text:
Category Archives: Blog Tour
Tuesday Round Up Presents~ A Unique Love: SEISMIC CRIMES by Chrys Fey #mfrwauthor #hurricaneromance
I have my friend Chrys Fey back to tell us about her newest book release. I can't wait to get this series when my budget allows some new books. 😀
Welcome Chrys!
Thanks for inviting me back, Calisa! I'll jump right in.
SEISMIC CRIMES by Chrys Fey
My characters in the Disaster Crimes Series have a unique love. They didn't know each other in high school or hate each other when they first met. Oh, no. Donovan was a suspected murderer, and Beth couldn't decide if he was guilty or not. And they fell in love in the unlikeliest, strangest way: during a hurricane and while trying to prove Donovan's innocence. When you go out on a limb for someone and do what you never thought you would, you are in love and the biggest form of love possible.
Beth loves Donovan despite his title of a suspected murderer, despite the fact that he could be convicted, and despite being possibly named an accomplice to a crime. The love they share is selfless. It doesn't care about their circumstances. And neither do they.
Beth and Donovan are willing to fight, kill, and die for each other. No disaster can keep them apart. No criminal can destroy them. In a way, their love is indestructible. It's their love that gets them through the danger I throw at them. And everything they go through only makes their bond greater, stronger, purer.
Beth's Unique Love:
Beth goes undercover to help Donovan prove his innocence.
She washes his hair in the shower when he's injured.
She kisses Donovan in the exact spot where he had his first kiss so her kiss in that place will be the only one he'll remember.
Donovan's Unique Love:
Donovan tells his mom that Beth saved his life.
He covers a dead snake because he knows Beth is terrified of them.
He gives Beth a bracelet with a charm that symbolizes how they fell in love.
Resigned to her battered looks, she finished washing her hands and rejoined Donovan in the front of the department. She lowered herself into the chair beside him, her muscles sighing when the cushions molded to her aching back. She angled her body toward him. "Aside from not being able to do anything about Buck at the moment, what do we do now?"
"We?" Donovan tilted his head at her. "You don't need to be a part of this anymore, Beth. You're off the hook…if you want to be."
She looked at him, not believing he could dismiss her so easily, especially after their intimacy. If she were a logical woman, his words would relieve her. She'd cut all ties and forget about everything that happened, but she couldn't do that. She was changed forever by Hurricane Sabrina. Her life was changed forever by the man in front of her. "Donovan, this isn't over yet. Not by a long shot. I'm in it to the end."
Donovan took her hand, rubbed her knuckles with the pad of his thumb. "Thank you."
A happy warmth spread through her at the sweet contact. "So, what do we do now?"
An Internal Affairs Investigator was murdered and his brother, Donovan Goldwyn, was framed. Now Donovan is desperate to prove his innocence. And the one person who can do that is the woman who saved him from a deadly hurricane—Beth Kennedy. From the moment their fates intertwined, passion consumed him. He wants her in his arms. More, he wants her by his side in his darkest moments.
Beth Kennedy may not know everything about Donovan, but she can't deny what she feels for him. It's her love for him that pushes her to do whatever she has to do to help him get justice, including putting herself in a criminal's crosshairs.
When a tip reveals the killer's location, they travel to California, but then an earthquake of catastrophic proportions separates them. As aftershocks roll the land, Beth and Donovan have to endure dangerous conditions while trying to find their way back to one another. Will they reunite and find the killer, or will they lose everything?
Amazon: http://amzn.com/B01CRJSPIU
Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/seismic-crimes-chrys-fey/1123508790?ean=2940158028380
KOBO: https://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/ebook/seismic-crimes
http://catalog.thewildrosepress.com/all-titles/3804-seismic-crimes.html
Amazon: http://amzn.com/1509207252
http://catalog.thewildrosepress.com/paperback-books/3838-seismic-crimes-paperback.html
Chrys Fey is the author of Hurricane Crimes, Book One in the Disaster Crimes series, as well as these releases from The Wild Rose Press: 30 Seconds, Ghost of Death, and Witch of Death. She is an administrator for the Insecure Writer's Support Group and creates their monthly newsletter.
Fey lives in Florida and is always on the lookout for hurricanes. She has four adopted cats who keep her entertained with their antics, and three nephews who keep her entertained with their antics. You can connect with her on Facebook, Twitter, and through her blog, Write with Fey. She loves to get to know her readers!
Website: www.ChrysFey.com
Blog: www.writewithfey.blogspot.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/chrysfey
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ChrysFey
Thank you for visiting, Chrys! Please leave comments to say hi, folks.
Posted in Blog Tour, Branding, guest blogging, Pen of the Dreamer, Promotion, Tuesday Round Up, Welcome
Tags: #TWRP, Calisa Rhose, Chrys Fey, guest, Pen of the Dreamer, romantic suspense, Seismic Crimes, The Wild Rose Press, Tuesday Round Up, Writing
Calisa Rhose presents~ Tuesday Round-Up featuring Amber Daulton #mfrw #guestauthor #freebook
Welcome one and all! Grab a beverage of choice, something sweet and sinful. 😉 Take a comfy seat for another, or maybe it's your first first, spin in the Round Pen.
I'm thrilled to welcome my wonderfully talented guest today, Amber Daulton, who is sharing her book Timeless Beginnings with us!
Please show Amber some real Ranch love!
Before I get to the nosy part of this interview, tell us a bit about you.
AD: For me, writing is the fruit to happiness. I try to live my life by that one belief but I'm not normally so Zen. I'm a fan of contemporary, paranormal and historical romance novels alike and I can't get enough of feisty heroines and alpha heroes. My mind is a wonderland of adventure, laughter and awesome ways of kicking a guy when he's down. I probably wouldn't be too sane without my computer and notebooks. What can I do when there are people jabbering away in my head and it's hard to shut them up? Write! Nothing else works.
CR: Okay, here we go! Although I have an awesome office upstairs that hubby created for me last winter, my favorite writing area is a super comfy chair in the corner of my living room. What does your writing space look like?
AD: I have an awesome office. Bookshelves cover every wall and I have cute little decorations like stuffed animals, shiny wall hangings and butterflies everywhere. My professional-looking stained desk somehow became horribly scratched up a few years ago when my husband and I moved to our new house so my hubby sanded it down and I painted it an off-white color and drew ivy and flowers all over the legs. It's very whimsical now and fits great with my frou-frou decorations.
CR: I love the sound of your office and the desk is adorable! I can see why you love it.
For a lot of writers it's a life-altering event coming up with titles and character names. Others it comes as naturally as breathing. Which is it for you?
AD: Deciding on titles is a slight hassle (I usually pick titles with double meanings or a play on words) but coming up with names is such a chore. The names have to fit with the characters I see in my mind perfectly or I can't use them. I usually choose the names based on their personality, physical characteristics, family dynamics/heritage, the time period of the novel or just what I find sexy! I'm very picky (especially with the heroine and hero) and I sometimes spend hours, if not days, just scouring through baby name books and websites for the best names.
CR: What advice would you offer aspiring and new writers?
AD: Make friends with other authors and readers via social media. Don't be shy. Start a blog even if you aren't published and join blog tours. A tour is a great way to get a free ebook as long as you write a review and post it on your blog. The author's readers will then come to your blog to read the review. They'll see YOUR name. And that's what you want. To get your name out there.
Just keep trying. I know it sounds cliché but there's nothing else to do. If you don't try, you won't succeed. Period. Keep your hopes high, take rejection letters in stride and if a publisher or editor gives you feedback on why he/she rejected your work, listen to their feedback. They know what they're talking about.
CR: The constant shift of the industry makes me often scratch my head and ask 'what next?' So, what do you think it takes to be a successful author at the moment?
AD: The publishing world is in an uproar and I doubt it will smooth out anytime soon. To be successful, you need to know your audience and market your genre to those people. A reader who loves paranormal romance probably won't be interested in a historical novel and vise-versa. You gotta do a ton of promoting, whether you pick the free options or the ones that cost a fee. Most publishers offer very little assistance so the responsibility falls to the author. It can be a nightmare but it's something we authors have to deal with and struggle through. After all, if the reader doesn't know your name, he or she won't buy your book.
CR: Great answer, Amber. So, who would you like to meet in the publishing industry- dead or alive- and why?
AD: I'd love to meet a few of my favorite authors. Sherrilyn Kenyon and Christine Feehan are the first ones that come to mind.
CR: It's time to get personal. Bwahaha. LOL I'll ask some questions and you answer them in one word. 😆
Favorite animal? – Cat
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter? – Fall
Favorite food? – Chinese
CR: Okay, love this. Well done! 🙂
AD: I'm in the process of editing the fourth book in my Arresting Onyx series. The sexy, dirty-talking contemporary romance series will span five books with a standalone HEA for each rough-and-tumble hero and their spunky heroines. The first book is out on call and I hope to have it picked up soon.
After I finish Arresting Onyx, I plan to edit a set of currently unpublished vampire novels. My poor vamps need a grueling overhaul but I'm looking forward to the task ahead.
CR: What are you sharing today?
Timeless Beginnings
Leonora Harris fled her newly-wedded husband's home in Georgian England, 1725, and took shelter in a cave during a rainstorm. She woke up in a cold, barren land and a handsome stranger with a mechanical carriage offered her shelter.
Undercover American operative Rodger Ramsey never expected to find a runaway bride in the magnificent Salar de Uyuni. Assigned to Bolivia to investigate Communist activities, he just wrapped up his two-year mission in 1963 and followed his heart to the salt flats one last time.
Sparks flew and attraction sizzled. The lost, stubborn woman kicked his protective instincts into overdrive. Rodger took her home with him, determined to help her before he returned to the States, and Leonora flourished under his guidance. Their hearts intertwined. He wanted her, needed her, but could he truly love a woman who believed she jumped two hundred years in time?
Will they find a way to stay together, despite the obstacles between them, or will Leonora survive in this strange new world alone?
(Author's Note – Timeless Beginnings is a standalone prequel to Timeless Honor, another time travel story that came out last year. The books don't need to be read back-to-back in order to enjoy or understand them.)
"I'll do or say whatever you wish, illegal or not." Leonora steeled her spine as the words tore up her throat. "I thought you trusted me. What can I do to earn it?"
Rodger ate up the distance between them with three long strides and shackled her wrist in his large hand like a manacle. She stumbled toward him. Tension permeated the air around him in waves of red-hot heat.
"Have you heard of the CIA, Leonora? The Central Intelligence Agency?"
"No, I have no idea what that is."
"What can you tell me about the communist activities and alliances in this country?"
"Nothing. I don't know. What kind of questions are these? What are you talking about?"
His head tilted to one side and his lips thinned. Rodger stared at her with a long, hard gaze even as she squirmed, the steel in her spine gone. Stress lined his face and the tendon in his neck throbbed against his skin like a tic. Minutes passed, or maybe just seconds, and air whizzed out through his nostrils. The anger in his face seemed to drain and he somehow looked older.
"How can this be? You told me the truth about everything." He stepped back and stroked his fingers up her arm. "Though you squirmed under my gaze, you did so after you answered me and only because I intimidated you. You didn't once respond with a typical facial or verbal nuance to indicate you lied. I feel the truth of your words in my gut and in my soul."
"I haven't once lied to you."
"I just—I don't understand. This is so unbelievable. I wish you could provide me with some kind of undeniable proof you're from the past."
"As do I, Rodger."
"If we do this, you'll stay with me until I decide otherwise. I'll protect you. I'll kiss you and touch you. You should know that right away. I respect you, Leonora, but I'm not a strong enough man to deny my desire for you indefinitely. I won't bear my frustration and keep my distance anymore. Do you understand what I mean? I need to lay with you, again and again, with no regrets. Do you accept those terms?"
Rich honey poured into his every word, every syllable, and wrapped around her like a sweet promise. Blood thundered in Leonora's ears and her lungs expanded with air to the point they might burst. The longing in his eyes scorched her.
Caught like a fly in a spider's web, she nodded, her voice gone.
"Tell me, dearest. I need to hear the words."
"Yes. Yes, I accept."
Where can we find your books?
You can find Timeless Beginnings here:
Amazon – https://www.amazon.com/Timeless-Beginnings-Amber-Daulton-ebook/dp/B01IYI0AJK#nav-subnav
B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/books/1124169996?ean=9781535362054
Goodreads – www.goodreads.com/book/show/30638898-timeless-beginnings
I also have eight other stories currently available. They can be found on Amazon, B&N, ARe, Smashwords and Kobo and range between sweet (no sex/sex behind closed doors/mild petting) to spicy (explicit scenes with dirty language).
If you're interested in the sweet variety, check out: Forever Winter (historical), Lightning over Bennett Ranch (western) and Cinderella's Enchanted Night (cont. romance with a magical twist).
Or the spicy: A Hero's Heart (romantic-suspense), Mistletoe in the City (new adult), Timeless Honor (time travel), My Valentine Adventure (cont. romance), and Calla's Summer Fantasy (erotic ménage à trois).
Also, check out the Cinderella Treasure Trove. It's FREE on Amazon and at other retailers. Last year, 15 romance authors, including myself, formed the Glass Slipper Sisters and we produced an excerpt book to showcase snippets of our Cinderella-themed stories. Recipes and party ideas are also part of the freebie.
I love to hear from readers, so please feel free to follow or contact me below:
Blogsite – http://amberdaultonauthor.blogspot.com/
Facebook Author Page – www.facebook.com/amber.daulton.author
Twitter – https://twitter.com/AmberDaulton1
Pinterest – http://pinterest.com/amberdaulton5/
Goodreads – http://goodreads.com/author/show/6624921.Amber_Daulton
Amazon Author Page – http://amzn.to/14JoZff
LinkedIn – www.linkedin.com/pub/amber-daulton/87/538/368
Google Plus – plus.google.com/u/0/110099048961325762869/about/p/pub
I'd love to give a free ecopy of Timeless Beginnings to one lucky commenter.
Question: Timeless Beginnings is a time-travel/historical/contemporary romance book. Whew! What a mouthful! Do you prefer to read books that fit into one single genre or into multiples?
Thank you so much for playing along, Amber! Wishing you much luck with your book and writing. I hope you'll come visit again one day.
Posted in Blog Tour, Marketing, Pen of the Dreamer, Promotion, Tuesday Round Up, Welcome
Tags: Amber Daulton, Calisa Rhose, giveaway, guest, multi-genre, Pen of the Dreamer, time-travel/historical/contemporary romance, Timeless Beginnings, Writing
A rare day on the Ranch~ Once by M.S. Kaye #MFRWauthor #coverreveal
Book One
Her first and also her once.
Jonathan and Rebecca's paths cross at exactly the right moment, when each most needs to hear what the other has to say.
But Jonathan is three days from entering the priesthood, and Rebecca leaves him to his peace. But he is unable to find peace.
Without each other's comfort and strength, they must each struggle to forge a new path, with only memories of the one day that changed everything.
But are they able to forget and let go?
Will be released July 2, 2016 from Inkspell Publishing.
Add to your to-read on Goodreads.
M.S. Kaye has several published books under her black belt. A transplant from Ohio, she resides with her husband Corey in Jacksonville, Florida, where she tries not to melt in the sun. Find suspense and the unusual at www.BooksByMSK.com.
To receive news on upcoming releases, sign up for email updates on her website.
Facebook | Twitter | Google+ | Goodreads | Amazon | TSU | Pinterest | LinkedIn
Preorder your copy today:
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Once-Book-1-MS-Kaye-ebook/dp/B01DQ6JVE0
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/29630603?source=ebfg_tw
Kobo: https://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/ebook/once-20
Once & Again, book two
Will be released September 4, 2016 from Inkspell Publishing.
She was once his secret desire…will she be again?
Father Aiden, an ex-marine and new priest, falls in love with Maylynn, but he struggles to stay away from her. He's successful for many years, though he can't keep her out of his dreams.
Then one day she shows up for a pre-marital counselling session with her fiancé, Davis. Aiden soon realizes Davis isn't who he says he is, but what does that mean for Maylynn, and for himself?
Once & Forever, book three
Will be released December 2016 from Inkspell Publishing.
Eden, a nun, is constantly struggling against her dark past of living on the streets, and her attraction to Trace, an ex-convict farm worker. After a twelve-year separation, Eden is finally reunited with her brother, Thomas, but why hadn't she reached out to him in all those years? As Eden and Trace grow closer, confessing their pasts to each other, will they be able to resist getting too close?
Excerpt from Once
"What's the answer?"
He paused. "A switchblade."
With my fingertips, I reached out and traced the scar across his cheek. "Did you win?"
He removed my hand and closed his eyes. "Yes."
I slid his Book back to him. "This says we can find forgiveness."
His eyes still closed, his jaw clenched. He bowed his head. "It also says 'Thou shalt not kill.'"
I took his hand in both of mine, petted his rough skin, and then brought it to my lips. He had a talent for guiding invisibly, but I didn't know how to do that.
He watched me again. His eyes were intense, like the black of the night sky, and his forehead was furrowed, as if his emotions were scattered, as if he was shocked at my reaction, as if he had been sure his answer would drive me away. But I knew him. Already, I knew him.
"You're still a good person," I said.
His jaw clenched. "I've been trying to believe that."
"I have faith in you."
He continued to watch me. His forehead never smoothed, as if he was fighting for strength, but his eyes softened. He slid around the booth, closer to me.
I didn't move, not sure what to do, what was right, what he wanted.
He leaned closer.
I only watched him.
He touched his lips to my cheek, the faintest pressure. I struggled to sit still, to keep my hands in my lap, not to grab hold of him. And then his lips were gone, such brief contact that I couldn't be sure if he had actually kissed my cheek or if I wanted his contact so much that I'd imagined it.
He spoke in my ear. "You must be some kind of final test."
My heart pounded into my ribs, against the point of the blade. "Are you going to pass?"
His lips brushed against my jaw. "I don't know."
He trailed to my neck, his mouth softly pressing. My hand curled into his hair, the other on his shoulder, holding, clutching. His mouth found mine, barely touching. His warmth invaded my head.
"God give me strength," he murmured.
The door slid open, and the compartment filled with laughter.
He closed his eyes. Then he slid away from me.
Posted in Blog Tour, Promotion
Comments Off on A rare day on the Ranch~ Once by M.S. Kaye #MFRWauthor #coverreveal
Tags: book 1, Calisa Rhose, contemporary romance, M.S. Kaye, Once, Pen of the Dreamer, trilogy, Writing
Calisa Rhose presents ~ the Montana Sky series #14authorspt2 #kindleworlds #mfrwauthor
As I said on Wednesday's post, I've invited fourteen wonderful authors to share their series with us this week. I'll turn the round pen over to spokeswoman E. Ayers once more to finish sharing the books and the beautiful covers for each author. Because we know you are busy and have other blogs to visit (among other things), we've split these fourteen books in half to make it more convenient for you. Read on! 😀
Waving hello to all your readers. I'm excited to be here and to tell you about something brand new! Amazon has a division called Kindle World, which is a wonderful place for fan fiction. For readers it's a great place to read more on favorite characters and storylines. For writers it gives them a chance to write in another world.
Debra Holland created Morgan's Crossing, Montana, a historical series of mail order bride books. Kindle World asked her if she'd add Morgan's Crossing, to Kindle World. I believe this will be the first western historical world for Kindle World, Montana Sky Kindle World. And she asked her friends to go into this venture with her.
It's been loads of fun writing in Debra's world with authors I knew, such as Cynthia Woolf, and some I didn't know until this project. We've each brought our own stories and characters, and set them into Debra's world. We've borrowed each other's characters and used Debra's. We've traded bits and pieces of stories to be certain of accuracy.
I still can't believe that I've collaborated with Caroline Clemmons. She's an icon when it comes to romance books. She's been putting out best selling books for years.
A little drum roll, please!
Paty Jager Isaac http://amzn.com/B01BL0HKJQ
Historical western filled with steamy romance and the rawness of a growing country.
Alamayda Wagner's life has left her cynical, but also vigilant, and that's what propels her to Morgan's Crossing, Montana in order to uncover the secrets her father took to his grave. She quickly discovers her only hope includes trusting Isaac Corum. That soon proves to be expensive, and not just financially.
The last thing Isaac Corum needs or wants is a snooty woman telling him he didn't do enough to save her father, which is what her letter implied. He'd helped the man more than most people would have, and swears he won't go out of his way like that again. He'll meet her at the Sweetwater Springs train station, deliver her father's belongings, and send her back the way she came.
But, dang it all, the woman doesn't do a single blasted thing she's told, and Isaac can't just sit back and let her go traipsing off into the mountains alone…
Linda Carroll-Bradd: Laced by Love http://amzn.com/B01BL0HL4K
Seamstress Cinnia York wants more than performing with a traveling vaudeville troupe—she wants to put down roots. The day after the troupe arrives in tiny Morgan's Crossing, the manager takes all the money and leaves town. By opening a dressmaker shop, Cinnia hopes to make the home she's always wanted, but Nola, the older sister who has made the decisions for the orphaned sisters, disagrees.
Leather worker Nicolai Andrusha is living in hiding as Nic Andrews until the patent on his family's tanning process is approved. Although he's under a mandate to keep a low profile, he's intrigued by the red-haired performer. Controversy arises when miners claim they paid the manager for private appointments with the female performers. Will Nicolai risk oppose his family obligation to help the stranded beauty who has caught his eye?
Patricia Thayer: Slater's Bride http://amzn.com/B01BL0HKIC
A sweet romance set in Montana Territory in 1887 in a small mining town, Morgan's Crossing.
Loretta Drennan learns about her stepfather's plot to sicken her mother and take over the family business in Chicago. Letty flees to Montana in search of her brother, Johnny, to seek his help. Traveling alone, she meets Paul Slater who claims to own a ranch with Johnny as his partner. He offers to escort her on the two-day journey to their ranch in Morgan's Crossing.
Hoping to out-run a looming snowstorm, they instead get stranded in a cabin. Days later they finally reach their destination. Reunited with her brother she pleads her case for him to return home. Johnny wants to help but his share of stocks will not give him the needed votes to gain control of the family company. Letty can only get her shares when she turns twenty-five or by marrying. Paul steps in to help by offering to wed his friend's sister.
They plan a wedding, in name-only, but there are real underlying feelings. When left alone at the ranch house the truth begins to come out. But the honeymoon is interrupted when a stranger shows up and kidnaps the bride. Can Paul save the woman he's fallen in love with before it's too late?
Crystal Green: The Cowboy's Secret http://amzn.com/B01BL0HL7M
A cowboy's hidden heart…
Silent, strong Boone Ross has a secret, and after beautiful widow Lorena Bell arrives at the ranch where he works, that secret only grows, threatening to consume them both.
The past has always been a step behind Boone, but now it's coming closer and closer. Is it time to run again, or will he stay and fight for a love that can bring him out of his self-imposed darkness?
This sweet 28,000 word novella takes place during Debra Holland's BENEATH MONTANA'S SKY, while John Carter is back East choosing a bride.
Carré White: Wesley's Unexpected Bride http://amzn.com/B01BL0HKSW
Widower Wesley Briggs is content to raise his son and work his ranch alone, until one of his cowhands, Rory Wise, who has already ordered a mail order bride, breaks his back in a fall. When Wesley fetches Rory's bride from the station, he encounters a lovely, vulnerable woman.
After her father's death, Frances Brewbaker and her four sisters must find husbands at once. Agreeing to move to Montana and marry a stranger, she embarks on the adventure. She is met at the depot, not by her intended, but by his employer, who she finds appealing and ruggedly handsome.
Faced with the prospect of losing her intended, Frances must decide if she will stay in the Montana Territory. The widower and his son, Jason, are much in need of a woman's touch to soften their rough edges. Jason adores her, yet Wesley's feelings are infinitely more complex, because he has fallen in love with Frances. Can he convince her to stay and marry him?
Kirsten Osbourne: Mail Order Machinations http://amzn.com/B01BL0HKO6
Sisters Esther and Coral Carruthers realize they need to leave town quickly to escape the scandal of their father's crime. Esther chooses to become a mail-order bride in faraway Montana Territory rather than face her former fiancé at every turn. The only problem is she must take her younger, and more capable sister, with her when she goes.
Brody Finnegan sends away for a mail-order bride and is thrilled when Esther answers his letter, not realizing she will be bringing her younger sister with her. He's not happy when he spots the two of them together, but agrees to still marry Esther taking them both on. Will Esther and Brody be able to get past her initial deception and find love together? Or will having Coral involved ruin everything?
Louella Nelson: Rye's Reprieve http://amzn.com/B01BLWL8X8
Gifted surgeon Rye Rawlins is trapped by a tragic secret so painful that he denies his profession and works as a miner in a gold mine. But saving people is second nature, whether its doctoring a man mauled by a mountain lion or battling a wolf to save a child.
Veterinarian and horse rancher Missouri Harper, the sole support for her three sisters and ailing aunt, must fight her attraction to the handsome miner, whose bravery puts her in his debt. To keep the land she has claimed for her family, she must remain a spinster for three years.Struggling against bitter winter weather, lack of provisions, and wild predators, Missouri vows to deny her love to protect her sisters' legacy.
How exciting do these seven sound? If you missed Wednesday's post with the first seven, it's here! Thanks you E. for offering all of these books to readers. 🙂
Posted in Blog Tour, guest blogging, Marketing, Pen of the Dreamer, Promotion
Tags: Calisa Rhose, Carre White, Crystal Green, Isaac, kindleworlds, Kirsten Osbourne, Laced by Love, linda carroll-bradd, Louella Nelson, Mail Order Machinations, Patricia Thayer, Paty Jager, Pen of the Dreamer, Rye's Reprieve, Slater's Bride, The Cowboy's Secret, Wesley's Unex[ected Bride
Calisa Rhose presents ~ Gambler's Choice by Linda Nightingale #mfrwauthor #abouthorsepeopleforhorsepeople
Today I have a special guest who is a new and very dear friend and fellow horsewoman who has been instrumental in helping me through an, at-times, unbearably intolerable week. Please welcome the multi-talented and lovely Linda Nightingale to the Ranch! She's brought her new book to share. I absolutely LOVE this cover and can't wait to read my copy of the book. Here's Linda to share about the book.
Gambler's Choice
By Linda Nightingale
A novel about people who love horses…
From The Wild Rose Press
Editor: Mary Harmony
Tagline: An English aristocrat and a Virginia socialite go head-to-head—and feet-to-feet—in a battle over ownership of a very special horse.
Rating: Spicy
Digital Price: $4.99
Here's a video trailer to enjoy in lieu of a blurb. 😀
Gambler's Choice:
Rebecca McQuaid was in England for one reason.
To find the perfect match.
Size was important. Becca was a tall girl. Money was of no consequence whatsoever. Becca was a wealthy girl. Heart mattered most. He must have the heart to go the distance. She dreamed of a partnership that would last a lifetime. But looks did rank quite high on her list of priorities.
"I simply can't ride an ugly horse. That would be like dating an ugly man." Tossing her long blonde hair over her shoulder, she laughed and winked at her friend.
Meg shot her a frown, her tone accusing Becca of being an uncivilized colonist. "Rebecca McQuaid, you say the damnedest things."
An appreciative chuckle turned her around to squint into the sun. A tall, elegant, dark figure of a man on a magnificent horse caught her imagination mid-stride. She couldn't see the rider's face, but she knew he'd overheard the exchange with her friend. He saluted her with a tap of his whip to the brim of his hat as he rode past. Excitement capered over her, and she smiled. The horse's muscled, blood bay rump glistened. The stallion was sixteen-two hands, fit and impeccably groomed.
"Nice buns. That one's good-looking enough for me." She elbowed her friend. "Who is it?"
Meg shaded her eyes. "Gambler's Choice and Austen Heath. Both horse and rider satisfy your criteria, my dear girl."
"The horse is handsome." She wished she had gotten a better look at the bay, but he was a mahogany blaze in the morning sun. "Are you telling me the rider is?"
"That's the general consensus, but Austen hides in that rambling, dark mansion of his." Meg studied the pair picking up a trot along the arena. "Fierce competitors. Hard to beat at Intermediate. We'll see how they handle Advanced."
"An Advanced horse?" Becca wriggled her shoulders. "I'm in the market."
"Look elsewhere." Meg's finger jutted at Becca's nose. "Austen won't sell Gambler for love or money. Guaranteed. Not even for the kind of money you're willing to spend."
"Meggie." She linked arms with her friend. "Everything has a price."
Meg balked like a donkey. "You're in a different world, princess."
"Well, not everything. Love doesn't have a price." Pain wrenched her heart as a memory of the breakup with Daniel flashed through her mind. The hurt was too fresh to even think of another man. "But I'm not in the market for love."
Becca had found that the best way to protect her heart was to play spoiled little rich girl. She had that part down pat, and, as Winston Churchill had said, There is something about the outside of a horse that is good for the inside of a man. She was looking for a horse to fall in love with and help mend her broken heart.
Linda and Bonito perform a Musical Freestyle to Phantom of the Opera
From the time I was born, I was in love with horses. Every Christmas, I'd rush to the window to see if there was a pony tied to a tree. Sadly, there never was until my parents moved to a small farm near where we'd formerly lived. Then they bought me a black paint gelding I named First Fling. I was thirteen at the time. From that beginning, after I married, I went on to breed Egyptian Arabians and later the magnificent Andalusian horse. My stallion Bonito was three times National Champion.
So, it was predestined that at some time I would write a book about horses and the people who love them. I can testify that this love can be one to distraction! I had never participated in 3-Day Eventing, a very demanding and dangerous sport, but my friend in Florida was an eventer. If I ran into a problem with the technical information, I called Helen. She'd walk me through the event. I didn't ramble off into too much detail because I didn't want to bore the non-horsey reader. The techniques of the half-pass, the shoulder-in, and the canter pirouette are probably not familiar to most people outside the horse aficionado.
Gambler's Choice is the name of a jumping class in a horse show. I think that name and the excitement of that race against the clock inspired the book. In this class, each team (horse and rider) that makes a clean round goes on to the next. The fences are raised, and again they must beat the best time of other entries. A sit-on-the-edge-of-your-seat kind of experience.
I named the equine star after the class. Though the book is a romantic suspense, the story is really about two people who love one horse. Becca is willing to pay any amount for Gambler's Choice. Austen is not going to sell his best friend for any price. Perhaps, a horse person is the only one who'd understand how dramatic this conflict is.
I love to chat with readers so come see me at these locations around cyberland.
Twitter: https://twitter.com/LNightingale
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LindaNightingaleAuthor
Buy Link: print http://ow.ly/YaLsh or digital http://ow.ly/YaLFD
Web Site: http://www.lindanightingale.com – Visit and look around. There's a free continuing vampire story.
Blog: https://lindanightingale.wordpress.com/ – Lots of interesting guests & prizes
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4839311.Linda_Nightingale
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/lbnightingale1/
Book Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=03972_A_5-Y
Thank you for visiting and sharing GC with my readers today, Linda. I can't wait for news on future projects!
Posted in Blog Tour, Friday Fanfare, guest blogging, Promotion, Publishers, The Wild Rose Press, Welcome
Tags: #TWRP, 3-day Eventing, books, Calisa Rhose, equestrian, equine, Gambler's Choice, gothic, horse books, horse lovers, horses, Linda Nightingale, new releases, Pen of the Dreamer, reading, romantic suspense, The Wild Rose Press, Writing
I've invited fourteen wonderful authors to share their series with us this week. I'll turn the round pen over to spokeswoman E. Ayers to tell you about these books and to share the beautiful covers created for each author. Because we know you are busy and have other blogs to visit, too, we'll show half today and half another day. Read on! 😀
E. Ayers: Loving Matilda http://amzn.com/B01BL0HKHS
Matilda "Matt" Berwyn, forced to live disguised as a boy in a mining town, longs to escape and blossom into the female she's always wanted to be. But her desire to leave Morgan's Crossing escalates when she realizes she's being stalked.
Stockyard hand Zeke Hillerman knows her secret and has fallen in love with her. He helps her flee to his parents' home in the east to learn to be a lady, while he struggles to start his own ranch. As Matilda grapples with Victorian expectations of young women, Zeke's plans for their future unravel, and he realizes that the cost of her ticket out of Morgan's Crossing may have been his own heart.
Cynthia Woolf: Thorpe's Mail Order Bride http://amzn.com/B01BL0HKL4
Lena DuBois never knew her father until he suddenly reappeared in her life to tell her he's arranged for her to marry one of his business partners. Lena flees, deciding to become a mail-order bride, where at least she's the one doing the choosing. Her future husband, John Thorpe, has requested a woman of good moral character which Lena considers herself to be. The problem is her mother is the most celebrated madam in all New Orleans. What will happen if he discovers her secret?
Caroline Clemmons: Amanda's Rancher http://amzn.com/B01BL0HKPK
One desperate young woman.
A chance meeting.
A life-changing outcome.
Growing up in a brothel, Mara O'Sullivan battled public disdain and contempt, but always remained kind-hearted and gracious. After testifying against vicious bank robbers, her life is threatened and Mara must find sanctuary far from everything she knows.
One train ride changes her life as she fatefully meets a half-sister and a niece she never knew existed. But when circumstances end her sister's life, Mara makes a promise that she'll raise her niece as her own and take her sister's place as Preston Kincaid's mail-order-bride. As Mara and Preston grow closer, their marriage no longer seems like a ruse, but a relationship of love, passion, and desire.
Mara's past comes back to haunt her and she finds herself in danger—will her new husband forgive Mara's deceit and protect her as his own?
Merry Farmer: The Wild Bride http://amzn.com/B01BL0HKS2
Minnie Faraday is clever, daring, and out of control. When she finally goes too far, her parents hatch a plan to send her up to Morgan's Crossing to marry the man she's been in love with since she was a little girl. It's the perfect plan to settle and ground her, and one her parents are sure will bring happiness to everyone involved.
One problem… They neglected to tell Minnie about the plan before shipping her off.
Freddy Chance always had a soft spot for the bright, adventurous girl who followed him around through his youth, but marriage is the furthest thing from his mind. He has made a life for himself as a mechanic in Morgan's Crossing, in spite of a mining injury that slowed him down. Minnie doesn't fit into his plans, but, feeling a sense of obligation, he's willing to entertain the idea of marriage.
But when the beautiful and very grown up Minnie steps off the stage, what was once innocent affection blossoms into passion. Only, Minnie isn't finished getting into trouble, and this time her life and Freddy's are on the line.
Kit Morgan: Anson's Mail Order Bride http://amzn.com/B01BL0HKQY
When Anson Jones discovers one of the men who embezzled money from his family's company hid the loot near Morgan's Crossing in Montana Territory, he leaves Oregon and travels there under the guise of setting up a horse ranch. Then all he has to do is wait for the culprit to slink into town, dig up the money, and have him arrested. There's only one problem. Anson just sent train fare to the Pettigrew Bridal Agency for his mail-order bride! He can't bring a woman into such danger and telegraphs the agency to stop everything. But when his message to Mrs. Pettigrew is altered, she thinks he wants her to send his bride to Montana! Misunderstandings, a loony villain, plenty of romance and a few surprises make for a fun romp.
Sylvia McDaniel: Faith http://amzn.com/B01BL0HL40
Trent Anderson is bound and determined to protect his young daughter from the fate of his late wife, refusing to allow her to end up like a bored socialite ruled by wealth and prestige. When his father sends for a woman to take over his daughter's academic training as well as her feminine etiquette, Trent refuses to bow down to his father's wishes.
Until he sees the beautiful and elegant teacher exit the train…
She just might be what his daughter needs–and what he desires.
Still dreaming of independence and self-worth that don't require her to be shackled to any man, Faith Warren denies her attraction to the rugged cowboy–as she dreams of starting her own girls' school. But once she starts falling hard for the Montana rancher, she must decide between what her heart wants and where her convictions guide her. Can she find a way to give her heart to the man who teaches her about home and family, while still holding firm to her beliefs?
Cassie Hayes: Hope on the Horizon http://amzn.com/B01BL0HKJ6
When tragedy strikes, love blooms…
Jasper Eaton couldn't be happier with his life. Despite having the deck stacked against him since the day he was born, he beat the odds and found himself a home in Morgan's Crossing, Montana. He has friends, a farm and a future brighter than the stars in the night sky. Nope, he couldn't be happier.
Or could he?
Cora Winters is a good girl who always does what she's told. When she's forced to marry an older man headed west, she never dreams she'll end up widowed, injured and left for dead by the side of the road.
After Jasper rescues her, Cora proves to be a charming helpmate on his farm as she recovers. But it won't last long. For the first time in her life, Cora must choose her own path. She could settle in Montana or continue on to her homestead in Hope Springs. But heading to Idaho would mean leaving Jasper behind because he would never give up his farm.
Or would he?
As their friendship blossoms, they each dare to dream of a better life together. When Cora's past comes back to haunt them both, a gunman's bullet threatens to kill their future before it even begins.
Hope on the Horizon is the prequel to the Western Sunset series, set in the fictional town of Hope Springs, Idaho. Look for the first book in the series in April, 2016.
How exciting do these seven sound? Come back Saturday for the other seven! Thanks you E. for offering these books to readers. 🙂
Tags: Amanda's Rancher, Anson's Mail Order Bride, Calisa Rhose, Caroline Clemmons, Cassie Hayes, Cynthia Woolf, E. Ayers, Faith, Hope on the Horizon, kindleworlds, Kit Morgan, Loving Matilda, Merry Farmer, Montana Sky, Morgan's Crossing Montana, Pen of the Dreamer, Sylvia McDaniel, The Wild Bride, Thorpe's Mail-order Bride
Calisa Rhose presents ~ The Connection Between Urban Fantasy and Romance #MeganMorgan #mfrwauthor
I'm turning the Round Pen over to my special guest today. Please welcome author, Megan Morgan! She's here to enlighten us on the post title.
THE CONNECTION BETWEEN URBAN FANTASY AND ROMANCE
Hello everyone! I'm happy to be here today on the Ranch and want to first thank Calisa for having me.
I'm always eager to chat and make new friends! My name is Megan Morgan and I'm an urban fantasy and paranormal romance author—I also write a bit of contemporary erotic romance on the side. You could say that's my 'naughty' side. I'm an author with Lyrical/Kensington and last year was the debut of my Siren Song urban fantasy series with them.
I'm here today to talk about the connection between urban fantasy and romance. Some people say urban fantasy is a subcategory of science fiction while others feel it's a subcategory of romance. Sometimes urban fantasy is even relabeled as paranormal romance. Much urban fantasy out there today does involve a romantic subplot, even if the main focus is on something else.
In my series, my heroine June Coffin has a lot on her plate, but she also finds herself in a romantic triangle with two very different men. June is a siren living in a world where paranormal people exist, are acknowledged by the general population, and are scientifically studied—sometimes, to nefarious ends. June tries to keep her power low-key and stay away from all the politics and science, until her brother is taken hostage by a shady scientific institute in Chicago and she has to rescue him.
June must find some help to do this, however. She meets Micha Bellevue, a non-paranormal human who advocates for paranormal rights. Micha is a sweet, wholesome, handsome, good guy, who is fascinated with June and her slightly less wholesome, spunky, punkish ways. However, there's one huge problem—Micha's wife has just been murdered, but he has no memory of it, or of her, because June accidentally erased his memory with her power.
She also meets Sam Haain, the brash and outspoken leader of a paranormal group that believes humans and paranormals shouldn't mix—and that scientists certainly shouldn't be studying paranormal people. He's the tall, dark, and handsome type with big ambitions and an even bigger mouth. He thinks June would be much better suited in his corner, fighting the good fight at his side.
At first June has misgivings about both of them, for many obvious and not-so-obvious reasons, and she's much more focused on saving her brother and getting out of Chicago. However, as the series progresses, feelings blossom and she finds herself torn between them. Even in the upcoming third book, on the surface she appears to have made her choice, but deep down, she really hasn't.
So, does this make my particular series a subcategory of romance? There's certainly a lot of emotions involved as the story unfolds, and romance does bloom. However, the story doesn't always focus on the relationships, so does that mean it's not romance?
I think it's up to the reader to decide. Fans of urban fantasy probably have a lot of opinions on the matter. As for myself, I like urban fantasy that has a romance subplot. Some say urban fantasy tends to be sexier and racier than typical romance, but again, I think this depends on reading tastes and the author.
How about you? Do you think urban fantasy fits in the romance category, or do you think it's something else? I'd love to hear your opinions! Comment and you'll be entered to win an e-copy of the first book in the Siren Song series, The Wicked City.
BLURB FOR THE WICKED CITY (Siren Song #1)
She's got a voice to die for…
Whatever June Coffin says, goes—literally. And it's not just because she's a chain smoking rebel. As a Siren, June has the ability to force people to obey any command she voices. But in a world where those with supernatural powers quickly become lab rats for science, she'd rather look out for herself than fight on the front lines…until her similarly gifted twin brother, Jason, is captured by Chicago's Institute of Supernatural Research.
To save Jason, June has no choice but to enter a hidden world of conspiracy, murder—and strange bedfellows—including a widowed paranormal advocate whose memory June accidentally erased, and a fiery paranormal separatist leader. Soon the lines between attraction and strategic alliance become blurred. But in a city exploding with paranormal crossfire, and her brother's life at stake, June will have to face her inner demons and finally take a stand.
Read the first chapter.
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | All Romance Ebooks | iTunes | Google Play
BLURB FOR THE BLOODY CITY (Siren Song #2)
It's been four months since the head of the Institute of Supernatural Research was murdered. But that doesn't mean June Coffin is out of hiding yet. In a world where being different can get you killed, it's best to keep a low profile. Especially for a Siren who can control other people with the call of her voice. That goes double if your powers might be inexplicably growing…
But June isn't the only one trying to clear her name. There's Sam, the charismatic paranormal rights leader, and Micha, the first human on record to go paranormal. All of them must bargain with a mysterious vampire named Occam Reed if they want to stay alive.
As tensions increase between humans and paranormals, June must decide who to trust. If only she could hear the song inside her heart…
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | iTunes | Google Play | All Romance Ebooks
BLURB FOR THE BURNING CITY (Siren Song #3)
When the smoke clears, who will be left standing?
Tattoo artist June Coffin has another, more hidden talent: she's a Siren who can influence people with the sound of her voice. But in the wake of a murder and shake-up at the Institute of Supernatural Research, her own powers are starting to kill her. The only chance she has of saving herself—as well as her kidnapped brother and best friend—is to become a vampire. But joining the ranks of the vengeful vamp, Occam Reed, is the last thing June wants to do.
Occam isn't the only danger June needs to worry about. Power hungry telepath Robbie Beecher will stop at nothing to gain control over Chicago. He'll destroy anyone who gets in his way—and June's lover, Sam, is high on the hit list since his bid for Mayor. With the city and June's heart being pulled in different directions, it's only a matter of time before the powder keg explodes…and time isn't something June has much of left. With a city on fire, can she rise from its ashes?
Available July 5, 2016
WHERE TO PRE-ORDER:
Amazon | B&N | Google | iTunes | Kobo
Megan Morgan is a multi-published award winning urban fantasy, paranormal romance, and erotica author from Cleveland, Ohio. RWA member, bartender by day, and purveyor of things that go bump in the night, she's trying to turn writing into her day job so she can be on the other side of the bar for a change. Hailing from the often-wintry shores of Lake Erie, she lives with an attention-seeking cat and her adult son, both of which shed too much.
Website: http://www.meganmorganauthor.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/morgan_romance
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/megan.morgan.author
Google+: https://plus.google.com/u/1/116773473236786103709/about
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/mmorganauthor/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8380732.Megan_Morgan
Amazon Page: http://www.amazon.com/Megan-Morgan/e/B00LBHTUSE/
Well, these definitely sounds exciting, Megan, and those covers are to sing for! 😉 To make her visit even better, did you notice up there ^ that Megan is offering one ecopy of THE WICKED CITY (Siren Song #1) to a lucky commenter who leaves their email for her. Believe me, I wish I could qualify to win this one! 😆 *She will randomly draw the winner by nine p.m. tomorrow (Wednesday) night, so get your email registered by commenting now! 😀
As usual, I want to thank Megan for dropping by and all of you who visit her. Please don't forget to Like and share this post from any of the many buttons provided above. 🙂
*If no email is available for contact, and the winner doesn't respond in the comments with one within 24 hours, Megan will draw another winner, so be sure to check back often to see if you've won. 🙂
Posted in Blog Tour, guest blogging, Kensington, Lyrical Press Inc, Marketing, Pen of the Dreamer, Promotion, Tuesday Round Up
Tags: Calisa Rhose, fantasy, Kensington-Lyrical Press, Megan Morgan, Pen of the Dreamer, Siren Song series, The Blood City, The Burning City, The Wicked City, Writing
Calisa Rhose presents the Glass Slipper Sisterhood #CinderellaTreasureTrove #parttwo #mfrwauthor
I'm so excited to present part two of the special 2-post event kicking off the New Year!
As I said yesterday, I was approached by an awesome group of authors a while back to help promote their Cinderella Treasure Trove. Remember, 15 Cinderella stories. FIFTEEN! And, of course, I wanted to help. So, again keeping this short for your time's sake, today I bring you the next half of these wonderful and talented ladies to share their covers and stories. Thank you for returning! If you missed yesterday's post, read it here http://wp.me/p1tz0T-1q9 and we'll wait. Ready?
Please welcome more special GSS guests!
We are the Glass Slipper Sisterhood. A collection of fifteen romance authors who have written a retelling of the Cinderella story. From tear-jerking heartaches nail-biting suspense, haunting magic, bubbly chick lit humor and dream-come-true romance, we've got something for every reader! We've compiled excerpts from each story into one free volume, the upcoming "Cinderella Treasure Trove," which we've filled with recipes and ideas to inspire your next party. We will be launching this volume on New Year's Eve with a huge princess giveaway. To highlight this treasure trove, as well as our individual titles, we've crafted a book trailer which we hope you might enjoy.
Please take a look at the trailer, which can be found on Youtube at https://youtu.be/9iQeoybSd0o?list=PLMxj85qIUzd9IY9GYRNRXPTgmbcsOYCFE, or you can view it right here. It's movie day on the Ranch! The Cinderella Treasure Trove:
Here's the link to our Amazon store which features all of the books highlighted in the sampler book.
http://astore.amazon.com/glassslippers0b-20?_encoding=UTF8&node=7
We also have a web page: http://stacyjuba.com/blog/glassslippersisters/ and a Facebook group where we interact with readers about all things Cinderella. https://www.facebook.com/groups/482493158588214
In Nobody's Cinderella by Joan Reeves, Darcy is the oldest cliché in the world
—a woman in love with her boss. She's not even a blip on Chase's radar, but her
matchmaking friend has a plan. All it takes? A couple of lies—and a wish on a
Christmas star. Darcy should heed that old advice: be careful what you wish for!
In Ines Johnson's "Pumpkin: a Cindermama Story", having given up on
fairytales after falling for her toad of an ex, Pumpkin is afraid to take a chance
on town royalty Manny who believes she may be his soulmate.
In PJ Sharon's "Savage Cinderella", Brinn Hathaway survives for years in
the wild after being kidnapped and left for dead, only to be drawn out of hiding
by a young nature photographer who steals her heart. Now, Brinn must decide if
coming out of hiding is worth the hope—and the danger—that may await her.
Raven St. James only has 24 hours in her Cinderella body in Sharon Kleve's
"Second Chance Cinderella." What will she do with it? Will she become the
confident, strong, flirty girl she wants to be? Will she get the guy she has always wanted?
If you had your dream body for only 24 hours… What would you do? In Angela Ford's
"Spellbound Cinderella," one magical pendant gives Tess one wish to use before the
clock strikes twelve.
In Melissa McClone's "The Cinderella Princess," a scandal-ridden prince must
marry a royal if he doesn't want to be disowned, but he falls for the American sent to find
him a princess bride.
In Rochelle Weber's "The Thin Person Inside", rock star Sean Wesley and three-hundred
pound Kristen Jensen are an unlikely match. But strange things happen when food and drug
addicts come together at the Danville (Middle-of-Nowhere), Illinois, VA Hospital.
In Lynette Sofras "Wishful Thinking", a struggling single mother and a pop-icon turned
Hollywood star meet in unusual circumstances. Fate drew them together but the intrigue and
trappings of stardom threaten to unravel love's ties.
Tune in for UnCover Monday throughout January where I'll also be hosting this fabulous group's combined Cinderella Treasure Trove cover art, which will link back to these two posts as well. Thank you for stopping by this week. Be sure to chat with the authors right here on the Ranch!
Posted in Blog Tour, Pen of the Dreamer, Promotion
Tags: Angela Ford, Calisa Rhose, Cinderella Treasure Trove trailer, Ines Johnson, Joan Reeves, Lynette Sofra, Melissa McClone, Nobody's Cinderella, Pen of the Dreamer, PJ Sharon, Pumpkin: a Cindermama Story, Rochelle Weber, Savage Cinderella, Second Chance Cinderella, Sharon Kleve, Spellbound Cinderella, The Cinderella Princess, The Thin Person Inside, UnCover Mondays, Wishful Thinking
Calisa Rhose presents the Glass Slipper Sisterhood #CinderellaTreasureTrove #partone #mfrwauthor
I'm so excited to present a special 2-post event to kick off the New Year!
I was approached by an awesome group of authors a while back to help promote their Cinderella Treasure Trove. I was stoked! 15 Cinderella stories? FIFTEEN! Well, yeah, I wanted to help!!! So, keeping this short for your time's sake, today half of these wonderful and talented ladies will share their covers and stories, then tomorrow you can return to meet the rest.
Please welcome my special guests!
Annalise wanted just one night with Elijah, in Amber Daulton's "Cinderella's Enchanted Night,"
but will an antique locket and a bit of Cinderella magic fulfill her every dream?
In Jennifer Conner's Cinderella had it Easy, Cami only has 24 hours in her Cinderella body.
Will she keep hiding or can she learn how to live life?
In Kae Elle Wheeler's "Cinderella Series," a concerned queen and a feisty fairy godmother
unleash mischief. All due to an impulsive decision from the prince and the glass slipper fitting
other than the intended foot.
In Rebekah Ganiere's "Cinder the Fae", When Prince Rome's father initiates a contest to win
him a wife, Cinder finds herself having to fight sixty other females for his heart while trying to
keep the evil vying for the crown from destroying them all.
She's an unappreciated housekeeper with an eye for designer goodies.
Find out if Cindi gets her dream shoes and her dream guy in Lisa Scott's "Fairy Tale Flirts!
Volume 4;" a sweet, funny modern take on Cinderella.
Ever wonder what happens when the glass slippers pinch Cinderella's toes? In Stacy Juba's
"Fooling Around with Cinderella", when Jaine Andersen proposes a new marketing role to
the local amusement park, general manager Dylan Callahan charms her into filling Cinderella's
glass slippers for the summer.
In Caroline Clemmons' HOME SWEET TEXAS HOME, Courtney Madison has battled poverty
her entire twenty-five years. When she receives an inheritance she learns that while money
improves her life, it doesn't guarantee happiness. The only way wealthy rancher/entrepreneur
Derek Corrigan can protect his family and himself is to keep his private life very private, and
that includes keeping his distance from his attractive new neighbor. Besides, he knows what
women do to him—they always leave and take chunks of his heart with them.
He's been there, done that, had the vaccination and is cured. Isn't he?
Posted in Blog Tour, guest blogging, Pen of the Dreamer, Promotion
Tags: Amber Daulton, Calisa Rhose, Caroline Clemmons, Cinder the Fae, Cinderella had it Easy, Cinderella stories, Cinderella Treasure Trove trailer, Cinderella's Enchanted Night, Fairy Tale Flirts vol 4, Fooling Around With Cinderella, Home Sweet Texas Home, Jennifer Conner, kae elle wheeler, Lisa Scott, Pen of the Dreamer, Rebekah R. Ganiere, Stacy Juba, The Cinderella Series, UnCover Monday
Calisa Rhose presents ~ Shatterproof by KK Weil #mfrwauthor #tuesdayroundup
Welcome KK Weil to the round pen today! She's sharing her new book, Shatterproof, and I'm asking her a few random questions. KK also has a special offer at the end.
Thank you so much for having me on your blog! I'm very excited to be here.
I'm thrilled to have you! Let's get started.
What is your writing routine?
As soon as my kids leave for school, my computer goes on. My coffee sits next to me and if the weather is nice, I either work outside or open all my windows. Fresh air inspires me. Usually, I take care of any "business" first, like social media or communications with other authors. After that, I dive into writing. What that means depends on the day. It might be picking up where I left off and spewing out tons of words or maybe I just go over what I did the day before and tweak it. Of course I find the days when I get more pages out to be more productive, but both kinds of days are necessary. I work until the kids come home, which often means losing track of time and neglecting everything else that needs to be done. And then my computer goes back on when they go to sleep.
Which comes first for you—plot or characters?
It depends. For my first book, At This Stage, I knew the premise of the plot before anything else. I developed my characters around what I wanted to happen in the story. In my new release, Shatterproof, my hero, Griffin is a character from the first book. I fell in love with him while I was writing At This Stage, and I knew I wanted to give him his own story. Shatterproof developed entirely around Griffin, so in that case, character definitely came first. In the book I'm working on now, I started with a general idea of the plot, but was having some trouble with my heroine. Then I used a character sketch to get to know her better and then everything started flowing like magic.
What aspect of writing comes easy to you? What is difficult?
For me, the most natural part of writing is the story development. I absolutely love creating something from nothing and every time plots come together in ways I didn't initially expect, I get very excited. I tend to write about sensitive subjects, so I guess I'd have to say the hardest part is how to handle them. For example, a large part of Shatterproof is about how Griffin deals with his anger towards his mother for staying in an abusive relationship for years. I really wanted to capture what he was going through, while making it clear that the feelings were his as a product of that household, and not mine as a writer. It can be tricky.
What was your first writing piece and where is it now?
I've always written, so I couldn't name my first piece. But my first "full length book" – which would have to be judged by how many pages it took up in a marble composition notebook – was about twin girls. One good, one, bad, naturally. And the trouble they got into. I think I wrote it in Junior High. I still have it, tucked away in my basement, in a duffle bag filled with old stories I've written.
Where in the world would you want to visit (all in the name of research, of course) and why?
My number-one dream destination is, without a doubt, Australia. I've actually had my itinerary planned for years, because one day, it will happen. There are so many things I want to see there. The opera house and the beautiful Great Barrier Reef are at the top of my list. But above all, I want to visit the outback, Ayer's Rock and learn about the Aborigines. I couldn't imagine a more wonderful place to take my family. And imagine the stories it would inspire!
Who would you like to meet in the publishing industry and why?
Margaret Atwood. (https://twitter.com/MargaretAtwood1) To me, she is the queen of dystopian fiction, one of my favorite genres. I'd do anything to pick her brain.
Favorite movie and why?
I have so many, and they truly change with my mood. But two of my all-time favorites are Bullworth and Oh Brother, Where Art Thou, because I love satire.
Salty, sweet, or both?
Salty, salty salty. Except if you're offering me a peanut butter cup.
Shatterproof Blurb
Griffin Stone knows the stats. Sons of abusers become abusers. This is his single fear.
After witnessing firsthand his parents' tumultuous marriage, Griffin worries that he, too, harbors an explosive dark side. Can he escape from his father's rage-fueled ways or is he destined to become part of the cycle?
Unable to persuade his mother to leave and wrestling with his resentment towards her for staying, Griffin volunteers at Holly's House, a safe haven for abused women. Through sculpture, Griffin gives these women pieces of themselves they've long forgotten. Holly's House is the only place where Griffin finds peace and purpose.
Until he meets Frankie Moore.
Frankie is an aspiring photographer, finding beauty in things most people miss, including Griffin. Griffin is attracted to her free-spirited, sassy attitude but fears Frankie will trigger the most intense part of him, the one he must keep buried.
Frankie's got to get her act together. Her anything-goes behavior is leading nowhere fast. She's hopeful that her latest hobby will be a building block for the future. But when a stranger appears on the other end of her camera, looking as complex as he is handsome, Frankie thinks this might be just the change she needs.
Shatterproof Excerpt
"You need to grow up, Griffin," my father spat at me. "Life isn't perfect. You need to get over it and move on. Your mother can. She's happy with me and whatever we have between us is our business, not yours. Grow the hell up, and start acting like a man instead of a petulant child."
Heat shot through my body at lightning speed. "Act like a man—like you?" I shouted. "What should I do, go pick some amazing woman who's full of life and beat it out of her until she can't even recognize herself any more, until she can't even differentiate between love and pain? Is that what a man does, Dad? Is that what I should do?"
My father broke into a smile. An evil, condescending, terrifying smile. "You think you're so different from me?" He hovered over me. His tone was sinister, as if he was trying to cut through my skin with nothing but his voice. "Get up." He yanked my arm and pulled me by the elbow into the bathroom. He grabbed the back of my head and forced me to face the mirror. "Look at yourself, Griffin. And look at me. Everything about you comes from me. You may deny it now. You may put yourself on a pedestal, thinking you're above being human, but just know that the fire inside you, that's my fire. That passion, it's mine. And when you have an uncontrollable desire to love, to hurt, to possess a woman, it's from me. Nothing is yours alone. Even this face." He snagged my chin between his strong fingers. I tried to yank it away from his grasp, but he held on too tight. "It's mine. And there's nothing you can do about it. You can try to mask it in this mess of hair and clothes and tattoos you have going on, but know that every time a woman falls in love with that face, every time she says she can't resist you because of it, every time she can't walk away from you…it's because of me. It's because you are me. We. Are. The. Same." He released my chin with a shove and left the bathroom.
Instead of telling you how I've always loved to write (which is true) or how I dabbled in different genres for years while I was a teacher, before I took it up full-time (also true), I'd like to let you get to know me a little.
I love trying all different foods. I enjoy everything from street meat to decadent delicacies. When I travel, I pester the locals for restaurant recommendations, off the beaten path. Having said that, I am a savory fan. I don't have a sweet tooth. I'd much rather have another bite of dinner and one more glass of wine that save room for dessert. There is one exception to this rule. Reese's peanut butter cups. Sometimes I think I love those more than I love my children. I'm kidding. Maybe.
I'm left handed. I blame my horrendous handwriting on this, even though I don't really believe they're related. Everything in this world is built for and by righties. (Ever try using a can opener with your left hand?) So when I meet another left-handed person, I feel an immediate bond to her, like we're in this special club. A club founded on being inconvenienced. When I was young, I was desperate for my sister to be a leftie like me. So even though she grabbed things with her right hand, I'd quickly switch them to her left. Now she's ambidextrous.
I always save the best of everything for last. It's a compulsion. I don't like pizza crust very much, so I eat it first. I tear it off, piece by piece (I don't bite the slice backwards. I'm not a Neanderthal, for God's sake), until there's just a little bit left in the center. I use this as a handle.
I have an irrational fear of lice, bedbugs and any other insect that can become an infestation.
I prefer beaches over grass, heels over flats, dramas over comedies, coffee over tea, night over morning and fall over spring.
She sounds interesting, doesn't she? Check out:
Shatterproof, a New Adult, Contemporary Romance
Amazon http://amzn.com/B015UESACU
Nook http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/shatterproof-k-…/1122695550…
Kobo https://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/ebook/shatterproof
The Wild Rose Press http://www.wildrosepublishing.com/maincatalog_v1…/index.php…
Website: http://www.kkweil.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KKWeilAuthor/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/KK_WEIL
Blog: KKWeil.blogspot.com
I have one leftie (of my three girls) and teaching her was a challenge in a lot of ways as she grew up, since I'm a rightie. She's ambidextrous also, mostly because she was right handed until a nine foot fall when she was almost 2 that rewired her brain some. Thank you for visiting the Ranch and sharing your work and yourself, KK!
For a chance to win a copy of one of her books, tell KK if you are a rightie, or a leftie. 🙂
Posted in Blog Tour, guest blogging, Interview, Pen of the Dreamer, Publishers, The Wild Rose Press, Welcome
Tags: #TWRP, Calisa Rhose, contemporary romance, KK Weil, Pen of the Dreamer, Shatterproof, The Wild Rose Press, Writing


text:
The Politics of Race in the Pandemic: Some Ethnic Media Perspectives
By Muskan Sandhu
Image Source: Philippine Canadian Inquirer
COVID-19 has been hailed as the "great equalizer" by multiple influential entities including New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson's team, and American popstar Madonna. This statement presents only a part of the picture as the virus in itself may not be discriminatory, but its impact is mediated by a variety of pre-existing social identity markers, such as that of race, class, and gender, that often underlie discrimination. As racism rears its ugly head in Canada in the midst of a public health crisis, ethnic media reporting makes it amply clear that the virus's repercussions are anything but a colour-blind phenomenon crashing through a vast expanse of a socially unmarked territory.
In the context of the Vancouver Police Department's statement that it had "seen an uptick in the number of racially-motivated crimes," the Filipino Post, a weekly Filipino newspaper from Vancouver, pointed out that "from Canada and the U.S. to Europe and across Asia, the global coronavirus pandemic has brought with it an increase in racist attacks and microaggressions against people of Asian descent." The Punjabi BC Round Up on Zee TV Canada reported that in response to the increase in racist hate crimes, the BC government put together a committee to act against racism.
Many Chinese media outlets in Canada denounced the role mainstream media reports may have played in fueling anti-Asian sentiment. The Global News piece on the alleged role of the United Front in exporting PPE from Canada to China was the focal point of these stories. BCbay, a Chinese newspaper from Vancouver, didn't mince words in stating that "over the past 20 years, there have been too many mainstream articles smearing China and smearing the Chinese community in Canada." Similarly, another Chinese newspaper from Vancouver, Van People, wrote that the "noble behaviour" of overseas Chinese people "rushing to send" PPE to China "was painted negatively by the story [in Global News], which misled and deepened the local community's fear of Chinese Canadians, leading to racial discrimination against Chinese and Asian groups."
This Chinese media is also replete with discussions about whether Conservative MP Derek Sloan's remarks questioning the loyalty of Canada's Chief Public Health Officer Dr. Theresa Tam were racist or not. The majority of Chinese outlets were quick to note that while Tam may warrant criticism, the allegations of her favouring China would not have been made if she were of a non-Chinese descent and thus were racist in nature. Chinese newspapers Sing Tao Calgary and the Dushi.ca Vancouver edition compared Sloan's criticism of Tam with Alberta Premier Jason Kenney's criticism to illustrate how one was racist and the other wasn't. The Markham-based Iask website wrote: "Unfortunately, just like in the U.S., when a politician sees how a racist dog whistle can mobilize votes, especially votes from xenophobic groups of people, they're bound to learn from Trump and keep blowing the dog whistle. Conservative leadership candidate Derek Sloan is clearly such a politician."
Limited Chinese news outlets, however, sympathized with Sloan. Vansky, a Chinese newspaper from Vancouver, said that: "To determine whether Sloan is actually guilty of racial discrimination, we need to understand why he brought this topic up in the first place. Is it the expression of racial superiority? Or a political-ideological attack? If there is no evidence that Sloan said this out of racial superiority, he cannot be accused of racial discrimination, at most he can only be blamed for his indifference, misjudgment, or paranoia."
The racism brought about by the pandemic isn't limited to just the Chinese community. The discrimination against Filipino workers at the Cargill meat plant, who contracted COVID-19, is an example of the inequality borne out of the intersection of race, class, and resident status in Canada. Philippine Canadian News, a Filipino newspaper, reported that "Many Filipino workers and residents sent a letter to the company asking that the plant be closed so that safety measures could be put in place, but no actions were taken." This inaction eventually caused the largest coronavirus outbreak in Canada. Consequently, as reported by Philippine Canadian Inquirer, Filipino people were not allowed to enter grocery stores or banks, and worse, blamed for spreading the virus.
On Red FM 106.7 The Evening Show, a Punjabi radio show from Calgary, the host commented that the poor economic standing of the migrant workers did not allow them the freedom of choice to quit their jobs because of dangerous working conditions. A guest doctor on the show added that since "companies want to make a profit and cut costs, they don't care about how immigrants or temporary workers live," that is, in group housing. Another host on the show noted that, "Since the workers at the plant are temporary foreign workers, they are afraid to speak up because it may cost them their job and consequently their permanent residence." These factors coalesced together to lead to an unfair stigmatization of the Filipino community. The virus, if anything, has laid bare the deep inequalities present in our society and remains far from being the "great equalizer."

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
from mysql.connector import *
import sys, os
import copy

infile = open('../annotations/23andme_gene.lst', "r")
idList = ["rs"+r.rstrip("\r\n") for r in infile.readlines()]
infile.close()

cnt = connect(user='root', password='pass', database='samples', charset='utf8')

cus = cnt.cursor(buffered=True)

chrList = ["chrX"]

for i in range(1,23):
    chrList.append("chr" + str(i))

outFile = open("ilm_only_gene.vcf", "w")
for chr in chrList:
    for rsID in idList:
        try:
            cus.execute('select * from ' + chr + ' where ID="' + rsID + '"')
            row = cus.fetchall()
            if len(row) == 0:
                pass
            else:
                #idList.remove(rsID)
                for item in row:
                    for i in range(len(item)):
                        if len(item) == i+1:
                            outFile.write(str(item[i]) + "\n")
                        else:
                            outFile.write(str(item[i]) + ",")
        except Exception as e:
            print e
    print chr
cus.close()
cnt.close()
outFile.close()

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


The Boeing 747-400 is a major development and the best-selling model of the Boeing 747 "Classic" which embodied numerous technological and structural changes to produce a more efficient airframe. The model has a maximum capacity of 660 passengers and can fly non-stop for up to 7,670 nautical miles (14,200 km) with maximum payload, depending on model.
The 747-400 is the second-most recent version of the Boeing 747 family, having been superseded by the improved Boeing 747-8.


April 2019 Job Listing for "Operations Jobs"
Search result for Operations Jobs in Ireland are listed bellow. Jobzed.com is your partner for searching job vacancies and building up a career in Ireland which also includes areas of Ireland like Dublin, Cork, Dún Laoghaire, Limerick, Galway, Tallaght, Waterford, Swords, Drogheda and Dundalk. You can search more similar jobs using our website for you to start working on your career.
Dublin - I am seeking an IT Security Operations Service Manager for my client, a leading financial services company based in Dublin city centre on a permanent basis accompanied by an excellent salary and benefits. Skills required: 5+ years experience in IT Security Management Substantial experience in Security Operations Certifications - CISSP, CISM Knowledge of methods utilized by ethical hackers (vulnerability scanning/network mapping being advantageous) knowledge of information security and risk control frameworks such as COBiT, ISO 27001, ISO 27002. Project management experience preferred.
Sigmar Recruitment - Dublin - French Jobs in Dublin. French Sales Operations Analyst in Software located in Dublin West. Salary €45-55k My client is a leading IT Management Software Multinational with its' NEW' Irish office headquartered in Dublin West.
Centre Operations Manager Derry / Londonderry £very Compeitive Salary + Bonus + Benefits A global leader in IT services and products is going through a period of expansion and require a Centre Operations Manager. The Centre Operations Manager is a key leadership role within the Hosting organisation in Northern Ireland. The role requires a self-motivated individual with strong inter-personal skills and established track record to support the development and growth of Hosting Services.
Centre Operations Manager Derry / Londonderry £very Compeitive Salary + Bonus + Benefits A global leader in IT services and products is going through a period of expansion and require a Centre Operations Manager. The Centre Operations Manager is a key leadership role within the Hosting organisation in Northern Ireland. The role requires a self-motivated individual with strong inter-personal skills and established track record to support the development and growth of Hosting Services. Reporting into the Head of Hosting NI, the successful candidate will be responsible for the management of Hosting Operations in one of our key locations within the UK&I.
Headhunt International - Cork - Clinical Nurse Manager Nursing Home Opportunity in Cork A well known Irish Private Nursing Home is looking for a Clinical Nurse Manager to assist the Director of Nursing in the overall operations and day to day running of the home. Clinical Nurse Manager - Care of the Elderly, Cork, Ireland.
Senior Marketing Executive Location: Letterkenny The company: …we work hard to deliver on our Mission, Culture and Values and as a result, we're growing rapidly. This is an ideal time to join our team! We are looking for someone who is, frankly, amazing! You will thrive on working with similarly amazing colleagues, and you will actively seek out autonomy and take ownership. Your Role: Reporting directly to Operations Director.
Dublin - Due to continued expansion and focus delivering maximum jobseeker traffic to our websites worldwide a vacancy has arisen for an SEO Executive. About the Company Our business began in Ireland in 1995 with one site Irishjobs.ie, and now we run websites across 16 countries in Europe, Africa and the Americas. Saongroup now has over 390 staff around the world.
HV/MV Quantity Surveyor ( €80,000) We have an excellent opportunity with a very reputable Electrical Contracting company based in Dublin and Limerick . If you have experience in providing the quantity surveying functions for projects within the IT, Industrial, Healthcare, Pharmaceutical, Public Works and Commercial sectors we would love to hear from you. The Company: This could be your opportunity to join a leading player in the Irish M&E Contracting industry.
HV/MV Quantity Surveyor ( €80,000) We have an excellent opportunity with a very reputable Electrical Contracting company based in Dublin and Limerick . If you have experience in providing the quantity surveying functions for projects within the IT, Industrial, Healthcare, Pharmaceutical, Public Works and Commercial sectors we would love to hear from you.
Full Stack .NET Developer This opportunity is for a full stack .NET developer with a prestige SaaS firm located in South Dublin. The firm has been long established here with a standout reputation for bringing some of the best quality and most diverse solutions to their first-class client base.
Dublin - We are currently seeking to recruit a Dublin based Financial Controller/Financial Accountant within Saongroup. Please note this is a six month maternity leave contract however there may be the opportunity to extend.
Quantity Surveyor ( €65000 - €75000) Are you an experienced Quantity Surveyor looking for a new job in 2017? We have an excellent opportunity with a very reputable M&E contracting company based in Dublin .
Quantity Surveyor ( €65000 - €75000) Are you an experienced Quantity Surveyor looking for a new job in 2017? We have an excellent opportunity with a very reputable M&E contracting company based in Dublin . If you have experience in providing the quantity surveying HV/MV functions for projects within a Transmission and Distribution environment we would love to hear from you.


Coming from rural South Carolina, Dr. Simmons' path was filled with firsts. He was the first in his family to go to college, medical school, and study abroad. His insistence on education for his family motivated him to paved the road for his daughter and 9 of the children of his brothers and sisters to follow behind him with a college education. He continued paving the road for others, achieving his B.A. at Carleton College in Northfield Minn. He was the only African American male in the 3rd ever graduating class of Mayo Clinic Medical School. He was the first Black Chief Resident in Pediatrics at Georgetown University Hospital and went on to do a second residency in Anesthesiology at George Washington University and two fellowships in Pediatric Anesthesia and Pediatric Critical Care at the University of Pittsburgh, then invited on staff. Dr. Simmons became board certified in the Anesthesiology in the 90's at a time when there was less than 300 Board Certified African Americans in Anesthesiology. He received additional training Certificates in Medical Leadership from the University of Rochester, Simon School of Business and Executive Faculty Development from Morehouse University. The total African American doctors nationwide still remain appallingly low 38,000 out of 980,000 (4%) in the country. Dr. Simmons is an Associate Professor in the Department of Anesthesiology with a duel academic appointment at UPMC and the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. He serves as a member of the Physician Inclusion Council, co-chairs the Retention Committee for UPMC/PITT. He is the Diversity Officer in the Department of Anesthesiology, and is the Immediate Past President of Gateway Medical Society (GMS), Inc., a component society of the NMA. Dr. Simmons is the Chair of the Journey to Medicine Academic Mentorship Program, winner of several humanitarian awards for his volunteer work and in 2016 alone, he has received honors from the Jefferson Awards Foundation, a Certificate of Special Congressional recognition, University of Pittsburgh Faculty honoree for Exemplary Service at the Honors Convocation in 2015, 2016, and 2017 and he received the highest award for service in the National Medical Association, the Scroll of Merit.
Dr. Simmons: I'm a Pediatrician and an Anesthesiologist with critical care training. In Pittsburgh, I'm an associate professor in anesthesiology and have a dual appointment as a clinical educator with the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and UPMC Shadyside. My "classroom" is the operating room at Shadyside Hospital where I care for patients and teach others as a supervisory attending. Training the best and brightest young minds in both the nursing and medical schools is a great and enjoyable charge. I absolutely love what I do.
A fun fact about my almost 30-year career is that I had many firsts in my life. I was the first to go to college in my family, the only Black male in my medical school class at Mayo Clinic School of Medicine, the first Black chief resident in Medstar Georgetown University Hospital's pediatric residency program and among few Black anesthesiologists that lecture locally, nationally, and internationally on current issues in anesthesiology and pediatrics.
I'm passionate about the care I administer and the outside community work I'm involved in.
Dr. Simmons: Growing up, there weren't many kids in rural South Carolina who attended college. My desire was always toward medicine, even though it didn't seem like an achievable goal to some. I got a life changing opportunity to be in the Earl Jackman Relocation Program, which had a goal of relocating potentially high-achieving students to families and better schools in the North and West. Through the program, I was paired with a loving family in Bozeman, Montana, who I'm still close to, where I finished my last two years of high school and received mentorship. After graduation, I attended Carleton College and Mayo Clinic School of Medicine.
Religion and significant members of the Bozeman community who invested in my personal and academic pursuits have also been a major part of my success.
The formula for success is mentorship. It worked for me and it's been proven to work for others through a special academic program I'm involved with called Journey to Medicine.
Journey to Medicine is an academic mentorship program designed to create a pipeline of academically prepared Black male students in 6th through 12th grade to augment what they learned in school to make them college ready with additional science, technology, engineering and math training. It launched seven years ago and we presently have 110 students enrolled. Our first group finished high school in 2016, all of whom went to the college of their choice, and eight of whom have the equivalent to fully paid tuition.
Dr. Simmons: Developing relationships and mentorships with those in the medical field and cleaving to people that care for you and have your best interest in mind is essential. I believe in mentorship and am willing to encourage students of all fields to motivate them to be their best.
Also, seeking out [summer] programs where you will be exposed to the medical environment and have opportunities to conduct research is important to your development and shows interest in the field.
All of this helps when you're applying to medical school.
Dr. Simmons: A huge challenge is making people understand and respect African Americans as being competent and capable of providing the best care, especially if you're Black practicing in a predominantly White hospital/organization.
When I walk into a patient's room, I'm prepared for the reality that they see me as a Black man, but by the time I walk out, they see me as their anesthesiologist and know they're going to receive world-class care.
My approach to overcoming these obstacles is implicit in the things I do and teach. It involves being extremely knowledgeable and professional in every aspect of my being, my verbal and nonverbal communication, attire, etc. We have an uphill battle to fight against stereotypes.
Dr. Simmons: The Black History of Pittsburgh is so important and so rich. Many people, youth especially, aren't aware of the monumental achievements that have taken place here in Western Pennsylvania. It's important that we highlight these stories.
Three significant milestones in U.S. Black History that come to mind are related to the work of the Freedom House Ambulance Service, Martin Delany and Ellen Paige Parker.
The Freedom House Ambulance Service is Pittsburgh's first mobile emergency medicine program. Dr. Safer, from the University of Pittsburgh Department of Anesthesiology, trained unemployed and underemployed Black men and women to be the technicians on a new Ambulance service. They initially served the Black community. However, they became so successful that people of all races called for their services across Pittsburgh. It would later become the national model for emergency medical transport ambulance care.
Delany was the first Black major in the Union Army and a physician in Pittsburgh, but he faced numerous challenges. Although born a free man in West Virginia, he had to attend school in Pittsburgh because in the early 1800s, educating a Black man in West Virginia was a crime punishable by death. He briefly attended Harvard, but was unable to return because the White parents and students protested that having Blacks in their class was tainting their degree.
Despite these setbacks, Delany came back to Pittsburgh, was mentored by a successful White doctor in town and went on to have a successful medical practice in Pittsburgh. During the civil war, his heroism got him a field commission to the rank of Major, the highest ranking Black officer in the Union Army at that time.
Parker is another Pittsburgh native who aspired to be a nurse. She attended Mercy Douglas in Philadelphia after being turned down by every nursing school in Pittsburgh because they did not admit Blacks at that time. After graduating and having a great career as a nurse for many years, Parker returned to Pittsburgh during a different climate and taught at the same nursing schools that turned her down as a student years before.
After working in Philadelphia for many years, Parker returned to Pittsburgh, attained her master's from Pitt, then began teaching there, the same school where she was turned down.
Dr. Simmons: Recently, I researched the history of African Americans of prominence in medicine in Pittsburgh history. They were all very strong individuals who didn't let obstacles keep them from providing the much needed care for the Black population in the city. They took care of sick patients in their homes because it wasn't until the 1950 and 1960's that Black doctors started getting hospital privileges in Pittsburgh.
One doctor who stood out the most was Dr. Oswald Nickens, the first Black obstetrics and gynecology specialist to join the staff at Magee-Womens Hospital of UPMC; first Black ob-gyn to join West Penn Hospital; founder of the first school for pregnant teenagers in Pittsburgh; and a founding member of the first Black-owned bank in Pittsburgh, New World National Bank.
Nickens and a few other notable physicians like Drs. Earl B. Smith, Charles Bookert, Matthew Haley, and Edward Hales were community leaders who started and were part of the Gateway Medical Society, a component society of the National Medical Association, the oldest and largest Black medical organization in the country.
To this day, Gateway raises a voice for physicians, nurses, and dentists of color and those of any color who care for the socio-economically challenged and underserved patients in the greater Pittsburgh community. I'm honored that they selected me to be a recipient of the 2017 Dr. Oswald Nickens Physician of the Year Award, a recognition named after such a great man that I highly regard.
Dr. Simmons: Anesthesiology, like many subspecialties in medicine, is a difficult field to get into, especially at UPMC because of the extremely high caliber of training and medical specialists here. The nationally competitive nature of UPMC's program makes the selection process difficult.
In an effort to increase the diversity in these extremely high quality programs, I work with the graduate medical education office at UPMC and attend to national minority student meetings. At the meetings, I recruit students of color to consider the University of Pittsburgh residency programs and fellowships for their future academic training.


text:
Fruit flies adjust their courtship song based on distance
Outside of humans, the ability to adjust the intensity of acoustic signals with distance has only been identified in songbirds. Research published Feb. 3, 2016 in Neuron now demonstrates that the male fruit fly also displays this complex behavior during courtship, adjusting the amplitude of his song depending on how far away he is from a female. Studying this process in the fruit fly can help shed light on the building blocks for social interactions across the animal kingdom.
Mala Murthy, of Princeton University, and her colleagues have revealed an unanticipated level of control in insect acoustic communication by analyzing each stage of the neuronal pathway underlying male fruit flies' ability to adjust their courtship song—from the visual cues that help estimate distance to the signals that pass through nervous system and cause changes in muscle activity that drive softer or louder song. The complexity is remarkable considering that the fruit fly has only 100,000 neurons, one-millionth that of a human brain.
During courtship, males chase females, extending and vibrating one wing at a time to produce a courtship song. Songs, which consist primarily of two modes: sine and pulse, are extremely quiet and must be recorded on sensitive microphones, then amplified more than 1 million times in order to be heard by humans. When amplified, the sine song sounds like the whine of an approaching mosquito, while the pulse song is more akin to a cat's purr.
The male chases the female around a white chamber and extends his wing to produce song. Credit: Philip Coen
"Females listen to many minutes of male song before deciding whether to accept him," says Murthy, of the Princeton Neuroscience Institute and Department of Molecular Biology. "There is thus enormous evolutionary pressure for males to optimize their song to match the female's preference while simultaneously minimizing the energetic cost of singing for long periods of time." Adjusting the amplitude of song to compensate for female distance allows males to conserve energy and thereby court for longer periods of time and better compete with other males.
"While the precise neural mechanisms underlying the generation and patterning of fly song may be distinct from humans or even songbirds, the fundamental problem is the same: how can a neural network produce such a complex and dynamic signal?" Murthy says. "For this reason, we anticipate that similar neural mechanisms will be employed in all systems, and the genetic model system of the fruit fly is an ideal starting point from which to dissect them."
Repeats of a 1s sine song excerpt with short intervals. Credit: Philip Coen
Repeats of a 1s pulse song excerpt with short intervals. Credit: Philip Coen
Video: Social interactions and the brain
More information: Neuron, Coen et al.: "Sensorimotor Transformations Underlying Variability in Song Intensity during Drosophila Courtship" dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.neuron.2015.12.035
Journal information: Neuron
Citation: Fruit flies adjust their courtship song based on distance (2016, February 3) retrieved 18 January 2021 from https://phys.org/news/2016-02-fruit-flies-adjust-courtship-song.html
Fly brains reveal the neural pathway by which outside stimuli become behavior
In cordon bleus, song develops independently of sex differences in the brain
What singing fruit flies can tell us about quick decisions
Female birds may have lost desire to sing due to predation
What gets turned on when a female gets 'turned on'?
Innovative gene stacks enhance wheat rust resistance
Changes in nutrient storage and metabolism help fruit flies reach maturity