tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-56448772056410914302024-03-06T00:39:16.908-05:00Greetings from NowhereRamblings about children's books (and sometimes some other stuff) from author Barbara O'ConnorBarbara O'Connorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11772206568826059623noreply@blogger.comBlogger2261125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5644877205641091430.post-57053691727161790462020-01-07T12:25:00.001-05:002020-01-07T12:33:35.544-05:00Susan Hill Long is in the House!<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It's a book birthday!!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> I'm thrilled to have my pal, <a href="http://www.susanhilllong.com/" target="_blank">Susan Hill Long</a>, stop by to talk to </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">us about her new middle grade novel, <u>JOSIE BLOOM AND THE EMERGENCY OF LIFE,</u> which Kirkus calls "entertaining and emotionally resonant. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Publishers Weekly said, "Long nails the voice of a kid trying as hard as she can to tackle adult problems on her own when the adults in her life fall short." </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><i>What's the story about?</i></b></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Josie Bloom discovers the first wad of money stuffed inside a packet of bologna, and the second hidden between the trash can and the bin liner. That money comes in handy when she finds the <i>PAST DUE</i><b><i> </i></b>notice from the heating company. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Seems like Grandpa has been spending more time feeding squirrels than paying the bills. But when a bill arrives that's too big to handle, Josie's going to need a plan to get more money - while keeping Grandpa's odd behavior a secret.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And <a href="https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Josie-Bloom-and-the-Emergency-of-Life/Susan-Hill-Long/9781534444270" target="_blank">here's a link to the first page</a>. I always open a book and read the first paragraph before I commit to pulling it from the bookshelf. Do you? </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i><b>That's a terrific cover. What's with the squirrels in your books?</b></i></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I love it, too. The art is by Sara Mulvanny. Thank you and ah, yes. There are squirrels on the cover of this new book and there was a squirrel on the cover of my last book, <u>THE MAGIC MIRROR: Concerning a Lonely Princess, a Foundling Girl, a Scheming King and a Pickpocket Squirrel.</u> [Note from O'Connor: I ADORE this book!!!]</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Where I live, the squirrels are bigger than my dog. It's true <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Susan's dog, Pippin</td></tr>
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my dog is small, but these are some big squirrels. I'm telling you. I don't even like squirrels.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><i>Then why do you put them in your books?</i></b></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Good question. They just appear. As in real life, Squirrels Are Everywhere. In the case of<b><i> </i></b><u>JOSIE BLOOM</u>, Grandpa starts feeding the squirrels to an extreme degree, yet another item on his list of odd behaviors.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i><b>What is Stargardt Disease?</b></i></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Stargardt is a disease of the eye. Josie's best friend, Winky, is losing his vision to it, and with that his ability to play baseball, the game of his heart. There is a lot of marvelous research being done using stem cells to cure this disease.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i><b>Thanks so much for stopping by, Susan!</b></i> <i><b>I love this book.</b></i></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Thank you for having me! I'm excited to have his book out in the world. I hope your readers will enjoy JOSIE, and if they do, that they'll write me at my website, <a href="http://www.susanhilllong.com/">www.susanhilllong.com</a>. (I will gladly write back!)<i><b> </b></i></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>Susan Hill Long's books include JOSIE BLOOM AND THE </i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>EMERGENCY OF LIFE, THE MAGIC MIRROR: CONCERNING A LONELY PRINCESS, A FOUNDLING GIRL, A SCHEMING KING, AND A PICKPOCKET SQUIRREL, and, WHISTLE IN THE DARK. Special recognition for her work includes a Publishers Weekly Best Book of the Year; Bank Street Best Books; Oregon Book Award and the Katherine Paterson Prize. She lives in Oregon with her husband, two daughters, and their dog, Pippin.<b> </b></i></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i><b> </b></i> </span></span>Barbara O'Connorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11772206568826059623noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5644877205641091430.post-3046561879201651282019-11-04T06:00:00.000-05:002019-11-04T08:03:53.037-05:00Bobbie Pyron is in the House!Today I'm thrilled to have my friend, <a href="http://www.bobbiepyron.com/" target="_blank">Bobbie Pyron</a>, here to talk about her latest middle grade novel.<br />
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<b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span></i>Tell
us a little bit about your new novel, STAY.</b><br />
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> STAY
is the intertwined stories of Piper and her family, and a little dog named
Baby, and his person, Jewel. Piper’s family has fallen on hard times and have
just moved into a shelter for families experiencing homelessness. Piper misses
her home and friends back in Louisiana and hates being called “the homeless
kid” in her new school. Baby and Jewel are also experiencing homelessness. They
can’t live in a shelter, though, because shelters don’t allow dogs. And Jewel
would <u>never</u> give up Baby! But when Jewel gets sick and is taken away
from the city park where she and Baby live, Baby is left on his own. Piper is
determined to do everything in her power to get Jewel and Baby back together. </i></div>
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<b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span></i>You
dedicated STAY to Girl Scout Troop 6000. Why?</b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> </i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> One night after I’d started
writing the first draft of STAY, I saw a story on the national news about a
Girl Scout troop in Brooklyn, New York. All the girls in this troop live in a
family shelter. Before they came to the shelter, some had lived with their
families in cars, slept on relative’s couches, or lived in subway stations.
Despite this, the girls were bursting with pride and enthusiasm! They were so
strong, brave, and yet compassionate—just the way I wanted Piper to be.</i></div>
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<b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span></i>In
all your books, geographical place plays an important role. In STAY, though,
you never say where the story takes place. How come?</b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> </i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> That’s
very observant of you! The reason I didn’t ever say exactly where the book
takes place is because I wanted the reader to feel like this could take place
in any place, any city. Because that’s the way homelessness is: it can take
place everywhere.</i></div>
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<b><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">4.<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span>Now that you’ve written six books, do you see a
reoccurring theme in your stories?</b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><b> </b> </span></div>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">I think I tend to write a good deal about
loss and what makes a home, and how we define family. I experienced a great
deal of loss at a young age (my father died in a car crash when I was seven),
and we moved around a lot too. I think these early experiences in my childhood
keep informing my stories. I probably always will, in some form or another.</i></div>
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<b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">5.<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span></i>Half
of STAY—the dog’s chapters—are written in free verse. What was that like?</b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">It was
fun! I <u>love</u> poetry and I love reading books written in verse, so I
wanted to see if I could write that way. I like to challenge myself as an
artist. I also feel like dogs probably think in free verse, don’t you?</i></div>
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<b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">6.<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span></i>Since
most of your books have adorable dogs on the cover, show us a picture of your
adorable dog</b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><b>!</b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><b> </b> </span> </i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> I’d love to! This is Sherlock, my
14-year-old rescued Shetland sheepdog. He’s <u>my</u> baby!</i><br />
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<b>Thanks so much for stopping by, Bobbie!</b><br />
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Bobbie Pyron is the author of the award-winning A DOG'S WAY HOME, the critically acclaimed THE DOGS OF WINTER, among other popular middle grade books. She lives in Mars Hill, NC, with her husband and incredibly sweet Shetland Sheepdog, Sherlock. To find out more about Bobbie and her books, visit her website at <a href="http://www.bobbiepyron.com/">www.bobbiepyron.com</a><br />
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</style> Barbara O'Connorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11772206568826059623noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5644877205641091430.post-16563188024491990012019-10-28T05:00:00.000-04:002019-10-28T05:00:07.138-04:00Constance Lombardo is in the House!
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> Today I'm celebrating a fabulous new picture book by <a href="https://www.constancelombardo.com/" target="_blank">Constance Lombardo</a>: <u>EVERYBODY SAYS MEOW</u>, hitting bookstore shelves on November 5!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">And what a treat that Constance stopped by to answer some questions!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxYUYWxXmb8OUu5310Q2XThUwodbHk3VlPq1INyYJvPwgWQKj6ITorgA9DRXsjgYpsz2oqpK3J8CunffQF8T48Bzqhfu_TzAc6XOgjW3Z1Rm3TWVX-sNb7GxZbapuF6WymrhCc-A3ojww/s1600/EverybodySaysMeow+FINAL+front+cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1366" data-original-width="1600" height="341" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxYUYWxXmb8OUu5310Q2XThUwodbHk3VlPq1INyYJvPwgWQKj6ITorgA9DRXsjgYpsz2oqpK3J8CunffQF8T48Bzqhfu_TzAc6XOgjW3Z1Rm3TWVX-sNb7GxZbapuF6WymrhCc-A3ojww/s400/EverybodySaysMeow+FINAL+front+cover.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">How does it feel to have your debut
picture book coming out soon? </span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">It feels as wonderful as being in a room full of
puppies! And kittens, of course. And they’re not even fighting, it’s just one
big love-fest. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Describe the story of <u><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Everybody Says Meow</i></u> in ten words or
less.</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">A kitten learns that
everybody really does say ‘Meow’ – not! </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Another book about cats,
huh? Tell me about some of the cats in your life, past and present. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="line-height: 150%; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Childhood cat: a tuxedo named <b>Max</b>,
who once bit my mother’s toe because she wasn’t feeding him fast enough. </span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">A kitten found in a garden who was so
small we had to feed him milk with a Q-tip. We named him <b>Phantom</b>. </span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">A roommate’s gorgeous long-haired
barley-colored cat named… <b>Barley</b>. Would sit on the kitchen counter
surveying his domain. </span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">4.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">A yoga studio cat named <b>Peanut</b> who would
meow along with our Ohm.</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">5.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Myrtle</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">,
the sweetest cat ever. Very vocal, especially when I was about to feed her. </span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">6.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Gandalf the Grey, aka, <b>G. G</b>., the
mischievous grey tabby. As a kitten, he never said a peep. When I fed them, and
Myrtle would MEOW like crazy, I’d say, “See, G.G., everybody says meow!” That
was the seed of this book. </span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<br /></div>
<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/AVvXsEid-lzmQd2YFyjt8fg5HaXWYGG9i9XZhv9RIotB3ZLn89sCc3nxcjX7ZDR-7s7FNofW7q42gvS7K0xri8YYEynsK9YzVeIyFArSS7biYpIoGPlf7HCUrwc9Vb9gF4EqiC-XS4uxLwzhy-I/s1600/Myrtle+working.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid-lzmQd2YFyjt8fg5HaXWYGG9i9XZhv9RIotB3ZLn89sCc3nxcjX7ZDR-7s7FNofW7q42gvS7K0xri8YYEynsK9YzVeIyFArSS7biYpIoGPlf7HCUrwc9Vb9gF4EqiC-XS4uxLwzhy-I/s400/Myrtle+working.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Myrtle</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> <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/AVvXsEjoVwCK2GBjPV_en7V8hl_LHElswrMBYPcnvWhYu8A3LWs9n2cVcTi5zUEWX1gR4ah18yV6rM85EgYUdLgDAXbohiOSshjidGs1pTLJ0PZAdMhTW2J2uiCRJGFFML9XlhYvnfuzeL7F2dY/s1600/2014-08-08+13.48.21.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoVwCK2GBjPV_en7V8hl_LHElswrMBYPcnvWhYu8A3LWs9n2cVcTi5zUEWX1gR4ah18yV6rM85EgYUdLgDAXbohiOSshjidGs1pTLJ0PZAdMhTW2J2uiCRJGFFML9XlhYvnfuzeL7F2dY/s400/2014-08-08+13.48.21.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Gandolf the Grey, aka G.G.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The illustrations for <u><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Everybody Says Meow</i></u> were called “…simple but zestily cartoonish…”
by The Bulletin for the Center for Children’s Books. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Did you use traditional media or digital? </span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">First of all…yay!! I wanted the art to be playful,
above all. I used a technical pen and watercolor washes – totally traditional
media. But I’ve recently been learning Procreate, a digital art-making app. I
love working in watercolor, pens, colored pencils, and markers. But I must
admit that Procreate is super fun! </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9fZmFVLGrONQlP9tB7CknIwfZRSZFMCySftvZ5MJ61NW5gn9OMRMy69W1GvjE8bl7Sk_S6Oll0aRjlCCv7hB5iQIsD1ZZE-vzH8ThgfcAW7b2IwKUPr4qiywzXUBXHZfjaZX8AMXN3CQ/s1600/3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1378" data-original-width="1600" height="343" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9fZmFVLGrONQlP9tB7CknIwfZRSZFMCySftvZ5MJ61NW5gn9OMRMy69W1GvjE8bl7Sk_S6Oll0aRjlCCv7hB5iQIsD1ZZE-vzH8ThgfcAW7b2IwKUPr4qiywzXUBXHZfjaZX8AMXN3CQ/s400/3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">What are some of your favorite picture
books? </span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Classic favorites include <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">The Story of Ferdinand</b> by Munro Leaf with amazing black & white
art by Robert Lawson, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Shrek</b> by
William Steig, and <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">A Fierce Bad Rabbit</b>
by Beatrix Potter. Some contemporary books I adore are <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Interrupting Chicken and the Elephant of Surprise</b> by David Ezra
Stein, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">I am a Cat</b> by Galia
Bernstein, and <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Fox and Chick</b> by
Sergio Ruzzier. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">There
are some non-felines in <u>Everybody Says Meow</u>. Which animal was the most challenging
to draw? </span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I found it surprisingly difficult to draw the duck.
But once I put him in a purple top hat, it all made sense. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">What about dogs? Do you even like dogs? </span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I LOVE dogs!!! My big news is I adopted a dog last
year. He’s a 10 year old beagle named Louie. We love roaming around the
neighborhood, while Louie smells all the things, and eats whatever he finds,
even if it’s not exactly edible. I even did a cartoon about it using Procreate!
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKRk6CggV_WRY7RdSefjFi1NZW8wkAUnujnMZibCySm9fVf4YwKSsb7QgGTQBDnUlJyLeXn5RE2xsaQVUFDSlN4hO_IXmr7KVxzCj2AFUQLJvbspuinPRLXr2xKL3em_g98EEQhfIObbk/s1600/Ant+bread+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1450" data-original-width="1029" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKRk6CggV_WRY7RdSefjFi1NZW8wkAUnujnMZibCySm9fVf4YwKSsb7QgGTQBDnUlJyLeXn5RE2xsaQVUFDSlN4hO_IXmr7KVxzCj2AFUQLJvbspuinPRLXr2xKL3em_g98EEQhfIObbk/s640/Ant+bread+2.jpg" width="454" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><b>Thanks for stopping by, Constance!</b> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Thanks for hosting me on your blog, Barbara O’Connor! </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 150%;">Constance Lombardo <span style="background: white; color: black;">is the author/illustrator of the middle
grade <i>Mr. Puffball</i> series
(HarperCollins.) Her first picture book, <u><i>Everybody Says Meow</i></u>,
publishes on November 5. </span>She loves visiting classrooms and talking to
kids about writing and drawing. </span></span></span></div>
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</style>Barbara O'Connorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11772206568826059623noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5644877205641091430.post-10585956586406395672019-09-13T07:00:00.000-04:002019-09-13T18:53:35.541-04:00Jo Hackl is in the House!<br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> Today I'm celebrating the summer publication of the paperback edition of Jo Hackl's terrific middle grade novel, <u>Smack Dab in the Middle of Maybe.</u></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Set in an overgrown Southern ghost town, <i>Smack Dab in the Middle of Maybe</i> takes readers on an adventure with 12-year-old Cricket, who sets out to survive on her own in the woods of an overgrown ghost town to try to solve a clue trail left by an eccentric artist, with a logic all his own, all </span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7D3gKlLYElObB-DTPcDszwbvCwyoA_C7Y3u2r2dMA890PwIjmOjWnDaGE5bxQ2MsZ1lWlM1BuFWLmhL0U1CRTnRSUG_LIqaT7TY4A-GOdB8AKB-RTAkGz1Pt-3WO2pHiIV1L-dvYCzI0/s1600/hackl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="265" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7D3gKlLYElObB-DTPcDszwbvCwyoA_C7Y3u2r2dMA890PwIjmOjWnDaGE5bxQ2MsZ1lWlM1BuFWLmhL0U1CRTnRSUG_LIqaT7TY4A-GOdB8AKB-RTAkGz1Pt-3WO2pHiIV1L-dvYCzI0/s320/hackl.jpg" width="212" /></a></span></div>
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to try to find a secret room that may or may not exist. Cricket must use her wits and just a smidgen of luck to live off the land and solve the clues. With the help of a poetry-loving dog and the last resident of the ghost town, maybe, just maybe, she can do it.</span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Jo stopped by to answer some great questions. Enjoy!</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">What were your favorite books as a child? </span></b></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">My two favorites were <i>My Side of the Mountain</i>
and <i>From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler</i>. I admire how <i>My
Side of the Mountain</i> draws readers into the natural world and makes
surviving in the wild a quest of its own. Spending time outdoors also changes
the main character. I love how <i>From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E.
Frankweiler</i> immerses readers in the intriguing setting of the Metropolitan
Museum of Art and takes them into an art mystery. For <i>Smack Dab</i>, I
challenged myself to combine those two elements—outdoor survival and an art
mystery clue trail—in one novel. </span></div>
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<b><span style="color: black; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">How did you go about crafting <i>Smack Dab</i>? </span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "-webkit-standard" , serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I began the first draft in a class offered
through Emrys, a local literary arts organization in Greenville, where I live.
I attended writing workshops and read books about the craft of writing. I
studied and wrote poetry. I wrote the first draft in five months and spent
seven more years revising, refining and polishing. I completed at least nine
full drafts. I was on at least the fourth draft and several years into the project
before I started sending it out. </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "-webkit-standard" , serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: black; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">What kind of research did you do for the
book? </span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "-webkit-standard" , serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I trained on everything from fire starting,
shelter building and water gathering, to foraging for edible and medicinal
plants. I camped out in the woods and recorded information about sights,
sounds, and textures. I studied which edible foods are available during each
part of the year. I researched the behavior and diet of woodland animals, the
migration patterns of Southern birds. I reached out to entomologists and experts
on human behavior and the natural world. I studied information about Leonardo
DaVinci, Emily Dickinson, Walt Whitman, and used that all in constructing the
clue trail. </span></div>
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<b><span style="color: black; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">What kind of a response to <i>Smack Dab</i> have
you gotten from readers?</span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "-webkit-standard" , serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I love to hear from readers and I’ve been
thrilled with their response to the book. One reader reported that she
read the book 14 times. Many others have written to say how much reading
about Cricket’s journey has helped them in their own. So far, half of the
readers from whom I’ve heard have been students and half have been adults. The
book has layers and it’s interesting to see what layers spoke the most to each
reader. </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "-webkit-standard" , serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: black; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">What are you reading these days? </span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "-webkit-standard" , serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I read mostly middle grade and I have about five
books going at once. I’m currently reading <i>Shadows of the Lost Sun</i>, the
latest in the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Map to Everywhere</i>
series by Carrie Ryan and John Parke Davis, <i>The Law of Finders Keepers</i>
by Sheila Turnage, <i>Serafina and the Seven Stars</i> by Robert Beatty, <i>Grenade</i>
by Alan Gratz, and re-reading <i>When I Crossed No-Bob</i> by Margaret McMullan<b>.</b></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "-webkit-standard" , serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: black; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">What advice can you give to aspiring middle
grade authors? </span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "-webkit-standard" , serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">You can do it! Start an idea journal and
use it write down ideas for things such as character names, quirks, details
that help show character traits, and plot ideas. Give yourself permission to
write a really bad first draft. The goal of the first draft is just to get your
ideas down on paper. If you get stuck, leave a blank. You can always
brainstorm with a friend and fill in the details later. Once you have your
draft, you have something to work with. Go line by line and look for ways to
make your work better. Try to imagine how each character would feel in
each scene and give your readers details to make them feel as though they are right
there in the scene with your characters. Make sure that each word is the best
word and that each scene keeps the story moving. Cut any unnecessary
words. Read your story aloud to make sure that the rhythm of the language
feels right. Keep writing, looking for ways to make your work even
better. Don’t be afraid to take risks. As my character Cricket would
say, “sometimes it’s time to start taking chances on yourself.” </span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><b>Thanks so much for stopping by, Jo!</b> </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "-webkit-standard" , serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: black; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Bio</span></b></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Jo Watson Hackl was born in Biloxi,
Mississippi, not far from Ocean Springs, where her favorite artist, </span></div>
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Walter
Anderson, lived and once painted a secret room. When Jo was eleven, she moved
to a real-<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj99819tnM9IE39VJ9cp6qcnHXpzRzORbjtoz_eHg0xyVAptfrNJJe60OxH1przdTK9ti2Apibp296AgcTjGVpzXnqX6pApyarc_rDLNtnCH03NsSInbfa8VdYSwHnzGxHTqN_kuPTydLg/s1600/Jo+Hackl+head+shot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1168" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj99819tnM9IE39VJ9cp6qcnHXpzRzORbjtoz_eHg0xyVAptfrNJJe60OxH1przdTK9ti2Apibp296AgcTjGVpzXnqX6pApyarc_rDLNtnCH03NsSInbfa8VdYSwHnzGxHTqN_kuPTydLg/s320/Jo+Hackl+head+shot.jpg" width="233" /></a></div>
life ghost town, Electric Mills, Mississippi. Mr. Anderson’s secret
room and the ghost town were Jo’s inspiration for this debut novel. She lives
with her family in Greenville, South Carolina. You can find her online at
<a href="http://johackl.com/">JoHackl.com</a>. Jo is also the Founder of <a href="http://outdoorosity.org/">Outdoorosity.org</a><span style="color: black; font-family: "-webkit-standard" , serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"></span><br />
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-->Barbara O'Connorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11772206568826059623noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5644877205641091430.post-79538717910888864762019-04-15T11:22:00.000-04:002019-04-15T11:22:21.575-04:00Adventures with Flat Avery<span style="font-size: x-large;">I received a "Flat Avery" from a charming 3rd grader in Kansas.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">She asked me to take Flat Avery along on some adventures with me.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiunlQ-kNTZv870EhahwErlcIgHL-RvDeLW24PuWpZFGP-a2qb34mfmNYcRWBOMgIlw66DG_tuzudvtM2pDnbDi_1IgLWEfJ-G8LatE4h0FfNYQtWVkr9Er7NCMSBr0x9q556U3ycb5HqY/s1600/IMG_0838.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiunlQ-kNTZv870EhahwErlcIgHL-RvDeLW24PuWpZFGP-a2qb34mfmNYcRWBOMgIlw66DG_tuzudvtM2pDnbDi_1IgLWEfJ-G8LatE4h0FfNYQtWVkr9Er7NCMSBr0x9q556U3ycb5HqY/s640/IMG_0838.jpeg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: large;">Here is Avery with my dog, Rocket</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNBYzSluS6G5k-yyHhrHXmELMU01si7r9FowOqK8qq5tD-oRSKYtZ1r90xGJ1K795VDmHVwWrrntIzj0jkXIRKWVRBJeWoVTQVMeB0uxGIGeXuNBNrrVXDw-UJpV_qBejlnWLCK-Mxhs4/s1600/IMG_0840.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNBYzSluS6G5k-yyHhrHXmELMU01si7r9FowOqK8qq5tD-oRSKYtZ1r90xGJ1K795VDmHVwWrrntIzj0jkXIRKWVRBJeWoVTQVMeB0uxGIGeXuNBNrrVXDw-UJpV_qBejlnWLCK-Mxhs4/s640/IMG_0840.jpeg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Here is Avery at a tea room in Asheville, NC</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih0f4zrmxQE6wN0WuUzKn2QZo3wodCo4_nShJPaTUi7D3-g8UEA3kYP6zxxXeg0OkhQAzU4HIcZ4O_saoSICY4iZBYx_BQwkbY83MOk6sSTtihQwJB1R0HlGwNi8WleUgoN35qbzMdcDQ/s1600/IMG_0849.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih0f4zrmxQE6wN0WuUzKn2QZo3wodCo4_nShJPaTUi7D3-g8UEA3kYP6zxxXeg0OkhQAzU4HIcZ4O_saoSICY4iZBYx_BQwkbY83MOk6sSTtihQwJB1R0HlGwNi8WleUgoN35qbzMdcDQ/s640/IMG_0849.jpeg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Avery at the airport</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt_SAU3A2s69khMga9T_TX2eKVA2cP44PDWRflv2kMQxi9qaPyXCJn9_9OHb2P6a2PnnKHYhu6G7zEmntO9oftr8CHWWhc1436NwOuSR9meinUXKb811Fexwb0N9s_1RRbBQB0xxW6ijw/s1600/IMG_0853.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt_SAU3A2s69khMga9T_TX2eKVA2cP44PDWRflv2kMQxi9qaPyXCJn9_9OHb2P6a2PnnKHYhu6G7zEmntO9oftr8CHWWhc1436NwOuSR9meinUXKb811Fexwb0N9s_1RRbBQB0xxW6ijw/s400/IMG_0853.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Avery on a flight to Houston, Texas, with me</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipSU5p_2ZZOZVuEzxGze5iEr05m7oihJI43aD5InVy7WH0PWDc2V8Nx7jM23uxc9dJL4qW5ZNogwcYNKt6Pi8oH4rUPutkjdz0gooycYzCyDvpSh5LMu3gbtE2YFRkeFEL355ad7svYzM/s1600/IMG_0850.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipSU5p_2ZZOZVuEzxGze5iEr05m7oihJI43aD5InVy7WH0PWDc2V8Nx7jM23uxc9dJL4qW5ZNogwcYNKt6Pi8oH4rUPutkjdz0gooycYzCyDvpSh5LMu3gbtE2YFRkeFEL355ad7svYzM/s400/IMG_0850.jpeg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Avery flying to Houston</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWyumGoptUFes-yCR4iYyFCIVttC9Exux8Vcz5ECmFJuV7YkIQwT4uhysxB4k7UH1SmWAhex2nIhWytl5VWtTkJrR6zTt7jcHoKwo9aNS0v4xSw6J4SeqdujtTtiPzIRvu51fuqGjUl-U/s1600/IMG_0856.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWyumGoptUFes-yCR4iYyFCIVttC9Exux8Vcz5ECmFJuV7YkIQwT4uhysxB4k7UH1SmWAhex2nIhWytl5VWtTkJrR6zTt7jcHoKwo9aNS0v4xSw6J4SeqdujtTtiPzIRvu51fuqGjUl-U/s640/IMG_0856.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Avery at a hotel in Houston</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPPMj3-CqBGUzbYH3rYaiydVejv2LSf_gCqNxKlLn8RJKuhiYQaF1lfLSl36I8KZjejWMyenS_NiBk3GdlrrCj9dSJbiIGoJdhYzh8fa7Id8PPs4gihFj1LyToM9GgxhcXQGwuQYOtcqA/s1600/IMG_0860.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPPMj3-CqBGUzbYH3rYaiydVejv2LSf_gCqNxKlLn8RJKuhiYQaF1lfLSl36I8KZjejWMyenS_NiBk3GdlrrCj9dSJbiIGoJdhYzh8fa7Id8PPs4gihFj1LyToM9GgxhcXQGwuQYOtcqA/s640/IMG_0860.jpeg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Avery in the library of an elementary school in Houston</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZaY7DBsblfiLJllVSMaYGjwtIpuVay0gPChCyF6woaRq99k6R93nJ_tWghZTVfaVC0tysyvd9EX2Ej89eE_VGisgFXFnayyfhniPmq1Ho0Pmmwi-UHJVOAjSzHINvFHHVBOomi8_Br0E/s1600/IMG_0876.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZaY7DBsblfiLJllVSMaYGjwtIpuVay0gPChCyF6woaRq99k6R93nJ_tWghZTVfaVC0tysyvd9EX2Ej89eE_VGisgFXFnayyfhniPmq1Ho0Pmmwi-UHJVOAjSzHINvFHHVBOomi8_Br0E/s640/IMG_0876.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Avery in the library</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvlpf_nt76EvGYnpyvgDK9qdmVlhPdLWyb9_Y_aR3SlNIjGgVk3KnYSBLK56yQd5P6T81gqy_eWYsjeEMsWO651W9obKLpwQ81cr-H34iUIGxsXD258wPP3DnCvr9ZZ-uTIv0pzLdlGJs/s1600/IMG_0870.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvlpf_nt76EvGYnpyvgDK9qdmVlhPdLWyb9_Y_aR3SlNIjGgVk3KnYSBLK56yQd5P6T81gqy_eWYsjeEMsWO651W9obKLpwQ81cr-H34iUIGxsXD258wPP3DnCvr9ZZ-uTIv0pzLdlGJs/s640/IMG_0870.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Avery helping me sign books in Houston</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh0wYr2nFecl6X5qOgRAXQF2n3mmdm4MJaNtcXVR7Zb2Yis0W8x_gr4YxbEzz8P9sE3q1svV6wgHSOKWJ64Mt0PL77gxlsCpRAqTfFlkHpMrL4VCquzSaBAlxs7IlMko4OrJw9GUqRa_g/s1600/IMG_0886.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh0wYr2nFecl6X5qOgRAXQF2n3mmdm4MJaNtcXVR7Zb2Yis0W8x_gr4YxbEzz8P9sE3q1svV6wgHSOKWJ64Mt0PL77gxlsCpRAqTfFlkHpMrL4VCquzSaBAlxs7IlMko4OrJw9GUqRa_g/s640/IMG_0886.jpeg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Avery with students in Houston</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBP-RkGpF_Xw86kPcHcBbw-lfkcDhfguTr1rzCeFB0W2J3wECCTfXnSngDKOv2tuBYX-HPP5BF3BORW-RJktvONUSrS3HaxtHl1uXs6-G1hp9YM9gR8a9cxaFoR1uExwvk1EHTvHN-DDQ/s1600/IMG_0992.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBP-RkGpF_Xw86kPcHcBbw-lfkcDhfguTr1rzCeFB0W2J3wECCTfXnSngDKOv2tuBYX-HPP5BF3BORW-RJktvONUSrS3HaxtHl1uXs6-G1hp9YM9gR8a9cxaFoR1uExwvk1EHTvHN-DDQ/s640/IMG_0992.jpeg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Hiking in the Blue Ridge Mountains</span></td></tr>
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<br />Barbara O'Connorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11772206568826059623noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5644877205641091430.post-27885096133160706742018-07-30T05:00:00.000-04:002018-07-30T11:35:46.896-04:00An Interview with Myself to Celebrate Wonderland<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Author <a href="https://cmsurrisi.com/" target="_blank">Cynthia Surrisi</a> has hijacked my blog today and is forcing me
to answer hard questions. Because she has promised me many fish tacos, penny
candy, and trinkets, I am going along with this crazy scheme.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Cynthia, take it away.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Cynthia:</b> Ah, such POWER!!! I am delighted to be commandeering Barbara’s
blog for the issue leading up to the publication of her newest middle grade
novel, <i>Wonderland</i>. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">For those of you who are her fans and followers, I
promise you will adore this new book. I wondered whether this adorable author
could pull off yet another super winner, and sure enough, she has. See, this is
why I am doing this. Barbara is useless at tooting her own horn. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">So, let's get started. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOnwrzeuTqQzU8MVylA_whCFrjard8FsGujlGDEIC48-TBbEVSQCcN6Q0tGHHaT4M8ZeZsoJG2oeH27DsWCKatMqHp5qxyCOYqOi0vUV5gOif1yAJDQDXHF3baolvFeL1a6kKgSh1b184/s1600/Wonderland.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1043" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOnwrzeuTqQzU8MVylA_whCFrjard8FsGujlGDEIC48-TBbEVSQCcN6Q0tGHHaT4M8ZeZsoJG2oeH27DsWCKatMqHp5qxyCOYqOi0vUV5gOif1yAJDQDXHF3baolvFeL1a6kKgSh1b184/s400/Wonderland.jpg" width="260" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">On sale 8/28/18</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #353535; font-family: "applesystemuifont"; mso-bidi-font-family: AppleSystemUIFont;"><b>Cynthia:</b> Here's an easy one: What five words best describe <i>Wonderland?</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #353535; font-family: "applesystemuifont"; mso-bidi-font-family: AppleSystemUIFont;"><b>Barbara:</b> Friendship, confidence, dog-love, funny, heartfelt<i> </i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #353535; font-family: "applesystemuifont"; mso-bidi-font-family: AppleSystemUIFont;"><b>Cynthia:</b> What is one question
you’ve never been asked at a school visit that you would like to be asked, and
what is the answer to that question?</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #353535; font-family: "applesystemuifont"; mso-bidi-font-family: AppleSystemUIFont;"><b>Barbara:</b> What do you want young readers to learn from your books?</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #353535; font-family: "applesystemuifont"; mso-bidi-font-family: AppleSystemUIFont;">The answer: I write books to entertain young readers, not to teach them. <i>But</i>, I'd like to think that readers either come away with a better understanding of a character or situation they weren't familiar with - or - relate to a character or situation and find some degree of comfort or hope. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #353535; font-family: "applesystemuifont"; mso-bidi-font-family: AppleSystemUIFont;"><b>Cynthia:</b> Which of your books do you most like to read aloud? What part and why?</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #353535; font-family: "applesystemuifont"; mso-bidi-font-family: AppleSystemUIFont;"><b>Barbara:</b> <i>The Small Adventure of Popeye and Elvis</i>, especially the scenes with Starletta and Elvis. Starletta is so strange and funny and who wouldn't want to hear about Elvis's Spit and Swear Club? </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #353535; font-family: "applesystemuifont"; mso-bidi-font-family: AppleSystemUIFont;"><b>Cynthia:</b> What is your writing process? Do you write every day?</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #353535; font-family: "applesystemuifont"; mso-bidi-font-family: AppleSystemUIFont;"><b>Barbara:</b> Call me weird, but every story starts with a title. From there, I spend a lot of time thinking about and getting to know my characters. When I have a hazy idea about the story, I just jump on in. I wish I could outline. I'd love that. But I rarely know where the story is going until the act of writing, which can feel like torture sometimes. I write by hand. I love the freedom of that. I revise constantly as I go along, never leaving anything too messy behind me.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #353535; font-family: "applesystemuifont"; mso-bidi-font-family: AppleSystemUIFont;">I don't write every day unless I'm on a deadline. Some days I'd rather be walking my dogs. But that gives me good thinking time, which is an important part of any writer's process. </span></span><span style="font-size: large;">
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<b>Cynthia:</b> What were the best and worst moments of your publishing journey so far?</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Barbara:</b> The best moments have been the times I've won a state book award voted on by children. That's the best validation there is for a children's writer. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Another moment was when I found myself on a panel at a conference with Sharon Creech. I had adored her books for many years and felt so honored to actually be on that panel with her. A "pinch me" moment.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">As for the worst moments, I'll fill you in over a glass of wine some time.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Sharon Creech (left) and me</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Cynthia:</b> Tell us about a book you wrote a long, long time ago that was so bad that it didn't get published.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Barbara:</b> I wrote a book called <i>Surf's Up, Nicky Weaver.</i> It was my first attempt at writing for children - long before I discovered my voice. So, of course, it had no voice. It was bland and blah. The only good thing any editor had to say about it came from editor Richard Jackson, who liked that the dog in the story was named Jackson.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Cynthia:</b> Show us a picture of your dogs and tell us what each one would say about the other: something positive and something gripe-y.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Barbara:</b> Here are Ruby and Rocket.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Ruby (left) and Rocket</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Ruby would say that Rocket annoys her by wanting to play all the time but also that she loves playing with Rocket (just not all the time).</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Rocket would say that Ruby gets more attention than he does and won't play with her all the time.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Cynthia:</b> I heard that an artist made a sculpture of one of the characters in one of your books. Can you tell us about it and show us a picture?</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Barbara:</b> A fabulous artist named <a href="https://www.klayhawkdolls.com/" target="_blank">Karen Hawkins</a> made this amazing sculpture of Bird from <i>Fame and Glory in Freedom, Georgia.</i> I love it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Cynthia:</b> What's your favorite herb and how do you use it?</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Barbara:</b> Ha! I have no sense of smell so not a very sharp sense of taste. Herbs are just useless little specks of green to me.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #353535; font-family: "applesystemuifont"; mso-bidi-font-family: AppleSystemUIFont;"><b>Cynthia:</b> Well, there you have it, friends. We’ve gotten the inside scoop
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #353535; font-family: "applesystemuifont"; mso-bidi-font-family: AppleSystemUIFont;">I hope it encourages you to get a copy of <i>Wonderland </i>from
your favorite bookstore. I guarantee you’ll love it. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #353535; font-family: "applesystemuifont"; mso-bidi-font-family: AppleSystemUIFont;">Cynthia Surrisi is the author of a fabulous series of middle grade mysteries set in Maine: The Quinnie Boyd Mysteries (<i>The Maypop Kidnapping, Vampires on the Run</i>, and <i>A Side of Sabotage</i>) - as well as the hilarious picture book, <i>The Best Mother</i>, illustrated by Diane Goode. You can learn more about her at <a href="https://cmsurrisi.com/" target="_blank">her website.</a></span></span></div>
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-->Barbara O'Connorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11772206568826059623noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5644877205641091430.post-81127787045119103182018-04-24T07:00:00.000-04:002018-04-24T07:00:39.180-04:00Constance Lombardo is in the House!
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">It's a Book Birthday!!</span></span></span></b></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> <span style="color: black;">Today I'm celebrating the publication of </span></span></span></span></b></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><i><span style="color: black;"> <u><b>Mr. Puffball: Escape from Castaway Island</b></u></span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><i><span style="color: black;"><b>by </b></span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><i><span style="color: black;"><b>Constance Lombardo</b></span></i></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYdxTYGQbHHcYWXu8HZGWyTDkdPfZSuEXg74uzWeznC6yP54yJJsXEPM2i1JJ8reGRlB5TjTOhlruLtlCXd7EqZQYlqgeiwjTjCLfyFzSLq2kwZbwJdlt2f0PxD8HEwytkFiCxC6EUIxQ/s1600/cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="644" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYdxTYGQbHHcYWXu8HZGWyTDkdPfZSuEXg74uzWeznC6yP54yJJsXEPM2i1JJ8reGRlB5TjTOhlruLtlCXd7EqZQYlqgeiwjTjCLfyFzSLq2kwZbwJdlt2f0PxD8HEwytkFiCxC6EUIxQ/s400/cover.jpg" width="267" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><i><span style="color: black;"><b> </b><u><b><br /></b></u></span></i></span></div>
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><i><span style="color: black;"></span></i></span><i><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;"></span></span></i><i><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;"></span></span></i><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;">B</span><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 107%; padding: 0in;">eing on <i>Celebrity </i></span><i><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; color: black; font-family: "inherit", serif; line-height: 107%; padding: 0in;">Birthday Cake</span></i><i><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 107%; padding: 0in;"> Wars</span></i><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 107%; padding: 0in;"> as El Gato was okay, but now Mr. Puffball is going
on reality TV as himself! </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 107%; padding: 0in;">He’ll finally earn the fame and fortune he’s dreamed
of since kittenhood. But what happens when the fame wears off and the fortune
is spent? What happens to a Hollywood stunt cat has-been? (Hint: tropical
island adventure!!)</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white none repeat scroll 0% 0%; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white none repeat scroll 0% 0%; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; padding: 0in;">In this third book in
the series, Mr. Puffball and the gang find out just how real reality TV
can be. </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">Read
all about in <i>Mr. Puffball, Escape
from Castaway Island</i>, in stores today! </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white none repeat scroll 0% 0%; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white none repeat scroll 0% 0%; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Constance is here to answer some questions about her hilarious new book. </span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 107%;">Why
did you send Mr. Puffball into the world of reality TV?</span></b></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 107%;"> </span></b></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 107%;">My kid and I watch our fair share of reality TV. It’s
almost like a ‘get famous quick’ scheme for people (or cats!) Also, reality TV
brings out the best and worst in people (and cats!) It was fun to drop Mr.
Puffball and the whole gang onto Celebrity Castaway Island (think <i>Survivor</i> – with cats!) and see what
happens. </span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 107%;">What
was the hardest part about writing this book?</span></b></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 107%;"> </span></b></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 107%;">Mr. Puffball is such a good cat, and a loyal friend,
it’s been hard to watch his dream of being a star turn into an obsession that overshadowed
all his good qualities. But that’s exactly the kind of thing that happens on <i>Cutthroat Kitchen</i>. I figure if it’s good
enough for Alton Brown (whom I love,) then it’s good enough for Mr. Puffball. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 107%;"><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/AVvXsEjYtnfQ9Gg7Va48NnHbs14gb1NF_dfuybm5egxTby58aZWMXueqewUdLBSZd6J5AD2VNrn9M97Q6g77u7RUPZEuLJgJYPPZ1MY2l7jCGVwSyv3F7RGo1HUbVX0Q7wjxGQlRyXwcXgSntA8/s1600/IMG_20180412_0002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1301" data-original-width="1600" height="325" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYtnfQ9Gg7Va48NnHbs14gb1NF_dfuybm5egxTby58aZWMXueqewUdLBSZd6J5AD2VNrn9M97Q6g77u7RUPZEuLJgJYPPZ1MY2l7jCGVwSyv3F7RGo1HUbVX0Q7wjxGQlRyXwcXgSntA8/s400/IMG_20180412_0002.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">A scene from Celebrity Birthday Cake Wars</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 107%;"> </span></span><i><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 107%;">What
was the best part?</span></b></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 107%;"> </span></b></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 107%;">So many opportunities to be silly! Baking shows,
Feline Ninja Warrior, tropical island weather maps, bug eating, quicksand, etc.
Not only do I get to write about all this fun stuff, I draw it. I discovered I
like drawing old lizards and monkeys of all ages.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 107%;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 107%;"></span></span><i><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 107%;">Any
reality TV show fun facts from your own life?</span></b></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 107%;"> </span></b></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 107%;">I’m glad you asked me that. My sister-in-law was on <i>Wife Swap</i>. She’s a belly dancer in New
York City, and she traded places with a pig farmer from Wisconsin. With her
larger-than-life personality, her episode was amazingly fun and inspiring! </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 107%;"><i>What
kind of reality TV shows would your cat G. G. like to see more of?</i> </span></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 107%;"> </span></b></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 107%;">Well, he’s very into chasing rabbits, so maybe <i>Cats v. Bunnies</i>? And he likes to keep it
real, so <i>Real Housecats of Asheville</i>
would be very popular at my house. Also, with his competitive nature, I think <i>Cutthroat Kitten</i> would be a hit. </span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 107%;"></span></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 107%;"><i>What’s
next for Constance Lombardo?</i> </span></b></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 107%;">I’m hard at work on my first picture book (yay!!)
Surprisingly, it’s not about cats. It’s about kittens.</span></span></div>
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<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>**************** </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 107%;">Constance Lombardo began drawing when she was 10 years
old,</span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-size: large;"> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
inspired in part by the Illustrators Annuals her dad brought home from the
ad agency where he worked, and in part by the fact that <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj2nyrrXKq221BEkUQ0O_ZG_rSeDWYVknycUmNWmC9Xqui3nT0nk_R7REl_W7JxpqFGdE8CJ-qpHMEgInBDmNhWTRJ_eJ57XhE4aNQ02audI5K4q1a9LQAZC24GjNrI0G3gWIFTpFsgRM/s1600/8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="864" data-original-width="691" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj2nyrrXKq221BEkUQ0O_ZG_rSeDWYVknycUmNWmC9Xqui3nT0nk_R7REl_W7JxpqFGdE8CJ-qpHMEgInBDmNhWTRJ_eJ57XhE4aNQ02audI5K4q1a9LQAZC24GjNrI0G3gWIFTpFsgRM/s320/8.jpg" width="255" /></a></div>
her sister did a
drawing and got lots of attention. </span><br />
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 107%;">She is the proud author/illustrator of the middle
grade Mr. Puffball series (HarperCollins): <i>Mr.
Puffball: Stunt Cat to the Stars</i>, <i>Mr.
Puffball: Stunt Cat Across America</i>, and <i>Mr.
Puffball: Escape from Castaway Island</i>.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 107%;">Currently, she’s working on her
first picture book, <i>Everybody Says Meow</i>
(HarperCollins, 2019.) She is represented by Lori Nowicki of Painted Words.
Plus she likes cats. </span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 107%;"><i><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Thank you for stopping by, Constance.</span></span></i> </span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
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</span><style><font size="5">
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</font></style>Barbara O'Connorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11772206568826059623noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5644877205641091430.post-73176577565111018712018-03-01T06:00:00.000-05:002018-03-01T06:00:19.067-05:00A Side of Sabotage<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Guess what today is?</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;">A book birthday!!</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;">The third Quinnie Boyd Mystery:</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">A SIDE OF SABOTAGE</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;">by</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://cmsurrisi.com/"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Cynthia Surrisi</span></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;">hits shelves today!!!</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSiUXaWdirXUzWzA4WrfLtgcDRiIbNa0P6rMi8Y0DMsS7AikQaEWBbIpgBH8A5wPDgqQFmUzZHMFquCA_H8Gu94ypSPVW0mUui8rCvjeBJLAiGvO9aAkNtHd6foyNp-9au3yYFUS6eJGQ/s1600/sabotage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="564" data-original-width="396" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSiUXaWdirXUzWzA4WrfLtgcDRiIbNa0P6rMi8Y0DMsS7AikQaEWBbIpgBH8A5wPDgqQFmUzZHMFquCA_H8Gu94ypSPVW0mUui8rCvjeBJLAiGvO9aAkNtHd6foyNp-9au3yYFUS6eJGQ/s400/sabotage.jpg" width="280" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;">And now, for your viewing pleasure,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;">the world premiere of the trailer </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxzs8-1wWw6pq57_ZCCrN9MPMhR86kX2Lx4QOEw3nU0obK9qj_3TpJR5Mz4PduS1M1o2SKTly1BtsCmGbGBhg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;">About the book:</span><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;">For decades, Gusty's Café has been a beloved staple in Maiden Rock, Maine. Quinnie Boyd's dad runs the café, just like Quinnie's granddad before him. But the family business has new competition when a bad-boy chef from Boston opens his own place in the small vacation town.<br /><br />The new restaurant takes fancy dining to the extreme. Still, that's not a crime . . . but when things start to go wrong at Gusty's, Quinnie suspects foul play. Are the people behind Restaurant Hubert trying to squash the Boyds' family café? Quinnie is about to find out if it is a coincidence—or sabotage.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span></div>
</div>
Barbara O'Connorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11772206568826059623noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5644877205641091430.post-34575472147113761082018-01-12T10:32:00.000-05:002018-01-12T10:32:38.030-05:00Wonderland<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;">My new book, WONDERLAND</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Coming Fall 2018</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<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/AVvXsEhT5hldSl5-1gAUe0Xd2nyikhsU7yaJt9erCI0ra4FzD5RD6ZXY27C0IF2z6NOO3F8I7h-nS_elJZVGJHUJYhEPtnnrNqLYQ-E1-eHQm1VN0p_ba45ibVMXE4_I0IijyvQgCpGaxRkh1p4/s1600/IMG_0091.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1043" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT5hldSl5-1gAUe0Xd2nyikhsU7yaJt9erCI0ra4FzD5RD6ZXY27C0IF2z6NOO3F8I7h-nS_elJZVGJHUJYhEPtnnrNqLYQ-E1-eHQm1VN0p_ba45ibVMXE4_I0IijyvQgCpGaxRkh1p4/s400/IMG_0091.jpg" width="260" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Macmillan/FSG</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;">
<style>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 200%;">MAVIS
JEETER is fearless and bold, but she has never lived in one place long enough
to have a <i>real</i> best friend. Her
flighty mother has uprooted them again to another new home and taken a job as a
housekeeper for the Tully family. Mavis wants this home to be permanent—which
means finding herself a best friend.</span></span></div>
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</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 200%;">ROSE
TULLY is a worrier who feels like she doesn’t quite fit in with the other girls
in her neighborhood. Her closest friend is Mr. Duffy, but he hasn’t been
himself since his dog died. Rose may have to break a few of her mother’s many
rules to help Mr. Duffy—and find someone who really understands her.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 200%;">HENRY
has run away from home, but he craves kindness and comfort—and doesn’t know
where to look for them.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-size: large;">When Mavis and Rose hatch
a scheme to find Mr. Duffy a new dog, their lives and Henry’s intersect—and
they all come to find friendship in places they never expected.</span> </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Barbara O'Connorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11772206568826059623noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5644877205641091430.post-27165753099876644252017-10-13T12:14:00.000-04:002017-10-13T12:14:25.871-04:00My Visit to Madison County Schools<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I recently spent two great days visiting schools in Madison Country North Carolina. WISH is on the North Carolina Elementary Battle of the Books list.</span></div>
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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/AVvXsEirC3yYDsQZrVDeXtVD-giz1yiyzeA7NOl1KolIaaJ01HGCBqriG5OpZmPbhPzVUWPyy2zmw3C_hMtl48670E9pWUHr4ZT4QY9o-RRNMnXkK1CZ9HWhewrga9u6-M9DHSJCpCZ7hXZe7V4/s1600/mars+hill+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirC3yYDsQZrVDeXtVD-giz1yiyzeA7NOl1KolIaaJ01HGCBqriG5OpZmPbhPzVUWPyy2zmw3C_hMtl48670E9pWUHr4ZT4QY9o-RRNMnXkK1CZ9HWhewrga9u6-M9DHSJCpCZ7hXZe7V4/s400/mars+hill+1.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Getting ready to speak to students at Mars Hill Elementary</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6eghSec3EdJSSfzoXcyyHhtXeDNFMyrvsdyvFjDN39GE9szzhNtPniWdfJ98qsA9mBSYztGBwvxV541WorUupi9Jbg0vnaZAioHSmzaazLdxNDEZIu2xqK9S3OsY2eB9hGyctZuqy5d0/s1600/mars+hill+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6eghSec3EdJSSfzoXcyyHhtXeDNFMyrvsdyvFjDN39GE9szzhNtPniWdfJ98qsA9mBSYztGBwvxV541WorUupi9Jbg0vnaZAioHSmzaazLdxNDEZIu2xqK9S3OsY2eB9hGyctZuqy5d0/s400/mars+hill+2.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Being introduced at Mars Hill Elementary by Melanie Morgan, Library Director at Madison County Public Library</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO6g345IMzKrdmakygIXB5iawiWZpa4C1iBuvg14brfEYCMKracb8c2gNiETmqldgQZARxw_6X3mvllzopfwQ9eBx7sZ_QTq4GHOZMevFv1mVf0RYZMsEo-w5Ug-JNXYHwce0fsRmjtX8/s1600/marshall+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO6g345IMzKrdmakygIXB5iawiWZpa4C1iBuvg14brfEYCMKracb8c2gNiETmqldgQZARxw_6X3mvllzopfwQ9eBx7sZ_QTq4GHOZMevFv1mVf0RYZMsEo-w5Ug-JNXYHwce0fsRmjtX8/s640/marshall+2.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">My greeters, tour guides and bodyguards at Brush Creek (<i>l to r</i>) Elizabeth, Bella, Jordan and Phoenix</span></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/AVvXsEj_rJlyTXUUY_cE8YcU4BS2cxy1vXJb_l2utWdgAHmqRDdwAwio7e2yK7a9-otSpcTIiD5Ea9hrBuk20458bCHMgAnkPBUrVVPUM-yrIlZAc3ySprDFGt5WUnw98_VFsJ021F9GLIrt8CM/s1600/marshall+3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_rJlyTXUUY_cE8YcU4BS2cxy1vXJb_l2utWdgAHmqRDdwAwio7e2yK7a9-otSpcTIiD5Ea9hrBuk20458bCHMgAnkPBUrVVPUM-yrIlZAc3ySprDFGt5WUnw98_VFsJ021F9GLIrt8CM/s400/marshall+3.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">A nice greeting from Brush Creek Elementary School</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd0qkU_O6-MNFFh0qs8MWPkdJlL07WMmJ3NwrhYm37uZZbOv4ii7bHSZlb8PKxSjrCNnxVvwLFZo9_P1SlQxN5I9bdiKpa6wY9CpF4WyKWRyw7hpKrLCQwt14M2JfKl-JtXzZMJ9meK4g/s1600/Marshall+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd0qkU_O6-MNFFh0qs8MWPkdJlL07WMmJ3NwrhYm37uZZbOv4ii7bHSZlb8PKxSjrCNnxVvwLFZo9_P1SlQxN5I9bdiKpa6wY9CpF4WyKWRyw7hpKrLCQwt14M2JfKl-JtXzZMJ9meK4g/s640/Marshall+2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Brush Creek 4th Graders displaying their copies of WISH</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVk3avoNuzQuz_Dz612GZuWsppDgEfJd9Qln984mi7j-HafD256hk449Y6NpTrkt0I2l8wTWweciidpUmUVsjl0FnPYOXKsLLdhamH5luBA30dZAG-pJZNTDQndlBNmNd52mZzdyYvEYk/s1600/Marshall+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVk3avoNuzQuz_Dz612GZuWsppDgEfJd9Qln984mi7j-HafD256hk449Y6NpTrkt0I2l8wTWweciidpUmUVsjl0FnPYOXKsLLdhamH5luBA30dZAG-pJZNTDQndlBNmNd52mZzdyYvEYk/s640/Marshall+1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Speaking to students at Brush Creek Elementary</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj19yuSH5LJQynKs0yJxbJ6qTexongY1RPVDiDi4FcrXaDBURNb5Ig_B6cghEgzR-qMA_qO4VwrtJURDx6qRkXXkRvVLBobw-MXdpDx78HsmvTMiKaPHXiRvCtZm7lHMObz56iSGLO3RmM/s1600/marshall+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj19yuSH5LJQynKs0yJxbJ6qTexongY1RPVDiDi4FcrXaDBURNb5Ig_B6cghEgzR-qMA_qO4VwrtJURDx6qRkXXkRvVLBobw-MXdpDx78HsmvTMiKaPHXiRvCtZm7lHMObz56iSGLO3RmM/s640/marshall+3.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Signing books at Brush Creek</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdFAoP3_TG9qA4TRtxcvwyu8exM4kOnVcI4coJIGyiGmMrVwtO_Lp5Joe7MnWedekhTgWky5ruqpqm96MaDDX0Tmt1RrEJeONAC5WFaVkrm2_wqZBGbgMh6arOz_6SheMgVKULYV69CAA/s1600/IMG_1928.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdFAoP3_TG9qA4TRtxcvwyu8exM4kOnVcI4coJIGyiGmMrVwtO_Lp5Joe7MnWedekhTgWky5ruqpqm96MaDDX0Tmt1RrEJeONAC5WFaVkrm2_wqZBGbgMh6arOz_6SheMgVKULYV69CAA/s640/IMG_1928.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">The beautiful mountain setting of Hot Springs School</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH5wOXH_WqGP4trzPj_R9B38vhd2zYwcT-QLURkt4AAwz0-HEbpPQbT1I34KnPYnFX1vxCcVwO0Posp8yutkaWQ1pBbbfQbPcVToGQMwDFYx37XpzkPLoGWpSnNncV_eERPa5Y7Inbvqg/s1600/Hot+springs+1.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH5wOXH_WqGP4trzPj_R9B38vhd2zYwcT-QLURkt4AAwz0-HEbpPQbT1I34KnPYnFX1vxCcVwO0Posp8yutkaWQ1pBbbfQbPcVToGQMwDFYx37XpzkPLoGWpSnNncV_eERPa5Y7Inbvqg/s640/Hot+springs+1.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">4th and 5th graders at Hot Springs School</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhguO3T1VIWu9cu8Yg68NzVcA_afFg24KzuRtqM1yxfXWn5TaddH6UTHbDEjjpsZIvVZ1ry7pg2Alac2t-ug_XVMvTGjxznK4AZtIuwORnogFEtZUys1myAuZ16nAZVBm1v9c-w7i7Ojes/s1600/hot+springs+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhguO3T1VIWu9cu8Yg68NzVcA_afFg24KzuRtqM1yxfXWn5TaddH6UTHbDEjjpsZIvVZ1ry7pg2Alac2t-ug_XVMvTGjxznK4AZtIuwORnogFEtZUys1myAuZ16nAZVBm1v9c-w7i7Ojes/s640/hot+springs+1.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Some great drawings done by students at Hot Springs School</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibgsnVHgottgLmH5iTqkM8bBTjcFuCqFBYR4Bxm7JG-F2BzMVRzpPrOwvH5Zbn7TgnpTp0l-7ux1re86cG01CWRifGmQV1d9agDBGGNnpHdDjKdvAJ4yOK7oTEQZiNeDtI0QwvHd2eiBU/s1600/hot+springs+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibgsnVHgottgLmH5iTqkM8bBTjcFuCqFBYR4Bxm7JG-F2BzMVRzpPrOwvH5Zbn7TgnpTp0l-7ux1re86cG01CWRifGmQV1d9agDBGGNnpHdDjKdvAJ4yOK7oTEQZiNeDtI0QwvHd2eiBU/s640/hot+springs+2.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">More great drawings from Hot Springs students</span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: red;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">THANK YOU, MADISON COUNTY!!</span></b></span></div>
Barbara O'Connorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11772206568826059623noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5644877205641091430.post-5028530658897005902017-10-01T03:30:00.000-04:002017-10-01T10:13:50.784-04:00Cover Reveal for A Side of Sabotage<style>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Today I have the great pleasure of having my friend and fab middle grade author, <a href="https://cmsurrisi.com/">Cynthia Surrisi</a>, here for a cover reveal.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I LOVE cover reveals!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Check it out, y'all!! </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCANPGT48YYMXlgGZoWSYyA5GP0ZNhBGYdS6hntRYJmmeXnCFs5yuq0vWEV1iqCIkvjXQnV4RzExbvMlqhwLdcKbvQbp1DW912Z3JvaGjXBHi3DSAXGTid9uneHf6botIZhyZQuDf0oIg/s1600/cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="390" data-original-width="275" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCANPGT48YYMXlgGZoWSYyA5GP0ZNhBGYdS6hntRYJmmeXnCFs5yuq0vWEV1iqCIkvjXQnV4RzExbvMlqhwLdcKbvQbp1DW912Z3JvaGjXBHi3DSAXGTid9uneHf6botIZhyZQuDf0oIg/s640/cover.jpg" width="449" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Isn't it great??</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">You can buy a copy of this beauty March 1, 2018. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Now let's hear from Cynthia:</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Thanks for inviting me to reveal the cover of my new book here on your blog, Barbara! </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">It’s the third Quinnie Boyd Mystery, <u>A SIDE OF SABOTAGE</u> and even<br />
more than the first two, it’s a mystery that can’t stop talking about <i>food! </i> However, in this one, the food is integral to the suspense.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">About the book: </span></div>
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<i>For decades, Gusty’s Cafe has served up hot plates of comfort food to the folks in Maiden Rock, Maine. Quinnie Boyd’s dad runs the cafe, just like Quinnie’s granddad before him. But the family business has new competition when a bad-boy chef from Boston opens his own place in the small vacation town. </i></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>The new restaurant takes fancy dining to the extreme. Still, that’s not a crime . . . even if Quinnie would rather pass on a snooty dish like “raw-beet foam.” But then things start to go wrong at Gusty’s: the dishwasher overflows, the cooler is on the fritz, and worse! </i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>Are the people behind Restaurant Hubert trying to squash Gusty’s Cafe? It could be a coincidence or —</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>--or it could be sabotage. </i></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Since the first Quinnie Boyd Mystery, <u>THE MAYPOP KIDNAPPING</u>, readers have been asking me if Maiden Rock is a real place, if they can have the directions to Gusty’s Café, and whether I will reveal the recipes for food I refer to in the book. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The questions intensified after the second book, <u>VAMPIRES ON THE RUN</u>, where Whoopie Pies were featured. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I expect the questions will keep coming with <u>A SIDE OF SABOTAGE</u>.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
I’ll reveal now that Maiden Rock is a fictional town but it<br />
is based on a small coastal town where I used to live during the summers as a child. Gusty’s never existed, but there was a café where I ate the best Maine blueberry pie ever. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">We also used to order our French fries at this cafe, go sailing for the day, then pick up steamed lobster from the lobster pound, grab<br />
our French fry order and pour it all out on newspaper on the kitchen table. My mother made the dipping sauce that turned the fries into what we called lobster fries. </span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
Here are recipes for some of the most requested items in the<br />
books: Gusty Burgers, Lobster Fries, Whoopie Pies, and Bean Scoop.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>Gusty Burgers</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The charm of a Gusty burger is that it is served on a toasted, buttered English Muffin. You can make any burger you like from all beef to turkey to veggie, but Gusty makes his from 80% fat beef and grill-cooks it with salt and pepper. There are no fillers or additions to the meat. Then h serves it with a slice of raw onion, and mustard. That’s it. You can add a slice of Vermont cheddar and still have a Gusty Burger. Okay, in later years he condescended to put crispy fried onions instead of raw for special customers. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>Lobster Fries</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Many folks are disappointed that lobster fries are not
strips of fried lobster. I can’t even go there. I’m more for unadulterated
lobster steamed in salt water, picked and handled with a light touch for a lobster
roll. I will give you Gusty’s Lobster Roll recipe another day. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Lobster fries are the best double-fried fries that you dip
in the drawn butter concoction that is typically used for lobster dipping,
except Gusty has his own version. When these things are hot, you weep with joy
as you eat them and lick the empty paper when they are gone. </span></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: large;">The Fries:</span></i></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">If you are up for the trouble, cut fresh Idaho potatoes into
the long familiar shape. Soak them in water in the refrigerator for several
hours or overnight. Bring oil to 300 degrees F and dry the potatoes thoroughly
in a towel. Fry for five minutes, remove from oil and drain on paper towels. At
this point you can either refrigerate the fries for later or increase the heat
to 400 degrees and fry them again immediately for a finish to your desired
crispiness.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>The Lobster Butter:</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0nBSVucoXZsZ6l55j1l64Ain2SqQ3VKWSM8YOGZIQVh7HrS_1TymLrb9wKykI2i5hPe_SX6HUQBUpSg5nwLW68FrFTAmE6Cm8r027TLYr1c1cWTEh-Gh7WN0kGUeMXs_t3br-pDsCfXU/s1600/butter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="225" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0nBSVucoXZsZ6l55j1l64Ain2SqQ3VKWSM8YOGZIQVh7HrS_1TymLrb9wKykI2i5hPe_SX6HUQBUpSg5nwLW68FrFTAmE6Cm8r027TLYr1c1cWTEh-Gh7WN0kGUeMXs_t3br-pDsCfXU/s400/butter.jpg" width="400" /></a></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Melt unsalted butter in a saucepan over low heat until the
solids separate and come to the top. Skim off the solids and add saffron
threads, mashed garlic, fresh lemon juice and a little orange zest. Continue
cooking on low heat until the butter is infused with the added ingredients.
Strain before serving with fries as dipping sauce. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>Whoopie Pies</i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><i> </i></span>
</div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman";">These
are Maine through and through. I can tell you how to make them, but they are
fussy and the truth is, they have things in them that you probably don’t want to
have on your shelf, like shortening. So, like me, when you have a hankering, I’m
going to recommend you order from <a href="https://www.wickedwhoopies.com/">WICKED WHOOPIES</a></span> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> </span>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-WCUUjjg24rJSqVdhnzV5XRrENT7SY9f-vaHXH3Y48iwJn04rGVtzywEGgs7qWR5Lpfh_VeRDCBx8o2lv9XjPR7Zy1PJYsscoTqgX-40rBjQREf25fGc-WBXzXVgDnR_atHsugZwC4xo/s1600/whoppie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="183" data-original-width="276" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-WCUUjjg24rJSqVdhnzV5XRrENT7SY9f-vaHXH3Y48iwJn04rGVtzywEGgs7qWR5Lpfh_VeRDCBx8o2lv9XjPR7Zy1PJYsscoTqgX-40rBjQREf25fGc-WBXzXVgDnR_atHsugZwC4xo/s400/whoppie.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">These are the whoopie pies I had at the
book launch and I think they are wonderful. They got lots of yums, too. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>Bean Scoop</i></span>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsJRdpRha7dZjN1xhImz6UwvlXyrygbw8mudryi3IrzcHCU5EcZ-CyfoOEFGSxI5gPUIejzJBpZN3NX8v3_txs9f7I_ebVSM-gzRsltDzgPYKOxSgDr7RJ3NVU1dVUiPHRRblrZ-R-0z0/s1600/beans.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="183" data-original-width="276" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsJRdpRha7dZjN1xhImz6UwvlXyrygbw8mudryi3IrzcHCU5EcZ-CyfoOEFGSxI5gPUIejzJBpZN3NX8v3_txs9f7I_ebVSM-gzRsltDzgPYKOxSgDr7RJ3NVU1dVUiPHRRblrZ-R-0z0/s400/beans.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><u>VAMPIRES ON THE RUN</u> introduced readers to the Bean Scoop.
Dominic loved it. It fills the hungry spot in a growing boy and an old lobster
man.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">This one is more in the combining than the cooking. Make
your favorite baked beans. Heavily butter a couple slices of dark bread and
scoop the beans on top. Great on a cold day.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I hope everyone enjoys <u>A SIDE OF SABOTAGE</u> and I look forward
to seeing whether I get requests for Fish Head Soup.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Barbara, come on over and
I’ll cook a Gusty’s lunch for you!</span></div>
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Barbara O'Connorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11772206568826059623noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5644877205641091430.post-32510751051039058942017-09-22T18:01:00.005-04:002017-09-22T18:02:50.773-04:00Coming Full Circle<span style="font-size: large;">It's no secret that my literary crush, my author idol, my all-time favorite I-want-to-be-her-when-I-grow up writer is Cynthia Rylant.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I gushed about my stalking <a href="http://greetings-from-nowhere.blogspot.com/2007/05/my-best-friend-cyndi.html">here. </a></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Eighteen years ago (1999), I sent her a letter to tell her how much she had influenced my writing.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">That letter read, in part:</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>In my journey to becoming a children's writer, I've searched long and hard for my voice - the voice that will bring authenticity, heart, and soul to my writing. I've read hundreds of children's books - and no writer has touched me like you have. I'm sure I've read <u>Missing May</u> twenty times.</i></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>Finally I realized why your writing touches me. You write from the heart - and plunk your characters right down in the middle of your heart's home...That's when I knew how to bring my voice to my writing.</i></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>Without this letter, you would never know that your writing has touched another writer to the core - and has continued the chain of creative spirit. </i> </span><br />
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-->Imagine my excitement when she wrote me back!!!<br />
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<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Well, recently, an amazing thing happened.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">I received a letter from an author named Sybil Berkey that totally blew me away. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">It read, in part:</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>As you know, there's great power in stories, and your storytelling has affected me deeply, as a person and as a fellow writer. There aren't many people who've impacted my creative process and expression the way you have. Your work consistently challenges me to dig deeper and always make sure I'm giving my everything - story and style - with well-developed characters.</i></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>In short, you've encouraged me to find my true place and voice as a writer. </i></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Reading that note was a magical, full-circle moment for me.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I felt such joy and satisfaction knowing that I was able to do for another author what Cynthia Rylant did for me.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">And I was so grateful that she took the time to tell me. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Thank you, Sybil. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Funny how the world works that way, isn't it? </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "helvetica"; font-size: small; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"></span></span></span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br />
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Barbara O'Connorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11772206568826059623noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5644877205641091430.post-32570901212394858392017-09-18T06:00:00.000-04:002017-09-18T06:00:05.884-04:00A New Book!!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: large;">What's more exciting than a new book??</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I'm super stoked to show y'all the cover of the third Mr. Puffball book coming this spring:</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: large;">Mr. Puffball: Escape from Castaway Island</span></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: large;">by</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: large;">Constance Lombardo </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Ready?</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> Ta da!!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Isn't it fantastic??</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">About the book:</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Are you a Hollywood stunt cat? </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Do you want fame and fortune? </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Could you beat the current feline, Ninja Warrior, in the ultimate challenge of awesomeness?</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">"Yes, yes, and yes!" says Hollywood stunt cat, Mr. Puffball. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Finally, the fame and fortune he deserves. But what happens when the fame wears off and the fortune is spent? (Hint: tropical island adventure!)</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">In this third book of the Mr. Puffball series, Mr. Puffball and the gang find out just how real reality TV can be!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Read all about it when <u>Mr. Puffball, Escape from Castaway Island</u> (HarperCollins) comes out on April 24, 2018. </span></div>
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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/AVvXsEi5pTRMF99fZ3eO4GKKNQdLZ0dgB4ZIeRxfWnJh14uvJ-HV-8hlScfIZl4Bk9B20eho4JxQmGuRV1smQqL1yjMmkYQ5_zCUZ-fosMZhbNpGtr-Onq1EHJ95JD194tQPktm2OPWxuavP-50/s1600/7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5pTRMF99fZ3eO4GKKNQdLZ0dgB4ZIeRxfWnJh14uvJ-HV-8hlScfIZl4Bk9B20eho4JxQmGuRV1smQqL1yjMmkYQ5_zCUZ-fosMZhbNpGtr-Onq1EHJ95JD194tQPktm2OPWxuavP-50/s400/7.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Constance Lombardo</span></td></tr>
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Barbara O'Connorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11772206568826059623noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5644877205641091430.post-49714122265491862182017-05-17T16:38:00.001-04:002017-05-23T16:19:00.565-04:00Love this Wish Trailer!!<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Check out this amazing trailer for <u>Wish</u></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Made by the amazing Charlii</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">In Ashley Hayball's 4th grade class</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">at Amelia Earhart Elementary School</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">in Indio, CA</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span> <span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Thank you, Charlii!!!</span></div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/xEaPvE_ZTmw" width="560"></iframe>Barbara O'Connorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11772206568826059623noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5644877205641091430.post-83658011808375398952017-05-04T18:38:00.000-04:002017-05-04T20:53:51.740-04:00Shout Out to Malcom Bridge Elementary School in Bogart, GA<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Major thanks to the teachers and students of </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Malcom Bridge Elementary School in Bogart, Georgia</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">What a day I had!!</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">The evening before my visit, I had dinner with some of the teachers and the assistant principal. A good time was had by all.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj70bd4yuPVdKv17F8SO7gyHc20IUqLzZiF1iduVjxwbLvpFBZBWQkfhBZmzhUPUEECVF1gjK64R2kQVgWp8cFJRGXGPhyphenhyphenDvNcHYCChKtLBEjohkQbay3fs7zMYgC8zMhQhocBIj8MQA2k/s1600/IMG_1154.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj70bd4yuPVdKv17F8SO7gyHc20IUqLzZiF1iduVjxwbLvpFBZBWQkfhBZmzhUPUEECVF1gjK64R2kQVgWp8cFJRGXGPhyphenhyphenDvNcHYCChKtLBEjohkQbay3fs7zMYgC8zMhQhocBIj8MQA2k/s400/IMG_1154.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">The next morning, I was greeted by this great sign!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCxpMR56m7rQao4rlmjHpcTSBYtRcUfsfvU85y5bz8yGts4hwFD9X53Nx5fP4rWNBpPB0KgrFCOmd0swEdP-9_2qKs_sgPZ135koU9kNrQ29UZ62k0W730rFY9JMclZL5mpzN9a0fyRpM/s1600/IMG_1156.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCxpMR56m7rQao4rlmjHpcTSBYtRcUfsfvU85y5bz8yGts4hwFD9X53Nx5fP4rWNBpPB0KgrFCOmd0swEdP-9_2qKs_sgPZ135koU9kNrQ29UZ62k0W730rFY9JMclZL5mpzN9a0fyRpM/s400/IMG_1156.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">And in the library....this great sign!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<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/AVvXsEjgy5swTsSPiwVt8p8KXTcPsu6TLWVvdUqfFkmjraL7DJ0bxIF12ajmCsQJOGlu-xJl9GxeNTzaiCrT8f-IF_4v4-U54zdjmZN9ZzUtzIgdcHKtX5WVXGm8tlQrTJoLlHU7zQV0_MPksjE/s1600/IMG_1158.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgy5swTsSPiwVt8p8KXTcPsu6TLWVvdUqfFkmjraL7DJ0bxIF12ajmCsQJOGlu-xJl9GxeNTzaiCrT8f-IF_4v4-U54zdjmZN9ZzUtzIgdcHKtX5WVXGm8tlQrTJoLlHU7zQV0_MPksjE/s640/IMG_1158.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Check out this AMAZING gift they gave me!! A wish tree along with lots of wishes from students. Special thanks to 4th grade teacher Lee Rogers for the beautiful flower pot.</span></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcQqBRtBtcQ4pGJwtbd2zgGrKopumQEZ_wGjju6p-FuKl24r9Ss9lOu-N8AVdvyhSzaQWSjV9C_ku6mZ-CD20Qhgtu2HtlJ8R4KsowksxcrCY12k0lDWMWgG86ngKvslIXCwaoNhU0yqc/s1600/IMG_1160.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcQqBRtBtcQ4pGJwtbd2zgGrKopumQEZ_wGjju6p-FuKl24r9Ss9lOu-N8AVdvyhSzaQWSjV9C_ku6mZ-CD20Qhgtu2HtlJ8R4KsowksxcrCY12k0lDWMWgG86ngKvslIXCwaoNhU0yqc/s640/IMG_1160.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpxFqqD8N1daAv1hdITq77xmbjJ-YBRUewdbF6fS4ds3yIIksJSUFrh-hYHpT0y-3MDypIW-mudCLSaJNxF1yzBYYVrsErr4fSt_4IV_Rk17yV8aJBGY0fi4mSBFnngUYtRosdaB8Scfw/s1600/Photo+on+5-3-17+at+5.05+PM+%25233.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpxFqqD8N1daAv1hdITq77xmbjJ-YBRUewdbF6fS4ds3yIIksJSUFrh-hYHpT0y-3MDypIW-mudCLSaJNxF1yzBYYVrsErr4fSt_4IV_Rk17yV8aJBGY0fi4mSBFnngUYtRosdaB8Scfw/s400/Photo+on+5-3-17+at+5.05+PM+%25233.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">So many wishes!!!!</span></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/AVvXsEgCCbw31rzH_3U7e95haZIDuSfekUqkU6erlTsqaUnyAnoDgjJVLkKt1NTDGRvbP6ZF0bootyINv3neibId_LAf415fljDxukfxxRfHTj3dJxnh0VPqXYA0lS6iRs_PuBU9cpIFMz2W9BE/s1600/IMG_1182.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCCbw31rzH_3U7e95haZIDuSfekUqkU6erlTsqaUnyAnoDgjJVLkKt1NTDGRvbP6ZF0bootyINv3neibId_LAf415fljDxukfxxRfHTj3dJxnh0VPqXYA0lS6iRs_PuBU9cpIFMz2W9BE/s640/IMG_1182.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">It now has a special place in my office. I will always think of Malcom Bridge when I look at it.</span></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/AVvXsEjgAisC8r98GAWfPkDEQNGd5plX2fCmmJCT0CG_Bjho3CSApplFskkqBFC4jL-t71OkWmTEHPrq0UI_lx6dLPKPwsGRuDryPUiS3do_fjejvrUqI4nA0HYm7E-MqNyzxMMYQqmMd4SOcS4/s1600/grade+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgAisC8r98GAWfPkDEQNGd5plX2fCmmJCT0CG_Bjho3CSApplFskkqBFC4jL-t71OkWmTEHPrq0UI_lx6dLPKPwsGRuDryPUiS3do_fjejvrUqI4nA0HYm7E-MqNyzxMMYQqmMd4SOcS4/s640/grade+2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">The second graders</span></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/AVvXsEi3smCCKUuFa2wkaX1ihIEyZqScBLs_5Rpe2Q6MAj_EbdaijOLUVzneztWRsHYOsy6oSJgrXponaOf-fG6vnLaWYG3fN3R7K-liC67W0QQEoPfGxR2-dN2Ir-_rQZ8hWVi5A0KU56DyXsU/s1600/grade3+real.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3smCCKUuFa2wkaX1ihIEyZqScBLs_5Rpe2Q6MAj_EbdaijOLUVzneztWRsHYOsy6oSJgrXponaOf-fG6vnLaWYG3fN3R7K-liC67W0QQEoPfGxR2-dN2Ir-_rQZ8hWVi5A0KU56DyXsU/s640/grade3+real.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">The third graders</span></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/AVvXsEhNaHBdhQDL02DuYnk0rTUEZ4kyl6B7YL1RGUc2EmXMAwDEw7Qipx0MsLMApupddgyUdAIG_joScvK1amP_tUrBtB-6otkFxqPpI2BcfICXDnV2KvWZo6VFXW6GUyi4OtDS1pVbZW-ArwM/s1600/grade+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNaHBdhQDL02DuYnk0rTUEZ4kyl6B7YL1RGUc2EmXMAwDEw7Qipx0MsLMApupddgyUdAIG_joScvK1amP_tUrBtB-6otkFxqPpI2BcfICXDnV2KvWZo6VFXW6GUyi4OtDS1pVbZW-ArwM/s640/grade+4.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">The fourth graders</span></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/AVvXsEguMUoAsXgNo7Sr-1jfsVpHDpz3t8VJLG7haJ85b2AGoFFe86zj3KzahVPA1Yxu-p6x6Iwn0mM-PYqT5rcW2JZYfBPAOS1RM_p6Sl18h4KkkmpG2rk6fxhOeKBPQ9P8PyR3bJIh7qkpIIo/s1600/grade+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguMUoAsXgNo7Sr-1jfsVpHDpz3t8VJLG7haJ85b2AGoFFe86zj3KzahVPA1Yxu-p6x6Iwn0mM-PYqT5rcW2JZYfBPAOS1RM_p6Sl18h4KkkmpG2rk6fxhOeKBPQ9P8PyR3bJIh7qkpIIo/s640/grade+5.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">The fifth graders</span></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/AVvXsEiNvicSnInvLnRk4nES2J_0V5QmzL3NBodVwD4QB7-nFEzYysrHmzjg-7BGIdMEGDfKCI-7nDjFerZUUk6FFqP8KaaGJqff5ZNrLougWidGh0iYisI30Z4ntTSulAiKFNCwChwIT7av_OI/s1600/boiled+peanuts.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNvicSnInvLnRk4nES2J_0V5QmzL3NBodVwD4QB7-nFEzYysrHmzjg-7BGIdMEGDfKCI-7nDjFerZUUk6FFqP8KaaGJqff5ZNrLougWidGh0iYisI30Z4ntTSulAiKFNCwChwIT7av_OI/s640/boiled+peanuts.jpg" width="360" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Alexia presented me with boiled peanuts, y'all!!</span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></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/AVvXsEgYc4ZwzuBavLQ-b5yJkGbiLk_VqyghxqRZkUC-HWWR19jnW4nYxbS9jVKhzjTLR4AP5pk_bgiq15RR1uDxKT0UkJAgQCXBDSrdt5K1ffXOUbGHM0AGv3T95ritm9AnHcR2rItP-S8Qkuk/s1600/joel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYc4ZwzuBavLQ-b5yJkGbiLk_VqyghxqRZkUC-HWWR19jnW4nYxbS9jVKhzjTLR4AP5pk_bgiq15RR1uDxKT0UkJAgQCXBDSrdt5K1ffXOUbGHM0AGv3T95ritm9AnHcR2rItP-S8Qkuk/s640/joel.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Joel gave me a great drawing.</span></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/AVvXsEirEFsvRgb_f3hhFa-i2AoBiYaWxRCDbgud70Lf2lW2auDePP-8Hg_CFmzSIygX3TEwAB7FtzIEwtesTq9ZhH5qQQq6rOgRlti4hTac4kOLCUq2C7VFZrHgUFgFZXBdpOCwt_9rFNk6YS4/s1600/Photo+on+5-3-17+at+5.04+PM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirEFsvRgb_f3hhFa-i2AoBiYaWxRCDbgud70Lf2lW2auDePP-8Hg_CFmzSIygX3TEwAB7FtzIEwtesTq9ZhH5qQQq6rOgRlti4hTac4kOLCUq2C7VFZrHgUFgFZXBdpOCwt_9rFNk6YS4/s400/Photo+on+5-3-17+at+5.04+PM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Elloree gave me this great #1 Author badge to wear!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<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/AVvXsEgvHsU0LImiKSCDcyW02cSY07B1KNwa3B4K9dCeDZOYxn-Vq1TDXAxow2JymZIe55GhG1EXNJuYKZnchBVdxDv0RcEaNRjAxAe7xrSgr7pH0aiViv9zWfpcIFutjs41IMBG5ID4v4KGSME/s1600/malcom+bridge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvHsU0LImiKSCDcyW02cSY07B1KNwa3B4K9dCeDZOYxn-Vq1TDXAxow2JymZIe55GhG1EXNJuYKZnchBVdxDv0RcEaNRjAxAe7xrSgr7pH0aiViv9zWfpcIFutjs41IMBG5ID4v4KGSME/s640/malcom+bridge.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">The students were so polite and attentive. I had fun presenting to them.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<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/AVvXsEht0kJKQh23Od5TBJGFTEmneeZBWACy4JTlByD5GX-RgB3pC_Hgol2MBV2qwpjl7zjnDcfmEUZ_uSg8IImxXCBipWxgMaR7LWUkN7EfvtNSQ1zy9xw2sjqUrHD9AZPKzfHLLNLUvnYvVD8/s1600/brittany+breiner2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht0kJKQh23Od5TBJGFTEmneeZBWACy4JTlByD5GX-RgB3pC_Hgol2MBV2qwpjl7zjnDcfmEUZ_uSg8IImxXCBipWxgMaR7LWUkN7EfvtNSQ1zy9xw2sjqUrHD9AZPKzfHLLNLUvnYvVD8/s640/brittany+breiner2.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Special thanks to 3rd grade teacher Brittany Breiner, who organized my visit. Thank you, Brittany!!</span></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/AVvXsEjzZQm0BKsaRXRL4Htr1omyBzyAAq76YfulvHSLXhG6xTeTUrkHjxuEy_A1J-XDO0khBwaLUqQCasHhNEulzQD5FP940MPZQfahKPByWgf4nRFGrhzl5A9dVZ7FJk34OHJjMiMS2A6iAZ8/s1600/Julie+payne.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzZQm0BKsaRXRL4Htr1omyBzyAAq76YfulvHSLXhG6xTeTUrkHjxuEy_A1J-XDO0khBwaLUqQCasHhNEulzQD5FP940MPZQfahKPByWgf4nRFGrhzl5A9dVZ7FJk34OHJjMiMS2A6iAZ8/s640/Julie+payne.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">So great getting to know library media specialist (and TEACHER OF THE YEAR, Y'ALL) Julie Payne (BFFs forever)</span></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/AVvXsEj-p_hKsoPppsxQj-JQG4HMA6a1_6N9n2TAl4hwr27fxImqXT632TM7Cusj7dMDWd8yXlcLpEILIhsirc3PkXjBfMtWjzGZaKnaKcsU4V4jYgillmmrEfkTIlMYQXYxSzE2LeCdbauaG9c/s1600/susan+stancil.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-p_hKsoPppsxQj-JQG4HMA6a1_6N9n2TAl4hwr27fxImqXT632TM7Cusj7dMDWd8yXlcLpEILIhsirc3PkXjBfMtWjzGZaKnaKcsU4V4jYgillmmrEfkTIlMYQXYxSzE2LeCdbauaG9c/s640/susan+stancil.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Loved meeting principal Susan Stancil</span></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/AVvXsEiYf5ev4Zq7jvRrV2DXqL12JnzHcEpTNcmkVvgXdxEmNci8hxQJDYa4TnubkQW82_eWsMe6EQu6Oav4uiJVGrXYMhlB1uy81X0MJr83bs3dMiv3Xjn9nEMqXhyix46mfGN-0yLy83pT8rM/s1600/lee+rogers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYf5ev4Zq7jvRrV2DXqL12JnzHcEpTNcmkVvgXdxEmNci8hxQJDYa4TnubkQW82_eWsMe6EQu6Oav4uiJVGrXYMhlB1uy81X0MJr83bs3dMiv3Xjn9nEMqXhyix46mfGN-0yLy83pT8rM/s640/lee+rogers.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">And here I am with teacher Lee Rogers with that great Wish project they gave me (and she painted!!)</span></td></tr>
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<b><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Thank you, Malcom Bridge!!</span></span></b></div>
Barbara O'Connorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11772206568826059623noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5644877205641091430.post-38812420415480297632017-03-29T16:09:00.000-04:002017-03-29T18:17:57.589-04:00Amazing Day at Leicester Elementary School<div style="text-align: center;">
Lucky me!</div>
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I got to spend the day with students and teachers at Leicester Elementary School in Leicester, North Carolina - celebrating their One School One Book program. </div>
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The whole school had read </div>
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THE SMALL ADVENTURE OF POPEYE AND ELVIS.</div>
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How cool is that?</div>
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Here are some pics from that great day:</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9XSeq2JJwh__zHgrbma2JpQb9xgYJFoceB5VX9a-Md3oSvToICpVEBM3SL3dW0swcI7PpvVYXo1X3JDFbk-qlwS40w4rMaTGG1HZCAp-vSGEmv0cKic9Xlq-BgR58KMnTGqnGzvhvilk/s1600/IMG_3848.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9XSeq2JJwh__zHgrbma2JpQb9xgYJFoceB5VX9a-Md3oSvToICpVEBM3SL3dW0swcI7PpvVYXo1X3JDFbk-qlwS40w4rMaTGG1HZCAp-vSGEmv0cKic9Xlq-BgR58KMnTGqnGzvhvilk/s400/IMG_3848.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Presenting to some eager 3rd graders</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Being filmed by the local TV station</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Huge thanks to librarian Caryn Levy for all of her hard work and warm hospitality</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Students had made some awesome projects, including cool boats.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Posing with the winners of the boat/poster contest</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7EWKoJctaXXec075nmmHjlFdmzcQB7iVV6-CKqx6ioQf-w4fL9Vu9JiRxjmIHyfS-xdJ2t1HpMXu3AxxK36Gl4uz98IEE1Od4LlcaEPS0Nafc44s07otQ9FADxu7krrq9xTtchjXd_Tc/s1600/IMG_3852.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7EWKoJctaXXec075nmmHjlFdmzcQB7iVV6-CKqx6ioQf-w4fL9Vu9JiRxjmIHyfS-xdJ2t1HpMXu3AxxK36Gl4uz98IEE1Od4LlcaEPS0Nafc44s07otQ9FADxu7krrq9xTtchjXd_Tc/s400/IMG_3852.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Students showing me some of their projects</span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Teachers and students made some amazing bulletin board displays</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYwFbNs1RHx9Tzc0Jg9pSJb0gyaNELoskNlYR7Z-6n9w8WK2uj469GKowJZduoSkteLPY2KD4XXiRwHJfys0UtU9TE8pM0ejmvshgbtjqhhnlvcO-DHq59oMRMEUqH6Ituadcxf-zIhdc/s1600/IMG_3851.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYwFbNs1RHx9Tzc0Jg9pSJb0gyaNELoskNlYR7Z-6n9w8WK2uj469GKowJZduoSkteLPY2KD4XXiRwHJfys0UtU9TE8pM0ejmvshgbtjqhhnlvcO-DHq59oMRMEUqH6Ituadcxf-zIhdc/s640/IMG_3851.JPG" width="480" /></a> </span></div>
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<b><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Thank you, Leicester Elementary, for this amazing day!</span></span></b></div>
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Barbara O'Connorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11772206568826059623noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5644877205641091430.post-9893967498254707402017-02-07T15:10:00.000-05:002017-02-07T15:10:02.419-05:00A Fantastic Author Visit<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I had an amazing author visit to Paris Elementary School in Taylors, South Carolina, today.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">You know it's going to be a good day when you are greeted with this sign outside the school.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAeh1HclL1aE-eljEpivTKJlpq7jCfzRman3XHrPrOFImKnYaTFMlHJVLo0Q7kDcDs_fLt2VUo060ld3fWLNGPQruLhXSrXLaIw34vPidiz8mMdFYRVEtgYBRy4hGeIfn0VyCSXvDSnWo/s1600/IMG_0485.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAeh1HclL1aE-eljEpivTKJlpq7jCfzRman3XHrPrOFImKnYaTFMlHJVLo0Q7kDcDs_fLt2VUo060ld3fWLNGPQruLhXSrXLaIw34vPidiz8mMdFYRVEtgYBRy4hGeIfn0VyCSXvDSnWo/s400/IMG_0485.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">And another one inside the school!</span></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/AVvXsEgtlb4nodXuXmWXi-1bBoEJT6tyqkxSD21ono28iUYfO8bRMZKIw_Tx7w1AdLD9AkrDgDzD_lUy57nkzwWFkNpJBL4CUqX74LKjRkwCWddUl0X74VOOOk2OLyWpmDmWlmytNCIZeS1r0gQ/s1600/IMG_0486.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtlb4nodXuXmWXi-1bBoEJT6tyqkxSD21ono28iUYfO8bRMZKIw_Tx7w1AdLD9AkrDgDzD_lUy57nkzwWFkNpJBL4CUqX74LKjRkwCWddUl0X74VOOOk2OLyWpmDmWlmytNCIZeS1r0gQ/s640/IMG_0486.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Students in Mrs. Boebel's class.</span></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/AVvXsEiHrrlEKlaYFuc-Jf3AVXRkTDkW_rny27T4_XuqhKoAEO8ughqhYS-D649J_jQUYyeV94SnAZLvw6t1SVe26cJ47-SIEC7GjQNDevAHlVDs4V9m-kMGPLiWdrd3-q95PjLNoE5yGgYURlo/s1600/IMG_0488.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHrrlEKlaYFuc-Jf3AVXRkTDkW_rny27T4_XuqhKoAEO8ughqhYS-D649J_jQUYyeV94SnAZLvw6t1SVe26cJ47-SIEC7GjQNDevAHlVDs4V9m-kMGPLiWdrd3-q95PjLNoE5yGgYURlo/s400/IMG_0488.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">With my new BFF, Mrs. Boebel</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKHLTZlDNkhl89ShlOPqovToVuwqk93uDYO27Gv3gYZlWjz_ltMF4c5EK5jcNl7FJSPKzPQjjRLYvCxcIeK7iFdr2Vaqa0HeMzGMwJPoUVQhQq6z4Cpy8zN8btTC3Astn4aRnzUxdLXuo/s1600/IMG_0493.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKHLTZlDNkhl89ShlOPqovToVuwqk93uDYO27Gv3gYZlWjz_ltMF4c5EK5jcNl7FJSPKzPQjjRLYvCxcIeK7iFdr2Vaqa0HeMzGMwJPoUVQhQq6z4Cpy8zN8btTC3Astn4aRnzUxdLXuo/s400/IMG_0493.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Students in Mrs. Boebel's class wrote and performed a skit of <u>How to Steal a Dog</u></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgufWN_dX-KK6OIDJmzYdVp2uQpI3Z5jnhTiaoTaZKlmSEPKELLBeamZWhLbEZtCFqz6yZuEOkqN4keRkTF9fV1KqxAvIn6EM6AlXaI50MNjTP-IYt4eB5r5l-vrYXFPgbkCNiYZUJ9Ddo/s1600/IMG_0490.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgufWN_dX-KK6OIDJmzYdVp2uQpI3Z5jnhTiaoTaZKlmSEPKELLBeamZWhLbEZtCFqz6yZuEOkqN4keRkTF9fV1KqxAvIn6EM6AlXaI50MNjTP-IYt4eB5r5l-vrYXFPgbkCNiYZUJ9Ddo/s400/IMG_0490.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I love the set they made for their skit.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Khamari, Aydan, Reid and Cooper performed an original rap for me. I LOVED it. My favorite line was: "She is the best I see. She's better than Jeff Kinney."</span><br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/l-WCYa8UktY" width="420"></iframe><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">And as if that wasn't enough, they showered me with gifts!!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">THE most amazing decoupaged birdhouse you've ever seen!!!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlyp0b8NinfT4XhJrH-6zbnKbsduxWfxWh2UwIOHP4zNnGAiFyMY-BhbEQXnj_tNoKpJJWz-fCnmkUuYiJ24L3bmLmA3_IXIxvY7XNDLOkDa9W_rGfV2X2uMadjPTAyhLKCC-QuBuOLNA/s1600/IMG_0506.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlyp0b8NinfT4XhJrH-6zbnKbsduxWfxWh2UwIOHP4zNnGAiFyMY-BhbEQXnj_tNoKpJJWz-fCnmkUuYiJ24L3bmLmA3_IXIxvY7XNDLOkDa9W_rGfV2X2uMadjPTAyhLKCC-QuBuOLNA/s640/IMG_0506.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIAMeloSPuCbLSqWBGi8kmaXc5EXuNoD1H1KiYtL2CgwX2V7a_jkjhkXXjSiYPkzEQxC53VHjGQKC2DQYT0PILDDaz-J0wLVhyphenhyphenFcei1aXvKrnedjgOChYNIdZVtGv5SdShnEk9l4tFML4/s1600/IMG_0508.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIAMeloSPuCbLSqWBGi8kmaXc5EXuNoD1H1KiYtL2CgwX2V7a_jkjhkXXjSiYPkzEQxC53VHjGQKC2DQYT0PILDDaz-J0wLVhyphenhyphenFcei1aXvKrnedjgOChYNIdZVtGv5SdShnEk9l4tFML4/s640/IMG_0508.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPLl6e4GGA3ROHE8FlJsPCtkD-kn8yBON8GXY0Gr57lBeZaDn_wBQIyK3S2n3kmmgSi14fJkT598p2X4iq0b0u5l8VxdMgpUzKE8YeDLcO18Te1-A74KnxDBAAdK_1UeMDmrbs_Tvk8IQ/s1600/IMG_0497.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPLl6e4GGA3ROHE8FlJsPCtkD-kn8yBON8GXY0Gr57lBeZaDn_wBQIyK3S2n3kmmgSi14fJkT598p2X4iq0b0u5l8VxdMgpUzKE8YeDLcO18Te1-A74KnxDBAAdK_1UeMDmrbs_Tvk8IQ/s640/IMG_0497.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">The amazing Mrs. Boebel</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The birdhouse now has a place of honor in my office to remind me of this wonderful day:</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5aSQU0oQiGA176yCWjg52M6hJ4eOLN5lfEXIvh7KY1w9uwmAY_mnme13HFNPvPK99M_n-j_97Lae4lJILKEh1on5D7_PKsvEhH3T9CFsewL0jgyA6N1rUSWL9uHrDfW1KbGoPLnIegFI/s1600/IMG_0509.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5aSQU0oQiGA176yCWjg52M6hJ4eOLN5lfEXIvh7KY1w9uwmAY_mnme13HFNPvPK99M_n-j_97Lae4lJILKEh1on5D7_PKsvEhH3T9CFsewL0jgyA6N1rUSWL9uHrDfW1KbGoPLnIegFI/s400/IMG_0509.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">They gave me trail mix cookie mix in Bertha's canning jar (from <u>Wish</u>) </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><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/AVvXsEjIosHf029_jEfhdDua3qKpjkCVpAz2Vf7C4c0_uwwblFoTmSU7He5FWtR8eepUIjlj1rGM_AU19JCFrRpqZteOR3arIELFBYf0ZmTblrz0mpolmLlAqINX7TkebbKbPngjxacIaZoptjA/s1600/IMG_0517.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIosHf029_jEfhdDua3qKpjkCVpAz2Vf7C4c0_uwwblFoTmSU7He5FWtR8eepUIjlj1rGM_AU19JCFrRpqZteOR3arIELFBYf0ZmTblrz0mpolmLlAqINX7TkebbKbPngjxacIaZoptjA/s400/IMG_0517.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">And gummy worms to thank me for making them bookworms! </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Even Martha and Ruby got gifts.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> <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/AVvXsEjFELAVdUbPkw8oBzZVGo5bIBvpzv2zodA8a4hFOcw8JVxj2sE6WgS-Fj3cgP8KfOKAKxb9ldTLd9QfoEKOylCzx-VWY_5G33_IJ92HcvpHtUG5m8E0Lggv-9EMPCr_azGudUUv3tjAXJ4/s1600/IMG_0520.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFELAVdUbPkw8oBzZVGo5bIBvpzv2zodA8a4hFOcw8JVxj2sE6WgS-Fj3cgP8KfOKAKxb9ldTLd9QfoEKOylCzx-VWY_5G33_IJ92HcvpHtUG5m8E0Lggv-9EMPCr_azGudUUv3tjAXJ4/s400/IMG_0520.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Thank you to the thoughtful student who gave me these to keep the dogs safe in the car!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigbd2b6c0kulLeMPNWyx4mqAfwxYTeXf6TNA1XvHi3JWbIYuD0cx0c7DAqckGKiWMdt4mptIFcAaWyyW_gePdcWbYBJEAEQo1G8oSQ9WL5z_iEZPIhoviM6YWYLjtw0BJILfuSpqeN7rY/s1600/IMG_0500.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigbd2b6c0kulLeMPNWyx4mqAfwxYTeXf6TNA1XvHi3JWbIYuD0cx0c7DAqckGKiWMdt4mptIFcAaWyyW_gePdcWbYBJEAEQo1G8oSQ9WL5z_iEZPIhoviM6YWYLjtw0BJILfuSpqeN7rY/s640/IMG_0500.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Waiting patiently for their cookie. (Thank you, Kylie!)</span></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/AVvXsEhLVjq840bS4kbz5hUNjQ2k5qTOnVYN-nVWGaa5k7En_j_WGoUpMmlQCa29YMyI3kcnC6HUFuL9oZVvxkNCLDxOPfrEaiLIz-431cRi2r3oAS2Ar7RviaITqJ01UbH2xHYVDNSm7IYs_88/s1600/IMG_0514.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLVjq840bS4kbz5hUNjQ2k5qTOnVYN-nVWGaa5k7En_j_WGoUpMmlQCa29YMyI3kcnC6HUFuL9oZVvxkNCLDxOPfrEaiLIz-431cRi2r3oAS2Ar7RviaITqJ01UbH2xHYVDNSm7IYs_88/s400/IMG_0514.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Ruby loved the toy.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> And flowers</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdkYSsr1ypde-f8r5gt6Jr3eqK6f81W2ZSSHfHHE3lFh3jFjziu_vIzhVg9s8SH0Pce8ZLggRd5SFhYd9WSrwEqanqNs2bRGExpbB2PJGoAcsa-BbGImk-Fe9dyCMwet8kf9RuocpLd-Y/s1600/IMG_0519.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdkYSsr1ypde-f8r5gt6Jr3eqK6f81W2ZSSHfHHE3lFh3jFjziu_vIzhVg9s8SH0Pce8ZLggRd5SFhYd9WSrwEqanqNs2bRGExpbB2PJGoAcsa-BbGImk-Fe9dyCMwet8kf9RuocpLd-Y/s400/IMG_0519.JPG" width="300" /> </a></div>
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<b><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Thank you, Paris Elementary, for this amazing day!!!</span></span></b> </div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div>
Barbara O'Connorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11772206568826059623noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5644877205641091430.post-32044662925880011132017-02-06T15:24:00.000-05:002017-02-06T15:24:22.918-05:00Lessons from Dead Matter<span style="font-size: large;">"Dead matter" refers to all of the paper left over after a book has gone to press: the original manuscript with editor's and copy editor's comments, the various rounds of revised manuscripts, etc.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">It's always fun to take a look at the minutiae involved in getting a manuscript into tip top shape. And, alas, I often realize some of the mistakes I make over and over again. Sheesh.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">You can see some past Lessons from Dead Matter <a href="http://greetings-from-nowhere.blogspot.com/search/label/Dead%20Matter">HERE.</a> </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I just got my dead matter back for Wish and thought I'd share some of the mistakes I made - almost always involving hyphens and compound words. Minutiae, minutiae.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH0eOGqFc__6XtDMu-sfAm6Yg588sGwrPSYHJotIJPqYIAdBUF4u7D2hQK9-s7Ts9YcQuR8ZW95hGxOskQeOe1H3Q9Vmbkkax0tptcdW8d1L_fSrn25PgV-FC1EGeSepbP1aaeAR6kmxA/s1600/Wish+Macmillan+cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH0eOGqFc__6XtDMu-sfAm6Yg588sGwrPSYHJotIJPqYIAdBUF4u7D2hQK9-s7Ts9YcQuR8ZW95hGxOskQeOe1H3Q9Vmbkkax0tptcdW8d1L_fSrn25PgV-FC1EGeSepbP1aaeAR6kmxA/s320/Wish+Macmillan+cover.jpg" width="217" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> Redheaded is one word, not hyphenated.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Bread-and-butter pickles IS hyphenated.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Ta-da is hyphenated. (I know, I know....I'm questioning that one, too)</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Meat loaf is two words. (But, hey, meatloaf still looks right to me)</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Lunch box is two words but tailpipe is one word.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Hot dog is two words but bottlecap is one word.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Popsicle is capitalized.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Jibber-jabber is hyphenated. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Now, according to Yankee copy editors, barbecue is spelled with a "c". I don't care what they say, in North Carolina, we spell it barbeque.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">And after 26 years, I STILL don't get the correct spacing for ellipses.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">So there you have it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Dead matter..</span><br />
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Barbara O'Connorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11772206568826059623noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5644877205641091430.post-31756659592950197172017-01-28T15:08:00.000-05:002017-01-29T18:48:36.917-05:00My Amazing Visit to Cypress Fairbanks Schools in Texas - Week 2<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Week 2 started with a bang at Matzke Elementary School, where I spent the day with librarian extraordinaire Karen Womack.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlJt1MK0aSwk5Z4tdcvyoqdHr1SQ82SYamTcAdPeGGx45QH_LoTCiQL1fI7t2qznazsEpKhlJwG7h0f_MQbkGpcBVFNvIbh0JfHsAYI2F1QWSHlvs-r6t9GHjNpoRBYFSVpkVl3HGAf-U/s1600/Matzke4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlJt1MK0aSwk5Z4tdcvyoqdHr1SQ82SYamTcAdPeGGx45QH_LoTCiQL1fI7t2qznazsEpKhlJwG7h0f_MQbkGpcBVFNvIbh0JfHsAYI2F1QWSHlvs-r6t9GHjNpoRBYFSVpkVl3HGAf-U/s400/Matzke4.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Karen Womack <i>(left</i>) and me</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The students wrote wishes (inspired by my book WISH) and put them in the treasure chest:</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjt0ruWNf8J89LKdxp0_T8k6V9HG9xrP3aPzRzGGeRpV9eZkCDAb6yHZsZF1KonrbjD_KpB7CqpMXfyblwetpaH_2-yfl04m2NeAWUqPQBcuoD00U1fQcD5S1Tq2cD59x8DMIGprXzBPo/s1600/Matzke.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjt0ruWNf8J89LKdxp0_T8k6V9HG9xrP3aPzRzGGeRpV9eZkCDAb6yHZsZF1KonrbjD_KpB7CqpMXfyblwetpaH_2-yfl04m2NeAWUqPQBcuoD00U1fQcD5S1Tq2cD59x8DMIGprXzBPo/s400/Matzke.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Next stop: Hemmenway Elementary</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisRST_vGp3LHQZ2UpqE5b4ss3aAw4mwG4sol4IPqqEjdS3KVxeSxFzGkzNqG8NHN8KK1yeMQSHgXfJDhYJgZHjAGfBDfT2huBO8vOfqP-JLi0okzZ2JhTSFQStuM-_X9p5CjDTKM8PnDI/s1600/Marshall1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisRST_vGp3LHQZ2UpqE5b4ss3aAw4mwG4sol4IPqqEjdS3KVxeSxFzGkzNqG8NHN8KK1yeMQSHgXfJDhYJgZHjAGfBDfT2huBO8vOfqP-JLi0okzZ2JhTSFQStuM-_X9p5CjDTKM8PnDI/s400/Marshall1.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I was honored to meet 4th grade teacher and fan Mrs. Marshall.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh33pFkG_OogbRKAuOxqgIZ-mtnnfFScs88S0PGA12lFnBVKDyV_Umq9vTKnxKGHf22DOc0B0-LVbKg978l3GIxbBbGumDk69KBZqO68XN_18R-LapE5Be97Ju82-15vNO44Q6FdrOEYP0/s1600/Parks2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh33pFkG_OogbRKAuOxqgIZ-mtnnfFScs88S0PGA12lFnBVKDyV_Umq9vTKnxKGHf22DOc0B0-LVbKg978l3GIxbBbGumDk69KBZqO68XN_18R-LapE5Be97Ju82-15vNO44Q6FdrOEYP0/s400/Parks2.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">And 4th grade teacher and fan, Mrs. Parks.</span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The next day, I was picked up by librarian, Paula Baiamonte, to begin a terrific day at Robinson Elementary. Thank you, Paula, for all of your hard work!</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwYpFr-qvXh-MclLFH0AV8ow47PG2cntvwHQq6tvG9eNUJpYRX3HKM-0oRIysWLkq-0juwughRqWCRbAjzSNhhhGCoZL7uKR1RosABxO4XtJuVaVeNYubWMWHR93IHRdmgeHT8xlE7sCU/s1600/Robinson3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwYpFr-qvXh-MclLFH0AV8ow47PG2cntvwHQq6tvG9eNUJpYRX3HKM-0oRIysWLkq-0juwughRqWCRbAjzSNhhhGCoZL7uKR1RosABxO4XtJuVaVeNYubWMWHR93IHRdmgeHT8xlE7sCU/s400/Robinson3.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Paula Baiamonte <i>(left)</i> and me</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLyKEGUh0BAsjEJi2_NgKn4bppJaBhp9_vIlf5_RKcIGwWQWtfzRIE3kFPhkGKXGUxd82UJVdRwFci_cQ9dwSewZLXqrrbifi0xlpO19NaCQBW39EKJ-2fya9y7Bw1mPb6azesnTn-apc/s1600/Robinson1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLyKEGUh0BAsjEJi2_NgKn4bppJaBhp9_vIlf5_RKcIGwWQWtfzRIE3kFPhkGKXGUxd82UJVdRwFci_cQ9dwSewZLXqrrbifi0xlpO19NaCQBW39EKJ-2fya9y7Bw1mPb6azesnTn-apc/s640/Robinson1.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Presenting to students at Robinson</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMnYvQtR818KeOSetv6Wcyh7_q3AMMLwo4czEpXLOwyIwFa4YMs5ORJ4EPa5PdG7xZ0-CdnVdRxMi4L1L1CYf6oXnOJLe5Ol_cN4D0-8Mx7oso0ncM2GSF-oE4Hv7FhBiSrZERJtx3tlU/s1600/Copeland1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMnYvQtR818KeOSetv6Wcyh7_q3AMMLwo4czEpXLOwyIwFa4YMs5ORJ4EPa5PdG7xZ0-CdnVdRxMi4L1L1CYf6oXnOJLe5Ol_cN4D0-8Mx7oso0ncM2GSF-oE4Hv7FhBiSrZERJtx3tlU/s640/Copeland1.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Check out this fun-loving group of Name That Book students</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The next day librarian Jennifer Buchert picked me up to start our amazing day at Copeland Elementary. Jennifer and I found out pretty quickly that we are soul sisters - so much in common (starting with dogs and ending with a deep love for organization and label makers)</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-BiEuTnHediAdTl5PWskkmaF8fERh_TlT7Yr3WL7Jq4BTaPWw4w5s-oqcSKy87C7PgBjzydM0ZTcgvNcEDVdn4WmGxw0KeQwZ4NJZKFksqDEASfKsqcwjWSWFUr8DYW5GcSKsGRr0UwY/s1600/Copeland-Buchner.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-BiEuTnHediAdTl5PWskkmaF8fERh_TlT7Yr3WL7Jq4BTaPWw4w5s-oqcSKy87C7PgBjzydM0ZTcgvNcEDVdn4WmGxw0KeQwZ4NJZKFksqDEASfKsqcwjWSWFUr8DYW5GcSKsGRr0UwY/s640/Copeland-Buchner.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Jennifer Buchert <i>left)</i> and me</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJbYyyT9xACHOUvDoJHEZc_c-4-yvbxYNSpAdi5llod3xFz52-p9E41PlQQv1Lifv-8Wyn4eirEIhGNfPvKbdgBUIGkmeFBC2Qy2765W_2QabMmpVblTM47S9ZLnQWvr2N8tBlT7LYJRU/s1600/Copeland2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJbYyyT9xACHOUvDoJHEZc_c-4-yvbxYNSpAdi5llod3xFz52-p9E41PlQQv1Lifv-8Wyn4eirEIhGNfPvKbdgBUIGkmeFBC2Qy2765W_2QabMmpVblTM47S9ZLnQWvr2N8tBlT7LYJRU/s640/Copeland2.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I was greeted by this sweet sign made by students.</span></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/AVvXsEhGbH0tQ4xxTVdh4bG8693yP98MU4xh46-s03dVCSInTy-cfCJJCNDldv3yk7vPLedmvxYQmJirr7EyoOmssIa3um1LIvflW5AIkGNYgRVuOUyI98wxMxynpEV5aikcDL-6svOExwYfb4g/s1600/Copeland3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGbH0tQ4xxTVdh4bG8693yP98MU4xh46-s03dVCSInTy-cfCJJCNDldv3yk7vPLedmvxYQmJirr7EyoOmssIa3um1LIvflW5AIkGNYgRVuOUyI98wxMxynpEV5aikcDL-6svOExwYfb4g/s640/Copeland3.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I adored this poster showing students sharing my books with their dogs.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKnIELXaIAGHcMip0b0i_bkP1eo2IHhXIe5yMrDDHtqZ-qeV5mYi0a2VhEjUjfV5VRsB1zcW_QBm1zEp-7NLeIP2WQF6BuE2KHS4yQQTBBWRKCc4c7Jb_02sJa6En9HkrDVilAorJHZ6s/s1600/Copeland4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKnIELXaIAGHcMip0b0i_bkP1eo2IHhXIe5yMrDDHtqZ-qeV5mYi0a2VhEjUjfV5VRsB1zcW_QBm1zEp-7NLeIP2WQF6BuE2KHS4yQQTBBWRKCc4c7Jb_02sJa6En9HkrDVilAorJHZ6s/s400/Copeland4.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I had a great lunch with these book-loving fifth graders. We talked books, books, books.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Next up? An amazing dinner with LOTS of Cypress Fairbanks librarians and four other authors. We had great food and lots of laughs. A night to remember.</span><br />
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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/AVvXsEgFHCYHYOyMnNJXUvEeaIun1UyxzDL2JcTJPWzRLNQeyc75vkzGbkqs85DGJDpDP5BbjEmtYJv9kd0H8E1jQge6Fn8eJfMv74EMtmBvpO-7iVDf5y5UmBZxTQUl0zFK2sgQF0mutouk16g/s1600/dinner.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFHCYHYOyMnNJXUvEeaIun1UyxzDL2JcTJPWzRLNQeyc75vkzGbkqs85DGJDpDP5BbjEmtYJv9kd0H8E1jQge6Fn8eJfMv74EMtmBvpO-7iVDf5y5UmBZxTQUl0zFK2sgQF0mutouk16g/s400/dinner.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>(l to r)</i> Chris Barton, me, Phil Bildner, Kirby Larson, Jeff Mack</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> <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/AVvXsEi3jWjdAIx5bjCfmeZWlvoomlZiMk_HE541b1KRZCoURNKjzkU6wkG4UMUTp0hkga5GJKUE_XKqNYY-4MMWdiTHwoD9sj2bGjej9OwJXu6weISAZ5qg1_vjaFDFPU3rKYFzBKl2_vYi4xY/s1600/dinner2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3jWjdAIx5bjCfmeZWlvoomlZiMk_HE541b1KRZCoURNKjzkU6wkG4UMUTp0hkga5GJKUE_XKqNYY-4MMWdiTHwoD9sj2bGjej9OwJXu6weISAZ5qg1_vjaFDFPU3rKYFzBKl2_vYi4xY/s400/dinner2.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">A super selfie with <i>(l to r)</i> Chris Barton, me, Jennifer Garstecki Lucas, Phil Bildner, Jeff Mack, Kirby Larson</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Next, I was off to Willbern Elementary, where librarian Laura Bissey was such a welcoming hostess and the kids were prepared and enthusiastic.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiouTfFclE-Fz1oyrsfjbnb6MyfegK5Cv8ekqsHje6RgamXUPeLdxeHj5a9or-d-IL9CkClW8RkGdxo_MowSRGNr_Ctov4VqxfPhumfVkkBmk9Tnm0glJ1wLTCxVso22xdNmM001BCqjmI/s1600/Willbern1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiouTfFclE-Fz1oyrsfjbnb6MyfegK5Cv8ekqsHje6RgamXUPeLdxeHj5a9or-d-IL9CkClW8RkGdxo_MowSRGNr_Ctov4VqxfPhumfVkkBmk9Tnm0glJ1wLTCxVso22xdNmM001BCqjmI/s640/Willbern1.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">A darling book display</span></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/AVvXsEisl1t_QDBH2SlATuGCi7QOSTEw6fDL57C-U6CZdKMTvCQs9xsL5R0xtgoEhy8tYRggUMRMxjfUzt-LiHxvR9RuUP8oQBfz0nNX0t2tqsG7EXsOfBIufUp35dTWL4uKLHLJkToLY8viXh8/s1600/Willbern2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisl1t_QDBH2SlATuGCi7QOSTEw6fDL57C-U6CZdKMTvCQs9xsL5R0xtgoEhy8tYRggUMRMxjfUzt-LiHxvR9RuUP8oQBfz0nNX0t2tqsG7EXsOfBIufUp35dTWL4uKLHLJkToLY8viXh8/s640/Willbern2.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Me and librarian Laura Bissey</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> Next? Off to Ault Elementary:</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAcWiASsYhZt5ayTZ-6PUFcLuHulQGK7ABu2a3V_bfSUoT-N3kkNt0bG9gdBu7BvajRBdhJ1fm14X2c_GnWZrYoSgPflY5DlByTFAYlP988wXzYAey-T-OcKibsp1lpXux2BYB_O-5d6A/s1600/Ault.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAcWiASsYhZt5ayTZ-6PUFcLuHulQGK7ABu2a3V_bfSUoT-N3kkNt0bG9gdBu7BvajRBdhJ1fm14X2c_GnWZrYoSgPflY5DlByTFAYlP988wXzYAey-T-OcKibsp1lpXux2BYB_O-5d6A/s640/Ault.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Me with librarian Wanda Rundell</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"></span><span style="font-size: large;">My last day was amazing. Thank you so much, Swenke Elementary!</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLlqOY1oMFD9SjiNGwEX_m20yIMi1QH68XVtTKc8Pzf9eMAxI4nEiFDeMYLLBKYuUtwHWfJbHa9XmjuRttqS7c0k1e9ca403QLJXJK0nGzqjf2-TCSCHP_QRxCdihyZaUBrzT7Iycz5a0/s1600/IMG_0452.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLlqOY1oMFD9SjiNGwEX_m20yIMi1QH68XVtTKc8Pzf9eMAxI4nEiFDeMYLLBKYuUtwHWfJbHa9XmjuRttqS7c0k1e9ca403QLJXJK0nGzqjf2-TCSCHP_QRxCdihyZaUBrzT7Iycz5a0/s640/IMG_0452.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Thanks so much for making my visit to Swenke so great, Angie Arnett <i>(right)</i></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbwH0nRbLg7yhWSUmXDVzhlJLrJtioLlbr675A1n3fuc2DLq9hc2iroCcSXcr5B9cd-8XC0dmke5zoD_xl7IIwfdkWg62XXJe2_yHOqVwe4e7rhOM8CB9rROwyioumlW4da8B2P27EcTo/s1600/IMG_0454.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbwH0nRbLg7yhWSUmXDVzhlJLrJtioLlbr675A1n3fuc2DLq9hc2iroCcSXcr5B9cd-8XC0dmke5zoD_xl7IIwfdkWg62XXJe2_yHOqVwe4e7rhOM8CB9rROwyioumlW4da8B2P27EcTo/s400/IMG_0454.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I loved this YooHoo boat display made by a third grade teacher. That giant YooHoo boat is filled with thank you notes for me!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> I presented to a library full of enthusiastic third graders. Here are some of them:</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdZSTSTHUokbr_LX4nivfFKjYivRrYyYseTQbC9gPaiaz9lZFDkqm_7tmngf_frF3xOSnSNUVTJq-kbIaNkH2bXxIdWjuB7O6UAAq44ynrRxea1CL2Gr4rbjnwFOYEHClVK_x2wHonSDQ/s1600/IMG_0459.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdZSTSTHUokbr_LX4nivfFKjYivRrYyYseTQbC9gPaiaz9lZFDkqm_7tmngf_frF3xOSnSNUVTJq-kbIaNkH2bXxIdWjuB7O6UAAq44ynrRxea1CL2Gr4rbjnwFOYEHClVK_x2wHonSDQ/s400/IMG_0459.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Here I am with my new friend and super reader, Chase</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuBWJhkXLtX8LuEUVNsMB3HyMjoGqrpf6KzUrumT5trXV84n8kbRbxnWMsqVUKfXalxk5sDzRoVzWPtdfVoYA3A4EjPwLbVtOu0SFiLC4XO6OtQYSgbr28JXgQkhOpOP1B9pYX8J1xWAs/s1600/IMG_0456.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuBWJhkXLtX8LuEUVNsMB3HyMjoGqrpf6KzUrumT5trXV84n8kbRbxnWMsqVUKfXalxk5sDzRoVzWPtdfVoYA3A4EjPwLbVtOu0SFiLC4XO6OtQYSgbr28JXgQkhOpOP1B9pYX8J1xWAs/s400/IMG_0456.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">The amazing team of 3rd grade teachers. Thank you all for preparing your students for this amazing day.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKvty4PZBe90GuMb6VlLxux8YQ08mSDe9MRSJWU6VlA1-f0QIoUx7xrPY9Ee8BjtabIG3bSfk_VHKSwoOlsiAAVW6JYJxZlkm_tbbJXhuv4Fl_N62R3cu0OqRXCYHD2SIvhdRFJsP07Hw/s1600/IMG_0466.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKvty4PZBe90GuMb6VlLxux8YQ08mSDe9MRSJWU6VlA1-f0QIoUx7xrPY9Ee8BjtabIG3bSfk_VHKSwoOlsiAAVW6JYJxZlkm_tbbJXhuv4Fl_N62R3cu0OqRXCYHD2SIvhdRFJsP07Hw/s400/IMG_0466.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>(l to r)</i> Principal Liz Miller, me, librarian Angie Arnett</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Then it was off to the airport to catch my flight back to North Carolina.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"> <span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><span style="color: red;">Thank you, Cypress Fairbanks!!!</span></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="color: red;">Y'all know how to host an author!</span></span></b></span></div>
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Barbara O'Connorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11772206568826059623noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5644877205641091430.post-59694054764452556112017-01-21T00:43:00.002-05:002017-01-28T16:56:33.684-05:00My Amazing Visit to Cypress Fairbanks Schools in Texas - Week 1<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The amazing Jennifer Lucas made these amazing videos (yes, I'm using the word "amazing" a lot). </span><br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/JphHNJZQjRc" width="420"></iframe><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Some more of the wishes:</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><h2>
Love this greeting from Robison Elementary</h2>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">The wonderful Jenny Daniell (<i>left</i>)</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Check out the cool way that Robison students clapped for me: </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Here are the students at Andre Elementary telling me what their favorite book is (thank you, Shelli Mangum!!):</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOExXKjB4d-5kAVaGcJWz-L2hNKeBQRdj4WB8N-o-UUYV-9QVmHmUtupm7cV_ne9CGpuYTmsH0umn8-3fAAQ3e9CdrEEZPV8BKV1rSWqFi7PaUfCq4OzUGE6sKexhyP-NUie4y83lFd7I/s1600/Hamilton3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOExXKjB4d-5kAVaGcJWz-L2hNKeBQRdj4WB8N-o-UUYV-9QVmHmUtupm7cV_ne9CGpuYTmsH0umn8-3fAAQ3e9CdrEEZPV8BKV1rSWqFi7PaUfCq4OzUGE6sKexhyP-NUie4y83lFd7I/s640/Hamilton3.jpg" width="425" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Yammering away to Hamilton students</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF-twQmz_b8fsoKTlkzNfFkF1RV8-xjIds6FZDpnGBvFE-1hL9UiOoC84HKZsH51bx_SKNlm7NHgCV2XpPLsYA59C4h9PAzM43C1C0nuhLCnpgd2HCVaIHsUZTr7_r9bsQiPbcx1uhnYk/s1600/Hamilton.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF-twQmz_b8fsoKTlkzNfFkF1RV8-xjIds6FZDpnGBvFE-1hL9UiOoC84HKZsH51bx_SKNlm7NHgCV2XpPLsYA59C4h9PAzM43C1C0nuhLCnpgd2HCVaIHsUZTr7_r9bsQiPbcx1uhnYk/s640/Hamilton.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Me doing my thing</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVrcIUoCcXizZ3GNuVpvkm-dMKI2j7lblsqQSaV4CQQpCgXntj7Xz70RHJf-xToOtHcg7QLtsXp3oO24Y34Q2JVkx4R_2ldRWGE5poGAX9xjEZ5UOArRPxAFZsiSA_kuBGMwIoi3HQn0Y/s1600/IMG_0342.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVrcIUoCcXizZ3GNuVpvkm-dMKI2j7lblsqQSaV4CQQpCgXntj7Xz70RHJf-xToOtHcg7QLtsXp3oO24Y34Q2JVkx4R_2ldRWGE5poGAX9xjEZ5UOArRPxAFZsiSA_kuBGMwIoi3HQn0Y/s400/IMG_0342.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">With the VIP students at Hamilton</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFlk84V8ruBO9Lz8fPLSRK3jn8uRbw43JUfdA35TvJS8JnMpOWHVfgljnGevdC8ByPsGXZPwjSqFqKR51RQuTGsELdjntEfTx4HmwNhWoPi8y_-ZLRdaaMN4wgW9Fb1uLdmj0ZRpyb8UA/s1600/IMG_0345.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFlk84V8ruBO9Lz8fPLSRK3jn8uRbw43JUfdA35TvJS8JnMpOWHVfgljnGevdC8ByPsGXZPwjSqFqKR51RQuTGsELdjntEfTx4HmwNhWoPi8y_-ZLRdaaMN4wgW9Fb1uLdmj0ZRpyb8UA/s400/IMG_0345.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">With the amazing and wonderful Jennifer Garstecki Lucas (<i>right</i>)</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA90iCcxFwUHbqv4-b_88zRv8hAhIzSbcBW-VbYw4X72vTKKn4VlYdkMImKGIB3pfFmzStdsgPETkWQ3p20Z8CI3IRMEAGHHVAT7UcFkeqeOc1g_NoqzQi-CNdfGWQ0tG4_UaJBaRfre0/s1600/IMG_0346.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA90iCcxFwUHbqv4-b_88zRv8hAhIzSbcBW-VbYw4X72vTKKn4VlYdkMImKGIB3pfFmzStdsgPETkWQ3p20Z8CI3IRMEAGHHVAT7UcFkeqeOc1g_NoqzQi-CNdfGWQ0tG4_UaJBaRfre0/s400/IMG_0346.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Yoohoo boat builders</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoncehxXFF3UTT0J59wa2qMe0RyWKGTjf7yBRM5z89RTJLFDtiBOm5VBUDPT9FWocy2t1d04AH_Lg3jhiyMhFw_9Z0jXwiO5-zefOf-nHSufiQRYy2MZFKKu0SdKt7LNRxNiWJRhzIiuM/s1600/IMG_0338.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoncehxXFF3UTT0J59wa2qMe0RyWKGTjf7yBRM5z89RTJLFDtiBOm5VBUDPT9FWocy2t1d04AH_Lg3jhiyMhFw_9Z0jXwiO5-zefOf-nHSufiQRYy2MZFKKu0SdKt7LNRxNiWJRhzIiuM/s400/IMG_0338.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Having lunch with the VIPs from Hamilton</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQIOtfWNZgFzfODSIPrv4QvSvEb66M4MWOCcSYQnzl5Z0EuDXDy1MDgb8pNz0_EXbJ2AYSpfl32jMchfM2_uNojYlfGuxvAOXH1vy9o4U8ftnAR_8leA-mMeF7U2gYAyIk87DBkY3NQnw/s1600/FullSizeRender-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQIOtfWNZgFzfODSIPrv4QvSvEb66M4MWOCcSYQnzl5Z0EuDXDy1MDgb8pNz0_EXbJ2AYSpfl32jMchfM2_uNojYlfGuxvAOXH1vy9o4U8ftnAR_8leA-mMeF7U2gYAyIk87DBkY3NQnw/s400/FullSizeRender-2.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Getting ready to dive into s'mores for dessert with (<i>l to r</i>) Kirby Larson, Kelley Book, chef, Jennifer Lucas, me</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">And a great big shout out to Keith Elementary School and Liz Budnek....we were so busy we got no pics!! Love y'all.</span>Barbara O'Connorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11772206568826059623noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5644877205641091430.post-6166336037665316862016-12-28T20:53:00.001-05:002016-12-28T20:53:48.064-05:00Hey Danielle H<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I want to send the arc of Audacity Jones Steals the Show to the first commenter on my previous post - Danielle H - but I have no way to contact. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Will you email me thru my website? </span>Barbara O'Connorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11772206568826059623noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5644877205641091430.post-75557674705010698652016-12-28T16:32:00.000-05:002016-12-28T21:25:25.767-05:00Audacity Jones Steals the Show<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Just finished this beauty.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">So much to love.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhwu-maTpsc3WNv5bvQY7blHSnQ9QNoI4VBn0OqDQlRkWSJXkNTK6IMFQvQnsNT7WcysWlnccXtsZMvOe5feaPLV6MMZeKeh1rOHV8m_0FX9Lh3EvxwXfyS4MKlcW8mA6h4YtZE7Ozp6I/s1600/Photo+on+12-28-16+at+4.16+PM+%25232.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhwu-maTpsc3WNv5bvQY7blHSnQ9QNoI4VBn0OqDQlRkWSJXkNTK6IMFQvQnsNT7WcysWlnccXtsZMvOe5feaPLV6MMZeKeh1rOHV8m_0FX9Lh3EvxwXfyS4MKlcW8mA6h4YtZE7Ozp6I/s400/Photo+on+12-28-16+at+4.16+PM+%25232.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><u>Audacity Jones Steals the Show</u> by Kirby Larson</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Two words: TOTAL PACKAGE</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">It has mystery and humor and adventure.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">It has a cat and an elephant.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">It has HOUDINI!!!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">So many things to love about the writing.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I love how Kirby speaks to the reader so seamlessly, without pulling us out of the story. In fact, quite the opposite...she lets us in on the fun:</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>I know, dear reader, it causes you to shudder as it does me.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I love the absolute SEAMLESS incorporation of historical details:</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>Not a kid-leather boot nor starched pinafore to be seen in either direction.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>Audie inhaled deeply of the automobile fumes, the horse dung, the frankfurter carts, the fishy aromas from the Hudson River. "Just smell all that life!" She turned in a complete circle, arms wide, opening herself to the wonders of Manhattan.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I adore the language, sometimes soft and lilting, sometimes just plain old sparkly:</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>It smelled of hay and apples and something else: The young thing reeked of sorrow.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>A murmur wobbled its way through the crowd.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">And Kirby has never been one to write down to young readers. She tosses in so many yummy words, like PERFIDY. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">So much to love about this one.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">COMING JANUARY 21 </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">AND.....I'll send this ARC along to the first person to tell me in the comments that they would like it.<i> </i> </span></div>
Barbara O'Connorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11772206568826059623noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5644877205641091430.post-4798070839628248392016-12-13T21:56:00.001-05:002016-12-13T21:56:12.649-05:00Love those North Carolina schools!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: large;">Today I got to speak to students from ELEVEN schools in Surry County, North Carolina.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">What a great day!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><u>Greetings from Nowhere</u> is on the Battle of the Books list for North Carolina...so these schools were rocking it!!! </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Since a picture is worth a thousand words, here ya go!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Thank you, Surry County Schools!</span> </span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">The Battle of the Books team at Rockford Elementary (Thank you for that great welcome sign!)</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Rockford Elementary kids waiting for the presentation</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Copeland Battle of the Books team</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Dobson Battle of the Books team</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwPX2N1f_151CmKQbbSP1TFLWO8vQiSgOrngCdT60idhxetO9-2-W2XUdXTBYr_J8vkNBTD3gzZws_HLBqi37XoyTnjX2DXwMY2MWF3lrYHbuGirNWjBq2TsaoWhaFzGpJbw6PsZFvybo/s1600/IMG_0110.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwPX2N1f_151CmKQbbSP1TFLWO8vQiSgOrngCdT60idhxetO9-2-W2XUdXTBYr_J8vkNBTD3gzZws_HLBqi37XoyTnjX2DXwMY2MWF3lrYHbuGirNWjBq2TsaoWhaFzGpJbw6PsZFvybo/s640/IMG_0110.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Mountain Park Battle of the Books team</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicQJjLdoA-mntYvvbgwDBzKFaMwit-eVlIM6XdT_SIRCyqmSOmzqbenoZRk9rCQVGlv-qBs_tHjhGpEqvCBKVIWO_X256sptNhf6oigwl4zpPewCvBLlaz9yfGPMYmgyj03yut0fy9RgA/s1600/IMG_0111.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicQJjLdoA-mntYvvbgwDBzKFaMwit-eVlIM6XdT_SIRCyqmSOmzqbenoZRk9rCQVGlv-qBs_tHjhGpEqvCBKVIWO_X256sptNhf6oigwl4zpPewCvBLlaz9yfGPMYmgyj03yut0fy9RgA/s640/IMG_0111.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Rockford Battle of the Books team</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBnnoA6Cd3MoHM37fi8hKQIj8Wvo2pyunYkIGrIXGxLW0OT3CXH2iSQbS6QgHPMGyEmvUurQGhM51NvQg8aAYHHekW34mIpAVO_41X6ydOEZ-24mA3NfNYjzhyphenhyphenGZ_V2EVVBQs16KN2XPM/s1600/IMG_0115.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBnnoA6Cd3MoHM37fi8hKQIj8Wvo2pyunYkIGrIXGxLW0OT3CXH2iSQbS6QgHPMGyEmvUurQGhM51NvQg8aAYHHekW34mIpAVO_41X6ydOEZ-24mA3NfNYjzhyphenhyphenGZ_V2EVVBQs16KN2XPM/s640/IMG_0115.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>(l to r)</i> Tonya Fletcher, me, Sonia Dickerson. Thank you, ladies, for making this wonderful author visit possible.</span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2r5_oGe9UB8CUIQhrLio76P2bvdHPj0kukoDjcl71inBctBG1yVKdLdZOY8lzULtXBsdM_aA6CaV8dUUHKqJvdoju8N7yhddzDUnLQqQCP4u2LskN5StRhnYtMQkPnhVjL5w5x1zsszE/s1600/IMG_0117.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2r5_oGe9UB8CUIQhrLio76P2bvdHPj0kukoDjcl71inBctBG1yVKdLdZOY8lzULtXBsdM_aA6CaV8dUUHKqJvdoju8N7yhddzDUnLQqQCP4u2LskN5StRhnYtMQkPnhVjL5w5x1zsszE/s640/IMG_0117.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Kids filing in to Franklin Elementary</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR-ERy_j6zsTyrVixTtSTHO5nEdUd987vZ4kqDzqe2Q1G50MY2x8MiqkXyN4pwl9rF7Ef8OKfXzFf4o6U4nzV5v2eN-rj9Qzk6d-XwAgPPhWJhUlXHGh-BSO8G19ueU4BDvLDiqUyA6ho/s1600/IMG_0121.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR-ERy_j6zsTyrVixTtSTHO5nEdUd987vZ4kqDzqe2Q1G50MY2x8MiqkXyN4pwl9rF7Ef8OKfXzFf4o6U4nzV5v2eN-rj9Qzk6d-XwAgPPhWJhUlXHGh-BSO8G19ueU4BDvLDiqUyA6ho/s640/IMG_0121.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Flat Rock Battle of the Books</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3EETHpIqS15TywM7Fu_H2abepXo8O9Y8fGEqF2aotcDASDyCYkEQ5CRzl9FOS6BjGjew95HhW1GkeoMnwlqIR-Hu0iJovmEPrI_83UyjZ5G9COG7_cZp-EbFPTnVNbUwC0brg5lFBt-c/s1600/IMG_0122.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3EETHpIqS15TywM7Fu_H2abepXo8O9Y8fGEqF2aotcDASDyCYkEQ5CRzl9FOS6BjGjew95HhW1GkeoMnwlqIR-Hu0iJovmEPrI_83UyjZ5G9COG7_cZp-EbFPTnVNbUwC0brg5lFBt-c/s640/IMG_0122.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">White Plains Battle of the Books</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGvL_gndF2XrgjGA3BOJRd2x5D0bmy8CVATyAay5UQHG3e-pdL-FhJq-Z6A5osVc-Z7tRF2l9t7pDOA1BW9hv4RhJdRauhOm_RfQeJlogLQ6z1Q7q7oCsejPvwPZHr6kmpTWfGfVInGxs/s1600/IMG_0125.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGvL_gndF2XrgjGA3BOJRd2x5D0bmy8CVATyAay5UQHG3e-pdL-FhJq-Z6A5osVc-Z7tRF2l9t7pDOA1BW9hv4RhJdRauhOm_RfQeJlogLQ6z1Q7q7oCsejPvwPZHr6kmpTWfGfVInGxs/s640/IMG_0125.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Cedar Ridge Battle of the Books</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg22pDTwCg-CR7ILRAwy0Ifl_YPNSziueqkGQZcK5cshJrfs7NcbV-m_k-8cWzH7Vu-nNiSsIhoA9x5IaDKM1TqTRdNQku5eOt4TSEo_QcxOR_Ukhc3preB28kbh9IhWoTwd4WaTm2hM-E/s1600/IMG_0126.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg22pDTwCg-CR7ILRAwy0Ifl_YPNSziueqkGQZcK5cshJrfs7NcbV-m_k-8cWzH7Vu-nNiSsIhoA9x5IaDKM1TqTRdNQku5eOt4TSEo_QcxOR_Ukhc3preB28kbh9IhWoTwd4WaTm2hM-E/s640/IMG_0126.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Franklin Battle of the Books team</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt6Vkecn5hFoPDOSQQy4DC7OCmmErhTEmTA5H6PZHdZdLlGV7esjI-kH7ON7JYLRad9KyptZEKRGZ4zgjPvSST59-d1lcAhF0XKtLez4nuzEqL1jsrJxRLZ_1sHYSWX9Rts6a7zNikSoc/s1600/IMG_0129.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt6Vkecn5hFoPDOSQQy4DC7OCmmErhTEmTA5H6PZHdZdLlGV7esjI-kH7ON7JYLRad9KyptZEKRGZ4zgjPvSST59-d1lcAhF0XKtLez4nuzEqL1jsrJxRLZ_1sHYSWX9Rts6a7zNikSoc/s640/IMG_0129.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I didn't have a chance to visit the Andy Griffith Museum, but at least I got to drive on Andy Griffith Parkway</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6n1aFdm51IGVMt5IiTOvLxhSfhqeyru07tQdJv1ZEUHQbEXpsi7kWamOvCisxqVvnzHMo8zd5FB-GOWSjg2TnZu22AHxwbq08XaF1CwLtRLVMk5nch-FRZDDQ-xu2Bt95YiQ61P6CKT4/s1600/IMG_0132.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6n1aFdm51IGVMt5IiTOvLxhSfhqeyru07tQdJv1ZEUHQbEXpsi7kWamOvCisxqVvnzHMo8zd5FB-GOWSjg2TnZu22AHxwbq08XaF1CwLtRLVMk5nch-FRZDDQ-xu2Bt95YiQ61P6CKT4/s640/IMG_0132.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Getting ready to present at Pilot Mountain Elementary</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSTT1kjBGXhRg03TGcCZSuTOnWcp3hSO5SFD3QxkogXtwPEfdVO3WHaRbmmUVvfyuuKnHWdY3OMWLXTVRvVsf0t41fzULKjYrEW_gXecmYRcu0RRf9k6w2x_lnpNp5-18XR3H5CjzhxE4/s1600/IMG_0133.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSTT1kjBGXhRg03TGcCZSuTOnWcp3hSO5SFD3QxkogXtwPEfdVO3WHaRbmmUVvfyuuKnHWdY3OMWLXTVRvVsf0t41fzULKjYrEW_gXecmYRcu0RRf9k6w2x_lnpNp5-18XR3H5CjzhxE4/s640/IMG_0133.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">At Pilot Mountain Elementary</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieCxulTuRMSDDszv6lN47Gv5e9kHFrh42GzZSr-2tm20J4DKvReCsBXgOslWQWrPa1YzQXPWpDZJI1ukwnQLn113ASDRsUkiCKfjubG4vZiM9J_56XB-tWJSQXcJ2gYVMeoescKOTY9Jk/s1600/IMG_0135.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieCxulTuRMSDDszv6lN47Gv5e9kHFrh42GzZSr-2tm20J4DKvReCsBXgOslWQWrPa1YzQXPWpDZJI1ukwnQLn113ASDRsUkiCKfjubG4vZiM9J_56XB-tWJSQXcJ2gYVMeoescKOTY9Jk/s640/IMG_0135.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Pilot Mountain Battle of the Books team</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_Ou7SthNLzRtluGy7U0jsuoiGhbG3cMBQtx-RNre2QYQlNiU_iHoosIZbmA2w6MeGPKe8H2NG7HaOvkGtsGB9tGl9WXlG6jXHQK2kINBiffuZaMqMgHp9_0RBpQqgTwuKljYLUphIJgs/s1600/IMG_0136.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_Ou7SthNLzRtluGy7U0jsuoiGhbG3cMBQtx-RNre2QYQlNiU_iHoosIZbmA2w6MeGPKe8H2NG7HaOvkGtsGB9tGl9WXlG6jXHQK2kINBiffuZaMqMgHp9_0RBpQqgTwuKljYLUphIJgs/s640/IMG_0136.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">With Pilot Mountain media specialist Amy Harpe</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUHI9jR4Dr6m6_oNnyVj4_Q1KWD8fVT0Ww9rEQAF175aEKYYx3RHj43e82EfaOKNz86lgXdAN7JnxBEFQRjjKjK4cVtGW4_2vuVsN6eb2diVL6rHfNN_DMorxP_K-GiYLlP7UO2wAh0n0/s1600/IMG_0169.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUHI9jR4Dr6m6_oNnyVj4_Q1KWD8fVT0Ww9rEQAF175aEKYYx3RHj43e82EfaOKNz86lgXdAN7JnxBEFQRjjKjK4cVtGW4_2vuVsN6eb2diVL6rHfNN_DMorxP_K-GiYLlP7UO2wAh0n0/s640/IMG_0169.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Whenever I go away, I love coming home and seeing those beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains ahead of me.</span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></td></tr>
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Barbara O'Connorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11772206568826059623noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5644877205641091430.post-68548081626130543852016-12-06T11:14:00.002-05:002016-12-06T11:14:17.630-05:00Creekside Elementary<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Here are a few pics from my great visit to Creekside Elementary School in Winterville, North Carolina</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig2f9UVNuQ6u7KaP-X2oL8fkR2jI9vdk0IdNXOL-ZeETfoZtidMKIVdCVhOipbhRApt93Ig_KJxIJb21y10B5MQbwSIgdcv-OOOqJ2UCEqWYX7t4f7ClfkBhUAxBubZ7ROn_Jdg3QBoXQ/s1600/20161201_112148.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig2f9UVNuQ6u7KaP-X2oL8fkR2jI9vdk0IdNXOL-ZeETfoZtidMKIVdCVhOipbhRApt93Ig_KJxIJb21y10B5MQbwSIgdcv-OOOqJ2UCEqWYX7t4f7ClfkBhUAxBubZ7ROn_Jdg3QBoXQ/s400/20161201_112148.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">The Battle of the Books team</span></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhJa90kCOdrT1nI9NcY5JiydC_8-6zjubhNKvyQ4xQCS48AA987nj62GaxSjYIfbNdJYqOVhiD-7TW0jiMpeME0f1qc8hXtxWX35Oz20CpRKLAwvib3LIuWawJFsnvy3DB9SHoAifybZ4/s1600/20161201_094620.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhJa90kCOdrT1nI9NcY5JiydC_8-6zjubhNKvyQ4xQCS48AA987nj62GaxSjYIfbNdJYqOVhiD-7TW0jiMpeME0f1qc8hXtxWX35Oz20CpRKLAwvib3LIuWawJFsnvy3DB9SHoAifybZ4/s400/20161201_094620.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkxRGYORCMwO2-65VFEj5X3fwTcZNRS-mkKtHZ56OycdNWO6kAEtvR4QOwAyMTuxIk-sBP9wPiUNBELE03K4KlSHk4187O-kEE1ad1SbhCpLmIhDC4gJH6iPIclTxg_9F5K5el1iUA-II/s1600/20161201_090517.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkxRGYORCMwO2-65VFEj5X3fwTcZNRS-mkKtHZ56OycdNWO6kAEtvR4QOwAyMTuxIk-sBP9wPiUNBELE03K4KlSHk4187O-kEE1ad1SbhCpLmIhDC4gJH6iPIclTxg_9F5K5el1iUA-II/s400/20161201_090517.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Barbara O'Connorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11772206568826059623noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5644877205641091430.post-86836405015044102722016-12-03T18:26:00.001-05:002016-12-03T19:08:57.157-05:00Thank you, Winterville, NC<span style="font-size: large;">Wow! Amazing school visits in Winterville, North Carolina.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Here are some of the highlights:</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRws5wweZkBjYs-0Iefi1u6oCPi8bVLApZ5Qj9nZDz_OmZkBpdAP5l5_uNNbjpDIKQGooeczf5OB7DE97h97LgQhauE6SFj3WRuXvvsm7eXXxTILzCGJb3dCx-GSSPli-B-GbVf_W5uMw/s1600/IMG_0007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRws5wweZkBjYs-0Iefi1u6oCPi8bVLApZ5Qj9nZDz_OmZkBpdAP5l5_uNNbjpDIKQGooeczf5OB7DE97h97LgQhauE6SFj3WRuXvvsm7eXXxTILzCGJb3dCx-GSSPli-B-GbVf_W5uMw/s400/IMG_0007.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;">Thank you to Creekside Elementary for this great welcome sign in the library. (Note: There were lots of pics taken here but I don't have them. Will post if I get them. Great school, though. Trust me.)</span></span></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/AVvXsEjl18fzscYBK4iDkZ6Tu_EB3_PEuzJoE5Odjj1JRBUm1uNBnHs1ERBCQ8maRyJcge0L2E-pRKgsCVn1iFxWKqdix06I3vSykBUbep016ri4jcPRJC_-HY-hQcpsNGTaPHe5ZhhOJQWqRtM/s1600/IMG_0009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl18fzscYBK4iDkZ6Tu_EB3_PEuzJoE5Odjj1JRBUm1uNBnHs1ERBCQ8maRyJcge0L2E-pRKgsCVn1iFxWKqdix06I3vSykBUbep016ri4jcPRJC_-HY-hQcpsNGTaPHe5ZhhOJQWqRtM/s400/IMG_0009.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">A nice greeting for <a href="http://kimnormanbooks.com/kn/" target="_blank">Kim Norman</a> and I from Ridgewood.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Check out all the snazzy outfits at the Battle of the Books luncheon </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG1TPyElJYXaxkczriKmpxjtXcPQHFsxMs6E5RCzhVvETq1_WIz6fXpsEyOZ_ml6r6Q6clTnxqK44J8nLWSdJ43pdubVGH-fSeUe1ZDga_cg2yGh8dtdRAi6GlKzoo_TSAPo-et-F6HcM/s1600/IMG_0391.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG1TPyElJYXaxkczriKmpxjtXcPQHFsxMs6E5RCzhVvETq1_WIz6fXpsEyOZ_ml6r6Q6clTnxqK44J8nLWSdJ43pdubVGH-fSeUe1ZDga_cg2yGh8dtdRAi6GlKzoo_TSAPo-et-F6HcM/s400/IMG_0391.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Battle of the Books luncheon</span></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/AVvXsEh7ggB-7SRUGPbBUuM66lZTQzsVNVF3ISct2MZgyAqgGlPNzeoQkcOlyO5Mkubq-zY0uC8fv68aBhOfaq0xMjJHywjt6WATStKC43DK5tGuwKe59ZxvybXPPTQxuIN71rmmiVgjmmwTgfw/s1600/IMG_0392.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7ggB-7SRUGPbBUuM66lZTQzsVNVF3ISct2MZgyAqgGlPNzeoQkcOlyO5Mkubq-zY0uC8fv68aBhOfaq0xMjJHywjt6WATStKC43DK5tGuwKe59ZxvybXPPTQxuIN71rmmiVgjmmwTgfw/s400/IMG_0392.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Battle of the Books luncheon</span></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/AVvXsEgkyGwLWTjWRN7F0c0v9VX4FZY111pHmC1YWf75_qy91wCjAF1UZGSbqLtACwgRyuhrpW0CZ8SpRlxUn4rFDfZDvU1QVnp5RiTE1ToOYKrh-13m7jwI_fFKTBGbw7-oYlGM8k_obtY0cac/s1600/IMG_0393.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkyGwLWTjWRN7F0c0v9VX4FZY111pHmC1YWf75_qy91wCjAF1UZGSbqLtACwgRyuhrpW0CZ8SpRlxUn4rFDfZDvU1QVnp5RiTE1ToOYKrh-13m7jwI_fFKTBGbw7-oYlGM8k_obtY0cac/s400/IMG_0393.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Battle of the Book luncheon</span></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/AVvXsEh_7quCL0QqwcVEEGsUdCStwAFxvV_ljRdU4kWGnOXXHt0_VsHS3CvZvBwHJ4nWuab4SSgOiTrHISHTcpNlYKJABI_M3QitFXNZLAgm-15Ma3wwPc4aRUyAojM_cJA1rh3sAruf5a6BsMY/s1600/IMG_0394.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_7quCL0QqwcVEEGsUdCStwAFxvV_ljRdU4kWGnOXXHt0_VsHS3CvZvBwHJ4nWuab4SSgOiTrHISHTcpNlYKJABI_M3QitFXNZLAgm-15Ma3wwPc4aRUyAojM_cJA1rh3sAruf5a6BsMY/s400/IMG_0394.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Battle of the Books luncheon</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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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/AVvXsEh9OqKaVhD63xmxxMTc0k6br-rMUNlVD2IyRQyUND5wrUj2viA1WFPLcerYeL52HliY_p9icYz7s6T_lro3DJ62POKwQRZeUQITNlSMhzd7pF6rxwtzpsV5mpYNMSDzlXj9XYebcCNU3is/s1600/IMG_0395.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9OqKaVhD63xmxxMTc0k6br-rMUNlVD2IyRQyUND5wrUj2viA1WFPLcerYeL52HliY_p9icYz7s6T_lro3DJ62POKwQRZeUQITNlSMhzd7pF6rxwtzpsV5mpYNMSDzlXj9XYebcCNU3is/s400/IMG_0395.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">(l to r) Kim Norman, Ryan Davis, me</span></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/AVvXsEgUGQMl6kh1kmtpI-uoFLbooCEIxVuqUy3zy-KlJdQhZLCtBQvqY2tKsbuBCsYsegPXFuonTW58Tl9TuqHnjVjPdi-Y1p-34epkIkWgw3grgetX6BQeCZtg3J3vnJCPUHkMxJDOk3Nlhek/s1600/IMG_0397.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUGQMl6kh1kmtpI-uoFLbooCEIxVuqUy3zy-KlJdQhZLCtBQvqY2tKsbuBCsYsegPXFuonTW58Tl9TuqHnjVjPdi-Y1p-34epkIkWgw3grgetX6BQeCZtg3J3vnJCPUHkMxJDOk3Nlhek/s640/IMG_0397.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">The whole Battle of the Books gang</span></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/AVvXsEgJOOxBuzAe21JZCAmcNnk4b0NBeYdoMFp3KCgAIGrS5UigsHuaPj_9Tvk926GuFROM3NIRPjIYKbZgdKlFl1_RdO1Iq97mUll3LsIe2hNWXk3AaaiVnYTycUraNtb2EGqui1k0QUwH7Yg/s1600/IMG_0398.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJOOxBuzAe21JZCAmcNnk4b0NBeYdoMFp3KCgAIGrS5UigsHuaPj_9Tvk926GuFROM3NIRPjIYKbZgdKlFl1_RdO1Iq97mUll3LsIe2hNWXk3AaaiVnYTycUraNtb2EGqui1k0QUwH7Yg/s640/IMG_0398.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">(l to r) Angie Britt Egerton, Kim Norman, me, Kris Davis</span></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/AVvXsEiqTW60fK4MwStrhnFTIYtwuM8hOZLrYqp6yKaWPsRIYiji0mebnbRVxHXo3WmS8vL_oCeVaqsOG5hVuGFWLSTY7PKVMqgi6HIR6cMKA7TSsS2VpZeKfhCNffb1lxDDih5vBupurMrUZcA/s1600/IMG_0011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqTW60fK4MwStrhnFTIYtwuM8hOZLrYqp6yKaWPsRIYiji0mebnbRVxHXo3WmS8vL_oCeVaqsOG5hVuGFWLSTY7PKVMqgi6HIR6cMKA7TSsS2VpZeKfhCNffb1lxDDih5vBupurMrUZcA/s640/IMG_0011.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Had a blast with the awesome <a href="http://kimnormanbooks.com/kn/" target="_blank">Kim Norman</a></span></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/AVvXsEjfp6SKHcey8NHySSrevZ18y0YvIsIC6IzafvrwSzSnA4tikmLet4Arx1ugQkuZvCT21r3ZXxk-9InOFnR-hUaazPodI_fmbH5ZML0pCd5_p465NRN4z0_Tihk_UK7hZ2gKMkFst3Jpe_Q/s1600/IMG_0016.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfp6SKHcey8NHySSrevZ18y0YvIsIC6IzafvrwSzSnA4tikmLet4Arx1ugQkuZvCT21r3ZXxk-9InOFnR-hUaazPodI_fmbH5ZML0pCd5_p465NRN4z0_Tihk_UK7hZ2gKMkFst3Jpe_Q/s640/IMG_0016.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Ridgewood kids filing in to hear my presentation</span></td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRWG9CV2_wFoDl_QtzrC0SL-LqGs8_CY3FwOcnoMCKuL-wk4PpZJZU-Nn-6kmWmE9qlTgtvMXEaJrJTlfSAQaNp5shOC0coWuOiZC2OUI56neoKq-3rvdTYGmvvELqx2RkOQbNl3Nzxgs/s1600/IMG_0400.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRWG9CV2_wFoDl_QtzrC0SL-LqGs8_CY3FwOcnoMCKuL-wk4PpZJZU-Nn-6kmWmE9qlTgtvMXEaJrJTlfSAQaNp5shOC0coWuOiZC2OUI56neoKq-3rvdTYGmvvELqx2RkOQbNl3Nzxgs/s640/IMG_0400.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Me working the crowd</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgIaqsjhHYfwFfw5mff4mz-DimiqM8bXCfuQLiOdOlUqRKT1vosNDeWFizVyrEbcpn6-JeQIpldqEAafoMOqV0C1VV1UsXJMj19V8ucxLmyXhMzXuepijRT-PUVZ8AY2JqUVlFwyeWU7Y/s1600/IMG_0019.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgIaqsjhHYfwFfw5mff4mz-DimiqM8bXCfuQLiOdOlUqRKT1vosNDeWFizVyrEbcpn6-JeQIpldqEAafoMOqV0C1VV1UsXJMj19V8ucxLmyXhMzXuepijRT-PUVZ8AY2JqUVlFwyeWU7Y/s400/IMG_0019.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Me and my pal, <a href="http://kimnormanbooks.com/kn/" target="_blank">Kim Norman</a></span></td></tr>
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Barbara O'Connorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11772206568826059623noreply@blogger.com0