R.M. Ridley's Blog, page 13

Two new studies demonstrate vaping helps smoker quit

Title says it all – LINK TO SITE

Filed under: Writing

Trials of an Author

When I upgraded my Mac to a brand new one because the one before died, I didn’t realize that my old ‘Word’ program wouldn’t be compatible. This gave me pause as Mac’s word processor, ‘Pages’ sucks (especially the way the ‘track changes’ feature works). I love Mac’s, have for decades, but the new word processor just isn’t industry standard friendly. I’m sorry Mac but the industry works in ‘Word’ and that is just the way it is.

Another author from my publishing house said they had been using LibreOffice for their manuscript without issue. It was free, and if compatible, then it answered my needs. I downloaded it and started working in it. Then came time to do the edits for ‘Blondes, Books, & Bourbon’. As my editor and I worked through the stories for the anthology, we quickly came to find that there were indeed issues with LibreOffice translating to��‘Word’ .docx files.

This quickly became our bane, or mutual antagonist, and lead to many curses being thrown about.

We muddled our way through, every step being more work than it should. Every single edit was the cause for over vigilance to see if something, somewhere had gone screwy. This couldn’t go on. We managed to finish the anthology but we both agreed there was no way in hell that we could start on ‘Bindings & Spines,’ the next novel, with the current set up I had.

I stated to try to figure out about getting ‘Word’ on my computer. Not only was it expensive (especially since I didn’t need the whole ‘Office’ package, just ‘Word’) but I found out that ‘track changes’ caused the system to crash. Not good, as this is how edits are done.

I mentioned this on the group page for Xchyler publishing and many authors and editors alike were worried as they had just upgraded. Everyone came back over the next few days /weeks and said they hd no issue with crashing. Good – now I just needed to get my hands on a copy.

A good friend contacted me and said he could help. So I finally got ‘Word’ on my new Mac. I loaded it and wrote a sentence, went to track changes and …. it crashed. This hadn’t happened to the one I got the programme for but it was for me.

Story of my life.

I spent the next day downloading all the upgrades that had been put out, and then installing each and everyone. When I had done all I could, I tried again. Wrote a sentence, turned on track changes and ….

It worked! I have yet to go through the process of sending a file out and having it come back to me with changes made and see if it works. Or if it still works when I make the changes on the returned document , but ��am staying hopeful. It did manage to translate the fifth novel correctly from LibreOffice – from what I can tell.

I pray to the gods of writing and story telling that all is well now. Maybe my Muse will have a word with them to make sure… I know I don’t like to cross her.

Filed under: Writing Tagged: anthology, Bindings & Spines, current work in progress, editor, edits, frustration, Jonathan Alvey, LibreOffice, Mac, muse, novel, paranormal, paranormal private investigator, publish, short story, Urban Fantasy, White Dragon Black Series, Word, writer, writing, Xchyler Publishing

Check Out This New Novel!

Gin Crawford has enough problems dealing with her empath abilities. Finding out she’s the world’s newest demon-slayer is the last thing she needs. Unfortunately, when she slips on a mysterious bracelet she is given no other choice. On the plus side, her new gig comes with Tall, Dark and Handsome, a mage who may or may not have her best interests at heart. Thrust into a power-play between good and evil, Gin must choose a side before she becomes the next victim in the ongoing battle.

 

EXCERPT:

The evil��man-thing stands on my porch, his lips turning in a menacing smile of death. I don���t need to touch him to know he wants me dead. Muscles freeze, trapping my breath in my lungs. Like a rabbit in view of a wolf, I���m immobilized, waiting for death���s blow. Time slows, his gaze locks on mine, trapping me in place.

Move, move, move! My mind screams as the man���s fingers twitch.

But the spike of adrenaline explodes into my limbs too late to stop the backhand blow slamming across my jaw.

I superman it halfway across the living room. Land on the hardwood floor in a thud of pain-ridden limbs. My jaw morphs into a screaming ball of nerves. My head no sooner hits the floor than I hear the bracelet scream, a high-pitched wail quivering through my skin like vibrations from a tuning fork. The bracelet tightens around my wrist, cutting off the circulation, and then it loosens with a pop at the same time I hear the door click closed.

Ohgodohgodohgod, I���m going to die. I don���t want to die. No, no, no, no, no. Pain and terror hold me crumpled on the floor as my mind crawls backward in time.

But I���m no longer a child, fearful of fists and words, cowering on the ground.

I���m a fighter.

My head spins, but I refuse to lie on the floor waiting to be killed, so I attempt to stand. Evil Guy laughs as I ass-plant it. Laughs as a moan escapes my lips. He takes a step toward me, right arm drawn back for a hit. His fist hurls toward my face, but I manage to block it with my left arm. My right arm, the one with the bracelet, shoves forward, slamming into his chest.

His black eyes widen, mouth open in surprise, his hands fluttering to his chest before dropping. I stare at my hand, stare hard, for I���m as surprised as Evil Guy. The bracelet had become a sword, a long, thin spike of metal extending from the silver links, straight into Evil Guy���s heart.

A sword?

Definitely a sword. The flat of the blade rests against the back of my hand, cool metal heating from the warmth of my skin. Small silver links circle around my palm, lending stability to the two-foot long sword.

I���m not sure which scares me more, Evil Guy paying me a visit or the fact the bracelet performed a morphing trick.

Get Your Hands On This Novel NOW:

Amazon�� ����The Wild Rose Press�� �� ��B&N

www.karilynbentley.com

Fantasy with a touch of funny

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Filed under: Book Release Tagged: Demon Huntress Novel, Demon Lore, Karilyn Bentley

Cover Reveal – MINE!

Are you a fan of my��White Dragon Black��series?

Do you like anthologies?

Do you want to see the cover for Blondes, Books & Bourbon?

Do you want to be dazzled by the art work?

Do you want to read a short write up about it?

All you have to do is visit the Official WDB Blog

Filed under: Book Release, Publishing, Writing Tagged: anthology, Blondes Books & Bourbon, Jonathan Alvey, paranormal, paranormal private investigator, publish, short story, Urban Fantasy, White Dragon Black Series, Xchyler Publishing

Not Just a Space Filler

I know it’s been a bit of time since I posted anything.

I actually have things to say.

I don’t really have the time, right now, though.

Speaking of time… this video takes time to watch/listen to,

however; ��if you vape – you should play��it

if you don’t vape but want to know the truth about it – you should��play it

if you think you know the truth, because you read the paper and watched the stories – you should��play it

This is��Dr Gopal Bhatnagar’s presentation about Electronic Cigarettes and Vaporizers, in front of Health Canada (HESA) followed by Prof David Sweanor’s presentation and a Q&A with both of them being questioned.

 

Filed under: Vaping

A Further Message to Public Health Professionals

Originally posted on Revelations Of A Steam-Powered Human:

Clive Bates, in his latest blog entry has spelled out in no uncertain terms what really burns our toast. I commend reading it before continuing.

I���ve worked of the front lines in healthcare for the last 10 years. Before that I spent 25 years as an engineer. Science is the key to doing both well. What I have found appalling is the complete lack of curiosity and rigor that comes from those who are charged with responsibility for Public Health with regards to electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS). Rather than appreciate the events motivating the invention, refinement, proliferation and passion for this novel harm reducing phenomenon, Public Health around the globe uses absolutely horrid methods to marginalize and even attempt to criminalize it. There is no respect for evidence, no acknowledgment whatsoever of the movement and its motivation. I and my fellow ���vapers��� are not Big Tobacco, we are folks���

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Filed under: Writing

Kids Book in Time for Christmas

Welcome to Happy Geek Media’s Debut of Princess Nevaeh by Author Paulette Harper

ABOUT THE BOOK

Princess Nevaeh by Author Paulette Harper

Genre: Children’s Books

Release date: September 4, 2014

Age Level: 4 – 7 | Grade Level: K – 3

34 pages

***

Princess Nevaeh by Author Paulette Harper

Six year old Nevaeh wants to be something she already is. She will soon learn that her wish to be a princess takes a little bit more than just asking.

Some of the Lessons taught in Princess Nevaeh:��

1.Self- Worth

2. Behavioral skills: fighting, bullying, and name calling.

3.Encouraging the kid to do better)

4.Teaches manners and how to conduct themselves.

5. It encourages listening skills pertaining to adults, parents and teachers. In regards to listening and obeying adults: this is a great opportunity for parents to share with the child the difference between those you can trust and those you can’t.

These types of story books are perfect for kids to learn, improve and grow.

��PURCHASE LINKS

Purchase on Amazon here/Check out Reviews on��Goodreads

FOLLOW THE TOUR��SCHEDULE HERE

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Author Paulette Harper

Beginning her career in 2008, Paulette is an award-winning, bestselling author and the founder of WNL Coaching and Marketing Services.

Along with being an ordained Elder, she is the author of several books and founder of Write Now Literary Virtual Book Tours, a service to help promote authors of the Christian genre and authors of clean books.

As an inspirational and motivational speaker, Elder Paulette���s desire is to empower, influence and cultivate women to move forward while dealing with issues that hinder women from becoming all they are created to be. Her topics are biblically sound and pertinent to the needs of today���s women. Paulette is a wife, mother, grandmother and Bible teacher. Paulette has appeared on numerous radio and Television shows.

Combining enthusiasm with an energetic speaking style, audiences describe Paulette���s presentation as inspiring, enriching and encouraging. She is committed to speaking a message that is always uplifting and edifying.

As a writing coach, she is the visionary behind her own writing ministry called ���Write Now,��� a literary program that specializes in coaching aspiring writers in the areas of creativity, development, and publication of Christian books. She provides her listeners with tools, resources, and opportunities to help them succeed in the writing business.

Her books have ranked consecutively on the Black Christian Publishers Bestsellers List for Independent Publishers (non-fiction category). Connect with her below…

Website��/Twitter/Facebook/Goodreads

GIVEAWAY

Entry-Form

Good luck and happy reading and winning!

Tour hosted by…

Happy Geek Media

Filed under: Writing

Oh, I Remember Those Things – I Think They Are Called Words

So I was doing well with writing in the fifth White Dragon Black novel, ‘Backstabbers and Believers’. I was slowly writing more and more each day and was looking forward to coming into Windsor to get even more words written.

Then… we had a power outage that lasted over 24 hours. That slowed things down a bit.

Then the next day I had to pack everything up to take into the city. Can’t write much with the computer packed up.

The next day, the third day I was all set up and rearing to go…. except I wasn’t actually in the zone. The desire but not the mood. The will but not the way.

everyday I’d stare at the manuscript up ��on my screen and … get no where. It mocked my and my days were long and unfruitful.

Yesterday I put on my ear phones. I selected my ‘Alvey’ play list and hit play. Then I went to the story and wrote. I wrote a decent amount, actually.

This morning I was determined not to let yesterday be a fluke and it wasn’t another thousand words written. A good start but I hope to do another several hundred later today, either in the novel or maybe a short story.

Either way, I hope to make my second week as productive as I was hoping the whole trip would be. As long as my Muse will at least sent memo’s and I keep my focus, I should be able to make serious headway in the days left to me.

Filed under: Writing Tagged: Backstabbers & Believers, current work in progress, Jonathan Alvey, muse, novel, paranormal, paranormal private investigator, short story, Urban Fantasy, White Dragon Black Series, writing

National Post editorial board: Kathleen Wynne’s war on evidence

rmridley:

no additional words needed

Originally posted on National Post | Full Comment:

Electronic cigarettes have become immensely popular in recent years among smokers looking for a healthier alternative to the often-deadly habit. Retail outlets specializing in e-cigarettes have sprung up in communities across the country and companies are racing to patent new innovations in e-cigarette technology.

It���s easy to see why e-cigarettes have gained so much attention lately: As Robert West, a professor at University College London, who was part of a research study on e-cigarettes, told the BBC: ���You have to be a bit crazy to carry on smoking conventional cigarettes when there are e-cigarettes available.���

Indeed, although most of the academic literature on electronic cigarettes says that more research is needed on their long-term health effects (the devices were only invented in 2003), there is already little��question that they are a much safer alternative to tobacco smoke. There are also a wealth of studies showing that the vapour produced by���

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Filed under: Writing

Makes You Wonder What the e-ban is Really About…?

“In March 2013, a study from the Roswell Park Cancer Institute looked at the level of toxins present in vapor from 12 e-cig brands. The results showed that toxic compounds in e-cigs were up to 450 times less than the toxins from cigarette smoke. Researchers said that the rate of toxins was similar, or in some cases lower than toxins in nicotine inhalers that are medically approved and prescribed.”

You can read more about the findings here.

Filed under: Vaping