Sometimes I Sing Without Music

November 7, 2016

I’ve always enjoyed a cappella work. This group is on my Christmas list, just in case my handwritten list gets lost (wink). The song is not new and the stories in it are much older than even the writer who penned the song.  It’s been recorded by many artists and each time I hear it I find new depth pulled from the emotion of the artist. Hearing it reminded me of the opportunity I have as a writer to convey hope, love, and understanding when many have not known those things.


Friday will be the last clue to win The Witch with No Name. It looks like I may get to keep it with its collection. I was reluctant to give it away, (me and books don’t part well) but considered it would be a nice toast to Kim’s new series with Peri Reed. I’m trying to decide if a). having the two contests is confusing to people, b). if people are not comfortable because they don’t know me, c). if people aren’t seeing it, or d). just not interested in contests.

I can’t do anything about the last one, but I may be able to help with the other three. I really do want to make a diligent effort to get the word out for an author who has impacted me and my family. I’m kind of a list person so I’m just going to tackle these one by one.

     A. If two contests are confusing people

The contest to win The Witch with No Name is a separate contest from the Sudoku contest. The last clue to win the hardback, autographed copy of The Witch with No Name will be given this Friday, November 11th. (below is the clue from this past week). If I receive an email from you before the 11th and then again after the clue on the 11th you will have two chances to win.

This copy of The Witch With No Name is very special because it belongs to . . . well I can’t just tell you. But, I can give you a clue every week and give you a chance to win it for yourself! If you are a Hollows fan you will kick yourself if you miss this – characters can come to life – opportunity.

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Fourth Clue: The give away is closer, I hope you have a guess, but if you get it right you may invite a dangerous guest.

How can I win?

  1. Go to Kim’s Goodreads page or your own and tell her you want to read The Operator (you can do that by clicking want to read). The Operator is the second book in the Peri Reed series. It is coming out this month (November). I’ve already read it. You do not want to miss this book!
  2. Then email me at AlexisTDH@outlook.com with your Goodreads name and your guess about who The Witch with No Name is autographed to.
  3. I will enter you to win The Witch with No Name (Global opportunity: I will ship international).

B. People are not comfortable because they don’t know me

I started writing in 2012 after Kim challenged me to write by creating characters that became as real to me as my neighbors. I have a Superhero and one Golden Egg that constitute my nuclear family and they supported my new found love of writing and even agreed to go with me to a writing conference in New Orleans (my family is soooo willing to sacrifice for me – you know – to go to New Orleans and tour the city while I’m in class). Seriously though, it was wonderful to have them with me. While there, Golden Egg and I visited the butterfly room and as we walked through together, in my mind, pieces pulled together from every avenue of my life, from my parents to me, then on to my family, finally coming full circle to the fact that we were at a writing conference that I would have never attended were it not for Rachel and her crew. One year I decided to plant milkweed seeds for the Monarch butterflies and to have readers from Kim’s tour help me plant the seeds as a nod to her work. Unknown to me at the time she was having blue butterflies imprinted on the book you see above.  I have a full time job, but I write every day. I have no desire to do anything crazy with your emails. It is just a way to support Kim’s work with out asking Tim or her to carry the load.

C. If people aren’t seeing it

There is a measure of invisibility I think every artist feels and as an extrovert working a day job that makes me very visible I felt for me to understand that sense of invisibility I needed to walk this path without letting friends know I was here. Yet, watching Kim face this change of series that made her practically invisible to her publisher and sadly, even to some of her readers it seems like the perfect time to let them know I’m here. Not because I have so many it will make a difference, but because even one friend means you’re not invisible.

Finally, here is the next Sudoku puzzle clue for the second contest to win The Operator. More details for both contests here: How to Play.

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