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Category: Kayelle Allen

A post mentioning Kayelle Allen

Are you attending EPICON 2014 Conference for #Authors #Readers #EPICorg

Kayelle Allen
EPIC
EPIC

Announcing some great opportunities to meet authors, readers, publishers, and for authors to share their books, brand or platform at the Electronic Publishing Industry Coalition Conference (EPICON) in March 13-15, 2014.

Advertise in the Conference Program

Grab some of the attention for your service, platform, website or new release by advertising in the 2014 EPIC Programs. Market yourself to our over 200 conference and luncheon attendees. PLUS, after the conference, the program will be placed on EPIC’s website to get you even MORE exposure! Advertising space is limited. Ads will be accepted on a first-come first-served basis. Placement is dependent on providing suitable content and payment by February 24, 2014.

Please visit http://epicorg.com/epicon.html and visit the Ad Rates to see the relative ad sizes and other information.

Goodie Bags Items

Share your promo material with 200 attendees. Sorry, no non-bound paper materials accepted. If you have questions about the items you would like to send, please contact Sabrina York. For details and shipping addresses or to ask questions about the items you would like to send, contact Sabrina York at sabrinayorkhrhATgmailDOTcom with EPICON in the subject line.

Swag Table Items

In addition to goodie bag items you can send items for the swag table which will be displayed all weekend in the registration area. For details and shipping addresses or to ask questions about the items you would like to send, contact Sabrina York at sabrinayorkhrhATgmailDOTcom with EPICON in the subject line.

Door Prizes/Gift Baskets

Get special attention by donating door prizes or gift baskets. Items will be displayed all weekend and given away throughout the conference. Donors should be sure to attached a business card and, in the case of a basket, a list of the items Please let us know what you are sending and how you would like it shared. For details and shipping addresses or to ask questions about the items you would like to send, contact Sabrina York at sabrinayorkhrhATgmailDOTcom with EPICON in the subject line.

DEADLINES

Deadline to receive items and ad materials: February 24, 2014. Advertising space is limited. Ads will be accepted on a first-come first-served basis.

ABOUT EPIC

EPIC, the Electronic Publishing Industry Coalition, was incorporated in 1998 to provide a strong voice for electronic publishing. Once an authors’ organization, EPIC has expanded to include hundreds of professionals from all facets of the electronic publishing industry: authors, publishers, editors, artists, and others. Our members work together in a unique collaboration to further the industry.

EPIC is not a publisher, but aspiring authors are invited to look at our member publishers. Check out “Our Members” for listings of our author, publisher, and other industry members.

ABOUT EPICON 2014

It’s all about the relationships…

  • Authors and authors.
  • Authors and readers.
  • Authors and publishers.
  • Authors publishers and the media.
  • Authors, publishers and the digital world.

This exciting conference includes fabulous workshops covering business and craft; opportunities to network with industry professionals; social events to see old friends and make new ones; opportunities to connect with readers at eFiesta!; and a gala eBook Awards Banquet.

Special features include San Antonio River Cruise, ghost tour of the historic–and haunted–Menger Hotel, great food, fun, all in the center of beautiful San Antonio, Texas, March 13-15, 2014.

Questions? Email epicon@epicorg.com

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Tribute to William C Hinkle by David M Beske #RIP

Kayelle Allen
Today’s post is in honor of my late brother-in-law, William “Bill” Hinkle.
Bill passed away on June 6, 2013
Poem by David M Beske
(read as part of Bill’s eulogy)
To my friend
William Clyde Hinkle
He had a very special way
Of brightening up your darkest day
Gentle and kind
Yet firm and strong
Painting “William C Hinkle” by Thomas Finley
A superstar person
I can?t believe that you?re gone
Working with you
Indeed was a pleasure
Seven years as my foreman
You were more like a mentor
I truly will miss you
Wow what a great friend
Someone I could talk too
Again and again
But now that you?ve left us
Far far behind
The Lord must have a plan
You were one of a kind
We?ll keep you close
In our hearts my dear friend
Until I see you in heaven
Take Care
The End
Sincerely,
David M. Beske
Cherry Hinkle, Bill’s widow, is an author and ufologist well-known for her extensive research. She and Bill spent many hours researching and visiting sites. The couple lived in the Las Vegas area and the desert was often cruel to plants, but Bill was famous for bringing them back from the brink. After his death, a simple willow stick included in a spray of flowers at his funeral sprouted a green sprig.

Kayelle Allen is an award-winning, multi-published author. Her heroes and heroines include badass immortals, warriors who purr, and agents who find the unfindable–or hide it forever. She is known for unstoppable heroes, uncompromising love, and unforgettable passion.
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Did You Know There’s an #EarthDay Anthem? #EcoChallenges

Kayelle Allen 35 Comments
The beauty of our world

Earth Day began in 1970 and was the brainchild of Senator Gaylord Nelson of Wisconsin. It is an international holiday to promote conservation and concern for the environment.

The “Earth Day Anthem” below satisfies these requirements for a universal song associated with Earth Day. Ludwig van Beethoven’s “Ode to Joy” melody is already the official anthem of the European Union (in that case purely instrumental without lyrics), the melody is widely recognized and easily performed, in the public domain, and originally composed for voice.

Earth Day Anthem

Joyful joyful we adore our Earth in all its wonderment
Simple gifts of nature that all join into a paradise
Now we must resolve to protect her
Show her our love throughout all time
With our gentle hand and touch
We make our home a newborn world
Now we must resolve to protect her
Show her our love throughout all time
With our gentle hand and touch
We make our home a newborn world

credit: Wikipedia
—

Drated: an abandoned world

Conservation is a prevalent theme in many science fiction stories about the future, with films like Soylent Green, Children of Men, and Avatar. Each warned of consequences for not controlling the environment. Whether it’s recycling, reading eBooks, planting a garden, or taking part in Earth Day activities, each of us can play a part. Whatever the future may hold, one thing is certain — we can each take responsibility for our surroundings and do our part to make the world a better place. Pictured: Drated, an abandoned world in the Tarthian Empire (from books in my Tarthian Empire series).

This is part of the Earth Day Hop with JustRomance.me If you came along from a different route, you can click here to begin. http://justromance.me

Kayelle Allen is an award-winning, multi-published author. Her heroes and heroines include badass immortals, warriors who purr, and agents who find the unfindable–or hide it forever. She is known for unstoppable heroes, uncompromising love, and unforgettable passion.
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Today My Husband Won’t #poetry

Kayelle Allen 2 Comments


My husband and me, 2011.

Today My Husband Won’t
By Kayelle Allen
Today, my husband won’t leave his socks on the floor, or miss the hamper.
He won’t pull out a towel and mess up the way the others are folded.
He’s not going to run over the newspaper as he comes down the driveway.
He won’t leave the garage door open, or back the car into the grass on that tight corner.
My husband won’t watch the early news instead of talking to me.
He won’t ignore the family for a ball game.
He’s not going to fall asleep watching the late news.
There won’t be a magazine or book open in his lap.
He won’t complain about traffic on the freeway tonight.
He won’t sing off key in the shower.
He’s not going to putter around in the garage.
He won’t work overtime and end up being late for dinner.
It won’t be because he’s a perfect husband.
Nor because he’s turned over a new leaf.
Today, my husband won’t do any of these things…
Because my husband is now in Heaven.
I miss him.
Hug your husband today.
—
My husband is alive and well. I wrote this because I try to keep in mind every day that my spouse, like me, has a finite number of days on the earth. I want to enjoy every single one of them with him, while he’s here. Never take your loved ones for granted. We have only this moment, right now, right here. Hug your husband. Think twice about complaining about what he says or does. You have so few moments together. Make each of them count.
Kayelle Allen is an award-winning, multi-published author. Her heroes and heroines include badass immortals, warriors who purr, and agents who find the unfindable–or hide it forever. She is known for unstoppable heroes, uncompromising love, and unforgettable passion.
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More Spam Spam and More Spam

Kayelle Allen
Danger Ahead…

I occasionally share a list of amusing spam emails. Here are some of the latest. Use discretion when opening these kinds of messages — and a good antivirus program. For best results, don’t open them at all! I include their titles here, but did not open any of these emails.

Dear Confidant/Scam Victim
I love this one! Apparently they believe in telling you the truth right up front. You are a victim. What a timesaver.

Confirmation! Confirmation! Confirmation!
Because I might not pay attention if they just wrote Confirmation.

FBI Seeking to Wiretap Internet
Now, when I got this it was in all caps, but I wrote it like a title to fit my blog better. Which is another way you can tell if something is spam. It SCREAMS at you. Apparently, finding the caps lock key is too much of an effort for these folks.

Kind Request
Yeah right. Their kind request is for me to download their virus-laden attachment and/or click their malicious-site URL. No thank you.

Poverty Alleviation Program
I knew this was the real thing because it came from United Nation. Not Nations, mind you, but Nation. Although what this one nation is united with, I’m not sure. Maybe it’s an internal thing. Anyway, I didn’t open it. I prefer to alleviate poverty the old fashioned way — by working.

Verification Notice
This type of notice should be considered seriously. No, really! If you just joined a website and are expecting a confirmation of some sort, it can be handy. But in my case, I got one from the Chief Justice of Nigeria. Somehow I don’t think so. Gonna pass on that one.

Your Winning no: GB8701/LPRC
Okay, my winning “no” (which is an abbreviation for number — but I digress) is right there. If you want to contact Australia Lottery Inc and claim it, be my guest. But I’m passing on that one too. Kind of hard to be a winner in something I’d never heard of, and hadn’t played.

Use caution online


USPS notification #1880453, #5216533, #2116200
Three notifications for me in one day, all from ISPS Inc. Gee, they must be afraid I’ll miss the packages they tried to leave for me. Maybe I should open this email and download the goody they sent me so I can claim it. I haven’t had a virus in a while. On second thought, think I’ll pass…

And there you have it. More spam spam and more spam from the wonderful world of email.

Kayelle Allen is an award-winning, multi-published author. Her heroes and heroines include badass immortals, warriors who purr, and agents who find the unfindable–or hide it forever. She is known for unstoppable heroes, uncompromising love, and unforgettable passion.
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A Good Report from Home

Kayelle Allen 18 Comments

Chilling at Home

Almost a week after being hospitalized for what my doctor thought might be a heart attack, I’m home, a little healthier, a lot wiser, and too tired to believe. A hospital is not the best place to rest. About the time you get to sleep, someone wakes you to test something, check vitals, or make sure you’re comfortable. ^_^ Ironic, isn’t it?

Well, doctors discovered no blockages, but say my heart has been weakened. I have high blood pressure and high cholesterol. It’s possible my thyroid has problems that may have triggered some of this. I reduced my weight by 80 pounds over a four year period, and for two years, my weight had been steady, never rising or falling more than a 3-4 pounds. But since Nov 2011, I’ve gained 40 lbs. I’d have to gain over a pound a week to gain that much so fast. I don’t eat enough to gain so much so fast. I have been increasingly tired, to the point I wondered if I might be anemic. (Docs ruled that out, too.) However, thyroid problems would explain my fatigue and weight gain. I’ll be following up with my doctor next week.
Right now, I’m on orders not to pick up more than 10 lbs, bend over, or stand for more than about 15 min at a time for the next four days. I’m doing what they say. I’ll be offline most of the day after this post. Not going to be online much until Friday. That is harder than it sounds. My location on all my profiles says “at the keyboard” and that is so true. ^_^
I’m thankful to have had all this caught and not have had a heart attack. My advice to everyone, and especially to authors… Take care of yourself. Expect another health-conscious post after this. Okay, maybe more than one. I’m thinking about how authors hurt themselves by thinking they’re as invincible as their characters. Might be some good material in that!
I want to give a shout out to Northside Hospital in Atlanta, GA. The folks in the cardiac unit there are amazing. I was cared for, looked after, and taken care of in the most amazing fashion. If you are looking for a place to be treated professionally but with the utmost care, look no further.
Kayelle Allen is an award-winning, multi-published author. Her heroes and heroines include badass immortals, warriors who purr, and agents who find the unfindable–or hide it forever. She is known for unstoppable heroes, uncompromising love, and unforgettable passion.
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Party Size Cinco de Mayo Dip with Corn & Peppers

Kayelle Allen
Peppers!

Looking for a fun, fast, and easy food for your Cinco de Mayo celebration? I like things I can make in a hurry and enjoy at my leisure, but are also healthy.

This is made with a lower fat version of cream cheese called Neufchatel. You can find it right next to cream cheese in the dairy section. If you’ve never tried it, this is a good recipe to start. It tastes just like cream cheese but is better for you.

Peppers, whether green, red, yellow, orange, or the spicy variety, all contain antioxidants good for your immune system.

Time saving tip: If you buy a pre-chopped pepper blend, you can assemble this dish in a few minutes, and have peppers for an omelet the next morning. Yum!

Ingredients

1 16 ounce can whole kernel corn (or Mexi-corn), drained well
2 Tbsp diced red bell pepper
2 Tbsp diced yellow bell pepper
2 Tbsp diced green bell pepper
1/2 cup sliced green onions
1 finely chopped jalapeno pepper (optional)*
2 tsp taco seasoning
2 Tbsp skim milk**
1 package (16 ounces) Neufchatel or cream cheese
1 cup shredded Monterey Jack, Colby, or Mexican-style cheese
*may substitute serrano pepper for a hotter flavor
** add milk, a few drops at a time if needed for thinner consistency (may substitute water)

Directions

Soften the cream cheese in the microwave for 15-20 seconds on 30% power.
Mix together Neufchatel cheese, skim milk, and seasoning mix. Stir in drained corn, peppers, jalapenos, and green onions. When veggies and cream cheese mix are blended, fold in the schredded cheese.

Refrigerate to blend flavors. Serve with crackers, tortilla chips, corn chips, or vegetable dippers.

Serving size: 2 Tbsp. / Makes 24-30.
Image credit: Tacluda at RGBstock.com
Kayelle Allen is an award-winning, multi-published author. Her heroes and heroines include badass immortals, warriors who purr, and agents who find the unfindable–or hide it forever. She is known for unstoppable heroes, uncompromising love, and unforgettable passion.
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Saint Patrick’s Day Yumminess – Pistachio Cookies!

Kayelle Allen

Shamrock
A quick and easy low sugar recipe for cookies you can use any day of the year, but they’re great for Saint Patrick’s Day.
Pistachio Cookies
1/2 cup butter, softened
1 1/3 cups baking mix
1 (3 oz.) package instant pistachio pudding mix
1 egg
1 Tbsp sugar
Preparations
Grease cookie sheet.
Preheat oven (350 F)
To Make
Stir the butter into the pudding mix, and add the baking mix a bit at a time.
Beat the egg slightly, and add.
Stir in the sugar.
Roll out on a lightly floured surface. A shamrock-shaped cookie cutter is great for this holiday, if you have one.
Bake 9 minutes, or until lightly golden.
– – –
Cream Cheese Frosting
5 oz pkg cream cheese or Neufchatel cheese
1 T vanilla
1 T honey
Mix ingredients. If desired, add 1-2 drops green food coloring. Spread on cooled cookies.
Kayelle Allen is an award-winning, multi-published author. Her heroes and heroines include badass immortals, warriors who purr, and agents who find the unfindable–or hide it forever. She is known for unstoppable heroes, uncompromising love, and unforgettable passion.
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PayPal, Immortals, Teenagers, and the Election

Kayelle Allen 8 Comments

No Sex.
What do PayPal, immortals, teenagers, and the election have in common? Followed the PayPal censorship controversy much? PayPal is a company that acts as a go-between to protect your identity online. You give this supposedly highly secure financial company your credit card and bank information, and they provide you with a means to purchase safely online. The merchant never has access to your credit card info. This means an entrepreneur who has an idea or product to sell can install some code on his or her website, hook up to PayPal, and sell internationally within minutes. You can take credit cards without having to invest in ultra-secure servers. PayPal takes the risk for you.
They, however, have decided that certain material is now too “high-risk.” The internet commerce giant has decreed it will no longer permit its services to be used to purchase certain types of erotic material. Among the list are books containing BDSM, incest, “pseudo-incest,” “barely legal,” bestiality, and rape.
The definitions of these has been given many times, but for clarity, and in case you’re new to the conflict, “pseudo-incest” covers people who are not related by blood but by marriage (step brothers/sisters of a blended family, stepson/stepmother, etc.), and “barely legal” is someone of legal age to have sex, meaning eighteen and nineteen year-olds. None of this material is new to the world. Oedipus wrote about incest thousands of years ago. The Marquis de Sade wrote about BDSM (bondage, discipline, and sado-masochism — the term actually comes from his name) but PayPal has decreed it will no longer pay for this material. It claims it’s being pressured by credit card companies. The credit card companies have, so far, been mute on the subject.
The “barely legal” material includes May-December love stories. PayPal doesn’t want to pay for these because… well, I have no idea why. Maybe they think people aged eighteen and nineteen aren’t capable of making solid decisions. Odd, that they are old enough to vote and go to war, but we can’t write about them falling in love unless it’s with someone their own age. At what point is the December lover supposedly too old for the May lover? Ten years? Twenty? Fifty? I’m not sure there’s a scale, but imagine how out-of-kilter it might be if the December lover were immortal.
Bestiality – sexual activity between a person and an animal – includes stories (according to PayPal) with were-characters. Shape shifters, werewolves, werebears, were-anything. No petting of the lover’s head while in shifted form; no sex while in animal form, no playful biting or nibbling. Nothing that might cause arousal while referring to the beast within. Pretty much the entire reason to write erotic were-type books and characters is taboo.
The internet giant has not only said it won’t permit you to buy books with these topics, it will also confiscate funds of the booksellers and publishers who provide them. This means even if you don’t write these books, but your publisher provides them, or you sell your books through a bookseller who does, PayPal can confiscate their funds, depriving you of your livelihood. Your recourse? Moving to another publisher or bookseller is about your only choice, because fighting with PayPal over lost revenue could take months, or even years. They are not covered by the FDIC and are not required even to respond to your complaint. Their terms of service say they will reply within 180 days (six months), and at that point, their decision is final. You do not get a phone number to call. You get an email. There is little you can do. If you can’t survive for six months to a year without income, and you depend on getting paid by companies that provide this material, you are out of luck if PayPal follows through on its threat.
Which brings me to the crux of this article. I write about the Sempervians, immortals who manipulate current events to steer humanity towards various outcomes they desire. For example, a Sempervian might cause a fire in a seed warehouse, or cripple a shipping company with bad gas, making it impossible to ship seed on time. A failed corn crop pushes a farmer into buying his next year’s seed on credit instead of with profits. A few years of “bad luck” and failed crops, and he defaults on the loan, losing his farm. A big farming company owned by the Sempervian buys his land on the cheap, makes it part of a conglomerate, and sells corn for less, making a huge profit, and over time, changing the face of agriculture. What does this have to do with censorship and PayPal?
Just Plain No.
Imagine you want to influence an election during a year when ultra-conservatives are on the ticket, up against a liberal. What kinds of things might swing the vote toward the liberals? What do Americans cherish and fear losing? Crops? Books? No. It’s freedom. If a financial institution can decide for us what kinds of books we’re allowed to write, read, and buy, then we are handing over our freedom in exchange for convenient purchases online. At what point does our freedom mean more than convenience and safety? What would make a person get out and vote for someone who is likely to stand up for your freedom? Someone who speaks well and looks good in a suit? Or a controversy that sparks outrage and determination to fight for what you have a legal write to read, write, and buy?
My Sempervians are not unlike the Illuminati. They move in the background, changing small things in the Tarthian Empire, influencing the populace to act in ways that benefit them and achieve their long-term goals. They’re immortal. They have all the time in the world. In America, who is in the background, moving the small things that change our freedoms? Whose goals are achieved by PayPal suddenly taking a stand against specific details in erotic literature that it has (up to now) turned a blind eye to? Where is America headed, and to what end? PayPal, immortals, teenagers, and the election — they may have more in common than meets the eye.
What do you think will happen next in this controversy? Who is the enemy, and who is on your side?
Kayelle Allen is an award-winning, multi-published author. Her heroes and heroines include badass immortals, warriors who purr, and agents who find the unfindable–or hide it forever. She is known for unstoppable heroes, uncompromising love, and unforgettable passion.
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Mardi Gras Bread Pudding with Sweet Butter Topping

Kayelle Allen 5 Comments
Bread Pudding.

Would you like an easy recipe for your Mardi Gras party or dinner menu? How about a simple bread pudding even the kids will enjoy? This one is an old favorite, and it’s served with a sweet butter topping and cinnamon sugar. Good down home cooking.

Clean up is easy too. You’ll need one large bowl, one small one, a baking pan, measuring cups (you can mix the cinnamon sugar topping in one), measuring spoons, and a whisk.
Bread Pudding with Sweet Butter Topping
Bread Pudding
1 loaf whole grain bread, broken into small pieces
2 12 oz. cans evaporated milk
1 cup water
6 large eggs, lightly beaten
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 tsp. nutmeg
5 Tbsp. vanilla extract
1/4 cup butter, softened
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Place broken bread pieces in a large bowl.
Combine milk, water, eggs, sugar, nutmeg, and vanilla, and blend well.
Pour over the bread, add the softened butter, and toss to coat. If dry, add 2-3 teaspoonsful additional water, one at a time, until bread is well moistened. Mixture should be wet, but not soggy.
Spoon mixture into a greased 13×9 inch baking dish.
Bake for 35 to 45 minutes or until set.
Serve with Sweet Butter Topping.
Sweet Butter Topping
6 Tbsp. butter
1 Tbsp. all-purpose flour
? cup sugar
1 cup whipping cream
1 Tbsp. vanilla extract
Melt butter in small saucepan. Whisk in flour and cook 3-4 minutes. Stir in sugar and whipping cream. Cook 2-3 minutes. Stir in vanilla. Simmer over low heat for 5 minutes. Serve warm over bread pudding. Add Cinnamon Sugar Sprinkle for garnish and taste.
Cinnamon Sugar Sprinkle
1 Tbsp. cinnamon
1/4 cup sugar
Combine ingredients in a small measuring cup, and sprinkle atop warm bread pudding.
This makes an easy dessert that’s filling and tastes wonderful. All the flavors of home, and very little work. I like the smell of bread pudding when it’s baking. It reminds me of childhood and happy times. What recipes do you make that bring back fond memories?
Kayelle Allen is an award-winning, multi-published author. Her heroes and heroines include badass immortals, warriors who purr, and agents who find the unfindable–or hide it forever. She is known for unstoppable heroes, uncompromising love, and unforgettable passion.
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