#there's a different scene with shea if you choose to join the others for a bit before retiring for the evening

[virtues-end]

I don't know if it's just a me issue but when I get to part with Shea singing to mc and you get to choose how they respond it gives me an error message saying it's the end of the demo?

I've tried reloading my page, closing the tab and using the link on the blog

Really sorry to tell you this, but I believe that's the end of the demo if you're on that particular branch. 😅

[artificialqueens]

Revelation Sunshine, Chapter 3 (Courtney/Vixen) - Veronica

A/N: Honestly, thank you so much to anyone who’s reading this very self-indulgent story. I adore all of you, and especially the creator of Galactica, my lovely friend @theartificialdane. Click here for previous chapters. <3

Last chapter: Long distance relationships are tough, but the girls are trying.

This chapter: Vixen joins Courtney in LA for the VMAs, and then Courtney surprises her in Chicago.

***

Vixen wasn’t sure why she agreed to this. She was going to be so far out of her depth. But when she told Courtney about a lecture she was giving at UCLA in August, a lecture that happened to be the same weekend as the VMAs, Courtney somehow convinced her to come to the awards show as her date.

“You have to do it,” Asia had informed her, when she heard the hesitation. When she said that she still didn’t know, Mayhem interrupted to give a slightly more forceful message.

“When the fuck are you gonna have the chance to do something like that again?” she demanded. “Come on, stop overthinking like a little bitch.”

Courtney’s cajoling was more gentle. Logical, even—pointing out that it would be great publicity for her book and her podcast.

“It could open you up to a whole new audience. Think of the people that you could reach!”

It was a good point, Vixen conceded. So she agreed, and they casually discussed the logistics. She didn’t really panic until she was in the uber on the way to Courtney’s house. What was she doing? Who did she think she was, showing up at what she was sure would be a gated mansion, to be professionally styled for a red carpet?

It wasn’t a gated mansion. It was a bungalow tucked into the side of the Hollywood Hills, covered in vines and bursting with plants of every type. After giving her a warm, tight hug, Courtney led her into the living room, where someone (a stylist?) was waiting with racks of clothes.

“I didn’t know exactly what you’d want, so I had Jo bring you lots of options,” Courtney said. “We should choose now so that they have time to tailor it while we’re at the spa. Jo, can you show her your favorites?”

Vixen glanced around the room while Jo presented her with wardrobe options and Courtney poured her a glass of lemonade. Without the explosion of clothes, it would have been a cozy, regular living room. Two sofas, some art on the walls. Nothing remotely ostentatious.

“I like your house,” she told Courtney, accepting the drink gratefully. “It’s...uh...not what I was expecting.”

“No?” Courtney asked, head cocked.

“No. Well, I mean, it’s like...a normal house,” Vixen explained.

“And you were expecting, what? A spaceship?” Courtney giggled.

“No, like...I don’t know. Some baroque mansion with columns and a butler and big chandeliers, I guess.”

“Hmm, yeah, sounds like my style,” Courtney said, making Vixen laugh.

“Shut up. You’re rich and you love glitter, okay? So I just thought it would be more…”

“Tacky?”

“Yes?” Vixen scrunched her face up apologetically.

“I mean, that’s fair. My first house here was a bit of a Swaravski nightmare. Oh, I really like that one!” Courtney exclaimed, looking at the royal blue dress in Vixen’s hands. “Do you want to try it on? You can use the guest room as a dressing room.”

Vixen nodded, relieved that disrobing in front of Courtney and Jo (and a random girl she’d just noticed on the patio, pacing around with a phone to her ear) in the broad daylight wasn’t on the agenda.

After trying on a few choices, Vixen settled on a short, black and turquoise romper - it was fun and sexy, but still classy, and would be comfortable enough to sit around in for hours. Jo was helping her figure out the accessories (with occasional input from Courtney as she pranced around with snacks) when the girl from outside stepped in, carrying Courtney’s fluffy pomeranian under one arm.

“Okay, everything’s all set at the hotel,” she said matter-of-factly.

“Vix, that’s Brianna. Yes, I like those shoes!” She nodded approvingly at the bright yellow pumps Vixen was trying.

“Yeah, hi, sorry. I’m Courtney’s assistant. Brie,” she reached out to give Vixen a firm handshake.

“Ugh, I still hate the word ‘assistant.’ Can’t we come up with a cooler title for you?” Courtney asked.

“Sure, that’ll be my top priority,” Brianna replied sarcastically, then barreled rapidly through the day’s plans. “So, after we wrap up here, we’ll head for the hotel. Massages and manicures at the spa while we set up hair and makeup. We should really start by 2 at the lastest to make sure we can manage something presentable out of...that,” she gestured vaguely in Courtney’s direction with a smirk, everyone laugh, “And then leave at 4 to drive to the theatre and do the red carpet by 4:30 or 5. Then the show, blah blah blah, performance, not my problem, and then we head to Van Nuys for wheels-up at 9. Cool?”

“When do we eat?” Courtney asked.

“You’ll have a meal at the spa. You know, in that area by the dipping pool thing?”

“Oh, okay,” Courtney said.

“And then obviously we’ll have snacks in the room, and we ordered a bunch of stuff for you to have backstage. Don’t worry, there’ll be plenty of food.”

“Great.”

“Um...I have a question,” Vixen said, pausing her perusal of the jewelry table. “Are the hair people gonna be familiar with Black hair?”

Brie turned toward her with a vague eye roll, asking, “Do I look like a moron to you?”

Vixen leveled her gaze, not backing down, and answered, “You look like someone who has never worn a protective hairstyle before.”

“Fair enough,” Brie conceded with a grin. “And don’t worry. We got you good people who are very experienced with protective styles.”

“Thanks, Brie! Ooh, how about ‘Executive Vice President of Human Logistics’?” Courtney suggested.

“Whatever makes you happy, girl,” Brianna said tiredly, giving Courtney a salute as she deposited Kylie onto his bed. “I’m gonna go check your suitcases. Or, should I call them ‘transport need satisfaction receptacles’?”

“Sounds good,” Courtney giggled, and Vixen couldn’t help laughing either.

“That little cracker is hilarious,” Vixen commented, admiring the row of bangles on her arm.

“I know, right?” Courtney laughed.

“Hey!” Brianna said, poking her head back in the room, deadpanning, “That was my nickname in prison. Lil Miz Cracker.”

She grinned, waiting for them all to crack up before disappearing again.

“Before her,” Courtney confided, “I had this other assistant that my agents found, this nervous kid who told me I was beautiful like 8 thousand times a day, and it was just...excruciating.”

“The things you’ve overcome,” Vixen said, shaking her head with mock sincerity. “It’s so inspirational.”

Courtney laughed gaily, handing her a pair of earrings to try, which Jo immediately snatched out of her hand.

“No! Hideous,” they said, handing Vixen a different pair.

***

In the car to the hotel, Brie asked Vixen if she had a preferred gender for her massage therapist.

“Well, I kind of like a more gentle massage, so…I mean, not to be discriminatory, but…”

“You want someone with soft lady hands?” Courtney asked, a glint in her eye.

“Kind of,” Vixen replied, hanging her head in mock shame.

“Wuss.”

“You don’t like soft lady hands?” Vixen asked, raising her eyebrows.

“Well I mean...there’s a time and place,” Courtney explained.

Vixen looked into her glittering green eyes, head tilted, as she continued.

“For a massage? I like it deep. So as long as they can put some muscle behind it, everything’s good.”

“You’re right, there is a time and a place,” Vixen said lightly, “I occasionally like it deep as well.”

“Good to know,” Courtney said, giggling delightedly.

The whole day was strange, an almost out of body experience for Vixen. At times, she felt like she was hovering overhead and watching herself get rubbed and plucked and fluffed and painted. Pampered and catered to on a level she never had before.

But the red carpet, that was the most surreal experience by far, just a whirlwind of flashes and shouted questions from reporters. Courtney held her hand the entire time, checking in constantly to make sure she was alright, gently directing her where to look and when to pose.

“My first red carpet was terrifying,” she confessed. “So when you’ve had enough, just tell me.���

She was relieved, at first, for her relative anonymity. No entertainment reporters would know the academic world, or a political science professor.

That is, until Courtney put an arm around Vixen’s waist and dragged her right into the spotlight, introducing her to a reporter as “the brilliant author behind the book ‘Beware White Tears.’”

“Oh!” Recognition dawned in the reporter’s eyes as she brushed her bangs away from her face. “This is the unparalleled genius you’ve been tweeting about all year?”

“Yes ma’am,” Courtney said. “Vixen Taylor.”

“A pleasure,” she said, extending her hand to Vixen and offering a dazzling white smile. “Shea Coulée.”

“Nice to meet you,” Vixen said, shaking her hand. She glanced back at Courtney, who was beaming like a sunflower beside her.

“Shea, you should tell everyone to read her book,” Courtney said, smile growing even bigger as she continued to gush, “And listen to her podcast. She’s so incredibly smart, it’s unreal.”

Shea looked from Courtney to Vixen a few times before asking, “So…what’s the story with you two, then? Are you like, an official thing?”

“Shh, I’m working on it!” Courtney said, giggling, pulling Vixen towards the theatre. Startling her a second later with an ecstatic shriek of, “Adore!”

Vixen wasn’t super familiar with Adore’s music, but she did know her from Courtney’s social media. Apparently a big deal now in the punk rock scene, standing there in what appeared to be the same clothes she’d partied in last night, next to a tall, statuesque, impeccably dressed young redheaded woman. They looked to Vixen to be an absolute mis-match of a couple, Adore’s date classy and serene as Adore squealed and threw her arms around Courtney, the two of them clinging to each other and chattering wildly.

“Omigod, I love that dress-”

“You look like a mess. Gigi, why haven’t you-”

“Don’t blame her, I dress myself.”

“How was Prague?”

“Fuckin’ wild, man!”

“Have you met Vixen?”

Courtney turned toward Vixen, who was overwhelmed by the whole exchange, and grabbed her hand once again.

“Vixen, this is Adore, my best friend for life, and her very patient girlfriend, Gigi.”

“Hi, nice to-”

“Augh!” Adore shrieked. “Courtney! Did you see the pictures of Jinkx and Alaska’s new kid?”

“No, what?! When did they...have? Buy? What word are we using?”

“Adopt?”

“Yeah, that-another kid?”

Gigi turned to Vixen, sensing her obvious discomfort, and offered a smile.

“They’re always like this. It’s best just to...ride it out,” Gigi finished with a chuckle. “They’re like toddlers. Eventually they’ll get tired and calm down.”

“Thanks.”

Vixen opted to watch the show from the audience, happy that she had Adore and Gigi to sit with. (Well...Gigi, at least. The jury was still out on Adore.) She knew that Courtney would need to focus on her performance, and sitting alone in her dressing room for large chunks of time seemed nerve-wracking.

But after Courtney’s performance, Brie showed up to escort Vixen backstage. They were only going to have a little time to hang out before Courtney had to leave, getting on a plane to Paris to continue her tour almost immediately after the show.  

Courtney was in the midst of changing when Vixen knocked gently on her door. It was quite a look...track pants and Ugg slippers on the bottom, and a metal corset on top. Brie was helping her out of the corset, and though she didn’t seem remotely self-conscious about being topless, Vixen averted her eyes, waiting until she’d slipped on a t-shirt before addressing her directly.

“You were incredible tonight,” she said honestly.

“Really?” Courtney asked, perching on the arm of the sofa. “I felt like it was a bit of a mess. I could kill Mikey.”

“Who’s Mikey?”

“That dancer who went the wrong way during the second verse? I saw them pounding shots, I think he was hammered. Ugh.”

Vixen smiled softly.

“It’s adorable that you think I was watching the backup dancers.”

In an instant, Courtney’s demeanor changed from professional and annoyed to coy and flirtatious, simpering like a schoolgirl.

“Hmm...who were you watching then?

Brie had slipped away by now, leaving the two of them alone in the dressing room. Vixen stood and walked toward her.

“The camera guys, of course,” Vixen quipped.

Courtney giggled, reaching out for her and pulling her close.

“Oh yeah?” she murmured.

Vixen nodded slowly, then smiled again and shook her head. She slid her hands around Courtney’s waist, gazing unblinking into her hooded green eyes. She leaned in slowly, almost excruciatingly so, pausing for a few moments to enjoy the way her chest rose and fell rapidly, heart pounding in anticipation.

When she finally brushed their lips together, she could feel the hitch in Courtney’s breath, a whimper escaping from the back of her throat. Courtney cupped her cheeks with both hands, pulling her in closer, deepening the kiss, coaxing her mouth open.

Vixen followed her, dazed, onto the sofa, where she dove head-first into the moment, finally able to just enjoy each other for the first time in months. She quickly lost track of time and space, thinking only of the girl in her arms, how soft and delicious she was...how she made Vixen feel so wanted.

She kissed down Courtney’s torso, lifting her t-shirt to trail her lips gently over the angry marks from that horrible corset. She began to pull off her bottoms, pausing just before sliding them over her hips to make sure it was okay. Courtney lifted up slightly, watching Vixen through lidded eyes, legs spreading open once her panties were flung to the side. Vixen paused, breathing her in, making her shiver with anticipation as she spread her thighs even more.

Vixen cleared her throat, fingers dancing up the inside of her thighs.

“Remember, I’m pretty...new at this,” Vixen said, and Courtney nodded vigorously.

“I know, I know. Don’t worry.” Her hand wound its way into Vixen’s hair.

“Okay.” Vixen leaned forward, lips barely brushing against her.

As a soft sigh left Courtney’s lips, Vixen took a deep breath. Her desire to satisfy, to live up to expectations, momentarily overtaken by nerves, until she steeled herself. Just French kiss her pussy, you idiot. Stop freaking out and lick her until she comes.  

Courtney was shockingly easy to please, as it turned out. A hand in Vixen’s hair, guiding her, and breathy, whimpered instructions were all she needed to begin unlocking the mysteries of her body.

“Harder, harder…please…”  

Vixen didn’t know why she was surprised. From that first tweet, Courtney had been utterly direct with her. And even their first time together, she didn’t hold back at all from saying what she wanted. But somehow, the shameless way she buried Vixen’s face into her pussy, rutting against her, moaning out commands...it all just made everything so much hotter.

“What else?” Vixen asked, raising her eyes to take in Courtney’s flushed cheeks, eyes rolled back in her head. “Tell me what else you need…”

“Pinch my nipples,” Courtney gasped, “And...yes, god...suck harder.”

Courtney arched up, thighs now pressing against Vixen’s ears, muffling the sounds when she started to moan. Vixen had a brief concern of “what if someone hears” before deciding that she didn’t fucking care. All she wanted was to make Courtney come—a task that was looking increasingly likely as she writhed and shook in her arms.

She flicked her tongue against Courtney’s clit, shocked at how much she was enjoying the whole experience. Nerves melted away; the only thing on her mind was the girl pressed up against her tongue.

“I love how wet you get,” Vixen said, voice low, moving her mouth to nip lightly at her thigh.

“I love how wet you make me,” Courtney panted, then arched up, whimpering. “Baby...oh, god…”

Something about being called baby in this context gave Vixen a deep, unfeminist thrill; she had to pause and catch her breath, slightly dizzy with the embarrassing, intoxicating thought of being called a good girl. She panted against Courtney’s thigh, felt her quivering on the edge before going back to her clit, tongue circling her gently, coaxing out a broken moan.

God, she was a mess. A beautiful, shuddering mess. Vixen hummed against her, sucking on her clit, soft at first and then harder and harder.

“Fuck, that’s so good, baby, keep going…”

Courtney groaned, hips rolling faster, and Vixen complied, listening to her moans, the best music she’d heard all night. She kept sucking, didn’t stop until Courtney’s muscles went slack, the only sounds coming from her satiated little whimpers.

“Did I do okay?” Vixen asked, looking up at her almost timidly.

“You…” Courtney lifted an arm weakly to caress her cheek. “You are perfect. Come here.”

Vixen crawled forward, squishing herself in beside Courtney on the sofa. And as Courtney wrapped herself around Vixen’s body, pulling a blanket from the back of the couch to cover them both, Vixen found herself buying in completely, at least for the moment, to the delusional fantasy of them. Of what they could be. Of what a shared life would look like.

She was rudely snapped back into reality when Brie opened the door, an uncharacteristically apologetic look on her face. Vixen sprang away from Courtney on the sofa like a guilty teenager, then immediately felt stupid.

“Sorry,” Brie said, “but we gotta get to the plane.”

“Okay. Just give us twenty minutes?” Courtney asked, a resigned note in her voice.

“You can have ten. Setting a timer.” Brie closed the door firmly.

Courtney turned to Vixen, who smiled sheepishly.

“I’m not really sure why I panicked. Lil Cracker just freaks me out.”

“Well…” Courtney appeared to ponder this for a few moments before reaching out, fingers seeking out Vixen’s zipper. “She did give us ten minutes…”

Vixen shook her head, chuckling.

“It’s fine, don’t worry about that. I’m too paranoid about another interruption.”

“But you took care of me. It’s only fair.” Courtney trailed her fingers up Vixen’s arm.

“Yeah, and you worked very hard today,” Vixen said, and off Courtney’s distressed look, wrapped an arm around her again, adding, “You can owe me one.”  

“Well...I guess in that case, I should probably put my knickers back on.”

Vixen laughed, picking her panties up off the floor and handing them over.

“Ugh. It’s so annoying that I have to take off so quickly,” Courtney said. After slipping the panties on, she leaned her head on Vixen’s shoulder. “Do you want me to text Adore? She and Gigi are waiting for you to take you to the after party, so-”

“No, it’s fine,” Vixen said. “I don’t care about the after party.”

“You sure? Because you can totally go. I’m sure it’ll be fun.”

“I’d rather just stay with you until you have to leave,” she admitted. “We don’t have much time, so…”  

“Yeah?” The smile that lit up Courtney’s face was enough to make Vixen’s heart burst with joy.

“Mmmhmm.”

“Well...you could ride with us to the airport. If you want.”

“Sounds good,” Vixen said, reaching for her hand.

“And don’t worry, I won’t do anything naughty with other people around,” Courtney promised. “We can just...sit in the backseat and hold hands and gaze lovingly into each other’s eyes.”

“That was my whole plan,” Vixen giggled, leaning forward to plant a kiss on Courtney’s cheek.

***

Vixen had to admit that for once, she posted a picture with an understated, tasteful caption. It was just them on the red carpet, which said, “VMAs with my favorite writer.”

VIXEN: Classy caption there

COURTNEY: That’s not what I wanted to say

VIXEN: ?

COURTNEY: Guess ;)

VIXEN: You’re Too Much

COURTNEY: I’m the perfect amount, actually.

VIXEN: Cocky too, huh?

COURTNEY: It’s also possible that I’m delirious after performing and then taking a 10 hour flight.

VIXEN: I read that as “delicious”

COURTNEY: Oh yeah?

VIXEN: You wouldn’t have been wrong...

COURTNEY: So I’ve been told

COURTNEY: (and cocky)

COURTNEY: And I miss you already

VIXEN: <3

COURTNEY: <3 <3 <3

***

As much as Courtney loved performing, there were times when she had to admit how lonely tour life could be. First of all, there wasn’t a single person with her that wasn’t on payroll. And while she liked them all, there was something a little depressing about being surrounded 24/7 by people that were paid to be around you and cater to your whims and humor every single thing you said.

She did a reasonably okay job of keeping in touch with her friends, but with the time differences, it was hard to get on the same page. Except for Vixen, who always made sure she was available at some point in the evening. They’d often just text back and forth, but more and more, Courtney’d been convincing Vixen to FaceTime. And seeing her smile, looking into her eyes, hearing her laugh, just made everything infinitely better.

At first, when she was in Europe, it was late at night, well after Courtney’s show had wrapped for the evening, once she was safely tucked into bed in whatever hotel she was staying. Curled up with her phone or her computer, laughing until her sides hurt at Vixen’s impressions of her grandmother or her crazy cousins. Or, once the tour moved to Asia and Australia, it was in the morning, after she’d finished meditating and before she headed out to meet her trainer. She’d sit on a terrace or in the hotel room with a cup of tea while Vixen sipped an evening glass of wine, head resting on her hands as she listened to Vixen talk about everything from university politics to her chaotic childhood.

Either way, it quickly became her favorite part of the day. It was strange. They’d only met in person three times, but Courtney soon felt like Vixen knew her better than anyone ever had. And as for Vixen—she was admittedly a little guarded most of the time, but Courtney found her to be wonderfully candid. She told stories about her chaotic childhood and her troubled teens. How confused she’d been during most of her college years. Courtney knew all about her large extended family; she was sure she’d be able to recognize them all on sight, based on Vixen’s vivid descriptions and hilarious impersonations.

And then sometimes, when Courtney caught her in a certain mood, or maybe after a second glass of wine, the conversations would turn into something else entirely. Whispered confessions in the dark, voices hoarse, faces flushed with nervous excitement. It never went too far, but it was usually enough to get Courtney good and worked up, close enough that a few seconds with a vibrator after they hung up was enough to finish her off. It was enough that Courtney had lost any desire to be with anyone else, even when she ached with need. She would take a 2D image of Vixen on her screen over a real-life random hookup any day.

Of course, as good as it was, there was always a degree of uncertainty. There were conversations that they probably should be having...what exactly is their relationship, where is it going, are they exclusive? But it had been so long since Courtney liked anyone as much as Vixen, and she had a vague fear that bringing that up too soon would scare her off, so for now, she just dealt with the uncertainty as best she could. After all, the flip side of uncertainly was potential, and that was pretty exciting.

By the time October rolled around, Courtney longed to be home in her own bed, surrounded by her own things. Just the basic familiar comforts of home. When it was time to fly back to the states, she had to stop in New York for some press and a few meetings, and then finally, she was free to return to LA. But at the last minute, on a whim, she decided to make another stop first.  

***

Vixen had been putting the October symposium together for months. She’d reached out far and wide, planning lectures, panels, open forums, and agendas for the break-out groups over two days. There were a million moving parts, and million things on Vixen’s checklist, a million question marks and potential disasters.

But in all of the planning, never in Vixen’s mind did she imagine a scenario where she’d walk out to the podium on Saturday morning and see Courtney fucking Act sitting in the front row. With a pair of reading glasses and a goddamn notebook, rainbow streaks tucked into a librarian-style bun.

Fortunately, after a momentary stumble that she hoped no one besides her noticed, she was able to recover and get on with the agenda. During the first break, she beelined straight for Courtney, whose face lit up as she approached. Courtney jumped from her seat, throwing her arms around Vixen’s shoulders and pulling her in for a tight embrace.

“Hi...this is incredible!”

“I’m glad you...think...sorry, what are you doing here? Aren’t you supposed to be on a plane to LA right now?”

“LA can wait,” Courtney said, pulling back to look into her eyes. “And I wanted to surprise you. Was that a terrible idea?”

“No, just...unexpected,” Vixen replied with a grin. “You threw me off a little bit.”

“I’m sorry, I should have told you,” Courtney said, chagrined. “I wasn’t actually sure I’d make it in time, my flight from New York was late, and-”

“I’m glad you’re here.”

“You are?” Courtney squeezed Vixen’s hands, and Vixen nodded, kissing her softly on the cheek.

“Yeah. But now I have to go back and take care of things, so-”

“Of course! I’ll be invisible, I promise. I just really wanted to hear your lecture,” she said, eyes shining.

“I hope you’re not bored,” Vixen chuckled softly, shaking her head. She still couldn’t quite believe that Courtney would be there listening the whole time. But fortunately, there was no time to stress about it, so she just walked back to the stage to keep the program going.

“Impossible!” Courtney called after her, settling back into her seat.

***

“Go back. Play that part again,” Vixen insisted, tossing Courtney a wicked smirk.

“Are you serious?”

“Yeah, it’s a really important cinematic moment.”

Courtney giggled, lifting the remote.

Vixen sighed happily, leaning against her shoulder. After Courtney had surprised her at the symposium earlier, they’d discussed a handful of date night possibilities before realizing that all they really wanted was just to curl up in front of a movie in Courtney’s hotel room, basking in the simple pleasure of finally being in the same room with no time pressure, no obligations, nobody standing by to interrupt. So they’d made a quick stop at Vixen’s apartment for a few essentials, and then headed straight to the hotel, getting into comfy clothes and cuddling up in front of the TV.

Partly as a joke, Vixen had selected Glimmer for them to watch, and she was currently making Courtney replay the shot where “Princess Lucie” first took off her helmet. It was an absolute cliché: blonde waves spilling over her shoulders in slow motion in the golden sunset, romantic music soaring on the soundtrack.

“Yeahhh, that’s the stuff,” Vixen leered at the screen as real-life Courtney laughed beside her. “Again!”

“I’ll do you one better,” Courtney giggled, swinging a leg over her to straddle her on the bed. “How about a live show?”

“I’m not gonna say no to that,” Vixen told her, grinning, settling back against the pillows.

Courtney gathered up her hair before slowly releasing it, shaking it out, accompanied by lashes fluttering and lip biting.

Vixen watched the whole over-the-top performance before sighing and shaking her head sadly.

“Real life just never lives up to the movies, does it?”

“Hey!” Courtney scoffed, feigning offense, then leaned forward to brush her lips against Vixen’s temple, murmuring into her ear. “You sure about that?”

“Ummm…I could probably be persuaded to hear a counterpoint...” Vixen trailed her fingers up Courtney’s thighs, smiling up at her. Feeling almost shy as Courtney toyed with the neckline of her top.

Vixen’s heart fluttered wildly as Courtney pressed a soft kiss to her lips. She sighed into it, savoring the moment as Courtney cradled her face.

“It feels like it’s been forever,” Vixen murmured, warmth spreading through her chest all the way down to her toes, to the tips of her fingers. She tilted her head slightly to give Courtney easier access to her neck, where she began to layer soft kisses.

“Next time won’t be so long,” Courtney whispered into her skin. “I promise.”

“Good…”

A soft whimper left Vixen’s lips as Courtney’s kisses turned from gentle and teasing to deep and hot, tongue trailing across her collarbone, moving to the other side of her neck, sucking on her pulse point. Her fingers dug into Courtney’s hips, arching up against her.

The movie still played in the background, neither of them noticing that Princess Lucie had begun to sing one of her solos until the music swelled for the chorus, startling them both.

“THE LIGHT SHIIIIIIIIINES WITHIN MY HEAAAAAAAAAAART!”

“Omigod,” Courtney breathed, breaking away from Vixen and turning around to switch off the TV, telling her Princess alter ego to, “Shut up!”

Vixen giggled, trying to catch her breath as Courtney turned back to her, face immediately softening into a dreamy expression as she gazed down at her, making her feel improbably special. She placed her wrists gently on Vixen’s shoulders, a smile tugging at her mouth.

“What?” Vixen asked.

“I just can’t believe we’re finally together again.”

“You can’t believe? I’m in bed with a bona fide princess.”

“I’m not a real princess,” Courtney reminded her.

“Could’ve fooled me.”  

Courtney giggled, hips rolling just enough to make her whimper.  

“How about tonight, you’re the princess?” Courtney murmured, and Vixen felt that dizzying thrill again, the one that she barely ever allowed herself to indulge in. At least, not outside the safe space of her own secret dreams.

She tried to come up with an answer, but her mind seemed to go blank, and so Courtney took her face into her hands, thumbs tracing over her cheekbones, whisper-soft.

“What do you say, princess?”

Vixen couldn’t hold back anymore, cheeks blazing hot as she bit back an embarrassing noise. Courtney sat up, looking both a little surprised and incredibly pleased by her enthusiasm.

“You know...have something that I think...you might like...” Courtney began, biting her lip.

“You have a lot of things I like,” Vixen stated hoarsely.  

Courtney’s smile deepened. She pressed a kiss to Vixen’s temple and then rolled away, digging through a suitcase on the floor. Finally, she produced what she was looking for: a pink canvas bag with a zipper down the side. She placed it between them on the bed, encouraging Vixen to look.

“Anything in there...interesting to you?”

Vixen unzipped the bag curiously, then after a glance inside, looked back up at Courtney, scandalized, stomach twisting with excitement.

“No?” Courtney asked.

“No. I mean, yeah,” Vixen said. “I’m...I think it could be fun. I just—”

“It doesn’t have to be today,” Courtney said, reaching for her hand.

“What if I wanted it to be today?” Vixen asked, tilting her head coyly.

“Then I’d say, your wish is my command.” Courtney kissed her softly. “Princess.”

Vixen felt her heart pick up speed as she melted against the kiss, excitement building inside her. Before she lost herself completely, she pulled away, trying to catch her breath.

“I’m gonna go get ready.”

“Okay.” Courtney placed a kiss to the inside of her wrist before releasing her.

[satoshi-mochida]

Indie games publisher Ratalaika Games has announced a lineup of indie visual novels it will port to PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Switch in 2020 (plus two for PS Vita).

The lineup includes Angels with Scaly Wings from Radical Phi, A Summer with the Shiba Inu from Quill Studios, Blind Men from Man-Eater Games, Jisei: The First Case HD from Sake Visual, Long Live the Queen from Hanako Games, Syrup and the Ultimate Sweet from Nomnomnami, and Tales of Aravorn: Seasons of the Wolf from Winter Wolves.

In a press release, Ratalaika Games CEO Adrian Vega said, “Many great visual novels come out of the indie scene that console players may not have experienced yet, we hope to bridge that gap by providing a wide range of titles! This is only just the beginning of our visual novel offerings over the next several months, so please stay tuned to our new visual novel centric Twitter handle @RatalaikaGameVN!”

Here is an overview of each game, via Ratalaika Games:

Angels with Scaly Wings

https://youtu.be/EbHd452xv5Q

Specifications

Platforms: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch

Developer: Radical Phi

Release Date: 2020

Official Website: Here

About

After the discovery of a mysterious portal, you are selected as one of the few humans to travel to the world of dragons. While you serve as an ambassador, you learn more about this strangely familiar place, and discover that your human colleague knows more than he’s letting on…

It will be up to you and the friends you make to uncover the conspiracy that threatens the newly discovered world—and in the process, you may even find love.

Make deep choices that influence the game world permanently! Experience 13 unique endings with character specific routes!

Key Features

Epic storyline.

Make deep, impactful choices.

13 different endings.

Explore a town full of secrets.

A Summer with the Shiba Inu

https://youtu.be/ccRolJeAj-Y

Specifications

Platforms: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch

Developer: Quill Studios

Release Date: 2020

Official Website: Here

About

When Syd the Shiba Inu returns to Shiba Island after a ten-year absence, she sets off a chain of events that overturns the lives of all the dogs she had left behind. She gets back in touch with her old friend, Max, and along the way meets a mysterious Labrador retriever named Quei-Li. (What’s a Lab doing on the Island, anyway?) They are her only remaining allies as she tries to survive the past that made her leave the Island in the first place.

Your choices matter—there are multiple drastic ways to change the fate of Shiba Island, with 10+ variants depending on how you treat the dogs you meet along the way.

Can you survive long enough to reach your coronation?

Key Features

Three main endings for Syd, with 10-plus endings for other dogs depending on your actions!.

Visual novel with story word count of approximately 70,000.

Random facts about dogs in menus.

Dedicated Dog bark button in preference menu.

Blind Men

https://youtu.be/RRHCjakC2K4

Specifications

Platforms: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, PS Vita

Developer: Man-Eater Games

Release Date: April 2020

Official Website: Here

About

As the nephew of a retired super villain, there’s nothing Keegan wants more than to become one himself—and what better way than to join the League of Evil? All he needs to do is commit a crime to complete his application.

Unfortunately, Keegan soon finds himself in more trouble than he could have ever imagined when his plans are interrupted by a couple of spies from opposing agencies.

Pick choices that drastically change the story. Will Keegan’s plans be thwarted or allow him to be successful?

Key Features

Two romanceable characters.

Multiple different endings depending on your choices.

Keep the game as a cliche-filled parody, or turn it into a straight spy adventure.

12 different endings.

New German localization and partial voice acting.

Jisei: The First Case HD

https://youtu.be/2ZLYhk6INT8

Specifications

Platforms: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch

Developer: Sake Visual

Release Date: 2020

Official Website: Here

About

A teenager with no name and no home wanders from one city to the next, burdened by the weight of his extraordinary ability. When he is accused of murdering a woman he’s never met, he sets out to prove his innocence and find the true killer. The investigation quickly takes a turn for the complicated when a strange voice appears in his head, warning him to watch his step.

Search for clues, interrogate witnesses, and find a murderer. Even with your extra abilities, it will still take solid facts and logic to prove your innocence!

Enjoy this cult classic indie mystery visual novel with HD art, backgrounds, and assets!

Key Features

Brand new HD artwork.

Professional voice acting.

Explore the crime scenes to collect evidence.

Interrogate witnesses to find the real culprit.

Long Live the Queen

https://youtu.be/buflnQQ6tWA

Specifications

Platforms: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch

Developer: Hanako Games

Release Date: 2020

Official Website: Here

About

Being a princess is not an easy job. Being a Queen is even harder. Especially when you’re only fourteen years old, and the reason you’ve inherited the throne is that your royal mother has just met an untimely end.

Now power is up for grabs. You may be the official heir, but much of the country’s nobility would love to steal the throne for themselves. Aggressive neighbors will take advantage of any weakness to enlarge their borders at your expense. And that’s not even mentioning the magical dangers which are lying in wait…

Can you survive long enough to reach your coronation?

Key Features

Deceptively adorable graphics hide a deadly interior. Collect all the ways to die!

Every decision unlocks further consequences down the line, allowing you to shape the future of your character and her country with the skills you choose to pursue.

Uncover secret plots, outwit invasions, unlock mystical powers, dodge assassins, and get your enemies before they get you.

Syrup and the Ultimate Sweet

https://youtu.be/UtTXlDVo-n4

Specifications

Platforms: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, PS Vita

Developer: Nomnomnami

Release Date: March 4, 2020

Official Website: Here

About

In a magical town there lives a candy alchemist, Syrup, who one day discovers a candy golem in her basement. Where did she come from? Who could’ve made her? Go find out!

Featuring a memorable cast of colorful characters and 10 unique endings. Your choices affect the story! Will Syrup achieve her dream of making the Ultimate Sweet, or will she meet a much more tragic fate…?

Key Features

Adorable hand-drawn art style with a story that will make you laugh and cry.

A variety of cute, heartwarming characters to befriend.

10 different endings to collect.

In-game gallery loaded with concept art and extras.

Tales of Aravorn: Seasons of the Wolf

https://youtu.be/e42xwltCL8U

Specifications

Platforms: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch

Developer: Winter Wolves

Release Date: 2020

Official Website: Here

About

Tales of Aravorn: Seasons of The Wolf is an RPG set in a fantasy world, you’ll play as Shea or Althea, twins from the far-away village Ninim. In just the course of one year, you will experience many storylines and side quests; situations and events where your own choices influence the game.

The twins’ tale starts when one of the siblings finds a young wolf and decides to take it with them. Thus, begins the long journey which will take the siblings on a long journey!

The game features nine different classes, each with its own set of skills. Experience unique romances available for all tastes, both straight and homosexual!

Key Features

Play as either Shea or Althea.

Four different romance options to choose from.

Eight unique party members each one with different skills.

Advanced isometric tile set maps for a bigger world to explore.

[parsippanylibrarykids]

By: Miss Jen, Miss Katy, & Miss Melissa

Picture Books 

Barnett, Mac. The Wolf, the Duck, and the Mouse. ​(Grades K-2)  This clever picture book begins with a mouse that is quickly gobbled up by a wolf. Fortunately his new accomodations AKA the wolf’s stomach include a duck with kitchenware and jam. The duck states “I may have been swallowed but I have no intention of being eaten.” Award winning illustrator Jon Klassen’s artwork add to the charm of this folkloric tale. 

Colleen, Marcie. Love, Triangle.​ ​ (Grades K-2) Square and Circle have been best friends since they were first created. Triangle arrives on the scene and brings new ideas. Both Square and Circle want to be friends with Triangle which causes a split between the two buddies. This common friendship problem is resolved at the end of this geometric story.

 Daywalt, Drew. The Legend of Rock, Paper, Scissors. ​(Grades K-3) The origins of the classic schoolyard game are explained in hilarious detail. Will Rock, Paper, or Scissors be victorious? Rock is searching for a worthy opponent. Paper leaves the Empire of Mom’s Home Office after conquering the Computer Printer while Scissors defeats Dinosaur-Shaped Chicken Nuggets. Wacky inanimate objects come to life under the expertise of illustrator Adam Rex. Fans of Daywalt’s The Day the Crayons Quit will be equally as charmed by this book. 

Denos, Julia. Windows. ​(PreS-1) In this story, a boy of color dons a read hoodie, leashes his dog and ventures out into the twilight, where the windows are “blinking awake as the lights turn on a neighborhood of paper lanterns”. The reader gets to peer in at the small figures dancing, making dinner or throwing a party and watch as the color of the sky changes. The compositions are rendered in ink, watercolor, letterpress and digital collage. The narrative ends with a story shared and a snuggle. Readers will want to revisit this story over and over. Everyday routine turned to wonder on an evening walk filled with discovery. 

Dykman, Ame. Read the Book, Lemmings!​ (PreS-2) Another delightful collaboration by the team behind Wolfie the Bunny and Horrible Bear! Lemmings don’t jump off cliffs. It says so in the book that Foxy is reading. However, the three lemmings on the boat have not read the book and keep jumping into the water. After trying unsuccessfully to get the lemmings to read the book, Foxy realizes he is going to have to actually teach the lemmings to read before he can stop them. A funny read aloud! Children will love this book at storytime and at home. 

Jory, John and Benji Davies. Come Home Already!​ (PreS-3) The third hysterical picture book about Duck and Bear, unlikely pals. In this book, an excited Duck wants to hang out with Bear but Bear has left to go fishing for a whole week on his own. Bear is relieved to have some time alone. What will Duck do while Bear is gone? How will he survive without his best friend? 

Lamothe, Matt. ​This is How We Do It: One Day in the Lives of Seven Kids from Around the World. ​(Grades K-3) Seven children from Italy, Japan, Uganda, Russia, India, Iran, and Peru describe one day in their lives as they eat, play, and learn. An author’s note, a glossary, a map, and photographs of the families are included at the end of the book. This is an informational picture book that could be used in a social studies unit. 

Shannon, David. Bizzy Mizz Lizzie​. (Grades 1-3)  Lizzie is the busiest, buzziest bee in Hivetown. She longs to impress the Queen by winning a spelling bee contest, but she studies to the point of exhaustion on top of trying to juggle all of her other activities. When she dozes off in the middle of the competition, the only solution is rest. Lizzie finally learns to stop and smell the flowers. A book with a good message and wonderful illustrations will appeal to young readers. 

Tsurumi, Andrea. Accident! ​(PreS-2) When a little armadillo named Lola knocks a jug of red juice all over her family’s white sofa, she flees to the library to hide. But as Lola run through town, she is joined by many others who have also made a mess and want to hide at the library too, avoiding conflict. Fun and colorful illustrations are found throughout the book and children will be drawn to the intricate details. This book teaches that a mistake can happen due to thoughtlessness, carelessness or bad luck and that it is ok to call it an accident but also necessary to “make it better” and “own up to it.” 

Easy Readers 

LaReau, Kara. The Infamous Ratsos are Not Afraid. ​(Grades 1-2) Brothers Louie and Ralphie Ratso plan to clear out an abandoned lot in their neighborhood and create an arcade. The problem is that the house next to the vacant lot might be haunted. ​This is the second book in the series that began with the Geisel Honor Book, The Infamous Ratsos. 

Shea, Bob. Ballet Cat: What’s Your Favorite Favorite? ​(Grades 1-3) Ballet Cat and her cousin Goat are preparing a show for grandma and both want to prove that they are the best. Ballet Cat will come up with a fancy dance routine and Goat will perform tricks at his magic show. Which one will be her FAVORITE favorite? Terrifically fun third entry in this series. 

Snyder, Laurel. Charlie & Mouse & Grumpy. ​ (Grades K-1) This picture book/easy reader hybrid is the sequel to Charlie and Mouse. Charlie and Mouse are brothers who are spending time with their grandfather AKA Grumpy. In four short chapters, the trio discuss what it means to be “medium”, enjoy a special night while the boys’ parents go out, and choose the proper goodnight song. 

Yoon, Salina. That’s My Book! and Other Stories. ​(Grades K-1) Big Duck, Little Duck, and Porcupine are a sweet trio of friends that find the best use for books, plan a talent show, and dress like a pirate. The latest addition to the Duck, Duck, Porcupine series contains three short chapters with bold text in large speech bubbles. 

Juvenile Fiction 

Bartok, Mira. The Wonderling. ​(Grades 4-6) Number 13 is a groundling (half human/half animal) who lives in an orphanage run by Ms. Carbunkle. He is named Arthur by a fellow groundling when he saves her. The pair of new friends escape the “Home” and set off on an adventure full of danger, magic, and mystery. Fans of Erin Hunter’s Warriors series will enjoy this lengthy fantasy novel. 

Bradley, Kimberly Brubaker. The War I Finally Won. ​(Grades 4-6)  Picking up right after 2015’s Newbery Honor book The War That Saved My Life, this very worthy sequel continues the story of Ada, her brother Jamie, and their guardian Susan. Set against the backdrop of World War II (which is felt much more immediately in this novel), Ada struggles to deal with the aftermath of years of abuse by her mother. An emotional, yet rewarding book for fans of the first book or for readers who love excellent historical fiction. 

Broach, Elise. Trouble at School for Marvin & James. ​(Grades 1-2) This is the third book in the Masterpiece Adventures series featuring best friends, James and Marvin. James is a human and Marvin is a small black beetle. James decides to bring Marvin to school so he can experience James’ art class taught by beloved teacher, Mr. Chang. Mr. Change has blue hair and often quotes, “There are no mistakes, only happy accidents.” Marvin enjoys school until a sneeze separates him from James. This book is an excellent choice for new chapter-book readers. 

Clements, Andrew. The Losers Club.​ (Grades 3-6) Alec loves to read -- so much so that it gets him in trouble at school and at home. Even the head of the afterschool program at his school says he can’t just sit around by himself and read; he has to join a club. So Alec comes up with a plan to create his own reading club, which he names The Losers Club to deter other kids from joining. His bright idea backfires when it turns out to be the most popular club at school. There are tons of great books referenced throughout, and there’s a helpful list at the back of the book for bookworms who want to read them all! 

DeStefano, Lauren. The Girl with the Ghost Machine.​ (Grades 4-6) Emmaline Beaumont was 10 years old when her mother died; two years later, her father remains so consumed with grief that it’s almost as if Emmaline has lost both parents. In a desperate attempt to bring his wife back, Monsieur Beaumont tinkers with his “ghost machine” night and day. When Emmaline’s attempt to destroy the machine doesn’t go as planned, she and readers are left wondering if precious memories of loved ones are worth trading for the chance to interact with them one more time. Emmaline’s twin best friends, Oliver and Gully, represent the push and pull between hope and logic that plagues Emmaline and offers her new ways of understanding grief. Readers should be prepared for heaviness and sadness throughout. A story of loss, friendship, and resilience. 

Farrer, Maria. Me and Mister P.​ (Grades 2-5) Arthur is tired of his younger brother Liam’s behavior. He can’t even watch television with volume since it upsets his brother. Arthur decides to run away from home but he meets a friendly polar bear named Mister P. who alters his plans. Mister P. helps Arthur accept his brother’s differences. This quirky story is bibliotherapy for siblings of children with autism as well as a good read for children who like fantastical animal stories. 

Krishnaswami, Uma. Step Up to the Plate, Maria Singh. ​(Grades 3-5) Maria Singh lives with her family in Yuba City, California during WWII. Most of the community members are adha-adha (half and half) with fathers from India and mothers from Mexico. Maria’s teacher forms a softball team which Maria wants to join but she is not sure if her father will let her. Maria and her family struggle against discrimination from kids and adults. 

Middleton, Dana. Open If You Dare. ​(Grades 4-6) For Birdie and her best friends, Ally and Rose, the joy of finishing elementary school is overshadowed by their dread of summer’s end. With Rose unwillingly moving back to England, and Ally and Birdie attending different middle schools, their long, close friendship is coming to an end. In the meantime, Ally deals with problems on and off the pitcher’s mound, while Birdie follows the trail of mystery, and Rose rebels against her parents in a creative, yet destructive way. The story is set in Atlanta with well-drawn individuals from different generations. Tween issues are addressed from first crush to first steps toward independence. A rewarding chapter book. 

Morris, Chad. Mustaches for Maddie.​ (Grades 4-6) Maddie is a 12 year old girl who has a big imagination. When she is diagnosed with a brain tumor, she faces surgery and possible negative outcomes from the operation. She also faces middle school friendships and even jealous classmates with humor and bravery. Maddies loves fake mustaches so her supporters wear them. This book is based on the authors’ daughter and will appeal to readers who liked Wonder by R.J. Palacio. 

Pennypacker, Sara. Waylon! Even More Awesome​. (Grades 2-4) A Clementine series spin off which features another likeable kid. Waylon and Baxter are classmates who have to share a dog who lives in a shelter. The two boys can not be more different. While Waylon loves everything about science and following rules, Baxter is always in trouble and close to being a juvenile delinquent. When their dog, Dumpster Eddy, is going to be thrown out of the shelter he is living in, the boys come up with a plan to save him. A book about friendship, family, perseverance and hard work make this a wonderful book for reluctant readers. 

Schlitz, Laura. Princess Cora and the Crocodile. ​(Grades 1-3) Princess Cora never has a moment to play or relax as her parents, the King and Queen, are constantly training her to be perfect. She writes a desperate letter to her fairy godmother asking for help. A pet crocodile arrives the next day and he impersonates Cora so she can have a day off. Caldecott Medalist Brian Floca’s illustrations add to the humor of this story. 

Swanson, Matthew. ​The Real McCoys. ​(Grades 3-5) Moxie McCoy is a fourth grade detective who faces her biggest challenge yet in this fun chapter book. When someone kidnaps beloved school mascot Eddie the Owl, Moxie is on the case-but she is forced to solve this new mystery on her own since her best friend, and fellow detective, has moved away. Moxie finds clues and points fingers but she needs help to find the owl mascot. Enter Milton, Moxie’s smart little brother. Can the real McCoys solve the crime of the century? 

Wilson, Amy. ​The Lost Frost Girl​. (Grades 4-6) A modern day fairy tale about a girl who discovers that she is Jack Frost’s daughter. Owl is a twelve year old girl with a quirky mom, a dad she has never met, a cool best friend named Mallory and a boy who gives her weird looks at school. When she finds out that Jack Frost is her father, she is determined to meet him and delves into Jack’s wonderful and wild world of winter. She realizes she is part human/part fay and has special powers of her own. A tale of family, friendship and magic and embracing who you are meant to be. 

Zemke, Deborah. The Curse of Einstein’s Pencil. ​(Grades 2-3) This second story about Bea Garcia will appeal to fans of Judy Moody. Bea is initially excited when the smartest girl in school, Judith Einstein asks her to be a partner in the geography contest. Then Bea wonders if the secret to Judith’s intelligence is her pencil. Bea takes Judith’s pencil when it rolls on the floor but the effect on her life and friendship is not what she expected. 

Graphic Novels 

Hale, Shannon and Pham, LeUyen. Real Friends​.​ (Grades 3-6) Shannon Hale, author of the bestselling Princess in Black series, debuts her first graphic novel: a memoir of her childhood friendships from kindergarten through sixth grade. Friends, rivals, and frenemies drift in and out of Shannon’s life, but her mean older sister remains a constant menacing presence. Readers will find much to relate to: neighborhood friends who move away; the dread of finding out that all of your friends have been assigned to another teacher. Hale as an adult narrates the story with a welcome perspective, acknowledging when she herself was a bad friend or seeing the dynamics of a situation more clearly in hindsight. Fans of Raina Telgemeier will love this. 

Jamieson, Victoria. All’s Faire in Middle School​.​ (Grades 4-8) From Victoria Jamieson, who won a Newbery Honor for Roller Girl, comes another middle grade graphic novel. Imogen has been homeschooled her whole life; her world revolves around the local Renaissance Faire where her parents work. But now she’s ready for her biggest challenge: middle school. Imogen’s unconventional background makes it difficult for her to fit in, but is she willing to do what it takes to conform? Recommend to fans of Raina Telgemeier. 

Siegel, Mark. The Sand Warrior. ​ (Grades 3-5) The Five Worlds is a galaxy of five planets filled with different species. Oona Lee teams up with An Tzu, a boy from the poorest slums, and Jax Amboy, a lonely star athlete. They discover that they may be able to light five ancient beacons and save the Five Worlds. Hand this fantasy story to fans of Avatar: The Last Airbender and the Amulet series. 

Biography 

Guglielmo, Amy and Tourville, Jacqueline. Pocket Full of Colors.​ ​(Grades K-4). Mary Blair is remembered today as one of the greatest and most influential Disney animators, but at the time, her use of color was considered “too vivid, too wild.” When her all-male colleagues at Disney reject her ideas, she strikes out on her own, where she finds huge success as an illustrator and set designer following her own vision. Finally, Walt Disney himself asks her to come back; she’s the only one he will trust to design the now-classic ride It’s a Small World. Gorgeous brightly-colored illustrations evoke Blair’s distinctive style. An author’s note is included at the end of the book. 

Meltzer, Brad. I am Sacagawea. ​(Grades 1-3) Sacagawea’s story is the latest addition to the Ordinary People Change the World​ best-selling biography series. Sacagawea was the only Native American to join Lewis and Clark’s expedition. Children will learn about the traits that made Sacagawea a trailblazer and the significant contributions she made to the world. A timeline and photos are included at the back of the book. Christopher Eliopoulos’ illustrations reflect his origins in the comic industry. He recreates lively scenes from Sacagawea’s life. 

Rosenstock, Barb. Vincent Can’t Sleep. ​(Grades K-2) This picture book biography of Vincent Van Gogh explores his life especially his troubles with insomnia. He had trouble sleeping as a child, an adolescent, and as an adult in the hospital. The text is short but lyrical while the illustrations in acrylic, pen, and watercolor reflect the night sky and his iconic work, The Starry Night. An author’s note and sources are included at the end of the book. 

Nonfiction 

Burcaw, Shane. Not So Different. ​(Grades 1-3). Shane was born with a degenerative muscle disease, and he’s never been able to walk. People always seem to ask him the same ten questions, like “How do you eat?” or “Why is your head so big?” Answers to these and more are accompanied by funny photographs. Through Shane’s funny and frank stories--he once broke his expensive motorized wheelchair by using it to lift his brother to dunk a basketball--readers will learn that they’re not so different from him after all. A nice introduction to disability for younger kids. 

Burns, Loree Griffin. Life on Surtsey: Iceland’s Upstart Island​. ​(Grades 4-7) In 1963, an underwater volcano off the coast of Iceland erupted, creating a new island formed from rock and ash. Scientists realized they could use this new island to study how life takes hold in a new environment. What are the first plants to grow on the bare rock? When and how do birds, insects, and other animals arrive? The book follows a team of scientists who return to the island every year to study the changes; full-color photographs document their journey and the changing island landscape. It’s a great introduction to how scientists really work, full of details that kids will love. (On a deserted island, how do you go to the bathroom?) A glossary and bibliography are included at the end of the book. 

Chin, Jason. Grand Canyon.​ (Grades 3-5) Some may think of the Grand Canyon as just a “big hole in the ground,” but through gorgeous and detailed illustrations, Chin reveals the complex ecosystem it hosts and what it tells us about our geological past. As a father and daughter hike through the canyon, the reader learns more about what makes each level of the canyon unique. Die-cuts reveal fossils in the modern-day, and when readers turn the page, they are transported back millions of years, to what the landscape looked like when each fossil was formed. Further scientific information, an author’s note, and sources are included at the end of the book. 

Eggers, Dave. ​Her Right Foot. ​(Grades 3 and up) A beautifully illustrated book about the history of the iconic statue along with humor and interesting trivia during the first part of the book. The second part of the book talks about the statue’s feet and how the back of her right foot is actually lifted as if she is going somewhere. No one ever seems to talk about the fact that the statue of liberty is walking; she is on the move. If the statue of liberty is a symbol of freedom, if the statue of liberty has welcomed millions of immigrants to the United States, then how can she stand still? 

Harris, Chris. I’m Just No Good At Rhyming.​ (Grades 3-8) Fans of Shel Silverstein, Ogden Nash, or Jack Prelutsky will enjoy this volume of humorous poetry for kids. Lane Smith’s hilarious illustrations add to the fun.

Rose, Deborah Lee. Beauty and the Beak. ​(Grades 3-5) An Alaskan bald eagle lost most of her beak after a poacher shot her. She was unable to eat, drink, or preen without her beak. The eagle later named Beauty was sent to the care of biologist Veltkamp at a raptor center in Idaho. Since Beauty’s beak did not regenerate, Veltkamp enlisted the help of a dentist and an engineer. Together they fashioned a beak for Beauty using a 3-D printer. This nonfiction animal rescue story has similaries to stories by the Hatkoffs including Winter’s Tail. 

Roy, Katherine. How To Be An Elephant. ​(Grades 3-6) A stunning look at how a newborn elephant matures into a capable member of the herd. This book emphasizes how an infant elephant learns through her family herd an array of skills that are necessary to keep up; from learning to walk and swim right away, projecting her voice, using her nose to eat and smell and keeping cool with her large ears. Large illustrations of calves with their herd are interspersed with captivating diagrams and smaller images work well together. A carefully researched book and a must have for all elementary school collections.  

[lagroupie]

Interview : Warbly Jets

Warbly Jets at Le Bout du Monde in Vevey, through my Olympus Trip.

A few weeks ago, Warbly Jets were playing in Switzerland for the first time. I was really looking forward to their show - I discovered the band a few years ago while getting lost on the internet and have been keeping an eye on their tour dates ever since. 

The band agreed to do a little interview with me before their concert at Le Bout du Monde, and we had a lively chat about their lives in Los Angeles, their new EP Propaganda, getting robbed in Paris, touring in China, their upcoming record and more... join us.

Many thanks to Warbly Jets and the team at Le Bout du Monde for their kindness!

What’s a regular day like in your lives when you are not touring?

Samuel Shea: So I normally wake up, and I start moving all the trash bags that are in the dumpster around me out of the way! (laughs) Then I stand up, I crawl out of that, smoke a cigarette… and then from there I start walking, and then I end up in the studio and start working on music!

Julien O’Neill: Yeah, we just get up everyday and make music. We’re at that point right now where we’re lucky enough to – at least for now – be making music and working in the studio all the time.

Nice! So you guys don’t need to have a day job anymore?

Julien: Not really, we make money on the side in certain ways that we can. Sam engineers and produces bands.

Samuel: Yup, I actually live in a recording studio so I don’t actually live in a dumpster! But I do wake up, and normally within 30 minutes I’m in front of a console working on music.

Julien: We do our best not to have day jobs as much as possible.

Samuel: We do our best not to sleep in dumpsters but we do end up there sometimes you know.  (laughs)

Saamuel Richard: I have a day job actually, I do photography. That’s my main love back at home. I work a lot in fashion and music photography as well. It’s fun, keeps me livin’, keeps me alive.

I read in other interviews that you guys started music without any leverages or advantages. I really like that, because I am from a working class background myself. Does it influence your music?

Samuel: Absolutely, 100%.

Julien: You carry it with you every step of the way. I mean, we have no advantages whatsoever. We were not born with any instant credibility because of who our parents were whatsoever. We don’t have anybody in the industry helping us out in terms of family or friends. Everything that we’ve done to get to this point, we’ve done by ourselves- and developed relationships with people along the way. But it’s very much an independent spirit.

Samuel: Homegrown.

Julien: Yeah. And it definitely influences our music, it’s in a lot of the lyrics, and just the atmosphere- it’s loud, it’s angry but it’s also trying to be emotive and representative to how we feel at our core.

I wanted to talk about my favorite song off your new EP as well, No Allegiance to the Game. I especially like the flutes in it, it reminded me of 90s Beck for some reason!

Samuel: Sure! That was actually something we were going for, along with a mix of other things. But that was definitely one of the influences that we were listening a lot to, and trying to pull things from.

Julien : Yeah. Beck’s and that Beastie Boy stuff!

Samuel: Whether it’s Guero, or even Midnight Vultures to a certain degree. Some of that crazier, early Beck stuff. Also The Avalanches, Beastie Boys… Those are the main influences for this new record that we’re working on. And the EP was actually supposed to be part of that record, but we ended up not finishing it on time. So we decided to separate those songs that were finished just release them as an EP. But the transition into more that sampled-based music that we did with the EP is jumping even further on this next record.

I’m looking forward to hearing it!

Samuel: Yes, unfortunately we just got robbed in Paris…

Saamuel: A week ago.

Samuel: Our main hard drive and our backup drive that were in Julien’s backpack were stolen, so we lost all the sessions of everything.

Julien: Not all of them, there’s definitely some backups and I have a lot of the samples in my MPC already, and in other stuff I use on stage. So there’s backup of certain things, but we have a lot to puzzle-piece a lot of things together, and also to start from scratch in other way. Someone broke into the apartment that I was staying in Paris. Luckily we have insurance, so that’s going to cover the costs of replacing it. But intellectual property, things that you have been working on for months… that doesn’t really equate to a dollar amount.

Samuel: Also, because of how we were working on this record a lot of it was things that we recorded ourselves and then sampled off our own recordings, and then manipulated inside of Ableton to make very strange sounds. While we can’t recreate them – they will never be exactly the same – we’ve been trying to have a positive attitude about the whole situation. I’m not too worried, if we’ve done it once we can do it again and make it right. But it definitely is a very frustrating leaving day of Paris.

Saamuel: Paris really fucked us up.

Samuel: Yeah, Paris is not good. A lot of people got a lot of stuff stolen in Paris actually (laughs)

Speaking of Propaganda, you guys have played in China! How was it? Did you feel uneasy, and how was the crowd?

Julien: In terms of impact, it was great in the bigger cities, and then there’s also smaller markets in different areas there. I was really worried about the lyrics on the new EP, like with Propaganda and Cool Kill Machine being about guns and gun control. There was actually no problem with that whatsoever from the government. We kind of slipped under the radar and performed the songs in full, and never got into any trouble. The responses were great in some of the bigger cities, and in some of the smaller cities it was like what you would expect anywhere else. But overall, it was a blast you know.

Samuel: It’s crazy, that’s our third time touring in China. Last Summer, we played Midi Festival to 10’000, or 12’000 people near Shanghai. The night before we played in a tiny little… I don’t even want to call it a bar, it’s more like a social hangout spot to 5 people! (laughs) Just the difference in that – playing a tiny little- almost teen hang club, and then to 12’000 people the next day… You never know what you’re going to get!

Now I have a weird question. Let’s say you discover a magic box, and there are three superpowers inside: super speed, super strength and mind reading. Which power would you guys choose? There can only be one person per superpower.

Saamuel: Julien already has mind-reading, so he can’t have that. (laughs) I’ll do super-speed!

Samuel: Mind-reading. That’s mine.

Julien: Damnit, that’s what I wanted! I’ll do super strength, because I’m actually pretty weak. (laughs)

What can we expect from Warbly Jets in the future?

Julien: More music, and definitely a slight change in direction in sound. We’re just going to try and put out as much as we possibly can, and ignore what everyone else is telling us behind the scenes.

Samuel: In the immediate future, we’re going to have a video for Cool Kill Machine. It’s coming out in about a month.

http://warblyjets.com/

[aranelchan]

If Women Wrote Men the Way Men Write Women

by Meg Elison

There is a particular look about a teenage boy that lets you know what kind of man he'll be. A certain fullness of lips, a frank sensuality in his gaze. We all know what the word for that is, but it's not polite to use it until he's proven he's that kind of boy.

Hugin was chosen, among all the boys of the village, to compete in the Races. He had grown up, the child of a simple, lovely baker, and his wife, the wolf-hunter. Hugin wore his hair in simple golden waves and had the longest legs anyone had ever seen, coated in fine, silky down. When the yearly selection began, other boys watched Hugin. They knew he would be the one, and they pouted.

What they did not know was that Hugin was torn; torn between tall and silent Joina and her younger sister, Kika the Maker of Knives.

As the old men pulled him on stage to crown him as the Racer, he could see Joina's eyes upon him. He could sense Kika's longing for him as her lips formed his name.

Which one of them would choose him? Who would he belong to? The question would have to wait. He was a Racer now, and nothing else mattered. Not even love.

Brett pulled his tank top up over his head and stared at himself in the full-length mirror. He pushed down his jeans, then his boxers, and imagined the moment when Jennifer saw him nude for the first time. His feet were average-sized, and there was hair on his toes that he should probably take care of before tonight. He liked his legs just fine, but his thighs were wide and embarrassingly muscular. He tried standing at an angle, a twist at his waist. Some improvement. In that position, it was easier to see his ass and notice that it was not as pert as it had been at 22. He clenched both cheeks, hoping that tightened its look. He sucked in his tummy and pulled his pecs up high, trying to present them like pastries in a bakery window. Would she like him? Were the goods good enough? He pouted his lips and ran his hands over his thighs, masking their expanse. Maybe.

Prof. Redgrave looked down to find Stephen gazing up adoringly at her. She blinked down at him, unimpressed.

"But what is Nabikova trying to tell us with this transgressive tale? Is it really just elevated pornography? Or is there a deeper meaning to this titillating tale of a middle-aged woman seducing her teenage stepson?"

Stephen's look didn't waver. Redgrave knew there wasn't a single original thought in the little tart's head. She had seen the way he lounged, long in his desk, inviting the girls in class to look at him and then crying foul when they prefaced their arguments with a harmless little ‘sweetheart.' She had graded his papers, marking them down for their puerile assertions and childish leaps of logic. She and her grad student, Gertrude, had privately giggled over his pathetic striving.

"That one is not 201 material," Gertrude clucked. "Fail him out already. It's sad watching him struggle like this."

But of course, it had to be the Nabikova where he showed a little glimmer of hope. What other book would serve?

"Professor," Stephen began, one well-tanned arm in the air. "What if it's not really about the boy? What if, like she says, he's a safely solipsized something else? What if the plaything isn't the jailbait kid, but the English language itself?"

And just like that, Redgrave knew who her next TA would be. She drank him in, the combination of nubility and fragile academic curiosity and knew he'd fall for her wise advisor act. Kid had mommy issues written all over him.

This semester was looking up.

"But I don't get it!" Shea was panting, trying to catch up to Michael as he fled. "The monster ate everyone else. How did you escape?"

Michael reached the boat first, flinging himself in. He waited for Shea to follow him and take the oars, guiding them smoothly away from the shore.

"It's because I was different from the other boys," he said, pushing his hair behind his ear and looking away.

"What do you mean, different?" Shea's muscles rippled and flexed as she rowed them to safety, and Michael could not tear his eyes away.

"Different. Pure, the monster said. Because I'm... I've never..." He looked away again, and the moonlight caught on his throat, outlined his clavicle.

"You're a virgin," Shea said, realization dawning. "What a waste."

Michael blushed.

"If we get out of this alive," she said. "I'm going to fix that."

"You're so good-looking," said Chester. Antoine was patting his hair into shape in the mirror, fretting again. Antoine knew that his friend meant well, but his opinion just didn't mean anything. Was Chester going to give him a class ring? Was he going to hang that all-important varsity dance team jacket over his shoulders when he was shivering? Would Chester wrap his arms around him, hold his hand, kiss him so deeply that his toes curled? Antoine looked at his best friend in the mirror, seeing him in an entirely new way. It wasn't the same as Barbara, he knew. It would never be as overpowering, or as fulfilling. But maybe...

Barbara found them twenty minutes later, wrapped around each other. Antoine looked up in horror.

"I'm so sorry! It didn't mean anything!"

Barbara smirked, crossing her arms and taking in the scene. "Now, this is interesting. Don't freak out, babe. It's not like it's really cheating, after all."

The two boys looked at each other, flushed and excited.

"Maybe..." Chester bit his lip. "Maybe you'd like to join us?"

She smiled again and began to undo her belt. "That's just what I had in mind."

Andrew didn't mind that he never came when they had sex. Bianca would climb on top of him and ride his pubis, grinding her clit until she spasmed and fell on top of him, exhausted and mumbling about love. He liked the way it got him excited and sometimes, later he would take care of himself. He really just wanted to feel the power of her body on top of his, to know that he was exciting to her. Besides, what are orgasms when compared to true love?

[gethealthy18-blog]

Black-Owned Clean Beauty Brands

New Post has been published on http://healingawerness.com/news/black-owned-clean-beauty-brands/

Black-Owned Clean Beauty Brands

The area where I’ve probably had the most growth and “aha” moments in the last few weeks as I unravel my own white privilege is in the Clean Beauty Space. First and foremost, we need to acknowledge that clean beauty in and of itself is privileged. Clean beauty has and probably will always be more expensive. Without the use of cheap fillers – which are oftentimes the culprits of toxic ingredients – the product will cost more. To be able to choose to intentionally spend more on your body care products is a privilege. To be able to even think about the idea that there are harmful ingredients in body care products is a privilege.

I’ve had to think about whether or not I want to continue to support the clean beauty space if it’s not accessible to everybody and honestly, I still don’t have it figured out. One place I knew I could start was by sharing black-owned clean beauty brands. I’m ashamed to admit I had only heard of about 2 of these brands before putting this together. While I’m sure C isn’t totally stoked that I’m about to fill up our bathroom again, I’m excited to try out some of these black-owned clean beauty brands and discover some new products.

Quick reminder: if you don’t have the funds to buy from these companies, follow, comment, share and purchase when you can!

BLK + GRN – Highly recommend starting your search here! “An all natural marketplace by all Black artisans.”

Black-Owned Clean Beauty Skincare + Bodycare

Klur – Besides being completely obsessed with their branding/packaging, their facial products look so luxurious! Cannot wait to try their serums and oils.

Organic Bath Co. – Running low on soap or hand sanitizer? Stock up from Organic Bath Co. Their scents sound amazing!

E Honey Skin – Huge fan of honey so obviously I’m a fan of this company! Glow + honey? Sign me up!

The Butter Bar Skincare – This skincare company targets it all… acne, hyperpigmentation, eczema, sensitive skin… everything! Buy individual products or a kit to address a certain skin concern.

Unsun – Well it looks like I’ll be testing a new facial sunscreen! Excited to see they not only carry tinted face sunscreens but hand moisturizer with sunscreen too!

Oui the People – Looking for a more luxurious shaving experience? This company is a must see! I cannot wait to try their body oil and this may have to be my first foray into safety razors!

Black Girl Sunscreen – This natural sunscreen was created for women that doesn’t leave a white residue, which of course is even more apparent on POC. Definitely going to check this one out.

Eleven by Venus – Recently launched at Credo this is a another natural sunscreen brand made in partnership with Venus Williams. Looking forward to expanding my natural sunscreen collection.

Golde – My old co-working space carried their superfood drinks and they are amaaaazing. Excited to discover they also carry face masks!

KNC Beauty – Never knew I needed these lip scrubs and masks until now. Love that they offer travel sizes for masking on the go!

Eu’Genia Shea – In Greek, the words Eu-Genia means the origin of goodness and goodness this contains! It is a family-run social enterprise dedicated to all natural premium shea butter moisturizers. They are dedicated to fair wages and opportunities for their female workers in Ghana and donate 15% of their profits back to them in the form of an education fund.

Beneath Your Mask – A healing balm, body scrub, body elixir and so so much more! All of their products are microbatched by hand in southern California.

hanahana beauty – So inspired by this company! “Hanahana Beauty is an all-natural, skincare + wellness brand whose mission is to disrupt the global beauty industry. Our intention is to increase accessibility, transparency, and sustainability in all aspects of what we create.” Hell yes!

Freedom Apothecary – Another luxurious skincare company that has face and body oils my skin can’t wait to try! Sorry not sorry, C for an influx of skincare products!

Líha Beauty – “In the Yoruba (Nigerian) tradition making beautifying oils, soaps and lotions from the nuts, tree bark and plants that grew in abundance was a skill that was traditionally learned by all young women. My mother is an English aromatherapist, so I naturally started to blend the two disciplines together.” Umm… so cool!

Rooted Woman – Non-toxic, ethical nail polish created with the vision of women taking care of themselves! Another company and I can 100% get behind!

Lauren Napier Beauty – I don’t know if businesses get any cooler than this. Female owned and operated, manufactured with solar energy and co-packed by the Foundation of the Handicapped… I mean they clearly have their priorities straight!

Wild Lather – Stocking every sink, shower, bathtub with these soaps! They also make custom triangle soaps for events… making a mental note!

hyper! – This company speaks to me! Struggle with dark spots, scarring or hyperpigmentation? (Raising my hand!) These products were developed to heal and brighten your skin!

Luv Scrub – As a chronic dry skin sufferer, I am so excited to get these cloths. Users have said that these help with ingrown hairs, back acne and more!

Piperwai – I tried Piperwai deodorant when I put a bunch of natural deodorants to the test and their activated charcoal deodorant was one of my faves!

Black-Owned Makeup Brands

Mented Cosmetics – This company was started over a glass of wine so obviously I love! They set out to create nude lipsticks for every skin tone.

Range Beauty – “Created out of a need for more diverse shades and less toxic ingredients.” Yesss!! Why isn’t this every natural beauty company’s mission?!

Luv + Co – Another company that created safe, natural and organic beauty products for women of color – specifically Black women. Their mission is to “help equalize eco-beauty and offer inclusive green beauty products”. YES!

Black- Owned Clean Beauty Haircare

Briogeo Haircare – Have you ever thought that you should put as much thought and care into your hair as you do with your skin? Briogeo set out to do just that.

Hair Rules – Celebrating every single texture of hair – straight, wavy, curly and kinky. Love seeing this!

Sienna Naturals – Clean haircare products for textured hair! Rebuild the health of your hair with these nourishing products.

Oyin Handmade – ” ‘Oyin’ is the Yoruba word for honey. It also stands for the principles of sweetness, joy, and love — elements we seek to inspire in our customers’ daily acts of self-care.” These products focus on restoring moisture in highly textured hair!

*****

I just put in a huge order of a bunch of different products so stay tuned for actual product reviews in the next few months!

Want more? Here is an amazing round-up of 125 Black-owned beauty brands thanks to Cosmopolitan Beauty Director, Julee Wilson!

Like this post? Here are some other clean beauty posts you might enjoy:

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[isewingmachineblog-blog]

Sewing Book for Beginners

Everybody who is figuring out how to sew or adores to sew as of now needs to learn new sewing tips and traps and read manages specifically from the specialists themselves. Despite the fact that these days, there are as of now numerous recordings about sewing with every one of the subjects that an apprentice has to know including our own particular extremely well known YouTube channel, having a book about sewing some of the time feels like the most straightforward and most ideal approach to learn. Some would at present lean toward physical books or at times ebooks which they can peruse at their own particular pace, allude to graphs and representations and even clarify if an idea or question rings a bell.

We've additionally gotten a great deal of solicitations from perusers for a rundown of what we thought were the best sewing books for fledglings. So we invested some energy getting together our most loved sewing books that would profit the individuals who have recently begun sewing as well as the individuals who are into sewing for a long time. In our view, these books are the Top 5 Sewing Books for Beginners which every one of you ought to have in your sewing room.

Sew Everything Workshop by Diana Rupp

S.E.W. is an unquestionable requirement purchase sewing book for tenderfoots. It accompanies 10 free examples which you can use as your underlying sewing ventures. This educational book discusses a ton of extremely fundamental inquiries on a few themes. On the off chance that you are quite recently beginning to offer in to your sewing enthusiasm, this book is for you. From hand lines, fundamental inquiries on sewing machines, choosing what sewing machine you should purchase, joining zippers, how to format and change designs, how to put on predisposition tape, and considerably more. There are likewise certain representations of examples and picture based guidelines that are helpful particularly in the event that you are a visual student.

Tragically, this book is right now no longer available now yet there are many duplicates still around. On the off chance that you check our store at the base o the page, I'm certain you'll have the capacity to discover a duplicate.

The most effective method to Speak Fluent Sewing by Christine Haynes

This for me, resembles a sewing dialect manual. It characterizes and clarifies more than 300 sewing terms and words that an amateur sewist needs and needs to know. On the off chance that you are as yet attempting to recall every one of the terms that you get notification from different sewers around you, this book is an impeccable decision. The themes are likewise organized in light of classifications so you can peruse it effectively.

In this book, the writer extensively clarifies the "what" and "why" of the sewing scene, from strings to buttonholes to creases thus considerably more. In the event that you need to keep the book on your iPad or any advanced gadget, there's likewise a digital book adaptation of How to Speak Fluent Sewing.

Reference book of Sewing and Fabric Crafts by Martha Stewart

The same number of us know, Martha Stewart makes manuals covering all point. Her aides are elegantly composed, professionally distributed and simple for the learner sewist to get it. This book is an extraordinary wellspring of sewing data and examples which any amateur sewer could take after. It additionally covers a few essential subjects like texture ID, which strings to utilize, sewing machine mishaps and how to manage them thus substantially more. The few activities included in this book will keep your sewing room occupied for quite a while.

School of Sewing by Shea Henderson

School of Sewing is a connecting with and engaging book that tenderfoots can truly identify with. This book discusses a common objective of a gathering of fledgling sewers who needed to figure out how to utilize their sewing machines. This is an ideal guide as you take a comparable adventure like what this gathering has experienced in figuring out how to sew. The book begins with directions that are functional and simple to-take after. It likewise handles 12 ventures which are ideal for you and your companions to learn and sew together as a gathering. Sounds fun, correct? Subjects secured go from picking textures, utilizing sewing devices, and considerably more. Extraordinary compared to other components of this book is the photograph outlines which fill in as visual aides all through the tasks.

The Sewing Book: An Encyclopedic Resource of Step-by-Step Techniques

This is a go-to book for sewers – novices and non-learners alike. Precisely and skillfully parceled per area, it is an ideal book to construct your library. Furnished with clear pictures of devices, sewing methods and tasks, you won't get exhausted by simply perusing content and clarifications. Each of the photographs is creatively shot with the objective to introduce the points in a basic and intriguing way, all total with directional bolts to stress key ideas. Covering a few points like strategies, the essential toolbox, designs, the greater part of your sewing questions have their answers in this book.