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Gambler’s Folly is still #9 on the Bookstrand Mainstream Top Sellers List for the past six months.

A futuristic, paranormal fantasy romance set on the pleasure paradise of Gambler’s Folly, the book is an “Awesome read! This book is smoking hot in an unexpected, underworld kinda way. I didn’t have to read several chapters in before I became totally engrossed. The Author’s engaging style captivated me before the 1st paragraph was done. Gambler’s Folly is a page turner, a bestseller, a literary Hidden Gem at its finest! I can’t wait to read the next book by Mellie Miller.”  At least according to Katandra Jackson, CEO of FreedomInk 365.

It also helped me win the Most Artistic award this year on the BBFB Awards for Let Me Tell Your Story.

Haven’t read it yet? It’s available at Bookstrand, Amazon, and Barnes and Noble.

http://www.bookstrand.com/gamblers-folly

http://www.amazon.com/Gamblers-Folly-BookStrand-Publishing-Romance-ebook/dp/B00EKWRB3S

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/gamblers-folly-mellie-e-miller/1116472748?ean=9781627405843

Go ahead. Try it! What are you waiting for?

Ciao for now…

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Halloween has passed and stores are packed with Christmas decorations and gift ideas.

What happened to Thanksgiving?

Thanksgiving is a time to step back for a moment, with family and friends, and think about our blessings during the past year. What events have given us insight or brought us joy since last Thanksgiving?

I think a lot of people rush past Thanksgiving simply because it lacks the excitement and glamour of Christmas. There are no pretty colored lights adorning the sidewalks, no snowmen or snowflakes on the storefront windows, and no beautifully decorated trees in stores or homes.

I actually heard one of our daughters step-daughters ask what the big deal was with Thanksgiving. After all, you don’t get gifts or anything. It’s just dinner.

Has our society become so selfish that unless there is something to gain, there’s no reason to celebrate? If we don’t get gifts, it’s a pointless exercise?

I would like to see our department and grocery stores spend a little time, at least, on Thanksgiving. Why can’t we have displays of table decorations for Thanksgiving featuring cornucopias, autumn leaves, and harvest themes?

How about gratitude journals, even small card-sized ones, to list what we’re grateful for this year and what we’re looking forward to in the year to come?

Yes, Halloween is fun with all the costumes and decorations. Christmas is a beautiful time of year with all the symbolism of the season and presents for family and friends.

But let’s not forget Thanksgiving. Let’s not forget to be thankful for what we have, what we’ve been given. Don’t  rush from and evening of parties and dress-up to what-did-I-get-for-Christmas.

Take a moment to reflect on what you’ve been given throughout the year. Not monetarily, but in life experience, friendship, health, and abundance.

Maybe this hasn’t been a particularly abundant year for you in terms of your bank account. The economy hasn’t been great. But if you have family, friends, a roof over your head, and food on your table, you can give thanks.

Halloween has come and gone and Christmas is on the way. But let’s not neglect Thanksgiving. Let’s make time to slow down a little, take a break, and reflect on our blessings this year.

Have a wonderful and bountiful Thanksgiving.

 

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Black and whiteYes, indeed!  Welcome to Georgia. Yesterday I hung my laundry on the line to dry outside where it was a wonderfully comfortable 65 degrees.

This morning we woke up to a frigid 21 degrees. I have chicken-cicles out in the hen house. The dog is frantically trying to grow fur and the outside cats are begging to come inside to the warmth.

The baby guinea keets we rescued two weeks ago are now in the house, since the porch is too chilly. Our inside cats, Fogg and Masha, are sure the keets are meant to be cat snacks and are working at opening the door into the store room.

What is in store for tomorrow? Heat wave or continued wintery weather?

Either way, what are you reading tonight? Try Gambler’s Folly.

http://www.bookstrand.com/gamblers-folly

Stay warm and I’ll talk to you later,

Ciao

 

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The news is in! The Bavarlee Bernstein Facebook Productions second annual awards night has come and gone. And I was among the winners.

I was nominated in the category of Most Artistic for my novel, Gambler’s Folly. Mr. Bernstein introduced my novel earlier this year on his program, Let Me Tell Your Story.

So go to his page on Facebook to see the other categories and winners.

https://www.facebook.com/bavarleebernsteinproductions

 

Thank you, Bavarlee Bernstein, for your nomination and for the award.  Everyone in the running is extremely talented and I am humbled to be considered among them.

If you haven’t read Gambler’s Folly yet, go over and see what you’ve missed.

http://www.bookstrand.com/gamblers-folly

A tardi amici miei–

Until later.

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This is an interesting video I saw on flickspire.

Take a look and see what you think.

Ciao!

http://www.flickspire.com/m/LittleeInc/212

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Black and whiteHalloween, a night of ghosts and goblins, trick or treat, and harvest decorations. Is it religious or secular? Where did it actually originate?

Why do we celebrate it?

Let’s take a look at history.

Halloween is considered by many to be a secular holiday rather than a religious one. According to some, Halloween harkens back to the Celtic festival of Samhain. Samhain was an ancient Celtic and Druidic celebration of the New Year, which began on November 1. It was in part a harvest festival. They believed that during the night between the new and old year, the boundaries between the worlds of the living and of the dead blurred or weakened allowing the dead to return and cause trouble. It was also a time when the priests could more accurately foretell the future. http://www.history.com/topics/halloween

To commemorate this time, they built huge bonfires, which were considered sacred, and burned sacrifices of crops and animals to their gods. It also kept evil spirits away.

Later, after Rome had conquered the British Isles, they brought with them two ideas—Feralia, or a day commemorating the dead, and a day in honor of Pomona, the goddess of fruits and trees. Her symbol was the apple, which some say is the origin of our “bobbing for apples”. http://www.albany.edu/~dp1252/isp523/halloween.html

When Christianity came to Ireland and Britain, it brought the observance of All Souls Day. This was a day to celebrate the martyrdom of all saints, known and unknown. Originally celebrated in the spring, around Easter, it was moved to November 1 by Pope Gregory III (731-741).  The day was called All Saints Day and  was ordered to be celebrated by Pope Gregory IV. Moving the Catholic celebration of All Saints Day to November 1 replaced the pagan harvest festival with a catholic observance.

The vigil, or eve, of All Saints Day is the evening before, on the evening of October 31. It is commonly known as All Hallow’s Eve, or Halloween. All Saints Day honors all the martyrs and has been extended to include all saints in heaven. It is celebrated by the Catholic church by going to mass  and asking  for their prayers on behalf of those still on earth. http://catholicism.about.com/od/holydaysandholidays/p/All_Saints_Day.htm

The next day, November 2 is All Souls Day and is a time to pray for those souls still in purgatory. Families tend graves on this day and some cook special dinners in observance of the Feast of All Souls. http://www.catholicculture.org/culture/liturgicalyear/overviews/months/10_2.cfm

Where did our traditions come from? Trick or treating may have come over from Britain from the practice of souling. In souling, people would go door to door offering to say prayers for the dead in exchange for treats—usually soul cakes baked for the occasion.

http://urbanlegends.about.com/od/halloween/a/History-Of-Halloween.htm

Bobbing for apples may also have come from a divination game played in Britain. Apples were placed in a tub of water and the participants tried to catch one in their mouth. Once caught, the apple was carefully peeled and the peel was used to find the initial of one’s true love. http://urbanlegends.about.com/od/halloween/a/Bobbing-For-Apples-On-Halloween.htm

Should Christians celebrate Halloween? That depends on who you ask. Many fundamental churches feel the pagan roots of the celebration make it a celebration of evil or demonic things. The Catholic church believes their celebration predates the Celtic practices and that All Saints Day is important enough to be considered a Holy Day of Observation. Of course observing the day by going to mass is quite different from going out trick or treating.

http://catholicism.about.com/od/holydaysandholidays/f/All_Saints_Holy.htm

So, is Halloween a remnant of a pagan harvest festival? An ancient Druidic celebration on a night when the veil between the worlds is weakened and the dead return?

Or is it a day to go to mass and remember the saints and those departed?

Evil or Christian?

You decide.

 

Follow the FreedomInc365 All Hallow’s Eve Blog Hop!

Follow-Share-Comment-Have fun… Happy All Hallow’s Eve.
Katandra —> http://freedomink365ceo.wordpress.com/
Ramona—> http://lifeandloveramonajones.blogspot.com/
Taylor Fulcher—> http://stuckinthegrey.wordpress.com/
Marla Crews—> http://www.marlacrewswebdesign.com/blog/
Skye Knizley—> http://skyeknizley.wordpress.com/
Mellie Miller—> https://melliemiller.com/
Alexia Purdy—> http://alexiaepurdy.blogspot.com/
Yvette—> http://TheAncestorshavespoken.blogspot.com/

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mem-gamblersfollySo, is anyone else out there in Georgia about to freeze to death? About two weeks ago the temperatures were in the 70’s and 80’s. Now all of a sudden it’s 52 F. My poor chickens are wishing they could grow feathers faster.

But on these chilly nights, it nice to be sitting by the fire, a cup of cocoa on the table next to you while you read your favorite book.

Have you tried Gambler’s Folly yet?

If not, wander on over to Bookstrand or Amazon to get your copy of my paranormal fantasy romance.  Then get comfortable under a nice fluffy throw, get that cuppa something warm to drink and settle in for a little romance.

Here’s an excerpt for you.

It was entirely too early when Damiano woke her the next morning. Karianna had no idea when she’d finally gone to sleep, but she didn’t feel rested.

“Come on, Kari,” she heard him say, “If you want coffee before your workout, you should get out of bed.”

Not Carl, not today, she thought. She had one man who was overwhelmingly attentive to her, and one who was a fiend in the gym. Between the two of them, she was going to go mad.

“Some honeymoon,” she murmured to herself.

“We can relax and have fun later,” she heard right next to her. Opening her eyes, she saw Damiano, in black silk pajama pants and no shirt, stretched out on her bed. Head propped up on his hand, he had an amused smile, as he watched the succession of expressions on her face. “When you decide what to do, cara, let me know,” he said. “But if you choose coffee and Carl, you should get up soon.”

“What are my other choices?” she asked grumpily.

“You have two choices, mia amore. Your husband or Carl.”

“And if I choose my husband?” she asked.

“Well, then we can stay in bed for a while and see what happens. Like this.” He reached over lazily and slowly drew the sheets from her body. “Nice, cara. So lovely on you,” he commented on the wisp of sheer lace she’d worn to bed. The only lingerie she had was ideal for newlyweds, and very sensual even then.

His eyes slowly moved down her body, taking in the sight. While she tried to sort out her feelings, his hand found the slit in the side of the gown, caressed her thigh, and then swept up and over her behind. Moving closer, he cushioned her head on his arm and slowly kissed her.

Now thoroughly awake with her body at full alert, she knew exactly what she wanted. She wasn’t sure if it was what she should do, though. Part of her was shocked that she would even consider sleeping with this man. Of course, it was difficult to reason with a strong, warm hand taking a tour of her body, having now reached her breast. They were married, after all, she thought, and Trae was gone. It wouldn’t be cheating. Besides, she was stuck with him for two years and he was attractive, to say the least. She might as well get something out of the arrangement.

Damiano decided to help her make up her mind by tracing her ear with his tongue, nibbling her ear lobe and leaving a trail of tiny kisses down her throat. His hand massaged her stomach and abdomen, then pressed in deeply, to massage just below her navel. The explosion of white-hot energy sent her right over the edge.

As her arms reached up to pull him to her, her mouth sought his hungrily, like someone who’d been starved nearly to death invited to a banquet.

“Slowly, cara. We have all morning,” he said, gently taking her in hand, while teasing her even more.

 

Ciao for now amici miei–

a tardi

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CommercialHalloween is coming up soon. How do you feel about it? Is it a fun time to go out trick or treating? Should it be shunned because of pagan origins? Or does it date back to observances in the Catholic church?

For answers to these questions, go on over and read my article on Yahoo.

http://voices.yahoo.com/halloween-all-hallows-eve-why-we-celebrate-it-12355543.html

Like the articles you’ve read? Be a fan!

http://contributor.yahoo.com/user/1766068/mellie_miller.html

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Autumn is here with cool nights and hot cocoa. Such a nice time to curl up with a good book.

mem-gamblersfollyIf you like paranormal romance, check out my novel, Gambler’s Folly. Set on a futuristic pleasure world, the stakes are high as syndicate boss, Damiano Leone, gambles to save his business and his wife in a takeover bid by his competitors.

http://www.bookstrand.com/gamblers-folly

 

Not into fiction? October is breast cancer awareness month.  If this is more your style, get your copy of my book Cancer and the Warrior’s Way.

https://www.createspace.com/4107360

Cancer and War.WayWhatever you decide to read, grab a cup of your favorite, sit down, and get comfy.

Have a great week!

Ciao!

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How do you feel about Friday the 13th? Why do so many people consider it unlucky?

Read about it here!

http://voices.yahoo.com/friday-13th-why-we-consider-unlucky-12322436.html

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