Judith Barrow with a superb article about Pat Cody, founder of DES Action. DES (diethylstilboestrol), the synthetic estrogen given to women for 30 years until 1973, was expected to prevent miscarriages. Instead, it caused cancer and fertility problems in some daughters and granddaughters of the women who had taken the drug. I first learned about DES, as well as thalidomide — which caused multiple fetal deformities — in nursing school. Pharmaceuticals are prescribed too loosely and taken too readily by too many. Given that Big Pharma is a multi-billion-dollar-a-year industry that cares little about the devastating effects of its products, it’s a wonder so many of us are still alive …
239 DOGS SAVED FROM KILL SHELTERS WITH THE HELP OF THE PROFITS FROM ALL MY BOOK and PRESTIGIOUS AWARD FOR THE SEVEN YEAR DRESS
Those of you who know me are aware of my advocacy for animals and my intolerance of neglect, cruelty, abandonment. Paulette Mahurin has helped save 239 dogs from kill shelters with the profits from her books. This is commendable. I cannot abide abuse and wish to thank Paulette for her generosity and compassion ♥
The Seven Year Dress awarded BEST BOOK 2016 by the very talented author and blogger Grant Leishman.
“Every one of these books I’ve mentioned this year was superb and as a reader, I have been truly blessed by the quality and depth of talent I have been exposed to this past year. I am sure that will continue into 2017.”
The Supreme Grunter Award for Indie Authors of Excellence for 2016 goes to:
THE SEVEN YEAR DRESS
BY PAULETTE MAHURIN
Congratulations Paulette
BY PAULETTE MAHURIN
Congratulations Paulette
(For full post click on link below)
http://www.grantleishman.com/my-blog/its-time-its-time-for-the-supreme-grunter-awards-for-2016
I’m deeply grateful for everyone who has purchased, read, and taken the time to review my book. In the name of tolerance, a special thank you also to everyone who has spread the word to help promote this book. All profits from my books go to help get dogs like Harvey, Barkley, Chello, Paxton and Blinky (see photos below) out…
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Smorgasbord Christmas Party -Food and Drink – Dinner for the fur family.
Oh, the goosebumps … and the tears ~ of joy. Sally Cronin‘s post on feeding our fur families is exquisite. She includes multiple tips and links, as well as some delicious-sounding homemade recipes. The clincher, however, is the video. Thirty homeless fur balls are given a holiday feast, and several are adopted; the perfect critter holiday video 
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Danny’s Annual Christmas Message
Cripes! How many rotten things can one good dog tolerate? Danny the Dog is over at Chris’ place on The Story Reading Ape filling us in on Andrew’s supercilious shenanigans. Oh, and the telling is so comprehensive that his Christmas message has to be insinuated. But hey, when your dander is up and you’re given a platform to vent . . . 🙂
Danny’s Annual Christmas Message
Well, it’s that time of year where I have to set the world right with my message of peace and love. It’s a big responsibility, but it’s the least that I can do for my fellow canines and their humans.
I reckon I should first introduce myself to those of you who have been off planet for the last few years. I am Danny the Dog, dog extraordinaire. Humans wait with bated breath for my monthly epistles to appear in print. Scientists consult me for the cure of various diseases. And Andrew, my human, needs me to turn on his computer every morning. You would think by now he would have mastered the complicated process of pressing a particular button, but you’d be wrong.
Before I get to my message of peace and love, I’d like to tell you a little about my trials and tribulations…
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Sally’s Cafe and Bookstore Christmas Update – Tina Frisco, Charles Yallowitz and D.G. Kaye
I’m thrilled to be included in Sally Cronin‘s Cafe and Bookstore Christmas Update, side-by-side with the fabulous D.G. Kaye and prolific Charles Yallowitz. For those of you who don’t know, Sally has been featuring a host of holiday festivities for several weeks, promoting authors and sharing seasonal music, recipes, and much more. Do visit and join in the fun 🙂
I am very excited and delighted, that two amazing writers who are in the bookstore and who have given me huge encouragement over the last three years, have brought their new books out for Christmas. If you love fantasy and the supernatural then these two books will make ideal gifts… treat yourself or book loving friends and family.
Also D.G. Kaye’s latest book P.S. I Forgive You is free from today until 23rd of December and you will find details later in the post.
It is of course ladies first and just two days ago Tina Frisco uploaded her much anticipated new book Vampyrie – Origin of the Vampire – to Amazon. So here it is hot off the press.
About the book
What if vampires were not the undead, but rather the dying? What if there were two factions among vampires: the sustained and the unsustainable? And what if those factions were at war with one another over the life of a young woman who promised them a future? Vampyrie brings the myth of the vampire into the realm of possibility.
Phoebe Angelina Delaney is a reluctant genius and compassionate hothead. She finds herself in a pitch-dark underground and doesn’t remember how she got there. Did she drink too much alcohol and wander off in a stupor, or was she kidnapped by a malicious element determined to make her life a living hell?
Sir Michael Alan David is a vampire – an enigma, charismatic and mysterious, who weaves in and out of Phoebe’s life. Does he intend to use his title as a ruse to draw her closer to an unearthly fate, or is he a cloak-and-dagger knight in shining armor?
Too many secrets have been kept for too long. Phoebe must unravel the mystery in order to survive. Two major characters from the author’s first novel, Plateau, join forces with Phoebe to battle the demons in Vampyrie.
An early review
I was hooked from the first paragraph. Phoebe has an indomitable spirit. I was rooting for her throughout her quest and her ordeals.As the tension built, I found myself riveted to the page . . . and then the next page and the next. I read this book in two days. I could barely put it down when outside forces demanded my attention. There is also an underlying metaphysical angle to the narrative that only enhanced the pleasure I experienced while reading this wonderful, wonderful story. ––Andrew Joyce, Authorof Yellow Hair and Redemption: The Further Adventures of Huck Finn and TomSawyer
BUY the Book: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01N2UYDG6
Rescue Me: Purrfect Companions
Debbie Manber Kupfer announces the release of Rescue Me – Purrfect Companions, a charity anthology in which she has a story. Abandoning a companion animal for any reason is inhumane. Find out more by reading Debbie’s post …
It’s Release Day for Rescue Me – Purrfect Companions. A charity anthology in which I’m privileged to have a story.
My story “Cecilia’s Tale” talks about how my kitty found me in Israel. Cecilia then shared the next 16 years of my life with me and eventually came to America. She passed over the Rainbow Bridge a few years ago, but is still very much in my thoughts.
Pick up a copy of Rescue Me: Purrfect Companions today!
Addiction and The Power of Letting Go – Guest Post…
A heartfelt “Thank You” to Chris The Story Reading Ape for guesting me on his blog. You’re the bees knees, Chris; the cat’s meow. Or perhaps I should say, the ape’s bananas. Not quite an analogy, but much more delicious 🙂 Chris has hosted many authors over the past 4 months, giving us exposure for our books leading up to the holidays. Aside from being an ape of the highest quality (King of the Jungle ~ the lion has nothing on him), he is an honorable man with a big heart. I know he’s probably blushing under his fur right now, but his praises can’t be sung high enough. Thank you, Chris, for all you do, all you give, and all you are
Image is courtesy of Lucie Stastkova
You’re extremely disgusted with an old habit. You’re ranting. You’re pacing. You’re regurgitating. You’re spent. You pick yourself up from the floor, dry your tears, and swear on your life that this is the last time. You throw away all accouterments, all paraphernalia, all reminders of the loathed and dreaded addiction. You make it through the day with firm resolve. Then you awaken the following morning with an insatiable craving. You recall your commitment and fight doggedly not to give in. You argue with yourself. You become frustrated. The stress grows into a pressing mass in your belly. Then suddenly… a comforting thought: One more day won’t hurt! You acquiesce. You give in. And the roller coaster ride begins…
A teacher once told me that the masters, the avatars, often carry an addiction in order to stay in form — to…
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My New #Novel Is Now Available on #Amazon
I am so pleased to announce that the Kindle version of my new novel, Vampyrie: Origin of the Vampire, is now available on Amazon. CreateSpace should have it out in paper shortly.
I’m also very relieved! Talk about birthing a baby . . . I did most of the work myself, from formatting to cover text — not to mention writing the 388-page book.
Don’t let the title fool you. This is not your typical vampire book. I’m incapable of writing a book without a spiritual bent. Vampyrie also has a basis in science, specifically medicine.
I’ve always been intrigued by the myth of the vampire and often have wondered if the phenomenon actually could exist. My background in medicine led me to speculate about how this might have a basis in reality. If rooted in science, how might this myth come to life? The most likely answer would be as a physical disorder or disease.
One day during my morning walk, the word Valkyrie came to mind. 
As many of you know, a valkyrie is one of a host of female helping spirits of the god Odin in Norse mythology. Depicted as both loving and bloodthirsty, valkyries decide who lives and who dies in battle. They also assist Odin in transporting his favorites among the slain to Valhalla, the hall where he houses the dead whom he deems worthy of dwelling with him. In my novel, Valkyrie becomes Vampyrie and Valhalla becomes the Haven.
I do hope you’ll visit my Amazon page and peek inside. I have many people to thank for their interest and encouragement; you’ll find their names listed in the acknowledgements.
I’ve also updated my author photo, which took quite a bit of doing, I might add. I never recognize myself in photographs. Who IS that person? I even startle myself at times when walking past a mirror, because I think a stranger is at my side. I’m told this is an attribute of Aries. We’ve incarnated into this sign in order to learn about “I.” People often think we come complete with the characteristics of the stars under which we’re born, when the reality is we’ve come into this earthwalk to learn those attributes.
Now it’s time to pop a cork, relax, and get to those 100+ emails that are still mounting up 🙂
Until the next time, my friends . . . Namaste ❤
EDITING 101: 16 – Homonyms, Homographs, and Homophones…
Susan Uttendorfsky brings us Part 16 of her Editing 101 series on The Story Reading Ape. She discusses homonyms, homographs, and homophones, the latter of which can be a challenge for writers …
Originally posted as the Dun Writin’—Now Whut? series on this blog, EDITING 101 is a weekly refresher series for some of you and brand new for others.
Courtesy of Adirondack Editing
Homonyms, Homographs, and Homophones
I had a lot of fun researching today’s post. (Yes, I’m an über-geek, but let’s just keep this to ourselves, shall we?) You may be wondering what these words are (and how in the world they pertain to writing), but you’ll be surprised once I define them. I’m sure you know exactly what they are; you just don’t know the official words for them. And we’re only interested in one when it comes to writing and editing.
Homonyms are words with the same spelling and the same pronunciation, but they have different meanings:
bear (animal) and bear (tolerate)
rose (flower) and rose (past tense of “rise”)
spruce up a room and a spruce tree
See? You knew…
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Zoe Saves the Day
Zoe the Fabulous Feline saves the day with her keen eyesight and persuasive tenacity. Unfortunately, her person Emily misreads the cues and lands herself in a bit of hot water. Head over to The Story Reading Ape for the full throttle 🙂
Zoe Saves the Day
¡Hola, mi amigos y amigas—saludos! I just love saying “Hello – Greetings!” in Spanish to my boy friends and girl friends. I want to tell you about an adventure where Yours Truly was a hero. I guess the correct word is heroine, but, same difference. Before I tell you all about it, let me introduce myself to those who may not know me. My name is Zoe. I live with Emily, and she is lucky to have me. Here’s what happened.
It was a hot New England night. It was not raining, but we were hearing the deep rumble of thunder and experiencing the occasional flash of dry lightning—that’s what they call the lightning that you get during a heat wave, you know, when the rain is still very far off in the distance. It was beautifully fierce. Unlike some, who shall go unnamed, the thunder…
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TINA FRISCO 
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