Margo Kelly's Blog, page 27
March 25, 2016
Photo Essay: What I Do When I'm Not Writing
We've been pretty busy over here at the Kelly household preparing for the upcoming wedding of my son, Mitchell. He's our first kid to get married, and we've had a great time getting to know his bride-to-be and preparing for the special event. Here are a few photos for your viewing pleasure! ;)
Meeting Sarah for the first time. She plays piano!
Furniture shopping for the new couple ... from stuff in our garage.
Yes, we're pack rats, saving furniture for our kids.
Which couch do you think they ended up choosing?
Sewing top-secret project for the couple.
Pricing items for the "Ice Cream Bar" at the Nampa reception.
Embroidered aprons for the bridal shower.
Cute couple! Yes, Mitchell joined the bridal shower! ha!
Delicious food - we ate yummy fajitas!
They loved their new aprons.
Pampered Chef consultant demonstrating products.
He dressed up for the party.
Opening a gift from the neighbors. :)
It happened to be my b-day. My besties brought gifts.
Binge watching Gilmore Girls while I finished top-secret project.
There you have it. ... Oh. Wait. I forgot one other thing ... I also designed the wedding announcements for Mitchell and Sarah. Here you go, front and back:
We still have busy weeks ahead of us, and then I'll be sure to post a few pictures of the top-secret project and pictures from the two receptions.
Have a terrific week!
Meeting Sarah for the first time. She plays piano!
Furniture shopping for the new couple ... from stuff in our garage.
Yes, we're pack rats, saving furniture for our kids.
Which couch do you think they ended up choosing?
Sewing top-secret project for the couple.
Pricing items for the "Ice Cream Bar" at the Nampa reception.
Embroidered aprons for the bridal shower.
Cute couple! Yes, Mitchell joined the bridal shower! ha!
Delicious food - we ate yummy fajitas!
They loved their new aprons.
Pampered Chef consultant demonstrating products.
He dressed up for the party.
Opening a gift from the neighbors. :) 
It happened to be my b-day. My besties brought gifts.
Binge watching Gilmore Girls while I finished top-secret project.There you have it. ... Oh. Wait. I forgot one other thing ... I also designed the wedding announcements for Mitchell and Sarah. Here you go, front and back:
We still have busy weeks ahead of us, and then I'll be sure to post a few pictures of the top-secret project and pictures from the two receptions.
Have a terrific week!
March 10, 2016
Inspirational Quote for the Day!
Take that first step. Keep at the problem. Be determined to achieve your dreams!
Book Review: THE MEMORY PAINTER
The Memory Painter: A Novel by Gwendolyn WomackMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
I LOVED THIS STORY! I am now an official fan of Gwendolyn Womack! I highly recommend this story to everyone. Everyone. :) Go and buy it now or check it out from the library. Go. Now. Read!
View all my reviews
March 2, 2016
#IWSG: Inspiring Quotes for Your Daily #Writing
http://www.insecurewriterssupportgrou...Here are FIVE quotes to help get your fingers tapping on the keyboard today!
"Look for nodes of conjunction, such as setting. For instance, suppose in your main story line you have a wedding, while a subplot involves a breakup. Why not have both occur at the same time and in the same place?" -- Donald Maass (WRITING THE BREAKOUT NOVEL, p.188)
"Setting is a powerful storytelling element, and it certainly makes its mark on dialogue. Where you set a scene shapes what the characters in the scene say and how they say it." -- Deborah Halverson (WRITING YA FICTION FOR DUMMIES, p.80)
"Show, Don't Tell ... You want to make sure the audience knows about a guy's N.Y. Giants past? Show team pictures on the wall of his apartment." -- Blake Snyder (SAVE THE CAT, p. 147)
"Capture how a place makes a point-of-view character feel." -- Donald Maass (WRITING THE BREAKOUT NOVEL, p.101)
"Think of each scene as a mini-movie. It must have a beginning, middle, and an end. And it must also have something happen that causes the emotional tone to change drastically." -- Blake Snyder (SAVE THE CAT, p. 110)
March 1, 2016
Book Review: ME BEFORE YOU
Me Before You by Jojo MoyesMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
This book was FANTASTIC! I highly recommend it for everyone. :)
And here's the movie trailer for it:
View all my reviews
February 18, 2016
10 Books to Improve Your #Writing Skills
Want to know how to write well?
Read.
A lot.
Read award-winning and best-selling works of fiction within your chosen genre.
And …
Read books on the craft of writing. Read them with a highlighter and pencil in hand. Mark up the pages of the book, flag key passages, and take notes on how to implement the ideas into your own writing. Study and practice and read some more. That’s the formula for writing well. ... At least I *think* it is. ... I'm still striving to improve my own writing skills on a daily basis. ;)
Here are ten of my favorite books on the craft of writing:
THE FIRE IN FICTION by Donald Maass
HOOKED by Les Edgerton
THE ELEMENTS OF STYLE by Strunk & White
SELF-EDITING FOR FICTION WRITERS by Browne & King
SAVE THE CAT! by Blake Snyder
THE STORY BOOK by David Baboulene
WRITING YOUNG ADULT FICTION FOR DUMMIES by Deborah Halverson
WRITING IRRISISTIBLE KIDLIT by Mary Kole
HOW TO WRITE A DAMN GOOD THRILLER by James Frey
ON WRITING: A MEMOIR OF THE CRAFT by Stephen King
What’s your favorite book on the craft of writing?
February 16, 2016
#BookReview - WINTER by Marissa Meyer
Winter by Marissa MeyerMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
This is seriously my all-time favorite book series. I'm so in love with the characters, stories, and writing!! And this concluding book in the series was very satisfying. Loose ends were tied up, the ending wasn't rushed, and I was left wanting to start over at the beginning of the series ... just to enjoy it all over again.
Thank you, Marissa Meyer, for an excellent series. I'm a fan for life.
View all my reviews
#BookReview - IF I RUN by Terri Blackstock
This was the first book I've read by author Terri Blackstock. For my full review - scroll on down to the bottom of this post.
If I Run
By Terri Blackstock
Published by Zondervan
Paperback: 352 pages
February 16, 2016; $15.99; 9780310332435
Description Casey knows the truth. But it won't set her free.Casey Cox's DNA is all over the crime scene. There's no use talking to police; they have failed her abysmally before. She has to flee before she's arrested . . . or worse. The truth doesn't matter anymore. But what is the truth? That's the question haunting Dylan Roberts, the war-weary veteran hired to find Casey. PTSD has marked him damaged goods, but bringing Casey back can redeem him. Though the crime scene seems to tell the whole story, details of the murder aren't adding up. Casey Cox doesn't fit the profile of a killer. But are Dylan's skewed perceptions keeping him from being objective? If she isn't guilty, why did she run? Unraveling her past and the evidence that condemns her will take more time than he has, but as Dylan's damaged soul intersects with hers, he is faced with two choices. The girl who occupies his every thought is a psychopathic killer . . . or a selfless hero. And the truth could be the most deadly weapon yet.
Author Bio
Terri Blackstock, author of If I Run, has sold over seven million books worldwide and is a New York Times bestselling author. She is the award-winning author of Intervention, Vicious Cycle, and Downfall, as well as such series as Cape Refuge, Newpointe 911, the SunCoast Chronicles, and the Restoration Series. For more information please visit http://www.terriblackstock.com and follow the author on Facebook and Twitter
My Review (I received an advance reader's copy of this book for free in exchange for an honest review.)
Normally, when I open a book and discover it's written in first person, present tense, I cringe. I have a hard time settling into the writing. However, Terri Blackstock did a great job, and I was able to enjoy the story regardless of the point of view and tense.
While I am a religious person, I do not seek out "Christian" fiction, and honestly, if I'd known this was Christian fiction, I might not have agreed to read it ... because often times well-intentioned authors end up preaching with a finger pointed in the reader's face. I was thrilled that this was not the case with IF I RUN. However, after the story had ended, the author wrote an additional section (which had nothing to do with the story), and it felt quite awkward to read. So - if you're bothered by preaching, just don't read the "A Note From The Author" at the back of the book.
For the most part, I thoroughly enjoyed IF I RUN, but I was disappointed there was no resolution. The book just ended. I also wished certain plot elements were more developed. As it was, the side story of the missing girl was too hard to believe, because too many elements conveniently fell into place.
Here are a couple of snippets from the book that I enjoyed:
Just after she's cut and colored her hair, the main character has this great moment of reflection: "I go back to the toilet and flush again, then stand for a moment watching the old Casey swirl around the bottom of the bowl before disappearing down the hole." (page 6 of the Advance Reader's Copy)
"I feel like Dylan has read some journal that I haven't even written. How does he know those things about me? Facts are one thing, but truth goes deeper. It cuts to the heart." (page 249 of the Advance Reader's Copy)
And in case it matters to you, there's no sex, foul language, or extreme violence in the book.
If you're a fan of mysteries or Christian fiction, you'll probably enjoy this book - but be warned that it's the first in the series, and there's no resolution at the end of this first book.
If I Run
By Terri Blackstock
Published by Zondervan
Paperback: 352 pages
February 16, 2016; $15.99; 9780310332435
Description Casey knows the truth. But it won't set her free.Casey Cox's DNA is all over the crime scene. There's no use talking to police; they have failed her abysmally before. She has to flee before she's arrested . . . or worse. The truth doesn't matter anymore. But what is the truth? That's the question haunting Dylan Roberts, the war-weary veteran hired to find Casey. PTSD has marked him damaged goods, but bringing Casey back can redeem him. Though the crime scene seems to tell the whole story, details of the murder aren't adding up. Casey Cox doesn't fit the profile of a killer. But are Dylan's skewed perceptions keeping him from being objective? If she isn't guilty, why did she run? Unraveling her past and the evidence that condemns her will take more time than he has, but as Dylan's damaged soul intersects with hers, he is faced with two choices. The girl who occupies his every thought is a psychopathic killer . . . or a selfless hero. And the truth could be the most deadly weapon yet.
Author Bio
Terri Blackstock, author of If I Run, has sold over seven million books worldwide and is a New York Times bestselling author. She is the award-winning author of Intervention, Vicious Cycle, and Downfall, as well as such series as Cape Refuge, Newpointe 911, the SunCoast Chronicles, and the Restoration Series. For more information please visit http://www.terriblackstock.com and follow the author on Facebook and Twitter
My Review (I received an advance reader's copy of this book for free in exchange for an honest review.)
Normally, when I open a book and discover it's written in first person, present tense, I cringe. I have a hard time settling into the writing. However, Terri Blackstock did a great job, and I was able to enjoy the story regardless of the point of view and tense.
While I am a religious person, I do not seek out "Christian" fiction, and honestly, if I'd known this was Christian fiction, I might not have agreed to read it ... because often times well-intentioned authors end up preaching with a finger pointed in the reader's face. I was thrilled that this was not the case with IF I RUN. However, after the story had ended, the author wrote an additional section (which had nothing to do with the story), and it felt quite awkward to read. So - if you're bothered by preaching, just don't read the "A Note From The Author" at the back of the book.
For the most part, I thoroughly enjoyed IF I RUN, but I was disappointed there was no resolution. The book just ended. I also wished certain plot elements were more developed. As it was, the side story of the missing girl was too hard to believe, because too many elements conveniently fell into place.
Here are a couple of snippets from the book that I enjoyed:
Just after she's cut and colored her hair, the main character has this great moment of reflection: "I go back to the toilet and flush again, then stand for a moment watching the old Casey swirl around the bottom of the bowl before disappearing down the hole." (page 6 of the Advance Reader's Copy)
"I feel like Dylan has read some journal that I haven't even written. How does he know those things about me? Facts are one thing, but truth goes deeper. It cuts to the heart." (page 249 of the Advance Reader's Copy)
And in case it matters to you, there's no sex, foul language, or extreme violence in the book.
If you're a fan of mysteries or Christian fiction, you'll probably enjoy this book - but be warned that it's the first in the series, and there's no resolution at the end of this first book.
February 10, 2016
Creating a Box FULL of Sunshine!
Have you heard of a box full of sunshine? Well, it's a wonderful surprise to brighten someone's day.
I recently made one, and I documented the process to share with all of you! ;) It was certainly fun to do.
1: Start with a box, a plain old shoe box will do:
2: But ... you may need to get a bigger shoe box when you realize how much cute stuff you bought to go into the box:
3: Gather yellow papers and ribbons to decorate the box:
4: Print sunshine sayings on yellow paper:
5: Decorate the box, inside and out:
6: Attach sunshine sayings to the items going into the box - for example, I added a boa (because everyone needs a yellow feathered boa, right?) and I attached the saying, “Wherever you go, no matter what the weather, always bring your own sunshine.” - Anthony J. D'Angelo:
7: On a bottle of pineapple soda, I attached the phrase: “Remember you’re the one who can fill the world with sunshine.” - Snow White:
8: A bag of banana taffy - plenty to share with others:
9: A miniature yellow Frisbee and a couple of yellow Minion balloons, packaged inside a clear cello bag:
10: One of those awesome "punching balloons" (because punching is a great form of medicine--aka sunshine--all by itself):
11: A yellow harmonica and noise maker to go along with the quote about making music:
12: A Barrel of Monkeys to go with the quote, "Friends are the sunshine of life." - John Hay:
13: A back-scratcher with an extending handle to go with the phrase, "Some days, you just have to create your own sunshine." haha:
14: A squeezable smiley-face ball:
15: A lollipop:
16: A bag of mints with the quote, “There is no investment you can make which will pay you so well as the effort to scatter sunshine and good cheer through your establishment.” - Orison Swett Marden:
17: And then I tossed in my remaining sunshine quotes throughout the box:
I'd be thrilled to receive such a fun gift, wouldn't you?
Now ... keep in mind ... I went all out decorating and embellishing this box and its contents. You can certainly make a simpler version by purchasing a yellow Chinese take-out box and adding items without the embellishments. The concept is to give someone a happy gift to brighten their day.
You can also tailor it for the specific recipient. If they're ill, give them honey and lemon tea. If they're healthy eaters, give them bananas, golden delicious apples, and lemon Luna bars. There are so many fun options.
Type "box full of sunshine" into Google and check out the options! Most of all ... have fun creating it and more fun giving it. The recipient will be uplifted.
Have you ever received a box full of sunshine?
I recently made one, and I documented the process to share with all of you! ;) It was certainly fun to do.
1: Start with a box, a plain old shoe box will do:
2: But ... you may need to get a bigger shoe box when you realize how much cute stuff you bought to go into the box:
3: Gather yellow papers and ribbons to decorate the box:
4: Print sunshine sayings on yellow paper:
5: Decorate the box, inside and out:
6: Attach sunshine sayings to the items going into the box - for example, I added a boa (because everyone needs a yellow feathered boa, right?) and I attached the saying, “Wherever you go, no matter what the weather, always bring your own sunshine.” - Anthony J. D'Angelo:
7: On a bottle of pineapple soda, I attached the phrase: “Remember you’re the one who can fill the world with sunshine.” - Snow White:
8: A bag of banana taffy - plenty to share with others:
9: A miniature yellow Frisbee and a couple of yellow Minion balloons, packaged inside a clear cello bag:
10: One of those awesome "punching balloons" (because punching is a great form of medicine--aka sunshine--all by itself):
11: A yellow harmonica and noise maker to go along with the quote about making music:
12: A Barrel of Monkeys to go with the quote, "Friends are the sunshine of life." - John Hay:
13: A back-scratcher with an extending handle to go with the phrase, "Some days, you just have to create your own sunshine." haha:
14: A squeezable smiley-face ball:
15: A lollipop:
16: A bag of mints with the quote, “There is no investment you can make which will pay you so well as the effort to scatter sunshine and good cheer through your establishment.” - Orison Swett Marden:
17: And then I tossed in my remaining sunshine quotes throughout the box:
I'd be thrilled to receive such a fun gift, wouldn't you?
Now ... keep in mind ... I went all out decorating and embellishing this box and its contents. You can certainly make a simpler version by purchasing a yellow Chinese take-out box and adding items without the embellishments. The concept is to give someone a happy gift to brighten their day.
You can also tailor it for the specific recipient. If they're ill, give them honey and lemon tea. If they're healthy eaters, give them bananas, golden delicious apples, and lemon Luna bars. There are so many fun options.
Type "box full of sunshine" into Google and check out the options! Most of all ... have fun creating it and more fun giving it. The recipient will be uplifted.
Have you ever received a box full of sunshine?
February 9, 2016
Safer Internet Day Resources
STOP. THINK. CONNECT. – designated by President Obama as the national cybersecurity education message – is simple, actionable advice that everyone can follow to stay safer and more secure online.
History of STOP. THINK. CONNECT.
In 2009, the National Cyber Security Alliance and the Anti-Phishing Working Group convened an unprecedented coalition of 25 companies and 7 government agencies, including the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) that leads the campaign in the federal government. Working by consensus, this multi-stakeholder group conducted research and message testing with U.S. consumers, resulting in the creation of the message STOP. THINK. CONNECT.
Key Accomplishments
Launched on October 1, 2010 in conjunction with National Cyber Security Awareness Month, the STOP. THINK. CONNECT. campaign marked its fifth year in October 2015 and is the core, leading message for the month. The campaign has achieved unprecedented success including:
• Signing 315 partners through stopthinkconnect.org, including nonprofits, government agencies,
businesses of all sizes and academic institutions, that co-brand with the campaign and disseminate
the message. In addition, DHS has 262 partners in its campaign – bringing the total number of
partners committed to sharing cybersecurity awareness across the country and around the world to
577.
• Creating and distributing broadcast PSAs and videos produced by DHS and other federal agencies.
• Developing a library of more than 100 downloadable online safety resources which are available
free of charge, including materials translated into five languages.
• Ongoing, robust social media initiatives using #ChatSTC which have engaged more than 31 million
users over a five year period.
International Impact
STOP. THINK. CONNECT. Around the world, the global commitment to communicate and highlight safe cybersecurity practices is in large part due to the international reach of STOP. THINK. CONNECT., which launched its worldwide initiatives in 2011.
• The campaign has impacted millions of digital citizens worldwide through collaborative public- and private-sector efforts and expanded its roster of partners with its simple but increasingly vital message.
• Complete translation of the website into Japanese: http://stopthinkconnect.jp/.
• Integration of STOP. THINK. CONNECT. in Spanish (Para. Piensa.Conectate.): http://cibervoluntarios.org/parapiensaconectate/ .
• STOP. THINK. CONNECT. has partners in Canada, Australia, Panama, the European Union, India, Japan, Mexico and other countries and regions.
Resources and information about the campaign can be found at stopthinkconnect.org
Safer Internet Day – Join Our Twitter Chat!
#ChatSTC Twitter Chat: Play Your Part for a Better Internet This Safer Internet Day
Tuesday, Feb. 9, 12 p.m. EST/9 a.m. PST
Safer Internet Day is an awareness-raising campaign celebrated in more than 100 countries around the globe. Safer Internet Day, hosted by ConnectSafely.org in the United States, promotes the efforts of Internet users of all ages, interests and backgrounds to make the Internet a better place – and the world a better place with the help of the Internet. In this #ChatSTC Twitter chat, we’ll discuss our everyday technology use, the benefits and potential risks associated with the Internet and how we can participate in Safer Internet Day. Following the chat, audience members and participants will be invited to stream ConnectSafely’s Safer Internet Day event in Universal Studios live online at saferinternetday.us. Use #ChatSTC to join!
And - remember to utilize the novel, WHO R U REALLY? , in your cybersafety discussions. Industry experts have recommended it as a great resource for helping youth and parents understand the dangers of the predators on the Internet. Available from all major booksellers.
"This book is sure to spark a dialogue between parents and teens..." The Idaho Librarian - review of WHO R U REALLY?.
History of STOP. THINK. CONNECT.
In 2009, the National Cyber Security Alliance and the Anti-Phishing Working Group convened an unprecedented coalition of 25 companies and 7 government agencies, including the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) that leads the campaign in the federal government. Working by consensus, this multi-stakeholder group conducted research and message testing with U.S. consumers, resulting in the creation of the message STOP. THINK. CONNECT.
Key Accomplishments
Launched on October 1, 2010 in conjunction with National Cyber Security Awareness Month, the STOP. THINK. CONNECT. campaign marked its fifth year in October 2015 and is the core, leading message for the month. The campaign has achieved unprecedented success including:
• Signing 315 partners through stopthinkconnect.org, including nonprofits, government agencies,
businesses of all sizes and academic institutions, that co-brand with the campaign and disseminate
the message. In addition, DHS has 262 partners in its campaign – bringing the total number of
partners committed to sharing cybersecurity awareness across the country and around the world to
577.
• Creating and distributing broadcast PSAs and videos produced by DHS and other federal agencies.
• Developing a library of more than 100 downloadable online safety resources which are available
free of charge, including materials translated into five languages.
• Ongoing, robust social media initiatives using #ChatSTC which have engaged more than 31 million
users over a five year period.
International Impact
STOP. THINK. CONNECT. Around the world, the global commitment to communicate and highlight safe cybersecurity practices is in large part due to the international reach of STOP. THINK. CONNECT., which launched its worldwide initiatives in 2011.
• The campaign has impacted millions of digital citizens worldwide through collaborative public- and private-sector efforts and expanded its roster of partners with its simple but increasingly vital message.
• Complete translation of the website into Japanese: http://stopthinkconnect.jp/.
• Integration of STOP. THINK. CONNECT. in Spanish (Para. Piensa.Conectate.): http://cibervoluntarios.org/parapiensaconectate/ .
• STOP. THINK. CONNECT. has partners in Canada, Australia, Panama, the European Union, India, Japan, Mexico and other countries and regions.
Resources and information about the campaign can be found at stopthinkconnect.org
Safer Internet Day – Join Our Twitter Chat!
#ChatSTC Twitter Chat: Play Your Part for a Better Internet This Safer Internet Day
Tuesday, Feb. 9, 12 p.m. EST/9 a.m. PST
Safer Internet Day is an awareness-raising campaign celebrated in more than 100 countries around the globe. Safer Internet Day, hosted by ConnectSafely.org in the United States, promotes the efforts of Internet users of all ages, interests and backgrounds to make the Internet a better place – and the world a better place with the help of the Internet. In this #ChatSTC Twitter chat, we’ll discuss our everyday technology use, the benefits and potential risks associated with the Internet and how we can participate in Safer Internet Day. Following the chat, audience members and participants will be invited to stream ConnectSafely’s Safer Internet Day event in Universal Studios live online at saferinternetday.us. Use #ChatSTC to join!
And - remember to utilize the novel, WHO R U REALLY? , in your cybersafety discussions. Industry experts have recommended it as a great resource for helping youth and parents understand the dangers of the predators on the Internet. Available from all major booksellers.
"This book is sure to spark a dialogue between parents and teens..." The Idaho Librarian - review of WHO R U REALLY?.
