tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-73638384469918428502024-03-05T00:59:00.358-05:00Married to Calamity"You must want to enough. Enough to take all the rejections, enough to pay the price of disappointment and discouragement while you are learning. Like any other artist you must learn your craft—then you can add all the genius you like."
Phyllis A. Whitneylexcadehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18094072290983267178noreply@blogger.comBlogger461125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7363838446991842850.post-77816722787125296282020-03-16T00:00:00.000-04:002020-03-16T00:00:08.058-04:00Spring into Romance!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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It's a pain that we have to defend the genre we love over and over again. (Also yes, I know it's been almost 3 years since I've posted anything. This is enough to bring me out of hiatus!) For anyone who missed the kerfuffle, a library outside of Philly a "Bad Romance" night where the most cringe-worthy of excerpts was read for the amusement of the crowd. All in good fun--except that romance was the only genre mocked, and romance readers and authors already deal with more scrutiny and garbage attitudes than any other genre, even though romance carries the entirety of publishing. Do we know why this is? No. But it <i>is, </i>and that's more than enough to be a problem. To fight back, the ladies of <a href="https://cpea78.wixsite.com/cupidscafe" target="_blank">Cupid's Cafe</a> are working to turn that scrutiny on its head by sharing the most beautifully written, arresting passages that make you laugh, cry, think, or pine for that special someone.<br />
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When we talked about putting this hop together, one of the first things that came to mind a conversation between Nora and Zach in Tiffany Reisz's <i>The Siren</i>. It's one of the most beautiful pieces of fiction I've ever read, and I haven't stopped thinking about it.<br />
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"Look how Ciseri painted Jesus. See the curve of His back and shoulders. It is a classic feminine posture. His hands are tied behind His back and His robe is falling over His hips. And all the men are just pointing and staring and gawking. But the women--see them?--they can't bear it. One's looking down and she--" Nora pointed at a female figure who was turned completely away from the horrible scene unfolding behind her "--and she can't even look. She has to hold on to the other woman just to keep from collapsing. And of all of them, she's the only one whose whole face we see." ... "They know what He's feeling. The women always know. They know it isn't just a beating or a murder they're being forced to witness. It wasn't even just a crucifixion. It was a sexual assault, Zach. It was a rape."</blockquote>
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Nora took a deep breath and Zach felt his own breath catch in his chest. He wanted to say something but didn't trust himself to speak yet.</blockquote>
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"That's why I believe, Zach," Nora continued. "Because of all gods, Jesus alone understands the purpose of pain and shame and humiliation."</blockquote>
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"What is that purpose?" Zach asked, truly wanting to know.</blockquote>
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Nora's eyes returned to the two women in the foreground clinging to each other in sympathy and horror.</blockquote>
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"For salvation, of course. For love."</blockquote>
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The first time I read that, I had to stop reading for hours to sit and think about it. I'd never read anything so...brutally beautifully done. And I truly fell in love with Nora, with Zach, with Tiffany and with this whole damn series. Seriously, do yourself a favor and get it.<br />
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<br /> <span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px;">Notorious Nora Sutherlin is famous for her delicious works of erotica, each one more popular with readers than the last. But her latest manuscript is different—more serious, more personal—and she's sure it'll be her breakout book... if it ever sees the light of day.</span><br />
<span id="freeText11327357339243657314" style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px;"><br />Zachary Easton holds Nora's fate in his well-manicured hands. The demanding British editor agrees to handle the book on one condition: he wants complete control. Nora must rewrite the entire novel to his exacting standards—in six weeks—or it's no deal.<br /><br />Nora's grueling writing sessions with Zach are draining... and shockingly arousing. And a dangerous former lover has her wondering which is more torturous—staying away from him... or returning to his bed?<br /><br />Nora thought she knew everything about being pushed to your limits. But in a world where passion is pain, nothing is ever that simple.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px;"> </span><blockquote class="tr_bq">
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lexcadehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18094072290983267178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7363838446991842850.post-6647647781049480472017-11-10T00:00:00.000-05:002017-11-10T00:00:09.390-05:00Free Promo Friday: Blown Away by DL Jackson<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Eight
years ago my oldest son was talking to a marine recruiter about his options for
jobs he could do in the service. He’d always been an adrenaline junkie and
gravitated toward the dangerous things. When he wanted to explore EOD, my heart
dropped into my stomach. My first reaction was to steer him away from that
career path. But being an army vet, I knew the value of Explosives Ordnance
Disposal, and I knew many brave men and women lived because of those who served
in ordnance.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">So instead of discouraging him from choosing EOD, I
encouraged him to research it, and in doing so, ideas for a series sprung to
life. He decided to go infantry in the end.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">At first I thought about writing a contemporary military
romance, but a publisher I had at the time, warned me nobody would want to hear
about bombings and terrorists, with our service members deployed and
terrorist acts increasing all over the
world.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">But I didn’t want to write about the bombers and
terrorists. I wanted to write stories about men and women who stopped them. So,
in respect for those dealing with the very real and dangerous situations, I chose to take the series off
Earth and into space and on alien planets. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Science fiction has always been one of my favorite
genres, and the first novel wrote over sixteen years ago, when I decided to pen
my first romance, was a beastly 100k novel which will never see the light of
day. Since then, I’ve written in many of the romance genres, but I always seem
to come back to my first love.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Science fiction and I have had a mad romance. We’ve seen
the ups and downs in the industry, and the neglect of attention this wonderful
genre deserves. Now I’m being told science fiction romance is the next hot
thing. I’m not surprised. I’ve always felt it was a hot thing and it would only
be a matter of time before readers discovered everything it had to offer.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">So, on November 10th I will release the first book in my multi-book
Blown Away series. I hope you’ll grab a copy. You’ll get a little military and
a little science fiction. Action, adventure and fantastic worlds that will beg
you to explore more of them. Be sure to check out the second book, Explosive
Affairs, which will be up for preorder as Blown Away goes live.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Each of the novels in this series are stand alone, but
linked by common denominators. No cliff hangers here and a happy ever after is
guaranteed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Blurb:</span></b> <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">One man and one woman, both on a
collision course with a mad bomber and the past.</span></div>
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Trios Space Port City is a busy place. MacKay and Boomer must stop a bomber
before he strikes again, this time closer to home. Failure is not an option.
Success means they get to live another day. But more than the danger is heating
up. Their attraction has grown to explosive levels, and it’s become a major
distraction. Not good when they need to keep their heads.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Buy
Links: </span></b><b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Blown-Away-Detonate-DL-Jackson-ebook/dp/B076FN2PJT/ref=sr_1_59?ie=UTF8&qid=1509794771&sr=8-59&keywords=Blown+Away">Kindle</a> | </span></b><b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/753218">Smashwords</a> | </span></b><b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/blown-away-53">Kobo</a></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Lucida Sans Unicode", sans-serif; font-size: 7.5pt;">D. L.
Jackson is a writer of urban fantasy, science fiction, military romance and
erotic romance. She loves to incorporate crazy plot twists, comedy and the
unexpected into her worlds. As a U.S. Army veteran, she naturally adores men in
uniform and feels the world could always use more. She does her part by
incorporating as many sexy soldiers in her novels as she can. When she isn't
writing or running the roads, you can often find her online chatting with her
peers and readers. Grab a cup of iced coffee, pull up your virtual chair and
say hi. She loves emails and blog visits from her readers.</span></div>
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lexcadehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18094072290983267178noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7363838446991842850.post-82988406674681532212017-11-07T00:00:00.000-05:002017-11-07T00:00:00.183-05:00New Book Alert: Clone: The Book of Eva by Paxton Summers<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">When a world
leader’s daughter meets a clone, a doomed love affair begins.<br />
<br />
In the year 2087, a great war erupts on the planet and a struggle to survive
begins. One hundred-fifty years later, the continent of America is divided into
two factions, Aeropia and The United Regions. There is a shortage of food and
an abundance of illness, leaving most to live on the scraps of the wealthy, who
wallow in excess. <br />
<br />
This is the world Olivia Braun inherits. Sick from birth, she wakes up from
surgery with a new heart, only to discover she is the youngest president of
Aeropia, an empire that has created and used clones to maintain its position of
supremacy since the war. However, Olivia’s rise to power is no accident. Before
her transplant, she conspired with a clone to free those enslaved, but the
outcome is not what she expected. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Now, enemies hide among the population, and even friends can no longer be
trusted. Olivia must make a choice that will decide the fate of an empire.
Before her tale of corruption, forbidden love and war ends, the mighty will be
brought to their knees. <br />
<br />
By a clone.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Buy Links:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Book-Eva-Clone-1-ebook/dp/B076DJX6LK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1509876813&sr=8-1&keywords=clone+the+book+of+eva"><b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Kindle</span></b></a><b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> * </span></b><a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-book-of-eva-paxton-summers/1127225919?ean=9781948121057"><b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Nook</span></b></a><b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> * </span></b><a href="https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/the-book-of-eva"><b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Kobo</span></b></a><b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> * </span></b><a href="https://geo.itunes.apple.com/us/book/id1296482820?at=1000lweV"><b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">iBooks</span></b></a><b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> * </span></b><b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="https://play.google.com/store/books/details?id=5KY5DwAAQBAJ">Google Books</a></span></b><b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Bio:</span></b><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Paxton Summers loves to incorporate crazy plot twists, comedy
and the unexpected into her worlds. As a U.S. Army veteran, she naturally
adores men in uniform and feels the world could always use more. She does her
part by incorporating as many sexy soldiers in her novels as she can. When she</span>
isn't writing or running the roads, you can often find her online chatting with
her peers and readers. Grab a cup of iced coffee, pull up your virtual chair
and say hi. She loves emails and blog visits from her readers. <a href="http://www.paxtonsummers.com/">http://www.paxtonsummers.com</a><o:p></o:p></div>
lexcadehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18094072290983267178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7363838446991842850.post-31937727609873008432017-09-30T00:00:00.000-04:002017-09-30T00:00:24.815-04:00Guest blog: Hanson was My Suicide Note - Jan Childers<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, serif, EmojiFont; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i style="color: #01004e; font-family: "Droid Serif"; font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal; white-space: normal;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>***As many Saturdays as possible, you'll see posts from people regarding their own experiences with their mental health. Use #BreaktheStigma on Twitter to share yours***</b></span></i></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, serif, EmojiFont; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i style="color: #01004e; font-family: "Droid Serif"; font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal; white-space: normal;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b><br /></b></span></i></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, serif, EmojiFont; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i style="color: #01004e; font-family: "Droid Serif"; font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal; white-space: normal;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>***Trigger warning: suicidal thoughts*</b></span></i></span></div>
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It took
roughly twenty years and four months after hearing “Mmmbop” for the first time
before I got to see Hanson live for the first time. I had been among the
millions of rabid fans as a teenager, but while my love had softened as an
adult, it had never waned. Circumstances had continually kept me from seeing
them, and this time was no different. Tickets sold out in a stunning four hours
after going on sale. I’d given up hope of ever seeing them, or at least seeing
them in the next several years. Yet fate smiled upon me, and I managed to
obtain a single ticket mere days before the show. A very long drive, a wait in
line just as long as my drive, and a small stampede later, I was four rows away
from the stage.</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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The
show itself was everything I’d imagined it to be. It was a beautiful mix of
both old and new, from the earliest days to the latest album. I teared up
several times, but one song hit me much harder than anticipated. “With You in
Your Dreams” was a hit from the day it was released with its mix of both
childishly tender, yet shockingly powerful lyrics about death. I hadn’t
listened to it in two years, whether by active or subconscious choice, I cannot
say. By the opening line, tears were rolling down my face.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<i>If I'm gone when you
wake up<br />
Please, don't cry<br />
And if I'm gone when you wake up<br />
It's not goodbye<br />
</i><br />
I was no longer visiting
the carefree days of fourteen. Now I was sixteen, alone in the darkness of some
godforsaken hour. I huddled beside my CD player, sobbing as quietly as I could
into a pillow as I tried to find any shred of courage I might possess. I knew
where my father kept his gun. It was in his bottom desk drawer, unlocked and always
loaded. Everyone was asleep, so I wouldn’t get caught being awake and outside
of my room. I could slip upstairs and back again, quiet as a mouse. All of my
pain would be over in a matter of minutes. I just needed to find the courage to
stand up and walk out of my bedroom.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Through
my tears, Taylor continued singing:<o:p></o:p></div>
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<i>Don't look back at
this time as a time<br />
Of heartbreak and distress<br />
Remember me, remember me<br />
'Cause I'll be with you in your dreams<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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Visions
of my brothers danced in my head. They were so young then, too young to
remember the pain of death several years before, but old enough to feel the
pain that comes in the aftermath of death. They had not truly experienced loss
yet. They would mourn me.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<i> But If I'm gone when you wake up<br />
Please, don't cry<br />
And if I'm gone when you wake up<br />
Don't ask why<br />
Don't look back at this time<br />
As a time of heartbreak and distress<br />
Remember me, remember me<br />
'Cause I'll be with you in your dreams<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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I wondered if they would understand
why I did it. I wondered if they were old enough to realize how many aspects of
our lives were cruel and inhumane. Did they remember life from before? Would
they understand I wasn’t strong enough to continue? I wanted to be there for
them, but it was too much. I kept the song on repeat, losing myself in the
lyrics. It was a beautiful memento to leave behind for them. Maybe if they
listened to it, they would know I would always be with them. I wasn’t
abandoning them. I would always watch over them from beyond.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<i>Don't cry, I'm with
you<br />
Don't cry, I'm by your side<br />
Don't cry, I'm with you<br />
Don't cry, I'm by your side<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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My
reverie was interrupted at the concert. My tears had evolved into body-shaking
sobs. All at once, every dark night I had ever had emerged at the forefront of
my memory. I was sixteen, too afraid to get my father’s gun. I was nineteen,
but I didn’t have enough pills to finish the job. I was twenty, too afraid to
take the leap off the mountainside. I was twenty-two, my hands shaking too hard
to put the belt around my neck. I was thirty, deciding which barrier I could
crash into at high speeds. I was thirty-two, staring at the box that held my
husband’s gun, knowing this time, I wouldn’t be too afraid... if only I would
decide to open it.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<i>And though my flesh is
gone<br />
I'll still be with you at all times<br />
And although my body's gone<br />
I'll be there to comfort you at all times</i><o:p></o:p></div>
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The girl beside me placed a hand on
my shoulder. Her face was gentle and concerned. I couldn’t hear her voice, but
the movements of her lips were unmistakable. “Are you okay?”<o:p></o:p></div>
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<i>I don't want you to
cry and weep<br />
I want you to go on living your life<br />
I'm not sleeping an endless sleep<br />
'Cause in your heart<br />
You have all of our good times<br />
Oh, all of our good times<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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I had no words of my own. In spite
of the many times I wanted to die, I was alive. I had lived through all the
times I thought I couldn’t survive. I lived through my darkest days. I was
alive. Whether it was through strength or cowardice, it didn’t matter. From
that night in my room until the day I stood alongside this stranger, I had
lived. I survived my worst enemy. I survived my own self-destruct button. I
couldn’t find the words to tell this kind stranger just how much this moment
meant to me. Even if I could, there was no guarantee she would understand, let
alone appreciate this incredible occasion. I was alive!<o:p></o:p></div>
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<i>And if I'm gone when
you wake up<br />
Don't ask why<br />
Don't look back at this time<br />
As a time of heartbreak and distress<br />
Remember me, remember me<br />
'Cause I'll be with you in your dreams<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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There
will always be dark nights in my life. I hope I will continue to have the
strength to fight my way through them. I hope that during those nights, I will
look back and remember how for one night, being alive was a moment to be
celebrated. I want to remember how for one night, I wept not in despair of
life, but with the indescribable happiness that I lived.<o:p></o:p></div>
lexcadehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18094072290983267178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7363838446991842850.post-11926276550940372042017-09-29T00:00:00.000-04:002017-09-29T00:00:06.058-04:00Free Promo Friday: When Cougar Dates Manwhore The Cougar Journals #4 by @JewelQuinlan from @EvernightPub <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijir3rDxywgojP_AG997zdt6FuIqDu5tgvSR-whxvlJ64lWJCD5LsiLMsuT4RPgC1w7WJCHcoJZeLvHQrXeOlizDCbMZIRbh4Y4KR7k3jnGRoNNhNwTg54yC0S7hpWVeRq0A1PzOfMnQY/s1600/Website+Slider+NR2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="315" data-original-width="851" height="145" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijir3rDxywgojP_AG997zdt6FuIqDu5tgvSR-whxvlJ64lWJCD5LsiLMsuT4RPgC1w7WJCHcoJZeLvHQrXeOlizDCbMZIRbh4Y4KR7k3jnGRoNNhNwTg54yC0S7hpWVeRq0A1PzOfMnQY/s400/Website+Slider+NR2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Blurb:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Ava’s
nemesis, John, made his feelings known by suddenly kissing her while they
happened to be on the same cruise. Not just any kiss, but one that triggered a
mind-blowing heat that made her want to learn more about him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">They’ve
now been home for over a week where … nothing happens, making Ava doubt the
signals she thought she’d received. Had the kiss not been as mind-blowing for
him as it was for her? And then, suddenly, he asks her out on a date where she
gets to see the intimate, sexy sides of him, which she really likes.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Maybe
they are a good match for each other after all … or not. She can’t tell. His
actions are so unpredictable that she can’t intuit his motives. Should she
continue to leave the door open or write him off as the manwhore she thinks he
is?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Where You Can Buy It<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<a href="http://www.evernightpublishing.com/when-cougar-dates-manwhore-by-jewel-quinlan/"><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Evernight Publishing</span></a><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">
| </span><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B074N9GQ3W/"><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Amazon</span></a><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> | </span><a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/when-cougar-dates-manwhore-jewel-quinlan/1126977279?ean=2940154505687"><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Barnes and Noble</span></a><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">
| </span><a href="https://geo.itunes.apple.com/us/book/when-cougar-dates-manwhore/id1271557751?mt=11"><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">iBooks</span></a><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Cambria, serif; line-height: 150%;"> | </span></span><a href="https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/when-cougar-dates-manwhore"><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Kobo</span></a><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Or
add it to your shelf on </span><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/35988361-when-cougar-dates-manwhore"><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Goodreads</span></a><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Excerpt</span></b><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">“Thanks for dinner. I had a great
time,” I said. It was trite, but they were the only words that came to mind.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">“Me, too. You’re welcome.” He stood
with his hands in his pockets and his head tilted, that knowing look in his
eyes. The same one that, at the office, had always driven me the nuts. But,
here in the semi-darkness and privacy of the corridor, it made me blush. There
was something in the intensity of his gaze that made my body prickle in
response. Did he know how many confusing signals were firing inside me right
now? One side of me was greatly tempted to run my hands through his silver-fox
hair, while another waved a red flag and tried to hit the brakes.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">“Oh! Thanks for the coat,” I said. I’d
almost forgotten about it. I took it off and handed it to him. “Um, well
goodnight. See you at the office.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">I started to close the door, then
stopped because he continued to stand there with the side of his mouth quirked
up in a grin. It would be awkward to just shut the door in his face. “What?” I
said. Our gazes locked, and my heartbeat sped up as static filled the air
between us.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">“You’re not just going to leave me like
this,” John said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">“Like what?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">He stepped forward to lean against the
doorframe, forearm up above his head, his face inches from mine. “Don’t I even
get a goodnight kiss?” he said in a low voice. “I hate to brag, but I think I
behaved pretty well tonight.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">I laughed. “Oh please, you love to
brag. And, yes, you totally surprised me with your unexpectedly chivalrous
behavior. This, however, is more along the lines of what I expected.” I
gestured at him from head to toe. It was as if a tiger stood at my doorstep,
powerful muscles lithe yet still ready to pounce. I had to admit, it was
deliciously arousing to feel his forthright desire. I had a brief flashback of
him by the pool on the cruise. I’d seen what the muscles of his torso were
like, and now I couldn’t help wondering what they would feel like through the
fabric of his shirt.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">“So … no kiss?” he said. “Are you sure?
Because I thought there was something between us on the ship. And, even
tonight, I could swear it’s still there. Aren’t you just a little bit curious?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">I shrugged. “Maybe.” <i>I am. I really, really am.</i> But I wasn’t
about to tell him that. Giving a manwhore leverage was just plain dangerous.
“I’m just not sure we should go there right now.” I remained where I was,
refusing to budge. Kissing John would be the wrong move right now. Something in
my gut made me certain of it. It was just one of those instincts that grew more
honed with experience. Like a gazelle sensing a cheetah.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">He continued to gaze at me with
interest. Then he straightened, but didn’t move back. “How about a handshake
then? That’s something you do with everyone, so it’s harmless, right?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">I laughed. “True.” I held out my hand
and he grasped it. I did my best to ignore how good his palm felt on mine. As
we shook, I said again, “John, I had a very nice time. Thank you.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">That’s all he would be getting from me
tonight. I stopped shaking his hand, but he didn’t release my fingers. Instead,
he raised my hand to his lips and kissed my knuckles, then skimmed his lips in
light nibbles down over my skin toward my wrist. The short stubble on his jaw
gently scraped as he went. And that, combined with the sensation of his firm,
soft lips, made my stomach curl with heat. It was so easy to imagine him
trailing kisses like that all the way along my arm to my breasts. Not just
there, but even lower to the most private part of me… His gaze flicked to my
face and whatever he saw there made his eyes light up with satisfaction. I
didn’t want to give anything away, but I was helpless to control whatever I was
revealing.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">About the
Author:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Restless
by nature, Jewel Quinlan is an avid traveler and has visited sixteen countries
so far. Lover of ice cream, beer, and red wine she tries to stay fit when she’s
not typing madly on her computer concocting another tale. In her spare time,
she likes to do yoga, hike, learn German and play with her spoiled Chihuahua,
Penny.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">For
more information about Jewel Quinlan<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Cambria, serif; line-height: 150%;">Or join Jewel’s </span></span><a href="http://jewelquinlan.us3.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=ded6aa841d4409b1f86616f10&id=9c35cf0deb"><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">newsletter</span></a><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Cambria, serif; line-height: 150%;"> if you just want to
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lexcadehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18094072290983267178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7363838446991842850.post-3439442795642338182017-09-23T07:00:00.000-04:002017-09-23T07:00:23.555-04:00Guest post: Kate Davis on How to be a Mental Health Ally<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, serif, EmojiFont; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i style="color: #01004e; font-family: "Droid Serif"; font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal; white-space: normal;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>***As many Saturdays as possible, you'll see posts from people regarding their own experiences with their mental health. Use #BreaktheStigma on Twitter to share yours!***</b></span></i></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, serif, EmojiFont; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Ten Tips to be a Great Mental Health Ally</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, serif, EmojiFont; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="x_gmail-kix-line-break" /></span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #212121; font-family: wf_segoe-ui_normal, "Segoe UI", "Segoe WP", Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif, serif, EmojiFont; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, serif, EmojiFont; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="x_gmail-Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"></span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, serif, EmojiFont; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As many as one in four Americans live with mental health issues. Some are short term issues, and some are chronic issues, lasting for years or for a lifetime. Knowing how to help a loved one who is struggling can save lives. While this list is just a beginning, here’s ten tips to be the best mental health ally you can be.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, serif, EmojiFont; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="x_gmail-kix-line-break" />
</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, serif, EmojiFont; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Mental Health Is Physical Health:</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, serif, EmojiFont; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> The first step is knowing mental health IS physical health. Mental health affects everything from energy levels to what sort of foods we can eat - and it’s every bit as real and impactful as any physical health issue. A mental health issue is every bit as serious as a physical health issue. Mental health has a measurable effect on the brain and body and is no different than diabetes, asthma, arthritis, or Crohn’s Disease.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, serif, EmojiFont; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="x_gmail-kix-line-break" />
</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, serif, EmojiFont; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Treatments Vary:</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, serif, EmojiFont; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Treating a mental health issue varies, depending on the type of issue, duration, severity, and the underlying cause. Talk therapy, cognitive behavior therapy, and medication are the most common. Medication supplements the brain chemistry of a person with a mental health issue, so it more closely resembles what is present in a neurotypical (non mentally ill) person. Some people will only need medication short term (a year or so) and some will require it long term. Some mental health issues have more extensive treatments, like electroconvulsive therapy (a controlled seizure to correct brain chemistry). Everyone’s treatment will be different.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, serif, EmojiFont; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="x_gmail-kix-line-break" />
</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, serif, EmojiFont; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Everyone Is Different: </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, serif, EmojiFont; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> While this one seems obvious, it’s important to remember each person with a mental health issue is different. Their symptoms, ability, and which treatments work best for them will be different. Some people thrive in talk therapy, and others don’t. Some people benefit from medication, and others have too many side effects or cannot take medication. Every person’s treatment will be unique to them. Support them in finding what works for </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, serif, EmojiFont; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">them</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, serif, EmojiFont; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, serif, EmojiFont; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="x_gmail-kix-line-break" />
</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, serif, EmojiFont; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Ask How You Can Best Help Them:</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, serif, EmojiFont; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Since everyone’s needs are different, it’s important to ask them how you can best support them. Ask what they need, ask how they feel supported, and let them know you will help them. Everyone is different, and it’s important to ask what </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, serif, EmojiFont; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">they </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, serif, EmojiFont; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">need, and then meet their needs as best you can.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, serif, EmojiFont; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="x_gmail-kix-line-break" />
</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, serif, EmojiFont; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Listen to What They Have to Say:</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, serif, EmojiFont; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> One of the hardest parts of mental illness is how lonely it can feel. Being there for them and listening to how they feel, what treatments are working or not working for them, and even just day-to-day small talk helps combat the isolation which can wreak havoc on people with mental health issues. Depression, Anxiety, and PTSD can lead to long stretches of time in which someone is isolated, and having a friendly, supportive friend there can remind them that they are connected to something bigger than themselves.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, serif, EmojiFont; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="x_gmail-kix-line-break" />
</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, serif, EmojiFont; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Make Sure They Know They’re Not Alone:</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, serif, EmojiFont; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> If they are talking about something they feel, and you can relate, find a time to tell them. The timing on this one is key - don’t interrupt, and don’t make the conversation about you, but make sure they know what they think and feel is completely normal. Remember - mental health issues ARE normal - it’s why we have names, research, and treatments available for all of them. Everyone struggles sometimes, and it’s not a sign of weakness.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, serif, EmojiFont; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="x_gmail-kix-line-break" />
</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, serif, EmojiFont; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Encourage Self-Care:</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, serif, EmojiFont; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Self-care is much more about basic routine and eating/showering schedules than pampering. Resting, talking, following a treatment plan, and meal planning can all be considered self-care. Remind them it’s ok to take breaks. This one is really important!</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, serif, EmojiFont; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="x_gmail-kix-line-break" />
</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, serif, EmojiFont; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Make Sure They Have a List of Contacts:</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, serif, EmojiFont; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> This one seems basic, but it’s really important. Make sure they have their doctors, friends, and family in their phone’s contact list. Remembering phone numbers when you’re upset is almost impossible. Knowing exactly how to contact someone in a crisis saves lives.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, serif, EmojiFont; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Help Them Find Resources: </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, serif, EmojiFont; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It can be daunting to find a therapist or new doctor, to find a therapy group, or inpatient care. If you can help them by looking up doctors and ratings, or simply being there to support them while they do so, it can make a world of difference.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, serif, EmojiFont; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="x_gmail-kix-line-break" />
</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, serif, EmojiFont; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Keep in Touch:</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, serif, EmojiFont; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> This is the easiest and most effective way to help someone with a mental health issue - don’t lose contact with them. If you haven’t heard from them in a week (or however long would be unusual to not hear from them), reach out and say hi, ask how they’re doing. Talk with them, and listen. It’s very, very easy for someone to become isolated, and with all the wonders of modern technology, it’s very easy to reach out and remind them you’re still here, still love them, and are still their ally.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, serif, EmojiFont; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Do you have more tips? Please share in the comments!</span></div>
lexcadehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18094072290983267178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7363838446991842850.post-62297739344490206912017-09-18T00:00:00.000-04:002017-09-18T00:00:08.232-04:00Disturbing the Peace: Why Mad Love = Mad Me. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="800" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtLmu-ang30UsW-h0j0PqVMQTyQaVqDt5pw263c9aKFCadNOfZmlysuOxODzPqk8vO5Z2Q8QxQenLXfLBdT2z6l3VsaBCjY_hjrbpYD_KnQuWNhm_z7Lc1nDo-kF_gnoW5oLhjhsejsH0/s400/Disturbing.png" width="400" /></div>
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<b><i>***TW: Discussions of abuse***</i></b></div>
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Recently, the enigmatic and infamous THEY announced a new movie in the DCCU, and fan reaction has fallen pretty much on either side of the spectrum: OMGFINALLYWOW and OMGWTFWHY.<br />
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I am on the latter end of the spectrum. OMGWTFWHY?</div>
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Because there's a Harley/Joker love story in the works.</div>
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Please read that again. A Harley. And Joker. <i>Love. Story.</i></div>
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If you know <i>anything</i> about the volatile relationship between these two, then you know why this is in the top ten of Things We Do Not Need.</div>
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If you don't, well....I can sum it up in three easy words: Joker abuses Harley.</div>
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Physically, verbally, psychologically, mentally. In pretty much every way possible. So much so that I wrote Harley fanfiction to help cope with my own abuse.</div>
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I think once someone has had that kind of "mad love" relationship, they view the world through a different lens. While some see the Harley-Joker relationship as something strange and romantic and whatever, others like myself see elements of that abusive relationship in every interaction.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: left;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just after this, Joker lets Harley take the fall, like the uber romantic jagoff he is.</td></tr>
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I have a lot of feelings about Leto's Joker, partly because of the <a href="http://www.dorkly.com/post/75333/this-fan-theory-about-jared-letos-joker-is-kind-of-brilliant" target="_blank">theory</a> that this Joker is my DC husband Jason Todd, and if true, that makes this Joker as much a victim as Harley. </div>
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However.</div>
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I have a lot of hatred for the actual Joker. Oh yeah, he's entertaining as hell, and my canon Joker is voiced by Mark Hamill, who is impossible to hate as a person. BUT. The character is a manipulative (and this maddening relationship is based on his manipulations), cruel, sadistic, narcissistic sociopath who scapegoats and gaslights Harley to no end. </div>
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Some background: I identify with Harley in so many ways. Like her, I studied psychology with an intent to become a criminal psychologist. Unlike her, I didn't follow through. Like her, I gravitate toward emotionally unavailable people and want to "fix" them. Like her, I wasted a lot of time in a terrible relationship that sucked away everything I was and almost killed every aspiration I had. I was mentally, emotionally, and verbally abused. I was gaslit and blamed for everything wrong in our relationship. Unlike her, I wasn't strong enough to walk away on my own.</div>
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With the releases of movies like Arrival, Hidden Figures, Atomic Blonde and Wonder Woman, and with more women-centric movies coming out in the next several years (still waiting for that freaking Black Widow movie), girls and women finally get to see themselves represented as more than lamps, sex objects, and damsels on the big screen. Hell, Harley's role in Suicide Squad was a win in its own way--Robbie plays her with this complex blend of sweetness, coyness, sass, confidence, vulnerability, fear, and cognizance that we don't see a lot outside the comics (and her runs in the comics are PHENOMENAL; do yourself a favor and check out <i>Harley Quinn #25</i>, by Amanda Conner, Jimmy Palmiotti, Chad Hardin, Alex Sinclair, and Tom Napolitano and her arc in the Injustice tie-in). </div>
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Needless to say, I am not thrilled about this little movie. I want to trust Margot Robbie's decision to sign on for it, just like I trusted her to bring Harley to life in the way the character deserves. What I don't trust is people who don't understand the nuance and complexity that Harley's writers have developed over the last couple decades. Yes, she's fun. She's weird and not all there (though it's an act and people who understand her know it is because it's a method of survival). She's sexy. She's also grown so much and the threat of not seeing that growth, some of which was exhibited in Suicide Squad, is galling. </div>
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As much as it pains me, I won't be seeing this one. I'll just wait for the Birds of Prey movie.</div>
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Sorry, Harl. </div>
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lexcadehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18094072290983267178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7363838446991842850.post-13291465651892836182017-09-16T07:00:00.000-04:002017-09-16T11:52:28.481-04:00Guest Post! Molli Moran - Putting Together the Pieces of Me<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOnbhNyeom0zb3ap2F9FE0ttoeqnjj7oZw84ao2hEsEyFAMk-zG2yVvKleDBn7YMngWWozn7A9JPKsIbjMI6lamGqOLhHe3yDc1qY0LpNYhlaAWME75cQ5I8OJfI9JH8-m_smbEA_Rrjg/s1600/Mental+Health+%25281%2529.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOnbhNyeom0zb3ap2F9FE0ttoeqnjj7oZw84ao2hEsEyFAMk-zG2yVvKleDBn7YMngWWozn7A9JPKsIbjMI6lamGqOLhHe3yDc1qY0LpNYhlaAWME75cQ5I8OJfI9JH8-m_smbEA_Rrjg/s320/Mental+Health+%25281%2529.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>***As many Saturdays as possible, you'll see posts from people regarding their own experiences with their mental health. Use #BreaktheStigma on Twitter to share yours!***</b></span></i></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Trigger warning: this piece contains
mentions of living with anxiety and panic attacks. Please read only if you are
comfortable. </span></b><b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">I’m in high school and I’ve turned
down an invitation to a party because of what could happen. Later, I wish I’d
gone. </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">I’m a young adult and I’ve talked
myself out of taking a risk because I don’t believe I can, because of all the
worst-case situations that could spring out of it. </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">I’m working my first job and breaking
under the stress of the position I’ve been put in and the lack of support. I
can't breathe in the bathroom at my job—but to me, this seems normal. </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">One of my best friends invites me to a
gathering at her house. I back out at the last minute because I’m overcome with
nerves at the thought of going and my nails are chewed almost to the quick. </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">My family is fighting; I’m crying and
can’t catch my breath, no matter how hard I try. This happens often when they
fight. </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">It takes until I’m almost 30 to begin
to connect the dots between all these events. It takes joining the YA community
on Twitter and listening to important conversations about mental illness. It
takes hearing the word “anxiety” and—for the first time—linking it to myself as
something other than a what-if. </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Looking back on my life before I
realized that I have anxiety is like finally grasping the missing pieces in the
puzzle that I’ve long considered my behaviors, thoughts, and motivations. Even
as I told myself, “Everyone thinks this way,” or “Sudden changes in plans throw
everyone for a loop,” or “Everyone has worst-case scenarios for everything
playing on repeat in the back of their mind,” I knew I was trying to
rationalize something that never fit. </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">As I grew up, I didn’t realize that
all the things about myself I didn’t understand were anxiety-related—from
triggers to panic attacks to anxiety spirals—because no one around me ever
discussed mental illness. In the South, we don't talk about it. (We don’t talk
about mental health enough at all, but especially not in the South.) We might
dance around it, brush off, or only know about harmful stereotypes. But it’s
rare for people here to openly discuss mental health in order to break
stereotypes and diminish the stigmas around it and around getting help. </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Thankfully, that’s changing slowly. At
times, it’s frustrating to no end to have to wonder who will take me seriously
when I talk about my anxiety or when the topic of medication or self-care comes
up. But I keep going. I keep talking about my anxiety without shame or
hesitation. </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">I always will. </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">For the most part, I’ve been lucky. I’ve
had family and friends sit and listen and offer their support. I’ve had a few
conversations where people meant well but still said unintentionally harmful
things. And I’ve had those discussions where I’ve encountered ableist and
hurtful language and stereotypes, and I’ve done my part to teach and counter
those with information and patience. </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Now that I’ve begun to understand
myself and my mental health better, I want to help others. I want to reach a
hand back for anyone who hasn’t put together the puzzle pieces of themselves,
and let them know that I’m here to support and uplift them. To break the
stigmas together until mental health is something we all talk about (if we’re
able to) and normalize those discussions. </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">About the author</span></b><b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMIXZ39HQ9LYJQuYTgxuhb3RL0wBWJUiKIV2thvkYxIExS3JiPda7VLGbwTD_QvYQ-OsRUzqzIR1EVMJ6iAnL0pXEbnzaj3KSvadmRYuY_W3euxI9DknR067vf15ByvU8aJXfv7fQJV6g/s1600/molli1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="531" data-original-width="303" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMIXZ39HQ9LYJQuYTgxuhb3RL0wBWJUiKIV2thvkYxIExS3JiPda7VLGbwTD_QvYQ-OsRUzqzIR1EVMJ6iAnL0pXEbnzaj3KSvadmRYuY_W3euxI9DknR067vf15ByvU8aJXfv7fQJV6g/s320/molli1.jpg" width="182" /></a></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #181818; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Molli Moran was born and raised in the middle
of nowhere, Tennessee, and brings a love of all things small-town to her </span><span class="Hyperlink0"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Molli-Moran/e/B00IP606UK"><span lang="IT" style="background: white; color: #181818; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">romances</span></a></span><span style="background: white; color: #181818; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">. She grew up with her nose in a book and her head
in the clouds, and not much has changed since then. Molli found her own
happily-ever-after on the West Coast. Give her Kay and coffee, and you’ve never
seen a happier person. Other things she loves include road trips, the ocean,
and Captain America. She’s a personal shopper during the day and a romance
writer at night, and firmly believes that all books should have a happy ending.
Molli writes about girls who are chasing down their own HEA. </span><span style="background: white; color: #181818; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #181818; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">You can find Molli on Twitter, where she spends
way too much time (<a href="http://twitter.com/missmolliwrites" target="_blank">@MissMolliWrites</a>). She loves hearing from readers, so don’t
be shy! She’s not throwing away her shot. </span><span style="background: white; color: #181818; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="background: white; color: #181818; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span>
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<a href="http://mollimoranbooks.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Author Site </a></div>
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<a href="http://instragram.com/missmolliwrites" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Instagram</a></div>
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lexcadehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18094072290983267178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7363838446991842850.post-34162543034685255092017-07-17T00:00:00.000-04:002017-07-17T00:00:14.471-04:00Can we just talk about Mad Max: Fury Road for a minute?So Saturday night, my roomie and I went to watch Mad Max: Fury Road at our local theater because come on, you do NOT pass up the opportunity to see that movie on the big screen. Personally, I wish they'd play that movie once a month, and I'm going to explain exactly why, for those of you who may not have seen it (WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU), it's quite possibly a perfect movie. Also, in the words of River Song, <b>SPOILERS. SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS.</b><br />
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<b>Stop reading now if you don't want spoilers.</b><br />
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The basic summary is this: The world is in shambles, irradiated from nuclear war to the point that most people's bone marrow has even become poisoned, creating what are called half-lifes. It's in this world Max Rocka-tansky (Tom Hardy) tries to survive, after failing the people who depended on him most, but he's captured by some of these half-lifes and taken to their base of operations, which is run by a man called Immortan Joe, who controls <i>every</i> aspect of their lives. He controls the water, he controls the food, he's created a Nordic-style religion based around himself and the vehicles his half-life War Boys use to bring supplies back to their base. It's some crazy ish, right here. And poor Max is dragged into it. Even worse for him, he's a universal donor and also out of his mind, leading him to be labeled "high octane."<br />
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Imperator Furiosa (Charlize Theron in one of her absolute best roles) is the driver of the war rig. She's one of Immortan Joe's top officers, one of his most trusted, so when she betrays him by stealing his wives and smuggling them to what she hopes is a better life, it sets off a high-speed car chase through the desert with Immortan Joe's allies in tow. And once again, poor Max is dragged into it.<br />
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Now, here is why this movie is SO DAMN AMAZING:<br />
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<li><b>The story:</b> The story gives you about 3 minutes of exposition through Max's voice over and some news clips through the opening credits, and then you are OFF. It holds no punches. Just like Max, you are thrust into this world that owes you nothing--no explanations, no hand-holding, nothing. You either infer information from the scant dialogue and intuition, or you're lost. Regardless, once you're along for the ride, you figure out just how incredible this crazy-assed world is.<br /></li>
<li><b>The characters:</b> I will begin this by saying that Imperator Furiosa is one of my favorite characters of all time. She's so ridiculously flawed and single-minded that it leads to her making some huge mistakes, but she's trying to help five women, referred to by one of the War Boys as "Immortan Joe's prized breeders," find a better life away from the insanity revolving around the man in question by taking them to the Green Place, the Land of Many Mothers, where she was born. Her journey is one that I can't get enough of, and so much of it is non-verbal. Charlize's eyes, face, body language all tell the story of Imperator Furiosa better than any conversation ever could.<br /><br />And then there's Max. Max Rocka-tansky is probably my favorite Tom Hardy role, because like Charlize's Furiosa, so much of Max is in his expressions. Throughout most of the movie, that's what you get, with the addition of some sparadic PTSD flashbacks of his failures. Max is a man of few words; in the beginning of the movie, we see this disheveled man whose hair and beard are long and matted, and while we don't know how long he's been running, it's obvious it's been a long time since he's spoken to anyone. His sentences are clipped at first, sometimes one- or two-word answers if he speaks at all. For him, and for Furiosa, this is a journey of redemption, and it's there that they find common ground.<br /><br />But don't discount Immortan Joe's stunningly beautiful wives. His favorite, The Splendid Angharad (Rosie Huntington-Whitely), is so much more than a pretty face and a baby vessel, though that's what Joe has reduced her to. Like the other wives, she shows a strength throughout the movie that, while different from Furiosa's, is no less incredible. In what is quite possibly my favorite scene in the whole movie, the war rig carrying the wives, Furiosa, and Max is going full-speed through a canyon with Immortan Joe's caravan close behind. Joe has a perfect shot to take Furiosa out, but in her greatest act of defiance, Splendid throws open the back door and leans out, her body, especially her pregnant belly, acting as a shield for this woman who has risked so much to lead them to a better life. It's truly a beautiful scene, one that gives me chills and tears every damn time.<br /><br />Each wife has her own fully rounded personality, her own agency. I could honestly go on for hours about them. Even if they all have weird AF names.<br /><br />The war boys, Joe's band of fanatical worshipers, are something else, man. They basically worship Joe and the vehicles, and it's truly something to behold. This is one of those chicken vs egg scenarios where you're not sure if they worshiped the vehicles before Joe stepped up to become their dictator, or if he lead them to that place. But the war boy culture is one that deserves study.<br /></li>
<li><b>The scenery:</b> Bland hellscape? Check. But it's what you <i>do</i> with said bland hellscape that really matters. Because of the nuclear fallout mentioned during the beginning credits, the scenery itself becomes a character with its own story and background.<br /></li>
<li><b>The stunt work: </b><i>Fury Road</i> is a throwback to a time before CGI became the go-to for stunts and set pieces. Filmed in Namibia, South Africa, and Australia, there's hardly a green screen in sight. Over 150 stuntmen were used in the movie, and the badass Mothers actually did a lot of their own stunts.<br /><br />However, when the CGI does show up, it's INCREDIBLE. Ending the first act of the movie is a huge storm wall that Furiosa drives into in the hope of losing her pursuers. Inside that huge storm wall is basically weather hell--multiple (!!!) tornadoes, bruising rain, and enough lightning to make it look more like Heavy Metal than a Mad Max movie.<br /></li>
<li><b>The pacing: </b>This movie starts off like a gunshot and doesn't stop. Sometimes it can be a little sensory overload, which is part of why it requires multiple viewings (the other part is because IT'S AWESOME). From the beginning chase scene to that last moment between Max and Furiosa, it barely gives you time to catch your breath before the next action sequence starts up. It's riveting. If your heart isn't pounding out of your chest, then either you're not paying attention, or you are dead.<br /></li>
<li><b>Max and Furiosa:</b> They're my OTP. My Ultimate Bromance. My loves. My babies. I ship them. I don't even know in what way, but I ship them so hard. </li>
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I can seriously go on forever about this. So do us both a favor and go watch this movie.</div>
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lexcadehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18094072290983267178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7363838446991842850.post-14239740727786981162017-07-03T00:00:00.000-04:002017-07-03T00:00:00.182-04:00The Post I Didn't Want to Write<b>***TRIGGER WARNING: SUICIDE***</b><br />
<br />
<br />
It's been well over a month, and I'm still having trouble finding the words. I'll never be as eloquent as his wife and her beautiful letter. But that's okay. This isn't about eloquence. This is about the sheer, brutal honesty that loss can bring, even if you never knew the person you lost.<br />
<br />
Typically I'm not a person who mourns a celebrity's passing. It sucks, yes. It absolutely sucks. When Bowie died, I was sad. When Prince died, I was more flabbergasted than anything else. When Lemmy passed from cancer, I hated it, but in our current society we're not getting that cure.<br />
<br />
However, when it happens by suicide, that's when it gets real dang personal for me. Because I <i>understand</i>. And that's scary as hell.<br />
<br />
Robin Williams' death left a hole in my heart that won't be filled, but I think it's Chris Cornell's that has devastated me most. And even right now, I'm still struggling to find the right words, if there are any.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnB-KV3jmkGkAz6CKuMs-5SS3xue6L3KmDWXAOYSgNNGdCbHLHny2Iu4jVyYVXKZ1Pqh0KUZkGy8lKEPjn35iptFin7-bSVdZZoXhQ1L4RkgeMn5qW4OCW61wTir1oHLojjdsJBH0zuJk/s1600/Chris+Cornell.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnB-KV3jmkGkAz6CKuMs-5SS3xue6L3KmDWXAOYSgNNGdCbHLHny2Iu4jVyYVXKZ1Pqh0KUZkGy8lKEPjn35iptFin7-bSVdZZoXhQ1L4RkgeMn5qW4OCW61wTir1oHLojjdsJBH0zuJk/s320/Chris+Cornell.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Courtesy of <a href="https://www.instagram.com/jan.childers/" target="_blank">Jan Childers</a>, taken 5/10/17</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
It wasn't just that he was an incredible vocalist--actually my favorite of all time, not kidding--or that he was a pioneer in a genre and was somewhat overlooked, though Soundgarden was LEGENDARY.<br />
<br />
Part of it might be that I'd literally seen him one week before his death, playing in Indianapolis, sounding amazing, looking amazing, being amazing. It was easy to see his kind spirit and gentle soul as he sang and talked to us in the crowd. I'd been hoping and praying Soundgarden would play at Louisville's awesome music festival in October, watching the interwebs, following their route. Maybe it was that I'd only seen him once, and once wasn't enough until it suddenly had to be.<br />
<br />
Maybe it's because he had crippling anxiety and that the very medication prescribed to help him ended up killing him. Maybe it's because I feared his history of drug addiction would be used against him, a last-ditch effort to tarnish and lessen his accomplishments, his fighting spirit, his beautiful family, the foundation he and his wife had founded to help kids out of desperate situations. I remembered Prince and Scott Weiland, who was demonized after his overdose and labeled Just Another Musician. I feared that outcome, so much. For a man who I saw bits and pieces of myself in. For a man who had struggled and fallen and fought and triumphed over and over again.<br />
<br />
The thing about mental illnesses is that they don't go away. There are points where you'll go into remission and remember what life is like. Those points are amazing; the mountaintop after struggling through the Valley of the Shadow of Our Misery and Failures.<br />
<br />
And there are points when you're so desperate to make the pain go away, to stop the negative and sometimes obsessive thoughts, to quell the demons that ravage your mind the way cancer or MS ravage the body, you'll do anything. For some, it's drugs or alcohol. For me, it's video games--I actually feel useful if I'm saving Ferelden from the Blight for the 20th time.<br />
<br />
The other thing about mental illnesses is that sometimes people actually <i>look down</i> on you for seeking help. Because there aren't outward symptoms. Because it's all in our head. Well, yeah, it's in my head. It's a <i>mental</i> illness.<br />
<br />
Those are the people who can't fathom it, and I've discovered that a large portion are the first to blame the victim when suicide is involved, whether it's from overdose or...well...what happened to Chris.<br />
<br />
And to them, I say GOOD FOR YOU. Not in a bitter way, but in a way that's as joyful as I can muster because they don't know those struggles, they don't trudge through those dark times, they don't experience the emotional nothingness that mental illnesses can bestow. They've never felt the actual switch in their brains when a depressive episode takes over, and they've never had to watch their friends and family struggle to find the magic words to snap them out. They've never had people stop inviting them places after saying "no" one too many times, not because they don't want to but because they literally <i>can't</i>. They've never had to talk themselves into the most basic self-care because they don't feel like they're worth the effort. I'm glad. Because it sucks. It sucks to watch yourself fall down a black hole like you're merely a spectator to your own suffering, because you've managed to dissociate yourself from the very essence of You. It sucks to know that you're not safe with your own mind. It sucks to know that all it takes is One Bad Thing to obliterate the positivity you've so carefully crafted and nurtured. One chink in the armor and it's rendered useless. Might as well be that "high level" female fantasy armor that doesn't protect anything.<br />
<br />
-I'm so glad there are people who don't go through that.<br />
<br />
This post is not for them.<br />
<br />
This post is for the ones who are terrified. If our heroes can't beat this, then what hope do we have? And to that, I say I honestly don't know. What I do know is that we have to continue carrying this banner and this burden until we can't. For ourselves. For the ones we've lost. For people who struggle and are too scared or ashamed to find help.<br />
<br />
I'm here. If you need a therapist but you're not in a place to see someone in person, there's<b> <a href="https://www.talkspace.com/" target="_blank">Talk Space</a></b>. The National Suicide Prevention hotline - <b>1-800-273-8255</b>. The Trevor Project - <b>866-</b><br />
<b>488-7386</b>. There are more options now than even when I was a kid. The internet has revolutionized the way we communicate, so utilize it. Please. Don't let the closed mind of someone who doesn't share your experiences take away your willingness to help yourself.<br />
<br />
And if you're thinking of taking your own life, please see this post as a girl who has been scared of her own mind and understands where you are, begging you not to. These things in our heads, they lie to us. They tell us we're worthless and unloved and unlovable. We don't deserve the kindnesses of our friends and family. They tell us we're failures. NONE of that is true. You are NOT too broken to be loved. You are NOT too broken to live. The world needs you.<br />
<br />
I need you.<br />
<br />
Please stay.<br />
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<br />lexcadehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18094072290983267178noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7363838446991842850.post-4153940137569133342017-06-30T20:25:00.005-04:002017-06-30T20:25:54.423-04:00IT LIVES!OK, well <i>I</i> live. I guess that's good enough, right?<br />
<br />
Especially since it's been.....ooooooooooooooooh.......about six months since I've made a peep on here? Mah bad.<br />
<br />
A lot has happened. Some good, some not so good. The not so good = massive depressive episode that basically stole my life. After finishing Super Sekrit Project (which is still super sekrit), I kinda fell off the writing wagon. And when that happens, nothing good follows. There's a lot that I've been thinking about, that I'll share as I shake myself out of this weird pseudo-coma I've been in.<br />
<br />
The thing that I'm excited most about, though, is the fruition of a different sekrit projekt, one that is near and dear to my heart and deeply personal (no jokes, plz. Eh, okay, one). And that is the development of a line--somewhat by accident--with After Glows Publishing called Cupid's Cafe, which you can learn allllll about at this <a href="https://cpea78.wixsite.com/cupidscafe" target="_blank">handy-dandy website</a> I built. I'm hoping this will fill an untapped romance niche full of people like myself who struggle with mental illnesses and want to see ourselves not only overcome the symptoms but also find love in the process.The first two books in the line are available now, and let me tell you, the ladies who have stepped up and taken this project on are AMAZING.<br />
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<a href="https://afterglowspublishing.com/cupids-cafe-series/" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="317" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUnsm-jtHagLSOSlKn5Xvhf1Ub_tpveE12m0IECz0Otua0MA-85rv7PWlq8oCJaLoG9K6GsaB4xmUmYzjyI1XLS5g62P3UIPdDgW9VP_LNIvd-bZdW0bSt3Y2Io2I2i0Z07wbkICax5mY/s320/lori+cover.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
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<img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="427" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikIcKWzI5JXalO3l1ORWXhmw2b_twuLo0o08xG2OfJs2ZQ-rB4J6YHqU2EK1JXM3flEnrvsiiMDoJkFqqJ29cGUzvQCFyhtNhW6p3YqBSHBaOZ_vBJo08KnuLa0ncwn_yjEhC-3DxlwiI/s320/Painting+for+Keeps+Medium+Cover.jpg" width="213" /></div>
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And it's starting to grow more. A third book has been contracted, and a fourth writer (who isn't me!) has expressed interest. That, more than anything else, has been keeping me afloat lately. </div>
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Over the next several posts, I'm going to share a few different things with you guys, and a lot of it might not be pretty. I've given up trying to sugar-coat my illnesses because no one sugar-coats physical illnesses, so why should I treat mine as anything less just because they're mental? If you're on board, feel free to share your own experiences, either here in the comments or on your own blog. @ me on Twitter (<a href="https://twitter.com/lexcade" target="_blank">@lexcade</a>), find me on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Lexcade/" target="_blank">Facebook</a>, tag me on <a href="https://www.tumblr.com/blog/authorcpeace" target="_blank">Tumblr</a>. I want to know your stories. I want you to feel comfortable sharing them because we all need that from time to time. Want to guest post? Email me at c (dot) peace (at) live (dot) com. It's time we shake off the stigma of mental illness, and the best way to do that is through honesty and speaking our truth. </div>
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Say it with me:<i style="font-weight: bold;"> I am worthy of love</i>.</div>
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'Til next time, peeps.</div>
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<br />lexcadehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18094072290983267178noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7363838446991842850.post-51944027530180883802016-12-12T17:43:00.000-05:002016-12-12T17:43:03.273-05:00Uh wowSo I haven't written anything since August. That's crazy.<br />
<br />
Fairly certain the depressive episodes that have colored the last few months have something to do with it.<br />
<br />
But I'm not here to discuss depression (today).<br />
<br />
And although Batman Arkham Knight has owned me the last several weeks, I'm not here to talk about that, either. I'll post a review later this week that will be a love letter to Jason Todd and what I would love to see from another installment.<br />
<br />
Today, we're going to talk about a special breed of imposter syndrome.<br />
<br />
A couple years ago I wrote a book approximately 10 people have read about a romance author who hasn't had a relationship in a long ass time. Claire is probably the closest to me I've actually put in a book (though she's not me and there's a difference) because I, too, am a romance author who hasn't had a relationship in a long ass time because of lasting emotional trauma that's gonna require more therapy than I have time for to deal with. And like Claire, I kinda wonder if that fact makes me less of a romance writer. I'm actually quite jaded where 99.999% of romance-related things are involved. I'm a mega-shipper of Olicity and I enjoy a good HEA, though I think happily for now is far more realistic.<br />
<br />
So with my books, and even romantic subplots, I tend to err more on the side of realism (btw, I had to add "err" to my phone's dictionary just now, but it knows words that don't actually exist). And I realize that Jaded Romantic isn't a huge sub-genre of the community. But I'm here. And I write what I want to read. Stories that are emotionally messy. People whose worst enemies are most definitely themselves. In fact, I'm working on a project that involves a severely depressed/suicidal heroine because mentally ill people are under-represented. I know this, for I am a mentally ill person and have yet to read anything where the heroine makes me go HOLY SHIT THAT'S ME. It's why I always liked science fiction--those are some fucked up people, but it's ok because they're doing science. In fact, one of the saddest love stories for me is Mr. Fries and Nora, his wife, who (depending on the retcon) suffers from Huntington's chorea, and her husband has cryogenically frozen her to buy time until he can find a cure. Again, not really here or there.<br />
<br />
Ok, back to this whole imposter thing. I'd love some feedback on this, btw. But my question is, does a romance author need to be in a relationship to write romance effectively? And more than that, would you as a reader feel a little gipped if you read a book and the author was someone like me with a partner and kids effectively missing from the bio? Do you think I'm just stuck too far in my head? Let me know below.lexcadehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18094072290983267178noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7363838446991842850.post-63445268956368014882016-08-07T23:59:00.000-04:002016-08-07T23:59:06.366-04:00So...about this Harley and Joker thing....<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>****Fair warning: Spoilers ahoy.****</b></div>
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After my two recent viewings of Suicide Squad and too much time hanging out on Twitter, I developed emotions. Suicide Squad in general gave me emotions. That whole thing with Deadshot and his daughter? ALLLLLLLL THE FEELS. And yes, I know the movie is problematic in so many ways. Adam Beach deserved a whole lot better; the Native community as a whole deserves a whole lot better. Slipknot deserved to be more than a throwaway character. But I digress.<br />
<br />
As a Batman fan from a very young age, I actually remember the episode where Harley debuted. Originally, she was a throwaway character herself from a Joker dream sequence, but the writers decided to keep her, gave her a backstory, turned her into the character we all know and love. Before I go any further: Dear Margot Robbie, you KILLT IT.<br />
<br />
*Ahem*<br />
<br />
There are plenty of people who view the movie as romanticizing Harley and Joker's relationship, but I disagree. A <i>lot</i>, actually. As someone who dated a man with sociopathic tendencies, I probably have a starkly different view, thanks to Robbie's very nuanced portrayal of Harley Quinn.<br />
<br />
New 52 origin aside, Harleen Quinzel's transformation into Joker's girlfriend, as she's repeatedly called, isn't a complete transformation. Her time away from Joker has put her into a sort of identity crisis, where bits and pieces of her old life creep through to the surface. There's a lot of uncertainty in her face, where she isn't sure she <i>wants</i> to go back to Joker now that she has something akin to friends in Deadshot and Diablo, and eventually Croc.<br />
<br />
One of the most telling parts of the movie is just after the ACE Chemicals flashback: Deadshot startles her and she pulls her gun on him. That kind of reaction does not happen after a happy memory, guys. Regardless of the tense situation, it's the first time up to that point she's truly shown fear. And then, the absolutely brokenhearted way in which she asks Deadshot if he's ever been in love.... She's looking for reassurance, and when she doesn't get it, she calls him a "textbook sociopath."<br />
<br />
You see, <i>she already knows Joker doesn't love her.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
She knows he's incapable of loving her or anything else.<br />
<br />
But here's the problem, and the thing sociopaths are experts at: Harley has no idea who she is away from him.<br />
<br />
The Puddin collar (because it is), the jacket, hell, her entire color scheme--all facilitated by Joker. He's created her, given her the identity of Harley Quinn. Even her mannerisms are patterned after his. He's so entrenched in her that the separation has to be jarring for her, which explains why she's desperate to get back to him, because getting back to him means getting back to herself, because what is she without him? She gave up her family (she has a mom and brother, plus a dad who's a career criminal); her occupation, which is grueling YEARS of school plus a continuation of classes after you earn your degree--I actually wanted to go into criminal psychology, too; and her entire identity to be what he made her. Trust me when I say it's really, really difficult to get back to yourself after a relationship with a sociopath. And it's much easier to fill a role than rebuild when you've given everything and gotten nothing in return.<br />
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So no, I don't think the movie romanticizes Harley and Joker's relationship. I think it's actually one of the more honest portrayals we've seen. And if they'd kept in the deleted scenes of the physical abuse Harley suffered from him, the honesty would've been brutal.<br />
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<br />lexcadehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18094072290983267178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7363838446991842850.post-89827973442503756302016-07-22T00:00:00.000-04:002016-07-22T00:00:21.034-04:00New Release Alert: Submissive on the Run - Tara Quan<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEuxrJWFblE9N4VwTV8_PEeEiY1Y0Znh4U9H2mXY3LR5D9sh1Ysi14BnF97r7SB0oFG-nqlbffGPbmUb3dkiKovWUjrXvKQVayIxQrvXKTzd6WkiAVuHK-N9zN9rI0R51vSBA7oZCqhvg/s1600/Banner_SubmissiveOnTheRun_TaraQuan.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEuxrJWFblE9N4VwTV8_PEeEiY1Y0Znh4U9H2mXY3LR5D9sh1Ysi14BnF97r7SB0oFG-nqlbffGPbmUb3dkiKovWUjrXvKQVayIxQrvXKTzd6WkiAVuHK-N9zN9rI0R51vSBA7oZCqhvg/s320/Banner_SubmissiveOnTheRun_TaraQuan.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b>The Story Behind the Book<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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Sometimes, supporting characters
take on a life of their own. After selflessly aiding in the affairs of others,
they sulk in the back of an author’s brain, broadcasting their past, present,
and future until surrender is nigh. Thus was the case with Kim Tran, the
intrepid dungeon monitor from <a href="http://www.taraquan.com/submissiveondisplay">Submissive on Display</a>.
Unbeknownst to the heroine of the first book, Kim has some unfinished business
with the hero’s best friend (small world, I know). He insisted I give them a
chance to sort things out, and, being a Dom, he has a knack for getting his
way. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<i>Submissive on the Run </i>drags me back to Las Vegas’s renowned
Carnivore Club, a multi-author world first penned by Kate Richards for Decadent
Publishing’s 1Night Stand Series. This interracial BDSM romance stars a feisty
sub with a strong right hook, who must contend with a spoilt rich boy
determined to win her back. An ill-mannered cat and Madam Eve’s matchmaking
service unite them for a night of exhibitionistic fun, which ends in a capture
game and a scorching happily ever after. <o:p></o:p></div>
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To celebrate my return to BDSM
romance this year, I’m giving away a $15 gift card. To enter, leave a comment
here and drop your details at my website: <a href="http://www.taraquan.com/submissiveontherun">http://www.taraquan.com/submissiveontherun</a> <o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Submissive on the Run by Tara Quan<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAQ78vQa3u2ACRQBlUSHECDaGYruvliwA-LUrOYun-WANVP_2R2D0YBUpcArXh2RLmrEjMoJDV8_AXMvuK3g68PuOY1G03HJO6BSVJHONgvw0zopEf51x4JLlrdOra0sNpaBT6dU1i7Go/s1600/SubmissiveOnTheRun_300x450.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAQ78vQa3u2ACRQBlUSHECDaGYruvliwA-LUrOYun-WANVP_2R2D0YBUpcArXh2RLmrEjMoJDV8_AXMvuK3g68PuOY1G03HJO6BSVJHONgvw0zopEf51x4JLlrdOra0sNpaBT6dU1i7Go/s320/SubmissiveOnTheRun_300x450.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
Obscene wealth and a toxic
family taught Joss Bradlee to care about no one. He moved through life in a
caustic shell, fending off gold-diggers with his sharp tongue and abrasive
personality. But a stubborn submissive saw past his nonchalant act, and he fell
hard and fast for a girl he didn’t deserve. When she accidentally stumbled into
the line of fire, he moved heaven and earth to protect her, even if it meant
letting her go. Ten months later, he ensures her safety and tracks her down,
finally ready to claim the one person that matters. The only problem—she wants
nothing to do with him.<o:p></o:p></div>
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On the run for close to a year,
Kim Tran receives a surprise call from the man who’d put her life in danger.
His family hired assassins to kill her, but he’s somehow convinced they still
had a chance. With their entire relationship built on a lie, she resists the
instinct to sprint straight into his arms. Faced with a social divide no sane
person would bridge, she cuts her losses and breaks her own heart. But the
Dominant she loves has other plans, and he’s spent his entire life getting his
way. Too late to run and with nowhere to hide, she faces an adversary well
versed in all her weaknesses.<o:p></o:p></div>
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At the Carnivore Club, two
exhibitionists meet for a battle of wills, lured by a one-night stand service,
misplaced cat, and several helping hands. With the aid of handcuffs,
disciplinary measures, and a capture game, a reluctant sub rediscovers the
pleasures of bondage, the thrill of display, and the ecstasy of surrender.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<i>Genre: BDSM Romance, Erotic Romance, Interracial/Multicultural<b><o:p></o:p></b></i></div>
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Buy Links: <a href="http://mybook.to/submissiveontherun">Amazon</a> | <a href="https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-submissiveontherun1nightstand-2074889-147.html">ARe</a>
| B&N | iTunes | <a href="https://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/ebook/submissive-on-the-run-1night-stand">Kobo</a>
| <a href="https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Tara_Quan_Submissive_on_the_Run_1Night_Stand?id=UH6sDAAAQBAJ&hl=en">GooglePlay</a>
| <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/31172509-submissive-on-the-run">GoodReads</a><br />
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lexcadehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18094072290983267178noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7363838446991842850.post-84450707517137901872016-07-18T00:00:00.000-04:002016-07-18T00:00:21.426-04:00The Story Behind the Book: Happy birthday, TTNY!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZhNpdQP6g3If790qGvdDhyphenhyphenRa1uIUlcfcMHxyZ6VWSM78zkWBQH8PiilfkOJFCkFgVbqHQD7BlEveV1AwDMTj4omHDKx887S10Fk16HgBz9YbTNF9VLfZ5OxVau_qZxBkZKJZSVqt_WeQ/s1600/This-Time-Next-Year_banner.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="85" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZhNpdQP6g3If790qGvdDhyphenhyphenRa1uIUlcfcMHxyZ6VWSM78zkWBQH8PiilfkOJFCkFgVbqHQD7BlEveV1AwDMTj4omHDKx887S10Fk16HgBz9YbTNF9VLfZ5OxVau_qZxBkZKJZSVqt_WeQ/s400/This-Time-Next-Year_banner.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<br />
Hard to believe TTNY is a toddler now. Wow. Happy book birthday, Moira and Kiernan!<br />
<br />
When I wrote this book three years ago, it was partially on a whim, and partially because I was searching for something to provide a small glimpse of hope. I'd been a little while out of that terrible relationship I mentioned a few weeks ago and struggling to find my bearings. No matter what I did, I couldn't make that relationship work, mostly because he wasn't willing. But I could write about people who could and were.<br />
<br />
Until this point, I'd thought myself solely a SFF writer, no romance thank you very much. But recent heartbreak has a way of changing your mind on a lot of things, and honestly, how will I learn anything if I don't write? And how will I grow if I don't challenge myself? After all, everything I'd believed about love and forever was shattered.<br />
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So I started writing. Being me, I geared toward vampires because of course I did. I was the kid reading Anne Rice in high school, eating up everything about vampire mythology that I could, fascinated by these intensely beautiful, dangerous creatures. It was a natural go-to. But what about the story? The characters?<br />
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After a little soul searching (and a bit more wine) I started brainstorming and came up with Kiernan, a man who is disgustingly honorable and kind and loving and basically what I needed at the time. Moira was pretty simple. A hermit who spends all her time working? That was me <i>before</i> my relationship ended. And like me, Moira is blessed with a wonderful best friend who is there to care for her when no one else can or will.<br />
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I found a great deal of healing through the two of them. Kiernan's love and devotion to Moira has lasted from her childhood and continues to last through her self doubt and fear. And Moira finds her spirit and gets to choose the path she wants to take--to be with Kiernan--even if he's not 100% on board at first. It gave me the hope that one of these days, I'd be able to find someone to accept the flaws and the fears and the anxiety that I deal with and love me with the fullness I need.<br />
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These two will always have a lasting place in my heart. I hope you'll at least give them a place in your e-reader ;)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4QzA73IedCyDctTju_kYTk-q07IEcmPhZ29YgzzgfusD6HEL6Ii5sMlGzsNk4Yx1tUszIpWqtgQtSPanZ7-s-_H6F1JGMIkYLOZHmmVXiGwhs96WDGP1V12EyqkrATnU2_IkfN-qyBaM/s1600/This-Time-Next-Year300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4QzA73IedCyDctTju_kYTk-q07IEcmPhZ29YgzzgfusD6HEL6Ii5sMlGzsNk4Yx1tUszIpWqtgQtSPanZ7-s-_H6F1JGMIkYLOZHmmVXiGwhs96WDGP1V12EyqkrATnU2_IkfN-qyBaM/s320/This-Time-Next-Year300.jpg" width="213" /></a><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">Vampire Kiernan Shaw has never forgotten the night
twenty years ago when he’d been forced to stand by while another vampire killed
a six-year-old girl’s parents in front of her. He’s spent the better part of
the last two decades watching over her, protecting her and hoping for an
opportunity to make amends one day.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">Ever since surviving the vampire attack that killed
her parents, Moira Curran has dealt with the resulting nightmares and
abandonment issues the only way she could—by throwing herself into her
biochemistry career, preferring a life of a hermit in her lab to facing the reality
of her lonely life. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">Madame Eve brings them back together for one fateful
night. An immediate bond of sizzling chemistry and respect forms, but can it
heal her fears and his guilt?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Available at: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/This-1Night-Stand-Series-ebook/dp/B00DV0X0R6/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1378514301&sr=8-3&keywords=This+Time+Next+Year">Amazon</a> | <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/this-time-next-year-catherine-peace/1115994558?ean=2940148274681">Barnes
& Noble</a> | <a href="https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-thistimenextyear-1228900-149.html" style="line-height: 150%;">All
Romance Ebooks</a></div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />lexcadehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18094072290983267178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7363838446991842850.post-61598118046430962662016-07-05T00:00:00.000-04:002016-07-05T00:00:02.146-04:00Cover Reveal: Deadly Slumber - Kerrianne Combs<div class="MsoNormal">
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<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="OLE_LINK1"><span style="color: #262626; font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;"><br /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="OLE_LINK2"></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="OLE_LINK1"><span style="color: #262626; font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">The <b>Demon Tales</b> Are Back!!<o:p></o:p></span></a></span></div>
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<span style="color: #262626; font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;">I am so happy to tell you that <b>Deadly
Slumber,</b> the NEW first book in the Demon Tales Series will be released
in October. (Deadly Slumber is a re-release of Sleeping Beauty, and the Damned
Demon. After this book the Demon Tales will be <b>ALL NEW</b> stories, <b>never
read before.</b>)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #262626; font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;">The <b>Demon Tales</b> have had a
shake up, a rejig and been given a whole new, shiny look!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #262626; font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;">I did this because I felt they
needed a polish, and I believe a new era, needs a new look!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #262626; font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;">My writing has grown and evolved
since I first wrote Beauty and the Beast 7 years ago, and I wanted to breathe
some fresh air into their stories. So, while you may not see all characters you
once read about yet - you will, but they will have fresh books! (All coming
soon)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #262626; font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;">Thank you for waiting so patiently
for the Demons to return. I will be eternally grateful to all who read the
original series. I hope you enjoy my changes.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #262626; font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;">If you are a new reader, <b>Hi!</b> ;-) <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #262626; font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;">My <b>Demon Tales</b> are sexy, dark and twisted versions of recognizable
fairy tales. They are full of action, intrigue and HOT SEXY males. My females
are strong and forceful – not meek and defenseless. And I hope you learn to
love them as much as I do. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #262626; font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;">I hope you enjoy <b>Deadly Slumber.</b> <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #262626; font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;">Much love.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<i><span style="color: #262626; font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;">Kerrianne
Coombes x0x0<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
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happiness. Locked in a human insane asylum, cursed. When she awakens the
nightmares truly begin. She has given up all hope of escaping, until a dark
stranger, with frightening eyes, secrets her away in the night.</span></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #262626; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><span style="font-size: large;">Alone, bitter and determined, Rhand searches for what
was taken from him. Ruthless beyond measure, nothing and no one will get in the
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where he takes her, but nothing compares to the power of the love between the
mercenary and his Sleeping Beauty.<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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lexcadehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18094072290983267178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7363838446991842850.post-23086084768317605962016-07-01T00:00:00.000-04:002016-07-05T15:58:17.175-04:00Cover Reveal and Excerpt (NSFW): Surprising Myself - Lea Bronson<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;">
<span style="background: white;">Thank you for hosting my first audio
release, the erotica anthology SURPRISING MYSELF! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white;">What is your secret fantasy? That one
thing you dream of doing but have never had the chance to fulfill in real life…
Thirteen writers present sexy, steamy stories of women getting the chance to
live out their personal fantasies. What’s yours? Whether it’s several lovers at
the same time for a pulse-pounding ménage scene or the allure of getting caught
in public, these stories will set your mind ablaze. From voyeurism in a sex
club to swinging, cuckolding to cosplay, SURPRISING MYSELF brings you stories from
thirteen hot new writers to watch out for and just might make you think about
fulfilling your own wildest fantasy.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">ABOUT LEA BRONSEN'S STORY "COME ABOARD"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Lorna, a young
American reporter, travels to a port town in France to cover a yacht race. She
hopes she’ll be able to experience her wildest fantasy on the beach – sex in
public. Due to getting on the wrong train, she has an argument with the
controller, who she finds both immensely sexy and annoyingly arrogant. <o:p></o:p></div>
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When he brings her to
the engine, pretending to restrain her but instead getting intimate with her,
she sees the opportunity to live out her fantasy…<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">TRAILER<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ETJpsnhXGwM<b><o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">EXCERPT<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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If lucky, I might
even meet a handsome Frenchman with whom to spend Saturday night. I’m single,
have been for the past few months, and at twenty-three, the lack of sex for
such a long time is driving me half-nuts. An interlude with a local hotness on
one of the warm beaches of Sables sounds like an irresistible idea. Yes, a
beach, or any other public place. The eBook I’m reading features a heroine
getting the f*** of her life in an open park at night against a tree in full
view of passersby. I want that kind of excitement, too. The three boyfriends
I’ve had in the past few years were good in bed but not daring enough. I yearn
for someone to do something crazy and a little forbidden with me, in public
visibility. Surely, that hint of dangerousness, the possibility of being caught
by the authorities, should increase the sexual experience—and our
orgasms—tenfold.<o:p></o:p></div>
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For now, I’ll have to
do with checking out the cute Maghrebian controller while waiting for him to
examine my ticket. Row after row, he walks the narrow aisle toward me,
distributing polite smiles to the passengers and answering questions. Tall and
broad-shouldered, he has the looks and build of a soccer player. A black tribal
tattoo appears below the short sleeve of his purple shirt and travels down his
sun-kissed, muscular forearm. Beneath his gray cap, he sports a short buzz cut,
and two or three days’ worth of black beard stubble covers his cheeks and chin,
just enough to make him…oh, God, immensely sexy. With full lips, a strong nose,
and black olive-shaped eyes, he’s a gem of North Africa, an exotic, roughly
polished jewel. He would definitely fit in my f***-on-the-beach fantasy.<b><o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">BOOK LINKS<span style="background: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">ABOUT LEA BRONSEN<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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I like my reads hot, fast, and edgy, and strive to
give my own stories the same intensity. After venturing into dirty inner-city
crime drama with my debut novel Wild Hearted, I divide my writing time between
psychological thriller, suspense romance, and erotic contemporary romance. <o:p></o:p></div>
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I love to hear from my readers! Write to <span lang="NO-BOK"><a href="mailto:leabronsen@yahoo.com"><span lang="EN-US">leabronsen@yahoo.com</span></a></span> or meet
me on:<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
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<span lang="NO-BOK"><a href="http://leabronsen.com/"><span lang="EN-US">Website</span></a></span> / <span lang="NO-BOK"><a href="http://leabronsen.com/crazy-nights-blog/"><span lang="EN-US">Lea's
Crazy Nights Blog</span></a></span> / <span lang="NO-BOK"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/wildhearted.author"><span lang="EN-US">Facebook
</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: blue; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">profile</span></a></span> / <span lang="NO-BOK"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/LeaBronsen"><span lang="EN-US">Facebook
page</span></a></span> / <span lang="NO-BOK"><a href="https://twitter.com/LeaBronsen"><span lang="EN-US">Twitter</span></a></span> / <span lang="NO-BOK"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Lea-Bronsen/e/B00BTFT8KS"><span lang="EN-US">Amazon</span></a></span><span class="MsoHyperlink"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
lexcadehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18094072290983267178noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7363838446991842850.post-23693814143690212382016-05-31T00:00:00.000-04:002016-05-31T00:00:11.781-04:00Wherein I'm a little too honest***Possible trigger warning***<br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>This post is going to be the hardest I've ever written. Maybe no one will read it, maybe someone will and they'll find strength in it. Whatever happens, this post is an explanation. Of a lot of things.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>It's not a post that requires back pats or shoulder squeezes. None of that "I'm so sorry you went through this" or "I'm proud of you for overcoming." That isn't the point. In fact, I may turn off comments just to discourage it.</i><br />
<br />
I'm not writing this post for me. Not entirely. Sure, I want it off my chest, out of my system, away from my heart and my soul. In that much, the post is for me.<br />
<br />
More, I want it to be for people who've undergone similar circumstances, who may be going through them now. I want it to be for the ones like <a href="http://bookriot.com/2016/05/18/navigating-depression-help-romance-novels/" target="_blank">this lady</a>, who've battled depression through a genre I've grown to love over the years.<br />
<br />
So, let's get the hard part over with.<br />
<br />
I was abused.<br />
<br />
I. Was. Abused.<br />
<br />
I was <i>abused.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
Like ripping off a bandaid, right?<br />
<br />
Except not so much.<br />
<br />
The hardest part of it all is admitting it, not just to people in general, but to myself. I've balked every time I thought about it because deep down he's a good person or it didn't seem that bad or I thought I was smarter than that. God, I was supposed to be smarter than that (yay, defeatist thinking). Hell, I balked trying to write this post because <i>it wasn't that bad</i> (except it was and I have the anxiety and panic attacks to prove it), but in my effort to banish fears from my life--the only New Years Resolution I've ever made and tried to keep--I'm pressing on.<br />
<br />
The thing, though, the reason it doesn't ring as abuse is because he never hit me. Oh, I was scared of him sometimes, sure. He had a temper, and it took nothing to set him off. He was judgmental, isolated me from friends and family, blamed me for the problems in our relationship, withheld affection (at one point he went for six months without so much as kissing me). Never met my friends in the 4 years we were together, though I met a few of his, and always accused me of having dated my male friends. Made zero effort to be with me, truly. And yet, whenever he broke up with me (typically happened once a year), he would call and beg me back. And I'd go, because I loved him, and surely being with him wasn't as bad as being alone. But it was so much worse.<br />
<br />
It wasn't until our fourth, and last, breakup that I started dallying in romance. I had ideas that were more romance-skewed, but I'm a spec fic girl. I love fantasy, science fiction, anything that brings a little magic to the world, but I shied away from the romance books because while boys didn't have cooties, those surely did. But poor broken little me, the one who watched her hopes and dreams shatter when her ex told her she was only good for sex and hanging out and cheapened what she'd struggled for almost half a decade to build, the one who cried herself to sleep, the one who'd lost so many friends and almost lost her family because of a selfish psychopath who couldn't see past his own suffering to realize he'd been hurting someone he claimed to love... That girl needed romance. That girl needed some hope. And that girl needed to take some damn control.<br />
<br />
When I found out about Decadent Publishing's 1Night Stand series, I decided to take a leap. After all, I had multiple friends writing not just in romance, but for that line, and I devoured them. Thankfully, they're pretty short reads, some that I enjoyed far more than I ever expected, and I said to myself, why not?<br />
<br />
So I started writing <i>This Time Next Year</i>, because if I love one thing, it's over-dramatic vampire romances (thanks, Anne Rice). And then I wrote what I had been missing for so long: A man willing to do anything for the woman he loves; a woman fighting to make her own decisions about love and life, one who fights against her own insecurities and the very world around her to be with the man she loves. Moira and Kiernan were a jumping off point for me, where I could explore what love is and means and the differences in kinds of love and the crazy situations humans get themselves into. (<i>Complete Me</i> was written during the same time period about a different person, who was honestly almost a carbon copy of my ex.)<br />
<br />
I started writing romance to give characters the happy endings I thought I'd lost. And I keep writing romance to give readers the happy endings they deserve.<br />
<br />
And along the way, I found my happy ending, too.lexcadehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18094072290983267178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7363838446991842850.post-33020364167315520842016-05-25T14:08:00.000-04:002016-05-25T14:08:04.408-04:00Adventures in Hospitality<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQDYcKTrpS9W_2d_K6ARGRQElggUe4yy3pojVeaeYQHteZSRPP8w4vYAVD2tNN9repBRh-rJpj6pmrEGgpUy1djOd14alZXEODsGm0yNCKuCfleY4p-Tw0dq1100_gx11Tel8-hVXFFbI/s1600/A+Request.png" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQDYcKTrpS9W_2d_K6ARGRQElggUe4yy3pojVeaeYQHteZSRPP8w4vYAVD2tNN9repBRh-rJpj6pmrEGgpUy1djOd14alZXEODsGm0yNCKuCfleY4p-Tw0dq1100_gx11Tel8-hVXFFbI/s640/A+Request.png" width="640" /></a><br />
Oh, that doesn't comprise an entire blog post. Sorry, guys.<br />
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I know it's been a while since I blessed you with adventures in hospitality. Honestly, most of them haven't been blog-worthy. Mostly people just being poops.<br />
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But today, I have one for you.<br />
<br />
First, some background:<br />
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We have a frequent guest, incidentally the queen of resting bitch face and attitude, who has requests that are probably not big deals for other hotel properties, but mine is speshul. My property doesn't have bath tubs in 99.999999999% of its king rooms. My property is dumb, but it's pretty, and we all know that's what counts.<br />
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So when Guest comes in, what does she want? A king room with a bathtub. Because of course she does. We found one room type that has them for sure, which is great. However, there are only 3 of that room type, which is not so great.<br />
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And today? All of those three rooms are filled.<br />
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That should be all the background you need to know.<br />
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<br />
Today, my coworker receives this phone call from Guest's Assistant, whom I'll lovingly refer to as Ass. With the period. You know, short for assistant.<br />
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Ass.: I'd like to confirm that [GUEST] has their particular room for check-in.<br />
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Coworker: Well, today, it appears that room is occupied, so [GUEST] will be in a different room.<br />
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Ass.: How long is that room occupied? When do they check out?<br />
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Coworker: Until the end of the week.<br />
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Ass.: Well, why was that room given to someone when it's already been requested?<br />
<br />
Coworker: A request is not a guarantee.<br />
<br />
Ass.: Can't you just move that other person?<br />
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Coworker: Uh, no.<br />
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Seriously. No. Just no.<br />
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I get having requests when you travel, but if you're the kind of person whose Ass. will <i>ask us to move a person who's been checked in for days</i> in order to accommodate your ONE NIGHT stay.<br />
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People.<br />
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<br />lexcadehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18094072290983267178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7363838446991842850.post-79719835205809170922016-05-18T13:15:00.000-04:002016-05-18T13:15:43.414-04:00Disturbing the Peace: The Importance of Geekery FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU<br />
<br />
So there have been a ton of kerfluffles recently concerning women's place in geek culture. Now that we've gotten not one but TWO female leads in Star Wars (Rey in The Force Awakens and Jyn Erso in Rogue One), geekdom has nearly collapsed on itself. And by that I mean about .01% of a very vocal population decided that it was bad enough to have Rey, but Jyn was just too much.<br />
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Somehow, over the course of...pretty much forever...men have found ways to exclude women from pretty much everything. Treating us as chattel, property, second-class citizens, using feminine traits as a way to demean and emasculate other men, using female sex organs as insults....Betty White has an amazing quote regarding that, btw. Until 1833, there weren't co-ed universities. Until 1835, women couldn't own property anywhere in the US (thanks, Arkansas!), and even that came with restrictions. <br />
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We've made it to 2016. In the last 181 years, since women could own, but not control, property in Arkansas if their husbands were incapacitated, we've made significant strides. We can vote, we can drive, we can own <i>and</i> control property with or without a husband. We've gone to space, we serve in the military, we hold down jobs traditionally left to men. Hey, there's even 20 women CEOs in Fortune 500 companies! Wait...that...that's 4%. Which means 96% of CEOs are men.<br />
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This statistic seems to fit in with geekdom, too. There's 8 billion blogs in the world that cover the ratio of female superheroes to male superheros in terms of comic book sales, and others like Feminist Frequency (one of my favorites) that discuss the amount of female and minority video game protagonists versus straight white male, which is sometimes referred to as the status quo or the Easy setting. I've discussed these things before <a href="http://lexcade.blogspot.com/2014/05/disturbing-peace-diversity-in-fiction.html" target="_blank">here</a>, <a href="http://lexcade.blogspot.com/2014/06/disturbing-peace-diversity-in-fiction.html" target="_blank">here</a>, and <a href="http://lexcade.blogspot.com/2014/06/disturbing-peace-diversity-in-fiction.html" target="_blank">here</a> as well, so I won't bore you with details.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi161hzhiVRylfnpR0nMuCkVo1AhAOO2V5YnXGkDFXUS_1WQWxpYGcYiYdOU53LhYf_LtWuHv32aM6TNLYKvw1Ad15iW9TVflpNTNOcUA_PLmcUMi48Ccc2YGZV9d-bkCDOqNU8sXcPscI/s1600/male+protags.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi161hzhiVRylfnpR0nMuCkVo1AhAOO2V5YnXGkDFXUS_1WQWxpYGcYiYdOU53LhYf_LtWuHv32aM6TNLYKvw1Ad15iW9TVflpNTNOcUA_PLmcUMi48Ccc2YGZV9d-bkCDOqNU8sXcPscI/s320/male+protags.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Again? ...Always. This pic is always applicable.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
What disturbs me more often than not is this concept of the "Fake ____ Girl." Fake geek girl. Fake football girl. Fake car girl. Fake fake fake. As though women need to fake anything up to fit in anywhere. We're women. We have boobs. Everything's fine. But no, when women take up an interest in <i>ANYTHING</i> perceived as male-oriented or dominated, then suddenly that Fake tag gets added on.<br />
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Let me tell y'all a little story. My dad grew up with three brothers. Most of his cousins are male, too. As it stands right now, there's only 4 girls on his side of the family--my sister, me, my cousin, and my uncle's stepdaughter. When my mom got pregnant with my sister, and then with me, he had zero idea what to do with girls because he had little experience with raising them. Sure, my cousin was with them a lot, but that's watching, not rearing. So my mom, in her eternal and infinite wisdom, told him, "Just do what you'd do with boys." I imagine her saying that with a nonchalant shrug and a half smile, looking at him lovingly and thinking, <i>Duh</i>.<br />
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In essence, that's what happened. Dad took us fishing. A lot. Taught us to bait our own hooks, taught me to clean our catches, to do a proper fish fry. With my sister, he built things for the house and taught her to build her own things. With me, he caught an inkling of my interest in speculative fiction, and he fostered the crap out of it through movies. Star Wars. Horror movies. Last Star Fighter. If it had even a hint of science fiction or fantasy involved, we watched it. Sci-Fi Saturdays were our thing, to the mutual chagrin of my mother and sister, and it was through these glimpses into <i>What if? </i>that my career actually began, though I wouldn't be published until much later.<br />
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I often took refuge in science fiction and fantasy, <i>especially</i> superhero tales. I didn't have a collection of comic books because A) I lived in a small mountain town where they weren't readily available and B) I was too busy reading novels and playing video games. I was sickly as a kid, so I retreated to these worlds where awesome people were doing awesome things. I watched the 90s animated shows religiously. X-Men, Spiderman, Batman the Animated Series, & Superman were my absolute favorites. I also obsessively watched the Justice League. I ate up the movies and sought out everything I could. But there was always a disconnect. X-Men gave me the awesomeness of Storm. My love, my life, my inspiration. But the main focus was Wolverine. Spiderman gave me Mary Jane and Black Cat, but again, they were side characters. Batman gave me a PLETHORA of amazing ladies, from Catwoman to Harley to Ivy to FREAKING BARBARA GORDON OMG BARB YAAAAAAAAAAS. But there was still a problem: they were still side characters, and we won't even discuss the abusive relationship between Joker and Harley or the sexualization of literally everyone. My point is that women so infrequently get to take center stage that these moments when we get our Reys and our Jyns, it's a BFD.<br />
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However, I'm not a geek if I don't know everything. I'm not a fan if I can't name every person who ever worked on the X-Men comics, or if I can't tell you who created Ra's al-Ghul (spoiler alert, it's Neal Adams, whom I've met), or if I don't know every continuation or retcon of a series. For every Olivia Munn who knows her character's history and fights to have her character portrayed accurately, there's a Charlie Cox, who didn't even know Daredevil was blind until he auditioned for the part. But it's cool because he has a penis.<br />
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Here's my point, and I want you to underline it, bold it, print it on a flyer and hand it out to everyone you know: Geekdom is not just for boys; it's for everyone. For everyone who's ever needed an escape. For everyone who needs a hero. For everyone who needs to become their own hero. Art does not belong to one person or a certain group. Art is for whomever it speaks to, and it does not, nor has it ever, required a gatekeeper.<br />
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And if it ever does, IT WON'T BE YOU.<br />
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<i style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px;">Being one of the Embassy’s glorified treasure-seekers has its perks…</i><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px;"> </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px;">Komandan Uriah Jacobs recovers ancient artifacts in exchange for more than just decent pay; he also receives guaranteed protection from his former owners, the nyx…until an emergency landing on a too-familiar colony brings him face-to-face with his past life and something more—a surprisingly priceless treasure in the form of a human woman. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px;" /><i style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px;">A slave to the nyx since childhood…</i><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px;"> </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px;">Shadi spends her waking hours in the forge, dreaming of rescuing her brother with the help of a man she once worshipped like a father. A crashed ship on the colony becomes her only hope to escape. But before she can steal the ship, the pilot abducts her. They may be the same species, but will he help her find her Shilah? </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px;" /><i style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px;">Their attraction is undeniable…</i><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px;"> </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px;">Fighting it seems inconsequential as they evade the nyx's bounty hunter and uncover a conspiracy that shines unwanted light on Shadi's past and reveals the corruption in Uri’s beloved Embassy, placing their fledgling love in danger. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px;">As the universe systematically falls apart, will Shadi and Uri’s newfound passion be enough to keep them alive? </span><br />
<br />
<i style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px;">Being one of the Embassy’s glorified treasure-seekers has its perks…</i><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px;"> </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px;">Komandan Uriah Jacobs recovers ancient artifacts in exchange for more than just decent pay; he also receives guaranteed protection from his former owners, the nyx…until an emergency landing on a too-familiar colony brings him face-to-face with his past life and something more—a surprisingly priceless treasure in the form of a human woman. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px;" /><i style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px;">A slave to the nyx since childhood…</i><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px;"> </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px;">Shadi spends her waking hours in the forge, dreaming of rescuing her brother with the help of a man she once worshipped like a father. A crashed ship on the colony becomes her only hope to escape. But before she can steal the ship, the pilot abducts her. They may be the same species, but will he help her find her Shilah? </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px;" /><i style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px;">Their attraction is undeniable…</i><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px;"> </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px;">Fighting it seems inconsequential as they evade the nyx's bounty hunter and uncover a conspiracy that shines unwanted light on Shadi's past and reveals the corruption in Uri’s beloved Embassy, placing their fledgling love in danger. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px;">As the universe systematically falls apart, will Shadi and Uri’s newfound passion be enough to keep them alive? </span><br />
<br />
<i style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px;">Being one of the Embassy’s glorified treasure-seekers has its perks…</i><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px;"> </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px;">Komandan Uriah Jacobs recovers ancient artifacts in exchange for more than just decent pay; he also receives guaranteed protection from his former owners, the nyx…until an emergency landing on a too-familiar colony brings him face-to-face with his past life and something more—a surprisingly priceless treasure in the form of a human woman. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px;" /><i style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px;">A slave to the nyx since childhood…</i><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px;"> </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px;">Shadi spends her waking hours in the forge, dreaming of rescuing her brother with the help of a man she once worshipped like a father. A crashed ship on the colony becomes her only hope to escape. But before she can steal the ship, the pilot abducts her. They may be the same species, but will he help her find her Shilah? </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px;" /><i style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px;">Their attraction is undeniable…</i><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px;"> </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px;">Fighting it seems inconsequential as they evade the nyx's bounty hunter and uncover a conspiracy that shines unwanted light on Shadi's past and reveals the corruption in Uri’s beloved Embassy, placing their fledgling love in danger. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px;">As the universe systematically falls apart, will Shadi and Uri’s newfound passion be enough to keep them alive? </span><br />
<br />
<i style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px;">Being one of the Embassy’s glorified treasure-seekers has its perks…</i><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px;"> </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px;">Komandan Uriah Jacobs recovers ancient artifacts in exchange for more than just decent pay; he also receives guaranteed protection from his former owners, the nyx…until an emergency landing on a too-familiar colony brings him face-to-face with his past life and something more—a surprisingly priceless treasure in the form of a human woman. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px;" /><i style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px;">A slave to the nyx since childhood…</i><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px;"> </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px;">Shadi spends her waking hours in the forge, dreaming of rescuing her brother with the help of a man she once worshipped like a father. A crashed ship on the colony becomes her only hope to escape. But before she can steal the ship, the pilot abducts her. They may be the same species, but will he help her find her Shilah? </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px;" /><i style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px;">Their attraction is undeniable…</i><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px;"> </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px;">Fighting it seems inconsequential as they evade the nyx's bounty hunter and uncover a conspiracy that shines unwanted light on Shadi's past and reveals the corruption in Uri’s beloved Embassy, placing their fledgling love in danger. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px;">As the universe systematically falls apart, will Shadi and Uri’s newfound passion be enough to keep them alive? </span><br />
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<b><span class="TextRun SCX138725058" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX138725058" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCX138725058" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX138725058" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></span><a class="Hyperlink SCX138725058" href="http://www.amazon.com/Gemini-Disillusioned-Beyond-Fairytales-Book-ebook/dp/B00Y9LMF22/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1432668365&sr=8-1&keywords=gemini+catherine+peace" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: white; cursor: text; font-family: 'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 8px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;"><span class="TextRun Underlined SCX138725058" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; color: windowtext; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX138725058" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Amazon</span></span></a><span class="TextRun SCX138725058" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX138725058" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCX138725058" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX138725058" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">|</span></span><span class="TextRun SCX138725058" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX138725058" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></span><a class="Hyperlink SCX138725058" href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/gemini-catherine-peace/1122162964?ean=2940151393386" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: white; cursor: text; font-family: 'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 8px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;"><span class="TextRun SCX138725058" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; 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-webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: white; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">ARe</span></span></span><span class="TextRun SCX138725058" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX138725058" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">| </span></span><a class="Hyperlink SCX138725058" href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/id998398094?mt=11&ign-mpt=uo%3D6" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: white; cursor: text; font-family: 'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 8px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;"><span class="TextRun SCX138725058" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; 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-webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX138725058" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">|</span></span><span class="TextRun SCX138725058" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX138725058" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></span><a class="Hyperlink SCX138725058" href="https://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/gemini-45" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: white; cursor: text; font-family: 'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 8px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;"><span class="TextRun SCX138725058" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; color: windowtext; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX138725058" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Kobo</span></span></a><span class="TextRun SCX138725058" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX138725058" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCX138725058" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX138725058" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">|</span></span><a class="Hyperlink SCX138725058" href="https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Catherine_Peace_Gemini?id=lTWoCQAAQBAJ" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: white; cursor: text; font-family: 'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 8px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;"><span class="TextRun SCX138725058" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX138725058" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCX138725058" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; color: windowtext; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX138725058" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Google Play</span></span></a><span class="TextRun SCX138725058" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX138725058" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></span></b></div>
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lexcadehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18094072290983267178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7363838446991842850.post-29739631488478718582016-03-20T20:56:00.000-04:002016-03-20T20:56:20.417-04:00The Smexy Romance Blog Hop and Giveaway!<i><br /></i>
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<span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>Welcome to The Smexy Romance Blog Hop and Giveaway. We promise to give you smexy excerpts from our erotic romance novels that you are certain to enjoy! Visit all our authors to see all of our smexy reads. And don't forget to register to win our individual giveaways along with our Grand Prize!<br />
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<span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>The Smexy Romance Blog Hop and Giveway runs from March 20th to April 2nd.</i></span></span><br />
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<span style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Thanks to Clare Dargin for putting this whole thing together!</span></span></div>
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While not quite as *fans self* as some of the other entries, I love this exchange between Uri and Shadi from <i><b>Gemini</b></i>, my science fiction romance from Decadent Publishing. Two former slaves taking care of each other after an epic rescue? Love it.<br />
<br />
Don't forget to visit the other, extremely talented authors and enter on each blog for the grand prize!<br />
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As they struggled back toward <i>Gemini</i>, she managed to support his weight. They wove through crowds of merchants and drunks, somehow managing to stay undetected, and Uri still fought his disbelief. The thought that he was hallucinating crossed his mind more than once.<br />
<br />
She settled him in the copilot’s chair and took the helm, looking every bit as confident as someone who’d been flying for years. Without a hitch, she disengaged them from the station and into the relative safety of the stars. “You’re amazing.”<br />
<br />
She smiled, and light pink blossomed in her cheeks. “Time to take care of you,” she said. “Come on.” Her slight frame contained hidden strength, and, regardless of the throbbing behind his eyes, he wanted her to stay this close. “Now, sit.”<br />
<br />
“You didn’t have to come back.” As instructed, he sat on the side of his bed while she fetched first-aid supplies. When she returned, she sat next to him, her knee against his.<br />
<br />
“You’d have done it for me without a second thought.” She dabbed at a cut above his eyebrow. “How’s your head?”<br />
<br />
“Hurts,” he replied with a little snort. “But it’s been worse. And you haven’t answered my question.”<br />
Her attention moved to his split lip. As she dabbed at the cut, he noticed her fingers trembling, her hand unsteady. Could have been from the adrenaline. “Well, since you decided to get abducted, I contacted Vani. Learned a few things about Earth cats and the fahir, and about how to track ships. As an added bonus, he taught me how to disable our tracking signal.”<br />
<br />
“Which is illegal.”<br />
<br />
“Nothing we’ve done is legal. What’s one more?” She scooted behind him. “You’ve got a knot the size of my fist back here. There has to be a compress on this ship somewhere. Vani apparently had it fitted for every conceivable human emergency.”<br />
<br />
“Like I told you. Worriers.”<br />
<br />
“Let me go find it. You could really use it.”<br />
<br />
Already, the improved nutrition she’d received over the last several weeks had made a difference. Her waist-length hair bounced with each step she took, and her eyes were brighter, keener. And the sway of her hips certainly caught his attention. She wasn’t the waif he’d stolen from Goliv. Somewhere along the way, she’d become a woman.<br />
<br />
A woman who’d risked herself to save him.<br />
<br />
When she came back, he noted the grace in each movement, from the way she walked to the way she handed him the compress and sat next to him. “Why did you return for me?”<br />
<br />
The gentleness of her fingertips on his cheek managed to cut through the horrible pain in his head. “I had to. You promised to help me. Can’t keep your promises if you’re in the forge.” She kissed the uninjured side of his mouth, and his heart sprinted into high gear. “Besides, what kind of wife would I be if I left my dear husband to rot?”<br />
<br />
“In my experience, a happy one.” He took a chance, cupped her cheek with his palm, and, to his amazement, she leaned into his touch. For the first time, he noticed the flecks of amber in her irises and the light freckles on her skin. Then she kissed him again, and he pulled her tight, desperate to feel her body pressed to his. He tangled one hand in her long hair and moved the other to rest on her hip. All the pain in the universe couldn’t strip this pleasure from him.<br />
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Enter for the grand prize <b><a href="http://giveawaytools2.com/share.php?giveaway=10812323727" target="_blank">HERE</a></b><br />
<br />
I'm giving away a copy of my 1Night Stand <i>Complete Me.</i> Just leave me a comment to enter!lexcadehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18094072290983267178noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7363838446991842850.post-22451055200368442402016-03-16T13:33:00.001-04:002016-03-16T13:33:55.216-04:00Upcoming Opportunities<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Hey everyone! Sorry there's been a bit of radio silence on my end. I'm working my booty off to try to get some projects finished up for your enjoyment. I'm currently revising another 1NS book to get submitted by the end of this month, and I still have Ember to re-edit and set up. So in the meantime, I'm giving you guys an opportunity to win a couple of books, in case you haven't had a chance to buy them yet, or weren't willing to take the chance *that's totally okay, too!*</div>
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First up is the <b>Smexy Romance Blog Hop</b>, the brain child of the super-talented Clare Dargin. <b>March 20-April 2</b>, you'll have the opportunity to visit the blogs of several romance authors and enter to win plenty of prizes. It'll be a great time for everyone :D </div>
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I'm doing a couple of signings as well. I'm attending <b>Wild in West Virginia </b>with my writing partner/best friend/hetero love of my life Landra Graf. If you guys are going to be in/around Charleston, WV, June 10-12, stop by! Tix are available <a href="http://www.eventbrite.com/e/wild-in-west-virginia-2016-author-signing-610-611-2016-tickets-17577949119" target="_blank">here</a>.</div>
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I'm also attending <b>Pages in the Caves</b> Sept. 23rd in Cave City, KY, hosted by the lovely Kristine Raymond. Tix are available <a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/pages-in-the-caves-author-event-tickets-18075221474?aff=ebrowse" target="_blank">here</a>.</div>
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<br />And yes, I will have actual, physical, PRINT copies to sign!</div>
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I really hope to see you at one of these events! Keep your eyes here for the blog hop. Only got a couple days!</div>
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*Soooooooo many exclamation points!!!!!!!!!!* </div>
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<br />lexcadehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18094072290983267178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7363838446991842850.post-45082734460196093372016-01-29T00:00:00.000-05:002016-01-29T00:00:14.637-05:00Free Promo Friday: Celebrate Valentine's with Tara Quan's Feline Valentine<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9sX_3jYvgtIlXAeKTAezHrnLFTUIHyZWzpGQ0Re-MPtwPkfoeK4-owPYjymIBshU5obpwKYP4omazf0juhqqODwu_CIHIFrMLTaGXsEh4p4g-R4B8WBehG86irR-ZQEXmYzTSbb2_bTI/s1600/Cover_FelineValentine_TaraQuan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9sX_3jYvgtIlXAeKTAezHrnLFTUIHyZWzpGQ0Re-MPtwPkfoeK4-owPYjymIBshU5obpwKYP4omazf0juhqqODwu_CIHIFrMLTaGXsEh4p4g-R4B8WBehG86irR-ZQEXmYzTSbb2_bTI/s320/Cover_FelineValentine_TaraQuan.jpg" width="213" /></a>A year ago, I released <a href="http://mybook.to/fireworksatmidnight"><i>Fireworks
at Midnight</i></a>, thinking I would leave the world of <a href="http://mybook.to/witchsnightout"><i>A
Witch’s Night Out</i></a><i> </i>forever (I’d
planned the series as a trilogy). Unfortunately, my characters had other plans.
Since I’d sicced Madame Eve on her cat familiar, earth mage Shelley Dupree
insisted I make things right. To be fair, I’d already given her a magical
handicap, forced her under house arrest, and buried her in bills—taking away
her feline companion did seem a cruel and unusual punishment.<o:p></o:p></div>
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It took me two months of
fictional time to even the scales with <i>Feline
Valentine</i>. Part of Decadent
Publishing’s 1Night Stand series, my interracial paranormal romance is set in Washington,
D.C., where magic-wielding folk try to live alongside us pesky humans. It’s my
first true “shifter” AND “foodie” romance (talk about ticking two boxes with
one book), and a quick read of the blurb should tell you what I mean. <o:p></o:p></div>
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To celebrate this unexpected
return to my favorite series, I’m giving away a $15 gift card. To enter, leave
a comment here and drop your details in the Rafflecopter widget at the bottom
of this post [or at my website: <a href="http://www.taraquan.com/felinevalentine">http://www.taraquan.com/felinevalentine</a>].
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<b>Feline Valentine (A Witch’s Night Out) by Tara Quan<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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Under magical house arrest in
her great-grandmother’s suburban cottage, college graduate and reluctant earth
mage Shelley Dupree whiles away most mornings spying on the warlock next door.
Though erotic daydreams offer some distraction, she faces long working hours,
cash flow problems, and a repeat burglar. On Valentine’s Day, she sets a trap
for the mysterious intruder, intent on ending his crime streak once and for
all. But her scheming cat familiar foils her best-laid plans, and, with a
little help from Madame Eve’s 1-Night Stand service, she discovers a far more
dangerous species of magical feline.<o:p></o:p></div>
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After moving in next to a
ramshackle building on the outskirts of Washington, D.C., pastry chef Adrien
Chatdurois is plagued by repeat sexual fantasies starring the same curvy
brunette. In a state of constant arousal, he devotes his early mornings to
grueling exercise and spends the rest of his day handcrafting the city’s best
chocolates. When his younger brother stirs up trouble on the shop’s busiest
day, the frustrated shifter is forced to pay a surprise visit on his reclusive
neighbor. He soon learns not all witches are wart-covered hags, and one in
particular might prove the most delicious of desserts.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<i>Genre: Paranormal Romance, Romantic Comedy, Interracial/Multicultural<b><o:p></o:p></b></i></div>
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Buy Links: <a href="http://mybook.to/felinevalentine">Amazon</a> |<a href="https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-felinevalentine1nightstandseries-1970175-340.html">
ARe</a> | <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/feline-valentine-tara-quan/1123276403?ean=2940157991845">B&N</a>
|<a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/feline-valentine/id1075877674?uo=8&at=11lSmR">
iTunes</a> | <a href="https://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/ebook/feline-valentine-1night-stand-series">Kobo</a>
| <a href="https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Tara_Quan_Feline_Valentine_1Night_Stand_series?id=YyRoCwAAQBAJ">GooglePlay</a>
| <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/28595535-feline-valentine">GoodReads</a><o:p></o:p></div>
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Check out the rest of the series
<a href="http://mybook.to/witchsnightout">here</a>! <o:p></o:p></div>
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<i>$15 Giveaway </i><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><a class="rcptr" data-raflid="86e3143324" data-template="" data-theme="classic" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/86e3143324/" id="rcwidget_s15h28bn" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i>About the Author<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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Globetrotter, lover of languages, and romance author, Tara Quan has an
addiction for crafting tales with a pinch of spice and a smidgen of kink.
Inspired by her travels, Tara enjoys tossing her kick-ass heroines and alpha
males into exotic contemporary locales, paranormal worlds, and post-apocalyptic
futures. Her characters, armed with magical powers or conventional weapons, are
guaranteed a suspenseful and sensual ride, as well as their own happily ever
after. To receive updates about her new releases and get a free sexy read,
subscribe to her mailing list at <a href="http://www.taraquan.com/newsletter">www.taraquan.com/newsletter</a>. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="http://www.taraquan.com/">Website</a> | <a href="https://www.facebook.com/taraquanauthor">Facebook</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/LaylaTarar">Twitter</a> | <a href="https://plus.google.com/+TaraQuan">Google+</a> | <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/taraquan">Goodreads</a> | <a href="http://www.pinterest.com/taraquan/">Pinterest</a> | <a href="http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B00B19HWJQ">Amazon</a><u><span style="color: blue; mso-themecolor: hyperlink;"><o:p></o:p></span></u></div>
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lexcadehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18094072290983267178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7363838446991842850.post-41694230699145154562016-01-24T08:06:00.001-05:002016-01-24T08:06:53.272-05:00Disturbing the Peace - The Importance of the Everywoman (Not Bella Swan)<b>***Since Arrow is coming back on, I guess I should finish this, especially since we all know she's okay***</b><br />
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<b>[SPOILERS AHOY]</b><br />
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So by now I'm pretty sure anyone who's an Arrow fan knows of this thing that happened, in which everyone's favorite plucky blonde computer genius got shot and may or may not be dead.<br />
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Let me say first that if Felicity dies, I will A) stop watching the show and supporting it in anyway, except for Flash crossover episodes where I have no choice, and B) picket any filming I can get to because it's BS.<br />
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However, I truly don't think Felicity is dead for a myriad of reasons. This post sums them up pretty perfectly, so I want to approach this from a little bit of a different viewpoint: that of the romance writer.<br />
<br />
I write romance, so I'm pretty sure I have a working knowledge of it, at least. Comic books aren't known for subtlety and nuance most of the time when it comes to characters' relationships with one another, and they certainly don't cast women like Felicity Smoak (which is totally a real last name, something that still weirds me out) as the love interest of the hero <b>unless she is horrifically killed and thus becomes a turning point for the hero</b><b>.</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
This is known as putting her "in the refrigerator"--a term coined by comics writer Gail Simone after reading a comic book in which that <i>literally happens (</i>to Alex DeWitt in <i>Green Lantern</i> #54)-- and is used over and over and over again in comics and movies. And TV shows. And video games. And pretty much everything.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">STEP AWAY FROM THE LIGHT</td></tr>
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However, Felicity has spent four seasons subverting that in a most spectacular way. Most people will see a plucky blonde computer guru and think of Penelope Garcia on Criminal Minds, or at least I do. She and Morgan have one of my favorite friendships on network television, but that's the extent of it, a fact that frustrates the ever-loving hell out of Morcia shippers like myself. Throughout the first couple seasons, Olicity shippers had that same frustration--that our plucky blonde computer guru would remain in that role of "loves from afar." After all, Oliver was well into a relationship with Sara (and later with Laurel, which is just messed up but whatever; Oliver's not exactly in his right mind).<br />
<br />
When Olicity went canon, I squalled. Because Felicity is me.<br />
<br />
She's our Everywoman. She's the heart and soul of the Arrow team, who uses humor to defuse situations, who adds normalcy to an abnormal situation. She keeps Oliver grounded and acts as the rainbow to his thunderstorm. She brings a sense of color into the group, not just with her outfits, but with her personality, her kindness, and her general love for all of them. Sometimes she has to be mother hen, sometimes she's the concerned best friend, but she's always the glue that keeps the Arrow team together. Those women are typically stuck in those roles, but not our Felicity. And that's incredibly important for the "geeky" girls, the ones who are normally relegated to the background, the stand-ins. The women who think outside the box, the ones who kick ass in their own ways but not necessarily on a physical level, the ones who may not even be "conventionally pretty" like yours truly are normally not seen as worthy of the hero. And the fact that Felicity is, AND WILL CONTINUE TO BE OR SO HELP ME GOD, is representation I feel like is sorely lacking in a world where strong, worthy women are practically dude-light.<br />
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So, guys? If for some reason you decide to go down that road with her? YOU WILL HAVE FAILED THIS SHOW AND THIS DEMOGRAPHIC.<br />
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/endrant<br />
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<br />lexcadehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18094072290983267178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7363838446991842850.post-51239908744578567272015-12-17T00:00:00.000-05:002015-12-17T00:00:01.117-05:00New Book Alert! Devil Under the Mistletoe-Sam Cheever<div class="MsoNormal">
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">About the Author:</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">USA Today Bestselling Author Sam Cheever writes romantic paranormal/fantasy and mystery/suspense, creating stories that celebrate the joy of love in all its forms. Known for writing great characters, snappy dialogue, and unique and exhilarating stories, Sam is the award-winning author of 50+ books and has been writing for over a decade under several noms de plume.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Newsletter:</span><a href="http://www.samcheever.com/newsletter.html" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> http://www.samcheever.com/newsletter.html</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Subscribe to my newsletter and win a free copy of the fun and sexy Honeybun Fever Box Set</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">New Release Notifications:</span><a href="http://books2read.com/author/sam-cheever/subscribe/1/23540/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> http://books2read.com/author/sam-cheever/subscribe/1/23540/</span></a></div>
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