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A recent analysis on a popular real estate website listed the top ten most popular neighborhoods in Las Vegas.
The list was compiled using the highest number of page views per listing on Zillow.com since the beginning of 2018, a media release said. Based on the data, Summerlin South ranked as the most popular neighborhood with 2,250 page views. Home buyers can expect to find properties with a median list price of $548,495 and an average of 2,538 square feet.
Next on the list was Summerlin North followed by The Lakes, Rancho Charleston, Buffalo, Sheep Mountain, Tule Springs, UMC, Centennial Hills and Enterprise.
Summerlin South lies adjacent to the Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area in west Las Vegas.
Copyright 2018 KVVU (KVVU Broadcasting Corporation). All rights reserved.


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Our latest articles
Sell Home Fast
November 22, 2019
Why Selling Your Property Takes So LongWondering why your property is taking so long to sell? There are a lot of factors that go into how long a property stays on the market. Understanding these different factors will help you to make your home more attractive to prospective buyers. The truth is that when your home stays on the market for an extended period of time, buyers start to think there must be something wrong with it. So it becomes a sort of a self-fulfilling prophecy. You want to avoid this by understanding how to sell your home faster. Let's go over some tips.
According To Zillow, The Average Property Was On The Market For Two MonthsThat's right. Most properties are on the market for a little over 60 days. If your property has sold in under two months, congratulations! You've beaten out the average seller. But if your property has been on the market for longer than 60 days, it may be time to start thinking about what you can do better. You may be asking too high a price, making marketing mistakes, or perhaps you need a new renovation.
If Your Property Isn't Selling, You May Be Asking Too MuchOne of the easiest ways to turn away prospective buyers is to ask too much price-wise. You don't want to give the home away for free, but asking for too much can spook away the very buyers you want to showcase your home to. Take a look at other properties in the neighborhood and see how your home's price matches up. You may need to take it down a bit.
You May Not Be Marketing Your Home ProperlyAre you online? Are you on all of the major home buying services? How is your real estate agent advertising your property? You need to make sure that your real estate agent isn't just using old mediums, like direct mail. These days, a sizable portion of prospective homebuyers are only looking online. If you aren't there, they don't see you.
Your Home May Not Be In The Best ShapeYour home may be on the market longer because other comparable properties have renovations that your property doesn't. You may need to look at renovating your kitchen or bathroom. Of course, major repairs also fall into this category. Nobody wants to buy a home that needs a new roof or that has plumbing issues. Talk to your real estate agent about what you may need to fix. Most sellers want to sell their property as quickly as possible. And you can't blame them! The longer a home stays on the market, the more prospective buyers think that something could be wrong. If you want to sell your property without worrying about how long it is going to stay on the market, then you need to call 4 Brothers Buy Houses. We can purchase your home for cash, immediately. We'll provide you with a free, no obligation quote at your convenience. That way, you can start the process at the best time for you. Contact us today to learn more.
October 20, 2019
When Is The Right Time To Sell?If you have been wondering when is the right time to sell your home, then you aren't alone. Thousands of families in your area are thinking about the same thing. Selling your home is an individual concern, and everyone's circumstances are different. Some people are selling their property to finance their retirement, and some people are selling their home in order to move to a new state and start a new job. Whatever your reasons, it can still be difficult to find the right time to sell. Here are a few instances when you may want to think about selling the property and moving on:
1. When You Are No Longer Attached To The HomeIf you no longer have an emotional attachment to your property, it might be time to sell. Especially if home values in the neighborhood have risen recently. You may want to start considering what you can get for the property by working with a real estate agent or talking to a professional appraiser.
2. When Your Kids Move Out And You Want To DownsizeWhen your children move out and go to college or get their own professional jobs, you may find that you have much more space in your home than you actually need. This is a great time to start thinking about downsizing so that you can get more value of your property. You might want to consider selling your current property and using the money to fund the purchase of a condo. Or maybe you just want to take a long overdue vacation.
3. When You Are Going To RetireIf you are going to retire, your current home may not suit your needs anymore. Maybe you want to move to a warmer climate or to a city where you are closer to your family members. Retirement is a big milestone in life, so it can be a great time to sell your property and get a solid return after all of those years of paying your mortgage and watching your equity increase. If you are thinking about selling your home, know that you have options. You don't have to go through the traditional process of completing renovations, updates, and showcasing your property with a real estate agent. You can sell to 4 Brothers Buy Houses and get cash for your property immediately. Give us a call at your earliest convenience and we will provide you with a free, no obligation quote. We'd be happy to buy your property on your terms, so that you can get the money you deserve when you want it. Sell your property on your timeline with the help of 4 Brothers Buy Houses. See how we have helped others just like you! https://www.4brothersbuyhouses.com/testimonials/
September 16, 2019
4 Brothers Buy Houses Allowed Alfred And His Family To Move OnSometimes, families inherit properties that they live in for awhile. These properties might be inherited after a relative moves, retires, or passes away. Often, families want to try to hold on to these properties until they are ready to sell. But problems with repair costs or other pressing financial needs makes it important to sell on a faster timeline. This is the story of Alfred , from Capital Heights, Maryland, and how 4 Brothers Buy Houses helped him get cash for his property, so that he could finally move on.
At First, Alfred Wasn't Ready To SellWhen 4 Brothers Buy Houses first contacted Alfred, he wasn't ready to sell his property. His brother was still living in it with him, and he wasn't quite sure what he wanted to do with it long term. Alfred wasn't yet sure if he wanted to work on repairing the home himself, or if he wanted to take advantage of the immediate cash offer from 4 Brothers Buy Houses.
After His Brother Moved Out, Alfred Decided To Move OnOnce Alfred's brother moved out, he decided it was time to move on from the property. He indicated he was ready to sell in February of 2019. He wanted to downsize and move into something smaller. 4 Brothers Buy Houses set up a time to view the property in March and make an offer. The home needed some work–it needed a new air conditioning system, a new furnace, and a range of cosmetic updates. Alfred got an offer from 4 Brothers That Buy Houses that worked for him, and the two parties setup closing for May.
Getting An Advance And Selling On His Own TermsAlfred needed money to be able to move out of the home before closings. 4 Brothers worked with Alfred and gave him an advance on the sale which allowed him to move into an apartment before the process ended. By May 20th, the property went into settlement, and Alfred got all of his money. Both parties were happy with the transaction, and Alfred was able to move on with his life. If you are like Alfred, and have a home in the state of Maryland that was left to you by family, it is important to understand that your property doesn't have to be a burden. You can call 4 Brothers Buy Houses at any time and we'll provide you with a no obligation quote. You don't have to feel trapped, or that you'll need tens of thousands of dollars for repairs before you can sell. 4 Brothers is able to provide many solutions other home buyers can't, in order to make the home sale easier. How many buyers do you know that would give an advanced payment on a house before the purchase date? Contact our team today and we'll work with you so that you can sell on your terms. We may even be able to provide you with an advance before closing is finalized. Don't get frustrated with the traditional home sale process. You can sell your property on a timeline that works for you without sacrificing any of your time, money, or resources. Call 4 Brothers Buy Houses today and we'll help you get started.
April 16, 2019
3 Advantages of Selling Your House Fast
The process selling of a house can be very tough on a homeowner. Finding a real estate agent, making sure that the house is at the top in the MLS search, negotiating on the price, listening to counteroffers, and what not… taking all these steps can get on a person's nerves. What if there was an easier way you could sell your house fast in Fairmount Heights, MD? You wouldn't have to go through the hassle of getting your house listed and then waiting for potential buyers to make an offer. Not to mention, you'll have to keep your home clean 24/7 so that strangers can tour your house.
We understand that it can be very scary to let strangers into your house. There's no way of knowing whether they are potential buyers or casing the house. A bit dramatic, but one can never be too sure. Coming back to the point, one of the biggest advantages of selling your house fast is that you get instant cash.
We are not talking about renovations and staging, but simply contacting a real estate professional who will buy your house as is and offer you cash. The process is simple: call and setup a meeting with 4 Brothers Buy Houses, a professional buyer will arrive at your house to verify condition and make a fair cash offer!
Sounds good?
Let's have a look at three more advantages a fast house sale offers you:
1. Peace of Mind
Why are you selling your house?
Did you get a divorce and now don't want to live in a big house?
Are you going to have a baby and need a bigger house for the nursery?
Did you get a promotion and are planning to move?
Whatever the reason may be — the process of selling a house can last 3 to 6 months or maybe even a year. The longer your house stays on the market, the lower its value falls. Working with 4 Brothers and getting cash allows you to be done with the transaction within a month. It will be a load off your mind and you will be free to make your next move.
2. No Taxes and Other Fees
What if your house doesn't sell within a few months? You will be paying the property taxes, utility bills, insurance, and maintenance the entire time while you ought to be saving for a new house. If you make late payments, it will become quite difficult for you to secure a mortgage for your new house. On the other hand, if you sell your house fast in, Fairmount Heights, MD to 4 Brother Buy Houses, you won't have to wonder when your house will sell or pay for commissions or closing costs.
3. No Home Inspection
What if we said that you don't need to do any repairs or renovations and 4 Brothers Buy House will buy your house as it is. When you sell your house on the MLS, you will most likely get a list of improvements that you need to make to the house before someone else will buy it. That's the beauty of selling your house fast to 4 Brothers. We are investors and not real estate agents! Once we close and you have your money we make the repairs with our money on our time. If you are looking for someone who will help you, so you can sell your house fast in Fairmount Heights, MD then contact 4 Brothers Buy House. We buy houses with cash right after you sign a simple contract with us. For more information about the process, call at 202-780-9793.
August 10, 2018
Insider Tips for Selling Your Home Fast and For More MoneyTrying to sell your house fast? Want to make plenty of money at the same time? Selling your home can take a lot of work and sometimes the process can drag on for a while before you find a great buyer. Over time, you may also find yourself coming down in price and you may not get as much as you expected from it. However, there are ways to sell your home fast and still get a great offer if you know the right tips. Below we'll give you our insider tips and strategies for selling your home fast while still getting a great offer for it.
1. Time It RightThe first thing you should do to make sure you sell your home quickly and easily is to make sure you've picked the right time to put it on the market. It's important to realize that certain times of the year are better for selling a house than others. Selling your home in the spring between March and May is usually the ideal time to list your home and when a lot of buyers are out looking for a place.
2. Pick Your Price WiselyYou should also make sure that you set your price right from the very beginning. You'll want to look at other similar homes in your local market and see what they've been selling for. While you may think it's better to put it high to start with and then come down over time, it's actually not a good idea. If you want house to sell fast you should price it right immediately. Most activity on a newly listed home happens early on and a home that is been on the market for too long may start seeming undesirable to buyers.
3. Take Some Amazing PhotosOne of the best ways to make your home sale easier is to add high-quality photos to your listing. If necessary, hire a photographer to get it right and make sure that the photos highlight the best things about your home, both inside and out. Great photography can go a long way in marketing your home. Photos can help potential buyers take more interest and decide to schedule a showing.
4. Show Your Home Off With a Virtual TourIn addition to photos, videos and virtual tours can also be a big help in selling a home. If you really want to get it right, you may want to hire a videographer to make a professional looking video. Alternatively, you may just want to do a simple walkthrough on your own using a camera to show buyers the different areas of your home. However you do it, a virtual tour can be a great way to generate a bit more interest and convince more buyers to give you a call.
5. Use the Right WordsIn addition to visual content, you should also make sure you work hard to write the perfect description for your listing. The description can make or break your listing so make sure to get it right. If there are any unique and especially attractive features about your home make sure you mention these things clearly and vividly. You may also want to mention positive aspects of the area as well such as which school district you're in and anything else that is notable about your home's location.
6. Boost Your Home's Curb AppealIt's also important to boost your home's curb appeal. Before you take any pictures or invite anyone for showings you'll want to make sure your home has a great look and will "wow" anybody as soon as they see it. You may want to put on a coat of fresh paint, for example, or add in some extra outside lighting. You may also want to make some other changes to your lawn or yard to make sure it comes across well from the beginning.
7. Make the Right First ImpressionIn addition to improving the outside looks of your home, you should also make sure that the inside looks great as well and gives off the perfect first impression. When potential buyers come into your home, it's important that they are impressed. You'll want to clear out any clutter that you can, so it may be a good idea to rent a storage unit to use while you list your home. You'll also want to be prepared to let a neighbor or friend watch any pets you have when you're showing your home. Remove any indications of pets or their smells in your home. Signs of pets in your home may turn away some buyers.
8. Assist Your Buyer's ImaginationBesides making a good first impression you should also be attempting to make sure a buyer can see themselves in your home. While clearing out the clutter is part of this, you'll also want to consider resetting some of the rooms in your home to their originally intended purpose. Consider taking out some of the most unique features and any creative personal touches you've added to your home over the years. Ensure that your home seems like a blank slate to buyers.
9. Don't Overdo It On the UpgradesWhile you should be aiming to make your home seem as new and attractive as possible to buyers, you shouldn't overdo it. Too many repairs may be more trouble than they're worth. If you spend too much time and money on upgrades and repairs you may not make as much once you finally do sell your home. It's important to strike a good balance between making it attractive to buyers and not spending too much.
10. Be Available and ReadyIn addition to having all of the points above in mind, you also need to keep in mind that the more available you are for showing your home to buyers the better chance you'll have to sell your home quickly and for the best price. Be ready to answer calls and be available at the drop of a dime to show your home or get out of the way for an agent to do it. Keep things clean and don't let dishes pile up in the sink.
Using These Tips For Selling Your Home FastWhile it can take a lot of work to make sure your home sells quickly, by using the tips above you'll make sure you're selling your home fast while also getting what it's worth from the sale. Ready to sell your home fast? Contact us today to learn more about what we can do for you.
July 25, 2018
10 Reasons to Sell Your House FastIf you're getting ready to sell your home for the first time, you've probably been bombarded with advice from every person you talk to. Everyone has tips for managing the process, and not a single person will say that it's an easy journey. That's because it typically isn't. A conventional home sale is usually a stressful process that can take months or even longer. It's not surprising, then, that there's been a strong trend toward fast home sales to real estate investment companies. Investment companies that buy homes directly provide an alternate process. If you're curious about whether you should sell your house fast, read on for the reasons our past clients have given.
Why Should You Sell Your Home Fast?Many of the past clients from whom we've bought houses have also sold homes in traditional sales before. Below are the benefits to selling your home using our method, based on the feedback from those clients.
Simpler ProcessThe primary purpose of a real estate agent is to find buyers for your home. This is a challenging and complex job, which is why agents need specialized training to be able to do it. While you're welcome to hire an agent when you sell to a fast-purchase real estate company, it's not as necessary. This can save you thousands of dollars. In fact, the average real estate commission alone is up to 6% of the sale price. If your home costs $300,000, that's $18,000 out of your pocket.
Avoiding Doubling the Moving ExpensesIn a traditional home sale, poor timing can be costly. If your old home sells before you're ready to move into your new home, you need to find temporary housing. This means you'll pay moving expenses twice: to move into a temporary space, then again to move into your new home. Moving costs can be in excess of $10,000, especially if you have a family and are moving a long distance away. If you need to move twice, that a huge unnecessary expense (not to mention the cost of your temporary housing).
Cut Down on StressYou might not be able to put a dollar amount on the stress of moving, but that doesn't make it less important. For most people, housing is their largest expense and it accounts for a large percentage of their income. When that huge monthly expense is up in the air, your stress level goes through the roof too.
No Need to Manage Frequent ShowingsAnother often underestimated difficulty with a traditional home sale is the hassle of each showing. You need to make sure your home is very clean and uncluttered, and you need to bring your family and pets elsewhere. Home showings are difficult enough for a couple or a single person, but when there are kids or pets involved, it's quite a circus. Sometimes showings happen at the last minute, which adds an extra layer of stress.
Don't Risk Buyer Getting Cold Feet or Sale Falling ThroughIn a typical home purchase, there are countless ways the sale could fall through at the last minute. The buyer could get cold feet, or have an issue with their own home's sale, or their financing could fall through. One of the key advantages of a fast home purchase is that many companies (ours included) pay cash for your house. That eliminates the risk of your buyer's lender pulling out at the last minute.
Avoid Housing Market ChangesThe housing markets are constantly changing, both on a large scale and within your own neighborhood. You may put your home up for sale when it's a seller's market, but if it doesn't sell and the market turns, your chance of a sale goes down dramatically. Using a fast process by selling to an investment company, on the other hand, cuts down on that problem.
You Choose Your TimingWe've already discussed how the timing of your home sale can affect your moving expenses. However, it can cause other problems as well. If you have kids and your new home is in a new school district, moving during the summer can help make the transition smoother. Unfortunately, you don't have direct control over that timing during a traditional home sale. Many homeowners also have busy seasons and light seasons at work. When you choose a fast home purchase, it lets you time your sale (and your move) during the easiest season for you.
No Need to Make RepairsRepairs on a home you're selling can be an unexpected expense and delay your sale by weeks or months. When you sell to an investment company, however, we process as-is home sales. This lets you avoid the extra expense, the hassle of renovations or repairs, and the delay in your home sale.
Avoid Paying Two MortgagesArguably the largest worry people have when selling one home and buying another is the transition between mortgages. If you buy your new home before selling your old one, you'll be paying two mortgages every month. Many homeowners can't afford to do this for more than a month or two, so it adds to the stress level. With a fast home purchase, however, you can arrange the timing so this doesn't happen.
Avoid Paying for Upkeep on Two HomesThis is an expense few sellers consider until it happens. If your old home doesn't sell until three months after you close on your new home, that's three months of double the maintenance. If you're paying for lawn maintenance, housekeeping, and other services, this adds up quickly.
How to Sell Your House FastThe ten reasons above are just the most common reasons to sell your house fast. There are plenty of other benefits that apply to specific situations. Regardless, the faster your home sells, the less stress you'll have and the fewer add expenses you'll pay. If you're ready to sell your home quickly, contact our fast home-buying team.
June 20, 2018
How to Sell Your House Fast: The Expert GuideThe fact of the matter is that, for most individuals, selling a house is a challenge. Attempting to sell a home for a reasonable price in a timely manner almost always requires a great deal of effort and dedication. Perhaps you're looking to get your house off the market as quickly as possible? Maybe you're looking to sell your house fast? If so, there are a number of different tips you should be following. These are the keys to a quick house sale.
Get the Price Right InitiallyIf you're hoping to sell your house quickly, it's absolutely vital that you price it right from the beginning. Pricing it too high can turn off potential buyers, making them think that they can't afford it, or making them think that you aren't serious about making a sale. In order to price your house correctly, you should survey the selling prices of houses in your neighborhood. From there, you can come up with a nice ballpark figure.
Manicure Your YardThe fact of the matter is that if the outside of your home doesn't look nice, buyers won't even give it the time of day. They will simply pass it over and go searching for other homes to buy. This is why you need to make your yard look as nice as possible. Keep the grass trimmed, make sure that the mulch is looking nice, and eliminate all traces of weeds. By doing this, you will up the curb appeal of your property, making it more attractive to potential buyers.
Make Necessary Updates to Your HouseWhen buyers go looking for a house, they are looking for something which feels new to them. They aren't leaving an old house so that they can go live in another old house. This is why, when selling your home, it's necessary to renovate and update it. By installing new countertops, flooring, appliances, and otherwise, you serve to make your home more modern and attractive. This greatly ups its value as well as the interest of potential buyers.
Remove Personal Items from Your HouseWhen prospective buyers are checking out homes, they envision themselves living in those homes. The problem is that it's difficult for them to do this if you still have your possessions in the home during the time of the showing. Therefore, it's wise to remove all personal items from your home while it's being shown to potential buyers. This doesn't mean that you need to remove everything; you should keep your furniture where it is. You just need to remove pictures, heirlooms, and any other items which are treasured only by you.
Always Be Prepared to Show Your HouseThe key to a quick house sale is to have your home viewed by as many prospective buyers as possible. The more people that see your home, the more offers which will be submitted. How do you ensure that as many people see your home as possible? By always being prepared to show your home. Whether it be 7:00 AM or 9:00 PM, you need to be ready and willing to show your home off to prospective buyers. Short on time? It might be a good idea to utilize a real estate agent.
Utilize All Available Marketing AvenuesAgain, the key to a quick house sale is to have your home viewed by as many potential buyers as possible. To give your home optimal exposure, you need to utilize every marketing avenue that is at your disposal. There are a variety of different places in which you can place house listings. Not only should you be utilizing websites such as Zillow and Trulia, you should be putting your house listing in newspapers, on social media, and all other available marketing platforms.
Take Professional-quality PhotographsIn most cases, when a prospective buyer first views a home that is for sale, that buyer views said home online. How does a home appear online? In a series of different photographs. But, you shouldn't use just any photographs of your home. You need to ensure that the photographs you use are of professional quality. Having bright, clear, and illuminating photos of your home will give it a terrific first impression with potential buyers. On the other hand, posting dark, shady, and blurry photos of your home will give potential buyers a horrible first impression.
Hire a Real Estate AgentThe simple fact of the matter is that selling a home is a process. In most cases, it is a process which requires a great deal of hard work and dedication. Most home sellers don't have the time or resources necessary to put forth a full effort. That's why it's often wise for home sellers to hire real estate agents. A real estate agent will essentially take over all of your home selling responsibilities, scheduling showings, filing the necessary paperwork, and facilitating necessary updates. If you want to sell your home quickly, hiring a real estate agent would be a great decision.
Sell Your House to an InvestorThe absolute quickest way to sell a house is by selling it to an investor. There are many investors out there who will buy houses, fix them up, and sell them to others. In many cases, you can strike a deal with an investor within 2 weeks. One of the nicest things about going this route is that it requires minimal work. You won't have to manicure your lawn, show your home to potential buyers, or make renovations.
Looking to Sell Your House Fast?Wanting to move on from your house as soon as possible? Looking to sell your house fast? If so, and if your house is in the Washington DC area, we here at 4 Brothers Buy Houses are the people to see. We are a real estate investment firm which specializes in buying from those who want to sell their homes quickly. It is our goal to have a deal set in place for you within 10 days. Interested? Contact us today to discuss!
June 24, 2015
Why sell the house FAST or AS-IS?
People may wonder why anyone would need to sell their house FAST or AS-IS instead of selling it traditionally through the real estate agents and putting it up on the market. People might think this process occurs usually when people are ready to move out to a new house. In a sense, it is true. However, there are many other reasons why people have the need to sell the house or even consider "getting rid of it."
Why in such hurry?
One can be going through a divorce process and need to quickly clear the names off of the house and move on with their life. A house could have been inherited but it is unwanted or too difficult to manage so it is in the owner's best interest to liquidate the asset without hassle. There are more in depth explanations on the divorce and inheritance situations at www.4brothersbuyhouses.com. Some people get behind on payments; whether it's on their mortgage, which results in them going into default, or on smaller items like property taxes or even HOA association dues. In those cases, people often can't financially afford to be in the house anymore and so wish to sell quickly so they can move on to a property that will be more financially comfortable for them to own.
Another reason why an owner might need to sell a house fast is due to an impending bankruptcy filing, be it chapter 7 or 13. Other common causes are various life changes, like an owner who may want to move to a smaller home quickly due to a change in income that was caused by unemployment or shortened hours. Changes in financial conditions can often lead an owner to want a home with a more manageable monthly payment.
Perhaps managing a rental property is becoming too difficult and want to just sell the house. Ultimately, regardless of the reason of selling the house, people may struggle to afford to fix up the property to even put up on the market or do not want to go through weeks or months worth of hassle.
Let's say someone has enough funds to fix up the house and use a real estate agent to put it on the market. People claim that time is money. Saving time can be critical in certain cases and that is why people would consider using services like 4 Brothers Buy Houses to quickly go through the process of selling the house. Convenience is also another huge factor that comes into play. Some people need to go through their attorney, home owners association, real estate agents, remodeling contractors and loads of paperwork. Even after all the hassle and finally putting it up in the market, there is no guarantee it will be sold right away! It takes time and effort to leave the house open for people to come by and visit to look at it. People should always consider their alternative options to sell their house fast and as-is to alleviate the problem of not having enough funds or not wanting to go through a hassle when they are in time sensitive circumstances.

subset: commoncrawl


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Ranch located in the desirable Highlands Section of Chatham Twp. Master bedroom & bath plus 2 add'l bedrooms and 1 bath main floor, 2 bedrooms and 1 bath second floor. Large living room, formal dining room, family room with wood burning fireplace, large finished basement, 2 car garage, secluded back yard, screened in back porch. Hardwood floors throughout first floor. Great potential and endless possibilities to make this your dream home! Property sold "As is".
Carbon Monoxide Detector, Range/Oven-Electric, Wall Oven(s) - Electric, Cooktop - Electric, Refrigerator, Dishwasher
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Information deemed reliable but not guaranteed.
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This information is being provided for Consumers' personal, non-commercial use and may not be used for any purpose other than to identify prospective properties Consumers may be interested in purchasing.
Listing information last updated on December 8th, 2019 at 6:33am EST.


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DRISHYAM was first made in Malayalam in 2013, remade in Telugu as DRUSHYAM and in Kannada as DRUSHYA in 2014 and remade in Tamil as PAPANASAM a few months back and last week the Hindi remake was released as DRiSHYAM. I have seen all the versions barring the Kannada version, and watched them all without getting bored. And my being a movie buff has nothing at all to do with this! If there is one person who has to be credited with this outstanding achievement, that credit must surely go to the Malayalam screen director Jeetu Joseph, who has written the story and directed the Malayalam production (and also PAPANASAM) which has inspired all these versions. But so taut was the original Malayalam production that if anyone could have done justice to remade versions, it could have been only Jeetu Joseph himself. The producers of the Tamil version perhaps realized this and hence assigned the direction to Jeetu Joseph. Although Mohanlal's acting in the Malayalam original was world class, Kamal Hassan's portrayal of the lead character showed how he could better a world class performance.
DRISHYAM is not a Hindi word; the correct word is DRUSHYA. I wonder why the producers chose this name for the Hindi remake, but we have had several English names for Hindi movies: so why not a Sanskrit name? But let's leave the name and explore what lies beneath. This story is so powerful that despite it being a murder mystery and the audience knowing who the killer is, the writer veers the story line cleverly to draw us into a nail biting suspense drama: will the killer be found out or not? Nishikant Kamat, the director of the Hindi DRISHYAM tries to stay close to the original with adaptation to suit Bollywood, and succeeds to a fair extent. Ajay Devgn's performance is good, but comes nowhere near Mohanlal's or Kamal Hassan's stellar acting. Small things tend to distract and Ajay Devgn's and Shriya Saran's (Shriya plays Ajay's wife) dresses don't really add to creating the characters. Ajay has nicely ironed shirts all the time and Shriya's sarees do not suit the role which she is supposed to play. Watch Meena in the Malayalam and Telugu versions to get what I mean. The same goes for her performance: Shriya is a real disappointment. Two characters perform outstandingly in the Hindi version, Tabu playing the IG of Police and the local cop Gaitonde, played by Kamlesh Sawant.
DRISHYAM (Hindi) is a must watch; it comes close to the thriller KAHAANI doled out by Sujoy Ghosh. Sujoy Ghosh reminds me of a controversy associated with this movie after the Malayalam original was declared a hit. Sujoy was signed up by Balaji Pictures for a Hindi remake of what was construed to be the real original of even the Malayalam DRISHYAM. Balaji Pictures took the matter to court saying that they had paid and secured the rights for the filming of a Japanese novel THE DEVOTION OF SUSPECT X written by Keigo Higashino in 2005 and which was made into a Korean movie PERFECT NUMBER in 2012. The matter has now been settled, since Jeetu Joseph had said that the theme of someone going all out to protect a killer was indeed common, but the rest of the story is different! I can't really comment on that, not having read the Japanese novel.
But don't let this distract you: just watch it!
RATING: 4 out of 5 (the Tamil version PAPANASAM scores 4.5 out of 5)
August 1st 2015
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Asphodel Cottage
Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Hugged by Cotswold stone walls, a 1600s village cottage of huge comfort and charm - close to Tetbury, strolling distance to a super inn
Pets welcome
The Experience
Asphodel stands out from the well-heeled houses in this quiet village: a hobbity stone shepherd's cottage with a bushy cap of thatch and trim garden behind. It's listed – early 1600s – and little has changed outside, but step in to a warm, bright living area of soft violet sofas, Indian rug on flagstone floors, a Moroccan lamp, original art. No TV downstairs to blight conversation, but a stone fireplace, wood-burner and coffee table with books. In one corner, a modern kitchen with vintage china and crystal glasses; in the other, steep stone stairs spiral to the bedroom. This is hugely romantic: chandelier dangling from open rafters, Laura Ashley bed on a rug-strewn wooden floor; centre stage in the bathroom, a claw foot bath with fluffy towels and smellies. Hard to drag yourself out… but do, for outside are rattan seats hugged by Cotswold stone walls, a scented path over the lawn, a mini wild meadow, apples, plums, herbs to pick. Some asphodels, too – symbols of romance. Stroll to the Tunnel House Inn; close by are Roman Cirencester, Tetbury, the source of the Thames. Or roam as the deer do among endless fields.
- Swimming pool
- Hot tub
- Garden
- Open fire / woodburner
- Breakfast included
- Breakfast available
- Meals available
- Vegetarian meals
- Oven
- Parking on premises
- Free parking nearby
- Accessible by public transport
- WiFi
- Television
- Central heating
- Limited mobility
- Wheelchair access
- Mobile reception
- Hob
- Barbecue
- Paid parking nearby
- Air conditioning
- Relaxation areas
- Washing machine
- Tennis court
- Microwave oven
- No smoking
- Credit cards
- Working farm
- Owner has pets
- Electricity included
- Dishwasher
- Pets welcome
Family friendly
- Baby monitor
- Books and toys
- Children welcome
- Babies welcome
- Stair gates
- High chair
- Cot available
- Pub/bar within 3 miles
- Restaurant within 3 miles
- Shop within 3 miles
- Bikes available
- Food courses
- Kayaking
- Other courses
- Sailing
- Surfing
- Wild swimming
& pricing
Booking information
- Check in
- 4pm, early check in up to 3 hours available at £10 per hour
- Check out
- 10am, late check out up to 3 hours available at £10 per hour
- Booking restrictions
- Please see owners' website for availability.
- Closed
- Never.
- No smoking
- Smoking not permitted anywhere in the property.
- Dogs
Dogs treats, and walking maps in an information file. (Please bring your own dog bed, towels and bowls.)
Dogs £30 per pet per stay. Max. 1 large, 2 medium or 3 small.
Big private garden, walled and secure (for most dogs!). Lots of country walks right from the door. Bathhurst estate woodlands 15-minute walk. All local pubs dog-friendly.
- Nightly price
- from £80
- Weekly price
- from £560
- Damage deposit
- £150
- Surcharges
- 4 night mid-week breaks & 3 night weekends, £435 - £545.
- 1 Cottage for 2
- From £801 bedroom
We absolutely loved our stay at Asphodel Cottage. From the moment we walked in it felt like Home. A beautiful cottage in a lovely location. It was easy to book and we found the keys exactly as we were informed. I would have no problem recommending this cottage or Sawdays in future.
An absolute delight. We came for an anniversary celebration and were not disappointed - arrived to find the interior even better than the pictures, low lighting and a complimentary bottle of chilled Prosecco, the upstairs bedroom has loads of charm and is hugely romantic. The garden has super views and we enjoyed the short ramble along the footpaths to the Tunnel House Inn. We had a great time touring all the local Cotswold villages. A little bit of heaven and we will definitely return.
The neighbourhood
Local points of interest from Martin Jenner
- Peaceful & secluded yet very convenient for Cirencester and Tetbury including Prince Charles' Highgrove
- Beautiful country walks right from the door including Thames Head
- Famous arts & crafts Rodmarton House just a mile away
- Several award-winning gastro pubs within 10 mins - Bell at Sapperton, Potting Shed Crudwell, Village pub Barnsley
- Excellet Thames cruise rentals from Lechlade 20 miles
- Virtually all the Cotwolds plus Bath and Cheltenham within 35 mile radius


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Hopwood Hall College
- Education
- Web Design
- Web Development
Hopwood Hall is a vocational further education college located in Middleton & Rochdale. They came to I-COM looking to rebuild their website.
They wanted a fresh new design that would set them apart from other further education providers in Greater Manchester.
At the same time, they needed a site that they could update easily via the CMS. The site needed to integrate into EBS Course Information Portal and also to showcase their public-facing services.
They asked for a site with strong visuals that was not text-heavy that would be easy to navigate and could prominently integrate their social media content as this is the primary way they reach their target student base.
One of the key factors in the build was the need to integrate with EBS. EBS is a typical management system that doesn't lend itself towards displaying rich content on the web, so we set up an automated process to check EBS once a day for updates. When the system finds a new course, it pulls in the base information and notifies the web admin. Using the CMS, the admin can then easily enrich the content to provide a greater user experience.
We designed a site that was very image-led, enabling Hopwood to populate the design with colourful pictures demonstrating life on campus and which used our social board to integrate the college's social media content onto the individual pages of the site. The flexible design also allowed Hopwood to populate blocks with testimonials from notable graduates and included access to portals for both current students and for parents.
The design is responsive, meaning it works well for students accessing the site on their mobiles and the improved user experience means that applying for courses via the website is much easier.
Bounce rate - reduced 14%
Users - up 13.5%
Sessions - up 18%
Average time on site - up 8.5%
Discover More
Download the full case study PDF.
Social Board
Concrete5 CMS
EBS Integration
Hopwood Hall needed a visual website that would help to display the type of experience prospective students could expect to enjoy with them.
The site needed to integrate with their information portal and they also needed to be able to update it easily as and when they needed. Our work in providing digital marketing services for Hopwood Hall has resulted in increases in such metrics as the amount of users they have for the site, meaning the site is more engaged with overall.


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This is the most recent information about Gene McDaniels that has been submitted to amIright. If we have more information about Gene McDaniels, then we provide a link to the section where it appears (the actual page whenever possible).
Also known as: Eugene Booker McDaniels. Submitted by: oldie
Original Song Name
Parody Song Name
Parody Author
|"A Hundred Pounds Of Clay"
|"While All The Bishops Looked Away"
|The Offenders
|"A Hundred Pounds Of Clay"
|"A Hundred Thousand Hits (parody page views) - TT 5th Anniv. At AIR"
|Tommy Turtle
|"A Hundred Pounds of Clay"
|"A Hunded Parodies"
|Jack Wilson
"Tower of Strength"
Misheard Lyrics:
Tower of string
Original Lyrics:
Tower of strength
"Chip Chip"
Misheard Lyrics:
Gyp, gyp, you cheat a little bit
Gyp, gyp, you quarrel over it
Original Lyrics:
Chip, Chip, you cheat a little bit
Chip, Chip, you quarrel over it
"Tower of Strength"
Misheard Lyrics:
Tower of string
Original Lyrics:
Tower of strength
Story about this misheard lyric by: Parker Gabriel
The mishearing came from the way Mr. McDaniels rendered the lyric.
"Tower Of Strength"
Opening Lines:
If I were a tower of strength, I'd walk away, I'd look in your eyes and here's what I'd say: "I don't want you, I don't need you"
Submitted by: Candy Welty
"A Hundred Pounds Of Clay"
Opening Lines:
He took a hundred pounds of clay and then He said, "Hey, listen. I'm gonna fix this-a world today because I know what's missin'."
Submitted by: Candy Welty


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I'm joining the 5 on Friday Link Up again, co-hosted by one of my fave mommy blogs of the moment, Hello! Happiness. Make sure to visit April, Christina, and Darci out too. They co-host this link up!
For today's 5 on Friday, I'm talking about 5 things that are both frustrating and fun…all the DIY shiz I'm creating for little bean's room!
1) The crib skirt…this was supposed to be easy, but please note that I hate patterns. That being said, I tried to make this as easy as possible with separate panels, rectangular in nature…that is, until I received the amazing I pined over for months, only to find out the pattern ran OPPOSITE of the way it should, thus presenting a problem with the front panel, which I color-blocked to avoid matching up prints. It's not how I envisioned things, and I dropped quite a few f bombs in the process, especially after attaching ties and then attaching to the crib mattress frame only to find out that some strategically placed metal bars cause the sides to hang funny…just don't look at the sides, ok?! (and please excuse the instagram photos, once finished, I'll take photos with my "actual" camera)
2) The matching quilt/blanket…a couple of years ago, Brennan's mom had a baby, his first sibling. Being that Brennan lives with us and she lives all the way across the US, I created a project for him to help him feel more involved. I taught him to cut, fabricate and sew a baby blanket for his sister. It was a big undertaking for a 13 year old boy, but he did great and his blanket turned out fantastic! He also added a piece of fabric from a baby item of his to the blanket. So I knew when we decided to have a baby, I would do the same with him. Only, timing and schedules and pregnancy tiredness proved to be too much…but I did sit with him and have him cut some pieces from his baby towel to use for ruffles on little bean's blanket for the blanket I'm making to match her room. He decided he liked a striped pattern, with his ruffles added in. I finally started it last night, and it's sans Brennan ruffles right now because those will go on last. It's another f bomb laden project, but will be fabulous in the end, I'm sure of it. And will be a piece of her, and her brother. But now I need to save items from both him AND this baby for the next bean's blanket 😉
3) Art!…These two cards were sent by my mom. The 'welcome to world…' one was sent after she found out I was pregnant. So I scoured the Goodwill for frames (Hooray for 59cents), and still have two to fill, although I did consider leaving the random family in the top left frame, just for kicks. I'll also have a spray paint project for these to be completed by the baby daddy…
4) Also in the art category, is this alphabet I designed and threw together to hang above her dresser. The room is a combined woodland/nature/birdie theme and with us both being artists, I had to include typography! So I created this alphabet poster, in addition to two other art pieces that cannot be revealed yet, since they involve her oh-so-secret name! The mobile is another piece we're really excited about!!
5) The dresser…oh the dresser…I bought one and was going to refinish it, but wasn't fully committed to it….thank goodness, because then I found my DREAM dresser! This authentic, vintage 60s/mid-century modern dresser that is TO DIE FOR! It's been in our garage for months since I can't lift anything heavy right now, but we finally got it moved up into her room last weekend. I was so excited, that I went on a baby clothes washing spree in anticipation of being able to put things away! That is, until I realized there's an old lady living inside the drawers and she needs to be evicted…in other words, a couple of the drawers smell like a nursing home. So my current project is eradicating smell…attempt #2 will take place this weekend, since baking soda only did a partial job. Hence, all (or most) of her clothes ON TOP of the dresser!
There you have it! My five on Friday consisting of 5 things I'm loving in the bean's room!
Happy Friday!


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Flowers are a favorite gift when it comes to celebrating a memorable Birthday. They are an expression of friendship and love. Flowers bring happiness and joy on any special Birthday.
You can Browse through our selection of Flower Arrangements and Rose Arrangements. Remember that Roses are the perfect gift when celebrating the Birthday of your couple! On the other hand, Flower Arrangements are great when celebrating a family member or close friend.
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La Floristería JM es la Floristería en Bogotá que tiene más comentarios positivos en Google my Business. No son falsos. Son verificados por Google.
Floristería JM delivers Flowers and Gifts any place in Bogota, Colombia. We deliver on scheduled dates and special occasions, giving our best to provide the highest quality in both our products and customer service alike.
We follow closely each product, starting in the hands of our florists that arrange your flowers one by one, until the last moment when we deliver your order. We want to make sure your gift will leave an impression with your recipient. Our goal is the best customer experience.
Calle 145 A #12-35
Bogotá, Cundinamarca
001007, Colombia
+571 303-2032
+57 300-214-2698
+57 310-806-8571


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Have Questions? Give us a call: 1-441-234-4851 | C: 1- 441-300-4851
Product Details:
Thick solid wood planks recall time worn warehouse floors. Frames echo the cast iron machine bases during the turn of the century factories. The warmth of the amber tones in the acacia wood, combined with the graphite finishes on the wood frames give you a memorable living room set. Our living room tables feature a lower wood shelf for storage. Assembly required.
Color: Amber
Set Includes: 1 End Table
Overall Dimensions: 24x24x24"
Material Details: Solid Acacia legs, CARB P2 MDF + Acacia veneer with wire brush; No Metal bolts and nails
Care Instruction: Spot Clean Only
Carey's Visual Designs | Certified Professional Home Stage & Redesign | P.O. Box HM 3027 Hamilton, HM NX Bermuda


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Wedding Planner, Bangalore
Starting Package
We 'Sketch the Knot' based on every couple's dream and transform it into an impeccable multi-dimensional reality. Thus, creating wedding stories with a very professional yet amicable slant. We love to witness the clients live their Big Day and the wedding rendezvous without any anxiety. We operate out of our Bangalore base camp with vital partnerships across local and global ventures, to cater ... Read more
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Fantastic Books I've Edited: Week IX: Immortal…
Except for Immortal and Immortal II, all cover art and design was done by Quinton Veal.
Good evening everyone! Tonight I continue my series "Fantastic Books…" with a spotlight on (drum roll) my own eight SF/fantasy books which I've written and edited. So without further adieu I present me! 🙂
Colony: Ascension: An Erotic Space Opera (excerpt)
She awoke with an impending sense of wrongness. The astronaut reached for her view-screen, intending to alert Leonardo. His voice, any human voice, would comfort her, soothe her panic. Her view-screen was gone.
Everything was gone, her food, valise, helmet, suit. . . She wasn't in her tent anymore. With a strangled cry she sprang to her feet, her heart pounding against her rib cage. Allandra saw that her new room was without windows. Just four walls, and a door without a knob. Behind her was the platform she'd just risen from, with translucent blankets.
The door slid opened and It stepped inside. It was tall, muscular and had two eyes, hands, arms, legs and feet. And there all of the similarity between It and a human being ended. Its head was triangular. Its eyes were bulging and perfectly round with black pupils. And Its nose was a small slit above a puckered mouth that resembled that of a fish.
The skin above Its tan form-fitting suit, and that of Its hands, was black with orange and brown stripes and had a silky almost wet appearance. Each of one of Its twelve fingers had a suction cup at its tip.
It pressed a metal button on its breast and a bass, undeniably male timbre, floated toward her: "Hello, Lieutenant Allandra."
That's not his voice. He's using a translator.
"I am Chotz. You are on Planet Tyria," the being said quietly. "I'm sorry if we've caused you any distress. I know you have questions. You may ask them now, if you like."
Allandra hadn't expected this. She'd expected meetings between equals. Shaking hands.
Pleasantries between two species. Not being kidnapped and confined in a. . . Cell. "Where's Leonardo?" Her voice came out in a squeak.
Chotz's puckered lips turned up in a fey smile. "He's in a room much like yours, not far from here."
Another cell. "Can I see him?"
"That's not such a good idea right now. We need to get you settled in," he replied smoothly.
"We scanned your planet before we landed," she blurted. "We toured the surface. Why didn't we see you?"
Sci-Fi Sunday: Interview with Voyage of Dreams Fantasy/Sci-Fi Writer Valjeanne Jeffers (This interview was originally published by Graveyard Shift Sisters)
When I asked Valjeanne Jeffers which of her books is the best introduction to her work, she didn't hesitate before she replied, Voyage of Dreams.
And after reading it, I agree.
Voyage of Dreams is a collection of shorts from Jeffers longer works, intended as teaser for readers to have a taste of the genres the author writes in. There is horror, there is steampunk, there is erotica, there is sci-fi…
Now I must disclose that "Voyage of Dreams" does not have complete stories. Don't pick it up unless you're ready to understand that these are excerpts—written book trailers, if you will. They will lure you in and give you the need to know what happens next. You will come to hate the words, "To be Continued" (if you don't already) and want to purchase the full-length novels. If you prefer to have an entire story right up front, I suggest reading the excerpts from her work on her Amazon author page and choosing a tale.
Jeffers has an enviable way with creating multi-cultural characters that leap beyond stereotypes. Her descriptions and imagery wrap you into the storylines. For writers, we are always searching for the "hook" that snags the reader quickly and Jeffers has figured that out.
She also creates strong female characters and I can never have enough of those. In Awakening, she sets her sights on freeing Nandi, an young African girl from the societal and family pressures of playing the part of princess. Nandi finds her way to becoming the warrior she craves to be, but not without significant bloodshed.
My other favorites?
Colony: Ascension – Reads like sci-fi horrorotica. A young female astronaut desperate to find life outside of Earth finds answers as she wakes up a captive of an alien race.
Mona Livelong: ParanormalDetective – Bizarre murders, a serial killer that is able to continue his work after death, and a female detective from the country who is the city cops' last resort to stopping a plot that may affect all of North America.
First off, thank you for this interview. Tell us a bit about yourself and your writing style.
I'm a mother, grandmother, artist, poet and (sometimes) a teacher. And I love speculative fiction. I love reading it and writing it. My style of writing has been described by Charles Saunders, my mentor and a writer I greatly admire, as a world in which "science and sorcery co-exist." Another favorite author and good friend, Derrick Ferguson, has described it as "imaginatively experimental."
Both Charles and Derrick have described my style to a tee. When I write, I draw from horror, fantasy, science fiction, and erotica. I have a mixed-media, or I guess you could say mixed-genre style of writing. So depending upon which one of my novels a reader picks up he or she might come away describing me as horror writer, steamfunk writer etc. Some of my books can be very frightening ―I've even scared myself a time or two. Which, I think, is pretty cool.
When did you start writing and what drew you specifically to horror?
I started writing as a young girl; although I took a long hiatus from writing fiction and didn't return to it until I was in my forties. I've always been fascinated by horror stories and shows. I grew up watching Dark Shadows, The Twilight Zone, Dracula etc. And I was always particularly fascinated by the shape shifters―vampires, werewolves and such. I was never afraid of them, instead I was sympathetic. Here were otherworldly creatures who had their weirdness thrust upon them by a bite or a scratch. My sympathy was always tinged with something else: admiration. Shape shifters, from my viewpoint, had wonderful powers!
Years later, their supernatural proclivities were gifts to me as a writer. And I began to imagine what if…? What if immortal creatures with preternatural speed and strength could change at will and use their abilities to fight for their planet? To defend the world against corporate and demonic corruption? This is how my Immortal series was born.
What inspired you to write Voyage of Dreams? What is special about this collection of short stories and how does your heritage influence your storytelling?
Well, I've been toying with the idea of combining excerpts from my novels and short stories into a book for sometime now. I just recently finished writing my two newest novels, Mona Livelong: Paranormal Detective and Colony: Ascension, An Erotic Space Opera, so I had an excuse to take the plunge and do it. Excerpts from five of my novels: Mona Livelong, Colony: Ascension, An Erotic Space Opera (these two newest novels will be out sometime in July, 2014) Immortal, Immortal III: Stealer of Souls, and The Switch II: Clockwork are included. I also included four short stories: "Outcasts", "Awakening", "Mocha Faeryland", "Grandmere's Secret". I really loved bringing my stories and excerpts together― and each one is so different.
For example, Immortal is an introduction to the first novel of my Immortal series. In Chapter I, "Specter", the reader meets Karla and is instantly submersed in her world: An alternate universe in which horror and science fiction meet, with a little erotica thrown in for good measure. As I've said before I don't shy away from sexuality. I don't emphasize it either. It's just a natural part of my storytelling, like it's a natural part of life.
I also included an excerpt from Immortal III: Stealer of Souls as Stealer of Souls. In this excerpt, the reader is introduced to Annabelle, a seductive and dangerous vampire. But she isn't like any of the vampires from the old lore and films. This is a radically different type of shape shifter―with heavy emphasis on the radical. In writing Immortal III, I really got in touch with my southern roots. Annabelle is a southern belle, and she is how I've always pictured the southern seductress: Black, beautiful, and deadly―especially to a man. But every character should have layers to their personality, so Annabelle is not one-dimensional. None of my characters are.
In Mona Livelong: Paranormal Detective, a steamfunk, horror novel (excerpt), readers are introduced to Mona Livelong, the newest character in my newest series. Mona is kind of a city-country-city character. She is gifted with preternatural powers, and she lives in a small southern town right up the road from a big city. I really went out of my way to scare readers. I had a ball doing it too!
In speaking of my heritage, I'm a southern Black woman: card carrying and proud of it. I'm also a child of the 1960s, one of most moving and turbulent eras this country has ever seen. All of this informs my writing. Although a southerner, I've lived all over America and met people from all walks of life. So, I'm writing out of the Black experience, but I also identify with other races. My readers will find folks of all colors within the pages of my stories. Oppression, and fighting against it, is something common to all of us. Love, joy, hate, desire, suffering―these too, are commonalities we all share and that finds its way into my writing as well.
For you, what makes a great horror tale? What do you like to read?
There is so much about life that is terrifying―more terrifying than anything an author can write. For me, since I'm an eternal optimist, I like to read books that take horrific circumstances and transform them into something characters can triumph over; books with really terrifying circumstances and victorious characters; books that show the human spirit as indomitable. "Fairy tales are more than true: not because they tell us that dragons exist, but because they tell us that dragons can be beaten," (Neil Gaiman). I think this is very applicable to horror fiction as well. We all know that the monster in our closet is often real. What we need to know is that we can take him down.
What scares you?
I especially, like Black authors, like Tananarive Due and Nalo Hopkinson, that take something familiar and transform it into something lethal. The Good House by Tananarive Due is the scariest book I've read to date. But I'm also a diehard Stephen King fan. I dig Dean Kootz too.
How can African American artists (actors, writers, filmmakers) succeed in horror and dark fantasy fiction circles? How can women? Do you feel your work has been received differently as a Black female author?
As African American artists, our job is to create the best product we can―be it books, film, or art, and then get it out there to our fans and readers. What I'm trying to say is we shouldn't just write books (for example) we should write the best books we can―pour ourselves and our energy into them. Give the readers all you got and leave them wanting more. And then we have to market our products. As artists, we can't wait for someone to do it for us. You have to build your own fan base. The job of female artists is no different from that of a man's. No one is going to open any doors for us. We have to do it ourselves.
As a Black woman, I don't think my work has been received much differently. But, I think sometimes guys―although not those in my inner circle, of course―may think that just because I'm a woman, I can't deliver the hard-hitting battle and gory horror scenes that a man can. I actually had a male reader tell me as much at a conference. Nothing could be further from the truth. My male and female characters can swing a sword, take off a head, and mouth an incantation with the best of them. Author Charles Saunders (in his review of Immortal and Immortal II: "Immortality") said that I can "snap a plot twist on par with the best of the thriller writers." Author Milton Davis, has said (in his review of Immortal) that my "fight scenes are exciting and tense." Recommendations don't get any better than this!
What's your next project?
As I mentioned above, I'm releasing two new novels in July 2014; Mona Livelong: Paranormal Detective and Colony: Ascension, An Erotic Space Opera. Mona Livelong is a steamfunk horror novel set in 1970. However, Mona Livelong also takes place in "North America," an alternate historical period in which steampunk/steamfunk reins supreme, this means muskets, gas lights and steam-powered cars, to name a few. Steamfunk is one of my favorite genres. And lots and lots of sorcery. There is actually a whole cast of characters that make their debut in Mona Livelong. I hope my readers will come to love them, as they've come to love the characters of my Immortal series.
With Colony: Ascension, I went way outside my comfort zone and tried something totally different. Colony: Ascension is hard science fiction, a space opera―and an erotic space opera at that. But, as with my other series, I created communities of characters that are dependent upon one another for their survival. Readers can preview the first chapters of Colony on Amazon and Smashwords.
How can regional and cultural horror become more mainstream and recognizable to the wider horror fan base?
Authors have to market their books. They have to find ways of getting them into libraries. (I've donated books to libraries in different cities.) They have to attend conferences and they have to use social networking. These methods are already working. Many indie authors in my circle, Milton Davis and Balogun Ojetade for example, are achieving national recognition. I recently attended the Octavia Butler Arts and Activism conference at Spelman College (in Atlanta, Georgia, which as organized by author Tananarive Due). More recently my name was mentioned, along with two very well known writers and Janelle Monáe, no less, as one of the artists influencedby Octavia Butler. I was heavily influenced by Octavia and consider her to be one of my literary mentors, although I never got a chance to meet her.
What's the most difficult part of writing for you?
I never have any problems coming up with ideas. But I can be a perfectionist. What this means for me is that I have to constantly remind myself that the first draft is the first draft. It's not going to be perfect the first time I write it. A first draft is edited and re-edited until the final product is ready. This is a battle I seem to fight with every new novel.
What do you do when you're not writing?
I read and edit other writers' novels. I'm actually co-owner of Q & V Affordable Editing, a small company I started with my fabulous cover artist, Quinton Veal. I have to give a shout-out to Quinton, he's done the artwork for all of my novels and short stories (except for Immortal I and II). He's also very talented writer in his own right, and the author of four books.
Thank you for this interview, Valjeanne. Is there anything else you'd like to mention?
I'd like to thank Eden Royce, horror writer extraordinaire, for interviewing me! I had a blast!
Preveiw or purchase books by Valjeanne Jeffers and Quinton Veal at www.vjeffersandqveal.com
CrystalTemptres&LoyalFang – Live & Recorded Episodes:
CrystalTemptres&LoyalFang – Live & Recorded Episodes:.
Live reading of Immortal: Chapter 1: Specter. Conclusion
And Chapter 2: Deseo
Visit us at our site:
Pick up books by Valjeanne Jeffers and Quinton Veal at:
Eljay's Used Books Pittsburgh PA
The Wild Fig Lexington KY
And Nubian Bookstore Morrow GA
Science Fiction and Fantasy: We All Know the Difference, Right?
From the Great Traveling Round Table of Fantasy Bloggers
The Difference Between SF and Fantasy by Carole McDonnell
Science Fiction generally falls into two categories: hard or soft. Depending on the reader's belief in his scientific aptitude or love of hardware technologies, the SF reader can explore technological, biological, physiological sciences that are emerging, yet to come, probably possible and hypothethical.
The Fantasy writer and reader roam larger territories. Sometimes those territories are far afield from modern known science, sometimes they are mental realms, sometimes spiritual arenas, sometimes past historical and cultural lands.
The science fiction reader joins the SF writer in seeing how far the mind of man can go, often learning about and wading deep into some emerging science the author or the reader share. And often the sf reader will have the sf novel in one hand, a scientific tome in the other, and be sitting in front of the computer: facts are checkable.
The fantasy reader may read her fantasy book alongside another book — if that other book deals with some lore of some lost culture. But the fantasy reader is just as happy to venture into the unknown world of the author's mind. All the reader asks, however, is that the novelist be true to the world he or she has created.
Whether the fantasy novel deals with European vampires, Native America shapeshifters, East Indian demi-gods, European elves, alternate realities, far off planets, Earth analogues, living, dead, non-living, eternal, godly, helpless, miniscule, mammalian, oceanic, elemental, speaking, non-speaking, beings within this galaxy, across galaxies, planetary, geophysical, or plainly and simply human, the fantasy world the author creates must be held up to the collective scrutiny of its readers.
Fantasy is game-playing of a higher order of imagination than Science fiction because the SF author is bound by and exploring the ramification of rules he has found. But the fantasy author is examining larger premise of creativity. This is not to say that science fiction is not creative but while Science fiction aims to discover and seek out rules and aspects of life that is already there, the fantasy writer aims to create whole new worlds or culture, emotion, and spirit.
No wonder, then, that fantasy comes in so many forms with so many varieties. Fantasy is extreme.
Carole McDonnell holds a BA degree in Literature from SUNY Purchase and has spent most of her years surrounded by things literary. Her writings appear in various anthologies including "So Long Been Dreaming: Post-colonialism in science fiction," edited by Nalo Hopkinson and published by Arsenal Pulp Press; Fantastic Visions III" anthology published by Fantasist Enterprises; "Jigsaw Nation" published by Spyre publications, "Griots: A Sword and Soul anthology," edited by Milton Davis and Charles Saunders, "Life Spices from Seasoned Sistahs: writings by mature women of color," "Fantastic Stories of the Imagination" edited by Warren Lapine and published by Wilder Publications.
Her novel, Wind Follower was published by Wildside Books. Her other works include My Life as an Onion, Seeds of Bible Study: How NOT to Study the Bible. Her collection of short stories, Spirit Fruit: Collected Speculative Fiction, is available on kindle and also at Lulu.com Her second novel, The Constant Tower, will be published in 2013
SciFi Versus Fantasy? by Theresa Crater
I teach a class in writing speculative fiction and often use Orson Scott Card's book How to Write Science Fiction and Fantasy. In it he classifies Anne McCaffrey's Dragonriders of Pern and Marion Zimmer Bradley's Darkover series as science fiction rather than fantasy. Why? Because they take place on other planets. I say hooey.
Why? Because they have all the earmarks of fantasy. Early fantasy reinvented the medieval, mostly European. It brings Celtic, Norse and Germanic mythology to life. Now writers are expanding culturally, which is all to the good, but many fantasies still take place in a predominantly agricultural world whose cities have castles, farmer's markets and guilds of artisans. Then there are the aristocrats and rulers along with their soldiers or knights. People move about on horseback for the most part. Or sail on ships. Fantasy is pre-industrial revolution.
Many say science fiction began with Frankenstein, although it's still got a lot of hidden alchemy and magic in it. But the text argues between the old mistaken alchemy and the new correct chemistry. Much of the science in that text looks like dark fantasy to us now, but that was the science of the day. Science fiction is the conscience of science. It looks over the shoulders of men in their laboratories and asks, "What will happen if?" What will be the moral, social and personal price humanity pays for your discovery? It's the same question Mary Shelley asked.
Urban fantasy has complicated the picture, but the reason it's fantasy is that it convinces us that the possibilities science tells us are not real are real after all. Faeries exist. Vampires haunt the night. But if you add aliens, then I'll have to say we're back to science fiction.
Theresa Crater brings ancient temples, lost civilizations and secret societies back to life in her paranormal mysteries. The shadow government search for ancient Atlantean weapons in the fabled Hall of Records in Under the Stone Paw and fight to control ancient crystals sunk beneath the sea in Beneath the Hallowed Hill.
Her short stories explore ancient myth brought into the present day. The most recent include "The Judgment of Osiris" in Tales in Firelight and Shadow and "White Moon" in Ride the Moon. Writing as Louise Ryder, she publishes women's fiction. God in a Box returns us to the 1970s world of feminism and Eastern philosophy. Theresa has also published poetry and a baker's dozen of literary criticism. Currently, she teaches writing and British lit in Denver. Visit her at http://theresacrater.com.
Science Fiction and Fantasy: We All Know the Difference, Right? by Warren Rochelle
One of the first questions I ask my students in both my fantasy and science fiction lit classes is just what is the difference between these two closely related genres. After all, as Ursula Le Guin says, "Fantasy is the ancient kingdom of which science fiction is but a modern province."
Close relations indeed, one the descendant of the other, or rather one evolving from the other, the metaphors and tropes of fantasy of sword, sorcery, the Hero and the Quest, magic, fairy kingdoms, monsters, and the rest, giving way to the metaphors and tropes of technology and the machine, of science, and other worlds and aliens.
The simplest distinction is, of course, magic and science, the impossible and the possible. Or, to cite a definition that appeared on the listserv of the SFRA (Science Fiction Research Association, whose purview is SF and fantasy), "if the story has dragons in it, it's fantasy, but if the dragons are given an evolutionary history, it's science fiction." I would modify that slightly: if the story has dragons in it as one of the native fauna, it's fantasy, but never mind that.
So, Elves, fairies, witches, wizards, magic—the impossible, fantasy. Spaceships, lasers, warp drive, aliens and mutants—the possible, science fiction.
All right. But just the other day, my individual study student this semester, Evan, turned in a blog post on Dune. First, Evan's individual study is the writing of a science fiction novel, along with some readings and journals. I suggested Dune. After all, it is one of the greatest science fiction novels ever written. Everybody knows that, right?
Evan begged to differ: "One important thing to note about Dune is that it's not really a science-fiction story. It's a fantasy. It's about a chosen prince having his kingdom stolen, then mastering the magical arts and fighting, as well as befriending the natives of his land and the super-powerful creatures that inhabit it, all to overthrow the evil emperor and reclaim his rightful place. The whole story reeks of fantasy. They have swordfights for one thing."
Wait a minute. Many of Paul's abilities as Kwisatz Haderach come from his genetics—he is the product of a ninety-generation breeding program, a long-awaited messiah. His prescience gets "turned on" when he takes the Water of Life, a natural by-product of the life cycle of the giant sandworm. His enhanced mental abilities are, in part, attributed to his training as a mentat, a human computer. Doesn't that make the novel science fiction?
Not according to Evan. He argues that the novel doesn't need to be science fiction: "The emperor's ships could be boats on an ocean just as easily as spaceships … The sandworms are basically dragons or wyverns and Paul's [Kwisatz Haderach] status is basically that of a wizard or a magical hero. He's not a sci-fi hero. He doesn't make machines, tinker, or have any real connection to technology . . .
While the story does contain loose sci-fi elements, aside from a singular instance of a small drone being used and the fact that their economy relies on large spaceships, the story is simply not sci-fi. It is science-fiction flavored fantasy."
All right. Evan does have a point and I wasn't able to shake his conviction—not yet anyway. If we were to have this discussion again, here is what I use to counter his argument. I would point out that Paul has and does use atomic weaponry and the spice, another sandworm by-product, is harvested by machines. A force field surrounds the family castle.
I would ask if the SF hero has to make machines or be connected to technology? Not those with psychic powers, which Paul has. But, more importantly, a primary basis of the novel, its controlling metaphor, is ecology, or interconnected biological systems—here, an entire planet. The Fremen, thanks to Liet-Kynes, and his father, are superb field ecologists, and have given over their entire culture to the mission of bringing water to their desert world.
It is here, I think, that Evan's argument that the novel is fantasy doesn't quite work. Yes, the relationship between the two genres is clearly discernible in his analysis of Dune, particularly in how science fiction evolved from fantasy through a reimagining of familiar metaphors and symbols and devices. Science fiction is, in many ways, the modern response to the questions and themes of fantasy.
I am not suggesting that ecology can't be a theme in fantasy; it often is, including the idea that magic itself must be saved, conserved, and renewed, if necessary. But the world-view of Dune, ultimately, is rooted in science, the possible, not the magical, the unseen, the impossible but still the imagined,
And that, I think, might be the difference between science fiction and fantasy.
Warren Rochelle has taught English at the University of Mary Washington since 2000. His short story, "The Golden Boy" (published in The Silver Gryphon) was a Finalist for the 2004 Gaylactic Spectrum Award for Best Short Story and his novels include The Wild Boy (2001), Harvest of Changelings (2007), and The Called (2010.
He also published a critical work on Le Guin and has academic articles in various journals and essay collections. His short story, "The Boy on McGee Street," was recently published in Queer Fish 2 (Pink Narcissus Press, 2012). Contact him at: http://warrenrochelle.com
The Difference Between Fantasy and SF is Horses by Andrea Hosth
If your characters get about on horses, you are writing fantasy. If they travel using something mechanised, then you are writing SF. Your SF can have wizards, and spaceships which fly through hand-waving. Your story can lack any form of magic whatsoever, but if the tech level has not advanced beyond the equivalent of a horse-drawn cart, it's still fantasy.
This is almost not an exaggeration. Reader expectation is a force which can easily overcome author intention. What you write may be fantasy, science fiction or some combination of both, but your setting is what determines whether or not a story is science fiction.
Still, if I am to take a serious stab at the question, I'll start by considering the definition that "science fiction is what could be, while fantasy is what never could be". Of course, this is a definition which works best if you take a strict "hard science fiction" approach to SF, since a very large portion of science fiction involves magic-equivalent hand-waving science.
There are many definitions for fantasy, mostly revolving around some variation of "has magic", but that is a definition which quickly falls down. I prefer to regard fantasy as "any story where the setting/worldbuilding is intended to be different to an accurate depiction of our own world". Thus a historical novel (intended to be accurate) is not fantasy, but alternate history is fantasy, books with working magic are fantasy, stories set in the future are fantasy (because there is no possible way for them to be truly accurate). Hard or soft, sword and sorcery, magic realism – the crux of the fantasy genre is that something exists in the story which demonstrably cannot be located and pointed out as having existed in (the current agreed understanding of) our world.
Science fiction is thus a subset of fantasy, and the question becomes how it separates itself off from the broader genre. A quick perusal of the Mohs Scale of Science Fiction Hardness shows that even the completely soft end of science fiction can still be regarded as "unambiguously science fiction" – though in this case it appears that science fiction can be science fiction purely in terms of setting, which brings us back to the horses. The TV Tropes site goes on to base science fiction firmly in the realm of a 'what if' story, and makes the crux of the story a 'technological difference'.
So, science fiction is a story where there is an intentional difference to our world where the crux of the tale depends on a difference in technology/science. Even if the science is not rigorous, and cannot by any means be considered hard science fiction, it is still science fiction if the core of the story is "what if this this technology…".
Stories which have a scientific setting, but which are not interested in that setting – where the technology is of no import to the tale but is merely a fancy dress which could be exchanged for other fantastic clothing – could perhaps be termed science fantasy. And the flip side – stories with horses and magic where the crux of the story is a technological question?
I recently discussed the question of science fiction vs fantasy in my own novels, pointing out that the magic-rich Champion of the Rose has at its core a technological question – it's a "genetic manipulation gone wrong" story in a fantasy setting. I suppose this may be termed "fantastic science", since it's using a magical means to attain a scientific action.
But, on the whole, my definition is my definition. Like so many other genre questions, it becomes an "I know if when I read it" answer, with every individual's answer having some slight variance, and most readers interested in specific sub-genres rather than the whole breadth and depth of fantasy or science fiction.
Meanwhile, I'll be over here writing about a mechanical horse.
Vampires or Space Helmets…Fantasy or Science Fiction? by Valjeanne Jeffers
Technology and fantasy: put them together and you have a delicious synergy that's not quite SF, not quite fantasy. Some of my favorite authors have skirted the divider between fantasy and science fiction. Octavia Butler, for example, while she is almost always described as a science fiction author blended the two quite brilliantly in books like Wild Seed
and Clay's Ark. Nalo Hopkinson also combined them with sheer genius in her novels Brown Girl in The Ring
and Midnight Robber.
The existence of technology in fantasy often results in the co-existence of "science and sorcery," as Charles Saunders (creator of Sword and Soul) has described my Immortal series. In my novels you have werewolves and vampires—totally in control of their preternatural abilities and using said abilities to protect their universe; but still such characters are most often found in fantasy or horror genres. Yet the Immortal series also has time travel, aliens… and technology to support its futuristic setting. Such as in the excerpt from Immortal book 1:
Karla walked across the wooden floor of her living area into a kitchenette. A press of her fingers on the first sphere of a triangular pod started coffee brewing.
She filled a cup with chicory, walked back into the living area and pushed the second button on her remote, activating a blue panel beside the window. Jazz music filled the apartment. Like her bedroom console the unit kept time, transmitted holographic images and played tapes. Using the third button, she opened the curtains.
Thus, the Immortal novels have been described as both fantasy and science fiction novels. Use a little science and one still can be considered a Fantasy writer. Use a bit more and you've inched into the science fiction genre. An excerpt from Colony: A Space Opera (my novel in progress) illustrates this point:
She was born 20 years after Planet Earth's decline. The same year IST began building the probes: lightweight spacecrafts that humans could live in for years, if need be, and that moved fast enough to break the sound barrier—traveling millions of miles within weeks.
In 2065, global warning had accelerated. The final stage in Earth's destruction had begun. Temperatures of 150 degrees scorched the planet. Tidal waves, monsoons and cyclones tore it apart. Those who could afford it moved underground. Food became the world's most valued resource. The rest were herded under the domes.
Scientists scurried to genetically reproduce fruits and vegetables—with horrible side effects. Money still ruled the world. But money was gradually becoming worthless. That's when the government saw the writing on the wall and created IST and the probes: spacecrafts designed for one purpose, to seek out planets capable of sustaining human life.
When a writer uses technology in fantasy, the lines between the genres are even more gloriously buried. What may be described as science fiction by one reader/writer can just as easily be characterized as fantasy by the next. The only real rule here is to make one's technology believable; credible; plausible. Although it doesn't yet exist—in a kind kind of literary sleight of hand.
Pulling this off, just gives me one more reason to absolutely love speculative fiction…even if no will ever be able to figure out whether I'm a science fiction or fantasy writer. I think I prefer it that way.
Valjeanne is the author of the Immortal series, The Switch II: Clockwork (includes books I and II) and several short works of fiction.
Her fiction has appeared in Steamfunk!, Griots: A Sword and Soul Anthology, LuneWing, PurpleMag, Genesis Science Fiction Magazine, Pembroke Magazine, Possibilties, 31 Days of Steamy Mocha, and Griots II: Sisters of the Spear (in press). She works as an editor for Mocha Memoirs Press and is also co-owner of Q and V Affordable editing.
Preview or purchase her novels at: http://www.vjeffersandqveal.com
Edward Uzzle's Vision
Set in what used to be the Americas; now a dystopic and balkanized litter of Nation-States. A surreal glimpse into the spiritual growth of a warrior-soldier from an emerging Black nation. It is a startling vision of ethnic conflict, voudon technologies, and soul bending revelations. Retro-KM is novel that embodies a brand new genre of speculative fiction; cifer-RA (High-Science-Entertainment), brought to you by Daathrekh Publishing.
"This is the worst time for a reconnaissance action. Aten (the sun) won't be up for an hour and I've been 'tracking' all night. This place was once a thriving Metropolis. Now it's a wasted city…"
Worlds will collide. Prepare to have your mind blown.
Edward Uzzle has created a stunning vision of the not too distant future, a universe peopled with techno-warriors, mystic supermen and more. Pro-black and action packed RETRO-KM: Lord of the Landlords is a hard SF tour de force, a journey of epic proportions and a definite must read.
~Valjeanne Jeffers, author of The Immortal series and The Switch II: Clockwork
Pick up your copy of RETRO-KM at Amazon
Barnes and Noble
Daathrekh Publishing
Immortality: A review by Charles Saunders
This is an excerpt of a review of Immortal and Immortal II: The Time of Legend written by world renown writer Charles Saunders, creator of Sword and Soul, and author of the Imaro series, the Dossouye series and Damballa.
So without further aideu here is Charle's amazing review: Immortality.
"Consider a world that is much like our own, but better in a ways that matter most, especially considering the ecological chaos, economic malaise and ethnic discontent.
Consider a world that is post-racial, but still acknowledges racial differences.
Consider a world in which shape-changing and sorcery co-exist with advanced technology.
Consider a utopia on the brink of disaster…
Author and poet Valjeanne Jeffers has considered all these things and more, and has synthesized them in the form of two novels: Immortal and Immortal II.
These are novels of magic and multiplicity. Their setting is New World Tundra, which may or may not be an alternate earth, or our earth in the future. The time is the year 3075 — four hundred years after a spasm of war, crime, and pollution came close to destroying the planet. In the wake of this warfare, known as the Time of Legend, Tundra's population pulls itself back from the brink of destruction and transforms itself in a Great Society.
Here's how Valjeanne describes it:
'But in the year of our One 3075, war, crime and pollution didn't exist.
Contamination of the environment was illegal. Recycling was mandated by planet law. Weapons had been outlawed and purged from New World Tundra.
Only a few remained on display in museums. Prisons had become behavioral clinics where inmates were taught the life skills they needed to be mainstreamed back into society.
It was illegal to have homeless living within one's borders, and cities were punished with heavy fines if they didn't house them in private living quarters.
Junkies were the exception to this rule, since so many of them lived in dormitories; and they were locked out if they missed curfew. It was forbidden for a citizen to be unemployed if he could work. Tundra law dictated that every able-bodied man and woman must be given a job, and it was forbidden to pay a citizen less than she needed to buy both necessities, and a few luxuries.
Racism and sexism were also relics that the New World had discarded during the Time of Legend, when everyone had been fighting to survive the holocaust. Then, they were luxuries the planet couldn't afford.
Now, like the chemical waste that had once poisoned Tundra, they'd been forgotten.'
Race is still recognized on Tundra. But the labels are different. Blacks are 'Indigos.' Whites are 'Fuchsias.' Native Americans are 'Coppers.' Asians are 'Ambers.' Hispanics are 'Bronzes.' The words are different, but the melody lingers on.
Addictive drugs — an upper called 'rush' and a downer called 'placid'– are legal in the New World. At the same time, admittance to government-sponsored rehabilitation clinics is free.
The protaganist of the Immortal novels is a young, Indigo woman named Karla. She works as a caretaker (healer) at a clinic called CLEAN (Clean Living Experiences and No Chemical Dependency). She's a former addict who is now helping others to kick their habits.
Karla's personal life should be as ideal as that of her society. But it isn't. She is plauged by dreams and hallucinations involving a mysterious Indigo man, a seductive figure who seems to want to take her out of herself.
This dream-man is not a figment of Karla's imagination. He is real, though his reality is not the material, rational, world of Tundra.
His name is Tehotep. His is Other. And he spells trouble, not only for Karla but also for the benevolent-but-rigid underpinnings of the New World.
Change is the operative word. Karla and her new friend and lover, a Copper artist named Joseph, discover that they can transform themselves into werewolf-like creatures that are immensely fast and powerful, but retain their human intelligence. In the meantime, Tehotep is collecting acolytes and remaking them into nightmarish monsters that obey him without question…
In Immortal II, the shape-shifting lovers find themselves transported to the Tundra of the past…the Tundra of the Time of Legend, 'The most violent era Tundra had ever known.'
The wars are not only occurring on Tundra. There are another ones as well, between Tehotep and beings known as Guardians–and an incarnation of Karla from another time…
The Immortal novels are multi-racial, multi-cultural, and multi-dimensional. Valjeanne is adept at writing about relationships,everyday activities, conflicts, near-future technology technology, and mind-boggling magic. She can also snap a plot twist on par with the best of the thriller writers. These books are a wonder and a pleasure."
To read this review in its entirety vist Charles Saunders site and click on Recommended and then Immortality. And check out the rest of Charles's awesome reviews.
To purchase or preview my titles visit my site
Barnes and Noble.
Or smashwords
Grandmere's Secret/ Part 1
Michelle, a slender, brown girl of 18 leaned against the
magnolia tree watching them. The couple got out of their car: a
white man around 35 with windswept short blond hair and his
elegant wife also in her thirties with shoulder length black hair.
They looked casually rich in their designer jeans that were wrinkled
in all the right places.
They'd parked their jaguar in the driveway and now stood
on the lawn envisioning, Michelle was sure, lofty possibilities for the
house she'd grown up in as a child.
It was a two story sprawling wooden house with a wide
porch and what used to be a swing; before Katrina had splintered it
into shards of wood that now lay tossed over the lawn and steps
like broken teeth.
The demon storm had destroyed the inside of the house too
– photographs, old hats and clothing she and Simone used to play
dress up in, antique furniture, were gone now. All that couldn't be
salvaged had been gutted and piled in the front of the house.
But the frame, as if immune to the elements had fought the
hurricane and won. Unlike Grandmere Angelique who'd died of a
She pushed her braids out of her face and fought back tears.
Hurricane Katrina in her fury had torn through New Orleans. Like
a woman scorned, she'd ripped and destroyed the city, leaving its
children homeless, hungry, in shock, crying for their brothers and
sisters, mothers and fathers, tossed to the four corners of America
– like their ancestors before them.
Her parents André and Louisa had fled to Baton Rogue.
André had begged his mother to come with them — had tried to
force her out of the house.
But Angelique refused. "I've seen storms before, Cherie.
They come and go. I'm not leaving my house, non – it needs me to
keep it safe…"
Previously published in Genesis Science Fiction Magazine
Cover art and design by Quinton Veal
Copyright Valjeanne Jeffers 2010, 2012 all rights reserved
Download Grandmere's Secret for free on smashwords


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Parents Nights & BACS Picnic
Thursday was the first of three Parent Nights we will have at the school this month, one for each unit. These meetings are a chance for the parents to visit their children's classrooms, sit in their desks, and hear about the upcoming year from the teacher. Looking around a classroom during one of these meetings, it can be visually striking to see the parents sitting in their children's desks. At times throughout the year, when we think about how much the parents care and support their children, it can feel almost as if they are present at those desks, and for that one night we get to see what that physically looks like. These meetings are an important forum for both the parents and the teachers as it begins a year of conversations. The relationships the school has with our families are a strength of our school and we are enjoying forging new ones this fall.
BACS Picnic
The Bryn Athyn Church School will be having their annual picnic on Friday, September 28th from 5:00-7:30pm at the BACS athletic fields. Bring your own picnic dinner to enjoy and then stay for a chance to connect with old friends, meet new friends, and welcome new families to our school. We look forward to seeing you at this relaxed, fun-filled evening. All are welcome.


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Yesterday, I wrote about the goings on in Clark County, Nevada at the Bundy Ranch. I discussed that the Bureau of Land Management came in to enforce a lawsuit decision that stemmed from the government's desire to protect the desert tortoise. He has been in dispute with the federal government since 1993.
11 April, 2014
Potential Armed and Violent Conflict in Nevada
read more »
10 April, 2014


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We help shape entrepreneurs who want to have a positive impact on society – with integrative ideas that are scalable and meet a societal need. The initiative supports academic research, education and community engagement in entrepreneurship. The Initiative strives to advance both the science and practice of entrepreneurship so as to stimulate economic growth and development through new company formation, technology commercialization, and improved competitive performance of entrepreneurial ventures.
Our goal is to provide potential entrepreneurs a comprehensive program of education, support and assistance by creating a clear and accelerated path to success in business. We research new models to integrate Entrepreneurship esprit with nonprofit settings that create self-sustained processes.


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You Are Everything You Choose To Be
'You are everything that is—your thoughts, your life, your dreams come true. You are everything you choose to be. You are as unlimited as the endless universe.'
Shad Helmstetter, Ph.D.
Author of the best-selling book What To Say When You Talk To Yourself