One World Singles Magazine Blog

Is A Woman’s Weight Important When Searching for a Lifetime Partner?

2012-01-23T00:00:00.066-05:00

Miss Know It All Is Here To Answer Your Questions

Question...Yesterday, I met a potential client who was a successful international business lawyer in her late 30s, great personality, etc. However, she was visibly quite overweight. I personally think that people should look beyond the weight factor when looking for a life partner but from experience, I know that most of our male clientele are looking for women who are from thin to normal in weight. When I tactfully tried to tell her that from experience, “I know it is very challenging to match women who are overweight.” I just saw the disappointment on her face. She came to us with high hopes and ideals, and I feel awful at the thought that I may have let her down. Any advice on this matter?

Professional Matchmaker

Dear Professional Matchmaker...Bringing up a person's weight is a very touchy subject. I would never mention a person's weight unless they asked for my advice. Men say they are looking for one thing and usually end up getting something else. Since I do not deal with singles on a face-to-face basis, and I am not a professional matchmaker, I cannot give much advice on how to deal with this issue. When I had my singles printed publication, nine times out of ten, weight was never an issue. I had men and women of all shapes and sizes seeking a soul mate. Nevertheless, when I see couples in my community, which is ethnically and culturally diverse, and in my family and friends, weight is not an issue. If you must mention weight with your client, handling it in a sensitive and compassionate manner, as you did, is the best way.

~*~

We would like to know what you think. Is a woman’s weight important when searching for a lifetime partner? Please leave your remarks in the comment box.

Erotic Escapes Ebooks is looking for Erotic and Romance Authors

2012-01-16T00:00:00.002-05:00

Deb Cole, founder of Erotic Escapes Ebooks, wants your masterpieces to be included on her site. Ever since she was a teenager, Ms. Cole wanted to be an author of romance books and own a bookstore. Now both of her wishes are about to come true. She is an author and is now launching her bookstore. However, it cannot happen without YOU, the author.

Deb is now looking for New and Self Published Authors, who write Romance, Erotica, Science Fiction, Suspense, Horror, and Paranormal books. If you do not see your category listed, it does not mean she will not be interested in your work.

Four columnists are also joining the site, and she is looking to fill some of their educational and instructional Sex Health books.

With the help of friends, she started the site, but she also needs your help by offering your works on the site. She thinks it will be a good fit for the site and the authors.

For more information on submitting your work, please visit Erotic Escapes Ebooks. If you have any questions, you can send an email or call 231-414-1303.

Introducing Guilty Pleasures by Niyah Moore

2012-01-09T00:00:00.005-05:00

Enter the Sugar Hill Gentleman’s Club…

Married lawyer, Hassan Walker, can’t seem to get enough of the Sugar Hill Gentlemen’s Club, as he is in love with sexy dancer, Cinnamon. Unable to shake the taunting images of her out of his head, he can’t even have sex with his own wife without envisioning Cinnamon. When he makes up in his mind to never return to Sugar Hill again, he finds out that his wife is cheating on him. He uses her affair to his full advantage taking his obsession with Cinnamon to the next level.

Roxi Walker can no longer hide the secret affair she has been having with her female boss, Dawn James. Confused and in denial about her bi-sexuality, she does everything in her power to become more discreet, but Hassan is onto her every move. Given an ultimatum to stop cheating or lose her husband for good, she tries to give Dawn up, but can’t seem to fulfill her husband’s request completely.

Jada James’ sultry alter-ego “Cinnamon” is one of the tastiest treats for any hungry man that comes down to Sugar Hill. Never having feelings for any of the men that tip her to grant their wildest fantasies, she finds that she is just as curious about Hasan as he is about her. Once she realizes Roxi is the woman her sister has been seeing, she doesn’t mind going after Hassan using every trick in her book to get him.

Horizon’s House of Fashion’s Founder, Dawn James, encourages Jada to go after Hassan so she can have Roxi all to herself. When Jada gets pregnant, that plan only brings the couple surprisingly closer. Dawn comes up with a plan B, only it’s interrupted once her other married lover, Quincy, catches wind of what she’s been up to and is more than determined to stir up trouble leaving everyone’s plan in a fatal disaster.

He glanced at his watch. She usually appeared before midnight and it was almost that time. Taking another sip from his drink, he played with the gold wedding band on his finger nervously. His wife was at home in Hayes Valley sleeping soundly. What he and his wife shared was his reality. What he had at Sugar Hill was his fantasy. He wasn’t sure if he knew how to separate the two.

“You want another drink Mr. Hassan?” Erin asked staring at the almost empty glass.

Erin was one of the club’s waitresses and everyone knew him by name, because he had been a regular club member for a year.

He nodded his head without speaking, felt better if he didn’t.

She gave him a sly wink before heading to the bar.

He observed the dancers while they looked for men who were eager for lap dances. The women were all very attractive, but there was only one that he wanted to see. He grew more anxious each second he waited. Where was she and why was she torturing him?

The house music lowered. It was time. The moment he couldn’t shake from his mind all week had finally arrived.

Hassan sat up gulping the last of his drink. It was smooth going down, but his chest burned a little. He took a deep breath and then exhaled to help the smoldering sensation leave. That anxiousness wouldn’t die from his gut as he shifted in his seat. Enough was enough. All he needed was just one glimpse to help ease the heartburn.

The curtain rose. A hard hitting hip-hop beat thumped from the speakers through his chest imitating his heartbeat. She was facing the back of the dark stage wearing a white mini-dress that clung to her body. As soon as the spotlight beamed on her, she bent over to the side to grab her right ankle. She had an ass much like Deelishis from The Flavor of Love. Her long curly copper-red hair bounced as she spun around to walk center stage. She came to an abrupt stop when the music paused. A few men in the crowd whistled and howled like wild dogs.

As soon as the music started again, she wiggled her ass to the beat seductively and dropped low into a split in front of the pole leaning back to grab the silver rod with both hands. Cinnamon was her name and she was sweet and savory.

He watched her intently, daring himself to miss a beat. When she flipped over into a handstand, she gripped the pole with her solid legs. Her fluid trick made dollar bills fly from the hands of other hungry howling men, rain on the floor, and create a green blanket beneath her. Hanging upside down, she eased the dress down to her stomach to reveal her beautiful caramel-colored breasts.

She shook her top making those jugs jiggle while descending to the floor to remove her dress completely. She picked up the dollars, sliding them into the sides of her white thong, as she gyrated on the floor riding the beat of the music.

Crawling to the end of the stage, arching her back like a cat, and swinging her hair around in circles, she looked up to see Hassan at his usual table. The corners of her small mouth eased into a slight smile causing her dimples to deepen in each cheek. She did a slow wind up onto her feet making her way back to the pole.

She gripped the pole whipping her head around as she climbed to the very top of it. As soon as she touched the ceiling with the top of her head, she slid back down rapidly landing into a split position. More dollars flew on top of her.

Once her stage show was over, she picked up all the money, and hurried backstage to change. She dressed in black-laced attire, fishnet pantyhose, and high heels. Every nook and cranny of her body was well oiled and fresh smelling before walking back out of the dressing room.

Hassan waited patiently for her as he drank his last drink for the night. He never drank to get drunk, but to release some of his nervousness.

She came from the dressing room ignoring other men’s thirsty requests for lap dances and went straight to him as she always did. His eyes danced all over her body as if it was his first time ever laying eyes on her.

She gently moved a few red strands of hair out of her face as she stood in front of his table. “Are you ready?”

About The Author

Niyah Moore, Author

Niyah Moore is one of the contributing authors of the 2008 African American Literary Award Winning Erotic Anthology Mocha Chocolate: Taste a Piece of Ecstasy (ShaniBooks), Chocolat Historie D’Amour (LadyElle Publishing), Souls of My Young Sisters (Kensington Publishing), and Mocha Chocolate Remix: Escapades of Passion (Nayberry Publications). Niyah released her debut novel Bittersweet Exes March 2010. She currently resides in Sacramento, California as a divorced mother of two.

To schedule an interview with the author, please contact info@nayberrypublications.com

One World Singles Magazine Blog is Now Looking for Guest Bloggers

2012-01-02T00:00:00.018-05:00

Submission Guidelines:

Articles submitted must be under 350 words and be related to dating, single life, relationships or romance.
You are responsible for proofreading and editing your content. We do not proofread or edit posts.
If your article is accepted, we cannot provide payment but if you are selling a product, service or book(s), you can add a link to your site(s) at the end of the article along with a short bio about yourself.
You must submit your content as an attachment in Microsoft doc. or RTF (Rich Text Format).
You will retain all ownership rights to your work.
We will not accept any article that is offensive, hateful, racist, sexist, or intolerant of peoples’ religion or sexual preference.
You must be over 18 years of age or of legal age in the country where you reside in order to write for One World Singles Magazine Blog.
Do not submit articles written by someone else unless you have permission to do so.
If you wish to include a photo of yourself, please submit image size 300x450 in JPG or PNG format.

~*~

To submit your content for consideration, please click here. Include title of the article, your email address, name or pen name, and in the body of the email, please state that you are over the age of 18 or of legal age in the country where you reside.

What is your New Year’s Resolution for 2012?

2011-12-26T00:00:00.007-05:00

When is comes to romance dating and relationships, we would like to know the one resolution you plan to make for 2012.

It can be serious or hilarious. No matter what it is, post your promise in our Comment Box.

Have fun!

It is That Time Again

2011-12-19T00:00:00.002-05:00

How fast the time goes. We cannot believe that 2011 is almost ending.

We at One World Singles Magazine Blog would like to take this time to thank you again for your continued support, for visiting our site and for leaving great comments to our articles. We also want to extend our thanks and appreciations to the guest bloggers for making our blog a great success.

The staff is going on hiatus and will return on Monday, January 9, 2012.

Wishing you a joyous and safe holiday and a Happy and Prosperous New Year.

One World Singles Magazine Team

Kent Manor Inn – Romantic Perfection on Maryland’s Eastern Shore By Niambi Brown Davis

2011-12-12T00:00:00.008-05:00

Kent Manor Inn at Night

If Kent Manor Inn was the clue in a word association game, “romance” would be the answer. I was there for an evening jazz concert on the lawn, but even at dusk, maybe especially at dusk, the wonderful water view, acres of beautifully landscaped grounds was unexpected perfection.

My first sight of Kent Manor Inn was at the end of a long, tree-lined lane. Just after sundown, with every window of the manor house lighted, it was hold-your-breath beautiful. Inside, the atmosphere was both elegant and inviting. Although I was only there for an evening, I was able to see the Atrium, one of the Inn’s lovely dining rooms. The windows faced the water and I imagined the experience of sunset and an exquisitely prepared meal in that space. There are three others, some with Italian marble fireplaces, to warm a fall or winter meal. My favorite discovery on the grounds was the glass-enclosed Garden House. It looks out over a lush green lawn and beyond to Thompson’s Creek. What a beautiful place for a water-side wedding and reception!

Kent Manor Inn is located in Stevensville, on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. The main house holds 24 rooms, each one radiating “the warmth, intimacy and attention to detail that’s expected of an historic country manor inn.” Marble fireplaces, sumptuous four-poster beds, window seats and porches add to the Inn’s romantic charm.

It doesn’t take a wildly romantic imagination (such as my own) to craft a four-part romantic play with Kent Manor Inn as the setting: the introductory first dinner date, perfect wedding, festive reception and grand finale wedding night!

Click on the link to see for yourself. www.kentmanor.com

www.niambibrowndavis.com

My Kindle Store

Travel and Enjoy Magazine

Beach Chair and a Book

Follow The Shana Black Kindle Series

2011-12-05T00:00:00.000-05:00

To follow the Shana Black Kindle Series, Click Here.

Too Perfect to Date

2011-11-28T00:00:00.002-05:00

So you think you’re hot. You’ve got the right clothes, the right car, and the right looks to tempt any potential suitor. Why are you still single? Well, you may be just a little too perfect.

How can anyone be too perfect? Easy. If you never let anyone see your flaws, you are not letting anyone see you. People interested in serious relationships know that everyone has issues. True, you don’t want to scare people away with your fondness for Star Trek or your habit of rocking out to Taylor Swift, but no one wants to date a robot, either.

Learn to balance. Show the flaws that aren’t completely repugnant to strangers (your love of cheesy horror movies) and hide the really bad ones until they get to know you better (your collection of Beanie Babies). Yes, they are supposed to love you for who you really are, but don’t blind them all at once.

Remember that you want a real person too. Be who you want to date. The Golden Rule isn’t just for school kids.

~*~

Mary Edwards is one of the contributors and editors for dating websites. She is passionate about thought leadership writing, regularly contributes to various career, social media, public relations, branding, and parenting and online dating community. She can be reached at edwardsmary936@gmail.com

Help Lily and Tony Name Their Book Contest

2011-11-21T00:00:00.047-05:00

Niambi Davis, author of Sanctuary is running a contest titled What's In A Name.

For additional information, please go to Arrow Publications.

Soon, we will be bringing you some fascinating details about this multi-talented author.

So keep coming back for upcoming news and events.

The Book club Short Story Project by Brenda L. Foster plus 11 Contributing Authors

2011-11-14T00:00:00.001-05:00

Brenda L. Foster, CEO/Owner
Treasure Books N' More

The Book Club Short Story Project is a compilation of 12 short stories based on the 12 months of the year and the significant of each month be it holiday or change of season.

You get to enjoy 12 contemporary urban romance short stories without all the drama. These stories are family friendly, feel good stories.

Excerpt:

“This ish look good girl! I can’t wait to dig in! Dang, why you don’t have white rice to go with this grub?” Inca was used to her Korean mother fixing a pot of rice with every meal she prepared; even if it was spaghetti.

“Inca girl you better get used to eating food without rice. You’re an American now!” Monique is thick and loves to cook and eat. But she is also the only one who will stay behind and help clean up the mess. After a party. It usually wins her the privilege of taking home the leftovers.

“Shall we get started ladies?” says Gwen. “I’m glad we chose to do the short story thing. My life is way too hectic to be tryin’ to get all this reading done. So, the first story on our agenda is Black Eyed Peas and White Rice.”

“What a coincidence,” Inca says laughing. The women fill their plates and glasses and switch on their Kindles. The room gets quiet and they begin to read a short Blasian Romance.

This is it…

The Book Club Short Stories

About The Author

Brenda L. Foster is a three time self-published author and the CEO/Owner of Treasure Books N’ More. You can find out everything you want to know about her and what she does at her Website. She just released a poetry anthology, and The Book Club Short Story Project is due to be released in the spring of 2012. She currently resides in Jacksonville, Florida with her husband Shi Tzu and feisty McCaw.

Links:

Treasure Books N’ More Publishing

Treasure Books N’ More Reviews

Author Lendy Demetrius Returns With His Second Novel I Live, You Move On

2011-11-07T00:00:00.029-05:00

Lendy Demetrius, Author

No one does seduction and suspense like Lendy Demetrius. He possesses an intense voice, and his words bring chills in his writing. A story that is powerful, nail biting and touching. An ingeniously moving story, inspiring, profoundly real.

Gripping, limitlessly creative, going to be read for a long time to come.

After several years in hiatus, author Lendy Demetrius has return to bookshelves nationwide with the release of his second novel, I Live, You Move On. Set in New York City, the story follows the lives of two strong, driven career women who find their love lives will not be as easily conquered as their professional lives have been.

Lendy made his return to the literary scene with the vivid tale of two dynamic women, one Latina and one African-American, seeking to find balance between their personal and professional lives without having to sacrifice one for the other. “As minorities, our lives are so diverse,” Lendy says of his style of writing. “I love to bring to light the challenge in not only revealing that diversity, but also synergizing the layers that take us beyond the collective African-American or Hispanic experience, to the unique individuality of each character.”

A Summary of the Characters

JULISSA LONGORIEZ never intended to let her personal life derail her work. In fact, Julissa made it a point to avoid attachment and love. Besides, getting too close to any man would force her to have to come to terms with a past she has worked so hard to bury. But her latest conquest has a different plan in mind. Despite his current relationship with another woman, Avery knows that Julissa is the one he wants. Moreover, with the rapidly changing circumstances of her life, Julissa must decide if keeping her past secret is more important than building the future she never thought would be hers.

Demetrius’ other protagonist, NAHLA VOYAS, is almost the exact opposite of her friend Julissa. For years, Nahla has played doting wife and mother, ignoring her husband’s philandering ways and sacrificing her dreams to keep their home life as close to perfect as possible. But when the truth about his extramarital activities becomes too much to ignore, Nahla decides she must love herself and her daughter more than this man. She must do what it takes to put herself first and become the role model her child deserves. However, getting there may not be that simple.

As with his first novel, There Could Be Joy and Pain in the Long Run, Lendy Demetrius demonstrates a true mastery of his subjects in I Live, You Move On. He delivers Julissa and Nahla’s first person accounts in an engaging manner that keeps the readers glued to the pages as they discover the circumstances that have made these two women who they are. With each twist of the present and revelation of the past, Demetrius creates a world so vivid that it could very well be unfolding on screen.

An Interview With The Author

Who are your favorite authors? How have they impacted your writing? I would say Eric Jerome Dickey, Victoria Schmidt and Douglass Adams. I liked Eric Jerome Dickey’s book a lot. His books are very well written & I learned a great deal about character development. Victoria Schmidt's books incorporate her incomparable interests in different paths that allow me to imagine things differently about various topics while presenting me with realistic tools to examine things on my own. “45 Master Characters” is like a bible to me, especially if I am stuck somewhere in my writing. It helps me think of the different possibilities. My beloved book has been unquestionably “The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy” by Douglass Adams. His comical aspect is unconquerable and his satire lasts for days. He commences his book by saying he came up with the idea while intoxicated in an arbitrary field in London. He is honest and I find that to be loved in a person’s character.

In the years since you were last published, what has changed in your life? How has that affected your writing? What hasn’t changed! It seems like every facet of my life has changed through the years. Each evolution brought it's own challenges and lessons. Overall, it's caused me to learn to be more submissive and to accept that I can't always be in control. I've learned to relinquish control over the writing process too. Now, I just write. Even if it’s precisely five minutes a day. I realize that everything I write doesn't have to be my best work. I just have to create thoughts and write, without worrying about the outcome or how it will be received by others.

Where did you find the inspiration for Julissa & Nahla? Julissa & Nahla, both came from different aspects of my life and what I see around me. Their being comes from everywhere: situations I find myself in, songs, movies, conversations I’ve overheard. I would sit on the train and watch people and get inspired there. New York has millions of characters and therefore I am able to do my best writing on the rush hour train.

What's the relationship between the two women? They’re high school friends. Nahla is Julissa’s only girlfriend. Julissa is the type that has a problem with almost every other woman. In her mind, all women hate her because of the attention she gets. Julissa normally gets along more with men than women. Nahla is not the type to judge her, which is what has kept their friendship so strong over the years.

How different are the characters in this book in comparison with the ones in your previous effort? They're hard to compare because they evolve in completely different spaces, experiences, and different settings. Also, since Julissa & Nahla are older, everyone involved in their lives deals with situations with more maturely.

Is there any aspect of the book or the characters' lives that you left out of the final product? I took a character out. I didn’t feel I developed her enough. She would have been so overpowered by Julissa and Nahla and the twists and turns in their lives, that writing her in would have been a waste of a good plot line. So I will use her for another project.

What is the one personal thing that has the biggest effect on your writing? My past relationships, from dark to light, and everywhere in between. I use different stages of emotions in my writing, even if it has nothing to do with the situation. I use it to my advantage.

Is there a process or ritual that you use to find creativity when writing? What lesson from your experience with the last book did you apply to writing this book? I normally write on the train. I have to have noise around me or something going on. I guess it reminds me of high school days when I would ride on the train and do homework on my way to school. Or when I would turn on the radio when I am home and do my homework. Once I had created the characters and understood who they were, their lives just unfolded! I would much rather write than edit or revise or even do research. I went a bit deeper in the thought process and the emotions with I Live, You Move On. I learned that the more involved your readers are with the characters' emotional state, the easier it is to take them on the exact journey you want to lead them on.

What advice would you offer to up-and-coming writers today? I would say just do what you do. Write what you know and write for you. It is a lot easier to draw audiences into a story you know how to tell than it is to try to figure out what they want.

About The Author

The oldest of four children, Manhattan-born author Lendy Demetrius was introduced as a teenager to the escape that would become his life’s passion – writing. A high school teacher, who took the initiative to not only provide Lendy with guidance, but also to encourage and nurture his talent, made the introduction. “Mr. Bailey showed me that writing was a way to process and express what was going on in my life,” he recalls. “He showed me how to be still and take time for myself; writing was what made me still in moments of chaos.” Lendy quickly discovered that writing was something he could do and do well.

While in college, though he had not yet decided to pursue writing professionally, Lendy drew inspiration from everything including creative writing courses and the works of his favorite authors that helped to develop his written voice. That voice captures and relates themes of contemporary romance and drama, wrought in the African American and Hispanic experience.

Lendy also infuses his writing with tales of overcoming life’s trials, as he has had to do. “I feel every action we play in our lives leaves an etching, like a drawing,” he says of his writing style. “Writing novels for me is like connecting to a framework composed of our lives, culture, history, our pains, and our indulgences. I want to be able to tell a story that draws the reader in and open their conceptions.” In 2002, at the age of 21, Lendy became a published author, releasing There Could Be Joy and Pain in the Long Run.

Currently working as an accountant for a corporate real estate firm, Lendy Demetrius is also working on a transition or expansion into screenwriting.

Purchasing Links

Amazon

Barnes&Noble

You can check out the Author’s Web Site at http://www.lendydemetrius.com/

Lendy Demetrius is available for interviews, book signings and readings. For more information, please contact Youseline Obas with the Seline Media Group at youseline@selinemediagroup.com or (347) 234-6297

Shades of Deception has Been Completely Revised

2011-10-31T00:00:00.017-05:00

Imagine lonely people searching for love, romance or a lifetime partner on an online dating site, at a social function, through a pen pal service, at a social network or through a chance meeting and believe they have found true love and happiness, only to discover that they have been deceived by heartless con artists.

Shades of Deception is a collection of ten fictional short stories centering on diverse men and women who in their speedy search for love, romance and bliss, become the targets and victims of deceit, betrayal, fraud, revenge and scandal. Each chapter tells a story as to how ordinary citizens who are sophisticated, successful and financially smart fall prey to insightful predators that use love, romance, lust and money as embellishments to destroy lives. You can now sample or read the entire book at http://www.publicbookshelf.com/contemporary/deception/

You will not be able to download this book. If you wish, you can purchase the book at the Public Bookshelf or at the following :

Smashwords e-Book
Lulu.com - Paperbook or PDF Format

Amazon's Kindle Store

Why Some Smart Women Fall for Men Behaving Badly by Miss Know It All

2011-10-24T00:00:00.027-05:00

Why do women, who have so much going for themselves, end up with losers? When it comes to selecting their educational and career choices, women make good decisions. However, with some women, there seems to be a breakdown in common sense when it comes to selecting men without substance.

What I am saying is that women have to be more selective when it comes to finding a mate. Just as you would exam a house before buying it, or do your research before purchasing a car or a major appliance, you would apply these same assessments when it comes to meeting and establishing a relationship with the opposite sex.

“With age comes wisdom.” Unfortunately, this is not always the case.

Take for example the teenage girl who met her boyfriend in high school. It was love at first sight. Then, the boy began to exhibit some shady behavior throughout their relationship, dropped out of high school and partook in criminal activities. She went to college, got her BS degree, took the LSAT (Law School Admission Test) and is now preparing to become a lawyer and will eventually take the bar exam. Yet, she still stayed with this person, because she loved him and thought she could change him.

The ultimate humiliation came when she lent him money, and he refused to pay back the loan. She took him to small claims court and sued him for the money. Mind you, she had him sign a promissory note. In this instance, she used good old common sense and applied what she learned in contract law. However, to add more insult to injury, he swore the signature on the note was not his. When the judge compared the signature on his driver’s license to the signature on the promissory note, they were a perfect match, and she won her case.

When it comes to romance, many women mistake bad behavior as an act of love and actually believe they can change that individual for the better. So take note: You will never be able to change anyone unless that individual decides to change on his own.

Therefore, the next time you meet someone, take a step back, do your homework and watch how that person conducts himself, which will tell you whether this individual is worth being in your life.

Meet Michelle Scott, Author of Straight to Hell

2011-10-17T00:00:00.015-05:00

Michelle Scott, Urban Fantasy Author

On her virtual book tour, Michelle Scott stopped by and was gracious enough to let us delve into her life as an Urban Fantasy author. Indeed Michelle, who lives in Detroit, is a creative writer who has penned several books. We had the opportunity to chat about her writings, characters, and her advice to future authors.

Thank you, Michelle, for allowing us to interview you and letting us host your virtual book tour.

What are some of the most valuable lessons you have learned from writing? Patience! This is a lesson that I must learn over and over again. I have to be patient with the writing process because the muse moves according to her own schedule and not mine. I must also be patient and take the time to revive my material over and over again, and then patiently wait as the editor makes her comments. In many ways, writing is a waiting game.

What type of characters do you enjoy creating? I love placing ordinary characters in extraordinary circumstances. Like having an elementary school teacher discover that she is contractually obligated to serve the devil. Or putting a demon in the path of a teenage girl who’s biggest concern is that her parents won’t get her a car for her sixteenth birthday. It’s these kinds of situations where people find out what they’re really made of.

Which authors have influenced you the most? I always jokingly say that Stephen King taught me how to write. When I was in high school and college, I’d read and re-read his novels, trying to figure out how he made them so riveting. I also love Margaret Atwood who is able to make anything sound creepy.

Who or what inspired you to become an author? Like Lady Gaga says, I was born this way.

From where do you get your story ideas? Like I said, I live in Detroit, and the city inspires me quite a bit. Detroit isn’t half as violent or frightening as people seem to think it is, but it has some very gritty areas. When I worked downtown, I saw rats that were as big as cats. (No, I’m not making that up.) There’s something about all those abandoned buildings and weedy lots that gets my mental wheels turning.

Are your stories based on true current or past events? Not the stories themselves, so much, but there are references to events that really happened. I love the history of Michigan. In “Blood Sisters”, for example, one of my characters talks about The Purple Gang, which really was a violent group of bootleggers back in the 1920’s.

Are you planning to write any more books in the near future? I’m nearly finished with a sequel to Straight to Hell which is called Straight Shot. Also, I’m wrapping up a dystopian YA novel.

What advice would you give someone who is thinking about writing a book? Do it! Don’t wait! Seriously. Right this second. Go grab a pencil and get to work. Chop, chop!!

~*~

Following is an introduction and an excerpt from Straight to Hell:

The moment Lilith Straight dies, the Devil appears to claim her soul and cash in on a longtime family curse. Now, Lilith has no choice but to work for him as a succubus. The job is bad, the boss is worse, and she can’t imagine how she’ll explain her new reincarnation to her eight-year-old daughter. But then an arrogant, yet oh so yummy, incubus shows up…and hell heats up just a little more.

Chapter One

   A year ago I, Lilith Straight, was the woman you always wanted to be.
   I was married to someone better looking than your husband, and his salary climbed into figures so high that you’d have to be married to six men before their incomes equaled his. We lived in the house that you always wanted but never could have afforded, and drove cars that would have made you ashamed of yours. My husband and I went to those exclusive parties you read about in the newspapers – yes, those parties – and we rubbed elbows and other body parts with actors and politicians and professional athletes – yes, those athletes, the ones you also read about in newspapers. My daughter attended a small, very exclusive, private school where your child would not have been allowed even if you could have afforded the tuition.
   But within the span of twelve months, all of that changed. My marriage dissolved, my house burned down, and the only job I could find, substitute teaching, hardly paid for a week’s worth of bills. On top of that, I’d suddenly gained custody of my antisocial, eleven-year-old niece, Ariel, when her mother dropped her off at my doorstep and drove off with hardly a backward glance. And a week later, my bent-for-hell stepsister Jasmine moved in after her mother kicked her out of the house.
   So when I was hit by a car and died for the first time, I thought that my life had already gotten as bad as it could get.
   Boy, was I wrong.

   The day I died was a Monday. Specifically, the Monday after a two-week Christmas school break, and all of us – even Drinking Tea, our cat – had slept through the alarm. Had I still been married, this never would have happened since Dr. Theodore Dempsey, my ex, woke me up every morning at five by groping me under the covers. But my recent divorce gave me certain privileges, such as being able to sleep in without having someone squeeze my breasts like they were testing mangoes for ripeness.
   So when I finally did wake up and realize what time it was (7:15), I leapt out of bed and began shouting orders to my daughter and my niece. “Grace, get up! Ariel, move it!”
   I used to live in a house that had more square-footage than the city library, but after Ariel had accidentally set the place on fire, the four of us had been forced to relocate to a seedy townhouse the size of a walk-in closet. My voice carried through the paper-thin walls without a problem, but at the same time, those thin walls also allowed me to hear my daughter’s whine, “Do I have to go to school?”. Followed by my niece’s muttered, “F.U.”.
   Luckily, I didn’t have to be to work that morning. As a substitute teacher, I got to pick my own hours, and I’d given myself the day off. It was almost like I knew that this was going to happen. I spared a moment to throw on my robe, then ran downstairs, so intent on getting into the kitchen that I almost didn’t notice the strange, young man sprawled on my couch. He wore nothing but a pair of boxers, and the most interesting thing about him – aside from the snarling dragon tattoo encircling his bellybutton, and the line of metal rivets punctuating his forehead – was the fact that he was the most hairless creature I’d ever seen. Not only was he bald, but his legs were so smooth that I was a little jealous. His chest was as pink and clean as a newborn’s. He had no eyebrows. Nor, for that matter, armpit hair – a fact I realized when he groaned and raised his arms over his head to stretch. I eyed his boxers, wondering just how far the hairless area extended
   For an instant, I considered chasing him out of the house before Grace noticed him, but she was already pounding down the stairs. So instead, to hide the hairless spectacle from her, I tossed a blanket over him. He muttered a ‘thanks’ and immediately went back to sleep.
   “Mom! Mom!” Grace skidded to a halt. “Hey, who’s that guy?”
   “A friend of Jas’s, I’m sure,” I said. I was going for the coffee, but halfway across the tiny kitchen, I stepped into a puddle of water and soaked my slippered feet. The entire floor was underwater.
   “Ah, shit!,” I said. I grabbed an armload of dishtowels from the drawer and began mopping up the mess, tracing the puddle to the washing machine which sat innocently by the back door.
   I wanted to cry. A broken appliance was the last thing I needed right then. I’d spent the last of my savings to make my car insurance payment, and had nothing left over to buy a new washer. In fact, I didn’t even have the ten quarters it would have taken to go to the Laundromat. “Goddamn, shit!!”
   “You broke rule number one. Now you need to put two quarters in the swear jar.” Grace stood in the doorway, looking solemnly at the mess. She’d dressed herself in the same t-shirt and jeans she’d worn the day before. And the day before that. She was brushing the top layer of her brown hair smooth over a bottom layer of wicked snarls.
   For a moment, I flashed back to a year ago. Back to the days of private school when my daughter, wearing a plaid skirt and navy blazer, would have been eating an egg white omelet in the breakfast nook while I braided her hair. The scene, once ordinary, was now so surreal that I might have dreamed it up.
   “I know, Darling. I know,” I agreed. I dropped the soaking wet rags into the sink and put down another layer of towels.
   “You also broke rule number nine.” Standing behind Grace was a very triumphant-looking Ariel. She loved catching me in the middle of bad behavior.
   The rules the girls were referring to were known as the “Ten Commandments of the Straight Household.” I’d posted a list of them on the refrigerator. And on the mirror above the bathroom sink. And next to the computer, on the doors of all the bedrooms, and on the dashboard of the car.
   I’m nothing if not thorough.
   Rule number nine had been written specifically for my stepsister. It said, “Thou shalt not let strange boys sleep overnight (either on the couch or in your bed).”
   “You’re right. I did break the rule,” I told Ari, thinking of the man on the couch.
   “And eight, too,” she added.
   For a moment, I couldn’t even remember rule number eight. And when it finally came to me, I was shocked. Eight was: “Thou shalt not leave prophylactics (either used or unused) lying about the house.” Again, this rule was for my sister because I hadn’t needed prophylactics since long before my divorce. Jasmine, however, had a very active love life.
   “I never broke that rule,” I argued.
   “Really?” Ariel held up several square, foil packages.
   “Give those here,” I said, furious. “Where did you get them?”
   “They were on the end table next to the couch. They probably belong to that bald guy.” Ariel’s eyes were alight with evil mischief. “But you should have thrown them away, so you just broke number eight.”
   I snapped my fingers at her to make her hand the condoms over. She looked smug, but surrendered them. It never occurred to me to ask how she knew what those things were. Ariel’s mother had given her the flipside education to the ‘no boys, no drugs’ message most kids get at home. Grace, however, looked on with heartbreaking innocence. “What are those things, Mom?”
   “Nothing.” I shoved the condoms into the pocket of my robe. “Just grab your coat and get going before you miss the bus.”
   “But I need to change my clothes!”
   I’d gotten careless with my laundry duties over vacation, and now dirty clothes piled on the floor like the slopes of Kilimanjaro. The previous night, I had tried to do a load before I went to bed. But now, seeing the condition of the washing machine, I knew nothing had gotten clean. There goes rule number two, I thought. (Rule number two: Thou shalt not pick dirty underwear out of the hamper and re-wear it.) “I guess we’ll all be wearing dirty clothes,” I said.
   If there was any silver lining to this disastrous situation, it came from the fact that no one from my old neighborhood or Grace’s old school was there to witness it. Because if they had been, every woman in the subdivision would have been roasting me alongside their coffee beans.
   “What about breakfast?” Grace whined.
   I grabbed an apple from the bowl on the counter and shoved it at her. “Here, take this.”
   “That’s not breakfast!” Then Grace started to cry, and Ariel rolled her eyes and told her to grow up. And then Jasmine shouted up from the basement for all of us to, “Shut the hell up already. Some of us are trying to sleep!”
   So that’s the way my morning started off. Compared to other Monday mornings, it wasn’t all that bad, really.

   With the two younger girls out of the house, I finally had a chance to deal with the other member of our tribe: my stepsister.
   The townhouse had three-levels. Ariel and Grace shared one tiny bedroom upstairs, and I occupied the one across the hall from them. Jasmine dominated the basement. Between us, like a kind of demilitarized zone, lay the living room and kitchen. Ignoring the hairless wonder who was still gently snoring on the couch, I went downstairs and pounded on the basement door. “Wake up!”
   “Go ‘way.”
   I opened the door and flipped on the lights. Jasmine pulled the covers over her head, but I yanked them down again. ““It’s Monday, Jas. You promised you’d go find a job today.”
   Jasmine is twenty-three; a college dropout who is convinced that the only thing standing between her and a career as a high-paid fashion designer is a run of bad luck and not a deficiency of talent, drive, and energy.
   But what Jas lacks in skill and knowledge, she makes up for in looks. I don’t mind admitting that I’m good looking – at nearly thirty-five, I have no wrinkles, I can still fit into my high school cheerleading costume, and not a single gray thread mars my auburn hair – but Jasmine is absolutely gorgeous. Hers is a blend of our father’s Asian features – hair like black silk, flawless toffee-colored complexion, dark, exotic eyes – and her mother’s perfect cheekbones, impressive height and natural grace. Needless to say, men fall for her. Hence, the need for those two commandments on my list.
   Jas glared at me and tore the covers out of my hands, pulling them back over her head. “I’ll find a job tomorrow.” Her voice was muffled from under the covers. “Just let me sleep in today.”
   “That’s what you said last week. Which is now last year, in fact. But you also promised to make a New Year’s resolution to get a job. Remember?”
   On New Year’s Eve, Grace, Ariel and I had put on our pajamas and sat on the couch to watch the ball drop in Times Square, but I’d fallen asleep even before Ryan Seacrest had begun the countdown. Jasmine, on the other hand, stayed out all night, not coming in until ten the next morning. She was missing one of the shoes she’d borrowed from me, had put a dent in the front fender of my car, and was still drunk. But she had promised to find a job, and I wasn’t about to let her slip out of it now.
   “Jasmine, you getting up?”
   At the sound of the male voice, I let out an ‘eep’ of surprise and turned around to face the hairless wonder who stood behind me in the narrow hall.
   At least he had done the decent thing and wrapped the blanket around his waist to hide his skivvies. He grinned good-naturedly and held out his hand. “Tommy LaFevre. Nice to meet you.”
   “Lilith Straight.”
   “Jas’s stepsister.” His smile widened. “Yeah, she talks a lot about you.”
   I’ll bet, I thought. “That’s funny because she doesn’t talk about you at all.” I said it in order to make him flinch, but he only smiled serenely.
   “Tommy’s my spiritual advisor,” Jasmine said.
   I snorted, unimpressed. Was she kidding? But, no, I could see by her reverent expression that she was not. Only my step-sister would be willing to take spiritual advice from an unemployed bum with a demon tattoo and more metal in his face than the hardware section of Home Depot.
   “I’m helping Jasmine find her path,” Tommy said and glanced at Jas who was sitting on the end of her bed wearing nothing but a tiny chemise and a thong. Watching him watch her, I wasn’t fooled for a moment. Tommy could call himself a minister, a shaman, a monk, or even a witch doctor, but his eyes were crawling over Jasmine like a greedy bumblebee on the center of a daisy. Spiritual advisor, my ass.
   “Well, maybe you can help her find a path to the employment agency,” I said. I started to walk past him to return upstairs, but he blocked my way.

   “You don’t believe me, do you?” He looked troubled, like a little kid who had drawn a picture of a horse only to have the teacher call it a dinosaur.
   I’m a master in the art of sarcasm. I can draw blood at fifty paces. “Of course I do. And I think it’s wonderful that Jas is interested in religion.”
   “Not religion,” Jas chided. “Spirituality.”
   I narrowed my eyes at her. “Whatever.”
   “Here, let me see your palm,” Tommy said and took my hand. In the narrow confines of the hallway, it was impossible to maneuver out of his reach, so I unwillingly relented, if only to prove to Jasmine how inane all of this was. His touch was surprisingly gentle as he lifted my hand close to his eyes and examined my palm. “H-m-m.”
   I was curious in spite of myself. “H-m-m what?”
   “Your lifeline is very short. It stops here, but picks up again here.” He tapped the center of my palm.
   “Oh, let me see. Let me see!” Jasmine was suddenly crowding against me.
   He studied my face and frowned, looking worried. “And there’s something strange about your aura.”
   I yanked my hand back. “Oh, please.” If there’s anything worse than a cliché, it’s a religious cliché.
   “I’m not kidding,” he said. “Something’s off. Possibly something serious.” He tugged at one of the holes in his ear. “My sister’s aura was bloody red on the day… Well, it was bloody red.”
   “What’s going to happen to her?” Jasmine’s eyes glowed. She looked as excited as Ariel when she catches me breaking a rule.
   “I have to use the bathroom,” I said, shoving myself in-between them.
   “I know you don’t believe me, but do yourself a favor, okay?” Tommy said. “Be careful today. Wear your seatbelt. Don’t give rides to strangers. You know, that kind of thing. Just in case.”
   Jas made a farting noise through her lips. “Are you kidding me? Lilith wouldn’t cross the street without looking five ways. She wouldn’t even dare talk to a stranger, let alone give one a ride. For her, leaving the house without an umbrella is risky. And she’d never…”
   “Okay, Jas, we get the picture,” I said.
   “I’m just saying, you’re a careful person, that’s all.”
   I glared at her and started up the stairs. “I’m leaving in an hour, and Jas – I’ll expect you to be gone by then as well. And before you go, be sure to take out the trash.”
   “That’s not my job,” Jasmine howled. “That’s Ari’s…”
   “That’s not what she meant, Jas,” the hairless wonder said. “She’s talking about me.” This time, I was pleased to see that he did look hurt.

   When I was in elementary school, I was always the fat kid. Not obese, mind you, but chunky. The kind of girl who had to wear vertical stripes to look slimmer and never dared to be seen in a two-piece bathing suit. This was because I had (and still have) the habit of eating whenever I got nervous. And my mother was always making me nervous.
   Now, I can see that my poor Grace is heading down the same path. Nowadays, of course, we’d never say she was fat. We use other terms like ‘unhealthy’ or ‘past her ideal BMI’. But already, I can see she has a little gut overhanging the top of her jeans. Don’t get me wrong – I love her the way she is. But when I recall those days from elementary school when my classmates called me ‘Jiggle Belly’, I know that I have to save poor Grace from all of that.
   Hence rule number three of the Straight Ten Commandments: no junk food.
   But that afternoon, only twenty minutes before coming face-to-grill with the white Volvo, I was standing in line waiting to get my double Bates burger, large fry and a large Coke. A real Coke, that is. Diet is for wimps and diabetics. After I’d paid, and the girl at the cash register placed the greasy, white bag on the counter, I grabbed my food with the enthusiasm of a junkie plunging a needle into her vein. I was in fast food heaven.
   Stopping for the Bates burger also made me late for my appointment, which also meant I’d broken rule number six (thou shalt not be late.) And after I saw the SALE sign hanging in the boutique window across the street, I probably would have broken number seven (thou shalt not spend money frivolously), but I died before I had the chance.
   Breaking these rules isn’t what sent me to hell, of course, but it certainly entered into the equation. Because if I been paying more attention to where I was walking instead of fiddling with my cell phone, I probably would have seen the car before it hit me. In fact, I might have even changed my destiny. Who’s to say? But one thing’s for sure. If I hadn’t been trying to text my sister, I wouldn’t have broken the biggest rule of them all: number ten. Thou shalt not upload or download porn from the Internet.
   But then again, whether or not I actually broke number ten is a matter of opinion. After all, I think everyone agrees that the definition of porn is subjective. What’s pornographic to me, probably isn’t so bad for you. If, for example, you think that using your cell phone to snap a picture of an enormous dildo that is peeking up at you from over the top of a middle-aged woman’s shopping bag and then e-mailing said picture to your stepsister because you want to prove to her that you are not a prude is pornographic, then so be it.
   But it probably says a lot more about you than it does me.
   The truth is, the sight of that ridiculously huge vibrator gave me the giggles. The owner – a fifty-something, bleached-blonde, leather coat wearing woman – had just come out of a store called the Love Nest. The Love Nest was a porn shop, but a classy porn shop. Classy, because everything in that neighborhood, even the Bates Burgers, was upscale. The woman’s paper shopping bag, unbeknownst to her, had a large rip in the side and the dildo was leaning out of it like it was thinking of escaping. It kept wagging up and down in time to her stride as if trying to make up its mind. This struck me as hilarious.
   So, thinking quickly, I took out my cell phone. And the moment I had snapped my picture and sent it to Jas, I looked up in time to see the oncoming car. I caught a glimpse of the vehicle, a white Volvo, and the driver, a man in a white suit, before I felt a terrible jolt as if the hand of God had suddenly jerked me upwards by the back of my collar and hoisted me into the heavens.
   It was only later that I understood I hadn’t gone up at all. In fact, I’d gone in the exact opposite direction. The express elevator, as it were, straight to the very bottom.
   Hell.

~*~

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What Not to Wear on Your First Date

2011-10-10T00:00:00.044-05:00

Click here to read this informative article.

Submitted by Mary Edwards

Something to Share by Deneale K McElhaney Williams

2011-10-03T00:00:00.008-05:00

I have something to share that is perfect for anyone and everyone; and in more ways than one.

Now I bet you’re wondering - ‘How can that be?’ Well allow me to explain!

Do you like to feel good?
Do you like to relax?
Do you like to make your partner feel good and/or relax?
Would you like to learn more about making you and your partner experiences more pleasurable?
Would you like to sample, smell, and taste new things?
Would you like to get to know our products one on one before you buy them?
Do you like to have fun when you have a party?
Do you like to get together with your friends?
Wouldn’t ‘you’ like to get some things for FREE?

If you, or your partner answered yes to any of these questions, then I might just have something that would ‘peak’ your interest!

Have you ever heard of Pure Romance? I imagine you may have. There are a lot of us Consultants around; and why is that? Because Pure Romance is fun to sell, and easy! And Pure Romance is something many people want, and you don’t have to be ‘sexually active’ to want it either! We don’t just sell ‘sex!’ We sell sexual enhancement products, and attire, and we are also sexual health counselors. Each and every consultant is able to offer you advice, and help. And let us not forget, we also sell massage oils, lotions, and other items to help individuals relax. Not everything is about sex, with Pure Romance.

Our goal is satisfaction, with our customers, hostesses, their friends, our clientele, and so much more. We can lead you in the right direction, we can offer advice, even suggestions, samples, and more. We are here to help you, one on one.

When ordering, we take our customers into a private ordering room, so as not to embarrass them. This way it is discreet. No one knows, except for the consultant and the customer. Your order will then be hand delivered to you, or if you end up out of area, arrangements can even be made between you and the consultant. We are always reasonable.

Our goal is complete and total satisfaction. Sometimes our product line changes, along with our catalogs, but we promise you only the best products designed and made to satisfy and please the individual they are designed for.

And if you didn’t already know, Patty Brisben is the founder of the “Patty Brisben Foundation.” Here is that link: http://www.pattybrisbenfoundation.com/ which is designed to enhance women's sexual health and well-being through research and education.

Patty Brisben herself, went through traumatic experiences; and with her experiences, she has destined to make life better for herself and for women around the World! When you order from myself, or your own Pure Romance consultant, don’t forget to check out and maybe even buy her book! It will enlighten you in more ways than one!

My own personal web site for Pure Romance is: http://www.denealewilliams.pureromance.com/ where you can order online 24/7 in the convenience of your own home, and in your PJ’s. You can also book your parties through me here, and get my contact information, just in case you have questions for me. I also have a facebook LIKE page: http://www.facebook.com/pureromancedeneale feel free to join in and tell your friends too!

Even if you are single, Pure Romance can still satisfy you and your needs. We have all kinds of amazing products, and I don’t just say that because I represent them! I say it, because I too, am completely and totally pleased with everything they have to offer, not just for women, and couples everywhere alike.

You will not be disappointed.

And you might want to know that my hostesses-love their hostess gift baskets. I make a care package worth dying over! Products and samples, and a few extra’s. And everyone loves my parties because the games are such fun! Everyone is laughing and giggling, and enjoying themselves! It is like nothing you have ever experienced before, you will be glad you did it! Such fun, and so memorable you will be telling everyone you meet. Your friends will thank you! You will be the life of the party, and they will always remember, who led them to their new Pure Romance Consultant!

You only live once, so what are you waiting for?!?!

Mark Your Calendar For These Upcoming Events

2011-09-26T00:00:00.022-05:00

Start: Dec 1, 2011 3:00 PM
End: Dec 4, 2011
Location: Charlotte, NC

LeatherFET is a convention that combines fun, play, games, education, shopping, socializing, Leather, fetish, and theme rooms all into one weekend. This is a great place for new curious people to learn all about the vast realm of many alternative lifestyles, as well as a place for those who have known and lived an alternative lifestyle for many years. Come enjoy all that LeatherFET has to offer. Meet new friends, learn new things, see old friends and share in your own experiences. The event Protocols & courteous Security assure every attendee a fun & safe experience, and the freedom to express yourself in your own unique way!

To learn more, visit their site at http://www.leatherfet.com/

~*~

Start: Feb 24, 2012 at 09:00 AM

End: Feb 26, 2012
Location: Hilton Garden Inn; 1325 Creekshire Way; Winston-Salem, NC 27103

Beautiful Trouble Publishing, Red Stiletto Book Club, Malloy/Jordan East Winston Heritage Center will be having a conference for women from February 24-26th 2012 at the Hilton Garden Inn and the library. They will have workshops on Friday as well as a library tour. They will also have Meet & Eat with Authors & Fans as well as other activities throughout the weekend. This promises to be an EXCITING, ENTERTAINING, EDUCATIONAL and EMOTIONAL weekend!

This would be an EXCELLENT opportunity for you to meet other authors, connect with your fans, learn new things and just have a GOOD OLD TIME! They ALREADY got the hotel booked and are working HARD at getting this conference MOVING FORWARD and KNOW that YOU would like to be a part of what they hope to become an ANNUAL EVENT!

For addition information and details, send an e-mail to scalesrb@forsyth.cc or nooniemom@yahoo.com

Capture Flash Video and Audio from Web Sites

2011-09-19T00:00:00.017-05:00

Have you ever wondered how to download video and audio from flash players on internet sites like YouTube, Google Video, MySpace, DailyMotion, Metacafe, Break, and Blog sites of your friends with embedded audio and video content?

Well, JCopia does it all. It captures flash video, audio, or stream from any website to your computer as files. Just play your media online and watch as JCopia saves any clip, music, or movie to your computer.

JCopia detects and begins to download any clip, video, music, radio stream, video stream, Flash game or presentation that is played in your browser.

Increase your video and audio collection with JCopia now!

Jiteco, the company that created the product, is conducting a giveaway if you do a review of JCopia on your blog/forum/twitter/facebook, etc.

You can visit Jetico, and check out JCopia to do a review. Send a link to your review to Jennifer Johnson at jjohnson@jiteco.com

~*~

Links:

Jennifer Johnson on Facebook
Jiteco on Facebook
Jiteco on Twitter

Meet Vicki Brooks, Founder and Editor of EMbraceUS Multicultural Magazine

2011-09-12T00:00:00.066-05:00

Vicki Brooks, Editor
EMbraceUS Multicultrual Magazine

Since a young child, I have always been interested in other cultures and ways of life. I have always enjoyed reading stories and watching movies with a diverse line-up of characters - the more diversity the better. When I would read about different regions of the world, I would imagine myself being in and enjoying these places. Needless to say, I have always enjoyed being around different people. One of my favorite television shows is House Hunters International because it takes me into homes and countries around the world from my sofa. One of my BIGGEST dreams is to visit other countries to study the cultures and lifestyles of others around the world.

I have three beautiful children, whom I have raised to always base their relationships and life encounters with people on character and principle, instead of differences.#

That was such an inspirational introduction. Please share with our readers more about the magazine. EMbraceUS Multicultural Magazine was created to highlight topics of interest revolving around the multi-cultural, multi-ethnic communities and is a magazine for people who are connected through that intangible thing - "the SOUL." This magazine is for those who are culturally diverse and ethnically eccentric. EMbraceUS Multicultural Magazine allows souls to connect without skin color, gender, religion or culture being a differentiating factor.

What inspired the magazine? The inspiration for this magazine came when I was visiting the magazine section of a bookstore and saw nothing that resembled EMbraceUS. As Oprah would say, “I had an Aha moment.” Instead of merely voicing my opinion, I decided to make a difference by creating EMbraceUS Multicultural Magazine.

What do you hope to achieve with the magazine? I hope to enlighten and educate individuals by sharing culturally diverse lifestyles and experiences from around the corner, as well as, around the world. I also hope that this magazine will reach the masses who feel there is limited literature available to reach those of Blended Beauty.#

Thank you, Vicki, for giving our readers a snapshot into the world of EMbraceUS Multicultural Magazine. We wish you every success in your endeavors.

For additional information and subscription price, please visit EMbraceUS Multicultural Magazine.

You can also follow them on Facebook.

What You Should Know Before Traveling Abroad

2011-09-05T00:00:00.018-05:00

If you are planning to travel abroad, there are certain rules and regulations that you should be aware of when visiting any country. Many tourists are detained because they have unintentionally broken the law. Always be aware of and obey the laws of the country you plan to visit. When you travel outside of the USA, the constitution does not follow you. You are subject to that country’s local laws. Being prepared and knowledgeable of the places you plan to visit is your best defense.

The following tips should make your traveling safe and enjoyable:

If you encounter difficulties with authorities overseas, the U.S. consular official may provide you very little assistance. Both foreign and U.S. laws limit what American officials can do. The U.S. Government has no funds for your legal fees or other related expenses.

Should you become destitute abroad, the U.S. consul will help you get in touch with your family, friends, bank, or employer and will tell you how to arrange for them to send funds for you. In some cases, these funds can be wired to you through the Department of State.

Deal only with authorized outlets when you exchange money, or buy airline tickets or traveler’s checks. Shop around for the best exchange rate.

Notify the local police at once and apply for a replacement passport at the nearest U.S. Embassy or consulate immediately if your passport, credit cards, or traveler’s checks are stolen or lost. If credit cards or traveler’s checks are lost, contact the issuing companies promptly.

If you are planning to take any prescription drugs on your trip, check with your physician, or the embassies of the country you are visiting to ensure you do not violate foreign laws. Many tourists have been innocently arrested for having drugs not considered narcotics in the USA, but are illegal in other countries. You can ask your doctor for a certificate stating to your need for a drug to make customs processing smoother. However, this may not be enough authorization to carry drugs into some foreign countries.

Be sure to take along an ample supply of medication, and keep it in a carry-on-bag if you have allergies or other medical conditions. Do not make the common mistake of packing all your medications in your suitcase, which can be lost or stolen.

Before you go, you may obtain a list of English-speaking doctors for the areas you plan to visit. Contact the International Association for Medical Assistance to Travellers for such a list at http://www.iamat.org/

Always leave medicines in their original labeled containers. Ask you pharmacist for the generic name of any prescribed drug in case you need to refill the prescription. Brand names differ in other countries.

If you are allergic to certain medications, insect or snake bites, wear a medical alert bracelet and carry a similar warning in your wallet.

Bring an extra pair along with your lens prescription and ample supplies of lens solution and cleaner if you wear eyeglasses or contact lenses.

A U.S. consular officer can help you find a physician if you become injured or seriously ill abroad. He or she can arrange the transfer of funds from your family or friends in the United States to pay for your treatment.

Carry a summary of your medical records. Be sure to include past illnesses and blood type.

Many countries have established entry regulations for AIDS, particularly for students and other long-term residents. Check with the embassy or consulate of the individual country to see if this applies to you.

Once you have reached your destination, if you have problems or concerns, visit the American Embassy to register. Let them know where you are staying, the areas you plan to visit and when you will be returning to the United States.

If you are planning to bring valuables on your trip such as a watch, jewelry, camera, check with U.S. Customs regarding registration requirements and proper proof of ownership. Always obtain a receipt before buying any foreign item, especially antiques.

Keep all receipts for items that you buy overseas. They will be helpful in making your U.S. customs declarations when you return.

If you plan to drive an automobile while in a foreign country, check with the AAA Club to see if you will need an international driver’s license and to find out where you can purchase supplemental insurance coverage, as needed. Inquire about local requirements at the embassy or consulate of the countries in which you plan to drive. If possible, obtain road maps of these countries in advance. Some countries do not recognize a U.S. driver’s license. However, most countries accept an international driver’s license. Obtain one before you depart at a local office of an automobile association. You must be at least 18 years old and will need two passport-size (2x2 inches) photographs and your valid U.S. license. Certain countries, such as Switzerland, require road permits in lieu of tolls for using their divide highway. Fines may be levied on driers who have no permit.

There have been occasions when companies selling seats on charter flights have gone out of business in the middle of the season, stranding passengers abroad. Therefore, if you plan to travel on a charter flight, consider purchasing trip insurance. If you are unsure of the reputation of the charter company or tour operator, consult the Better Business Bureau or your local consumer office.

You can obtain one from the country’s embassy or consulate, from an airline serving the country or at the port of entry if the country you plan to visit requires a tourist card. For some tourist cards, a fee is required. Check entry requirements while you are planning your trip.

Bring along a pocket calculator to help convert currencies.

Carry personal items such as toothbrush, toothpaste, washcloth and soap with you. If you are separated from your luggage and have to spend a night in a hotel, due to a delay in take off, those items will be with you.

You must file a report with the U.S. Customs Service if you are taking more than $10,000.00 out of the United States in coins, currency or traveler’s checks.

Take precautions to prevent yourself from becoming ill while you are abroad. Get a medical and dental checkup before your trip and make sure you are up-to-date with the following immunizations: Measles, Mumps, Rubella, Diphtheria, Polio, Tetanus and Whopping Cough.

Bon Voyage

Featuring Caramel Vixen, Author of Thickness: A BBW Erotic Anthology

2011-08-29T00:00:00.012-05:00

Are you looking for a great read of dreamy sagas and sizzling plots, which features voluptuous divas looking for love and romance? Well look no further.

From the lustful mind of the queen of BBW Erotica, (Caramel Vixen) comes the highly anticipated collection of a lifetime. Thickness: A BBW Erotic Anthology follows the adventures of these full figured divas as they take fantasy rides of passion. From lust-filled revenge, to unrequited passions, there’s a story for every erotica lover.

WARNING: EXTREMELY HOT BOOK! Contains explicit sex and language and or subject matter

Excerpt from Thickness: A BBW Erotic Anthology

Tia couldn’t deny the fact that the way he demanded her to give him some always turned her on. She slowly slid down her uniform pants revealing that she didn’t have on any panties.

“Ooh, you wore my favorite underwear”, Dr. Bryant exclaimed. “None”

“I know how you like it papi.” Tia said licking her lips as she watched him unzip his tan silk trousers and let them slide down his legs to the floor. He then took his briefs off in the same manner. Tia was so eager to feel and taste her lover that she pulled his six foot five frame closer and pulled his throbbing dick to her lips and kissed the head as if she was French kissing his lips.

All while massaging the shaft. “Mmm…oh my Tia, yeah my queen, oh shit, oh!” She had never made him cum within the first five minutes of oral pleasure before. “Tia, lay on your back, I’m hungry.” Tia complied. She was more than happy to anything that meant that she was about to get the pleasure and stimulation that her body desired.

She wasn’t even paying attention, she just assumed that he was preparing to penetrate her with that delicious dick of his. But, what he did next was a pleasant surprise even for her. He then poured hot chocolate sauce on her pussy lips and then took to devouring her as if she would be the last meal he ever had.

He penetrated her with his tongue, swirling it around and around her clitoris causing her to cum repeatedly until she couldn’t take it anymore and began begging him to fuck her.

“Trevor, fuck me, PLEASE!”

“Is that what you want? Say you want it.” Trevor loved to be demanding during sex.

“Yeah, Trevor, that’s what I want.”

“Say that shit louder then girl. Let everybody know that you want it.”

“I WANT IT TREVOR!” She screamed.

“Then bend over so I can give it to you since that’s what you really want.”

He feverishly drilled his manhood into Tia’s thickness, not even slowing down to fully release his juices in her. He somehow flipped Tia’s big, juicy ass over without breaking the connection his huge dick had with her warm, wet pussy.

All of a sudden the door was opened. In the doorway stood Tia’s loving and devoted husband. He had come to take his precious wife to lunch and all the while she’d been busy being Dr. “Feel Good’s” meal.

With tears of rage in his eyes, he lunged forward and grabbed Trevor’s neck, attempting to strangle the life out of him. Tia was so shocked that she was frozen solid. She couldn’t scream, she couldn’t pull up her pants, she couldn’t move at all. Just as Trevor was slipping out of consciousness, Jonathan looked over at his wife and said, “Since you like to be fucked instead of made love to, then let me fuck you bitch.”

That snapped Tia out of her frozen trance. “What!?! Johnny?” Tia was shocked, pissed, hurt and somehow turned on at the same time.

“I said let me fuck you, if you can handle it, I might not leave your cheating ass.” Jonathan snapped.

“Johnny?” Tia was puzzled. Yet excited, but, she wasn’t ready to show her excitement.

“Come on ho, you know you want it.” Johnny demanded showing a side of him that Tia had never seen before. She couldn’t deny it any longer. She was finally completely turned on by her husband and she liked the feeling. “Get on your knees, Tia.” Jonathan instructed his adulterous wife, whom happily complied. He then forcefully shoved his pulsating dick into Tia’s wet hungry mouth.

She had never desired her husband so much. She couldn’t wait to taste his cum as it ebbed from the head of his johnson and into her plump lips. Once she eagerly swallowed his juices, he instructed her to bend over and hold her ankles. For a full figured sista, Tia was limber as hell. Jonathan then grabbed the baby oil off of the doctor’s desk and then told her to hold her ass cheeks open for him.

Pleasantly surprised by her husband’s new found gumption she couldn’t even question him as she did what she was asked. She suddenly felt a cold, wet tingling sensation as he squirted a huge glob of baby oil gel in her asshole.

He then gently toyed with her anus, to make sure it was properly lubricated and slowly forced his huge tool into her awaiting behind. He pumped her slow and hard, just the way she liked it. It made her wonder why he hadn’t put it down on her like this before, had he, she never would have cheated, she thought. She had the ultimate orgasm just as Trevor came to. She had been so into Jonathan that she had forgotten all about the doctor.

As she pulled her pants back up she looked at the doctor and then looked at her husband and said, “baby, I will never stray again. Let’s go home.” Then she looked at Dr. Bryant and said, “I’m taking the rest of the day off.”

After that day she and the doctor never spoke again. He had shamefully put in his resignation and left town.

~*~

About The Author: Caramel Vixen is in her late twenties. When she is not working on her next masterpiece, she is busy reading someone else’s great romance or erotic read, or hot street lit. She also enjoys cooking, shopping and spending quality time with her fiancé. She resides in North Carolina.

~*~

Website and Purchase links

Caramel Vixen Books
Amazon.com
Barnes&Noble

Do Men and Women Really Think Differently When It Comes to Romance by Miss Know It All

2011-08-22T00:00:00.003-05:00

Did you know that females have 40% more connective brain tissue than males? Whether this has anything to do with their way of thinking when it comes to romance, we cannot say for sure.

However, men and women look for different substances in each other.

What a woman looks for in men is sensitivity, sincerity, intimacy, romance, communication, commitment, respect and steady income.

What a man looks for in a woman is looks, femininity, and a woman who makes a man feel needed and a woman who enjoys sex.

Do you believe men and women think differently when it comes to romance? If so, please tell us by adding your view in our comment box.

We Have A New Look

2011-08-20T09:12:00.001-05:00

As you can see, we have redesigned our site to make it more pleasing and easy on the eyes. Hope you love our new look. Since our previous template was outdated, we had no choice but to change our site. In the near future, we will be adding on new features.

If you would like to be a guest blogger, please let us know by sending your ideas to hmcsromanceinternational@juno.com

We cannot pay you, but you can promote your book(s), service or product by providing an link to your site.

Again, we want to thank you for your comments and for following us.

Best regards,
One World Singles Magazine Team

Beware of Emails Bringing False Gifts by Miss Know It All

2011-08-15T00:00:00.031-05:00

Recently I received the following email: Unusual Transaction Activity. “During a review of your account, unusual transaction activity was identified. For your protection, (the name of the bank has been left out to protect the innocent) has taken the precaution of suspended access to your account. Because attempts to contact you by phone have been unsuccessful, we urge you to contact our Customer Service department immediately.”

If this were not so serious, I would be laughing all the way to the bank, because I do not have an account at the bank that was mentioned; if I did, I would have immediately send this notice to the trash bin.

An email like this is a common everyday occurrence. This type of activity is known as phishing, which is a method of trying to obtain sensitive information such as your username, password, pin number and credit card information by camouflaging as a truthful institution, such as a bank or an online payment system. If you respond to this type of notice, you can end up losing the shirt off your back.

The FTC suggests these tips to help you avoid being hooked by a phishing scam:

If you get an email or pop-up message that asks for personal or financial information, do not reply. In addition, do not click on the link in the message, either. Legitimate companies do not ask for this information via email. If you are concerned about your account, contact the organization mentioned in the email using a telephone number you know to be genuine, or open a new Internet browser session and type in the company’s correct Web address yourself. In any case, don’t cut and paste the link from the message into your Internet browser — phishers can make links look like they go to one place, but that actually send you to a different site.
Area codes can mislead. Some scammers send an email that appears to be from a legitimate business and ask you to call a phone number to update your account or access a “refund.” Because they use Voice Over Internet Protocol technology, the area code you call does not reflect where the scammers really are. If you need to reach an organization, you do business with, call the number on your financial statements or on the back of your credit card. In any case, delete random emails that ask you to confirm or divulge your financial information.
Use anti-virus and anti-spyware software, as well as a firewall, and update them all regularly. Some phishing emails contain software that can harm your computer or track your activities on the Internet without your knowledge.
Anti-virus software and a firewall can protect you from inadvertently accepting such unwanted files. Anti-virus software scans incoming communications for troublesome files. Look for antivirus software that recognizes current viruses as well as older ones; that can effectively reverse the damage; and that updates automatically.
A firewall helps make you invisible on the Internet and blocks all communications from unauthorized sources. It is especially important to run a firewall if you have a broadband connection. Operating systems (like Windows or Linux) or browsers (like Internet Explorer or Netscape) also may offer free software “patches” to close holes in the system that hackers or phishers could exploit.
Do not email personal or financial information. Email is not a secure method of transmitting personal information. If you initiate a transaction and want to provide your personal or financial information through an organization’s website, look for indicators that the site is secure, like a lock icon on the browser’s status bar or a URL for a website that begins “https:” (the “s” stands for “secure”). Unfortunately, no indicator is foolproof; some phishers have forged security icons.
Review credit card and bank account statements as soon as you receive them to check for unauthorized charges. If your statement is late by more than a couple of days, call your credit card company or bank to confirm your billing address and account balances.
Be cautious about opening any attachment or downloading any files from emails you receive, regardless of who sent them. These files can contain viruses or other software that can weaken your computer’s security.
Forward spam that is phishing for information to spam@uce.gov and to the company, bank, or organization impersonated in the phishing email. Most organizations have information on their websites about where to report problems.
If you believe you have been scammed, file your complaint here, and then visit the FTC’s Identity Theft website at www.consumer.gov/idtheft. Victims of phishing can become victims of identity theft. While you cannot entirely control whether you will become a victim of identity theft, you can take some steps to minimize your risk. If an identity thief is opening credit accounts in your name, these new accounts are likely to show up on your credit report. You may catch an incident early if you order a free copy of your credit report periodically from any of the three major credit bureaus. See http://www.annualcreditreport.com/ for details on ordering a free annual credit report.

Flirty & Feisty Romance is Having A Contest: Enter Now!

2011-08-12T09:53:00.000-05:00

Flirty & Feisty Romance wants to know why you read romance and other genres. They are giving away BEYOND the LADY eBooks to two lucky winners who leave comments on our site under the article How & Why I got into the Romance Genre by Stella Eromonsere-Ajanaku!

Contest ends August 18, 2011. Leave your comments along with your contact information in the comment box.

Good luck!

HOW & WHY I GOT INTO THE ROMANCE GENRE by Stella Eromonsere-Ajanaku

2011-08-08T00:00:00.017-05:00

In truth, my childhood love heroes are my parents. I saw my father openly shower affection on my mother all through my growing up years. I remember always wishing to find the kind of love they still share. This is the first time I’ve successfully traced the source of my unflinching love for romance genre. As a teenager, my past time was locking myself in my bedroom, lying on my unmade bed and travelling into the diverse world of make believe, artfully crafted by Mills & Boon authors.

I enjoy ‘travelling’ abroad with the characters. I love the conflicts and ways the heroine and hero waffle through it all and end up happy. I cry, laugh and picture myself in their shoes. I must have read several hundreds. And so, my love for all things romance took root and deepened. I have a natural flair and profound passion for writing. It was only a matter of time for my deep-seated love for romance, my fertile imagination, and my love for writing to coincide. I’ve always dreamed of being stranded on an Island with my gorgeous and unbelievably affectionate husband, churning out romance novels.

And my dream started to emerge as God intends, when I told a colleague in August 2008 that I’d love to get published. She stuck a reporter’s notebook in my hand and told me to write as I commute. I’m inspired to write as ideas and dialogue swirl around my head and the characters take hold of my heart.

In 2010, I created Flirty & Feisty Romance Novels. And I have five titles: LOITERING SHADOWS, STORMY DEFENSE, BEYOND the LADY & THE GARDENER’s ICE MAIDEN. The latest, SPARKLING DAWN was released this July. Writing and self-publishing as a whole has been an incredible experience.

~*~

SPARKLING DAWN (EXCERPTS)

At once, Chloe felt the tiny, sleepy hair on her neck rising majestically as the tall, suavely dressed, irresistible, broad shouldered man stood up to make way for an award winner shuffling his way to the podium. He placed a pink, cashmere shawl on the shoulders of the petite woman seated beside him. The elfin brunette was preening herself like a courting rooster. Who could blame her? She was accompanying the best-looking man of the night.

‘It will be nice if you could at least pay me a tenth of the attention you’re dishing out to that total stranger seated at the front row.’ Michael snarled at his partner for the night.

Chloe was shaken out of her riveting reverie.

Her attempt at subtlety has fallen flat! ‘Michael, I’m sorry. I need to use the bathroom. I don’t feel well.’ Her stomach felt like it was falling apart anyway. A stinging storm has just kicked up in her near perfect life. And so, sitting still for this ceremony she’d wanted to avoid for months was proving challenging. Not waiting for his response, she got up hurriedly on unsteady legs. Grasping her purse, she made a beeline to the nearest powder room. Her exit was hasty, drawing several curious glances she was oblivious to.

As she shut the door behind her, her pulse rate skyrocketed, forcing her to clutch the hand wash for life support. Resting her head on the 3D, plain wall mirror, she counted up to thirty five to calm down. Taking in a large gulp of re-circulated air, she placed her black, sequined bag on the marble vanity top.

Warren Marcus Alexander…was here in London? How could he sit down there looking so cool, while she was a quivering wreck?

****

‘Chloe!’ Warren’s explosive chant of her name made her feet tremble. For the umpteenth time in her life, she wished things could be normal between them. She wished she could tell him…

‘Come and join me.’

Her feet found their way to the extravagantly furnished bedroom. The Chateau Grand Louis bedroom collections were obviously original pieces. The slow melody filling the scented candle lit room provided the perfect setting for seduction. Her anxious feet grew deep roots by the door.

‘Come and dance with me.’ His invitation was irresistible. But she needed to remember that dancing with the enemy couldn’t feature in her still-to-be-fine-tuned revenge plan.

‘No, thank you. I thought you wanted us to talk, not lure me into your bed.’ The instant she uttered the words, the music stopped. Was the music Claridges remote controlled? His green eyes took on an unsettled glint, narrowing perceptibly. ‘Why are you being so antagonistic and cynical, Chloe?’

Keeping her distance, she walked into the room. ‘Perhaps, if you stick to a known plan, rather than deviating into an amorous agenda, I might be more amenable.’ Her statement was accompanied by a dramatic shrug of one bare shoulder.

His nostrils flared at the hint of her creamy, smooth cleavage. Boiling, red, body fluid rushed to his lower body, specifically into the part of him captured in his fly. ‘Come and sit down, and we’ll talk.’

For some reason, he couldn’t fathom, she didn’t trust him a single blink. Considering they had literarily grown up together and never had quibbles, he wondered where her wariness of him came from. Or was she this catty with every man? ‘Would your boyfriend frown at you talking with me in my bedroom?’

~*~

EXCERPT

THE GARDENER’s ICE MAIDEN

BEYOND the LADY

REVIEWS:

THE GARDENER’s ICE MAIDEN:

http://www.bloglovin.com/m/2682959/244418335/fb
http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/68220

BEYOND the LADY:

http://myquietword.blogspot.com/2011/03/mqw-book review_14.html#links

http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/66847

http://freebookreviews.blogspot.com/2011/07/beyond-lady.html

AWARDS: THE GARDENER’s ICE MAIDEN: National Novel Writing Month(NaNoWrimo) 2010 Winning title.

~*~

Where to Purchase Author’s E-Books

Smashwords

STORMY DEFENSE
BEYOND the LADY
THE GARDENER's ICE MAIDEN
LOITERING SHADOWS
SPARKLING DAWN

Amazon.co.uk

LOITERING SHADOWS
STORMY DEFENSE
BEYOND the LADY
THE GARDENER’s ICE MAIDEN

Amazon.com

LOITERING SHADOWS
STORMY DEFENSE
BEYOND the LADY
THE GARDENER’s ICE MAIDEN
SPARKLING DAWN

PAPERBACK

Amazon.com

CreateSpace

LOITERING SHADOWS
STORMY DEFENSE
BEYOND the LADY
THE GARDENER’s ICE MAIDEN
SPARKLING DAWN

Author Website
Amazon Author Page

Author blog

Curry Delight, the Spice of Life for a Hot Romantic Meal

2011-08-01T00:00:00.009-05:00

Curried Sausages and Apples

Curry powder, a yellowish color spice, traditionally used in Caribbean, Indian and Southeast Asian cooking, is really a blend of many spices, and may have over fifteen different ingredients. Curry usually consists of turmeric, which provides its yellow color, paprika, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, various peppers, coriander, cumin and other spices.

The flavor of curry powder can be mild, pungent or hot and goes great with goat, beef, chicken, fish, veal, lamb, pork, eggs, vegetable dishes and marinades for meats.

When cooking, use low heat to avoid a bitter taste. Since the flavor of curry is imparted immediately, add the spice about fifteen minutes before the end of the cooking period.

Add spice to your love life by preparing the two delectable curry creations from our kitchen to yours.

Happy cooking!

~*~

Curried Sausages and Apples

1 lb. Italian sweet sausages
4 scallions cut up
4 large Delicious apples, peeled, cored and cut in cubes
2 teaspoons mild curry powder
2 teaspoons cornstarch + l/2 cup water, mixed thoroughly.

In a skillet, parboil sausages for 10 minutes. Pour off water. Over medium heat, brown sausages until well done about 30-45 minutes. Stir in remaining ingredients and simmer for 15 minutes. Makes 4 servings.

Curried Chicken in Potatoes

6 chicken legs
2 tablespoons peanut oil
1 whole onion, sliced
1 tablespoon mild curry powder
1 tablespoon cornstarch
1 cup cold water
6 white potatoes, peeled and cut into cubes

Season chicken with salt, paprika, pepper, and let stand overnight. In a large saucepan over medium heat, heat oil. Add onions and sauté until lightly browned. Mix in curry powder. In a separate bowl, mix cornstarch and water until well blended. Add to curry mixture and stir well. Add chicken and potatoes. Cover and let simmer for 30-45 minutes or until chicken and potatoes are tender. Makes 6 servings.

IMRR Bookclub is Having a Beach Read Contest

2011-07-25T00:00:00.043-05:00

IMRR Bookclub is conducting a Beach Read Contest, but there is a twist. They are not starting the contest until they reach their goal of 300 followers on Twitter. For more details on their prizes and giveaways, please visit their Forum.

Good Luck!

Dating Spaces: That Middle Ground Between Casual & Intimate by Brett Scuiletti

2011-07-18T00:00:00.039-05:00

Photo: © by Yuri Arcurs - Dreamstime.com

Creating a comfortable and inviting date space in your home or apartment is a great way to encourage longer, more intimate date nights. Though you and your date will inevitably go out to dinner, a movie, or some other affair during your night out, there can be an awkward pause when figuring out where to go next. For both men and women alike, it’s difficult to suggest just going back to your own place, because there are so many obvious and implied intents that suggestion could represent. To avoid making your date think you just want to hop in bed with him or her, you can suggest a middle ground that will likely be greeted more warmly than just the generic “come back to my place.

By crafting your own home bar area, you’ll be able to enjoy a refined space that feels casual, but intimate. You and your date will be able to enjoy some private time together, though the bar space will create an artificial distance barrier. This helps both of you feel more relaxed. If the night stays at the bar space, there’s no awkwardness or confusion, as having a couple of casual drinks is totally normal in such a space. But if things start drifting the other way, you’ll also be conveniently close to the living room couch and the bedroom.

To assemble a home bar area that you can be proud of and want to show off to special guests, make sure you give it just the right touch. Of course, make sure the bar’s well stocked. Plenty of choices equates to plenty of variety, so any date will be satisfied with his or her options. And when it comes to bar furniture, stylish seating matters. Make sure you pick up multiple bar stools, at least 3, because having only 2 will imply that you intended this bar only for date scenarios. With 3 or more bar stools available, it will imply that the space is also used for friendly, casual gatherings. The bar stools themselves should also be of high quality and upscale design, so go with wood or stainless steel designs if you can.

When you need that all-important middle ground date space that provides a comfortable in-between for you and your date between ‘too casual’ and ‘too intimate,’ you can’t do much better than a home bar. Plus, home bars come with many other benefits, all of which you can enjoy whether you’re on date night or not.

Riding The Writing Roller Coaster, by Melissa Foster

2011-07-11T00:00:00.031-05:00

Author Melissa Foster
at Charlottesville Book Fest

When I decided to become a writer, I mean really become a writer—drop everything else I was working on and hunker down to actually write my first novel, I didn’t stop to think about if people would want to read it. It sounds funny, but I was so excited about writing, that I hadn’t gotten to the thoughts of what happens after it’s written. When I finally typed “The End” on the first draft, reality came tumbling in, along with worried thoughts about if anyone would want to read my book.

I’ve often said that handing your completed book to readers is like standing on a street corner naked—you don’t know if readers will throw tomatoes or whistle (I prefer the whistles). This statement, I’ve found, is true for every book I write. The worry doesn’t fade.

Imagine my surprise when MEGAN’S WAY was named Finalist in the 2010 Next Generation Indie Book Awards. That was quite an honor. I think I must have screamed for 23 hours straight (my family wore ear plugs). This year, MEGAN’S WAY won the 2011 Beach Book Festival Award, which brought tears of joy. The funny thing is, even though some of the worried thoughts have lessened, I still get butterflies when someone says they’re going to read my book.

Now, with the film adaptation of MEGAN’S WAY on the horizon, you’d think my worries would fade completely. People like my book. Whew! My writing has been compared to Jodi Piccoult, which is a great honor, and to add another layer of happiness, my writing in CHASING AMANDA, my second novel, has been likened to Ted Dekker by a lovely reader. I couldn’t be happier with the compliments, and yet, there’s still that flitter of concern in my belly. Every book is not for every reader, and much like ice cream, we’re lucky they come in several different flavors, or genres. I’m thankful for all of the readers who appreciate my books.

I’m approaching the film adaptation with joy and pushing aside my worries about what viewers will think. Those who enjoy the movie will gain entertainment, and hopefully enlightenment of the themes that are woven through the story of friendship, acceptance, and the bonds of secrecy. I have faith in my director, Wendy Crouse, and know the movie will be as wonderful as the book itself. For me, the honor of the awards and film adaptation are simply icing on the cake. I was thrilled when I received the first reader review, and am just as thrilled with every review I have received since. The excitement never ends (and neither do the butterflies).

~*~

"Megan's Way is a fine and fascinating read that many will find hope in." Midwest Book Review

What would you give up for the people you love?

When Megan Taylor, a single mother and artist living on Cape Cod, receives the shocking news that her cancer has returned, she's faced with the most difficult decision she's ever had to make. The love she has for her daughter, Olivia, and her closest friends will be stretched and frayed.

Megan’s illness reawakens the torment of her best friend, Holly Townsend, whose long-held secrets and years of betrayal come back to haunt her. How does one choose between a daughter and a life-long best friend? Can the secret she has been keeping be revealed after years of lying without destroying everyone in its wake?

Meanwhile, fourteen-year-old Olivia's world is falling apart right before her eyes, and there's nothing she can do about it. She finds herself acting in ways she cannot even begin to understand. When her internal struggles turn to dangerous behavior, even the paranormal connection she shares with her mother might not be enough to save her - her life will hang in the balance.

Megan’s Way is a journey of self discovery and heartfelt emotions, exploring the depth of the mother-daughter bond, and the intricacies of friendship.

~*~

MEGAN’S WAY (Excerpt)

Chapter One

2009

Megan steadied herself against the cold porcelain sink, hoping the morning’s nausea would subside and trying to strengthen herself for the tough decision that had been wreaking havoc with her mind lately, and the choice that lay ahead. The familiar Tink, pause, Tink, pause on her bedroom window drew her attention. A confused cardinal had repeatedly gone beak to glass in recent weeks, as though trying to rouse her. As she tried to calculate the number of times she’d also awakened to nausea, the familiar surge of bile rose in her throat.

She clung to the toilet as if it were a security blanket. The smell of last night’s dinner still wafted in the air, sending her body into convulsions of dry heaves. Great, Megan thought as she grasped her stomach. She looked up at the ceiling, What the hell am I going to do now?

“Mom?” Olivia’s voice carried down the hall. “Mo-om!” The single word stretched into two perfect teenage syllables.

Megan heard the drama in her voice and closed her eyes against her growing frustration. She knew that particular scream, the self-centered, in-a-hurry, where’s-my-stuff scream. She did not have the patience to deal with Olivia’s drama on this particular morning. She grabbed hold of the sink and pulled herself up. Her stomach lurched again, causing her whole body to clench. She prayed for some relief as Olivia’s voice came screaming at her again.

“What!” she snapped back. She wished she could have been more patient with Olivia, but at that moment, she was overtaken by exhaustion, confusion, and anger. She wanted to kick something, to cry, to scream until she no longer had a voice—but her body was too tired to do any of those things. She had to pull herself together and get through the day.

Megan rinsed out her mouth and averted her eyes from the sheet-white face that reflected back at her.

~*~

About the Author

"Melissa Foster is a wonderful connector of readers and books, a friend of authors, and a tireless advocate for women. She is the real deal"--Author Jennie Shortridge

Melissa Foster is the author of two novels, Megan’s Way and Chasing Amanda. She is the founder of the Women’s Nest, a social and support community for women, and is currently collaborating with Director Wendy Crouse, Dream Real Pictures, in the film production of Megan’s Way. Melissa hosts an annual Aspiring Authors contest for children, she's written a column featured in Women Business Owners Magazine, and has painted and donated several murals to The Hospital for Sick Children in Washington, DC. Melissa is currently working on her next novel, and lives in Maryland with her family. Melissa's interests include her family, reading, writing, painting, friends, helping women see the positive side of life, and visiting Cape Cod.

~*~

Awards:

Megan's Way

2011 Beach Book Award Winner (Spirituality)

2010 Next Generation Indie Book Award Finalist (Spirituality)

Nominated Dan Poynter's Global eBook Award 2011(Winners TBD summer 2011)

Chasing Amanda

Nominated Dan Poynter's Global eBook Award 2011 (Winners TBD summer 2011)

Member: Maryland Writers' Association

~*~

Sites to Visit:

Author’s Website

Follow the author on Facebook, Twitter, FB Fanpage

Chat with author on The Women's Nest

http://melissafoster.com/content/melissas-2011-events.

10 Words That Describe What Love is to Me

2011-07-04T00:00:00.029-05:00

Follow this link and discover what loves really is to this writer. Enjoy!

http://www.topdatingsites.com/blog/2011/10-words-that-describe-what-love-is-to-me/

Submitted by Donna Cullen

Meet Sibel Hodge, Chicklit Author of Four Winning Novels

2011-06-27T00:00:00.010-05:00

My name is Sibel Hodge and I’m a chicklit author!

I was standing up when I said that so should I duck now and wait for the squidgy tomatoes to be thrown at me? I know some of you lovely readers might appreciate a hefty dose of chicklit, but there are still a lot of chicklit-haters out there! Why? Haven’t got a clue, to be honest, because if you think about it, chicklit has been around for years. Just look at Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen! It was possibly one the first romantic comedies - yep, that’s right, Jane Austen wrote chicklit!

And since chicklit and fun go hand in hand, I thought I’d show you my take on this amazing genre!

May was the inaugural International Chicklit Month, and I had the pleasure of hosting a fabtastic giveaway of chicklit books on my blog. All people had to do to enter was leave a comment saying exactly what they love about chicklit. And this is where the fun part comes in!

Here are a few quotes from the comments:

“I can be sitting here reading a book, laughing out loud, snickering, and more, and I could try to explain to my hubby what is so funny, and he just doesn't get it!!!”

“Why do I like chick lit? Because it offers realistic characters, intriguing settings, and often, a good dose of humor”

“Reading a chicklit novel is like having a gossip session with a girl friend, and that is a guilty pleasure we all need to have once in a while.”

“Why do I read chick lit? Because chick lit is fun :) A light reading which makes you smile and sometimes upset”

“Rather like having an enormous box of chocolates that I can dip into at will - or even scoff the lot with no guilt feelings.”

“We all need a bit of light hearted fun in our lives! There is nothing wrong with a bit of daydreaming. This is why I like chicklit :o) xx”

“I especially enjoy reading about strong women who make their way in men's professions and have fun while their at it.”

“Other times I'm laughing my face off enjoying the great adventures and interesting situations that some of the characters get themselves into.”

“What I love about it is the attitude, that it's all about a woman's journey, but more in a fun, personal way than say women's fiction”

“It is fun, light hearted escapism”

Notice the common theme in all of them? Yes, the F word (no, not THAT F word!) - Fun!

So what exactly is chicklit?

Well, the chicklit genre is so diverse, encompassing all the issues that modern women face. And it’s so much more than killer-shoes and pink covers! It can be sad, happy, kick-ass, fun, comic, scary, inspiring, heart-warming, intriguing, romantic, raunchy, sassy, full of attitude, quirky, tear-jerking. It covers real problems that women go through on a daily basis so it can never die!

But I think the main theme of chicklit is that it often contains humor, sarcasm, wit, and a fantabulous dose of fun. They are also often told in a more personal and confiding tone. Imagine having a natter with your best mate while indulging in a big dose of chocolate. Think of it as a calorie free indulgence! And these are the things that set it apart from purely romance or women’s fiction.

Nowadays there are sub genres such as mommy lit, mystery lit, even lad lit! So whatever type of story you’re looking for there will be loads of chicklit books to suit you.

Authors in the chicklit genre include people like Sophie Kinsella, Marian Keyes, Beth Orsoff, LC Evans. Oh, yeah, and little old moi!

So, girls and guys, if you do wanna have fun…reach for the chicklit!

~*~

Bio:

Sibel Hodge has dual British/Turkish Cypriot nationality, dividing her time between Hertfordshire and North Cyprus. She is a qualified personal trainer, sports and massage therapist, and writes freelance feature articles on health, fitness, and various lifetyle subjects. Prior to this, she also worked for Hertfordshire Constabulary for ten years.

Her first novel, Fourteen Days Later, was short listed for the Harry Bowling Prize 2008 and received a highly commended by the Yeovil Literary Prize 2009. It is a romantic comedy with a unique infusion of British and Turkish Cypriot culture. Written in a similar style to Sophie Kinsella and Marian Keyes, Fourteen Days Later is My Big Fat Greek Wedding meets Bridget Jones. My Perfect Wedding is the sequel to Fourteen Days Later, although it can be read as a standalone novel.

The Fashion Police was a runner up in the Chapter One Promotions Novel Competition 2010 and nominated Best Novel with Romantic Elements 2010 by The Romance Reviews. It is a screwball comedy-mystery, combining murder and mayhem with romance and chick-lit, and the first in a series featuring feisty, larger-than-life insurance investigator, Amber Fox. Written in a similar style to Janet Evanovich and Myron Bolitar, The Fashion Police is Stephanie Plum meets Harlan Coben. Be Careful What You Wish For is the second Amber Fox Mystery.

~*~

Blurb for Be Careful What You Wish For:

For fans of Janet Evanovich, Kate Johnson, and Gemma Halliday...

Armed with cool sarcasm and uncontrollable hair, feisty insurance investigator Amber Fox is back in a new mystery combining murder and mayhem with romance and chicklit…

Three deaths.
A safety deposit box robbery.
The boxing heavyweight champion of the world.

Somehow, they’re all related, and Amber has to solve a four year old crime to find out why.

As she stumbles across a trail of dead bodies and a web of lies spanning both sides of the social divide, it’s starting to get personal. Someone thinks Amber’s poking her nose in where it’s not wanted, sparking off a game of fox and mouse – only this time, Amber’s the mouse.

Amber’s forced to take refuge in the home of her ex-fiancé, Brad Beckett, and now it’s not just the case that’s hotting up. So is the bedroom…

All Levi Carter wanted to be was the boxing heavyweight champion of the world, but at what cost?

All Carl Thomas wanted was to be rich, but would his greed be his downfall?

All Brad Beckett wants is to get Amber back, but there’s a reason for the ex word.

Be careful what you wish for…you might just get it.

~*~

Reviews:

"I was hooked in this book from beginning to end. This is a very well written book that has humour and romance." Geeky Girl Books

"If you like Janet Evanovich’s Stephanie Plum I think you will really like Amber Fox - I know I do." Martha's Bookshelf

"Amber Fox was hilarious with her tough as nails outer persona and her hysterical one-liners that were frequently laugh out loud funny.

I definately recommend picking this book up!!" The Caffeinated Diva reads...

"Be Careful What You Wish For is a sharp, fast-paced story with intrigue, evil, romance, and humor. Amber Fox is the kind of strong lead female character with a great sarcastic wit that I love to read." To Read, Perchance to Dream

~*~

Links:

Ebook:

Amazon.com
Amazon.co.uk
Smashwords
B&N Nook

Paperback: Amazon.com

Author website
Author blog
For reviews and purchases of my latest novels

Follow me on Twitter

Can Men and Women Just Be Friends by Miss Know It All

2011-06-20T00:00:00.002-05:00

The question people always ask, “Can men and women just be friends.” The answer to that question is yes. However, in order for this friendship to endure, there must be an unambiguous understanding as to how men and women define friendship and what their expectations are.

The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines friendship as an acquaintance, one attached to another by respect or affection, or one who supports or favors something.

Sometimes when a man and woman become close friends, there may be an undercurrent of innuendos or misunderstandings developing because each party never discussed their role in the relationship.

There is an assumption that men and women cannot be just friends, because there is a presumption that sex has to be the ulterior motive in order to maintain a close connection.

A perfect example is the role of friends with benefits, which can cloud one’s perception as to whether individuals are just looking for sex and are using the term friends as a reason to satisfy each other’s needs or do these people really have a healthy and lasting friendship?

Once sex is in the picture, can a friendship between men and women be sustainable?

What do you think? Post your comments now!

How do you know if He is the One? By Debbie Lamedman

2011-06-13T00:00:00.008-05:00

Our lives take many unexpected twists and turns throughout our lifetime; and certainly incidents may occur which we never planned for. Society and culture often tells us how to live our lives, including who we are supposed to love and if we should marry. For many of us, it’s difficult to be told what to do, particularly when it comes to matters of the heart. Marriage and family may not be the right path for some of us, though I do believe it is human nature to pair ourselves up and not travel down a solitary road.

Looking back at past relationships, I know I believed at the time that I was in love with some of these individuals. And I’m sure I was. Then. But not now. We learn about ourselves and life from every relationship we are involved in. And we learn from every relationship we encounter, not only romantic partners, but also family, friends, business associates and collaborators. As we learn and grow and move forward, the one we met and fell in love with when we were twenty is probably not the person we want to be with at 45. But then again…maybe he is. Everyone is different. There are plenty of couples who can get together when they are 20 years old and move and grow forward together. There is no rhyme or reason to the mystery of what keeps people in a relationship. Well, actually, there is a reason…the reason is love.

So how do we know if the person we are currently with is “the one?” What does “the one” mean anyway? Someone to spend the rest of our days with and grow old with? Maybe. But perhaps “the one” is the person who is right for you at the time. The one you can learn the most from. The person who can be with you unconditionally and allow you to see yourself as he sees you. I believe we may meet several “ones” during a lifetime. And we know in our hearts if he or she is the right one for us at that particular time in our life. We may not always stay with that person, but if it’s a relationship worth having, we will definitely learn from him.

Our society says we should meet one person and settle with him forever. That may be possible for some people, but if you look at the state of marriage, and divorce being so common these days, it may not be practical. I am certainly not the same woman I was 25 years ago; I’d like to think I’m constantly growing and changing. I have experienced loss of all sorts of relationships, both friends and lovers, because people grow at a different pace. I have no regrets and believe with all my heart that everything happens for a reason. I met, fell in love and experienced certain relationships because that is what I needed at the time. The person I was with was the right person for me then. If things didn’t work out, it’s because we both needed to move on to the next phase, whatever that may be.

Sometimes it’s hard to let go when you love someone. But you have to ask yourself if the person you are now with is someone who is willing to grow and change as you are doing. It’s a terrible feeling if you think you are stuck with someone—this leads to bitterness and resentment. Be grateful for the time the two of you had together, and know that moving on will be better for both of you. If, however, this person is “the one,” you have the capability within your relationship to enjoy each other for a lifetime. Sometimes, however, we don’t always we get what we want; but we always get what we need.

~*~

Bio: Debbie Lamedman is a published and produced playwright, blogger and freelance writer who writes about online dating and relationships. Among the websites Debbie writes for is DatingServices.net. She also writes a personal blog at Confessions of a Cluttered Mind.

A Conference for the Passionate Erotic

2011-06-06T00:00:00.015-05:00

The Erotic Authors Association will hold its first Inaugural Conference on September 9-10, 2011 at The Flamingo Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Connect with authors, artists, publishers and fans for an amazing weekend of readings, panels, classes and industry networking. The conference will be capped by a reception at the Flamingo’s Terrace Balcony.

This is the first convention designed for readers, authors and for those who enjoy the erotic side of life.

Registration fee is $165.00 until August 1. After August 1, $185.00.

No refunds 30 days before the event.

For more information, please visit their site at http://eroticauthorsassociation.com/EAA/conference/

Plain & Simple Books is Proud to Announce the Release of Their First Two Books! Daniel’s Dream and Sullivan’s Secret

2011-05-30T09:51:00.000-05:00

About Daniel’s Dream

Daniel Robert Lynch, a young and artistically gifted student, was a victim of mistaken identity in a shooting on September 22nd, 2006. “Dan” was an inspiring art student working towards his Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree. He had a dream, and nothing was going to stop him… nothing except a bullet.

Following his tragic death, his parents, Robert and Marian Lynch worked passionately to establish The Daniel Robert Lynch Art Education and Scholarship Program (DRL Art Program) in loving memory of their son. The DRL Art Program is now part of the Cache Education Foundation and provides art supplies and scholarship funds to students inspired by art. Daniel’s Dream is the story of Daniel’s life, death, and the legacy he left behind.

“My inspiration is art, because without art, we would just be stuck with reality.”

Daniel Lynch

Daniel’s Dream is now available at Amazon.com in paperback, or ask your local bookseller to order it for you. It is also available in Kindle Reader and Barnes & Noble Nook Book.

About Sullivan’s Secret

Dr. Marie Bartek’s life has been uneventful as the local veterinarian on Sullivan’s Island, SC, until her ability to see spirits returns after eighteen years. After confiding in her best friend and realizing their interests in the paranormal, they organize a paranormal investigation team called Sullivan’s Island Paranormal Society, SIPS. Marie learns to channel her ability through the help of one of the team members, but not before learning the spirits are trying to warn her about the murders taking place on Sullivan’s Island. Sullivan’s Secret captivates the reader with murder, suspense, and the world of the paranormal.

Sullivan’s Secret is now available at Amazon.com in paperback, or ask your local bookseller to order it for you. It is also available in Kindle Reader and Barnes & Noble Nook Book.

Our new authors are excited about their new books and hope you will consider purchasing a copy for yourself, a friend, or a loved one who are sure to enjoy these wonderful new books!

See both books in the publishers Web store at http://plainandsimplebooks.webs.com/apps/webstore/

Writer's visit A Book Inside at http://abookinside.blogspot.com

Ready to publish your book...for FREE? Visit http://www.plainandsimplebooks.webs.com

Up and Coming Author with a Wicked Sense of Humor has Penned her Third E-Book

2011-05-23T00:00:00.002-05:00

An author with a wicked sense of humor is how you can describe Vivienne Diane Neal, the new author on the block.

Born in 1946, Vivienne has been writing articles for over twenty years, and started writing fictional short stories in 2007. She gets her story ideas from observing people, places and things and watching true TV court cases.

While she has never taken a course in creative writing, she contributes her love for writing to her college professor who taught English and stressed applying proper sentence structure when writing. In fact, Vivienne will tell you, “I did not learn how to write until I went to college.”

Her first book, Making Dollar$ And Cent$ Out Of Online Dating is a true-life and humorous account as to why and how she got into the dating business and the problems she has encountered and still does while trying to keep afloat in the ever-changing world of the Internet dating business.

In 2009, she authored and self-published her second book, Shades of Deception, a collection of ten fictional short stories centering on diverse men and women, who in their speedy search for love, romance and bliss, become the targets and victims of deceit, betrayal, fraud, revenge and scandal.

She has just completed her third book Malicious Acts, an anthology of five short stories that centers on people who will stop at nothing to get what they want. If it means disguising themselves as benevolent individuals and destroying lives along the way, they are up for the thrill. They will use romance, lust, greed, manipulation, and deceit as preludes to suck unsuspecting men and women out of their life’s savings.

Vivienne has been featured on SingleEdition, Black Love is Beautiful, A Book Inside, and Susan Whitfield’s Blog and was a guest blogger on Cluculzwriter.

All of her e-books are available for immediate sampling in multiple e-book formats and readable on virtually any e-book reading device, namely Kindle, Sony Reader, epub, PDF, Palm Doc and iPad.

Links to sample each ebook are as follows:

Making Dollar$ And Cent$ Out Of Online Dating
http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/12153

Shades of Deception
http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/24236

Malicious Acts
http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/43230

1PlaceForRomance Novella Contest

2011-05-16T00:00:00.007-05:00

1PlaceForRomance is holding a Romance Story Writing Contest and the theme is SUMMER.

Published Authors and Rising Stars will compete in separate categories for editing and cover services, cash prizes and an exclusive sales contract at 1PFR. Finalists will be selected by the staff at 1PFR. The winners will be selected by the readers at 1PFR.

Story length is 5000-7000 words. Stories must be received by June 1, 2011.

Authors if you are looking to reach more readers, and looking for a fun contest, with a great theme, then enter now.

For more details and contest rules, please visit http://1PlaceForRomance.com/StoryContest.

If you have questions, please send them to: Promotion@1PlaceForRomance.com

Meet Tinisha Johnson - Managing Stress is Her Forte

2011-05-09T00:00:00.101-05:00

You could say Tinisha Johnson wears many hats. She is the founder of Have Stress Relief Now and the author of Lessons Learned: Loving Yourself as a Black Woman.

Tinisha Johnson is an author and freelance writer and resides in Colorado with her family. She is the brainchild behind Have Stress Relief Now, a free online membership site created in 2009. What started out as a blog, turned into a full launched website as of 2011.

After a failed marriage and two small kids, Tinisha thought it best to take a new route in her life; one that involved various ways to manage stress on different levels. Stumbling upon the following three books: Unstoppable Women by Cynthia Kersey, The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle, and Do You! by Russell Simmons, these books literally changed her life, and from that change, Have Stress Relief Now website was created.

Have Stress Relief Now is about helping YOU! Ever have too much to do, and not enough time? Interested in shedding a few pounds? Wonder what's the most effective way to organize both your personal and professional life? Interested in finding that someone special or improving your current relationship? If you've ever pondered on questions like these, then Have Stress Relief Now is for you. The site provides you with resources to manage your personal and professional life.

Tinisha wanted to make the information she provides through the site diverse, because let's face it, everyone's problems and stress are sometimes different and unique. By signing up to become an online member, the site will introduce you to all types of articles, services, products, and prizes that are of high quality and have proven results in the area of stress management.

Following is an excerpt from her book:

Forget About What You Don’t Want, and FOCUS, FOCUS, FOCUS On What You Want Right Now!

Sometimes it can seem as though we do not have control over our lives. We want this or that, but yet, our thoughts are focused on something totally different, and on the flip side we’re feeling something completely different. When this happens, our thoughts, actions, and feelings are conflicting, and when that happens, it’s easy to feel out of control, or that life is pulling us by several strings in different directions. To feel a sense of meaning and peace, your thoughts, actions and feelings have to be in harmony.

Understand you do have direct control over your mind, which is the strongest component we have as humans.

Read this with me:

• I have direct control over my attitude.• I have direct control over my actions.
• I have direct control over what I allow myself to think about.
• I have direct control over changing how I view things that may be unpleasant to my mind
• I have direct control over removing unpleasant thoughts out of my mind.
• It’s okay to make a mistake, but it should not okay for me to keep repeating the same mistake, and not learning from it. Also realize with mistakes can come consequences. Take it for what it is and move on with extra positive energy.
• I have direct control over everything that goes on inside my body, sprit, and mind. Treat the outer things as irrelevant.
• When I’m hurt or feeling low, I will always take it as a lesson learned for good or for bad and still move on with extra positive energy.
• I am worthy to be loved, and most importantly, I am worthy of self-love

Recognize your control. Own it and live it. Create a mission statement for your life right now. What do you stand for? What are you about? Where is your life heading? What do you REALLY want?

If you’ve enjoyed this passage, it’s been inspired from the self-help book, Lessons Learned: Loving Yourself as a Black Woman. AVAILABLE NOW! Although geared towards women of color, the book will benefit any woman looking to make drastic changes in her life.

For more information on the book and the author, visit Tinisha Nicole Johnson at http://www.TinishaNicoleJohnson.com

To learn more about and to become a member of Have Stress Relief Now, visit http://www.HaveStressReliefNow.com

You can also follow her on Facebook and Twitter.

ABC’s for Dating a Single Mom

2011-05-02T00:00:00.005-05:00

With Mother’s Day approaching, we thought this article was timely.

Happy Mother’s Day to all.

http://www.topdatingsites.com/blog/2011/abcs-for-dating-a-single-mom/

Submitted by Donna Cullen

Vook - An Established Leader In Publishing Content For Tablets, Smartphones And E-Readers Builds On Its Momentum For 2011

2011-04-25T00:00:00.046-05:00

Vook is the leading mixed-media digital publisher that lights up the world's content and connects people around stories and ideas they love. A Vook unites words, videos, pictures and interactivity into new media experiences that allow users to engage with content the way they want. Vook publishes titles in a variety of genres, including lifestyle, business, entertainment, cooking, fiction and sports, working with authors such as Seth Godin, Deepak Chopra, Anne Rice, Gary Vaynerchuk, Slash of Guns N'Roses and Karen Armstrong. Vook partners with industry leaders including Simon and Schuster, Penguin Group, Harvard Business Press, Harper Collins and Hachette Filipacchi. Vook is based in Alameda, CA with offices in New York.

Called a Vook, Vook pioneered a digital mixed-media publishing form - that combines video, text, images and social sharing into a single, integrated experience. Vooks are specially created for tablets, smart phones and e-readers.

In 2010, Vook established itself as the leader in enhanced digital publishing by helping publishers, authors, and media companies re-create, distribute, and monetize their existing content in a new form. “We are very enthusiastic about Vook,” said Richard Harroch, Managing Director at VantagePoint Venture Partners, in San Bruno, California. “The opportunity is big in digital publishing and the Vook team is a leader in this new world.”

The company has formed strategic relationships with many of the leading book publishers and literary agents, and published Vooks with bestselling authors, including Deepak Chopra, Seth Godin, Tom Peters, Stephen Covey and Anne Rice. Recently, the company released JFK: 50 Days, a bestselling Vook for the iPad that features content created in partnership with Perseus Books and NBC Universal.

Vook has also launched its own digital e-book imprint, which will deliver as many as 500 ‘how to’ and educational titles to the market in 2011. Vook was recently profiled in The New York Times Magazine, which described the company’s products as “fantastic.”
Given their passion for dating, Vook recently released a new videobook called Meet the Man of Your Dreams.

For more information about Vook, visit Vook. To publish a Vook, please visit publish.vook.com.

Media Inquiries for this Release:

Jesse Odell

LaunchSquad

jesse@launchsquad.com

415-378-8333

To Publish a Vook:

Matthew Cavnar

matthew@vook.com

718-916-0953

An Interview with Geraldine Solon, Author of Love Letters

2011-04-18T00:00:00.054-05:00

Geraldine Solon

We are pleased to welcome Geraldine Solon, Author of Love Letters. She was gracious enough to stop by on her virtual book tour, grant us an interview and share some of her food for thoughts when it comes to writing a novel.

Thank you so much for allowing our readers to get a peek inside of your world as a prolific author. Could you please give us a blurb about your book? Bridal shop manager Chloe Rogers will soon marry Richard Foster—so she thinks—until suddenly, she bumps into her childhood sweetheart, Josh Goldman, whom she hasn’t seen in thirteen years. The sparks between Chloe and Josh fly, but Richard provides safety, financial security. Should she follow her heart or her head? The answer comes in a surprise twist. While cleaning her attic, she stumbles upon love letters written to her estranged mother forty years ago from a man she loved. When Chloe secretly brings them together again and sees how much time they’ve lost, she is challenged not to make the same mistake her mother made. Will Chloe opt for security or will she risk her heart and marry her true love?

What approach do you use when developing your characters? I create character sketches before I begin my novel. This allows me to differentiate my characters from each other. I want my readers to have a strong image of my characters and to be able to relate to them. I create characters that are flawed, realistic and have clear goals. Giving them a distinct voice and unique personality counts a lot.

Have you ever had writer’s block, and if so, how did you overcome it.? I take long walks. It helps me clear my mind. Since I write two to three novels at a time, I take a break from one of them and focus on the other one when I have writer’s block. It gives me the excitement to write another story and avoids redundancy on the current one.

When you sit down to start writing a book, what do you do? I write and let the words flow smoothly. It can be between 4,000-10,000 words. I only edit it after the first draft. I get the creative juices pouring and it’s during this moment where I forget all rules about writing.

Are you planning to write any more books in the near future? Yes, my next book Chocolicious is going through the submission process. The story is about love, loss hope and redemption. I’ve provided the summary below.

A week after Blair Nightingale’s husband, Larry, dies, she learns she’s about to lose everything she owns due to a mistake Larry made. In an instant, Blair’s life is transformed from rich, Silicon Valley trophy wife to poor, widowed single mom. Her only goal now is to provide for her daughter. As Blair begins to pick up the pieces, George- Larry’s best friend and the man she truly resents—seems to always be around. When Blair is overwhelmed by all the challenges she faces, she seeks comfort in baking rich, filled, three-layered cupcakes that her grandmother once taught her, and Blair's life is changed forever.

What advice would you give to an aspiring author?

Keep Reading – Reading adds to your vocabulary and helps you identify your own style and voice as a writer. It also broadens your mind and gives you ideas. A good writer has to be an avid reader.
Write as much as you can – I believe in the saying “Practice makes perfect.” The more you write, the better you become. Writing is like a garden that needs to be nurtured for it to grow beautifully.
Network with other writers – Writing can be a solitary experience and it’s vital to meet people who share the same passion as you do. Joining writer’s groups and attending events like Writer’s Conferences, retreats and workshops is a learning experience and good investment to your writing.
Build a brand – At this day and age, it’s essential to build an online presence even before you’ve completed your book. Joining social networks like Facebook, Twitter and Red Room are good avenues to promote yourself to the public. Maintaining a website and blog will allow you to interact with lots of people.
Never give up – There will be rejections but you have to keep moving forward. Before I got published, I started each day researching, learning and getting involved with other writers—anything that could bring me closer to getting published was my goal. Even best sellers, like Stephen King have faced similar rejections but they chose to keep going. Hard work, inspiration and perseverance are the keys to success.

Where can our readers obtain Love Letters? Love Letters is available in both Ebook and paperback formats and can be purchased at the following sites:

www.amazon.com
www.barnesandnoble.com
www.solsticepublishing.com
www.smashwords.com

How can our readers get in touch with you?

http://www.geraldinesolon.com
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Geraldine-Solon/181823348524179
http://twitter.com/GeraldineSolon/

Thank you Geraldine, and best wishes in your endeavors.

Searching for Romance

2011-04-11T00:00:00.023-05:00

Divine Mills

I am 37 year old, single Christian female with brown-black hair and hazel eyes, is seeking a partner, age 30 plus, who is very sincere, caring, understanding, compassionate and honest to share her life with. She is interested in hearing from men worldwide. Please, she is not interested in hearing from prison inmates. Her interests are reading, movies, traveling, cooking, swimming and walking. Contact Ms. Divine Mills, PO Box EF 238, Effia, Takoradi W/R,

Ghana

Betterfly.com Launches: Says 'No' to Companies, 'Yes' to Betterists

2011-04-04T00:00:00.019-05:00

Betterfly is the first website of its kind to exclude companies, focusing on people instead, and that gives it a strategic advantage, says founder Joshua Schwadron. "When searching for someone to teach you Spanish, give you a massage or improve your yoga technique, it's more important to know who the best person is, rather than knowing just the name of a language school, spa or yoga studio," Schwadron says. "Imagine if eHarmony.com told you that your future wife worked at Citigroup, but left it up to you to figure out who she is. Now what?"

Betterfly is a site that connects service providers with people who want to learn, look, and feel better. It provides a lot of utility for people who teach or offer a service, everything from dating coaches to dance teachers to beauty stylists.

Users might be interested in finding a dating coach, particularly one that specializes in online dating. Because the site has over 1,000+ services, there are so many options, and is a great place to set up date night. Who doesn't want to learn from a cooking teacher on how to make a romantic meal for two? Or maybe salsa dancing!

Since learning, looking and feeling better often involves finding the right people to help, Betterfly sets out to make that process easier and more efficient for its users and enables users to compare apples to apples, people to people. Users can refine their search based on more than 20 factors such as availability, friends' recommendations, verified reviews and value. "We're thrilled with the power and utility of our search. Most of those features are in place now, and we plan to release the rest when we begin our late-summer campaign to reach out to those on the other side of the equation: the people who want to be better," Schwadron says.

The current campaign is Betterfly's way of recognizing that the site needs Betterists™ to sign up and offer services before potential clients can harness the full power of its search tools. A Betterist is a person on Betterfly who offers a service to help someone learn, look or feel better. "There was no one word to refer to teachers, tutors, coaches, trainers, stylists and all the people who help others be better, so we created our own," Schwadron says. There is no approval process or cost to become a Betterist. "We don't want only experts or seasoned professionals on our site, because many of our users aren't looking for only the best — they're looking for the best for them. For example, a 9th grader who struggles with geometry doesn't need to work with a professional mathematician. Her perfect Betterist may be a classmate who got an A+ and charges only $10 an hour."

While conducting research for the site, Schwadron and his team found that two groups of Betterists each face a unique set of challenges that Betterfly can help solve. The first group, made up of people who work for companies, feels powerless to help themselves and their companies bring in business; they rely solely on their companies for new clients. The other group, people who are self-employed, continually tries to promote and re-promote their services across numerous websites, each supposed to serve a different purpose. Betterfly's free platform is built to give all types of Betterists the tools they need to brand and promote themselves quickly and efficiently, all in one place.

Each Betterist can create a free, highly customizable page that Schwadron says is "like a mini-website that can be made in minutes." Betterists can promote their qualifications, services, locations, special offers and payment policies, upload resources like instructional videos and lesson plans and even create their own blogs. Their pages display verified reviews from clients and have a real-time booking system to easily promote their availability and latest discounts. The availability calendar helps Betterists manage existing clients and attract new ones. Potential clients can even search by available time for a lesson or appointment in the same way that people can search Opentable.com for a dinner reservation at a particular time, without having a restaurant in mind.

Furthermore, Betterfly is unique because all reviews are verified. Only those people whom Betterists have verified as clients can write reviews. Once verified, the client may review anonymously or under his or her own name. "Many sites are plagued by false reviews and character assassinations. On Betterfly, every review you read is from a client the Betterist has personally verified, even the anonymous ones," Schwadron explains.

Betterfly has already attracted a wide range of Betterists who joined during the site's testing phase. Betterists include Christy McIntosh, an actress who has appeared in Law & Order: SVU and who offers acting lessons; Svetlana Vinogradova, a hair stylist who works for the Jean-Claude Biguine Salon in NYC and offers men's haircuts; Simon Boyar, a world-renowned marimba player who gives lessons between gigs; and Joanne Summer, a grandmother of eight who offers healthy home-cooking lessons on the weekends.

Founded in 2009 by Joshua Schwadron, 28, Beterfly is based in New York, NY. For more information, visit http://betterfly.com.

How to Date a Girl That Is Out of Your League

2011-03-28T00:00:00.014-05:00

Following is a link that we would like to share with our readers.

http://www.topdatingsites.com/blog/2010/how-to-date-a-girl-that-is-out-of-your-league/

Enjoy!

Submitted by Donna Cullen

Announcing the Launch of Fresh Goddess™ - A New Online Magazine for Women

2011-03-21T00:00:00.020-05:00

A New Online Magazine for Women

Fresh Goddess™ is an online magazine featuring inspirational, informative and intriguing content for women of all backgrounds. Fresh Goddess™ offers women a dose of self-love merged with urban Zen flavor. Founder and editor, DuEwa Frazier created Fresh Goddess™ to inspire women to get ahead, shine bright and live with balance and inner clarity. Fresh Goddess™ addresses issues and perspectives related to health and wellness, spirit, life purpose, dating, relationships, beauty, style and more.

Frazier has experience creating online content for women. She previously wrote inspirational and self-help articles as a contributing writer for both MysisterMyself.com and MahoganyButterfly.com. Her popular column, “Fly Butterfly,” featured inspirational essays and was published at MahoganyButterfly.com. Freshgoddess.com is among several of Frazier’s online ventures including her internet radio show Rhymes, Views & News Talk Radio and official website DuEwaWorld.com.

An entrepreneur at heart, Frazier is no stranger to launching creative and successful businesses. She founded Lit Noire Publishing, a creative arts and publishing organization in 2002 with the release of her first book of poetry Shedding Light From My Journeys. Frazier has since published and edited several publications including the NAACP Image Award nominated anthology, Check the Rhyme. As a writer, her poetry, essays, editorials and arts profiles have been featured in Essence, Poetry Ink, Drumvoices Revue, Poetry In Performance, Reverie, Kweli, Allhiphop.com, DaveyD.com, Mosaic and many others.

Fresh Goddess™ readers can subscribe to the website, leave comments and follow the site via social networking. Visit Fresh Goddess and connect through social media at Twitter: @freshgoddess and Facebook: Fresh Goddess™ “Like” page.

Steps to Better Health and an Out of This World Sex life. :)

2011-03-14T00:00:00.028-05:00

March is National Nutrition Month, a time to evaluate your food selections and eating habits. Here are a few recommendations to help you maintain a healthier lifestyle and maybe add more spice in the bedroom.

Phone calls have fewer calories than snacks, unless you eat and talk at the same time. Try to eat more nutritious snacks such as dry fruits, nuts and seeds.
Eat in moderation.
Go natural. Consume more whole grains, legumes, fruits and vegetables.
When it comes to dessert, desert the table and limit your consumption of refined sugars.
Go easy on alcoholic beverages. Get high on water.
Check to see if your number is up by having your blood cholesterol tested. A desirable number is under 200.
Become a private investigator and make it your business to examine food labels.
Walk!
Add more spice to your life. Use herbs and spices in place of salt.
Expose yourself to the natural sunlight. This is one way to get your Vitamin D. About 15 minutes will do it.
Limit your fat intake to fewer than 30% of your total calories for the day.
Make meat a side dish and not the main course.
Keep a tight rein on fry foods. Bake, boil, broil, poach or steam.

These guidelines are just that, guidelines. There is no need to deny yourself when it comes to certain foods, unless you are on a restricted diet or under a health professional’s care. Remember, we are talking about eating naughty foods in moderation not eliminating these foods from your life forever. Enjoy!

Online Dating: 5 ways to benefit your search by Ivana

2011-03-07T00:00:00.009-05:00

It cannot have escaped your attention that the well-trodden paths of conventional dating have been looking a little empty of late as thousands of people are taking the game online. For many it’s liberating and enables the shyer among us to take the time to construct a profile and build a relationship slowly and carefully. Here are a few tips on how to make the most of this wealth of opportunity:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/30528709@N07/4650134181/

1. Decide on your objective

Whether you’re looking for casual friendships that might become something more or you’re in the market for marriage, there are services to suit your every need. So choose your dating website carefully, as deliberate selection will lead to more fruitful results.

2. A recent – and natural – photo is vital

Of course it's tempting to use that old photo of you from 10 years ago, or the more recent one that's been edited to within an inch of its life, but by having something simple and likeable from the beginning, you’re putting yourself in far better stead to meet someone real. Of course you don't need to show what you look like first thing in the morning right off the bat, but something natural and expressive of your personality and interests will make you far more compelling.

3. It's quality not quantity

Don't be afraid to be a little specific in your profile. It’s important to remember you’re looking for someone who responds to you, not a superhero with your face. So maybe you don't have aspirations to donate your possessions to charity and go off to find yourself on top of a mountain, but finding someone who‘ll veg out on the sofa on a Sunday with you will be far more gratifying in the long run than admiring responses from people who don't match you. The same goes for the emails you send: don't hedge your bets by sending mass proposals to as many people as you can; find some who truly interest you and message them individually.

4. Easy does it

A little apprehensive of the pressure that a full-on dinner date might bring? Why not try easing yourself into it with a quick coffee Think of it as something of a pre-date: it will enable you to scope each other out, without the nerves that can sometimes overtake potentially awkward situations, and you can decide to take it further from there.

5. Don't lose heart!

It isn't about finding anyone – it’s about finding someone special. If you’ve chosen your dating website carefully and been realistic, then you’re in the same boat as very many others looking for the same kind of thing. So don't be disheartened if your search appears fruitless to begin with: you’re not looking for a quick fix, but a long-term conclusion, which deserves some time and patience.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/30528709@N07/4650134181/

Meet Marian L. Thomas, Author of My Father's Colors-The Drama-Filled Journey of Naya Monà Continues

2011-03-01T00:00:00.059-05:00

Marian L. Thomas, reared in Chicago but lives with her biggest-supporter—her husband and their spoiled but playful dog, Winston in Atlanta, Georgia. She received her Bachelor's degree in Business Communication, graduating Magna Cum Laude. Marian writes with a box full of colors in her head. Using the analogy of a crayon box to describe the struggles and journeys of women, has become her literary trademark. Readers have been captivated by her emotional appeal and her flare for reality that continues to be weaved within the pages of her books. Her debut title, Color Me Jazzmyne, went on to become an Amazon Best-seller. Reaching #1 in the Rhythm & Blues category, #2 in Inner-Child and #7 in Performance/Voice for the amazing melodious tones developed through the voice of her main character, Naya Monà. Color Me Jazzmyne was also ranked as one of the "Top 100 Books" - 1st Qtr 2010 by the Sankofa Literary Society Review.

Marian welcomes the release of her second book, My Father's Colors-The Drama-Filled Journey of Naya Monà Continues on March 1, 2011. It is sure to be another best-seller for the author as it takes you on the journey of four individuals that lead to one destination filled with betrayal, lies and shocking secrets.

Synopsis:

Naya Monà is back on another emotional and drama-filled roller coaster as she finds herself fighting to find her voice, discover her father's past and search for her daughter. How do you find a daughter you never knew you gave birth to?

Then there's Chris - her husband. How far would one go for love? That is the question that Chris wastes no time answering. He will do whatever it takes to remove his wife’s pain, even if it means being the one to cause her the most.

Let's not forget Misty. Fame and Fortune have been the determining factor for Misty ever sense her father passed away. How far will she go, this time, to achieve it?

Introducing, Carl Thompson. Carl has found the love of his life, only she doesn’t know it. Green eyes and hazel brown hair fill his dreams for the future. Does he have enough love for the both of them?

Join best-selling author Marian L. Thomas as she takes you through the captivating pages of My Father’s Colors. This book is guaranteed to make you laugh, cry and get caught in the drama-filled story of a woman’s journey!

You're invited to get to know the author by visiting her website at: http://www.marianlthomas.com/, where readers can view book trailers, purchase her books through online retailers or get signed author copies. Or you can send her an email at info@marianlthomas.com

The Pit Stop Schedule:

http://www.assistingauthors.com

http://azpublishingservices.blogspot.com

http://www.lorisreadingcorner.com

http://hotgossiphotreviews.blogspot.com

http://waterytart23.blogspot.com

http://lisahaseltonsreviewsandinterviews.blogspot.com/

http://rhodesreview.com

http://cindy-vine.blogspot.com

http://kristenhaskins.blogspot.com

http://authorsbyauthors.blogspot.com

http://louisewise.blogspot.com

http://bkwalkerbooksetc.blogspot.com

http://walkermuse.blogspot.com

10 Things Men Admire About Other Men

2011-02-21T00:00:00.013-05:00

We would like to share the link to the article 10 Things Men Admire About Other Men. Enjoy!

http://www.bestdatingsites.org/blog/2011/10-things-men-admire-about-other-men/

This link was submitted by Mary Edwards.

The Funniest or Worst Gifts People Have Received on Saint Valentine’s Day

2011-02-14T00:00:00.026-05:00

Today is St. Valentine’s Day. Rather than talk about the origins or what it means to take part in this celebration, we thought adding humor to this special day would be unique. So we put out a call for the funniest or worst Valentine’s Day gifts that people have received. Whether the gifts were seen as funny or downright dreadful, we could not stop laughing and hope you enjoy reading these submissions as much as we did.

Happy Saint Valentine’s Day!

A Justin Bieber statue. Submitted by JJ

A dead flower. Submitted by M

A Justine Bieber CD…I still have nightmares…baby baby baby oh…make it stop! Submitted by D

A Dirt Devil Vacuum cleaner. Submitted by C

Last year I got a frog that turns into a prince when you put it into water. Submitted CH

& & & &

On our first (and last) Valentine's Day as a couple, my (now EX) boyfriend, who had come back from drill (Air Force reserves and full time commercial airline pilot) told me he had something for me. He warned me that it wasn’t anything big but that it was something he wanted to get for me. He dug around in his workout bag then pulled out and handed me a set of bean bag juggling balls and a ‘how to’ book on juggling...as Valentine’s gifts! I’m thinking to myself, WTH? Who am I? COCO the Clown?!

Now here’s a little background on this...A few weeks earlier he and I were standing in my kitchen talking and he just happened to pick up a couple of oranges and an apple and began to juggle them. I expressed how I’d tried to learn how to juggle many times but just couldn’t manage it. So, over the next forty-five or so minutes he took it upon himself to teach me how to juggle. Never in my wildest and/or worst dreams did I think he would believe that some bean bag balls and a how to book on juggling would make good Valentine’s presents.

He even had the nerve to be surprised at my pointed lack of enthusiasm for the terrible gifts. Needless to say, he didn’t last long after that. lol

'KiKi' aka Naomi James, author of Untamed: Dacien & Tia and The Bride and The Barbarian. Now Available through Whispers Publishing www.whispershome.com

The Third Cord - www.naomijames.blogspot.com

A How-to Book on Understanding the Woman in Your Life

2011-02-07T00:00:00.054-05:00

You meet a woman, and it is love at first sight. The two of you go through the hot and heavy dating phase. In your mind, it will be a never-ending blissful and romantic relationship, but something goes haywire and the connection is doomed before it gets off the ground. Your scratching you head and asking, “What went wrong? I thought I was doing everything right for my woman.” Don’t fret, the answers are in the new book, 101 Behaviors a Guy Needs to Understand about his Woman by James Ian Woode.

The book, which debuts on February 14, 2011, is not just for men, but women will also find the book very informative and laced with witty advice. It will provide the reader with the necessary skills to keep the woman in your life happy. Starting with the dating and relationship phase and moving on to marriage, the author covers important factors that a man must consider, such as family, finances, appearance, personal hygiene, sharing in the housekeeping, time management, driving skills, dining do's and don’ts, dancing gestures, trust issues, intimacy, chivalry, and loyalty, just to name a few. Having a clear understanding of these important points is a must if the relationship is going to be sustainable.

The author does not claim to be a relationship expert, but the many behaviors that are discussed in the book, which he says, “Are fairly typical during the dating phase of the relationship,” will allow you to work toward developing a solid and lasting bond.

To give you a peak inside, here are few excerpts from 101 Behaviors a Guy Needs to Understand about his Woman:

“Your woman comes home and can’t wait to take a bath, which you already started for her. She towels off and since the water was so soothing she has already envisioned how she wants to look for you tonight. With her hair up and her shoulders peeking out above the cloth that she is wrapped in, she opens her panty drawer and notices that things have been shifted around. Her first inclination is that maybe she left it that way but then she remembers that she placed the new pair of silky panties in the front right corner and not tucked under the ugly Barbie ones that read “you KEN enter.” Believe me when I say that she knows her panties whereabouts better than you.”

“So you’re sitting there among her friends and trying your hardest to demonstrate how wonderful you are and how they should gladly accept you as a mate for your woman. However, your woman isn’t giving you the opportunity to answer any of the several questions flying your way. Your typically reserved babe leaps to intercept questions and responds for you. This is driving you nuts but you know you can’t tell her that, or her friends, at least not right now. The other ladies present take everything your woman says as gold and you realize that even though the work is being done for you, you would like to show that you can stand on your own two feet.”

“You’re newly married and over the past few months, your lovely woman has been providing you with some serious gourmet goodies. You have no trouble shoveling those beauties down your throat and compliment her on her skills in the kitchen. Over time, your gourmet babe realizes that you don’t really participate anymore in helping with her food creations. She starts giving you little messages like, “Hey honey, will you come help me in the kitchen please.” Unfortunately for her, the game is on and you don’t move from the couch. So, she throws a spoonful of handmade pasta at your head.”

“The day is going great and you and your bride-pride have been hanging out all day together. After walking through the park you decide to stop at a small deli to get a nice salad and sit on the upper deck. You hand over the credit card to the cashier who returns and whispers that it has been declined. You insist trying again before your woman sees the concern and embarrassment on your face but it’s declined once more. You turn to your babe and she rolls her eyes at you. Her expression is one look away from vomiting as she smacks you on the back and asks, “What happened to our money?”

“Recently, your woman purchased you a gym membership for a birthday present and, with her persuasive smile, has stated that she would love for the two of you to work out together. In bed, you are no longer snuggly material as she is having difficulty wrapping her arms around you. She frowns when you raise that cheeseburger to your mouth and mumbles that you need to go on a diet or something. Her nagging has become quite the routine in your conversation and she even threatens to stop feeding you until you drop a few pounds. Your woman is constantly on you about how unattractive you’re becoming and is embarrassed by the plump man you’ve become!”

“For the next few days, your woman doesn’t really say much to you and your response to her is fairly equal. The thought of watching an adult movie with your woman seems less than gentlemanly to you and you pride yourself on being the guy that you are. You tell your woman that you aren’t comfortable enough to do this and she gets frustrated with you because you are not even willing to explore other things with her. The next night in bed, your woman just lays there while you try to prove to her that you’re good enough to meet all of her needs. Unfortunately, she has other things on her mind and isn’t getting into you as much as you hoped for. Your woman asks you to get off of her and let her go to sleep. She tells you that she isn’t willing to open up for you either!”

Jaymes Ian Woode

About the Author

Jaymes Ian Woode, M.Ed., has worked in counseling for over 15 years, discovering and teaching how relationships can, and will be, lively, fun, and filled with romance when two people are willing. He is also a man who learns from experience and likes to pass it on. Jaymes believes that every relationship stands a strong chance to be successful if it starts on the right, and left, foot!

Check Out His Book At: www.writethroughthestorm.blogspot.com