Monday, November 27, 2017

Tips for Smart Holiday Shopping - An Encore


During the holidays, many of us will be purchasing gifts for our family, friends and business associates and using debit or credit cards to make these purchases. Most of us will be shopping either online or at brick and mortar establishments. However, with debit and credit card use, comes credit card fraud and identity theft? Because consumers are so preoccupied during this time of the year, individuals may tend to let their guard down when it comes to using their credit card or debit card. Following are some simple tips to safeguard you from credit card fraud and identity theft.

Never give your credit card number to anyone who calls you without verifying his or her identity.

Always keep your PIN (Personal Identification Number) private. Never give it out, and never keep it on you.

Some establishments have been caught adding digits to credit card slips after consumers sign them. For example, you think you are paying $25.00 for an item, but when you look at your credit card receipt, you will see $125.00.

After a purchase, make certain the card you get back is yours.

You should report cards, which have been lost or stolen immediately. Credit card companies can freeze your account and issue you a new card without delay.

Review your monthly statements promptly and carefully for unauthorized purchases.

Merchants, who accept payment by credit card, must also disclose any limitations on the use of that card. Disclosure must be conspicuous at the entrance to the store and in any ads, which indicate the credit card acceptance. New York State law prohibits surcharges on credit card purchases.

Retailers who accept payment by credit card cannot set a minimum purchase amount for credit card use.

Merchants are requesting a valid photo ID if you plan to use a credit card.

If you use a debit card to withdraw money from an ATM machine, make certain you take your receipt with you and review it for accuracy. Never leave or discard the receipt in a public receptacle.

Avoid using ATM machines that are located on public streets or in remote areas. Try to use an ATM machine in a bank lobby during banking hours.

If You are Shopping Online


Never purchase items on sites that do not have the secure icon, usually located at the bottom window at the right side or at the top of the domain address, which will say, “Secure.” The address bar that carries the https is securer than the http prefix.

Try to shop at reputable e-commerce sites. A good clue is to look at the copyright year; if it says © 1999 and the current year is 2017, select another site or check out the company with the Butter Business Bureau. You can also send an email question to the company. If they do not respond within 48 hours, select another site.

Never give your social security number to any site.

If you suspect fraud, contact the Federal Trade Commission at ftc.gov/complaint, and order a copy of your credit report from each of the three national credit agencies and once a year from http://www.annualcreditreport.com


Happy smart holiday shopping! 

Monday, November 20, 2017

Books That Make Great Holiday Gifts by Vivienne Diane Neal


Again, the holidays are just around the corner. Whether you celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa or any of the other celebrations, giving books as a gift will keep on giving.

We have listed a range of authors from around the world, and genres, ranging from romance, paranormal, thrillers, mysteries, suspense, to political, espionage, and fictional crime stories.

Just click on the title and be taken to a world of fantasy, wonder, and intrigue.

Enjoy.

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Heads Will Roll by Joanie Chevalier - A terrifying thriller, focusing on people who will stop at nothing to have the ideal body, and the doctor who will cross the line to make their dreams a reality.

Deadly Dating Games by Joanie Chevalier - Single women meet at a book club to review an online dating guide, but what starts out as an enjoyable assignment slowly takes an ominous turn.

Night Runner by PT Reade - A cantankerous ex-cop is stuck in a rut until his ex-wife, who is on the run from some dangerous people, calls to seek his help.

Marked For Death by PT Reade - A shrewd ex-FBI agent turned PI investigates a murder.

Private Lie by PT Reade - A man enjoys masquerading as the characters in the mystery novels he reads but the drive behind his actions is slowly becoming more apparent.

Taken Below by PT Reade - An ex-cop is on the hunt for a man who uses the subway to abduct women.

Death Toll Rising by Terry Keys - A detective and his team are called in to find the person responsible for the assassination of the Prime Minister of Japan.

Maximum Guilt by Terry Keys - A detective’s past catches up with him when he goes after a woman who is out for retribution toward the men who committed a brutal act against her at a bachelor party.

A Daughter’s Rage 2: Faith by Ronald Gordon - The story continues with the return of an evil spirit whose mission on earth is to destroy a retired policeman.

A Trinity of Wicked Tales: Jilted by Kyla Ross - A collection of suspenseful short stories delving into a world of murder, deceit, hate, lust, sex, and revenge.

Outreach by Dariel Raye - A paranormal murder mystery where a doctor and a convict, who is about to be released from prison, unknowingly have so much in common that their paths will eventually interlock.

A Penny for Her Heart by Alretha Thomas - A political thriller where fraud, envy, and scandal lead to a ghastly murder.

Married in The Nick of Nine (Cass & Nick Series, Book 1) by Alretha Thomas - A young woman wants to get married in nine months but keeps meeting total jerks, until she meets a man whom she believes is The One.

The Baby in The Window (Cass & Nick Series, Book 2) by Alretha Thomas - A wife is fixated on having a baby but problems are beginning to emerge, which may put a damper on her quest to get pregnant.

One Harte, Two Loves (Cass & Nick Series, Book 3) by Alretha Thomas - A husband decides to take up acting, while his wife spends more time with their newborn, causing more turmoil in their marriage.

Renee’s Return (Cass & Nicks Series, Book 4) by Alretha Thomas - In this final series, Renee is back  home, but the jury is still out as to whether she has really changed for the better or is planning to destroy Nick and Cass’s marriage.

Abuse of Discretion by Pamela Samuels Young - If you read Anybody’s Daughter, protagonist Dre Thomas, and antagonist Rodney Merriweather are back creating more legal drama, scandal, revenge and murder.

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Monday, November 13, 2017

Virtual Book Tour - Meet Julia A. Royston, Author of Jillian


Hello! This is one of my tour stops during my week book tour for Jillian, by Julia A. Royston. This virtual book tour is organized by Write Now Literary Book Tours. This tour runs November 6-30, 2017.  Follow the tour here.  Book your own tour here WNL

ISBN-10: 0692528067

ISBN-13: 978-0692528068

ASIN: B016C0HJBO

Book Title: Jillian Book 1 of the Women of the Fellowship Series

Genre: Romance Fiction


About The Author

Julia A. Royston, Author
Julia Royston is an author, publisher, speaker and teacher. Julia provides full-service book publishing services, writing and publishing coaching services as well as hosts workshops and conferences to help aspiring writers become best-selling authors and thriving entrepreneurs. By profession, Julia is a 22-year certified, media specialist/technology instructor with the local public school system. For more information about Julia and her companies visit, www.juliaroyston.net


About The Book



Jillian watched so many of her friends date, get engaged and marry before her. She wondered what was taking so long. Jillian had done all of the right things. She had gone to school, built a thriving company, owned a home, drove a luxury car and dedicated years of service to her church and community. But, where was her love? Come experience the lessons, longing and love of Jillian Forrester. Have faith, your love is on the way too.


Connect Socially




Promotion is not one of my favorite things to do after the book is written.  I love the creative process of writing.  Over time, I have realized that if you don’t promote, people don’t know you have it let alone be able to buy it.  Promotion is key but I have found so many things that turn me off from even looking at your book that authors do.  The following is a short list and I am quite sure that I will discover others but avoid these promotional errors. 

  • Promotion without building relationships.  
  • Only post about their book and nothing else. 
  • Never congratulate anyone else on their accomplishments or book publishing.  If you don’t sow support, you don’t reap support.  Use wisdom but support others.  
  • Authors who don’t travel, whether virtually or in-person to new places to meet new people.  
  • A broader audience must be sought after.  They are not just going to knock on your door.  You must meet new people and get out of your comfort zone.  
  • Unwilling to invest in promotional outlets or other advertisement 
  • Instant Messaging or in-boxing someone with a sales offer as soon as someone accepts your friend request.  Get ready to be unfriended and/or blocked quickly.  
  • Their links don’t work or a take action button or the contact information is not included when they do promote and they lose the sale. 
  • Authors who don’t have an email list.
  • Promoting your book on someone else’ page, group or event without their permission.  Don’t build your following or promote to someone else’s tribe WITHOUT permission.  Ask if unsure.  Don’t just post because you see someone else do it, they may have received permission.


Tour hosted by WLN Book Tours

Monday, November 06, 2017

A WRINKLE IN TIME Trailer (2018) Chris Pine, Reese Witherspoon Adventure Movie

After the disappearance of her scientist father, three peculiar beings send Meg, her brother, and her friend to space in order to find him.