tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-75832423529988802802024-03-13T03:34:43.285-07:00Closing the StoreMaren Bradley Anderson's Author BlogGallus Gallushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00913268129140816295noreply@blogger.comBlogger232125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7583242352998880280.post-85564606644112323352018-02-14T11:03:00.004-08:002018-02-14T11:03:54.365-08:00February 2018 news from Maren<h1 class="m_6962994124733214736h1" style="background-color: white; color: #202020; font-family: Arial; font-size: 34px; line-height: 34px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;">
Happy Valentine's Day!</h1>
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"Monsters on the Ranch" in Alpacas Magazine</h4>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #505050; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px;">I have a personal essay in </span><em style="background-color: white; color: #505050; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px;">Alpacas Magazine</em><span style="background-color: white; color: #505050; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px;"> this month. I somehow make the birth and death of a deformed baby alpaca uplifting. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #505050; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #505050; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #505050; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px;">There is no digital version of this essay, but here is a link to where you can buy the physical magazine, if you so choose. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #505050; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #505050; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px;" /><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=https://www.alpacainfo.com/store/product-detail?object%3D272&source=gmail&ust=1518721370598000&usg=AFQjCNG6tZJR1xAP3fSkSuCxQebwWYmaGw" href="https://www.alpacainfo.com/store/product-detail?object=272" style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px;" target="_blank">https://www.alpacainfo.com/<wbr></wbr>store/product-detail?object=<wbr></wbr>272</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #505050; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px;"> </span><br />
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<strong>Love for Women Writers Event, <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_1914841707" style="border-bottom: 1px dashed rgb(204, 204, 204); position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">February 24</span></span></strong><br /> </h4>
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Not a Pipe Publishing is kicking off its Year of Publishing Women with a celebration of female-identified writers we love, and I'll be there!</div>
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On <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_1914841708" style="border-bottom: 1px dashed rgb(204, 204, 204); position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">February 24, 2018</span></span>, from <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_1914841709" style="border-bottom: 1px dashed rgb(204, 204, 204); position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">2:00 – 3:30PM</span></span> at Taborspace in Portland, female-identified writers will be invited to the stage and celebrated with readings and love letters from authors and fans. Participants will profess their love and finish the day with truffles and book signings.</div>
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Current featured authors include: LeeAnn McLennan, author of the The Supernormal Legacy series; Kate Ristau, author of the <u>Shadow Girl</u> and Clockbreakers series; Mikko Azul, author of <em>The Staff of Fire and Bone</em>; Maren Anderson, author of <em>Closing the Store</em>; and Jessica Mehta, author of <em>Orygun</em> and <em>The Wrong Kind of Indian</em>.</div>
Gallus Gallushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00913268129140816295noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7583242352998880280.post-37928885343508471452016-12-31T12:44:00.001-08:002016-12-31T12:45:47.899-08:00Maren's 2016 Year in ReviewThis is a year in review post, which is mostly for me. I like to remind myself of how much I have accomplished over twelve months, and maybe compare the actual with what I hoped to accomplish. Last year I made a 100-day and year-long plan for 2016. I hit most of the goals. Here’s a summary:<br />
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Novels </h3>
<ul>
<li>Did lot of promotion for <a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B018CCXC7K">Fuzzy Logic</a> during the year </li>
<ul>
<li>Finished the “Lilith” book in January. </li>
<li>Began edits on “Lilith” in late October </li>
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<li>Wrote first draft of a Fuzzy Logic Prequel spring/summer </li>
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<li>Finished my edits of the prequel in October </li>
<li>Designed a cover for the prequel in October</li>
</ul>
<li>Black Opal Books re-published <a href="http://amzn.to/2eye9Qy">Closing the Store</a> </li>
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<li>Two rounds of edits </li>
<li>Helped design a cover </li>
<li>It was released on 10/22/16 </li>
</ul>
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Scripts </h3>
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<li>I wrote a screenplay with my brother about a drug that sends people to heaven after they die.</li>
</ul>
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Plays </h3>
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<li>Wrote adaptation of Arabian Nights for Apple box Children’s theater for performance in July 2017</li>
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Articles </h3>
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<li>Started pitching articles in earnest this year. </li>
<li>Submitted an article on 12/28/16 to Alpacas Magazine about alpacas in fiction books </li>
</ul>
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Events: </h3>
<ul>
<li>3 live Readings </li>
<li>2 book signings (apart from the readings) </li>
<li>2 TV interviews on Polk Salad </li>
<li>1 live podcast interview </li>
<li>Many guest blog posts. </li>
</ul>
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Also, I have become far more involved in Willamette Writers. Now I am co-chair of the Willamette Writers on the River chapter in Corvallis with Elizabeth Brookbank. It’s a fun, helpful organization. <br />
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And, here are books I’ve read (not in order of anything):</h3>
<ol>
<li><a href="http://amzn.to/2itrwra">The Clasp</a> by Sloane Crosley </li>
<li><a href="http://https//www.amazon.com/Notorious-RBG-Times-Bader-Ginsburg/dp/0062415832/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1483216383&sr=1-1&keywords=notorious+rbg">Notorious RBG</a> by Irin Carmon and Shana Knizhnik </li>
<li><a href="http://amzn.to/2ipiIjq">Every Anxious Wave</a> by Mo Daviau (in progress) </li>
<li><a href="http://waypoint%20kangaroo%20by%20curtis%20chen%20%28in%20progress%29%0A%096.%09strange%20as%20this%20weather%20has%20been:%20a%20novel%2C%20by%20anne%20pancake%0A%097.%09empress%20dowager%20cixi:%20the%20concubine%20who%20launched%20modern%20china%0A%098.%09bossypants%20by%20tina%20fey%0A%099.%09disgruntled:%20a%20novel%0A%0910.%09super%20guy%20—%20%28in%20progress%29%20%0A%0911.%09lots%20of%20writing%20craft%20and%20marketing%20books%0Awaypoint%20kangaroo%20by%20curtis%20chen%20%28in%20progress%29%0A%096.%09strange%20as%20this%20weather%20has%20been:%20a%20novel%2C%20by%20anne%20pancake%0A%097.%09empress%20dowager%20cixi:%20the%20concubine%20who%20launched%20modern%20china%0A%098.%09bossypants%20by%20tina%20fey%0A%099.%09disgruntled:%20a%20novel%0A%0910.%09super%20guy%20%E2%80%94%20%28in%20progress%29%20%0A%0911.%09lots%20of%20writing%20craft%20and%20marketing%20books%0Ahttp//amzn.to/2iRmOUA">Waypoint Kangaroo</a> by Curtis Chen (in progress) </li>
<li><a href="http://amzn.to/2itp2sA">Strange as This Weather Has Been: A Novel</a>, by Anne Pancake </li>
<li><a href="http://amzn.to/2ijzH8R">Empress Dowager Cixi: The Concubine Who Launched Modern China by Jung Chang</a> </li>
<li><a href="http://amzn.to/2itx2db">Bossypants</a> by Tina Fey </li>
<li><a href="http://amzn.to/2ijE3Ni">Disgruntled: A Novel</a> by Asali Solomon </li>
<li>Super Guy by Kurt Clopton (TBR 2017) (in progress) </li>
<li>Lots of writing craft and marketing books</li>
</ol>
<div>
So, a pretty productive year. </div>
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I hope all of you have a wonderful 2017. Keep reading and writing. </div>
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</style>Gallus Gallushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00913268129140816295noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7583242352998880280.post-90036525278404038292016-12-28T15:32:00.000-08:002016-12-28T15:58:52.147-08:00Closing the Store Free Chapter One<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, Geneva, sans-serif;">
Hi Everyone! </div>
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Enjoy this free chapter as a Holiday present from me. </div>
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m</div>
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***</div>
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Preface<br />
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Liz A. Stratton, presidential candidate, peeked from behind the curtain. In front of her stood a crowd of thousands of horny women who had given up sex to show support for her effort to end the war in Mesopotamianstan. They expected her to say something that would inspire them and keep them from going to bed with their husbands or lovers—or both—until the war was over.<br />
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But Liz kept thinking about that…that…man—a secret service agent, no less—who was currently in her room on the bus waiting for her—as she’d left him, she supposed—naked and half-crazy with desire. Honestly, she didn’t know whether she was going back to him once she was done with the crowd. What could she possibly say to those women to keep them on track if she wasn’t even able to contain herself?<br />
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She slumped in a folding chair and flipped through her talking points, not reading them. She was thinking of Dion’s floppy hair, his sexy sunglasses, his lopsided grin, what his cock must look like. She sighed and swore.<br />
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Maybe this sex strike thing was more trouble than it was worth.<br />
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Chapter 1<br />
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Earlier that year:<br />
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Liz Stratton made it a policy not to have bad days, but at 9:15 a.m., this one was already testing her optimism. An overnight blackout had jinxed every electrical device in her house, including her alarm, which unhelpfully blinked 12:00 at her when she eventually opened her eyes. She stumbled to her car to find that despicable yellow light glaring at her, daring her to attempt the highway with an empty tank. Once she was at the studio, her new hairdresser had to rush—because Liz was so late—and tugged on her tender scalp in new and excruciating ways.<br />
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And now, a timid little assistant was informing her that Ethan Falconwright, that day’s show guest, had cancelled. The star’s son had broken his arm and was at the hospital. Liz had to admit that this was a better excuse than she usually got for a last-minute cancellation. But now she had to find a new guest for her show, Spare Me!, who would be interesting and would show up on time—a tall order in Hollywood.<br />
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She glanced her reflection as the girl tugged—yanked—at the back of her head. Liz scrutinized her long, coffee-colored hair for stray grays, but didn’t see any.<br />
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Her tall frame was a tad too long for the chair, but at nearly six feet tall, Liz was used to not quite fitting in the world. She sighed, peered over her glasses at her makeup, and decided that she was presentable to a television audience.<br />
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Her cell phone rang. It was her producer, so she answered it with, “Zeke, please tell me something good.”<br />
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“You’re as beautiful as ever,” he answered, and she had to grin. “Are you smiling? Good. We’ve lined Cal up for your interview today. How’s that for last-minute tricks?”<br />
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“Zeke, you’re a peach,” she replied. “Have her come by my dressing room as soon as she’s here.”<br />
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“She wants to, anyway,” Zeke said. “She says she’s got some great ideas for ‘The Future.’”<br />
He said this last part in a spooky voice that made Liz laugh.<br />
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“That’s Cal,” she said and hung up.<br />
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“Good news?” asked the hairdresser. She shoved a pin deep into Liz’s sensitive scalp.<br />
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“Yes. My friend Calliope Talmadge is going to be on the show today.”<br />
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The girl dropped her comb. “You know Calliope Talmadge?”<br />
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Liz took a closer look at her. “What’s your name?”<br />
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“Amber Hastings,” the girl said. Her hair was chopped in a short bob, and she wore trendy clothing in all-organic cotton. “Calliope Talmadge is a hero of mine. I’ve been a member of WAP since I turned eighteen.”<br />
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Liz assumed that was last year, but didn’t say anything. “I’ll make sure you’re introduced, Amber,” she said, and then winced at the girl’s squeals of excitement. “Now, don’t pull my hair so hard. I’m not a lawnmower, you know.”<br />
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***<br />
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Spare Me! was the highest-rated afternoon talk show on the West Coast and second only after Ellen east of the Rockies. It was named after Liz’s catch-phrase. During a radio interview with a state senator in Arizona, she said, “Spare me!” so much that everyone at the station called her “Spare Me Stratton” from then on. She re-named her radio show The Spare Me Hour with Liz Stratton, and shortened it simply Spare Me! when television finally called.<br />
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Ten years ago, Zeke Rowan heard her as he drove through the Southwest on an assignment for a news show he was assistant producing, and “fell in love.” That’s what he said when he called up her station and demanded a lunch with her that day.<br />
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The short, handsome, soon-to-be producer insisted that he could get her a daytime talk show in LA if only she’d give him her phone number and a handful of headshots. She had done so, though, knowing what she knew now about LA, she’d never be so trusting again. She had been lucky that Zeke had been the real deal.<br />
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At first, Liz had no aspirations for television because she didn’t consider herself beautiful enough for the small screen. Who would want to watch an Amazon interview anyone? Liz had played basketball in high school and had gone to prom with a boy of equal athletic prowess and low social standing. They were the knees-and-elbows couple. She couldn’t imagine being graceful in front of a television camera.<br />
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Zeke was persistent, though, and convinced her to fly out to LA for a screen test—a fake interview with an actor. After an hour in the hands of a talented makeup and hair stylist, even Liz had to admit she looked good. The camera loved her expressive face and caught the loveliness of her blue eyes against her dark hair. Once she relaxed into her typical interview mode, her forceful and lively personality even made the cameraman smile. She was a natural.<br />
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Of course, television was different than radio. A million decisions had to be made about the set, the format, and Liz’s wardrobe. She didn’t know how she would have survived if Zeke hadn’t been there every step of the way, helpful and attentive.<br />
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One of her first shows aired right after Congress reinstated the draft. She invited the local Congressman and any representative of the U. S. Army who would come. When she walked onto stage that afternoon, the two men sat confidently on her sofas. She began by questioning them carefully about the justification for the draft.<br />
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“Well, you see, it’s like this,” said Congressman Miller. “If we have any hope of winning this war, we need to attack both fronts with as much force as we can muster.”<br />
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“Right,” said Lieutenant Archer. “So the army asked the government to reinstitute the Draft so that we could send the reserve and national guard troops home and have fresh recruits for the field.”<br />
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“So, you’re telling me that in order to send the US Army Reserve and National Guard home, you began the Draft, so that you could just conscript them again for as long as you like?” Liz asked. She tried to keep a mocking tone out of her voice, but she wasn’t sure it worked.</div>
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Lieutenant Archer looked a little stricken, so Congressman Miller jumped in. “Now, Liz—”</div>
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“Ms. Stratton,” she said shortly.<br />
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“Uh, right, Ms. Stratton, this is a necessary step in our quest to win this war.”<br />
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“And why do we need to do that?” Liz asked, as innocently as she could.<br />
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“What do you mean?” the congressman said.<br />
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“I mean what I said. Why do we need to ‘win’ this war? What has being in this war gotten us so far? What does it promise to give us if we ‘stay the course’? I’ve always wondered this, and now it seems really important to know.”<br />
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“Well,” said the lieutenant. “I mean, think of the consequences of not winning.”<br />
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“You mean ‘losing’?” Liz spat at him. “What are the consequences of losing, Lieutenant? Giving up ground on a rock I’ll never see? Paying more for gas? I’m already doing that. Being threatened by terrorists? I’m still being threatened by them. Losing Mesopotamianstan democracy? So what? We’re not missionaries, or at least, we shouldn’t be. I don’t feel any safer than I did ten years ago when this thing started, do any of you?” she asked the audience.<br />
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A great “no!” was the reply.<br />
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“Gentlemen? Response?” Liz asked.<br />
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The lieutenant stared at her like the proverbial deer in high beams while the congressman glared at her meanly. Finally, he said, “I didn’t come here to be ambushed by you, Ms. Stratton.”<br />
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“Then you shouldn’t have voted to reinstate the draft or agreed to come on to my show.” Liz stood and stepped toward the audience. “And now, gentlemen, I have some people I’d like you to meet.” She gestured to the wings and groups of women began walking across the stage.<br />
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“This is Soledad, whose husband returned from a two-year rotation in the Middle East six months ago. He’s been drafted and is leaving in a week to go back.”<br />
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Soledad stepped up and shook both men’s hands as she held a squirming infant on her hip.<br />
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“Soledad works part-time to help support their five kids, but daycare is killing her budget. Her husband is an engineer, but the army only pays him a tiny percentage of what he could get at home.”<br />
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Another young woman stepped forward.<br />
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“This is Mindy, gentlemen. Her eighteen-year-old fiancé Bill was killed in Mesopotamianstan a month ago. She’s pregnant with his child.”<br />
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An older woman stepped forward.<br />
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“This is Ann. She had four sons, but now she’s down to a single boy who’s seventeen. The rest were killed in action. She’s terrified that her lone son will be next.”<br />
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“That’s enough,” snapped the congressman. “We had hearings that lasted two months. We’ve heard all these stories and others that were worse. We still decided that the draft is needed. Nothing you can show me will change my mind.”<br />
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“Oh, I’m not here to change your mind,” said Liz. “But perhaps you’re right. These ladies may have the saddest stories, but maybe not the most convincing ones. You may go sit, darlings.” Liz waved them to the front row seats. Then she turned to the opposite wing off stage.<br />
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Four men in suits walked on stage and sat in chairs opposite the couch the congressman sat on.<br />
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“Who are they?” the lieutenant whispered to Congressman Miller who shook his head.<br />
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“Gentlemen, meet Adams, Tappan, DeFord, and Malvadkar of the Winchester Research Institute. They study money in Washington.”<br />
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Miller shifted a little in his seat.<br />
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“Would you tell us what you’ve found, sirs?” she asked.<br />
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“Well,” said Malvadkar. “It’s quite fascinating, really. The amount of money the oil companies are making off of developing the reserves in Mesopotamianstan are quite astounding. There is more oil and natural gas in that part of the world than any other. The American presence in the area has kept OPEC countries from controlling the resource. It’s very lucrative.”<br />
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“That’s nice for the oil companies,” said Liz. “How does that affect Washington?”<br />
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“Oh, there are all kinds of donations to both major parties by oil companies.”<br />
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“Thank you,” she said, turning to another man. “DeFord?”<br />
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“My department researches contractors working on the ‘rebuilding’ of the infrastructure of the area. Again, very lucrative and big contributions to leaders in both parties who decide where the contracts go.”<br />
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“Wow. Anything else?”<br />
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“Well, many Washington leaders are major stockholders in such companies.”<br />
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“Now, wait a minute!” Congressman Miller stood. “Are you accusing me of something? If you are, out with it!”<br />
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Liz’s eyes flashed so brightly that the sparkle could be seen on a thirteen-inch black-and-white set with rabbit ears in Alabama. “Spare me, Congressman Miller,” she hissed.<br />
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The crowd cheered and Miller sat back down in surprise.<br />
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“I could accuse you of taking bribes from the oil companies to vote in favor of this war and of supporting it for the last ten years,” she continued. “I could accuse you of voting in a way beneficial the companies you own stock in, companies that make huge amounts of money not building schools and roads in the Middle East. I could accuse you of taking ‘campaign money’ from Russian sources whose interests in the northern oases of Mesopotamianstan are suspect, as Dr. Adams here has studied. I could use information Dr. Tappan has collected and accuse you and all of Congress of lining your pockets with taxpayer money earmarked for armor and ammo for the troops already in that God-forsaken land, the troops who are the lovers and husbands and sons and fathers of ladies like those who face you in the front row here, and who face you in the rest of the studio audience, and who are peering at you from behind their television screens all across the country. I could accuse you, Congressman Miller, of all these things, but I don’t have to. These things are all true, and documentation proving them are on my website for my viewers to see. The address is on their screens right now. So spare me your self-righteousness, and get off of my stage. Now.”<br />
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Congressman Miller sputtered angrily but then faced the audience, which was jeering loudly. He sat down and scowled at Liz until the hissing stopped.<br />
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“Listen here, Ms. Stratton,” he began. “I will not be ordered around by the likes of you. You and your media-dog cohorts have no idea how Washington works. You haven’t been there. True, it is difficult to extract oneself from the rat’s nest of loyalties. Besides that, many of the people in your audience are probably just as ‘heavily invested’ in those companies as I am because they are commonly part of mutual funds in 401Ks. Most of the things you accuse me of are true, but you forget that not everyone in Washington is the greasy, corrupt slime ball you make us out to be. Some of us actually try to make the broken system work to the benefit of our constituents. That includes protecting them with a strong military. Now, if you’ll excuse me—” Congressman Miller stood, stripping the microphone off of his tie and dropping it to the floor as he left the stage.<br />
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The audience taunted him again as he left. This was fortunate for Liz, who was speechless for the first time in ages. Zeke kept the camera on the audience and not on Liz’s stunned face. The lieutenant sat frozen to his seat, looking so frightened that Zeke signaled a commercial break so he could get both of them off stage.<br />
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It was looked like young Stratton’s finest moment on television, but the congressman’s words stuck with her.<br />
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***<br />
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The day was definitely looking up. Liz sat in her green room, re-reading the last press release from WAP, or the Womyn’s Achievement Party, of which Calliope Talmadge was president. When Liz and Cal were friends at Mt. Holyoke College, you wouldn’t have guessed that Cal was going to take up a cause. For the first two years of school, she claimed that she was majoring in Amherst men. Liz was the one who worked at the school paper and wrote angry letters to the Boston Globe about the treatment of women under the Taliban.<br />
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It took one required Women’s Studies course to change Cal, although her reaction was very different than Liz’s.<br />
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After reading a speech by Susan B. Anthony, Cal stopped “chasing boys.” After reading a book by Gloria Steinem, Cal cut her waist-length strawberry blonde curtain to a bob. Liz wasn’t as drastic. She stopped fretting about what her boyfriend thought about her wardrobe. After all, he was a Philosophy student, always dressed in black, and didn’t know a thing about cut and drape.<br />
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That summer, Cal interned at WAP’s political office in DC while Liz worked at a newspaper copy-editing the ed-op pieces. The roomies reunited the next fall with very clear ideas of where their lives were going. Liz was going to win a Pulitzer by the time she was twenty-five, and Cal was going to be the first woman president.<br />
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Today, Cal tapped at Liz’s dressing room door and peeked in, all grins. “He—ey!” she squealed. “Lizzy!” Cal was the only person in the world who could get away with this nickname.<br />
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“Cally!” Liz squealed in return and the two hugged in the doorway. “Come in, come in! How the hell are you?”<br />
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Cal, still sporting a short blonde bob, but dressed in a trim beige suit and shoes that showed off her sexy calves, perched on a make-up chair. “Oh, Liz. Big doings! Big doings this year! This is the year, I tell you.”<br />
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“What’s up?”<br />
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“WAP is going to have a candidate for president this year!”<br />
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“No way! You’re kidding! Cal, I’m so pleased for you!” Liz leaped up and hugged her friend. “You will be fabulous!”<br />
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Cal laughed. “No, no, you misunderstand! I’m not running. We have a much better candidate in mind.”<br />
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“Really?” Liz asked. “Who?”<br />
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Cal got a sly look in her eye.<br />
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“Okay, Cal. Spill it. Who’s your candidate?”<br />
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Cal drum-rolled on the make-up table, then leaned in to whisper into Liz’s ear: “You.”<br />
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“You’re kidding.”<br />
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“No. Hear me out, Liz.” Cal tucked her legs underneath her and leaned in. She had practiced this speech endlessly over the last two days. “The idea struck me when I was in the shower,” she said. “What if the Liz Stratton ran for president? She has the name recognition, the platform, the well-defined political bent. It would be perfect!”<br />
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“Cal.”<br />
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“No, listen before you say ‘no’.” Cal wrinkled her brow. “We could finally end this war.”<br />
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<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, Geneva, sans-serif;">
Cal knew just which buttons to push to convince Liz. The “It’s your civic duty” line wouldn’t have worked, but Cal knew that Liz was angrier about the futile war than anyone.<br />
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Liz’s eyes sparked. “What? How?”<br />
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“Well, that’s our main platform. Our talking point. We bang that drum, get the word out as far and wide as we can. We make an issue out of it so all the candidates have to take a position on it,” Cal said through a toothy grin.<br />
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Liz nodded then smiled. “So, what’s next?”<br />
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“You and I and the WAP team will discuss policy, and you’ll have to study the issues like you’re taking the bar exam. Can you do that?”<br />
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Liz grinned. “Are you actually asking if I can pull all-nighters with my best friend in the whole world? As long as there are Oreos, I can learn anything!”<br />
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Cal laughed. “This is the real reason I picked you, Liz,” she said. “We don’t hang out enough.”<br />
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“Jesus, Cal,” Liz said. “Just invite me out to a movie next time!”<br />
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They laughed and, after the last giggle, Liz looked her friend in the eye. “So, are we going to win?”<br />
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“Oh, probably not,” Cal said casually. “But we’ll make as much noise as we can as we go down.”<br />
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“But, Cal,” Liz said a little urgently. “What if we do win?”<br />
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Cal’ eyes lit up. “Then we’ll change the world, my girl. We’ll change everything!”<br />
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There was a tap at the door, and Liz’s hairdresser came into her dressing room shyly. “Ms. Stratton? You need to be on stage in two minutes.”<br />
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“Yes, yes. I’ll be there,” Liz said, but the girl continued to stand at the door awkwardly. Then Liz remembered. “Oh, right. Cal, this is…” Damn it. What was that girl’s name? “This is my new hairdresser…Amber! Right?” She nodded. “Right. She heard your name and just went to jelly in admiration, didn’t you?”<br />
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Amber blushed, but stepped forward and shook Cal’s hand. “I am so honored to meet you, ma’am.”<br />
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Cal smiled kindly. “I like your hair.”<br />
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Amber’s blush receded and she smiled in pride. “I modeled it after yours,” she admitted. “I’m the president of my WAP chapter in Anaheim. I would love to talk to you about a couple ideas we’ve had about the upcoming presidential election.”<br />
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“That would be wonderful,” Cal said graciously. She pulled a card out of her purse. “Give me a call this week and we’ll talk.”<br />
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Amber could hardly contain her glee. “Thank you, thank you, thank you!” she said as she backed out of the room, clutching the business card to her chest as if it might try to escape.<br />
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Cal grinned at Liz. “You get this more than me,” she said. “Is fame always like that?”</div>
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“Amber is a sweetheart, but if she does your hair, bring a branch to bite on,” Liz said as she glanced at her watch. “We need to get on stage.”<br />
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***<br />
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<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, Geneva, sans-serif;">
The theme music of the show filled the studio and the audience began to clap and cheer. Liz made eye contact with Zeke who gave her five…four…three…two…<br />
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<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, Geneva, sans-serif;">
“And now, here’s the host of Spare Me!, Liz Stratton!” cried the taped announcer.<br />
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Liz took the stage, waving to random people as they stood and cheered for her.<br />
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“Hello! Hello, everyone! Welcome to Spare Me!, the show where…” Liz waited a beat for the audience to hear their cue.<br />
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“…we don’t take any baloney!” they cried happily.<br />
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<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, Geneva, sans-serif;">
“We’ve got a great show for you today. My dear friend Calliope Talmadge, the President of the Womyn’s Achievement Party, is here with a big announcement!”<br />
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<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, Geneva, sans-serif;">
There was genuine applause, not as exuberant as they might have been for Ethan Falconwright, who was presumably waiting for his clumsy boy to get a cast on his arm, but that didn’t bother Liz.<br />
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<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, Geneva, sans-serif;">
Liz looked for Calliope in the wings. Cal winked at her and smiled, signaling that she was ready for the show.<br />
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<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, Geneva, sans-serif;">
Liz spread out her arms. “Here she is, my dear friend Calliope Talmadge!”<br />
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<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, Geneva, sans-serif;">
Cal strode onto stage, waving and smiling as if she were running for president. The ladies in the audience cheered and the men smiled, because, despite her position in life as the short, unmarried leader of a women’s organization, Cal was as poised and beautiful as a movie star.<br />
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<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, Geneva, sans-serif;">
Cal and Liz sat on the comfortable upholstered chairs in the center of the soundstage, a contrast in femininity. Compact and bubbly, Cal was not the picture of a feminist leader, and rangy, athletic Liz did not fit the image of a woman who made her living talking.</div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, Geneva, sans-serif;">
“So, Calliope Talmadge, President of WAP, what are you here to announce today?” Liz asked her friend.<br />
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<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, Geneva, sans-serif;">
“Liz, I am here to announce that WAP will have a candidate in this year’s race for the President of the United States!” The crowd clapped and cheered as Cal smiled. “It gets better,” she said when the audience quieted. “I’m here to announce our candidate today on this show!”<br />
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<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, Geneva, sans-serif;">
The crowd whooped in excitement.<br />
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“That’s marvelous!” Liz said.<br />
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<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, Geneva, sans-serif;">
“It is marvelous, Liz. And the best part, everyone, is that our candidate will be our own Elizabeth Ann Stratton!”<br />
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<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, Geneva, sans-serif;">
The audience erupted out of their seats, cheering and applauding. Some of the younger women were actually screaming and jumping up and down, demonstrating how poorly their bras fit. Liz stood and waved to the crowd, smiling.<br />
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<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, Geneva, sans-serif;">
Then Liz caught Zeke’s eye. She and Cal hadn’t told him what they were planning, so he stood next to the camera with his headset wrapped around his neck and his jaw hanging open like a mailbox lid. She gave him a little wave and he blinked slowly at her.</div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, Geneva, sans-serif;">
He mouthed the word “Really?” and she nodded. He cued a commercial and sat down heavily on the floor.<br />
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<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, Geneva, sans-serif;">
© 2016 by Maren Anderson</div>
Gallus Gallushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00913268129140816295noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7583242352998880280.post-22781912337198514122016-12-19T14:11:00.002-08:002016-12-19T14:11:26.721-08:00Snowpacalypse Three<div class="_1dwg _1w_m" style="padding: 12px 12px 0px;">
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I wrote this in response to something I witness on December 14, 2017 in Portland, the city that shuts down when it snows. Enjoy!</div>
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***</div>
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My daughter and I have to spend the night in Portland because she has an early medical appointment (Don’t worry, nothing serious). We got up<span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;"> here early to avoid the snow and because school was cancelled.</span></div>
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After dumping our stuff in the hotel, we went to the Clackamas Town Center to do some Christmas shopping. When we parked, the lot was white with a crust of snow. By the time we left at 5:30, three inches had fallen. Snowpacalypse had arrived. It took us the better part of 90 minutes to travel the ½ mile to the hotel.</div>
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While we were stuck in this gridlock, I noticed three guys. They were in their late teens, and they were just hanging around the traffic lights. They’d stand on one side of the street, laughing and kicking snow on each other, and then they’d cross and do the same thing. I watched them walk across the bridge over the highway and then come back (did I mention it took 90 minutes to go 2,500 feet? I was kind of bored).</div>
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Then the kids moved to the center median of the road and walked across the bridge that way.</div>
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“Good Lord,” I said to my daughter.</div>
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“What?” She was absorbed in her tablet.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em;">
“Look at those boys. I swear, teenaged boys might be the dumbest people on earth. They could get really hurt.”</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em;">
“Huh.” She wasn’t interested.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em;">
I could not figure out what those boys were doing. I thought about rolling down my window and scolding them. I thought about how horrified their mothers would be to know they were literally playing in traffic. I may even have locked my door when I saw them coming up the road again. Maybe. I don’t know if I am admitting that part of myself tonight.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em;">
It wasn’t until we got across the bridge that I finally understood what was going on. There was a bad snarl at the traffic light where the cars from the off ramp merged with us. One little grey sedan was spinning its wheels, sliding slowly sideways, its driver in a panic. All I could do was ease my car out of range. She was helpless, unable to control the car, unable to get out of the way of other cars. A huge red truck grumbled as it squeezed into my lane to get around her. It was emblematic of the exasperation everyone in all the cars was feeling.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em;">
Then, from up the street, the three boys came running towards the little grey car. They were grinning from ear to ear, their jackets open and flapping behind them like grey capes, their sneakers squeaking in the snow (I assume. My window was firmly shut against the wind.)</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em;">
They flung themselves at the traction-less car and pushed. The nudged and shoved the car out of the intersection and guided it to a place where the wheels caught and the car shuddered and moved on its own. The boys high-fived each other and trotted down the bridge again, looking for more victims to rescue.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em;">
I wasn’t able to roll down my window to cheer at them. They were gone into the dark swirling snow before it occurred to me to fish a twenty out of my purse for them. I didn’t even get a picture or a video that could go viral as a reward.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em;">
But whoever you are, Snowpacalypse Three, know that I am pleased to have shared a snowy bridge with you for an hour and a half. I’m glad to know the world has young people like you in it.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em;">
May the universe reward you handsomely.</div>
</div>
</span></div>
</div>
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Gallus Gallushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00913268129140816295noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7583242352998880280.post-42044449198961793452016-11-11T12:12:00.000-08:002016-11-11T12:12:19.000-08:00Goodreads Giveaway for "Closing the Store"<div id="goodreadsGiveawayWidget211191">
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<br />
<h2 style="color: #555555; font-size: 20px; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; line-height: 20px; margin: 0 0 10px; padding: 0; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/" target="_new">Goodreads</a> Book Giveaway
</h2>
<div style="float: left;">
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/32867973"><img alt="Closing the Store by Maren Bradley Anderson" src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1478295644l/32867973.jpg" title="Closing the Store by Maren Bradley Anderson" width="100" /></a>
</div>
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<h3 style="font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 20px; margin: 0; padding: 0;">
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/32867973">Closing the Store</a>
</h3>
<h4 style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin: 0 0 10px; padding: 0;">
by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5238980.Maren_Bradley_Anderson" style="text-decoration: none;">Maren Bradley Anderson</a>
</h4>
<div class="giveaway_details">
Giveaway ends November 19, 2016.
<br />
See the <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/show/211191" style="text-decoration: none;">giveaway details</a>
at Goodreads.
</div>
</div>
<div style="clear: both;">
</div>
<a class="goodreadsGiveawayWidgetEnterLink" href="https://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/enter_choose_address/211191">Enter Giveaway</a></div>
</div>
I'm giving away three signed copies of <i><a href="http://www.closingthestore.net/" target="_blank">Closing the Store</a></i>!<br />
<br />
mGallus Gallushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00913268129140816295noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7583242352998880280.post-69270162846992869022016-11-10T14:10:00.000-08:002016-11-10T14:10:39.054-08:006 ways (besides a #sexstrike) to react to the election by Liz Stratton from #ClosingtheStore<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="font-size: 12pt;">Liz A. Stratton is the host of </i><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Spare Me!</span><i style="font-size: 12pt;">, a
daytime talk show, and the Presidential Candidate for the Women’s Action Party.
(She’s also fictional, but don’t tell her that.)</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>Follow Liz’s adventures in the novel </i><a href="http://www.closingthestore.net/buy-the-book.html">Closing the Store</a><i>,
in which she calls a sex strike to end a war, and keep watching this blog for more of Liz’s posts. <o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Dear Reader—<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
My esteemed biographer, Maren Bradley Anderson, has asked me
to write a series of blog posts in order to promote our book <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><a href="http://www.closingthestore.net/buy-the-book.html">Closing the Store</a></i>.
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It has been only days since the historic election of 2016, and
I have to say that I am disappointed that my real-life avatar Hillary Clinton
was not elected President. It’s especially painful because she lost despite
winning the popular vote. I’m also a little bitter because her opponent reminds
me of a cartoon character. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Politics and name-calling aside, I know there are people
passionate about causes they feel will be neglected or outright attacked by the
new administration. They should be worried. However, histrionics and
hand-wringing (especially online) are useless. Action is what is needed. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In <a href="http://www.closingthestore.net/buy-the-book.html">Closing
the Store</a>, we document my campaign’s attempt to win an election and end a
war by holding a sex strike. Now, that might seem a little extreme for some of
you, but know that <a href="https://www.pinterest.com/marenster/sex-strikes/">sex
strikes have worked in the recent past</a>. All you need is a group of very
concerned women (and men, too). <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But maybe a sex strike isn’t for you. In that case, try the
following: <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Give to a charity. Here are some of my
favorites:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><a href="https://www.splcenter.org/">Southern
Poverty Law Center</a><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><a href="https://secure.ppaction.org/site/Donation2?df_id=12913&12913.donation=form1&s_src=Evergreen_c3_PPNonDirected_banner&_ga=1.143780277.1221111702.1478813659">Planned
Parenthood</a><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><a href="https://action.aclu.org/donate-aclu?redirect=donate/join-renew-give">ACLU</a><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><a href="https://action.audubon.org/donate/now?ms=s_src-2015_AUDHP_topbanner_button-donate-">Audubon
Society (birds, environment, etc.)</a><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Volunteer <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">a.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><a href="http://www.pta.org/">PTA</a><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">b.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><a href="http://www.feedingamerica.org/find-your-local-foodbank/?referrer=https://www.google.com/">Food
bank</a><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">c.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Local Library<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">d.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Service Organization like the <a href="http://www.msana.com/linksus.asp">Masons</a> or <a href="http://www.elks.org/">Elks</a><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">e.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->A Women’s Shelter (Like <a href="http://www.wou.edu/abbyshouse/">Abby’s House</a> in Oregon)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><a href="http://www.wikihow.com/Run-for-Political-Office">Run for office</a> <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">a.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Yes, you. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">b.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Want the world to change? Then be in a position
to change it. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">c.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Start local. School board. Water council.
Whatever.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">4.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Educate someone<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">a.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Like yourself. Go read a book on the cause you
care about.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">b.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><a href="http://www.getsmartoregon.org/25-years/">Like
a kid</a>.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">c.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Give money to a scholarship at your alma mater
(college or high school). <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">5.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Make a friend with someone outside your social circle.
Maybe WAY outside.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">6.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Write a letter to your congressperson. Seriously,
they <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">only</b> respond to paper letters
and actual phone calls. Find him or her <a href="http://www.house.gov/representatives/find/">here</a>. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
That should give us a place to channel our frustrated
energy. If we can keep it up, we will make the changes we were hoping our
candidate would make for us. If we aren’t at least this self-reliant, we aren’t
very good Americans, are we?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Do you have another idea of something constructive to do? Write
it in the comments below. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Go change the world. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Liz A. Stratton<o:p></o:p></div>
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Gallus Gallushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00913268129140816295noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7583242352998880280.post-27062584966937984662016-10-31T12:51:00.002-07:002016-10-31T12:51:47.574-07:00Review of "Unmentionable" by Therese Oneill <div class="MsoNormal">
This is not a history book. This is not an etiquette book.
This is a well-researched (and humorous) time-travel book. Only, it’s not a
fantasy. Oneill takes you back to the Victorian era and tries to put you into
the shoes (and crotchless pantaloons) of an upper-class lady. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why? Because you’ve wondered. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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I know you’ve wondered. At least, I assume you have because
*I’ve* always wondered: how did Scarlet O’Hara pee while wearing that
dress?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How did <span style="background: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Countess Ellen Olenska</span><span style="font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> keep her skirts clean</span> when New York’s streets were
basically strips of mud? Perhaps Oneill and I are kindred spirits because she
answers those questions that I never knew I needed answered. She acts as a wry
tour-guide/teacher who dispels myths about what life was like for the upper and
upper-middle classes of women in the Victorian era by quoting primary sources. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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And thank heavens for her humor. The “medical” advice given
in the past was truly horrifying. In defense of the Victorians, science was in
its infancy, but much of what “doctors” told Victorian women to do was
contradictory and dangerous. Oneill softens the horror of life 120 years ago
with humor and wit.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
If you are a Vic Lit fan and on my Christmas list, there is
a good chance you’re getting a copy of<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">
Unmentionable </i>from me<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">.</i> Fair
warning. <o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Gallus Gallushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00913268129140816295noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7583242352998880280.post-57555666809510589162016-09-27T16:00:00.000-07:002016-09-27T16:00:06.096-07:00Review of "Clockbreakers" by Kate Ristau<div class="MsoNormal">
In Kate Ristau’s <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Clockbreakers,</i>
Charlie wishes that people would stop feeling sorry for her and just forget
that she is in a wheelchair. Instead, at her eleventh birthday party Charlie
receives a magic key from a stranger that unlocks portals. She is now a
Clockbreaker, and she must cross to another time and place with her friends
Maria and Trent to rescue her father who is lost somewhere in time.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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This book is remarkable not only for its differently-abled
protagonist, but also for the fine exhibition of craft Ristau displays. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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First, Charlie, the protagonist, is in a wheelchair, but she
doesn’t let the disability define her. She’s spunky and fun and determined and
fierce whether her legs work or not. Also, the other characters in the main
plot accept Charlie for who she is and do not lower their expectations of her.
There is no wisp of pity, even when they are carrying her. Even the antagonist
spends more time trying to take advantage of Charlie’s youth and not her
physical limitations. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Ristau builds a world on top of familiar Greek mythology
without either cheapening the original myths or using the old stories as an
excuse to be lazy with her own imagination. She builds a labyrinth containing
the Minotaur, but enlarges the maze so it fills square miles, and moves it to a
vast desert. The original labyrinth was under Minos’s castle, which was not
that huge. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Even the monsters in this book have rich backstories and
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patient soul with cow eyes. He’s a far cry from the virgin-eating half-man,
half-bull prowling Minos’s dungeons. <o:p></o:p></div>
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However, if you want a true indication of how much I liked
this book, here it is: I am handing my review copy off to my eight-year-old,
who has been begging me for it since she saw the cover. I’m sure she will enjoy
it even more than I did. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Gallus Gallushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00913268129140816295noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7583242352998880280.post-59374984237266132016-09-27T10:14:00.000-07:002016-09-27T10:14:17.868-07:00I'm teaching a #NaNoWriMo Prep Course 10/18/16 in Salem, OR<br />
<br />
<h1 class="tribe-events-single-event-title" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #0c5400; font-family: "PT Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 1.7em; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">
“Writing a Novel in a Month: How to Get Started” With Maren Bradley Anderson </h1>
<div class="tribe-events-schedule tribe-clearfix" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 20px 0px 0px; word-wrap: break-word; zoom: 1;">
<h2 style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #0c5400; font-family: "PT Sans", sans-serif; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="tribe-event-date-start" style="box-sizing: border-box; word-wrap: break-word;">October 18 @ 6:30 pm</span> - <span class="tribe-event-time" style="box-sizing: border-box; word-wrap: break-word;">8:30 pm</span></h2>
<span class="tribe-events-cost" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 1.2em; vertical-align: middle; word-wrap: break-word;">$10</span></div>
<div data-title="“Writing a Novel in a Month: How to Get Started” With Maren Bradley - Willamette Writers" id="tribe-events-header" style="box-sizing: border-box; clear: both; margin: 1em 0px 20px; position: relative; word-wrap: break-word;">
<ul class="tribe-events-sub-nav" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14px; line-height: normal; list-style-type: none; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;">
<li class="tribe-events-nav-previous" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; float: left; margin: 0px 5px 0px 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: middle; width: 412.797px; word-wrap: break-word; zoom: 1;"><a href="http://willamettewriters.org/event/willamette-writers-corvallis-monthly-meeting-2016-10-17/" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #106d00; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; word-wrap: break-word;">«</span> “Thinking Outside The Book Box” with Christina Katz</a></li>
<li class="tribe-events-nav-next" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; float: right; margin: 0px 5px; text-align: right; vertical-align: middle; width: 412.797px; word-wrap: break-word; zoom: 1;"><a href="http://willamettewriters.org/event/willamette-writers-portland-monthly-meeting-2016-10-04-2016-11-01/2016-11-01/" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #106d00; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;">Willamette Writers Portland Monthly Meeting – Details TBA <span style="box-sizing: border-box; word-wrap: break-word;">»</span></a></li>
</ul>
</div>
<div class="post-6735 tribe_events type-tribe_events status-publish hentry tag-upcoming-salem tag-ww-salem-2016-17 tribe_events_cat-monthly-meetings tribe_events_cat-salem cat_monthly-meetings cat_salem" id="post-6735" style="box-sizing: border-box; word-wrap: break-word;">
<div class="tribe-events-single-event-description tribe-events-content" style="box-sizing: border-box; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; width: 860px; word-wrap: break-word;">
<div class="gmail_quote" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #444444; font-family: "PT Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.7; margin-bottom: 10px; word-wrap: break-word;">
On Tuesday, October 18, 2016, 6:30 p.m., at the Salem Public Library, Willamette Writers Salem will host Maren Bradley Anderson who will present “Writing a Novel in a Month: How to Get Started.”</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #444444; font-family: "PT Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.7; margin-bottom: 10px; text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span style="box-sizing: border-box; color: red; word-wrap: break-word;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box; word-wrap: break-word;">Note: this meeting occurs on the 3rd TUESDAY of the month and not on Wednesday.</strong></span></div>
<div class="gmail_quote" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #444444; font-family: "PT Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; word-wrap: break-word;">
<h2 style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #0c5400; font-weight: normal; word-wrap: break-word;">
“Writing a Novel in a Month: How to Get Started”</h2>
</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #444444; font-family: "PT Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.7; margin-bottom: 10px; word-wrap: break-word;">
Do you write under deadline?<br />
Do you want to learn how to write faster and more efficiently?<br />
Do you plan to take part in the next National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo)?</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #444444; font-family: "PT Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.7; margin-bottom: 10px; word-wrap: break-word;">
Join us in an interactive presentation about how to succeed at the challenge of writing a 50,000-word first draft in 30 days. Bring something to write with, and an idea to get you started.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
</div>
</div>
Need more details? Here you go:<br />
<a href="http://willamettewriters.org/event/ww-salem-monthly-meeting-2016-17-2016-10/">http://willamettewriters.org/event/ww-salem-monthly-meeting-2016-17-2016-10/</a><br />
<br />
<br />Gallus Gallushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00913268129140816295noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7583242352998880280.post-33467347304791504192016-09-26T16:19:00.000-07:002016-09-26T16:19:04.926-07:00Sex Strike Novel--Release 10/22/16<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">I'm re-releasing my comic sex-strike novel, <i>Closing the Store,</i> with a thorough edit and new packaging on October 22, 2016. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">It's about a crazy Presidential election that gets crazier and crazier. (Sound familiar?)</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Closing the Store </i>is the story of Liz A. Stratton, talk show host, who decides to run for President of the United States <span style="color: #1a1a1a;">on the platform of
ending a never-ending war. However, during a debate, she is patronized by
another (male) candidate, and she goes off-script, calling for a sex strike to
end the war. </span></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="color: #1a1a1a;">Closing the Store</span></i><span style="color: #1a1a1a;"> is a retelling of a the Ancient Greek farce <i>Lysistrata</i> by Aristophanes, but before you dismiss it as being too
high-brow, know that <i>Lysistrata</i> is
one of the lewdest plays in the classical canon. My book is not as lewd
as the source material, but I'm no afraid of frank descriptions
of…acts…in the story. <span> </span></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #1a1a1a;"><span>I'll be previewing the cover for you soon. So excited! </span></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #1a1a1a;"><span><br /></span></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #1a1a1a;"><span>m</span></span></span></span></div>
Gallus Gallushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00913268129140816295noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7583242352998880280.post-37294726325940908662016-09-06T12:32:00.000-07:002016-09-06T12:32:27.254-07:00Help me pick a title for the Prequel to "Fuzzy Logic"!The Prequel to "Fuzzy Logic" is nearly done! I can't wait to get it to you.<br />
<br />
But I hope that you all can help me with the one last hangup:<br />
<br />
I need a title.<br />
<br />
So I'm having a contest. If I pick your title, not only will you get an e-book of the Prequel, but I'll send you a physical copy of my new/old novel "Closing the Store" when it's (re)released later this year! Plus, I'll thank you in the Acknowledgements of the book for your help.<br />
<br />
Here are the parameters:<br />
<br />
<ol>
<li>Must have the word "Fuzzy" in the title </li>
<li>The events in the book lead up to Meg's divorce, so the title needs to reflect that. </li>
<li>2-3 words only in the title </li>
<li>Post your suggestions in a comment below. </li>
<li>One title suggestion per comment, please. </li>
<li>Enter as many times as you like. </li>
<li>In the event that I pick a title that more than one person suggests, the person who first suggested it will get "Closing the Store," and everyone else will get the Prequel ebook and my hearty thanks in the acknowledgements of the book. </li>
</ol>
<br />
You are all awesome. Thanks so much.Gallus Gallushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00913268129140816295noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7583242352998880280.post-68041282264679617572016-02-26T13:42:00.000-08:002016-02-26T13:42:06.591-08:00Revision Strategies and Your CharactersI wrote this gem for the Willamette Writers. Go check out why I say that NOT telling the reader everything about your character the second he steps onto the page is a good thing. A GOOD thing, I say!<br />
<br />
Visit my guest blog here: <a href="http://willamettewriters.org/2016/02/revision-strategies-maren-anderson/">http://willamettewriters.org/2016/02/revision-strategies-maren-anderson/</a>Gallus Gallushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00913268129140816295noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7583242352998880280.post-75131264446454876932015-12-17T10:47:00.003-08:002015-12-17T10:47:48.746-08:00Free Story through Christmas DayI hit 100 likes on my Facebook page, so I'm giving away a free story. It will be free through Christmas Day, because, Merry.<br />
<br />
To get your copy, go to <a href="https://www.facebook.com/MarenBradleyAnderson/" target="_blank">my Facebook page</a>. That's where the link and coupon code are living.<br />
<br />
If you abhor Facebook, you can <a href="http://www.marens.com/MarensWorld/Newsletter.html" target="_blank">sign up for my newsletter</a> and get the same story emailed to you as a thank you, AND you'll get Story Beasty, the absolute best newsletter about me and my writing around.<br />
<br />
Plus, here's a picture of me and my alpaca El Barto. He's my stud. No, he's a literal stud. :)<br />
<br />
Have a pacatastic day.<br />
m<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cPzcMv23g_c/VnMDCFDR1xI/AAAAAAAAtx8/vZjVDJR2sOI/s1600/Maren%252BBart.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="264" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cPzcMv23g_c/VnMDCFDR1xI/AAAAAAAAtx8/vZjVDJR2sOI/s320/Maren%252BBart.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br />Gallus Gallushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00913268129140816295noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7583242352998880280.post-29057025311281531552015-12-05T12:04:00.002-08:002015-12-05T12:04:27.659-08:00Fuzzy Logic Release Day Contest<a class="rcptr" data-raflid="c71200581" data-template="" data-theme="classic" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/c71200581/" id="rcwidget_6wi5ntyj" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a>
<script src="https://widget-prime.rafflecopter.com/launch.js"></script>
<br />
<br />
It's Release Day for <i>Fuzzy Logic!</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
To celebrate, I'm having a release party at Yeasty Beasty, a pizza parlor in Monmouth, Oregon, from 4-6 PM.<br />
<br />
If you can't make that, you can enter to win a free ebook of <i>Fuzzy Logic</i> by entering the <a href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/c71200581/" target="_blank">Rafflecopter</a> contest above.<br />
<br />
Here are the links you can use to buy <i>Fuzzy Logic,</i> the alpaca romance novel.<br />
<br />
Thank you!<br />
<br />
m<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ss&ref=ss_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=evergreenterr-20&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=1626943737&asins=1626943737&linkId=HOOTYDPH55BZY3A7&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;">
</iframe></div>
Gallus Gallushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00913268129140816295noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7583242352998880280.post-30649712175073025762015-11-25T16:21:00.001-08:002015-11-25T16:21:17.847-08:00Pre-Order #fuzzylogicNovel on ebook<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MXOhqjAsVIM/VkD9YBSdF6I/AAAAAAAAtNk/D2y_zMC-PZw/s1600/FLcoverSmer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MXOhqjAsVIM/VkD9YBSdF6I/AAAAAAAAtNk/D2y_zMC-PZw/s320/FLcoverSmer.jpg" width="226" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Pre-order the ebooks of my <i>Fuzzy Logic</i> today!<br />
<br />
If you like alpacas and romance novels (or know someone who does), check out <i>Fuzzy Logic.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(20, 25, 35); color: #141923; font-family: Helvetica; font-kerning: none; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal;">Kindle:</span><br />
<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(59, 89, 152); color: #3b5998; font-family: Helvetica; font-kerning: none; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B018CCXC7K/ref=as_li_tl">http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B018CCXC7K/ref=as_li_tl</a></span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(20, 25, 35); color: #141923; font-family: Helvetica; font-kerning: none; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal;">…</span><br />
<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(20, 25, 35); color: #141923; font-family: Helvetica; font-kerning: none; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(20, 25, 35); color: #141923; font-family: Helvetica; font-kerning: none; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal;">All other ebook formats: </span><br />
<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(59, 89, 152); color: #3b5998; font-family: Helvetica; font-kerning: none; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.smashwords.com%2Fbooks%2Fview%2F594930&h=6AQE316L9AQFAKZa7gFegI4iri5acawgU34Bqf9BRrVBmrA&enc=AZPQ3NPQ6zxEpeeTvAa52fOSFQtP9RdrDFgRiSyOi4k657M1PWbeW79QVSznqTNuSvFrmQkmo5BS3Wk-zIRW1IOGfp0dTryXzvz0mizkTZ1sgj-lVAzeINNoILoRbqFo9GISnU9wjARY969TMGXOtpEEaN9aO5um4ybQVhzJLktEhY6PSoS9Pvd7KBqX4H486JZcHljELzE-FR8ZUjvziTFd&s=1">https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/594930</a></span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Arial; font-kerning: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal;">e</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 13px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Arial; font-kerning: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal;"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Gallus Gallushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00913268129140816295noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7583242352998880280.post-13985399919008266922015-11-25T16:15:00.003-08:002015-11-25T16:15:14.074-08:00#NaNoWriMo advice on a #WOU blogAre you racing toward the end of NaNoWriMo? I offer a few tips over on the WOU Stories blog:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.wou.edu/woustories/2015/11/25/tips-for-nanowrimo/">http://www.wou.edu/woustories/2015/11/25/tips-for-nanowrimo/</a><br />
<br />
Good Luck!<br />
mGallus Gallushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00913268129140816295noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7583242352998880280.post-10936154104714623272015-11-09T12:11:00.001-08:002015-11-09T12:11:26.386-08:00"Fuzzy Logic" Cover Reveal-on sale 12/05/2015<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MXOhqjAsVIM/VkD9YBSdF6I/AAAAAAAAtNg/vo2-mcov3ic/s1600/FLcoverSmer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MXOhqjAsVIM/VkD9YBSdF6I/AAAAAAAAtNg/vo2-mcov3ic/s320/FLcoverSmer.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Here it is! </div>
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<br /></div>
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All glow-y and purple with an alpaca and pretty people. Oh! And my name on the front. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Soo satisfying. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>Fuzzy Logic</i> goes on sale 12/05/2015. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
If you want more updates, be sure to sign up for my newsletter: http://marens.com/MarensWorld/Newsletter.html </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
m</div>
Gallus Gallushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00913268129140816295noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7583242352998880280.post-22641642290206955552015-10-02T12:54:00.001-07:002015-10-02T12:54:18.140-07:00Before We Knew the Shooter's Name--poem v1.0Hi Everyone-<br />
<br />
This is a first draft, so forgive the lack of lustre. It felt necessary to respond today and polish later.<br />
Enjoy.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Before we knew the
shooter’s name<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>by Maren
Bradley Anderson <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">October 1, 2015, 3:00
PM<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It’s already started: <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>who was the
shooter?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>what did he
want?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>why was he
so angry? <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
No questions about those whose lives he shattered. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
who were they?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>what did
they want?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>are they
angry? <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Is it too terrifying to think of the victims? <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>sitting anonymous
in class <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; text-indent: .5in;">
half listening to
the lecture<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>or teaching,
trying to reach those students who stare out the window <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
whose car had a flat yesterday—not today<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
who was late, but made it in time<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
whose dad was so proud she was going to college <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
whose motives were to get through today<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>so they
could get through tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Whose dog will be lonely tonight?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
People so like those I see every day<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I saw
yesterday in class<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>working in
the library <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>buying
textbooks <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
standing in line at the coffee shop<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>giving me excuses
why they<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
didn’t do the reading<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
or teaching, like me, for the love
of the light lit in a few dim eyes<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I hope to learn the victim’s names, <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>but I won’t
be given the chance. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I hope never to learn the shooter’s name<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>but I won’t
be able to avoid it.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Gallus Gallushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00913268129140816295noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7583242352998880280.post-64099219647040516062015-05-07T20:10:00.000-07:002015-05-07T20:50:52.352-07:00Review of Shadowgirl by @KateRistau<div class="MsoNormal">
A word about fairy tales. <i>Shadowgirl</i> isn’t a fairy tale. This book is about fairies, but as a folklorist, Kate Ristau recognizes that while pixies in <i>Fantasia</i> dance to classical music and make moon-filled dewdrops, this image of the fair folk is a more modern interpretation. In earlier stories, fairies could make fire and move the earth and the trees. Fairies in this book, in other words, are powerful and frightening.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GhewhEWOntM/VUwoNDs1HEI/AAAAAAAAn_I/p4A-uhd0l10/s1600/RistauShadowgirl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GhewhEWOntM/VUwoNDs1HEI/AAAAAAAAn_I/p4A-uhd0l10/s320/RistauShadowgirl.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kate Ristau and her novel <i>Shadowgirl</i></td></tr>
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Ristau gets so much right with <i>Shadowgirl</i>. It’s a tale about a girl trying to solve the mystery
of her mother’s murder, but it’s also a tale about a brewing war in the
fairylands. The main character has the typical YA search for her identity, but
the discovery and the journey are so extraordinary that neither is typical. Even
the love triangle, such a stable trope in the literary world, gets an expert
twirl so it lands on its head.</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Ristau takes our mundane world—the book is set in modern
Ireland—and makes it a place of darkness and mystery to Ain<span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: "Lucida Grande";">é</span>, the
protagonist who has lived her whole life in the land of the fairies and has
never seen a shadow. She has dreams of her mother’s murder in the Shadowlands—that’s
what fairies call our world—so she crosses in secret to find out once and for
all what happened when she was taken as a child to live with the fairies.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Also, I’m pleased to say that Ristau’s plot swerved in
directions that surprised me. I didn’t foresee the plot twists, I didn’t guess
the ending, and I was lead merrily astray until the end. It was awesome. The
last time that happened to me with a YA book was the first <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Harry Potter</i>. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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The only criticism I have is that I didn’t know that <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Shadowgirl </i>is the beginning of a
series. The book ends with a crossing back to Fairyland, but so much is
unresolved. All of the promises of the book are answered, but there is much
left for the next book. Naturally, the next book is not out yet, so readers
will have the same sweet agony I have now: waiting for book two while savoring
the memories of book one. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br />
Find <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Kate-Ristau/e/B00S9YH3KO/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1431054068&sr=8-1" target="_blank">Kate Ristau's Amazon page </a>here.</div>
Gallus Gallushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00913268129140816295noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7583242352998880280.post-55126590881351275602015-04-08T15:33:00.001-07:002015-04-08T15:33:18.532-07:00Awaiting first edits on "Fuzzy Logic" #writingThe Acquisitions Editor at Black Opal Books (BOB) told me last weekend that <i>Fuzzy Logic</i> is on the desk of the editor for first round edits. I had two reactions pretty much simultaneously:<br />
<br />
1) Huzzah!<br />
2) Holy crap!<br />
<br />
The first reaction is self-explanatory, but I'll explain it, anyway. I've been waiting for edits since I signed the contract in August. Now, I know that eight months is not long in Traditional Publishing time, but it is an eternity in New Author time. I caught myself several times imagining that my manuscript had fallen behind a book case, or maybe caught on fire, or was perhaps so horrible that the editor had refused to work on it.<br />
<br />
None of these (except the last, perhaps) were really possible since BOB had an e-copy of the manuscript. However, when my children were born, I have acquired worry-wort superpowers that rival only my mother's. Mostly I keep them in check so my kids can have normal lives. However, sometimes I would slide into this worry slip-n-slide/spiral when thinking about the book.<br />
<br />
The second reaction occurred when it sunk in that now someone with an opinion was going to tell me what is wrong with the book. Of course, I KNOW that there is stuff wrong with my book. I can list about ten things I'm planning on changing as soon as I get the edits in my hot little hands. However, someone with a valid opinion is going to critique my book, and I'm going to have make changes.<br />
<br />
I've been able to take criticism for a good ten years now, but the young writer who equates someone liking my story with liking ME, she still lurks in my deepest heart of hearts. Silly young writer. Get back into your shame box and stay there.<br />
<br />
So, now it's back to waiting. However, I'm sure that I won't need to wait another eight months. <br />
<br />
mGallus Gallushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00913268129140816295noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7583242352998880280.post-14436263962451790212015-03-15T12:00:00.002-07:002015-03-15T12:00:36.571-07:00#4c15 My slides and handout for my talk on Saturday M.05<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8-21B8Zuuyo/VQXU3hZzCSI/AAAAAAAAncg/JNNLw55YEfA/s1600/grammardragon.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8-21B8Zuuyo/VQXU3hZzCSI/AAAAAAAAncg/JNNLw55YEfA/s1600/grammardragon.png" height="276" width="320" /></a></div>
Hi-<br />
<br />
Slides for my talk and the handout are available on the <a href="http://ncte.connectedcommunity.org/2015CCCC" target="_blank">Connected Community</a> part of the CCCC website, but I thought I'd provide them here, too, especially for those of you who don't have access to the NCTE website. Or are just lazy. I get that, too.<br />
<br />
Melliferous, the Grammar Dragon makes an appearance in the slide stack. Just so you know, this is a (stock) artist's rendition of Melliferous. No one has been able to get him to sit for a portrait, despite his old mother's pleas for "just one good picture to remember you by." <br />
<br />
I'd love to see you all at the actual talk, too. We're session M.05 on Saturday.<br />
<br />
Enjoy!<br />
<br />
"Knock, Knock. Who's There: Humorous Approaches to Teaching Grammar"<br />
<a href="https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/10615079/CCCC2015/KnockKnock_shared.pptx" target="_blank">Slides for my talk</a> --Just what it says. <br />
<a href="https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/10615079/CCCC2015/ResourcesforCYOA-4C15-Anderson.docx" target="_blank">Handout</a> --Resources, links, a reference list, and a coupon for a free ebook. Gallus Gallushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00913268129140816295noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7583242352998880280.post-51933323939413855582015-03-11T12:53:00.000-07:002015-03-11T12:53:02.310-07:00Not much happening, so I'm writing reviews...You, loyal reader, may have noticed that I'm writing lots of little reviews these days. I'm writing reviews because it's good for me as a writer to think about why I like certain books, why I admire certain authors, and how I can make my writing better. Reviews help me do this to an extent.<br />
<br />
Also, I'm still waiting for my first round of edits on <i>Fuzzy Logic</i>, my romance on an alpaca farm book. Because I know the edits are coming any time (and have been for months), I'm loathe to start any really big projects. I have, anyway (look for a book with Lilith of myth in the future), but it's hard to really get into a project when you know that there's something huge looming in the future.<br />
<br />
That's my excuse, anyway. It seems lame now that I've written it down.<br />
<br />
If you want some excitment, take a look at my friend Kate Ristau's blog: <a href="http://kateristau.com/">http://kateristau.com/</a> Her book <i>Shadow Girl</i> is due out May 5, 2015, and her cover is posted on her blog. She's awesome, and her book is awesome. So awesome.<br />
<br />
mGallus Gallushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00913268129140816295noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7583242352998880280.post-65363163326319658342015-03-11T12:46:00.001-07:002015-03-11T12:46:36.893-07:00Review of @AimeeBender 's "Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake" <div class="MsoNormal">
The main character can taste the emotions of the people who
make the food she eats. Her brother is trying to literally disappear. Southern
California is a wistful, glaringly pastel backdrop for this book about magic so
ordinary that it seems to escape the notice of everyone around them. <o:p></o:p></div>
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This book is beautiful, understated, dramatic in a quiet
way. It’s magical realism at its most realistic. Just a girl who can taste her
mother’s sadness in fresh-baked lemon cake. <o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
(5 stars on Goodreads)<br />
<br />
Here's the link to my Goodreads review: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/321315769">https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/321315769</a>Gallus Gallushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00913268129140816295noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7583242352998880280.post-33004554928643616392015-02-26T12:38:00.002-08:002015-02-26T12:38:57.923-08:00Review of The Strange and Beautiful Sorrows of Ava Lavender by Leslye WaltonI like magical realism. I like a story about a girl (Ava) with wings who isn't an angel, a super hero, or a thing that has to be explained or forced to conform. I like a book-long metaphor that isn't explained. I like the nod to “A Very Old Man With Enormous Wings.”<br />
<br />
But, I don’t think the reader needed the backstory at the front of the book. The great-aunt who turned into a bird when her love affair soured. The great-uncle, also killed with/by love, whose ghost followed the family. Wonderful characters and stories, but stories that could have been better woven into Ava’s story, rather than laid out in front of it.<br />
<br />
(Incidentally, this criticism may be coming from my burnout on stories set in 1850-1910. I’m tired of trash-cluttered city streets lined by tenements and covered in horse-shit. It was the bad luck of this book to be the latest 19th century origin-story novel that I read.)<br />
<br />
My only other criticism for this book is that I was aghast to find out “Ava Lavender” is a YA novel given the horrifying way Ava is violated at the end of the book, which is difficult to discuss without a spoiler. I think this criticism points more to the fact that my kids are very young, and I can’t imagine them reading something like this. This is the age of “Twilight” and “Hunger Games,” though, so perhaps I am the one out side of the norm. Kids, and YA readers especially, have been pampered for so long, when what they seem to crave is Grimm fairy tales, the grimmer the better.<br />
<br />
Still. I like a story about a girl with wings and no explanation.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
Gallus Gallushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00913268129140816295noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7583242352998880280.post-82565430657872759732015-02-20T13:55:00.001-08:002015-02-20T13:55:31.605-08:00Review of The Serpent of Venice by Christopher Moore @TheAuthorGuy<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18089900-the-serpent-of-venice" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px;"><img alt="The Serpent of Venice" border="0" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1376934009m/18089900.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18089900-the-serpent-of-venice">The Serpent of Venice</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/16218.Christopher_Moore">Christopher Moore</a><br />
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1166178815">5 of 5 stars</a><br />
<br />
I want to be Christopher Moore when I grow up. <br />
<br />
Rather, I want to write the way he does. He is able to smash together my favorite characters from my favorite classic authors and twist them into a story so entertaining and funny and smutty that I still can't get my tongue out of my cheek. <br />
<br />
Lear's Fool from Moore's previous book (called <i>Fool</i>) appears in Venice out of France as an emissary from his wife, Queen Cordelia. Then, Moore combines two other Shakespeare plays, a Poe short story, and twists in a little mystical history so that Marco Polo and a Chinese water dragon have a part to play. Oh, and a ghost. There's always a ghost. This is comparative literature at it most entertaining.<br />
<br />
However, even if the reader isn't an overeducated literature teacher (like me), she can enjoy this book for its silly, smutty adventures, its bloody justice, its convoluted mystery, or its absolutely joyful, uninhibited use of language. Like the Fool, Moore has given himself license to say any- and every- thing and can get away with it because it is cloaked in the guise of humor.
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/1730017-maren-anderson">View all my reviews</a>
Gallus Gallushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00913268129140816295noreply@blogger.com0