tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3380981397822703092024-03-13T21:27:49.412-07:00storm row studiothe creativity workshop of rhonda mccormack -
writer, artist, bookmakerrhondahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00535503780052344938noreply@blogger.comBlogger212125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-338098139782270309.post-68731312765151779082020-11-03T10:00:00.002-08:002020-11-03T10:02:52.172-08:00Never Again<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="text-align: justify;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Times New Roman"; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwQ4ea8jSZ5Uf8xPKNaLhlsvUYLYiTTEju3izdLwXSeWZs0eS-zfD990xX3KAXPfX5EG8Q5NoQ8HBMHe4PbNtgfNAEfhl7VI0VmwXgOLKhq-r-xGWttPI9m3aBCgKPd4VlieL2RUbYDDID/s2048/IMG_5149.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1273" data-original-width="2048" height="249" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwQ4ea8jSZ5Uf8xPKNaLhlsvUYLYiTTEju3izdLwXSeWZs0eS-zfD990xX3KAXPfX5EG8Q5NoQ8HBMHe4PbNtgfNAEfhl7VI0VmwXgOLKhq-r-xGWttPI9m3aBCgKPd4VlieL2RUbYDDID/w400-h249/IMG_5149.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span style="color: #073763; font-family: times;"><div style="text-align: right;">We organize, express ourselves, and gain ground, but it was four years ago that sexism played a role in keeping a highly qualified woman from the presidency and we’re only now accepting that truth. And it is true. This country takes issue with powerful women. It’s also true we must end this impediment that restricts half our nation.</div></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="color: #bf9000;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="color: #bf9000;">I’ll begin here:</span><span style="color: #073763;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: #073763; font-family: times;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="color: #073763;">On Tuesday October 20, 2020, NBC News reporters Julia Ainsley and Jacob Soboroff published an article regarding 545 migrant children separated from their parents by the Trump administration. This is a crime against humanity and I want to see the Democratic Party align with its membership on the level of horror, disgust, and heartbreak we have over these children and parents missing—needing, aching for—each other.</span><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: times;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="color: #bf9000;">But that’s not all.</span><span style="color: #0b5394;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: times;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: times;">I want to see the Democratic Party—nationally, on a leadership level, loud and proud—call out the threats of violence and domestic terrorism aimed at healthcare workers serving COVID patients, officials providing public health guidance, journalists, Democratic leaders, and women.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: times;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="color: #bf9000;">Let me repeat that last part… And women!</span><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: times;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: times;">I place these demands on the Democratic Party, because women, especially Black women, have carried the Party and the Party needs to return the favor. Putting children first, because they’re the most vulnerable. And women first, because when women do well, <i>every</i>one does well. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: times;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: times;">I’m a 49-year old white woman living in Arizona, raised in Kansas City, where 15 of 22 closest relatives were female, and thus caretakers. My husband and I have lived in Illinois, southern and northern California, and Boston, Mass, but our early voting experiences and those of late have been frustrating due to living in so-called Red States. Still, I vote, every election, for candidates who care. As an ally of the LGBTQIA+, BLM, BIPOC, and climate activist communities, I vote to create a government that looks like and works for the people it represents. This is why I do Get Out The Vote work for Democratic candidates—they show the most care for more people. I also care about education, including the arts. I’m a former early childhood educator, and ten years ago, began my second career, a small artistic business. And because I’ve had health issues and my husband and I have aging parents who want healthy elder years, I care about wellness. I’m concerned about the quality of life for kids and seniors. I worry about my sisters too—blood related, close friends, and ladies in the community, nation and world. I’m like many women. We worry <i>and</i> keep going. We give time, energy, and money to make change happen. I also aim to be kind and authentic in all I do. So, if I’m being real, I must add, <i>I’m fed up!<o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><i><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: times;"> </span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="color: #bf9000;">Women, of all kinds, colors, and ages, need back up!</span><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: times;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: times;">The last four years, and 2020 uniquely, have been enormously stressful for most reasonable people in this country. Trump and the GOP give us new hideousness every day. And they get bolder and crueler at each turn. Failing miserably on pandemic management isn’t a surprise. They don’t care. They’ve spent four years lying to cover chaos, cheating to fill judge seats, and they stopped masking racism, misogyny, and voter suppression months ago. Consolidating power is the point and they don’t have our best interests or safety in mind. And this next part is important:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: times;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="color: #bf9000;">The majority of this country is under minority rule!</span><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="color: #bf9000;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: times;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: times;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSsLo2TcGQZ_yyJXhIRv3WPl5CnsPy4RTXhdqKYRb3AV2IANxFrw1xRujdHbg_RQj23PpxVL0FXiVMgPr2N-3ISQm2RW7wTlxBVeWZAYR75K0AQOREKUwFJAS7IUhyTo66Z94vhCv6QB34/s1970/IMG_5147.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1970" data-original-width="1705" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSsLo2TcGQZ_yyJXhIRv3WPl5CnsPy4RTXhdqKYRb3AV2IANxFrw1xRujdHbg_RQj23PpxVL0FXiVMgPr2N-3ISQm2RW7wTlxBVeWZAYR75K0AQOREKUwFJAS7IUhyTo66Z94vhCv6QB34/s320/IMG_5147.jpg" /></a></span></div><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: times;">So, what if the majority banded together? What if the Democratic Party galvanized, organized, and prioritized women and children? What if we put BIPOC, members of the LGBTQIA+ community, and young people, who accept climate crisis and gun violence as urgent dilemmas, in leadership roles alongside women? If we do all this, we gain a stronghold on a podium to reach more people. And we have help. Like, educators, minimum wage earners, union workers, differently abled, and all progressive allies that don’t necessarily fit one of these groups. There are</span><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: times;"> </span><i style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: times;">so</i><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: times;"> </span><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: times;">many of us. But it all starts with women.</span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: times;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Women, and allies, when we speak, we must speak from the heart. From the gut. Be angry. The current President of the United States is a con man and a predator while GOP members look the other way. They’ve held the microphone for too long. It’s our turn. Use strong words. Call for unity like this country has never seen. Don’t think too long about this. It’s Election Day and we have three months until Inauguration Day. Talk to your family, friends, neighbors, and community leaders. Write or call Party leaders and newly elected candidates to join in.</span><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: times;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="color: #bf9000; font-family: times;">Minority rule? Never again!<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="color: #bf9000; font-family: times;"> </span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="color: #bf9000; font-family: times;">Families ripped apart? Never again!<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="color: #bf9000; font-family: times;"> </span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="color: #bf9000;">Threats of violence? Never again!</span><o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: times;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: times;">Children separated from their caretakers, kept in cages, and then lost to foster care weighs heavy on us. Violence against women, including trans women, is in the news daily. So are reports of Trump supporters weaponizing vehicles and terrorizing polling places, roadways, and communities. Women, particularly Black women, already lead on solutions, and to thank them, I call on all women, allies, and the Democratic Party to let them and other women lead. Take it from me, a woman with a hundred+ women family and friends, living half a century as a female: Empower and embody the Gender Gap and let women do what we do. Get shit done!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: times;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: times;">Old, young, in great health or just fair, with wealth or struggling, college degree or not. With children, or without. Single, married, divorced, widowed. Straight, lesbian, bi, queer. Born female, transitioning, or identifying as. With religion or atheist. Or somewhere in-between. Women, of all kinds, colors, and political stripes, are tired. Women are scared. Nevertheless, we persist.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: times;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #bf9000; font-family: times;">And we need backup. Now!</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: times;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #073763; font-family: times;">Let our collective voice—and our votes—be the start to a Party Voice that’s forceful and heartfelt, forever claiming the soul of this nation.</span></p>rhondahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00535503780052344938noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-338098139782270309.post-60014608437093289772020-03-16T13:11:00.001-07:002020-03-16T13:12:08.155-07:00<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #7f6000; font-size: large;">Inspired by</span></div>
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<span style="color: #7f6000; font-size: large;"><a href="https://twitter.com/andreabeaty" target="_blank">Rosie Revere Engineer's Twitter Dance Party</a>,</span></div>
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<span style="color: #7f6000; font-size: large;">Things are bananas. I know. So...</span></div>
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rhondahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00535503780052344938noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-338098139782270309.post-21451292136797915582019-03-19T14:35:00.000-07:002019-03-19T14:35:00.636-07:00Patreon Do-Over<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Recently, I took the big step of overhauling my Patreon project </span><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">and reducing the number of tiers and offerings.</span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'm still sharing stories and art, but at lower rates ($1 and $2 monthly). I'm also beginning to share my mixed media comics, </span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">which are graphic memoir-esque and both funny and reflective.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The post below is my first Patreon post of 2019. I'm sharing it here because it's about the ups-and-downs of the creative process. On Patreon, this post is embellished with comics. The with-comic post is for Patrons only, but if you'd like to join Patreon, just visit </span><a href="https://www.patreon.com/stormrow" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">stormrowstudio on Patreon</a> <span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">and follow the prompts to join a tier.</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">People find where they belong, or keep on. </span></b><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 11pt;">The Wolves and the Ravens</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 11pt;">by Chris Koza of Rogue Valley</span><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I didn’t celebrate my one-year anniversary on Patreon. I didn’t raise a glass, give a shout, or even make note. The anniversary came. The anniversary went. Life had thrown a lot my way in late 2018 and Patreon wasn’t on my mind much. Besides, it didn’t feel right. I hadn’t created a post in months, and because of new responsibilities, I wouldn’t be able to post the large volume of content I’d been posting. In fact, long before the anniversary, I recognized the slow down and asked my highest tier Patrons to downgrade their subscription.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">It was always my plan to have a fair balance between content and contributions, so asking Patrons to modify their giving felt just. Providing a good deal of content in the first six months gave me solace. Also, from the beginning, I accepted Patreon as the kind of experiment that needed monitoring, adjustment, and flexibility.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Still, my last posts date to August 2018—the time when I first admitted I was low on fuel—and by December, I still hadn’t figured out how to make Patreon work. So what was there to celebrate? Fair, level-headed management of the site and patronage? No. No hoorays to that. Especially with such a low patron count. Some might even say, “What’s to manage?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Whether a big shot or a newbie, Patreon is an experiment for everyone. For a nobody like me, though, it’s important to go in accepting that there may be few patrons and even fewer payouts. It’s also imperative to value even one patron and every single dollar. I take that part seriously. I also value the space Patreon allows me—a space for dedicated art sharing, with tools to support unique storytelling. Plus, it helped me explore schedule-making and schedule-keeping and served as a landing pad for lots of older work and ideas that needed the light of day.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">But even with the busyness of life problems whirling around me, I could see something wasn’t working on the site. Sure, I had loads of looks and views and traffic, but those visits did not convert visitors into paying audience members. Which is the point of Patreon. To develop either a supplementary or complete income by entertaining, teaching, or showing process. For me, I’d hoped to reach the one-year point and have expanded my circle a layer or two beyond my main sphere of influence—close friends and family—but I didn’t. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">So, here’s a complicated mix of circumstances and feelings:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I’m overwhelmed with regular life stuff. It’s negatively impacting my creative life stuff. But I barely have an audience, so who cares? Well, I care. If I had the people in the marketplace, I’d feel supported. I’d feel validated. And support and validation in such an important area of my life would bolster me. Also, I’d have income to help solve the problems with regular life stuff. But I don’t have enough customers, clients, or patrons to choose creative-work over life-work, so I must set the creative aside to find solutions to all this other mess. Later, I’ll build the business. Later.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">And that word—later—leads to the one question Creatives repeat whenever life disrupts an artrepreneurial endeavor.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Can the creative life really be so fragile?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Yes. It can. And it is. And whether you’re surrounded by Creatives and Makers or know just a few, I bet if asked, each would tell you about <i>at least</i>one project halted because of a life task that exists simply by being a human on earth. If you happen to ask an artist who is highly responsible and overachieving, you might hear about several projects halted and many stop-starts. And if you ask an artist who is highly responsible, overachieving,<i>and</i>makes very little money from their craft, you could hear about an entire creative dream tossed away in order to complete the business of life.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Why does this happen? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Health, home, relationships. All vital parts of life worth looking after. By taking care of these, a person sets a foundation that holds through the darkest, dreariest, roughest storms. We must have steady good health to function. The daily doings to get there are different for each of us, but consistency is key. We must have a home base to feel secure. The place will look different for each of us, but a safe shelter is necessary. We must also have solid relationships to thrive. Here, things don’t look so different for each of us. Whether personal, professional, and even short-lived, well-formed relationships built on trust and respect provide the support and structure that keep our heads up and hearts forward.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Paying attention to these areas of life is a job itself. But paying attention doesn’t pay a salary, and when it comes to health and home, there are bills. And if it happens that a thing or two slips through the cracks for someone you care about, you might just take on the extra, unpaid work of helping your loved one with <i>their</i>health, home, or relational misstep. This feels good <i>and</i>there are bills.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">So, the next question: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">In the face of overwhelming outside influences, how do the Creatives and Makers with few clients and little income stay motivated to make art?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Sitting around, shooting the shit with other Creatives, this question is mostly unspoken but deeply understood. Aloud, we wonder if someone has found the magic combination to managing time, setting boundaries, and handling general overwhelm. No. Not really. There are try-this tricks, but no guarantees. We wake up, do what we can, and when we crawl into our nests at night, we hope for more time or quiet or energy or calm the next day. Each of us will do something different when a good chunk of time, quiet, energy, or calm is available to us. Some artists organize. Some jump in and work on anything, everything. Some need to sleep or exercise to renew their physical selves and creative spirit. But, if life’s stuff is particularly heavy, we might fall into a creative void or paralysis that no amount of free time can resolve. We just have to wait for the heavy stuff to pass. It’s fine. We aren’t losing established clients or income. They don’t exist for us yet.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">For me, though, it’s not fine. The past seven months have been a mix of all of the above and my paralysis exists only in sharing. I didn’t have much to share. I didn’t have time to share. I didn’t care to share. And from my perspective, the world of online art-sharing is full and robust and my measly contribution seems unnecessary. With that said, I’ll make a bold statement.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Art is hard.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">This is not a statement made to support the clichéd starving artist stereotype. What I’m trying to do is admit that, for me, making art is extraordinarily difficult when paired with human tasks and problems. Two things are true. I want and need to earn a living from art <i>and</i>I have responsibilities that limit the time I can give to art.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">However, if artists like me, who struggle to balance life and art-making, don’t put their craft on the same level as health, home, and relationships, there’s a very real danger that our creative life will become what some suggest it is—a hobby.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">That’s where I stop questioning and draw the line.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I may not have a significant following. I may not get support from those I pointedly ask to support me. I may have to give up being so helpful and giving to others. I may even appear self-serving and selfish. I may stumble and I may fail. But goddamnit, I must be responsible to my artistic ideas. Because, for me, art <i>is</i>health. Art <i>is</i>home. Art <i>is</i>a relationship. With myself. My true self. My worker self.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Yes, I’m a worker. In art and in life, I get in there and get my hands dirty. Constructing and making. Handling and fixing. Typing, writing, painting, stitching, cutting. Assembling and then holding and carrying to a place of offering. I’m realizing, though, that life, and all its tasks and troubles, have been getting the lion’s share of hands-on work and what I have to offer. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">So, now I can step away from this observation and insert myself back where I belong—in the picture. There’s a different view from here. One outlined by the solid line I’ve drawn to protect and grow my creative life and studio business. And the changes to my Patreon project also have clear boundaries. I’ll be doing more with specific ideas—story shorts and comics for $1 and style posts for $2. All the other stuff I’ve done and shared here on Patreon falls outside the limits of my available time. It mostly always did. Who knows if it’ll ever interest anyone, but I made an attempt to include it all and that effort remains archived here, in older posts. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I hope you’ll enjoy storm row studio’s fresh start, and maybe—just maybe—next March we can celebrate a year of improved Patreon offerings.</span></div>
rhondahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00535503780052344938noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-338098139782270309.post-16232126948126881312018-07-31T14:54:00.002-07:002018-08-01T09:09:06.303-07:00herstory<div class="separator" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">From time to time it’s good to take stock. Review the inventory. Add it together, clean it out, and tidy it up. And since I was making some arty changes to the blog, I thought I'd offer my new and improved blog biography, which I call my herstory. </span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; text-align: center;">Please enjoy.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvuFyj3XZjIIeJ1H8cLeGJIONNwLKWEif3fjRv7pdjz_qTFdwRdeaw-QLFuzwOuC7eB6DphznrMvoLEP96NxE2yBc-Vp2A-eihyfBVLrQ5JD6K7RELg3AjC0yz9vDKEonuDSKFVb4tO2WG/s1600/StormRowKeys.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="994" data-original-width="1600" height="247" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvuFyj3XZjIIeJ1H8cLeGJIONNwLKWEif3fjRv7pdjz_qTFdwRdeaw-QLFuzwOuC7eB6DphznrMvoLEP96NxE2yBc-Vp2A-eihyfBVLrQ5JD6K7RELg3AjC0yz9vDKEonuDSKFVb4tO2WG/s400/StormRowKeys.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span class="apple-converted-space" style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">These </span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">two, artistically altered typewriter keys were found in a Seattle street market. My friend bought them, for daily inspiration. Storm? Row! Years later, when I met some of my first creative struggles, she passed the keys to me as a reminder: in the midst of heavy weather, just keep rowing. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">And I do. And here I am, the owner and creator behind the not-so-big <b>storm row studio</b>. Day to day, I draft manuscripts for submission and create art pieces for sale. I feel lucky to have a knack for using words and art to build worlds and tell stories.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman";">With my illustrated (or art) novels, the characters curate between the chapters. Meaning, it’s their art the reader finds tucked in the pages. Also, their diaries, doodles, handwritten letters. Their ephemera. That kind of thing. It’s been said that I make books for and about kids and young adults. That’s true. But also, for me, characters arrive stuck in a boat with a storm hovering and my job is to get them to the shore. So, really, I write for any reader, of any age, who enjoys sorting out the mysteries and triumphs of that trip to solid ground.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman";">As for my art, the characters and the world they live in inspire the illustrations for the novels, and whether for the cover or interior, the work is designed and representational. My stand-alone mixed media pieces are more conceptual. Abstract. Color and texture drive the process. But sometimes the piece wants to be something specific. My cityscapes are an example of that.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman";">I mostly work on canvas, combining acrylics and all matter of media. I enjoy using watercolor, embroidery, and collage. And because I strive to create eco- and human-friendly work, I look for safe supplies and purposefully purpose every scrap, left-over, and glob of paint, glue, or glaze. Sometimes I even upcycle used canvas. Hooray.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">My recent past includes a five-year art showcase at homeology, a green home interiors boutique in Scottsdale, Arizona, and an independently published YA novel,<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><i>wildflowers</i>, which met a nice bit of attention and good reviews. Now I focus sales on Etsy and shares on Patreon. In the end, with all my handmade goods, I aim for a lovely freshness and pretty otherness that’s unique to storm row style.</span></div>
rhondahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00535503780052344938noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-338098139782270309.post-2967599893905502082018-07-30T04:00:00.000-07:002018-07-30T04:00:00.565-07:00rainbows: everywhere<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfuHXod7aWNhga-btHYM6kU6k9Bos0qXsEbxJ7kdEp5vKzowhDlNjZ-rvaJc0eufcvR89RCvKM3ycKlSRIhG1cXu6hPuEvMVQvX_rPJ3jxYB2ISMiy1Ur5itX_I5p8ukjhS2nfze2ERuof/s1600/rainbowpostjuly.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfuHXod7aWNhga-btHYM6kU6k9Bos0qXsEbxJ7kdEp5vKzowhDlNjZ-rvaJc0eufcvR89RCvKM3ycKlSRIhG1cXu6hPuEvMVQvX_rPJ3jxYB2ISMiy1Ur5itX_I5p8ukjhS2nfze2ERuof/s400/rainbowpostjuly.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>the </b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>like.</b></span></div>
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<b style="font-size: 16px; text-align: justify; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Media Sharing Note:</span></b></div>
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<span style="color: #666666;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span data-offset-key="9ndbo-0-0" style="caret-color: rgb(5, 45, 73); font-size: 16px; white-space: pre-wrap;">This </span><span data-offset-key="9ndbo-0-1" style="caret-color: rgb(5, 45, 73); font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; white-space: pre-wrap;">rainbows: everywhere </span><span data-offset-key="9ndbo-0-1" style="caret-color: rgb(5, 45, 73); font-size: 16px; white-space: pre-wrap;">post is part of storm row studio's media sharing series </span></span><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span data-offset-key="9ndbo-0-1" style="caret-color: rgb(5, 45, 73); font-size: 16px; white-space: pre-wrap;">called DRIFTWOOD. </span><span data-offset-key="9ndbo-0-2" style="caret-color: rgb(5, 45, 73); font-size: 16px; white-space: pre-wrap;">DRIFTWOOD posts appear on my Patreon page, </span></span><span data-offset-key="9ndbo-0-2" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; white-space: pre-wrap;">and in the case of </span><span data-offset-key="9ndbo-0-3" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; white-space: pre-wrap;">rainbows</span><span data-offset-key="9ndbo-0-4" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; white-space: pre-wrap;">, </span><span data-offset-key="9ndbo-0-4" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; white-space: pre-wrap;">STORIES Patrons get exclusive access to </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span data-offset-key="9ndbo-0-4" style="caret-color: rgb(5, 45, 73); font-size: 16px; white-space: pre-wrap;">any story shorts and snippets </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; white-space: pre-wrap;">inspired by these arcs of color. T</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; white-space: pre-wrap;">o become a STORIES Patron, </span><a class="_4X_-components-SimpleRichTextEditor-components-LinkSpan--linkSpan" href="https://www.patreon.com/bePatron?c=1290548&rid=2103057" style="cursor: pointer; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; white-space: pre-wrap;">click here and sign up for the $2 monthly tier.</a> <span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span data-offset-key="9ndbo-2-0" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Once you do, you have an immediate pass to all STORIES posts, including </span></span><span data-offset-key="9ndbo-2-1" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; white-space: pre-wrap;">DRIFTWOOD: rainbow tales everywhere </span><span data-offset-key="9ndbo-2-1" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; white-space: pre-wrap;">posts. A great value.</span></span></div>
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rhondahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00535503780052344938noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-338098139782270309.post-47231337532515801972018-07-09T07:00:00.000-07:002018-07-09T07:00:00.179-07:00rainbows: everywhere<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #666666;"><b>from the glass table top.</b></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif48T3W92ByDhd-we6WZEom-d6TYgEZCjgr-PeFTqauMT5eIfYs9XcMzq6JRs_dhwQc6tcHOgviA-WxHkcJs9XP_H9c-XiPqQW15GFKTeIPR8rQ3rM_Yq-dLe8TuSWez2BIpkh-bemDPuQ/s1600/RainbowsFloor2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif48T3W92ByDhd-we6WZEom-d6TYgEZCjgr-PeFTqauMT5eIfYs9XcMzq6JRs_dhwQc6tcHOgviA-WxHkcJs9XP_H9c-XiPqQW15GFKTeIPR8rQ3rM_Yq-dLe8TuSWez2BIpkh-bemDPuQ/s320/RainbowsFloor2.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #666666;"><b>through the air.</b></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYbx1GZJyM9ZmKto2EOw28PIUEITwF-0kBe-ZIgk5noqKYnrk-U660LSwrTAqOt5lSaLXTSjNDdP98ujzG7nF4CTPhtz-7UsK-QLBMSFKlkWOn069a3L8YxkNrKMs8fPif5bZ-R72mo4yp/s1600/RainbowsFloor1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYbx1GZJyM9ZmKto2EOw28PIUEITwF-0kBe-ZIgk5noqKYnrk-U660LSwrTAqOt5lSaLXTSjNDdP98ujzG7nF4CTPhtz-7UsK-QLBMSFKlkWOn069a3L8YxkNrKMs8fPif5bZ-R72mo4yp/s320/RainbowsFloor1.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #666666;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102);"><b>to the floor.</b></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFs0fUkIDfAoAShoo3Y9-jmBVFCoOvox-I7BYacw4oxkYECTDd42-sU7GTYpSt5vNWdrV8eTgpQhkoYqx4wdqEEPuy1r-TiOTmi5ffntYYf_hMIrOxd8wNSRQxzKwztp8z3ofpJncP34xL/s1600/RainbowsFloor3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFs0fUkIDfAoAShoo3Y9-jmBVFCoOvox-I7BYacw4oxkYECTDd42-sU7GTYpSt5vNWdrV8eTgpQhkoYqx4wdqEEPuy1r-TiOTmi5ffntYYf_hMIrOxd8wNSRQxzKwztp8z3ofpJncP34xL/s320/RainbowsFloor3.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #666666;"><b>it keeps every ounce of its brilliance.</b></span></div>
rhondahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00535503780052344938noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-338098139782270309.post-15454463017284028612018-07-01T09:00:00.000-07:002018-07-02T12:08:46.844-07:00rmack: gongoozler <div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #38761d;"><b>gongoozler </b><i>n. </i>one who stares for hours at anything out of the ordinary</span><br />
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span data-offset-key="1lhrt-0-0" style="color: #052d49; font-size: 16px; text-align: left; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span data-text="true">Today I'm gongoozling two, arty picture books that feature cityscapes. If you want to support these authors, illustrators, and their work, check out their books from the library, buy their books at your </span></span><a class="_4X_-components-SimpleRichTextEditor-components-LinkSpan--linkSpan" href="https://www.indiebound.org/" style="-webkit-text-decoration-line: none; color: #1d9bdb; cursor: pointer; font-size: 16px; text-align: left; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span data-offset-key="1lhrt-1-0" style="text-decoration: underline;"><span data-text="true">local independent bookseller</span></span></a><span data-offset-key="1lhrt-2-0" style="color: #052d49; font-size: 16px; text-align: left; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span data-text="true">, and share reviews and news on social media sites. </span></span></span></div>
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~~~</div>
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<span style="color: #444444;"><b><i>What If...</i></b> Written by Samantha Berger, Illustrated by Mike Curato</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigOK_PBD0RNdh1rMcBZE26e8AxZSA-7AK1S93ikRaOn8svqPTZgRHWZvVvzytJO1LEKwUvNh3rFMeHBOPt1a6fYju_-5o7EgF_6BJRhSN0AUvbXaYKEjlGXq4KBc2HmLAzKne-PS-VuQZj/s1600/GoozPostJune.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1598" data-original-width="1600" height="398" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigOK_PBD0RNdh1rMcBZE26e8AxZSA-7AK1S93ikRaOn8svqPTZgRHWZvVvzytJO1LEKwUvNh3rFMeHBOPt1a6fYju_-5o7EgF_6BJRhSN0AUvbXaYKEjlGXq4KBc2HmLAzKne-PS-VuQZj/s400/GoozPostJune.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #444444;">And <b><i>Peggy</i></b> Written & Illustrated by Anna Walker</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQNVhS03UILltJsvn06k0asJP3MvFmASCEtmoQR-I7CX79Vsg6QSXj66MjUH4mdmmCAaQ8K435ml5-fvPstxX9JBuqxB8CylQmIXUMrHxGLGNjl_HAECfAoSxTl1aRcHs1mSV5eeUnyZRs/s1600/GoozPostJune3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1550" data-original-width="1600" height="386" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQNVhS03UILltJsvn06k0asJP3MvFmASCEtmoQR-I7CX79Vsg6QSXj66MjUH4mdmmCAaQ8K435ml5-fvPstxX9JBuqxB8CylQmIXUMrHxGLGNjl_HAECfAoSxTl1aRcHs1mSV5eeUnyZRs/s400/GoozPostJune3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<u><b><span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;">What If...</span></b></u></div>
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Before cracking the spine, I heard this book was a successful example of mixing media.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhftyrjcuMi7RbN1f9cFoMAF-jAwnkC9XJZ5MvOGCcsL1TxE0rtS0353GCx7RNVuI9cXP5WVu5J4gVE157ePGVBz_c9P_XoQYdevmB_XbVfrm3WkEhk0E6fAG9jU9astlO7J_YT6ovtDjGK/s1600/GoozPostJune1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="caret-color: rgb(5, 45, 73); font-size: 16px; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; white-space: pre-wrap;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhftyrjcuMi7RbN1f9cFoMAF-jAwnkC9XJZ5MvOGCcsL1TxE0rtS0353GCx7RNVuI9cXP5WVu5J4gVE157ePGVBz_c9P_XoQYdevmB_XbVfrm3WkEhk0E6fAG9jU9astlO7J_YT6ovtDjGK/s320/GoozPostJune1.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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This book is all about creativity and the imagination. Just look at this wonderful spread.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwzqIdFPnoSQVzUhFUaUwdrnUZzGMP_lWnLrifT2yX9XDlkAlpjzUMddYarFITLkWBf_pfNIBDPropO_02uJTOHeBYz_1TIFjfmJeAPxVHxY7tJwbP5jjyCo4PYEBwCqwawzBZOk6rh1Zb/s1600/GoozPostJune2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1467" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwzqIdFPnoSQVzUhFUaUwdrnUZzGMP_lWnLrifT2yX9XDlkAlpjzUMddYarFITLkWBf_pfNIBDPropO_02uJTOHeBYz_1TIFjfmJeAPxVHxY7tJwbP5jjyCo4PYEBwCqwawzBZOk6rh1Zb/s320/GoozPostJune2.jpg" width="293" /></a></div>
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And what's that tucked into the center? A magnificent building, grounding the character in her imagination. Later, the illustrator uses more photographs to return us to reality.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDc2KTiyTUkcmfFR4UhUDe9MeYoWaM83WOibInSbsyatVeePJvHZPXTPyDhdMM1wrcMGBCUrhxW69UfSZzJBxwagCrIIP4szAw_lg7SHv8iFlXVj8v581NLH0BS5AaH_70FHcRTwzvPKAB/s1600/GoozPostJune4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="caret-color: rgb(5, 45, 73); font-family: America, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; white-space: pre-wrap;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1589" data-original-width="1361" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDc2KTiyTUkcmfFR4UhUDe9MeYoWaM83WOibInSbsyatVeePJvHZPXTPyDhdMM1wrcMGBCUrhxW69UfSZzJBxwagCrIIP4szAw_lg7SHv8iFlXVj8v581NLH0BS5AaH_70FHcRTwzvPKAB/s320/GoozPostJune4.jpg" width="274" /></a></div>
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Really beautiful.</div>
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<b><u><span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;">Peggy</span></u></b></div>
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Peggy is the main chicken in <i>Peggy</i>. She's fantastic.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWEuG2s-jYWb5d89xpQC1vrk5WsM7aUOi25cgnIZec4akOfy3tSQgnetZJxdwqq8QM4HpgjD2vpjXC1hlZTfl8N_VKMJ1xHnx387-x1HDuF40dZLDwzOmoLYrvZY8r7GTuwCQF6_TS3yUs/s1600/GoozPostJune8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1599" data-original-width="1600" height="319" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWEuG2s-jYWb5d89xpQC1vrk5WsM7aUOi25cgnIZec4akOfy3tSQgnetZJxdwqq8QM4HpgjD2vpjXC1hlZTfl8N_VKMJ1xHnx387-x1HDuF40dZLDwzOmoLYrvZY8r7GTuwCQF6_TS3yUs/s320/GoozPostJune8.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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And her shoes are certainly gongoozle-worthy.</div>
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Also great for a walk around the city.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOsVB6hVZ642viEbbUr3-g3-ppQttotC4tRZ2aafCP7_VD4c7CEBhTgMCQ4LvovVd852wcwESCkD_MhVbCu0XD93NZKY2Pr-Q8XNc_LDdtfyBdMbY5OreVsdGtF8-k04KKgjPxO6KXCsjD/s1600/GoozPostJune9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1446" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOsVB6hVZ642viEbbUr3-g3-ppQttotC4tRZ2aafCP7_VD4c7CEBhTgMCQ4LvovVd852wcwESCkD_MhVbCu0XD93NZKY2Pr-Q8XNc_LDdtfyBdMbY5OreVsdGtF8-k04KKgjPxO6KXCsjD/s320/GoozPostJune9.jpg" width="289" /></a></div>
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Two words: simply breathtaking.</div>
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Walker knows how to capture a city in its congested busy moments and its quieter moments too. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix7vE4rkt_FZdwwJN1D_gFpUxtTdLyLSSqTFfKSHCkhTidXVH0Ay_NYkK1Kb6P-4zJz8iG8IFnn0d2Au2TYs5t8_a9vFM7fBObDaUNzSH8MLJ69KRZRzlrBgQrXUhfbAapnvmCS9eWS2Lh/s1600/GoozPostJune7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix7vE4rkt_FZdwwJN1D_gFpUxtTdLyLSSqTFfKSHCkhTidXVH0Ay_NYkK1Kb6P-4zJz8iG8IFnn0d2Au2TYs5t8_a9vFM7fBObDaUNzSH8MLJ69KRZRzlrBgQrXUhfbAapnvmCS9eWS2Lh/s320/GoozPostJune7.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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For me, <i>Peggy </i>is fine art.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZXH9A0JFwCWFIpcj0JCWvcUtuEn_ldQEou1Js2XW_NrGv0EFqB1NyuXjn3-JClG6Fm95mYEGQlltXTTKINO7aaQSrJROBdhTznl4u7GVD3HwHfscqdeOK6XwjE9lJEdnMwUHbJgszYhKH/s1600/GoozPostJune6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1073" data-original-width="1600" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZXH9A0JFwCWFIpcj0JCWvcUtuEn_ldQEou1Js2XW_NrGv0EFqB1NyuXjn3-JClG6Fm95mYEGQlltXTTKINO7aaQSrJROBdhTznl4u7GVD3HwHfscqdeOK6XwjE9lJEdnMwUHbJgszYhKH/s400/GoozPostJune6.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Sure, I can study Walker's city scenes for hours, but she's also makes good use of pacing, negative space, and humor. She definitely elevates the city as a setting to the highest level of gongoozlery.</div>
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<span style="color: #38761d;">This post is part of a media sharing project called <b>driftwood</b>. <b>driftwood </b>posts appear on my Patreon page and expand the content of <b>storm row studio</b>'s blog posts with added commentary, art, or storytelling. There are both public and patron-only <b>driftwood</b> posts. <a href="https://www.patreon.com/posts/rmack-gongoozler-19598081">Click here to see the Patreon version of this post.</a></span></div>
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rhondahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00535503780052344938noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-338098139782270309.post-54016481282243873772018-06-18T07:00:00.000-07:002018-06-18T07:00:05.172-07:00rainbows: everywhere<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1JkEbrAgLMqQAxfLsq_t8PaeZUJxKa4Rtnbubioi9dG2BL7mz5L4V_hdyeNlKXXS3AZBt13g91-9Df8ZZUi3PMN2rXD4bcRt5l0sPQ3nBXF-bGY1IPHy-tyBXhG4OoRUf975bvBRkbA8O/s1600/IMG_1456.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1022" data-original-width="1600" height="255" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1JkEbrAgLMqQAxfLsq_t8PaeZUJxKa4Rtnbubioi9dG2BL7mz5L4V_hdyeNlKXXS3AZBt13g91-9Df8ZZUi3PMN2rXD4bcRt5l0sPQ3nBXF-bGY1IPHy-tyBXhG4OoRUf975bvBRkbA8O/s400/IMG_1456.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #e69138; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>brilliant, clear rainbows</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #f1c232; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>often happen here.</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>and double rainbows?</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>easy.</b></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRtx6q-P60wNe3Zk_6C2E8sp889VWjGcA5LDar3nlkb8MLmlP4udePP_1-d13opLbOdBGgjYY9VcJRh8VPX-gkgf2fuy04IZdaZdTn56PkEBZhnsBzTe_5f1c9xlMlto_2BxHLzGWKHV4G/s1600/IMG_1335.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRtx6q-P60wNe3Zk_6C2E8sp889VWjGcA5LDar3nlkb8MLmlP4udePP_1-d13opLbOdBGgjYY9VcJRh8VPX-gkgf2fuy04IZdaZdTn56PkEBZhnsBzTe_5f1c9xlMlto_2BxHLzGWKHV4G/s400/IMG_1335.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b style="font-size: 16px; text-align: justify; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #274e13; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Media Sharing Note:</span></b></div>
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<br />rhondahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00535503780052344938noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-338098139782270309.post-4468294203528205812018-05-28T08:00:00.000-07:002018-05-28T08:00:03.618-07:00rainbows: everywhere<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Do you see it?</b></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnd_SKtsm_gvb3nSb7HviRGO9efLM6wbIiRUtbNb0GYBKstu5SdvFYEjeOMIT3Ld2JpDkWump5WgDWX63PExx09N8tLDYrE-sRRoe-Da0O5lPOT_bcqtrNnEO2IFmB370YnutODhK4COn8/s1600/RainbowNapkin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1595" data-original-width="1600" height="319" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnd_SKtsm_gvb3nSb7HviRGO9efLM6wbIiRUtbNb0GYBKstu5SdvFYEjeOMIT3Ld2JpDkWump5WgDWX63PExx09N8tLDYrE-sRRoe-Da0O5lPOT_bcqtrNnEO2IFmB370YnutODhK4COn8/s320/RainbowNapkin.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>There it is.</b></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2evWvfobnuSJliqdrTRJNWm3hub57gCyA9LBlBzgRvH0tTu0R9zUK6_Rdj0MxNT1jq5GcQub_lav2G2TwCtsbmLd8VQWWUmepDHptjhUBdMtnyvg4HjUH5aUro7h7G8bY_L29DwCoxdfY/s1600/RainbowNapkin2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1175" data-original-width="1600" height="235" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2evWvfobnuSJliqdrTRJNWm3hub57gCyA9LBlBzgRvH0tTu0R9zUK6_Rdj0MxNT1jq5GcQub_lav2G2TwCtsbmLd8VQWWUmepDHptjhUBdMtnyvg4HjUH5aUro7h7G8bY_L29DwCoxdfY/s320/RainbowNapkin2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Small but wonderful.</b></span></div>
rhondahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00535503780052344938noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-338098139782270309.post-85783441779561529422018-05-22T08:00:00.000-07:002018-06-13T06:27:50.380-07:00i mean...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9_LsMbn9ds7xQWAcvc2KsrHmRHyukGbJetI_zGYbKZYnZScfnF-Kux1JstDCn4eihPcFVKBM0QJyIVc6Uak37OZwAdIJu905FQr5LyVkzTF8P_2RKKiYP3m-69KnMN8PxTXo61SVrwP1b/s1600/IMG_2327.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9_LsMbn9ds7xQWAcvc2KsrHmRHyukGbJetI_zGYbKZYnZScfnF-Kux1JstDCn4eihPcFVKBM0QJyIVc6Uak37OZwAdIJu905FQr5LyVkzTF8P_2RKKiYP3m-69KnMN8PxTXo61SVrwP1b/s640/IMG_2327.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><span data-offset-key="fq087-0-0" style="color: #052d49; font-size: 16px; text-align: left; white-space: pre-wrap;">A Note: If you'd like to read a story short about this </span><span data-offset-key="fq087-0-1" style="color: #052d49; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic; text-align: left; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>i mean...</b></span><span data-offset-key="fq087-0-2" style="color: #052d49; font-size: 16px; text-align: left; white-space: pre-wrap;"> moment, consider joining Patreon and becoming a </span><span data-offset-key="fq087-0-3" style="color: #052d49; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; text-align: left; white-space: pre-wrap;">storm row STORIES</span><span data-offset-key="fq087-0-4" style="color: #052d49; font-size: 16px; text-align: left; white-space: pre-wrap;"> member. For $2 a month ($24 a year) you gain access to all kinds of STORIES posts. To sign up, </span><a class="_4X_-components-SimpleRichTextEditor-components-LinkSpan--linkSpan" href="https://www.patreon.com/bePatron?c=1290548&rid=2103057" style="-webkit-text-decoration-line: none; color: #1d9bdb; cursor: pointer; font-size: 16px; text-align: left; white-space: pre-wrap;">click here</a><span data-offset-key="fq087-2-0" style="color: #052d49; font-size: 16px; text-align: left; white-space: pre-wrap;">.</span></span></div>
rhondahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00535503780052344938noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-338098139782270309.post-12539790951431403142018-05-16T21:02:00.005-07:002020-11-14T09:47:34.603-08:00She Did It Anyway Interview<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><b><span style="font-family: "times new roman";"><span style="color: #38761d;">“The flowers don’t know they’re late bloomers. They’re right in season.”</span> </span></b><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: "times new roman";">Debra Eve</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman";"><span style="color: #666666;">By the time I was seven or eight, I understood my creativity as a lifeline. I knew it could keep me secure in rough waters or the face of danger, or straight-up save me. But whether I count that time of knowing or not, there’s no doubt that the first steps I took toward becoming a daily writer and artist came late. And the path to success—what I define as success—stretches off into the distance, winding around and through and beyond. Because I <i>am </i>a late bloomer, my journey won’t be or feel the same as it would if I was young. I know this. I also know what I want to accomplish and where I’d like to slow and bloom. Luckily, more and more, I’m finding wonderful, mature woman-maker role models to offer their take on and guidance into creative marketplaces. Still, these women have quote-unquote <i>made it</i>. What I’d like to see is the older, female Creative who is midstride, being pulled in many directions, juggling many responsibilities, and sometimes, carrying more than her share of the weight, and yet, she creates anyway. She is my <i>peer </i>and I’d like to see more stories about her.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span style="font-family: "times new roman";"><span style="color: #38761d;">“</span><b><span style="color: #38761d;">You can’t be what you can’t see.”</span> </b></span><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: "times new roman";">Marian Wright Edelman</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman";"><span style="color: #666666;">Lately, and often, we hear more about inclusion and diversity in all fields of art. I love this movement because including all kinds of people from all walks of life in conversations, art making, and art exhibits elevates humankind’s collective creativity. And it’s not difficult. By simply deciding to make room for everyone, there’s room, and things instantly become rich with perspective and inspiration. The reverse of this—making the creative life unavailable to anyone outside the mainstream, whether intentional or not—perpetuates creative deserts, where people don’t try to become or even dream about becoming Makers. We can’t be what we can’t see, which is why I’m doing my part, however small, to showcase Creatives who don't necessarily fit the mold because of lack of platform, status, or due to age. We don't often get to see these Creatives, but they're out there, doing it anyway.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><b><span style="font-family: "times new roman";"><span style="color: #38761d;">“Women may be the one group that grows more radical with age.”</span> </span></b><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: "times new roman";">Gloria Steinem</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman";"><span style="color: #666666;">Welcome to the <i>She Did It Anyway</i> interview series, featuring women I know or meet who are my creative peers. These are women and woman-identifying artists who create and make and hone their craft in spite of busy, hectic lives, changing health, and aging. </span></span><span style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); color: #666666; font-family: "times new roman";">These Creatives have long passed hobby and seek personalized success. One that fits their lives, elevates their craft, and positively impacts their standard of living. </span><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "times new roman";">Because we all cycle through this in-between, I hope you will support them. And I hope you enjoy this celebration of all that connects us as creative beings.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman";"><b><u><span style="color: #38761d;">She Did It Anyway</span></u></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman";"><b><span style="color: #6aa84f;">Shirley Gerner of Stitches and Scraps</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman";"><span style="color: #666666;">Recently, Shirley joined storm row studio's Etsy boutique as a member, bringing the useful, knitted wares from her Stitches & Scraps workshop to the online marketplace for the first time. Shirley also sells knitted goods at Practical Art Retail and Gallery in Phoenix, Arizona and creates commissioned pieces including journals, greeting cards, and knitware for private clients. She's participated in large one-time knit donation drives like the 2017 Pussyhat Project for the Women's March in Washington D.C. as well as the yearly hat drive for American Heart Association's <i>Little Hats Big Hearts</i> program. She's operated the blog <i>One Woman's Whims</i> since 2013, and though all this may seem like a far cry from her decades-long career as an insurance professional, creative doings have been part of her life since she was a young girl. Also, her primary client was Hallmark (as in Hallmark Cards) so even in the necessary and practical world of insurance, she was still surrounded by art. Catching up with Shirley isn't difficult. She happens to be my mom, and for this interview, she agreed to talk about all things knitting.</span></span></div>
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<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><b style="color: #666666;">Rhonda</b><span style="color: #666666;">: What’s your earliest memory of knitting?</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; line-height: 14.566667556762695px;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">When I was about 10 years old I loved watching my Aunt Katherine crochet these beautiful baby blankets, sweaters and doilies. Her and my uncle came to visit us in California one year and she decided it was time for me to learn to crochet. I was already embroidering pillow cases so I thought how much harder can this be. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; line-height: 14.566667556762695px;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">Bless her heart, I will never forget us sitting on the couch in the heat of the day and her patiently trying to teach me this art of crocheting. I just couldn’t get the hang of it.</span></span></div>
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<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span style="color: #38761d; line-height: 14.566667556762695px;">After that I wasn’t too interested in learning any other needlework until I took an elective homemaking class in high school. One of the lessons was learning to knit. My very first attempt was to knit socks, which I did, but not very well. </span><span style="color: #38761d; line-height: 14.566667556762695px;">Then I tried making a sweater, again not very well. My third attempt was a baby blanket and I loved it. I was then hooked on knitting.</span></span></div>
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<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span style="color: #38761d; line-height: 14.566667556762695px;">Over the years life took me away from knitting when I began sewing clothes for my girls. After retiring the second time I found a knitting class at the local community center and decided to brush up on my skills. That was about 13 years ago and I haven’t stopped since. </span><span style="color: #38761d; font-size: 9.5pt; line-height: 14.566667556762695px;"> </span><span style="color: #38761d; font-size: 9.5pt; line-height: 14.566667556762695px;"> </span></span></div>
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<b style="color: #555555; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Rhonda</b><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="color: #555555;">: What draws you to knitting?</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 14.566667556762695px;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="color: #38761d;">First let me say that I love going into a yarn shop or the yarn section of a craft store. As you walk through the door or down an aisle all these beautiful colors greet you with the possibility of a finished project. There’s this hush that surrounds you as you move from bin to bin. People are softly talking or laughing around me but I’m tuned into what I can do with all this yarn. I usually buy way more than I had intended because there’s always a project waiting to be started.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: "arial";">Knitting is very calming for me. </span><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: "arial";">It relaxes me and allows my mind to focus on what I’m working on and not what’s going on around me on a daily basis. </span><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: "arial";">I love watching how quickly a few stitches of a pattern produces a useful article right there in your hands. </span><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: "arial";">Yes, there are times my projects don’t work out and yes, I’ve had to tear out more than my share of stitches, but that’s how I learn.</span><br />
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<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="color: #555555; font-weight: bold;">Rhonda</span><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="color: #555555;">: What advice would you give a 1st time knitter?</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy-J3ysjBMYZLp0LU6BnAAGHOZJxhAbEisZeQRAPRva1iXc006s_cjfWjk4y5brYpiGTBeDdlnkCMNUte_ehQomkPCoHiYUr5RmduQLfGVa-FMJjFLN0001A3f-92mF1z3WWHhAe5IsG6r/s1600/IMG_6590.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: justify;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="422" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy-J3ysjBMYZLp0LU6BnAAGHOZJxhAbEisZeQRAPRva1iXc006s_cjfWjk4y5brYpiGTBeDdlnkCMNUte_ehQomkPCoHiYUr5RmduQLfGVa-FMJjFLN0001A3f-92mF1z3WWHhAe5IsG6r/s320/IMG_6590.jpg" width="84" /></a><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="color: #555555;"></span></div>
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<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span style="color: #38761d;">Experiment with different types of yarn and knitting needles. </span><span style="color: #38761d;">I prefer bamboo needles. </span><span style="color: #38761d;">I know a lot of people like the aluminum. </span><span style="color: #38761d;">Once you find your favorite yarn and needles start with a simple pattern. </span><span style="color: #38761d;">You should be able to knit, purl, cast on and bind off.</span></span></div>
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<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span style="color: #38761d;">From there it just takes practice and patience. </span><span style="color: #38761d;">Using the basics you can make almost anything. </span><span style="color: #38761d;">If you don’t understand the pattern or stitch there are YouTube instructions that are very helpful and most yarn shops are more than happy to help new knitters over the hump.</span><b style="color: #38761d;"> </b></span></div>
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<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><b style="font-weight: bold;">Rhonda</b>: What suggestions do you have regarding hand health and/or taking care during knitting projects?</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 14.566667556762695px;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="color: #38761d;">It’s very important to take a break at least once every hour or two. Stand up, stretch or go for a short walk. I wish I had followed this advice when I was younger. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 14.566667556762695px;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="color: #38761d;">Recently I learned that knitting with cotton can be very hard on your hands, so frequent breaks are important for hand health. It never occurred to me that the type of yarn we use could affect our hands, fingers and joints. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="color: #38761d;"><span style="line-height: 14.566667556762695px;">As I’ve aged I have some aches and pains in my hands when I do a lot of knitting. I’ve found that hand exercises are a must. I found a blog that has great hand exercises for knitters. Here's the link: <a href="https://www.weareknitters.com/" target="_blank">We Are Knitters</a>.</span></span></div>
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<b style="color: #555555; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Rhonda</b><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="color: #555555;">: Have you read any good knitting books? Fiction or nonfiction?</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 14.566667556762695px;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="color: #38761d;">My favorite knitting magazine is <i>Knitting Traditions</i>.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 14.566667556762695px;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="color: #38761d;">My favorite nonfiction knitting book is <u>Vintage Knits</u> by Hadley Fierlinger.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span style="color: #38761d;">For fun I like to read Debbie Macomber’s fiction books about a little knit shop on Blossom Street in Seattle Washington that’s called “A Good Yarn”. </span><span style="color: #38761d;">The owner is a woman, whose dream is to start a new life free from cancer. </span><span style="color: #38761d;">Four other women are brought together by knitting classes with personalities that are all different and unique. </span><span style="color: #38761d;">These books are a fast, fun read that most knitters can relat</span><span style="color: #38761d;">e to.</span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 14.566667556762695px;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="color: #555555;"><b>Rhonda</b>: Do you have any “dream” knitting projects?<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 14.566667556762695px;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="color: #38761d;"><b>Shirley</b>:</span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 14.566667556762695px;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span style="color: #38761d;">I have always wanted to make a pair of Norwegian stockings or Lithuanian mittens using the bright and traditional colors of wool yarn found in many foreign countries. Fancy patterned knitting has always intrigued me.</span><b><span style="color: #38761d;"> </span><span style="color: #548dd4;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #555555; line-height: 14.566667556762695px;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><b>Rhonda</b>: What one thing do you want people to know about your work?<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">I try to make my products fun and usable with material that is natural and eco-friendly. </span></span><span style="color: #38761d;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">I love to knit and I hope that feeling comes through with each item I make. </span></span><br />
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<span style="line-height: 14.566667556762695px;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="color: #38761d;"><b>Shirley</b>:</span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 14.566667556762695px;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="color: #38761d;">My immediate plans for Stitches & Scraps workshop is to continue to work on my current products for Practical Art and Etsy, adding a few new ones as I go along. I also will continue donating preemie and baby hats for newborns through the American Heart Association. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 14.566667556762695px;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="color: #38761d;">What I would love to do is rent a large space. In one section I would set up a knitting corner with a selection of yarn and knit related supplies. There would be a round work table and chairs for knitters of all ages to gather, chat with one another, perhaps have some tea and work on their projects. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 14.566667556762695px;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="color: #38761d;">In another section I would have scrapbooking supplies with a very large work table and chairs for scrapbook lovers to work on their projects. Classes could be held once or twice a month for anyone wanting to attend. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 14.566667556762695px;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="color: #38761d;">And what would be ideal is to have a work space for artisans of all types. Just think of all the interesting people you would meet and how many different types of art you would see. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 14.566667556762695px;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">But being the realist that I am, I know that financially I would not be able to pull that dream off.</span></span></span></div>
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<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="color: #666666;"><b>Rhonda</b>: Never say never. Shirley, can you provide links to your various sites for readers who'd like to see more of what you do?</span></div>
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<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="color: #38761d;"><b>Shirley</b>: Love to...</span></div>
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<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(56, 118, 29); color: #666666;"><a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/stormrowstudio?ref=search_shop_redirect" target="_blank"><b>Click here to see my knitted purses pouches & washclothes on Etsy.</b></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="caret-color: rgb(56, 118, 29);"><a href="http://practical-art.com/sheila-cavanagh-1/?rq=shi" target="_blank"><b><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="color: #666666;">Click here to see the farmer's market bags I sell at Practical Art.</span></b></a></span></div>
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<span style="caret-color: rgb(56, 118, 29);"><a href="http://onewomanswhims.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><b><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="color: #666666;">Click here to read the One Woman's Whims blog.</span></b></a></span></div>
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<a href="https://twitter.com/phxgal68" target="_blank"><b><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="color: #666666;">Click here to follow me on Twitter.</span></b></a></div>
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rhondahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00535503780052344938noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-338098139782270309.post-49807657249658193412018-05-07T08:00:00.000-07:002018-05-07T08:00:10.278-07:00rainbows: everywhere<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #7f6000; font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: medium;">Strolling along,</span></span><span style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #7f6000; font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">shopping,</span></span><span style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #7f6000; font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">stopped in my tracks</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #7f6000; font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: large;">by an unassuming rainbow.</span><span style="color: #7f6000; font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: large;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaUe5tqMg0lYumgWrtGTXBUakFCeCNAe_pNZ4LbFmKQ2p10o-LE4-fJsuvA1bqgJSWoWm8DKY19blSsWueclvBrWatEW-FY3XEeKzzayb-imRaYa2NxUm7icE9jQwWM64WFU-zxWRmNwhX/s1600/TapeRainbow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1094" data-original-width="1600" height="435" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaUe5tqMg0lYumgWrtGTXBUakFCeCNAe_pNZ4LbFmKQ2p10o-LE4-fJsuvA1bqgJSWoWm8DKY19blSsWueclvBrWatEW-FY3XEeKzzayb-imRaYa2NxUm7icE9jQwWM64WFU-zxWRmNwhX/s640/TapeRainbow.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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rhondahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00535503780052344938noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-338098139782270309.post-21110865840620652122018-05-03T09:50:00.000-07:002018-06-13T06:29:20.853-07:00haiku book review<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCx32zfVwXXI7gr9J4mdnwUJo878yBfkDXGQDtFXPwC8FOb6NqXAPfroYTmjZy2LwR7QpF8BA2juoRvMgde-XZI-jN1JaqpHuQ-_FPoQW-2k2botXYnbOYG8NnU4Cjv674c7VabZNv5tgB/s1600/IMG_6013.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1014" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCx32zfVwXXI7gr9J4mdnwUJo878yBfkDXGQDtFXPwC8FOb6NqXAPfroYTmjZy2LwR7QpF8BA2juoRvMgde-XZI-jN1JaqpHuQ-_FPoQW-2k2botXYnbOYG8NnU4Cjv674c7VabZNv5tgB/s400/IMG_6013.JPG" width="251" /></a></div>
<span style="color: #7f6000; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
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<b style="color: #7f6000; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Women, powerless.</span></b></div>
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<span style="color: #7f6000; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-large;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #7f6000; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>But, not. They can resist. Rise.</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #7f6000; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-large;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #7f6000; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>They must resist. Rise.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-large;"><i>The Handmaid's Tale</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-large;">by Margaret Atwood</span></div>
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<br />rhondahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00535503780052344938noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-338098139782270309.post-47157382736673540422018-05-01T17:51:00.000-07:002018-05-01T17:51:07.730-07:00smalls: neat, little shit<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "arial";">smalls /<i>sm</i></span><span style="font-family: "lucida grande";">ô</span><i><span style="font-family: "arial";">ls</span></i><span style="font-family: "arial";">/ noun 1. term used by collectors to describe neat, little shit<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial";"><b>Today's Smalls: a collection of green ephemera from the 1980s,</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial";"><b>kept because of the distinct memory attached to each</b></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial";">and also because, w</span><span style="font-family: "arial";">ell, each piece is little and green</span></b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip4aoLSWXy-P3l2eeYfunugR3oShQvNr5a0QDlYgEsxxk6srsDvmYnFsJn3x1HDWgof0C-Ul50LAMp8M1RD6W7IviimcAQ8amwhhyEyhRt-3U6kF_GzPzPf1YyJjcWauCc8jiByif671fs/s1600/IMG_2172.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1323" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip4aoLSWXy-P3l2eeYfunugR3oShQvNr5a0QDlYgEsxxk6srsDvmYnFsJn3x1HDWgof0C-Ul50LAMp8M1RD6W7IviimcAQ8amwhhyEyhRt-3U6kF_GzPzPf1YyJjcWauCc8jiByif671fs/s400/IMG_2172.jpg" width="330" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Beginning May 1, 2018,<b> smalls: neat, little shit</b> is a companion post shared as part of storm row studio's DRIFTWOOD series on Patreon. DRIFTWOOD includes public posts <u>and</u> Patron-only posts. In the case of <b>smalls</b>, STORIES Patrons gain exclusive access to the short stories and snippets inspired by neat, little things. To become a STORIES Patron, <a href="https://www.patreon.com/bePatron?c=1290548&rid=2103057" target="_blank">click here and sign up for the $2 monthly tier.</a> Once you do, you'll get an immediate pass to the first-ever <b>DRIFTWOOD: smalls - a neat, little tale</b>.</span></div>
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rhondahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00535503780052344938noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-338098139782270309.post-52948431585633567072018-03-01T15:57:00.001-08:002018-05-01T11:16:24.501-07:00rmack: bookmaker, the backstory<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
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<b><span style="color: #45818e;">Update:</span></b></div>
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<span style="color: #45818e;">From March 2018 through April 2018, the <b>rmack: bookmaker - night flyer</b> posts featured eight installments of my illustrated novel, Night Flyer. Because they were limited editions, I hope you found these free reads. If not, never fear. On May 1, 2018, the project moved into production mode and over the next month, as the book is built, I'll provide sneak peeks into that process. Patreon Patrons get full First Look posts, and soon, I hope to announce the completion of this rmack: bookmaker project with the sale of Night Flyer.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #45818e;">Want to become a Patron? <a href="https://www.patreon.com/stormrow" target="_blank">Click here</a>. Or sign up for storm row studio blog emails. <i>Follow By Email</i> is in the column to the right.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #45818e;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(69, 129, 142);">Below is the original post from March 1, 2018.</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhalUAQdGo9bfnbILp2sWvmCCI54rhpji8dS59MxndFfL8szs7HZHWp6GXN5KmF-cKdr7tOBX7_VUnEnB-Qil5t1fY3mEDNXGiEspM8RMCZ7Uec7MUVMQL_Cg6IF7QK5dNaVp8DNHO2xnf-/s1600/IMG_5622.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1261" data-original-width="1600" height="315" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhalUAQdGo9bfnbILp2sWvmCCI54rhpji8dS59MxndFfL8szs7HZHWp6GXN5KmF-cKdr7tOBX7_VUnEnB-Qil5t1fY3mEDNXGiEspM8RMCZ7Uec7MUVMQL_Cg6IF7QK5dNaVp8DNHO2xnf-/s400/IMG_5622.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">"The night I learned to fly I
was running for my life. Not to save myself from being killed, just to save
myself from Terry. I was eleven, living in that dingy trailer park with my mom.
We were deep into spring at that point and most of the adult tenants of the
park were out around rusting barbeques and vinyl-strapped lawn chairs. Lots of
smoking, drinking, but laughing, too. I should have stayed with them, with Mom,
but Terry’s daughter convinced me to go on an adventure with her."</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: medium;">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14.0pt;">The first paragraph of Night Flyer was written around ten years ago and with rough construction. At that
time, the story consisted of five pages I typed in a quick sit. The sentences
were so full of loneliness and fear that I whipped through them, desperate to
get to the part where my character, Tara, was free. Writing to her moment of freedom—a few, short lines at the bottom of the fifth page—felt powerful. But
it wasn’t until I read page five to a critique group that Tara’s power
overwhelmed me. It caught in my throat. I choked it back. Later, I wondered,
“Could one girl be this potent?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="color: #444444;">If you’ve
read any of my recent posts, you know how a year or so ago I came upon two
lines of a Muriel Rukeyser poem that won’t leave me.</span><span style="color: #101214;"><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #101214; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14.0pt;"><br /></span>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv20f1MYIlPed_TKU1qdrwIL2nhlnWZR7w6sS2fkyu0A4zIbmJBDKhIFCQop8WJQWovKNQDkc1sM1Vmr0FCXJm0mKWFuZ1gIMoDh-axVdINBxjxklqVsKvc251EY2OKzpvnYCLYvrOpKdN/s1600/IMG_5620.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1533" data-original-width="1600" height="306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv20f1MYIlPed_TKU1qdrwIL2nhlnWZR7w6sS2fkyu0A4zIbmJBDKhIFCQop8WJQWovKNQDkc1sM1Vmr0FCXJm0mKWFuZ1gIMoDh-axVdINBxjxklqVsKvc251EY2OKzpvnYCLYvrOpKdN/s320/IMG_5620.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">“What
would happen if one woman told the truth about her life? The world would split
open.”</span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Her
question and answer have personal meaning for me, but they also, eerily, help
me answer the question I asked myself all those years ago.</span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14.0pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Yes, one girl <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">can </i>be this potent.</span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14.0pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="color: #444444;">Of course, I’d been
writing Tara’s story and creating her world in all the months and years between asking my question and finding Muriel’s words. In fact, around 2012, the novel took a critical turn. I elevated both the scientific and fantastical bird elements and, ta-da, finished a shitty first draft. My struggle wasn't over, though, because the story
had social and political threads that were grounded in reality. Our world—the
real world—was changing, but not in ways that could help Tara. At least not yet. Then, in 2016, a major political party nominated its first female presidential
candidate and the rest is, well, flyer history. I revised and rewrote. I submitted the manuscript. To date, it's garnered interest, but no takers. And the world continues to revolve. And so must Night Flyer. Revolve out and around, where readers can find it.</span><span style="color: #101214;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #bf9000; font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: 14.0pt;">Announcing <b>rmack: bookmaker</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #bf9000; font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: 14.0pt;">A Storytelling & Bookmaking Project</span></div>
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<span style="color: #bf9000; font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: 14.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #bf9000; font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: 14.0pt;">Under Development:</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="color: #bf9000;">Night
Flyer - An Illustrated Novel<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Beginning Monday March 5, Night Flyer will be available to read here on <b>storm row studio</b> blog. Companion book-building posts featuring Night Flyer art, illustration, and design will be available on <b>storm row studio</b>’s Patreon page. At the end of the project, Night Flyer will be an actual hold-in-your-hand book (or books).</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #101214; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14pt;">An archive
and a memoir, Night Flyer spans decades and binds two families in all their
glorious and awful truths. At the center of it all? The </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14pt;">luxurious, underground
city of Meadowlark—home to humans who can fly—and one resistant flyer, Tara Landers,
on a quest to destroy it. </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14pt;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-zaDMU7Uubmo7a_WbbbQp6R5TV8zWm5gxiT5G3rqkzn-jwupTbCtDOJ3a8le5KM7gZICQi7fCTjR_ScbcLKQqgHr1i-KaiHJF3eSj8dtHYEgeGyMv9EfLjKjmLPY-ZnUcvUpTfh62HVzz/s1600/IMG_5616.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1186" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-zaDMU7Uubmo7a_WbbbQp6R5TV8zWm5gxiT5G3rqkzn-jwupTbCtDOJ3a8le5KM7gZICQi7fCTjR_ScbcLKQqgHr1i-KaiHJF3eSj8dtHYEgeGyMv9EfLjKjmLPY-ZnUcvUpTfh62HVzz/s320/IMG_5616.jpg" width="237" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Told in six parts, with
traditional chapters narrated by Tara, transcripts from an historian’s
interviews, and diary pages, letters, and art shared between family members, the
story lands Tara at the intersection of two unfamiliar worlds—politically upset
Washington D.C. and corrupt Meadowlark. There, she must decide whether to take
action or look the other way. Either choice will cause pain, but one also brings freedom.</span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14.0pt;"><br /></span>
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<span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14.0pt;"><u>Links to Previous <b>rmack: bookmaker </b>Posts</u></span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://stormrow.blogspot.com/2018/02/rmack-bookmaker.html" target="_blank"><b>rmack: bookmaker, </b><span style="font-size: xx-small;">general announcement</span></a></span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://stormrow.blogspot.com/2018/02/rmack-bookmaker-backstory.html" target="_blank"><b>rmack: bookmaker, </b>what to expect & when</a></span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; text-align: center;"><a href="https://stormrow.blogspot.com/2018/02/rmack-bookmaker-backstory_26.html" style="text-align: center;" target="_blank"><span style="font-weight: bold; text-align: justify;">rmack: bookmaker, </span><span style="text-align: justify;">inspired by</span></a></span></div>
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rhondahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00535503780052344938noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-338098139782270309.post-4969642464902666712018-02-26T14:48:00.000-08:002018-02-26T16:39:34.290-08:00rmack: bookmaker, the backstory<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">Art is
personal. And no matter the type of art, work isn’t created in a vacuum. Each day craftspeople of all kinds come into contact with hundreds of process-affecting,
idea-shaping things. What we do with those things matters. Use what
inspires. Discard what distracts. Trust that the system works.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #101214; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">So, let's go back about ten years. To the day I read five quickly-written pages to a critique group. If I remember correctly, the pages got mixed reviews, but after reading aloud,
I knew these not-a-story-yet pages meant something. The characters and events described on those pages were loosely inspired by my past, but I had the distinct
feeling that, in order to develop a novel, I’d need to be
inspired by the future. Inspired by things that hadn't happened yet. Important things.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">Since that
time, I have been inspired by current events and have added hundreds of written pages to the original five. I’ve submitted samples for professional critique and to agents and editors to consider for
sale and publication. Different from the critique group meeting ten-ish years ago, the
feedback improved and stabilized. I received encouraging words, direction,
and invitations to resubmit revisions. As this writing-editing-submitting process proceeded, the
world—our country—evolved and the future actually arrived. Present day circumstances changed the book. Changed me. And a few months ago, I stood, looking ahead, wondering, Where do I go from here?</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="color: #45818e; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: large;">I kinda knew the answer.</span><br />
<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: "times new roman";"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: "times new roman";">The thing is, last year was tough for me on many levels, but through the noise and mess four process-affecting,
idea-shaping things showed up and stuck with me. </span><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: "times new roman";">Those things were:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">The book <i>A Glorious Freedom </i>by artist Lisa Congdon (link below)</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEH460yazqq60rHScSsaCia3jO_ZoXUJ5lFInbW17l_lLKcwKZVbayZZt85PFk-bY02S9ic9MDq5nOfGBxY7_05jlzBLcs7z5GhWJPOtp5et5aWheGYiu6cC5JYv6N_srYcGCCelg-GhBS/s1600/IMG_5511.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1494" data-original-width="1600" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEH460yazqq60rHScSsaCia3jO_ZoXUJ5lFInbW17l_lLKcwKZVbayZZt85PFk-bY02S9ic9MDq5nOfGBxY7_05jlzBLcs7z5GhWJPOtp5et5aWheGYiu6cC5JYv6N_srYcGCCelg-GhBS/s320/IMG_5511.jpg" width="320" /></span></a><span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"></span></div>
</div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #b45f06;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #b45f06;">Graphic memoir author Lucy Knisley's Patreon page </span><span style="color: #b45f06;">(link below)</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #b45f06;">An online novel-sharing project by author & blogger Lee Wind </span><span style="color: #b45f06;">(link below)</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">and</span><br />
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Two lines of poetry from American poet Muriel Rukeyser</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjojyPHU5tQ9oA7s_4rT-0ORJS08N_iXdsJH9Al_BkdshsCRj_wo_NsAgnJv6PQsf5bDM9lBj79Y4Io8mzLX-SnmQaWBmNGYWM_XcS2sYUF0IH9TAg6SGCBt82QyezknnOFBSB4zmV2PRr_/s1600/IMG_5524.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1097" data-original-width="1600" height="436" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjojyPHU5tQ9oA7s_4rT-0ORJS08N_iXdsJH9Al_BkdshsCRj_wo_NsAgnJv6PQsf5bDM9lBj79Y4Io8mzLX-SnmQaWBmNGYWM_XcS2sYUF0IH9TAg6SGCBt82QyezknnOFBSB4zmV2PRr_/s640/IMG_5524.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Individually, each of these affected the way I thought about my work. Together, though, their collective message filled my creative heart.</span><br />
<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">The message was:</span><br />
<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #45818e; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>Be honest. Show your work.</b></span><br />
<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">My inner voice chimed in:</span><br />
<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #45818e; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>Show work? Now? When nothing's perfect?</b></span><br />
<span style="color: #45818e; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">That's when I had the what-am-I-waiting-for moment. I told myself:</span><br />
<span style="color: #45818e; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="color: #45818e; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>Nothing will ever be perfect. So, yes, now. I must tell the truth about my creative life now.</b></span><br />
<span style="color: #45818e; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: #38761d;">Joining Patreon was the first step. It was scary as hell. Still is. Next up is <b>rmack: bookmaker </b>and I'm feeling just as scared.<b> </b>But if somewhere,</span><span style="color: #38761d;"> beyond today, I want bookmaking to be part of my normal creative process, I must begin. I hope you enjoy following along.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Episodes of <b>rmack: bookmaker, the backstory</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14pt;"><a href="http://stormrow.blogspot.com/2018/02/rmack-bookmaker.html" target="_blank">Wed Feb 21 - rmack: bookmaker, general announcement</a> (click for link)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14pt;"><a href="http://stormrow.blogspot.com/2018/02/rmack-bookmaker-backstory.html" target="_blank">Sat Feb 24 - rmack: bookmaker, what to expect & when</a> (click for link)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14pt;">Mon Feb 26 - rmack: bookmaker, inspired by</span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14pt;">Thurs March 1 - </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14pt;">rmack: bookmaker, introducing Night Flyer</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6;"><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14pt;">RMACK: BOOKMAKER INAUGURAL POST is MONDAY MARCH 5</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6;"><span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6;"><span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14pt;">Want to know more about the four inspirations above? Click links below.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6;"><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14pt;"><a href="https://www.indiebound.org/book/9781452156200" target="_blank">Lisa Congdon's A Glorious Freedom</a></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6;"><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14pt;"><a href="https://www.patreon.com/lucyknisley" target="_blank">Lucy Knisley on Patreon</a></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6;"><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14pt;"><a href="http://www.leewind.org/2017/09/a-secret-from-history-two-books-and.html" target="_blank">Lee Wind's Novel Sharing Project</a></span></span></div>
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rhondahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00535503780052344938noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-338098139782270309.post-53335775019480293502018-02-24T17:41:00.001-08:002018-02-26T16:39:48.536-08:00rmack: bookmaker, the backstory<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Every Book Starts with a Box</td></tr>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="color: #b45f06;"><br /></span></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="color: #b45f06;">What’s rmack: bookmaker?</span><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="color: #38761d;">rmack: bookmaker is a
storytelling meets book-building feature where I share a story online while
also creating a handheld zine or book.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="color: #b45f06;"><br /></span></span></b>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="color: #b45f06;"><br /></span></span></b>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="color: #b45f06;"><br /></span></span></b>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="color: #b45f06;"><br /></span></span></b>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="color: #b45f06;">What to expect from this first edition?</span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="color: #38761d;">An experiment. With my
contemporary but fantastical illustrated novel Night Flyer.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Why is this
experimental? In 2012, I independently published a YA novel (wildflowers), but now
I want to test out the quality, formatting, and other design elements of a <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">new</i> print-on-demand (POD) site. The
questions are: which design ideas will work? Which will need adjusting? And
which template best suits this manuscript and its art?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="color: #38761d;">It’s going to be
exciting to find out.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="color: #b45f06;">What does this mean for you, the reader?</span><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14.0pt;">At first, you’ll do all
your reading online. I’ll share Night Flyer’s six parts one at a time, using my
blog and Patreon page in a cross-media collaboration. My blog will be home to
the manuscript’s chapters with sneak peeks at art. Posts will go up once a
week. My Patreon page will be home to weekly public reports on the development
of the art, design, and formatting.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Please note: patrons get
advanced viewings of Patreon posts and a few patron-only posts. All public
posts, whether on my blog or Patreon, will include links to their companion
post on the opposite site. In the end, you won’t miss a thing.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="color: #38761d;">After all the online
sharing, the next step will be to publish each part of Night Flyer as a zine or
book. Or maybe both! I’ll do my tests and show you the results, and if I end up
with a good quality piece of work, I’ll sell each part, in a rotation, through
the online POD bookseller for limited time. The end goal is to find the best
POD site to self-publish Night Flyer as one book.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="color: #b45f06; font-size: medium;">Episodes of </span><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><b><span style="color: #b45f06; font-size: large;">rmack: bookmaker, the backstory</span><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14.0pt;"><a href="http://stormrow.blogspot.com/2018/02/rmack-bookmaker.html" target="_blank">Wed Feb 21 - rmack: bookmaker, general announcement</a> (click for link)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Sat Feb 24 - rmack: bookmaker, what to expect
& when<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Mon Feb 26 - rmack: bookmaker, inspired by</span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14pt;">Thurs March 1 - </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14pt;">rmack: bookmaker, introducing Night Flyer</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: medium;">RMACK: BOOKMAKER INAUGURAL POST is MONDAY MARCH 5</span></div>
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rhondahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00535503780052344938noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-338098139782270309.post-48906247611196496102018-02-23T07:16:00.000-08:002018-02-23T07:16:07.881-08:00rainbows: everywhere<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3O0QGnAZYga9X_9tHBzNnxk7Bt5UHNrNrcX7Ky568M3U1KQCTzYV6CwXIgaqLEvNLAcEI_vED9HQF4C5fVl69WPpoVqZm6tD77KcYblyrwhc6lwjiZfiFDuv92_Vx1bhSDkdMsEwi6quv/s1600/IMG_5134.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1181" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3O0QGnAZYga9X_9tHBzNnxk7Bt5UHNrNrcX7Ky568M3U1KQCTzYV6CwXIgaqLEvNLAcEI_vED9HQF4C5fVl69WPpoVqZm6tD77KcYblyrwhc6lwjiZfiFDuv92_Vx1bhSDkdMsEwi6quv/s400/IMG_5134.jpg" width="295" /></a></div>
<span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #674ea7; font-size: x-large;">kitchen</span><br />
<span style="color: #76a5af; font-size: x-large;">towels</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #38761d;">soaked</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #f1c232; font-size: x-large;">in</span><br />
<span style="color: #e69138; font-size: x-large;">color,</span><br />
<span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: x-large;">yes.</span>rhondahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00535503780052344938noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-338098139782270309.post-22780463887224759712018-02-21T14:23:00.001-08:002018-02-26T16:41:01.225-08:00rmack: bookmaker<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgqDrwVLg4vTCIi6f9ac5CmkCdnMu6enusTgV5K6SRnHs5jEPd6LYje6u48EWVzPY8VaY4OPe7SCMBuk4TWsU_tpfhQ26IO2evlsEI9Pl_88KQToDZWYRsoFg9oN7235KRvAyV4XQC0s5-/s1600/WMW+Amplifier+Subm+McCormack.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="609" data-original-width="480" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgqDrwVLg4vTCIi6f9ac5CmkCdnMu6enusTgV5K6SRnHs5jEPd6LYje6u48EWVzPY8VaY4OPe7SCMBuk4TWsU_tpfhQ26IO2evlsEI9Pl_88KQToDZWYRsoFg9oN7235KRvAyV4XQC0s5-/s400/WMW+Amplifier+Subm+McCormack.jpeg" width="315" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #45818e;">Throughout history women have stood up, stepped out, and raised voices in the name of dignity, equity, and equality. Sometimes a woman must speak for one, often she chooses to speak for many. In the end, she does what needs doing. She starts something.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #45818e;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #45818e;">Today it's my turn to begin something new. I do this in the midst of a world upended by frustrating, sad, or scary daily news events. But I must go ahead. Why? Because in 2016, after a woman finally won the presidential nomination of a major political party, a door opened. For a while it stood ajar, this or that person slipping by, but now our sisters, woke and rising, are ripping that door from its hinges so everyone can pass through.</span><br />
<span style="color: #45818e;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #45818e;">Who am I talking about?</span><br />
<span style="color: #45818e;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #45818e;">The girls, women, and those identifying as female who organized and attended the largest socio-cultural march in herstory. I'm talking about the record number of gals running for office and those already serving in government. They're determined to push past the patriarchy and stake claims on important issues. Also, the females in the film and publishing industries, saying #MeToo, #TimesUp, and #WeNeedDiversity in order to create wide-spread support for any and all victims of harassment, abuse, or oppression. And what about the lady educators and activists, old, young, lesbian, transgender, queer, female-identifying, with skin tones in all colors and shades, who practice and teach dignity, equity, and equality every single day? These ladies model for girls <i>and</i> boys what it means to be emotionally intelligent and fair.</span><br />
<span style="color: #cc0000; text-align: center;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #cc0000; text-align: center;">Most recently, though, I'm talking about Emma Gonzalez.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGeXri6fxYMZj0FwjqHCvl_6IYHoSS9pw3dw6DqYJ79DWH-K7fwlLW7lIO0RUhyphenhyphen09kq-k6M-rvzIoce_3tqaHq3B_mf6xBEXNazxqusJ16RVFHhTjKTXpiOP0QdNjdkq5XsCpZ-LpcY2lZ/s1600/Emma.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1584" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGeXri6fxYMZj0FwjqHCvl_6IYHoSS9pw3dw6DqYJ79DWH-K7fwlLW7lIO0RUhyphenhyphen09kq-k6M-rvzIoce_3tqaHq3B_mf6xBEXNazxqusJ16RVFHhTjKTXpiOP0QdNjdkq5XsCpZ-LpcY2lZ/s400/Emma.jpg" width="395" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #45818e;">Last weekend a bright, articulate high school student named Emma addressed a crowd of Floridians. She spoke about gun violence and reform. She spoke with passion and honesty. The reason? She's dedicated to taking valued and valuable action so that her school becomes the last to be ambushed by a young gunman. I cried, listening to her speech. I was also inspired. She's not afraid to show how she hurts. She's not afraid to use her power. </span><span style="color: #45818e;">She's starting something while still in pain and grieving and she's won't take no for an answer. It's not right that she and her classmates have to do this, and some mock them. These kids won't stop though. And I understand why.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #45818e;">In 1983, my sister's friend found a gun and ended up dead. I was in fifth grade and shocked. I wondered about the hunting guns in my house. Locked away and off limits, but...</span><br />
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<span style="color: #45818e;">If someone really wanted to get their hands on them...</span><br />
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<span style="color: #45818e;">The morning after the accident, I watched teachers scrambling, worried, nervous, sad. Discussing gun safety or violence at school was a new. Parents also seemed a little stuck. I mean, kids knew guns weren't toys, but we had little knowledge about how to handle a weapon. In the end, for the time, the adults did the best they could. Still, I have no memories of being advised or counseled after the funeral. It had been an accident, so it was okay to let the whole incident slip from view.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #45818e;">Except, it didn't. At least not for the kids.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #45818e;">We looked at each other differently. We took sadness or depression or risky choices seriously. In short, we vowed to be there for each other. And the pact was set at the local roller rink. I'm serious. On the Friday after the shooting, we showed up like we always did, ready to hang out and be together. The difference that night was the crying. And long talks. We told each other how much we cared, and as the night went on, the support grew wider and stronger and even reached the victim's sibling. A year older than me, the sibling and I were friends because our brothers and sisters were friends. At the end of the night, we stood at the door, hugging. We ran in different circles, but we would always defend the other's safety and well being. It's lucky we didn't have to. And a few years later, we grew apart. But that </span><span style="color: #45818e;">moment and the entire incident was so powerful for me that I wrote a story* about it. Thirty. Years. Later!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #45818e;">So, here we are. Another school shooting. And when I see people telling Emma and her classmates to be quiet, step aside, and let the adults handle it, it sparks such anger. Hearing these perspectives in real time isn't just important, it's imperative. All the better when it's the perspective of girls and young females. And for me, the way to thank <i>all</i> </span><span style="color: #45818e;">these girls, gals, females, and women for what they've done this last year is to step through the wide open space they're making and add to the conversation.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #45818e;">With that, I introduce Tara Landers.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #45818e;"></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnuNyoG_mbzc9jK_W5rOZqh7yFzS_qNZ7h9wMjXrUwR_UkXsPeO76Z1Ubbx4SsoXFfcOg2Ab_PTZGCYILfxkbvEGfxjs-KDqx4MIaSKjlkQnZRnMDhv-9EgLJbji0MNPBi3wv5eWZrdA_D/s1600/IMG_5499.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: justify;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1343" data-original-width="1600" height="536" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnuNyoG_mbzc9jK_W5rOZqh7yFzS_qNZ7h9wMjXrUwR_UkXsPeO76Z1Ubbx4SsoXFfcOg2Ab_PTZGCYILfxkbvEGfxjs-KDqx4MIaSKjlkQnZRnMDhv-9EgLJbji0MNPBi3wv5eWZrdA_D/s640/IMG_5499.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #45818e;">Unlike many I've mentioned in this post, unlike Emma, Tara doesn't want her hurt on display. And she isn't comfortable using her power. But despite her pain and grief, if she wants a better world, she must start this minute to change herself and change minds. </span><span style="color: #45818e;">And with my help, she will.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #45818e;">Tara is the main character in my illustrated novel, Night Flyer, and on </span><span style="color: #45818e;">Monday March 5, I'll begin sharing Night Flyer's chapters and art in a new storytelling-meets-book-building feature called </span><b style="color: #45818e;">rmack: bookmaker.</b></div>
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<span style="color: #45818e;">The idea behind <b>rmack: bookmaker</b> is to use this blog and </span><span style="color: #45818e;">my Patreon page to publish the story <i>and </i>explain<i> </i>the process of designing and independently publishing a book for sale. I've picked Night Flyer as the first <b>rmack: bookmaker </b>novel because of how closely tied it is to our current social and political environments. There's such an urgency around this plot and these characters that it's possible the book won't be finished until some key governmental changes take place. But I won't get ahead of myself. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #45818e;">This moment is about seventeen-year-old Tara, the luxurious but corrupt city of Meadowlark, and me letting you, readers, have the first look at bringing a book to life. Again, I'll use this blog and my Patreon page as companion sites, with each serving a unique purpose. I</span><span style="color: #45818e;">n the days leading up to <b>rmack: bookmaker</b>'s first post, I'll drop in and explain the specifics and some backstory. </span><span style="color: #45818e;">I sure hope you'll follow along. The best ways to do that are:</span></div>
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<span style="color: #45818e;">1. </span><span style="color: #cc0000;">Sign up to follow this blog</span><span style="color: #45818e;">. To get email updates, go to the FOLLOW BY EMAIL section in the right hand column of this page, enter your email address in the box, and click the Submit button.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #45818e;">2. </span><span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="color: #45818e;"><a href="https://www.patreon.com/bePatron?c=1290548" target="_blank"><span style="color: #cc0000;">Click here to become a storm row studio patron.</span></a> </span></span><span style="color: #45818e;">Patrons get the latest writing and art news (and secrets) before the general public and I have several tier levels, from $1 to $7 a month. Signing up is like taking out a subscription or paying a membership fee and it helps me earn a living from sharing my work. Of course, there's no obligation and you can cancel or upgrade tiers at anytime.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #45818e;">Thank you for taking a moment from your day to hear about </span><b style="color: #45818e;">rmack: bookmaker</b><span style="color: #45818e;">. </span><span style="color: #45818e;">Tara's been waiting for people to begin embracing the true power of women just so she could step out of the shadows and divulge her secrets. I suppose, with </span><b style="color: #45818e;">rmack: bookmaker</b><span style="color: #45818e;">, I'm doing a bit of the same. It's scary, sure, but it's time to start.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #45818e; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #45818e;">*If you'd like to read excerpts of </span><b style="color: #45818e;">roll</b><span style="color: #45818e;">, the story loosely based on my childhood experience with gun violence, </span><a href="https://www.patreon.com/posts/fread-in-under-17132272" target="_blank"><span style="color: #cc0000;">please click here</span></a><span style="color: #45818e;">.</span></span></div>
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rhondahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00535503780052344938noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-338098139782270309.post-85227993974708363942018-02-15T08:30:00.000-08:002018-02-15T10:42:01.581-08:00haiku book review<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4WYOfn8uzH_xaTIaYAhT8uvt92zPZuuX2KDIQ0QHCkYveAw-wErYdrmllDfVow8H5m1IBkZIyFx1DIt4FYs7BlH7g_JvmdRyAGohVV7yFk-TLgtjLhj7C5uQd-wNgivApRuKMCvKpJ2rC/s1600/IMG_5118.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1405" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4WYOfn8uzH_xaTIaYAhT8uvt92zPZuuX2KDIQ0QHCkYveAw-wErYdrmllDfVow8H5m1IBkZIyFx1DIt4FYs7BlH7g_JvmdRyAGohVV7yFk-TLgtjLhj7C5uQd-wNgivApRuKMCvKpJ2rC/s400/IMG_5118.jpg" width="351" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #7f6000; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">#HaikuBookReview</span></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>Dana, called to heal.</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>An ancestor, pushing her</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>To limits unknown.</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">a graphic novel adaptation of </span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">octavia butler's kindred</span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">by </span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">damian duffy & john jennings</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #660000; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">to read a longer review, please visit:</span></div>
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<span style="color: #660000; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.patreon.com/posts/haikubookreview-16962827" target="_blank">storm row studio on Patreon</a></span></div>
<br />rhondahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00535503780052344938noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-338098139782270309.post-103859957372721992017-12-28T15:19:00.000-08:002018-02-15T10:41:31.094-08:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8XZF6GPaNDaELy4tC8JSbksb9KeU_z4DKvsvwUxE1AaRjKSjPUmxwhyphenhyphenlHhD9W_r06RRlPkESFFRfoyuMABNdvoSioF4KLsideqdeulwh2p6JfxhYvazRVNBUS1rsFla4_Rgq_hgCeElp3/s1600/Photo+on+11-20-17+at+8.39+AM+%25233.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1080" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8XZF6GPaNDaELy4tC8JSbksb9KeU_z4DKvsvwUxE1AaRjKSjPUmxwhyphenhyphenlHhD9W_r06RRlPkESFFRfoyuMABNdvoSioF4KLsideqdeulwh2p6JfxhYvazRVNBUS1rsFla4_Rgq_hgCeElp3/s320/Photo+on+11-20-17+at+8.39+AM+%25233.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="color: #76a5af;">Dear </span><span style="color: #0b5394;">storm row studio blog </span><span style="color: #76a5af;">Readers,</span><br />
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<span style="color: #76a5af;">Season's Greetings. It's nearly 2018. Can we even believe it? Well, ready or not, here it comes and I hope you have loads of wonderful plans for the new year. As for me, I've already put 2018 projects in motion and I thought I'd drop into the old blog and fill you in on the latest creative developments.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #f1c232;"><b>The big news is...</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;">I've joined Patreon! </span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;">(hooray, hooray, hooray)</span></div>
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<span style="color: #76a5af;">What's Patreon? Patreon is an online art community where artists and craftspeople of all kinds share their work and exclusive content with supporters, enthusiasts. Patrons. Finding a landing pad like Patreon has been a long-time-coming goal. I needed a place where I could earn income by sharing three things: my writing, my art, and day-in-the-creative-life stuff. Now that I've found that place, I'm excited, but it's also true that joining Patreon is scary. I don't know if I'll be good at it, if I can keep up, and if I'll find an audience. But leaving the things I make to sit in piles, drawers, or boxes, waiting to be seen, is no longer an option. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #f1c232;"><b>If you'd like to learn more about Patreon, click here:</b></span><span style="color: #76a5af;"> </span><a href="https://www.patreon.com/stormrow" target="_blank"><span style="color: #8e7cc3;">Storm Row Studio on Patreon</span></a></div>
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<span style="color: #76a5af;">I hope you'll stop by and take a look around my Patreon page. As I add content to the site, there'll be free reads and arty chat and pics for the general public, and i</span><span style="color: #76a5af;">f you'd like to see more exclusive, one-of-a-kind posts, I</span><span style="color: #76a5af;">'m also offering subscription memberships at $2, $4, and $7. Everything on Patreon will be an expansion and extension of </span><span style="color: #0b5394;">storm row studio blog</span><span style="color: #76a5af; font-weight: bold;">,</span><span style="color: #76a5af;"> so if you like the stuff around here, you'll want to keep an eye on my Patreon project. Three good ways to do that are:</span></div>
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<span style="color: #76a5af;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #6aa84f;">1. Follow me on Twitter. I've created a second, business-y handle: </span><a href="https://twitter.com/storm_row" target="_blank"><span style="color: #8e7cc3;">@storm_row</span></a></div>
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<span style="color: #6aa84f;">2. Follow me on Instagram. I've created a second, studio-centric handle:</span> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/stormrow/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #8e7cc3;">@stormrow</span></a></div>
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<span style="color: #76a5af;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #6aa84f;">3. Sign up for </span><span style="color: #0b5394;">storm row studio blog</span> <span style="color: #6aa84f;">email alerts so you'll get notice each time I post Patreon updates and news. To sign up, go to right-hand column, scroll down to the "FOLLOW BY EMAIL" section, enter you email address in the box, and click the "Submit" button.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #f1c232;"><b>But wait. There's more.</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;">Free reading material. Up now. On Patreon.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #76a5af;">That's right! This minute several made for the public (aka: everyone) posts are up on my Patreon page. The latest is <i>fRead in under 15. </i>If you've been around my blog awhile, you might recall me writing about book donations and giveaways. I called this act of giving Free Reads, or fReads. Now, as I develop a fast-fiction writing practice, my Patreon page seems the best place to offer free online short stories told in fifteen pages or less. The first <i>fRead in under 15</i> is titled <u>Outlook Road</u>, a story about bikes and boards and doing the right thing, 80s style.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #8e7cc3;"> <a href="https://www.patreon.com/posts/fread-in-under-16099984" target="_blank"><span style="color: #8e7cc3;">Click here to read the first <i>fRead in under 15</i> on Patreon</span></a></span></div>
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<span style="color: #76a5af;">Well, I'm off to take a walk. Thank you, thank you, thank you to all you </span><span style="color: #0b5394;">storm row studio blog </span><span style="color: #76a5af;">readers. The past year or so has been tough, interesting, and I appreciate all of you who check in and support me in this way or that. I wish you the 2018 of your dreams. Remember, just. Keep. Rowing.</span></div>
rhondahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00535503780052344938noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-338098139782270309.post-22172330155089889222017-12-27T08:00:00.000-08:002018-02-15T10:42:24.604-08:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #f1c232; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">#HaikuBookReview</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx1FVajmHtaqk6WRh9Dt9IrnCfNkNGJhueIEwG3EizGiAU8lG5CCJOd7ilNPQqUpW97WwWd8BHX9dzkDkbXCqcQ66kkkG8E870PkcO4HRVfMf_IqDRpJ0B5GW76XBrE5IUQhBN8H_Awys9/s1600/IMG_4766.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx1FVajmHtaqk6WRh9Dt9IrnCfNkNGJhueIEwG3EizGiAU8lG5CCJOd7ilNPQqUpW97WwWd8BHX9dzkDkbXCqcQ66kkkG8E870PkcO4HRVfMf_IqDRpJ0B5GW76XBrE5IUQhBN8H_Awys9/s640/IMG_4766.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />rhondahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00535503780052344938noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-338098139782270309.post-13437425118147337932017-12-24T15:57:00.001-08:002018-02-15T10:42:43.737-08:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">#HaikuBookReview</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4E4bNGhZRBHMt4uiPNBGIDSyt4Nkt_uRaIoG8T9rX4yBQNPyG685E10P5QDnOa5EjhpYLNXYacrma9_NSgm1X08-KJuw5xHeygW0jxFCfJ42WsEyD0DKlnJdXEGU2bccEdN9TZsBrAB_D/s1600/IMG_4760.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="753" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4E4bNGhZRBHMt4uiPNBGIDSyt4Nkt_uRaIoG8T9rX4yBQNPyG685E10P5QDnOa5EjhpYLNXYacrma9_NSgm1X08-KJuw5xHeygW0jxFCfJ42WsEyD0DKlnJdXEGU2bccEdN9TZsBrAB_D/s640/IMG_4760.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
rhondahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00535503780052344938noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-338098139782270309.post-27677370415507110342017-12-20T10:52:00.004-08:002018-02-15T10:42:59.755-08:00rainbows: everywhere<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtddJ1s97gq4dxiy0tCe6Ihq9rxGitqXm2lGlwOYAkLADXGoBvT1N07UU6xnm2pP6eFDCwTLF6CO-Q-8DePPOqMH-rRhy04w5NshojnFD-7jWPcQgmsr11f3l8bgB3qUhkY5cO8QJTI2au/s1600/IMG_4689.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="858" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtddJ1s97gq4dxiy0tCe6Ihq9rxGitqXm2lGlwOYAkLADXGoBvT1N07UU6xnm2pP6eFDCwTLF6CO-Q-8DePPOqMH-rRhy04w5NshojnFD-7jWPcQgmsr11f3l8bgB3qUhkY5cO8QJTI2au/s640/IMG_4689.jpg" width="342" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">and sometimes</span></b></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>prepackaged,</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>on a roll.</b></span></div>
rhondahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00535503780052344938noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-338098139782270309.post-70088382090464902422017-11-21T06:38:00.003-08:002018-02-15T10:43:33.261-08:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8SKDegpPNRveldce4WQXzGAJDDDF4KNtQd6Ry1kNMYOfgc-wxsLY4YdLfHCjS26y5980wZq__BzoZaD1DRa9hVgaZztwGcRhsAf0fyeh2Gn7T1tRSRIUrnpXwwkuogeCALi87FbucAwK-/s1600/IMG_3647.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1522" data-original-width="1385" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8SKDegpPNRveldce4WQXzGAJDDDF4KNtQd6Ry1kNMYOfgc-wxsLY4YdLfHCjS26y5980wZq__BzoZaD1DRa9hVgaZztwGcRhsAf0fyeh2Gn7T1tRSRIUrnpXwwkuogeCALi87FbucAwK-/s400/IMG_3647.jpg" width="362" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #bf9000; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #bf9000; font-size: x-large;">nature always</span><span style="color: #ffd966; font-size: x-large;"> </span></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">wears the colors </span></b></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>of the spirit.</b></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">ralph waldo emerson</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #274e13; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">so. go lightly.</span></b></div>
rhondahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00535503780052344938noreply@blogger.com