Fifty Shades and Women's Rights

Since reading the Fifty Shades of Grey I find I still am on the fence on whether I "like" the story or if "love" it. I'll get back to you on that. It's been said by folks like Dr.Drew and even Dr.Phil that the 50 Shades is demeaning to women, abusive, simulates rape, and applauds sadism. My question to these people is: "Have y'all read the books? I mean really read them instead of just scanning and picking out the parts you find shocking?" For those of you who have not read books 1-3 this is a SPOILER ALERT! Click off this blog right now should you not want parts revealed before you've had a chance to read them. Go ahead, I'll give you a few minutes. I'll even put on some elevator music while we wait. Ready? Okay, Fifty Shades character, Christian Grey is not only a self made millionaire at quite a young age(probably a child prodigy-we don't know but let's face it-the dude is smart.)Everything on the outside would leave one to believe he is perfect in every possible way, but he's not. The sexual behaviors such as the BDSM ARE NOT what makes Christian imperfect. I mean unless you are practicing the Missionary position, anything can be labeled "indecent" or "kinky" it is all just a matter of preference. In early primitive cultures women were mounted like animals. In some cultures women were kept in Harems and taught how to "please a man". During both the Spanish Inquisition and in 1692 Salem,Mass.,couples that engaged in sex that was not sanctioned by the church were deemed heretics, witches, and of the devil. I don't know about you, but I don't want to be put to death or burned at the stake just because of my sexual preferences. So even though Shades hits on some Taboo kinkery here, I think it is pretty mild compared to what the human race has done since the dawn of time. I mean you didn't really think that the Mother ship just crash landed here did you? So back to Christian Grey. Christian and many other practitioners of BDSM like the control and the pleasure/pain aspect. There are levels to BDSM. Some are more severe than others and in my opinion-Christian with Ana is pretty lukewarm. In the books we find out that Christian was abused and neglected as a young child. Even after his adoption by the Grey's he could not interact as a normal child despite all the love they gave him. He could not bear to be touched and needs control because at the age of 15 he was out of control with anger mixed with puberty. His mother's friend, Elena takes Christian under her wing but it's the kind of wing a pedophile would offer a confused and impressionable child, which Christian was. She pulled Christian into her world and so you gather that all his walls, his bossy nature, his over reactions,and such are due to abuse in two phases of his childhood. When he was young-his mother did not protect him and neglected him due to her drug addiction and the abuse he suffered at the hands of her pimp. He grew up in extreme poverty and hunger. At another stage in his life, puberty he was seduced and mentored by a woman who should have known better who had some sort of sick attachment that led her to carry on a liaison with a teenage boy that grew into a young man. Dr.Flynn would explain to Anastasia in book 2, that Christian is not a sadist even though he believes himself to be one. He also discloses to Ana that Christian by-passed his adolescence and how to deal with feelings, emotion, and certain other areas of his psyche. All makes me think of the Freud's theory on the stages of development and if you skip one then you can look forward to many years of therapy. So what is with this about Women's Rights and Fifty? Many claim the books promote abuse even rape in women. If you come to that conclusion I urge you to go see a therapist. I have read the books twice now and even took notes and I do not see abuse. I see disagreements and I see a man trying to cope and come to terms with loving a woman who goes against everything he's put in place as a safety net and combating his fears. I believe had E.L. James written the book in more than just one POV,we would have seen that and these people claiming abuse and disrespect to women would see what those of us who have actually read the books to see, is that Christian Grey may have kinky and out landish tastes when it comes to sex but there's more going on with him than just the label of being an abuser of women. I would also challenge folks to brush up on BDSM. There are never BDSM relationships within the community of BDSM practitioners that are not willing and consenting adults. Each BDSM relationship(s) is different and again go on different levels from mild to severe. They adhere to strict guidelines(for example Christian's contract in book 1) and there is an undeniable trust. There may not always be love but there is the bond for respect of trust. You'd be supprised dear readers at the many walks of life who opt for the ball gag lifestyle. For me, I'm not really too far into a bunch of hardware and being flogged but then again, I've never tried it. So to each their own. So the next time you hear about Fifty Shades of Grey promoting abuse-I want you to laugh and tell them to go adn read the books instead of watching a talk show or skimming through it.

Cursed Awakening, the Creature Feature

In the past few years, the popularity of vampires and wolf men have become really popular. Cursed Awakening, the first book I have ever written came from something in my own life. No I did not grow up in a religious cult nor do I have any friends who wolf out at will. Well, sometimes I think my husband grows claws and fangs when the bills come due but that's another story. However I will say that I grew up hearing all those urban legends. Even now I love to watch those paranormal television specials on haunted places, The Jersey Devil, and the Ghost Lights. One of my favorites were the stories about the Jersey Devil and the famed Chupacabra. So when I had Nyx howling in my imagination and threatening me with Scooby Doo Re-Runs I thought aside from the "human" struggles of both Nyx and Ivy what else could I add to my canvas here, and then it came to me one night after I had watched this movie called Splinter, a movie I recommend but i warn you it has the creep-ew factor to it times ten. So I took what I could from the Jersey Devil and the Chupacabra legends and even artists renditions and viola, I had my monster. I had to think, "What would scare me?" and I flipped through all my favorite movie and book monsters. Which ones had really done a number on me and my bladder? I couldn't have a psychotic clown-that has been done already and a psychotic clown stalking the woods was too bad B horror movie. So I quickly dispatched some magical sadist wielding knifed or bladed hands and no one in the Southwest is getting into Hockey unless it's on the television. So I x'd off teenage twisted Wiccans and put my Vampires back into their blood bank cafe promising them I would play with them again soon. They were a little long in the tooth about it but they got over it. So I thought about my old friend Ripley and the Aliens. Yes, I still cannot watch the first two Alien movies in the dark-sue me. I had my creature feature! I kept my monster a beast but one with some sort of intelligence; one that hunted in packs. I wanted a blood thirst like the legends of the Jersey Devil who killed indiscriminately. Think Pumpkinhead meets Bigfoot and you've got the Chupacabra from Cursed Awakening. I even added long serrated poisoned fangs and long curled claws. I wanted them to be able to speak so my mind went to that creepy seen in Independence Day when the Alien manipulates the vocal cords of a scientist. I wanted their voices to be distorted, insect like, and menacing. I think the end product was a grand success! So tell me, what's your favorite monster? What creation leaves you breathing hard, looking for a place to run and hide, and makes your bladder react? Come on, let me hear ya! Leave me a comment and let me know what bump in the night makes your skin break out in goosebumps!

Writer In Me

Since I was little I escaped through books and stories. One of my first books that I can remember loving to read was a Fairy Tale book that my grandma Betty Ashba had gotten me for Christmas. In those pages I walked the trail with Little Red Riding Hood and fought through brambles and thorns to see a prince awaken a princess that was sleeping in a castle under the evil spell of a witch. That book is one of my most precious possessions and it is valuable only to me. Those stories and countless ones I came up with led me discovering the writer in me. For so many years I shared what I put down on paper with very few people. One of the first stories I shared with my English teacher was a story I wrote on a dream I had about my uncle Gary. I had a great love for my uncle. He was young, funny, had an infectious laugh that I can still hear in my ears to this day, introduced me to Space Dust aka. Pop Rocks candy, and could make me feel like I was flying on a tire swing. Most of all he reminded me of my father, since they were brothers they favored quite a bit. I remember his wild hair and that he smelled like leather and soap. I had written about looking outside my window and seeing him standing there in an olive green t-shirt and jeans-probably what I last remember him wearing and he was smiling. He had died previous in an accident, but I remember feeling all the happiness I always felt when I was around him. The teacher called me to his classroom before the end of the day. I can remember being nervous because I wasn't sure what I was being called down for. Mr.Hensley was a wonderful teacher but I had really went out on a limb by letting him read the story. I remember sitting in the front row and waiting for him to get done watching the halls after school and then he came in and shut the door. He went to his podium and he had the few pages that had made up my story in his hand. He pulled up a chair and took off his glasses and looked at me. He placed the story before me on a desk and my first thought was, "Oh God, it's really bad!" However, that wasn't his reaction at all. He patted my hands and told me that my story had moved him so much because he'd had someone that had been special to him as well as a young child. I was dumbstruck. I mean what do you tell a teacher whose eyes were watering as if he was on the cusp of tears. He told me he wanted me to write something for him every week. He gave me tips and even gave me subjects to experiment with. For the rest of the school year, I met with him and one of the rare poems I wrote, he video taped me reading to add to his collection of students reading poetry because he loved it. That nurtured the seed that was already planted. When I was in high school I wrote all the time when I wasn't doing school work or gabbing. When I would be up late at night I would write. I joined the Drama club and Reflections to write but true to form I never could bring myself to let anyone read anything until I was in Mr.Moritz's class. Mr.Moritz had given us an assignment to write a short story about anything. I labored a full two weeks and handed in a short story about a girl who met a boy who could time travel. He liked it but he said I held back and wanted me to write something else. Again I put my nose to the grindstone and wrote a short story about a girl who spent a night with a vampire who wanted nothing more than conversation. It was that story that led to Renegade Night, the first in the Guardians Of Night Series. He loved the story and told me first that I was too bright of a girl to be writing about vampires-Mr.Moritz was too much of a Disney guy, but I had to become a writer! Mr.Moritz was one of my favorite teachers, and when he died I cried it seemed for a week. Not all of my writing was well received. One night after being mad at my sister for getting us grounded, I wrote a story about a woman stalked and "possibly" murdered by her deranged Siamese twin sister. My sister said it gave her nightmares not to mention my grandmother didn't like it at all and I was grounded an extra week of no mall; which at the time was a punishment worse than death. I wrote anything that popped in my head whether it was a story or poem. When I started college, I had to take a creative writing class and Ms.Willis loved the things I would turn in. She also told me that writing was in my blood-it was what I was born to do and I had to keep it up. I was flattered and just took it as something nice but not serious. I turned 35 and I came to the realization after discovering that long ago story I had written for Mr.Moritz, that I had to know-I had to know if I still had it since when my grandfather passed and then 8 months later my best friend died of a tragic accident I hadn't written or even read a book. I began letting the words and ideas flow and wrote and rewrote and wrote until I had four composition notebooks full. I gave them to my sister to read, and after a few days she said she loved it and I had to send it out to someone. So we began researching how to go about doing it. I have to admit at this point, that I didn't know about sites like Writer's Beware or Author's Den. I sent out a perfectly edited manuscript I had typed out on Word to 80 publishers that I just found by random. I didn't know anything about sending query letters(which I advice people to learn how to do). A few sent the classic reject letter and some just didn't send anything at all. Publish America(the Great American Scam Publisher) actually called. I was so naive and elated that I didn't do my homework and when they sent their contract I signed it with the understanding that they were a publisher-not a vanity press, but the "ink was already dry on the paper". I wont' go into the enormous let down Publish America is but here I had this book with my name on it and I felt like I had finally gotten to the brass ring. Well the brass ring was nickel plated. When everything crashed and it dawned on me that I had basically thrown my hard work away to a vanity press who wanted MY money not money for my book, I was devastated. I wept, I sobbed, and I almost gave up. Almost. I think I would have had I not just found the so many people who had been through this and were still writing and still trying. It also helped that I had a friend and mentor in Canadian Author, Denyse Bridger who introduced me to the fine folks at XoXo Publishing. So am I on the New York's Best Seller list? No. Am I in book stores nationwide? No, not yet. Do I still have my love and passion for writing? Yes, and even more so I must say. I know I'm going to have to pay my dues like most other great authors. The Stefanie Meyers, E.James, and other overnight sensations are rare but I find that with each story I write and new stories I discover is just another tool for me to hone my craft! The writer in me has not yet begun to fight or give up, but she's always creating tapestries of stories. I'm constantly looking at what I can look at and see in a different way. So whether it's a story about something that goes bump in the night or a child's adventure with mermaids,pixies, or some character's journey over the turbulent seas of life to come out on the other side; I'll be writing it!

Let's Review Some Books And Movies

Wow it's been a while since we talked books and movies, huh? Well let's start with what's in the awesome and what's on the D-List. Awesome Books To Check Out!!! 1). The Guild Hunter Series by Nalini Singh. I was skeptical about these books because I'm usually on the iffy when it comes to books that center around angels. Why? I love angels, even in my own book, Renegade Night I mention angels but I had really read some angel centered books that just left me blah. THAT WAS NOT THE CASE WITH THE GUILD HUNTER SERIES! In Angel's Blood, the first book it begins with the story of Elena, a hunter born with the ability to track vampires. She can scent them out and it makes her one of the best. Vampires take on a whole new twist to the myth which I REALLY appreciate and the Archangels/angels take on one as well. Humans are Made vampires by the angels. No one knows how it is done except for the angels but they contract 100 years of servitude. Forget what you've ever seen or been told about Angels. The angels in these books are not the Guardian type. That is not to say they're not evil but they can be ruthless and cold when they want and some of them...well I won't ruin it for you. Elena is contracted on a top secret mission by none other than the head Archangel in charge of New York. Raphael doesn't just want Elena though for a job, he wants to possess her and Elena is about to give Angel Boy a run for his money! However,when you play with angels, death is always an outcome. Just get the books and you'll love them as much as I do! They are soooo worth the read. 2).Retribution by Sherrilyn Kenyon Retribution is the latest installment to the Dark Hunter series by Sherrilyn Kenyon. Sundown Brady in a past life was a deadly gunslinger, card sharp, and hired killer. In his mortal life he was known as William Jessup Brady and when he was betrayed by his best friend, he cried out for vengeance, no he cried out for Retribution. In the Dark Hunter world, Sundown answers to no one but Acheron. Well okay he has a Squire that gives him enough fits and a best friend that's flighty. Being located in Las Vegas, one would think Sin City had a lot to offer a Dark Hunter, but the Daimons are the least of his worries. A gorgeous but ruthless woman by the name of Abigail Yager is determined to kill him and she's going through Dark Hunters to do it. Abigail was orphaned as a young child by the very man she once thought a friend, Sundown Brady the Dark Hunter. She was taken in by a Daimon family and her hatred of Dark Hunters and Sundown has been honed to a sharp edge. She wants Retribution and she wants it now! However before she'll get her chance, something evil has been unlocked and the world may just end before either of them find Retribution. I was hooked from the first page and again Sherrilyn Kenyon gives us a reason to love her Dark Hunters! She not only tells the tale of Sundown and defines him but she also introduces Native American lore and characters. It is a book well worth the read and it even has a surprise story of the birth of Acheron and Tory's first born that will even give you a reason to root for Artemis! 3).Glass Slippers & Jeweled Masques (an Erotic Cinderella Fairy Tale) by Denyse Bridger All I can say is...hot hot hot! This story has the premise of the classic childhood fairy tale, but that's where it all ends! Cindi Lancourte is the illegitimate daughter of a powerful businessman and a lovely woman who worked for him. Acknowledged when his wife died, she was quickly relegated to the role of servant by his new wife and step-daughters, but an invitation to a Masquerade gives this Cinderella a new shot at happiness with a handsome Prince Charming. This book is available for EBook format. Cindi's journey is one of discovery in all the most erotic and sensual ways. There's nothing Disney about this book but it is tastefully and sinfully written. Enter the world of Glass Slippers & Jeweled Masques from the mind of author Denyse Bridger today! 4).Wanted: Dead Or Undead by Kerrelyn Sparks Phineas McPhee aka. The Love Doctor, Dr.Phang, and The Blardonnay Guy just wants love in his life even though every female vamp wants him. Phineas only wants the one woman who doesn't want him and hates vampires, Brynley Jones. Brynley Jones has no love for Vampires and works with them to be close to her brother. To say she comes from a dysfunctional family is an understatement when you come from a werewolf family and not just any werewolf family but the Supreme Pack Leader's family. When the infamous and dangerous Corky Currant is on the prowl as Queen of the Malcontents, Phineas must follow a lead to Wyoming. Trouble is,everyone else is in Europe tracking her. That leaves Brynley Jones to be his day guard as well as be able to assist him. Now if Phin can just manage not to fall for her more than he already has and not wind up Werewolf chow, things might work out. Brynley just wants to let her inner wolf out but she has a past she can't run from no matter how much her inner wolf wants to. With an unlikely pairing under the worst of circumstances these two come together and more than the fur flies! This book was hilarious, heart wrenching in parts, and highly engaging. I just can't wait till the next book in the Love At Stake Series. If you haven't discovered Kerrlyn Sparks, I highly recommend her! Her Love At Stake Series is wonderful and entertaining! Books To Pass On I try not to be too judgmental on books but a few just fell flat with me this time around. 1).Wings by Aprilyn Pike has got to be one of the worst books I've ever read. I got this as a gift, and I believe it's more of a YA book but ugh where do I start. The heroine finds out she's a fae. I am not against Faeries but this book was nothing more than more pixie dust. Great for kids and I loved Tinkerbelle too, but I think Tink is still more entertaining than this book was. Total stinker! 2).Tempest Rising by Tracy Deebs Hey the Little Mermaid was always one of my favorite stories as a child so I was on board with reading Tempest Rising. I can't tell you how it ended and it takes a lot for me to stop reading a book even if it's a bad one in the middle but that's what happened. I just had the worst time getting into it and following the plot or even liking the characters for that matter. What really got me was that it was in the wrong section at the local Walmart. It was YA not adult even though it appears Ms.Deebs tried. Apparently she missed the mark. It was like if Saved By The Bell had been a Sci/Fi show. Think a cheap knock off of the kid's movie Aquamarine and you would have Tempest Rising. So what had you rushing to the movies or the video store? 1). The Grey starring Liam Neeson as a hunter hired to keep the wildlife safe from the loggers who are en-route to the Alaska. What ends up happening is the plane crashes. If being in the Alaskan wilds are not bad enough in the snowy regions there are these huge wolves who want the intruders to their territory out...well more like they want them for dinner and it becomes a battle for survival. Liam Neeson is the star of this movie. I don't really get into movies that portray wolves as the bad guys because they are becoming slaughtered for their pelts and their numbers are dwindling however these were not your ordinary wolves. These were wolves on steroids. Not only is Liam Neeson's character driving the men onward to civilization in hopes of leaving the wolves behind, but he's got his own baggage to deal with and eerie as it is-it's the loss of a wife. This is sooo worth the rent! 2). The Woman In Black starring Daniel Radcliff. Unless you've been living in a rock, Daniel Radcliff rose to fame with his portrayal of Harry Potter. He certainly shows those grown up acting chops in this movie. The Woman In Black gave his horror movie buff here the heebie jeebies and I jumped and screeched more than a few times! It's effects are not over done and the thrills and squeals come at all the right moments. I don't have anything bad to say other than I hated the ending. It's worth seeing but if you've missed it at the theaters, make sure you get it on DVD. The Woman In Black is engaging and will definitely give you more than a few reasons to maybe leave a night light on. 3).Immortals staring Mickey Rourke as a ruthless sadistic king who is bent on defeating the Gods. The only salvation is a young peasant, Theseus who must fight to not only save all of humankind, the oracle Phaedra, and the Gods themselves. I loved this movie right up until the last 45 minutes of it. When you think of Immortal you don't think of Gods being able to be slaughtered and I don't know I just kind of expected more I guess. The special FX are great and the premise of the plot is great too but somewhere it just fell short! So my opinion is to just wait for this on the Redbox or the Discount Rental shelf. 4).Footloose You know I was pretty on the fence about this remake and you know you just can't top Kevin Bacon but this movie-this remake to an 80s classic came real close! I thought Dennis Quaid's performances as well as the rest of the cast was on point! Highly recommend watching this movie! Awesomeness and you'll even want the soundtrack! Well that's my hits and misses so tell me, what are you reading or watching?

An Anonymous Email

I don't usually read Forwards, but I got this one and I couldn't help but share it here. This month is National Child Abuse Awareness month and if you've gotten this in your inbox, I know you probably were as impacted as I was.

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I don't know why you were mad at me. I can't understand what it is I did wrong! Please stop hitting me, please stop screaming and calling me names. I didn't ask to be born, why can't you love me enough to stop?


****

None of my friends' dads ever came into their rooms at night. I thought when I finally let you the first time, you'd get it out of your system! I screamed and cried and all you did was promise me sweet things and then threaten to hurt me or mom if I told anyone. How can I tell anyone what you did to me in the car? How can I tell anyone what you took and made me do? How can I tell anyone that you don't even ask anymore, you just do as you please? Please stop, please hear my voice, STOP! Stop ripping my heart and soul into pieces!


****

Boys don't cry, and only God knows how hard I've tried but when I begged you for just a bowl of cereal, I didn't mean to make you so mad that you'd actually throw me down into a basement and lock me away. The nights were cold and I had to use the bathroom where I slept then you would come and beat me some more. You're my parent, why are you doing this to me? Did you ever love me? Why did you keep me if your life was too complicated for me? Why? Please Stop, Please let stop!

****

I was brand new, and I didn't understand that I wasn't supposed to cry. I didn't mean to, but I couldn't speak. I didn't mean to make you angry. I-I didn't know my brand new life would be a short one! Please, Please Stop!


Please Please Stop the abuse of children! Just because you don't see bruises doesn't mean that they're not there! Abuse of any kind is wrong regardless if it's to a child, adult, or animal.

Readers Rockin Radio Interviews G. Mitchell Baker 2 04/18 by ReadersRockinRadio | Blog Talk Radio

Readers Rockin Radio Interviews G. Mitchell Baker 2 04/18 by ReadersRockinRadio | Blog Talk Radio

Support Justice For Treyvon Martin

I have always know there is injustice in the world, especially in our own country but it never fails to shock me just how many injustices are in our own back yard. The murder of Treyvon Martin-a young teenager, and a state that is trying to sweep it under the rug is beyond me. For many years I supported causes such as Human Rights, Matthew Shepherd Foundation, The West Memphis 3, and others. The world we live in is not always picture perfect, but when we stand by and say it's okay that a boy can be killed because of a man's disregard for human life and it's upheld because of a law that is meant to protect people just says that we are no better than many of the countries we have been at war with for the past decade. Mr.Zimmerman needs to be arrested and put into prison for what he has done. He was told by the dispatch for the police department to not approach Treyvon and yet he did. He also made the conscious decision to use deadly force because a young boy who was carrying a cell phone, a can of tea, and a small package of candy refused to stop. How many times do we tell our children to not speak to strangers? I know I have told my own children countless times. I have told them that if someone is following them or after them to run, run to a house and get help. Treyvon never had a chance to run to any of the homes to get help for the stranger who was giving chase and a verbal attack. He was shot in cold blood. Can you imagine being his mother and father getting that call or visit from the police department? I can't. Elected officials are voted into office to make laws that protect us not to be interpreted to suit their own needs. Florida one of the vacation capitals of the world, has cast a dark shadow on their state by allowing this man to walk free. Treyvon will never walk again. Treyvon will never get to have his say in court. Treyvon had no criminal record or drugs on him. He was dressed like most teenagers his age, in jeans and a hoodie coming home from a ball game. Probably was cutting through the housing edition for a quicker route home. How many of us has cut through a yard to get home? Would you expect to be shot because you crossed through a neighbor's yard? I wouldn't. If this had happened in most other states, Zimmerman would have long ago be placed in jail and awaiting a court date. This isn't just Florida's problem, it's our whole country's problem. We all need to stand up against this and be heard! This tragedy cannot go unnoticed or ignored. This isn't a case of a grown man who was threatened by a young boy. This was a man who had a narcissistic need to for attention and to be a "hero" who made a terrible decision. If it were you or me, we'd be held accountable so why isn't Florida being held accountable? Why is it that Kim Kardasian can get justice but Treyvon Martin cannot?

Let's Talk The Latest About Pay Pal

It's been going around this week about Pay Pal, which is a pay site meaning they exchange money for products that are purchased through entities such as Ebay and Amazon. They are putting their so called morality hat on and have declared that basically if they look at a book and deem it to be too racy,sexual, violent, etc. they will not sell it. Now, Pay Pal does not "sell" anything. They are owned, I believe-please correct me if I am wrong, by Ebay. While looking around on Ebay there are numerous bondage outfits, sex toys, tons of sex how-to books, Viagra enhancement drugs as well as other sexual enhancers, porn-yes Ebay is selling porn,daggers, swords,violent movies and video/PC games, and the list goes on. Amazon pretty much has similar products. However, the only thing I've heard of that Pay Pal is crying foul over is romance books and books containing sex or violence. Well let's talk hypocrite here because classical books like Wurthering Heights,Dickens works,Tess Of D'Ubervilles, Shakespeare's many works, movie box sets of series like the ever so popular Spartacus and True Blood, Historical books such as the Anne Frank story and China Cry,and the list goes on. Even many books of religion such as the Bible have many instances of adultery and death. I am not big on porn peddlers. I do not consider what I or many others write to be pornographic. I believe that Pay Pal should stick to what it was created for: transferring and posting payments. It's like going to the store and because a cashier doesn't like what you have in your cart, them refusing the sale. Really? Do we want to go that route where we can be told what we can and cannot buy?



This is censorship and the wrong kind. Pay Pal wants to make a statement but it's the wrong one for them to make. It would make more sense if Amazon and Ebay both said they were going to refuse certain books for the idiotic reasons they have listed because they are vendors. I believe that when we start banning books based on someone's own comprehension of their own morality and taste then we are throwing our Constitution down the drain. We're saying it's okay to have our choices mapped out for us. We're saying that all forms of art that are shocking, provocative, or deemed "obscene" in any art form then we are a doomed society indeed. I keep thinking back to that movie, "Pink Floyd's The Wall". So I will close with this....

We don't need no education
We don't need no thought control
No dark sarcasm in the classroom
Pay Pal Leave Us Authors Alone!

Cause all in all, we'll break through the wall and where will you be? Broke.

SNEAK PEEK PREVIEW FOR UPCOMING RELEASE!!!!

As promised, here is a sneak peek at my latest creation. The Blood Courtesan. Here's a little bit about the story itself. I have always loved films and stories from far away places. One of my all time favorites is one of the romance capitals of the world; Venice,Italy. I love the city whose streets are literally water and anyone who has ever visited has taken countless romantic gondola rides. Venice is so much more than it's water filled streets, it echoes of a bygone era of Venetian balls,decadence, and the infamous Courtesans of Venice. Women who had no pedigree or were born of lowly birth with no dowry were given few options. They could either find work as a maid or within some house or at a nunnery. Women were not educated beyond their social status. Many women were illiterate. Courtesans, however were afforded the luxury of education and many like Victoria De Franco, Venice's most famed Courtesan, were not only had high social standing but were also favored by royalty.They lived in a gold gilded cage however. They were only treasured as long as they were young and beautiful and up until the dreaded Spanish Inquisition and plague years. So while I was intrigued by their history, I was inspired to write a story blending history with one of my favorite genres, paranormal romance. So I hope you enjoy your snippet and I hope to read your feedback!



I was born in 1550 in Venice, Italy. Like my mother before me, I became a courtesan since that was the only way I could provide for my family as there was no male son or dowry for a suitable marriage. It was not a choice I would have made for myself. I was mentored by the famous of all courtesans, Veronica De Franco. Venice was all about the beauty and splendor. We were revered by all that saw us in our finery, envied by women, and sought out by men of all means of wealth and power. One night, one dance, and one man would change my stars yet again for a life I would not have chosen. He walked into the ball of the Doge one night, dressed in finery unlike any I had ever seen before. His dark hair was wild, like the mane of a lion around his face but it was his eyes-those pale blue eyes that seemed as wild as a sea during a storm. Other courtesans and ladies of the court desired him, but he had eyes for no one but me. The room-the world seemed to stop as he turned from the Doge towards me, and motioned me. I went without care-without pause as if I was under some spell. He possessed me and it was then I knew that I would never be able to be touched by another man, except for him.
I woke up a week later, although it only seemed only hours, in his bed and it was then I learned I would never see the sun again nor would my life be the same as it was before. At first I rebelled against him, my dark prince who touched my soul like he touched my body. I came to love him though and accept my life as a fledgling. For many weeks we were happy and for many nights we were like two people possessed. If I could have slipped underneath his skin, I would not have been close enough to him. Then came the sad, sad day when he had to take me to a friend, a trusted ally to keep me safe and to further train me while he was away; summoned by some force not even I knew of. I begged him and pleaded with him to not leave me-to let me come with him. He wouldn’t. However, my prince did not deliver me to a friend but to evil herself. He was gone and could not hear my cries nor could he hear my call. My prince, my heart, and my reason for living-gone and all that remained was pain and torture. In the moments that I thought I would finally lie down and seek death’s dark embrace, I was saved but not by my dark prince-but someone else.
That is the story of Evangelia Antoinetta DiSilvo. What remains is Lia, Venus to the men who see me and to the men who are unworthy-I am retribution!


Chapter 1

The club was packed. Smoke was like a haze that filled it and the sounds of voices filled the air. The men sat at tables keeping their attention upon the stage. None of the six dancers had really held any interest. They were all there to see the club’s premier attraction; Venus.
“ Now for the one you’ve been waiting for, get your wallets out gents, because the queen of the Paradise Lost Gentleman’s Club, Venus is making her way to the stage.” The DJ announced before putting on a haunting but seductive selection.
Through the dark curtains stepped out a statuesque woman dressed in a scarlet silken robe that was open down the front revealing the creamy expanse of skin, the promise of perfect breasts, and a barely there red silk patch adorned with sparkling rhinestones that moved as she walked. No one had ever seen the face of Venus, because true to form she was wearing her customary half mask that was adorned with bright red and jet black feathers surrounding a gold mask that only revealed her ruby red lips and her hypnotic dark eyes. She walked slowly, allowing the robe to fall off her body effortlessly. She took in the crowd and began to move her hips to the beat of the music. Her breasts were free except for the jeweled pasties that covered her nipples. Her dance was one of seduction; of dangerous seduction with every bump and grind. Unlike the other dancers, she didn’t have to flaunt her pussy or jiggle her ass. She was a work of fine art with each movement. She captivated her audience and ignored the money that they held out and thrown at her feet. Venus was too interested in her movements as she weaved a fantasy for every man in the room and as she sought out one whose thoughts fueled her hunger. When she found him, she slinked over towards him and turned her hypnotic dark eyes upon him. To those around them, he was the luckiest bastard on the planet-to her he was another meal. She leaned close to his ear and whispered before standing up and grabbed the pole in the middle of the stage. She twirled around it and then the lights went out. No one saw her gather the money and slide through the dark curtains once again. The other girls in the back never saw her go through a side door into a private room that was hers and no one else’s.
Tommy Turner walked through the club as if he had just won the lottery. Maybe to him, he had. He finished his beer before he got to the velvet roped off area where a man the size of a brick wall stood.
“Um, I’m here to see Venus.” He said jerking up his pants before shoving his hands in them.
The bouncer curled up his lip as if Tommy was nothing more than a gnat that was getting on his nerves.
“Venus doesn’t see patrons.” He said gruffly.
Tommy began to look annoyed but then it didn’t take much to flip his switch.
“Listen man, the lady told me to be here after the dance and I’m here. So move aside.” He said more insistently.
The bouncer crossed his arms over his chest, “Is that so? Well perhaps your hearing is off.”
Okay Tommy was about to blow a gasket but before he could give the bouncer a what for, Venus opened the door and whispered to the bouncer who without a thought un- clicked the velvet rope and waved Tommy through. Tommy smiled-tonight was his night! Venus still wearing her mask led the way inside the room that looked like an old fashioned saloon parlor. Red velvet couches matched the red interior. She walked over to a mini bar and poured a drink and brought it to Tommy. Tommy at first was apprehensive because he only had twenty bucks in his pocket and the last thing he wanted to do was buy some stripper a high priced drink, but it was Venus-and not just your ordinary stripper. To be able to lay claim to fucking her would be like winning the Gold Medal in the Olympics or a Super Bowl ring.
Venus watched as he drank the shot and pasted a good boy smile on his face. She smiled as she listened to his thoughts. She knew she had chosen well. Venus began to light some candles.
“So Tommy, how are you enjoying your evening so far?” she asked in a husky voice.
Tommy scratched his head, he hated small talk. He was already to get to the fucking. If he wanted small talk he would have stayed home with his wife and their brat.
Venus smiled seductively as she moved. Her robe was unbelted as it had been when she had taken to the stage. She could hear every thought in Tommy’s head. He didn’t work but his wife who he beat on a weekly basis, worked two jobs and they barely made ends meet because all their money went towards the drugs he took and sold. Right now he had spent most of their rent money that his wife had tried to hide and when she had fought him for it, he had beaten her. His little son was probably still huddled in the closet scared out of his mind that his father would return and beat his mother more. Already that seed of needless violence had been planted. What Tommy didn’t know, was that he’d have a change of heart if she didn’t first rip it out of first.

Venus straddled a wide eyed Tommy and framed his face with her hands, her long fingernails gently caressing his face. She could feel his erection and the adrenaline pumping through his veins. She lowered her face just a breath from his; a cat playing with a mouse.
“Tommy, you like to hit women, don’t you? You are cruel to your wife and child who sits huddled at the shack that you dwell in. I can smell the drugs you’ve taken and the ones in your left jacket pocket.”
Tommy’s face turned red as he tried to push her off of him, but Venus was stronger and stayed right where she was. He tried to curse, but found his voice wouldn’t work. She laughed softly,
“Ah, yes but tonight you will go home to your wife. You will empty your pockets of what money you have and you will apologize to them before you pack what few belongings you have and leave and never return. You will then go to the police station and admit to all your crimes including the elderly man you nearly beat to death for fifty dollars. When and if you get out of jail you will get out of this town and find suitable work and become a decent mortal.”
As if under a spell he nodded with a blank look on his face. It was then that Venus turned his head and struck. She hated the ones who took drugs. It left an unpleasant taste to the blood, but she needed to feed. When she had taken all she could stand to take from him, she licked the wounds and sent him on his way out the back door of the club. Venus retreated to the shower that was in the room and cleansed the foul stench of Tommy Turner off her body, dressed in a pair of plain jeans with a black sweater, and grabbed her jacket and money as she left the club.
As usual she found herself walking towards Harris Street, towards a two story Tudor style house with blue shutters. She opened the wrought iron gate and sighed at the lone candle that sat in one of the windows as she pulled an envelope containing the money she’d earned and slipped it through the slot in the door before turning to leave. Debra Cason had turned her home into a half way house for women and children who were in need of a safe place to stay, and Lia always dropped by with money.
She had met Debra about six years ago, when Debra was trying to help a young woman from one of the worst neighborhoods in town. A pimp had grabbed Debra and was just about to strike the middle-aged woman when Lia had intervened. Debra knew there was something different about Lia, but she never said anything. Some nights, when Debra was up late, Lia would sit with her for awhile. Debra represented what she had wished her own mother had been; a woman who would have protected her from the dirty and violent side of life. Instead her mother had taught her to be a courtesan; a whore to any man who had enough gold to purchase her for the night.
It would be dawn in a few hours, and she needed to feed once more before retiring for the evening. She used her preternatural speed and ended up in the city park where a man sat at a bus stop. She reached out with her mind and found that he was healthy and was a decent man. He taught physics at the local community college. She would only take enough to sustain her and leave him no worse for wear.
By the time she returned to her modest home, which was a two story brownstone, she caught the scent of someone from long ago-someone who had betrayed her. She stalked through her house and there lying across her leather couch was Darius Dragotto. He was every bit as sinful as he had been all those years when he had been the Marquis Dragotto. His hair was still long and dark and his eyes that hypnotizing blue that looked like the sea during a storm. His long jean clad legs stretched across the couch and his white shirt was open just enough to see his chest. Those lips, the thousands of times he had kissed her with those perfectly full lips made her insides burn. Why was he here? How had he found her? She had been running from him for centuries and had finally managed to have some semblance of normal without him. Why hadn’t he been there when she needed him, when she still loved him? The old pain surged through her.
“What are you doing here?” she sneered.
Darius rose to his full height, “I’ve come for you Evangelia. You belong to me.”
Lia let out a sarcastic laugh, “Me? Belong to you? I think you’re a bit late on that one Darius. Leave now and go back to whatever hell you crawled out of. Evangelia no longer lives here, she died centuries ago waiting on a lover that never showed.”
Darius knew this wasn’t going to be easy, but he had lived far too long without her. His mind was set, and he was going to claim what was his. He took a step towards her and she moved backwards.
“GET.OUT.NOW!” she hissed.
He kept advancing towards her with the gait of a predator after its prey. “I cannot. I’ve looked for you for so very long and I can no longer exist without you.”
She snorted, “Well try, it’s easy to do. It starts with you leaving my house and leaving forever. Why don’t you just give it a try?”
Darius could feel the rage, the hatred, but he could also feel the pain that radiated from her.
“Evangelia,” she stopped him before he could utter another word.
“The name is Lia, are you deaf? Evangelia no longer exists. The woman you came for no longer exists. Get it through your thick skull.” She screamed.
Darius wasn’t about to be moved. “I will not give you up. I’ve spent centuries looking for you, needing you, and loving you.”
Lia wasn’t at all taken by his words. She wasn’t the same woman she had been all those years ago. Some nights she wondered if she had any semblance of a heart left.
“Poor, Poor, Darius. You’ve been in love with a ghost not me. I could care less now get out of my house!” she gritted out between her teeth.
Just before Darius could speak, another presence entered Lia’s house. Darius wanted to groan. He so did not need a visit from Raphael. Through the centuries, the Greek vampire had been Lia’s constant companion. He had met Raphael centuries before he’d laid eyes on Evangelia. Raphael was an odd character and standing before them now, he looked even odder.
Raphael was tall and lean and looked like the Goth version of the Mad Hatter with his tight legged black pants and black waist coat that had silver buttons. Upon his head was a black top hat with a pair of Steam Punk goggles. His face had something akin to kohl around the eyes as if he were some psychotic mime or something that made his facial features sharp. His hair was as white as the moon and a chunk of it hung over one eye.
“Greetings and salutations Lia and Darius, I hope everything is well?” his voice was polite but Darius didn’t miss the undercurrent of fierce protection.
Lia stood still looking annoyed with her fists clenched at her sides, “I was just telling Darius to leave. He’s not wanted her Raph.”
Raphael turned towards Darius, “What say you and I go out for a bit of a chat. It’s been centuries since we last spoke and Lia is in one of her moods.”
Lia hissed at Raphael who looked unaffected by her display. Darius was going to concede this one to Evangelia. What had he hoped for? Well for one, that she might be glad to see him but it was clear now that his suspicions and the rumors had been true; his mate did not want him. No matter the rumors or the amount of time it took, he wasn’t going to give her up! He looked at her and made a vow.
“Evan-,” he cleared his throat, “Lia, this isn’t over between us. If you run I will only follow.”
Raphael rolled his eyes but gave her a small smile as he and Darius went out into the night, or what was left of it.
“Well my friend, I believe you made a mess out of that. How have you been Darius of Menes?” Raphael asked as he took a pocket watch from his pocket.
“Oh don’t be surprised, we go way back. Well not perhaps that far back, but you get what I mean.” Raphael said while he wound the watch not paying attention to Darius’s shock.
Darius had met Raphael in Greece over ten thousand years ago. Up until he met the fair haired Greek, he’d only met a few like him. Even then, the Greek was peculiar-the air around him seemed strange, but Darius didn’t want to lose out on a chance to speak to another like him. Raphael had grown up in what was known as Greece but his aura was not of a God but he hadn’t totally been mortal either. Darius had been chosen by a priest of Anubis to be one of the sixteen guardians and up until he had met Raphael, he had always assumed that he and his brethren were the only vampires ever created. Raphael had shared his experiences. He’d grown up near a temple of Athena and while on a sea voyage he became shipwrecked on the shores of a foreign land where for a time he lived and learned many things. Then one night, he had encountered a Goddess. She was neither Greek nor Gaul. She was not Egyptian as Darius had suggested. The Goddess wielded great power and was offended by his allegiance to Athena. She was vain but she entranced Raphael. That was the entire story Raphael had given to Darius. It was well known that Raphael did not share his past in detail.
“Why are you here Raphael?” Darius asked in the effort to clear his mind.
Raphael gave him a smirk and a knowing look to let him know that he could not hide his thoughts from him. Raphael had strong psychic abilities.
“I am here because I choose to be and let’s face it, Lia needs someone to look after her.” He pulled on a pair of gray gloves as he stared to walk.
“She’s mine. I will fight for her, you must know that.” Darius growled.
Raphael laughing, “Oh don’t get so possessive. It is not like that with me and her.”, then he turned towards Darius his humor and cheery disposition gone, “What are your intentions? You’ve been out of the picture for a long time, and I will have you know that I will not stand idly by and allow her to be hurt again.”
Darius felt his anger turn up a notch, “I am not here to hurt her! I’ve been looking for her for centuries. Every time I would get close, she’d run from me.”
Raphael waved his hand, “Excuses. Now let me tell you a few things. First, she was your fledgling and your mate and you left her. I have been her teacher and confidant for many centuries and I’ve had to save her ass on more than one occasion. All this time and not once did you make your presence known? You have a blood bond with her, I can still sense it, so why the long wait to finally claim her?”
Darius raked a hand through his hair, “It wasn’t like that. When I was able to return for her, the place where I had left her had been burned to the ground and I was besieged with grief until I finally realized that I had not felt her death. Every time I tracked her down, she would disappear or flee. I didn’t know why. I thought perhaps she had been injured in the fire and maybe she did not remember me. I finally tracked her here and made my presence known.”
Raphael gave him a sarcastic look, “After all these years and that’s the excuse you’ve come up with? Let me tell you my friend your choice in a caretaker sucked! If you want your mate, you better learn to come up with something better than all that mess.” He sighed, “Dawn approaches, come with me to my lair. We have much to discuss.”
Darius couldn’t help but want to know why Raphael was being so helpful. Raphael rolled his eyes, “I’m helping her not you, you big idiot. She is like a sister to me and I care a great deal for her but if she cannot forgive the past and you-then she’s going to be doomed. I do not want to see her self-destruct in such a way. Now come along before we both end up with a tan.”
Darius looked back up at Lia’s house and sighed. He was going to make amends-he was not going to stop until he had her love once again.

“These violent delights have violent ends And in their triumph die, like fire and powder Which, as they kiss, consume”

I woke up this morning and turned on the television. I usually take the first few minutes to get myself together before I wake up my son to get him ready for school. On the television on a news program, there was the story of the shooting at an Ohio School. As a parent myself, I could not fathom what it would be like to get that phone call, hear it on the radio, or television that one of my children's schools had something like this happen. As a writer, I cannot find the words. I do however have the tears when I think about how these poor parents probably were rushed to the hospitals their children were at, hoping all the way that this was just some nightmare; hoping their child will be alright only to find out they've lost a child. I wonder how children have become so violent? I understand bullying and being teased. Most of us can recall at some point in our lives when we were bullied. For me, and I've spoke on this before-I was an easy target because I was quiet and I really did like school for the most part. I loved reading, writing, and I adored science. I liked being accepted and having friends. I've never bullied anyone so I am not sure how they go about picking their "victims". I have never seen the Captain of the football team bullied nor did I ever see the head cheerleader messed with. High School just was one of those journeys that was fraught with many obstacles and sink holes.


I understand with the invention of the World Wide Web and today more and more parents are single and/or work 2 or more jobs that kids are susceptible to things. I can remember feeling depressed, overly sensitive and emotional, and anger. I was angry but I was never so angry that I wanted to end someone's life. I don't understand how one gets to that point. Then I think about how parents don't notice the change in their children. I am in NO way blaming the parents. Parents regardless of your jobs you are going to have to start talking to your kids and their schools. If teachers and schools won't talk to you or give you the run around-mostly because teachers are teaching more for less pay and schools are ill funded-then you show up at school! Demand they give you the 4-1-1 on YOUR kid! I am also not saying that all school shooting tragedies are the result of bullying. However, mental illness has many forms and we have to step it up with our kids. We have to get nosy! We have to look into their schools, friends, and internet activities. Drugs are not the only things you have to look for anymore. We have parented our kids in a Dr.Phil age and while I'm not blaming Dr.Phil but we've left them to their own devices instead of shepherding them down the right path. They're KIDS; if we're not there for them then who is? The internet? Really is that the tool you want to use to parent your children? I'm not a perfect parent. A few years ago I often wondered if I was even a good one. I had a teenager that was wrecking havoc and a son who was undiagnosed and having melt downs left and right. And yes, my son does have ADHD. I know a lot of children are misdiagnosed with that but I'm telling you that out of the many children I have been around, baby sat for, and even the Child Care and ECE classes I have taken I can honestly say I have never encountered a child like my 7 year old. I don't like that he takes medicine but the schools can't do anything-he's not learning as he should, and without his non stimulant medicine he can't function. We can't go really too many places with my son and unless you are wanting to have a nervous breakdown-Walmart is off limits. However, I am his mother and I love him and my daughter very much. I didn't bring them into this world to bury them or see them fail.


Folks get involved with your children. I know bills have to be paid and the economy sucks. However, you only get to be a parent for a little while. It's your responsibility to make sure you give them all the tools they need to grow into a stable functioning member of society and can support themselves. It's up to us to demand that our schools are funded so that teachers and staff can do the very best by our children and can pay attention to them.

I don't know what went on in this young man's head. He had written poems on his Facebook page and I just am left to wonder, who never noticed this kid? Who didn't see that his appearance had changed, his moods and attitude had changed, and he had withdrawn himself from things and people. I say this because on every Suicide hotline checklist-it's always those things that people look for when assessing if a person is depressed. Not all depressed people want to kill people. I don't want to get that stigma going. This boy will no doubt spend the remainder of his life behind bars or in some sort of institution. Parents will miss the children that this young man took from them. I like so many others just want to know what was in that gray area that led this young man to commit such a horrible crime and to have done one of the worst things a person can do: Take a life.

People pay attention to your children and students.