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Randal Greene: Path to publication
Randal Eldon Greene is the author of Descriptions of Heaven, (Harvard Square Editions, November 22nd 2016), a novel about a linguist, a lake monster, and the looming shadow of death. A native of the northern plains, Greene grew up in small-town Nebraska and later attended the University of South Dakota where he earned his Bachelor's in English and Anthropology.
Greene believes the world of literary arts is an active and thriving place, and he wants to get his hands in the ink. He is a volunteer judge of fiction at HeartAndMindZine.com and is always seeking opportunities to collaborate with other artists. His first four short stories were published under the name R.E. Greene in 2010. His short fiction has since appeared in publications in both Germany and the United States.
In his spare time, Greene likes to cook, study eclectically, or relax with a book in his library. When not in his library, Greene can be found hanging out with the coolest middle school teacher in the world, who also happens to be his girlfriend.
What is the key to writing a good book?
There are so many things that I'm tempted to say: Don't fear descriptive language, ask if this couldn't be told better in the third person, find where you placed textual soapboxes and get rid of them.
However, I think the key to writing a good book is actually writing it. Don't wait for the muse. She'll come more often if you're in the act of writing—much less if you spend all your time waiting for her. And, the truth is, you don't need her to write a good book. You need to write to write a good book. But, she is, of course, always welcome to sit with me at my writing desk.
Your book comes out soon. Will you provide any deals when it's out?
My publisher sets the prices, but we are planning or currently doing giveaways on Goodreads, Facebook, Amazon, and my website, as well as with any book bloggers willing to host a giveaway. I think we're just trying to get as many free copies into the hands of readers as we can afford.
Anyone interested should follow (in the links below) to make sure you don't miss out on a super-amazing special prize (and I'm talking about more than just a signed book, though that will be a part of it).
What is your book about?
It's about a linguist, a lake monster, and the looming shadow of death.
From site:
A linguist, a lake monster, and the looming shadow of death—news of an unknown creature in the New Bedford Lake coincides with news that Natalia's cancer has returned.
On the shores of the lake in a strange house with many secret doors, Robert and his family must face the fact that Natalia is dying, and there is no hope this time. But they continue on; their son plays by the lakeside, Natalia paints, Robert writes, and all the while the air is thick with dust from a worldwide drought that threatens to come down and coat their little corner of green.
A lament for what is already lost and what is yet to be lost, Descriptions of Heaven leaves only one question to be asked: What's next?
What inspires the title Descriptions of Heaven? It's different for a lake monster novella.
Okay. This is a short book. But, it's a dense book. It's about language, morbidity, loss. On the most obvious level, this book is about Robert looking at the inevitable loss of his world, that is, his wife. On a deeper level, this book is about how we, as humans, are going to deal with the loss of the world we know as the last vestiges of nature are consumed and, if not consumed and built upon with highways and houses, then destroyed by climate change, polluted water, oil spills.
What language are we going to use to talk about this when our biomes have all shrunk to nothing and vanished? What words can we use for a thing that we haven't truly seen yet, only glimpsed at a distance, seen prophesized on TV or in books? How do you describe Heaven? How do describe a monster in the deep and muddy lake?
What challenges did you face while writing it?
I suppose the biggest challenge was time. I was working full-time—evenings at a call center. Trying to write in the mornings when you're not a morning person is not the easiest thing in the world. But, I'm glad I learned to do it because I still write mornings, which allows me have a bit of a nightlife where I can do more things I enjoy, like cooking and reading.
Another challenge was the language. Robert—the main character—is a linguist, and he has quite the vocabulary. It was a fun challenge creating a character a hell of a lot smarter than I am.
What inspired you to write it?
I had a terrible bout of insomnia one night and was still unable to sleep the next day. I ended up lying on the couch in the living room, watching a marathon of some monster hunter show on Animal Planet. In one of the episodes, the cryptozoologists went looking for evidence of a lake monster. But, it wasn't the Loch Ness monster. In my memory, they showed a map of the world with little lake monsters to indicate all the freshwater bodies in the world where supposed lake monsters dwell. There were a couple hundred at least.
This inspired the last line of the novel. The next day—after some sleep—I began work on the story. I thought it was going to be a short story at most. But, the themes of the book I was working on then got absorbed into Descriptions of Heaven. Thus, this book became my debut novel instead of the one I was struggling with for several months beforehand.
Do you have a specific revision process?
Because I write by hand, the first draft I type up on the computer is also my first revision. I'll revise on the computer a few times and then print and mark up a paper copy. I often put aside a story for months at a time before coming back to it. Even flash fiction. Part of it is wanting to approach the story with fresh eyes. Part of it is that I'm simply busy with other writing projects.
Do you have scenes you removed sitting in a file somewhere? How did you decide what needed to be removed?
Every time I do a major revision, the manuscript gets a new file. "Descriptions of Heaven-d1," "Descriptions of Heaven-d2," and so on. And, yes, the original manuscript was longer than the published one. In large part, this is thanks to Martine who, as editors are want to do, suggested a hefty trim here and there.
It's already a short work, so I didn't want to take out anything that could be left in. If I took it out, it was only because it could be said better with fewer words or because what was being said was already stated elsewhere. There are spots of thematic repetition as Robert works through his sorrows, but if something is said twice in a row in two different ways, one of those ways is probably better than the other, and the better way stays while the other way leaves.
What do you do aside from writing? Is being an author a full-time job?
It's been a full-time job for a couple of years now. After college, I landed a fairly lucrative position in a call center but quit when two factors converged. First, I was transferred to a department that was not a good fit for me (It involved working with video game support—not my cup of tea). Second, while still in training for this position, I started working on a novel. The idea for this novel had been gestating for about seven years.
After a couple of weeks, I realized this book wasn't a false start, so I quit my job. But I still needed money, so I didn't quit working altogether. Instead, I sought employment I hoped would allow me to write while at work. I applied at almost every hotel in the Siouxland area. I was honest about my desires in my first interview, and this manager looked at me and gave me an offer I couldn't refuse: Work two days a week, only Saturdays and Sundays, sixteen-hour shifts.
That's an awesome job, or sounds like it anyway. How long have you had that job? Do you have plans for the future or is this where you want to be?
I've worked weekends at the hotel for two years (two years this coming October). My boss tells me that even if I get as popular as James Patterson, I'm not allowed to quit working weekends.
So, your girlfriend is a middle school teacher. Have you written anything middle-grade?
I wrote a reader's theater play called Humpty Dumpty Goes to the Beach for Libby's middle school summer class, which always holds a "Books on the Beach" day. It was a big hit with the kids both this year and last year. In the coming spring, we're planning on putting the play up on this excellent online resource for educators called Teachers Pay Teachers.
Does Libby read your work, too?
Yes. She helped edit Descriptions of Heaven. She's quite good at catching clunky sentences and suggesting rewrites.
It's awesome that your girlfriend is so supportive. Sometimes, it can be hard to live with a writer. Is she your only editor?
Libby has become my first reader after a piece is complete enough to warrant another pair of eyes looking it over. For some things, like "Come Light," my latest short story published in Unbroken Journal, she is my only reader. Descriptions of Heaven, as my first book, had a lot of readers—likely more readers than a novella really warrants. But, I know a lot of writers who were excited about it and were more than happy to provide feedback. How could I say no? All of their advice and suggestions helped shape Descriptions of Heaven into a better book.
These readers, though, all came before my main editor for Descriptions of Heaven. Martine Bellen—a poet and librettist—was the actual editor of my book. She did the work that only a real editor can do. Rewrite this. Move this. Cut this whole passage. Frustrating and purifying. Of course, there were places I didn't make the change she suggested, but almost always, she was right when she said that a particular line or passage needed to be looked at again.
What has been the biggest challenge you've faced in the publication process?
The biggest challenge has been marketing, which includes getting reviews, interviews, and the book entered into contests. I expected even a small publisher to be more involved with the marketing aspect of selling a book—that's how they make money, right? Apparently, even if it's in the best interest of the publisher to do something, if it's not in the contract, don't expect them to do it. I've had to take care of all the marketing aspects of Descriptions of Heaven. Sure, they provided a long (and often outdated) list of places to try submitting my book, but it's taken up all my time, easily over eight hours a day, for the past couple of months. I've run out of advance copies of the novella, so I'll get a break from this aspect of publishing for about a month. But, as soon as the book is out, I'll be back at it. Though, I hope to be able to divvy up my time more heavily on the writing side. I have a more manageable list I've made for what to do and when to do it once the book is for sale.
Of course, there's so much when it comes to book design and distribution, which I am incredibly happy that I don't have to learn because Harvard Square Editions is taking care of that. The learning curve has been steep enough. I can hardly imagine wanting to tackle everything or—gasp!—paying someone for it.
On a related note: Finding support for traditionally published authors, whether with a small or large press, has been challenging. Most of the advice available from websites, bloggers, and online communities has to do with self-publishing. And, while sometimes the advice is helpful, most of the time it is not. Advice such as make an awesome book cover and set the price low are not aspects of the book that I can control. So one of the challenges of a traditionally published author in a time when self-publishing is in vogue has been sorting through the ruck to find the few gems of useful marketing advice.
Is it ironic that, with little peer support, I've felt just as do-it-yourselfer as the actual do-it-yourselfers? I'm thinking it's not really ironic because no matter how we publish our books, we are all DYI folk when it comes to the core of the publishing industry—we are all doing the writing ourselves. The rest is just finding the right route to bringing those words to the readers of the world.
Find out more about Randal or follow his writing journey

subset: commoncrawl


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For Your Special Event
The Queens Mountain Inn has a modest capacity that makes it a perfect venue to mark a special occasion. Wedding parties have enjoyed our accommodations and the inn is a splendid place to host small reunions or other intimate gatherings.
In addition, our café has become a hip location for rehearsal dinners and similar celebrations where our welcoming atmosphere helps set the tone for family and friends to create a memorable event.


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While my friends & family in England are bemoaning one of the colder summers on record, we here in south central Pennsylvania are in the midst of a truly disgusting swelter. Highs in the 90s & touching 100 in the next few days, with all those tantalizing rainclouds evaporating before they provide any relief. We're down to a few gallons of water in the rain barrel, so let's hope the skies turn in our favor soon.
Our garden's persevering, with the basil & oregano clearly being the happiest about this heat. We've cut huge bunches & made basil-garlic paste & hung the oregano to dry (which is tempering its spiciness, thankfully – I don't know what we did, but this year's oregano is blisteringly hot when eaten fresh). The yellow squash has put out some nice fruit, & our neighbor's eggplant is ready to start picking. The tomatoes are taking their sweet time, with barely half a dozen cherry tomatoes being ripe enough to eat so far. The plants themselves are huge, though, so we've got high hopes for August's harvest.
Meanwhile, a family's got to eat… but turning on the stove is the absolute last thing I want to do when the temperature's pushing triple digits. We grill on occasion, & I'll freely admit that in our house, cereal & yoghurt & fruit often counts as a decent summer dinner, but we do try to make a proper sit-down of things, even in the heat.
One of C's favorite dinners is what we charmingly refer to as Pick-a-Nibble. I'll slice & steam some new potatoes & some green beans, then rifle around in the fridge for whatever leftovers might lend themselves to dinner – a bit of cold pasta, some nice cheese, jarred roasted peppers cut into strips, leftover salmon or faux meatballs, tinned chickpeas tossed in a bit of oil & lemon juice, a few soft-boiled eggs, slices of cucumber… you get the idea. It's easy, fun & pretty on the plate, & is a good way to use up the piddly half protions of things that tend to get forgotten in the back of the fridge.
Here's a proper recipe for you, if you can call it that. We're making this almost every week right now, & it's perfect summer food – crunchy & cool & salty & a tiny bit sweet from the corn. I serve it with home-made bread, tortillas/flat breads or corn chips, sometimes with a nice avocado diced up & scattered over the top. A slab of grilled salmon rubbed with a bit of lemon juice & pepper would elevate it to a more substantial meal. Don't roll your eyes at the tinned corn – our local grocery chain's organic brand is pretty fantastic. You can substitute frozen, or freshly-cut-from-the-cob corn as you have it.
Too-Hot-to-Cook Salad
1 16-ounce tin of black beans, drained & rinsed
1 16-ounce tin of corn, drained & rinsed
Half a hothouse cucumber, diced (about half an inch square)
1-2 jarred roasted red peppers, rinsed & diced OR 1 large ripe tomato, diced
1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese
2-4 tablespoons chopped fresh herbs (parsley, oregano, thyme, basil, whatever you have on hand)
1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1 teaspoon ground cumin
2 teaspoons za'atar (optional)
Salt & pepper to taste
Combine the lot in a large bowl, adjusting the seasoning & dressing as needed. Chill for half an hour or so to let the flavors meld. Crack open a nice cold summer brew, stick your feet in the kids' wading pool & become one with the heat… ohmmmmmmmygodit'shot.


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Paltalk Launches New Lawsuit Against MMOG Makers
Paltalk Launches New Lawsuit Against MMOG Makers
Paltalk, which recently settled a patent infringement tussle with Microsoft, has launched a new lawsuit against Turbine, Sony and other MMOG makers over their alleged infringement of the same technology.
The situation for the defendants is complicated by the fact that Microsoft chose to settle with Paltalk when the case came to court in March this year. Details of the settlement weren't made public but as Donnelly noted, it not only gives Paltalk "crowing rights" but also means that Microsoft acknowledged the validity of Paltalk's claims, which will make it difficult for the companies named in the new suit to deny them.
Paltalk's specific demands haven't been made public but according to Mass High Tech the company claims it has suffered damages in "at least the tens of millions of dollars." In its lawsuit against Microsoft, Paltalk asked for $90 million.
Source: Boston Globe
Is Paltalk another one of those 'patent vulture' companies which is stocked with high power lawyers to sue the shit out of anyone who infringes even slightly on their ridiculous patent?
It seems interesting that they would only now start sueing over patent infringment considering that ActiBlizz's MMO has been out for - what, 5 years now? I assume Turbine is over DDO? That's been out for some three years as I recall.
Edit: Turbine could be over LOTRO as well, which has been out ~2 years.
And by "interesting" I mean "Typical" in that they seem to have waited until the moment where they can gouge the maximum amount of money from these companies.
They really should put a limit on the number of years you can wait to sue someone for using something you "created". Granted they are still using it, but as said above, they have been using it for years. You shouldn't be able to lie in wait til a company is at it's potential high point, and then sue them for 100 million dollars.
Sounds like a new greedy company is on the scene.
Another reasons not to play MMOGs, you just purchased something thats technically stolen property.
Jesus christ this is bullshit. I hope these assholes die painfully.
Except for the part where Microsoft was under the same lawsuit, just earlier, for console games...
Regardless, its a pretty stupid lawsuit as I see it. Looking at the last instance of it from the last time this came up here, it sounds like it is just vulturing. Microsoft settling makes it weird by the claims, but I'd be curious to see what happens with this new group.
Aye right you did.
I'm sueing you for...
1 MEEELION dollars!
lol, even jagex is on that list! that must be some really old shit!
Maybe i should set up some vague patents and try and cash in on some big companys too. Hey microsoft, how dare you steal my idea for having a little chatbox inside a game people play online !
What in the name of Jesus do Paltalk actually DO? Never heard of them before. They're sueing people who have so much money they could physically hire so many lawyers to populate China, and yet they've never done anything in their god-given lives. How the hell can they do this?
Paltalk is basically a subscription based chatroom program that allows voice and video as well.
So basically, it sounds like they can sue anyone that uses voice chat, so who's next? Ventrilo? Teamspeak?
I should go ahead and patent a method of combining oxygen with blood, and then sue everyone for breathing. Double on hospitals, because they have machines that do that too.
They bought some patents off a company that went bankrupt and is using those patents to sue large companies for stupidly large sums of money.
Also, this lawsuit defies logic and must be stopped.
I'm constantly wondering how much of these patents are simply common sense solutions to the predictable future demands of digital entertainment. There's just so much patent infringement that either many of the patents are too simple to actually be patentable... or a lot of companies are knowingly stealing complicated technology plans.
it would be nice if someone found previous art and issued a patent challenge
Im not saying that fire can solve this but Im not saying it can't
I hate patent campers.
That would be nice, but I suspect MS tried that already. And really, for something so ludicrously simple, the prior art could readily not exist in patent form, which is the easy way to prove its existence.
The whole thing reminds me of the frivolous patents like the one for the combover, only turned evil.
oh jesus this douche bag again? His whole case is made null by the fact that he's waited more than a decade to do anything about it. Fucking patent camper hope he gets shot.
Just like Microsoft having motion controls before 1999, didn't RogerWilco come before this load of bollocks?
Shame MS settled, sealing the deal for the rest.
I hope something very bad happens to the PalTalk CEO.
Patent laws need to be seriously changed, lawsuits like this go against everything the patent laws are there for.
Paltalk is fucked in this case. maybe if they hadnt declared blizzard as in the scope, but because they are suing the largest game company on earth, they are fucked.
if they win, which they have no chance in hell to, they are going to sue the internet for using their software
NCsoft, the second richest of these named companies is going to die anyway. there is no way in hell they arent fucked
Turbine has Wizards of the Coast (and the funding of the largest game on the planet) on their side.
Activition has landfills of cash. they dont care how many lawsuits they get hit with, they can just hire 20 times the number of lawyers that you do, all of equal or superior skill.
Sony has games that are older then those patents, rendering them immune.
actually after seeing the patent, on /. there is a lot of prior art for this patent and it can be challenged and probly tossed out. basically any multiplayer tcp/ip game from before feb 1 96 would invalidate this, they just need to use a server and i think a MUD would actually do exactly what the patent is claiming
m$ just paid them off cause it was cheaper than going to court.
more evidence texas shold be turned to glass and the people of texas forced to pay for the honor. I hate these patent vultures
They're taking on Blizzard?
I can just imagine the board meeting now...
Chairman: "Item number 5, apparantly we're being sued by someone - Bill do you know anythign about this?"


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Let's talk superheroes. Every kid loves them, and every kid wants to be one. So why not play into their interests with a super hero party?
That's precisely what I did for one of my spring break programs, and I did it station-style. I had very young kids and teenagers come, and everyone had fun. For many attendees, it was the thrill of coming somewhere dressed up.
When families entered the program room, they were given a golf pencil (those are in heavy supply in any library) and a check list of stations. Each one tested a superhero skill, and when all of the stations were completed, the new superheroes were given a certificate of graduation from superhero academy and then were given a superhero treat.
First up, every superhero needs a mask, so station number one was where the kids could make masks. I printed out two templates here, and with standard felt sheets, I could fit three templates on one. I traced the templates with permanent marker, cut them out, then left those, along with string and stick-on jewels and shapes, for the kids to decorate.
After mask-making, the superhero trainees were able to treat themselves at the food station. I purchased pre-packaged fruit snacks -- the local grocery store had superman, spider man, batman, and transformers. I was a little disappointed in the lack of representation of female superheroes, but I don't think the kids thought twice. In addition to the fruit snacks, I also had out m&ms, skittles, and jelly beans (you'll see why in a second).
To really give the kids something cool to see, I made colored ice cubes. In regular ice cube trays, I dropped 3-4 squirts of food coloring in red, yellow, and blue. After they froze, the colors looked really strong, and then I asked the kids whether they wanted squirt to drink or water. When the colored cubes were dropped in, their drink changed colors. In squirt, it was really cool to see what happened when two ice cubes dropped in: the color would split down the middle, so half the drink was blue and half was red. It's worth noting that you will get food dye on your hands, so serve them with a spoon or tongs, and don't worry about ruining an ice cube try. The dye will rinse off easily.
Our next station was one testing target skills.
For this station, I made up buckets and pulled out bean bags for a little bucket game. The kids love this, and they will do it again and again until they get them all. It is not as easy as it looks!
Another station I had set up was for testing brain power. How, you ask? I made up three jars filled with jelly beans (yellow and red), m&ms (blue), and lemon heads. I counted out how many of each I put into the jars, and I had the kids guess how many were in each, writing their guesses on the sheet at the station. The kids with the closest guesses would win the buckets. Perhaps the most enjoyable part of this station for me was that none of the kids were anywhere close to the right answers.
And then, I let them get out some aggression at the battle station.
I cut a pool noodle in half, and I blew up a few balloons with the hopes the kids would play with the balloons. Many chose to hit each other, which was my original intention, but I didn't know how parents would feel about it. Since the parents didn't seem to mind, I let them go at it. I think for most of the kids, this was a favorite station for obvious reasons.
Then it was brute strength training.
I set up a wall of mats from our children's room and let the kids have at knocking them down and building them back up.
I didn't have enough strength training here, so I decided one more strength test was necessary. And this station was, surprisingly, the most pricey to put together:
I spray painted two Styrofoam balls, then painted "500" on the sides of them. Holding them together was a simple rod. When I picked up the Styrofoam at the craft store, I was informed that the prices on these bad boys went up because they're made with petroleum. Thought that was worth passing along to anyone who may use similar materials and wonder why it costs $8 a pop for these.
I had one more station in the programming room for the program, which included these:
Why yes, those are spider webs. Throughout the children's area, I taped cut out cartoon villains and had the kids "capture the bad guys" by finding them, then taping them onto the spider webs.
Because our programming room is small, I moved a couple of stations into the actual children's area. These two were some of my favorites.
First, kids tested their agility by jumping through hoops:
Then they had to practice their balancing skills by walking up and down the aisle with a pair of books (superhero, of course) on their heads. And then, they had their biggest, most important superhero challenge.
It was time to save a life, of course.
This station took me the longest time to think through and plan. I knew what I wanted to do, but I didn't want to make any purchases for it, so I had to scour our building (including those crevices in the storage closets) for the right materials.
Does that not look like the coolest lava pit ever? My coworker covered the sides of a blow up wading pool with black construction paper, then created flames and embers around the sides. I pulled out two milk crates and a wide, thick board, sturdy enough to walk on. I had another coworker test out walking on the set up a few times before we decided to put bricks behind the milk crates for added stability. Voila! That was a heck of a cool lava pit, and while most people would want to save a baby, I thought saving a rabbit would be better (or a suitable substitute given the lack of baby dolls we have). This was another station that the kids loved, and some of them insisted on carrying the bunny over it more than once.
As I mentioned, as soon as the kids finished all of the stations, they came and found me back in the programming room. I awarded them their own superhero academy certificate (complete with their names and my signature as Queen of the Superheroes) and a tootsie roll pop.
The bulk of the cost for this program was my time -- I made fancy signage and certificates. The fruit snacks cost a bit, as did the Styrofoam balls, but otherwise, everything was stuff we owned. You could do this cheaper, too, and you could easily modify the stations. I was going to have kids make capes, having received a nice donation of fabric from our Friends group, but time wasn't on my side in planning.
Friday, April 8, 2011
Superhero Party
Posted by Kelly Jensen at 1:04 AM
Labels: family programs, superheroes
6 comments:
This sounds like a really fun activity. Also one that can be reused periodically, because who doesn't want to be a superhero? I bet you had some adults wishing they could do the tasks too.ReplyDelete
- AnonymousApril 8, 2011 at 11:21 AM
LOVE. Wild, flailing, so-stealing-this LOVE.ReplyDelete
This is amazing.ReplyDelete
This is awesome, Kelly! One of my staff is planning a superhero program this summer and I sent this to her in case she wants to steal any of your ideas. :D Thank you!ReplyDelete
I love it! Our Superhero Training Academy will be next week, and this got me and the rest of the youth services librarians excited!ReplyDelete
Love your ideas. I'm planning to do something similar this year at my school. Thank you so much for sharing!ReplyDelete
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Author(s): Leigh Anne Jasheway-Bryant
With poignant humour and a bold attitude reminiscent of the "Bitch" book series, "Not Guilty By Reason Of Menopause" discusses the lighter (and hopefully cooler) side of menopause. Laugh-out-loud sayings accompany retro photographs in this lightweight gift book, which also doubles as a fan. When women of a certain age know the calcium content of a pitcher full of Pina Coladas and can pick out their colon in a line-up, they deserve to have what this book delivers: a little black dress made of terry cloth, antiperspirant in six packs and a personal towel boy.


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The Dark and Hollow Places
The Dark and Hollow Places
For the past three years, Annah has been struggling to survive on her own in the dreary, hopeless Dark City. When her best friend, Elias, left to join the Recruiters, she swore to hang tough until his two-year term ended. But he never came home. Fearing he's dead, Annah decides to leave this horrible city of despair. She plans to set off into the Forest of Hands and Teeth and try to find her old village and, more importantly, her twin sister Abigail, whom she hasn't seen since they were five.
The last image she has of her sister haunts Annah every day of her life. She, Abigail and Elias snuck out of their village into the Forest to explore. When Abigail fell and skinned her knee, Annah and Elias left her there with tears rolling down her cheeks. She hasn't seen her since. Guilt eats away at Annah's soul for leaving her sister in the Forest; she doesn't even know if Abigail is alive or dead. With nothing keeping her in the Dark City, Annah decides to try to find her.
But just as she is leaving the city, Annah catches a glimpse of Abigail coming in. Annah is sure it's her; they look exactly alike except for the extensive scarring Annah earned from falling into some old barbed wire. Before Annah can reach Abigail, she is lost in the crowds and taken captive by the renegade Recruiters. But all is not lost. Elias is alive! He and Abigail (who is now called Gabry) and their friend, Catcher, have come back to the Dark City to get Annah. But right on their tail is a horrendous horde of Unconsecrated, the virus-infected undead who stop at nothing to pass along their infection with a single bloody bite.
The hungry horde descends too quickly for escape, and Annah, Elias and Catcher can only think of one way to rescue Gabry and survive. They could turn themselves in to the renegade Recruiters who have secluded themselves on the Island Sanctuary with Gabry as bait to lure in Catcher. Catcher is someone the Recruiters are very interested in because he's been bitten and infected but hasn't turned; he's immune. Life with the renegade Recruiters could be almost as deadly as facing the Unconsecrated.
Bestselling author Carrie Ryan has given fans an awesome ride with her trilogy, and this final installment doesn't disappoint. THE DARK AND HOLLOW PLACES is both powerfully disturbing and touchingly beautiful as the pages explode with intense action that will leave readers breathless.
Annah is an amazing lead character, almost drowning in guilt over leaving her sister so many years earlier while at the same time struggling over self-esteem with her disfiguring scars and the utter depression of survival in such a desperate world. Her unrelenting spirit and her choice never to give up will inspire everyone in their own struggles. This story has everything: intense action, nonstop excitement, heart-fluttering romance, enduring survival, and the grossest of gore. I can't wait to see what the talented Carrie Ryan has to offer next.
Reviewed by Chris Shanley-Dillman on March 22, 2011
The Dark and Hollow Places
- Publication Date: March 13, 2012
- Genres: Fantasy, Fiction, Urban Fantasy, Young Adult 14+
- Paperback: 384 pages
- Publisher: Ember


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Sentence with word fakenham. English majors, people who enjoy word games, and people looking to increase their vocabulary might especially like this page. The lines of text below use fakenham in a sentence, and provide visitors a sentence for fakenham.
Also see sentences for: twickenham.
- Admiral Fakenham and Carinthia descended. (10)
- Admiral Fakenham, too, engaged to leave the matter to a man of honour. (10)
- And now you know how it is that the names of Captain Kirby and Curtis Fakenham are alive to the present moment in the district. (10)
- Gower was presently summoned to the chamber where Admiral Fakenham reclined on cushions in an edifice of an arm-chair. (10)
- He was a seaman of the navy, like Admiral Fakenham is. (10)
- The ladies, Chillon said, were cousins; one was a young widow, the Countess of Fleetwood, and the other was Miss Fakenham, a younger lady. (10)
Glad you visited this page with a sentence for fakenham. Perhaps also see a sentence for fabulous and ways to use fable in a sentence. Now that you've seen how to use fakenham in a sentence hope you might explore the rest of this educational reference site Sentencefor.com to see many other example sentences which provide word usage information.


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4 workers injured in factory explosion in Osaka, Japan
Source:Xinhua Published: 2013-4-9 13:49:09
Four workers were injured, two seriously, in an explosion occurred on Tuesday at a metal processing factory in the western Japanese prefecture of Osaka, local officials said.
The accident happened at round 11 a.m. local time at the plant in Sakai City of the prefecture, and local rescue teams carried the four men to hospitals according to the spokesperson at the city's fire bureau.
The spokesperson told Xinhua that the most seriously injured of the four is a 35-year-old worker who was badly burned after the blast, adding that he is in a life-threatening condition after he was rescued from the blast site, and another 54-year-old man is also treated in a specialized burn unit of the hospital.
The accident happened at a melting furnace in the plant, and local police and the fire department are jointly investigating details of the explosion, the spokesperson said.
The factory belongs to Nippon Shindo Company, which is mainly engaged in the manufacture and sale of copper products.
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Source: Starrfmonline.com
GTP textiles have waded into the battle between two of Ghana's most influential rappers Sarkodie and M.anifest.
The duo has caused a social media storm in Ghana with apparent 'diss' tracks to each other. The exchange of words by the two has got everyone talking.
M.anifest first released godMC which was seen by most Sarkodie fans as an attack on the BET award-winning artiste.
But in Sarkodie's response, he dropped a line which sought to attack M.anifest's fashion sense.
"Obi b? diss me a na ?ny? rapper ?de GTP ntoma pam kaba…Me no me rap y? authentic" meaning "if someone would diss me, not a rapper who uses GTP cloth to sow Kaba."
Many have interpreted Sarkodie's line as an attack on GTP textiles and have called on the "Illuminati" singer to apologise to GTP.
In what seems to be an apparent response to Sarkodie, GTP tweeted "#GTP pride itself on producing the best quality, best value textiles, and designs. Still timeless."
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I would like one day to travel the world and to make an impact for the better in the way that we see, treat, and feel the nature that surrounds us, of which we are a part. I want to work in the area of environmental education, laboring to prevent outbreaks of disease among human and animal populations alike and working to protect endangered. I seek a complete immersion in a state-of-the-art program such as yours that will give me a solid grounding in all of the burning environmental issues of my day. I am convinced that your program is the best place for me to prepare for the most exciting job possible on the front lines of environmental protection.
I thank you for considering my application to your program.


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If you're uninsured, there's still time to sign up for health insurance on the Health Insurance Marketplace and avoid the penalty. Under the Affordable Care Act, 2015 is the first year Americans must prove they had qualifying health insurance (or an approved exemption) for the previous year (when filing 2014 taxes), or face a tax penalty.
For 2015, if you don't obtain insurance by Feb. 15, 2015, the last day to of the Open Enrollment period, the penalty will be applied to your annual taxable income for each full month you don't have health insurance in 2015. The penalty fee is $325 per adult, $162.50 per child - up to $975/family or 2 percent of family income, whichever is higher. And, without insurance, you will be financially responsible for all of your medical costs.
The good news is based on household income and dependents, some individuals may qualify for financial assistance from the government - or subsidies - towards the cost of the premium and other financial obligations like co-pays or deductibles.
This is where Lehigh Regional can help the uninsured in our community. With many people lacking access to a computer or just need help maneuvering through the enrollment website, our application counselors can help. We can assist individuals and their families evaluate the available health plans and determine if they're eligible for Medicaid or other insurance options.
In all states, Medicaid provides health coverage for some low-income people, families and children, pregnant women, the elderly, and people with disabilities. In some states, the program covers all low-income adults below a certain income level.
Even though Florida has chosen not to expand Medicaid, there are still many individuals in our community who qualify for Medicaid coverage. We can help screen these individuals and if they qualify, we can enroll them at any time, with health coverage beginning immediately. Let us help take the frustration out of the enrollment process. Call us at (239) 368-4407 before Feb. 15 to help you get a healthy start to the New Year."
Joanie Jeanette is the chief executive officer at Lehigh Regional Medical Center.


text: Direct link to ImageCopy URL to clipboardConceptually similarView AllView more with similar tones GENERIC. 15th of January 2018. Money, australia dollar, business, investment, exchange rate, interest rates, mortgage, loan, fund, funding. Photo: Dominic LorrimerSource:DOMINIC LORRIMER15 January, 2018Australian Financial ReviewKeywords:banking-finance-generic-projectionUnique identifier:FXB378969Categories:Economy/Business/FinanceSize:5760px × 3840px (~63 MB)STOCK PHOTOS: Banking and FinanceRelated Collections:Select usageHow would you like to use the image?Add to lightbox Add to cartDownloadPrintShare


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I am gone.
It's easy for you to say you are not alone,
When the world knows you will drown
In seclusion.
Be grateful that you had those days.
You go in one book that's mine.
I see no need to be mangled by my past,
Weighed down by it,
When I have so much left.
I float away with no regrets,
I am a ghost in my own life anyway.
You need not blame anyone.
No one put out the fire
No matches could light this flame.
So do not imagine that I will clasp
At coals of loneliness
Or grief in burnt hands.
Do not imagine that I will fan fading embers,
Trying to make them glow.
Or waste my breath trying to blow.
Perhaps to make them burn again.
There are no embers.
There never was a fire.
© Ado Yiembo
Copy and pass "I AM GONE " around to your heart's content, but always post my Copyright notice above, correctly, both as courtesy and as a legal necessity to protect any writer. Thank you.


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Digimon Adventure Giveaway
5 views
Mama Likes This contest online. Digimon Adventure Tri is great fun for younger and older Digimon fans! Digimon Adventure Tri. is a series of Digimon feature movies that are being released in North America for the first time. Determination is the second in the series.
Expires at August 15, 2017


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Companionship Consultation in Guyana
As Canadians observe World Refugee Day today, Winnipeg-based Canadian Lutheran World Relief (CLWR) is reflecting on its 70 years of refugee support. The organization was founded in 1946 to help resettle refugees from post-war Europe. In its first six years of operation it helped more than 33,000 people start a new life in Canada.
The Eastern Synod recently donated a large print bible to St. Thomas Lutheran Church in Lochaber, Guyana. Pastor Vivian S. Rob erts is pictured dedicating the book which will be used as a pulpit/lecturn bible.
Thanks to Eric Roberts for sharing this story and pictures.
On December 6th Trinity, London hosted a Praise Band Concert to raise funds for Ebola Aid for Liberia. Our first goal was to raise money and we did … $1255 plus some donations of soap and medical gloves.
Includes additional support for ongoing crisis in South Sudan
Ukrainian Bishop calls for an end to the violence Lutheran congregation attends to the injured in Kiev
ODESSA, Ukraine/GENEVA, 20 February 2014 (LWI) – A place of peace and prayer – and an improvised hospital. For days now, the church of the German Evangelical Lutheran congregation in Kiev has been caring for victims of the violent clashes at Independence Square (Maidan). Serge Maschewski, who was consecrated bishop of the German Evangelical Church in Ukraine (GELCU) on Sunday, talks to LWI about the events of Tuesday night and the situation in Ukraine.
Two grants totaling about $2 million from the Canadian government will allow Canadian Lutheran World Relief (CLWR) to help thousands of people living in northern Jordan.
A message from Rev Paul Gehrs, Assistant to the Bishop, Justice and Leadership, ELCIC


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There are a lot of very good shows on this day in history, but our Dead of the Day takes the cake. Despite starting with Promised Land, the band is subdued throughout the entire night. But in the best jazz form, the boys are perfectly on all evening. This sort of playing makes the Sugaree as dark and noir-ish as the tune can get. A little later in the first set, the jam in Tennessee Jed saunters along, lulling you before you suddenly realize the Dead arrived in some heady territory. Jack Straw continues that spare sound with Bobby's vocals and Billy's drums up front in the mix, but Jerry and Phil perfectly audible at a little further distance, all coming together beautifully. After, a really short and, once again, subdued version of China Cat Sunflower, the tune leads into a lengthy, and so tasty pure rock jam into I Know You Rider. Led by Jerry, they take the song into some sparse but scintillating areas, through a diverse and intriguing version of Rider. But that does not send the set out as the boys continue on with a solid El Paso and really wonderful Half Step before taking it into break with a Playin' In The Band. The Playin' gets out there, but in a way characteristic of this show: jazzy and reserved, yet still unreal. The second set opens with one of the few Let Me Sing Your Blues Away. The Weather Report Suite that rolls out next is often considered the best ever, and it is easy to see why. It is jazzy throughout with Jerry's licks coming in measured fashion, perfectly ripe. The vocals are ridiculous, and Phil's bass is just there on the edge, providing an extra bit of majesty. But the thing that sends this Weather Report Suite over the top completely is Martin Fierro on sax and Joe Ellis blowing the trumpet. A sweet Row Jimmy follows with a ripping Big River coming on its heels. The Deal, though only five minutes, is packed with tasty nuggets too. A song later, Dark Star comes forth with thrilling loveliness topped by Phil's long bass solo into Morning Dew. And what a Dew it is, with some sparkling guitar work by Jerry and just great playing by everyone with a tremendous crescendo to end the set. Then they scorch - really the only time all evening they do that - Sugar Mags for the encore.
Other September 11th Shows and Recordings:
- 1966 - Fillmore Auditorium - San Francisco, CA - unknown setlist, not on Archive
- 1969 - Family Dog at the Great Highway - San Francisco, CA
- 1974 - Alexandra Palace - London, England
- 1981 - Greek Theater, University of California - Berkeley, CA
- 1982 - West Palm Beach Civic Center - West Palm Beach, FL
- 1983 - Santa Fe Downs - Santa Fe, NM
- 1985 - Henry J. Kaiser Convention Center - Oakland, CA
- 1987 - Capital Centre - Landover, MD
- 1988 - The Spectrum - Philadelphia, PA
- 1990 - The Spectrum - Philadelphia, PA


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Every company that is trying to put New Zealand on a world map has a special place in my heart. Allbirds, Rocket Lab, AJ Hackett, Weta Studio, Fonterra, Air New Zealand and Icebreaker all seem to have something unique and special that make us all proud.
What about internationally?
Probably Biogen, for developing the only treatment for spinal muscular atrophy this year. SMA is genetic disease affecting the part of the nervous system that controls voluntary muscle movement.
What was the most interesting launch/trend/idea/building/product of the year?
AI and augmented reality, everything.
Most exciting project you worked on this year?
The wearable ice cream because it shows how Giapo has changed the ice cream's function one more time, by making it much more than something you buy just to lick or when you feel hot and need to cool down, but it can be something funny to wear on the fingers like mini finger puppets.
What public event that impacted on or affected you the most?
We have a few key staff members waiting for Immigration New Zealand to approve their visa. New Zealand's own tragedy is negatively impacting our business and New Zealand at large.
What was your favourite book/TV show/podcast/album/website/ magazine/story/performance enhancing of 2018?
Alexander McQueen and Bohemian Rhapsody. Both picturing the strength and the weaknesses of two of my favourite artists.
Somehow I must say Immigration New Zealand, for missing how much it is affecting New Zealand businesses and curbing our growth. I say this now that unemployment is the lowest it has ever been for more than a decade.
Your own personal highlight?
Our company paid more taxes this year than in any other year previously and we are very proud of it.
Biggest learning for you?
It has to be the cultural changes that we are applying within our business. The learnings and the results are incredible.
Going into 2019, what's the change you want to see in the world?
No more wars, no more weapons being produced, no more family violence and Alzheimer finally fully understood and solved. I'd be ok if only one of these things happened.
What should be invented and/or un-invented in the next year?
A better economic model where everyone can contribute and get a fair share.
Is it the robots we should be worried about, or the humans?
How long before we have:
DNA modification?
Human DNA modification through Crispr is happening as we speak.
Driverless cars?
They are happening as we speak. Tesla have some capabilities to do so. In ten years, these will be in any cars.
I'd say within the next 50 to 75 years, any human mechanism can be modified and therefore extra extra aging will be managed. I actually believe it can happen sooner than that and we will be able to double our average age or more.
Cities that all look like Venice?
It won't happen. The opportunity to stop global warming is at hand and we will do it.
No animals farmed or eaten?
Not in this lifetime.
Medical cannabis sold at the chemist?
Long long long overdue.
Non-human, AI lovers?
I'd say it is happening. We spend more time with our phone in our hand than with our partners, isn't it?
Chips implanted in our brains?
It has already happened. there are a few therapies that embrace that.
Colonies on Mars?
I admire Elon Musk's idea, but I don't think it will ever happen. There is no oxygen there. I don't see the point either. We must find a better way to live here.
Secure bunkers to protect us from the zombie apocalypse?
These are sold on amazon.
Idealog has been covering the most interesting people, businesses and issues from the fields of innovation, design, technology and urban development for over 12 years. And we're asking for your support so we can keep telling those stories, inspire more entrepreneurs to start their own businesses and keep pushing New Zealand forward. Give over $5 a month and you will not only be supporting New Zealand innovation, but you'll also receive a print subscription and a copy of the new book by David Downs and Dr. Michelle Dickinson, No. 8 Recharged (while stocks last).
Idealog is part of ICG. We work with clients like Woolworths New Zealand, All Good, Huffer, Liquorland, Resene, Citta Design, TVNZ, Spark and FCB on their event activations, in-store, in-office or out-of-home signage, content creation and vehicle wraps.


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Winter Grass and Wind
The winter grass and wind sings her song. Ravens join the chorus. Returning to roots and origin. Lulled to sleep by the natural world.
The winter grass and wind sings her song. Ravens join the chorus. Returning to roots and origin. Lulled to sleep by the natural world.
We have been visiting this location on Lake Superior for 10-years. Through every season and every weather pattern. Regardless of what is happening and going on around me, I always come back to that tree. On the cliff above the turbulent waters, standing tall against the wind, drenched in summer rain, or encased in ice. […]
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Scattered wisps of cloudsgive way to the first sunrise. Peaking over the horizon,shoreline rocks absorb each ray. Newly formed ice from high tidecracks and refreezes with each wave. Each inhale brings cold into waiting lungs.Each exhale pushes out impurities from the previous year. Like the steam rising from the sea,I become more awakened with each […]
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We walk across ths snowy fields a chance meeting yet we always knew this day would arrive. I do not know your face from dreams of a spirit walking between tall trees, always obscured and hidden. But with the song playing out here between each snowflake. I know it is you.
Early morning walk to the empty fields and the blue sky filled with birds. Wind through the trees refreshing as closed eyes cleared the mind making room for nature.
That cabin in the woods, nestled beneath second generation pine planted after the last logging, waits for our visit. Snow caught in tree-tops meanders through the winter sky covering the green roof in a smooth slope where acorns speed to the ground. Ravens ever present toward the open fields, near the old silo base, they […]
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The previous day bathed us in winter light as the sea sang us to sleep. Today we slowly become wet snow-people as the storms take over the landscape and we marvel at the beauty everywhere.
Hide and seek with the morning sun as we emerge form a deep freeze in MN.
Two videos from early Christmas Day with crystal blue skies, strong wind, and below 0 temperatures.
As concrete melts into dirt and grass and skyscrapers become pine trees, I fall into the snow and promise myself to stay until spring. As the snow continues to fall, I am covered until I become the snow and the earth and the roots of spring's growth. What was a full mind is replaced with […]
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