Deadline for Writing Contest Extended

Valle Pintato Writing Contest: Deadline Dec 15, 2009

Tuesday, 20 October 2009, 16:43 | Category : Contests, Writing Contests
Tags : VAJ Writing Contest, Valle Pintado, Valle Pintado by Aggie Villanueva, Visual Arts Junction Writing Contest

Valle Pintado by Aggie Villanueva
Valle Pintado by Aggie Villanueva

See Aggie’s Limited Edition Photo Art

Join Aggie on her Virtual Photo Shoots

Be sure to also enter sister contest, our art Raffle,
“Become an Art Collector for Under $5.00”

A picture is worth a thousand words, as they say, and that is your assignment. Well, more accurately, 500 — 600 words.

Write about the above photo art, Valle Pintado by Aggie Villanueva. Study the image, Valle Pintado means painted valley, and then write a story that this photo art inspires. You don’t have to write only fiction. Enter an essay if that’s what this image inspires in you. (No poetry please until we have poetry judges.)

Enter the sister art raffle here to win
limited edition print of Valle Pintado for yourself.

The Winner:
The winner gains triple exposure on Aggie Villanueva’s three sites, and a post on the blogs of our prestigious panel of judges.

Plus, and this is a huge plus; every one of our contest supporters (and this list is constantly growing) will also post your winning entry. See our sponsor list below. So, if this image inspires your muse, go for it. You’ll be read by thousands.


Rules:
This contest is open only to unpublished and amateur writers, or those who have been published less than 7 times in the past two years. Not qualified to enter if you have books published, either by traditional publishers or self published.

Study this image, “Valle Pintado”, which means painted valley, then write a story the photo art inspires. You don’t have to write only fiction. Enter an essay if that’s what this image inspires in you. (No poetry, please. We hope to have some poetry judges in the near future)

Deadline for the Valle Pintado Writing Contest is December 15, 2009. The winning entry will receive two critique statements from each judge; what that judge likes about your entry and what could be improved. See The Fine Print below.

Email your entry to Aggie at the Cabin. Be sure to type “Valle Pintado Writing Contest” in the subject line.

Include with your entry a short bio and attach your photo.

Include all links you want posted with your winning entry.

Include your telephone number if you want to be notified of a win by phone as well as by email. If you do not send you phone number, you will only be notified by email.

Winning entries will be posted at all participating sites as near as possible to the 25th of each month.

You must respond within 5 days of the date on your winning email announcement. If you do not reply to your winning email announcement within that time limit, your prize will be assigned to the second place entrant.

The Fine Print: The judges’ critiques are confined to short comments; no in depth critique/editing. Entrants will be automatically added to the Visual Arts Junction newsletter. You many unsubscribe at any time. All rights to the Valle Pintado image remain with the creator, Aggie Villanueva.
VAJ Writing Contests Sponsors

Your winning entry will appear on each sponsors’ site.
Some sponsors post will post on multiple sites.

Aggie Villanueva
Visual Arts Junction: http://www.visualartsjunction.com
Rightfully Mine http://www.aggiev.org/rightfullymine/
Aggie Logic photographic art http://www.aggiev.org/aggielogic/

Carol Langstroth
The Frontpage http://www.carollangstroth.com
Author Meeting Place http://www.authormeetingplace.com/mindfogreviews.html

Linda Yezak
777 Peppermint Place http://lindayezak.wordpress.com/
AuthorCulture http://authorculture.blogspot.com/

Cindy Bauer
Cindy Bauer Bookshttp://www.cindybauerbooks.com/
Reviews by Cindy http://reviewsbycindy.blogspot.com/

Nanci Arvizu
Page Readers http://pagereaders.com/
Nanci’s Thoughts www.nanciarvizu.com

Kim McDougall Blazing Trailers
Blazing Trailers http://www.blazingtrailers.com/

Shelagh Watkins
http://shelaghs.blogspot.com
http://shelaghwatkins.wordpress.com

Melinda Elmore
Melinda’s Blog Spot: Pen to Paper www.melinda.essentialwriters.com
Fran Lewis

Fran’s Website www.gabina.49.webs.com
Fran’s Blog www.gabina49@wordpress.com
Bertha 160 xanga.com
bookmarketing.ning.com/profile/FranLewis
www.myspace.com/hotauntiebertha
www.franifashionista.blogspot.com
http://writing4all.ning.com/profile/FranLewis
http://thewritespot.ning.com/profile/FranLewis

Amber Rigby Grosjean
Amber Rigby Grosjean blog http://amberrigbygrosjean.blogspot.com/

D.K. Christi
D.K. Christi , Consultant and Author www.dkchristi.com

Jhonny Thermidor
Unexplored Oceans of Wisdom www.JhonnyT.wordpress.com
Johnny Thermidor www.JhonnyThermidor.webs.com

Robert Appleton
Mercurial Times http://robertbappleton.blogspot.com/

Chelle Cordero
Chelle Cordero’s Promo Pagehttp://cce613.xanga.com/

Abe F. March

Abe F. March http://www.abemarch.com/apps/blog/

Paidra Delayno
Paidra’s Pen http://paidraspen.blogspot.com/

Sandra Kay
Sandra Kay’s Musings http://www.sandrakayauthor.blogspot.com/

Jo Fulkerson
Writer’s Life http://www.freewebs.com/thedesertwriter/

Elena Dorothy Bowman
Elena Dorothy Bowman’s Book Blog http://elenadorothybowmansbooks.blogspot.com/

Hank Quense
Blog, the writing blog of Hank Quense http://hankquense.com/blog/

Mark Stephen Levy
Overland http://authormarklevy.blogspot.com/

Jay Heinlein Publishing Professional
http://heinleinpubservices.blogspot.com

J. Michael Orenduff
Author of the Pot Thief series
www.ThePotThief.blogspot.com

Yolanthaiti Harrison-Pace
YOLANTHAITI yolanthaiti.blogspot.com

The VAJ Writing Contest

The VAJ Writing Contest just went live. Deadline is November 15, 2009

A picture is worth a thousand words, as they say, and that is your assignment. Well, more accurately, 500 — 600 words.

Write about the above photo art, Valle Pintado by Aggie Villanueva. Study the image, Valle Pintado means painted valley, and then write a story that this photo art inspires. You don’t have to write only fiction. Enter an essay if that’s what this image inspires in you. (No poetry please until we have poetry judges.)

Here's the link to the contest and for all the rules and regulations. Good Luck!

http://www.visualartsjunction.com/?p=3585

Book Review from Ruby Moon-Houldson-Gene Roddenberry Website

http://www.roddenberry.com/communityblogs/index/detail?id=254

Review of Sarah's Landing Book 1
By: Ruby Moon-Houldson
06/04/2009
Sarah's Landing - I * C o n t a c t

A 111-year-old mystery - people who vanished ten years before the new millennium - the first space-exploration starship, Earth Star-I, lost in deep space fifty-one years later - Is there a connection between these unexplained disappearances and a village situated along the rocky coast of New England, a place out of time, called Sarah's Landing?

Joshua Morgan, the Astronaut/Biologist scratched from the ill-fated flight, searching for answers, is unaware his quest will take him to the far reaches of space and to an alien planet no one knew existed. Joshua's love for two different woman on world's light years apart, results in the birth of sons - siblings - one from the alien planet, one from Earth, both empowered with mind-linking capabilities.

Set in the year 2055, the book centers around the hero’s attempts to solve the 111-year-old mystery of people who vanished 10 years before the new millennium, and the loss of the first starship, Earth Star-I which vanished 51 years later.

A software engineer turned author, Elena Bowman offers the reader a story filled with unexpected twists and turns. You’ll want to read this series.

I give this book 4 out of 5 moons. - Author: Ruby Moon-Houldson - Roddenberry.com

Visit Ms. Bowman’s webpage to check out all her books at
http://home.comcast.net/~www.sarahslanding.com/sarahslanding.html

Reviews and Excerpts of My Novels on Yvonne Mason's Weblog

Hi, Everyone!

Just wanted to share with you that Yvonne Mason, has graciously posted reviews and excerpts of all of my novels on her weblog. The following links will take you to each page that they reside on. I really appreciate her doing this for me and for all authors she graciously does this for.
Thank you!


http://yvonnemason.wordpress.com/2009/08/02/sarahs-landing-contact-by-elena-dorothy-bowman/

http://yvonnemason.wordpress.com/2009/08/02/the-telepaths-of-theon-book-2-sarahs-landing-series-by-elena-dorothy-bowman/

http://yvonnemason.wordpress.com/2009/08/02/the-barbarians-book-three-sarahs-landing-series-by-elena-dorothy-bowman/

http://yvonnemason.wordpress.com/2009/08/02/genesis-book-4-sarahs-landing-series-by-elena-dorothy-bowman/

http://yvonnemason.wordpress.com/2009/08/02/the-house-on-the-bluff-book-one-the-legacy-series-by-elena-dorothy-bowman/

http://yvonnemason.wordpress.com/2009/08/03/the-gatekeepers-realm-by-elena-dorothy-bowman/

http://yvonnemason.wordpress.com/2009/08/03/adams-point-book-iii-of-the-legacy-series-by-elena-dorothy-bowman/

http://yvonnemason.wordpress.com/2009/08/03/time-rift-by-elena-dorothy-bowman/

http://yvonnemason.wordpress.com/2009/08/03/the-odyssey-by-elena-dorothy-bowman/

http://yvonnemason.wordpress.com/2009/08/03/the-imposter-by-elena-dorothy-bowman/

Is There a Duty for the Elderly to Die?

Is There a Duty for the Elderly to Die?
Apparently the Democrat Congress and Obama seems to think so.

________________________________________
In 2004 former Governor of Colorado Richard Lamm lit a firestorm of controversy when he suggested that old people have a duty to die. This concept has been elaborated by others. The reasoning is that our society, at least in the Western world, have no good financial plans for long-term care for the aged when they become incapacitated because of illness or mental debility. Often these persons become a financial and emotional burden for family members and may require family members to alter their own lives and goals simply to care for their aged relatives. It has been suggested that these burdens are not acceptable and that the aged should find a duty to terminate their lives before they have reached such a dependent state. This means that an elderly person while mentally competent and not terminally ill should arrange to die. The argument is that their life is almost over naturally and they should not interfere with the lives and careers of others who have yet many years of life ahead. Also implied is that society's monetary costs for caring for the elderly infirm could better be spent on children and younger people.
=========================================================================
I received this email today and posting it exactly as it was received:

"I heard this on the news today, Now the provision is being circulated for all to understand. This is no joke, unfortunately. When I heard this on CNN & Fox this morning, I thought they were kidding, but they quoted the provision that is proposed.

Paul

"Page 425 of Obama's Health Bill

"You’re not going to believe this because it’s so absurd, but here is what it says.

“The Federal Government will require everyone who is on Social Security to undergo a counseling session every 5 years with the objective being that they will explain to them how to end their own life earlier.”

"THEY ARE GOING TO PUSH SUICIDE to cut medicare spending!

Click here: Obamacare for old folks: Just 'cut your life short'"
http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=104719

So, I checked it out and This is a WorldNetDaily printer-friendly version of the article which follows. To view this item online, visit http://www.worldnetdaily.com/index.php?pageId=104719

Friday, July 24, 2009
________________________________________
WorldNetDaily Exclusive
Obamacare for old folks: Just 'cut your life short'
Health plan provision demands 'end-of-life' counseling
________________________________________
Posted: July 22, 2009
8:21 pm Eastern
By Bob Unruh
________________________________________
WorldNetDaily
The version of President Obama's universal health care plan pending in the U.S. House would require "end-of-life" counseling for senior citizens, and the former lieutenant governor for the state of New York is warning people to "protect their parents" from the measure.
At issue is section 1233 of the legislative proposal that deals with a government requirement for an "Advance Care Planning Consultation."
Betsy McCaughey, the former New York state officer, told former president candidate Fred Thompson during an interview on his radio program the "consultation" is no more or less than an attempt to convince seniors to die.
One of the most shocking things is page 425, where the Congress would make it mandatory absolutely that every five years people in Medicare have a required counseling session," she said. "They will tell [them] how to end their life sooner."
The proposal specifically calls for the consultation to recommend "palliative care and hospice" for seniors in their mandatory counseling sessions. Palliative care and hospice generally focus only on pain relief until death.
The measure requires "an explanation by the practitioner of the continuum of end-of-life services and supports available, including palliative care and hospice, and benefits for such services and supports that are available under this title."
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
Excerpt from health care plan:
(B) An explanation by the practitioner of advance directive, including living wills and durable powers of attorney, and their uses.
(C) An explanation by the practitioner of the role and responsibilities of a health care proxy.
(D) The provision by the practitioner of a list of national and State-specific resources to assist consumers and their families with advance care planning, including the national toll-free hotline, the advance care planning clearing houses, and State legal service organizations (including those funded through the Older Americans Act of 1965).
(E) An explanation by the practitioner of the continuum of end-of-life services and supports available, INCLUDING PALLIATIVE CARE and hospice and benefits for such services and supports that are available under this title.

Excerpt from health care plan
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
It also recommends a method for death: "the use of artificially administered nutrition and hydration."
______________________________________________________________________________________________
Another excerpt from the Obamacare plan
(l) the individual's desire regarding transfer to a hospital of remaining at the current care setting.
(m) the use of antibiotics, and
(n) the use OF ARTIFICIALLY ADMINISTERED NUTRITION AND HYDRATION
(2) PAYMENT- Section 1848(J)(3) of such Act (42 U.S.C.) 1395w-4(j)(3)is amended by inserting(2) (FF), after (2)(EE).

Another excerpt from the Obamacare plan
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
Then there's a third reference that sets out reporting requirements for doctors to monitor how such end-of-life orders are followed.
Under "QUALITY REPORTING INITIATIVE," the bill says, "For purposes of reporting data on quality measures for covered professional services furnished during 2011 and any subsequent year, to the extent that measures are available, the Secretary shall include quality measures on end of life care and advanced care planning that have been adopted or endorsed by a consensus-based organization, if appropriate. Such measures shall measure both the creation of and adherence to orders for life-sustaining treatment."
________________________________________________________________________________________________
A third excerpt from Obamacare

(3) Physician's Quality Reporting Initiative:
(A) IN GENERAL – For purposes of reporting data on quality measures for covered professional services furnished during 2011 and any subsequent year, to the extent that measures are available, the Secretary shall include quality measures on end of life care and advance care planning that have been adopted or endorsed by a consensus-based organization, if appropriate. Such measures shall measure both THE CREATION OF AND THE ADHERENCE TO orders for life sustaining treatment.
(B)PROPOSED SET OF MEASURES – The Secretary shall publish in the Federal Register proposed quality measures on end of life care and…

A third excerpt from Obamacare
_________________________________________________________________________________________________

McCaughey said she was stunned.
"As a patient advocate I am so shocked at the vicious assault on elderly people and the boomer generation," she told Thompson. "I hope people listening will protect their parents from what is intended under this bill."
She cited the federal provision that such counseling sessions must be administered every five years. If there's a significant change in the person's health or status during that time, such as an ordinary move to a nursing home because of declining physical abilities, the counseling must be administered again.
The message, she said, is "to do what's in society's best interests, and cut your life short."
"Can you imagine the response of the American people (when they find out)?" Thompson asked..
McCaughey is a health policy expert who founded HospitalInfection.org to stop hospital-acquired infections as well as DefendYourHealthCare.us concerning the proposed nationalization of health care.
The law also allows preferences that treatment levels set up by patients "may range from an indication for full treatment to an indication to limit some or all … interventions."
McCaughey also said the Obama administration is suggesting that medical care be withheld from seniors based on the expected years they have left to live. Such a program already is in effect in the United Kingdom, where patients losing their eyesight to age-related macular degeneration cannot be given an eyesight-saving medication until they lose sight in one eye.

Advance Review of There and Back by Trisha Fitzgerald-Petri

Trisha Fitzgerald-Petri's Novel was not released at the time I was privileged to do an advance review of it.

Book Review: There and Back
Reviewed by Elena Dorothy Bowman
March 20, 2009

There and Back by Trisha Fitzgerald-Petri
Publisher: Wings ePress – 298 Pages


Trisha's novel There and Back is a mesmerizing tale of three Irish sisters and the complications that seem to dog two of them throughout their lives. Theresa Sullivan, the younger of the two, is a free spirit who believes all she ever dreams for would come to her naturally, which to her made her life more interesting if not perilous. On the other hand, her older sister, Gwendolyn has a more conservative view of life. Then, of course, there is Anna, the quiet one. From the beginning it is Gwen who copes with her sister's devil may care attitude, which causes a great deal of apprehension in Gwen's life. So much so that Gwen begins to believe it is her lot in life to look after her younger sister no matter what the consequences to her own desires and expectations.

Sprinkled within the story one can almost feel the atmosphere of the Irish Countryside. Trisha's description brings to mind the smells of the land, the food, the people's lives, all entwined as one. Traveling along the road through the villages one could actually believe that they are there in spirit if not in body. And behind this quiet, peaceful land, there is the threat of danger as Tessie manages to get herself into one pickle after another.

The many twist, turns and humor, in just the right places, take the reader from the land of the Irish to a different and strange culture and into the mountainous territory of Yugoslavia. Beneath the beauty of this troubled land bordering on the edge of war and suspicion, where earthquakes are as normal as the day is long, the precarious turn of events is heightened when Tessie manages to get herself entwined in the most dangerous and deadliest escapade of all. Tossing her own desires aside, Gwen, with the help of one of Tessie's discarded suitors rushes to her sister's aid only to find herself in a situation that is just as dangerous and deadly as her sister's and wondering if they will ever see Ireland again.

Trisha takes her time weaving this story together taking the reader deeper and deeper into the intrigue she so cleverly unwinds. She deftly exposes the depth of her characters' tribulations, and emotions, while emerging them into an environment that has all the intrigue and life–threatening danger waiting to engulf them. Although not a fast-paced novel, it moves at a steady pace, capturing the reader's attention and wondering where it would all end. It is without a doubt a page turner and well worth the read.

~~ Elena Dorothy Bowman, Author of:
The Sarah's Landing Series, The Legacy Series, Time-Rift, The Odyssey and The Imposter.

Review of Diamond Star - Catherine Asaro's Newest Release

Review of Diamond Star
Author: Catherine Asaro
ISBN#978-1-4165-9160-3
1-4165-9160-5
Publisher: Baen Books – 2009
Reviewed by: Elena Dorothy Bowman

Diamond Star, the newest novel in Catherine Asaro's Award-Winning Skolian Empire Series is the story of a Prince of the Ruby Empire who longed to be somewhere and someone other than who he really was, and to that end kept his true identity a secret. At the time his family returned to their own planet, he was not with them, causing his family to believe he was being held captive by Earth's Hierarchy. Feeling that his family would not appreciate his desire to stay on Earth and be a rock star, he kept that information from them. Intent on proving that he could do more with his talent than what was expected of him, he set about promoting his music and his voice. He soon discovered that he was entwined in the dark side of the holo-rock industry, with attempts on his life, people wanting to own him, use him, kidnap him, and enslave him. Not to mention the interstellar conflagration he could bring about between three civilizations: Earth, Skyfall, and the worst of them all—The Traders— if Earth couldn't protect him. Then, too, there was woman he loved, a love he couldn't or wouldn't believe possible. He did not want to cause his family any worry or anguish, but he had to do what he was born to do—sing. If only he could believe he was as good as everyone was telling him he was, that he truly was worthy of the talent he was given.

Catherine Asaro's Diamond Star will keep you turning the pages as she takes you from one world to another as easily as going to the corner grocery store. The vivid worlds she creates makes one want to sign up for the next flight to the stars. A romantic science fiction novel that will keep you thinking about it long after you've closed the book on the last chapter.
~~Elena Dorothy Bowman
Author of: The Sarah's Landing Series, The Legacy Series, Time-Rift, The Odyssey and The Imposter.