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Aug 27, 2012

Labor Day Blogfest For Diabetes Awareness

Wayman Publishing is teaming up with a whole smattering of awesome authors for a kickin Labor Day weekend event.

Between September 2nd and 4th, you can download several of the featured e-books FREE.

. . . But that's not all . . .

You can enter to win CASH or physical books by outstanding authors such as:
Valerie Bowen,
Adrienne deWolfe,
Peter Thomas Senese,
Lucy Swing,
and
Kara Tollman.
See bottom for details!

Intrigued yet?



In honor of Melynda Fleury --who has been fighting diabetes and has almost completely lost her eyesight as a result-- Wayman Publishing, as well as several of the participating authors (see below), is also donating 5% profit from select physical book sales to the American Diabetes Association

We hope you'll enjoy shopping for three whole days
at our Labor Day Blogfest and Book Fair.
Discover new authors and their stories!


FREE eBooks

Faced by an uncertain future and surrounded by hypocrites, Elisa feels her foundation crumbling. She doesn't know who to turn to. That's when she meets a mysterious man. But maybe she shouldn't trust him after all. Will he help her, or make things even worse than they were before?

Available HERE on Amazon for FREE download Sept 2nd - 4th

Until Halloween 2012, 5% profit of physical book sales earned from this book will be donated to the American Diabetes Association





When they tried closing my son's casket, I nearly fell on my face, not wanting them to shut the lid on my baby.
We lost it after that, totally cemented in our grief. Cade got into drugs, joined a rock and roll band, and even grew out his damn hair. At the time, I was sick of “the oatmeal option” (the only food we had), so I kicked Cade out of the house, and started modeling and working as a diesel mechanic. That was how I met Earl, an old man and unlikely best friend; the “big sag,” a middle aged woman who still flashed folks, and "The Cowboy" a man who fell in love with me.
It was slow at first, but Cade reverted to the man I’d busked with years before. It wasn’t until I killed a rogue skunk, and my daughter nearly choked on a fry, that I gave my husband another chance. But could our marriage recover from the death of our son.

Available HERE on Amazon for FREE download Sept 2nd - 4th

Until Halloween 2012, 5% of physical book sales on this book will be donated to the American Diabetes Association


What lengths would you take just to lose one tooth and catch the Tooth Fairy?

Available HERE on Amazon for FREE download Sept 2nd - 4th


Until Halloween 2012, 5% profit of physical book sales earned from this book will be donated to the American Diabetes Association






From Mr. P (a wild little boy who loves animals) to Meaghan (a driving teenager) and Kyle (a young man who wants to visit Italy), Melynda's year starts with a bang.









Life after death proved much different than what the Stillwater family expected. Two go into the light, another into darkness, while Blake Stillwater fights for survival somewhere between, in the Realm of the Middle Damned. He will receive gifts from the members of his family he unwittingly killed, but even as those who love the light will be just, the Forces of Evil groom the one now dwelling in darkness to ruin it all. Caught in a crosswind between the dimensions of life and death, a new thought distracts Blake when he can least afford it. Is what he works toward real or is he lost in a coma-induced dream? In an attempt to get back to those of his family who survived, Blake will be willing to risk it all, and the rest be damned.

Available HERE on Amazon for FREE download Sept 2nd - 4th 
Until Halloween 2012, 50% profit of physical book sales earned from this book will be donated to the American Diabetes Association





A hilarious anthology from a very witty writer.

From being Wonder Woman, hunting mice and fighting naked little boys, Melynda does it all. Come read about her hilarious life from April - June, 2011.

Available HERE on Amazon for FREE download Sept 2nd - 4th






An enticing collection of fantasy stories from previously published, as well as, debut authors.

Including stories by contest-winning authors: Joshua Carstens, Melynda Fleury, Pat Hatt, Carrie Seymour and Leetah East.

Available HERE on Amazon for FREE download Sept 2nd - 4th

Until Halloween 2012, 5% profit of physical book sales earned from this book will be donated to the American Diabetes Association






Join One Shoe Kangaroo as he tracks down the evil Captain Frown Clown and his crew. They have stolen the magic from his town. Will One Shoe Kangaroo be able to track Captain Frown Clown down?




Aliya Fisher knows nothing about her true heritage until a vindictive sorceress kidnaps her brother and sister. The young adventurer must take up her birthright, battle strange creatures, and find the Sword of Senack if she hopes to best the witch. But even if Aliya finds the famed weapon and survives the perilous oceanic journey, the enchantress is far more than she appears. How does one defeat an immortal who lusts for revenge?

Available HERE on Amazon for FREE download Sept 2nd - 4th

Until Halloween 2012, 5% profit of physical book sales earned from this book will be donated to the American Diabetes Association




Do you yearn for joy? Do you dream of a welcoming lap and gentle words? Do you wish to know the deep delight of a life filled with tangy tuna and abiding love? Then follow my twelve habits for highly effective cats and their humans.

Available HERE on Amazon for FREE download Sept 2nd - 4th


Until Halloween 2012, 5% profit of physical book sales earned from this book will be donated to the American Diabetes Association





Highly Recommended Reading
for great prices!


In a satirical combination of two end-of-the-world scenarios, a zombie plague is quickly followed by an alien invasion - in a time when humanity is already struggling with vampires.
Landing dead center at a college campus swarming with zombies, the aliens soon realize that their abduction mission is going to be quite a bit more complicated than they'd imagined. The presence of vampires only makes the situation worse.
Will the human race prevail or be forced to relocate to an alien planet? Is there any way to reverse the zombie plague? Is the plague contagious to aliens and can an alien be turned into a vampire? What if a vampire alien became a zombie, then was bitten by a radioactive spider and then possessed by the ghost of a robot werewolf? That last part doesn't happen in the story, but what if it did? Find out what becomes of humanity in this hodgepodge of dystopian absurdity. 
Only .99 cents HERE on Amazon
Author Site


Life for Amelia Parker has been hard to say the least. Tormented by flashbacks, and the vow of her ex husband to finish the job he started as soon as he's released from prison, sends Amelia into an emotional frenzy as time for his release grows near.
Amelia packs up and moves from her home in Colby, Kansas to the small town of Camden, Maine with the hope Ray will forget all about his vendetta. Amelia finds new friends and a new love in her happy peaceful life in Camden.
She is suddenly snapped back into paralyzing fear when she receives word of Ray's release, knowing he will fulfill his promise to finish what he began. Hearing gunshots and her screams, her new love Kyle must make a rushed decision to keep her alive.
Due to a strange twist of events Kyle's past meets them head-on and jeopardizes Amelia's safety yet again. Will Kyle be able to save the life of the only woman he has ever loved?
Join Amelia in this roller coaster ride of emotions that will have you gripping the edge of your seat at every turn.

Available through: Amazon Barnes and Noble and Smashwords
Book Trailes: http://www.opusnpen.com or http://www.valeriebowen.com


Evolution is about to be kicked in the teeth by some very large feet.
When Harrison Kent suggests a camping trip to the dense woods of Colorado, his friends are all for a little adventure. What awaits them, though, is far more than they ever bargained for. They discover that Sasquatch is real; however, these are not the shy creatures of legend. A madness has claimed them, one which has erased their once-peaceful nature and left in its place an unstoppable horde of ravenous monsters.
Now Harrison, his friends, and the unsuspecting residents of a remote town find themselves in a fight for their lives against the bloodthirsty beasts...a fight that they're ill-equipped to win. But the woods hold more than one secret. There are other forces at play. If they can survive long enough, they might just be able to even the odds.
It's primal fury versus a whole lot of bullets, in a battle to determine once and for all: who is the hunter and who is the hunted?
************
Bigfoot Hunters is 90,000 words of graphic Horror Adventure (mature audiences only) by Rick Gualtieri, author of Bill The Vampire and Scary Dead Things.
Includes the bonus short story, Zombie Pride, by Thea Isis Gregory.

Available through Amazon 
Until Halloween 2012, 10% of the proceeds from physical and e-book sales earned from this book will be donated to the American Diabetes Association


There are reasons we fear the night. He isn't one of them.
Bill Ryder was a dateless dweeb...then he died. Unfortunately for him that was just the beginning of his troubles. He awoke to find himself a vampire, one of the legendary predators of the night. Unfortunately for him, he was still at the bottom of the food chain.
Now he finds himself surrounded by creatures stronger, deadlier and a whole lot cooler than he is. Worst yet, they all want him dead...permanently this time.
Bill isn't exactly average, though. A vampire like him hasn't been seen in centuries. He's got a few tricks up his sleeve, unlikely allies, and an attitude problem that makes him too damn obnoxious to quit.
Join him in this hilarious tale of monsters, mayhem, and the unlikely hero who's not afraid to tell them all off...even if it gets his teeth kicked in.
**********
Bill the Vampire (the Tome of Bill, part 1) is 80,000 words of foul-mouthed horror comedy by Rick Gualtieri, author of Scary Dead Things (The Tome of Bill, part 2) and Bigfoot Hunters.

Available through Amazon 
Until Halloween 2012, 10% of the proceeds from physical and e-book sales earned from this book will be donated to the American Diabetes Association


"Book Cover: Selected" shows that book covers can be art, too. Featured here are some of Susanna Ivy's more popular cover designs. For lovers of graphic design and fans of art, "Book Covers: Selected" seeks to remind the viewer that first impressions mean everything.

Available through Amazon






In the spring of 1861, just prior to the onset of the Civil War, Martha Somerville finds her life rapidly changing along with the world around her. Determined to find a way to build a life with her love, Wilby, Martha focuses her energies on acquiring enough money to buy a plot of land to turn into a small farm. Her obsession takes her far from quiet Bountiful Creek, Virginia, deep into Union territory in Ohio. When war breaks out, she immediately sets her course for home before Wilby leaves to join the Confederate Army; but a wealthy suitor, a gravely ill companion, and a thief challenge her efforts to reach him in time. Yet even if she can successfully overcome her obstacles, her life dangerously parallels an ill-fated legend that threatens to keep her and the man she loves apart forever.

Available through Amazon


Chasing The Cyclone by Peter Thomas Senese is written as a first-hand account of the growing epidemic that is international parental child abduction, and the extreme difficulties all parents whose child has been abducted must face in order to protect the welfare of their victimized child or children. This story makes clear what needs to be done both here in The United States and throughout the world in order to protect children from being abducted and taken across international borders.

Available through Amazon




International freelance news correspondent Grant Cogar is a clever man of action with a knack for finding trouble. Sent to Seoul, South Korea to cover dictator Kim Jong-il’s violent transfer of power, Cogar finds that the story he was meant to uncover has nothing to do with politics or war, but is instead hidden in the powdery residue beneath an old friend’s nose. Quietly pursuing a network of violent drug smugglers into downtown Shanghai, China, Cogar will need to use every ounce of his cunning and cleverness to outwit these hardened criminals, keep his friend and himself alive, and come away with the story of a lifetime. The first of the Cogar series, this action-adventure novel seamlessly joins hilarity with white-knuckled excitement.

Available through Amazon
100% profit earned from this book will be donated to the Animal Lifeline of Iowa


A girl with a broken past and a darksecret. A boy with a twisted future and no second chances. When they meet, it just might cost them theirsouls.
Sixteen-year-old Summer doesn’texpect the new boarding school to be any different than the rest: a temporarystay where everyone will turn against her after a few weeks. Until she meetsthe rest of the students at this special school and realizes she’s not the onlyone with magic in her blood. Accustomedto the concrete jungle of LA, she gets lost one night in the forests of theRocky Mountains and meets Decker, the boy who will become the Master of Nightand Fire on his eighteenth birthday. Their connection is instant and dangerous,for both will be forced to choose between Light and Dark, life and death, love– and their souls.
One choice. One soul. One price.

Available for 99 cents through: Amazon Amazon UK Lizzy's Bookstore Barnes and Noble iTunes and Smashwords

Author’s biographyThe author was born in Athens, Greece in 1955 and is a dual U.S. / Greek citizen. After obtaining his Engineering Sc. B. degree in mechanical engineering from Brown University in 1977 he went on to Harvard Business School where he earned his MBA in 1979. He is married and has two children and lives in Athens but often visits America (Boston where his daughter studies and his son works). He is currently employed by the largest Greek manufacturing Co. (10% of Greek exports) as the Senior Financial Analyst. His interests include poetry, romance fiction and actively following economic developments in the U.S. and Europe.

Coming Soon!
Author Site


Every kid has problems. Every kid has even more problems when they move to a new home. But when a kid with problems moves to a new home that has a Demon living inside it—look out!
Etta’s world is about to spin out of control when she encounters her new roommate—and Rahovart, that ancient trickster, is in for a few surprises too. So don’t mind all the crashing and rumbling; that’s just
the normal noise Angels and Demons make when they’re fighting an epic war in the attic.
One thing’s for sure: Etta and Rahovart will have to go through Hell to Heaven and back again before that old Victorian home in Quantico Town finally quiets down…

Author Site

Available through Amazon


"Excelsior by George H. Sirois is the kind of book that NEEDS to be read by more people. He doesn't have the marketing push that far too many lesser literary projects get from the big publishing houses. He doesn't get the all-expenses paid book tour. But what he does have is far more important. A novel that is rich on story and character."

-- Steve Gustafson, 411Mania.com

Available through Amazon



When the one thing you live for is denied to you, do you let it go or do you fall?
Jade, like any other student at Brushwood High, awaits the start of the school year with a certain measure of dread. Worse, she is being threatened by a voice that only she can hear—a voice that lurks at the edges of her awareness, haunting her and warning her of something unknown. She has always been able to count on her two best friends, Claire and Nate, but can she confide in them now? About this? Would they even believe her?
Life takes a turn for the better when she meets Avan, a darkly handsome new student who, somehow, seems to drown out the voice and make her feel at ease.
But Jade soon comes to realize that good things don’t last forever. When everything spirals out of control, she is shattered by something she never saw coming. Dazed and despairing, she must now overcome tragedy and embrace her true existence and a new but dangerous love. Will she be able to save herself and those she loves, before it’s too late? Or will she let the surrounding darkness consume her?  


When darkness consumes you; will it be hard to find the light?
After Jade's world was torn apart, she is unsure of where she belongs, if anywhere at all. Deceived by those she trusted the most, she must now accept her fate and the life that lays before her.
The voices are back but this time, they are trying to lure her into the darkness. But could they be telling her the truth? That the only person she has been able to trust since the death of her boyfriend, Avan, is lying to her too? If the voices are right... Could she really trust him?
In Fallenmore, the second book in the Feathermore Trilogy, Jade will embark in a quest through the pits of Hell. The question now is: once she is in, will they ever let her out?



Abduction. Betrayal. Conspiracies. Murder.
Welcome to the future of Sports Entertainment!









Susanna Ivy captures one of the most ecologically diverse locations on the planet with a fresh eye and stunning sense of perspective and color. Here, readers will be transported to the islands famed for their vast number of animal species—an island studied by Charles Darwin during the voyage of the Beagle.
Galapagos Dreams presents full-color photographs of a whirlwind tour of these diverse islands. Isolated from the mainland of Ecuador, here animal and plant species evolved at their own pace...and the results are breathtaking. All of which are captured in full color by nature photographer, Susanna Ivy. Sponsored by Sony and winner of the prestigious Galapagos Calendar Contest, Susanna will bring to you the Galapagos Islands as you’ve never seen them before. And for those new to this wondrous island chain, be prepared to fall in love with it.
Use this book as an addition to your travel guide and as inspiration for your own great shots.

Available through Amazon

This novel is based on a true story. Warning the flashback scenes contain vivid mental, physical and sexual content against a child. The victim allowed me to write this novella only after I agreed to write the scenes as they occurred.
The dialogue leading to the victim’s flashbacks are products of my imagination, however the flashback memories are the victim’s. The victim, who remains anonymous, has read and approved this novella.
Take a walk into the world of an abused child through the victim’s eyes. Feel the victim’s pain as the graphic flashbacks unfold. Tears will be shed as you read about the violence one little life endures during her struggle for a “normal” life.

Available through Amazon











If you have ever loved and lost...
If you have done everything right but still had things go so wrong...
If you have strayed far from home and are afraid to come back...
If you are seeking purpose in your problems...
Answers in your hardships...
Peace in the middle of your pain...
Comfort in your circumstances...

"Lessons From RuthDiscovering Your Destiny"will convince you that one decision can change your life, and that your problem is not a set-back, but a set up.Your Kinsman-Redeemer is waiting to show you that everything you have gone through was God's plan all along.



Being an instructor for a private driver's ed company sounded like the launch of a career that would last a lifetime. Not! During his short stint in the instructor's seat, Sullivan learned more than he wanted about poorly maintained cars, calm kids with angry parents, inefficient efficiency campaigns, too-rapid business expansion, and suburban angst. Oh, yes, and a bit about mustaches.An irreverent account of one man's descent from hope to a struggle to escape the chaos of subprime suburbia, Life in the Slow Lane celebrates the humor, resolve, and intelligence teenagers use to survive the dysfunctional world their elders have created. 

Available through Amazon
Author Site


Caleb Talbot escaped from prison during a riot. After fleeing the facility, Caleb lives peacefully hidden away on a farm in Nebraska. Until law enforcement discovers the escapee that had been presumed dead, was very much alive.
Warden Hahn of the Kansas State Penitentiary enlists the aid of Officer Michael Quincy and his canine partner to find the escapee and return him to prison where he belongs.
Caleb Talbot discovered law enforcement was on his tail, and quickly devises a plan to retain his freedom. The kidnapping of a woman is the beginning of Caleb’s heartless murder spree.
Michael soon realizes the man he had been hired to capture, has a disturbing past lined with brutality and bloodshed. He also knows Talbot has little regard for human life.
Can Michael and his canine partner Sasha bring the madman to justice? Or will they be just another name on Caleb’s ever growing list of heinous murder victims?

Avalable through: Amazon Barnes and Noble and Smashwords
Book Trailers: http://www.opusnpen.com or http://www.valeriebowen.com


The crash of Pharaoh's colossal statue into a throng of worshippers brings the festival of the good god Ptah of Memphis to a sudden, bloody end. Prince Khay, the High Priest, barely escaped being killed, himself. He finds clues in the wreckage that show that the disaster was deliberately set. Now he is confronted with questions that grow more alarming with every answer he finds as the great temple of Ptah is rocked by a chilling series of murders.
Increasingly entangled in clues that lead to even more mysteries, convinced that the gods themselves are taking a hand in the disaster, he appeals to Pharaoh for help and is sent a powerful ally in his eldest brother Hori, Egypt's Crown Prince, whose courage and resourcefulness are surpassed only by his bluntness.
The brothers fight against time as they try to unravel the mystery, knowing that there is more at stake than treasure, and the forfeit is greater than a man's life. Something great and terrible is stirring, something they must find, hidden deep within the temple, something they must bring into the light before those who walk in darkness take it and turn it to evil.
************
PHARAOH'S SON is a historical novel set during the golden years of Ramesses the Great. It is a tale of murder, intrigue and hidden treasure that reaches back into Egypt's heresy-shrouded past.

Avalable through: Amazon (eBook) Amazon (Paperback) Barnes and Noble and Books a Million


Surprises await thirteen year old Vicki Gray, as her summer vacation begins with an unexpected twist. Having to spend two weeks with her great-aunt Mary on an island off the coast of Georgia, she experiences a lifestyle very different from her own in tech-savvy Manhattan. As she discovers first adventure and then love, Vicki realizes that change isn’t always bad, and that renewing family bonds can create lasting memories which transcend generations.
From internationally known author, Juliette Hill, you won’t want to miss this one.

Available through: Amazon Barnes and Noble and Amazon UK



My whole life I have dreamed of being a wife and mother. I have always felt so sorry for women who suffered with miscarriages or have lost a child. I never dreamed it would become my own reality . . . When my fourth child was stillborn, I became entangled in a web of darkness and sorrow so deep I was not sure I would ever be the same. I have been a Christian since I was seven, but it was not until my Bethany Hope died that God brought me to my knees and tested my faith like never before. This book entails some of the dark valleys and struggles I went through during the first year after Bethany died and how Christ never left my side and never will. I am truly learning that life is not about waiting for the storms to pass, but about learning to dance in the rain. When our life takes a wrong turn in our eyes, it might just be a right turn in the direction of Gods.

Available through: Author House Amazon Books in a Million Barnes and Noble and The Book Depository


Upcoming Book!

http://sydneyssong.net/blog/
Fancy Holleday has more nerve than the average cardsharp. No man can resist her smoky voice and violet eyes—and that includes the federal tinstar, Cord Rawlins.
Cord may have tracked her all the way to Texas to recover the U.S. minting plates that she stole, but the Nevada penitentiary is a long ride north, giving her plenty of time to charm, seduce, or just plain outsmart the handsome Texas lawman.
Deputy U.S. Marshal Cord Rawlins is sworn to bring renegades to justice—including the brazen lady train robber who turned the tables on him near Carson City.
Tracking Fancy down is Cord's job, but resisting her persistent persuasions is a matter of personal honor. With Fancy's life in his hands, Cord begins to wonder if his clever prisoner is really as shameless as she pretends. Could her wicked smile be hiding a desperate secret—one that can steal his heart? 

Available through Amazon

He avoids her because of the strange physical pain he feels when they touch. She avoids him because the way everyone seems to do what he says scares her. But when Claire needs to escape a bad situation Uriah is the first person she thinks of, and he is eager to rescue her. Faced with each other for the first time, both Uriah and Claire find it impossible to listen to their fears and stay away from one another. They soon find out, though, that there is more than they ever thought possible trying to keep them apart.
Following tradition the pair approaches the Elders of their Tewa tribe to ask permission to marry. Everyone is shocked when the shaman refuses them, claiming they are not Twin Souls. Confused and angry Uriah refuses to listen, and promises them that he will never abandon Claire. When Claire is poisoned by her vindictive father his resolve is tested. Ancient Native American myths and legends spring into reality, doing everything they can to keep Uriah from saving Claire’s life, while beginning to reveal the truth behind the lies he has been told all his life. 

Available through Amazon

After losing Claire to the Twin Soul bond Uriah intends to seek out the Matwau and let the monster have exactly what he wants, Uriah’s death. Only the words of the shaman who has already betrayed him more than once stops him. Her promise that there is still a chance of saving Claire from the bond and keeping her love for Uriah whole sends him on a new hunt to find the splinter group of Tewa Indians and the Shaxoa rumored to have more power and knowledge than anyone has seen in centuries.
No matter the price, Uriah promises to find the Shaxoa and rescue Claire from the fate she does not want, while Claire makes her own promise to hold off the cruel desires of the Twin Soul bond. Keeping their promises won’t be easy. It may require more of them than they ever could have imagined. As Uriah searches for a way to break the bond and Claire becomes desperate for anything that will help her resist it, both learn truths about themselves that will change everything. 

Available through Amazon

Claire never thought she would be the one saving anybody’s life. She never thought she would find out she had a secret destiny, either. Finding Uriah is Claire’s top priority because without her he will never be able to defeat the Matwau, but she needs help from the one person she trusts least. Quaile. The shaman reluctantly hands over the book Claire needs. Claire takes the book desperately hoping it will hold the answers she needs to save Uriah’s life.
The book does hold answers, but not to everything.
The answers Claire and Uriah need most cannot be gained from any book. They must come from lost memories, acceptance of destiny, and looking outside of reality. When the answers are finally found they will threaten to break them both. The prices asked of them may finally be too high. If they are, their deaths will only be the beginning. 

Available through Amazon

"The aim of World Oceans Day is to challenge participants to view ocean protection as a way of life, with a special emphasis around individual potential for wellness. It is such a large ecosystem and the problems seem so over whelming. But it is especially important that we motivate the youth of the world to start a conscious awareness of the value of the oceans. The oceans are a complex ecosystem, they are all connected, connected to the atmosphere and if the ocean dies; so shall we. How can we instill the value of this lifes blood within our children? They should learn how each species has its entitlement for existence and its role in the bigger part."
This book tells in a short story in various languages how the author fall in love with the ocean and why it is important to take action and make a difference.
Susanna Ivy wants to inspire especially the youth to get out there and help protecting the beautiful underwater world.


Elisa spends most of her time taking care of four rambunctious kids who are better than green eggs and ham. They're pretty darn fun, but despite that, after she had kids, her boobs shrunk, she lost hair, but gained a greater sense of humor!
When she's not scavenging through the vents, which her son--the Zombie Elf--thinks are the best place to hide things, she's sewing, playing her violin, or writing.

Available HERE on Amazon for FREE download Sept 2nd - 4th

Until Halloween 2012, 5% profit of physical book sales earned from this book will be donated to the American Diabetes Association






What else are we giving away?

1) Mommy Blog Designs, YES! Many of you know this woman already because she has an AWESOME reputation for her service and blog designs throughout the blogosphere, has also agreed to contribute one of her Premade Designs with full package ($269 Value) for FREE to one lucky winner!

2) We are also offering a CASH POT PRIZE of $200!

How to participate:

Everyone who enters is a winner, but 2 will win a little bit more. 1 person will be awarded a free premade design of their choice from Mommy Blog Designs and 1 will be award a Paypal Cash Prize of $200.

Each person will be given a chance to enter as many points as they wish. But remember, the more entry points you gain, the higher your likelihood is of winning. Only 10 minutes of your time will get you closer to winning a really awesome prize!


a Rafflecopter giveaway

Aug 12, 2012

Rubbing me the right way

Man, I've really got to stop naming my blog posts so that they sound like porno puns.  Gonna wind up getting blocked...or, more likely, beaten by people showing up hoping for some sex talk. Lesson learned: don't mess with people who want to get their freak on.

Anyway, this is kind of an off-the-top-of-my-head post.  It's Sunday afternoon and I'm bored, which is sometimes the perfect mood for blog writing. Yeah, that sounds about right.  So next time you don't see this blog updated for a while, just assume I'm off on an Indiana Jones / James Bond type adventure full of action, intrigue, and (of course) femme fatales.  Even if I'm not, it's the thought that counts.

Anyway, yesterday was a fun day.  A full day or BBQing and swimming.  Well ok, it was a full day of a bunch of other people swimming while I stood over a hot grill, tirelessly churning out burgers, dogs, and other assorted hunks of flesh. (Veggie burgers you ask? Begone from my sight, I reply!). Now hot dogs are easy.  I'm fairly sure even the most inept chefs can grill them up and do no worse than leave their guests with severe intestinal pain.  Burgers are a tad more complicated, but still not exactly rocket science: chop meat, some spices, maybe some chopped onions (for you filthy onion lovers out there), etc. Grill them for a few minutes on each side, add cheese, and you're pretty much home free. 

Steaks and chicken are where things get interesting.  While there's nothing wrong with grilling them up as is, if you're like me...well if you're like me then you have serious issues.  Let's refine that.  If your taste buds are like mine, you like a bit of a adventure to go along with your animal flesh.  What's a person to do when their tongue craves slightly more flavor than that dead carcass can provide?

Rubs (not to be confused with giving someone the Runs) and marinades to the rescue, I say!

I don't claim to be a top chef (although I might be tempted into a chili cook-off with Bobby Flay ;) , so I'll keep this in layman's terms (aka stuff I can understand). 

Marinading is the art (yes I said art!) of drenching your meat in some savory solution for several hours in the hope that said flavor will permeate whatever it is that you're cooking.  Even a complete moron can make a passable marinade.  Don't believe me?  Fine.  Go buy a steak, let's say a London Broil (those are my favorites).  It's ok, I'll wait.  Dum dee, dum dee, dum dum...alright, back yet?  Good.  Now grab a bottle of Italian dressing from the fridge.  You don't have any?  Christ!  Fine, back to the store with you.  Next time learn to read the entire directions before running off half-cocked.

Ok, are you ready now?  Put the steak in a bowl.  Pour the Italian dressing over the steak.  Now take a fork and stab the steak several times.  This will piss off the spirit of the cow in whatever Hell it now resides, thus causing it to rise from the grave for bloody revenge...oh wait, that's the plot of a future book.  Sorry.  No, the forking (back to the porn puns) is to help tenderize the meat as well as let some of that flavor sink in a little deeper.  Do it on both sides (of the steak, not the bowl).  Cover it with some plastic wrap and toss it into your fridge.  After a couple of hours cook it (once again, just the steak).  Voila!  You're marinaded your meat. 

Now as long as you don't burn the ever living shit out of it, when you sit down to eat it you should notice some nice tanginess in each bite.  Pretty awesome eh?  Just think of how that might taste when you get a little more bold with your choices: Spices, BBQ sauces, vinegars, wines, molasses, etc etc.  The sky's the limit...any liquidy goodness will do!*

*Any non-toxic liquid that is.  This blog will not be held responsible for any Drain-o flavored steaks you produce.

Then there are rubs.  There are two kinds of rubs: dry rubs and wet rubs.  I mostly prefer dry rubs, so you can wait for some other blogger to post about the wet ones.  Sorry, I never claimed life was fair.

Dry rubs can be applied either hours before cooking or right before.  They are exactly what they sound like: a mixture of dry spices that you rub all over your meat (steak or chicken...not yourself, pervs) and then cook.  If done well, a rub will seal in moisture resulting in a very juicy meal. It will also impart its flavor both into the meat as well as into the crust it will form when it cooks up.  The end result can be fabulous.

Personally I favor dry rubs because I tend to have a fairly well stocked spice cabinet.  Sometimes I'll just go nuts and throw in a little of everything.  Most often, I'll go for a particular flavor.  An example? Sure! I thought you'd never ask. Try 3 parts Chili powder to 1 part black pepper to one part lemon zest.  It will make an awesome lemon chili rub with a bit of a kick to it.

Pretty easy stuff all in all.  Highly recommended if you're up for some grilling, are at least semi competent at it, and are looking for a little more than a bit of salt and pepper will give you.

Give a try, let me know how it turns out**

**Unless you burn the crap out of it, in which case take a few cooking lessons first...

And if you have any awesome marinades or rubs to share, please do so in the comments.  I for one am always up for a good rubbing (ARGH! There I go again :).

Aug 9, 2012

Melynda's Labor Day Blogfest & Book Fair

An awesome Blogfest has been organized for a good cause, fighting Diabetes. If you have a blog, please sign up. If you're just looking for some awesome books to read, check out the blogfest itself come Labor Day. It's sure to be a blast.

Melynda's Labor Day Blogfest & Book Fair - Come check out the amazing books (some free eBooks included) we're featuring in support of raising awareness for diabetes

Sign up to join a Labor Day Blogfest and Book Fair. Sunday September 2nd -Tuesday the 4th.

In honor of Melynda Fleury--who has bravely been fighting diabetes and almost completely lost her eyesight--Wayman Publishing is offering unlimited free downloads of their top ten bestselling books to all entrants during this event! In addition, we're featuring some phenomenal books you should check out AND giving away X-amount of Cash (announced after Blogger signups completed).

Other bloggers can join in for this great opportunity to gain new traffic. We're excited to spread the word about some fantastic authors and Wayman Publishing; we hope you'll join us for this fun event.

The first links to enter are free with the agreement that you will post the button and information about this giveaway on your site. Any additional links will be $3 for Social Network links and $5 for RSS/Email Subscriptions.

Aug 7, 2012

The Hard Sell

Hmm, that subject line sounds like a great title for an erotica novel. (note to self: remember that if I decide to switch genres :). Anyway, I realize it’s been a while since I posted an actual written-by-me update. Apologies for anyone who might have missed me (don’t all wave your hands now). Between launching The Mourning Woods, and jumping right into my next project, Devil Hunters, my brain has been fizzling a bit.

If it were only that, all might be fine, but my family and I have also been busy trying to pretty up the dingy hovel we live in. Considering my overall handiness, this has obviously proven to be an uphill battle. Thus, we’ve decided to hire out with regards to some of the larger projects. That way we ensure things get done correctly and that any fears I might have about getting myself out of debt are put firmly to rest.

In working through our latest improvement project, new windows and siding, I’m beginning to see parallels with conduct in the writing world. Well OK, that’s a stretch. Truth be told, the same parallels exist in any business, but since I’m not in ANY business, we’ll let that silliness slide for now.

Anyway, projects such as these typically start with checking out a company. There are testimonials to read, BBB ratings to check out, customer reviews (on sites like Service Magic and Angie’s List) to plow through, references to check etc etc. Anyone who can’t pass those basic checks doesn’t make it through my front door. Sure some of that can be faked, but it just means a little more due diligence on my part to try to spot anything dodgy. Looking for a good book is probably not quite as consuming (but then, I haven’t spent $20K+ on a book in quite some time), but similar in concept. One wants to take steps to hopefully ensure they’re not going to regret their decision.

Then there are the products. Windows and siding aren’t all created equally. One doesn’t want to cheap out, but then again one doesn’t want to get taken to the cleaners either. I want to see, to touch, to smack a hammer against the glass and try to shatter it into a million pieces (oddly enough, most companies don’t seem to appreciate this latter method). Similarly, samples and Look Insides are a good tool in the book business to do the same thing...minus maybe the part about smashing it.

Finally, there’s the sale itself. Pop culture has many references to the door-to-door vacuum salesman who’ll do anything to get his foot in the door, often to great comedy relief. They’re those go getters who absolutely will not take no for an answer. Some people respond well to this type of hard sell.

I’m not one of them.

I don’t know about you, but I like a sales pitch that proves to me that I’m speaking to a human. Talk to me like a person, not a wallet. Show me a little honesty in your product (i.e. “Our products are absolutely childproof” vs. “Our child locks are better than most, but let’s face facts...there’s very little a smart kid isn’t going to figure out”). And most of all, when I tell you I need time to think it over - respect that! I understand it if you need to give me your one-time-only price - good if I sign up today - but when I say no to that, do not question my decision by commenting “I guess you don’t want to save the money.” And NEVER ever try to argue me into a sale.

This thinking also reflects on how I buy books and how I want to sell them. While I don’t pretend to make a secret of what I do (you'll notice that link up above :), I prefer to not knock on your door in the middle of dinner either. If you tell me you’re going to buy my Bigfoot book for your ten year old because he loves monsters, I’m going to jump in front of you with my hands up and scream, “Whoa there, Hoss!” Put me on your TBR list and I’ll be grateful, not bugging you for how long it is. Ask me about my kids and I won’t try to steer the conversation toward my books. And finally, if you tell me you absolutely have no interest in my stuff, that’s OK. It doesn’t mean we can’t still be friends.

Perhaps all of that makes me a lousy sales person, but so be it. I just wish more businesses would take that approach. I understand times are tough and the economy (still) stinks, but remember...more flies with honey than vinegar. Give me the facts, let me do my part for as long as I need to, and talk to me like a fellow human being and you’re that much more likely to have me as your customer. Annoy me, and I’ll take my business elsewhere. That’s not a threat, that’s reality.