Meet Jacob Burrage, Author of Caught Up

If you haven’t heard of Jacob Burrage, it will not be long before this author takes the literary industry by storm if he hasn’t already. Jacob is the Publisher & CEO of J. Burrage Publications, LLC and the author of Caught Up, a contemporary urban literature (fiction). He wrote the book in 2006. Its First Edition was published in November 2007, and the Last Edition in June 2010. The sequel to Caught Up, The Forbidden Lounge, will be released in July 2011.
 

One World Singles Magazine Blog had the opportunity to talk with Jacob. He took time out of his busy schedule to share his reasons for becoming a writer and offers some inspiring advice to would-be authors.

Q. Jacob, Please, tell our readers something about yourself.

A. Well, I am a simple young man. I was born and raised in Mississippi and I left when I was 18 to join the Army. After spending nearly 11 years in the services, I left in March 2010 and went full force with my writing and with the development of J. Burrage Publications, LLC. I started writing at around age 10 and been writing every since. In addition to contemporary fiction, I am also a science fiction writer.

Q. Who or what inspired you to become an author.

A. I can't really tell you what inspired me to write. I was an introvert growing up but my best way of communicating was by writing. I also had a very active imagination so as a child the best way to make that come alive was by writing. Besides, I couldn't draw to save my life so I had to have an artistic skill somewhere...;).

Q. Are your stories taken from current or past events?

A. Depends on the genre. My contemporary fiction takes place in the present day. My sci-fi work normally is set a few hundred years from now.

Q. Have you ever had writer's block, and if so, how did you overcome it.

A. Writer's block...hmm. I'm dealing with that right now in one of my projects I am currently working on. When I get writer's block, usually I just step away and try to refocus. I do that by listening to music and sometimes placing myself in an environment to help stimulate the flow again. But my best cure is just giving myself a break and just letting it flow because you can't force. A little known fact...music is a big influence in some of my non-sci-fi writing.

Q. As a writer, what challenges, if any, have you faced and how did you overcome them?

A. Time. Life has a way with going on its own course and sometimes priority shifts. When I was in the Army, just having the time and the drive to write was the biggest challenge I've had. I have dealt with it by rearranging some of my priorities because writing really does require a lot of time and energy.

Q. You have a company called J. Burrage Publications. How did this company come about and what type of service does your company provide?

A. JBP was formed in March 2007, a few months after I first wrote Caught Up. I started it because I didn't want to turn Caught Up over to another publisher and risk losing the full meaning and power of the story. Also, I wanted my own business and I figured I might as well make a business out of something that I love. Right now, because JBP is still in the early stages I am publishing my own work but I am looking to publish other authors in the near future.

Q. Your book, Caught Up, sounds intriguing. Could you please give our readers a synopsis of and an excerpt from the book?

A. Thank you. Here is the synopsis to Caught Up: Jeremiah Blackwood is a young, dark and very eligible bachelor who is trying to defy the odds of the stereotypical black man in the dirty south and overcome the small-town mentality that constantly threatens his success. Through hard work and determination, he honed his craft as a writer and began making his mark in the community when he met a caramel complexioned girl who could make Buffy the Body look like Miss Celie in The Color Purple.

She seemed so innocent the first time they met. Her beautiful brown eyes beckoned him into her lonely soul. Her smile was enticing, yet friendly. He knew she was the woman of his dreams. Much to his surprise, he found that not only was she far from perfect, but soon realized that she was involved in some things bigger than he could wrap his small mind around.

Find out what happens when a man gets caught up in a tangled web of lust, lies, and unadulterated drama. An excerpt can be found at http://www.jbpublications.com/the_book_store/caught_up

Q. Are you planning to write any more books in the near future?

A. Yes. I am currently writing the sequel to Caught Up. It's called The Forbidden Lounge. It should come out July 2011. I am also working on a collaboration project.

Q. What advice would you give someone who is thinking about writing a book?

A. First, if you think that by writing a book you will automatically become rich and famous...forget it. Writing the book is the easy part. Getting it out there is that hard part. It will take a lot of research and a lot of hard work. But it is a very rewarding feeling. So don't do it for the fame. Do it because it's what you really want to do, whether you want to entertain, inform, or just release. In other words, do it for the right reasons.

Second, don't get discouraged. You got to put your game face on in this world. It's just like the music industry. You might face rejection. You might get people to tell you that it is garbage. But you got to have that passion like this is a Pulitzer's Prize novel and somebody got to read it.

Third, research, research, and research again. There are a lot of agents and publishers who do not have your best interest. The publishing world is a business and what is the main goal of business? Money. If you step out in the publishing world without your game face and your guns, you just might get taken advantage of. Decide what is best for you. If you plan on going for a publisher, hire an agent (but make sure that agent is legitimate). Most of your big publishers won't even look at your work without one. If you choose to self-publish, make sure you know the ins and outs. I do not recommend going to those companies that allow you to self-publish, such as Xlibris. While such companies work for some, they are not true self-publishers. My personal rule of thumb: If they have to slap on their own ISBN then they are the publisher, not you. So all you did was pay a company to publish your book. If you do choose to self-publisher, look for a company that offer services. I personally offer services for self-publishers but that's what it is. There are no offer to publish. JBP will publish with no charge when the time is right.

Q. How can our readers and future authors get in touch with you?

A. I have several. You can email me at jb39301@jbpublications.com. You can look me up on Facebook and Twitter. The username for both is JBBurrage. I'm on MySpace at jb39301. Caught Up has a fan page called Caught Up Fan Page. Also look up my fan page on Facebook at Jacob "JB" Burrage.

Q. Thank you for allowing us to talk with you. Do you have any words of wisdom?

A. You're very welcome. It was a great pleasure. All I can say is check out the book. It's hot! ;).

Contact Information:

Jacob L. Burrage

Publisher & CEO

J. Burrage Publications, LLC

Email: jb39301@jbpublications.com

Telephone: (800) 940-5604

Links:

http://www.jbpublications.com/

Follow Jacob Burrage on:

Facebook
MySpace
Twitter
LinkedIn

10 Great Reasons to Use Dating Websites

http://www.topdatingsites.com/blog/2010/10-great-reasons-to-use-dating-websites/

Enjoy!

Sent to us by Donna Cullen 

How to Maintain a Happy and Healthy Relationship in 2011 and Beyond By Vivienne Diane Neal

Time goes by so quickly, and we are only on this earth for a split-second. So, why not try to make the best of 2011 and beyond by making some important resolutions regarding relationships.

Whether you are in a business, family, casual, or committed relationship, there are certain shared qualities that men and women should strive for in order to maintain a happy, flourishing, and healthy union.

Before establishing any type of rapport with anyone, whether it is in the workplace, a romantic, spiritual, or casual merger, it is vital to know who you are first, because you usually draw people who have similar qualities or as the saying goes, “You attract what you are.” Ask yourself the following questions: What do I stand for or believe in? Am I open-minded and fair? Do I pre-judge others based on their color, features, age, size or gender? Do I possess good moral character? Am I trustworthy? Do I have a good sense of humor?

If you do not feel good about yourself, then you will definitely be a magnet for others who will have a low-opinion of themselves; they will pass on those same attitudes to you, and they will never value you as a human being. The name-calling, the offensive remark or the putting down of an individual will always be his or her main goal in life. These negative mind-sets, which can lead to physical abuse and violence, have no place in any type of relationship. If you are romantically involved with an abusive mate, remember, love is not supposed to hurt. If the office bully is your employer or an employee, morale and production will suffer and affect the company’s bottom line.

When it comes to dating, get to know someone first before getting romantically involved with that individual. The same can be true if you are seeking a friendship or a business partner. This means observing a person’s behavior around others, namely co-workers, associates, friends, family and parents. One should always follow his or her instincts. If something does not look or feel right, do not stick around for the outcome. If a person is abusive to family members, there is no way that individual is going to treat you any better. As the great author, and poet, Maya Angelou once said, “When a person shows you who they really are, believe them.” Do not think for one second that you can change someone’s destructive behavior, because you cannot. That caustic person will have to want to make a positive transformation on his or her own.

Communication is a key component in any relationship. Exchanging ideas involves not only talking but also listening. This does not mean that one has to agree with everything a person says; it just means that each person’s opinion is just as important. You can agree to disagree and still have a great connection.

Respecting one’s cultural, racial, religious, ethnic background, sexual orientation and political beliefs play an important role as to how well we hook up and interact with others. Certain behaviors and remarks may be acceptable by some but may not be sanctioned by others. Always think before you open your mouth, because once you say something, you can never take it back. Your choice of words, and I can attest to this, can sometimes get you in trouble.

Enjoying each other’s company is essential. While life is not always perfect, why continue to work or be with someone who is miserable and ends up making your life unbearable. All the pointless drama that people bring into your life will definitely bring you down. Your friend breaks up with her boyfriend, and you end up losing your significant other. Your lover despises his job, and you no longer love your work. People who are always complaining or finding fault about one thing or another will eventually have you following their footsteps. You can be unhappy or preferably carefree all by yourself.

So, Happy New Year. May 2011 bring you good health, prosperity and great friendships and a lifetime partner.

Valentine’s Day is coming soon, and we do not want you to be alone. Why not hop on over to One World Singles and browse through the thousands of singles who are searching for someone like you.

Thank You For Your Support

2010 is ending, and we would like to take this time to thank you for your continuous support, positive feedback and thoughtful comments. We also want to thank our guest bloggers and writers who have contributed some of the most electrifying articles, which have made this Blog very popular among our followers.

We are taking a well-deserved break and will return on January 3, 2011 with some more fantastic articles, news and interviews along with more fun and entertaining features.

Seasons’s Greetings and have a Safe, Happy, Healthy and Prosperous New Year.

One World Singles Magazine Blog Staff

Top 5 Dating Apps for Women

Getting a date is only the first step. Making sure that it goes well and is another hurdle in itself. To make sure that the whole process goes smoothly, check out these great apps that can help you from excusing yourself from a date gone wrong to learning how to charm his socks off.

Charm Him. Even if you're certain you've found the man of your dreams, the trick is to not only to get him to notice you, but to keep him interested. This neat app promises to help women learn how to woo your date from beginning to end by teaching the tricks and the trade of attraction and romance. The app separates advice into several categories, including conversation, fashion and grooming, body language, storytelling and theory and mindset. It also tells you what not to do. Cost: 99 cents

Excuse me. For those times when you could really need an escape from your disaster date, download this app that places fake calls and texts to your phone. But unlike its competitors, this app not only lets you set a timer and shows a "slide to answer" screen, but is also offers an indistinguishable voice on the other end (so it seems like a real phone call). So if the date is going all wrong, get out when you can. And if it's going perfectly, then just ignore the call and score some brownie points for being a very attentive date. Cost: $1.99 

Coverup. In the beginning, both parties try to pretend that neither of them releases any kind of gaseous bodily odors or emissions. While we are all human and know what generally happens behind a closed bathroom door, this clever apps let's you keep up the charade for extended period of time by generating "appropriate" bathroom noises such as flushing, running water and the soft buzz of a hand dryer to disguise another kind of err, "un lady" like sounds. Cost: $0.99

Date Check. Afraid you'll end up with a total creeper? Download this free app to do a free background check on your date, including criminal records, details about home ownership and property, and other important information. Cost: Free

Little Black Book. For those of you who like to juggle dates, keep names and faces organized with this handy app. It not only lets you store a list of everyone you've ever dated, but it also lets you attach ratings, pictures, and "information" section where you can put enter your dates' favorite foods and size. What makes this app so special is that it even includes a locking system in case there is a particular person you don't want to end yup drunk dialing. Cost: $4.99

This guest post is contributed by Vanessa Jones, who writes on the topics of dating sites. She welcomes your comments at her email address: vanessa.jones42@gmail.com

Meet Stephanie Casher, Author of When Love Isn't Enough

Stephanie Casher, Author

In December 2009, three authors joined forces to form The Pantheon Collective (TPC), an independent publishing and author services company. In their first year of operation, the trio successfully published SELLOUT by James W. Lewis, which is getting rave reviews at http://www.amazon.com/dp/0982719302 and is happy to announce the release of its second novel, When Love Isn’t Enough, by Stephanie Casher.

When Love Isn’t Enough, a love story at its core, explores what happens when life and circumstances conspire to interrupt the path of true love. Set in Santa Cruz, CA, with a multicultural cast of characters, this novel tackles the themes of love, friendship, and relating in general. It is a heartbreaking tale of true love, terrible timing, impossible choices, and how you find the strength to go on when you discover that, sometimes, love isn’t enough. You can read the first three chapters at http://issuu.com/biglew1971/docs/wl1st3chaps


Stephanie Casher is a freelance editor and author of multicultural women’s fiction. She has a BA in Sociology with a Minor in Education from UC Santa Cruz, and won the Dean’s Undergraduate Award for her Senior Honors Thesis “Negotiating Identity and Cultural Capital: The Social and Structural Factors


Affecting the Educational Attainment of Bi-Racial Men of African-American Descent.” She is in the process of completing the Professional Sequence in Editing through UC Berkeley Extension. Currently living in Santa Cruz, California with her partner and two cats, Stephanie tries to spend as much time as possible in nature. When she’s not climbing mountains, swimming in the ocean, or wandering through the forest, she spends her free time dabbling in Astrology, hanging with her amazing nephews, and meditating on how to make the world a better place. To placate her inner gypsy, Stephanie travels extensively in search of inspiration. When Love Isn’t Enough is her debut novel.


One World Singles Magazine Blog had the opportunity to meet up with Stephanie to talk more about her book:


Q. What inspired you to write WHEN LOVE ISN’T ENOUGH?


A. Honestly, I started writing this book as therapy. My first experience with true love and finding my soul mate was somewhat traumatic, and I’ve always been someone who turned to writing for catharsis and healing. This novel started out as an extended journaling exercise, which ended up taking on a life of its own.


Q. So WHEN LOVE ISN’T ENOUGH is a true story?


A. Yes and No. For this novel, I definitely drew heavily from my life and experiences when crafting the storyline and the characters, but the story is not autobiographical. I changed and embellished enough of the plot to ensure plausible deniability and protect the innocent. ;)


Q. WHEN LOVE ISN’T ENOUGH is not the typical romance…what makes this book unique?


A. WHEN LOVE ISN’T ENOUGH is not a romance at all, technically. The primary rule in the romance genre is that the story "must have a happy ending." So by that definition, I cannot call this a traditional romance novel. But it is a love story, and a coming-of-age story, and there is a lot of romance in it. I felt it was important to tell a "realistic" love story, because in reality, happily ever after is much harder to come by. So what then? When do you decide its time to walk away from love, and how do you move on from a broken heart? I think these issues are very relevant, because that is what most of us experience in real life.


Q. Why should romance lovers pick up this book?


A. Because at the end of the day, WHEN LOVE ISN’T ENOUGH is a love story. The characters believe in true love, and yearn for true love, and pursue it with every breath they take. While people usually pick up a romance novel as some form of escapism, WHEN LOVE ISN’T ENOUGH provides a similar form of escape into someone else’s trials and tribulations, but with the added benefit of being able to learn from the characters’ mistakes, to possibly avoid some of those mistakes in their own life. It's about growth, triumph, and female empowerment as much as it is about finding/keeping the guy, and I think that is a message that MORE women need to be exposed to, that love should never be at the expense of your own sense of self or self-worth. So while it's not a fairytale, I believe the message is timely and has value, especially for young girls. I'm confident that everyone who reads it will find something in the story they can relate to.


Thank you for taking the time out of your busy schedule and sharing your journey in writing with our readers. Best wishes to you and The Pantheon Collective.


From the Back Cover - When Love Isn’t Enough:


Samantha’s second year of college started with heartbreak and betrayal. Lost, lonely, and robbed of all joy, she’d completely given up on ever finding love again when a chance encounter put her in contact with the man who would change her life.

Tony never believed in love at first sight – until he laid eyes on Samantha. But within moments of meeting her, he knew without a doubt that she was the woman he was put on this earth to love. There was only one problem – Angela, his girlfriend of five years.

Tony doesn’t want to hurt Angela, with whom he shares a rich history, but his connection to Samantha is undeniable. Angela, however, is not about to let the love of her life go without a fight.

When desperation takes a tragic turn, a chain of events unfolds that changes the course of all three of their lives forever. It is a heartbreaking tale of true love, terrible timing, impossible choices, and how you find the strength to go on when you discover that, sometimes, love just isn’t enough…


If you enjoy the work of Trisha Thomas, Mary B. Morrison, and Donna Hill, you should definitely check out the exciting debut novel from Stephanie Casher. And stay tuned for the sequel, SOUL MATES, coming from TPC Books in Summer 2011.


For an autographed copy of When Love Isn’t Enough go to TPC Website. You can also special order the book from any bookstore. Just go to the information desk, give them the name and title, and they can order it for you to pick up later. :)


Now, through the end of the year, when you purchase an autographed copy of When Love Isn’t Enough ($11 plus shipping), you can get a copy of SELLOUT by James W. Lewis for only $10! A set of books would make great gifts for the book lovers in your life, don’t you think?


Links:

www.pantheoncollective.com
http://www.stephaniecasher.com/
www.facebook.com/whenloveisntenough
www.facebook.com/stephaniecasher
www.twitter.com/stephcasher
www.shewrites.com/profile/StephanieCasher
www.youtube.com/scasher
http://www.amazon.com/
http://www.bn.com/
http://www.goodreads.com/


For more information or to schedule an interview, please contact


pantheoncollective@gmail.com
mailto:author@stephaniecasher.com
stephcasher@gmail.com

Phaze Books Accepting Interracial Erotic Romance for Mid-Late 2011 Release

Now in their sixth year of providing quality erotic romance and women's erotica to discerning readers, Phaze Books looks forward to the future.

Especially known for their best-selling interracial romance titles by favorite authors like Bridget Midway, Marie Rochelle, and Zena Wynn, it is their hope to continue offering the smartest, sexiest I/R novels and stories for e-Book lovers.

Authors are invited to submit works of 15K words and higher for inclusion in their growing catalog of I/R titles. They want characters that provoke the reader and each other, romance and conflict that turns pages, and explicit sex that forces readers to wear oven mitts while holding their e-readers!

Sub-genres are definitely welcome within I/R, too! They would love to see historical, BDSM, ménage á trois, futuristic and shape-shifters and even steam punk! Take your HEA couple on a wild ride and show them your best work.

Though their most popular titles feature the BW/WM pairing, Phaze Books also welcomes books featuring other multicultural combinations: Asian, Hispanic, Native American, etc. The standard no-nos apply (no incest, pedophilia, positive rape, bodily waste fetishes). Interested authors are invited to visit their guidelines at http://www.phaze.com/ for formatting details.

When you're ready, submit your cover letter, completed novel, and synopsis/marketing history to submission@phaze.com. Thank you!

Phaze Books
http://www.phaze.com/
Exceptional Erotic Fiction

Today is Blog Jog Day - November 21, 2010

Thank you for stopping by! Please explore everything this Blog has to offer, then jog on over to Author’s Box created by Carol Denbow who is the author of six books, most on book writing, publishing and marketing. On this day only, she will be offering a 50% discount on ALL of her books. If you would like to visit a different Blog in the jog, go to http://blogjogday.blogspot.com/



A Holiday Special

Get a 20% discount off 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. 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. Offer will expire on December 31, 2010.

Read what one person had to say about Shades of Deception: "Really a fantastic novel. A mirror to the real world. I hope it can be translated into Chinese."

By Achates on 12/13/09

Excerpt from The Woman Behind the Red Curtains, one of ten short stories from Shades of Deception:

People in the neighborhood were fascinated with the house on the corner, which had been unoccupied for three years. The property, with its strange past and lingering questions, had neighbors speculating as to what really happened to the couple who once lived there. Rumor had it that Mr. and Mrs. Awa were celebrating their twenty-fifth wedding anniversary on a hot summer night. One hundred guests attended the gala, and one of the invitees was an alluring young woman. Her stunning features captivated most of the men at the party, and Mr. Awa had fallen for the enticement. She was twenty-three; he was fifty. They started to talk, and before anyone knew it, the two snuck off to the basement and went at it like a heifer and a bull in heated passion. She had such a grip on him that the lovemaking lasted for almost two hours. He never experienced this type of fulfillment, not even with his wife, who never missed him because she was busy attending to their guests. Being in a state of erotic bliss, he was ready to leave his spouse and live merrily ever after with the young female. Almost losing track of time, the husband rushed back to his wife and company. Ten minutes later, the young woman followed like a silkworm coming out of her cocoon. When the party was over, the husband announced to his wife that he no longer loved her, wanted a divorce and was gone the next day. One week later, his wife vanished. It was a mystery as to where the couple went. Many surmised that the wife might have done away with her husband, or he might have run off with his young lover. Since the couple only lived in the house for five years and kept to themselves, neighbors never got to know them. The duo would never speak to anyone and would spend weekends at Martha’s Vineyard, where most of their friends lived. The Awas were a strange match in heaven, to say the least. People would refer to them as the creepy crawler twosome, because they would sneak out of their house to avoid running into the neighbors.


The one hundred year old Victorian style single-family house was located in Central Brooklyn, New York, a thriving village made up of professionals, artists, retirees and business owners. Built in 1901, the 4,090 square feet three-story property had 9 furnished bedrooms, 2.5 baths, 2 total full baths, 1 total half bath, and a finished basement. There were carpet, marble, and linoleum floors, a spacious kitchen with a refrigerator and stove, an open dining area, and an airy living room where an imported crystal chandelier hanged. What made the home even more distinctive were its hardwood floors, decorative stairs, multi-colored walls, patterned ceilings and its steep roofing. Throughout the house were Victorian and modern furnishings, African and Native-American paintings, and exquisitely handcrafted treasures from every corner of the world. It was never quite clear who owned the house. The neighbors assumed the couple was the rightful title-holders, but when they disappeared, several people showed an interest in buying the property, but when individuals did a title search, there were too many roadblocks. Therefore, interested parties never proceeded with the purchase. In 2003, the house was valued at $500K. Three years later, the asking price would probably be close to $700K. Nevertheless, as time went by, folks lost interest in the house and the odd couple, but soon that would all change. A storm was about to pass through, and if the community was lacking in new chitchat, they were about to be hit with the biggest scandal that would make a soap opera look like child’s play.

Links to Purchase Shades of Deception

Printed Version or PDF: http://www.lulu.com/commerce/index.php?fBuyContent=660882 

E-book - http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/24236

Vivienne Diane Neal

About The Author

Vivienne Diane Neal gets her story ideas from observing people, places and things and watching true TV court cases. 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 and deceit as preludes to suck unsuspecting men and women out of their life’s savings. The release date for Malicious Acts is the winter of 2010.

Her fourth book, Wicked Intent, is a fictional short story about a successful businessman who is set to marry his fiancée of three years, but is sidetracked by a beautiful new arrival, who will brings lust, desire and eroticism into his life but will ultimately destroy his relationship with the one person who has always stood by him. The book is set to be released in the summer of 2011.

Reinvention Summit: 2-Week Virtual Summit on The Future of Storytelling, Nov 11-22, 2010

November 11-22, 2010

The Reinvention Summit is gathering a new tribe of storytellers: change-makers, marketers, entrepreneurs, and creatives who see storytelling as critical to their work and mission. There’s a star-studded line-up of 25+ speakers with diverse backgrounds to lead teleseminars, interviews, and panel discussions that relate to the future of storytelling as our world goes through reinvention. All sessions are recorded for playback. The online summit includes lots of social networking, collaboration, and crowd-sourcing for those who feel inspired to play. Entry-level pricing starts at just $11.11.

To learn more: visit http://www.reinventionsummit.com/

Telltale Signs of a Cheating Spouse by Miss Know It All

Whenever a spouse is cheating, that individual will always send out signals or may say something that might not mean very much at the time, especially if he or she is caught in a compromising situation. Because you believe your relationship is built on trust, you will give your mate the benefit of the doubt. Too often, the signs of cheating are so obvious that a bat could read between the lines, and the explanations given are so ludicrous that they defy logic. One would have to ask, “Does this person really think that I am stuck on stupid?” Yet, many will continue to ignore the ‘in your face’ warnings. Eventually, a spouse will have to face reality and ask, “Is there infidelity going on in our marriage?” Although unfaithfulness occurs on both sides, we are focusing mainly on cheating husbands who have used some of the most dumbfounded excuses to mask their betrayal:

“Honey, I am going fishing with my buddies this weekend.” Ordinarily that might not be a problem, but why would he choose to go fishing on the day of your birthday or worse on your wedding anniversary. Some individuals might say, “Give the guy a break; most men have a temporary lapse of memory when it comes to important dates.” However, if a woman never forgets, why would a man fail to remember such an important day?

You find condoms in the glove compartment of your husband’s car. You and your mate never use condoms. His explanation is that the condoms belong to his male friend, and he is just holding them as a favor. The question to ask, “Would a woman carry her friend’s diaphragm or cervical cap as an act of kindness.”

You find a pair of panties in the back seat of your husband’s car; he tells you they are your gift for Valentine’s Day. The problem is, the panties are a size 5, but you wear a size 16. In addition, nowhere on the label does it indicate that one size five fits all.

Your husband is served with child support papers and you never knew he had an offspring. His response is, “We were separated during that period, but you were still legally married.

You find a shoebox hidden in the basement. In that box are risqué photos of him posing nude with another woman. You confront him, and his response is, “That is not me baby.” You say, “It is you.” He says, “Who are you going to believe, me or your lying eyes?” When he makes that remark, he has a great big grin on his face.

It is late at night, and you wake up to noises coming from the living room. You go down stairs to check and catch your husband doing a horizontal dance with a strange woman. He looks up and says, “Honey, it is just a dream. Go back to sleep.”

* * * * * *

Have you heard of an unbelievable explanation given by a cheating spouse, when caught in a compromising position? If so, we would like to hear from you. Your name or email will never be published. Only your initials, city or country where you reside will be posted. Send details to hmcsromanceinternational@juno.com Sometime in the in the near future, we will post the results. All information submitted will become the exclusive property of HMCS and may be published in any media without any compensation to the person sharing the details.

An Interview With Clare Dargin, Author of Speculative Sky

We are please to introduce you to Clare Dargin, who is an author of science fiction and science fiction romance books. She was gracious enough to take time out of her busy schedule to allow One World Singles Magazine Blog to talk about her newest work “Speculative Sky” and how she got into writing.

What inspired you to write this book?

Well, ever since I was a child I always wanted to be a writer. It was a dream of mine to be published and to write stories that everyone could enjoy. Speculative Sky was created because I’ve always had a fascination with stories about Extra-Terrestrial Life and S.E.T.I. and I wanted to integrate such a story with a female character as a strong and intelligent lead.


Do you have a specific writing style?


Yes I do but I am not sure what to call it. When people read my work I want them to feel as if they are right there in the midst of it all. I want them to be able to hear, taste, smell and see the action as if it is happening all around them. I also tend to write tight stories with quick pacing. It's what I like to read and consequently how I write.


What is the name of your latest book? And how did you come up with the title?


To be honest I’ve always been attracted and fascinated by the abstract and the symbolic. I wanted the title to be symbolic of what April Mullen, the main character, has to deal with as an Astronomer and all that came with her assignment.


What is Speculative Sky about?


It is about a woman who takes a chance and leaves for an assignment on a science colony far away from Earth. As an astronomer it is her job to monitor the stars at night and to record her findings. Nothing more than that. But when she arrives, she notices that her new home is a bit odd, and that though there is evidence of life out there… they don’t want her to either acknowledge it or do anything about it. She of course finds this troubling.


What books have most influenced your life most?


To be honest, in fiction category, it would have to be the old star wars books that came out in the eighties after Return of the Jedi. The expanded universe books taught me more about atmospheric and expanded universe development then any book I know! I read them over and over again and learned about non-human creature development, planetary science fiction and description of space travel and not to mention how to write a cool leading man. I still read them!

If you had to choose, which writer would you consider a mentor?


Douglas Preston and/or Lincoln Child. They write incredibly compelling books of which I generally can't put down.


What book are you reading now?


To be honest and I am almost finished with “Book of the Dead” with Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child. I'll be going through their back list very soon in order to get caught up.


What are your current projects?


Presently I am finishing up the final editing for “Ice and Peace” the sequel to Cold Warriors. As well as having another expanded universe book in the works. Not to mention, two futuristic romances that are completely different from my military fiction.


Do you see writing as a career?


Yes! One day I hope to do it full time.


If you had to do it all over again, would you change anything in your latest book?


Yeah that's why I have to hurry up and get it out of my hands cause I keep changing it!


Do you recall how your interest in writing originated?


As a child my father use to encourage it. I use to write stories for my family and give it to them and they would say “Maybe one day you could get this published!” I was like five.... and then when I was in middle school I found out that S. E. Hinton had been published at sixteen-- I became truly determined then.


Did you learn anything from writing your book and what was it?


Just get the first draft down on paper and don't be afraid to make stupid mistakes and have dumb lines on paper cause it's the first draft and you are allowing the characters to come alive. Later on you can fix and micro manage but don't try to do it the first time through cause it will stifle your creativity.


Do you have any advice for other writers?

Don't give up on being published! Try every avenue! There is away for you!

Thank you Clare for talking to us and much success to you and your book.



Excerpt from Speculative Sky:



“It’s amazing. You say this happens every day?”


“Night, mostly, but you get the idea,” Bart said, pouring more of the sweet concoction into her glass.


“Do they know about this back home?”


“Sure they do. We send them the data all the time. And they tell us to keep tracking.”

“Why didn’t anyone say anything?”


“About what? A few blips on a screen?” Bart scowled, pouring more into his glass. “How’s that interesting?”


“It’s more than we ever had at home.”


“Trust me, April, it’s nothing.”


“Bart, this is... Has anyone made contact?”


“Don’t talk like that around here. Just leave it alone,” he said, shaking his head. “Calm down, get to know the place. You’ll really like it here. Most people don’t want to go home after being here.”


“I‟m sure that’s the case, but how can I not be excited over this? It’s the find of a lifetime,” April said, reveling in the thought of making contact with extra-terrestrial life.


“You don’t have to try to impress us. Just do your work and you’ll be fine.”


“What does that mean?”


“It means you don’t worry about it. There is plenty of research to be done. You could spend your entire lifetime studying the Jugis Star Cluster alone.”


“Haven’t you ever looked up in the sky and wondered if there was anyone else out there?”


“Of course I have. And if anyone back home asks, tell them it’s just us,” he said, finishing off his drink.


“That’s not what I‟m talking about.”


“I know what you’re talking about and don’t worry about it.”

“What?”

“What you’re thinking. Just don’t do it. I’m telling you, don’t do it.”


Speculative Sky, is now available from Red Rose Publishing


Author’s Links:

The Haven
Clare’s Blog
The Embraced: Scribal Love

How to Deal with Pesty Neighbors

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/5851424/how_to_deal_with_pesty_neighbors.html

Meet Suzy Colella, Author of Sweet Escapes



About the Book

 

Ty Jensen is a career driven, ‘play it safe’ gentleman, who wants nothing more than to protect the lives and properties of the citizens who live there. Gabby Roman is a bride on the run, who can organize anything but her love life. Turning away from one man and falling in love with another, was never Gabby’s intention. However, Gabby Roman just can’t seem to resist, sexy sheriff wannabe, Ty Jensen.

Fleeing from a failed engagement to dazzling artist, Phinn Cartier, who lives fast and loves fast, the professional organizer seeks accidental refuge in Ty Jensen’s small town and to Ty’s surprise…his home. As Ty assists Gabby in mending her broken heart, she inadvertently falls in love with him.

Inexplicably drawn to Gabby, Ty finds himself unraveling the strings, he so carefully has woven and has worked so hard for in his career. Torn between the town he wants to serve and the woman he has fallen for, Ty must choose one or the other.

Sweet Escapes gives the reader a few twists and turns with plenty of sizzle! They will find themselves cheering for one man in one chapter and then changing their team shirts in the next chapter.

About The Author



Suzy Colella, Author

Suzy Colella was born in Northeast Philadelphia and currently lives in Medford, NJ. She graduated cum laude from Holy Family University. She married in 2002 and shortly had her first son, Ryan in 2003. Her second son, Chase was born in 2008.

Suzy taught for 5 years in a Catholic school then decided to take her career in education a bit further by becoming a supervisor in Willingboro Public School. Her time there was brief but she learned a lot about the public school system and her own goals for herself and her children. She now serves as a Supervisor of Community Education and Extended Day Care for Mount Laurel School District. In her spare time…which there is not much (lol)…she enjoys writing contemporary, romance novels.

Where to purchase the book

http://www.lulu.com/product/ebook/sweet-escapes/12290036

New Law Requires Safety Tips for Online Dating In New York

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/5758492/new_law_requires_safety_tips_for_online.html



This Author Loves to Create Her Own Fictional Characters

Meet Nana Malone, Author of Game, Set, Match

About The Book

Off the court, tennis star Jason Cartwright’s playboy image is taking a public beating. On the court, he’s down forty-love. A knee injury is shutting down his game, and the paparazzi are splashing his love life on every magazine. A comeback is in order, but the makeover he needs to save his faltering career is in the hands of the woman he loved and left fifteen years ago.

While single-mom, Izzy Connors, sees people for who they really are through the lens of her camera, even without it, she knows Jason isn’t the star he appears to be. Although his charm and good looks haven’t dimmed since he broke her heart, all she sees is his wasted talent and playboy lifestyle.

Can Izzy put the past behind her and help Jason get his game, and his image, back on track? Or will the click of her camera shatter his world as well as his heart?

About the Author

 

Nana’s love of all things romance and adventure started with a tattered romantic suspense she borrowed from her cousin on a sultry summer afternoon in Ghana at a precocious thirteen. She’s been in love with kick butt heroines ever since. With her overactive imagination, and channeling her inner Buffy, it was only a matter a time before she started creating her own characters. Waiting for her chance at a job as a ninja assassin, Nana, meantime works out her drama, passion and sass with fictional characters every bit as sassy and kick butt as she thinks she is. Though, until that ninja job comes through, you’ll find her acting out scenes for hubby and puppy while catching up on her favorite reality television shows in sunny San Diego.

Purchase links:

The Wild Rose Press  

Amazon.com

Contact links:

www.nanamalone.com

www.nanamalone.com/blurb

Twitter

Facebook

 

ABC's of College Dating By Carol Vertz

Read this fascinating article. Whether you are a college student or not, you will find this post very valuable. Enjoy. http://www.liberalartscolleges.org/blog/2010/abcs-of-college-dating

Meet Stacy-Deanne, an Award-winning Mystery & Suspense Novelist

Stacy-Deanne (Dee-Anne) is an award-winning crime/mystery and interracial romance novelist. Her work has appeared in magazines such as Billboard Magazine, Blackbeat Magazine and Disilgold Soul Magazine. In 2006, she was profiled in Heather Covington's "Literary Divas: The Top 100+ African-American Women in Writing". The book was nominated for an NAACP award.

Check out her other two page-turning novels:

Everlasting (Simon and Schuster 2007) centers on two intelligent and worldly Latino teens who fight to be together despite the fact that there families are connected to rival street gangs.

Melody (Simon and Schuster 2008) is a crime/mystery & interracial romance story about a young woman who fights to prove that her sister's new boyfriend is not who he seems to be while protecting her best friend from becoming the latest victim of a serial rapist. Melody was voted one of MyShelf.com's Top Ten Reads of 2008.

Stacy will release her fourth book, "Giving Up the Ghost", the first installment of her crime/mystery and interracial romance series in 2011 with Peace in the Storm Publishing.

Sites to Visit:

Everlasting 

Popular Stacy-Deanne Articles

 

The Advantages of Comparison Engine Websites By Lior Coolman

Online dating websites offer singles a whole new world of flirting fun and dating delights, where the name of the game is choice. Yes, more than anything else, online dating offers choice. And not just access to a huge choice of singles, but also a wide range of online dating sites. There is nothing stopping you from signing up to more than one site. There’s so many sites out there, offering so much, why restrict yourself to just one.

However, because there are so many sites out there, it’s not always easy to figure out the advantage of one over another. Also, if you are not familiar with online dating sites, you might not be aware of all of the features that are on offer and may not have the time to figure it all out.

Well, with comparison engine sites, you don’t have to worry about figuring out all those things because they do the work for you. Comparison engine websites are researched and designed by online dating experts. Their aim is to make it easy for you to see in a flash the features and advantages of various online dating websites.

Take the comparison engine site, The 10 Best Dating Sites (http://www.top10bestdatingsites.com/) as an example. This site focuses on 10 online dating sites: Match.com (http://www.match.com/), Chemistry, eHarmony, Perfect Match, Love and Seek, Zoosk, Spark, Senior People Meet, Friend Finder and Single Parent Meet. An easy to read chart gives key information such as the type of user base, the search criteria, the key audience and the number of users.

By viewing this chart, you can see in an instant that Match.com is the biggest site and has the most diverse user base with more than 25 million members. You can also see that if you are looking for a committed relationship, then Chemistry is possibly the best site for you or if you are Christian, then Love and Seek would probably work better for you. The site also comes with a selection of articles on online dating that will most certainly answer all your online dating questions.

Another comparison engine site is Dateseeker (www.dateseeker.net/dating-sites.html). This site also uses a detailed chart to help you see in a glance all the features of various sites. This site focuses on Match.com, eHarmony, Perfect Match and Lava Life.

Firstly the sites rates (out of 5) the ease of use, popularity, profiles, features and date probability of each site. It also tells you which kind of relationship they site caters for, be it heterosexual, gay or lesbian, a long-term committed relationship or a fleeting affair. It tells you what part of the world the site serves, be it local or international. Finally, it gives you the gender, age, ethnic and income profile that the site targets. Easy viewing in a flash that helps you make that all important choice.