tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-60502554269391908172024-03-18T08:42:42.915-06:00Narnia MumJessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02806213335024533276noreply@blogger.comBlogger278125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6050255426939190817.post-87720811192791375742012-09-18T13:39:00.001-06:002012-09-18T13:39:39.733-06:00Wittlebee Giveaway AlertFYI<br />
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Dealeactable Mommies is hosting a <a href="http://dealectiblemommies.com/2012/09/wittlebee-box-giveaway-win-a-3-month-wittlebee-box-subscription.html">giveaway</a> for a 3 month subscription for Wittlebee kid's clothing service. This is an amazing giveaway! Go enter!</div>
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<a href="http://dealectiblemommies.com/2012/09/wittlebee-box-giveaway-win-a-3-month-wittlebee-box-subscription.html"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7ovTmGl00pesEg2scUnMXwoqCsN18Krm7XhA0RKrSr8oLpo78zhLyG8GoJzSw2gLKPJzSdb1sBYsAMe3a-rzFjzQ-IRo6ekjVEaL7rla3GETOoX4g0OF-jQbffZEJEeZQ0YMp635SJcCM/s320/wittlebee-box-31.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02806213335024533276noreply@blogger.com30tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6050255426939190817.post-43724384535984450302012-05-31T22:54:00.003-06:002012-06-01T10:15:22.038-06:00In Which Maddie Writes Flash Fiction<div style="text-align: center;">
Anna at <a href="http://yearningforwonderland.blogspot.com/">Yearning for Wonderland</a> is holding a flash fiction contest. The basic rules are that you select a picture of her <a href="http://pinterest.com/ruanna/faerytaleish/">Faerytaleish Pinterest board</a>, write a three hundred word flash fiction, and then link up on her site by the end of Friday.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8652uE7fyXdyvklBWuTyuFlk4HTmz8BMfxU2gAGaKt9rj-VrlFWDRDPoQ3-4kB7G121sG_ieO7SkiGbBr4pmSGox6lF8bNXn4TCpFJ09tV0PnkAiVSEr_WFfV-09mMwHoTDeasq_wt_r2/s1600/Maddie+Age+4.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8652uE7fyXdyvklBWuTyuFlk4HTmz8BMfxU2gAGaKt9rj-VrlFWDRDPoQ3-4kB7G121sG_ieO7SkiGbBr4pmSGox6lF8bNXn4TCpFJ09tV0PnkAiVSEr_WFfV-09mMwHoTDeasq_wt_r2/s200/Maddie+Age+4.png" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is Maddie. She just turned four. Also, she is cute.</td></tr>
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I've been meaning to write something, but have yet to do so (eta: finally wrote it, see mine <a href="http://authorjessicagrey.com/2012/06/fairy-tale-friday-faerypin-flash-fiction-entry/">here</a>). Maddie, however, has selected a picture and written a flash fiction story about it. It is slightly less than the 300 word goal, but this is her first flash fiction...actually her first story I've written down other than her amazing dream idea for my upcoming dragons book. I should probably spend more time writing down her stories, because she has some great ones.<br />
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So here is Maddie's first writing contest entry:</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/179158891396731092/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4IUdK39fyOeVGNjdb8rESKQQFwVldu-OouDvqSP-oJaGYx9rh4oHp9cdyBPofG0oY5KitLDmZku864EIQUyvPLrejF-LNR6A9-c4dq4dzrf5HtU1-r3BLNaPjcVTZZxMH_S0o9F-dI_F0/s320/Golden+and+Magical.png" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Maddie's inspiration picture</td></tr>
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<b>Golden and Magical</b></div>
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<i>by Maddie Melendez</i><br />
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Once upon a time there was a fairy who was turned to gold. </div>
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She was turned to gold by the sun.</div>
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She became a golden robot and all her friends were fairy robots.</div>
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And then her father was happy because he was all golden and magical.</div>
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The end.</div>
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(48 words)</div>
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<a href="http://www.inlinkz.com/wpview.php?id=158009"><img src="http://www.inlinkz.com/wpImg.php?id=158009" style="border: 0px;" /></a>Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02806213335024533276noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6050255426939190817.post-44788108688724520412012-05-28T11:10:00.004-06:002012-05-28T11:10:37.543-06:00The Last Full Measure of Devotion<br />
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<em>Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on
this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the
proposition that all men are created equal.</em><br /><em></em><br /><em> </em><br /><em>Now
we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or
any nation so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure. We are met on
a great battlefield of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of
that field, as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives
that that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that
we should do this.</em><br /><em></em><br /><em> </em><br /><em>But,
in a larger sense, we can not dedicate - we can not consecrate - we can
not hallow - this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled
here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract.
The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it
can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living, rather, to
be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here
have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here
dedicated to the great task remaining before us - that from these
honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which <strong>they gave the last full measure of devotion</strong>
- that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in
vain - that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom -
and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall
not perish from the earth.</em><br /><em></em><br /><em> </em><br /><em>President Abraham Lincoln</em><br /><em>November 1863</em><br /><em></em><br /><em> </em><br /><em><a data-mce-href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZSkX-84Navy2vZYfKj83mIOgFLJyjccFrmvyHmWzC9ZwNMA7oAY_orR_qJJ2BBaU2WOXSHEiMvaYuzD0uIATZZhYrXH8wpXBpNHdrf2RkBBD3rG_bcrALlAda0EJOnGXnKhPOLPgJa8B_/s1600/3561477190_3ae54c60d0.jpg" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZSkX-84Navy2vZYfKj83mIOgFLJyjccFrmvyHmWzC9ZwNMA7oAY_orR_qJJ2BBaU2WOXSHEiMvaYuzD0uIATZZhYrXH8wpXBpNHdrf2RkBBD3rG_bcrALlAda0EJOnGXnKhPOLPgJa8B_/s1600/3561477190_3ae54c60d0.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" class="aligncenter" data-mce-src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZSkX-84Navy2vZYfKj83mIOgFLJyjccFrmvyHmWzC9ZwNMA7oAY_orR_qJJ2BBaU2WOXSHEiMvaYuzD0uIATZZhYrXH8wpXBpNHdrf2RkBBD3rG_bcrALlAda0EJOnGXnKhPOLPgJa8B_/s400/3561477190_3ae54c60d0.jpg" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476563068719058674" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZSkX-84Navy2vZYfKj83mIOgFLJyjccFrmvyHmWzC9ZwNMA7oAY_orR_qJJ2BBaU2WOXSHEiMvaYuzD0uIATZZhYrXH8wpXBpNHdrf2RkBBD3rG_bcrALlAda0EJOnGXnKhPOLPgJa8B_/s400/3561477190_3ae54c60d0.jpg" /></a></em><br /><br /><strong> </strong></div>
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<strong>As you celebrate this Memorial Day with your family and friends, please consider a donation to the <a data-mce-href="http://www.cfsrf.org/" href="http://www.cfsrf.org/">Children of Fallen Soldiers Relief Fund</a>. Thanks.</strong></div>Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02806213335024533276noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6050255426939190817.post-90276253961613448492012-05-21T13:41:00.002-06:002012-05-21T13:42:26.888-06:00Costume Party Madness<div style="text-align: center;">
Prepare to die of cute.</div>
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I'm not joking. You've been warned.</div>
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<img alt="" class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-609" data-mce-src="http://authorjessicagrey.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/Before-the-Party-300x300.jpg" height="300" src="http://authorjessicagrey.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/Before-the-Party-300x300.jpg" title="Before the Party" width="300" /></div>
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My
now four year old daughter, Maddie, came up with the genius idea of
having a costume party for her birthday. She was incredibly committed
to this scheme and it ended up being ah-mah-zing. This kid has more
style and savvy in her little finger than I do in my whole body.</div>
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<a data-mce-href="http://authorjessicagrey.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/Princess-Headband.jpg" href="http://authorjessicagrey.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/Princess-Headband.jpg"><img alt="" class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-610" data-mce-src="http://authorjessicagrey.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/Princess-Headband-300x300.jpg" height="300" src="http://authorjessicagrey.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/Princess-Headband-300x300.jpg" title="Princess Headband" width="300" /></a></div>
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We
had a blast. We made princess wreaths out of pipe cleaner, ribbons,
and fabric flowers. We had ring pops and made linky necklaces. There
was a Rapunzel cake. Her brother took a huge spoonful out of it before
the party but she told him it was okay.</div>
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<a data-mce-href="http://authorjessicagrey.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/Knight-and-Belle.jpg" href="http://authorjessicagrey.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/Knight-and-Belle.jpg"><img alt="" class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-611" data-mce-src="http://authorjessicagrey.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/Knight-and-Belle-300x300.jpg" height="300" src="http://authorjessicagrey.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/Knight-and-Belle-300x300.jpg" title="Knight and Belle" width="300" /></a></div>
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We had little girls in adorable costumes and poor Jamie the lone knight among the ladies.</div>
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<a data-mce-href="http://authorjessicagrey.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/Friends.jpg" href="http://authorjessicagrey.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/Friends.jpg"><img alt="" class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-612" data-mce-src="http://authorjessicagrey.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/Friends-300x300.jpg" height="300" src="http://authorjessicagrey.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/Friends-300x300.jpg" title="Friends" width="300" /></a></div>
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It rocked.</div>Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02806213335024533276noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6050255426939190817.post-45108621861361465912012-04-27T11:37:00.001-06:002012-04-27T11:38:42.109-06:00Happy Birthday, Maddie!<div style="text-align: center;">
Yesterday my sweet baby turned four! </div>
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Tomorrow we are having a super fabulous costume party! </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvjF6i62ekAPqBFZhjeFfFHXRL9UbEKe8BZr89h4GaiYGLLjtCv16pOO98QRLdXatmGnHx-ydmmFLsAKGTQAmWoLoUsSa7pU8wl2REG6vAXPKZqTDj_b3-FpU_5Qvdjh6GiLsx6p2pqhyphenhyphenF/s1600/Maddie.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvjF6i62ekAPqBFZhjeFfFHXRL9UbEKe8BZr89h4GaiYGLLjtCv16pOO98QRLdXatmGnHx-ydmmFLsAKGTQAmWoLoUsSa7pU8wl2REG6vAXPKZqTDj_b3-FpU_5Qvdjh6GiLsx6p2pqhyphenhyphenF/s320/Maddie.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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Happy Birthday, Maddie!</div>Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02806213335024533276noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6050255426939190817.post-88753987435954300382012-04-24T10:11:00.004-06:002012-04-24T10:11:29.443-06:00Win a Paperback of Awake: A FairytaleI'm having a special promo - Awake is FREE for Kindle on Amazon today and tomorrow. If you help me get the word out you can <a href="http://authorjessicagrey.com/2012/04/spread-the-word-and-win-a-paperback/">win a paperback</a>! Head on over to my author site for the <a href="http://authorjessicagrey.com/2012/04/spread-the-word-and-win-a-paperback/">details</a>!Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02806213335024533276noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6050255426939190817.post-63526568995802671562012-04-10T11:54:00.003-06:002012-04-10T12:02:16.896-06:00James Repurposes a Candleholder<div style="text-align: center;"><br />This morning James found this candle tower thingy (technical term) in the basement. I have most of the big candle stuff down there because my kids are obsessed with fire and blowing out candles so I can't burn any.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Xo6A2YS4cJU/T4R08e-P_TI/AAAAAAAAB5I/pAD7V3_ObnE/s1600/candle%2Bholder.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Xo6A2YS4cJU/T4R08e-P_TI/AAAAAAAAB5I/pAD7V3_ObnE/s400/candle%2Bholder.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5729833208377244978" border="0" /></a><br /><br />He was convinced it was a bird feeder. No matter what I said to the contrary about using it for silly candles he was undeterred. He had a vision.<br /><br />So he added bird seed.<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_ziNoh-VD_w/T4R07wXvsmI/AAAAAAAAB48/jYtcbL2tu2k/s1600/bird%2Bfood.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 352px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_ziNoh-VD_w/T4R07wXvsmI/AAAAAAAAB48/jYtcbL2tu2k/s400/bird%2Bfood.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5729833195867714146" border="0" /></a><br /><br />And hung it up in the tree where all of our sparrows congregate.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-qJyG4xn3UaL2cVzRgmVB3V_9CSsIar6B77TimYzuGAuSShU45IEEElXaZTtxUQMvAJvXX-seYE44y0sAq7qvg8ms-ImQvGnOrsp72f21sLJa1qMkgWKcYL_OWYJsuVbzc1MGJ8WaAmW8/s1600/Hanging+in+tree.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-qJyG4xn3UaL2cVzRgmVB3V_9CSsIar6B77TimYzuGAuSShU45IEEElXaZTtxUQMvAJvXX-seYE44y0sAq7qvg8ms-ImQvGnOrsp72f21sLJa1qMkgWKcYL_OWYJsuVbzc1MGJ8WaAmW8/s400/Hanging+in+tree.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5729833216993927922" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Yes, that is a roll of toilet paper. Don't ask, I have no idea. My best guess is it was stolen out of the bathroom cabinet in order to start a castle.<br /><br /><br />The sparrows are going gaga over this thing right now. The kids are beside themselves.<br /><br />James = repurposer extraordinaire.<br /></div>Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02806213335024533276noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6050255426939190817.post-64098953523382340692012-04-02T11:31:00.002-06:002012-04-02T11:35:36.620-06:00Sneak Peek of Atone: A Fairytale<div style="text-align: center;">I have a sneak peek of Atone: A Fairytale, the second in my Fairytale Trilogy, over on my <a href="http://bit.ly/H8VIOy">author site</a> if you'd like to check it out.<br /><br />And for those of you waiting for the paperback of Awake to be available I am now only waiting on Amazon's system to update. They should be available for purchase on Amazon by the end of this week! Or you can currently <a href="https://www.createspace.com/3767497">purchase paperbacks</a> in the Createspace store!<br /></div>Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02806213335024533276noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6050255426939190817.post-60536860529135246802012-03-26T08:10:00.001-06:002012-03-26T11:22:27.136-06:00Shred or Dead<div style="text-align: center;">Yeah, this is happening:<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqvhxOcR5GovdgRf09sxvYntm0pFznDNSrRE0mDNY2hQSSKv8jbGs20q-BNUJ0axfAy4r2xqBWPo0J6aHNDVqBwdC3MBw7Ho4L0igUU3IuME_zM4S0gxpMlcZYEJoIHSQx1XlpR3_7pbpg/s1600/30+Day+Shred.png"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 213px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqvhxOcR5GovdgRf09sxvYntm0pFznDNSrRE0mDNY2hQSSKv8jbGs20q-BNUJ0axfAy4r2xqBWPo0J6aHNDVqBwdC3MBw7Ho4L0igUU3IuME_zM4S0gxpMlcZYEJoIHSQx1XlpR3_7pbpg/s400/30+Day+Shred.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5724086137943651042" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I've done two days at Level One and am going to try Level Two today so I'm not doing the exact same thing three days in a row. I fully expect to be dead by the end of the day.<br /><br />Also, this is my second day on a restricted calorie diet. Yesterday was okay, even though I blew 420 calories on a grande triple shot skim milk white mocha at Starbucks while I was writing. It was worth it though. I wrote 2567 words, bringing my weekend total up to just past 7600. It would have been almost 70 calories less if I'd left of the whipped cream.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">I am not emotionally or mentally ready to leave off the whipped cream.</span><br /><br />Other than the Starbucks I was crazy healthy in my food choices, didn't feel unsatisfied, and even with the white mocha, came in with 30 calories to spare. Yes.<br /><br />Here is my inspiration:<br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.shabbyapple.com/p-1411-frabjous-day.aspx"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 237px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1JNJJuV97OD45u9dZMD-Hs3pN_G5niDEnb7sFcRWnFvsjP62N1Bxn97HJNspMMRvV_bKAOzG2GCoEeme8RyfCvmVPfa_Uqejqw4wRP06MlmXQwdRNdrc7xr5UnDvOH2jMZQDSCwPlIngQ/s400/Oh+Frabjous+Day.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5724086121525615794" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Frabjous Day by Shabby Apple</span></span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">I want this <a href="http://www.shabbyapple.com/p-1411-frabjous-day.aspx">dress</a>, people. I want it<span style="font-style: italic;"> baaaaad</span>. <br />And I want to look HOT in it.<br /><br />Think happy, non-dying thoughts in my direction. Prayers are also appreciated.<br /></div>Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02806213335024533276noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6050255426939190817.post-89930289176639438512012-03-20T15:53:00.004-06:002012-03-20T16:14:42.554-06:00Getting Ready for Another Round......of Birthday parties!<br /><br />I can't believe it, but next month Maddie is going to turn 4! She is going to have a costume party with rainbow accents. Let me tell you, there are not a lot of kid's costume birthday invites (that aren't Halloween related) out there, but I lucked out and found the perfect invitations of Etsy.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/graciegirldesigns77?ref=seller_info"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 286px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCOHRVLIvjzTIlezWhLqECxzKg1H_xiYyf1HrmKidU3hRL6AI_BBMg6nusF0ajPO7YhB2sUdbXYYdFsVWd0RbZ_oCNEgyIIi6j0sKhsz193scP7ctwIzA8Sv7RMqQ_MS4qW7E3FrKuq_0J/s400/Maddie+Costume+Kids+Invite+copy%25281%2529.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5722105976556370882" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Aren't these so cute? They are from <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/graciegirldesigns77?ref=seller_info">Gracie Girl Designs</a> and I am super happy with her customer service and designs. I think we will probably be getting Jamie's 3rd Birthday invites from her as well. He is going with a pirate theme (subject to change).<br /><br />We are planning quite the costume party spectacular. Have any suggestions for what to do with a group of 3-6 year olds?Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02806213335024533276noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6050255426939190817.post-81465182127381078662012-03-12T08:00:00.000-06:002012-03-12T08:00:01.941-06:00A Little Bit of Sewing<div style="text-align: center;">It seems like my entire life recently has been consumed with writing, publishing, and marketing my book. Now that it has been released into the wild I have been able to find a little bit of time to get out my grandmother's sewing machine (mine is broken) and fiddle around a bit. I had a bunch of half-square triangles that I had started when Iw as talking a quilting class about two years ago for my "first" quilt. I hated the pattern and didn't love the class so I never finished. I decided to take them and make them into pinwheels because I adore the fabrics.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000ee;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 391px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZuI9uLFflp5rDMspQkhvI_TtM4grczb691AzfM3-rjVCQ3fyZky08iMyuuAmG46TLdYFQZADfZZwK4ITAtFmvNX_LHrEKfYxcpfSd36dhGpWYKiFIOBKnqHScVz7Qigqp83ShMYJho3uu/s400/Pinwheels.png" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5718396175160267474" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I took the rest of the fabrics that I'd originally had picked out for this quit and started some <a href="http://www.modabakeshop.com/2010/08/pinwheels-in-house-quilt.html">Pinwheels in the House</a> blocks as designed by <a href="p://miss-print.blogspot.com/">Kaye Prince</a>. I love the idea of these blocks. I kept my log cabin strips thin instead of sizing them to my pinwheels like Kaye did in her quilt, just because my pinwheels are huge and I'd end up with like four total blocks in a quilt. I still love how it looks.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih5gMLXbxOswNI0LckYa418DGhmhTKttSjWDoTbkd9J5FnRz99UCJ-jdiEZkwW7afYETiMV0a4W1lGCegaXjxGy2xscBWAX6C0McXwYu2L_nVUalLw5iFFBld6nlRCgQ1CPV28I2AdAacH/s400/Block.png" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5718396185882408834" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 394px; height: 400px; " /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">While I sew I like to put on a movie - but it has to be one I've seen a lot so it doesn't distract me from what I am supposed to be doing. One of my favorite go to sewing movies is <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Shes-Widescreen-Edition-Amanda-Bynes/dp/B000FIHN84/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1331418253&sr=8-1">She's the Man</a> with Amanda Bynes...don't judge! I love Shakespeare's Twelfth Night and I think this is one of the most faithful adaptation of it - and it's funny! And highly underrated. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 399px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibOg3RXmAeZ0i2Te_OHrZdYYKRGWPYuKSVhXeMaZV0UyuEFzseftLR7eW1dDHPoPRCqVrbH1GS6iP8ZfJ1bWIG4nqL0DBFtNFXFR_bFlu6NaeNE5DICDfkl00Pn4QJqtHdjBtulJHToA3z/s400/She%2527s+the+Man.png" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5718396170179728082" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Do you have a favorite go to entertainment while you sew?</div></div>Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02806213335024533276noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6050255426939190817.post-13175912249280634492012-02-29T10:45:00.000-07:002012-02-29T10:46:13.217-07:00Awake is FREE Today on Amazon<p>Yup, you heard me right! Today (Wednesday, February 29th) Awake: A Fairytale is <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Awake-Fairytale-Trilogy-ebook/dp/B0075WO1Q0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1330522881&sr=8-1">FREE to download from Amazon</a> for your Kindle or Kindle app. I have the kindle app on my phone, but you can also get a reader for your <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/feature.html?ie=UTF8&docId=1000426311&tag=googhydr-20&hvadid=7893047648&ref=pd_sl_3ies3d4yuc_b">computer</a>. I hope you all take advantage of my little promotional experiment and get a copy for yourselves!</p> <p> </p> <p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Awake-Fairytale-Trilogy-ebook/dp/B0075WO1Q0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1330522881&sr=8-1"><img class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-279" title="Awake-aFairytale-eBookCover" src="http://authorjessicagrey.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Awake-aFairytale-eBookCover1-225x300.jpg" alt="" height="300" width="225" /></a></p> <p> </p> <p>Hurry on over to <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Awake-Fairytale-Trilogy-ebook/dp/B0075WO1Q0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1330522881&sr=8-1">Amazon</a> and snag your copy! And I would love you forever if you would have your family, friends, and vague acquaintances do the same.</p>Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02806213335024533276noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6050255426939190817.post-42750382286830366602012-02-06T15:52:00.002-07:002012-02-06T16:08:40.224-07:00Awake is Now Available!<p>I’m so excited I can barely stand it!</p> <p>I hit the “go button” on Awake yesterday for Smashwords, Amazon, and Barnes and Noble and it is already available!</p> <p> </p> <p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Awake-Fairytale-Trilogy-ebook/dp/B0075WO1Q0/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1328504751&sr=8-4"><img class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-279" title="Awake-aFairytale-eBookCover" src="http://authorjessicagrey.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Awake-aFairytale-eBookCover1-225x300.jpg" alt="" height="300" width="225" /></a></p> <p> </p> <p>My book is out there for the general public to purchase and read! Oh. My. Gracious. So I guess this means I’m an author! I feel like Liv Tyler in That Thing You Do except instead of saying “Make a record? Like a record record record?” I’m saying “am I really an author? Like an author author author?” If you haven’t seen That Thing You Do and have no idea what I’m talking about stop reading now, go watch it, and come back. I’ll wait…</p> <p> </p> <p>Want to snag a copy of Awake for yourself? You can find it on <a href="http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/129830">Smashwords</a> for a variety of formats, on <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/awake-jessica-grey/1108327473?ean=2940014117661&itm=1&usri=awake%3a+a+fairytale">Barnes and Noble.com</a> for Nook, and on <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Awake-Fairytale-Trilogy-ebook/dp/B0075WO1Q0/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1328504751&sr=8-4">Amazon</a> for Kindle. The paperback version is coming soon! And if you want to win a copy then head on over to <a href="http://indiejane.org/2012/02/awake-announcement-and-giveaway/">Indie Jane</a>. We are giving away two copies – an ebook and a paperback!</p> <p> </p> <p>To everyone who already bought my book yesterday – and those of you who were tweeting your favorite lines. I kind of love you all. I hope the hotness that is Luke Reed lived up to your expectations.</p><p><br /></p>Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02806213335024533276noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6050255426939190817.post-36414576399578222352012-01-30T09:44:00.000-07:002012-01-30T09:44:00.183-07:00Trailer for Awake<div style="text-align: center;">My book comes out in just over a week! I debuted the pre-release trailer for it on my author blog on Friday, but I wanted you guys to see it too! Thanks so much to Victoria Austen-Young for putting it together, and to my hubs, Ed, for composing the score!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><object width="420" height="315"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Et_w2k9cWgI?version=3&hl=en_US"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Et_w2k9cWgI?version=3&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="420" height="315" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">What do you guys think?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I can't wait for next Tuesday!</div>Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02806213335024533276noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6050255426939190817.post-20813876194350827402012-01-24T09:39:00.003-07:002012-01-24T09:43:37.421-07:00A New Sample of AwakeLast week I posted a <a href="http://authorjessicagrey.com/2012/01/three-weeks/">new sample</a> of my upcoming novel Awake: A Fairytale on my author site. I'd love for you to check it out and let me know what you think.<br /><br />I am now counting down in days to the release! Yikes!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj6XUOTQcBgDxbAMx-9NL1SFrlTyffObNvD03NqPCexFoBsXcYrMh0RXSz-qqr4mdLBsp6aSqmmC9ZLz7PTxFliXbh07TeDD8DraE0zCc9o-80O7FM0gLoyDPX7A4y0iflAO24QBf1-fX4/s1600/Awake-aFairytale-eBookCover.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj6XUOTQcBgDxbAMx-9NL1SFrlTyffObNvD03NqPCexFoBsXcYrMh0RXSz-qqr4mdLBsp6aSqmmC9ZLz7PTxFliXbh07TeDD8DraE0zCc9o-80O7FM0gLoyDPX7A4y0iflAO24QBf1-fX4/s400/Awake-aFairytale-eBookCover.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5701239850976152354" border="0" /></a>Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02806213335024533276noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6050255426939190817.post-72806806927963727532012-01-19T00:37:00.003-07:002012-01-19T00:39:13.284-07:00Well, hello there Winter!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2QZdf941Vuw7-kegzhEQUHz2ZEoCEmIFp4eBA8rRtw9JJhYiRgYXT-ry6I7MYcKi5O9zzdJsXiWBFKcb9WrNjgrTokEAaIdxoiQatO0E6ce4lOIH1GT06_DVNloPbEqcsIjE3fNDc_uV0/s1600/Winter.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2QZdf941Vuw7-kegzhEQUHz2ZEoCEmIFp4eBA8rRtw9JJhYiRgYXT-ry6I7MYcKi5O9zzdJsXiWBFKcb9WrNjgrTokEAaIdxoiQatO0E6ce4lOIH1GT06_DVNloPbEqcsIjE3fNDc_uV0/s400/Winter.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5699244305831545858" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">There is really nothing more to say...<br /></div>Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02806213335024533276noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6050255426939190817.post-30150703003010990832012-01-03T15:39:00.004-07:002012-01-03T16:11:45.932-07:00Last Year<span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">I haven't done a year in review post because I felt like I didn't get much accomplished last year. I haven't been able to sew as much as I wanted, and even though I got two quilt tops down, I haven't had time to take nice pictures or blog about them. 2011 was just a weird year for sewing and crafting.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;">So, I don't have a lot of super gorgeous sewing related pictures to put in a fancy layout, but that doesn't mean I didn't get a lot done last year. I have no reason to feel unaccomplished, but I found myself feeling that way. To make myself feel better/gain perspective, here are a few things I did last year.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;">I moved. Three times. Seriously. And one of those moves was basically across the country. That's a pretty big accomplishment I think.</span><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="font-family: georgia;" href="http://authorjessicagrey.com/awake/"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 244px; height: 327px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OjOpC-EJ7uo/TwOI9SKVPaI/AAAAAAAAB1A/lltbFFDcbpg/s400/Awake-aFairytale-eBookCover.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5693544940355009954" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;">I wrote TWO books! This didn't really occur to me until recently, but it's true. I didn't start working on </span><a style="font-family: georgia;" href="http://authorjessicagrey.com/awake/">Awake: A Fairytale</a><span style="font-family: georgia;"> (other than that first few thousand words I managed in 2010) until March. I wrote the entire thing (those first few pieces hit the trash bin pretty early in the process) between late March and early June. Not only did I write and edit Awake this year, in November I wrote my second book, Attempting Elizabeth. Yeah, it is in rough draft form and I still have several scenes to add, plus the laborious process of editing, having it beta read, rewriting, editing, etc., but the fact remains, 53k words of that book were written in 2011. (If you add together what I've done this year on the two, it is about 144k words, wow).</span><br /><br /><a style="font-family: georgia;" href="http://www.indiejane.org"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 147px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG8dIqZT64I552du3PWFvpz2FvKO75KgdIGP71eMNfmsZh6e-jppHZ6RT2ZBYeaVL1FwDExPIy-lB9r3cSMTSarEuc6Tk7Qol6eBKKP2-JuXuf-lnUcmh6F7eFw4b2f1nVfsExUuJSNUOG/s400/Indie+Jane+.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5693544936267663666" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;">I started a pretty cool website. Indie Jane was launched in July and we've had 24 thousand plus page views to date and have had fun establishing an online community. The book club on our </span><a style="font-family: georgia;" href="http://bit.ly/ufzqoS">message boards</a><span style="font-family: georgia;"> is starting a Pride and Prejudice group read this week. Each week's discussion questions are being hosted by an author of an indie P&P continuation or re-imagining. We have some great authors participating and our community members are the best!</span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;">All in all, I think it has been a pretty darn productive year and I hope to make 2012 even more so.</span></span>Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02806213335024533276noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6050255426939190817.post-8452782514400145482011-12-24T12:15:00.000-07:002011-12-24T12:15:00.816-07:00Merry Christmas<p style="text-align: center;">And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. <sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-24984"></sup>But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” </p><p style="text-align: center;"> Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, </p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;"> “Glory to God in the highest heaven, </span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"> and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"></span></p><p style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Luke 2: 8-14<br /></span> </p>Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02806213335024533276noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6050255426939190817.post-36120160880813106852011-12-22T15:09:00.004-07:002011-12-22T16:21:15.144-07:00Christmasy Stuff<div style="text-align: center;">Even though we are running behind on Christmas due to combination of a) leaving things until the last moment, and b) a horrible virus that caused us to lose an entire week of December, we've still managed to get a few Christmasy things done.<br /><br />Thanks to Walmart One Hour Photo, I manged to slap together a Christmas card!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8xwVMDXf6J6-P7IY-Xeh1HIYoy6f0_vIbwfzozbeUGPwawtk9srj7WLLSxhXQsd9x2jAj29rRXMPDKZyvTh1pWD1Pm7ES-jcRSsjX6Wj56gMTxqdf2CKbL6M8uAPaE63mc5GK4LDvLLY2/s1600/Christmas+Card.png"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 228px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8xwVMDXf6J6-P7IY-Xeh1HIYoy6f0_vIbwfzozbeUGPwawtk9srj7WLLSxhXQsd9x2jAj29rRXMPDKZyvTh1pWD1Pm7ES-jcRSsjX6Wj56gMTxqdf2CKbL6M8uAPaE63mc5GK4LDvLLY2/s400/Christmas+Card.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5689080246734180290" border="0" /></a><br />And we finally hung up the sparkly snowflakes that we glittered in early December. Yay for toddler art projects! And for finding something for this really strange, large, open window!<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_Od7y2W9Pj2ENLAo8RKlyzBTZ7eKettJc1Ol3H4yw2zQkLSmIWaTvvhMdpVDS3FUlE4uoYI7Wm92UmTqhg24C04B_7CbhXNnFotbSqjCG-W5uMyxmpOPNv9wzp9Nd90VdBeEjNVGWAbL2/s1600/Snowflake.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 299px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_Od7y2W9Pj2ENLAo8RKlyzBTZ7eKettJc1Ol3H4yw2zQkLSmIWaTvvhMdpVDS3FUlE4uoYI7Wm92UmTqhg24C04B_7CbhXNnFotbSqjCG-W5uMyxmpOPNv9wzp9Nd90VdBeEjNVGWAbL2/s400/Snowflake.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5689080611595074882" border="0" /></a><br />It's December 22! I'm still getting out Christmas decorations! Oh boy. Next year I am going to be done with gift shopping early... as in September! <br /><br />How are you doing? Are you ready for the big day?<br /></div>Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02806213335024533276noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6050255426939190817.post-35854037439590384052011-12-16T00:05:00.004-07:002011-12-24T12:10:23.263-07:00While the Giant is Sleeping<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;">One of the most interesting geographical features of Helena, Montana, is the Sleeping Giant. There is a section of our mountain range that really, truly looks like a giant laying on his back. The cool thing is the Sleeping Giant is perfectly framed out of our new back window!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 397px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbgYNrd8T4mTomiMYoq4QtgOEfAffseg2TZU0OsCt5oWJb7hxW_aYNS_d_b1Orzchf4ahv_z3RLJU7L_0k4EAQkCiNSNLv7rt-R5qJ5v9nz2_JnWrt1wB9q-fc6LZDzSt4ON41hEX66Rmg/s400/Giant+Cover+-+small.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5686607797918148770" border="0" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;">Alycia Holston is an author and Helena resident and, I'm glad to say, also a friend of mine. She and illustrator Suzi Stranahan have produced a charming picture book called While the Giant is Sleeping that follows the Sleeping Giant throughout the year as the seasons change around him. <span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ">This well written and beautifully illustrated book is a treat for both children and their parents. Both of my young children loved reading about all of the wildlife and weather that pass through "while the giant is sleeping." I highly recommend this book, especially if your children are interested in nature.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;" ><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;" ><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;">Alycia and Suzi are currently having a giveaway on their site <a href="http://www.calmcreations.com/">Calm Creations</a> for a copy of While the Giant is Sleeping. All you have to do to enter the giveaway is <a href="http://www.calmcreations.com/p/contest.html">visit their site today</a>, let them know which of the winter illustrations from While the Giant is Sleeping is your favorite (the illustrations are on their site), and make sure to leave your name and email address in your comment. Easy peasy! </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;">You can also purchase a copy of While the Giant Sleeping on <a href="http://www.amazon.com/While-Giant-Sleeping-Alycia-Holston/dp/1936501058/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1324014381&sr=8-1">Amazon</a> or through <a href="http://www.crossrivermedia.com/books.html">CrossRiver Media</a>.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02806213335024533276noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6050255426939190817.post-40978443077710067702011-12-12T09:00:00.003-07:002011-12-12T09:00:04.617-07:00Revealing the Cover for My Novel!Oh my gosh, I am so stinking excited that I cannot contain myself! Today on my <a href="http://authorjessicagrey.com/">author site</a> I am revealing the <a href="http://authorjessicagrey.com/2011/12/awake-cover-reveal/">cover</a> for my novel Awake: A Fairytale. I would really love if you could head on over and check it out!<br /><br />I'm kind of bummed to have missed out on the Sew, Mama, Sew Giveaway Day - but come on guys, it's a real book! I promise to not miss out next time (May, right?!?!)Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02806213335024533276noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6050255426939190817.post-25803987191724512482011-12-01T08:05:00.000-07:002011-12-01T08:05:01.042-07:00Look Who's a Winner<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I honestly thought I'd feel a lot more excited about this...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 180px; height: 180px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWuGLJY-8oJtRZSktIK0ZUvl5gmUpSkbQL5I0BuAoK8ftwbM3X3x4ZyLfyUxLlMY1szrN1BHF3sx_M4rMkFCtPN9LMOPlYN8YVifO2mZJ4H8Qd5NmSyk_HEptla9ebdPpEgbtS9NI9V-oO/s400/Winner_180_180_white.png" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5680334873548247346" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">But I guess at a certain point you realize that getting the first 50k is a great milestone, but you are so far from done that it's a little bit "ho, hum, guess I'm still going into the office tomorrow."</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">And by office, I mean Starbucks.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">The middle is looking great. I've still got to write the end...and the hero and heroine's entire relationship prior to the middle (so yes, that would be the beginning, or at least large sections of the beginning).</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">But, yay for me! I've <a href="http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/participants/narniamum/novels/attempting-elizabeth">written the middle of a novel</a> in the month of November!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Now to commence a major freak out about how much is left to do in an incredibly short amount of time if I want it out by August 2012. Ah, good times.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02806213335024533276noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6050255426939190817.post-26881955940152791062011-11-29T08:00:00.000-07:002011-11-29T08:00:10.653-07:0012 Days of Christmas Giveaway<div style="text-align: center;">Did you know I have another <a href="http://authorjessicagrey.com/2011/11/twelve-days-of-christmas-giveaway-day-seven/">blog</a>? Yup! I started a site for my pen name - Jessica Grey. It's all pretty and shiny AND right now I' am participating in a 12 Days of Christmas Giveaway and Blog Hop. I'm <a href="http://authorjessicagrey.com/2011/11/twelve-days-of-christmas-giveaway-day-seven/">giving away</a> two books and a Starbucks card. Free coffee, people, you can't beat it. You should totally <a href="http://authorjessicagrey.com/2011/11/twelve-days-of-christmas-giveaway-day-seven/">head on over</a> and enter my giveaway (and the others that are going on too, they are all great!) The giveaway will be open through December 12th.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 319px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOwNNewAd4GgCjqFVw-Ocilq8RKbp7K4vaM7FMFrnuXpjiW6ZeLlS0y9v2GL0Y9MEZtA2r5PtEzOh1MgBJhMBAWnWPQmihqm6uBRLxbtKGcT7ttzDrgw2aOv0FNM2FTwxhC3cPZVaknGNz/s400/Bigger%252BBlog%252BHop.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5680332613023305826" /></div>Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02806213335024533276noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6050255426939190817.post-80148454924126813752011-11-23T06:00:00.001-07:002011-11-23T00:02:14.745-07:00Review: His Good Opinion by Nancy KelleyLast week I reviewed my friend Nancy Kelley's book <a href="http://www.amazon.com/His-Good-Opinion-Darcy-ebook/dp/B006B17ZPU/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1322030868&sr=8-1">His Good Opinion, A Mr. Darcy Novel</a> on the site <a href="http://indiejane.org/">Indie Jane</a>.<br /><p>“But Jess,” you might say, “you’re really good friends with Nancy. You run Indie Jane with her. How can you give an impartial review of her book?”</p> <p>“Well, you,” I might answer back, “I <em>am</em> friends with Nancy, and she is nice enough to put up with my crazy shenanigans and blog with me, but I’m totally just a cool, impartial chick and if this book sucked I totally would tell you.”</p> <p>Actually, if this book sucked I would just sort of of slink off into a corner and pretend that I’d never read it or been asked to review it… avoidance is my go to response in those sorts of situations. But luckily for me, and the world in general, this book is frickin’ frackin’ brilliant and now it is available for you all to read so you can agree with me!</p> <p>So yes, I know Nancy as personally as one can on the interwebs, and this is going to be a gush fest – I didn’t create the hashtag #HotDarcy on Twitter when talking about this book because I just had nothing better to do…I created it cause Nancy writes a really #HotDarcy <em>AND</em> I had nothing better to do!</p> <p>So, now that we’ve gotten that cleared up, here is my review!</p> <p>Darcy is hot. He is really, really hot. There is more than one occasion on which he loosens his cravat and is all sexy and hot like. You should buy this book. The end.</p> <p>This review brought to you by the puddle of goo formerly known as Jess.</p> <p>Kidding! Well, actually that’s a pretty decent summation, but here is my real review!</p><p><br /></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNqvqmJ2rJUUiNgWsUTUV8qT1qwEqw3gMBjfmoeH-rE4YP2PBaJxwNE99GYb40cw9tjB4eEl1of8DgrNv3V53uY4RtTHTsjiY6NFTZdZJDdp5H4okSVcUkfIfWuuym4a9b9g5Tp0okTUUt/s1600/book_webpic.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 190px; height: 280px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNqvqmJ2rJUUiNgWsUTUV8qT1qwEqw3gMBjfmoeH-rE4YP2PBaJxwNE99GYb40cw9tjB4eEl1of8DgrNv3V53uY4RtTHTsjiY6NFTZdZJDdp5H4okSVcUkfIfWuuym4a9b9g5Tp0okTUUt/s400/book_webpic.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5678080660622034722" border="0" /></a></p><br /><br />In His Good Opinion, author Nancy Kelley sets out to tell the story of Pride and Prejudice from Mr. Darcy's point of view. Although Darcy is the hero in Pride and Prejudice, for the first part of the book he comes across to Elizabeth (as well as everyone else in Hertfordshire) and the reader as proud and aloof. In the second half of the novel, Austen shows us how Darcy changes and Darcy himself admits to flaws in his behavior. But why was Darcy seemingly so proud? Why did he refuse to be easily pleased, withholding his good opinion more often than he bestowed it. And why would someone like Darcy fall in love with a girl like Elizabeth - someone open and vivacious and not at all concerned with securing his good opinion?<br /><br />Told from Darcy's point of view, this novel follows Darcy from London where he has become increasingly turned off by the artifices of society, to the country where he meets Elizabeth for the first time. As he become enchanted with her the reader is similarly enchanted by this version of Mr. Darcy. The blow of Lizzy's rejection of Darcy's proposal is felt more keenly than ever before because we as readers find ourselves rooting for Darcy. His heartbreak is real and touching, and frankly, makes him irresistible. As he comes to term with the rejection and takes Lizzy's criticisms to heart, he endeavors to become a man worthy of her love - even if he can never have her.<br /><br />The book follows the timeline of Pride and Prejudice, but because it is told from Darcy's point of view, readers are treated to scenes that we have previously been imagined, such as Darcy's hunt of Wickham and his eventual confrontation with him in London. We are also get to see the relationship between Darcy and his sister Georgiana, as well his relationship with his cousin Colonel Fitzwilliam. All of this serves to flesh Darcy out and make him an even more desirable hero.<br /><br />And here is where Nancy Kelley's genius really shines. Darcy is already an incredibly loved, and if we are all honest with ourselves, desired, hero. She has managed in this story, to make him even more desirable while also injecting levels of sensitivity and vulnerability that are absolutely heart-wrenching. While this book could be given a G rating based on it's content, Ms. Kelley manages to raise the reader's temperature with a look or a gesture. In fact, every time Darcy loosened his cravat I melted into a tiny puddle of goo.<br /><br />The tagline of this novel is "Mr. Darcy speaks from the heart," and in the end that is what endears readers the most to this incarnation of Mr. Darcy. Yes, he's tall, dark and handsome (and has ten thousand a year), and yes he is very, very hot. But in this retelling of Pride and Prejudice it is his heart that truly shines through. And I think it is that heart that will make readers fall in love with him all over again and wish that they too could be a woman worthy of... His Good Opinion.<br /><br />Five Stars<br /><br />And guess what! Right now on Indie Jane we are <a href="http://indiejane.org/2011/11/giveaway-his-good-opinion/">giving away</a> two copies of this book! Head on over and enter!Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02806213335024533276noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6050255426939190817.post-22267422266185596772011-11-21T10:58:00.003-07:002011-11-21T11:02:16.351-07:00Yellow House<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;">Sorry for being MIA recently. Between moving and writing for NaNoWriMo I've barely got time to breathe!<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixfLwUxCJ_tu-_WKTwFFKaE55M0EmMCUJbO4JM2NANEs2ToO5n_oq1NeWmyDF6CX5V2NswON9sRP0mx-VoHkq8WWhyH2AJddRGMFXwmCWW2tfXdDpKTcq6YigUfgWhZyzqshjoZcRPmhSu/s1600/New+Yellow+House.png"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixfLwUxCJ_tu-_WKTwFFKaE55M0EmMCUJbO4JM2NANEs2ToO5n_oq1NeWmyDF6CX5V2NswON9sRP0mx-VoHkq8WWhyH2AJddRGMFXwmCWW2tfXdDpKTcq6YigUfgWhZyzqshjoZcRPmhSu/s400/New+Yellow+House.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5677510580786161330" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I grew up in a little yellow house, so maybe that is why they seem so homey to me.<br /><br />Now we are finally moved into our new yellow house here in Helena, Montana.<br /><br />And right after we moved it snowed. A lot.<br /><br /><br /></div><br /><br /></div>Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02806213335024533276noreply@blogger.com6