My Blog
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Jeremy Laszlo: Posted on Thursday, May 10, 2012 11:06 PM
This weeks Friday Feature Author is Jeremy Laszlo (The Blood and Brotherhood Saga, Clad in Shadow) When I first opened Jeremy’s website, I was struck by his choice for cover art: dramatic, strong, passionate, dark. Yet, when I read his bio, his first sentence showed me an entirely different man. “First and foremost I am a father and a husband.” Fans of The Dante Chronicles know how I feel about family, and its importance to me...from the moment I read Jeremy’s opening statement; I knew I had to feature him here on my site. |
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Laura Cota: Posted on Saturday, May 05, 2012 11:29 PM
This weeks Friday Feature Writer, unfortunately was delayed due to my May 5th event in Lodi...but hopefully, she will forgive me. If not, I'll just tell our Mom. You see, she is my sister Laura (I call her Lori, and at one time Yo-Yo) She writes a colum on child development and advice to parents on parenting issues for Examiner.com. Shehas been working in the Early Childhood Education field for twenty years, is a mother of four, has a grandson and is a cancer survivor. She has done many things in her life that she is proud of. |
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Deborah Rae Cota: Posted on Monday, April 30, 2012 1:35 PM
"We knew no time for sadness, that's a road we each had crossed
We were living a time meant for us, and even when it would rain
we would laugh it off.
I've got pieces of April, I keep them in a memory bouquet
I've got pieces of April, it's a morning in May." - Dan Loggins; Performed by Three Dog Night April, was a very trying month in many ways, but it also carried with it a sense of awakening. 1. Never take family and friends for granted. |
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Doug Simpson: Posted on Tuesday, April 24, 2012 1:10 PM
Today's guest blogger is Doug Simpson. Doug's writing is a pure, breath of fresh air, and lives up to his title. A retired high school teacher who has turned his talents to writing, his first novel is a spiritual mystery titled Soul Awakening, and was published in the United States in October of 2011, by Book Locker (http://booklocker.com/books/5754.html). His magazine and website articles have been published in 2010 to 2012 in Australia, Canada, France, India, South Africa, the United Kingdom, and the United States. |
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Eileen Gonzalez: Posted on Friday, April 20, 2012 2:05 PM
My Friday Night Feature Author is Eileen Gonzalez (Life According to Me;AuthorHouse, January 30, 2012,ISBN:9 78-1468545234). When I asked Eileen for a little something for me to write an intro for her guest post, she told me I could use her Bio from Facebook…but what she sent me after that was far more personal and touching than anything I could write. Her honest words always highlight my day and inspire me to go ever forward in reaching my goals. She said: “I can tell you that today, I am a person who will do anything or try anything that I feel or believe I can do. |
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D. J. Quarles: Posted on Tuesday, April 17, 2012 9:50 AM
Today’s guestauthorisD. Jean Quarles.As a devout reader, D. Jean Quarles spent her young years with a book in hand. Later she owned a bookstore and while writing was something she did, it wasn't until her children were grown that she completed her first women's fiction book, Rocky's Mountains. She is also the author of Perception, Fire in the Hole and her latest book, for young adults to be released April 19, Flight From the Water Planet. You can find her books at: Amazon.com |
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Amy McGuire: Posted on Monday, April 16, 2012 3:30 PM
Today’s guest author’s blog is from Amy McGuire. Amy lives in Toronto with her husband and their young daughter. She fell in love with English Literature in high school but was creating poems and stories almost as soon as she could pick up a pencil. Her first published novel,Sweet Love, a young adult romance set in British Columbia, was released on Amazon and Amy's site on February 12, 2012.
As the weather becomes colder in the fall and warmer in the spring I always either look forward to a vacation in Florida or look back on the one I just experienced with my family. |
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Emma, the Westie (Maxi Shelton): Posted on Friday, April 13, 2012 5:29 PM
When I asked Maxi Shelton (author of "Sold into Marriage"; AuthorHouse:ISBN: 9781467889568)to participate in my Friday Night Feature Author Blog, her response was, "I'm not confortable talking about myself." Little did she know, her Westie, Emma, is quite the talker and had no problem coming to Maxi's rescue. Here is Emma's telling of how Maxi Shelton became a published author. I’m a Westie but my humans call me Emma. I like the name Emma, so Emma I will be. |
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Maggie Singleton: Posted on Friday, April 13, 2012 1:04 PM
Maggie Singleton has been freelance editing for the past four years, and has provided professional technical editing for an Army contractor for the past 10 years... all while caring for three great kids under that age of seven! She is now discovering life on the other side of the red pen as a writer. She tells me she “couldn't be happier!” I say, “Me, too!” Her debut book, “Milk Diaries”, should be finished some time this summer, and I for one can’t wait. Good luck, Maggie! I have this rather nasty habit when I run. |
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James Strait: Posted on Wednesday, April 11, 2012 10:47 PM
James Strait is not just an author, pilot, broadcaster, avid cyclist, and devoted husband…he is a survivor who meets life head on and doesn’t take prisoners. I am so incredibly honored that he agreed to guest blog on my website. His moving and honest words come from his heart and soul. I know this because he has touched mine deeply. As a lifelong rule, I’ve refrained from tooting my own horn. I’ve always perceived myself as competent at everything I’ve done, but I’ve always baulked at promoting myself. |
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Betsy A. Riley: Posted on Tuesday, April 10, 2012 11:42 AM
Today's Guest Blog was written by Betsy A. Riley. Betsy lives in Maryland, where she works for the federal government. In April of 2011, she ventured into self-publishing using CreateSpace’s Print On Demand (POD) option (Woo-hoo! Yeah, team!!). Since then, her imprint (Blue Dragon Press) has published 6 books. Betsy’s poems and short stories have also appeared in several magazines and anthologies by other publishers. Her Author site can be found at http://brws.comand her imprint site is |
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Deborah Rae Cota: Posted on Saturday, April 07, 2012 11:45 PM
Looking for all authors, bloggers and wanna-be writers willing to share a bit of your time pontificating about something memorable to you. Would love to see some posts on: cooking, hunting, tattooing, writing, reading, teaching, college days, love, martial arts. family, children, travel, and life in general. Posting will be on a first come, first serve basis and will post in-between my own. Please give me some info on yourself also, so I can give you a brief but uplifting intro to my readers. |
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Deborah Rae Cota: Posted on Tuesday, April 03, 2012 12:01 PM
Pinterest has gone from a personal obsession to a necessary evil for me. A first it was just a grown-ups play site where I could pin pretty pictures and ideas for fixing up my new home, or finding new recipes that I could alter and make my own...but now it's become so much more. Creating a board for The Dante Chronicles started off on a whim; just another social time capsule of information past and present. Now it’s become my playground for visualizing the trail into the story...a space keeper. |
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Deborah Rae Cota: Posted on Monday, April 02, 2012 12:47 PM
Life is funny. It’s good, it’s bad…sometimes it’sreally bad, but in it all, is a lesson we learn about ourselves. We go through life with others around us, but when it comes down to it, we are all alone through it all from beginning to end. Every day, something happens, and it is up to us to either deal with it and move on, or wallow in it and stay put. This last month, I learned where my Achilles heel lies…it’s with family. Usually, my own personal issues are; on a scale of one-to-ten; about a five, but it wasn’t always that way. |
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Deborah Rae Cota: Posted on Friday, March 23, 2012 7:51 PM
I have this t-shirt I wear that says... “There is nothing to writing, you just sit down and open a vein...” WhenI used to sit around with my musings, scribbles and scraps, this was just an amusing anecdote that I thought thoroughly described the ‘drama’ that appeared to surround scribes of all professions. Then I wrote my first novel, and it wasn’t so funny anymore...because it’s true. There are basic steps to creating a book, and everyone who writes one or teaches others how to write one, has their own variations of those basics which usually includes: an outline (of some sort), a list of characterization(s), a summary of the book, and the body or manuscript. |
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Deborah Rae Cota: Posted on Tuesday, March 06, 2012 3:18 PM
This month we learned that the fine line between freedom of speech and bullying is the same line between flirting and sexual harassment...and that line isignorance. For those of you that know me well, you have heard my tirades on ignorance first hand. They aren’t pretty, but they are honest and to the point. I have no stomach for it and feel it is the root-of-all-evil in the world we live in today. By definition, ignorance is lack of knowledge, education, or awareness. Seems simple enough and an easy task to overcome, yes? |
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Deborah Rae Cota: Posted on Wednesday, February 22, 2012 9:59 PM
Are you familiar with that weirdo in the movie theater that laughs at horror movies? Or the one that purposefully reads the grossest lines from the horror book of the day to an unsuspecting friend, and then waits for a reaction before doling out more disgusting details of muck, mire and gore. That would be me... I grew up on monster movies. Ate them for breakfast; washed them down with Ovaltine and milk for lunch. They were my babysitters, my friends. The company I kept while doing my homework. |
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Deborah Rae Cota: Posted on Wednesday, February 01, 2012 9:21 AM
Happy February, Everyone! So much has happened in the previous month since my last “update” post. Biggest news was the release of The Brotherhood (which if you didn’t know...is now available). Here is a run down of what I have learned this month...! 1. Success, even in miniscule amounts such as mine, can bring about interesting changes in many things, but the most interesting and unexpected is in the people around you. Some are over-the-moon excited for me; while others can’t stand to look at, be near, or simply talk to me. |
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Sam Reeves: Posted on Tuesday, January 10, 2012 12:52 PM
Nothing I do is ever without motive or means. Ever! It is with that in mind that I am more than proud to present to you today’s guest blogger...Sam Reeves. Why? Because the man can flat-out write! His ability to paint vistas and build cities with words is like none other I’ve read and his wit is, I hate to admit, sharper than mine. Uncertain if he would take the bait of my offer, I was so pleased that he did...because it gives me a chance to tell him, in my own personal forum. |
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Candy Cota: Posted on Sunday, January 08, 2012 12:37 PM
While I toil away on primp and polish of THE BROTHERHOOD, my right-hand person is sitting in at blog control…my sister Candy. She is not only my partner-in-crime, and my go-to person for running hare-brained ideas across; that sometimes give her nightmares; but she also proofreads, dries tears, types, listens, proofreads, types, listens some more, and overall is the greatest support team a writer, and sister, could ever have. Without her, THE DANTE CHRONICLES would still be just a composition notebook waiting to become landfill. |
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Brooklyn Fit-Chick: Posted on Monday, January 02, 2012 2:59 PM
While I am still busy getting my manuscript ready for print, my best friend, a/k/a Brooklyn Fit-Chick, has graced my pages with her presence...Here is her guest blog entry for the new year. For all of you fellow writers (and readers), pay close attention...these tips will help to keep you writing and reading for a long, long time!! I, for one, already practice the Meatless Mondays and it makes a world of difference. (Thanks, BFC!! You are the best!) Hello there! |
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Deborah Rae Cota: Posted on Saturday, December 31, 2011 5:08 PM
As this year winds down and we ready for the next to begin, just like everyone else, I am reflective…and find myself repeating the three-W’s over and over… WOO-HOO, Whoa, and Wow! Mind you, it hasn’t all been moonlight and roses this last year. There were some very scary, troublesome, and heartbreaking moments that took my breath away, but there were some really good moments that did the same, too. Taking a cue from my best friend’s blog, I asked myself: What did I learn last year? |
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Chris Messer: Posted on Wednesday, December 28, 2011 9:18 AM
Today, while I work on getting The Brotherhood formatted and loaded for print, I have a special guest.Chris Messer (elementary school teacher, husband, father, and long-time family friend) who is a very thoughtful scribe and should really consider writing his own novel (hint, hint), has graciously agreed to be my guest blogger. Thanks, Chris! Enjoy! In today’s gratify-me-now culture, reading books seems a bitof an unconventional way to pass the time, especially if you are a kid. |
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Deborah Rae Cota: Posted on Monday, December 19, 2011 12:54 PM
In the process of researching the next six books, I've reached out to friends and friends of friends for pictures of their tatoos. My friend, Mark, who will also be a guest blogger here in the coming months, turned his entry on tatooing into a blog entry of his own. Please check out his brilliant blog and this recent entry. He's witty and smart and I think you'll enjoy it!! |
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Deborah Rae Cota: Posted on Sunday, December 18, 2011 8:41 PM
I have never been the sappy movie type, so when it comes to Christmas you will not find me in front of the TV watching Jimmy Stewart and Donna Reed in “It’s a Wonderful Life” or a young Natalie Wood teaching Santa how to properly blow bubbles with bubble gum in “Miracle on 34 Street”…not that I don’t enjoy those movies…I just don’t seek them out to watch them…but, the movie I do look forward to, starting from Thanksgiving on, is“The Ref”- 1994 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0110955/ |
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Deborah Rae Cota: Posted on Sunday, December 11, 2011 12:12 AM
This week I’ve readnumerous blogs, articles and personal comments from writers and wanna-bees, tryingto downplay, and almost frighten people of self-publishing. In everything I’ve read, I walked away with areally, funny feeling and a constant, nagging question: Who are you trying toconvince…me or you? The current popularityof what was once known as the “vanity” press has gone from the household noveltyto a tool for the everyman to stake their claim in the writing world. Several authorswho chose to go the independent route have made a name for themselves, and evengarnered a “traditional” publishing contract. |
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Deborah Rae Cota: Posted on Monday, December 05, 2011 12:47 PM
Last week, while sitting in my room writing, it became incredibly cold. It was then I realized I was being paid a visit by an old friend. The conversation that follows is a word for word interview that I had with Corson Dante. DC: What bringsyouhere? CD: Wanted to s-s-see where you worked? How you l-l-live. It’s b-been awhile. DC: Yes. Yes it has. Where have you been? Where were you? CD: Around. DC: I see. When you say ‘around’...do you mean the city,this plane...this... CD: I m-m-mean ‘around. |
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Deborah Rae Cota: Posted on Thursday, December 01, 2011 3:28 PM
Conversations take on a whole different feel when you tell people you’ve written a novel. They are either impressed, and feel an inordinate need to exploit their extensive vocabulary; or they become so intimidated that they don’t speak at all. Some become so tongue tied that they actually don’t make sense and end up asking bizarre questions and don’t realize it. It’s these quirky little questions that I want to address. “Does your family own a bar?” No, we don’t own a bar. We’ve visited bars, been known to swing from them occasionally, and even eaten the candy type, but do not own one.
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Deborah Rae Cota: Posted on Tuesday, November 29, 2011 8:25 PM
Late votes net an Executive decision by yours truly...we are going with Dermot Mulroney (a personal pick by reader; Leesa Paige DeJager) Now let's cast the Ladies...First up, Helen (Young) Dante I wrote her with Kate Beckinale in mind. Her character is feisty, a chef, dark hair and eyes, headstrong and is the love of Bill's life. You have until tomorrow, Wedneday, Dec. 7th @ 8pm PST. GO!!! Bill (Belial) Dante -WINNER: DENNIS QUAID |
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Deborah Rae Cota: Posted on Tuesday, November 29, 2011 8:16 PM
Someone asked me the funniest thing today…“So, when is the next book coming out?” I reminded them that The Brotherhood is due out in January of 2012… They said, “No…theNEXTone…” (Writer rolls her eyes and sighs…) Well, probably Valentine’s Day 2013, I said, to which my friend asked, “Whythen?” My plan for The Dante Chronicles was to publish a book for all the big holidays thatmyfamily gets together, ending it during my favorite time: Halloween to Thanksgiving. When my family gets together on holidays, there is a lot of food, drink, music and laughter. |
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Deborah Rae Cota: Posted on Monday, November 28, 2011 8:59 PM
As our buddy ‘Bryant’ would say...,”We’s all growed up now!” The old Kindred website has been replaced by a new and improved, interactive site where you can join the mailing list, join in on upcoming games and post comments to blogs and/or subscribe to it. This site makes it easier for me to post up to the minute info for you and let you know what’s going on in the world of The Dominion and between my ears more efficiently. It’s more accessible to both you, and me. The move was a tough decision to make and even harder deciding on a design; but the one thing I was sure of was I wanted the domain name all to my own. |
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Deborah Rae Cota: Posted on Sunday, November 27, 2011 8:30 PM
Those people that are closest to me know what a tough couple of years life has been for my family and me and the first thing out of their mouths when they find out that I am a writer is…”HOW?” and the second is “WHEN?”
My response to them is usually, “With a pen and always…”
Because the only thing to hold you back, is fear.
Fear, I think, is one of the greatest inspirations to art. It drives you to succeed, compels you to push that dark and dreary feeling, that useless wasted emotion, and the insecurity out of your heart and soul and make peace with yourself. |
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Deborah Rae Cota: Posted on Sunday, November 27, 2011 8:28 PM
So, here I am, writing a sequel to my first published novel and I find myself having to stop and take a breather over and over…because I’m writing too much.
I know, I know…You’re probably thinking, “How can you write too much?”
Well…to better explain myself…I’m writing too far ahead in the story.
In my mind, I already have the next seven books scoped out. I already know where Eli and the gang are when I end this saga. I’ve seen the end, or beginning, depending on how you view book 8 when we get there. |
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Deborah Rae Cota: Posted on Sunday, November 27, 2011 8:25 PM
An opening line can sometimes make or break a book; it can compel the reader on to the next chapter or force them to close the book for good. Just like the common pick-up line, some are old and used up while others are unique and as different as the people who use them.
I took a break this weekend from writing because I couldn’t come up with a decent opening sentence for the chapter I am writing. Not ‘writer’s block’ per say, but, I just could not find a good hook to lure you in with. Instead, I looked for some of the great opening lines that bought me drinks and dinner and ultimately joined me in bed. |
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Deborah Rae Cota: Posted on Sunday, November 27, 2011 5:04 PM
08/23/2010 The Kindredrevolves around a family, and when you have a story about a family, the one constant, is food. My closest friends call me a “foodie”, but that just means I am enthusiastic about food and its preparation. I think I am much more than enthusiastic about food…I am madly, passionately, faithfully, head-over-heels in love with food. Previous relationships with boyfriends pale in comparison to my love affair with food. Never have I put a pot roast in a crock pot with onion soup and a beer, and come back to find it cheating on me after a few hours; it was always there, waiting for me…hot, moist, tender, and ready to comfort me over garlic mashed potatoes. |
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Deborah Rae Cota: Posted on Sunday, November 27, 2011 5:02 PM
08/10/2010 Do you have what it takes to be a member ofThe Kindred? The Kindred, as well as being the name of my novel, refers to a group of misfits who band together to fight evil…but who are they exactly? The idea came to me when, at a family function, I sat back and watched how everyone interacted with each other. My entire family thought I was angry because I wasn’t talking, when in fact what I was doing was analyzing their actions and contra-actions to events going on. I learned that day that each of my family members fills a certain “position” in the family, and each carry out certain duties in the line. |
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Deborah Rae Cota: Posted on Sunday, November 27, 2011 5:00 PM
08/03/2010 The Birth of Corson… Driving myself into work one morning, heading East on I-580 from the 238 connector on a four-lane highway in a moderate amount of traffic, listening to Eric Clapton tell me how he wants to change the world, I discovered a new person in my psyche. Most writers will tell you that the characters in their books are merely extensions of themselves, and to a certain extent, it is true. Sometimes, we make frightening discoveries, and other times, a welcome surprise. Since my drive into the office is against the commute (opposite of the big cities and bridges) there are usually very few jams or gnarls to hold me up. |
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Deborah Rae Cota: Posted on Sunday, November 27, 2011 4:58 PM
07/28/2010 During this whole process, several people have asked me some interesting questions, and I thought I’d use this venue to answer them. Seeing as how this is my first official blog entry, I felt it might be a good place to start. Q: What made you decide to self-publish? Of the 37% of the agents and publishers that responded to my 400+ query letters, the answers followed a pattern; they all seemed to think my ideas were exciting, my writing was solid, but my subject matter was not on their current wish list, or they claimed they couldn’t afford to take on another client financially. |
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Deborah Rae Cota and M.A. Donohue: Posted on Sunday, November 27, 2011 4:56 PM
08/10/2011 Recently I had the opportunity to be interviewed by Brooklyn Fit Chick; Certified Fitness instructor/blogger/bike enthusiast and best friend, about my upcoming releaseThe BrotherhoodandThe Dante Chroniclesin general. BFC: What is the name of your book? D: It’s called The Brotherhood, it’s the sequel to my first novel, The Kindred and the second in the series of The Dante Chronicles. BFC:Where did the idea for the story originate? D: I’ve been dabbling with the characters for over ten years and they’ve been through many migrations and adventures until one day I tried telling a story with a group of them. |
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Deborah Rae Cota: Posted on Sunday, November 27, 2011 4:53 PM
08/31/2010 412 letters/emails to literary agents and publishing houses 57 re-writes and re-reads. 37 return letters saying “Your ideas are great and your writing is solid, but…” 13 reams of paper 10 different reference books. 8 Composition notebooks 7 toner cartridges 6 BIC Blue Crystal pens 5.5 chapter cuts 5 rolls of film 4 chapter merges 3 editors 2 1/2 years later… 1 published novel. It isn’t the greatest or most perfect, but it’s mine. Thank you for experiencing these last few weeks with me. I appreciate your support and kindness. |
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Deborah Rae Cota: Posted on Sunday, November 27, 2011 4:50 PM
07/09/2007 So, it's finally here...or, almost here. The Kindred is finished, and is now being formatted and reworked in HTML to suit a Kindle and I am awaiting my proof from Creative Space for the print copy. Little by little, it is all coming together and this blog will be used to keep you up to date with the progress and maybe a little about how I came to write The Kindred...I'm very excited about the upcoming release and can't wait to share it with you. This truly is a labor of love. What started out an everyday practice, turned into a burning passion. |
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