tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-48685638036189767162024-02-19T00:08:34.291-05:00Mere JoyceMere Joycehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05659598966162312830noreply@blogger.comBlogger417125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4868563803618976716.post-59451602702942333162015-09-04T00:00:00.000-04:002015-09-04T00:00:06.431-04:00Celebrate the Small ThingsHosted by <a href="http://lexacain.blogspot.co.uk/">Lexa Cain</a>, this is a great weekly chance to talk about the small things worth celebrating in life!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeTH3pLDXIeWmVMxb2C8kIbmEl1uiCVddQ0-DU2Lcmcl486_T38CZgpywMXdaVq1WyP-Yk-St5q-PAsMoIWsyOL3AhVN9paS6y1_7p48VusINBK5bbHCHNbtv7EbIkDWW4gEu8WRulUKZ_/s1600/SmallThings.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeTH3pLDXIeWmVMxb2C8kIbmEl1uiCVddQ0-DU2Lcmcl486_T38CZgpywMXdaVq1WyP-Yk-St5q-PAsMoIWsyOL3AhVN9paS6y1_7p48VusINBK5bbHCHNbtv7EbIkDWW4gEu8WRulUKZ_/s1600/SmallThings.jpg" /></a>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst">
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/null" name="_GoBack"></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">This week, I'm celebrating:</span><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">September! - Okay, so it's a bittersweet month for me. I go back to work later this month, which is exciting, but also sad and a definite cause for a bit of baby-related panic! But it's also the month of my son's birthday, which is crazy (how has a year gone by already??) and wonderful.</span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">Bathroom reno! - I have wanted to renovate the bathroom in our house since we moved in a year and a half ago (it was supposed to be the first project we did!) And now finally, it's begun! There's a lot to be done (it's a total gut job), and I currently have no shower (o_o), but I'm so excited for the finished result! </span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
</ul>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">What are you celebrating this week? </span><br />
<br />
<br />Mere Joycehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05659598966162312830noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4868563803618976716.post-38824119243619994582015-08-28T09:48:00.001-04:002015-08-28T09:48:38.918-04:00Celebrate the Small ThingsHosted by <a href="http://lexacain.blogspot.co.uk/">Lexa Cain</a>, this is a great weekly chance to talk about the small things worth celebrating in life!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeTH3pLDXIeWmVMxb2C8kIbmEl1uiCVddQ0-DU2Lcmcl486_T38CZgpywMXdaVq1WyP-Yk-St5q-PAsMoIWsyOL3AhVN9paS6y1_7p48VusINBK5bbHCHNbtv7EbIkDWW4gEu8WRulUKZ_/s1600/SmallThings.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeTH3pLDXIeWmVMxb2C8kIbmEl1uiCVddQ0-DU2Lcmcl486_T38CZgpywMXdaVq1WyP-Yk-St5q-PAsMoIWsyOL3AhVN9paS6y1_7p48VusINBK5bbHCHNbtv7EbIkDWW4gEu8WRulUKZ_/s1600/SmallThings.jpg" /></a>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst">
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/null" name="_GoBack"></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">This week, I'm celebrating:</span><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">Nice email conversations - I don't know about you, but usually my emails are pretty straight-forward question/answer, request/response kind of messages. But this week, I had some casual, friendly email exchanges...it was a nice change!</span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">Shopping for Halloween costumes! - Okay, it's still August. But I shop early for everything (yes, I've already started my Christmas shopping, too!), so for my family, it's prime costume shopping-time. It's so much fun hunting for each piece, and finding incredible deals at the same time!</span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
</ul>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">What are you celebrating this week? </span><br />
<br />
<br />Mere Joycehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05659598966162312830noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4868563803618976716.post-51223060528735536542015-08-26T00:00:00.000-04:002015-08-26T00:00:00.583-04:00Writing WednesdayWelcome to <b>Writing Wednesday</b>, a <i>kind of</i> regular post about what I'm up to writing-wise!<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #351c75;">~ What I'm Writing ~</span></div>
<br />
I'm nearing the end of a major manuscript revision, which is pretty exciting. This is the story where I'm changing POV and upping the whole thing from MG to YA (which also means adding more length). I have one new chapter left to write, and three more to edit, before the revision is complete. I think, after it's done, I'll still want to add about 5,000 more words overall, but that's doable in the editing stages! <br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #351c75;">~ What I'm Editing ~</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #351c75;"><br /></span></div>
I'm doing a read-through of a different YA project right now, just trying to decide if it's something I want to start working on again or not. I've been reading about a chapter a day, making some light edits as I go along while taking notes on the bigger things to be addressed if I do go full-force into edits with it.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #351c75;">~ What I'm Researching ~</span></div>
<br />
Lavender Festivals and old cemeteries, =). They kind of sound like opposite topics, but really, they're both beautiful things to look at!<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #351c75;">~ What I'm Planning ~</span></div>
<br />
I'm starting to think of writing a revised synopsis for the revision I'm about to complete. I'm definitely not a fan of synopsis writing, so if I start early and tweak later, it'll probably keep me from going totally insane!<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
~*~*~*~<br />
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
That's the recap for this week. Let me know in the comments what you've been up to in your writing lately!</div>
</div>
Mere Joycehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05659598966162312830noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4868563803618976716.post-68028226578737288482015-08-22T00:00:00.000-04:002015-08-22T00:00:00.185-04:00A Grimm Challenge - Month 6 Recap<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhprEonAG87jhT-I0h_YGDhc9GnjN48ibGA8Bo5EF7ylt4UVVTDGJHg5gjrzpwltQ_S3-HS_Yoo60QqBI9vBh5daabtnycAXwhwZ0qlg80h_QXJvtqbkEkFQr3fjXjWAI2Pl5SuKXWfBJpU/s1600/Grimm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhprEonAG87jhT-I0h_YGDhc9GnjN48ibGA8Bo5EF7ylt4UVVTDGJHg5gjrzpwltQ_S3-HS_Yoo60QqBI9vBh5daabtnycAXwhwZ0qlg80h_QXJvtqbkEkFQr3fjXjWAI2Pl5SuKXWfBJpU/s1600/Grimm.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<br />
Six months into <b>A Grimm Challenge</b>! <br />
<br />
It's been half a year of reading fairy-tales! Crazy, eh? Well, it's not over yet, but we're getting quite close. Less than a month's worth of stories remain!<br />
<br />
I'll save my final thoughts for the final recap. So for now, I'll just say that it's been a lot of fun reading these tales, and I cannot believe we've been doing this for six months already!<br />
<br />
My favourite tales from this past month include <i>The Duration of Life</i> and <i>The True Bride</i>. I especially enjoyed reading this last one, as it's one of the tales featured in the show <i>The Storyteller</i>, one of my favourite sources for fairy-tale retellings!<br />
<br />
<br />Mere Joycehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05659598966162312830noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4868563803618976716.post-82080892615411426522015-08-14T00:00:00.000-04:002015-08-14T00:00:01.991-04:00Celebrate the Small ThingsHosted by <a href="http://lexacain.blogspot.co.uk/">Lexa Cain</a>, this is a great weekly chance to talk about the small things worth celebrating in life!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeTH3pLDXIeWmVMxb2C8kIbmEl1uiCVddQ0-DU2Lcmcl486_T38CZgpywMXdaVq1WyP-Yk-St5q-PAsMoIWsyOL3AhVN9paS6y1_7p48VusINBK5bbHCHNbtv7EbIkDWW4gEu8WRulUKZ_/s1600/SmallThings.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeTH3pLDXIeWmVMxb2C8kIbmEl1uiCVddQ0-DU2Lcmcl486_T38CZgpywMXdaVq1WyP-Yk-St5q-PAsMoIWsyOL3AhVN9paS6y1_7p48VusINBK5bbHCHNbtv7EbIkDWW4gEu8WRulUKZ_/s1600/SmallThings.jpg" /></a>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst">
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/null" name="_GoBack"></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">This week, I'm celebrating:</span><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">Visits with friends - I had a nice visit with some new friends earlier this week, and we're having a get together with some old friends this weekend! </span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">Good quality sweatpants - With fall approaching in a month (or two?), comfy pants are a must, especially for writing! Got a great deal on some nice new sweatpants this week. Can't wait to try them out while working on a story, =)</span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
</ul>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">What are you celebrating this week? </span><br />
<br />
<br />Mere Joycehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05659598966162312830noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4868563803618976716.post-29799420531327853922015-08-05T00:00:00.000-04:002015-08-05T00:00:06.089-04:00Writing WednesdayWelcome to <b>Writing Wednesday</b>, a <i>kind of</i> regular post about what I'm up to writing-wise!<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #351c75;">~ What I'm Writing ~</span></div>
<br />
Haven't been actively writing in the last two weeks...it's been edits and some plotting, which I'll talk about below!<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #351c75;">~ What I'm Editing ~</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #351c75;"><br /></span></div>
I finished draft one edits of my current YA project! Thinking about what needs changing and what's looking good as I pass the time before the next edits begin, =)<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #351c75;">~ What I'm Researching ~</span></div>
<br />
Police uniforms and some grammar-y things. Nitpicking at small details, currently!<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #351c75;">~ What I'm Planning ~</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #351c75;"><span style="color: black;">I'm reading a fantasy book right now, and it's put me in the fantasy mood. So I've started looking at an old project of mine again. It's a YA fantasy which has been shelved for a while, but I just adore the characters, their relationships, and their growth. Looking at the project again has made me realize the writing is definitely workable (yay!), while the plot is...probably not, =/. However, I've had a great thought on how to change the plot into a more unique and satisfying story, while keeping the characters and setting I've already created!</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"><span style="color: black;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #351c75;"><span style="color: black;">It's a lot to work through, but I'm excited. I love the idea for this story, so I'm eager to get to work making it shine!</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"><span style="color: black;"><br /></span></span>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #351c75;"><span style="color: black;">~*~*~*~</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #351c75;"><span style="color: black;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #351c75;"><span style="color: black;">A short recap this week. Let me know in the comments what you've been up to in your writing lately!</span></span></div>
</div>
Mere Joycehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05659598966162312830noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4868563803618976716.post-2820261253787514662015-08-04T00:00:00.000-04:002015-08-04T00:00:01.620-04:00Cover Reveal - The Story's End by Danielle E. ShipleyToday I get the privilege of taking part in the cover reveal for the upcoming book <i>The Story's End</i> by Danielle E. Shipley. This is an extra special reveal, as it's the last book in the Wilderhark Tales series!<br />
<br />
So without further ado...<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbhORox_oISgtSh7o8pGCsLirdch-qhy1GUx7T0w8t3SF3rJbLcod9o06txYmONVEls_ZyhyphenhyphenwiMH5MIKReBqZQgc_su0k3n5lGaluH2TNPcrQ1leyR7gNC8EaaoVNvXO-U_xrKd7uaK94o/s1600/Story%2527s+End+Cover%252C+front.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbhORox_oISgtSh7o8pGCsLirdch-qhy1GUx7T0w8t3SF3rJbLcod9o06txYmONVEls_ZyhyphenhyphenwiMH5MIKReBqZQgc_su0k3n5lGaluH2TNPcrQ1leyR7gNC8EaaoVNvXO-U_xrKd7uaK94o/s400/Story%2527s+End+Cover%252C+front.png" width="248" /></a></div>
<b><br /></b>
<b>About the book:</b><br />
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: 'times new roman','new york',times,serif;">For
Gant-o’-the-Lute, “ever after” has been less than happy. With the last
of Carillon’s charm over him gone, the minstrel-king puts royalty behind
him in pursuit of the music he once knew and the lifelong dream he let
slip through his fingers. But dark whispers on the wind warn that time
is running out – not only for Lute and the apprentice in his shadow, but
the whole of earth and Sky.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: 'times new roman','new york',times,serif;">Genre - fairytale novella</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: 'times new roman','new york',times,serif;">Release date - <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_359059460" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ">October 13, 2015</span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: 'times new roman','new york',times,serif;">Add to your Goodreads shelf - <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25958863-the-story-s-end" target="_blank">https://www.goodreads.com/<wbr></wbr>book/show/25958863-the-story-<wbr></wbr>s-end</a></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: 'times new roman','new york',times,serif;">Future availability - Paperback (Amazon and CreateSpace) and e-Book (Kindle and Nook)</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<b>About the Wilderhark Tales series:</b><br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: 'times new roman','new york',times,serif;">An
enchantress’s curse turns a spoiled royal into a beast; a princess’s
pricked finger places her under a hundred-year spell; bales of straw are
spun as golden as the singing harp whisked down a giant beanstalk – all
within sight of Wilderhark, the forest that’s seen it all.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: 'times new roman','new york',times,serif;">You’ve
heard the stories – of young men scaling rope-like braids to assist the
tower-bound damsel; of gorgeous gowns appearing just in time for a <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_359059459" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ">midnight</span></span>
ball; of frog princes, and swan princes, and princes saved from
drowning by maidens of the sea. Tales of magic. Tales of adventure. Most
of all, tales of true love.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: 'times new roman','new york',times,serif;">Once upon a time, you knew them as<span> </span>fairytales. Know them now as Wilderhark’s.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<b><span style="font-family: 'times new roman','new york',times,serif;">About the author:</span></b></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: 'times new roman','new york',times,serif;"><span style="font-family: 'times new roman','new york',times,serif;">Danielle
E. Shipley’s first novelettes told the everyday misadventures of wacky
kids like herself. …Or so she thought. Unbeknownst to them all, half of
her characters were actually closeted elves, dwarves, fairies, or some
combination thereof. When it all came to light, Danielle did the
sensible thing: Packed up and moved to Fantasy Land, where daily rent is
the low, low price of her heart, soul, blood, sweat, tears, firstborn
child, sanity, and words; lots of them. She’s also been known to spend
short bursts of time in the real-life Chicago area with the parents who
home schooled her and the two little sisters who keep her humble. When
she’s not living the highs and lows of writing, publishing, and all that
authorial jazz, she’s probably blogging about it at <a href="http://www.everonword.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">www.EverOnWord.wordpress.com</a>.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: 'times new roman','new york',times,serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: 'times new roman','new york',times,serif;">~*~*~*~</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: 'times new roman','new york',times,serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: 'times new roman','new york',times,serif;">Add the book, check out the author, and bounce up and down with anticipation until October 13th!</span></div>
Mere Joycehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05659598966162312830noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4868563803618976716.post-73543388028049742272015-07-31T09:01:00.002-04:002015-07-31T09:01:48.308-04:00Celebrate the Small ThingsHosted by <a href="http://lexacain.blogspot.co.uk/">Lexa Cain</a>, this is a great weekly chance to talk about the small things worth celebrating in life!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeTH3pLDXIeWmVMxb2C8kIbmEl1uiCVddQ0-DU2Lcmcl486_T38CZgpywMXdaVq1WyP-Yk-St5q-PAsMoIWsyOL3AhVN9paS6y1_7p48VusINBK5bbHCHNbtv7EbIkDWW4gEu8WRulUKZ_/s1600/SmallThings.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeTH3pLDXIeWmVMxb2C8kIbmEl1uiCVddQ0-DU2Lcmcl486_T38CZgpywMXdaVq1WyP-Yk-St5q-PAsMoIWsyOL3AhVN9paS6y1_7p48VusINBK5bbHCHNbtv7EbIkDWW4gEu8WRulUKZ_/s1600/SmallThings.jpg" /></a>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst">
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/null" name="_GoBack"></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">This week, I'm celebrating:</span><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">A weekend craft festival - there's a giant festival every year in my hometown on the August long weekend, but we haven't been up to it for a few years now. I think, however, we'll make the trip to visit my parents and do a bit of shopping this year!</span> </li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">Tea - I love tea, so that's nothing new. But in the last few days I've been drinking a lot of it...usually over the summer I don't drink as much, due to the heat. But this week I've just really felt like having tea, so tea I've had. It's been lovely, =)</span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
</ul>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">What are you celebrating this week? </span><br />
<br />
<br />Mere Joycehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05659598966162312830noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4868563803618976716.post-3957352856479242872015-07-28T18:27:00.001-04:002015-07-28T18:27:39.973-04:00A Grimm Challenge - Month 5 Recap<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhprEonAG87jhT-I0h_YGDhc9GnjN48ibGA8Bo5EF7ylt4UVVTDGJHg5gjrzpwltQ_S3-HS_Yoo60QqBI9vBh5daabtnycAXwhwZ0qlg80h_QXJvtqbkEkFQr3fjXjWAI2Pl5SuKXWfBJpU/s1600/Grimm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhprEonAG87jhT-I0h_YGDhc9GnjN48ibGA8Bo5EF7ylt4UVVTDGJHg5gjrzpwltQ_S3-HS_Yoo60QqBI9vBh5daabtnycAXwhwZ0qlg80h_QXJvtqbkEkFQr3fjXjWAI2Pl5SuKXWfBJpU/s1600/Grimm.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<br />
Five months into <b>A Grimm Challenge</b>! <br />
<br />
So this month I've been thinking about how these tales would be presented if they were written down today, and not in the early 1800s. Now, this in itself is a tricky subject. I am, as a librarian (and just generally as myself) <i>strongly</i> against censorship. I also happen to love horror, and dark children's tales. So I would never want to brighten these stories, or take out the gruesome, scary, or otherwise "unwholesome" aspects of the tales. So what I'm more interested in is not the events of the tales, but the characters within it.<br />
<br />
Sure, there would be stronger female leads (although there are a lot of stories with strong females...they just also all happen to be pious and beautiful). There would, too, be less of a focus on outward beauty. But I'd also be curious to see how couples would be switched up...if certain girls would be swapped for boys, or if some sets of siblings would have more complex relationships. It'd be really fascinating to see these stories not changed, exactly, but adjusted, and fleshed out. I suppose that's what retellings are for, but it'd be neat to see them kept as short collections of stories, just with a bit more complexity and unpredictability thrown in!<br />
<br />
My favourite tales from this past month include <i>The Stolen Farthings</i> and <i>The Glass Coffin!</i><br />
<br />
I have a goal in mind to finish this collection before I go back to work in the middle of September. If we don't veer terribly off-course, this should be doable, so an end is definitely in sight!Mere Joycehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05659598966162312830noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4868563803618976716.post-50012460091736285962015-07-24T10:12:00.001-04:002015-07-24T10:12:58.997-04:00Celebrate the Small ThingsHosted by <a href="http://lexacain.blogspot.co.uk/">Lexa Cain</a>, this is a great weekly chance to talk about the small things worth celebrating in life!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeTH3pLDXIeWmVMxb2C8kIbmEl1uiCVddQ0-DU2Lcmcl486_T38CZgpywMXdaVq1WyP-Yk-St5q-PAsMoIWsyOL3AhVN9paS6y1_7p48VusINBK5bbHCHNbtv7EbIkDWW4gEu8WRulUKZ_/s1600/SmallThings.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeTH3pLDXIeWmVMxb2C8kIbmEl1uiCVddQ0-DU2Lcmcl486_T38CZgpywMXdaVq1WyP-Yk-St5q-PAsMoIWsyOL3AhVN9paS6y1_7p48VusINBK5bbHCHNbtv7EbIkDWW4gEu8WRulUKZ_/s1600/SmallThings.jpg" /></a>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst">
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/null" name="_GoBack"></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">This week, I'm celebrating:</span><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">Reading new books and receiving new books in the mail!</span> </li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">Editing. Got a lot more editing done this week than I expected to, which was great! Makes all the reading seem like a reward, =)</span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
</ul>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">What are you celebrating this week? </span><br />
<br />
<br />Mere Joycehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05659598966162312830noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4868563803618976716.post-55450520793993136322015-07-20T00:00:00.000-04:002015-07-20T00:00:02.678-04:00Another Blank Canvas Giveaway!It's been a month since <i>Blank Canvas</i> hit virtual shelves! I can't believe a month has gone by already...it's crazy!<br />
<br />
I wanted to do a little celebrating, so I've put up a Goodreads Giveaway for a signed print copy of the book. If you missed your chance to win during the launch week party, you can enter the giveaway on Goodreads below!<br />
<br />
The giveaway will run until August 19th, =). Good luck!<br />
<br />
<div id="goodreadsGiveawayWidget147531">
<!-- Show static html as a placeholder in case js is not enabled -->
<br />
<div class="goodreadsGiveawayWidget" style="border-radius: 10px; border: 2px solid #EBE8D5; margin: 10px auto; max-width: 350px; padding: 10px 15px;">
<style>
.goodreadsGiveawayWidget { color: #555; font-family: georgia, serif; font-weight: normal; text-align: left; font-size: 14px;
font-style: normal; background: white; }
.goodreadsGiveawayWidget p { margin: 0 0 .5em !important; padding: 0; }
.goodreadsGiveawayWidgetEnterLink {
display: inline-block;
color: #181818;
background-color: #F6F6EE;
border: 1px solid #9D8A78;
border-radius: 3px;
font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;
font-weight: bold;
text-decoration: none;
outline: none;
font-size: 13px;
padding: 8px 12px;
}
.goodreadsGiveawayWidgetEnterLink:hover {
color: #181818;
background-color: #F7F2ED;
border: 1px solid #AFAFAF;
text-decoration: none;
}
</style>
<br />
<h2 style="color: #555555; font-size: 20px; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; line-height: 20px; margin: 0 0 10px !important; padding: 0 !important; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/" target="_new">Goodreads</a> Book Giveaway
</h2>
<div style="float: left;">
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25757695"><img alt="Blank Canvas by Mere Joyce" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1434744686l/25757695.jpg" title="Blank Canvas by Mere Joyce" width="100" /></a>
</div>
<div style="margin: 0 0 0 110px !important; padding: 0 0 0 0 !important;">
<h3 style="font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 20px; margin: 0; padding: 0;">
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25757695">Blank Canvas</a>
</h3>
<h4 style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin: 0 0 10px; padding: 0;">
by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8424997.Mere_Joyce" style="text-decoration: none;">Mere Joyce</a>
</h4>
<div class="giveaway_details">
Giveaway ends August 19, 2015.
<br />
See the <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/show/147531" style="text-decoration: none;">giveaway details</a>
at Goodreads.
</div>
</div>
<div style="clear: both;">
</div>
<a class="goodreadsGiveawayWidgetEnterLink" href="https://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/enter_choose_address/147531">Enter Giveaway</a>
</div>
</div>
<script charset="utf-8" src="https://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/widget/147531" type="text/javascript"></script>Mere Joycehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05659598966162312830noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4868563803618976716.post-53935261485935311832015-07-17T00:00:00.000-04:002015-07-17T00:00:03.177-04:00Celebrate the Small ThingsHosted by <a href="http://lexacain.blogspot.co.uk/">Lexa Cain</a>, this is a great weekly chance to talk about the small things worth celebrating in life!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeTH3pLDXIeWmVMxb2C8kIbmEl1uiCVddQ0-DU2Lcmcl486_T38CZgpywMXdaVq1WyP-Yk-St5q-PAsMoIWsyOL3AhVN9paS6y1_7p48VusINBK5bbHCHNbtv7EbIkDWW4gEu8WRulUKZ_/s1600/SmallThings.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeTH3pLDXIeWmVMxb2C8kIbmEl1uiCVddQ0-DU2Lcmcl486_T38CZgpywMXdaVq1WyP-Yk-St5q-PAsMoIWsyOL3AhVN9paS6y1_7p48VusINBK5bbHCHNbtv7EbIkDWW4gEu8WRulUKZ_/s1600/SmallThings.jpg" /></a>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst">
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/null" name="_GoBack"></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">This week, I'm celebrating:</span><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">Visiting with a friend and her new baby - great to catch up and meet the new adorable addition!</span> </li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">Ordering new books...I ended up making two book orders this week. Oops! (sorrynotsorry)</span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">Beautiful weather - I'm not as much a fan of the heat as I used to be, but it's still nice to have a few gorgeous summer days for enjoying the sun.</span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
</ul>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">What are you celebrating this week? </span><br />
<br />
<br />Mere Joycehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05659598966162312830noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4868563803618976716.post-32244881902682578462015-07-15T00:00:00.000-04:002015-07-15T00:00:01.971-04:00Writing WednesdayHi there!<br />
<br />
So, a while ago I participated in the What's Up Wednesday blog hop. Sadly, the blog hop is no more, but I really enjoyed having a weekly place to catch you up on my writerly doings, and check out what other writers are up to as well.<br />
<br />
With that in mind, I've decided to do my own Writing Wednesday post. This isn't going to be anything "official", and I probably won't actually get around to doing a post every week. But it'll help me to post with a semi-regular topic already in place. I'm just going to post short updates...no super long, in-depth discussions or anything! If you'd like to join in, tell me what you've been up to in the comments, or link to your own blog! <br />
<br />
So here we go:<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #351c75;">~ What I'm Writing ~</span></div>
<br />
Currently I've got two main projects and a short story on the go. I actually just finished the first draft of one of these projects, so technically I'll be talking about it in the next section. The two main projects are both YA Contemporaries, while the short story is not, =).<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #351c75;">~ What I'm Editing ~</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #351c75;"><br /></span></div>
As I mentioned in the section above, I just finished the first draft of one of my main projects. I finished it on Monday, so I'm currently in the first-round edits stage. I always do my first-round edits immediately after writing is complete. I do this for two reasons: one, I want to make sure the story actually flows and makes sense, and two, there are usually a few details I've added during the writing process which I need to back-add earlier into the story–I like to take care of this right away! <br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #351c75;">~ What I'm Researching ~</span></div>
<br />
This week's research has been mostly dance terminology. Not one kind of dance in particular, but a collection of various, kind of random, dance terms...I have specific ideas of what certain movements should look like, but have no idea what they're called...it's actually quite difficult trying to find the proper terms when you've got one move in mind and don't quite know how to describe it!<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #351c75;">~ What I'm Planning ~</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #351c75;"><span style="color: black;">This next week is all about edits! I'll be working on the first-round edits of the MS I just finished writing. If I need an editing break, I'll probably be listening to music, trying to come up with a playlist (or partial playlist) to go with the story.</span></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #351c75;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #351c75;">~ ~ ~</span> </span></span></div>
<br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"><span style="color: black;">Well, that's my writing week so far...how about you? </span> </span></div>
Mere Joycehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05659598966162312830noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4868563803618976716.post-43566310578552405722015-07-06T11:34:00.001-04:002015-07-06T14:57:29.733-04:00A Grimm Challenge - Month 4 Recap<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhprEonAG87jhT-I0h_YGDhc9GnjN48ibGA8Bo5EF7ylt4UVVTDGJHg5gjrzpwltQ_S3-HS_Yoo60QqBI9vBh5daabtnycAXwhwZ0qlg80h_QXJvtqbkEkFQr3fjXjWAI2Pl5SuKXWfBJpU/s1600/Grimm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhprEonAG87jhT-I0h_YGDhc9GnjN48ibGA8Bo5EF7ylt4UVVTDGJHg5gjrzpwltQ_S3-HS_Yoo60QqBI9vBh5daabtnycAXwhwZ0qlg80h_QXJvtqbkEkFQr3fjXjWAI2Pl5SuKXWfBJpU/s1600/Grimm.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<br />
Four months into <b>A Grimm Challenge</b>! <br />
<br />
We're over halfway through the challenge!<br />
<br />
One of the curious things I've wondered about during this challenge is how all these stories would come together if the Grimm collection were laid out differently. As it is, there are definite themes grouping the stories together. Certain phrases, character types, or specifics of trades (tales of tailors, for example) are spread throughout the book. But there will be several stories in a row beginning with a king and his daughters, or two siblings, or a frog in a well, or a boy named Hans, etc.<br />
<br />
I think it'd be interesting to know why the stories are grouped as they are, since there might be two or three stories starting with a boy named Hans in a row, and then the tales will veer off, until one hundred stories later you'll find another pocket of Hans tales to read. It'd be quite the task to regroup the stories in different ways, but it'd be interesting to see how the collection would differ.<br />
<br />
My favourite tales from this past month include <i>Hans the Hedgehog</i> and <i>The Shoes That Were Danced to Pieces</i>. I've also come across some of the most disturbing tales this month, the ones about dead children like <i>The Willful Child</i>. Some of these tales are odd, and quite creepy!Mere Joycehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05659598966162312830noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4868563803618976716.post-55944433118442515602015-07-03T08:23:00.000-04:002015-07-03T08:23:01.280-04:00Celebrate the Small ThingsHosted by <a href="http://lexacain.blogspot.co.uk/">Lexa Cain</a>, this is a great weekly chance to talk about the small things worth celebrating in life!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeTH3pLDXIeWmVMxb2C8kIbmEl1uiCVddQ0-DU2Lcmcl486_T38CZgpywMXdaVq1WyP-Yk-St5q-PAsMoIWsyOL3AhVN9paS6y1_7p48VusINBK5bbHCHNbtv7EbIkDWW4gEu8WRulUKZ_/s1600/SmallThings.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeTH3pLDXIeWmVMxb2C8kIbmEl1uiCVddQ0-DU2Lcmcl486_T38CZgpywMXdaVq1WyP-Yk-St5q-PAsMoIWsyOL3AhVN9paS6y1_7p48VusINBK5bbHCHNbtv7EbIkDWW4gEu8WRulUKZ_/s1600/SmallThings.jpg" /></a>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst">
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/null" name="_GoBack"></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">This week, I'm celebrating:</span><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">A nice relaxing weekend after a busy week!</span> </li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";"></span><ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">Shopping for our upcoming bathroom renovation...I've wanted to redo the bathroom since we moved into the house over a year ago, so I'm thrilled we're finally starting to plan it! </span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">Reading a good book...there's not much that tops a great read, is there?</span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
</ul>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">What are you celebrating this week? </span><br />
<br />
<br />Mere Joycehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05659598966162312830noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4868563803618976716.post-72274592087001087992015-06-29T10:13:00.000-04:002015-06-29T10:13:02.973-04:00Blank Canvas Blog Tour, Another Giveaway, and Print Copies!Hey everyone!<br />
<br />
Now that the <i>Blank Canvas</i> Launch Party has ended, I'm happy to announce the official Blank Canvas Blog Tour is live!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://bridgingthegappromotions.blogspot.ca/2015/06/new-tour-for-blank-canvas-by-mere-joyce.html"><img alt="http://bridgingthegappromotions.blogspot.ca/2015/06/new-tour-for-blank-canvas-by-mere-joyce.html" border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNk856bKvEoFuGMrveOVvEXUCoVCjN5P4exL0VAupzkqntwovlJVX3RB7trwqNbt7ly30E3XdlQXnT_qF5HabTr93xMrTsaPVJeYU56dgtSXfXZTY_eiEUjfLu6LAhJbsrKG-QK0mzGCR9/s400/Blank+Canvas+tour+banner.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
Click the image above (or click <a href="http://bridgingthegappromotions.blogspot.ca/2015/06/new-tour-for-blank-canvas-by-mere-joyce.html">here</a>) for all of the blog tour stops. There will be interviews, top tens, book reviews, and of course, your chance to win a <b>$20 Evernight Teen Gift Card</b>! So make sure you check it out...it's going to be a lot of fun!<br />
<br />
And just in time for the blog tour, I'm thrilled to let you all know that <i>Blank Canvas</i> is now available in print! <a href="https://www.createspace.com/5586380">Click here to buy it direct</a> (and for those Amazon shoppers out there, it should be on the Amazon site soon!)<br />
<br />
Happy Monday, everyone!Mere Joycehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05659598966162312830noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4868563803618976716.post-74085912934421276902015-06-27T00:00:00.000-04:002015-06-27T00:00:02.485-04:00Blank Canvas Launch Party Day 7 - Wrap-up, Thanks, and a Blog Tour!It's day <i>seven</i> of the <b><i>Blank Canvas</i> Launch Party</b>!<br />
<br />
It's the last day of the launch week party, so today I want to thank everyone for stopping by, commenting, reading/reviewing my story, and/or just generally being around for the fun and frustrations we share on the blog from our writing lives!<br />
<br />
I want to thank the <a href="http://evernightteen.com/">Evernight Teen</a> team for reading my work and liking it enough to publish it, and I also want to thank the folks at <a href="http://bridgingthegappromotions.blogspot.ca/">Bridging the Gap Promotions</a> for putting together my upcoming official <i>Blank Canvas</i> blog tour!<br />
<br />
Of course, on that note:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0F8BYh52vsxQxDJl7nxzMj2I10cidKNTCzqJmkwjyxLjHNWqKxrDP9r3MNSAf4O4BLb6nYJsupKGoWcigEeaJuILoXrvNBM_p7c9G96RwTS8nEcNrQEIvE_ytVg-eycanxR1msJlvfiQZ/s1600/Blank+Canvas+tour+banner.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0F8BYh52vsxQxDJl7nxzMj2I10cidKNTCzqJmkwjyxLjHNWqKxrDP9r3MNSAf4O4BLb6nYJsupKGoWcigEeaJuILoXrvNBM_p7c9G96RwTS8nEcNrQEIvE_ytVg-eycanxR1msJlvfiQZ/s400/Blank+Canvas+tour+banner.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
I have a blog tour coming up! Check out each stop on the tour for more insights about me, my writing, and <i>Blank Canvas</i>. Plus, enter for your chance to win a <b>$20 Evernight Teen Gift Card</b>! I will post the details of the tour here, and I'll be tweeting them as well. So follow along for more fun.<br />
<br />
And, of course, one giveaway isn't enough, so if you haven't already, enter below for your chance to win a signed, print copy of <i>Blank Canvas</i>!<br />
<br />
Thanks again for all of your support and encouragement. It's been a lot of fun spending this week in the world of one story, and now, it's time to get back to work on another one!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a class="rcptr" data-raflid="b1df35b41" data-template="" data-theme="classic" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/b1df35b41/" id="rcwidget_fih98j6l" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">There will be 2 prizes of 1 signed copy of the upcoming print version of <i>Blank Canvas</i>.
This contest is open to residents of the US and Canada (excluding
Quebec) only, and will run from Sunday, June 21 12:00 AM through
Saturday, June 27th 11:59 PM Eastern time. Entrants must be 18 years of
age or older. No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Everyone is allowed one free entry into the giveaway
draw. Additional entries can be earned by commenting on the blog during
each day of the party (1 entry per day). Two winners will be randomly
selected and notified within 7 days of the giveaway ending. Mere Joyce
will ship the two winners a signed print copy of <i>Blank Canvas</i>
once the print version has been released (Please note this may take
several weeks.) Winners will be notified when the book has shipped. </span><br />
<br />
<script src="//widget-prime.rafflecopter.com/launch.js"></script></div>
Mere Joycehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05659598966162312830noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4868563803618976716.post-49058534778753578052015-06-26T00:00:00.000-04:002015-06-26T00:00:00.545-04:00Blank Canvas Launch Party Day 6 - Bonus ExcerptIt's day <i>six</i> of the <b><i>Blank Canvas</i> Launch Party</b>!<br />
<br />
The party is almost over! I hope you've enjoyed the behind the scenes goodies I've shared this week, and I hope, too, you've entered the giveaway for a signed print copy of <i>Blank Canvas (</i>if not, you can enter at the end of this post!)<br />
<br />
Today, I thought it would be fun to share an additional teaser excerpt from the book (if you're wondering where the first excerpt is, check it out <a href="http://www.evernightteen.com/blank-canvas-by-mere-joyce/">here</a>).<br />
<br />
In this scene, Maddie is being driven from her psychiatrist's office to her art therapist's clinic. Hope you enjoy!<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
~*~*~*~ </div>
<br />
<i>“Don’t you have anything better to do than drive me around?” I ask, hugging my bag to my chest and studying his reaction. When he smiles, my stomach still flutters like it did years ago. But I’m not a child anymore. I don’t have romantic visions of the future like I once did.</i><br />
<br />
<i>Wesley makes me feel safe, and for the moment, safe is a blessing. I’m not sure I could have survived this long without him.</i><br />
<br />
<i>“Someone has to make you go to therapy,” he replies, but even when he says the word </i>therapy<i>, it still sounds like it belongs in everyday conversation. Like it’s normal. I lean back against the headrest and let a smile lengthen my lips.</i><br />
<br />
<i>“I don’t mind seeing Klara,” I tell him, even though I hate sitting in Klara’s office, repeating the story of my abduction week after week. I’m not sure why I lie. I guess it’s petty to complain about the woman assigned to help me, when he’s volunteering his time to make sure I have the chance to receive her help in the first place.</i><br />
<br />
<i>“But you hate art therapy,” Wesley finishes for me. His voice is tight when he says it, and I’m surprised. My reluctance to attend this second form of therapy has resulted in many drawn out conversations with my parents. Some have ended in shouting matches, others in tears, and most have been dispirited, fruitless attempts to find a solution to please us all. It’s no secret I want to stop my art therapy, nor is it a hidden fact Mom and Dad think art therapy is the most crucial aspect of my rehabilitation. But I didn’t realize Wesley thinks the sessions are important, too.</i><br />
<br />
<i>The van makes a clunky right turn off Bayfield Street, and after driving past a neighborhood of old houses and new townhomes, an office park comes into view. I can spot the windows of the Healing Expressions clinic, three floors up in the far building. My throat is already dry, and we haven’t even parked yet. My legs regained their strength during the ride, but my feet are tingling again. I grip my bag tightly.</i><br />
<br />
<i>“See you in an hour?” Wesley asks as he pulls up in front of the building. His phone buzzes, rattling the cup holder it sits in. I wonder who’s calling, and wish I could stick around to find out. I would love to sit in this van, answering phone calls or spinning the radio dial, talking to Wesley or not talking and simply enjoying a drive down an endless sunny road.</i><br />
<script src="//widget-prime.rafflecopter.com/launch.js"></script>
<br />
<i>Instead, I only nod at Wesley’s question, pushing open the door and climbing out of the seat before I lose my nerve and beg him to take me away from the clinic. Wesley gives me a wave before reaching down to grab his phone. I stare at him for a few long seconds, and then turn with a sigh and walk, still a little dazed, towards the building.</i><br />
<br />
<i>The glass windows catch the sun, and I have to shield my eyes from the blinding gleam. Around me, the world is bright and warm and alive. It’s beautiful outside––late spring in full bloom. I used to love this time of year, but today the vibrant landscape is shaded black and grey.</i><br />
<br />
<i>To me, the world has lost all color. Once, I would have delighted in painting it. Now, the idea terrifies me.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>~*~*~*~</i></div>
<br />
Stay tuned for day <i>seven</i>, the final day,<i> </i>of the <b><i>Blank Canvas</i> Launch Party</b> tomorrow, and if you haven't already done so, enter to win a signed print copy of <i>Blank Canvas</i> below!<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a class="rcptr" data-raflid="b1df35b41" data-template="" data-theme="classic" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/b1df35b41/" id="rcwidget_fih98j6l" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">There will be 2 prizes of 1 signed copy of the upcoming print version of <i>Blank Canvas</i>.
This contest is open to residents of the US and Canada (excluding
Quebec) only, and will run from Sunday, June 21 12:00 AM through
Saturday, June 27th 11:59 PM Eastern time. Entrants must be 18 years of
age or older. No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Everyone is allowed one free entry into the giveaway
draw. Additional entries can be earned by commenting on the blog during
each day of the party (1 entry per day). Two winners will be randomly
selected and notified within 7 days of the giveaway ending. Mere Joyce
will ship the two winners a signed print copy of <i>Blank Canvas</i>
once the print version has been released (Please note this may take
several weeks.) Winners will be notified when the book has shipped. </span><br />
<br />
<script src="//widget-prime.rafflecopter.com/launch.js"></script></div>
Mere Joycehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05659598966162312830noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4868563803618976716.post-86464337920396106512015-06-25T00:00:00.000-04:002015-06-25T00:00:01.849-04:00Blank Canvas Launch Party Day 5 - Inside the Mind of a PainterIt's day<i> five</i> of the <b><i>Blank Canvas</i> Launch Party</b>!<br />
<br />
The main character of <i>Blank Canvas</i> is a painter. Maddie once loved to paint, and now she's afraid of it. But painting is still her life, whether she wants it to be or not.<br />
<br />
I, on the other hand, am not a painter. Like, at all. Like, I can barely even draw stick figures.<br />
<br />
But, while I was working on this story, my husband bought me a blank canvas of my own, complete with some paints so I could try my hand at the craft!<br />
<br />
This is embarrassing to show, but I'm going to do it anyways, because although I already knew I couldn't paint nearly so well as Maddie, actually using similar tools as she does helped me to really feel what it's like to bring brush to canvas, and attempt to make a work of art.<br />
<br />
Let me tell you, it gave me renewed respect for that talented girl!<br />
<br />
Here is what I attempted to paint. Maddie usually paints portraits, but I wasn't about to attempt something like that, so I went with a landscape instead.<br />
<br />
Ta-da!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSKkGaHRvsrDh0q-mtqX7_qtGmpUXi_eYEfK6mL6I5S2X0nqH1KMhkdspXuvnvXaKLq3EqwlM-qAuDS-9n2zyi01zcIDOAv4mGxVEz37RMvv616y7eOOVlLESYt8LA3il3FhOMmjAbqJFq/s1600/IMG_1459.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSKkGaHRvsrDh0q-mtqX7_qtGmpUXi_eYEfK6mL6I5S2X0nqH1KMhkdspXuvnvXaKLq3EqwlM-qAuDS-9n2zyi01zcIDOAv4mGxVEz37RMvv616y7eOOVlLESYt8LA3il3FhOMmjAbqJFq/s400/IMG_1459.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Beautiful, isn't it? (Not!) Okay, so clearly my distant sandy hills didn't work out. And neither did my wood shack of a house looking over the sea. I was actually happy with how my sky turned out, though. It was a lot of fun mixing the paints on the palette to try and get the perfect shade, and I like how different colours came through with each pull of the brush.<br />
<br />
Okay, so clearly I didn't have any hidden painting talents waiting to be unleashed. All in all, I spent about fifteen minutes on this piece, and...that was enough! I really appreciate how talented painters can be, and I can see how this could be a calming way to spend a creative afternoon. But for me, I think I'll stick to writing instead.<br />
<br />
Are you a painter? Ever tried it? Ever think you'd like to give it a go? Let me know! <br />
<br />
Stay tuned for day <i>six</i> of the <b><i>Blank Canvas</i> Launch Party</b> tomorrow, and if you haven't already, enter the giveaway for a signed print copy of <i>Blank Canvas</i> below!<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a class="rcptr" data-raflid="b1df35b41" data-template="" data-theme="classic" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/b1df35b41/" id="rcwidget_fih98j6l" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">There will be 2 prizes of 1 signed copy of the upcoming print version of <i>Blank Canvas</i>.
This contest is open to residents of the US and Canada (excluding
Quebec) only, and will run from Sunday, June 21 12:00 AM through
Saturday, June 27th 11:59 PM Eastern time. Entrants must be 18 years of
age or older. No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Everyone is allowed one free entry into the giveaway
draw. Additional entries can be earned by commenting on the blog during
each day of the party (1 entry per day). Two winners will be randomly
selected and notified within 7 days of the giveaway ending. Mere Joyce
will ship the two winners a signed print copy of <i>Blank Canvas</i>
once the print version has been released (Please note this may take
several weeks.) Winners will be notified when the book has shipped. </span><br />
<br />
<script src="//widget-prime.rafflecopter.com/launch.js"></script></div>
Mere Joycehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05659598966162312830noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4868563803618976716.post-65098316981126393922015-06-24T00:00:00.000-04:002015-06-24T00:00:02.169-04:00Blank Canvas Launch Party Day 4 - An Interview With Maddie It's day<i> four</i> of the <b><i>Blank Canvas</i> Launch Party</b>!<br />
<br />
Today, I thought it would be fun to do a character interview with Maddie, the main character of <i>Blank Canvas</i>!<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Maddie used to be a painter. She is a girl who was once passionate, slightly conceited, and totally carefree. After being abducted and spending two and a half years in captivity, however, she's now reserved and uncomfortable with attention. She's embarrassed by the gentle stammer of her speech, and she's terrified by the idea of ever painting again.</span><br />
<br />
Let's begin, =)<br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #674ea7;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #351c75;"><span style="background-color: white;">1. How old are you? Do you feel your age, or do you feel older/younger?</span></span><br />
<br />
I'm sixteen, b-but I don't feel it. I m-missed out on a few years, and I feel like I've missed out on a few more. I think–I feel older, most of the time. Except when I'm around m-my sister, Autumn. She's thirteen, but she's usually the one taking care of me. She's my b-baby sister, but sometimes, it feels like I'm the younger one.<br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #351c75;">2. You like–or used to like–painting. But do you have any other hobbies?</span><br />
<br />
I don't know if it's a hobby, b-but I study people. Watch them, imagine what their lives are like. People are interesting. Even the bad ones f-fascinate me.<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #351c75;">3. What's your favourite book?</span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #351c75;"><span style="color: black;"><i>The Picture of Dorian Gray</i>. It's morbid, I guess, like being attracted to m-my own nightmare. But I like how the b-beautiful portrait holds something so sinister underneath. And I-I know the painting changes on its own, but I...I imagine what it would be like to paint Dorian's withering face, to capture his altered personality over and over again as each new sin took its toll. The idea is intriguing, or w-was. W-Would be, if I still painted.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #351c75;">4.And your favourite artist?</span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #351c75;"><span style="color: black;">It's difficult to pick one artist because there is s-such a wide range of style and...intent. B-But I've always loved the p-portrait artist John Singer Sargent. When I first saw his work in school, I thought it was b-boring. But then I discovered it was full of personality, individuality. I-I like that his pieces changed my mind. I like that what f-first appears so straightforward and simple is actually really complex. My favourite is his portrait of Lady Agnew of Lochnaw. She's beautiful, and I think she has a secret...like she's daring us all to try and f-figure her out, knowing we'll never be able to.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"><span style="color: black;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNPe33vWVs4Xlpo6recfC81HU6EtbwSX4Si8l3z4hUQ-ifmJImLAXvflZKEw6KSVaDRm_O59fw70KDwJ801dOHQi1hdhEdDK4YwleHKa0W-azdbv-FEwhztsaX4-ArhZTyyZpUbS66NxiC/s1600/lady_agnew.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNPe33vWVs4Xlpo6recfC81HU6EtbwSX4Si8l3z4hUQ-ifmJImLAXvflZKEw6KSVaDRm_O59fw70KDwJ801dOHQi1hdhEdDK4YwleHKa0W-azdbv-FEwhztsaX4-ArhZTyyZpUbS66NxiC/s400/lady_agnew.jpg" width="310" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;">Lady Agnew of Lochnaw</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #351c75;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Photo from: http://www.jssgallery.org/Paintings/Lady_Agnew.htm</span></span></span></div>
<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #351c75;">5. What's your earliest memory of painting?</span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #351c75;"><span style="color: black;">For my fifth birthday, I got a book of blank pages for coloring...two days later, I told my mom I n-needed a new one. She thought I'd scribbled my way through the p-pages, but I'd drawn a complete picture on each sheet. That same afternoon she took me to a craft store, and let me choose my own medium. I chose a p-paint set. </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #351c75;">6. Use ten words to describe yourself.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"><span style="color: black;">T-Ten words? Okay...</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"> </span><br />
Observant.<br />
Determined. <br />
Smitten.<br />
Confused.<br />
Frustrated.<br />
Weak.<br />
Strong.<br />
Sorry.<br />
Angry.<br />
Afraid.<span style="color: #351c75;"> </span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #351c75;">7. What's your idea of a perfect day?</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"><span style="color: black;">My perfect day would be at a cottage in the summer. With my sister and my f-friend Wesley. The m-morning would be sunny. We'd spend it swimming or hiking. And after, we'd make a huge lunch and eat till our stomachs were ready to burst.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"><span style="color: black;">Then, I'd spend the afternoon alone with Wesley. O-Out on the dock, by the lake. Listening to him play his cello while I p-p...while I painted him.</span> </span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #351c75;">8. If you could have escaped your captivity for one single day during the length of your abduction, where would you have gone?</span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #351c75;"><span style="color: black;">The obvious answer is to say I would have gone home. And I w-would have. But if this is a dream–and it's n-not too different from ones I've had many t-times before–then I would collect my family and we would go somewhere far away, with lots of sun, and n-no other people to distract us from just being together. An island, maybe? Or m-maybe even that cottage. Somewhere quiet, and peaceful. Somewhere without a clock, so I would n-never have to know the day was over.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #351c75;">9. Is there anything deceiving about you? Something people would be surprised to know?</span><br />
<br />
I'm stronger than I look. I'm s-skinny after being away. Too skinny. I l-look frail, b-but I'm not. Physically, I mean. I...I'm strong, physically. Mentally, I'm not. I'm weaker than I want to be, mentally. But at least I have physical strength. At least I have s-something.<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #351c75;">10. We'll finish with an easy one. What is your favourite colour?</span><br />
<br />
Purple. B-Byzantium if we're getting specific. But most shades of purple will do. I like purple b-because it's moody. It can be s-sensual, calming, or vibrant. It's majestic. No other color is as comforting to me as purple.<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
~*~*~*~</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
That's all for today! I hope you enjoyed getting to know Maddie a little more, and stay tuned for day <i>five</i> of the <b><i>Blank Canvas</i> Launch Party</b> tomorrow.<br />
<br />
And, if you haven't already done so, enter below to win a signed print copy of <i>Blank Canvas</i>!<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a class="rcptr" data-raflid="b1df35b41" data-template="" data-theme="classic" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/b1df35b41/" id="rcwidget_fih98j6l" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">There will be 2 prizes of 1 signed copy of the upcoming print version of <i>Blank Canvas</i>.
This contest is open to residents of the US and Canada (excluding
Quebec) only, and will run from Sunday, June 21 12:00 AM through
Saturday, June 27th 11:59 PM Eastern time. Entrants must be 18 years of
age or older. No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Everyone is allowed one free entry into the giveaway
draw. Additional entries can be earned by commenting on the blog during
each day of the party (1 entry per day). Two winners will be randomly
selected and notified within 7 days of the giveaway ending. Mere Joyce
will ship the two winners a signed print copy of <i>Blank Canvas</i>
once the print version has been released (Please note this may take
several weeks.) Winners will be notified when the book has shipped. </span></div>
<br />
<script src="//widget-prime.rafflecopter.com/launch.js"></script>
Mere Joycehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05659598966162312830noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4868563803618976716.post-51614285844260923912015-06-23T00:00:00.000-04:002015-06-23T00:00:01.393-04:00Blank Canvas Launch Party Day 3 - Pinterest InspirationIt's day <i>three</i> of the <b><i>Blank Canvas</i> Launch Party</b>!<br />
<br />
Today I've decided to share my Pinterest inspiration board. I collected these pins because they reminded me of the characters' moods, personalities, inner turmoils, and activities. I haven't labelled any of the pins...I think it's better to see the images and let them make their own impressions!<br />
<br />
I hope you enjoy, =)<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/42/08/62/420862057481c6be94e40ef3ef6ef16b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="*" border="0" class="pinImage" height="320" src="https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/42/08/62/420862057481c6be94e40ef3ef6ef16b.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.pinterest.com/merejoycewrites/blank-canvas/">Blank Canvas Pinterest</a></div>
<br />
Stay tuned for day <i>four</i> of the <b><i>Blank Canvas</i> Launch Party</b> tomorrow, and if you haven't already done so, enter to win a signed print copy of <i>Blank Canvas</i> below!<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a class="rcptr" data-raflid="b1df35b41" data-template="" data-theme="classic" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/b1df35b41/" id="rcwidget_fih98j6l" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">There will be 2 prizes of 1 signed copy of the upcoming print version of <i>Blank Canvas</i>.
This contest is open to residents of the US and Canada (excluding
Quebec) only, and will run from Sunday, June 21 12:00 AM through
Saturday, June 27th 11:59 PM Eastern time. Entrants must be 18 years of
age or older. No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Everyone is allowed one free entry into the giveaway
draw. Additional entries can be earned by commenting on the blog during
each day of the party (1 entry per day). Two winners will be randomly
selected and notified within 7 days of the giveaway ending. Mere Joyce
will ship the two winners a signed print copy of <i>Blank Canvas</i>
once the print version has been released (Please note this may take
several weeks.) Winners will be notified when the book has shipped. </span></div>
<br />
<script src="//widget-prime.rafflecopter.com/launch.js"></script>Mere Joycehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05659598966162312830noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4868563803618976716.post-42637676844689676492015-06-22T00:00:00.000-04:002015-06-22T07:52:25.695-04:00Blank Canvas Launch Party Day 2 - Book TrailerIt's day <i>two</i> of the <b><i>Blank Canvas</i> Launch Party</b>!<br />
<br />
Yesterday I announced a giveaway of signed print copies of <i>Blank Canvas</i>, so today I'm giving you a taste of the story with the premier of the <i>Blank Canvas</i> book trailer! I made this short trailer myself, and as usual with these kinds of projects, it was all kinds of frustrating, but also a lot of fun!<br />
<br />
Enjoy, =)<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwt-uGvfYVS6bZEwnBVL8Ajzic-U5cjNkER1LIjjjsG4RHL-zwSvadPrqlexRfa0I9Mke7mEmRwErJuvBlCPg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Credits can be found in the description <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pXbd5hfaoyg">here</a>.</span></div>
<br />
Stay tuned for day <i>three</i> of the <b><i>Blank Canvas</i> Launch Party</b> tomorrow, and if you haven't already done so, enter to win a signed print copy of Blank Canvas below!<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a class="rcptr" data-raflid="b1df35b41" data-template="" data-theme="classic" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/b1df35b41/" id="rcwidget_fih98j6l" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">There will be 2 prizes of 1 signed copy of the upcoming print version of <i>Blank Canvas</i>.
This contest is open to residents of the US and Canada (excluding
Quebec) only, and will run from Sunday, June 21 12:00 AM through
Saturday, June 27th 11:59 PM Eastern time. Entrants must be 18 years of
age or older. No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Everyone is allowed one free entry into the giveaway
draw. Additional entries can be earned by commenting on the blog during
each day of the party (1 entry per day). Two winners will be randomly
selected and notified within 7 days of the giveaway ending. Mere Joyce
will ship the two winners a signed print copy of <i>Blank Canvas</i>
once the print version has been released (Please note this may take
several weeks.) Winners will be notified when the book has shipped. </span></div>
<br />
<script src="//widget-prime.rafflecopter.com/launch.js"></script>Mere Joycehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05659598966162312830noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4868563803618976716.post-45455444655347272682015-06-21T00:00:00.000-04:002015-06-21T00:00:01.580-04:00Blank Canvas Launch Party Day 1 - A GiveawayIt's day <i>one</i> of the <b><i>Blank Canvas</i> Launch Party</b>!<br />
<br />
This week, I'll be posting every day to kick-off the release of my debut YA novel, <i>Blank Canvas</i>. Each day this week will feature a short, fun post giving you insights to my characters, inspiration, and more!<br />
<br />
But what would a party be without free goodies? So today, I'm kicking off the party by announcing a giveaway!<br />
<br />
Yep! In honour of <i>Blank Canvas </i>being released, I am giving away <b>2 signed print copies of the book</b>!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigirEvQ0vz0oMBpoeImMASSjXRaNvr3bhr-Di1TauaHBmNmnnUTkuDAseCYGfy1i_UnAQXhncOL8L3DHKxyqKAUOhY26T9TqUFANDpGR4Zr4LQEkDxkX8zu4pup0fVhBmRPZrUvrPU1_Um/s1600/blankcanvas.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigirEvQ0vz0oMBpoeImMASSjXRaNvr3bhr-Di1TauaHBmNmnnUTkuDAseCYGfy1i_UnAQXhncOL8L3DHKxyqKAUOhY26T9TqUFANDpGR4Zr4LQEkDxkX8zu4pup0fVhBmRPZrUvrPU1_Um/s1600/blankcanvas.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="Body">
<i><span style="font-family: 'times new roman', times; font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-GB">Three
years ago, sixteen-year-old Maddie Deacon was abducted on her way home
from her school’s Art Showcase. Five months ago, she escaped the madman
she calls The Painter. Before being taken, painting was Maddie’s life.
Now, it’s her nightmare.</span></span></i></div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
<i><span style="font-family: 'times new roman', times; font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-GB"></span></span></i></div>
<i>
</i><div class="Body">
<i><span style="font-family: 'times new roman', times; font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-GB">Maddie
wants to forget her years in captivity. She’d rather spend her time
getting reacquainted with her parents and her sister, not to mention her
cello-playing, beautiful boy next door and childhood best friend
Wesley. But paint is everywhere, and tormenting shadows linger in every
portrait she encounters.</span></span></i></div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
<i><span style="font-family: 'times new roman', times; font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-GB"></span></span></i></div>
<i>
</i><div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: 'times new roman', times; font-size: small;"><i><span lang="EN-GB">When
the yearly Art Showcase once again approaches, Maddie has the chance to
win a scholarship and start planning a future far away from the horrors
of her past. She knows she has to make a choice–confront her memories
of The Painter and overcome her fear of the canvas, or give up painting
forever.</span></i></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: 'times new roman', times; font-size: small;"><i><span lang="EN-GB"> </span></i><strong> </strong></span></div>
<br />
Giveaway rules:<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">There will be 2 prizes of 1 signed copy of the upcoming print version of <i>Blank Canvas</i>. This contest is open to residents of the US and Canada (excluding Quebec) only, and will run from Sunday, June 21 12:00 AM through Saturday, June 27th 11:59 PM Eastern time. Entrants must be 18 years of age or older. No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Everyone is allowed one free entry into the giveaway draw. Additional entries can be earned by commenting on the blog during each day of the party (1 entry per day). Two winners will be randomly selected and notified within 7 days of the giveaway ending. Mere Joyce will ship the two winners a signed print copy of <i>Blank Canvas</i> once the print version has been released (Please note this may take several weeks.) Winners will be notified when the book has shipped. </span><br />
<br />
So what are you waiting for? Enter below, and let's get this party started!<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a class="rcptr" data-raflid="b1df35b41" data-template="" data-theme="classic" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/b1df35b41/" id="rcwidget_fih98j6l" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a></div>
<br />
<script src="//widget-prime.rafflecopter.com/launch.js"></script>
<br />
Stay tuned for day <i>two</i> of the <b><i>Blank Canvas</i> Launch Party</b> tomorrow! Mere Joycehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05659598966162312830noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4868563803618976716.post-42747380985827529052015-06-19T09:20:00.005-04:002015-06-19T09:20:54.257-04:00Blank Canvas is Now Available!It's Friday! Which means BLANK CANVAS is officially available!<br />
<br />
Excuse me while I do this...<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://33.media.tumblr.com/c068d7bd1904456e35cdaa39e71e4b2e/tumblr_na4x1nMH2O1smcbm7o1_400.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://33.media.tumblr.com/c068d7bd1904456e35cdaa39e71e4b2e/tumblr_na4x1nMH2O1smcbm7o1_400.gif" height="227" id="irc_mi" style="margin-top: 117px;" width="400" /> </a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Okay, now that's over with, I can let you know how to get your own copy of <i>Blank Canvas</i>. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC-QQnTHQ8K7nnI8ifUgLed7aIHc1bUtR5Dwz-TSav4u_hQJR6j_YEMqyB6WuwqYXllTj32ln8VGiPLsIKUFZbdxDoDRyybu_qskWDV-Zaau4OKfjM0iPCpBxegudarjxiDHzJrysM6bzy/s1600/blankcanvas.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC-QQnTHQ8K7nnI8ifUgLed7aIHc1bUtR5Dwz-TSav4u_hQJR6j_YEMqyB6WuwqYXllTj32ln8VGiPLsIKUFZbdxDoDRyybu_qskWDV-Zaau4OKfjM0iPCpBxegudarjxiDHzJrysM6bzy/s1600/blankcanvas.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
You can currently purchase the <i>ebook</i> here:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="http://www.evernightteen.com/blank-canvas-by-mere-joyce/">Evernight Teen</a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Blank-Canvas-Mere-Joyce-ebook/dp/B00ZZ969WO/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1434719952&sr=8-2&keywords=mere+joyce">Amazon (US)</a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="http://www.amazon.ca/Blank-Canvas-Mere-Joyce-ebook/dp/B00ZZ969WO/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1434719990&sr=8-2&keywords=mere+joyce">Amazon (CA)</a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b>*A print version of the book WILL be available, but it has not appeared yet. I will let you know when it's up!</b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Until then, please share some of my happy feelings today as I celebrate my first novel being out in the (digital) world.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
And, check out my guest spot (well, Maddie's guest spot) on <a href="https://everonword.wordpress.com/2015/06/19/different-strokes-will-scarlets-kiss-tell/">Danielle E. Shipley's</a> blog!</div>
Mere Joycehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05659598966162312830noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4868563803618976716.post-13790505505832072232015-06-18T00:00:00.000-04:002015-06-18T00:00:02.170-04:00One More Day!So...my debut novel is coming out tomorrow, =)<br />
<br />
Obviously, I'm super excited. I can't wait to share my story with everyone, and I can't wait to celebrate the release of BLANK CANVAS.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaqWt7zopoe-eIeFIsFfJ2AKbst8QuOdinw6Y6-U3P0nhSYA7DxSkouJyXLxPf1vd5-5oJmrceaPqIVoGNXK75iVAYaWjS458c8sU_nh2XbWgGrbTa7OtVjEjWJV89-ieUoltwAwwdSj9o/s1600/blankcanvas.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaqWt7zopoe-eIeFIsFfJ2AKbst8QuOdinw6Y6-U3P0nhSYA7DxSkouJyXLxPf1vd5-5oJmrceaPqIVoGNXK75iVAYaWjS458c8sU_nh2XbWgGrbTa7OtVjEjWJV89-ieUoltwAwwdSj9o/s1600/blankcanvas.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
Fun festivities will begin next week here on the blog (including a giveaway!) But if you want to help celebrate the launch with me beforehand, there's still a couple of things you can do!<br />
<br />
Today is the last day to sign up for the BLANK CANVAS Headtalker campaign (if you don’t
know what HeadTalker it's a social media tool which allows people to
sign up to post a single tweet/message at a set given moment). I still need a few supporters to make the campaign successful. You can add support to Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIN, and/or Tumblr. Any and all help is greatly appreciated! <br />
<br />
<a href="https://headtalker.com/campaigns/blank-canvas/">Click here to join the HeadTalker campaign!</a><br />
<br />
If you’re interested in getting a free e-copy of <i>Blank Canvas</i>
for review purposes, let me know. I have copies I will happily gift to
you, in exchange for honest reviews. Leave a comment below with your email address, or email
me directly at merejoyce@hotmail.com<br />
<br />
Also let me know if you’d like to help out by posting about <i>Blank Canvas</i>
on your blog! I’ll email you a
cover photo, blurb, author bio, and excerpt. You can post as much or as
little as you want, and you can post it whenever (doesn’t have to be on
release day, or even release week!) I’m happy to do an interview/character interview/top 10
list, etc. as well - if you’d like a more personal blog post, we can
discuss the details through email.<br />
<br />
And again, if you can’t/don’t want to participate in any of the above, that’s okay! Well-wishes are appreciated, =D<br />
<br />
<b>Stayed tuned for tomorrow's big event...the release! </b><br />
<br />
<br />Mere Joycehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05659598966162312830noreply@blogger.com0