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NBA player to skip team's trip to London over fear 'lunatic' Turkish president will have him killed

On January 17, the NBA will go international when the New York Knicks and Washington Wizards face off in a regular-season game in London, England.

But one key player will not be making the trip, because he fears for his life.

Enes Kanter, a center for the New York Knicks and native of Turkey, has been an outspoken critic of the government there - especially of hardline President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Kanter now feels that his life would be in danger if he were to travel overseas.

“Sadly, I'm not going because of that freaking lunatic, the Turkish president,” Kanter told ESPN on Friday. “There's a chance that I can get killed out there. So that's why I talked to the [Knicks'] front office. I'm not going.

FREEDOM IS NOT FREE pic.twitter.com/v3qHvHsibF

- Enes Kanter (@Enes_Kanter) January 5, 2019

“It's pretty sad that just all this stuff affects my career and basketball, because I want to be out there helping my team win. But just because of that one lunatic guy, one maniac or dictator, I can't even go out there and just do my job. So it's pretty sad.”

Kanter is a strong supporter of Fethullah Gulen, a U.S.-based Turkish cleric that Erdogan's government blames for a failed coup attempt in 2016.

His fears about his safety are not unwarranted. In 2017, when Kanter was traveling during the NBA offseason, the Turkish government revoked his passport and Kanter was detained at a Romanian airport. U.S. State Department officials had to intervene to get Kanter back to the United States.

Later that year, prosecutors for the Turkish government announced they were seeking a four-year prison sentence for Kanter because of his public insults directed towards the authoritarian leader.

Turkey's authoritarian leader is seeking to imprison an NBA player for criticizing him

Enes Kanter has been an outspoken critic of the authoritarian ruler.

Kanter's father has been arrested by the Turkish government, and faces up to 10 years in prison, solely because of his son's advocacy. In an article for Time last year, Kanter said that his criticism of Erdogan has had a negative impact on almost everyone in his life, and that he has not been able to go back to Turkey for almost four years.

Still, because of the human rights abuses committed by the Erdogan regime, Kanter has vowed to keep speaking up, no matter the personal risk.

“I'm getting death threats almost every day, still,” Kanter told CBS in 2017. “I believe when I leave this set, when I leave this room, I'm going to keep getting death threats, but you know what? I stand by what I believe.”

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Trump skips ceremony to honor fallen American troops due to rain

Sunday marks 100 years since the end of World War I, the supposed “war to end all wars” that caused the deaths of tens of millions of soldiers and civilians.

Leaders from across the globe are in France to commemorate the centennial. German Chancellor Angela Merkel joined French President Emmanuel Macron at the site of Germany's 1918 surrender on Saturday. British Prime Minister Theresa May and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau also honored the fallen.

President Donald Trump, who departed for Paris on Friday, was also scheduled to visit a cemetery that contains the remains of thousands of U.S. troops who were killed in World War I.

That is, until there was a chance of rain.

Trump and First Lady Melania Trump cancelled their Saturday plans to honor Americans who were killed in service to their country due to the weather.

President Trump has canceled his scheduled trip to the Aisne-Marne American Cemetery and Memorial in France today because of the bad weather. (They were scheduled to chopper and it's nasty. Kelly and Dunford will go instead.) Now he has a large block of free time this afternoon.

- Kaitlan Collins (@kaitlancollins) November 10, 2018

David Frum, a former speechwriter for President George W. Bush who has been a frequent critic of Trump, provided some additional context that somehow makes the president's decision even worse.

It's not even 60 miles from central Paris to the monument. If the weather is too wet & windy for helicopters, a presidential motorcade could drive the distance in an hour.

- David Frum (@davidfrum) November 10, 2018

On site, presidential advance could easily erect a tent to protect the dignitaries (and the the presidential hair-do) from inclement weather

- David Frum (@davidfrum) November 10, 2018

Frum noted that Trump wasn't required to make the trip to Europe, but still opted to do so before bailing on a ceremony and moment of silence to honor fallen American soldiers.

Remember, there was no need for this trip at all. The president could have laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington, then spoken a few appropriate words.

- David Frum (@davidfrum) November 10, 2018

But bottom line: Trump willfully insisted on an unnecessary trip to France to mark the WW1 centenary -then once he got there shirked on grounds of weather the job of honoring those who fought and died in rain and mud 100 years ago https://t.co/7u3qZCmBRB pic.twitter.com/5TX1WLt9k8

- David Frum (@davidfrum) November 10, 2018

The New Republic's Jeet Heer said Trump's decision was “a huge diplomatic insult” to France.

1. It can't be underlined enough how important the First World War is to France's national self-conception. Trump's failure to attend the memorial is a huge diplomatic insult.

- Jeet Heer (@HeerJeet) November 10, 2018

8. To underscore the argument: the 100th anniversary of the end of the First World War is a really big deal in France, much of Europe, and the Commonwealth. Imagine a foreign leader shrugging off attending similar anniversary of, say, Gettysburg.

- Jeet Heer (@HeerJeet) November 10, 2018

Nicholas Soames, the grandson of former British prime minister and current conservative icon Winston Churchill, ripped Trump on Twitter.

They died with their face to the foe and that pathetic inadequate @realDonaldTrump couldn't even defy the weather to pay his respects to The Fallen #hesnotfittorepresenthisgreatcountry

- Nicholas Soames (@NSoames) November 10, 2018

The president of the United States claims to love the troops, but his behavior says otherwise. Gold Star families demanded an apology from Trump in 2016 after he attacked the parents of U.S. Army Capt. Humayun Khan, who was killed in Iraq in 2004. Last year, the president claimed a Gold Star widow was lying when she said the president “couldn't remember” the name of U.S. Army Sgt. La David T. Johnson, who was killed in Niger last year, when he made a condolence call to Johnson's family. ProPublica reported in August that a “shadow cabinet” of members of Mar-a-Lago, the Trump-owned golf club in Palm Beach, Florida, has been making decisions for the Department of Veterans Affairs. Trump still hasn't visited American troops in combat overseas.

After Khan's father, Khizr Khan, criticized the then-Republican nominee for having “sacrificed nothing and no one” during a speech at the 2016 Democratic National Convention, Trump claimed he had “made a lot of sacrifices” in an interview on ABC.

“I think I've made a lot of sacrifices. I work very, very hard. I've created thousands and thousands of jobs, tens of thousands of jobs, built great structures. I've had tremendous success. I think I've done a lot.”

The White House had already announced that Trump would not be attending a “global cooperation” meeting in France this weekend. By skipping the event to honor fallen American soldiers, which was attended by White House chief of staff John Kelly instead, it now appears as though the only purpose of Trump's visit was to take part in one-on-one meetings with Macron and other leaders, including possibly Russian President Vladimir Putin.

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5 Steps to Conquering the Clutter Chaos

The trouble with clutter isn't so much the tripping over it, the embarrassment of it, or even the losing critical items into its bottomless void. No, the problem with clutter is the mental energy it sucks out of your life. Let me explain. Unless you are Oscar the Grouch and enjoy being surrounded by mess […]

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Thumbprint Cookies

According to the pickiest eater I know, these Thumbprint Cookies are the best cookies ever. If you are looking for cookie recipes to make this Christmas season, this is your recipe. To say they were a huge hit is a massive understatement. Thumbprint Cookies I do batch cooking when I make recipes. It's just easier […]

The post Thumbprint Cookies appeared first on Simply Stacie.

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Earth Origins Felt Slip-On Clogs with Strap Detail - Under $40

(Note: The links in this post are affiliate links, and we will be compensated when you make a purchase by clicking through our links. Read our disclosure policy here.) Pick up these Earth Origins Felt Slip-On Clogs with Strap Detail...

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Half-Hour Pudding

A vintage dessert that, you guessed it, only takes 30 minutes to bake. You may remember Grandma making Half-Hour Pudding! It's a classic recipe that has been passed down from generation to generation. Half-Hour Pudding I can't remember when I first tried Half-Hour Pudding. It may have been at my Grandmother's house when I was […]

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IndieView with A.M.H. Johnson, author of Midnight Over Moores

However, the idea started two or so days before the drive at my mom's birthday party as my sister and I shared stories of our boarding school experiences, and my dad shared stories about being a teenager on the island we vacation at, and my mom commented that “Someone needs to write a book!”

A.M.H. Johnson – 20 September 2018

The Back Flap

Jenna Sheffield is an average girl from Savannah, Georgia. However, this year her life is about to change. She's starting at a new, all-girls boarding school in the middle of high school. She's having to learn how to deal with a roommate who seems more inclined to torture her than be friends. And on top of all that, she learns she has inherited her family's ability to communicate with the dead, when the ghost of Christine Wedge starts to haunt her. All Christine wants is her body to be found, but this mystery is shrouded by 60 years of local legends and feuds. Can Jenna crack this cold-case, or will Christine drive her insane, or worse, kill her chances at getting into a good college?

About the book

What is the book about?

Midnight Over Moores follows Jenna Sheffield, a young girl from Savannah who goes to Maine for boarding school and finds out she can talk to the dead after a prank gone too far. She starts being haunted by a local ghost, Christine Wedge, a victim who disappeared 60 years before, and has become a local legend on Moores Island.

When did you start writing the book?

Officially, I started writing it in early June 2011, coming back from a family vacation up in Maine driving back to Georgia. However, the idea started two or so days before the drive at my mom's birthday party as my sister and I shared stories of our boarding school experiences, and my dad shared stories about being a teenager on the island we vacation at, and my mom commented that “Someone needs to write a book!” I agreed then, but that 23 hour drive a few days later gave me enough time to hammer out the plot details and bounce ideas off my dad, and get the first two chapters written.

How long did it take you to write it?

Three years, but that was due to being in school at the time and not having a solid schedule and crazy homework. The summer I started writing it, I cranked half the book out in a month and a half once I returned to Maine later that Summer. Once I graduated, it took a me a few months to finish it.

Where did you get the idea from?

At my Mom's birthday party, after the whole group had a couple drinks, my dad, my sister and I got to talking about our teenage experiences. My sister and I were talking about going to our boarding school and all the shenanigans we'd get into. My dad, who was surrounded by many of his childhood friends at this party talking about their shared high school summers and all the shenanigans they got into. And by the end of it, we were all laughing so hard we were crying, and my mom said, “Someone needs to write a book!”

Were there any parts of the book where you struggled?

There were many places I struggled, but one of them has a funny story with it. My writing had started to go through an evolution at the time, because I'd started taking Creative Writing classes at my university, and some of the chapters I'd previously written when reread were very very rough. At the time, I was dating the man who would later become my husband, another English/Writing major who had already published a few short stories. I asked him to look at my roughest chapter. When he returned it, he had circled every “smiled” and “nodded” I'd written in, and it was truly too much. I promptly went home and rewrote it, and sent him a message once I did. His response was a gif of Jack Nicholson nodding and smiling like a madman “In memory of my unedited chapter.”

What came easily?

Most of the scenes in Limbo (at least that's what I call it. Purgatory and the Spirit World also works). The drama in those scenes are a lot more palpable, and most of them came out good the first time. And a good portion of the scenes with Jenna and Nate.

Are your characters entirely fictitious or have you borrowed from real world people you know?

They're kind of both. Jenna isn't anyone I know in particular, but some of her experiences are built off of experiences I've had and my family and friends have had, with a twist. Same with all of my characters, except maybe one or two side characters. Although, I did throw a character based off my high school self in. But I've even changed her from being 100% like me.

We all know how important it is for writers to read. Are there any particular authors that have influenced how you write and, if so, how have they influenced you?

J.K. Rowling and John Berendt are obvious influencers as they and their works are mentioned in the book. Rowling because Harry Potter was a big part of my teenage years as well as many of my friends, and everyone going to my boarding school noted striking similarities between our school and Hogwarts. We had four main dorms with the same colors as the houses (Yellow dorm and Green dorm were on the lowest level, Yellow closest to the kitchens. Red dorm and Blue dorm were upstairs, and even had loft dorm rooms, if you think I'm kidding). Even many of our teachers had direct parallels to the Hogwarts professors that many of the students agreed with (Yes, we had a Snape, and he was one of the best English teachers I ever took. We also had an annually changing faculty member, although I'm 98% certain a curse was not involved). The only big difference was Hogwarts was not All-Girls. So, to not even mildly reference it just wouldn't give my high school experience justice.

Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil was where I got the idea for my book's title. Doing research on Savannah (I also didn't live far from there at the time), I was told this book was required reading.

I'd also add Richelle Mead, Kelly Creagh, Edgar Allen Poe, and Stephen King (especially later in the series).

Do you have a target reader?

It's a solid Young Adult novel, but it's a book horror buffs and murder mystery readers will enjoy as well. It has modern Paranormal Romance written all over it, however its plot is steeped with Classical Gothic tropes and modern horror and mystery themes. It's a mystery surrounded by ghosts, demons, magic, and young love.

About Writing

Do you have a writing process? If so can you please describe it?

Not really. I always have fun writing, so when I can, I do.

Do you outline? If so, do you do so extensively or just chapter headings and a couple of sentences?

I used to only do a skeletal outline, like 2-3 pages noting the whole plot and background. I still do that now, but I've added preformatting each chapter and adding a chapter summary, so I know what goes where when I've written excerpts, which saves me a lot of time now.

Do you edit as you go or wait until you've finished?

Primarily, I edit as I go. Then once it's done, I do another final edit based on my own notes as well as my beta readers' notes.

Did you hire a professional editor?

I do not, but this is because I have almost 5-years-experience in editing in some capacity. For a year (and even now) I proofread/line-edit for the company I work for, and the last four years I was moved up to Document Specialist, which added formatting/copyediting to my proofreading duties.

That also doesn't mean I'm the only person with editing experience looking at my writing before publication. My husband, who took the same editing courses as I have for our degree, takes a look before it's sent out. My mother, who also had a job proofing/line-editing documents for a company for almost ten years, takes a look as well. Not to mention several others who may not have professional/educated experience like my husband and mom, but who I trust to give me sound advice on readability.

However, I would suggest to most authors to get an editor.

Do you listen to music while you write? If yes, what gets the fingers tapping?

Absolutely. If I'm not listening to music while writing, the music is definitely blaring when I'm conceptualizing each scene, so when I write it down later I've seen the scene over and over and over again.

As for my tastes … they're kind of all over the place. Usually some metal/modern rock is in there as well as classical (Beethoven is great!), pop, hip hop, early 2000's/'90s soft rock, classic rock, and even 2000s emo/punk rock (which was my jam then, not going to lie), to even Disney and Broadway soundtracks. I think the important thing for a song to help me write a scene is the message/emotion of the song has to fit in a place in my writing. So, I listen to different types of songs for different scenes. For example, if I'm writing a bombastic fight scene, 'O Fortuna' or The Hunchback of Notre Dame's 'Sanctuary' are both great. If the scene is more of a mellow internal struggle about love, I'm sifting through my early 2000's soft rock ballads.

About Publishing

Did you submit your work to Agents?

Yes. I can't even remember how many, but after the first several “We're too busy at the moment,” rejections, I started really looking into self-publishing.

What made you decide to go Indie, whether self-publishing or with an indie publisher? Was it a particular event or a gradual process?

It was gradual, but I always had an idea I might go that way anyway. I'm a little too controlling of my book, and how it was supposed to look, cover design, everything. As far as waiting for an agent to pick it up, I'm just not a patient person. Starting out, I figured I could go ahead and self-publish, then be taken on by a major publisher, but I found that doesn't usually happen. So unwittingly, I plunged head first into Indie communities, and the people there gave me invaluable information that led me to want to set up my own indie publisher, which is what Midnight Over Moores is now being published under.

Did you get your book cover professionally done or did you do it yourself?

Yes, for both the old cover when I first self-published and the new. But again, it was because I'm very controlling of how my book is to look. Each design detail I made had a specific reason behind it. I changed from the old cover, because I realized with it being a series the first cover I designed wouldn't work for branding reasons. The second book's cover in no way was going to look like the original cover, which is crucial with series works. So, I redesigned it with the rest of the series covers in mind.

Do you have a marketing plan for the book or are you just winging it?

The first time I published it, I just winged it, which after a month of selling 30 copies I realized was a big no no. I just unleashed it on the world, told my friends and family, some of who bought it and shared it. After a few months of putting those Amazon sales on it, and getting a few reviews, all of which were positive, but not seeing anything in return, I started asking myself, “What am I missing?” One of which was editorial reviews, which is obvious, but at the same time trying to find editorial reviewers that didn't cost an arm and a leg was difficult. Amazon suggests Kirkus, which is too expensive for people paying out of pocket. Eventually I did find some that were budget friendly, and that my book applied for, but by then it was too late.

So, what am I doing different now? I've submitted it to a couple book awards, which so far it's doing pretty well, but it's still early. One of the big things is I've switched my main distributor to Ingram, which opens up a lot more doors. I've submitted for reviews and have already begun using those in my marketing. I've posted about my book on more than just Facebook, since I now have an author twitter, Instagram, Foodreads, Facebook, Linkedin … you name it, I've posted about my book's re-release on there.

Any advice that you would like to give to other newbies considering becoming Indie authors?

Give yourself ample time and budget to market your book. I've learned over the last couple years marketing is an investment that more often than not pays in some way.

Another thing a successful indie author told me was to write and publish as much as you can. It builds your name, which builds your brand.

About You

Where did you grow up?

I'm from all over the East Coast. Born in Newburyport, Mass., mostly grew up in the foothills of the Appalachians in Virginia just outside of DC, and went to school in Pennsylvania in the middle of Amish country. But Acadia National Park in Maine is probably the most constant location in my life.

Where do you live now?

I live just outside of Atlanta, Ga. with my husband, daughter, and two dogs (both rescues).

End of Interview:

For more from Ms Johnson, visit her website, follow her on Twitter and like her Facebook page.

Get your copy of Midnight Over Moores from Amazon US or Amazon UK.

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In California, Barack Obama headlines first 2018 campaign rally, urges voters to 'get to work'

ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA - Former President Obama made his first campaign stop of the midterm elections in Orange County, California Saturday to stump for seven Democratic House candidates running in districts currently held by Republicans but that Hillary Clinton won in 2016.

About 750 people attended the event at Anaheim Convention Center, where Obama delivered a short speech centered on unity and the “politics of hope.” And, after a story about getting kicked out of Disneyland when he was caught smoking in the Magic Kingdom after a concert as a teenager, Obama issued an impassioned critique of Trump and the state of American democracy and encouraged the crowd to back the candidates he came to support.

Obama is wilding out, sharing an anecdote about how he and his friends smoked cigarettes while they were getting kicked out of Disneyland during a trip to California to see Kool and the Gang pic.twitter.com/f8AxEGyAWT

- Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) September 8, 2018

“We are bound by the notion that this is a government of, and by, and for the people… This is a government for everybody. It's not for sale. That's what we believe in,” he said.

He added later, “The biggest threat to our democracy, I said yesterday: it's not one individual, it's not one big super PAC billionaire – it's apathy, it's indifference. It's us not doing what we're supposed to do.”

The former president praised the candidates he came to Orange County to stump for: Gil Cisneros, who is running in the 39th district; Katie Porter, a candidate in the 45th; Harley Rouda in the 48th; Mike Levin in the 49th; Josh Harder in the 10th; TJ Cox in the 21st; and Katie Hill in the 25th.

“What they understood is the stakes are high in this election,” Obama said of the group. “The fact is that if we don't step up, things can get worse. When there is a vacuum in our democracy, when we are not participating… other voices fill the void. The good news is, in two months, we have a chance to restore some sanity in our politics.”

Incredible honor to have @BarackObama here today! #TakeItBack https://t.co/MlgoxRaSIw

- Mike Levin (@MikeLevinCA) September 8, 2018

Ahead of Obama's remarks, two Republicans took the podium, Katherine Amoukhteh and Duraid Antone, to say they are supporting Democrats in the midterms.

“There is no shame in being a Republican, but there is shame in letting this political climate continue,” Amoukhteh said.

A few minutes later, Antone, a veteran who said he was a registered Republican when he voted for Obama, spoke about his support for Rouda, who's running against longtime conservative lawmaker Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA).

In these historically Republican-leaning districts, some Democrats hope they can convince Republicans to abandon their party this fall. In his speech Saturday, Obama said he wants to win over independent voters and even some Republicans - especially those who don't recognize their own party anymore.

But as the old cliche goes, it all comes down to turnout, and attendees Saturday said victory in November hinges on turning out voters who have been less active in past elections - and the hope that Obama can help bring people to the polls.

“[We have to] get the vote out. Huge,” Callae Walcott, who lives in the 25th district, where Katie Hill is running, told ThinkProgress as she waited to go inside the convention center. “The midterms are so important and it's important to fire up and take every action possible to support the candidates running.”

Another woman, Nadine Breslo, stood outside the convention center with a “Take back Orange County” sign as three anti-abortion protesters stood behind her with a megaphone proclaiming that Obama is a “jackass.”

Because @BarackObama + Orange County … pic.twitter.com/ItW7ABHakM

- David Siders (@davidsiders) September 8, 2018

“I am not happy with the way that our country is and when President Obama was our president, I felt safe. I felt comfortable. I think Donald Trump is a fascist. I think if he had his way he would be like Saddam Hussein,” Breslo, who lives in the 49th district, said. “I think that he is a psychopath. I think that he was involved… with the Russians in voting. That's a sacred thing in our country. That is a traitor. That's a Benedict Arnold.”

Though Breslo couldn't get a ticket into the event, she said she wanted to come down to the convention center anyway. Having Obama in the area, she said, was “wonderful.”

“I thought of all presidents, if I could see him, I would cry,” she added.

Outside the convention center, a small handful of protesters in Trump regalia milled around as a long line filed into the ballroom. One man who refused to share his name because of “too much trouble with antifa,” was clad in a Make America Great Again hat and carrying a poster board sign proclaiming that Trump was “winning.”

“I've hit all the protests,” he said. “Comey, I went downtown, protested Comey. Protested Michelle - I mean, Maxine Waters. Whenever the politicians cross a bright red line, I'm there. I'm right there.”

And Obama calling out Trump during a speech Friday was over the line, he said.

“He should be off in retirement, enjoying himself,” he said. “I think it's disrespectful of us, the people.”

But the main message he wanted to send, the protester said, was that “Trump is where the winning is at.”

“They're gonna fall asleep in there, like they did yesterday,” he said. “Out here is where the winning is at. For the world.”

But inside, as one ex-president likes to say, people were fired up.

After speaking for about 20 minutes, Obama closed his speech, saying, “I absolutely confident these candidates are going to win,” as the crowd erupted. Then, three times he called to the crowd, “Are you ready to get to work?” And three times, the crowd called back enthusiastically, “Yes!”

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IndieView with Donna Stewart, author of Yoga Mama's Buddha Sandals

It's about a young girl (me) who's homeless at 16 but pulls herself out of the gutter and puts herself through college, graduating with honors even though she's a bit of a party animal; she uses good judgement and manages to not fuck up her life. 

Donna Stewart – 15 August 2018

The Back Flap

A thrill-seeking young adventuress heads to the most remote jungles of Mexico and straight into a gritty, grimy adventure story about friendship and crumbling walls. If you like true stories that are exciting, funny, informative and evidence of the inherent goodness of humanity.

About the book

What is the book about?

The ruins of the ancient Maya draw many adventurers into the jungles of Mexico and, once there, they usually find adventures aren't hard to come by. Donna Stewart's been on her own since the age of 16. She'd overcome a troubled childhood, homelessness, stereotypes, and predators who look for girls in those types of situations.  After putting herself through college and graduating with honors, she thought she was ready for anything. But when she finds herself alone in the jungle with no pesos, no understanding of the language, and forced to trust people she'd been told all her life she couldn't…it didn't take long for her to learn more about the world, human nature – and herself – than one, silly little white girl, could have ever imagined.

Walk in Donna Stewart's Sandals, and you'll stumble upon Mayan ruins, Zapatistas and really big spiders. You'll come face to face with history and legend, kidnappers and temptation, friendship and heroism. You will cringe at her mistakes, but cheer her bravery. And you'll probably chuckle more than once. Deep research about Chiapas, Mayan Mummies and the Zapatista movement are woven throughout the adventure, including details about the Mexican Revolution. This is a walk well worth taking.

When did you start writing the book?

When Trump started running on The Wall.

How long did it take you to write it?

Around a year and a half.

Where did you get the idea from?

This is a combination of my own adventures backpacking in Chiapas, Mexico and a deep desire to show others the common threads that run throughout all humanity, despite race, religion or culture, but especially to show the world the beauty of Mexico and her people.

Were there any parts of the book where you struggled?

I was determined to include the research on the Mexican Revolution and the Zapatista Movement, while at the same time sharing my true experience, which was hardly academic.  Despite the fact that my experiences are really funny and read almost like an Amy Poehler movie, it was important to me that the research be taken seriously. For that to happen, I needed to be taken seriously as the researcher while at the same time, maintaining authenticity and truth, and, truth is, I was a bit of an idiot in some of the stories.

What came easily?

The whole thing. The structure of the story, the words, I wrote much of the book stream of conscious and it just flowed. What's hard is marketing it! I'm bad with self-promotion. I started it with the whole “if-you-write-it-they-will-read-it” philosophy but getting it in “their” hands? Not so easy. Fortunately, I did win an award so I know it's not the writing.

Are your characters entirely fictitious or have you borrowed from real world people you know?

The entire book is nonfiction, but it reads like a thriller.

How important it is for writers to read. Are there any particular authors that have influenced how you write and, if so, how have they influenced you?

I can't imagine someone being able to write who doesn't read. I've had my nose in books since I was 7. Influences? Phew. A LOT. My family didn't trust anything modern so I grew up reading the classics and when I say classics, I mean literally: Rudyard Kipling, O Henry, Shakespeare. Once I was choosing my own: Kurt Vonnegut, Richard Adams, C.S. Lewis, Barbara Kingsolver, Billy Bryson, J K Rowling, the list is long. Largest influence, as far as this book goes, is Bill Bryson, A Walk in the Woods, because, I don't know if everyone catches it, but he does quite a bit of environmental activism in his book. He tells, a fun, light hearted story but weaves in research and facts about the forest systems he visits and how they need help. I tell an exciting tale about a pretty girl in a foreign country trying to survive without a clue, but weave in information on Indigenous People's experience in Mexico.

Do you have a target reader?

I think the book appeals to a lot of different kinds of readers. It's about a young girl (me) who's homeless at 16 but pulls herself out of the gutter and puts herself through college, graduating with honors even though she's a bit of a party animal; she uses good judgement and manages to not fuck up her life. She believes in her dreams, chases them all the way to Mexico, then survives what she meets there, including being kidnapped, as well as Indiana Jonesesque experiences; uncovers and confronts unconscious racism planted deep within her psyche as a child; learns a lot about Mexico, but more about herself. There's even a bit of steamy romance rising off the pages.

About Writing

Do you have a writing process? If so can you please describe it?

I start off stream of conscious to get going, then, like a sculptor, I scrape, I sand and I shape, over and over and over again.

Do you outline? If so, do you do so extensively or just chapter headings and a couple of sentences?

Maybe a vague one, after I've gotten going.

Do you edit as you go or wait until you've finished?

Both, but first draft is all unedited. Then I go back.

Did you hire a professional editor

Nope. I've worked as an editor before so I relied on my own eyes, though it actually would have been nice to have the option.

Do you listen to music while you write? If yes, what gets the fingers tapping?

Pandora's MC Yogi station.

About Publishing

Did you submit your work to Agents?

I started doing that a few months ago. But I self-published first.

What made you decide to go Indie, whether self-publishing or with an indie publisher? Was it a particular event or a gradual process?

We've all heard the story about George Lucas peddling Star Wars and getting no bites, JK Rowling said she was turned down by everyone, Paulo Coehlo pitched The Alchemist for ten years…all those stories made me decide to try it on my own. I'll admit, I didn't know it was going to be such a barrier to agents, and traditional publishers when I did it. I didn't know how to market, Oh there's so much I didn't know. Would I do it again? Well, that remains to be seen. Let's see how I do once I learn more about marketing with this one. P.S. I did manage to attract an agent I met at a Writer's Conference. We're in the 'getting to know you' stage, but I have high hopes. Couldn't imagine meeting someone I trust more right off the bat.

Did you get your book cover professionally done or did you do it yourself?

I did it myself. My 8 year old daughter took the photo.

Do you have a marketing plan for the book or are you just winging it?

I'm winging it, as is my style with everything I do, but I am starting to put together a little more organization. There is just SOOOO MUCH!

Any advice that you would like to give to other newbies considering becoming Indie authors?

Hmmmm…there's nothing quite like seeing your book on the shelf in your favorite book store, not to mention holding your completed work in your own hands, but you should know that the “Industry” frowns upon self-publishers and once you hit “publish” it's done and they don't care if you just wanted to get a copy in your own hands and share with family as soon as possible. Once you hit “publish” they generally won't consider you unless you make bookoos of money on your own. Then they'll consider you to see if they can get a chunk of that, too. Otherwise, if you've self-published, they won't even look at your book. I asked an agent about this and was told that they figure if you self-publish and can't sell it yourself, then it must not be any good. That's the company line.  But that doesn't make sense to me at all, because most writers, like me, aren't good salespeople, and you would think the book sellers know this. No, it feels more punitive to me. Like we're being punished for having the audacity to bypass the system. But the system requires that you keep your baby in a box for 10 years or more while you query and wait, query and wait.

About You

Where did you grow up?

I was born in Memphis, Tennessee and lived there til 17. I grew up, in every sense of the words, in Durango, Colorado.

Where do you live now?

Durango, Colorado.

What would you like readers to know about you?

I have been blessed with a wild, exciting life. I've got stacks of “you'll never believe this!” stories. I am also voraciously curious, always learning, I'm a fighter, a survivor, an adventure junkie, and a sucker for the underdog. This combination makes for some pretty wild stories I look forward to sharing. In the end, my goal as a writer is to inspire people to be the best they can be despite any circumstances. That's what I try to do myself. Sometimes I fail miserably, but I just keep getting back up and trying again.

What are you working on now?

After releasing Yoga Mama's Buddha Sandals: Mayans, Zapatistas and Silly Little White Girls, people asked, “When are you going to write more about the stuff that happened in chapter 2??” Here it is. And it'll be the most unusual travelogue through America you'll ever read. Talk about cheap travel! I was homeless more or less at 16. No one is more surprised than me that I lived to write these stories down. This book is an exploration of incredible places across the U.S. as well as an often humorous story about survival, adventure, and divine intervention.

Could your car breaking down be one of the best things that ever happened to you? You're never going to believe how many times I've been in cars that broke down and in some of the coolest places, the strangest circumstances. Brakes have failed, tires popped off while driving down the road, engines stalled and/or blew up–I've actually been in three cars that caught on fire, one of which burned to the ground, stranding me in the boondocks of Moscow, Tennessee, where locals swap stories of being attacked by swamp monkeys. All the stories are true. I've got witnesses. Sometimes very angry or annoyed witnesses.

I'm also lucky that many of these events coincided with a trip to somewhere extraordinary. From rebuilding my carburetor on a picnic table next to Billy the Kid's grave site in Ft. Sumner, New Mexico, to Volkswagen Beetles catching on fire and burning to the ground in the swamp monkey-infested backwoods of Moscow, Tennessee, you're just never gonna believe what happens. Oh, and I had a gun. So, girl with gun. Look for excerpts to start appearing periodically in my blog Summer 2018. Psst! This book is also for other kids out there who might be homeless or hopeless. I want to share tips on how you can get it together and pursue the life you used to dream about. This one won't be out for a year, but my other book has some info too and you can get it from the library. Just ask them to order it. They'll do it for free. Fill out a form and it'll be on the way. I don't have all the answers but maybe I have some that will work for you.

End of Interview:

For more from Donna, visit her blog.

Get your copy of Yoga Mama's Buddha Sandals from Amazon US or Amazon UK.

[natakova15-blog]

Instant Pot 6-qt Viva 9-in-1 Digital Pressure Cooker on Easy Pay

My Instant Pot is one of my favorite purchases ever and right now, QVC has the Instant Pot 6-qt Viva 9-in-1 Digital PressureCooker available on Easy Pay. If you've been eyeing the Instant Pot, but didn't want to have to...

[natakova15-blog]

Trump's ultimatum to G7 partners: Lift tariffs on U.S. goods

President Donald Trump threw down a gauntlet on trade Saturday, threatening to cut other nations off entirely if they do not eliminate tariffs on U.S. goods, as a testy G7 economic summit wrapped up in Quebec City, Canada.

While praising free trade in theory, Trump demanded an end to tariffs on U.S. goods, which he called “ridiculous and unacceptable.” And he did not hesitate at trying to force other nations' hands.

“It's going to stop,” the president told reporters during a press conference. “Or we'll stop trading with them. And that's a very profitable answer, if we have to do it.”

“We're like the piggy bank that everybody's robbing, and that ends,” Trump said later.

The comments deliver on Trump's promise during the 2016 presidential campaign to end trade deals and security treaties that he has said benefit America's allies at the nation's expense. Trump has made “America First” an unofficial slogan for his administration.

The fraught, contentious summit was like none other in memory, upending decades of international cooperation on trade and policy with America's most steadfast allies, from Canada, Japan and Europe. He doubled down on the criticism during private meetings with his counterparts, according to The New York Times, which wrote that he was met by substantial pushback.

Asked Saturday about his meetings with other world leaders, Trump sought however to downplay the tension.

“It was not contentious,” he said, according to The Washington Post. “What was strong was the language that this cannot go on, but the relationships are very good.”

But the tension between Trump and America's allies was visible in a picture tweeted Saturday by German government spokesperson Steffen Seibert.

It shows German Chancellor Angela Merkel leaning over a table toward Trump, who sits with his arms crossed defiantly. The two appear to face off as Japanese Prime Minister Shinzō Abe and U.S. National Security Advisor John Bolton look on behind them.

Zweiter Tag des #G7-Gipfels in Kanada: Beratungen am Rande der offiziellen Tagesordnung #G7Charlevoix pic.twitter.com/5GiGF6zTHr

- Steffen Seibert (@RegSprecher) June 9, 2018

“Second day of the G7 Summit in Canada,” Seibert captioned the photo, according to a translation. “Deliberations on the fringes of the official agenda.”

At the press conference Saturday, Trump said his administration is still renegotiating the North American Free Trade Agreement with Canada and Mexico. If the U.S. cannot reach a new trilateral agreement, Trump said, then it may seek separate trade agreements with the two countries.

This week's conference comes after Trump imposed steel and aluminum tariffs on the European Union, Canada, and Mexico last month, sparking immediate retaliation from the U.S. allies.

Meanwhile, Trump is moving ahead with an upcoming summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and called on Friday for the G-7 to readmit Russia, which was expelled in 2014 for forcibly annexing part of Ukraine.

These moves are the clearest sign yet that Trump intends to shake up an international trade and security order built by the U.S. after World War II and carefully cultivated since then by successive administrations, Republican and Democrat.

That international order appears to be in disarray now, almost everyone agrees, including the US leader largely responsible for the upheaval.

“It's like the gig is up,” Trump said Saturday of the way other countries have treated the U.S. on trade. “They can't believe they got away with it.”

As soon as the summit ended in Canada, after alienating America's most steadfast allies, Donald Trump jetted for Singapore for a historic meeting with Kim Jong Un - one of the few world leaders who might be even more erratic and unpredictable than he is.

The meeting, once billed as a historic opportunity to rid the Hermit Kingdom of its nuclear arsenal, in recent days has been described more modestly as a chance for the two mercurial leaders to size each other up, and see if the two leaders can do business with one another.

[natakova15-blog]

City Slaps Burn Victim with Violation for Not Mowing Lawn While He Was in the Hospital

By Rachel Blevins Dallas, Texas – A homeowner who was severely injured after a natural gas explosion destroyed the heating unit in his home and...

[natakova15-blog]

Mueller investigating funds used for Trump inauguration

Robert Mueller is looking into the curious case of Donald Trump's record inaugural fundraising, according to a report by ABC News.

The report on Friday said the Russia special counsel and his team of investigators have questioned “several witnesses,” including Trump's friend and chair of the organizing committee Tom Barrack, about contributions to the fund - particularly “donors with connections to Russia, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar.”

Mueller's interest in the inaugural committee seems to overlap with some figures who have entered the public spotlight recently thanks to disclosures of shifty payments to Trump fixer Michael Cohen.

Andrew Intrater, who runs Columbus Nova, gave $250,000 to the inaugural fund. He is a business associate of and relative to Russian billionaire oligarch Viktor Vekselberg, who is close to Vladimir Putin. Intrater and Vekselberg attended Trump's inauguration.

This is the website the Russian-linked company that paid Michael Cohen $500K didn't want you to see

The internet never forgets.

Another likely person of interest is Leonard Blavatnik, who has extensive business ties in Russia and is no stranger to attention from Mueller's team over contributions to Trump - he gave $1 million to the committee through his company, Access Industries.

AT&T - which came under fire for the “big mistake” it made after Trump was elected in paying Michael Cohen $600,000 to do very little - gave $2,082,483 to the inaugural fund (second only to Sheldon Adelson's $5 million contribution).

Pfizer, Lockheed Martin, Dow, Bank of America, Qualcomm, and Boeing each contributed $1 million to the fund, and many other corporations gave hundreds of thousands, which is not unheard of for an inaugural committee. Yet Trump's corporate contribution total hit $45 million, which is $8 million less than the $53 million Barack Obama's 2009 inauguration raised in total from individuals and corporations.

What happened to the money Trump collected? Apart from huge perks to top donors, it's not fully clear.

The committee Trump formed to fund his inaugural festivities raised $107 million, the most in history, about twice the previous record. While prior administrations used donations limits to allay fears of bribery and influence-buying, Trump's committee had no such limits.

Obama banned corporate, PAC, and lobbyist money - a rule that was abandoned by Trump. Bill Clinton and George W. Bush refused corporate contributions over $100,000 (Bush increased the limit to $250,000 for his second inaugural). The complete lack of any such limits on Trump's inaugural fund, and the corresponding lack of transparency of how the money was actually spent after the relatively smaller festivities died down fostered concerns of graft and bribery.

One year later the committee filed tax forms showing that it had paid $26 million to an event planning firm (created six weeks before Inauguration Day) run by a friend of Melania Trump, while donating $5 million to charity. The filing did not list spending by subcontractor.

The total spending disclosed by Trump's inaugural committee dwarfs that of past committees. ProPublica asked Greg Jenkins, who ran George W. Bush's committee in 2005, how Trump could have spent so much on his inaugural events, and he replied:

It's inexplicable to me. I literally don't know. They had a third of the staff and a quarter of the events and they raise at least twice as much as we did. So there's the obvious question: Where did it go? I don't know.

Steve Kerrigan led both of Barack Obama's inaugural committees, and he told ProPublica, “We literally did two inaugurations for less than the cost of that.”

[natakova15-blog]

Giuliani returned to Fox News for 8 minutes. It was a disaster again.

Newly minted Trump attorney Rudy Giuliani went on Hannity last Wednesday and created major problems for his client.

He returned to Fox News and on Thursday morning and made things even worse.

On Friday, he was forced to issue a statement effectively recanting everything he said the previous two days.

By Saturday night he was back on Fox News. Things did not get any better.

Giuliani appeared on one of Trump's favorite programs, Justice With Judge Jeanine, which airs at 9 p.m.

He admitted that he was returning to national TV even though he is still not fully versed with the facts of the Stormy Daniels case or any other of Trump's legal issues. “The facts I'm still learning… I've been on the case two weeks… I'm not an expert on the facts yet. I'm getting there,” Giuliani said.

It showed. In an interview that lasted less than 8 minutes, he made several significant errors.

Giuliani again addressed the Stormy Daniels case and the $130,000 hush money payment made by Trump's longtime attorney Michael Cohen to the adult film actress. If the money was intended to influence the campaign, it could violate federal law.

But Giuliani told Pirro that the donation would be legal “even if it was a campaign donation.” According to Giuliani, it was legal as a campaign donation because “the president reimbursed it fully.”

This, however, is false. While candidates can donate unlimited money to their own campaigns, all campaign donations, and loans, must be reported to the Federal Election Commission (FEC). The failure to report the donation is a violation of federal law. The Stormy Daniels payment has never been reported to the FEC by Trump. If it was a campaign expense Trump broke the law.

At another point, Giuliani says the payment to Stormy Daniels was not a loan but an “expenditure,” which is the word the FEC uses to describe expenses related to a campaign.

It is also puzzling why Giuliani keeps bringing up the possibility that the donation was intended to influence the campaign. “Imagine if that came out of October 15, 2016, in the middle of the last debate with Hillary Clinton…Cohen made it go away. He did his job,” Giuliani said on Fox & Friends on Thursday morning.

At another point, Giuliani mimicked petting Hillary Clinton as if she was a cat.

Giuliani did not address the critical issue of what Trump knew when, nor was he asked about it.

He will be back on TV, this time on ABC, on Sunday morning.

[natakova15-blog]

How to Create a Car Emergency Kit

Sure, roadside assistance is a nice thing to have but in bad weather or if you're off the beaten track and away from a cell tower when you run into car trouble, you need to have a car emergency kit at the ready. Understanding the basics of taking care of your car is essential to […]

The post How to Create a Car Emergency Kit appeared first on Simply Stacie.

[natakova15-blog]

Two black men arrested for the crime of waiting for a friend at Starbucks

At any given time, just about anywhere in the world, friends hang out at the local coffee joint. And if one friend shows up first, the other might order a coffee - or might just hold off until the other person arrives.

That run-of-the-mill behavior seems hardly worth remarking on. It certainly shouldn't get you arrested. But that's exactly what happened to two black men who found themselves in handcuffs at a Philadelphia Starbucks this past Thursday.

The pair - only identified in the media as two area realtors - made a trip to a local Starbucks where they awaited the arrival of associate. The visit ended in their forced removal from the establishment and arrest by Philadelphia police.

Internet video of the incident - including an eight-minute YouTube video that showed the men calmly submitted to their arrest - went viral, drawing hundreds of thousands of views. 

Unconfirmed reports said the men were reported to the police by an employee who complained they were loitering because they did not immediately make a purchase.

Their detentions drew outrage on social media and calls for a boycott of the coffee shop chain. In 2016, the city of Philadelphia approved a  nuisance business law that encouraged establishments to crack down on patron behavior deemed to be a public nuisance, including loitering.

But that doesn't explain why the two African American men at the Starbucks were singled out, when the kind of behavior they were arrested for is the norm.

Local news reports, including one in the Philly Voice, said the Philadelphia police department has begun an internal investigation into the matter.

Starbucks, which just last year named Rosalind Brewer as its first woman and African-American COO, initially issued a short statement on Twitter saying it was aware of the incident. By late Saturday, it had issued a full-blown apology.

We apologize to the two individuals and our customers for what took place at our Philadelphia store on Thursday. pic.twitter.com/suUsytXHks

- Starbucks Coffee (@Starbucks) April 14, 2018

Small protests have been held outside the Center City, Philadelphia Starbucks where the arrests occurred, while the Twitterverse continued to express its displeasure over the weekend.

Outside the Starbucks today pic.twitter.com/vcr9QstkRT

- Melissa DePino (@missydepino) April 14, 2018

Cornell Brooks, a former NAACP's president, tweeted about all the times he had sought refuge in a Starbucks.

TRUE CONFESSION: I 've done the following (while Black):

loitered in @Starbucks, waiting for a friend;

loitered in @Starbucks, waiting for the rain to stop;

& EVEN asking my teenage sons to loiter & wait for me at @Starbucks.

ARRESTED for LOITERING w/o A LATTE. SMH

[natakova15-blog]

IndieView with Aaron C. Cross, author of Robocopter Ski Patrol

Dialogue is also easy for me, since snark is one of my languages. 

Aaron C. Cross – 4 April 2018

The Back Flap

The year is…some year. Let's say the present. Yellow cake uranium sits, waiting to be sold, in a foreign country. The leader hides himself away, fearing assassination – as he should, because that's how the country works. It's kind of a stupid country. And well he should worry, for skulking his way around Europe is an ambitious Baron just looking for the right opportunity to seize the throne and all the powers and chances that come with it. If only his pets would stop exploding… Across the ocean, Adam Bitchenstein attempts to win over Miss Girl from Ipanema for the nth time. However, a phone call from out of the blue will change everything in their lives forever. It's always a phone call, right? Join Adam, Miss Girl from Ipanema, and a cast of idiots and perverts as they seek to stop the balance of world power from changing before it's too late. Also, there's a Robocopter. Not sure if you picked that up but…it's kind of important.

About the book

What is the book about?

Essentially, it's a send-up of the cliché 'one last job' action movie trope, but it's more than that. Honestly, it's a bit difficult to describe, but the plot revolves around a dictator coming into power (in a stupid way) and the group of heroes looking to stop him. There's also some reality/time travel and a sentient helicopter.

When did you start writing the book?

I started writing the book proper back in, I think, 2010, though it was in stages before that.

How long did it take you to write it?

It took me three years, give or take a few months.

Where did you get the idea from?

The idea came from some friends when we were doing a play festival in Atlanta in 2009. We were sitting around and tossing around ideas and it got scribbled down on a sheet of computer paper. I still have that sheet, actually.

Were there any parts of the book where you struggled?

As with any book, there are difficulties. I can't think of a specific point at which the book was tricky, but I know there were some parts that just didn't click right away.

What came easily?

What was the easiest for me was that I gave myself permission to do whatever I wanted. If I wanted to write something, I put it in there. I actually have a note that demands that I justify why something CAN'T work. If I can't, it went in. Dialogue is also easy for me, since snark is one of my languages.

Are your characters entirely fictitious or have you borrowed from real world people you know?

The characters are mostly fictional, but I took bits and pieces of personalities from some of my friends at the time. Ace, in particular, is borrowed from a friend of mine that would get into scrapes while drinking. It seemed fitting.

We all know how important it is for writers to read. Are there any particular authors that have influenced how you write and, if so, how have they influenced you?

For influences, Terry Pratchett for sure. His whole giant universe and sense of humor speak to the heart of my writing. Writers like Mel Brooks, Matt Stone, Trey Parker, and the crew behind Archer also have an impact and I think that shows in the writing.

Do you have a target reader?

My target reader is anyone who wants to laugh. My goal in writing is just to create something to entertain others and that helps relieve stress and anger over the world at large.

About Writing

Do you have a writing process? If so can you please describe it?

It's not particularly pretty or specific. I try to write every single day and, sometimes, that just doesn't happen. Life and all that gets in the way. Still, my process is just to work on it when I can.

Do you outline? If so, do you do so extensively or just chapter headings and a couple of sentences?

It depends, but I really don't outline. My writing is mainly organic, in that it comes as it comes. I do try to have some plot points scribbled down in advance, just to keep me on track, but the story and characters go where they want and I've found that's the best way to really make the books interesting. I don't even name the chapters until I've finished writing them.

Do you edit as you go or wait until you've finished?

I usually wait until the end to do a full-scale edit. However, when there are days that writing isn't coming easily, I often go back and do some editing then to get myself refreshed on the story and see where I can go from there.

Did you hire a professional editor?

I don't, mainly because I can't afford it right now. Maybe if things take off a bit.

Do you listen to music while you write? If yes, what gets the fingers tapping?

Absolutely. Music really helps me writing. As for what, it varies. Some nights, it's heavy metal. Others, it's Latin jazz, Others, it's an 80s playlist. I don't really know until it happens, but it works well.

About Publishing

Did you submit your work to Agents?

I haven't as of yet. I've thought about it and explored it a bit, but ultimately I haven't felt comfortable doing that yet.

What made you decide to go Indie, whether self-publishing or with an indie publisher? Was it a particular event or a gradual process?

Going indie was just out of necessity. I was turned down from several MFA writing programs, which was disheartening, and decided to just write something and get it out there. A friend of mine, Ashley Wrigley, had self-published and was invaluable in helping me do so.

Did you get your book cover professionally done or did you do it yourself?

Well, for Robocopter, I took a whole five minutes to make sure that book cover looked as professional as it does. The others I actually used some default covers from my publishing website.

Do you have a marketing plan for the book or are you just winging it?

I just rely on word-of-mouth and having others read it and talk about it. I don't have the budget or time to go full-scale marketing right now, but I'd imagine that would change if circumstances were different.

Any advice that you would like to give to other newbies considering becoming Indie authors?

Just do it. Write. Publish. Even if it doesn't get traction, holding YOUR book in your hands is an incredible experience.

About You

Where did you grow up?

I honestly would say I grew up all over. I've lived in the Dakotas, Atlanta, Nashville, and in Oklahoma, so I've lived all over the United States.

Where do you live now?

Currently, I'm up in Fargo, North Dakota. No, we don't use woodchippers for people.

What would you like readers to know about you?

I'm a doctoral student that will hopefully have my degree within a couple years. Dr. Cross just sounds awesome, right? I can always be reached at www.aaronccross.com or via Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/RobocopterSkiPatrol/ or even Twitter as @daneatscatfood. I'm happy to talk to anyone about my books or about writing, so don't be shy!

End of Interview:

Get your copy of Robocopter Ski Patrol from Amazon US or Amazon UK.