Purple Prose:
LIFE

Well, friends. I made it home from my adventure in one piece. It was touch and go for a while. It's really NOT fun being lost in Nashville. I was caught alternating between cursing like a sailor and praying like a saint.. SO I decided that wasn't doing any good, and cut out the cursing. And a miracle happened! I was supposed to be looking for 'Frankin Pike'. I got turned around somehow and ended up back on the interstate (nice!). Anyway, I was freaking out, turned on the first road I saw because I was going to turn back at the redlight at the top of the ramp... ONLY the ramp didn't stop at the redlight. It just kept on going. SO (freaking more and praying like the dickens), I went on and decided to turn around again at the next road to take me back to the road I missed, to take me back to the interstate, to take me back to the road I made the wrong turn on (I know, makes a LOT of sense lOL). Anyway, as I started to turn I looked up and saw the road sign 'Franklin Pike'. I almost cried from happiness. And turns out it was the right road and the right direction!! I found the place easily after that. I could have kissed the ground when I got there though LOL.

Now, the meeting was an autism training for SPED teachers. It was interesting... after the first hour when I couldn't stop looking at other people's hair color and wondering how ugly mine really was. Finally I went to the bathroom and looked in the mirror, decided I didn't look half bad, and went back. I focused the rest of the time.

The end of the day was very interesting... since I had absolutely no idea how to get home. But I love trying to get home from Nashville without directions. This is going to sound corny probably, but it makes me think of my Daddy and smile. My Daddy didn't talk a lot, but he did give good advise. One of those was that when getting home from anywhere, always go toward Knoxville. I kept thinking that over and over, which would have been wonderful, if the first crossroads I came too weren't "Nashville" and "Huntsville". I prayed, chose Nashville (deciding I'd rather stay in Nashville that go all the way to Huntsville. It turned out to be the right way and after getting off of several interstates (I-65, 24, 440, and 40), I ended up home... finally. It was actually really fun coming home. Going, not so much.

**I think I've mentioned this before, but I don't feel nearly as confident or attractive with this new hair. I feel awkward and self conscious... very self conscious. I"m going to try to dull it. I can't take it much longer.

Ok, off to relax with the family. Watch some Dancing with the Stars (I'm rooting for the Olympic man to go this week). It's not wrong to have a SMALL crush on an 18 year old is it... Cody Linley is adorable! He's definitely my favorite to watch this season. Makes me feel like a dirty old woman LOL

So...
There is a possibility that I have lost my mind.
Seriously.

I have a bit of an annoucement--- well, it's not really an annoucement. It's more of a "I'm telling you so you can hold me accountable... "
I have decided to participate in the 'National Novel Writing Month' (www.nanowrimo.org).
That's right, friends.
I have my plot.
I have my characters.
I have my setting.
I'm writing a novel!
In a month!
While working full time!
And have 3 kids!
And a marriage!
And a house!
And 2 blogs...
And Sunday School to Teach...
Yes - I may have possibly lost my mind!
BUT -- I'm committed to doing this. Writing a novel is something I've always wanted to do. It will more than likely never see the light of day -- but I never said that I had to sell it -- just write it lol.
SO, this is where YOU come in!
I'm still going to type up the "What is Love?" Bible Study, the Thankful Tuesday posts. Also, I'm going to blog about my adventure in writing the first draft of a novel in a month (hewboy!). However, I'm asking if I could have some of you fine people as guest posters :)
I Heart Guest Posting.
I think it is such a blessing to get to write something for someone else.
I'd love to give others that opportunity.

There are 4 things that are certain:
The love of God
Death
Taxes
and
me forgetting something.
(sigh... )
This may make you feel differently about me (or you might shake your head and go... "AHHHH! That's me!!). I'm hoping for the latter -- I guess (Don't know how cool it is to hope forgetfullness on a person... )
ANYWAY, I've rambled so much I forgot my point.
Oh yeah!
I'm forgetful.
Case in point:
Yesterday at work: (cue flashback music)
I teach special education preschool. After naptime, we get the kids up, and they go potty, get ready to go home, etc.
Well, in my brain I said (and I HEARD myself) to a little boy, "Go get some Germ-X".
Got that?
Ok, the boy went to the bathroom (a room which doesn't contain Germ-x). And I said, "No.. no. I said get some Germ-x."
And he looked all confused and perturbed and all, "What's up with you, Woman?"...
My aide (bless her... she's over 50 and has a much better memory than I have) said, "Um.. Mrs. Kelly. You told him to go into the bathroom and wash his hands."
I looked at her, blinked once or twice, and said, "No, I told him to get some Germ-x." (because, um, I did... didn't I?).
And she said (all nice and calm, with a hint of laughter in her voice), "Um, no. You said, 'Go to the bathroom and wash your hands."

And the little boy just stood there and nodded... like "See I listened, you crazy lady.. har har."

And my daughter (who is in my class) came out of the bathroom and said that's what she heard too.
GURG!

Now, there are 2 options here:
1. They are all conspiring against me, making me feel like I'm the crazy/forgetful one.
Or
2. I have the mind of a gnat.

Am I the only one who deals with this? Seriously, I'm just 30 (when you get 30 you have to say JUST cause otherwise people assume you're old... ) --- is this what happens when you are 30?!?
My Brag on God for this Friday is that He's put people in my life that can keep me straight... because, obviously, I need it. :)
Much Love ~Kelly
Linked with: Brag on God Friday 

My blog is going to explode. All right, maybe not in the melodramatic way that it sounds (though it feels that way).

Come this September, I might no longer have this blog, or I’ll have to move it to ‘blogspot.’ It sucks because I have two big announcements to make this fall, one being a giveaway. And if you’re a self published YA or NA author (or planned to be one), you’re not going to want to miss it.

Trust me.

Because of all this drama, I’ve created a new blog, which will focus on the New Adult side of things. I had planned to start posting this fall on the topic (Wednesdays), but since this blog might no longer exist, I saw it as a sign that I need to start a new blog specifically for the category.

Meanwhile, I’ll continue to blog here as long as I can (before the Blogger Gods shoot me down or solve the problem).

If you’re interested in NA, please join me on my new blog.

Have you experienced any social media derailments lately? Do you have all your eggies in one form of social media, or are they scattered all over the place?

Used with permission from Debbie Ridpath Ohi at Inkygirl.com

Today at the Querytracker blog, I’m talking about snubbing your potential fan through social media (in order words, why you don’t want to ignore writers/authors in your genre who follow you on Twitter).

This morning I’ll be finishing the first draft of my NA contemporary romance sequel. It’s then going on a vacation while I work on several blurbs for my agent. She’s helping me decide what my next NA contemp project will be.

What are you doing writing wise this week? (Or are you currently taking a break from writing during the summer?)

To celebrate the release of her New Adult novel (which is awesome, btw), Mila Ferrera is doing a blogfest today. This is your chance to post about a time that you decided to do something even though it scared you, either to get over that fear or because you knew it would be good for you.

While I was in university, I had the opportunity to work overseas in Finland for the summer. I was excited and also scared. My mother’s side of the family lives there, and I would be staying with my grandparents. They didn’t speak English. I barely spoke any Finnish. It meant figuring things out on my own since my grandparents couldn’t help me. And it meant traveling everyday from Vantaa to Helsinki for my job (cleaning staff in a recreational facility for the elderly).

There were a few situations where I got myself into trouble. Like when I disembarked the train at the wrong stop late at night and had to figure my way back to my grandparents’ apartment. I’m still not sure how I found my way home. I swear it was completely by accident. But the over all experience was worth it and it gave me the self confidence I needed. I traveled to Lapland and Saint Petersburg on my own that summer, and I returned a few years later to spend a semester in central Finland during grad school. Now I have all kinds of experiences I can write about in my NA novels.

Did you do anything in university that scared you but you knew would be good for you?

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Nessa Cavanaugh, psychology student, knows how to stay on an even keel. Despite the urging of her mother and her academic advisor to get a life and have some fun, “all work and no play” sums up her plan to survive her grueling internship year at a children's hospital. She doesn't want to end up like her father, whose constant ups and downs broke her family, and avoiding unnecessary emotional entanglements is a must.

Then she (literally) runs into Dr. Aron Lindstrom in the middle of her disastrous first day on the job. The attraction is instant—and terrifying. Nessa knows she should stay away—especially when she finds out he has a reputation for being a player—but Aron is brilliant, intense, and as sexy as they come. When he challenges her to take a chance on him, her plans to stay focused on work start to crumble.

But what begins as passion takes on a dangerous edge, becoming an emotional roller coaster that’s frighteningly familiar. As things spiral out of control, Nessa must decide whether she should hold on for the ride or run … even if it means leaving her heart behind.

To celebrate the release of her NA novel (which is awesome, btw), Mila Ferrera is doing a blogfest Wednesday July 10^th. This is your chance to post about a time that you decided to do something even though it scared you, either to get over that fear or because you knew it would be good for you. There’s even a chance to win some prizes.

Because I’m participating, I won’t be blogging next Monday. I’ll be blogging on Wednesday, instead.

What are you doing this week for summer fun? Are you getting any writing in?

First, my heart goes out to the people in my city (Calgary) and surrounding townships who were affected by the surprise floods last week. Over 75,000 people were evacuated. Thousands lost their homes, cars, belongings. At least four people lost their lives. Schools are closed even though this was supposed to be the last week of classes. The downtown core was flooded, which was unexpected. The area is in a state of emergency, and we’re all still in shock. Fortunately my home is on high ground so my family is safe and dry.

And now for the news that makes me want to do this:

For the past two weeks, Martina Boone at Adventures in YA and Children’s Publishing has been celebrating the blog’s success. Well, that was nothing compared to the news she got last week.

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©Stina Lindenblatt

Adventures in YA & Children’s Publishing is celebrating a huge milestone on the blog. This is a great opportunity to win some awesome YA novels and writing craft books. Plus, you could win tuition to the four-day Story Masters workshop in Minneapolis, MN (November 7-10). Donald Maass, Christopher Vogler, and James Scott Bell are the three speakers for the event.

There are four separate entry forms, one for each day of the giveaway. Please enter by 6:00 PM 6/21/2013. U.S. and Canadian entries only.

Saturday June 8th

Sunday June 9th

Saturday June 15th

Sunday June 16th

I’ve decided to cut back blogging to once a week (Mondays), effective immediately. I will resume my regular Monday/Wednesday schedule starting September 4^th.

Do you have any exciting plans for the summer?

Summer is rapidly approaching. For some of you, your kids have already started their vacation. For the rest of us, our kids will be making our days brighter in three weeks (or less). This means we’re frantically squeezing in as much writing as possibly before our writing time takes a dramatic nose dive.

For my final weeks of quiet, I’m working on the first draft to the sequel of my NA novel. Plus there’s beta reading and critiquing (I’m booked up for the month of June!!!!)

And what does the summer hold for me?

I’ll be finishing my first draft and digging in for revisions while refereeing my kids and their bickering. Blogging will drop to once a week (Mondays) so that I have more writing time. And let’s not forget vacation plans with my family in August.

What are your summer time goals?

All photos ©Stina Lindenblatt

Monday was a statuary holiday in Canada, and I was away in Banff with my family, so Lisa Gail Green’s guest post has been rescheduled for today and there won’t be a post tomorrow (Wednesday). My regular schedule will continue next week.

***

I was trying to think of a good craft post and several things came to mind. But then it hit me, what are some quick and relatively painless tricks I’ve used successfully when it comes to writing and revising? A good magician may never reveal his secrets, but a good writer shares! Have you used these? Have more to add?

· Character Interview
o When I get a stuck trying to bring a flat character to life, I take a breather and interview him. I open a new document, ask a question and type in first person from his perspective. Something NOT having to do with the plot of the book. This usually gives me a new glimpse into the character’s head and helps me dive back in.

· Predictability Meter
o Whether you are a plotter or a pantser you have to make constant decisions about what happens next. Ever get to that soggy middle and wonder why your characters are just sitting around talking out their troubles? Throw something at them! Literally. Think of Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy and the improbability drive. What’s the least likely thing to happen right then? Turning into penguins? Well, okay maybe not that. Then again… Anyhow, see what happens when you do something unexpected and it may just breathe new life that you can use. You’d be surprised. And the best part? So will the reader!

· Props
o When I used to act I’d sometimes pick up random props and use them in interesting ways. Example? I remember being a lady from the 1800’s and finding a fan. It became an extension of my hand, where I’d snap it open and closed and poke it at people when I was upset, or fan myself while giggling. It was a great tool. Writers can use those too! They can fit both character and world, and that’s awesome! Especially since you don’t have to worry about practicality when it’s in a novel.

· Wordle.net
o Have you used it? I copy and paste my first chapter inside and see what happens. I remember one time the word LIKE was about two-thirds of the page! Yikes. I knew right away one of the first revision checkmarks. When I was done? I did it again and everything was nice and small and even with the characters names being slightly larger maybe. Much better.

· Meditation
o Okay, that’s not quite it. But close. I have to work on world. So I like to stop. Take a breath. Imagine the setting. What do I notice? Besides with sight, what do my other senses pick up? What about my MC? Would she notice the same things? Or would she notice something different? How does she feel? Does that change what she experiences? I keep asking myself these questions throughout.

Do you have a trick you like do use when revising?

Be sure to visit Lisa's blog for her giveaway.

Blurb for The Binding Stone:

"Genies like you’ve never seen them, THE BINDING STONE is a wild ride of treachery and deception. For my first wish, I’d like a sequel, please." - PERSONAL DEMONS author Lisa Desrochers

"I dream of Lisa Gail Green! The Binding Stone is magical in so many ways. My Djinn asks for my third wish? The sequel, of course!" - NYT Bestselling Author Nancy Holder

Tricked into slavery by the man she loved, the Djinni Leela has an eternity to regret her choices.

Awakened in the prison of her adolescent body, she finds a new master in possession of the opal that binds her. But seventeen-year-old Jered is unlike any she’s seen. His kindness makes Leela yearn to trust again, to allow herself a glimmer of hope.

Could Jered be strong enough to free her from the curse of the Binding Stone?

©Stina Lindenblatt

Since tomorrow is Valentine’s Day, I thought I would do something different in honor of the day. While I love stories with hot make out scenes, I also love those tender moments where it’s about the emotional connection between the two characters. So here’s an excerpt from the NA novel Thoughtless by S.C. Stephens.

I nodded and laid my head on his chest, fighting back the sudden guilt at the mention of Denny’s name, and at the simple affection that Kellan wanted from me. I carefully put a leg over his and an arm over his chest. He signed again and leaned his head against mine. His heartbeat was steady and strong. I felt like mine was all over the place.

“Is this okay with you?” he whispered into my hair.

I forced myself to relax. This simplicity was all he wanted, and I was enjoying his closeness. “Yeah . . . it’s nice. Are you okay?” I absentmindedly traced a circle on his chest.

He chuckled softly. “I’m fine, Kiera.” He gently rubbed my back, and my leg. He pulled me tighter in response and we simply held each other.

Do you write tender moments between your characters? Is this something that comes easy to you or do you struggle to get the words right?

Reminder: Next week is the free online conference for writers thinking of self publishing and those who already are. It promises to be great. Be sure to check it out.

(Note: Monday is a stat holiday where I live. So there will be no post that day. Have a great weekend!)

Today, I’m participating in Nick Wilford’s OvercomingAdversity Blogfest. This is in honor of his stepson who has cerebral palsy.

As some of you know, my eldest son was born thirteen weeks premature. For ten weeks, he lived in the NICU. And for ten exhausting hours a day, I lived there, too. We’re all familiar with the roller-coaster ride called querying. Compared to the highs and lows, fears and hopes that you deal with every day when you baby is extremely sick, querying feels like walking down a road with no dips and bumps. Crying over a rejection is nothing like crying because one of your NICU mommy friends has just watched her baby die. It nothing like crying when a pregnant mother (who was supposed to be a friend) goes on and on about how her baby is kicking, five minutes after she saw you baby on a ventilator and fighting for his life, and then berates you when you ask her nicely to keep her excitement to herself. And it’s nothing like the crying you do because you’re positive it’s your fault your baby is premature.

Christmas 1999

But with the darkness comes the light. One thing NICU mothers and writers share in common is their need to develop friendships with individuals who know about the day-to-day struggles we deal with. We support each other and give each other hope. We find ways to make the day brighter. One day, two of my NICU friends and I wrote a list to help give other NICU moms and families a reason to smile, even for just a moment. (The actual list is a lot longer that this)

You Know You’ve Been An NICU Mom Too Long When . . .

Your breasts takes on the shape of the plastic breast pump shields.

You are mistaken for a nurse and can actually help.

The residents come to you for answers.

You’re no longer modest in front of other Moms' husbands.

You don’t hesitate to leave a dirty diaper for a nurse you don’t like. (Yep, we all did this one. To the same nurse.)

Do you have friends who help you through the ups and downs of your life, and especially though the ups and downs of being a writer? What kinds of things do you do to keep your spirits up?

Today, I’m participating in the Please Re-Introduce Yourself Blogfest. It’s a chance to tell something about yourself that we don’t already know.

When I was twenty-one, I decided to spend the summer with my grandparents who live in Finland, and participate in a work exchange program through my university. I ended up working at a recreation center for seniors in Helsinki even though I knew very little Finnish. One of my duties was to clean the sauna at the end of the day. This was a very hot job, as you can imagine, since the saunas had only just been turned off for the night.

During one shift, several gentlemen came in while I was cleaning. I was wearing my uniform (which was already sweaty) and rubber boots. They were completely naked. I tried to tell them in Finnish that the sauna was closed, while strategically positioning myself so the wooden railings covered their, um, man parts. And trust me, my red face had nothing to do with the heat in the room.

They eventually got the idea and left. Turns out, they thought I was an Estonia refuge because of my poor Finnish language skills. They laughed when they found out I was really Canadian, because, naturally, they spoke perfect English. Groan.

Have you ever had an embarrassing situation like this? *grins*

Like most bloggers, I'm taking time off during the holiday season to spend time with my family--and work on the first draft of my new project. I wish you all a happy holiday and I'll see in January.

A few weeks ago PETE the Elf had a touch too much Eggnog at the Holiday Christmas Party and as he stumbled home, he lost Santa's NICE LIST.

The North Wind scattered the papers to all four corners of the world, and The Bookshelf Muse put out a call to help find them in order to SAVE CHRISTMAS.

Ever since I read about it, I've been on the lookout. And then today, EUREKA!

Yes that's right...I found part of Santa's missing NICE LIST. There it was, fluttering in the wind, half caught under the corner of my welcome mat. And shock of all shocks, I recognized the name, and I bet you will too.

Here it is below:

NAME: Leigh T Moore (aka LTM)

LOCATION: That's Write

NICE LEVEL: 93%

NAUGHTY LEVEL: 7%

OBSERVATIONS: This summer, Leigh introduced me to the New Adult book Easy by Tammara Webber (before it became the much hyped about book that NYC snatched up). That one book changed everything for me, and set me on the course to writing New Adult novels.

RECOMMENDATION: a) Coal b) Gift

~ ~ * ~ ~

Because poor Pete is dashing all over the place trying to hunt down the rest of Santa's missing Nice List, I decided to take care of this one myself. Leigh, I thank you for that email conversation that changed everything! I'm sending you a Kindle indie YA or NA novel of your choice (unfortunately Nook won't let me gift people because I don't live in the US. So hopefully you can read Kindle books). :)

What do honey maple cookies have to do with writing? Absolutely nothing. Well, nothing unless you get hungry while writing and want a yummy treat. But when Angela Felsted asked me to participate in her book release blog tour, which involved posting a cookie recipe, I figured why not. So, if you’re making cookies for Santa this year, you might want to consider this yummy recipe (fortunately I was able to take this picture before my kids scoffed down the cookies). And if you’re looking for a cool sounding YA read, skip beyond the recipe.

What’s the coolest thing you’ve seen someone do for a blog tour?

Honey Maple Cookies

250 mL (1 cup) butter
185 mL (3/4 cup) honey
185 mL (3/4 cut) maple syrup
2 eggs
5 mL (1tsp) vanilla extract
750 mL (3 ½ cups) all purpose flour
5 mL (1tsp) each baking soda and salt
500 mL (2 cups) semisweet chocolate chips (I ended up using butterscotch chocolate chip, too).
250 mL (1 cup) chopped pecans or walnuts

Directions

1. In a large bowl, beat shortening until light and fluffy.
2. Add honey and syrup, a little at a time, beating well after each addition.3. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition (mixture will appear curled). Beat in vanilla.
4. Combine the flour, baking soda, and salt.
5. Gradually add to honey mixture and mix until moistened. Stir in chocolate chips and nuts.
6. Drop by round tablespoonfuls onto greased baking sheets. Bake at 175 °C (350 °F) for 8 to 10 minutes or until golden brown. Remove to wire racks.

When he steps into his physics class on the first day of senior year, Quinn Walker is too exhausted from staying up all night with his three-month-old nephew to deal with moral dilemmas. As a devout Mormon who has vowed to wait until marriage for sex, the last thing he needs is a very hot and very sexy Katarina Jackson as his physics partner. Regrettably, he has no choice.

Kat feels invisible in her mansion of a home six months after losing her older brother in a fatal car crash and will do anything to get her parents’ attention. Since her pastor father has no love for Quinn’s “fake” religion and her ex-boyfriend refuses to leave her alone, she makes an impulsive bet with her friends to seduce her holier-than-thou lab partner by Christmas.

Trailer

If you're here for the Indie-Giving Blogfest, my post will be going up on Monday, and will include a giveaway for several books I think are great. Hope to see you then.

XOX

©Stina Lindenblatt

Reporter sticks microphone in manuscript’s face: Manuscript, now that Stina has finished your second draft, what are you going to do?

Manuscript: I’m going to Disneyworld.

Okay, maybe my YA horror ms isn’t going to Disneyworld for the next two or so weeks, but I will be taking a break from it for awhile. I never used to do this. I would become so involved with the story I was working on, I couldn’t bear the thought of being separated from it for more than a day. Nope, I don’t sound like a love sick teen at all.

Times have changed. With my last novel, I discovered giving it some breathing space helped me strengthen it when I returned to it. The longer the vacation I took from it, the more mistakes or issues I noticed. I was able to look at it more objectively.

So, what am I going to do for the next two or so weeks?

• Analyze a YA contemporary book I love.

• Beta read.

• Plan my next project (New Adult novel).

• Study up on using Facebook. I still have no idea how to use this tool to the make the most of its features. Thank goodness someone created the Facebook for Dummies series. When it comes to Facebook, I’m definitely a dummy.

• Read. Read. Read.

• Take up yoga. (Um, let’s not get too crazy here). *deletes this goal*

Every year in the United States alone, over 35,000 people kill themselves. Many more attempt suicide (10-20 for every suicide) and fortunately don’t succeed.

Sarah Fine and Justine Dell have joined forces to bring you this wonderful opportunity to win cool stuff AND help The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. LOTS of other bloggers and authors and agents have donated the cool stuff!

If you want to bypass the giveaway/auction and donate straight to the cause, YAY! Here is their Out of the Darkness Donation page: HERE.

The giveaway started on Monday, Oct. 1st and you can find some deets on Sarah Fine's Blog. There are two widgets (which you can find on Sarah's post):

1. Epic Giveway. Just follow the Rafflecopter instructions and enter to win SUPER cool stuff. Oh, and here's a bonus: for every 250 entries we receive (up to 1250), Sarah Fine will donate $100 dollars to the Out of The Darkness Walk. YAY! Which means if we get 1250 entries, Sarah will donate $500 dollars to the cause!! So ENTER! And tell your friends!

2. Sarah and Justine's Dynamite Donation Giveaway. For every $1 dollar you donate, you will be given ONE entry into the Sarah's giveaway and Justine's. So if you donate $50 US, that 50 entries for each giveaway! (check the widget for the prizes). Just enter with an easy entry on the Rafflecopter, donate, then email your receipt to Justine and we'll manually enter your entries! You only have to donate ONCE and you will be entered into BOTH giveaways (which means you also only need to fill out one Rafflcopter thing...manual entries will take care of the rest) HOW COOL IS THAT? And how EASY?

ALSO, don’t miss out on the awesome AUCTION this Saturday (October 6). There are some great prizes to be won!!!!

If you have any questions, leave them in the comments and I’ll ask Sarah and Justine for the answers.

THANKS EVERYONE FOR SUPPORTING SUCH A GREAT CAUSE!

©Stina Lindenblatt

Yesterday, wonderful Angela Ackerman from The Bookshelf Muse guest posted on my blog and talked about creating suspense even if you don’t write suspense. But for some reason, my email subscribers never received the post in their inbox. On Monday, I changed the setting so that my post titles would show up in the Subject of the emails. That apparently was an epic fail. Sooooo, I’m posting today to test if the problem is fixed, and make sure everyone has a chance to read the post.

I’ve turned off the comments on this post, but would love it if you comment on Angela’s.