Sagacious Teens by J. Thompson Book Feature

Title: Sagacious Teens
Author: J. Thompson
Publisher: iUniverse
Pages: 208
Genre: Fiction
Format: Ebook/Paperback
 Purchase at AMAZON

 Adolescents are wiser than we believe. Today’s youth face multiple challenges—many of which are portrayed in the adolescent drama, Sagacious Teens, that shares a multicultural glimpse into the lives of more than a dozen teenagers from diverse backgrounds. From Carlos who shares a far-fetched story of a weekend gone awry with his friend Ernesto to Richard who is having trouble balancing his girlfriend’s demands with his own needs. Seasoned teacher J. Thompson provides eye-opening insight into how teenagers face problems and learn to deal with them, either on their own or with the help of friends. Carmelita loves two boys – one who is a compulsive liar and another who connects with her soul. Aretha is frustrated with the police and her community’s lack of involvement. Artie and Rich are concerned about a school administrator who claims the students are his responsibility. Rob is upset when a well-liked teacher picks on him for wearing a hoody. Sagacious Teens offers a look into the compelling experiences of a group of teenagers that helps bring awareness to parents, other adolescents, and teachers about the lives, interests, and challenges of today’s youth.

   

J is giving away a $25 Amazon Gift Card!

Terms & Conditions:

• By entering the giveaway, you are confirming you are at least 18 years old.
• One winner will be chosen via Rafflecopter to receive one $25 Amazon Gift Certificate or Paypal Cash.
• This giveaway begins December 8 and ends on December 19.
• Winners will be contacted via email on Monday, December 22.
• Winner has 48 hours to reply.

Good luck everyone!

ENTER TO WIN!

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Angels in Disguise: Stories from America's School Nurses Book Feature

Title: Angels in Disguise: Stories from America's School Nurses Author: Dolores McNany
Publisher: iUniverse
Pages: 166
Genre: Medical/Nursing
Format: Paperback/Ebook
 Purchase at AMAZON

 School nurses serve on the front lines of the everyday struggle for our children’s health, yet they are often perceived as little more than glorified dispensers of bandages. This false perception, held by many parents, officials, and administrators, does a serious disservice to this dedicated group of health professionals. Angels in Disguise tells the oral history of school nursing through the eyes, ears, and hearts of school nurses serving throughout the United States. By sharing their personal experiences, these nurses illustrate their love and compassion and throw the doors wide open on this often-undervalued profession, enabling readers to see into their world and understand how much they truly care for the children they treat. This collection of heartwarming stories offers unique insight into the daily responsibilities and duties of school nurses and serves to raise public awareness of the dedication, leadership, and exemplary pediatric health care provided by the devoted women and men who care for America’s schoolchildren. The sophisticated medical health care required in schools today can only be delivered by qualified professional school personnel, and that challenge is met by having a school nurse in every school facility.

      

Dolores H. McNany, EdD, RN, NJSCSN holds a doctorate in education from California Coast University and worked as a school nurse and health teacher in public and private urban school systems for more than twenty years. She resides in Maplewood, New Jersey with her husband Gene, and enjoys spending time at their summer home with their five children and seven grandchildren.

Dolores is giving away a $25 Amazon Gift Card!

Terms & Conditions:

• By entering the giveaway, you are confirming you are at least 18 years old.
• One winner will be chosen via Rafflecopter to receive one $25 Amazon Gift Certificate or Paypal Cash.
• This giveaway begins December 8 and ends on December 19.
• Winners will be contacted via email on Monday, December 22.
• Winner has 48 hours to reply.

Good luck everyone!

ENTER TO WIN!

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Love is Poetry: My Dreams and A Tribute to My Dad by Charles and Boyd Hooks Book Feature

Title: Love is Poetry: My Dreams and A Tribute to My Dad Author: Charles and Boyd Hooks
Publisher: Xlibris
Pages: 188
Genre: Poetry
Format: Paperback/Kindle

 I DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR…..That was my oath to my god and country in August 1963. I was an infantryman and a paratrooper for the U.S. Army. I fought for my country in Vietnam. After my discharge I was a self contractor and had a son and daughter. To this day that has been my life. Literally no legacy to be remembered by maybe my great or great great grandchildren. Now I need something so if someone asked them who I was, they could prove I was a real person and maybe I’d be noted for something special. I dream constantly and write poetry and would like to publish a memoir. It has to start now at the age of sixty nine as my life has consisted of nothing special to this point. I would like to continue writing and publishing more poetry and a novel. My heart has stopped five times and now I am obsessed in having a legacy to put me in a category where I may be extra special for something. Maybe in thirty or forty years someone may say “OH Yes, I Do Remember Him” He…..??  

GIVEAWAY

Charles and Boyd are giving away one $25 Amazon Gift Card!

Terms & Conditions:

• By entering the giveaway, you are confirming you are at least 18 years old.
• One winner will be chosen via Rafflecopter.
• This giveaway begins December 1 and ends December 12.
• Winner will be contacted via email on Monday, December 15.
• Winner has 48 hours to reply.

Good luck everyone!

ENTER TO WIN!

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The Last Casualty of the Great War by Gregory M. Galvin Book Feature

Title: The Last Casualty of the Great War 

Author: Gregory M. Galvin 

Publisher: iUniverse 

Pages: 250 

Genre: Historical Fiction 

Format: Paperback/Kindle

John Alston quietly wonders what it is about his face that makes other people think he is someone else. Even though he looks nothing like his three siblings or anyone else in his family, in his eyes, he is just a normal middle-aged man trying to make his way in the world. But one day during a chance encounter with a German visitor at the World War I museum, everything changes. John is taken aback as he is introduced to a German man who shares the same features as him. It is as if he is peering into a mirror. Even more odd is that he shares the same first name with the man. After he eventually parts ways with the stranger and his family, John cannot shake his feelings of uneasiness—especially when he learns that his father has just received a letter in the mail, all penned in German. Inspired by the strange chain of events, John embarks on a quest to find answers that lead him to research his own family history, question everything he has ever known, and uncover a shocking truth. The Last Casualty of the Great War is the poignant tale of one man’s journey through history as he attempts to discover his identity and the reality of his roots.

 

Gregory Galvin earned a degree in French language from the University of Missouri at Columbia and a degree in accounting from the University of Missouri at Kansas City. He and his wife are parents of five adult children and live in the Kansas City, Missouri, area.

Crystal Lotus by Jinna Van Vliet Book Feature

Title: Crystal Lotus
Author: Jinna Van Vliet
Publisher: Xlibris
Pages: 129
Genre: Biography/Autobiography
Format: Ebook
 Purchase at AMAZON

 The Harmonic convergence in 1987 launched the awakening of the Mass Consciousness into the realization that human consciousness is rising into a higher frequency. Coined as the Big Shift it created many guidelines to help with this transition process. Crystal Lotus is just one such guide gifted to us by the Divine Feminine Creator Energy through one of her Aspects, the Goddess Quan Yin.

  

A Guide to the Study of Basic Medical Mycology by Kee Peng Ng Book Feature

Title: A Guide to the Study of Basic Medical Mycology Author: Kee Peng Ng
Publisher: Partridge Singapore
Pages: 92
Genre: Medical
Format: Paperback/Kindle

 Mycotic diseases are gaining importance because of the increase in opportunistic fungal infections in patients whose immune systems are compromised. The identification of fungi isolated from clinical material has posed a variety of problems to many laboratories because of lack of expertise and experience, especially in the identification of recently emerged rare fungi that had not been previously reported. A Guide to the Study of Basic Medical Mycology offers an overview of the basic characteristics of fungi frequently isolated from clinical specimens. This comprehensive guide, developed by authors Kee Peng Ng, Tuck Soon Soo-Hoo, and Shiang Ling Na from the Department of Medical Microbiology, University Malaya Medical Centre, Malaysia, details the macro- and microscopic features of each fungus through graphics and illustrations. Including specimens not often found in all teaching modules, A Guide to the Study of Basic Medical Mycology serves to help medical students identify and learn to deal with clinically important fungi and fungal pathogens.

 

GIVEAWAY

Kee is giving away one $25 Amazon Gift Card!

Terms & Conditions:

• By entering the giveaway, you are confirming you are at least 18 years old.
• One winner will be chosen via Rafflecopter.
• This giveaway begins December 1 and ends December 12.
• Winner will be contacted via email on Monday, December 15.
• Winner has 48 hours to reply.

Good luck everyone!

ENTER TO WIN!

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Sahara by Angella Ricot Book Feature - Win a $25 Amazon Gift Card!

Title: Sahara
Author: Angella Ricot
Publisher: AuthorHouse
Pages: 240
Genre: Fiction/Suspense
Format: Ebook/Paperback
 Purchase at AMAZON

 When three sisters overhear their father’s overwhelming deal to sell them into prostitution, they immediately take fate into their own hands in search of their own destiny. They embark on a powerful and compelling journey that takes root in the exotic realm of the Caribbean island of Labadee, later to spring fully fledged in the glamorous cosmopolitan city of New York. Out of the struggle emerges the valiant and beautiful heroine, Sahara, a sensational gold thief who gets herself entangled in sensuous political games and dangerous liaisons. Sahara is a story of love, lust, money, and betrayal that is ingrained with power, politics, and prejudice. The plot spins to a volatile climax that sets the stage for the ultimate scandal in the White House.

     

Angella is giving away a $25 Amazon Gift Card!

Terms & Conditions:

• By entering the giveaway, you are confirming you are at least 18 years old.
• One winner will be chosen via Rafflecopter to receive one $25 Amazon Gift Certificate or Paypal Cash.
• This giveaway begins December 1 and ends on December 12.
• Winners will be contacted via email on Monday, December 15.
• Winner has 48 hours to reply.

Good luck everyone!

ENTER TO WIN!

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It's Your Decision by Ed Grizzle Book Feature

Children are gifts from God, but parenting those children can often be a difficult task. In It’s Your Decision, author Ed Grizzle shows how parenting can be successful when it’s carried out according to God’s plan. Using his life’s experiences as a guide, Grizzle explores the importance of making the right decisions in life—from choosing the right lifestyle and the right mate and to raising children according to what God has planned for you.

It’s Your Decision discusses
 • planning for children;
 • knowing what children need;
 • being aware of the important years in a child’s life;
 • understanding that children will test parents;
 • valuing the role of grandparents; • dealing with abused children;
 • communicating openly and honestly; 
• clarifying family roles.

 Grizzle presents a guide to strengthening lives and making your family life more enjoyable. He shows how this is possible when you accept Jesus Christ into your life; he will show you the way in the difficult times.

Would a Maharajah Sleep Here? by Stephen and Leanne Troy Book Feature

Title: Would a Maharajah Sleep Here?
Author: Stephen and Leanne Troy
Publisher: iUniverse
Pages: 324
Genre: Memoir
Format: Paperback/Kindle

 Inspired by a movie, television show, book, or stories from friends, we may find ourselves daydreaming about trips to exotic locations with exciting adventures. For some lucky ones, these dreams become reality. Would a Maharajah Sleep Here? presents firsthand stories of luxury travel and discovery by two fun and experienced travelers. Authors and travelers Stephen and Leanne Troy provide accounts of historic exploration, luxury hotel stays, and encounters with interesting people around the world. Each trip is private and planned in great detail to make sure each and every adventure is unique and experienced in five-star luxury. Chronicling their exploits at the end of each day, the Troys describe checking into the finest hotels in the world and getting whisked away for incredible tours of some of the world’s greatest treasures. In addition to personal anecdotes, this travelogue shares information about sites, history, culture, and food in countries around the world. The Troys reveal the good, the bad, and, of course, the fun and funny events that they encountered on their trips around the globe.

Stephen Troy earned a BBA from the University of Miami in Florida. He is the founder, owner, and CEO of AeroFund Financial. He is also the author of Business Biographies: Shaken, Not Stirred … With a Twist. He and his wife, Leanne, have visited six continents and more than forty countries. They have three children, two grandchildren, and live in Carmel, California.

One Month Week Day Hour Minute Second by Rebecca Marie Book Feature

Title: One Month Week Day Hour Minute Second
Author: Rebecca Marie
Publisher: iUniverse
Pages: 113
Genre: Self Help/Personal Growth
Format: Ebook
 Purchase at AMAZON 

Abuse knows no boundaries. It doesn’t care if you are rich or poor, old or young. It can enter your life at any time and stay as long as you let it. In One Month Week Day Hour Minute Second, author Rebecca Marie discusses that the key is to release the secrets, talk about the abuse, and take the power away from the abusers. In this memoir, she shares her personal journey surviving sexual and physical abuse, describing how abusive patterns started at a young age, how negative self-esteem continued to grow, and how it ended in her falling in love with a psychopath. One Month Week Day Hour Minute Second narrates how Marie was victimized and lived in daily fear and despair, but discusses how she chose not to remain a victim and took power over her own life. Hoping to break the cycle of domestic abuse one victim at a time, Marie tells her emotional story to call attention to the problem of domestic violence. Her story shows there is hope for others.

    
Rebecca Marie enjoys being a mentor and her goal in sharing her story is to help others see there is hope.

Warrior of the Way by Nathan Chandler Book Feature

Title: Warrior of the Way
Author: Nathan Chandler
Publisher: iUniverse
Pages: 376
Genre: Fantasy
Format: Ebook
 Purchase at AMAZON 

Civil war is a curse that touches everyone, including King Tashdar of the Mulamar. When he is ordered by a powerful and mysterious stranger to send warriors toward Kanai and Kadisha to slaughter everyone, Tashdar has no choice but to obey. As the Hebari emperor’s palace is invaded, only one man escapes—a captain of the guard to whom the emperor has entrusted the safety of his remaining two children. Moments later, the emperor’s legacy is erased from the face of the earth. More than forty years later, Pasha Nuvahli of the Sashramans tribe, greatest of the king’s warriors, is devastated when his wife is murdered and his son is kidnapped. Overcome with despair as war and a dangerous sorcerer threaten the southern tribes, Pasha soon finds himself in a crisis of faith as he ponders why Daiyu has allowed such sorrow to befall him. But after he learns of an ancient prophecy and his hidden connection to the last emperor of the south, Pasha is sent by King Juktan to seek an alliance with the five other Hebari tribes and lead them against an ancient enemy from the north. Suddenly, his life takes on a new meaning. In this compelling story, a worried king looks to his greatest warrior to unify the south with the hope the young soldier can save his people before all is lost forever.

  

 Nathan Chandler received an associate’s degree in technical Spanish translation from Oklahoma State University–Oklahoma City and currently attends the University of Oklahoma, where he is majoring in international business with an emphasis in Chinese language. Nathan resides in Norman, Oklahoma, where he continues to write.

Four Noble Truths by J.D. Buxton Book Feature

Title: Four Noble Truths
Author: J.D. Buxton
Publisher: iUniverse
Pages: 397
Genre: Action/Adventure
Format: Paperback/Kindle

 Dragon is a handsome, passionate and deeply devoted young man with a hidden, horrible past that haunts him into his present life. After suffering unimaginable abuse in a child pornography ring in Taiwan and an addiction to Heroin, Dragon’s only light on a path of darkness is his love, Raven, who more than fulfills his physical and emotional needs. United by the organization that found and ultimately saved Dragon, he and Raven happily bask in the love of an adopted family of lost souls touched by similar pasts that includes their mentor Sensei, and Wax and Sarge, Dragon’s right-hand men. As they execute their missions to explore the underbelly of the world of human trafficking and the sex trade, and serve the purpose of the organization: to right the wrongs, they have no idea the path they are on will lead them to unlock the door to their freedom. In this compelling story about redemption, love and fate, a young man, his love and his devoted team embark on a dangerous journey to execute vigilante justice for one purpose; to seek out and eliminate the perpetrators of the very crimes from which they all suffered.

 J D Buxton was born and raised in Southern Ontario. After graduating from college, she pursued a career in sales and marketing and lived in Vancouver, British Columbia and Calgary, Alberta where she raised her family. She is married with three children and currently resides in Southern Ontario where she enjoys all things equine, country and western music and home cooking.

Four Before Their Time by Timothy Spillane Book Feature

November is "National Prematurity Awareness Month" (Nov. 17 is "World Prematurity Day").There are nearly a half million babies born prematurely in this country every year. 

Title: Four Before Their Time
Author: Timothy Spillane
Publisher: Skitterbird, LLC
Pages: 342
Genre: Memoir
Format: Paperback/Kindle

Anne had it all. She was a physician, an Army officer, and a great wife. She'd be a great mom, too. But the joy of pregnancy is short-lived after an ultrasound reveals that Anne isn't just pregnant, she's really pregnant - with quadruplets! Now her dad, Tim Spillane, is a grandfather four times over, and much too soon. Just 24 weeks into her pregnancy, Anne delivered, and not one of Tim's grandkids weighs more than half a mug of coffee. So underdeveloped that even calling them babies feels wrong, the odds of just one of them surviving - let alone all four - are heartbreakingly low. And even if the children pull through, they face the likelihood of disabilities so severe that they'd have no real quality of life. It all seems hopeless until Tim's wife observes that just seeing the quads is like "being allowed a glimpse into the miracle that grows in a mother's womb." Four Before Their Time is the true story of four babies surviving on a razor's edge, one mom's overwhelming and guilt-ridden entrance into parenthood, and an entire family's experiences with extreme premature birth. It will take all the faith, hope, and resilience the Spillane family can muster - along with more than a few miracles - just to get the quadruplets home.

For More Information

• Four Before Their Time is available at Amazon.

Tim and his wife live in Chester County, PA and are the parents of three daughters. They became grandparents when their daughter, Anne delivered quadruplets in April, 2010. A graduate of Colorado College (1979) with a degree in English Literature, Tim returned to school to earn his Masters of Public Health from Drexel University in 2005. He has worked in residential construction for more than three decades but is now focusing full-time on his writing. He currently serves on the executive board of Graham's Foundation, an organization for parents and families going through the journey of prematurity. 

For More Information

• Visit Timothy Spillane’s website.
• Connect with Timothy on Facebook.

Behind the Taffeta Curtain by Verne Castress Book Feature

Title: Behind the Taffeta Curtain
Author: Verne Castress
Publisher: iUniverse
Pages: 102
Genre: Women's Fiction
Format: Paperback/Kindle

 Clair, a small-town girl attending Iowa State University in 1940, has her palm read for a laugh—and gets a surprisingly specific prediction about her career, marriage, and children. She laughs it off, with no idea of how accurate it will turn out to be. After a failed romance, she hastily marries a man named John, has two children, and very soon finds herself miserable. John is not only abusive and controlling, but also a compulsive gambler. In an effort to support their family, Clair finds work in a nearby department store, and her career in fashion begins. In the sixties and seventies, Clair works her way up through the industry, chipping away at the glass ceiling of a field with far fewer women executives than the ad firms of Madison Avenue at the time. As an executive buyer for numerous retail conglomerates, she travels the globe searching for innovative fashions and meets regularly with iconic designers such as Coco Chanel, Yves Saint Laurent, and Oscar de la Renta. Among the fashion elite living the high life, there are steamy affairs, drugs, and suicides, as tragic elements mark the lives of these women in fashion whose insecurity remains hidden beneath their stoicism. This novel tells the story of Clair’s journey through the fashion world, a single mother contending with the conniving wiles of men and women and facing obstacles in the devious, behind-the-scenes political struggle of those climbing to the top.

Verne Castress retired following a forty-five-year career as a fashion executive, for which she traveled the world in search of innovative fashions for the American market. The mother of two adult children, she currently lives in Scottsdale, Arizona.

GIVEAWAY

Tom is giving away one $25 Amazon Gift Card!

Terms & Conditions:

• By entering the giveaway, you are confirming you are at least 18 years old.
• One winner will be chosen via Rafflecopter.
• This giveaway begins November 10 and ends November 21.
• Winner will be contacted via email on Monday, November 24.
• Winner has 48 hours to reply.

Good luck everyone!

ENTER TO WIN!

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Impure by J.R. Bailey Book Feature

Title: Impure
Author: J.R. Bailey
Publisher: iUniverse
Pages: 272
Genre: Fantasy
Format: Ebook
Purchase at AMAZON

 "As darkness spills down from the north and stains all it touches with sin, a den of vampires known as the Great Citadel reaches out with its snaking hands. A change in the winds is signified by the death of an emperor—and the time for retribution has come. No one desires vengeance more than Koristad Altessor, a young necromancer and son of the legendary Black Guardian. Although it has been nearly twenty years since the Vampire King murdered his father, stole his throne, and then unleashed barbarians upon the defenseless villages of the foothills, Koristad’s thirst to kill the evil king remains unquenched. As he relentlessly searches for the monster and attempts to protect those he loves, Koristad’s own legend begins to take shape. With the powerful Executor Blade in hand, he sets his sights upon the Great Citadel and the Vampire King. But now only time will tell if he is prepared for the terrible secrets he may find there. In this continuing tale, a child of darkness instigates a mission of revenge against the lord of all vampires—a conflict destined to shake the very pillars of hell and test him in ways he never imagined."

   

J. R. Bailey began writing as a child after his first encounter with a typewriter and has never stopped. He is an eccentric dreamer who spends more time exploring the worlds of his imagination than the one at his fingertips. J. R. currently resides in southern Nebraska.

J.R. is giving away a $25 Amazon Gift Card!

Terms & Conditions:

• By entering the giveaway, you are confirming you are at least 18 years old.
• One winner will be chosen via Rafflecopter to receive one $25 Amazon Gift Certificate or Paypal Cash.
• This giveaway begins September 1 and ends on September 13.
• Winners will be contacted via email on Monday, September 16.
• Winner has 48 hours to reply.

Good luck everyone!

ENTER TO WIN!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Guest post from Natsuya Uesugi, author of grydscaen

ABOUT GRYDSCAEN

Title: grydscaen
Genre: Science Fiction/Fantasy
Author: Natsuya Uesugi
Publisher: Xlibris
EBook: 288 pages
Release Date: July 21, 2011

 Follow the lives of the main characters as they come together in the backstory to grydscaen:retribution, the first volume of the grydscaen saga. Faid is tired of life on the run in the Echelons, trying to keep his psychic power in check, he founds the Packrats establishing a safe haven for psychics. As a hacker he uses his jack to support his neurocyne habit. Lino is recruited by the Psi Faction and is sent on a mission to kidnap Faid. Riuho, Lino’s half brother becomes a prisoner of the Elite military and they experiment on him, train him and subject him to mind control, then send him out on a mission. On his return, Riuho is set on escaping and recruits Faid who hacks into the Psi Faction systems. They escape and return to the Packrats leading up to the start of grydscaen:retribution.

Xlibris

The grydscaen series which is set in 2055 in the near future is a microcosm of today’s society. Technology is pervasive and infiltrates the day to day lives of the people recounted in the book. The lead character of grydscaen is Ameliano “Lino” Dejarre who is the son of the Viceroy of the Pacific Territories and a prince. Lino is a clandestine psychic operative of the Psi Faction who’s job is to fight against cyber terrorism and the infiltrations of the Atlantea Federation which dropped the nuclear bomb called the Dionysis Effect on the Pacific Territories.

Lino and the psychic operatives of the Psi Faction are set against the Packrats which are seen as cyber terrorists by the government. The grydscaen series makes a commentary about freedom and anti government actions. Today we have activists and hackers standing up against oppression in various countries. I think that grydscaen gives voice to that fight and shows how things could happen in a world where there are less freedoms and the government rules everyday life.

Psychics are oppressed in grydscaen and I wanted to make a commentary about marginalized groups in society such as the transgender and gay community. LGBT youth also have to face bullying in schools and can have a difficult time adjusting to just being who they are. I wrote grydscaen to provide positive role models to today’s youth and show them that they can be different and still be respected. Bullying is a big problem today in person and online. I remember being bullied in high school for just being who I was and who I liked. This shaped who I am and I wrote grydscaen because I wanted to give back and let gay and trans kids know that they can be accepted for who they are.

The other topic that I touch on in grydscaen is mental health. There is stigma about mental illness that is pervasive in society. One of the grydscaen characters named Sati Ima has schizoaffective disorder but he is a pilot in the military. He just needs to take medication and otherwise he handles his symptoms. There are many people who deal with depression and other mental illnesses that take medication. There should be no stigma to that. I wanted to shed light on this and make it clear that people with mental illness can lead full and fulfilling lives and they should be treated with dignity and respect.

Grydscaen deals with difficult themes all rolled up into a science fiction backdrop. I also talk about LGBT homeless youth in the series as one of the characters Rom who is 16 years old lives on the streets. I wanted to detail the plights of homeless youth and give them a voice that is often not heard. Many people think this is just a problem in the inner cities but there are many cities where gay kids come out and tell their parents and then they are kicked out on the street, or for some reason or another they are running away from abusive situations. Homeless youth need a voice and I just wrote a grydscaen short story which is available on the grydscaen blog called “A Storm’s Coming” which is about Rom the homeless LGBT youth.

Grydscaen makes a commentary about life and marginalized groups in society. It calls for equal rights and equality like the marriage equality initiative that is getting media now. When I was in college I wished that I had strong LGBT role models that I could look up to who would have helped me find out more about who I am. I wrote the grydscaen series to provide this voice for those that might not feel that they were worthy of having a voice or had no means to speak up. Grydscaen shows that a gay teenager can have a position of power and rise up and make a change in his environment for the better. Lino is that character and the grydscaen series revolves around him. I wanted to give him a voice and tell about his struggles and his triumphs. Grydscaen is about respect and being recognized for your talents. I wanted to give back and grydscaen allows me to do that.

There are currently 4 books published in the grydscaen series: grydscaen: utopia, grydscaen: beginnings, grydscaen: retribution and grydscaen: war with a fifth book grydscaen: alliance due to be published this year. I hope that you would take a look at grydscaen and the positive message that it brings for today’s youth.

For more on grydscaen visit http://www.grydscaen.com

The Way to Financial Independence by Pearl Iseabell Roberts

Title: The Way to Financial Independence
Author: Pearl Iseabell Roberts
Publisher: Xlibris
Pages: 48
Genre: Business/Economics
Format: Ebook
Purchase at AMAZON 

The way to financial independence is like building a house. You can't build unless you have a solid foundation. You need to have the desire, the determination, and the goals to become self-sufficient. Be confident in yourself and be motivated. Let's name some of the building materials that you will need: education, as much as you can get, and the learning process never stops. As I converse with people, I find myself saying, "I didn't know that" While learning how to manage your money, also pay off your debts. Have a budget and saving plan. Be disciplined in spending. Don't be wasteful. Take time to get the best for your buck. Learn how to invest. Know what you are investing in and how it will make you money. Do not do risky investment, and do not gamble and be responsible. Learn everything that you can about finance and save, save, save.
 
 Pearl Iseabell Poole Roberts is a born again Christian. I am a widow. I was married for thirty-eight and a half years. I am the mother of three children. My oldest son Walter Leon Roberts is deceased. My second son is Brian Keith Roberts. I have a daughter, Paula Lynette Brown, a son-in-law, Otis Tito Brown and two grandsons, Otis Tyree Brown and Omarie Thomas Brown. I am a retired licensed practical nurse. I worked as a nurse for forty-five years. I worked for one of the largest hospital in Philadelphia, PA and for several nursing agencies. When you retire, you should retire from something to something. So your life will be full. The things that I didn’t have time to do when I was working, now I can do them. I like spending time with family and friends. I am active in my church and other ministries outside of my church. I like to read, watch movies, travel, and play games. I enjoy listening to gospel music and bowling, just to name a few.

Transformational Denistry by Zack Zaibak, author of The Hidden Truth Behind Beautiful Smiles

Title: The Hidden Truth Behind Beautiful Smiles
Author: Zack Zaibak
Publisher: iUniverse
Pages: 152
Genre: Medical/Dentristry
Format: Ebook
 Purchase at AMAZON

 We are often judged by how we look, and the first thing people notice is a smile. In The Hidden Truth Behind Beautiful Smiles, author Dr. Zack Zaibak tells how modern cosmetic dentistry can transform ordinary smiles into stunning gorgeous ones. Dr. Zaibak, honored by the Consumers Research Council of America for the last five years as one of America’s top dentists, discusses important issues relating to dental health and improving your teeth, your smile, and your self-esteem. Dr. Zaibak has been featured on national and local media outlets including ABC, WGN Superstation, Fox and Univision, and has served as an expert commentator for the Chicago Sun-Times. He is also a provider of cosmetic dental care to winners of beauty pageants. People with bright, beautiful, and healthy looking smiles are seen as more attractive, competent, and happier. In fact, a dazzling, radiant smile can make all the difference in romance – as well as career success. In only two visits, you can gain a sparkling white, perfectly shaped, celebrity smile as modern innovations make your dental visit a satisfying, comfortable, and even enjoyable experience. Dr. Zack Zaibak’s all-inclusive book unveils the hidden truth about today’s state of the art choices in cosmetic dentistry for creating smile makeovers and gorgeous Hollywood Smiles, including Lumineers porcelain veneers, Invisalign metal-free braces, teeth whitening, bonding, implants, crowns, bridges, Snap-On Smiles and gum lifts. The health of your teeth and mouth affect the well-being of your entire body. The Hidden Truth Behind Beautiful Smiles reveals the secrets to enhancing your teeth to produce an exquisite, engaging smile that will positively transform your self-image and your life.

   

Transformational Dentristry

Modern dentistry is not what it used to be, and that is extremely fortunate. In today's competitive fast-paced world, first impressions are more important than ever. We instantly judge people by their appearance and the first thing we notice is their smile. Studies show we tend to believe attractive people with beautiful, healthy smiles are more intelligent, competent, trustworthy, and enjoyable to be around. On the other hand, we form immediate negative opinions if a person's smile is unattractive with misaligned, yellowed, or even chipped or missing teeth. Fair or not, this is reality.

Fortunately, today's leading-edge cosmetic dentistry can transform nearly anyone's teeth into a gorgeous, engaging smile more easily and in more ways than ever before! 

It is truly miraculous.

That is not the only significant change. Most people avoid going to the dentist for one primary reason: fear. Specifically, fear of anticipated pain. Yet modern dentistry is practically painless, with all types of new technologies, including lasers instead of scalpels, the Wand- a pencil-like device (rather than traditional syringe) that applies anesthetic so a patient doesn't even feel it, conscious sedation, and even ultrasonic cleaners employing sound waves to clean teeth, instead of scraping.

But most importantly, modern dentistry goes far beyond simply correcting problems such as cavities. Today, we can give you back the beautiful smile of your youth, or a much more exquisite smile than nature ever bestowed upon you.

Leading edge technologies such as Lumineers porcelain veneers, Invisalign metal-free braces, implants, bonding, Snap-On Smiles, gum lifts, and power whitening have advanced cosmetic dentistry to an art form. The results are remarkable and reach far beyond a person's attractiveness. People who have been shy, quickly gain confidence and self-esteem. Many start eating better, exercising at the gym regularly, dressing more stylishly, paying more attention to makeup and hairstyles. Plus, people respond to them better. Top cosmetic dentist report patients often getting long-sought after promotions at work, greater results with clients, and vastly improved romantic lives.

A radiant, dazzling smile is truly a life changer. 

 Zack Zaibak, MS, DDS, is a licensed general dentist in the state of Illinois and one of the top practitioners of advanced cosmetic dentistry in that state. Honored by the Consumer Research Council of America as one of America’s Top Dentists, Zaibak has the latest advanced training and certification in Lumineers, Invisalign, and laser surgery.

Wings That Spread by Ramesh Sangle Book Feature

Title: Wings That Spread
Author: Ramesh Sangle
Publisher: PartridgeIndia
Pages: 202
Genre: Family/Relationship
Format: Ebook
Purchase at AMAZON

 This is the story of two loving souls, Jessica, a Spanish village girl and Aniket, son of the Indian Ambassador to Spain, who first meet at a school competition. As they grow older, they fell in love with each other. But, circumstances forced them to move on with their separate lives and Aniket moves back to India. Tragedy strikes their lives individually and they both loose their loved ones. Can Jessica and Aniket ever be together? Can they be united despite the differences in culture, religion and nationality? Is the whole world just one big happy family?

 

Ramesh is giving away a $25 Amazon Gift Card!

Terms & Conditions:

• By entering the giveaway, you are confirming you are at least 18 years old.
• One winner will be chosen via Rafflecopter to receive one $25 Amazon Gift Certificate or Paypal Cash.
• This giveaway begins October 6 and ends on October 17.
• Winners will be contacted via email on Monday, October 20.
• Winner has 48 hours to reply.

Good luck everyone!

ENTER TO WIN!

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The Actor by Douglas Gardham Book Feature

Title: The Actor
Author: Douglas Gardham
Publisher: iUniverse
Pages: 352
Genre: Fiction
Format: Ebook
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 It is 1991 when Ethan Jones finally wins the role of his dreams in an upcoming, big screen movie. With the envelope holding the script clutched in his hand, he arrives at his California apartment where he can hardly wait to tell his girlfriend the exciting news. But when he finds the door unexpectedly ajar, he has no idea that in just a few seconds, the life he has fought so hard to obtain will be shattered. Eight years earlier, Ethan is attending university in Ottawa, Canada. One evening after seriously contemplating suicide, he finds his way into a club where he meets Mila Monahan, a beautiful acting student who saves him from himself. After he watches Mila rehearse a university play, Ethan catches the acting bug and decides to pursue his own creative passions, causing a collision with his more secure ideals. But when Mila suddenly disappears, Ethan vows he will never stop chasing the dream she inspired in him, believing in a world entirely different from the one he is living in. The Actor is a gripping tale of a young man’s unforgettable journey of self-discovery in overcoming the trauma of a personal tragedy. It is a story of love, hardship, persistence and overwhelming joy where The Actor learns he can portray anything he can imagine.

  

Douglas Gardham is a writer who loves music, movies, and books. He lives near Toronto, Canada, with his wife and dog. This is his first published novel.

Douglas is giving away a $25 Amazon Gift Card!

Terms & Conditions:

• By entering the giveaway, you are confirming you are at least 18 years old.
• One winner will be chosen via Rafflecopter to receive one $25 Amazon Gift Certificate or Paypal Cash.
• This giveaway begins October 6 and ends on October 17.
• Winners will be contacted via email on Monday, October 20.
• Winner has 48 hours to reply.

Good luck everyone!

ENTER TO WIN!

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A Midsummer Night's Scream by R.L. Stine Book Review

Title:  A Midsummer Night’s Scream
Author:  R.L. Stine
Publisher:  Feiwel and Friends
Date of Release:  July 2, 2013
Pages:  256
Received From: Literary Lushes Arc Tours

About the Book

Get ready for laughter to turn into screams in R.L. Stine’s re-imagining of Shakespeare’s classic romantic comedy A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

Everyone knows that Mayhem Manor is cursed. After production on the horror film was stopped due to a series of mysterious deaths, it became a Hollywood legend–which makes it perfect for Claire and her family. If they can successfully finish the film, it should be enough to save their ailing movie studio.

Sure, the old haunted house is creepy, and strange stuff has been happening, but this is Claire’s chance. Her chance to become the movie star she’s always dreamed and her chance to finally convince her friend Jake that she is girlfriend material. Of course, the fact that Jake thinks he’s in love with her best friend, Delia, who is crushing hard on Jake’s friend Shawn, who insists on following Claire around, could be a problem, but Claire is sure she can figure it out. After all, the course of true love never did run smooth.

But once shooting starts, “creepy and strange” morph into “bloody and deadly,” as the lines between film and reality begin to blur…

Review

There is nothing I hate more than having to write a bad review. There are a lot of books that I don’t like for one reason or another, but I can usually find something redeeming about them. I am sad to say that wasn’t the case with A Midsummer Night’s Scream. I don’t even know where to begin. I found it hard to believe that parents would allow their children to participate in a remake of a horror movie that had 3 ‘accidental’ deaths. Who would put their kids in this type of situation, no matter how hard they begged? Being the owners of the film studio, just put them in another film. I found the whole story to be poorly written, with an underdeveloped plot, poor character development, and just overall bad writing.

I have never read anything by R.L. Stine before, but my girls love Goosebumps, Fear Street, and watch The Nightmare Room on tv. Maybe I am just too old (I’m not that old, lol) to get where he is coming from. But, I seriously don’t think so. I can’t find one thing about this book that I liked except the cover, and would certainly tell anyone else to steer clear and pick up something else. It might work for the pre-teen audience, but I wouldn’t even subject them to this one. Maybe I should pick up a Goosebumps book and see if this is typical.

Have you read anything by R.L. Stine that you can recommend? If so, let me know.

About the Author

R.L. STINE is the author of the bestselling Goosebumps and Fear Street series, as well as the stand-alone novel It’s the First Day of School . . . Forever! His adult novel, Red Rain, was described by Douglas Preston as, “Real characters, crisp writing, and a wicked sense of humor . . . ” He lives in New York City with his wife, Jane, and their dog, Minnie.

Living with Heart by L. Reynolds Andiric Book Blitz - Win a $25 Amazon Gift Card!

Title: Living with Heart
Author: L. Reynolds Andiric
Publisher: iUniverse
Pages: 266
Genre: Biography
Format: Ebook
 Purchase at AMAZON

  Reflections from the heart: intimate and provocative An eclectic assortment of sensitive, reflective, and occasionally spiritual short stories relates the experiences of an adventurous seeker and world traveler. Never a mere spectator of life, but always fully participating, L. Reynolds Andiric relays stories of intimate connections with nature and family as well as memorable exchanges with individuals randomly encountered along life’s way. Each tale conveys an insightful experience that broadened not only the author’s understanding of earth’s creatures—animal as well as human—but served to alter how the world is viewed. These accounts implore the reader to also appreciate and preserve the natural world and to cherish, honor, and respect all of humanity, regardless of our differences. Poignant, humorous, contemplative—sometimes a bit tense, these adventures will leave you wondering, What will be next?

A medical laboratory scientist, L. Reynolds Andiric has had a long career in medical laboratory management. She is a world traveler with a love of people and nature and has an astute and sensitive connection to all beings. She currently lives in St. Augustine, Florida, and works as a technical consultant with the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) as part of the PEPFAR Project. She also owns LabCare & Assoc., a clinical laboratory consulting company.

L is giving away a $25 Amazon Gift Card!

Terms & Conditions:

• By entering the giveaway, you are confirming you are at least 18 years old.
• One winner will be chosen via Rafflecopter to receive one $25 Amazon Gift Certificate or Paypal Cash.
• This giveaway begins October 6 and ends on October 17.
• Winners will be contacted via email on Monday, October 20.
• Winner has 48 hours to reply.

Good luck everyone!

ENTER TO WIN!

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The Love Below by Dr. Shereese V. Battle Book Blitz - Win a $25 Amazon Gift Card!

Title: The Love Below
Author: Dr. Shereese V. Battle
Publisher: AuthorHouse
Pages: 216
Genre: Self-Help
Format: Ebook Purchase at AMAZON

Are You Ready For Change?

Read. Reminisce. Receive. Restore.

Ever dated someone and felt the need to take drastic measures to preserve your feelings? 

Yeah, me too!  You want to give more of you, show more of yourself, and open up a little more.  But, you're afraid!  You’re afraid that something so sweet could become so bitter.  So you caution yourself…  See, the beauty in Robot Love is it doesn't have to end!  So, take your time and be mindful of your emotions.  But, keep in mind that, it's OK for one Robot to love, and miss another.

Have you ever received a call from someone and felt the need to go into IMMEDIATE Prayer?

You think, "Lord, should I answer this call?"  Sometimes, you have to push the call-end button.  Quite frankly, I find myself doing it more often.  It’s not because I don’t want to be of service, but it’s hard to help someone who becomes rebellious against assistance.  So, help if you can.  But, know that it’s OK to let him/her go so you can grow.

Remember when you were a kid and had imaginary talks with yourself about growing up?

Yeah me too!  I can still hear my mother saying, “You better stay a child as long as you can.”  Momma told me there would be days when I wish I were still a kid.  And you know what?  “She ain’t ever lied!”  Despite my age, I still need her help.  I never anticipated facing so many challenges as an adult.  From me to you…Just be careful with what you wish.

The Love Below is an empowering, self-help guide for overcoming life-changing situations. This book will also provide practical tools to help reflect on the past by offering essential steps to move toward a healthy future.  Shereese Battle is a certified and credentialed Life Coach, Spiritual Advisor, and Therapist.  Shereese is publisher of Robot Love HeartWrites Publishing (www.robotloveheartwrites.com). She can be contacted atdr.shereesebattle@gmail.com.

 

Shereese Battle, a certified and credentialed Life Coach, Spiritual Advisor, and Therapist, is a devoted woman of Christ, and the mother of two: Chynah (seventeen) and Ayden (five).  Born and raised in Portsmouth, VA, she relocated to California in 2010.  After losing her mother in December 2009, Shereese was broken and shattered.  However, she sought healing and instead of being defeated by grief, she used wisdom and prayer to help ease the pain.  It was during this time that Shereese also had an epiphany, which prompted her to a Holy Spirit-led move across the country.  She knew as long as she had Jesus, she had everything!  This was the beginning of her new life.Since 2010, Shereese has been an ongoing student with Liberty University.  She holds a Bachelors of Science in Psychology, a Masters of Arts in Life Coaching, and she is currently enrolled in Liberty University Seminary School where she is pursuing her Master of Arts in Pastoral Counseling for Marriage and Family.  She has also completed and graduated from two years of ministry school.  In addition, she holds a degree in Developmental Disabilities. Shereese currently resides in Southern California with her children.  She loves devoting her time to things that will add and bring volume in her life.  Her mission is to continue to allow God to use her, bless others unconditionally, and to live every day in appreciation.  It is here where she is focused on creating the change that she would like to see, as well as, growing in her purpose so that she can continue figuring out who she is by becoming a better person.  She loves baking, being creative, playing tennis, traveling, and writing, as well as, meeting new people.  She can be contacted at dr.shereesebattle@gmail.com.

Shereese is giving away a $25 Amazon Gift Card!

Terms & Conditions:

• By entering the giveaway, you are confirming you are at least 18 years old.
• One winner will be chosen via Rafflecopter to receive one $25 Amazon Gift Certificate or Paypal Cash.
• This giveaway begins October 6 and ends on October 17.
• Winners will be contacted via email on Monday, October 20.
• Winner has 48 hours to reply.

Good luck everyone!

ENTER TO WIN!

a Rafflecopter giveaway