Highlander vs. Warrior - which hunk is hotter?

Summer’s just around the corner, and what better way to celebrate than a hot one-of hero vs. hero match between two hunky historical heroes!

 In one corner there’s Diana Cosby’s Giric Armstrong, rugged Highlander.

 In the other, his opponent: Valentine Alesander, crusading warrior.

 Who will win? That’s up to you! Read up on these heroes and place your votes now through June 22^nd.

And come back June 23^rd to see who will be victorious!   http://kensingtonheroes.tumblr.com/historicalhero  

Guest Post from Sarah Smith Ducksworth, author of No Crystal Stair

Title: No Crystal Stair
Author: Sarah Smith Ducksworth
Publisher: Trafford
Genre: Poetry
Format: Kindle

 Each poem in this collection is a reflection upon the author’s personal life or is a response to her vicarious interactions in the lives of characters she has met in real life or in books. Through the critical lens of poetry, she has looked for deeper meanings inside those experiences. Though the writer ends with an understanding that her life has not been a “crystal stair,” alluding to the hardships the titular character in Langston Hughes’ Poem--“The Negro Mother”-- faced, the writer feels that these poems, all together, reflect her world view and personal Truth.

To Purchase No Crystal Stair

Guest Post 

When I was in elementary school, my mother, who observed me constantly scribbling on paper, told me I should never write anything down that I would be embarrassed to have the world read. She gave me this warning back in the day when both manual and electric typewriters were primarily considered office equipment and there were no digital devices available for composing and sending messages through space. Moreover, the technology did not exist for desktop and portable computers which could store countless volumes of random thoughts. Back in those olden days, I was what you might call a stream of conscious writer, putting my ideas and fancies into notebooks. And, my mother perceived a danger in this.

As a child I did not realize that such eclectic and responsive writing could be classified as therapy.  All I knew was that writing was for me a necessary extension of myself. I wrote about things I thought about—things that hurt my feelings, desires for revenge, wishes, and whatever else that made me tick. The same is true today. I write about things that trouble me, about fantasies that intrigue me, etc.; and, in the process, I exorcise demons and find ways to improve good and bad situations.

Of course, over the years, there have been times when the wrong people have gotten hold of some rant I’ve written and used it against me. The trouble my mother perceived so long ago has been proven time and time again as prophetic. And so, over time, I have become more careful in protecting my private thoughts. Still, the digital world has caused me a huge setback. The world-wide web, rife with hackers, has become my biggest challenge. Based on recent experience, I know first-hand that the internet is no place to vent.     

Back in 2010, I went online and filled out a form posted by a self-proclaimed “ethics investigator.” I asked this expert about the ethics of a local prosecutor who would not assist me in finding out who was hacking my cell phone. I also invited comments from visitors to this “legal” website. In my post, I explained that there was a person who was remotely using up data on my phone and that this person had caused my cell phone, while it was lying dormant inside my pocketbook, to dial my landline phone. 

Since that ethics question was posted in 2010, it has stayed prominently associated online with my name. Someone must be very interested in this post; yet, there has never been a response to my query, either from the ethics investigator or from one of his visitors. I felt hopeful when I first posted the question, but its staying power as an online item both puzzles and bothers me today.

Do I regret putting a sensitive question into the public sphere, which has the life span of dirt? The answer is yes. But, on the other hand, my life has been greatly enriched by the caveat my action provided. As result of my experience, I will consider the thin line between public and private communications when it comes to social media in the future. 

Now, I face another consideration: Do I have to slash and burn my electronic diaries? After being hacked, I believe I should. Unfortunately, the loss of this private writing could translate into a loss of wisdom and hamper my growth as a writer. The only solution may be returning to pen and pad. But, even that may not work if someone really want to get me and invades my home. Farfetched, you say?  

When confronted with the choice of writing freely for emotional release or not writing things I don’t want to share, I have to choose writing anyway and taking the precaution to keep those ideas off the web. 

Writers from the past and present support me in extolling the therapeutic value of writing to explore one’s own world view. Graham Greene conveyed the benefits of diary writing when he mused: “I wonder how all those who do not compose or paint can manage to escape the madness, melancholia, the panic and fear which is inherent in a human situation.”          

About the Author

For most of her life, Sarah Smith Ducksworth has seen herself as a teacher who writes. She has had a teaching career spanning nearly forty years and has taught language arts in New York and in New Jersey middle schools, high schools and universities. This current book of creative writings represents a reversal in the way she has begun to identify herself and launches her intent to spend the rest of her life pursuing her love of writing.  

Generations of Betrayal by NSLeumas Book Blast - Win a $25 Amazon Gift Card!

Title: Generations of Betrayal
Author: NSLeumas
Publisher: Trafford
Pages: 690
Genre: Political Science
Format: Kindle/Paperback

 . . .more-praises “You need to know everything in GOB if you are to understand the subversive forces which are destroying our nation, & our White-Heritage.” -gp “GOB is the one phenomenal’ ‘underground’ book that -- if read by enough people -- will turn America upside down!” -ss ¼-million words * No greater-action exists that YOU now can do for our-cause than to spread “GOBs” message!! * Hidden-truths revealed. . . .never-before combined in one-book * The most-important book of the 21st-century ! (published at-locations worldwide) NSL chose to be the mouthpiece against the schemers, before his own voice is stilled You’ll be fascinated by my-uncoverings, be satisfied that this is the final-word in exposing the lying-deceivers, & so-give your-commitment to spreading GOBs iconoclastic-&- scholarly research N.S. Leumas: He is multiply-published in all genres. He has voraciously-studied everything-historical since-ancient-times, revealing connected-links of ramifications, up to present times. He excels in history-research. “GOB” took him 25-years to complete.  

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Compiler/Commentator NSL is retired from the professions of music, education, publishing, while continuing his literary/political/social writings, & his mentoring prison-outreach. Besides being focussed on his AA-Teachings, he assists an international-seeking of a “survival-homeland” for kindred-families. Multiply-published in varied-genres (200+ times to-date), including poetics/criticism/editing/ courses/column-syndication, he’s edited/compiled 2 chaps, & is now-processing a book of his-own poetry. He was led into his present-scholarship by the late Jost, of NSK. Recently, he concluded that this, his scholarly-work of 2-decades, has been ‘lost’ (ie, ‘refused’) within the biasing/prejudicing/censoring Anti-Truth Anti-FreeSpeech Jew-Rom publishing monopoly, & so decided to self-publish in typescripted m/s form. He relaxes by singing/piano-styling his-set(“Memories & Remembering”) publicly, after voraciously study-reading everything historical/philosophical/religious/economic since ancient-times, in his isolated hermitage-home in-nature.

NSLeumas is giving away a $25 Gift Card!

 

Terms & Conditions:

• By entering the giveaway, you are confirming you are at least 18 years old.
• One winner will be chosen via Rafflecopter to receive one $25 Gift Certificate to the e-retailer of your choice
• This giveaway begins May 25 and ends on June 5.
• Winners will be contacted via email on June 6.
• Winner has 48 hours to reply.

Good luck everyone!

ENTER TO WIN!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

While Being A Parent by Eddie Marie Durham Book Blast - Win a $25 Amazon Gift Card!

Title: While Being a Parent
Author: Eddie Marie Durham
Publisher: iUniverse
Pages: 216
Genre: Family
Format: Kindle/Paperback/Hardcover

 Being a parent is a lifetime job. No one knows that more than Eddie Marie Durham, mother of three adult sons. In her guidebook filled with practical parenting advice, Durham shares not only her personal experiences but also poetry, scripture, and quotes in order to help parents find their way down what can be a very challenging road while raising children in today’s world. Durham, a retired elementary school teacher, has always relied on God’s guidance and her family values to carry her through difficult times while parenting her children. Guided by these principles, Durham leads others chronologically through her experiences, both good and bad, while offering wisdom and encouragement to other parents that will help them respect one another, talk to children about expectations and consequences, carry out discipline, allow children to grow and mature, be active with children in all facets of life, and lean on their faith for strength. While Being a Parent shares time-tested advice from a blessed mother that will help other parents attain the greatest reward in life: mentoring a child into a productive, loving adult.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Eddie Marie Durham is a retired elementary school teacher and mother of three sons. She is an avid reader, speaker, poet, traveler, and volunteer who is active in her church and community. Eddie resides with her husband, Bobby, in Port Arthur, Texas.

Eddie is giving away a $25 Gift Card!

 

Terms & Conditions:

• By entering the giveaway, you are confirming you are at least 18 years old.
• One winner will be chosen via Rafflecopter to receive one $25 Gift Certificate to the e-retailer of your choice
• This giveaway begins May 25 and ends on June 5.
• Winners will be contacted via email on June 6.
• Winner has 48 hours to reply.

Good luck everyone!

ENTER TO WIN!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The Drive In by Douglas Gardham Book Blast - Win a $25 Amazon Gift Card!

Title: The Drive In
Author: Douglas Gardham
Publisher: iUniverse
Pages: 130
Genre: Short Stories
Format: Kindle/Paperback

 Have you ever been intrigued by what mysteries lie behind the doors and windows of the places you pass by on your drive into work everyday? The Drive In takes you on Tom Johnson‘s commute. Unlike Tom, you’ll get to peek behind some of those closed doors. Remember going to the “Drive-In” theatre? Each story reveals what goes on like watching the “dusk ‘til dawn” features through your car’s windshield. Meet the people at the places Tom only passes by each day. Then discover how his drive in ends like no other.  

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

 Douglas Gardham is the author of the STARbook-awarded novel The Actor. He lives near Toronto, Canada with his wife, dog and cat. He loves books, music and movies. This is his second published novel.

Douglas is giving away a $25 Gift Card!

 

Terms & Conditions:

• By entering the giveaway, you are confirming you are at least 18 years old.
• One winner will be chosen via Rafflecopter to receive one $25 Gift Certificate to the e-retailer of your choice
• This giveaway begins May 25 and ends on June 5.
• Winners will be contacted via email on June 6.
• Winner has 48 hours to reply.

Good luck everyone!

ENTER TO WIN!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Guest Post from H.O. Tanager, author of Autograph Penis

Title: Autograph Penis
Author: H.O. Tanager
Publisher: H.O. Tanager
Pages: 282
Genre: Nonfiction
Format: Paperback/Kindle

 Performance artist H. O. Tanager holds high hopes for her cross-country trip to Boston: to see great art, to eat delicious food... and to incite mayhem. But once the journey actually begins, it’s all she can do to hold on for the ride. Surrounded by brilliant, intimidating, and sometimes delicious-smelling colleagues, Tanager’s precarious hold on her ambition and desire threatens to unravel in the face of laryngitis, an angry God, and the unexpected death of a friend. Will her team’s independent spirit and wit buoy Tanager though the pitfalls, heartache - and yes, mayhem - as hundreds of artists strive to be the best that ever was, the best that’s ever been?

 For More Information:
  Autograph Penis is available at Amazon.
Pick up your copy at Barnes & Noble. 
Discuss this book at PUYB Virtual Book Club at Goodreads.    

Hello dear #readers! The time we have #anticipated for #months is upon @us - it is #BookBlogTour time for Autograph Penis, the #sweetest story ever #told about performance #poetry! For two-plus months #kind #bloggers will be featuring the words of @moi upon their virtual #pages. #soblessed #soreal #pumpupyourbook

Now as you have #intuited by now, those who #know @moi, I participate in performances and #promotions for one reason: to gain #compliments. #vanity #selfesteem #fragile #butwhynot #soblessed I recently checked in on #Goodreads and found some new #reviews, ranging from 1 to 5 stars! #controversy

Now that's #range.
Now that’s #range.
One kind #reviewer of the four-star #variety said quite #lovely things:

How #kind! #soblessed
How #kind! #soblessed
Now, in the #cruel #world of performance poetry, if I got one very high and one very low score as I did #here at @Goodreads, we would #say, “@You must have really #affected people!” And indeed, I must #have! I was curious as to what my one-star reviewer might #enjoy in #books, and it is light #romances about dating one’s best friend’s #brother. So good #luck to @her and may she enjoy her #choices. #notmykindofgirl #soblessed

Meanwhile, completely #different people have #reviewed on @Amazon. It is my #understanding that @Amazon owns @Goodreads, but their reviews do not cross-populate. We can only #speculate that it is to create a #false dichotomy between “real #readers” on @Goodreads and “fake not-#readers who merely #consume books” on @Amazon. Because @Goodreads is a “community” and @Amazon is a “marketplace.” I’ve noticed my #reviews are better on @Amazon…

amazonreviews
…possibly because my @Goodreads reviews are largely from people who got the #book for #free as part of my #giveaway in December, while the @Amazon reviews seem to be from people who heard of the #book through the poetry slam #grapevine. Neither #source seems free of #bias! #confusing #ego #salesmanship #fatigue #mystery But we will #continue to #learn what can #happen when one publishes a #book, like the good #learners we hopefully #are. #realauthor #soblessed

Ah, my #dears, I do wonder why we write #books at all, when there are so very #many of #them! But more now than #ever in the history of #personkind, we #can publish books, and so we #shall publish books, and perhaps the #whys will become obvious in #retrospect. #wisdom #somuchwisdom #soblessed

And for the #wisest and #best gift we’ve received this #week, let us gaze upon @DesireeDallagiacomo! For those of you not #addicted to attending #National-level poetry events, @Desiree can not stay #off Finals stages – why, they #reach out and scoop her #onto them even if she’s not #competing! @Desiree must be on all Finals stages! And instead of #crying about the #kidnapping of her personal #time, she rises to the occasion again and #again, bringing #new #works all the time! She is a @soldier of @poetryGodness! #soblessed

H. O. Tanager is an author, adventurer, and provocateur who divides her time amongst her passions: family, satirical performance pieces, and convincingly wearing slacks. She’s achieved so many things, she finds achievements boring. What she does like is surprise, and people who work hard, juxtaposition, and repurposing forms for her own amusement.

For More Information

Visit H.O.’s website. Connect with H.O. on Facebook and Twitter.

After Ozz by Bart Baker Book Feature!

Title: After Ozz
Author: Bart Baker
Publisher: CreateSpace
Pages: 254
Genre: Young Adult
Format: Kindle/Paperback

 With her uncle, the President of the United States, presumed dead and her beloved younger brother, Ozz, missing, Dot Gale is whisked into an odyssey in a different, very strange dimension. With the aid of three friends she makes on this arduous adventure, Scared Crow, Heartless and half man/half beast, Lars, Dot must battle the diabolically deadly Empress West if she is ever to return home with Ozz. Can Dot survive the evil machinations of the Empress and return home to rescue the United States before her wicked Aunt Emily succeeds with her sinister plan to take over the country?

To Purchase After Ozz

 

Bart and his family, Pastor Joe Elvis and their two sons Isaiah and Emmanuel, moved to St. Louis, Bart’s hometown. For nearly 30 year, Mr. Baker resided in Los Angeles, where he worked as a writer/producer in the entertainment industry.

He has had two feature films produced LIVE WIRE for New Line Pictures, and SUPERCROSS for Fox, as well as eleven films for television, including CHILDREN OF THE BRIDE, which spawned two sequels, BABY OF THE BRIDE and MOTHER OF THE BRIDE on CBS, as well as the Christmas perennial, A DIFFERENT KIND OF CHRISTMAS for Lifetime.

 Mr. Baker has worked on film and TV projects for Warner Brothers, Tristar, New Line, Fox, CBS, NBC, ABC, Lifetime, USA Network, Syfy Network, Fox Television, The Family Channel, as well as working on staff on the FX Network series, DIRT starring Courteney Cox.

 Presently, Mr. Baker has two projects in development, HONEYMOON WITH HARRY a feature film based on Bart’s debut novel of the same name at New Line with Bradley Cooper attached to star. Mr. Baker has also completed his second novel, IMMEDIATE FAMILY.

Mr. Baker also has eight produced theatrical plays under his belt. An avid fitness buff and political junkie, Bart enjoys spending his free time with his family and friends, and enjoys teaching film/television writing classes at Webster University. Writing is his passion and he feels blessed that he’s been able to make a living doing what he loves and for all the interesting people and events that he’s been exposed to through his work.

My IMDB page: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0048245/

For More Information

Visit Bart at his website
Visit him at the following locations: