tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-49786403726780961692024-03-13T22:51:17.424-05:00Felicia Mason -- From the Heart A site about the writing life and more.Felicia Masonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00156346820645278730noreply@blogger.comBlogger137125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4978640372678096169.post-18458283284371633982021-06-27T16:15:00.003-05:002021-06-27T16:32:17.720-05:00COASTAL CRIMES Anthology<p> I'm delighted to share with you my latest short story. This one is a mystery published in the <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Coastal-Crimes-Mysteries-Teresa-Inge/dp/1479460834">COASTAL CRIMES</a> anthology by Sisters in Crime. There are 15 stories of seaside mayhem, all written by members of the Mystery by the Sea Chapter of SinC. My story is "The Inheritance."</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwLbVlXQCyAbYO_6sVmhgWoR6K5sYatZvs7_HPNo-TpgskvdVYRoHf8_GAqz1rdmZ0wye2ZGNwEIecGl64st0kt1ucKzNYeTOpl-RiPsyr5o86mKJ-fJNT5V04ynCHzKDfJSuElHZHzAwp/s499/Coastal+Crimes.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="499" data-original-width="333" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwLbVlXQCyAbYO_6sVmhgWoR6K5sYatZvs7_HPNo-TpgskvdVYRoHf8_GAqz1rdmZ0wye2ZGNwEIecGl64st0kt1ucKzNYeTOpl-RiPsyr5o86mKJ-fJNT5V04ynCHzKDfJSuElHZHzAwp/s320/Coastal+Crimes.jpg" /></a></div><div><br /></div>Stories are by Angela G. Slevin, <a href="https://www.teresainge.com/">Teresa Inge</a>, <a href="http://www.jayneormerod.com/">Jayne Ormerod</a>,<div>Michael D. Rigg, <a href="https://mariahudgins.com/">Maria Hudgins</a>, Ken Wingate, <a href="http://www.gardnercastle.com/AdeleGardnerNews.htm">Adele Gardner</a>, L.W. "Skip" McLamb, Judy Fowler, Sheryl Jordan, Karen Jean Osgood ... and yours truly!</div><div><br /></div><div>Anthology published by <a href="https://wildsidepress.com/anthologies/">Wildside Press</a>, June 2021.<br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p></div>Felicia Masonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00156346820645278730noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4978640372678096169.post-9947210432499167502021-01-16T18:52:00.000-06:002021-01-16T18:52:07.104-06:00Coming soon to your favorite bookseller!<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMC6wtt6xkh68V-HCoU9kfALSa0OzJqUoGCuk3LRPo9E2u5v3v3-kYhtAdd8HqCr9pMIywbFy9SE-X235F56JfQdtNq2mFCMAmTrOoDRezgOk52_X1GJ5VhmTFSRyF07xzB59pZ6tjJndD/s1730/RosiesCurlWeave+2021.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1730" data-original-width="1122" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMC6wtt6xkh68V-HCoU9kfALSa0OzJqUoGCuk3LRPo9E2u5v3v3-kYhtAdd8HqCr9pMIywbFy9SE-X235F56JfQdtNq2mFCMAmTrOoDRezgOk52_X1GJ5VhmTFSRyF07xzB59pZ6tjJndD/s320/RosiesCurlWeave+2021.jpg" /></a></div><br />I got some great news to kick off the new year. Monique Patterson, VP/editorial director at St. Martin's Press, contacted me this week to tell me <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/125081765X?tag=macmillan-20" target="_blank">"Rosie's Curl and Weave"</a> is being reissued!<p></p><p>It will be a trade paperback "as part of the ongoing promotion for some of our African-American fiction titles," Monique told me.</p><p>Look at this great cover!</p><p>It goes on sale Nov. 16, 2021, at $9.99 but you can <a href="https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250817655" target="_blank">pre-order now</a> at your favorite bookseller.</p><p>The anthology features four novellas by some of my best writer sisterfriends: <a href="https://donnaohill.com/" target="_blank">Donna Hill</a>, <a href="https://rochellealers.org/" target="_blank">Rochelle Alers</a> and the late great <a href="https://francisray.com/bio/" target="_blank">Francis Ray</a>. </p><p>I hope you'll enjoy the read and the reissue! </p><p><br /></p><p>Here's the blurb from the book:</p>STEP INSIDE FOR A DAY OF BEAUTY, LAUGHTER...AND LOVE.<br /><br />Whether you want a cut, weave or braid; a facial, manicure, or massage; there's always a helping hand-and a sympathetic ear-at Rosie's Curl and Weave on 125th Street in Harlem. And sometimes, when you least expect it, love walks in the door. So sit back, relax, put your feet up, and enjoy, as four talented writers render four magical stories about the love of beauty and the beauty of love.<div><br /></div><div><p><br /></p><p><br /></p></div>Felicia Masonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00156346820645278730noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4978640372678096169.post-5373983670831323242020-04-27T21:43:00.001-05:002020-04-27T21:43:57.528-05:00Score!!!!!So, you know that the stay-at-home reality is real when your curbside grocery delivery actually contains what you want and not a substitute!<br />
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Doing the happy egg dance!<br />
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Felicia Masonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00156346820645278730noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4978640372678096169.post-4154068861567740592020-04-17T20:44:00.001-05:002020-07-31T12:03:28.548-05:00Coronavirus ChicA mask and gloves are required accessories in this pandemic. Social distancing -- 6 feet away from other people -- is the new normal.<br />
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Here are some of my coronavirus chic looks.<br />
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<br />Felicia Masonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00156346820645278730noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4978640372678096169.post-84350714483625608602020-04-12T11:52:00.000-05:002020-04-12T11:52:26.149-05:00Hallelujah! He is Risen!Easter 2020 blessings to you!<br />
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Today is unlike any Easter Christendom has experienced. But glory to God, COVID-19 has brought His word into so many homes than normal.<br />
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I began this Resurrection Sunday with Sunrise service at live.wc.org, followed by early service at my church newfaithchurch.org. Then regular morning news shows, "Meet the Press" and "This Week." I spoke with my Mom while the news shows were on. And then watched the live Easter TV broadcast from lakewoodchurch.com.<br />
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In normal times, I wouldn't be able to physically attend all three of those services on the same day because of Houston's drive times and traffic. Because of the coronavirus, it was made possible!<br />
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Glory be to God for enabling this Easter Sunday to be a powerful witness for Him.<br />
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Stay safe. Stay healthy. Wash your hands. Be blessed.Felicia Masonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00156346820645278730noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4978640372678096169.post-29997520373308037612020-04-10T05:00:00.000-05:002020-04-11T00:52:43.366-05:00COVID-19 in the Kitchen My stove has been asking me: "Who are you and what happened to the lady who used to live here?"<br />
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I have honestly done more cooking in the last almost five weeks than I have in the last few years. Here's a bit of what's been on the stove and in the oven.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yes, you CAN put too much ice and frozen fruit into a single-serve smoothie blender. </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chili. Enough for that night and quite a bit in individual containers and put in the freezer. </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bacon omelet. Yum!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Thank you to cousin Christina for the perfect tuna casserole recipe! But in true coronavirus stay-at-home style, I worked with what I had at home. Delicious!<br />
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<span style="background-color: #efefef; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 13px; text-align: left;">Stay safe. Stay healthy. Wash your hands. Wear a mask if outside. Be blessed.</span></td></tr>
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<br />Felicia Masonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00156346820645278730noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4978640372678096169.post-27569980590733437222020-04-09T17:07:00.001-05:002020-04-20T19:42:40.318-05:00Coronavirus and COVID-19 <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Coronavirus by CDC.gov</i></td></tr>
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The worldwide coronavirus pandemic and lockdown has changed the way people live, work, love and mourn across the planet.<br />
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I've been working from home since March 12, the company response began March 11, but I had to go into the office to pick up my work laptop.<br />
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COVID-19, stay-at-home orders and social distancing are the buzzwords. People wearing masks when out in public is a part of this new dystopian landscape.<br />
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For me, personally, I miss seeing friends and coworkers. I miss my scrapbooking and writer pals. And I miss the simple joy of being outside and not feeling like I'm putting my life in jeopardy by doing so.<br />
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My heart breaks for the thousands of people who have died of this pestilence and for their families who are unable to see them or mourn in the traditional ways.<br />
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There are bright moments-- neighborhoods where kids play their instruments on the lawns, healthcare workers doing stay-at-home dances, and seeing how communities around the globe have come together to exercise on balconies, get married with a clergyman yelling out of a window to the couple below. For each of those flashes of joy and resiliency, there are videos of doctors, nurses and healthcare workers in the hardest hit cities breaking down with stress and lack of PPE (personal protective equipment), and lack of staff because their coworkers have COVID-19.<br />
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This, too, shall pass. Living through it is hell. We have hope though. Researchers around the world are working with one goal: find a cure or vaccine. It will take time, but it will come.<br />
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<span style="background-color: #efefef; font-family: "helvetica";"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Stay safe. Stay healthy. Wash your hands. Wear a mask if outside. Be blessed.</span></span>Felicia Masonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00156346820645278730noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4978640372678096169.post-84220705622184402922019-12-06T15:49:00.001-06:002019-12-06T15:49:09.889-06:00Merry happy snowman Got a kick out of this soda display at a Houston-area Walmart.<br />
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<br />Felicia Masonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00156346820645278730noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4978640372678096169.post-46335826009106484282019-11-03T16:22:00.001-06:002019-11-03T16:22:06.286-06:00Bouchercon 2019<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Had a terrific Bouchercon 2019 in Dallas. I presented on a panel with a group of delightful writers. "Civil Wars: North vs. South" on Saturday, Nov. 2 was about the differences between (and among) Northern writers and Southern ones.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Left to right: Moderator Kathleen Kent, David Burnsworth, and moi (all three of us born in Pennsylvania!), Margaret Moseley, Brian Panowich, and Rob Pierce.<br /><br />S.A. Cosby from Gloucester, Va., (top pic because I'm posting via phone) won the Anthony Award for Best Short story! We met in the bookroom after the panel.<br /><br /></td></tr>
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Felicia Masonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00156346820645278730noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4978640372678096169.post-71355812896233868562019-04-05T13:50:00.001-05:002019-04-05T13:50:17.343-05:00IWR: More picsReception with Iceland President <span style="background-color: white; color: #3c4043; font-family: Roboto, HelveticaNeue, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px;">Guðni Th. Jóhannesson and the First Lady, Eliza Jean Reid, (who also founded the IWR); Authors Tessa Hadley and Chigozie Obioma; scenes of Iceland. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #3c4043; font-family: Roboto, HelveticaNeue, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px;"><br /></span>Felicia Masonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00156346820645278730noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4978640372678096169.post-57003755176376110122019-04-03T17:03:00.000-05:002019-04-03T17:03:10.919-05:00Iceland Writers RetreatReykjavik, Iceland.<br />
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<br />Felicia Masonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00156346820645278730noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4978640372678096169.post-3193475496051841662018-12-31T16:21:00.000-06:002019-01-01T16:24:17.974-06:00Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!I made a gingerbread house for the first time a couple of weeks ago. So much fun.<br />
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Felicia Masonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00156346820645278730noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4978640372678096169.post-83912476164943927752018-09-25T20:00:00.000-05:002018-09-25T20:00:13.564-05:00Soothing Water <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kemah, Texas. Saturday, Sept. 28, 2018.</td></tr>
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<br />Felicia Masonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00156346820645278730noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4978640372678096169.post-85481532765222586512018-09-14T14:27:00.000-05:002018-09-14T15:45:51.555-05:00Artist Trading Cards Here are two ATCs created for partners in a Chtistmas ATC swap. Each partner was to get one ATC. Of course, I didn't make mine the same.<br />
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Felicia Masonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00156346820645278730noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4978640372678096169.post-45098479274907114062018-09-11T09:29:00.002-05:002018-09-11T09:29:43.785-05:00#NeverForget<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />Felicia Masonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00156346820645278730noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4978640372678096169.post-62340398187771350512018-08-25T20:53:00.000-05:002018-08-25T20:59:03.507-05:00Killer Nashville: With two top-notch writersJeffrey Deaver, me, Jeremy Finley.<br />
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Said Jeff: "We should write a book and this will be our author photo."<br />
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Felicia Masonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00156346820645278730noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4978640372678096169.post-76944371310090170032018-08-25T14:39:00.000-05:002018-08-25T15:20:12.648-05:00Killer Nashville: Criminal MindsNo, not the TV show, "Criminal Minds," but the best panel of the conference on Crime and Disorders of the Mind.<br />
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Among the six panelists: a cop, a retired Navy command master chief, a former police/investigative reporter, and a forensic psychologist.<br />
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Some highlights:<br />
"Everyone in this room has something they are struggling with. But we don't wear it on the outside," said James Glass. The context there was prompted from an audience question was can someone be pure evil without a mind disorder?<br />
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"Influences in your life will make you capable of evil," said Jason Fort. As an example, he cited a person whose family was slaughtered. That person may not have started with an evil intent but is after total vengeance.<br />
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And from the forensic psychologist: "Some people are missing parts you can't get spares for."<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">L-r: Jason Fort, James Glass, Steven Cooper, Sharon Marchisello, John Hegenberger, and Rick Helms.</td></tr>
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<br />Felicia Masonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00156346820645278730noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4978640372678096169.post-36479987540663857732018-08-24T14:07:00.000-05:002018-08-24T14:07:10.565-05:00Mystery writers gather at Killer Nashville The 13th Annual Killer Nashville conference includes awesome speakers including Jeffrey Deaver and J.A. Konrath, author of the Jack Daniels series. Joe's after lunch Q&A offered this advice: "Have a gimmick." Readers don't have to remember his name or the names of his books, just that the main character is names Jack Daniels.<br />
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And on conflict:<br />
"Characters have to be damaged."<br />
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<br />Felicia Masonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00156346820645278730noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4978640372678096169.post-74272911459291400302017-01-08T14:09:00.001-06:002017-01-08T14:09:20.511-06:00Seton Hill University MFA Mentors at WorkBack at Seton Hill University to teach and mentor in the Writing Popular Fiction MFA program. Mentors have a bit of downtime between sessions. So what do we do? We write! An empty classroom in the Admin building becomes a place to get some work done for an hour or two.<br />
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Paul Goat Allen, Will Horner, me, Anne Harris and Rebecca Drake.</div>
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<br />Felicia Masonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00156346820645278730noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4978640372678096169.post-22353265495460179902017-01-01T02:30:00.000-06:002017-01-08T14:28:27.799-06:00What a year!2016 will go down as the year I spent more time at Sentara Williamsburg General Hospital and with the physical therapy team at TPMG Strive than I did doing just about anything else! Totally unanticipated. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh17HuTpjkx7Z8b4IS8_4Z1Yf6QE2bssumbBGL_QFq0Xz-XRHzOmjwPAScKCQAYvXSRywmfe0BNwNqL6K3dsGkyhGLvJ0VVVZ3cz3niXLV9o5EcUcgsMT_Z6RD7AiaaM73SB7BAwNG52pIh/s1600/me+with+sling+18dec16.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh17HuTpjkx7Z8b4IS8_4Z1Yf6QE2bssumbBGL_QFq0Xz-XRHzOmjwPAScKCQAYvXSRywmfe0BNwNqL6K3dsGkyhGLvJ0VVVZ3cz3niXLV9o5EcUcgsMT_Z6RD7AiaaM73SB7BAwNG52pIh/s320/me+with+sling+18dec16.png" width="179" /></a>In March, a torn meniscus in the left knee had me hobbling around. Then, in late September, I had a hard fall out in the woods doing Master Naturalist stuff on a nature trail. (Which reminds me, I've totally neglected my <i>Brown Girl in the Woods</i> blog!) My constant companion for six weeks was this sling. Not fun for sleeping. And no driving either. <br />
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When I showed up at TPMG Strive, the physical therapists were like, "What are you doing here again?"<br />
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Had to get the hair braided straight back since lifting both arms was out of the question. This pic was Dec. 18, a week before I was released to drive again and to ditch the brace.<br />
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What I discovered along the way ... it's more than a bit difficult to write when you're in pain! I tried to manage with one hand then just gave up. Glad to be out of the sling now.<br />
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Felicia Masonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00156346820645278730noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4978640372678096169.post-25022312440296875912016-01-30T08:00:00.000-06:002016-01-30T08:00:36.950-06:00Co-working space<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUtA9gqi3o5kVztBkN2O5-8CNYBIHyvPTQhsjN5CKDjWh69yIyXWzHTF02HkjvcyyAYJwMd_DnNbztdALir1QasnpvT2SjUk5A4wsXIRwZsNBXOsVMkBAhIfRnB9s6vLu-bIVBekXjdDMI/s1600/Studio9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUtA9gqi3o5kVztBkN2O5-8CNYBIHyvPTQhsjN5CKDjWh69yIyXWzHTF02HkjvcyyAYJwMd_DnNbztdALir1QasnpvT2SjUk5A4wsXIRwZsNBXOsVMkBAhIfRnB9s6vLu-bIVBekXjdDMI/s200/Studio9.jpg" width="112" /></a>Now that I'm a full-time writer (woot!!) I won't be headed home to discover daytime TV. So I've leased a space in a co-working building. <br />
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It's a lovely space in an historic building.<br />
After looking at several places in the last month, I decided on this one. Let the writing begin!<br />
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<br />Felicia Masonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00156346820645278730noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4978640372678096169.post-38397545538300104442016-01-05T17:37:00.001-06:002016-01-05T17:37:13.397-06:00Best Christmas Tree ... Ever!The York County Public Library--Tabb Branch has the best Christmas tree I've ever seen! Book lovers will adore it.<br />
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Yes, there is a more traditional, and taller, tree in the library's front lobby. But this one, near the circulation checkout area, is just awesome. All books! :)<br />
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<br />Felicia Masonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00156346820645278730noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4978640372678096169.post-7907783245572098552015-11-09T18:50:00.000-06:002015-11-09T18:50:05.627-06:007th Annual NaNoWriMo Write-in at TabbThis was our seventh year having a <a href="http://nanowrimo.org/" target="_blank">NaNoWriMo</a> write-in at the York County Public Library-Tabb Branch. It's a delight to host this event every year.<br />
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For 2015, 21 wrimos joined me for several hours of writing, eating and word sprints. We were joined for the first time by our regional MLs, Robin and Kara!<br />
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Here's the room all set up Saturday and waiting for wrimos to fill it.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPlcDqs1hTvLCAfcns-plAxbJpxV8DevegJXKlYFe-SV1mP5luKm5l7ICyoPuoVp8C_xS972-TN7TbSO2gPObat4-OzkYYLqtg703WaoAky60NE33xTNDKwsqcYqNqNrpDO9fSxXb-l4az/s1600/TabbWritein2+2015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPlcDqs1hTvLCAfcns-plAxbJpxV8DevegJXKlYFe-SV1mP5luKm5l7ICyoPuoVp8C_xS972-TN7TbSO2gPObat4-OzkYYLqtg703WaoAky60NE33xTNDKwsqcYqNqNrpDO9fSxXb-l4az/s320/TabbWritein2+2015.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Welcome goodie bags and a sign-in sheet in front. Back table filled with prizes to be won!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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And here's the space filled with writers ready to bang the keyboards and fill their journals with NaNo noveling. These images are courtesy of Cathy Welch from the 1 p.m-5 p.m. event on Sunday, Nov. 8, 2015.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I welcome the group before everyone gets down to the business of writing.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj603szUxMubtfwLMb-spInL7Q8_FVlEU3q0BTbWyEVx9B_-MwDozflXGfm7vJS4AHEPazydRhMGg_hBzp-vy-0ycmq-8fP9azFMZThcWqAhK19YhVyDDb3gEn5iBcaCEFUKaLo_81eGzaG/s1600/TabbWritein3+2015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj603szUxMubtfwLMb-spInL7Q8_FVlEU3q0BTbWyEVx9B_-MwDozflXGfm7vJS4AHEPazydRhMGg_hBzp-vy-0ycmq-8fP9azFMZThcWqAhK19YhVyDDb3gEn5iBcaCEFUKaLo_81eGzaG/s320/TabbWritein3+2015.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Write, wrimos, write!</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkTciKpA8rgs15hyA-oP1468hFE0PW6vLln8IkdPPiCuXgX4bptGv92bfPcwcBmXo6hyphenhyphen6C2xCMhSeEOpmR_5tteGl2rhFFDKmDRAOgNxMmK6alkTp3x25Wy1VNaGl4qfhf-i9miHy_5ScQ/s1600/TabbWritein4+2015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkTciKpA8rgs15hyA-oP1468hFE0PW6vLln8IkdPPiCuXgX4bptGv92bfPcwcBmXo6hyphenhyphen6C2xCMhSeEOpmR_5tteGl2rhFFDKmDRAOgNxMmK6alkTp3x25Wy1VNaGl4qfhf-i9miHy_5ScQ/s320/TabbWritein4+2015.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hampton Roads ML Robin, right, gets words on the laptop page.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_pi8KOPgPQDrm008t8b3LkE7TlpLdhntWcYC7Z7qVWT9q95M6mQZMS-uSYi9ix8KcGAjpKTArEgKNb3t68f0sYEywYoB7IFY7rvqQEQg6UrbNcYaY0oZRB9u-7JOpT74pQoD4-MQpN18h/s1600/TabbWritein5+2015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_pi8KOPgPQDrm008t8b3LkE7TlpLdhntWcYC7Z7qVWT9q95M6mQZMS-uSYi9ix8KcGAjpKTArEgKNb3t68f0sYEywYoB7IFY7rvqQEQg6UrbNcYaY0oZRB9u-7JOpT74pQoD4-MQpN18h/s320/TabbWritein5+2015.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Barbara's having a great time!</td></tr>
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<br />Felicia Masonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00156346820645278730noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4978640372678096169.post-77626631583690318492015-11-09T17:03:00.000-06:002015-11-09T17:03:33.818-06:00Get great reads for $1.99 Nov. 10-17<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBmuljY0XV8OAxJKCLlowlXXLNQz7mT_GoqBvhUt2KVvn9HJcvmEXFmrDUQhKTGsJOetZj563lmCuIT0dsWpAX9rP4k2qEe94kbscwZDClBbQRFmmES8z8Mwq-gzP09bboYstEcMOFzdlh/s1600/Shareable+for+Twitter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="106" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBmuljY0XV8OAxJKCLlowlXXLNQz7mT_GoqBvhUt2KVvn9HJcvmEXFmrDUQhKTGsJOetZj563lmCuIT0dsWpAX9rP4k2qEe94kbscwZDClBbQRFmmES8z8Mwq-gzP09bboYstEcMOFzdlh/s320/Shareable+for+Twitter.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Harlequin, the publisher of Love Inspired and Kimani Arabesque books, is having a one-week special blowout sale on e-books. About 10,000 titles are on sale for just $1.99. They include <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Single-Finds-Wife-Cedar-Springs-ebook/dp/B00PQKKQL2/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1447109786&sr=8-2&keywords=felicia+mason" target="_blank">"The Single Dad Finds a Wife"</a> and <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Fireman-Finds-Wife-Cedar-Springs-ebook/dp/B00GPDUUJC/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1447109786&sr=8-3&keywords=felicia+mason" target="_blank">"The Fireman Finds a Wife."</a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz4eD0btNu9dzI9fLh0JUOdw3XGsnGUVFgSYUgK1oYmPLg7faVx1_gRjjI466CObOHeJAC5t1oF0CJGNlHZ037c9UG9xSmxnrMEh9fLfkqmamhug9KagHHZlvashK6YsymZXhSqgNdMkOz/s1600/Single+Dad+Finds+a+Wife.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz4eD0btNu9dzI9fLh0JUOdw3XGsnGUVFgSYUgK1oYmPLg7faVx1_gRjjI466CObOHeJAC5t1oF0CJGNlHZ037c9UG9xSmxnrMEh9fLfkqmamhug9KagHHZlvashK6YsymZXhSqgNdMkOz/s200/Single+Dad+Finds+a+Wife.jpg" width="126" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXL3s26sJ1cKkSVvq6PYCVkGVLI7wb_hdjQe3GHczVx0zOYWQ4FI9htT7NpW-_lvxQEuRLGBWC-HYtEN4MLh5Yt6YZenn9t-_0WFjlS3cS6jtQysC-NzUrKb8TArHYGjV0xRvJGNVp6tJF/s1600/fm+Fireman+cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXL3s26sJ1cKkSVvq6PYCVkGVLI7wb_hdjQe3GHczVx0zOYWQ4FI9htT7NpW-_lvxQEuRLGBWC-HYtEN4MLh5Yt6YZenn9t-_0WFjlS3cS6jtQysC-NzUrKb8TArHYGjV0xRvJGNVp6tJF/s200/fm+Fireman+cover.jpg" width="126" /></a><span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1447109401090_2951" style="color: black; font-size: 11.0pt;">"Discounted books will be available from November 10<sup>th</sup> – November 17th at Amazon.com, Barnes and Noble, Nook, Google and Kobo
<i>(US only),"</i> according to a release from Harlequin.<i><br /></i></span><br />
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Head over to your favorite online bookseller and get a copy ... or two or three or more! ... before time runs out!<br />
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<br />Felicia Masonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00156346820645278730noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4978640372678096169.post-49396852551061462652015-10-29T08:00:00.000-05:002015-10-29T08:00:00.070-05:00It's NaNoWriMo time! Why I'm a wrimo<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ0t7-szdFF6iTaC8Au_W937JNESorWNp-Iul5LZZ-y6V5a4kto8QnRSlulW5Unla4kRi0e_chmsupQa5EqXwiGWPugvY29L0FsJ1Adsh5jHDAOGd-Q5i6SHDlrU03v9_ptOXOVyvXolkg/s1600/NaNo-2015-Banner.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="118" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ0t7-szdFF6iTaC8Au_W937JNESorWNp-Iul5LZZ-y6V5a4kto8QnRSlulW5Unla4kRi0e_chmsupQa5EqXwiGWPugvY29L0FsJ1Adsh5jHDAOGd-Q5i6SHDlrU03v9_ptOXOVyvXolkg/s320/NaNo-2015-Banner.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://nanowrimo.org/" target="_blank">National Novel Writing Month</a> is a wonderful way to knock out
a first draft of a manuscript. And that’s exactly what you have at the end of
the 30-day personal challenge to write a 50,000-word novel in just a month.
Because 50K is on the short end of actual novel length, you’ll have work to do
after November. And therein is the joy of NaNo. You write without editing or
fixing or fretting for 30 days. And then, when it’s over and you get some
much-needed rest, the core of your novel is there and waiting for you. As
writing guru <a href="http://nataliegoldberg.com/books/writing-down-the-bones/" target="_blank">Natalie Goldberg</a> says, you're "writing down the bones" of the book. </div>
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For those who think perfection is required to draft a novel
and that 30 days yields little of it, consider what <a href="http://noraroberts.com/" target="_blank">New York Times best-sellingauthor Nora Roberts</a> has to say: “I can fix a bad page. I can’t fix a blank
page.”</div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
NaNoWriMo gives you the freedom to just explore whatever
comes to you. You can fix it, flesh it out later when you add the nuances that
aren’t captured in the rush toward the 50K-word finish line. </div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
Personally, I use NaNo to draft novels in a mystery series
I’m writing. Every November I know I will immerse myself in the world of that
protagonist. Later, much later, comes the revision, the editing, the
fine-tuning that makes a messy first draft into a marketable manuscript. </div>
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As for my track record, yes, I’ve had epic fails. My first
NaNo in 2008, was a true disaster. I couldn’t wrap my head around the idea of
not editing or fixing each day’s work. But I got the hang of it and tout the benefits
of the month-long challenge. I come back each new November to do it again, and
again. Entering the 2015 NaNo season, I am 5-4, five wins, four fails. But even
the fail of not reaching the 50,000 words in 30 days is actually a win because
if you write anything at all during NaNoWriMo, that’s more than you would have
written had you not tried at all.</div>
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#nanowrimo </div>
Felicia Masonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00156346820645278730noreply@blogger.com1