Websites--Oi!

I find myself in a position where I need to build a few websites. I have to replace the old Allure home with a new one, and create another for my new YA career. My former web master has his own stuff going on, and it's time I learn to handle these types of things on my own! -nod,nod- So why am I terrified? Because I have no idea what I'm doing. I'm getting ready to commit to a hosting site...and I'm freezing up. Will I want to do something that this hosting place won't allow? Once I'm stuck in a contract, what if I don't like them? Can I afford this kind of expense when I make very little? The bigger questions are...can I learn? Can I create? As it stands, on a daily basis, I pull up hosting sites and look at them all...I read what they say I get with purchase and I wonder how many of them are trying to rope me in just to screw me (and not in the fun way). Maybe I should just stick with blogs...free, easy, just as full of information. Of course, I can't hook paypal up to my blog for a future backlist purchase option. I can't get a nifty Allure@allurevansanz.com email address either. And a website looks more professional and you can do anything with it...right? Oi. I feel a case of the worry-hives creeping in. I guess the best thing to do is just plunge in and figure it out from the water. Wish me luck...or possibly, be ready to throw a floaty tube at me. Best, AyVee Allure Van Sanz

Six Sentence Sunday July 10th

You can find links to all of the excerpts from other wonderful Six Sentence authors HERE!

Scene SETUP: Meet Grey. He's Vic's best friend, and he's just walked in on a very wrinkled Vic, after his visit from Gato and the sumo. Grey has just figured out the super of the building had to be the one to open his mouth about Vic's whereabouts. Vic is listening to Grey storm down the hall. (Taken from the 0.99 novel Murder Creek available at Amazon and Barnes and Noble)


He heard shouting and splintering wood as Grey’s voice boomed down the hall, the sentences broken up with the sound of frying pan against skull. “…ever say a word again…” Bong “…saw your legs off while ya watch…” Bong “Are those…burritos?”

One more thunk preceded the clang of Grey’s weapon dropping to the floor, and seconds later, he reappeared in Vic’s apartment with a burrito in each hand. He held one out to Vic.

“Grey, you shouldn’t get inv-“

“Shut up and eat your burrito.”

Six Sentence Sunday June 26th

You can find links to all of the excerpts from other wonderful Six Sentence authors HERE!

Scene: Vic just woke up to a giant ass coming at him, pinning him to his chair. Paulo is the huge sumo-wanna be sitting on him, but he is being addressed by the drug lord Gato, who has a "favor" he needs from Vic.(Taken from the 0.99 novel Murder Creek available at Amazon and Barnes and Noble)


“What favor you ask? The favor of not telling your enemies where I found ya, ese, I figure—ya owe me for that, and I’m thinkin’ ya don’t wanna be telling me no about now.”

Gato’s grin practically slithered across his face. “Ain’t that right, Paulo?”

Paulo looked over a mountainous shoulder at him. “I had eight cheeseburgers and three orders of chili cheese fries.”

Vic struggled harder.

Six Sentence Sunday

I missed last week! I missed you guys. lol The new Six Sentence site is awesome. You can find links to all of the excerpts from other wonderful authors HERE!

Scene: Vic just woke up to a giant ass coming at him, pinning him to his chair.(Taken from the 0.99 novel Murder Creek available at Amazon and Barnes and Noble)

“Ge’…off!” he choked.

The more he fought the guy squishing him, the more pressure the gorilla applied. Vic turned his head to the side—to avoid being smothered in back fat—and came face-to-face with a sneaky piece of shit he’d hoped to never see again.

Gato’s smug smile could only be described as oil-slick, proud of himself for tracking Vic down. There weren’t many people living who knew what The Rattlesnake looked—and in Gato’s case smelled—like, and when Vic got his hands on the bastard, there'd be one less.

“How’s it goin’, ese?” Gato asked, making a great show of dusting off the sleeves of his Armani suit. Vic had one just like it—if he survived this reunion he’d burn it.

Final May Awareness Project Winners.

Hi everyone!

May was a whirlwind month. I barely had time to breathe it seemed, so I apologize if I've been a little anti-social. I hope you'll all understand. And I'll be back to normal soon.

First I want to say thank you so much to the donating authors, the authors who did write-ups from their personal experience, and those of you who took the time to visit. Truly...from the heart...Thanks to you.

In the next few weeks, I'll be sending out T-shirts and print books and ebooks where they belong. If you haven't received any notification by Jun 15th, please send me an email at authorallurevansanz at gmail.

I've learned that Memorial weekend is a bad time to try to promote a blog and bring about Awareness, so because of the low-to-no responses, I'm mixing up the prizes a bit.

Breast Cancer Awareness Giveaway winners:

Historical Author Evangeline Collins Print Book Seven Nights to Forever - Darcy

Lindsay Klug’s EBook The Life and Times of Delila - Debbie

Romance and Erotic Romance Author Margie Church (Your choice of her Noble Romance releases) - Fiona


ALS and Bone Marrow Donation Awareness Mix Giveaways:


Erotic Romance Author Sarah Balance EBook copy of Run to You - Sutton Fox

Indie Author Kally Sten eBook Fangs and Lullabies - Darcy

Allure Van Sanz T-shirt - Chelle Cordero

Erotic Author Brindle Chase EBook Trading Up or The Grass is Always Greener (Your choice) - Helen

Bone Marrow Donors

I'm a sympathetic crier. That doesn't mean I'm not a tough person. I'm a fighter, a survivor, but most of all, I'm a humanitarian. Ever since I was little, I couldn't hear a story and not feel affected by it. I'd laugh or cry as if the story were mine and I could swear I felt every giddy moment--and likewise--every heartbreak.

I think it's a good thing. It makes me charitable. Every time I get a dollar, I wonder how I can make half of it work for someone other than myself. There are so many good causes out there...organizations and people that make a difference in the world.

The sheer numbers of people and conditions that need our help is daunting. There's no way we can help them all. We'd go broke.

But for some things you don't need money. Some things only cost time. One thing...comes to my mind.

Bone Marrow.

Foolishly, I always thought that I would never donate bone marrow. "I've heard it hurts, and I hurt enough every day, thank you very much. Besides, there are millions of people who donate and they can find the donors they need in their family and friends."

I'm not ashamed to admit I was a jerk a few years ago--only because I've seen the error of my ignorance and worked hard at educating others.



Registering for Bone Marrow Donation is as simple as a swab in the mouth, and the donation experience if you are a match for someone, isn't what you think either. Check out the myths HERE.

What bothers me, is that barely anyone is registered. Only a few million people...and usually only because someone they know and love is in need. But we need to change that my friends!! Go in for a check-up. Ask your doctor to give you a swab for bone marrow registration. Why?

Imagine your mother, your father, your sibling or worse...your child--is dying, and all they need is to find someone who is a donor match. It could come from anyone out there! And all the donor would have to do is feel some discomfort for an hour or so to save your child's ENTIRE LIFE!! Imagine how frustrating it would be to know that person was walking around out there as your child draws their last breath and there's nothing you can do. You've done everything--you've tapped into every friend and friend of a friend you can, but none of them matched.

I can be rather abrasive on this, I know. But let me take a different spin.

Imagine you're a regular guy or gal, who reads something about bone marrow donation that made you think.. "Hey, why not?" and you get your cheek swabbed and find out you're a match. You've gone from regular guy/gal to life-saving hero. You've given someone a chance at longevity that no one else could.

Imagine how amazing it would feel to be the giver of life.

Talk with your doctor. Learn How To Register


Giveaways:


Allure Van Sanz T-shirt

Erotic Author Brindle Chase EBook Trading Up

Erotic Author Brindle Chase EBook The Grass is Always Greener

ALS - Lou Gehrig’s And Giveaway Updates

What is ALS? It's a tragic disease that once you learn about it, you'll want to do more to help those who suffer from it. Here to give her experience and bring about awareness, is Lyra Totten-Naylor. Thank you for sharing your story.



Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is a mouthful for anyone, especially those who have it. Three and a half years after learning about it, I still can’t say it. In conversations, having noted a number of confused faces even when using the initials ALS, I quickly add the words that draw recognition, “Lou Gehrig’s.”

My father-in-law, Dave, was a die-hard Detroit Tigers fan who hated the NY Yankees with a passion. Being diagnosed with a disease best associated with the Yankee’s Iron Horse was just one of the many indignities he handled with optimism and grace.

Dave received his diagnosis of ALS in September 2007 at the age of 65. This is ten years beyond the average age of diagnosis, although some people are diagnosed as early as their twenties. Having retired from the University of Cincinnati just the month before, Dave dreamed of taking an extended holiday in France, and playing catch with his four grandchildren. ALS stole those dreams.

Doctors and researchers don’t know precisely what causes ALS. There is small genetic component, but the overwhelming majority of cases are “sporadic,” meaning they can affect anyone, anywhere. The national ALS Association helps raise funds to find out why ALS occurs and what can be done to ease the symptoms or at least slow the progress of this always fatal disease.

No-one gets better. My father in law approached each day as his last “good day,” knowing each day his condition grew worse. Each day, his body grew weaker. Each day, the neurons that normally transmit the message to move from the brain to the muscles died. Each day brought a lessening of the ability to control movement until the muscles atrophied. This occurs not just in the large muscles groups of the legs, arms and back, but also the smaller, critical ones that control speech, chewing, swallowing and breathing.

Because ALS does not weaken the brain, the patient is painfully aware of becoming a prisoner in his or her body. Each time we visited (we lived several states apart) he could participate less, disappearing to his room to watch travel videos as the rest of us ate a meal. It was hard knowing my daughter helped him with card games not just because she liked spending time with Grandpa, but also that he could no longer play the physical aspect of games without help. But that sorrow was nothing compared to the sadness in his face once he could no longer return her hugs. Many ALS patents understandably grow depressed. I won’t forget carefully listening as Dave told me life lost its joy once he could no longer eat.

Less than a year has passed since my father-in-law’s death and it’s still hard that a man so full of vigor just months before his diagnosis is now gone from our lives.
I am grateful for the work done by the ALSA at both the national and local levels. Local ALS chapters provide day-to-day support those families living with ALS. Until a cure is found, they provide vital assistance to those most directly affected by ALS. Let’s hope that day comes soon. ALS is a terrible way to die.

Donation link ALSA


Lyra Totten-Naylor


Giveaways:

Erotic Romance Author Sarah Balance EBook copy of Run to You

Indie Author Kally Sten eBook Fangs and Lullabies

Indie Author Dana Taylor eBook Devil Moon




Giveaways for Breast Cancer, ALS and Bone Marrow Donation will be announced June 2nd due to the holiday.

Thanks for your patience.
Allure Van Sanz