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Book Promo: Temples of Light

Mon, 07 Dec 2009 04:09:00 GMT

About The Temples of Light

A guide to the open-heart wisdom and secret rites of passage of thirteen sacred temples in Egypt

• Provides information on how to thrive as we move from the Piscean to the Aquarian age

• Offers guided meditations and rituals that connect to the ancient power of the Flower of Life, the Djed Pillar, the Ka, the energy body, and more

• Includes a 60-minute CD of a guided journey to the Sphinx and to The Temples of Light

The Temples of Light guides the reader, as the initiate, on a spiritual journey through thirteen of Egypt’s sacred temples--a journey into the sanctuary of the open heart. Each sacred site is a portal to ancient wisdom that can assist the modern-day pilgrim with everyday life issues and struggles--love, purpose, money, and health--and the deeper questions of enlightenment and our divine origin.

Danielle Rama Hoffman opens up sacred rites of passage that historically have been kept secret to forge a relationship with the temples of Egypt as allies and spirit guides. For example, the temple of Sakkara is associated with abundance; the temple of Abydos with remembering. The initiations in this book awaken intuition and the Sahu--the fully realized self--allowing connections to the power, magic, and wisdom of such sacred symbols as the Flower of Life, the Djed Pillar (the backbone of Osiris), the Ka, and the energy body. Hoffman’s guided meditations, rituals, and exercises also raise the reader’s vibration level, as we move from the Piscean to the Aquarian age. Embodying the wisdom of the open heart of these temples imparts a shift in consciousness from fear to bliss, from powerlessness to empowerment, opening the body, mind, and spirit to the infinite possibilities within. The book also includes a 60-minute CD of a guided journey of the Sphinx.

Intuition: Excerpted from The Temples of Light Introduction

“Through the initiations in this book you will open your five senses: eyes (including your third eye, or inner vision); ears (including clairaudience—your ability to hear spirit and the voices of wisdom); olfactory senses (smell); touch (your ability to feel spirit and the subtle realms); and taste; as well as your sixth sense of inner knowing (your ability to have knowledge without having had to learn something or prove it to yourself, you simply know). Egyptian mystery schools also taught the ability to align with consciousness—to form a direct relationship with consciousness so that you can go from a state of not knowing to knowing. The initiate learned how to open psychic doors and tap into higher states of awareness, awakening innate abilities such as healing, renewal, raising consciousness, and magic…”

Go to http://www.divinetransmissions.com/wow/samplejourneysbonus.html to receive two guided meditations for free

These selected Initiations from The Temples of Light book and 6CD set—includes a recording of the “Journey to the Temples of Light—Joining Heaven and Earth,” which is the first destination on your sojourn through Egypt's Temples and “St. Catherine’s Star Gate Initiation—Choosing Peace,” which is the last initiation in the series. The combination of relaxing music and guided imagery deeply engages your imagination and senses to transport you to Egypt so you can fully integrate the heart teachings of each sacred site.

The Journey to the Temples of Light guides you to use your breath to be grounded in your body and to travel through your heart to ancient Egypt, so that the benefits of these initiations are experienced in your body and, more specifically, the benefits elicited spark an alchemical transformation that renews and energizes your heart. In this first journey you meet your guides—Thoth, who records your mystery school experiences in your Akashic Records and Isis, your midwife as you re-member and give birth to your renewed self. You also familiarize yourself with your transportation to the Temples of Light, your felucca, or sailboat, which will carry you from temple to temple along the Nile River. Music: Tom Brighton, Tom Morrison, Native American Flute: Paul Wagner

The guided meditation to St. Catherine’s Star Gate offers the opportunity to live from your heart and to be at peace and lead a life of peace. This beautiful and blissful meditation with enchanting music from Ani Williams, Homage to Hathor imparts the knowledge that All is well. Everything in your life is in a natural ebb and flow. Be at peace with who and where you are. It is simply perfect. Be at peace with what you have; you created it all. Be at peace. Your soul is everlasting. Be at peace. Music: Ani Williams, “House of Horus” from Homage to Hathor,

Temples of Light by Danielle Rama Hoffman, is being offered, along with $3000 in bonus gifts, beginning on December 8th at 12:01 am. We invite you to visit - www.thetemplesoflight.com/promotion and then click on the “order” link, order the book on Amazon and return to the promotional page. Enter your name and email address to reach the bonus page. The bonuses are not available until December 8th.

Book Review: Hos, Hookers, Call Girls...

Fri, 04 Dec 2009 09:00:43 GMT

Hos, Hookers, Call Girls, and Rent Boys:

Professionals Writing on Life,Love, Money, and Sex

Edited by David Henry Sterry and R. J. Martin Jr

333 pp. Soft Skull Press

Hos, Hookers, Call Girls, and Rent Boys is a collection of short memoirs, rants, confessions, nightmares, journalism, and poetry covering life, love, work, family, and yes, sex. The editors gather pieces from the world of industrial sex, including contributions from art-porn priestess Dr. Annie Sprinkle, best-selling memoirist David Henry Sterry (Chicken: Self-Portrait of a Young Man for Rent), sex activist and musical diva Candye Kane, women and men right off the streets, girls participating in the first-ever National Summit of Commercially Sexually Exploited Youth, and Ruth Morgan Thomas, one of the organizers of the European Sex Work, Human Rights, and Migration Conference.

reviews:
NY Press – 8/11/09
“The prose in this volume is fresh and the tales are both heart-rending and hilarious, sometimes simultaneously… What’s most striking about the volume is how relevant these intimate and detailed chronicles are for any reader, whether they’ve sold their bodies or just their souls. It’s not just about sex.”

Daily Beast – 9/12/09
“The book never feels like a naïve glamorization of the industry. ‘Ultimately, the stories in Hos, Hookers, Call Girls, and Rent Boys are all about money, says Sterry. ‘In our culture, happiness means money, a big house, and an expensive car. So when I, as a 17 year old, could make $100 by pleasing an 82-year old woman, that to me was a great American success.’

Bust 10/06/09
“The first hand accounts, interviews, and poems featured in this book are so well written and organized, that the fact that they all center around the exchanging of sex for money falls into the background, and what’s left is an intimate offering of on-the-job gossip and late night horror stories that have you wanting to spend more time with the writer than the three or four pages a pop you’re given with each one.”

The Skinny 11/23/09
“From the big screen to the street, phone sex to stripping, and incalls to escorting… they’ve experienced sex work as an empowered choice, as a living hell, as a drug-fuelled necessity. They cover migration, burnout, criminalisation, violence, keeping secrets, coming out to family, and interactions with clients and colleagues. It delves deep and illustrate the complexities of the writers’ experiences. Alternately eye-opening, funny, moving, and devastating, this book should be required reading for those who still think any kind of sex worker is ‘representative’.”

www.davidhenrysterry.com

Woman-in-Charge: Samantha Chaunce

Wed, 02 Dec 2009 07:35:49 GMT

Hello everyone,

My name is Samantha Chaunce and I am the heroine of Chelle Cordero's novel A Chaunce of Riches. Now you may be saying to yourself, "Ugh, she's just a fictional character." - but I do think I am a pretty interesting woman. So when Chelle suggested that I introduce myself, I thought it would be pretty cool.

So, here's the list of questions Chelle gave me and my answers:

What kind of work do you do?

I inherited a publishing empire from my late husband Julian Chaunce. Fortunately Julian taught me quite a bit about the business. He even sent me to school for an Associates Degree in Business Management. Julian made sure that I applied everything I had learned in school to the office. Julian's right-hand man is now my personal assistant, Lloyd Rickker. I really lean on Lloyd when I need to, he knows the business so well.

What about your home life?

Most importantly, I am a mom to a fantastic eight-year old boy, Phillip. As I already alluded to, I am a widow. Julian was several years older than me and he passed away rather unexpectedly.He was a kind man and treated me nicely. He was a very good father to Phillip and would have done anything for him.

Our home is quite large and luckily I have a good staff to take care of it. Especially since I am busy with the office and spend as much time as possible with Phillip, it's nice to have someone else do the cooking and things.

Did you know that you were going to have such a lavish lifestyle and go into publishing?

I had no idea! Let's just say that there were a lot of circumstances that put me where I was throughout my life; circumstances I really had no control over.

Like any little girl I had fanciful dreams of becoming a ballerina or an astronaut - it really depended on what day of the week it was. But that changed when I was only six and my parents were killed in a car accident. I was put into foster care and I don't think I let myself plan much beyond that.

There was only one dream I had growing up in that foster home, which by the way was a very happy and loving place. One of the other foster kids and I became quite close, actually we fell in love with each other. We planned to be together forever. But again, I had no control over the circumstances... Ben and I were in a terrible car accident.

After that I married Julian. And yes, as Ben accuses me in the story, I did marry Julian because he was rich. Julian's wealth was going to make a lot of things happen for me.

How does Ben come back into your life?

After Julian's death, we started getting threats against me, my son and the company. Lloyd recommended that I hire private security for protection. I wasn't really worried about myself, but I certainly didn't want anything to happen to Phillip.

Very much to my surprise, Lloyd hired "the best" from a local security outfit and, as you might imagine, I was shocked when Ben Johnson came walking in. At first Ben wasn't going to take the job, but when he met Phillip and understood my fear for my little boy, Ben signed on.

Wow! That was a real shocker! So what happened then?

Well you really should read the book for the details, but I can tell you that the threats were real and I never, ever expected the source. Thank goodness for Ben.

Can you describe yourself?

I think I look a little bit like that actress Meghan Fox except with shorter hair.

What does Ben look like?

Oh, he is still a hunk! He always was incredibly handsome.

Okay, where can we read all about you and Ben? Where can we buy A Chaunce of Riches?

A Chaunce of Riches is available in print or in multiple format ebook versions.

in print from Amazon - A Chaunce of Riches

Kindle edition - A Chaunce of Riches

from Smashwords (ebooks) A Chaunce of Riches Just $5.99 USD!

A Chaunce of Riches
by Chelle Cordero and published by Vanilla Heart Publishing on October 31, 2009
Ben Johnson was hired as a bodyguard for a rich widow and her kid, but he never expected to be working for the woman who had abandoned him just when he had needed her the most. Damn it all, he still wanted her. Samantha Chaunce never thought she would have to explain why she married the rich man instead of Ben. Or that her husband had been murdered...and Ben was the prime suspect.

Vanilla Heart Publishing Ebook and Kindle Catalog December 2009

Tue, 01 Dec 2009 19:02:24 GMT

Vanilla Heart Publishing

EBOOK CATALOG

With Direct Links to Book and Author Pages

ALL FICTION EBOOOKS

$5.99

in any device reader format including PDF for PC and Mac, Sony EReader, Mobi (Kindle), Aldiko and Stanza, Epub, iPhone apps, and Plain Text

all Kindle editions $5.99 at Amazon

Sabbath's Gift by Marilyn Celeste Morris
Ebook Price: $5.99 USD

When New York writer, Joanna Elliott, flees her abusive husband to the Texas Hill Country, she and her six-year old son, Jason, unwittingly become a killer's prey. Despite Realtor Tommy Joe Greenleaf's warning that Wanda and Ralph Spencer had mysteriously disappeared from the remote farmhouse ten years earlier, Joanna moves in, and makes the sunroom into her office. Joanna adopts a cat from the local veterinarian, Sam Kelly, who tells her that Sabbath "had belonged to a witch." Unexplained events unfold: Joanna is locked overnight inside the storage shed, footprints appear under the sun room windows, and Jason's dog, Mournful, is found poisoned.

The Baby River Angel by Robert Hays
Ebook Price: $5.99 USD

When Birdie Wilson and his two boys find a baby floating in a basket on the Ohio River, they can’t begin to imagine the impact their discovery is to have on their little town of Cambria. Accepting Birdie’s dictum that the child welfare people will name her “Baby Jane Doe” and lose her in their impersonal system, the townspeople, led by Mayor Johnny White, set out to keep the baby a secret from authorities and take care of her until they find out who she is... and where she came from.

Complementary Colors by Kate Evans
Ebook Price: $5.99 USD

What happens when a 31-year-old straight woman falls in love with a lesbian? Gwen Sullivan is agitated. Married and divorced and now, living with her scientist boyfriend. She hopes taking a night class in poetry might help. In the class, the allure of two lesbians takes her by surprise. She can't get them out of her mind. This prompts her to question who she is—and who she wants to be.

A Chaunce of Riches by Chelle Cordero
Ebook Price: $5.99 USD

The day that Ben Johnson was hired as a bodyguard for some rich widow and her kid, he never expected to be working for the woman who had abandoned him just when he had needed her the most so many years before. Damn it all, he still wanted her. Samantha Chaunce never thought she would see him again. She never thought she would have to explain why she married the rich man over the man she had sworn she once loved. And she certainly never expected to find out that her rich husband had been murdered and fingers were pointing to her former lover.

Sabbath's House by Marilyn Celeste Morris
Ebook Price: $5.99 USD

Best selling author Joanna Elliott and her growing family are looking for another house because, quite frankly, finding bodies in the cellar and a psychotic old woman kidnapping her son were not events conducive to bringing her new child into the world. She discovers a charming old Victorian mansion owned only by women of the Emily Harris family, but the remaining heiress has no descendants to inherit. Once the family moves in, however, psychic black cat Sabbath encounters spirits determined to continue the legend, once again putting the family in peril.

Jock Stewart and the Missing Sea of Fire by Malcolm R. Campbell
Ebook Price: $5.99 USD

Mainstream humor with a dash of mystery... Jock Stewart is a mix of Don Rickles and Don Quixote, Stewart is the man for the job when the skirts are up and the chips are down...

Conquering Venus by Collin Kelley
Ebook Price: $5.99 USD

In the summer of 1995, young American writer Martin Paige agrees to chaperone a group of high school seniors on their graduation trip to Paris as a favor to his best friend, teacher Diane Jacobs. Diane hopes Europe will act as a catalyst to lift Martin from his grief following the suicide of his lover, Peter. The trip proves to be so much more...

Beast Warrior: Viking Werewolf by Eva Gordon
Ebook Price: $5.99 USD

Beast Warrior is an historical paranormal romance that takes place during the Viking Era of the Dark Ages. A time when only the strong survive. It is the second book in the Wolf Maiden Chronicles, which depicts alpha lycans and their human wolf maiden mates.

Hostage Heart by Chelle Cordero
Ebook Price: $5.99 USD

Life was hard after the hurricanes swept through, destroying her parents' home and livelihood... An errand for her boss - a chance encounter with a crew of bank robbers - a kind man who tried to help her ... a man who isn't all he seems...no, he is so much more.

Falling for Autumn by Sandy Nicks
Ebook Price: $5.99 USD

Starting over feels like the end when thirty-nine year old Autumn Winters has to say goodbye to marriage and her college-bound son, and hello to finding a job and being single.Her mother, who has a penchant for all things cosmic, insists an aura cleansing will solve her daughter’s problems. Autumn doesn’t believe in any of her mother’s new age antics...

Deadly Demented by Jeffrey Martin
Ebook Price: $5.99 USD

Vengeance is the itinerary of a man obsessed. Lucifer’s returned and his collection is awaiting its finest addition. Homicide Detective Kelli Jordan is called to investigate a grisly murder at a local gentleman’s club, and discovers a truth so revealing it leads her to seek out someone who is familiar with how the killer operates. Will they end the madman’s reign of terror?

Werewolf Sanctuary by Eva Gordon
Ebook Price: $5.99 USD

Werewolf Sanctuary, an action packed romance between an alpha male lycan, and his wolf maiden. The first in a series titled, The Wolf Maiden Chronicles, each depicts historical romances between alpha Males and their human wolf maidens.

Lonely Soul by Mary Quast
Ebook Price: $5.99 USD

The eldest of the McAlister siblings is responsible and always putting his brother and sister before himself. Now that Erick and Elizabeth were enjoying their married lives, the time had come for Michael Casey McAlister to find his soulmate. A man with a deep sense of family and honor, yet at times could be manipulative and very controlling, always doing what he thought was best for others.

Final Sin by Chelle Cordero
Ebook Price: $5.99 USD

Deputy Sherriff Commander Jake Carson has his hands full... investigation of a brutal multiple homicide, a troubled son and a vindictive ex-wife. He meets young, free-spirited paramedic Julie Jennings. When Julie becomes the subject of an obsession, it puts both of them in danger...

Three Weeks Last Spring by Victoria Howard
Ebook Price: $5.99 USD

Skye Dunbar needs to get away… to a small cabin in Washington State’s San Juan Islands… the last thing she expects is to be accused of computer hacking. Marine biologist Jedediah Walker is called in to investigate dead marine creatures washing up on the beaches. He has another problem – an unexpected, beautiful and suspicious new tenant renting his cabin.

Ten Times Guilty by Brenda Hill
Ebook Price: $5.99 USD

Tracy Michaels grew up believing her step-father when he said she wasn't good enough, smart enough, or pretty enough. Now a single mother, she works hard just to survive. She wants more for her life, more for Ritchie, her baby son, and then. one night, her entire world shatters. She's beaten and sexually attacked. She survives, but he's watching her, threatening her son...

My Ashes of Dead Lover Garage Sale by Marilyn Celeste Morris
Ebook Price: $5.99 USD

"This collection of columns from Marilyn Celeste Morris' newspaper column is often hysterically funny, sometimes historically poignant, and always entertaining." ... Christina Fenton

The House on the Shore by Victoria Howard
Ebook Price: $5.99 USD

This visually magical tale takes the reader on a journey from the remote shores of Loch Hourn in the Scottish Highlands to the singular beauty of Cape Cod. When Anna MacDonald leaves Edinburgh to find peace in the Scottish Highlands, she gets a twofold surprise: a lost sailor teaches her to love again...while a mysterious stranger has plans to kill her.

Forest Song: Little Mother by Vila SpiderHawk
Ebook Price: $5.99 USD
In this volume, Judy reluctantly moves from her teacher’s house into a home of her own. She helps the forest denizens hide Jewish refugees fleeing Nazi Germany and in the process finds a new way to relate to her mother, learns to count on and honor her powers, rescues a friend from Dachau, and discovers sexual love. In the end she becomes a mother in an unconventional way.

Chatelaine by Kelsey Chasen

Ebook Price: $5.99 USD

A story of lust, love, laughter, and lashes. Join Scott, Master of SKY Ranch, and his submissive and strong-willed wife, Kyra, as they explore the romantic world of dominance and submission, the dark, heated nights in the dungeons, and the spine twisting passion of erotic fulfillment with the loving family chosen, not inherited, as they embrace their passions and build their romantic world.

The Life and Death of Lizzie Morris by Robert Hays
Ebook Price: $5.99 USD

Life is good for Bradley Morris, except for the nightmares and horrible memories of long-past days in combat. With his beloved wife Lizzie at his side, he travels back to the battlefield in Sicily and finds that facing his demons head-on helps bring peace of mind. But now he faces a far more painful situation: the potential loss of Lizzie, … in good health one minute and near death the next.

Tormented Soul by Mary Quast
Ebook Price: $5.99 USD
Erick McAlister is known as London’s Most Dangerous Bachelor; he enjoys scotch, women, and spending time in the London underground club, The Skunk’s Den. Now, he wants so much more…

Courage of the Heart by Chelle Cordero
Ebook Price: $5.99 USD

Courage of The Heart shows us that sometimes love is the only cure for the very deepest of emotional wounds. The story of the two lovers takes a series of unexpected and fast paced turns where lives, sanity and love are put in jeopardy. Their commitment to one another results in a spirit that binds them together and helps them to overcome physical and emotional dangers.

Beyond the Quiet by Brenda Hill
Ebook Price: $5.99 USD

Beyond the Quiet shares the story of one woman's struggles though bitterness, loss, and betrayal, learning to cherish each moment and follow her long-buried dreams. It's the story of how a quiet, passionless widow becomes spirited enough to climb onto her lover s shoulders for a piggyback ride... in the nude.

Loving Her by L.E. Harvey
Ebook Price: $5.99 USD

Loving Her is a collection of short stories celebrating love and life between women; each story tells a story, and together, they create a depth and understanding of women's love for each other and for life. Loving Her shares the stories of remarkable and ordinary women- women learning to love and women making a difference, all while managing the world around them...as lovers do.

Finding Kylie by Kimberly McKay
Ebook Price: $5.99 USD

What if... after laying your mother to rest, the mother who has been the only real family you ve ever known, you discover her secretive past in a set of hidden journals? What would you do if she was the only link to the father you never knew?

Within the Law by Chelle Cordero
Ebook Price: $5.99 USD

Tom gave up on ever falling in love again the day that he buried his high school sweetheart and fiancé. He started a career in law enforcement just so that he could find her murderer and rapist. Just when he is about to see justice done, he meets Alli Davis-the defense attorney for the murdering rapist who took his love from him.

Lucifer's Calling by Jeffrey Martin
Ebook Price: $5.99 USD

Lucifer is his name... creating masterpieces and autographing the dead is his twisted protocol. Detective Jeffers familiarity of the criminal mind is certain to be tested, as Lucifer decides to pinpoint someone close to Jeffers to add to his collection. Will the intelligent and devious killer be caught, or slip back into the darkness undetected?

Forces of Nature by Marilyn Celeste Morris
Ebook Price: $5.99 USD

"An edgy, well-written suspense by the same author as the wonderful The Women of Camp Sobingo, Forces of Nature has everything from thriller and horror to romance and human foibles... Each of the characters resonates with the reader with depth and clarity, all while making an entertaining evening's reading..." -Carl Benson, fan

Circles in the Water by Robert Hays
Ebook Price: $5.99 USD

Whatever else this story may be, it is primarily one of young love of childhood sweethearts in a setting both charming and ugly, and the young man and woman they become. It interweaves their contemporary lives with the chronicle of their early years as part of an inseparable foursome of troubled youth and the tragedies that befall their comrades, DJ and Ray-Gene.

Homesong by Misha Crews
Ebook Price: $5.99 USD

At its heart, Homesong is the story of a small town: its lies and truths, its beginnings and endings. It's about proud secrets, unrestrained joy, and the old adage that you may leave your home, but it never really leaves you.

For the May Queen by Kate Evans
Ebook Price: $5.99 USD

“In the tumultuous way of Go Ask Alice, so Kate Evans captures the nightmarish chaos of a young woman’s attempt to find her way amid too much freedom, too much sex and too many drugs.” — Martha Engber, Growing Great Characters From the Ground Up: A Thorough Primer for Writers of Fiction and Nonfiction

Forgotten by Chelle Cordero
Ebook Price: $5.99 USD

Forgotten is an unforgettable romance about two people who meet by chance, love by choice and are torn apart by intrigue. Their romance survives a foreign threat to national security, kidnapping, personal tragedy and a murder attempt.

The Second Season by K.D. Richardson
Ebook Price: $5.99 USD

From troubled hometown youth, to a 1960's Major League Baseball All-Star, to homeless man lacking any previous memories, The Second Season chronicles the troubled life of William 'Sonny' Wilson. Sonny's best friend, Russell Henning, gives this first-person narrative of the life and times of a young man from a severely dysfunctional Maysville, Kentucky home.

Yearly Harvest by Ryan Callaway
Ebook Price: $5.99 USD

Jin Duyen, who often writes articles for prominent magazines, is assigned to do a story on the origins of Christmas' many traditions. After some research, she traces them back to Selah, a remote town in the Midwest. Jin travels there in hopes of finding something interesting for her article, and finds so much more...

Painted Soul by Mary Quast
Ebook Price: $5.99 USD

Painted Soul is the debut novel of the ‘Soul’ series... A contemporary romance with a twist, Painted Soul is a story that takes the reader on a wonderful ride in an artist’s life, through the streets of London, and into the shadows of the underground.

The Women of Camp Sobingo by Marilyn Celeste Morris
Ebook Price: $5.99 USD
Four women of diverse backgrounds form a bond… Their experiences in a far-flung military compound strengthen three of the women, but a fourth chooses to end her life there. A reunion twenty-five years later reveals long-held dark secrets and sorrows … The Women of Camp Sobingo shares the story of four women; friends who share the life of army wives in a strange land, with husbands who serve.

Saving Amy by Sarah Natalia Lee
Ebook Price: $5.99 USD
Seventeen-year-old Emma watches her beloved mother die, then relocates across the country with her three sisters into the care of a father who abandoned them all… As if that weren't enough to drive a teen around the bend, potentially fatal threats materialize from a graveyard. But one of these “undead”, Amy, is different, her deep friendship and love transform Emma's soul…

Bartlett's Rule by Chelle Cordero
Ebook Price: $5.99 USD

Bartlett's Rule shares the story of Lon and Paige's love affair; a romance filled with hardship, emotion, danger and triumph. Falling in love was never the challenge; being there for each other, knowing just what to say and making it work is the real test. Paige and Lon are real; they are human, they cry and they laugh. Paige has to learn to trust. Lon has to learn to be patient.

The Cabin by Smoky Trudeau
Ebook Price: $5.99 USD

Historical fantasy, with a hefty dose of romance thrown in. James-Cyrus Hoffmann has just inherited his grandfather’s farm, and with it a mysterious cabin deep in the woods on Hoffmann mountain; a cabin he has dreamed about since childhood. When James-Cyrus enters the cabin, he is vaulted back through time to the Civil War era, and into a world of mystery...

The Tamale List by Brian Naranjo
Ebook Price: $5.99 USD

There goes the neighborhood! What happens when a Hispanic family moves onto a well-established white Midwestern cul-de-sac, dropping their language and culture into the vacated house of a popular widow? The answer will surprise you, and is found in The Tamale List, a light-hearted look at friendship, family, racial stereotypes and the way these elements can make or break a neighborhood…

Forest Song: Finding Home by Vila SpiderHawk
Ebook Price: $5.99 USD
The story of Judy Baumann’s struggle to escape to her true home in the woods and to grow into her power there. A cast of magical characters, including a witch, the witch’s consort, a family of fairies, an ancient oak, and a bevy of animals each help her in this enterprise.

Redeeming Grace by Smoky Trudeau
Ebook Price: $5.99 USD

Smoky Trudeau has written a book of love...marital love, love of family, love of nature and the land. But that love is threatened by the insane love of an old man for his jealous god. Long-suppressed secrets erupt into nightmares, a tornado strikes, and an unspeakable crime is committed. An unlikely hero saves the day and we see how authentic love does indeed conquer all things.

Hidden Passages: Tales to Honor the Crones by Vila SpiderHawk
Ebook Price: $5.99 USD

Hidden Passages is a collection of eight finely crafted stories about strong, loving women in the midst of their crone years, celebrating life and sharing their wisdom, courage, and passion with other women, old and young. Vila SpiderHawk’s stories celebrate crones in a way that makes the reader feel and remember their own memories of women in their lives.

Book Promo: More Than Meets the Eye

Mon, 30 Nov 2009 18:21:00 GMT

Are You Afraid of Dying? Do You Need Comfort After the Loss a Loved One? More Than Meets the Eye, True Stories about Death, Dying, and Afterlife is for people who are facing challenges presented by bereavement, hospice care, and after-death communication.

More Than Meets the Eye shares true stories and sheds light on euthanasia, suicide, near-death experience, hospice care and much more. Spirit visits by a deceased loved one are very common and show how we are still connected even after we leave the body behind. You'll find comfort and peace about the mysterious process of transitioning back to God/Source in this delightful exploration into the unknown by an author who openly shares her soul. A welcome blend of intrigue, courage, and adventure that will open your mind, calm your spirit, alleviate your fear of death and lighten your heart.

More Than Meets The Eye
By Yvonne Perry

Author bio:

Yvonne Perry is a freelance writer, editor, speaker, and the owner of Writers in the Sky Creative Writing Services. Her team, based in Nashville, Tennessee, provides all types of writing and editing for businesses and individuals. Perry is the author of a dozen books and enjoys sharing her marketing, writing, and editing experience with others.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Important links:

An informative blog about death, dying, bereavement, and afterlife http://deathdyingafterlife.blogspot.com/.
Search inside the book: http://www.amazon.com/dp/0975387065/
Subscribe to the RSS feed for the blog about death, dying, and afterlife

~~~~~~~~~~~~
A short excerpt:

There are many commonly held views regarding death and the existence of an afterlife. Some Westernized Americans view death as a fearful tragedy, the end of a life, a sad finality. Most view it as a separation between the physical and non-physical realms. In contrast, the Ancients grieved when a baby was born and rejoiced when someone died. Regardless of our religion or culture, most of us are curious about where we came from, and what our existence after death might hold.

Our physical body is not who we are. It is only the container or vehicle for our soul. When we see someone riding a bus we know that they still exist even when they get off. It’s the same with us. We exist regardless of whether we have a physical body or not. Like photosensitive eyeglasses that turn dark in the sun or transparent in the dark, a soul may choose to alter its expression or change its appearance in order to better suit its needs. Removing the limitations of a gravity-bound human body allows the soul to travel in spirit form and complete tasks in another dimension. Be assured that if your loved one has passed on, they are in spirit form and they have work to do in other worlds and realms. They are likely to be near you even though you may be unaware of their presence.

The point of this book is not to persuade you that one way is correct or incorrect, or to create a new doctrine, but rather to offer information and insight that may assist you in creating your own beliefs about this mysterious process of transitioning back to God/Source. Many people refuse to consider any explanation that doesn’t match the viewpoints they already own. If you are convinced ahead of time (like I was years ago) that something is or isn’t true, you will be tempted to find data that substantiates your belief. Therefore, I encourage you to keep an open mind and consider the ideas presented in this book as if you were in your car, curiously trying out a new road to see where it might lead. You may find that it brings you to a new or better understanding of death and afterlife. You may discover a road less traveled, and realize it was running parallel to your familiar route all along. Perhaps you, too, will see more than meets the eye.

Valle Pintato Writing Contest: Deadline Dec 15, 2009

Sat, 28 Nov 2009 06:50:00 GMT

A picture is worth a thousand words, as they say, and that is your assignment.
Well, more accurately, 500 — 600 words.

Write about the photo art, Valle Pintado by Aggie Villanueva. Study the image, Valle Pintado means painted valley, and then write a story that this photo art inspires. You don’t have to write only fiction. Enter an essay if that’s what this image inspires in you. (No poetry please)

Go to http://www.visualartsjunction.com/?p=3585 for complete details about this contest.

The winner gains triple exposure on Aggie Villanueva’s three sites, and a post on the blogs of
our prestigious panel of judges.

open only to unpublished and amateur writers

Woman in Charge: Smoky Trudeau

Wed, 25 Nov 2009 05:22:00 GMT

Meet Smoky Trudeau

editor, author, teacher...

Smoky lives in California with her husband, daughter, and a menagerie of animals, both domestic and wild, in a ramshackle cottage in the woods overlooking the San Gabriel Valley and the San Gabriel Mountains beyond. When she isn't writing, she spends her time hiking in the mountains, camping in the Sierras, splashing in tide pools, and fighting the urge to speak in haiku.

Can you briefly describe your job/position? Tell us a little bit about your company.

My passion, of course, is writing books. My day job that supports that passion is my work as a writing coach, editor, and book doctor. As a writing coach, I help aspiring writers with the basic fundamentals of fiction writing, like writing compelling dialogue and setting descriptions that paint a color picture in the mind of the reader. As an editor, I take a finished manuscript and go over it with a fine-toothed comb, making it the cleanest manuscript it can be, preparing it for the author to submit for publication. As a book doctor, I help authors who have a manuscript that needs a little more help beyond a basic edit. This is a service for writers who perhaps didn’t study writing before writing their books, and therefore made mistakes that would keep the book from being accepted for publication but are fixable.

I also teach an online fiction writing class. Students can take it individually—one-on-one with me. It’s a ten-week class. At the end of ten weeks, the student will have a complete chapter for a novel or a complete short story, depending on where they want to focus their energies. Right now, we’re trying to put together a group class. Students will be able to interact with other students and have the opportunity for group critique as well as feedback from me. Information on the workshop can be found on my Website.

How long have you been in this position? Did you move into this spot from another position in the same company? What did it take to advance to this spot?

I’ve been a professional writer for nearly twenty years. I’ve been teaching writing for about ten, and editing and book doctoring nearly that long. I love teaching. I love mentoring aspiring writers and helping them make their dreams of becoming published come true. Being a writing coach and editor is a natural way to do this. Many of my students have gone on to have stories and books published. Another Vanilla Heart author, Robert Hays, is a former student of mine, as are several contributors to Vanilla Heart’s Arms Wide Open anthology and the upcoming Nature’s Gifts anthology.

What kind of education or training do you have? Was this current position a goal of yours? What were your original career goals?

I’ve always been a writer, since the time I was a small child and started keeping my first diary. I didn’t seriously consider making a living with words, though, until an unfortunate encounter with a lightning bolt nearly killed me. My degree is in psychology, and up until that time I’d been in graduate school studying to be a clinical social worker. The lightning left my body horribly broken, but my mind was just fine. I began freelance feature writing at that time, because it was something I could do when I was healthy enough and forego when I wasn’t well.

But my dream was always to write books. The day my first novel, Redeeming Grace, was published was one of the happiest of my life. Since then I’ve published a second novel, The Cabin, as well as two writing books. My Observations of an Earth Mage will be published in the spring. This is a collection of my nature writing and poetry. I have a deep passion for nature, and having the opportunity to share that love through this book is truly an honor. I’m also finishing up my third novel, The Storyteller’s Bracelet. No publication date set for that one yet, but it will be sometime next year.

What advice would you give to a young woman who might be looking at your type of position/career in the future?

First, study your craft! I get very frustrated by people who, upon learning I’m an author, say, “Oh, I’m going to write a book when I retire/have time/quit my day job/whatever.” I’m always tempted to reply, “And I’m going to become a brain surgeon when I retire/have time/quit my day job/whatever.” People assume because they can write—meaning, they can put together a subject and verb to form a sentence—that they can write. Rarely is that the case. Fiction writing is an art form that must be studied and learned, like any other art form. Beginning pianists don’t sit down at the piano and play Chopin or Liszt. Beginning painters don’t create something akin to Van Gogh’s Sunflowers or Picasso’s The Guitar Player.

Second, follow your passion. If you want to write, write! Successful writers are those who write because they can’t not write. They don’t do it for fame, or for money (which is a good thing, because these things elude some of the finest writers). I hate seeing talented writers give up on their dreams because they don’t make the time for themselves to write. You don’t want to look back when you are ninety and regret never having written the book that was always in the forefront of your mind.

Third, don’t give up. I tell my students, “In order to succeed as a writer, you have to enjoy the feeling of running full speed into a brick wall, knocking yourself unconscious and bloodying your nose, before staggering back to your feet, wiping the blood from your face, and declaring, “Gee, that felt good! I think I’ll do it again!” It’s a tough business, and often painful. But if you have a solid manuscript and are willing to do this, eventually you’ll knock that wall down. It takes determination, and it takes guts. It’s not a career for the faint of heart, or for people who see rejection of their work as rejection of themselves. And that’s hard lesson to learn.

Do you have a personal Website?

You can find me at www.smokytrudeau.com; my blog is at authorsmokytrudeau.xanga.com.

Smoky's Bookstore
Write Well Workshop on Blog Talk Radio

Smoky Trudeau Sampler
Ebook Price: Free!
Non-Fiction by Vanilla Heart Publishing on October 28, 2009

Enjoy these introductions to Smoky Trudeau and both her fiction and non-fiction, including Redeeming Grace, The Cabin, a sneak preview of her soon to be released novel, The Storyteller's Bracelet and her non-fiction writing aids, Front-Word, Back-Word, Insight-Out and the writing prompts annual workbook, Left Brained, Write Brained.
Smoky Trudeau on SmashWords (ebooks)

Book promo: big bad slam poet

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 09:41:06 GMT

big bad slam poet
by Dave Campbell (aka STRAT)
Lulu.com, October 2009
84 pages – poetry

Dave Campbell (aka STRAT), who died last year, is known to many in the Orlando area arts community and beyond as a talented poet and hip hop artist. He won numerous poetry slams and rap battles. Orlando Sentinel book reviewer Tod Caviness said Campbell “was a walking blueprint of what performance poetry should be” and added that he “was literate, gracious and his loud, confrontational delivery never overshadowed the denser emotions in his work”. Curtis Meyer, a five time participant at the National Poetry Slam, said Campbell “oozed charisma and talent” and “epitomizes spoken word as an art form.”

In the book big bad slam poet, the reader has the opportunity to begin understanding Campbell’s literate nature and denser emotions, as well as appreciating his clever metaphors and word play. The insightful poems about relationships and life in general will have a lasting impact on many readers. In the CD of the same name the listener will experience the loud, confrontational delivery and feel the charisma. It will become clear why Campbell’s performances are admired, even without the visual stimuli. Together the book and CD offer one the chance to gain an appreciation for the remarkable skills of a gifted poet.

EXCERPT

i can’t be confined to a poem....

i can’t be held prisoner to structure....

free verse....will not be enough....

i am about to perform emotions in their entirety because it will just not be enough....

Book & CD http://stores.lulu.com/stratpoetry

from the back cover...

Moving In/Moving Out with a Significant Other

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 07:46:00 GMT

Moving In/Moving Out with a Significant Other
Tips from FlatRate Moving

One of the major relationship milestones that couples inevitably face is taking the leap into co-habitation. In order to prepare for this landmark, FlatRate Moving has prepared the below tips to provide for a smoother transition when moving in with a significant other.

Is your relationship on the other side of the spectrum, and you are now parting ways with a former beau/roommate? FlatRate also has tips for how to survive the dual break-up/move out scenario as well.

As industry experts and leaders in the moving industry, FlatRate has seen it all. Based on experience as well as diverse knowledge of the industry, the company has compiled the following tips for both scenarios, to help any couple survive moving-in or moving-out big day, whatever the case may be.

TOP 5 TIPS FOR MOVING IN WITH A SIGNIFICANT OTHER

1.    Pack and Plan Appropriately – Before the big move, make sure to pack appropriately. Go through the items you have and decide what you can part with and what you need to invest in. Most importantly, discuss the big items like furniture. Decide before you move in together whether or not you really need the second sofa. Be realistic about what you can and cannot leave behind. Take advantage of old furniture by turning it into a profit and selling it via Craigslist.
2.    Discuss Finances – Sit down and figure out who will pay for what. Are you going to combine bank accounts? Whose name will the utilities be in? Figuring out these details prior to the move will make the big move in day and subsequent transition easier.
3.    Divide Responsibilities – Like any roommate you may have had in the past, this one is no different in terms of taking care of duties around the house. This includes cleaning the bathroom, doing the dishes, and a wide assortment of less-than-sexy tasks. Make sure you rotate and take turns in terms of who handles what, so one person isn’t stuck resenting the other. Turn cleaning time into quality time by setting aside a couple of hours on the weekend to get things done together.
4.    Make Sure to Keep your Own Time and Space – Moving in with a significant other can become smothering if you don’t make time for yourself. Make sure to make and keep plans with friends and schedule activities and outings to keep your own individual life active. The same goes for within the apartment, keep certain space to yourself. Even when sharing a small studio, having a closest or designated area for your personal belongings will help maintain a certain level of independence.
5.    Keep Things Exciting – When living with someone, it can take a certain level of excitement and mystery out of the relationship. Make a consistent effort to expand dates beyond the couch, and even designate certain date nights that involve an exciting night out on the town. Try new things, visit new places, take a class together. This will help your relationship to continue to evolve as you are challenging yourself and continuing to learn new things about each other.

AND 5 TIPS FOR MOVING OUT

1.    Divide Mutual Items Peacefully – Over the course of your relationship and time as roommates, you likely compiled a lot of items that are mutually owned. Instead of consistently fighting over what belongs to who down to everything from the big furniture to a tiny dish, make a point of taking time to sit down one afternoon and figure out exactly what is shared and what is own. From there, try to peacefully divide the items, and if an agreement cannot be reached, sell the item and split the cash.
2.    Figure Out Leasing Arrangements – Dealing with the lease, particularly if the relationship ends before the lease expires, can be one of the biggest hassles of all. Take care of this first and be sure to figure out who will stay and who will go, and if you both want out, immediately start posting on roommate boards and asking around for a subletter. And when all else fails, break the lease. The lease needs to end almost as soon as the relationship does.
3.    Seal Up Any Finances – Since the relationship is coming to an end, it is best to discuss and figure any and all finances before parting ways for good. You don’t want to be chasing down an ex for money or being forced to stay in each other’s life because you didn’t square away finances from the get-go. Along with dividing stuff, this is one of the most important conversations to have. It might seem too difficult in light of emotions, but timing is crucial.
4.    Rely on Your Network of Family and Friends – Breaking up can be especially difficult when your boyfriend/girlfriend was also a roommate. Now more than ever you need to rely on friends and family to help get you through difficult times. This might involve sleeping on someone’s couch or having your friends help you find a new roommate and new place. Don’t be afraid to ask for help.
5.    Get Rid of Leftover Evidence – After dating someone for awhile, there is a lot that reminds you of the significant other and these memories multiply after living together. If you are staying in the old mutual place, redecorate and revamp to make the place brand new. If getting a new place, leave behind anything that reminds you of them and pick up a few new pieces to give your new place a personal touch.

Woman in Charge: Cinsearae Santiago

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 07:26:27 GMT

Meet digital artist and still-photographer Cinsearae Santiago.

Ms. Santiago has been writing, editing, and producing her own works through print-on-demand and conventional publishers. She is the creator of the Blood Touch series released in 2004 and available at Amazon.com. Her recent project is the all-new, dark paranormal romance series, "ABRAXAS". A digital artist and still-photographer, Ms. Santiago is also Editor/Publisher of Dark Gothic Resurrected Magazine--a 2nd place finalist in the Preditors & Editors Readers Poll for 2008--having created this publication to give new and unpublished writers and artists of the aforementioned genres a chance to shine and see their names in print, preferring unique, edgy stories that are out-of-the-box.

Her Yahoo writers group, (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Gratista_Vampires) is an extension of DGR magazine, where other talents of the genre can join, share interests, network, and have the opportunity to be published in her group's bi-annual anthologies. She also had two erotica stories published with ForbiddenPublications.com under her pen name, Mistress Rae. Ms. Santiago received the Author's Site of Excellence Award in December 2007 from Preditors & Editors, and is the Cover Artist for DamnationBooks.com and individual clients.

An avid fan of 'old school' horror movies (Freddy, Jason, Michael, Pinhead, etc.), Halloween is her favorite time of the year. She attended Community College of Philadelphia, majoring in English, with interests in creative writing and Theater. Ms. Santiago enjoys the Vampire/Goth scene and can be found haunting Philadelphia's "Dracula's Ball" from time to time, or roaming cemeteries and state parks. She has always been drawn to the flipside of life--the supernatural, odd, bizarre, Gothic and 'darkly beautiful' always being an inspiration to her.

She lives with her husband and three pets-- one hamster, Sniffles IV, and two Rat Terriers, Hades and Chaos.

ABRAXAS:THE HAYWIRE HALLOWEEN

Available at : www.lulu.com/gratistavampires

ISBN    978-0-557-06031-3

Publisher    Lulu Press

Publication Date    August 2, 2009

AUTHOR WEBSITE: Http://BLOODTOUCH.WEBS.COM
Editor/Publisher of Dark Gothic Resurrected Magazine

Cover Artist for Damnation Books & Individual Clients