Laura Kaye's Blog, page 71
April 2, 2012
Welcome Guest Author Arianna Skye! #Erotic #Faeries #Fey

Welcome, Arianna! Please share a little about yourself, your genres, any other pen names you use.
As Arianna Skye, I write light and humorous fantasy erotic romance. I also write contemporary paranormal as Sidney Ayers. I plan on expanding into other genres eventually. I'd like to write a historical one of these days.

Wings of Desire is the first book in the Fey Chronicles series of fantasy erotic romances. Here's a short blurb:
Rhiannon Kinsley's ready to call the men in white coats when an intriguingly sexy man appears and insists she's a faerie princess. Cerne Silverwing has a duty to save his kingdom. He needs Rhiannon to be his consort and help defeat the Dark Faerie Queen. Will these two discover that their true destiny lies together?
Sounds great! Which character is your favorite and why?
It would have to be Rhiannon, the heroine. She's feisty and has a sarcastic streak. However, when she sees how much the White Faeries need her, she's willing to fight for them.
I love a strong heroine! So, as the author, what surprised you about this story?
Before I wrote this book, I was afraid to write sex scenes. I think I'd only written one beforehand. I was surprised how easy those scenes can be when you put your imagination to work.
LOL So true! Will there be any sequels or other books in the same series?
So far, there are three more books planned for The Fey Chronicles series.
That's great! I love series! What was the hardest thing for you about writing this story?
I am a long winded writer, so the hardest thing was editing. The original book was around 116K. Even now, it's near a whopping 111K.
Wow! What are you working on right now?
I am working on the third book in the Demons Unleashed series written under my other pen name, Sidney Ayers.
Two series at once! Go girl! What happened to the first book you ever wrote?
Sadly, I think I threw it away.
Oh noes! LOL What do you find easiest and hardest to write?
I find that dialogue is easy for me to write. As I mentioned before, I find that sex scenes can be the most difficult. It's hard not to sound cliché when describing certain details.
That's true! Have you incorporated actual events or people from your own life into your books?
Not deliberately, but some events and people do inspire certain aspects.
Is there a theme or message that runs through your work?
Oddly enough, every book I've written has some sort of family element. That doesn't really surprise me, though. I come from a very close-knit family.
What would your readers be surprised to learn about you?
I'm kind of shy to start out with, but after I get familiar with people, you can't get me to shut up.
Love it! Which romance book or series (or other genre, if you don't write romance) do you wish you had written?
That's a tough question. I don't think I've ever wished I wrote a certain book. I wish I had started writing paranormal sooner though, since that's the genre that I seem to thrive in.
Of all the characters you've ever written, who is your favorite and why?
Kalli Corapolous, the heroine in A Demon To Die For (Demons Unleashed 3). She's been alive since ancient Greek times. She has a wild streak that I absolutely adore.
Okay, now, just for fun!
Milk chocolate or dark chocolate? Dark chocolate. It's so yummy, and good for your heart too!
Salty or sweet? I like to mix them up.
Bed or kitchen table? Wherever the moment takes me.
Beach or mountains? I have always enjoyed a good basking in the sun, so it's a beach for me.
Give or receive? I am a naturally giving person. :)
Thanks for coming on the blog, Arianna! Hey guys, leave Arianna some comment love! And thanks for reading!Not your (grand)mother's fairytale...
Rhiannon Kinsley's life goes from boring to downright crazy when a freak lightning bolt strikes her laptop. To make matters even more bizarre, strange words and symbols flash across the computer screen and she hears a mysterious voice. Time to call the men in white coats! Then Cerne Silverwing, an intriguingly sexy man, appears. He insists she's a faerie princess whose fate will determine his own. What a crock! Now she knows who really needs those white coats.
With the Dark Faerie forces threatening their kingdom, Cerne kidnaps Rhiannon and brings her to Fey, a land where magic knows no bounds. He's performing a duty to save his kingdom and nothing more--a duty that will bring him his wings and the strengthened magic that comes with them. If he doesn't unite with the princess as her consort, those wings will never grow. But this princess grew up in the land of laptops and instant messages, and she's convinced they're both crazy. Despite their differences, the two are thrust together to defeat the whip-wielding Dark Faerie Queen before she takes over their kingdom. Passion and peril aside, will Rhiannon and Cerne discover their true destiny?
Laura
Published on April 02, 2012 00:00
March 31, 2012
#SixSunday #51 Meet Vampire Warrior King Nikolai Vasilyev


Nikolai Vasilyev was right in the middle of the shit, and it was exactly where he wanted to be. Shots erupted from two positions ahead of him and ricocheted off the abandoned cinder-block streetscape he'd been patrolling. Ducking into an alley, he felt a telltale whiz of air buzzing his ear and went flat against the concrete wall of the old factory. Inhaling the frigid, early winter night air, Nikolai's hackles rose and his fangs stretched out. His enemies were close enough he could feel their evil. He wanted trouble, and he found it.Pre-Order on Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Be sure to check out the Other Sixers' Posts and follow the #sixsunday hashtag on Twitter. Thanks for reading and, hopefully, commenting!
Laura
Published on March 31, 2012 21:01
March 27, 2012
New Cover Love for Seduced by the Vampire King!
Hi everyone! Very excited to share my shiny new cover and blurb for Book 2 in my Vampire Warrior Kings series, Seduced by the Vampire King.
Here's the blurb:
Pre-Order on Amazon | Barnes & Noble
I'm so excited about this story, and I hope you will be, too! Now, we just all have to wait until June 1st... LOL
And if you haven't read Book 1, In the Service of the King [Amazon | Barnes & Noble], what are you waiting for??? *winks*
Thanks for reading!
Laura
Here's the blurb:
American exchange student Kate Bordessa has fled to Russia to escape her family's hopes that she'll become one of the Proffered, human women who feed and mate with elite vampire warriors. But when she stumbles upon a wounded vampire in the streets of Moscow, she's instinctively driven to protect him--and feels an undeniable spark of desire.And the cover:
Grieving over the deaths of his brothers, Vampire Warrior King Nikolai Vasilyev has thrown himself into battling his enemies, focused only on vengeance. Until the attack that brought him to Kate. Their sexual attraction explodes into a night of uncontrolled passion--a night that marks them as mates. Is their connection strong enough to convince them to embrace a destiny neither of them was expecting?


And if you haven't read Book 1, In the Service of the King [Amazon | Barnes & Noble], what are you waiting for??? *winks*
Thanks for reading!
Laura
Published on March 27, 2012 10:00
March 24, 2012
#SixSunday #50 A Scene from a #Vampire Mating Ceremony

It's been an exciting couple weeks for this book, which has become the bestselling Nocturne Craving and got all the way up to the #124 bestselling book on all of Barnes & Noble! I hope you'll check it out! Book 2 in the series, Seduced by the Vampire King, releases June 1!Shayla gasped as her gaze trailed down to the golden skin of his chest, painted with red markings, and exhaled a needy moan she couldn't restrain. "My lord?" she whimpered, completely overwhelmed by his scent. It was him, only magnified by a million, and she shook and panted, on the verge of begging for…she didn't know.
"What do you want to do, Shayla? What urge are you fighting? Give in to it."
Be sure to check out the Other Sixers' Posts and follow the #sixsunday hashtag on Twitter!
Thanks for reading and, hopefully, commenting, too!
Laura
Published on March 24, 2012 21:01
March 19, 2012
#HeartsinDarkness is the EPIC 2012 Best Novella! + Announcement!
For the Small Press Treasures Blog Hop Giveaway, click here!Well, I've got great news and a fun announcement!
First, the good news! HEARTS IN DARKNESS won the EPIC eBook Award for Best Novella of 2012!!!EPIC stands for The Electronic Publishing Industry Coalition, and their eBook awards are the biggest ebook awards each year! The novella category was the category with the most finalists, so I was incredibly honored to win! And, I'll admit, I burst out into tears when I learned! LOL

Second, today is the 11-month publication anniversary of HEARTS IN DARKNESS, which means next month is the book's one-year anniversary. And that means MEGA ANNIVERSARY CONTEST!April 20, 2012 I'm going to be offering a totally awesome Basket of Hearts with all kinds of goodies, plus some other special book swag items. So mark your calendars and be ready for the big event!
Thanks so much for stopping by and reading!
Laura
Published on March 19, 2012 21:01
Welcome Guest Author P.J. O'Dwyer! #RomanticSuspense #Horses
For the Small Press Treasures Blog Hop Giveaway, click here!

See below for her giveaway!Welcome, P.J.! Please share a little about yourself, your genre, and any other pen names you use.
Laura, it's so wonderful to be here with you today! I write romantic suspense as P.J. O'Dwyer and have loved reading romance ever since my mother gave me my first historical as a teenager. Back then, the voice that said "you should write" was ignored, unfortunately. Instead, I opted to travel the world as a travel counselor. But the yearning to put words to paper resurfaced years later.
My choice of genre was a given after I met and married my husband. It seems his dreams and aspirations had always been focused on law enforcement. Twenty-five years later, married to a state trooper, it was hard to avoid hearing about the day-to-day police work he was involved in (very exciting stuff), not to mention the camaraderie and hilarious stories, especially the interactions cops have with each other. So it was inevitable I would combine both of our passions: romance and murder. (Not that murder is his passion, only solving them.) It also helps to have a go-to guy (my husband) to assist me on the law enforcement side.

This is a very exciting time for me. My debut novel Relentless As an author, what surprised you about this story?
Well . . . I'd have to say, as in every story, it's the characters themselves. It's interesting, but as a writer you find the characters take on a life of their own, most times they dictate what's going to happen next, and sometimes they even surprise me.
That's so true! What would readers be surprised to know about you?
This is embarrassing. I don't count sheep when I'm trying to fall asleep at night. I make up stories—all with hot to-die-for guys and strong-willed, feisty women who give their men a workout in and out of the sheets.
It's quite entertaining and has the desired effect—I fall asleep. Only frustrating. When I wake up, I never know the ending.
LOL That's awesome! What was the hardest thing for you about writing this story?
On a serious note, Relentless centers round a very controversial topic—horse slaughter. As a writer, there is a lot of research involved in any story, and this one was no exception. But I owed it to every horse rescuer and animal advocate to get it right.
The hardest part for me was watching the barbaric slaughter of healthy, intelligent, majestic horses on YouTube and interviewing horse rescuers. They made me cry with their loss, and laugh at their wit and the lengths they will go, especially, to outsmart their nemesis "the kill buyer."
OMG! I admire you for this so much. The heroine in my third Anemoi book runs a horse farm with mostly rescue horses, and the research that led me to that characterization was similar. Good for you for tackling that storyline! So, what are you working on right now?
The second book in the series Defiant, which is Kate's story, will be released in September. Gorgeous as she is idealistic, she wants more than just horse pastures. Only she gets more than she bargains for with the man who charmed her, because now he controls her.
But she's a Fallon and resourceful. She'll find a way to escape multi-millionaire husband Jack Reynolds, even if he is the U.S. Attorney for Maryland.
Currently, I'm working on the third and final book of the series Forsaken. Dani is the sister neither Bren nor Kate know about, yet. That is until the beautiful Irish barmaid Dani Flynn finds her homeland just a spec on the horizon behind her and open seas dead ahead.
She's poised to change everything Bren and Kate believe to be true. And they're not the only ones.
There was no way I couldn't write a book about Bren's best friend Kevin Bendix. More like the brother Bren never had, eventually, they would become family—even if it was by law.
I loved writing Kevin. Maybe it's because I have one just like him at home. It was fun to ruffle this guy's serious exterior.
Here's a sneak peek into the life and times of Mr. Law-and-Order:
Sheriff Kevin Bendix's life is orderly and free of complications. That's the way he likes it. But that's all about to change with one gorgeous, blue-eyed brunette who can't prove she's in the U.S. legally. It's his job to have her deported. Only his attraction to Dani Flynn is clouding his judgment. She isn't your average law breaker. All of about five foot two with a face of an angel and a body of a sinner, she will be his undoing. It's not only his heart she'll steal. Loving this woman could cost them both their lives.
Oh, very intriguing! What a great premise for a series! Whose head do you like being in the most when you're writing, the heroine or the hero?
I enjoy the heroine. I get to live out my hopes and my dreams with her. But I find the hero is the most fun.
Let's face it, when do you get to be in your man's head? Well . . . you hope he's always thinking of you. But to know those intimate thoughts they don't normally share is a rush.
I love writing heroes, too. So . . . you're debut novel is about horses. Why horses?
I fell into that by accident, or so I originally thought. I love animals. But writing suspense something bad has to happen. And with Bren it had to be about the horses. I wanted my reader to care about Bren and her life's work. I also wanted to expose the hidden truth about something so hideous. When I learned of horse slaughter, I had a hard time wrapping my brain around the senseless murders that happen every day to such a noble companion we know to be the horse.
On a lighter side, I've been told I couldn't avoid writing about horses if I wanted to. They tell me, those who have researched our Irish heritage, horses are in our blood. My father bet on them, my cousin and uncle own them, and back in Ireland they stole them.
I guess the sparkling shores of freedom looked a might safer than an Irish jail cell.
Is there anything else you'd like to share with us about RELENTLESS?
I'm so glad you asked. As a writer, I believe we are entrusted to entertain as well as educate. Relentless gave me the opportunity to do both. Relentless became a reality for me due to the gracious nature of horse rescuers who took a call from a stranger, listened and agreed with enthusiasm to read Bren's story, and offer their insight and knowledge.
As a way to thank them for their kindness and because their fight has become mine, I am donating 5% to horse rescue for every book sold in the trilogy and any other future works.
The only catch—you must purchase the books on my website at www.pjodwyer.com. There is a list of rescues to choose from including most states, a fair amount of provinces in Canada, and a few in the UK to include my homeland of Ireland, as well as, Australia and New Zealand.
That's awesome! Okay, now, just for fun:
Milk chocolate or dark chocolate? Sweet not bitter
Salty or sweet? Actually, both.
Bed or Kitchen table? Bed. I like the feel of satin.
Beach or mountains? If it has a lake—mountain.
Give or receive? Definitely give. You get more in return . . .
Thanks for coming on the blog, P.J.! Where can we find you on the web? Website | Facebook | Twitter | LinkedInHeadstrong horse rescue director Bren Ryan has been a red-headed streak of trouble for more than one man in Clear Spring. She's grown up needling local "kill buyer" Wes Connelly, and since the sheriff ruled her husband's sudden death an accident, Bren's been investigating things herself. She's certain Tom was murdered, and she's hell-bent on cornering his killer the only way she knows how—by tempting him to do it again. And she's the bait.
Rafe Langston came to Maryland looking for land and a fresh start. Or so he says. The sexy cowboy isn't generous with details, but Bren couldn't care less—until he buys half her farm at auction and moves into her childhood home. Suddenly, the last man she should befriend becomes her only ally in solving her husband's murder.
Soon their cozy stakeouts sizzle with unexpected desire neither one can ignore, threatening his mysterious plans and her promise to never fall in love again—especially with a handsome stranger whose secrets could shatter what family she has left.
Giveaway! Two commenters who leave their email address AND whether U.S./Int'l in the comments will win a prize! P.J. is offering 1) an autographed copy of the hardcover edition of RELENTLESS (open to U.S. only) and 2) a $25 Amazon gift card (open to U.S. & Int'l). Contest open through midnight EST on Sunday, April 1! No fooling! *winks* Winners to be chosen by random.org. Good luck!Now, leave P.J. some new release love and, if you were like me as a kid, fess up if you had a childhood love affair with horses, unicorns or pegasuses! *grins*
Thanks for reading,Laura & P.J.
Published on March 19, 2012 00:00
March 17, 2012
#SixSunday #49 - A Scene from a #Vampire Mating Ceremony
For the Small Press Treasures Blog Hop Giveaway, click here!

See my blog up linked above for a chance to win this book!As they knelt before one another, Kael began to speak. She didn't know the ancient language, but she understood perfectly well the emotion behind the words. Her heart swelled at the passion with which he spoke. Tears bloomed in her eyes at the glassiness she saw in his. Their hands clutched tighter and the feeling was simply, fundamentally right.
She was so focused on Kael she didn't even react when he paused and the warriors chanted in a fierce yell and fell to one knee around them.
Be sure to see the Others Sixers' Posts and follow the #sixsunday hashtag on Twitter. Thanks for reading and hopefully commenting, too!
Laura
Published on March 17, 2012 21:01
March 16, 2012
Small Press Treasures BlogHopGiveaway! VampireEBook!

I'm celebrating this traditional Irish holiday with a super cool giveaway of a book set in Ireland as part of the Small Press Treasures Blog Hop!

What you can win here!: Complete the form below and have a chance to be one of FOUR entrants to win an ebook of my dark vampire romance set in County Antrim, Northern Ireland, IN THE SERVICE OF THE KING, book 1 in the Vampire Warrior Kings series. AND, if you win and have already read this book, I'll let you choose another of my e-titles instead! Open to international. Winner to be chosen by random.org. Giveaway ends at midnight EST on March 24.
Kael, Warrior King of the Vampires, loathes the Night of the Proffering. He needs the blood of either his mate or a human virgin to maintain his strength, but hasn't enjoyed the ritual since he lost his mate centuries ago. Kael doesn't want a new companion, yet his resolve is tested when he lays eyes on his new offering, Shayla McKinnon. He is drawn to Shayla's beauty and poise...and the submission she offers. She is eager to give him anything he wishes, including her innocence, to please him. Will Kael give in to their overwhelming desire—even if it means risking Shayla's life?
IN THE SERVICE OF THE KING is the 58th bestselling overall romance and the 12th bestselling paranormal romance on Barnes and Noble (as of 3/17), so enter to see what all the buzz is about!AND, if all that isn't cool enough, Book 2 in the series, Seduced by the Vampire King , releases June 1!
ENTER HERE, THEN SEE DOWN BELOW FOR THE LIST OF OTHER PARTICIPATING SITES! AND THANKS SO MUCH FOR VISITING!
LAURA
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Published on March 16, 2012 21:01
March 12, 2012
Check Out My Wonderful Cover Quote for #WestofWant!!!
One of the totally scary but awesome parts of being an author is getting another author to read your manuscript and agree to offer a cover quote for it. For
North of Need
, I had the totally wonderful Stephanie Draven agree to give me a great quote, and that was my first time ever making the ask. *Gulp* LOL
For West of Want , another wonderful author of Greek-mythology-based paranormals agreed to read the book. And she gave me such a fantastic quote! And that author?
Elisabeth NaughtonAuthor of the Eternal Guardians series booksBook 4 of which, ENRAPTURED, releases April 3!
And just what did Elisabeth have to say about West of Want ? Here's the quote:
SQUEE!!!!!!
Just as cool, see how totally awesome it looks on the cover?!
Pre-Order on Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Zeph's sexy muscles don't hurt, either... LOL
So, a HUGE thank you to Elisabeth for her generosity! I can't wait for everyone to read this book! July 10 can't get here soon enough! :)
Thanks for reading!
Laura
For West of Want , another wonderful author of Greek-mythology-based paranormals agreed to read the book. And she gave me such a fantastic quote! And that author?

And just what did Elisabeth have to say about West of Want ? Here's the quote:
"Laura Kaye's captivating writing and vibrant world-building will have readers hooked on the gods of the Anemoi. WEST OF WANT is steamy, spellbinding, and a must-read for all romance fantasy fans."
SQUEE!!!!!!
Just as cool, see how totally awesome it looks on the cover?!

Zeph's sexy muscles don't hurt, either... LOL
So, a HUGE thank you to Elisabeth for her generosity! I can't wait for everyone to read this book! July 10 can't get here soon enough! :)
Thanks for reading!
Laura
Published on March 12, 2012 21:01
Welcome Guest Author Katee Robert! #SciFiRomance

Welcome, Katee! Please share a little about yourself, your genres, any other pen names you use.
Hiya! Thanks for having me!
I write sci fi romance and YA zombie novels, both under Katee Robert. I always joke that my muse has multiple personality disorder, and she's only getting weirder as time goes on. I live and work in Eastern WA, and spend my time ogling men and planning for the inevitable zombie apocalypse. Because, you know, a girl's gotta have her vices.

I have a novella coming out this month called The High Priestess. It's a prequel to my Sanctify series and tells the story of Marianna, a Diviner, and Gerard, a lieutenant of hate-group Sanctify. He takes her captive with the intent of purifying her, but she has no intention of going to her death without a fight.
Sounds great! Which character is your favorite and why?
Gerard. I have a thing for damaged characters, and he's a doozy. He's lived his entire life on Sanctus, being raised to hate anyone who isn't completely human. Then he meets Marianna, and she proceeds to knock his entire world on its head. Watching him begin to question everything he's ever known and come out of the better man for it… Oh yeah, I loves him.
Ooh, Gerard sounds delicious! As the author, what surprised you about this story?
I was kind of surprised by a side character, Fisk. I went in expecting to despise every aspect of Sanctify because they're evil all around. But then I meet this guy who's funny and kind and just a decent man all around. It was an interesting contradiction since he's a member of one of the scariest hate-groups in the universe.

I have three full-length books under contract for the Sanctify series. The next one, Queen of Swords, is the story of Marianna and Gerard's daughter, Ophelia. She's a firecracker and every bit of her parent's child.
Awesome! What was the hardest thing for you about writing this story?
This book was really difficult to write because I'd already written Queen of Swords (Book 2), in which Marianna and Gerard are parents. So going back and writing their story was odd for me because it was kind of like watching my parents make out. Which is… uncomfortable. LOL.
Oh, I bet that was interesting! What are you working on right now?
I'm actually toying with a contemporary romance (multiple personality disorder muse strikes again). It's odd for me because I don't know that I've ever written anything that didn't have some sort of surreal element in it, but I love the characters completely.
Can't wait to hear more! What happened to the first book you ever wrote?
Oh lordy. I wrote an epic fantasy called Mirror Mirror, and I pray to everything holy that no one ever reads it. It was well and truly terrible, but most first books are. Though there were some really smoking twins that I might bring back into a future work some day…
LOL What do you find easiest and hardest to write?
I love writing romantic tension. That give and take between a couple as they get to know each other is different with each pair and completely fascinates me.
Alternately, the hardest stuff for me to write is the sex itself. Yes, yes, I know how ironic that a romance author has a difficult time writing sex, but there it is. Those particular scenes tend to take me three times as long to write.
I don't think you're alone in that… Have you incorporated actual events or people from your own life into your books?
I don't incorporate that stuff as much as random tidbits of conversation I hear. I'm quite the magpie with sayings and words—I collect them and they end up in my books as well.
Is there a theme or message that runs through your work?
Not consciously, though my women tend to be independent and strong (though not always physically). I think this is a reflection of my reading habits—if I don't connect with the heroine, I won't love it, regardless of how awesome the hero is. So I end up with women who can fend for themselves and who don't need a man—then I give them the man they never knew they wanted.
Which romance book or series (or other genre, if you don't write romance) do you wish you had written?
Kresley Cole's Immortals After Dark series. I am OBSESSED with them right now—and kicking myself for not having found them before now. She writes the kind of snarky, sexy action-packed stories that I aspire to. I want to be her when I grow up!
Oh, yes! Love! Of all the characters you've ever written, who is your favorite and why?
Hands down, it's Jenny O'Keirna. She's the little sister of the hero, Boone, in Queen of Swords, and she is a woman who worships her vices. She runs her mouth, plots crazy plans, and is deadly with damn near any weapon she lays hands on. But her level of snark is fantastic and so much fun to write.
Sounds great! Okay, now, just for fun:
Milk chocolate or dark chocolate? Milk chocolate all the way!
Salty or sweet? Depends on my mood, but definitely salty.
Bed or kitchen table? Kitchen table. Bow-chicka-wow-wow
Beach or mountains? Beach. I have a love affair with oceans and lakes.
Give or receive? Giving for sure. It makes me deliriously happy to do so.
Thanks for coming on the blog, Katee! Where can we find you on the web?Marianna Zain is in trouble. The handsome stranger she just kissed? He's a member of the most terrifying hate-group in the universe. Even after he takes her captive, Marianna can't shake her initial instincts that he's a man of worth…and her only chance at escaping death.
One of Sanctify's most decorated lieutenants, Gerard Leoni thought he had everything figured out. But then he crosses paths with a Diviner, the most despised of the alien races, and is honor-bound to bring her in. One night with Marianna makes him question everything he knows.
As the day of her scheduled execution draws near, Marianna forms a plan. She's going to seduce Gerard—a task that would be simpler if she weren't being seduced as well. But Sanctify doesn't take kindly to their people cavorting with aliens, and instead of finding a savior, Marianna may be dragging Gerard to his death alongside her…
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | Amazon Author Page
Everyone, leave Katee some new release love! What do you like about science fiction romance?
Thanks for reading,
Laura & Katee
Published on March 12, 2012 05:00