tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-74538906843138898002024-03-12T16:53:23.498-07:00Annie OldhamYoung Adult AuthorAnnie Oldhamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00243912487699021571noreply@blogger.comBlogger73125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7453890684313889800.post-25782003940460048862013-07-11T15:23:00.000-07:002013-07-11T15:23:19.965-07:00The Vacation Had to End SometimeMy family and I returned from a two-week vacation on Tuesday. It was, in a word, heavenly. Getting to spend all day long without my husband going to work? Awesome. Getting to see how much my girlies love their daddy. Love it. Getting to go to <a href="http://www.nps.gov/arch/index.htm" target="_blank">Arches National Park</a> and seeing the incredible landscape there was worth all the stress that packing myself and three little people can induce. If you've never been, it's worth the trip. We hiked to Delicate Arch with the baby strapped to me (in the 95 degree weather I ended up being just a tad sweaty), my five-year-old walking, and our three-year-old in the jogging stroller. It's a Jeep so we figured, "Hey, why not." Luckily I have a strong, tough husband who lugged that thing there and back again. I don't think it'll ever be the same.<br />
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Then we headed to cooler weather and stayed with my sister in Colorado. We ate too much ice cream, fished, picked cherries, watched fireworks, and swam.<br />
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Now I'm back in the 100+ degree weather, but hunkering down under the A/C and the ceiling fan and typing. Why? I'm trying my darndest to get <i>The Reaping</i> out before the end of the year.Annie Oldhamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00243912487699021571noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7453890684313889800.post-29247692072143713102013-05-16T13:42:00.003-07:002013-05-16T13:42:55.324-07:00They Grow Up So FastSorry I haven't been posting much of anything on here lately. Life has been calling and has been beautifully busy. I'm not going to complain about that--taking care of cute girls is fun (and frustrating) and being their mom is the best job in the world. So writing doesn't always get done the way I'd like it to.<br />
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My oldest girlie had her preschool graduation today. I can't believe she's going to start kindergarten in two months. I don't think I'll be one of those moms that cry when their child goes off to school, but I could surprise myself. I'll let you know :)<br />
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So now with her school done, we're officially into summer and I'm determined to get more writing squeezed in when my babe's taking her nap and the other two are having "quiet" time in their room. Which is rarely ever quiet and rarely stays in their room, but whatever. I'll work with what I can get!Annie Oldhamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00243912487699021571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7453890684313889800.post-54509247128086368782013-04-25T20:43:00.002-07:002013-04-25T20:43:49.428-07:00It's Getting HotSummer is slowly but surely descending down on us. We've had some 90+ degree days, and I'm already missing the cooler weather. Our air conditioner is running regularly in the afternoon now, and I'm dreading the high utility bills that will start coming up.<br />
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On the plus side, that means we're not outside as much, and I've spent more time writing. I'm plugging away, and Terra's final story is starting to come together. It's been bittersweet, especially since I've known the end from the beginning. It's just interesting to see the twists and turns along the way. Terra is really growing up, and even now I feel like I'm going to miss her once this is all done.<br />
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I've also been able to get some reading squeezed in here and there. Before I had kids, I could sit down and read for hours on end. That rarely happens these days, so I've been trying to make time for more reading. After all, reading is one of the best ways to become a better writer. What have I read in the past month? <i>Life of Pi </i>(I forgot how much I love the ending),<i> The Amulet of Samarkand</i> (Bartimeaus is a great character), and <i>Beautiful Creatures</i> (I hope I don't offend any Twihards by saying the angst is just so much better written!). I just started <i>Beautiful Darkness</i> last night, and <i>Days of Blood and Starlight</i> (I loved <i>Daughter of Smoke and Bone</i>, so I have high expectations for this one) is next in line.<br />
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Have you read anything good lately?Annie Oldhamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00243912487699021571noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7453890684313889800.post-66813913460996995272013-04-15T13:35:00.003-07:002013-04-15T13:35:46.025-07:00Family TimeI didn't get very much writing done over the past week or so because my parents were here visiting me. We live 700 miles apart, and that usually feels like 700 miles too many. My three girls love their grandma and grandpa, and let's face it...sometimes a girl just needs her mom and dad!<br />
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We almost never do anything exciting. We hung out, ran errands, had a picnic, and ate way too many treats. My dad went to fill up the car and get a car wash the day before they left. As soon as he was out the door, I turned to my mom and said, "What are the odds are that he comes back with a treat?" She smiled and said, "Pretty good." Yup, he came back with donuts.<br />
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One of the things I love about my parents is how supportive they are. Dad asked me, "So how is the next book coming?" I sheepishly smiled and said, "Slowly but surely. Life's pretty busy right now." And he just smiled and nodded. No judging, just love. And lots of spoiling of my girls.<br />
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I can't wait until they come back again.<br />
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<br />Annie Oldhamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00243912487699021571noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7453890684313889800.post-77285677889333037452013-03-29T16:09:00.005-07:002013-03-29T16:09:54.159-07:00Happy Easter!Easter is one of my favorite holidays because of the hope it brings to my life--for me it's a time of renewal and faith. I just wanted to wish all of you a very happy Easter weekend. I hope you spend it with family and friends. Annie Oldhamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00243912487699021571noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7453890684313889800.post-73801844209406337052013-02-26T16:06:00.002-07:002013-02-26T16:06:37.351-07:00SurprisesI'm in the middle of writing the third book in The Burn series, <i>The Reaping</i>. Writing these books, I've had an outline every time, and it's nice to have a sense of where the book is headed. But I create loose outlines. I know basic plot points, but I don't always know how Terra is going to get from point A to point B. Case in point:<br />
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Today I've been working on (get ready for it...here comes a teaser!) Terra trying to sneak into a hospital. I've known this event would happen the whole time I've been working on this book. But what I didn't know is that she would find a secret door. And I didn't know what she would find behind that door. But I do now, and let me tell you, the government-run Burn is not a happy place.<br />
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How's that for some suspense? :)Annie Oldhamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00243912487699021571noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7453890684313889800.post-14608390457634580052013-02-13T00:00:00.000-07:002013-02-13T11:58:40.184-07:00Creating a Post-apocalyptic World by Mari Mancusi and a Giveaway!Welcome to talented YA author, Mari Mancusi! In her novel <i>Tomorrow Land</i>, the world has been decimated by a plague that turns the population into zombies. Good luck, survivors! I asked Mari if she'd talk about creating a post-apocalyptic world. Here is her response:<br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: purple;"><span style="font-size: small;">With my Blood Coven vampire series—anything goes. And those who have read the series know—I mean anything. Vampires, werewolves, fairies…In Soul Bound, which was just released in March, there’s even an army of chupacabras and a whole cast of characters from Greek mythology. It’s wild, campy, funny, and doesn’t even try to be realistic. In fact, the more over the top—the better. And yes, I try to outdo myself in every book.</span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: purple;"><span style="font-size: small;">So you’d think when I sat down to write my post-apocalyptic zombie story, Tomorrow Land (formerly published as Razor Girl), I’d go all out as well. A Shaun of the Dead or Zombieland kind of farce. But instead I decided to go darker…and keep things true to life.</span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: purple;"><span style="font-size: small;">Okay, I know what you’re thinking. The zombie apocalypse is not exactly realistic. But think of it more of a game of “what if.” What if the world was decimated by a killer plague? What if some of those who caught the virus didn’t die—but were transformed into brainless creatures with a hunger for human flesh? What would the few survivors of the apocalypse do? How would they survive in a dead world filled with monsters? Would we still live like human beings with human decency—banding together and forming new societies, enacting new laws, keeping the peace? Or would we become monsters ourselves? Out only for our own survival—fellow humans be damned. Would we find a new family? Would we succumb to drug addiction or alcoholism to block out the pain? Would we be able to protect ourselves—and the ones we love?</span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: purple;"><span style="font-size: small;">And I think that’s something at the heart of every good zombie tale. The monsters provide a lot of external conflict—and who doesn’t love a good zombie fight scene? But it’s the human element that keeps us coming back for more. The question these books and films and TV shows all raise: how would we continue to live and love and exist as a species in a world decimated by plague and populated by monsters?</span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: purple;"><span style="font-size: small;">So while there’s plenty of zombie action in Tomorrow Land, at its core I see it as a story of human survival. Of first love and second chances. A coming of age adventure in a world gone mad. A romance that defies all odds. In short, I want people to read this book and think, “Wow, this could really happen. And what would I do if <span style="font-size: small;">I were</span> there?”</span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: purple;"><span style="font-size: small;">Because really, you never know. The zombie apocalypse could be right around the corner. Might as well be prepared!</span></span></span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: purple;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: purple;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;">Sounds exciting, right? If you'd like to purchase <span style="font-size: small;">Tomorrow Land, here<span style="font-size: small;"> are the details:</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: magenta;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Tomorrow-Land-ebook/dp/B007IKOK9W/ref=sr_1_13?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1331312385&sr=1-13" target="_blank"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">Buy Tomorrow Land on Amazon</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></a></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: purple;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/tomorrow-land-mari-mancusi/1108624901?ean=2940014343107&itm=10&usri=mari+mancusi" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: small;">Buy Tomorrow Land on B&N </span></a> </span></span> </span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: purple;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;">Mari has also <span style="font-size: small;">g<span style="font-size: small;">enerously offered to give away <span style="font-size: small;">an ebook of Tomorrow Land. Just fill out the rafflecopter form below<span style="font-size: small;">. If you'd like <span style="font-size: small;">to <span style="font-size: small;">know more about her post-ap<span style="font-size: small;">ocalyptic tale, here's the synopsis:</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black;"><i>Can
true love survive the end of the world?</i></span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black;"> </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black;">Imagine
finding your first love, only to be ripped apart by the apocalypse.
Peyton Anderson will never forget the day she was forced to make a
choice--between her family and Chris Parker, the boy she'd given her
heart. And now, four years later, as she steps from the fallout
shelter and into a dead and broken world, he's the only thing on her
mind.</span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black;"> </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black;">All
Chris "Chase" Parker wanted was to take Peyton away and
keep her safe from harm. But he waited for hours in the rain on
judgment day and she never showed--breaking his heart without ever
telling him why.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black;">Now
the two of them have been thrown together once again, reluctant
chaperones of a group of orphan children in a post-apocalyptic
world where the dead still walk...and feed. As they begin their
pilgrimage to the last human outpost on Earth, can they find a way to
let go of old hurts and find the love they lost--all the while
attempting to save what's left of the human race?</span></span></div>
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<a class="rafl" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/47b9d510/" id="rc-47b9d510" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a><br />
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And after you've entered to win <i>Tomorrow Land</i>, click on over to <a href="http://www.marimancusi.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Mari's blog</a> and enter to win a copy of <i>The Burn</i> and <i>Infraction</i>!
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Annie Oldhamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00243912487699021571noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7453890684313889800.post-71306708457568852032013-01-07T15:32:00.000-07:002013-01-07T15:32:38.964-07:00Back in the Swing of ThingsThe holidays have come and gone, and I'm sad about that. I spent the holiday in Utah with my family, my parents, and all my siblings and their families. There were three babies, three cute little girls, lots of games, and way too much good food. My five-year-old and two-year-old got to go sledding for the first time, and seeing the sheer joy on their faces as they slipped down the (albeit small) hill in my parents' backyard made the twelve-hour drive worth it.<br />
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Today was the first day hubby went back to work, and it's just me and the kiddos around the house, and I have so much to get done. I still haven't gotten the Christmas tree down, but honestly I'm not in a hurry to do it. The house is so bare when all the decorations go away. I have a huge list of the deep-cleaning jobs I need to do around the house. My babe is three-months-old, and now that I feel like I'm finally out of survival mode, the housework that sat neglected is now roaring at me.<br />
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And I need to write. I finally made myself sit at the computer last night and start plunking out the finally volume of Terra's adventure on the Burn. Yes, this will be the last book for Terra. There may be prequels (my husband asked my last night if I would ever write a prequel about the colonies being formed, and my brain instantly started churning as I thought, "Hmm...intriguing..." and then my brain jumped to, "Ooo...and a prequel about the Event!"--but there's no promises on that front right now. I have another project on the backburner).<br />
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So now I'm hunkering down. Today I already have: fed the kids breakfast, worked out, ran in the grocery store to get milk, vacuumed and mopped, started two loads of laundry, fed the girls lunch, cut some coupons, nursed the baby three times, managed to squeeze in a shower and a pinch of makeup, put the chicken in the oven to roast, deadheaded and watered my beautiful oversized pot of petunias, kissed a few owies, wrangled my girls into cleaning up their shoes and the family room, read two books with my girls, and wrote this blog post. That's all I can think of off the top of my head, at least :) Those people who say that a stay-at-home mom doesn't know how to work obviously have never done it!<br />
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Wish me luck. According to the outline I've written, this last book is going to be a doozy, and who knows how it will veer off when I'm in the midst of it. That's the great thing about outlines--they always change.<br />
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So Happy New Year to you! I hope this year is full of joy and love, and lots and lots of good books!Annie Oldhamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00243912487699021571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7453890684313889800.post-59533504813117123752012-11-12T13:57:00.000-07:002012-11-12T13:57:11.135-07:00The Tour Goes On!Have you been keeping up with the <i>Infraction</i> blog tour? Just hop over to the <a href="http://www.annieoldham.com/p/appearances.html">Appearances</a> page to see which blogs have featured <i>Infraction</i> so far. You can read guest posts, excerpts, reviews, and enter to win an ebook of <i>The Burn</i> if you haven't started the series yet. The tour has been fun so far so come along for the ride!Annie Oldhamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00243912487699021571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7453890684313889800.post-33599758282538836362012-11-04T16:06:00.003-07:002012-11-04T16:06:28.903-07:00The Infraction Blog TourThe blog tour for <i>Infraction</i> kicks off today, starting with a meet 'n' greet at the <a href="http://readingaddictionvbt.blogspot.com/2012/11/tour-kick-off-infraction-by-annie-oldham.html" target="_blank">Reading Addiction blog</a>. Hop on over to enter a giveaway of<i> The Burn</i> (so you can get caught up on the series!) and check out the other blogs on the tour. You can also check out my Appearances page for the list of tour stops.Annie Oldhamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00243912487699021571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7453890684313889800.post-90724283898586416172012-11-01T00:00:00.000-07:002012-11-01T00:00:20.048-07:00Infraction: It's Here!I'm excited to share the next chapter in Terra's adventure on the Burn with you. The ebook is available on Amazon (for Kindle and Kindle apps) and Smashwords (all ebook formats). It is available as a paperback through Amazon and CreateSpace. It will be available as an ebook at other ebook retailers in a few weeks, and I'll post those links when it happens.<br />
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Buy the ebook at <a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B009YYF6DE">Amazon</a> or <a href="http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/250006">Smashwords</a>.<br />
Buy the paperback at <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Infraction-Annie-Oldham/dp/1480009482">Amazon</a> or <a href="http://www.createspace.com/4011146">CreateSpace</a>.<br />
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Get reading, and enjoy!<br />
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p.s. The <i>Infraction</i> blog tour starts on November 4th. I'll have the schedule posted on my Appearances page if you'd like to follow along!Annie Oldhamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00243912487699021571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7453890684313889800.post-33095025155167514452012-10-31T11:57:00.001-07:002012-11-14T10:15:36.852-07:00The Burn and Infraction Giveaway: Winner Announced<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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To celebrate the release of <i>Infraction</i>, I'm giving away an ebook of both <i>The Burn</i> (so you can catch up if you haven't read it yet!) and the sequel, <i>Infraction</i>, as part of the Dystopian Giveaway Hop.<br />
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Just fill out the rafflecopter form, and be sure to check out the other great blog and prizes being offered in the giveaway hop! (Just click Read More below the rafflecopter form.)<br />
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<!-- start LinkyTools script --><script src="http://www.linkytools.com/basic_linky_include.aspx?id=165317" type="text/javascript"></script><!-- end LinkyTools script -->Annie Oldhamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00243912487699021571noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7453890684313889800.post-39439953689766890402012-10-29T14:16:00.000-07:002012-10-29T14:17:37.582-07:00Infraction: Chapter OneOnly 3 more days until <i>Infraction</i> is released! I can't believe it's almost here. (Though if you're like some of my readers, this day has taken way too long to get here!) Good things come to those who wait, so to reward your patience, here is the first chapter. Enjoy :)<br />
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<a href="http://www.annieoldham.com/p/infraction-chapter-one.html">Read the first chapter of Infraction.</a>Annie Oldhamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00243912487699021571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7453890684313889800.post-60857094334929841072012-10-12T12:45:00.002-07:002012-10-12T12:45:32.364-07:00Infraction: What It's All About<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-decoration: none;">
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--></style>Only two and a half weeks until <i>Infraction</i> is released. I promised more content as release date came closer, only I've had a cute little interruption to the schedule: our littlest girlie was born on October 1st, and life with a newborn is beautiful but chaotic. But now things are getting more under control, so here is the latest snippet: The synopsis. Enjoy, and get excited!</div>
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<b>Violent nomads.
The coming winter. Jack's unspoken feelings. Leaving the relative
peace of the settlement is more difficult than Terra ever imagined.
But what she should fear most is the government that professes to
protect its citizens. Imprisoned in a labor camp, Terra learns just
how much the corrupt regime wants absolute control. Never has she
felt more powerless to act. But there's always the call of the ocean,
and her captors just might underestimate how powerful that call can
be.</b></div>
Annie Oldhamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00243912487699021571noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7453890684313889800.post-24702640956851968872012-09-25T13:59:00.000-07:002012-09-25T22:02:44.272-07:00The Cover Reveal!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEIvWeaFszGIJYHw7vtH2ZTtGqYWsqR50ePA1TrbHYhweb9-inJULG2jcFUKaGhmV4yctHxeUwnPU-PuPASuEh2XXplitBWV35SmHq4gfn2fVA8B2CBiV9-5DJANglWyCz44Tz-vu_y-HC/s1600/InfractionFinalWeb2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><i>Infraction</i> is a little over a month from release time, and you know what that means. There will be sneak-peek content popping up around here. Look for the first chapter, excerpts, giveaways, and the schedule for the Infraction Blog Tour in the following weeks.<br />
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But the first glimpse? The cover!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP4JDH-hxq7NYsnGbUpiqR8E-AW6C1n7dm3smSmaZEOcJVeYiV6J3ET_L8SSkl2hTMN7mQaGRxoHE7-gfb6iS1EY6jQl8JcddmMJiCc_fwyAYI6-c6Hg_O6L8kFOiGuIMd-xh9ms10HIsC/s1600/InfractionFinalWeb3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP4JDH-hxq7NYsnGbUpiqR8E-AW6C1n7dm3smSmaZEOcJVeYiV6J3ET_L8SSkl2hTMN7mQaGRxoHE7-gfb6iS1EY6jQl8JcddmMJiCc_fwyAYI6-c6Hg_O6L8kFOiGuIMd-xh9ms10HIsC/s1600/InfractionFinalWeb3.jpg" height="400" width="266" /></a></div>
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Get excited. We're almost there!<br />
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(Thanks to Renee Barratt for once again making a cover that captures my book.)Annie Oldhamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00243912487699021571noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7453890684313889800.post-79982429222245803672012-09-05T13:00:00.000-07:002012-09-14T21:19:31.309-07:00Reading Clean Giveaway: Winners Announced<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg63R_Yus3hyphenhyphen2pin8wv-yrWbDvbOE4UjI7VmLu66z3CjOslWgWKoBHEcvLDhVx3tUMSKH4XL4yQiMx1TiZ7oi4_mpf8XSkSHctU0HeobOg4UOw4oz0NnpRJk8hpMvVO7GHdCWHKWaofn1Ux/s1600/Reading+Clean+Hop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg63R_Yus3hyphenhyphen2pin8wv-yrWbDvbOE4UjI7VmLu66z3CjOslWgWKoBHEcvLDhVx3tUMSKH4XL4yQiMx1TiZ7oi4_mpf8XSkSHctU0HeobOg4UOw4oz0NnpRJk8hpMvVO7GHdCWHKWaofn1Ux/s200/Reading+Clean+Hop.jpg" width="165" /></a></div>
<br />
Welcome to my blog for this part of the Reading Clean Giveaway Hop. I was so glad to sign up for a giveaway hop devoted to clean reads. I don't think there's nearly enough options out there.<br />
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Since all of my reads are clean reads, you can enter to win one of three prize packs, which includes an ebook of each of my novels. Just fill out the rafflecopter form below the book descriptions. Also be sure to click Read More below the form for all the other great blogs giving away clean reads!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglMD5KWnjtp4mVLcH1ag8NI6RP0X6MqH1q-MOLAmqO22LnV5eW5DwCNg2aG36XSm8_bSOlmATEnxZ18dhAByMStvlQrpPla6Q3fIqt2Ek4syPBwFMwIoy7XkJLDR1M6hX3jMBMcXKv4p5U/s1600/TheBurn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglMD5KWnjtp4mVLcH1ag8NI6RP0X6MqH1q-MOLAmqO22LnV5eW5DwCNg2aG36XSm8_bSOlmATEnxZ18dhAByMStvlQrpPla6Q3fIqt2Ek4syPBwFMwIoy7XkJLDR1M6hX3jMBMcXKv4p5U/s320/TheBurn.jpg" width="212" /> </a></div>
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The Burn is full of nuclear fallout, roving gangs, anarchy, unreliable plumbing. That's what Terra's father tells her. She has lived her whole life in comfort in a colony at the bottom of the Pacific Ocean. She hates it. And she would pay any price to leave. But when Terra finally escapes the colony, she finds out her father is right. She finds a group of survivors that quickly become friends, and every day with them is a race for survival. When she witnesses and commits unspeakable acts, she has to decide where her loyalty lies: with the colony she despises or the Burn, where every day is filled with nightmares. </div>
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After her mother dies, Elowyn Challis would do anything to bury the pain, but being shipped off to boarding school isn't what she had in mind. Things could be worse. Wyn finds a place for herself in the academy and living in the capital is just sparkling. But under it all, her mother's death still haunts her. Then Wyn discovers a secret that changes everything she believes: the bedtime stories her mother told her as a child are real, the faerie realm exists, and she is the Binder<span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">—</span>the one mortal on earth with the power to seal the gate to Fae. It's a power Wyn's not sure she wants or can even wield. But she must confront her nightmares and her grief, or two worlds will be torn apart.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9pki-mMBrLscj2dvVjRG4FE7sEoYj_Wqpsp9sTJSgUUp_h6tLnEMDBh8-lsuT6v-9-2Y7wz3fXWhddEzavZnaj7_-awiARTr3w9QTAW8aRzGzMv2jT8QbJQ8Jx8YCwiE4SrWMGNagMAqU/s1600/DragonSister.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9pki-mMBrLscj2dvVjRG4FE7sEoYj_Wqpsp9sTJSgUUp_h6tLnEMDBh8-lsuT6v-9-2Y7wz3fXWhddEzavZnaj7_-awiARTr3w9QTAW8aRzGzMv2jT8QbJQ8Jx8YCwiE4SrWMGNagMAqU/s320/DragonSister.jpg" width="216" /></a></div>
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Neram has been raised alone by her mother, an outcast and unwanted. While Neram struggles with day-to-day life in her own village, the land of Vallorn crumbles around her as all the magic drains from the world. Then Neram finds the last dragon, and she knows her life will never be the same. But when she learns she is half-sister to the dragon, she must choose—save her village or save Vallorn; embrace the dragon inside her or lose what matters most forever.</div>
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<!-- end LinkyTools script --><br />Annie Oldhamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00243912487699021571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7453890684313889800.post-13279708703262454052012-08-26T21:32:00.001-07:002012-08-26T21:32:31.717-07:00What's in a Name?Well, quite a bit actually. Some of the feedback from my beta readers made me ponder the title of <i>The Reaping</i>. One wasn't quite sure how well it matched the story, and so I started thinking about other names and thought about how attached I was to the title I picked (which honestly started as a working title, but stuck). After thinking and brain-storming and discussing, I am pleased to bring you the new title for the sequel to <i>The Burn</i>:<br />
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<i>Infraction</i><br />
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It's an intense, loaded word, and with what goes on in this story, there are so many infractions against so many people on so many levels. So there you go. I hope that's a tantalizing teaser for you, and I just think it's a great snippet of good things to come.Annie Oldhamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00243912487699021571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7453890684313889800.post-26270774676313590442012-08-23T11:37:00.000-07:002012-08-23T11:37:02.595-07:00Another One Bites the DustI've gotten the feedback from my beta readers, so I've been working on my next draft of <i>The Reaping</i>. Can I say I love my beta readers? It's so nice to know I'm not writing in a vacuum. Sometimes it feels that way, and getting outside opinions is an enormous help.<br />
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One of the best advice for this book from one of my beta readers is to eliminate most of my adverbs. As I've been reading and rereading my draft, I realized that oh boy do I ever love my adverbs! So I've been cutting and cutting and hacking away. I've left some, but most of them have now seen the bloody end of my vicious red pen.<br />
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One of the more choice examples that I've eliminated?<br />
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"quietly whispers"<br />
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Seriously? Oh, yes, it was in there. Not only is it redundant, but a perfect example of a useless adverb. Does a reader really have to be told that a whisper is quiet? No I trust you, my lovely readers, to know that a whisper isn't a shout. What was I thinking?<br />
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But that's why beta readers are essential and wonderful. Getting someone else's eyes looking at my work helps me take a step back and see it more objectively. So here's to more adverb slashing!Annie Oldhamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00243912487699021571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7453890684313889800.post-2661212881163910092012-08-11T15:41:00.002-07:002012-08-11T15:41:51.928-07:00An Olympic-sized AddictionSo we've watched the Olympics almost all day today. I had a doctor's appointment this morning, I made some peach jam and granola, hubby played with the girls (they love Saturdays when Dad is home all day long), but in it all, the Olympics was playing.<br />
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My oldest girlie saw rhythmic gymnastics for the first time and was enthralled. The last event was with the ribbon-wand-thingie (I'm definitely not an expert when it comes to rhythmic gymnastics. Incidentally, neither is hubby, who called the clubs "spoons."), and my girl had to have her own ribbon wand. So my adorable husband got her princess wand and attached some crepe paper to the end. She twirled and danced and thought she was the most beautiful thing in the world, which she pretty much was.<br />
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Then I started thinking about the closing ceremonies tomorrow. Sure, I haven't gotten nearly enough sleep the past two weeks, or nearly enough writing done, or nearly enough housework done. But I'm going to miss it. It's probably a good thing the Olympics (summer and winter) only come around every two years, because I'm such a slacker when they're on. But I'm sure going to miss them.<br />
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Especially now that my girls are big enough to really enjoy them with us. It just makes my day when my two-year-old comes running and asks for "Lympics?"Annie Oldhamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00243912487699021571noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7453890684313889800.post-62600959965196949942012-08-07T13:00:00.000-07:002012-08-26T21:33:08.270-07:00Young Adult Giveaway Hop: Winners Announced<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdOVpcmf_ERFuzbc_1ZmbVUAw49z2oWSKmpjUlPDy2_H4b4hXKQ5YlsbhaqK-fNUhjAO7DHDgYiFPgZwRAHhprHRw2h1XiJyCMOr2cA4D5h3n7WLl__kMLbp82JcxbRqcwezcxaG0nTOJl/s1600/YA+Giveaway+Hop" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdOVpcmf_ERFuzbc_1ZmbVUAw49z2oWSKmpjUlPDy2_H4b4hXKQ5YlsbhaqK-fNUhjAO7DHDgYiFPgZwRAHhprHRw2h1XiJyCMOr2cA4D5h3n7WLl__kMLbp82JcxbRqcwezcxaG0nTOJl/s1600/YA+Giveaway+Hop" /></a></div>
<br />
Thanks for stopping by this leg of the Young Adult Giveaway Hop, hosted by Reading Teen and I Am a Reader, Not a Writer.<br />
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Just fill out the Rafflecopter form below for a chance to win one of three ebooks of <i>Bound</i> by Annie Oldham.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzXqloswOFJdTfB-4i5qvYdksz38NVqW-deANuqK4R4JSVJvewKjkZizzSLi8EUm1VNgFYLD8BECjFlcg2cX5B6nhIbq9TJ97nYK-8inNQaJc-qSzC_LU6BSX2cv1r1vcOdSNTxpBXeK8Y/s1600/bound_final_72dpi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzXqloswOFJdTfB-4i5qvYdksz38NVqW-deANuqK4R4JSVJvewKjkZizzSLi8EUm1VNgFYLD8BECjFlcg2cX5B6nhIbq9TJ97nYK-8inNQaJc-qSzC_LU6BSX2cv1r1vcOdSNTxpBXeK8Y/s320/bound_final_72dpi.jpg" height="320" width="204" /></a></div>
After her mother dies, Elowyn Challis would do anything to bury the pain, but being shipped off to boarding school isn't what she had in mind. Things could be worse. Wyn finds a place for herself in the academy and living in the capital is just sparkling. But under it all, her mother's death still haunts her. Then Wyn discovers a secret that changes everything she believes: the bedtime stories her mother told her as a child are real, the faerie realm exists, and she is the Binder<span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">—</span>the one mortal on earth with the power to seal the gate to Fae. It's a power Wyn's not sure she wants or can even wield. But she must confront her nightmares and her grief, or two worlds will be torn apart.<br />
<br />
Also be sure to check out the linky below the form for more great prizes and blogs.<br />
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<script src="http://www.linkytools.com/basic_linky_include.aspx?id=154086" type="text/javascript"></script>Annie Oldhamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00243912487699021571noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7453890684313889800.post-11869654510027929612012-08-03T13:57:00.001-07:002012-08-03T13:57:14.563-07:003 Main Character Types That Drive Me NutsAs I've been working on several projects these days, I've been contemplating the female protagonist, because--let's face it--the main character in every one of my books thus far has been a girl. Probably because males are a mystery to me. I'm married to one, I have a father, I have a brother, I interact with guys, but they're just not what I know. And a rule of writing? Write what you know. I definitely know about being a girl :)<br />
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So many books I read these days (and I'm applying this general stereotype to YA fiction since I don't read a lot else) have flawed female protagonists. I'm fine with flawed. After all, I've never met a person who's perfect. But there are some female protagonists that just drive me nuts. Absolutely and completely. For example:<br />
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<b>The Robot Warrior.</b> See Amanda Hocking's <i>Hollowland</i> (if you're not too squeamish about the zombie violence, because it's pretty gory). Remy is so tough and so driven that I had a hard time relating to her. Especially when she decides to abandon a friend who had been attacked by zombies and barely gave it a second thought, but then two seconds later decides to adopt a lion she finds along the way. Because, you know, lions are basically great big kittens and she couldn't bear to leave it behind. Wait, what? Sure, the lion makes a great sidekick, so I could look past it. But Remy hardly gets a tender moment.<br />
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<b>The Damsel in Distress.</b> See <i>Twilight</i>. Sure I got sucked into these books and couldn't put them down for days. They're entertaining and Stephenie Meyer tells a great story. But when it was all said and done, I thought, "Good thing Edward/Jacob are there. Bella would be toast a thousand times over." She was a moper and pretty much helpless.<br />
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<b>The Indecisive Girl.</b> See <i>The Hunger Games</i>. Sure, Katniss could fire an arrow and outwit/outlast/outplay an arena full of blood-thirsty kids, but could she pick a boy to save her life? I know it was all in the name of the "love triangle." Peeta and Gale were both such great characters. They should have run as far as they could when they saw her coming. It was like a train wreck and they just couldn't look away.<br />
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The funny thing about these books? I really enjoyed them. They were entertaining to read. So it's a tribute to the authors that they could make highly readable books. <br />
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What kinds of characters drive you crazy?Annie Oldhamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00243912487699021571noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7453890684313889800.post-26612542089567501282012-07-18T13:00:00.000-07:002012-07-26T11:51:57.992-07:00Vacation Reads Giveaway Hop: Winners Announced<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcX7kCV-lj6q4tYwDTwDLMkPkr3Igtn0sWifRxqamDk_EC4SdpmulsXBz4Uiz_yqtYrU80gYtzHgaeHokhdJx61M2rppAzpwrHJ0Vlo5Zv99mDr9_BZ-bTUTEOhV1D_DxNKnhDf80xfSR8/s1600/vacationreadsimage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcX7kCV-lj6q4tYwDTwDLMkPkr3Igtn0sWifRxqamDk_EC4SdpmulsXBz4Uiz_yqtYrU80gYtzHgaeHokhdJx61M2rppAzpwrHJ0Vlo5Zv99mDr9_BZ-bTUTEOhV1D_DxNKnhDf80xfSR8/s320/vacationreadsimage.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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At this leg of the giveaway hop, you can enter to win one of three ebooks of <i>Bound</i>! Here's a few details about the book:<br />
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After her mother dies, Elowyn Challis would do anything to bury the pain, but being shipped off to boarding school isn't what she had in mind. Things could be worse. Wyn finds a place for herself in the academy and living in the capital is just sparkling. But under it all, her mother's death still haunts her. Then Wyn discovers a secret that changes everything she believes: the bedtime stories her mother told her as a child are real, the faerie realm exists, and she is the Binder<span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">—</span>the one mortal on earth with the power to seal the gate to Fae. It's a power Wyn's not sure she wants or can even wield. But she must confront her nightmares and her grief, or two worlds will be torn apart.<br />
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</script>Annie Oldhamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00243912487699021571noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7453890684313889800.post-1432660738025738572012-07-13T12:45:00.002-07:002012-07-13T12:45:49.895-07:00MonsoonWhen hubby and I first moved to Phoenix, I started hearing crazy talk about monsoon. And I immediately thought, "What? There's a monsoon season in Phoenix? Doesn't that only happen in, like, the Sahara?"<br />
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To which I was told: "Monsoon <i>implies</i> season. It's just monsoon. Though you can call them monsoon storms. And yes, we have a rainy season. It starts in July."<br />
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So after I stopped the redundancy, I started really looking foward to it, because it was only a month or two away. Lower temperatures? Yes, please. Lots of rain, you betcha. Thunder and lightning, bring it on. I was born and raised in Ohio, and we had some pretty spectacular thunderstorms. After going to school in a desert (Utah), then moving to more desert (Phoenix), I was quite ready for some rain. And cooler weather.<br />
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Now monsoon has rolled around again, and it's only (gasp!) 88 degrees right now, cloudy, and rainy. Yup, it's humid and my hair is so frizzy I don't know how I ever lived in a humid climate before. Funny...I don't remember my hair ever frizzing growing up. Maybe my hair is just too used to the dry now. But frizzy hair aside...<br />
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I love monsoon, and I love the clouds. The rainy season needs to come around more often.Annie Oldhamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00243912487699021571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7453890684313889800.post-41331319124438895962012-07-07T20:31:00.001-07:002012-07-07T20:31:26.536-07:00Enforced PhobiaSo hubby and I took the girlies to the Ronald McDonald magic show at the library a few days ago. (As a side note, I love the Chandler Public Library. This summer they've had great free activities for the kids.) Ronald was there, did a few tricks, did a few gags, talked about loving to read, got my girls smiling and laughing, so it was a winner in my book.<br />
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The thing that I really liked watching? Seeing which kids were going to grow up to have a fear of clowns. There's a -<i>phobia</i> word for that, though I can't remember at the moment what it is. The thing that was the most interesting to watch? Which parents made their kids suffer through it and which parents took their kids out. I mean, if my child were hysterical and covering her ears and crying and begging to be taken out, I would find the nearest exit. For her sanity as well as mine.<br />
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Do some parents <i>want</i> their kids to be afraid of clowns? Maybe they're the parents who are in fact afraid of clowns themselves and need to pass that fear on to the next generation. Who does that to a child?<br />
<br />Which brings to mind the old saying that the only way to overcome your fear is to face it. Which in most cases is a load of hooey. But some people just don't believe that.Annie Oldhamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00243912487699021571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7453890684313889800.post-36587223957943263932012-07-04T09:12:00.005-07:002012-07-04T09:12:48.572-07:00Let Freedom RingI went to a flag raising ceremony and pancake breakfast this morning at my church. I love the 4th of July. Looking around me at my friends that were also there, I love the sense of belonging we all have to this great country. More importantly, I love the principles that this nation was founded under, the principles that great men gave their lives for. <br />
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We are one nation, under God.<br />
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Happy Fourth of July!Annie Oldhamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00243912487699021571noreply@blogger.com0