#Pinnacle Book Achievement Awards winners

[jjspina]

Summer Reading time!

[ahlam-musandam-tours]

Khasab Musandam Half-day Dhow Cruise

In life, it’s sometimes a good idea to take detours. They show you different paths, journeys less travelled, and endeavours to provide new experiences.

So, do you plan to take a small detour on the UAE tour at Khasab Musandam? That might be one of the best experiences in your life.

Welcome to Ahlam Musandam Tours – The one-stop destination for the best that Khasab Musandam Fjords has to offer. Take a cruise to Khasab Musandam, where the beauty is radiant, and the waters are as clear as the blue skies. Khasab Musandam and the Musandam Fjords located there will offer you the ideal opportunity to experience snorkelling, Swimming and greet the dolphins along the way.

Through the Half Day Dhow cruise arranged by Ahlam Musandam Tours, gain a glimpse into the mesmerizing beauty of Musandam Fjords. So, experience Khasab Musandam most efficiently. Join the journey, today!!

Ahlam Musandam Tours endeavours to enrich your soul through travels. We have several Khasab Musandam activities in store for our customers. We have received accolades from various customers we’ve served over the years and are also the proud winners of the “Trip Advisor Travellers Choice of the Year Award,2022”.

We believe that a journey is an awakening to reality and the mysteries the world holds. Every experience enhances the perception and enables the discovery of new and interesting elements in life. To serve our customers better, we offer and guarantee the best prices possible, free cancellations, customized plans, and much more. Choose us and experience Musandam from a different perspective. Book the half-day dhow cruise and ensure that your trip will be memorable, enjoyable, and enlightening.

Khasab Musandam Activities on a Half Day Dhow Cruise:

Khasab Musandam Half-day tours deem to be one of the fun activities you embark on in a lifetime. Ahlam Musandam tours have planned and arranged several activities for our fellow travellers, and they are indeed, Adventurous!!

On arrival at the Dhow boarding point at Khasab, it’s time to embark on a wonderful cruise on a traditional Omani Dhow. When you’re travelling across the UAE, time is of the essence and the half-day dhow cruise has been arranged for your convenience.

Sail seamlessly through the azure waters, witness the Fjords and experience neighbouring fishing villages as well. Go Swimming and snorkelling at select locations during the Khasab Musandam half-day dhow cruise.

Enter the home of cute, funny and majestic creatures of the sea only known as the Dolphin. It’s a constantly occurring phenomenon that’ll come up when you’re cruising through the waters of Musandam Fjord.

While you’re basking in the view of the breathtaking dolphins, we’ve arranged some assorted snacks, soft drinks, fresh fruits, traditional Oman coffees and tea onboard for our esteemed guests. The half-day dhow cruise deems to be one of the time-efficient, exciting and worthwhile experiences of your life.

Musandam fjord (Khor Ash-Sham)

Musandam Fjord or Khor Ash Sham is the pinnacle of beauty that Khasab Musandam has to offer. This beautiful combination of water bodies and unique terrains is located in Wilayat Khasab, Musandam Peninsula.

The inlet is calm, sheltered and surrounded by high mountains that encapsulate the beauty of Oman. The lagoon covers over 17 kilometres and is indeed breathtaking.

The area overlooks several fishing villages such as Nadifi, Qanah, Maqlab, Sham and Seeb which will be on the route that the dhow cruise will embark upon. However, gaining access to these unique fishing villages is only achieved through speed boats.

Apart from the breath-taking beauty and several fishing villages, the main attraction at Musandam Fjords is the cute, loving and playful Dolphins. The Dolphins are native to Musandam fjords and have been born and raised in the vicinity. The Half Day dhow cruise aims to explore and interact with these magnificent mammals and get to know them on a personal level. While you’re on a traditional dhow, you can see them swimming alongside the dhows in an attempt to race them as a fun activity.

Musandam Fjord - A Great place for snorkelling

Apart from the lovely mammals and breathtaking views, Musandam Fjords are considered a great destination for snorkelers. Along with the fun-loving dolphins, you can snorkel or swim into the Musandam fjords and witness reef fish, coral reefs, depending on luck, reef sharks, and green turtles also in the blue sea. It’s considered a perfect destination for swimming and snorkelling as the water is crystal clear and clean.

A fun fact about one of the locations is that a small island known as Telegraph Island was used in 1864 as a base to connect to the telegraph cable. The traditional dhow will be taking guests to this location to witness a piece of the history of Khasab Musandam.

Dolphins in the Musandam fjords (Khor Sham)

Dolphins are one of the most fun, loving and unique mammals blessed on this earth for people to interact with. They are smart, agile and active in their natural habitat.

A dolphin-watching trip is one of the main highlights of the half day dhow cruise at Khasab Musandam. It isn’t every day you get a chance to interact and see them in their natural habitat. Dolphins are intelligent animals with complex social structures and are friendly sea mammals who enjoy following traditional boats. Once the captain finds them, he reaches close to them and shifts gear to pick up speed thereby attracting them to race. Their fascination with boats is adorable and is a lovely sight to witness. The travellers journeying with us can enjoy the rare moments of watching the exciting and active dolphins closing in. Hence, through the half day dhow cruise, the dolphin trip is going to be one of the highlights of your whole trip to Oman.

Here’s a fun fact we want to let you in on. Did you know that there is only a specific type of Dolphin that you can see in Khor Sham? Well, the one type of Dolphin seen in Khor Sham Fjord is the “Humpback Dolphin”, and they always travel in groups. While cruising through Musandam Fjord, you can witness the mystery and wonder of watching baby dolphins alongside their families. There is no better sight than that. So, choose from one of our best Khasab Musandam boat tour deals and experience the voyage of a lifetime.

[mschmdtphotography]

Fourth Gold Medal!!

Congratulations! Your book, Christmas in Evergreen, has been chosen as Best Book in the Category of Suspense, in the NABE Pinnacle Book Achievement Award Winners for Winter 2024. Al Galasso Winter 2024 Pinnacle Book Achievement Awards Book Link Synopsis: “My husband, Steve, and I have always had a great relationship, married, for the last five years. He’s a private investigator, and I have…

[eticketingcouk]

Euro Cup: The UEFA Euro Cup 2024 Trophy & live stream

Euro Cup Tickets: Introducing the Euro Cup 2024, the coveted prize up for grabs for the 24 contenders of the Euro Cup Germany. One fortunate team captain will savour a career-defining moment when they raise the Euro 2024 at Olympia Stadion Berlin. Spain's Iker Casillas had the honour of being the first skipper to lift the updated edition. The trophy was in June 2008, with the fresh accolade serving as a suitable replacement. The award that had long been associated with the UEFA European Championship.

Euro Cup fans worldwide can book Euro Cup 2024 Tickets from our online platform www.eticketing.co. Fans can book Euro Cup Germany Tickets on our website at discounted prices.

The second iteration of the trophy is based on the original design crafted by the Arthus-Bertrand company in 1960. It's named after Henri Delaunay, the former president of the French Football Federation (FFF). The first general secretary of UEFA, serving from the organization's inception on 15 June 1954 to 9 November 1955. This trophy stands 18cm taller and is 2kg heavier than the original. Crafted from sterling silver, and retains its historical moniker.

The trophy transformed to better represent the grandeur and magnitude of Europe's most esteemed international tournament. The responsibility of creating the initial award fell upon Pierre Delaunay, the son of Henri, the visionary behind the competition. Henri Delaunay passed away in 1955 before witnessing his vision come to fruition. But the updated prize stands as a testament to his lasting legacy, maintaining its timeless design.

The Evolution of the Euro Cup Trophy: From Delaunay's Vision to Euro Cup 2024

Minor distinctions between the original and updated versions include the enlargement of the silver base for stability. Moreover, the names of the victorious nations. Which were once displayed on the plinth, have been intricately engraved on the back of the trophy. Weighing 8kg and measuring 60cm in height. In contrast to the original, which was crafted by the Chobillon goldsmith and later acquired by Arthus-Bertrand in Paris. The production of the contemporary equivalent was entrusted to Asprey London.

Asprey, renowned silversmiths, jewellers, and goldsmiths, boasts a rich history in trophy-making. Dating back to the America's Cup, which their sister company Garrard produced in 1848. UEFA aimed to enhance not only the quality but also the size of the trophy. I want it to serve as a focal point for the event. It was deemed that the original trophy was too diminutive for this purpose.

The Euro Cup 2024 is poised to become a symbol of excellence in European football, much like its predecessor. The Henri Delaunay Cup did for decades. This prestigious tournament is set to captivate football fans from all over the world. As teams from various nations compete for the honour of hoisting the Euro Cup Germany.

The journey of the Euro Cup trophy, with its roots tracing back to Henri Delaunay's vision. Serves as a reminder of the rich history and tradition of the UEFA European Championship. As the excitement builds for the upcoming tournament. The Euro Cup 2024, with its increased stature and modern design. Embodies the grandeur and significance of this international sporting event.

Euro Cup 2024 Trophy - A Symbol of Football Excellence

The meticulous craftsmanship of Asprey London in producing this remarkable trophy ensures. It will stand as a symbol of excellence and achievement in football for generations to come. With its larger size, sterling silver construction, and the engraved names of past winners. It truly represents the pinnacle of success in European football.

As the Euro 2024 approaches, teams and players from across the continent will set their sights on this magnificent trophy. Aiming to etch their names into football history. The Euro Cup promises to be a spectacular showcase of skill, and determination.

He enduring the spirit of competition, all in the quest to lift the Euro Cup 2024 at Olympia Stadion Berlin. Where one lucky captain will have the chance to create a career-defining moment.

Euro 2024 on TV: Schedule, TV channels and live stream

Check out the complete Euro Cup 2024 qualification TV schedule, featuring start times, channel specifics, and live streaming details for the qualifying journey. The initial international break of the season has concluded, and it's a mixed situation concerning the aspirations of the home nations to secure a spot in the upcoming Euro 2024 tournament.

As two squads from each pool automatically secure a berth in the competition, England appears poised to lead the group, even following their draw against Ukraine in their recent qualifier. The Scots have their sights set on Euro Cup 2024 as well, following a flawless record of five victories in five matches during the campaign, including crucial triumphs over previous champions Spain and Erling Haaland's Norway.

Wales still possesses an opportunity to secure their place in Euro 2024, whereas Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland seem destined to miss out on the event. In Euro 2020, England advanced to the final, Wales exited in the Round of 16, Scotland finished at the bottom of Group D, while Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland failed to qualify for the continental tournament. Fans throughout Europe are eagerly anticipating their next dose of international action, brimming with renewed optimism and aspirations all around.

As the excitement builds for the upcoming Euro Cup 2024, hosted by Germany, football enthusiasts from all corners of Europe are eagerly awaiting the clash of nations. The anticipation is palpable, and supporters are gearing up for a thrilling tournament that promises unforgettable moments on the pitch.

Eticketing.co offers Euro Cup Tickets for Euro 2024 at the best prices. Euro Cup fans can buy Euro Cup 2024 Tickets at exclusively discounted prices.

Euro Cup Germany Qualifiers: Nations Battle for a Place in Football History

With the qualifiers in full swing, the competition for a coveted spot in Euro 2024 is fierce. Teams are giving their all to secure their place in the championship, and the drama on the field is sure to keep fans on the edge of their seats. Whether it's England's pursuit of group dominance, Scotland's impressive run, or Wales' determined effort to cut, there are intriguing storylines to follow in every match.

The hopes and dreams of nations are riding on the performances of their football heroes, and the road to Euro 2024 is paved with determination and passion. While some teams are on the verge of realizing their Euro Cup dreams, others are facing the harsh reality of missing out.

With the Euro 2024 drawing closer, it's not just a football tournament; it's a celebration of unity and competition, where fans from diverse backgrounds come together to support their teams. So, mark your calendars, set your alarms, and get ready to witness the magic of Euro Cup 2024, where the heart-pounding action on the pitch will captivate audiences worldwide.

Euro 2024 qualifiers on TV

Every game throughout the Euro Cup 2024 qualification journey, except for the matches involving the English national team, will be broadcast live on Viaplay Sports. Viaplay Sports presents a flexible monthly or annual subscription service, catering to both newcomers and those looking to complement their current Virgin Media and Sky TV packages.

Exclusive live coverage of England's matches will be available on Channel 4 and its online platform, All4. As for Wales' fixtures, they will be televised on the Welsh-language channel S4C, in addition to being accessible via Viaplay.

Additionally, for avid fans eagerly anticipating the Euro Cup 2024 hosted by Germany, these broadcasting options provide a comprehensive viewing experience. Whether you prefer the convenience of Viaplay Sports' subscription service, the exclusivity of Channel 4's coverage for England matches, or the Welsh-language immersion on S4C for Wales games, there are options to suit every viewer's preference.

Euro Cup: Where Football Unites the World

The Euro Cup 2024 is not just a competition; it's a global celebration of football excellence. With these diverse broadcasting choices, fans across different platforms can immerse themselves in the excitement and drama of the tournament. It's a time when nations come together to witness their teams' quest for glory, and these broadcasting options ensure that no one misses a moment of the action.

So, whether you're a die-hard supporter following your national team's journey or a neutral observer relishing the spectacle of top-tier football, mark these channels and streaming platforms in your calendar for an unforgettable Euro Cup Germany experience. The stage is set, and the anticipation is building as the football world gears up for this prestigious event in Germany.

We offer Euro Cup Tickets to admirers who can get Euro 2024 tickets through our trusted online ticketing marketplace. Eticketing.co is the most reliable source for booking Euro Cup 2024 Tickets. Sign up for the latest Euro Cup Germany Ticket alert.

[mybookplacenet]

Featured Post: Sketches of Life (Where The Road Goes Series Book 1) by A Gavazzoni

About Sketches of Life (Where The Road Goes Series Book 1): A careless girl. A survivor alone in the world. A world in turmoil. In the middle of WWII, France surrendered to Germany, and young Lily, half French and half American, has her life turned upside down. A careless girl, full of dreams, Lily must leave France and go to her father’s homeland, taking her mother with her. Lily’s mother becomes completely dependent upon her teenage daughter, and Lily is forced to grow up quickly. Trying her best to support them both, balancing work and dreams of continuing her studies, Lily meets her first love and discovers passion and betrayal on her way. Ninon is a survivor. Alone in the world, she works as an exotic dancer in a French cabaret called Le Passioné, where she moves her hips to put food on her plate until a new and dangerous opportunity is presented to her. Although Ninon has lost faith in love and God, life will show her surprises can be found around every corner. France, the United States, Spain, Austria, and Argentina present the backdrops for an epic tale of people trying to adapt to a world in turmoil—one that’s filled with secrets and surprises… A GOLD PINNACLE BOOK ACHIEVEMENT AWARD WINNER What readers are saying about Sketches of Life: ★★★★★- “I would recommend "Sketches of Life" to anyone looking for a warm heartfelt, heart-wrenching story of a girl coming of age in a war-torn world.” Targeted Age Group: 21+ Written by: A Gavazzoni Buy the ebook: Buy the Book On Amazon Link to Series Buy the Print Book: Buy the Book On Amazon Author Bio: A. Gavazzoni is a Brazillian Multi-Award-Winning Novelist of five published literary works within two novel series titled, 'Hidden Motives' and 'Where The Road Goes.' Adriana has become a critically acclaimed popular steamy romance fiction writer of light erotica with cross-genres of steamy murder mystery suspense, crime action, historical romantic thrillers, coming-of-age, and women's gripping fiction. Adriana's break-out debut of "Behind The Door" book one of the "Hidden Motives" series firmly placed her on the literary map nationally and internationally. Her novels are available on Amazon Books, Amazon Kindle, and Kindles available within Kindle Unlimited, and her novels are featured in online literary book sites, fine book stores, and literary magazines. Born and raised in Brazil, she is of full Italian lineage. By day she is a Brazillian business lawyer, a former professor of law, and writes legal books. She speaks four languages: English, French, Portuguese, and Spanish. When she is not practicing law or writing her next steamy novel, she is an avid reader and enjoys many interests as a very active person. Adriana loves to dance, especially the (Tango), and enjoys cooking, enjoys good food, and good wine. She believes in exercising along with living a healthy lifestyle. She enjoys traveling and visits New York often, but her "Happy Place" is always spending time with her big happy family and her pets as a passionate animal lover. Adriana continues to work and reside in Brazil. ***Novel Awards & Achievements For A. Gavazzoni* "Where The Road Goes Novel Series" Book One - Sketches of Life - Gold Pinnacle Book Achievement Award - Honorable Mention - Los Angeles Book Festival 2021 - Finalist - Book Excellence Awards Book Two - Life Has Other Plans Gold Pinnacle Book Achievement Award - Book Excellence Award - Finalist - Eric-Hoffer Award - NIEA - National Indie Book Award - Honorable Mentions - Hollywood Book Festival 2022 & Paris Book Festival 2022... All Novels Awarded 5-Star Reader's Favorite Editorial Book Reviews. Multiply Awards Won For All Three Novels In The "Hidden Motives" Series... Follow the author on social media: Learn more about the writer. Visit the Author's Website Facebook Fan Page Twitter Instagram YouTube Read the full article

[brotherhoodnovel]

Since my car accident in May 2022, when I was afraid book awards for my work had dried up, The Dance Towards Death has won or placed in the following award contests: Winner-2022 Pinnacle Book Achievement Award-Thriller https://www.bookmarketingprofits.com/PinnacleAwardsWinter2022.html Finalist-2022 American Fiction Awards-Mystery/Suspense-Hardboiled/Crime Finalist-2022 American Fiction Awards-Mystery/Suspense-Multicultural/Diverse Finalist-2022 American Fiction Awards-Thriller-Crime http://www.americanbookfest.com/americanfictionawards/2022afafullresults.html Honorable Mention-2022 New York Book Festival Contest-Wild Card http://www.newyorkbookfestival.com/ This brings the total so far to 8 book award contests where The Dance Towards Death has placed, with a total of 11 honors! #bookstagram #booktok #book #bookreview #bookrecommendations #bookawards #awards #award #awardwinning #noir #crime #mystery #suspense #suspensebooks #suspensethriller #suspensestories #romanticsuspense #thriller #thrillerbooks #thrill #thrillers #thrillride #mysterybooks #crimefiction #stories #author #authorsofinstagram #writersofinstagram #writer #novel https://www.instagram.com/p/CiY2i52Lo8M/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[petty-revenge-stories]

Bully me in Saturday school? You're not getting that precious award.

My friends and I were reminiscing old times over some drinks tonight, and this story came up.

Back in highschool, there were saturday classes you can take in addition to regular school courses. Some people use it to retake failed subjects, some take it for easy marks to boost score average for university application. I'm a Chinese immigrant, but I suck at math *gasp*, so I took the saturday Chinese classes to boost my marks. The classes were pretty easy, and all the students were getting along well, because everyone is there to get easy marks. That changed in the second term when a snoob of elitist joined the class.

This girl (let's call her Kat) have the most insufferable superiority complex in the world. She brags about her academic achievements in China, and constantly belittle Canadian born Chinese kids who couldn't understand her Chinese idioms. She quickly gathers a small group of worshipers "Mean Girls" style, and bullies other kids with "sophisticated Chinese language". I became one of her main targets as I'm Cantonese descent, and hence a "southern savage" who couldn't comprehend the elegance of her superiority. Kat quickly learn that it's unwise to bully me upfront as I'm a) physically a head taller, and b) I have a larger arsenal of Chinese proverbs to fire back. So for the rest of the term, she and her little gang resort to point and laugh from 5m aways. I don't really care about that much, but it's annoying.

Now a bit of background info on myself and the teacher. Although I immigrated to Canada at a very young age, my parents never let up my Chinese culture teachings. They lugged all the Chinese literary textbooks from China to homeschool me in Chinese, so I can write poems and read ancient texts without translation. I'm ashamed to say my calligraphy have degraded over the years from typing, but I can still hold the brush in the right way. My saturday school teacher admire my parents' dedication, and he often chat with me during recess about Chinese culture. This guy is a "Red-fan", who idolizes the novel "Dream of the Red Chamber", and hold it as the pinnacle of Chinese literature. He can't talk for 5 min without mentioning or referencing the novel in someway. He is also Taiwanese and hates the communist party in China. All of this becomes important later.

Setting up - The saturday school awards a student with the highest mark in each subject after final exam. It doesn't count as proper academic award, and there's no physical awards, just a piece of regular paper saying you've done well in saturday school. For the last two classes before final exam, Kat have been even more obnoxious than usual about her literary prowess. She kept bragging how she will take the Saturday school award hands down, and no "southern savage" is any match for her. From her refusing to speak English during all saturday school interactions, I suspect she is not doing well in English classes, and the saturday Chinese class is the only decent mark she can hope for. I started to form a plan for getting back at Kat and her precious award. I brushed up my Chinese writing from my old textbooks, and even took a bus to a library 45 min away to borrow Chinese literary books for studying.

The revenge - At the last day of school, it was announced I am the award winner, and I gleefully accepted the paper from the teacher while Kat sat in stunned silence. During the recess, Kat shouted at the teacher for justice and demanded to know why she was skipped from receiving the award. The teacher was none too pleased at Kat's bribing allegations, and asked me if he can show her my final exam. Of course I consented and watched Kat's face turned white as she read my essay.

I wrote my final essay in rhyming couplets, in the famous "8 sections" style used by all Chinese scholars. I used sections of Dream of the Red Chamber to comment on historic events, condemn the communist burning of books, and the importance of preserving Chinese culture in Taiwan.

That remains one of the most satisfying moments in my life, and I'm not ashamed to brag about it.

(source) story by (/u/Eudemon)

[caerulux]

World Building - Pokemon Coordinators: A Guide & World Building

Credit to @hisvanity for the creation of levels, working with ranks, as well as the battle/appeals ranking system. Also credit to @whiteunova for their ideas for contests in Unova. Credit for Inspiration & Original Concept for the Pokémon Coordinator Association (PCA) is to pkmn-downtheline

Note: The World Building is reblogable and able to be used for anyone’s coordinator wishes! Just remember to give credit back to all those if you plan on using any information. When it comes to Kalos and Alola, they are still a work in progress.

       Originating from Hoenn, Pokémon Coordinator are people who focus on bringing out the beauty of their Pokémon. Originally, most Coordinators focused on the outward appearance of their of Pokémon, making sure they kept them highly presentable via grooming as well as feeding them specialized treats created from berries. They also go about this in showing off their Pokémon in different visual ways, usually aiming for the title of Top Coordinator. This title cannot be achieved until after a Coordinator has won in a Grand Festival which can only be obtained after winning 5 Master Rank ribbons.

       These can only be done after a Coordinator has won through the earliest levels of contests: Normal, Super, and Hyper before that can officially win ribbons that make them eligible for Master Rank status. In total, a Coordinator should in general have 8 ribbons under their belt before participating in their first Grand Festival. Once a Coordinator has obtained the title of Top Coordinator, they are eligible to compete in different hierarchy of contests. Each aspect is held in place by that region’s  Pokémon Coordinator Association (PCA) while International, which is set in Hoenn, also keeps this up and held in line.

Levels:

Local: This involves the ranks Normal through Master. Normals and Supers are held in every city every month, whereas Hypers and Masters are held every two months.

Pre-National: This bracket encompasses the Wallace Cup and other tournaments that provide a Ribbon that can be used for any region’s Grand Festival. Sometimes, these competitions can be as tough as Grand Festivals themselves, given the amount of people vying for such a valuable Ribbon.

National: This ranking is reserved for the ICL’s official Grand Festivals in each region, which take place once a year. National winners will earn the title of Top Coordinator.

Exhibition: These matches, almost always restricted to people with Top Coordinator ranking, don’t qualify you for anything–they’re for Coordinators who want to sharpen their skills and win some extra prestige. Some Exhibition matches are for charity, but most of them are national/international competitions that pack an extra punch: moving battlefields, Triple/Rotation rounds, monotype doubles, etc. Even though Exhibition matches are #4 in the hierarchy, some of these competitions are just as hard to win as the ICL’s Champions Festival–or even harder.

International: This ranking is reserved for each Coordinator league’s official international competition. ICL’s Champions Festival, which takes place every four years; winning it is considered the pinnacle of Contest achievement. One Grand Festival win will qualify you, but it doesn’t hurt to have more. International winners will earn the title of Champion Coordinator. These differ from Exhibition competitions because Exhibitions do not have so many participants, are not always affiliated with a major Coordinating league, and are not necessarily international.

Ribbons:

When it comes to ribbons, they do not expire until after a Trainer has used them to compete in a Grand Festival. Once that has occurred, Coordinators must compete in another set of Master Rank contests before they’re able to qualify again. A Coordinator most remember, however, that ribbons are region locked, meaning that Master Rank ribbons earned in Hoenn can only be used towards the Grand Festival in Hoenn. However, if one wins a ribbon from a Cup, this ribbon can be used within any region, but still the non-expiration until usage still applies to it. As Coordinators are required 5 Master Rank ribbons before taking on the Grand Festival, they are require to win one from Contests focusing on each of the 5 areas: Coolness, Beauty, Cuteness, Cleverness, and Toughness. If a Coordinator has not obtained one ribbon from each of the areas, then they cannot participate in the Grand Festival unless they obtained a ribbon from a Cup which waves them of one area or someone gifts them of the ribbon for the area they are missing.

Participating:

In order for a Coordinator to begin participation in contests, they must hold a Contest Pass. Passes are very easy to obtain as all a Coordinator has to do is register and apply for on at any Contest Hall. Upon signing up, Coordinators are given a copy of the rule book that holds for that region as well as for Nationals, a ribbon case unless they already have one of their own, and in Sinnoh’s case, ball capsules. When it comes to passes, the region it is obtained in is the only region that it can be used for. Unlike ribbons, Contest Passes expire after the end of a Contest season in that region, therefore after the Grand Festival Coordinators are required to re-register unless they plan on moving to compete in a different region. Then they must register once again.

Before the start of any contest, a Coordinator must sign up for that contest at the respective hall. It is then they are given their number so they know when it is their turn to perform in the appeals round. During this portion, Coordinators also register the Pokémon that plan on using for the entire length of the contest. Coordinators and Pokémon have their pictures taken so they can easily be identified.

Contests are broken up into two main rounds: Appeals & Battling

Appeals: In the appeals round, Coordinators use this moment to display their Pokémon’s beauty. This is the time that a Coordinators type of style is usually displayed as well as the type of Pokémon one may seem to prefer start to be noticed. It is in this round that a Coordinator is judged based on how they brought out the inner and outer beauty of their Pokémon. If a Coordinator focuses mostly on themselves, they guaranteed to not pass ono the next round for Battling

Battling: During this period, Trainers are randomly matched up against each other. Battles for contests are almost similar for the standards set by the Pokémon League, but in this case Coordinators are subjected to a 5 minute time frame. In this time a Coordinator must display their skills as a Coordinator, showing the Pokémon’s true potential in battle. Points are awarded and taken based on how Coordinator and Pokémon work together, displaying moves and countering their opponent, or when they are hit/the attack fails. The round generally ends once a Pokémon faints in battle or the time limit has been reached. In the latter case, the Coordinator who has the most points moves onto the next round. This continues onto the finals into a final winner has been crowned.

These tactics follow just the same when participating in any Contest of any level, competition and cup. For more information on the battle system it can be viewed here.

Earnings:

Coordinators are actually awarded for their wins and accomplishments in competing like trainers. They can earn the highest amount for that contest by winning the entire contest fully. Otherwise, payment will be broke down into smaller amounts based on their placements. Therefore, runner up will still receive a pay for making it that far and anyone who was able to reach the battle rounds are paid for their participation as well. The only time that this does not fully hold up is during an Exhibition level Contest. Since they are generally for charity, Coordinators who participate in it are all paid the same amount regardless of placement. Their earnings do not come out of the amount of money that was raised from ticket sales and donations.

The Season:

Typically, Grand Festivals are held between the months of April through mid-June. During that time up to the start of contests in mid-August, it’s the up to the Region’s Contest Association to find sponsorship for the next Grand Festival as its location changes every year. Local contest halls are usually kept up during this “off season” time to allow Coordinators to practice if they choose, or hold contests for those in Exhibition. As this is of a higher level, it usually is a smaller competing crowd in comparison to its lower ranking, but as it also focuses to earn money for charity it draws in high crowds. Depending on this time frame, an International Competition may also be held, but considering it occurs every 4 years it is not always promised.

Region Differences:

In general, most of the regions follow the same rules set by Internationals (as in most of the info given above), but each one has minor changes. Hoenn’s original set of rules followed Internationals very closely, considering it being the originating region for contests. However once the rise of Contest Idols (more info given below in section entitled classes) came into the fray, the entire board had to rethink the layout.

Future: Contest halls will be home to both contest and spectaculars. They will be handled a lot better thanks to creation of a bi-weekly rotation for the different specialized contests. However, those pursuing the goal of Contest Idol are still able to participate in contests to get early recognition as it can help their career get an early move on and get scouted.

Coordinator Classes:

Besides just a Coordinator as what’s been stated before, there are also other classes that Coordinators can pursue just like there are other classes of Trainers. For now, we’ll focus on two of those: Pokémon Stylist and Contest Idols

Pokémon Stylist: Originating from Sinnoh and possibly what started its rule on dressing up, Stylist focus on designing clothes and accessories for Pokémon. They have also been known to design outfits for Trainers and other Coordinators if they wish though usually this will go towards Coordinators in Sinnoh and Contest Idols as they are the main ones who partake in it. Stylist focus more so on bringing out a Pokémon’s inner beauty and enhancing their outer appearance instead of style like typical Coordinators. They also compete in competitions as well, but these differ greatly as they taken on a fashion show like style. However, Pokémon are still allowed to display their talents while on the runaway with the usage of moves.  Winners are generally crowned winner with a tiara/crown respectively. Eventually, Stylist do open up their own shops where they will sell their fashion to other Trainers and Pokémon alike.

Contest Idols: The newest class to join the ranks and also originating from Hoenn, Contest Idols have learned to put a mesh of Sinnoh’s ways of coordinating but also somewhat of Kalos’s Performance as well. Contest Idols focus more so on putting on performances and generating happiness through them to their fans. The path generally requires a lot more work than a regular Coordinator as they have to work to get the recognition through countless performances, which generally leads to some to participating in regular contests. Despite this, there are also Idol Competitions held for them as well where they must introduce their Pokémon in their opening act. Generally this is when a Pokémon dances alone, taking cues from their Coordinator, and based on their rating it is decided if they move onto the next round. Generally most of the competition is gone during this before they move onto the Talent phase, where most of 50% of the competitors are kept. From this phase, Pokémon and Contest Idols put on their rehearsed acts and are scored again by the crowd before they move onto the finals. It is in the last round where the team are given a theme that they must focus their Performance on and are generally given up to 20 minutes to come up with a show. As this puts both Idols and Pokémon on spotlight, this is when they are really judged on just how quick they are on their feet to bring happiness to others in their performances. Winners are usually selected based on judges and crowd rating. Because of its Hoenn beginnings, these Performances also require Idols to perform in Normal – Hyper contests, but they are generally not awarded a ribbon in their endeavors until they win a Master rank performance. One isn’t declared an official Contest Idol until they have officially collected 5 Master rank ribbons in total, again each from the different areas. The real key for most Idols is just getting their name out into the open. For them, their fans are their biggest passion.

Treats:

Coordinators can make treats with others or by themselves. Every Pokémon has their own taste and finding the perfect taste for a certain Pokémon is never an easy task for most Coordinators. Over the course of the different regions, the treats have begun to vary.

Hoenn & Kanto: The two regions stick to the usage of Pokéblock. Generally, a Coordinator can keep them in a personalized Pokéblock case. Originally, Coordinators had to work alongside the berry blender when it came to making the treats, but as technology advanced so did the berry blender. Now there are automatic berry blender available for usage. Also with the help of Devon Goods, Coordinators are able to keep track of their Pokéblock usage and recipes with PokéNav apps.

Sinnoh & Johto: Poffins are these two regions common usage for treats for Pokémon. Instead of a berry blender, Coordinators make the treats into a form of a cookie like treat. This treat can be a bit more complicated to make as a Coordinator has to be sure they don’t burn or overflow the entire dough in the process. Though with practice, any Coordinator can make the perfect Poffin. They are generally kept in a Poffin so Trainers can easily store and keep up with them.

The Pokémon Coordinator Association:

As originally stated before, the Pokémon Coordinator Association (PCA) is held within each region that participates in contests. They uphold the rules that were created and established by the original founding Association, Hoenn’s. Each PCA is broken up into different levels where general jobs and duties are broken down:

Managers: Made up of a body of 5 people to hold with the 5 different areas, this set of people are the main people who run the entire Contest circuit within a region. It is their job to make sure that all Contests are able to move smoothly, but also make sure that everything is kept in place for the Grand Festival. Basically, the easiest way to put it is that their job is to organize for their region. In general, each manager has their own set of team that helps out in their specialized area when it comes to running and planning their different contests for the different rankings.

Scouters/Recruiters: This is typically made out of group of 10, two people to represent the 5 different areas for Contests. Their job is find young and talented Trainers who might fit the Coordinator path. Generally, they are able to help an aspiring Trainer who knows little but wants to join the Contest realm into the area they see fit as they are prone to picking up on styles fast. They are also great in deciphering what class of Coordinator a person may fit. Scouters do have a main focus of emphasizing that Contests are a gender neutral realm, meaning that do work a lot to make sure that males are not looked down upon in the area based on the past issues of people viewing Contests as a “girly concept”.

Educators: As Trainer Schools also have classes for aspiring Coordinators, the PCA hirers their own set of Educators they see fit for the job. However, before one can become an Educator officially, they must pass a series of exams to show they have the extensive knowledge about their career from the history, to rules, classes and regional differences. Usually they go for Coordinators who had an outstanding rep but also was seen to be very approachable and helping as not every Coordinator is fit to teach. The task isn’t always easy since they are helping teach the future stars in everything they have to do in coordinating.

Promoters: Promoters are the main ones who help get the name out about contests, but they are also the ones who help collect sponsors. Thanks to them, Grand Festivals are able to be held yearly. Promoters work closely with International Competitions since they always try to keep them as charity events.

Judges: This area is mostly made up of retired Coordinators as well as the Contesta family. They are the main ones who judge the different contests and competitions throughout the regions. Each year, they elect a main host to help run all the contests for that season while the rest of them rotate off for other contests. For certain occasions, members from other departments will step in as guest judges.

Advisory: Usually made up of current and retired Top Coordinators, the group acts as a guidance towards the rest of the Association when problems occur. They are generally the ones the rest turns to when somethings wants to be added or changed to the rules for that regions Association. They are also the ones who deal with conflict within the Association as well as those who have broken the rules set by Internationals. Since they are mostly kept out of most competition dealings, they are the best ones to deal with the problem and usually make the final decision on a Coordinator’s punishment if it is needed.

Management Team: As stated before, they work alongside their Manager in organizing and running the contests for their region. They are the ones you will generally see the most as the Manager works behind the scenes. Normally, they keep record of everything that is happening for their areas of contests from participants to stage crews to registration. People apart of this team have yet another team of their own which helps them run their portion of work. They can generally be viewed as second in command when in comparison to Managers thanks to having another team of workers below them.

[thenewwei]

Since my car accident in May 2022, when I was afraid book awards for my work had dried up, The Dance Towards Death has won or placed in the following award contests:

Winner-2022 Pinnacle Book Achievement Award-Thriller

https://www.bookmarketingprofits.com/PinnacleAwardsWinter2022.html

Finalist-2022 American Fiction Awards-Mystery/Suspense-Hardboiled/Crime

Finalist-2022 American Fiction Awards-Mystery/Suspense-Multicultural/Diverse

Finalist-2022 American Fiction Awards-Thriller-Crime

http://www.americanbookfest.com/americanfictionawards/2022afafullresults.html

Honorable Mention-2022 New York Book Festival Contest-Wild Card

http://www.newyorkbookfestival.com/

This brings the total so far to 8 book award contests where The Dance Towards Death has placed, with a total of 11 honors!

[cathygeha]

REVIEW

Red Ruckus by Brett Cogburn

Morgan Clyde #3

 Gun battles, horse stealing, lynching, corrupt marshals, and a man with skills called in to clean things up – or die trying. Morgan Clyde is a man who gets the job done while doing what he believes to be right…no matter what.

 What I liked;

* Morgan: war veteran, sure-shot, divorced, has been a lawman and worked for the railroad, a legend or if not – one in the making

* Dixie: war veteran, ex-lawman, farmer, friend of Morgan’s, might have a sweet spot for Molly

* Molly: immigrated from Ireland, has a checkered past in regard to work, strong, has a business, might have a sweet spot for Dixie though she used to have one for Morgan

* Cumsey: horse thief, sweet talker, prankster, likable, seems to land in trouble, would like to find out how he turns out

* Noodles: Sicilian barber who works for and with Molly in her establishment – would like to see him with his family if the series continues

* Seeing some of the characters from previous books

* Getting to know more about Morgan and his past

* Wondering if Morgan will reconnect with his son in the future

* Thinking about Morgan and hoping he finds a way to be at peace with himself and move toward a better future

* Hoping Molly and Dixie will have happy lives – together or apart

* The potential for more books in the series and wondering what will happen next

* That the task Morgan was set at the beginning of the story was achieved – no loose ends

 What I didn’t like:

* Who and what I was meant not to like

* Knowing that there are still people doing evil now just as they were in this story

* Morgan’s ex-wife and the trouble she creates

 Did I enjoy this book? Yes

Would I read another book in this series? Yes

 Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington-Pinnacle for the ARC – This is my honest review.

 4-5 Stars

    BLURB

 Two-time Spur Award winner Brett Cogburn brings back the true grit and glory of the Wild West with his third post-Civil War thriller featuring New York City policeman-turned M&K Railroad lawman Morgan Clyde... Morgan Clyde, former New York City peacekeeper and Union army veteran, is a man of righteous words and a gunfighter of uncanny skill. With deadly aim he has ended the reign of every badman to walk the dirt-packed streets of Indian Terriotry's notorious Ironhead Station. But now he faces those who wear the badge. With every corrupt businessman, immoral thief, and brutal outlaw either behind bars or six feet under, the town of Eufaula has come under the jurisdiction of men who bend the law to their own whims. They've broken their sworn oaths to protect the innocent and annointed themselves as judges, juries, and executioners. Now Morgan must break the law to enforce it, even if it means putting old friends--and lovers--into his line of fire...

[jjspina]

Showcasing - Drystan the Dragon and Friends Series Book 4: Delfina Solves a Problem - a Children's Book!

[valerieullmerromanceauthor]

Save Him by William M. Hayes

Save Him by William M. Hayes

Save Him by William M. Hayes Genre: Military SciFi Thriller, Time Travel … Winner – 2021 Pinnacle Achievement Awards—Time Travel Winner – 2021 American Fiction Awards—Religious Thriller Winner – 2021 Pacific Book Awards—Thriller Winner – 2021 Firebird Book Awards—Time Travel Winner – 2021 International Impact Book Awards—Military Winner – 2020 Author Circle Awards – Novel of Excellence—Science…

[mschmdtphotography]

Pinnacle Book Achievement Award

Congratulations! Your book has been chosen as one of the NABE Pinnacle Book Achievement Award Winners for Fall 2023. Each year, for the past 40 years, NABE, now known as the National Association of Book Entrepreneurs, awards fine books of quality. Her Alibi by Mary L. Schmidt has won Congratulations! Your book has been chosen as one of the NABE Pinnacle Book Achievement Award Winners for Fall…

[parkpavilion]

The Best (well, favorite) Books of 2021

The voice has spoken from the top of the highest pinnacle of the pavilion and the revelation has been handed down, so let the cheering commence from the assembled throng! Congratulations to the winners of the most cherished prize in all of Literaria, a spot on the Madison Books Best of the Year list! I always exaggerate awkwardly when it’s time to announce my Top Ten list for the year, because it’s silly to pretend that I’ve really assessed every single title released in the past twelve months. I have as always, though, given it about as good a shot as anyone could and am happy with the results. I won’t say proud, because that’s an emotion reserved for the authors who did the hard part and wrote these books. They’re the ones who should be puffing out their chests, and I hope they are.

The other thing I always do when creating my Top Ten list is forget how to count. It’s just too reductive to limit myself to ten choices when brilliant books galore are being published every year. So in 2021 I didn’t stop until I reached 30 titles, broken into three categories. How did I select the ones I did? I’ll keep you in suspense no longer.

In looking at everything I’d read this year, it was unexpectedly easy to winnow the fictional wheat from the chaff. It took barely more than a glance to see that 20 books stood out from the rest, but then I dithered for a good long time, trying to cut that figure down to a more reasonable number. After weeks of fruitless sorting and resorting, I suddenly noticed that my list was already neatly split. I had ten in hardcover and ten in paperback, all published for the first time  in 2021. Obviously I was meant to have two Top Ten lists for fiction. 

The hardcovers came mostly from the big publishing houses, and mostly from established writers. All immensely satisfying, even exhilarating reads, but compared to the paperbacks, collectively more traditionally told tales. There are some interesting resonances between paired titles--blends of science and family dynamics in Bewilderment and The Stone Loves the World; cozy metafictional narration in The Sentence and The Book of Form and Emptiness; and alt-history in Matrix and Civilizations.

The paperback list is characterized by the adventurousness typical of smaller, independent presses, featuring more diversity in form, style, and language and culture of origin. Four books come from US writers while the rest are international, including a Canadian of Sri Lankan heritage, a Norwegian, an Argentinean, a Chilean, a Croatian, and a Franco-Korean who now resides in Switzerland (and whose book I chose before it won the National Book Award--go me). There are novels disguised as history (ELADATL and When We Cease to Understand the World), novels of war and peace (Kin and White Shadow), short story collections (Farthest South and A Perfect Cemetery), a passionate urban love story (Jacket Weather), satirical commentaries on the perilous state of things (Dante’s Indiana), and uncategorizable miniature extravaganzas (Trafik). 

Having had a hard enough time evaluating all these, I didn’t even try to rate them against what I thought were the best non-fiction titles of the year. So I gave them their own Top Ten list. Three of those are books about writers, including George Saunders on the famous Russian greats (A Swim in a Pond in the Rain) and Susan Bernofsky on the lesser-known Robert Walser (Clairvoyant of the Small, which for me beat out other excellent literary bios about Pessoa, Sebald, Stoppard, and others). The real standout of the trio, though, was the magical A Ghost in the Throat. 

Then there was big-picture anthropology/natural history (Four Lost Cities, The Dawn of Everything, and Homewaters) and meditations on human achievement and folly (Albert and the Whale and Imaginary Peaks). One scofflaw made its way into the inner circle, too. I’ve always been scrupulous about considering only titles published in the current year for my favorites lists, but I was so charmed by my recent discovery of 2019′s highly idiosyncratic Treasure of the Castilian or Spanish Language that I let it break the rules. Since it really goes back all the way to 1611, I figured it wouldn’t hurt. 

Over the next few weeks we’ll be using our newsletter to highlight the Top Ten lists from Madison Park’s other booksellers, but you can get a peek at all of them on our website now if you like. With all these fantastic books to choose from, you’re certain to find a new favorite or two of your own among them, and we bet you have some new ones to tell us about, too.

--James

[mybookplacenet]

Featured Post: Daughter of the Yellow Dragon by Starr Z. Davies

About Daughter of the Yellow Dragon: "A Mongolian Game of Thrones!" – Katherine Roberts, author of Prince of the Wolves: The Legend of Genghis Khan Genghis Khan united a nation and created a vast empire for his heirs. But after 200 years of civil war, his empire has fallen into the dark ages. Mandukhai dreams of being a fierce warrior woman, but her dreams are shattered when she is forced to become the second wife to the Great Khan. Unebolod spent his life in the Great Khan's shadow, preparing for a day when he can seize control of the empire. But when he forms a dangerous alliance with Mandukhai, it swiftly transforms into a passion that could destroy them both. Just as the two are certain their fate will one day bring them together and make Unebolod the next Great Khan, a young prince surfaces to steal the Great Khan's attention and the hearts of the nation. Daughter of the Yellow Dragon is the first book in a gripping, gritty historical fiction series based on the epic life of one of the most underrated women in history. The series draws you into a world of brutal Mongol steppe life, deadly political games, and supernatural beliefs. Please be advised: This book contains adult situations, graphic violence, assault, and personal loss. PINNACLE BOOK ACHIEVEMENT AWARD WINNER! Daughter of the Yellow Dragon is the Winter 2021 NABE Pinnacle Book Achievement Award Winner for Outstanding Historical Fiction. Targeted Age Group: 25-55 Written by: Starr Z. Davies Buy the ebook: Buy the Book On Amazon Link to Series Buy the Audio Book: Buy the Book On Amazon Buy the Book On Audible Buy the Print Book: Buy the Book On Amazon Buy the Book On Barnes & Noble/Nook Author Bio: STARR Z. DAVIES lives in northern Wisconsin with her husband, two kids, and imaginary pets. She spends her days writing by the lake, dreaming up new ways to torture her characters. At night, she tends to binge-watch movies and television shows. Starr first realized she wanted to write when in 4th grade, when she wrote a scary story about a haunted house. Her greatest inspirations were authors like J. R. R. Tolkien, Brandon Sanderson, and Robert Jordan (who continues to thread roots in all her work). Starr is best known for her Powers Series, a YA Dystopian trilogy about a future world with superpowers. She also wrote the Fractured Empire Saga, an award-winning medieval Mongolian epic based on the true life of Mandukhai the Wise. Follow the author on social media: Learn more about the writer. Visit the Author's Website Facebook Fan Page Twitter Instagram Pinterest YouTube Read the full article

[ninasoden]

Save Him by William M. Hayes #giveaway

#TheRedheadedAuthor shares Save Him by William M. Hayes #thriller #military #sifi #timetravel

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. That means, when you purchase a book using an Amazon link on this site, I earn an affiliate commission. All commission earnings go back into funding my books; editing, cover design, etc. Save Him by William M. Hayes ~ Genre: Military SciFi Thriller, Time Travel Winner – 2021 Pinnacle Achievement Awards—Time TravelWinner – 2021 American…