Monday 7 November 2011

I drag my fingers over a row of toddler-sized zebras like a schoolboy bouncing his hand along a stranger’s picket fence.

Me 'n' mah kitteh ...
I loved my toys as a kid. But I wasn't really a big fan of dolls. I liked the stuffed cuddly kind, especially the ones that looked like animals.

I used to pretend that they were real and coming to me for comfort. I'd stroke them and pat them and whisper in their ears how much I loved them. Ha! I still do that, except now I have a real dog to stroke and pat and whisper sweet nothings to.

I did have a couple of cats, called Socks and Charlie, when I was really young, but they either ran away, or got run over, or something ... can't remember. I even had a canary at one point. But I let it out of its cage to play. Then I had a goldfish, which died a few days after I purchased it because I kept scooping it out of the water to kiss. Then I just got more toys. Toys didn't die.

All my toys are now in the hands of other children. I hope. They all went into the Salvation Army bin when I moved to Greece. But I think about them sometimes. I especially think about the HUGE white dog which was taller than me at the time. If I saw him now, I think he'd probably reach my knees.

What kinds of toys did you have as a kid? Is there any particular one you always think about, or even better, kept?
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Participating in my blog tour today are the following marvelous individuals. Please visit these blogs and follow, and maybe even read a few of their previous posts! I'm hoping this blog tour will also bring more readers and writers together, other than just promoting my book! Also don't forget to enter my 10-Day contest. Details below.


Amie McCracken ~ (Interview) In which I offer a little advice on reaching writing goals. Amie is offering some sort of giveaway today, so be sure to pop by!


"I’m a voracious reader. My calling in life is editing. I’m ambitious and strong, but shy and like to sit in the background. I live in Germany with my husband, camera, computer, and a lot of ideas floating around in my head. They tend to take over (the ideas), and most of the time you’ll catch me staring off into space.I like to capture moments, whether with writing or my camera. Moments in peoples lives that are painful, exhilarating, dull, perfect, teary, basically anything."


Cherie Reich ~ (Interview) In which I recommend one of the most brilliant novels I've ever read.

"A self-proclaimed bookworm, Cherie received her bachelors of the arts in Classical Antiquities at Missouri State University. She currently lives in Virginia with her family and four adorable pets: Cinderella the cat, Romeo the cat, Abby the guinea pig, and Dash the goldfish. Besides working in a library, she is surrounded by over 1000 books in her room at home. Can anyone say bibliophile?"


Jen Daiker ~ (Review) Jen, Jen, Jen ... will I ever stop succumbing to your sweetness? I hope not!

"I love to lie. Wait a minute, I love to tell stories, yup that's my calling. I spend my days talking to people who don't exist, sharing their stories, eating cupcakes, and drinking cocktails. People call me crazy, but I call myself a writer. This is my life on paper."


JL Campbell ~ (Interview) In which I talk about helping others with their writing careers.

Here she posts Interviews, about Writing, Self-Publishing, and offers Snapshots of Jamaica.

JL Campbell ~ (Review, different blog) I hope you enJOYed the book, Joy! :o)

"A writer who's always on the lookout for story-making material. "


Katie O'Sullivan ~ (Blog Tour Love) Can always do with more love! Thank you, Katie!

"I'm an author, magazine editor, wife, and mother to three kids and three dogs... not necessarily in that order. I try to write every day and read a book a week, but life often gets in the way. I'm still dreaming of hitting the publishing big time... This blog chronicles my ups and downs, trying to juggle career, family, and a 140-pound Puppy. (she's the hardest to juggle...)"


Mason Canyon ~ (Interview) In which I offer my opinion on eBook vs. Print book.

"I love reading and that is why I do reviews. I post them here, as well as several other sites such as Goodreads, Amazon and Barnes & Noble.If you are an author who would like for me to review your book or you would like to guest blog here, please contact me atmcbookshelf@gmail.com. These reviews are done for the love of a good book, not for monetary rewards. I'm also a freelance editor. For more on my services, drop by Freelance Editing By Mason"


PK Hrezo ~ (Review) She refused to reveal her review to me, so I shall continue to anticipate it! :o) *whisper* I think she liked it ...

"I write fiction with the hopes of bringing out the extraordinary in ordinary characters. My last name is Czech in origin and pronounced with the H silent. I'm a wife of a firefighter, mom of two and international airline agent."

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Contest details:

If you missed LAST MONDAY'S POST, here're the basics:
  • You read the line in the title and guess which page it appears in String Bridge. (people who have read the book can not compete, sorry!)
  • You write your guess in the comments.
  • On Friday November 11th, the Amazon Chart Rush day, I'll announce the winner. The winner will be the person who first guesses a number CLOSEST to the page a line falls on (page 1-288). If you guess and comment on all TEN lines (from Nov 1st - 10th) you'll have ten chances at winning the prize.

Please TWEET & FACEBOOK this post using #StringBridge!


Don't forget the Amazon Chart Rush on November 11!


Not going to be around on the 11th? Purchase String Bridge now via Lucky Press, LLC.


20 comments:

  1. Adorable photo.

    My toy trucks were put in the shed, and when my nephew found them he jumped up and down and said, "LOOK! OLD TOYS!" I bet the toys had been waiting for that for years.

    Page 57!

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  2. Jessica, you're just amazing with all the stuff you're getting done.

    Stuff from my childhood? I've got book stashed away somewhere, a few pictures, but no toys.

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  3. That's great you donated them all. My kids won't let go of any of them and still want more! Ack.

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  4. SO cute! Yes, and the kitten too. I had a bunch of dolls that I had sitting on my dresser. One night I SWORE I could see their mouths moving. I got up, knocked them to the floor and then kicked them into the closet. I never played with them again. Years later, my mother threw them out when we moved from NY. I coulda cared less about those evil dolls. ;)

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  5. Cute picture. I had a doll that I loved. A neighbor was determined to break it and he did. Sigh. Great you donated everything. I try to with my daughter's toys too.

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  6. I had a tin car, a bit like this one in design but not as posh. One of its front wheels was bent at an angle and so you couldn't drive it. I wish I still had that. The only toy car I salvaged from my parents' house after their deaths was a horsebox: this one actually.

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  7. I'm cracking up at the goldfish kisses! That just made my morning!

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  8. The toy I remember most is the one I didn't get! LOl I wanted so badly this horse that was battery operated and had one of those black Christmas moments when it wasn't under the tree!

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  9. I still have a stuffed red elephant that was given to me by my grandmother for my first Christmas. I was 6 months old. Ellie has gone everywhere with me and carries the scars of being well loved. When I die I want her cremated with me because I can't bear the thought of her being tossed in the garbage.

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  10. I don't have any of my old toys...trucks, tanks, farm equipment, dolls, wagons, trikes....so sad....
    page 15

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  11. I love that photo!! I was a stuffed animal freak, and to me, they were all real. :)

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  12. I was a stuffed animal and not dolls gal, too! I used to build them houses (usually by setting up other toys for walls and such), or make them furniture out of kleenex boxes... My only real requirement was that they were SOFT.

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  13. OMG, I almost choked on my coffee reading about your goldfish kisses. I LOVE all of my fish, but I struggle with TOUCHING them, let alone trying to kiss them. Great post, fish lips :-P And you were freaking adorable as a kidlet. <3

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  14. Nice photo. What a cute and sweet child!

    Not sure what happened to all my toys as a child.

    I had a soft brown animal. It might have been a squirrel, but I cuddled it tightly in bed each night. I never had very many dolls, but I wanted more dolls just like my play-mates.

    I went and bought myself a big doll some years back to make up for the loss of having dolls, and maybe to remember childhood and my Mum who had passed at the time.

    Have a fun tour with your book. I wish you lots of success!

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  15. That cute picture makes me all giggly. Adorable! Will check out all these posts! Exciting! Oh, and I had dolls. Dolls and stuffed animals were my favorite.

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  16. I loved your photo on this post, Jess! :) I had a doll called Caroline when I was a little girl. She was eventually given away to a cousin far away. She was returned to me after many years, broken. It was a sad story of my childhood....maybe I'll write a blog post about it one day :)

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  17. That photo is adorable!

    All my old toys are still in my childhood bedroom of my parent's summer place. It's fun when we visit and my kids pull out the same stuff I used to play with.

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  18. That's the cutest photo ever! I still do that to my cat now and I'm 27, ha!

    My Mom gave me some of her Barbies so I kept my favourites and if I have a daughter, I will give them to her some day.

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  19. omg--I have almost the exact picture of me about that age "loving" a poor kitty to death in a similar way... that clutch around the middle. Must be instinctive. :D

    I wasn't much for dolls either as a kid. I was a Barbie girl, but nothing's stayed with me through now. Wait! My mom did save some of my Raggedy Anne dolls for my daughters. They have them now. :o) <3

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