tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1545520929032735482024-03-13T00:42:09.344-07:00Anne R. Allen's BooksMurder, Mayhem, and Mr. WrongAnne R. Allenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02420000168356370825noreply@blogger.comBlogger84125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-154552092903273548.post-23195952769029576402020-10-17T15:14:00.002-07:002024-01-11T13:16:52.378-08:00This Blog on Hiatus<p><span style="font-size: medium;"> Hello readers and Camilla fans,</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/bb/Jacques_Callot_-_The_Beggars-_Beggar_Woman_on_Crutches_-_2008.34.16_-_Cleveland_Museum_of_Art.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="555" height="200" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/bb/Jacques_Callot_-_The_Beggars-_Beggar_Woman_on_Crutches_-_2008.34.16_-_Cleveland_Museum_of_Art.jpg" width="139" /></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;">In early July I had a fall that put me in the hospital for over two months. I'm still unable to walk. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">But I'm working with physical therapists to get my strength back. And I can even stand up now, with a walker!</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">I hope to get back to this blog sometime in 2024. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Many thanks to all of you</span>!</p><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Anne</span></p>Anne R. Allenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02420000168356370825noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-154552092903273548.post-88819362706593968392020-06-26T13:24:00.001-07:002020-06-26T13:38:23.963-07:00What is Free Speech? Ask the Manners Doctor<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Dear Manners Doctor, <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://tjed-mothers.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Cicero.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="618" data-original-width="444" height="320" src="https://tjed-mothers.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Cicero.gif" width="229" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">What should I do about people who always make negative comments
on my Facebook page? I like to keep my page light and fun. But no matter what I
post, there is one guy who has to say “You're so gullible. This was photoshopped.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Even if I already said it was photoshopped
in my intro.) Or “No cat could actually do that.” Or "Why do you think cats can't spell? Do you know any cats who can write?"</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">He’s especially harsh when I
post fun articles about science and space exploration. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">What he says is usually obvious, but it’s negative and
unpleasant. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">He doesn’t get that the point of these posts and memes is
humor and food for the imagination, not realism.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://img.huffingtonpost.com/asset/5bb360892100006401c7c891.jpeg?ops=scalefit_630_noupscale" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" height="240" src="https://img.huffingtonpost.com/asset/5bb360892100006401c7c891.jpeg?ops=scalefit_630_noupscale" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I’ve had a number of people complain about this guy. I’ve asked
him to lighten up, but he just blabbers about “free speech.” Am I violating his rights? What’s the polite
way to deal with him? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Keeping it Light<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Dear Keeping it Light,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_6_snHj7DNloLtY0ai-QkKZxbnwHQNY0VsWAtpVa5zAVg-Yuu0Mv8rtVwYLDalT0I8sg3i1-f1_lk1UlTYkBSF5uowNoVy2Hm0SpJjPFX6l1ciDDQVLG6oCcEnIBB6ycPXg91pSls_yo/s1600/Elegant+woman+sillhouette.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="702" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_6_snHj7DNloLtY0ai-QkKZxbnwHQNY0VsWAtpVa5zAVg-Yuu0Mv8rtVwYLDalT0I8sg3i1-f1_lk1UlTYkBSF5uowNoVy2Hm0SpJjPFX6l1ciDDQVLG6oCcEnIBB6ycPXg91pSls_yo/s320/Elegant+woman+sillhouette.png" width="175" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The Manners Doctor would like to remind people that “free
speech” refers to speech in a public place. The First Amendment to the US Constitution
gives us the right to express our views in a public place and not go to jail
for them. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">It does not, however give people the right to say whatever
they want in a private space. It also doesn’t say there will be no consequences
to “free” speech. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">If you walk into your Mother-in-Law’s house and call her a
fat pig, she has every right to tell you to get out and never darken her door
again. And you may find that your spouse doesn’t want much to do with you either.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The government can’t send you to jail for calling your
Mother-in-Law a fat pig, but you <i>will</i> suffer some <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn%3AANd9GcTTYzWFCaPzi6sgy9OLPKumqbRBWBgpZdEzJA&usqp=CAU" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="197" data-original-width="256" src="https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn%3AANd9GcTTYzWFCaPzi6sgy9OLPKumqbRBWBgpZdEzJA&usqp=CAU" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not your Mother-in-Law</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
painful consequences.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">As to your Captain Obvious/ Debby Downer Facebook visitor, you
should have unfriended and blocked him some time ago. He has no "rights" to troll your page. If a visitor is annoying
your friends and diminishing your brand, then it’s your job to remove him.
Facebook is a private company and your page is yours. Nobody has the right to
change the tone of your page but you. And of course, Mr. Zuckerberg. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The polite way to deal with trollish behavior is block and unfriend. Don’t threaten or interact with him in any way. Interacting with a troll
always leads to dark places. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Very Truly Yours, <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The Manners Doctor</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<h2 style="text-align: center;">
<strong>BOOK OF THE MONTH</strong></h2>
<br />
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
<strong>THE FIRST THREE CAMILLA RANDALL MYSTERIES</strong></h3>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Some escapist comedies for pandemic-ing</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Snarky, delicious fun! The Camilla Randall mysteries are a laugh-out-loud mashup of romantic comedy, crime fiction, and satire: Dorothy Parker meets Dorothy L. Sayers. Perennially down-and-out socialite Camilla Randall is a magnet for murder, mayhem and Mr. Wrong, but she always solves the mystery in her quirky, but oh-so-polite way. Usually with more than a little help from her gay best friend, Plantagenet Smith.</div>
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<strong>Only 99c at Amazon stores world wide in June. </strong></div>
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<strong><br /></strong></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<em>Ghostwriters in the Sky, Sherwood, Ltd</em>. and <em>The Best Revenge</em> in one convenient boxed set.</div>
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<a href="http://annerallen.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/BoxSetcover.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" class="aligncenter wp-image-16616 size-medium" height="300" src="https://annerallen.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/BoxSetcover-200x300.jpg" width="200" /></a><br />
<strong>Ghostwriters In The Sky:</strong> When a young writer is found dead in her gay best friend's bed at a writer's conference in California wine country, Camilla must enlist the help of a cross-dressing dominatrix to clear Plant's name. Unfortunately, she suspects the hot LA cop who has stolen her heart may be the murderer.<br />
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In <strong>Sherwood Ltd</strong>. a homeless Camilla lands in Robin Hood country, where some not-so-merry men may be trying to kill her, and of course Camilla once again ends up in the most improbable, but always believable, circumstances.<br />
<br />
<strong>The Best Revenge</strong> is a prequel to the series, and takes us back to Camilla Randall's teen years, when she first meets Plantagenet Smith—and is accused of murder herself!<br />
<br />
Get the Boxed set at:<br />
<span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="http://authl.it/2a4">all</a> <a href="http://authl.it/2a4">the </a><a href="http://authl.it/2a4">Amazons</a>, <a href="https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/the-camilla-randall-mysteries-box-set-2" target="_blank">Kobo</a>, <a href="https://books.apple.com/us/book/the-camilla-randall-mysteries-box-set/id1468551092" target="_blank">iTunes</a>, <a href="https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/453157">Smashwords</a>, <a href="https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Anne_R_Allen_The_Camilla_Randall_Mysteries_Box_Set?id=XbilDwAAQBAJ" target="_blank">Google Play</a>, <a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-camilla-randall-mysteries-box-set-anne-r-allen/1112299010?ean=9788834138816" target="_blank">NOOK</a>, and <a href="http://www.scribd.com/book/231834565/The-Camilla-Randall-Mysteries-Box-Set">Scribd</a></span><span style="font-size: medium;">. </span><br />
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<br />Anne R. Allenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02420000168356370825noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-154552092903273548.post-65940829145366478592020-05-29T16:16:00.000-07:002020-05-29T16:16:37.242-07:00The Manners Doctor Has No Answers<h3>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj32xEECteAj0PYq0NSS2_BY1dmRdkWvryT1nja7nrU8YkjKN7s9hBnA6dpz8HK-94ICMUgwtcLxeuIoZdWHrXB77zhFFCihgSiH0DkTXwhpC5M2i2_OPUzSHuOYuBGYxxLg3kSnmIvYxg/s1600/Buckingham+writing+the+sequel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="311" data-original-width="450" height="276" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj32xEECteAj0PYq0NSS2_BY1dmRdkWvryT1nja7nrU8YkjKN7s9hBnA6dpz8HK-94ICMUgwtcLxeuIoZdWHrXB77zhFFCihgSiH0DkTXwhpC5M2i2_OPUzSHuOYuBGYxxLg3kSnmIvYxg/s400/Buckingham+writing+the+sequel.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">The Manners Doctor doesn't have any answers for you today. She doesn't know if there are any answers anymore. She is unbearably sad about what is happening in the world and to our country. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">So she's turning the blog over to her cat Buckingham this month. He doesn't have any answers either, but he'd like everybody to know he's very fond of salmon. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Buckingham believes that any world that has salmon in it is intrinsically a good world, and even if right now it feels as if somebody has locked you in the garage by mistake and gone away for the weekend, there will be salmon again. </span><br />
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<a href="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/9c/Salmo_salar-Atlantic_Salmon-Atlanterhavsparken_Norway_(cropped).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="421" data-original-width="800" height="210" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/9c/Salmo_salar-Atlantic_Salmon-Atlanterhavsparken_Norway_(cropped).JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Buckingham also has this advice: When in doubt, imitate a meatloaf and hope the bad things will disappear. </span><br />
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<a href="https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn%3AANd9GcRCvZCEsX18kOHg9aS8p0qFowvj-xP-aVo2x94nyXTEDyLAlkjo&usqp=CAU" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="194" data-original-width="259" src="https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn%3AANd9GcRCvZCEsX18kOHg9aS8p0qFowvj-xP-aVo2x94nyXTEDyLAlkjo&usqp=CAU" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>BOOK OF THE MONTH</b></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiphFqDfux5uih5nR5jmFyE3cGeGpLvvI2L-em1ZfUELl6Qd0L5Jhow9oyOXs-7TIFX8AQYXxhT8Zt_iDeV1xQd5W0HwePdMXyLlT2wAmCi_bRZuXVzG4M2Ok3IfDDl7I35Zy_mWoBgbS8/s1600/So+Much+For+Buckingham+med..jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiphFqDfux5uih5nR5jmFyE3cGeGpLvvI2L-em1ZfUELl6Qd0L5Jhow9oyOXs-7TIFX8AQYXxhT8Zt_iDeV1xQd5W0HwePdMXyLlT2wAmCi_bRZuXVzG4M2Ok3IfDDl7I35Zy_mWoBgbS8/s200/So+Much+For+Buckingham+med..jpg" width="133" /></a></div>
<b><i>SO MUCH FOR BUCKINGHAM:</i> Camilla mystery #5</b></div>
<i><br /></i>This comic novel—which takes its title from the most famous Shakespearean quote that Shakespeare never wrote—explores how easy it is to perpetrate a character assassination whether by a great playwright or a gang of online trolls.<br />
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It's a laugh-out-loud mashup of romantic comedy, crime fiction, and satire: Dorothy Parker meets Dorothy L. Sayers. Perennially down-and-out socialite Camilla Randall--a.k.a. "The Manners Doctor"--is a magnet for murder, mayhem and Mr. Wrong, but she always solves the mystery in her quirky, but oh-so-polite way. Usually with more than a little help from her gay best friend, Plantagenet Smith.<br />
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In this hilarious episode she makes the mistake of responding to an online review of one of her etiquette guides and sets off a chain of events that leads to arson, attempted rape and murder.<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "tahoma" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"> </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "tahoma" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span><b>Sample reviews:</b><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "tahoma" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span><i>"Delicious wit, wonderful eccentric characters, and a beguiling plot. Camilla Randall is a delight!</i>"...Melodie Campbell, "Canada's Queen of Comedy."</div>
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<i>"Both a comedic romance and a crime suspense thriller, it presents the 'Perils of Pauline' adventures of a modern author, Camilla, whose mad-cap follies are hugely entertaining. But the novel has a serious undertone of social comment. Even the craziest of its zanies have their counterparts in the real world and the author faithfully depicts their grim, and often deadly, sub-cultures behind a veneer of knockabout wit. Highly recommended for anyone who enjoys romance, and crime suspense, with a lethally satiric edge."</i> Dr. John Yeoman.<i><br /><br />"Anne Allen's ability to weave throughout her stories a current social commentary easily and throughout the story amazes me. She does this without jeopardizing her plot or her characters' development."...</i>blogger Sherrey Meyer<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>So Much for Buckingham</i> is available in ebook at <a href="http://authl.it/3cn">all the Amazons</a>,</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/ebook/so-much-for-buckingham-2"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">Kobo</span></a></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">, </span></span><a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/so-much-for-buckingham-anne-r-allen/1122797996?ean=2940157905095" style="font-family: 'times new roman', serif; line-height: 24px;">Nook</a><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/584852"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">Smashwords</span></a></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">,</span><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/id1049612385"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"> iTunes</span></a></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">, </span><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.inktera.com/store/title/74dcfa73-6350-4928-b593-8a05bb3c0707"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">Inkterra</span></a></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">, <a href="https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Anne_R_Allen_So_Much_For_Buckingham_The_Camilla_Ra?id=_P8xCwAAQBAJ">Google Play</a>, <a href="https://www.24symbols.com/book/x/x/x?id=1469085" target="_blank">24Symbols</a> and</span><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.scribd.com/book/285085608/So-Much-For-Buckingham-The-Camilla-Randall-Mysteries-5"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"> Scribd</span></a></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">And in paperback it is available at</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Much-Buckingham-Camilla-Randall-Mysteries/dp/1517659167/ref=sr_1_1_twi_pap_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1455302560&sr=8-1&keywords=so+much+for+buckingham+by+anne+r.+allen">Amazon</a>, <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/So-Much-Buckingham-Camilla-Mysteries/dp/1517659167/ref=sr_1_1_twi_pap_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1455303449&sr=8-1&keywords=So+Much+for+Buckingham+Anne+R.+Allen">Amazon UK </a>, and <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/so-much-for-buckingham-anne-r-allen/1122797996?ean=9781517659165">Barnes and Noble</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The Audiobook, narrated by CS Perryess and Anne R. Allen is available from </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/So-Much-Buckingham-Camilla-Mysteries/dp/B01LX6ODD1/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1474153429&sr=8-1&keywords=So+Much+for+Buckingham+audiobook" target="_blank">Audible</a> and <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/audiobook/so-much-for-buckingham-camilla/id1155699058" target="_blank">iTunes</a></span></div>
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<br />Anne R. Allenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02420000168356370825noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-154552092903273548.post-80369501777405755422020-04-24T10:11:00.000-07:002020-04-25T19:46:45.400-07:00How to Deal with a Garden-Variety Social Media Pest: Ask the Manners Doctor<br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><i>The
Manners Doctor, aka Camilla Randall, author of "Good Manners for Bad
Times" and "Rx for the Modern Wedding", has agreed to visit this
blog once a month to answer some of our questions about contemporary online
etiquette.</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Dear Manners Doctor,</span></h3>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEhtLY2weDd4C_qZ-HzOmMPmKPDl5wr1rRSXNSOi7nGSxrWxO-6GJONNTiM7nhbzBPEvh5nkFaKOy-KaX74LyJLMtbDeB8ki6XxoLBR9HVBZdW8HqpGvLtbEUCTBbBLgxfJirFrhPyhdsHTVw-IYgPF4nIzhpwEtt-Qc4clSgq3GLIMLGhI_NaW6UmnAmQ=s0-d-e1-ft" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="666" data-original-width="500" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEhtLY2weDd4C_qZ-HzOmMPmKPDl5wr1rRSXNSOi7nGSxrWxO-6GJONNTiM7nhbzBPEvh5nkFaKOy-KaX74LyJLMtbDeB8ki6XxoLBR9HVBZdW8HqpGvLtbEUCTBbBLgxfJirFrhPyhdsHTVw-IYgPF4nIzhpwEtt-Qc4clSgq3GLIMLGhI_NaW6UmnAmQ=s0-d-e1-ft" width="300" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">I’m on social media because I use it to promote my gardening blog. But I'm thinking of deleting m</span><span style="font-size: large;">y accounts because a weird person has been attacking me with nasty accusations that have no basis in fact. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Three or four times a day he’ll send me a Tweet saying. “You are so wrong about Gerbera daisies!” and “Why do you hate Gerbera daisies?” and “What did Gerbera daisies ever do to you? Time to apologize, Karen!”</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I tweeted back at this person, who calls himself "CadDeVil" asking him politely to stop harassing me. Then he sent a barrage of Tweets calling me a "snowflake" for getting angry when someone "disagreed" with me.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">But you can't "disagree" with something that was never was said, can you?</span></div>
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<tr><td style="font-family: Roboto, RobotoDraft, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f9/Dead_Gerbera_(2931429907).jpg/1200px-Dead_Gerbera_(2931429907).jpg&source=gmail&ust=1587783029855000&usg=AFQjCNGShRYSi5TcZ6JgP8uzup674gUJKA" href="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f9/Dead_Gerbera_(2931429907).jpg/1200px-Dead_Gerbera_(2931429907).jpg" style="clear: left; color: #1155cc; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img border="0" class="CToWUd" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEiW-pI1Rixn6c3rLM8Wphp9MlgsY89Q1IIwt4_bQ0BVKJeKvFEbAniWnSC3BZjqxJlZl6WH0BRA8UU1fVh91xw4YRYpfC4fhNzd57_Gek1jvsNPjAUPJlXnujYYcMBlcAImWDVQ77y1BTQd4Hs3FqxMZdQKtAU4b4CvKRDwO8sfL-HtXrZYfbyOsLOS5Dm7ckrqA3df3o26m7oIVk_iWF8O0GnaImeEJvuNODxSniaicCItVVQgEEY-QfgpOA=s0-d-e1-ft(2931429907).jpg/1200px-Dead_Gerbera_(2931429907).jpg" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: Roboto, RobotoDraft, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;">You're Next, Karen!</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Unfortunately, now he's found my Facebook page and keeps posting pictures of dead Gerbera daisies, saying “You’re next, Karen!”</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Here’s the thing: I’ve never written one word about Gerbera daisies, and my name’s not Karen.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I don’t particularly like Gerberas, but I have never said that on my blog. I’m mostly all about miniature roses, especially the new hardy climbers. I’ve gone through my archives twice looking for something I might have said about daisies that could trigger this person’s anger.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">All I could find is something I wrote in 2017: “Shasta daisies do not like to have wet feet. Make sure you plant them in well-drained soil.”</span><br />
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<tr><td style="font-family: Roboto, RobotoDraft, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.hollandbulbfarms.com/Shared/Images/Product/Becky-Shasta-Daisy/77490-becky-shasta-daisy.jpg&source=gmail&ust=1587783029855000&usg=AFQjCNHJ-G_P0ojKJvc6vqTy4L2NpPGGdA" href="https://www.hollandbulbfarms.com/Shared/Images/Product/Becky-Shasta-Daisy/77490-becky-shasta-daisy.jpg" style="clear: right; color: #1155cc; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img border="0" class="CToWUd" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEgJ5A0bAQjX-oGo5ICJSuuX2S9ZUHo5sCvFY8rJsh05eEI8tTSqLRCAR_svoGDgzlvRdvH7svvpPv25WpwN7aUPMUaD3NGzbTjIk6m7UrxTznpQSkh31apvUAksp-NNZjEaRFpGsrkEqSdauM0pioy5I5mZ_mww3eBSHc09W_TDjfaYvZJlPC6jrEb-UNdCprjiv4EX2L-i-Xgn3UJRAYLWKa1Nv5fJ=s0-d-e1-ft" width="246" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: Roboto, RobotoDraft, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;">Shasta Daisies do not like wet feet</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Do you think anybody might find that offensive? Should I apologize? I feel terrible if I’ve offended this person, but I honestly can’t find any evidence that I've ever written a word about Gerbera daisies.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I want to prove to him that I haven’t done what he accuses me of, but I don't want to offend him further. I'm losing sleep over this! </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">Should I delete my social media accounts?</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Not Karen in Kansas</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Dear Not Karen,</span></h3>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Should you apologize? By all means. The Manners Doctor believes that apologies are the lubricant that keeps civilization running. She believes an apology can be the solution to nearly everything. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The person who apologizes has the power to alleviate the suffering of the person demanding it. So by all means accept that power.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">A nice apology also makes an escape much easier when you need to make a quick call to law enforcement. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">But did you do anything wrong? Absolutely not! </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">Why would you delete social media accounts you need for your business? You just need that handy button that says "block." </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">First, it's possible you're dealing with a person with mental health challenges, and unless you are a medical professional, any further communication would be practicing medicine without a license. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">However, in all probability, your social media has simply been invaded by a garden-variety pest known as the Internet Troll. So the block button is even more valuable.The only rule for dealing with a troll is "Do Not Feed." </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The Manners Doctor herself often has to deal with this invasive species.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">Unfortunately, the word “Manners” can trigger angry responses from people who have none.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">A troll is fed by attention, so you must eliminate it, entirely.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Back when the Manners Doctor was in school</span><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">—</span><span style="font-size: large;">when the earth’s crust was still cooling</span><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">—</span><span style="font-size: large;">if a </span><span style="font-size: large;">person wanted</span><span style="font-size: large;"> to make an aggressive, bullying, childish bid for attention, they would often lower their trousers and bend over to show off their derrieres to the desired audience. I believe they learned this from chimpanzees.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">It was called “mooning.”<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEhCenVAJcNlTFeNt24qRP3MBtItsz_M1JWwxc2K7QnRoqMoFZ748k5D75H3MNgZgKEqo2DF0cQSW5EbZ5Iz2lyKNp9w4A9aeIs4TZbrUCVls99uH6O0XLs_xt4nl29APx7oXTb6EpEH-8UMvmgyH8McV91iRr9nr4QXJhEQ7d5qoPbkzUg5ErZz0A8k-WaiiBY_J6lBB2r9MTwjeMr_VlEJnwhISa6YrvXLMZmurHviGZHH8q_grT_oRyxtX9WXMbo8CeJgWtMAq6Hr=s0-d-e1-ft,_Italy.jpg/1280px-Toilet_sign_in_Lido_Po,_Italy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="853" data-original-width="1280" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEhCenVAJcNlTFeNt24qRP3MBtItsz_M1JWwxc2K7QnRoqMoFZ748k5D75H3MNgZgKEqo2DF0cQSW5EbZ5Iz2lyKNp9w4A9aeIs4TZbrUCVls99uH6O0XLs_xt4nl29APx7oXTb6EpEH-8UMvmgyH8McV91iRr9nr4QXJhEQ7d5qoPbkzUg5ErZz0A8k-WaiiBY_J6lBB2r9MTwjeMr_VlEJnwhISa6YrvXLMZmurHviGZHH8q_grT_oRyxtX9WXMbo8CeJgWtMAq6Hr=s0-d-e1-ft,_Italy.jpg/1280px-Toilet_sign_in_Lido_Po,_Italy.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Trolls in simpler times.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">However, in this era, the same sort of people get attention by claiming to be offended.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The Manners Doctor rather prefers mooning. It may be crude, rude, and unattractive, but it's not as dishonest. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">You have allowed yourself to be manipulated by the troll's unjust accusations. We all feel an instinctive need to defend ourselves against injustice, so an unjust accusation is a simple way to hook their prey. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">But be aware the accusations have nothing to do with you. They are simply the "trousers" that Mr. DeVil has lowered. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The Doctor would be very surprised to learn that "CadDeVil" had been emotionally wounded by any Tweets about gardening.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Here’s what you do: Go to one of Mr. DeVil's tweets and click on the little downward facing arrow in the upper right corner. A menu will drop down. You can choose to block or mute this person’s Tweets, and unfollow him, of course.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Then you go to Facebook and unfriend and block him as well. Also adjust your privacy settings to block anybody from posting on your page without your permission. And I suggest you remove your email address from public view.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">You might want to do a quick Google search of the miscreant's online name with the word "troll." This will probably tell you that you are far from the only victim of this particular pest. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">After that, simply put him/her out of your mind.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Or if a fleeting thought of CadDeVil should appear, imagine he's desperately showing you a chimpanzee-like "moon" and act accordingly.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Very Truly Yours,</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The Manners Doctor.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">BOOK OF THE WEEK</span></h3>
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<i>"Delicious wit, wonderful eccentric characters, and a beguiling plot. Camilla Randall is a delight!"</i>...Melodie Campbell, Canada's "Queen of Comedy"<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcGty3xtChF0ZgP5q_gMAuO8-RJKFdj3Xf3Oyyyd5Aj5JIcAYITsXrL4Z4CFaUo_afwa3W9vZayqgTE2Xn-K0WziL4dJEzlKsBC7f_ZNKuSl_Pb_qJiw-bLG9-LUmXQpokZe1Afx_P6oI/s1600/So+Much+For+Buckingham+med..jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="320" src="https://annerallen.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/So-Much-For-Buckingham-med..jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>It's a comedy-mystery about cyberbullying, the gangs of new media, and the ghost of Richard III. Plus a cat named Buckingham.</i></span><br />
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<i>"This wonderfully satiric comedy is a joy to read. On the surface, it's a frothy romance cum suspense story about a whacky writer, Camilla, whose life is threatened by trolls and who topples from one hilarious disaster into the next. But underneath, it provides a perceptive insight into the mad world of modern publishing, the sub-culture of Internet lunatics and the mindset of cultists who can - and do - believe ten impossible things before breakfast. The reader is left with the question: how much of the story, perish the thought, might be true? Tremendous fun, wittily satiric and highly recommended."</i>...Nigel J. Robinson</div>
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<strong>Available in ebook from:</strong></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong><a class="fasc-button fasc-size-medium fasc-type-flat" href="http://authl.it/3cn" style="background-color: #eb232f; color: white;">All Amazons</a> <a class="fasc-button fasc-size-medium fasc-type-flat" href="https://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/ebook/so-much-for-buckingham-2" style="background-color: #eb232f; color: white;">Kobo</a> <a class="fasc-button fasc-size-medium fasc-type-flat" href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/so-much-for-buckingham-anne-r-allen/1122797996?ean=2940157905095" style="background-color: #eb232f; color: white;">Nook</a> <a class="fasc-button fasc-size-medium fasc-type-flat" href="https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/584852" style="background-color: #eb232f; color: white;">Smashwords</a> <a class="fasc-button fasc-size-medium fasc-type-flat" href="https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Anne_R_Allen_So_Much_For_Buckingham?id=WbilDwAAQBAJ" style="background-color: #eb232f; color: white;">Googleplay</a> <a class="fasc-button fasc-size-medium fasc-type-flat" href="https://www.scribd.com/book/285085608/So-Much-For-Buckingham-The-Camilla-Randall-Mysteries-5" style="background-color: #eb232f; color: white;">Scribd</a> </strong></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong>Available in paper from:</strong></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong><a class="fasc-button fasc-size-medium fasc-type-flat" href="http://www.amazon.com/Much-Buckingham-Camilla-Randall-Mysteries/dp/1517659167/ref=sr_1_1_twi_pap_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1455302560&sr=8-1&keywords=so+much+for+buckingham+by+anne+r.+allen" style="background-color: #eb232f; color: white;">AmazonUS</a> <a class="fasc-button fasc-size-medium fasc-type-flat" href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/So-Much-Buckingham-Camilla-Mysteries/dp/1517659167/ref=sr_1_1_twi_pap_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1455303449&sr=8-1&keywords=So+Much+for+Buckingham+Anne+R.+Allen" style="background-color: #eb232f; color: white;">AmazonUK</a> <a class="fasc-button fasc-size-medium fasc-type-flat" href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/so-much-for-buckingham-anne-r-allen/1122797996?ean=9781517659165" style="background-color: #eb232f; color: white;">Barnes & Noble</a></strong></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong><span style="font-size: 20px;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/So-Much-Buckingham-Camilla-Mysteries/dp/B01LX6ODD1/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1474153429&sr=8-1&keywords=So+Much+for+Buckingham+audiobook">Audiobook from Audible</a> and<a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/audiobook/so-much-for-buckingham-camilla/id1155699058"> iTunes</a></span></strong></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
Anne R. Allenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02420000168356370825noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-154552092903273548.post-8421396628796544672020-03-27T10:57:00.000-07:002020-04-22T20:36:23.299-07:00What is the Polite way to Greet Others in our Post-Handshake World? Ask The Manners Doctor<br />
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<i><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>The Manners Doctor</b>, aka </span></i><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Camilla Randall, author of "Good Manners for Bad Times" and "Rx for the Modern Wedding", has agreed to visit this blog once a month to answer some of our questions about contemporary etiquette.</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://i.pinimg.com/originals/6a/25/d9/6a25d94385ce9daea24bb61e0b609567.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="666" data-original-width="500" height="320" src="https://i.pinimg.com/originals/6a/25/d9/6a25d94385ce9daea24bb61e0b609567.jpg" width="240" /></a></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></i></div>
<h3>
<span style="font-size: large;">Dear Manners Doctor,</span></h3>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">In the era of COVID-19, we are not supposed to shake hands
when we meet someone. And obviously, we can’t hug. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">When I greet people now, some stick out their elbows,
looking like they’re doing some kind of silly chicken dance; some want to
fist-bump like tough guys; and others perform a strange kicking ritual. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">What do you think is the politest way to greet people in our
post-handshake world? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>Want to be Friendly, but Don’t Want the Plague</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgksmai4tAbb7RCy9hrr47n6PrV4LLeio_CCK1O-zYzKYkxPUNvOnFbJjp-iP8qZF34gzoHa4sbVQ3igSIlM3Mb03zmpRWQiNLl-wMHTvO0tZyTymg6c_jg-wPRj94s6NHZUKpqCRAR_Xs/s1600/Handshake.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="557" data-original-width="728" height="244" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgksmai4tAbb7RCy9hrr47n6PrV4LLeio_CCK1O-zYzKYkxPUNvOnFbJjp-iP8qZF34gzoHa4sbVQ3igSIlM3Mb03zmpRWQiNLl-wMHTvO0tZyTymg6c_jg-wPRj94s6NHZUKpqCRAR_Xs/s320/Handshake.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<h3>
<span style="font-size: large;">Dear Want to be Friendly,</span></h3>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The Manners Doctor feels your pain. She does indeed feel
like some species of less-than-graceful poultry when she tries to stick out an
elbow to bump another. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">And she is not terribly fond of making a belligerent-looking fist when greeting a business associate, or kicking her friends and colleagues in the shins. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">It is important to be aware why the handshake became a
method of greeting. In ancient Greece, men clasped hands upon meeting to show their hands held no weapons. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">The ancient Romans' handshake was more like those unpleasant arm-grabs some men use to show dominance. This forearm grabbing was a way to make sure neither one had a dagger up the sleeve of his tunic.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">The actual shaking of hands began in Europe in the Dark Ages, when it is said knights would shake the hand of the other to shake loose any hidden weaponry. </span><span aria-label="Knights would shake the hand of others in an attempt to <a href="http://www.assyriatimes.com/assyrian/knowledge/the-handshake/63" target="_blank">shake loose any hidden weapons.</a>" class="sentence" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1e1e1e; font-family: "open sans" , sans-serif; font-size: 18px;"></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">So a handshake originally meant, “I don't trust you any farther than I can throw you.” <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Perhaps we should take this occasion to permanently adopt a more
civilized form of greeting. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The Manners Doctor thinks we should follow the custom of the
Japanese, who discovered long before the rest of us that when you are sequestered
in a small place—whether a house or an island—it’s always best for everyone to
follow proper etiquette to avoid annoying each other. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/1/15/Lean-according-to-the-occasion-Step-4.jpg/aid566337-v4-728px-Lean-according-to-the-occasion-Step-4.jpg.webp" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="489" data-original-width="728" height="214" src="https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/1/15/Lean-according-to-the-occasion-Step-4.jpg/aid566337-v4-728px-Lean-according-to-the-occasion-Step-4.jpg.webp" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Or if one is annoyed, one learns to keep quiet about it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The bow is the Manners Doctor’s preferred form of
greeting in these contagious times. It allows for a full six feet of social distancing, and shows good manners. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">A pressing together of the palms in the
“Namaste” gesture of South Asia while bowing is also an excellent, polite
greeting, although the “Namaste” gesture may not be for everyone, since some feel it has religious connotations. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">However, a bow is a simple way of saying, “I do not think
myself above you.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Isn’t that a bit friendlier than, “Let me check to see if you have any weapons.”?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">So the Manners Doctor suggests we all adopt the </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/b/bb/Do-Namaste-Step-1-Version-2.jpg/v4-460px-Do-Namaste-Step-1-Version-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="345" data-original-width="460" height="240" src="https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/b/bb/Do-Namaste-Step-1-Version-2.jpg/v4-460px-Do-Namaste-Step-1-Version-2.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">bow
as a form of greeting. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">It is an excellent way of avoiding the exchange of germs and
viruses, and in her opinion is much superior to impersonating an unwell chicken. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>Very Truly Yours, <o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>The Manners Doctor</i></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>What about you? What form of handshake substitute are you using? Do you think we should substitute a bow for a handshake permanently? </i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">BOOK OF THE MONTH</span></h3>
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<span style="font-size: large;">SALE! Only .99c at all the Amazon stores!</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix94LVazzpUBQaRFNj2v3zBHuWlZUpaBamlxTwoowoL1CwL1VEIjp1VmlVVAH0tBxyWl7dSwuEluN95k5qyTLZNdh6zjOvyfCsd-m6PNsAfus3MUdknQ1XYbrhA7XW7vIAv4WYnmgaYBo/s1600/Sherwood+Ltd+600x900+300dpi+126KB+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix94LVazzpUBQaRFNj2v3zBHuWlZUpaBamlxTwoowoL1CwL1VEIjp1VmlVVAH0tBxyWl7dSwuEluN95k5qyTLZNdh6zjOvyfCsd-m6PNsAfus3MUdknQ1XYbrhA7XW7vIAv4WYnmgaYBo/s320/Sherwood+Ltd+600x900+300dpi+126KB+%25282%2529.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span>
<br />
<h3>
<strong>SHERWOOD, LTD: Camilla Mystery #2</strong></h3>
Suddenly-homeless American manners expert Camilla Randall becomes a 21st century Maid Marian—living rough near the real Sherwood Forest with a band of outlaw English erotica publishers—led by a charming, self-styled Robin Hood who unfortunately may intend to kill her.<br />
<br />
When Camilla is invited to publish a book of her columns with UK publisher Peter Sherwood, she lands in a gritty criminal world—far from the Merrie Olde England she envisions. The staff are ex-cons and the erotica is kinky.<br />
<br />
Hungry and penniless, she camps in a Wendy House built from pallets of porn while battling an epic flood, a mendacious American Renfaire wench, and the mysterious killer who may be Peter himself.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong>Available in ebook from:</strong></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong><a href="https://books.apple.com/us/book/sherwood-ltd/id1474472809">Apple Books</a></strong></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
also:</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong> <a class="fasc-button fasc-size-medium fasc-type-flat" href="http://authl.it/2a0" style="background-color: #eb232f; color: white;">All Amazons</a> <a class="fasc-button fasc-size-medium fasc-type-flat" href="https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Anne_R_Allen_Sherwood_Ltd?id=UbilDwAAQBAJ" style="background-color: #eb232f; color: white;">GooglePlay</a> <a class="fasc-button fasc-size-medium fasc-type-flat" href="https://www.scribd.com/book/230974201/Sherwood-Ltd-The-Camilla-Randall-Mysteries" style="background-color: #eb232f; color: white;">Scribd</a> <a class="fasc-button fasc-size-medium fasc-type-flat" href="https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/sherwood-ltd-4" style="background-color: #eb232f; color: white;">Kobo</a> <a class="fasc-button fasc-size-medium fasc-type-flat" href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/sherwood-ltd-anne-r-allen/1108307120?ean=9788834126387" style="background-color: #eb232f; color: white;">Nook</a> <a class="fasc-button fasc-size-medium fasc-type-flat" href="https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/250986" style="background-color: #eb232f; color: white;">Smashwords</a></strong></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong>Available in paper from:</strong></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong> <a class="fasc-button fasc-size-medium fasc-type-flat" href="http://www.amazon.com/Sherwood-Ltd-Anne-R-Allen/dp/1503063240/ref=la_B005R2SBI4_1_11_title_1_pap?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1425334122&sr=1-11" style="background-color: #eb232f; color: white;">Amazon</a> <a class="fasc-button fasc-size-medium fasc-type-flat" href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/sherwood-ltd-anne-r-allen/1108307120?ean=9781503063242&isbn=2940148212720" style="background-color: #eb232f; color: white;">Barnes & Noble</a></strong></div>
<br />Anne R. Allenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02420000168356370825noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-154552092903273548.post-48801519986337430752020-02-28T16:35:00.003-08:002020-02-28T16:35:34.967-08:00Unwelcome Birthday Greetings: Ask the Manners Doctor<h3 style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Is it acceptable for strangers to post advertising and political rants on your Facebook page on your birthday?</span></h3>
<span style="font-size: medium;"><i><br /></i></span>
<i><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>The Manners Doctor</b>, aka Camilla Randall, author of "Good Manners for Bad Times" and "Rx for the Modern Wedding", has agreed to visit this blog once a month to answer some of our questions about online etiquette. </span></i><br />
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<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/0/07/Sell-Girl-Scout-Cookies-Step-6.jpg/aid526770-v4-728px-Sell-Girl-Scout-Cookies-Step-6.jpg.webp" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="546" data-original-width="728" height="240" src="https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/0/07/Sell-Girl-Scout-Cookies-Step-6.jpg/aid526770-v4-728px-Sell-Girl-Scout-Cookies-Step-6.jpg.webp" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Are Girl Scouts taking over the world with poisoned Thin Mints?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<h3>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">Dear
Manners Doctor,</span></span></h3>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">I
recently had a birthday, and I was gratified to see how many of my social media “friends”
wished me happiness. But my Facebook page was also crowded with ads for books and
services, plus a 2000 word rant from a man who claims that Lizard People from Betelgeuse have infiltrated the Girl Scouts and are planning to
take over the world by poisoning people with bogus Thin Mints. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">Some of
my friends complained about the rant and some of the books, so I deleted the posts. Now the Lizard Person complains I have violated his freedom of speech. So did one of the authors who advertised a copy of her erotica book.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">Am I
violating the rights of these people? <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>Birthday
Girl</i></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<h3>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">Dear
Birthday Girl,</span></span></h3>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">The
Manners Doctor is always appalled by the behavior of people who think that
being “on the Internet” somehow eliminates the need to practice good manners. Being
online actually requires more attention to manners since one can’t use facial
expressions, tone of voice, or body language to fine-tune one’s messages. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">What you
describe is the equivalent of posting advertising billboards and political
signs on a neighbor’s lawn without permission. Whether or not these are posted
on the neighbor’s birthday, this is bad manners. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">These people are
trespassing. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">The
doctor suspects that these people have read the Facebook guidelines that say it’s
a no-no to post on another person’s “timeline” unless there is some occasion
where you want to send good wishes, like a birthday. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">But this
does not mean that people are invited to invade a neighbor’s personal space on
their birthday. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">As for
the accusation of the victim violating the “freedom of speech” of these
trespassers, the victim is not the one doing the violating. Freedom of speech is
a principle that supports the freedom of an individual or a community
to articulate their opinions and ideas in public without fear of retaliation by
the government.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">It does
not say one’s speech is free from consequences. Just free from government
retaliation.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">If you
call your mother-in-law a Lizard Person from Betelgeuse, you will have to deal with the consequences, and “freedom of
speech” will not save you.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Besides, Facebook is not “public.” It is a
private company. And Mr. Zuckerberg is not the government. You have every right to decide
what is printed on your page as long as Mr. Zuckerberg does not object.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">The Manners Doctor does not believe the Girl Scouts are Lizard People planning to take over the world with poisoned Thin Mints. This is because the Girl Scouts have already taken over the world with Thin Mints, which are one of the most addictive substances known to man. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>Very Truly Yours,</i></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>The Manners Doctor</i></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span></span>
<span style="font-size: 28px;"><i>Have you ever had unwanted things posted on your FB page on your birthday? At other times? How did you deal with it? Do you have any questions for the Manners Doctor?</i></span><span style="text-align: center;"> </span><br />
<h2 style="text-align: center;">
<strong>BOOK OF THE WEEK</strong></h2>
<h2 style="text-align: center;">
<strong><em>Googling Old Boyfriends</em>: the Latest Camilla Comedy-Mystery</strong></h2>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong><span style="font-size: 28px;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/1795065281?fbclid=IwAR3Lz7QLG5cnjpX_ttI6rOs2-IX8PSnZFkbM93MhqgFQiQVd4pzH5bIC7os" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Available in paper</a></span></strong></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 22px;"><strong>Want a fun escape to a California beach town?</strong></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong><span style="font-size: 20px;"><em>"If you love comic mysteries that read like watching a movie in your head, you’ll have no trouble losing yourself in “Googling Old Boyfriends.” The prose is sharp, the humor dead on, and the solution unexpected with a romantic postscript.</em></span>"...book blogger Debra Eve</strong></div>
<a href="http://annerallen.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/googlingoldboyfriendssmall.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Googling old Boyfriends cover reveal" class="aligncenter wp-image-11904 size-medium" height="300" src="https://annerallen.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/googlingoldboyfriendssmall-200x300.jpg" width="200" /></a><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 20px;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 20px;"><strong><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07LCJ9JBF" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Available on Amazon.</a></strong></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 18px;">Also</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 18px;"><strong><a href="https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/googling-old-boyfriends" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Kobo</a>, <a href="https://books.apple.com/us/book/googling-old-boyfriends/id1468547867" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Apple</a>, <a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/googling-old-boyfriends-anne-r-allen/1132051038" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Nook</a>, and <a href="https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Anne_R_Allen_Googling_Old_Boyfriends?id=b7ilDwAAQBAJ" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">GooglePlay</a></strong></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The Camilla Randall mysteries are a laugh-out-loud mashup of crime fiction, rom-com, and satire. Morro Bay bookshop owner Camilla Randall is a magnet for murder, mayhem, and Mr. Wrong. But she always solves the case in her quirky, but oh-so-polite way. With some help from her cat, Buckingham.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
In this stand-alone 7<sup>th</sup> episode, Camilla befriends socialite Mickie McCormack—a sexy, mysterious older woman who’s going through a painful divorce. Mickie has been Googling her old boyfriends to reconnect and “remember who she used to be.” Unfortunately every one of those boyfriends soon ends up dead.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 18px;"><em><strong>"I whizzed though this page-turner in 48 hrs., scratching my head every step of the way yet stubbornly determined to solve. A fun read by a talented writer who grabs your attention and refuses to let go!" </strong></em></span>Bonnie Classen</div>
Anne R. Allenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02420000168356370825noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-154552092903273548.post-49396931183191924842020-01-24T10:45:00.000-08:002020-01-24T10:56:27.808-08:00You Lost me at Hello: Ask the Manners Doctor<br />
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The Problem with the Naked "Hello"</span></h3>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<a href="https://i.pinimg.com/originals/6a/25/d9/6a25d94385ce9daea24bb61e0b609567.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="666" data-original-width="500" height="320" src="https://i.pinimg.com/originals/6a/25/d9/6a25d94385ce9daea24bb61e0b609567.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<i>The Manners Doctor, aka Camilla Randall, author of "Good Manners for Bad Times" and "Rx for the Modern Wedding", has agreed to visit this blog once a month to answer some of our questions about online etiquette.</i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><br /></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Q. Dear
Manners Doctor:</b><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">I never
know how to respond when some man friends me on Facebook or Instagram and
immediately sends a direct message that simply says “Hello”—nothing else. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">I used
to just ignore these naked “hellos” because they seem creepy, but recently, a
man on Instagram called me rude for not responding. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">So the
next time I got a hello on FB, I asked the man to interact on my page before he
sent me a direct message, which I like to reserve for friends and family. He got
so mad he sent me eggplant emojis all night long, interspersed with messages
like “Goodnight Sweetie” and “Bye-bye Baby.” <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">I
finally got up and blocked him at 4 AM, but when I told my FB friends about it,
one woman said I should unblock because it wasn’t his fault. He probably didn’t
know how to use his phone and did it all accidentally. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">Can the
Manners Doctor tell me what I’m doing wrong? Do I owe it to strange men to
interact with them on social media? <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">Divorced but Not Lonely<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>A. Dear
Not Lonely:</b><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">No man (or
woman) has the right to sexually harass you, online or off. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Facebook and Instagram are not dating sites.
The Manners Doctor is quite sure that anyone who is unaware of that fact has
either been in a coma for the last twenty years or recently arrived from a
galaxy far, far away.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">And she doubts that comatose space aliens would know the off-color meaning of the eggplant emoji. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">What you
call a “naked hello” is the calling card of the scammer. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is intrinsically manipulative. The speaker
offers nothing, but demands something of the recipient. Con artists always
count on the good manners of their marks. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">Sometimes what seems “rude” in normal
circumstances is simple self-preservation when dealing with a con artists. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">You were
doing exactly the right thing. The person who called you rude was in the wrong.
If anybody sends you a “naked hello” (The Manners Doctor is going to
appropriate your excellent phrase) do not respond. Then block the sender. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">Very
Truly Yours, </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">T</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">he
Manners Doctor</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Q. Dear
Manners Doctor:</b><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">A friend
I hadn’t heard from in several years—I’ll call her Sheila—recently sent me a
Direct Message on Facebook that simply said “hello.” I was thrilled. We hadn’t parted
on good terms, but I figured she wanted to let bygones be bygones and make up. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">Because
the situation was delicate, instead of sending a reply message, I phoned her. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">I was
devastated when her husband answered and said Sheila died two months ago. He
said I was horribly rude to intrude on his grief when I hadn’t even bothered to
show up at the funeral. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">Doctor,
how can I be called “rude” when I didn’t know anything about the funeral? There
was nothing about it on her Facebook page, which hadn’t been updated for nearly
five years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">And I
still don’t know why I got that “hello” message from Sheila from beyond the
grave.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">Getting Messages from the Other
Side <o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>A. Dear
Getting Messages:</b><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">The
Manners Doctor makes it a point never to criticize anyone’s belief system, but she is quite sure
that what you experienced was not a message from the “Other Side.” <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">One of
the most common scams in social media is a “hack” that doesn’t require hacker
skills. The scammer simply goes to a Facebook page (they prefer neglected ones
like Sheila’s) and skims the person’s friends list. Then they send messages
(usually an unadorned “hello”) hoping to get a reply. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">Once they’ve convinced
the mark that they’re really the friend they’re impersonating, they spin a tale
of woe and hit the mark up for a "loan". <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">This
must work on some victims, because these scams are proliferating. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">The
Manners Doctor advises that no one respond to a naked “hello,” even when it
appears to be from a friend. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">Very
Truly Yours, </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">T</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">he
Manners Doctor.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-large;"><i>Do you have any questions for the Manners Doctor? How do you feel about the "naked hello"?</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><b>Book of the Month</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><b>Start at the Beginning of the Manners Doctor Saga--Only 99c!</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTWLY6uNr7VCnOEk0ktxepmq7akKHSzvCjD0-0wAEQgPM4j0D1X51JREaz0IHgbN1-dQfgFvwc3FsZwy3qzaTILgBKVQluPgQr5CrkaZ43E5XaJoDbQ7_GVfCxPFu3-iYK0WI-EeDSmnk/s1600/Ghostwriters+med+(3).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTWLY6uNr7VCnOEk0ktxepmq7akKHSzvCjD0-0wAEQgPM4j0D1X51JREaz0IHgbN1-dQfgFvwc3FsZwy3qzaTILgBKVQluPgQr5CrkaZ43E5XaJoDbQ7_GVfCxPFu3-iYK0WI-EeDSmnk/s200/Ghostwriters+med+(3).jpg" width="133" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><i>GHOSTWRITERS IN THE SKY:</i></b> <b>Camilla Randall Mystery #1 </b><br />
<br />
After her celebrity ex-husband’s ironic joke about her “kinky sex habits” is misquoted in a tabloid, New York etiquette columnist Camilla Randall’s life unravels in bad late night TV jokes.<br />
<br />
Nearly broke and down to her last Hermes scarf, she accepts an invitation to a Z-list Writers’ Conference in the wine-and-cowboy town of Santa Ynez, California, where, unfortunately, a cross-dressing dominatrix named Marva plies her trade by impersonating Camilla.<br />
<br />
When a ghostwriter’s plot to blackmail celebrities with faked evidence leads to murder, Camilla must team up with Marva to stop the killer from striking again.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>Ghostwriters in the Sky</i> is available in e-book at <a href="http://authl.it/2a1">all the Amazons</a> <a href="https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Anne_R_Allen_Ghostwriters_In_the_Sky?id=S7ilDwAAQBAJ">GooglePlay</a><a href="https://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/ebook/ghostwriters-in-the-sky-3"> Kobo</a>, <a href="https://www.scribd.com/book/230974233/Ghostwriters-In-The-Sky-The-Camilla-Randall-Mysteries">Scribd</a> and <a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/ghostwriters-in-the-sky-anne-r-allen/1120528530;jsessionid=5092280AF50442CE5178AE9D0D04D585.prodny_store01-atgap18?ean=2940148156901">NOOK</a>.</span><br />
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">It is available in paper at <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Ghostwriters-In-The-Sky-Mysteries/dp/1502704862/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1412962769&sr=8-7&keywords=Ghostwriters+in+the+Sky">Amazon</a> & <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/ghostwriters-in-the-sky-anne-r-allen/1120528530?ean=9781502704863">Barnes and Noble</a> </span></div>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<br />Anne R. Allenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02420000168356370825noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-154552092903273548.post-45382602080075121462019-12-29T14:31:00.000-08:002019-12-29T14:31:13.939-08:00Happy 2020! <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://previews.123rf.com/images/meineurlaubswelt/meineurlaubswelt1711/meineurlaubswelt171100117/89462170-happy-new-year-2020.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="800" height="192" src="https://previews.123rf.com/images/meineurlaubswelt/meineurlaubswelt1711/meineurlaubswelt171100117/89462170-happy-new-year-2020.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<h3>
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></h3>
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;">I wish all my readers a peaceful and prosperous new year! </span></h3>
<div>
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: x-large;">I'm going to be taking a little hiatus from this blog in order to work on my new Camilla mystery, <i>Catfishing in America. </i>It's inspired by the "catfishing" would-be scammers who try to romance older women on social media then hit them up for money<i>. </i></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/05/Shoson_Cat_and_Goldfish_-_Orange.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="650" data-original-width="431" height="320" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/05/Shoson_Cat_and_Goldfish_-_Orange.jpg" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A classic painting by Ohara Koson that might inspire the cover designer.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Expect it later in 2020. I'll be bringing back a lot of Camilla's old bad boyfriends, including Ronzo, Peter Sherwood, and of course, her ex-husband, Jonathan Kahn. Will she finally find Mr. Right? Well, probably not. But there will be lots of laughs, adventures and a little romance along the way. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: x-large;">And of course, Buckingham, the bookstore cat. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div>
Anne R. Allenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02420000168356370825noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-154552092903273548.post-74948866855745872912019-11-29T15:27:00.003-08:002022-10-11T11:51:06.365-07:00Being Thankful for…Rejections? Why I’m Grateful to the People Who Rejected My Early Work<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">On our <a href="https://annerallen.com/">writers’ blog</a>, Ruth Harris and I say we made the
mistakes so you don’t have to. And I sure made my share. Maybe more than my
share.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://previews.123rf.com/images/krisdog/krisdog1312/krisdog131200053/24557302-illustration-of-cauldron-or-a-black-pot-full-of-gold-coins-at-the-end-of-a-rainbow-pot-of-gold-at-th.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="663" height="320" src="https://previews.123rf.com/images/krisdog/krisdog1312/krisdog131200053/24557302-illustration-of-cauldron-or-a-black-pot-full-of-gold-coins-at-the-end-of-a-rainbow-pot-of-gold-at-th.jpg" width="265" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I got an agent with my first query!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">When I started querying agents, I scored the pot at the end of the rainbow with my
very first query. I was such a newbie, I didn’t even know how impossibly lucky
this was. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">I was still a working actress in Southern California when I
sent off a very early draft of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Best
Revenge</i> to an agent who was referred to me by a friend in the business. It
was a prestigious agency in Los Angeles, and I didn’t think I had a snowball’s
chance in Hades. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">But a couple of weeks later, I got a phone call. Yes, an
actual call, from a delightful man with a British accent who said he thought
the book was hilarious and he wanted to “send it around.” No mention of a
contract. That should have been my first clue. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">And then I heard nothing. For weeks. And months. I’d read in
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Writer’s Digest</i> that you’re never
supposed to phone an agent, so I didn’t call. After about six
months, I sent a “follow-up” letter. (This was long before email.) <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Two months later—a full eight months after my “acceptance”—
my manuscript, in its stamped, self-addressed manuscript box, landed back at my
house. I can still remember the sound of “thump, thwack, slide” as it skidded
across the concrete patio.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Inside was a scrawled note. “John has left the agency and we
understand he has moved back to England.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Boom. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">I was devastated. I felt hollowed-out and dead inside. It
was like the time in 7<sup>th</sup> grade I found out that my first love, Chip
Bessey, had asked Katrina Jagels to the Spring Hop instead of me. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">I gave up writing for almost a year.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<h2>
<span style="font-size: large;">I Finally Get a Real Agent<o:p></o:p></span></h2>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Meanwhile, I wrote a play and had it produced and won some
awards. I was having the success in the theater I thought I could never have in
publishing. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">But I also found the theater didn’t thrill me the way it
used to.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">And my itch to write novels was still there. I finally sat
down and reread my manuscript and saw hundreds of flaws. I went back to my
critique group and asked them to help me polish it up. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51T6r8Edq9L._SX382_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="499" data-original-width="384" height="320" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51T6r8Edq9L._SX382_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg" width="246" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jeff Herman's Guide was our Bible</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">I researched agents in a pricey copy of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Jeff Herman’s Guide to Literary Agents</i>—the only way you could find
out about agents in the pre-Internet era. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">I found one that looked good. Young, eager for new clients,
and she had worked for the same agency with my sort-of agent from L. A. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">She wrote back and asked for the full manuscript. A few
months later I got the call. She wanted to rep me! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Meanwhile, I had a major tragedy in my life. My beloved Dad
died. I also turned 40. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">My mother reminded me that when I was small, I always used
to say I wanted to live in a little cottage by the sea and write books. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">So I pulled up stakes, sold my SoCal condo, and moved to the
sleepy Central Coast. I bought a little 900 sq. ft house three blocks from the
waters of Morro Bay. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">I had an agent. And my cottage by the sea. I was going to be
a real writer. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">I started working on my <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">magnum
opus</i>. This was the literary novel that was going to find me a place in the
literary firmament.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">You’re probably all laughing now. That’s not exactly how the
publishing industry works.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<h2>
<span style="font-size: large;">Fear of Success…<o:p></o:p></span></h2>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Six months after I moved to the Central Coast, my new agent
dropped me. Again, I was devastated. I managed to get some freelance writing
work while I clerked in a couple of bookstores and sold antiques. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">I put <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Best Revenge</i>
in a drawer and worked on that “big book.” And then wrote another, lighter one.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">I started sending them out. And sending . I got rejections
by the ton. Sometimes in return mail. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">I did everything you shouldn’t. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->I sometimes queried all three books at the same
time.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->I wrote my synopsis in a tiny font so it fit on
one page—since so many agents asked for a “one page synopsis” in those days.
(Who did I think I was fooling? I was only making it harder to read.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->I queried agents who didn’t represent my genre
(s) <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->I didn’t even know what genre to say I was
writing, so I improvised according to what the agent was looking for. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->I wrote terrible query letters. Not enough hook
& way too much about me and all the nonfiction articles I was writing. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->I faked personalizations, once even saying I was
going to a writers’ conference where the agent was slated to speak—even though
I had no intention of going. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Is it any wonder the rejections stacked up? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">I think I had a <a href="https://annerallen.com/2016/10/fear-of-success-5-signs-secretly-afraid-publishing-success/" target="_blank">fear of success</a>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">But I think that was because I knew, deep down, that I could
do better. And that took time. I think my freelance writing helped me improve.
Plus all the research I was doing on agents also taught me about the publishing
industry and how it works.<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9a3ufQhyphenhyphen5AKQ5RBqm11XEhlyHbuQ0uNvwuny7Z6G21mvZ4ps6PyKjsDrdHduH97FHjnncHtADr41AW8LrXBZXxw5pDBf-9XzJ7gIGFLs-AACswS5pwYQh5tpkvY46V2Cz35NOdpQJhT0/s640/FileStack_retouched.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="569" data-original-width="640" height="284" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9a3ufQhyphenhyphen5AKQ5RBqm11XEhlyHbuQ0uNvwuny7Z6G21mvZ4ps6PyKjsDrdHduH97FHjnncHtADr41AW8LrXBZXxw5pDBf-9XzJ7gIGFLs-AACswS5pwYQh5tpkvY46V2Cz35NOdpQJhT0/s640/FileStack_retouched.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I was collecting lots of rejections</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Without that time to grow and learn, I don’t think I would
have succeeded in this business. I was too naïve and would have got myself in
all kinds of trouble. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<h2>
<span style="font-size: large;">Two more Agents!<o:p></o:p></span></h2>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Finally <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I started
doing some things right. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->I went to writers conferences, <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Joined a local critique group <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->And a writing club. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->I kept learning from what I’d done wrong the
last time.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->I placed short stories and poems in literary
magazines.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->I even won some contests, one for a story and
one for a poem.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Finally, it worked! I got another agent. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">She sent my “big book” out on submission for a year. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">She couldn’t sell it. In fact, she couldn’t sell much. She
ended up leaving NYC and gave up agenting altogether and moving back to Texas. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">But I was better at getting agents by now. So I got another
one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She liked <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Food of Love</i> but made me do lots of edits to dumb it down and make
it more of a romance. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<h2>
<span style="font-size: large;">I Fire my Fifth Agent<o:p></o:p></span></h2>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">While my romanced-up version of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Food of Love</i> was making the endless rounds with editors, I got an
email from one of the magazines that had accepted a story months before. The
editor said the magazine was going under, but he had taken a job at a small
press in the English Midlands. He was in charge of acquisitions— did I have any
novels looking for a publisher? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">I sent him <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Food of
Love</i>. A month later I got a call from the managing editor of the company—a former
BBC comedy writer—with an offer of a nice advance. He also offered me a place
to stay if I wanted to come to England to launch my book. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Do I have to tell you how fast I bought a ticket to London
and fired my agent?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e1/Gainsborough_Old_Hall%2C_2008.jpg/675px-Gainsborough_Old_Hall%2C_2008.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="506" data-original-width="380" height="320" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e1/Gainsborough_Old_Hall%2C_2008.jpg/675px-Gainsborough_Old_Hall%2C_2008.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I was off to England!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">I’m not going to tell you that everything was beer and
skittles after that. (Although there was a lot of beer involved.) But I
embarked on the adventure of my life (which inspired my comic mystery Sherwood,
Ltd.) And got to see two of my books in print. I got to go on a book tour and
live out my fantasy.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">But I also had to deal with some strong criticism and major
changes from my UK editor. I was finally mature enough as a writer to
understand what he wanted and why my book needed the changes. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">A few years before the edits would have made me sad. So
would the book signings where only three people showed up. But I finally knew
enough about the business to take it all in stride. All those years of
rejection had taught me a lot. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">And so, in a way, I’m grateful to them. They gave me the
time to learn and grow into a confident, professional writer. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Did my <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">magnum opus </i>make
it? Nope. It took another, fiercer editor to whip that puppy into shape…but
that’s another story.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>What about you? Did you collect a boatload of rejections before you found a publisher? Are you still on the query-go-round?</i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span>
<br />
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">BOOK OF THE MONTH</span></h3>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix94LVazzpUBQaRFNj2v3zBHuWlZUpaBamlxTwoowoL1CwL1VEIjp1VmlVVAH0tBxyWl7dSwuEluN95k5qyTLZNdh6zjOvyfCsd-m6PNsAfus3MUdknQ1XYbrhA7XW7vIAv4WYnmgaYBo/s1600/Sherwood+Ltd+600x900+300dpi+126KB+%25282%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix94LVazzpUBQaRFNj2v3zBHuWlZUpaBamlxTwoowoL1CwL1VEIjp1VmlVVAH0tBxyWl7dSwuEluN95k5qyTLZNdh6zjOvyfCsd-m6PNsAfus3MUdknQ1XYbrhA7XW7vIAv4WYnmgaYBo/s320/Sherwood+Ltd+600x900+300dpi+126KB+%25282%2529.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span>
<br />
<h3>
<strong>SHERWOOD, LTD: Camilla Mystery #2</strong></h3>
Suddenly-homeless American manners expert Camilla Randall becomes a 21st century Maid Marian—living rough near the real Sherwood Forest with a band of outlaw English erotica publishers—led by a charming, self-styled Robin Hood who unfortunately may intend to kill her.<br />
<br />
When Camilla is invited to publish a book of her columns with UK publisher Peter Sherwood, she lands in a gritty criminal world—far from the Merrie Olde England she envisions. The staff are ex-cons and the erotica is kinky.<br />
<br />
Hungry and penniless, she camps in a Wendy House built from pallets of porn while battling an epic flood, a mendacious American Renfaire wench, and the mysterious killer who may be Peter himself.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong>Available in ebook from:</strong></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong><a href="https://books.apple.com/us/book/sherwood-ltd/id1474472809">Apple Books</a></strong></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
also:</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong> <a class="fasc-button fasc-size-medium fasc-type-flat" href="http://authl.it/2a0" style="background-color: #eb232f; color: white;">All Amazons</a> <a class="fasc-button fasc-size-medium fasc-type-flat" href="https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Anne_R_Allen_Sherwood_Ltd?id=UbilDwAAQBAJ" style="background-color: #eb232f; color: white;">GooglePlay</a> <a class="fasc-button fasc-size-medium fasc-type-flat" href="https://www.scribd.com/book/230974201/Sherwood-Ltd-The-Camilla-Randall-Mysteries" style="background-color: #eb232f; color: white;">Scribd</a> <a class="fasc-button fasc-size-medium fasc-type-flat" href="https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/sherwood-ltd-4" style="background-color: #eb232f; color: white;">Kobo</a> <a class="fasc-button fasc-size-medium fasc-type-flat" href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/sherwood-ltd-anne-r-allen/1108307120?ean=9788834126387" style="background-color: #eb232f; color: white;">Nook</a> <a class="fasc-button fasc-size-medium fasc-type-flat" href="https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/250986" style="background-color: #eb232f; color: white;">Smashwords</a></strong></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong>Available in paper from:</strong></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong> <a class="fasc-button fasc-size-medium fasc-type-flat" href="http://www.amazon.com/Sherwood-Ltd-Anne-R-Allen/dp/1503063240/ref=la_B005R2SBI4_1_11_title_1_pap?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1425334122&sr=1-11" style="background-color: #eb232f; color: white;">Amazon</a> <a class="fasc-button fasc-size-medium fasc-type-flat" href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/sherwood-ltd-anne-r-allen/1108307120?ean=9781503063242&isbn=2940148212720" style="background-color: #eb232f; color: white;">Barnes & Noble</a></strong></div>
</div>
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<br />Anne R. Allenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02420000168356370825noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-154552092903273548.post-47038971729812833602019-10-25T10:59:00.000-07:002019-10-25T10:59:40.996-07:00The Worst Thanksgiving Ever...And Can a Romantic Heroine Stay Happily Single?<h2>
</h2>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/ed/Wedding_cake_2004_SMC.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="240" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/ed/Wedding_cake_2004_SMC.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Is this the only path to happiness? </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">Some of
my readers have been discussing whether Camilla should “end up” with one of her
string of charming, but unsuitable boyfriends. Her marriage to newsman Jonathan
Kahn ended in disaster, and she hasn’t made any terribly good decisions about
romantic partners since.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">At the
end of each book, Camilla has a nice “happy for now” ending, but readers don’t
really expect the romance to last. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">My tagline for the series has always been “Murder, Mayhem, and Mr. Wrong.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">Personally
I don’t feel she can settle down with a Mr. Right unless the series is ending. I think
of all the TV shows that faded away once the main characters consummated
the relationship. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Moonlighting, Dexter, </i>and
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Castle</i> come to mind.</span></span><br />
<br />
<h3>
<span style="font-size: large;"> Finding Happiness</span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">So does
a woman really have to be tethered to a man in order to have a “Happy Ever
After” life in contemporary fiction?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">Recently
I visited a hairdresser who talked about a widow friend</span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.nataliepace.com/uploads/7/9/4/3/79434622/happyjump4joy_orig.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="213" src="https://www.nataliepace.com/uploads/7/9/4/3/79434622/happyjump4joy_orig.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-size: large;"> who she felt was still
attractive enough “to find happiness.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">Find
happiness. That phrase had me seeing red, although I didn’t say anything. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">I’m
single. I’ve been single most of my life, and I’m not actively looking for an old
man to take care of in my “golden years”—does that mean I’m not happy? <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">It doesn’t
feel that way. I’m free to do whatever I want whenever I want to do it. If I
feel like hopping on a plane to have an adventure, I can. If I want to hole up
for six months and grind out a book, I can do that too. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">I live
in a lovely little house by the sea in a quiet neighborhood full of wonderful
friends. My own personal writing retreat.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">Like
Camilla with her cottage and bookstore. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">So can’t
she have a happy life with a series of boyfriends instead of just one? <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<h3>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Holidays Are Tough for Singles...but You're Wrong About Why</span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">Unfortunately,
some people still believe “single” is a synonym for "needy" and “unwanted.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">As we
get hurtled into “The Holidaze,” we approach a time that’s precarious for us singles. No, not because we’re all sitting alone and in despair because
we’re not cooking a turkey dinner for twenty-five or fighting with a spouse
about which set of in-laws to visit for Christmas. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/61/Malamawi_Beach.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="336" data-original-width="448" height="240" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/61/Malamawi_Beach.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not going to a holiday party can be fun, too</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">But this
is the season when married people trot out their pity for the “poor,
sad, lonely” single people. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">They invite us to tension-filled family dinners with the MAGA parents and non-binary teenagers and the untrained puppy who tries to take your leg to the prom...so we don’t “have
to be alone.”</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">Sometimes they try to fix us up. They invite two single persons
of opposite genders to the tension-filled family dinner and expect romantic sparks to fly.
The sparks are almost always a no-show. Instead, awkwardness ensues. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">For me,
the best holiday celebrations are big neighborhood parties where everybody
brings a dish and there are kids and dogs and everybody’s having a good time no
matter what their living arrangements. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">And if I
don’t happen to get invited anywhere, I can still have a wonderful holiday. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">One
Thanksgiving, when the weather was more suited for the beach than roasting
large birds, I made a turkey sandwich (with cranberries—had to have
cranberries) and took a book to the beach. What a great day! (Even though a
seagull tried to take half my sandwich.)<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<h3>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">The Worst Thanksgiving Dinner Ever</span></span></h3>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EEcmAaZX4AAY1UA.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="218" data-original-width="300" src="https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EEcmAaZX4AAY1UA.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Worse than having dinner with these guys.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">But I have had some bad ones. The worst holiday I ever spent was the Thanksgiving when a married
acquaintance insisted I come to her house for her very special turkey dinner.
I had two other invitations, but I turned them down because this woman was so
insistent. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">I got
all gussied up and brought a pricey bottle of wine because I assumed it was
going to be a fancy do. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">But when I
arrived, the woman ushered me into her astonishingly messy kitchen, and pointed
at the cold, half eaten turkey on the table and told me to help myself. But I
wasn’t to eat any stuffing or cranberries or dessert, she said, because those
were “for the family.” Slowly I realized that her family had already eaten and
I’d been invited to pick over the unwanted leftovers. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">Even
though we were the same age and the same social class, both homeowners who were
gainfully employed, she saw me as some pathetic stray she was generously allowing to eat her scraps. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">All because
I’m single. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">As if
this were 1890 and women had to be the property of a man in order to have food
and a roof over their heads.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;">I learned something there. Like never accept an iffy holiday invite </span></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">when you could be at the beach with a good book and an attentive seagull. </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<h3>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Why I Prefer Happy for Now</span></h3>
</div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">The truth is that being single in a society where women are allowed to earn their own keep is a pretty nice life. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">We are only unhappy when ignorant people put us in awkward positions.</span><br />
<div style="text-align: right;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span></div>
<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Which
takes me back to Camilla. Camilla was raised to be uselessly rich, so she’s not
terribly good at earning a living. But she has never expected a man to keep her. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">And she’s not desperate for love.</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Love
appears, usually in the form of a complicated and peripatetic man. She resists,
succumbs, resists again, then falls happily into his arms. For now.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">Which is
why I think “happy for now” is the best goal for her series</span>. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>What about you? Are you single and happy? Do you think marriage is the only path to happiness? What's the worst Thanksgiving experience you ever had?</i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span>
<br />
<div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 20px;"><strong><em>No Place Like Home: Camilla Randall Comedy-Mystery #4</em></strong></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<em>(But it can be read as a stand-alone)</em></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<em>Wealthy Doria Windsor is suddenly homeless and accused of a murder she didn't commit. But Camilla, with the help of a brave trio of homeless people, the adorable Mr. X, and a little dog named Toto, is determined to unmask the real killer and discover the dark secrets of Doria’s deceased “financial wizard” husband before Doria is killed herself.</em></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<em><br /></em></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj187eOJkabz3a8FSbHYQuAk53i0Y_28nhIBPLt-PZ3li6S76FtXTsUSUS8MGlxSu11fH6H2gbqo4rGQpjXpZRwcZelSPvHMHj3tRd8R-RPP87Yp6WIvl-CgjITu4aRsX9BRWotR03eXY/s1600/NPLH+final.png"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://annerallen.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/NPLH-final.png" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<em><br /></em>
<em>"A warp-speed, lighthearted comedy-mystery"</em>...Abigail Padgett</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<em>"A fun, charming novel about the rich and less so"</em> ...Karen Doering</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<em>"A cross of dry British humor and American wackiness, and it all adds up to a fun read.</em>" ...Deborah Bayles.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<em>"It's comedy about a dark topic – homelessness – and it succeeds without ever descending into tasteless insensitivity, or tipping over into sentimentality."</em>...Lucinda Elliot<br />
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Available at <a href="http://authl.it/2a2">all the Amazons</a> and <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/no-place-like-home-anne-r-allen/1117044219?ean=2940148288565">NOOK</a>, Page Foundry, <a href="https://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/ebook/no-place-like-home-57">Kobo</a> and<a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/id901954438"> iTunes</a> It's also available in paperback from <a href="http://www.amazon.com/No-Place-Like-Home-Mysteries/dp/1500890308/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1409622620&sr=8-2&keywords=No+Place+Like+Home+Anne+R.+Allen">Amazon US</a>, <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/No-Place-Like-Home-Mysteries/dp/1500890308/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1409622985&sr=1-1&keywords=No+Place+Like+Home+Anne+R.+Allen">Amazon UK</a>, and <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/no-place-like-home-anne-r-allen/1120254882?ean=9781500890308">Barnes and Noble</a>, in regular and <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Place-Like-Home-Large-Print/dp/1500990906/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1409714235&sr=8-1&keywords=No+Place+Like+Home+Anne+R.+Allen+Large+Print">LARGE PRINT</a>. LARGE PRINT is also available at <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/no-place-like-home-anne-r-allen/1120265242?ean=9781500990909">Barnes and Noble.</a></div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
And NO PLACE LIKE HOME IS ALSO <a href="http://www.amazon.com/No-Place-Like-Home-Mysteries/dp/B00JEOIJG0%3FSubscriptionId%3DAKIAIX7HS5GMZTZONLZQ%26tag%3Daudible-acx-20%26linkCode%3Dxm2%26camp%3D2025%26creative%3D165953%26creativeASIN%3DB00JEOIJG0"> AN AUDIOBOOK</a>!!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Narrated by award-winner C. S. Perryess and Anne R. Allen (as Camilla)</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Nearly 8 hours of hilarious entertainment!Only $1.99 if you buy the Kindle ebook</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/No-Place-Like-Home-Mysteries/dp/B00JEOIJG0%3FSubscriptionId%3DAKIAIX7HS5GMZTZONLZQ%26tag%3Daudible-acx-20%26linkCode%3Dxm2%26camp%3D2025%26creative%3D165953%26creativeASIN%3DB00JEOIJG0">Available at Audible</a> <a href="http://www.amazon.com/No-Place-Like-Home-Mysteries/dp/B00JEOIJG0%3FSubscriptionId%3DAKIAIX7HS5GMZTZONLZQ%26tag%3Daudible-acx-20%26linkCode%3Dxm2%26camp%3D2025%26creative%3D165953%26creativeASIN%3DB00JEOIJG0">and </a><a href="https://itunes.apple.com/gb/audiobook/no-place-like-home-camilla/id853398370">iTunes</a></div>
</div>
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<br />Anne R. Allenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02420000168356370825noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-154552092903273548.post-24411580139740148112019-09-27T11:18:00.000-07:002019-10-01T09:52:24.157-07:00Using Fiction to Process Real Life Trauma: How I Survived an Online Troll Attack<br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">This
week one of my readers suggested that I put more
autobiographical material in my novels. She especially wanted to know more about the
time I was stalked and terrorized by a gang of Amazon review trolls and
Goodreads bullies.</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQgs02VsvjwGktjI_eixgFmf-YY9f013h4J6va2O4O79DlrwJBYJqC6QQwvsEe0r9EzpLPYs6kRG3sz7_pLEkEuCGDhdfDM4WK0duUVz60YGI_xSFYJ_9aTIUuc3fDqSX2KcxR-1xXhTs/s1600/So+Much+For+Buckingham+med..jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="400" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQgs02VsvjwGktjI_eixgFmf-YY9f013h4J6va2O4O79DlrwJBYJqC6QQwvsEe0r9EzpLPYs6kRG3sz7_pLEkEuCGDhdfDM4WK0duUVz60YGI_xSFYJ_9aTIUuc3fDqSX2KcxR-1xXhTs/s320/So+Much+For+Buckingham+med..jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">The
truth is, some scenes from <i>So
Much For Buckingham</i> take a whole lot of material from my real
experiences back in 2012. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">So I decided to post a scene here today.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">I think writing this scene helped me process my own trauma and put it in perspective. By adding the cat for comic relief, it also helped me lighten my attitude to my own experience.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">When I was under attack, I hadn't
committed the cardinal sin Camilla has—responding to an online review. But I
had witnessed the bullying of a teenager who had responded negatively to an online review
and that meant I got on the full Goodreads bully treatment. (Goodreads later
banned the ringleaders of that notorious gang.)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">The obscene threats are taken verbatim from threats I saw or received via email, blog
comment, and “review.” The bullies did indeed send me a photo of my house along with death threats, to escalate my fear. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">I only figured out later the photo they emailed me was simply taken from Google
Maps. At the time I feared these people were right here on my property, photographing me. The Google image had been taken only months earlier and the photographer happened to get my garbage bins in the shot. The night I got the death threat, it was garbage night and the bins were at the curb just as they were in the photo.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">The
panic Camilla feels is what I felt. I knew I couldn’t get any help from law
enforcement, since I had no proof these lunatics planned to carry out the
threats</span></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">—</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">and it turned out they didn't. But I had no way of knowing that. So I was as terrified as if these murderer-wannabes were really outside my door.<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://geo0.ggpht.com/cbk?panoid=g_Ro9jDJXCq7Zaa9GgdiAw&output=thumbnail&cb_client=search.gws-prod.gps&thumb=2&w=408&h=240&yaw=3.9141154&pitch=0&thumbfov=100" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="240" data-original-width="408" height="188" src="https://geo0.ggpht.com/cbk?panoid=g_Ro9jDJXCq7Zaa9GgdiAw&output=thumbnail&cb_client=search.gws-prod.gps&thumb=2&w=408&h=240&yaw=3.9141154&pitch=0&thumbfov=100" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">photo of my house from Google Maps</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">I think
online bullying has only got worse since then. But I don’t think it’s as prevalent in the online writing community as it was in the wild days of the "Kindle Goldrush."<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">Like
Camilla, I have worked in bookstores, although I've never owned one, as Camilla
does. She’s an author, like me, but she writes etiquette books, something I
would fail at miserably.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/7c/Tuxedo_Cat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="599" data-original-width="800" height="239" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/7c/Tuxedo_Cat.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I did not have Buckingham to save the day.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">I did
once have a tuxedo cat who banged my screen door the way Buckingham does in this scene,
but alas, I didn’t have him to save me from the psycho review bullies during my
night of terror.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">In the following scene, Camilla is alone in her cottage, unable to contact her best friend Plantagenet, who has flown to England (Where he meets the ghost of Richard III, but that's another subplot.) </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">Plus her publishers haven't returned her calls for weeks. So she feels alone in the world when she gets the death threat. She has been getting nasty "reviews" and comments from the self-styled "review police" after committing the gaffe of responding to a review, but this is the first time her life is threatened.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">Later one of the trolls, "DickonthePig" is found murdered during a historical reenactment in the English Midlands, and Plantagenet is a suspect. But here Camilla doesn't know if these people are truly homicidal, or just obscenity-obsessed online crazies. </span></span></div>
<h3>
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></h3>
<h3>
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: large;">This passage from <i>So Much for Buckingham </i>is from Part
III <i>The Kingdom of Perpetual Night</i></span></span></h3>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">There
were a dozen more one-star "reviews" on my Amazon book pages. Especially <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Good Manners for Bad Times</i>.<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> <o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">These
poisonous reviews were even more toxic and threatening than the last batch. Some
accused me of criminal behavior and others of sexual deviance. Lots of them
threatened me with rape. Some also threatened somebody named Hinckley
Lutterworth.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">I
didn't even know anybody named Hinckley Lutterworth, although the name rang a
distant bell.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">I felt
a burning in my gut as I skimmed the headers. Part of me wanted to click away
and pretend it wasn't happening, but I knew I had to face the full catastrophe.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">The
most recent "review" had come in only a minute before.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">"Jezbellzbooks"
said "Dr. Manners is a BBA. Sumbudy shud teach HER sum manners. Maybe with
a **** up her ***. Or get a gun. Just shoot that old bat. Put her out of our
misery." <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">A gun.
They wanted to kill me. Apparently the crime of responding to a ridiculous
"review" was a capital offense to these people. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">I
refreshed the page and another one came up. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">"Owain
Glendower" said: "These bloody reviewers have completely lost the
plot. As William Shakespeare said, 'Hell is empty and all the devils are here'.
Looks like the work of You-Know-Who-You-Are-You-Sodding-Prats. The filth on
Book Reviews dot Com is even worse. Utterly depraved. What's wrong with you
people? Henry Tudor was one of the greatest kings Britain has ever seen."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">Except
for the weird reference to English history, that was the first "review"
that had made any sense. It even gave me five stars. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">I
Googled Book Reviews dot Com and searched for my books. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">What
came up turned my stomach. There were many pages of obscene comments.
"Author Should be Sodomized Sideways with a Garden Gnome" was
repeated at least 50 times by different "reviewers" with monikers
like "SmarterThanYouBitch", "Pottymouth" and
"F***U2". Some had odd symbols instead of names. But they all called
me a "badly behaving author" and threatened me with rape and torture.
Hinckley Lutterworth got a number of threats too, although he didn't seem to
get the "badly behaving author" accusations.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">The
only person who defended me was my Amazon friend "Owain Glendower,"
who appeared to be a civilized, non-psychopathic person. As a result,
subsequent reviews attacked him, too. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">DickonThePig,
who seemed to be everywhere, said he knew where Owain lived and threatened to
cut off his private parts with rusty garden shears. The one called "Alfred
the Cake" threatened to blow him up with a fertilizer bomb, and
"Libra Rising" thought Owain deserved garden gnome rape as well.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">Gardening
seemed to be a theme here.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">There
was also excessive verbiage about Richard III and Henry Tudor. What these
people thought I had to do with medieval English monarchs I couldn't even
guess. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">With
my publishers AWOL and Plantagenet refusing to return my phone calls,
I had no idea what to do about any of this. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">I took
off to eat some dinner, but when I came back, there were plenty more toxic
reviews. On Book Reviews dot Com, Owain Glendower and somebody called Jasper
Tudor seemed to have got themselves into a "flame war" with
DickonthePig, Libra Rising, and Alfred the Cake. It was horrific, but also
pretty laughable. Luckily, they dropped any mention of me early in their
Tudor-vs-Plantagenet battle in the comment thread, but they all threatened each
other using obscenities that nearly seared my eyeballs.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">Why
did the Internet bring out such bad behavior in people? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">I
started to feel panicky. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">I
checked my email. Plant would have to reply to my frantic messages sometime. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">Oh,
good. I had one new email. From a U.K. address.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">I
started to feel relief. It had to be either Plant or somebody from the
publishing company. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">The
relief didn’t last long. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">"The
rape train is coming. Your raped and mutilated corpse will be in tomorrow's<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> Bay News</i>. We will choke you with
Hinckley Lutterworth's severed penis. Libra will rise."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">There
were two attachments, photos. When I enlarged the first I saw a 1930s
California bungalow-style stucco cottage. Mine. The second was a picture of my bookstore.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">I
started to shake. Partly with fear and partly with rage. These rapist,
misogynist monsters had been here. In my very own courtyard, taking photos of
my house. They could be out there right now.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">My
first instinct was to call the police. But then I realized it was pointless. People
made stupid threats on the Internet all the time these days. You could see them
in the comments of every online news article. </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; text-indent: 0.5in;">In fact, I remembered reading that
the Supreme Court had recently ruled that making online threats was perfectly
legal if the threatener didn't mean to carry them out.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">How
was I supposed to know if these crazed "book reviewers" really intended to rape
and murder me? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">And
who on earth was Hinckley Lutterworth? And why didn't these people have lives? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">The
screen door banged. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">And
banged again.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">If
this was a prank, it was entirely too close to home. It was time to call the
police, no matter what the Supreme Court said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">I
reminded myself I needed to breathe. But I had to do it silently. I didn't want
whoever was out there to know for sure that I was here. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">This
wasn't Internet bullying anymore. This was real life. I had rapist psychos
banging on my front door. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">It
occurred to my rational brain that they must be very lightweight rapist
psychos. I hadn't heard any footsteps. People always made noise crunching
through the gravel in the courtyard.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">But I
wasn't taking any chances. I dialed 911.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">The
door banged again.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">As the
phone rang, I grabbed the empty wine bottle by the neck to use as a weapon.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">"What
is your emergency?" the operator said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">"Somebody
keeps slamming my screen door," I whispered into the phone. "They've
sent me a threatening email. I think it's a bunch of lunatics from Amazon. They
know where I live. They sent a picture of my house. They want to rape and murder me,
apparently. And mutilation will be involved."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">"Amazon?
The online store? Are you being physically threatened?" The woman's voice
was businesslike, but soothing.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">"Um…They
said news about my corpse would be in tomorrow's <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Bay News</i>. I guess they don't know it's a weekly." I worked
hard to make my voice sound calm. I didn't want to sound like a paranoid crazy
person. "They also threatened somebody named Hinckley Lutterworth, and I
don't even know anybody by that name. Not that I can remember. They also said
something like 'Libra will rise'. I have no idea what that's about. I'm a
Scorpio."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">"Can
you see who is at the door, ma'am?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do
they have weapons?"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">I
could see nothing from the front window. Not even a shadow thrown by the bright
security light that illuminated the path between the store and my cottage.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">I drew
up my courage, set down the phone, and unlocked the door.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">"I
have the police on the phone!" I shouted into the courtyard as I yanked on
the doorknob.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">But I
saw no one. The person who had been banging the door had disappeared. Which
made no sense. I still hadn't heard any footsteps on the gravel.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">I
picked up the phone again. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">"I
don't see anybody," I said. "But they could be hiding."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">"Are
these people threatening you now, ma'am?"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">I let
go of the door handle and looked in horror as the screen door moved away from
me, seemingly on its own. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">Then
it banged again. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">I
looked down. There was my cat Buckingham, with his claws hooked in the screen,
pulling back the door. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">He
unhooked his claw and gave me a look that said, "You can't be this stupid.
Open the damn door." <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">"I,
um, maybe it's not…" I felt my face flush. "I'm so sorry. It seems to
be a false alarm. Sorry. It's only my cat. Don't bother the police." <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">"A
unit has already been dispatched, ma'am."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">I
closed my phone and gave Buckingham a stern look.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">"I'll
let you in on one condition," I said to his smug little white-mustached
face. "When the rapist reviewers come for me, you will use those claws on
them."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br />
***</div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>Have you ever been the victim of online trolls? Did they send death threats? Did you call the police? Have you ever processed a trauma by fictionalizing it? </i></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 22px;"><strong><i>So Much for Buckingham </i>IS ON SALE AT <a href="http://authl.it/3cn" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">ALL THE AMAZON STORES</a></strong></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 22px;">Until September 30th</span></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>"Delicious wit, wonderful eccentric characters, and a beguiling plot. Camilla Randall is a delight!"</i>...Melodie Campbell, Canada's "Queen of Comedy"</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcGty3xtChF0ZgP5q_gMAuO8-RJKFdj3Xf3Oyyyd5Aj5JIcAYITsXrL4Z4CFaUo_afwa3W9vZayqgTE2Xn-K0WziL4dJEzlKsBC7f_ZNKuSl_Pb_qJiw-bLG9-LUmXQpokZe1Afx_P6oI/s1600/So+Much+For+Buckingham+med..jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="320" src="https://annerallen.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/So-Much-For-Buckingham-med..jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>It's a comedy-mystery about cyberbullying, the gangs of new media, and the ghost of Richard III. Plus a cat named Buckingham.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
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<i>"This wonderfully satiric comedy is a joy to read. On the surface, it's a frothy romance cum suspense story about a whacky writer, Camilla, whose life is threatened by trolls and who topples from one hilarious disaster into the next. But underneath, it provides a perceptive insight into the mad world of modern publishing, the sub-culture of Internet lunatics and the mindset of cultists who can - and do - believe ten impossible things before breakfast. The reader is left with the question: how much of the story, perish the thought, might be true? Tremendous fun, wittily satiric and highly recommended."</i>...Nigel J. Robinson</div>
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<strong>Available in ebook from:</strong></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong><a class="fasc-button fasc-size-medium fasc-type-flat" href="http://authl.it/3cn" style="background-color: #eb232f; color: white;">All Amazons</a> <a class="fasc-button fasc-size-medium fasc-type-flat" href="https://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/ebook/so-much-for-buckingham-2" style="background-color: #eb232f; color: white;">Kobo</a> <a class="fasc-button fasc-size-medium fasc-type-flat" href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/so-much-for-buckingham-anne-r-allen/1122797996?ean=2940157905095" style="background-color: #eb232f; color: white;">Nook</a> <a class="fasc-button fasc-size-medium fasc-type-flat" href="https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/584852" style="background-color: #eb232f; color: white;">Smashwords</a> <a class="fasc-button fasc-size-medium fasc-type-flat" href="https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Anne_R_Allen_So_Much_For_Buckingham?id=WbilDwAAQBAJ" style="background-color: #eb232f; color: white;">Googleplay</a> <a class="fasc-button fasc-size-medium fasc-type-flat" href="https://www.scribd.com/book/285085608/So-Much-For-Buckingham-The-Camilla-Randall-Mysteries-5" style="background-color: #eb232f; color: white;">Scribd</a> </strong></div>
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<strong>Available in paper from:</strong></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong><a class="fasc-button fasc-size-medium fasc-type-flat" href="http://www.amazon.com/Much-Buckingham-Camilla-Randall-Mysteries/dp/1517659167/ref=sr_1_1_twi_pap_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1455302560&sr=8-1&keywords=so+much+for+buckingham+by+anne+r.+allen" style="background-color: #eb232f; color: white;">AmazonUS</a> <a class="fasc-button fasc-size-medium fasc-type-flat" href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/So-Much-Buckingham-Camilla-Mysteries/dp/1517659167/ref=sr_1_1_twi_pap_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1455303449&sr=8-1&keywords=So+Much+for+Buckingham+Anne+R.+Allen" style="background-color: #eb232f; color: white;">AmazonUK</a> <a class="fasc-button fasc-size-medium fasc-type-flat" href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/so-much-for-buckingham-anne-r-allen/1122797996?ean=9781517659165" style="background-color: #eb232f; color: white;">Barnes & Noble</a></strong></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong><span style="font-size: 20px;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/So-Much-Buckingham-Camilla-Mysteries/dp/B01LX6ODD1/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1474153429&sr=8-1&keywords=So+Much+for+Buckingham+audiobook">Audiobook from Audible</a> and<a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/audiobook/so-much-for-buckingham-camilla/id1155699058"> iTunes</a></span></strong></div>
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Anne R. Allenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02420000168356370825noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-154552092903273548.post-90816508085421142662019-08-30T11:35:00.000-07:002019-08-30T11:35:20.112-07:00The Dinner Party Question and others: Debra Eve and Anne R. Allen in Conversation. <span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>Back in 2012, I gave an interview to <a href="https://laterbloomer.com/about-debra-eve-and-later-bloomer/" target="_blank">Debra Eve of the Later Bloomer</a>. I thought it would be fun to revisit it.</i></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil2BNHXbE_uIM0z50fQezlmUkpyHzPTlHwHhzr9GNnnz6MWb8KEDO7E3EcFHZIFST6AR5RuBFLXWFdp44DQjFmRsEd9jnpRutmNvZRdezLjMb-G-ISr1RJH7lF4WinQEOO9R9unmnceic/s1600/ARA+Pippin.BMP" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="139" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil2BNHXbE_uIM0z50fQezlmUkpyHzPTlHwHhzr9GNnnz6MWb8KEDO7E3EcFHZIFST6AR5RuBFLXWFdp44DQjFmRsEd9jnpRutmNvZRdezLjMb-G-ISr1RJH7lF4WinQEOO9R9unmnceic/s320/ARA+Pippin.BMP" width="222" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Anne on the wicked stage</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Debra:</b> After many years in theater, you published your first novel. What motivated you to become an author? </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Anne:</b> Writing was always my first love. My mom told me that when she tried to explain the "facts of life" when I was around seven, I said I didn't need to know that stuff because I was going to be a writer and live in a little cottage by the sea, so a husband and children would just get in the way. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">When I hit forty, my father died suddenly and it was a wake-up call. I realized that if I was ever going to realize my dream, I'd better get a move-on. So I gave up my theater job and used my inheritance to buy that little cottage by the sea. </span><br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy2pS-Ec9xB_EuNn3VWYK5hCiuJEDOhycJZj1zrd7yBseEKbpA9sB76B0Y3b6-gCyAsswp62Ez_ffsE5XXP0_LNGzBDM0WsqgUheUQl9m17yL8mPOhTMsckkgdeZnaoraARaVa5TZQs34/s1600/ara+booksigning0001.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="599" data-original-width="424" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy2pS-Ec9xB_EuNn3VWYK5hCiuJEDOhycJZj1zrd7yBseEKbpA9sB76B0Y3b6-gCyAsswp62Ez_ffsE5XXP0_LNGzBDM0WsqgUheUQl9m17yL8mPOhTMsckkgdeZnaoraARaVa5TZQs34/s320/ara+booksigning0001.bmp" width="226" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Poster for my first book signing</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">My first novel actually landed me an agent and an almost-deal with Bantam. But everything fell apart and I got discouraged and didn't write for about five years after that. But that writing bug wouldn't let go of me, so I went back to writing and knocking on agents' doors. </span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">I filled a whole file drawer full of rejection letters between 1997 and 2002—before I got FOOD OF LOVE accepted by that first UK publisher. I finally burned all those rejections in a big bonfire last year. </span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Debra:</b> In <i>How to Be a Writer in the E-Age</i>, you advise, "DON'T put something in a novel "because that's the way it really happened." Could you expand on that, especially as it relates to your Camilla Randall mystery, <i>Sherwood, Ltd.?</i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Anne:</b> Great question. <i>Sherwood</i> was inspired by my adventures living and working in an erotica publishing house on the banks of the River Trent in Lincolnshire from 2002-2005. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">A lot of things happened there that were far more preposterous than anything I could put in a novel. One of the people I met at the company was related to a famous murderer. Another had been a pretty well-known punk rocker. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix94LVazzpUBQaRFNj2v3zBHuWlZUpaBamlxTwoowoL1CwL1VEIjp1VmlVVAH0tBxyWl7dSwuEluN95k5qyTLZNdh6zjOvyfCsd-m6PNsAfus3MUdknQ1XYbrhA7XW7vIAv4WYnmgaYBo/s1600/Sherwood+Ltd+600x900+300dpi+126KB+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix94LVazzpUBQaRFNj2v3zBHuWlZUpaBamlxTwoowoL1CwL1VEIjp1VmlVVAH0tBxyWl7dSwuEluN95k5qyTLZNdh6zjOvyfCsd-m6PNsAfus3MUdknQ1XYbrhA7XW7vIAv4WYnmgaYBo/s320/Sherwood+Ltd+600x900+300dpi+126KB+%25282%2529.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">And there was a whole lot more drinking going on than I could put in the book (Drunks are pretty boring in fiction.) The setting is close to accurate, but none of the characters is actually based on a real person. Each one is a composite. With a lot of made-up stuff thrown in.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">The truth is that life can be more outrageous than fiction. Fiction needs to have a logic to it that real life does not. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Debra</b>: If you could invite any five literary personages from any time period to dinner, who would they be and why? </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Can I have six? For some reason, I thought of six right off the bat. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 18pt;">1)<i> Dorothy Parker</i>—if just to sit back and listen to the <i>bon mots</i>. </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 18pt;">2<i>) Agatha Christie</i>—I really want to find out what happened during those weeks she disappeared. </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 18pt;">3) <i>Oscar Wilde</i>—Can't you just imagine a snark-off between him and Dorothy P? </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">I'd love a chance to meet Elliot Paul</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 18pt;">4) <i>Elliot Paul</i>—He was a comic mystery writer who's almost forgotten now, but he wrote hilarious mysteries set in Paris in the twenties, when he was very much part of the literary scene. I'll bet he'd have amazing stories. He also wrote a memoir called <i>The Last Time I Saw Paris</i>. The title got ripped off by Hollywood and pasted on a Fitzgerald story that had the perfectly good title of <i>Babylon Revisited.</i> </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 18pt;">5) <i>George Eliot/Mary Ann Evans</i>—She's a special hero of mine because I once met her ghost. Or at least it seemed like her ghost. The building where I lived in Lincolnshire was only a block from the house where she lived when she wrote <i>The Mill on the Floss</i>, and sometimes I could feel her presence there. She was such an amazing pioneer in so many ways. She brought empathy and a modern sense of compassion to the Victorian novel. </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.theatermania.com/s/tm-photos-production/98590.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="533" height="320" src="https://www.theatermania.com/s/tm-photos-production/98590.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">Angela Lansbury as Madame Arcati</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">6)</span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><i style="font-size: x-large;">Noel Coward</i><span style="font-size: large;">—As long as we have these wildly entertaining wits at the party, it wouldn't be complete without the master. The only thing that might lure me back into the theater would be a chance to play Madame Arcati in <i>Blithe Spirit.</i> I quit the theater just when I was getting to be the right age to play her. </span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Debra:</b> What advice can you give late-blooming writers who have families and day jobs? </span><br />
<br style="font-size: x-large;" />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Anne: </b>Network with other writers. Don't try to go it alone. Family and friends may be completely non-supportive even though they love you. They may feel you're trying to be "better than" them. And they may begrudge your writing time if you used to spend that time together. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Non-writing friends may refuse to read your stuff or they might give nasty, clueless critiques—so it's best to line up other writers to be your beta readers in order to hang onto your friendships. Let friends and family read your work when the book comes out (and be aware they may not even read it then.) I learned that lesson the hard way. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Most important: remember publishing is a business—a business that takes a long time to learn. When you aren't producing a saleable product, people will reject that product, but it's not a rejection of YOU. Educate yourself and keep learning and growing. Eventually, you'll sound and act like a professional and you'll be accepted as a professional—because that's what you are.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">***</span><br />
<i style="font-size: x-large;">What famous people would you like to invite to a dinner party? </i><br />
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Book of the Month</h3>
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<b><i>SHERWOOD, LTD:</i> A Camilla Mystery </b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhml9kTiIwGZMXdMuKtPAsRgvqfBOVumAurY-UOHXcV34JEip28EjyE7gPoIFVXfFIdp4s2nWcBi85r6U-UQO_S8BBPjLVGwBO8TZWZMbJK73ndhobc9liwJ6-qfcC1qGxHcZg-JGeiWrg/s1600/Sherwood+Ltd+new+cover+Fanta.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhml9kTiIwGZMXdMuKtPAsRgvqfBOVumAurY-UOHXcV34JEip28EjyE7gPoIFVXfFIdp4s2nWcBi85r6U-UQO_S8BBPjLVGwBO8TZWZMbJK73ndhobc9liwJ6-qfcC1qGxHcZg-JGeiWrg/s1600/Sherwood+Ltd+new+cover+Fanta.jpg" width="133" /></a></div>
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<i>Sherwood Ltd</i>. takes aim at the world of small press publishing and all things British. It's a madcap tale of intrigue, romance and murder set near the real Sherwood Forest in the English Midlands.</div>
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After discovering a dead body near the dumpster where she's been diving for recyclables, down-on-her luck socialite Camilla Randall escapes to England, enticed by the charming Peter Sherwood—a self-styled Robin Hood who offers to publish a book of her etiquette columns at his unorthodox publishing company. Suddenly-homeless American manners expert Camilla Randall becomes a 21st century Maid Marian—living rough near the real Sherwood Forest with a band of outlaw English erotica publishers—led by a charming, self-styled Robin Hood who unfortunately may intend to kill her. </div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "georgia" , "utopia" , "palatino linotype" , "palatino" , serif;">$2.99 at </span><a href="http://authl.it/2a0" style="font-family: georgia, utopia, "palatino linotype", palatino, serif;">All the Amazon Stores</a><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "georgia" , "utopia" , "palatino linotype" , "palatino" , serif;"> and </span><a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/sherwood-ltd-anne-r-allen/1108307120?ean=9788834126387" style="font-family: georgia, utopia, "palatino linotype", palatino, serif;" target="_blank">Barnes and Noble </a><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>Sherwood, Ltd</i>. is also available <span style="text-align: center;">in paper from</span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Sherwood-Ltd-Anne-R-Allen/dp/1503063240/ref=la_B005R2SBI4_1_11_title_1_pap?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1425334122&sr=1-11" style="text-align: center;"> Amazon</a><span style="text-align: center;"> and</span><a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/sherwood-ltd-anne-r-allen/1108307120?ean=9781503063242&isbn=2940148212720" style="text-align: center;"> Barnes and Noble</a></span></div>
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Anne R. Allenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02420000168356370825noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-154552092903273548.post-4363044929632463992019-07-26T10:31:00.000-07:002019-07-26T10:31:42.775-07:00Bag Lady Syndrome: How "No Place Like Home" Helped Me Face My Fear <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e0/Homeless_woman_in_Washington%2C_D.C..jpg/944px-Homeless_woman_in_Washington%2C_D.C..jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="762" data-original-width="800" height="304" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e0/Homeless_woman_in_Washington%2C_D.C..jpg/944px-Homeless_woman_in_Washington%2C_D.C..jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">What’s Bag Lady Syndrome? According to financial columnist Jay McDonald, “Bag Lady Syndrome" is a fear many women share that their financial security could disappear in a heartbeat, leaving them homeless, penniless and destitute” <br /><br />The <a href="http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2006/aug/23/20060823-122252-7667r/?page=all">Washington Times</a> reported “90 percent of women say they feel financially insecure…and almost half are troubled by a ‘tremendous fear of becoming a bag lady’.” <br /><br />Bag lady syndrome can be paralyzing, according to Olivia Mellan, a Washington, D.C. therapist who specializes in money psychology. <br /><br />She says “Lily Tomlin, Gloria Steinem, Shirley MacLaine and Katie Couric all admit to having a bag lady in their anxiety closet.” <br /><br />"It cuts across women of all social groups; it's not like wealthy women don't have it," says Mellan. "Heiresses, women who have inherited wealth, have big bag-lady nightmares because they really feel like the money came to them magically and can leave them just as magically." <br /><br />When you quit your day job to write full time—especially if you’re single—those fears can escalate to nightmares, anxiety attacks and debilitating self-doubt. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">My Bag Lady Moment</span></h3>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />For me, my anxieties hit a crescendo when my first publisher went out of business and I had to go back to square one, writing query letters to agents and editors again like a newbie. <br /><br />My magazine writing gigs had dried up, too: either the journals had gone under or they were no longer paying. I’d been out of the workforce for years and the world was in the middle of a recession. My savings were dwindling fast. <br /><br />I feared I’d made all the wrong financial choices and I’d soon be living under a bridge. <br /><br />I started having a recurring nightmare about living in a rusted, wheel-less truck in some kind of dump full of rats. My skin was crawling with insects. Sometimes parts of my body would fall off. I’d wake up screaming.<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSeNLU_2xKcksQv354yOSfGRwUdX7EY-B4UUUQ_sSxqQpY2vn3u" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="194" data-original-width="259" src="https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSeNLU_2xKcksQv354yOSfGRwUdX7EY-B4UUUQ_sSxqQpY2vn3u" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My nightmare home</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Even the Ultra-Rich Can Lose Everything</span></h3>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />One morning I woke from one of those horrific dreams to an interview on NPR’s Morning Edition. (Yes, I have Public Radio on my clock radio: I guess that qualifies me as a super-nerd.) They were talking to a successful Manhattan magazine editor who had <a href="http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=123749919">lost her life savings to Bernie Madoff</a>. <br /><br />Look: it can happen to anybody, I told myself—even people with a ton of savings who have done everything right. <br /><br />I got up and read my local morning paper, which was full of letters to the editor complaining about how homeless camps and panhandling were ruining our town’s idyllic image as “<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TgeB7NtZnyc">the happiest town in America</a>.” <br /><br />I flashed on how that posh magazine editor I’d heard on NPR could be one of those scruffy people standing outside the San Luis Obispo Mission with a cardboard sign. She could be one of those despised people living in the “filthy” camps. <br /><br />So could I. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">A Lot of People Are One Catastrophe from Homelessness </span></h3>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />An awful lot of us are only one Bernie Madoff or catastrophic disease away from those camps. <br /><br />After I heard that story, I took a day off querying and outlined a novel about a New York magazine editor who is not only conned by a Bernie Madoff type, but married to him. <br /><br />She not only loses everything, but is accused of being complicit in his crimes. On the lam and destitute, she ends up living in a homeless camp in the idyllic wine country near where I live. <br /><br />For me, picturing somebody like Martha Stewart living in a tent and cooking over a Sterno stove, worrying about where to go for showers and basic bodily functions—not knowing which homeless people she could trust—helped me to walk myself through my fears and see that it would be possible to survive. </span><br />
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<h3>
<span style="font-size: large;">Thinking the Unthinkable<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/ae/Edvard_Munch_-_Anxiety_-_Google_Art_Project.jpg/800px-Edvard_Munch_-_Anxiety_-_Google_Art_Project.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="620" height="320" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/ae/Edvard_Munch_-_Anxiety_-_Google_Art_Project.jpg/800px-Edvard_Munch_-_Anxiety_-_Google_Art_Project.jpg" width="248" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Edvard Munch's "Anxiety"</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br />Thinking the “unthinkable” sometimes helps us to cope with fear. If we can visualize ourselves in a terrifying situation that has a positive outcome, it can help us overcome the terror. <br /><br />That’s why fiction—reading or writing it—can help us treat our anxieties. <br /><br />A columnist called "The Anxiety Doc" says “When it comes to treating anxiety, panic attacks and phobias, creative visualization techniques have proven very therapeutic for sufferers. In order for the visualization to be completely effective, the person must involve all their senses in the process. They need to see themselves performing the behavior, hear the sounds associated with it and feel any tactile sensations. In some cases, even the senses of taste and smell will be involved.” <br /><br />That’s what a writer does! So when I visualized my character, <i>Home</i> decorating magazine editor Doria Windsor, in a homeless camp, I pictured her surviving each of my own fears: the lack of hygiene, the stink, the cold, hunger, loss of dignity, etc. <br /><br />And if she could do it, so could I. <br /><br />It also helped that I write romantic comedy. I had Doria—and my ever-unlucky sleuth Camilla—both find romance (and some perspective) as they face homelessness because of the Ponzi-scheming villain’s crimes. </span><br />
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<a href="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/cb/Cowardly_lion2.jpg/375px-Cowardly_lion2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="490" data-original-width="375" height="320" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/cb/Cowardly_lion2.jpg/375px-Cowardly_lion2.jpg" width="244" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Homeless People are Survivors</span></h3>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />To give the homeless people in Doria’s camp personalities and backstories, I talked to the homeless people who panhandle in front of some of my favorite stores in Morro Bay. One woman was remarkably plucky and full of humor. She became the model for my character of Lucky. <br /><br />I decided not to make my homeless characters objects of pity, but strong-minded survivors who help solve the mystery of a homeless man’s murder. In a way, they’re the real heroes of my story. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I used metaphors from <i>The Wizard of Oz</i> to show the journey Doria takes and the helpful friends she finds along the way.<br /><br />Not long after I started the book, I got an offer from the editor of an independent press to publish my backlist. Then another offered to look at the new stuff. Between September 2011 and December 2012, we published 7 of my books, followed by </span><i style="font-size: x-large;">No Place Like Home</i><span style="font-size: large;"> the following year.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">I now have 13 published titles, several of which have become bestsellers.<br /><br />Things are looking up. I think making my characters face the “unthinkable” helped me to think it through for myself. I hope it will help my readers, too. <br /><br />I’m not saying that I’m entirely over my bag lady fears. Some of us never will be. But I don’t have those nightmares anymore and the panic isn’t lurking under the surface every time I lie down to sleep.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>What about you? Do you have "bag lady syndrome" or a fear of homelessness? Do you know anybody who does?</i></span><br />
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<b><i>NO PLACE LIKE HOME:</i> Camilla Mystery #4<i> </i></b><i> </i></h2>
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><br /></i><i>Comedy with a conscience. </i>Doria Windsor, the uber-rich editor of Home decorating magazine loses everything, including her Ponzi-schemer husband, when their luxury wine-country home mysteriously goes up in flames. Homeless, destitute, presumed dead and branded a criminal, 59-yr-old Doria has a crash course in reality…and a second chance at love.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTllOPiPXxMmg4szm_wvFDU1odWU6R_MlcTrrSuxGm6zDnEpbR7hkm6aGErh9UT5V3ns2-bJkXDgIeEOnG6FDxJStGrN5JzdcP1jSK4osyk7i9LMErC3O3ADu_nsSezBlTQcYbv1i7UHY/s1600/NPLH+1.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="437" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTllOPiPXxMmg4szm_wvFDU1odWU6R_MlcTrrSuxGm6zDnEpbR7hkm6aGErh9UT5V3ns2-bJkXDgIeEOnG6FDxJStGrN5JzdcP1jSK4osyk7i9LMErC3O3ADu_nsSezBlTQcYbv1i7UHY/s320/NPLH+1.png" width="218" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Meanwhile, reluctant sleuth Camilla Randall is facing homelessness too, as Doria's husband's schemes unravel and take down innocent bystanders along the way. When the mysterious—and dangerously attractive—Mr. X. turns up at Camilla's bookstore looking for clues to the death of a missing homeless man, Camilla joins in the search.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">With the help of brave trio of homeless people and a little dog named Toto, Doria, Camilla and Mr. X journey to unmask the real killer and reveal the dark secrets of Doria's "financial wizard" husband.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Anne. R. Allen weaves her usual blend of archetypal images (this time from The Wizard of Oz) with unique and wacky characters, hilarious situations, and laugh-out-loud one-liners that all somehow come together and make perfect sense at the end.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>No Place Like Home</i> is the fourth of the Camilla Randall Mysteries, but can be read as a stand-alone novel.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>No Place Like Home </i>is available at <a href="http://authl.it/2a2">all the Amazons</a>, <a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/no-place-like-home-anne-r-allen/1117044219?ean=9788834128992" target="_blank">NOOK</a>, and iBooks, It's also available in paperback from <a href="http://www.amazon.com/No-Place-Like-Home-Mysteries/dp/1500890308/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1409622620&sr=8-2&keywords=No+Place+Like+Home+Anne+R.+Allen">Amazon US</a>, <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/No-Place-Like-Home-Mysteries/dp/1500890308/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1409622985&sr=1-1&keywords=No+Place+Like+Home+Anne+R.+Allen">Amazon UK</a>, and <a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/no-place-like-home-anne-r-allen/1120254882?ean=9781500890308" target="_blank">Barnes and Noble</a>, in regular and <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Place-Like-Home-Large-Print/dp/1500990906/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1409714235&sr=8-1&keywords=No+Place+Like+Home+Anne+R.+Allen+Large+Print">LARGE PRINT</a>. LARGE PRINT is also available at <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/no-place-like-home-anne-r-allen/1120265242?ean=9781500990909">Barnes and Noble.</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">It's also available in an audiobook, narrated by Anne and award-winning narrator, C.S. Perryess. You can find it at <a href="http://www.amazon.com/No-Place-Like-Home-Mysteries/dp/B00JEOIJG0%3FSubscriptionId%3DAKIAIX7HS5GMZTZONLZQ%26tag%3Daudible-acx-20%26linkCode%3Dxm2%26camp%3D2025%26creative%3D165953%26creativeASIN%3DB00JEOIJG0">Audible</a> and <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/gb/audiobook/no-place-like-home-camilla/id853398370">iTunes UK</a>. It's also available at <a href="http://ax.itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZSearch.woa/wa/search?term=no%20place%20like%20home%20audiobook">iTunes US</a></span></div>
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<i>Another version of this piece first appeared in the anthology "Indiestructable" published by Vine Leaves Press</i>Anne R. Allenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02420000168356370825noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-154552092903273548.post-58494764804614725592019-06-30T09:04:00.003-07:002019-06-30T09:04:34.674-07:00What is it REALLY Like to be a Full Time Author?<br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Oh, the
glamorous life of an author! Meeting with the intellectual and artistic elite
in the cafés of Paris, dining with the rich and famous, the vacations on the
Riviera, the wild champagne-fueled parties… and of course, running around
solving murders like Richard Castle and Jessica Fletcher…</span></div>
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<a href="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/9/9f/Midnight_in_Paris_Poster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="325" data-original-width="220" height="320" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/9/9f/Midnight_in_Paris_Poster.jpg" width="216" /><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"> </span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">Not
exactly.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">I don’t
know how those famous writers had time to get up to all those antics in the
past (or even in fiction.) <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">But most
writers today have no time to do any of that stuff. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">Well,
okay, my friend </span><a href="http://www.catherineryanhyde.com/"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">Catherine Ryan Hyde</span></a><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"> did fly off to Lapland a couple of years ago to have an adventure driving a dogsled and seeing the northern lights.
But that was just for a week. Mostly she works a lot of hours and has her
adventures on paper. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">Just
like me. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">It's amazing how many people think authors have a lot of free time. Well, if they'd watched <i>Castle</i> or <i>Murder She Wrote</i>, they could be excused for thinking that. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcT7naxXsJi8PfDPloxKl-jJChAAKsUd0X22xwCtsq4Ce4hfdqkiMA" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="270" data-original-width="186" src="https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcT7naxXsJi8PfDPloxKl-jJChAAKsUd0X22xwCtsq4Ce4hfdqkiMA" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">But the truth is my life
is all about butt-in-chair in my office at 8 AM every morning (after stretching and eating a sensible breakfast.) I break for lunch and exercise at noon and work again
from 2-5 and if I’m working on a deadline, probably back to work from 7-9. I
try not to work past nine, or my brain is still generating ideas when I’m
trying to sleep…not a good plan. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">That’s
seven days a week. Yes, I do take off time on weekends to be with other humans
and sometimes go out and play. Catherine and I meet for Thai food at regular
intervals and I get together with other writers in the local Sisters in Crime chapter
and our local Nightwriters Club.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/a/a6/Jessicaflecther.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="312" data-original-width="200" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/a/a6/Jessicaflecther.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jessica Fletcher only typed during the opening credits</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">Of
course there are always the medical appointments and investment decisions and
cleaning and cooking and shopping and other things that people do to keep
ourselves alive in this increasingly complex world.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">But
mostly I work. A lot of that work is marketing: social media, answering emails
(endless emails: when you have a popular blog, everybody on the planet wants
something from you.) Then there’s writing posts for my two blogs, answering
comments, and composing guest blogposts. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">And some
authors put out newsletters too. I draw the line there. I hate getting
newsletters, so I don’t inflict them on my readers. It’s just as easy to
subscribe to a blog, and a blog draws new readers, too.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">And don’t
forget personal appearances. And bookstore events and other local sales
opportunities. Plus presentations at writers’ conferences and other workshops,
which require a lot of preparation. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSP6Ao-8N9oS2ZDHFvmN_IhxPlOjJkW-Hmq5bX_zn3fPTxmbhSxeQ" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="255" data-original-width="197" height="320" src="https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSP6Ao-8N9oS2ZDHFvmN_IhxPlOjJkW-Hmq5bX_zn3fPTxmbhSxeQ" width="247" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">Then
there’s the desperate slog of trying to get reviews…no, I don’t even want to go
there. I’ve recently seen the statistic that most writers get one review for
every 1500 sales. Sounds about right. Ack! <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">And
then, of course we’re pressured to put out at least two books a year. I know
some writers who put out six or seven. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">But when
I sit down to write, and characters and stories start to flow onto the page and
the magic happens…then I realize it’s all worth it. It’s still one of the best
jobs in the world. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">Even
without the Paris cafés. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTlRST2yX54UFm7z6PBjSQX8JandIjDZEwJk0VVHbdpRMFZUB6IBw" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="125" data-original-width="402" height="99" src="https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTlRST2yX54UFm7z6PBjSQX8JandIjDZEwJk0VVHbdpRMFZUB6IBw" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>What about you? Are you a full time writer? Do you hope to be one someday?</i> </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Okay, I didn't tell the truth entirely. I did have some sort of exciting adventures as a writer. When I went to England to promote my book with my first publisher. Pretty wacky. I used the experience as fodder for the second Camilla book,<i> Sherwood, Ltd</i>. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">***</span></div>
</div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<b><i>SHERWOOD, LTD:</i> Camilla Mystery #2</b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhml9kTiIwGZMXdMuKtPAsRgvqfBOVumAurY-UOHXcV34JEip28EjyE7gPoIFVXfFIdp4s2nWcBi85r6U-UQO_S8BBPjLVGwBO8TZWZMbJK73ndhobc9liwJ6-qfcC1qGxHcZg-JGeiWrg/s1600/Sherwood+Ltd+new+cover+Fanta.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhml9kTiIwGZMXdMuKtPAsRgvqfBOVumAurY-UOHXcV34JEip28EjyE7gPoIFVXfFIdp4s2nWcBi85r6U-UQO_S8BBPjLVGwBO8TZWZMbJK73ndhobc9liwJ6-qfcC1qGxHcZg-JGeiWrg/s1600/Sherwood+Ltd+new+cover+Fanta.jpg" width="133" /></a></div>
Suddenly-homeless American manners expert Camilla Randall becomes a 21st century Maid Marian—living rough near the real Sherwood Forest with a band of outlaw English erotica publishers—led by a charming, self-styled Robin Hood who unfortunately may intend to kill her. When Camilla is invited to publish a book of her columns with <st1:country -region="-region">UK</st1:country> publisher Peter Sherwood, she lands in a gritty criminal world—far from the Merrie Olde <st1:country -region="-region">England</st1:country> she envisions. The staff are ex-cons and the erotica is kinky. Hungry and penniless, she camps in a Wendy House built from pallets of porn while battling an epic flood, a mendacious American Renfaire wench, and the mysterious killer who may be Peter himself.</div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>Sherwood, Ltd</i>. is available in ebook from <a href="http://authl.it/2a0">all the Amazons</a> and <a href="https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/250986" style="text-align: center;">Smashwords</a><span style="text-align: center;">. </span><span style="text-align: center;">And in paper from</span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Sherwood-Ltd-Anne-R-Allen/dp/1503063240/ref=la_B005R2SBI4_1_11_title_1_pap?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1425334122&sr=1-11" style="text-align: center;"> Amazon</a><span style="text-align: center;"> and</span><a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/sherwood-ltd-anne-r-allen/1108307120?ean=9781503063242&isbn=2940148212720" style="text-align: center;"> Barnes and Noble</a></span></div>
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<b>Sample Reviews:<o:p></o:p></b><br />
<br />
<i>"A wily tale of murder, deceit, and intrigue that can stand with the best of them. Her characters are all too real and her dialogue took me from laughter to chills"</i> David Keith on Smashwords<br />
<i><br /></i><i>"Smartly written and nearly impossible to put down, I found myself counting the hours until I could leave work and get back to reading! Well done!" </i>T.L. Ingham on Smashwords<br />
<br />
<i>I've just finished Sherwood Ltd and I loved every scabrous word. It's an hilarious lampoon of crime fiction, publishing and the British in general. Anne Allen gets our Brit idioms and absurdities dead to rights. Whether you enjoy crime suspense, comedy or satire - or all of them together - you'll have enormous fun with this cleverly structured romp. Highly recommended!</i>...Dr. John Yeoman<br />
***<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>This piece, in slightly different form, first appeared on the blog of <a href="https://ronelthemythmaker.wordpress.com/2018/04/13/what-is-it-really-like-to-be-a-writer-atozchallenge/" target="_blank">South African author Ronel Vanse Van Vuuren</a> in April 2018.</b></div>
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<br />Anne R. Allenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02420000168356370825noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-154552092903273548.post-5067554036540182922019-05-24T10:43:00.000-07:002019-05-24T16:56:01.195-07:00How to Tell a Story: Follow the Rule of Three<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/53/Storytelling_kit_cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="258" data-original-width="800" height="127" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/53/Storytelling_kit_cover.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Storytelling is an ancient art that takes lots of practice</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">Recently
I’ve attended some local storytelling events—mostly ones that mimic the NPR “Moth”
Radio Hour stories. People gather around to tell true stories about events they’ve
experienced. Alcohol or caffeine may be involved. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">I say they
“mimic” the Moth Radio Hour to be polite. It’s amazing how many people have no
clue what storytelling is. They don’t know there's a world of difference
between telling an entertaining story and blathering on about that time back in 1972 when you
and your buddies dropped acid on that fishing trip and there was a bear…except it was a raccoon...and Fred thought it was a hat...and Kevin started singing the Davy Crockett song...and you got in a fight over whether Davy "kilt him a bear" or "built him a bar" when he was only three...</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">And eventually the bored crowd semi-politely claps you off the stage.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">After
a particularly excruciating night of “Old Men Falling off a Train of Thought” at a local coffee house, I sat down to write this handy guide.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">I never found a way to present this diplomatically and the gatherings stopped soon after. But if you have any friends who love to talk, but
need some help in shaping that talk into an actual story people want to hear, maybe you can point them in this direction.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">It also
helps newish writers make sure their WIP doesn’t get derailed following that
fascinating character who just showed up and you've followed him down a rabbit hole and you have no clue where any of it is going…<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<h3>
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-large;">To Tell a Story, Follow the Rule of Three</span></span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">The
backbone of any story, whether it's an anecdote, play, or novel is the
three-act structure. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">There's
an old saw in the theater that describes it this way, "Act I—Get your
character up a tree; Act II—throw rocks at him; Act III—get him down again."<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">And it still works.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<h3>
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Act I: <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Get Your Character up a Tree</span></span></h3>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b2/Senegalese_coconut_tree_climber.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="532" data-original-width="800" height="213" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b2/Senegalese_coconut_tree_climber.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Get your protagonist up a tree</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">This is the
set-up: a.k.a. the inciting incident or "call to adventure."</span></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">Tell us who
your protagonist is and what s/he <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">wants</i>. (And yes, you need a protagonist. One.) A story needs less exposition than you think. We don't need anybody's life
story—just tell us the stuff about the characters that's relevant to getting them
up and down that tree.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">When
you're telling a story live, it helps to have the first line prepared, so you don't
waste time throat-clearing. Consider some classic first lines:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">"I
had a farm in Africa at the foot of the Ngong Hills." (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Out of Africa</i>)</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">''In
our family, there was no clear line between religion and fly-fishing.'' (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">A River Runs Through It)</i></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">"Come
and listen to a story about a man named Jed." (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Beverly Hillbillies</i>)</span></span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-size: large;">So you've got their attention. Now there's something your character wants that gets him up that tree. Figure out what it is, and that's your inciting incident.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<h3>
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Act II: Throw Rocks at Him</span></span></h3>
<div>
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/83/Catapult_stones_-_apolonia.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="240" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/83/Catapult_stones_-_apolonia.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gather a lot of rocks if you want a long story</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">This is where
you build tension. </span></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">As your hero tries to get what he wants, introduce one obstacle after another. </span></span></div>
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<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">S/he
may meet mentors/helpers who offer aid and or complications. But don't let them hijack the story.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">Each incident should be more intense
than the one before. Bigger and bigger rocks! </span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">Don't take any detours away from the tree unless they're relevant to the
goal or the outcome.</span></span></li>
</ul>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">Yes, I know you're entranced by that rabbit and you're dying to follow him down that intriguing hole. But don't do it unless the rabbit will bring you back to the hero in his tree. Stick a pin in those ideas for a later story. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">Your hero will thank you for it. And so will your audience.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<h3>
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Act III: Get Him Down</span></span></h3>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a4/Wedding_couple_in_sunset.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="532" data-original-width="800" height="213" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a4/Wedding_couple_in_sunset.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">People love a Happy Ever After ending</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">Build to a
climax. Then end it.</span></b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></b></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">This is where you reach a scene (or sequence of scenes) where the tension of the story gets to its most intense point.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">So maybe the hero is hanging from one wimpy branch, about to fall from the tree into the mouth of the fire-breathing dragon.</span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">Suddenly, </span></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">princess Dragonia emerges from the sky on her own pet dragon and whisks him from the tree to her own kingdom where they have a fabulous destination wedding.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">So the problem is resolved, hopefully
leaving the characters with new insight and understanding. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Once
you've done this, your story is over, so take a bow and don't step on your own
applause.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">You
might want to prepare a final line that emphasizes the insight, especially if
your story is based on a particular theme. Here are some famous last lines:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">"It
was beauty that killed the beast." (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">King
Kong</i>)</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">"There's
no place like home." (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Wizard of
Oz</i>)</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">"So
we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the
past." (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Great Gatsby</i>)</span></span></li>
</ul>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> See it's that easy. I know. Laugh here. Good storytelling is one of the toughest things there is. But if you keep the rule of three in mind, it helps enormously.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><i><br /></i></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><i>What about you? Do you follow rabbits instead of focusing on the tree when you're telling a story? Can you manage to take the story back to the hero's story in the end</i>? </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
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Camilla Randall Mystery #6<br />
<i>(But it can be read as a stand-alone)</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAhFn9KsHqHBAzmJCRub9gJW37hJkVgvtZlzLKdQn7D6YkTPuctwg5YlwjP-mjZ9sLx2ZzkljkyVI3Z4Q6DK7v6iv9OPjkybJZrdKkYO8-wwzrn_swp8E5zZirFo1l5XZVpLy-PNKQrB4/s1600/queensstavesS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAhFn9KsHqHBAzmJCRub9gJW37hJkVgvtZlzLKdQn7D6YkTPuctwg5YlwjP-mjZ9sLx2ZzkljkyVI3Z4Q6DK7v6iv9OPjkybJZrdKkYO8-wwzrn_swp8E5zZirFo1l5XZVpLy-PNKQrB4/s1600/queensstavesS.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Why does everyone think Camilla has the lost Portuguese crown jewels? And what has turned polite little Buckingham into an attack cat? Can Camilla keep her boyfriend Ronzo safe? Or will the murderous Mack Rattlebag find out Ronzo faked his own death?<br /><br />It's one surprise after another in this warp-speed comedy-mystery where a too-perfect doctor may or may not be in cahoots with a bunch of homicidal New-Agers. Will Camilla and Ronzo, and the tarot cards, solve the mystery?</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>"I really enjoyed the book from start to finish. Wonderful characters and a ripping story which never lets up right up to that fabulous showdown !".</i>..award-winning Irish humorist Tara Sparling</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Ebook is available <a href="http://authl.it/87m" target="_blank">all the Amazon stores</a></span><br />
<strong><span style="font-size: 20px;">Also <a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-queen-of-staves-anne-r-allen/1128233481?ean=2940155517450" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Barnes and Noble</a>, <a href="https://play.playster.com/books/10009781386476818/the-queen-of-staves-anne-r-allen" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Playster,</a><a href="https://www.24symbols.com/book/x/x/x?id=2754945" rel="noopener" target="_blank"> 24 Symbols</a>, <a href="https://www.kobo.com/us/en/search?query=The%20Camilla%20Randall%20Mysteries&fcsearchfield=Series&seriesId=ceed8121-abbf-5973-96d8-4da11acaa077">Kobo</a>,<a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/id1397682287"> iTunes</a>, and <a href="https://www.scribd.com/book/374184862/The-Queen-of-Staves-The-Camilla-Randall-Mysteries-6" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Scribd</a></span></strong><br />
<br />
<strong><span style="font-size: 20px;">And in paperback at<a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-queen-of-staves-anne-r-allen/1127097894?ean=9781976048708" rel="noopener" target="_blank"> Barnes and Noble</a> and <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Queen-Staves-Camilla-Randall-Mysteries/dp/1976048702/ref=sr_1_1_twi_pap_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1520978619&sr=8-1&keywords=Anne+R.+Allen+The+queen+of+Staves&dpID=51Lvs%252BQPrZL&preST=_SY291_BO1,204,203,200_QL40_&dpSrc=srch" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Amazon</a></span></strong></div>
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<br />Anne R. Allenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02420000168356370825noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-154552092903273548.post-8681134860778007982019-04-25T20:28:00.000-07:002019-04-25T20:28:06.547-07:00Why We Read Mysteries<span style="font-size: large;">People who don’t read mysteries tend to say things to me
like. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/41GdVPDdwGL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="332" height="320" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/41GdVPDdwGL.jpg" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Voted the Greatest Crime Novel of All Time</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
“Why do you want to write about murder? That seems like such a downer.
Why don’t you write about something more comforting and uplifting?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">But here’s the thing: mysteries do give us comfort. And they
can be uplifting. That’s because they make order out of chaos. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are taken to the brink of disaster, then
brought back to safety by the use of logic, human ingenuity and the “little
grey cells.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">They also offer a puzzle to be solved, which exercises the
brain. Humans generally feel better about ourselves when we’re actively
engaging our brains in something rather than passively observing. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">It’s not a coincidence that a lot of mystery readers are
also fans of crossword puzzles. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<h2>
<span style="font-size: large;">A Mystery Story Restores Order to the Universe<o:p></o:p></span></h2>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Academics love mysteries. I once spent a semester at the
American <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://media.wnyc.org/i/800/0/l/85/1/mozart_harpsichord.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="769" height="320" src="https://media.wnyc.org/i/800/0/l/85/1/mozart_harpsichord.jpg" width="307" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Reading a classic mystery is like listening to Mozart</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Academy in Rome and it had one of the best libraries of mystery novels
I’d ever seen. That’s where I discovered John Dixon Carr and Ngiao Marsh<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">One of the visiting professors there compared reading the classic mystery to listening to
Mozart. The form is stylized, but there’s lots of room for creative flights of
fancy, and in the end, everything is resolved. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">It’s our yearning for resolution—that orderly
conclusion—that keeps us turning back to classic mysteries.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Reading a mystery is like going on a roller coaster ride
when you’re a kid. You're there to get a thrill, but you know it’s essentially safe. And
everything will be okay in the end. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<h2>
<span style="font-size: large;">Edmund Wilson on Why People Read Detective Stories<o:p></o:p></span></h2>
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<span style="font-size: large;">In a 1944 article in <i>The New Yorker</i>, Edmund Wilson wrote a
piece called, “Why People Read Detective Stories.” He said:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8c/Edmund_Wilson.jpg/330px-Edmund_Wilson.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="437" data-original-width="330" height="320" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8c/Edmund_Wilson.jpg/330px-Edmund_Wilson.jpg" width="241" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Literary Critic Edmund Wilson</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">“Everybody is suspected in turn, and the streets are full of
lurking agents whose allegiances we cannot know. Nobody seems guiltless, nobody
seems safe; and then, suddenly, the murderer is spotted, and—relief!—he is not,
after all, a person like you or me. He is a villain.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Of course he’s talking about the classic mystery, the
mysteries of Conan Doyle and Agatha Christie, Dorothy L. Sayers—from the golden
age of the English mystery.</span></div>
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<h3>
<span style="font-size: large;">Amateur
Detective—Oldest Type of Mystery Story</span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">Edgar
Allan Poe is usually credited with writing the first detective fiction with <i>Murders on the Rue Morgue </i>in 1841. The
unnamed <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51MmTun2q-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="307" height="320" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51MmTun2q-L.jpg" width="196" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The First Mystery Novel</td></tr>
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narrator is an amateur detective who’s way smarter than the police and
uses superpower observation skills to solve a mystery which baffles the poor
plodding policemen.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">But <i>Rue Morgue</i> is a short story. The
first mystery novel didn’t come for about 30 years. That was <i>The Moonstone </i>by Wilkie Collins, published
in 1868. It went on to define the genre. It does feature a celebrated
detective, but he’s not an amateur. He’s a police sergeant, Sergeant Cuff. But
Cuff doesn’t solve the mystery. One of the suspects does. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">Amateur detective novels blossomed in the 1920s and 30s, with Miss Marple, Lord Peter
Wimsey, and Albert Campion. They often take place in English country houses or American
ones happen in isolated hotels like Earl Derr Biggers' <i>7 Keys
to Baldpate, </i>which became a famous play written by George M. Cohan. I have to admit I haven’t read the book, but I have acted in
the play.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<h3>
<span style="font-size: large;">Crime Fiction is the Most Popular Genre in the UK</span></h3>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Today, we have a lot more subgenres of crime fiction to choose from. The mystery umbrella covers a huge percentage of the novel</span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/5/50/The_Girl_On_The_Train_(US_cover_2015).png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="358" data-original-width="240" height="320" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/5/50/The_Girl_On_The_Train_(US_cover_2015).png" width="214" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">One of the most popular crime novels of the decade</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> market. In fact—the largest in the UK.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">At the London Book fair this year, Nielson Bookscan reported that crime fiction sales are up 19% since 2015 and it is now the best-selling genre in the UK.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I can imagine that as the UK reels from the ever-escalating dramas of Brexit, readers crave that sense of order that reading a mystery can bring.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Sales of mysteries are way up in the US too. As the world continues to destabilize politically and violence returns to areas have been at peace for the last couple of decades, like Northern Ireland and Sri Lanka, we may see all kinds of crime fiction sales increase.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Mysteries give us at least the illusion that reason and law and order can prevail.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>What about you, readers? Are you a mystery fan? Do you find the genre calming and uplifting? Who is your favorite mystery novelist? </i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 20px;"><strong>Central Coasters! </strong><b>Let's Talk! An Afternoon with Central Coast Mystery Authors</b></span></div>
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<b style="font-size: 20px;"><a href="https://www.stewartsigns.com/img/signs/municipal_sign_cayucos_library_4427.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="600" height="320" src="https://www.stewartsigns.com/img/signs/municipal_sign_cayucos_library_4427.jpg" width="320" /></a></b></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Three Central Coast mystery authors, Anne R. Allen, Sue McGinty, and Victoria Heckman—with the help of Audible book narrator CS Perryess—will present an afternoon of reader’s theater for mystery lovers.</span><span style="font-size: 20px;"> </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">We’ll be featuring scenes from our novels, which are mostly set on the Central Coast. <span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"> I'll</span> also lead a discussion of the perennial appeal of the mystery story and talk about its origins and ever-expanding subgenres.</span></div>
<h4>
<span style="font-size: 20px;"><strong><br /></strong></span><span style="font-size: 20px;"><strong>Friday, April 26th at 1:00 PM at the Cayucos Public Library.</strong> </span></h4>
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<span style="font-size: 20px;">My Central Coast Mystery NO PLACE LIKE HOME is on sale for 99c</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 20px;"><strong><em>No Place Like Home: Camilla Randall Comedy-Mystery #4</em></strong></span></div>
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<em>(But it can be read as a stand-alone)</em></div>
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<span style="font-size: 28px;"><a href="http://authl.it/2a2" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>SALE!! ONLY 99C! at all the Amazons</strong></a></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong><span style="font-size: 20px;">Until May 1st, 2019</span></strong></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<em>Wealthy Doria Windsor is suddenly homeless and accused of a murder she didn't commit. But Camilla, with the help of a brave trio of homeless people, the adorable Mr. X, and a little dog named Toto, is determined to unmask the real killer and discover the dark secrets of Doria’s deceased “financial wizard” husband before Doria is killed herself.</em></div>
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<em><br /></em></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj187eOJkabz3a8FSbHYQuAk53i0Y_28nhIBPLt-PZ3li6S76FtXTsUSUS8MGlxSu11fH6H2gbqo4rGQpjXpZRwcZelSPvHMHj3tRd8R-RPP87Yp6WIvl-CgjITu4aRsX9BRWotR03eXY/s1600/NPLH+final.png"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://annerallen.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/NPLH-final.png" /></a></div>
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</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<em>"A warp-speed, lighthearted comedy-mystery"</em>...Abigail Padgett</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<em>"A fun, charming novel about the rich and less so"</em> ...Karen Doering</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<em>"A cross of dry British humor and American wackiness, and it all adds up to a fun read.</em>" ...Deborah Bayles.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<em>"It's comedy about a dark topic – homelessness – and it succeeds without ever descending into tasteless insensitivity, or tipping over into sentimentality."</em>...Lucinda Elliot</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Available at <a href="http://authl.it/2a2">all the Amazons</a> and <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/no-place-like-home-anne-r-allen/1117044219?ean=2940148288565">NOOK</a>, Page Foundry, <a href="https://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/ebook/no-place-like-home-57">Kobo</a> and<a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/id901954438"> iTunes</a> It's also available in paperback from <a href="http://www.amazon.com/No-Place-Like-Home-Mysteries/dp/1500890308/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1409622620&sr=8-2&keywords=No+Place+Like+Home+Anne+R.+Allen">Amazon US</a>, <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/No-Place-Like-Home-Mysteries/dp/1500890308/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1409622985&sr=1-1&keywords=No+Place+Like+Home+Anne+R.+Allen">Amazon UK</a>, and <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/no-place-like-home-anne-r-allen/1120254882?ean=9781500890308">Barnes and Noble</a>, in regular and <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Place-Like-Home-Large-Print/dp/1500990906/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1409714235&sr=8-1&keywords=No+Place+Like+Home+Anne+R.+Allen+Large+Print">LARGE PRINT</a>. LARGE PRINT is also available at <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/no-place-like-home-anne-r-allen/1120265242?ean=9781500990909">Barnes and Noble.</a></div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
And NO PLACE LIKE HOME IS ALSO <a href="http://www.amazon.com/No-Place-Like-Home-Mysteries/dp/B00JEOIJG0%3FSubscriptionId%3DAKIAIX7HS5GMZTZONLZQ%26tag%3Daudible-acx-20%26linkCode%3Dxm2%26camp%3D2025%26creative%3D165953%26creativeASIN%3DB00JEOIJG0"> AN AUDIOBOOK</a>!!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Narrated by award-winner C. S. Perryess and Anne R. Allen (as Camilla)</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Nearly 8 hours of hilarious entertainment!Only $1.99 if you buy the Kindle ebook</div>
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<br />Anne R. Allenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02420000168356370825noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-154552092903273548.post-91336269540662471602019-03-29T10:50:00.001-07:002019-03-31T09:51:16.399-07:00Lily of the Valley—Poisoning People For Fun and Profit #40 <div style="text-align: left;">
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<a href="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/ec/Convallaria-oliv-r2.jpg/135px-Convallaria-oliv-r2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="180" data-original-width="135" height="320" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/ec/Convallaria-oliv-r2.jpg/135px-Convallaria-oliv-r2.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">No series on poisons would be complete without a mention of lily of the valley (<i>Convallaria majalis</i>), which featured prominently in the TV series <i>Breaking Bad</i>. <br /><br /><a href="https://breakingbad.fandom.com/wiki/Lily_of_the_Valley" target="_blank">In the fourth season of the series</a>, Walter White does away with a drug kingpin by poisoning him with berries from the pretty little potted plant on his patio: lily of the valley. <br /><br />So is that possible? <br /><br />You betcha. Lily of the valley contains the same kind of poison found in foxglove (<a href="http://annerallensbooks.blogspot.com/2016/04/poisoning-people-for-fun-and-profitpart_22.html" target="_blank">digitalis</a>) and <a href="http://annerallensbooks.blogspot.com/2016/05/poisoning-people-for-fun-and-profit_27.html" target="_blank">oleander</a>. All parts of the plant are deadly. <br /><br />Yes. Those pretty little spring flowers, also known as May Bells, May Lily, or Mary’s Tears—which are related to one of my favorite vegetables, asparagus—can be lethal to humans and pets. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Lily of the Valley in Folklore </span></h3>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />Traditionally, the tiny white flowers have been considered a symbol of rebirth, and were sacred to Maia, the goddess of spring. Christians consider it a symbol of Christ's resurrection.<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://imafamouswriterandyourenothahaha.weebly.com/uploads/1/5/3/4/15342906/9230258.jpg?276" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="368" data-original-width="276" height="320" src="https://imafamouswriterandyourenothahaha.weebly.com/uploads/1/5/3/4/15342906/9230258.jpg?276" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lily of the Valley is sacred to Maia</td></tr>
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<br /><br />The flowers also have a long history of symbolizing tears. They’re mentioned in the Bible many times, especially in the song of Solomon. They are said to represent the tears of Eve after the banishment from Eden, of Jacob for Rachel and Joseph, and of Mary at the cross. <br /><br />Other stories connect the flowers with fairies and woodland nymphs. (Fairies find them handy as drinking vessels.) One legend says they protect a garden from evil and the spells of bad witches. <br /><br />And there’s an English folktale that tells how they sprang up from the blood of a dragon slain by St. Leonard of Sussex. <br /><br />German and Scandinavian tradition sees them as bringers of good luck. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>Muguet de Bois </i></span></h3>
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<a href="https://www.dior.com/beauty/version-5.156982000269/resize-image/ep/460/498/90/0/horizon%252Fimages_additionnelles%252FY0064201_E02_GHC.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="497" data-original-width="460" height="320" src="https://www.dior.com/beauty/version-5.156982000269/resize-image/ep/460/498/90/0/horizon%252Fimages_additionnelles%252FY0064201_E02_GHC.jpg" width="296" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>Convallaria majalis </i>is highly prized in perfume-making, where it’s often referred to by its French name, <i>Muguet de Bois</i>. <br /><br />It was Christian Dior’s favorite flower and his signature perfume <i>Diorissimo</i> strongly features the scent of muguet. <br /><br />It’s also prized by florists. Kate Middleton, the Duchess of Cambridge had a bouquet of lily of the valley at her wedding to Prince William. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Lily of the Valley Grows in Rainy, Cool Climates </span></h3>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />The plant is native to Northern Europe and Eastern Asia. It grows all over northeastern North America, too, although whether it’s native is a subject of debate. <br /><br />Walter White found it growing in a New Mexico patio garden, where an attentive gardener would have had to keep it in the shade and monitor its watering carefully. It likes well drained, but <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a0/Kate_Middleton_in_bridal_gown.jpg/225px-Kate_Middleton_in_bridal_gown.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="433" data-original-width="225" height="320" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a0/Kate_Middleton_in_bridal_gown.jpg/225px-Kate_Middleton_in_bridal_gown.jpg" width="166" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kate Middleton's bridal bouquet</td></tr>
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constantly moist soil and can only tolerate partial sunlight. <br /><br />I understand why someone would want to grow lily of the valley, even in the desert. The scent is delightful and the tiny flowers are adorable. I loved the carpet of lily of the valley that bloomed under the maple tree in our New England garden when I was as a child. I don’t remember anybody’s parents telling us not to eat it, and luckily none of us tried. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Keep Those Pretty Flowers Away From Children and Pets</span></h3>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Our parents didn’t know any better, but now poison experts recommend that parents and pet owners keep lily of the valley out of their gardens. </span><br />
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<a href="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/21/Convallaria_majalis_-_K%C3%B6hler%E2%80%93s_Medizinal-Pflanzen-045.jpg/330px-Convallaria_majalis_-_K%C3%B6hler%E2%80%93s_Medizinal-Pflanzen-045.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="429" data-original-width="330" height="320" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/21/Convallaria_majalis_-_K%C3%B6hler%E2%80%93s_Medizinal-Pflanzen-045.jpg/330px-Convallaria_majalis_-_K%C3%B6hler%E2%80%93s_Medizinal-Pflanzen-045.jpg" width="246" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/bulbs/lily-of-the-valley/lily-of-the-valley-toxicity.htm" target="_blank">The plant is classified as a “1” on the poison scale</a>, which means it’s so toxic it can kill. It is also classified as a “3” because it can cause really nasty rashes. <br /><br />As little as two leaves can kill a small pet or young child, and more can kill an adult or large animal. Anyone who has swallowed any part of the plant needs to get to a hospital immediately. <br /><br />Even the water in a vase containing lily of the valley flowers can contain a lethal dose of poison.<br /><br />The main toxins in <i>Convallaria majalis</i> are convallatoxin, convallamarin, and lokunjoside. </span><span style="font-size: large;">All are cardiac glycosides. They also contain</span><span style="font-size: large;"> saponins, which have been used for millennia as fish poisons, although their effect on humans isn't as powerful. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Symptoms</span></h3>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/27/Convallaria_majalis_0003.JPG/330px-Convallaria_majalis_0003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="440" data-original-width="330" height="320" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/27/Convallaria_majalis_0003.JPG/330px-Convallaria_majalis_0003.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The berries Walter White used</td></tr>
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The symptoms are pretty nasty: diarrhea, vomiting, nausea, headache, drooling, rash, heart arrhythmia and then death. <br /><br />It may be a pretty plant, but it's not going to make a pretty corpse. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">As I said, if a pet or human eats any part of the plant, you want to get them medical attention ASAP. They’ll need activated charcoal and intravenous fluids and perhaps a breathing aid. They may be given an electrocardiogram to see if they need a temporary pacemaker.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Lily of the Valley in Traditional Medicine </span></h3>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />Like most of the toxic plants I’ve listed in this series, lily of the valley is also used in traditional medicine. <br /><br />The convallaria chemicals, known as cardiac glycosides, can help the heart if administered very carefully. Like digitalis, it has been used for centuries in European herbal medicine to treat heart conditions like mild heart failure. It improves the efficiency of the heart muscles and takes some of the workload off the heart. In the UK, a tincture of convallaria is legal to buy as <a href="https://www.grassrootsremedies.co.uk/2014/06/28/schedule-iii-herbs-with-keith-robertson/" target="_blank">a “scheduled” herb</a>. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Lily of the Valley in Crime </span></h3>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/22/Faberg%C3%A9_egg_Rome_03.JPG/220px-Faberg%C3%A9_egg_Rome_03.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="468" data-original-width="220" height="320" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/22/Faberg%C3%A9_egg_Rome_03.JPG/220px-Faberg%C3%A9_egg_Rome_03.JPG" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Faberge egg with pearl lilies of the valley</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br />Lily of the Valley is a popular murder weapon for authors of crime fiction. I think the fact it’s a symbol of purity and such a pretty little flower offers some appealing irony. Obviously the Breaking Bad writers found it a handy weapon for Walter White. And Anne Perry uses it in one of her William Monk novels, <i>Weighed in the Balance</i>. <br /><br />I’ve read comments by several indie authors recently who planned to use lily of the valley in their WIP. <br /><br />But I have not been able to find any real-life reports of lily of the valley murders. It probably isn’t a reliable form of poison because the level of toxicity can vary so widely depending on soil and other conditions of the plant’s environment. <br /><br />Plus the plant almost immediately induces vomiting, so the victim may expel it before the poison starts to work. It also doesn’t accumulate in the body the way heavy metal poisons do, and it has a short ‘half-life’ so the power of the toxins fades fast. <br /><br />Also, it is detectable with modern scientific methods, so it’s probably more fool-proof in historical mysteries than contemporary ones.
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>Have you read any mysteries that featured lily of the valley poisoning? Have you heard of any real-life murders using the plant? </i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span><span style="font-size: large;"><i>I'm wrapping up my poison series. It will be available soon in a handy ebook. Keep tuned for an exciting new series coming in the next couple of months. </i></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Poison Series</span></h3>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://annerallensbooks.blogspot.com/2016/04/poisoning-people-for-fun-and-profit.html" style="color: #aa0033;">Part 1: Digitalis</a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://annerallensbooks.blogspot.com/2016/04/poisoning-people-for-fun-and-profitpart.html" style="color: #aa0033;">Part 2: Wolfsbane</a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://annerallensbooks.blogspot.com/2016/05/poisoning-people-for-fun-and-profitpart.html" style="color: #aa0033;">Part 3: Hemlock</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://annerallensbooks.blogspot.com/2016/05/poisoning-people-for-fun-and-profit.html" style="color: #aa0033;">Part 4: Poison Dart Frogs</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://annerallensbooks.blogspot.com/2016/05/poisoning-people-for-fun-and-profit_20.html" style="color: #aa0033;">Part 5: Arsenic</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://annerallensbooks.blogspot.com/2016/05/poisoning-people-for-fun-and-profit_27.html" style="color: #aa0033;">Part 6: Oleander</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://annerallensbooks.blogspot.com/2016/06/poisoning-people-for-fun-and-profitpart.html" style="color: #aa0033;">Part 7: Cyanide</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://annerallensbooks.blogspot.com/2016/06/poisoning-people-for-fun-and-profitpart_10.html" style="color: #aa0033;">Part 8: Belladonna</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://annerallensbooks.blogspot.com/2016/06/poisoning-people-for-fun-and-profit.html" style="color: #aa0033;">Part 9: Botulism</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://annerallensbooks.blogspot.com/2016/06/poisoning-people-for-fun-and-profitpart_24.html" style="color: #aa0033;">Part 10: Castor Beans</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://annerallensbooks.blogspot.com/2016/07/poisoning-people-for-fun-and-profitpart.html" style="color: #aa0033;">Part 11: White Snakeroot</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://annerallensbooks.blogspot.com/2016/07/poisoning-people-for-fun-and-profitpart_8.html" style="color: #aa0033;">Part 12: Strychnine</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://annerallensbooks.blogspot.com/2016/07/poisoning-people-for-fun-and-profitpart_15.html" style="color: #aa0033;">Part 13: Datura</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://annerallensbooks.blogspot.com/2016/07/poisoning-people-for-fun-and-profitpart_22.html" style="color: #aa0033;">Part 14: Mandrake</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://annerallensbooks.blogspot.com/2016/07/poisoning-people-for-fun-and-profitpart_29.html" style="color: #aa0033;"></a><a href="http://annerallensbooks.blogspot.com/2016/07/poisoning-people-for-fun-and-profitpart_29.html" style="color: #aa0033;">Part 15: Seafood Poisoning</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://annerallensbooks.blogspot.com/2016/08/poisoning-people-for-fun-and-profitpart.html" style="color: #aa0033;" target="_blank">Part 16: Antifreeze</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://annerallensbooks.blogspot.com/2016/08/poisoning-people-for-fun-and-profitpart_12.html" style="color: #aa0033;" target="_blank">Part 17: Visine</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://annerallensbooks.blogspot.com/2016/08/poisoning-people-for-fun-and-profitpart_19.html" style="color: #aa0033;" target="_blank">Part 18: Polonium</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://annerallensbooks.blogspot.com/2016/08/poisoning-people-for-fun-and-profit.html" style="color: #aa0033;" target="_blank">Part 19: Rosary Pea</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://annerallensbooks.blogspot.com/2016/09/poisoning-people-for-fun-and-profit.html" style="color: #aa0033;" target="_blank">Part 20: Thallium</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://annerallensbooks.blogspot.com/2016/09/poisoning-people-for-fun-and-profitpart.html" style="color: #aa0033;" target="_blank">Part 21: Henbane</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://annerallensbooks.blogspot.com/2016/10/poisoning-people-for-fun-and-profit.html" style="color: #aa0033;" target="_blank">Part 22: Halloween Candy</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://annerallensbooks.blogspot.com/2016/11/poisoning-people-for-fun-and-profitpart.html" style="color: #aa0033;" target="_blank">Part 23: Poison Rings</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://annerallensbooks.blogspot.com/2017/01/poisoning-people-for-fun-and-profit.html" style="color: #aa0033;" target="_blank">Part 24: Daffodils</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://annerallensbooks.blogspot.com/2017/02/poisoning-people-for-fun-and-profit.html" style="color: #aa0033;">Part 25: Yew</a><br /><a href="http://annerallensbooks.blogspot.com/2017/03/toxic-relationshipsthe-most-dangerous.html" style="color: #aa0033;">Part 26: Toxic Relationships</a></span></div>
</div>
<div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://annerallensbooks.blogspot.com/2017/04/poisoning-people-for-fun-and-profit.html" style="color: #aa0033;" target="_blank">Part 27: Warfarin</a></span></div>
</div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://annerallensbooks.blogspot.com/2017/05/poisoning-people-for-fun-and-profit-can.html" style="color: #aa0033;" target="_blank">Part 28: Mustard Gas</a></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://annerallensbooks.blogspot.com/2017/08/antimonypoisoning-people-for-fun-and.html" style="color: #aa0033;">Part 29: Antimony</a></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://annerallensbooks.blogspot.com/2017/09/lead-poisoning-people-for-fun-and.html" style="color: #aa0033;">Part 30: Lead</a></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://annerallensbooks.blogspot.com/2018/01/opium-poppies-poisoning-people-for-fun.html" style="color: #aa0033;">Part 31: Opium Poppy</a></span></div>
</div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<div style="background-color: #ffffe5; color: #333333; font-family: georgia, utopia, "palatino linotype", palatino, serif; font-size: medium;">
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://annerallensbooks.blogspot.com/2018/02/mercury-poisoning-people-for-fun-and.html">Part 32: Mercury</a></span></div>
</div>
<div style="background-color: #ffffe5; color: #333333; font-family: georgia, utopia, "palatino linotype", palatino, serif; font-size: medium;">
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://annerallensbooks.blogspot.com/2018/03/nerve-agents-sarin-tabun-vx-and.html">Part 33: Nerve Agents</a></span></div>
</div>
<div style="background-color: #ffffe5; color: #333333; font-family: georgia, utopia, "palatino linotype", palatino, serif;">
<div style="font-size: medium; margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://annerallensbooks.blogspot.com/2018/04/gelsemium-poisoning-people-for-fun-and.html">Part 34: Gelsemium</a> </span></div>
<div style="font-size: medium; margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://annerallensbooks.blogspot.com/2018/05/carbon-monoxide-poisoning-people-for.html">Part 35: Carbon Monoxide</a></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<div style="font-size: medium;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://annerallensbooks.blogspot.com/2018/07/sleeping-pillspoisoning-people-for-fun.html" target="_blank">Part 36: Sleeping Pills</a></span></div>
<div style="font-size: medium;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://annerallensbooks.blogspot.com/2018/09/nicotine-poisoning-people-for-fun-and.html" target="_blank">Part 37: Nicotine</a></span></div>
<div style="font-size: medium;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://annerallensbooks.blogspot.com/2018/11/potassium-chloride-poisoning-people-for.html" target="_blank">Part 38: Potassium Chloride</a></span></div>
<a href="https://annerallensbooks.blogspot.com/2019/01/bloodroot-poisoning-people-for-fun-and.html" target="_blank">Part 39: Bloodroot</a><br />
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Anne R. Allenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02420000168356370825noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-154552092903273548.post-71859210574143116112019-02-22T12:21:00.006-08:002021-09-16T16:30:59.524-07:00Did Burt Reynolds Murder David Whiting? New Interest in the Hollywood Mystery that inspired “The Gatsby Game”<br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">I had a
series of weird coincidences happen last Saturday. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha5l2pDDtph3Z335ZuqHOoO_CSyPCrMTmB3PoiNYWKWbFN21PM_ROVruMIqMFQ0XtE5LGh7jLJvNiA8-veNV25yfeI8uIOTKUSjOVl8z147L4rMYjaulcU3stJ4api0FKkkLP8gsxoDdQ/s1600/David+Whiting.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="316" data-original-width="212" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha5l2pDDtph3Z335ZuqHOoO_CSyPCrMTmB3PoiNYWKWbFN21PM_ROVruMIqMFQ0XtE5LGh7jLJvNiA8-veNV25yfeI8uIOTKUSjOVl8z147L4rMYjaulcU3stJ4api0FKkkLP8gsxoDdQ/s400/David+Whiting.jpg" width="268" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">I went
to a get-together with neighbors where we tried on Gatsby-era costumes for a
party we’re planning. (I live in a great neighborhood.)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">When I
got home, I found a manuscript in my mailbox from the biographer Jonathan
Agronsky, who had contacted me a couple of years ago about my book <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Gatsby Game</i>, a novel inspired by one
of my college boyfriends, a Gatsby-obsessed Haverford student named David
Whiting. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<h3>
<span style="font-size: large;">One of the 10 Most Notorious Sex Scandals in Hollywood History</span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">David
died under mysterious circumstances during the filming of the Burt Reynolds movie,
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Man Who Loved Cat Dancing, </i>in Gila
Bend, AZ in 1973.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BODc3NjM5OWUtNzBkOS00ZjNlLTlmOTItYTY4ZmE2YTJkMzJiXkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyMjI4MjA5MzA@._V1_.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="523" height="320" src="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BODc3NjM5OWUtNzBkOS00ZjNlLTlmOTItYTY4ZmE2YTJkMzJiXkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyMjI4MjA5MzA@._V1_.jpg" width="209" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">David’s
body was found in the motel room of the film’s leading lady, Sarah Miles, which
caused what has been called one of the “<a href="https://www.alternet.org/2014/10/10-most-notorious-sex-scandals-hollywood-history/" target="_blank">10 Most Notorious Sex Scandals in Hollywood History</a>.” It destroyed Miles’ marriage and seriously damaged her
career.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">Rumors
that swirled around the news stories of David’s death have refused to die.
Although the coroner ruled his death an accidental drug overdose, stories that
David was murdered, or committed suicide, or have never gone away. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(The “Notorious Sex Scandals” article says he committed
suicide, although that is the least likely of the rumors, IMO.) <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.azcentral.com/story/entertainment/movies/2018/09/06/burt-reynolds-mysterious-death-arizona-movie-set/1215483002/" target="_blank">This article about that night from AZCentral</a><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>has more accurate details. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<h3>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></h3>
<h3>
<span style="font-size: large;">The Gatsby Game</span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">David
Whiting was an odd duck. He was charming and funny in a </span></span><span style="font-size: large;">way that always seemed
touched with tragic undertones. Which appealed to my 19-year-old self. He could be hilarious. And wildly entertaining. He lived his life as if he were a character in
an F. Scott Fitzgerald novel. Every date with him was a kind of performance art. He
dressed in three piece bespoke suits in the era of tie dye and love beads. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">He was
constantly quoting Fitzgerald and singing Cole Porter songs. He also told me he
identified with Jay Gatsby, because he too was a loner standing on the outside
looking into the world of the careless ultra-rich. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">Like Jay
Gatsby, David created a fantasy world around himself that helped him climb social
ladders, but never got him close enough to the top to satisfy him. He once
referred to his own social climbing as “playing the Gatsby Game.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">When I
decided to write a novel based on David and his mysterious death, I had to call
it <i>The Gatsby Game.</i><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div>
<h3>
<span style="font-size: large;">The David Whiting Story</span> </h3>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">I was
eager to read Agronsky’s manuscript as soon as I found it in my mailbox, but since
I’d been gone all afternoon, I had to check my messages first.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUbUf9BfHl2JVY691TfgwBtV52IALKCDVSTibLtPm5-b7bm9pRip4J9oKpAl0aYjtJ7cmgc_rpH2TnlGo93dfJjQQ4BkDE7t2sPJscSopnDqAM4CokMoDsKKjElMheWAkrI-F5N7btNCg/s1600/Walter+Reuben+LA+Critics+award.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="190" data-original-width="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUbUf9BfHl2JVY691TfgwBtV52IALKCDVSTibLtPm5-b7bm9pRip4J9oKpAl0aYjtJ7cmgc_rpH2TnlGo93dfJjQQ4BkDE7t2sPJscSopnDqAM4CokMoDsKKjElMheWAkrI-F5N7btNCg/s1600/Walter+Reuben+LA+Critics+award.jpg" /></a></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">And
there I found a note from Walter Reuben, the filmmaker whose movie “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3561068/" target="_blank">The David Whiting Story</a></i>” won the LA Film
Critics prize in 2014.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">Walter’s
film isn’t so much about David as it is about the frailty of human memory.
There was an excellent article about it in <a href="https://www.mydigitalpublication.com/article/The+Walter+Reuben+Story/2052008/263773/article.html" target="_blank">the Haverford Alumni magazine</a> in
2015.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">And here's <a href="http://annerallensbooks.blogspot.com/2016/04/why-its-never-too-late-to-follow-your.html" target="_blank">Walter Reuben's inspiring interview</a> for this blog from the same year. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">But I
thought was odd that I heard from Walter within minutes of getting the Agronsky manuscript. Walter wanted to tell me that a tabloid was running a series </span><a href="https://www.globemagazine.com/content/burt-reynolds-got-away-murder" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: x-large;" target="_blank">accusing Burt Reynolds of David Whiting’s murder</a><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">And
<a href="https://radaronline.com/exclusives/2019/01/burt-reynolds-beating-david-whiting-death-murder-claims/" target="_blank">other gossip sites</a> had picked up on the story. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">David Whiting’s story was hot again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<h3>
<span style="font-size: large;">The Tabloid Accusations Against Burt Reynolds.</span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">The
rumor that Burt Reynolds killed David Whiting has refused to die over the past
46 years. Burt Reynolds was a tough guy. He got his start in Hollywood as a stuntman and was known to have a hair-trigger temper. After I published <i>The Gatsby Game</i>, a
number of people contacted me to say they were sure Reynolds killed him. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://www.globemagazine.com/sites/globemagazine.com/files/styles/article_image/public/burt-reynolds-murder-globe.jpg?itok=DmmXVv5d" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="265" data-original-width="265" src="https://www.globemagazine.com/sites/globemagazine.com/files/styles/article_image/public/burt-reynolds-murder-globe.jpg?itok=DmmXVv5d" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">And I
suppose that now Mr. Reynolds is no longer with us, the temptation to run the
story would have been too much for a tabloid. It is a juicy story. The recent article accuses Reynolds of killing David in a fight over Sarah Miles. There were
several reports at the time about some sort of fist fight breaking out between
them on the night David died. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">The
police didn’t pay much attention to that fight in their inquiries. And it’s not
impossible that David was injured in an altercation with Reynolds (who was more fit and an experienced fighter.) David might later have died of his
injuries. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">But I
know the situation was a great deal more complicated than the tabloid’s lurid
premise that, “RAGING monster Burt Reynolds brutally beat love rival David
Whiting to death with his bare hands in a jealous brawl.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<h3>
<span style="font-size: large;">Dying for Love: The Short Unhappy Life of David Andrew Whiting</span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">But I
don’t think Burt Reynolds killed David. Neither does Jonathan Agronsky. His
book, <i>Dying for Love</i>, doesn’t have a publication date yet, but keep an eye out for it. I
found it unputdownable, even though I don’t agree with all of his conclusions.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">Agronsky talks about those reports from some of the local law enforcement people in Gila
Bend who thought that Sarah Miles’ nanny Jane Evans—who was also David’s girlfriend—had killed
David. Or at least that she was the one who inflicted the wound that may have resulted in his death.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">But if that were true, Agronsky shows the nanny would not have hit David to punish him for dallying with Sarah
Miles, but to protect Sarah from David’s violent outbursts. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">Agronsky’s
book has a lot more information about David’s violent side than I was aware of.
The David I knew only vented his aggression passively. He was always Gaslighting
me, moving things around while I was gone, so I’d think I was going crazy. But
I didn’t take it as aggression at the time. I thought it was more of his
performance art—a little obnoxious, but not meant to be unkind.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">Later, I
realized there was always an undercurrent of belligerence in David's bizarre persona. Reading Agronsky’s book, I understood that better, and saw how
that belligerence might indeed have exploded into violence. <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">But Agronsky finally leans toward the drug overdose theory, and in the end, leaves the conclusion up to the reader. </span></span></div>
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<h3>
<span style="font-size: large;">Did the Nanny Do it? </span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">The
premise of <i>The Gatsby Game </i>is that the nanny was not involved in the death of the David Whiting character (whom I call Alistair Milbourne), although she did seem
the most obvious suspect. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">I'm grateful that there's new interest in David's story, and that this complex, brilliant and troubled young man won't be forgotten. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>What about you? Do you think Burt Reynolds killed David? Have you heard about this Hollywood mystery? </i></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">You can see if you agree with my conclusions if you read </span><i style="font-family: "times new roman", serif;">The Gatsby Game,</i><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"> only $2.99 for the ebook and $10.99 in paper.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">The Gatsby Game</span></span></h3>
</div>
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<i style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></i>
<i style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: large;">"In The Gatsby Game, Anne R. Allen blends a perfect combination of witty, sharp narration, a plot that won't let the reader go, and nuanced characters that evoke our caring. A genre novel that artfully transcends its genre.”</span>-</i><span style="text-align: start;"> </span><span style="text-align: start;">Catherine Ryan Hyde,<i> NYT </i>and Amazon #1 best-selling author</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeqWGETprKe2zR3DC4avrd5qGyIGz7mOzSLH1svTgT7X60EIOMxwTqmBImFlcyc5vUDEu1slHdTgfpAi62xPlaR_IzTWg3Hs_ijxi68-4cglfxtCEbUv9zNgyGfA41EmmmRUAUZeRz8zw/s1600/Gatsby+Game600x900+300dpi+127+kb+%25282%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeqWGETprKe2zR3DC4avrd5qGyIGz7mOzSLH1svTgT7X60EIOMxwTqmBImFlcyc5vUDEu1slHdTgfpAi62xPlaR_IzTWg3Hs_ijxi68-4cglfxtCEbUv9zNgyGfA41EmmmRUAUZeRz8zw/s320/Gatsby+Game600x900+300dpi+127+kb+%25282%2529.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>THE GATSBY GAME</i></b> (Romantic Comedy-Mystery) When Fitzgerald-quoting con man Alistair Milborne is found dead a movie star’s motel room—igniting a world-wide scandal—the small-town police can’t decide if it’s an accident, suicide, or foul play. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">As evidence of murder emerges, Nicky Conway, the smart-mouth nanny, becomes the prime suspect. She’s the only one who knows what happened. But she also knows nobody will ever believe her. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i><span>The Gatsby Game</span></i><span> is available in ebook at <a href="http://authl.it/2a5">all the Amazons</a>, and also at the regular price at <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-gatsby-game-anne-r-allen/1109365751?ean=2940148232537">Barnes and Noble for NOOK</a>. It's available at <a href="http://www.scribd.com/book/235148779/The-Gatsby-Game">Scribd</a>.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">And available in paper on <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Gatsby-Game-romantic-comedy-mystery/dp/1503063127/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1423850111&sr=8-2&keywords=The+Gatsby+Game+Anne+R.+Allen">Amazon,</a> and <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-gatsby-game-anne-r-allen/1121181717?ean=9781503063129">Barnes and Noble</a></span></div>
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<br />Anne R. Allenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02420000168356370825noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-154552092903273548.post-49878098002995005102019-01-29T10:43:00.000-08:002019-03-22T10:38:59.851-07:00Bloodroot: Poisoning People for Fun and Profit—Part 39<br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">Bloodroot
(<i>Sanguinaria Canadensis</i>) is a pretty little plant that’s native to North
America and blooms in spring from February to May. It’s also known as Canada
puccoon, bloodwort, and pauson. (I hadn't ever heard of puccoon or pauson. Those names may be more in use in Canada.)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b7/Bloodroot_(Sanguinaria_canadensis).jpeg/330px-Bloodroot_(Sanguinaria_canadensis).jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="330" data-original-width="330" height="320" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b7/Bloodroot_(Sanguinaria_canadensis).jpeg/330px-Bloodroot_(Sanguinaria_canadensis).jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bloodroot in bloom</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">In the
wild, it has white flowers with yellow centers and roundish, multi-lobed green
leaves. The flowers only last a few days, but the leaves form an attractive
carpet effect on the forest floor<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">The
showy double-petal version is used in ornamental garden plantings. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">But beware!
The sap of both versions of this plant is blood-red and extremely toxic. It is especially
dangerous to dogs and cats, and herbivores generally avoid it. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">Bloodroot
is found on the east coast of North America from Canada to Florida and its
habitat extends to the Mississippi. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c4/Sanguinaire_du_Canada.jpg/180px-Sanguinaire_du_Canada.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="136" data-original-width="180" height="241" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c4/Sanguinaire_du_Canada.jpg/180px-Sanguinaire_du_Canada.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bloodroot leaves form a carpet on the forest floor</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">The
Algonquin and other Native Americans used it for a dye, especially for baskets,
and in various medicines. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">The
plant produces a toxin called sanguinarine. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s found mostly in the rhizome root
structure, which is sweet-potato orange when cut open. But the sap is so
caustic it burns the skin on contact. In folk medicine, it was used as an antiseptic,
and also to burn off warts and tumors. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">Charlatans
hawked a tincture of sanguinarine as a cancer cure, and “black salve” was sold
widely as a cure for various skin ailments.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It is still available on the Internet, but is not recommended by the
medical community. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">It’s been
used in various types of medical quackery since the early 1800s. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/af/Bloodwort_-_Project_Gutenberg_eText_19123.jpg/330px-Bloodwort_-_Project_Gutenberg_eText_19123.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="569" data-original-width="330" height="400" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/af/Bloodwort_-_Project_Gutenberg_eText_19123.jpg/330px-Bloodwort_-_Project_Gutenberg_eText_19123.jpg" width="231" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">18th century drawing of bloodwort with rhizome</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">In the
mid 19<sup>th</sup> century four patients at Bellevue Hospital in New York died
after drinking sanguinaria tincture they mistook for a more benign alcoholic
beverage. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">A
cure-all called “Dr. Pinkard's Sanguinaria Compound” was sold as a “nerve
tonic” that was supposed to cure everything from pneumonia to hepatitis, It's inventor, herbalist John Henry Pinkard was convicted in 1931 on charges of misrepresenting
its powers, but due to his standing in the community, his fine was only $25. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">Sanguinaria
is used more efficaciously to induce vomiting, reduce inflammation, and calm
tooth pain. In toothpaste, it is said to reduce plaque and bacteria. Until
2001, it was an ingredient in an anti-plaque toothpaste called Viadent, which I
used in the 1980s. Unfortunately, it was linked to a kind of oral cancer called
leukoplakia, so it is no longer an ingredient in Viadent. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">But
other toothpastes do use it, so check the ingredients of your toothpaste
carefully. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/37/Double_Sanguinaria.jpg/330px-Double_Sanguinaria.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="248" data-original-width="330" height="240" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/37/Double_Sanguinaria.jpg/330px-Double_Sanguinaria.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ornamental double flowered bloodroot</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">Bloodroot
is also still used in “holistic” medicine, but users should be aware that long
term use or overdose is dangerous and can be fatal. <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">If you're writing a mystery with a character who’s trying to kill off an eccentric herbalist or holistic practitioner, an overdose of bloodroot might do the trick and look like an accidental incident.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">Although bloodroot
and bloodroot tincture probably wouldn’t make ideal murder weapons, since
sanguinaria is so caustic it immediately causes drooling, vomiting, eye
irritation, dizziness and convulsions, which would signal the need for urgent medical attention. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">If the
victim gets to a doctor, fluid therapy can flush the toxin out and an
antiemetic can keep vomiting under control. <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">But untreated, the</span></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> body will go into a coma. Death from organ failure soon follows.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><i>Have you ever used a medicine that contained bloodroot? Do you know any stories that involve bloodroot poisoning? </i></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><i><br /></i></span></span>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Here's a list of all the poisons in this series</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"></span></span><br />
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<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://annerallensbooks.blogspot.com/2016/04/poisoning-people-for-fun-and-profit.html" style="color: #aa0033;">Part 1: Digitalis</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://annerallensbooks.blogspot.com/2016/04/poisoning-people-for-fun-and-profitpart.html" style="color: #aa0033;">Part 2: Wolfsbane</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://annerallensbooks.blogspot.com/2016/05/poisoning-people-for-fun-and-profitpart.html" style="color: #aa0033;">Part 3: Hemlock</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://annerallensbooks.blogspot.com/2016/05/poisoning-people-for-fun-and-profit.html" style="color: #aa0033;">Part 4: Poison Dart Frogs</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://annerallensbooks.blogspot.com/2016/05/poisoning-people-for-fun-and-profit_20.html" style="color: #aa0033;">Part 5: Arsenic</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://annerallensbooks.blogspot.com/2016/05/poisoning-people-for-fun-and-profit_27.html" style="color: #aa0033;">Part 6: Oleander</a></span></div>
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<div style="background-color: #ffffe5; color: #333333; font-family: georgia, utopia, "palatino linotype", palatino, serif; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://annerallensbooks.blogspot.com/2016/06/poisoning-people-for-fun-and-profitpart.html" style="color: #aa0033;">Part 7: Cyanide</a></span></div>
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<div style="background-color: #ffffe5; color: #333333; font-family: georgia, utopia, "palatino linotype", palatino, serif; text-align: center;">
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://annerallensbooks.blogspot.com/2016/06/poisoning-people-for-fun-and-profitpart_10.html" style="color: #aa0033;">Part 8: Belladonna</a></span></div>
</div>
<div style="background-color: #ffffe5; color: #333333; font-family: georgia, utopia, "palatino linotype", palatino, serif; text-align: center;">
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://annerallensbooks.blogspot.com/2016/06/poisoning-people-for-fun-and-profit.html" style="color: #aa0033;">Part 9: Botulism</a></span></div>
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<div style="background-color: #ffffe5; color: #333333; font-family: georgia, utopia, "palatino linotype", palatino, serif; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://annerallensbooks.blogspot.com/2016/06/poisoning-people-for-fun-and-profitpart_24.html" style="color: #aa0033;">Part 10: Castor Beans</a></span></div>
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<div style="background-color: #ffffe5; color: #333333; font-family: georgia, utopia, "palatino linotype", palatino, serif; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://annerallensbooks.blogspot.com/2016/07/poisoning-people-for-fun-and-profitpart.html" style="color: #aa0033;">Part 11: White Snakeroot</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://annerallensbooks.blogspot.com/2016/07/poisoning-people-for-fun-and-profitpart_8.html" style="color: #aa0033;">Part 12: Strychnine</a></span></div>
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<div style="background-color: #ffffe5; color: #333333; font-family: georgia, utopia, "palatino linotype", palatino, serif; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://annerallensbooks.blogspot.com/2016/07/poisoning-people-for-fun-and-profitpart_15.html" style="color: #aa0033;">Part 13: Datura</a></span></div>
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<div style="background-color: #ffffe5; color: #333333; font-family: georgia, utopia, "palatino linotype", palatino, serif; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://annerallensbooks.blogspot.com/2016/07/poisoning-people-for-fun-and-profitpart_22.html" style="color: #aa0033;">Part 14: Mandrake</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://annerallensbooks.blogspot.com/2016/07/poisoning-people-for-fun-and-profitpart_29.html" style="color: #aa0033;"></a><a href="http://annerallensbooks.blogspot.com/2016/07/poisoning-people-for-fun-and-profitpart_29.html" style="color: #aa0033;">Part 15: Seafood Poisoning</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://annerallensbooks.blogspot.com/2016/08/poisoning-people-for-fun-and-profitpart.html" style="color: #aa0033;" target="_blank">Part 16: Antifreeze</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://annerallensbooks.blogspot.com/2016/08/poisoning-people-for-fun-and-profitpart_12.html" style="color: #aa0033;" target="_blank">Part 17: Visine</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://annerallensbooks.blogspot.com/2016/08/poisoning-people-for-fun-and-profitpart_19.html" style="color: #aa0033;" target="_blank">Part 18: Polonium</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://annerallensbooks.blogspot.com/2016/08/poisoning-people-for-fun-and-profit.html" style="color: #aa0033;" target="_blank">Part 19: Rosary Pea</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://annerallensbooks.blogspot.com/2016/09/poisoning-people-for-fun-and-profit.html" style="color: #aa0033;" target="_blank">Part 20: Thallium</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://annerallensbooks.blogspot.com/2016/09/poisoning-people-for-fun-and-profitpart.html" style="color: #aa0033;" target="_blank">Part 21: Henbane</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://annerallensbooks.blogspot.com/2016/10/poisoning-people-for-fun-and-profit.html" style="color: #aa0033;" target="_blank">Part 22: Halloween Candy</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://annerallensbooks.blogspot.com/2016/11/poisoning-people-for-fun-and-profitpart.html" style="color: #aa0033;" target="_blank">Part 23: Poison Rings</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://annerallensbooks.blogspot.com/2017/01/poisoning-people-for-fun-and-profit.html" style="color: #aa0033;" target="_blank">Part 24: Daffodils</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://annerallensbooks.blogspot.com/2017/02/poisoning-people-for-fun-and-profit.html" style="color: #aa0033;">Part 25: Yew</a><br /><a href="http://annerallensbooks.blogspot.com/2017/03/toxic-relationshipsthe-most-dangerous.html" style="color: #aa0033;">Part 26: Toxic Relationships</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://annerallensbooks.blogspot.com/2017/04/poisoning-people-for-fun-and-profit.html" style="color: #aa0033;" target="_blank">Part 27: Warfarin</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://annerallensbooks.blogspot.com/2017/05/poisoning-people-for-fun-and-profit-can.html" style="color: #aa0033;" target="_blank">Part 28: Mustard Gas</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://annerallensbooks.blogspot.com/2017/08/antimonypoisoning-people-for-fun-and.html" style="color: #aa0033;">Part 29: Antimony</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://annerallensbooks.blogspot.com/2017/09/lead-poisoning-people-for-fun-and.html" style="color: #aa0033;">Part 30: Lead</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://annerallensbooks.blogspot.com/2018/01/opium-poppies-poisoning-people-for-fun.html" style="color: #aa0033;">Part 31: Opium Poppy</a></span></div>
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<div style="background-color: #ffffe5; color: #333333; font-family: georgia, utopia, "palatino linotype", palatino, serif;">
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://annerallensbooks.blogspot.com/2018/02/mercury-poisoning-people-for-fun-and.html">Part 32: Mercury</a></span></div>
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<div style="background-color: #ffffe5; color: #333333; font-family: georgia, utopia, "palatino linotype", palatino, serif;">
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://annerallensbooks.blogspot.com/2018/03/nerve-agents-sarin-tabun-vx-and.html">Part 33: Nerve Agents</a></span></div>
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<div style="background-color: #ffffe5; color: #333333; font-family: georgia, utopia, "palatino linotype", palatino, serif;">
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://annerallensbooks.blogspot.com/2018/04/gelsemium-poisoning-people-for-fun-and.html">Part 34: Gelsemium</a> </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://annerallensbooks.blogspot.com/2018/05/carbon-monoxide-poisoning-people-for.html">Part 35: Carbon Monoxide</a></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://annerallensbooks.blogspot.com/2018/07/sleeping-pillspoisoning-people-for-fun.html" target="_blank">Part 36: Sleeping Pills</a></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://annerallensbooks.blogspot.com/2018/09/nicotine-poisoning-people-for-fun-and.html" target="_blank">Part 37: Nicotine</a></span><br />
<a href="https://annerallensbooks.blogspot.com/2018/11/potassium-chloride-poisoning-people-for.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;">Part 38 Potassium Chloride</span></a></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
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<br />Anne R. Allenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02420000168356370825noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-154552092903273548.post-22841714005585752222018-12-28T13:07:00.000-08:002019-01-18T10:49:24.844-08:00Googling Old Boyfriends is Here! <span style="font-size: large;">The Seventh Camilla Randall Mystery is out in ebook. The paperback will launch in January. It's a stand-alone, so you can start with this one even if you haven't read the others.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">We all
do it, don’t we? We start thinking about “the old days” and wonder “what ever
happened to…?” <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">So we
start Googling our former significant others. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">Somehow
it’s kind of embarrassing to let people know. Maybe because it feels a little
stalkerish.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But it’s so fascinating to
find out how people’s lives are turning out.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">“OMG,
here’s his wedding announcement—to a man! Well, that explains a few things.”</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">“He
became a stockbroker? That hippie?”</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">“Three
arrests for DUI? I always wondered why his breath always smelled of Listerine and Altoids…”</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">“He’s
still single? Hmmm…”</span></li>
</ul>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">Then
there are the tragic ones. The searches that bring up obituaries. And arrests. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">One of my high school friends had
died in Vietnam. Another had drowned in an ice fishing accident. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">The
saddest was the arrest report of one of my elementary school crushes…for possession
of child pornography. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">Light bulbs
went off in my head. He had that awful “uncle” he always had to spend time with
but hated. The older brother who used such filthy language he was regularly
thrown off the school bus.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">They had
been strikingly beautiful boys, blond Italians. What horrors had my little
friend been going through while I was carving his name in my wooden desk top,
and chased after him at the skating rink when he’d stolen my hat? Who knows</span></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">—</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">the images he was arrested for may have been photos of himself. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">When you
get older, the obituaries come up more and more. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">Last
year, after I’d had my third search in a row come up with an obituary—the idea for a novel popped into my head:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">What if
a recent divorcee started Googling her old boyfriends and…every one of them
turned up dead? <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">Then all
I had to do was introduce the divorcee to Camilla Randall, my oh-so-polite
sleuth who’s a magnet for murder, mayhem, and Mr. Wrong… and there was the
story.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<h3>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">GOOGLING
OLD BOYFRIENDS</span></span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">I didn’t
bring in the tragic real-life stuff when I wrote this one. That wouldn’t work
in a Camilla book. Maybe I’ll do a serious piece on the subject sometime in the
future. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">Here’s
an excerpt from the opening chapter. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">“Okay, ’fess up.”
Mickie McCormack’s eyes twinkled as she plunked a book on the counter. “If
you’re that distracted by the Internet you’re either looking at porn or you’re
Googling old boyfriends.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">I felt my cheeks
heat up. <o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
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<br /></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">“Um, I’m guilty of
the latter, I’m afraid. I’ve just run into an old boyfriend and he’s invited me
to dinner, but…”<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">The bell on the
door jingled. <o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">There he was.
Captain Maverick Jesus Zukowski, six foot, three inches of tall, dark, and
the-one-who-got-away.</span></span></i></div>
<h3>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span><span style="font-size: large;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">The Camilla Randall Mysteries:</span></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"> </span></span></h3>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">A laugh-out-loud mashup of
crime fiction, romantic comedy, and satire. Morro Bay bookshop owner Camilla
Randall is a magnet for murder, mayhem, and Mr. Wrong. But she always defeats
the bad guys in her quirky, but oh-so-polite way.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">In this
stand-alone 7<sup>th</sup> book in the series, Camilla befriends socialite
Mickie McCormack—a sexy, mysterious older woman who’s going through a painful
divorce. Mickie has been Googling her old boyfriends to reconnect and “remember
who she used to be.” <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">Unfortunately
every one of those boyfriends soon ends up dead. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">Is the
serial killer Camilla’s old boyfriend Dr. Bob? Or one of Mickie’s old
boyfriends? And can Camilla’s old boyfriend Captain Rick protect her and her
cat Buckingham from being fed to the sharks before she solves the mystery? <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<h4 style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">***</span></span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>What about you? Have you Googled former lovers and significant others? Were any of the results tragic? Funny? </i></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>A comment will enter you into a contest to win a copy of the ebook for Kindle or other ereading device. I'll announce the winner in two weeks, on January 11th.</i></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>Happy 2019, everybody!</i></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><i><b>Ta-DA!! The winner of the contest is Chick Lit Shop, aka Mary Smith! Thanks for entering, everybody! </b></i></span></span></div>
</div>
<br />Anne R. Allenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02420000168356370825noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-154552092903273548.post-48510120955587095312018-11-29T11:57:00.002-08:002019-01-20T17:07:33.449-08:00Potassium Chloride: Poisoning People for Fun and Profit—Part 38.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: large;">Potassium Chloride (KCl) is commonly known as a dietary supplement. It’s one of those “electrolytes” you’re always hearing about. You can find it in your Gatorade.<br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0c/Mineral_Silvina_GDFL105.jpg/375px-Mineral_Silvina_GDFL105.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="281" data-original-width="375" height="239" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0c/Mineral_Silvina_GDFL105.jpg/375px-Mineral_Silvina_GDFL105.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">KCl occurs naturally in the mineral Sylvite</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">It is most widely used in fertilizer (called potash). It’s also used in animal feed, glassmaking, medicines, and foods like the “Mrs. Dash” line of seasonings. It has the appearance and taste of table salt (sodium chloride NaCl.) <br /><br />But it can also kill. In large doses, it causes cardiac arrest. Some states in the U.S. use it as the third drug in the "three drug cocktail" for execution by lethal injection. <br /><br />It occurs naturally as the mineral sylvite and in combination with sodium chloride as sylvinite. <br /> </span><br />
<h3>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">Potassium Chloride as a Dietary Supplement. </span></h3>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />Potassium is necessary for the normal function of our hearts, muscles, kidneys, nerves, and digestive systems. Most people get enough potassium if they eat a healthy diet.</span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/8/82/Mrs_Dash_Original.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="139" data-original-width="63" height="320" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/8/82/Mrs_Dash_Original.png" width="144" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">salt-free seasoning uses KCl</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />But a number of things can deplete potassium, which is water soluble. Diuretics, high blood pressure medications like Lasix, kidney disease, diabetes, gastrointestinal diseases, and a number of other medical issues can create the need for a potassium supplement. <br /><br />Unfortunately, some people think that because it’s a supplement sold over the counter, it must be harmless. But as with many supplements, it can be dangerous—even lethal—at high doses. Pregnant women are advised not to take potassium. <br /> </span><br />
<h3>
<span style="font-size: large;">Potassium Chloride Overdose</span></h3>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />An excess of potassium in the blood is called hyperkalemia. A dose that’s not high enough to kill outright can cause kidney failure. Even a mild overdose of can cause distress. Here are some signs of an overdose: </span><br />
<ul><span style="font-size: large;">
<li>Slow or irregular heartbeat </li>
<li>Seizures </li>
<li>Shallow breathing </li>
<li>Mental confusion </li>
<li>Lightheadedness or feeling you are about to faint </li>
<li>Leg and arm weakness </li>
<li>Tingling, prickling, or burning sensation in extremities </li>
<li>Stomach pain </li>
<li>Lethargy </li>
<li>Cold, pale skin </li>
</span></ul>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span>
<br />
<h3>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></h3>
<h3>
<span style="font-size: large;">Death by Potassium Chloride (Hyperkalemia)</span></h3>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />Hyperkalemia caused by disease or oral ingestion first triggers kidney failure in patients and after that, death can be very quick, even in otherwise healthy patients. <br /><br />But when KCl is injected, it goes right to the heart and usually kills within 10 minutes. <br /><br />It’s the ability to kill rapidly that has made KCl one of the ingredients used in some parts of the U.S. for execution by lethal injection. It causes cardiac arrest after the first two drugs have been injected to decrease pain and cause paralysis. Many people consider this method of execution to be inhumane, and other methods are being introduced. <br /><br />But death from oral potassium overdose is rare. A number of treatments can stop the effects before they kill if the victim gets to the hospital quickly. Unfortunately, the patient’s system may be compromised and they may die several weeks later. <br /><br />But there are cases of death from oral ingestion of KCl. In the US in the 1970s, A 32-year-old woman became hypokalemic from taking potassium supplements with her liquid protein diet (a big fad in the mid-20th century, starting with the Metrecal craze of the 1960s.) <br /><br />This woman had been told that if she felt weak from the diet, all she needed was to take a potassium pill. Thinking they were harmless, and feeling weak from starvation, she kept popping the pills. She first developed diarrhea, and was told to stop taking the potassium. But it was too late. She was found dead the next day. An autopsy showed that she had taken 47 tablets of potassium chloride. <br /><br />So, swallowing 47 tablets of KCl can kill, apparently. But if you’re writing a mystery where KCl is the murder weapon, injection would be the surest method for your killer. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>What about you? Have you heard any stories of potassium chloride used as a murder weapon? </i></span><br />
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Coming in December! Googling Old Boyfriends: Camilla Randall Mystery #7</span></h3>
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<i><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">“Okay, ’fess up.” Mickie McCormack’s eyes twinkled as she plunked a book on the counter. “If you’re that distracted by the Internet you’re either looking at porn or you’re Googling old boyfriends.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">I felt my cheeks heat up.<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
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<i><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">“Um, I’m guilty of the latter, I’m afraid. I’ve just run into an old boyfriend and he’s invited me to dinner, but…”<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">The bell on the door jingled.<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">There he was. Captain Maverick Jesus Zukowski, six foot, three inches of tall, dark, and the-one-who-got-away.<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">The Camilla Randall mysteries are a laugh-out-loud mashup of crime fiction, rom-com, and satire. Morro Bay bookshop owner Camilla Randall is a magnet for murder, mayhem, and Mr. Wrong. But she always solves the case in her quirky, but oh-so-polite way.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">In this stand-alone episode, Camilla befriends socialite Mickie McCormack </span>—<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"> a sexy, mysterious older woman who’s going through a painful divorce. Mickie has been Googling her old boyfriends to reconnect and “remember who she used to be.”</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">Unfortunately every one of those boyfriends soon ends up dead.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">Is the serial killer Camilla’s old boyfriend Dr. Bob? Or one of Mickie’s old boyfriends? And can Camilla’s old boyfriend Captain Rick protect her and her cat Buckingham from being fed to the sharks before she solves the mystery?</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Here's a list of all the poisons in this series</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://annerallensbooks.blogspot.com/2016/04/poisoning-people-for-fun-and-profit.html" style="color: #aa0033;">Part 1: Digitalis</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://annerallensbooks.blogspot.com/2016/04/poisoning-people-for-fun-and-profitpart.html" style="color: #aa0033;">Part 2: Wolfsbane</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://annerallensbooks.blogspot.com/2016/05/poisoning-people-for-fun-and-profitpart.html" style="color: #aa0033;">Part 3: Hemlock</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://annerallensbooks.blogspot.com/2016/05/poisoning-people-for-fun-and-profit.html" style="color: #aa0033;">Part 4: Poison Dart Frogs</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://annerallensbooks.blogspot.com/2016/05/poisoning-people-for-fun-and-profit_20.html" style="color: #aa0033;">Part 5: Arsenic</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://annerallensbooks.blogspot.com/2016/05/poisoning-people-for-fun-and-profit_27.html" style="color: #aa0033;">Part 6: Oleander</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://annerallensbooks.blogspot.com/2016/06/poisoning-people-for-fun-and-profitpart.html" style="color: #aa0033;">Part 7: Cyanide</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://annerallensbooks.blogspot.com/2016/06/poisoning-people-for-fun-and-profitpart_10.html" style="color: #aa0033;">Part 8: Belladonna</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://annerallensbooks.blogspot.com/2016/06/poisoning-people-for-fun-and-profit.html" style="color: #aa0033;">Part 9: Botulism</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://annerallensbooks.blogspot.com/2016/06/poisoning-people-for-fun-and-profitpart_24.html" style="color: #aa0033;">Part 10: Castor Beans</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://annerallensbooks.blogspot.com/2016/07/poisoning-people-for-fun-and-profitpart.html" style="color: #aa0033;">Part 11: White Snakeroot</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://annerallensbooks.blogspot.com/2016/07/poisoning-people-for-fun-and-profitpart_8.html" style="color: #aa0033;">Part 12: Strychnine</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://annerallensbooks.blogspot.com/2016/07/poisoning-people-for-fun-and-profitpart_15.html" style="color: #aa0033;">Part 13: Datura</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://annerallensbooks.blogspot.com/2016/07/poisoning-people-for-fun-and-profitpart_22.html" style="color: #aa0033;">Part 14: Mandrake</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://annerallensbooks.blogspot.com/2016/07/poisoning-people-for-fun-and-profitpart_29.html" style="color: #aa0033;"></a><a href="http://annerallensbooks.blogspot.com/2016/07/poisoning-people-for-fun-and-profitpart_29.html" style="color: #aa0033;">Part 15: Seafood Poisoning</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://annerallensbooks.blogspot.com/2016/08/poisoning-people-for-fun-and-profitpart.html" style="color: #aa0033;" target="_blank">Part 16: Antifreeze</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://annerallensbooks.blogspot.com/2016/08/poisoning-people-for-fun-and-profitpart_12.html" style="color: #aa0033;" target="_blank">Part 17: Visine</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://annerallensbooks.blogspot.com/2016/08/poisoning-people-for-fun-and-profitpart_19.html" style="color: #aa0033;" target="_blank">Part 18: Polonium</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://annerallensbooks.blogspot.com/2016/08/poisoning-people-for-fun-and-profit.html" style="color: #aa0033;" target="_blank">Part 19: Rosary Pea</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://annerallensbooks.blogspot.com/2016/09/poisoning-people-for-fun-and-profit.html" style="color: #aa0033;" target="_blank">Part 20: Thallium</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://annerallensbooks.blogspot.com/2016/09/poisoning-people-for-fun-and-profitpart.html" style="color: #aa0033;" target="_blank">Part 21: Henbane</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://annerallensbooks.blogspot.com/2016/10/poisoning-people-for-fun-and-profit.html" style="color: #aa0033;" target="_blank">Part 22: Halloween Candy</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://annerallensbooks.blogspot.com/2016/11/poisoning-people-for-fun-and-profitpart.html" style="color: #aa0033;" target="_blank">Part 23: Poison Rings</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://annerallensbooks.blogspot.com/2017/01/poisoning-people-for-fun-and-profit.html" style="color: #aa0033;" target="_blank">Part 24: Daffodils</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://annerallensbooks.blogspot.com/2017/02/poisoning-people-for-fun-and-profit.html" style="color: #aa0033;">Part 25: Yew</a><br /><a href="http://annerallensbooks.blogspot.com/2017/03/toxic-relationshipsthe-most-dangerous.html" style="color: #aa0033;">Part 26: Toxic Relationships</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://annerallensbooks.blogspot.com/2017/04/poisoning-people-for-fun-and-profit.html" style="color: #aa0033;" target="_blank">Part 27: Warfarin</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://annerallensbooks.blogspot.com/2017/05/poisoning-people-for-fun-and-profit-can.html" style="color: #aa0033;" target="_blank">Part 28: Mustard Gas</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://annerallensbooks.blogspot.com/2017/08/antimonypoisoning-people-for-fun-and.html" style="color: #aa0033;">Part 29: Antimony</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://annerallensbooks.blogspot.com/2017/09/lead-poisoning-people-for-fun-and.html" style="color: #aa0033;">Part 30: Lead</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://annerallensbooks.blogspot.com/2018/01/opium-poppies-poisoning-people-for-fun.html" style="color: #aa0033;">Part 31: Opium Poppy</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://annerallensbooks.blogspot.com/2018/02/mercury-poisoning-people-for-fun-and.html">Part 32: Mercury</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://annerallensbooks.blogspot.com/2018/03/nerve-agents-sarin-tabun-vx-and.html">Part 33: Nerve Agents</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://annerallensbooks.blogspot.com/2018/04/gelsemium-poisoning-people-for-fun-and.html">Part 34: Gelsemium</a> </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://annerallensbooks.blogspot.com/2018/05/carbon-monoxide-poisoning-people-for.html">Part 35: Carbon Monoxide</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://annerallensbooks.blogspot.com/2018/07/sleeping-pillspoisoning-people-for-fun.html" target="_blank">Part 36: Sleeping Pills</a></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://annerallensbooks.blogspot.com/2018/09/nicotine-poisoning-people-for-fun-and.html" target="_blank">Part 37: Nicotine</a></span></div>
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Anne R. Allenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02420000168356370825noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-154552092903273548.post-33253025228822762452018-10-26T11:01:00.002-07:002022-10-27T14:32:46.615-07:00Dear Abby and The Myth of Poisoned Halloween Candy<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi19ViLCHnhwaljYMQduoly3WCm2MJJzeqjNh8uwkcJeYwxThnRlvnro7PDloFkGN3V07dMxPNLKZ-8mL5guyLpGEO2o5E8wumHwKYx1oAnyXyRSiGSkIOm42kyOHvYdK-YXWE1NgoawB4Ki4kMimf4AUpSKc1yD7clzq7bOdpak_BoRJ1PWANTV4km/s800/Candy%20corn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="613" data-original-width="800" height="245" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi19ViLCHnhwaljYMQduoly3WCm2MJJzeqjNh8uwkcJeYwxThnRlvnro7PDloFkGN3V07dMxPNLKZ-8mL5guyLpGEO2o5E8wumHwKYx1oAnyXyRSiGSkIOm42kyOHvYdK-YXWE1NgoawB4Ki4kMimf4AUpSKc1yD7clzq7bOdpak_BoRJ1PWANTV4km/s320/Candy%20corn.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />Lots of folklore feeds our fears of apples. Snow White got poisoned with one. And Greek legend blames the entire Trojan war on an apple: the "<a href="https://www.uexpress.com/tell-me-a-story/2014/12/7/the-golden-apple-of-discord-a" target="_blank">Golden Apple of Discord</a>" thrown at three goddesses by Eris, the goddess of discord. </span><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/ca/Manzanas_-_Apples.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="600" height="320" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/ca/Manzanas_-_Apples.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />But apples have got a bad rap. And it's unlikely you'll ever find one hiding a razor blade or a sewing needle, in spite of all the horror stories your mom told you when you went out trick-or-treating. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">There are lots of things to be afraid of on Halloween. Your kid getting hit by a car while dressed in black as a ninja, a witch, or Severus Snape. Or somebody kidnapping your black kitty and doing him harm. <o:p></o:p></span><span style="font-size: large;">Or somebody eating too much candy and throwing up on the newly shampooed carpet.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">But poisoned candy isn't one of them. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">All of that is bogus fear-mongering. A lot of the fear was mongered by the advice columnist siblings Dear Abby and Ann Landers. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Dear Abby and Ann Landers Spread the Panic</span></h3>
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<span style="font-size: large;">According to <a href="http://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonianmag/where-did-the-fear-of-poisoned-halloween-candy-come-from-822302/?no-ist" target="_blank">Smithsonian magazine</a>, on October 31, 1983, advice columnist "Dear Abby" (the late Abigail Van Buren) published a column called "A Night of Treats, not Tricks." In that column, she warned her readers that, on Halloween, "somebody’s child will become violently ill or die after eating poisoned candy or an apple containing a razor blade."<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/56/Candy-Corn.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="245" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/56/Candy-Corn.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">No child has been poisoned by a stranger's Halloween candy</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Twelve years later, Dear Abby's sister, advice columnist Ann Landers, also wrote a Halloween article in which she warned that "Twisted minds make Halloween a dangerous time," echoing that concern. She said, "In recent years, there have been reports of people with twisted minds putting razor blades and poison in taffy apples and Halloween candy." She even stated flatly: "It is no longer safe to let your child eat treats that come from strangers." </span><span style="font-size: large;">This made life difficult for candy companies all over the U.S.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">And it turns out these "reports" were entirely bogus. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">Every so often something happens that stirs up the stories again. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Abby may be forgiven for falling for the drama in 1983. The 1982 <a href="http://www.snopes.com/horrors/poison/tylenol.asp">Tylenol</a> poisonings that killed seven people were fresh in everybody's minds. So the idea of a crazed madman who wanted to kill random strangers was not far-fetched. It was easy to merge them with the myths that were already out there about crazed child murderers handing out tainted "treats" to the trick-or-treaters.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Some Poisonings That Didn't Happen</span></h3>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Here are some of the incidents that keep the myths alive, <a href="http://www.snopes.com/horrors/poison/halloween.asp" target="_blank">as reported by Snopes.</a> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">In 1970, a boy went into a coma from a heroin overdose and heroin was found sprinkled on his Halloween candy. It turned out he had got into his uncle's heroin stash and his family had sprinkled the heroin on the candy after the fact to protect the uncle.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-NMf03gdTA65PD9ScWTV6j6s_xAOfzrKwAKc5Mc0hUH5UGjaJ3xERTA6RcaSBDsjWQst3ZqguAkwHKPahtaAgZHUPLni2vSfJcDJuS3vTlk2VFrhecn0C7fXeN-QuzHwkbP6iFZ5WJyI/s1600/Jack+O+Lantern.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-NMf03gdTA65PD9ScWTV6j6s_xAOfzrKwAKc5Mc0hUH5UGjaJ3xERTA6RcaSBDsjWQst3ZqguAkwHKPahtaAgZHUPLni2vSfJcDJuS3vTlk2VFrhecn0C7fXeN-QuzHwkbP6iFZ5WJyI/s320/Jack+O+Lantern.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">In 1982 the police in Detroit announced a boy had been poisoned by cyanide in Halloween candy. But medical tests were inconclusive and later FDA tests of the candy turned up no contamination whatsoever. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br />In 1990, a 7-year-old Santa Monica girl died of congenital heart failure while trick-or-treating. The police feared a mass random poisoning sent out an alert. Unfortunately the later retraction didn't travel anywhere near as far or wide as the initial false alarm. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The Halloween Poisoning Sleuth, Dr. Joel Best</span></h3>
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<span style="font-size: large;">For decades, Joel Best a sociologist at the University of Delaware conducted a study of these stories. His findings: He never found a confirmed case of a stranger murdering a child with poisoned Halloween candy.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">He did find one case of a father who murdered his own son with poisoned Halloween candy.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">This was awful, but it was a one-off act of targeted murder.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">In 1974, a sociopath named Ronald Clark O'Bryan took out a large life insurance policy on his 8 year old son Timothy a few days before Halloween. On Halloween, he put some cyanide into Timmy's Pixy Stix and got him to eat it before going to bed. He also poisoned some Pixy Stix he gave out to local trick or treaters, so it would look as if his son's murder was part of a random attack on local children.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Luckily none of the other children ate the candy, partly because of quick reaction from local police, and partly because Mr. Clark had resealed the Pixy Stix with staples that were too hard for a child to open.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Mr. Clark was executed in 1984, and maybe stories of his horrible deeds also sparked the rumors that prompted Dear Abby's misguided column.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br />Dr. Joel Best has tried hard over the years to destroy the poisoned Halloween candy myth, but he hasn't had much luck. "It's the old problem of trying to prove a negative," he says.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">He says his favorite story is the one about the kid who brought a half-eaten candy bar to his parents and said, "I think there's ant poison on this." They had it checked and, sure enough, there was ant poison on it—significantly, on the end he hadn't bitten.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">It later turned out the kid had put the ant poison on the candy himself. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">What about those Stories of Razor Blades and Pins in Apples?</span></h3>
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<span style="font-size: large;">These seem to be more of the same.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">According to author <a href="https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=dp_byline_sr_book_1?ie=UTF8&text=Jack+Santino&search-alias=books&field-author=Jack+Santino&sort=relevancerank" target="_blank">Jack Santino</a>, who's written a number of books on the history and folklore behind Halloween, "pins and needles" (and razor blade) rumors began to supplant "poisoned candy" rumors in the mid-1960s, and nearly the reports turned out to be hoaxes: </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">He said, "more than 75 percent of reported cases involved no injury, and detailed followups…concluded that virtually all the reports were hoaxes concocted by the children or parents. Thus this legend type seems to have grown out of a tradition of ostensive hoaxes relying on an understood oral tradition, rather than on any core of authenticated incidents."</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">So poisoned candy is very much the stuff of fiction, but it has only the most tenuous attachment to fact. As writers, we'd do better to to write about poisoned chocolate Easter bunnies or Christmas candy canes and at least be creative about it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>What about you, readers? Did you believe these stories when you were a kid? Did your parents? Did your parents ban trick or treating because they were so afraid of mad poisoners? </i></span><br />
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<span data-mce-style="font-size: 20px;" style="font-size: 20px;"><strong>The first book in the Camilla comedy-mystery series is 99c</strong></span><br />
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<span data-mce-style="font-size: 20px;"><b>at <a data-mce-href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/ghostwriters-in-the-sky/id888319234?mt=11" href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/ghostwriters-in-the-sky/id888319234?mt=11">iTunes</a>, <a data-mce-href="https://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/ebook/ghostwriters-in-the-sky-3?bookId=91a0a63a-f59f-42fd-b687-44bc141c5747" href="https://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/ebook/ghostwriters-in-the-sky-3?bookId=91a0a63a-f59f-42fd-b687-44bc141c5747" target="_blank"> Kobo,</a> <a data-mce-href="http://www.inktera.com/store/title/693206a9-ee24-4553-9acb-05fdc1909221" href="http://www.inktera.com/store/title/693206a9-ee24-4553-9acb-05fdc1909221">Inktera</a>, <a data-mce-href="https://www.scribd.com/book/230974233/Ghostwriters-In-The-Sky-The-Camilla-Randall-Mysteries" href="https://www.scribd.com/book/230974233/Ghostwriters-In-The-Sky-The-Camilla-Randall-Mysteries">Scribd</a> , <a data-mce-href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/ghostwriters-in-the-sky-anne-r-allen/1108307125?ean=2940148156901" href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/ghostwriters-in-the-sky-anne-r-allen/1108307125?ean=2940148156901">NOOK.</a></b></span></div>
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<span data-mce-style="font-size: 20px;"><strong>and <a data-mce-href="http://authl.it/2a1" href="http://authl.it/2a1">all the Amazons</a> internationally</strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Also available at <a data-mce-href="https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Anne_R_Allen_Ghostwriters_In_The_Sky?id=hjrHCgAAQBAJ" href="https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Anne_R_Allen_Ghostwriters_In_The_Sky?id=hjrHCgAAQBAJ" target="_blank">Google Play</a>,</b></span><br />
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<strong><em>GHOSTWRITERS IN THE SKY</em> </strong><br />
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<strong><span data-mce-style="font-size: 20px;" style="font-size: 20px;">It's available in paper at <a data-mce-href="http://www.amazon.com/Ghostwriters-In-The-Sky-Mysteries/dp/1502704862/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1412962769&sr=8-7&keywords=Ghostwriters+in+the+Sky" href="http://www.amazon.com/Ghostwriters-In-The-Sky-Mysteries/dp/1502704862/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1412962769&sr=8-7&keywords=Ghostwriters+in+the+Sky">Amazon</a> & <a data-mce-href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/ghostwriters-in-the-sky-anne-r-allen/1120528530?ean=9781502704863" href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/ghostwriters-in-the-sky-anne-r-allen/1120528530?ean=9781502704863">Barnes and Noble</a> </span></strong><br />
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<em>A wild comic romp set at writers’ conference in the wine-and-cowboy town of Santa Ynez, California. </em><em>When a ghostwriter's plot to blackmail celebrities with faked evidence leads to murder, Camilla must team up with a crossdressing dominatrix to stop the killer—who may be a ghost—from striking again. Meanwhile, a hot LA cop named Maverick Jesus Zukowski just may steal her heart.</em><br />
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It's also available <a data-mce-href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01H6N4T5U/ref=pe_2240110_212300010_em_1p_9_ti" href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01H6N4T5U/ref=pe_2240110_212300010_em_1p_9_ti">in Spanish on Amazon</a><br />
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Anne R. Allenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02420000168356370825noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-154552092903273548.post-35434894915470580712018-09-28T10:00:00.000-07:002019-02-28T10:17:39.122-08:00 Nicotine: Poisoning People for Fun and Profit—Part 37<span style="font-size: large;"><br />Everybody knows smoking tobacco is dangerous. It causes lung cancer, heart disease, stroke, and a myriad of other awful diseases.</span><br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/3/34/The_Smoking_Man_(X-Files).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="333" data-original-width="250" height="320" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/3/34/The_Smoking_Man_(X-Files).jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The "Smoking Man" from the X-Files</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">But smoking tobacco kills slowly. If you wanted to kill somebody with cigarettes, a murderer would have to be patient to the point of pathology. </span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />However, smoking deaths aren’t caused by the nicotine in the tobacco. The body absorbs only about 1 mg of nicotine from smoking a cigarette (That’s a tenth or less of the nicotine actually contained in a cigarette.) It’s the other toxins in the cigarette smoke that do the smokers in, even though it’s nicotine that gets people addicted to the lethal things. <br /><br />Full disclosure: I smoked for many years. I quit 30 years ago, with a bit of a slip in the early 2000's. But I still sometimes dream that I’m smoking. The last smoking dream I had was about a month ago. In the dream I was sneaking a cigarette outside in the dark and lit the filter end by mistake. It gave off a toxic stench and I stomped it out on the ground. I think that’s a good sign.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Nicotine is a Strong, Fast-Acting Poison</span></h3>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />Nicotine rushes to the brain very fast and the body reacts immediately by secreting epinephrine—the same stuff the body naturally produces during times of fear, excitement, and stress. <br /><br />This gives us a short but powerful adrenaline rush. Heart rate and blood pressure go up, along with the output of glucose. Respiratory rates skyrocket. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">This means nicotine can kill in a matter of minutes. The lethal dose is 30-60 mg ( In comparison, it takes 70-200 mg of <a href="https://annerallensbooks.blogspot.com/2016/05/poisoning-people-for-fun-and-profit_20.html" target="_blank">arsenic</a> to kill.)</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.inchem.org/documents/pims/chemical/nicotine.htm#SectionTitle:2.1%20Main%20risks%20and%20target%20organs">The International Program on Chemical Safety</a> (IPCS) says: "Nicotine is one of the most toxic of all poisons and has a rapid onset of action. Apart from local caustic actions, the target organs are the peripheral and central nervous systems." <br /><br />Nicotine is a plant alkaloid named for a 16th century Frenchman named Jean Nicot de Villemain. He acquired tobacco plants and seeds from the Portuguese colony in Brazil and promoted their use during the 1560s. He managed to get the tobacco plant, <i>Nicotiana tabacum</i> named after him. <br /> </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Nicotine as a Murder Weapon.</span></h3>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />The first documented occurrence of someone using nicotine as a weapon was the 1850 case of the Count and Countess de Bocarme of Belgium, who decided to murder her younger brother, Gustave Fougnies, when Gustave was about to inherit the family money and estate. <br /><br />The Count was an amateur chemist who mysteriously amassed a large amount of tobacco in the summer of 1850. In November of that year, his young brother-in-law Gustave dropped dead after a dinner his sister had prepared. The couple announced the young man had suffered a fatal stroke. </span><br />
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But the servants were not convinced, especially since Gustave's face appeared to have been burned with a caustic substance. <br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jen Servais Stas discovered a test for nicotine</td></tr>
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Because of their barn had been full of those tobacco leaves, the police suspected that the couple might have poisoned Gustave with nicotine, but they had no test to prove it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">They knew that soaking tobacco and boiling down the extract could make a lethal poison, but they couldn't prove it. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">That's when Jean Servais Stas, a prominent Belgian chemist, decided to create a test for nicotine, known as the Stas-Otto method. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Soon after, the Count and Countess were charged with murder. <br /><br />More recently,<a href="https://abcnews.go.com/US/paul-curry-convicted-1994-nicotine-poisoning-death-wife/story?id=25881116" target="_blank"> in 2014, a man named Paul Curry was convicted</a> in Orange County CA of murdering his wife Linda with nicotine—20 years before. It was such an unusual weapon that authorities took that long to build a case (and it would be another four years before he came to trial.) <br /><br />The medical examiner found it suspicious that Linda, a nonsmoker, had high levels of nicotine in her blood. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Then there was the half-million dollar life insurance policy Paul had received. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">But still, the police did not initially suspect foul play. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">However after careful examination of the medical evidence, <a href="https://www.wired.com/2012/05/nicotine-and-the-chemistry-of-murder/">Dr. Neal Benowitz of the University of San Francisco Medical School determined</a> that Linda Curry, first disabled with sleep medication, died within 20 to 30 minutes after being poisoned with nicotine.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">There was only one person with her in that time frame—her husband.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">Nicotine Poisoning is a Growing Problem in the Age of Vaping </span></h3>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />Nicotine poisoning has become much more common since the invention of the e-cigarette. The liquid nicotine in one vaping cartridge contains enough poison to kill a child. Two or three could be lethal for a large adult. <br /><br />Vape Liquid, or E-Juice, comes in different strengths, depending on the manufacturer. It can be as high as 36 mg or even 42 mg. And you can buy refills in convenient eye-dropper bottles. In flavors like berry, cherry and Candy King. Yum.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">It only takes about 60 mg. of nicotine to kill the average-sized person. That would mean smoking 40 cigarettes at once, chewing 15 pieces of nicotine gum, wearing 4-5 patches… or ingesting just 2 doses of e-liquid. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br />Swallowing e-juice can be fatal. Even getting it on your skin is dangerous. This liquid is highly toxic, but unfortunately, it's not highly regulated. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Many Users Don’t Know the Perils of E-Juice</span></h3>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />Unfortunately, the candy-flavored vape juice is a magnet for teens and tweens, whose ability to make rational decisions may not have entirely matured. <br /><br />In researching the hazards of nicotine poisoning from vaping, I found a number of forums where teens discussed their concerns about poisoning. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Some of their comments were hair-raising.<br /><br />One young man was understandably worried because his vape pen had leaked and he’d swallowed some of the liquid. He wrote in the forum to ask for advice. </span><br />
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His charming fellow vapers called him a “pussy” and shamed him for worrying and told him not to call the poison hotline.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">One vaper claimed he drank “e-juice” all the time with no ill effects. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Another claimed to be immune to the caustic burns other humans get from the liquid. He bragged he’d felt nothing after a broken vape pen in his pocket leaked e-juice down his pants. He called the worried young man "a stupid hippy" for fearing the caustic poison. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">I wanted to jump in and tell the kid: If you listen to this troll, you'll burn off your face. Please be a "stupid hippy!"<br /><br />Maybe the trolls were lying, or maybe they’d only had a drop or two of the liquid. (Although even a drop can burn most people’s skin.) </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">It’s true they would have to drink at least 10 ml of vape juice to actually kill themselves. They might not even die from that amount, but if they survived, their heart and arteries would be permanently damaged. <br /><br />If they're not lying, the Dumb and Dumberer folks in that forum aren’t long for this world. <a href="https://abcnews.go.com/Health/wireStory/us-officials-call-teen-vaping-epidemic-weigh-flavor-57771143?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=facebook" target="_blank">The government is trying to put the brakes on the marketing</a> of this stuff to teens, but they’re fighting an uphill battle. </span><br />
<h2>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></h2>
<h3>
<span style="font-size: large;">$10 for a Lethal Dose of Liquid Nicotine.</span></h3>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />Not only is vape juice easy to get, but there are many websites that tell you how to make your own vaping concoctions.<br /><br />They link to sites where can buy liquid nicotine for the DYI e-juice for only about $10 for 60mg, the lethal dose. Very handy for those villains planning a budget murder (although you might want to swing for 2 bottles just to make sure.) <br /><br />The only obstacle to the perfect nicotine murder is the taste. Apparently it’s awful. This is why e-juice is so heavily flavored. <br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/1255/9455/products/FullSizeRender_15.jpg?v=1504658323" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="213" src="https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/1255/9455/products/FullSizeRender_15.jpg?v=1504658323" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Murder on a budget? </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
There are also the tell-tale caustic burns around the mouth you'd have to explain away. Maybe in a murder mystery, the fictional victim could be shown eating a very hot pizza—you know the kind that seems cool enough on the top, but has that hot cheese underneath that burns the roof of your mouth. Well, that's a stretch...</span><br />
<br />
<h2>
</h2>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Signs of Nicotine Poisoning</span></h3>
<br />
<br />
<h4 style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Early symptoms (15 minutes to an hour.)</span></h4>
<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Feeling nauseated </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Excessive watering of the mouth </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Trouble breathing </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Racing heartbeat </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Skyrocketing blood pressure </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Throbbing headache </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Blanched skin </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Dizzy, off-balance, or confused </span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<h4 style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Late-phase symptoms ( 1-4 hours later.) </span></h4>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />Diarrhea <br />Shallow breathing <br />Slower heartbeat <br />Lower blood pressure <br />Lethargy <br />Feeling weak, slow reflexes, or unable to control muscles <br />Seizures </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<h3>
<span style="font-size: large;">When to Get Help for Nicotine Poisoning </span></h3>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />In spite of what Dumb and Dumberer said in that forum, you want to call the American Association of Poison Control Center at 800-222-1222 right away if you suspect an overdose or when someone, especially a child or pet: </span><br />
<ul><span style="font-size: large;">
<li>Swallows any type of tobacco or nicotine product </li>
<li>Gets liquid nicotine in their eye </li>
<li>Spills liquid nicotine on their skin </li>
</span></ul>
<span style="font-size: large;">
<br />And if the person who is poisoned can't wake up, has a hard time breathing, or has a seizure, call 911.</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<h3>
<span style="font-size: large;">First Aid for Nicotine Poisoning</span></h3>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<ul><span style="font-size: large;">
<li>Don't try to make someone who's swallowed nicotine throw up or give them antacids to settle their stomach. </li>
<li>Give them lots of water. </li>
<li>Make sure their airway is clear. </li>
<li>Rinse eyes splashed with nicotine well with a lot of warm water for at least 15 minutes. </li>
<li>Where liquid nicotine has gotten onto skin, wash the area well with soap and water (either warm or cool) and rinse for at least 15 minutes.</li>
</span></ul>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span>
<br />
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<o:p><span style="font-size: large;"><i> Did you know that nicotine was so readily available in lethal doses? Have you ever had nicotine poisoning? Were you ever addicted to the stupid stuff the way I was?</i></span> </o:p></div>
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<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Here's a list of all the poisons in this series</span></div>
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</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="font-size: x-large; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
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<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://annerallensbooks.blogspot.com/2016/04/poisoning-people-for-fun-and-profit.html" style="color: #aa0033;">Part 1: Digitalis</a></span></div>
</div>
<div style="background-color: #ffffe5; color: #333333; font-family: georgia, utopia, "palatino linotype", palatino, serif; font-size: medium; text-align: center;">
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://annerallensbooks.blogspot.com/2016/04/poisoning-people-for-fun-and-profitpart.html" style="color: #aa0033;">Part 2: Wolfsbane</a></span></div>
</div>
<div style="background-color: #ffffe5; color: #333333; font-family: georgia, utopia, "palatino linotype", palatino, serif; font-size: medium; text-align: center;">
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://annerallensbooks.blogspot.com/2016/05/poisoning-people-for-fun-and-profitpart.html" style="color: #aa0033;">Part 3: Hemlock</a></span></div>
</div>
<div style="background-color: #ffffe5; color: #333333; font-family: georgia, utopia, "palatino linotype", palatino, serif; font-size: medium; text-align: center;">
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://annerallensbooks.blogspot.com/2016/05/poisoning-people-for-fun-and-profit.html" style="color: #aa0033;">Part 4: Poison Dart Frogs</a></span></div>
</div>
<div style="background-color: #ffffe5; color: #333333; font-family: georgia, utopia, "palatino linotype", palatino, serif; font-size: medium; text-align: center;">
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://annerallensbooks.blogspot.com/2016/05/poisoning-people-for-fun-and-profit_20.html" style="color: #aa0033;">Part 5: Arsenic</a></span></div>
</div>
<div style="background-color: #ffffe5; color: #333333; font-family: georgia, utopia, "palatino linotype", palatino, serif; font-size: medium; text-align: center;">
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://annerallensbooks.blogspot.com/2016/05/poisoning-people-for-fun-and-profit_27.html" style="color: #aa0033;">Part 6: Oleander</a></span></div>
</div>
<div style="background-color: #ffffe5; color: #333333; font-family: georgia, utopia, "palatino linotype", palatino, serif; font-size: medium; text-align: center;">
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://annerallensbooks.blogspot.com/2016/06/poisoning-people-for-fun-and-profitpart.html" style="color: #aa0033;">Part 7: Cyanide</a></span></div>
</div>
<div style="background-color: #ffffe5; color: #333333; font-family: georgia, utopia, "palatino linotype", palatino, serif; font-size: medium; text-align: center;">
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://annerallensbooks.blogspot.com/2016/06/poisoning-people-for-fun-and-profitpart_10.html" style="color: #aa0033;">Part 8: Belladonna</a></span></div>
</div>
<div style="background-color: #ffffe5; color: #333333; font-family: georgia, utopia, "palatino linotype", palatino, serif; font-size: medium; text-align: center;">
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://annerallensbooks.blogspot.com/2016/06/poisoning-people-for-fun-and-profit.html" style="color: #aa0033;">Part 9: Botulism</a></span></div>
</div>
<div style="background-color: #ffffe5; color: #333333; font-family: georgia, utopia, "palatino linotype", palatino, serif; font-size: medium; text-align: center;">
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://annerallensbooks.blogspot.com/2016/06/poisoning-people-for-fun-and-profitpart_24.html" style="color: #aa0033;">Part 10: Castor Beans</a></span></div>
</div>
<div style="background-color: #ffffe5; color: #333333; font-family: georgia, utopia, "palatino linotype", palatino, serif; font-size: medium; text-align: center;">
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://annerallensbooks.blogspot.com/2016/07/poisoning-people-for-fun-and-profitpart.html" style="color: #aa0033;">Part 11: White Snakeroot</a></span></div>
</div>
<div style="background-color: #ffffe5; color: #333333; font-family: georgia, utopia, "palatino linotype", palatino, serif; font-size: medium; text-align: center;">
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://annerallensbooks.blogspot.com/2016/07/poisoning-people-for-fun-and-profitpart_8.html" style="color: #aa0033;">Part 12: Strychnine</a></span></div>
</div>
<div style="background-color: #ffffe5; color: #333333; font-family: georgia, utopia, "palatino linotype", palatino, serif; font-size: medium; text-align: center;">
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://annerallensbooks.blogspot.com/2016/07/poisoning-people-for-fun-and-profitpart_15.html" style="color: #aa0033;">Part 13: Datura</a></span></div>
</div>
<div style="background-color: #ffffe5; color: #333333; font-family: georgia, utopia, "palatino linotype", palatino, serif; font-size: medium; text-align: center;">
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://annerallensbooks.blogspot.com/2016/07/poisoning-people-for-fun-and-profitpart_22.html" style="color: #aa0033;">Part 14: Mandrake</a></span></div>
</div>
<div style="background-color: #ffffe5; color: #333333; font-family: georgia, utopia, "palatino linotype", palatino, serif; font-size: medium; text-align: center;">
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://annerallensbooks.blogspot.com/2016/07/poisoning-people-for-fun-and-profitpart_29.html" style="color: #aa0033;"></a><a href="http://annerallensbooks.blogspot.com/2016/07/poisoning-people-for-fun-and-profitpart_29.html" style="color: #aa0033;">Part 15: Seafood Poisoning</a></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://annerallensbooks.blogspot.com/2016/08/poisoning-people-for-fun-and-profitpart.html" style="color: #aa0033;" target="_blank">Part 16: Antifreeze</a></span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="background-color: #ffffe5; color: #333333; font-family: georgia, utopia, "palatino linotype", palatino, serif; font-size: medium; margin: 0px;">
<div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://annerallensbooks.blogspot.com/2016/08/poisoning-people-for-fun-and-profitpart_12.html" style="color: #aa0033;" target="_blank">Part 17: Visine</a></span></div>
</div>
<div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://annerallensbooks.blogspot.com/2016/08/poisoning-people-for-fun-and-profitpart_19.html" style="color: #aa0033;" target="_blank">Part 18: Polonium</a></span></div>
</div>
<div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://annerallensbooks.blogspot.com/2016/08/poisoning-people-for-fun-and-profit.html" style="color: #aa0033;" target="_blank">Part 19: Rosary Pea</a></span></div>
</div>
<div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://annerallensbooks.blogspot.com/2016/09/poisoning-people-for-fun-and-profit.html" style="color: #aa0033;" target="_blank">Part 20: Thallium</a></span></div>
</div>
<div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://annerallensbooks.blogspot.com/2016/09/poisoning-people-for-fun-and-profitpart.html" style="color: #aa0033;" target="_blank">Part 21: Henbane</a></span></div>
</div>
<div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://annerallensbooks.blogspot.com/2016/10/poisoning-people-for-fun-and-profit.html" style="color: #aa0033;" target="_blank">Part 22: Halloween Candy</a></span></div>
</div>
<div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://annerallensbooks.blogspot.com/2016/11/poisoning-people-for-fun-and-profitpart.html" style="color: #aa0033;" target="_blank">Part 23: Poison Rings</a></span></div>
</div>
<div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://annerallensbooks.blogspot.com/2017/01/poisoning-people-for-fun-and-profit.html" style="color: #aa0033;" target="_blank">Part 24: Daffodils</a></span></div>
</div>
<div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://annerallensbooks.blogspot.com/2017/02/poisoning-people-for-fun-and-profit.html" style="color: #aa0033;">Part 25: Yew</a><br /><a href="http://annerallensbooks.blogspot.com/2017/03/toxic-relationshipsthe-most-dangerous.html" style="color: #aa0033;">Part 26: Toxic Relationships</a></span></div>
</div>
<div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://annerallensbooks.blogspot.com/2017/04/poisoning-people-for-fun-and-profit.html" style="color: #aa0033;" target="_blank">Part 27: Warfarin</a></span></div>
</div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://annerallensbooks.blogspot.com/2017/05/poisoning-people-for-fun-and-profit-can.html" style="color: #aa0033;" target="_blank">Part 28: Mustard Gas</a></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://annerallensbooks.blogspot.com/2017/08/antimonypoisoning-people-for-fun-and.html" style="color: #aa0033;">Part 29: Antimony</a></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://annerallensbooks.blogspot.com/2017/09/lead-poisoning-people-for-fun-and.html" style="color: #aa0033;">Part 30: Lead</a></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://annerallensbooks.blogspot.com/2018/01/opium-poppies-poisoning-people-for-fun.html" style="color: #aa0033;">Part 31: Opium Poppy</a></span></div>
</div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<div style="background-color: #ffffe5; color: #333333; font-family: georgia, utopia, "palatino linotype", palatino, serif; font-size: medium;">
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://annerallensbooks.blogspot.com/2018/02/mercury-poisoning-people-for-fun-and.html">Part 32: Mercury</a></span></div>
</div>
<div style="background-color: #ffffe5; color: #333333; font-family: georgia, utopia, "palatino linotype", palatino, serif; font-size: medium;">
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://annerallensbooks.blogspot.com/2018/03/nerve-agents-sarin-tabun-vx-and.html">Part 33: Nerve Agents</a></span></div>
</div>
<div style="background-color: #ffffe5; color: #333333; font-family: georgia, utopia, "palatino linotype", palatino, serif;">
<div style="font-size: medium; margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://annerallensbooks.blogspot.com/2018/04/gelsemium-poisoning-people-for-fun-and.html">Part 34: Gelsemium</a> </span></div>
<div style="font-size: medium; margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://annerallensbooks.blogspot.com/2018/05/carbon-monoxide-poisoning-people-for.html">Part 35: Carbon Monoxide</a></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://annerallensbooks.blogspot.com/2018/07/sleeping-pillspoisoning-people-for-fun.html" target="_blank">Part 36: Sleeping Pills</a></span></div>
</div>
<div style="background-color: #ffffe5; color: #333333; font-family: georgia, utopia, "palatino linotype", palatino, serif; font-size: medium;">
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<br />
<h2 style="text-align: center;">
~</h2>
<h2 style="text-align: center;">
BOOK SPOTLIGHT</h2>
<h2 style="text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZTzGF1w7uXMMgHtbaxucGxZH4nwvbos0zXJC4oqKHJUoYsBuCArieC2BVy-UlJp8-VSnlXpTyU2KvEEEkqrqiNNAesaF-UzVi4j-lJWKXS9J65f3UxTT0DBcSDxOWyHtvXlhHEibAmKc/s1600/LadyLake800x500.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZTzGF1w7uXMMgHtbaxucGxZH4nwvbos0zXJC4oqKHJUoYsBuCArieC2BVy-UlJp8-VSnlXpTyU2KvEEEkqrqiNNAesaF-UzVi4j-lJWKXS9J65f3UxTT0DBcSDxOWyHtvXlhHEibAmKc/s320/LadyLake800x500.jpg" width="133" /></a></div>
<b><i>THE LADY OF THE LAKEWOOD DINER</i></b> is a comedy that pokes fun at the myth of a Golden Age, making parallels between the Grail legend and the self-mythologizing of the Baby Boomer Generation.<br />
<br />
Someone has shot aging bad-girl rocker Morgan Le Fay and threatens to finish the job. Is it fans of her legendary dead rock-god husband, Merlin? Or is the secret buried in her childhood hometown of Avalon, Maine?<br />
<br />
Morgan's childhood best friend Dodie, the no-nonsense owner of a dilapidated diner, may be the only one who knows the dark secret that can save Morgan's life. And both women may find that love really is better the second time around. Think <i>Beaches</i> meets <i>Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe.</i></div>
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<i>"A page turning, easily readable, arrestingly honest novel which will keep you laughing at yourself. Who doesn't remember crashing on a mattress at a friend's apartment with the stereo blasting Iron Butterfly and no idea where you'll stay the next night? A cultural masterpiece for the discerning reader."</i>...Kathleen Keena, author of <i>Adolescent Depression, Outside/In</i><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>The Lady of the Lakewood Diner</i> is only 99c until September 30th, 2018 at<a href="http://authl.it/2a7"> all the Amazons</a></span><br />
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</div>
</div>
Anne R. Allenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02420000168356370825noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-154552092903273548.post-47176575334563309652018-08-31T09:23:00.000-07:002018-08-31T09:23:28.388-07:00Googling Old Boyfriends<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I don't have another poison episode this month, because I'm busy finishing up my latest Camilla Randall Mystery (#7) <i>Googling Old Boyfriends. </i>I'm sending it to my editor on Monday. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">It's scheduled to come out in December. Paperback in January. (And there will be a fun staged reading in Morro Bay with actress Mara Purl in February.)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">And yes, there will be poisons involved.</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;">~</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Here's a taste:</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">“Okay, ’fess up.”
Mickie McCormack startled me as she plunked a copy of Liane Moriarty’s <i>Truly, Madly, Guilty</i> on my counter at the bookshop. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">“If you’re that
distracted by the Internet you’re either looking at porn or you’re Googling old
boyfriends.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">Mickie’s brown eyes
twinkled at me from behind Ralph Lauren tortoise shell frames. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">I felt my cheeks heat
up. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">“Um, I’m guilty of the
latter, I’m afraid. I’ve just run into an old boyfriend and he’s invited me to
dinner, but…”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">The bell on the door
jingled.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large; text-indent: 0.5in;">There he was. Captain
Maverick Jesus Zukowski of the L.A.P.D. Six foot, three inches of tall, dark, and
the-one-who-got-away. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">~</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">No cover yet. I'm working on some ideas to give to the designer. I'm thinking of something like this:</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">Of course Buckingham will have to make an appearance.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">As long as Oona Foster isn't there. Then he'll hide out until she's gone.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">And here's Buckingham on the cover of his own book, which is only 99c right now on Amazon! </span></div>
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<b><i>SO MUCH FOR BUCKINGHAM:</i> Camilla mystery #5</b></div>
<i><br /></i>This comic novel—which takes its title from the most famous Shakespearean quote that Shakespeare never wrote—explores how easy it is to perpetrate a character assassination whether by a great playwright or a gang of online trolls.<br />
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It's a laugh-out-loud mashup of romantic comedy, crime fiction, and satire: Dorothy Parker meets Dorothy L. Sayers. Perennially down-and-out socialite Camilla Randall--a.k.a. "The Manners Doctor"--is a magnet for murder, mayhem and Mr. Wrong, but she always solves the mystery in her quirky, but oh-so-polite way. Usually with more than a little help from her gay best friend, Plantagenet Smith.<br />
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In this hilarious episode she makes the mistake of responding to an online review of one of her etiquette guides and sets off a chain of events that leads to arson, attempted rape and murder.<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "tahoma" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"> </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "tahoma" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span><b>Sample reviews:</b><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "tahoma" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span><i>"Delicious wit, wonderful eccentric characters, and a beguiling plot. Camilla Randall is a delight!</i>"...Melodie Campbell, "Canada's Queen of Comedy."</div>
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<i>"Both a comedic romance and a crime suspense thriller, it presents the 'Perils of Pauline' adventures of a modern author, Camilla, whose mad-cap follies are hugely entertaining. But the novel has a serious undertone of social comment. Even the craziest of its zanies have their counterparts in the real world and the author faithfully depicts their grim, and often deadly, sub-cultures behind a veneer of knockabout wit. Highly recommended for anyone who enjoys romance, and crime suspense, with a lethally satiric edge."</i> Dr. John Yeoman.<i><br /><br />"Anne Allen's ability to weave throughout her stories a current social commentary easily and throughout the story amazes me. She does this without jeopardizing her plot or her characters' development."...</i>blogger Sherrey Meyer<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>So Much for Buckingham</i> is available in ebook at <a href="http://authl.it/3cn">all the Amazons</a>,</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/ebook/so-much-for-buckingham-2"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">Kobo</span></a></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">, </span></span><a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/so-much-for-buckingham-anne-r-allen/1122797996?ean=2940157905095" style="font-family: 'times new roman', serif; line-height: 24px;">Nook</a><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/584852"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">Smashwords</span></a></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">,</span><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/id1049612385"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"> iTunes</span></a></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">, </span><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.inktera.com/store/title/74dcfa73-6350-4928-b593-8a05bb3c0707"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">Inkterra</span></a></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">, <a href="https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Anne_R_Allen_So_Much_For_Buckingham_The_Camilla_Ra?id=_P8xCwAAQBAJ">Google Play</a>, <a href="https://www.24symbols.com/book/x/x/x?id=1469085" target="_blank">24Symbols</a> and</span><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.scribd.com/book/285085608/So-Much-For-Buckingham-The-Camilla-Randall-Mysteries-5"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"> Scribd</span></a></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">And in paperback it is available at</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Much-Buckingham-Camilla-Randall-Mysteries/dp/1517659167/ref=sr_1_1_twi_pap_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1455302560&sr=8-1&keywords=so+much+for+buckingham+by+anne+r.+allen">Amazon</a>, <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/So-Much-Buckingham-Camilla-Mysteries/dp/1517659167/ref=sr_1_1_twi_pap_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1455303449&sr=8-1&keywords=So+Much+for+Buckingham+Anne+R.+Allen">Amazon UK </a>, and <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/so-much-for-buckingham-anne-r-allen/1122797996?ean=9781517659165">Barnes and Noble</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">And there's an Audiobook! It's narrated by CS Perryess and Anne R. Allen is available from </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/So-Much-Buckingham-Camilla-Mysteries/dp/B01LX6ODD1/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1474153429&sr=8-1&keywords=So+Much+for+Buckingham+audiobook" target="_blank">Audible</a> and <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/audiobook/so-much-for-buckingham-camilla/id1155699058" target="_blank">iTunes</a></span><br />
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<br />Anne R. Allenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02420000168356370825noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-154552092903273548.post-59991013766657382152018-07-27T11:29:00.002-07:002018-07-27T11:29:57.287-07:00Sleeping Pills—Poisoning People for Fun and Profit #36. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: large;">Sleeping pills used to be a reliable way of putting nasty Great-Aunt Augusta out of your misery if you were a financially embarrassed heir who was afraid the old dear was about to change her will and leave all her millions to her pet hedgehog. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8d/Flaming_June%2C_by_Frederic_Lord_Leighton_(1830-1896).jpg/898px-Flaming_June%2C_by_Frederic_Lord_Leighton_(1830-1896).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="799" height="320" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8d/Flaming_June%2C_by_Frederic_Lord_Leighton_(1830-1896).jpg/898px-Flaming_June%2C_by_Frederic_Lord_Leighton_(1830-1896).jpg" width="319" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Flaming June" by Fredrick Lord Leighton</td></tr>
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If she had a prescription for them, it would be tough for the police to tell a murder from an accidental overdose, so they came in very handy. <br /><br />But sedatives have become much safer in recent years. The dangerous barbiturates of the late 19th and early 20th century have largely been supplanted by benzodiazepines. (The first benzodiazepine, Librium, was invented in 1955.) <br /><br />In the 21st century the newer “Z-drugs” are usually the sleeping pills of choice. <br /><br />Death from benzodiazepine or Z-drug overdoses alone isn’t common, but when they’re combined with alcohol, antidepressants, or opioids, there’s a much higher risk of overdose. And the elderly and people with chronic illnesses are especially vulnerable to lethal overdoses. </span><br />
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So if Great-Aunt Augusta is suffering from a chronic ailment, that Ambien or Xanax she takes might work just as well as the old-fashioned phenobarbital or Seconal if you put a high dose in her evening snack. Especially if she enjoys a bit of a tipple before bed.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Z-Drugs </span></h3>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />Zolpidem (Ambien), Eszopiclone (Lunesta) and, and zaleplon (Sonata) are non-benzodiazepine drugs used in the treatment of insomnia and commonly referred to as the “Z-drugs.” </span></div>
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Z drugs are typically used to assist people who have a hard time falling asleep, rather than ones who wake frequently. They act on the central nervous system (CNS) and reduce heart rate (the number of times the heart beats per minute), and increase shallow breathing both of which are controlled by the CNS. </div>
<br />They induce sleep but don’t treat anxiety. And they’re very short lived. They leave the body within an hour or two. <br /><br />Poisoning somebody with Z-drugs would take rather a lot of pills. One Ambien tablet is usually 10 milligrams. 600 mg could kill somebody in fragile health, but 2,000 mg would be necessary to make sure the job was done.<br /><br />An overdose of Lunesta can happen at approximately at about 270 mg. and it takes about 200mg. of Sonata. But people have been known to survive that dosage if alcohol isn’t involved. <br /><br />But it’s good to note that any number of sleeping pills over the recommended dose can kill under the right circumstances. They shut down the respiratory center and people simply stop breathing. <br /> </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">Benzodiazepines </span></h3>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />Benzodiazepines (Librium, Ativan, Valium, Xanax) are named because of their actions on the benzodiazepine receptors located in the brain. They act in pretty much the same way as the Z-drugs, but they're less likely to affect other systems in the body. </span><br />
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They're also much more effective in treating anxiety.</span></div>
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Unfortunately they can be drugs of abuse, because it’s easy to build a tolerance for them. The FDA reported that in 2013, benzodiazepines were involved in 31% of the estimated 22,767 deaths from prescription drug overdose in the United States, usually caused by a combination of benzodiazepines with opioids. <br /><br />Following an overdose of a benzodiazepine, symptoms kick in within 4 hours. Victims tend to appear drunk, with impaired balance, slurred speech, and uncontrolled muscle function. They also can show “paradoxical” symptoms like anxiety and aggression. Sometimes they’ll also suffer nausea and vomiting. <br /></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br />The old fashioned barbiturates like Nembutal, phenobarbital, and Seconal are still in use, although they're no longer prescribed as sedatives. <br /><br />They're used for general anesthesia, epilepsy, acute migraines, and cluster headaches. Veterinarians use them for euthanasia of small animals. <br /><br />And they’re still one of the most abused drugs around. In 2007, the Lancet listed them third in terms of physical harm, fourth in terms of social harm and fifth in dependence. <br /><br />They are highly addictive and the patient can become addicted within a month. They are a commonly sought-after street drug, since they give a feeling of well-being. <br /><br />During the first part of the 20th century – especially during the 1930s and 1940s – barbiturates were popular prescription “wonder” drugs, prescribed for everything from autism to epilepsy. It’s estimated that in 1939 over 2.2 million doses were sold in the US. By 1945, that number had nearly tripled. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5c/Sleeping-Beauty-by-Victor-Gabriel-Gilbert.jpg/1098px-Sleeping-Beauty-by-Victor-Gabriel-Gilbert.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="655" data-original-width="800" height="262" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5c/Sleeping-Beauty-by-Victor-Gabriel-Gilbert.jpg/1098px-Sleeping-Beauty-by-Victor-Gabriel-Gilbert.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Sleeping Beauty" by Victor Gabriel Gilbert</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">But the number of barbiturate prescriptions have decreased significantly since the 1970s. </span></div>
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<br />Death due to acute barbiturate poisoning typically occurs because of a stoppage in breathing. Like other CNS depressants, barbiturates suppress respiration. This is especially true – and especially hazardous – when they are taken in combination with other depressants like alcohol or opioids. <br /><br />Symptoms of an overdose again mimic drunkenness: staggering, difficulty in thinking, slurred speech, faulty judgement, and drowsiness. <br /><br />A lot of celebrities of the era died of barbiturate poisoning, either accidental or self-inflicted. Judy Garland, Marilyn Monroe, and Jimi Hendrix all died of barbiturate overdoses. So did columnist Dorothy Kilgallen—although a number of conspiracy theorists of the Nixon era suspected murder in her case. <br /> </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br />Flumazenil (Romazicon) is a competitive benzodiazepine "receptor antagonist" that can be used as an antidote for both Z-drug and benzodiazepine overdose. But the drug is controversial since it can cause a number of dangerous side effects. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Here's a list of all the poisons in this series</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://annerallensbooks.blogspot.com/2016/04/poisoning-people-for-fun-and-profit.html" style="color: #aa0033;">Part 1: Digitalis</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://annerallensbooks.blogspot.com/2016/04/poisoning-people-for-fun-and-profitpart.html" style="color: #aa0033;">Part 2: Wolfsbane</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://annerallensbooks.blogspot.com/2016/05/poisoning-people-for-fun-and-profitpart.html" style="color: #aa0033;">Part 3: Hemlock</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://annerallensbooks.blogspot.com/2016/05/poisoning-people-for-fun-and-profit.html" style="color: #aa0033;">Part 4: Poison Dart Frogs</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://annerallensbooks.blogspot.com/2016/05/poisoning-people-for-fun-and-profit_20.html" style="color: #aa0033;">Part 5: Arsenic</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://annerallensbooks.blogspot.com/2016/05/poisoning-people-for-fun-and-profit_27.html" style="color: #aa0033;">Part 6: Oleander</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://annerallensbooks.blogspot.com/2016/06/poisoning-people-for-fun-and-profitpart.html" style="color: #aa0033;">Part 7: Cyanide</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://annerallensbooks.blogspot.com/2016/06/poisoning-people-for-fun-and-profitpart_10.html" style="color: #aa0033;">Part 8: Belladonna</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://annerallensbooks.blogspot.com/2016/06/poisoning-people-for-fun-and-profit.html" style="color: #aa0033;">Part 9: Botulism</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://annerallensbooks.blogspot.com/2016/06/poisoning-people-for-fun-and-profitpart_24.html" style="color: #aa0033;">Part 10: Castor Beans</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://annerallensbooks.blogspot.com/2016/07/poisoning-people-for-fun-and-profitpart.html" style="color: #aa0033;">Part 11: White Snakeroot</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://annerallensbooks.blogspot.com/2016/07/poisoning-people-for-fun-and-profitpart_8.html" style="color: #aa0033;">Part 12: Strychnine</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://annerallensbooks.blogspot.com/2016/07/poisoning-people-for-fun-and-profitpart_15.html" style="color: #aa0033;">Part 13: Datura</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://annerallensbooks.blogspot.com/2016/07/poisoning-people-for-fun-and-profitpart_22.html" style="color: #aa0033;">Part 14: Mandrake</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://annerallensbooks.blogspot.com/2016/07/poisoning-people-for-fun-and-profitpart_29.html" style="color: #aa0033;"></a><a href="http://annerallensbooks.blogspot.com/2016/07/poisoning-people-for-fun-and-profitpart_29.html" style="color: #aa0033;">Part 15: Seafood Poisoning</a></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://annerallensbooks.blogspot.com/2016/08/poisoning-people-for-fun-and-profitpart.html" style="color: #aa0033;" target="_blank">Part 16: Antifreeze</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://annerallensbooks.blogspot.com/2016/08/poisoning-people-for-fun-and-profitpart_12.html" style="color: #aa0033;" target="_blank">Part 17: Visine</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://annerallensbooks.blogspot.com/2016/08/poisoning-people-for-fun-and-profitpart_19.html" style="color: #aa0033;" target="_blank">Part 18: Polonium</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://annerallensbooks.blogspot.com/2016/08/poisoning-people-for-fun-and-profit.html" style="color: #aa0033;" target="_blank">Part 19: Rosary Pea</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://annerallensbooks.blogspot.com/2016/09/poisoning-people-for-fun-and-profit.html" style="color: #aa0033;" target="_blank">Part 20: Thallium</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://annerallensbooks.blogspot.com/2016/09/poisoning-people-for-fun-and-profitpart.html" style="color: #aa0033;" target="_blank">Part 21: Henbane</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://annerallensbooks.blogspot.com/2016/10/poisoning-people-for-fun-and-profit.html" style="color: #aa0033;" target="_blank">Part 22: Halloween Candy</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://annerallensbooks.blogspot.com/2016/11/poisoning-people-for-fun-and-profitpart.html" style="color: #aa0033;" target="_blank">Part 23: Poison Rings</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://annerallensbooks.blogspot.com/2017/01/poisoning-people-for-fun-and-profit.html" style="color: #aa0033;" target="_blank">Part 24: Daffodils</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://annerallensbooks.blogspot.com/2017/02/poisoning-people-for-fun-and-profit.html" style="color: #aa0033;">Part 25: Yew</a><br /><a href="http://annerallensbooks.blogspot.com/2017/03/toxic-relationshipsthe-most-dangerous.html" style="color: #aa0033;">Part 26: Toxic Relationships</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://annerallensbooks.blogspot.com/2017/04/poisoning-people-for-fun-and-profit.html" style="color: #aa0033;" target="_blank">Part 27: Warfarin</a></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://annerallensbooks.blogspot.com/2017/05/poisoning-people-for-fun-and-profit-can.html" style="color: #aa0033;" target="_blank">Part 28: Mustard Gas</a></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://annerallensbooks.blogspot.com/2017/08/antimonypoisoning-people-for-fun-and.html" style="color: #aa0033;">Part 29: Antimony</a></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://annerallensbooks.blogspot.com/2017/09/lead-poisoning-people-for-fun-and.html" style="color: #aa0033;">Part 30: Lead</a></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://annerallensbooks.blogspot.com/2018/01/opium-poppies-poisoning-people-for-fun.html" style="color: #aa0033;">Part 31: Opium Poppy</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://annerallensbooks.blogspot.com/2018/02/mercury-poisoning-people-for-fun-and.html">Part 32: Mercury</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://annerallensbooks.blogspot.com/2018/03/nerve-agents-sarin-tabun-vx-and.html">Part 33: Nerve Agents</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://annerallensbooks.blogspot.com/2018/04/gelsemium-poisoning-people-for-fun-and.html">Part 34: Gelsemium</a> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://annerallensbooks.blogspot.com/2018/05/carbon-monoxide-poisoning-people-for.html">Part 35: Carbon Monoxide</a></span></div>
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<div style="font-size: x-large; text-align: center;">
<br />
BOOK OF THE MONTH<br />
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ONLY 99C!!!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTWLY6uNr7VCnOEk0ktxepmq7akKHSzvCjD0-0wAEQgPM4j0D1X51JREaz0IHgbN1-dQfgFvwc3FsZwy3qzaTILgBKVQluPgQr5CrkaZ43E5XaJoDbQ7_GVfCxPFu3-iYK0WI-EeDSmnk/s1600/Ghostwriters+med+(3).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTWLY6uNr7VCnOEk0ktxepmq7akKHSzvCjD0-0wAEQgPM4j0D1X51JREaz0IHgbN1-dQfgFvwc3FsZwy3qzaTILgBKVQluPgQr5CrkaZ43E5XaJoDbQ7_GVfCxPFu3-iYK0WI-EeDSmnk/s200/Ghostwriters+med+(3).jpg" width="133" /></a></div>
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<b><i>GHOSTWRITERS IN THE SKY:</i></b> <b>Camilla Mystery #1 </b><br />
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After her celebrity ex-husband’s ironic joke about her “kinky sex habits” is misquoted in a tabloid, New York etiquette columnist Camilla Randall’s life unravels in bad late night TV jokes.<br />
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Nearly broke and down to her last Hermes scarf, she accepts an invitation to a Z-list Writers’ Conference in the wine-and-cowboy town of Santa Ynez, California, where, unfortunately, a cross-dressing dominatrix named Marva plies her trade by impersonating Camilla.<br />
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When a ghostwriter’s plot to blackmail celebrities with faked evidence leads to murder, Camilla must team up with Marva to stop the killer from striking again.</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>Ghostwriters in the Sky</i> is available in e-book at <a href="http://authl.it/2a1">all the Amazons</a> <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/ghostwriters-in-the-sky/id888319234?mt=11">iTunes</a>, <a href="https://play.google.com/store/books/details?id=hjrHCgAAQBAJ">GooglePlay</a><a href="https://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/ebook/ghostwriters-in-the-sky-3"> Kobo</a>, <a href="http://www.inktera.com/store/title/693206a9-ee24-4553-9acb-05fdc1909221">Inktera</a>, <a href="https://www.scribd.com/book/230974233/Ghostwriters-In-The-Sky-The-Camilla-Randall-Mysteries">Scribd</a> and <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/ghostwriters-in-the-sky-anne-r-allen/1108307125?ean=2940148156901">NOOK.</a></span><br />
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">It is available in paper at <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Ghostwriters-In-The-Sky-Mysteries/dp/1502704862/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1412962769&sr=8-7&keywords=Ghostwriters+in+the+Sky">Amazon</a> & <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/ghostwriters-in-the-sky-anne-r-allen/1120528530?ean=9781502704863">Barnes and Noble</a> </span><br />
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Anne R. Allenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02420000168356370825noreply@blogger.com2