenager die in Claire's place?<br /><br /> The satirical mystery is about a (very inept) travel agent/investigator who is reluctantly drawn into trying to clearing her former stepmother, who has been a thorn in her side from the moment they met, of a strange murder.</i></b><br /><br /><center><img src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Name%20Tags/Mary/2083902djxb68rn9a.gif"></center><br /><br />C: Would you please describe for us one of your typical writing days, from start to finish?<br /><br /><img src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Cats/149404jt6rg0tdalPuma.gif"align="left"><b><i>M: I wake up and have some coffee. Turn on my computer. Have another cup of coffee. Open my e-mails. Hit delete 75 times, or so. Have another cup of coffee…well, you get the idea. I try to write every day. I don't like to force it, though. If the words aren't flowing, I do something else and then go back to it. I love writing when my brain is working so fast, my fingers can barely keep up. I guess my only ritual is that (oh, this is going to sound really weird) I must have my shower and be dressed before I can write. I have a friend who writes in her jammies. Not me! Oh, I don't have to be in black dress slacks and white cashmere sweater! Jeans and a T-Shirt do quite nicely. Just so I'm dressed.</i></b><br /><br />C: What are the best pieces of advice you would pass on to someone aspiring to become a published author?<br /><br /><b><i>M: I'm going to give two that have been crucial to my writing:<br /> <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXtHTpsyzmPnLHc8afcNpJLj9Om_GNlhXDX_WzFsQ3RnCLdbM-ZH0-VYnnVGo5ChG94yB1ucf5RSvRIoG7dUhJcs-xjd5qzYNaR31ad6UYL_ydCOLBJ03ZW3G5s1gYHhZc38ecBgkDpfoi/s1600/100_13851-1.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 161px; height: 124px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXtHTpsyzmPnLHc8afcNpJLj9Om_GNlhXDX_WzFsQ3RnCLdbM-ZH0-VYnnVGo5ChG94yB1ucf5RSvRIoG7dUhJcs-xjd5qzYNaR31ad6UYL_ydCOLBJ03ZW3G5s1gYHhZc38ecBgkDpfoi/s400/100_13851-1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5461597122926683890" /></a>1. A very generous NY editor gave me a critique years ago that probably led to getting the first two books published. She said, "Too much telling. Not enough showing." I had no idea what that meant until I did some research on various writing websites and blogs. I had one of those "light-bulb" moments and spent the next six months doing rewrites that moved the storyline through dialog and action rather than simply telling the reading what was happening. <br /><img src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Name%20Tags/Mary/2257753t3dufbjqu5.gif"align="right">2. The second is very simple. "Write what you know." It's so much easier to write about familiar topics. Since the original setting for <a href="http://marycunningham.wordpress.com/"><b><i><font color=blue>“CYNTHIA'S ATTIC”</font></i></b></a> is in my hometown, Corydon, Indiana, and takes in many childhood memories, much of the research was already in my head. And, I have old family pictures of many of the ancestors that play important roles in the books.</i></b><br /><br />C: Excellent advice, Mary! That's why your books are so much better than others in the same category. You're of the few authors that actually remembers, then follows your own amazing advice. <br /><br /><b><i>M: Thanks, so much, Cynde, for the interview. It's been a pleasure being a guest on your website!</i></b><br /><br />C: The pleasure was <u>entirely</u> mine, Mary...and I'm sure that my "followers" and anyone dropping by this blog has enjoyed this interview as well. I really hope that you'll agree to come back again in the future to discuss any new work you've done and catch up on what you've been doing. This has been so much fun for me. Thanks again, and God bless!<br /><br /><br /><center><img src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Dividers/493789nfy8xzi1n4.gif"></center><br /><br /><b><u>IMPORTANT INFORMATION:</u></b><br /><br /><br />The first book in the series, entitled <a href="http://marycunningham.wordpress.com/my-books/the-missing-locket/"><b><i><font color=forestgreen>"Cynthia's Attic: The Missing Locket"</font></i></b></a>was already reviewed for you on my blog <a href="http://cyndes-got-the-write-stuff.blogspot.com/2010/02/cyndes-whats-up-wednesday-book-review.html"><b><font color=forestgreen>here</font></b></a>.<br /> <br /><a href="http://marycunningham.wordpress.com/my-books/the-magic-medallion/"><b><i><font color=orangered>"Cynthia's Attic: The Magic Medallion"</font></i></b></a> is the second book in the series, and it was already reviewed <a href="http://cyndes-got-the-write-stuff.blogspot.com/2010/03/cyndes-terrific-tuesday-book-review.html"><b><font color=orangered>here</font></b></a>.<br /><br />The third book in the series is entitled <a href="http://marycunningham.wordpress.com/my-books/bayou/"><b><i><font color=darkviolet>"Cynthia's Attic: Curse of the Bayou"</font></i></b></a> and has already been reviewed for you, <a href="http://cyndes-got-the-write-stuff.blogspot.com/2010/04/cyndes-whats-up-wednesday-book-review.html"><b><font color=darkviolet>here</font></b></a>.<br /><br /><img src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Blogspot%20Photos/2252109q1buduqcg9.gif"align="left"><a href="http://marycunningham.wordpress.com/my-books/castle/"><b><i><font color=blue>"Cynthia's Attic: The Magician's Castle"</font></i></b></a> is the fourth and final book (so far) in the four-book <a href="http://marycunningham.wordpress.com/"><b><i><font color=blue>"Cynthia's Attic Series"</font></i></b></a> written by <a href="http://marycunningham.wordpress.com/about/"><b><font color=gold>Mary Cunningham</font></b></a>, and that has already been reviewed for you, <a href="http://cyndes-got-the-write-stuff.blogspot.com/2010/04/cyndes-thrilling-thursday-book-review.html"><b><font color=blue>here</font></b></a>.<br /><br />Also, anyone wishing to learn more about the author, <a href="http://marycunningham.wordpress.com/about/"><b><font color=gold>Mary Cunningham</font></b></a>, please visit her website by clicking <a href="http://marycunningham.wordpress.com/about/"><b><font color=blue>here</font></b></a>.<br /><br /><br /><center><img src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Dividers/493789nfy8xzi1n4.gif"></center><br /><br /><b><u>IMPORTANT COMMENT:</u></b><br /><br /><br />Let me say that you <i>could</i> read each of the books without reading the others, and <i>still</i> get a lot of enjoyment out of them. However, I <u>highly</u> recommend that you read <u>all</u> four of the books in this series! If you don't, you would be missing out on <u>loads</u> of fun and adventure, plus I think you would <u>really</u> regret it.<br /><br /><center><img src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Dividers/493789nfy8xzi1n4.gif"></center><br /><br />Until next time...stay safe, stay well, and may the Lord bless you all.<br /><br /><i>Cynde</i><a href="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Critters/thCID_A122142574.gif"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 79px; height: 74px;" src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Critters/thCID_A122142574.gif" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br /><br />Please visit my other blogs:<br /><a href="http://cyndesdaybook.blogspot.com/"><font color=blue>Cynde's Daybook</font></a> ~and~ <a href="http://usurper-exposed.blogspot.com/"><font color=blue>Usurper Exposed</font></a>. Thank you!<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://howtothinksideways.com/members/?rid=1638"><img src="http://howtothinksideways.com/members/getimg.php?id=14"></a>Cynde L. Hammondhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15965516045079529435noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7203444993021516966.post-63593147596748127592010-04-15T07:23:00.005-04:002010-04-15T07:28:56.049-04:00"Cynde's "Thrilling-Thursday" Book Review!"<center><img src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Dividers/493789nfy8xzi1n4.gif"></center><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Blogspot%20Photos/ca-tmccover.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 199px; height: 319px;" src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Blogspot%20Photos/ca-tmccover.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><a href="http://marycunningham.wordpress.com/my-books/castle/"><b><i><font color=blue>"Cynthia's Attic: The Magician's Castle"</font></i></b></a> is the fourth and final book (so far) in the four-book <a href="http://marycunningham.wordpress.com/"><b><i><font color=blue>"Cynthia's Attic Series"</font></i></b></a> written by <a href="http://marycunningham.wordpress.com/about/"><b><font color=gold>Mary Cunningham</font></b></a>, and I'm going to review it for you here on my blog today.<br /><br />The first book in the series, entitled <a href="http://marycunningham.wordpress.com/my-books/the-missing-locket/"><b><i><font color=forestgreen>"Cynthia's Attic: The Missing Locket"</font></i></b></a>was already reviewed for you on my blog <a href="http://cyndes-got-the-write-stuff.blogspot.com/2010/02/cyndes-whats-up-wednesday-book-review.html"><b><font color=forestgreen>here</font></b></a>. <br /><a href="http://marycunningham.wordpress.com/my-books/the-magic-medallion/"><b><i><font color=orangered>"Cynthia's Attic: The Magic Medallion"</font></i></b></a> is the second book in the series, and it was already reviewed <a href="http://cyndes-got-the-write-stuff.blogspot.com/2010/03/cyndes-terrific-tuesday-book-review.html"><b><font color=orangered>here</font></b></a>.<br />The third book in the series is entitled <a href="http://marycunningham.wordpress.com/my-books/bayou/"><b><i><font color=darkviolet>"Cynthia's Attic: Curse of the Bayou"</font></i></b></a> and has already been reviewed for you, <a href="http://cyndes-got-the-write-stuff.blogspot.com/2010/04/cyndes-whats-up-wednesday-book-review.html"><b><font color=darkviolet>here</font></b></a>.<br /><br /><center><img src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Dividers/493789nfy8xzi1n4.gif"></center><br /><br />Before I go any further, let me say that you <i>could</i> read each of the books without reading the others, and <i>still</i> get a lot of enjoyment out of them. However, I <u>highly</u> recommend that you read <u>all</u> four of the books in this series! If you don't, you would be missing out on <u>loads</u> of fun and adventure, plus I think you would <u>really</u> regret it.<br /><br /><center><img src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Dividers/493789nfy8xzi1n4.gif"></center><br /><br /><b><u>The Synopsis:</b></u><br /><br /><i>"Magical costumes, disappearing stairs, and a spooky attic filled with dusty antiques–what more could two, adventurous, young girls ask for?<br /><br />Sebastien the Great, a magician whose fiancée, Kathryn, disappears through the magic trunk, vows revenge. If Cynthia and Gus don't find a missing page from the “Book of Spells,” Cynthia’s family could face financial and personal ruin. <br /><br />Follow this time-traveling duo as they journey back to a 1914 Swiss castle where Eva, Sebastien’s grandmother, gives them clues on where to begin their search. Their journey takes them through miles of tree tunnels, an enchanted garden ruled by a cranky rock monster, and even high in the Alps. <br /><br />They get the surprise of their lives when they're sent 50 years into the future, have a shocking encounter with another set of best friends, and receive a fresh set of clues that could lead to Kathryn's return. But, at what price?"</i><br /><br /><center><img src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Dividers/493789nfy8xzi1n4.gif"></center><br /><br /><object width="500" height="405"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/J4K0fOack4I&hl=en_US&fs=1&color1=0x006699&color2=0x54abd6&border=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/J4K0fOack4I&hl=en_US&fs=1&color1=0x006699&color2=0x54abd6&border=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="500" height="405"></embed></object><br /><br /><center><img src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Dividers/493789nfy8xzi1n4.gif"></center><br /><br /><br /><b><u>My Review:</u></b><br /><br />As I stated previously, this is the fourth and final book (so far) in the four-book <a href="http://marycunningham.wordpress.com/"><b><i><font color=blue>"Cynthia's Attic Series"</font></i></b></a> written by <a href="http://marycunningham.wordpress.com/about/"><b><font color=gold>Mary Cunningham</font></b></a> that I am reviewing here for you on my blog.<br /><br />Once again, our delightful twelve-year-old protagonists are paired up together on an exciting adventure. They embark on an urgent journey to try to find the missing page from the <b>"Book of Spells"</b> that is desperately needed so that Kathryn can be rescued from the year 1864 and returned to her beloved, Sebastien, with whom she belongs. <br /><br />Many of the things that have occurred in this time-traveling episode were familiar, except that <u>this</u> time, Gus and Cynthia have been separated since the previous episode, due to a mistake that took place, and now Gus is <u>frantic</u> to be reunited with her. However, that cannot be accomplished until Annie is returned to <u>her</u> home in <u>her</u> original time period; plus they must also find the missing page from the <b>"Book of Spells"</b>. Furthermore, it is now clear that somehow, <u>everyone</u> and <u>everything</u> is connected to <u>each other</u>, in some elaborate, and delicate puzzle that all traces back to Cynthia's family and the friendship between Cynthia's and Gus's grandmothers.<br /><br />As with all the other episodes, the girls have ultimately time-traveled back in time and have met with relatives and friends from their past, but in <a href="http://marycunningham.wordpress.com/my-books/castle/"><b><i><font color=blue>"Cynthia's Attic: The Magician's Castle"</font></i></b></a>, it will be the first time that Cynthia and Gus have time-traveled <u>forward</u> in time, to a time that is in their <u>future</u>—beyond the time where some of their loved ones have already gone to <u>heaven</u>. It is a <u>traumatic</u> time for both of them, but they learn a lot about themselves and each other during this thrilling conclusion to the series—it's an <u>amazing</u> book!<br /><br /><center><img src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Dividers/493789nfy8xzi1n4.gif"></center><br /><br /><b><u>My Rating: (poor, fair, good, great, or excellent)</u></b><br /><br /><a href="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Comments/Excellent/596953080_122582.gif"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 237px;" src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Comments/Excellent/596953080_122582.gif" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br /><br />I know I've said it before, but I feel that I <u>must</u> say it again: after each book that <a href="http://marycunningham.wordpress.com/about/"><b><font color=gold>Mary Cunningham</font></b></a> writes, her writing gets better and better! Her writing is amazing and so is this book! <br /><br />The characters in this book are well-rounded, believable, and the dialogue flows so smoothly that you'll get lost in it, believing that you're their in the midst of the action, and a part of it yourself. There were parts of this book that were <u>so</u> gripping that I just <u>couldn't</u> put it down; sometimes, it made me want to cry but most of the time, I had a big 'ole smile planted right across my face. Mary knows how to dig deep down inside her characters and make them come <u>"alive"</u>...and she's done that here, in her entire <a href="http://marycunningham.wordpress.com/"><b><i><font color=blue>"Cynthia's Attic Series"</font></i></b></a>, but most especially with <a href="http://marycunningham.wordpress.com/my-books/castle/"><b><i><font color=blue>"Cynthia's Attic: The Magician's Castle"</font></i></b></a>.<br /><br />I would highly recommend this book for children between the ages of 9 and 13 or to anyone who is interested in fun and adventure. I am 50+ years old and I loved every <u>second</u> of this book.<br /><br />This is an <b><i><font color=deeppink>excellent</font></i></b> book—well done, Mary! <br /><br />Anyone wishing to learn more about the author, <a href="http://marycunningham.wordpress.com/about/"><b><font color=gold>Mary Cunningham</font></b></a>, please visit her website by clicking <a href="http://marycunningham.wordpress.com/about/"><b><font color=blue>here</font></b></a>.<br /><br />Also, <b><u><font color=mediumseagreen>don't forget</font>:</u></b> <a href="http://marycunningham.wordpress.com/about/"><font color=gold><b>Mary Cunningham</b></font></a> will be <u><b><font color=cornflowerblue>coming here</font></b></u> <font color=deeppink><u><b>next</b></u></font> for a <b><i><font color=blue>"Guest Author Interview!"</font></i></b> So...<b><font color=deeppink>keep watching!</font></b><br /><br /><center><img src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Dividers/493789nfy8xzi1n4.gif"></center><br /><br />Until next time...stay safe, stay well, and may the Lord bless you all.<br /><br /><i>Cynde</i><a href="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Critters/thCID_A122142574.gif"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 79px; height: 74px;" src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w262/cyndelouwho22/Critters/thCID_A122142574.gif" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br /><br />Please visit my other blogs:<br /><a href="http://cyndesdaybook.blogspot.com/"><font color=blue>Cynde's Daybook</font></a> ~and~ <a href="http://usurper-exposed.blogspot.com/"><font color=blue>Usurper Exposed</font></a>. Thank you!<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://howtothinksideways.com/members/?rid=1638"><img src="http://howtothinksideways.com/members/getimg.php?id=14"></a>Cynde L. Hammondhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15965516045079529435noreply@blogger.com5