**Coming Soon**

I have started reading "Dragon Apocalypse The Complete Collection" by James Maxey

 

I must admit the cover art looks pretty awesome! Follow how far I am getting in the book on my goodreads account. Click the link below.

goodreads-ashley-blodgett

The Official Review Of Black City Demon

 Black City Demon

Release date: March 14th 2017

  Once again the New York Times Best Selling Author, Mr. Richard A Knaak, does not disappoint. His book, Black City Demon, the sequel to Black City Saint, has enthralled this reader. It’s excitable twists, inner conflict, and action packed adventure is the perfect continuation to Black City Saint. It embodies everything I would expect book two to be.

  Mr. Medea dives head first into murder, madness, and magic. The faithful shape-shifter, fetch, and his ever returning love, Claryce, are there once again to aid him in his efforts to keep the gate separating the two worlds- intact. Unlikely alliances and untrustworthy adversaries surround Nick again as he realizes that the evils of Feirie aren’t the only things Chicago needs protected from anymore.
I personally love sequels and series of books because they really divulge so much more information about the characters and their own personal stories within. You get attached as you realize that even the secondary characters in a story can be just as detailed and profound  as the main characters. I found that very thing in this book.

   I personally hope to see a third book coming out in the future. I have grown attached to this man who was once known as Saint George and everyone else who has been pulled into his world. Whether they wanted to be or not.

To get your copy go to:
amazon.com/Black-City-Demon
To read the first book, Black City Saint head here:
amazon.com/Black-City-Saint
To find out more about Richard A Knaak, go to his website at:
richardaknaak.com/
or follow him on Facebook at:
facebook.com/Richard-A-Knaak

Don't Drink The Water- A Mother Of Summit Elementary School Children

I will never forget the day my child came home with a paper from The Department Of Environmental Protection Bureau. In big bold letters i read "IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT LEAD IN YOUR DRINKING WATER." As a mother, my heart dropped. I continued reading the paper as i quickly hushed my children so i could considerate on what was suddenly put before me. I read the health effects of lead, sources of lead, and the steps you can take to reduce exposure.  Further down the paper i saw that tests were done August 15th, 2016, and August 29th, 2016.

Its the middle of January. My three children have spent roughly six hours a day, five days a week, for almost five months at that school being exposed to lead. I sat down in shock. I called my children's pediatricians' office and said my kids go to Summit, and I was requesting lead tests to be done. I took my 10 year old, 8 year old, and 6 year old to get blood drawn, and waited. Waited. And Waited.

 While i waited, I read what is considered safe levels of lead, and what wasn't. I read about a study that was conducted on young children who had lead levels between 5 and 10, and how learning disabilities, behavior problems, and increased chances of dropping out in high school were shown because the lead effects the Central Nervous System in the brain.

I cursed those who knew about the lead levels as i realized that lead poisoning wasn't the only thing i should of been worrying about.  You wouldn't believe my relief when i got the call with their results and found out my children all had below level one test results. Some lead yes, but nothing that could be deemed harmful in any way.

 I found out the superintendent knew about the lead levels from the news. He put me through that. The worry, the stress, the fear. It was his fault. He said he didn't understand the results of the water tests that shown unsafe levels of lead in the drinking water. I signed the petition for his resignation.

My kids went back to school after being reassured they would have no access to the unsafe water, and that they were working hard to fix the situation for our children. They were setting up lead tests for the kids in the school  nearly a WEEK AFTER I first got my letter, but hey, better late then never, right?  Unfortunately for those parents, that was cancelled the night before. Without notice or explanation, i received a call at 10 p.m on a Monday that school was cancelled for the rest of the week. It wasn't until I checked the news that i found out why. There was E-coli found in the underground levels of the water, but the filtration system kept it from even entering the school at all.

The news also informed me that they were fixing a previously closed down elementary school in town to transfer the children to, by the following Monday. Imagine that shock when the kids go to school and its a place they have never been, where they do not know where their classes are, let alone anything else.  A school that is in a location most perceive as a bad neighborhood. Where most say drug using is right across the street, and overdoses aren't uncommon behind a pizza place in the back of the school.

So lets take a minute to let this really sink in. The superintendent sees there's lead in the water, and ignores it. Only when cornered does he try to rectify the situation by working out a way to keep the kids in school learning, and being able to have safe drinking water again. He then sees E-coli that was filtered OUT of the water that wasn't even reaching our children in the first place, and decides to close school down completely and transfer them to a previously vacant school that he closed down almost two years prior.

Would you trust this man with the safety of your children? Does the above evidence show that what he does is what is in the best interest of the children? Does it sound reliable? Honest? Would you trust his choices? His judgement? Would you?

Should I?

Official Review Of Black City Saint

Black City Saint- written by Richard A Knaak              

Coming March 2016

    The difference between fiction and non-fiction is that fiction must be absolutely believable- Mark Twain

     This quote came to mind after reading Richard A Knaak's new book, Black City Saint. His ability to give us an alternate experience of the "Roaring Twenties" made his fiction novel seem believable. Al Capone and the Great Chicago Fire is well known to all, and he was able to give us a different view of it all.

     Black City Saint is set in Chicago in the 1920s following the Chicago fire. The main character, Nick Medea, guards the gate between our world and a more sinister world. Part of being the guardian is to protect the people of Chicago from the shadows who have somehow crossed over. Through it all, Nick must also save the reincarnation of the woman he loves, deal with treacherous people, and contain the one thing that could potentially destroy it all.....again.

     For me, this book housed some of my favorite aspects of the sci-fi/fantasy genre. Magic, heroes, love, and mystical creatures, are just a few examples. I enjoyed this so much that I found myself unable to put it down. I was immediately drown into it within the first curious page. The descriptive writing painted a clear picture, and I was enthralled by the main character through the whole book. I expected nothing less from a book written by such an iconic figure in the fantasy community.

                                                   EYE thoroughly enjoyed Black City Saint.

                                  (You will understand that after you read Black City Saint yourself.)

To follow Black City Saint until it is released go to :

www.richardaknaak.com

or

www.facebook.com/pages/Richard-A-Knaak/246792848679824

How I manage to work from home.

I want to earn some money while I am stay at home mom. I can't get a job,daycare is too expensive,  but I need to have one. I have joined an in home company before, but it just didn't work for me. 

Does that all sound familiar? That's exactly what I was going through too. As a blogger I am always looking for something to write, something to read, and something that might make me a few bucks. Being a stay at home mom, I barely have time for anything. I wasn't sure I could even add anything else to my plate. 

This is all I do:

Get three kids ready for school

- this entails toothpaste on their brushes, checking their teeth afterwards, telling my 2 girls to change their outfits at least twice, trying to explain to my son why night pants are NOT school clothes, do the girls hair, and watch from the door as they wait outside for the bus. (In case you are wondering, they eat at school) 

Take care if my toddler

- Toddler, need I say more? Well for me, this means fighting him to eat his breakfast because he stole 4 packs of crackers when I was watching the other children at the bus stop, hollering for him to stay out of the fridge, trying in vain to hide the coffee creamer,  giving him a snack, changing the cartoons 5 different times, asking him where he hid my phone, negotiating lunch menus, and asking him to take the toys out of the living room. 

Clean the house

-During all of the above I have to do the dishes for a house of 6 people (4 kids 2 adults), clean the bathroom 3 times because my toddler insists on being a big boy when it comes to using the potty, wipe off the table from breakfast, pick up the toys, run the sweeper to pick up the cracker crumbs, get the finger prints off the T.V before my husband sees, scrap last nights dinner off the stove, and let's not forget the pile of laundry in front of the washer and in each room. 

Influenster

I get vox boxes via Influenster. They send me products to test out, and then I do a short survey about them. Sometimes they ask for you to post pictures online, but for the most part it's quick and easy. This is a great way for me to get some free products for my family. If you are interested in Influenster, feel free to follow the link. I only have 17 spots open as of right now so if the link does not work, chances are it's because it's full. 

www.influenster.com/r/415970 
Swag bucksI watch videos, I do surveys, and I enter giveaways on this site. It gives me access to a points system. 500 points gives you a $5.00 gift card to many things such as Amazon.com. It's not something I do often, but it definitely helps with my families spending. To join swags bucks simple message me your email and I will send the invite that way. 

Writing

I write for myself, and I also try to write a few articles online to make some money. Sometimes it can take me an hour to research the topic at hand and finish the piece. Other times they want 1,000 words on  dog food and it gets a bit harder. When that happens, I'm looking at like 4 hours when you take in consideration all the stops when my children need something. 

The money I make from writing so far has excitingly covered some of my bills. Okay, one bill. Okay fine, Netflix. It covers Netflix. Yes, I write my butt off for less then a penny a word, and since I need some exposure I also try to write as a guest blogger on other sites. It takes up a lot of my time yes, it may not be worth the money either, but I enjoy it. To me, it's worth it. 

text broker.com is where I get my articles. 

Direct Sales

Ah yes, in home companies. Almost every stay at home mom has at least in one point in her life, joined an in home party company. For me, this is my second. Second and last. I researched, and I found the best in home company for me. One with products that I love, and something that is not too popular in my area so I wasn't competing with other consultants for sales. After all, if you know at least 10 consultants from the same DS company, it's probably safe for you NOT to join. If everyone you know has heard of, and bought from that company for the past few years, and STILL has the stuff they bought, probably a good idea NOT to join. 

Maybe I am crazy, but I hate being bored. I hate doing nothing, but I want to stay at home. I also wanted to find something that I enjoy doing that is going to make money. Since my love of writing wasn't earning me significant money, I chose a direct sales company. I found TONS of free books for the kindle on social media marketing, and after about a week of research, I chose the company that I wanted to work for. I chose Jewelry In Candles. 

Jewelry In Candles is only 2 years old. They are growing fast because they have an amazing product that has residual income for the REPS. These candles burn for an amazing 100+ hours. After that, your customers will return to you for more. Returning customers are a very important and with JIC they return not only because the jewelry could be valued at $10-$10,000, they are made of soy, or even because you can easily reuse the jar. They return because the candles smelled AMAZING! 

Another reason why I chose them was because I can sell these to anyone. I am not hindered by age requirements, latest fashionistas, or make up lovers. I can sell these to anyone because almost everyone loves candles and tarts, AND they have JEWELRY inside which sets them above a normal everyday, over priced candle or tart. 

If you are reading this, you were in the same boat I was, and looking for something that might finally help you to row faster. If so, think about getting in touch with me. I'll talk to you and see if JIC is right for you too. 

www.jewelryincandles.com/store/ashley_blodgett 

Facebook 

www.facebook.com/jicashleyblodgett 

Official Review Of Guardian Of The Gauntlet.

Official review of Guardian OF The Gauntlet by Lenita Sheridan

The Guardian Of The Gauntlet is a story about two sisters who are thrown into a crazy situation which all started with a prince named Denir. These two princesses undergo some strange occurances, due to a mysterious gauntlet, and throughout their adventure they get to encounter even more mysterious creatures. 

In my opinion, this story shouldn't be set as a young adult novel, but instead as a children's chapter book geared toward ages 6-13. Both of my daughters enjoyed me reading it to them since the writing came off as someone telling a story vs. experiencing it. The length of the book also compliments that age group over young adults.

This is a great way to teach children to believe in themselves, and that they can do what they set their minds to. I think the basic outline was nice, and if a few things were fixed it could become a very popular book for young children. 

For me, the story could benefit greatly from a editor. There were a lot of technical mistakes, and contradicting sentences. In a story of that size, only pertinent information should be explained. There was a lot more stagnation then progress in the story. Then when there was progress, it seemed be over very quickly.

Also, I really didn't not like the promotion for another book half way through the first chapter. "If you wish to read more of ........, and now it's time to get back to the princesses and their castle." It completely broke the story in my opinion.  Again, an editor would be able to fix such things for the story to come out in the best way possible. 

I had a hard time familiarizing myself with the characters and what drove them throughout the story. They seemed almost flat, which can lead to people feeling like they are horribly shallow.  I often felt myself thinking "why" in regards to motivations. The only character development from any of them came at the very end of the book with Camari , and even then it was random. Nothing let up to her change except that she said she had for some reason. 

I believe the story has promise. It could become a beautiful story. It is in there, I read it, it just needs to be polished. In my opinion, a writer creates a story, and an editor projects it. Without both coming together this story might not reach the heights it could. 

The Official Review Of The Janus Mask

Official Review Of The Janus Mask by Richard A Knaak

Baron Mandrol is the ruler of Medecia who shows his many triumphs over his foes in the form of his death masks. His greatest rival, Vikor Falsche, is one such mask. In an attempt to showcase his triumph, Vikor was granted one last chance to finish what he started. Unfortunately for Vikor, his mask was not designed to last forever. 

For me, I was quite worried at first. The beginning  with the alchemist and the farmer, coupled with the description of the book made me assume he was going to cut someone's face off. I have read several of Mr. Knacks books and his descriptive sentences made me believe that this part would be as descriptive as it could be. My stomach was much obliged that my assumption was wrong! 

I personally enjoyed the book. It enthralled me throughout the story, and there was never a boring moment for me. I was pleasantly surprised at his ability to explain the death masks without me imagining a bloody piece of skin. It is actually nothing like that at all! My preconceptions of the book were completely wrong. The death masks were almost a tribute of sorts. Like an interpretation of that person more then their actual face. It was somewhat poetic to me.  

I would recommend this book to the fans out there that enjoy sci-if and fantasy. The action, adventure, unexpected moments, and twinge of forbidden love will make any avid reader enjoy this book. I was very happy to have this chance to review The Janus Mask. 

As always, Mr. Knaak did not disappoint with this book. 

To find this book and any others he has written go to : 

Www.richardaknaak.com

http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5369.Richard_A_Knaak

A special thanks to Mr. Knaak for the opportunity to officially review one of his amazing books. 

To my blog followers: stay tuned in the upcoming months for one last taste of what he has to offer his fans!! 

Want your book reviewed?

Welcome to the book review page for Anything Or Everything.

If you have a book you would like to have reviewed please fill out the contact form on the bottom right of the blog. Some people in the mobile version may not see it, if that is the case simply switch to the desktop view or comment below and I will get ahold of you.

You can also go to my facebook page which is available on the right side of my blog. Simply click it and follow it to facebook.

Or follow:  www.facebook.com/anythingoreverythingblog

Currently I am reading a book and have two other books in the ready to review as well. If you don't mind the wait then by all means get in touch with me.

I do not get paid to write reviews therefore they are completely, sometimes brutally, honest. Keep that in mind when you want me to review your book.

An Interview With Richard A Knaak

     Do you know World Of Warcraft, Diablo, or Legends Of The Dragonrealm? If so, then you know  New York Times Best Selling Fantasy Author, Richard A Knaak. He has written over sixty books throughout his career. Some of the more popular ones include: Six novels for Blizzard Entertainments Diablo series, ten volumes for the Warcraft universe, ten volumes of The Dragonrealm books, five Dragonlance books (as well as a few short stories), and many more. 

I was given the opportunity to interview this iconic figure in the sci-fi/fantasy community. In this interview I got to ask some of the questions that his fans have been dying to know. The best part is, this is only the first insight I am giving you. Make sure to stay tuned to find out what else is in store for Richard A Knaak fans.

Writing Questions

1. What made you start writing?

From the first moment I was able to read, I wanted to create my own stories.  I enjoyed leaping into worlds created by others, but soon began crafting new ones.  I just enjoy storytelling.

2.Do you outline your books, or do you let the story create itself as it goes?

A combination of both.  It's good to have some sort of synopsis or outline, but for the story to live, you have to let it guide you as work.  Often, it'll head in a far better direction than you intended.

3. On average, how long does it take you to write a book?

It varies from a few months to a year, usually.  Depends on the project and whether it's one of my stories or written for someone else.

4. Besides your upcoming book, Black City Saint, are you currently working on anything else?

My latest Dragonrealm novel  --- The Horned Blade --- is just out.  I'm working on a new Pathfinder novel, more Dragonrealm, plotting a possible sequel to Black City Saint, and other things I can't mention at this time.

Book Questions

1. What inspired your novel Black City Saint, which is coming out March 2016?

I've always been fascinated by the legend of St. George and the Dragon and as someone who grew up near Chicago, I was also very familiar with the era of Al Capone and Prohibition.  At some point, the two interests crossed and I began putting together the story.

2. Can You give us a small hint on what we can expect from Black City Saint?

Nick Medea plays ghostbuster in 1920s Chicago, but he is in reality the reluctant guardian of the gateway between the mortal plane and Feirie.  That means making certain that elements from both sides of the gateway --- especially the Wyld, the worst of the Feiriefolk --- do not upset the balance and bring both worlds into jeopardy.  Of course, that in some ways is among the lesser of Nick's concerns.  There is the newest reincarnation of the woman he loves, the woman whose life he has failed to save each time she's reappeared.  There's an old evil stirring in the midst of the bootlegger wars.

And worse, there's the dragon.  The dragon Nick slew long ago, not realizing it was actually the guardian of the gateway.  The dragon he slew when he was but the Roman officer who would later be known in legend as Saint George.

But wait!  There's more...in the book. 

3.You have many world within your books, some even hold multiple worlds. Which world is your favorite?

I can't really say I have any favorites, although obviously the Dragonrealm is dear to my heart.

Why?

It was there in the beginning and has been a part of my writing throughout.  Fourteen novels and seven novellas thus far, with more on tap.

4.According to some websites, The Legends Of The Dragonrealm are your top rated books. Why do you think that is?

The Dragonrealm has really touched those readers who enjoy high fantasy.  It has a number of characters who are fan favorites, such as Darkhorse, Cabe Bedlam, The Lady of the Amber, and the Gryphon, plus the Dragon Kings, naturally.

Informative Questions

1.Do you plan on adding any more books that follow The Legend Of The Dragonrealm story line?

The third book in the Turning War, which actually deals with Cabe Bedlam's grandfather, is just out.  Now I'm working on the beginning of KNIGHTS OF THE FROST, the first in the Dragon Throne Trilogy.  This returns us to Cabe Bedlam's timeline.  It features old faces, new faces, and unexpected threats that will change the Dragonrealm.

2. How many books are there all together?

As mentioned above, 14 novels, 7 novellas.

3.Do you accept fan art on any of your sites?

It's always interesting to see art based on my work.  It's always good for readers to email me first, just in case.

4.Where can all your fans find you?

WEBSITE

www.richardaknaak.com/welcome.html

CONTACT

raknaak@sbcglobal.net

FACEBOOK

www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=246792848679824&tsid=0.3503892626196&source=typeahead

TWITTER

@RichardAKnaak

GOODREADS

www.goodreads.com/author/show/5369.Richard_A_Knaak 

AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE

www.amazon.com/Richard-A.-Knaak/e/B000AP5ZFA

Personal Questions 

1. Do you personally respond to each fan?

It's not possible, but I try to answer many.  I do read all my email, though.

2. Which book holds your favorite cover?

Too many favorites

3. Which book was your favorite to write?

Are you asking me to choose among my children?  I'll admit that beyond the Dragonrealm, I'm definitely looking forward to Black City Saint coming out.

4. What advise would your younger self if you could?

Write harder, damn it!

A big thanks to Richard A Knaak for accepting my interview, and taking the time to answer all of my questions!! 

If any of his fans have comments or questions leave them at the bottom, or follow the links above to talk to him directly. As stated before, make sure to stay tuned to this blog for more exciting information I will have on Richard A Knaak's upcoming novel- Black City Saint.

Review Of Online Book Club

I wasn't sure if this website was all I had read about. The fact was that I love to read. I also have an author friend that let me review some his books. That made me realize how much I would love to be able to review books, and even interview the authors who wrote them. That is the main reason I began to google" book reviewer" in the first place.

When I found onlinebookclub.org I was iffy to say the least. After all, I am an inspiring writer and not an official book reviewer. I learned real quick that almost everyone who posts on the forums aren't official book reviewers so to speak. They are regular people who have a love for reading and enjoy writing their opinions on said books.

After a little while I reviewed my first book-Holding Fire. I was nervous about the whole thing. I was hoping that after the first review I might actually be able to be paid to review more books. It wasn't until I read the entire website through that I realized it goes by a certain score.

This score is actually a brilliant idea. They don't want poorly written reviews, and they don't want anyone who isn't actively participating in their website to get money for it. They want professional standards and well written, HONEST reviews.  If I paid someone to review a book, or even get a $5-$20 book for free, I would want the same thing. Otherwise it would be a waste of money.

I am currently "up-ing" my score so I can get better access to more books. I can't wait to see what else they might have in store for me. If you have any questions, or want to know how my journey with them is going, feel free to comment below and I will get back to you.

To check them out yourself go:

onlinebookclub.org

PTSD

PTSD, (Post Traumatic Brain Disorder), holds a special place in my heart. Over the course of eight years my husband has gone through the good, the bad, and the extremely ugly parts of that condition. I can be difficult to handle it, and all the many trials that come with it.

That is why I wrote this article I am sharing at the bottom of this post. I hope it can help a lot of people the way it has helped him. There are few things that people should know about PTSD, and this article tells you what that is.

Like it, Share, it, Send it to someone who might benefit from the information.

http://www.top10listland.com/top-10-things-you-should-know-about-ptsd/

Official Review Of Holding Fire: Short Stories Of Self Destruction

 Holding fire: Short Stories Of Self Destruction

I rate this book 3 out of 4 stars

   My rate of 3 is based off the fact that the number four rating is saved for books I feel are perfect. Shakespeare, Charles Dickenson, Harper Lee, are  saved for a four star. This book got a 3 because I believe it was a very good book with very good stories.

   This book has ten short stories compiled together. Each with its own story, but all  with a common theme- self destruction. "The self destructiveness of vengeance and hate", was a contest where hundreds of writers sent in their stories in the hopes of winning. This book holds the top ten favorite stories that were hand picked by a panel of volunteer judges.

   Short stories are great for people who want to read, but don't have the time to dedicate a lot of time to do it. I know so many people who have told me that they want to read, but often leave a book half finished. The problem with that is often times they have to reread something that they let sit because they don't remember what the book was about. With a book comprised of short stories you can get to the end of the story much quicker.

   These short stories, for me, were pretty good. Most of them gave me an "ah ha!" feeling at the end.  By some twist of luck, most often the fate for another was destined for themselves. I personally like those sort of stories. It really boils down to common things we all can identify with. Stones at glass houses, reap what you sow, and treat others the way you want to be treated.

   Now not all of the stories inside the book were like that, they were just the ones I preferred over the others. Now that, again, is my personal preferences. All the stories in Holding Fire were very good, and the information after each story gave me a brief insight into the author that wrote it. You will find that you like some stories better then others as well, but that is to be expected. Everyone is as different as the stories they read.

If something like this sounds like something you might like the follow this to find it:

http://forums.onlinebookclub.org/shelves/book.php?id=11070

Letter To My Future Self-writing promp

Dear Published Author,

     I addressed this letter to published author because I am certain that at some point in the future you will be. I am determined to learn what I can in order to become what I hope to be. I am not foolish enough to believe I am as good as any of the greats, but I know eventually I might be at least good enough to  be published. My dream is to have at least one book on the New York Best Seller list, BUT I am NOT getting my hopes up.
 
     When you read this I know you will be thinking back to the day you sat in the living room during naptime. You think about hollering, and being interrupted by the latest sibling rivalry as the laundry by Tim's chair reminds you that there is other work to be done. Times like this I really wonder how I can keep my train of thought. It can be frustrating trying to remember what was in my head right before one of the kids asked me something.

     If I could picture you now, I would see a woman with a notebook and computer sitting in a coffee shop ignoring the world so she can write a whole chapter in one day! The children will all be in school, and you will get a call from your agent saying that your third book was a hit! You will smile and continue writing so you can get your work done in time to start dinner for when your family gets home.

(OKAY SO IT MAYBE A LOT OF WISHFUL THINKING HERE!)

   I don't want much in life, and thankfully Tim doesn't expect much from me. There is something special to be said about a guy who lets me try to pursue my dreams.  Especially considering I  make $0.00 unless you count the $50 a month when I do random articles for someone. He doesn't hold the lack of income against me, and he doesn't run out of patience. His support is why I know I will be published one day.

     I know I am not the perfect writer. I make mistakes, and my writing needs some work. I also know that one day that will change. The more I write the better it will get. The harder I try, the easier it will become. I will never give up on the one thing that I could do for the rest of my life. I don't just write stuff. I am a writer, and one day I will be an author.
  
    Dragon wish is going to soar! I can feel it. That story has so much potential. The story line, the romance, and the magic gets you sucked into it constantly.  No matter how many times you read, rewrite, and change it your still immersed into the book. This is your story. The story you have always pictured in your head. It will go places. Don't give up on it.

     I hope you are where you want to be in the future, but if you aren't then don't worry. You will be happy as long as you keep writing. I know I will be okay because I don't write for money or fame. I write for the stories. They deserve to be written. It makes me happy. It makes you happy.

    Sincerely,
      wanna-be writer 
   

Manipulation

You Know Who You Are,

     Your girlfriend works tirelessly to ensure she is the only one there for you. Your family is at a distance, your children are gone, and your so-called-friends are a serous let down. Have you ever sat there and wondered why that is? Does her voice ring in your head telling you she is the only one who cares? Do you feel as if you would be alone if you didn't have her? Is she REALLY the only one who gets you, or is that what she has made you believe?

     There is a word for what she has done- Manipulation. The definition- to manipulate is to control or influence  (a person, or situation) cleverly, unfairly, or unscrupulously. The definition of psychological manipulation is a type of social influence that aims to change the perception or behavior of others through underhanded, deceptive, or abusive tactics.  As an overview, there are two things that primarily contributes to psychological manipulation. Concealing aggressive intentions and behavior, and knowing the vulnerabilities of a person well  enough to know what tactics are most likely to be the most effective weapon against them. This is most often accomplished through carefully veiled and subtle acts that are not easily detected by the person.

     Manipulators often have significant disturbances of character such as little to no conscience and sensitivity. They can be deceitful, controlling, compelling, self-conscious, paranoid, enjoys a good fight, holds grudges, and are emotionally unpredictable or numb. They can use tactics similar to playing the victim, shaming, anger, denial, diversion, confusion, evasion, gaslighting (a form of psychological abuse used to manipulation events in order to confuse, and cause a person to second guess themselves and others), lies of omission ( telling the truth but withholding parts in order for something to seem other then what it was),sexual gratification, projecting the blame, loss, and rationalization mostly coupled by guilt tripping to wind up evoking sympathy. 

     As I am sure you have realized that most of that sounds familiar. The type of people they tend to prey on are people who like to see the good in everyone, people who forgive others, and who give the benefit of doubt. The core reason they prefer these people are because they can easily be forgiven using the tactics above. This ensures their place with the one they want to manipulate. When there are other people who influence the person they quickly devise ways to get rid of them. They give things (children, gifts, love, security, ect.) to a person and take it away making the person believe they alone are essential to that persons happiness.

     The more you think about everything the more you will see that you wouldn't of chosen the path you are on now. You wouldn't be where you are now. It explains why you are different when you are in jail, a place she can't get to manipulate your choices. Would you have forgiven anyone else for the things she has done? Who are you when she isn't around? Who are you when she is? Is there a difference? Truly think about it, and make your decision without her input.

     This is your life, and no one else can live it but you.You know deep down inside what she really is. The only thing that has ever stopped you from getting rid of her was because she somehow made you feel like you needed her. As if without her you would have no one, but that not at all true. You will have your entire family back, and most importantly- freedom.

     Don't let her tell you this letter is anything other then what it is. Information is all I am providing you. A true manipulator will try to discredit, or destroy this so you won't believe it. The number one thing a psychological manipulator does is convinces a person of the choice they should make without the person even knowing. Don't let her make your choice about this letter.

A Tiny Peek At My Book Dragon Wish

     " No time Rose I have been here long enough. He took his claws and began to scratch the carvings on the ceiling above him. He dug for a long while without a break until they both heard a roar above them. Rose smiled and knew it was Greylin.

      " Friend of yours?" He asked as he returned to his digging.

      Rose felt energy return to her body. She closed her eyes as her body returned to normal. The stone carvings above them were finally broken. The dragon before her closed his eyes as well, basking in the feelings of rejuvenation. She watched as vines and roots of trees grew quickly toward the ceiling to finish crumbling the stone above them. The dragon grabbed Rose with his claws and held her to his belly. He left through the hole in the ceiling, and she watched as walls collapsed around them. He roared as he burst through the top of the building and began to fly higher in the sky.

      The whiplash from the dragons quick take-off made Rose want to vomit, but she held it in. This was nothing like the ride she took on her blue dragon. This was more frightening, and so she held onto his claws for dear life as he rose farther in the sky.

      " I believe this belongs to you blue dragon." He roared capturing Greylins attention. " Be gentle friend, the humans injured her."

      He extended Rose out before him, a clear indication for Greylin to take her. Dragons can be very territorial with what they believe to be theirs. If anyone's, Rose was Greylin's. The two dragons stared for a moment, which only upset Rose more. If she slipped out of his grip, instant death for her and the unborn child would follow. She braced a foot on the bottom claw, and tried to find something more stable for her hands to grasp. His grasp was the only thing Rose had around her. It was the first time she truely felt like a small being. These two huge dragons could fit her in the palm of their hands.

      Well, more like their sharp, scaly claws, she thought.

      She looked down and saw a large drop underneath her feet. She glaced at Greylin pleading him to get her out of this dragons grasp. His eyes met hers, and he instantly knew what she wanted, and so he took her immediately to fly away. The air was so cold she could almost see her breathe. They landed on the outside of the wall, and Greylin shifted to his human form.

      He ran up to her and picked her up. His arms, normally so comforting, squeezed her back causing pain to pulsate throughout her. She wailed in pain making Greylin instantly release her. He turned her around to see what caused her such pain. His face froze as instant rage coursed through him. Someone hurt what was his. The woman he swore to protect. She was bleeding through her cloths in almost perfect lines across her back. She was whipped repeatedly, and he knew someone would pay for what they did.

Why do woman "Let Themselves Go"

Woman can be fickle creatures. One of the most confusing things to men is why woman let themselves go after a certain time in a serious relationship or marriage. It confused a man when she no longer shaves, plucks, primps, applies, and pretties herself up. I am here to answer that questions.

In my opinion, as a woman who has "let herself go", I believe it has to do with a few things. The number one reason I no longer actively wear make-up, and no longer do my hair, is because I am no longer searching for male attention. As a woman, we do those things in an effort to rise above the rest of the woman looking for male attention. It can be boiled down to basic animal instincts. It's like a peacock showing how pretty its feathers are so they can gain the notice of a prospective mate.

 As we get into a relationship we no longer need to win the attentions of other men. We also feel secure enough in our position with our man that we actually learn to feel just as pretty without those things as we do when we have it on. This, is all your fault. I say that, because you work very hard to make your woman feel pretty. You compliment her, and build her up to the point to where she no longer feels the need to add to herself in order to be attractive to you. She knows you love her for who she is, and not what she puts on. That alone makes her feel beautiful. Therefore, her need to "look pretty" is gone when she is already pretty to you.

Some other reasons are what is commonly known as: Stay At Home Mom Syndrome.  If your significant other spends the majority of her time at home, then why wouldn't she be in comfortable clothing. No one is going to judge her at home, and there is no good reason to stain her favorite shirt with baby spit-up when her comfy pants and oversized t-shirt are already stained. Comfort at home is a must when you are a stay at home mother. After scrubbing the floors there is no point in nail polish either. Sorry to say, but nail polish is for the girls who don't do dishes multiple times a day, and scrub all the many surfaces. She is lucky if she doesn't have odd shaped nails more often then not.

There is also the fact that shaving, plucking, applying, blow drying, styling, and designing is no longer worth it. The tight restrictive cloths we somehow shimmy ourselves into loose their appeal as well. When we clean, cook, tend to the children, shop, and all the many other things we do, tending to ourselves is longer worth the time and energy. Why would I spend the time making myself appear as something other then what I actually look? Why bother when my family loves me just as I am? Why make myself look different for a man who thinks I'm beautiful as I am? Why waste the time I could be spending doing any other number of numerous things?

I don't need to make myself look better in an effort to attract a man. I don't need to make myself "look beautiful" to feel beautiful. I already feel that way because of my significant other. I no longer need to do any of it, because I don't have a good enough reason to do it. That, in a nut shell, is why woman let themselves go. 

Good Content Writing

If you are reading this then you are curious enough to check out my writing capabilities, or trying to improve your own. There are a few way to showcase writing abilities when writing articles for people online.

Some of these ways include but are not limited to:

-Writing lists 

       + Writing lists can be tricky since most of the time people who look at online lists are known for skimming through them. It is important to grab their attention quickly, because people want to see the information that brought them there in the first place.

-Keeping readers engaged 

        + This is one of the most important things when writing. No one wants an article half read before it gets boring which  makes you loose a potential follower to a site, or blog. Make the content engaging, upbeat, and entertaining. 

- Keep your content "short and sweet"

        + The reason for this is that most of the time  people read the first two sentences of a paragraph before moving on to the next. Of that on average, viewers will look over the first three paragraphs and then decide if the material is worth finishing.  At that moment they will decide if the page they  are on is even right for them. This is a key point for search engine optimization. 

-Search Engine Optimization (SEO) 

        + The closer your article is to what they are searching, the more likely they are to read it in full. Great back links, keywords, and choosing the right headline are important. Using search engine optimization can make a website one of the top on the list when people use Google, Bing, and Yahoo search. 

Understanding search engine optimization (SEO), keeping content short, having readers engaged, and lists can be very benificial when showcasing what type of work you can do for people who own websites, or blogs looking for the right writer for their specific needs. 

Freelance Writing

I recently began Freelance writing in an effort to gain a little bit of extra cash doing what I love. I must say I fell in love quickly. There are a few sites I am looking at to expand my options. I must admit there is something thrilling about getting an E-mail saying “Congratulations your article has been accepted.” As a writer you don’t get to hear that too often.
Starting Out
I began writing small $0.80 articles to test the waters. They were short and easy so I began to move up from  those to bigger assignments. Now, keep in mind I do not make that much money writing these articles. Just starting out means you do not have the qualifications or experience to get paid very high.
Once your work begins to showcase you will find yourself climbing up to higher paid articles. For example a person starting out would get paid almost $1.00 for 100 words. When you move up you might get paid $2.00 for 100 words. Move further still and you could make even more. I saw a top rated article go for $40.00 for 700 words about SEO (search engine optimization). I wrote an article for same topic and got $5.00.
As you can see there is a latter of progression in freelance writing, but it doesn’t happen overnight. As a primary income I wouldn’t suggest Freelance writing until you progress enough that you make the bigger bucks.
Benefits
The benefits of Freelance writing goes further when you realize it can significantly improve your writing. Think of them as good writing exercises. When taking a creative writing class they often give you writing prompts to get you to write all kinds of things. The more you write the more you improve so why not get paid to practice your craft.
Another benefit is that it can be an added experience to put into query letters if you are a novelist just starting out. Most publishers and literary agents want to see some history of your work. Proof that your writing is good enough is a great way to start. New writers don’t have published work, and so being able to put something is better then nothing.
Websites
I can’t give a decent review on two of the sites I started on since I literally just started with them. I have yet to write an article for Odesk and iWriter. They seem like great sites I just haven’t found an article to write yet.
Textbroker is the site I fell in love with. You have 24 hours to write the article you choose. It’s great for a person like me since I have four small children and can’t always sit for 2 hours straight. With them I can choose an article and complete it during naptime then choose another and do that one at bedtime. If I can’t get to the article by naptime it’s okay too since I have 24 hours I can do it later.
Love What You Do
The first $5.00 I made I literally jumped for joy because I was getting paid to write. I couldn’t believe it. In a matter of two weeks I wrote fifty articles anywhere from 100 words to 1200 words. The best part about it is that you can choose which ones you want to write.
The fact of the matter is in life a person is happiest when they are doing what they love. If you are trying to make a living with your writing, but don’t know how then maybe Freelance writing is something to look into. It won’t make millions but some money is better then none. 

I'll Always Wait For You

        I can loose all possessions,
        I can loose the house,
        I can loose my friends,
and be as worthless as a mouse.
But all that wouldn't matter for all I want is you,
and that's why you should know I'll always wait for you.
        I can have another,
        I can have myself,
        I can have a separate life,
or have sex with someone else.
but all that wouldn't matter for all I want is you,
and that's why you should know I'll always wait for you.
        I can only be a friend,
        I can only be a wife,
        I can only be a mother,
and that's perfectly alright.
because THAT is all that matters for all I want is you,
and that's why you should know I'll always wait for you.

 **Dedicated to my husband during his deployment**

im yours by ashley