Wednesday, May 31, 2017

Meet Book Blogger Katie of Fiction Aficionado




Hi Katie!
Thank you for visiting the Inkwell! I'm so happy to have you here, and we'll get right to it!So...how long have you been reviewing and how did you decide on the theme for your blog? 

Katie says...I’ve been reviewing for about eighteen months at FictionAficionado (
http://fictionaficionadoblog.wordpress.com) but I kind of crept onto the reviewing scene quietly, testing the waters for a little while, not making much of a splash and generally finding my way. But once I started connecting with authors and other bloggers, things really started taking off. I love the way those in the book-blogging community support each other.

There was never any question that my blog would be about fiction and my
love of reading. My official tag line is ‘The power of fiction, the beauty of
words, and the God who made us to wield them for His glory.’ One of my favourite stories in the Bible is when Nathan comes to confront King David about his affair with Bathsheba. Does he launch into a catalogue of David’s sins? Does he ask David what he has done? No. He tells him a story about a poor farmer with a single, precious ewe lamb, and a rich man with a large
number of sheep and cattle. When a traveler came to stay with the rich man, he did not take one of his own sheep or cattle to prepare for his guest. He took the one precious ewe lamb belonging to the poor man. David is outraged and declares that the rich man should die. Nathan’s response is short and to the point: “You are that man.” How convicting! That is the power of fiction. It allows us to step back from ourselves and see a broader picture. It invites us to explore the rich and complex palette of human 
emotions from a place of safety, but then every so often, looks us in the eye and whispers,“You are that man (or woman).” And it celebrates life! The gifts from God our creator, like love, forgiveness, grace, joy, comfort in mourning…
*Ahem* I’ll stop now. J I can tend to get a bit passionate about this topic!

Stories, like songs, connect to our brain in ways that just seem to sink in! Who but God would know better than that?  I am usually listening to multiple audiobooks (one at work, one in the truck, one on my kindle at night) and reading a few stories when I can catch the time. Oh, and writing at least one or two at any given moment. Wouldn't it be nice if all that word juggling burned calories?
OR... trying to figure out what time it is in Australia versus New York?


So add these hours to Greenwich Mean Time and divide it by the fact no one knows what's going on. Then there's Daylight Savings Time. In other words, Katie is trying to sleep when I'm trying to be awake. Maybe. Then add five children. Sigh.

So Katie, if you're still awake, what’s the best part of being a reviewer?

There are so many good parts! I love being able to support authors—when I started, I didn’t realize just how important reviews are for authors now that Amazon is on the scene—and, of course, there’s being able to indulge my reading addiction without breaking the bank. But I think the best part is being part of the author/reader community. I don’t know about anyone 
else, but after I’ve read a good book, I’m just bursting to talk about it, and although Hubby is a reader as well, it’s not often that we read the same things, and . . . well, he tries to be interested, but then his eyes glaze a little and I can tell he’s just indulging me!  Now I have this wonderful community of on-line friends who are more than happy to share my 
enthusiasm!  Although, Hubby still doesn’t get off completely scott-free . . . J

I was pretty clueless myself. I just wanted to write and be published. I didn't
know just how ridiculous it was to think that anyone would notice--just because it was there. I've heard there are more than 500 a day. This is why I'm excited about this new feature promoting book bloggers. Without reviewers, the other two-thirds of the publishing industry (authors and publishers) aren't going to survive. 

What’s the most difficult part of the ‘the job’?

Saying ‘no’! There are so many good books to choose from, and nowhere near enough hours to devote to reading. I have a TBR to last me from here until the next century!

What was the last book you read that you couldn’t put down?

Well, not being able to put a book down is kind of a frequent problem for me!
  Let’s see . . . The most recent book I finished (at the time of writing these responses) was ‘Out of Darkness’ by debut author Erynn Newman. It’s a romantic suspense that really tugs on the heartstrings as well as delivering great suspense.


(Deb quickly makes note of that and moves on...) What do you do when you aren’t making authors happy? aka writing reviews!

I try to keep my husband and children happy, fed, and in clean clothes! We have five children aged from 11.5 years down to almost 5 years, and we’re homeschooling, so there are lessons to teach, books to mark, and students to motivate. Oddly enough, I often have to pull their noses out of books...

What would you like to share about yourself that few people know?

Hmm . . . Okay, are you ready for a story? I still can’t believe I did this, but in 2008, a
choir I was involved in was on a nation-wide TV show here in Australia called ‘Battle of the Choirs’. I don’t know if you’ve ever had anything like that in the States, but it was kind of similar in feel to shows like ‘The Voice’ or ‘So You Think You Can Dance’, just with choirs. And a much smaller pool of contestants. 


Each episode featured four choirs who battled it out before a panel of four judges, firstly with a piece they had prepared themselves, and secondly, with a piece that was given to them on the day of filming that was part of a medley with the other choirs. After performing these, one choir would go straight through to the next round, one would be immediately knocked out, and the remaining two choirs would have to sing a second prepared piece to battle it out for a spot in the next round. Now, The University of Newcastle Chamber Choir is a serious chamber choir. You know, standing in two rows on the stage, singing serious music from the 1500s all the way up to music written by contemporary composers. We weren’t strangers to competitions—had actually been quite successful in the ones we had entered in the past—but this competition was going to require us to choose popular songs (eek!), which would then be arranged for choir and were to be performed WITH ACTIONS, otherwise known as choral-ography! I think my exact words to our conductor were, “Are you nuts? This is so not us. We’ll embarrass ourselves!” I should also mention that by this stage, Hubby and I had three kids—our eldest daughter was a bit over two years old, and I had recently given birth to twins—so I wasn’t actually singing in the choir (although Hubby still was, and they asked me to join back in for the competition). The twins would only be 5-6 months old at the time of filming, which would be an all-day affair in Sydney (two hours south of us), but I thought, “We’ll be dropped after the first episode anyway. I might as well agree.”
Ha! Little did I know…

To cut a long story short, we made it through to the next round. And the round after that. And to the semi-finals. AND TO THE FINALS! They were absolutely crazy days, at the studio for twelve hours rehearsing and filming. (There were a couple of weeks between the filming of earlier episodes). Luckily the backstage crew were completely enamoured with our kids, and there were frequent breaks in filming for the tech crew to go over what was 
recorded and make sure they had all the camera angles and that there were no technical difficulties and what not. Those breaks were breast-feeding breaks, play with the toddler breaks, make sure they’re having a nap breaks!
I look back now and wonder how on earth I did it. WHY on earth I did it. But it was a once in a lifetime experience. And . . . we actually won! Out of an original pool of about 24 choirs, we won! If you want to get a feel for what it was like, here are the three best clips from YouTube.
Singing ‘Purple Haze’ by Jimi Hendrix (yes, we really did that!) 
Singing ‘Straight to my Heart’ by Sting https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MvzVDh8jByY 
(yes, that’s me with one of the twins at 1:37 and then my sister sitting with our eldest on the floor in the next frame. I’m on the far right of the choir when we perform).All three finalists singing ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ by Queen https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s5QZn2iiazc – watch out for the tenor who totally rocks the ‘mama!’ at 1:26. That’s our Paulie!



That's something to look back on and treasure! How cool is that? I'm very impressed--not surprised--but impressed with how much of a time commitment that must have been at such a crazy time of parenthood! I'll be paying close attention to see which of your five starts to excel in musical performance!

What is your favorite setting? (We're back to fiction, by the way). Place and time?  Genre’?

Oh, I couldn’t possibly pick just one! One of the things I love about reading is that you can experience so many different times and places. And I love mixing up my genres—although a little romance is always welcome, no matter the genre! 
J

What’s your favorite movie to watch if you had a rainy afternoon alone? When the afternoon drags into the evening and you had a catered meal coming, what would it be? (Don’t forget dessert!)

If I had a rainy afternoon alone, I would probably go for the BBC Pride and Prejudice mini-series. I have long been a Jane Austen fan, and I looooooove the Regency period (big Georgette Heyer  fan!). If I had a catered meal coming in I would be going for a roast with all the trimmings, even a good old Yorkshire pudding. For dessert, I’m thinking sticky-date pudding. Mmmmmm!

public domain.  Author's Note: all the photos I found online for 
Sticky Date Pudding 
were from Australian Sources!
Katie, besides doubling as Jane Austen... if you could wiggle your nose and be in a new job, position or career, what would it be?

I actually have a good friend who is living my dream life in the UK. She lives in the grounds at Windsor Castle (because her husband is a lay clerk [professional chorister] at St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle) and works as a free-lance professional singer (classical), travelling the UK and Europe
singing the most magnificent music of the last 500+ years in the most 
magnificent places. If a wiggle of the nose was all it took to get that kind of job, then I’m there! (She’ll tell you it’s much harder than that!)

What piece of advice would you offer authors who are just starting out?

Oh, that’s a good question, and I’m going to assume you’re already working on honing your craft. ;-) Just getting your name out there can feel like such an uphill struggle when you’re starting out, whether you’re publishing independently or trying to get that first contract. I’m not sure whether this would be the same for authors in the general market, but for those writing for the Christian market, I would say get involved in the author/blogger/reader community—and I don’t mean advertising yourself. Join Facebook groups, visit book review blogs, comment and interact. Build
up relationships, and you will have an amazing network of people who can support you, answer questions, and point you in the right direction when you’re feeling lost and overwhelmed.

I absolutely agree. I would have quit long ago if it wasn't for my blog-mates helping me along as we all went from barely published to so busy we barely have time to blog! 

Pixabay Free.
Any advice for those readers who are considering becoming reviewers?

I’d love it if all readers became reviewers! You don’t have to have a blog to review books, and authors really rely on those reviews for visibility, particularly on Amazon. Other than actually buying the book, it’s probably the single most important way you can support them. It doesn’t have to be a long review. Just share what you enjoyed or didn’t enjoy about the book—politely in the latter situation!

If you’re thinking about setting up a blog, get involved in the author/reader/blogger community. (Hmm… that advice sounds familiar… J ) Facebook groups are great for. Visit other book bloggers and interact on their pages. Get a feel for what sort of things readers respond to. But above all, be yourself. Bring something uniquely you to your blog.

Oh. And learn how to say ‘no’, even when it almost kills you. Because at some point you will find the number of books you want to review exceeds the time you have available. I guarantee it!

I'll second that! Due to the dreaded algorithm structure at Amazon, reviews are sometimes more important than sales. For additional bits of wisdom from book bloggers, check out my other guests at Debra's webpage and click on the Book Bloggers menu! 

For any reviewers who would like to start out small (ha ha), I'm happy to help. Yes, without shame, I will always be courting reviews and reviewers. Contact me at Debra (at) debraemarvin.com. Or here in comments!  I'm offering a giveaway of Saguaro Sunset -ebook or paperback to one reader/reviewer!

Thanks so much for indulging my nosiness, Katie! You have such a great blog and you are much appreciated! 


















Friday, May 26, 2017

Meet Book Blogger Bree of Bibliophile Reviews



 

Hi Bree! Thank you for visiting the Inkwell! 

Debra asks: How long have you been reviewing and how did you decide on the theme for your blog?
Bree replies: Hi Debra, thanks for having me today. I started reviewing book back in 2015, when my blog was more family focused than book focused. I found myself feeling pulled to review the books more than adding my life and took  a break to revamp the blog in the early months of 2016.  BIBLIOPHILE REVIEWS was born a little over a year ago. My theme is all encompassing so I hope that other Bibliophiles stop by and see a book or author they just have to have in their lives.

Wow! You've done so much in such a short time, really, and I think it's because you really promote the stories you've enjoyed. What’s the best part of being a reviewer?
I love finding the piece in the book to share. I am not a blogger that summarizes the book in a review. That isn’t what authors are looking for. I am a reviewer that finds a part of the book or a character to share about. It is like a treasure hunt where I always find the treasure.

That's a great way to put it! Reviewing can be simple (and, as an author I'll say we'd love more reviews. Simple AND the 'professional' kind!) but it's a special skill to be able to write those awesome reviews that really nail what is compelling about a story! What’s the most difficult part of the ‘the job’?
For me, it is hard to say “no”. I am starting  a new AUTHOR FORM to help make it easier to see if a book would really fit the blog and my reading style. I do enjoy reading more than mysteries and Christian fiction, but sometimes a book just doesn’t jive with me and it hurts to turn an author down.

I completely understand! 
Seriously.
What was the last book you read that you couldn’t put down?
I have really loved reading two books lately. A Perfect Manhattan Murder by Tracy Kiely was cheeky and fun. That is what draws a reader to cozy mysteries, when the humor and characters outshine the shadows of murder.


I also really enjoyed  The Beloved Hope Chest, by Amy Clipston. If there was ever the perfect example of how to conclude a well-loved series, it would be this book. I was in tears not for it ending, but for the story alone. It was very touching to read.
 



 









I love to check in on your blog because mystery is my favorite genre! 
What do you do when you aren’t making authors happy? (Reviews. We live for Reviews.)
My life is a windy Spring day.  I have my daughter Valentina (who is turning 3 next month! look for a blog celebration of books!) and she is obviously my reason for always striving for more. If we aren’t reading, we are outside with the horses and grandma or just walking. Yoga is a habit that I try to incorporate into our lives as well, and cooking. I really enjoy cooking.  And with all of this I continue to work at the school district in town, and have just started back to school for my 2nd bachelor degree.

It sounds wonderful! I know you are treasuring the time with your daughter, but oh my! Wow. Working, being a mom and blogging is enough. SCHOOL TOO!? 
What would you like to share about yourself that few people know?
I come off as an extrovert, but honestly I am an ambivert, where I have strength of both extrovert and introvert.  

That works so well with blogging, doesn't it? 

Help Yourselves to a Croissant
Bree, what is your favorite…setting? Place and time? Genre’?
Oh, this is a tough question. I love a variety of settings for different reasons. I think it comes down to how the author approaches each setting.  If I had the perfect library filled with books (and I didn’t have an eclectic taste) they would be historical fiction, I really love to see the research done for these books. But thankfully, I read any type of time period. Genre- I really enjoy Christian fiction and Cozy mysteries.  

Oh yes! I pretty much picked up my love of history through fiction. Not through school! When I read a good historical, I end up researching the setting and background just to learn more about it.
If you had a rainy afternoon alone to watch a movie what would it be? And what meal would you have delivered if that afternoon included a quiet evening as well?
I adore You’ve Got Mail. That movie will always pick me up or give me a smile. With the movie I enjoy really good Chinese takeout, and ice cream, but don’t tell Valentina!


If you could wiggle your nose and be in a new career, what would it be?
A pastry chef and chef, trained and living in France. Not Paris. A beautiful little village with a darling school, where my bakery could be the hub. I would even have a little library inside. Can you smell the coffee and croissants? 

Yes, I can. Maybe because I watched that American Girl Doll movie GRACE. My granddaughter wanted the 1812 Doll but then Grace came out and she switched. Grace, the American Girl, is a pastry chef who goes to Paris. But I'd prefer the village myself. And I must say, you look like a beautiful French pastry chef. Does that help? OH OH and have you seen The Hundred Foot Journey?  Would that village work for your bakery?

Creative Commons Public Domain

What piece of advice would you offer authors who are just starting out?
Authors, we know that each book is a piece of you. And with that you are entrusting us, reviewers, with that piece. Take time to have it well edited. We want to enjoy reading your book and not be buggered up with issues overlooked. It is rare that a reviewer will actually review poorly based on edits, but it has happened.  And also, please remember that if we didn’t love your book, that you asked for OUR opinion, not for us to agree 100% with you.


Same for new reviewers--
Reviewers, follow the genres you love and as a dear friend reminded me “swim in your own lane”. It is great to see other blogs but don’t strive to have your blog be like theirs. It needs to fit you!

I've learned just how much one person can love a book and the next one can be 'meh' about it.  We all have things that we are going to love and not love in fiction. And ugh. Typos. Ugh. I don't want to talk about it. Even after edits they seem to crawl out and show up AFTER they go out in public. But enough about me...

 
Bree is offering a $10. Amazon Gift Card to one of you who comments here and (click) contacts her on her blog   or (click) follows her on Twitter.  Mention your interest in the comments, and on June 1, one of you will be randomly selected!  We'll post the winner here and Bree will contact you. 



You've been a delightful visitor! Thank you!

via Quozio.com/Pinterest

Follow Bree around Cyberspace at:

Facebook - Bibliophile Reviews
Twitter - BreeReviews
Instagram - Breannagolightly
Website - Bibliophile Reviews



Readers can always practice reviewing by contacting me, Debra E. Marvin, somewhere...maybe Facebook or debra (at) debraemarvin .com
Thanks for stopping in. Have another croissant!

Monday, May 22, 2017

New Boxed Set from Forget Me Not Romances ARIZONA


The ARIZONA boxed set contains two historical and two contemporary novellas from the Forget Me Not authors.   just 99cents or free on Kindle Unlimited

If you'd like to be included in the giveaway, please say so in the comments. Two copies available until June 15, 2017!  Ebook only.

WHY NOT by Debra E. Marvin
Love Puts These Two On the Edge!

Grand Canyon, 1914

Society girl Amber Wynott’s wintry escape to the Grand Canyon provides a chance to pursue her dream and prove she has what it takes to be a successful architect. It doesn’t take long to realize the incredible scenery can’t hide the simmering anger between ‘railroad money’ and the struggling locals.

Which side is master builder Stone Morrison on?

Amber has met her match in the handsome, hard-headed man. He’s been directed to keep an eye on her, but when iron meets iron—oh the sparks! As their unlikely old matchmaker tells them, pride goes before a fall, and this is a bad place to fall. Will danger finally knock some sense into the pair?


BROKEN TOGETHER  by Joi Copeland
Hope drives her back home to Flagstaff, Arizona, until Zoey learns the truth.


His peaceful world shaken, Gawain battles with letting go of the pain that once held him captive.

Will they find healing or will they remain, Broken Together?

Zoey Fuller and Cadan Moss were friends in secret during high school in Flagstaff, Arizona. Too ashamed to admit her friendship with the heavy-set boy, she’d meet him at a coffee shop outside of town where no one would see them. She couldn't risk her reputation by letting any of her cool friends know about her relationship with the heavy-set outsider. Seven years later, she returns to Flagstaff, a new creation in Christ, hoping to make amends with her long-lost friend.

Gawain Moss lost his twin and best friend seven years ago. The tragedy shaking him to the very core, Gawain battles with forgiving the woman who, he believes, took his brother away from him. Finally at peace, he teaches at the same school his brother once attended. And then one day, he runs into Zoey, and his world is turned upside down.


DESERT ROSE by Cynthia Hickey
Nothing matters but keeping her land.


Rose Willingham, oldest sister of four, is level-headed and strong. When her uncle dies, leaving a ranch in Arizona to her and her sisters, she has full confidence they can make the ranch into something to be proud of. What she didn't count on was a snake named Logan Pritchard or a handsome neighbor named Zeke McCammon to both have their eyes on Rose and her land.

One wants Rose along with her land and the other will do anything to possess one or the other.

This is the continuing story of four volumes with each volume continuing where the one before ends, and in the point of view of another sister.


HER CULINARY CATCH by Bonnie Engstrom

Marci had learned to cope with her deformed leg. As the curator of The Bridal Museum, she felt almost fulfilled … until the new chef arrived to oversee the Café Wedd. But, Conrad Thorstrom was beneath her educationally. His minor accomplishments and associate degree didn’t match up to her MBA. How could she be attracted to him?

Besides, she was a gimp, and he was a tall, handsome Swede who dubbed her his Wild Irish Rose. If she was above him intellectually, he far surpassed her in the looks department.





If you'd like to be included in the giveaway, please say so in the comments. Two copies available until June 15, 2017!  Ebook only.

BUY HERE

AND... Forget Me Not Romances offers a monthly newsletter. Sign up and you'll learn more about our authors and our new releases!

Friday, May 19, 2017

Book Review: What to Do When Machines Do Everything


by C.J. Chase

Four years ago, an Oxford University study sent shockwaves around the globe with an estimate that 47% of jobs could be lost to automation within the next 20 years. News sites picked it up with cickbait-able hysteria. Would would happen when half the planet lost their jobs? How would people support themselves? The few with jobs would get rich while the rest of us...? 

Just this spring, I saw reports that automated harvesters for tree-bearing fruits (apples, peaches, etc.) will be coming to market in the next two years. Driverless cars are already being tested. Amazon is developing the means to use drones for same-day package delivery.

Granted, machines have been making life easier since the invention of the wheel or the fulcrum, whichever one came first, and we've still survived. But the world seems poised on the brink of another earthshaking technological transformation on the scale of the Industrial Revolution of 200 years ago. Yes, I may be old enough that I'm not especially worried about where my career will be in 2035 ('ll just be happy to be here in 2035), but I have children who will be working then. Or will they? When I saw a new book, What to Do When Machines Do Everything (by Malcolm Frank, Paul Roehrig, and Ben Pring) had released recently, I was curious enough to pick it up. 


First, let me say that the book seemed geared more to companies than individuals. And these shifts will probably be great for forward-thinking corporations who take advantage of the opportunities that accompany any change. Second, this is a book about technology, so parts of it can be heavy reading. (Or maybe I've just been out of the Information Technology field too long.)

Computers have been around for a couple of generations now. I remember my father bringing home punch cards back in the day. (My mother even made a Christmas wreath with discarded punch cards.) What makes these "new machines" so different from early computers is that they will have the ability to "learn." Early computers were glorified adding machines. (Am I dating myself with that term? My dad had one of those too.) They performed large arithmetic computations, mostly adding, subtracting, multiplying, dividing, and such. But we are now entering the age of artificial intelligence. 

You are probably already using AI, and haven't really thought about it. Take, for instance, a website like Amazon. Sure, put a few Inkwell author books in your cart, and Amazon can tell you with a simply click what the total cost will be. But the company's success is that they do some much more. If you buy (or even just browse) books there for a while, Amazon will begin to make other suggestions for you, based on your prior purchasing. Netflix does something similar, even going so far as to estimate the likelihood you will enjoy a given show. 

Like our phones and our TV sets, more and more of the things we use will become "smart." To quote the authors, "If it costs more than $5, and you can't eat it, instrument it!" Someday you will be wearing smart sneakers.

But what about all those coming job losses? Let me summarize the authors' message for you: relax. Yes, there will be job losses, but they will be offset by job gains. The major concern will be a "skills gap" between the jobs that go away and the new ones that are created. For the near future, machines will artificial continue to be very focused, very specialized for specific tasks. You can get a Roomba for your floors, but an all-purpose robotic maid (like the Jetson's Rosie) is still a long ways off. 

The authors' suggestion is that we should focus on doing what humans do best, that is "double down on being human." Creativity, friendliness, empathy, imagination, relationships -- these are things machines can't provide. 

Enjoy this clip from Star Trek: Next Generation, where an advanced, human-like robot offers a poetry reading of his own original work -- much to the chagrin of the humans listening.





Wednesday, May 17, 2017

Love Notes Keepsake Giveaway



Another Giveaway! Yes, I've decided to celebrate the release of The Secret Admirer Romance Collection for a whole month instead of just a day because I have another prize pack to give away.

Crystal Anne Draper.
Photo Credit: Diane Smithers
For this giveaway, I asked my daughter, Vancouver creative artist Crystal Anne Draper, to design something unique to contain the Love Notes that my heroine, Janet, hides among the items in hero Adam's Emporium in my novella, Love in Store.

Since I already had a public Pinterest board for Love in Store, I created a secret one for the Love Notes Keepsake and invited Crystal to be a member. On our secret board, I pinned the lilac graphic that I had used to create the Love in Store postcard and bookmark, which I also pinned on the board. Plus, all my promotional graphics and memes. Finally, I pinned images that I'd found on other pinterest boards to give her ideas of what I had in mind for the Love Notes Keepsake.

Love Notes Keepsake Exterior,
crafted by Crystal Anne Draper
I left the crafting and materials to Crystal and then waited to see what she came up with. I was quite delighted to learn she was crafting it with leather and using vellum for the lilac image pages. The Love Notes Keepsake is on its way from Vancouver, but Crystal sent photos of what she made.

When you untie the ribbon and open it, you find the Love in Store Love Notes inside:


Love Notes Keepsake Interior, crafted by Crystal Anne Draper

The Love Notes Keepsake Giveaway opens today and closes on May 31st. This gives you plenty of time to enter, just in case you're reading this at work and can't enter until you get back home.




To enter The Love Notes Keepsake Giveaway, use the Rafflecopter form below. If you don't see it, try the one on my Contests & Giveaways webpage.

a Rafflecopter giveaway


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Anita Mae Draper writes her historical romances under the western skies of the Saskatchewan prairie where her love of research and genealogy yield fascinating truths that layer her stories with rich historical details. Her Christian faith is reflected in her stories of forgiveness and redemption as her characters struggle to find their way to that place we call home. Anita loves to correspond with her readers through any of the social media links found at www.anitamaedraper.com.

Readers can enrich their reading experience by checking out Anita's Pinterest boards for a visual idea of her published stories at www.pinterest.com/anitamaedraper.

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How Our Giveaways Work: The Official Rules

We, the ladies of Inkwell Inspirations, would love to give free stuff to everybody. Since we can't, we will often have a giveaway in conjunction with a specific post. Unless otherwise stated, one winner will be drawn from comments left on that post between the date it was published and the end of the giveaway as determined in the post. Entries must be accompanied by a valid email address. This address is used only to contact the commenter in the event that he/she is the winner, and will not be sold, distributed, or used in any other fashion. The odds of winning depend on the number of entrants. NO PURCHASE, PLEDGE, OR DONATION NECESSARY TO ENTER OR TO WIN. ALL FEDERAL, STATE, LOCAL AND MUNICIPAL LAWS AND REGULATIONS APPLY. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED.

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