Thank-You!

There will be no book features from May 1st to Septemember 1st, 2009.


Thank-you to all the authors who have participated, helped to spread the word and stayed with APA throughout its infancy.

Many thank-yous to all the wonderful readers of this blog.

Running, maintaining and starting Authors Promoting Authors has been quite an adventure.

Taking constant criticism, meeting great people and hearing about new books are probably the highlights.

As promised, changes will be made to APA over the course of this holiday.

If you are looking for the links (or wondering why your link isn't here where it was), this is just the first part of the changes taking place.
Due to past experiences I have to re-evaluate the links.
If you would like your link included, shoot me an email (if you have a blog that helps authors, a free and genuine service or likewise).



I've set up a new address, mainly for suggestions. So if you have a thought or two on how to make Authors Promoting Authors better, an opinion or concern, send it here:

apasuggestions@gmail.com

If you have an article you would like to be featured during this off time, feel free to send it to the main address:

authorspromotingauthors@gmail.com

Thanks to everyone for their support of this project!

-Tina-Sue-

Beyond Faith and Reason, Tim Holmes

The events of the last one hundred years call for serious reflection and revolution in thought. If one were to write about the state of mankind with an unblinking eye, what would emerge are the thoughts contained in this book. In disrupting the trust inherent in the validity of core foundations of western thought, Holmes emerges with a fresh existential view of the human person. A view which not only sublimates faith and reason to their authentic positions but also elevates affectivity and aesthetics to a new more insightful level of understanding. In light of this, proponents of metaphysics will find a new, more nuanced, understanding of the intricacies of the human person. In short, a bold new call to a profound post-modern humanism. A book for those searching for themselves within a chaotic modern world, Holmes gives light to the concept of 'self'. Acknowledging both the infinite complexities as well as the profound fulfillment associated with conscious existence.

BUY BEYOND FAITH AND REASON

VISIT TIM HOLMES BLOG

Blister, Conrad Jones

`Blister` is a thriller which will blow your socks off! Another real page turner written at his usual supersonic pace. If you like realistic action thrillers then they don`t come much better than this supurb new author. --The Reporter Book Reviews


The story behind Bister is a true one, the author has a talent for blending the facts with the fiction to the point where you believe the whole plot. This is the best thriller writer for a long time. --Real Book Reviews



The plot follows John Tankersley, AKA, `Tank` and the Terrorist Task Force, as they try to intercept the recovery of a chemical weapons cache from shipwrecks off the coast of the British Isles. A right wing extremist group plan to attack the London Olympics with a `Blister` agent. The concept is based on true events which took place during the Second World War in the port of Bari in 1943, when a ship secretly carrying mustard gas shells was sunk by the German Luftwaffe. The resulting explosions released the mustard gas with devastating effect causing the deaths of thousands of allied servicemen and Italian civilians. The allied commanders feared international condemnation and brushed the incident under the carpet. They also dumped thousand of unused shells in the sea. There are 16 such wrecks around Britain. 27 American ships were scuppered carrying these illegal weapons to hide the fact that they ever existed. A renegade scientist attempts to salvage a cache of the shells from the ocean floor. He has developed a treatment for the terrible burns which this agent causes, and he plans to cause an international panic by attacking the London 2012 Olympic Games with the blister agent, thus creating World Wide demand for his serum. The ancient ordinance has been beneath the waves for decades and is in a highly unstable condition.
The taskforce must stop him from landing any of his lethal salvage while maintaining a complete news blackout of the plot, which leaves the small counter terrorist unit totally isolated.

BUY BLISTER

Love Not A Thief, Cara Hart

Robert DeLyon has had enough of war after returning from Crusade. His new task seems simple enough—travel north and collect the bride his father has chosen for him. Yet, beneath the façade of suitor, he is charged with learning the identity of the mastermind of a coup to displace the absent King Richard. And despite his abhorrence of thieves, the group who attacked him in the woods outside his betrothed’s home has given him the perfect reason to wander the manor in search of information.

Marianne DuBois has watched her guardian strip her people of their health and livelihoods all in the name of greed. Tired of his abuse, she gathers the men he banished from the property into a band of rogues. Together, they steal back the money their families have surrendered to her guardian. None have found them, none can stop them. Marianne is determined to save her people from starvation, outwitting every man in Nottingham. Every man, that is, save the one who has arrived to marry her.

BUY LOVE NOT A THIEF

VISIT CARA HART'S WEBSITE

One Win Wonders, George Rose

One Win Wonders celebrates those pitchers who reached the Major Leagues and earned one, and only one, career victory. There have been approximately 650 members of this exclusive club in baseball since 1930. Some have appeared in as little as one inning, others played a year or more, but they all have one thing in common-one win. Rose Explores 50 members of the one win wonder club, and takes you on a journey through eight decades of baseball history while doing so. You will meet aging veterans trying to hang on to their dreams and hot-shot rookies with their whole careers ahead of them. Each has a story to tell, from his struggles in the Minors, that (sometimes long-awaited) call-up to the big leagues, to that first Major League victory. Rose takes a look at their teams and the events surrounding their time in the Show, and focuses on the details of each player's one and only win.

"What a Novel Idea--and full of Drama & Heartbreak. The story of those who almost made it. A Fascinating Treatment."-Ernie Harwell, Hall of Fame Broadcaster

Buy ONE WIN WONDERS

To learn more about ONE WIN WONDERS and Author George Rose, visit:
http://www.baseballwonders.com

Blurb! A New Book Show Contest For Authors!

A New Book Show Contest For Authors!

Blurb!
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/blurb

We listen to 3-minute blurbs from all kinds of authors. No longer than 3 minutes... They tell us about their books in 3 minutes or less... Each week we choose the BEST Blurb! from all the rest, and during the following week on www.blurbradio.com, we honor them with BOOK OF THE WEEK honors! And it's not about just any book, or any blurb. We're looking for some HOT copy about your latest book! We will have up and coming authors, well-known authors, but all of them will have something in common -- they EXCITE US and they will EXCITE YOU in the audience! So what makes a good blurb?
-- Think back-side of the book
-- Copy in a magazine
-- 2 lines on the radio
-- A Good pitch can generally be expressed in 30 seconds, soooo....
-- 3 minutes is an ETERNITY for a GOOD BLURB!
-- Here's what to put into a GREAT Blurb!
-- Your name, your credentials
-- Your book title, genre, and theme
-- What is the vision of your book? Your message?
-- Your reader needs to know WIFT -- what's in it for them?

So tell us about your characters, your plot, anything that will hook us! If it will hook us, it will make our listeners hooked as well, and you will start selling books like hotcakes off the shelf!

Here is a short tutorial as to how
authors can create their 3 minute mp3's via "Cinch" -
a kind of free-teleseminar conference call line.
Hopefully it won't prove too difficult!

How to record via Cinch

--Dial Cinch: (646)200-0000
--Record your pitch (which can be no longer than 3 minutes)
--Hang up when you’re done.
--Go to URL: http://cinch.blogtalkradio.com/[NUMBER YOU CALLED FROM]
--MP3 of pitch should be there within 1 minute
--Label MP3 according to genre code listed on editorial calendar
--Email MP3 to blurbradio@gmail.com

A Broad Abroad in Thailand, Dodie Cross

A Broad Abroad in Thailand follows a newlywed expat as she tries to settle into her new home and a life full of unforeseen challenges. Soon after her arrival in this exotic land, her problems begin: as she tries to learn the subtleties of the eastern squat toilet; then the fatal auto accident on the deadly highway that should have taken her life; to the final insult—bladder surgery by an inscrutable Thai doctor who decides to restore her virginity, while an intolerant nurse is after her with a vengeance─and an enema tube.

She leaves the hospital A.M.A. (Against Medical Advise) and then must be medivac’d back to the States with her catheter tube swaying in the breeze.

As if that’s not enough to slow down even the most determined of women, she must also deal with her new husband’s insatiable testosterone level─a textbook case of sexual fixation. Interwoven throughout her day-to-day life is the undercurrent of absolute control and jealousy perpetrated by a most unlikely source: the boss's wife, Ms. Anorexia, who manipulates the wives of the employees with her need to control every aspect of their lives: from shopping, to entertainment, to friends.

An unflagging sense of humor helps her through most obstacles, in a land whose people she has come to respect and admire, through times of seemingly insurmountable challenges.

EXCERPT: FROM "A BROAD ABROAD IN THAILAND"

SQUAT TOILETS ARE NOT MEANT FOR WOMEN OVER 50

A few days after arriving in the exciting city of Bangkok, Thailand, I was shopping at Robinson’s Department Store when the urge hit me. I’d been having some bladder problems, and as many 50-something women find, their lower internal organs begin to drop, droop, sag, bag and demand attention; and we don’t ignore it when we feel the familiar sign of wet knickers.

I spotted the unisex sign for “Toilet.” Dare I try this? Logic told me to head back to my hotel, but I had to weigh the time it would take in a tuk-tuk (picture a motorcycle with a bucket seat in the back, held in place by a tin cover), and I didn’t think my bladder would appreciate the jostling. I chose the squat toilet. I mean, how bad could it be? This was Robinson’s, an international upscale chain.

For my American sisters who have never traveled to a foreign country that offers these contortion contraptions, let my story serve as a high-level travel alert.

I peeked inside. I wanted to turn and flee. I gagged. Think Kansas City Stock Yard meets Los Angeles County Landfill. I held my breath until I felt faint. I thought about trying to breathe through my mouth but decided it might be better to smell than to taste. I had to do this. There was no backing out now. I gave my keigel muscles a huge clench and duck-waddled inside.


There it was, the ubiquitous Eastern squat toilet, waiting for the next feeble foreigner. It was a hole cut in the tile floor, with porcelain inside the hole and a thin porcelain ledge around the top to stand on. The sides were splattered with various shades of black, brown and ecru.

I studied this enigma and tried to decide on the best point of entry. I stepped up closer to the beast.

Wait! How is a woman supposed to squat on this thing? If you’re wearing long pants they need to be pulled down, along with your undies. To where do you pull them? If you pull them down just a little, you’ll pee on them. So you must get into a kind of stooping position then pull them down just past your butt cheeks and squat. While squatting, you have to pull them down a little more and tuck them under your knees. You also need to hike them up far enough so the bottoms don’t touch the filthy floor. Then you squat-walk towards the hole.


But what if you have on a full skirt or muumuu? You must pull the front of the skirt up and wad it under your chin. Then you must grab the back of the skirt and wrap it around your waist and try to make a cute little square knot to hold everything in place. And while you’re trying to maneuver yourself into position you have no idea where your feet are with all the clothes piled up around your torso.

You scan the room for a toilet paper roll. Nada! You panic! But wait! Over in the corner you spot a spigot with a hose and pail ready and waiting for the nice little butt lavage. This is Asia, girlfriend. Forget about using paper to pat your tu-tu dry. Water is the cleanser of choice.

It’s now time to conquer your fears—and damp drawers. You’re going to need an Olympic score of ten on your mount, and hope your feet hit the indents and not the hole. The porcelain is wet. The floor is wet. There is no paper. You start to pray. You hike up your skirt, wrap it around yourself, squat down a bit and drop your drawers, tucking them behind your knees—and make the jump.

You made it! Now you’re on and in the full squat. You wonder if you can keep your balance long enough to empty your bladder. It freezes. It’s not going to cooperate. It trickles out one drop at a time, punishing you.

Your back hurts, your thighs are screaming and your hamstrings are losing ground. Your purse handles are between your teeth as you try to dig out a piece of tissue with one hand while the other is flailing overhead for balance. One wrong move and you could do a pratfall onto the filthy, wet floor, or—the unthinkable—the hole.

You’re bladder quits pouting and finally empties; it’s now time to dismount. But how? You realize you have to get up, and you must do it before the store closes. There’s nothing to hang on to. Both arms are now flailing about, your teeth are losing their grip on your purse handles, and your clothes are tucked into your wrinkles. You must prepare for your dismount before you fall face forward or ass backwards. You know you’ll have no help from your burning thigh muscles. You give a giant heave and fling yourself up and out of the crouched position.

Yes! You made it!

My husband told me that he—and everyone in the store—knew I’d successfully landed my dismount when they heard me yell… “Thank you, Buddha!”

BUY A BROAD ABROAD IN THAILAND

Visit Dodie Cross' Website:

http://dodiecross.com/

Watch the Book Trailer for A BROAD ABROAD IN THAILAND:

Theodore in November, Natalie Williams

Theodore in November is a poetic celebration of innocence and the expression of an essential mystery: how love can be so easily destroyed by the burdens we carry in ourselves. These poems depict a journey through all the stages of love. Theodore, who represents innocence, is the object of the narrator Harbinger’s affection. Harbinger speaks universally through folk tales and legends of the journey she takes to find Theodore, and of how she discovers herself when she discovers innocence. November, a time between summer and winter, a time of peace and stillness before the change of seasons wreaks havoc, is where Harbinger’s transformation to a state of innocence through love is realised.

Natalie Williams offers an ethereal and perceptive insight into our everyday yet strongest emotions. Her poems transcend words, lifting commonplace ideas, thoughts and feelings into another world. Will Harbinger destroy her love when she finds it? Will Theodore run from her in fear? Will the legends fulfil their destiny? Will love be victorious? Take the first steps into the crisp winter berry of November colours and discover Theodore in November.

Buy THEODORE IN NOVEMBER

Visit Natalie Williams' Website

Decision Most Deadly, Mark Turnbull

Sir Charles Berkeley comes from humble roots, but through a humiliating war with Scotland, he is able to make a name for himself and attract the patronage of the influential Earl of Holland.

Moving to London, his new marriage is soon interrupted by the spiralling events of the 1640's where the struggle between King and Parliament begins to escalate beyond any control.

He struggles to live in the hub of all this discord and during the overlooked, but pivotal year of 1641, he finds himself determined to remain above the fray.

Life will never be the same as the country lurches ever closer to civil war. Sir Charles agonizes over the decision that many of our ancestors would have grappled with - King or Parliament?

Very soon, Sir Charles is thrust into the dispute and is at the forefront of the crisis, experiencing the battle for power from both sides.

Enter the world of the 17th century!

EXCERPT from DECISION MOST DEADLY

1 June 1639, Near Kelso

As he rode along the track at the head of his troop of horsemen, Lieutenant Charles Berkeley still retained some of the enthusiasm he had been infected with when he joined the Bishops War. Despite the setbacks, inactivity and sheer inefficiency of the English force, he was thriving on the challenge of managing the troop of sixty, itching for a fight. He was eager to follow in the footsteps of his Uncle Tom, a naval man, who filled his childhood with fascinating stories of battle and courage. Charles had worked in his father’s inn at Colchester since his earliest memory; either he tidied up, served customers or did errands, the work growing until he was able to take on heavier duties at the age of twelve. This early discipline stood him in good stead for such a regulated and strict role that the army had to offer.
The dark clouds swirled above him, like they were getting ready to close in with one thunderous charge. The wind had been howling for most of the day, veritably pushing him and his colleagues onwards, but thankfully it had subsided now as they searched for quarters for the night. He had spent part of the family money securing this post and he had no regrets, absolute in his conviction that he could make a difference with this band of men. Scotland may be better armed and prepared, with defence of their religion spurring their hearts on, but they rarely defeat the English.
Through the gloomy light, he saw a large house overlooking a village, and he was readily anticipating getting his boots off and putting his feet up. Within a few minutes of the sighting, his superior, Major Anderson, announced his intention of heading towards the manor house with the Lieutenant Colonel. After brusquely telling Charles to quarter the troop, he tugged the reins, turning his steed towards his luxurious target. Charles was now in overall command of men behind, and this thrill negated the lax behaviour of the senior command. He gripped his plain leaden sword, pulling it into place and examined his leather buff coat, which covered his doublet for protection against enemy swordplay. His dark brown leather boots were unfolded to full length, covering right up to the lower parts of his thighs. Suitably happy with his dress, he straightened his back and pointed towards the hamlet ahead, picking up to a canter. The rest of the army lay scattered around the neighbouring areas. Despite the welcome vision ahead, a menacing sensation encompassed him. The black mount he had come to love even seemed hesitant, so he gave ‘Ripon’ a tender stroke; the name conjuring up images of the picturesque place from where he had bought him.
“Go forward and prepare the inn for our approach,” he shouted to the man behind, instructing him to take three others.
Turning round to his men, he observed their morose expressions, few of them actually looking like they were willing to defend their land. In fact, he knew several felt they had no quarrel with their fellow countrymen, who were protecting their religion from the King’s desire to have one uniform prayer book and church government.
They rode up the street, passing the warm glow from the small windows, horses snorting as they eventually halted. Now that the wind had dropped, fog had followed after them, eerie and mysterious, casting a shroud around the surroundings, like a giant curtain had descended on the stage of life for the night. The scene was over and he swung his leg to dismount, standing outside the local tavern. For the first time in hours, he saw the troopers look lively and they practically leapt from their horses, eager to fill their bellies with beer. Before any of them could satisfy their desire, he heard noises from ahead and voices, speeding through the narrow straits of the street like floodwater. He demanded the men stay put and bounded forward, the boots awkward for speed. He was swallowed up by the thick mist.
“Not long now, men,” he heard the bellowed reassurance from the distance, in a broad Scottish accent.
Charles’s senses were triggered by the dialect and he quietly, but sternly, ordered two groups to take up position on foot at either side of the entrance to the street ahead. He sent a few more to an alleyway nearby, insisting the rest remount with him. The urgency and unusually coherent orders seemed to hypnotise most of the men; he manhandled those who stood idle into obedience with shoves and pushes. He knew he would only have a few minutes, judging by the sound of the approaching horses and the building clatter of arms and armour.
His heart pumped furiously - this was his chance for glory and honour, everything he had joined up for. Those Scots may be better armed, but give off more sound than poor cloth-clad men, and for this once, he had no complaint about the superiority. He sat on Ripon, squinting through the bleak night, waiting for the right moment to launch his cavalry.
Some sweat beads frustrated his concentration as they trickled their way down his head. He did not dare breathe for fear of missing something. His reactions had been impulsive and echoed common sense, yet he did not have time to think in-depth. One or two sudden noises pierced the silence, eerily echoing and giving the impression that a spirit army was in the vicinity, especially with no visible signs of their approach.
Just as he began to give way to frustration, a horse and rider emerged, the sight causing him to freeze as more began to materialise. During the short time that he was completely still, a whole line had manifested from the haze and he cried as loud as he could, ordering the troops who had pistols to fire down the street, now that the enemy were in range and still hemmed into the cramped lane. He wondered whether the men had heard, as for a crucial second, nothing happened.
But then the rapports came, cracking out into the night, adding extra smoke to the thick air. He spurred his horse, initially forgetting in his haste to command the rest of the mounted cavalrymen to follow, but barking out as he went. The noise of horses whinnying and the sight of the opponents leading mares rearing up gave a picture of utter confusion and shock. In an instant, the quiet, sleepy settlement was enveloped with sounds of warfare. Men shouted, horses’ hooves pounded the ground as armour and swords clanked.
He clattered down towards them, heart racing, hair flowing loosely and eyes wide with excitement; the absolute speed of the encounter allaying any nerves for now. All cares and thoughts flew away from his travelling body, his sole intention being to crash into the front lines and scatter the Scots, before they had any chance to recover from the attack. His sword shuddered as he held it outstretched in front of him. He let out a yell of exhilaration, losing awareness of most things around him as he sped on.
Ripon slowed as they bore down into the ranks of bewildered horsemen, but the opponents did not flee. He slashed out at the foe to his right, being aware of the arrival of his colleagues now in close support. The man was irate, flinging his weapon at Charles in a fury, taking him aback by the ferocious onslaught. Charles locked blades several times, the fellow grasping at him as they closed in on each other for a split second, and Charles felt his arm being tugged. He was helpless as he thudded to the ground. At this juncture of cold perception, the din of the clashing and utterances of both men and beasts penetrated his mind, now that he was brought back to reality.
His opponent jumped from his horse, and he went to pursue this quarry, but the man was agile and dived out of his way with skill. Charles felt sure he would win the duel and gave an almighty roar as he thrust his sword at him, but the man met it, the clash stunning Charles’s arm. The opponent though came at him without hesitation and slashed his side. Charles jumped back, astounded at the wound, his mind finally realising his own limitations. He went back at the man, who clashed his weapon away or blocked his moves each time, causing Charles to lose energy and confidence. As the Scot turned to the attack again, he sliced at Charles time and time again, pushing him backwards.
He tried to anticipate the Scot’s next moves, but this ability needed calm clarity, which he had lost. While the two men fought, a man was killed, falling from his horse, the shock and noise sending the horse careering away. It positively went mad with panic, as though it were as mad as the lunatics in the Bedlam Asylum and headed menacingly towards Charles and his enemy.
Jumping backwards, Charles saw the man gearing up for a final blow, when this beast galloped towards them, kicking out. The horse was even harder to predict than the Scottish trooper, and he felt it was magnetised to him, ready to crush him and finish the job for his enemy.
He gasped and tried to avoid it. The Scot was knocked to the ground as the mare brushed past him erratically, and Charles leaped forward as he spied the man grasping for his sword. He quickly cut at him, slicing the hand, a cry of pain being released. Charles followed this up by quickly bringing his blade to his rival’s chest, about to kill the man when cheers broke out nearby. He turned quickly, seeing his men roaring happily at the sight of the vanquished Scots, and his respect for his foe’s outstanding swordsmanship gave way to mercy and he spared him.
While he stood panting, thankful to have beaten the man, he took a minute to recollect his overwrought emotions and thoughts, even needing to assess what he had just done. He had the sudden heart-rending thought that the enemy could have been a larger army, or even worse, they may not have been enemy troops after all.
“As an officer, I demand you take me to your colonel. I am Sir Arthur Cotton,” an imperious Scottish screech demanded.
Then he saw a blue banner on the ground, the classic Scottish Covenanters emblem, and he breathed a huge sigh of relief. In front of him, his men had driven them away and the defeated officer scowled with hatred, still demanding to be taken note of. Charles only just heard him, jubilant that they had won something at long last, and he laughed out loud, ignoring the insolent Scot. This was the proudest moment of his life.

BUY DECISION MOST DEADLY

To learn more about this book and author Mark Turnbull, visit:
http://www.decisionmostdeadly.com

Chasing Bees, Renate M Bell

"In her debut novel, Renate M Bell takes readers into the Lawson's apiary in Umatilla, Florida, showing how the frailty of life and the interaction with nature fosters spiritual awakening. The author's firsthand struggles and triumphs as an amateur beekeeper stages a refreshingly unique background to a captivating tale.

The unexpected death of Faye Lawson's husband forces her to face the future alone. While tending the beehives, Faye unknowingly embarks on a sacred journey which tests her to the core. Will she realize death is an illusion, a great mystery of time and relocation, but not an end? Can Faye find the strength to forge a new path, one true to herself, but one that will end her husband's dream? Will the unexpected telepathic link to a young boy with Down syndrome reveal the truth to who she really is and what her future holds? Will the guidance of the boy's father open her heart and offer the hope she desperately needs?"

Journey with Faye through the scenic Central Florida countryside to find out.

Visit Renate M Bell's Website

Buy CHASING BEES

It Happens In Threes, Denise Robbins

Seeking to escape her stalking ex-fiancé, savvy computer expert, Ruby Goodman, flees to her family's vacation home. Always a healing place, Florida is the best spot for her to reassemble the crumbling pieces of her personal and professional life in safety.

But somehow her high school sweetheart and first love, Michael Augustson, always appears when she least expects-but needs-him most. This time the only man she's ever truly loved needs her help to catch an international thief. But can she risk her life by becoming involved in his scheme? And does she dare to lay her heart on the line for a man who may disappear at any time?

Forced into some 'R and R', unflappable special operative, Michael, takes refuge in Florida where he runs into his old love, Ruby. Brilliant and a whiz with computers, Ruby is the answer to his prayers. He needs someone to crack the computer systems of an elusive money laundering thief. While working with her, Michael finds it a challenge to keep his distance from Ruby because he fears his passion for her may endanger both their lives.

The only way to keep Ruby safe is to keep her close. Is it because of the threat to her life? Or is it because the stubborn, independent and infuriating but passionate Ruby has become a threat to his heart?

Excerpt From IT HAPPENS IN THREES

A warning whisper in the back of her mind didn't stop Ruby

from pushing open her fiancé's bedroom door.



"Thomas? Where the..." Her voice broke off at the sight of

her fiancé under the covers, in a position that told her he

wasn't sick and he sure as heck wasn't alone.



Shock bolted her to the spot. Her stomach cramped. Ruby

wanted to heave. More than anything, she wanted to get the

hell out of there.



"I guess I should have made dinner for three."



Startled in mid-thrust, Thomas fell out of bed. Groping

around the floor for his pants, he hit his head on the

nightstand. "Shit."



Good
, she thought as she pivoted and ran from the room.



"Ruby, wait..."



"Go to hell!" she yelled back at him as she raced down the

stairs.



Before she reached the front door, Thomas grabbed her

arm and spun her around to face him. Rage shook her but

Ruby managed to shoot daggers at him until he released her

arm.



"What? What could you possibly say that would make me

feel any better? Don't give me some cliché about it not being

what it seemed. Do I look that
stupid to you?"



"Let me explain. You have to listen to me."



Stabbing a finger at his chest, she said, "No I don't, you

despicable, slimy, two-timer!"


"I'll fix it. You know we're perfect together, sweetheart. I

love you."



"But you don't love me enough to keep it in your pants!

How do I know you will once we're married?" She thumped

her palm against her head. "What the hell am I saying? Of

course you won't. If you're doing some bimbo now, you

couldn't possibly be faithful—ever! Once a louse, always a

louse."



"I needed ... I just needed..."



"It looks as if your need was taken care of, and since you

don't
need me," she set the paper bag down. "Here." She

struggled to get the engagement ring off before it burned and

branded her.



"Ruby, don't, please don't. You'll change your mind, I know

you will."



She stiffened, looked him straight in the eye, and kneed

him in the groin. Thomas screamed in pain, grabbed himself,

and fell like dead weight to his knees.



"While you're down there, here's your ring." Ruby ripped

the offending band off her finger and threw it at him.

She bent down, pulled the lasagna out of the bag and with

the aim of a Harlem Globe Trotter, dumped it over his head.



"There's your surprise dinner, you son of a bitch."


Buy IT HAPPENS IN THREES

VISIT DENISE ROBBINS' WEBSITE

The Power of Our Words, Liz McGrath

Do you know that an empowering word can spark ideas, open doors, change attitudes, and create solutions?

Words can do all these things and much more. They have the potency to redefine personalities, lives, and entire communities.

Excerpt from THE POWER OF OUR WORDS:

Words are made up of letters from an alphabet that constitutes the building blocks for our words. Words are part of a universal language; therefore, they carry an energy vibration.

Words, along with the images they create, are a direct line of communication with the subconscious mind. They are the template and prescription for the process of manifestation. Herein, as I understand it, is the true and full power of our words. This will be discussed further on.

Words can determine our feelings, our outlook on life, our perception of reality, and our thinking on a level of communication that propels us into action.

Words can completely uplift, delight, and catapult us into a desirable mental state that keeps us in the present moment, fully in charge and ready to act at a moment’s notice.

Words are proactive in nature and can offer solutions. When the words we use are empowering, we and others also feel empowered.

Here are just a few ways we use words:

To describe our thoughts, images, and feelings
To communicate a message.
To express ourselves
To communicate and interact with others
To associate certain events in our lives
To associate meaning, intention, and tone, to name only a few
To keep a record of things
To write books, poetry, or exams, for example
To inform
To create advertising material
To tell stories
To create programs
To set goals
To create affirmations
To counsel

The importance of words and their impact on ourselves, our environment and life itself is quite evident. Everything in our world came to be by the use of words and images.

The words we use every day are the means by which we program and/or condition our life. What we think, say, and do in this moment determines what we experience every day because we can only create in the present moment. So, for me, the power of our words and the images they create are utterly important. The more powerful the words are, the more powerful the images and vice versa. The selection of powerful words and images is conducive to a feeling of confidence in achieving personal mastery. It allows us to live an extraordinary life in service to the universal intelligence for the highest good of all.

How we live, move, and have our being in this world depends on how we use our words and translate them into actions that are beneficial for each and every one of us. We have a responsibility to be fully conscious of our thoughts, words, actions, and deeds. Individually as well as collectively, our words constitute a power house.

In our communication, it is essential that our words convey the meaning we wish to impart. If we considered our words as elixirs, we would constantly be refining our communication skills. We would truly say what we mean and mean what we say. Our communication would be clear and pure and our words absolutely empowering.

Confucius once said: “Put mind in gear, before putting tongue in motion.” This wisdom is noteworthy. How often have we heard the saying: “Think before you speak”? Putting this wisdom into practice translates into a more meaningful conversation as everyone who is listening receives the quality of our time, effort, and ingenuity. It also allows for a more captivating conversation and gives it a quintessential quality. Our conversation becomes the perfect embodiment of our breath because it expresses our essential truth. The breath we inhale, exhale, and use to communicate is Divine in nature.

Words have a powerful and transforming effect in that they can contribute to a more peaceful existence, optimal health, and well-being. They also enable us to become responsible citizens of the universe, thereby creating a much better environment in which to live, move, and have our being.

Accordingly, understanding the meaning of our words is paramount to making ourselves understood.

To be fully responsible for the words I use, I investigate what each word stands for in order to create a vocabulary that reflects my intention and the proper meaning I wish to convey. The following quote from an unknown author makes this point:

“A word is the final expression of a thought on the physical plane and, in other words, a word is a final creative act; and the word that you or I use is really indicative of our state of consciousness.” (author unknown)

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God's Elect, Frank Shapiro

A newly elected Pope makes a historic decision in the wake of the world’s worst terrorist outrage. He will share the Vatican’s oldest secret with Israel’s Chief Rabbi.

On Jerusalem’s Temple Mount masses demonstrate for the rebuilding of Solomon’s Temple. What could stop them if the Temple Treasures, looted two thousand years ago by Rome’s triumphant Roman general Titus, really have come to light?

Yet nothing is as it seems. Behind this new Pope’s statesmanlike gesture lies a sinister plot hatched by a fanatical sect. Unsuspected and seemingly unstoppable, this sect worms its way into the heart of Christendom determined to change the fate of the world.

Behind these events stands a clash of civilizations now teetering on the brink of war. Menaced on all sides by hostile Islamic states and in fear of nuclear attack, Israel has to decide whether to co-operate with the papacy – even as suspicions mount that each side is as diabolical and deceptive as the other.

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The Last Stallion, Christine DePetrillo

A new year doesn't always mean giving something up.

Large animal veterinarian, Cassie Stone, is done with cowboys. It’s her New Year’s resolution after she catches her current rodeo clown in bed with another woman. On her sister’s invite, Cassie heads to New York City where the chance of corralling another cowboy is slim. Or so she thinks.

Blake Mareson is traveling from Louisiana with his four horses. He stops briefly in New York City to make some money, and soon his plans to hide in the quiet woods of Vermont change when he meets Cassie. Her long red hair and sharp green eyes reel him in immediately, but he’s not looking for love. In fact, he’s trying to avoid it in order to protect his secret—a secret he’s sure would send any woman running.

Though Cassie initially sticks to her New Year’s resolution and dismisses Blake, she can’t totally erase the blue of his eyes from her memory. When she sees him again, the pull toward him is too strong to resist. Will Cassie regret ignoring her no cowboy pledge or find the stallion she’s been looking for?

Perhaps she’ll find so much more.

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