tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16265399894573447642024-03-13T10:49:47.103-07:00Elva Martin's Carolina Romance
Elva Cobb Martin's Carolina RomanceElva Cobb Martin, South Carolinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09278744225513549876noreply@blogger.comBlogger240125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1626539989457344764.post-48886940863957978852024-02-06T04:30:00.000-08:002024-02-06T04:30:00.138-08:00Valentines' Giveaway: Enter for 29 free Historical Romances and Kindle Fire!<p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Howdy friends,</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Hope this finds you well and blessed and READING some good novels. Been a while since I blogged but I had to clue you in to BookSweeps wonderful Valentines' 2024 Giveaway which also features my Book 5, <i>The Lieutenant's Secret Love.</i></span></p><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Enter to win 29 free Historical Romances, including my Book 5,<br /><i>The Lieutenant's Secret Love</i>, and a free Kindle Fire! Enter by clicking below and signing up for my newsletter--and/or other authors newsletters on the list of romance books below. Enter by VALENTINE"S DAY! What have you got to lose?? </span><br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP4Vbwlv-XLnjTMyE0I3VKh11amGDyUMlhGIEjaw-aWkwMNJ4c5Rs89sh978tWXCnjawfmK4KA6MgkpFzc3a4Vg0n6y46E1xZwqq21X-pQeW4SJjlZa5S3u9nL5o413MqKS_L_bhcoYRnJcaL7xnsVgtHxQb2OaMIzx6KlT50hOsxWCLcqDC4OxTZGals/s1200/Booksweeps%20Valentine's%202024%20Giveaway%20%20Lts.%20Secret%20Love.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="628" data-original-width="1200" height="334" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP4Vbwlv-XLnjTMyE0I3VKh11amGDyUMlhGIEjaw-aWkwMNJ4c5Rs89sh978tWXCnjawfmK4KA6MgkpFzc3a4Vg0n6y46E1xZwqq21X-pQeW4SJjlZa5S3u9nL5o413MqKS_L_bhcoYRnJcaL7xnsVgtHxQb2OaMIzx6KlT50hOsxWCLcqDC4OxTZGals/w640-h334/Booksweeps%20Valentine's%202024%20Giveaway%20%20Lts.%20Secret%20Love.jpg" width="640" /></a></div> <span style="font-family: verdana;">Click here to enter the Giveaway!</span><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"> <a href="https://t.co/ngIH9XGkBk" target="_blank"> https://t.co/ngIH9XGkBk</a> It'll redirect/send you to the right page!</span><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Here's the Amazon link and blurb for my latest novel, <i>The Lieutenant's Secret Love.<a href="https://amzn.to/3StfUmL" target="_blank"> </a></i><i><a href="https://amzn.to/3StfUmL" target="_blank">https://amzn.to/3StfUmL</a></i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyABM6vTSdvuA8l0yosvFB-xIOlx8L7R8OMvrJ_UQTE8fI32amozaRPbHkbJNQa_FEyaxZocislyOzQkwh78QlnIsFMK6pDHkA_6cFBzzv1EEGKK0H8OB_hxyUeKbMWB_tpdJHMA6zC6PPjR0jVCHdFA4VQKZm5uPFp7JoCGAkPIoVP_s6JQbdLQTd8sU/s2700/01%20The%20Lieutenant's%20Secret%20Love%20FINAL%20COVER%20Nov%202022.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2700" data-original-width="1800" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyABM6vTSdvuA8l0yosvFB-xIOlx8L7R8OMvrJ_UQTE8fI32amozaRPbHkbJNQa_FEyaxZocislyOzQkwh78QlnIsFMK6pDHkA_6cFBzzv1EEGKK0H8OB_hxyUeKbMWB_tpdJHMA6zC6PPjR0jVCHdFA4VQKZm5uPFp7JoCGAkPIoVP_s6JQbdLQTd8sU/w266-h400/01%20The%20Lieutenant's%20Secret%20Love%20FINAL%20COVER%20Nov%202022.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0in;"><b>An
exposed family secret changed her life forever and blindsided his Marine heart.</b><br />
<br />
From the day Hannah was abandoned as a newborn, her adoptive parents have kept
the truth of her origin from her and her siblings. But when that secret is
exposed, a threat arises which forces her to leave the only family she’s ever
known and the adoptive brother she adores. She must start her life anew in
Charleston.<br />
<br />
U.S. Marine Lieutenant Adam White, harbors a secret—more confidential than
patrolling the Caribbean for French corsairs, more threatening than the fight
against Barbary pirates in the Mediterranean. Adam carries a personal, burning
secret in his heart. He's fallen in love with Hannah since discovering she is
not his blood sister. And the thought that she might only ever see him as her
loving big brother may be the greatest threat to him yet.<br />
<br />
As the Charleston men seek to win Hannah’s heart, she never loses touch with
the man who had been her older brother. The man her heart can’t help seeing in
a whole new light. But when Adam’s Marine squadron sets out for the Mediterranean and the shores of Tripoli on the most dangerous mission of his life, only God can keep him—and their
love—alive.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0in;"> ***</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0in;"><b>Meanwhile, this winter I</b> am finishing Book 6, <i>The Gamekeeper's Reluctant Bride </i>which should be released later this year. You won't want to miss this final romantic adventure in the Charleston Brides series with my handsome hero, Gideon Falconer, and the feisty Charleston belle, Helena Allston. </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0in;">Have a blessed Valentine's Day and rest of winter is my prayer for you.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0in;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyGW2OA7Ne4lPdQbwW7F9VETXtbjkd7hQC9B0x7weDKeb6WQIWA0a7A0iO7TrPvmShJwJPbUf1QbsF-N3cj_oyfYYuxDrGaJgSQU4lUV4FapSJ1gvjlsA9YozwJb8X48_3RYPFwU10Hhepk8OMDxiGEHd6rZ46HTr8fLPf92WylzF9iWZxhgr6Gl6DR0A/s483/Baby%20feet%20in%20parents'%20hands.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="391" data-original-width="483" height="259" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyGW2OA7Ne4lPdQbwW7F9VETXtbjkd7hQC9B0x7weDKeb6WQIWA0a7A0iO7TrPvmShJwJPbUf1QbsF-N3cj_oyfYYuxDrGaJgSQU4lUV4FapSJ1gvjlsA9YozwJb8X48_3RYPFwU10Hhepk8OMDxiGEHd6rZ46HTr8fLPf92WylzF9iWZxhgr6Gl6DR0A/s320/Baby%20feet%20in%20parents'%20hands.gif" width="320" /></a></div>Forever Pro-Life,</div><div>Elva Cobb Martin</div><div><br /></div><div><div abp="791" class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-color: initial; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-style: none; border-top: medium none; border-width: medium; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span abp="1927" face=""Trebuchet MS", sans-serif"><div style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px; text-align: left;"><b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi6yF8BhANnuT9qNWXkTcUlmuWt_SpzMzx_YKQJmFD7zbKoX1WxoFpUoT5LysG3NWi3OL1-QQnngD7O8U5pUXq6PFqqVSAWVhOpoUUusFps9Eujdi_LluJE_ZOFjJiItvHxvz8vdt3L2vsGRkhGkpFMD-hyOVIUclmprpwL2ht4_vl978rqv5w0Wi3Czc/s640/Bio%20Photo%20new%202014%20from%20fran.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi6yF8BhANnuT9qNWXkTcUlmuWt_SpzMzx_YKQJmFD7zbKoX1WxoFpUoT5LysG3NWi3OL1-QQnngD7O8U5pUXq6PFqqVSAWVhOpoUUusFps9Eujdi_LluJE_ZOFjJiItvHxvz8vdt3L2vsGRkhGkpFMD-hyOVIUclmprpwL2ht4_vl978rqv5w0Wi3Czc/s320/Bio%20Photo%20new%202014%20from%20fran.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>Elva Cobb Martin</span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> is a retired school teacher, a mother, and grandmother who lives in South Carolina with her husband, her high school sweetheart, Dwayne. She grew up on a farm in South Carolina and spends many vacations on the Carolina Coast. Her southern roots run deep.</span><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">A life-long student of history, her favorite city, Charleston, South Carolina, inspires her stories of romance and adventure. Her love of writing grew out of a desire to share exciting love stories of courageous characters and communicate truths of the Christian faith to bring hope and encouragement. She always pauses for historic houses, gardens, chocolate, and babies of any kind.</span></p></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px; text-align: left;">Link to her books on Amazon <a href="https://amzn.to/3jdvHFu">https://amzn.to/3jdvHFu</a></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px; text-align: left;">Connect with Elva</div><div style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px; text-align: left;">Website: <a href="http://www.elvamartin.com/" style="color: #771100; text-decoration-line: none;">http://www.elvamartin.com</a> </div><div style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px; text-align: left;">BookBub: <a href="https://www.bookbub.com/profile/elva-cobb-martin" style="color: #771100; text-decoration-line: none;">https://www.bookbub.com/profile/elva-cobb-martin</a></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px; text-align: left;">Pinterest <a href="https://www.pinterest.com/elvacobbmartin" style="color: #771100; text-decoration-line: none;">https://www.pinterest.com/elvacobbmarti</a></div></span></div><div abp="791" class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-color: initial; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-style: none; border-top: medium none; border-width: medium; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span abp="1927" face=""Trebuchet MS", sans-serif"><br /></span></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0in;"><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><div dir="auto"><br /></div></div></div>Elva Cobb Martin, South Carolinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09278744225513549876noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1626539989457344764.post-49911793395570553862023-04-15T08:51:00.000-07:002023-04-15T08:51:39.733-07:00READERS ALERT! Locks, Hooks and Books: Blog Tour and Giveaway: The Lieutenant's Secret Lo...<a href="https://amybooksy.blogspot.com/2023/04/blog-tour-and-giveaway-lieutenants.html?spref=bl">Locks, Hooks and Books: Blog Tour and Giveaway: The Lieutenant's Secret Love</a>: About the Book: The Lieutenant’s Secret Love Author: Elva Cobb Martin Genre: Christian Historical Romance Release date: April 11, 20...<div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikjZz1txRlzaiGzivofGVAs5F1Mi0T5LYYpIUfgUwVl9aC9zHcEWXpZ5HvNDTJIEesxm9nPrsn-9NZAL_PqpjdDQbsySv6T1T8N3s3jg28vucjbowiD-_kqxIqAGYS9N96gGASaCPrl08ONoNypFWczePMPSO-JFd_QQcUy5iBW0FR4bjMZBaeZ5Gb/s2700/01%20The%20Lieutenant's%20Secret%20Love%20FINAL%20COVER%20Nov%202022.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2700" data-original-width="1800" height="452" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikjZz1txRlzaiGzivofGVAs5F1Mi0T5LYYpIUfgUwVl9aC9zHcEWXpZ5HvNDTJIEesxm9nPrsn-9NZAL_PqpjdDQbsySv6T1T8N3s3jg28vucjbowiD-_kqxIqAGYS9N96gGASaCPrl08ONoNypFWczePMPSO-JFd_QQcUy5iBW0FR4bjMZBaeZ5Gb/w301-h452/01%20The%20Lieutenant's%20Secret%20Love%20FINAL%20COVER%20Nov%202022.jpg" width="301" /></a></div><br /><div><b>An exposed family secret changed her life forever and blindsided his Marine heart.</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b><a href="https://amzn.to/3YSarrK">https://amzn.to/3YSarrK</a> ON SALE!</b></div>Elva Cobb Martin, South Carolinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09278744225513549876noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1626539989457344764.post-43338380366319861732023-03-06T15:04:00.000-08:002023-03-06T15:04:28.526-08:00Heroes to Die For<p>By Elva Cobb Martin </p><p>Doesn't everyone love a real hero? Of course, I live with my favorite hero, my hubby of quite a few years. Then there's our law officer son we put in the same category and a grandson who may very well fit the bill one day as well. </p><div abp="187"><div abp="1679">As an inspirational romance writer I love to find pictures of possible heroes to consider as I create a novel. Here are a few of my favorite hero photos, past and present, one which shows a likely heroine as well. Which one(s) strike a creative cord in your writer's heart?</div></div><div abp="188" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-color: initial; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-style: none; border-top: medium none; border-width: medium;"><div abp="1683"><span abp="189" face=""Trebuchet MS", sans-serif"><br /></span></div><div abp="1683"><span abp="189" face=""Trebuchet MS", sans-serif">Here's a picture I envision of my Marine hero, Adam White, in my historical romance, <i>The Lieutenant's Secret Love,</i> releasing April 5, 2023.<br /></span></div><div abp="1683"><span abp="189" face=""Trebuchet MS", sans-serif"><br /></span></div><div abp="1683"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzW8ctxRp3ASfsLY_yBOon2ED4Sz92Tovd5cDVt2LW8euxWeb79sI71vU_9cwdO3vWPbKfHJfTIdeCWvQa6CX9wapvemo1UMoG_jy8Tu2eKtPLDzmfW8xgsMra3IJX21vEhgFihfte87BX96juwuyU2E0AFiV5YpVHMASwBrZ-2qmhBf0FNZid32kc/s808/images.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="808" data-original-width="647" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzW8ctxRp3ASfsLY_yBOon2ED4Sz92Tovd5cDVt2LW8euxWeb79sI71vU_9cwdO3vWPbKfHJfTIdeCWvQa6CX9wapvemo1UMoG_jy8Tu2eKtPLDzmfW8xgsMra3IJX21vEhgFihfte87BX96juwuyU2E0AFiV5YpVHMASwBrZ-2qmhBf0FNZid32kc/s320/images.jpg" width="256" /></a></div><br /><span abp="189" face=""Trebuchet MS", sans-serif"><br /></span></div></div><div abp="190" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-color: initial; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-style: none; border-top: medium none; border-width: medium;"><div abp="1686"><span abp="1687" face=""Trebuchet MS", sans-serif"><br abp="1688" /></span></div></div><div abp="190" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-color: initial; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-style: none; border-top: medium none; border-width: medium;"><div abp="1690"><span abp="603" face=""Trebuchet MS", sans-serif"> </span></div><div abp="1690"><br /></div><div abp="1690"><a abp="335" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIwdkcPi_0CyCCbX8IXrqj5FUIjhiCfxHyj_kvjgFGk-kv30yFJz6VSy7R-ixzdOcjmNEBXAw990g6MA84HDzcs32vkEUsRIbgfVOft0LPinGLz0VKwbG7TN_tN5nT5jtVaSeB3V838kg/s1600/290px-Tyrone_Power_Maureen_O'Hara_Black_Swan_8.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span abp="1693" face=""Trebuchet MS", sans-serif"><img abp="336" border="0" closure_lm_577867="null" height="306" ita="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIwdkcPi_0CyCCbX8IXrqj5FUIjhiCfxHyj_kvjgFGk-kv30yFJz6VSy7R-ixzdOcjmNEBXAw990g6MA84HDzcs32vkEUsRIbgfVOft0LPinGLz0VKwbG7TN_tN5nT5jtVaSeB3V838kg/s1600/290px-Tyrone_Power_Maureen_O'Hara_Black_Swan_8.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div></div><div abp="192"><div abp="1696"><span abp="382" face=""Trebuchet MS", sans-serif">What's not to like about Tyrone Power--in any role--but especially as a pirate?</span></div></div><div abp="192"><div abp="1699"><span abp="1700" face=""Trebuchet MS", sans-serif"><br abp="1701" /></span></div></div><div abp="192"><div abp="1703"><span abp="1704" face=""Trebuchet MS", sans-serif"><br abp="1705" /></span></div></div><div abp="446" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span abp="1707" face=""Trebuchet MS", sans-serif"></span></div><div abp="449"><div abp="1709"><span abp="1710" face=""Trebuchet MS", sans-serif"><span abp="454">Would you vote for Colin Firth and his roles in Jane Austen novels?</span> </span></div></div><div abp="450" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a abp="451" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBomWMvSMxX22XXtYIffHHhnJPsNSsfDEjaJoVzcxP-UOzxPn6BRcqHw2O66UjiEYLtzoIFe6pbru5DbI5Sb2IPtGmjskqooCHYDXCH1fXXYBNQw-WFDUE28maUzCmWI6mtl8Z3FWCuIY/s1600/Colin+Firth+with+beard+2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span abp="1714" face=""Trebuchet MS", sans-serif"><img abp="452" border="0" closure_lm_577867="null" height="400" ita="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBomWMvSMxX22XXtYIffHHhnJPsNSsfDEjaJoVzcxP-UOzxPn6BRcqHw2O66UjiEYLtzoIFe6pbru5DbI5Sb2IPtGmjskqooCHYDXCH1fXXYBNQw-WFDUE28maUzCmWI6mtl8Z3FWCuIY/s1600/Colin+Firth+with+beard+2.jpg" width="353" /></span></a></div><div abp="521" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span abp="1717" face=""Trebuchet MS", sans-serif"></span></div><div abp="524"><div abp="1719"><span abp="1720" face=""Trebuchet MS", sans-serif"><br abp="1721" /></span></div></div><div abp="525" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span abp="1723" face=""Trebuchet MS", sans-serif"><br abp="1724" /></span></div><div abp="525" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span abp="1726" face=""Trebuchet MS", sans-serif"><br abp="1727" /></span></div><div abp="525" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span abp="1730" face=""Trebuchet MS", sans-serif" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img abp="527" border="0" closure_lm_577867="null" height="400" ita="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjspxB0F70yh7O0vOmivkU7GWOTFEJQSx7WAawcjt0yK7EcNIr7uULFCm5GmnqFP9mpClcdXOGyhIaScYEzxC4KRY7yKR_PT3NOyAmhyphenhyphenavEtOvMMtigZSUDIshqdB7A9QpTg5aiILMYXOc/s1600/Character+of+Kaye+Dacus+Real+Philip+Winchester.jpg" width="300" />Philip Winchester is this hero's name, I think. Wonder what kind of gun is he holding? Hope he doesn't pull that trigger or he will surely break a lot of hearts.</span></div><div abp="192"><div abp="1734"><span abp="1735" face=""Trebuchet MS", sans-serif"><br abp="1736" /></span></div></div><div abp="192"><div abp="1738"><span abp="1739" face=""Trebuchet MS", sans-serif"><br abp="1740" /></span></div></div><div abp="192"><div abp="1742"><span abp="1743" face=""Trebuchet MS", sans-serif"><br abp="1744" /></span></div></div><div abp="192"><div abp="1746"><span abp="1747" face=""Trebuchet MS", sans-serif"><br abp="1748" /></span></div></div><div abp="192"><div abp="1750"><span abp="1751" face=""Trebuchet MS", sans-serif"><br abp="1752" /></span></div></div><div abp="192"><div abp="1754"><span abp="1755" face=""Trebuchet MS", sans-serif"><br abp="1756" /></span></div></div><div abp="192"><div abp="1758"><span abp="1759" face=""Trebuchet MS", sans-serif"><br abp="1760" /></span></div></div><div abp="192"><div abp="1762"><span abp="1763" face=""Trebuchet MS", sans-serif"><br abp="1764" /></span></div></div><div abp="192"><div abp="1766"><span abp="1767" face=""Trebuchet MS", sans-serif"><br abp="1768" /></span></div></div><div abp="192"><div abp="1770"><span abp="1771" face=""Trebuchet MS", sans-serif"><br abp="1772" /></span></div></div><div abp="192"><div abp="1774"><span abp="1775" face=""Trebuchet MS", sans-serif"><br abp="1776" /></span></div></div><div abp="192"><div abp="1778"><span abp="1779" face=""Trebuchet MS", sans-serif"><br abp="1780" /></span></div></div><div abp="192"><div abp="1782"><span abp="1783" face=""Trebuchet MS", sans-serif"><br abp="1784" /></span></div></div><div abp="192"><div abp="1786"><span abp="1787" face=""Trebuchet MS", sans-serif"><br abp="1788" /></span></div></div><div abp="192"><div abp="1790"><span abp="1791" face=""Trebuchet MS", sans-serif"><br abp="1792" /></span></div></div><div abp="192"><div abp="1794"><span abp="1795" face=""Trebuchet MS", sans-serif"><br abp="1796" /></span></div></div><div abp="192"><div abp="1798"><br /></div></div><div abp="192" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-color: initial; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-style: none; border-top: medium none; border-width: medium;"><div abp="1806"><a abp="686" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH79ooz_Qf6MuEkC89Kw3nM5V7AMUl2q9DG1WaHCYbHvyob3Yl2z5jOkdZ7u0HZu6j_ZRXMxOr2swajbdLptmfk8ykkBL0qwky1lmj4n-y21naL1vEjpydAsa2MIaCmh4iszNsRggqidI/s1600/Hero+pic+Eddie+Matos.jpg" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span abp="1808" face=""Trebuchet MS", sans-serif"><img abp="687" border="0" closure_lm_577867="null" height="320" ita="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH79ooz_Qf6MuEkC89Kw3nM5V7AMUl2q9DG1WaHCYbHvyob3Yl2z5jOkdZ7u0HZu6j_ZRXMxOr2swajbdLptmfk8ykkBL0qwky1lmj4n-y21naL1vEjpydAsa2MIaCmh4iszNsRggqidI/s1600/Hero+pic+Eddie+Matos.jpg" width="208" /></span></a><span abp="684"></span></div></div><div abp="192" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-color: initial; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-style: none; border-top: medium none; border-width: medium;"><div abp="1812"><br /></div></div><div abp="192" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-color: initial; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-style: none; border-top: medium none; border-width: medium;"><div abp="1832"><span abp="684" face=""Trebuchet MS", sans-serif">Eddie Matos has a deep, deep look that </span></div></div><div abp="192"><div abp="1835"><span abp="684" face=""Trebuchet MS", sans-serif">makes one want to know more of his story! Whatever</span></div></div><div abp="192" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-color: initial; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-style: none; border-top: medium none; border-width: medium;"><div abp="1838"><span abp="684" face=""Trebuchet MS", sans-serif">it is, I think it will include some pain, and maybe revenge.</span></div></div><div abp="192" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-color: initial; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-style: none; border-top: medium none; border-width: medium;"><div abp="1841"><span abp="1842" face=""Trebuchet MS", sans-serif"><br abp="1843" /></span></div></div><div abp="192" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-color: initial; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-style: none; border-top: medium none; border-width: medium;"><div abp="1845"><span abp="1846" face=""Trebuchet MS", sans-serif"><br abp="1847" /></span></div></div><div abp="192" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-color: initial; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-style: none; border-top: medium none; border-width: medium;"><div abp="1849"><span abp="1850" face=""Trebuchet MS", sans-serif"><br abp="1851" /></span></div></div><div abp="192" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-color: initial; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-style: none; border-top: medium none; border-width: medium;"><div abp="1853"><span abp="1854" face=""Trebuchet MS", sans-serif"><br abp="1855" /></span></div></div><div abp="192" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-color: initial; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-style: none; border-top: medium none; border-width: medium;"><div abp="1857"><span abp="1858" face=""Trebuchet MS", sans-serif"><br abp="1859" /></span></div></div><div abp="192" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-color: initial; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-style: none; border-top: medium none; border-width: medium;"><div abp="1861"><span abp="1862" face=""Trebuchet MS", sans-serif"><br abp="1863" /></span></div></div><div abp="192" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-color: initial; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-style: none; border-top: medium none; border-width: medium;"><div abp="1865"><span abp="1866" face=""Trebuchet MS", sans-serif"><br abp="1867" /></span></div></div><div abp="192" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-color: initial; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-style: none; border-top: medium none; border-width: medium;"><div abp="1869"><span abp="1870" face=""Trebuchet MS", sans-serif"><br abp="1871" /></span></div></div><div abp="192" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-color: initial; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-style: none; border-top: medium none; border-width: medium;"><div abp="1873"><span abp="1874" face=""Trebuchet MS", sans-serif"><br abp="1875" /></span></div></div><div abp="192" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-color: initial; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-style: none; border-top: medium none; border-width: medium;"><div abp="1877"><span abp="1878" face=""Trebuchet MS", sans-serif"><br abp="1879" /></span></div></div><div abp="192" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-color: initial; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-style: none; border-top: medium none; border-width: medium;"><div abp="1881"><span abp="1882" face=""Trebuchet MS", sans-serif"><br abp="1883" /></span></div></div><div abp="751" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span abp="1885" face=""Trebuchet MS", sans-serif"></span></div><div abp="754" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-color: initial; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-style: none; border-top: medium none; border-width: medium;"><div abp="1887"><span abp="1888" face=""Trebuchet MS", sans-serif"><br abp="1889" /></span></div></div><div abp="755" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span abp="781" face=""Trebuchet MS", sans-serif">Of course Tim Tebow is a modern hero in every sense of the word..... </span></div><div abp="192" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-color: initial; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-style: none; border-top: medium none; border-width: medium;"><div abp="1893"><span abp="1894" face=""Trebuchet MS", sans-serif"><br abp="1895" /></span></div></div><div abp="782" class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-color: initial; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-style: none; border-top: medium none; border-width: medium; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a abp="783" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwY_GlhqtT2WcT07g0JzCn8H8Vabyg7PB6y_B5JHR79MPQWwPih708uS9ffgCmZxlRK0PoPJM9o8d9dMbz8iYQNO3o0UD06TW785JIq1IJtBKkjlL9PeOJSjf5K4QgESk3O88cBgt7r_I/s1600/Tim+Tebow+with+Jn+3+16+on+face.jpg" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span abp="1898" face=""Trebuchet MS", sans-serif"><img abp="784" border="0" closure_lm_577867="null" height="320" ita="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwY_GlhqtT2WcT07g0JzCn8H8Vabyg7PB6y_B5JHR79MPQWwPih708uS9ffgCmZxlRK0PoPJM9o8d9dMbz8iYQNO3o0UD06TW785JIq1IJtBKkjlL9PeOJSjf5K4QgESk3O88cBgt7r_I/s1600/Tim+Tebow+with+Jn+3+16+on+face.jpg" width="251" /></span></a></div><div abp="785" class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-color: initial; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-style: none; border-top: medium none; border-width: medium; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span abp="1901" face=""Trebuchet MS", sans-serif"><br abp="1902" /></span></div><div abp="787" class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-color: initial; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-style: none; border-top: medium none; border-width: medium; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span abp="1904" face=""Trebuchet MS", sans-serif"><br abp="1905" /></span></div><div abp="789" class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-color: initial; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-style: none; border-top: medium none; border-width: medium; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span abp="790" face=""Trebuchet MS", sans-serif"><br /></span></div><div abp="789" class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-color: initial; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-style: none; border-top: medium none; border-width: medium; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span abp="790" face=""Trebuchet MS", sans-serif"><br /></span></div><div abp="789" class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-color: initial; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-style: none; border-top: medium none; border-width: medium; clear: both; text-align: center;">Here is the picture I chose for Joshua Becket in <i>The Sugar Baron's Governess, </i>released in August, 2022.</div><div abp="789" class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-color: initial; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-style: none; border-top: medium none; border-width: medium; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span abp="790" face=""Trebuchet MS", sans-serif"></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhpJDdU8NpkoW8QIO6zNtBRhWDa_lOwbwav8XeuZ1KCGu2-8UqpN3wk41cu-eAcprQ2lCLglpJa2gTYO5RSoePmn0iBKD8vQpKe1C3O_epp_CGUx3J6cNSfnGxIeJ8bKTDfFqRDPUMwPguwW7rFvK0JzX9ubkFUi56eKeep_blljZadJjZssoer24D/s300/9cfdef15-9094-b4cb-2836-b8291364bfc9.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="200" height="354" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhpJDdU8NpkoW8QIO6zNtBRhWDa_lOwbwav8XeuZ1KCGu2-8UqpN3wk41cu-eAcprQ2lCLglpJa2gTYO5RSoePmn0iBKD8vQpKe1C3O_epp_CGUx3J6cNSfnGxIeJ8bKTDfFqRDPUMwPguwW7rFvK0JzX9ubkFUi56eKeep_blljZadJjZssoer24D/w236-h354/9cfdef15-9094-b4cb-2836-b8291364bfc9.jpg" width="236" /></a></div><div abp="789" class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-color: initial; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-style: none; border-top: medium none; border-width: medium; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span abp="790" face=""Trebuchet MS", sans-serif"><br /></span></div><div abp="789" class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-color: initial; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-style: none; border-top: medium none; border-width: medium; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span abp="790" face=""Trebuchet MS", sans-serif"><br /></span></div><div abp="789" class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-color: initial; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-style: none; border-top: medium none; border-width: medium; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span abp="790" face=""Trebuchet MS", sans-serif"><br /></span></div><div abp="789" class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-color: initial; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-style: none; border-top: medium none; border-width: medium; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span abp="790" face=""Trebuchet MS", sans-serif"><br /></span></div><div abp="789" class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-color: initial; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-style: none; border-top: medium none; border-width: medium; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span abp="790" face=""Trebuchet MS", sans-serif">Here is one I imagined for my hero, Samuel, in <i>The Sultan's Captive.</i> Can you guess his name?</span></div><div abp="856" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span abp="1909" face=""Trebuchet MS", sans-serif"></span></div><div abp="859"><div abp="1911"><span abp="1912" face=""Trebuchet MS", sans-serif"><br abp="1913" /></span></div></div><div abp="860" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span abp="1916" face=""Trebuchet MS", sans-serif" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="862" border="0" closure_lm_577867="null" height="400" ita="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi579p1sT-AlcKW4_v0_DrIOenVdowFjq0guq0ExbMZp-DymWua-GgWv_8zb0LDjKpgaTKcXyi_qRR_eU53AJMMHdqGBFSLLDhqOmPV65UjcuOqVYvngWFx-3rX0iPk-irfjezRlcjWEb4/s1600/Peter+Facinelli+use+as+Bloodstone's+son.jpg" width="317" /></span></div><div abp="791" class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-color: initial; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-style: none; border-top: medium none; border-width: medium; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span abp="792" face=""Trebuchet MS", sans-serif">There is a lot more to a hero than a photo. In my next post I want to explore some of the characteristics I like in a hero. How would you make this list for a hero? Is there a different list for heroes in inspirational novels than in secular novels? You bet there is. Thanks for stopping by and I'd love to have your take on my "heroes." Is one your favorite?</span></div><div abp="791" class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-color: initial; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-style: none; border-top: medium none; border-width: medium; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span abp="792" face=""Trebuchet MS", sans-serif"><br /></span></div><div abp="791" class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-color: initial; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-style: none; border-top: medium none; border-width: medium; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span abp="792" face=""Trebuchet MS", sans-serif">Feel free to share this blog by clicking on the small icons below.</span></div><div abp="791" class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-color: initial; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-style: none; border-top: medium none; border-width: medium; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span abp="1921" face=""Trebuchet MS", sans-serif"><br abp="1922" /></span></div><div abp="791" class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-color: initial; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-style: none; border-top: medium none; border-width: medium; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span abp="1924" face=""Trebuchet MS", sans-serif"><br abp="1925" /></span></div><div abp="791" class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-color: initial; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-style: none; border-top: medium none; border-width: medium; clear: both; text-align: center;">Happy, Blessed Spring!</div><div abp="791" class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-color: initial; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-style: none; border-top: medium none; border-width: medium; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span abp="1927" face=""Trebuchet MS", sans-serif">Elva </span></div><div abp="791" class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-color: initial; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-style: none; border-top: medium none; border-width: medium; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span abp="1927" face=""Trebuchet MS", sans-serif"><div style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px; text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in;"><b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQU0U9tuQmbPSvUW0q8mOpckor9jwUH-nIYd9NMHPLzXPxCUi0WtaQvdoB3vpZ-W4EBckS9_MDrOG8St-CDtFUCSb6fciT-1Y-cXBT8hCz3Pq2jaIfomVfxklKXY4anhI1QMTRUcyirG-TR5gljS1h4fia9l75odo82LuEFRDGLQiHEnpe3S1pNuSS/s2048/Elva%201%20headshotIMG_5694.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQU0U9tuQmbPSvUW0q8mOpckor9jwUH-nIYd9NMHPLzXPxCUi0WtaQvdoB3vpZ-W4EBckS9_MDrOG8St-CDtFUCSb6fciT-1Y-cXBT8hCz3Pq2jaIfomVfxklKXY4anhI1QMTRUcyirG-TR5gljS1h4fia9l75odo82LuEFRDGLQiHEnpe3S1pNuSS/s320/Elva%201%20headshotIMG_5694.jpg" width="213" /></a></span></b></div><b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br />Elva Cobb Martin</span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> is a retired school teacher, a mother, and grandmother who lives in South Carolina with her husband, her high school sweetheart, Dwayne. She grew up on a farm in South Carolina and spends many vacations on the Carolina Coast. Her southern roots run deep.</span><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">A life-long student of history, her favorite city, Charleston, inspires her stories of romance and adventure. Her love of writing grew out of a desire to share exciting love stories of courageous characters and communicate truths of the Christian faith to bring hope and encouragement. She always pauses for historic houses, gardens, chocolate, and babies of any kind.</span></p></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px; text-align: left;">Link to her books on Amazon <u style="background-color: white; color: #0000ee; font-family: verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">https://amzn.to/3jdvHFu</u></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px; text-align: left;">Connect with Elva</div><div style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px; text-align: left;">Website: <a href="http://www.elvamartin.com/" style="color: #771100; text-decoration-line: none;">http://www.elvamartin.com</a> </div><div style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px; text-align: left;">BookBub: <a href="https://www.bookbub.com/profile/elva-cobb-martin" style="color: #771100; text-decoration-line: none;">https://www.bookbub.com/profile/elva-cobb-martin</a></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px; text-align: left;">Pinterest <a href="https://www.pinterest.com/elvacobbmartin" style="color: #771100; text-decoration-line: none;">https://www.pinterest.com/elvacobbmarti</a></div></span></div><div abp="791" class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-color: initial; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-style: none; border-top: medium none; border-width: medium; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span abp="1927" face=""Trebuchet MS", sans-serif"><br /></span></div><div abp="791" class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-color: initial; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-style: none; border-top: medium none; border-width: medium; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span abp="1927" face=""Trebuchet MS", sans-serif"><br /></span></div>Elva Cobb Martin, South Carolinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09278744225513549876noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1626539989457344764.post-63362760844490978852022-09-06T07:00:00.001-07:002022-09-06T07:00:00.180-07:00Need Help with Conflict? Check out This New Conflict Thesaurus Writing Guide!<p> Guest Blog from Angela and Becca!</p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;">New Conflict Thesaurus II!</span></b></p><p><br /></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDye1_fmrC5d8LDq4iGBbvLOPrE_B9gZBEuLovz0wlnsT3psOG845eWXBU5w-ZV_fJyNE-lPZulv9Q3kYS6uDkMVmmm9JkhpiHdfu_rPTwHhkcNavXLdLk0UAaIfII0n2Mn_tvKp1x42-cFoWsvV3NpKI6HfvmeKjjP3iXxQm5IgC-1GNZ_P1J2tlO/s1000/Conflict%20Thesaurus%20Duo%20Sq2_c.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDye1_fmrC5d8LDq4iGBbvLOPrE_B9gZBEuLovz0wlnsT3psOG845eWXBU5w-ZV_fJyNE-lPZulv9Q3kYS6uDkMVmmm9JkhpiHdfu_rPTwHhkcNavXLdLk0UAaIfII0n2Mn_tvKp1x42-cFoWsvV3NpKI6HfvmeKjjP3iXxQm5IgC-1GNZ_P1J2tlO/s320/Conflict%20Thesaurus%20Duo%20Sq2_c.png" width="320" /></a></div><br />I always get a bit excited when a book I’m </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">waiting for finally releases, so it’s great to </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">finally share that The Conflict Thesaurus: A </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Writer’s Guide to Obstacles, Adversaries, and<br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Inner Struggle (Vol. 2) is now out!</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">This <b>SILVER EDITION</b> is the twin of the </span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>GOLD EDITION,</b> and continues to explore </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">all the ways we can better leverage the </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">conflict in our story.<br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">If you are new to these “thesaurus” books, each </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">one is part writing guide, part brainstorming </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">tool.<br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The first part of this book dives into how </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">conflict powers your plot and is the golden </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">threat that weaves your inner and outer stories together. It also digs into how to craft great villain </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">clashes, character agency, how to maximize tension, what goes into a satisfying story climax, </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">and more.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">The second part of the guide is a mother lode of conflict scenarios (115 to be exact) built to get </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">your imagination thrumming with ideas. You must see it to believe it. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> ***</span><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik0Rp9CwOmoXdqupxLbLSkT4_f1WsCNJjXt3BmUUGcp8FduCRQ4tGDRLjc2_LYOAMCi0ZDqUveXzL4Rl4WufkljsQfADU-NlPC1dC0c-Yk3rtGmIeu27txXfD5r40eJNwb1IkmCNIxAH99P4M5-YnXY2qzxo709yekhSW_EJJ-9D1qMABxbTw0JTlz/s1000/Angela&%20Becca's%20Fight%20Story%20contest%202022.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1000" height="347" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik0Rp9CwOmoXdqupxLbLSkT4_f1WsCNJjXt3BmUUGcp8FduCRQ4tGDRLjc2_LYOAMCi0ZDqUveXzL4Rl4WufkljsQfADU-NlPC1dC0c-Yk3rtGmIeu27txXfD5r40eJNwb1IkmCNIxAH99P4M5-YnXY2qzxo709yekhSW_EJJ-9D1qMABxbTw0JTlz/w347-h347/Angela&%20Becca's%20Fight%20Story%20contest%202022.png" width="347" /></a></div></span><h3 style="text-align: left;"><b>Writers Helping Writers is hosting a Writing Contest! </b></h3><span style="font-family: inherit;">I’m part of Angela & Becca’s Street </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Team, and I have news:<br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Writers Helping </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Writers is hosting a </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Writing Contest! </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">A book about conflict needs a FIGHT </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">CLUB Story Contest, right? Exactly! </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">So if you want to show Angela & Becca</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> how good your conflict-writing<br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">skills are, check out this contest and </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">see what you can win.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Enter at <a href="http://Writershelpingwriters.net">Writershelpingwriters.net<br /></a></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>GIVEAWAY </b></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>ALERT!</b><br /></span></h3><span style="font-family: inherit;">Angela and Becca are also hosting a must-enter giveaway. They’ve filled a vault full of their </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">favorite writing books and are giving away some digital 5-packs, winner’s choice! </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">So much fun. Make sure to head over and enter, and good luck!</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Have a blessed Fall!</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Elva</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>Elva Cobb Martin, South Carolinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09278744225513549876noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1626539989457344764.post-70070981006024446392022-08-23T10:31:00.000-07:002022-08-23T10:31:11.734-07:00NEW RELEASE: THE SUGAR BARON'S GOVERNESS<p><span style="font-size: medium;">Grab while it's still on pre-order price! <a href="https://amzn.to/3wpkZ5n"> https://amzn.to/3wpkZ5n</a></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPPZZsCsSW2noEb9goPj8V9tWZZ1G-SrpYsXhE7xH--NWKPHopS7kHmI2wJQ6svA3KJxNxLOjOpL3YAFD1iTvdQf4e4OwwNPTCqcZHwSWncwDvT-7Kdix8g1AZWQVvH-1ombUUAQ6dSVLG-cUlA3tHGEOaO3QfqAAHRac8hHX_wqyc7-8GhqR3a-Q6/s483/Sugar%20Baron's%20Governess%20Final%20and%20right%20size%20322%20x%20483%20newsltr.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="483" data-original-width="322" height="397" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPPZZsCsSW2noEb9goPj8V9tWZZ1G-SrpYsXhE7xH--NWKPHopS7kHmI2wJQ6svA3KJxNxLOjOpL3YAFD1iTvdQf4e4OwwNPTCqcZHwSWncwDvT-7Kdix8g1AZWQVvH-1ombUUAQ6dSVLG-cUlA3tHGEOaO3QfqAAHRac8hHX_wqyc7-8GhqR3a-Q6/w264-h397/Sugar%20Baron's%20Governess%20Final%20and%20right%20size%20322%20x%20483%20newsltr.jpg" width="264" /></a></div><br /><p><b>A strange thing happened while writing this novel!</b></p><p><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 0in;">Friends, when first beginning </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 0in;"><i>The Sugar Baron’s Governess, </i>my</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 0in;"><i> </i>precious husband booked a week for
us in a condo at Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. This was to help me
concentrate on my plot storming—without the “do me” call of our vacuum, washing
machine, or phone calls at home. Of course, he likes to fish from a pier while
I’m writing. </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 0in;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The first morning I sat at the dining
table overlooking the Atlantic, with my laptop. Busy researching Jamaica, and
especially the historic Maroon settlement of warriors and escaped slaves in the
mountains that might play a part in my story, I stopped to pray. I asked the Lord to
help me get a good start on this fourth novel in my series. Should I even be
including the fierce Maroons in my plot?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A knock came at the door. I had opted for no
cleaning service, so I was surprised to be interrupted. When I answered it, a pleasant
black male employee asked if we needed any cleaning done or fresh linens. I
almost gave him a short answer, wanting to get back to my laptop, but my ear
discerned a British accent. Here’s our amazing conversation:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Where are you from?” I asked him.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Jamaica.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span> Surprised, </span>I
opened the door and invited him in. “That’s most interesting. I’m writing
a novel set in Jamaica.” <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> His dark eyes widened. “You are?”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> “Yes,
in fact,” I gestured to my laptop, “I’m right now researching a group of warriors
in historic Jamaica, called the Maroons. Know anything about them?”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> His
mouth fell open. “I’m a descendant of the Maroons.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 0in;">A
tingling chill shot up my arm. How likely was this kind of timely meeting to
happen? He further told me he never worked the fifteenth</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 0in;"> floor we were on.
But for whatever reason, he’d been assigned our floor that day. He told me was
a Christian, and he shared several things with me about the Maroons and how
they finally won their independence and rights the British government of
Jamaica had long withheld. At times, because of their desperate existence, they
did hurtle down from their mountain strongholds and burn sugar plantations, as
history records.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 0in;">I
decided I had a definite confirmation to include the Maroon warriors in my
Jamaican story. They are instrumental in convincing my hero Joshua Becket to
turn back to God when his life and plantation are sorely threatened. </span><i style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 0in;">Whoops,</i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 0in;"> there I go giving away some of
the story!</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 0in;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 0in;">Hope you enjoy Joshua and
Abigail’s exciting, romantic adventure in Jamaica. Can they survive and make it
back to Charleston and a happily ever after? Here's the back cover blurb, and below that, some pics I used to imagine my heroine and hero!</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0in;"><b><i><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">She needs a new start. He knows a reckoning is coming.</span></i></b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0in;"><span face=""Verdana","sans-serif"" style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span face="Arial, "sans-serif"" style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 0in;">Banished from Charleston for his misdeeds years earlier, Joshua
Becket built a new life on both sides of the law in Jamaica. As sugar
plantation owner and member of the governing British Assembly, he’s known and
respected on the island. But he guards a secret identity. As swashbuckling
Captain Jay, he leads daredevil privateering exploits on his ship, the </span><i style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 0in;">Eagle,</i><span face="Arial, "sans-serif"" style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 0in;"> when
the mood suits him. Currently, he needs a governess for his young daughter
whose mother has passed.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0in;"><span face=""Verdana","sans-serif"" style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span face="Arial, "sans-serif"" style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 0in;">Widowed gentlewoman Abigail Welch accepted the governess
position, leaving behind her disintegrated life in Charleston. This new start
in Jamaica might finally help her find healing for her broken heart after
losing her husband in the Revolution and their infant son to yellow fever.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0in;"><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span face="Arial, "sans-serif"" style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 0in;">Joshua’s precocious, undisciplined daughter is the drawing card
that brings him and Abigail together like clashing cymbals of
disagreement...and fiery attraction. Can love and the miracle power of God give
them a new beginning and a happily ever after?</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0in;">
</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbOI-lygf6pdhECNysiSqLqnkVwrjQH-dBZeWX3GvMGglXATW2E2q-AYyrDWbQasxX_aNKce4hdrSY7ESYH3OV35quFKUB_MztUH9AwfP5NxuuLYPmdGpXxdVYzrlRCDv2ZTd1x0B1j62Nf8GUrw8O9m7ex1ppa_prux88Lv7IJCgo7Q1-brIT0Uxb/s364/af7d0622-dd1e-febe-0a3a-130d9610fc5d.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="364" data-original-width="236" height="376" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbOI-lygf6pdhECNysiSqLqnkVwrjQH-dBZeWX3GvMGglXATW2E2q-AYyrDWbQasxX_aNKce4hdrSY7ESYH3OV35quFKUB_MztUH9AwfP5NxuuLYPmdGpXxdVYzrlRCDv2ZTd1x0B1j62Nf8GUrw8O9m7ex1ppa_prux88Lv7IJCgo7Q1-brIT0Uxb/w243-h376/af7d0622-dd1e-febe-0a3a-130d9610fc5d.jpg" width="243" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 0in;"><br /></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p>Widowed gentlewoman Abigail Welch. </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><br /></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><br /></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><br /></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><br /></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><br /></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyylLpWnNePybzRArc3IQ8tGiVmAlwAcSnSb-0JeyyVOSa5TbZbWJJIFH59EFMFitJRcHP6OVVyJPULvEEKG6BGLbUVKr43i45HteAJqIoQC4h2LjGOENiPcMzBTYS6XWrO6cVv-2a9-1RXI5jy3Fhf37eJ0m8G3lb7dKvXHujtuVhBeq6RDBiEkaa/s500/25160ce4-3be5-cdf2-4013-f145f06fec41.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="474" data-original-width="500" height="303" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyylLpWnNePybzRArc3IQ8tGiVmAlwAcSnSb-0JeyyVOSa5TbZbWJJIFH59EFMFitJRcHP6OVVyJPULvEEKG6BGLbUVKr43i45HteAJqIoQC4h2LjGOENiPcMzBTYS6XWrO6cVv-2a9-1RXI5jy3Fhf37eJ0m8G3lb7dKvXHujtuVhBeq6RDBiEkaa/s320/25160ce4-3be5-cdf2-4013-f145f06fec41.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p>Joshua Becket in his secret role as privateer Captain Jay.<br /><o:p><br /></o:p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><br /></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><br /></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><br /></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><br /></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhpJDdU8NpkoW8QIO6zNtBRhWDa_lOwbwav8XeuZ1KCGu2-8UqpN3wk41cu-eAcprQ2lCLglpJa2gTYO5RSoePmn0iBKD8vQpKe1C3O_epp_CGUx3J6cNSfnGxIeJ8bKTDfFqRDPUMwPguwW7rFvK0JzX9ubkFUi56eKeep_blljZadJjZssoer24D/s300/9cfdef15-9094-b4cb-2836-b8291364bfc9.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="200" height="354" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhpJDdU8NpkoW8QIO6zNtBRhWDa_lOwbwav8XeuZ1KCGu2-8UqpN3wk41cu-eAcprQ2lCLglpJa2gTYO5RSoePmn0iBKD8vQpKe1C3O_epp_CGUx3J6cNSfnGxIeJ8bKTDfFqRDPUMwPguwW7rFvK0JzX9ubkFUi56eKeep_blljZadJjZssoer24D/w236-h354/9cfdef15-9094-b4cb-2836-b8291364bfc9.jpg" width="236" /></a></div><br /><o:p><br /></o:p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Joshua Becket in his dual role as Jamaican sugar planter.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span> </span>Joshua's Rockford Plantation Great House in Jamaica as I imagined it.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0uqAHNVohF203pAwcXfuN6l31H05j0DkOS4kgdKkKS7Q5gGaGMgVwStYmJq_z80R_2UnBuA09fdQgVNfyQbA0pM6-FONy-TzgEdgxI4f-kwI1qv1dbT_UoSoL3ASbQjDDTmmCaTNO3bkWHQgGyKlyzgXpjyoLx_3AnqYUHGFBT85EQr_aEHGQegQc/s669/Rose%20Hall%20Great%20house%20front%20Entrance%20Montego%20Bay,%20Jamaica.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="446" data-original-width="669" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0uqAHNVohF203pAwcXfuN6l31H05j0DkOS4kgdKkKS7Q5gGaGMgVwStYmJq_z80R_2UnBuA09fdQgVNfyQbA0pM6-FONy-TzgEdgxI4f-kwI1qv1dbT_UoSoL3ASbQjDDTmmCaTNO3bkWHQgGyKlyzgXpjyoLx_3AnqYUHGFBT85EQr_aEHGQegQc/s320/Rose%20Hall%20Great%20house%20front%20Entrance%20Montego%20Bay,%20Jamaica.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p class="MsoNormal">This is actually <b>Rose Hall in Montego Bay, Jamaica.</b> There is a story, a legend connected to this house, often told by the Jamaican people to their children and to anyone who will listen. It's a story of intrigue, murder, romance and betrayal. It's the tale of former owner, Annie Palmer, who became known as the <i>White Witch of Rose Hall.</i> You can find the story by googling that title.</p><p class="MsoNormal">I hope you're enjoying the continued summer fruits--watermelon, peaches, and tomatoes, like we are here in South Carolina. Are you also finding an opportunity to hike in the cool mountains? Below, my hubby and I are hiking in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park near Gatlinburg.</p><p class="MsoNormal">Blessings,</p><p class="MsoNormal">Elva</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE_XgUbRP0sc57YIGJbJ-23jPLwyUPeaP9p-MrqcIRYIDj7E75uF-TNQZ9jO8MekVwD_9D2FdnQ90YBo7MjaSski8ZWPllD2sfhZiRqYzeCsNe5PiCs7JzCxrII0rf2F6qdUVUy7pJNTo5JZwA39hBkx_D0RJQYiw8TW7ETy5TFnVWH2Tb_y_Cxw2m/s2576/20200809_182112.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2576" data-original-width="1932" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE_XgUbRP0sc57YIGJbJ-23jPLwyUPeaP9p-MrqcIRYIDj7E75uF-TNQZ9jO8MekVwD_9D2FdnQ90YBo7MjaSski8ZWPllD2sfhZiRqYzeCsNe5PiCs7JzCxrII0rf2F6qdUVUy7pJNTo5JZwA39hBkx_D0RJQYiw8TW7ETy5TFnVWH2Tb_y_Cxw2m/s320/20200809_182112.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in;"><b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Elva Cobb Martin</span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> is a retired school teacher, a mother,
and grandmother who lives in South Carolina with her husband and high school
sweetheart, Dwayne. She grew up on a farm in South Carolina and spends many
vacations on the Carolina Coast. Her southern roots run deep.</span><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">A life-long student of history, her favorite
city, Charleston, inspires her stories of romance and adventure. Her love of
writing grew out of a desire to share exciting love stories of courageous
characters and communicate truths of the Christian faith to bring hope and
encouragement. She always pauses for historic houses, gardens, chocolate, and
babies of any kind.</span></p></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;">Link to her books on Amazon <a href="https://amzn.to/2ksRfTw" style="color: #992211; text-decoration-line: none;">https://amzn.to/2ksRfTw</a></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;">Connect with Elva</div><div style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;">Website: <a href="http://www.elvamartin.com/" style="color: #771100; text-decoration-line: none;">http://www.elvamartin.com</a> </div><div style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;">BookBub: <a href="https://www.bookbub.com/profile/elva-cobb-martin" style="color: #771100; text-decoration-line: none;">https://www.bookbub.com/profile/elva-cobb-martin</a></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;">Pinterest <a href="https://www.pinterest.com/elvacobbmartin" style="color: #771100; text-decoration-line: none;">https://www.pinterest.com/elvacobbmarti</a></div><div><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: large;" /></div><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p>Elva Cobb Martin, South Carolinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09278744225513549876noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1626539989457344764.post-45942387457515470512021-10-12T13:11:00.002-07:002021-10-12T13:11:48.095-07:00A New Writing Guide for You! The Conflict Thesaurus (+Giveaway) Guest Blog<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCbet4QgbkAVE92L77wJjHBIwOc2feAVuRNI3-vz3sAFVMK76BYdWpdmlKdqakASmFfogOxYTi4Cr6TyWqqYV2c3k7nf0l_oLWfFH8FN6EccQyH95i6yHIDhXQL0QxEekS-Ksfz81XV50/s800/Conflict+Vol+1+Tip-6.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCbet4QgbkAVE92L77wJjHBIwOc2feAVuRNI3-vz3sAFVMK76BYdWpdmlKdqakASmFfogOxYTi4Cr6TyWqqYV2c3k7nf0l_oLWfFH8FN6EccQyH95i6yHIDhXQL0QxEekS-Ksfz81XV50/s320/Conflict+Vol+1+Tip-6.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Howdy Writers and Friends!<div><br />It's always fun when
there's good news to share, and today is one of those days. You may know Angela
Ackerman & Becca Puglisi, the authors of <em><span face=""Calibri","sans-serif"" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The Emotion Thesaurus.</span></em>
Well, I'm a big believer in the helpfulness of their books and so joined their
Street Team for <a href="https://writershelpingwriters.net/the-conflict-thesaurus-volume-1-a-writers-guide-to-obstacles-adversaries-and-inner-struggles/" target="_blank"><em><span face=""Calibri","sans-serif"" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The Conflict Thesaurus: A Writer's Guide to
Obstacles, Adversaries, and Inner Struggles</span></em></a> (Vol. 1). It's just
released, and I am so excited to share a bit about it, and a super fun event,
with all of you!<p></p>
<p><em><span lang="EN-CA">The Conflict Thesaurus </span></em><span lang="EN-CA">tackles
all the ways conflict can be used to build tension, push the story forward,
raise stakes, and pressure characters to do whatever it takes to win. The guide
dives into over 100 conflict scenarios and how each can be adapted to challenge
a character inside and out. Problems, Moral Dilemmas, Ticking Clocks,
Obstacles, Challenges...say goodbye to writer's block, weak plots, and
unmotivated characters. If you need help in any of these areas, check it out. </span></p>
<p><strong><span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: major-fareast;">Now speaking of challenges, I have an
important question to ask you: </span></strong></p>
<h2 align="center" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-CA">Can You Survive
Danger as Well as Your Favorite Protagonist?</span></h2>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA">Let's face it, as
writers we're always doing bad things to the protagonist. We put their loved
ones in danger, force them to make impossible choices, and worse.<strong><span face=""Calibri","sans-serif"" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> But wouldn't you like to know how you'd fare
as the protagonist of a story? </span></strong></span></p>
<p><span lang="EN-CA">Let me put it another way: if you were in the hot seat,
could you handle the pressure? Would you make good decisions, or bad ones? </span></p>
<h3 align="center" style="text-align: center;"><strong><span face=""Calibri Light","sans-serif"" lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">It's time to find out by
taking the </span></strong><span lang="EN-CA"><a href="https://writershelpingwriters.net/2021/10/release-day-the-conflict-thesaurus-is-here/" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%;">Conflict
Challenge</span></a></span><strong><span face=""Calibri Light","sans-serif"" lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">!</span></strong><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></h3>
<p><span lang="EN-CA">Become the protagonist in a special story Angela &
Becca have created using scenarios from <em>The Conflict Thesaurus</em>. </span><strong><span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: major-fareast;">And heads up, if you survive, you win some cool stuff! </span></strong></p>
<h2 align="center" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-CA">GIVEAWAY ALERT</span></h2>
<p><span lang="EN-CA">While you're trying not to die in the Conflict Challenge, </span><strong><span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: major-fareast;">make sure to enter Angela & Becca's </span></strong><span lang="EN-CA"><a href="https://writershelpingwriters.net/2021/10/release-day-the-conflict-thesaurus-is-here/" target="_blank"><em><b>Conflict Thesaurus </b></em><b><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: major-fareast;">release day giveaway</span></b></a></span><strong><span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: major-fareast;">, too</span></strong><span lang="EN-CA">. But hurry - it ends
October 15th. </span></p>
<p><span lang="EN-CA"><a href="https://writershelpingwriters.net/2021/10/release-day-the-conflict-thesaurus-is-here/" target="_blank"><b><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: major-fareast;">So, take the challenge...if you dare.</span></b></a>
And don't forget to come back and let me know how you did against Camp
Deadwood! </span></p><p> ***</p><p>Writer Friends, I hope you enjoyed the above guest blog about Angela and Becca's new release, <i>The Conflict Thesaurus. </i>I have been so blessed with their thesauruses and know they have helped my writing succeed.</p><p>Love and Blessings,</p><p>Elva (cuddling a baby goat at my sister's farm)</p><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTLXBZM6n6wRyZ43XgBkeMswhB3l4I76NgR4g660W-ARrCTZP42qM79_aeepwJ678th41U9rSdPU1INQjG6arIUorZT2CyfhM0hTH1YuLuO8dYGSnnmIYhE5bMXQDDRaERp-rAyM0jok8/s2048/received_10211339452993393.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTLXBZM6n6wRyZ43XgBkeMswhB3l4I76NgR4g660W-ARrCTZP42qM79_aeepwJ678th41U9rSdPU1INQjG6arIUorZT2CyfhM0hTH1YuLuO8dYGSnnmIYhE5bMXQDDRaERp-rAyM0jok8/s320/received_10211339452993393.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="text-align: left;">Elva Cobb Martin is a multi-published author, mother and grandmother who lives in upstate South Carolina. She is the president of ACFW-SC Chapter. All her historical Christian romance novels have spent time on Amazon's 100 Bestseller's list for Women's Religious Fiction. She loves all small cuddly things, chocolate, and exciting stories from history. </span></div></div><div>Link to her books on Amazon <a href="https://amzn.to/2ksRfTw" style="color: #992211; text-decoration-line: none;">https://amzn.to/2ksRfTw</a></div><div>Connect with Elva</div><div>Website: <a href="http://www.elvamartin.com/" style="color: #771100; text-decoration-line: none;">http://www.elvamartin.com</a> </div><div>BookBub: <a href="https://www.bookbub.com/profile/elva-cobb-martin" style="color: #771100; text-decoration-line: none;">https://www.bookbub.com/profile/elva-cobb-martin</a></div><div>Pinterest <a href="https://www.pinterest.com/elvacobbmartin" style="color: #771100; text-decoration-line: none;">https://www.pinterest.com/elvacobbmarti</a></div><div>and Facebook/ElvaCobbMartin</div><p><br style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; text-align: left;" /></p></div></div><p><br /></p><p><span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p></div>Elva Cobb Martin, South Carolinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09278744225513549876noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1626539989457344764.post-7672475051096369012021-07-05T04:00:00.001-07:002021-07-05T04:00:00.205-07:00Six Vital Elements in Your Novel's Opening Chapter- Guest Blog C. S. Lakin<p> Hope you enjoy and GROW by this great blog by C. S. Lakin on her blog, <i>Live, Write, Thrive. </i> It's a keeper for us novelists! --Elva</p><h1 class="title" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "open sans"; font-size: 32px; font-weight: 300; line-height: 36px; margin: 0px 0px 0.5em; outline: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 570.396px;"><a href="https://www.livewritethrive.com/2021/06/28/the-6-necessary-elements-in-your-novels-opening-chapters/" rel="bookmark" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #888888; line-height: 36px; margin: 0px 0px 0.5em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline; width: 100%;" title="The 6 Necessary Elements in Your Novel’s Opening Chapters">The 6 Necessary Elements in Your Novel’s Opening Chapters</a> By C.S. Lakin</h1><p class="post-meta" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-bottom-color: rgb(176, 176, 176); border-bottom-style: solid; border-image: initial; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: initial; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: initial; border-width: 0px 0px 1px; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px 0px 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 570.396px;"><span class="the_time" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">June 28, 2021 </span>in <span class="the_category" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="https://www.livewritethrive.com/category/novel-structure/" rel="category tag" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #4a3076; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Novel Structure</a> </span>with <span class="the_comment_link" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="https://www.livewritethrive.com/2021/06/28/the-6-necessary-elements-in-your-novels-opening-chapters/#respond" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #4a3076; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">0 Comments</a></span></p><div class="entry" id="content-11513" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px 0px 15px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="content" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh70shirEAqvcqfIqLgnwLZATmkn-it7XM96df5IjKkAS2J5uG5VL7WzPpKYsvZwPfPGtf2zns52rpB-x6pk5BeypusyA7JTd2GhtzOG7NuREG8IfBICF11EQOT7tEY0-ksetbajtCwMaA/s577/9fd9dd592edea22ec185f1dd4fceb76b.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="577" data-original-width="400" height="370" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh70shirEAqvcqfIqLgnwLZATmkn-it7XM96df5IjKkAS2J5uG5VL7WzPpKYsvZwPfPGtf2zns52rpB-x6pk5BeypusyA7JTd2GhtzOG7NuREG8IfBICF11EQOT7tEY0-ksetbajtCwMaA/w256-h370/9fd9dd592edea22ec185f1dd4fceb76b.jpg" width="256" /></a></div><br />Writing a novel is a massive undertaking. It doesn’t matter if you’ve written one or thirty.</span></div><p></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">And even after studying countless how-to books on fiction writing and taking workshops and listening to podcasts, many aspiring writers still flounder.</p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Why is that? Because there is so much to learn, and if you undertake this mission to learn without focusing first on the most important elements of a story, you can waste a lot of time.</p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Yes, it’s important to learn how to craft great characters. And write distilled, effective dialogue. And have a riveting plot. But that’s not enough.</p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">I do more than 200 manuscript critiques a year, some by beginning writers and others by seasoned authors. Regardless, I can tell you this as fact:</p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Very few of these manuscripts hold up structurally. <span id="more-11513" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></span>Very few have stellar writing.</p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Very few accomplish what those first few chapters must do.</p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">What is that, you might ask?</p><ol style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; list-style: none; margin: 0px 0px 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 30px; vertical-align: baseline;"><li style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; list-style-type: decimal; margin: 0px 0px 10px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Setup of a strong, compelling, empathetic protagonist</strong>. You need your reader to bond with your protagonist in the first page or two (of the first scene he or she is in). Unless you have a terrific prologue to launch your story (meaning, it’s just what your premise and story line need), you should be starting your novel with your protagonist. Of course, there are exceptions to this rule, but if you’re a novice writer, I would highly recommend this course. If you’re not clear on how to create <a href="https://www.livewritethrive.com/2014/02/26/make-me-like-your-protagonist-or-ill-stop-reading/" rel="noopener" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #4a3076; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">a compelling protagonist</a>, read some of my posts on the topic. Just know, though, this is paramount. Without that compelling protagonist, your novel is going to flop.</li><li style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; list-style-type: decimal; margin: 0px 0px 10px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Get the protagonist’s core need, motivation, and life situation clear</strong>. You might think this is a no-brainer, but this is severely lacking in a lot of manuscripts I critique. Part of setting up that main character is revealing <a href="https://www.livewritethrive.com/2013/12/02/getting-to-the-core-of-character-motivation/" rel="noopener" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #4a3076; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">these key facets </a>about him. Start your story in the middle of something important happening in his life that will reveal his living situation, his immediate problems and concerns, his work and lifestyle, his deepest hopes and dreams and fears. This is all key to story structure and preparation for the inciting incident to come.</li><li style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; list-style-type: decimal; margin: 0px 0px 10px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Present the inciting incident.</strong> This comes close to the start of your novel. Usually by the 10% mark. But when you are just starting your novel, you don’t know what will end up being 10%. So it’s easier to think in terms of scenes. Get the opening scene or two setting things up so you can slam your character with <a href="https://www.livewritethrive.com/2016/07/04/the-first-10-scenes-you-need-to-plot-for-your-novel/" rel="noopener" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #4a3076; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">that incident</a>. Without proper setup of your protagonist, which means risking the bond and concern for what happens to him, that incident may fall flat. You need to first get your reader to like, care, and understand—to some extent—what he’s about.</li><li style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; list-style-type: decimal; margin: 0px 0px 10px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Introduce key supporting characters.</strong> These opening chapters need to set up your protagonist’s world populated by <a href="https://www.livewritethrive.com/2014/07/30/the-cast-of-characters-in-a-novel/" rel="noopener" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #4a3076; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">character types:</a> family, friends, rivals, love interests, etc. These all need clear roles and should have unique personalities and voices (which includes the narrative voice if they have their own POV scenes).</li><li style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; list-style-type: decimal; margin: 0px 0px 10px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Hint at the stakes, and make them high</strong>. The more stakes, both personal and public, you can create, the better. But they need to be believable and appropriate. In other words, if you have a boring, weak concept without <a href="https://www.livewritethrive.com/2014/01/29/coming-up-with-a-kicker-of-a-concept/" rel="noopener" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #4a3076; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">any kicker</a>, throwing in a ton of danger and conflict that is random and meaningless won’t do anything to hype up the tension in your story. Again, I have gobs of posts and chapters in my writing craft books on conflict, stakes, and tension. Do your homework if you need to learn all this.</li><li style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; list-style-type: decimal; margin: 0px 0px 10px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Get that protagonist’s goal in sight!</strong> Fifty pages will sometimes get you to that 25% mark in the novel, at which point the hero’s goal for the novel is locked into place. If you’re writing a long novel, by page fifty, your character might not be at that turning point yet, but he should be getting close. All scenes should be propelling your character to that important point. What I see in a lot of novels is <a href="https://www.livewritethrive.com/2016/02/18/scene-structure-scenes-as-segments/" rel="noopener" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #4a3076; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">a string of scenes</a>, random events and interchanges that don’t seem to have any point to them.</li></ol><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">While there is a whole lot more needed in the opening chapters, these are just some key ones that you need to be aware of.</p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Those opening scenes work as a litmus test for the rest of a manuscript. In other words, if these first scenes reveal serious flaws, more than likely the rest of the scenes will be infected as well.</p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Here’s the thing: if you haven’t written a lot of novels and gotten professional feedback to show you what you’re missing or weak in, you may spend years pumping out drafts of novels and getting nowhere.</p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">How serious are you about writing a terrific novel? So many writers wouldn’t think about spending their hard-earned money on hiring an editor or writing coach. While serious about developing a writing career, maybe even hoping to make a real “living” at it, they don’t think they need to invest monetarily in their “training” other than to perhaps buy some books.</p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Think about the amount of money people pour into education and getting a college degree. Or maybe think about what you spent on that trip you took (pre-Covid), a week maybe of fun on holiday but left just fleeting memories.</p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">How much is your writing career worth?</p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Here’s the thing about writing fiction, though: you often don’t know what you need to improve upon until someone with experience points it out. It’s not like in basketball where it’s obvious your jump shot or free throw sucks.</p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Writers can spend years trying to improve their stories, thinking they’re applying all the many things they’re learning. But the most egregious issues are often staring right at them and they can’t see them.</p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">It is a bit of not seeing the forest for the trees.</p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Think about how much time you’re willing to tinker with your writing, hoping one day you’ll write well enough to hit those best-seller lists or get gobs of 5-star reviews.</p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Wouldn’t you want to know if you are wasting your time? Wouldn’t you like to know what your strengths and weaknesses are so that you can target those weaknesses and improve and bolster those strengths to develop a strong writing style? It’s doable!</p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Consider having a fifty-page critique, maybe even an outline critique. If you’re struggling with your ideas and story concept and need help putting it all in order, or you want to know if your premise has potential, <a href="http://www.calendly.com/cslakin" rel="noopener" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #4a3076; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">book a phone consultation</a> with me and we will discuss!</p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">You can read all about my critique services, rates, and formatting requirements <a href="http://www.critiquemymanuscript.com/" rel="noopener" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #4a3076; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank"><strong style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">HERE</strong></a>. Don’t waste another moment guessing what’s wrong with your manuscript. Make the commitment to do all you can to become the best writer you can be!</p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> ***</span><br /></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span><br /></span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span>Hope you're having a blessed, safe summer!</span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span>Elva </span></p><div style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9vRJTSawE7NOMVd0q6sB_zIlM3v2RKVv_HHkdgmCMvvypw2crYdWZ8ifq5LdeT6-WYOprf-XdPdqBZVc7AAnyLmJJjQ7hZL0434wN1DpBSR53UjOaVU5Pp7Q0EAtTHeVQXG5GtvkgDbw/s552/71387170_10220296422260190_2081244755395608576_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="552" data-original-width="552" height="252" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9vRJTSawE7NOMVd0q6sB_zIlM3v2RKVv_HHkdgmCMvvypw2crYdWZ8ifq5LdeT6-WYOprf-XdPdqBZVc7AAnyLmJJjQ7hZL0434wN1DpBSR53UjOaVU5Pp7Q0EAtTHeVQXG5GtvkgDbw/w252-h252/71387170_10220296422260190_2081244755395608576_n.jpg" width="252" /></a></div><br />Elva Cobb Martin is a mother and grandmother who lives in upstate South Carolina. She is the president of ACFW-SC Chapter. All her Christian romance novels have spent time on Amazon's 100 Bestseller's list for Women's Religious Fiction. </div><div style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;">Link to her books on Amazon <a href="https://amzn.to/2ksRfTw" style="color: #992211; text-decoration-line: none;">https://amzn.to/2ksRfTw</a></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;">Connect with Elva</div><div style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;">Website: <a href="http://www.elvamartin.com/" style="color: #771100; text-decoration-line: none;">http://www.elvamartin.com</a> </div><div style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;">BookBub: <a href="https://www.bookbub.com/profile/elva-cobb-martin" style="color: #771100; text-decoration-line: none;">https://www.bookbub.com/profile/elva-cobb-martin</a></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;">Pinterest <a href="https://www.pinterest.com/elvacobbmartin" style="color: #771100; text-decoration-line: none;">https://www.pinterest.com/elvacobbmarti</a></div><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span></span></p><div><br style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large;" /></div></div></div>Elva Cobb Martin, South Carolinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09278744225513549876noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1626539989457344764.post-7491425616307930772021-06-07T15:13:00.000-07:002021-06-07T15:13:04.991-07:00<p> Researching my current novel in progress, <i>The Captain's Governess</i>, which is set in Jamaica, I came across this timely historical note for today, June 7. Here's the scoop of Port Royal's destruction one sunny summer day. Was it a judgment of God? Some thought so.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #202124;"></span></p><div class="separator" dir="rtl" style="clear: both;"> <span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="text-indent: 0in;"> </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 0in;"> </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4akrZ1H4i3MKSgKNrsWVoA-smQ1aobnKt4dC-zZ8iphi5ijSJeLpkj6qD4EeWZa46zbYJyfrQlnoYNFsUPyqCLfvqbyfQc2ua4rhiQZI1kW7QQXjOLzOhSXK3pS2SCVVHyY9OBcgCM8A/s332/Port+Royal+wicked+city.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="174" data-original-width="332" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4akrZ1H4i3MKSgKNrsWVoA-smQ1aobnKt4dC-zZ8iphi5ijSJeLpkj6qD4EeWZa46zbYJyfrQlnoYNFsUPyqCLfvqbyfQc2ua4rhiQZI1kW7QQXjOLzOhSXK3pS2SCVVHyY9OBcgCM8A/s320/Port+Royal+wicked+city.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Here's how history records the destruction: O<span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0in;">n June 7, 1692, a massive </span><b style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; text-align: left; text-indent: 0in;">earthquake</b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0in;"> devastated the town of </span><b style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; text-align: left; text-indent: 0in;">Port Royal</b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0in;"> in Jamaica, killing thousands. The strong tremors, soil liquefaction, and a tsunami brought on by the </span><b style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; text-align: left; text-indent: 0in;">earthquake</b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0in;"> combined to </span><b style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; text-align: left; text-indent: 0in;">destroy</b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0in;"> the entire town.</span></div><o:p></o:p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #202124;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #202124;">The </span><b>earthquake</b> occurred without warning on the morning of Tuesday the 7th June at 11:15a. m., and continued for less than 15 minutes, during which time it destroyed every building or other substantial structure in the Island, a total of nearly 3000.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #202124;">Port Royal</span></b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #202124;"> was <b>called the "wickedest city</b> on <b>earth</b>"; a den of pirates, prostitutes, and slavers unlike any the <b>world</b> had <b>ever</b> known. ... It was a <b>city</b> so overrun with liquor, slavers, and prostitution that one in every four buildings was either a bar or a brothel.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="color: #303030; text-indent: 0in;">Members of the </span><b style="color: #303030; text-indent: 0in;">Jamaica Council</b><span style="color: #303030; text-indent: 0in;"> declared</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="color: #303030;"> </span><span style="color: #303030; text-indent: 0in;">"We are become ... an instance of </span><b style="color: #303030; text-indent: 0in;">God Almighty's severe judgment," </b><span style="color: #303030; text-indent: 0in;">therefore every future "seventh of June ... be kept and observed by all the inhabitants of this Island, as an anniversary </span><b style="color: #303030; text-indent: 0in;">day of fasting and humiliation, </b><span style="color: #303030; text-indent: 0in;">in hopes that acknowledging "manifold sins and wickednesses committed against his </span><b style="color: #303030; text-indent: 0in;">Divine Majesty, </b><span style="color: #303030; line-height: 40px;"></span><span style="color: #303030; line-height: 40px;">may "appease <b>God's</b> imminent wrath and <b>prevent heavier judgments."</b></span></span></p><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="MsoNormalTable" style="background: white; width: 100%px;"><tbody><tr><td style="padding: 0in; width: 667.333px;" valign="top" width="100%"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="MsoNormalTable" style="width: 100%px;"><tbody><tr><td style="padding: 3.35pt 6.65pt;" valign="top"><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="color: #303030;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHdeOL95s2ctK-48fj3htMclN_qBw9VmITSR6oeJvwdhVPK52duGUwCWo6tYuQpTNAVAsYa_Xl_FTenxJ5nDwgJESRRC13sS4LtPNppo3ogkB60j5C72y1NE-njDyloTKUC1WPIR3nMYg/s398/Port+Royal+into+the+sea+June+7+1692.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="398" data-original-width="269" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHdeOL95s2ctK-48fj3htMclN_qBw9VmITSR6oeJvwdhVPK52duGUwCWo6tYuQpTNAVAsYa_Xl_FTenxJ5nDwgJESRRC13sS4LtPNppo3ogkB60j5C72y1NE-njDyloTKUC1WPIR3nMYg/s320/Port+Royal+into+the+sea+June+7+1692.jpg" /></a></div><br />Eye-witness <b>Rev. Emmanuel Heath,</b> the Anglican rector for <b>Port Royal,</b> had finished his morning prayer service at St Paul's Church and was meeting with John White, president of the island's council, when the floor began "rowling and moving" and they "heard the church and tower fall." <o:p></o:p></span><p></p><div style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="color: #303030;">Rev. Heath wrote: </span><span style="color: #303030; text-indent: 0in;"> </span><b style="text-indent: 0in;"><span style="color: #303030;">"Port Royal</span></b><span style="color: #303030; text-indent: 0in;"> was terribly destroyed by an earthquake and breaking in of the sea upon it. </span><span style="color: #303030; line-height: 40px; text-indent: 0in;"></span><span style="color: #303030; line-height: 40px; text-indent: 0in;">The destruction was sudden ... in four minutes multitudes were killed by the falling houses. </span><span style="color: #303030; text-indent: 0in;">I believe </span><b style="color: #303030; text-indent: 0in;">God</b><span style="color: #303030; text-indent: 0in;"> I never in my life saw such a terror ... the earth opened and swallowed up people before my face ...The sea swallowed up the greatest part of that wretched sinful place ... They are so wicked, I fear </span><b style="color: #303030; text-indent: 0in;">God</b><span style="color: #303030; text-indent: 0in;"> ... will utterly destroy all by this </span><b style="color: #303030; text-indent: 0in;">dreadful Judgment</b><span style="color: #303030; text-indent: 0in;"> ...</span></span></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="color: #303030;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></span><span style="color: #303030; font-family: verdana;">By this </span><b style="color: #303030; font-family: verdana;">terrible judgment, God</b><span style="color: #303030; font-family: verdana;"> will make them </span><b style="color: #303030; font-family: verdana;">reform their lives,</b><span style="color: #303030; font-family: verdana;"> for there was not a more ungodly people on the face of the earth."</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="color: #303030; font-family: verdana;">So goes the story of the destruction of Port Royal on June 7, 1692. Today the site is one of the most important underwater sites in the world with its rich repository of historic shipwrecks and the city of Port Royal.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRE1x8J2MnEppDMly3-v9CjcYrSrkaTbs28T8mAtkF_uO3KPAd-RuPNKpfmYxpC2rU650x_0Gx4gluKOXkdfNLHTfWpVUVSHDvIEyuuFaWbqJnOlK1jyfFrO37ZmUcnL6RkvloY7iOzCI/s216/Port+Royal+under+the+sea+today.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="161" data-original-width="216" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRE1x8J2MnEppDMly3-v9CjcYrSrkaTbs28T8mAtkF_uO3KPAd-RuPNKpfmYxpC2rU650x_0Gx4gluKOXkdfNLHTfWpVUVSHDvIEyuuFaWbqJnOlK1jyfFrO37ZmUcnL6RkvloY7iOzCI/w400-h298/Port+Royal+under+the+sea+today.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="color: #303030; font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglPlbozMMJb8Sh6_pmnrWE0qi21UwcX83ZLxgQBxdZfS_4Tb4CCHHflREjVmL90evwLAiiJABbVOok0Dc197Vv5o5wQgJeKzdk_FzxNZfBWcdIYsA3PqAXChaKQoec0Tb18UilK1wEZeo/s300/Port+Royal+left.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="211" data-original-width="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglPlbozMMJb8Sh6_pmnrWE0qi21UwcX83ZLxgQBxdZfS_4Tb4CCHHflREjVmL90evwLAiiJABbVOok0Dc197Vv5o5wQgJeKzdk_FzxNZfBWcdIYsA3PqAXChaKQoec0Tb18UilK1wEZeo/s0/Port+Royal+left.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Hope you find history like this as interesting as I do.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Blessings,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Elva </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div style="color: #333333; font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><div style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVypCYNVf-9jBYSO7uN0fz4WdLmfJfmiqOeUVJk7WfWfC1RBQGXrURERLhoOGAQjqOvBZUfPMm0L7cBfP3e0QVziu3F6s2C4Oddf3UxhUySIwjQdMOEXFdH7hGsDQxfkiBmXrjDbQexPA/s552/71387170_10220296422260190_2081244755395608576_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="552" data-original-width="552" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVypCYNVf-9jBYSO7uN0fz4WdLmfJfmiqOeUVJk7WfWfC1RBQGXrURERLhoOGAQjqOvBZUfPMm0L7cBfP3e0QVziu3F6s2C4Oddf3UxhUySIwjQdMOEXFdH7hGsDQxfkiBmXrjDbQexPA/w200-h200/71387170_10220296422260190_2081244755395608576_n.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br />Elva Cobb Martin is a mother and grandmother who lives in upstate South Carolina. She is the president of ACFW-SC Chapter. All her Christian romance novels have spent time on Amazon's 100 Bestseller's list for Women's Religious Fiction. </div><div style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;">Link to her books on Amazon <a href="https://amzn.to/2ksRfTw" style="color: #992211; text-decoration-line: none;">https://amzn.to/2ksRfTw</a></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;">Connect with Elva</div><div style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;">Website: <a href="http://www.elvamartin.com/" style="color: #771100; text-decoration-line: none;">http://www.elvamartin.com</a> </div><div style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;">BookBub: <a href="https://www.bookbub.com/profile/elva-cobb-martin" style="color: #771100; text-decoration-line: none;">https://www.bookbub.com/profile/elva-cobb-martin</a></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;">Pinterest <a href="https://www.pinterest.com/elvacobbmartin" style="color: #771100; text-decoration-line: none;">https://www.pinterest.com/elvacobbmarti</a></div><div><br /></div></span></span></div></div></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table>Elva Cobb Martin, South Carolinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09278744225513549876noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1626539989457344764.post-592699225670715712021-04-27T10:02:00.004-07:002021-04-27T10:02:39.681-07:00No Error-Free Books - Guest Post by Editor Ramona Richards<p><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://thewriteediting.us3.list-manage.com/track/click?u%3Da94d213b8c8e66207995e640c%26id%3Dfb48bfb552%26e%3D4e5dc24206&source=gmail&ust=1619626107507000&usg=AFQjCNE5zn9uW0cr8K87Q93PcxCr48vNOA" href="https://thewriteediting.us3.list-manage.com/track/click?u=a94d213b8c8e66207995e640c&id=fb48bfb552&e=4e5dc24206" style="color: #b91010; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 26px; letter-spacing: -0.75px; overflow-wrap: break-word;" target="_blank">Why Perfection Is the Impossible Dream</a></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #606060; font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 15px;"><span style="font-size: large;">By Ramona Richards</span></span><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: large;">, </span><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;">Editor, Iron Stream Media & award-winning author</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #606060; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 15px; line-height: normal; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #606060; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 15px; line-height: normal; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">In a fair land far away (Tennessee in the ’70s), I majored in English. Twice. The first time I had a minor in Modern European Studies (multiple classes in history, politics, and foreign languages) and an emphasis in grammar and composition. I took advanced classes in both. I can diagram sentences from James Joyce (yes, that was one of the exercises). I loved it.</span></span></p><div style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #606060; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 15px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://thewriteediting.us3.list-manage.com/track/click?u%3Da94d213b8c8e66207995e640c%26id%3D5cafb1edf6%26e%3D4e5dc24206&source=gmail&ust=1619626107507000&usg=AFQjCNFnT64YRN_7WM1BVNgcdDlBAJjEVQ" href="https://thewriteediting.us3.list-manage.com/track/click?u=a94d213b8c8e66207995e640c&id=5cafb1edf6&e=4e5dc24206" style="clear: right; color: #b91010; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; overflow-wrap: break-word;" target="_blank"><img border="0" class="CToWUd" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic2gG77HobhAcaY2EN_HS3uqKUZimWP_xaif8xdulSCJ742DiZGPtL_b-vAWzpl7skAPh1bg72LM3CfnYvxTBKzTgRM3gAabMebbUaRgQp0ECkPNi5-grzOivy_aEyP1fTeWu8NfmI2fA/s320/Possible+-+Stuart+Miles.jpg" style="border: 0px; height: auto !important; outline: none; text-decoration-line: none;" /></a></span></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #606060; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 15px; line-height: normal; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #606060; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 15px; line-height: normal; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Repeat that. <i>Loved it.</i> Correct grammar became a passion. People were afraid to write me letters. I became a grammar dictator.<u></u><u></u></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #606060; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 15px; line-height: normal; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #606060; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 15px; line-height: normal; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">The second time, for my master’s degree, I had to take a foreign language. German. Which taught me even <i>more</i> about grammar (German and English have similar Indo-European roots). By the time those degrees were in hand, I had Harbrace, and Turabian, and the <i>Chicago Manual of Style,</i> and Strunk & White <i>memorized</i>. I had a red pen grafted to my left hand. I was <i>ready for publishing</i>.<u></u><u></u></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #606060; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 15px; line-height: normal; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #606060; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 15px; line-height: normal; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Then … I actually got a job in publishing. And here is the first lesson I learned in publishing: <b>There is no such thing as a perfect book.<u></u><u></u></b></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #606060; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 15px; line-height: normal; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #606060; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 15px; line-height: normal; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Not that I absorbed this lesson easily. I still remember that first letter of correction from a reader. I was devastated, even though I’d had nothing to do with the book. It had been published long before I even graduated from college.<u></u><u></u></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #606060; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 15px; line-height: normal; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #606060; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 15px; line-height: normal; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">My boss, however, was quite nonchalant, with her “no such thing as a perfect book” lesson. “Ramona, if you get upset over every mistake in a printed book, you’re going to spend your life in a tizzy,” she said gently. “Humans make mistakes. And grammar changes.”<u></u><u></u></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #606060; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 15px; line-height: normal; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #606060; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 15px; line-height: normal; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Wait. What? Grammar <i>changes</i>?<u></u><u></u></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #606060; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 15px; line-height: normal; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #606060; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 15px; line-height: normal; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Definitely not something I heard back in that fair land far away. I was just beginning to learn how far away it was. I soon began to read publications like <i>The Editorial Eye,</i> which covered the ongoing changes in grammar. Now I read grammar blogs and CMOS Q&A pages. I went from being a <i>pre</i>scriptivist (one who dictates how grammar <i>should be</i>used correctly) to a <i>de</i>scriptivist (one who describes how current grammar <i>is</i>used correctly). And I discovered that editing content, editing <i>story,</i> is far more satisfying to me.<u></u><u></u></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #606060; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 15px; line-height: normal; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #606060; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 15px; line-height: normal; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span></p><div style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #606060; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 15px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://thewriteediting.us3.list-manage.com/track/click?u%3Da94d213b8c8e66207995e640c%26id%3Dcc3f50ee4c%26e%3D4e5dc24206&source=gmail&ust=1619626107507000&usg=AFQjCNH9R3hcIBSGWSODxNO5hicrMffWCA" href="https://thewriteediting.us3.list-manage.com/track/click?u=a94d213b8c8e66207995e640c&id=cc3f50ee4c&e=4e5dc24206" style="clear: left; color: #b91010; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; overflow-wrap: break-word;" target="_blank"><img border="0" class="CToWUd" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7BWFVax4u8dPdYNmXlyc_bihyphenhyphen2d5YBeKbw8a1Z50C5i6tpaVl0iGMf7JCTCR1IgDF6w8ZWPxtI3YdM53C2B6XTZ41pBCsCvKrOr_phDnqM7BOAHm2HcUyNNAz_MteQoIV8lj5IUZW2wY/s320/English+-+Stuart+Miles.jpg" style="border: 0px; height: auto !important; outline: none; text-decoration-line: none;" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="background-color: white; color: #606060; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: large;">Above all, I began to truly appreciate the overwhelming beauty of this whackadoodle language we call English. It’s fluid and flexible with rules that guide yet shift. It allows for different stylebooks to flourish (Associated Press is not CMOS is not APA style, and serial commas are not universal). It allows new words to be added and old words to change or vanish. Words are allowed to <i>evolve.</i> Nouns become verbs, and vice versa. <i>Googol</i>, a noun, inspired <i>Google</i>, a proper noun, which became a verb.<br /><u></u><u></u></span><p style="background-color: white; color: #606060; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.5px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px;"></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #606060; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 15px; line-height: normal; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #606060; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 15px; line-height: normal; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">In fiction as well as nonfiction, English allows for the development of an author’s voice through selective syntax, dialogue, and dialectal phrasings. And I’m always amused at people who desperately fight some usages until they’re added to the Oxford English Dictionary. Then they’re OK, accepted by the “authority” of the OED, which has always been a <i>descriptivist</i>publication.<u></u><u></u></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #606060; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 15px; line-height: normal; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #606060; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 15px; line-height: normal; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">So what’s my point?<u></u><u></u></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #606060; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 15px; line-height: normal; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #606060; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 15px; line-height: normal; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">My point is that every book has mistakes (even if <i>you </i>don’t catch them) and some grammatical “mistakes” aren’t actually mistakes. When reading a book, try focusing on content, on story, not on the occasional trip-up by a copyeditor. <b>Because if you let a few grammatical mistakes or typos upset your reading of a book, then you are going to overlook some of the most beautiful and well-written (if not well-proofed) books in our language.<u></u><u></u></b></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #606060; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 15px; line-height: normal; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px;"><b><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #606060; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 15px; line-height: normal; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Don’t get me wrong; in some ways this attitude (books must be perfect) is helpful to authors and publishers. We do take emails about mistakes seriously, and often readers find things that <i>should</i> be corrected. And, once upon a time, complaints about things that are <i>not</i>, in fact, wrong used to have little impact. (I once had a woman complain to me about the use of parentheses in the King James Version of the Bible, since nothing in God’s word is parenthetical. I had to explain to her the evolution of parentheses as punctuation and that in older versions of the KJV, they were perfectly acceptable.)<u></u><u></u></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #606060; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 15px; line-height: normal; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #606060; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 15px; line-height: normal; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">But now we have the internet, where a campaign against a mistake can cost an author a career.<u></u><u></u></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #606060; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 15px; line-height: normal; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #606060; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 15px; line-height: normal; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Think I’m exaggerating?<u></u><u></u></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #606060; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 15px; line-height: normal; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #606060; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 15px; line-height: normal; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px;"></p><div style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #606060; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 15px; text-align: center;"><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://thewriteediting.us3.list-manage.com/track/click?u%3Da94d213b8c8e66207995e640c%26id%3D9d37db493e%26e%3D4e5dc24206&source=gmail&ust=1619626107507000&usg=AFQjCNFjHwA9jY2UV4VV_kCVfqXNSuYbQw" href="https://thewriteediting.us3.list-manage.com/track/click?u=a94d213b8c8e66207995e640c&id=9d37db493e&e=4e5dc24206" style="clear: right; color: #b91010; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; overflow-wrap: break-word;" target="_blank"><img border="0" class="CToWUd" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe09sGrq_Yuz4Taj9DIr43d1UwOsM-DQPFLHOCXWHzy3_jvw2C8dJXIi_r0TQo8ZLHR1meSQLyYGQYNwcFRt3L-zneU31RY6pDr_ba1vx9Pys2UBtgvd97QpFWeiXWMQ-pp4_1HWGjbwU/s320/Oops+2+-+digitalart.jpg" style="border: 0px; height: auto !important; outline: none; text-decoration-line: none;" /></a></div><span style="background-color: white; color: #606060; font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 15px;"><span style="font-size: large;">A publisher I worked for was startled when they were notified that Amazon had pulled the “Buy” button from one of our books because of <i>one</i> reader’s complaints about the “mistakes” in the book. They sent us the list. Of all the “mistakes” on this reader’s list, one was a typo. One was a continuity error. <b>The rest were not mistakes at all</b>, but out-of-date grammar or the author’s voice in dialogue. So, no, these weren’t going to be changed, no matter how much one reader protested. They weren’t wrong; she was.<br /><u></u><u></u></span></span><p style="background-color: white; color: #606060; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.5px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px;"></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #606060; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 15px; line-height: normal; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #606060; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 15px; line-height: normal; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">But even though this reader was incorrect on most of her complaints, she cost the author sales. And she has a platform to continue to complain. This was not justified nitpicking; this was just mean.<u></u><u></u></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #606060; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 15px; line-height: normal; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #606060; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 15px; line-height: normal; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">So, I beg of you, <a name="m_-3302026476687965558__Hlk70164705" style="color: #b91010; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-decoration-line: underline;">when you see mistakes in a published book, don’t grab a red pen and a platform.</a> Don’t wail and jive in Amazon reviews about the lousy copyediting. Be biblical—go straight to the source first. Contact the author or publisher (we’re online everywhere these days), and alert them to the problem. Give them a chance to respond.<u></u><u></u></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #606060; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 15px; line-height: normal; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #606060; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 15px; line-height: normal; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">And if your grammatical knowledge is based on what you learned before 2001, please do not mention split infinitives. They’ve been acceptable since at least 1983, if not before.<u></u><u></u></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #606060; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 15px; line-height: normal; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #606060; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 15px; line-height: normal; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Or to quote a CMOS Q&A column: “In this day and age, it seems, an injunction against splitting infinitives is one of those shibboleths whose only reason for survival is to give increased meaning to the lives of those who can both identify by name a discrete grammatical, syntactic, or orthographic entity and notice when that entity has been somehow besmirched.”<u></u><u></u></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #606060; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 15px; line-height: normal; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #606060; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 15px; line-height: normal; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Another reason to love the CMOS folks.<u></u><u></u></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #606060; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 15px; line-height: normal; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #606060; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 15px; line-height: normal; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">It really is OK for us “to boldly go where no one has gone before.”<u></u><u></u></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #606060; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 15px; line-height: normal; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #606060; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 15px; line-height: normal; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">And other places.<u></u><u></u></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #606060; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 15px; line-height: normal; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #606060; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 15px; line-height: normal; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><i>(Photos courtesy of FreeDigitalPhotos.net, Stuart Miles, and digitalart.)</i><span style="font-size: large;"><u></u><u></u></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #606060; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 15px; line-height: normal; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #606060; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 15px; line-height: normal; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">TWEETABLE</span></b><span style="font-size: large;"><u></u><u></u></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #606060; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 15px; line-height: normal; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://thewriteediting.us3.list-manage.com/track/click?u%3Da94d213b8c8e66207995e640c%26id%3Ddb9e4ba02a%26e%3D4e5dc24206&source=gmail&ust=1619626107507000&usg=AFQjCNEOWRQwvInXN5cur3Gqhz4MFVZ3xA" href="https://thewriteediting.us3.list-manage.com/track/click?u=a94d213b8c8e66207995e640c&id=db9e4ba02a&e=4e5dc24206" style="color: #b91010; overflow-wrap: break-word;" target="_blank">There is no such thing as a perfect book. When you see mistakes in a published book, don’t grab a red pen and a platform. via @RamonaRichards (Click to tweet.)</a><u></u><u></u></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #606060; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.5px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; line-height: 17.25px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #606060; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.5px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px;"></p><div style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #606060; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 15px; text-align: center;"><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://thewriteediting.us3.list-manage.com/track/click?u%3Da94d213b8c8e66207995e640c%26id%3Dc3b970a615%26e%3D4e5dc24206&source=gmail&ust=1619626107507000&usg=AFQjCNFEQPlWdKKv9NXlxLmvYjhjtvAcnQ" href="https://thewriteediting.us3.list-manage.com/track/click?u=a94d213b8c8e66207995e640c&id=c3b970a615&e=4e5dc24206" style="clear: left; color: #b91010; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; overflow-wrap: break-word;" target="_blank"><img border="0" class="CToWUd" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm8777p_NEFEZ6_ZFbqqd6drujzhUxlohLHyUVEfVFKogJwrfrETrPqNOuAPgOSvX9szePN-aa4Yo4cXNr3nvCc1m2M8vxGu0jAD47iGevTsMNYRwQe1gQlgYxn4F9ZHQqpminRdgpWJA/s320/Ramona+Richards+%25282%2529.jpg" style="border: 0px; height: auto !important; outline: none; text-decoration-line: none;" /></a></div><p style="background-color: white; color: #606060; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.5px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px;"></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #606060; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.5px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;">Ramona Richards is a forty-year veteran of the publishing industry. She is the author of 12 books, including </span><i style="font-family: Cambria, serif;">Tracking Changes: One Editor’s Advice to Inspirational Fiction Authors,</i><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"> from which this post was adapted. She is currently an editor with Iron Stream Media and is working on books 13-17.</span> </span></p>Elva Cobb Martin, South Carolinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09278744225513549876noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1626539989457344764.post-86132108255134215262021-03-22T03:00:00.001-07:002021-03-22T03:00:16.767-07:00Seven Things You Can Do with Dialog - Guest blog by Mia Botha<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: LucidaSans, serif; font-size: 12pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0in;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: LucidaSans, serif; font-size: 12pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0in;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhasXCDeisPbFIl7rDrfifeqLUOtveq8iIbHR0lFU6ar7llnIMCni-OZTl66E1s1M4h4uqsfjIhjqF9MNVOiE245xMxCLhucWZck3TSvDIUJAE6eKmIIw9DsfEO9_wnonSEopkOM_RGyik/s618/Choosing+a+mate+don%2527t+hurry.+Stock+Charisma.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="340" data-original-width="618" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhasXCDeisPbFIl7rDrfifeqLUOtveq8iIbHR0lFU6ar7llnIMCni-OZTl66E1s1M4h4uqsfjIhjqF9MNVOiE245xMxCLhucWZck3TSvDIUJAE6eKmIIw9DsfEO9_wnonSEopkOM_RGyik/s320/Choosing+a+mate+don%2527t+hurry.+Stock+Charisma.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />Dialogue is a powerful, but often underutilized, tool in
writing. </span><a href="https://www.writerswrite.co.za/how-to-write-great-dialogue/" style="font-family: LucidaSans, serif; font-size: 12pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0in;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #1e73be;">Dialogue</span></a><span style="color: #333333; font-family: LucidaSans, serif; font-size: 12pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0in;"> lets you
move away from narration and it allows you to bring your story to life.</span></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "LucidaSans","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">TOP TIP: Learn to write better dialogue with <a href="https://www.writerswrite.co.za/product/the-dialogue-workbook/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #1e73be;">The Dialogue Workbook</span></a></span></i></b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "LucidaSans","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 3.35pt; text-indent: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "LucidaSans","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Good dialogue does the following:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-outline-level: 4; text-indent: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-family: LucidaSans, serif; font-size: 12pt;">1. Dialogue Advances The Story <o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "LucidaSans","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Dialogue forces the writer to make the characters interact.
When <a href="https://www.writerswrite.co.za/the-4-main-characters-as-literary-devices/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #1e73be;">characters</span></a> interact
you create events and scenarios that bring them closer or further away from
achieving their story goal. Get your character off the couch by making them do
stuff.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "LucidaSans","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Example:</span></b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "LucidaSans","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 3.35pt; text-indent: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "LucidaSans","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">‘We’re out of milk.’ – what happens when you character goes to
the store?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 8.35pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in; vertical-align: baseline;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: inherit; mso-fareast-font-family: inherit;">1.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Do they
run into an old acquaintance?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 8.35pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in; vertical-align: baseline;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: inherit; mso-fareast-font-family: inherit;">2.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Is their
card declined?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 8.35pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in; vertical-align: baseline;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: inherit; mso-fareast-font-family: inherit;">3.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Do they
get caught up in a robbery?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-outline-level: 4; text-indent: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-family: LucidaSans, serif; font-size: 12pt;">2. Dialogue Makes You Show <o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "LucidaSans","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">When we only use narrative to tell our story we give our readers
a secondary version of the events. When we use dialogue the story comes to life
and the readers experience the events for themselves. <a href="https://www.writerswrite.co.za/product/the-dialogue-workbook/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #1e73be;">Dialogue</span></a> is one of
the easiest ways to move your story from telling to <a href="https://www.writerswrite.co.za/5-simple-ways-to-help-writers-show-and-not-tell/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #1e73be;">showing</span></a>.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "LucidaSans","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Example:</span></b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "LucidaSans","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "LucidaSans","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Telling:</span></b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "LucidaSans","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> Jonathan didn’t want to enroll for a
business degree.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "LucidaSans","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Showing:</span></b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "LucidaSans","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> Alison upended the third and final
draw. ‘You have to know where it is. It’s your college acceptance letter. It’s
your entire future.’ She rifled through the papers on the desk.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 3.35pt; text-indent: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "LucidaSans","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">‘I really don’t know, Mom. I haven’t seen it.’ Jonathan didn’t
look up. He was putting the finishing touches on his newest drawing. He held
the paper up to the light. You could still see the faint outline of the logo
that read Harvard Business School, but he darkened the shadow and it
disappeared completely. ‘I haven’t seen the letter anywhere. Maybe Dad threw it
out when threw out my sketches.’<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.65pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.65pt; margin: 6.65pt 0in; mso-outline-level: 4; text-indent: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-family: LucidaSans, serif; font-size: 12pt;">3. Dialogue Introduces Conflict<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "LucidaSans","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Conflict, whether <a href="https://www.writerswrite.co.za/the-art-of-subtle-conflict-in-fiction/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #1e73be;">subtle</span></a> or <a href="https://www.writerswrite.co.za/the-craft-of-not-so-subtle-conflict-in-fiction/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #1e73be;">overt</span></a>, is a vital
part of fiction, but it doesn’t always have to be physical. Dialogue is a great
source of conflict.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "LucidaSans","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Example:</span></b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "LucidaSans","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 3.35pt; text-indent: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "LucidaSans","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">‘You never told me about the invitation.’ He stomped to the
fridge. The bottles rattled as he yanked open the door.<br />
Beryl took a deep breath and smoothed her skirt. ‘Yes, I did. I said that we
were invited and that I accepted.’<br />
‘Well, this is the first I’m hearing of it.’ The bottles rattled again and he
slammed it once more. ‘And we’re not going.’<br />
Beryl gathered her clutch and courage. ‘Well, then I guess this the last you’ll
hear from me.’ And walked out the door.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.65pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.65pt; margin: 6.65pt 0in; mso-outline-level: 4; text-indent: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-family: LucidaSans, serif; font-size: 12pt;">4. Dialogue Reveals Character<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "LucidaSans","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">How we speak reveals so much about who we are. Use your
characters’ words to <a href="https://www.writerswrite.co.za/what-is-direct-and-indirect-characterisation-and-which-one-should-i-use/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #1e73be;">show who they are</span></a>.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "LucidaSans","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Example:</span></b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "LucidaSans","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 3.35pt; text-indent: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "LucidaSans","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">He adjusted his name tag and moved towards the customer. He
needed to close at least one deal today. Aaron stuck out his hand to the
nearest guy praying the hulk of a man wouldn’t crush it. ‘Aaron Bronson,
pleased to meet you.’<br />
‘Impossible.’ The man loomed overhead. ‘The Aaron Bronson I knew was a sniveling little brat who tattled to the
teacher.’<br />
Aaron tried not to flinch as the bones in his hand cracked and groaned under
the increasing pressure. ‘Jonty?’ he squeaked.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-outline-level: 4; text-indent: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-family: LucidaSans, serif; font-size: 12pt;">5. Dialogue Reveals The Setting <o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "LucidaSans","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">When you use dialogue to convey <a href="https://www.writerswrite.co.za/how-setting-influences-the-elements-of-your-story/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #1e73be;">setting</span></a> it will
help you to avoid writing long blocks of description.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "LucidaSans","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Example:</span></b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "LucidaSans","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 3.35pt; text-indent: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "LucidaSans","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Ally followed the dim pool of light as it bounced down the
passage. ‘What is this place?’ She shone the torch into a room crowded with old
metal beds.<br />
‘It used to be a psych ward. They closed it down in the sixties.’<br />
Candice sounded so nonchalant, but Ally wasn’t fooled.<br />
‘Why are there handcuffs attached to the beds?’<br />
‘It was a ward for the criminally insane.’<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-outline-level: 4; text-indent: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-family: LucidaSans, serif; font-size: 12pt;">6. Dialogue Gives Information <o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "LucidaSans","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">We need to share a lot of information with our readers. We also
should vary how we present our information. Dialogue is a good tool to do that.<b> </b><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "LucidaSans","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Without dialogue:</span></b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "LucidaSans","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 3.35pt; text-indent: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "LucidaSans","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">He heard them coming down the passage and prayed they weren’t
singing for him, but the dreary rendition of ‘Happy Birthday to You’ limped
closer and closer to his desk.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "LucidaSans","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">With dialogue:</span></b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "LucidaSans","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 3.35pt; text-indent: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "LucidaSans","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">‘Come on,’ someone hissed, ‘light it.’<br />
Jeff cringed. Please don’t. Please don’t let them be coming here.<br />
‘One, two, three.’ A staged whisper. A whiff of sulphur from the matches and
then it began.<br />
‘Haaaaa-ppppp-yyyy Birthdaaaaaaaay, dear Je-ffffffff.’<br />
They sang. He shrunk, but they kept limping closer and closer with that off-key
twang.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-outline-level: 4; text-indent: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-family: LucidaSans, serif; font-size: 12pt;">7. Dialogue Increases The <a href="https://www.writerswrite.co.za/3-incredibly-useful-ways-to-use-pacing-in-dialogue/" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">Pace</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 3.35pt; text-indent: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "LucidaSans","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Sometimes we need to speed up our stories and sometimes we need
to slow down. Dialogue speeds up the story. Use it when you need to add a bit
of a punch to your scene.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "LucidaSans","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Slower:</span></b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "LucidaSans","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 3.35pt; text-indent: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "LucidaSans","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The crime scene tape fluttered in the breeze. The detectives
approached the crime scene with caution and dodged the press by crossing to the
other side of the street. They needed to be careful and could not afford
another blunder. They were on thin ice with the captain already.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "LucidaSans","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Faster:</span></b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "LucidaSans","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 3.35pt; text-indent: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "LucidaSans","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Brett glared at the journalists.<br />
‘Vultures,’ he hissed as he crossed the street.<br />
Don held up the crime scene and he ducked under it. The wind tugged at his
notebook.<br />
‘Can’t fuck this one up. Not again.’ Brett mumbled as he knelt next to the
body.<br />
‘Captain will kill us, that’s for sure.’<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.65pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.65pt; margin: 6.65pt 0in; mso-outline-level: 4; text-indent: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-family: LucidaSans, serif; font-size: 12pt;">The Last Word<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 3.35pt; text-indent: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "LucidaSans","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Dialogue is an amazing tool to enhance your writing. There are
many things you can do with dialogue. When you are stuck or when your scenes
seem a little flat, make your characters talk.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p>
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "LucidaSans","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">TOP TIP: Learn to write better dialogue with <a href="https://www.writerswrite.co.za/product/the-dialogue-workbook/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #1e73be;">The Dialogue Workbook</span></a> by
Mia Botha</span></i></b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "LucidaSans","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "LucidaSans","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> ***</span></i></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: LucidaSans, serif;"><span style="font-size: 16px;">Hope you enjoyed this guest blog by Mia!</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: LucidaSans, serif;"><span style="font-size: 16px;">Spring Blessings,</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: LucidaSans, serif;"><span style="font-size: 16px;">Elva</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: LucidaSans, serif;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"></span></span></p><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><div style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlAwz11_sMATLS10iueJt_wOfo5GfI32Qn5ZhvnW3yxY0XAzJZ9TIwPQvsKaEuMbzMjgRCFz58LWkCjwdQR5X02-RUVz2QhInF7cUTMEJms-E9J2Hps7XQcJDexxq_6p3d0Z6JEbkouKM/s552/71387170_10220296422260190_2081244755395608576_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="552" data-original-width="552" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlAwz11_sMATLS10iueJt_wOfo5GfI32Qn5ZhvnW3yxY0XAzJZ9TIwPQvsKaEuMbzMjgRCFz58LWkCjwdQR5X02-RUVz2QhInF7cUTMEJms-E9J2Hps7XQcJDexxq_6p3d0Z6JEbkouKM/w200-h200/71387170_10220296422260190_2081244755395608576_n.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br />Elva Cobb Martin is a mother and grandmother who lives in upstate South Carolina. She is the president of ACFW-SC Chapter. All her Christian romance novels have spent time on Amazon's 100 Bestseller's list for Women's Religious Fiction. </div><div style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;">Link to her books on Amazon <a href="https://amzn.to/2ksRfTw" style="color: #992211; text-decoration-line: none;">https://amzn.to/2ksRfTw</a></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;">Connect with Elva</div><div style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;">Website: <a href="http://www.elvamartin.com/" style="color: #771100; text-decoration-line: none;">http://www.elvamartin.com</a> </div><div style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;">BookBub: <a href="https://www.bookbub.com/profile/elva-cobb-martin" style="color: #771100; text-decoration-line: none;">https://www.bookbub.com/profile/elva-cobb-martin</a></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;">Pinterest <a href="https://www.pinterest.com/elvacobbmartin" style="color: #771100; text-decoration-line: none;">https://www.pinterest.com/elvacobbmarti</a></div><div><br /></div></span></span></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: LucidaSans, serif;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "LucidaSans","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></i></b></p>Elva Cobb Martin, South Carolinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09278744225513549876noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1626539989457344764.post-56361051410672414632021-03-08T05:56:00.001-08:002021-03-08T06:02:31.121-08:00Spring at My House: Writing, Baking, Gardening<p> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 18px;"> I hope and pray you are blessed and healthy this warmer month of March. Here's what's cooking at the Martin house in S.C. The </span><strong style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 18px;">tallest</strong><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 18px;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 18px;">Chocolate Pound cake I've ever baked. Look for the recipe at the end.</span></p><h1 style="background-color: white; color: #8696d1; font-family: Georgia, Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 24px; line-height: 36px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: 12px;">Wish I knew what I did differently. </span></span></span><img alt="" class="CToWUd" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEj95bUk10hw2dVR7Yx0mgxONjuPGAbmLm9tKJ23LXfsHBhcXgydF7mQD75re8KL6-wfEfUOBH_dhnJNT4nDWFUvfgg9yz1WkXURzH89fLtf3D2Mlj9HFTBf0JgU7m8sCPtsO56m-VwOwa-Q9jV7JLRmDb9l7A-cPctYrcpJ=s0-d-e1-ft" style="border: 0px; height: auto !important; outline: none;" /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: 18px;"> <img class="CToWUd a6T" height="429" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEgnc_QgIXwh3jYjJQQ0sJ86RX-ria70bpCQETX2EDEiSC-Y7tqAHrMz2ItWDHGDl22_MX07XGh_Dxs4_YFsvf8iqhEU8jdu4QFxSI9uXpmUc47PDMo0AlExOEVHPpWebXYIXOKHQtLI_iHcCsgRqI3_JY9-y8oRy_KoadwAwB_FDyXyf3FuUGEIET8Vhj-WJU0hyacLQoKyP_hdhgB5udt2giCwNBz5jJEu=s0-d-e1-ft" style="border: 0px; cursor: pointer; height: 429px; margin: 0px; outline: none; width: 322px;" tabindex="0" width="322" /></span></span></span></h1><span style="background-color: white; color: #757575; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 24px;">That's not all that's cooking! Here's my book news.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #757575; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 10px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #757575; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 10px;" /><strong style="background-color: white; color: #757575; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 10px;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">Drum Roll No. 1</span></strong><br style="background-color: white; color: #757575; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 10px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #757575; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 32px;"><img class="CToWUd a6T" height="483" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEhgZxYBv3aO_C02LQSkWEeIuOiCTDz1FvwN-JURb5J_vOCpxdd_7cbLzVzwJG1N6ll32s7MMJrWu3Kg84d85dq427Bg36pOQQvQqPoT7f-AEf4BpL0Cho27QdmvEOeu43_op78o10qvNEqcxm2XGpBcLIUDo_nWrMGlKYSCVFONQ04dEnScKoeSxm1O6bmHIaej02C7raBKJ5n6hYeT6Tlqx6Pf=s0-d-e1-ft" style="border: 0px; cursor: pointer; height: 483px; margin: 0px; outline: none; width: 322px;" tabindex="0" width="322" /></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #757575; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 10px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #757575; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 18px;">Grab Georgia Ann, English Rose, right now for $.99 through March 12. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #757575; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px;"><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://elvamartin.us16.list-manage.com/track/click?u%3D235818c94de653ce6c6e74bf2%26id%3D18fb968073%26e%3D9bc32d5d38&source=gmail&ust=1615295216763000&usg=AFQjCNH6FvOQNih_ODjMVd7nN3p5kDtgRg" href="https://elvamartin.us16.list-manage.com/track/click?u=235818c94de653ce6c6e74bf2&id=18fb968073&e=9bc32d5d38" style="color: #8696d1;" target="_blank"> https://www.amazon.com/dp/<wbr></wbr>B087YV77P2</a> (Click the redirect link if it shows up) ( :</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #757575; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 10px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #757575; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 10px;" />Here's a review!<span style="background-color: white; color: #757575; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 18px;"><br /><br /><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://elvamartin.us16.list-manage.com/track/click?u%3D235818c94de653ce6c6e74bf2%26id%3D1d62fc42aa%26e%3D9bc32d5d38&source=gmail&ust=1615295216763000&usg=AFQjCNFNBtzkTpNOp2MbB99UvUevo7LW1A" href="https://elvamartin.us16.list-manage.com/track/click?u=235818c94de653ce6c6e74bf2&id=1d62fc42aa&e=9bc32d5d38" style="color: #8696d1;" target="_blank"><span style="color: black;">Bunnyhop</span></a></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #757575; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 10px;" /><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://elvamartin.us16.list-manage.com/track/click?u%3D235818c94de653ce6c6e74bf2%26id%3D2127bd8fe7%26e%3D9bc32d5d38&source=gmail&ust=1615295216763000&usg=AFQjCNFjMwboIn4DolCSuJFMyMPJJQmVHA" href="https://elvamartin.us16.list-manage.com/track/click?u=235818c94de653ce6c6e74bf2&id=2127bd8fe7&e=9bc32d5d38" style="background-color: white; color: #8696d1; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 10px;" target="_blank"><span style="color: black;">VINE VOICE</span></a><br style="background-color: white; color: #757575; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 10px;" /><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://elvamartin.us16.list-manage.com/track/click?u%3D235818c94de653ce6c6e74bf2%26id%3Dd871bd5a0e%26e%3D9bc32d5d38&source=gmail&ust=1615295216763000&usg=AFQjCNFwZd0ymiA4ME-wxl9aIcOEYimMCA" href="https://elvamartin.us16.list-manage.com/track/click?u=235818c94de653ce6c6e74bf2&id=d871bd5a0e&e=9bc32d5d38" style="background-color: white; color: #8696d1; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 10px;" target="_blank" title="5.0 out of 5 stars"><span style="color: black;"><em>5.0 out of 5 stars</em></span></a><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://elvamartin.us16.list-manage.com/track/click?u%3D235818c94de653ce6c6e74bf2%26id%3Db17f814e50%26e%3D9bc32d5d38&source=gmail&ust=1615295216763000&usg=AFQjCNEFUehqJ7nFrRGDQtYUVNOZroTq6w" href="https://elvamartin.us16.list-manage.com/track/click?u=235818c94de653ce6c6e74bf2&id=b17f814e50&e=9bc32d5d38" style="background-color: white; color: #8696d1; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 10px;" target="_blank"><span style="color: black;"> A Sweeping & Majestic Tale</span></a><br style="background-color: white; color: #757575; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 10px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #757575; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 10px;">Reviewed in the United States on November 17, 2020. Like the first book, which you don't have to read but you should because it's also amazing, this book hooks you from the beginning! It's a majestic tale that takes you to the Barbary Coast to pirates to Tripoli to the Spice Islands to the English rule in other parts of the world in the 1700's and so many parts in between! I could write about this book for days! I loved Georgia Ann and Samuel. What they wouldn't do for each other! The level of sacrifice and love was breathtaking. Slave ships and brother-to-brother secrets plus characters that will endear you or revile you! I just never wanted the book to end! Sometimes you never knew which character was friend or foe. I could easily see this book become a movie because it was so "sweeping" in nature! Spanish Galleons riding the open seas being taken over by pirates and sultans in Tripoli with harems but always, the main characters having a strong faith when they are in terrible circumstances! I loved every word of this book and highly recommend it!</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #757575; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 10px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #757575; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 10px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #757575; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 18px;"><u><strong>Drum Roll No. 2</strong></u></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #757575; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 10px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #757575; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 17px;">The publisher of my first two novels, </span><em style="background-color: white; color: #757575; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 17px;">Summer of Deception </em><span style="background-color: white; color: #757575; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 17px;">and the prequel, </span><em style="background-color: white; color: #757575; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 17px;">In a Pirate's Debt, </em><span style="background-color: white; color: #757575; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 17px;">are honoring their Barrett family</span><em style="background-color: white; color: #757575; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 17px;"> </em><span style="background-color: white; color: #757575; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 17px;">connection at a special sale. Click for your copies March 6-13 at $.99 each. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #757575; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 10px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #757575; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 17px;"><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://elvamartin.us16.list-manage.com/track/click?u%3D235818c94de653ce6c6e74bf2%26id%3D2ea513e43d%26e%3D9bc32d5d38&source=gmail&ust=1615295216763000&usg=AFQjCNEiHhEQKThZLOpjEzoEQqrwe5GPhA" href="https://elvamartin.us16.list-manage.com/track/click?u=235818c94de653ce6c6e74bf2&id=2ea513e43d&e=9bc32d5d38" style="color: #8696d1;" target="_blank">https://amzn.to/3bj73zz</a> (click redirect link if it shows up)</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #757575; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 10px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #757575; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 10px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #757575; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 15px;"><strong>The Barretts of Charleston (2 book series)</strong></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #757575; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 10px;"></span><h4 style="background-color: white; color: #949494; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 20px; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; line-height: 25px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><strong><span style="font-size: 17px;">Set in the beautiful and historic city of Charleston, South Carolina, follow the Barrett family from the days of Captain Lucas Bloodstone Barrett, a pirate in the 1720s, to his descendant, former Marine Special Ops member Luke Barrett, owner of his family's working tea plantation. Prepare for breathless adventure and romance to make you swoon!</span></strong></h4><img alt="The Barretts of Charleston" class="CToWUd a6T" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEh7vOAKp1EnPDRpRsIrEH3fAtaPo9iGFUzKJM0wFmhnprQ1ebERzpSoYvNTsxKn5zETtO2ut2ZUhfgPggnaWcy2MoRqXYpDXh8_yezerZoSwOffo4fqzBUEpMqyamGcCpwv9hN0zwZL6G7PnCay8I3Lwj2rmyOKGRfKJCDrJhy6qJ4v3GpNxMIy=s0-d-e1-ft" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #757575; cursor: pointer; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 10px; height: auto !important; outline: none;" tabindex="0" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #757575; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 10px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #757575; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 10px;" /><strong style="background-color: white; color: #757575; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 10px;">Elva's Tall Chocolate Pound Cake</strong><br style="background-color: white; color: #757575; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 10px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #757575; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 10px;">Set oven to 325 F. Grease and flour large tube pan.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #757575; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 10px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #757575; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 10px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #757575; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 10px;">2 Sticks butter (or substitute 1 cup Crisco)</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #757575; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 10px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #757575; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 10px;">1/2 cup Crisco</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #757575; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 10px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #757575; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 10px;">3 cups sugar</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #757575; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 10px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #757575; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 10px;">5 large eggs</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #757575; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 10px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #757575; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 10px;">1 1/4 cups milk</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #757575; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 10px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #757575; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 10px;">1/3 cup sour cream</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #757575; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 10px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #757575; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 10px;">4 cups self-rising flour</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #757575; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 10px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #757575; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 10px;">1/2 cup cocoa</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #757575; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 10px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #757575; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 10px;">2 tablespoons vanilla</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #757575; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 10px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #757575; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 10px;">1 tablespoon almond flavoring</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #757575; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 10px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #757575; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 10px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #757575; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 10px;">Use large mixing bowl. Mix butter, Crisco and sugar, adding eggs one at a time. Add flavorings. Measure flour and cocoa and sift together. Add flour mixture a cup at a time and alternate with milk.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #757575; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 10px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #757575; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 10px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #757575; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 10px;">Spoon dough into tube pan and place in oven on middle rack. Place a square or cake layer pan filled 1/3 full of water in top right corner. This is supposed to help stop deep cracks in the top of cake, but you see I still had a few, happily not too deep. ( :</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #757575; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 10px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #757575; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 10px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #757575; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 10px;">Bake at 325 for 30 minutes. Turn down to 300 degrees and bake one hour. When toothpick is inserted in the middle and it comes out clean, the cake is done. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #757575; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 10px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #757575; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 10px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #757575; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 10px;">Let set about 10-15 minutes, then turn out on a bread rack, and I cover with plastic cake topper to keep cake moist while cooling. Then I transfer it to a cake plate. Usually, however, hubby and I take a warm slice while still on the rack! Once completely cool, this cake can be sliced into about 2 dozen slices, individually wrapped in waxed paper, inserted into two freezer gallon bags and frozen with great results. It is still delicious and moist when taken out as needed. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #757575; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 10px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #757575; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 10px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #757575; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 10px;">Here's something I'm watching grow these days--my Lupin flower seedlings I'll plant outside after the last frost. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #757575; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 10px;" /><img class="CToWUd a6T" height="429" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEi8cW1IGC60o3vb86tE8GduYIv5vKI8DkIilLbDrdIesTjqiLsDyI19ViC6BDBYJ3flYMggOZAK9UPviKweJere3lG4PFmCoT5JdzbJpY3fEhryZk-YkldmXTa-A4yyA6MHdyahOUUuNqGgLKQJF_57PTeoWZtXmL0p3RTP4tv2J9T96Do1wqWyXV6Qd9WFbjGrbrWWH5A-hatFyctz_d88OkdEFcuVR46U=s0-d-e1-ft" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #757575; cursor: pointer; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 10px; height: 429px; margin: 0px; outline: none; width: 322px;" tabindex="0" width="322" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #757575; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 10px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #757575; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 10px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #757575; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 10px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #757575; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 10px;">Onward into Spring, my fave season!</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #757575; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 10px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #757575; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 10px;">Elva </span><div><br /></div><div><br style="background-color: white; color: #757575; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 10px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #757575; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 10px;"> </span></div>Elva Cobb Martin, South Carolinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09278744225513549876noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1626539989457344764.post-54139082974613009752021-01-19T09:29:00.001-08:002021-03-08T05:40:58.864-08:00Do You Trust Me? Guest blog by MaryLu Tyndale<p> <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/EmtMs/~3/5nLLWa0KkUo/do-you-trust-me-says-lord-its-time-to.html?utm_source%3Dfeedburner%26utm_medium%3Demail&source=gmail&ust=1611156550937000&usg=AFQjCNE_lnKapHjG_08ANVVsE0KBHQo1KQ" href="http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/EmtMs/~3/5nLLWa0KkUo/do-you-trust-me-says-lord-its-time-to.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email" name="m_9190303140848435236_1" style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18px;" target="_blank">Do You Trust Me? Says the Lord. It's Time to Prove It!</a></p><p style="color: #555555; font-family: Georgia, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.6px; margin: 9px 0px 3px;">Posted: 18 Jan 2021 12:30 AM PST</p><div style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.6px; margin: 0px;"><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> <div style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvH_xdh4siTGLvC9Bg9L2jrsi0vkKgr5kmgmtiiwBspngOX221jtU3BZSC2muLlG85g9jPNi6WYIc2lZhj4ghSbopNVc8F7H7Yd5NcuV9xMKbVU-OzSv5r7FDrrSxrbrys7jFUqbjjZ3Os/s627/God%252Bis%252BOur%252BRefuge%252Band%252BStrength%252B%252528with%252BPsalm%252B46%252Bv1%252529.webp&source=gmail&ust=1611156550937000&usg=AFQjCNEy7eNWKYUanrsGmnuXw1i2IXML5g" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvH_xdh4siTGLvC9Bg9L2jrsi0vkKgr5kmgmtiiwBspngOX221jtU3BZSC2muLlG85g9jPNi6WYIc2lZhj4ghSbopNVc8F7H7Yd5NcuV9xMKbVU-OzSv5r7FDrrSxrbrys7jFUqbjjZ3Os/s627/God+is+Our+Refuge+and+Strength+%2528with+Psalm+46+v1%2529.webp" style="color: #1155cc; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" class="CToWUd" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvH_xdh4siTGLvC9Bg9L2jrsi0vkKgr5kmgmtiiwBspngOX221jtU3BZSC2muLlG85g9jPNi6WYIc2lZhj4ghSbopNVc8F7H7Yd5NcuV9xMKbVU-OzSv5r7FDrrSxrbrys7jFUqbjjZ3Os/s16000/God+is+Our+Refuge+and+Strength+%2528with+Psalm+46+v1%2529.webp" /></a></div><br /></span></span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> I've been talking to the Lord a lot lately, and like many of you, I feel like something big is right around the corner. Perhaps this week, perhaps not, but something evil lurks on the horizon. Recently I've had the sense that the Lord is saying that it's time for His people to prove that they actually believe the Words they have recited in the Scriptures for years and years. It's so easy to sing worship songs about trusting God and how faithful He is, and quite another to be put in a situation where you have no food, shelter, or water and your life is in danger AND then to trust God. I'm not saying things will get that bad, but I'm saying from what I'm hearing our lives here in America will never be the same. </span></span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Before the faithful few who follow Jesus are rescued from this place, we may see some hard times. This is how the Lord separates the wheat from the chaff, the true believers from the false, the ones who know their God from the ones who play church. Which are you?</span></span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;">It's okay to feel fear. It's a natural emotion that we cannot help. But it's what we do with that fear that matters. Do we bring it to the Lord? Do we get into His Word and claim His promises over us and our families? Or do we sink deeper into a quagmire of despair and doom? </span></span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><h1><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The Lord Jesus asks you now</span></span></h1></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><u><b>Do you believe I will protect you from the evil one</b></u>? </span></span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i><b>But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen you and protect you from the evil one.</b></i> 2 Thessalonians 3:3</span></span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i><b>Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you</b></i> Luke 10:19 </span></span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i><b>No weapon formed against you shall prosper,<br />And every tongue which rises against you in judgment<br />You shall condemn.<br />This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord,<br />And their righteousness is from Me,”<br />Says the Lord</b></i>. Isaiah 54:17<br /></span></span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><u><b>Do you believe that I will always be with you and will never leave you</b></u>? </span></span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i><b>Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you</b></i>.” Deuteronomy 31:6</span></span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i><b>For the LORD your God is He who goes with you, to fight for you against your enemies, to save you.’</b></i> </span></span><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Deuteronomy 20:4</span></span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i><b>Even to your old age, I am He,<br />And even to gray hairs I will carry you!<br />I have made, and I will bear;<br />Even I will carry, and will deliver you.</b></i> Isaiah 46:4<br /></span></span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><u><b>Do you believe I will give you strength and uphold you</b></u>? </span></span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i><b>So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand</b></i>. Isaiah 41:10</span></span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><u><b>Do you believe I will deliver you from ALL your troubles</b></u>? </span></span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i><b>The righteous person may have many troubles, but the LORD delivers him from them all;</b></i> Psalm 34:19</span></span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><u><b>Do you believe I AM your refuge</b></u>? </span></span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i><b> God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble</b></i>. Psalm 46:1 </span></span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i><b>Have mercy on me, my God, have mercy on me, for in you I take refuge. I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings until the disaster has passed</b></i>. Psalm 57:1</span></span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i><b>The name of the LORD is a strong tower; The righteous run to it and are safe.</b></i> Proverbs 18:10-12<br /></span></span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><u><b>Do you believe that I will preserve your life in the midst of trouble</b></u>? </span></span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i><b>Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you preserve my life. You stretch out your hand against the anger of my foes; with your right hand you save me.</b></i> Psalm 138:7 </span></span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i><b>We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.</b></i> 2 Corinthians 4:8-9 </span></span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i><b>When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, Nor shall the flame scorch you. </b></i> Isaiah 43:2<br /> </span></span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><u><b>Do you believe I will save you from all your enemies</b></u>?</span></span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i><b>My God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation. He is my stronghold, my refuge and my savior— from violent people you save me. “I called to the LORD, who is worthy of praise, and have been saved from my enemie</b></i>s. 2 Samuel 22:3-4 </span></span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i><b> Even though I walk through the darkest valley,I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows</b></i>. Psalm 23:4-5 </span></span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i><b>And the Lord will deliver me from every evil work and preserve me for His heavenly kingdom. To Him be glory forever and ever</b></i>. Amen! 2 Timothy 4:18 <br /></span></span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><u><b>Do you believe I will keep you from harm and watch over your life</b></u>?<br /></span></span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i><b>He will not let your foot slip— he who watches over you will not slumber; indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. The LORD watches over you— the LORD is your shade at your right hand; the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night. The LORD will keep you from all harm— he will watch over your life; the LORD will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermor</b></i>e. Psalm 121:3-8 </span></span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><u><b><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Do you believe I AM for you and can conquer all your enemies?</span></span></b></u></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> <br /></span></span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i><b>What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be] against us?</b></i> Romans 8:31</span></span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i><b>So we may boldly say: “The LORD is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?</b></i>” Hebrews 13:6 </span></span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;">These are only a FEW of the many promises of the Lord to protect His children. How do we know we are His children? Because we love Him and follow Him and His Spirit cries out within us that we are His. <br /></span></span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;">So when things start to fall apart and you begin to fear, the best thing to do is read over these Scriptures (and others!) and not just read them, but recite them out loud. Remind the Lord of His promises! Remind Him He said He would never leave you and that He would help you through ALL your troubles. Remind Him! He loves to honor His Word!</span></span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I hope this has brought you some comfort and peace in the midst of the storm. I encourage you to either bookmark this page or jot down these Scriptures and have them handy. </span></span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;">And keep looking up! The worse things get, the closer we are to our seeing our Prince!</span></span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>***</span></span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><div style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Howdy Friends,</span></span></div><div style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Hope this encouraging word from MaryLu blesses you today!</span></span></div><div style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I would add:</span></span></div><div style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">We (the church) have the tremendous power to agree in prayer and CHANGE ANYTHING. Don't neglect your church family and the power of our agreeing prayer. Matt. 18:19</span></span></div><div style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Onward,</span></span></div><div style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Elva </span></span></div><div style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><div style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;"><br /></div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlAwz11_sMATLS10iueJt_wOfo5GfI32Qn5ZhvnW3yxY0XAzJZ9TIwPQvsKaEuMbzMjgRCFz58LWkCjwdQR5X02-RUVz2QhInF7cUTMEJms-E9J2Hps7XQcJDexxq_6p3d0Z6JEbkouKM/s552/71387170_10220296422260190_2081244755395608576_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="552" data-original-width="552" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlAwz11_sMATLS10iueJt_wOfo5GfI32Qn5ZhvnW3yxY0XAzJZ9TIwPQvsKaEuMbzMjgRCFz58LWkCjwdQR5X02-RUVz2QhInF7cUTMEJms-E9J2Hps7XQcJDexxq_6p3d0Z6JEbkouKM/s320/71387170_10220296422260190_2081244755395608576_n.jpg" /></a></div><br />Elva Cobb Martin is a mother and grandmother who lives in upstate South Carolina. She is the president of ACFW-SC Chapter. All her novels have spent time on Amazon's 100 Bestseller's list for Women's Religious Fiction. </div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;"><br /></div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;">Link to her books on Amazon <a href="https://amzn.to/2ksRfTw">https://amzn.to/2ksRfTw</a></div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;"><br /></div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;">Connect with Elva</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;">Website: <a href="http://www.elvamartin.com/" style="color: #771100; text-decoration-line: none;">http://www.elvamartin.com</a> </div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;">BookBub: <a href="https://www.bookbub.com/profile/elva-cobb-martin" style="color: #771100; text-decoration-line: none;">https://www.bookbub.com/profile/elva-cobb-martin</a></div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;">Pinterest <a href="https://www.pinterest.com/elvacobbmartin" style="color: #771100; text-decoration-line: none;">https://www.pinterest.com/elvacobbmarti</a></div></span></span></div><div style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div></span></span></div></div>Elva Cobb Martin, South Carolinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09278744225513549876noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1626539989457344764.post-56535604317709713362020-11-23T14:44:00.006-08:002020-11-23T14:46:38.453-08:00Romance Means Kisses by Elva Cobb Martin<div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6Qh05T4_u3XIZPdYzvHmYDH5s4Q5B2B29Z1y-oFV_ES_s60IQoe6rMp8jS0CRCnvMaO7c4mNF_6awwOj6JOIpVkee2w5W61tOviCsYZizRp5DHRcys4ly_G7-_mf5Y-D8XDD-9Dm6mCs/s294/Clark+Gable+and+Scarlet.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="188" data-original-width="294" height="205" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6Qh05T4_u3XIZPdYzvHmYDH5s4Q5B2B29Z1y-oFV_ES_s60IQoe6rMp8jS0CRCnvMaO7c4mNF_6awwOj6JOIpVkee2w5W61tOviCsYZizRp5DHRcys4ly_G7-_mf5Y-D8XDD-9Dm6mCs/w320-h205/Clark+Gable+and+Scarlet.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>If you write or aspire to write romances, you will know the
importance of learning how to describe romantic kisses. As Christian writers we
want to show romantic passion, but it’s not that easy to do in the Christian
market. Anybody can warm up their pages with blatant bedroom scenes, but it
takes skill to heighten the romantic tension in a book with only a look...a
kiss...or even an almost kiss. </div><div><br /></div><div>I highly recommend two authors who have taught me
much about romance and “kissology.” Susan May Warren has a great workbook
available on Amazon that I treasure, How to Write a Brilliant Romance. (Kiss and
Tell I think was the earlier version and the one I have.) And Julie Lessman, in
my opinion, is the queen of romantic tension and kisses. A blog series of hers,
I think she did on Seekerville, is in my file that I refer back to often,
Sixteen Suggestions to Warm up the Pages with Romantic Tension. </div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb4EzPAGoLMBFJojM8CWVMNummfwr_ZltxjStNC2rkRUUQ044IjoXvXIPrFyzTrV5MJWbNyAb6RHRnUb7KkRprTdp8s1vpknSuQPmZ6DYoFTRnKwRH_uxEQLoYDX6IezVtyrTBhhKjwaI/s483/georgia-ann-final.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="483" data-original-width="322" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb4EzPAGoLMBFJojM8CWVMNummfwr_ZltxjStNC2rkRUUQ044IjoXvXIPrFyzTrV5MJWbNyAb6RHRnUb7KkRprTdp8s1vpknSuQPmZ6DYoFTRnKwRH_uxEQLoYDX6IezVtyrTBhhKjwaI/s320/georgia-ann-final.jpg" /></a></div><br />I personally
love the <b>first heady kiss </b>between my hero and heroine. </div><div><br /></div><div>Here’s a scene from my
just released novel, <i>Georgia Ann, English Rose,</i> of the first kiss and reaction.
You always need a reaction. <i>Georgia Ann </i>is Book 2 in my Charleston Brides series. </div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;">He (Samuel) touched a tendril of her hair curling on
her shoulder. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;">She gazed into his shining jade eyes so close to hers. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;">His glance
fell to her lips, and he drew her nearer. Slowly he bent and pressed his mouth
to hers. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;">Fireworks exploded in her head and travelled down her frame. Her arms
came around his neck without forethought. The kiss deepened until she felt
transported on a soft, wispy cloud. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;">Suddenly he released her and stood. “It’s
time to go back.” He reached a hand to help her stand, but she couldn’t. Her
knees buckled. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;">He chuckled and held her against him for warm moments. Her cheek
pressed into his shirt and the spicy scent of cloves enthralled her. Did all his
clothing carry that delectable scent now? "</span></div><div><br /></div><div>Then there is another type of kiss
like this one when my hero Samuel first sees Georgia in the sultan’s dungeon.
It’s a <b>kiss of sorrow and imminent danger.</b> Up to this moment she had thought him
dead from his earlier ship wreck. And I found a photo that helped me see my
captured heroine. </div><div><br /></div><div><span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: small; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNSyWXp4NfbrLf2SBvLHvf908CJDnlv213lMstvNyhPYVAxj5NbWtv1Si1LilZ1yTZZRrG-ZTe7DMlWIwOLhNDGPrMYuT1-BwBqsAfRUdpEUJmYTenptcKFHwhWblmcTfz6SPM62e7yUs/s2048/Isriana01.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1351" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNSyWXp4NfbrLf2SBvLHvf908CJDnlv213lMstvNyhPYVAxj5NbWtv1Si1LilZ1yTZZRrG-ZTe7DMlWIwOLhNDGPrMYuT1-BwBqsAfRUdpEUJmYTenptcKFHwhWblmcTfz6SPM62e7yUs/s320/Isriana01.jpg" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;">Samuel knew the moment Georgia understood he was at her cell
door. </span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;"> Her body stiffened on the pallet. She sat up and stared toward the cell
door. Tears overflowed her eyes. She arose and stumbled toward him. They
clutched fingers through the bars. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;">His heart jumped into his throat at her
loveliness even in her rough Turkish slave garment. Her hair, parted in the
middle, hung down her side in a thick blond plait. Silky curls, escaped from the
braid, framed her lovely face covered with tears. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;">“We thought you were dead,”
she whispered between shuddering, repressed sobs. They kissed through the metal
bars, and Georgia staggered as if she might fall, but Belle grabbed her around
the waist and held her erect. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: xx-small;">Another favorite kiss of mine is the <b>“almost
kiss.” </b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: xx-small;">This scene comes from <i>Marisol, Spanish Rose,</i> Book 1 in this Charleston
Brides series. One night Marisol is discovered as a stowaway on her indentured
master Ethan’s ship—with her six-month old son, Samuel, and a servant girl.
Captain Ethan loses his usually gentle nature. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;">"What is going on in that head of
yours, Marisol, to bring your baby and Amy aboard my ship, upsetting all my
crew?” He gave her a little shake and looked at her with such a derisive
expression, her temper flared. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;">She stomped her booted foot and, to her surprise,
smashed down on his. Hard. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;">He growled and pulled her to him, scrunching her
bouffant skirt. His tight, bearded face came within inches of hers. Manly, warm
breath feathered across her cheek. “Now that kind of attack will never do, my
Spanish lady. Maybe for a snake, never for a captain. Did you mean to do that?”
His blazing eyes held her captive as much as his arms. His glance fell to her
lips. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;">Her knees threatened to fold, and she couldn’t breathe. She tried in vain
to pull away from the warmth emanating from his encircling arms and firm chest.
“No, I promise I didn’t, Ethan. Please let me go.” She couldn’t prevent the
tremor in her voice. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;">He released her, and her knees buckled. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;">He chuckled and caught
her elbows to steady her. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;">New strength flowed to her limbs, and she pushed away
from him. “Let me go back to my cabin, sir, I have a plan to help you rescue
your sister, but we can talk about it tomorrow.” </span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;"><i>In the daylight. </i></span></div><div><br /></div><div>So work on it.
Get those romantic kisses in your romance and elicit those sighs. </div><div><br /></div><div><i>Georgia Ann, English Rose </i>Blurb </div><div><b>The lure of the legendary Spice Trail beckons,
but he may never find a spice more precious than the treasure he left in Charles
Town. </b></div><div><br /></div><div>Two Charles Town men love Georgia Ann Cooper—Samuel Vargas and his
step-brother, Joshua Becket—but only one both intrigues and infuriates her. Even
though he’s a dangerous budding patriot and a privateer—or more likely
pirate—Samuel fills her dreams and waking moments. </div><div><br /></div><div>When he leaves Charles Town
for high sea adventure on the legendary Spice Trail, she determines to push him
out of her thoughts and her graces. A task made easier when she sets out on her
own journey to England on one of her father’s merchant ships. </div><div><br /></div><div>Samuel Vargas is
determined to make his own way in the world, not live in the glow of his
parents’ escapades in Charles Town and the Spanish Main. There’s no better place
to earn his fortune than the Spice Trail and along the Barbary Coast of the
Mediterranean. But the adventure becomes more than he bargained for when at
Tripoli he stumbles across a familiar face from Charles Town in a sultan's
dungeon, and he’s forced to use all his abilities to save the life of the woman
he’s been trying to forget. </div><div><br /></div><div>As their paths intertwine on a journey filled with
Barbary pirates, intrigue, and romance, only love and the grace of God can
overcome the past and ignite a new beginning for Georgia Ann and Samuel. </div><div> ***</div><div><div>Thanks for stopping by. I’d love to have your feedback and how you describe a great kiss. And please do share this on your social media by clicking on the small icons below.</div><div><br /></div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr5LUzWzOQ_77_5McMyLKWJNwUEDPhtjobeIMFuXbanW-ImRvVAEMo8w8I9d6nqFGg0dNG-FyPNMlOQ_jzKzaBeh4rFFono0zgYiU5v0TzFh2Cg-KHvHkGeEtm3kLA2GL9VK4MndIsWpo/s2048/Elva+1+headshotIMG_5694.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr5LUzWzOQ_77_5McMyLKWJNwUEDPhtjobeIMFuXbanW-ImRvVAEMo8w8I9d6nqFGg0dNG-FyPNMlOQ_jzKzaBeh4rFFono0zgYiU5v0TzFh2Cg-KHvHkGeEtm3kLA2GL9VK4MndIsWpo/s320/Elva+1+headshotIMG_5694.jpg" /></a></div>Elva Cobb Martin is a mother and grandmother who lives in upstate South Carolina. She is president of ACFW-SC Chapter. All her novels have spent time on Amazon's 100 Bestseller's list for Women's Religious</div><div>Fiction. <br /><br /></div><div>Link to <i>Georgia Ann, English Rose</i>: <a href="https://amzn.to/3lYhueR">https://amzn.to/3lYhueR</a> (click on redirect link to go to Amazon page)</div><div>Connect with Elva</div><div>Website: <a href="http://www.elvamartin.com">http://www.elvamartin.com</a> </div><div>BookBub:
<a href="https://www.bookbub.com/profile/elva-cobb-martin">https://www.bookbub.com/profile/elva-cobb-martin</a></div><div>Pinterest <a href="https://www.pinterest.com/elvacobbmartin">https://www.pinterest.com/elvacobbmartin</a></div>Elva Cobb Martin, South Carolinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09278744225513549876noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1626539989457344764.post-65232847327179302322020-05-28T08:51:00.000-07:002020-05-28T08:51:46.484-07:00Read Marisol First Chapter Free! On Sale May 29- June 5 only $.99By Elva Cobb Martin<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIrDlv_Ua_iij32dXz90XFahfykEoINySTJkdQEu7N3LYnE7yuAxhJyeK0vfwqI4F2HzwGZdvgumOvPGxvRrPSRnORD6zJ2VSuIoIpTxu03ZUfLx-sR5HU6dCUw-DEvJFefmQccL3r8v8/s1600/Marisol+4+24+20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIrDlv_Ua_iij32dXz90XFahfykEoINySTJkdQEu7N3LYnE7yuAxhJyeK0vfwqI4F2HzwGZdvgumOvPGxvRrPSRnORD6zJ2VSuIoIpTxu03ZUfLx-sR5HU6dCUw-DEvJFefmQccL3r8v8/s400/Marisol+4+24+20.jpg" width="250" /></a></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Cadiz,
Spain 1740<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Chapter
One<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 9.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Marisol Valentin pressed her tearful face onto the warm
neck of her beloved mare, blocking out for a moment the sickening smell of human
blood in the barn corridor. “Goodbye, my dear Jada.” The horse nickered and nuzzled
her as if understanding. Dragging her feet out of the pregnant Andalusian’s stall,
Marisol couldn’t prevent a sob escaping her lips. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">She averted her eyes from the form lying in the
moonlight near the tack room entrance. The still body of Diego Vargas, nobleman
of Spain, sprawled across the dirt passage.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">She killed him but she’d not had a choice.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Her breath
strangled in her throat as she inched by. Somehow she made it across the shadowed
stable courtyard and up the rear stairs of the hacienda. <span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Bursting into her bedchamber, she</span> shoved
the door closed, and leaned against it. The pressure in her chest, the awful
bile churning her middle, they both rose up to strangle her. She drew in <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>ragged breaths as tears flooded down her cheeks
and onto her ripped gown. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Her maid
Carmela dropped the camisole she was setting out on the bed. “Oh, my lady, what
has happened?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Diego Vargas came into the foaling barn after I entered
to check on Jada and he...” Her voice broke down. She clenched her eyes to block
scenes of his savage attack assailing her mind. “He’s ruined me, and I stabbed
him.” Her lips trembled. “I only meant to stop him. Not kill him.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Carmela gasped and her hand flew across her mouth. “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Madre de Dios</i>!” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Marisol’s shoulders slumped, and she swayed toward
the wash stand. Every movement of her body ached. She would have bruises
everywhere by morning. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Yes, Mother of God, if you’re there, I need
your help</i>. Would God<b> </b>aid a murderess? She plunged her hands into the
tepid water and scrubbed them raw. “Carmela, I</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">must flee
tonight. His family will never believe my story or be content until I sit in
the garroting chair. My blade is in his side.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The
woman hastened to Marisol’s side, her face pale and tense. “You will not go alone,
dear one. I’m going with you.” She darted to the chifferobe and stood on tip
toes to reach for the travel bags on top.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Marisol
turned from the washing bowl, wishing she had more time to sponge away the man’s
dreadful smell of unclean linen and wine that clung to her. But there was not a
moment to spare. She frowned at her maid flinging clothes into both their
valises. “No, my friend. I’ll be a castaway, a criminal fleeing justice. You
must not come with me.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Seeing
her words had no effect, she continued, “You can go back to your brother’s house
tonight. Say you weren’t even here.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Carmela
shook her head. “You cannot travel alone. I’m coming. I have a little savings
of my own, my lady. We need to find a ship to the New World and you will be safe.”
The woman squatted, loosened a floor board, lifted out a small leather pouch,
and stuffed it into her bodice.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Watching
her, Marisol sighed and ceased trying to discourage her. She did not have time
to protest. She rushed to the wardrobe and snatched a garment. The notion of an
escape to the colonies of Spain in the West Indies took root in her mind.
Carmela helped her peel off her ruined clothing and change into the simple, dark
blue silk dress. She decided against a hoop or layers of petticoats. They would
have to travel fast and on foot. She agreed with her maid about the type of shoes.
She would put on her thick, black leather boots. Who knew how long they would
have to walk over what kind of terrain to the harbor? Heretofore, she’d only gone
there in a carriage and by the main road. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Marisol
opened her jewel case and scooped up her valuable necklaces, pearl comb, and
the Valentin rose-cut ruby brooch, her precious last gift from her mother. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Dear Madre.</i> How she missed her. She pressed
an emerald choker into Carmela’s hand. “For our passage when we get <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">to
the harbor,” she whispered and stashed the rest of her jewels in a concealed
pocket under her skirt. But she tied the thin leather strap bearing the ruby
pin around her neck and thrust the gem deep into the top of her gown. She dropped
her mother’s miniature into her bag. Her heart faltered as she thought of her departed
father and how his proud Valentin name would now become a byword linked with murder.
A tear ran down her cheek. She swiped at it and cast her mind again on the New World.
Maybe they could make it to her father’s sister in Cartagena on the Spanish
Main. Aunt Lucia would help her, and that destination should be far enough away.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">She
reached to the rear of the chifferobe and withdrew a short Sevillian steel blade,
similar to, but longer than the navaja left in Diego’s chest. She cast aside
the memory of his glazed, shocked eyes and slid the weapon into the top of her boot.
Her father’s brother, who now managed the estate, did not know about the rapiers
her dear Papa had given her. Nor had she told him about the sword fighting lessons,
he’d insisted she take. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Her
maid touched her arm. “I will go as your dueña and you’ll be safer on the road
and on the ship.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Carmela
dressed her own dark hair as an older woman’s, donned a plain black dress, headpiece,
and wrap. She handed Marisol a blue cloak and thick lace mantilla to cover her tresses
and shadow her pale face. Then she moved to the cold supper tray and stuffed
every sandwich and biscuit she could into her pockets. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">A
glimmer of a smile touched the corners of Marisol’s mouth. Dear Carmela, only
ten years older than her own eighteen summers, but so sensible. They would require
food on their long journey. Her maid resembled a stern governess, clad as she
was. She loved and trusted the woman like a sister she’d never had. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Before
leaving the room in which she grew up, Marisol marked her reflection in the
walnut framed mirror over her marble-topped dresser. Her mantilla covered most
of her thick, ebony hair. But the lace edge pulled close did not mask the
paleness of her face or the bruise on her left cheek where Diego had knocked
her to the barn floor.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Careful
not to awaken the servants on the top floor, they glided like silent ghosts
down the hall, the staircase, and through the shadowed kitchen toward the back door.
Carmela lifted a leather skein of water from the servant’s pantry and draped it
across her sturdy shoulder. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Marisol
followed the woman outside and to the farm road exit carrying her own valise.
The moon drifted in out of clouds like a stealthy galleon following its prey.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Carmela
unlatched the wide gate, and they passed under the arched sign above the
entrance. Marisol stole a look backward. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Valentin
Andalusian Stud Estate</i>. Her heart broke anew. She loved the famous Spanish
horses they bred, the spacious home her mother had once graced, and the large
estate her papa had run like a gentle lord. Would she ever see it again?
Nothing had been the same since her uncle took over at her father’s death.<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> </i>A tear plopped down her cheek. The man
had several faults but one most costly—gambling. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The
taunting words of Diego tripped back across her hot mind. “Don’t think your
dear uncle will come to your rescue, my girl. I’ve won all he owns tonight, including
you. And he’s passed out drunk in the Vargas game room.”<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Walk
faster, my lady,” Carmela urged her on the narrow path winding through the forest
below the main road. “We must reach the harbor before dawn.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Marisol
cast her sorrowful thoughts aside and did as her maid asked. The breeze rustled
through leaves, and the screech from a pursued animal gave her pause. She took
a deep breath. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The
woodsy smell of wild mint, sweet cedar, and verdant growth encouraged her, and
she continued on as fast as she could.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">They
passed the last majestic oak on the Valentin estate. No lights or shouts
followed them from the house or stables. The tightness in Marisol’s shoulders eased,
but not the heaviness in her heart. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Murderess.</i>
The word stung her mind like a scorpion. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The
unpredictable moon covered their flight one moment and revealed their hasty
passage the next. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“How
long should it take us to get to the harbor, Carmela? Surely we can count on
the night for travel before they will miss us in the morning.” <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Before the stable hands find Diego’s body. </i>Marisol
shuddered and ignored her tiring legs. The humid evening air promised rain.
Something else to worry about. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“We must walk fast, my lady. I’ll not have any
peace until we’re on a ship setting sail. And we can’t go the easy road. We
have to stay in the forest shadows <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">cuatro
millas más.</i> But never fear, I know the way.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Four
more miles? How many had they traveled already? Marisol marveled that the woman
wasn’t even breathing hard. Her own legs ached from the continued rapid walk
and she switched her valise to her other hand for relief. Her maid must have sensed
her tiredness for she soon left the path and stopped at a log lying deep in the
trees. Marisol dropped her baggage and sat. Her partner did the same.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“We
can rest now, my lady. But merely for a moment.” She swung the skein from her shoulder
and passed it to Marisol. The welcome water soothed her dry throat and refreshed
her. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Too
soon Carmela stood up, and Marisol followed her back onto the path.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">When
she felt she couldn’t take another step, the scent of the sea and cry of seagulls
lifted her heart and renewed her energy. They had to be close to their destination.
When the moon moved out from the clouds, she could see in the distance a row of
waterfront buildings lit by feeble lights and beyond them, the tops of ship
masts bobbing in the water. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The harbor of
Cadiz</i>. Thunder rumbled, and the sound of horses on the high road made
Marisol tremble. Carmela pulled her from the path into the forest. She stopped
at a large oak stump.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“We
are entering the most dangerous part of our journey, my lady,” she whispered.
“And it may rain. We must wait for time to buy passage on one of the ships at dawn
and we won’t have our cover of darkness. I’m going to look for a merchant ship
heading to Hispaniola.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“But
I want to go to Cartagena. I have an aunt living there who will help us.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“So
you have someone who might offer you shelter? That’s good news, my lady. And don’t
fret; from that island we can gain passage to your aunt’s city and to any other
Spanish colony. It’s the right port to find our way in the West Indies.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Oh.
I am so glad you know all this, Carmela.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The
woman smiled. “Well, that comes from having a father and a brother who were sailors.
Now would you like to rest here until I check things out?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Marisol
nodded and sank onto the tree stump. She dropped her valise next to her aching
feet.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Her
tired mind kept replaying the face of Diego Vargas, her ears still heard his contemptuous
voice as he clamped her hands behind her back. “Since I saw you dance the
flamenco at the harvest gathering, I knew I would have you. And I guessed right
you would check on your prize mare tonight to see if she had foaled. I’ve got plans
for this stud farm. Europe is begging for our Spanish horses.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Marisol
shook her head and forced away the memory of Diego. She propped her elbows on
her lap and leaned her chin onto her hands. For just a moment she closed her eyes.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Cool
raindrops on her face awakened her. She lay on the damp forest floor next to
the stump. Surprised, she sat up and looked around. Pink and purple streaks
spread across the horizon. Where was Carmela?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Marisol
stood and grabbed her valise. She followed the path from the woods her maid had
taken and came to the outskirts of the harbor town. Continuing through narrow, sleepy
streets of Cadiz, she passed store fronts whose owners had yet to open their shutters.
Somewhere a baker cooked bread. The smell of fresh loaves made Marisol’s mouth water.
The shrill cries of two cats fighting in a nearby alley startled her, and she dropped
her bag. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Heavy
footsteps sounded behind her. Before she could turn about, thick arms strong as
iron bands wrapped around her. The odor of sweat, rum, and unwashed clothing
gagged her. In another quick movement her captor grabbed her hands and clapped
a cuff on her wrists. She tried to scream but a foul-smelling hand clamped down
on her mouth. She bit into the fingers and the metallic taste of blood flowed
onto her lips.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The
man slapped her so hard for a moment she lost consciousness. His harsh words, spoken
in a guttural whisper next to her ear brought her back. “If you try that again,
you’ll be sorry, senorita, and don’t scream or you’ll die and I mean a painful
death. We thought there might be more of you heading to the harbor.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Others?</span></i><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Poor Carmela.
Had they caught her, too? If only she’d had time to reach for her knife in her
boot before he’d twisted her hands behind her. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The
man, twice her size, pulled her into an alley like a rag doll with his hand still
over her mouth. Carmela lay bound on the ground before a tall ruffian with a
full red beard and wild hair.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Her maid
twisted her head around and groaned through her gag when she saw her
mistress.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The
larger captor holding Marisol bragged. “Now we have two fine senoritas to help
colonize the King’s colonies. These ought to bring plenty of gold, Jacque.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The
man kicked Carmela and her moan made tears spring to Marisol’s eyes. “Yeah,
well this one put up quite a fight. But she ain’t going nowhere, except to that
ship awaiting a few more warm bodies for the Indies.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">The ruffian called </span><span style="font-size: 16px;">Jacques</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> ripped the mantilla
from Marisol and gagged her with it. Then he wound her cloak around her body
like a mummy, preventing all movement. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Carmela’s
captor pulled a sack over head. He lifted her and slung her across his shoulder
as if she were a sack of potatoes. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The
monster standing over Marisol did the same and plopped her on his back as if
she were a feather weight. He patted her covered head as they moved out onto
the harbor road. “You senoritas can rest easy. We’re bringing your valises,
too. We’ll make sure your valuables find their way into our pockets before we
put you on the ship.” His low, wicked laugh, echoed by his mate, made her want
to chew nails and throw up at the same moment. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">***<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Six
weeks on board the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Magdalena</i> were
more like months for Marisol. Most of the time she and Carmela stayed in the
cramped women’s cabin to avoid the crew and the indentured male passengers. But
a greater concern gripped her than the crowded conditions. Every morning for
the past week she had thrown up in the chamber pot. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">El mareo? </i>But she had never suffered sea sickness when sailing.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">One
day after a difficult episode, Marisol wiped her mouth and sank onto the cot.
Other women in the cabin had murmured when her vomiting started and piled out
the door as fast as they could. Only Carmela remained. Concern ridged her face
as she handed her mistress a damp cloth. She patted her hand, and whispered,
“My lady, do you also have a tender bosom?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Marisol
hung her head. “Yes, dear friend.” A tear slid down her cheek. “I may be with
child.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“How
do you feel about that since...” Her maid lifted her brow.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Marisol
faced her. “You think because I conceived a babe in violence, I would hate the
little one?” She didn’t expect her friend to answer. “The child had no choice
in this matter. I would never be bitter against an innocent baby.” She looked
away. “But I wonder how we can ever handle this.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“But
our God will care for you, milady, and the babe.” Carmela spoke with
confidence. <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Marisol shook her head.
“The same one who protected me from Diego and both of us from the kidnappers?
Sorry to disappoint you, dear friend. But I have no such assurance.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">A
deafening boom sounded from the side of the ship. They both jumped to their
feet. Another blast followed, and the cabin rocked, causing them to grab hold
of the cot posts to keep from being thrown to the floor. The sound of splitting
wood, running boots, and vulgar curses echoed from above. Smoke seeped down
into their space.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Carmela
coughed and wrapped her arms around herself. “We’re under attack, and they have
hit us. May the Blessed Virgin have mercy on us.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The
other women passengers flew into the cabin, their faces tight with fear. The
last one in, bolted the door. A few minutes later, loud knocking sounded.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Who
is it?” Marisol called.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">A
hoarse, anxious voice answered from the passage. “The Captain says tell ye, we
are under attack by them English pirates and ye may have to fight for your
lives.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The
voice was somewhat familiar. Marisol pushed toward the sound, unbolted the
door and opened it wide. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">A
short Spanish sailor stood there, pale under his dark tan. “He’s sent a sword.
Hope one of you can use it.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">He
thrust a rapier handle into Marisol’s hands and scrambled back up the passage.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
End of Chapter 1<br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #162127; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px; letter-spacing: 0.1px; white-space: pre-line;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: black; letter-spacing: normal; white-space: normal;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: xx-small;">Elva Cobb Martin is 2020 President of the SC Chapter of American Christian Fiction Writers. She is a former school teacher and a graduate of</span><i style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: small;"> </i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: xx-small;">Anderson University and Erskine College. </span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: xx-small;">She has three inspirational novels published, </span><i style="color: #333333; font-size: small;"><b>Summer of Deception,</b> </i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: xx-small;">a contemporary romantic suspense, and two historical romances, </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: xx-small;"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">In a Pirate’s Debt, and Marisol, </span></i><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">Book </span><span style="font-size: xx-small;">1 </span></b><span style="font-size: xx-small;">in a new Charleston Brides series for Wild Heart Books.</span><i style="font-weight: bold;"> </i><span style="font-size: xx-small;">All</span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: xx-small;"> three novels have spent time on Amazon’s 100 Best Sellers List for Women’s Religious Fiction.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: xx-small;">Link to all her books: <a href="http://amzn.to/2pOgVHI">http://amzn.to/2pOgVHI</a></span></div>
<br />Elva Cobb Martin, South Carolinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09278744225513549876noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1626539989457344764.post-64249896767828660622020-04-25T12:38:00.003-07:002020-04-25T12:38:55.108-07:00Guest Blog: How to Describe an Estranged Relative Showing UpGreat Guest Blog by Angela Ackerman (Top photo from Elva's file. 😎😏)<br />
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Conflict Thesaurus Entry: An Estranged Relative Showing Up</h1>
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<span class="meta-prep meta-prep-author" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Posted on</span> <a href="https://writershelpingwriters.net/2020/04/conflict-thesaurus-entry-an-estranged-relative-showing-up/" rel="bookmark" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; color: #0066cc; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;" title="2:58 am">April 25, 2020</a> <span class="meta-sep" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">by</span> <span class="author vcard" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a class="url fn n" href="https://writershelpingwriters.net/author/angela/" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; color: #0066cc; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;" title="View all posts by ANGELA ACKERMAN">ANGELA ACKERMAN</a></span></div>
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Conflict is very often the magic sauce for generating tension and turning a ho-hum story into one that rivets readers. As such, every scene should contain a struggle of some kind. Maybe it’s an internal tug-of-war having to do with difficult decisions, morals, or temptations. Or it possibly could come from an external source—other characters, unfortunate circumstances, or the force of nature itself.</div>
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It’s our hope that this thesaurus will help you come up with meaningful and fitting conflict options for your stories. Think about what your character wants and how best to block them, then choose a source of conflict that will ramp up the tension in each scene.</div>
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<strong style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Conflict</strong>: An Estranged Relative Showing Up</div>
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<strong style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Category:</strong> Power struggles, relationship friction, duty and responsibilities, loss of control, ego</div>
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<strong style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Examples:</strong><br />
An estranged parent appearing at the door unannounced<br />
Falling out with a cousin and years later they call to ask for help<br />
An estranged parent showing up at the hospital to meet their grandchild<br />
A sibling that has been out of the character’s life for years in a bind asking for money<br />
A relative banned from the character’s wedding showing up anyway<br />
Feuding relatives showing up at a loved one’s funeral, wake, or will-reading<br />
A child with an out-of-control addiction showing up because they’re in trouble</div>
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<strong style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Minor Complications:</strong><br />
Anger causing rash behavior and words that can’t be taken back<br />
Embarrassment, especially if the person shows up drunk, hungover, or behaves inappropriately in front of others<br />
Having to navigate uncomfortable questions if the character has lied about the person in some way (that they are dead, or in a care facility, etc.)<br />
Losing the esteem of others (the person behaving badly around colleagues, for example)<br />
Exposing loved ones to a toxic person<br />
The estranged relative catering to the character’s partner or child in hopes it will help them get what they want</div>
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<strong style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Potentially Disastrous Results</strong>:<br />
Being suckered into believing they have changed only to find they have not<br />
A child building a relationship with their grandparent only to be later abandoned<br />
The character’s hard-won esteem crashing due to gas-lighting<br />
The character falling back into dysfunctional habits they worked hard to shake<br />
Anger escalating to violence, and the police are called<br />
Family drama ruining an important event (a wedding reception, graduation, etc.)<br />
Discovering money or items are missing after this person’s arrival<br />
The person’s arrival touching off a feud where relatives all takes sides<br />
The estranged member causing friction in their marriage<br />
People discovering the character’s past as they know it is a lie</div>
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<strong style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Possible Internal Struggles (Inner Conflict):</strong><br />
Wanting approval still and so feeling weak for needing it<br />
Struggling to not let one’s own “ugly side” take over due to unresolved anger<br />
Wanting to resolve things but knowing it is impossible<br />
Wanting to tell loved ones the truth behind the rift but being unable to return to the source of hurt<br />
Anxiety over traits the character has in common with the estranged individual<br />
Questioning their memory (especially if gas-lighting was a factor)</div>
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<strong style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">People Who Could Be Negatively Affected</strong>: the character themselves, loved ones (especially vulnerable ones like children or elderly relatives who could be taken advantage of)</div>
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<strong style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Resulting <a href="https://writershelpingwriters.net/2010/10/emotion-thesaurus-entry-collection-samples/" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; color: #0066cc; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Emotions</a></strong>: anger, anxiety, appalled, betrayed, bitterness, certainty, conflicted, confusion, contempt, defensiveness, defiant, disgust, disillusionment, dread, emasculated, embarrassment, flustered, frustration, grief, guilt, hatred, homesick, hopefulness, humiliation, hurt, insecurity, longing, neglected, rage, regret, reluctance, remorse, resentment, resignation, sadness, schadenfreude, scorn, self-loathing, self-pity, shame, shock, skepticism, suspicion, vengeful, vindicated, vulnerability, worthlessness</div>
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<strong style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="https://writershelpingwriters.net/2010/10/character-traits-thesaurus-collection/" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; color: #0066cc; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Personality</a></strong><a href="https://writershelpingwriters.net/2010/10/character-traits-thesaurus-collection/" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; color: #0066cc; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> </a><strong style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="https://writershelpingwriters.net/2010/10/character-traits-thesaurus-collection/" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; color: #0066cc; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Flaws</a> that May Make the Situation Worse:</strong> abrasive, addictive, callous, confrontational, forgetful, hypocritical, indecisive, martyr, needy, perfectionist, subservient, timid, violent, volatile, weak-willed</div>
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<strong style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Positive Outcomes: </strong><br />
If both parties regret the past, perhaps a more functional future can be achieved through forgiveness and accountability<br />
Sometimes a person needs closure. Seeing the person again and knowing they haven’t changed may allow the character to move on.<br />
If the character needed information (say on a birth parent to be able to fill out accurate health histories for their child), it is possible they can finally get it even if that is the only positive of the person returning.</div>
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If you’re interested in other conflict options, you can find them <a href="https://writershelpingwriters.net/conflict-thesaurus/" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; color: #0066cc; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;">here</a>.</div>
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Need More Descriptive Help?</h1>
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While this conflict thesaurus is still being developed, the rest of our descriptive collection (<strong style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">15</strong> unique thesauri and growing) is available at our main site, <a href="https://onestopforwriters.com/" rel="noreferrer noopener" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; color: #0066cc; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">One Stop for Writers</a>.</div>
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Swing by and check out the <a href="https://onestopforwriters.com/getting_started" rel="noreferrer noopener" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; color: #0066cc; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank"><strong style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">video walkthrough</strong></a>, and then give our <strong style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Free Trial</strong> a spin.</div>
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About ANGELA ACKERMAN</h2>
<strong style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Angela</strong> is a writing coach, international speaker, and bestselling author who loves to travel, teach, empower writers, and pay-it-forward. She also is a founder of <a href="https://onestopforwriters.com/" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; color: #0066cc; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;">One Stop For Writers</a>, an online library packed with powerful tools to help writers elevate their storytelling.<br />
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<span style="background-color: transparent;">Thanks for stopping by. Hope you enjoyed Angela's great article. I'm saving it for my file. Have you had an estranged relative show back up? How did you handle it? Please leave your comment and share.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent;">Elva </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #162127; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px; letter-spacing: 0.1px; white-space: pre-line;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: black; letter-spacing: normal; white-space: normal;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: xx-small;">Elva Cobb Martin is 2020 President of the SC Chapter of American Christian Fiction Writers. She is a former school teacher and a graduate of</span><i style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: small;"> </i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: xx-small;">Anderson University and Erskine College. </span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: xx-small;">She has three inspirational novels published, </span><i style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: small;"><b>Summer of Deception,</b> </i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: xx-small;">a contemporary romantic suspense, and two historical romances, </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: xx-small;"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">In a Pirate’s Debt, and Marisol, </span></i><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">Book </span><span style="font-size: xx-small;">1 </span></b><span style="font-size: xx-small;">in a new Charleston Brides series for Wild Heart Books.</span><i style="font-weight: bold;"> </i><span style="font-size: xx-small;">All</span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: xx-small;"> three novels have spent time on Amazon’s 100 Best Sellers List for Women’s Religious Fiction.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: xx-small;">Link to all her books: <a href="http://amzn.to/2pOgVHI">http://amzn.to/2pOgVHI</a></span></div>
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Elva Cobb Martin, South Carolinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09278744225513549876noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1626539989457344764.post-4015981939802496912020-04-18T07:29:00.000-07:002020-04-18T07:29:01.535-07:00Beautiful Healing, Protection Scriptures with Music and Scenery -skip ad<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="344" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/riL_UmSk_MM" width="459"></iframe>Elva Cobb Martin, South Carolinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09278744225513549876noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1626539989457344764.post-53937217727098991612020-04-06T09:24:00.000-07:002020-04-06T09:24:06.533-07:00John Adams' Faith in Time of Crisis -Guest Blog By William Federer<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="background-color: white; border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: Roboto, RobotoDraft, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: small; min-width: 100%; table-layout: fixed; width: 100%px;"><tbody>
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by William Federer</div>
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<span style="font-weight: bold;">John Adams</span> wrote to his cousin, Rev. Zabdiel Adams, June 21, 1776:</div>
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"Statesmen, my dear Sir, may plan and speculate for <span style="font-weight: bold;">liberty,</span> but it is <span style="font-weight: bold;">religion and morality alone,</span> which can establish the principles upon which <span style="font-weight: bold;">freedom</span> can securely stand.</div>
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The only foundation of a free <span style="font-weight: bold;">Constitution</span> is <span style="font-weight: bold;">pure virtue, </span>and if this cannot be inspired into our people in a greater measure, than they have it now, they may change their rulers and the forms of Government, but they will not obtain a <span style="font-weight: bold;">lasting liberty."</span></div>
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On July 1, 1776, <span style="font-weight: bold;">John Adams</span> wrote to Archibald Bullock:</div>
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"The object is great which we have in view, and we must expect a <span style="font-weight: bold;">great expense of blood to obtain it.</span></div>
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But we should always remember that <span style="font-weight: bold;">a free Constitution</span> of civil Government cannot be purchased at too dear a rate as there is nothing, on this side (of) the <span style="font-weight: bold;">New Jerusalem,</span> of equal <span style="font-weight: bold;">importance to Mankind."</span></div>
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On July 1, 1776, <span style="font-weight: bold;">John Adams</span> spoke to the delegates of the Thirteen Colonies at the Continental Congress:</div>
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"Before <span style="font-weight: bold;">God,</span> I believe the hour has come. My judgment approves this measure, and my whole heart is in it.</div>
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All that I have, and all that I am, and all that I hope in this life, I am now ready here to stake upon it. And I leave off as I began, that <span style="font-weight: bold;">live or die, survive or perish, I am for the Declaration.</span></div>
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It is my living sentiment, and by the blessing of <span style="font-weight: bold;">God</span> it shall be my dying sentiment. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Independence now, and Independence forever!"</span></div>
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The Continental Congress selected <span style="font-weight: bold;">John Adams,</span> Benjamin Franklin, Robert R. Livingston, Roger Sherman and Thomas Jefferson to be on the committee to draft the Declaration of Independence.</div>
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<span style="font-weight: bold;">John Adams</span> personally urged Thomas Jefferson to write the draft.</div>
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In contemplating the effect that separation from England would mean to him personally, <span style="font-weight: bold;">John Adams</span> wrote:</div>
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"If it be the pleasure of <span style="font-weight: bold;">Heaven</span> that my country shall require <span style="font-weight: bold;">the poor offering of my life,</span> the victim shall be ready, at the appointed <span style="font-weight: bold;">hour of sacrifice,</span> come when that hour may.</div>
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But while I do live, let me have a country, and that <span style="font-weight: bold;">a free country!"</span></div>
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On July 3, 1776, the day following Congress' approval of the Declaration of Independence, <span style="font-weight: bold;">John Adams</span> wrote to his wife, <span style="font-weight: bold;">Abigail Adams:</span></div>
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"It is <span style="font-weight: bold;">the will of heaven</span> that the two countries should be sundered forever.</div>
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It may be <span style="font-weight: bold;">the will of heaven</span> that America shall suffer calamities still more wasting and distresses yet more dreadful ... The <span style="font-weight: bold;">furnace of affliction</span> produces refinements, in states as well as individuals ...</div>
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You will see in a few days a <span style="font-weight: bold;">Declaration</span> setting forth the causes, which have impelled us to this mighty revolution, and the reasons which will justify it in <span style="font-weight: bold;">the sight of God</span> and man ...</div>
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The new governments we are assuming ... will <span style="font-weight: bold;">require a purification from our vices</span> and an augmentation of <span style="font-weight: bold;">our virtues</span> or they will be no blessings. <span style="font-weight: bold;">The people will have unbounded power.</span></div>
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And the <span style="font-weight: bold;">people are extremely addicted to corruption</span> and venality, as well as the great. I am not without apprehensions from this quarter, but I must submit all my hopes and fears to an overruling <span style="font-weight: bold;">Providence,</span> in which, unfashionable as the faith may be, I firmly believe."</div>
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As the 2nd President, <span style="font-weight: bold;">John Adams</span> wrote, April 26, 1777:</div>
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"Posterity! You will never know <span style="font-weight: bold;">how much it cost</span> the present generation to <span style="font-weight: bold;">preserve your freedom!</span></div>
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I hope you will make a good use of it. If you do not, I shall repent in <span style="font-weight: bold;">Heaven</span> that I ever took half the pains to preserve it."</div>
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<a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f%3D001saHl97emO2b42HAIFczr9D00X1l4FTAjftaSG6y7OYhVmC9mTItwx1SJpYoi6xBvXta_ayndY36hl6LZ3X_7t33j1VlmRhqV5Eu3SY3qwRf9Eu_ilq2JetBGsq_qjLxW6P8PH9nvdC1lqneRLqVZAtNYbHbrm5BkZSkY2s4p_vTtEVJ0hOFwnAvJ3c8aT6uqqNLqJ5mgZKZzc1pUyRa6ACKEraMHqpCSxJOSrDgv7FI%3D%26c%3DrjgjmcOUk1X6-ETT3BhufMM0Z3LuGBdrQccrW-k6z_RJC63EABh_xA%3D%3D%26ch%3DV1GbwY4MATIvHLfVevTE4dkMY0tYfiGKEAgjkd1d-qYSBzjm4i6GLQ%3D%3D&source=gmail&ust=1586274383095000&usg=AFQjCNF0TANTvby7uzeso-TIx0EPMHWBnA" href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001saHl97emO2b42HAIFczr9D00X1l4FTAjftaSG6y7OYhVmC9mTItwx1SJpYoi6xBvXta_ayndY36hl6LZ3X_7t33j1VlmRhqV5Eu3SY3qwRf9Eu_ilq2JetBGsq_qjLxW6P8PH9nvdC1lqneRLqVZAtNYbHbrm5BkZSkY2s4p_vTtEVJ0hOFwnAvJ3c8aT6uqqNLqJ5mgZKZzc1pUyRa6ACKEraMHqpCSxJOSrDgv7FI=&c=rjgjmcOUk1X6-ETT3BhufMM0Z3LuGBdrQccrW-k6z_RJC63EABh_xA==&ch=V1GbwY4MATIvHLfVevTE4dkMY0tYfiGKEAgjkd1d-qYSBzjm4i6GLQ==" style="color: #0199a0;" target="_blank">Check out William J. Federer's YouTube Channel</a></div>
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John Adams' son, <span style="font-weight: bold;">John Quincy Adams,</span> was the 6th U.S. President.</div>
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He stated, March 4, 1825:</div>
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"'Except the Lord keep the city, the watchman waketh in vain,' with <span style="font-weight: bold;">fervent supplications for His favor, to His overruling Providence</span> I commit with humble but fearless confidence my own fate and the future destinies of my country."</div>
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<b> ***</b></div>
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Hope the above article inspired you during this crisis time in America battling the Covid-19 virus. My family is choosing to live in <b>Psalm 91</b> and defeat fear in all its forms. Psalm 23 is a great blessing, too! We are praying for America to come back to God and His word. This is our way to mercy and victory.</div>
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May the Lord bless and keep you is my prayer today!</div>
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Elva Martin</div>
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Elva Cobb Martin, South Carolinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09278744225513549876noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1626539989457344764.post-14077434703528055242020-02-29T06:00:00.000-08:002020-02-29T06:00:02.731-08:00How I Write a Novel - Part 3 Second Draft<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">by Elva Cobb Martin</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">To recap this series, in <b>Part 1</b> we shared how important prayer and faith are in writing Christian Fiction. I shared a special prayer I pray over my writing and some strong Christian Writer's Faith Confessions. Find that blog here: <a href="http://bit.ly/2I4PPqA">http://bit.ly/2I4PPqA</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">In<b> Part 2 </b>I shared how I plot storm, then write that difficult <u>first draft </u>to get the main plot points down without much editing. I describe documents I open up and save on my computer that I'll keep adding to as I write the first draft. To read that blog, click here: <a href="http://bit.ly/386UnXX">http://bit.ly/386UnXX</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Now we begin <u><b>Part 3 - The Second Draft. </b></u>This draft seems easier than the first draft when I was working hard to get the main points of the story down. So I now have my story, the beginning, middle and end, in about 40,000 words. My goal is 60,000 for this second draft, so I must keep writing. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>In the second draft, I do some fine tuning:</b></span><br />
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<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Add more details, descriptions, research, I skipped or skimped on to finish the first draft.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Check for staying in deep point of view (DPOV) with each main character's voice.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Add the five senses more</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Double check the book's opening hook and make sure each chapter ends with a <b>CLIFFHANGER</b> hook to keep readers reading.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Evaluate/strengthen the three main parts of my story: the <u>romance, </u>the <u>adventure</u> (outside happenings that affect the H/H), and the <u>spiritual arc </u>or how my H/H will grow in their faith, or be tested or learn to overcome.</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Next time I'll share how important I've found it to be, to print out that second draft and what I check for.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Thanks for stopping by. Would love your comments about how you write a novel. Please share on your social media by clicking on the small icons below.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Blessings,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Elva</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr5LUzWzOQ_77_5McMyLKWJNwUEDPhtjobeIMFuXbanW-ImRvVAEMo8w8I9d6nqFGg0dNG-FyPNMlOQ_jzKzaBeh4rFFono0zgYiU5v0TzFh2Cg-KHvHkGeEtm3kLA2GL9VK4MndIsWpo/s1600/Elva+1+headshotIMG_5694.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr5LUzWzOQ_77_5McMyLKWJNwUEDPhtjobeIMFuXbanW-ImRvVAEMo8w8I9d6nqFGg0dNG-FyPNMlOQ_jzKzaBeh4rFFono0zgYiU5v0TzFh2Cg-KHvHkGeEtm3kLA2GL9VK4MndIsWpo/s200/Elva+1+headshotIMG_5694.jpg" width="133" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #162127; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px; letter-spacing: 0.1px; white-space: pre-line;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: black; letter-spacing: normal; white-space: normal;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: xx-small;">Elva Cobb Martin is 2020 President of the SC Chapter of American Christian Fiction Writers. She is a former school teacher and a graduate of</span><i style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: small;"> </i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: xx-small;">Anderson University and Erskine College. </span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: xx-small;">She has three inspirational novels published, </span><i style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: small;"><b>Summer of Deception,</b> </i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: xx-small;">a contemporary romantic suspense, and two historical romances, </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: xx-small;"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">In a Pirate’s Debt, and Marisol, </span></i><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">Book </span><span style="font-size: xx-small;">1 </span></b><span style="font-size: xx-small;">in a new Charleston Brides series for Wild Heart Books.</span><i style="font-size: x-small; font-weight: bold;"> </i><span style="font-size: xx-small;">All</span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: xx-small;"> three novels have spent time on Amazon’s 100 Best Sellers List for Women’s Religious Fiction.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>Elva Cobb Martin, South Carolinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09278744225513549876noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1626539989457344764.post-32252290018485715802020-02-21T06:00:00.000-08:002020-02-21T06:00:07.295-08:00How I Write a Novel - Part 2 First Draftby <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Elva Cobb Martin</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_TvRFclwZMtLIpH0zqJcqjnSDxichWN9a2Dp6t9TA5taTwYvqllYyy-wEH1FH-0fTYqC14TLXE01elIlQYI5p1ats4G7LNM3iG1QOtGW4AVC9e_D_W3y-lzw9GLMx1mKRsRkTXDsUsxQ/s1600/Writer+on+Deadline+cartoon+2010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="216" data-original-width="207" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_TvRFclwZMtLIpH0zqJcqjnSDxichWN9a2Dp6t9TA5taTwYvqllYyy-wEH1FH-0fTYqC14TLXE01elIlQYI5p1ats4G7LNM3iG1QOtGW4AVC9e_D_W3y-lzw9GLMx1mKRsRkTXDsUsxQ/s1600/Writer+on+Deadline+cartoon+2010.jpg" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The first draft is actually the most difficult to finish and you should celebrate when you finish! It means you've got the main parts of your story down.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">So how DO I get that first draft down? I have another series of blogs on "Planning Your Novel" in more detail. This series is on our ACFW-SC Chapter blog. Start the first one at <a href="http://bit.ly/2tHM32L">http://bit.ly/2tHM32L</a>.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">As I mentioned in my last blog, I was praying last week and asking the Lord to help me get started what I call <i>plotstorming</i> for Book 3, <i>Anna Grace, </i>in the Charleston Brides Series, and right in the middle of my praying a simple outline, <i>my novel in a nutshell,</i> came into mind. In about ten minutes I was able to jot down an opening/hooking scene idea, and what the first third of the book would probably need to cover, basic ideas the middle would need to cover, and then the final third and ending main scene idea. I had my initial story line in a few minutes!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">All this was jotted down in a few sentences, one page, but I breathed a sigh of relief. I now knew where I was going, some of the things that would happen in the middle and how the story should end. OF COURSE, any or all of this can change or be modified, but it felt so good to get this much down.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Now I must admit, I had already been doing a lot of reading and research in my time period and genre. That's so important to help the ideas flow. (See more on that in the "Planning Your Novel" series mentioned above).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">So after I left my prayer time, I later came to the computer and opened up a new document to begin serious plotstorming of Anna Grace. I saved it as</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>01 Anna Grace Plotstorming Book 3 Charleston Brides series. </b>The 01 designation means it will be at the top beginning of my documents and easy to find fast.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">This <b>Plotstorming Document</b> will include :</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">1) The opening, middle and ending scene ideas expanded to a page or more each, as various scenes come to mind.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">2) Three Plot Outlines I will work out from #1: </span><br />
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<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The Romance Plot - how will the romance begin, hit conflict, end happily?</span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The Adventure Plot - what exciting things will be happening to my H/H? (Shipwreck, kidnapping, surprises?)</span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Spiritual Plot - the main spiritual theme of the book shown in the spiritual arcs of the main characters as they face conflict and life. How will this progress?</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">3) A list of characters' names, descriptions and some photos from the net.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">4) Research segments will be saved in separate files, but under the main name of </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Anna Grace. ( Ex. </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Anna Grace - Charleston Under Siege</i><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Next, I will begin the actual writing of the first draft. I will save that document as <b>01 Anna Grace ms in progress </b>in Times New Roman, double spaced, etc.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I will also open up a new document and save it as:</span><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">01 Anna Grace Chapter Outline</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Here I will do a scene by scene list as I write scenes in each chapter and with page numbers of the start and ending of each chapter. (Yes, page numbers WILL change in the 2nd draft and I'll note the changes then).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: yellow;"><u>My best plan is to write the FIRST draft as fast as I can,</u> with little editing, </span>and not stopping to describe a gown or place in detail. I aim to get down the main plot points and twists. I usually end up with about 45,000 words of a projected 60,000 word novel. But I celebrate that I've FINISHED THE FIRST DRAFT. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Next Time: <b>Writing the Second Draft</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Thanks for stopping by. Would love your comments of how you write a novel. And please do share this blog on your social media.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Happy Valentines,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Elva Martin</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #162127; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px; letter-spacing: 0.1px; white-space: pre-line;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: black; letter-spacing: normal; white-space: normal;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: xx-small;">Elva Cobb Martin is 2020 President of the SC Chapter of American Christian Fiction Writers. She is a former school teacher and a graduate of</span><i style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: small;"> </i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: xx-small;">Anderson University and Erskine College. She has three inspirational novels published, </span><i style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: small;"><b>Summer of Deception,</b> </i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: xx-small;">a contemporary romantic suspense, and two historical romances, </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: xx-small;"><i style="font-weight: bold;">In a Pirate’s Debt, and Marisol, </i>Book 1 in a new Charleston Brides series for Wild Heart Books.<i style="font-weight: bold;"> </i>All</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: xx-small;"> three novels have spent time on Amazon’s 100 Best Sellers List for Women’s Religious Fiction. She has indie published a Bible study on Amazon, </span><i style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: small;">Power Over Satan,</i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: xx-small;"> on the believer's authority in Christ.</span><i style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: small;"> </i><i style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: small;">Decision, Charisma, and Home Life </i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: xx-small;">have carried Elva's articles. She and her husband Dwayne are retired ministers. A mother and grandmother, Elva lives in South Carolina. Connect with her on her web site </span><u style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: small;">http://</u><a href="http://www.elvamartin.com/" style="color: #771100; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: small;">www.elvamartin.com</a><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: xx-small;">, Twitter </span><a href="http://www.twitter.com/ElvaCobbMartin" style="color: #771100; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: small;">www.twitter.com/ElvaCobbMartin</a><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: xx-small;">; Facebook </span><a href="http://www.facebook.com/elvacobbmartin" style="color: #771100; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: small;">http://www.facebook.com/elvacobbmartin</a><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: xx-small;">; and Pinterest </span><a href="https://www.pinterest.com/elvacobbmartin" style="color: #771100; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: small;">https://www.pinterest.com/elvacobbmartin</a><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: xx-small;"> </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: xx-small;"> </span><br style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: small;" /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small; text-indent: 0in;"> Link to her romance novels and non-fiction works </span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small; letter-spacing: normal; text-indent: 0in; white-space: normal;">on </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: xx-small; letter-spacing: normal; text-indent: 0in; white-space: normal;">Amazon: <a href="http://amzn.to/2pOgVHI" style="color: #771100;">http://amzn.to/2pOgVHI</a></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small; letter-spacing: normal; text-indent: 0in; white-space: normal;"> </span></span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<br />Elva Cobb Martin, South Carolinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09278744225513549876noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1626539989457344764.post-22544667341809630272020-02-14T05:05:00.001-08:002020-02-14T05:05:21.285-08:00Guest Post: The Origin of St. Valentine's Day by Bill Federer<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse; min-width: 100%; table-layout: fixed; width: 100%px;"><tbody>
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<span style="color: white; font-size: 24px; font-weight: bold;">American Minute with Bill Federer</span></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-size: 24px;">Origin of Saint Valentine's Day</span></div>
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The origin of <span style="font-weight: bold;">Saint Valentine's Day </span>goes back to the 3rd century.</div>
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At that time, the <span style="font-weight: bold;">Roman Empire</span> was being <span style="font-weight: bold;">invaded by Goths.</span></div>
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At the same time, the <span style="font-weight: bold;">Plague of Cyprian,</span> probably <span style="font-weight: bold;">smallpox,</span> broke out killing at its height 5,000 people a day.</div>
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<div>
So many died that the <span style="font-weight: bold;">Roman army</span> was <span style="font-weight: bold;">depleted of soldiers.</span></div>
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<tr><td align="center" class="m_2570967423975917828mobile-hidden" height="5" style="font-family: Roboto, RobotoDraft, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; height: 5px; line-height: 1px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" valign="top"><img alt="" border="0" class="CToWUd" height="5" hspace="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEidurBOKjFrUCJe4qXfV3rYwWHeHJ3clf0yHkhYrlA3cHGn46V5hi9E6QvdPhiegMTK0Kc0rspxuGcJtmj1tEn383ACvs7QIaLq7c0dt_Z1WV-rmd_WFJ9wVBkE8REcuOUzY41NDm_8E2JK2_mnTvVQyr3xj63DRgGaNdY=s0-d-e1-ft" style="display: block; height: auto; max-width: 100%;" vspace="0" width="1" /></td><td align="center" class="m_2570967423975917828mobile-hidden" height="5" style="font-family: Roboto, RobotoDraft, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; height: 1px; line-height: 1px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" valign="top" width="5"><img alt="" border="0" class="CToWUd" height="1" hspace="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEidurBOKjFrUCJe4qXfV3rYwWHeHJ3clf0yHkhYrlA3cHGn46V5hi9E6QvdPhiegMTK0Kc0rspxuGcJtmj1tEn383ACvs7QIaLq7c0dt_Z1WV-rmd_WFJ9wVBkE8REcuOUzY41NDm_8E2JK2_mnTvVQyr3xj63DRgGaNdY=s0-d-e1-ft" style="display: block; height: auto; max-width: 100%;" vspace="0" width="5" /></td></tr>
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<div>
<div>
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Roman Emperor Claudius II</span> needed more soldiers to fight the invading Goths.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
He believed that <span style="font-weight: bold;">men fought better if they were not married,</span> so <span style="font-weight: bold;">he banned traditional marriage in the military.</span></div>
</div>
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<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse; min-width: 100%; table-layout: fixed; width: 100%px;"><tbody>
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<div>
<div>
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Rome</span> was also torn from internal rivalries which continued since the assassination of the previous <span style="font-weight: bold;">Emperor, Gallienus.</span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Emperor Claudius II</span> quelled these tensions by requesting the Roman Senate <span style="font-weight: bold;">deify Emperor Gallienus,</span> so as to be <span style="font-weight: bold;">worshiped along with the other Roman gods.</span></div>
</div>
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<tr><td align="center" class="m_2570967423975917828mobile-hidden" height="5" style="font-family: Roboto, RobotoDraft, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; height: 5px; line-height: 1px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" valign="top"><img alt="" border="0" class="CToWUd" height="5" hspace="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEidurBOKjFrUCJe4qXfV3rYwWHeHJ3clf0yHkhYrlA3cHGn46V5hi9E6QvdPhiegMTK0Kc0rspxuGcJtmj1tEn383ACvs7QIaLq7c0dt_Z1WV-rmd_WFJ9wVBkE8REcuOUzY41NDm_8E2JK2_mnTvVQyr3xj63DRgGaNdY=s0-d-e1-ft" style="display: block; height: auto; max-width: 100%;" vspace="0" width="1" /></td><td align="center" class="m_2570967423975917828mobile-hidden" height="5" style="font-family: Roboto, RobotoDraft, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; height: 1px; line-height: 1px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" valign="top" width="5"><img alt="" border="0" class="CToWUd" height="1" hspace="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEidurBOKjFrUCJe4qXfV3rYwWHeHJ3clf0yHkhYrlA3cHGn46V5hi9E6QvdPhiegMTK0Kc0rspxuGcJtmj1tEn383ACvs7QIaLq7c0dt_Z1WV-rmd_WFJ9wVBkE8REcuOUzY41NDm_8E2JK2_mnTvVQyr3xj63DRgGaNdY=s0-d-e1-ft" style="display: block; height: auto; max-width: 100%;" vspace="0" width="5" /></td></tr>
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<div>
Citizens were forced to <span style="font-weight: bold;">worship the Roman gods,</span> and <span style="font-weight: bold;">"deified" emperors,</span> by <span style="font-weight: bold;">placing a pinch of incense on a fire before their statues.</span></div>
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<span style="font-weight: bold;">Those who refused</span> worship of the Roman gods <span style="font-weight: bold;">were considered "politically incorrect" or "unpatriotic" enemies</span> of the state and killed.</div>
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<tr><td align="center" class="m_2570967423975917828mobile-hidden" height="5" style="font-family: Roboto, RobotoDraft, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; height: 1px; line-height: 1px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" valign="top" width="5"><img alt="" border="0" class="CToWUd" height="1" hspace="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEidurBOKjFrUCJe4qXfV3rYwWHeHJ3clf0yHkhYrlA3cHGn46V5hi9E6QvdPhiegMTK0Kc0rspxuGcJtmj1tEn383ACvs7QIaLq7c0dt_Z1WV-rmd_WFJ9wVBkE8REcuOUzY41NDm_8E2JK2_mnTvVQyr3xj63DRgGaNdY=s0-d-e1-ft" style="display: block; height: auto; max-width: 100%;" vspace="0" width="5" /></td><td align="center" class="m_2570967423975917828mobile-hidden" height="5" style="font-family: Roboto, RobotoDraft, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; height: 5px; line-height: 1px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" valign="top"><img alt="" border="0" class="CToWUd" height="5" hspace="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEidurBOKjFrUCJe4qXfV3rYwWHeHJ3clf0yHkhYrlA3cHGn46V5hi9E6QvdPhiegMTK0Kc0rspxuGcJtmj1tEn383ACvs7QIaLq7c0dt_Z1WV-rmd_WFJ9wVBkE8REcuOUzY41NDm_8E2JK2_mnTvVQyr3xj63DRgGaNdY=s0-d-e1-ft" style="display: block; height: auto; max-width: 100%;" vspace="0" width="1" /></td></tr>
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<div>
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Emperor Decian's</span> persecution specifically <span style="font-weight: bold;">targeted Christians </span>with legislation forcing them to deny their consciences or die.</div>
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<tr><td align="left" class="m_2570967423975917828editor-text m_2570967423975917828article-text" style="color: #303030; display: block; font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 22px; line-height: 1.2; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 10px 20px;" valign="top"><div>
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<tr><td align="center" class="m_2570967423975917828image-cell" style="font-family: Roboto, RobotoDraft, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" valign="top"><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f%3D001KkWoo0w61kbVU6oN7X85XHlxYiw771vlAeEU_5wr8HKRxtr99_cteyfqfiLwvij2vmL2uBTEB_LCSVUxp_N5uQ8uG2myXg6PVu1PRI5lJsCs7XiHvlehOiw5hvCH3XdrT8u_8c0sv4kJVWQOJBt8FwjKPb9vMJRhCG6rLCR6S1k%3D%26c%3DPIHq2g3WlfB2EThl3cJItEY0qf08b8VkYTaH-XU-wMWkdafGlFDGvw%3D%3D%26ch%3Dr0aRyaMMXAJdhsO5mcasKjav0R-1sFuiQlxakAOIgWXZ5ttvrrTGjw%3D%3D&source=gmail&ust=1581770026329000&usg=AFQjCNEqg9ZUhx3c7FhwhViRlbyj0Dnfpw" href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001KkWoo0w61kbVU6oN7X85XHlxYiw771vlAeEU_5wr8HKRxtr99_cteyfqfiLwvij2vmL2uBTEB_LCSVUxp_N5uQ8uG2myXg6PVu1PRI5lJsCs7XiHvlehOiw5hvCH3XdrT8u_8c0sv4kJVWQOJBt8FwjKPb9vMJRhCG6rLCR6S1k=&c=PIHq2g3WlfB2EThl3cJItEY0qf08b8VkYTaH-XU-wMWkdafGlFDGvw==&ch=r0aRyaMMXAJdhsO5mcasKjav0R-1sFuiQlxakAOIgWXZ5ttvrrTGjw==" style="color: #0199a0;" target="_blank"><img alt="" border="0" class="CToWUd" hspace="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEju10CFSi7gKLIY2wSd-KfMj7Ht2LPy0cTelhUKAHMIx5IRjAOMPPiBSlDt8XfzJtWU557T8bjzt3HbnjEiK2_2HlS9R2oVlkjWp5UJFyPKK-9lvZibFvJ98XRrUVBLkRP5XPw6oTjeqCZ9qMMvg6fV4Qj1uMUqzCzGGzZuq3-BikIsPPgV1y4k3Sjkb71wc6ASkkp_-dY=s0-d-e1-ft" style="display: block; height: auto; max-width: 100%;" vspace="0" width="359" /></a></td><td align="center" class="m_2570967423975917828mobile-hidden" height="1" style="font-family: Roboto, RobotoDraft, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; height: 1px; line-height: 1px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" valign="top" width="15"><img alt="" border="0" class="CToWUd" height="1" hspace="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEidurBOKjFrUCJe4qXfV3rYwWHeHJ3clf0yHkhYrlA3cHGn46V5hi9E6QvdPhiegMTK0Kc0rspxuGcJtmj1tEn383ACvs7QIaLq7c0dt_Z1WV-rmd_WFJ9wVBkE8REcuOUzY41NDm_8E2JK2_mnTvVQyr3xj63DRgGaNdY=s0-d-e1-ft" style="display: block; height: auto; max-width: 100%;" vspace="0" width="15" /></td></tr>
<tr><td align="center" class="m_2570967423975917828mobile-hidden" height="5" style="font-family: Roboto, RobotoDraft, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; height: 5px; line-height: 1px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" valign="top"><img alt="" border="0" class="CToWUd" height="5" hspace="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEidurBOKjFrUCJe4qXfV3rYwWHeHJ3clf0yHkhYrlA3cHGn46V5hi9E6QvdPhiegMTK0Kc0rspxuGcJtmj1tEn383ACvs7QIaLq7c0dt_Z1WV-rmd_WFJ9wVBkE8REcuOUzY41NDm_8E2JK2_mnTvVQyr3xj63DRgGaNdY=s0-d-e1-ft" style="display: block; height: auto; max-width: 100%;" vspace="0" width="1" /></td><td align="center" class="m_2570967423975917828mobile-hidden" height="5" style="font-family: Roboto, RobotoDraft, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; height: 1px; line-height: 1px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" valign="top" width="5"><img alt="" border="0" class="CToWUd" height="1" hspace="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEidurBOKjFrUCJe4qXfV3rYwWHeHJ3clf0yHkhYrlA3cHGn46V5hi9E6QvdPhiegMTK0Kc0rspxuGcJtmj1tEn383ACvs7QIaLq7c0dt_Z1WV-rmd_WFJ9wVBkE8REcuOUzY41NDm_8E2JK2_mnTvVQyr3xj63DRgGaNdY=s0-d-e1-ft" style="display: block; height: auto; max-width: 100%;" vspace="0" width="5" /></td></tr>
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<div>
During the <span style="font-weight: bold;">first three centuries of Christianity,</span> there were <span style="font-weight: bold;">ten major persecutions</span> in which the <span style="font-weight: bold;">government</span> threw Christians to the lions, boiled them alive, had their tongues cut out, and worse.</div>
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<span style="font-weight: bold;">Roman soldiers</span> would break into church meetings, catacombs, and homes, confiscating and<span style="font-weight: bold;"> destroying Christian writings, scriptures and church records.</span></div>
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Because so many records were destroyed, details of <span style="font-weight: bold;">Saint Valentine's</span> life are scant.</div>
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What little is known is from the works of <span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Eusebius of Caesarea,</span> compiled around 362 AD and the <span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Martyrologium Hieronymianum</span> <span style="font-style: italic;">(Martyrology of Jerome), </span>compiled around A.D. 460-544.</div>
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<span style="font-weight: bold;">Saint Valentine</span> is mentioned in <span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Legenda Sanctorum</span> by Jacobus de Voragine in 1260 and in the <span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Nuremberg Chronicle,</span> 1493.</div>
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<div>
Though several individuals may have had that name, it appears <span style="font-weight: bold;">Saint Valentine</span> was either a priest in Rome or a bishop in Terni, central Italy.</div>
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<tr><td align="center" class="m_2570967423975917828mobile-hidden" height="5" style="font-family: Roboto, RobotoDraft, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; height: 1px; line-height: 1px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" valign="top" width="5"><img alt="" border="0" class="CToWUd" height="1" hspace="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEidurBOKjFrUCJe4qXfV3rYwWHeHJ3clf0yHkhYrlA3cHGn46V5hi9E6QvdPhiegMTK0Kc0rspxuGcJtmj1tEn383ACvs7QIaLq7c0dt_Z1WV-rmd_WFJ9wVBkE8REcuOUzY41NDm_8E2JK2_mnTvVQyr3xj63DRgGaNdY=s0-d-e1-ft" style="display: block; height: auto; max-width: 100%;" vspace="0" width="5" /></td><td align="center" class="m_2570967423975917828mobile-hidden" height="5" style="font-family: Roboto, RobotoDraft, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; height: 5px; line-height: 1px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" valign="top"><img alt="" border="0" class="CToWUd" height="5" hspace="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEidurBOKjFrUCJe4qXfV3rYwWHeHJ3clf0yHkhYrlA3cHGn46V5hi9E6QvdPhiegMTK0Kc0rspxuGcJtmj1tEn383ACvs7QIaLq7c0dt_Z1WV-rmd_WFJ9wVBkE8REcuOUzY41NDm_8E2JK2_mnTvVQyr3xj63DRgGaNdY=s0-d-e1-ft" style="display: block; height: auto; max-width: 100%;" vspace="0" width="1" /></td></tr>
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<div>
He risked the Emperor's wrath by <span style="font-weight: bold;">standing up for traditional marriage, secretly marrying soldiers to their young brides.</span></div>
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<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse; min-width: 100%; table-layout: fixed; width: 100%px;"><tbody>
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<tr><td align="center" class="m_2570967423975917828mobile-hidden" height="5" style="font-family: Roboto, RobotoDraft, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; height: 5px; line-height: 1px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" valign="top"><img alt="" border="0" class="CToWUd" height="5" hspace="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEidurBOKjFrUCJe4qXfV3rYwWHeHJ3clf0yHkhYrlA3cHGn46V5hi9E6QvdPhiegMTK0Kc0rspxuGcJtmj1tEn383ACvs7QIaLq7c0dt_Z1WV-rmd_WFJ9wVBkE8REcuOUzY41NDm_8E2JK2_mnTvVQyr3xj63DRgGaNdY=s0-d-e1-ft" style="display: block; height: auto; max-width: 100%;" vspace="0" width="1" /></td><td align="center" class="m_2570967423975917828mobile-hidden" height="5" style="font-family: Roboto, RobotoDraft, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; height: 1px; line-height: 1px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" valign="top" width="5"><img alt="" border="0" class="CToWUd" height="1" hspace="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEidurBOKjFrUCJe4qXfV3rYwWHeHJ3clf0yHkhYrlA3cHGn46V5hi9E6QvdPhiegMTK0Kc0rspxuGcJtmj1tEn383ACvs7QIaLq7c0dt_Z1WV-rmd_WFJ9wVBkE8REcuOUzY41NDm_8E2JK2_mnTvVQyr3xj63DRgGaNdY=s0-d-e1-ft" style="display: block; height: auto; max-width: 100%;" vspace="0" width="5" /></td></tr>
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<div>
When <span style="font-weight: bold;">Emperor Claudius</span> demanded that Christians <span style="font-weight: bold;">deny their consciences </span>and worship pagan idols, <span style="font-weight: bold;">Saint Valentine</span> refused.</div>
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<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse; min-width: 100%; table-layout: fixed; width: 100%px;"><tbody>
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<div>
He was arrested, dragged before the Prefect of Rome, and condemned him to die.</div>
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<div>
While awaiting execution, his jailer, Asterius, asked <span style="font-weight: bold;">Saint Valentine</span> to pray for his blind daughter.</div>
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<div>
When she miraculously regained her sight, the jailer converted and was baptized, along with many others.</div>
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<div>
Right before his execution, <span style="font-weight: bold;">Saint Valentine</span> wrote a note to the jailer's daughter, signing it, <span style="font-weight: bold;">"from your Valentine."</span></div>
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<span style="font-weight: bold;">Saint Valentine</span> was beaten with clubs and stones, and when that failed to kill him, he was beheaded outside the Flaminian Gate on <span style="font-weight: bold;">FEBRUARY 14, 269AD.</span></div>
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<div>
In 496 AD, <span style="font-weight: bold;">Pope Gelasius</span> designated <span style="font-weight: bold;">FEBRUARY 14th</span> as <span style="font-weight: bold;">"Saint Valentine's Day."</span></div>
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<div>
<div>
In the High Middle Ages, <span style="font-weight: bold;">Geoffrey Chaucer, </span>called the father of English literature, wrote a poem called <span style="font-style: italic;">Parliament of Foules (Assembly of Fowls) </span>(c.1393).</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
It it he described how fowls, birds, <span style="font-weight: bold;">chose their mates in mid-February:</span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
"For this was <span style="font-weight: bold;">Saint Valentine's day,</span> when every bird of every kind that men can imagine comes to this place to choose his mate."</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
He made another mention in the final chapter of <span style="font-style: italic;">The Cantebury Tales:</span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
"The book of the Duchesse; the book of <span style="font-weight: bold;">Seint Valentynes day</span> of the Parlement of Briddes (Birds)."</div>
</div>
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</div>
<div>
The association of <span style="font-weight: bold;">birds</span> with <span style="font-weight: bold;">fidelity in marital love</span> came about because <span style="font-weight: bold;">90 percent of bird species are monogamous.</span></div>
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</div>
<div>
<div>
Many bird species mate for life, such as varieties of:</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Swans,</div>
<div>
Canada Geese,</div>
<div>
Ravens, Cranes,</div>
<div>
Blue Jays,</div>
<div>
Barn Owls,</div>
<div>
Red-Tailed Hawks,</div>
<div>
Woodpeckers,</div>
<div>
Ospreys,</div>
<div>
Raptors,</div>
<div>
Penquins, and</div>
<div>
Bald Eagles,</div>
</div>
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</tbody></table>
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After elaborate courtships, depending on their species, these birds remain together until one partner dies.</div>
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Birds that mate for life have offspring that require more extensive care and instruction from parents.</div>
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They are able to mate earlier in the season which allows their young more time to develop before the fall and winter seasons of long migrations or harsh winter weather.</div>
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<tr><td align="left" class="m_2570967423975917828article m_2570967423975917828editor-col m_2570967423975917828OneColumnMobile" style="font-family: Roboto, RobotoDraft, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px;" valign="top" width="100%"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse; min-width: 100%; table-layout: fixed; width: 100%px;"><tbody>
<tr><td align="left" class="m_2570967423975917828editor-text m_2570967423975917828article-text" style="color: #303030; display: block; font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 22px; line-height: 1.2; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 10px 20px;" valign="top"> *****</td><td align="left" class="m_2570967423975917828editor-text m_2570967423975917828article-text" style="color: #303030; display: block; font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 22px; line-height: 1.2; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 10px 20px;" valign="top"> Hope you've found the origin of Valentine's Day as interesting as I did! And I love the list of birds that mate for life and their relation to Valentine's Day.</td><td align="left" class="m_2570967423975917828editor-text m_2570967423975917828article-text" style="color: #303030; display: block; font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 22px; line-height: 1.2; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 10px 20px;" valign="top">Enjoy the cards, candy, and flowers, and send some. Valentine's Day marks a bright spot like the sun rising in an otherwise cold, darker winter season. It is a great opportunity to show our love to others.</td><td align="left" class="m_2570967423975917828editor-text m_2570967423975917828article-text" style="color: #303030; display: block; font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 22px; line-height: 1.2; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 10px 20px;" valign="top">Google American Minute by Bill Federer if you'd like to sign up for his newsletter. He sends out great historical information. </td><td align="left" class="m_2570967423975917828editor-text m_2570967423975917828article-text" style="color: #303030; display: block; font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 22px; line-height: 1.2; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 10px 20px;" valign="top">Happy Valentine's Day!</td><td align="left" class="m_2570967423975917828editor-text m_2570967423975917828article-text" style="color: #303030; display: block; font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 22px; line-height: 1.2; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 10px 20px;" valign="top">Elva Martin</td><td align="left" class="m_2570967423975917828editor-text m_2570967423975917828article-text" style="color: #303030; display: block; font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 22px; line-height: 1.2; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 10px 20px;" valign="top"><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #162127; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px; letter-spacing: 0.1px; white-space: pre-line;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: black; letter-spacing: normal; white-space: normal;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: xx-small;">Elva Cobb Martin is 2020 President of the SC Chapter of American Christian Fiction Writers. She is a former school teacher and a graduate of</span><i style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: small;"> </i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: xx-small;">Anderson University and Erskine College. She has three inspirational novels published, </span><i style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: small;"><b>Summer of Deception,</b> </i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: xx-small;">a contemporary romantic suspense, and two historical romances, </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: xx-small;"><i style="font-weight: bold;">In a Pirate’s Debt, and Marisol, </i>Book 1 in a new Charleston Brides series for Wild Heart Books.<i style="font-weight: bold;"> </i>All</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: xx-small;"> three novels have spent time on Amazon’s 100 Best Sellers List for Women’s Religious Fiction. She has indie published a Bible study on Amazon, </span><i style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: small;">Power Over Satan,</i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: xx-small;"> on the believer's authority in Christ.</span><i style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: small;"> </i><i style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: small;">Decision, Charisma, and Home Life </i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: xx-small;">have carried Elva's articles. She and her husband Dwayne are retired ministers. A mother and grandmother, Elva lives in South Carolina. Connect with her on her web site </span><u style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: small;">http://</u><a href="http://www.elvamartin.com/" style="color: #771100; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: small;">www.elvamartin.com</a><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: xx-small;">, Twitter </span><a href="http://www.twitter.com/ElvaCobbMartin" style="color: #771100; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: small;">www.twitter.com/ElvaCobbMartin</a><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: xx-small;">; Facebook </span><a href="http://www.facebook.com/elvacobbmartin" style="color: #771100; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: small;">http://www.facebook.com/elvacobbmartin</a><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: xx-small;">; and Pinterest </span><a href="https://www.pinterest.com/elvacobbmartin" style="color: #771100; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: small;">https://www.pinterest.com/elvacobbmartin</a><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: xx-small;"> </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: xx-small;"> </span><br style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: small;" /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small; text-indent: 0in;"> Link to her romance novels and non-fiction works </span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small; letter-spacing: normal; text-indent: 0in; white-space: normal;">on </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: xx-small; letter-spacing: normal; text-indent: 0in; white-space: normal;">Amazon: <a href="http://amzn.to/2pOgVHI" style="color: #771100;">http://amzn.to/2pOgVHI</a></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small; letter-spacing: normal; text-indent: 0in; white-space: normal;"> </span></span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;"> </span></span></span><br />
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Elva Cobb Martin, South Carolinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09278744225513549876noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1626539989457344764.post-18713920819261293642020-02-09T06:00:00.000-08:002020-02-09T06:00:06.069-08:00How I Write a Novel - Part 1 Prayer & Faith<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">By Elva Cobb Martin</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiORYebzBjK5ruohHLq6fM-mWHDxMIpXpdwE6EP4_3wtk8oEBrItv_xVBkWW9bE69vGJq_XmjBQnjTZ5k_Nru8D-iIcbcUBSkPnFBUiutCg_xPWx51hNA-YS4JExPSy-5p2AKg6RxOPNnc/s1600/16641073_1241621409255630_7257610516737843862_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="220" data-original-width="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiORYebzBjK5ruohHLq6fM-mWHDxMIpXpdwE6EP4_3wtk8oEBrItv_xVBkWW9bE69vGJq_XmjBQnjTZ5k_Nru8D-iIcbcUBSkPnFBUiutCg_xPWx51hNA-YS4JExPSy-5p2AKg6RxOPNnc/s1600/16641073_1241621409255630_7257610516737843862_n.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Happy Valentines Week!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Since I've just sent in my fourth novel and am starting work on my fifth, I am inviting you along to see how I write a novel. It will be a good review for me and, hopefully, help to you in writing your novel.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Here's a quick outline teaser of the coming blogs:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Part 1 Cover the project in prayer and faith - Today's blog</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Part 2 How I Write the First Draft</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Part 3 How I Write the Second Draft</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Part 4 Print Out Second Draft to read and mark.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Part 5 My Editing Process </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Part 6 Fine Tuning and Final Checks before sending off</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><u>Part 1 - Faith and Prayer</u></span></h3>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Every time I start a novel, I have to believe God as though it were my first. There it is. I admit it. This keeps me depending on Him versus my own ability.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><u>Two Important Aspects </u></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>A) Study and confession of the Word of God</b>--especially the promises relating to writing.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Jesus said in John 6:63: <i>"These words that I speak unto you, they are spirit and they are life."</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">In 2 Timothy 3:16 we read: "<i>All scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable..."</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">A Greek study of the word <i>inspiration </i>reveals it means God's breath. God breathed into those He chose to write the Bible, and <i>the words </i>they wrote had God's breath in them. Think of a balloon you blow up and tie in a knot. Your breath, part of you, is still in that balloon even though you're no longer blowing into it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">God's breath is still contained in the Word of God, the Bible. This is why Jesus could boldly say, "These words...are spirit and life."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">No other words or books can make this claim truthfully.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">This is why I read through the Bible systematically each year. This is why I attend a Spirit-filled, Bible-preaching church weekly. I want God's breath to keep blowing on me. I want more of His Spirit and His life flowing through me and my writing.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Another great way to release God's breath into our lives (and writing) is by verbal confession of scriptures, and having faith in those words to bring life.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I have compiled some Christian Writers Confessions of Faith</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">If you email me at elvacmartin@gmail.com, I'll be happy to email you a copy of my<b> 12 Christian Writers' Faith Confessions." </b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Here are the first three:</span><br />
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1) My tongue is the pen of a ready writer. Ps.45:1<br />
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2) A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth that which is good. Luke 6:45<br />
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3) (My) pleasant words are as honeycomb, sweet to the soul and health to the bones. Prov. 16:24<br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">B) Prayer - Mine and Others</span></h3>
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<b>1) Prayer Partners</b><br />
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I have a group of prayer warrior partners to whom I send a monthly prayer request list of personal and writing needs. They are free to send me their personal requests to lift up. Their prayers have helped in many ways.<br />
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<b>2) Daily Prayer for my Writing:</b><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-small;">Lord, I invite and thank you for being a Co-Laborer in my writing
today.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-small;">Help me work hard and not get distracted. In faith I ask for:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-small;">1) Your plans, wisdom, inspiration, plotting, characterization,
dialog, clear DPOV, my best writing, and Christian
theme and nuggets to impact readers’ lives for good.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-small;">2) Good computer operation and time spent, efficiency, best daily
schedule, right diet, exercise. Help me not spend too much time
researching, but get accurate details.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-small;">3) Strength, energy, good health, good sleep and good chair
posture.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-small;">4)We ask favor and divine connections to helpers, editors, for
best editing, publishing, book covers, great street team and reviews, sales and good social media action. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-small;">Help me write a great book in six months and give favor for a
movie contract.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-small;">I thank You in advance that You are <b>going to pull this off perfectly as I trust You and WRITE. </b></span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-small;"> </span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-small;">Ps. 37:5 The Passion Translation. Amen</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">In my next blog I will tell you how the Lord gave me the first bare outline of the novel I am beginning --during my prayer time last week.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Thanks for stopping by. Would love to read your comments and please share this blog by clicking on the small icons below.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Elva </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #162127; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px; letter-spacing: 0.1px; white-space: pre-line;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: black; letter-spacing: normal; white-space: normal;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: xx-small;">Elva Cobb Martin is 2020 President of the SC Chapter of American Christian Fiction Writers. She is a former school teacher and a graduate of</span><i style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: small;"> </i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: xx-small;">Anderson University and Erskine College. She has three inspirational novels published, </span><i style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: small;"><b>Summer of Deception,</b> </i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: xx-small;">a contemporary romantic suspense, and two historical romances, </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: xx-small;"><i style="font-weight: bold;">In a Pirate’s Debt, and Marisol, </i>Book 1 in a new Charleston Brides series for Wild Heart Books.<i style="font-weight: bold;"> </i>All</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: xx-small;"> three novels have spent time on Amazon’s 100 Best Sellers List for Women’s Religious Fiction. She has indie published a Bible study on Amazon, </span><i style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: small;">Power Over Satan,</i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: xx-small;"> on the believer's authority in Christ.</span><i style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: small;"> </i><i style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: small;">Decision, Charisma, and Home Life </i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: xx-small;">have carried Elva's articles. She and her husband Dwayne are retired ministers. A mother and grandmother, Elva lives in South Carolina. Connect with her on her web site </span><u style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: small;">http://</u><a href="http://www.elvamartin.com/" style="color: #771100; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: small;">www.elvamartin.com</a><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: xx-small;">, Twitter </span><a href="http://www.twitter.com/ElvaCobbMartin" style="color: #771100; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: small;">www.twitter.com/ElvaCobbMartin</a><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: xx-small;">; Facebook </span><a href="http://www.facebook.com/elvacobbmartin" style="color: #771100; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: small;">http://www.facebook.com/elvacobbmartin</a><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: xx-small;">; and Pinterest </span><a href="https://www.pinterest.com/elvacobbmartin" style="color: #771100; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: small;">https://www.pinterest.com/elvacobbmartin</a><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: xx-small;"> </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: xx-small;"> </span><br style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: small;" /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small; text-indent: 0in;"> Link to her romance novels and non-fiction works </span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small; letter-spacing: normal; text-indent: 0in; white-space: normal;">on </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: xx-small; letter-spacing: normal; text-indent: 0in; white-space: normal;">Amazon: <a href="http://amzn.to/2pOgVHI" style="color: #771100;">http://amzn.to/2pOgVHI</a></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small; letter-spacing: normal; text-indent: 0in; white-space: normal;"> </span></span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;"> </span></span></span></div>
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Elva Cobb Martin, South Carolinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09278744225513549876noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1626539989457344764.post-80997840617903082332020-01-08T10:48:00.002-08:002020-01-08T10:48:17.522-08:002020, the 400th Anniversary of America's Covenant with Godby Elva Cobb Martin<br />
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<span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">This year, 2020, is
the 400</span><sup style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">th</sup><span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Anniversary of
America’s Mayflower Compact with God. And that’s exactly what it was, a covenant with God for a new godly nation.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><b>September, 1620 </b>one hundred and two</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> passengers set sail
on the Mayflower with the blessings of their pastor, John Robinson.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Their 66-day journey of 2,750 miles
encountered terrible storms. One youth, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">John
Howland,</b> was swept overboard<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>by a
freezing wave but they were able to rescue him. And I’m so glad they did.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">His
descendants include Ralph Waldo Emerson, Humphrey Bogart, Franklin Delano
Roosevelt and George W. Bush.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">During
the pilgrims’ voyage, one man died and a mother gave birth. Intending to land
in Virginia, they were blown off course and landed in Massachusetts which they
named Plymouth Rock after their port of Plymouth they departed from in England.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Before
disembarking from the Mayflower, William Bradford, wrote up what we now call
the Mayflower Compact in November of 1620:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“In the
name of God. We, whose names are underwritten, the Loyal Subjects of our dread
Sovereign King James, by the Grace of God, of Great Britain, France and
Ireland, King and Defender of the faith. Having undertaken for the glory of God
and advancement of the Christian Faith, and the honor of King and Country a
voyage to plant the first colony in the northern parts... do solemnly covenant
and combine ourselves together into a civil Body politick...”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">One
signer is Steven Hopkins—an ancestor of Dr. Mark Hopkins!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Then
the Pilgrims disembarked from the Mayflower. Gov. Wm Bradford wrote to describe
this: “Being thus arrived in<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>a good
harbor and brought safe to land, they fell upon their knees and blessed the God
of heaven.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Many
are praying that in 2020, the 400<sup>th</sup> anniversary of the Mayflower
Compact, God will revisit America with a
Great Awakening. I certainly agree with that prayer.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><b>How does the Jamestown settlement (1607) compare with the Plymouth colony's godly goals?<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The
Jamestown settlement in the Colony of Virginia was the first permanent English
settlement in the Americas. It was located on the northeast bank of the James
River about 2.5 mi southwest of the center of modern Williamsburg. I've visited this area several times.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Jamestown was
established by the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Virginia Company of
London in</b> 1607.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The colony was
sponsored by the Virginia Company investors who hoped to
profit from the venture. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Making money for the investors, even hoping to find gold, was
the main goal of this Jamestown settlement. This was quite a different goal than that of
the Puritans at Plymouth whose hope was the furtherance of the gospel of Jesus' Christ.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">These
two vastly different streams of motivation and goals--love of money and living out the gospel of Jesus Christ--still flow in America to day.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">They
flow in politics, business, religion, and yes, even in writing. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">I am part of the the American Christian Fiction Writers, the premier organization in the US for
the training and celebration of Christian fiction. (<a href="http://www.acfw.com/">acfw.com)</a> We have a double job and
opportunity—to write exciting fiction that people will want to read and to
plant nuggets of God’s truth that can impact lives with the gospel of Jesus
Christ.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Here's a prayer I lift up for you today and this new year of 2020:</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Prayer: Jewish Blessing from Numbers 6:24-26</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The
lord bless and keep you this coming new year.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The
lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious unto you.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The
Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">AND, IF YOU'RE A WRITER, I PRAY HE GIVE YOU GREAT WRITING, GOOD CRITIQUE PARTNERS, GOOD CONTRACTS, AND GREAT SALES. Amen<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 16px;">Elva</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 16px;">PS One good way to get constructive critiques if you are a writer, is to join our SC Chapter of ACFW of which I am current president. We meet the 4th Saturdays of each month at North Anderson Baptist Church, Anderson, SC. Visitors are welcome. Check out our chapter blog at <a href="http://scwritersacfw.blogspot.com/">http://scwritersacfw.blogspot.com </a> or if you'd like to be added to our chapter email list for meeting announcements contact me through my web site contact page at <a href="http://www.elvamartin.com/">http://www.elvamartin.com </a> We'd be delighted to keep you posted of the great plans we have in store for writers this new year. Check out the calendar on the chapter blog I'm getting ready to update with speakers for Jan - May.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #162127; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px; letter-spacing: 0.1px; white-space: pre-line;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black; letter-spacing: normal; white-space: normal;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: xx-small;">Elva Cobb Martin is 2020 President of the SC Chapter of American Christian Fiction Writers. She is a former school teacher and a graduate of</span><i style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: small;"> </i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: xx-small;">Anderson University and Erskine College. She has three inspirational novels published, </span><i style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: small;"><b>Summer of Deception,</b> </i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: xx-small;">a contemporary romantic suspense, and two historical romances, </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: xx-small;"><i style="font-weight: bold;">In a Pirate’s Debt, and Marisol, </i>Book 1 in a new Charleston Brides series for Wild Heart Books.<i style="font-weight: bold;"> </i>All</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: xx-small;"> three novels have spent time on Amazon’s 100 Best Sellers List for Women’s Religious Fiction. She has indie published a Bible study on Amazon, </span><i style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: small;">Power Over Satan,</i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: xx-small;"> on the believer's authority in Christ.</span><i style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: small;"> </i><i style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: small;">Decision, Charisma, and Home Life </i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: xx-small;">have carried Elva's articles. She and her husband Dwayne are retired ministers. A mother and grandmother, Elva lives in South Carolina. Connect with her on her web site </span><u style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: small;">http://</u><a href="http://www.elvamartin.com/" style="color: #771100; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: small; text-decoration-line: none;">www.elvamartin.com</a><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: xx-small;">, Twitter </span><a href="http://www.twitter.com/ElvaCobbMartin" style="color: #771100; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: small; text-decoration-line: none;">www.twitter.com/ElvaCobbMartin</a><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: xx-small;">; Facebook </span><a href="http://www.facebook.com/elvacobbmartin" style="color: #771100; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: small; text-decoration-line: none;">http://www.facebook.com/elvacobbmartin</a><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: xx-small;">; and Pinterest </span><a href="https://www.pinterest.com/elvacobbmartin" style="color: #771100; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: small; text-decoration-line: none;">https://www.pinterest.com/elvacobbmartin</a><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: xx-small;"> </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: xx-small;"> </span><br style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: small;" /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small; text-indent: 0in;"> Link to her romance novels and non-fiction works </span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small; letter-spacing: normal; text-indent: 0in; white-space: normal;">on </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: xx-small; letter-spacing: normal; text-indent: 0in; white-space: normal;">Amazon: <a href="http://amzn.to/2pOgVHI" style="color: #771100; text-decoration-line: none;">http://amzn.to/2pOgVHI</a></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small; letter-spacing: normal; text-indent: 0in; white-space: normal;"> </span></span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<br />Elva Cobb Martin, South Carolinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09278744225513549876noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1626539989457344764.post-82458782586880422392019-12-23T06:00:00.000-08:002019-12-23T06:00:07.094-08:00Story of the Tablecloth- Miracles Can Happen at Christmas Time!<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>Story of the
tablecloth:“Miracles Can Happen at Christmas Time” <o:p></o:p></u></b></div>
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(copied and shared with joy!)</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoEZao07_uBxyZA2rw1_yvlelwS44CB8Hlq01nXX-BcO_tcNyNxmCDk2TligG_JyXCDreF3o35k7-y56WOt5m8plwhZ_uledOglUSkIYm28mouG_osUZOVX3ujwxyG3eZOecFGWIZpNkQ/s1600/Tablecloth+Christmas+Story.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="611" data-original-width="736" height="331" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoEZao07_uBxyZA2rw1_yvlelwS44CB8Hlq01nXX-BcO_tcNyNxmCDk2TligG_JyXCDreF3o35k7-y56WOt5m8plwhZ_uledOglUSkIYm28mouG_osUZOVX3ujwxyG3eZOecFGWIZpNkQ/s400/Tablecloth+Christmas+Story.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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A few days before Christmas a number of years ago a terrible
storm hit a suburb in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Brooklyn</st1:city>,
<st1:state w:st="on">NY</st1:state></st1:place>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A driving rain hit the area and lasted for
two days.</div>
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On Dec. 21 a pastor went over to his church which was an old
building and his heart sank when he saw that the roof had leaked, causing a
large area of plaster to fall off the wall just behind the pulpit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The whole front of the church looked
terrible.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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After cleaning up the mess as best he could, he thought
about postponing the Christmas Eve service.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>On the way home he noticed a local business having a flea market sale
for charity and he stopped in.</div>
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One of the items for sale was a lovely ivory colored hand
crocheted table cloth with exquisite work, fine colors and a Cross embroidered
right in the center.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was just the
right size to cover up the hole in the plaster, so the minister bought it and
headed back to the church.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By this
time it had started to snow and he noticed an older woman standing on the
corner who had missed the bus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He
invited her to wait in the warm church for the next bus forty-five minutes
later.</div>
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She sat in the pew and paid no attention to him as he got a
ladder and hung the table cloth up on the wall behind the pulpit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The minister couldn’t believe how lovely it
looked.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It covered up the whole problem
area.</div>
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Then he noticed the woman walking down the center aisle, her
face white as snow.</div>
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“Sir,” she asked, “where did you get that tablecloth?”</div>
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The minister explained.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Then the woman asked him to check the lower right corner and see if the
initials EBG were crocheted into it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They were.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They were the
initials of the woman who had made that tablecloth thirty-five years earlier in
<st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Austria</st1:country-region></st1:place>.</div>
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Then she explained that before WWII she and her husband were
well-to-do people in <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Austria</st1:place></st1:country-region>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When the Nazis came she was forced to
leave.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Her husband was going to follow
her the next week.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But she was captured,
sent to prison and never saw her husband or home again and was able to get to <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">America</st1:place></st1:country-region> after
the war.</div>
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The minister wanted to give her the tablecloth but, she made
him keep it for the church</div>
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The minister insisted on driving her home which was on the
other side of <st1:place w:st="on">Staten Island</st1:place></div>
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She had only been in <st1:place w:st="on">Brooklyn</st1:place>
for the day for a housecleaning job.</div>
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On Christmas Eve the church had a wonderful service. The building was almost filled.<br />
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At the end of the service, an older man continued to sit in
the pew after others had left.</div>
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He asked the minister where he’d gotten the tablecloth on
the front wall because it was identical to one his wife had made in <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Austria</st1:place></st1:country-region> before
the war.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He told the minister how he
forced his wife to flee for safety and he was supposed to follow her but he got
arrested and put in prison.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He never saw
her or his home again, but finally made it to <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">America</st1:place></st1:country-region>.</div>
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The minister asked him if he would allow him to take him for
a little ride.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They drove to <st1:place w:st="on">Staten Island</st1:place> and a certain apartment the minister had
visited earlier.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There the minister
witnessed the greatest Christmas reunion he could ever imagine.</div>
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***<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4LQlwU_gESEJTHahb0_tMdqv9XkulfxHxFriz_toFPxb0x5ndLHjnZ9E8Y0VWs8OrFb1s6te_l52AO9Y8BjwvPHM5grF9SN5lIAIricJW8b4RSj78lQMKdMse664VcuSDZeicnbW9Zc0/s1600/The+greatest+Christmas+Gift+--hung+on+a+tree.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="240" data-original-width="320" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4LQlwU_gESEJTHahb0_tMdqv9XkulfxHxFriz_toFPxb0x5ndLHjnZ9E8Y0VWs8OrFb1s6te_l52AO9Y8BjwvPHM5grF9SN5lIAIricJW8b4RSj78lQMKdMse664VcuSDZeicnbW9Zc0/s400/The+greatest+Christmas+Gift+--hung+on+a+tree.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Have a blessed Christmas and EXPECT a miracle in your life and family!</div>
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Elva Cobb Martin</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr5LUzWzOQ_77_5McMyLKWJNwUEDPhtjobeIMFuXbanW-ImRvVAEMo8w8I9d6nqFGg0dNG-FyPNMlOQ_jzKzaBeh4rFFono0zgYiU5v0TzFh2Cg-KHvHkGeEtm3kLA2GL9VK4MndIsWpo/s1600/Elva+1+headshotIMG_5694.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr5LUzWzOQ_77_5McMyLKWJNwUEDPhtjobeIMFuXbanW-ImRvVAEMo8w8I9d6nqFGg0dNG-FyPNMlOQ_jzKzaBeh4rFFono0zgYiU5v0TzFh2Cg-KHvHkGeEtm3kLA2GL9VK4MndIsWpo/s320/Elva+1+headshotIMG_5694.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #162127; letter-spacing: 0.1px; white-space: pre-line;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; letter-spacing: normal; white-space: normal;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: x-small;">Elva Cobb Martin is 2020 President of the SC Chapter of American Christian Fiction Writers. She is a former school teacher and a graduate of</span><i style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: small;"> </i><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: x-small;">Anderson University and Erskine College. She has three inspirational novels published, </span><i style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: small;"><b>Summer of Deception,</b> </i><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: x-small;">a contemporary romantic suspense, and two historical romances, </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: x-small;"><i style="font-weight: bold;">In a Pirate’s Debt, and Marisol. </i>All</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: x-small;"> three have spent time on Amazon’s 100 Best Sellers List for Women’s Religious Fiction. She has indie published a Bible study on Amazon, </span><i style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: small;">Power Over Satan,</i><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: x-small;"> on the believer's authority in Christ.</span><i style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: small;"> </i><i style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: small;">Decision, Charisma, and Home Life </i><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: x-small;">have carried Elva's articles. She and her husband Dwayne are retired ministers. A mother and grandmother, Elva lives in South Carolina. Connect with her on her web site </span><u style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: small;">http://</u><a href="http://www.elvamartin.com/" style="color: #771100; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: small;">www.elvamartin.com</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: x-small;">, Twitter </span><a href="http://www.twitter.com/ElvaCobbMartin" style="color: #771100; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: small;">www.twitter.com/ElvaCobbMartin</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: x-small;">; Facebook </span><a href="http://www.facebook.com/elvacobbmartin" style="color: #771100; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: small;">http://www.facebook.com/elvacobbmartin</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: x-small;">; and Pinterest </span><a href="https://www.pinterest.com/elvacobbmartin" style="color: #771100; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: small;">https://www.pinterest.com/elvacobbmartin</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: x-small;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: x-small;"> </span><br style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: small;" /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small; text-indent: 0in;"> Link to her romance novels and non-fiction works </span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small; letter-spacing: normal; text-indent: 0in; white-space: normal;">on </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: x-small; letter-spacing: normal; text-indent: 0in; white-space: normal;">Amazon: <a href="http://amzn.to/2pOgVHI" style="color: #771100;">http://amzn.to/2pOgVHI</a></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small; letter-spacing: normal; text-indent: 0in; white-space: normal;"> </span></span></span> <span style="background-color: white; color: #162127; letter-spacing: 0.1px; white-space: pre-line;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<br />Elva Cobb Martin, South Carolinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09278744225513549876noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1626539989457344764.post-32444246514843062192019-12-20T15:48:00.003-08:002019-12-20T16:15:49.646-08:00Bookbub Review of Marisol by Reader Mike Whitworth<br />
I so appreciate this review for my latest release, <i>Marisol,</i> by Mike Whitworth on Bookbub!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf7NJHwtMhEk0Q89lPDx6f14sjHct7W-2XovGKcnAgWMbJqR_ikWM7Bg77kNP1ENj68jqyq2xwzmzSPqGPeQAwXC062auB2ahT1FNG9Fm6oV-K4vF7E7LTXOzO4T3xbwPydXQt0ZQCZyw/s1600/Marisol+Final+cover+6+28+19+w+blue+eyes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1068" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf7NJHwtMhEk0Q89lPDx6f14sjHct7W-2XovGKcnAgWMbJqR_ikWM7Bg77kNP1ENj68jqyq2xwzmzSPqGPeQAwXC062auB2ahT1FNG9Fm6oV-K4vF7E7LTXOzO4T3xbwPydXQt0ZQCZyw/s400/Marisol+Final+cover+6+28+19+w+blue+eyes.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #162127; letter-spacing: 0.1px; white-space: pre-line;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">A terrible wrong, blood stained hands, a life changed forever. Marisol could be a heroine for the ages, or she could tumble into the abyss. Ethan could be a hero for just such a time as this, if he can climb out of the darkness that's dragged him from the light. Can love be born from a maelstrom of tragedy? This book's pace is swift, so widen your stance and hold on tight as you crash through wave after wave on this dangerous voyage of passion and redemption.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #162127; letter-spacing: 0.1px; white-space: pre-line;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #162127; letter-spacing: 0.1px; white-space: pre-line;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Mike Whitworth</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></span>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #162127; letter-spacing: 0.1px; white-space: pre-line;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #162127; letter-spacing: 0.1px; white-space: pre-line;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #162127; letter-spacing: 0.1px; white-space: pre-line;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Thank you, Mike!</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #162127; letter-spacing: 0.1px; white-space: pre-line;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Do you enjoy writing reviews for books you like? Be a blessing this Christmas season and write a review on Amazon or Bookbub for one of your fave authors and book. They will greatly appreciate it. </span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #162127; letter-spacing: 0.1px; white-space: pre-line;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Have a Blessed Christmas,</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #162127; letter-spacing: 0.1px; white-space: pre-line;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Elva Martin</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr5LUzWzOQ_77_5McMyLKWJNwUEDPhtjobeIMFuXbanW-ImRvVAEMo8w8I9d6nqFGg0dNG-FyPNMlOQ_jzKzaBeh4rFFono0zgYiU5v0TzFh2Cg-KHvHkGeEtm3kLA2GL9VK4MndIsWpo/s1600/Elva+1+headshotIMG_5694.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr5LUzWzOQ_77_5McMyLKWJNwUEDPhtjobeIMFuXbanW-ImRvVAEMo8w8I9d6nqFGg0dNG-FyPNMlOQ_jzKzaBeh4rFFono0zgYiU5v0TzFh2Cg-KHvHkGeEtm3kLA2GL9VK4MndIsWpo/s320/Elva+1+headshotIMG_5694.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #162127; letter-spacing: 0.1px; white-space: pre-line;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; letter-spacing: normal; white-space: normal;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: x-small;">Elva Cobb Martin is Vice President of the SC Chapter of American Christian Fiction Writers. She is a former school teacher and a graduate of</span><i style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: small;"> </i><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: x-small;">Anderson University and Erskine College. She has three inspirational novels published, </span><i style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: small;"><b>Summer of Deception,</b> </i><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: x-small;">a contemporary romantic suspense, and two historical romances, </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: x-small;"><b style="font-style: italic;">In a Pirate’s Debt,</b><b> and </b><b><i>Marisol.</i></b></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: x-small;"><i> </i> All three have spent time on Amazon’s 100 Best Sellers List for Women’s Religious Fiction. She has indie published a Bible study on Amazon, </span><i style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: small;">Power Over Satan,</i><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: x-small;"> on the believer's authority in Christ.</span><i style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: small;"> </i><i style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: small;">Decision, Charisma, and Home Life </i><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: x-small;">have carried Elva's articles. She and her husband Dwayne are retired ministers. A mother and grandmother, Elva lives in South Carolina. Connect with her on her web site </span><u style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: small;">http://</u><a href="http://www.elvamartin.com/" style="color: #771100; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: small;">www.elvamartin.com</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: x-small;">, Twitter </span><a href="http://www.twitter.com/ElvaCobbMartin" style="color: #771100; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: small;">www.twitter.com/ElvaCobbMartin</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: x-small;">; Facebook </span><a href="http://www.facebook.com/elvacobbmartin" style="color: #771100; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: small;">http://www.facebook.com/elvacobbmartin</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: x-small;">; and Pinterest </span><a href="https://www.pinterest.com/elvacobbmartin" style="color: #771100; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: small;">https://www.pinterest.com/elvacobbmartin</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: x-small;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: x-small;"> </span><br style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: small;" /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small; text-indent: 0in;"> Link to her romance novels and non-fiction works </span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small; letter-spacing: normal; text-indent: 0in; white-space: normal;">on </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: x-small; letter-spacing: normal; text-indent: 0in; white-space: normal;">Amazon: <a href="http://amzn.to/2pOgVHI" style="color: #771100;">http://amzn.to/2pOgVHI</a></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small; letter-spacing: normal; text-indent: 0in; white-space: normal;"> </span></span></span>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #162127; letter-spacing: 0.1px; white-space: pre-line;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>Elva Cobb Martin, South Carolinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09278744225513549876noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1626539989457344764.post-58498916839628706952019-11-27T07:12:00.002-08:002019-11-27T07:12:29.380-08:00Obscure Facts about the Pilgrims & Thanksgiving by Bill Federer, Guest blogger<br />
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<span style="color: white; font-size: 24px; font-weight: bold;">American Minute with Bill Federer</span></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-size: 24px; font-weight: bold;"></span><span style="color: white; font-size: 24px;">Pilgrims' Thanksgiving to Almighty God</span> </div>
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On NOVEMBER 21, 1620 (NS), the <span style="font-weight: bold;">Pilgrims</span> signed the <span style="font-weight: bold;">Mayflower Compact</span> and began their <span style="font-weight: bold;">Plymouth Colony.</span> </div>
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<span style="color: #131313;">Of the 102 </span><span style="color: #131313; font-weight: bold;">Pilgrims,</span><span style="color: #131313;"> only </span><span style="font-weight: bold;">47 survived</span> till Spring. </div>
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At one point, only <span style="font-weight: bold;">a half dozen</span> were healthy enough to care for the rest. </div>
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<span style="color: #1e1e1e;">In the Spring of 1621, the Indian </span><span style="color: #1e1e1e; font-weight: bold;">Squanto</span><span style="color: #1e1e1e;"> came among them, and showed them how to catch fish, plant corn, trap beaver, and was their interpreter with the other </span><span style="color: #1e1e1e; font-weight: bold;">Indian tribes. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #1e1e1e; font-weight: bold;">Governor William Bradford</span><span style="color: #1e1e1e;"> described </span><span style="color: #1e1e1e; font-weight: bold;">Squanto</span><span style="color: #1e1e1e;"> as "a special instrument sent of </span><span style="color: #1e1e1e; font-weight: bold;">God</span><span style="color: #1e1e1e;"> for their good beyond their expectation."</span> </div>
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<span style="font-weight: bold;">Bradford</span> added: </div>
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<span style="color: #1e1e1e;">"The settlers ... began to plant their corn, in which service </span><span style="color: #1e1e1e; font-weight: bold;">Squanto</span><span style="color: #1e1e1e;"> stood them in good stead, showing them how to plant it and cultivate it. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #1e1e1e;">He also told them that unless they got fish to manure this exhausted old soil, it would come to nothing ... In the middle of April plenty of fish would come up the brook ... and (he) taught them how to catch it."</span></div>
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<span style="color: #1e1e1e; font-weight: bold;">Pilgrim Edward Winslow</span><span style="color: #1e1e1e;"> recorded in </span><span style="color: #1e1e1e; font-style: italic;">Mourt's Relation </span><span style="color: #1e1e1e;">that in the Fall of 1621:</span> </div>
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<span style="color: #1e1e1e;">"Our harvest being gotten in, our governor sent four men on fowling, that so we might after a special manner rejoice together after we had gathered the fruit of our labors. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #1e1e1e;">They four in one day killed as much fowl as, with a little help beside, served the company almost a week.</span></div>
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<tr><td align="center" class="m_-991577885352309352mobile-hidden" height="1" style="height: 1px; line-height: 1px; padding: 0px;" valign="top" width="15"><img alt="" border="0" class="CToWUd" height="1" hspace="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEidurBOKjFrUCJe4qXfV3rYwWHeHJ3clf0yHkhYrlA3cHGn46V5hi9E6QvdPhiegMTK0Kc0rspxuGcJtmj1tEn383ACvs7QIaLq7c0dt_Z1WV-rmd_WFJ9wVBkE8REcuOUzY41NDm_8E2JK2_mnTvVQyr3xj63DRgGaNdY=s0-d-e1-ft" style="display: block; height: auto; max-width: 100%;" vspace="0" width="15" /> </td><td align="center" class="m_-991577885352309352image-cell" style="padding: 0px;" valign="top"><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f%3D001r3DpFnBm3z_7eZGNEWY0uY8pf8SFgyh8K1J2mW-mFgZ93yIgCdEYq4QIoNVWUyW3LTj0kFJGmVbXK0RRUyAI1KBfXgUmrW0vpW0ulpvIUJXQXZC_nDpXOi2uF5g-jwO9I5Uw8zL47X1gMaS0yDMvVPf3LmjQgvpMjMDZNHUvNseXXtVFbcpteVobvvnJDcbuz4krv8-RA8Eb-3k6mEuAqaliD8I-rR02%26c%3DUc7K0aOsp8Q0w5DgtPoGwvIQV9g_r7-AvrygOQFtdSJo-24SdBJaLQ%3D%3D%26ch%3DJMR-AFzV2nvXPqAbj8g6YqhJzjq6_j0jrgQ48rikOO-egADOtOBADw%3D%3D&source=gmail&ust=1574951193417000&usg=AFQjCNE-ztf9BwjBSU6P4-hPG1Jgq6v4qA" href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001r3DpFnBm3z_7eZGNEWY0uY8pf8SFgyh8K1J2mW-mFgZ93yIgCdEYq4QIoNVWUyW3LTj0kFJGmVbXK0RRUyAI1KBfXgUmrW0vpW0ulpvIUJXQXZC_nDpXOi2uF5g-jwO9I5Uw8zL47X1gMaS0yDMvVPf3LmjQgvpMjMDZNHUvNseXXtVFbcpteVobvvnJDcbuz4krv8-RA8Eb-3k6mEuAqaliD8I-rR02&c=Uc7K0aOsp8Q0w5DgtPoGwvIQV9g_r7-AvrygOQFtdSJo-24SdBJaLQ==&ch=JMR-AFzV2nvXPqAbj8g6YqhJzjq6_j0jrgQ48rikOO-egADOtOBADw==" style="color: #0199a0;" target="_blank"><img alt="" border="0" class="CToWUd" hspace="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEj308lp-7IcZKmlKDzrXHBz6cFeq4jgus5fb0uUFySUzaIhiI6nqq3yXwz32lk4htmlrFXkYzFlQFDXYNx0NineudGM0s8YlqWmJTNAmqZpWgTUgg76g3Rdzm3eZvdneYNm_RMZbOtVx6FO0NJmgTFIC5d36sZgpbK-n6639Law3Ztrg-xpdGgQ6KcX_QCrEVhX83a7ng=s0-d-e1-ft" style="display: block; height: auto; max-width: 100%;" vspace="0" width="359" /> </a></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #1e1e1e;">... At which time, amongst other recreations, we exercised our arms, many of the </span><span style="color: #1e1e1e; font-weight: bold;">Indians</span><span style="color: #1e1e1e;"> coming amongst us, and among the rest their greatest king </span><span style="color: #1e1e1e; font-weight: bold;">Massasoit,</span><span style="color: #1e1e1e;"> with some </span><span style="color: #1e1e1e; font-weight: bold;">ninety men,</span><span style="color: #1e1e1e;"> whom for three days we entertained and feasted, </span></div>
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<span style="color: #1e1e1e;">and they went out and killed five deer, which they brought to the plantation and bestowed on our Governor, and upon the Captain and others. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #1e1e1e;">And although it be not always so plentiful, as it was at this time, with us, yet by goodness of </span><span style="color: #1e1e1e; font-weight: bold;">God,</span><span style="color: #1e1e1e;"> we are so far from want, that we often wish you partakers of our plenty."</span> </div>
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<tr><td align="center" class="m_-991577885352309352mobile-hidden" height="1" style="height: 1px; line-height: 1px; padding: 0px;" valign="top" width="15"><img alt="" border="0" class="CToWUd" height="1" hspace="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEidurBOKjFrUCJe4qXfV3rYwWHeHJ3clf0yHkhYrlA3cHGn46V5hi9E6QvdPhiegMTK0Kc0rspxuGcJtmj1tEn383ACvs7QIaLq7c0dt_Z1WV-rmd_WFJ9wVBkE8REcuOUzY41NDm_8E2JK2_mnTvVQyr3xj63DRgGaNdY=s0-d-e1-ft" style="display: block; height: auto; max-width: 100%;" vspace="0" width="15" /> </td><td align="center" class="m_-991577885352309352image-cell" style="padding: 0px;" valign="top"><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f%3D001r3DpFnBm3z_7eZGNEWY0uY8pf8SFgyh8K1J2mW-mFgZ93yIgCdEYq4QIoNVWUyW3LTj0kFJGmVbXK0RRUyAI1KBfXgUmrW0vpW0ulpvIUJXQXZC_nDpXOi2uF5g-jwO9I5Uw8zL47X1gMaS0yDMvVPf3LmjQgvpMjMDZNHUvNseXXtVFbcpteVobvvnJDcbuz4krv8-RA8Eb-3k6mEuAqaliD8I-rR02%26c%3DUc7K0aOsp8Q0w5DgtPoGwvIQV9g_r7-AvrygOQFtdSJo-24SdBJaLQ%3D%3D%26ch%3DJMR-AFzV2nvXPqAbj8g6YqhJzjq6_j0jrgQ48rikOO-egADOtOBADw%3D%3D&source=gmail&ust=1574951193418000&usg=AFQjCNEc5oLOcouJiaG8nbXER6xca2QxdA" href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001r3DpFnBm3z_7eZGNEWY0uY8pf8SFgyh8K1J2mW-mFgZ93yIgCdEYq4QIoNVWUyW3LTj0kFJGmVbXK0RRUyAI1KBfXgUmrW0vpW0ulpvIUJXQXZC_nDpXOi2uF5g-jwO9I5Uw8zL47X1gMaS0yDMvVPf3LmjQgvpMjMDZNHUvNseXXtVFbcpteVobvvnJDcbuz4krv8-RA8Eb-3k6mEuAqaliD8I-rR02&c=Uc7K0aOsp8Q0w5DgtPoGwvIQV9g_r7-AvrygOQFtdSJo-24SdBJaLQ==&ch=JMR-AFzV2nvXPqAbj8g6YqhJzjq6_j0jrgQ48rikOO-egADOtOBADw==" style="color: #0199a0;" target="_blank"><img alt="" border="0" class="CToWUd" hspace="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEh5pctXeOTsRdBSKTi0htC6J6rn2hrnrCMwXxww0d5Ao1Ugku-7-twGoWXSPdyI5PZeCyR9cIxQOzaNw4S8r7vWDgGQgjzhu65YvMtLEpyx26-j36zu0ck2697WHVo-WG9twKC1MwyS4c3ldzm72J89Az6-YPrYIFy43g7FOijXyjomDxsIte9rGXHQOAb621CcsrcOWQ=s0-d-e1-ft" style="display: block; height: auto; max-width: 100%;" vspace="0" width="359" /> </a></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #1e1e1e; font-weight: bold;">Bradford</span><span style="color: #1e1e1e;"> described the same event:</span> </div>
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<span style="color: #1e1e1e;">"And besides waterfowl there was great store of wild turkeys, of which they took many, besides venison, etc. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #1e1e1e;">Besides, they had about a peck a meal a week to a person, or now since harvest, Indian corn to that proportion."</span></div>
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<tr><td align="center" class="m_-991577885352309352mobile-hidden" height="1" style="height: 1px; line-height: 1px; padding: 0px;" valign="top" width="15"><img alt="" border="0" class="CToWUd" height="1" hspace="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEidurBOKjFrUCJe4qXfV3rYwWHeHJ3clf0yHkhYrlA3cHGn46V5hi9E6QvdPhiegMTK0Kc0rspxuGcJtmj1tEn383ACvs7QIaLq7c0dt_Z1WV-rmd_WFJ9wVBkE8REcuOUzY41NDm_8E2JK2_mnTvVQyr3xj63DRgGaNdY=s0-d-e1-ft" style="display: block; height: auto; max-width: 100%;" vspace="0" width="15" /> </td><td align="center" class="m_-991577885352309352image-cell" style="padding: 0px;" valign="top"><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f%3D001r3DpFnBm3z_7eZGNEWY0uY8pf8SFgyh8K1J2mW-mFgZ93yIgCdEYq4QIoNVWUyW3LTj0kFJGmVbXK0RRUyAI1KBfXgUmrW0vpW0ulpvIUJXQXZC_nDpXOi2uF5g-jwO9I5Uw8zL47X1gMaS0yDMvVPf3LmjQgvpMjMDZNHUvNseXXtVFbcpteVobvvnJDcbuz4krv8-RA8Eb-3k6mEuAqaliD8I-rR02%26c%3DUc7K0aOsp8Q0w5DgtPoGwvIQV9g_r7-AvrygOQFtdSJo-24SdBJaLQ%3D%3D%26ch%3DJMR-AFzV2nvXPqAbj8g6YqhJzjq6_j0jrgQ48rikOO-egADOtOBADw%3D%3D&source=gmail&ust=1574951193418000&usg=AFQjCNEc5oLOcouJiaG8nbXER6xca2QxdA" href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001r3DpFnBm3z_7eZGNEWY0uY8pf8SFgyh8K1J2mW-mFgZ93yIgCdEYq4QIoNVWUyW3LTj0kFJGmVbXK0RRUyAI1KBfXgUmrW0vpW0ulpvIUJXQXZC_nDpXOi2uF5g-jwO9I5Uw8zL47X1gMaS0yDMvVPf3LmjQgvpMjMDZNHUvNseXXtVFbcpteVobvvnJDcbuz4krv8-RA8Eb-3k6mEuAqaliD8I-rR02&c=Uc7K0aOsp8Q0w5DgtPoGwvIQV9g_r7-AvrygOQFtdSJo-24SdBJaLQ==&ch=JMR-AFzV2nvXPqAbj8g6YqhJzjq6_j0jrgQ48rikOO-egADOtOBADw==" style="color: #0199a0;" target="_blank"><img alt="" border="0" class="CToWUd" hspace="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEgy2YwNUQ9Tss8RfKWvwL1RQ0Awv01LcwLJ4vVkBk5xPHcC_mHARReHWABCGlhwZyd9P1I2MTRu9S0qLo-oIxraCvqBHZV6O4ZMxzkoGGWAg6aYlEBShZ2TsnyKjcjcl_tnZ07AjuBMMau1ycVDUnAWrNi4nNWBcdbmwdA4h2GGX4GIPB3XNGJARXob8ZE_2_mepVQ_jg=s0-d-e1-ft" style="display: block; height: auto; max-width: 100%;" vspace="0" width="360" /> </a></td></tr>
<tr><td align="center" class="m_-991577885352309352mobile-hidden" height="5" style="height: 1px; line-height: 1px; padding: 0px;" valign="top" width="5"><img alt="" border="0" class="CToWUd" height="1" hspace="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEidurBOKjFrUCJe4qXfV3rYwWHeHJ3clf0yHkhYrlA3cHGn46V5hi9E6QvdPhiegMTK0Kc0rspxuGcJtmj1tEn383ACvs7QIaLq7c0dt_Z1WV-rmd_WFJ9wVBkE8REcuOUzY41NDm_8E2JK2_mnTvVQyr3xj63DRgGaNdY=s0-d-e1-ft" style="display: block; height: auto; max-width: 100%;" vspace="0" width="5" /> </td><td align="center" class="m_-991577885352309352mobile-hidden" height="5" style="height: 5px; line-height: 1px; padding: 0px;" valign="top"><img alt="" border="0" class="CToWUd" height="5" hspace="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEidurBOKjFrUCJe4qXfV3rYwWHeHJ3clf0yHkhYrlA3cHGn46V5hi9E6QvdPhiegMTK0Kc0rspxuGcJtmj1tEn383ACvs7QIaLq7c0dt_Z1WV-rmd_WFJ9wVBkE8REcuOUzY41NDm_8E2JK2_mnTvVQyr3xj63DRgGaNdY=s0-d-e1-ft" style="display: block; height: auto; max-width: 100%;" vspace="0" width="1" /> </td></tr>
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<span style="color: #1e1e1e;">The idea of a Fall day of </span><span style="color: #1e1e1e; font-weight: bold;">thanksgiving</span><span style="color: #1e1e1e;"> may have come to the </span><span style="color: #1e1e1e; font-weight: bold;">Pilgrims</span><span style="color: #1e1e1e;"> after they moved to Leiden, Holland, in 1609.</span> </div>
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<span style="color: #1e1e1e;">Dutch citizens there annually gave thanks to </span><span style="color: #1e1e1e; font-weight: bold;">God</span><span style="color: #1e1e1e;"> for </span><span style="color: #1e1e1e; font-weight: bold;">William of Orange,</span><span style="color: #1e1e1e;"> in 1574, ending the bloody </span><span style="color: #1e1e1e; font-weight: bold;">Spanish Furies,</span><span style="color: #1e1e1e;"> where </span><span style="color: #1e1e1e; font-weight: bold;">Spain's "Iron Duke" of Alba</span><span style="color: #1e1e1e;"> had butchered tens of thousands.</span> </div>
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<span style="color: #1e1e1e;">Dutch historian Jeremy Dupertuis Bangs (Ph.D. Leiden, 1976), in his article "1621: A Historian Looks Anew at </span><span style="color: #1e1e1e; font-weight: bold;">Thanksgiving,"</span><span style="color: #1e1e1e;"> documented that Jan Orlers, a friend of </span><span style="color: #1e1e1e; font-weight: bold;">Pilgrim</span><span style="color: #1e1e1e;"> elder William Brewster, wrote of </span><span style="color: #1e1e1e; font-weight: bold;">Leiden's Thanksgiving:</span><span style="color: #1e1e1e;"> </span></div>
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<span style="color: #1e1e1e; font-weight: bold;">"Every year</span><span style="color: #1e1e1e;"> throughout the city a </span><span style="color: #1e1e1e; font-weight: bold;">General Day of Prayer and Thanksgiving</span><span style="color: #1e1e1e;"> ... held and celebrated on the Third of October, to </span><span style="color: #1e1e1e; font-weight: bold;">thank and praise God Almighty</span><span style="color: #1e1e1e;"> that he so mercifully had </span><span style="color: #1e1e1e; font-weight: bold;">saved the city from her enemies."</span> </div>
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<span style="color: #1e1e1e;">Also in Leiden was a community of </span><span style="color: #1e1e1e; font-weight: bold;">Jews</span><span style="color: #1e1e1e;"> who had been driven out of Spain. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #1e1e1e;">At the University of Leiden, a </span><span style="color: #1e1e1e; font-weight: bold;">rabb</span><span style="color: #1e1e1e;">i taught students </span><span style="font-weight: bold;">Hebrew, Aramaic and Syriac</span><span style="color: #1e1e1e; font-weight: bold;">,</span><span style="color: #1e1e1e;"> just as the </span><span style="color: #1e1e1e; font-weight: bold;">Pilgrim elder William Brewster</span><span style="color: #1e1e1e;"> taught students </span><span style="color: #1e1e1e; font-weight: bold;">English.</span> </div>
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<tr><td align="center" class="m_-991577885352309352mobile-hidden" height="1" style="height: 1px; line-height: 1px; padding: 0px;" valign="top" width="15"><img alt="" border="0" class="CToWUd" height="1" hspace="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEidurBOKjFrUCJe4qXfV3rYwWHeHJ3clf0yHkhYrlA3cHGn46V5hi9E6QvdPhiegMTK0Kc0rspxuGcJtmj1tEn383ACvs7QIaLq7c0dt_Z1WV-rmd_WFJ9wVBkE8REcuOUzY41NDm_8E2JK2_mnTvVQyr3xj63DRgGaNdY=s0-d-e1-ft" style="display: block; height: auto; max-width: 100%;" vspace="0" width="15" /> </td><td align="center" class="m_-991577885352309352image-cell" style="padding: 0px;" valign="top"><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f%3D001r3DpFnBm3z_7eZGNEWY0uY8pf8SFgyh8K1J2mW-mFgZ93yIgCdEYq4QIoNVWUyW3LTj0kFJGmVbXK0RRUyAI1KBfXgUmrW0vpW0ulpvIUJXQXZC_nDpXOi2uF5g-jwO9I5Uw8zL47X1gMaS0yDMvVPf3LmjQgvpMjMDZNHUvNseXXtVFbcpteVobvvnJDcbuz4krv8-RA8Eb-3k6mEuAqaliD8I-rR02%26c%3DUc7K0aOsp8Q0w5DgtPoGwvIQV9g_r7-AvrygOQFtdSJo-24SdBJaLQ%3D%3D%26ch%3DJMR-AFzV2nvXPqAbj8g6YqhJzjq6_j0jrgQ48rikOO-egADOtOBADw%3D%3D&source=gmail&ust=1574951193420000&usg=AFQjCNGcexqIr00EVYVn9-nwNbP8mhU5tw" href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001r3DpFnBm3z_7eZGNEWY0uY8pf8SFgyh8K1J2mW-mFgZ93yIgCdEYq4QIoNVWUyW3LTj0kFJGmVbXK0RRUyAI1KBfXgUmrW0vpW0ulpvIUJXQXZC_nDpXOi2uF5g-jwO9I5Uw8zL47X1gMaS0yDMvVPf3LmjQgvpMjMDZNHUvNseXXtVFbcpteVobvvnJDcbuz4krv8-RA8Eb-3k6mEuAqaliD8I-rR02&c=Uc7K0aOsp8Q0w5DgtPoGwvIQV9g_r7-AvrygOQFtdSJo-24SdBJaLQ==&ch=JMR-AFzV2nvXPqAbj8g6YqhJzjq6_j0jrgQ48rikOO-egADOtOBADw==" style="color: #0199a0;" target="_blank"><img alt="" border="0" class="CToWUd" hspace="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEir6ylRS_JfAj_iyLqZJdbODZoCfY5Xzh0EXtPqgX8aOKqnHS9jGk1iLLk_Z-1Mwfmc0yeDjBl-Iyji6WGHBn3e7umuisCQM3O57sFPd-27LHi256smRPuauyA5dw5abo3ob90wVDLvtCdX27LkU6awRG-WuJx263flvNqTjiwYWrWVGY2kdSXd5kFjF35hcuhyNUEGSQ=s0-d-e1-ft" style="display: block; height: auto; max-width: 100%;" vspace="0" width="360" /> </a></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #1e1e1e; font-weight: bold;">Pilgrims</span><span style="color: #1e1e1e;"> would have seen </span><span style="color: #1e1e1e; font-weight: bold;">Jews</span><span style="color: #1e1e1e;"> celebrating the annual </span><span style="color: #1e1e1e; font-weight: bold;">Thanksgiving Feast of Tabernacles</span><span style="color: #1e1e1e;"> or </span><span style="color: #1e1e1e; font-weight: bold;">"Sukkot"</span><span style="color: #1e1e1e;"> in September–October.</span> </div>
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<span style="color: #1e1e1e; font-weight: bold;">Pilgrims</span><span style="color: #1e1e1e;"> identified with </span><span style="color: #1e1e1e; font-weight: bold;">Jews,</span><span style="color: #1e1e1e;"> who fled from </span><span style="color: #1e1e1e; font-weight: bold;">Pharaoh</span><span style="color: #1e1e1e;"> across the </span><span style="color: #1e1e1e; font-weight: bold;">Red Sea</span><span style="color: #1e1e1e;"> in search of their </span><span style="color: #1e1e1e; font-weight: bold;">Promised Land,</span><span style="color: #1e1e1e;"> as the </span><span style="color: #1e1e1e; font-weight: bold;">Pilgrims</span><span style="color: #1e1e1e;"> fled from the King of England across the sea in search of their </span><span style="color: #1e1e1e; font-weight: bold;">Promised Land.</span> </div>
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<span style="color: #1e1e1e;">The </span><span style="color: #1e1e1e; font-weight: bold;">Israelites</span><span style="color: #1e1e1e;"> had </span><span style="color: #1e1e1e; font-weight: bold;">self-government,</span><span style="color: #1e1e1e;"> called the </span><span style="color: #1e1e1e; font-weight: bold;">Hebrew Republic,</span><span style="color: #1e1e1e;"> for </span><span style="color: #1e1e1e; font-weight: bold;">four hundred years</span><span style="color: #1e1e1e;"> before the asked for a king. This was an example to the </span><span style="color: #1e1e1e; font-weight: bold;">Puritan Reformers</span><span style="color: #1e1e1e;"> and to the </span><span style="color: #1e1e1e; font-weight: bold;">Pilgrim separatists.</span> </div>
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<span style="color: #1e1e1e;">When </span><span style="color: #1e1e1e; font-weight: bold;">Harvard</span><span style="color: #1e1e1e;"> and </span><span style="color: #1e1e1e; font-weight: bold;">Yale</span><span style="color: #1e1e1e;"> were founded in New England, </span><span style="color: #1e1e1e; font-weight: bold;">Hebrew</span><span style="color: #1e1e1e;"> was taught.</span> </div>
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<span style="color: #1e1e1e;">Historian Jeremy Dupertuis Bangs explained how </span><span style="color: #1e1e1e; font-weight: bold;">Pilgrims</span><span style="color: #1e1e1e;"> thank God:</span> </div>
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<span style="color: #1e1e1e;">"Our knowledge of the 1621 </span><span style="color: #1e1e1e; font-weight: bold;">Thanksgiving</span><span style="color: #1e1e1e;"> comes from </span><span style="color: #1e1e1e; font-weight: bold;">Winslow</span><span style="color: #1e1e1e;"> and </span><span style="color: #1e1e1e; font-weight: bold;">Bradford.</span><span style="color: #1e1e1e;"> </span></div>
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<span style="color: #1e1e1e; font-weight: bold;">Winslow's</span><span style="color: #1e1e1e;"> choice of words, understood by his contemporaries, implies to us that the </span><span style="color: #1e1e1e; font-weight: bold;">Pilgrims</span><span style="color: #1e1e1e;"> gave </span><span style="color: #1e1e1e; font-weight: bold;">thanks to God</span><span style="color: #1e1e1e;"> for their preservation and for the plenty that gave hope for the future. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #1e1e1e; font-weight: bold;">Winslow</span><span style="color: #1e1e1e;"> specifically tells us that the colonists sat down with their Native neighbors and enjoyed several days of peaceful rejoicing together. It is a history with potent symbolism, and it needs neither apology nor distortion ..."</span> </div>
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<span style="color: #1e1e1e; font-weight: bold;">Bangs</span><span style="color: #1e1e1e;"> added:</span> </div>
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<span style="color: #1e1e1e;">"When </span><span style="color: #1e1e1e; font-weight: bold;">Winslow</span><span style="color: #1e1e1e;"> described the </span><span style="color: #1e1e1e; font-weight: bold;">Pilgrims'</span><span style="color: #1e1e1e;"> intention, 'after a more special manner to rejoice together, after we had gathered the fruit of our labors,' he was alluding to John 4: 36 and to Psalm 33. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #1e1e1e;">The first is, 'And he that reapeth, receiveth wages, & gathereth fruit unto life eternal, that both he that soweth, & he that reapeth, might rejoice together.'"</span></div>
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<span style="color: #1e1e1e;">On November 9, 1621, 37 more </span><span style="color: #1e1e1e; font-weight: bold;">Pilgrims</span><span style="color: #1e1e1e;"> arrived on the ship </span><span style="font-style: italic;">Fortune</span>. </div>
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The joy of greeting this second group of <span style="font-weight: bold;">Pilgrims</span> was quickly dampened when it was discovered they brought with them no food or supplies. </div>
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<tr><td align="center" class="m_-991577885352309352mobile-hidden" height="1" style="height: 1px; line-height: 1px; padding: 0px;" valign="top" width="15"><img alt="" border="0" class="CToWUd" height="1" hspace="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEidurBOKjFrUCJe4qXfV3rYwWHeHJ3clf0yHkhYrlA3cHGn46V5hi9E6QvdPhiegMTK0Kc0rspxuGcJtmj1tEn383ACvs7QIaLq7c0dt_Z1WV-rmd_WFJ9wVBkE8REcuOUzY41NDm_8E2JK2_mnTvVQyr3xj63DRgGaNdY=s0-d-e1-ft" style="display: block; height: auto; max-width: 100%;" vspace="0" width="15" /> </td><td align="center" class="m_-991577885352309352image-cell" style="padding: 0px;" valign="top"><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f%3D001r3DpFnBm3z_7eZGNEWY0uY8pf8SFgyh8K1J2mW-mFgZ93yIgCdEYq4QIoNVWUyW3LTj0kFJGmVbXK0RRUyAI1KBfXgUmrW0vpW0ulpvIUJXQXZC_nDpXOi2uF5g-jwO9I5Uw8zL47X1gMaS0yDMvVPf3LmjQgvpMjMDZNHUvNseXXtVFbcpteVobvvnJDcbuz4krv8-RA8Eb-3k6mEuAqaliD8I-rR02%26c%3DUc7K0aOsp8Q0w5DgtPoGwvIQV9g_r7-AvrygOQFtdSJo-24SdBJaLQ%3D%3D%26ch%3DJMR-AFzV2nvXPqAbj8g6YqhJzjq6_j0jrgQ48rikOO-egADOtOBADw%3D%3D&source=gmail&ust=1574951193422000&usg=AFQjCNGUtJMZ68uAJ592QzFJBBvaDd8qxA" href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001r3DpFnBm3z_7eZGNEWY0uY8pf8SFgyh8K1J2mW-mFgZ93yIgCdEYq4QIoNVWUyW3LTj0kFJGmVbXK0RRUyAI1KBfXgUmrW0vpW0ulpvIUJXQXZC_nDpXOi2uF5g-jwO9I5Uw8zL47X1gMaS0yDMvVPf3LmjQgvpMjMDZNHUvNseXXtVFbcpteVobvvnJDcbuz4krv8-RA8Eb-3k6mEuAqaliD8I-rR02&c=Uc7K0aOsp8Q0w5DgtPoGwvIQV9g_r7-AvrygOQFtdSJo-24SdBJaLQ==&ch=JMR-AFzV2nvXPqAbj8g6YqhJzjq6_j0jrgQ48rikOO-egADOtOBADw==" style="color: #0199a0;" target="_blank"><img alt="" border="0" class="CToWUd" hspace="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEhGljw2GEJ5LIDItMZ02_fuIHig6zbZm2SZ6Fc4WEig6wIgGdwdgp1S6yzNIBi_xZlhnqe0MKRY3Z2G-ZD2w4m0frUt6a0dAn94N3FloHlv6weAh02YtThmyJTXfI45-sKO82uwwKXxCgS4-2ehQV_oJAIGDf_8qPO9qMeLf8ZNsv424Tpo0khyphenhyphenUDT84nPsZyin8KFt2w=s0-d-e1-ft" style="display: block; height: auto; max-width: 100%;" vspace="0" width="360" /> </a></td></tr>
<tr><td align="center" class="m_-991577885352309352mobile-hidden" height="5" style="height: 1px; line-height: 1px; padding: 0px;" valign="top" width="5"><img alt="" border="0" class="CToWUd" height="1" hspace="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEidurBOKjFrUCJe4qXfV3rYwWHeHJ3clf0yHkhYrlA3cHGn46V5hi9E6QvdPhiegMTK0Kc0rspxuGcJtmj1tEn383ACvs7QIaLq7c0dt_Z1WV-rmd_WFJ9wVBkE8REcuOUzY41NDm_8E2JK2_mnTvVQyr3xj63DRgGaNdY=s0-d-e1-ft" style="display: block; height: auto; max-width: 100%;" vspace="0" width="5" /> </td><td align="center" class="m_-991577885352309352mobile-hidden" height="5" style="height: 5px; line-height: 1px; padding: 0px;" valign="top"><img alt="" border="0" class="CToWUd" height="5" hspace="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEidurBOKjFrUCJe4qXfV3rYwWHeHJ3clf0yHkhYrlA3cHGn46V5hi9E6QvdPhiegMTK0Kc0rspxuGcJtmj1tEn383ACvs7QIaLq7c0dt_Z1WV-rmd_WFJ9wVBkE8REcuOUzY41NDm_8E2JK2_mnTvVQyr3xj63DRgGaNdY=s0-d-e1-ft" style="display: block; height: auto; max-width: 100%;" vspace="0" width="1" /> </td></tr>
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<span style="color: #1e1e1e;">This resulted in the </span><span style="color: #1e1e1e; font-weight: bold;">second winter</span><span style="color: #1e1e1e;"> having a </span><span style="color: #1e1e1e; font-weight: bold;">"starving time,"</span><span style="color: #1e1e1e;"> where at one point, each person was rationed just </span><span style="color: #1e1e1e; font-weight: bold;">five kernels of corn a day.</span> </div>
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<span style="color: #1e1e1e;">Attempting to repay the "merchant adventurers" who financed their trip, the </span><span style="color: #1e1e1e; font-weight: bold;">Pilgrims</span><span style="color: #1e1e1e;"> filled the </span><span style="font-style: italic;">Fortune</span> with £500 worth of furs, but tragically the ship was captured by French pirates, leaving the <span style="font-weight: bold;">Pilgrims</span> in greater debt. </div>
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<span style="color: #1e1e1e;">In 1622, the friendly Indian </span><span style="color: #1e1e1e; font-weight: bold;">Chief Massasoit</span><span style="color: #1e1e1e;"> became ill. </span><span style="color: #1e1e1e; font-weight: bold;">Pilgrim leader Edward Winslow</span><span style="color: #1e1e1e;"> visited and doctored him. He thankfully regained health, which contributed to a peace which lasted over 50 years.</span> </div>
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<span style="color: #1e1e1e; font-weight: bold;">Edward Winslow</span><span style="color: #1e1e1e;"> was especially grateful, because the </span><span style="color: #1e1e1e; font-weight: bold;">Indian tradition</span><span style="color: #1e1e1e;"> was, if a person doctored a chief and the chief died, that person died too.</span> </div>
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<span style="color: #1e1e1e;">Two years after the </span><span style="color: #1e1e1e; font-weight: bold;">Pilgrim</span><span style="color: #1e1e1e;"> landing, there was a drought in 1623. </span><span style="font-weight: bold;">Edward Winslow</span> recorded in <span style="font-style: italic;">Alexander Young’s Chronicles of the Pilgrims </span>(Boston, 1841): </div>
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"Drought and the like considerations moved not only every good man privately to enter into examination with his own estate between <span style="font-weight: bold;">God</span> and his conscience, and so to humiliation before Him, but also to humble ourselves together before the Lord by <span style="font-weight: bold;">Fasting and Prayer."</span> <br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;"> ***</span></div>
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<span style="font-weight: bold;">Hope you enjoyed this Thanksgiving article with little known facts as much as I have. I give full credit and thanks to Bill Federer and his American Minute blog!</span><br />
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<span style="font-weight: bold;">Please share on your social media by clicking the small icons below.</span></div>
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<b>Have a blessed Thanksgiving,</b></div>
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<b>Elva</b></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Elva Cobb Martin, a mother and grandmother, lives in South Carolina with her husband and a senior mini-dachshund named Lucy, and a sea green bird named Atticus. She is the upcoming 2020 president of her state chapter of American Christian Fiction Writers, a retired teacher, minister, and now calls herself a full-time writer. Better make that rewriter. A life-long student of history, her favorite city, Charleston, inspires her stories of romance and adventure. She desires to share exciting love stories of courageous characters and communicate truths of the Christian faith to bring hope and encouragement. Link to her three novels and one Bible Study on Amazon. </span><a href="http://amzn.to/2pOgVHI">http://amzn.to/2pOgVHI</a></div>
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Elva Cobb Martin, South Carolinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09278744225513549876noreply@blogger.com0