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740 Park Avenue: Where Monopoly Is Played For Keeps.

Posted January 27, 2014

by Jerry Alatalo

mountain3“Wherever there is great property there is great inequality. For one very rich man there must be at least five hundred poor, and the affluence of the few supposes the indigence of the many.”

– Adam Smith (1723-1790) English economist

Monopoly is a fictional board game. Fiction has been defined as “n. 1. novel, fantasy. 2. fabrication, figment, unreality, falsity.” Nobody knows how many people consider the nonfictional real world as a form of monopoly – a game that’s played for keeps. The board game acts as a metaphor in Alex Gibney’s (The Dark Side, Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room) documentary film, “Park Avenue: Money, Power and the American Dream”.

Don’t ask me why I have never been able to like reading novels or watching fictional films. There is no ready explanation. Perhaps some day there will come a greater appreciation for art forms such as the great novels, or who can tell if fiction writing is/is not in the cards for future projects. At present, nonfiction reading and viewing of documentaries is where it is, and some may agree with the saying “truth is stranger than fiction”.

There is probably a good chance that every man and woman who prefers nonfiction for their information source has felt at times like the truth is hard to bear. Austrian writer Franz Kafka (1883-1924) said “I think we ought to read only the kind of books that wound and stab us”. Perhaps, noticing he lived for forty-one years, one may want to think twice before following his advice on which books to choose.

“Park Avenue” is a film that wounds and stabs us, for it portrays America in true documentary style, and leaves one either short of breath or breathless. This could explain why people have a desire to seek nonfiction books and films – because there is an innate curiosity in humans that is almost as insatiable as a heroin addiction. Given the tremendous increase in roads to travel on the internet, it is safe to say that there is an epidemic going on around the world. An epidemic of truth-seeking affecting all those who could be called “curiosity addicts”.

This is in no way meant as a criticism of human beings’ curiosity. Quite the opposite. One can express thanks for the internet, as much truth has come out for the benefit of humanity. “Park Avenue” is the second film, after viewing “Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room”, I’ve seen by Alex Gibney. Both of these films wound and stab, leaving the viewer with lingering thoughts like “how could this have happened?” and “why isn’t something being done about this?”

Alex Gibney is a great documentary filmmaker.

The biggest message that can be taken from “Park Avenue” relates to money and political power in America. Most men and women reading this are aware of the growing inequality in America and around the world. As someone who named his blog “The Oneness of Humanity” it is only natural to become interested in an issue as large and encompassing as wealth inequality. Any conception of oneness is directly the opposite of inequality, so those who hold that humanity is one family – where all are brothers and sisters – may have something to add to discussions surrounding “haves” and “have-nots”.

The film juxtaposes the lives of people living close to each other on Park Avenue in New York City, within a ten-minute drive across a river from each other. At “740 Park” reside the so-called upper crust of billionaire hedge-fund owners and corporate CEOs. A ten-minute drive away is the South Bronx – perhaps the poorest congressional district in America.

There are only 31 units at 740 Park, lavish and luxurious beyond one’s imagination, each unit containing up to 30 rooms or more, lived in by people who have in effect rigged the rules in their favor. Rigged to such an extent that Jack Abramoff – the convicted-of-corruption lobbyist who dealt with what Blackstone Group billionaire CEO Steve Schwarzman called himself and his billionaire friends, “Occupy Waldorf” – described the money/political power system as… “badly in disrepair”.

Besides an interview of Jack Abramoff, who served four years in federal prison after his conviction, there are many more interviews of intelligent people describing with frankness the politics and money problems. One person points out that things are such that lobbyists bring with them laws they want enacted when visiting elected representatives in the House and Senate. Things were bad before the Citizens United Supreme Court ruling – the amount of money spent of political campaigns to gain influence has only sky-rocketed after the infamous decision.

In passing, every last cent and dollar should be removed from political campaigns, starting with a constitutional amendment to abolish/overturn Citizens United. Jeffrey Sachs, featured in other posts here, says in “Park Avenue” that the government in Washington has become “owned and operated by United States corporations”. The reality is that most elected representatives have become bought and sold by the billionaires who live at 740 Park and other upper crust communities.

Much was made of the 15% tax on dividends and capital gains paid by Mitt Romney during the 2012 presidential election. This is the tax rate Warren Buffett made famous when he stated “I shouldn’t be paying a lower tax rate than my secretary”. George W. Bush paid a visit while campaigning to 740 Park, spoke for an hour to Steve Schwarzman, and, after a fifteen minute stay at an “Occupy Waldorf” fundraiser, left with a $1.2 million check.

Billionaire Blackstone Group CEO Schwarzman, when asked during a filmed interview if he had any comments on low taxation of capital gains and dividends, said “…that’s the sort of issue that is in the political world. We don’t have a say on that”. (Emphasis added)

Democrat Charles Schumer is seen as the person mainly responsible for defeating measures to increase the 15% wealthy tax, so viewers find little separation between the two major parties when big, big money is around – one of the interviewees thought that Schumer “buried the bill”. Some will be surprised to learn the film notes the 1980 Libertarian Party vice-presidential nomination of Charles Koch, one of the controversial Koch Brothers. The Libertarian Party got 1% (perfect) of the national vote, so the Koch brothers had to figure another way to gain influence.

So, the brothers began investing directly through gobs of multi-million dollar checks to right-wing think tanks, universities, and, after Citizens United, political action groups – including founding the Americans for Prosperity (AFP) of which its head said “our side is the side of freedom”. AFP owes its political philosophy to Ayn Rand, and found many either conscious or unconscious Rand adorers in the membership rolls of the so-called Tea Party.

Paul Ryan, Mitt Romney’s Vice Presidential running-mate, is heard in a radio interview from 2005 contradicting his 2012 distancing of himself from the controversy surrounding Randian philosophy. Alex Gibney then guides viewers through Mr. Ryan’s so-called “Path to Prosperity”, the economic plan described by John Boehner as “the key to America’s future”.

The film then delves into Wall Street corporations that lose billions of dollars while CEOs give themselves and colleagues multi-billions in bonuses, republican Wisconsin governor Scott Walker’s assault on collective bargaining rights of “pampered public employees” with his “budget repair bill” (avoiding recall with the help of AFP – $10 million), and finally lists the names of men who declined to be interviewed for the film or failed to respond to multiple requests. Those men are:

Charles Koch

David Koch

Paul Ryan

Charles Schumer

Steve Schwarzman

John Thain (Goldman Sachs and Merrill Lynch)

Scott Walker

Jeffrey Sachs may have summed up the film’s message when he said, “America became a place where money buys everything”. It is perhaps trite to talk about a documentary and suggest the film “must be seen by every American”. On that, it is up to the viewer to decide.

At any rate, there are human beings on Earth who… play for keeps.

(Thank you Why Poverty @ YouTube)


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ESV English-Greek Reverse Interlinear New Testament

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#BlogTour #Review Marrow Jam by Susan A King @SusanKing63 @rararesources

Title: Marrow Jam by Susan A King

Date Published: 27th April 2020

Publisher: Lightning books

Genre: Cosy Crime/Humour

As addictive & glorious as a scrumptious cream tea’ NICOLA MAY, author of The Corner Shop in Cockleberry Bay

Some people would describe Beattie Bramshaw as a pillar of the community. Many would applaud her numerous successes in the bakery competition at the annual village show. A small number might say, if pushed, that they find her a little on the bossy side. And one or two might just whisper the words ‘interfering’ and ‘busybody’ behind her back.

But no-one would have her down as a murderer.

So why is she being questioned in Dreighton police station after being found in the local allotments, at the dead of night, wielding a kitchen knife just yards away from where local lottery winner, Yvonne Richards, was found stabbed to death? And what does all of this have to do with Doug Sparrow’s prize marrows?

Marrow Jam is a comedy crime caper in the spirit of Agatha Raisin. It will have you chuckling all the way through many a cup of tea.

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I want to thank Rachel at Rachel’s Random Resources for inviting me on this tour and providing me with a copy of Marrow Jam in exchange for an honest review.

Marrow Jam is a light hearted comic mystery with plenty of memorable, if not slightly mad, characters.

The story starts with Beattie being arrested trespassing on the local allotments. The police are convinced that they’ve got their woman after a body was discovered not far from where she was found. She takes them back through the events that lead to her arrest and tries to convince them of her innocence and find the killer in the process.

I loved the fact that the story was full of older characters and your typical granny types either.  Beattie is one of those characters that you’re not quite sure if you like her but she grows on you eventually. She’s very competitive, fastidious and doesn’t suffer fools but as the story unfolds you see why she is the way she is. I also had a soft spot for her best friend, poor put upon Phyllis, who just can’t say no to her friend.

The story was also set in 1999 and I enjoyed some of the nineties references which took me back to my childhood.

Overall I would say it felt more like a humorous story than a mystery but that’s just a minor thing.

Marrow Jam is a fun filled story that’s the perfect escape from these trying times.

About The Author:

Susan A King lives with her husband in a quiet suburb in Hampshire. Between them theyS A King 1 have four grown-up sons, all of whom have now flown the nest.

The inspiration for her first novel, Marrow Jam, came from her long experience and observation of competitors at the annual Romsey Show, where she regularly aspires to win Best in Show with her floral arrangements.

Marrow Jam, was shortlisted for the Write Here, Right Now novel competition, Bradford Literature Festival and is published by Eye/Lightning Books.

#AuthorInterview Fresh Eggs And Dog Beds by Nick Albert @Nickalbertautho @rararesources #BlogTour #Memoir

Hello lovelies! As part of the blog tour for Fresh Eggs and Dog Beds, I have a fab Q&A with the author Nick Albert but first a little about the book:

Fresh Eggs Kindle

Title: Fresh Eggs and Dog Beds by Nick Albert

Date Published: 25th September 2017

Genre: Memoir

Nick and Lesley Albert yearn to leave the noise, stress and pollution of modern Britain and move to the countryside, where the living is good, the air sweet, with space for their dogs to run free. Suddenly out of work and soon to be homeless, they set off in search of a new life in Ireland, a country they had never visited. As their adventure began to unfold, not everything went according to plan. If finding their dream house was difficult, buying it seemed almost impossible. How would they cope with banks that didn’t want customers, builders who didn’t need work, or the complex issue of where to buy some chickens?

Purchase Links –

Kindle: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B075NY9BNN/

Paperback: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1977611605

Audible: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1977611605

Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B075NY9BNN/

Paperback: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1977611605

Audible: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1977611605

Fresh Eggs and Dog Beds Full Tour Banner

Q&A with Nick Albert:

Can you tell me a little bit about your book?

‘Fresh Eggs and Dog Beds’ is the first in a five-book series of humorous memoirs chronicling our quirky lives since we gave up the stress and pollution of modern Britain and bought a derelict farmhouse in beautiful rural Ireland – a country we had never before visited. Hindered by a lack of experience and money, we combined our optimism and enthusiasm with a second-hand DIY manual and set about renovating our new home. Since then, we’ve rescued seven dogs and two cats, become reluctant chicken farmers and learned to live life at a slower pace. Along the way there were many thrills and spills, some sadness and tragedy, but overall our new life has brought us lots of laughs. We really are living the dream!

Where did the inspiration for your book come from?

As an Englishman living in Ireland, I’m frequently asked, “Why did you move here?” This happy event usually occurs at dinner parties, soon after I’ve cornered some unsuspecting stranger in the kitchen. Lacking what most people would consider appropriate social filters, I tended to treat that polite ice-breaking enquiry as a genuine expression of interest, requiring a comprehensive answer and perhaps a slideshow of photographs. After a few minutes, these poor unfortunates would either pretend to have a heart attack, or politely slip under my arm mumbling, “You should write a book.”

Okay, that’s not entirely correct! In truth, I was extremely lucky to find a publisher with vision and patience who loved my story. Even though they disliked the rambling manuscript I’d already written, they could see the potential for five or more memoirs and were prepared to work with me for a year while I wrote the first Fresh Eggs and Dog Beds book.

If you could describe your book in one sentence what would it be?

The comical tale of an English couple and their unruly dogs searching for a better life in rural Ireland.

What is a typical writing day like for you?

I like my routines and need to have a clear desk and a focused mind before I begin writing. Every morning after breakfast, I’ll take my dogs for a long walk through the forest or across the moorland surrounding our house. After some exercise and a shower, I’m usually ready to write by around 11am. Ideally, I’ll start my workday by catching up with emails, fan mail, social media and other marketing tasks. It’s amazing how much stuff authors have to do these days, outside of research and writing. On a good day, my desk is clear and I’m ready to write by around 2pm. I have a strict rule not to work beyond 6pm, except for when my wife is away in England visiting family. If I’m close to a print deadline and feeling the need for a little more writing time, I’ll announce a period of ‘Digital Detox’. It’s rather a false economy as there’s usually a bunch of catching up to do when I go back online, but sometimes the writing has to take priority.

If you could recommend just one book to read what would it be and why?

If I could only have one book, it would be the life story of British Air Force pilot Robert Stanford Tuck, ‘Fly for your life’ written by Larry Forrester. Not only is it a cracking tale of bravery during the Battle of Britain and whilst he was a prisoner of war, it’s a really well written memoir.

Who are your favourite authors?

Hmm. That’s a tough question to answer honestly.  My book collection is somewhat eclectic; I’m not sure what that says about me. As well as a library, I have dozens of stacked boxes bulging with hundreds of golf books, biographies featuring authors from all walks of life, loads of thrillers, some sci-fi and the complete works of Sue Grafton, Lee Child, Tom Holt, Terry Pratchett and William Shakespeare. I’m never without a book. One secret I can reveal, if I’m writing comedy, I’ll only read thrillers – and vice versa. When I was a student living in Norwich, England, my first flat was next door to the best second-hand bookshop in the city. What heaven! Back then I read a lot of sci-fi books and thrillers, purely for the escapism. Because I was from an Air Force family, I also collected hundreds of military biographies. Other favourites in my collection were Clive James, David Niven and Spike Milligan. These books were treasured possessions, I still have most of them now.

Tell me something interesting about yourself (that’s not in your author bio!)

At the age of 14, when I still had hair and before I acquired wrinkles, I worked as a professional actor on stage and TV. Before my dad convinced me I’d be better off with a proper job, I even did a little modelling!

What are you currently working on?

I’m well into writing book four of the Fresh Eggs and Dog Beds series. At the same time, I’m working with Andy Stevenson, who is doing an awesome job narrating the Audible audio version of book three.

About The Author:

Nick Albert was born in England and raised in a Royal Air Force family. After leaving College he worked in retail management for several years before moving into financial Fresh Eggs Author ireland 3 004services where he quickly progressed through the ranks to become a training consultant. As a very passionate and reasonably talented sportsman, Nick had always wanted to use his training skills towards creating a parallel career, so in the mid 1980’s he qualified and began coaching sport professionally. After a health scare in 2003 and in search of a simpler life, he and his wife Lesley, cashed in their investments, sold their home and bought a rundown farmhouse in the rural west of Ireland – a country they had never before even visited. With little money or experience and armed only with a do-it-yourself manual, they set about renovating their new home, where they now live happily alongside a flock of chickens, two ducks and several unruly, but delightful dogs.
In 2017 Nick was signed to Ant Press to write a series of humorous memoirs about his life in rural Ireland. Fresh Eggs and Dog Beds (book one) was published in September 2017 and soon became an Amazon bestseller. Book two in the series was published on 1st June 2018 and book 3 in August 2019. Book four is due out in early 2020.

Nick is also the author of the twisty thriller, Wrecking Crew, the first in a series of books featuring reluctant hero Eric Stone.

Social Media Links:

#BlogTour #Review It’s Not PMS It’s You by Rich Amooi @RichAmooi @rararesources

I want to thank Rachel at Rachel’s Random Resources for inviting me on this blog tour and providing me with a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review. A little bonus for you all today, I have a giveaway to win a $25 Amazon Gift Card (see bottom of this post)

Its Not PMSKindle

Title: It’s not PMS it’s you by Rich Amooi

Date Published: 31st October 2019

Genre: Romantic Comedy

Ruth “Ruthless” Harper is on the verge of becoming managing partner at her all-male consulting firm and she won’t let anything stand in her way. That includes men, relationships, and that dreaded F word, FEELINGS—distractions she eliminated long ago.

After the worst day ever (a near-death experience and a public wedgie, for starters), Ruth realizes she doesn’t want to live and die alone. She puts together a business plan to find the perfect man and dives head first into the murky online dating pool. All she wants is a high-powered executive who understands how important her career is. If only it were that easy.

Problem is most men are intimidated by Ruth’s confidence and shocked by her bluntness. The exception being her landscape designer, Nick, whose cool demeanor and unsolicited dating advice are driving her nuts. He’s the antithesis of the business-oriented man Ruth envisions for herself, so why do all signs keep pointing back to him?

You can buy your copy here:

Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07YQ7WZTJ

Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07YQ7WZTJ

Amazon Canada: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B07YQ7WZTJ

Amazon Australia: https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B07YQ7WZTJ

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/48402646-it-s-not-pms-it-s-you

Its Not PMS Its You Full Tour Banner

I read one of Rich Amooi books, There’s Something About A Cowboy, earlier this year and I just enjoyed it so much that when I saw the title for this one, I was just like ‘yes I must read that!’ After reading it’s not PMS it’s you, he is definitely one of my must read rom-com authors now.

Ruth is a workaholic who doesn’t care much about anything else but getting to the top and staying there. After a near death experience she decides she wants someone in her life. Her friend/assistant Dee helps her get back into the dating pool but why can’t she stop thinking about the handsome yet annoying gardener Nick?

It’s not PMS it’s you is full of dating disasters, lighthearted mayhem and plenty of aww moments that can’t help but make you smile even after you’ve finished it. After reading so much crime fiction it’s nice to read a book that is a little more light hearted.

What I liked about this story was the fact that our heroine is Ruth the workaholic, obsessed with her career, in my experience this is usually the male character who’s like this. Truthfully, at first I didn’t find Ruth all that likeable, a little bit up herself to be honest, but I warmed to her as the story went along.

It’s not PMS it’s you is a fun read that will give you all those warm fuzzy feelings that a good rom-com should!

About the Author:

Rich Amooi is a former radio personality and DJ who now writes romantic comedies full-rich amooi -author phototime in San Diego, California. He is happily married to a kiss monster imported from Spain. Rich believes in public displays of affection, silliness, infinite possibilities, donuts, gratitude, laughter, and happily ever after.

Social Media Links –

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/author.richamooi/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/RichAmooi

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/richamooi/

Author Website: https://richamooi.com/

Giveaway to Win a $25 Amazon Gift Card (Open INT)

*Terms and Conditions –Worldwide entries welcome.  Please enter using the Rafflecopter box below.  The winner will be selected at random via Rafflecopter from all valid entries and will be notified by Twitter and/or email. If no response is received within 7 days then Rachel’s Random Resources reserves the right to select an alternative winner. Open to all entrants aged 18 or over.  Any personal data given as part of the competition entry is used for this purpose only and will not be shared with third parties, with the exception of the winners’ information. This will passed to the giveaway organiser and used only for fulfilment of the prize, after which time Rachel’s Random Resources will delete the data.  I am not responsible for dispatch or delivery of the prize.

#BlogTour #Review Dead & Talking by Des Burkinshaw @DesBurkinshaw @rararesources #Giveaway

I’m very excited to be bring you my review of Dead & Talking by Des Burkinshaw along with a fab giveaway (see bottom of the post).

Dead & Talking Kindle sleeve FINAL DES

Title: Dead & Talking by Des Burkinshaw

Date Published: 10th March 2019

Genre: Mystery/Humour/Paranormal

If a ghost appeared from nowhere, rescued you from suicide and then ordered you to start solving crimes to help dead people, what would you do?

When it happens to Porter Norton, he just wants to put his head in his hands and have nothing to do with it. But now he has to atone for the family curse that has seen all the men die at their own hands for five generations.

The Gliss, the sarcastic spirit that rescues him, says he can now and see and hear the Dead – if he’s close to their remains. Porter has to use his unwelcome gift to clear up past injustices. Or else.

Forced to investigate the murder of a WW1 British Tommy executed for spying in 1917, he begins to suspect the case has links to his own family history. Along the way, Porter enlists the help of a bickering group of misfits, who struggle to stay involved – because only fools believe in the supernatural, don’t they?

Full of pop culture references, banter and twists, the story takes us from present-day London and Flanders to scenes from World War 1.

As Porter, The Gliss, and friends, get deeper into the explosive case, they discover their own lives and sanity are at stake. An evil from WW1 pursues them all.

Purchase Links:

US – https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07PLLNB4M

UK – https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07PLLNB4M

Porter Norton is at the end of his tether. He’s lost his girlfriend, he’s about to lose his job and career as a solicitor and the worst thing a girl died because of his mistake. Unable to take it any more he attempts suicide, only to be saved by a ghostly robot called The Gliss.

He tells him that he’s invoked an ancient curse which means he has to make up for the hurt that his family has caused over the years. First is investigating the death of a young soldier Max Cartwright but someone or something doesn’t want the truth coming out and will stop at nothing to make sure that doesn’t happen.

Dead & Talking is an absolute gem of a novel! It doesn’t specifically fit into any genre which I really enjoy when an author shakes it up a bit. There’s mystery, ghostly happenings, historical scenes and sarcasm by the bucket load.

I found each and everyone of the characters memorable from Porter’s strait laced solicitor Namita, to Porter’s new friend Feng, the sceptic ghost hunter even Porter’s very unlikeable sister Cherry. I also loved the back and forth between The Gliss and Porter, genuinely had me chuckling out loud.

There is also some good historical research in the book too, it really gets across grim realities of the first world war.

Also just a little warning, there are some complex and emotional issues discussed during the  book, like rape and suicide that some people may find upsetting.

There was one very minor character who really annoyed me and I felt that he was just put into the novel to be vile but of course that’s just my opinion.

Dead & Talking is a book packed with action, ghostly goings on that had me fascinated from beginning to end.

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About The Author:

Born in the middle of the Summer of Love on a pre-fab council estate in Luton, teenage bitterness and a chance viewing of the Watergate movie, All the President’s Men, made him vow to become a journalist and bring down the government. Dead and Talking - DES DARK

First he had to pay for his journalism course, so he became a civil servant. Literally the day he had enough for his fees, he packed it in.
Twelve years on from watching the film, he was a journalist at The Times and had a big hand in bringing down John Major’s government. News ambitions sated, he packed that in too.

Several years of working for Channel 4, ITV and the BBC as a senior producer saw him working across the world, but he eventually got fed up with asking bands how the new album was coming along, and packed it in.

He set up his own production company magnificent! in 2002 and simultaneously worked on the BBC Live Events team for another 10 years. But then six years of work on the Olympics came along, so he packed the BBC in. Again.

Des has jammed with many of his heroes from Paul McCartney to Brian Wilson, Queen to Nancy Sinatra. He has interviewed many A-listers, including David Bowie, Michael Caine, John Cleese and even Noam Chomsky.

He has directed/produced a fairly long list of people – Muse, Coldplay, Michael Jackson, Jay-Z, produced BBC3’s Glastonbury coverage for a couple of years, made films about leprosy in India, comedy shorts with Miranda Hart and Lenny Henry and played guitar for Chas and Dave at the Hackney Empire.

He has made 300+ short films for the Queen, MI5, the BBC, Sky, Discovery, EMI, the British Academy and dozens of authorities, charities and private sector firms. His most recent publication was a series of interviews with leading academics like Mary Beard on the state of the humanities which was published as a standalone magazine by the British Academy.

Fed up with travelling and determined to be a half-decent dad, he now works in London as often as he can. He runs the Young Directors Film School making movies with young people and is about to head up the Digital Film and Video MA at Tileyard. An avid musician and producer, he releases his third album as Romano Chorizo (he plays drums, bass, piano, guitar and really bad sax).

He hates to be pigeon-holed, thinks creativity is a learned state of mind and wishes they would teach people memory and learning techniques at school.

Dead & Talking is his first novel, the first in a series of Porter & The Gliss investigations.

Social Media Links –

facebook as Des Burkinshaw

Giveaway to Win 3 x Signed Copies of Dead & Talking (Open INT)

*Terms and Conditions –Worldwide entries welcome.  Please enter using the Rafflecopter box below.  The winner will be selected at random via Rafflecopter from all valid entries and will be notified by Twitter and/or email. If no response is received within 7 days then Rachel’s Random Resources reserves the right to select an alternative winner. Open to all entrants aged 18 or over.  Any personal data given as part of the competition entry is used for this purpose only and will not be shared with third parties, with the exception of the winners’ information. This will passed to the giveaway organiser and used only for fulfilment of the prize, after which time Rachel’s Random Resources will delete the data.  I am not responsible for despatch or delivery of the prize.

#BlogTour #Giveaway #Review Flying by the seat of my knickers by Eliza Watson @ElizasBooks @rararesources

Hi lovelies! Not only do I have a review today, I also have a fabulous giveaway which is open internationally (details at the bottom of this post) but first a bit about the book:

Flying by the Seat of my Knickers final USA title

Title: Flying by the seat of my knickers by Eliza Watson

Date Published: 20th February 2016

Genre: Humour/women’s fiction

Why run from your troubles when you can fly instead?

When Caity Shaw is fired from her first job that doesn’t require an elf uniform, her older sister, Rachel, an event planner, hires her to work a meeting in Dublin. Caity jumps at the opportunity to travel abroad and escape her pathetic life. However, even four thousand miles from home, there’s no avoiding debt collectors, an overbearing mother, and haunting memories of a controlling ex.

While in Dublin, Caity suffers a series of humiliating mishaps, causing her to lose even more faith in herself. Caity struggles to earn Rachel’s respect—and to keep Declan, her hot Irish coworker, at arm’s length. Declan repeatedly saves Caity’s butt and helps boost her self-confidence, making it difficult to keep her distance from the charming womanizer. When Declan helps her research her Irish grandmother, Caity discovers the mysterious past of the courageous woman she barely knew might hold the answers to her future.

Flying by the Seat of My Knickers will be Free worldwide for the duration of the blog tour on 21st April:

It’s available on all Amazon sites here’s US and UK:

US: https://www.amazon.com/Flying-Knickers-Travel-Mishaps-Caity-ebook/dp/B01C1YGTMA

UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Flying-Knickers-Travel-Mishaps-Caity-ebook/dp/B01C1YGTMA

KOBO: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/flying-by-the-seat-of-my-knickers

AppleBooks: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/flying-by-the-seat-of-my-knickers/id1309645540?mt=11

B & N: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/flying-by-the-seat-of-my-knickers-eliza-watson/1123454668?ean=2940157829667

Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Eliza_Watson_Flying_by_the_Seat_of_My_Knickers?id=piJ1DwAAQBAJ&hl=en

Flying By The Seat of my Knickers Full Tour Banner

I want to thank Rachel at Rachel’s Random Resources for inviting me on this blog tour.

I pick up this book awhile ago, because I just loved the title but unfortunately it’s been sitting on my kindle for a while now but like most things I haven’t got around to it until now.

Caity has just escaped from her controlling ex, in desperate need of money, she takes a job with her sister at her event planning business.

She jumps at the chance to go to Dublin for a week but when she gets there she gets into mishap after mishap.

Can Caity get her self confidence back and put her past behind her?

This is quite a short and fun read, which is set in Ireland, a place I’ve always wanted to visit. While at times it is light hearted, it also covers the serious topics of toxic relationships and emotional abuse.

Caity is flawed and slightly vulnerable character, who seems to have disaster after disaster. I did keep wishing something would go right for her but on the other hand I couldn’t help but giggle at some of the things that went wrong.

I have to be honest at time I felt it was hard to like Caity because she felt quite judgy towards other women yet she kind of falls at the feet of Declan when he gives her the slightest bit of encouragement…it just slightly irked me.

Overall flying by the seat of my knickers is quirky and entertaining read, perfect if you’re looking to escape from reality for a few hours.

About The Author:

Eliza Watson is a USA Today Bestselling Author. When Eliza isn’t traveling for her job as an Flying By the Seat of My Knickers - Eliza Watson's Author Picevent planner, or tracing her ancestry roots through Ireland, she’s at home working on her next novel, bouncing ideas off her husband, Mark, and her cats Frankie and Sammy. Learn more about Eliza’s books at elizawatson.com.

Social Media Links –

Win Irish wool blanket from Avoca Mills in Ireland. – Open Internationally:

Flying by the Seat of my Knickers - Giveaway Prize 400 x 400

Just click the link below to enter:

#BlogTour #GuestPost The Serial Dater’s Shopping List by Morgen Bailey @morgenwriteruk @BOTBSPublicity

Today I’m excited to bring you a guest post from Morgen Bailey but first a little about her book:

Title: The Serial Dater’s Shopping List by Morgen Bailey

Publisher: Bombshell Books

Date Published: 12th July 2018

Genre: Humour

Are you looking for the perfect summer holiday read? Then you’ll love this laugh-out-loud comedy about the highs and lows of dating.

Izzy is a journalist who usually writes a technology column for a local newspaper. Her somewhat-intimidating boss William sets her the task of dating thirty-one men, via an internet dating site, all within a month, and writing about it for the paper.

Having an active, though fruitless, social life with her friend Donna, Izzy knows what she wants in a man, so creates a shopping list of dos and don’ts and starts ticking them off as she meets the men.

Follow the ups and downs of the dating process including Tim ‘the Weeble’, whose date leads Izzy to see banoffee pie in a whole new light, Lawrence the super-skinny social worker, Felix with his bizarre penchant for Persian Piranhas, and ‘the music maestro but don’t talk about dead pets’ Jake.

By the end of the month, will Izzy have met Mr Right?

You can buy your copy here:

UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Serial-Daters-Shopping-List-comedy-ebook/dp/B07F8VRRYY/

US: https://www.amazon.com/Serial-Daters-Shopping-List-comedy-ebook/dp/B07F8VRRYY/

Guest Post:

The Reluctant Serial Novelist:

I’d never planned to be a novelist as I loved short stories so much (and still do – I’ve written over 400). I’d heard the average novel takes a year and didn’t want to spend that long on one story but then I discovered NaNoWriMo (www.nanowrimo.org), the yearly 50,000+ words in a month project. I ‘had a go’ in November 2008, with a comic crime, which ended up being just over the minimum and I self-published as Hitman Sam.

After writing another standalone, After Jessica, inspired by a true event, it was then late October 2009 and another NaNo was looming so I needed to come up with something to write next. I had a Word document crammed with ideas, amongst which was a variety of ‘weird’ men. After two crime novels, I wanted to write something fun so created Izzy to meet this assemblage, and The Serial Dater’s Shopping List was born. It ended up being a 115,640-word first draft, written with three days to spare! I took over a year to edit (and re-edit) it down to just over 100,000 words while continuing to write short stories.

In November 2018 and half of January this year, I wrote the first draft of the follow-up, The Serial Dieter’s Shopping List, which has Izzy’s sidekick, health and beauty columnist, Donna set with the task of eating thirty-one under-five-hundred-calorie dishes in thirty-one days, a year on… the following May. As if that wasn’t complicated enough, she’s sent to the sister newspaper at Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, not far from where I grew up so semi-familiar territory. She works there during the week but stays with her wacky mother, Lesley, in nearby Tring, where my mum lives.

They say to write what you know and while my knowledge influences my writing, I haven’t dated thirty-one men in thirty-one days… despite my brother calling Serial Dater my autobiography. I also haven’t tested that many ‘healthy’ dishes, even as a member of Weight Watchers and Slimming World – not at the same time!

One upside of writing a series is that you already have a bank of familiar characters – familiar to you and to the reader… so they have to be consistent. Series are so popular because most readers (and authors) feel bereft at the end of a novel they’ve enjoyed and want more. Izzy still features in Serial Dieter but Donna and her boyfriend (I won’t say who he is but they get together in Serial Dater) are the main characters so get more airtime although Donna more so because they’re apart during the week.

One downside is that once your first book is published (Serial Dater is published by Bombshell Books), the details are then set in the proverbial stone so if you want to change anyone’s name, a location or other key feature, you’d have to change it in the first book. There was no way with all the office staff, Izzy’s family and her dates, that I wasn’t going to repeat the first letter of some of the names used – it’s how readers remember names best – and in the Serial Daters case I’d like to have changed a couple of the names as they do appear in the second but not in the same scenes so I’m hoping there’ll be no confusion.

I do plan others in the series – the next two being crime rather than women’s fiction, although the lead characters may be women, one certainly can be, but Izzy and Donna will have a rest while I create a whole new set of characters and thus have more freedom, albeit staying within the same ‘Shopping List’ concept. Watch this space!

Morgen’s website is http://morgenbailey.wordpress.com and email is morgen@morgenbailey.com. She is morgenwriteruk on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook where she also runs a free mentoring group on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/groups/morgensmondaymentorship. She’s happy to hear from anyone interested in writing and / or reading. Morgen makes a point of the ‘Morgen with an E’ because MorgAn Baileys include a rocket scientist (female) and male: athlete, Green politician, basketball player, and transsexual porn star!

Author Bio:

Morgen Bailey (Morgen with an E) is an author (of novels, short stories, writing and editing 2 Morgen July 2017guides), freelance editor (for publishers and indie authors), writing tutor (in person and online), Writers’ Forum magazine ‘Competitive Edge’ columnist, blogger, speaker, and co-founder of Northants Authors. The former Chair of three writing groups, she has judged the H.E. Bates Short Story Competition, RONE, as well as the BBC Radio 2, BeaconLit, and Althorp Literary Festival children’s short story competitions. She also runs her own monthly 100-word competition. 2018 events include talks and workshops at Troubador’s Self Publishing Conference speakers, workshops and panels at Delapre Book Festival, interviewing and workshops at BeaconLit, and NAWG Fest with her ‘Editing your Fiction’ weekend residential course. Morgen can be found on Twitter, Facebook, and many others. Her blog is http://morgenbailey.wordpress.com, and email address morgen@morgenbailey.com.

#Review What Happens In France by Carol Wyer @carolewyer @canelo_co #NetGalley

Title: What Happens in France by Carol Wyer

Publisher: Canelo

Date Published: 28th January 2019

Genre: Romantic Comedy

She stood and took her place in front of the camera… It was now or never”

Bryony Masters has been looking for her long-lost sister, Hannah, for years, but when their father has a stroke her search takes on new urgency. So when primetime game show, What Happens in France, puts a call-out for new contestants, Bryony spots the ultimate public platform to find her reality TV-obsessed sister, and finally reunite their family.

With the help of handsome teammate Lewis, it’s not long before she’s on a private jet heading for the stunning beauty of rural France. With a social media star dog, a high maintenance quiz host and a cast of truly unique characters, Bryony and Lewis have their work cut out for them to stay on the show and in the public eye.

Yet as the audience grows and the grand prize beckons they find that the search that brought them together may just fulfil more than one heart’s wish…

This heartwarming romantic comedy of friendship, family and laugh-out-loud adventures is perfect for fans of Kirsty Greenwood, Colleen Coleman and Marian Keyes.

Bryony Masters is desperate to find her older sister Hannah, who ran away at the age of sixteen, as her dad is seriously ill and doesn’t know how long he has left.

In a last ditch attempt to find her she auditions for a mysterious new game show What happens in…

Getting on the show is just the first step, she must try and win as many challenges as she can talk about the search for her sister. Can she do it with the help of her gorgeous teammate Lewis? Will she find her sister?

So this is actually my first Carol Wyer book. She’s been on my radar for a while now, I’ve been dying to read one of her books but like with a lot of authors I just haven’t had the time until now.

What happens in France is one of those stories that can make you laugh one minute, then tear up the next.

Bryony has had a tough old time of it. Bullied for a rare condition that made her lose control of her body, then almost dying in a car accident leaving her scarred and to top that off her beloved sister ran away which she blames herself for. I felt very sorry for her but she hasn’t let those hardships hold her back and has managed to go university, then has had a successful career as an English teacher.

There’s also some fabulous secondary characters, each one unique and memorable. There’s the dashing Lewis, her level headed best friend Melinda who encourages Bryony to come out of her shell and the pompous and frankly annoying Professor Potts.

There were a couple of issues, I felt like it took a little long to actually get to the game show part, which was my favourite bit of the novel. Also some of the conversations felt a little like info dumps and seemed a bit stilted and unnatural but of course that’s just my opinion.

Overall What happens in France is an uplifting and fun read that will take you on an emotional rollercoaster right until the very end.

I received an ARC copy of What happens in France via NetGalley, all opinions expressed in this review are my own.

About The Author:

Carol Wyer, who also writes as Carol E. Wyer, is an award-winning author and stand upimage1 (1) comedian who writes feel-good comedies and gripping thrillers.

Her book, Grumpy Old Menopause won The People’s Book Prize Award for non-fiction 2015.

Carol moved to the ‘dark side’ in 2017 with the DI Robyn Carter series, starting with best-seller LITTLE GIRL LOST the #2 best-selling book on Amazon, #9 best-selling audiobook on Audible and was in the USA Today Top 150.

The Robyn Carter series has sold over 400,000 copies and foreign rights have been sold into 9 countries, earning her acclaim as a crime writer.

Following the success of THE BIRTHDAY and LAST LULLABY, 2019 sees the release of three more DI Natalie Ward books and two new romantic comedies, the first, the much anticipated WHAT HAPPENS IN FRANCE.

Carol has been interviewed on numerous radio shows discussing ”Irritable Male Syndrome’ and ‘Ageing Disgracefully’ and on BBC Breakfast television. She has had articles published in national magazines ‘Woman’s Weekly’ featured in ‘Take A Break’, ‘Choice’, ‘Yours’ and ‘Woman’s Own’ magazines and the Huffington Post.

To learn more about Carol, go to http://www.carolwyer.co.uk or follow Carol on Twitter: @carolewyer.

Carol also blogs at http://www.carolwyer.com

#BlogTour #Review A Heart In The Right Place by Heide Goody and Iain Grant @HeideGoody @IainMGrant @rararesources

Today I have review of A Heart In The Right Place and a giveaway to win a Moleskine Passion Traveller’s Journal (see bottom of post) but first a bit about the book:

a heart kindle cover

Title: A Heart In The Right Place by Heide Goody and Iain Grant

Publisher: Pigeon Park Press

Date Published: 30th November 2018

Genre: Horror/Black Comedy

All Nick wants to do is take his dying father for a perfect father-son weekend in the Scottish Highlands. It’s not much to ask, is it? A log cabin, a roaring fire, a bottle of fine whisky and two days to paper over the cracks in their relationship.

However, Nick didn’t plan on making the trip with a dead neighbour in the back of his car. Or the neighbour’s dog. He really didn’t plan on being pursued by a psychotic female assassin intent on collecting body parts. And he really, really didn’t plan on encountering a platoon of heavily armed mercenaries, or some very hungry boars, or a werewolf.

A Heart in the Right Place – a horror comedy about setting out with the very best intentions and then messing everything up.

You Can Buy Your Copy Here:

This is one of the most unusual books I’ve read for a long time!

Nick wants his weekend in Scotland with his father to be perfect, after all it could be his last but a missed parcel leads to a case of mistaken identity and a crazy killer on his tail.

Nick is a lovable and slightly dopey character, who trying to do the right thing always ends up messing up. There is some good back and forth between him and his dad Tony, a solid and straight laced person, almost the opposite of his son.

On the other hand we have Finn. A psychopathic assassin who’s enjoys torture a little too much and is a bit offensive. She may not be all that likeable but I couldn’t help being fascinated by her.

Now the storyline is a little out there but personally I didn’t mind that. What I did mind was the use of Liverpudlian stereotypes which I haven’t heard since I was a child,.i.e. leaving your car for too long and it’ll end up on bricks *rolls eyes*

I will also warn you there’s a few gruesome and uncomfortable scenes that may not be suitable if you have a bit of a sensitive stomach.

Heart In The Right Place is a quirky read full of black humour and off-the-wall characters.

a heart in the right place full tour banner

Author Bio:

Heide Goody is the stupid one in the writing partnership and Iain Grant is the sensible one. Together, they are the authors of over a dozen books.a heart -iain and heide by pete c b+w

The Clovenhoof’ series (in which Satan loses his job and has to move to Birmingham) has recently been optioned by a Hollywood production company.

Heide and Iain are both married, but not to each other.

Social Media Links:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Clovenhoof-Books-285544508177333/

Website: http://www.pigeonparkpress.com/

Twitter: @HeideGoody and @IainMGrant

Giveaway – Win a gorgeous Moleskine Passion Traveller’s Journal (Open Internationally)

a heart - giveaway prize - moleskin travel journal

“The Moleskine Traveller’s Journal is a structured before and after record of every journey you make, from weekends away to life-changing trips and everything in between. Note down your travel plans before you leave and list all the things you hope to see and do, then add maps, photos, tickets and keepsakes when you return. The Traveller’s Journal is a place to dream, get practical and create a unique and lasting paper archive of your travels that you’ll want to revisit again and again.

  • premium box with themed graphics related to your passion
  • hard cover with themed debossing, rounded corners, elastic closure
  • 2 ribbon bookmarks
  • double expandable inner pocket
  • front endpaper with ‘in case of loss’ notice
  • ivory-coloured 70 g/m² acid-free paper
  • tabbed sections to guide your note-taking
  • themed introductory pages
  • 400 pages
  • themed stickers to customize your journal
  • Moleskine S.r.l. creates and sells FSC®-certified products

*Terms and Conditions –Worldwide entries welcome.  Please enter using the Rafflecopter box below.  The winner will be selected at random via Rafflecopter from all valid entries and will be notified by Twitter and/or email. If no response is received within 7 days then Rachel’s Random Resources reserves the right to select an alternative winner. Open to all entrants aged 18 or over.  Any personal data given as part of the competition entry is used for this purpose only and will not be shared with third parties, with the exception of the winners’ information. This will passed to the giveaway organiser and used only for fulfilment of the prize, after which time Rachel’s Random Resources will delete the data.  I am not responsible for despatch or delivery of the prize.

#BlogTour #Review The Adorable Fat Girl and The Mysterious Invitation by Bernice Bloom @rararesources @Bernice1Bloom

Cover (7)

Title: The Adorable Fat Girl and The Mysterious Invitation by Bernice Bloom.

Date Published: 12th November 2018

Genre: Humour

Mary Brown receives an invitation to a funeral. But she has absolutely no idea who the deceased is. She’s told that he invited her on his deathbed, and he’s very keen for her to attend, so she heads off to a dilapidated old farm house in a remote part of Wales. When she gets there she discovers that only five other people have been invited to the funeral. None of them knows who he is either.

Then they are told that they have 20 hours to work out why they have been invited in order to inherit a million pounds.

Who is this guy and why are they there? And what of the ghostly goings on in the ancient old building?

Featuring Mary Brown, star of the Adorable Fat Girl series of books, in her greatest adventure yet.

This is BOOK NINE in the series, but can be enjoyed as a stand-alone book or as part of the series.

You Can Buy Your Copy Here:

UK – https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07KFSL7VX

US – https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07KFSL7VX

So this is actually the ninth in the series which frankly I had no idea when I was reading it! I can say hand on my heart it works really well as a standalone.

Mary Brown is sent an invitation to a funeral for Reginald Charters, only problem, she has no idea who the man is!

Unable to pass up an adventure, she sets out to Wales and meets six other people who also have no clue why they’ve been invited either. They are each given clues as to why they’re there, but how do the events from the past have anything to do with them?

I absolutely devoured this novel!

This was a humorous and entertaining read and really not what I was expecting, in a good way! I kind of didn’t read the blurb properly and I was expecting a cosy mystery, which don’t get me wrong, there is an element of mystery but it’s more focussed on the unconventional cast of characters. It also has dual timelines, one going all the way back to 1943, the other now which is a difficult thing to pull off but this book certainly does!

I love a book that teaches me something! The historical aspect of the story is really strong and I did not know that during the war Italian prisoners of war were sent to Wales to help the farmers.

I liked the theme running through the book of be kind to strangers because you never know what might happen, I think it’s something we forget sometimes in this day and age.

Mary is such a fun and feisty character that I really warmed to. She’s surrounded by a real mix of characters too which she plays off nicely.

My only issue was the fact it was a little short!

The Adorable Fat Girl and The Mysterious Invitation is fun and entertaining that mixes a bit of mystery with historic events to make a really compelling read.

Also according to the little author’s note at the back of the book there’s going to be a follow up to this book, I can’t wait!

Adorable Fat Girl and the Mysterious Invitation Full Tour Banner

About The Author –

My name is Bernice Bloom and I write funny novels about a crazy lady called Mary Brown in my ‘Adorable Fat Girl’ series.

Mary is funny, gorgeous and bonkers. She’s also about six stone overweight. When she realises she can’t cross her legs and has trouble bending over to tie her shoelaces without wheezing like an elderly chain-smoker it’s time to take action. But what action? She’s tried every diet under the sun.

This series is the hysterical story of what happens when Mary joins ‘Fat Club’ where she meets a cast of funny characters and one particular man who catches her eye.
The series follows Mary as she goes on safari, on a cruise, to a weekend yoga retreat and on an incredible adventure when she receives a mysterious invitation to a funeral.

The stories are laugh-out-loud funny and will resonate with anyone who has dieted, tried to keep up with any sort of exercise programme or spent 10 minutes in a changing room trying to extricate herself from a way too-small garment that she ambitiously tried on and is now completely stuck in. xx

My website is: www.bernicebloom.com

Social Media Links –

#BlogTour #GuestPost Almost An Author by Susan Tarr.

Today I have a guest post by Susan Tarr all about character but first a little bit about the book:

Title: Almost An Author by Susan Tarr

Publisher: Junction Publishing

Date Published: 18th September 2018

Genre: Romantic Comedy

When a chance meeting with a local publisher outside a small bookshop results in all three of her manuscripts being signed, Ruby Wright thinks she has it made. Already she sees images of herself wearing dark glasses, being mobbed by fans clamouring for her latest blockbuster…

Little does Ruby know, but her ditsy publisher is a charlatan who has no more idea about publishing than Ruby does. Pretty soon Ruby is broke.
She has no IT experience so depends heavily on her nerdy flatmate, Hunter, whenever her computer fails her. He has enough of his own issues to deal with—he is studying for his final law exams. She bribes him with a dog she found on the side of the road, then Panforte, which chips his tooth, and a couple of Axolotls until he finally gives in and helps her. But Ruby’s life is filled with disaster…

What follows is excitement, disappointment, heartache, love and loss as we follow Ruby’s hilarious struggles to maintain her trust and focus in the ever-shifting publishing industry and in people in general.

Guest Post – About The Character:

Ruby Wright:

In part, or in main, Ruby is me. Her name is a family name and why would she not be a writer with a name like Ruby Wright? Most of my main book characters are me, at a much younger age, of course, or my daughter, who is just the right mix of age and personality. Who else could they be if I want to get into their hearts and minds, and show how they really think and operate? Of course, there are parts of Ruby I am not altogether thrilled with, but we all have flaws. Ruby has hers.

I wrote her story from a series of diaries, and added an element of fiction to make it worth reading. Other authors have also contributed their stories, so basically it is the journey of many young or naive writers out there who just want to give it their all.

And life is not always about landing on our feet. No, it’s not. But with the right friends around you, you can do anything you set your heart to.

Ruby did.

Follow the rest of the blog tour here:

BLOG TOUR Banner - Almost an Author

About The Author:

Susan Tarr has been writing for 25 years, drawing on her international travels, work within the NZ tourism industry, and her work in various psychiatric hospitals within New Zealand.Author photo (3)

She lived in Kenya, East Africa, for some years where she began her family.
Although she writes from personal experience, she also uses anecdotal information from conversations and other peoples’ stories, resulting in her characters taking on a life of their own and becoming larger than life. She enjoys a wide variety of personalities.

Susan says, “As I write their stories, my characters will often lead me to places I couldn’t imagine. So I relax and let them form as they will. I am passionate about my writing and I usually have three books on the go at any one time.”


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Short-term loans come in various shapes and sizes. When a payday loan or an installment loan is not the right fit, some borrowers will turn to Hagerstown car title loans. The key difference with this type of financing is that the borrower signs their car over to the lender during the life of the loan. They then receive financing as high as 50% of the value of their car.

The borrower gets his title back as soon as the loan is paid. In some cases, the borrower is able to pay back the loan in advance, which can help them save on interest.

There are some areas where you are not able to get a title loan. Those who need one can check and see if it is an choice in their area.

Favorite Hagerstown, MD, Cash Advance and Payday Loan Companies

Company name
Cash & Go
1748 Dual Hwy Hagerstown MD, 21740
Cash & Go Check Cashing
1748 Dual Highway Hagerstown MD, 21740
Hagerstown Hagerstown MD, 21740
12907 Oak Hill Avenue Hagerstown MD, 21742


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Strong Mental Health Linked to Academic Success

Posted by on Mar 9, 2020 in Mental health | No Comments

Strong Mental Health Linked to Academic Success

Depression impacts college students

Throughout the United States, college students are experiencing different mental health issues. For example, college students have confessed that depression severely impacts their academic success, according to a 2011 study by the American College Health Association– National

College Health Assessment. These individuals noted, “feeling so depressed that it was difficult to function” at some time during two years. Another study at The University of Michigan found that depression was linked to lower GPAs and (in some cases) dropping out of college. These studies suggest that depression, which can be a severe mental health condition, can significantly impact academic performance to the point where people are abandoning higher education. As a result, it’s crucial to find and implement ways for college students to protect their mental health.

How symptoms of depression affect academic performance

There are specific symptoms of depression that can impact a student’s ability to perform in college. They are:

  • Difficulty focusing
  • Sleep disturbance
  • Feelings of hopelessness

Students need to attend classes and be able to focus on their work. When you’re depressed, your ability to concentrate declines, and you can’t focus for long periods. If you’re taking care of your mental health and going to therapy, focus improves, and your grades will improve. Another symptom of depression is lethargy, sleeping too little, or too much. If you’re having trouble sleeping, you may oversleep and miss class.

Depression can also make a person feel hopeless. A student who is depressed may question why they’re in school, or if there’s any reason to continue. They do not see hope in anything, including their academic life. If they went to see a counselor or therapist, they could talk about their loss of hope and learn coping skills for depression. That’s why it’s crucial to address your mental health issues in therapy.

Strong mental health helps students succeed

Some students live with chronic mental illnesses; however, these conditions don’t have to impact their academic success if they receive proper treatment. In the past decade, we have seen an increase in college students seeking help for their mental health. Between the years 2009 and 2015, there was an average of a 30% increase in college students seeking counseling services. according to a 2015 report from the Center for Collegiate Mental Health. Students who are seeking these services are performing better in school because they are taking care of their mental health. This study gives us hope that college students are seeking the help they need to get mental health support.

How online therapy can help

Sometimes, depending on the services available at a college, there are long waits to see a counselor. A student may be fearful of going to a mental health professional on campus. That’s where online therapy can help. If you’re in school and struggling with mental health, you could consider using a company like BetterHelp to get quality mental health treatment. Whether you work with an online counselor or someone in your local area, it’s crucial when you’re in college to prioritize your mental health. Your academic success will be greater if you put your wellness as a priority.

Marie Miguel has been a writing and research expert for nearly a decade, covering a variety of health-related topics. Currently, she is contributing to the expansion and growth of a free online mental health resource with With an interest and dedication to addressing stigmas associated with mental health, she continues to specifically target subjects related to anxiety and depression.

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