Thursday, September 19, 2013

Canton Newspaper Review!

Almost missed this review with swim season starting - but made it in the hometown newspaper!!!! Thanks for the love Canton Rep!!!!! (And to my big sis for pointing it out)   :)

This link holds the review better....but it is the same review.....

http://www.wickedlocal.com/medford/fun/entertainment/books/x606654601/The-Readers-Writers-Debut-literary-author-Matthew-Alan

Monday, September 16, 2013

The Hero.......

Ok...if you have $1.99 to spare...download a copy of the Hero...it just broke into the top 50 of the superhero genre...and not during a giveaway...so that's pretty cool...:)

http://www.amazon.com/The-Hero-ebook/dp/B00D3SE7M8/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1379297516&sr=8-2&keywords=one+degree

Thanks all!!!!!

Saturday, September 14, 2013

Excerpt - Cristman

Here is an excerpt for the upcoming second novel - Entitled "Cristman"


Cristman Concepts had been his second interview after college – his first had been with Singer Associates Advertising. Singer Associates was the largest and most well-known firm in the Pacific Northwest and the place where every mentor in college had told him to apply.

Jessie remembered the interview as if it was a week ago, and not a year.

Mr. Singer himself had met with Jessie and asked him to sit down in front of a large window and huge desk. The sunshine was blinding Jessie and yet Mr. Singer did not move or close the blind to begin his questioning.
“Well your resume and references are excellent Mr. Stevens. May I call you Jessie?”
“Of course Mr. Singer, and thank you.”
“Now, can you give me some details about your career goals and what you enjoy about advertising?”
“Well, “Jessie thought for a moment, “In my last few years of internships, I was fortunate enough to work on a variety of projects - everything from lawn equipment and beer marketing to shoe and pet stores. They all offered something new and exciting in their focus, but I have to admit my favorite and most inspired work happened in areas focusing on social awareness.
I worked on the HRC Sponsors dinner last year – helping organize the dinner and getting table sponsor and captains, it was an incredible event and uniquely fulfilling.” Jessie did his best to control his rate of speech and enthusiasm.
“HRC?” Mr Singer looked blankly at Jessie.
“Yes, the Human Rights Campaign.”
“Oh.” Mr. Singer shifted slightly in his seat. “Isn’t that a lobbying group for,” he swallowed noticeably before getting the last words out, “gay interests?”
“Yes.” Jessie made full eye contact now. “It does an amazing job of educating and organizing supporters of GBLT issues, but it is especially effective in areas of equal rights and anti-bullying initiatives in the US and throughout the world.” Jessie waited for Mr. Singer to continue with the interview. After a long pause, Jessie cleared his throat. “Did you have more questions for me Mr. Singer?”
The pause continued and Jessie sensed disapproval. His irritation took hold - close-minded people immediately pushed his buttons. Jessie mumbled under his breath. “It’s always the same, conservative men with small minds holding positions of power.” Jessie stood to leave. “Well Mr. Singer, thank you for your time. I can tell that this probably isn’t the right work environment in which to learn and grow as an advertising person. I wish you and your company the best of luck,”
Jim Singer sat motionless, stunned by Jessie's candor.
“Have a good day.” Jessie bowed as he left the office and then flipped off the closed double-doors with all of his might before he headed for the elevator.

Fifteen minutes later, he had his interview with Cristman Concepts scheduled.



#Cristman #novel #secondnovel #gayauthor

Thursday, September 12, 2013

Wednesday, September 4, 2013

Beef shakes

So day 10 of the Pesco-Ovo Sustainability plan, I hit my first wall...

After breezing through lunches and dinners of salads with a bit of shrimp, scallops and pasta, mac and egg, and even venturing into the Veggie Delight option at subway for lunch twice last week, I thought "This isn't so bad. Why do people make it seem like it will be tough?" I quit cold turkey, literally. I've lost a few pounds, feel pretty healthy, if not slightly rumbly from all the roughage, and don't miss the meats I've vowed to minimize or at least ensure are humanely raised and will help me sleep better at night after my Vegan/Vegetarian friends have talked with me for months and slowly influenced my thinking with video images of animals being raised for slaughter, and then scooped up like garbage for processing and turned into food for us.

The political, carbon footprints aside, I think the idea of making the world a slightly less cruel place is appealing to me on every level. I go out of my way for every stray dog I pass on the street, cry at the SPCA commercials (damn you Sarah McLachlan) and have made the Humane Society my #1 charity since I was ten. The least I can do is search a little harder for healthy food options where animals aren't tortured for me to get my weekly cheeseburger fix. Seems like a small and easy price to pay.

Day 10 though - the beef shakes hit. I crave a burger or steak or some type of red meat to the point that I'm sweating and my hands begin to tremble. The thought of never eating cow or chicken again leaves me light-headed. I feel iron deficient, I'm sure I can feel it in my blood now. (Okay - I can't really feel much Iron in my blood on a daily basis, so maybe I'm over-reacting). I decide then and there to allow myself one day a week to fall off the meat wagon in this initial phase......still striving to make healthy, sustainable choices and learn about social and fast food options that will help direct me towards the best choices, but also allowing myself some latitude as I adjust to this new dietary choice.

Beef shakes aside, maybe my body does want me to make better/healthy choices. That's my goal here.....not to become a total Vegan, I don't, but to reduce my own impact on the environment in small ways every day.


Not to get preachy - but for a quick overview check out Wikipedia's page on what sustainability means -

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sustainability

The American Public Health Association (APHA) defines a "sustainable food system"[96][97] as "one that provides healthy food to meet current food needs while maintaining healthy ecosystems that can also provide food for generations to come with minimal negative impact to the environment. A sustainable food system also encourages local production and distribution infrastructures and makes nutritious food available, accessible, and affordable to all. Further, it is humane and just, protecting farmers and other workers, consumers, and communities."[98] Concerns about the environmental impacts of agribusiness and the stark contrast between the obesity problems of the Western world and the poverty and food insecurity of the developing world have generated a strong movement towards healthy, sustainable eating as a major component of overall ethical consumerism.[99] The environmental effects of different dietary patterns depend on many factors, including the proportion of animal and plant foods consumed and the method of food production.[100][101][102][103] The World Health Organization has published a Global Strategy on Diet, Physical Activity and Health report which was endorsed by the May 2004 World Health Assembly. It recommends the Mediterranean diet which is associated with health and longevity and is low in meat, rich in fruits and vegetables, low in added sugar and limited salt, and low in saturated fatty acids; the traditional source of fat in the Mediterranean is olive oil, rich in monounsaturated fat. The healthy rice-based Japanese diet is also high in carbohydrates and low in fat. Both diets are low in meat and saturated fats and high in legumes and other vegetables; they are associated with a low incidence of ailments and low environmental impact.[104]

At the global level the environmental impact of agribusiness is being addressed through sustainable agriculture and organic farming. At the local level there are various movements working towards local food production, more productive use of urban wastelands and domestic gardens including permaculture, urban horticulture, local food, slow food, sustainable gardening, and organic gardening.[105][106]

and I thought this was a great article to start with for anyone interested in changing their diets....thanks you Jillian!

http://yourhealthybody.jillianmichaels.com/pescovegetarian-diet-2310.html

Good luck if you try it....make healthy choices!

Matt

#diets #healthychoices #theenvironment