Wednesday, September 21, 2011

September's Spectacular Blog Hop


Welcome to the September Blog Hop! Celebrate the beginning of fall with me and my blogger friends by hopping around, visiting our sites, and entering our contests! There are no limits - you can enter the contest on every blog. With over 40 blogs participating, that's over 40 prizes you could win. Just click on the links below to move on to the next blog.

In STEALING MERCY, modern day genealogist, Bette Michaels, steals the 1889 journal of Mercy Faye. Here’s an excerpt describing the theft:

I’ve never stolen anything. Ever. Not even by accident. I always return extra change if a cashier makes a mistake. I’m meticulous about my taxes, generous with charitable donations, scrupulously honest. And that’s why an unfamiliar guilt worm wiggles in my belly.

I lift my fingers off the piano and glance back into the deserted living room and then at the library’s double doors. Through the windows I see rain dripping from the eaves of the porch. I hear wind rattling the doors and windows and after the crush of mourners filling Dot’s home, the plink of rain seems amplified. As does my beating heart.

I gather up my music and after a quick glance at the casket in the center of the room, I have a silent conversation with Dot. Do you mind? If I find it, I’ll just borrow it. I’ll return it. I won’t keep it. Dot, of course, still and silent nestled against all the silk in her casket, doesn’t respond, but I imagine her smiling, nudging me forward.

If I find the diary, that missing part that would hopefully explain so much, maybe I could just read it, quickly, before leaving. I pause in the entry hall, my feet rooted to the tapestry carpet. To my left, Dot’s library. I see my reflection in the beveled glass doors. I look tiny and fractured in the reflection. My pearls cast a small glow. I tuck a strand of dark hair behind my ear, debating. If I stand stock still in the entry much longer, perhaps the caterers will come and carry me out along with the empty boxes and trays of partially eaten food.

I’m not driven by impulse. I’d been waiting the opportunity to slip into the library all evening. I’d waited for the guests to leave so that I could look for the missing diary, the one that began in New York. My gaze flits around the room and I see the framed genealogy fan chart hanging on the wall, a stack of library books sitting on the desk, a mishmash of books marching across the shelves. I scan the collection, marveling at the eclectic choices. Standing on my toes, I find the tiny leather bound book on the top shelf.

I flip it open and my heart picks up speed when I recognize the copperplate handwriting. After another glance at the wet world outside the window, I lean against the solid walnut desk and begin to read.


Bette obviously believed that journals are important enough to steal. Fortunately, for one of you, stealing won’t be necessary. You have the chance to win not only a beautiful, handcrafted journal from India but also a signed copy of STEALING MERCY. All you have to do is:
1. Become a follower of my blog.
2. Leave a comment telling me why you think journaling is important. Or not.
3. Provide contact information so that I can notify you of my upcoming InKredible Kindle Kontest, where one lucky winner will take home a kindle e-reader.

That's it! You are now entered. The contest ends on Saturday night, September 24th, at midnight MST, and the winner will be contacted shortly thereafter. Please either leave your e-mail address in the comment trail or make sure it's visible through your profile so I can contact you to tell you that you're the lucky winner.
Now go visit my other friends ...
September Blog Hop Participants



1. Tristi Pinkston, LDS Author
2. Joyce DiPastena
3. I Am A Reader, Not A Writer
4. Mandi Slack
5. Michael D. Young
6. Six Mixed Reviews
7. Pam Williams
8. Laurie Lewis
9. Kristy Tate
10. Marilyn Yarbrough
11. Stacy Coles
12. Kristie Ballard
13. Lynn Parsons
14. Pushing Past the Pounds
15. Sheila Staley
16. cindy Hogan
17. Jamie Thompson
18. Jaclyn Weist
19. Cathy Witbeck
20. Secret Sisters Mysteries
21. Tamera Westhoff
22. Tina Scott
23. Lynnea Mortensen
24. Danyelle Ferguson aka Queen of the Clan
25. Jeanette A. Fratto
26. Bonnie Harris
27. Melissa Lemon
28. Mary Ann Dennis
29. Stephanie Black
30. Jane Still
31. Janice
32. Laura Bastian
33. Tamara Bordon
34. Betsy Love
35. Maria Hoagland
36. Amber Robertson
37. Debbie Davis
38.
39. Christy Monson
40. Carolyn Frank
41. Rebecca Birkin
42. Melissa Cunningham
43. Emily L. Moir
44. Ronda Hinrichsen
45. Lisa Asanuma
46. Joan Sowards
47. Jordan McCollum
48. Diane Stringam Tolley


54 comments:

  1. Journaling is important because you can express your feels without hurting anyone else's feelings. Thanks for the giveaway.

    I am a follower

    amys_book_world AT rock DOT com

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  3. Following! Journaling is important because, even though we may not think so, our experiences and what we glean from them can have significant impact to future generations.

    Cheriwrites AT yahoo DOT com

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  4. I'm already your follower! I'd love to get my hands on the book I got to help edit.
    love2write58 at yahoo dot com

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  5. I'm a new follower! I'd love to read your book! I love journaling because it's the only way I can be myself without any repercussions from anyone!

    slackmandiATyahooDOTcom

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  6. I'm already a follower. The book sounds interesting. Put me in for the drawing.

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  7. Hi!
    I'm following you as mikki-mano :)
    And I think it's important because you won't remember everything in your life and rereading the good memories can always bring you happiness! :)
    Thank you for the giveaway :)
    mikki-mano@hotmail.com

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  8. I would love to win that prize! I think journaling is important to help us sort out our own lives as we live them, as well as to give those who follow an insight into what things were like for us.
    lardobastianatgmaildotcom

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  9. Hi, Kristy! I'm already a follower and would love to win a copy of Stealing Mercy.

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  10. GFC- Christine A.

    I used to write in a journal when I was younger but had it used against me. I stopped writing and have not found that spot within myself that wants to come out and start writing again. One day. Thanks for this great giveaway.

    your1chef at aol dot com

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  11. Already a follower. I wish my mom had written a journal. She died too young and I wish I had something of hers to read.
    bkhabel--at--gmail--dot--com

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  12. I'm a new follower and I would love to read your book! Journals are an important part of my life. Not only so future generations can learn from my experiences, but also I can re-read them to see what I have learned along the way! :)

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  13. What I like about journaling is that it´s clearing my mind and it´s also fun to read it after some time :)
    GFC: Jeanne
    Rathouska(dot)jana(at)gmail(dot)com

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  14. I think journaling is important because of all the memories. I can replay a day that happened a year ago a hundred times over in my head, then read a journal entry about it, and there are so many details I'd forgotten. I love to look through my old journals and see what my life was like then, what I thought about, etc.

    GFC - Manda

    liforda(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  15. I don't have to journal my real life; I'm too busy writting fiction. Great prize! I love to read as well as write. I'm following you.

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  16. I love journaling and scrapbooking for so many reasons! One is that there is a record of experiences that I have had in my life, and the life of my family. I have been helping my cousin transcribe my Grandma's diaries, and reading about her life has helped me so much in mine!! Thanks for doing this!

    widsfam7 @ digis dot net

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  17. Following your blog via Google Reader.

    I think journaling is VERY important. In fact, I hate that I've fallen out of the habit of it. Journaling is an intimate, personal history, and a first-hand account of life that people are losing today in a blogger's world, where everything is written for other people. Journals are special because the audience is meant to be just YOU, or maybe your children or grandchildren someday.

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  18. I am a follower and journaling is important to me because it freezes your emotions and lets you go back and feel them all over again, I journal about important events and I journal my prayers sometimes too so I remember my answers. I would love to win your book! It looks so interesting and I would love to read it!

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  19. oops forgot to give you my email in case you needed it dancin_deb2000@yahoo.com

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  20. GFC follower-judy

    Journaling is important to keep a record of your thoughts, ideas, anything important to you, or not. It helps me in alot of ways.

    Judy
    magnolias_1[at]msn[dot]com

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  21. I'm a follower and would love to win this book. It looks very interesting. :) rondagibbhinrichsen@gmail.com

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  22. Hi! I'm your newest GFC follower. I think that journaling is important because it can help one say what they can't speak. It gives us a voice in a way that nothing else can. Thank you for this opportunity!
    reducefootprints at gmail dot com

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  23. I am a new follower.
    I think journaling is important because not only is it great for our future generations and children to read. But I enjoy looking back through my past to see how far I have come or just to remember and enjoy the details of the past.
    simply-enchanting@hotmail.com

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  24. I'm a new follower, and would love to read your book. I just taught my primary girls about journaling at our Activity Days night. They were so excited to learn how to journal. They and I as well, really enjoyed reading from my first journal I started when I was eight years old. We laughed at the progression of my handwriting through the years as well as the funny stuff I wrote about back then. I'm excited to get to know you better as a follower. Kristieballard@gmail.com

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  25. I'm a follower! I love journaling, because it is fantastic to help remember the good and bad times! I keep a journal for all of my kiddos big events! i love meinekinder at yahoo dot com.

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  26. GFC follower under Lucky47. I always try to get my daughter to keep a journal to record her thoughts and ideas. While it's hard for our kids to really talk about their emotions it's a different matter when writing them down. To reflect on them later and in most cases what seemed so important earlier isn't half as bad as you thought. GC name is Lucky47. Thank you for this opportunity to win.
    Carol L
    Lucky4750 (at) aol (dot) com

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  27. I am a GFC follower - amhengst
    I would love to have written a journal for my grandkids or daughter to read things after Im gone

    amhengst at verizon dot net

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  28. I follow you on GCF

    kayswederski@yahoo.com

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  29. Your book sounds very interesting ~ I would love to win it!


    kayswederski@yahoo.com

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  30. Already a follower and I'd LOVE to read your book!

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  31. I'm a follower.
    I don't write in a journal much anymore, but it is important to help share thoughts and feelings and for future generations to get a glimpse into who we are.
    primarymary2 at gmail dot com

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  32. I just started writing in a journal. I received it as a a moving away gift. So glad I got it. I have wrote about all the little and big things as I traveled across country and am still writing about my new home and feelings.
    I'm a GFC follower - Cindy Macbeth
    cindymacbeth at gmail dot com

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  33. Ironic, I just found on online journaling place and did my first journal entry in a long time. I love going back and reading journals from my ancestors. It's fun to know that even the boring day to day stuff will be interesting to someone someday, and maybe give them a little comfort. 4wonnie@gmail.com

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  34. Journaling is important to record thoughts and ideas. Thank you for this giveaway!
    emilymeimei204 AT yahoo dot com

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  35. I think journaling is important to help you remember things...and its nice to leave your children to look back on your life.

    GFC Michele Luker

    jmluker at winco dot net

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  36. I do think journaling is important because it helps you keep track of goals and ideas that you might lose otherwise.
    GFC: Leigh Ann
    insanityisnormal(at)gmail(dot)com

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  37. I'm a new follower. The book sounds interesting and the journal I'd love.

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  38. Thanks for the awesome giveaway and for participating in this blog hop! I think journaling is important because it keeps you in tune with yourself and allows you to explore your feelings in a "safe and secure" environment. And the journal you're giving away is GORGEOUS!!! I'd also love to read this book because I'm a sucker for stories that "go back n time". Oh, and I'm a new follower via GFC (MamaHendo3).

    BornajhawkATaolDOTcom

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  39. I am following! =)

    I believe journaling is important because one day you'll look back on the past and all of your important memories will be there for you to reminisce over. I love looking at the journals I have written in over the years. It makes me laugh, smile, and sometimes it makes me sad. Also it's a good way to vent and let out your emotions in a non-destructive way.

    Your book cover and the amazing journal are both beautiful. Thanks for allowing me a chance to win them. Awesome hop =)

    ~Mera

    mirrormera92 At aol dot com

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  40. I am an excited follower. I believe keeping a journal is so important because it is the key to you in future generations.

    princesslife101(at)gmail(dot)com

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  41. Journaling is important so you can capture those moments as exactly as they were and have them live on forever in the pages.
    I follow you via gfc - mamabunny13
    mamabunny13 at gmail dot com

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  42. Hi Kristy:) Thanks for the giveaway! I'm a GFC follower: Identity Seeker.

    I've been journalling from the age of 12 and I must say that I sometimes think my journal is the only thing that's kept me sane over the years. A journal, for me, is a friend I come home to at the end of each day- a friend with whom I can share my daily experiences and inner-most thoughts and gain some amazing insights in the process. It helps stimulate creativity and serves as a record of past events and emotions, so that when I read my old journals I can't help but smile and even laugh out loud at certain parts.

    Contact e-mail: sarah.setar@gmail.com

    Sarah:)

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  43. I think it's really important to have a journal. It helps us put things into words that we couldn't other wise. It lets us voice ourselves in a very unique way. Thanks so much for the chance to win this beautiful prize!

    Mary
    mary_reiss @ hotmail.com

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  44. I think that keeping a journal can help make you more "real" to future generations. They can know your feeling and thoughts. They can also help get to know how things that happened effected you.

    Thanks for this!

    lhoffpauir at gmail

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  45. follower.
    i think journaling is important because it helps you make sense of things that dont make sense. it also helps you understand your own feelings.
    nightsky1102(at)gmail(dot)com

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  46. I follow

    I wish I could say I was good about journaling, because it certainly is good to give your children and grandchildren a record of your life. I have begun a scripture study journal where I record insight or thoughts that may come to me as I study the scriptures.

    kissyjensen at gmail dot com

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  47. I love to journal. It helps me see the big picture, get my frustrations out, and leaves a legacy of learning for my children.
    cindymhogan at yahoo dot com

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  48. When you are gone people can say what they may about you- but journaling is your chance to tell your own story:)
    I am a follower.
    bchild5 at aol dot com

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  49. I am a follower and I love to write in a journal. You have some great prizes.

    ssdawn2002@yahoo.com

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  50. Hi! I am a new follower. I think that journaling can be very good for a person/very theraputic. Unfortunately, I never seem to keep up with it. I will do ok for a few days, then start forgetting. I must say that this one is beautiful and the book sounds really good. Thank you for the chance.
    GFC: June M.
    manning_j2004 at yahoo dot com

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  51. You can collect your thoughts with a journal. Remember special moments & plan for the future.

    GFC: Mary Preston

    marypres(AT)gmail(DOT)com

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  52. If you're a writer or want to become a paid/published writer then journaling is important to practice writing. Journaling is also a way to express feelings and such. If we're angry, sad, happy, whatever emotion we can express it in journaling instead of having to do it out loud. It helps get it out of the system.

    GFC: Leah Colson

    leah49 (at) gmail (dot) com

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  53. journaling IS IMPORTANT... it's a great way to relieve stress, a great past time, and it's a wonderful way to remember memories even when some of them are bad. I journal, and I would never stop =)
    Thank you for hosting this giveaway!!

    GFC Follower: SpadesHighReads
    TValeros18 AT gmail DOT com

    ReplyDelete