L.A. Sartor's Blog, page 5

July 31, 2020

The Pointillize Filter ~ Class From Digital Scrapper ON SALE

Frustrated with the Bad Results Filters Can Often Produce? Feel Like You’re Missing the Magic Formula? Tired of Unpredictable Results and Wasted Time? Filters Don’t Have To Be Mysterious In this class Syndee Rogers Unwraps the Magic of the Pointillize FilterUse this filter for Book Covers, Web Art, Card Making, Scrapbooking, Photography Printing. 

35% off Normally $40NOW $26! Sale Dates July 31st - Midnight August 15thCannot be combined with any other discountYou will need to use the button "Give Me The Class" to get the discount.
The download for this class includes papers, elements, photos, and word art. That's everything you need to complete the class.
And, as an added BONUS, you'll get Syndee’s "Keep It Tidy" system of folders.
More Exclusive Classroom BonusesAdd Value & Meaning To Your LessonsLearn what Pointillism is and where it came from.Benefit From Community LearningConnect and learn from fellow classmates through a private (Optional) Facebook group.
Skill Level -- Beginner to AdvancedEvery lesson includes step-by-step instructions and easy-to-follow videos all with Closed Captioning.
No Time? This class is self-paced & downloadable.Learn online or offline.  You decide when to start and stop.


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Published on July 31, 2020 16:13

July 30, 2020

Prism Book Tour of Under The Shade of the Banyan Tree by Simi K. Rao

On Tour with Prism Book Tours
Under the Shade of the Banyan Tree:
Poems, Rants, and Short Stories
By Simi K. RaoPoetry, Short StoriesPaperback & ebook, 144 PagesNovember 22, 2019
Life is not about achieving perfection, it's about reconciling with your imperfections.
Poems are fragments of life. In Simi K. Rao’s unique poetry collection for women, there are blissful moments; deep, invisible wounds; cries for help; declarations of defiance and philosophical observations. The poems and prose pieces compiling the collection are fragments of life elucidating the different phases of the human condition. Under the Shade of the Banyan Tree will leave readers wanting for more and have a deep impact on women of all ages. 
(Affiliate links included.)Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository |  Target

Excerpt
The Ritual(A Short Story)
It happened at one of the five-star hotels, Marriott I think, the fancy one in Juhu. Thank heavens it wasn’t at his home.
The room was cavernous and daunting, with creepy shadows all over created by the hidden lighting everyone is so crazy about nowadays. I was led in by two of my new husband’s giggly cousins. I’d have loved to smack their pretty faces, but that’d have invited a huge ruckus. Besides, I was preoccupied.
I was terrified. Terrified of doing it with someone I didn’t know anything about. What little I did know could be googled on the web. But then, was my lot different from most other women? Examples were all around me— my mom, my aunts, cousins, and friends.
Maybe it was because everything had happened so fast; because I had no clue of the future; because the ghost of Rohan still clung to me like my own shadow. Because. Because. Because…
The elaborately made up bed; the cloying scent of jasmine; the milk on the nightstand—it all sent me into a state of panic.
I felt sick.
We Indians talk so much about sanskars and morality and then a single ritual authorizes sex between perfect strangers. Madness!
I was desperate to make a run for it. But my Indianness— my culture—held me back. The scenes from the aftermath played in my mind. People searching all over for me. The terrible shame. I didn’t really care. But my parents would. Besides, where would I go? No lover was waiting for me with open arms.
It was depressing, but not worth dwelling on. I was, am a practical woman.
I spied my overnight bag set discreetly in a corner. Someone had been thoughtful enough to bring it in for me. I yanked at my jewelry, not caring when it caught on the fabric of my neon pink brocade saree. I quickly changed into the new red silk nightie I had bought on an impulse a couple of weeks ago. I don’t know what had prompted me to do so. It all seemed so silly now. The fine fabric felt cool on my skin.
I took the left side of the bed as it was closest to the window. That would give me something to stare at while…I couldn’t bring myself to think about what would happen next.
I lay down and was almost immediately seized by a violent shiver. Even my teeth chattered.
I tugged the cotton sheet loose and wrapped it snugly around myself and tucked it under my feet. Then I pulled the subtly perfumed heavy patchwork quilt on top. Maybe it was the weight or the warmth, but it helped me calm down.
I was about to drift off to sleep when I heard the door click open behind me, followed by the sound of creaky, new leather sandals. The muffled sound of running water in the bathroom was almost drowned out by my pulse banging in my head. I held my breath, waiting, hoping for a miracle. They say if you wish really hard for something you can make it happen.
I got the shock of my life when the bed sank under his weight. He slipped his arm around me. It was icy cold. I wrapped mine tight across my chest as he spooned my entire length with his body and nuzzled into my neck.
I squeezed my legs together and closed my eyes. His breath smelled extra minty. He was trying too hard.
“Are you asleep?”
“No,” I said quietly.
His thing rubbed into my backside. I had felt one before. In the local bus, as a schoolgirl; as a teenager and a young adult, victimized by the random sexual predator. I wanted to throw up. Instead, I tried to squeeze myself tighter and sink inside.
He tried to roll me over.
I couldn’t take it anymore. “Please Suraj! I don’t think I’m ready yet.”
It’s fair to say he didn’t force himself on me. For that, I was grateful.

About the Author

Simi K. Rao was born and grew up in India before relocating to the U.S., where she has lived for several years. The inspiration for her books, and other projects, comes from her work and experience with cross-cultural traditions, lifestyles, and familial relationships. Rao enjoys exploring the dynamics of contemporary American culture blended with Indian customs and heritage to reflect the challenges and opportunities many Indian American women face in real life. 

She is a practicing physician, and much of her downtime is devoted to creative pursuits, including writing fiction and poetry, and photography. She is also an avid reader and traveler and has visited many locations around the world. She has written four novels. Under the Shade of the Banyan Tree is her first collection of poems and short stories. She is currently working on a new novel. 

She lives in Denver with her family. To learn more about Simi or her books, visit SimiKRao.com or find her on Facebook.

Website  |  Goodreads  |  Facebook  | Twitter  Wattpad

Tour Schedule

Tour Giveaway


Two winners will each receive an ebook of Under the Shade of the Banyan Tree by Simi K. Rao (US only) Ends August 5, 2020               

ENTER HERE

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Published on July 30, 2020 23:30

July 29, 2020

Class Flash & August Q/A By Laurie Schnebly Campbell


Plan your next year of writing courses, blog reading, and virtual retreats!

blogWHAT’S GONNA HAPPEN?(July 29) writersinthestormblog.com 
If the answer is too obvious, why keep reading? Unless it’s for a prize...
onlineBUILDING TENSION
(August 10-21) https://groups.io/g/Tension         The ticking clock. The infamous day. The elusive stranger. The sizzling glance. The unbreakable promise. The haunting memory. The forbidden love.Tension is what keeps readers awake far too late at night, and what makes them rave about your book even before they reach the final page. How do you create that kind of tension? Think of a story you’ve already started writing, or are just beginning to plan, and see how to build…build…build….

blogMORE THAN ADVENTURE & LUCKIEST THIRTEEN
(Aug. 25) originalitybydesign.blogspot & 
(Aug. 26) writersinthestormblog 

What more could readers want besides a free-class prize? Well, let’s see…

onlineTHE HEROS JOURNEY, FOR HEROINES
(Sept. 1-26)   writeruniv.wordpress.com/classes/journey-for-heroines            Christopher Vogler identified 12 steps for daredevil heroes who explore the outside world and return with the elixir. But a character whose emotional journey leads to flowering change instead of physical adventure, as described in Kim Hudson’s 13 steps, will embark on a journey filled with other -- more internal -- challenges. For writers whose heroine faces her own less traveled road to discovery, this class offers a fascinating map.

ZoomVIRTUAL RETREAT WEEKEND
(Oct. 10-11)
email BookLaurie@yahoo.com

Holler if you’d like to be on the waitlist!

onlineGROWING YOUR HEROINE
(Oct. 12-23)  writeruniv.wordpress.com/classes/growing-your-heroine            This limited-enrollment master class picks up where September’s ends, focusing on the heroine’s journey through everything she needs to overcome from beginning to end. Starting with a “stick figure” and moving to your work in progress, chart the route she’ll use for transcending her weak points -- as well as those of people she cares about -- while avoiding both the false triumph and false disaster of her own story.

onlineTHE ALPHA MALE, FROM ABE TO ZEUS
(Nov. 2-12)  hearts through history            Readers love alpha males. (Maybe not for a real-life marriage, but for a book of romantic adventure there’s nothing better.) Yet writers sometimes find it tricky to create an alpha male without falling into stereotypes. What makes an alpha male? (It’s more than just power.) What challenges does he face? (The answers will surprise you.) How can your hero take on solely the alpha-male traits you want? Get ready to find out…and maybe to fall in love.

And, yep, December is always a no-classes holiday. Which seems contradictory.

onlinePERFECT PITCH
(Jan. 4-15, 2021, only for members of Sisters In Crime Guppies) sincguppies      Are you pitching your work at a conference? In an email? By letter, by phone, by chance if you run into someone browsing for a good book? The techniques will be slightly different for each situation -- and while writers tend to feel more anxiety when pitching face-to-face, it’s useful to have a plan of action for every possible scenario. Whether you’re pitching an agent, editor, interviewer, publisher or regular reader, learn how to make it a good experience for you both!

onlineNEW YEAR, NEW YOU
(Jan. 18-29, 2021) rwasd com            Whether it’s the first rejection, the 50th-book slump, or just not getting the story you want, frustration is part of every writer’s life. For some, it’s a nuisance; for others, it’s the end of a career. For anyone determined to make 2021 a Better Writing Year, this class offers both practical and psychological techniques for dealing with rejection, writer’s block, frustration, motivation, and other issues that keep writers from loving their craft.

onlineHIS & HERS MYERS-BRIGGS
(Feb. 1-12, 2021) hearts through historyJust about everyone has taken the Myers-Briggs quiz identifying their own personality type. It works equally well for characters who, even with their own individual traits, still show aspects of those various personalities in your novel. Naturally, each type has intriguing and attractive elements that make readers want to see more, as well as some problematic issues that’ll keep their story conflict coming…and going…and coming…

blogPLOTTER + PANTSER = PERFECTION
(Feb. 26) writersinthestorm blog            How to combine the advantages of each method…plus a free-class-prize!

onlinePLOTTING VIA MOTIVATION
(March 2-27) writeruniv.wordpress.com/classesHere’s what writers have said about the course in previous years: “I never thought I could plot my entire book from start to finish, but here it is. This is AWESOME.” / “This month has truly changed the way I think about writing. I wish I’d taken Plotting Via Motivation before giving up on my earlier novels.” / “Now that I look back in the notebook where I wrote all my homework, I realize I’ve got my book right here!”

onlineFROM PLOT TO FINISH
(April 5-16)writeruniv.wordpress.com/classesFor anyone who’s taken Plotting Via Motivation online or in person at some point, this group gets you plotting a brand new or already-begun book (using your completed 14-point worksheet) from start to finish. No need to prepare a new story idea, character bios, goal charts or anything else, because you’ll see how to plot an entire book -- and actually have it ready to type -- by the end of this hands-on workshop.
onlineSHOWING EMOTION
(May 10-21) https://groups.io/g/Emotion            Everyone knows how important it is to show rather than tell. But when it comes to showing emotion, that can be…well, tricky. How do you keep from going over the top and making readers roll their eyes? How do you avoid not going far enough and sending their attention downhill with every word? Learn the tricks of conveying emotion for readers of whatever genre you’re writing and how to find the right balance between plummeting, purple prose, and perfection.

onlineWRITING A SERIES…
(June 7-18, only for members of Sisters In Crime Guppies) sincguppies It's one thing to write a stand-alone novel. It’s another to write a sequel, a trilogy, a box set or an open-ended series that’ll continue for as long as you want. While great storytelling is great storytelling no matter the format, there are techniques to keep in mind when writing a series that will not only keep your readers on board through every story, but keep you from burning out while they’re still waiting for more.

As always, July is a vacation month. La la la…
AUGUST Q&AQ: Should I focus on one specific internal problem, or several problems, while these characters struggle with the plot events (and their relationship)?

A: Either way, you can keep the tension building -- and if those several problems turn out to be connected, that’s all the better. Things will keep getting worse and worse and worse, and every attempt at making them better might SEEM to work out for a while but doesn’t solve the problem after all.

This is what we want happening as your characters struggle with whatever the external situation and their internal conflict/s might be.

And regardless of what's happening on the action front, we can be pretty sure that it'll have SOME effect, good or bad, on their relationship.

* Maybe things look good, which makes them appreciate each other more.
* Maybe things look bad, which makes them realize they need each other.
* Maybe things look good, which makes them suspicious of each other.
* Maybe things look bad, which turns them against each other.

You don't need to use ALL those possible responses (whew!) every time something in the external action looks better or worse. But keep in mind those are handy options for upping the stakes anytime you want to increase the tension -- OR give readers a moment of relaxation -- regarding the characters' relationship.

So you can sure use a relationship as one way of building tension...but if you’ve got a solo protagonist, you can build just as much tension in the ways coming up next!

Laurie, figuring different readers appreciate different kinds of tension which makes it even more handy that they all need the same techniques
Laurie's  Bio:
Laurie Schnebly Campbell published half a dozen romances with Harlequin, including one that beat out Nora Roberts for “Best Special Edition of the Year,” before discovering the only thing she loves more than writing is working with other writers. So she started giving workshops every month, online and in-person, and now has a special area on her bookshelf full of books with acknowledgments from authors who’ve loved her classes.



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Published on July 29, 2020 13:49

June 17, 2020

"Give It Colors" Freebie From The Hungry JPEG




Give it colors - set of vector patterns and background. Beautiful seamless wallpaper patterns set in classic style. High detailed and carefully drawn. 100% vector art. Vector versions allows you infinite scaling while preserving the beautiful hand-drawn characteristics. Ideal for wedding decorations, wallpaper, fabric patterns, packaging, cards, and much more! Provided in vector and raster formats (Ai, EPS10, JPEG preview). Seamless designsYou will get:4 Ai file with seamless patterns, 4 EPS10 file, 4 JPEG preview (5000X5000 px),1 Ai file with floral background, 1 EPS10 file, 1 JPEG preview (5000X5000 px)You can open Ai with Photoshop and of course, the JPEG previews will open. I test scaled them both. No problems.
This beautiful freebie is brought to you by FleurArt. Only available for a week!Don't forget to tag your creation @TheHungryJPEG on Instagram and get a chance to be featured!
Get The Freebie




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Published on June 17, 2020 14:14

June 3, 2020

Free ~ Summery ~ Cute

The Hungry Jpeg brings you this fun image and crafter's pack (see extensions below) FREE for a week.

Grab it while you can. 






This Summer SVG Pack brings the summer from the beach directly to you!

1 ZIP Folder containing the following:13 x SVG File, 13 x DXF File, 13 x PNG File, 13 x EPS FileHappy crafting :)

This beautiful freebie is brought to you by greatype19. Only available
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Published on June 03, 2020 16:12

May 29, 2020

Have You Heard Of Plottr? It's Quite Amazing

Okay, so I piqued your interest. What is Plottr? 



Is it a plotting system/device/visual timeline and more?  YES, in a big way.

Is it a step-by-step teach-me-the-way-to-write program?  NO. 




Plottr is one of the newest and handiest writer's tools out there. I fell in love with the idea as soon as I saw it in action, but now that I'm actually using it...WOW.




  And keep reading,
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Published on May 29, 2020 23:30

May 27, 2020

A Book Brush Webinar and Coupon Just For You ~ Readers and Followers of An Indie Adventure

I'm so pleased to be able to offer you this Book Brush webinar.  




This company is constantly expanding to meet its users' needs and has become a one-stop creating tool for me. 





Kathleen, customer service manager, and market lead, has created a great webinar for my blog readers and followers, see her invitation below.  And remember, there is a coupon for 15% off ALL PLANS...so
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Published on May 27, 2020 23:30

May 20, 2020

For You, The Creative, Scrapbooker, Photographer, Digital Designers...An Amazing Bundle

A Collection Not To Be Missed



You know my mantra by now for these massive collections...if I like 50% I'll take a closer look. If I like 75% of the collection, I'm sold.  Well, I like 100% of this collection. Truly, everything here I can use. 



It's perfect for all digital designers, scrapbookers, photographers (look at all the textures), anybody who does anything digitally 

(and yes,
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Published on May 20, 2020 09:13

May 17, 2020

A Limited Time Sale For You ~ Make It Match Digital Class @ 35% OFF

Recoloring skills are absolutely essential for any digital scrapbooker’s/artist/graphic designer toolbox. But without the right recipes, your re-coloring routine will likely result in frustration.



The painless way to make things match is taught right here in Make It Match 

by Jenifer Juris.





Make It Match Includes:
• 21 clearly-recorded video tutorials equipt with Closed Captioning

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Published on May 17, 2020 23:30

May 8, 2020

Helpful Blogs From Book Brush ~ And A Lifetime Coupon For Any Paid Plan

I've been lucky to be able to write several blogs at Book Brush's request.



It's an amazing company with truly wonderful folks at the helm and I'm pleased to be a small part of that team.  



With their permission, I'm listing the blogs I've written for them and offering you a coupon for you to use to get a 15% lifetime discount for ANY PAID PLAN. 


SARTOR15

(Coupon redemption code)
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Published on May 08, 2020 12:55