Guest Blogger, Donna Cummings: An Interview with My Muse, Endora

Posted on July 15, 2015 by Mae Clair

I’m turning my blog over to my good friend Donna Cummings today, and her very witty, spectacular, beyond-fabulous guest (you’ll understand all of those lovely adjectives in a minute). This post had me grinning in delight, so sit back and enjoy. Oh—and Donna has an awesome treat for you, too, at the end. 🙂

~ooOOoo~

An Interview with My Muse Endora
by Donna Cummings

After I read the great post here from C. S. Boyack about the raven Doubt, I received an unexpected visit from my muse Endora. She was quite inspired by Doubt’s work, and wanted to renovate the writing cave to include room for an entire flock of ravens. She argued that it would help with our “job share” arrangement—the one where she takes all the credit and I get all the blame.

I know the best way to distract Endora from such a crazy notion is to interview her. So I’ve set things up here to look like a stage, because she’s quite the diva, and is more likely to “cooperate” if we make a big fuss.

Let me just do a quick check to see if everything’s arranged the way she likes. There’s an extra comfy chaise longue for her to lay on while she waves her hand disdainfully. Wall-to-wall mirrors so she can admire herself while ensuring I can see that she’s ignoring me. An applause machine on the “Never Quit” setting.

Yep. I think we’re good.

Ladies and gentlemen, Endora really needs no introduction, but she would twist my arm into a pretzel if I didn’t talk about her in the most glowing terms. She’s the one who inspires me to keep writing. (Usually by leaving me with all the work.) She’s the one who makes me try harder. (By sniffing at all the work I do produce.) But most importantly, she’s the one who keeps me laughing. (Because I’d spend all my time crying otherwise.)

Please welcome the lovely and talented Endora!

Me: *waves hand and coughs* That appearing in a puff of smoke thing never fails to impress. Are you sure you aren’t using more smoke lately?

Endora: *reclines on the chaise longue and arranges her flowing skirts* I have no idea what you’re talking about. I never do.

Me: Oh. Well. Uh, thanks for stopping by. I know you’ve got a busy schedule. *rolls eyes and speaks to the audience* I actually have NO idea how she spends her time.

Endora: It’s a full-time occupation just to maintain this level of fabulous. *fluffs hair* If I wasn’t so busy, I might be able to help you out more.

Me: Yeah, I bet it takes centuries to achieve that particular shade of orange—Ouch! I can’t believe you kicked me.

Endora: I was just stretching my leg out. Your chair is closer than I realized.

Me: *grumbles* Well, let’s get started. I’ve got a few questions that were submitted beforehand by audience members. Oh, this is a really good one: “Why are you always so mean to Donna?”

Endora: *sniffs* Pick one that you didn’t write.

Me: How do you know I wrote it?

Endora: Honestly. I’m your muse. I know what you sound like.

Me: I don’t know how. You’re never around. *shuffles cards* Okay, how about this one? “How did you and Donna meet?”

Endora: *speaks directly to the audience in a sugary voice* She was a fledgling writer, and I decided to take the poor darling under my wing—

Me: It was more like a chokehold. Our arrangement actually started when I was struggling with some early writing, and there was this derisive voice in my head that kept comparing my efforts to all kinds of garbage-y trash-like things.

Endora: It’s exhausting coming up with new variations for those terms. I know I make it look easy–

Me: *glares* Okay, next question. “What’s your favorite of all the books Donna has written?”

Endora: She writes books? *yawns* How droll.

Me: “What’s Donna’s best quality as a writer?”

Endora: Oh, that’s easy. The way she keeps giving so much time and attention to me.

Me: This isn’t going quite the way I planned.

Endora: That’s because you’re a pantser. You don’t plot anything out ahead of time.

Me: *grits teeth* Except your demise. I’m always plotting THAT.

Endora: Are we about done? I’ve got a million things to do today. . .

Me: Oh! So that means you’ve looked at the latest WIP? I could use your help with Chapter 5 actually.

Endora: *exhales heavily* Well, apparently I’ve got a million and one things to do now. But I’ve got to work on the important things first. Like figuring out my new theme song. I’ll catch up with you later.

Me: That line is going to be on my tombstone, thanks to you.

Endora: See? I’m always inspiring you. It’s no wonder I’m worn to a complete frazzle. I need to schedule another 52 weeks of vacation just to rest up.

Me: And I’ve got to schedule an optometrist appointment for all the eye-rolling you make me do. Anyway, thanks for showing up today. It was such a surprise. I mean, it was a real thrill—

Endora: *disappears in a huge cloud of smoke*

Me: You can’t even wait until I finish my sentence?! What a witch.

Endora: *disembodied voice* Thank you.

Me: That wasn’t—oh, never mind.

~ooOOoo~

As your reward for enduring Endora, I will be gifting a copy of my latest release, Bad Ex Karma, to each commenter today (up to a maximum of 20). Just let me know what inspires YOU.

~ooOOoo~

Author Bio:
I have worked as an attorney, winery tasting room manager, and retail business owner, but nothing beats the thrill of writing humorously-ever-after romances.

I reside in New England, although I fantasize about spending the rest of my days in a tropical locale, wearing flip flops year-round, or in Regency London, scandalizing the ton.

I can usually be found on Twitter, talking about writing and coffee, and on Facebook, talking about coffee and writing.

Look for Donna at these haunts:
Website: http://www.AllAboutTheWriting.com
Newsletter: http://eepurl.com/LRgT5
Twitter: https://twitter.com/BookEmDonna
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5349107.Donna_Cummings
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/Donna.Cummings.Author
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/bookemdonna/

You can purchase all of Donna’s books, including her ROGUES GALLERY of three wonderful novels at:
Amazon
Barnes & Noble
iBooks
Kobo

62 thoughts on “Guest Blogger, Donna Cummings: An Interview with My Muse, Endora”

carmens007 on July 15, 2015 at 5:32 AM said:

I’m sure, Donna, your muse’s name comes from “endure”.
Your muse, as well as mine, has to endure endless reproaches when we have a writer’s block, and when they aren’t prompt in delivering us with the best and most desired words to fill the pages. We blame the lack of enthusiasm or the blank pages on our poor, hard-working, talented muses. And we never honor their hard work when our books get acknowledgement. But we never fail to criticize their hair color,(orange indeed), or not being at our beck and call at every single moment of the day.

(Whew). My muse has just left the room after she checked what I was writing to you. She kept watching over my shoulder to make sure I’m giving you a piece of ‘my’, I mean ‘her’ mind on the interview.

I laughed so hard I needed a handkerchief!

Best of luck with ‘taming Endora’!
Carmen
http://shadowspastmystery.blogspot.ro/

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- Donna Cummings on July 15, 2015 at 7:26 AM said:
  
  Carmen, I never thought of that connection between “Endora” and “endure”. I like it! And I know just what you mean about that constant watching over your shoulder thing. I guess maybe they want to make sure we’re not misquoting them. LOL I almost dedicated a book to Endora, but figured she’d be even more uncontrollable if I did, so I changed my mind just in time. Whew! Now I’m off to make some coffee for me. Er, us. It keeps us working hard (well, at least one of us. LOL)
  
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- Mae Clair on July 15, 2015 at 1:00 PM said:
  
  Hi, Carmen! So glad you had a chance to meet Endora. Isn’t she a handful? I never tire of listening to her and Donna collaborate, LOL.
  
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Donna Cummings on July 15, 2015 at 7:39 AM said:

Mae, thanks so much for having us here today. Endora knows you’re a big fan, and, well, she can’t stop preening. (She’s a professional preener actually.) And thanks for the fantastic intro to my post. Now *I* can’t stop preening. LOL

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- Mae Clair on July 15, 2015 at 1:03 PM said:
  
  It’s always great to have you and Her Magnificence drop by 🙂
  
  And what a treat you’re offering. I’ve already got my copy of BAD EX KARMA from Amazon but I think a lot of other readers are going to be delighted to discover your particular brand of light-hearted, witty romance!
  
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  - Donna Cummings on July 15, 2015 at 11:27 PM said:
    
    LOL — “Her Magnificence” describes her perfectly. And I hope you enjoy BAD EX KARMA. There should be several LOL moments for you. 🙂
    
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sherry fundin on July 15, 2015 at 9:33 AM said:

A fun post. It was nice to meet Endora. As for my inspiration, it is usually the simple things, a birds song in the morning quiet, a butterfly flitting from bloom to bloom, a flash of thought as I read or watch TV. Thanks for sharing, Donna.

sherry @ fundinmental

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- Donna Cummings on July 15, 2015 at 9:48 AM said:
  
  Thanks, Sherry! I’m glad you enjoyed meeting Endora. 🙂 Those are lovely inspirations you have. I’m always amazed at how those flashes of thought work — usually when I’m despairing of fixing a plot hole. And it’s while I’m looking at or reading something that has NOTHING to do with my story, but somehow my brain sees a connection and gives me the insight I’ve been looking for. 🙂
  
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- Mae Clair on July 15, 2015 at 1:04 PM said:
  
  I love when my muse appears in quiet moments like that. We have wonderful sources of inspiration all around us. Thanks for checking out Donna’s post, Sherry….and for braving Endora 🙂
  
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coldhandboyack on July 15, 2015 at 10:37 AM said:

I write about my Muse, Lorelei, all the time. She gave me the raven of Doubt. Endora is a blast. Thanks for introducing us to her.

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- Donna Cummings on July 15, 2015 at 11:05 AM said:
  
  Thanks for the kind words about Endora. I’ll be sure to pass them on to her. LOL I hope Lorelei gifts you other things too (although the raven of Doubt is hard to surpass!) The best “gift” I get from Endora is when she sniffs and says, “I suppose this part isn’t TOO bad.” That’s what she considers high praise. LOL
  
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  - coldhandboyack on July 15, 2015 at 11:08 AM said:
    
    Easy to say until Doubt defecates on the keyboard. That can stop a writer cold.
    
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- Mae Clair on July 15, 2015 at 1:06 PM said:
  
  So glad you got a chance to meet Endora, Craig. I’m always highly entertained when she visits, Donna.
  
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  - coldhandboyack on July 15, 2015 at 1:42 PM said:
    
    Wonderful post.
    
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- Mae Clair on July 15, 2015 at 1:07 PM said:
  
  Now that would be a LOT of Doubt. Hopefully, the keyboard survives 😀
  
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  - coldhandboyack on July 15, 2015 at 1:43 PM said:
    
    I prefer to call it a load of Doubt.
    
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Sue Coletta on July 15, 2015 at 11:24 AM said:

Ha! What a great skit! These posts are always so fun. Thanks for sharing your blog with Donna. I really enjoyed this post.

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- Donna Cummings on July 15, 2015 at 11:55 AM said:
  
  Thanks, Sue! That’s one good thing about Endora — she’s always entertaining. Now if I could just add “productive” to her job description. LOL
  
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- Mae Clair on July 15, 2015 at 1:10 PM said:
  
  So glad you had a chance to drop by and meet Donna, Sue. And of course, Endora. They are quite a pair, aren’t they? I can vouch that Donna’s writing is as highly entertaining as her blog post!
  
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Daisy Banks on July 15, 2015 at 12:11 PM said:

A very interesting and enjoyable post and I find it fascinating so many people feel their must at or on their shoulder. I wonder if that’s universal.
All good wishes to you Donna and to Endora.

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- Donna Cummings on July 15, 2015 at 12:27 PM said:
  
  Daisy, I’m glad you enjoyed The Endora Show. LOL I wonder if most writers have that sense of the muse over the shoulder — I hope so, only because I won’t feel so odd. 🙂 I worry that it takes away some of our fearlessness, though, so we have to keep moving them back with one arm, telling them they can take a look later. LOL
  
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  - Mae Clair on July 15, 2015 at 1:13 PM said:
    
    I’ve been doing a lot of that “not now, you can look later,” thing, Donna. They are an impatient, pesky sort when they don’t like something though, aren’t they? LOL!
    
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- Mae Clair on July 15, 2015 at 1:12 PM said:
  
  I love when writers do posts about their muses. One of these days, I might have to venture into those waters. too. Thanks for dropping by, Daisy!
  
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  - Donna Cummings on July 15, 2015 at 11:28 PM said:
    
    I bet your muse is as lovely as you are, Mae. You should definitely do a post! Maybe we could have a muse competition one day — like Survivor or something. LOL
    
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aliciacoleman on July 15, 2015 at 2:01 PM said:

Wonderful post, Donna. Great meeting Endora. She’s…something else. I’m usually inspired by music, reading or a quiet evening on the patio.

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- Mae Clair on July 15, 2015 at 7:13 PM said:
  
  Alicia, I’m so glad you had a chance to meet Endora. I wasn’t sure she would lower herself to appear on my blog, LOL, but I feel honored she consented. 🙂
  
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- Donna Cummings on July 15, 2015 at 11:24 PM said:
  
  LOL, Alicia — she is indeed “something else”. I’m a writer and can’t think of any better words to describe her. 🙂 I love your inspirations — all of those work for me too!
  
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stanalei15 on July 15, 2015 at 2:47 PM said:

I think this is the first time I’ve seen a muse interviewed. I could Endora much like another Endore I knew of once. How fun to interact with her as you do, Donna. Thanks for inviting her to visit.

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- Mae Clair on July 15, 2015 at 7:15 PM said:
  
  Endora is a trip, isn’t she? I feel so privileged she agreed to appear on my blog. I’m still hoping she’ll hang around long enough for me to grab her autograph….if she’ll only consent!
  
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- Donna Cummings on July 15, 2015 at 11:29 PM said:
  
  Um, I think Endora invited herself. LOL I’m glad you enjoyed the interview. I’m never quite sure what I’ll get with her — well, except for heartburn. 🙂
  
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coldhandboyack on July 15, 2015 at 5:09 PM said:

Reblogged this on Entertaining Stories and commented:
Someone else gets a visit from her muse. The raven of Doubt even gets a nod.

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- Mae Clair on July 15, 2015 at 7:18 PM said:
  
  Ooo, Endora’s head is going to be swelled larger than ever. As if she didn’t have a huge enough fan base as it is, she might find a few more fawning admirers. They’ll have to get in line behind me, LOL!
  
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  - coldhandboyack on July 15, 2015 at 7:19 PM said:
    
    She deserves her fans. Awesome guest today.
    
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  - Donna Cummings on July 15, 2015 at 11:31 PM said:
    
    Endora is going to be even more insufferable than ever now. LOL I can just hear her telling me she doesn’t have time to work on the WIP because she has to attend to her fans. 🙂
    
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- Donna Cummings on July 15, 2015 at 11:30 PM said:
  
  Thanks so much! The raven of Doubt INSPIRED this post. 🙂 So it’s only fair it should get a nod.
  
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  - coldhandboyack on July 16, 2015 at 7:36 AM said:
    
    Thank you. Your post was loads of fun.
    
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Ali Isaac on July 15, 2015 at 5:55 PM said:

Hilarious, dahling! You and your muse clearly have such a great relationship, I’m quite envious. I always feel so alone when I’m writing.

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- Mae Clair on July 15, 2015 at 7:19 PM said:
  
  Ali, I’m so delighted to see you here again, especially when I roll out the red carpet for Endora. She so likes to make an entrance, and I’m thrilled to have so many friends welcome her!
  
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- Donna Cummings on July 15, 2015 at 11:33 PM said:
  
  Ali, I’m glad you enjoyed our antics. I actually feel alone when I’m writing too, since Endora likes to disappear constantly. She loves to reappear JUST as I’m trying to take a little nap. LOL
  
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merrildsmith on July 15, 2015 at 8:41 PM said:

Great post! It was fun meeting Endora. 🙂

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- Donna Cummings on July 16, 2015 at 8:24 AM said:
  
  Thanks so much! I’m glad you enjoyed her. 🙂
  
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Donna Cummings on July 15, 2015 at 11:34 PM said:

Mae, thank you so much for all the kind words about Endora, and for making her feel like the royalty she believes she already is. LOL Plus I’ll be able to garner more sympathy from everyone now that they’ve seen her in action. 🙂

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- Mae Clair on July 16, 2015 at 12:53 PM said:
  
  I was a nervous wreck having her visit my blog, so worried whether or not it would measure up to her lofty standards. I’m so humbled that she found it acceptable, LOL!
  
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Julie Holmes, author on July 16, 2015 at 10:27 AM said:

What a great post! I love it! It’s so neat to meet other writers’ muses. Endora’s such a diva! Donna, I feel for you. Makes me even more grateful my Muse is more ranch foreman than egomaniac. And, I hear him coming. Gotta go! 🙂

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- Mae Clair on July 16, 2015 at 12:54 PM said:
  
  So glad you had a chance to meet Endora, Julie. I always get a kick out of the post you do with your muse. It would be interesting to see him and Endora together, LOL!
  
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Donna Cummings on July 16, 2015 at 10:50 AM said:

Your muse is a ranch foreman?! Wait! Come back! I need to ask him a question. Lots of them actually. Like can I trade a day of Endora for a month of him. LOL

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- Mae Clair on July 16, 2015 at 12:55 PM said:
  
  Sssh! Don’t let you-know-who hear you say that!
  If she asks….I know nothing! 🙂
  
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~RoseAnderson on July 16, 2015 at 11:56 AM said:

What a fun delivery of an interview! *fluffs hair* 🙂 Best luck, Donna. I’m following from the EQ Blog Party.

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- Mae Clair on July 16, 2015 at 12:55 PM said:
  
  Rose, thanks for visiting. It’s great having Donna’s friends drop in!
  
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- Donna Cummings on July 17, 2015 at 5:19 PM said:
  
  Rose, I’m glad you enjoyed the interview — and your hair looks spectacular! 🙂
  
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Quantum on July 17, 2015 at 10:09 AM said:

Amazing interview.

Endora makes me think of a glamorous film star, reclining on that chaise longue, fluffing her golden locks and stretching those gorgeously enticing legs.

Hey has she invaded my mind!

No no. Physics assures me that it must be the skill of a brilliant word magician to conjure such images ……. err I think! LOL

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- Mae Clair on July 17, 2015 at 12:51 PM said:
  
  Hi, Quantum. Many thanks for visiting my blog during Endora’s visit. i know how much you enjoy Donna’s stuff. I think she totally nailed it with this interview! 🙂
  
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- Donna Cummings on July 17, 2015 at 5:20 PM said:
  
  Oh dear. Now I know where Endora will be hanging out when I can’t find her. LOL She’s going to be stalking you, so she can hear how you weave magic with your descriptions of her. 🙂 We’ve created a monster!
  
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Flossie Benton Rogers on July 17, 2015 at 12:18 PM said:

What delicious laughter the much maligned Endora gifted me with today. Her timing is perfect. Rock on, Donna and Endora! Your words are muse-ic to my ears.

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- Mae Clair on July 17, 2015 at 12:52 PM said:
  
  LOL! Love that comment, Flossie. So glad you got to “meet” Endora. I think Donna has to take her out more! 🙂
  
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  - Flossie Benton Rogers on July 17, 2015 at 12:53 PM said:
    
    ☺️
    
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  - Donna Cummings on July 17, 2015 at 5:25 PM said:
    
    I love taking Endora out — I’m trying to leave her here though. LOL I’m sure she’ll find her way back. Drat. Thanks again for having us here. It was a ton of fun. Even if all the compliments has made Endora completely insufferable. More than usual. LOL
    
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- Donna Cummings on July 17, 2015 at 5:24 PM said:
  
  LOL, Flossie — Endora loves being muse-ic to your ears. I’m not sure I would call her maligned. Maybe malingering? Is that the word that means doesn’t do anything, lazes around, stuff like that? Dang. I actually just described myself today! See what a bad influence she is? 🙂
  
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  - Flossie Benton Rogers on July 22, 2015 at 1:47 AM said:
    
    I guess a malingering muse can work very well indeed!
    
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Kev on July 19, 2015 at 2:08 PM said:

Great interview Mae, btw, I’ve nominated you to take, The 777 Writer’s Challenge. I do hope you’ll accept: http://kevs-domain.net/2015/07/19/777-writers-challenge-oh-my/

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- Mae Clair on July 19, 2015 at 6:32 PM said:
  
  Hi, Kev. Glad you enjoyed the interview. 🙂 I recently did the 777 challenge, but I’ve got more than one project I’m working on so I’m sure I can throw something together. Thanks for the nomination!
  
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