Monday, August 29, 2022

Blurb Blitz and Giveaway: MacKenzie's Last Run by Gayle Rosengren

Welcome to my stop on the blurb blitz for MacKenzie's Last Run by Gayle Rosengren. This blitz was organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. On my stop, I have an excerpt from the book as well as the blitz wide giveaway for a chance to win a $100 Amazon or Barnes & Noble gift card. Be sure to visit the other stops on the blitz for more content. Good luck!
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Title: MacKenzie's Last Run
Author: Gayle Rosengren
Publication Date: September 1st 2022
Print Length: 190 pages
Genre: Middle Grade Fiction
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Thirteen-year-old MacKenzie (Mac) Lawrence secretly blames himself for his father’s death. In his grief and guilt, he has pulled away from everyone, even his twin sister Tessa. When their mother announces her plans to remarry barely 18 months after Dad’s death, Mac is furious and runs away in an attempt to force her to break off the engagement.

Unfortunately, nothing goes as Mac plans. He ends up seriously injured, miles from home, unable to reach out for help, while clues he inadvertently left behind suggest he’s been kidnapped—possibly by Mom’s fiancé—and set his twin sister Tessa on a desperate search to find him. But she’d better hurry, because the clock is ticking, and Mac is running out of time.

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EXCERPT:
“We’re not keeping anything from you, Mrs. Lawrence,” Sergeant Hernandez said. “I promise. It’s just that Officer Borkowski has been concerned by some of the unusual circumstances surrounding MacKenzie’s disappearance.”

Mom’s forehead puckered. “Unusual circumstances?”

The sergeant nodded. “The fact that MacKenzie didn’t take any money with him, for example. That’s very unusual for a runaway. And he didn’t take his bike either. Again, this isn’t the norm. Taken together with the bloodstains on the carpet, well, there’s another possible explanation that we can’t entirely rule out.”

The back of Tessa’s neck prickled. What was Sergeant Hernandez getting at? She looked at her mother, who was frowning at the police woman, twisting her hands together. “I still don’t understand. What are you trying to say?”

Beside her, Simon’s eyebrows snapped together. “Surely you’re not suggesting what I think you are.” He pulled Mom closer.

Tessa’s throat tightened.

“What is it?” Mom’s eyes were huge green pools of panic.

“We need to investigate the possibility that your son may not have run away,” Sergeant Hernandez said. “Someone may have taken him.”

Mom shook her head like Tessa did to get water out of her ears after a dive. Her mouth sagged open and she slumped against Simon. “No.”

Tessa’s heart cannonballed into her stomach. They thought someone took Mac. They thought someone broke into his room and took him! But that was crazy. Why would anyone want to kidnap Mac?
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
As a girl, books were among Gayle Rosengren’s best friends and inspired her dream of writing for children someday. It was a dream that only grew stronger over the years. Gayle majored in Creative Writing in college. Her first book, What the Moon Said (Putnam 2014) was a Jr. Library Guild selection and CCBC title, and her second, Cold War on Maplewood Street (Putnam 2015) won the Tofte-Wright Award for Children’s Literature. She has worked as an advertising copywriter, a pre-school teacher, a youth services assistant in her local public library; and a research assistant in the American Girl library. Gayle is a lover of stories whether she’s writing them or reading them.

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GIVEAWAY:
Gayle Rosengren will be awarding a $100 Amazon or Barnes & Noble gift card to a randomly drawn winner via Rafflecopter. Good luck!

(All the Ups and Downs is not responsible for this giveaway, its entries, or the prize. Goddess Fish Promotions and the author assume all responsibility over this giveaway.)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

218 comments:

  1. Looks like an interesting book.
    Thanks for the contest. 

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    1. Thanks! I hope this taste sparks your appetite to read the entire novel. 😉 --Gayle Rosengren

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  3. Gayle Rosengren has had lots of interesting facets in her career that are sure to enrich her writing.

    Nancy
    allibrary (at) aol (dot) com

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    1. I hope you feel like all those facets helped to make my book shine! 😊

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    1. Thank you! You must read it now to prove your instincts are right. 😊

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  5. Sounds like a great read for the younger audience. I too felt guilty about someones' death and know for a 13 yr old would be such a struggle

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    1. Sounds like you understand the reason why I wrote MacKenzie's Last Run. 👍

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  6. Sounds like a great read for younger adults.

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  7. this sounds like a very interesting read

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  8. After reading reviews on Goodreads, I want to read this book. It's a really timely and interesting topic, the aftermath of a tragedy and the ensuing feelings that the different family members carry with them. The book's cover looks great.

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    1. What lovely comments! Thank you. --Gayle Rosengren

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  9. I like the excerpt and cover. Thanks for sharing.

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  10. Sounds like an exciting page turner!

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  11. Sounds like a good one! Added to my TBR!

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  12. Sounds like an enjoyable book. My grandson would really like this book.

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  13. This would be perfect for my son. Good work.

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  14. What did you do with your first advance?

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  15. I love the cover and think the book sounds interesting.

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  16. Sounds like a fascinating read. Looking forward to reading the book.

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    1. Yesss! Enjoy! --Gayle Rosemgren

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  17. This sounds like a really unique story line - I'd love to win this book!

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  18. Congratulations on your upcoming release of MacKenzie's Last Run, Gayle, I enjoyed the excerpt and your book sounds like a book that my granddaughter will love! Good luck with your book and the blitz!

    Thanks for sharing it with me and have a spectacular week!

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    1. Thank you for all the positive feedback everyone. This book is very dear to my heart and I hope it will find as warm areception with teachers and tween readers!

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  19. Sounds like a great book. I'm looking forward to reading it.

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  20. David HollingsworthAugust 29, 2022 at 6:21 PM

    Congrats on your book!

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  21. Sounds like a great read. Thanks for providing the excerpt.

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  22. The book sounds interesting. email > r.d1@myfairpoint.net

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  23. Thanks for sharing such an awesome sounding book.

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  24. Thank you for sharing an excerpt, it was great

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  25. It sounds like there could be a lot of twists and turns in this one and I’m all for it!

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  26. I love the synopsis of this story. Count me in !

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  27. Thanks for hosting this contest and the chance to win.

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  28. What question do you wish that someone would ask about your book, but nobody has?

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  29. The excerpt is interesting. Thank you for sharing it.

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  30. The excerpt is great I will have to get a copy for my nephew .

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  31. This book has an amazing and compelling cover - the design was a good choice for the story. - Libby

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  32. Love the excerpt. Can't wait to read the whole thing. The cover art is beautiful too.

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  33. Thank you for the chance to win!

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  34. This sounds like an interesting read.

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  35. David HollingsworthAugust 31, 2022 at 2:19 AM

    Happy Wednesday!

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  36. You are a new author to me - I have to check out your books.

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  37. I used to teach preschool too! I have that in common with the author 💜

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  38. Is there anything specific that inspired this book?

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  39. sounds like a wonderful book, thanks

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  40. this looks really great, thank you for the mega awesome chance

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  41. I would love to share this book with my niece who lost her mom!

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  42. What is your plan for children's literacy rates increasing?

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  43. Will you write more now that Fall is here?

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  44. Idk why, but scary stories in the woods always terrified me!

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  45. Here's to a sensational September!

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  46. Is there any advice that you got early on about writing that has stuck with you?

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  47. What kind of pet would you have, if you could any pet?

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  48. This sounds like an interesting book and I also like the cover.

    abfantom at yahoo dot com

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  49. Happy Friday! I hope you have a great holiday weekend!

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  50. does hot weather affect your writing

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  51. How did you come up with idea for this story?

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  52. Thank you so much for the generous giveaway

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  53. Have a safe weekend!

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  54. I can't wait to see if Mac's twin sister Tessa can find him in time, this is a great book to read.

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  55. What was your favorite chapter and why?

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  56. What is your favorite movie of all time?

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  57. Do you have a favorite type of BBQ food?

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  58. Which authors do you admire and why?

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  59. did you always want to be a writer

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  60. How do you come up with ideas for books?

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  61. Have a safe weekend!

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  62. I like the excerpt. Sounds like an exciting book to read!

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  63. this sounds like a wonderful book

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  64. I think many kids can relate to this situation. Sounds like a good read on multiple levels.

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  65. Who inspired you when you first began to write?

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  66. I am curious to know why Mac may blame himself for his dad's death and what goes through Tessa's mind when she is looking for her brother.

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  67. what are you looking forward to this Fall

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  68. How many books have you written and which is your favorite?

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  69. When you were a kid, did you ever think of running away from home?

    Nancy
    allibrary (at) aol (dot) com

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  70. Sounds like a great read!

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  71. Thank you for a chance to win, This book looks so neat and fantastic keep up the great work!

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  72. Do you decorate for fall?

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  73. I have grand kids who would love this!
    Thank you for sharing this.

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  74. Have any of your books been made into audiobooks? If so, what are the challenges in producing an audio book?

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  75. This book sounds like something I would love to read.

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  76. Here's to a wonderful Wednesday!

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  77. Happy Wednesday everyone! It’s almost Friday, and for that, I am thankful.

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  78. Do you listen to podcasts?

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  79. Are you having hot weather? Bleh.

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  80. Do you have a strict writing schedule or do you just write when you want to?

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  81. What is your favorite childhood memory?

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  82. Happy Friday!

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  83. What inspired the idea for your book?

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  84. What was the highlight of writing this book?

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  85. Tell us about your first published book? What was the journey like?

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  86. This looks like a great read. The plot is intriguing.

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  87. MacKenzie's Last Run by author Gayle Rosengren sounds like a fascinating and engaging book.

    Nancy
    allibrary (at) aol (dot) com

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  88. Hope your weekend is good.

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  89. I love mysteries! Can't wait to read it and solve the mystery.

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  90. If you could spend a day with another popular author, whom would you choose?

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  91. Somehow, I was thinking you read Nancy Drew books as I was reading what you write. I will check on some of your books.

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    Replies
    1. Should have had my name. Leona Olson.

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  92. How many books do you write each year?

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  93. What other titles did you think about for this book?

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  94. thanks again, best wishes with the book

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  95. What a great excerpt and cover. I would love to read your book.

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  96. This looks like a book that is packed with adventure.

    Nancy
    allibrary (at) aol (dot) com

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  97. Who is your favorite author?

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  98. What are some of your best ideas?

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  99. This sounds like one that will keep me reading well into the night.
    heather hgtempaddy

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  100. What is your favourite season to write in?

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  101. Happy Tuesday!

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  102. This books sounds like a great suspense and as if it has quite a few good twists.

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  103. congrats on the book hope all is going well

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  104. Do you have a favorite fall activity?

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  105. I love a book with twists & turns!

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  106. Happy Wednesday!

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  107. What kind of book are you writing right now?

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  108. What do you like best about your phone?

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  109. I hope you are having a good day.

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  110. Do you like chips or nuts as a snack?

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  111. Do you like working with your editor?

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  112. is there a time of year that you tend to write more

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  113. I hope you have a nice weekend.

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  114. I loved the book Ferdinand as a kid and I read it to my son as well!

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  115. Do you like bread?

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  116. What book to you like to re-read?

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  117. Do you like poetry?

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  118. is there an author that inspires you

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  119. Hope you are having a wonderful weekend!

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  120. When I was a girl, books were some of my best friends, too!

    Nancy
    allibrary (at) aol (dot) com

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  121. What inspires you to write books?

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  122. Who's your favorite author?

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  123. thanks this sounds like a wonderful book to read

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  124. Where did you draw the inspiration from for this book, and how do you get yourself out of a creative rut.

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  125. Do you enjoy relaxing with a good book?

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  126. What is your favorite time of year?

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  127. I'm hearing crickets. Do you have crickets where you live?

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  128. do you tend to write more in fall and winter

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  129. I am sure your various careers all enrich your writing.

    Nancy
    allibrary (at) aol (dot) com

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  130. Where did you get the instiration for this book ?

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  131. Happy Tuesday!

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  132. Thank you for the great book and nice give away.

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  133. Do you have a favorite time of day to do your writing?

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  134. Have you ever met your favorite author?

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  135. Congrats on the book!

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  136. Do you keep writing notes on you phone?

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