tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-332945862024-03-13T12:55:03.867-05:00Sisker's LairWhen the words in my head don't match the work I'm writing, I put them here. Welcome to Sisker's Lair.Siskerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15715526045161938875noreply@blogger.comBlogger886125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33294586.post-86157646157658734162017-02-19T16:32:00.002-06:002017-02-19T16:32:59.096-06:00Moving on!I have a newly redesigned <a href="http://www.kaysisk.com">website</a> and as such this blog is moved over there as Archived. Please check it out and find new posts under the blog heading.<br />
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Thanks!Siskerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15715526045161938875noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33294586.post-297886375814831402016-12-16T21:46:00.000-06:002016-12-16T21:50:49.002-06:00Prologues and epilogues: a good idea?Prologue and Epilogue. Do they have a use? Should they be used? Can you have one without the other?<br />
<br />
What an interesting topic and one I hadn’t really thought about since neither is a permanent part of my writer’s toolbox. I have used the prologue twice, in both instances when only a short blurb was necessary to set the rest of the book. <br />
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In <i>T’s Trial</i>, I needed to show the hero’s depravity and ego in order for his redemption to be all the more worthy. In <i>Wedding Belle Blues</i>, I needed an intro to the five part book set-up and to give it a fairy tale entry, a ‘once upon a time’ lead-in that, of course, totally falls apart before the first chapter is ended! <br />
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I’ve used an epilogue only once in order to tie up all the loose ends of <i>One Year Past Perfect</i>. I needed to skip time, which seems to be a main purpose of epilogues, to show the Happily Ever After for all the parties concerned. <br />
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Can you have one without the other? Well, I obviously think so. <br />
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The only time I get a bit sideways with prologues is when they give us a terrific hero/heroine in distress moment and then—wham!—take it away from us by going back a day or two. Or a year. Yes, it grabs my attention. Sometimes, it holds it. Not guaranteed. Now this happens a lot in episodic TV also, when you think you must have missed an episode because you don’t remember the characters having been left dangling from a rope over a canyon with a train about to cross the bridge they’re affixed to. Then, it says, ’24 hours earlier.’ I can handle that transgression a bit better. And, of course, being TV, it’s over in an hour, not 300 pages later.<br />
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Please check out the other participants in this blog tour, all answering the question of prologues and epilogues.<br />
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Participants:<br />
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<a href="http://margaretfieland.wordpress.com">Margaret Fieland</a> <br />
<a href="http://www.skye-writer.com/blogging_by_the_sea">Skye Taylor</a> <br />
<a href="http://wp.me/p3Xihq-QS">Dr. Bob Rich</a> <br />
<a href="http://www.marcibaun.com/blog/">Marci Baun</a> <br />
<a href="http://ajmaguire.wordpress.com/">A.J. Maguire</a> <br />
<a href="http://dbator.blogspot.ca/">Diane Bator</a> <br />
<a href="http://victoriachatham.blogspot.ca">Victoria Chatham</a> <br />
<a href="http://annestenhousenovelist.wordpress.com/">Anne Stenhouse</a> <br />
<a href="http://helenafairfax.com">Helena Fairfax</a> <br />
<a href="http://beverleybateman.blogspot.ca/">Beverley Bateman</a> <br />
<a href="http://connievines.blogspot.com/">Connie Vines</a> <br />
<a href="http://rachaelkosinski.weebly.com/">Rachael Kosinski</a> <a href="http://www.rhobinleecourtright.com">Rhobin Courtright</a> Siskerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15715526045161938875noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33294586.post-29757051735197524242016-12-15T17:24:00.002-06:002016-12-15T17:24:49.445-06:00Amazon Giveaway for Ron's RunIt's that time again, mid-month and another Amazon Giveaway, this time for a chance to win a copy of Ron's Run, the fourth of my Bone Cold--Alive novels, but a standalone in hero and heroine. <br />
<br />
From the back cover copy:<br />
<br />
"Guilt drives him away…<br />
<br />
Drummer Ron Gregory isn't responsible for the tragedy which encompasses his family when he's a teen, but they make him feel like he is. He runs away… to New Orleans, to gambling, to a life of irresponsibility. It's a sorry combination, easy living and bad luck. Now he's broke, in danger, and hiding at band manager Levi Fletcher's Texas cabin. <br />
<br />
She shouldn't feel guilty…<br />
<br />
British fashion photographer Bettina Montgomery is shocked to learn that her biological father is Levi Fletcher. Temptation may drive her to his cabin, but her quick reflexes give her the photo of a lifetime: a nude Ron Gregory! She won't give it up until he straightens out his life, even if that means risking her heart all across Texas.<br />
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Which will be surrendered first: the photo, her secret, or the end of Ron's Run?"<br />
<br />
This will run until Jan. 5 or all copies are won. As always, no purchase necessary. Give it a try!<br />
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The link and official rules:<br />
<br />
See this #AmazonGiveaway for a chance to win: Ron's Run: A Bone Cold--Alive Novel (Kindle Edition). https://giveaway.amazon.com/p/3e5fb79ffc22d5ab NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Ends the earlier of Jan 5, 2017 11:59 PM PST, or when all prizes are claimed. See Official Rules http://amzn.to/GArules.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sUxFPG6k-0s/VIixUX7YLlI/AAAAAAAAAT0/3UNrmPMOWoAwJiI_kTu1oC77UkInBI5LwCPcB/s1600/Ron%2527s%2BRun%2Bfinal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sUxFPG6k-0s/VIixUX7YLlI/AAAAAAAAAT0/3UNrmPMOWoAwJiI_kTu1oC77UkInBI5LwCPcB/s320/Ron%2527s%2BRun%2Bfinal.jpg" width="200" height="320" /></a></div>Siskerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15715526045161938875noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33294586.post-46400892712414015892016-11-16T10:12:00.000-06:002016-11-16T10:12:10.952-06:00A Chance to Win Tib's TemptationIt's that time of month again, when I offer another Amazon Giveaway. This time it's for <i>Tib's Temptation</i>, the third book in my Bone Cold--Alive series. Jilted beau Tib and embittered Sara take a chance on each other and find redemption along the way. The Giveaway lasts until all the copies are won or Dec. 7, whichever comes first. Here's the <a href="
https://giveaway.amazon.com/p/5a3990555345bc9f">link</a> for a chance to win.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rWItzJTMTyQ/VATP4fN4ggI/AAAAAAAAAS0/px_vzI1IG88L7jzM4GJZXs9q9yhpuPZ0gCPcB/s1600/Tib%2527s%2BTemptation%2Bfinal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rWItzJTMTyQ/VATP4fN4ggI/AAAAAAAAAS0/px_vzI1IG88L7jzM4GJZXs9q9yhpuPZ0gCPcB/s320/Tib%2527s%2BTemptation%2Bfinal.jpg" width="200" height="320" /></a></div><br />
Siskerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15715526045161938875noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33294586.post-45853424402455379402016-11-07T13:18:00.000-06:002016-11-07T13:18:12.178-06:00Falling into FallIt might have been the astronomical autumn since Sept 22 or thereabouts, but our temps have only slowly declined. So slowly in fact, that it is the first week of November and I can finally feel like fall has come. And I know this because:<br />
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We turned the a/c off in early October and haven't been tempted to turn the heat on.<br />
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We're still using the ceiling fans but the box fans are off.<br />
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The windows are open. <br />
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I pulled a blanket out to cover my feet as I huddled under the summer quilt. <br />
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The laundry is switching from whites and creams to browns and blacks. <br />
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The hall tree, bare since May, has accumulated two jackets. <br />
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And finally, I know it's fall when I find my house shoes!<br />
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Siskerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15715526045161938875noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33294586.post-38291736536782515842016-10-14T14:25:00.001-05:002016-10-14T14:25:51.056-05:00Another Amazon GiveawayCan't believe it's been a month, but it's time for another Amazon Giveaway, this time for <i>C's Comeuppance</i>, Book 2 in the Bone Cold--Alive series. This time, it's Eddie T's twin who has his love life in a huge tangle, as he's caught between a woman his body wants and one who steals his heart.<br />
<br />
The <a href="https://giveaway.amazon.com/p/0f51a76ad2422ad2">details</a>:<br />
<br />
Again, you're entering for a chance to win. No purchase necessary and it ends Nov 4 or whenever all the prizes are awarded. Good luck!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WuR50jZrmH4/U95MVqdoeII/AAAAAAAAASk/kOfk5sYxPc0L87W7k5AT8f5QuHbA8-xhACPcB/s1600/C%2527s%2BComeuppance%2Bfinal%2BWATERMARKED.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WuR50jZrmH4/U95MVqdoeII/AAAAAAAAASk/kOfk5sYxPc0L87W7k5AT8f5QuHbA8-xhACPcB/s320/C%2527s%2BComeuppance%2Bfinal%2BWATERMARKED.jpg" width="200" height="320" /></a></div>Siskerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15715526045161938875noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33294586.post-57934961172725899472016-10-13T14:21:00.001-05:002016-10-13T14:21:43.786-05:00Encyclopedia me!The first set of encyclopedias I can remember in my home growing up was purchased volume by volume by my mother at the grocery store, one a week. I was fascinated with them and would pull a volume from the shelf and start reading. I did this with the dictionary too, especially the one from Reader's Digest which proclaimed to be a Great Encyclopedia Dictionary. I know that's what it's called, because I still have it. <br />
<br />
When we married, my husband and I bought a set of Encyclopedia Britannica. Now, <i>that</i> was an expense! But we valued the knowledge contained within. Plus, the Internet in all its glory was a good 25 years away, had we even thought such could exist. <br />
<br />
But I still love encyclopedias and when someone donated an 1891 set to the library for the book sale, I bought it. The covers of the eight volumes were all off, some holding on via Scotch tape. The pages were rough around the edges. I really wanted the beautiful old maps. Antartica hadn't even been explored when this book was written! I know that for several reasons, not the least of which is the notation about that continent of: Supposed Antarctic Continent.<br />
<br />
I thought I would go through it page by page and relieve this set of its drawings of birds and mammals, historical places, anything of interest. Eventually, I'd find something to do with my ill-gotten gain and make some money for the library. I didn't expect to start reading again.<br />
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It has a decidedly English bent to it, and as the first edition was published in Edinburgh, that makes sense. It also explains that Scotland has its own map and is not part of the one of England.<br />
<br />
So what have I been distracted by? Zulu. Texas. Kangaroo. (No drawing!) Indians, America. And Henry Stewart Darnley, husband of Mary, Queen of Scots, and interesting, according to the book, chiefly on account of said marriage. Also, and this is the part I've committed to memory: he was "fatally destitute of all moral and intellectual power."<br />
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You just can't write that any more. Siskerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15715526045161938875noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33294586.post-4019250533144538662016-09-24T14:47:00.002-05:002016-09-24T14:47:36.875-05:00A bioMy 9-year-old granddaughter called me last week to help her write a bio for an art exhibit she's to be featured in next month. Wow! Art exhibit at nine! What talent and she certainly didn't get it from this side of the family tree. <br />
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But a bio? We discussed what should go in it: her name, age (relevant in this case), where she goes to school, who her art teacher is, and what else she enjoys doing. She wrote a lovely one and I gave it the grandmother stamp of approval. <br />
<br />
But then I thought: I need a new bio for my books and the websites which sell them. There would be my name, no age since it's not relevant, basically where I live if it pertains to what I write (it does), how I've learned my craft (experience and professional writing organizations) and what else I enjoy doing. <br />
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I need to get busy and will post my new bio as soon as I sort it out and get my granddaughter's stamp of approval. Siskerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15715526045161938875noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33294586.post-51179758419809738432016-09-12T16:34:00.000-05:002016-09-12T16:34:09.522-05:00Another Amazon GiveawayI decided to do an Amazon Giveaway each month. This month, <i>T's Trial</i>, the first of my Bone Cold--Alive series. The rules are as follows:<br />
<br />
See this #AmazonGiveaway for a chance to win: T's Trial: A Bone Cold--Alive Novel (Kindle Edition). <br />
<a href="https://giveaway.amazon.com/p/c6abad718cadda3b">https://giveaway.amazon.com/p/c6abad718cadda3b</a> <br />
<br />
NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Ends the earlier of Oct 3, 2016 11:59 PM PDT, or when all prizes are claimed. See Official Rules http://amzn.to/GArules.<br />
<br />
Please follow the link and click through to see if you're a winner. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-k7iLepwfVPk/U6L8WrqSJ8I/AAAAAAAAASE/uJFltoXkNNwRPeg4kPnkls-lhGenGkpyQCPcB/s1600/T%2527s%2BTrial%2Bfinal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-k7iLepwfVPk/U6L8WrqSJ8I/AAAAAAAAASE/uJFltoXkNNwRPeg4kPnkls-lhGenGkpyQCPcB/s320/T%2527s%2BTrial%2Bfinal.jpg" width="200" height="320" /></a></div>Siskerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15715526045161938875noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33294586.post-85810637554129640382016-09-08T17:26:00.000-05:002016-09-08T17:26:40.501-05:00King of Paradise<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tNhw9dm0gj4/V9HlfZpwGmI/AAAAAAAAAZ4/VP-o4QepCRUNHk6Twbd1iSxEEe15LH2-QCLcB/s1600/King%2Bof%2BParadise%2Bfinal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tNhw9dm0gj4/V9HlfZpwGmI/AAAAAAAAAZ4/VP-o4QepCRUNHk6Twbd1iSxEEe15LH2-QCLcB/s320/King%2Bof%2BParadise%2Bfinal.jpg" width="211" height="320" /></a></div>I loved <a href="http://www.mtcrestedbuttecolorado.us">Mt. Crested Butte, Colorado</a>, the first time I was there for a skiing expedition on a frigid pre-Christmas holiday. Later, we visited in the summer and I went on a few girls' trips to the area. So, it was only fitting that at some point I would set a novel there. <br />
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<i>King of Paradise</i> is a story of hidden identity, of a man who wants to be loved for himself and not for the fact that he does indeed hold the keys to a kingdom. <br />
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From the back cover copy--if it had a back cover, but <i>King of Paradise</i> is e-only:<br />
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"Wyndha O’Brien is looking forward to a few weeks vacation before teaching again in September. But she’s soon recruited to take her sister’s children and new step-daughter to Mt. Crested Butte Colorado instead. The children are contentious, the Jeep her new brother-in-law rented is a stick shift, and the handsome men in the next condo are just a bit too curious about her newly formed family. <br />
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Rudy Marks is heir to the throne of Arpathia, a small European country known for cattle and tourism. After a buying trip to the US, he and right-hand man Derek Sands settle into a week of relaxation at Mt. Crested Butte with his uncle’s valet. But the woman in the next condo intrigues them: she’s using someone else’s credit card, her children all have different last names, and she’s not interested in them!<br />
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It isn’t easy being heir to a throne and one of the toughest problems is finding the right woman to share it. Wyndha and Rudy can’t see what’s right in front of them: each other. It’ll take three plotting children and two best men to solve the problem of getting a queen for the King of Paradise."<br />
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It's for sale on <a href="https://www.amazon.com/King-Paradise-Kay-Layton-Sisk-ebook/dp/B01LR47X7K/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1473373262&sr=1-1&keywords=King+of+Paradise
">Kindle</a>, <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-king-of-paradise-kay-layton-sisk/1007129915?ean=2940157150051">Nook</a>, and iBooks for $2.99. Check it out!<br />
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Siskerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15715526045161938875noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33294586.post-50420263523572218332016-08-18T14:57:00.000-05:002016-08-18T14:57:25.088-05:00An Amazon Giveaway of A Suite DealI'm trying something a little different, promotion-wise, an Amazon Giveaway of my romantic comedy, <i>A Suite Deal</i>. You'll need to enter for a chance to win a copy delivered to your Kindle Library. Here are the rules:<br />
<br />
See this #AmazonGiveaway for a chance to win: A Suite Deal (Kindle Edition).<br />
<br />
<a href="https://giveaway.amazon.com/p/9369912ca6c1dc89">The link</a> <br />
<br />
NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Ends the earlier of Sep 17, 2016 11:59 PM PDT, or when all prizes are claimed. See Official Rules http://amzn.to/GArules.<br />
<br />
If you know someone who'd like to read a little romance based on a bit of misdirection and missed communication, please share the link!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gn8tbUo5h4M/VmszkQgJoxI/AAAAAAAAAX0/7YXddEMZAi0FZplGpZPAJXNYGe0FcOn5QCPcB/s1600/Image.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gn8tbUo5h4M/VmszkQgJoxI/AAAAAAAAAX0/7YXddEMZAi0FZplGpZPAJXNYGe0FcOn5QCPcB/s320/Image.jpg" width="200" height="320" /></a></div>Siskerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15715526045161938875noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33294586.post-47239309560379643442016-08-02T14:08:00.000-05:002016-08-02T14:08:45.595-05:00Galapagos, Part IIPart II of our family adventure is now available at the <a href="http://www.ntxe-news.com/artman/publish/TravelQuest_Galapagos_Family_Trip_Part_II.shtml ">North Texas e-News</a>. Enjoy!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-x9zYvnwCf5Q/V6Dvj528BsI/AAAAAAAAAZc/7e55dI7MbQcoy4VUPC5gFbAyM2ohdgeFQCLcB/s1600/IMG_0508.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-x9zYvnwCf5Q/V6Dvj528BsI/AAAAAAAAAZc/7e55dI7MbQcoy4VUPC5gFbAyM2ohdgeFQCLcB/s320/IMG_0508.jpg" width="320" height="239" /></a></div>Siskerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15715526045161938875noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33294586.post-2228101699015837802016-08-01T14:25:00.000-05:002016-08-01T14:25:20.575-05:00Family adventure in the Galapagos!We had the privilege of traveling to the Galapagos Archipelago last month. In fact, we left a month ago today! How can time pass so quickly? How dare it? We only spent ten days in our travels, and really, that's no excuse for why I haven't been blogging, but... I haven't. <br />
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However, this morning and tomorrow morning, my two-part TravelQuest articles on our venture will be in the <a href="http://ntxe-news.com/artman/publish/TravelQuest_Galapagos_Family_Trip_Part_I.shtml">North Texas e-News</a>, our "local" internet newspaper. I invite you to read and then decide when you'll be making this journey because it's truly worth it!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fzQDwD57JhY/V5-h2BZ8CvI/AAAAAAAAAZE/MDuaw2i_nd8qeHRJhH4i6GBKQBehdEqjQCLcB/s1600/DSC01328.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fzQDwD57JhY/V5-h2BZ8CvI/AAAAAAAAAZE/MDuaw2i_nd8qeHRJhH4i6GBKQBehdEqjQCLcB/s320/DSC01328.jpg" width="320" height="213" /></a></div>Siskerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15715526045161938875noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33294586.post-55151777487218239672016-06-16T17:11:00.000-05:002016-06-16T17:11:17.054-05:00A game of hide and seekI'm running a month-long budget ad on the <a href="http://smartbitchestrashybooks.com">Smart Bitches Trashy Books</a> website for <i>Wedding Belle Blues</i>. The price is very affordable (hint: budget) and the exposure great. The site is full of romance reviews, publishing information, and just plain fun! <br />
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Now, why is it like a game of hide and seek? Because the ad can appear anywhere on the website at any one time. So, I can search each page--like when I'm reading them--and scroll down the right hand side to find my ad. <br />
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Just thought I'd clue you in!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ho8pe6bRVZQ/VzIPVejUhLI/AAAAAAAAAYc/p8MeGPaUT9cFRwFMfXiJRhi0GjBiUHJ6QCKgB/s1600/Wedding%2BBelle%2BBlues%2Bfinal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ho8pe6bRVZQ/VzIPVejUhLI/AAAAAAAAAYc/p8MeGPaUT9cFRwFMfXiJRhi0GjBiUHJ6QCKgB/s320/Wedding%2BBelle%2BBlues%2Bfinal.jpg" /></a></div><br />
Siskerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15715526045161938875noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33294586.post-90940418427410729702016-06-07T16:22:00.000-05:002016-06-07T16:22:19.517-05:00Pickled!Putting up my own dill pickles is not only something I enjoy, but also something I'm sufficiently good at that I've won blue ribbons at the Texas State Fair with them. Last year, the weather was so wet, there weren't any pickling cukes to be had, so we've had to endure a year of "store-bought." Granted, I've only bought Claussen, but when you're used to your own, it's just not the same. <br />
<br />
So, despite the 6 inches of rain we had last week, I was very pleased to see an ad in the local paper for cucumbers at our favorite truck farm. I joyfully headed out this morning. <br />
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Alas, the rain has not done this garden any favors. Most of the cukes were of a size to fit individually in a quart jar. I did hunt around and find sufficient size for 5 quarts. <br />
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And then, lowering one of these precious quarts into a water bath, I heard the unmistakable sound of glass cracking. I quickly pulled it out, hoping to save the produce and repackage in a fresh jar. I was able to do so. <br />
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I think I know where my mistake was: the pot I was using to water bath isn't made for that purpose so the jar sat directly on the bottom of the pot. Usually I can get away with such neglect, but today it caught up with me. I hauled down the old pressure cooker (which I don't use to pressure cook any more) with its insert for jars and finished water bathing. <br />
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We like to have one quart of pickles for each week of the year. I'm doubtful of this happening which makes the five I have all the more precious. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--Tlc2aHk714/V1c65-Lt5LI/AAAAAAAAAYs/9VKmoR9ITq0yRNQPwEq5mU11LMLDwUo_wCLcB/s1600/IMG_2631.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--Tlc2aHk714/V1c65-Lt5LI/AAAAAAAAAYs/9VKmoR9ITq0yRNQPwEq5mU11LMLDwUo_wCLcB/s320/IMG_2631.jpg" /></a></div>Siskerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15715526045161938875noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33294586.post-66467515549463654672016-05-10T11:42:00.000-05:002016-05-10T11:43:27.489-05:00Wedding Belle Blues<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ho8pe6bRVZQ/VzIPVejUhLI/AAAAAAAAAYY/Kk5Wh-r9UuoEajh9MrSa8mtPGnfO4A0fACLcB/s1600/Wedding%2BBelle%2BBlues%2Bfinal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ho8pe6bRVZQ/VzIPVejUhLI/AAAAAAAAAYY/Kk5Wh-r9UuoEajh9MrSa8mtPGnfO4A0fACLcB/s320/Wedding%2BBelle%2BBlues%2Bfinal.jpg" /></a></div><br />
Once I received my rights back from my former e-publisher, I determined to update the books and release them once again. This time I'm proud to announce the release of <i>Wedding Belle Blues</i>. <br />
<br />
From the back cover copy--except there is no back cover as I've released this in e-only, but if there <i>were</i> back cover copy:<br />
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"How much drama can one wedding have? If it’s not bride Krista's parents, it’s her four aunts. What they each need is a male distraction and guess what? They need only look under the engagement party tent. <br />
<br />
Mary Willa is shocked to see her long ago ex taking the stage at the engagement party and even more traumatized to realize she’ll have to introduce him to their two daughters.<br />
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Felicia finds her husband’s infidelity the last straw in their shaky marriage and decides the photographer the perfect foil for her frustration.<br />
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Widow Penelope determines to break out of her good daughter image by taking the bridal party to Las Vegas. But why is the groom’s uncle following them?<br />
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Maureen is the in-your-face sister who’s earned her hard-nosed reputation. When guilt unexpectedly rears its ugly head, can the family priest heal her struggles?<br />
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What will it take to guarantee there are no Wedding Belle Blues?"<br />
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I tell WBB in five sections, each one dealing with a different couple and taking on one of the aspects of the wedding: engagement party; travel shower; bachelorette party; rehearsal dinner; and finally, The Wedding.<br />
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I've styled this as a romantic comedy. There's nothing behind the bedroom doors, just a gentle falling into (or back into) love all over again. <br />
<br />
So, please take a look on <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Wedding-Belle-Blues-Layton-Sisk-ebook/dp/B01FEFNCBO?ie=UTF8&keywords=wedding belle blues&qid=1462896246&ref_=sr_1_2&s=digital-text&sr=1-2">Kindle</a>, <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/wedding-belle-blues-kay-layton-sisk/1009167602?ean=2940158386657&quickview=true">Nook</a>, or <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/wedding-belle-blues/id1112294979?ls=1&mt=11">iBooks</a>.<br />
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Siskerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15715526045161938875noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33294586.post-48605731497704678972016-05-06T15:34:00.001-05:002016-05-06T15:34:43.237-05:00Another Woman's Quilt I'm not sure why repurposing this particular old quilt should have struck such a nerve with me. I've taken "cutters" before and fashioned toys, vests and jackets from them. I've given what many people would have tossed into the trash new life. <br />
<br />
But this quilt bothered me. Perhaps it was the detail: small squares, perhaps 1 1/2 inches, hand cut, hand sewn, hand-quilted onto a nondescript beige muslin with real cotton complete with cotton stem bits for batting. In no place was the pattern complete; it was not a show quilt of perfection. Instead it was meant for warmth. I think part of it came from a man's shirt, the pattern had the look of that. <br />
<br />
I needed a new insert for my Canton cart. The original black one had torn, its velcro slipping and the whole thing worthy only of the trash. I found this quilt in my stash (she who dies with the most fabric wins). I don't remember where I got it, probably an estate sale for a bargain price. The black squares had deteriorated to the point of shredding and the top and bottom were not even cutter worthy. <br />
<br />
So why should I grieve another woman's quilt when I've taken the middle and fashioned a cart insert? When I've given it a second chance? Perhaps it was the smallness of the squares or the fact that I've made six quilts for my grandchildren since I last repurposed a quilt. Perhaps I worry that someday someone will repurpose one of the ones I have so lovingly worked on and presented. <br />
<br />
Perhaps.Siskerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15715526045161938875noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33294586.post-5184961072747708152016-04-30T10:30:00.002-05:002016-04-30T10:30:59.747-05:00Oscar's Grand AdventureIf grand-cat Oscar's big adventure was moving from our son's house to ours, then his grand adventure was last night. <br />
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Oscar is 11 years old and quite the athlete, at least as compared to his "uncle" Tuxedo who is almost 15 and needs help accessing the bed. Oscar makes a running leap and he's there. That said, Oscar is also a house cat and since he has been here has never tried to go outside. Very good. <br />
<br />
But he likes the windows and when he turned up missing this morning, I recalled a similar incident with cat Pyewacket, who had pushed against a window screen until it bent, then he had tumbled out, down the metal porch roof and spent a scary night under my car. <br />
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Oscar does have a hidey-hole of some sort which I've not been able to find, so when he wasn't present last night as I went to bed and I'd done a cursory search, I thought he was being stubborn and was in it. But this morning, when his food had not been touched, I began a room by room search. <br />
<br />
Last evening, we had installed a new dehumidifier in the basement. Tuxedo had had basement adventures before, but as Oscar has shown no interest in the basement, and Tux was asleep in the den, we might have been a bit lax about the door. So, since all the screens were intact, that was the logical place for him to be. Except I'd called to him last night there. And again this morning. And I'd used a flashlight to check out the dark corners of our pier and beam house. No Oscar.<br />
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A last ditch attempt, and crying like a fishwife, I went back into the basement. Suddenly there was a meow and out he popped! He'd been in the dark and without food or water for well over 12 hours. I can't say I felt sorry for him. I'd given him his chances and he could always have come to the door and squalled. <br />
<br />
He knew I was miffed and for the next hour, he tried to make up to me, twining about my legs and following me around. I've forgiven him and I hope he's learned his lesson about dark places. In the meantime, if we're in the basement, the door will have to be closed. Siskerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15715526045161938875noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33294586.post-60537599990102446432016-04-20T14:36:00.001-05:002016-04-27T14:13:01.597-05:00Weather-ing a book: A Round Robin postAt every writer’s conference, there’s bound to be a workshop on Setting as Character. Gothic house, Bahamian beach, big city, small town… each calls for a different cast of “human” characters and situations. But does the weather influence the book as well?<br />
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I think so. I quit reading a popular mystery author when I realized after 5 or 6 books that each of her stories was set in the dreary autumn with a too-hopeless-to-be-helped heroine. It made me consider more closely not only my type of heroine (I need women who can save themselves but aren’t too proud to accept help), but also the weather. And here I had to pull up short, because I was writing nothing but August. <br />
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August in Texas usually. Not only is it my birthday month, August in Texas has its own characteristics. With few exceptions, it’s wearyingly hot and dry. Not just a little hot, but over 100 degrees hot. Humid, but no rain. It creates a certain atmosphere of lassitude. Everyone is just waiting for that first gust of autumn air, usually mid-September and then snatched away until October. But the September peek at fall gives us hope. But we don’t have that hope in August.<br />
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I had already set a few books in August in Texas. It was time to try a different time of year if not a different place. Spring break in Florida. Autumn in Maine. Fall and spring in Texas. August—but in Hawaii! <br />
<br />
To see how other authors handle the weather, please check out the following Round Robin members:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.skye-writer.com/blogging_by_the_sea">Skye Taylor</a> <br />
<a href="http://rachaelkosinski.weebly.com/">Rachael Kosinski</a> <br />
<a href="http://beverleybateman.blogspot.ca/">Beverley Bateman</a> <br />
<a href="http://connievines.blogspot.com/">Connie Vines</a> <br />
<a href="http://annestenhousenovelist.wordpress.com/">Anne Stenhouse</a> <br />
<a href="http://helenafairfax.com/">Helena Fairfax</a> <br />
<a href="http://lynx-sis.blogspot.com/">Judith Copek</a> <br />
<a href="https://bobrich18.wordpress.com/2016/04/26/oh-the-weather/">Dr. Bob Rich</a> <br />
<a href="http://victoriachatham.blogspot.ca">Victoria Chatham</a> <br />
<a href="http://www.rhobinleecourtright.com">Rhobin Courtright</a> Siskerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15715526045161938875noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33294586.post-39961018544151958992016-03-29T15:24:00.001-05:002016-03-29T15:24:30.049-05:00T's Trial now available for iBooks and NookThe subject line says it all. <i>T's Trial</i>, Book One in the Bone Cold--Alive series, is now available for iBooks and Nook as well as Kindle. <br />
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<i>T's Trial</i> had several iterations. Originally, I entitled it <i>Heaven on a Kitestring</i> and it was a Romance Writers of America Golden Heart finalist for unpublished works in Long Contemporary. Alas, it didn't win the category. Once it was published electronically, the title was <i>Lyla's Song</i>. When I took my rights back and re-edited it, I decided to title all of the books in the series from the hero's point of view. Hence, <i>T's Trial, C's Comeuppance, Tib's Temptation, Ron's Run, Ian's Image</i>, and <i>Bo's Beauty</i>. <br />
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Check it out!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-k7iLepwfVPk/U6L8WrqSJ8I/AAAAAAAAASE/LzPsH-_ToB8hjMRTYFk8TAwJkOc3C8oJg/s1600/T%2527s%2BTrial%2Bfinal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-k7iLepwfVPk/U6L8WrqSJ8I/AAAAAAAAASE/LzPsH-_ToB8hjMRTYFk8TAwJkOc3C8oJg/s320/T%2527s%2BTrial%2Bfinal.jpg" /></a></div>Siskerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15715526045161938875noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33294586.post-39913066565296329782016-03-15T16:53:00.000-05:002016-03-15T16:53:42.353-05:00A new member of the householdA few weeks ago we welcomed a new member to our household, our "grandcat" Oscar. Formerly of my older son's household, Oscar is a reclusive cat and after three moves, two children and a dog, he was an unhappy eleven-year-old kitty. No one, feline or human, should be that unhappy if there's an easy solution to the problem, and Oscar came home with us. <br />
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Not that every member of our household was happy with this. Our elder statesman cat Tuxedo cast a gimlet eye on the situation and has been hoping Oscar is going away, as he has before when we would keep him when he was a kitten. Alas, Tux is not to get his wish. <br />
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They haven't really reached kitty detente, but Oscar is adjusting. He's not as reclusive as he was. He likes to watch the birds on the windowsill and has his favorite sleeping spots picked out. I think they may be dividing the house, with the kitchen and my study as neutral territory, the downstairs belonging to Tux and the upstairs to Oscar. <br />
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We had other cats do this, Calico and her kitten Frisky. Frisky owned me, the living room, and the master bedroom. Calico took charge of the boys, their rooms, and the den. They really didn't cross into each other's realm. <br />
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Of course with Oscar, we started with separate food bowls and separate litter pans. Within a week, Oscar had shown a preference for Tux's dry food. They used each other's litter pans in what I'm sure was a show of "I'll show you!" and all it got them was one litter pan. I'd had enough of that nonsense.<br />
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Today, I poured some of the outdoor kitties' food into their bowl for a different taste treat and they chowed down together until Oscar took offense and swatted at Tux. Tux backed up and I picked Oscar up and moved him away from the bowl. Eat together amicably, or no one eats. The special treat is still awaiting whoever shows up first. <br />
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I'm glad Oscar is with us. He's added a bit of spice to our staid household and will keep Tux on his kitty toes.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/--GozXN_ibL8/VuiEVC1sZ6I/AAAAAAAAAYE/Adl5ALJrpLU1NAwtm8hqqEXEoJlivSQ5g/s1600/IMG_2496.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/--GozXN_ibL8/VuiEVC1sZ6I/AAAAAAAAAYE/Adl5ALJrpLU1NAwtm8hqqEXEoJlivSQ5g/s320/IMG_2496.jpg" /></a></div>Siskerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15715526045161938875noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33294586.post-50230643768244380772016-03-09T14:52:00.000-06:002016-03-09T14:52:44.940-06:00Presented for your viewing (dis)pleasureYesterday I caught a quick lunch at a fast Mex food place. Order at the counter, grab your drink, sit down and the buzzer goes off ASAP. Can't complain about the service. What I am complaining about--and it's not just at fast Mex food places--is the choices offered on the large TV screens. <br />
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Sports. All the time. Sports. Maybe, if you're lucky, there's two different channels on the three, four, or five screens. Perhaps the closed captioning is on. But yesterday, the area was under a flash flood watch and had already had a trying time of it rain and wind-wise. But, on the screens? Sports.<br />
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It was noon. There were news and weather channels available and perhaps I should have asked for a change of station on at least one TV. I'd have liked to see the big picture before setting out for home. Because it's not like anyone was watching the sports. They were all involved on their phones or computers. Probably watching the radar because it wasn't available on the TVs.<br />
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I think the first tendency is to think that the staff was catering to the male clientele. Granted, many women enjoy sports, and I'm not suggesting a series of soap operas or old movies or the latest talk show, although I don't know how the latter would be any different from a sports announcer panel. I looked around the establishment and more than half of the diners were women and children. <br />
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Most of the time, I'm not in such a place long enough for it to matter and perhaps next time, given the same circumstances, I'll ask for a change to weather and news. <br />
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Thoughts?<br />
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Siskerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15715526045161938875noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33294586.post-13604561228305580802016-02-19T15:49:00.000-06:002016-02-19T15:49:18.995-06:00An honor from Smithsonian JourneysI was contacted by Smithsonian Journeys for permission to put my TravelQuest Around the World articles on their travel blog. Such an honor! <br />
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Please check it out. The first one is up and I'm not sure when the others will be. I'll also include the links to the three TravelQuest articles on the North Texas e-News. <br />
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<a href="http://www.ntxe-news.com/artman/publish/TQ_Around_the_World.shtml
">TravelQuest from the e-News, Part I</a><br />
<a href="http://www.ntxe-news.com/artman/publish/Around_the_World.shtml">TravelQuest from the e-News, Part II</a><br />
<a href="http://www.ntxe-news.com/artman/publish/Around_the_World_part_3.shtml
">TravelQuest from the e-News, Part III</a><br />
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<a href="http://www.smithsonianjourneys.org/blog/travelquest-smithsonian-journeys-around-world-adventure-part-i-180958174/">Smithsonian Journeys, Part I</a>Siskerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15715526045161938875noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33294586.post-71543411411022802642016-02-14T10:04:00.000-06:002016-02-14T10:04:55.418-06:00Around the World with Smithsonian JourneysThis fall my husband and I had the opportunity of a lifetime to travel around the world with Smithsonian Journeys. Today begins my three-part TravelQuest article on our internet newspaper, the North Texas e-News. <br />
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Please read, enjoy and come back tomorrow and Tuesday and finish the journey with us. <br />
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<a href="http://www.ntxe-news.com/artman/publish/TQ_Around_the_World.shtml
">TravelQuest, Part I</a>Siskerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15715526045161938875noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33294586.post-54064194633246041792016-02-08T15:10:00.000-06:002016-02-08T15:10:30.120-06:00C's Comeuppance comes to Nook and iBooksFinally, I took <i>C's Comeuppance</i>, the second in my Bone Cold--Alive series, off its Kindle-only status and have added it to iBooks and Nook. <i>T's Trial</i>, the first in the series, will release from Kindle-only in March and then I'll have all of my books available everywhere. <br />
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Thanks for your patience. Siskerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15715526045161938875noreply@blogger.com0