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Category Archives: Excerpts
Nab Jami Gray's SHADOW'S EDGE Free for a Limited Time! #freeread #uf #pnr
"This fantastic paranormal action novel is quite possibly the best book I've read this year. I could not put it down, and had to exercise serious self-control to keep from staying up all night to finish it." – The Romance Reviews, 5/5 stars
"This book has everything in it, you have your Fey, Demons, Witches/Wizards, and Shifters. What more could you ask for?! Plus you have a great story to follow. The story and characters flowed so well together, it was like watching a movie in my head! Book 2 here I come!!" – Paranormal Romance & Authors That Rock, 5/5 Fangs
SHADOW'S EDGE: BOOK 1 OF THE KYN KRONICLES
Everyone fears what hunts in the shadows—especially the monsters…
When the supernatural lurks in the shadows of the mundane, hunting monsters requires unique skills, like those of Raine McCord. A series of deaths threatens to reveal the Kyn community and forces her to partner with the sexy Gavin Durand.
As the trail leads to the foundation haunting Raine's childhood, she and Gavin must unravel lies and betrayals to discover not only each other, but the emerging threat to them and the entire magical community.
Now available Free in eBook format at: AMAZON / BARNES AND NOBLE / BLACK OPAL BOOKS / ARe / SMASHWORDS / iBOOKS / KOBO / SCRIBD
Ryder stepped in front of her, stopping her short. "Damn, Natasha is never wrong," he teased, running an appraising look over her.
(Raine) didn't have the patience to deal with cocky little demon frat boys and cursed herself for asking, "About what?"
He gave a low, evil laugh. "You, of course." He stepped closer, deliberately invading her personal space. She froze, while her muscles vibrated slightly as if ready to strike. Unaware of how close danger stood, Ryder continued, "You like to live dangerously."
She gave him a sardonic look. "I hate to be bored."
"She didn't mention you're another prime example of why you don't have to be male to have stone cold balls." He pushed, testing her, like some naughty child. But she wasn't anyone's mother.
Raising her gaze, she met his smirk. From the up close and personal view she currently held, she saw the signs of latent handsomeness. His ability to grow into that promise was currently up for debate. Only a breath separated them and in her right hand, she held her wrist blade a hair's breath away from his groin area. Her voice dropped a notch, "If you don't want to lose yours, you'll step back, little boy."
His eyes flamed red for a second as he looked down to see her blade perilously close to his own set. He stepped back, but not before flashing a taunting grin and raising his hands to indicate his was unarmed. The tension between them broke when Xander called her over to see what she discovered.
Heading to the tracker, Raine shook her head. She hated dealing with demons. They were such a pain in the ass, always pushing the limits until someone bled. Frat boy from Hell better have some serious skills or when this was over, she and the demon queen were going to go a few rounds.
If you want to play in the shadows, continue the adventure with Jami Gray's Kyn Kronicles:
Jami Gray is the award winning, multi-published author of the Urban Fantasy series, The Kyn Kronicles, and the Paranormal Romantic Suspense series, PSY-IV Teams. She can be soothed with coffee and chocolate. Surrounded by Star Wars obsessed males and two female labs moonlighting as the Fur Minxes, she escapes by playing with the voices in her head.
Posted in Excerpts, Giveaways, Guest Blogger, Guests
Tags: Excerpts, Free Books, Guest Post, Jami Gray, Kyn Kronicles, Paranormal Romance, Shadows Edge, Urban Fantasy
Allison Merritt stops by with a hot demon sheriff and a Giveaway @allison_merritt
Please help me welcome the lovely Allison Merritt to the blog today. She was not only gracious enough to answer some questions, but she's sharing her HOT! upcoming release, and giving away some goodies.
Peeps! We have a HOT DEMON SHERIFF 😀 Read on to find out more.
Allison, thanks so much for stopping in with us. And for letting us delve into your mind. First, tell me about this hot demon. If the book became a movie, which celebrities would play the characters?
If Wystan became a movie, I'd love to see Henry Cavill play him. Man, does he have the jawline and the muscles for being a badass demon-slaying hottie sheriff? Yes, yes, he does. And for Rhia, I'd like to pick Anne Hathaway. She's so talented, and I think she'd really capture Rhia's personality.
I'll just say YUM! at Henry Cavill and we can move on 😉
What hobby do you enjoy when not writing?
I got a late start on watching Game of Thrones, seriously, I'm just now on season two, but I'm so into this. It makes me want to write fantasy romance. I love movies. It's not unusual for me to bring home a different DVD ever couple of days to watch. When I'm not on my bum, I like to walk and take photographs of nature.
It has a great storyline, love the angst, LOL.
What's your favorite comfort food?
Lemon meringue pie. I call it solid sunshine, because that's what sunshine would taste like if you could get a mouthful—you know, if it was a thing you could taste and not get horribly burned when you ate it.
What's your favorite color? Do you decorate your space and/or dress in this color often?
It's blue. I have more blue shirts and a couple of dresses than normal. I told my husband not to let me buy any more blue clothes, but it just keeps happening somehow. It's not my fault cute clothes come in blue. We should complain to the manufacturers.
Yay for blue! the best color ever.
If you could time-travel, where would you go and why?
I have an awful hankering to meet Nikola Tesla. You know the guy invented a way to get electricity without using all that crap Edison did? I curse Edison every time I get an electric bill. Tesla seems like he was a really interesting man. Little is really known about him, but I'd sure like to talk to him.
Why are manhole covers round?
They were inspired by stroopwafels. Have you ever had one of those? They're an amazing thin wafer cookie filled with caramel syrup. They're fantastic with ice cream.
Do you have any upcoming news you'd like to share?
Just a couple of months ago, I submitted Eban (The Heckmasters, Book #2) to my editor and I'm pleased to announce it's coming out in April 2015. I just got the cover. I promise, between that and the story, everyone will be blown away.
Fast Five:
Coffee or Chocolate? Chocolate
Jewelry: Precious gems or gold? Gems
Beach or Mountains? Beach
Early Morning or Late Night? Late night
Fruit or Veggies? Fruit
Title: Wystan (The Heckmasters)
Pubisher: Samhain Publishing
Samhain Amazon B&N Google Books
Her search for safety lands her in a totally new kind of danger.
The Heckmasters, Book 1
Certain that an ad for a job in a small New Mexico Territory town is the answer to her prayers, Nebraska schoolteacher Rhia Duke packs her sister into a rickety wagon and heads west.
Except when they reach the near-deserted town, she learns the truth. There is no job, no future, and no welcome in the bleak blue eyes of the handsome sheriff.
The minute Rhia's runaway team thunders into town, Wystan Heckmaster feels the change in the air. One of three sons of a demon who dared love a human, he keeps watch over a Pit guarded by seven seals, and slays any Hellbound demon that attempts to free the master imprisoned within.
With a gut full of regret and a forgotten town filled with reformed demons, Wystan is certain of one thing: he can't be the man Rhia needs. But when the truth behind Rhia's flight from Nebraska comes to light, Wystan must open his soul—and pray there's enough love between them to overcome the darkness rising from the Pit.
Warning: Contains a take-no-prisoners sheriff, a woman who can't outrun her supernatural secrets, and a dusty town where hope is as thin as dust in the wind. Author recommends keeping a glass of cool spring water at your elbow while reading.
Something changed in the air the moment the wagon crossed the town's border. Too early to be a supply train, and there was no way in hell it was visitors. Berner didn't host town fairs, theatre troupes, peddlers, or bible thumpers.
Wystan Heckmaster slapped his battered Stetson on his head, collected the keys to the jail, then stepped out the door. The first thing he saw was a pretty woman with hair the color of maple sugar—a rich brownish-blonde. The frown on her face spoke volumes, and the air around her pronounced trouble. She made a straight path for him.
"Mr. Heckmaster. Or should I call you Sheriff? Or Mayor? I need to discuss the ad in the Lancaster County Republican with you. Someone placed an ad, but your brother tells me there is no school here. I'm sure there has to be a mistake. There's only one Berner in New Mexico Territory. I'm very capable at reading maps. If I wasn't, I would be ashamed to call myself a teacher."
He doubted she had taken more than two or three breaths during the speech. If she made talking in rambling paragraphs a habit, no wonder she looked so peaked.
"Teacher?" He glanced along the street, but it was deserted as usual. "Lady, we don't have a school here. Certainly no need of a teacher."
Her hands balled into fists that settled on her hips. The dress she wore was patched—the egg yolk yellow faded into something even more disgusting. It had little flowers dotting the material, but they looked as worn as her scuffed black boots.
"Then what was the purpose of placing an ad in the Lancaster County Republican?"
She spoke with the fierceness of a mama bear warning predators away from her cubs.
Wystan reached into his shirt pocket and drew out a toothpick. "I didn't place any ad in any Lancaster County anything." He looked past her, expecting Eban to saunter up the street. Eban had to be the brother she'd referred to since Tell was still on the trail.
"Someone did," she insisted. She fished a crumpled and much-folded piece of newsprint out of the pocket hidden by the folds of her skirt. "See? Right here it says, 'School teacher wanted for spring term at Berner Schoolhouse. Wages paid based on experience. Room and board provided. Apply in person at City Hall, Berner, New Mexico Territory.' I'm sure my eyes don't deceive me."
Wystan stared at the clipping, then back at the woman. A galaxy of freckles spattered across her nose and cheekbones, making her look younger than her eyes said she was. Full figured and sure as shittin' a grown woman. The wariness and worry darkening her hazel eyes gave her away as one with a lot of trouble on her plate.
"I can read."
She pulled the ad away from his face, folded it, and returned it to her pocket. "Where would you suggest I look for an explanation, Mr. Heckmaster?"
Fussy little thing. "I assure you that no one in this town did. There's been a mistake. Sorry to inconvenience you, Miss Schoolteacher. Now turn around and head home."
A flush colored her cheeks. "I can't head home! I have no home to return to. My little sister and my friend are waiting at the doctor's office for me to straighten this mess out. The ad says that room and board will be provided. I'd expected to move into a room, sir."
"You left them with Eban?" That explained his absence.
"Beryl is ill, Sheriff. This is the first town we've seen in days and it was past time for her to get some attention." Despair crept into her voice.
Wystan shifted his weight and transferred the toothpick to the other side of his mouth. "Eban's not exactly trained in human medicine."
The woman's mouth opened into an O. She shook her head and seemed to regain her senses. "He's a veterinarian? He seemed certain he could help Beryl."
Wystan cleared his throat. "Sure, animal doctor. I'm sorry for your misfortune, lady, but as you can see, Berner's about run into the ground. There's nothing here for you or your friend. Might be best to move along."
She seemed to deflate. "Move along." Her lips moved, softly forming the words, but it was as though she didn't comprehend them. "We'll move along, right down the trail into the next town where there won't be any teaching jobs either. Sylvie, Beryl, and I will starve to death on the side of the road with no one in the world to care."
Click on the link for the Giveaway
A love of reading inspired Allison Merritt to pursue her dream of becoming an author who writes historical, paranormal and fantasy romances, often combining the sub-genres. She lives in a small town in the Ozark Mountains with her husband and dogs. When she's not writing or reading, she hikes in national parks and conservation areas.
Allison graduated from College of the Ozarks in Point Lookout, Missouri with a B.A. in mass communications that's gathering dust after it was determined that she's better at writing fluff than hard news.
Blog – http://havenovelwilledit.blogspot.com
Facebook – http://facebook.com/allisonmwrites
Twitter – http://twitter.com/allison_merritt
G+ – http://gplus.to/allisonmerritt
Goodreads – http://goodreads.com/AllisonMWrites
Pinterest – http://www.pinterest.com/allisonmwrites/
Posted in Contests, Excerpts, Giveaways, Guest Blogger, Guest Interviews, Guests
Tags: Allison Merritt, Amber Kallyn, Books, Giveaways, Guest blog, Hot demon sheriff, Interview, New Release, Paranormal, Romance, Wystan
Who wants some Cowboy Kink? and Give@way
Please welcome my guest Randi today, and get ready for an awesome giveaway 🙂
Yes, I Can Write Paranormal Cowboys!
Thank you, Amber, for hosting me today. I'm Randi Alexander and I write cowboy erotic romance. I'm published with The Wild Rose Press' Cowboy Kink line. My new release, Her Cowboy Stud, is available now.
Her Cowboy Stud available at The Wild Rose Press Wilder Roses and Kindle version is available at Amazon.com
I enjoy reading paranormal romance, but the few times I've tried to write it, it's been difficult for me. Last year, All Romance eBooks hosted a contest called Just One Bite. I felt a driving urge to challenge myself and write a vampire erotic romance short story to enter. I did it! This Cowboy Bites was a blast to write.
I started by creating my character's world. My vampire was warm blooded, night walking, and when he bit a woman's neck, he also needed to take her, sexually. I loved being able to set my own rules. It's very freeing. I could be as creative as I chose.
I entered the story in the contest, and Oh My Gosh, it was chosen from over a hundred entries as one of the thirty-two finalists! Really amazing for me because I hadn't written paranormal before. But it gets better! I ended out just out of the money in fourth place, but for a first-timer, that was truly incredible.
Here's a link to the story, if you'd care to read it. It's actually a free book download from All Romance eBooks which includes eleven other paranormal short stories as well as This Cowboy Bites. Click here for your free download.
After the contest, dozens of readers asked me to write more vampire cowboys. I spent a week creating a series of vampire cowboy erotic romance ménages – nine books in all. I pitched the idea to an editor at a writers' conference. She loved it, and wants to see the first book as soon as it's ready. Now, I just have to write it.
I also need to find a name for the town. The series is set in a very small town in south-central Texas. I'm looking for a name that gives the feeling of a dusty old place on a dead-end road that is nearing extinction until rich cowboys (vampires!) begin buying up all the huge ranches surrounding the town. The books will tell the story of the clashes and seductions between the town folk and the vampires.
This is where I need your help. What are your suggestions for the town's name? Whatever pops into your mind, one, two, a dozen names, please leave a comment with your ideas. One lucky commenter will win an ebook!
Trace McGonagall's quiet life on his Houston stud ranch is shaken up when gorgeous Macy Veralta arrives to claim an inheritance left to her in his uncle's will. Trace sees her as just another gold digger, but he also can't resist her curvy body. When she hints at being the perfect submissive to his Dom, he has to have her.
Macy wouldn't have been three months late to claim her inheritance if she'd known Trace was sin in jeans. The cowboy's dominant bearing and the smoldering glint in his eyes send shivers to her toes and stirs images of being bound in his bed and disciplined at his hand. But could Trace's perfect seduction be part of his plan to reclaim her inheritance?
EXCERPT: Over 18 only, please.
"I don't think I've ever met anyone like you." Macy wrapped her arms around his middle.
Trace hugged her tight for a minute. Against her chest his heart beat as wildly as hers. Reaching down, Trace eased an arm under her knees and lifted her into his arms. "Wait until you get a taste of my lovin', sweetheart. You'll be hooked."
She rested her head on his chest and admitted more to herself than to him, "I think I'm already hooked." Being held in his arms tingled like magic, and her body reacted, filling and warming, flooding her needy pussy with a sweet ache.
He opened the screen door and deftly carried her in. He strode down a hallway and into a big bedroom, kicking the door shut behind them. A gigantic bed dominated the room, done up in moss green with a few gray and green throw pillows tossed on as an afterthought—the housekeeper's doing, probably. Trace didn't seem like the accessorizing kind of guy.
Big, clunky dark wood furniture stood around the room. A beautiful old rug nearly covered the entire hardwood floor, and a lamp in the corner cast a subtle glow over the room.
She took a deep breath, smelling the scent of man and musky cologne. "This bedroom is so masculine."
"Just like me?" He set her on her feet.
"Exactly like you." She ran her fingers through his hair, loving how the soft locks curled around her skin, tickling her. She tugged him down for a kiss.
He groaned as he slanted his lips over hers and made love to her with his mouth. His tongue touched everywhere, slow and thorough. His hands slid to the tie of her halter top, and he eased it free, standing back to watch as he revealed her breasts.
"Beautiful." He stared for a moment before bending her backward over his arm, one hand at her neck to steady her, suckling first one nipple then the other. He laved them with his tongue, teasing them with sensual flicks.
The sucking and nibbling of his hot, talented mouth on her breasts drove her mad. A quaking desire filled her as her core contracted, and moisture slid from her needy lips.
Lifting the hem of her halter top, he eased it off over her head and tossed it onto a chair.
"My turn." Macy unbuttoned his shirt, taking her time, enjoying each inch of skin she revealed. She slid it off his shoulders and let it drop. "Oh, wow." His arms were defined, his chest sculpted and furred by a light scattering of dark hair, his flat stomach showed a hint of muscle developed by hard work, not zealous sit-ups. Lower, his narrow hipbones showed above his low-slung jeans.
Her need to touch him consumed her.
"Touch me," he drawled, as if reading her mind.
Macy ran her fingers over his torso. She wanted him, wanted his chest pressed to her breasts, wanted his big arms around her. First, she wanted to see what hid beneath those tight fitting jeans.
At the instant she reached for his belt buckle, his fingers closed on the button of her capris. They both grinned and worked in tandem, removing his boots and socks, her flip flops and pants, and his jeans. They stood in their underwear, hers lacy and white, his black and stretched to the limit by his big, long cock.
He stared at her, a long, slow appraisal, making her skin quiver wherever his gaze touched. When he reached for her, she melted into his arms as his hands roamed across her back. He pressed his lips gently to her neck. His tongue darted out for a taste. "Aw, God." His voice rumbled low in her ear.
His hand eased from her back to the side of her breast. His thumb traced a path around her nipple, brushing over it.
She sighed and shuddered as heat streaked from her nipple down to her slit.
His cock jerked against her belly. She abandoned any insecurity she felt and pressed her hand to the bulge in his underwear. His rod throbbed in her palm, and she licked her lips with the need to feel him in her mouth, pushing in deep, taking him down her throat as she swallowed his long shaft and sucked him dry.
"Darlin'." He lifted her gently in his arms and carried her to the bed, laying her on the comforter. "I want to taste you. Everywhere." His words came slow and full of promise. His half-lidded eyes turned nearly black with lust as he looked his fill of her body, not touching her, taunting her with expectation.
Macy's back arched off the bed as a sweep of pleasure brushed over her. Tingling with need, she reached up and touched one of her nipples. "Here?"
He swallowed loudly. "Yes, there."
Her hand snaked down her body, over her stomach. "And here?"
"Of course." His voice growled even deeper.
She looked him in the eye, reveling in his barely-leashed desire. The tightness of his face, his flared nostrils, and tense jaw. When she slid her hand lower, he watched.
Slipping her finger inside her lacy panties, she asked, "Will you taste me here?"
To celebrate the release of Her Cowboy Stud, I'm giving away, to one lucky *commenter, an e-copy of my new erotic romance short story anthology Cowboy Bad Boys. Just leave a comment today and we'll choose a winner tomorrow. *Commenter must be 18 years of age or older to win.
I'm also giving away a custom-made messenger bag and a $50 gift certificate to Pureromance to one subscriber to my newsletter. For more details, and to sign up for this contest, please go to my website, RandiAlexander.com And while you're there, you can read the first chapter of Her Cowboy Stud.
Good luck, and thank you!
Randi "Rode Hard and Put Up Satisfied"
RandiAlexander.com
WildAndWickedCowboysBlog
Her Cowboy Stud available at The Wild Rose Press Wilder Roses
Kindle version is available at Amazon.com
Posted in Blogging, Contests, Excerpts, Giveaways, Guest Blogger, Guests
Tags: Cowboys, Giveaways, Guest Bloggers, Her Cowboy Stud, Randi Alexander, Sexy
Love #Vampires? Bloodstorm PreRelease Sneak Peek
So, if you've been following my blog the past week I announced my new release, Bloodstorm (Heart of a Vampire, Book #1).
Release date (squee!!!) is this Friday the 13th. I love those days.
Also, don't forget to come back on Friday for my Super-Duper Release Day Par-tay 🙂
****NOW FREE at all E-tailers****
When duty forces a shaman to stop a vampire from her revenge, love doesn't just burn… it bites.
For two hundred years, Niki DeVeraux has been tracking the monster who murdered her family and made her a vampire. She finally catches up to him in a small Arizona town, only to face more than she bargained for. Amid an imperious vampire King, a shaky truce between the local clan and shifter pack, and a too-sexy sheriff who makes her remember she's still a woman, Niki's single-minded purpose is threatened for the first time since her turning.
Between his duties as Keeper of the peace for the Magic Council and heir to his tribe's shamanistic magic, Sheriff Shane Spencer's job is to protect humanity and stop the friction between the local Arcaine races before it turns into an all out blood war. To make matters worse, there's an irresistible rouge vampire in town enflaming his senses.
When wolves start turning up dead, the tension between the paranormal races grows and suspicion falls on Niki. Shane knows she's not to blame, and it has nothing to do with the primal urges she stirs within him. Working together, they must find a way to stop the hostilities from going over the edge. Trouble is, the desires raging between Niki and Shane might prove more dangerous than the surrounding threats.
The pitch black tunnel, complete with crumbling dirt walls and cobwebs, didn't frighten Nicola DeVeraux. The dark held nothing to fear. She'd seen too many real monsters in the years since her death.
Besides, her night vision was as good as any human's in the bright light of day.
She stepped over a skeleton, then around the grisly remains of a wild boar.
At the far end of the tunnel, candlelight flared to life, as if welcoming her into the witch's den. Her boots stirred up dust as she entered the small cave.
The walls glinted with a mix of crystalline dirt and flecked stone. The scent of a nearby spring layered heavy moisture in the air. In the center of the cavern stood a long rectangular table, covered by a black velvet cloth. Strange items, some unrecognizable at first–or even second–glance, littered the top.
"Ye came."
Spinning at the gravelly, androgynous voice, Niki grabbed for the dagger at her waist.
The old crone cackled as she entered, her grin nearly toothless. Stringy gray hair straggled around her plump, wrinkled, face. Jezamine glided to the table. "I didn't think ye'd answer my summons."
"You asked me to come, old woman. I assume there's a reason." Though the dark tunnel hadn't scared her, the witch did. Niki forced herself to take another step, though she kept a tense grip on the hilt of her still-sheathed dagger.
"What question do ye ask the gods?"
Ignoring the tension roiling in her stomach, she moved to the woman's side. "They're finally ready to answer me?"
Jezamine laughed again, the sound sending skitters down Niki's spine. "Ye know they take their time, girl."
"Fine. I want to know if I'll finally find the man who murdered my family."
The old woman reached for a silver cup etched with strange markings. She shook it three times before dumping the contents into a circle made from small, round crystals. Human finger bones clattered against one another. She bent over the table.
Jezamine had looked as ancient a hundred years ago as she did now. "Hmm. Yes. Mmm." The old woman poked at one bone sticking above the others. "But what 'bout…"
Niki eased onto one of the dark wooden stools at the far end of the table.
The priestess sprung upright, staring at Niki with her fathomless dark eyes. Her inky black lips stretched in a grimacing smile. "It's yer birthday. Samhain be a good day for birthin'."
Niki clenched her fists in her lap. "Not really."
Halloween was a cursed day to be born. It had brought her nothing but pain, brought her family nothing but death.
The old woman poked at the bones again. "Maybe. Maybe ye be finding the monster ye seek, maybe be getting some other kind of lucky." Jezamine's screeching laugh echoed from the cavern walls.
Shivers inched along Niki's spine and flooded into her legs. Thankfully she was sitting down. "What do you mean, some other kind of lucky?"
Jezamine's dark eyes glittered. "Girl, I don't think ye want me telling. Don't think the Fates want me telling."
"Then what about Thomas?" Her nails poked painfully into her palms.
"Lil' girl. Why ye wanna spend all yer time tracking down pure evil?"
"Duty."
"Duty?"
Memories flashed. The Halloween ball, celebrating not just her seventeenth birthday, but her engagement as well. The plantation in the bayou, ringing with music and laughter. At least until dawn arrived, the sun shining down on nothing but death.
Niki shook the old pain away. "Duty," she repeated. "He owes me vengeance."
"'Tis a fine line ye walk between revenge and justice." Jezamine shook her head, the corners of her lips drooping in a frown. "Revenge make yer soul dark as his."
"I don't care." In the far corner of the cave, wisps of white fog crept up the walls. Soon they would form into the shapes of those long dead.
She jumped to her feet, turning away. "Can you tell me anything else?"
Jezamine walked around the table to face her. "'Ware child. He who turned ye may also be the cause of yer downfall."
Niki lifted her chin, facing down the old woman's words, the Fates themselves. "Not until after I've killed him."
As Shane Spencer finished the last of his beer, his deputy, Chase Campton, strode by, slapping him on the back.
"Another re-election year well done, Sheriff."
The small crowd in the bar cheered and the waitress, Rae, slipped another bottle onto his corner table.
Shane tipped his cowboy hat politely and plastered on a fake smile, unable to join in the spirit. All day, something dark had been hanging over the town. Not that anyone else sensed it. He needed to go to his childhood home. On the edge of town, the house sat at the borderline of the Apache reservation and Moss Creek.
His father, head shaman and seer, would know what the signs meant. Once again, doubt crept up inside Shane. How did the Fates pass over the eldest in their family and choose him as their father's successor? It had never before happened in their tribe's history.
He nursed the beer, deep in thought.
The door banged open, a cold autumn breeze swirled the smoky air. A woman followed it in, stopping just inside the bar. The air vibrated with unseen power. Even the deepest shadows shivered. Everyone in the bar fell silent, turning as one to look her way.
She held her head high, long black hair curling over her shoulders like silk. Her bright green gaze scanned the tables. She passed over Shane without pause, only to snap back to him.
Magic filled the room and the hair on his forearms rose. The other people in the bar were forgotten. Only the two of them existed.
His heartbeat slowed, skipped a beat, sped up like a race horse barreling down the track.
The doorframe towered over her slight form. Yet her body was ripe, lush with curves. The tight blue jeans emphasized her hips, the narrowness of her waist. And the sleeveless white tank showed her breasts off to perfection.
He swallowed, though his mouth was dry.
Her eyes widened and even over the distance of the room, he heard her soft, feminine gasp. Palms slick, he shakily set the bottle back on the table.
His blood screamed primitive urges… demanding he drag her off to his cave.
It wasn't like him.
Women, even the most beautiful, had never affected him this way. He'd met with the rich and beautiful, models and actresses galore during his time in the city. Gathering the remaining shreds of his willpower, he closed his eyes calling on the magic of his ancestors. The spirits of the earth responded and power surged through him. Magic raised the hairs on his arms and the back of his neck as the whispers of the spirits of the nearby forest filled him. Ignoring it to concentrate on what was here and now, he reopened his eyes. Colorful hues surrounded everyone in the bar.
Her aura struck him like a punch to the gut. A deep maroon, with flecks of black, revealed exactly what she was.
Vampire.
And not local.
He blinked again, letting the sight fade.
The woman finally looked away and took another step into the bar. As quickly as it had hit, the power surging through the room dissipated. People once more talked and laughed, raising their glasses in toasts.
What the hell kind of vampire was she, to cause such a raging lust?
The woman strode to the bar, her glare shouting 'Don't mess with me'. Though she didn't look old enough to drink, let alone be in a bar in the first place, the bartender immediately poured her a shot of whiskey.
Shane would be talking to Henry about it later.
First, he needed to figure out what this vampire was doing in Moss Creek. Sure, the small mountain town was a hub of paranormal activity, with the local vampire clan and the shifter pack taking advantage of the surrounding nature. But rogues generally tended to stay out of places dominated by orderly clans, knowing the structure and politics were handed down by the Magic Council.
And the Council didn't like Rogues.
Cupping the shot glass in her hands, the woman leaned towards Henry before the older man could move away.
Shane tensed in his seat. If she was looking for a meal…
Henry murmured something. The woman nodded, downed her shot and laid some money on the bar before turning and striding out.
Shane tried to relax, but he still yearned for the stranger, to touch her, smell her, nearly as badly as when she'd been staring at him, as if she could see down to his very soul.
Niki kept to the shadows of the forest as she skirted the parking lot. The only light came from a blue neon sign on the building's roof, claiming someone called Henry owned the Spitfire bar.
She stopped near a clump of three trees opposite the bar. The center one was marked with a red X. How original. Yet this was where her contact wanted to meet, so who was she to complain?
It was nearly a half-hour later than their appointed time and she wasn't quite sure why she was still here. Her stomach grumbled lightly. She needed to eat, the blood she'd consumed earlier hadn't been enough. Without both food and blood her strength would wane. She couldn't afford that, not now when she was so close to her prey.
She'd give this snitch five more minutes.
Only three passed before the air whispered through the forest at her back. Niki turned, knife in hand, holding it hidden down by her thigh.
"Looking for me?" a husky whisper drifted out of the darkness.
"You Baal?" She tried not to snort. Sometimes vampires tried on grandioseness, as if eternal life made them superman. Which, she guessed, in some ways it did.
"Maybe. Depends. You got the money?"
"Sure. If you have the information you promised."
"Lemme see the cash first, lady."
Niki reached slowly into her front pocket and pulled out two one-hundred dollar bills. The snitch tried to grab it, but she held tight. "Information first."
He stepped into a bit of moonlight and grinned, eyes flushed with red. His thin lips drew back, revealing long fangs as he chuckled. "I got something else for you."
She sighed. "Let me guess. You're not going to give me the information, assuming a creep like you even knows anything."
"Got that right." Confusion twisted his pale features, as if he didn't quite follow. Then he grinned again. "But you sure gonna give me something. Ain't just money."
Never trust a snitch. "Let's get on with it then." She tucked the bills back in her pocket.
His grin twitched, eyes flickered, following the money. He shook himself, confidence coming back.
She tightened her grip on the dagger. He lunged.
Niki used his momentum to fling him against the trunk of the tree. His head slammed in to the painted red X.
"Damn it," he yelled, quickly recovering and charging her again.
She waited until he was close, then rammed her knee into his groin. Not even vampires were immune to that pain.
Hope you enjoyed 🙂
Posted in Excerpts, Heart of a Vampire, Release Days, Releases, Vampires
Tags: Bloodstorm, Excerpts, Heart of a Vampire, New Releases
Public Display of Affection by Emily Cale
Wow. Can I just say Yummy!
Here's a treat for ya'll today, a peek at Emily Cale's 'Public Display of Affection'.
After a heartbreaking end to her relationship with her girlfriend, Lucy Stark is looking to try something more adventurous. She turns to Madame Eve's 1Night Stand service to help her find the perfect woman to push her boundaries and introduce her to the more daring side of a sexual encounter.
Samantha Taylor's helped more than one woman explore her sexuality, but Lucy's the first to really get to her. Keeping her walls up and the women she dates from getting inside is a skill she's managed to master. After one night of unbridled passion, she has to decide whether to give up her hard exterior or let the woman of her dreams slip away.
"I'm Samantha, but you can call me Sam." She paused, hoping for a response, then shrugged. "Can I come in?"
Lucy—assuming it was Lucy?—shook her head and blinked a few times, as though she'd been in a trance. "Of course." She stood back, holding the door open.
"Seems like a nice enough room." Nothing extraordinary, but it didn't need to be with the scenery that surrounded it. No one came there to see the inside of a hotel room. Well, no one except for them, and they'd be doing very little of that. The king-sized bed decked out with a forest green and brown duvet and pillows took up a majority of the room. The whole set-up looked comfortable and inviting. Too bad the activities she had planned didn't require a mattress. Setting her duffle bag next to the dresser, she turned back toward Lucy. "So what are you up for tonight?"
Like a deer in headlights, the brunette looked puzzled by the question. "Well, I'm not sure. I thought maybe you'd have an idea or two and we could go from there?"
As timid as Madame Eve had described in her email. She'd expected the woman to at least have a few ideas, an erotic act she'd found on the internet that intrigued her. Sam bit her tongue to keep from making a sarcastic comment. No judgment. This evening was to be an introduction to the more adventurous side of intimacy. Aside from that, she hoped to quell the sexual frustration that had been brewing deep inside her. "I have a few things worked out. After that, we can see where the night takes us." She imagined it would have them in bed before late night TV even started. "Does that sound agreeable to you?" She half expected the wide-eyed woman in front of her to back out. From her expression, it was clear she contemplated her options.
"That sounds good." Lucy played with the edge of her black, knee-length skirt.
Sam doubted the truthfulness of that statement, but decided to give her the benefit of the doubt. "Then I suggest we get started. We are on a tight schedule at the moment." Crouching down, she pulled a small box from her overnight bag. "Why don't you go put this on?"
Lucy took it and turned it over in her hands. "What is it?" The pink color of the paper matched her sweater, Sam noted with amusement.
"Open it and you'll find out."
Emily Cale spent the majority of her childhood as a visitor to the worlds of her favorite authors. With encouragement from her English teachers, she put pen to paper and began imagining her own stories. Preferring the fascinating lives of her characters, she majored in creative writing. When not lost in a manuscript or a good book, she enjoys crocheting, rock climbing, and playing board games. She currently lives in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, with her husband and a very spoiled cat.
Buy Link(s):
Decadent Publishing: http://www.decadentpublishing.com/product_info.php?products_id=448&osCsid=k53gm93p0ek26d54p935na45b7
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Public-Display-Affection-Night-ebook/dp/B006ZIHUBS/ref=tag_stp_s2f_edpp_emily_cale
All Romance Ebooks: http://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-publicdisplayofaffection-673179-144.html
Posted in Excerpts, Guest Blogger, Guests
Tags: Emily Cale, Excerpts, Guest, Public Display of Affection
Hottie Heroes and Empaths ~ Yum
A hottie hero and an empath. What's better than that?
Bloodsworn II: Linked by Blood
by Kathy Lane
Release: TODAY!!!
Available at The Wild Rose Press
And at Amazon.com
The moment the lethal Blade, Bracca Cu-Laurian sees empath, Sheren Ni-Annun, he fights his desire for the young widowed mother. Not only is his life pledged to his Bloodsworn, but his past sins make him an unfit mate for any woman, let alone an empath. For him, the line between duty and desire will forever be one he can never cross. Sheren's late husband taught her to resent a Blade's duty, and she has since vowed to avoid those fierce warriors. Then Bracca awakens her empathic senses with a single touch, challenging both her vow and his resolve with the depth of their mutual desire. When her young son is linked to Bracca's Bloodsworn, the dire consequences that threaten to destroy them and those they hold dear, may also be the very thing that brings them together.
Breathing hard, Sheren ran through the exercise to put her normal shield back into place, concentrating on making it stronger, denser. It appeared to be working until she became distracted by a new emotion winding sinuously over and around the half-formed shield. Desire.
Potent, all consuming, and definitely not hers.
She snapped her eyes open and caught the longing in Bracca's eyes an instant before he blinked it away.
"You want me," she whispered, aware her voice trembled with wondrous discovery.
"Forgive me," he said, averting his eyes and pulling away from her. Even without his touch his guilt assailed her, the emotion strong, but not enough to overpower that yearning desire.
"I never meant to frighten you. I only sought to keep you from injuring yourself. I'll leave—"
She grabbed his retreating hand. Not even with Sayjan had she felt such breathtaking desire. Sayjan had loved her. But her senses had not blossomed under her late husband's touch. Not like this. Compared to what she sensed now, she'd been blind before.
With her shield half up and only Bracca close enough to sense, she found the invading emotions easily bearable. More than bearable. Intoxicating.
"Bracca…" She reached up to touch his face. He stilled instantly. Pressing her hand firmly to his cheek, she said, "I feel you."
He swallowed hard. "How can you even bear to touch me?"
She didn't understand his question. Not bear to touch him because he was a Blade? Or because she'd swore never to get involved with a Blade again? How could he know? Not even Karess knew of her vow. At the moment, she had trouble even remembering why she'd made it.
Slowly he raised his hand and traced the edge of her face with calloused fingers. Wonder and longing swirled through the desire with a poignant sweetness that brought tears to her eyes.
"You are so beautiful," he whispered. Head bending, he leaned closer.
Sheren knew she should stop him. Had to stop him. Yet the emotions pouring into her were like a heady draught of wine. She could no more stop drinking them in than she could stop breathing air. Merciful Luma, she wanted this.
The first touch of his lips went through her body like lightning. Her knees buckled. He caught her, one arm across her lower back, the other between her shoulders, his large hand cradling her head.
Sheren gazed up at him, clutching at his shoulders. Slowly, his gaze locked with hers, he lowered his head again, giving her every chance to turn away. She didn't.
His lips were firm and warm. Insistent. His tongue stroked firmly against her closed mouth, demanding she let him in. She surrendered with a moan. He kissed like a warrior, invading, conquering. Sweet pleasure laced with the bitterness of desperation crashed over her. His? Hers? She could no longer separate her own emotions from those she felt coming from Bracca. Nothing in her life had ever prepared her for this…fusion.
Their bodies shifted closer. He deepened the kiss. Her hands slipped up his strong arms, fingers sliding beneath the edges of his sleeveless tunic. The hard muscles of his shoulders shifted and bunched beneath her touch. So strong, so hot…
Posted in Excerpts, Guests, Release Days
Tags: Bloodsworn, Excerpts, Guest Author, Kathy Lane, Linked by Blood
Come play with Danielle Monsch
Welcome author and fellow Plot Mama Danielle Monsch : )
She graciously agreed to one of my interviews, the brave woman. Plus, we get a sneak peak of her newest release, Loving a Fairy Godmother.
Out Now, Available at http://bit.ly/Dani_LFG
I'm an otaku, which is another way of saying I'm a very geeky person very into Japanese cartoons, comic books, movies and music. If I'm not writing and have time away from the family, I'm delving into this world. Miyazaki is god and one day, I really will learn to speak Japanese.
What would you do with $1 million dollars (tax-free, of course)?
I'm very boring and practical I'm afraid. House would get paid off, kids college funds would be fully funded, large chunks would go into retirement investments. The only slightly impractical use would be a yearly vacation. Hubby and I both enjoy travelling, and that kind of money would fund several first-class travel adventures.
If you could be any supernatural creature, what would it be and why?
My first love was vampires when I was younger, and while I may not have the all-consuming obsession I used to have with them, vampires would still be my answer today. Even the negatives wouldn't be that bad for me. Anyone who has seen my paleness in pictures can tell I don't do much time in the sun.
What is your favorite book? Why?
I won't say favorite, but the book that has had the most lasting impact on me would be 'Little Women' by Louisa May Alcott. Partly this is due to the timing of me reading it, that area just on the cusp of pubescence where lots of things are getting churned up in the brain, but that book has had a lasting impact on my psyche. I'm sure I'm not the only girl that feels that way though. Just mention Beth dying in a group of women, see how many start tearing up.
Pumpkin pie. My mom makes the world's most delicious pumpkin pie, it's a lot spicier (nutmeg spicy, not curry spicy) than the store bought stuff, and she has a real gift for making flaky crust. She only ever made pie for Thanksgiving and Christmas though, never any other time of the year, no matter how much we begged. As soon as Halloween hit, my siblings and I would start counting down the days until it was time for pie.
I'm really not a time traveller. I like indoor plumbing, pain medicine, and air conditioning too much to ever give them up. It's not that I don't enjoy learning about history, but actually going back to experience the stink? Blech!
Asking questions like this, have you ever thought of starting up your own cult? I guarantee more money than in writing.
I just sold my second short story to Ellora's Cave. It is a naughty story entitled 'Pleasure Satellite', release date TBD.
And the Fast Five:
Coffee or Chocolate?
Chocolate – was there ever a doubt?
Jewelry: Precious gems or gold?
Precious gems, I love color
Beach or Mountains?
Mountains. Hubby is a beach person. Somehow we remain married
Early Morning or Late Night?
Naturally late night, but as a mom I'm forced to be early morning
Fruit or Veggies?
Can I answer chocolate?
Yes dear, you certainly can 🙂
Loving a Fairy Godmother
Tiernan is one of a kind. Beyond the divine dimples, killer blue eyes, and hard muscled body, Tiernan is also the only Fairy Godfather. Most of the Fairy Godmothers have no problem with keeping Tiernan around, but Reina isn't like most Fairy Godmothers.
Amongst Fairy Godmothers, Reina is the best. Organized, efficient, logical. So why is it when Tiernan is around, all those qualities fly out the window? Reina doesn't like that one infuriating male makes her lose control, and just wants him gone. Circumstances arise that just might let her get her wish, though not in a way she ever wanted.
Tiernan is given an assignment and told either get a Happily Ever After or he will no longer be a Fairy Godfather. Reina is going with him to supervise, but if Tiernan gets his way, he'll not only be supervising that luscious stubborn fairy in bed, but also get her to admit Happily Ever Afters also apply to Fairy Godmothers.
"Godfather Tiernan—"
"You can just call me Tiernan," he interrupted.
She tried again. "Godfather Tiernan—"
"Didn't Sara just tell you that you had to follow my directions?"
That pushed her over the edge. "Do you truly think you are going to secure a HEA when you haven't been able to do it yet?"
He let out a derisive snort, but immediately realized that was a huge mistake. Her face lost her usual look of annoyance crossed with bemused tolerance, leaving pure ice in its place. "This is why men should not be allowed into the Godmother program. None of you have any respect for Happily Ever Afters."
"I never said I didn't believe in HEAs" he began, but she cut him off.
"Every case you've been on tells me you don't believe, or else you would have tried once, just once, to get one!"
His hands slammed on the table as he leaned across it, his face coming inches from hers. "I've never tried because I believe in love! Humans need love so much, who the hell was I to screw up two people in love to get them to HEA status? I could never forgive myself if two people in love missed out on each other because of my actions!"
All anger fled her face, and a hesitant, unsure look came over features. "What do you think a HEA is?"
He drew in a deep breath, sitting down once again. "I think happily ever after is a nice way to end a story, but in the world I remember, it's a waste."
Her hand was halfway towards him before she seemed to remember their roles, and she pulled it back to her side. "Love is wonderful, but only love alone is incomplete. You can love someone, but they can ultimately not be right for you. Even in love, people can still be led to believe the worst of each other, still hurt each other, still decide they are better without the other," she began, her words hesitant, as if she was trying to define to herself what it all meant as much as to him. "But the Happily Ever After is so much more. It's finding your perfect match, love purified, refined, to such an extent that it can never be sundered. With a Happily Ever After, men can achieve greatness, as can all the generations who follow growing up in its shadow."
"And you think jeopardizing the surety of a love match now is worth it for only the possibility of a Happily Ever After?" he asked, his voice gentle, reverent, wanting nothing to break this intimacy their words were creating.
"I do. In your view, maybe that seems cruel, but in my view, there is no greater tragedy then two people who almost make this connection but fall short in the end."
Such a hard exterior to cover such a tender heart. "I'm not sure if I can believe as you do," he said after considering her words. "But I never want Sara… you… to feel as if I let you down. After we get this situation behind us, I want you proud of the job I do."
And as his breath caught at the rare smile she bestowed upon him just then, he knew all she had to do was keep smiling at him like that, and anything she wanted, whether it be his beliefs or his blood, he would give her.
Her smile faded, and the moment ended. Reina cloaked herself in her position of authority as she handed him the file that had been sitting on her desk. It was already open to show a picture of a blond girl, pretty and vibrant with a mouth full of straight white teeth, all of which was evident even underneath the dirt. "I looked over this case earlier, before I realized what was going on," she said. "It is a good, solid HEA case. There are several challenges to overcome, but also several sources of help for the client. It is about as perfect as a case can be for this purpose, as evenly balanced as I've ever seen. No one can accuse the council of favoring either side. The girl's name is Cinderella. She lives with an abusive Stepmother and two rotten spoiled stepsisters. She is a very kind, generous girl—though a little too much of a doormat, if you ask me—but outside of that, not really any other character flaws. She is much beloved in her village, children and small animals flock to her daily. In short, we exist to give HEAs to mortals like her."
Tiernan read the file quickly, then flipped the page and took in the photo of the male who would supply the HEA. "A prince, huh? That's pretty standard."
"Indeed, but for the most part, we don't mess with the classics here." The pointed look she gave him told him he was one of the exceptions, and she wasn't necessarily thrilled about it. Ah yes, completely back to normal.
He returned that look with a flirty smile. "I used to serve royalty, Godmother Reina. Believe me when I say, sometimes the large crown is to compensate for something."
"Oh really? Well, I assume we can say the same thing about your sword, eh, knight?"
Maybe not completely back to normal after all. The second those words passed her lips her eyes went saucer wide, and Tiernan couldn't say who was more shocked, him or Reina herself. There was no way he was letting this pass. His voice coming out a low growl, he replied, "Why, Reina, I never knew you were interested in the size of my sword. Anytime you want a private viewing, I will be more than happy to oblige."
Danielle Monsch is a Romantic Geek Girl Writing in a Fantasy World. Born to the pothole laden streets of Pittsburgh Pa, she now resides in the Pacific Northwest, where they tell her that the sun will eventually be seen, but she really doesn't believe them. She has two beautiful kids who do everything in their power to make sure she doesn't make her daily word count, and a hubby who is her greatest cheerleader as well as her tech support.
And last, but not least, where can we find you on the internet:
www.DanielleMonsch.com
www.twitter.com/DaniMonsch
www.facebook.com/DanielleMonsch
www.castlesandguns.com – group blog I'm part of focused on Urban Fantasy, Fantasy, and Paranormal
www.plotmamas.com – group blog I'm part of on the joy and strain of mixing motherhood and writing
Dani@DanielleMonsch.com
Posted in Excerpts, Guest Interviews, Guests
Tags: Danielle Monsch, Guest Interview, Loving a Fairy Godmother
Win a Book! Come Play with Cassandra Carr
Welcome an awesome lady, author Cassandra Carr. She's not only playing with us today, but she's giving away a copy of her book.
What are your biggest pet peeves as a reader?
As a writer, I have a lot of pet peeves – most writers do. I think that may be due to writers being observant – little details do not escape our notice. The mile-high pile of dishes, on the other hand, conveniently will. Our laundry walks itself into the washer – it's the only hope it has of getting done. But I digress…
Some of my pet peeves:
Weird character names – if I have to keep stopping to think about how the character's name is pronounced it takes me out of the story. That may be one reason I'm not a huge fan of fantasy/sci-fi.
Breaks in continuity – we've all done it and I'm as guilty as the next writer, but if they keep on happening in an MS I really wonder how the author's attention to detail. It makes me look at who published the book and possibly who the editor was.
"Throw the book across the room" moments – I came across one very recently. The heroine was planning to leave her two children at a ball field where they were practicing without saying goodbye or telling them where she was going, so she could have coffee with the hero, WHO SHE'D JUST MET. File that under "author does not have children" and "heroine too stupid to live".
Too much description – I find that especially sci-fi and historical romance authors can be the biggest offenders here. While I am aware that a sci-fi author may be trying to build a world, or a historical romance author wants the reader to be transported back in time, enough is enough. I do not need four straight pages of description with no breaks for dialogue.
Well, I'm sure I could come up with others, but I'll let you do that! Tell me what your pet peeves are. One random commenter will win a copy of my book. (Winner will be drawn on Wednesday, the 20th). Get talkin'!
Talk To Me Out Now
BUY LINK: http://www.loose-id.com/Talk-to-Me.aspx
The elevator doors opened, and Drew hurried to unlock his apartment and punch his code into the security pad before continuing straight to his bedroom. He spun and picked Jamie up as she neared the door, and she let out a squeak of protest.
"Drew!"
"What? I'm trying to be romantic. Efficient too." He grinned at her when she struggled to get out of his grip. The way she fought against him both amused and aroused him. "Not so fast," he warned her. "I'm not planning to let you get away until I'm good and finished with you."
Jamie cocked an eyebrow. "Good and finished? Be still my heart! Such dreamy talk from a man like you! I had no idea."
Drew laughed and dropped Jamie on the king-size bed with enough force to make her bounce, then climbed on top of her. Before she could protest again, he'd pressed his erection into her belly and taken her lips in another deep kiss. Jamie melted beneath him, snaking her hands around his neck while his found her hips, pulling her closer. "You need to get naked," he declared, rolling off her.
"Just me? That's hardly fair. If I'm getting naked, then this time, so are you." Her beautiful, full lips pouted at him.
He stood up, and in seconds, his pants and boxer briefs landed in a heap on the floor. He pulled his shirt over his head and added it to the pile. "Your turn."
Jamie rose up on her elbows and stared at him in disbelief. "How did you do that so fast? And may I add, very nice." She smiled and waggled her eyebrows, giving him a quick once-over.
"When I want something, I don't waste time. And I want you naked. Now."
He reached over and started yanking her top over her head, but she batted his hands away.
"Hey — stop that. You're going to dislocate my shoulder with your beastlike strength."
Drew laughed but allowed Jamie to gently pull her blouse over her head. He took it and tossed it on the chair near the window. Next she tugged her jeans off, leaving her in only her bra and panties, which Drew made short work of.
He groaned when she was fully nude. "God, you're fucking gorgeous, you know that? And I'm gonna put my hands and my tongue and my mouth and my cock everywhere on and in your beautiful body, so you better be ready."
Jamie shivered, and he covered her body with his, kissing her briefly before moving down her jawline, sucking and licking. This is gonna be good.
Cassandra Carr lives in Western New York with her husband, Inspiration, and her daughter, Too Cute for Words. When not writing she enjoys watching hockey and hanging out on Twitter. Her debut novel, Talk to Me, was released by Loose Id on March 22, 2011. For more information about Cassandra, check out her website at http://www.booksbycassandracarr.com, "like" her Facebook fan page at http://www.facebook.com/AuthorCassandraCarr or follow her on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/Cassandra_Carr.
Posted in Contests, Excerpts, Guest Blogger, Guests
Tags: Author Pet Peeves, Cassandra Carr, Giveaways, Guest Blogger, Talk To Me


Food preservation is a very important skill that you need to learn as a homemaker, much more if you are running a food business. Vacuum sealers offer convenience not to mention an opportunity to say goodbye to food wastes forever. If that does not seem impressive, we do not know what is.
Why seal in vacuum style?
Sealing food with the use of a very convenient and helpful tool makes it all worth it. Vacuum sealers present a nice option that will allow you to take advantage of meat sales and others because you can well preserve them without worrying about spoilage and wastage. There are many manufacturers, importers, and distributors of this handy tool and finding a valuable unit is part of the journey. You sure would want to invest on a good quality unit that will deliver positive results for you.
Vacuum sealing jar lids -Canning has never been this easy. With the help of high-end vacuum sealers, you will be able to seal in the freshness of both dry and wet food products. You may use them for sealing rice or beef jerky in a jar and enjoy the fresh difference afterwards.
Cling wrap wet food before sealing – One of the true tests of how efficient are your vacuum sealer bags is wet food as well as those varieties with bones that stick. To seal in the loophole, you may cling to a reliable cling wrap that will hold wetness and sticky troubles in place and make the vacuum sealing task effective. Of course, it would help a lot if you will pat dry the food before starting work.
Keep moisture in check – It is wise to have a dry area where your food vacuum sealers will do their tasks. Moisture is an enemy you should avoid to make sure that you get 100% positive results from your sealing effort. Sealing with some moisture will hinder the process to be completed and might even cause pinholes that are barely visible from the naked eye.
Stay within a comfortable amount – One of the biggest mistakes that could cause issues with your sealer is overfilling the bag. You must always leave a comfortable free space so when you vacuum air off it, everything will come off ideally.
Food preparation is the key -Food handling is the secret to make effective use of your vacuum sealer rolls every single time. Prepare the food before packaging to have no trouble doing your thing.


The central business district (CBD) in Mt. Lebanon is located on Washington Road, also known as State Route 19. In Mt. Lebanon, the CBD is generally known as "Uptown," a district composed of 41 commercial properties located between 733 and 600 Washington Road.
A lively and active traditional town center, Uptown offers visitors excellent restaurants, attractive and unique retail shops, and seasonal street festivals and weekly summertime farmers' market.
With both bus and LRT service by the Port Authority of Allegheny County the district provides ready transit access to downtown Pittsburgh and to the Galleria and South Hills Village. Mt. Lebanon offers many clean and safe parking options, including the new 89-space pay-and-display lot on Academy Avenue, spaces in the North and South garages, as well as on-street metered parking.
The district is home to 182 businesses including 72 storefronts. The storefront vacancy rate is approximately 8%. Available retail and commercial space is regularly posted on this site.
The CBD is the focus of Mt. Lebanon's Main Street Program, which manages the façade grant program. Between 2004 and 2012.
Other major projects on Washington Road include the recently completed Clearview Common, a $500,000 public investment that converted a surface parking lot to a beautiful public space; the $5 million renovation of the 1928 municipal building; a proposed hotel development by Kratsa Properties on the site of the Parking Authority's north lot, with an estimated project cost of $15 million; and a transit district planning process that will advance the eventual development of the air rights over the LRT station.


Xiamen University students recently made a survey at a cross road near the university campus, a section where a pedestrian walking bridge was built over a busy intersection.
The test was to see how people reacted towards different types of notice board. They designed 3 notice boards with different content, displaying them in turn for few days, and in between there would be some days with no notice board at all.


text:
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Minutes Matter Most
P069: SUCCESSFUL COMBINATION OF THORACOLUMBAR INTERFACIAL PLANE BLOCK AND ERECTOR SPINAL PAIN BLOCK FOR PERI-OPERATIVE PAIN CONTROL AFTER LUMBAR LAMINECTOMY
Nazir Noor, MD1; Ruben Schwartz, DO1; Alexander Volsky, MD1; Ivan Urits, MD2; Omar Viswanath, MD3; Richard Urman, MD4; Alan Kaye, MD5; Jonathan Eskander, MD6; 1Mount Sinai Medical Center; 2Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center; 3Valley Anesthesiology and Pain Consultants; 4Brigham and Women's Hospital; 5Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center; 6Portsmouth Anesthesia Associates
Introduction/Background: The thoracolumbar interfascial plane (TLIP) and erector spinae plane block (ESPB) were first described in 2015 and 2016, respectively. Though still fairly new, both the TLIP and ESPB have proven to provide effective analgesia in the peri-operative period. The TLIP consists of injecting local anesthetic (LA) within the fascial plan of the multifidus and longissimus muscles (2). The block is to reach and disrupt the ventral rami of the thoracolumbar nerves, resulting in effective peri-operative analgesia without opioid consumption (3). The ESPB also provides successful peri-operative analgesia for many painful surgeries (4,5,6). Given the individual successes of these two blocks, we decided to test the effectiveness of combining them for a patient undergoing L5/S1 laminectomy.
We present a case concerning a 39-year-old 70 kg female with a history of chronic right-sided leg pain radiating down to the right foot. The pain was a 6/10. Preoperative Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) demonstrated right paracentral herniation compressing the S1 nerve root with evidence of pseudoarthrosis of L4 and L5 spinous processes.
Surgery was scheduled after a series of noninvasive treatments. She underwent general anesthesia, receiving 100 mcg fentanyl at induction as the only opioid during the peri-operative period. After induction, she was placed in the prone position. The ultrasound-guided TLIP was then performed using a high frequency linear probe placed transversely at L5 at the midline. The spinous process and interspinous musculature were identified. The probe was then positioned laterally to bring the multifidus and longissimus musculature into view (7). Once these muscles were identified, 30 mL 0.2% ropivacaine with 10 mg of preservative-free dexamethasone solution was delivered bilaterally within this interfascial plane.
After the TLIP, the ultrasound-guided ESPB was provided at the L5 level. The L5 transverse process was identified before insertion of the needle cranial to caudal. The needle was advanced through the erector spine muscle until it was superficial to the transverse process. Hydrodissection of the interfascial plane was used for confirmation. The 30 mL of the same ropivacaine solution used for the TLIP was injected in this plane at L5, superficial to the bilateral transverse processes.
After the surgery, the patient was extubated in the operating room and transported to the post-anesthesia care unit (PACU) in stable condition. During her three-day hospital course, she required neither opioid nor non-opioid analgesics. She rated her pain 0/10 on the third day and was discharged home. It was not until her fourth day home when she took 2000 mg acetaminophen for some discomfort.
Methods: N/A (case report)
Results: N/A (case report)
Discussion/Conclusion: Opioids seem to be the reflex treatment in the acute post-operative period. Recent protocols, such as the Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) strongly advocate for the tremendous benefits of utilizing an opioid-sparing approach. ERAS has demonstrated shorter hospital courses, reduced post-operative complications, and lower costs with a reduction in opioid use for peri-operative pain. Though further studies are necessary for stronger evidence, we can confidently advocate for the combination of the TLIP and ESPB as a reasonable ERAS option.
Copyright © 2021 Florida Society of Anesthesiologists · Managed by BSC Management, Inc.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
<?php
namespace Contagric\BackendBundle\Entity;

use Doctrine\ORM\Mapping as ORM;

/**
 * Producto
 *
 * @ORM\Entity(repositoryClass="Contagric\BackendBundle\Entity\ProductoRepository")
 * @ORM\Table(name="producto")
 */
class Producto
{
    /**
     * @var integer
     *
     * @ORM\Id
     * @ORM\Column(name="id", type="integer")
     * @ORM\GeneratedValue(strategy="AUTO")
     */
    protected $id;

    /**
     * @var string
     *
     * @ORM\Column(name="nombre", type="string", length=150)
     */
    protected $nombre;

    /**
     * @var string
     *
     * @ORM\Column(name="descripcion", type="text", nullable=true)
     */
    protected $descripcion;

    /**
     * @ORM\ManyToOne(targetEntity="TipoProducto", inversedBy="producto")
     */
    protected $tipoProducto;

      /**
     * @ORM\OneToMany(targetEntity="RelProductoCampanya", mappedBy="producto")
     */
    protected $gastoProducto;

    /**
     * @var datetime
     *
     * @ORM\Column(name="created_at", type="datetime")
     */
    protected $createdAt;

    /**
     * @var datetime
     *
     * @ORM\Column(name="updated_at", type="datetime", nullable=true)
     */
    protected $updatedAt;

    public function __toString()
    {
        return $this->getNombre() ? $this->getNombre() : '';
    }

    public function __construct()
    {
        $this->gastoProducto = new \Doctrine\Common\Collections\ArrayCollection();
        $this->createdAt = new \DateTime("now");
        $this->updatedAt = new \DateTime("now");
    }

    /**
     * Get id
     *
     * @return integer
     */
    public function getId()
    {
        return $this->id;
    }

    /**
     * Set nombre
     *
     * @param string $nombre
     * @return Producto
     */
    public function setNombre($nombre)
    {
        $this->nombre = $nombre;

        return $nombre;
    }

    /**
     * Get nombre
     *
     * @return string
     */
    public function getNombre()
    {
        return $this->nombre;
    }

    /**
     * Set tipoProducto
     *
     * @param \Contagric\BackendBundle\Entity\TipoProducto $tipoProducto
     * @return Producto
     */
    public function setTipoProducto(\Contagric\BackendBundle\Entity\TipoProducto  $tipoProducto)
    {
        $this->tipoProducto = $tipoProducto;
        return $this;
    }

    /**
     * Get tipoProducto
     *
     * @return \Contagric\BackendBundle\Entity\TipoProducto
     */
    public function getTipoProducto()
    {
        return $this->tipoProducto;
    }

    /**
     * Set descripcion
     *
     * @param string $descripcion
     * @return Producto
     */
    public function setDescripcion($descripcion)
    {
        $this->descripcion = $descripcion;

        return $this;
    }

    /**
     * Get descripcion
     *
     * @return string
     */
    public function getDescripcion()
    {
        return $this->descripcion;
    }

    /**
     * Set createdAt
     *
     * @param \DateTime $createdAt
     * @return Producto
     */
    public function setCreatedAt($createdAt)
    {
        $this->createdAt = $createdAt;

        return $this;
    }

    /**
     * Get createdAt
     *
     * @return \DateTime
     */
    public function getCreatedAt()
    {
        return $this->createdAt;
    }

    /**
     * Set updatedAt
     *
     * @param \DateTime $updatedAt
     * @return Producto
     */
    public function setUpdatedAt($updatedAt)
    {
        $this->updatedAt = $updatedAt;

        return $this;
    }

    /**
     * Get updatedAt
     *
     * @return \DateTime
     */
    public function getUpdatedAt()
    {
        return $this->updatedAt;
    }

    /**
     * Get gastoProducto
     *
     * @return \Doctrine\Common\Collections\Collection
     */
    public function getGastoProducto()
    {
        return $this->gastoProducto;
    }

    /**
     * Add gastoProducto
     *
     * @param \Contagric\BackendBundle\Entity\RelProductoCampanya $gastoProducto
     * @return Producto
     */
    public function addGastoProducto(\Contagric\BackendBundle\Entity\RelProductoCampanya $gastoProducto)
    {
        $gastoProducto->setCampanya($this);
        $this->gastoProducto->add($gastoProducto);

        return $this;
    }

    /**
     * Remove gastoProducto
     *
     * @param \Contagric\BackendBundle\Entity\RelProductoCampanya $gastoProducto
     */
    public function removeGastoProducto(\Contagric\BackendBundle\Entity\RelProductoCampanya $gastoProducto)
    {
        $this->gastoProducto->removeElement($gastoProducto);
    }

}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
Tsipras says Turkish actions a sign of weakness, calls for EU sanctions if drilling confirmed
TAGS: Diplomacy
Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras says that Turkey's "provocation and flouting of International Law" in Cyprus' Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) are a sign of weakness and calls for EU sanctions against Turkey if it is confirmed that drillship Fatih has drilled for oil and national gas within Cyprus' EEZ.
Tsipras confirms he talked with Cypriot president Nicos Anastasiades on the steps the two countries must take to present the case for sanctions at next week's European Council. He says the EU has repeatedly condemned Turkey's violations of international law and its repeated provocations.
The Prime Minister says that Greece's and Cyprus' international position has been greatly strengthened because of the regional alliances both countries have made in the Southeastern Mediterranean, and, in Greece's case, with the government finally ending the decades-long names dispute over the name "Macedonia" with its neighbor to the north, now renamed North Macedonia, "a move that upgraded immeasurably Greece's international role and credibility."
Opposition New Democracy responded by republishing two excerpts from telvision interviews given by its leader, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, on May 14 and 22, in which he explicitly called for EU sanctions against turkey if it proceded with drilling within Cyprus' EEZ.
Tsipras made his statement after the meeting of the Defense and Foreign Policy inner cabinet, which lasted several hours Sunday.


deny that they even knew such a thing as the Book of Discipline,"
true love, a very careful lady.
in Lethington always worked for this end — the union of the Crowns.
Treaty of Edinburgh, she said, was prejudicial to her legal interest.
then postponed, owing to the state of French politics.
Bothwell had " shown " Arran " that he shall take the queen."
till the end of August 1562.
the letter, and shut Arran up in a room high above the ground.
way of dealing with him.
have been as odious to him as a Catholic Mary.
114 MARY BETWEEN ROME AND ENGLAND.
ligionists was presently to be made manifest.
in the winter of 1561, had pleaded the Guises' cause with Elizabeth.
As to Scotland, we know no proof of any such design.
persecution without form of law was initiated by the Guises.
Sidney reached Edinburgh on July 21, and saw Mary on the 23rd.
the end, preferred abstention to action, as her many wooers knew.
mercy (according to His commandment) shown to His creatures."
when Lord Ogilvie was wounded, and Gordon was imprisoned.
and a broadsword" (September 18).
herault, and there was talk of his leaguing himself with Bothwell.
body was brought to Edinburgh, young Adam Gordon was spared.
account by Randolph, an eyewitness and a man not easily deceived.
Strathbogie, "her Council find" the refusal to go "expedient"
to have married her where he would, to have slain her brother"
(November 2).'^^ Such are the comments of an eyewitness.
treachery. Mary " gloomed " on hearing of her victory at Corrichie.
taken and kept at the devotion of the said Earl of Huntly."
did yield), and by John Gordon's treacherous attack on her patrol.


Touch us with your perfect sight.
There was a stage where I was afraid to go out at night, knowing what I know now, knowing there are far, far worse things out there than the devils, demons and monsters. I used to imagine that the sunshine would keep them away, that it would somehow protect me. I've long since realized the futility of this, day light was just a way of pulling a blanket over my head and pretending they didn't exist.
As I'm committing this to paper I suppose I should explain a little, start as they suggest, at the beginning. I'll skip the mundane details, the normal childhood and, in their own rough way, the loving parents. I'll gloss over the awkwardness of adolescents and the hard work of growing up on a farm. I'll even miss out how I met my love, for the sake of anonymity we'll call her Esmeralda from here on in. For now let us skip to my greatest mistake, a terrible lapse of judgment and a beautiful star filled evening.
The oppressive heat of summer had been and gone, though the days were still fine the evenings had taken on an edge of chill that while not unpleasant was perfectly conducive for couples to squeeze that little bit closer and talk a little softer.
we were led out at the head of the small orchard, its lines of apple trees curving gently away toward the feeder pond, a warm breeze lent the evening a soft susurrus while above us in the clear sky hung the stars.
Esmeralda's head rested on my stomach, her auburn hair spilling out like the fiery locks of Sune herself. We talked about everything and nothing. Crops, livestock, our wedding, the family we desired, our lord, his idiot son and his wife's overly large teeth.
"If you had ten thousand florins, what would you do?" she asked, a playful grin upon her face, starting our regular game of ambition and contentment.
"That's a lot of money. I'd buy you the finest clothes and jewels in the land my love, only the best for you."
She smiled at this "I'm sure the finest would be ruined by farm work, muck on the silk and I'm sure the pigs would eat my jewelry. Best we stick with the money we have. How about being a swordsman? What would you do if you had the finest sword?"
"The finest sword? Then I'd have the finest skills to match my love. I'd slay monsters and villain's alik, so we could sleep safe and boast the finest treasures and trophies."
"Do you not think our house would be cramped with dragons heads on the wall, or that we'd be so tired from marching from one fight to the next? No, that'd never do. How about a wizard then, if you could cast the mightiest spells, what would you do?"
"A wizard? Well. I'd shape a better world for us my love, the summers never to hot nor winters to cold. I'd make our dreams come true."
"But the world is fine enough as it is. We've a pond for swimming when the sun is too hot, and good blankets to cuddle beneath when the snows fall." she smiled once more, then exclaimed and pointed skywards "A shooting star! Make a wish!" and I did.
I'd like to say I was a wise man. I'd like to say that I wished upon that streak of light for a long and contented life. But I was just a man, flawed, innocent and young. As a child I'd been enthralled by tales of wizards and magic and in my breast sat a bead of insecurity. How could a woman so fine and lovely really want to spend her life with a farmer. So I wished for a touch of power, both a reason for Esmeralda to be with me, and a way to shape us a better life in this world.
I didn't realize then what I had done. There was no flash of light or dire warning. Instead we carried on our night in blissful ignorance, doing what is often done by those young and in love.
Weeks passed. At night I began to have strange dreams, at first merely unusual but slowly they gained a threatening and insidious edge. After nearly a month of terrors and broken nights Esmeralda had a priest of Lathander called, he offered herbs and advice but could find no ailment within me that might cause such problems. he offered us the blessings of his lord before he left. It made no difference.
Nearly a month more passed, each night wracked with strange and terrible dreams, came the darkest night when Selune hides he light from the face of the land. On all the nights before my dreams had been strange, vague things, whereas this night was lucid and clear. I found myself on a slight rise, looking down toward a still and mirrored lake rimmed with ice. A battered and different moon lit the cold, frosted landscape that stretched away. A single figure was visible on the shore of the lake, the colour of his long robes hidden in the pale light of the moon, as I watched he turned to gaze at me, a white blankness beneath his cowl. With a gesture he bade me approach.
The figure asked before I had taken a place at his side, his face hidden as he gazed out over the lakes still surface.
The figure turned to face me, for a moment I glimpsed that featureless and palid mask beneath its cowl. It held out a pale, long fingered hand. In the middle of his palm lay a tiny egg like sphere, in its heart something moved. I took the thing and gazed into it, watching the shape at its center squirm and writhe.
How could I refuse? It was a dream, it wasn't real. A figment of my tired mind dwelling on old ambitions and long forgotten wishes. I swallowed the pill.
A week later, I blew up a cow.


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Junno Esteves
May 2, 2018 // Vatican
Clergy abuse survivors grateful after private meetings with pope
VATICAN CITY (CNS) — After private meetings with Pope Francis, three survivors of clergy sexual abuse from Chile said they felt they had been heard and were hopeful for changes in the way the Catholic Church handles accusations of abuse.
"I spoke for more than two and a half hours alone with Pope Francis. He listened to me with great respect, affection and closeness, like a father. We talked about many subjects. Today, I have more hope in the future of our church. Even though the task is enormous," Juan Carlos Cruz tweeted April 29 after meeting with the pope.
Pope Francis had invited Cruz, James Hamilton and Jose Andres Murillo to stay at the Domus Sanctae Marthae, the Vatican residence where he lives, and to meet with him individually April 27-29. The three were to meet with the pope again as a group April 30.
Although the three survivors tweeted after their private meetings, Greg Burke, director of the Vatican press office, said Pope Francis "expressly wished" that no official statements would be released by the Vatican regarding his discussions with the survivors.
"His priority is to listen to the victims, ask their forgiveness and respect the confidentiality of these talks," Burke said in a statement April 27. "In this climate of trust and reparation for suffering, the desire of Pope Francis is to allow his guests to speak as long as necessary, in a way that there is no set timetable or pre-established content."
In a tweet sent after his April 27 meeting, Murillo said he spoke with Pope Francis for two hours and that "in a respectful and frank way, I expressed the importance of understanding abuse as an abuse of power, of the need to assume responsibility, of care and not just forgiveness."
James Hamilton and Juan Carlos Cruz are seen on a terrace over St. Peter's Square April 29. (CNS photo/Claudio Peri, EPA)
Hamilton sent two tweets April 28 shortly after his meeting with the pope, saying that it lasted a "little over two hours" and that it was "sincere, welcoming and enormously constructive."
I am "very happy and satisfied," he said.
The Chilean survivors have alleged that Bishop Juan Barros of Osorno — then a priest — had witnessed their abuse by his mentor, Father Fernando Karadima. In 2011, Father Karadima was sentenced to a life of prayer and penance by the Vatican after he was found guilty of sexually abusing boys.
Although he initially defended his 2015 appointment of Bishop Barros as head of the Diocese of Osorno, Pope Francis apologized after receiving a 2,300-page report from a trusted investigator he sent to Chile to listen to people with information about the bishop.
The investigator, Archbishop Charles Scicluna of Malta, is president of a board of review within the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith; the board handles appeals filed by clergy accused of abuse or other serious crimes. The archbishop also had 10 years of experience as the Vatican's chief prosecutor of clerical sex abuse cases at the doctrinal congregation.
After a "careful reading" of the testimonies, "I believe I can affirm that all the testimonies collected speak in a brutal way, without additives or sweeteners, of many crucified lives and, I confess, it has caused me pain and shame," the pope said April 11 in a letter to the bishops of Chile.
The pope also said he was convening a meeting in Rome with the Chilean bishops to discuss the findings of the investigations and his own conclusions "without prejudices nor preconceived ideas, with the single objective of making the truth shine in our lives."
The three survivors, who have been outspoken about the Church's handling of abuse cases, welcomed Pope Francis' letter and accepted his invitation to meet so he could ask "forgiveness of all those I have offended."
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Ever travelled to a particular city, and faced the problem of having to carry a large guide that serves more than what you need? Take with you only what you need on your trip. Our itineraries are well thought out, personal and exciting! To the right, you will find the list of Itineraries we have compiled. Treat them as seriously as you wish. The act as more of a rough guide, and we will not remain liable for any loss as a result of over-reliance. Treat them as a fun guide and make the most of them. That's what they are there for!
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text:
Articles Scriptwriting Essays Stories About
ArticlesScriptwritingEssaysStories
Articles, Essays, and Stories from the hard-working millenial
Interviews from 36|86 in anticipation for Memphis DEMO Day
During my time at LaunchTN's 36|86 conference, I had the chance to interview several entrepreneurs and dedicated business owners affiliated with Start Co., Memphis's first technology based accelerator.
Begun in 2008 by CEO and founder Eric Mathews, Start Co. has three 100-day accelerator programs for diverse companies in the tech field. Seed Hatchery focuses on business to business, or B2B, software and hardware solutions and as Start Co.'s first accelerator, Seed Hatchery has launched 22 companies since 2011, with up to six startups per session. The Sky High accelerator helps launch social impact tech startups and Upstart is an accelerator for female entrepreneurs with six startups per session. August 13th marks Start Co.'s 5th Demo Day showcasing recent graduates from the three.
Some of Start Co.'s best and brightest entrepreneurs attended 36|86 conference last month where they debuted their companies to venture capitalists all over the southeast. Memphis native Jeremy Kendall, founder of Graph Story, a company that turns raw data into easily digestible charts and graphics, talked about the bright future he sees in store for Memphis.
"Growing up as a developer in Memphis, Tennessee, and kind of coming of age there...the tech community was struggling."
Kendall thought he would have to go to New York or Silicon Valley to be a developer, but he says "That's not the case anymore. And as the south and the southeast grows that's a big part of what we want to be a part of...we want to grow Memphis, Tennessee and west Tennessee and the South and the Southeast as a technology destination."
Kendall sees what he calls a 'grit' in the entrepreneurial atmosphere in Memphis that springs from the culture of the city. "There's a real scrappy thing going on in West Tennessee and people there are willing to fight for what it is they have and what it is they want. You're seeing a lot of that with Start Co.,. And Start Co. is doing a really good job of kind of leading that and bringing an energy to Memphis."
At the same time, Memphis hasn't lost its southern charm and friendliness. Founder of Preteckt truck fleet maintenance app Sasha Kucharczyk was surprised he was "able to walk into different businesses and just talk to the point people by just knocking on their door. Coming from Toronto, there would be delays in doing that and, it wouldn't be so easy. It really surprised everyone on my team how friendly and nice and open people were that we were actually trying to do something in Memphis."
Start Co. has been key in fostering creative collaboration between new businesses in Memphis. Managing Director Mara Lewis came to Memphis from San Francisco two years ago. She said the unique atmosphere of the city can only lead to success for young businesses, and expects big things out of Memphis in the next ten years. Lewis made the point that innovation is not dependent upon a certain region.
"I think that what's happening in Tennessee is that one, your money can go much, much further. With a couple hundred thousand dollars, you can get your company to revenue and to a lot of other milestone points much faster than I think you can in other areas where you're paying extraordinarily high amounts for salary and for rent, for example, in Silicon Valley...I think that there's a sense of community and hospitality and support around really growing the businesses there, and I think that's a big differentiator between some other coastal sub-ecosystems."
A current member of the Upstart accelerator, Jessica Buffington, founder of MLS My Nest, saw the regional difference as a huge advantage when she started her business.
"The entrepreneurship world in Memphis isn't really well known. Just with their growth with Start Co. alone over the years, I think you can see that we're putting our spot on the map now. There's a lot of great companies that have come out of Memphis and they're getting media recognition from it. So I think there's a lot of good things to come here in the future."
Buffington built her company around the idea of building networks with realtors nationwide who have agreed to list at a flat rate rather than on commission, and in return, MLS My Nest assists realtors in finding clients. She says the Upstart program helped her reasses the way she views the industry and taught her how to tailor her company to fit her clients and their needs. Buffington benefitted from the mentors she met through Upstart who offered free advice - mentors she continues to stay connected with.
Upstart has also helped launch 6figure, "the professional shopping app for women," spearheaded by Michael Wolf. "Upstart is a women-led team set apart of the Start Co. Accelerator Program. So within this, we have a support group and mentors who meet each week and we get to discuss how everything is going within our business, leadership, past experiences. So, it's very helpful to have other women out there working with us to get to reach our goals."
The idea of collaboration is echoed by another Start Co. student, Nick Fuller, founder of CareCurrent. His company was already established, but he applied to Upstart to help him navigate the world of investors and business. A native of Maryland, Fuller also commented on the unique collaborative atmosphere of Memphis and the surrounding region.
"I think what's interesting about Tennessee is that we have these four unique cities: Knoxville, Chattanooga, Memphis and Nashville that are all driving this entrepreneur ecosystem. I think it's kind of like the volunteer valley, actually."
On August 13th, Memphis Demo Day will feature some of Memphis' best and brightest entrepreneurs. This is the first year produced as a joint Demo Day with ZeroTo510 to showcase the entire Memphis ecosystem.
Businesses from the emerging fashion industry to healthcare and everything in between will be featured. This diverse mix of new businesses reflects the changing culture of Memphis to a premier destination for businesses and startups from all over the country.
Want more podcast content from 36|86? Listen to this next on our The Nashville Entrepreneurship Story Podcast: Tennessee Diversity, Support and Women in Entrepreneurship. Podcast brought to you by InvestablePitch.com. Interviews conducted by Clark Buckner.
Hannah Moseley August 20, 2018
What's NEXT for Nashville
Revolution Venture's David Hall Talks Rise of the Rest
9126551346 hannahmoseleywrites@gmail.com


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You are here: Home » Church Security » Sister: Man, wife gunned down at church 'died fighting for his baby girl'
Sister: Man, wife gunned down at church 'died fighting for his baby girl'
TYLER COUNTY — At a time when church-goers should have filled the parking lot of Mount Carmel Baptist Church near Colmesneil on Sunday morning, it was blocked by crime scene tape as Tyler County investigators continued studying clues in the Saturday murders of a Zavalla couple.
Nathan Maddox, 35, and Krystal Maddox, 30, were at the church, in a secluded area roughly 11 miles off U.S. Highway 69 south, for a supervised visit with his 4-year-old daughter Madison from a previous marriage when the incident occurred.
Nathan "Brad" Maddox had spent the last several months in a custody battle with his ex-wife's parent's for visitation of the girl. He chronicled his custody battle on a Give Forward support page titled "Help Me Save My Daughter." On the website he claimed his fight began in 2011 after his ex-wife denied him visitation with Madison for nine months and then abandoned her with his ex-wife's parents.
"There is nothing in this world like having your child taken from you," he wrote. "I thank God everyday that there is a chance I'll see her; a chance that she may know her 'Dada' loves her. Each and everyday without her is a struggle that has taken a piece of me. Everyday without her I lose another piece of me."
Nathan Maddox's ex-wife is out on bond in Tyler County, charged with methamphetamine delivery and possession, and has also been involved with counterfeit money, according to his attorney, Ryan Deaton.
Last month Nathan Maddox was awarded a series of visits that would have likely led to full custody of Madison, Deaton said.
"This was going to be their last visitation at the church, and the next step would have been bringing her to Angelina County for the day, then overnight. After that, they would have moved to standard visitation," Deaton said, adding that there was "no question" Nathan Maddox was going to get custody of the girl.
http://lufkindailynews.com/news/community/article_0d77bfde-813a-11e3-9f24-0019bb2963f4.html
JESSICA COOLEY/The Lufkin News, Sister: Man, wife gunned down at church 'died fighting for his baby girl', lufkindailynews.com
Man accused of trying to sexually assault girl in church parking lot
Girl, 15, who started church blaze is jailed
Spain: baby born in church after mother shot dead by stranger has died
Church Bus Driver Pleaded Guilty To Fondling Teen
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Of course you like your Ektorp sofa, cover, unfortunatelly, must be changed - you think, don"t you? In the end, it was your favorite sofa, but at Ikea you could buy a traditional Ektorp sofa for 2 or 3 people or a corner sofa for a total of 4 people, only those colors... Let"s face it: Ikea designs great furniture, but they are not always available in the color of future users" dreams. With the help of Soferia, you can order for your Ektorp sofa cover in any color and sewn with many available fabrics. Cover can be sewn with one-color fabrics, but also it can be made of eco leather. Fans of colorful covers can choose colored mosaics or flowers inspired by Provence. Each cover is perfectly matched to your sofa, it is worth ordering it to cover a small dirt or protect sofa from wiping. Soferia will cover every type of Ektorp sofa, just place an order, indicate the type of sofa and the material to create your cover.
Dobre koszule nocne specjalnie dla ciebie!