tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-676436043900809962024-03-05T13:02:38.970-08:00Deanna SkaggsDeanna Skaggshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17072645254982986636noreply@blogger.comBlogger46125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-67643604390080996.post-75839105467493695612020-09-23T18:59:00.004-07:002020-09-23T18:59:33.844-07:00Telling Stories<p> I sat and told myself a story,</p><p>until the stories became all I saw.</p><p>Then you came and sat beside me,</p><p>and you became my story.</p><p>Reality once trickled away into pages to hide.</p><p>Now reality dances in the air around me. </p>Deanna Skaggshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17072645254982986636noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-67643604390080996.post-68565317278816565642019-12-18T06:54:00.001-08:002019-12-18T06:54:16.390-08:00Digital Book GiveawayIt's almost Christmas! And I've realized that, while I have the whole first chapter of my novel available to read for free (<a href="http://www.deanna-skaggs.com/p/read-excerpt.html">here's the link</a>), I have nothing like that for my non-fiction book. I don't necessarily want to put up a big sample because it's quite short; however, I would like to do something to give it to more readers.<br />
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So all through the rest of December 2019, send me an email mentioning this post to deanna [dot] skaggs at gmail (you get the idea, just remove the spaces and brackets and put a period in between my first and last names) and I'll send you a free digital copy of my latest book, <i>Silence and Boldness: Finding Freedom through Trust</i>. No strings; I just wanted to have the chance to share it with a few more readers this winter. And don't worry, I don't have a newsletter or anything, so you won't suddenly start getting bombarded with emails.<br />
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If you'd still like to get a hard copy of either of my books, they're at 40% off at <a href="http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/deannaskaggs">this link. </a><br />
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Merry Christmas!<br />
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<br />Deanna Skaggshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17072645254982986636noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-67643604390080996.post-79082824098884834632019-08-01T20:21:00.000-07:002019-08-01T20:21:05.657-07:00Print Copies & Digitals Arrive<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, FreeSerif, serif;">The reality of a writer's life: formatting your manuscript for the digital edition while making dinner, getting the email that the first step of the approval process for that edition is underway while on lunch at work, coming home from work to a package containing the new batch of printed copies of your latest book, blogging about your book while making dinner after work. Yeah, life goes on--you just have to fit the writing in between it all. The food, too, always fit in the food.</span></div>
<br style="font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, FreeSerif, serif;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, FreeSerif, serif;">I got my proof copy of my latest book, </span><i style="font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, FreeSerif, serif;"><a href="http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/deannaskaggs" style="color: black; text-decoration: none;">Silence and Boldness</a></i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, FreeSerif, serif;">, in the mail a couple weeks ago. But that was kind of just to make sure it looked alright; the big batch of them is where the excitement begins.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, FreeSerif, serif;">Even though I didn't really write this particular book to try and turn out profit (my plan is to mainly give it away) (not, of course, to imply that I wouldn't like to turn a profit, just that that isn't my goal with this one), it's still fun to set out several copies of a book with your name on it and just enjoy the moment. I give you a glimpse at my desk, too, for the fun of it.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, FreeSerif, serif;">For all you ebook readers out there, the digital edition is now available from </span><a href="http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/deannaskaggs" style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, FreeSerif, serif; text-decoration: none;">Lulu</a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, FreeSerif, serif;">. It will be on all the other major ebook sites later, but you can get it </span><a href="http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/deannaskaggs" style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, FreeSerif, serif; text-decoration: none;">there right now</a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, FreeSerif, serif;"> (the digital is $2.99). And paperback and hardcover copies of both my books are still currently 30% off, if you're interested.</span>Deanna Skaggshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17072645254982986636noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-67643604390080996.post-34555879870768468392019-07-23T16:27:00.000-07:002019-07-23T16:27:33.747-07:00My New Book: Silence and Boldness<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, FreeSerif, serif;">I had something I needed to do, something I needed to say. I worried that it wasn't significant enough to bother about. I worried that it wasn't enough to make a book out of. I worried that I didn't even know how to go about editing something like this.</span><br style="font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, FreeSerif, serif;" /><br style="font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, FreeSerif, serif;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, FreeSerif, serif;">But ultimately I knew that what was most important was simply getting it out. It is my second book, which is not my second novel (the novel remains a work in progress) as I thought it would be. Yet here it is. Ready for it?</span><br />
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<a href="http://www.lulu.com/shop/deanna-skaggs/silence-and-boldness-finding-freedom-through-trust/paperback/product-24172486.html"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9epSWB7UgJVq5GE47DyvdbiQULpub_dj1IDuIsc9DX3C_RtU80lfAGRjt23J_VXawo1Y-PVXXeF-uUD7nRJx73ryfmfE4l1QfHN0ZSI3MUQj-gA4AuRQ5Smrz1pxCoZandEUjVMLU2pQ/s320/croppedcover.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, FreeSerif, serif; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: times, "times new roman", serif;">From the back cover: </span></span><br style="font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, FreeSerif, serif;" /><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, FreeSerif, serif; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: times, "times new roman", serif;"><br /></span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, FreeSerif, serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, FreeSerif, serif; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: times, "times new roman", serif;">In this fallen world, sometimes darkness is all we can see. But there is more. The light of our Creator and the beauty of his Creation are enough to tear us out of our chaos.
Here is the story of stepping forward and allowing God to give strength and hope. Centering all thoughts on him brings the great freedom we crave. Seeing his love provides context for all that life brings. Here is the story of how I found both silence and boldness, each with their place in my life.</span></span><br style="font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, FreeSerif, serif;" /><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, FreeSerif, serif; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: times, "times new roman", serif;"><br /></span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, FreeSerif, serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, FreeSerif, serif; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: times, "times new roman", serif;"><br /></span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, FreeSerif, serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, FreeSerif, serif; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: times, "times new roman", serif;">It will be available at all the major online retailers like Barnes & Noble and Amazon in a few weeks (and I should be getting the digital edition out soon, too), but you can already get a copy from <a href="http://www.lulu.com/shop/deanna-skaggs/silence-and-boldness-finding-freedom-through-trust/paperback/product-24172486.html" style="color: black; text-decoration: none;">this link</a>. To celebrate the release, it's at 30% off right now (hardcover and paperback copies of my novel, <i>Black Tree</i>, are 30% off right now, too, if you'd like to get both). </span></span><br style="font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, FreeSerif, serif;" /><br style="font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, FreeSerif, serif;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, FreeSerif, serif;">And even though this is a different type of book, still it's exciting to now have two in print books of mine:</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 14.850000381469727px;"><br /></span>Deanna Skaggshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17072645254982986636noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-67643604390080996.post-20408447942089433832019-03-26T12:43:00.000-07:002019-03-26T12:43:08.336-07:00I'm Sorry<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "times new roman" , "times" , "freeserif" , serif;">I'm sorry for what I did when I couldn't breathe.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "times new roman" , "times" , "freeserif" , serif;">I'm sorry for what I said when I couldn't see.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "times new roman" , "times" , "freeserif" , serif;">Did I let the chaos out?</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "times new roman" , "times" , "freeserif" , serif;">Now you see why I need to contain the chaos.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "times new roman" , "times" , "freeserif" , serif;">The stars only shine by burning, but we only love their shine because we forget that they're burning.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "times new roman" , "times" , "freeserif" , serif;">I'm sorry I let you see me burn.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "times new roman" , "times" , "freeserif" , serif;">I burn best in silence, where you can't see me.</span>Deanna Skaggshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17072645254982986636noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-67643604390080996.post-84627649996654978022019-02-20T11:42:00.002-08:002019-02-20T11:42:48.668-08:00The Water<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, FreeSerif, serif;">The water has changed. Perhaps.</span><br style="font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, FreeSerif, serif;" /><br style="font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, FreeSerif, serif;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, FreeSerif, serif;">I don't have a fear of water. But I don't like aquariums, that sort of thing. Even the fish tank sections in pet stores can be a little uncomfortable to be around. So it took me a little while to make it over to Odysea Aquarium.</span><br style="font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, FreeSerif, serif;" /><br style="font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, FreeSerif, serif;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, FreeSerif, serif;">There were likely a variety of factors involved (one being that their tanks are newer and cleaner than some and also better lit and smaller than some), but the tanks didn't much bother me. A little . . . but then it faded. I worried before getting to certain sections that I thought would be bad . . . and then wondered why I'd been worried.</span><br style="font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, FreeSerif, serif;" /><br style="font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, FreeSerif, serif;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, FreeSerif, serif;">I think I've mentioned that water is an element in my next book. So I'd thought that if I ever went to the aquarium, I might even want to bring a notebook to get some material. But there was nothing for me to write down.</span><br style="font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, FreeSerif, serif;" /><br style="font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, FreeSerif, serif;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, FreeSerif, serif;">Which, in fact, is quite fitting. Like most symbols, water has two sides: the good and the bad. Water is life and water is death. Like how red, for instance, is both love and hate. It's that flip from one to the other that I'm trying to explore in this book. Maybe that's why I haven't been working on it lately: I needed to flip myself before the theme could.</span>Deanna Skaggshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17072645254982986636noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-67643604390080996.post-50583074244667493792019-01-14T18:06:00.002-08:002019-01-14T18:06:52.121-08:00Roses Walking<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 14.850000381469727px;">There are roses walking across the earth,</span><br style="font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 14.850000381469727px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 14.850000381469727px;">Their blood is dripping red.</span><br style="font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 14.850000381469727px;" /><br style="font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 14.850000381469727px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 14.850000381469727px;">Petals scatter,</span><br style="font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 14.850000381469727px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 14.850000381469727px;">Thorns fall.</span><br style="font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 14.850000381469727px;" /><br style="font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 14.850000381469727px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 14.850000381469727px;">Brambles take hold,</span><br style="font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 14.850000381469727px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 14.850000381469727px;">Tearing and trembling.</span><br style="font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 14.850000381469727px;" /><br style="font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 14.850000381469727px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 14.850000381469727px;">Roots rip the ground,</span><br style="font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 14.850000381469727px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 14.850000381469727px;">Seedlings spring up.</span><br style="font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 14.850000381469727px;" /><br style="font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 14.850000381469727px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 14.850000381469727px;">Roses rise up in beauty,</span><br style="font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 14.850000381469727px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 14.850000381469727px;">and then shrivel.</span><br style="font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 14.850000381469727px;" /><br style="font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 14.850000381469727px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 14.850000381469727px;">The dried rose petals are the most exquisite of all.</span>Deanna Skaggshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17072645254982986636noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-67643604390080996.post-73581341760161280482018-10-15T11:26:00.001-07:002018-10-15T11:27:11.653-07:00Writing Adventures: Part 13So. I've had this draft sitting for a while. I only add to it bit by bit because it's hard right now to have time to really sit with it and let it develop more. However, I think I'm going to let it sit even more because I think I have something else to do first.<br />
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The idea first came in to my head some months ago. Now it's more prevalent, and it's one of those things where I feel that if I'm considering it at all, then that means I must see it through.<br />
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So my second book may not in fact be my second novel. Instead, it might be what I suppose for now we'll just call more of a non-fiction piece. Probably something quite short, unless it develops into more that I can't see yet.<br />
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As I've had some more days here and there to myself and as simultaneous contentment and concern have bubbled within me, I've felt more content to spend a random hour or even just half hour in the evening writing. I'm not just tired wanting to relax; I want to work on this my chosen craft. (Did I chose it, though? Or was it chosen for me? If the latter, then even more reason for me to develop it.)<br />
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I have things I want to share and maybe need to share. With how many people I don't know and that doesn't matter; even one person would be enough. So the other manuscript will continue sitting (maybe I'll still work on it at my turtle pace; we'll see) while I try and focus on this new project.Deanna Skaggshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17072645254982986636noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-67643604390080996.post-86621856031308950892018-06-28T17:28:00.002-07:002018-06-28T17:28:25.161-07:00Writing ProgressIt's an exciting thing to print out a draft for the first time.<br />
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I didn't think I was at that stage yet; I thought I was going to write up more first. Then I just felt like I needed to print it all out to be able to do more. After all, I do have a beginning, some early stages, a tiny bit of the middle, and an ending (maybe not the end end but some of the end). Time to take a step back and see what I have in order to be able to see what I need.<br />
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Having printed out said manuscript, I read through it all yesterday. Some of this I wrote months and months ago and have barely looked at since. So it's a strange sensation to suddenly see it physical--and to see that it does work toward a whole. Sometimes I've felt like I've really been letting this latest book drag. But there are pieces of it that I could only have written at certain specific times. When I was writing the beginning, for instance, I only knew the beginning; I knew nothing of the rest. Later, I started to get the pieces that I was missing.<br />
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In fact, I was missing so much that I expected, when I read through it all, to find a definite tone shift halfway through. I was expecting to find incongruence that I'd need to fix. Surprisingly, though, I didn't find much of that. Instead I just find gaps that I need to fill in more (which I already knew I'd need given that this is a complete-but-not-complete draft). I did write one scene twice--and it's quite different each time. I mean, I wrote the same scene for <i>Black Tree </i>two or maybe even three times because I thought I hadn't written it yet (and then I ended up not even using it; it might actually work better in this new book, though, strange enough). That scene was mostly the same each time that I wrote it. Not the case for this current one. One version is definitely better as far as theme and character go, but I do love the setting of the other version--so I might have to just keep the setting and figure out what scene is supposed to go with that setting.<br />
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And I realize that I'm missing a scene that I remember writing. I write in a couple of different notebooks (one is more for when I'm free writing, but that often turns into content that I can use) and occasionally on loose paper (I type it all up later), but I can't find that scene anywhere. So a little bit of organization is necessary, I suppose.<br />
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Anyway. It's been a while since I did a sale for <i>Black Tree</i>. So let's call it an Independence Day sale for 40% off paperback and hardcover copies at <a href="http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/deannaskaggs">this link</a>.Deanna Skaggshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17072645254982986636noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-67643604390080996.post-28000826939134001842018-02-13T19:29:00.002-08:002018-02-14T05:42:57.809-08:00What It Feels Like to Start Writing AgainI've been telling everyone that yes, I have started work on a second book. The reality, though, is that, while I do have a decent start at that second book, and while I do think about it frequently (which is part of the work of working on a book), it had been months since I had added anything visibly significant to such book.<br />
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A few days ago, I started up again. And I can feel the change.<br />
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I can feel it physically in my wrist. Nothing irks my wrist more than writing with a pencil (a Sharpie, for instance, is okay--I do a lot of writing with Sharpies these days, but I guess they're fine because they're thicker--so maybe I need a thicker pencil). Yet I prefer to do most of the early stages of writing with a pencil. The later stages can be done on a keyboard. But there is something . . . less visible about working with a pencil on paper; it's an effect that frees me to write out words in a sort of free write style, to be unconcerned with what I am putting out. Later on you can remove or change whatever needs removing or changing, but at the moment you just need to write down whatever comes--because the process is what breathes whatever needs to be brought into existence.<br />
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I can feel it in my mood, too. Jubilation mingles with sitting on the edge. I felt free when the other night after being unable to sleep I got out of bed for a free write and then returned to bed feeling a sense of weightlessness. But I feel . . . caught up when I think of the issues this book will be bringing up: I have to feel emotions and themes in order to write them. So here I am, perfectly happy (well, you know, on average), trying to stir up feelings practically of a mid-life crisis. I can be sitting inside of my skin and then suddenly jump into my mind into this other skin, this skin I'm making up, and feel so caught up in that other skin that I in fact do start mingling that life with my own (which is dangerous territory to fall into, I realize).<br />
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What else do I feel? Pleased. I've been letting these "early stages" of this next book drag out rather long. It feels right to know that I'm finally starting up at it again and that when I tell people that more will be coming, it is true. Maybe it would have been better to get a second book out close on the heels of the first, but I think that the more time elapses between the two, the more I will realize how I can make improvements. I'm realizing certain things that I didn't do with the first book that I can do with this one, certain things that I held back on before that I don't need to hold back on this time.<br />
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I am free and I am taken because my veins have started to bleed words again.Deanna Skaggshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17072645254982986636noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-67643604390080996.post-59805332981669972582017-09-01T16:42:00.001-07:002017-09-01T16:47:22.877-07:00September Book Sale & Signed BooksSeptember is my time to celebrate, so all this month I'm offering paperback and hardcover copies of my novel, <i>Black Tree</i>, for 40% off at <a href="http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/deannaskaggs">this link</a> (you can still buy it from the other major booksellers, as well, but the sale is only from here).<br />
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And if you live in the state, I'd also like to point out where you can go to buy signed copies. About an hour and a half north of the Phoenix area and forty minutes south of Sedona, there is a wonderful antique store by the name of <a href="http://www.sweetpeaantiquesaz.com/">Sweet Pea Antiques</a>. It's right on 260 in Camp Verde, just a couple minutes off of the 17--and right in the exact center of the state. So if you're traveling north or south, to state parks or museums or camping spots or anywhere else, the shop is likely not far out of the way. I have both hardcover and paperbacks there, and they're all signed; you can even pick up a free bookmark to go along with your book. I'm also selling handmade greeting cards: birthday cards, thank you cards, congratulations cards (and maybe some Halloween cards coming up).<br />
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Need some extra persuasion? <a href="http://www.deanna-skaggs.com/p/read-excerpt.html">Click here</a> to read the first chapter and get a sample of my writing style.<br />
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<a href="http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/deannaskaggs"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiinAr-Dn8xuxrhFIQdyIi5_xVceMQF5TcNcUe3-dBEbWYpfGHSVBxqRaV_S-nnFg3Q9LKxtA3i_bRVnyDfEzryCrvRF5oPuPiypwC6zXsOawddBCD9xnfetUquvrbiwwl9-SK-1Us8K7U/s320/CoverFinal2.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
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Have a great Labor Day weekend.</div>
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Deanna Skaggshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17072645254982986636noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-67643604390080996.post-6584616851649767902017-06-28T11:52:00.002-07:002017-06-28T11:52:59.039-07:00Independence Day SaleFourth of July is almost here, and you know what that means: it's time for another book sale. Get yourself or a friend a little summer reading.<br />
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Paperback and hardcover copies of <i>Black Tree </i>are 30% off at <a href="http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/deannaskaggs">this link only</a>. Enjoy.<br />
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<a href="http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/deannaskaggs"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwF2wNnqD-KOelCFElgp0x1iy-1arXKfSASiJvo5ihvOK2dGlc1I_AcIsP30w61_QKrF5zCipOJxpLhxxRvPJjjsK5dFxCAW0s-dVnP3px1KAwYXPCi7k3z5W0Dv4fRc2awDVNhBhPOvM/s320/CoverFinal2.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
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The sale will continue through Tuesday. And though the sale is only at the above link, remember that you can always buy <i>Black Tree </i>from the other major retailers if you prefer.</div>
<br />Deanna Skaggshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17072645254982986636noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-67643604390080996.post-48537964154690156992017-06-13T12:30:00.000-07:002017-06-13T12:30:01.662-07:00A Pictorial Look at Black Tree - VII.III<i>Black Tree</i>'s third narrator, Julia, lives in Prescott, and chapter seven finds her at Courthouse Square. The Square is like its own park: there is grass and the large trees keep it shaded even in summer (though Prescott generally stays reasonably cool--or at least not unreasonably hot). There are benches and tables. Plenty of people bring their dogs out for a walk here; others just stroll around to enjoy the day. Surrounding the Square are various shops, a few restaurants and bars, and of course the antique stores.<br />
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These first picture are from April 2012. The trees are starting to grow back their leaves after the winter.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixC3z2PCBRzPwFKeOiEluFTUTX2-k-Me9hSZwLrO2hakrQuQzjyCquymQfFq29JtkxCbOQPp_pmGY8kJorWojARqp-J4WjT0ob20ExaG9QxWnTecMvPMoDBBC_wUW6jERi15Oyu-ot-z0/s1600/IMG_8708.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixC3z2PCBRzPwFKeOiEluFTUTX2-k-Me9hSZwLrO2hakrQuQzjyCquymQfFq29JtkxCbOQPp_pmGY8kJorWojARqp-J4WjT0ob20ExaG9QxWnTecMvPMoDBBC_wUW6jERi15Oyu-ot-z0/s320/IMG_8708.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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A look toward the northern edge. You can see a few of the stores there, including Bashford Courts (the tall white building), where I buy raw shea butter. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijadKfTHIT5cHrbWD7uoX0l2HlVm99sPSy5_wZpE2qISDzc-r5mmWkFzvxn-fk0izmknaR3GGtB8YrX-pU-CgmrKdsheMQ65KvMhN4tjL1x8r8u9iox0thcVazq811-CseLdDH5eDVH2U/s1600/IMG_8709.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijadKfTHIT5cHrbWD7uoX0l2HlVm99sPSy5_wZpE2qISDzc-r5mmWkFzvxn-fk0izmknaR3GGtB8YrX-pU-CgmrKdsheMQ65KvMhN4tjL1x8r8u9iox0thcVazq811-CseLdDH5eDVH2U/s320/IMG_8709.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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This is the northeast corner, looking diagonally across to some of the historic buildings (the surrounding builds are part of what make the Square so nice to visit). If you continue up the street, you come into Antique Row, where in the book Julia has her antique store. I based the layout of her store on a couple of different ones combined.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEk98YjHJQuFLZTso8EV1oFVzSN4txKHzafVxfcud5p2jk6jQe83frs3K5W2QbXZN6BnP-QSijpIRvVRoH5dZDxVn6me0V-3un4aVYtrGBuP2ar272EpR2jhg_uElRzt3l97Wbi3E_lCQ/s1600/IMG_8711.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEk98YjHJQuFLZTso8EV1oFVzSN4txKHzafVxfcud5p2jk6jQe83frs3K5W2QbXZN6BnP-QSijpIRvVRoH5dZDxVn6me0V-3un4aVYtrGBuP2ar272EpR2jhg_uElRzt3l97Wbi3E_lCQ/s320/IMG_8711.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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There are a couple of different memorial statues around the Square.</div>
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Another view of the Courthouse, which sits right in the middle.</div>
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And here is the Prescott "P" up on its hill. This picture implies that Prescott is much more rural and flat than it really is. In reality, though, Prescott is not at all flat, given that it's in a somewhat piney region. And while it is not a big city, I wouldn't call it a small town, either. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjo4224TzQytdliqb725St0h663ZeKTQ1lI9UfTM7xUApT1_TMoDx1tQ6rrSyJ_zc2MrslUWm6hvgSqaShj7Mx5qtby2E1j-S3C5yxPaZBWx6lAEXRd-Pd7s5DWQKklKsVGLkCBuRk6jk/s1600/IMG_8706.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjo4224TzQytdliqb725St0h663ZeKTQ1lI9UfTM7xUApT1_TMoDx1tQ6rrSyJ_zc2MrslUWm6hvgSqaShj7Mx5qtby2E1j-S3C5yxPaZBWx6lAEXRd-Pd7s5DWQKklKsVGLkCBuRk6jk/s320/IMG_8706.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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As a bonus, here are a couple of pictures from December 2012 showing some of the Square's Christmas lights. I don't think that any of it shows in these images, but there was still some snow on the ground in places from a recent snowfall. Prescott gets cold winters, with plenty of wind and ice and definitely some snow. </div>
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You can get an idea from all of these lights that Prescott is big about decorating. Mt. Vernon St. (the place of historic Victorian homes, where Julia lives) is just a couple of streets away from the Square. Everyone there decorates on a grand scale for such holidays as Halloween and Christmas. Hence Julia's feeling of obligation (later in the book) to put up her Christmas lights even when she was not in the mood to celebrate. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOMnJD5QvtbAYALnElbAMcp-LBvW55AMjczTd4Wz0etTn5r6VOnRF8voNzMlj_81cNtKZsLOogABu3TT0TKbBsrOkKMpqLb2nxa1Pr5KDLelK-E_UpNfuZYjGYENLOM4FOnp9zARy6pDI/s1600/IMG_9969.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOMnJD5QvtbAYALnElbAMcp-LBvW55AMjczTd4Wz0etTn5r6VOnRF8voNzMlj_81cNtKZsLOogABu3TT0TKbBsrOkKMpqLb2nxa1Pr5KDLelK-E_UpNfuZYjGYENLOM4FOnp9zARy6pDI/s320/IMG_9969.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br />Deanna Skaggshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17072645254982986636noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-67643604390080996.post-66623989476122940942017-05-25T16:51:00.001-07:002017-05-25T16:51:44.174-07:00Memorial Day SaleI'm starting the Memorial Day Sale early, and you're the first to find out. You can currently get paperback and hardcover copies of <i>Black Tree </i>for 30% off at <a href="http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/deannaskaggs">this link</a>. It's a good time to start stocking up on summer reading.<br />
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<a href="http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/deannaskaggs"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBTOWJAqTt8Fg8FNbISei8b8vP0ej973ZVYu988zKgeSIT8kHZe0Tl5y1PnBEtLwRdWfMp-WdYTsqrfK8Jh_LuK8yZBX4JfMMHvIz68cbpxE6xI8nk1_j7NMIERZMAcVj6Q1U1mhxvayU/s320/CoverFinal2.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
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The sale will continue through Monday. And if you're still undecided, <a href="http://www.deanna-skaggs.com/p/read-excerpt.html">click here</a> to read the first chapter before you buy the whole book.</div>
<br />Deanna Skaggshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17072645254982986636noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-67643604390080996.post-53803130336989906942017-05-09T15:31:00.001-07:002017-05-09T15:31:59.956-07:00Black Tree Visiting the LibrariesOne of the things that I know as a reader is that you often find the books that speak to you most in the smallest places. This is why it's important to not just read newly published books, and the reason why used bookstores can be so valuable. It's in random places that we make discoveries. Someone bought <i>A Walk Between Heaven and Earth </i>for me at a yard sale, for instance, and that book turned out to heavily influence how I approach writing. And I just <a href="http://tinyurl.com/k5n5jsr">posted on my blog</a> yesterday my reaction to Alma Snell's autobiography, <i>Grandmother's Grandchild</i>, which was a book that I greatly enjoyed and happened to have found at an antique store.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFxMR7KuXfThIAvyzpRzBGmmDCQ00D-B6odZc0QnZoOQyVn5wEsmljRRtHdhyDZGIOyZnrA_OILV3yYJ63Uo2BnqFa2gCmae1xw-pibJSsPE6g2Dl-PKEqQ-pBzFmb4qUnWAwj2jNB1Z0/s1600/IMG_1393.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFxMR7KuXfThIAvyzpRzBGmmDCQ00D-B6odZc0QnZoOQyVn5wEsmljRRtHdhyDZGIOyZnrA_OILV3yYJ63Uo2BnqFa2gCmae1xw-pibJSsPE6g2Dl-PKEqQ-pBzFmb4qUnWAwj2jNB1Z0/s320/IMG_1393.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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It's with this idea of sharing books that people started putting together Little Free Libraries (with the give one, take one style). So it occurred to me that this might be a place where I can share my book. Maybe the first person to find it won't love it. Maybe they will. Either way, they will hopefully pass it on, and it can reach even more people this way. It's just a small bit of sharing, but I like the idea of it. I started with leaving one in Phoenix and one in Scottsdale. I would like to put out at least a couple of more in this way, but I didn't want to be too pushy, so I've been waiting a bit. Soon, though.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJDl-H9EhDKDh76X6kxI4Wvbxtz8cmJ7GTupNRGTTlTR-diJHcmVpOSDybqTpKMaxWKPHPvzH67aYwBXzAvRHf_X_yqMiY9Nnfy45-cNY6HQq-XbbP-k3V0TxbT0TViZpmPUgZuWiSHgI/s1600/IMG_1399.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJDl-H9EhDKDh76X6kxI4Wvbxtz8cmJ7GTupNRGTTlTR-diJHcmVpOSDybqTpKMaxWKPHPvzH67aYwBXzAvRHf_X_yqMiY9Nnfy45-cNY6HQq-XbbP-k3V0TxbT0TViZpmPUgZuWiSHgI/s320/IMG_1399.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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If you come across <i>Black Tree</i> at one of the Little Free Libraries around Phoenix or even elsewhere, I hope you enjoy this experience of quiet book sharing.<br />
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And if you're more into traditional libraries, I believe the Sedona Library has a copy. I haven't brought it to any of the libraries here yet.<br />
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One more small piece of news: you can also find <i>Black Tree </i>listed on the Alumni Publications page for ASU's Department of English (<a href="https://english.clas.asu.edu/node/1538">click here</a> for the link). Obviously you don't need to find it there if you're already here, yet it's still fun to see it there with all of the other recent publications. The ASU alumni (and faculty) certainly keep busy with writing.<br />
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As always, click <a href="http://www.lulu.com/spotlight.com/deannaskaggs">here</a> to buy <i>Black Tree</i>. It's also available from the usual online retailers, if you prefer: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/author/deannaskaggs">Amazon</a>, Barnes & Noble, Book Depository, and iTunes.Deanna Skaggshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17072645254982986636noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-67643604390080996.post-41689221548966247992017-04-04T17:46:00.001-07:002017-04-04T17:46:28.928-07:00April Book SaleI just realized that I haven't posted here in a while (you can catch me more regularly on <a href="http://www.deliriousdocumentations.com/">my blog</a>), and I also haven't done a book sale in a while. That means it's time for something special.<br />
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For this month, you can get paperback and hardcover editions of <i>Black Tree </i>for 40% off at <a href="http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/deannaskaggs">this link</a>. This is the biggest discount I've done so far, so you'll want to take this opportunity if you've been considering getting my book. The sale will continue through the end of the month. Sorry, it doesn't apply to the digital edition.<br />
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Happy reading, everyone.<br />
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<br />Deanna Skaggshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17072645254982986636noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-67643604390080996.post-13561926242459375632017-02-28T14:40:00.000-08:002017-02-28T14:40:24.376-08:00A Pictorial Look at Black Tree - V.II, VI.II<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Black Canyon City is a small town roughly twenty minutes above the Phoenix area. During drives between Phoenix and the Verde Valley, I always loved to look out at the changing landscape, so it was natural for Julia to describe this land in a couple of places, as well. Because she gives the names or at the least the general area of each place, it's easy to tell which location she is in. But did you catch all of the locations that Abigail described?</div>
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For instance, in V.II, Abigail reaches a place with "an obelisk of raw earth and rock that grew up from a sloping platform" (89). She gives no name to this place because Abigail isn't in our time, but the place that I was describing was Black Canyon City, a little spot along the highway that has always caught my eye. There are so many shapes and colors and textures to look at. Here you can see a couple of pictures I took from the car on a cloudy day this past December.</div>
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I have one more view to share with you today. In VI.II, Abigail gives a rather bloody description of the redness of a Central-to-Southern Arizona sunset. I guess you could say I took a beautiful thing and gave it a touch of the grotesque--but Abigail's description is thematic and by way of theme returns to beauty. Here we have a glimpse of a Phoenix sunset's notorious bright orange, taken a couple of weeks ago at the Desert Botanical Garden. It's a rather dark picture for a sunset shot, perhaps, but that goes well with the darkness of Abigail's description, don't you think?</div>
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<br />Deanna Skaggshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17072645254982986636noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-67643604390080996.post-16015395144847657732017-02-14T15:45:00.000-08:002017-02-14T15:45:00.821-08:00Award Coin & New MerchandiseRemember the Shelf Unbound Best Indie Book Competition, in which I was a runner-up with <i>Black Tree</i>? Well, the award coins have come in, and my coin is particularly excited to be home. I've set it up on top of my display copy of the book.<br />
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Once again, I'd like to say that it's nice to get outside acknowledgement that I created something worthwhile. It's a pleasure to have individuals say that they liked your book, but it's an even further honor to have any kind of recognition from a bigger group or organization.<br />
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I'm also taking this moment to make an announcement. I've opened up a store on Zazzle where you can buy <i>Black Tree </i>merchandise. Shirts, tote bags, stickers, mugs, that sort of thing. Definitely let me know if you have ideas for other products or designs, or if there is maybe a quote you'd like me to use in a design. The link to the store is <a href="http://www.zazzle.com/deannaskaggs">www.zazzle.com/deannaskaggs</a>.<br />
<br />Deanna Skaggshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17072645254982986636noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-67643604390080996.post-55451785829862733452017-01-31T10:11:00.000-08:002017-01-31T10:11:23.099-08:00A Pictorial Look at Black Tree - IV.IAs you'll know if you also read my blog, I've been busy moving down to the Phoenix area, hence my lack of attention toward such Internet things as this collection of pictures. But I am back now, and today I'm sharing what will pretty much be the only pictures representing the location of the first narrator in <i>Black Tree</i>.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib3fFtvKblpjIN6Gh05V1q320X_A9ZhyphenhyphenSw2poK5feSwcQ7fmxaL-nmp-UaZt_Pk1Qp28cwZqwIVd9PMwNH3-ae8A522xyOqyeCDVa7wfPGx6hjvsltya9blaFSeMy26EOLAmilbpCnk9o/s1600/IMG_0514.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib3fFtvKblpjIN6Gh05V1q320X_A9ZhyphenhyphenSw2poK5feSwcQ7fmxaL-nmp-UaZt_Pk1Qp28cwZqwIVd9PMwNH3-ae8A522xyOqyeCDVa7wfPGx6hjvsltya9blaFSeMy26EOLAmilbpCnk9o/s320/IMG_0514.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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I based her setting on the coast of California near Cambria, where I stayed back in 2009 while visiting the nearby Hearst Castle. The castle is a beautiful collection of artwork and architecture, yet I was as much taken by the tiny town of Cambria and the cold, rugged beach.<br />
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I intentionally never mentioned California in the book because at first I wasn't sure if I wanted these scenes to take place in California or to simply be inspired by the location. Now I simply prefer a more open-ended possibility. Maybe it's California; maybe it isn't. Maybe it's California during a time when there is no distinction between California and Arizona.<br />
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You might perhaps think, from the way that I wrote about this place, that I hated it. On the contrary, I loved it, and that's why I simply had to write about it in one way or another. </div>
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I was used to the Southern California beaches with yellow sand, calmer and bluer waves, and sun behind the clouds. This beach was darker in all colors, with less sand and many rough, black rocks. </div>
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The wind whipped about, and I walked around in knee-length shorts and a jacket, imagining myself a sailor on this rugged ocean. </div>
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I took that idea of contrast from the familiar and I used that to describe such a cold and wet oceanside. From there, the contrast grew into straight shock and dislike; my narrator rejected the cold and the wet because it was different from what she knew. Ironic that it was my fascination that fueled her hatred. </div>
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<br />Deanna Skaggshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17072645254982986636noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-67643604390080996.post-91576316711132550872016-12-16T13:38:00.000-08:002016-12-16T13:38:26.494-08:00December Book SaleWinter is upon us, and that means it's time to stock up on some wintertime reading.<br />
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For the rest of the month, you can get paperback and hardcover copies of my book, <i>Black Tree</i>, for 25% off at <a href="http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/deannaskaggs">this link</a>.<br />
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Enjoy reading and let me know what you think.Deanna Skaggshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17072645254982986636noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-67643604390080996.post-82966067204331588202016-12-06T15:56:00.000-08:002016-12-06T15:56:05.575-08:00A Pictorial Look at Black Tree - II.III, III.III<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
II.III is a flashback to the time when Julia lived in the Tempe/Scottsdale, and III.III shows her move from there to Prescott. So here I have a few images from ASU, which is where she went to school and also worked. I took these pictures in May 2013 when I was graduating from there myself.</div>
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This is a structure on the grassy space above the library.</div>
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One of the buildings near there. While ASU has many buildings in the modern style, there are also several with these scholarly pillars. </div>
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The entrance to Hayden Library, where Julia must have, as a student of history, spent plenty of time.</div>
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Right above the library again, you can see that same structure from the first picture centered in between the pillars here. It's a nice artistic effect, something to be viewed at the exact right angle as you walk down the stairs to get to the library's entrance.</div>
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A view of University Street emptier than you will ever see it:</div>
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Just above ASU is Tempe Town Lake, where you can go for a boat ride or walk along the paths beside the water. Here is one of the famous Phoenix sunsets, more yellow and less pink than usual.</div>
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<br />Deanna Skaggshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17072645254982986636noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-67643604390080996.post-869931429174754182016-11-29T16:28:00.000-08:002016-11-29T16:28:42.774-08:00A Pictorial Look at Black Tree - I.I, I.III<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I have been meaning for a while to start showing pictures of some of the places I feature in <i>Black Tree</i>. Many of you are Arizonans, but for everyone else the landscape is perhaps less familiar. And even if you live in the state, there may be certain places that I wrote about that you haven't yet visited. </div>
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I begin with the first chapter. For the general descriptions of desert landscape with saguaros, here are some views from around the Cave Creek area (that is, just slightly north of Phoenix). Note the variety of textures and plants. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYHBnsXUCwJhjTscZM3yFf7fzvQJ6C0SEmq37GaOCgUwelL1pBBTUaahsLyqqtdijKBqntuhyLHmKlcqyJPBqJYsklTH-lXecDGO6bEeIRQX8yYPDpszry751QKhP5zbhJpOmSCnkd3eo/s1600/IMG_4807.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYHBnsXUCwJhjTscZM3yFf7fzvQJ6C0SEmq37GaOCgUwelL1pBBTUaahsLyqqtdijKBqntuhyLHmKlcqyJPBqJYsklTH-lXecDGO6bEeIRQX8yYPDpszry751QKhP5zbhJpOmSCnkd3eo/s320/IMG_4807.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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There are some teddy bear cholla in this view; they're one of my favorites. </div>
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Moving on to I.III, Julia describes Montezuma Well. Here is a look at the ruins through the fence and another look without the fence. Notice how ground level is above the dwellings.</div>
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Here you can see that the cliff dwellings stand above the well.</div>
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And here is a closer look at the water, which is both wide and deep.</div>
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You can see here some of the steps along the path. They're made of stone and cement and they're not entirely consistent in structure or layout--but their neutral colors and even their curving placement do help to blend in with the environment. </div>
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<br />Deanna Skaggshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17072645254982986636noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-67643604390080996.post-42416564209600394982016-11-10T14:13:00.002-08:002016-11-10T14:13:38.550-08:00Shelf Unbound Competition<span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif;">I am pleased to announce that </span><i style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif;">Black Tree</i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif;"> made it as a runner-up in the 2016 Shelf Unbound Best Indie Book Competition.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif;">To know that, out of all of the entries, my book received consideration is an honor. I am most happy to receive this news and to share it with you. If you haven't yet had the opportunity to buy my book, paperback and hardcover copies are currently 30% off </span><a href="http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/deannaskaggs" style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif; text-decoration: none;">at this link</a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif;">. Thank you so much for following me on this journey.</span></div>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif;"><br /></span>Deanna Skaggshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17072645254982986636noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-67643604390080996.post-35662310091816608952016-10-19T15:39:00.001-07:002016-10-19T15:39:22.744-07:00Writing Adventures: Part 12<i>Click <a href="http://www.deanna-skaggs.com/2016/09/writing-adventures-part-11.html">here</a> to read Part 11.</i><br />
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Black Tree<br />
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Officially, my book has been out for about three months now. So it's been making its way into readers' hands (or tablets, if they opt for digital). I also have plans to do a series of photo posts showing some of the locations I wrote about, in case anyone wants a visual for them. The first of those should be up within a week.<br />
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The Manuscript in Progress<br />
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My first work on this book was strangely organized. I started out writing the beginning bits in order, and then I let it sit for a while. Now I'm moving into what you might call the "agitated additions." This is the phase where I'll have a sentence float into my head that I have to write down because I know it'll end up leading to a whole scene. Sometimes as soon as I go to bed I have to reach for my phone to type something in, or even get up for a notebook to write something out. This period of the process is less peaceful but also yields some of the best results of it all. So I am getting excited again about this book now that I'm starting to put more focus into it once more.Deanna Skaggshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17072645254982986636noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-67643604390080996.post-27718315408028914592016-09-15T12:00:00.000-07:002016-09-15T12:00:48.649-07:00Writing Adventures: Part 11<i>Click <a href="http://www.deanna-skaggs.com/2016/08/writing-adventures-part-10.html">here</a> to read Part 10.</i><br />
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Black Tree<br />
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As you know, you can now <a href="http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/deannaskaggs">buy </a><i><a href="http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/deannaskaggs">Black Tree</a> </i>in digital, paperback, and hardcover. So I'm going to take this moment to advertise for <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/15525365.Deanna_Skaggs">my Goodreads page</a>. If you use Goodreads, you can add my book on there and rate it or review it if you like. You can also follow my page and ask me questions about the book. Of course, if you don't use Goodreads, you can still ask me questions in the comments below posts, by email (see the Contact page), or on Twitter (@deannaskaggs). And don't forget to click through the different pages on this site for more information; in particular, you'll want to check out the Q&A page.<br />
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The Manuscript in Progress<br />
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At first, I thought that this book was going to be more traditionally arranged, more linear than <i>Black Tree</i>. Now, though, I see that that won't be the case. It's going to have its own way of doing things. I haven't been adding much to it right now, but I have been thinking more about it. Lately, I have been contemplating the following: cooking, painting, and water. Oh, yes, I am going to be doing so much with water in this book. So much water. And because I love to describe the Arizona landscape, this book will visit a few of the wonderful places that didn't feature in <i>Black Tree</i>.Deanna Skaggshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17072645254982986636noreply@blogger.com0