tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-51953179991862816082024-02-18T21:55:14.178-08:00Ashley Nikole Ashley Nikolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02360711294467434461noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5195317999186281608.post-47699952781743083002019-06-23T17:28:00.001-07:002019-06-24T14:59:54.838-07:00Fallout \\ Release Day! Wahooo!! It's release day for my first novel outside of the <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/series/225489-hands-of-time" target="_blank">Hands of Time</a> series----<a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07T16W4YB" target="_blank">Fallout</a>!<br />
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Here's the back cover blurb: </h2>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_jPVhPAiH5e-J50_WtPEYvDug9h3-O3RkMaGEvSlJI7iI5HF9IN7ltjTnCQC-QLE-B1Le36Od881ksIA_hdJXe9MqN4AuePqiIayyCr7voyIA-QEm7npMAKuu5QmvG-unw0MV69O6IPQ/s1600/Cover+Lighter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_jPVhPAiH5e-J50_WtPEYvDug9h3-O3RkMaGEvSlJI7iI5HF9IN7ltjTnCQC-QLE-B1Le36Od881ksIA_hdJXe9MqN4AuePqiIayyCr7voyIA-QEm7npMAKuu5QmvG-unw0MV69O6IPQ/s320/Cover+Lighter.jpg" width="213" /></a><span style="font-size: large;"><i>Four months of torture in an undisclosed location. </i></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>Four months of silence. </i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>Four months of praying she won’t lose her mind and give away secrets she’s fought so hard to keep.</i></span> </span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">Avery Kent escapes with her life, but she is pursued deep into the heart of the British Columbia wilderness by the men who almost took her life—and shattered her mind. </span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>After wandering for two days in the mountains, she stumbles upon a cabin—but little does she know that the man inside is not the sheltering protector he claims to be. </span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">Haunted by his past, former CAF soldier Dakota Fontaine is trying to mind his business and keep his head down when a woman stumbles onto his property and collapses, wearing only a hospital gown and a tattered sweater. </span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>As he nurses the battered woman back to health, he wonders at the way she talks in her sleep but won’t say a word when she’s awake. But Dakota knows better than most that the art of coercion isn’t always violent. Torture isn’t the only way to ferret out a person’s secrets, and he is confident of one thing; Avery Kent will confide in him, one way or another. </span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">Just as Avery begins to trust Dakota, an unlikely encounter sends her fleeing back into the heart of the city where it all began. </span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>On the hunt to collect the stash of lethal evidence that will take down her attackers, once and for all, the flashbacks grow stronger, and her grip on reality continues to falter. </span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Avery knows the chances of losing her mind before she can bring down her captors, are high—and deadly—and she’s not up to the challenge. </span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>But she’ll die trying. </span><br />
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Where to buy Fallout?</span> </span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">Amazon, naturally, where you can find it in both <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07T16W4YB" target="_blank">Kindle</a> & <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/1798408716" target="_blank">Paperback</a> form (both are linked, so just click on the one you want). </span></span><br />
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">**For the first few weeks, Fallout is also priced super low at $11.99 for the paperbacks, $2.99 for the ebook version! I mean, what's not to like about that? You can get a super wild ride of a read, for practically the price of two Starbucks's drinks!**</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">Phew! That was an intense ride of writing, editing, and getting Fallout into the hands of readers, in just over a year! To date, I've never completed a project so fast--and it felt like a crazy whirlwind, but the good kind. </span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></span></span> <span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">You know when the first idea for Fallout was sparked?</span> </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6f6eeD50VaJkSkr7QDBYHabaemq0E8-5VYU6SlYzQRMhLjChXUxk25IyGrqb4j6recyK-8pgYA5C5Zo2lXjEu1eFHtIf1T8mRp-A9FI4pzmL-W2xRUcCFMUFdenKQQTDc7CeeiJzuA94/s1600/AfterlightImage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6f6eeD50VaJkSkr7QDBYHabaemq0E8-5VYU6SlYzQRMhLjChXUxk25IyGrqb4j6recyK-8pgYA5C5Zo2lXjEu1eFHtIf1T8mRp-A9FI4pzmL-W2xRUcCFMUFdenKQQTDc7CeeiJzuA94/s320/AfterlightImage.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">Well, I'd just finished reading <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/34020950-whisper?ac=1&from_search=true" target="_blank">Lynette Noni's 'Whisper'</a> and I was gobsmacked--in a good way--and my imagination started floating down the plot river of a woman who doesn't speak, but has this crazy intense secret (because that is the premise of Whisper). Obviously, I'd read Whisper and how Noni took that plot in the direction she did, but I thought to myself--"There are SO MANY PLOT POSSIBILITIES coming from a mute woman with secrets" so what did I do? I started brainstorming, and--BAM! Fallout was born. </span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">I love how inspiration begets inspiration! So thanks, Lynette, for piquing my interest and, #1--writing Whisper & blowing my mind, and #2--giving me that one-line inspiration to write an entire book, just from the "mute woman with crazy secrets" concept. </span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">That's all for now! If you read Fallout, make sure to leave a rating and/or review on <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Fallout-Ashley-Nikole/dp/1798408716/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=" target="_blank">Amazon</a> & <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/44161469-fallout" target="_blank">Goodreads</a>--those make me so happy. </span><br />
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<iframe width="320" height="266" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Dg47OmbRZLM/0.jpg" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Dg47OmbRZLM?feature=player_embedded" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
<span style="font-kerning: none; font-size: large;">And for those of you who like videos, I made one of those for you too! Tadaaaaa :) </span><br />
<span style="font-kerning: none; font-size: large;">Much love, </span><br />
<span style="font-kerning: none; font-size: large;">-Ashley Nikole</span></div>
Ashley Nikolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02360711294467434461noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5195317999186281608.post-42967289376244725902018-07-13T12:27:00.001-07:002018-07-13T12:27:16.690-07:00Phantom's Daughter, RELEASE DAY!!! <h2>
Phantom's Daughter, book two in the Hands of Time series, comes out this Monday, July 16th!!<br /><i style="font-weight: normal;">Back cover blurb...</i></h2>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;">Oregon, 1895</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><i>Assassin. Outlaw. Thief. </i></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">Flames, terror and falling into an endless darkness are all Hunter North can remember. </span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">When she wakes up, her memory is gone. </span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">In her reflection, she finds a stranger. </span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">In the tales her father weaves, she finds one of America’s most wanted criminals. </span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">Horrified at her identity, and the newfound knowledge that she is the daughter of an even more infamous outlaw than she is, Hunter wonders how she ever got mixed up in the wrong crowd. Wonders how she’ll ever escape and find the truth of her identity. But her father made it abundantly clear the night she tried to run the first time…if she attempts it again, he will find her, and when death finally comes…it will be a sweet relief. </span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;">But when the choice is taken from Hunter and she is forced to run to keep her life, her world collides with the man who holds the answers her memory has long hidden—the man who has been hunting her down for years—the bane of her existence, but very likely, her only hope—U.S. Marshal Ethan Fellows. </span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;">WHERE TO BUY-----> </span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">Amazon!! </span></h2>
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<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"><span style="font-size: large;">1) <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Phantoms-Daughter-Hands-Time-2/dp/1986651495/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1531508945&sr=8-3&keywords=phantoms+daughter" target="_blank">Link for Paperback </a></span></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"><span style="font-size: large;">2) <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Phantoms-Daughter-Hands-Time-Book-ebook/dp/B07FFGYHGP/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1531508945&sr=8-2&keywords=phantoms+daughter" target="_blank">Link for Kindle</a> </span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW-oH9YbRjp9_74H_zhB-Nq-5fufeS9auNhiYFjioAOcTNnoBlQmMSB4lZgYrjqto4xUyvFzSmZy_bFrRLA-LFWOlQaSMp6otLkkYOdV20JHDV4rmZSE9QgvNM5CKWIv8bkwxaAtsOLZc/s1600/IMG_1736.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1068" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW-oH9YbRjp9_74H_zhB-Nq-5fufeS9auNhiYFjioAOcTNnoBlQmMSB4lZgYrjqto4xUyvFzSmZy_bFrRLA-LFWOlQaSMp6otLkkYOdV20JHDV4rmZSE9QgvNM5CKWIv8bkwxaAtsOLZc/s320/IMG_1736.JPG" width="213" /></a><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"><span style="font-size: large;">Also, add <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/37800886-phantom-s-daughter?ac=1&from_search=true" target="_blank">Phantom's Daughter</a> to your TBR list (or reading list!) on Goodreads! When you're done reading it, make sure to leave me (pretty please) a rating and review! Those help authors out biiiggg time. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">If you haven't read </span><b style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">book one</b><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"> in the series--Present History, you can find it on </span><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/36298625-present-history?ac=1&from_search=true" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;" target="_blank">Goodreads here</a><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">, and </span><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Present-History-Hands-Time-1/dp/1545323895/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1531509432&sr=8-1&keywords=present+history+ashley+nikole" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;" target="_blank">Amazon here</a><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">! </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Share with your reading friends, and if you post about it on social, make sure to tag me (your account will have to be public for me to see it) and hashtag #phantomsdaughternovel & #ashleynikolehot ('hot' stands for 'Hands of Time', but obviously...double meaning, right? hehehe)!! I love seeing your posts and where my books end up travelling!! </span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: large;">Peace out--& happy birthday, Phantom's Daughter!!! </span></div>
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Ashley Nikolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02360711294467434461noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5195317999186281608.post-39309167254173152652018-04-27T19:42:00.000-07:002018-04-27T20:15:03.188-07:00Do I write Christian Fiction? <div style="text-align: center;">
Today I'm going to share a little bit about my reading and writing journey. </div>
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In writing this blog post I know I'm most likely going to disappoint some of the ones reading it. What I'm going to say in this post is not meant to bash anyone. It's my personal opinion on the matter, and contrary to popular belief, just because I disagree with someone or the way they do a particular thing, doesn't mean I hate them. </div>
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That being said, let's get to the questions and answers! </div>
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I'm a spiritual person--not a religious one, but spiritual, yes. </h3>
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I believe in Jesus, the Trinity (God the Father, Son & Holy Spirit). We have a relationship, we talk. I believe in God communicating with me through dreams (dude--do I love those), through the Bible and through people. I'm a fairly prophetic person as well. I believe in healing the sick, raising the dead--<i>and yes</i>, casting out demons, as it says in Matthew 10:8. </div>
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But anywho, I'll not get into a lengthy theological spiel. That's just some of the stuff I believe.</div>
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So that would beg the question--if you write fiction, does that mean you write Christian Fiction? </h2>
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Answer? No. <b>I don't write Christian Fiction. </b></div>
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Why? Well, I'll give you a bit of a backstory. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7H8HooRryr1UNLZwsUo-99g8EqhUiF5senRHbY-SV0VbTPlFz-DkiRpVZ9lEu0BCZVPBKGJukzgIL-dwPgr_RPx9QerVwvnUcotUn78Braxn2fbdxYF_H6sjQgqxlV93oQcE59a2-NCU/s1600/christianfiction.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="810" data-original-width="540" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7H8HooRryr1UNLZwsUo-99g8EqhUiF5senRHbY-SV0VbTPlFz-DkiRpVZ9lEu0BCZVPBKGJukzgIL-dwPgr_RPx9QerVwvnUcotUn78Braxn2fbdxYF_H6sjQgqxlV93oQcE59a2-NCU/s400/christianfiction.jpg" width="266" /></a>I grew up reading Christian fiction, (I'll refer to it hereafter as CF) simply because I didn't like getting blasted with sex scenes and lots of language and morals that didn't line up with mine. </div>
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That being said, I can (and do) enjoy books, films and the like where the morals don't line up with mine 100% (there's a limit to that concept, but we're not talking about that today), but ya know, "birds of a feather flock together"--I just liked reading stuff that more closely resembled my values. </div>
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And I truly do appreciate certain aspects of CF, like the aforementioned morals and values being similar to my own. I like how CF can sometimes go deeper than the typical mainstream fiction book. I like that instead of getting totally hung up on just the physical aspects of something and calling that the end-all-be-all, deeper things/aspects are searched out and that's cool. </div>
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I respect that you don't get blasted with sex left, right and centre. I love people falling in love in all its glorious aspects, but I don't like getting 99 steps of foreplay and actually getting a front row seat to the act of sex like I'm the one doing it. I don't like that, in books or movies. </div>
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I really do appreciate that generally, CF tends towards keeping the graphic sexual stuff off the radar. I'm a grateful reader for these aspects of CF. </div>
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What drove me somewhat batty (and still does) about CF is the preaching. Whether that be the salvation message or regarding a character's blossoming--or floundering relationship with God. I'm a Christian and I don't like getting preached at. I love being inspired and uplifted. Preached at? Not so much. </div>
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If the salvation message being crammed down my throat is distasteful to me as a believer, I honestly don't know how it is going to be palatable to someone who doesn't know Jesus personally. </div>
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I've always felt that faith and sharing the gospel is a very personal thing. I don't think it's a blanket answer thing, or a one-size fits all--and that's primarily why I don't enjoy reading preaching sessions in books, or characters getting their relationships with Jesus back on track in the middle of a gripping story. It just doesn't seem to ring true when I read it. And I really dislike faith and personal relationships with Jesus being treated like a mathematical equation. </div>
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I'm not saying there isn't a place for the gospel in fiction, but the way I've seen the majority of Christian authors do it just rubs me the wrong way. </div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">I've spent time outside the institutionalized church and have gotten an "outsiders" perspective of the way the church does things, rather opening my eyes to how tacky we can come across to people who don't share our beliefs. </span></b></div>
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And no, I don't believe in "being so morally and spiritually fluid that we are attractive to ALL PEOPLE" and "everything goes"--cause it doesn't and there are rights and wrongs and boundaries and all that, but I am saying I'm not necessarily in favour of how Christians (and our relationships with God) are being portrayed in this genre of fiction. </div>
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I've read hundreds of Christian books, and the number of times I was touched by the spiritual content or a character working out their relationship with God, I can probably count on one hand. One hand. Usually I skim through the spiritual parts because they aggravate me. They seem tacky and trite and don't answer the burning questions I have deep within me--so I'd much rather the author not address a subject they don't have adequate, soul-rending (and mending) answers for. Perhaps they answer some people's questions and mend some hearts, but I've almost never found myself ministered to by the spiritual content in a book. I very often find myself frustrated. </div>
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When deciding what camp I was going to find myself in when I released my novel, I asked myself several questions, one of which was...<b>would I rather find myself judged and hated by a non-Christian, or judged and hated by a Christian? </b></h2>
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It seems like the answer would be obvious--until you've felt the sting of religious ridicule. </div>
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I would, any day, take a furious non-Christian over a furious Christian. Why? </div>
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Because non-believers usually [and I say usually because that is (<i>usually)</i> what I've encountered, but that doesn't go for everyone] state the facts, freakout, and if they hate something, they hate it and are usually pretty upfront about it. </div>
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But if a Christian hates something, whoa. Look out for bible verses to be used as swords and fire-breathing theology dragons to be fired up-- there's someone who certainly must be boiled alive in a bubbling cauldron of oil for their indiscretions. There's much by the way of philosophy that has been twisted to fit people's immature, warped sense of character that is presented as the religiously correct thing. </div>
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Christians can (and do) bully, but they put on their "righteous" robes when they do it and think themselves holy martyrs who are defending the faith. </h3>
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When non-Christians bully, it's just, quite obviously, bullying. But when a Christian does it, it looks HOLY but smells FISHY. </h3>
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Which is truly quite sad. </div>
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I contemplated not saying this because I didn't want to look like the "Big-Bad-Rebellious Christian" who is dissenting and criticizing the bride of Christ and ruining our unity. That's not my intention. It's just apart of my story and why I don't feel called to write Christian fiction.</div>
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I don't have a grudge against my fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. I love them to bits. </div>
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And by the way, the aforementioned bullies are not representing Jesus as they should and as they claim. <span style="font-size: large;"><b style="text-align: center;">They are representing their own immaturity, masked in theology that was never meant to be twisted and used in a selfish, warmongering capacity.</b><span style="text-align: center;"> </span></span>But, as in any group, there are people who claim to be glorious and for the cause, when they're just trying to elbow everyone out of their way that makes them feel insecure. You'll find those people everywhere (in the church, outside the church--literally everywhere), they can just be quite particularly scary when they start using theology to defend their immaturity, lol.</div>
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When I started writing fiction, my goal was never to save souls or preach the gospel. </h2>
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I know most Christians who write fiction think that it's their spiritual duty to evangelize through their writing. If they truly feel passionate about sharing Jesus with people, I think that's cool. Passion is contagious! I don't know how that will translate into fiction, as I've not really seen it done in a way that felt natural when I read it, but you know, I believe it CAN be done. I haven't necessarily seen it, but I'm open to seeing it done well! </div>
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And just because I'm not expressly sharing about Jesus, left right and centre in my books doesn't mean I'm not passionate about Him and sharing my faith with people who are curious about it. Quite the opposite, but like I said, I don't feel called to lay out the gospel in fiction. It would feel unnatural and insincere to me. </div>
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Once, several years ago I was writing a scene and the thought popped into my head, "You know, this is usually where they have a preaching moment. I feel like I'd be a bad writer if I didn't do my duty and put it in here, so let me insert XYZ right about...here." After a while, I came back to that scene and couldn't believe how fake and unnatural it felt. </div>
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But in the same breath, I felt as though I was doing society a disfavour by not sharing "the message" in my books, but when I really questioned why I felt I had to put "the message" in there, it was because I felt like I'd be a "bad Christian" if I DIDN'T put it in there. Because that was how everyone was just taught to do it. Share even if no one asked. Because if you don't, there are several people who won't get to heaven, cause YOU. DIDN'T. SHARE. THE. MESSAGE. </div>
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I discovered that was the religious guilt trip of the year, and I sure as all get-out was NOT going to share something as amazing as Jesus or Heaven or my overall faith, because I felt guilted or duty-bound to do it. YIKES! </div>
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Jesus doesn't force Himself on people. And I won't share about Him when I don't feel the Holy Spirit prompting me to do it. And that's why I don't give "the message" in my books. I don't feel the Spirit telling me to. </div>
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Jesus taught largely in parables. That ministers to my soul and I'll tell you something--God speaks to me through seemingly non-spiritual content A TON. </h2>
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In movies, in books, where simple human interaction upon human interactions just smacks me upside the head and God speaks to me at that moment so strongly it makes me weep. </h2>
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In the media, I find metaphors are more powerful than the total truth of the matter at about 100% throttle. I prefer the truth at about 100% throttle when I'm talking with someone face-to-face about something. In fiction and movies, I am moved deeply by metaphors. </div>
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Ray Hughes said, "Metaphors are the crowbars that open the doors to truth. If you kick it down it might overwhelm everyone, but if you pry it open..." bam. That quote resonates deeply within me. And since I am moved by metaphors, and Jesus used metaphors when He taught, I take that as my cue--that's what imma gonna do when I write books. That feels natural to me. I believe in imparting wisdom and truth through riddles, rhymes and parables. The truth is no less true because it is masked in a concept or a figure of speech. </div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>My goal in writing has always been to...</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">1) Entertain my readers. That's always no. 1</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">2) Present the grittiness of life in a raw, vulnerable and honest way</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">3) To instil hope in readers, every time they pick up one of my books </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">4) To portray a journey of healing that is believable and cathartic to those reading it</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">5) Instil hope--AGAIN, cause in this world it is an easy thing to lose and life is a sad place without it</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">6) Teach people how to grieve. This one is (as they all are) obviously quite personal to me. With the things I've experienced, grief has been something I've encountered frequently in my life, and I've found that most people just don't know how to grieve. I want so badly to show readers it is a natural thing, not something to fear and is actually there to help us through seasons in life. </span></div>
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Those six things are engraved deeply upon my soul, and I'll tell you something, they feel very natural to write about. Writing, for me, has always been about healing. It's not an escape, it's an avenue of healing, and yes, entertainment! But always fundamentally coming back to healing and instiling hope. So no, I don't write CF, I write in the mainstream/general market. </div>
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I dig deep when I write, sometimes things get more intense than they would in a CF novel, and that's one of the reasons I decided to write mainstream fiction. I wanted to be allowed to go deep and raw, to colour outside the lines that would be permissible within CF. </div>
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At times I use strong language in my writing. Not the F-Bomb or taking God's name in vain, but words like "damn, hell, ass, bastard and shit." Those words are harsh and strong. I don't use them lightly when I do. I use them intentionally because using normal language wouldn't fully express the situation or moment like I want it to. I want my writing to be raw and gritty, not polished and perfect and pretty. That sometimes involves using words that will make certain readers uncomfortable. </div>
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I've had readers tell me they won't buy or recommend my writing because of the 10 strong words spread throughout a book of mine, while others have said it made the experience far rawer and impacted them on a deeper level because I included them. </div>
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Sometimes I include sensual references or innuendo's that wouldn't fly in CF. I don't throw these references blithely into my writing, just as I don't toss language around like a toy. If you're wondering--no--I don't do sex scenes in my writing. I'm not that writer and it's simply not an experience I'll provide my readers with. </div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Because of my spiritual beliefs, the majority of people I know, assume I write CF. </b></span></div>
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If you were confused, curious or just wanted to know, now you do. I write in the mainstream/general market because I have a specific goal in mind. I don't want to reach ONLY Christians. I want to reach everyone, regardless of what they believe. I don't want to preach a certain message and get harped on for not doing a good job of it. Though that's not the only reason I decided to write in the general market. </div>
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I weave my beliefs and principles into my writing (naturally) with parables instead of hard, cold facts. But if hard, cold facts are a person's style in writing fiction, that's great--I only sincerely hope it comes across to readers as natural--not information shared in an obligatory capacity. </div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>And that, ladies and gentlemen, is the long-ish answer to the burning question...</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><i>"Do I write Christian Fiction?"</i></b></span></div>
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Ashley Nikolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02360711294467434461noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5195317999186281608.post-41427469856511218332017-11-27T18:51:00.000-08:002017-11-27T18:52:07.298-08:00The Darkness We Fear <div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">"To be overjoyed when an occasion dictates it, seems directly contradictory in nature, considering the emotion is sorely lacking in your current state of affairs, and putting it on will do nothing to change them." </span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCAaqcDPqTL18-SN7yiPQ9uchVVR-InaiolnP1ESZi4AOcZL1eEUagsANxuJ-zsudkiIj3WwORhLnqDQldEYcEAuE84PD33aEUV6uH5GRjnV4ndZNeWd3aRfEKJnDtbj2mNqGTg_Inc88/s1600/IMG_0435.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCAaqcDPqTL18-SN7yiPQ9uchVVR-InaiolnP1ESZi4AOcZL1eEUagsANxuJ-zsudkiIj3WwORhLnqDQldEYcEAuE84PD33aEUV6uH5GRjnV4ndZNeWd3aRfEKJnDtbj2mNqGTg_Inc88/s320/IMG_0435.JPG" width="213" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">This last weekend it was my birthday. As the day approached, I found myself wishing I could put it off, because I was in no mood to celebrate. I didn't want to be happy for a reason so wonderful as my birthday, when in all actuality, I felt lost in a shroud of grief as though I'd kissed the love of my life for the last time and watched him die before my eyes. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">All I wanted to do was cry & be comforted, having the pain of my grief taken away for just a day. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">You're probably wondering exactly what has propelled me into what I know to be the most intense season of grief I've ever experienced. Although I've chosen not to share those details on here, as they are deeply personal and not what I'd like to share in a public forum, I will say it is not one person or situation or death that has brought me to where I am today. It is many. </span><br />
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In the last while, I've found myself smack-dab in the middle of this tempest of grief, wondering how people deal with their grief and how others see them, chose to or not to help them.<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">And I've found that, for the most part, </span><span style="font-size: x-large;">no one talks about grief.</span> No. One.<br />
And, seeing as that I have had a very intimate look into the eye of the storm, I know how overwhelming it can be, especially if no one talks about it- and in turn, no one knows how to handle a grieving person or be a help to them.<br />
And in this season, I have witnessed an incredible amount of ignorance in society regarding the topic of grief. Really, hardly a soul knows how to deal with it, and I know I've already said that, but it bears repeating. Not only is grief a very isolating thing to experience, it's even more isolating if no one understands it and won't touch it (or you) with a ten-foot pole.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy0kiODJEW4fi_i47LALHv7xXZoKy6WpL2y_YnQTgpM8rKGIoVPVjDJrDY4Kp_N-RlVrpnzF7aKm5nupLWW_ErwKh9h7w5BYh2va1KD51jN1PpAjqppYck4rhPYm-tnJIhmyGn7LkoJ2Y/s1600/IMG_4755.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1068" data-original-width="1600" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy0kiODJEW4fi_i47LALHv7xXZoKy6WpL2y_YnQTgpM8rKGIoVPVjDJrDY4Kp_N-RlVrpnzF7aKm5nupLWW_ErwKh9h7w5BYh2va1KD51jN1PpAjqppYck4rhPYm-tnJIhmyGn7LkoJ2Y/s400/IMG_4755.JPG" width="400" /></a>So, that is why I am here, and I am going to crack open this treasure chest, here and now, because <span style="font-size: large;">over the last year I have grown increasingly antsy about this topic</span>. Antsy because it is clearly very misrepresented and people do not give it the time of day. Whenever I turn to write something of a non-fiction variety, I am brought back to the subject of grief.<br />
Even when I write fiction, I write largely about different characters processing their grief and healing through it. So, I guess you could say that I have learned a lot about grief in this last season, and I would very much like to share it with those of you who want to know more about it and how you can help people walking through it.<br />
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I hope you will bear with me if my thoughts are not entirely concise or clear as day- this is a rather complex topic and it is at times hard to express what is in my heart and put into words. I know, I'm a writer and I find expressing myself easier than a lot of people do, but I'm still human.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">I am an extremely happy person, both naturally and by choice. </span></div>
It is not easy for me to get stuck in a rut of unpleasant feelings. If I get knocked down, I jump back up. If I get knocked down, say fifty times, it doesn't really matter.<br />
I'm pretty much like an elastic rubber band, but given the events that played out over the last four years, but especially the last year, my elasticity was syphoned and bottled somewhere- God knows where, but I do not.<br />
Try as I might, to jump back in regular Ashley fashion, my resolve was gone. My ability to cope, trust, believe and hope, went poof. I couldn't force myself to be happy, couldn't force myself to believe in a happy, good future because <i>it was good for me</i>- I couldn't do it.<br />
I was walking along one day and smacked into this wall called hope deferred and depression and...grief.<b><span style="font-size: large;"> And it wouldn't budge. </span></b><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">And after some time, I realised this darkness I'd found myself in, was called grief.</span> I'd been through so much trauma, everything about me- including my body, emotions and soul, was shutting down and going into preservation mode.<br />
I entered a season where the battle caught up with me and I realized just how badly I'd been beaten and torn up, inside and out.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx8V4a9nt3pWrWwI8xvsw-7Feh4vdJ_9CajgF1rTxwe-qLvpn2w80ojZKofZLR5pWWPaRGDsLyeXUQuqeniMXg0BzBQGwCtjY7pIcTsJQj62ib58A7V9_S04KjvgecVOwZbLk8s_cZQt4/s1600/IMG_3861.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1068" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx8V4a9nt3pWrWwI8xvsw-7Feh4vdJ_9CajgF1rTxwe-qLvpn2w80ojZKofZLR5pWWPaRGDsLyeXUQuqeniMXg0BzBQGwCtjY7pIcTsJQj62ib58A7V9_S04KjvgecVOwZbLk8s_cZQt4/s320/IMG_3861.JPG" width="213" /></a>And then, when it didn't go away after a week, even a year or two, I realized with somewhat of a shuddering, terrified kind of shock, that I had to go down there, get dirty, stop trying to push the sadness away to be happy, and grieve. Not just on the surface, but I had to grieve so deeply I couldn't quite comprehend it until quite recently.<br />
As I learned to grieve in this deep, gut-wrenchingly honest place, I learned that pat answers wouldn't help me. "Yes" friends, wouldn't help. Bible verses wouldn't take away the pain gushing from my soul or give me hope because my hope had been, quite thoroughly destroyed.<br />
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A lot of people won't understand where I'm coming from, because in talking to, and listening to a lot of people talk, I've found that few people have the guts to face their deepest, darkest fears, insecurities and feelings, and come to the conclusion that they have a whole lot of questions, not a lot of answers and a hell of a lot of pain.<br />
But, to the ones who have had pain rock them to their very core, shaking up your world and removing your ability to give and take pat answers...and this resounds in your soul...this is for you.<br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span style="font-size: x-large;">I know good things have happened</span>, don't misunderstand an expression of pain for a lack of thankfulness. </i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I am overwhelmed with a bloody, soul-crushing anguish. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">It's not that I don't laugh. I do. Often. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">It's not that I don't see the beauty around me & thank God for it. I do. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">It's just this pain that I don't quite know how to navigate- or truer still- I know how to navigate it, I just don't want for it to exist a second longer. I've cried too many tears. I've said goodbye to far too many people.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">My body is riddled with scars that cause people to stare & criticize & mock & assume. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I mistook a river of fire for one of safe, cool refreshing waters. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">My soul isn't the same. I am grounded by grief. It is a weighty thing indeed. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I have learned to sit with it & not push it away because it was inconvenient & I didn't want to feel pain. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I sat & pondered what grief truly is & how to walk through its complex, often murky depths. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I wanted to ask questions & have answers- have someone tell me what to do, but I discovered it was something I had to learn for myself because no one talks about it besides <i>"cry for a day after something traumatic happens"</i> or <i>"seriously? Just soldier on. Crying gets you nowhere in life so why sit & get to know grief? What even is grief but moping around your house with a box of tissues feeling sorry for yourself & willingly falling into a gaping, black void & surrendering your life?" </i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">After all, grief is that third wheel friend no one wants on their date.</span></b> It's the friend you shun, making excuses that you don't have time for or that you just don't wanna get complicated or go deep. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Why do I refer to grief as a friend? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">It's because when something traumatic or particularly painful happens, there is nothing that heals the wound, better than grief. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b>Grief is an asset to our lives. </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">It helps us bridge the gap between normal & the new normal following a break in life, be that physical, spiritual or emotional. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">If you express grief & it scares someone, understand it is because they likely haven't come to an understanding that grief is not going to snuff out their life like a flickering candle if they get too close. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">They see it as dangerous, & that's where they're at. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">But it remains painful, when it seems no one is equipped to handle the vast sea that is mourning, that is loss. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Especially if the situation(s) that caused it are not clean cut. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">There is no blanket answer for how to walk through grief. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Crap. I know.🤦🏻♀️😐</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">But I think it is so important to not rush the process of grief- & I do not mean moping & wallowing. There's a difference, & often the three get mixed into the same cake & presented as- SELFISH (& often times self-inflicted) AGONY. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Not the same thing. </i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Don't rush your grief. Don't. It will bite you in the butt later on if it's not dealt with. I am serious. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Cry. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Cry as much as you need to. Don't feel obliged to be happy. It will come. And when it does- don't fight it & think you need to stay sad. Be happy. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Then, when the next tidal wave of grief washes over you, sort it out. Write out your feelings, cry it out. Talk to a friend who understands, not someone who is so preoccupied with whats going on in their life that they have never heard of certain four-letter words that can upend your carefully constructed life in seconds. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">One thing I must say is that, again, grief is different for everyone & every situation. Is it clean cut? Is it particularly traumatic? Do you have a strong support network of friends, family, church or other close people? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">If you do, lean on those who prove themselves trustworthy of safekeeping your heart. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;"><i>If you don't have an extended support network</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"> or are in a season of isolation, you might be roughing it out in the sticks with just you & God, for a short or long period of time. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Don't worry about the people that tell you it's dangerous being with "just you & God". Sometimes there are seasons of isolation where God is all you have & you learn <i>invaluable</i> lessons. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b>Some people will never, not once in their life go through a season </b></span><span style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;">where God is the only answer- so don't be shocked if you become a hot item of ridicule for your journey, to people who have never walked it or can even imagine what you're going through. Trust me, I know what it's like to have that happen. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Don't feel guilty or be hard on yourself if you just can't seem to make your grief go away. It's not a light- you can't flip a switch & make it come or go when you wish. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">It may stay with you for a week, it may stay with you for years- until that pain is fully healed. That process looks different for everybody. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;"><i>There are supernatural seasons </i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;"><i>that cannot be solved with physical solutions. </i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">It's okay to have fewer answers than you have questions. Be kind to yourself. You will find answers. Maybe not today, maybe not next week or even this year & that makes your heart bleed. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Mine is a bloody mess. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">A few years ago I would've run screaming from being so vulnerable, on the internet of all places- goodness gracious. But I've discovered that people don't talk about grief, & seeing as though I have come to know it like the back of my hand, you can bet your boots I'm gonna talk about it, because someone- like me, needs to hear another someone be <i><span style="font-size: large;">raw, open, vulnerable & honest about their pain without turning into a gong show of a pity party</span></i>. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;">So I will say this...to those of you who are grieving </span>for<span style="font-family: inherit;"> one reason or another- I am </span>more sorry<span style="font-family: inherit;"> than I can say, for the pain you are going through. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I truly am, & I hope you can understand that. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I have a deep well of pain, myself, that I am figuring out as I go. I'm not all healed up & shouting "YOU'RE GONNA BE OKAY" from the mountain tops while I party with my successes hanging off my arm, jingling like bracelets. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">I am in the trenches as we speak, slogging some tough stuff that I weep over. </span></b>A lot. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I could remind you how grateful you will be once this is over, or how refined you will be, or how strong you will emerge from this season- but I won't. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">All that matters is that you are in pain & you probably feel like you're dying- or better yet, you died inside a year ago & feel like you're trapped inside a prison that is called life. Am I right? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;"><i>Sustained, complicated grief is hard- & yes, potentially dangerous- </i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">ANYTHING worthwhile in life holds a certain measure of risk to it- and friends who tell you grief is dangerous & caution you to short track your process- don't even get me started on that cop-out of a mentality. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">"Yes" friends are the unsafe ones, YEEE-IKESSS. Avoid them like the plague. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Face your process head on and figure out your relationship status with your G-Friend- & I don't mean girlfriend. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Grief is there to help us connect the islands, as it were, of our life. Without it, when something happens, we become wounded, detached & don't heal. We walk around with a gimp thinking we are stronger for ignoring that pesky, four-letter word of a third wheel friend. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I don't have it all sorted. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I can't give you a link to healing 101 or a bible verse that will fix your pain. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I have questions & I know there are answers I've not been clued into yet. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">But, one thing I do know is that given the choice between feeling nothing & feeling pain, I would choose pain, becaus</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">e it is real. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">And no, I'm not one of those <i>"suffer forever because nothing but suffering is righteous"</i> advocates. No way, dude. No. Way. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><i>Pain only shows us we've lost something that was intimately involved in our lives.</i></span> Why on earth would we do anything other than grieve, when something that was apart of us, is ripped away? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Grief is an unsettling, beautiful, crushing & incredibly bittersweet experience that propels us into living our lives as fully as they can be. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Give it a chance- don't run away when it shows up at your door. It won't show up without due provocation. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">And I can tell you from personal experience- it is there to help, not hinder you. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">-Ashley</span></div>
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Ashley Nikolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02360711294467434461noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5195317999186281608.post-49949424753986463132017-11-20T16:38:00.000-08:002017-11-20T16:38:11.267-08:00When they come back...<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-size: x-large;">There's a wonderful relationship, platonic or romantic.</span></i> It's the most amazing, wonderful thing you have ever experienced, then something happens. For one or many reasons, these two go from being "two people" to "one person" and "one person". </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkkRWTBH_coMzeMW7YS0oMELUOdfhBql36Ht7SHRRk9nHbuy2GN-CBAhV1JxeL_0xvamIkrQyvK-hxugj9NeJYOJfGfhPnXtTTGlOJCthhl60cAutOFvuFr6SFtMuYGPIKq1NIXJSAeSo/s1600/IMG_4609.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkkRWTBH_coMzeMW7YS0oMELUOdfhBql36Ht7SHRRk9nHbuy2GN-CBAhV1JxeL_0xvamIkrQyvK-hxugj9NeJYOJfGfhPnXtTTGlOJCthhl60cAutOFvuFr6SFtMuYGPIKq1NIXJSAeSo/s400/IMG_4609.JPG" width="300" /></a>In circumstances where one party is abusive and the other has done nothing to provoke/create or deserve this malevolence- either physically, spiritually or emotionally, usually, all you have is a gaping void of pain. </div>
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Oftentimes there is no reconciliation, no "I was wrong and caused you unimaginable pain and I am sorry". The abuser remains a danger to you and they don't right the wrongs they have caused. Sad as it is, that is oftentimes the reality of relationships gone south. </div>
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If you've experienced the pain of someone you once loved (or do love) very deeply, you know how painful it is when a good thing turns into a very bad, harmful thing. </div>
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However, I wanted to depict in one of my books how it would look to have a relationship that was beyond messed up, become whole and healthy once again. </div>
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In one of the books I'm currently working on, (no title as of yet. It is a Contemporary Romantic Suspense) my MC <b><span style="font-size: large;">Devri Harper finds herself in need of a bodyguard and unbeknownst to her, her ex-husband is sent to protect her. </span></b></div>
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Throughout the book, Devri works through her relationship with her ex-husband, Jonathan (yes, I will most likely be changing his name, cause hello Jonathan Dreggs from Present History- but bear with me, haha) & the mark that his substance abuse- and at times, physical abuse, had on her during their marriage that still affects her, even now. (and no, he's not the love interest in this book. Val Arden gets that privilege.)</div>
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I wanted to show what it looks like to have the once-abusive party actually come back to the one they hurt, stick it out with them through the ugliness that their actions caused and rebuild the bridge of trust, not simply expecting the other party to "get over it". </div>
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It's a beautiful thing, seeing someone rebuild a bridge they destroyed. Truly. I don't see it happen often, but wow- it is incredibly bittersweet and healing. </div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">So I decided I'd share a scene with Devri & Jonathan for those of you eager to read something new before Phantom's Daughter is released this coming Summer! </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Devri Harper | Untitled | Coming Winter 2019</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; white-space: pre;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Harper didn’t know what brought her out of the dream until she could feel someone watching her. She opened her eyes and saw Jonathan standing over her, face stricken. Although the old feeling of terror crawled over her skin, it left swiftly as it came. Jonathan wasn’t drugged out of his mind. He wasn’t going to hurt her, but it seemed that her very existence caused him pain. He blinked and stepped back. “Sorry, I-“ </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>“It’s okay.” She moved to sit up, but a cramp forced her back down with a wince. Jonathan lurched forward, then stepped back, clearly wanting to help but knowing it wouldn’t be received well. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>“Would you…sit with me for a minute?” she asked.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Surprise flickered across his face before he nodded and pulled up a footstool. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>“How are you feeling?” he asked, his tone oddly stilted. Interactions were awkward for both of them, and rightly so. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>“I’ve had better days,” she admitted. “How’s your ankle?” </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>“Strained, they tell me, and swollen to the size of a baseball- but with some icing I should be fine.” </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Harper moved to sit up, but Jonathan held her shoulder’s in place against the pillows. “I can get the ice, darlin’.” Soon as the last word escaped his mouth, he paled ever so slightly. “I’m sorry. Force of habit.” He sighed. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>To her surprise, Harper wasn’t frustrated at the slip. It was strange, how in the space of twenty-four hours, her feelings about someone could change so drastically. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>“It’s not as though you can snap your fingers and change the fact that we were married,” she said, feeling the grief coming off him in waves. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>“They say it takes time,” she whispered, not sure why she was so dang emotional. Until she’d met Val, she couldn’t even remember the last time she’d cried. Or maybe that was why- she was used to being the only person to look out for herself, and when someone else started to- her reserves started to show. As did her brokenness. Because, for seemingly the first time in her life, she didn’t have to be the strong one. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>“I truly am sorry, Harper. For all the pain I caused you,” Jonathan said, tears filling his eyes. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>It took her aback, seeing him cry. Somehow, it didn’t look strange on Val, even though she’d only seen him cry once. Jonathan liked to keep everything locked away. He didn’t do messy. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Or, maybe like her, he’d changed significantly in the last few years. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Harper reached over and brushed away his tears with her thumb, then took his hand in hers. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>“I forgive you,” she whispered. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Not in her wildest dreams could she have imagined Jonathan coming to her and asking her forgiveness. Not once, but twice. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>“Let it go, Jonathan.” She squeezed his hand, wishing he would look her in the eye, but knowing his dignity wavered.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>“I can’t let it go,” he said, voice tight. “I don’t think I’ll ever be able to forgive myself for what I did to you. I was so messed up I don’t even remember most of it. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Doesn’t mean I didn’t do it. It doesn’t mean you didn’t suffer at my hands,” he whispered, his tears falling onto their hands. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>It was the strangest thing, but she didn’t want to hurt him anymore. She certainly had, at one point. She’d been mad enough that she’d wanted to murder her husband for what he’d done to her. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>But now…after seeing how his actions had not only affected her, but him…the anger was gone. Maybe it would return, but for the moment, she felt nothing but…love. Not in a romantic sense, but in a way she couldn’t quite describe. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>She sat up and scooted closer, her knees brushing against his thigh, his doing the same with hers. He still wouldn’t look at her, his shame so tangible in the air. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>“Jonathan.” She gently worked her fingers through his hair, then lifted his chin with her other hand. The regret in his eyes stole her breath and brought tears to her eyes. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>“A year ago if you had’ve put a gun in my hands with you in front of it, I might have killed you. I certainly wanted to.” Her brows pinched together. “I’m not in denial. I worked through my feelings, deadly as they were…but I don’t want to punish you, and…” Her voice caught. “I don’t want you to punish yourself. Not for my sake.” Their foreheads pressed together and she was brought back to the time, just before they’d divorced, when, for a few hours, everything had seemed like it was heaven. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>She’d never wished that she could go back and change what happened between them, only that she had never met Jonathan. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Now, she wished that somehow things could have been different. But there was no undoing the past, no going back. Only forward. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>A deep yearning struck her, for Jonathan? For their marriage? It wasn’t desire, rather something more bittersweet, something she knew existed, not to be fulfilled, but to be acknowledged. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>One look into Jonathan’s eyes and she knew he felt the yearning, but also desire. Desire that he loathed himself for feeling. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>“We can’t go back and undo anything, we have to move forward.” </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>“I don’t think that’s going to work, Dev,” Jonathan said, jaw clenched tight. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>“Why won’t you look at me?” </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>His eyes met hers, fire burning there. “Because if I look at you, I’ll smother with guilt that I can do nothing to absolve-“ </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>“I told you-“ </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>“I’ll never be able to punish myself enough, for my sake. Let alone yours. And while your feelings towards me have clearly and, might I add- rightfully changed, my feelings towards you are…” He motioned to himself, then her, disgust lacing his words. “Not at all platonic.” He shoved to his feet, looking all the caged tiger ready to run. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>“Jonathan-“ She stood. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>“No, please-“ He held a hand out. “I’m leaving, because if I don’t…I’ll do something I’ll very much regret.” </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>“Regret?” She stepped toward him. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>“Yes!” he shouted, chest heaving. </span></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>“I’m sorry.” He closed the distance between them, pulled her against his chest and planted a kiss on the crown of her head, then stepped back, looking anywhere but at her. “I’m trying to be good, Dev.” He pinched the bridge of his nose. “Please don’t tempt me,” he said hoarsely, then fled the room. </span></span></div>
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It's a tricky thing, addressing the issue of abused relationships being mended. </div>
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Of course, each different relationship is different- not all things can be healed without a literal creative miracle. </div>
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But I so desperately wanted to (and still do) want to depict a relationship that was very broken, beyond dead and was resurrected and made whole. </div>
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In the case of Devri and her ex-husband Jonathan, they couldn't go back and remarry and "pick up where they left off" which is challenging because there is irrevecable loss. But, despite the bittersweet pains of the loss, there might...or might not be healing to be had for both of them. </div>
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We'll have to wait and see until Harper's book is released in a year or so! </div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>If you're looking for something to read in the meantime</i></span>, be sure to add Present History to your <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/36298625-present-history" target="_blank">TBR list on Goodreads</a>! </div>
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If you're looking to buy a copy, they are now available on <a href="https://www.amazon.ca/Present-History-Ashley-Nikole/dp/1545323895/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=" target="_blank">Amazon in Paperback</a> and <a href="https://www.amazon.ca/Present-History-Hands-Time-Book-ebook/dp/B076RHYX3Q/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=" target="_blank">Kindle</a>. For those of you subscribed to <a href="https://www.amazon.ca/Present-History-Hands-Time-Book-ebook/dp/B076RHYX3Q/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=" target="_blank">Kindle Unlimited</a> or <a href="https://www.amazon.ca/Present-History-Hands-Time-Book-ebook/dp/B076RHYX3Q/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=" target="_blank">Kindle Owners Lending Library</a> for those of you who have <a href="https://www.amazon.ca/Present-History-Hands-Time-Book-ebook/dp/B076RHYX3Q/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=" target="_blank">Prime</a>! </div>
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Ashley Nikolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02360711294467434461noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5195317999186281608.post-27223074712153596222017-10-26T13:28:00.002-07:002017-11-06T18:24:27.870-08:00It's out | Where to buy<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8waOZjQqtLYIzy0Jj7m2-n7RxMSCVT1jp-xzhNheWvzmHOxsJEv4lcYf8MqjyZoV1TLEjjlvN58hoXbbtQQ1TS3onsWXzBI1HwQBn3xrncjcn-U54TeQWTr4aBBDUH3lxeAaroDXfuYo/s1600/IMG_4208.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1068" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8waOZjQqtLYIzy0Jj7m2-n7RxMSCVT1jp-xzhNheWvzmHOxsJEv4lcYf8MqjyZoV1TLEjjlvN58hoXbbtQQ1TS3onsWXzBI1HwQBn3xrncjcn-U54TeQWTr4aBBDUH3lxeAaroDXfuYo/s400/IMG_4208.JPG" width="266" /></a><span style="font-size: x-large;">Release day has come!! </span></div>
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Sooo...for those of you dying to get your hands on a copy...let me give you the skinny! </div>
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You can get it a few ways, as both a Paperback & Kindle...</div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">1)</span><span style="font-size: large;"> On <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Present-History-Ashley-Nikole/dp/1545323895/ref=pd_ecc_rvi_1">Amazon</a>.</span> 💻</div>
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It's $15.99 on there for my U.S. readers and $20.41 for us lovely Canadians.<br />
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I wanted it to be $19.99 on both stores, but I couldn't set the price manually on both sites. It's all based on the American price, which then does the conversion rate for the Canadian site. If I put the list price on the U.S. store below $15.80 I wouldn't be getting any royalty whatsoever, so I just said, "well, I'm sure my Canadian readers can handle the extra forty cents I wanted so desperately to save them" haha :) </div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">2)</span><span style="font-size: large;"> <a href="https://www.amazon.ca/Present-History-Hands-Time-Book-ebook/dp/B076RHYX3Q/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1509042050&sr=8-1&keywords=Ashley+Nikole+present+History">As a Kindle</a>. (also linked & clickable)📱</span></div>
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I know lot's of you love reading on your phone, tablet etc. so this is for you! </div>
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Also, for those of you enrolled in the KU or KDP Select program on Kindle, you can currently get Present History for free as apart of the "subscription". It is $9.99 regularly, so you can get it either by being enrolled in the program or just buying it straight up & glorious. </div>
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Here are the links for if you live in the...</div>
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<a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B076RHYX3Q">UNITED STATES</a> </div>
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<a href="https://www.amazon.ca/Present-History-Hands-Time-Book-ebook/dp/B076RHYX3Q/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1509042050&sr=8-1&keywords=Ashley+Nikole+present+History">CANADA</a></div>
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<a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B076RHYX3Q">UNITED KINGDOM</a></div>
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<a href="https://www.amazon.de/dp/B076RHYX3Q">GERMANY</a></div>
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<a href="https://www.amazon.fr/dp/B076RHYX3Q">FRANCE</a></div>
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<a href="https://www.amazon.es/dp/B076RHYX3Q">SPAIN</a></div>
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If I didn't list your country- just click on one of these links and the site should automatically detect your country and ask to redirect you to the appropriate store. </div>
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Note: For those of you who are saying, "Yikes. I don't have a Kindle device- I can't read the ebook version of her book!" Fear not. You don't have to have an actual "Kindle" device. You just have to download the Kindle App, which I believe is available for both Apple & PC devices. Just google "kindle app (insert what operating software you have- i.e., Apple or PC)" It's a free app and basically just allows you to read Kindle files. </div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">INTERNATIONAL READERS ⤵</span></div>
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My advice to you would be...search your country's Amazon for "Present History Ashley Nikole" and see what you get. If the list price is inordinately high, it's either because the exchange rate is positively unfair, or the listing is not yet completely built. I've read that sometimes it takes up to 6 weeks for certain international listings to be completed.<br />
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Or, you can simply buy the Kindle version. It's not a book-you-can-hold-in-your-hands-book, but nonetheless, you still get the full novel, just electronically. </div>
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That about concludes this post- let me know if you guys have any questions! Also, once you've read Present History, please make sure to go on Amazon & rate and review it, also on Goodreads as well! That helps me in so many ways. </div>
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I'll leave you with a few lovely photos my sister @LauriciaDawn took of my book! Feast yer eyes 😂😜</div>
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Ashley Nikolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02360711294467434461noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5195317999186281608.post-87636200949534528882017-10-20T10:24:00.000-07:002017-10-20T10:24:26.437-07:00GIVEAWAY for Present History on Goodreads<div style="text-align: left;">
The release date for Present History is inching closer and closer (5 days!!!) and to celebrate, I'm giving away 3 signed, first edition copies of Present History to 3 lucky people. The giveaway is happening on Goodreads, so if you don't have an account on there and want to be apart of this, be sure to set one up! Its very simple.<br />
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| Giveaway is available in Canada & the US and ends on the 19th of November.</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Enter by clicking <b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/show/259825-present-history" target="_blank">here</a> </b>and be sure to share with your friends!</span></div>
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And in case you need a little incentive *wink wink* here are three reasons why you should enter...</div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #2c0e25; font-family: "zapf dingbats"; font-size: large; text-align: center;">➊</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #2c0e25; font-family: "zapf dingbats"; text-align: center;"> </span>Its FREE</div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #2c0e25; font-family: "zapf dingbats"; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">➋</span> </span>You'll have an amazing new book to read</div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #2c0e25; font-family: "zapf dingbats"; font-size: large; text-align: center;">➌</span> Its gorgeous and looks absolutely fabulous in pictures ;)</div>
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| All pictures taken by <a href="https://www.instagram.com/lauriciadawn/" target="_blank">@LauriciaDawn</a> |</div>
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As always, thanks so much for sharing your support and excitement with me surrounding the release of PH.<br />
It brings me joy!<br />
OCTOBER 25th is coming soon, guys!!<br />
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-Ashley</div>
Ashley Nikolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02360711294467434461noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5195317999186281608.post-15028091313021563902017-10-12T12:23:00.000-07:002017-10-12T12:23:51.421-07:00Present History is GETTING PUBLISHED!! | Cover Reveal <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;">I'm getting published.</span> </div>
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Squeeeee!!!!! *cue celebratory music blaring*</div>
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I have been working towards this day for over a decade (literally), but quite feverishly the last two years, and almost insanely the last year. Let me just say, from the bottom of my heart...yikes. What a</div>
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process this has been! </div>
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I feel as though I've encountered almost every alluvion known to humankind in the formatting department- but I PREVAILED. And when I say "almost every", I mean, "every single one and about one-hundred more that no one even knew existed", haha. Yeah. </div>
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I have cried more consecutive days in a row from formatting disasters than I think I ever have (not from formatting disasters, cause before this I didn't know what a a formatting disaster was. The closest thing I can compare this to is a high-school math meltdown, but worse). </div>
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But it has been worth it. Every single hour spent writing, refining, polishing and formatting Present History has been worth it. </div>
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I can't wait to get this book into your hands!</div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">When is it coming? </span><span style="font-size: large;">Good. question.</span><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span></div>
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Thanks for asking :) Present History will be released,<span style="font-size: x-large;"> OCTOBER 25th, 2017</span></div>
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It will be coming out in Paperback, Kindle and ePub format. You'll be able to buy it directly from my online store on Createspace, and also from Amazon. If you're local to the Calgary, Alberta or surrounding area, I will have a limited number of signed copies available for pickup. </div>
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I will put the links for where you can buy it once I get them sorted. In the meantime, you can add Present History to your TBR (to be read) list on Goodreads. <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/36298625-present-history" target="_blank">So, click here for that! </a></div>
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A big thank you to everyone who has supported me through this journey of publishing my first book. From my beta readers and readers on Wattpad who left the sweetest comments and helped me finetune several plot details that were dying a sad, unconnected, confusing death...THANK YOU! Especially Francesca B. & Rachel R. on Wattpad- you ladies brightened many a day with your interactions! </div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">SPREAD THE WORD. </span></div>
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If you wanna help a girl out, share about Present History. Tell your friends who love fiction that it is coming out! Give them the link to add it to their <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/36298625-present-history" target="_blank">Goodreads list</a>. I will be doing a giveaway on there, too, so stay tuned! Do some Instagramming, Facebooking or just some good old-fashioned blabbing to your co-workers, school buddies & friends, letting them know that a) Present History is coming out SOOON or b) if you've read an ARC (advance reading copy) of Present History, that you liked, lumped or were basically crazy about it. </div>
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I need (and am incredibly grateful for) your help!! </div>
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Who is ready? I am. Are you? </div>
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Ashley Nikolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02360711294467434461noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5195317999186281608.post-28480166050933304152017-03-13T20:10:00.000-07:002017-03-13T20:10:51.114-07:00Weapons Of War: Engagement | Social Media Talk<h2 style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large; font-weight: normal;">Engagement is a weapon. In life. Online. Offline. How you engage with humanity at large, says a lot about you as a person. </span></h2>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">When you talk to people, do you look them in the eye, or do you look at their shoulders, lips (egad), or someone behind them? Are you present, or are you somewhere else, thinking about that coffee date that you just can't wait to attend? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">To the degree you are engaged, you are expressing your value to a person, or lack thereof. Think those rules of engagement and presentness only apply to in-person interactions? Well, they apply to a good deal more than running into someone at a grocery store or during a highly coveted job interview or first date. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">Manners matter on social media.</span> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">They matter a good deal more than people think they do- I wouldn't be writing this blog post if the concept was common knowledge. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;">Interaction & "Ghost Followers" </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Over the last decade, I've seen social media go from being a fledgeling little project that a few people participated in (mostly the geek squad), into it becoming the "big thing" of the century that is as essential as a flushing toilet, leastways round these parts.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Over this time, the biggest trend I've witnessed is followers/friends etc. becoming increasingly silent, apathetic, & less engaged. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">It is a rather indicative sign of where our young culture is right now...non-commital, flighty, not engaged in much other than political debates, trash talking and seeing everyone's posts, and not doing anything about it. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">Well, that's a heaping pile of unhealthy behaviour.</span> We need to cut this crap and commit ourselves to healthier ways of participating in life. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">When I follow someone on social media...</span> it is because I want to participate...somehow, in their life. Unless of course this is a celebrity with tens of thousands, or millions of followers- I followed them because I appreciate the content they produce, and I dang well want to interact with them. I don't just mean watching EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEIR STORIES and never replying to them, or liking every single photo and never commenting. <b>That is not meaningful interaction.</b> <i>It's passive existence. </i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">When I follow someone, I am committing to, somehow, blessing and supporting that individual, through meaningful, intentional and heartfelt interaction on things they post. Not merely throwing out a "sick" or "rad" or "sweet"or "love" or a blue heart emoji. That is not intentional, it's irritating, because it is as cookie cutter as someone throwing a flyer on your doorstep, not actually complimenting you on your yard or house, they're really just asking you to come and check out their life. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">If I get to a point on social media where I find myself scrolling through my feed, without really feeling like I want to engage, then I unfollow said account. </span>People can change, and paths do in fact, diverge. That's okay. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Similarly, I would rather someone unfollow me and no longer see my content, than sit in the shadows, see EVERYTHING and pretend they saw NOTHING. That is entirely creepy, and passive as all get out, and it drives me nuts. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I know I can't do everything well, so at the beginning of the year, I decided I'd pair down who I was following on social media, so that I'd be able to better interact and put into the people who I am following. Because, the way I see it, <span style="font-size: large;">it's better to do a handful of things well, then to do everything poorly.</span> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">There <i><u>are</u></i> people behind these social media accounts. </span>I can't tell you how much a heartfelt, intentional comment or message can mean to someone. Please don't assume they don't care who does or doesn't interact, because "It's just social media- it doesn't mean anything". Tell that to the people who have met their spouses on social media, or their best friend, or a job they loved, or they decided life was actually worth living, because of an interaction with someone who showed them value. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">Engagement is a weapon</span>, I cannot stress enough, what a weapon it is...and we as young people need to stand up and see it for what it is. A weapon. It's dangerous and wonderful and POWERFUL, and it truly has the ability to cripple a culture or change the world with its brilliant zest and vibrancy. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">If you have your pick of fabulous friends, grandparents, cousins, community at large and amazing colleagues, you probably haven't felt the deep void of interaction as keenly as those without supportive networks and extended families. But engagement matters more than we know, and it's about more than just a green heart on someone's latest IG post because they said they were getting rid of their ghost followers. It's a lifestyle. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">It's time that we as a culture, value engaging in the lives of those around us, whether that be in face-to-face interactions, or on social media. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Being passive seems harmless enough, until you're on the receiving end of it and you're made to feel about as valuable as Tuesday's trash. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Engage. Be present. Show value. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">You aren't following a robot, you're following a person- flesh and blood. Heart and soul. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Break the chain of passive existence & chose to invest in the people around you. It will have a ripple effect, changing the lives of people you'll never even meet- but your behavior will bless their socks right off...how cool is that? </span></div>
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-Ashley</div>
Ashley Nikolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02360711294467434461noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5195317999186281608.post-89873525288743786532016-03-09T12:39:00.000-08:002016-03-09T14:36:31.281-08:00Character Sketches | Part 2 | Phantom's Daughter | Hands Of Time series #2 <div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Hey ho, #HandsOfTime series peeps! </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSZxjE-yN4hh_vtTkYDQEY0G9tZqOQ264ZiQz0i0ltuPYQHh8jkmx079WC1qt7btmop7cRTJ-iwdhyphenhyphenCdlgxB4m-CJwrG4fHyvWONNfh43ILPcgy_pLjcpEer2b9Gso7rZXeYfZgL8q0kE/s1600/7a6f0697a15dcba674f2f05e2bf2a07b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSZxjE-yN4hh_vtTkYDQEY0G9tZqOQ264ZiQz0i0ltuPYQHh8jkmx079WC1qt7btmop7cRTJ-iwdhyphenhyphenCdlgxB4m-CJwrG4fHyvWONNfh43ILPcgy_pLjcpEer2b9Gso7rZXeYfZgL8q0kE/s320/7a6f0697a15dcba674f2f05e2bf2a07b.jpg" width="213" /></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Last week I shared some character sketches for book one in the series,<b> <a href="http://itsashleynikole.blogspot.ca/2016/02/character-sketches-part-1-present.html" target="_blank">Present History</a></b>. Today, I will be continuing in revealing some character sketches, but this time it will be from book 2 in the series- Phantom's Daughter! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Let us begin with a summery of this book...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>Ebony Hunter has been an outlaw for as long as she can remember. Her memory, however, doesn't go back more than a few years. Some event erased her memory- she has no idea who she really is...how she got tangled with the outlaw gang called Phantom- or ended up on the wrong side of the law. </i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>When she discovers her pursuer, U.S. Marshal Ethan Fellows is someone from her mysteriously shrouded past, the clock is ticking. Can she escape Phantom before her life is claimed in the process? Who is Ethan, and why does he know her past but will reveal nothing to her- save his intentions to lock her away or see her swinging from the hangman's noose? </i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>Setting</b>: Oregon 1895</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-large;">Ebony Hunter North (Hunter) </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Location: Oregon, USA (1895)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Age: 23</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Occupation: Outlaw & Co-Leader of Phantom</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Hair Colour: Dark Brown</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Eye Colour: Brown</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Height: 5'7''</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Ethan Fellows</span></div>
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Age: 28</div>
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Occupation: U.S. Marshal</div>
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Hair Colour: Light Brown </div>
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Eye Colour: Blue </div>
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Height: 6'2''</div>
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Character Comments: Ethan doesn't discriminate...he just hates everybody. Just kidding ;) He's actually a very nice guy, but his history has made him a little rough around the edges. </div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Jackson James Dewar (Jack)</span></div>
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Age: Unknown </div>
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Occupation: Outlaw</div>
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Hair Colour: Blond</div>
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Height: 5'11''</div>
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Eye Colour: Green</div>
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This guy has made an appearance in book 1 (under the name James Dewar), now book 2- so if you're wondering about his contemporary-ness, don't worry, he was fully 21st century in Present History. How he makes it around from time period to time period is a mystery that will be slowly unraveled as time goes on. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf8tbf7sgRKfmQRraK-BR5a31qEG9uXyjWQSyBVqRCzR1lzsYDQ1n1R5F7o3VWcG7co2fUqjDVSt54U-yKCEPl7w3pHOFidRNwmSrJeGrKvjrcuYXZndIuqMJEs5iBGFMMt_hcUeBSRPs/s1600/tumblr_nj318cWtsG1u98fpbo1_500.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf8tbf7sgRKfmQRraK-BR5a31qEG9uXyjWQSyBVqRCzR1lzsYDQ1n1R5F7o3VWcG7co2fUqjDVSt54U-yKCEPl7w3pHOFidRNwmSrJeGrKvjrcuYXZndIuqMJEs5iBGFMMt_hcUeBSRPs/s400/tumblr_nj318cWtsG1u98fpbo1_500.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkRxF-1ONXQqsPpfXZHPlFVEcEcZv5vELZPfnmSsJXdTb_GkxAxmy8GBviSixzS1GRe8EuSule9ti9jaMarB3Y5eoKqDK-lV2NuBav6OS3LPboMizXw4tC2-CgUB_tjvR92V_n6DmMApw/s1600/ah04-800x1199.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkRxF-1ONXQqsPpfXZHPlFVEcEcZv5vELZPfnmSsJXdTb_GkxAxmy8GBviSixzS1GRe8EuSule9ti9jaMarB3Y5eoKqDK-lV2NuBav6OS3LPboMizXw4tC2-CgUB_tjvR92V_n6DmMApw/s400/ah04-800x1199.jpeg" width="266" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Terrence North </span></div>
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Age: 42</div>
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Occupation: Phantom's Leader & Famous Outlaw</div>
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Hair Colour: Dark Brown</div>
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Height: 6'</div>
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Eye Colour: Ebony</div>
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Character Comments: Ebony Hunter North's father. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3aeQbGUVN8mMbpw2PRyIGRup_r6VjjYK8s7kj59Q5Xk3FXFH0TY0MXEoqNCs6pw-xzoPvls49KsEV6KCmx8B526W8hdtC1D8Tp_1YfCLfznbk5sg_e6PxVV_qCgRoDYtZURQjAz9rGGg/s1600/a31c446bc44635d9f26e78a746dff000.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3aeQbGUVN8mMbpw2PRyIGRup_r6VjjYK8s7kj59Q5Xk3FXFH0TY0MXEoqNCs6pw-xzoPvls49KsEV6KCmx8B526W8hdtC1D8Tp_1YfCLfznbk5sg_e6PxVV_qCgRoDYtZURQjAz9rGGg/s320/a31c446bc44635d9f26e78a746dff000.jpg" width="236" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6zsYM_ibcN1M_ETobr7s0j76-U2Dtgqhe32YljPLL_cSazPxEPwlev4dtNi4VK4WEpr145h1NktyW_7pHg-iduxuik5suYuzVlfHszVezKX_T5Xotha9YRQ6fvC2VYW00lwJ4gyZxYoA/s1600/3e672cebc948a8448d9b8f87cfe4dd44.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6zsYM_ibcN1M_ETobr7s0j76-U2Dtgqhe32YljPLL_cSazPxEPwlev4dtNi4VK4WEpr145h1NktyW_7pHg-iduxuik5suYuzVlfHszVezKX_T5Xotha9YRQ6fvC2VYW00lwJ4gyZxYoA/s400/3e672cebc948a8448d9b8f87cfe4dd44.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Dan Heeler </span></div>
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Age: 37</div>
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Occupation: Outlaw</div>
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Height: 5'11''</div>
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Eye Colour: Brown</div>
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Hair Colour: Ash Brown</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDlQsAEp09sXF1mmuInAfRvWbE8W8ZTQ9Zz7NEFfwKaq4Vy5VHga1XqB_-hfdQyqD8O5e70seR85AHt-JegsU0EcUDXbOL_l34BLlxH8mPDJXgWPDBVkEtaySGbO1eBnECx85mMxUK3ms/s1600/1fcecdddba3e5bdf2bade1c3e1535ae5.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="282" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDlQsAEp09sXF1mmuInAfRvWbE8W8ZTQ9Zz7NEFfwKaq4Vy5VHga1XqB_-hfdQyqD8O5e70seR85AHt-JegsU0EcUDXbOL_l34BLlxH8mPDJXgWPDBVkEtaySGbO1eBnECx85mMxUK3ms/s320/1fcecdddba3e5bdf2bade1c3e1535ae5.gif" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Howie Robertson</span></div>
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Age: 45</div>
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Occupation: U.S. Marshal (Scottish)</div>
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Hair Colour: Brown </div>
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Eye Colour: Green</div>
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Character Comments: Howie is a supporting cast member in Present History (book 1), as you'll know if you've seen <a href="http://itsashleynikole.blogspot.ca/2016/02/character-sketches-part-1-present.html" target="_blank"><b>Present History's Character Sketches</b></a>! He originally hailed from Oregon in 1895, so that's why he's another supporting cast member in this story. He and Ethan work together as U.S. Marshal's. </div>
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There we are! Now you have a basic idea of the main characters. What'd'ya think? </div>
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Below are more story inspired photographs I found searching on pinterest and tumblr :)</div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Read</b> a SNEAK PEEK</span> of <span style="font-size: large;">Phantom's Daughter</span> on Wattpad, <b><a href="https://www.wattpad.com/myworks/64408664-phantom%27s-daughter-hands-of-time-book-2" target="_blank">here's the link</a>. Make sure to comment on how you liked it & also vote- it helps me get more exposure and new readers :) </b></div>
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Until next time! Makes sure to follow along on IG: @ToAshleyNikole</div>
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<br />Ashley Nikolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02360711294467434461noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5195317999186281608.post-53600307007727722782016-02-29T20:16:00.000-08:002016-03-09T14:40:27.785-08:00Character Sketches | Part 1 | Present History | Hands Of Time series #1<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="text-align: center;">Today I will be introducing to you the characters from Present History! Wahoo! I've gone hunting on pinterest for actors/models who look similar to those I've written about, and I create storyboards with them in mind. So, without further ado, let's get started. </span><br />
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Book 1 in the Hands Of Time series...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsYYYA8iH6YcJA3897B7m43IAEQIcev5qdmCob1pcEehVq99RG90Rz-mzZUkzicYwM7ui2rcF5RbAAxGv1OULeriBR7PRTLfycmne3omUKsNROL61Zg254iUUo3qYR637Lwb75l0IMqTk/s1600/5d4a2c1bf0faddf298a43219969bdc22.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsYYYA8iH6YcJA3897B7m43IAEQIcev5qdmCob1pcEehVq99RG90Rz-mzZUkzicYwM7ui2rcF5RbAAxGv1OULeriBR7PRTLfycmne3omUKsNROL61Zg254iUUo3qYR637Lwb75l0IMqTk/s320/5d4a2c1bf0faddf298a43219969bdc22.jpg" width="320" /></a><i>Excerpt:</i> <span style="font-size: large;">Seeking refuge in Canada after her police officer father is killed in action, fictitious characters begin appearing in her house...characters from her books, from history. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">A Scottish U.S. Marshal, a battered Civil War soldier whose identity is not what it seems, and a hardened criminal with a grudge, determined to silence Ellie before his secret gets out, all come calling to her lakeside cottage. </span></div>
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<b>Setting</b>: Present Day</div>
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<b>Location</b>: New York City</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig4mTHfQuUBhzoTK07dnjbTCX0La8wymhIDRKPxvfJ4M0YFSSCQMZPZye1_k9x6-e7XAMfEXdarJVOP-ecCCHbEJX3RzdHWwZjheGH3McT9Lpz6Jopv5ISqZqGsl0HjPVsAoShpzJ9G2A/s1600/ffb29072ce7db35704de177990bd4e8a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig4mTHfQuUBhzoTK07dnjbTCX0La8wymhIDRKPxvfJ4M0YFSSCQMZPZye1_k9x6-e7XAMfEXdarJVOP-ecCCHbEJX3RzdHWwZjheGH3McT9Lpz6Jopv5ISqZqGsl0HjPVsAoShpzJ9G2A/s320/ffb29072ce7db35704de177990bd4e8a.jpg" width="232" /></a><span style="font-size: x-large;">Ellie Daniels</span></div>
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Age: 22</div>
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Time Period: Present Day</div>
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Hair Colour: Brunette </div>
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Height: 5'2''</div>
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Occupation: Author</div>
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After her father is killed, she takes some much needed time off, where she goes to Canada to stay in a childhood vacation home. A cottage, in British Columbia. </div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Tom Holt</span></div>
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Age: 28</div>
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Time Period: Present Day</div>
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Hair Colour: Dirty Blond</div>
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Height: 6'2''</div>
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Occupation: N/A </div>
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Character Notes: </div>
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Tom's good humoured personality is readily seen, but a secret loss clouds his world from the day he and Ellie meet. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQgi-MGaxJQTW4bcNgUW2ume3J7KP5NCkmx6XG0jrYHK-h97vrOeA-xhcZWOHo2yCPBjzJvU6DLFzYP_K89y-yZzE8FlHZ043QFuzAIURpZNVg-WI2Lb2nY29L8t2PvPukTKKXG0EyboQ/s1600/tumblr_nukvsatFK71up42jgo1_500.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="185" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQgi-MGaxJQTW4bcNgUW2ume3J7KP5NCkmx6XG0jrYHK-h97vrOeA-xhcZWOHo2yCPBjzJvU6DLFzYP_K89y-yZzE8FlHZ043QFuzAIURpZNVg-WI2Lb2nY29L8t2PvPukTKKXG0EyboQ/s400/tumblr_nukvsatFK71up42jgo1_500.gif" width="400" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw6XCfekZ33DUzMFmd99YCe0MaT83mnodarh8GjmF37ibW130w5EMgzguUcg7EoGfqbfoa40BYUjxuCoIyWQUHsLFNWq4F2l3UAhotP3FI3ebFktP0h-OH2E693O-1EiHmFFjVOzOReXI/s1600/fd61ac54410b843d6e100edc764e3a98.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw6XCfekZ33DUzMFmd99YCe0MaT83mnodarh8GjmF37ibW130w5EMgzguUcg7EoGfqbfoa40BYUjxuCoIyWQUHsLFNWq4F2l3UAhotP3FI3ebFktP0h-OH2E693O-1EiHmFFjVOzOReXI/s320/fd61ac54410b843d6e100edc764e3a98.jpg" width="273" /></a><span style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Ethan Fellows</span></span></div>
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<span style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>| Marshal |</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="text-align: right;">Time Period: 1895, Oregon</span></div>
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Age: 28</div>
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Hair Colour: Light Brown </div>
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Height: 6'1''</div>
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<span style="text-align: right;">Occupation: U.S. Marshal</span></div>
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<span style="text-align: right;">This hot-tempered Marshal has a personal dislike for...basically everyone on planet earth. His past has been riddled with loss and hardship, thus he is obsessed with serving justice- especially to the infamous outlaw Terrence North, and his son, Hunter. </span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTBslGGnbz8wmebN-KO61FBW4Ft7zoXIuBwPtl11l9VjHF2uu8PGsC_PzzfcuG9N8LEe8yilYwNZIjrUmUqT8jptefW8vjulQrTNtQEyRBPVT68ezZE2tulkk3mJkjW-93N2mtqq_o0J8/s1600/ed4817925e62e6696a3a4da2b646086c.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="162" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTBslGGnbz8wmebN-KO61FBW4Ft7zoXIuBwPtl11l9VjHF2uu8PGsC_PzzfcuG9N8LEe8yilYwNZIjrUmUqT8jptefW8vjulQrTNtQEyRBPVT68ezZE2tulkk3mJkjW-93N2mtqq_o0J8/s200/ed4817925e62e6696a3a4da2b646086c.gif" width="200" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Justice Hudson</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>| Lieutenant | </i></span></div>
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Time Period: 1865, USA (Civil War) </div>
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Age: 20</div>
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Hair Colour: Dark Brown </div>
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Height: 5'7''</div>
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Occupation: Union Sharpshooter </div>
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Character Notes: Enrolled in the Union Army, disguised as a man, when she was 16. Has a personal history with slavery and injustice, making her moral convictions run deep. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoQOfNeZRefMz8KS63r7OPWzOQyOUF45d4jFixb3miVkSX_Zxgbg61hJ6c4oQsMeffnCND_uS52crFYCjXWOXmLwkN8XPspzGwUMidEev1bdK4O6-6uXlOnWO5LCtgIP-0bKbyf52CknA/s1600/0d649dc3cd01eebd5ed420bd49fff40b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoQOfNeZRefMz8KS63r7OPWzOQyOUF45d4jFixb3miVkSX_Zxgbg61hJ6c4oQsMeffnCND_uS52crFYCjXWOXmLwkN8XPspzGwUMidEev1bdK4O6-6uXlOnWO5LCtgIP-0bKbyf52CknA/s320/0d649dc3cd01eebd5ed420bd49fff40b.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Howie Robertson</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>| Marshal | </i></span></div>
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Time Period: 1895, Oregon</div>
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Age: 42</div>
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Hair Colour: Dark Brown</div>
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Height: 5'11''</div>
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Occupation: U.S. Marshal</div>
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Character Notes: Initially came from Scotland (has a thick accent). Works with Ethan Fellows. </div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large; text-align: right;">Jonathan Dreggs </span><br />
<i style="text-align: right;">| Colonel | </i><br />
<span style="text-align: right;">Time Period: WWI</span><br />
<span style="text-align: right;">Age: 33</span><br />
<span style="text-align: right;">Hair Colour: Light Brown </span><br />
<span style="text-align: right;">Height: 6'</span><br />
<span style="text-align: right;">Occupation: Colonel in the British Army</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Hannah Buehler </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv23El1cANZnS0zf4m9wNER42lo9mDBiZSWm7OoK3sg7Jafg0MswXiF1frpmNpg0kysZOpurV1a_YQTcaYMAVswBvTt9S3jVIf-8vfZnb2-OwxTqFbYawiggyoA_bmkaoCP3Ktac2M980/s1600/tumblr_m3yyvvVkMk1qlo73oo1_400.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv23El1cANZnS0zf4m9wNER42lo9mDBiZSWm7OoK3sg7Jafg0MswXiF1frpmNpg0kysZOpurV1a_YQTcaYMAVswBvTt9S3jVIf-8vfZnb2-OwxTqFbYawiggyoA_bmkaoCP3Ktac2M980/s400/tumblr_m3yyvvVkMk1qlo73oo1_400.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Time Period: 1800's </div>
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Age: 64</div>
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Hair Colour: White</div>
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Height: 5'3''</div>
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Occupation: Town Healer & Herbalist</div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Jackson James Dewar <i>(James)</i></span><br />
Time Period: Unknown<br />
Age: Unknown<br />
Occupation: Assistant to Literary Agent, Marg Lindle<br />
Height: 6'<br />
Hair: Blond<br />
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Here are a few more pictures I've used as inspiration and to depict some scenes...</div>
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If you'd like to give <span style="font-size: x-large;">the first few chapters</span> of <span style="font-size: large;">Present History a read</span>, <a href="http://figment.com/books/909792-Present-History" target="_blank">check them out here</a>. </div>
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I'll be releasing updates on the publishing process as I go, on my...</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Lifestyle Instagram @ToAshleyNikole</span></div>
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=5195317999186281608" style="background-color: transparent; background-image: url(data:image/png; border: none; cursor: pointer; display: none; height: 20px; opacity: 0.85; position: absolute; width: 40px; z-index: 8675309;"></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=5195317999186281608" style="background-color: transparent; background-image: url(data:image/png; border: none; cursor: pointer; display: none; height: 20px; opacity: 0.85; position: absolute; width: 40px; z-index: 8675309;"></a>Ashley Nikolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02360711294467434461noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5195317999186281608.post-61827440088957818412015-11-03T19:17:00.000-08:002015-11-03T19:18:08.991-08:00Welcome!Hello & welcome to Ashley Nikole the blog!<br />
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I will be sharing lifestyle posts ranging from the following subjects...</div>
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<li>Novel writing tips & tricks</li>
<li>Inspirational life advice/experience & encouragement </li>
<li>Movie & music recommends</li>
<li>The occasional foodie rant</li>
<li>Lots of latte art, knitting or chocolate whatnot</li>
<li>Novel writing updates on where I am in the publishing journey </li>
<li>What it looks like to be a leader in your family, spiritual & social life</li>
<li>Going against the flow- how to <i>"walk the walk"</i>, & not just <i>"talk the talk"</i></li>
<li>How to "keep your joy on" throughout ALL THE THINGS &</li>
<li>CHANGE THE WORLD FOR THE BETTER! </li>
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I'm so glad to be able to share my heart with you all. Instagram is wonderful for shorter snippets, but sometimes a subject requires more than a line or two...so here we are! </div>
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Let's do this- & thank you for your support & love in following me on this bloggio. <3</div>
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-Ashley<br />
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<span style="text-align: center;">He said</span><em style="text-align: center;">, <span style="font-size: large;">"</span>Above all, watch with glittering eyes the whole world around you because the greatest secrets are always hidden in the most unlikely places. Those who don't believe in magic will never find it.<span style="font-size: large;">"</span></em></div>
Ashley Nikolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02360711294467434461noreply@blogger.com0