M.J. Kane's Blog, page 13
July 29, 2015
How to Make a Book Signing Event Successful!
July 25, 2015 marked another milestone in my writing career…my first MAJOR book signing event! Over the years I’ve held several smaller events at my local libraries, but never at a major book store/retailer. It was a major success!
Now, I can’t lie…the closer it got to the date of the event, I was nervous, wondering how many people would show up and if anyone would pay me any attention. Holding a book signing at Barnes & Noble is nothing like chatting on social networking sites with people who have already read my books. This was a straight up, face-to-face event…a chance to meet die-hard readers who were coming into the book store to buy books from authors they know… National and New York Times Bestsellers.
And here I am, a ‘new-to-you’ author with four books under my belt that are new to the Barnes & Noble book shelves.
So in order to get potential readers to stop by my table long enough to learn about my books, I had to sell myself.
Thank God I love to chat! 
The event started with my supportive family and I arriving at the location armed with book swag and table decorations. My mouth dropped open when the manager pulled out a cart filled with my books! I honestly have never seen that many copies of my books EVER! The books had already been on the shelf, but for this event, the store ordered more so that no one would have to walk away empty handed. Once I got over the shock of it all, I felt like an New York Times Bestselling Author who was getting the star treatment! (Yes, I am putting that positive energy into the universe!)
Once the ‘stage’ was set, it was time to sit down and ‘sell’ myself and my books.
First of all, we were sitting at the entrance of the store, meaning everyone saw me the minute they walked through the door. That gave me a chance to smile and invite (entice) potential readers over to see who I was and what I was selling. And this my friends is why it’s important to know your story. Have you heard about the 30-second elevator pitch? Well, you pretty much need to have one, or two, or three for that matter, to choose from based on your potential readers reactions. Since I was sitting at the front entrance of the store, you couldn’t miss me. (Thanks so much to Amy, who knew exactly what she was doing when she chose the place for the table!) Some people looked over, read the EVENT sign, and came over, curious as to what was going on. Others gave me a passing glance and paused long enough to look at the table before walking further into the store. Others clearly averted their eyes in the opposite direction, their minds set on coffee or getting set up on Wi-Fi. Once I realized how customers were coming in to the store, I developed a plan.
The Curious: Those readers I spoke to, welcoming them to the store as if I knew they were there to meet me. I kept my voice confident, looked them in the eye, introduced myself, and shook hands. From there, I gave a very brief synopsis of the series and said just enough to make them ask a question. Then I jumped in and sold it!
The Pausers: Anyone who took two seconds to look my way got a bookmark with my information and book covers as I introduced myself. I kept it short and sweet, and let them decide if they wanted to know more. When they did, I gave them my sales pitch (about the series, not a book in particular). I handed them the first book, backside up, and let the blurb do the work. If the cover of the first book wasn’t what drew their attention the most, I handed them which ever book drew their attention the most. Any questions that followed, I answered.
The Non-Interested: For them, I just said a quick hello and offered them a bookmark with my info and asked them to visit my website for more information when they had the time.
Handling the customers that way made it darn near impossible for anyone to not notice me. In fact, one of the biggest sales I had of the day came from a customer who didn’t appear to be that interested, but accepted the bookmark. Five minutes later, she came back, asked to read the book cover, then said she wanted a copy of each book!
See, you can never judge a book (or reader!) by the cover (initial reactions)!
So, what other advice do I have for authors on how to set up a successful book signing?
Get to know your venue! If possible, scout out the location to determine where you will be set up. The best location is at the front entrance of the store, or venue where you can easily be seen by anyone who comes in.
Marketing is Key! Make sure you have plenty of swag/marketing material to decorate the table. It with draw readers attention because everyone likes something that is free. Colors are key! They can set the tone and mood! (I lucked out when I found the battery operated light-up butterflies! And they were blue, just like the butterfly on the cover of the first book in the series!) Don’t try and overdue it though. Simple and eye-catching, something that they can use, notice the info at a later date, and look you up. For me, bookmarks with my logo, top four places to connect with me online, covers of all of my books, and the locations where they can be purchased works great. Its large enough that people will use it as a bookmark no matter what they are reading.
Inventory! Depending on where you are, you may either be responsible for supplying your own books (this may be the case if your doing consignment sales), or if you are at a store that is selling your books (they will most likely order them ahead of time), you want to be sure you have a sufficient amount. First of all, it just makes the table look really good!
Second, the subliminal message to readers tells them that your work must be good because there are a lot of them available. *Don’t stress about if you will or wan’t be able to sell your work! Doing so will show in the way you talk to readers. If your smiling with your mouth, but your eyes are saying “buy my book!”, readers will pick up on it and feel as if they are being forced to do so, and shy away.Personal Appearance! Think of it as a job interview for a Fortune 500 company. You want to put your best foot forward; look good, smell good. You want to have a smile on your face that will draw people to you. You want to look important, but not go overboard in being flashy or too casual. Overly busy patterns, colors, and gaudy jewelry can be distracting. Too casual and it seems as if you don’t really wanting to be there. First impressions mean a lot!
Engaging Your Audience! Just like you don’t want potential readers to look at you and judge you before you have an opportunity to sell yourself, you don’t want to judge readers. Regardless of what genre you write or what type of characters you write, you never know who may be interested in what you have to offer. Treat each person with respect and you may be surprised at the reactions you receive!
So, that’s about all the advice I have to share as to how to have a great book signing event. This wasn’t my first rodeo, just my first major one. If it wasn’t for the countless other smaller events that I’ve had, I wouldn’t have been prepared with how to handle this one. So, whether its your first one, or 223rd, remember, the one key thing to focus on is SELL YOURSELF! If readers feel they can connect with you, then they will feel as if they can connect with your work. Remember, no matter what type of story your selling, a piece of you, your life, experiences, and personality is in it as well. If readers can connect to you, they are more apt to enjoying the story. If you rub them the wrong way, your work will do the same.
Good luck!
***Oh yeah, for anyone who is asking, “So with all that smiling and handshaking, how many books did you sell? I’ll tell you…nineteen in two hours. A majority of them were to first time readers who had no clue of who I was, nor have heard of me or my series. The readers were from various racial/religious/economic backgrounds, ages ranged from early 20’s to 70’s, and were both male and female.***
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20150725_161240 M.J. Kane Media 
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July 26, 2015
#8Sunday Share! Nobody’s Business…Reality
Welcome back!
Last week we saw a memory Trevon had of a one-night stand that has stuck with him for months. It wasn’t his first time having that type of relationship, but it was the first time he got so wrapped up in the woman he was with that he wanted to see her again. But alas, he woke up alone knowing nothing but a first name. He tried everything he could to find her on social networking sites. To no avail. Yet, their paths cross again…and it’s not the type of meeting he expected…
Snippet:
A one-night stand shouldn’t leave me feeling desperate.
And then I found her the moment I stopped looking. To make matters worse, the perfect image I’d built up in my mind proved to be a lie. Her name wasn’t real. Her profession wasn’t real. Yet deep in my heart I knew the connection we’d made that night had been real.
Not that it mattered. She was spoken for and my future now lay elsewhere. The decisions of my past now dictated my future. And my future expected me to arrive in two hours and go to a birthday party.
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About the novel….
Trevon Campbell’s world changed the moment his ex-girlfriend announced he was a father. Determined to make up for his past mistakes, he gives Trina what she wanted before their breakup, what feels like his soul, which means forgetting the woman he had a one-night stand with, the woman who stole his heart.
Kai Malone doesn’t want to play by her family’s rules. Instead of working for the family business, she became a firefighter. Being a female of multicultural descent, working in a field dominated by men, Kai focuses on her job to ignore the infidelity of her fiancé. Tired of his deceit, she gave in to a one-night stand with a complete stranger, someone she’d never have to see again…or so she thought.
When tragedy strikes, their worlds collide, leaving them no choice but to deal with each other again. It doesn’t take long for them to realize the attraction that brought them together the first time is stronger than ever, forcing Trevon to make the biggest decision of his life.
Buy It Now!
****For more #8Sunday shares, follow this link !****
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July 19, 2015
#8Sunday Share! Nobody’s Business…Memories
Welcome back!
Today’s snippet takes us back eight months to a memory…the night Trevon had a one-night stand with a woman he just met and sets the stage for upcoming events. Enjoy!
Snippet:
When I stopped off at the bar for a celebratory drink on my way home, ending the evening like this was not what I expected. One look down the bar at this alluring woman and I was hooked. She didn’t make striking up a conversation with her easy, but once I got her to loosen up, we connected on a level I least expected.
A love of reading.
Despite my efforts to learn her name, she refused, suggesting I earn it first. Yet, she had no problem coming home with me. One-night stands were nothing new, but not knowing her name was driving me insane.
I slid my hands up the soft flesh of her thighs, and stopped at her hips. “Now are you going to tell me?”
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About the novel….
Trevon Campbell’s world changed the moment his ex-girlfriend announced he was a father. Determined to make up for his past mistakes, he gives Trina what she wanted before their breakup, what feels like his soul, which means forgetting the woman he had a one-night stand with, the woman who stole his heart.
Kai Malone doesn’t want to play by her family’s rules. Instead of working for the family business, she became a firefighter. Being a female of multicultural descent, working in a field dominated by men, Kai focuses on her job to ignore the infidelity of her fiancé. Tired of his deceit, she gave in to a one-night stand with a complete stranger, someone she’d never have to see again…or so she thought.
When tragedy strikes, their worlds collide, leaving them no choice but to deal with each other again. It doesn’t take long for them to realize the attraction that brought them together the first time is stronger than ever, forcing Trevon to make the biggest decision of his life.
Buy It Now!
****For more #8Sunday shares, follow this link!****
####
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July 17, 2015
My Interview with Ella D. Curry on BAN Radio!
I had the privilege of being interviewed on BAN Radio by the wonderful host, Ella D. Curry on July 15, 2015. We discussed my series, The Butterfly Memoirs, and my latest release, Nobody’s Business! Listen in to this hour of fun and laughter as I share what inspired me to become an author, why I write the stories that I do, and even share a reading of Nobody’s Business!
Learn more about The Butterfly Memoirs by following this link!
Check Out Books Podcasts at Blog Talk Radio with Black Author Network on BlogTalkRadio with Black Authors Network Talk Show on BlogTalkRadio
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July 12, 2015
#8Sunday Share! Nobody’s Business…The Question
Welcome back!
Trevon has just received some advice from his drunk friend, Shaun, who is about to get married. ‘No woman is perfect and in order to find love, you have to look past imperfections.’ What does Trevon think about the matter?
Snippet:
I knew from the get go that no woman would be perfect. God knows I had my own faults.
The real question was what was I looking for? Would I know when I found her?
My chest tightened at the memory I fought to ignore, the memory of the exotic beauty of the woman who stole my heart the moment our eyes had connected.
We spent one night together, and then she was gone.
When our paths crossed again, she broke my heart.
Not only had she lied about her name, she forgot to mention a small detail about her life.
She was engaged.
To make matters worse, she was engaged to my best friend’s brother.
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About the novel….
Trevon Campbell’s world changed the moment his ex-girlfriend announced he was a father. Determined to make up for his past mistakes, he gives Trina what she wanted before their breakup, what feels like his soul, which means forgetting the woman he had a one-night stand with, the woman who stole his heart.
Kai Malone doesn’t want to play by her family’s rules. Instead of working for the family business, she became a firefighter. Being a female of multicultural descent, working in a field dominated by men, Kai focuses on her job to ignore the infidelity of her fiancé. Tired of his deceit, she gave in to a one-night stand with a complete stranger, someone she’d never have to see again…or so she thought.
When tragedy strikes, their worlds collide, leaving them no choice but to deal with each other again. It doesn’t take long for them to realize the attraction that brought them together the first time is stronger than ever, forcing Trevon to make the biggest decision of his life.
Buy It Now!
****For more #8Sunday shares, follow this link!****
####
Thank you for stopping by! I love to make new friends. Got questions or comments? Leave a comment, or connect with me online! If you’ve enjoyed this post, sign up for the monthly newsletter and follow this blog!
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July 11, 2015
I’m Live On the Air with Ella D. Curry!!!
Join me and the wonderful host of B.A.N. Radio, Ella D. Curry on Wednesday, July 15th at 8:00 PM (EST) as we chat about life, writing, and books! This is a LIVE event!!! Tune in to listen or dial 646.200.0402 to talk to me! For more fun, log into the chatroom! I’m looking forward to hearing from YOU, the readers! Get those questions together and let’s chat! Talk to you soon!
Call in: 646.200.0402
Chatroom: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/Black-Author-Network
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July 9, 2015
Meet Me at B&N on Monday!!!
Are you following the Nobody’s Business Blog Tour? Well, this is the first in-person event for the month, and I am so excited!
Barnes & Nobles has invited readers to come celebrate the recently discovered and soon to be released novel, Go Set a Watchman, written by Harper Lee, the award winning author of the Pulitzer Prize winning novel, To Kill A Mocking Bird. The event last from 9 am to 9 pm at B&N locations everywhere. I’ll be hanging out at my local location from 12-1 pm and am inviting as many readers as possible to join me for an hour! We’ll take turns reading passages, and when we’re done, I’ll be giving away an AUTOGRAPHED COPY of my new release, NOBODY’S BUSINESS! So, join me and lets get our read on!
Follow this link for more information!
To sign up at B&N- Southlake, call Amy Allen at 770-471-8483.
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Thank you for stopping by! I love to make new friends. Got questions or comments? Leave a comment, or connect with me online! If you’ve enjoyed this post, sign up for the monthly newsletter and follow this blog!
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July 5, 2015
#8Sunday Share! Nobody’s Business…The Beginning
Welcome to the first round of #8Sunday shares! For the next few weeks, I’ll be sharing a snippet for the first 3 chapters. Enjoy!
So, let’s start from the beginning…
Trevon is a single guy who is reeling from some recent life changing events. (See Crossroads). But tonight he’s hanging out with some friends at a bachlor party. The groom stumbles over, drunk, and excited about his big day. The conversation they have sends him down memory lane.
Snippet:
Shaun’s hair was disheveled from the stripper who’d worked her magic in his lap. The frat brothers decided to give him a proper send off by hiring a few girls for the night. Everyone knew his fiancé wouldn’t approve, so we went out of our way to keep it a secret. The look on his face when the women showed up an hour into what appeared to be a humble bachelor party was priceless.
Happy…
Seeing this brother’s enthusiasm for the arrangement was intriguing.
The idea of marriage was something I avoided. The opportunity had presented itself once, and I gladly declined. The consequences that followed had been…well…the word itself didn’t have a positive connotation.
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About the novel….
Trevon Campbell’s world changed the moment his ex-girlfriend announced he was a father. Determined to make up for his past mistakes, he gives Trina what she wanted before their breakup, what feels like his soul, which means forgetting the woman he had a one-night stand with, the woman who stole his heart.
Kai Malone doesn’t want to play by her family’s rules. Instead of working for the family business, she became a firefighter. Being a female of multicultural descent, working in a field dominated by men, Kai focuses on her job to ignore the infidelity of her fiancé. Tired of his deceit, she gave in to a one-night stand with a complete stranger, someone she’d never have to see again…or so she thought.
When tragedy strikes, their worlds collide, leaving them no choice but to deal with each other again. It doesn’t take long for them to realize the attraction that brought them together the first time is stronger than ever, forcing Trevon to make the biggest decision of his life.
Buy Now!
****For more #8Sunday shares, follow this link!****
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July 2, 2015
#New Release!!!! NOBODY’S BUSINESS (Book 4 of the Butterfly Memoirs) and Contest!!!
I am excited to announce that the release of the next novel in The Butterfly Memoirs series is finally here! This story is nothing like the previous novels. There are new characters, and a new set of stories. If you’re new to the series, take a moment to get to know the characters by following this link. Already caught up? Then grab your copy today and dig in for another exciting read!
Don’t forget to share the news by entering the Rafflecopter contest below for your chance to win a gift basket filled with AUTOGRAPHED COPIES of all four novels and butterfly swag!
The month long contest will give you plenty of chances to enter and you can enter as many times as you want. Follow this blog tour schedule to learn more about me, the characters, and the story. Not only will this blog tour be held online, there will be chances to meet me in person, as well as tune in to radio interviews and chat!
See you soon!
About the novel….
Trevon Campbell’s world changed the moment his ex-girlfriend announced he was a father. Determined to make up for his past mistakes, he gives Trina what she wanted before their breakup, what feels like his soul, which means forgetting the woman he had a one-night stand with, the woman who stole his heart.
Kai Malone doesn’t want to play by her family’s rules. Instead of working for the family business, she became a firefighter. Being a female of multicultural descent, working in a field dominated by men, Kai focuses on her job to ignore the infidelity of her fiancé. Tired of his deceit, she gave in to a one-night stand with a complete stranger, someone she’d never have to see again…or so she thought.
When tragedy strikes, their worlds collide, leaving them no choice but to deal with each other again. It doesn’t take long for them to realize the attraction that brought them together the first time is stronger than ever, forcing Trevon to make the biggest decision of his life.
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June 28, 2015
#FREE READ Sunday! Crossroads…a Butterfly Memoir Mini- Chapter 10
Alright everyone, the time has finally come for the final chapter! Enjoy!!!
*Just tuning in? Catch up by following these links to the previous chapters!*
Previous Chapters:
Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Chapter 7 Chapter 8 Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Trevon
I entered Applebee’s through the kitchen door in the back and slipped into the small office shared by all the managers. I reached behind the door and grabbed the dress slacks, shirt, and tie I kept for emergencies.
Changed, I adjusted my tie, then headed toward the dining area and to the bar.
“Gary?”
The bartender looked up, then angled his head in the direction of the booth sitting in the rear of the restaurant. The woman’s back was to me as she stared out the window.
I put on my best customer service smile and pushed the thoughts of my conversation with Kai aside.
“Ma’am, were you looking for the manager?”
The woman turned to look at me, a tentative smile on her face.
“Trina?” I stopped in my tracks and stared at my ex-girlfriend.
She pushed short, cropped hair behind her ear as nervous laughter escaped. “Surprise…”
It was hard to tell whether her smile was genuine or fake. We hadn’t parted on good terms.
“You called me down here?”
“Sorry, there was no other way to get in touch with you. Your cell number has changed. You moved after our lease was up so I had no clue where you live. And…I didn’t want to cross paths with your boys.” She shrugged. “I knew you’d still be working here.”
What in the hell was going on with the women in my life? First Kai, and now Trina.
I forced a calming breath to keep my sanity.
“You found me. What do you want?”
Trina stared at me. I could see the internal struggle on her face. Part of her wanted to come back with a sarcastic response. The other kept her mouth in check.
“Trevon, can you sit down for a minute? This is serious…”
I appraised her, and yes, her body language said she meant what she said.
I slid into the booth across from her, and steeled myself for whatever she had to say. “What’s the problem?”
Trina took a deep breath and placed both hands on the table. “I need you to help me keep a promise.”
“A promise?” I sat back, ran my hand over my face, and sighed. “What promise?”
She sat silent for a moment, which drew my full attention.
“To my son.”
My eyebrows rose. “You have a son?”
She nodded.
I shrugged. “What does that have to do with me?”
Trina’s attention went to her hands. “He’s been diagnosed with Sickle Cell Anemia. The doctors have been managing his care for the past year, but they feel he’s eligible for a bone marrow transplant. If it works the way they think, he’ll be practically cured. But first he has to survive the operation.”
“Damn. Trina, I’m sorry to hear that.” I meant it. “But what does that have to do with me?”
She put up a hand. “For days he’s been talking about his father. Kids at day care talk about their dads all the time. Now I’m afraid he’ll die and never know who his father is.”
My brain went blank. “And what, you want me to play daddy?”
Trina looked me in the eye and shook her head. “No, Trevon. I want him to meet his father. Justin is your son.”
I stared at her.
She stared back.
Somehow I managed to breathe. “Come again?”
Instead of responding, she dug into her purse and retrieved her phone. She pushed a few buttons and slid it across the table.
“Justin was born July twelfth, two years ago.”
“We broke up a long time before─”
“I found out I was pregnant after I left you.”
My brow creased. “And you didn’t tell me?”
“No. I couldn’t…didn’t want to deal with you. I didn’t want you to try and make things work because of the baby.”
Not knowing what else to say, I forced myself to look at the screen.
The bright-eyed kid who stared back at me was a dead-ringer for the pictures my mom had of me.
This wasn’t a joke or a lie.
I forced myself to swallow. “God, Trina…I have a son?”
“Yes, you do.” She smiled a little.
I was a father.
I placed my elbows on the table and stared at the screen again, studying everything about the little boy. Disbelief made my mind blank.
I had a son, a two-year-old son…no, I have a two-year-old son.
One I never knew existed. Yet, he asked for me.
Anger rose in my chest.
“How could you keep him from me, Trina?” My voice rose.
Trina glanced over her should as if trying to see who could hear our conversation. “Look, now’s not the time to─”
“The hell it isn’t!” I spat, leaned forward and pointed in her face. “You’ve kept my son from me! You had no intention of telling me so I could be a part of his life because you’re selfish!”
Her jaw clenched. “I didn’t tell you because I was hurt and angry, Trevon. You cheated on me! We had something special! I gave you my heart and your promised to love me! But then you threw it all away!” Her voice trembled. Trina sat back and glanced around to see if anyone was listening. “So excuse the hell out of me for doing what felt right for my own sanity!”
“But two years, Trina? Two years? I don’t give a damn about your personal feelings. I screwed things up, I was an ass, but that does not give you the right to keep my son away from me. A boy needs his father!”
Trina’s hands went up to her face. I could barely hear her muffled voice. “You don’t think I know that?” When she looked up again, tears shown in the corner of her eyes. “I wish I were telling you this and that everything was okay. Instead, I’m telling you because he could die and never know…” She covered her mouth, closed her eyes, and tears rained down.
I sat back in the booth, my chest heavy and mind spinning. The phone was in my hand so I stared at my son.
Justin was two years old.
I’d missed everything.
His birth. Watching him learn how to walk…talk. Hearing him say Da-da. All the things Andre talked about when his first child was born.
Moments I could never get back.
And now, because of his illness, I could miss out on his future.
The only thing I had was now.
“Take me to my son.”
The End
Or rather…
The Beginning…
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Want to know what happens next? NOBODY’S BUSINESS will be available on JULY 2nd!!! Follow this link to PRE-ORDER your copy and have it when you wake up on Thursday!
Pre-Order with ONE-CLICK!!!
Trevon Campbell’s world changed the moment his ex-girlfriend announced he was a father. Determined to make up for his past mistakes, he gives Trina what she wanted before their breakup, what feels like his soul, which means forgetting the woman he had a one-night stand with, the woman who stole his heart.
Kai Malone doesn’t want to play by her family’s rules. Instead of working for the family business, she became a firefighter. Being a female of multicultural descent, working in a field dominated by men, Kai focuses on her job to ignore the infidelity of her fiancé. Tired of his deceit, she gave in to a one-night stand with a complete stranger, someone she’d never have to see again…or so she thought.
When tragedy strikes, their worlds collide, leaving them no choice but to deal with each other again. It doesn’t take long for them to realize the attraction that brought them together the first time is stronger than ever, forcing Trevon to make the biggest decision of his life.
####
Thank you for stopping by! I love to make new friends. Got questions or comments? Leave a comment, or connect with me online! If you’ve enjoyed this post, sign up for the monthly newsletter and follow this blog!
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