Michele E. Gwynn's Blog, page 13

Independence Day Wish

It's Independence Day in America. I guess you could call it the original #BREXIT, but rather than leaving a union of countries, the people left Britain to have the right to the pursuit of life and liberty. It took a long time after that to get where we are today. One step forward, and two steps back. We're still a relatively young country, and we still have a long way to go to get it right. You could say we're a work in progress. So today, I wish everyone a happy holiday. I hope you're spending it with those you love, and that you remember with utmost respect, those who've sacrificed all so that we may live in a free democracy. That democracy is under constant attack from both without and within, and it is our responsibility as American citizens to remain vigilant in defense of those freedoms. Let us remember that we are a nation of immigrants, of multiculturalism. We must respect and defend not only our rights, but the rights of our friends, neighbors, and even those with whom we may not completely agree or understand. We must remember that our rights end where another person's begin. That is what equality means, and no one shall be denied those rights based on religious or moral objection. This can all be preserved if we simply remember to be kind to one another. After all, isn't that what it's all about?

Some of the best writing in history...

The Preamble to the Constitution

We the people, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice and ensure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty, to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain, and establish this constitution for the United States of America.

(This was typed from memory. THANK YOU, SCHOOL HOUSE ROCK! Everyone should have this memorized, and never forget what it means.)

The U.S. Bill of Rights

First AmendmentMain article: First Amendment to the United States Constitution

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

Second Amendment
Main article: Second Amendment to the United States Constitution

A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.

Third AmendmentMain article: Third Amendment to the United States Constitution

No Soldier shall, in time of peace be quartered in any house, without the consent of the Owner, nor in time of war, but in a manner to be prescribed by law.

Fourth AmendmentMain article: Fourth Amendment to the United States Constitution

The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.

Fifth AmendmentMain article: Fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution

No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in actual service in time of War or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offence to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.

Sixth AmendmentMain article: Sixth Amendment to the United States Constitution

In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the State and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the Assistance of Counsel for his defence.[79]

The Sixth Amendment establishes a number of rights of the defendant in a criminal trial:
to a speedy and public trialto trial by an impartial juryto be informed of criminal chargesto confront witnessesto compel witnesses to appear in courtto assistance of counsel[96]
Seventh AmendmentMain article: Seventh Amendment to the United States Constitution

In suits at common law, where the value in controversy shall exceed twenty dollars, the right of trial by jury shall be preserved, and no fact tried by a jury, shall be otherwise re-examined in any court of the United States, than according to the rules of the common law.[79]

Eighth AmendmentMain article: Eighth Amendment to the United States Constitution

Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.[79]

Ninth AmendmentMain article: Ninth Amendment to the United States Constitution

The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.[79]

Tenth AmendmentMain article: Tenth Amendment to the United States Constitution

The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.[79]

Hiring John Lands on Amazon

NEW RELEASE:  From my alter-ego, the naughty nanny herself, Xaviera Snow, comes a hot new release! It's funny, it's erotically incorrect, and damned AWKWARD! So what's a lonely, middle-aged career woman to do while in Las Vegas? Hire a male escort, of course! What could possibly go wrong? (Mature Content 18+)

NOW AVAILABLE ON AMAZON FOR KINDLE  AMAZON US:  https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01HH206VGA... UK:  https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01HH206V... GERMANY (DE):  https://www.amazon.de/dp/B01HH206VGAM... CANADA:  https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B01HH206VGAM... AUSTRALIA:  https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B01HH206VG

Vying for the TOP 50 BEST BOOKS WORTH READING 2016 ON READ FREELY

Oh yeah, it's that time of year again, and we're going to make it this time, but not without your help! Hey, voting can be FUN! Exercise your right to cast a ballot. No right or left wing here, just one big party! Woohoo!

READ FREE.Ly is once again holding their TOP 50 BEST BOOKS WORTH READING 2016, and two of mine are on the lists for votes.

Please take a moment to show this author some love by voting for DARKEST COMMUNION in the Paranormal category, and also for CENSUS in Horror. 

DARKEST COMMUNION:  VOTE HERE
CENSUS: VOTE HERE

So what do you get out of it? I thought you'd never ask! Check it out. Read Free.ly is going to pick ONE voter to win ALL 50 books selected for 2016. YES! ALL 50. Oh my God! That's a HUGE prize!

Check out the Small Print.....it gives all the good details.

The Small Print
We allow no more than THREE votes per person for each genre/category. That means you get 30 votes in total, since there are 10 categories.Voting closes on 1 July, 2016Everyone who votes will be entered into a draw to win every book in the eventual top 10. Every. Single. One. You will need to give us your email address to be entered into the draw. (Your privacy is important to us; read our privacy policy here.)

Author Signing at Soma in San Antonio

Lingerie and Love Stories!
COME SEE ME AT SOMA SATURDAY, JUNE 18TH!
We're having an Author Signing at Soma located in The Quarry (255 E. Basse Rd, Suite 814)
Come and shop for some sexy lingerie, pajamas, and clothes, and then stop by my table to pick out your next favorite read signed by me! Who doesn't like lounging in silky soft, sexy lingerie while reading a good romance?
Get 15% off your total SOMA purchases just for coming out to see me. What an awesome deal. Can't wait to meet you!

Three Alien Tales for Under a Buck

ON SALE!!!

Now through the month of June, get the ENTIRE Harvest Trilogy on Amazon for ONLY $0.99.DOWNLOAD FROM AMAZON HERE
A Horror/Sci-Fi trilogy inspired by a true event. MUFON Report #20633 relayed on November 21, 2009. This sighting was reported 14 years after the fact (sighting occurred on January 6, 1995 in Schertz, Texas). Why did it take so long? As author Michele E. Gwynn states, she was scared sh**less for all those years. Still, she was inspired to push past the experience and allow it to fuel her writer's imagination for this chilling series, the last two tales of which take place in and near her hometown of Schertz. What better location to stage an alien invasion...

Harvest - A small town in Oklahoma is invaded overnight by beings not of this world, and they have a message for us all - CHANGE! And they mean it! Nearly every resident disappears leaving behind a bloody stain, a horrific shadow of their humanity. Feeling like the lone survivor to the apocalypse, Dave Forrester must solve the mystery, and fight to save the ones he loves.

Celluloss - A more than fifty year old government secret is out, and it's angry! A military experiment gone wrong and covered up comes back to exact its revenge on the sleepy suburb of Schertz, Texas, a small city voted by Forbes Magazine as one of the top 40 places to retire. Meanwhile, a city-wide Wellness Program that keeps its citizens healthy might not be exactly what it seems. Everyone who takes the annual free vaccination is unnaturally robust, never getting sick, but the serum is changing them...

Census - The story reaches its epic finale in the next town over. Marion, Texas, population 3,700, is so small, if you blink driving through, you'll miss it. One area business owner is awarded 'Tastiest Meats in Town' by the Chamber of Commerce. John Hester's family-owned meat market is a staple in the region. Respected by the locals, he is above reproach. When he befriends new resident, retired 9/11 firefighter, Jack Callaghan, things get weird. Stranger still are the disappearing residents, unsolved cold cases Callaghan discovers as he and his wife try to settle in. When they begin receiving veiled threats from the Reverend Harcourt Cane warning them to leave, Jack must find a way to protect himself and his wife, and help the FBI solve the mystery of the fifty-years of federal Census that never budges..despite all the missing

Harvest: Short Story
Celluloss: Short Story
Census: Novella

Spring News and 99 Cent Book Deals!

 So Much NEW Stuff!It's been a couple of months, I know! I skipped April because there was so much going on. The entire Harvest Trilogy has been published on audio as well as book one in the Angelic Hosts Series, Camael's Gift. Book two, Camael's Battle, will be completed this week! My talented narrator, Paul Stefano is applying his soothing voice to the series (he sounds like John Krasinski!). In the coming months, I plan to tackle narrating one myself beginning with Waiting a Lifetime. In between all the mayhem, family stuff, and enjoying this rainy spring, I've been working on finishing a new Xaviera Snow erotic rom-com, Hiring John, which will be in a box set coming from the Crazy Lady Authors (one of two box sets, actually) due July 4th; Erotically Incorrect and its sweeter sister, Romantically Incorrect.
In the meantime, my paranormal romance, Darkest Communion, has been included in a 9 novel box set from Love, Lust, and Lipstick Stains titled NEED ME. It's available on Amazon and includes awesome bestselling authors like Samantha Holt (Holy cow! I'm in a box set with Samantha Holt!).

The third novel in my Checkpoint, Berlin Detective Series hit a few delays, but it is back on track and looking at a summer release as well so keep your eyes peeled on your email for the announcement of when The Redemption of Joseph Heinz launches.

FAN-HANDLING! That's like panhandling, but I'm *fan*handling here. Read Freely is looking for their TOP 50 BEST BOOKS for 2016. If you've read any of my library, and loved one in particular, consider nominating it. Click HERE to nominate a book. NEW RELEASE:  Do you LOVE sci-fi? I have a new science fiction short story available directly from my webpage through Ganxy. It's a quick lunchtime read that tackles big issues with just a touch of romance. Synthesis is available in PDF, Mobi, and ePub. Click HERE - https://ganxy.com/i/112792 to purchase your copy.
Looking for GREAT Reads for this Summer? Check out the Crazy Lady Authors $0.99 Book Deals! Soooooo many to choose from. Heck, you can grab them all for the price of a Starbuck's Special Coffee and a slice of their Banana Bread. (Pretty close, you've gotta admit!) CLICK HERE FOR AWESOME 99 CENT BOOK DEAL FROM THE CRAZY LADY AUTHORS!

And the Crazy Ladies have MORE to offer! Come and RSVP for the Crazy Lady Authors' Twitter Bash scheduled for May 26th online on Twitter from 7 to 10 pm eastern. There will be a ton of prizes to be given away and you'll get to meet some of the Crazy Lady Authors. Be sure to RSVP on Facebook here.

My bestie and fellow authoress extraordinaire, Jami Brumfield, has a fantastic deal going on with her PBI Case Files Bundle. You can get ALL FOUR FIRST BOOKS IN THE SERIES FOR....WAIT FOR IT....$0.99!!! I LOVE this series. It's fantastic. Check it out and fall in love with Devon and Fang, Sarah and her sister, Frankie. This series has it all....vampires, werewolves, shifters, Greek Gods, mythical creatures, all living right under the noses of everyday Humans, and solving federal-level Paranormal Bureau of Investigations' crimes.  DOWNLOAD ON AMAZON Copyright © 2016 Author Michele E. Gwynn, All rights reserved.

SciFi Reality Goes Green

Now available through Direct Sale, a sci-fi dystopian short story that explores the downfall of civilization as we know it due to corporate greed, climate change, and war. Who are the 'Greenies', and how will original humans survive a dying planet?


Purchase Direct Here$0.99

Nominate Your Favorite Michele E. Gwynn Book

Read Freely is looking for the TOP 50 Best Books again. Which Michele E. Gwynn book is your favorite? Nominate that book here. Show an author some love. *smiley emoticon*


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Film Festival Winner Best Horror Short

Sometimes you just have to rave about others...like my friend and fellow San Antonio College Radio, Television, Film grad alumn,
Check out A Strange Kind of Pumpkin. *WARNING* (Gory).

Nein bedeutet Nein!

Rape is the most heinous of acts as it stems from violence and forces the victim into a situation beyond their control. It's disgusting. There's literally no words to express how barbaric it is, and only those who've had such an unfortunate experience could possibly understand. However, this is 2016, and it seems the civilized world would have caught on that touching anyone without their consent, understanding that "No means no", would be commonplace, yes? Nein!

In Germany, women are still fighting to get the laws changed to include consent in the language of the legal definition of rape on the books. According to TheLocal.de, "Section 177 of the criminal code defines rape as forcing someone to accept or carry out a sexual act using violence, the threat of imminent danger to life and limb, or the exploitation of a situation where the victim is at the perpetrator's mercy. Given the importance placed on violence and the lack of any language about consent in the law, campaigners complain that simply saying “no” to a sex act is not enough to class it as a rape in the eyes of judges." (Read the full article here)

This leaves a wide-open swath of gray area where it could be construed that unless there is a fight, a woman is available sexually. So let's make this clear, Bundestag, "Nein bedeutet Nein!" (No means no!)

A woman can simply say no (whether verbally or by a negative shake of the head), and any violation that occurs after she says no, is rape.

This type of situation leads to women being treated as second-class citizens, as having no say over their own autonomy. It's a running theme in my Checkpoint, Berlin Detective Series. Women are abducted, abused, and if lucky enough to escape death, live out their lives damaged. This is why I have such strong female leads like Elsa Kreiss (a Schutzpolizei, and previously, Berlin's Premiere Dominatrix), and Detective Birgitta Mahler. Both women endure so much, but it only makes them stronger, much like the activist women in Germany fighting for their equal and protective rights. I stand with them. Nein bedeutet Nein!



COMING SOON:  THE REDEMPTION OF JOSEPH HEINZ