#Angelique international news

[chuthulhu-reads]

[ID: The covers of two Christopher Brookmyre books, The Sacred Art of Stealing and A Snowball In Hell. End ID.]

One of these days I need to get A Big Boy Did It And Ran Away so I can reread the whole trilogy together, but when I first started buying my own I got these two quickly because I adore Angelique de Xavia and I ESPECIALLY adore her relationship with the artistic thief Zal Innez (if you were as obsessed with the Kaitou Kid as I was as a teenager, he's an easy character to love :v). Much like Discworld books, I often find new jokes to laugh at and themes to think about when rereading Brookmyre books, and this time I wound up thinking a lot about Angelique and Zal's exchanges about belonging. They both have complicated relationships with Scottishness; Angelique is the Glaswegian-born daughter of Ugandan refugees, "the only brown face in a sea of white" as she describes her position at school, at Rangers games, and in the police force. She's extremely Glaswegian in her outlook, humour and defiant bullets-bounce-off attitude, and yet often feels unentitled to Scottishness, which makes her wave her Rangers scarf all the more defiantly. Zal, meanwhile, was born in the US to a Scottish emigrant father who so loved and missed his hometown that he threw a massive party for a Rangers victory that none of his neighbours understood (but attended anyway because hey, free barbeque!), and almost idealizes Glasgow, describing it at one point as "a theme park to his father's memory". They're both coming at the same city from very different perspectives, but at the same time they both feel both belonging and not-belonging to Scotland and Scottishness, and learning to navigate that feeling of belonging/not-belonging in different areas of their lives is one of the things they first bond over while being on opposite sides of a bank robbery investigation. Both also spend a lot of time dealing with whiny, entitled, glory-thieving little shits in both the police and criminal worlds, share artistic tastes, and have similar senses of justice, which helps you really buy the quick, intense connection that forms between them (which is probably helped along by how incredibly horny they are for each other, emotionally and physically)

The robbery itself, in The Sacred Art of Stealing, is so much goddamn fun that I'm SEVERELY mad that there isn't already a film of this book, though possibly any chance of that happening is undermined by the fact that a large amount of plot in the second half revolves around a deliberately provocative statue of a man sucking his own willy. There's also the major character with multiple internal monologues about how much he loves the economic and social simplicity of paying for a blowjob, which you could easily cut out of a filmed adaptation, but damned if they aren't funny as fuck most of the time. I feel like they'd wind up cutting a lot of the banter between Zal and his buddies Leo, Jerome and Karl, too, which would be just such a goddamn shame.

"I'm not touching him. If anyone helps him, it should be Jerome. He's the expert at putting hands on pricks." "It's a shame your sister ain't here, Leo. I don't know if she's much of a nurse, but it'd probably make him feel better to be in the company of someone who goes down faster than he just did." And so on.

(They are best friends and would die for each other.)

There might be a slightly better chance for A Snowball In Hell, though I feel like you really do need to read the first two parts of the Angel X trilogy first to well establish Angelique, Zal, and the terrorist Simon Darcourt, who is so far up himself that he's brushing his teeth from the inside. It's a frankly much-needed evisceration of British media behaviour via the very non-metaphorical evisceration of fictional British media personalities and is arguably one of the gorier books Brookmyre's written, though he's pretty talented at describing gore by not describing it in a way that gives your imagination a lot to work with. (There's a scene involving Darcourt putting some arms industry execs up close and personal with their own hardware that's honestly pretty satisfying and probably impossible to put onscreen without being ludicrously gory, but is very entertainingly described.)

It's such a delight to read the sections about Zal working with the aging, arthritic magician Dan Morrit, helping him revive his show and Zal really loving what he's doing for the first time in his life. If you like stage magic, you'll love Zal; If you like hypercompetent wee wimmin who are better than literally everyone they talk to learning to process Emotions and start wanting things because they make her happy instead of just to spite others, you're gonna love Angelique. Please god will more people read these books and yell about them with me

[beardedmrbean]

JACKSON, Miss. — Seven years ago, Chokwe Antar Lumumba swept into the Jackson mayor’s office with plans to shake up local politics. At 34, he was the city’s youngest ever mayor, and he campaigned on a promise of self-determination for the predominantly Black city.

Now Lumumba, 41, stands accused in a sprawling corruption scandal that has also ensnared Hinds County District Attorney Jody Owens and City Council members Aaron Banks and Angelique Lee. Lumumba, Owens and Banks have pleaded not guilty. Lee, who resigned in August, pleaded guilty and awaits sentencing.

Some officials fear the indictments could overshadow the city’s efforts to improve residents’ quality of life — or undermine local leadership.

“I’m just praying that the legislators and state leadership can see beyond these indictments and realize that we still need help from the state in getting some very specific things done,” City Council President Virgi Lindsay said.

While Lindsay hopes the state will still provide funds for necessary improvements to infrastructure and blight, she acknowledged the request is coming at a fraught time.

Even before the indictments, the state’s Republican leadership had pushed for greater control of the city’s affairs. Political observers say this new crisis could intensify a long-running battle between the state’s mostly white Republican elected officials and the city’s largely Black Democratic leadership.

“Race is always a factor. It’s an ongoing factor in Mississippi politics,” said Leslie McLemore, a former Jackson State University political science professor who also once sat on the Jackson City Council. “You cannot in a very real sense separate Mississippi history in general from the tensions you find in the city of Jackson,” McLemore went on to add. “It’s an ongoing saga.”

Jackson is Mississippi’s largest city. But with roughly 144,000 residents, it is also small enough that constituents have a decent chance of running into local politicians around town.

“All of these folks were well-trusted, well-liked individuals,” said Bishop Ronnie Crudup Sr., the head pastor of New Horizon Church International in Jackson. “When you have servants from the mayor to City Council members to the local DA all being indicted, that’s a tremendous hit for the city.”

Jackson has already taken plenty of them. In 2022, a water crisis caused residents to go without clean water for days on end. That was on top of years of boil-water notices that eroded residents’ trust in the city’s water supply. Then, last year, Jacksonians went without municipal trash collection for roughly two weeks amid a contract dispute. And while some violent crimes have dropped, the homicide rate is still among the nation’s highest.

“It’s not even shock anymore,” Kim Meeks, who runs a locksmith shop in Jackson’s Fondren neighborhood with her husband, said about the indictment. “When’s the next shoe going to drop?”

Federal prosecutors have alleged the officials accepted, or in Owens’ case facilitated, bribe payments from out-of-state developers pitching a hotel project in downtown Jackson. Unbeknownst to them, the men were undercover FBI agents, according to a recently unsealed indictment. The mayor’s office declined to comment; calls to Owens’ attorneys, Banks and Lee were not returned.

“I know the state does not trust the administration of the city of Jackson,” said Democratic state Rep. Zakiya Summers, whose district includes parts of Jackson. Summers, who took office in 2020, said she is used to seeing “anti-Jackson” legislation come across her desk, referring to what she called the state’s push for oversight of city resources.

A spokesperson for Republican Governor Tate Reeves did not respond to questions about the relationship between the city and state. She referred to his Nov. 7 comments on the indictments, where he called the charges "serious."

"It is early in the process and because it is an ongoing criminal matter, I don’t believe I should make any other comment," Reeves told reporters.

The House Speaker and Lt. Governor's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

In April, a push by conservative legislators to strip local control of the city’s water system failed for the second time in the House. More recently, a state-run police force has expanded its presence in Jackson. Last year, residents and civil groups also protested House Bill 1020, legislation sponsored by Republican lawmakers that would mandate the creation of a new court for Hinds County, of which Jackson is part, with a special judge and prosecutors appointed by state officials.

Supporters of the court say it will promote public safety, but Lumumba called the bill “an attack on Black leadership,” and the U.S. Justice Department and the NAACP weighed in on the city’s behalf.

“H.B. 1020 intentionally discriminates against minority voters in Hinds County by creating a system of judicial and prosecutorial appointments specifically designed to undermine the historical power of Black residents, through their elected officials, to self-govern,” they said in a complaint.

A federal judge dismissed the NAACP’s efforts to block the court in December; appointments for the court have not yet been announced.

Next year’s legislative session will overlap with primaries in the mayor’s race, which could be more competitive for Lumumba than either of his two previous races.

Some of his popularity stems from his revered father, Chokwe Lumumba, a civil rights activist, who was known on a national stage for calling for reparations, representing Black revolutionaries and successfully defending Tupac Shakur against assault charges.

The elder Lumumba became mayor of Jackson in 2013 but died suddenly at age 66 only eight months into his term. His son announced his plans to run later that year, vowing to continue fighting for the city.

“I propose that the people didn’t just vote for a man, they voted for a vision and for a movement,” he told The Clarion-Ledger newspaper at the time. “And no person is better suited to move that vision forward than myself, who co-authored it.”

Jacksonians will soon decide whether they still support that vision.

Before his indictment, Lumumba announced his intentions to run again. Outside his arraignment, his sister, Rukia Lumumba, said those plans had not changed. He could face a crowded Democratic primary.

Annie Cooper, 74, a retiree who lives in Northwest Jackson, said she voted for Lumumba in the past but has not decided whether she will again.

“I think that it’s important for people to do things in a professional manner,” she said, regarding the management of the city. “If it’s not run in a certain way, it just gives the state more reason to take over.”

Byron D'Andra Orey, a political science professor at Jackson State University, said the bribery scandal could shape the municipal elections. “He’s innocent until proven guilty,” he said. “But it doesn’t help his candidacy given the challenges Jackson faces. The negative attention it brings to his administration compounds what’s already there.”

The Rev. CJ Rhodes, who leads Mount Helm Baptist Church in Jackson, said he was “grieved” by the indictments but hopes the moment could prompt a change.

“There could be people in the city of Jackson who remind us of our greatness and see this crisis more as an opportunity than as a death sentence,” he said. “I think this is a great opportunity to convert the darkness rather than curse it.”

[millimai]

Naoshima.

Following a bike ride, a group of us wandered around the township to find somewhere for lunch. We came across a small house-like restaurant down a back side street, which only had a small sign on the door suggesting it might offer us lunch. We waited for a short time before we were invited inside, shoes off, and sat among a small group of guests on the tatami mat floors. The smell of the mats mixed with the smell of the food being prepared was exciting and a smell I became familiar with throughout the duration of the trip!

The set meal consisted of miso, fried chicken, rice and pickled vegetables. It was to die for. It was also lovely to experience this with new friends - Emily, Maeve and Angelique.

I spotted more of the interestingly designed drains through Naoshima, which I decided I would photograph every time I saw a different type.

We rode back to our accomodation, where we got to make ourselves comfortable in our Yurt accomodation. My first ever Yurt stay!

The Yurts were wonderful with their colourful hand-painted doorways and internal frames.

The Yurts were set among a stretch of grass, only slightly above the ocean. Yellow flowers were gently speckled through the space, and it was instant peace, quiet and calm.

We all spent the afternoon bookbinding with Jasmina, which proved to be fiddly and challenging.

Retchousou is a traditional Japanese multiple-signature binding method that enabled us to create a book with pages that open flat. The task during this particular afternoon was to thread the signatures into one another, and to stitch them into the cover of the book (that we previously made in a workshop at Uni prior to our departure).

It was amazing watching the books come together. Everyone's book turned out so differently from one another.

[prnanayarquah]

Stonebwoy: Message of gratitude a day after bagging “Artiste Of The Year” at the 25th TGMAs

New Post has been published on https://plugzafrica.com/stonebwoy-message-of-gratitude-a-day-after-bagging-artiste-of-the-year-at-the-25th-tgmas/

Stonebwoy: Message of gratitude a day after bagging “Artiste Of The Year” at the 25th TGMAs

A day after Stonebwoy clinched seven trophies during Saturday’s Telecel Ghana Music Awards 2024, the most decorated voice in African music took to social media to remark on his historic win at the star-studded ceremony.

The 25th edition of the Telecel Ghana Music Awards was a night to remember for the Ghanaian reggae, dancehall and afropop singer Stonebwoy as he was crowned with coveted industry-leading accolade “Artiste of the Year” for his trailblazing artistry and impactful charity in the year under review–with about 90 shows headlined across the continent, intensive media run, hit album and chart-topping singles and scoring the highest audience appeal and popularity under his belt.

His win received an incredible outpouring of congratulatory messages from music industry executives, fellow musicians, and numerous commentators, including those who connected with his song’s lyrics.

In a June 2nd message posted across his social media platforms, Stonebwoy began by expressing his appreciation to “all those who debate and argue the earth” on his behalf.

“Thank You very much for the genuine Love And Support. All those who debate and argue the earth on my behalf, Our Deeds Are Speaking Volumes. For those Who trust that my hustle is a true reflection of their own individual stories Here is a proof that you’re a winner. This Reward of hardwork is a True testament that Inside of me lies one of the Greatest Talents to ever emerge from Africa and If this makes me better than others, may they be inspired because there are others above, that inspire me too. To God Be The Glory. BHIM to The World.”

Stonebwoy also walked home with 6 other awards. He was named the “Best Reggae and Dancehall” artiste for a record 8th time–the most by an artiste in that category.

His 2023 “5Th Dimension” album also earned him his first ever career “Best Album/EP” award by the scheme, while songs such as “Manodzi” featuring 5-time GRAMMY award-winning singer Angelique Kidjo” won 3 awards on night, such as “Best International Collaboration”, “Record of the Year” and “Best Song Writer”.

“Likor” featuring KiDi also won the “Best Collaboration” of the year award.

  (Source: Gerrard Israel)

[musicarenagh]

Rocky Dawuni Drops New Single “Shade Tree” Rocky Dawuni is a singer, songwriter, producer, and campaigner on the international stage. He has just released his new hit, "Shade Tree." The next new album that has been nominated for three Grammys is scheduled to be released in 2024. The song will be the first track released from the album. The Ghanaian artist has delivered a whole new worldwide anthem in "Shade Tree" that promotes empowerment and harmony throughout the world. The idea behind the song is that of a tree that offers protection from the sun to all of the many "shades" that make up mankind. It serves as a place of confluence and an oasis for all of the people. Conflicts and disputes may be addressed under the shade tree since it gives "shelter from the rain" that is shared by all of the people. This is humanity's shared fate since we are a part of nature, and our fate is intricately intertwined with each other's as well as with the rest of life, much like the way a tree's roots are connected to the rest of the living world. We are a community yet maintaining our separate identities under the tree. https://youtu.be/p3DlZBHNvP8 The song is sung from the point of view of a person with an isolated spirit who is looking for connection and community. These qualities may be seen in numerous forms in people's daily lives when they come together to celebrate and find a connection from a place of isolation. This is a powerful song that serves as a sad reminder to people of our connected humanity at a time when Africa is just becoming aware of new political realities and the rest of the globe is struggling to come to terms with increasing geopolitical tensions. Rocky Dawuni's original and distinctive "Afro Roots" style is a fusion of several musical genres, including Roots Reggae, Afrobeat, Highlife, Soul, Pop, and more. Dawuni is a captivating performer who has been on stage with illustrious artists such as Stevie Wonder, Ozomatli, Peter Gabriel, Angelique Kidjo, and a great number of others. CNN ranked Rocky as one of Africa's top 10 worldwide talents after seeing him perform in such illustrious venues as the Kennedy Centre, the Lincoln Centre, and the Hollywood Bowl. In light of this, CNN gave Rocky this honour. [caption id="attachment_51796" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Rocky Dawuni Drops New Single “Shade Tree”[/caption] Rocky is a committed activist who oversees the operations of his own nonprofit organisation, the Rocky Dawuni Foundation, in addition to his roles as a UN Goodwill Ambassador for the Environment in Africa and a Global Ambassador for the World Day of African and Afro-Descendant Culture. via these and other categories, he utilises his music to bring awareness to critical problems that are affecting people all across the world. He does this via live performances, speaking roles, panels, youth empowerment, and a great deal more. Rocky Dawuni is responsible for the song "Shade Tree," which also features additional production by GRAMMY-nominated engineer and musician extraordinaire Anthony Brewster, in addition to acclaimed producer Michael Vail Blum. The song was mixed by Qmillion aka Keith Lewis, who has won several GRAMMY Awards for his work as an engineer and producer. He is well recognised for his contributions to the "Black Radio" albums by Robert Glasper as well as other projects. Shade Tree" keeps things moving with its irresistible conscious groove heralding a new world of hope. The song draws from a wide variety of influences and vocal stylings that sometimes recall classic soul singers like Curtis Mayfield and D'Angelo. The production approach merges elements of Hip Hop, Reggae, and soul-stirring social commentary. https://open.spotify.com/album/5I7rZvrGeh0eMeeoFHYSwm?si=Yf2IRT0FTjKVpg0o0eUk4A

[golden-route]

Check out this listing I just added to my Poshmark closet: Genuine International Sterling Angelique Sterling Silver Dinner Knife 9" Inch.

[theembcnetwork]

Counterparts - Best of 2022 - Mauricio Bustamante from THE EMBC TV NETWORK on Vimeo.

Mauricio Bustamante has over 60 years of professional experience as an actor, starring in numerous theatrical productions throughout the United States. He has also been a part of the Lee Strasberg Theater and Film Institute since 1975, has been part of the acting faculty since 1994 in New York City.

Mauricio is now appearing in films by filmmakers like Ira Sachs, Francesco Saviano, Guillermo Ivan, Jaime Dezcallar, Victor Cruz, Keren Atzmon, and Angelique Letizia, whose films have appeared in some of the most prestigious international film festivals around the world from 2007 to the present.

As a founding member of IS/MB Productions, Mauricio has starred in two productions off-Broadway, and three short films, "Closing Notice", "Hearts N' Flower" and "Whatever Happened" with Irma Sandrey.

Specialties: Mr. B. has also taught acting to children from ages 7 - 11 at the Lee Strasberg Theater and Film Institute in NYC. Among his young students, there are Broadway and film performers. Also, speaks fluent Spanish and is a member of MENSA International.

Here's a wonderful documentary on Mauricio. vimeo.com/221091990?embedded=...

Join us LIVE every Tuesday at 8 pm EST 7PM Central lnkd.in/eRbxWUB

Thank you for watching and supporting our channel!

You may also email us at counterpartspodcast@gmail.com. We love to hear from our viewers!

[thehorrortree]

Wulf Moon and his Howling Good Kickstarter! By Angelique Fawns I joined Wulf Moon’s Wulf Pack writing group just over a year ago. My understanding of story structure --and how to craft a saleable short story --has skyrocketed since becoming a member. Not only does Moon give personal advice to his group, but every writer in the Pack is a talented author willing to help others improve with kind, helpful critiques. You can be invited to the Wulf Pack Discord if you purchase one of Wulf Moon’s writing seminars, and they are worth every penny. Moon recently released his “Super Secrets Illustrated Volume 1” in a limited printing. (I have a signed copy and love it.) He is in the middle of his Kickstarter for his next book, “How to Write a Howling Good Story.” Read on to learn more! AF: You’ve just launched your “How to Write a Howling Good Story” on Kickstarter. It has immediately skyrocketed to high numbers and was awarded a “PROJECT WE LOVE” on the platform. How did this happen?   WM: The Kickstarter for my new book on writing funded in ten minutes, and within a few hours exceeded over $5,000. The next day, it was awarded Kickstarter’s Project We Love, which gives it special recognition. At two weeks into the campaign, it reached $13,000 with over 150 backers. Throughout the campaign, it’s been at the very top in their Nonfiction category, and it was listed in the top twenty for several days when searching All Active Kickstarters in the World category. If you’ve watched Kickstarters, you know this is phenomenal success for a first launch. I am thrilled so many writers are backing this project and looking forward to the book! How did this come about? Four years ago, I won the international talent search contest for speculative fiction writers, Writers of the Future. After winning, I turned around and set up a free year-long workshop for emerging writers called Wulf Moon’s SUPER SECRETS of Writing. It was open to anyone that wanted to join, and I taught them everything I knew to help them advance their craft so that their writing would both sell to respected markets and win contests. Today, eight alumni from that workshop have either won Writers of the Future, been a published finalist in their bestselling anthologies, or both. One of my editing clients won as well. Thousands from around the world enter this contest every quarter. To my knowledge, so many winners coming from one writing workshop in such a short period of time has never occurred before in the Contest’s forty-year history. And it doesn’t end there. Super Secrets alumni have won Baen’s Adventure Fantasy Award, the Mike Resnick Memorial Award, and more. Many now have professional careers. I have expanded those teachings into paid workshops through my own company, and those taking my courses are invited into a private Discord group called Wulf Pack Writers. Here again, I do this to help emerging writers succeed. So far in 2022, in three respected anthologies we targeted, Wulf Pack Writers made up around half of all stories accepted. The workshop/online resource has won international awards and has over 800,000 views online.  Why has the Kickstarter done so well? The secret is out. The Super Secrets work. AF: You have become famous in the SF/F community for your Super Secrets on the Writers of the Future Blog. What can readers expect to find in this book? Will there be more books in the series?  How many? WM: That’s kind of you to say, Angelique. If I have become famous, it’s for helping struggling writers to succeed. This became my mission after I had struggled so hard to succeed and formed the Super Secrets of Writing topic, as mentioned with over 800,000 views. What I didn’t mention is that it has almost 5,000 posts to the topic, the majority to help those I mentored to understand the principles behind the teachings. It has become a huge labyrinth for writers to navigate. I’m creating the book at the request (actually de

mand) of its fans to condense it all and put it into a writing book they can easily study and refer back to. The name of the book is How to Write a Howling Good Story. It’s available in eBook, trade paperback, and hardcover as a pledge reward in Kickstarter until January 6th, along with many new virtual workshops. It will have most of the topics first shared in the Super Secrets thread, the published articles in my regular series on writing at DreamForge magazine, and new Super Secrets I’ve never shared before.  How many more books will there be? I’ve already published one, The Illustrated Super Secrets of Writing, Vol. 1. This is a workbook, the appetizer to the main course. When I was invited this fall as a guest author to Salt Lake FanX comic con, I printed 151 copies of this full color, fully illustrated, magazine-sized workbook based on my best Super Secrets. It sold out in two weeks. I’m bringing it back as an add-on in the Kickstarter. I recently showed it to Kevin J. Anderson. He flipped through its pages and told me he’s seen nothing else like it in the industry. It’s a publishing jewel, made possible by the brilliant illustrations gracing its pages by the talented Jane Noel, co-owner of DreamForge magazine. You’ve seen it. You have a copy. You know what I’m talking about. So yes, more to come. More workbooks—thus the Volume 1 in its title—and more books on writing. The next will feature the business and marketing side of writing today’s authors must master. No longer can writers hand over their careers to agents and publishers and lock themselves away from the public in their writing bunkers. Today’s authors need character agency, just as their characters do. They must learn proactive marketing strategies. I’m already working on a book to help them succeed here as well. But let’s get the How to Write a Howling Good Story Kickstarter and book launch fulfilled first.  Good things are here now. More good things are to come. AF: Why did you create your own writing group, The Wulf Pack? How much of your time does this support group take? What do you get out of running it? WM: I created the Wulf Pack Writers group so I could give ongoing help to writers taking my workshops. Mentoring isn’t throwing a few bones to hungry writers in a workshop and then waving goodbye. It’s teaching them how to hunt, so they can ultimately fend for themselves.  The startup for professional writers is tough, with few signs in the beginning to give you any indication you’re on the right path. I heard my mentor, the late David Farland, say it takes seven years of focused writing before an aspiring writer can make their first professional sale. Others say something similar—it takes writing a million words. Most writers don’t have the luxury to focus exclusively on their writing—they have full-time jobs, families to feed, bills to pay. As those rejections pile up in those first years after a writer gets up enough courage to complete stories and send them out to markets, many get discouraged. The majority give up. Some, just before they were about to break out and succeed. I know. I’ve snatched a few of those writers out of the fire. I’ve helped them by staying with them for the long haul. Which can actually be a short haul when you have a mentor that’s done what you’re trying to achieve and has the ability to teach lessons that are easy to absorb. It is true this writing group takes a great deal of my time. I’ve set up officers to help deal with the workload, and members all help and support one another. Just like in my Super Secrets Workshop, the work I do in the Wulf Pack Writers group is free. But it has grown large and is about to grow larger through the many workshops I’m offering in the Kickstarter. I’ll need to put it behind a paywall next year to limit the size and cover the demands on my time running a large writing group requires. I’ve resisted this for years—this is my way of giving back—but as my wife points out, it’s no good if I’m helping everyone else get published at the sacrifice of my own

work.  One last point. Many writers are loners, but I believe they should never run alone. All that rejection in the startup can be dangerous for writers. Lone wolves get slaughtered. Wolves that run in a pack survive because they work as a team to help one another. A good writing group working together to succeed can enhance a writer’s path with additional power. And they’ll ease the sting of rejections, and those negative comments that often come from friends and family. They’ll ease the pain, and they’ll howl for your triumphs.  Find your Pack. They’ll give you power.   AF: You’ve taken a unique path to your success as an author, and have dabbled in an astounding variety of careers. Can you tell us about that?   WM: Well, there’s a reason for that. A vertebra in my lower back is broken. It’s a quarter-of-an-inch away from slipping off the spinal column, which would sever my spinal cord and make me paralyzed from the waist down. I live with pain every day. Specialists tell me not to lift over ten pounds, and when I ignore my weight restriction, I’ve dropped to the ground temporarily paralyzed, or have ended up bedridden for months at a time.  When I was younger, I didn’t understand how serious my condition was. I broke and trained horses. I worked my way up in a restaurant from dishwasher to cook (some call me a chef, but I’ve never had that level of training, I just love to cook). I worked in a state hospital for the mentally disabled. I was foreman of the nursery of a top bonsai master in the U.S. I learned sales from scratch when my father bought a dozen of the first multi-folding ladders, and then pawned them off on me because he had no time to sell them. I pounded the pavement and developed accounts, even national chains like Target Stores—until the market eventually caught up with me and competitors developed their own brands.  I had another great run for five years with no-touch products for public restrooms—until bigger companies copied our design and lowballed their prices, driving me out of business.  From there, I went into the financial business, and developed the marketing and newsletters for financial startups. We moved to the San Juan Islands, where I expanded my love of painting watercolor and creating lampwork beads into a public studio, and my wife and I bought a clothing boutique in Friday Harbor to expand our creative endeavors. We doubled the business in the first year, tripled it in the second, and then the recession struck and ate us alive as twenty-one businesses in the town closed before us while we tried to ride it out. We lost our business, we lost our island home, my wife had cancer, my own health conditions declined, and in that dark night of the soul, I had an epiphany. I had always planned to make enough money to retire early and write full-time, and it seemed the world had always found a way to pull that rug out from under me. Now that we had nothing to lose, I decided to write full-time and trust that somehow, the money to live on would eventually come.     AF: How has your background affected your writing career? WM: I’ve learned nothing is certain in life, and while it’s a good thing to provide for your family, you’re not going to be truly happy if you’re selling out on your dream. I’ve always had the desire to write full-time, and throughout my life, I’ve always tried to make course corrections to get there. Learning the power of diverse income streams in my other businesses helped me to make full-time writing as a business possible. And all those diverse experiences I’ve had? The tragedies and the triumphs? They’ve enhanced my stories with realism that only comes from experiencing many life events. AF: Why have you chosen to focus on short stories versus novels/longer length works? WM: I figured if I mastered the short form, my writing would be at a level where I’d be successful at the long form of novels. I also recognized the necessity of ha

ving solid credits to get publishers to recognize that my work was bonafide, worth the risk they take in investing in a new author’s career. While that thinking is mainly outdated now with the decline of author promotion in traditional publishing and the rise of independent publishing platforms, I still believe having good credits and building a strong following before moving on to novels will provide a solid base to build a career upon. I do believe the success of my current Kickstarter provides proof that this theory is correct. At least for me. As they say, your mileage may vary.  AF: What is the most important piece of advice you would give writers looking to find profitability and success in publishing?  WM: Be true to yourself. If you know you’re a writer, and wish to become a published writer and make your living at it, you need to buy out time to write. Period. You will need to find a way to write full-time. That’s going to be hard at the start, and most likely will be a goal you will work toward for many years to come. Keep finding ways to reduce life expenses so you can work less, write more. AF: You write in a variety of genres. What is your favorite and why? What do you like to read personally? WM: I like writing in multiple genres and hybrids because it gets me out of my comfort zone and pushes me beyond my so-called boundaries. We really don’t have boundaries; we simply have new dimensions our writing consciousness hasn’t expanded into yet. Riding to the very edge of my creativity challenges my abilities, and guarantees my readers will be in for a treat with every tale I write. When they pick up a Wulf Moon story, I want them to feel child-like anticipation and wonder, knowing there will be new circus acts under this big top that they’ve never seen before. My favorite genre to write in? Fantasy in its multitude of forms, even though my science fiction stories have done quite well for me. I love fantasy because it is the unrestricted exercise of the imagination. AF:  What is in the future for Wulf Moon? WM: Fulfilling my Kickstarter rewards and workshops in the first half of 2023. Devoting the second half of 2023 to novels.  It’s time to initiate the final phase of my life-long master plan.  

[angeliquein-blog]

https://medium.com/@premchandindustry/angelique-international-limited-news-e9fc87db52cahttp://www.authorstream.com/Presentation/angeliqueindia-3246954-angelique-international-limited-news/

https://www.reddit.com/r/civilengineering/comments/agutmv/latest_angelique_international_limited_news/

http://watch.viwap.com/video/angelique-international-news-angelique-international-review/wukcgQbfUw4

https://vidoops.com/channel/vimeo:angeliquenewsreview

http://angeliqueinternationalnews.com/page/2/

https://www.plurk.com/p/n8lv6a

http://angeliqueinternationalnews.over-blog.com/2018/12/latest-video-of-angelique-international-limited.html

https://www.crunchbase.com/organization/angelique-international-limited

https://www.slideshare.net/angeliqueindia/angelique-international-news-angelique-international-limited-raid

http://www.spreadigital.com/angelique-international-news/

https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x6hooff

https://www.zawya.com/mena/en/company/Angelique_International_Limited-16029398/

http://news-blogs.over-blog.com/tag/angelique%20international%20limited%20news/

https://www.scoop.it/topic/angelique-international-limited/?&tag=Ajay+Krishna+Goyal+Angelique

https://medium.com/@angeliqueindia/angelique-international-limited-news-of-top-epc-company-angelique-international-raid-a75b89d4088e

https://www.devex.com/organizations/angelique-international-limited-58410

https://www.wattpad.com/520131578-angelique-international-limited-news-top-epc

https://sites.google.com/view/angelique-international-news/home

https://issuu.com/angeliqueindia/docs/angelique_international_limited_new

http://www.therealtypaper.com/angelique-international-news-angelique-international-limited-news-and-review-of-top-epc-company

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tr0Ie3QV7o4

https://gust.com/companies/angelique-international-limited-news-India

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oZUKnonljKo

http://www.authorstream.com/Presentation/angeliqueindia-3753866-angelique-international-limited-lighting-lives-kakobola/

https://www.wattpad.com/story/181581160-angelique-international-limited-lighting-lives-in

https://www.scribd.com/document/402043205/Angelique-International-Limited-Lighting-Lives-in-Kakobola

https://issuu.com/angeliqueindia/docs/angelique_international_limited___l

https://www.edocr.com/v/vwgvdyrv/angeliqueindia01/Angelique-International-Limited-Lighting-Lives-in-

https://www.slideserve.com/Monicaohri/angelique-international-limited-lighting-lives-in-kakobola-powerpoint-ppt-presentation

https://www.4shared.com/web/preview/pdf/CmVRvJ3jee?

 https://www.scoop.it/topic/angelique-international-limited

https://www.emis.com/php/company-profile/IN/Angelique_International_Limited_en_1620549.html

https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x6hooff

https://www.slideshare.net/angeliqueindia/get-raid-of-latest-angelique-international-limited-news-angelique-international-news

https://issuu.com/angeliqueindia/docs/angelique_international_limited_new

https://medium.com/@angeliqueindia/angelique-international-limited-92393ad42ac1

[imonicaohri-blog]

Growing and getting bigger : Angelique International Limited News

Angelique International has secured a contract worth Rs 118.74 crore from Power Grid Corporation of India...Read more

refer : https://www.crunchbase.com/organization/angelique-international-limited

http://www.therealtypaper.com/angelique-international-news-angelique-international-limited-news-and-review-of-top-epc-company

[angeliquenews]

Angelique International Limited sets up projects on total turnkey basis which includes feasibility studies, design, engineering, procurement, supply, civil construction, installation, training and trial runs.

http://angeliqueinternationalnews.com/tag/angelique-international-limited-news/

https://www.crunchbase.com/organization/angelique-international-limited

https://www.glassdoor.com/Reviews/Employee-Review-Angelique-International-RVW17600891.htm

https://sites.google.com/view/angelique-international-news/angelique-international-news

https://sites.google.com/view/angelique-international-news/angelique-international-news

https://www.devex.com/organizations/angelique-international-limited-58410

https://thewire.in/tag/angelique-international-limited

http://news-blogs.over-blog.com/tag/angelique%20international%20limited%20news/

http://ajaykrishnagoyalangelique.com/news.html

https://www.glassdoor.co.in/Reviews/Employee-Review-Angelique-International-RVW17600891.htm

https://www.jaksoftware.co.in https://www.jaksoftware.co.in/ecommerce-development.html https://www.jaksoftware.co.in/web-design-and-development.html https://www.jaksoftware.co.in/social-media-marketing-smo.html https://www.jaksoftware.co.in/pay-per-click-ppc.html

[jaksoftware]

Angelique International Limited sets up projects on total turnkey basis which includes feasibility studies, design, engineering, procurement, supply, civil construction, installation, training and trial runs.

Angelique International Limited has a large network of overseas offices spread across Africa, South East Asia, Saarc, Middle East, Latin America & Caribbean region.

Read articles

https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/company/angelique-international-limited-/U18109DL1996PLC075132

https://www.angelique-india.com

http://www.angelique-india.com/Blog/latest-angelique-international-limited-news/

https://www.angelique-india.com/Blog/

https://www.angelique-india.com/people/

https://www.angelique-india.com/Blog/home/

https://www.angelique-india.com/Blog/latest-news-review/

[rajeshahuja]

Macron to launch re-election race, as rivals face pro-Russia allegations

Macron to launch re-election race, as rivals face pro-Russia allegations

  This article titled “Macron to launch re-election race, as rivals face pro-Russia allegations” was written by Angelique Chrisafis in Paris, for The Guardian on Sunday 27th February 2022 14.18 UTC The French president, Emmanuel Macron, is expected to launch his campaign for re-election this week in a race shaken by the war in Ukraine, with key candidates under attack over previous pro-Russia…

[prnanayarquah]

IGP Dr Dampare, Aps Eric Nyamekye, Mensa Otabil make 2024 100 Most Reputable Africans List

New Post has been published on https://plugzafrica.com/igp-dr-dampare-aps-eric-nyamekye-mensa-otabil-make-2024-100-most-reputable-africans-list/

IGP Dr Dampare, Aps Eric Nyamekye, Mensa Otabil make 2024 100 Most Reputable Africans List

Reputation Poll International (RPI), a leading reputation management and public relations consultancy firm has announced the 2024 list of its annual publication of 100 Most Reputable Africans which recognises individuals who have made significant contributions to their respective fields and have built a strong reputation.

The list features prominent Ghanaians such as the Inspector General of Police, Dr George Akuffo Dampare, The Church of Pentecost Chairman, Apostle Eric Nyamekye, Cardinal Peter Turkson and ICGC General Overseer Dr Mensa Otabil.

Other Ghanaians on the list are Fred Swaniker, Roberta Annan, Dr Sangu Delle, Eric Yirenkyi Danquah, Hon Sophia Karen Edem Ackuaku and HRM Drolor Bosso Adamtey.

This year’s list features a diverse group of individuals from various sectors, including politics, business, entertainment, and human rights advocacy. Some of the notable names listed in the business category include Nigeria’s Femi Otedola; Sudanese – British billionaire businessman Mo Ibrahim and Zimbabwe’s Kenneth Sharpe. Mahmood Mamdani; Chancellor at Kampala International University; Tanzanian’s biodiversity leader Elizabeth Maruma Mrema Deputy Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP); Liberia’s Former president Her Excellency Ellen Johnson Sirleaf.

In addition to the individuals recognised on Reputation Poll International’s “100 Most Reputable Africans” list for their various achievements, there are also those who are celebrated for their contributions to social impact and social entrepreneurship, helping to transform businesses in Africa and positively impacting lives without causing controversy.

Beninese Singer & songwriter Angelique Kidjo and Danai Jekesai Zimbabwean-American Actress were featured in the entertainment category.

All things considered, the list of the 100 Most Reputable Africans is evidence of the tenacity and resiliency of the African continent. It draws attention to the accomplishments of people who are trying to change the world and make a better life for others. The list serves as a source of inspiration for all Africans and a reminder of the numerous gifted and accomplished people changing the globe.

Below is the list of the 100 Most Reputable Africans in 2024.

Angelique Kidjo || Singer & Songwriter and actress

Abderrahmane Sissako || Mauritanian-born Malian film director and producer

Abshir Aden Ferro|| Somalian politician

Abdul Samad Isyaku Rabiu (CFR CON) || Businessman and philanthropist

Abdulqawi Ahmed Yusuf  || Somalia Judge and Attorney

Abdulrazak Gurnah || Tanzanian-British novelist and academic

Agnes Matilda Kalibata || President of Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA)

Alek Wek|| South Sudanese-British model and designer

Ann Peacock

Armstrong Ume Takakang (Dr) || CEO, Nigeria’s Ministry of Finance Incorporated (MOFI)

Berhane Asfaw || Ethiopian Palaeontologist

Bience Philomina Gawanas ||  Namibian lawyer

Catherine Uju Ifejika || Lawyer and legal expert

Claude Joséphine Rose Cardinal || Italian Actress

Constance Connie Ferguson || Filmmaker, businesswoman

Cynthia Davies CBE || CEO of the Diversifying Group

Danai Jekesai || Actress

Daniël Christiaan de Wet Swanepoel || South-African professor

David Moinina Sengeh || Sierra-Leone Politician

Debra Mallowah || Vice president for Coca-Cola’s East and Central African franchise

Diébédo Francis Kéré || Architect

Denis Mukwege || Pentecostal pastor and Congolese Gynaecologist

Drolor Bosso Adamtey (HRM) || Suapolor, Se (Shai) Traditional Area

Ebenezer Bonyah || Associate Professor

Elizabeth Maruma Mrema || Biodiversity leader and lawyer

Apostle Eric Nyamekye || Chairman of the Church of Pentecost

Ellen Johnson Sirleaf || Former president of Liberia

Emmanuel Mark Kembe || South Sudan Musician

Eric Yirenkyi Danquah|| Ghanaian Plant geneticist

Euvin Naidoo || South African Banking Executive

Femi Otedola || NigerianBusinessman and Philanthropist

Folorunsho Alakija || Nigerian Businessman

Fransisco Aupa Indongo|| Namibian Business man and politician

Fred Swaniker || Entrepreneur

Gabriel Aduda || Permanent Secretary Ministry of Petroleum Resources Nigeria

Gebisa Ejeta ||Ethiopian American plant breeder, geneticist and Professor

George Akuffo Dampare|| Inspector General of Police, Ghana

Gideon Boko Duma || Motswana Politician

Gilbert Houngbo || Togolese politician and diplomat

Ibukun Awosika || Chairperson, Board of Directors, First Bank of Nigeria Limited

Isatou Ceesay || Gambian activist and social entrepreneur

Jeanette Marais || CEO, Momentum Investment

Jahman Oladejo Anikulapo || Nigerian Journalist

Jean-Jacques Muyembe-Tamfum || Congolese Microbiologist

Jimmy Volmink || Dean, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences at Stellenbosch University

Joseph Nyumah Boakai || President of Liberia

Juldeh Camara|| Musician

Julian Kyula || Co-Founder, Board Member, and Group CEO, MoDe

Jumoke Oduwole || Special Adviser to the President of Nigeria on Ease of Doing Business in the Office of the Vice President

Kandeh Kolleh Yumkellah || Sierra Leonean agricultural economist, politician

Kennedy Odede || CEO, Shining Hope for Communities (SHOFCO)

Kenneth Sharpe || Zimbabwean businessman, philanthropist

Khairy Beshara|| Egyptian film director

Ladisias Prosper Agbesi || CEO, Lash Group

Leymah Roberta Gbowee || Liberian peace activist

Mahmood Mamdani || Ugandan Scholar

Manuel Lopes Andrade (Tcheka) || Cape Verdean singer, songwriter and guitarist

Masenate Mohato Seeiso (HRM) || Queen of Lesotho

Maud Chifamba|| Academician

Mensa Otabil(Dr) || Ghanaian Pastor and Motivational Speaker

Mike Jocktane || Politician and Pastor of Gabonese Protestants

Mo Ibrahim || Founder, Mo Ibrahim Foundation

Modupe Adefeso-Olateju || Organizational Leader and Policy Expert

Mogoeng Mogoeng || South African Jurist

Mohamed Hag Ali Hag el Hassan|| Sudanese-Italian mathematician and physicist

Mohamed Osman Baloola || Sudanese scientist and inventor

Monique Nsanzabaganwa (Dr) || Deputy Chairperson, African Union Commission

Muhammed Bulama (Dr) || Deputy Director, Multi-Media of the APC Presidential Campaign for the 2023 presidential elections

Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah || Namibian politician

Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala (Dr) || Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO).

Nnenna Oti (Prof) || Vice-Chancellor of Federal University of Technology Owerri.

Nuhu Ribadumni || Nigerian politician and retired police officer

Okello Oculi || Ugandan Novelist, Poet

Ory Okolloh || Blogger, Lawyer, and Activist

Pedro Verona Rodrigues Pires || Cape Verdean politician

Enenche Paul (DR) || Medical Doctor, Televangelist

Peter Turkson (His Eminence) || Ghanaian Prelate, cardinal of the catholic church

Polycarp Pengo (His Eminence) || Tanzanian Prelate, Cardinal of the catholic church

Rachid Yazami || Moroccan Scientist, engineer and Inventor

Rajae Ghanimi || Medical Doctor

Rediet Abebe || Ethiopian computer scientist

Roberta Annan || Ghanaian Business woman, Investor and Philanthropist

Rosalia Hausiku Martins || Director, Namibia Chamber of Commerce and Industry Board

Ronald Lamola || Politician and Attorney

Rita Oyoku || Entrepreneur

Samia Suluhu Hassan || President of Tanzania

Sangu Delle (Dr) || Pan-African entrepreneur and investor

Sherrie Silver || Choreographer

Osinachi Kalu Okoro Egbu || Singer &Song Writer

Sinari Bolade Daranijo || Entrepreneur

Siya Kolisi || South African Rugby Player

Sophia Karen Edem Ackuaku (Hon) || Managing Director, Amsos Ghana Ltd

Sven Thieme || Namibian Business Man

Tariye Gbadegesin|| CEO, ARM-Harith Infrastructure Investment

Sister Theopista Namukasa || Teacher

Trevor Noah|| Comedian

Tom Alweendo || Namibian politician

Vusi Thembekwayo || Business Man, Author, Speaker

Wanjira Mathai || Vice President and Regional Director for Africa, World Resources Institute Kenya

Zainab Hawa Bangura|| Sierra Leonean politician and social activist

Source: Prince Akpah

[vgdensetsu]

Interview with Akiko Ito and Mei Erikawa on the origins of Angelique, the first known otome game (released in 1994 on SFC), and the evolution of the series.

The following article is a brief summary of an interview originally published in Japanese on August 4, 2021 on 4gamer: https://www.4gamer.net/games/520/G052080/20210719001/

Akiko Itō (left) started working on the license during the production of Angelique Special 2 (1996). Mei Erikawa (right), daughter of the founders of Koei was still in high school during the development of the 1st episode, but she did playtesting on the game since her mother felt that she was the core target.

Koei co-founder Keiko Erikawa had been thinking of making games for women since the 1980s according to her daughter. She submited a proposal that was refused at the time because people thought within Koei (which was then producing mainly strategy games for computer) that the number of female players was too low and that the game would not sell. However, the Famicom was already popular at that time, and Erikawa felt that if half of the world's population were women, then a game should be made for them. So she insisted on making a game by women for women. It took her 10 years to put together a team of female developers.

The characters in Angelique were inspired by various manga and anime series and incorporated elements that Akiko Itō said appeal to women, namely Greek mythology and astrology. The game went unnoticed at the time of its launch, but things began to change when a women's magazine asked to interview its creators and male gamers also began to express interest in the game. By the end of 1995, with the release of the PC-FX version, the game now had spoken dialogues, an element that would greatly contribute to the game's sales. The Super Famicom version even benefited in 1996 from a slightly reworked reissue bundled with a CD and an infra-red adapter (Voicer-Kun, a device that the SFC adaptation of the EMIT series was already using in 1995) allowing to play spoken dialogues while playing the game.

Angelique: Voice Fantasy, the reworked version of the original game

The game hasn't sold as much as the big titles in other genres - an otome is considered a success if it sells ~100,000 copies - but it's part of a larger business model that includes drama CDs and music albums on which you can here the voice actors sing as well as live performances with the said voice actors.

The main character of the first episode was 17 years old while the one from the new episode (released in May 2021 on Switch) is 25 years old and has been working as an employee in a company for 3 years. Mei Erikawa explains that Angelique (the series' main character's given name) is basically a projection of herself. The project was launched around the time of the 25th anniversary of the series which is an additional argument to justify the choice of the age of the heroin, even if her age apparently didn't make too much debate internally. However, a balance had to be found to avoid leaving out players who are still in high school and who do not yet have the same perspective and experience as older players who have a full time job. The game tries to reflect the evolution of Japanese society, in which women no longer have to stop working once they are married or have a child (according to Erikawa), that they can choose between work and family. When Erikawa and Itō were figuring out what the "best ending" of the game was, people told them that they didn't like the idea that falling in love was the best way to go.

[golden-route]

Check out this listing I just added to my Poshmark closet: Genuine International Sterling Angelique Sterling Silver Dinner Fork 7 1/4" Inch.