| Today, Norm Goldman, Editor of and is
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| | outside near the gardens, Magnolia
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| excited to have as our guest, Barbie
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| | Plantation is definitely a romantic place
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| Perkins-Cooper.Barbie is a playwright,
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| | to make the special, romantic times of a
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| travel writer, author and an award
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| | wedding spectacular.Park locations
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| winning screenwriter. Barbie lives in
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| | including the Waterfront Park, located in
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| Charleston, South Carolina and is an
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| | downtown Charleston, White Point Gardens,
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| expert on SC as well as North Carolina
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| | Hampton Park, and Washington Park.
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| and other geographical areas. Barbie is
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| | Waterfront Park provides the scenery of
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| also the author of a soon to be published
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| | the harbor, and deep in the horizon a
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| Insides' Guide to Asheville, NCGood day
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| | view of the new bridge previously
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| Barbie and thank you for agreeing to
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| | mentioned. The other parks have
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| participate in our interview.Norm:Please
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| | breathtaking views serving as a
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| tell our readers a little bit about your
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| | mesmerizing backdrop, so any of the parks
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| personal and professional background.
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| | in Charleston, especially during the
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| When did your passion for travel writing
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| | spring time, can make a beautiful
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| begin and when did you start traveling?
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| | wedding. For additional information about
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| What keeps you going? How do you come up
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| | park weddings visit HEREThe Citadel If
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| with ideas for what you write? What
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| | you've never visited Charleston and
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| methods do you use to flesh out your idea
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| | driven by the Citadel, you are missing a
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| to determine if it's salable?Barbie:Thank
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| | great picturesque view. Summerall Chapel
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| you Norm. It is a pleasure to be here and
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| | hosts a variety of weddings. The campus,
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| to discuss travel writing. I have been a
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| | complete with landscapes, interesting
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| writer since the third grade of
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| | architecture and military history is
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| elementary school. My first science
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| | beautiful. CLICK HEREBoone Hall
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| fiction story was published many, many
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| | Plantation with the sweeping landscapes,
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| years ago, all to the credit of my third
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| | plantation home, and the history attached
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| grade teacher and father. Of course, like
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| | to Boone Hall Plantation, this is the
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| most kids, I failed to see the thrill and
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| | perfect location to have a traditional
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| passion of writing until later in life.
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| | Southern wedding, full of charm,
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| In the 1980's I suffered from depression
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| | heritage, and romance that would make
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| and started writing again. Looking back,
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| | Scarlett and Rhett envious.In the
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| I discovered I did have a flair for
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| | Charleston community, there are so many
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| words, so I joined a writers group giving
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| | romantic and beautiful sites it is truly
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| myself ten years to achieve something, or
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| | difficult to narrow the locations down to
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| I'd only write for fun and family
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| | only eight. Since I love the ocean, I
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| letters.In 1994, after writing my first
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| | enjoy the beauty of the city at the
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| screenplay, I entered a few screenplay
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| | Battery, and while walking along the
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| competitions, after suggestions from my
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| | beach. For additional sites to consider,
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| agent, and I was selected as a finalist.
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| | CLICK HERENorm:What does travel mean to
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| My passion for travel writing started in
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| | you? As a traveler and fact
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| 2003 after attending a travel writing
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| | story-gatherer, what is your biggest
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| workshop hosted by Sharon Spence Lieb.
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| | challenge on the road and how do you
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| She inspired me so much that I had to put
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| | overcome these challenges.Barbie:If I had
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| my credentials to the test. Within 24
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| | to define travel, I would define it as a
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| hours, I had my first FAM trip. I have
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| | thrilling adventure and exploration about
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| been working as a travel writer since
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| | life and people. I find people
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| October 2003. At first, it was a
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| | fascinating. I enjoy watching them, their
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| struggle, but with each decline, I
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| | body language, and their zest for life.
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| persevered, determined to achieve my
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| | Almost everyone has a story to tell and
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| goals.Since I write (and revise) my goals
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| | to share.The biggest challenge I have
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| every January, my goal for 2005 was to
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| | while traveling is sometimes I am so
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| target guidebook publishers. I developed
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| | rushed I don't have enough time to get
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| a proposal, based on the Charleston, SC
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| | all the ideas completed. These ideas
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| community. Because I was still working
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| | dance inside my head until I can get them
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| full-time at a college, like most
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| | down on paper. That is why I always ask
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| writers, my desk was stacking high with
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| | for contact information because I know
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| e-mails and snail mail to read. I
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| | I'll have additional questions when I
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| targeted the higher paying markets, at
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| | transcribe the notes.I practice the idea
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| first.In December 2004, I submitted a
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| | of following up by sending thank you
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| query to a travel guide site, pitching an
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| | letters within two weeks of my trips, and
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| idea about Charleston. The editor
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| | I try to point out something significant
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| responded stating she had just finalized
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| | that happened during my trip. Another
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| the Charleston guidebook but she liked my
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| | practice I strive for is to take
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| style and wanted me to keep in touch.
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| | photographs plenty of digital
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| Flash forward to May of 2005. The clock
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| | photographs! If I have an image as
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| was ticking as my job was downsized and I
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| | reference, my brain will usually retrieve
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| had no clue what I would do after June 2
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| | the information.Norm:Besides writing
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| when my career in the Corporate World
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| | travel articles, what other writing gigs
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| ended. I knew I wanted to write, so I
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| | have you found profitable or rewarding?
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| reread my dusty goals, and those
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| | As a follow up, you have written in
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| cluttered e-mails, finding the
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| | various genre, which ones do you prefer,
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| correspondence with the editor. Quickly,
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| | i.e. travel writing, screen writing,
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| I sent her another e-mail, and within
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| | etcBarbie:You'll laugh when I share this
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| minutes (or so it seemed) she responded,
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| | information! Although I am a travel
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| wanting a proposal from me within three
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| | writer, many of my credentials are in
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| days. I wrote the shortest proposal in
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| | construction. Since my husband was in
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| history and sent it to her.After a few
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| | construction for many years, I broke into
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| weeks of negotiations, we agreed on the
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| | the construction industry, writing
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| contract and now I am working on my first
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| | stories about highway roadbeds, tilt wall
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| guidebook, Insiders' Guide to Asheville,
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| | construction, bridge construction,
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| NC, scheduled for publication in the
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| | shopping center renovations, John Deere
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| spring of 2007. My father lived in
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| | and Komatsu equipment, and a few stories
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| Asheville for many years, and I have
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| | about the construction workers.Although
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| several friends there, so I felt
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| | the pay wasn't well, it was a stepping
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| comfortable writing about the city. After
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| | stone for me to break into magazine and
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| that doorway opened, a few magazines I
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| | newspaper writing, and the stories were
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| had targeted previously responded to my
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| | regular, dependable assignments. Other
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| queries and now, I am publishing travel
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| | genres I've written for include health
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| stories on a regular basis.The things
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| | and beauty, elder care, business
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| that keep me going are the people,
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| | journals, hospitality, food, bedding (a
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| places, and things I discover while
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| | recent story about the new Revive
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| traveling. I love meeting the people and
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| | Marriott bed) military venues, and of
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| discovering the flavor of the area.On a
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| | course, travel.In 2001, I published a
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| recent trip to one of the devastated
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| | non-fiction memoir titled A Condition of
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| areas from Hurricane Katrina, I met a
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| | Limbo. I've also written seven
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| displaced man from New Orleans. Although
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| | screenplays, four plays, and I am
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| he had relocated, he still had a passion
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| | presently writing a memoir titled,
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| for life. He will be a character I use in
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| | Chattahoochee Child. In October 2005,
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| a story. The stories I discover at each
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| | that story won second place at the South
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| location inspire me to look deep within
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| | Carolina Writers Workshop writer's
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| to discover the actions and characters
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| | conference held in Myrtle Beach, SC.
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| revealed. Not only is there a character,
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| | Lately, most of my time is spent on my
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| there is adventure.While traveling, you
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| | guidebook. The deadline for the final
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| get to try new adventures you never
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| | project is scheduled for June 2006, with
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| anticipated before. On a trip to Alabama,
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| | the spring 2007 as the publication date.
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| we visited the Alabama Music Hall of
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| | I am excited about this project and
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| Fame. My goal and dream as a teenager was
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| | continue to schedule time to write travel
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| to become a famous singer. Unfortunately,
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| | stories.Norm:What advice would you give
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| I never pursued that dream until I
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| | to someone who is considering going into
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| stepped into the Alabama Music Hall of
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| | travel writing in order to achieve
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| Fame, and there, I was able to record a
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| | success?Barbie:My friends tease me
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| song while the group cheered me on. My
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| | constantly about writing so much, but as
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| dream was now reality!On a trip to
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| | we know, life is a challenge. Life is
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| Kentucky, I interviewed blue grass
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| | much too short to look back with regret,
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| musicians, coal miners, male quilt
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| | so every day, I strive to make the most
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| makers, and singers. During each
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| | of that day. Writing is something I
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| interview, I discovered that regardless
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| | attempt to schedule on a daily basis,
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| who they were, despite all of the
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| | although as writers know, life does have
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| adversities in life, these people held a
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| | a way of breaking into the demands of our
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| passion for life in their hearts, and a
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| | busy lives. Writers must continue to work
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| love for their town and artistry. Each
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| | towards their goals and dreams and never
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| time I meet and interview someone, I am
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| | give up. We must persevere with belief
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| inspired with new stories to tell. On
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| | and pride for what we do.The best advice
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| another trip, I met a mother who was
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| | I would give to a writer considering
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| desperate to save her daughter's school
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| | travel writing is to learn all that you
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| in Kentucky. The more we talked, the more
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| | can learn and to establish your goals
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| I realized this was a story I needed to
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| | every January. I am constantly adjusting
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| tell others, and I am still sending
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| | my goals, but for 2005, my goal was to
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| queries pertaining to her story and the
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| | land a book contract. Following the
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| educational plans of Kentucky.The methods
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| | guidelines I wrote, I achieved that goal
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| I use to determine if a story is
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| | this year by following up with editors. I
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| marketable are to determine the angle I
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| | have a notebook on my desk titled Follow
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| will use and I research the markets,
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| | up. I file all comments from editors,
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| answering the questions:Who is the story
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| | contacts, etc. in that booklet and refer
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| targeting to and what angle?What markets
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| | to it at least once a month.Networking is
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| may I approach?Who cares about this
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| | crucial. Last week while on a press trip
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| story?Resources I use weekly
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| | I met an editor and now I have an
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| are:Writersmarket.comWriter's Guidelines,
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| | assignment with her. Networking is the
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| 4th Edition by Brigitte M. Phillips,
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| | key.If truly interested in travel
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| Susan D. Klassen, and Doris HallThe
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| | writing, contact the Convention and
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| InternetFortunately, after many hurdles,
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| | Visitors Bureaus (CVB's) introduce
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| I now have editors approaching me about
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| | yourself along with your credentials and
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| story ideas. It's taken me years to
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| | request consideration to be added to
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| accomplish this, but it is exciting to
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| | their press list. I have made many
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| finally have regular assignments.
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| | contacts by doing this. Most of them are
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| Nevertheless, I still have a goal of
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| | most receptive to assisting with story
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| sending five query letters out weekly,
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| | ideas and they will make
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| and I have an idea spreadsheet that I
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| | suggestions.Another suggestion is to
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| update with new story ideas, almost on a
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| | start out slow. I made the attempt to
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| weekly basis. I encourage all writers to
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| | break into the bigger markets, only to
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| write goals down. Build an ideas file,
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| | discover the majority of them have staff
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| update on a regular basis, and never give
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| | writers they use. I write for trade and
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| up. Always remember, one editor's
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| | regional magazines, and now I'm writing a
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| rejection will be another editor's
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| | guidebook. The most important suggestion
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| acceptance. It has certainly happened to
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| | I would tell anyone wanting to break into
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| me, and each time, I've submitted that
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| | travel writing is to never give up. A
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| same query, or an updated version, to
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| | writer must keep marketing. Build a web
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| another market.Norm:As you are very
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| | site (or hire someone else to do this for
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| familiar with South Carolina, if you had
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| | you). I am not a web master, so I use
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| to choose eight of the most romantic
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| | resources that will assist me. Carry
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| venues for a wedding celebration,
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| | business cards everywhere, and introduce
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| honeymoon, or romantic getaway, which
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| | yourself as a writer. After all, if you
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| ones would you choose and
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| | don't believe in yourself, how can others
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| why?Barbie:Eight romantic venues in the
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| | believe in you?Norm:Is there anything
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| South Carolina area for weddings would
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| | else you wish to share with us that we
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| be:Any of the beautiful churches in the
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| | have not covered?Barbie:Yes, I would like
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| downtown area of Charleston are romantic
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| | to end this interview by saying you must
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| and stunning for weddings. There are so
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| | move forward and believe in yourself.
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| many that it would be really hard to
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| | Whenever a writer receives a rejection,
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| choose which one, although St. Michael's
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| | move on to the next submission. Once, for
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| Episcopal Church is the one that really
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| | a construction magazine, I sent a spec
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| stands out in my mind.Grace Episcopal
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| | assignment, only to discover the editor
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| Church is another breathtaking beauty for
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| | did not like it. He phoned me stating
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| a wedding. The architecture, statues, and
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| | that he was returning it because it did
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| ceilings are stunning.Sullivan's Island
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| | not meet his needs. I thanked him and
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| Beach I've seen several beach weddings
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| | moved on, looking for another market.
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| along the shores of Sullivan's Island.
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| | Exactly 24 hours later, I received a
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| With the backdrop of the ocean, and the
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| | phone call from the same publication, but
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| sand dunes along the shore, the view
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| | a different editor. He stated he needed
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| makes for a beautiful setting.Alhambra
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| | an invoice to pay me for the story. I was
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| Hall a garden wedding on the lawn,
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| | shocked, stating that only yesterday I
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| overlooking the harbor of Charleston and
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| | was told it was being returned. He
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| our new signature bridge the Arthur
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| | replied that he was the new editor and
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| Ravenel, Jr. Bridge. Many of the weddings
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| | was publishing the story verbatim and he
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| are held on the lawn, decorated with all
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| | needed an invoice.This is only one
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| white chairs draped in white bows,
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| | example of how we must persevere. What is
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| ribbons, and flowers, lining the walkway
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| | one editor's rejection could be another
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| for the bride. One particular wedding had
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| | editor's acceptance. Never give up! Find
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| a red and white theme, a red carpet,
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| | your stories while looking for the unique
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| white chairs and the bridal attendants
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| | characters. Develop your voice and style.
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| dressed in red. This was an afternoon
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| | Listen to what your editors say, but
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| wedding and was gorgeous. At Alhambra
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| | believe in your talent, passion, and
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| Hall, the reception may be held either
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| | ability to communicate. Practice your
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| outside or in the fellowship hall area.
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| | goals, readjust when necessary, and make
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| This building was remodeled after
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| | certain you follow up and practice what
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| Hurricane Hugo and it is a beautiful,
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| | you preach to others.Thanks once again
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| romantic setting for receptions,
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| | and good luck with all of your future
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| weddings, and family reunions. Book it
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| | endeavors.Norm Goldman is the Editor of
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| early it usually has a long waiting
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| | the travel site, and the book reviewing
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| list!Magnolia Gardens Magnolia Plantation
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| | and author interviewing site Norm is
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| and Gardens is another dramatic place to
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| | also a travel writer and together with
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| hold a wedding, especially during the
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| | his artist wife, Lily, this unique couple
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| spring time when the gardens are in full
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| | meld words with art focusing on romantic
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| bloom. There is a beautiful white bridge
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| | destinations.Norm also offers an express
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| serving as a backdrop that makes a
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| | book review service that you can find out
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| gorgeous site, also, a gazebo. Since the
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| | more about by clicking on: under the
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| trend in Charleston is to host a wedding
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| | heading of express review services.
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