Wednesday, October 14, 2015

In Which You Win Book Cash and Women Kick Trash

Say hello to our special guest today, Stephen Tremp (and his fabulous Halloweeny read + GIVEAWAY)! Take it away, Stephen.


“Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon them” ~ William Shakespeare 

Thank you Crystal for hosting me on my Salem’s Daughters Blog Tour! I love the action, adventure, fantasy and thrillers genres. In these stories not all heroes are heroes; some are heroines who demonstrate greatness in a variety of ways such as courage, inner-strength, or pressing on to overcome seemingly insurmountable odds. 

Not all leading and supporting female characters are tough girls like Wonder Woman (most famous and hottest heroine of all time), Daenerys Targaryen (Game of Thrones), Buffy (Vampire Slayer), Hermione Granger (Harry Potter) or Xena (Warrior Princess). These women were born with innate powers or they achieved advanced abilities through discipline, practice, sacrifice and a support group. Then there are the women who are not born into nor do they achieve greatness. Rather, they have greatness thrust upon them, often against their will. 

There are three such women in Salem’s Daughters, one born with greatness, another who achieved greatness, and a third who had greatness thrust upon her. 

Emily Livingston: The antagonist is born with greatness. Emily is the leader of her early 17th century coven and possesses each individual power of her followers, as long as they are alive. Together they terrorize the bed and breakfast. 

Erma Dempsey: Debbie’s meddling Irish whiskey drinking, dark witted, sharp tongue spitfire of a grandmother who co-signed on the three-and-a-half million dollar loan to build Murcat Manor achieved greatness through seven decades of working hard and fighting for everything. Born into poverty, she and her husband Ross never gave up on anything and had to scratch and claw to become successful. These traits help set the stage for a showdown between Erma and the thirteen cats. 

Debbie Stevens: The protagonist has great power thrust upon her against her will. She only wants to start a family, but instead has to give up her dreams to fight the evil threat killing her guests at Murcat Manor. 

These three bad-ass ladies were fun to develop using each of the three forms of greatness Shakespeare mentioned in Twelfth Night, or What You Will. 

Question: Do you have a favorite bad-ass female character in books or movies? 

Short Blurb: A four hundred year old evil is unleashed when the daughters of those killed during the Salem Witch Trials find a new generation of people to murder at a popular modern-day bed and breakfast. 

Stephen Tremp writes Speculative Fiction and embraces science and the supernatural to help explain the universe, our place in it, and write one of a kind thrillers. You can read a full synopsis and download Salem’s Daughters by Clicking Here. 

Stephen Tremp posts weekly blogs at his website Breakthrough Blogs

Next Stop: Friday October 16th Lexa Cain.


 
And now how about some giveaway action?

Last week Carol Riggs shared with us THE BODY INSTITUTE, along with two truths and a lie. Those who guessed the lie correctly were entered into a random drawing for the chance to win a signed print book with bookmark!

Carol's Game:

1. Carol once met singer Harry Chapin, got his autograph, and kissed him on the lips.
2. Carol’s family owned a Mexican restaurant when she was 13, in which she washed dishes and reluctantly played waitress. 
3. Carol lived on an island once, in Sitka, Alaska.

THE LIE: #2. Carol’s family owned a PIZZA restaurant, which was awesome because a)she got to eat pizza all the time, and b)it involved lots of CHEEEEESE. 

Way to guess everyone! And the winner is:

...DRUM ROLL...

Congrats, Julie! 

And now how about our giveaway for the day?


Stephen gave me two truths and one lie to test your "lie detector" skills. Those who figure out the lie will go into my magic hat for the chance to win A $25 GIFT CARD TO AMAZON


You have until Tuesday, October 20 at 1 p.m. EDT to guess. Be sure to come back for the answers on October 21. 
TRUTH OR LIE


1.    Stephen once met Los Angeles Laker basketball player Kobe Bryant.
2.    He does not like meatloaf.
3.    He still likes to color with crayons.

Oh, and one quick note from me. Chrys Fey interviewed me for my birthday. How cool is that? Check it out HERE. (And drop us some cheese in the comments, eh?)

So sleuths, which is the lie?  Do you have a favorite bad-ass female character in books or movies? 

115 comments:

  1. Thanks Crystal for hosting me! i'll be checking in throughout the day and saying hello. Love the truth or die. Should be a lot of fun.

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  2. Yay! I'm so excited that I won, thank you!
    And congrats to Stephen. I am seeing him everywhere and Salem's Daughters sounds like an excellent read.

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    1. Julie, you could also win the $25.00 Amazon gift card!

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  3. Oooh, I remember reading the query for this when it was called Murcat Manor over at Matt McNish's blog. I am still intrigued by the "killer cat" premise!

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    1. Diane, great memory! That was quite a while ago when I submitted a query letter for review. I did keep the name Murcat Manor for the bed and breakfast though.

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  4. Irish whiskey drinking, dark witted, sharp tongue spitfire - this makes me very happy!

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    1. Libby, Erma and her extended Irish family (of which Bob is the only one who is not) loves their Irish whisky.

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  5. Oh, so many awesome ladies in Salem's Daughters! I love how fascinating they all seem without being mirror images of each other. Erma especially sounds fun!

    As for the lie...hmm. I'm going to guess #2, although I'm most likely wrong, since I'm always terrible at these games! XD

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    1. Heather, the key to a good story is diverse characters, I can thank my editor for drilling this into my brain over the years.

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  6. So excited for Stephen! And he's been sharing lots of info I didn't know about cats. I'm going to guess #2 too.

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    1. Natalie, I'm having a blast with the Fun Facts and Did You Know series about cats. I usually reserve these for science stuff, but the cats provide a nice change of pace.

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  7. Sounds like a fascinating book. Lie...#3...

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  8. Always love stories featuring bad-ass women.

    I'm going to guess #2 is the lie, although like Heather, I am terrible at these games!

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    1. M.J., I am too. I get them wrong. And I know the answer. Go figure.

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  9. I love how each one of your heroines are so different. Even if my characters don't have powers, I always try to make them bad-asses. Some of my favorites that you hadn't mentioned (because you mentioned a lot of my favorites) are Alice from Resident Evil, Ripley from Alien, Selene from Underworld, and Sarah Connor from Terminator 2.

    I still like to color with crayons and I don't like meatloaf...so I think the lie is #1. :P

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    1. Chrys, all good examples of female bad-asses. I love Uma Thurman in Kill Bill. Tarentino mad these movies serious and cheesy at the same time and it worked so well.

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  10. This sounds like a great premise for a book, I hope he does really well with sales... :)

    I am terrible with guessing games so I will just guess that #2 is a lie xox

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    1. Thanks Luanna for the ind words of support. They go a long way!

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    2. Thanks Luanna for the ind words of support. They go a long way!

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  11. Awesome how each have such different personalities

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    1. What words rhyme with bad-ass
      Forget about any status
      This rhyme will surpass all my previous impasse
      Because I invoke the admass of the snarky sass lass crass for the mass

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    2. Okay, so I have my work cut out for me, but I'm practicing and working it.

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  12. Wow! An intriguing premise! Wishing you lots of success. Belated Happy Birthday!!

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    1. Thanks Nicola! It's not my birthday, but you can send me money.

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  13. Super congrats to Stephen. I hope it breaks records. I know I'll do my part in making that come true. It has to be a fabulous read. And he is just so doggone great at writing dialogue. I think Stephen is a coloring kind of guy. So #2 is the lie??? I hope. *fingers crossed* *waves to Crystal*

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    1. Thanks Robyn!!! A writer can hear no better words.

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  14. Congrats to Stephen! I love strong, bad ass female characters. I think #2 is the lie.

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    1. Christine, here's to bad-ass women everywhere (taking two shots of vodka in their honor and hoping they don't show up at my front door).

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  15. I love a good badass female character, so long as she's still human. Buffy is a particular favorite :) And #1 is the lie I guess.

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    1. Meradeth, the thirteen witches are very much human. They just happen to inhabit feline bodies. It came down to dying a horrible death, or leaving their human bodies and entering kitties in the first of their nine lives.

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  16. Congrats to Stephen. I really like this cover, and I love a good badass. :) I'm guessing #2 is the lie.

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    1. Kelley, I thank my nephew for coming to the rescue with the cover art. As he did for my previous three books.

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  17. I love the idea of your strong cast of female characters, Stephen! Is #2 the lie?

    Congrats to Carol and Julie!

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    1. Emily, long time no see. No, really. Thanks for stopping by and saying hello!

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  18. This sounds great, Stephen! I'm obsessed with the Salem witch trials!

    Hmm, #2 for the lie? I hope he still colors with crayons. :P

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    1. krystal jane, then you'll want to know what happens next. Salem's Daughters. Only $2.99.

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  19. Salem's Daughter sounds intriguing. I've been fascinated about Salem since I read a book on Salem's witches.

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    1. Olivia, the story doesn't end in Colonial America. Nor does it end with Salem's Daughters. The witches still have three more lives after that. Can you say sequel?

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  20. I've read so darned many books, it's hard to keep them all straight, but I read a couple that involved a housewife who is also an assassin. She was definitely a bad ass, and the books were funny as all get-out, which made them even better.

    Congrats to Julie for winning last week's truth-or-lie challenge. Okay, now for my guess for this week's: let's go with #1.

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    1. Susan, assassin housewife? I love it. As long as she isn't my wife.

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  21. It's nice learning more about the characters in Salem's Daughters. Congrats to Stephen! I'll guess #2 as the lie.

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  22. Great post - I do like a kick-ass heroine! So many great ones out there :)
    I'll guess #3 is the lie - crayons drive me crazy :)

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    1. Jemi, in the words of a wise cartoon owl trying to guess how many licks does it take to get to the center of a Tootsie Pop, the world may never know. Well, actually we'll all know next week.

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  23. Awesome story idea, Stephen! The best of luck. I'll guess #2 is the lie. How can you not like meatloaf?

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    1. Mary, I think I hit upon something unique. And thanks for the well wishes!

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  24. Nice to see Stephen here! Wishing him well. Thanks for hosting, Crystal! :)

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  25. It sounds like a fun book, Stephen!

    And I'm going to say #3 is the lie. I think permanent markers are the way to go. :)

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    1. Loni, Salem's Daughters is more fun than a barrel of monkeys!

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  26. Congrats again, Stephen! Hum...I'm guessing #3 is the lie.

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    1. HR, we'll have to wait until Monday to know. I don;t even know.

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  27. First your book sounds fantastic! I love a story with a bad ass, female protagonist. I loved he Hunger Games heroine. She had it thrust upon her and she was a combination of both victim and heroine in my opinion. I guess that #2 is a lie---cuz, who doesn't love meatloaf? :D Nice post, Crystal!

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    1. Lisa, thanks for the awesome words of encouragement! Now buy my book, or face the wrath of thirteen cats!!!

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  28. Im going with #2.
    I saw your release on another blog and thought it was basically about mythical cats, but they are shape shifters correct?

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    1. Sandra, for that answer you will have to buy the book. Just kidding. No shape shifters in Salem's Daughters, although I did try. I just couldn't pull it off without forcing it. Never seemed close to being right, so I had to abandon the idea.

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  29. I'm going with #2. I think Stephen loves meatloaf. Fictional heroine Wonder Woman is always one of my favorite. Maybe because my children buy me Mother's Day cards with Wonder Woman on them. Makes me feel good.

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    1. Susan, hundreds of years from now, Wonder Woman will still be around while most of the female bad-asses of today will have faded.

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  30. Great guest post, Stephen! I can never think up good ones, so I just don't do them. I'm really gonna have to hit you up to learn the secrets of entertaining and interesting guest posts! Looking forward to your stop on my blog in TWO DAYS!! :)

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    1. Lexa, I bullet point different ideas, then fill them out. Instantaeous Blog Tour. I don;t even have to add water.

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  31. My favourite badass character would have to be Sarah Connor from Terminator 1 and 2. Amazing. I also loved Lisbeth from The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo (both the books and the original Scandinavian movie).

    As for the guessing game, I think number #2 is the lie.

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    1. J.H., Sarah Connor will get a lot of votes for badass women. I was hoping for more from her years ago when she was at the height of her popularity.

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  32. I always enjoy badass woman characters. The ones currently on my mind are the entire woman cast of Jim Butcher's Codex Alera, not only because I just finished rereading it but because they run the gamut of being strong and capable in a ton of different ways. It's not just about kicking ass - it's more often about putting all your skills to use and just plain not giving up.

    And I'm guessing #2 is the lie because it seems all kinds of innocuous. :P

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    1. Mason, working together and not giving up ... you'll love Erma, Debbie and the thirteen witchy cats!

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    1. Michelle, you could be right, but are twice as likely to be wrong. Of course, any guess would give the same odds.

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  34. Hi Crystal - Stephen has built some amazing characters into his story, Murcat Manor. I'd go with # 2 can't believe Stephen likes meatloaf ... bad ass women though - yes he's rather good with those! Cheers Hilary

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  35. I could do with a bit of Irish whisky, I have a dreadful cold. Swap ya for some chocolate?

    Number 2 is the lie. Nobody likes meatloaf.

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    1. Jules, Erma's favorite cure for a dreadful cold, or whatever ails you.

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  36. Highest of sales to Stephen's latest book! No guesses. I always guess wrong. :-)

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  37. love kick ass women! :) and I say #2 is the lie. I personally do not enjoy meat products, but everyone I know loves meatloaf!

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    1. Beth, the cats of Murcat Manor love meatloaf or any people food because they are still people and never developed a taste for cat food.

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  38. Since I had all daughters living with me I used to focus on female driven films a lot I guess in part to empower them. I can't think of any particular female bad asses off hand other than Angelina Jolie as Evelyn Salt. She was a tough character.

    As for Stephen's untruth I'll go with #2 about not liking meatloaf.

    Lee

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    1. Lee, as I look over the comments I think of some of the bad-ass female villains. Lots to choose from. But that's a post for another day. Thanks for stopping by!

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  39. I'll say number 3 is the lie. Its easy to meet celebrities, and he might be a vegetarian or vegan.

    It's kind of counter-productive to show a painting of Wonder Woman, and then say my book is not like that. It's kind of like showing a picture of Clint Eastwood, then saying my novel is about vegan pacifists.

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    1. Mark, it's hard to measure up to Wonder Woman. All I'm trying to say is bad-ass women com in all shapes, sizes, and colors that we don;t always expect.

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  40. I'll say number 3 is the lie. Its easy to meet celebrities, and he might be a vegetarian or vegan.

    It's kind of counter-productive to show a painting of Wonder Woman, and then say my book is not like that. It's kind of like showing a picture of Clint Eastwood, then saying my novel is about vegan pacifists.

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  41. What interesting characters. Great cover too. I like the cat. Congratulations, Stephen.

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  42. What a colorful cast of characters!
    Never a dull moment with a collection of bad-ass women... hehe!
    Congrats Stephen!
    I think the lie is no.#2

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    1. Michelle, check in tomorrow but I have a good feeling about this.

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  43. I like characters that find inner strength when adversity hits! Congratulations, Stephen!

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    1. Sherry, inner strength characters have to ferret out is what makes a great book!

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  44. I love those three applications that you used to develop your characters. The one I love the most is when "greatness is thrust upon someone" because I feel like a lot of people don't know their strengths until they must rise up in the face of adversity. One of my favorite bad-ass female characters is The Bride aka Beatrix Kiddo aka Black Mamba in the Kill Bill film series. She's kicks mad ass and gets her revenge and one of my favorite moments is when she outmaneuvers Bill at the end. Everyone I know loves meatloaf so #2 has got to be the lie.

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    1. Shaharoh, Kill Bill is one of my Top Ten films of all time. Love Tarantino!

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  45. So fun to hear from Stephen! I love strong female characters. I am a huge fan of Xena and have been rewatching the whole series on Netflix. Love it! His latest book sounds awesome. Hard to pick the lie- I am going with #2.

    All the best to Stephen!
    ~Jess

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    1. As the time draws to a close amazing how many people are choosing #2. Just saying ....

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  46. I think 2 is the lie. Congrats to Julie. I love all sorts of strong female characters, and of course there are those distinctions between them.

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    1. Medeia, I love a strong female character too, as long as they're not out to kill m.

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  47. I love strong female characters! Sounds like a great book. Man, I didn't know Carol's family owned a pizza restaurant - jealous!

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    1. alexia, now I'm ordering out for a large pizza. Thanks, I think.

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  48. I'm saying 2 is the lie. Congratulations, Julie! I'm trying to think of my favorite strong female character, but I just came off reading a mostly weak female character that frustrated me, and I can't seem to think past it.

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    1. Shannon, read Salem's Daughters for strong female characters!

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  49. Strong female characters rock! Congrats Stephen! I'll say number 3 is the lie today.

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    1. Suzanne, since the winner has been selected, you selected door number three with a horse eating straw. Think Let's Make A Deal.

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  50. I think No 2 is the lie. Congratulations Stephen.

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  51. I love a good, strong female character. One that drinks Irish whiskey is especially badass. Sounds like a killer read.

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  52. I think number 2 is a lie. Meatloaf, beetloaf, I have meatloaf.

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  53. No 2 could be the lie. Love reading strong female characters. Congratulations Stephen!

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  54. I can't help but love how much fun Xena has when she's fighting. :-)

    Anna from Elements of Writing

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    1. emaginette, amazing how popular Xena is years after the show went off the air.

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  55. I will go with #2 as the lie today. Hopefully he hates meatloaf. Hermione is my fave bad ass today. She not only uses her intellect over brawn but also has support from her friends. Every bad ass can't work alone.

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    1. Sheena, Hermione is one of my all time favorite bad ass women of fiction!

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  56. Buffy was seriously cool :) I'd never thought of "greatness" quite this way before.

    Good luck Steve.

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  57. Congrats on the nice post, really like the first artwork there, its super nice. Will share your article on twitter.
    my site

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Hit me with your cheese!