tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20442885800664445552024-03-05T01:29:03.432-05:00A girl, a blog, and a dogA nerdy writer... writing.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02352189367264209398noreply@blogger.comBlogger42125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2044288580066444555.post-4349468218744228852014-05-09T23:48:00.001-04:002014-05-09T23:50:23.848-04:00The Dog Blogs I kinda suck at actually maintaining a blog... but it looks like the dog doesn't. Check out his guest blog:<br />
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<a href="http://shellysnovicewritings.blogspot.com/2014/05/sir-poops-and-hair-ball-napping-on-book.html">Two Fur-Peeps and A Writer: Sir Poops and Hair Ball: Napping on a Book Tour</a><br />
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In my defence, I've been a bit busy. Check out the link to see with what. ;)Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02352189367264209398noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2044288580066444555.post-26519138292721551082014-01-13T10:20:00.000-05:002014-01-13T11:48:33.927-05:00A smallish updateIt's been a madhouse here, but amidst the finals, holiday celebrations, and feet of snow, this girl managed a clean sweep on her last semester of college: straight As, with one class being over 100% (not that it really matters, but still nice that I knocked that class out of the ballpark). It feels crazy that I'm finally <i>done</i>, and yet it seems like it took so long to get here. I'm also immensely grateful that I got sick right <i>after</i> finals/holidays; I had a backlogged DVR and a tea stash ready to go!<br>
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So, what am I up to now that I'm not attending classes?<br>
<br>
Well, like the rest of the state/country, I haven't been up to much the last week or so except trying to stay inside and making excessive amounts of snow-cream. Funny, they don't really <i>do </i>that in Northeast Indiana, and Mark said several people at his work tried it after he talked about it. You're welcome, Hoosiers.<br>
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Since it's so warm - which has escalated from 'above zero' to 'above freezing' and is now in the 40s - we took the dog for about a mile walk in the state park. <div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEa62_ML3yFDegEciq_7m-_5TzSRFb5muI-58WoJjV0aql7e5_tgoNcYv5qO8khyphenhyphenBwA9cpJgb6z_kV3Ol2eW7HN24XOzt0RFUle1cM9-0ohVhtlv9rs2Q7k4yXRUZjLJp0AUF28OehhUwi/s640/blogger-image-1419791122.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEa62_ML3yFDegEciq_7m-_5TzSRFb5muI-58WoJjV0aql7e5_tgoNcYv5qO8khyphenhyphenBwA9cpJgb6z_kV3Ol2eW7HN24XOzt0RFUle1cM9-0ohVhtlv9rs2Q7k4yXRUZjLJp0AUF28OehhUwi/s640/blogger-image-1419791122.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">He had lots of fun sniffing at bunny tracks, and we got some much-needed exercise. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02352189367264209398noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2044288580066444555.post-77170602561360009942013-10-21T03:12:00.000-04:002013-10-21T03:12:27.365-04:00<br />
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If you're a college student and just recovered from the haze of midterms, portfolios, and projects due, you know what I mean. If you're not, it looked something like this:<br />
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...and will continue looking like it at every deadline point.</div>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02352189367264209398noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2044288580066444555.post-44822735966982810092013-10-17T14:22:00.001-04:002013-10-21T02:35:51.166-04:00Busy busy! Test posting from my phoneIt's been a busy week at the hunter household. Mark spoke at the Peabody library of Whitley county, and I answered questions. That was the fun part - we used the other vacation days to start winterizing the house, run errands, do writing work... And catch up on some of our shows on the DVR of course. It's Walking Dead time again, people!<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02352189367264209398noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2044288580066444555.post-9111201474035040482013-09-17T02:45:00.001-04:002013-09-17T02:45:21.290-04:00As Mondays go, I've had worse.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://distilleryimage1.ak.instagram.com/51602ff81f5911e3a23322000aaa04c3_7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://distilleryimage1.ak.instagram.com/51602ff81f5911e3a23322000aaa04c3_7.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
I woke up with pain today, but I was able to get through the day with minimal trouble. I did at one point say, "I reallllllyyyy should have stayed home," but I made it. I somehow passed it off as being simply tired, because everything that I was doing to alleviate the pain (or otherwise just be a lump) ended up making me want to nap. Either way, I muddled through class by being distracted and attentive to our workshop, and only ended up being minorly grouchy about one of the pieces we 'shopped that didn't look like it had even been proofread before being turned in.<br />
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After some good and healthy food and taking Bae on a W-A-L-K, I feel quite a bit better. Not awesome, but not bad. I definitely ran into some people having a far worse case of the Mondays.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02352189367264209398noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2044288580066444555.post-48852778443972153782013-09-10T22:13:00.001-04:002013-09-10T22:13:45.905-04:00Slightly Off the Mark: Missouri Girl Scouts Fight For Their Camps My hubs blogs for my cause: <br />
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<a href="http://markrhunter.blogspot.com/2013/09/missouri-girl-scouts-fight-for-their.html?spref=bl">Slightly Off the Mark: Missouri Girl Scouts Fight For Their Camps</a><br />
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02352189367264209398noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2044288580066444555.post-66450516836092700272013-09-07T00:33:00.001-04:002013-09-07T00:35:32.393-04:00Ball python videoThis is a video of my ball, Lucius, feeding. I made it to test out my new camera and uploaded it in case anyone is curious (I assume some people are, since there's tons of similar videos on YouTube).<br />
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Click the cut to view (hidden for those who don't want to see).<br />
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Warning: Rat death. It's the circle of life. Mufasa told me, and he can't be wrong.<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/b1NMqmKMdTs" width="560"></iframe><br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02352189367264209398noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2044288580066444555.post-19893221834687042222013-09-06T23:50:00.000-04:002013-09-07T00:21:19.098-04:00What's in a dog name?<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; height: 390px; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left; width: 270px;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbAy0qcKIs7hhXxinRIkpREkSW5mWJ8CAnLUSaL_Qvl05kbWTbTUtcGOZRBvdpIvTOx_ofLC1g9q0t3zbtxWubmcdxAMqNUIyNGNAnqwGpQnE725o0DWIv_43SO_OFn8zHB3WLTMmUuB0O/s1600/169.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbAy0qcKIs7hhXxinRIkpREkSW5mWJ8CAnLUSaL_Qvl05kbWTbTUtcGOZRBvdpIvTOx_ofLC1g9q0t3zbtxWubmcdxAMqNUIyNGNAnqwGpQnE725o0DWIv_43SO_OFn8zHB3WLTMmUuB0O/s320/169.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"I have no idea what's happening."<br />
<br />
This photo is from our trip to SEMO. Bae enjoyed peeing in three new states.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Most of the time when I tell people my dog's name, if they know me or Mark at all they say something like, "Oh! That's perfect!" I still do get a few blank stares, though.<br />
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Baeowulf came to us as Goliath, the name the shelter gave him. He's huge, so its easy to see why he got that name. There's not really a good way to shorten "Goliath" to a one-syllable nickname for ease of use, and it was hard to say when trying to train him or talk to him. He didn't answer to it yet, and we didn't feel like it quite fit him - he's big, but he's not mean and doesn't have a habit of trying to crush children. <br />
<br />
We ended up wanting to change the name right away, but it took us a week or two to come up with the perfect name.<br />
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The spelling is a different story. We added the "a" for a few reasons.<br />
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Spelled Baeowulf, it can be shorted to Bae, which makes sense for people if even they haven't heard of the epic. Without the a, the shorted name would be Be, and I'd have to answer 9000+ questions about why I named my dog be or hear it pronounced Bee, and bees freak me out a little. <br />
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Secondly, it's a wink to the show Once Upon a Time. We really like my favorite character Rumple's nickname for his son Baelfyre: Bae. We didn't want to name him Baelfyre, so the combination of the two names, Baeowulf, worked for us.<br />
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Now, Bae knows his name. And he know's he's in real trouble when he gets the o-wulf added... though he probably recognizes "wulf" from the amount of people that tell us he looks like a wolf (or werewolf, once).Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02352189367264209398noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2044288580066444555.post-33293442614934580462013-07-20T01:35:00.000-04:002013-07-20T01:35:09.146-04:00It's official: My dog is a river rat.<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; height: 307px; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left; width: 332px;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieYpIKQ1XXHcgx7ULUIznLktFDWIlLqgwp7a2Dju74uD3LI4Bbfnk4gHTV27JlaiklOAuW3rV303W_zi9B6W6vjJ5zw95SyqXPWJvftbAhVx4x_cFFwSvf0lNp9T-XTUUWhstOym2yI7wP/s1600/028.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieYpIKQ1XXHcgx7ULUIznLktFDWIlLqgwp7a2Dju74uD3LI4Bbfnk4gHTV27JlaiklOAuW3rV303W_zi9B6W6vjJ5zw95SyqXPWJvftbAhVx4x_cFFwSvf0lNp9T-XTUUWhstOym2yI7wP/s320/028.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here's a random photo of Bae being cute and knowing it, since I didn't take the camera out on this trip.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Thursday my husband Mark and I did something we do all the time in the summer: canoe at Chain O'Lakes State Park.<br />
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This time, however, we took the dog with us.<br />
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It was a bit of a challenge since the additional shifting weight in the middle caused some balance and steering problems, but luckily for us we're both canoe veterans. We both learned to paddle in those big honkin' all-metal canoes, and I had a good amount of experience paddling with squirming children - including hauling them into the boat.<br />
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Bae took it like a champ. He didn't quite understand the whole thing, but once he figured out it was just like a ride in the car except he could drink water while doing it, he was in. He loves smelling new smells, and boy were there ever new things for him to check out down the canals. He even stayed in the boat when we docked at the side of a channel to adjust his rigged life jacket floatie and help a few boatloads of people who bottomed out.<br />
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Not to get all sappy, but there are few things better than being in a beautiful, scenic place with your best friend and your dog. Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02352189367264209398noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2044288580066444555.post-47317578825394019352013-07-13T17:26:00.001-04:002013-07-13T17:26:16.655-04:00Mark's interview with INC has been posted online<br />
Can be viewed<a href="http://www.indianasnewscenter.com/features/your-country/A-History-of-Service-in-a-Small-Indiana-Town-215252001.html"> here</a>.<br />
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<a href="http://markrhunter.blogspot.com/2013/07/tv-interview-up-online.html?spref=bl">Slightly Off the Mark: TV interview up online</a> Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02352189367264209398noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2044288580066444555.post-8618947762199994832013-07-11T15:42:00.000-04:002013-07-11T15:43:01.253-04:00Turns out you CAN teach an old dog new tricks<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ7Q9qVFtRjiPgwwx1fPRMM_V_sRSWGm7gVBEf5gLWgjBtF3_SLclcwNB0-GQnY571UuvmPIcDTost54xEXFIZJKuZ1mu4SLaXr8REeuhyphenhyphenTIKmGatIq09UWldNuoPzLE4s_VqhCsrzCJCe/s1600/002e.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ7Q9qVFtRjiPgwwx1fPRMM_V_sRSWGm7gVBEf5gLWgjBtF3_SLclcwNB0-GQnY571UuvmPIcDTost54xEXFIZJKuZ1mu4SLaXr8REeuhyphenhyphenTIKmGatIq09UWldNuoPzLE4s_VqhCsrzCJCe/s320/002e.jpg" title="Bae lounging on his couch." width="320" /></a></div>
This is Baeowulf, our German Shepard/? rescue pup, lounging on his couch.<br />
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That's right - when you're 90 pounds and full of allergen-filled fluff, you get your own couch in our house. He knows the difference; he does not get on the regular couch or the other furniture. <br />
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Since we're going to be visiting some relatives and friends at some point this summer (boy was that ever vague), I wanted to make a little cheat-sheet... and brag on our very good boy a little. <br />
<h4>
Commands/words Bae knows:</h4>
<ul>
<li>Sit</li>
<li>Down</li>
<li>Stay</li>
<li>Up (to jump up, up on to something, or up for a treat)</li>
<li>Up-up (to go up and stay up for hugs or a treat)</li>
<li>Come</li>
<li>Cross the street</li>
<li>Outside / Let's go / walk / potty</li>
<li>Car / Get in the car / Ride</li>
<li>Home / Go Home</li>
<li>Mark, Emily, Bitty (a relative's nickname)</li>
<li>Snuggle</li>
<li>Ducky (his toy duck)</li>
<li>Squeaky (his toy that squeaks)</li>
<li>Treat / Cookie (also the TARDIS sound our 'cookie' jar makes)</li>
</ul>
He also knows not to take commands, food, etc. from others unless we give the OK, for safety reasons. He's a pretty good judge of character, and of sensing when we like or don't like somebody. He doesn't really enjoy children, but he tolerates them if we tell him to - as well as protecting them and 'herding' them if he thinks they need it (IE making them stay on the path or out of bushes at the state park).<br />
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I really need to get a video of his insane bouncing before our weekly walks, when we tell him, "Let's go for a ride in the car to go to the park for a walk with Mark!"Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02352189367264209398noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2044288580066444555.post-77098162476567730712013-07-10T16:08:00.000-04:002013-07-10T16:08:08.407-04:00Turning the day aroundI woke up today with quite a bit of fibromyalgia pain.<br />
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Thankfully, I don't have to deal with it as often as many people do. <br />
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However, I pushed through and didn't let it get to me today - mostly because Mark and I went kayaking over the weekend, and I felt like I 'got away' with that. For all I know, I'm just having delayed muscle pain and the fibro is sharing it with the rest of the body. I worked on a few projects, made some food that actually required effort, and did a light workout. I'll sleep like a log later and either feel wonderfully refreshed when I get up, or will be justified in ignoring the alarm clock.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02352189367264209398noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2044288580066444555.post-91212493126918622502013-07-10T03:35:00.001-04:002013-07-10T03:35:18.718-04:00Slightly Off the Mark: Bagpipes, helicopter coming to Albion Fire's 125th...From Mark's blog: <br />
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<a href="http://markrhunter.blogspot.com/2013/07/bagpipes-helicopter-coming-to-albion.html?spref=bl">Slightly Off the Mark: Bagpipes, helicopter coming to Albion Fire's 125th...</a>: The Fort Wayne Firefighters Pipes and Drum Corps and Samaritan helicopter plan to help the town of Albion celebrate its fire department...Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02352189367264209398noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2044288580066444555.post-37558335385283987602013-07-04T14:22:00.001-04:002013-07-04T14:22:20.492-04:00Storm Chaser Shorts award nominationMy husband's short story collection has been nominated for an award! The humor anthology he's in, <i>My Funny Valentine</i>, got a nomination as well. If you could send him a vote, that would really make his day:<br />
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<a href="http://www.efestivalofwords.com/vote-here-for-2013-best-short-story-collection-t397.html">http://www.efestivalofwords.com/vote-here-for-2013-best-short-story-collection-t397.html</a><br />
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It does require a log-in, but it only takes a few seconds and seems like a pretty active place.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02352189367264209398noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2044288580066444555.post-89742920217838096652013-07-01T04:59:00.000-04:002013-07-01T07:34:37.150-04:00"Smoky Days" for KindleI just submitted <i>Smoky Days and Sleepless Nights</i> to Amazon, and it's under review for its Kindle publication. It should be ready tonight or tomorrow, unless I broke something!<br />
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<i>Edit:</i><br />
<i>It's publishing now and will be available in around 12 hours. </i>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02352189367264209398noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2044288580066444555.post-38470358557932423642013-06-30T09:22:00.000-04:002013-06-30T09:24:14.697-04:00Smoky Days release<i>Smoky Days and Sleepless Nights: A Century or so with the Albion Fire Department</i>, the non-fiction book my husband Mark wrote that I edited, is officially ready to go in print version. We've got boxes of 'em sitting in the office here. It's starting to get really <i>real</i> - the radio interview and television interview/feature (not yet aired) are a little overwhelming! And boy is it ever good to be overwhelmed by <i>good</i> news!<br />
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The book is already up on <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Smoky-Days-Sleepless-Nights-Department/dp/1484959477/">Amazon</a>, but will officially début at the AFD's 125th Anniversary Celebration on the 20th of this July. It'll be out as an e-book afterward. For more info you can check out Mark's website <a href="http://markrhunter.com/">here</a>.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGZiaUWNEVVeLgqEAW0y6TQyiCBlQViTLx34mTjUOh2Jkj-AbuEgEFWyHwBPGUJvQHeTs1hFvAJttirFmdCZNQP_l7DkEKmBqTjDzwJGMmOc9wGhqYtaqpA6RRtOYt3AxLPDSqvp9PkZey/s1600/AFD+Book+cover+for+web+big.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGZiaUWNEVVeLgqEAW0y6TQyiCBlQViTLx34mTjUOh2Jkj-AbuEgEFWyHwBPGUJvQHeTs1hFvAJttirFmdCZNQP_l7DkEKmBqTjDzwJGMmOc9wGhqYtaqpA6RRtOYt3AxLPDSqvp9PkZey/s320/AFD+Book+cover+for+web+big.jpg" width="220" /></a></div>
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We've also been getting some progress made on our own side projects; he's working on his beloved science fiction short stories and the sequel to <i>Storm Chaser</i>, and I've been puttering around on my poetry chapbook and designing covers.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02352189367264209398noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2044288580066444555.post-356473738682843832013-05-25T14:21:00.001-04:002013-05-25T14:22:26.061-04:00Slightly Off the Mark: Smoky Days and Sleepless Nights: The proof is here...The hubs blogs about our book project: <br />
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<a href="http://markrhunter.blogspot.com/2013/05/smoky-days-and-sleepless-nights-proof.html?spref=bl">Slightly Off the Mark: Smoky Days and Sleepless Nights: The proof is here...</a>: The proof copy of Smoky Days and Sleepless Nights is in! Here’s a photo Emily shot just after we got it: Just a few more minor corrections and we're ready for first printing!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02352189367264209398noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2044288580066444555.post-82756258913011932692013-05-14T17:33:00.000-04:002013-05-14T17:33:01.594-04:00Oh look, an update!Well, what can I say - it's been a while!<br />
<br />
My medical issues have been getting progressively more complicated; fortunately, I believe I'm now in the hands of a good team of doctors, as we seem to be making progress. Mark and I have delayed our wedding ceremony to be on the safe side. My college graduation has also been postponed.<br />
<br />
But that doesn't mean I haven't been busy! Amidst the various medical-related things I've been doing, I've also been working on writing and editing projects. I've drafted several new poems, revised some earlier ones, and started putting them together into chapbooks. I'm slowly catching up on all the reading I've had to put off in lieu of textbooks and other assigned reading. <br />
<br />
And I've been working diligently on Mark's fire history book, which is now in the last proofing stage. Once we get the print copy proof next week, we'll know if we need one more round of changes or if it's ready to go to print! Once ready, it'll be available at the Albion Fire Department's 125th anniversary celebration. For a sneak peak and more info, check out <a href="http://www.markrhunter.com/">his website</a>.<br />
<br />
As for this blog, I plan to begin blogging fairly frequently. I will be including personal things, <b>especially those things relating to my various illnesses</b>. It should help me to talk about it and keep a better record, but <b>I decided to make it publicly viewable in case anyone can benefit from it</b>. I'll keep using tags so those who want to skip to certain types of posts can do so.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02352189367264209398noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2044288580066444555.post-3180110378491537012012-06-21T01:53:00.000-04:002012-06-21T01:59:25.640-04:00Interview with Storm Chaser Shorts Characters<div style="font-family: inherit;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">I interviewed Chance Hamlin, the star character of <i>Storm Chaser</i> and <i>Storm Chaser Shorts</i> by Mark R. Hunter. His mother Elsa and sister Beth couldn't resist adding in their own commentary, of course.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><i>Storm Chaser</i> is a romantic comedy packed full of adventure and a little mystery; <i>Storm Chaser Shorts</i> is a mixed genre short story anthology featuring the same characters. Both are set in rural, northeastern Indiana and published by Whiskey Creek Press.</span><i><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></i><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div>
<h3 style="font-family: inherit;">
<i><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Do you have any nicknames on the force?</span></i></h3>
<div style="font-family: inherit;">
<br /></div>
<div class="ecxMsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="font-family: inherit; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Chance</span></i><span style="font-size: 12pt;">:
State troopers don’t have nicknames. I’m okay with “Trooper”, “Officer”,
or “Sir”. </span></div>
<div class="ecxMsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="font-family: inherit; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Elsa:</span></i><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> When his father was alive, he
would call Chance “my little trooper” –</span></div>
<div class="ecxMsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="font-family: inherit; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Chance:</span></i><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> Mom …</span></div>
<div class="ecxMsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="font-family: inherit; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Elsa:</span></i><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> That was before he actually
became an officer, of course. I thought he’d be a great accountant … what a
wonderfully safe job.</span></div>
<div class="ecxMsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="font-family: inherit; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Beth: </span></i><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Chance would find a way to make it
dangerous. He’d crunch numbers while on a bungee cord, or something.</span></div>
<div class="ecxMsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="font-family: inherit; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Chance: </span></i><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Beth …</span></div>
<div class="ecxMsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="font-family: inherit; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Beth:</span></i><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> Oh! He’d only take business calls
while hang gliding. “You’ll have to speak up, the wind is in my ears.”</span></div>
<div class="ecxMsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="font-family: inherit; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"></span></div>
<a name='more'></a><div style="font-family: inherit;">
<br /></div>
<h3 class="ecxMsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="font-family: inherit; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<i><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="-moz-font-feature-settings: normal; -moz-font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></i><i><span style="font-size: 12pt;">What about nicknames when you were a rookie?<br /></span></i></h3>
<div class="ecxMsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="font-family: inherit; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Chance: </span></i><span style="font-size: 12pt;">“Rookie”.</span></div>
<div class="ecxMsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="font-family: inherit; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Elsa:</span></i><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> Some of the older troopers who
knew his father did try calling him “Little Trooper”, but he never had a great
sense of humor about nicknames. Apparently he would give them this stare, and
they just … stopped.</span></div>
<div class="ecxMsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="font-family: inherit; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Beth:</span></i><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> Every time he gives me that look
I don’t grow for three months. At this rate I won’t hit puberty until I’m
twenty-three.</span></div>
<div class="ecxMsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="font-family: inherit; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Chance:</span></i><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> Good.</span></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="font-family: inherit; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-size: 12pt;"></span></b><i><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Elsa: Elizabeth Marie!</span></i></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="font-family: inherit; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Beth:
</span></i><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Allie
called him a Nazi, because of the blondness, and the uniform thing. It’s not
the first time he got called that – always by other people he was arresting.</span></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="font-family: inherit; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<h3 class="ecxMsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="font-family: inherit; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<i><span style="font-size: 12pt;"></span></i><i><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> What about as a volunteer
firefighter? Any nicknames there?<br /></span></i></h3>
<div class="ecxMsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="font-family: inherit; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Chance: </span></i><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Nicknames happen there. I remember
they called Rich “Knothead”, because things keep falling on him.</span></div>
<div class="ecxMsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="font-family: inherit; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Elsa:</span></i><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> Chance, wasn’t it you who called
him that?</span></div>
<div class="ecxMsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="font-family: inherit; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Chance:</span></i><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> Well –</span></div>
<div class="ecxMsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="font-family: inherit; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Beth:</span></i><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> Oh, I remember! I stopped by
during a training drill and you gave me a hug, then Rich called you Blondie
Bear, then you called him Knothead, and I was only five but I think I remember
you two wrestling with each other and then falling into the dump tank.</span></div>
<div class="ecxMsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="font-family: inherit; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Chance:</span></i><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> Just a little playful
roughhousing. We came to an understanding.</span></div>
<div class="ecxMsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="font-family: inherit; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Elsa: </span></i><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Why did I never hear that story?
Was it just before that time he visited you in the hospital and his card said
“thanks for the black eye”?</span></div>
<div class="ecxMsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="font-family: inherit; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Chance</span></i><span style="font-size: 12pt;">: No, it was just before the time
I visited him in the hospital, and my card said “matching fat lips – we could
be brothers”.</span></div>
<div class="ecxMsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="font-family: inherit; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Beth</span></i><span style="font-size: 12pt;">: Rich is like the brother I never
had.</span></div>
<div class="ecxMsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="font-family: inherit; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<h3 class="ecxMsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="font-family: inherit; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"></span><i><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> What’s your favorite ice cream flavor?<br /></span></i><span style="font-size: 12pt;"></span></h3>
<div class="ecxMsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="font-family: inherit; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Chance: </span></i><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Vanilla.</span></div>
<div class="ecxMsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="font-family: inherit; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Elsa:</span></i><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> Vanilla? I’m partial to mint
chocolate chip. I don’t eat it often, but since neither of them like it I don’t
have to worry about it disappearing.</span></div>
<div class="ecxMsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="font-family: inherit; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Beth:</span></i><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> You two are so boring! Superman
ice cream – yellow, blue and red together. That’s what I’m talkin’ about.</span></div>
<div class="ecxMsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="font-family: inherit; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<h3 class="ecxMsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="font-family: inherit; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"></span><i><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> Who would you pick to play you in a movie?<br /></span></i><span style="font-size: 12pt;"></span></h3>
<div class="ecxMsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="font-family: inherit; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Chance: </span></i><span style="font-size: 12pt;">A movie? That’s ridiculous. I
don’t even know any of today’s actors.</span></div>
<div class="ecxMsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="font-family: inherit; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Elsa:</span></i><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> Charlton Heston would make a
wonderful Chance Hamlin. A young Heston, of course.</span></div>
<div class="ecxMsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="font-family: inherit; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Beth:</span></i><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> Ryan Reynolds.</span></div>
<div class="ecxMsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="font-family: inherit; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Chance: </span></i><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Who?</span></div>
<div class="ecxMsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="font-family: inherit; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Beth:</span></i><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> He doesn’t look all that much
like you, but he’s hot. Wait – come to think of it, I wouldn’t want him playing
my brother. How about Jude Law? He’s got that intensity thing going on.</span></div>
<div class="ecxMsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="font-family: inherit; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<h3 class="ecxMsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="font-family: inherit; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<i><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="-moz-font-feature-settings: normal; -moz-font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></i><i><span style="font-size: 12pt;">How long have you and Fran worked together?<br /></span></i></h3>
<div class="ecxMsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="font-family: inherit; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Chance: </span></i><span style="font-size: 12pt;">I was her field training officer; in fact, it was my first
time being an FTO. That would have been … ten years ago?</span></div>
<div class="ecxMsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="font-family: inherit; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Elsa:</span></i><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> That girl was so full of … </span></div>
<div class="ecxMsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="font-family: inherit; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Beth:</span></i><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> What?</span></div>
<div class="ecxMsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="font-family: inherit; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Elsa:</span></i><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> Bravado, I suppose. So gutsy and brave on the outside, and
so smart – but part of her was still a scared little girl on the inside.</span></div>
<div class="ecxMsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="font-family: inherit; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Chance:</span></i><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> What? That’s ridiculous. There was no part of her that wasn’t
completely up to the job.</span></div>
<div class="ecxMsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="font-family: inherit; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Elsa:</span></i><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> I’m not talking just about the job, dear. You do know she
had a crush on you, right?</span></div>
<div class="ecxMsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="font-family: inherit; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Chance:</span></i><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> She most certainly did not.</span></div>
<div class="ecxMsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="font-family: inherit; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Beth:</span></i><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> Totally did. I was only five, and I thought they were
dating. She used to come over and hang out all the time.</span></div>
<div class="ecxMsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="font-family: inherit; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Chance:</span></i><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> Of course she did. She had no family around here, and Mom
takes in people like others take in stray cats.</span></div>
<div class="ecxMsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="font-family: inherit; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Elsa:</span></i><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> Maybe it’s for the best that she decided she shouldn’t date
coworkers.</span></div>
<div class="ecxMsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="font-family: inherit; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Chance:</span></i><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> She never --!</span></div>
<div class="ecxMsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="font-family: inherit; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Beth</span></i><span style="font-size: 12pt;">: Fran should totally get together with Allie’s brother.
They could take turns taming each other.</span></div>
<div class="ecxMsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="font-family: inherit; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Chance and Elsa</span></i><span style="font-size: 12pt;">: What?!</span></div>
<div class="ecxMsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="font-family: inherit; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<h3 class="ecxMsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="font-family: inherit; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<i><span style="font-size: 12pt;"></span></i><i><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> Um, what has been the most dangerous thing you’ve ever done
in the name of public service?<br /><br /> </span></i></h3>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="font-family: inherit; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Chance: </span></i><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Who, me? I’m not into doing dangerous things – what are you
two laughing at? Probably the most dangerous thing I ever did was allowing you
into this interview.</span></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="font-family: inherit; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Beth: </span></i><span style="font-size: 12pt;">I’m thinking the tornadoes. Mom?</span></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="font-family: inherit; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><i>Elsa: </i>Tornadoes are easy. It’s dealing
with people that’s dangerous.</span></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="font-family: inherit; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><i>Beth: </i>But what about the fires? Remember
when the building exploded? Or when he slid down the ladder on fire?</span></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="font-family: inherit; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><i>Chance: </i>Oh, I was not on fire –</span></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="font-family: inherit; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><i>Elsa: </i>It’s when he has to draw his
weapon, that’s when it gets bad.</span></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="font-family: inherit; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><i>Beth: </i>But what about when he’s off duty?
You told me he used to jump boats –</span></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="font-family: inherit; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><i>Elsa: </i>That doesn’t count for this
question, and neither does the hang gliding.</span></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="font-family: inherit; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><i>Chance: </i>Stop it, you two. Look,
sometimes it’s a dangerous world we live in, and people have to go into harm’s
way. I never do it without using all possible precautions: bullet proof vests,
breathing apparatus, helmets, whatever. If I didn’t do it, who would? Why are
you looking at each other?</span></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="font-family: inherit; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><i>Elsa: </i>Nothing, dear.</span></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="font-family: inherit; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><i>Beth: </i>If we pointed out how much you crave
danger, you’d just deny it</span></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="font-family: inherit; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><i>Chance: </i>I
do not crave danger!</span></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="font-family: inherit; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><i>Beth: </i>See?</span></div>
<h3 class="ecxMsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="font-family: inherit; line-height: normal; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"></span><i><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> Speaking
of danger, you met your fiancée in a most unusual way. How’s the wedding
planning going?</span></i></h3>
<div class="ecxMsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="font-family: inherit; line-height: normal;">
<i><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Chance: </span></i><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Well …</span></div>
<div class="ecxMsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="font-family: inherit; line-height: normal;">
<i><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Beth:</span></i><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> Allie’s brother
is insane. I really like him.</span></div>
<div class="ecxMsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="font-family: inherit; line-height: normal;">
<i><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Elsa: </span></i><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Things have
gotten … complicated.</span></div>
<div class="ecxMsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="font-family: inherit; line-height: normal;">
<i><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Beth:</span></i><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> Yeah, like
crazy complicated. And dangerous. Chance should be loving it.</span></div>
<div class="ecxMsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="font-family: inherit; line-height: normal;">
<i><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Chance:</span></i><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> I’m sure, with
Fran’s help, Ian Grant will be able to get everything arranged without getting –
you know – killed, first.</span></div>
<div class="ecxMsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="font-family: inherit; line-height: normal;">
<i><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Elsa: </span></i><span style="font-size: 12pt;">I’m not sure
poor Ian was the best choice …</span></div>
<div class="ecxMsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="font-family: inherit; line-height: normal;">
<i><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Beth:</span></i><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> We’ll do it! I’m
their personal planning assistant, and it’s the most fun wedding planning ever,
and nobody’s gotten hurt. Much.</span></div>
<div class="ecxMsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="font-family: inherit; line-height: normal;">
<i><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Chance: </span></i><span style="font-size: 12pt;">We’ll get back
to you on that last question.</span></div>
<div class="ecxMsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="font-family: inherit; line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div class="ecxMsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="font-family: inherit; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">You can find Mark R. Hunter's books <i>Storm Chaser</i> and <i>Storm Chaser Shorts</i> at Amazon.com, Barnesandnoble.com*, and Whiskeycreekpress.com. Mark is currently working on a sequel to <i>Storm Chaser</i>, a nonfiction book about the history of the Albion (IN) Fire Department, and, hopefully, his wedding vows for next summer...</span></div>
<div class="ecxMsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="font-family: inherit; line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div class="ecxMsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="font-family: inherit; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">*<i>Storm Chaser Shorts</i> not yet released in Nook format. </span></span></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="font-family: inherit;">
<br /></div>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2044288580066444555.post-10657821993467414982012-06-18T23:44:00.002-04:002012-06-18T23:44:49.897-04:00Well, I've got a lot going on right now, but I'm trying to keep my eye on the end goal. Out of Mark and I's combined family, 3 people have been in the hospital and another 3 of us have some kind of infection, so it's been pretty crazy. <br />
<br />
I've got six submissions in right now, so I'm waiting hopefully for any news on those while helping Mark do some editing and promotional work. He's a little behind from my surgery earlier this year, but we're starting to catch up.<br />
<br />
Aaaaandd we have to work on the wedding stuff, since that's coming up. I've been to busy to even work on any of it at all! <br />
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<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2044288580066444555.post-69749945598901007252012-06-17T21:58:00.000-04:002012-06-17T21:59:04.664-04:00Storm Chaser ShortsMark's newest book, <i>Storm Chaser Shorts</i>, is out. It's a mixed-genre anthology of short stories about the characters in his first novel, <i>Storm Chaser</i>.<br />
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I'm pretty proud of him. It's not really common for publishers to give 'newbie' authors a short story book, so it's a great opportunity for him. <br />
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<i>Storm Chaser Shorts</i> is available on <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Storm-Chaser-Shorts-ebook/dp/B008A8099Q/ref=dp_return_1?ie=UTF8&n=133140011&s=digital-text" target="_blank">Kindle</a> and from<a href="http://www.whiskeycreekpress.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=1008" target="_blank"> the publisher </a>as PDF and HTML files (to use on your computer or a different e-reader brand).Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2044288580066444555.post-74245703709866421432012-04-04T20:37:00.002-04:002012-04-04T20:37:26.996-04:00Textbook ConclusionChapter 16 of <i>White Space is Not Your Enemy</i> and Chapter 9 of <i>Writing for the Web</i> are the "wrap up" chapters. They give a nice little summary of what you've learned, answer some additional questions, and point you on your way to additional learning.<br />
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Their main point?<br />
<br />
You have only uncovered the tip of the iceberg.<br />
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You are never really done learning in your chosen field. <br />
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These books are great for what they are, but they are not advanced knowledge, and you can't learn all there is to know about writing or designing for the web in a single book. It takes lots of practice, and lots of other books, and lots of <i>time</i>. And then lots more time relearning things when monumental technology, software, etc. is released. The only thing worse than knowing nothing is knowing enough to think you know it all, and royally messing up your projects.<br />
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With the huge amount of resources out there on the web, there's really no excuse for not knowing. If you can't learn by reading, learn by watching YouTube videos or downloading trial editions of software. See what others are doing, and see if you can mimic it to learn. See what others are doing <i>badly</i>, figure out why it's bad, and don't do it. Sign up for a newsletter, ezine, or magazine. Finally, there are plenty of creative communities out there - Livejournal communities and DeviantArt, among the hundreds - to help you hone your skills, see others' work, and get tips.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2044288580066444555.post-70941664720098442632012-04-04T20:16:00.000-04:002012-04-04T20:16:35.404-04:00Multimedia for the WebChapter 13 of <i>White Space is Not Your Enemy</i> discusses multimedia. The thought of images, video, encoding, audio, interactive content, and animation can be daunting, but it doesn't have to be. There are (free) tutorials online for just about about any program you'd want to use to create these things, ranging from the simple to the advanced. If you're totally lost, you can also sign up for classes at your local library (usually very basic, but free) or college/university (IPFW offers a class called <b>Digital Imaging;<i> </i></b>the section I took worked mostly with image creation and manipulation in Adobe Photoshop, with some basic animation). If you're a tactile learner, you can just plop down with your laptop, favorite drink, and favorite TV show/music and work until you figure it out.<br />
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Here are some tips I've found along the way:<br />
<ul>
<li>Don't lose important text in images. If you put the text within the image file, the search engine can't see it. Make sure it's somewhere else on the page, too.</li>
<li>Pay attention to encoding. There is plenty of free software out there to help you, but it may take you a while to figure it out. Don't just assume the video will work since you uploaded it with a trusted service.</li>
<li>Don't add something shiny just for the sake of shininess. Your visitors will see right through it and think you're an idiot with something to prove. Cool and innovative things are great, but use them in moderation and always with a purpose.</li>
<li>Quality, quality, quality. If it's not great, don't put it up. A simple, mostly-text based website will rule out over one with bad graphics and poor videos.</li>
<li>Get friends. Network with others who have skills you can use, and want to use your skills. If you're a graphic designer and your friend is a musician, you can use each other's work to spice up your webpages. Then, attribute each other on the webpages - increasing both of your website's traffic and backlinks.</li>
<li>Get honest friends. While support from friends and family is great, you <i>really need</i> at least one person who will tell you when things suck and you need to re-do them. </li>
<li>Keep your audience in mind at all times. Some audience you <i>will</i> need to wow with extra special graphics. Some you will intimidate with them.</li>
<li>Social media sharing buttons are good interactive content - and good traffic bringers.</li>
</ul>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2044288580066444555.post-42205987462124703292012-03-24T09:31:00.001-04:002012-03-24T09:31:24.513-04:00StoryboardingChapter 12 of <i>White Space is Not Your Enemy</i> covers storyboarding, as well as going over how to create different types of shots and other photo/video aspects in detail. If you've ever looked at extras or behind the scenes from movies, you've probably seen storyboards. You can also think of them as a comic/graphic novel version of your project (in condensed form, of course).<br />
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Storyboarding is the equivalent of an outline you'd do for an academic paper, report, short story, or novel. It gets all your main points and thoughts out in a logical, organized order. Storyboarding also includes visuals - at early stages, this can be quick sketches or notes, and at later stages this will be draft images or final copies if you have them. It should also include brief notes so you remember where you're going with the project, don't forget important details, and can clearly communicate your ideas with your client.<br />
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For a personal storyboard form doesn't really matter as long as you can utilize it as a production tool, much like a writer's outline. Everyone forms ideas and works differently. However, a professional storyboard that you will use with a group and show to a boss or client should be formatted appropriately - nothing huge, just ensure that all necessary information is there and looks professional, such as your name and the company name, the client name, the project/purpose, your/your company's logo and contact information etc.<br />
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Storyboards are especially helpful for those of us who think visually. Sometimes it's a lot easier to draw something out than to explain it. It's also often easier to communicate ideas with group members visually, so you know you're all on the same page.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2044288580066444555.post-75885032348827836552012-03-24T09:13:00.000-04:002012-03-24T09:13:18.739-04:00Images and InfographicsMost people are highly visual in nature, probably due to our highly visible (and lazy) culture. While you need to make your written content top-notch, don't skimp out on the images. These can keep the reader an extra few seconds by being interesting, and maybe get them to read your content. They can also help explain, back up, or elaborate on your content.<br />
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Infographics are awesome tools for giving a big chunk of info in a
small, visually-appealing section. They are made so that you can get the
general gist at a glance, and understand a concept, process, or idea
with minimal reading. You can check out some sweet inforgraphics <a href="http://dailyinfographic.com/" target="_blank">here</a>, <a href="http://sixrevisions.com/graphics-design/40-useful-and-creative-infographics/" target="_blank">here</a>, and <a href="http://visual.ly/" target="_blank">here</a>. <br />
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<i>White Space is Not Your Enemy</i> has great information about images and infographics in chapters 10 and 11. I'll try not to restate them and instead share some additional information.<br />
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The biggest mistakes I see on the web regarding images are:<br />
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<ul>
<li>Theft of images</li>
<li>Throwing all the bells and whistles of whatever program used into the image</li>
<li>Using too low quality images, or too small of images (or blowing up a small image huge resulting in severe pixelation)</li>
<li>Promoting Instagram'd, Picnik'd, etc. images like they're awesome professional stuff</li>
<li>Images that have nothing to do with content</li>
<li>Including non-professional snapshot-type images just because they pertain to your text</li>
</ul>
Images are your eye-catchers. They are what the viewer will notice first on your website, so they need to be high quality, professional, and enhance your content. <br />
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<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0