Do you know someone who is so effortlessly cool, calm and collected that nothing ever ruffles their feathers? Do you find yourself wondering how they do it, so comfortable being themselves without a care in the world? Do you wish you could have even half of the confidence they have in order to erase self-doubt and stop worrying about what other people are thinking about you?
This book spills the secrets of highly confident people, not just of their natural responses and reactions to everyday situations, but also their unique thought process that sets them apart from the rest of society.
It shows common behaviours that aren’t beneficial to self and the importance of self-love in building successful relationships. Amazingness Keys in each chapter will help you develop higher levels of self-confidence and ultimately revolutionise your relationships with self, family, friends, romantic partners and professional colleagues.
Although a rare species, the horriusfurrius or as it’s more commonly known, the furry horror, is indigenous to any household where a persuasive youngster duped parents into believing they would groom and tidy up after their dog and then didn’t.
This juvenile of deception, this emotional chameleon is a genius at manipulation. They cry, they beg, they even do a few chores to prove they’re responsible, until finally the once skeptical elders believe their child’s sincerity and relent.
The family then goes to the pet store and adopts a fluffy puppy along with all the food, bedding and grooming supplies it requires. By the time mom and dad pay the bill, the puppy has enchanted everyone.
On the drive home, reminders and promises are reiterated that it’s the child’s responsibility to take care of the puppy and the child agrees. For the first few days, everything seems to work out; the child amicably takes the puppy for a walk and cleans up after it.
Then, little by little the child becomes neglectful, whining when they have to clean up the dog’s poop or take it for a walk around the block; refusing to brush the pup’s fur to combat the endless shedding.
The well-intentioned and doting parents, regularly plead with their child to follow through with their obligation, giving their child a long window of opportunity to prove their integrity before finally cleaning up the pet’s mess themselves.
The one in the photograph before you flourishes in the wilds of The Ralph Household of Biscayne Drive in Philadelphia, PA. I’ve been told it’s one of the worst ever captured. The agony these brave parents endured is commendable but completely unnecessary. The fools!
According to Mr. Neat, (a distant cousin of Mr. Clean), furry horrors lurk in carpets and upholstery; they linger on floors and walls, anywhere a shedding dog traipses.
As furrylings they appear innocuous, tiny tufts gather together in flimsy clumps on stairs and hang out in bedroom corners. You may often find them drifting across the floor when you walk. A frail and harmless ball of fur. Do not be fooled! These creatures thrive under complacency.
The multiply! They scheme! They become arrogant and bold, lying out in the open, flaunting their stringy constitutions at parents as they walk in the front door after a hard day’s work.
When a virtuous cleaner tidies up their home, the furry horrors converge and funnel into a more substantial form through vacuum cleaners or brooms. Beware!
If left unchecked, they grow rather large. As you can see, the one in the photo evolved and grew a tail. Do not let this happen. Think of it like a game of Hangman, the more body parts it gets, the worse it is.
I must stress that unlike Hangman the furry horror is no game. They are consumed with unhealthy microbes and respiratory irritants that cause infection and trigger asthma attacks.
Fortunately, for the Ralph’s, the mother contained and disposed of this one before it required a hazmat team. Someone get that woman some hand sanitizer and a glass of sangria stat!
By
way of introduction to Ariel Bernstein, here is the bio from her Amazon page.
It captured her personality so perfeclty; I had to use it.
Ariel Bernstein is a writer of picture books and chapter books. She lives in New Jersey with her family, many mismatched socks, and the occasional balloon.
I think it shows how witty and lighthearted she is. Someone like that makes the perfect children’s author.
Now that I’ve introduced you to Ariel, let’s get to know her a little better.
Warren and Dragon are setting out on their most unspooky, totally normal, not-scary-at-all adventure yet…their first sleepover!
Warren is a seven-year-old boy and Dragon is part stuffed animal, part fierce dragon, part best friend–depending on what part you believe most. And Michael is their new friend and next-door neighbor. When Michael invites them over to go “camping” in his basement, the dynamic duo don’t know whether they’re more excited or nervous about it. This is their very first sleepover. EVER. Sure, Michael promised there would be not one but two desserts to look forward to. But he also said he wants to swap–gulp–scary stories. Warren can think of nothing more embarrassing than calling his parents to pick him up early from a sleepover, but how is he supposed to fall asleep in a dark basement full of mysterious and unfamiliar noises?
Hello, Ariel, welcome to Angel Kiss Publications.
Thank you for having me.
What inspired you to be a writer?
I was inspired to write just by reading
books that I loved. They made me want to create stories that would make others
laugh and imagine things.
Is writing your full-time profession?
It is!
How long have you been writing?
I’ve been writing off and on since high school. But in terms of children’s literature, about 5 years.
How many books have you written?
Too many to count! But in terms of books
that have or will be published, the number is seven (so far).
Which genres do you write?
I write fictional stories, mostly with lots of humor.
What do you find most challenging writing
for these genres?
Making sure that the reader will get my
sense of humor! What seems obviously funny to me is not always apparent to
someone else.
What are you working on now?
I’m working on more picture books and an
early reader series.
Where do you find inspiration for your
characters?
Honestly, inspiration can come anywhere at any time! Whenever I find something extra interesting, funny, scary, etc., it makes me wonder if there’s a story waiting to be told.
What has been your most rewarding experience
since publishing your work?
Getting to read my books to kids and seeing
their reactions. I love to hear them laughing at the funny parts and answering
all their questions.
What advice would you give to authors just
starting out?
Find a great critique group who will give you honest, helpful feedback.
What message are you sharing in your
books?
I try to make my messages subtle so the
reader doesn’t feel like the story is weighed down by them. But usually they
are about appreciating what you already have.
What are your favorite books/authors?
So many! My favorite picture book of all
time is Maurice Sendak’s OUTSIDE OVER THERE. And I will always love Roald
Dahl’s THE WITCHES, which is one of the books that inspired me to create my own
stories.
For “grown-up” books, I enjoy short story
collections by Kelly Link and Jhumpa Lahiri.
What are your favorite movies, TV
shows?
I really enjoyed VEEP. For movies, I can watch MEET ME IN ST. LOUIS anytime and get pulled right back in.
When you’re not writing where can we find
you?
Hanging out with my family.
A movie producer wants to turn your book into
a movie and you get to make a cameo. What would you do in the movie?
I haven’t written this yet, but it would be
a scene on a beach where I am in the background, relaxing with a cool
drink.
Obviously, I would have to spend a lot of time preparing for the role.
An elf named 12-25 approaches you. He’s
sneezing, wheezing, coughing and there’s a strange tattoo of a snoring dog on
his cheek. What do you do?
I suppose I’d ask if he needed a tissue and
some water.
Do you have a website/Facebook page, etc?
I do! On Facebook you can find me
@ArielBBooks, and my website is: https://www.arielbernsteinbooks.com.
Where can we find your books?
You can find my books in libraries and bookstores (or requested if they are not there). Also, my books can be ordered through IndieBound, Barnes & Noble, and Amazon.
Thank you, Ariel, for spending time with us and sharing your story. We wish you continued success and lots of luck!
Laura
Danco, a young talented designer, returns to her favourite city after studying
and working in the UK. She’s excited to meet her best friends, but soon her
happiness turns bitter.
Friends
tell Laura about a new controlling institution, the Department of Censorship.
All media sources are under control, the opposition is destroyed completely,
minorities are under threat. Everyone
who resists is obliterated.
Laura tries to push her life back on
track—friends, relationships, travels, parties… Everything changes when a
reputable design company employs her as an assistant to a dangerously
attractive, scandalous architect, Daniel Polanskiy, whose ambitious and
outstanding projects don’t comply with the government views and its dictated
taste.
The
situation becomes even more complicated, when Laura meets her uni-mate from the
UK, Mark Evans. Completely lost between two absolutely different
characters—friendly, amiable Mark and sophisticated, bad-tempered, but
ingenious Daniel—she struggles to whom to give her heart.
The future looks bleak for Laura, as the company gets into trouble, when the Tax Office conducts a detailed financial audit, the Department gives Daniel the final warning, and one of Laura’s friends is killed. Going through so many challenges, will friends find their way to follow?
Three years have passed since Laura Danco and her friends left St. Petersburg. Isaac and Dr. Levit continue to work together on their top secret project Angels of Zion. The main purpose being to create an army of ultimate soldiers—the kainomorphs—the clones whose physical abilities and strength exceeds humans.
When the project goes out of control, one of the kainomorphs goes rogue, Dr. Levit is attacked and subsequently dies, Isaac and Miri have no choice, but to follow the clues that the scientist left them to find the rogue clone and to stop a catastrophe. The investigation brings them back to St. Petersburg, where they meet Laura and Chris.
Daniel Polanskiy disappears without a trace. The friends suspect his life can be of an interest to many parties. With their own lives at stake, they should decide whether great victories require great sacrifices.
L. Salt is a multi-genre author from the United Kingdom. She studied History of World Culture and earned her Master’s Degree in Art Expertise at the St. Petersburg University of Culture and Arts. Born in Belarus, she lived for many years in Ukraine and Russia and, eventually, settled in the North of England, where she currently lives with her husband. Salt’s interest in writing dates back to her teenage years. Apart from creative writing, she has a passion for traveling, arts, history, and foreign languages.
Her debut novella, His Personal Reich was released in April 2018 by Crazy Ink Publishing. It will also be featured in the boxed set Chills and Thrills in May 2019. Her second novella, a thriller/mystery story Legacy of the Iron Eagle, released in February 2019. She is the author of the Off the Ways Series including The Ways We Follow (Book One) and Angels of Zion (Book Two). Her short stories have appeared in numerous anthologies, including the Crazy Ink Publishing anthologies Royal Scoundrels and Beyond Wonderland, as well as magazines, both online, and in print. Another of her suspenseful stories, The Seeds of Stars, will release in December 2019.
L. Salt is a lifelong learner; an ardent a seeker of historical knowledge that she implements in her writing. She is a multi-genre and multi-award winning author, who enjoys traveling and visiting museums.
Born in
Belarus, L. lives in the North of England with her husband.
Now that I’ve introduced you to L., let’s get to know her a little better.
Hello, L,.
welcome to Angel Kiss Publications. Thank you for agreeing to do this
interview.
Thank you for
having me.
What
inspired you to be a writer?
I think
my love of reading and my imagination.
Is writing
your full-time profession?
Not at the moment, but I would love it to be. Moreover, I believe writing is not a job, it’s a lifestyle.
How long
have you been writing?
My journey as a fiction writer started in junior school. I wrote a sci-fi series about time travel and other dimensions.
However, my first work in English was published just a few years ago, in 2016, when my short story was shortlisted for an international writing contest in Greece.
Have you won
any awards?
As I’ve already mentioned, one of my short stories was shortlisted for the Eyelands Short Story Contest in 2016.
My debut thriller/action novella His Personal Reich has won three indie awards in the Best Sci-Fi and the Best Adventure categories.
How many
books have you written?
So far, I’ve written three novellas, two full-length novels and a few short stories in different genres.
Which genres do you write?
I’m a multi-genre author, but I focus
primarily on thrillers, dramas, historical fiction, mysteries, and sci-fi.
What do you
find most challenging writing for these genres?
I think the biggest challenge for me
is to attract more readers and to get my works out there. In my opinion, this
is the most difficult part of being a published author regardless of any genre.
What are you
working on now?
At the moment, I’m working on edits
for my third thriller/sci-fi novella The Seeds of Stars which my
publisher, Crazy Ink Publishing, will release in December. This story, set in
the Scottish Highlands, Berlin, Montenegro, and on the Isle of Skye, features
many references from World War II and the Cold War times.
Where do you
find inspiration for your characters?
Pretty much everywhere—from my friends and acquaintances to historical figures.
What has
been your most rewarding experience since publishing your work?
First of all, positive reviews from
my readers and editors. Receiving the indie awards has been unexpected, but a
very pleasant experience as well.
What advice
would you give to authors just starting out?
I know it’s easy to say just “don’t give up”, but my advice is a bit different. Never give up just because somebody provided you with negative feedback.
Leave it, if you feel you don’t want to do it anymore, if you don’t have any efforts/ideas to continue your writing, if writing doesn’t bring you joy and satisfaction.
If you want to become successful, grow a very thick skin. Lots of people will criticize your works (maybe even you personally), but this is just one component of success.
Learn constantly. Learn from professionals, from fellow writers, from lovers and haters, from your own and somebody else’s mistakes. Never stop learning something new.
Is there
anything else you’d like your readers to know about you?
My pen name is L. Salt and I’m a
multi-genre author from the United Kingdom. I write exclusively for Crazy Ink
Publishing.
I studied History of World Culture
and earned my Master’s Degree in Art Expertise at the St. Petersburg University
of Culture and Arts.
Born in Belarus, I lived in Ukraine
and Russia for many years and, eventually, settled in the North of England,
where I currently live with my husband.
My interest in writing dates back to my teenage years. Apart from creative writing, I have a passion for traveling, arts, history, and foreign languages.
What message
are you sharing in your books?
There are different messages in
different books, I suppose. There a few universal themes though which appear in
almost all of them—freedom of choice, resistance to evil, love, hatred,
friendship, dignity, self-sacrifice.
What are
your favorite books/authors?
It’s such a
difficult question, because there’re so many of them, starting from classics to
modern days thrillers and sci-fi authors and their books. I put just a few who
influenced my taste and my writing the most.
Albert Camus,
Hermann Hesse, Jack London, Jules Verne, Carlos Casteneda, Dan Brown, Philippa
Gregory, Mikhail Bulgakov, Henryk
Senkevich, Alexandre Dumas, Alexander Belayev, John Le Carre.
What are
your favorite movies, TV shows?
Another
difficult question I wouldn’t say it’s just one movie or show.
I love almost
all works of David Lynch and Ridley Scott. I also enjoy old Russian films from
the Soviet Union times (especially comedies).
As for TV shows, my recent top favourite is a mini-series Chernobyl. This is the best series American and British TV have ever filmed about USSR. Amazingly filmed, well-researched, exceptionally played!!
I also enjoyed David Lynch’s Twin Peaks (both series), The Night Manager, The Knightfall, and hilarious Allo, Allo from the late ‘80s.
I like to watch documentaries on the Discovery or History channels. They help me a lot with my research and ideas for my works.
When you’re
not writing where can we find you?
Traveling around the UK and abroad, hiking in the Peak District National Park which is on my doorstep, reading, researching for my works, visiting museums, galleries, exhibitions, historical sites, hanging out with my friends and family.
A movie
producer wants to turn your book into a movie and you get to make a cameo. What would you do in the movie?
I’d rather
prefer to work closely with a film director as a consultant or assist with a
script.
Do you have
a website/Facebook page, etc?
You can visit
my blog and Amazon page. You can also follow me on all major social media
platforms.
Nicole Kaderbek
is an avid book reader and book blogger. Her journey into book reviewing began
in 2014 when she started SnoopyDoo’s Book Reviews.
Nicole participates in all things bookish: blog tours, giveaways, book hauls, and monthly round-ups. She lives in South Dakota with her family.
Now that I’ve introduced you to Nicole, let’s get to know her a little better.
Hello, Nicole,
welcome to Angel Kiss Publications.
Thank you so,
so much for having me.
What inspired
you to be a blogger?
Oddly enough, a book. I read a series with a book blogger/vlogger and started to look into it more. I discovered a whole new world.
Courtesy of: Nicole Kaderabek
Can you tell us a little about SnoopyDoo’s Book Reviews?
Not much to tell. Hopefully a fun place to discover new reads, meet some new people.
Is blogging your full-time profession?
Oh. No, no. Just a hobby that I do in my spare time.
How long have you been blogging?
I actually had to look that up. And wow, it’s been 5 years now. I started over on Booklikes, in April 2014 and made my own site in October that same year. I took some time off from my site last year; I started to miss it and came back to it just more relaxed this time around.
How many books have you reviewed?
According to Goodreads, 437 books, that would be all the books in the last five years. I never really reviewed before I started this adventure.
Which genres do
you review?
I give anything a try, though there are a few that I will skip. I try to stay away from anything religious, political, real crime and any and all nonfiction.
Also Novellas and Anthologies are not really my thing. Other than that, I most likely will give it a try.
What do you
find most challenging reviewing for these genres?
Reviewing in general can be challenging for me sometimes. I want to make sure I do the book and author justice, get my honest opinion out there.
Also reviewing can be tiring if you have too many review books in a row or at the same time. Making sure not to burn out fast is a challenge. You must learn when to take a break. That’s a really important lesson I learned over the years.
What are you
reviewing now?
I always review all books, whether they are “review” books from authors or publishers, or my own books from my never ending TBR ( To Be Read)pile. Spring and Fall are always busy with review copies and I tend to read 2-3 books at once.
Right now on Audio I’m listening to Summer Knight (The Dresden Files, #4) by Jim Butcher. As a “fun” read I’m working on Ruin and Rising (The Grisha, #3) by Leigh Bardugo and as a review copy from an author I’m reading Council of Souls (Fated Eternals #2) by Jen Print.y
What has been
your most rewarding experience since you started blogging?
Oh, all the
wonderful people I’ve met along the way; readers and authors alike. Some even
became very close friends of mine. But also the books I discovered through it,
some of them I would have never read otherwise and missed out on.
What advice would you give to bloggers just starting out?
Hmmm, not really sure. Most important, do it because it’s fun and you love books and reading. Be open to new genres, some might surprise you.
Be friendly to your readers, authors and other reviewers and remember not everyone has the same taste, you might love something, others don’t and vice versawhich is totally fine.
Don’t be afraid to write a negative review or give a low rating, as long you make sure you’re respectful about it. Don’t trash the author or book because you didn’t like it.
Be direct but respectful, regardless if you like it or not the author worked hard on that book. Or just post a rating in and leave it at that.
If they asked you for a review, give them a heads up that it wasn’t for you and you’ll just rate it. Whatever works best for you as long you all treat others with respect.
Is there
anything else you’d like your readers to know about you?
No. Not really….I’m pretty boring, when it comes down to it (laughs).
What message
are you sharing in your blog?
*laughs* I
don’t know. Maybe read more and buy and win more books?!
What do you
think makes a good story?
I think that is
different for everyone, but I honestly think if it is written well and engaging
than anything can make a good story.
What is your
rating scale and what does each score mean?
I normally go
from 0.5 all the way to 5 using the half points. How I rate each book depends
on a few factors I guess. But of course the higher the rating the better the
book (for me) is.
What criteria
do you follow for a review?
Oohh that is a
tough one and more complicated but mostly whether or not I enjoyed the book.
Also if something in the story seems natural or too forced to fit into the
overall story arc. The same with characters. But in the end it depends on the
overall book and writing.
What are your
favorite books/authors?
Oh man another
hard question, I have many favorite authors.
Ilona Andrews,
Cindi Madsen, Darynda Jones, Cassandra Clare, to name a few, but the list is
endless.
What are your
favorite movies, TV shows?
Any of the Marvels movies are on my top list for movies, and no I haven’t watched Endagme yet, but hoping to see it soon so I can avoid spoilers.
TV Shows…. Also have many of them, but number one is Supernatural. Shadowhunters is on the list too but sadly the series finale will be next week.
My guilty pleasure show most likely would be Vampire Diaries which is one show I can watch over and over. Also any DC or Arrow-verse show on the CW, but I always wait until they hit Netflix and then binge them throughout the summer.
When you’re not
blogging where can we find you?
Home hanging
with the family, reading, watching TV or gaming. Like I said, pretty
boring.
How can an
author have their book reviewed by you?
Go through my
site, or email me (snoopydoo77@yahoo.com) I should get back to you soon (given I’m not
busy) and we can discuss the review and when and where and even if it is
something I review.
Do you have a
website/Facebook page, etc?
Yes. I have a website, and twitter, Facebook as well Bookbub and other social media sites.
You can also
find me on Goodreads if you’re only interested in reviews.
