tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-48048384495707798832024-03-12T23:39:26.697-04:00Marie Sullivan ForceMarie Forcehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00550719567520289405noreply@blogger.comBlogger451125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4804838449570779883.post-1233757905312149512014-11-17T10:47:00.001-05:002014-11-17T10:47:57.907-05:00On this day four years ago...<div style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 6px;">
<b>On this day four years ago... I self-published for the first time.</b></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
To mark this amazing anniversary, I thought I'd share the story behind how I came to try self-publishing for the first time... I wrote seven books before I sold one in 2007 and ended up doing three books with my first publisher, who wasn't interested in the other books I had written. They rejected most of my earlier books, including Treading Water, True North, Fatal Affair and Maid for Love. Fatal Affair later sold to Carina Press, and the Fatal Series has had a happy home with Carina and Harlequin since 2010. But I had all these other books already written and no one was interested in publishing them. I had readers asking for more of my books, and we were trying to sell them, but the rejections kept on coming. In the summer of 2010, I came close to selling True North to a big NY publisher. My agent and I really thought it was going to happen until we received the rejection that contained the nine words that changed my life: "No one wants to read about a super model." Um, okay then. By then I had received tons and tons and TONS of rejections, and I'd learned to roll with them. They didn't bother me anymore, but that one did. First I cried, then I got MAD--really, really MAD. My unlucky-in-love super model was someone regular women could relate to because she wanted what so many people want: love and family and a place to call home. I believed in her, and I believed in True North.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIzHaR9In0YPf9TUnZktGINFuAHXNzoRwrJYFcQDRt5hR7BEgE6MFpMFTDmiTA9NDnPPD5lCVaOJEIjjFCjeVcGLS4SSFOkjAgBRmt11D_BTESPeOPh7n_WgGem3QzWww37w4BzB235Ms/s1600/TrueNorth200.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIzHaR9In0YPf9TUnZktGINFuAHXNzoRwrJYFcQDRt5hR7BEgE6MFpMFTDmiTA9NDnPPD5lCVaOJEIjjFCjeVcGLS4SSFOkjAgBRmt11D_BTESPeOPh7n_WgGem3QzWww37w4BzB235Ms/s1600/TrueNorth200.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
The True North rejection led me to investigate the new trend of self-publishing through Amazon's new Kindle Direct Publishing program. At that time, it was a risky proposition for an author who had books coming from two different publishers a few months later (the second Fatal book and my third and final book with my first publisher). Self-publishing was so new to the ebook space, that no one knew for sure if I could be sued for publishing on my own ahead of publisher releases. I told my husband I was going to do something that could get us sued. To his credit, he said, "Let me know how it works out." <i class="_4-k1 img sp_CHjQ01Xff48 sx_6db290" style="background-image: url(https://fbstatic-a.akamaihd.net/rsrc.php/v2/yu/r/Vz2DDr8B8FU.png); background-position: 0px -7999px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; background-size: auto; display: inline-block; height: 16px; vertical-align: -3px; width: 16px;"></i> However, I was under no contractual obligation that would stop me from venturing into the realm of self-publishing. So on Nov. 17, 2010, I self-published True North quietly and without any fanfare. A month later, I self-published The Fall. I sold about 50 copies of True North in the first month and maybe 150 of both books the next month. A free offering of an earlier book the following February, gave a boost to all my books, and my self-pub numbers really took off. I sold nearly 7,000 copies of both self-published books in February 2011. I self-published The Wreck in March, the first month in which I sold more than 10,000 books in a single month. Maid for Love was released in April, Fool for Love in May, Ready for Love in June, Georgia on My Mind in September, Treading Water in October, Marking Time in November and Starting Over in December. I ended 2011 with 650,000 self-published ebook sales and on the last day of 2011, I left the job I'd had for 16 years to write full time.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
Fast forward to the end of 2014... Every book I've written is now on sale--all 37 of them (22 are self-published). I've sold more than 3 million copies of my books, mostly in the last three years. I have six of my good friends and my husband working with me. I've been on the New York Times bestseller list 11 times as of last week and I've been blessed with loyal dedicated readers who have made this amazing career possible.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
Oh and about True North.... It has sold close to 75,000 copies in the four years it's been on sale, and the dedication now reads: "To the editor who famously said, 'No one wants to read about a super model,' thank you, thank you, THANK YOU. A MILLION times over, thank you."</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #141823; display: inline; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; margin-top: 6px;">
Now you know the rest of my story. Thanks to my amazing, awesome readers for making all my dreams come true. xoxo</div>
Marie Forcehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00550719567520289405noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4804838449570779883.post-75623725618244725102014-09-30T11:03:00.002-04:002014-09-30T11:03:45.732-04:00New McCarthy Book Out Tomorrow!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMrB_zdRMUgvQup7KQ4gF2Fu_dMgbHJdhJ580O4z3s86aRixzmW_Us3M0OaZV9y1d9NB7YVT7gDIpmWQot0c51ADEEYpXNvlRNSE9tYGccNbs5ojyv2ERhno2tM6zpRh9EWc637Y3MtLg/s1600/KissesAfterDark200.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMrB_zdRMUgvQup7KQ4gF2Fu_dMgbHJdhJ580O4z3s86aRixzmW_Us3M0OaZV9y1d9NB7YVT7gDIpmWQot0c51ADEEYpXNvlRNSE9tYGccNbs5ojyv2ERhno2tM6zpRh9EWc637Y3MtLg/s1600/KissesAfterDark200.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Take the ferry back to Gansett Island for yet another installment in the popular McCarthys of Gansett Island Series! <i>Kisses After Dark</i> features Shane McCarthy and Katie Lawry. Shane and Katie first came together in <i>Gansett After Dark</i>, when Shane saved her from a rip current and nearly drowned in the process. The sparks between them were evident from the very beginning and carry through in <i>Kisses After Dark</i>! Here's what you can expect in the new book:</span><br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: calluna-sans, sans-serif; font-size: 0.85em; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px;">
<em><strong>She's avoided men all her life...</strong></em><br />Growing up with an abusive father, Katie Lawry learned a thing or two about men and has made a conscious choice to stay far away from them. Until the day of her brother Owen's wedding when she's rescued from nearly drowning by Shane McCarthy. With everyone who matters to Katie assuring her that Shane is one of the good guys, she feels safe to give in to the attraction that simmers between them. Katie has waited a long time to take a chance on love, but is Shane the right guy for her?</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: calluna-sans, sans-serif; font-size: 0.85em; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px;">
<em><strong>He's ready to move on...</strong></em><br />More than two years after a painful divorce, Shane has a life on Gansett Island that makes sense to him. With his father, sister and beloved baby nephew living close by and a job that he enjoys, Shane is content if not entirely happy. One thing he knows for sure is he's tired of living in the past. Spending time with sweet, sensitive, sexy Katie Lawry makes him feel hopeful again, and he might be ready to risk his heart again.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: calluna-sans, sans-serif; font-size: 0.85em; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px;">
Surrounded by the Gansett Island community, Shane and Katie take an important step forward together, but is their new relationship strong enough to withstand an unexpected challenge?</div>
<br />
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: calluna-sans, sans-serif; font-size: 0.85em; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px;">
</div>
<div class="moduletable" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: calluna-sans, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 25px;">
<div class="custom">
</div>
</div>
<br />
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: calluna-sans, sans-serif; font-size: 0.85em; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px 0px 15px; orphans: auto; padding: 0px; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">
Enjoy Shane and Katie's story while catching up with some of your Gansett Island favorites in this latest book in the <em>New York Times</em> bestselling McCarthys of Gansett Island Series!</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: calluna-sans, sans-serif; font-size: 0.85em; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px 0px 15px; orphans: auto; padding: 0px; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="font-style: normal;">Here's a sneak peek at a scene from </span><i>Kisses After Dark</i>:</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: calluna-sans, sans-serif; font-size: 0.85em; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px 0px 15px; orphans: auto; padding: 0px; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-weight: normal; line-height: 20px;">Katie looked at him for a long time, tr</span><span class="text_exposed_show" style="color: #141823; display: inline; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 20px;">ying to find the courage to ask for what she wanted. “What you did before, at the clinic… Would you do it again?”<br />“Hold your hand?”<br />She shook her head, amused by his teasing.<br />“Put my arm around you?”<br />“Not that either, but I did like when you did that.”<br />“Oh, wait, I know.” He scooted closer to her, cupped her face in his work-roughened hand and leaned in to brush his lips over hers. “That?”<br />“Yes,” she said breathlessly. “That.”<br />“You liked that, huh?”<br />She nodded as her heart pounded.<br />“I liked it, too.”<br />“Did you like it enough to do it again?”<br />“Let me think about that.”<br />A gurgle of laughter escaped from her lips, which had been pressed tightly together.<br />He leaned in so his lips were a heartbeat away from touching hers. “I’m done thinking.” And then he kissed her again, and Katie couldn’t seem to breathe or move or do anything other than wait to see what he would do next.<br /><br /><b>REMEMBER: Info about our quick five-day contest is included in the back of the ebooks and includes an opportunity to win a trip for two to the 2015 Reader Weekend in Rhode Island next June! Reader Weekend includes a day on Block Island, the real-life inspiration for Gansett Island. The contest link will ONLY be found in the ebook so read fast to enter the contest!</b></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: calluna-sans, sans-serif; font-size: 0.85em; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px 0px 15px; orphans: auto; padding: 0px; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 20px;"><b>Preorder Now to read first thing on Wednesday!</b></span><br style="color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 20px;" /><span style="color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-weight: normal; line-height: 20px;">Kindle US: </span><a href="http://amzn.to/1Ctsplc" rel="nofollow nofollow" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-weight: normal; line-height: 20px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">http://amzn.to/1Ctsplc</a><span style="color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-weight: normal; line-height: 20px;"> </span><br style="color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 20px;" /><span style="color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-weight: normal; line-height: 20px;">iBooks: </span><a href="http://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fbit.ly%2FYe2ajh&h=2AQGPQAO6&enc=AZORVSAQVtWXMr5zEZwAB5enMeUOR8jS5giY6jfUCAAX5EeKQ7uLo96DwuYoJPCX2gnXt6BtDhJ9IyJ5X3dLq5chXPzRpGKNHlCzv17vnkI-uI_l8q-Qe-jHDwHqOSCRGsxxWnJO6--nCu0nUITgBMD2&s=1" rel="nofollow nofollow" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-weight: normal; line-height: 20px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">http://bit.ly/Ye2ajh</a><span style="color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-weight: normal; line-height: 20px;"> </span><br style="color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 20px;" /><span style="color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-weight: normal; line-height: 20px;">Google: </span><a href="http://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fbit.ly%2F1o5T6md&h=2AQGPQAO6&enc=AZNYPYY7XFKWwMltAOw5tIl8K2jw78_BvPzBGTAEFij6LPhUZK5ncdOE1wmMp6FuJgazwGm9kZ4Yf93CzzbXILAu2zwCP1hK1Ze8TwLxKDgnvNZ1HN_GkXCfJQ-xerI89mvXnBxaO6bjDoQYyPQLrGf-&s=1" rel="nofollow nofollow" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-weight: normal; line-height: 20px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">http://bit.ly/1o5T6md</a><span style="color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-weight: normal; line-height: 20px;"> </span><br style="color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 20px;" /><span style="color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-weight: normal; line-height: 20px;">Kobo: </span><a href="http://bit.ly/1rkrIon" rel="nofollow nofollow" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-weight: normal; line-height: 20px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">http://bit.ly/1rkrIon</a><br style="color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 20px;" /><br style="color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 20px;" /><span style="color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-weight: normal; line-height: 20px;">Kindle UK: </span><a href="http://amzn.to/1rTH4na" rel="nofollow nofollow" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-weight: normal; line-height: 20px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">http://amzn.to/1rTH4na</a><span style="color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-weight: normal; line-height: 20px;"> </span><br style="color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 20px;" /><span style="color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-weight: normal; line-height: 20px;">Kindle AU: </span><a href="http://bit.ly/1rYfi9c" rel="nofollow nofollow" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-weight: normal; line-height: 20px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">http://bit.ly/1rYfi9c</a><span style="color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-weight: normal; line-height: 20px;"> </span><br style="color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 20px;" /><span style="color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-weight: normal; line-height: 20px;">Kindle CA: </span><a href="http://amzn.to/1ufEwhT" rel="nofollow nofollow" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-weight: normal; line-height: 20px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">http://amzn.to/1ufEwhT</a><br style="color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 20px;" /><br style="color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 20px;" /><span style="color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-weight: normal; line-height: 20px;">UPDATE: Nook readers, watch for Kisses After Dark right around midnight on Wednesday, October 1.</span><br style="color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 20px;" /><br style="color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 20px;" /><span style="color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-weight: normal; line-height: 20px;">In Print:</span><br style="color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 20px;" /><a href="http://amzn.to/Zem2mv" rel="nofollow nofollow" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-weight: normal; line-height: 20px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">http://amzn.to/Zem2mv</a><br style="color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 20px;" /><br style="color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 20px;" /><span style="color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-weight: normal; line-height: 20px;">Signed print copies:</span><br style="color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 20px;" /><a href="http://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fmarieforce.com%2Fstore&h=CAQGRitDT&enc=AZOWuzwxE2lO4bu7w_egFCsLr6Wjj62qWZrY6z_5QrmU3nyAoaPQF7tYQ-occVg83PToaXNJ8DPT6E5SfgiTuGHjS4tpsZc_PwJKClcmopK5NH_J1H7iLYvHCJ4mV3oqyIGI3lcP8bG8QFFpn55hApsg&s=1" rel="nofollow nofollow" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-weight: normal; line-height: 20px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">http://marieforce.com/store</a><br style="color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 20px;" /><br style="color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 20px;" /><span style="color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-weight: normal; line-height: 20px;">Read the excerpt of Chapter 1:</span><br style="color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 20px;" /><a href="http://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fbit.ly%2F1uetlGc&h=6AQE_LTz1&enc=AZPBBE_hoSz23PCpcpEp5sQfQn9FGfPDOva9IC_-4b_2s2cYt2dtRDFBRi1EjvhDpeq6QbSatZKG-hxkhvdlTo7pApubaJfMZS430ovjkXxiBq1qg4_Sj9MOBhQyrdMxl2LBsZSb-pNtXq5r-7fHm8C6&s=1" rel="nofollow nofollow" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-weight: normal; line-height: 20px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">http://bit.ly/1uetlGc</a></div>
Marie Forcehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00550719567520289405noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4804838449570779883.post-66657579501694966692014-06-03T10:17:00.002-04:002014-06-03T10:17:42.852-04:00Available Today! I Want to Hold Your Hand, Green Mountain Book 2<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHHtwS10Y11mlhZw8pr2yEcb610NHvIwkxGor4Ztb7xQumGQpdC0lXjnuXI8DpFDXTugB4PXsXvAoJ4ZufpG-P9WzeAWbGyy2Kh-lpGtbXaVwAoXMHkm-lUM0Qrs-SdvrAEce1lhAtdE0/s1600/IWantToHoldYourHandCover200.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHHtwS10Y11mlhZw8pr2yEcb610NHvIwkxGor4Ztb7xQumGQpdC0lXjnuXI8DpFDXTugB4PXsXvAoJ4ZufpG-P9WzeAWbGyy2Kh-lpGtbXaVwAoXMHkm-lUM0Qrs-SdvrAEce1lhAtdE0/s1600/IWantToHoldYourHandCover200.jpg" height="320" width="198" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14.44444465637207px; line-height: 20px;"><b>Happy Release Day, Hannah and Nolan!</b></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14.44444465637207px; line-height: 20px;">I haven't been this excited, nervous or filled with anticipation about a book release in a LONG time. I poured my heart and soul into Hannah and Nolan's story, I WANT TO HOLD YOUR HAND, out NOW. My fingers and toes are crossed that you</span><span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14.44444465637207px; line-height: 20px;"> all love it as much as I do! Not sure I will sleep tonight waiting to hear what you all think of it!<br /><i class="_4-k1 img sp_Yu7FL4-TAPR sx_aae0f5" style="background-image: url(https://fbstatic-a.akamaihd.net/rsrc.php/v2/yw/r/eL3qDNkpYJw.png); background-position: -85px -885px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; background-size: auto; display: inline-block; height: 16px; vertical-align: -3px; width: 16px;"></i><br /><br />Make sure you also check out the print version, in stores this week, with a special bonus story A HARD DAY'S NIGHT, featuring Hannah and Nolan.<br /><br />
</span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td class="td1" valign="top">
<div class="p1">
<b>The Selfie Contest is Back!</b></div>
<div class="p2">
<b>Submit your selfie with <i>I Want To Hold Your Hand</i> to be one of 10 Green Mountain Prize Pack Winners</b></div>
<div class="p3">
<br /></div>
<div class="p4">
This contest was so much fun for <i>All You Need Is Love</i>, Marie is bringing back the selfies to document all the places you find <i>I Want to Hold Your Hand</i>. Send “selfies” of you holding the print version of <i>I Want To Hold Your Hand</i> in a bookstore or retail outlet, along with your name, email address, location and the store where you saw it to <a href="mailto:author@marieforce.com?subject=Selfie%20Submission%20for%20I%20Want%20To%20Hold%20Your%20Hand!"><span class="s1">author@marieforce.com</span></a>. Our goal is to receive photos from all 50 states and as many countries as possible. We will post the photos on Facebook throughout release week! Everyone who sends in a photo <b>**AND POSTS THE SELFIE ON THEIR OWN FACEBOOK WALL**</b> will be entered into the drawing for one of 10 Green Mountain Prize packs that include:</div>
<ul class="ul1">
<li class="li5">Signed copies of <i>All You Need Is Love</i> and <i>I Want To Hold Your Hand</i></li>
<li class="li5">Green Mountain Series swag</li>
<li class="li5">Stuffed Fred the Moose</li>
<li class="li5">Special items from the Vermont Country Store</li>
<li class="li5">$100 gift card to the book retailer of your choice</li>
</ul>
<div class="p4">
The more photos you send and post to your Facebook wall, the more chances you have to win!</div>
<div class="p4">
ONLY photos submitted to the <a href="mailto:author@marieforce.com?subject=Selfie%20Submission%20for%20I%20Want%20To%20Hold%20Your%20Hand"><span class="s1">author@marieforce.com</span></a> with the info requested above will be entered into the drawing. Not all entries will be posted to Marie’s Facebook page. Entries will be chosen randomly to be displayed by Marie. </div>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14.44444465637207px; line-height: 20px;"><br />Get it NOW!<br /><br />In the US:<br />Kindle: <a href="http://amzn.to/HRYOKo" rel="nofollow nofollow" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">http://amzn.to/HRYOKo</a><br />Nook: <a href="http://bit.ly/1aFxlC3" rel="nofollow nofollow" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">http://bit.ly/1aFxlC3</a><br />iBooks: <a href="http://bit.ly/1hLoGaN" rel="nofollow nofollow" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">http://bit.ly/1hLoGaN</a><br />Kobo: <a href="http://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fbit.ly%2F1niGauN&h=sAQGVrGBN&enc=AZOVjHVviVUS8z4kvxl7CbGOdCZKFrb5sgJ8elfIsVJ3byZKHDllWaiCHsoFAZFExeX7uyboaBXnVPJhFsNtYE8HvZzKOe8xCFU3flQjms7V08UYNTg4V2xqT_pIU9zjklzvxAeVN_QGJAYJM--jiSYS&s=1" rel="nofollow nofollow" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">http://bit.ly/1niGauN</a><br />Google Play: <a href="http://bit.ly/1dipKAA" rel="nofollow nofollow" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">http://bit.ly/1dipKAA</a><br /><br />In print at:<br />Amazon: <a href="http://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Famzn.to%2F1nEtfUZ&h=2AQFMzYjQ&enc=AZO4P0EH0K50G19eA5nRVMG2kQShC_VeJ8bqTsBTb1cYvjM2-pFspapow58BAUdMuycQgs1pqWzvn1OnscGQDFA66rDsh54x_7RU4raoXXlcltaiAX9USaitM-Nh_dY_CpthpuR7hVQRHG01kq_QtuOZ&s=1" rel="nofollow nofollow" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">http://amzn.to/1nEtfUZ</a><br />Barnes & Noble: <a href="http://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fbit.ly%2F1cTBWpb&h=wAQGqExHn&enc=AZNtbNPbiZHDO0IfNeWd0pEJPxZv26zLKKKYEgLzdG_YLCN3ooc0hTitDQUQ_EHAlm33AcvS1xS_QtQ9ERWgikEwIvt9ke0yy0c10tTZKur-jnCMAu6iq972XqOX6B-kZqNyuGcldG8Q9hylDtLdUJ4l&s=1" rel="nofollow nofollow" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">http://bit.ly/1cTBWpb</a><br />Chapters/Indigo: <a href="http://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fbit.ly%2F1jR4wHc&h=0AQF0tJW2&enc=AZPdHOQUftwmeDZw2SGE2PUl0kjZRK3R06QBy6yl3J_3f_Aj1cMG6rWKysk8H19S03ZRktxDJOBAtQIcGeTAqfyX6jggSRS4NjaUlDgZfJ6Z0NEY-_bH21YV4AqTPE7KeUn6UyLXqnyMESyWMWF9y05R&s=1" rel="nofollow nofollow" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">http://bit.ly/1jR4wHc</a><br />IndieBound: <a href="http://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fbit.ly%2F1lKjD8g&h=yAQE7VnTa&enc=AZOWgICuEh5m1D_ej2YPocYOaWKnvUhi6XgpGLSTGC0sYoFqHl5lZCcWcJnJkOsa8KcYce6ofvlJtbptkOJ0DXH44Aa883j4rAJCWWEGilSG2csg-fhRrPbZSitj8cByWWWCZE53F6wUhrDQB2VSBJ-1&s=1" rel="nofollow nofollow" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">http://bit.ly/1lKjD8g</a><br />Books-A-Million: <a href="http://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fbit.ly%2F1c8ZqY8&h=8AQGXcpOz&enc=AZM61j6ko1y-wwRP2VAHY4w8JuWq_5NTT3UVy4vpDqKL-oaqE1uS8mVov9pMoo7KfdvG9Eiy3LCEfoC_GmPAQqxWiYFYjtgUkUZFMqlhdFF0ui59O7pIM33q_mHXGODxjB8olsgt-gxxHghmn3s66DDm&s=1" rel="nofollow nofollow" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">http://bit.ly/1c8ZqY8</a><br />**Also at Target and Walmart**<br /><br />In Canada:<br />Kindle CA: <a href="http://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Famzn.to%2F18EO1Qf&h=3AQFDrjTJ&enc=AZNrmzJp1vQnAKZZxECOl_07Z-nhy_E8tt1FMuQOM71JbYtZtKLtuSBPM4I6HzqIlJAFBGMawJaY6NLGaikbt0uZqx-cjmS-aVpM_4Qug562wxbDgWj5P4d4Q7vjJrrPqPoN_xpxGRNJ4zq2fHBQiwp8&s=1" rel="nofollow nofollow" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">http://amzn.to/18EO1Qf</a><br />iBooks CA: <a href="http://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fbit.ly%2F18dSOYm&h=aAQG49pz2&enc=AZMHe7AbVBOyvRlRxOT--xUDdbiD4CXe7Gm6BGTSV9AP8jaqpC8rR1eD7QubH7Er0SDKuOxq34MNq7bXx9VXH9jOCmzJ6ZbVtWhMLfc_0YOm4Zsjs-EtbUG0AFhqlKHlU9Tsb-G5YXfVPhVtsuz4iv-2&s=1" rel="nofollow nofollow" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">http://bit.ly/18dSOYm</a><br />Chapters/Indigo: <a href="http://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fbit.ly%2F1k2esTs&h=MAQHislri&enc=AZMktXL7knlJiFqxUX4AguUb0-dKThJtwoP54Yo6YbN11LX00r3Zm4-2w04w4EHycM5V8_B4a9jWUzxFFVJBVckao9E4IoSl5QA0qYlSEZwAo_TQkbNTMjjdNwbZpDZJazCW2P3wXL8ItIj7Ly75PB0K&s=1" rel="nofollow nofollow" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">http://bit.ly/1k2esTs</a><br />Kobo: <a href="http://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fbit.ly%2F1niGauN&h=hAQF4y0kc&enc=AZOk55JRq66W8NMWaIaivXg2enwWl5xM84mnekin14lUtW4hmCAO6AZQdXZcwYpbmfGCYusoBAku7HDsq5TYXW_1noaWIC9iZeuc0o6pIcW-Cxf463lxoEjHRnvuR1oQASyALqt8b96dQJYk1p7XxbOh&s=1" rel="nofollow nofollow" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">http://bit.ly/1niGauN</a><br /><br />In the UK, Let Me Hold Your Hand:<br />Kindle UK: <a href="http://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fbit.ly%2FAmUKLetMe&h=KAQFwrDVW&enc=AZP5j__h-atw7P-O2but6JpPFv6VBL0z2nu4JBEc2U8aSha4JGj6gkgx7Hks8q1eZyYYS6PV7QcoeP0zX5h9pVPwO8hBZEn3dFzZuktAbrOQmhmlilkVB4kQUXE9zztJXE87hMjGJp_bMS86aK6XAZjl&s=1" rel="nofollow nofollow" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">http://bit.ly/AmUKLetMe</a><br />Nook UK: (not available yet)<br />iBooks UK: <a href="http://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fbit.ly%2F1ngUXEf&h=RAQG6UnfJ&enc=AZNqtu0cFIa2FtW4DWzgYUNl7QXVakhkoXUIaREaHyKKn3l9huW7-vIOPplABjYxEYWbCw44dW05LFfYDdK_ZhFQJOK8NTwx7UN31Hp4x6bTeiyqw04CXsX5LfELho6VCoE6oi_0dh3C4dlq5xUjo0qP&s=1" rel="nofollow nofollow" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">http://bit.ly/1ngUXEf</a><br /><br />In Australia and New Zealand, Let Me Hold Your Hand:<br />Kindle AU: <a href="http://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fbit.ly%2FAmAusLetMe&h=ZAQHLKLOE&enc=AZNljRqnd1dtI4bzXCAbOiMfdB9-qtFUPlr3fJaYEoOg9kMG2Wh8TXI5vJi9TsR8WtvtzqqMpHQEOZIu1YfJtiWYJY_WBSB9rWAb4Mwe1ISBiasucMeXO6G7El3PTfJPc1SKuc1OJIvvKTDqOZtlPknH&s=1" rel="nofollow nofollow" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">http://bit.ly/AmAusLetMe</a><br />iBooks AU: <a href="http://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fbit.ly%2F1upP5yK&h=VAQFg8Sk-&enc=AZNAhPT7ZUrnKEgpoXmr4XkwX0LY7PBtfeSSRSWUQ7CXLo7OUvH_0XAzKDk1LrP2pjdIYsswuXwZXU0EBlQTXlqTZkKclcBQBKXTD8DqQIuK6jqycqg02CdbYLFJYEk476UC3ND9sqMSFoxQY5tuNiSu&s=1" rel="nofollow nofollow" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">http://bit.ly/1upP5yK</a><br />iBooks NZ: <a href="http://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fbit.ly%2F1kCwKXa&h=fAQF0euHg&enc=AZMks1fOKxYQEBtM_YryBBh1OGTUOv8ArFDqU1IC3OHb5CjtDVto5X7D-BqJ_CQIFRcMFe6S9UfuVAUXCS-ktXzdt1z8tNHUjq9eeLI5nzM2QhxKAB2nfwB5IQFExpB-lTVeIVyXj94sPs9jstbThWAd&s=1" rel="nofollow nofollow" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">http://bit.ly/1kCwKXa</a><br /><br />On audio at:<br />Amazon: <a href="http://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Famzn.to%2F1po9OC5&h=LAQFy6dj9&enc=AZO3-EaA9QVEMWDd4LTGm_nM94Q2EaT7NReVy8g9UlrOjPwtqOlIXoSixmf9qhnGR2lztRXMLJAg5pGCQsmg0P79_Wpsg95HuaEGaDNIEoG4fTDFh2JGZCxLtEa3SsTPRk0IFUoYP26cOA1vKwmL0HKv&s=1" rel="nofollow nofollow" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">http://amzn.to/1po9OC5</a><br />Audible: <a href="http://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fbit.ly%2F1kqQjpT&h=uAQE7pAke&enc=AZNXnHBwbNCiExblBGVvMoE9JNAKY6TLuHno21UKx5S-EuxwC4Ky_8wrqNwwgmQC4HFx9xEmsJF6ha1nahR8PPpR3SwbU7vYxSlFEgOCvMLhzXJYExT6N3YRJ4kRFlei9hKrq6U_7MESbmwhPO86BL3m&s=1" rel="nofollow nofollow" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">http://bit.ly/1kqQjpT</a><br />iTunes: (not available yet)<br /><br />Request a book plate: <a href="http://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fbit.ly%2F1nmb487&h=SAQFNxiek&enc=AZPVymLmjU0mChoK-A9jwU_m92cg4_Lx9FaTqCTbyBb6ddy8ukxWe0DeIpZMlN0aLyLBp9fOb4OUjOxwPw3R-iIVlyNfP_hltqzddulgVXqEXWwtu5Sh-4tILVJHXTWLgg0yCTPAJ3mOHvfGovDaBB2b&s=1" rel="nofollow nofollow" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">http://bit.ly/1nmb487</a><br />Order signed print copies: <a href="http://bit.ly/1dmIwlw" rel="nofollow nofollow" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">http://bit.ly/1dmIwlw</a></span>Marie Forcehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00550719567520289405noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4804838449570779883.post-58594153625789544542014-04-06T11:19:00.001-04:002014-04-06T11:19:20.546-04:00FREE Beach Read Today!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqYHgoAnkyuICqJiHbCkbh1wgyt1cCzpAX6-uAssExNBKtP0qKLdOJuC1KgI0chHruD7R2NVVP-WEqRYsrgCD-hKVz0f1yUM9SfuNAzNEqktD1D3fp5JTFv29yDxWvVQxqRQiyGMmhN4g/s1600/MaidforLoveFacebook.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqYHgoAnkyuICqJiHbCkbh1wgyt1cCzpAX6-uAssExNBKtP0qKLdOJuC1KgI0chHruD7R2NVVP-WEqRYsrgCD-hKVz0f1yUM9SfuNAzNEqktD1D3fp5JTFv29yDxWvVQxqRQiyGMmhN4g/s1600/MaidforLoveFacebook.jpg" height="230" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333969116211px; line-height: 18px;"><b>Get MAID FOR LOVE FREE TODAY!</b></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333969116211px; line-height: 18px;">With 675 five-star reviews on Amazon Kindle, MAID FOR LOVE is a fan favorite, and the perfect antidote to endless winter! Ready to put some sand between your toes? Get MAID FOR LOVE and read about what happens whe</span><span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333969116211px; line-height: 18px;">n hometown hero Mac McCarthy returns to Gansett Island and accidentally knocks a down-on-her-luck single mom off her bike. If you love Mac and Maddie in book 1, follow their story throughout the entire McCarthys of Gansett Island Series, now at 10.5 books--and soon to be 11 books! Get MAID FOR LOVE here for FREE TODAY!<br /><br />In the US:<br />Kindle: <a href="http://amzn.to/146hHyP" rel="nofollow nofollow" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">http://amzn.to/146hHyP</a><br />Nook: <a href="http://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fbit.ly%2FZJtdCC&h=mAQFJlfeW&enc=AZNNU1XhrDUDAyFASescPv3xAnyOpW0mfh8zEbenV92FSV1OYeSMhBlfiT371LCB6snTW-5iXMBHxKEfKk6Tj9iCWqOH8Zdflqz7YIOjGZOD59QpkL6nEEPWcYzQ8MupXHSsK2V8IanpC2GcyGV3nLw4&s=1" rel="nofollow nofollow" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">http://bit.ly/ZJtdCC</a><br />iBooks: <a href="http://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fbit.ly%2F16L9EJQ&h=7AQGUsVYv&enc=AZMEtQYUVOkav8RquvNsYd5fX4kq5PFsDWF8Oe2crF868ojFj1pmcmGZ-mFWyb-H96p0WiHnM-hDjD06MjIt80RqfNbb_WQPwe3LTRLODi239_KL41LGM80XTWYaPYSSl2uIKkJGOXEwZEk1PDG6Ya9U&s=1" rel="nofollow nofollow" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">http://bit.ly/16L9EJQ</a><br />Google: <a href="http://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fbit.ly%2F1h9Sn1O&h=aAQElwBWE&enc=AZOY1a_FQJ1TxaGocC5DXL2wHmNE1KDpG_mpdkKgmJcDZkbRnboaUhyJZ1FXFFh18I8epr0kOBatd8_mDBqWozR4nj8G80NaciWJKk3SC1jW_By8zwYKZ9BNJwRch3hpOZ6Hj-PdQ-1FxdytvsLHaCvv&s=1" rel="nofollow nofollow" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">http://bit.ly/1h9Sn1O</a><br />Kobo: <a href="http://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fbit.ly%2F19QKLBw&h=ZAQESCnGk&enc=AZOLkqTdRAEUAZTjpwcZYll7WFOPAyg-cFcw8aSqpsE0y9JCOnlU0-HYlqakqkI93ONBKGfWqIdocAoNyIdovgH0FVxjBqiSNNxXu_ws2_3OmSlIknOFJI60OxbjS4YaxYI-9vxsLU6Tz-0QnNr6BZnu&s=1" rel="nofollow nofollow" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">http://bit.ly/19QKLBw</a><br /><br />In the UK:<br />Kindle: <a href="http://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Famzn.to%2F1468qdt&h=3AQEBnB7_&enc=AZPm7F38JDr0q2zsnkFbEz4hBJGOA_YuvvR_4ouHq_cY1xwyd8N5hSK9x5aBRy5zQ_rLHcDYw90gCl9XPaYB_uAukkg0MjqZkH0TL8PaUrOtswFT0ryY9PnFvoNFoZVrd5-g0ymDcwNFRcKfb7yfUy2j&s=1" rel="nofollow nofollow" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">http://amzn.to/1468qdt</a><br />Nook: <a href="http://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fbit.ly%2F18JANBG&h=SAQEkQ6Re&enc=AZPFEOVd91A7zsSUc9743LApCbhUPer0YxG-Q-yVPNo76E65otszOFBWgo67pi8DhskHQQC1TBPPk13tmWIJcisr6CeNBNd85s_Ejac6r2NJHgIkQJdNVHb3S5o4x1IYQx_yuMDN1eyl0Le1EWFMXgNG&s=1" rel="nofollow nofollow" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">http://bit.ly/18JANBG</a><br />iBooks UK:<a href="http://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fbit.ly%2F1bmbqUc&h=8AQF1AMoU&enc=AZMqZQloD95uByZknuxEY-DeU1EJXMZH8Usceg9FrxouIC8nBmLLGp7x_wAEesjNG9oiHseYLKzQHoZG1B71fPStgb3WxuhKkwAFxudX-VmS2hdVlDUA5M2UL4vC-aOsrYT81k0G39KxkSq6P43USa8x&s=1" rel="nofollow nofollow" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">http://bit.ly/1bmbqUc</a><br /><br />In Canada:<br />Kindle: <a href="http://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Famzn.to%2F12ssyBm&h=RAQG-_dpY&enc=AZOC0RBTW5sH1Abx6uycmpE6orIy8EzuM-yW-QfM7uDPv0YjQQAjpJQgRFYmpAo1GanOmE9VyXBXQ9UqdzTve8iGXt73fd49aYgfyniLc1DC7BDe5rnofacu-HvAbzqP_2qndXQIwM6-GCpmrlXNvdUR&s=1" rel="nofollow nofollow" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">http://amzn.to/12ssyBm</a><br />iBooks:<a href="http://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fbit.ly%2F1bmf3tb&h=IAQGNBVOG&enc=AZMRceqxCtsMrWI7NicfZdd98cjHFcpMOErdcY7QBkQM3WpZhjc6pzf0GkckIbVYnTqwlydCAoQf6cUzDjyqZoDCHioFb3j4zQ7Sz_PKUlcG8NUAmG6DacX5LHLpRH-xf2qRz9FM2OD1SzkwlgAdf7SQ&s=1" rel="nofollow nofollow" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">http://bit.ly/1bmf3tb</a><br /><br />In Australia & New Zealand<br />Kindle AU: <a href="http://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fbit.ly%2F1iHhWLL&h=sAQGVk6bM&enc=AZPLdEgv6RmkJG_nzfKCRHV8MUbXNp1UbA7BgTa4ULsvomtYYCNjWi6THmt84FjTCHsG9YOGINkDkBMtWIirztnYZIm-XbPc5uzMLKi7eKC_v_ZM4qjgZx2S7e5Lq_M5n2U_eg3R-hmcvHrg2qHBCFQQ&s=1" rel="nofollow nofollow" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">http://bit.ly/1iHhWLL</a><br />Ibooks AU:<a href="http://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fbit.ly%2F1eVPPCV&h=qAQFQwWjy&enc=AZO01WRDUPhjryXU5OHI-bbYlBKv9AK5A_9PPiLT3dTkI1if4iObaPp7k6viLkFa3C4DC6x8HCyfxNmAjJU7ySzX5XrwWwvIL9jTRAdkhoR8bm-pnd-YH9KSGccStQZADvqcOkseh1LVq87DNUTX4Bmb&s=1" rel="nofollow nofollow" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">http://bit.ly/1eVPPCV</a><br />Ibooks NZ:<a href="http://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fbit.ly%2F1f48sFt&h=YAQE9cYB3&enc=AZOl0msp-WfU7C3UN7BrsY8VeVO07eOND7qii9Y2mqPMXTJyPw2qGdi3gi-m_tddyZ96CeZ8x1p1R4WSKGWnTf0-B9zwxcaIRkkCFlUVSMobXgogNow1I2wPIQijp2bIjjnRyo-6JdqehBZ3g-EHTkVy&s=1" rel="nofollow nofollow" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">http://bit.ly/1f48sFt</a></span>Marie Forcehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00550719567520289405noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4804838449570779883.post-11997317757255645832014-03-19T21:10:00.000-04:002014-03-19T21:10:04.334-04:00Who Has Ten Kids? Well… Let Me Tell You!
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>JA</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
<w:UseFELayout/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="276">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #002939; font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">From the very beginning of my
thoughts about the Green Mountain Series, I pictured ten kids growing up in a
red barn in Vermont. That image was very vivid in my mind right from the start.
I’ve had a few dour people infer that I went with ten kids in the new series to
ensure I could write ten books. Well, that is and <i>isn’t</i> true at the same time. It <i>is</i>
true in the sense that I’m hoping to write about ten siblings who interest me.
It’s <i>not</i> true because check me out on
Gansett Island. “Only” five McCarthy kids, and here we go into book 11 with no
end in sight. I’m writing the eighth book (plus a novella) about one couple in
the Fatal Series. So I don’t <i>need</i> 10
kids in a family to propel a series. I went with ten kids because that’s how I <i>saw</i> the Abbott family in my mind. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #002939; font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">I’ve always been fascinated with
big families, possibly because I’m one of two. My brother and I grew up
surrounded by cousins, all of whom came from bigger families than ours. Two
cousin families had four kids, one had five and another had six. My brother is
great, but I wanted sisters and maybe another brother or two so I’d have more
people to fight with. Of course, having lots of siblings probably looks a lot
better on paper or on TV than it does in reality, but I had a bit of a yearning
for a bigger family. My cousin Jen, who has always had long, thick hair, will
tell you she has no feeling in her scalp. When you ask her why, she says, “I’m
the youngest of five” as if that explains it all. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #002939; font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">I remember being able, as a very
young kid, to list President Kennedy’s eight siblings in perfect birth order,
and I loved TV shows about big families, such as <i>The Waltons</i> (RIP Daddy
Walton) and <i>Eight is Enough</i>. I think it’s possible I was doing research
for my books all the way back in the 70s and 80s, sitting in front of a TV that
received only three network channels and was dependent on rabbit ears for
reception. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #002939; font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">So knowing about my fascination
with big families, imagine my delight when I heard from reader Molly Lyon in a
Facebook comment in which she told me she had grown up in Vermont with nine
siblings. Ten kids in Vermont! Hot damn! I also thought it was awesome that her
name was Molly, which is the name of the Abbott family’s mother. I asked Molly
if she’d be willing to answer a few questions about growing up in a family of
ten kids—in Vermont of all places—and she generously shared some of her
favorite memories along with a few heartaches. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi__rtjiDz9Dk7o_19dpvlcsMAgbDXn1-BTmM1V7HYaPsfuohjvmmyWUwUAZ0vDCBurn8IZE-khVq-phFsoXG8kNKLLNLmAEL-6e81v5sE_dwrkEY592a5xq4zQGc76xgRdnUmWHzQcccQ/s1600/SturgeonFamily.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi__rtjiDz9Dk7o_19dpvlcsMAgbDXn1-BTmM1V7HYaPsfuohjvmmyWUwUAZ0vDCBurn8IZE-khVq-phFsoXG8kNKLLNLmAEL-6e81v5sE_dwrkEY592a5xq4zQGc76xgRdnUmWHzQcccQ/s1600/SturgeonFamily.jpeg" /></a><span style="color: #002939; font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">Her parents, Mitchell and Alice
Sturgeon, were married in 1962. In 1971, they built a three-bedroom,
one-and-a-half bath home on property in Georgia, Vermont, next door to
Mitchell’s parents on land the family had previously farmed. Alice was one of
five siblings and Mitchell Sturgeon Jr. was an only child. Their children were
born over 19 years: Michelle (1967), Michael (1968-1985), Molly (1969),
Melissa (1971), Mary (1973), Matthew (1975),
Margaret (1976), Mark (1979), Mead (1982) and Miles (1986).
Michael died in a motor vehicle accident in 1985, an event Molly referred to as
“extremely hard.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #002939; font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">“In September 2006 we almost went
through it again when Miles was in an accident that left him in coma for two
months and hospitalized for four while he re-learned everything,” said Molly,
who lives in Fairfax, Vermont today. “Both of these events brought us
closer together and makes us appreciate each other that much more. My
parents were so strong throughout each scenario, and I’ve learned so much
from them both.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #002939; font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">Molly shared stories about family
vacations that involved cramming into Mitchell’s Vanagon. That detail will probably
work its way into Abbott family lore, because I love the visual of twelve
people on a road trip in an old-fashioned VW bus. Can you imagine the
bickering? The first time the Sturgeon family made the trek to Florida to see
their grandparents, Molly was in fourth grade, and she remembers fun stops at
amusement parks along the way. The next trip to Florida in the Vanagon was
slightly less fun as all the kids were bigger, and the heat in the van quit
working.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #002939; font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">Other family outings included day
trips to country fairs and happenings in their home state, until her
six-year-old brother Matthew got caught up in an exhibit at the Champlain
Valley Fair and didn’t follow the family crowd. “Fortunately, security
found him safe and sound,” Molly said. “I think that might have been the
last time we went to the fair for our ‘vacation.’”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #002939; font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">She recalled four girls sharing
what had been intended as the home’s master bedroom, but went to the girls
because they needed both closets, which were still too small for the clothes of
four girls. “The bickering over sharing clothes was never ending,” Molly said.
“Margaret, being the last and fifth girl, was the impetus for adding a bedroom
in the basement, and the boys were banished so us girls could be split up.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #002939; font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">I asked Molly how her mother
stayed sane while raising ten children. It came down to Monday night card night
with the ladies, she said. “My mother has been dubbed a saint by many, and I’m
sure crazy by some,” Molly said. “She led by example. Her sanity was preserved
during her weekly Monday night card game with ‘The Card Ladies’. For more than
forty years, every Monday night, she would leave us with Dad (or we would be
banned from the dining room when she hosted) and play cards. She had a bag full
of pennies just for cards, and that was her therapy and outlet.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #002939; font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">Molly’s father had his own way of
coping. “I think my father’s sanity came from working, doing the grocery
shopping, which he started doing during the gas shortage in the 70s and loved—he
was the coupon king and knew what was on sale where and could stretch a penny
further than anyone—and gardening. He was our quiet rock and is greatly
missed.” Mitchell died in 2010 after a battle with cancer. “</span><span style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">Last year, in his
honor, we participated in the American Cancer Society Relay for Life,” Molly
said. “Our team name was Mitchell's M's. We plan to do it again this year.”<span style="color: #002939;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #002939; font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">Somehow Mitchell and Alice
managed to provide for their brood and ensure their children had everything
they needed. Mitchell worked in a factory all during Molly’s childhood. </span><span style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">Her </span><span style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">mother worked
briefly as a nurse and then was a stay-at-home mom. In the mid- to late-70s,
she started taking in neighborhood children and ran a daycare until 2006.</span><span style="color: #002939; font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #002939; font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">“We were always fed and clothed,
some of us in more hand-me-downs than others, and never felt like we were
missing out on anything,” Molly said. “We played sports and musical
instruments and somehow, some way Mom and Dad always found a way to get us the
equipment and instruments required. I realize now they went without so
that we could have what we needed. I’ll never forget when Michelle and I
wanted an album. Without a birthday or Christmas near, we were saving our
money so we could buy it ourselves. One day my father came home with the
album just because.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDB7EAMmo5yc_g-AVIw_CmrYMjHCJK90hAoLtutR2Vtgop6WtPfhNhu3FlvuZkdYU1JdkaD0M3lLIg8XouQ4-g_wcwboq4croGVthnZ6rNOEj-rhPUyUD77C-hnrBuQuY_yw-ZEqn9MxU/s1600/MollyStory.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDB7EAMmo5yc_g-AVIw_CmrYMjHCJK90hAoLtutR2Vtgop6WtPfhNhu3FlvuZkdYU1JdkaD0M3lLIg8XouQ4-g_wcwboq4croGVthnZ6rNOEj-rhPUyUD77C-hnrBuQuY_yw-ZEqn9MxU/s1600/MollyStory.jpg" /></a><span style="color: #002939; font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">Now all her siblings live within
30 miles of each other. They are all married, except for the youngest, Miles.
All of them except for Molly and one other have children, and Molly is the aunt
to 14 nieces and nephews, including a new set of twins. “Sitting around my
mother’s table sharing stories is the best,” she said. “Old boyfriend
stories, who did what and the ‘remember whens’ are priceless. I couldn’t
imagine being an only child. We always had something to do and someone to
do it with.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #002939; font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">Molly said my reference to the TV
show <i>Eight is Enough</i> reminded her of
another funny family memory. “</span><span style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">Your mention of <i>Eight is Enough</i> reminded me of a bumper sticker my uncle made for
the van after baby number eight was born... ‘8 IS ENOUGH.’” <span style="color: #002939;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #002939; font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">I loved hearing Molly’s stories
about growing up in a big family. My husband is one of six kids, and when
they’re all together, their favorite thing is sit around a dining room table
(usually with lots of beer) and tell stories about who did what to whom and
when. Hilarious laughter is always part of their gatherings. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #002939; font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">They talk about the time one of
their friends shot a flaming arrow into the neighbor’s roof while the neighbor
was on vacation. They talk about redirecting the sprinkler system at the nearby
country club and how their dad used to defrost a hand-size space on a frozen
windshield and drive them to school looking only through that small patch of
clear glass. Then there was the time my husband Dan’s younger brother Joe
jammed a toothpick into my husband’s back and later ratted out Dan when he
decided to run away on his bike—on the interstate. Or when Dan nearly floated
out to sea during a visit to his married sister in Virginia Beach or when he
shot out all the windshields in cars at a junkyard with a BB gun. Except it
wasn’t a junkyard. It was a body shop, and he made the mistake of returning to
the scene of the crime the next day... And yes, I married a hellion. Thankfully
he mostly grew out of his hellion ways!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #002939; font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">When I was a kid, I wanted what
my husband and Molly had. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #002939; font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">Now I get to make it up. And that—and only that—is why
the Abbott family has ten kids.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Marie Forcehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00550719567520289405noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4804838449570779883.post-31061443553661783942014-03-07T13:55:00.003-05:002014-03-07T13:55:38.788-05:00Romance Isn't Just for Women<strong>It’s Never Too Late to Fall in Love: Eshel Travis</strong>
<img alt="eshel travis" src="http://marieforce.com/images/bookCovers/eshel_travis.jpg" height="113" style="border: 0px; float: left; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-right: 15px; vertical-align: middle;" width="150" /><br />
<br />
“I have fallen in love with you,” begins a letter 68-year-old Eshel Travis wrote to Marie. “Let me diagnose my condition.”<br />
<br />
Mr. Travis goes on to explain that he used to watch four or five movies a day. During his 46 years of marriage, including several years or retirement, his wife, Pam, has unsuccessfully attempted to encourage him to read a book. “Any book,” as he says. Prior to falling in love (with Marie), it had been more than 30 years since he read a book. When he did read, as a teen, however, he recalled he didn’t want to stop.<br />
<br />
In December of last year it all changed. Mr. Travis opened up the e-book application on his computer for the first time.<br />
<br />
“I picked your book, <em>Maid for Love</em>, out of all the ‘free’ books out there, and my life changed…I fell in love with your writing and the characters in the book, and I could hardly put the book down.”<br />
<br />
Mr. Travis worked for the majority of his life as a construction inspector, examining things like roads, bridges, highways and sewer mains before retiring. He also owned and operated two locksmith shops. So what would some of those brawny co-workers say if they know of Mr. Travis’s book choices today?<br />
<br />
“They’d probably just laugh. They’d think it was hilarious.” But clearly he doesn’t care. He just keeps devouring the books.<br />
<br />
Mr. Travis is so pleased with the books and the way Marie brings you into the lives of the characters that he’s shared them with his daughter and daughter-in-law, forewarning them that there were some steamy scenes. He said they were just fine with that caveat.<br />
<br />
“She’s got a real talent and a brain that astounds me,” Mr. Travis says of Marie.<br />
<br />
Mr. Travis speaks of his wife’s reaction to his new habit—which has, by the way, resulted in his giving up his movie channels—in the conclusion of his letter to Marie.<br />
<br />
“You, young lady, have made a major impact on my life, and I love it…my wife loves it because the home is now quiet almost all day long! She works from home on her computer and loves the silence…so you have made a fantastic blessing for us both.”<br />
<strong><br /></strong>
<strong>Seeing the World Through Marie’s Words: David Minton</strong>
<img alt="david minton2" src="http://marieforce.com/images/bookCovers/david_minton2.jpg" height="200" style="border: 0px; float: left; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-right: 15px; vertical-align: middle;" width="150" /><br />
<br />
Normally it wouldn’t be odd to hear someone say that by reading Marie’s books, “I could see everything so clearly [it] made me feel like I was living the lives in the book.” However, for 38-year-old David Minton, the statement is very telling.<br />
<br />
Mr. Minton is blind.<br />
<br />
A 1998 accident cost Mr. Minton his sight. Prior to the accident, he had been fascinated with reading. Since he was a child he liked to read a variety of books, including romance, horror, mystery and suspense. When he became blind, he was able to find books that used various technologies such as a digital talking book player from the National Library Services for the Blind, the iPhone and iPad mini, audio books and digital downloads to allow him to read them. A co-worker at his place of employment, where Mr. Minton is a customer service representative, told him about Marie’s books. He started with <em>Maid for Love</em>. That’s when he noticed he could see what she was writing about.<br />
<br />
“The writing is described in a way to help me visualize the surroundings, and I get so involved that I can almost smell the breeze off the water’s edge.”<br />
<br />
Mr. Minton says he likes Marie’s books because “They are so down to earth. Mrs. Force’s writings are things that could really happen in this lifetime, not in a fantasy.”<br />
<br />
"My friends think it's cool that I would rather pick up a romantic book than any other book,” he says. “A man needs to put the macho side down and show his soft side.”<br />
<br />
He advises other men interested in reading these books not to be afraid, to open their heart and see how love can really be.<br />
<br />
“Hats off to Marie Force,” he says. “The men in her books are superb. I hope [Marie] never retires from writing.”<br />
<strong><br /></strong>
<strong>A Sentimental Reader: Ray Schulte</strong>
<img alt="ray schulte2" src="http://marieforce.com/images/bookCovers/ray_schulte2.jpg" height="164" style="border: 0px; float: left; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-right: 15px; vertical-align: middle;" width="150" /><br />
<br />
“My wife [Katherine] laughs at me while I read romance novels,” says Ray Schulte. “She thinks it’s funny when I start crying from happiness. Just yesterday, I was reading <em>Chance for Love</em> and my eyes were watering and she asked me if I was reading Marie’s new book. She knew because I am a sentimental guy and I will laugh and cry while reading, especially Marie’s books.”<br />
<br />
The world of words was essentially lost to Mr. Schulte until last year when he turned 59 . He rarely read prior to that and when he did (mostly for work), he didn’t enjoy it because he would skip lines after finishing sentences. This necessitated him having to read things twice, a cumbersome and frustrating endeavor.<br />
<br />
Then Mr. Schulte got a tablet and downloaded the Kindle app, allowing him to adjust the font size of books. Voila! His reading problem was gone. And in the past 18 months he’s read about 150 books, including all of Marie’s.<br />
<br />
“There is just something about Marie’s writing that gets me into the story from the first page. It’s hard to explain, it’s almost like a dream and seeing and watching the story in person. The whole world stops around me while I am reading her stories. No other writer has the ability to get me that deep into the story. I really love reading about all the family and friends from past books that show up in the new books.”<br />
<strong><br /></strong>
<strong>Transitioning from Westerns to Romance: Dale Brooks</strong>
<img alt="Dale Reading 2" src="http://marieforce.com/images/bookCovers/Dale_Reading_2.jpg" height="113" style="border: 0px; float: left; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-right: 15px; vertical-align: middle;" width="150" /><br />
<br />
Eighty-year-old retired machinist Dale Brooks needs to keep warm during the cold Wisconsin winter, which he says tongue-in-cheek is not a problem when reading Marie’s books.<br />
<br />
Mr. Brooks says he’s read every book of Marie’s he can get a hold of.<br />
<br />
“They are all good. They have good stories to them. That’s mostly what I look for—entertainment and a little steam here and there.”<br />
<br />
Mr. Brooks has been married to wife, Dianna, for 32 years. He used to read lots of westerns, including those of Louis L’Amour. Later he would branch out to other authors of westerns, some who added romantic stories to the mix.<br />
<br />
And then—he can’t even recall how it happened—he found Marie’s books and was hooked.<br />
<br />
What would the more manly men say of his book selection?<br />
<br />
“I really don’t worry about what they say. I’m not that macho. I’m 80. I got over that.”<br />
<strong><br /></strong>
<strong>A Writer Learns: Greg Davis</strong>
<img alt="Greg-1 2" src="http://marieforce.com/images/bookCovers/Greg-1_2.jpg" height="126" style="border: 0px; float: left; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-right: 15px; vertical-align: middle;" width="150" /><br />
<br />
Greg Davis wants to move to Gansett Island. Sure, he knows it’s a fictional island inspired by Block Island, Rhode Island, Marie’s home state. But the way she describes the scenes and the characters is just so darned REAL.<br />
<br />
“I told her in an email that she breathes so much life into her characters I wondered if they spoke to her, saying, ‘Thanks, Marie. We’ll take it from here. Just try to keep up.’,” Mr. Davis says.<br />
<br />
Mr. Davis knows a bit about writing. He’s been a technical writer for more than 25 years, specializing in end user computer user documentation. While that may not be fertile training ground for contemporary romance, he’s also an aspiring writer working on stories in a number of genres, including science fiction, fantasy, and science fiction romance. Mr. Davis is an avid reader, as well. He has nearly 400 books on his Nook and previously had six copier paper boxes full of paperbacks. He’s a fan of science fiction, fantasy, and contemporary romance and he loves books with high page counts (more than 500 pages will do). He says he’s a fast reader and anything less than 500 pages leaves him feeling cheated.<br />
<br />
Mr. Davis first learned of Marie’s books when he received an email notification from Bookbub.com, a site that sends readers notifications of free and discounted ebooks that match their interests. He received a bundle of the first three McCarthys of Gansett Island books: <em>Maid for Love</em>, <em>Fool for Love</em> and <em>Ready for Love</em>.<br />
<br />
“…After Book 1, I was hooked,” he recalls. “I am now reading Book 9.”<br />
<br />
“Even though the books are a high page count, the pacing of the story and the plot itself breezed along. I didn’t want the books to end and couldn’t wait to start on the next one.”<br />
<br />
Mr. Davis has written to Marie on several occasions to tell her how he’s been wowed, yet again, by her writing.<br />
<br />
“There were a couple of times specific scenes in the books caught me by surprise and evoked a strong emotional response,” he says. “I have never had that before while reading ANY book. It surprised and shocked me. I wasn’t embarrassed as a guy that it happened, just awed and dumbstruck at the mastery to pull that off. "<br />
<br />
Marie’s writing, he says, has made him aspire to higher levels of mastery in his own.<br />
<br />
He has also told Marie he can envision the McCarthys of Gansett Island Series becoming a movie, a TV miniseries or a television series, although he worries they wouldn’t meet the high standards Marie has set and reached in her books.<br />
<br />
Asked if his friends or family are surprised about his reading contemporary romance, Mr. Davis simply says, “They don’t seem to mind. My wife is surprised at how much I am reading lately.”<br />
<em><br /></em>
<em>Cheryl L. Serra is director of public relations for Marie Force.</em><br />
<div>
<em><br /></em></div>
Marie Forcehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00550719567520289405noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4804838449570779883.post-34032713347650324932014-02-20T20:10:00.002-05:002014-02-20T20:10:32.471-05:00***All New Selfie Contest!***<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic45PCv5kjWUXy1nO15glP_xg9XS73-LcWNDqLQHsVib8VBiB208CW5xpoMtCiGxU8Xz04xmNR-RhMAMx1wah3CUyBTrNkHWTA9rFEVXS349i6t7x78zFXKX7HDIvtHFvV6g-4KlFPA4Y/s1600/All_You_Need_is_LovePRINT.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic45PCv5kjWUXy1nO15glP_xg9XS73-LcWNDqLQHsVib8VBiB208CW5xpoMtCiGxU8Xz04xmNR-RhMAMx1wah3CUyBTrNkHWTA9rFEVXS349i6t7x78zFXKX7HDIvtHFvV6g-4KlFPA4Y/s1600/All_You_Need_is_LovePRINT.jpg" height="320" width="198" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #37404e; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333969116211px; line-height: 18px;">The publisher of ALL YOU NEED IS LOVE soooo loved the selfie contest, they asked us to do it again! Fun fun FUN! We have all new FABULOUS prizes up for grabs! Here’s how it’s going to work and please make sure</span><span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #37404e; display: inline; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333969116211px; line-height: 18px;">you read ALL the way to the end so you can see the many ways to WIN!<br /><br />Starting TODAY, get back out there and find ALL YOU NEED IS LOVE in your local bookstore or order your copy from an online retailer and take a picture of yourself holding the book. We want to see you WITH the print copy of ALL YOU NEED IS LOVE (sorry, no ebook copies for this contest). When you’re out and about, consider getting a copy of the book for a friend who loves to read and hasn’t yet discovered Marie’s books. And remember, books make great gifts for birthdays and other important events! Better yet, once your friends have the book in hand, they can enter the selfie contest too!<br /><br />For each of the next THREE weeks, we will award a $100 gift card to one selfie photographer. You can enter as many times as you’d like to increase your chances to win. Entries carry over to the next week’s drawings, but we need ALL NEW selfies. The earlier ones will not count for this NEW contest. We will award the gift cards on Friday, February 28, March 7 and March 14. But wait, there’s MORE! On Friday, March 21, we will award YET ANOTHER grand prize trip to the Green Mountain Series Launch Party on June 28 at the Vermont Country Store in Weston, Vermont! This package includes:<br /><br />--Two nights lodging for up to two guests in Weston, Vermont.<br />--$750 toward airfare for two from anywhere in the United States. We suggest flying into Manchester, NH (2.5 hours away), Burlington, VT (2.25 hours away), Hartford, CT (2.5 hours), Albany, NY (1.75 hours) or Boston, MA (3 hours).<br />--Reimbursement of up to approximately $300 for car rental and fuel to be used for transportation from the airport to Weston, VT.<br />--A special breakfast with Marie for you and a guest.<br />--$100 gift card to the Vermont Country Store<br />--$100 gift card to Bryant House Restaurant at the Vermont Country Store<br />--Your very own stuffed “Fred the Moose”<br />--Signed copies of All You Need Is Love and I Want to Hold Your Hand<br /><br />Everyone who enters a selfie in the next three weeks will be entered into this grand-prize drawing. In order to WIN the prize, however, you must be able to answer three new questions about the short story TO KNOW HER IS TO LOVE HER, which is found ONLY in the back of the print book. (It will be released to e-readers on Marie’s website in May.) ALSO, everyone who enters this new Selfie contest will get our ALL NEW Green Mountain Romance sticker! UK, Australia, New Zealand readers: You are looking for YOUR LOVE IS ALL I NEED and your selfies count!<br /><br />WAIT, there’s one more chance to win! If you SHARE this post, you will be entered into a drawing to win yet another super fun prize pack that includes signed copies of Marie’s books, Fred the Moose and other fabulous swag. Everyone who clicks the SHARE button on this post will be entered into the SHARE drawing!<br /><br />So go forth and take those selfies and SHARE this post to get your friends out there taking pictures, too! We will feature as many selfies as we can on Marie’s Facebook page!<br /><br />You must send your selfie to author@marieforce.com to be entered into the drawing. If you’d like the Green Mountain Romance sticker, please include your postal address (international entries permitted) and let us know if you’d like to be on the list for occasional postcards and other items by mail. NO selfies posted directly to Facebook or Twitter will count as entries. The only way to ensure that your entry is counted is to email it to author@marieforce.com.<br /><br />HAVE FUN!!!</span>Marie Forcehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00550719567520289405noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4804838449570779883.post-48293628069948841032014-02-02T11:10:00.001-05:002014-02-02T11:12:32.715-05:00Why the Beatles? And other things you need to know about the Abbotts of Vermont!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCoqZKPP73H9bG63TE2T8Xr18d2eIbvjWvKz1RHFwTySeeyIUnCy9BggMN_hLRowOvEX5ZyI1AQmRWF7r6Jz_ZhpPDnqyNs_e980Nph9pgbJ_eeEpqVmuX_UPlaRMhy8NUhnO0FdH81DY/s1600/All_You_Need_is_LovePRINT.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCoqZKPP73H9bG63TE2T8Xr18d2eIbvjWvKz1RHFwTySeeyIUnCy9BggMN_hLRowOvEX5ZyI1AQmRWF7r6Jz_ZhpPDnqyNs_e980Nph9pgbJ_eeEpqVmuX_UPlaRMhy8NUhnO0FdH81DY/s1600/All_You_Need_is_LovePRINT.jpg" height="320" width="198" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I’m so excited that it’s finally February and the the release week for ALL YOU NEED IS LOVE! I thought it would be fun to help prepare for release week by telling you some more about my new family as well as what inspired the titles for the series. What I didn’t know when I picked Beatles song titles for my new Green Mountain Series is that the week the first book came out would also mark the 50th anniversary of the Beatles arriving in the U.S. for the first time. What a happy little coincidence! </span><br />
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Long after I sold the first two books to Berkley Publishing, I struggled to come up with great titles for the books. When writing a series, titles that “speak to each other” is a critical aspect of the branding challenge, so I needed something that satisfied a number of needs. The title of the first book had to reflect the story AND it needed to work in concert with the titles for the upcoming books. I was truly stumped and under the gun to produce my titles. I turned to music, as I often do when looking for inspiration. A Google search of the most popular love songs of all times included several Beatles titles, including ALL YOU NEED IS LOVE, which was a PERFECT fit for book 1. I kept coming back to that title and then found myself on a site that listed all the Beatles songs and it sort of took off from there. Once I decided to use Beatles song titles, I wanted to give the titles a connection to the series, which is how dad Lincoln Abbott became a crazy, over-the-top Beatles fan. Ironically, at least to my children who are Beatles fans, I am not. I like the Beatles. I love a few of their songs, especially “Let it Be,” which I hope to use in the series, and the "Long and Winding Road." Otherwise, I’m not obsessed the way a lot of my friends are. I even made a Beatles mistake in the first book that wasn’t caught before the print books were finished. I’ll let you see if you can find it. <beatles face.="" shame=""><beatles face.="" shame=""><beatles face.="" shame=""></beatles></beatles></beatles></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9LVJlzdr1LTOaMqqrOm-Ix5_hWjj40fYh5aeKkCTCU6jitmwz57SB7uW7Z8RL2V2Ogd39ePMDVES9EJgKRRyYx-5lrBKvi58FYx-YESegvrIOl3L_NwFVxZqjNo05zK7Sg6H8CaQK82U/s1600/YLIAIN200x300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9LVJlzdr1LTOaMqqrOm-Ix5_hWjj40fYh5aeKkCTCU6jitmwz57SB7uW7Z8RL2V2Ogd39ePMDVES9EJgKRRyYx-5lrBKvi58FYx-YESegvrIOl3L_NwFVxZqjNo05zK7Sg6H8CaQK82U/s1600/YLIAIN200x300.jpg" /></span></a></div>
<div class="p1">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Another funny aside on the titles is that in the U.S. titles can’t be copyrighted. However, we found out that the United Kingdom recently tightened its copyright laws so if a title is “reasonably recognizable” it can’t be used for something else. As my editor in the UK said, “I think you’ll agree that Beatles song titles are ‘reasonably recognizable’ in the UK. LOL! Thus, the slight variation on the titles in the UK, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and India. ALL YOU NEED IS LOVE is YOUR LOVE IS ALL I NEED. Book 2, I WANT TO HOLD YOUR HAND is LET ME HOLD YOUR HAND and Book 3, I SAW HER STANDING THERE is I SAW HER STANDING THERE. Works for me! Luckily, the Beatles boo-boo was caught before the UK version went to print. Phew!</span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Now we’ve mentioned Lincoln, the Beatles fan, and his wife Molly Stillman Abbott. Her grandparents founded the Green Mountain Country Store during World War II, and it’s run today by Lincoln and five of their ten children. The ten kids are: twins Hunter and Hannah, 35; Will, 33; Ella, 32; Charlotte, 30; Wade, 29; Colton, 28; identical twins Lucas and Landon, 25; and Max, 22. Molly’s dad Elmer is very much a part of their lives and is known for his free advice and his loving yet meddlesome involvement in his grandchildren’s business. My plan is to write a book for each of the Abbott kids, so there’s lots of fun and excitement to come from the Green Mountains!</span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hunter is a CPA who oversees the finances for the store as well as the variety of other family business interests, such as the sugaring facility run by Colton, the Christmas tree farm run by Lucas, Landon’s woodworking business and Hannah’s handmade jewelry. Max is still in college at the University of Vermont, but he helps Colton at the sugaring facility, which produces more than 25,000 gallons of maple syrup each year that is sold in the store under the family label. Hunter, Will, Ella, Charlotte and Wade help their dad run the store and often engage in a bit of a push-pull with him over his big ideas to modernize their small-town business. Lincoln’s determination to enter the modern age with a website for the store brings Cameron Murphy to the fictional town of Butler, Vermont, located in the state’s Northeast Kingdom. The series opens with Cameron’s auspicious arrival during mud season when she runs her Mini Cooper into Fred, the town moose, and finds out that wearing $500 suede boots to Vermont in mud season isn’t the best idea a “flatlander” could ever have in the mountains. Second son Will comes to her rescue, and the rest… well, read about what happens next this week in ALL YOU NEED IS LOVE!</span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<a href="http://marieforce.com/component/content/article/2-uncategorised/176-all-you-need-is-love-excerpt"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Read the first chapter here and see how Will and Cameron meet.</span></a></div>
<div class="p1">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<a href="http://marieforce.com/component/content/article/2-uncategorised/191-all-you-need-is-love-contest-information"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Read about all the great release week contest offerings!</span></a></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And get the book here on Tuesday:</span></div>
<div class="p1">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 17.98611068725586px;">P</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 17.98611068725586px;">reorder the ebook here:</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 17.98611068725586px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 17.98611068725586px;">Kindle US:</span><a href="http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Famzn.to%2F161ScB8&h=YAQE8un4R&enc=AZOqnBLp_IeJ3quWflZf2YtmnKcFf3SQeKNwphhAR_1KxPDIqtAYwDb1M6xYcwd__cVhVM5rs4gd2WNH_kdV1TvFd2Mqa9IlbxFprRmuOsOXlpLfJokfIRXHRuvXSiF-E3KoPjAQhP14Gt8urpwySU-X&s=1" rel="nofollow nofollow" style="background-color: white; color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; line-height: 17.98611068725586px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">http://amzn.to/161ScB8</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 17.98611068725586px;"> </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 17.98611068725586px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 17.98611068725586px;">Kindle CA:</span><a href="http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Famzn.to%2FIHnLs4&h=5AQHWk9xQ&enc=AZP4OqfNGosnwj-dJX8WdLFf0le-XN9uHJZ9f9IjSrmdO34Zs2UzCTLQQmiKIPOUnGLzpuXKdSTFqFjU1CzaFnqdRzuyxbRDsQl3LG8ZdMACZeBQJ3UajxNpQeKQGb2v-woYetMrCFVjR7YG7OKmFU_G&s=1" rel="nofollow nofollow" style="background-color: white; color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; line-height: 17.98611068725586px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">http://amzn.to/IHnLs4</a><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 17.98611068725586px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 17.98611068725586px;">iBooks:</span><a href="http://bit.ly/1feiIsD" rel="nofollow nofollow" style="background-color: white; color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; line-height: 17.98611068725586px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">http://bit.ly/1feiIsD</a><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 17.98611068725586px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 17.98611068725586px;">iBooks CA:</span><a href="http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fbit.ly%2F1f45JvA&h=SAQGFHESr&enc=AZMJHzy08YQdewNC4Akc9-I9TTjtkeYcU53nc22C0RDy82SzgkOkIi1Ucuna_25g9w9HHstI583or86aSFULXmZb46TWA-mlc2CKkR5DXXCXXYmzb2wMpZvhzduRYABNonOEpeC6nTmDwycVgV317et3&s=1" rel="nofollow nofollow" style="background-color: white; color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; line-height: 17.98611068725586px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">http://bit.ly/1f45JvA</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 17.98611068725586px;"> </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 17.98611068725586px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 17.98611068725586px;">Nook:</span><a href="http://bit.ly/139VI8d" rel="nofollow nofollow" style="background-color: white; color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; line-height: 17.98611068725586px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">http://bit.ly/139VI8d</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 17.98611068725586px;"> </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 17.98611068725586px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 17.98611068725586px;">Google:</span><a href="http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fbit.ly%2F1glkJFt&h=JAQEoG7x8&enc=AZNtNu3nZbfS1abpGDQVUiE2vyWzh4cqm0Ou_-U1VKRgImClRGTTg4WS8k1CDc-hndMRJcQeijPDw41kMcxRBpmrjOGmrFS5XW2lllz99ChqCpvKVIObtPqbVEwI3Z6d5wTYD62fPWGx0z_5zBl_yk4L&s=1" rel="nofollow nofollow" style="background-color: white; color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; line-height: 17.98611068725586px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">http://bit.ly/1glkJFt</a><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 17.98611068725586px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 17.98611068725586px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 17.98611068725586px;">Those of you looking for it in PRINT, start checking your favorite retailers this weekend and remember the great SELFIE contest:</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 17.98611068725586px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 17.98611068725586px;">Barnes & Noble: </span><a href="http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fbit.ly%2F1hnZWBW&h=ZAQEaFtGR&enc=AZM70AJGIe4mT2v3zDWb7e2SaKvXy1eR54z4LZHkq01cBaL9OldHRGnD71okDQ_VB_M1wmUV6D5xdNe0VtyycH7Kbt_7ItET0f6rTAeaSIaren0h9jaGppz1dpTV0qXy3phNTrzSNVOBcs6A2ztkE-6W&s=1" rel="nofollow nofollow" style="background-color: white; color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; line-height: 17.98611068725586px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">http://bit.ly/1hnZWBW</a><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 17.98611068725586px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 17.98611068725586px;">Walmart: </span><a href="http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.walmart.com%2Fip%2F27204304&h=jAQFu5f1I&enc=AZNQUPq5YslORm6GlaZlMCqzMFQHGm_QKxTX8_3icGEO4MkxWn_Z_i5Uv3WDmeyAapnGwQDl7jzKb6O0by-CYlZwg4ee2B7XTlX7muRGQQvU2kkoju3K-2Moji8kLwO18sV2H_tmgeXorsR3-8lU3xzX&s=1" rel="nofollow nofollow" style="background-color: white; color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; line-height: 17.98611068725586px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">http://www.walmart.com/ip/27204304</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 17.98611068725586px;"> </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 17.98611068725586px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 17.98611068725586px;">IndieBound:</span><a href="http://www.indiebound.org/book/9780425266762" rel="nofollow nofollow" style="background-color: white; color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; line-height: 17.98611068725586px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">http://www.indiebound.org/book/9780425266762</a><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 17.98611068725586px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 17.98611068725586px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 17.98611068725586px;">The print version will also be available in Target stores, and you can preorder a print copy from Amazon:</span><a href="http://amzn.to/1fWNCvj" rel="nofollow nofollow" style="background-color: white; color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; line-height: 17.98611068725586px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">http://amzn.to/1fWNCvj</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 17.98611068725586px;">. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 17.98611068725586px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 17.98611068725586px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 17.98611068725586px;">The audio book is available for preorder at Amazon</span><a href="http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Famzn.to%2F1ftJ2ly&h=6AQHT-vmo&enc=AZPnA4omPwA9XnharZONjLZS3ynVkgYocxVfYkwxS7XI1l4gdceYRkPCGha0c_NmavnrijbnE7KkK_JPSDqmHA3Ien5eS_gRCf8_5IaK96AQubiRkb7xGBwSz8tem9y2s7PYfz9cRFhtdTDblqCRduYq&s=1" rel="nofollow nofollow" style="background-color: white; color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; line-height: 17.98611068725586px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">http://amzn.to/1ftJ2ly</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 17.98611068725586px;"> and coming soon to other retailers!</span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<br /></div>
Marie Forcehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00550719567520289405noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4804838449570779883.post-22805484331743442302014-01-30T17:17:00.001-05:002014-01-30T17:19:01.396-05:00Meet the Abbotts of Vermont!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP-U7WN83Rm71C-OjHQX8-5D9us0hOoe3d01yEMNO_eOVhBa_EeVxrG_x5UyKT712MROYtdrhJCdtS3R53AOxLFMN7EMbD85PPTXcl68aszNcGeIBTlc-RpNVaWASlNG8Qhzf6R8WrunY/s1600/All_You_Need_is_LovePRINT.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP-U7WN83Rm71C-OjHQX8-5D9us0hOoe3d01yEMNO_eOVhBa_EeVxrG_x5UyKT712MROYtdrhJCdtS3R53AOxLFMN7EMbD85PPTXcl68aszNcGeIBTlc-RpNVaWASlNG8Qhzf6R8WrunY/s1600/All_You_Need_is_LovePRINT.jpg" height="320" width="198" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
For the first time in my life, I’ve found myself looking
forward to freezing cold February! That’s because ALL YOU NEED IS LOVE, the
first book in my new Green Mountain Series, is out this month after a rather
long incubation period that began all the way back in 2011 with a spot on the NBC
Nightly News. I’m a tad bit addicted to Brian Williams and his nightly
broadcast—okay, I TiVo it, don’t judge me. A story about the Vermont Country
Store and the hunky brothers who run it with their dad caught my attention.
That led to a trip to Vermont, some retail therapy at both of the Vermont
Country Stores, an idea about a moose, a Mini-Cooper, a city girl arriving in
mud season wearing $500 suede boots… And the Abbott family of Vermont was born!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I get asked all the time about where my ideas come from. The
idea for the Green Mountain Series smacked me right upside the head and
wouldn’t let go until I did something about it. I’m very excited to introduce
you to the Abbott Family, led by parents Lincoln, a crazy, over-the-top Beatles
fan, and Molly, who is the daughter of Elmer Stillman, the second-generation
owner of my fictional Green Mountain Country Store. Elmer is a bit of a
character, and one of my favorite slices of Vermont life made it into Elmer’s
yard in the form of a sign I saw in Stowe, Vermont, that advertised: Justice of
the Peace, Notary Public, Free Advice. Elmer’s grandson Will, the hero of ALL
YOU NEED IS LOVE, comments that free advice is the backbone of Elmer’s business,
which gives you an idea of what you can expect from him! <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in; text-autospace: none;">
Lincoln and Molly have ten
children: twins Hunter and Hannah, Will, <span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;">Ella,
Charlotte Wade, Colton, identical twins Lucas and Landon and Max. Hunter, Will,
Ella, Charlotte and Wade help their father run the Stillman family business
while their other siblings provide products that are sold in the store,
including maple syrup, woodworking, handmade jewelry and Christmas trees. When
Lincoln gets a big idea to take their small-town business to the next level by
hiring web designer Cameron Murphy from New York City, the sparks fly between a
city girl who lives with the world at her fingertips via her smart phone and
country boy Will, who doesn’t own a cell phone and can’t imagine what he’d do
with one. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;">I’ve
already written the first two books in the series, ALL YOU NEED IS LOVE,
featuring Will and Cameron, and I WANT TO HOLD YOUR HAND, featuring oldest
daughter Hannah, an Iraqi war widow who finds new love with her late husband’s close
friend. I’m well into book 3, I SAW HER STANDING THERE, featuring Colton Abbott,
who lives without electricity or running water on Butler Mountain where he runs
the family’s sugaring facility.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;">The road to
happily ever after for the Abbott siblings promises to be muddy and pitted with
potholes, especially with their meddlesome father and grandfather pulling the
strings from behind the scenes. I hope you enjoy the Green Mountain Series as
much as I’ve enjoyed writing about the Abbott family! Make sure you check out my website at <a href="http://marieforce.com/">marieforce.com</a> for tons of great contest info!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;">xoxo<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:DocumentProperties>
<o:Revision>0</o:Revision>
<o:TotalTime>0</o:TotalTime>
<o:Pages>1</o:Pages>
<o:Words>452</o:Words>
<o:Characters>2579</o:Characters>
<o:Company>HTJB, Inc.</o:Company>
<o:Lines>21</o:Lines>
<o:Paragraphs>6</o:Paragraphs>
<o:CharactersWithSpaces>3025</o:CharactersWithSpaces>
<o:Version>14.0</o:Version>
</o:DocumentProperties>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>JA</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
<w:UseFELayout/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="276">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<!--EndFragment--><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;">Marie<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 17.98611068725586px;">Preorder now here:</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 17.98611068725586px;">Kindle US:</span><a href="http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Famzn.to%2F161ScB8&h=BAQEfY4Zq&enc=AZNnuElBK14m7MvR4mImDKWSR8zXSoUkmjLQ4mTZmtkS7FehPmvMvTTfgEWITstMsdbg6v9NL3uCF5DwiZthh9kOYTA-dsOJ6Rh0vTTXYhVEA4SILpBa5utOb1BhawKD8fsnZa6TB-QaGMuXA-jXp-y_&s=1" rel="nofollow nofollow" style="background-color: white; color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; line-height: 17.98611068725586px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">http://amzn.to/161ScB8</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 17.98611068725586px;"> </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 17.98611068725586px;">Kindle CA:</span><a href="http://amzn.to/IHnLs4" rel="nofollow nofollow" style="background-color: white; color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; line-height: 17.98611068725586px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">http://amzn.to/IHnLs4</a><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 17.98611068725586px;">iBooks:</span><a href="http://bit.ly/1feiIsD" rel="nofollow nofollow" style="background-color: white; color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; line-height: 17.98611068725586px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">http://bit.ly/1feiIsD</a><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 17.98611068725586px;">iBooks CA:</span><a href="http://bit.ly/1f45JvA" rel="nofollow nofollow" style="background-color: white; color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; line-height: 17.98611068725586px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">http://bit.ly/1f45JvA</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 17.98611068725586px;"> </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 17.98611068725586px;">Nook:</span><a href="http://bit.ly/139VI8d" rel="nofollow nofollow" style="background-color: white; color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; line-height: 17.98611068725586px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">http://bit.ly/139VI8d</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 17.98611068725586px;"> </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 17.98611068725586px;">Google:</span><a href="http://bit.ly/1glkJFt" rel="nofollow nofollow" style="background-color: white; color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; line-height: 17.98611068725586px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">http://bit.ly/1glkJFt</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 17.98611068725586px;"> </span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 17.98611068725586px;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 17.98611068725586px;">Those of you looking for it in PRINT, start checking your favorite retailers this weekend:</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 17.98611068725586px;">Amazon: </span><a href="http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Famzn.to%2F1fWNCvj&h=AAQEu96qY&enc=AZOXnlZeQONc__j3wwFK1buZTBznW1TPnWVbYAd_fuabwiBc5FRy9UvmS6jQc9Gp_Xhe5q6sltGUpARkb8iVc7bxUcmKnq5Nbf7JPphWXVX6VB7Hc6Xo5euW1yy-JWeiGyh6Rg8ryg80ifrmKC-odx3_&s=1" rel="nofollow nofollow" style="background-color: white; color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; line-height: 17.98611068725586px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">http://amzn.to/1fWNCvj</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 17.98611068725586px;"> </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 17.98611068725586px;">Barnes & Noble: </span><a href="http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fbit.ly%2F1hnZWBW&h=6AQH_t0Sm&enc=AZMpy4bIInrbWCYqqecoa3jqY6f7WHlVO1nFGmpjo2lXFxUMFIIc2USw0dntaw5HSO_nqAqhSserPnoBhMC1AF7ao_6HnC-wz8wrAlDL6ePDYQfEcTZp8c9VJNu5_lVhMuxynrWwNhU4Upvt4Y8SsN3B&s=1" rel="nofollow nofollow" style="background-color: white; color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; line-height: 17.98611068725586px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">http://bit.ly/1hnZWBW</a><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 17.98611068725586px;">Walmart: </span><a href="http://www.walmart.com/ip/27204304" rel="nofollow nofollow" style="background-color: white; color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; line-height: 17.98611068725586px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">http://www.walmart.com/ip/27204304</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 17.98611068725586px;"> </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 17.98611068725586px;">IndieBound:</span><a href="http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.indiebound.org%2Fbook%2F9780425266762&h=WAQFp_Hnj&enc=AZP_omPP7q4tyfpKlDLKS54sNjLW1tkNWIAU-5-o610vM2IRE8KxmvooHuG-HUzXNY3ZNe0zwpmVRu3-uol-iMevVOl6s2vSry97jYwxyqkrUpbZRX0wJDF5W1wrOdgIIYNL6z0Ihj-u52BNr7JTnkl0&s=1" rel="nofollow nofollow" style="background-color: white; color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; line-height: 17.98611068725586px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">http://www.indiebound.org/book/9780425266762</a><br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 17.98611068725586px;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 17.98611068725586px;">The print version will also be available in Target stores. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;"><br /></span></div>
Marie Forcehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00550719567520289405noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4804838449570779883.post-68621739131995587232014-01-28T08:48:00.000-05:002014-01-28T10:26:09.023-05:00One Week from Today! A New Family & A New Series!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdOJ8WOrViyUmlcDlg1AzsbBZ4pJ5ZgvJW2Lp3NZdscCpJ5M9jlSNfYDkgLr4Ts_onWZVUa_kbY5k7Q0qR1UbpbpRo8Zf3NRagF_lfaKH2AmFkdAgUs414bfRhMfnHJ0THfmTArssiBeU/s1600/All_You_Need_is_LovePRINT.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdOJ8WOrViyUmlcDlg1AzsbBZ4pJ5ZgvJW2Lp3NZdscCpJ5M9jlSNfYDkgLr4Ts_onWZVUa_kbY5k7Q0qR1UbpbpRo8Zf3NRagF_lfaKH2AmFkdAgUs414bfRhMfnHJ0THfmTArssiBeU/s1600/All_You_Need_is_LovePRINT.jpg" height="320" width="198" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Are you ready for the Abbotts of Vermont? I’m very excited
for next Tuesday when <i>All You Need Is
Love</i>, Book 1 in my new Green Mountain Series, becomes available everywhere
e-books, print and audio books are sold. This release is different from most of
my others because there’s a publisher involved—Berkley Publishing, a division
of Penguin-Random House. I’ve had a great time working with the team at Berkley
to bring the Abbott family to you. I wanted to make you aware of a few things
about the upcoming release, including contest information!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The first thing I want you to know is <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">All You Need Is Love</i> is my first MAJOR print release, meaning it’s
going to be EVERYWHERE, which is very exciting! You can find it at Target,
Barnes & Noble, WalMart, Books-A-Million, in airports and just about
everywhere books are sold. How cool is it that it’s going to be in AIRPORTS?
That makes me want to book a flight just to see it there! Because this is my
first really significant print release, the publisher wanted to give the print
book an extra boost, thus the added content in the print release. The short
story, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">To Know Her Is To Love Her</i>,
will only be in the print version—at first. It will be released to e-book
readers at a later date, and as soon as I know when I’ll let you know. I
believe the intent was to release it ahead of Book 2, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">I Want to Hold Your Hand</i>, in June. I want to make sure my ebook
readers know that the short story is a “fun extra” and isn’t new story. It’s
more of Will and Cameron, the hero and heroine in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">All You Need Is Love, </i>so it’s something fun to look forward to in a
couple of months.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Second, if you ordered a signed print copy of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">All You Need Is Love</i> from Island Books,
my local independent bookstore, I am signing those copies today, and they will
go right in the mail. Watch for them by release day if you are in the U.S. and
shortly after overseas. If you decide later you want a signed copy, you can
still order them through Island Books. We will keep the order form live for
future requests at http://www.islandbooksri.com/all-you-need-love-autographed-author-marie-force.
You will also be able to order signed copies from Island Books of the Fatal
Series books that are coming to print beginning next month with <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Fatal Affair</i>. Because both of these
series are governed by publisher contracts, this is the only way I can offer
them to you signed. This differs from my self-published books (the McCarthy and
Treading Water Series, in particular), which are not governed by contract
restrictions, so I am able to sell them directly to you. I know all of this can
be confusing, so feel free to email me at <a href="mailto:marie@marieforce.com">marie@marieforce.com</a>
if you have questions about how to get signed copies of any of your favorite
print books.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Third, some of you have asked why I gave away advance print
copies and not ebook copies. The answer to that is simple—I had the print
copies to give away, and I don’t have an ebook version at my disposal. And to
be perfectly honest, I don’t give away advance ebook copies of any of my books
because I’m always fearful of the digital copy ending up in the wrong hands. In
today’s digital world, protecting my books from pirates is a big part of my
job, and keeping the digital copies close is one way to reduce piracy. I know
most of you are perfectly honest people who wouldn’t dream of misusing a
digital file, but it only takes one dishonest person to ruin it for everyone. I
hope you understand my need to protect my hard work from people who would steal
it from me.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4KmCn8j8p16c5eUEl4d73pwr5icLtzvEC3htk4EReEchBkzVSA0LRv3azre8HeyNTeoNCm6MVSHdyxtlwq03MZ_8TUzDBofm0t6ChJ0HUIDi1MRllOUrUD7FfEpTScgZcU2tFlSC0wLk/s1600/YLIAIN200x300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4KmCn8j8p16c5eUEl4d73pwr5icLtzvEC3htk4EReEchBkzVSA0LRv3azre8HeyNTeoNCm6MVSHdyxtlwq03MZ_8TUzDBofm0t6ChJ0HUIDi1MRllOUrUD7FfEpTScgZcU2tFlSC0wLk/s1600/YLIAIN200x300.jpg" height="200" width="130" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Fourth thing I wanted to make sure I told you is to remind
my reader friends in the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa
and India to look for the book under the title <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Your Love Is All I Need</i>—same story with a slightly different name
and cover. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Now, on to the fun stuff! Contests galore! We have several
different ways to win great prizes around the launch of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">All You Need Is Love</i>!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As we have done in the past, there will be a quick
25-question quiz designed to be “open book and easy to pass” that indicates you
read the book during release week. Why then? The more of you who read the book
the first week, the more likely it is to be a bestseller, and that would be an
awesome way to welcome the Abbotts to our book family! There will be one
version for ebook readers and another for print readers that will include bonus
questions from the short story. The prizes for both are the same and everyone
who takes the quiz will be entered into the drawing:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;">Grand Prize (Two Winners) <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;">A trip to the June 2014 Vermont Launch
Party for <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">All You Need Is Love</i> and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">I Want To Hold Your Hand</i>, The Green
Mountain Series, Books 1 and 2. This trip will include the following:</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -13.5pt;">
</div>
<ul>
<li><span style="text-indent: -13.5pt;">Two nights lodging
for up to two guests in Vermont.</span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: -13.5pt;">$750 toward airfare
for two from anywhere in the United States. If you are overseas, you’ll have to
get yourself to the U.S. We suggest flying into Manchester, NH (2.5 hours
away), Burlington, VT (2.25 hours away), Hartford, CT (2.5 hours), Albany, NY
(1.75 hours) or Boston, MA (3 hours).</span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: -13.5pt;">Reimbursement of up
to approximately $300 for car rental and fuel to be used for transportation
from the airport to Weston, VT.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Symbol; text-indent: -13.5pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><span style="text-indent: -13.5pt;">A special breakfast
with Marie for both winners and their guests.</span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: -13.5pt;">$100 gift card to
the Vermont Country Store</span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: -13.5pt;">$100 gift card to
Bryant House Restaurant at the Vermont Country Store</span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: -13.5pt;">Your very own stuffed
“Fred the Moose”</span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: -13.5pt;">Signed
copies of <i>All You Need Is Love</i> and <i>I Want to Hold Your Hand</i></span></li>
</ul>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Second Prize (One
Winner)<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
</div>
<ul>
<li><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">$100 Gift Card to the Vermont Country Store</span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">$100 Gift Card to the e-book retailer of the
winner’s choice</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Symbol; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Your very own
stuffed “Fred the Moose”</span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Signed
copies of </span><i style="text-indent: -0.25in;">All You Need Is Love</i><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> and </span><i style="text-indent: -0.25in;">I Want to Hold Your Hand</i></li>
</ul>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Third Prize (One
Winner)</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Symbol; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">$100 Gift Card to the Vermont Country Store</span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Your very own
stuffed “Fred the Moose”</span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Signed
copies of </span><i style="text-indent: -0.25in;">All You Need Is Love</i><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> and </span><i style="text-indent: -0.25in;">I Want to Hold Your Hand</i></li>
</ul>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Runners Up (Two
Winners)</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<ul>
<li><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Vermont prize pack with maple syrup, pancake mix
and other local treats</span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Your very own
stuffed “Fred the Moose”</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Symbol; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Signed
copies of <i>All You Need Is Love</i> and <i>I Want to Hold Your Hand</i></span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
**Note the signed copies of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">I Want to Hold Your Hand</i> will be sent in May ahead of the June
release of Book 2.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Selfie Contest!<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And there’s more! Since this is my first major print
release, we want to document all the many places you see the book—and we want
to see YOU with the book. Send your “selfies” of you holding <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">All You Need Is Love</i>, along with your
name, email address, location and the store where you saw the book to <a href="mailto:author@marieforce.com">author@marieforce.com</a>. Our goal is to
receive photos from all 50 states and as many countries as possible. We will
post the photos on Facebook throughout release week! Everyone who sends in a
photo will be entered into a drawing for one of FIVE $100 gift cards to the
book retailer of your choice. The more photos you send, the more chances you
have to win! <o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 17.98611068725586px;">Preorder now here:</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 17.98611068725586px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 17.98611068725586px;">Kindle US:</span><a href="http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Famzn.to%2F161ScB8&h=BAQEfY4Zq&enc=AZNnuElBK14m7MvR4mImDKWSR8zXSoUkmjLQ4mTZmtkS7FehPmvMvTTfgEWITstMsdbg6v9NL3uCF5DwiZthh9kOYTA-dsOJ6Rh0vTTXYhVEA4SILpBa5utOb1BhawKD8fsnZa6TB-QaGMuXA-jXp-y_&s=1" rel="nofollow nofollow" style="background-color: white; color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; line-height: 17.98611068725586px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">http://amzn.to/161ScB8</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 17.98611068725586px;"> </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 17.98611068725586px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 17.98611068725586px;">Kindle CA:</span><a href="http://amzn.to/IHnLs4" rel="nofollow nofollow" style="background-color: white; color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; line-height: 17.98611068725586px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">http://amzn.to/IHnLs4</a><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 17.98611068725586px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 17.98611068725586px;">iBooks:</span><a href="http://bit.ly/1feiIsD" rel="nofollow nofollow" style="background-color: white; color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; line-height: 17.98611068725586px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">http://bit.ly/1feiIsD</a><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 17.98611068725586px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 17.98611068725586px;">iBooks CA:</span><a href="http://bit.ly/1f45JvA" rel="nofollow nofollow" style="background-color: white; color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; line-height: 17.98611068725586px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">http://bit.ly/1f45JvA</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 17.98611068725586px;"> </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 17.98611068725586px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 17.98611068725586px;">Nook:</span><a href="http://bit.ly/139VI8d" rel="nofollow nofollow" style="background-color: white; color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; line-height: 17.98611068725586px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">http://bit.ly/139VI8d</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 17.98611068725586px;"> </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 17.98611068725586px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 17.98611068725586px;">Google:</span><a href="http://bit.ly/1glkJFt" rel="nofollow nofollow" style="background-color: white; color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; line-height: 17.98611068725586px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">http://bit.ly/1glkJFt</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 17.98611068725586px;"> </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 17.98611068725586px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 17.98611068725586px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 17.98611068725586px;">Those of you looking for it in PRINT, start checking your favorite retailers this weekend:</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 17.98611068725586px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 17.98611068725586px;">Amazon: </span><a href="http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Famzn.to%2F1fWNCvj&h=AAQEu96qY&enc=AZOXnlZeQONc__j3wwFK1buZTBznW1TPnWVbYAd_fuabwiBc5FRy9UvmS6jQc9Gp_Xhe5q6sltGUpARkb8iVc7bxUcmKnq5Nbf7JPphWXVX6VB7Hc6Xo5euW1yy-JWeiGyh6Rg8ryg80ifrmKC-odx3_&s=1" rel="nofollow nofollow" style="background-color: white; color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; line-height: 17.98611068725586px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">http://amzn.to/1fWNCvj</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 17.98611068725586px;"> </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 17.98611068725586px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 17.98611068725586px;">Barnes & Noble: </span><a href="http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fbit.ly%2F1hnZWBW&h=6AQH_t0Sm&enc=AZMpy4bIInrbWCYqqecoa3jqY6f7WHlVO1nFGmpjo2lXFxUMFIIc2USw0dntaw5HSO_nqAqhSserPnoBhMC1AF7ao_6HnC-wz8wrAlDL6ePDYQfEcTZp8c9VJNu5_lVhMuxynrWwNhU4Upvt4Y8SsN3B&s=1" rel="nofollow nofollow" style="background-color: white; color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; line-height: 17.98611068725586px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">http://bit.ly/1hnZWBW</a><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 17.98611068725586px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 17.98611068725586px;">Walmart: </span><a href="http://www.walmart.com/ip/27204304" rel="nofollow nofollow" style="background-color: white; color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; line-height: 17.98611068725586px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">http://www.walmart.com/ip/27204304</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 17.98611068725586px;"> </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 17.98611068725586px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 17.98611068725586px;">IndieBound:</span><a href="http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.indiebound.org%2Fbook%2F9780425266762&h=WAQFp_Hnj&enc=AZP_omPP7q4tyfpKlDLKS54sNjLW1tkNWIAU-5-o610vM2IRE8KxmvooHuG-HUzXNY3ZNe0zwpmVRu3-uol-iMevVOl6s2vSry97jYwxyqkrUpbZRX0wJDF5W1wrOdgIIYNL6z0Ihj-u52BNr7JTnkl0&s=1" rel="nofollow nofollow" style="background-color: white; color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; line-height: 17.98611068725586px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">http://www.indiebound.org/book/9780425266762</a><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 17.98611068725586px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 17.98611068725586px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 17.98611068725586px;">The print version will also be available in Target stores. </span></span><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I can’t wait for a fun release week! Please let me know if
you have any questions about any of the offerings listed above. As always, you
can reach me at <a href="mailto:marie@marieforce.com">marie@marieforce.com</a>.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
xoxo<o:p></o:p></div>
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:DocumentProperties>
<o:Revision>0</o:Revision>
<o:TotalTime>0</o:TotalTime>
<o:Pages>1</o:Pages>
<o:Words>1081</o:Words>
<o:Characters>6163</o:Characters>
<o:Company>HTJB, Inc.</o:Company>
<o:Lines>51</o:Lines>
<o:Paragraphs>14</o:Paragraphs>
<o:CharactersWithSpaces>7230</o:CharactersWithSpaces>
<o:Version>14.0</o:Version>
</o:DocumentProperties>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>JA</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
<w:UseFELayout/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="276">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<!--EndFragment--><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Marie<o:p></o:p></div>
Marie Forcehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00550719567520289405noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4804838449570779883.post-6327281584409535012014-01-12T16:23:00.001-05:002014-01-12T16:23:12.408-05:00SURPRISE! A New Gansett Island Novella On Sale NOW!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8dNJ-CFWgu3eAEYY9heuTfiHrLc0KeDZQqUgEGYbSDiJwqedTdgzIyOx9DFsDI56YmjrISNIFy_dRzs6uYboBGO-MVxTzrXBujrKkINcKJ1T6Glz4XNFkPKqjS0NQIkZLk8QOLBs2eLQ/s1600/ChanceforLove200.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8dNJ-CFWgu3eAEYY9heuTfiHrLc0KeDZQqUgEGYbSDiJwqedTdgzIyOx9DFsDI56YmjrISNIFy_dRzs6uYboBGO-MVxTzrXBujrKkINcKJ1T6Glz4XNFkPKqjS0NQIkZLk8QOLBs2eLQ/s1600/ChanceforLove200.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
SURPRISE!!!!! Wondering how I spent my Christmas vacation? Wonder no more! I spent it on Gansett Island, writing CHANCE FOR LOVE, a novella featuring our heartbroken billionaire, Jared James! CHANCE FOR LOVE is now LIVE for Kindle, Nook and Kobo, and coming at midnight to iBooks! I’m so excited to surprise readers with this new Gansett Island novella that’s been a top-secret, hush-hush project for the last couple of weeks. Keep in mind that a novella is much shorter than a regular book. This story is 25,000 words (vs. the usual 100,000 words or so that you normally get from me) and includes two special add ons: Will and Cameron’s first kiss in All You Need Is Love, out on Feb. 4, and the first-ever look at the cover of Fatal Jeopardy, which is out on March 24. </div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; min-height: 14px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
Now, about CHANCE FOR LOVE….</div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; min-height: 14px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px;">
<b><i>Billionaire Jared James has everything a man could ever want except for the one thing money can’t buy…</i></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px;">
After forty days holed up in his house on Gansett Island nursing a broken heart, Jared James decides enough is enough. Determined to snap out of the funk he slipped into after his girlfriend refused his marriage proposal, Jared organizes a party for the friends who’ve seen him through the worst of his heartache. Now if only he could stop thinking about the love of his life and how he will survive the rest of his days without her…</div>
<div style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; min-height: 14px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px;">
<b><i>She was Elisabeth all her life until Jared made her his Lizzie…</i></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px;">
Elisabeth “Lizzie” Sutter knows she has no business chasing Jared after she turned down his lovely, heartfelt marriage proposal in a moment of sheer panic. It didn’t take long for her to realize how foolish she’d been. Now all she can do is hope it’s not too late to set things right with the one man she can’t live without…</div>
<div style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; min-height: 14px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px;">
<b>Author’s Note</b></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px;">
We got to know Jared in <i>Time for Love</i>, when David and Daisy befriended David’s elusive landlord who’d come to the island seeking refuge after a bad breakup. We saw him again in <i>Meant for Love</i>, when he reconnected with Wharton classmate Jenny Wilks. Readers were eager to know more about the woman who’d broken Jared’s heart, and they wanted to know what I had in store for him. The more I thought about his story, the more I realized what I needed to do. I hope you’ll enjoy this brief visit with some Gansett Island friends as well as the introduction of a new couple.</div>
<div style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; min-height: 14px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px;">
Get it here:</div>
<div style="color: #4787ff; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
<span style="color: black;">Kindle US: <a href="http://amzn.to/1j1yKfJ">http://amzn.to/1j1yKfJ</a></span></div>
<div style="color: #4787ff; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; min-height: 14px;">
<span style="text-decoration: underline;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="color: #4787ff; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
<span style="color: black;">Kindle Canada: </span><span style="text-decoration: underline;">http://amzn.to/1hMd9rd</span></div>
<div style="color: #4787ff; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; min-height: 14px;">
<span style="text-decoration: underline;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: 12px;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica;">Kindle UK: </span><a href="http://amzn.to/1caaWOa">http://amzn.to/1caaWOa</a></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; min-height: 14px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
Kindle Australia: <a href="http://bit.ly/1dfKiba">http://bit.ly/1dfKiba</a></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; min-height: 14px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #4787ff; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
<span style="color: black;">B&N: <a href="http://bit.ly/1ae3cOG">http://bit.ly/1ae3cOG</a></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; min-height: 14px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #4787ff; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
<span style="color: black;">Kobo: <a href="http://bit.ly/KdPvou">http://bit.ly/KdPvou</a></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; min-height: 14px;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
iBooks: <a href="http://bit.ly/1hM8YeX"><span style="color: #4787ff;">http://bit.ly/1hM8YeX</span></a><span style="color: #4787ff; text-decoration: underline;"> (</span><span style="font-family: Arial;">Available at midnight tonight)</span></div>
Marie Forcehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00550719567520289405noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4804838449570779883.post-83665540359689944972013-12-17T09:23:00.000-05:002013-12-17T09:23:23.747-05:00I'm Getting Tired of Talking About Self-Publishing.... And This Is Why...Remember WAY back in 2010, when self-publishing e-books was still new to everyone, and some of us were beginning to dabble and experiment? Remember when there were only a few brave, hearty souls out there trying this previously lambasted way to get our books to readers? Remember when it was weird and scary and we didn't know if the traditional publishers we were still working with would sue us for taking this new path? Yeah, that was <i>sooooo</i> three years ago. As we close in on the end of 2013, it seems like everyone is doing it or thinking about doing it. It's become "mainstream," a part of doing business for many authors, and it's no longer the headline-making development it was back in 2010. Or is it?<br />
<br />
A month or two ago I read a blog post by an author who was taking the "brave, courageous step" into self-publishing. That made me chuckle. I wanted to post on her blog that there was nothing all that brave or courageous about taking that step—not anymore. Sure, it can be a daring move to turn down a decent contract with a traditional publisher to go totally indie. But it's not really a "brave" move anymore when it's been proven over and over by other authors that it can be a path to success if managed correctly. If thousands of other authors are doing it successfully—and by successfully I mean living off their proceeds—then those who are making the move now are doing so with far more information than many of us had back in 2010 when only a few hardy souls had taken this new path and NO ONE knew how traditional publishers would react to authors who decided to do both. That was truly scary.<br />
<br />
At what point does the topic of self-publishing stop being all we talk about as a community? When does it become so much a part of our routine that it stops being "new" or "innovative"? For me, I think it happened sometime this fall when I realized I'm starting to get tired of talking about it. Yes, I said that out loud... I've talked about it a lot and tried to share what I've learned over the last three years. During that time I've self-published 18 books and turned my extremely well-rejected McCarthys of Gansett Island Series into a <i>New York Times</i> bestselling self-published series that has sold well over 1 million ebooks since <i>Maid for Love</i> debuted in 2011. For a long time, I enjoyed sharing what I've learned along the way, but now... I'm getting tired. I'll still talk about it because so many people are interested, and I'm always happy to lend a hand to another author, but... I'm looking forward to the day when self-publishing is as run-of-the-mill as traditional publishing, and it's not that big of a deal anymore.<br />
<br />
How long do you think it'll be before we get there?Marie Forcehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00550719567520289405noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4804838449570779883.post-79658878565995702372013-11-18T19:25:00.000-05:002013-11-18T19:25:09.125-05:00Meant for Love, On Sale Today!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP0_wwCnx5Jd7EkDFjvnc_DnF2xowTZJKh-0Hlq6-pvwrWGJJbwhhAMviNcpyr_oOcYCLQ39PGhd6U0cXQEOtBRYmtLnFKpLXAd-0PmP1GVJ4daDEtTl4CKoOjJXMiQv5X1CzmpFJOQkk/s1600/MeantforLove200x300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP0_wwCnx5Jd7EkDFjvnc_DnF2xowTZJKh-0Hlq6-pvwrWGJJbwhhAMviNcpyr_oOcYCLQ39PGhd6U0cXQEOtBRYmtLnFKpLXAd-0PmP1GVJ4daDEtTl4CKoOjJXMiQv5X1CzmpFJOQkk/s200/MeantforLove200x300.jpg" width="135" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333969116211px; line-height: 17.98611068725586px;">Release day celebration! MEANT FOR LOVE, McCarthys of Gansett Island Book 10, is now ON SALE! Jenny the lighthouse keeper finally gets her happily ever after with Alex Martinez in this latest installment from Gansett Island, which feature</span><span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333969116211px; line-height: 17.98611068725586px;">s some of your favorite characters from past books too!<br /><br />AND SPECIAL BONUS! At the back of Meant for Love, get the FIRST EVER sneak preview of ALL YOU NEED IS LOVE, Book 1 in my NEW Green Mountain Series, coming February 4, 2014!<br /><br />Get MEANT FOR LOVE this week to participate in the fabulous launch week contest with all kinds of prizes, including a trip to Newport, RI for Reader Weekend 2014, up for grabs! Details can be found in the back of the ebook!<br /><br />Kindle/Amazon: <a href="http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Famzn.to%2F1cqm6Br&h=9AQETHP2c&s=1" rel="nofollow nofollow" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">http://amzn.to/1cqm6Br</a><br />Kindle UK: <a href="http://amzn.to/1bfi394" rel="nofollow nofollow" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">http://amzn.to/1bfi394</a><br />Kindle Canada: <a href="http://amzn.to/18bPl60" rel="nofollow nofollow" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">http://amzn.to/18bPl60</a> <br />iBooks: <a href="http://bit.ly/H4pLdO" rel="nofollow nofollow" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">http://bit.ly/H4pLdO</a> <br />Nook: <a href="http://bit.ly/1bNQuUQ" rel="nofollow nofollow" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">http://bit.ly/1bNQuUQ</a><br />Nook UK: <a href="http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fbit.ly%2F17gkTLK&h=bAQEPeWJi&s=1" rel="nofollow nofollow" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">http://bit.ly/17gkTLK</a><br />Kobo: <a href="http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fbit.ly%2F1fDNJrU&h=9AQETHP2c&s=1" rel="nofollow nofollow" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">http://bit.ly/1fDNJrU</a><br /><br />Get your SIGNED print copy here:<a href="https://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.surveymonkey.com%2Fs%2F9WZRMGM&h=GAQHIAOSG&s=1" rel="nofollow nofollow" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/9WZRMGM</a><br /><br />Hope you enjoy Jenny and Alex as much as I LOVED writing them!</span><br />
<span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333969116211px; line-height: 17.98611068725586px;"><br /></span>
<span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333969116211px; line-height: 17.98611068725586px;"><span style="font-size: 13.333333969116211px; line-height: 17.98611068725586px;">Announcing MEANT FOR LOVE Release Week Contest!</span><br style="font-size: 13.333333969116211px; line-height: 17.98611068725586px;" /><br style="font-size: 13.333333969116211px; line-height: 17.98611068725586px;" /><span style="font-size: 13.333333969116211px; line-height: 17.98611068725586px;">We have a contest with fabulous prizes to go along with tomorrow's release of Meant for Love! The contest will run from Nov. 18 through midnight, Nov. 25 EST and will require you to provide M</span><span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline; font-size: 13.333333969116211px; line-height: 17.98611068725586px;">arie with your TOP FIVE favorite lines from Chapter 2 and beyond in the book. Make plans to read the book in time to submit your favorite lines by the deadline!<br /><br />Winners will be contacted and announced the first week of December.<br /><br />Randomly selected winners will receive one of these great prizes!<br /><br />First prize winner will receive a trip to the 2014 Memorial Day Reader Weekend in Rhode Island (airfare in continental US, three nights hotel and registration fee). The Reader Weekend includes a day in Block Island (weather permitting), the inspiration for Gansett Island. International winner must be able to get to a US point of entry. Click here for details about the Reader Weekend in RI.<br /><br />Second prize $250 gift card to the e-book retailer of the winner's choice<br /><br />Third prize $100 gift card to the e-book retailer of the winner's choice<br /><br />Two runners up: Signed copies of all 10 print books in the McCarthy Series and a Gansett Island beach towel<br /><br />Enter the contest HERE:<a href="https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/J3GWWZP" rel="nofollow nofollow" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/J3GWWZP</a></span></span>Marie Forcehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00550719567520289405noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4804838449570779883.post-92163432357466620732013-11-06T15:30:00.002-05:002013-11-06T15:30:28.926-05:00My Favorite McCarthy Book: Meant for Love, out Nov. 18!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuOlVP2DexyMVhUSF_wJjOZBXiIBjLtlfCcxh7E5U_TU_wlxvXgSIKPVjNpM-HKWEyLUseCWMOXs0lPbQ27m_xASpDFcqt0ybBnAdKxR6KZHyt1I5FeEzCs63nLOLiIAKm0xzh6JP-yr4/s1600/MeantforLove200x300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuOlVP2DexyMVhUSF_wJjOZBXiIBjLtlfCcxh7E5U_TU_wlxvXgSIKPVjNpM-HKWEyLUseCWMOXs0lPbQ27m_xASpDFcqt0ybBnAdKxR6KZHyt1I5FeEzCs63nLOLiIAKm0xzh6JP-yr4/s1600/MeantforLove200x300.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333969116211px; line-height: 17.98611068725586px;">Only 12 more days until MEANT FOR LOVE, Book 10 in the McCarthy Series, hits e-readers! I'm sooo excited for this book, which is now my personal favorite of the McCarthy series. Why? </span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333969116211px; line-height: 17.98611068725586px;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333969116211px; line-height: 17.98611068725586px;">I've loved Jenny since we first met her in Book 6, and </span><span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333969116211px; line-height: 17.98611068725586px;">learned that she lost her fiancé on 9/11. Her life since then has been a difficult journey that led her to Gansett Island and a job as the lighthouse keeper. I've found her to be an interesting character from the beginning, and I've enjoyed watching her become an essential part of the Gansett Island "family" of friends.<br /><br />Her love interest, Alex Martinez, had a great career in Washington, DC, but had to come home help his brother Paul run their family business on Gansett and care for their mother, who has dementia. I loved writing Alex! He's gruff, rough around the edges and curses like a sailor, but there's a heart of gold underneath all that gruffness. Between the family demands and the business demands, he has a lot on his plate when he meets Jenny during a scorching heat wave on Gansett. The sparks fly between these two from the first minute they meet, all the way through to the Epilogue.<br /><br />Both of these characters have lived through difficult times, and they take comfort from each other as their relationship goes from smolder to serious while the temperature rises on Gansett Island! I so hope you all enjoy reading Meant for Love as much as I loved writing it! I can't wait to hear what you think of Alex and Jenny!<br /><br />Preorder now:<br />Amazon Kindle: <a href="http://amzn.to/1cqm6Br" rel="nofollow nofollow" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">http://amzn.to/1cqm6Br</a><br />Kindle UK: <a href="http://amzn.to/1bfi394" rel="nofollow nofollow" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">http://amzn.to/1bfi394</a><br />Kindle Canada: <a href="http://amzn.to/18bPl60" rel="nofollow nofollow" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">http://amzn.to/18bPl60</a><br />Apple/iBooks: <a href="http://bit.ly/H4pLdO" rel="nofollow nofollow" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">http://bit.ly/H4pLdO</a><br />BNNOOK Press: Coming Nov. 18 (no preorder permitted)<br />Kobo: Coming Nov. 18<br /><br />Preorder the PRINT version: <a href="http://amzn.to/HxNen4" rel="nofollow nofollow" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">http://amzn.to/HxNen4</a><br /><br />Read Chapter 1: <a href="http://bit.ly/16fLkO3" rel="nofollow nofollow" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">http://bit.ly/16fLkO3</a></span>Marie Forcehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00550719567520289405noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4804838449570779883.post-82510184119848864792013-05-18T10:20:00.000-04:002013-05-18T10:30:12.859-04:00Eight Years Ago Today<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj17KcdW8ap_jCUjtP_0XfLe7ZAZiRzjEOJw5h49vQ2SquxzWtt5X_MBIteOXyWr-TlAtuNihlztlOCB4T-Um53AyxoxiI9YuySdI90qpUaCEdRTecfod8EQA_qyJ5TRCotcDPvOtxpfiI/s1600/TreadingWater_cover_NYT1200.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj17KcdW8ap_jCUjtP_0XfLe7ZAZiRzjEOJw5h49vQ2SquxzWtt5X_MBIteOXyWr-TlAtuNihlztlOCB4T-Um53AyxoxiI9YuySdI90qpUaCEdRTecfod8EQA_qyJ5TRCotcDPvOtxpfiI/s200/TreadingWater_cover_NYT1200.jpg" width="133" /></a></div>
Many of the most important things in my life have occurred on the 18th of the month, which has made 18 my lucky number. Both my kids were born on the 18th, and on this day in May 2005, another of my "kids" was officially born when I wrote the words THE END for the very first time in TREADING WATER. Little did I know then, during this moment of tremendous personal satisfaction and achievement, that Treading Water was an overwritten, 150,000-word, self-indulgent DISASTER. I also didn't know then that Treading Water would mark the start of the most incredible journey, filled with many soaring highs and just as many crushing lows.<br />
<br />
Treading Water took me on a roller coaster ride of edits and revisions and rewrites and critiques and soul searching and questions for the ages: What would I do if I was in Jack's situation? Several of my late mother's friends read it, told me it kept them up all night and demanded I write a follow-on story for one of the characters whose story was left unfinished in Treading Water. I had many deep conversations with friends who'd read the book and found themselves questioning their own belief systems.<br />
<br />
I began to think... If this book had affected the people in my life so profoundly, maybe, just maybe it would strike the hearts of others, too. I worked on that book for YEARS after I wrote THE END. Even as I wrote a bunch of other books, I returned over and over again to Treading Water, applying everything new that I learned to that first book. Traditional publishers, however, had absolutely no interest in my square peg book, which was heartbreaking at the time. I'm skipping a huge chunk of my writing career story as I jump forward to the fall of 2011 when I self-published Treading Water at a lean, mean 92,000 words. Over six years, I cut 58,000 words (!! almost another full book !!) from that first version. Talk about killing your darlings!<br />
<br />
Taking the advice of my mother's friends, I wrote book 2, Marking Time, in three months, and have hardly changed a word since I finished it in early 2006. I learned all the most important lessons about storytelling, pacing, character development, point of view and over-writing from Treading Water. It was then and remains today the ultimate book of my heart. My company is named for Jack, the architect in Treading Water: HTJB, Inc. The House That Jack Built. Everything goes back to Jack and Treading Water.<br />
<br />
Almost eight years after I wrote THE END that first time, I got to see my name on the New York Times bestseller list. And then it happened again, with a different book, three weeks later. I have thousands of readers who wait with anticipation for my next book, which is the absolute dream come true times a million because I never dreamed it would be as amazing as it is to have such incredible readers. I have a career I could've only imagined on that day eight years ago today. As a very special thank you to all the friends and readers I've met along the way on this amazing ride, Treading Water is currently free in e-book format. Thank you, thank you, thank you. I love you all.<br />
xoxo<br />
Marie<br />
<br />
Kindle: <a href="http://amzn.to/10ugEpi">http://amzn.to/10ugEpi </a><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
iBookstore: <a href="http://bit.ly/WA9Cwb">http://bit.ly/WA9Cwb</a> <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
Kobo: <a href="http://bit.ly/11BZKJN">http://bit.ly/11BZKJN</a> <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
<br />
**We are waiting on Nook to make it free at <a href="http://bit.ly/WNAs3R">http://bit.ly/WNAs3R</a>. It's been submitted and is in the queue! So check back frequently.** In the meantime, you can get it for free in ePub format for the Nook at Smashwords: <a href="http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/98722">http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/98722</a>Marie Forcehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00550719567520289405noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4804838449570779883.post-13024624315458265562013-05-16T09:42:00.000-04:002013-05-16T09:45:26.310-04:00Celebrating a Special Anniversary with THREE Freebies!<br />
This week marks EIGHT YEARS since I wrote THE END for the first time, and I have a very special offering of all three of the first books in each of my series FREE for a limited time! See below for details about how you can pass this info along to your friends and be entered into a drawing in which you AND your friend(s) can win a $250 gift card to the book retailer of your choice!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFxLXeQtLS7UITdrVbMBDnbgMw4UbmAmAfbyUeYDtDg1i5pTn-Fdj6iMBvMR0KEDaenTOEioHppgd-dcL1DwsESVe9wZhO-JyuIt6AzVFq-kxAmm9E6DRl5F9Fz_wvtVg1mcedQaxJa1I/s1600/TreadingWater_SM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFxLXeQtLS7UITdrVbMBDnbgMw4UbmAmAfbyUeYDtDg1i5pTn-Fdj6iMBvMR0KEDaenTOEioHppgd-dcL1DwsESVe9wZhO-JyuIt6AzVFq-kxAmm9E6DRl5F9Fz_wvtVg1mcedQaxJa1I/s200/TreadingWater_SM.jpg" width="133" /></a></div>
<b>The book that started my writing career, TREADING WATER, book 1 in the four-book Treading Water Series, is free for the first time ever!</b><br />
Kindle: <a href="http://amzn.to/10ugEpi">http://amzn.to/10ugEpi </a><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
iBookstore: <a href="http://bit.ly/WA9Cwb">http://bit.ly/WA9Cwb </a><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
Kobo: <a href="http://bit.ly/11BZKJN">http://bit.ly/11BZKJN </a><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
Not yet free at Nook, but coming soon, so check back often: <a href="http://bit.ly/WNAs3R">http://bit.ly/WNAs3R</a><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfIct_oJvQP3IfWc_U0nI4IcHwazs95z02-WrVzUCMs0L3KhBAHbFHkHikbaEz_pknI2_IWyjU9qsqswJrG15EQuNQA9OLZwRHQqqwe-p_8kaI32Q7EI3WuZMCJl4yeRqu4NScBatxnFQ/s1600/FATAL_AFFAIR_final_SM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfIct_oJvQP3IfWc_U0nI4IcHwazs95z02-WrVzUCMs0L3KhBAHbFHkHikbaEz_pknI2_IWyjU9qsqswJrG15EQuNQA9OLZwRHQqqwe-p_8kaI32Q7EI3WuZMCJl4yeRqu4NScBatxnFQ/s200/FATAL_AFFAIR_final_SM.jpg" width="128" /></a></div>
<b>Also free, FATAL AFFAIR, book 1 in the soon to be six-book (plus a novella) Fatal Series:</b><br />
Kindle: <a href="http://amzn.to/15tB9do">http://amzn.to/15tB9do</a><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
iBookstore: <a href="http://bit.ly/10wel9G">http://bit.ly/10wel9G</a><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
Kobo: <a href="http://bit.ly/10J2QpK">http://bit.ly/10J2QpK</a><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
Nook: <a href="http://bit.ly/18wRSvh">http://bit.ly/18wRSvh</a><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKVkS_0hcthAfYBUyPTQwYrj9DEPucyIYffDoV6Ef6UjghvCojXKrhYc41B6E9Trx0Zsky-JI_TEgjqEfHgTXtvNupPmIIIDH4ANcBLCiXqoR24CexDuIuCe12J_IdSY3vYV9EOUpkWQc/s1600/MaidforLove_sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKVkS_0hcthAfYBUyPTQwYrj9DEPucyIYffDoV6Ef6UjghvCojXKrhYc41B6E9Trx0Zsky-JI_TEgjqEfHgTXtvNupPmIIIDH4ANcBLCiXqoR24CexDuIuCe12J_IdSY3vYV9EOUpkWQc/s200/MaidforLove_sm.jpg" width="141" /></a></div>
<b>And MAID FOR LOVE, book 1 in the soon-to-be nine-book McCarthys of Gansett Island Series!</b><br />
Kindle: <a href="http://amzn.to/146hHyP">http://amzn.to/146hHyP</a><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
iBookstore: <a href="http://bit.ly/1267O6N">http://bit.ly/1267O6N</a><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
Kobo: <a href="http://bit.ly/XSNijt">http://bit.ly/XSNijt</a><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
Nook: <a href="http://bit.ly/ZJtdCC">http://bit.ly/ZJtdCC</a><br />
<br />
Interested in winning the gift card? Make sure you're on my mailing list at <a href="http://marieforce.com/">http://marieforce.com/</a>. Details coming soon to those who are on the list!Marie Forcehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00550719567520289405noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4804838449570779883.post-2889626449884619962013-03-26T09:20:00.002-04:002013-03-26T09:20:36.142-04:00Proof that FREE Really Works...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoX02zmKRLdyfLLj5vYBrILBTxZDs76m6WHXZ_eFcb38OcmrPf_PeXk04Fa-kyCghc2JHHX5DzjQ7Kp-HkZ_YYFvhrqRiaYBuXGzaFbxLhN_G6xuJcBjN0FH-hq6o-iowMS4FQwxxVVNw/s1600/MaidforLoveNYT200x300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoX02zmKRLdyfLLj5vYBrILBTxZDs76m6WHXZ_eFcb38OcmrPf_PeXk04Fa-kyCghc2JHHX5DzjQ7Kp-HkZ_YYFvhrqRiaYBuXGzaFbxLhN_G6xuJcBjN0FH-hq6o-iowMS4FQwxxVVNw/s200/MaidforLoveNYT200x300.jpg" width="133" /></a></div>
I've been wanting to speak out a little more often on what works—and what doesn't—in selling books in an attempt to aid those who are navigating the maze of publishing these days, whether you've chosen self-publishing or traditional publishing. I've got a foot in both camps, but I don't mind saying publicly that my self-published books make way more money than my traditionally published books do. It comes down to the law of averages: if you are earning less than $1 per book, you have to sell a LOT more books before you hit thresholds anywhere near what you reach when you are making $3.87 per book. <div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<a href="http://e-bookformattingfairies.blogspot.com/2012/09/results-of-free-offering.html">I've blogged before about the runaway success of my free offering of Maid for Love last year</a>. Beginning June 15, Maid for Love, book 1 in my McCarthys of Gansett Island Series, was free at all major retailers. I set it to free at Apple and Kobo (very easy to do at both retailers) and then notified Amazon of the price change. They matched it. To my knowledge, there is only one way to make a book free at B&N: I distributed a free copy to B&N via Smashwords, and eventually that copy appeared on the retail site. At that point, I took the paid book "Off Sale" on my dashboard, so only the free Nook version showed up on the retail site. Over the next few months, we saw more than 600,000 downloads of Maid for Love across all platforms. Sales of books 2-6 exploded. Book 7, Longing for Love, was released in October of 2012 and had the strongest week one showing of any book of mine to date. Because it was initially offered as a Kindle exclusive, it didn't make any of the bestseller lists, but it posted numbers that were definitely in the bestseller range. Book 8, Waiting for Love, was released Feb. 18 on all platforms and hit no. 6 on the New York Times ebook list, no. 11 on the NYT combined print/ebook list, no. 15 on the USA Today list and no. 6 on the Wall Street Journal ebook list. I believe the bestseller list showings tie directly to the free offering of Maid for Love. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnbw5ewN8bkWuWktl7oxFdF4iRoxTcFgrD1tpe7zVDyeGQDc6qBpNAEjg1xm3MMO-Hk8Ph6XTtQxKq8OHpFzsLsaA5ObIZKnZfWSS5zLrmnZlL1316poIJZO-UKr4ZZwvFWjQ-Lo4l-O4/s1600/FATAL_AFFAIR_final_SM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnbw5ewN8bkWuWktl7oxFdF4iRoxTcFgrD1tpe7zVDyeGQDc6qBpNAEjg1xm3MMO-Hk8Ph6XTtQxKq8OHpFzsLsaA5ObIZKnZfWSS5zLrmnZlL1316poIJZO-UKr4ZZwvFWjQ-Lo4l-O4/s200/FATAL_AFFAIR_final_SM.jpg" width="128" /></a></div>
<div>
Because the Maid for Love offering was so successful, I asked Harlequin to offer Fatal Affair for free around the release of book 5, Fatal Deception, last November. It took a bit of begging and some pleading, but they decided to put Fatal Affair up for free for the month of November. It did so well that I begged for a second month and December was added as well. I haven't heard exact numbers but the downloads were in the 300,000 range and sales of the other four books were in the 180,000 neighborhood. Book 5, Fatal Deception, became the first of my books to hit a major bestseller list, coming in at no. 99 on the USA Today list. Did the free offering spur that placement? What do you think? I say definitely!</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I've done some messing around with the price of Maid for Love in recent weeks. I set it back to $3.99 for a while and it did okay, with maybe 100 sales per day across platforms, but I noticed an overall slowdown of sales for books 2-8. So I dropped the price to 99 cents. Again, it did okay, but not great. So I've set it back to free on Apple and Kobo, distributed a free version from Smashwords to B&N and notified Amazon of the lower prices. Maybe they will match, maybe they won't. For now, it's 99 cents at Amazon. On March 24, there were 150 Apple downloads of the free version in the U.S. iBookstore. I figure if even HALF of that 150 buy the other seven books in the series, that's 525 books sold at a profit of $3.87. That translates to $2031.75 in profit as the result of ONE DAY of free sales at ONE retailer—and that's if only HALF the free readers like the book enough to buy the rest of the series. If they all do, that's a profit of $4062 for one day of free downloads at one retailer. That more than offsets the "loss" of offering book 1 for free. If they love the McCarthy Series, I have 17 (soon to be 18) other books available, and if they buy all of them over time as well as any future books I may publish, then that's a huge win, all thanks to one free book that acted as a gateway between me a reader who is now a fan for life.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
In this digital age of publishing, "discoverability" remains our greatest challenge. How do we get readers to find our books? Most of us are readers in addition to being writers. Most of us have taken a chance on a new-to-us author because they offered a free book. Most of us might not have paid even 99 cents to try a book by an unknown author. But what is lost when you try something for free? Nothing. What can be gained by offering a book for free? See above! </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Questions? Feel free to ask away. I hope to post more often about my self-publishing journey, so let me know if there are topics you'd like to hear more about.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
Marie Forcehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00550719567520289405noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4804838449570779883.post-78003441298260376112013-02-20T11:52:00.001-05:002013-02-20T11:52:45.823-05:00Waiting for Love Contest Ends Sunday, Feb. 24! <br />
<div class="p1">
Are you ready for a reader contest like no other with the most FABULOUS prizes? Coinciding with the release of Waiting for Love on Monday, Feb. 18, the contest will run from <b>Monday, Feb. 18 through Sunday Feb. 24 at 6 pm EST</b>and will require in-depth knowledge of Waiting for Love. Those who achieve a perfect score on the quiz, are members of the <span class="s1"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/McCarthySeries/">McCarthys Series Readers Group</a> </span>on Facebook and are <a href="http://marieforce.com/subscribe"><span class="s1">subscribers to the mailing list</span></a> will be eligible for one of the amazing prizes listed below. </div>
<div class="p1">
<br /></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s2">Remember you'll need to read the entire book to be able to answer the quiz! </span><b>No discussion of quiz questions or answers will be permitted on the Facebook readers groups or other public sites online. Those who do so may be disqualified from the contest.</b></div>
<div class="p3">
<br /></div>
<div class="p3">
<b>Get Waiting for Love at:</b></div>
<div class="p4">
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Waiting-McCarthys-Gansett-Island-ebook/dp/B00B00BASU">Kindle</a> | <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00B00BASU">Kindle UK</a><span class="s2"> | <a href="http://www.amazon.ca/Waiting-McCarthys-Gansett-Island-ebook/dp/B00B00BASU/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1357942750&sr=8-7"><span class="s3">Kindle Canada</span></a> | <a href="http://click.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/click?id=7nLGajJgH7I&subid=&offerid=146261.1&type=10&tmpid=3909&RD_PARM1=https%3A%2F%2Fitunes.apple.com%2Fus%2Fbook%2Fwaiting-for-love-mccarthys%2Fid592938893%3Fmt%3D11"><span class="s3">iBookstore</span></a> | <a href="http://click.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/click?id=7nLGajJgH7I&subid=&offerid=258185.1&type=10&tmpid=9310&RD_PARM1=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.kobobooks.com%2Febook%2FWaiting-for-Love%2Fbook-XvsSljb5_U6c0Q1rUACKvg%2Fpage1.html"><span class="s3">Kobo</span></a> | <a href="http://click.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/click?id=7nLGajJgH7I&subid=&offerid=261457.1&type=10&tmpid=8432&RD_PARM1=http%253A%252F%252Fwww.barnesandnoble.com%252Fw%252Fbooks%252F1046029380%253Fean%253D2940016398143%2526itm%253D1%2526usri%253D2940016398143"><span class="s3">Nook</span></a> | <a href="https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/287081"><span class="s3">Smashwords</span></a></span></div>
<div class="p5">
<br /></div>
<div class="p5">
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Waiting-Love-8-Marie-Force/dp/1482500051/ref=sr_1_6?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1360768156&sr=1-6&keywords=waiting+for+love+marie+force">Get Waiting for Love in Print!</a></div>
<div class="p5">
<span class="s2"><br /></span></div>
<div class="p5">
<span class="s2">Join the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/WaitingforLove8/"><span class="s1">Waiting for Love Readers Group</span></a> on Facebook!</span></div>
<div class="p1">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
<b>GRAND PRIZE is a visit to Block Island, RI that includes: </b></div>
<div class="p1">
</div>
<ul><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7ngPbAoUn8Y4tixDPDlozQ5XPAt5wgTK186tIcDzJvXEUlAFG3UoswhQb-DlcCrxJmC9FmAfE2i9RQcm_upv54CEOdeNhCr7pJisFcDbPChFpEoF9AOvctQggzWHSAAWxF-jfBocIXx4/s1600/blockisland2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7ngPbAoUn8Y4tixDPDlozQ5XPAt5wgTK186tIcDzJvXEUlAFG3UoswhQb-DlcCrxJmC9FmAfE2i9RQcm_upv54CEOdeNhCr7pJisFcDbPChFpEoF9AOvctQggzWHSAAWxF-jfBocIXx4/s1600/blockisland2.jpg" /></a>
<li>$750 toward airfare (Continental U.S. only. If you are overseas, you will have to get yourself to the U.S.)</li>
<li>Transport from T.F. Green Airport in Providence to the Point Judith ferry landing in Narragansett, RI.</li>
<li>Round trip ferry tickets to Block Island.</li>
<li>Two nights lodging for two at a hotel on Block Island. (The winner can tack on extra nights at their own expense.)</li>
<li>Two $100 gift certificates to Marie's favorite restaurants on Block Island</li>
<li>LUNCH with the author at the famous Oar Bar and an island tour with Marie (subject to author availability when you choose to come).</li>
<li>Signed print copies of all eight books in the McCarthy of Gansett Island Series, the Gansett Island beach bag and towel and the McCarthys of Gansett Island bumper sticker.</li>
</ul>
<br />
<div class="p1">
<b>SECOND PRIZE:</b><br />
Winner's choice of an iPad Mini or Kindle Fire, $250 gift card to the accompanying retailer and signed print copies of all eight books in the McCarthys of Gansett Island Series, the Gansett Island beach bag and towel and the McCarthys of Gansett Island bumper sticker.</div>
<div class="p1">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="p1">
<b>THIRD PRIZE:</b><br />
$100 gift card to the ebook retailer of the winner's choice and signed print copies of all eight books in the McCarthys of Gansett Island Series, the Gansett Island beach bag and towel and the McCarthys of Gansett Island bumper sticker.</div>
<div class="p1">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="p1">
<b>Two Runner Up Prizes:</b><br />
Signed print copies of all eight books in the McCarthys of Gansett Island Series, the Gansett Island beach bag and towel and the McCarthys of Gansett Island bumper sticker.</div>
<div class="p1">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
<b>Prizes must be redeemed by December 31, 2014.</b></div>
<div class="p6">
<br /></div>
<div class="p6">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>By participating in this contest, all entrants agree (a) to abide by these and any additional specific official rules and the decisions of the HTJB, Inc./Marie Force Author, its employees, subsidiaries and agents and any affiliated companies, sponsors or other entities furnishing prizes or otherwise connected with the conduct of this contest ("Contest Entities"), which will be binding and final in all respects; (b) to the use of information by the Contest Entities for marketing and advertising purposes as allowed by applicable privacy policies and law; (c) to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless the Contest Entities and their officers, directors, employees and agents from any and all liability, claims, lawsuits, costs, expenses, fees, injuries (including death), losses, and damages resulting or alleged to result from participation in the contest, acceptance or use of any prize, and/or from entrant's fraudulent or otherwise wrongful acts or omissions; (d) not to sue the Contest Entities for any damages alleged to arise from winner's acceptance of or use of the prize(s); and (e) to the use of the entrant's, name, voice, biography, and likeness by Contest Entities without further notice or compensation for promotion, advertising, filing, and dissemination purposes, except where otherwise prohibited by law. Contest Entities make no warranty, guaranty or representation of any kind concerning any prize and disclaim any implied warranty. Contest Entities are not responsible if the prize cannot be awarded due to delays or interruptions due to acts of God, acts of war, natural disasters, weather or acts of terrorism.</i></span></div>
Marie Forcehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00550719567520289405noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4804838449570779883.post-14205654906638794632013-01-02T09:23:00.003-05:002013-01-02T09:23:48.972-05:00Welcoming My New Assistant, Julie Cupp!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLMykBY0IAK4SZP4m4FrQQuZMKVl_3Uw3dwK0VKvCCJp4X0tZ4UkxzdJnioiJlQ85g7jDvBElD1vjhSgbRCL8BG8qOzG8GzcDVJU0CgE-TCnF8DepjXRUaFhtahbAJsatS_2Aj87taF50/s1600/Roses.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLMykBY0IAK4SZP4m4FrQQuZMKVl_3Uw3dwK0VKvCCJp4X0tZ4UkxzdJnioiJlQ85g7jDvBElD1vjhSgbRCL8BG8qOzG8GzcDVJU0CgE-TCnF8DepjXRUaFhtahbAJsatS_2Aj87taF50/s1600/Roses.jpg" /></a></div>
<b>From Marie: </b>I asked Julie to say a few words, and then I'll be back!<br />
<br />
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:DocumentProperties>
<o:Revision>0</o:Revision>
<o:TotalTime>0</o:TotalTime>
<o:Pages>1</o:Pages>
<o:Words>307</o:Words>
<o:Characters>1756</o:Characters>
<o:Company>HTJB, Inc.</o:Company>
<o:Lines>14</o:Lines>
<o:Paragraphs>4</o:Paragraphs>
<o:CharactersWithSpaces>2059</o:CharactersWithSpaces>
<o:Version>14.0</o:Version>
</o:DocumentProperties>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>JA</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="276">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>A Yellow Rose Moment </b><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Who is Julie Cupp and how’d she get a gig as Marie’s
assistant? Let me tell you it’s been a
long interview. Marie has seen me at my
best and my worst in the 10 years we’ve known each other. When I met Marie in 2002, we were working for
the same organization. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
She told me she had started a book but was apprehensive to
send it to me. I’m not expert in writing, grammar, or plot and character
development, but I knew she could write.
I’d seen her do it so many other times on topics not of her
choosing. Giving her the chance to write
what she was most inspired by really brought out the best in her.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Marie would email a few new chapters every few days. I’d read at night, staying up as late as
necessary to get my chapters done. I
expect I’m not the only one around here who’s done that with one of her
books. But this was different. She’d
never written a book before. Never developed characters and a plot full
emotion, love, family, friendship, and romance.
And it was all balanced so perfectly!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As the end of the book was looming, Marie was giddy with
excitement, but I knew there was some apprehension as well. She didn’t want to let these characters
go. She also wasn’t sure how to
celebrate. I told her to get a bottle of
champagne and share the moment with her family.
I sent a dozen yellow roses to be delivered on the day she wrote the
last line of the book. A simple gesture that has bonded us ever since. That book was <i>Treading Water.</i> She may write 1,000 books but I’m not sure
any of them will mean as much to me as <i>Treading Water</i>. Maybe I’m not supposed to have a favorite,
but I do. (And if you'll recall, in <i>Treading Water</i>, Jack always brought Clare's favorite yellow roses to her when he visited her while she was in the long coma.)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So now Marie and I use the term, “a yellow rose moment,” to
signify an accomplishment like the day signed her first book deal or when she
knew Gansett Island was something she wanted to share with readers. And fast forward to last month when she made
the USA Today Bestseller List for the first time. Yellow roses are how we’ve celebrated her
successes. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And now Marie and I are working together again, and I got <i>my</i> yellow rose moment. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnuZP0ZvsXi6aODHa0S1JaPPNnFRexwSZxelJOMwmkM9283yLM8je_xMMvyqMum8y2RtL0rUeWvBCcYDNuvXftzbqE7rdp5bXLs-X4Fakt5Eu1jIwktZ9J-n16VoD9P1rh1el5xLqKvUs/s1600/100_0141-1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnuZP0ZvsXi6aODHa0S1JaPPNnFRexwSZxelJOMwmkM9283yLM8je_xMMvyqMum8y2RtL0rUeWvBCcYDNuvXftzbqE7rdp5bXLs-X4Fakt5Eu1jIwktZ9J-n16VoD9P1rh1el5xLqKvUs/s1600/100_0141-1.JPG" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>From Marie:</b> I couldn't be more delighted to have my long-time friend Julie joining my team at HTJB, Inc. I wish I had a dime for every time we've talked about this day <i>way off in the future </i>when she would come to work with me and whip me and my business into shape with all her many skills. Julie is the perfect person for the job. Not only has she been with me since day one of this crazy journey—and shared all the highs and lows with me—but she has the ideal set of skills, too. In addition to her insane Excel skills (always an asset in today's work environment), she is also a professional meeting planner, so I expect that she will share her event planning skills with all of us to put together fabulous book signings and that long-awaited reader weekend in Rhode Island, maybe in 2014. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Because it's too funny, I also need to add that AFTER Julie wrote this blog post, but BEFORE I read it, I sent her a dozen yellow roses to celebrate her last day at her former job. She said she returned from lunch with her boss, saw the roses on her desk, knew who they were from and why they'd been sent before she read the card, and burst into tears. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Today is a dream come true for both of us, and Julie and I thank all my wonderful readers whose support of me and my books has made it possible for me to bring Julie onto my team. I love this picture of Julie having "breakfast" in a British pub during her trip to London. She said it's not very professional for her grand debut. I said, we like to have fun around here!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Welcome, dear friend. Can't wait to work with you again!</div>
<!--EndFragment-->Marie Forcehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00550719567520289405noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4804838449570779883.post-82033858296426528832012-11-12T12:07:00.001-05:002012-11-12T12:12:37.725-05:00The Book That Almost Wasn't: Fatal Deception's Bumpy Road to Publication<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjICsqTn_ag6UuRsdJygdbc5XhwcnNFaYcmGJ30oeTWFOh8558sma2bV_nCkbQA7T_IXUcvvb13RUJEqgIF6OJGBLAH6P7hHsyaEq6TyzaC1ow8VoaQBjp7lc4dmz_TPn24AFW_vu-asCY/s1600/FATALDeception200x300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjICsqTn_ag6UuRsdJygdbc5XhwcnNFaYcmGJ30oeTWFOh8558sma2bV_nCkbQA7T_IXUcvvb13RUJEqgIF6OJGBLAH6P7hHsyaEq6TyzaC1ow8VoaQBjp7lc4dmz_TPn24AFW_vu-asCY/s200/FATALDeception200x300.jpg" width="128" /></a></div>
Fatal Deception, book 5, in the Fatal Series hit the e-book shelves today after a long and winding road to publication. In the midst of my 23rd book, something happened that had never happened to me before. I dropped my laptop and FRIED my hard drive, taking TEN chapters of Fatal Deception with it. If you'd asked me when the last time I'd backed up was, I would've said a week, maybe two. It was more like a month. Painful lesson learned. I was also working on one of my Gansett Island books when the fry-o-lation occurred. I very easily recreated the chunk I was missing in that book. Not so easily done in Fatal Deception.<br />
<br />
I always say the Fatal Series books are my most complicated. Because they are so bendy and twisty, there was NO WAY I could easily recreate 10 chapters. My brain was resistant to even THINKING about it. Thus, I had to bring in the experts. To make a very long and UGLY story short, it took TEN WEEKS and THREE THOUSAND dollars to recover my ten chapters. Yep, you read that right. Disk Doctor in California got back the missing chapters, but it wasn't cheap. Since my choice was either to abandon the book or pay the money, I paid. During the ten weeks in the abyss, I kept plugging forward with Fatal Deception from where I'd left off, not knowing if the missing chapters would ever be recovered. When I got back the missing chapters, I pasted the whole thing back together and finished it up--in time for the deadline. Minor miracle! I don't recommend writing a book under these conditions. I now have extremely sophisticated backup systems that I rely upon to keep this from ever happening again.<br />
<br />
Fatal Deception, the book that almost wasn't, is out TODAY! Here's what you can expect in this latest installment—my favorite yet in this series. Jealous Nick, Kinky Nick, Sam more obnoxious than ever! Fun, fun, FUN!<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="p1" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The wife of the White House deputy chief of staff has been beaten to death, and their one-year-old daughter is missing. D.C. Police Lieutenant Sam Holland is in charge of the murder investigation, but she's forced to collaborate with Special Victims Unit detectives as well as thorn-in-her-side FBI Special Agent Avery Hill. Then, a cold case of her father's resurrects old hurts—a distraction Sam cannot afford.</span></div>
<div class="p1" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">As Sam's investigation heats up, so does Nick's political career—and the heat carries over to their bedroom. Will Sam put the pieces together in time to catch a killer and find the baby, or will ambition, greed and lies prove fatal?</span></div>
<div class="p1" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px;">
Get it now at <a href="http://amzn.to/ZoD7ox">Kindle</a> • <a href="http://bit.ly/TCo47p">Nook</a> • <a href="http://bit.ly/RdVTcB">iBooks</a> • <a href="http://bit.ly/TVAFow">Kobo</a> • <a href="http://ebooks.carinapress.com/48308000-2DA8-4F44-AF85-4FF40B0000C3/10/134/en/ContentDetails.htm?ID=%7B7E4958A6-AD18-4B4C-9EEB-CFEF56AAB053%7D">Carina Press</a></div>
<div class="p1" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px;">
<a href="http://marieforce.com/component/content/article/15-book-excerpts/89-fatal-deception-excerpt">Read an excerpt.</a></div>
<div class="p1" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px;">
Join the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/FatalDeception/">Fatal Deception Readers Group</a> on Facebook when you're done with the book to dish about the story with other fans of the series.</div>
<div class="p1" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px;">
And don't forget: Book 1, Fatal Affair, is FREE this month everywhere ebooks are sold! </div>
<div class="p1" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px;">
Hope you enjoy the latest installment in Sam & Nick's ongoing love affair!</div>
Marie Forcehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00550719567520289405noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4804838449570779883.post-21679854382069727452012-10-28T11:07:00.001-04:002012-10-28T11:07:43.831-04:00True ConfessionMy name is Marie Force and I am guilty of ignoring my blog. There. I said it out loud. I can't believe it's been almost three months since I posted here! You'd think I had nothing to say, which couldn't be further from the truth. If you've gotten to know me at all, you know I've always got plenty to say! So what's new?<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitUQ91BBVGC4kUf10q4PwjKwY5I3oeKjdUD67xNDNXIfToq_kfm-lRjjUsqOL_MDAWRTR-FGg_EYP2GX-Pm47O7VrjjR3_I1QAgIWIMW6475pul9Zd77BjWfKrY5otVdqIjG71yTVCCzU/s1600/FATAL_Deception_final.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitUQ91BBVGC4kUf10q4PwjKwY5I3oeKjdUD67xNDNXIfToq_kfm-lRjjUsqOL_MDAWRTR-FGg_EYP2GX-Pm47O7VrjjR3_I1QAgIWIMW6475pul9Zd77BjWfKrY5otVdqIjG71yTVCCzU/s200/FATAL_Deception_final.jpg" width="128" /></a></div>
<b>FATAL DECEPTION</b>, book 5 in my FATAL SERIES, will be out on <b>November 12</b>. I'm really excited about this book, which in my humble opinion, is the best one yet. Sam and Nick are back with more married adventures. You'll see more of series favorites Freddie, Gonzo, Jeannie, Skip, Graham, Laine and of course, SCOTTY! I've also come up with what I think is a fun way to get our superstar wedding planner, Shelby Faircloth, back onto the canvas in a more enduring role. She was so damned fun to write and her dynamic with Sam made me laugh out loud more than once, so how could I not find a way to get her back into the series? If you haven't already pre-ordered your copy, you can do so now at:<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://amzn.to/PdPq5k">Kindle</a><br />
<a href="http://bit.ly/TbVoFh">Nook</a><br />
<a href="http://bit.ly/RdVTcB">Apple</a><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">More retailers coming soon! Here's a bit about what you can expect in FATAL DECEPTION: </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">The wife of the White House deputy chief of staff has been beaten to death, and their one-year-old daughter is missing. D.C. Police Lieutenant Sam Holland is in charge of the murder investigation, but she's forced to collaborate with Special Victims Unit detectives as well as thorn-in-her-side FBI Special Agent Avery Hill. Then, a cold case of her father's resurrects old hurts—a distraction Sam cannot afford. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">As Sam's investigation heats up, so does Nick's political career—and the heat carries over to their bedroom. Will Sam put the pieces in time to catch a killer and find the baby, or will ambition, greed and lies prove fatal?</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; line-height: 25px;"><div class="p1" style="margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">
<a href="http://marieforce.com/component/content/article/15-book-excerpts/89-fatal-deception-excerpt">Read an excerpt here</a>.</div>
<div class="p1" style="margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">
I get a lot of questions about the Fatal Series, so let me answer a few of them here.</div>
<div class="p1" style="margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">
<b>How many books do you plan to write in the Fatal Series?</b></div>
<div class="p1" style="margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">
I don't know yet. I figure as long as I'm having fun with Sam and Nick and readers are enjoying their adventures, I'll keep writing the series. </div>
<div class="p1" style="margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">
<b>What will the next book be called and when will it be out?</b></div>
<div class="p1" style="margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">
Book Six will be called Fatal Mistake, and I believe it's scheduled to be out in June 2013. </div>
<div class="p1" style="margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">
<b>Will the Fatal Series be coming to print?</b></div>
<div class="p1" style="margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">
YES! I'm pleased to report that books 1 and 2, FATAL AFFAIR and FATAL JUSTICE, will be out in 2013 in what's called mass market paperback format (meaning they will be in bookstores and retail outlets close to your homes) from HQN, which is a Harlequin imprint. I'm hoping the rest of the books will follow soon after. In the meantime, the series has been coming to print via eHarlequin.com. <a href="http://www.harlequin.com/storeitem.html?iid=26292">Fatal Consequences</a> is currently available there in print.</div>
<div class="p1" style="margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">
<b>Will Sam ever have a baby?</b></div>
<div class="p1" style="margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">
I'm not sure yet how that will play out. I do know that bringing a newborn in their lives would vastly change the landscape of the series, and not necessarily for the better. So if and when Sam has a baby, I do expect it to be much later in the series. </div>
<div class="p1" style="margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">
<b>Will we ever find out who shot Skip?</b></div>
<div class="p1" style="margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">
I believe we will, but I'm not sure when yet!</div>
<div class="p1" style="margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">
If you have other questions about the Fatal Series, please feel free to post them in the comments. I'm happy to provide the answers—if I have them!</div>
<div class="p1" style="margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">
<b>In other news...</b></div>
<div class="p1" style="margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">
Right now I'm working on two books at the same time. COMING HOME, book 4 in the Treading Water Series, will hopefully be out by Christmas, and WAITING FOR LOVE, book 8 in the McCarthys of Gansett Island Series, will be out early next year. Right after that, I'll be diving into FATAL MISTAKE as well as book 1 in my new Green Mountain Country Store Series that's coming in late 2013. If you're interested in audio books, watch for the McCarthy Series coming to audio in 2013!</div>
<div class="p1" style="margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">
So that's what is keeping me busy at the moment! Hope you're doing well and getting lots of reading time! </div>
<div class="p1" style="margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
</span>Marie Forcehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00550719567520289405noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4804838449570779883.post-10811177738959419222012-08-06T10:58:00.001-04:002012-08-06T10:58:46.738-04:00News!<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 17.999998092651367px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">Since my agent has made it official today on Publisher's Marketplace, I guess I can too! </span><br />
<br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 17.999998092651367px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" /><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 17.999998092651367px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">Best-selling author of The McCarthys of Gansett Island series, Marie Force's first two books in a new small-town contemporary series THE GREEN MOUNTAIN COUNTRY STORE, set in a rural mountain town, to Kate Seaver at Berkley, in a very nice deal, by Kevan Lyon at Marsal Lyon Literary Agency (world).</span><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 17.999998092651367px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" /><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 17.999998092651367px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" /><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 17.999998092651367px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">Hoping to take the magic of the island and move it to the mountains with the Abbot family, purveyors of the odd and hard to find relics of a time long gone by in small-town Vermont. Hope you'll come with me to the Green Mountains! The first book is due out in early 2014.</span>Marie Forcehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00550719567520289405noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4804838449570779883.post-47702409517616735082012-06-19T10:59:00.002-04:002012-06-19T11:11:47.225-04:00My Painful BreakupThis summer, I've decided to end a relationship that has meant the world to me for most of my life. Through summers on the beach and my parents' boat, to vacations in Florida and the Caribbean, I've carried on a life-long love affair with the sun. And now, it's over... Sob...<br />
<br />
I'm in my mid-forties and am suffering from what my friend Chris calls LIS Disease: Lousy Irish Skin Disease. In short, my skin in a disaster area, and I really have only myself (and Mr. Sun) to blame. For years during my misspent youth, I was under the impression that the fifty percent of me that is Portuguese would eventually trump the 50 percent of me that is Irish. No such luck. My brother, who got the Portuguese skin, tans like a God. We'd go on family vacations when we were in high school, and he would return to school brown as a berry while I was red, scabby and peeling. People would ask if we went to the same place. Hardy har har! Not much has changed since then except for the sudden onset of wrinkles and ripples and other stuff that just doesn't belong on anyone's skin. I've already had several "suspicious" moles removed. After one such removal, the dermatologist said, "Congratulations. Now you'll live to see your grandchildren." Great...<br />
<br />
Remember the baby oil and iodine years before we all knew that the sun could be bad bad bad for us? Remember the scorching sunburns of childhood before everyone had SPF 250 in their beach bags? Yep, that was me. Burnt to a crisp for most of my life. My parents used to talk about the time my mother took me to the beach as a baby, had me in a playpen under an umbrella and I STILL got burnt. My father was apparently beside himself over this incident, to which my mom said, "SHE WAS NEVER IN THE SUN!" They decided the sun reflecting off the sand had gotten to me. It was an ominous start to my relationship with Mr. Sun... I once had a blistering sunburn on my arm as a kid. Every dermatologist I've ever been to as an adult points to that spot on my arm and asks, "What happened here?" During my five years of working on the docks at a marina, I wore a Panama Jack-style hat that was tied to my belt loop with a shoelace. I'm convinced that hat is the only reason I don't look 90 years old now.<br />
<br />
In the ultimate irony of life, my late mother (who also got the Portuguese skin) hated to lay in the sun but tanned effortlessly nonetheless. Traversing from the house to her car, from the car to the boat, from the car to the grocery store, she'd get in five minutes the tan I spent a summer cultivating. Over time, I managed to convince (or perhaps SHOCK) my skin into believing that it <i>could</i> in fact tan. But this past winter, I couldn't deny any longer that the damage I've done over the years is getting worse, and if I don't break up with Mr. Sun NOW, I'm going to look 80 when I'm 50. One of my dad's best friends, a gorgeous red head who has studiously avoided the sun her entire life, looks better at 85 than I do at 46. She says that's ridiculous. I say it's TRUE.<br />
<br />
As a mother, I've been MILITANT with my kids about sunscreen. Last year, my son and husband attended the Indy 500 and Jake got a wicked sunburn on his neck--the one spot they missed with the sunscreen. It was an ugly, blistery mess by the time they left Indiana to come home. Knowing this is one of my pet issues, my son called me from the airport to give me advance warning about the ugly burn and to tell me, "It wasn't Dad's fault." (Haha, of course it was his fault! LOL) The warning didn't stop me from SHRIEKING when I saw just how badly he was burnt. Whenever one of my kids gets even the slightest sunburn, they apologize to me because they know how crazy I am about them avoiding the same mistakes I made with my skin. Sadly, their skin is fairer than mine, if that's possible. Poor kids. When attending sailing camp in the summer, Jake's EYES get sunburned even with SPF-protecting sunglasses on all day. Their dad, however, tans like a brown berry. When Emily was younger and drew pictures of our family, Dan was always drawn with a brown crayon to reflect his perpetual year-round tan. I'm after him ALWAYS about using sunscreen so he doesn't look like shoe leather by the time he's 60. He's starting to get a clue, but it might be too late to save him from a leathery fate.<br />
<br />
So my dear friend, Mr. Sun, we had a good run, you and I. I had lots of fabulous days on the water basking in your glow. I spent lots of days hiding my now-wrinkled toes from your wrath by burying them in warm sand. But the sunscreen people have yet to make the SPF that will protect my disastrous skin from your mean side. Now, just because you and I are through doesn't mean I'm forsaking the beach or the boat. No way! Before my first trip to the beach (and day now), I'll be purchasing a large umbrella and a sledgehammer that will live forever in my beach bag to make sure I can get that sucker deep enough that I won't be chasing it down the beach at the first strong gust.<br />
<br />
I'll miss you, dear friend.<br />
<br />
Have any of you broken up with Mr. Sun?Marie Forcehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00550719567520289405noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4804838449570779883.post-84845653185287667142012-06-12T16:22:00.003-04:002012-06-12T16:22:36.625-04:00Why I'm a Selfish Author :-)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjchbFkp8xVyfRH2yNNHnJetJ_x6yYavzfRzWhEDlKPIB_KamOPbgag2bPL-VsRWtxcwLjXl_cyncdjEd7eUp-RPHf9KYyDNCejrlepyykkjP-KHciKifQr-pubdC-eSAIWb3TV2GiUUHE/s1600/SeasonforLove_sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjchbFkp8xVyfRH2yNNHnJetJ_x6yYavzfRzWhEDlKPIB_KamOPbgag2bPL-VsRWtxcwLjXl_cyncdjEd7eUp-RPHf9KYyDNCejrlepyykkjP-KHciKifQr-pubdC-eSAIWb3TV2GiUUHE/s1600/SeasonforLove_sm.jpg" /></a></div>
So it's occurred to me recently that I'm a rather selfish author. Now, now, it's TRUE. I write my books the way I want to and don't spend much time obsessing or worrying if there's something about them people don't like, or if a reader doesn't like the entire book. That's okay. That's their prerogative. I've decided it's far, far, FAR more important that I please myself than it is that I please anyone else. See how selfish I am? :-)<br />
<br />
Let me give you an example. When it comes to my McCarthys of Gansett Island Series, there is a small camp of readers who do not like the fact that I include rather extensive stories for characters other than the hero and heroine. I absolutely get why they don't like it. The thing is, though, <i>I</i> like it. I love going back and revisiting couples who starred in past books and seeing what's up with them. Sometimes it's big stuff. In <i>Season for Love</i>, for example, Grant and Stephanie from <i>Falling for Love</i> hit a rather big speed bump in their love story. Doesn't that happen in real life? Don't people who are madly in love one minute start to wonder in the next minute if this thing that's sprouted between them will go the distance? See, I thought so! That's right when it starts to get interesting to me. How about you?<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGsN9qrioR4njBcUHLUReI8MKdCHCNRztbUniP3FhVhVEwurNHVPhh2TjXf12CkS23LZrIBCdIQozs79Y_7YD-IpY0jtDad4U5eGtBuKcaGKp1xDLlealIxgVY-npqB5ap9YQ_esDlWEo/s1600/HopingforLove_F_6x9RGB_hr.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGsN9qrioR4njBcUHLUReI8MKdCHCNRztbUniP3FhVhVEwurNHVPhh2TjXf12CkS23LZrIBCdIQozs79Y_7YD-IpY0jtDad4U5eGtBuKcaGKp1xDLlealIxgVY-npqB5ap9YQ_esDlWEo/s200/HopingforLove_F_6x9RGB_hr.jpg" width="132" /></a></div>
In <i>Longing for Love</i>, book 7, Evan and Grace from <i>Hoping for Love</i> will hit a bump when her parents come to the island for a surprise visit and discover that not only does their daughter have a boyfriend she never told them about, but he's living with her, too. Something tells me Evan is going to be rather hurt by the fact that she never bothered to tell her folks about him. Will that be the main story in <i>Longing for Love</i>? Nope. Tiffany and Blaine will be the main attraction in that book, but life hasn't stopped for the rest of the Gansett Island community, and I like to write about that. I suppose that makes me a selfish author, and shockingly, I'm quite okay with that.<br />
<br />
The first person I have to please with my books is ME. If I don't love them, how can I expect any of you to love them? I will be the first to admit there is a LOT going on in <i>Season for Love</i>. I can totally see how some people might think it's too much, and I've already acknowledged that we can't have story for every past couple in every future book. <i>Season</i> was definitely Laura and Owen's book, but I also used it as a wrap-up of the first six books and a launch pad for the next few. Did I succeed? I'll let you tell me!<br />
<br />
The vast majority of readers, especially those in my <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/McCarthySeries/">McCarthy Reader Group</a>, enjoy the subplots and want more of them in future books. Those of you who agree with them are in luck, because I do, too. And since I'm a selfish, <i>selfish</i> author, I plan to please myself first and foremost. :-)<br />
<br />
Of course I'm teasing about being selfish. I always hope readers will enjoy my books, but if I'm not enjoying the writing of the books, there won't be any more. I've made a career out of breaking the mold a bit, such as the Fatal Series that features the same couple in every book (supposedly a no-no in romance) and now the McCarthy Series that keeps past couples front and center in future books. You may not always get what you expect from me (hello, Seamus and Carolina?), but just as I hope to keep things interesting for you, I've got to keep things interesting for me, too. Thus the road less traveled. I hope you'll continue to come along for the ride, even if I take you places you didn't expect to go. After all, my journey would be absolutely no fun without my lovely readers riding shotgun.<br />
<br />
So tell me, are you in the "Want more of the past characters" camp or the "Want less of the past characters" camp?Marie Forcehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00550719567520289405noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4804838449570779883.post-41355941556531395872012-06-10T09:58:00.002-04:002012-06-10T09:58:45.169-04:00Reader MailIt's always so great to hear from readers, especially after a new book is released. Here's a round up of some of my favorites from this week. I wish I could post them all, but please know I love each and every one of them!<br />
<br />
This one is from Maria:<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;">First and <span id="misspell-0" style="right: auto;"><span>for most</span></span>, I like to thank you for <span id="misspell-1" style="right: auto;"><span>bringing</span></span> your love for writing and sharing those with people like me, people that enjoy love and like to lose themselves in a good book, you have captivated me to the fullest. I have enjoyed and loved each and everyone of your McCarthys of Gansett Island Series, I really hope they never end, but I know eventually all good things come to an end, but I like to be optimistic and faithful in your work. Thank you for inviting me <span id="misspell-2" style="right: auto;"><span>amongst</span></span> others into a wonderful and refreshing world of love, <span id="misspell-2" style="right: auto;"><span style="right: auto;">devotion and the strength of what a relationship should really be. With that said i really hope that there are <span id="misspell-2" style="right: auto;"><span>many</span></span></span></span> series to look forward to, or at least until I am old and gray or even senile lol. I look forward to updates on your next book, that is of course if there is one. Thanks again</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">From Ilona in Australia:</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Thank you so much for Season for Love. I absolutely loved it.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I couldn't put it down and am now sad that I have come to the end of your </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">latest book (which I always anxiously await the release of!). Note to self </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">- read slower next time to savour the enjoyment!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I have really enjoyed Laura and Owen's story. I particularly liked the </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">side story of Carolina and Seamus as well. I love the way you capture </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">love stories that are not necessarily "conventional" and "obvious" (I </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">mean, that¹s life isn't it?).</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Congratulations on your latest release. I thoroughly enjoy my holidays to </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Gansett Island (with you as the tour guide) and always look forward to </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">planning (and thinking) about my next trip! In saying that I have </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">thoroughly enjoyed my other trips into the lives of your characters </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">(Everyone Loves A Hero and Line of Scrimmage are is still a faves).</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Keep up the great work Marie and wishing you all the very best,</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: small;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">From Jill:</span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"></span><br />
<div style="font: normal normal normal 13px/normal Tahoma; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">Just finished reading Season for Love absolutely loved it. As soon as I saw the email announcing that it was available I had to immediately purchase it and of course start reading.</span></span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">
<div style="font: normal normal normal 13px/normal Tahoma; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">Please keep up the writing I so look forward to your books. Can't wait for Longing for Love also can we expect another in the Fatal series soon? Please?</span></div>
<div style="font: normal normal normal 13px/normal Tahoma; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font: normal normal normal 13px/normal Tahoma; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">From Gina:</span></div>
<div style="font: normal normal normal 13px/normal Tahoma; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font: normal normal normal 13px/normal Tahoma; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;"></span></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">I just wanted to say that Season of Love was wonderful and I cannot wait until book 7. Thank you for the books you write. I read alot and while I was up at 3:30 in the morning I found this book out for sell it was a nice surprise, it made my day to read a good book.</span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div style="font-size: medium;">
From Tanya:</div>
<div style="font-size: medium;">
<br /></div>
<div>
<div style="font: normal normal normal 15px/normal Calibri; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">I am getting ready to buy it on my Nook right now!!!! I cannot wait, and then will be depressed when I zoom thru it. I downloaded Love at First Flight the other day, and stayed up until midnight reading it. I finished the Treading Water series right before that, and can I say wow!!! I phoned my sister and told her to buy this series of books as she would enjoy them immensely. You have truly become one of my favorite authors. When I look at the books I have purchased on my Nook that you have written, all I can say is keep writing, because there are very few left for me to purchase. I am spreading your praises with all my friends. (Also loved True North and The Fall!)</span></div>
<div style="color: #1f497d; font-size: medium; font: normal normal normal 15px/normal Calibri; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font: normal normal normal 15px/normal Calibri; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">From Deidre:</span></div>
<div style="font: normal normal normal 15px/normal Calibri; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I just wanted to share w/ you that I hope you write lots more Gansett Island series books. They remind me of Robyn Carr’s Virgin River series books. Please keep them coming. These fictional characters have turned into people, family and friends that we want to continue following and learn more about. Please don’t stop writing about them!!!!</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">From Marion in Australia:</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"></span><br />
<div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">It was rich, diverse, beautiful, sad and thoroughly wonderful. </span></span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">
<div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">I know you are going to get hounded with praise and thanks for such incredible work!!!! Enjoy the well deserved kudos amazing lady!!!</span></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">Thank you to all of these lovely readers and all the others who take the time to write. You make me feel truly blessed to get to do what I most love to do.</span></div>
</span>Marie Forcehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00550719567520289405noreply@blogger.com