Friday, September 30, 2016

Interview with Meg Benjamin, RUNNING ON EMPTY


Can you give us a brief overview of your latest book? Is it part of a series?
Sure. Running On Empty is book 3 in my Salt Box Trilogy (Books 1 and 2 were published by Samhain Publishing).

Here’s the blurb:
She’s running her heart out to stay in the same place.
Ronnie Ventura has every reason to distrust Fairstein Productions: she’s had run-ins with their shows before. But Fairstein’s newest reality show offers Ronnie a chance to redeem herself from looking like a blonde bimbo. All she has to do is win a modified triathlon. Simple, right? Except this is Fairstein, and nothing is ever simple with them.
Ronnie’s boss at the Blarney Stone bar and café, owner Ted Saltzman, is a lot less convinced that another Fairstein show is just what Ronnie needs, particularly when he’s head over heels about Ronnie himself.  But she’s determined, and he’s a man in love.
Ted becomes her running coach, which fans their budding romance to a fever. But can Ronnie’s newfound confidence stand up to the usual Fairstein plots? And can Ted find a way to keep his true love in Salt Box if Hollywood tries to steal her away again?

Do you have a favorite character?
I’m very fond of my heroine, Ronnie Ventura. Ronnie first appeared in book 1 of the trilogy, Finding Mr. Right Now, where she was a naïve and sort of annoying bachelorette on a reality show. In book 2, Love In the Morning, she’d become a lot savvier, and her backstage knowledge about the reality show world helped the book’s heroine overcome a major challenge in her life. Now she’s the heroine herself and I had a lot of fun showing how much she’s grown and what traits she still shares with the sweet innocent from Finding Mr. Right Now.

Have you ever had a minor character evolve into a major one? Did that change the direction of the novel at all?
This happens to me all the time! I just finished a book where a little girl showed up as a very minor character (a sales clerk) and managed to become a major part of the plot before I was done. Her contribution made me rethink how the Big Black Moment would take place in that book. And now she’s become a major supporting character in the next book in that series.

Are you currently under a traditional publishing contract for future books or do you have manuscripts that you will self-publish? Are you doing both?
I do both. Running on Empty was originally supposed to have been published by Samhain Publishing, but they went through a difficult period and I took the rights back. Publishing this book myself has been a major learning experience, but I’m so glad I did it. Now I know how the process works, and I’ll feel more confident about publishing books on my own if that seems to be the more promising way to go.

What factors influenced your decision to self-publish your book(s)?
As I said, Running On Empty was originally set to be published by Samhain, which published books 1 (Finding Mr. Right Now) and 2 (Love In the Morning). When Samhain went through financial difficulties, they could no longer bring the book out. My choice was to let the trilogy remain unfinished or to publish the book myself. I really wanted to bring the trilogy to a close and to give Ronnie a chance to be the heroine of her own story, so I decided to go for it.

If you used a graphic designer/publisher’s designer, how involved were you during the creative process for your cover?
Samhain always allowed a lot of writer input on cover design. The first two covers in the trilogy were done by Angela Waters with a common theme: Mountains (the books take place in Salt Box, Colorado), a sunrise/sunset, and a happy couple. I really wanted the cover for Running On Empty to use the same theme, so I contacted Angie, who (fortunately for me) also works freelance. I found the couple I wanted to use on a stock photo site, and Angie put the cover together. I’m very happy with the way it worked out.

Do you belong to a critique group? Have they helped improve your writing?
I’ve belonged to various critique groups over the years, but I sort of evolved into using a critique partner, the fabulous Teri Wilson. We exchange chapters every week or so. To me, it’s more useful to have the same person look at extended passages from a book so that she knows what’s come before and what you’re trying to do. Teri’s been a huge help in finding plot holes and pointing out things about the characters that I wouldn’t have picked up on my own.

What is your writing process? Do you listen to music or do you like silence?
I wish I could use music, but I really have to have silence to write. I can’t really deal with distractions—I have to be able to concentrate on what I’m doing.

Do you outline your story or just go where your muse takes you?
I’m a total plotter, always have been. I really need to have a clear idea of where the plot’s going before I start to write. I may end up heading in different directions once I actually start working, but I need to know I won’t run out of ideas as I go.

Did you hire an editor to review your manuscript before publishing?
Absolutely! Having an editor look over your manuscript is a crucial step in getting your book ready for publication. In my case the editor pointed out some weaknesses I hadn’t noticed (and took care of quickly), as well as picking up those random mechanical errors that can cause all kinds of problems. I used to be a copyeditor, but it’s almost impossible to edit your own book—you’ll read through the errors because you know what’s supposed to be there. Kelli Collins, my editor, made a big contribution here.


BLURB:

Ronnie Ventura has every reason to distrust Fairstein Productions: she’s had run-ins with their shows before. But Fairstein’s newest reality show offers Ronnie a chance to redeem herself from looking like a blonde bimbo. All she has to do is win a modified triathlon. Simple, right? Except this is Fairstein, and nothing is ever simple with them.

Ronnie’s boss at the Blarney Stone bar and café, owner Ted Saltzman, is a lot less convinced that another Fairstein show is just what Ronnie needs, particularly when he’s head over heels about Ronnie himself.  But she’s determined, and he’s a man in love.

Ted becomes her running coach, which fans their budding romance to a fever. But can Ronnie’s newfound confidence stand up to the usual Fairstein plots? And can Ted find a way to keep his true love in Salt Box if Hollywood tries to steal her away again?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Author Bio:
Meg Benjamin is an award-winning author of contemporary romance. Her Konigsburg series for Samhain Publishing is set in the Texas Hill Country and her Ramos Family Trilogy is set in San Antonio’s King William District. Her Salt Box trilogy takes place in her new home the Colorado Rockies. She’s also the author of Going Up In Flames, part of the Sapphire Falls Kindle World series. Meg’s books have won numerous awards, including an EPIC Award, a Romantic Times Reviewers’ Choice Award, the Holt Medallion from Virginia Romance Writers, the Beanpot Award from the New England Romance Writers and the Award of Excellence from Colorado Romance Writers. Meg’s Web site is http://www.MegBenjamin.com.

You can follow her on:

Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/meg.benjamin1),
Twitter (http://twitter.com/megbenj1).

Meg loves to hear from readers—contact her at meg@megbenjamin.com.

To purchase Meg’s books, you can visit her author page at  Samhain,

Meg’s books are also available through iBooks and other venues.

Meg’s Books:

Konigsburg, TX
Venus In Blue Jeans ISBN  9781605043692
Wedding Bell Blues ISBN 9781605046303
Be My Baby ISBN 9781605048437
Long Time Gone ISBN 9781609281083
Brand New Me ISBN 9781609283070
Don’t Forget Me ISBN 9781609288259
Fearless Love ISBN 9781619212404
Hungry Heart ISBN 9781619222274

Salt Box Trilogy
Finding Mr. Right Now ISBN 9781619229570
Love in the Morning ISBN 9781619230729

Promise Harbor Wedding
Bolted ISBN 9781619214293

Ramos Family Trilogy
Medium Well ISBN 9781101599648
Medium Rare ISBN 9781101622575
Happy Medium ISBN 9781101622568

Sapphire Falls Kindle World
Going Up In Flames ASIN B01FV7OAYI

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Wednesday, September 28, 2016

#Excerpt: RUIN by Clarissa Wild


Ruin
Clarissa Wild
Publication date: September 20th 2016
Genres: New Adult, Romance

Maybell Fairweather was the girl of my dreams.

Always smiling brightly, she kept going, despite the names her classmates called her behind her back.

She was full of curiosity and independence, the extent of which I could only be jealous of. Even though she had all odds stacked against her, she knew what she wanted from life and pursued it, no matter the cost.
She was completely my opposite in every way.

Perfect, even though she couldn’t see it.
Perfect … until me.
Because this is the story of how I ruined her.
Based on a true story. Standalone Romance. No cliffhanger.




This gorgeous Limited Edition cover is available in Paperback ONLY and can be purchased here!

limited-edition-paperback-ruin

EXCERPT:
He winks, and somehow, it makes me blush.
For some reason, it’s hard to look away too.
“What’s your name?” I ask.
“Alexander Wright.”
I smile. “Maybell Fairweather.”
“Hmm … Maybell … nice name.”
“Thanks.” I blush.
I don’t know why or what it is about him, but he has this gentleness about him that soothes me and makes me want to ask him to stay, even if I don’t have a reason for it.
But then I realize it’s not the only reason I’m looking at him.
Something’s felt off since we met, and I couldn’t put my finger on it, but now, I can.
“Wait …” I mutter. “I know you, right?”
“Yeah, I’m that guy who ate a sandwich with you the other day. You don’t remember? Should I call a nurse?” He chuckles.
I roll my eyes. “No. I mean …” I recognize him from somewhere. “I know you from … school, right?”
His eyes suddenly widen, and he slams his lips shut.
HA! I knew he looked familiar. “No way! I knew it.”
The muscles in his face tighten. “Oh, boy.”
“I’ve seen you at school a few times.”
“Really?” he says, scratching the back of his neck.
“Yeah … don’t tell me I’m making this up. I’m not crazy … right?” I pout.
He smiles, his dimples making me wanna pinch his cheeks. “No, you’re not crazy. It’s just a surprise that you’d even recognize me. People usually don’t even see me. I’m invisible.”
“Yeah?” I bite my lip and frown. “Same here.”
He lowers his arm. “No … you’re not invisible at all,” he says, looking at me with half-mast eyes. “I see you. All the time.”



Romantic couple kissing with love and passion



Author Bio:
Want to be the first to get your hands on new books & get access to free short stories, giveaway prizes, previews, and more? Sign up here http://eepurl.com/FdY71
Clarissa Wild is a New York Times & USA Today Bestselling author, best known for the dark Romance novel Mr. X. Her novels include the Fierce Series, the Delirious Series, and Stalker. She is also a writer of erotic romance such as the Blissful Series, The Billionaire's Bet series, and the Enflamed Series. She is an avid reader and writer of sexy stories about hot men and feisty women. Her other loves include her furry cat friend and learning about different cultures. In her free time she enjoys watching all sorts of movies, reading tons of books and cooking her favorite meals.









Tuesday, September 27, 2016

#FREE Contemporary Romance: LOVE BY CHANCE by Debra Elizabeth

Here's a chance to grab a copy of this short story. Can Alysa find the man that captivated her heart?


FREE AT ALL OUTLETS

LOVE BY CHANCE


When Alysa Stevens receives an invitation to attend the social event of the season, a Masquerade Ball, she thinks it's the perfect time to finally kick back and enjoy herself. After all, no one knows who she really is. The invitation came to her business persona, Mr. Al Stevens, but is that ploy about to backfire?

At the ball, she's immediately swept off her feet by a sexy stranger dressed as the Musketeer d'Artagnan. He sets her heart on fire, but he leaves abruptly without ever revealing his name. Will Alysa be able to track down the most handsome man she's ever met without a single clue to his identity?


Reviewer's Comments:
"This was such a fun story. A delightful tale for a quick, afternoon read. I highly recommend it to all the romantics out there!"  

Amazon:  http://www.amazon.com/Love-Chance-Contemporary-Romance-ebook/product-reviews/B007PFY69E/ref=twoen-20
 

BN buy link: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/love-by-chance-debra-elizabeth/1111792775
 

Kobo buy links: https://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/ebook/love-by-chance-contemporary-romance
 

iTunes link: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/love-by-chance/id1143916000?mt=11

#Review: HIGHLAND CHIEFTAIN by Hannah Howell


3.5 of 5 stars

I've read a few Scottish romances by Hannah Howell and thoroughly enjoyed them. This one fell a little short for me. Bethoc's character was too good, too kind, too understanding. She never had bad thoughts about her abusive father, just took the punishment silently. While she did have thoughts of running away, to leave her brothers and sisters was unthinkable and so she stayed. The day she found Callum MacMillan lying injured on the beach, her whole world changed. 

I thought Callum's character was a bit dense at times. He gave no thought to the consequences of taking a young woman's maidenhood or having her by his side at his ancestral home without any kind of commitment on his part. He seemed oblivious to what others would think about that. He did shine, however, when it came to rescuing women and children from violent homes. He gave no second thought to their station. If they needed help, he was there. 

Of course, the character who stole the book was three year old Margaret. She was fierce little girl who took no prisoners. Whenever she was in a scene, she made me smile. While I did enjoy the book, I would recommend starting with one of the other Scottish romances from Ms. Howell, such as, "Highland Guard." 

I received a copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Blurb:
Responsible for protecting her younger siblings from their abusive father, Bethoc Matheson is in no position to rescue another soul in Scotland. Yet when she sees a bleeding man on the verge of drowning, that’s exactly what she does, securing him safely in a cave where she can return day after day to tend to his wounds.

Sir Callum MacMillan can scarcely believe such a slight lass as Bethoc could save him from the grasp of death. But he knows the telltale marks of an angry fist on her skin, and he knows she has the soul of a fighter within her feminine frame. Raised to be a protector of the weak by his Murray clansmen, Callum would prefer to be the one saving her—and save her, he will. If he can first survive the treacherous attack that led him into her irresistible arms . . .


Amazon buy link:
https://www.amazon.com/Highland-Chieftain-Murrays-Hannah-Howell-ebook/dp/B01A4ANVEC



Monday, September 26, 2016

Interview with Matthew S. Cox, NINE CANDLES OF THE DEEPEST BLACK



Can you give us a brief overview of your latest book? Is it part of a series?
Nine Candles of Deepest Black is the story of Paige Thomas, a sixteen-year-old girl with a special gift. Her grandmother had it, and everyone thought the old woman bonkers, so whenever Paige experienced something strange, she kept quiet about it… until the night she got a premonition that someone dear to her would die. No one believed her when she tried to warn them, and tragedy struck. In the wake of that death, her family is falling to pieces around her. Dad’s become a hollow shell of a man unable to cope with the loss. Her mother has gone the other direction, doting over her little sister Melissa while all but ignoring Paige. For her part, Paige just wants the world to go away; she’s happy sitting in her room tuning everything out.

In an effort to help his family heal, Dad moves them out of the city to a quiet little (fictional) town in Pennsylvania’s Pocono Valley. Paige resents being moved away from the home she’d grown up in, and becomes more sullen. However, on her first day of school, an outgoing girl strikes up a conversation which leads Paige to falling in with the group of local outcasts who have been experimenting with witchcraft for some time, to little  noticeable effect.

With Paige (and her gift) added to the mix, their spell winds up working, but ancient demons have a strange way of granting wishes―in ways that the girls never planned on. Despite the danger inherent in working against her own spell, Paige sets aside her grief to stop what she set in motion before too many innocent people suffer.

Do you have a favorite character?
In general or for this book? In general, I’d say Althea from Prophet of the Badlands (and the Awakened series). For this book, it’s kind of a toss up between Sofia or Melissa. (I’m deliberately omitting Paige from the running as it seems wonky to pick the main character :P)

Have you ever had a minor character evolve into a major one? Did that change the direction of the novel at all?
Yes, but it wasn’t in Nine Candles. When I first started working on the Daughter of Mars series, my intention was for Risa (the main character) to become romantically involved with a man from Earth. This would conflict with her die hard loyalty to Martian independence, as her feelings for this guy deepen and it becomes clear his political leanings are the polar opposite of hers. In the first chapter, there’s another guy who is new to the independence movement who seems like a police infiltrator. In the first draft, I had Risa unceremoniously killing him in the middle of a meeting with an underworld figure from whom she was purchasing a bomb. She had no more reaction to this than swatting a fly that had landed on her arm. What I had intended to show her total loyalty to the independence movement wound up putting off some early beta readers who said it made her  unlikable. I wound up keeping the man, Pavo, in the story – and rather than being a police infiltrator that her boss wanted her to kill, he became a member of another sympathetic faction who Risa winds up falling in love with instead of the guy I had initially planned on. So that wound up having a massive effect on the remainder of the series.

Did you try the traditional route to publishing, i.e. querying agents/publishers?
I spent a couple of months sending out queries for my first novel, Division Zero, but I kept getting back the same “this is great, but I don’t think I’m the right agent for it” responses. I was part of an online writer’s chat group (that has since gone down) where another author, AW Exley, frequented. I knew she’d been published, so I asked her if she wouldn’t mind taking a look at my first 5 chapters and letting me know if she thought the reason agents weren’t biting was my query, my writing, or just the fickleness of the business. She got back to me in about a week, said she loved it, and told me to query her publisher directly. I did, and they eventually signed me. So far, Curiosity Quills has published all of my novels.

Are you currently under a traditional publishing contract for future books or do you have manuscripts that you will self-publish? Are you doing both?
All of my novels are under traditional contracts with Curiosity Quills. I have not self-published anything yet. I don’t know if I will, but at the moment it doesn’t look like it’s likely.

What is your writing process? Do you listen to music or do you like silence?
When I’m writing a draft, I need silence. I find even instrumental music distracting in most cases. Though while writing Nine Candles of Deepest Black, I did have on a background track of mood music: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mIrt5MkGpy0

Do you outline your story or just go where your muse takes you?
Something like twenty years ago when I first got the bright idea to try and write a book, I just sat down and started writing. I didn’t finish. I don’t think I even made it a third of the way through the length of a novel before I got lost and gave up. It took me years to feel like trying again, and when I did, I decided that I needed a road map / outline to know where to go. I developed an outline, and found it much easier to finish the book. I have a lot of respect for people who can just sit down and bang out a cohesive story without an outline, though I find it far easier to fix all those little consistency and logic problems when I only have to rearrange small paragraphs instead of huge chapters. One advantage to outlining is I don’t paint myself into a corner or wind up with characters in situations that I hadn’t planned on happening or that feel random.

Did you hire an editor to review your manuscript before publishing?
Before I got signed, I looked into hiring an editor… but the one I found was way out of my price range. I was looking at Virtual Immortality at the time, and the guy wanted $10 a page… which would’ve been about $6,000. Fortunately, when Curiosity Quills signed Division Zero, they provided the editing. (Bear in mind I now know that not all editors are that expensive. For anyone who is considering self-publishing, you should have an editor look at it. They can see issues with plot and characterization that the writer will never notice because you’re too close to the story.)

What kinds of marketing [twitter, facebook, blog, forums] are you involved with for promoting your book(s)?
I’ve got Twitter (@mscox_fiction), Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/MatthewSCoxAuthor/), a blog (www.matthewcoxbooks.com/wordpress) that I have a lot of trouble thinking of stuff to post on, and I sometimes do the Google Plus thing. It’s a battle for me as I tend to hate spam, but being a small press author where the publisher doesn’t have a massive advertising budget requires that I participate in marketing to a point. I’m constantly arguing with myself about if I should post or not post, feeling spammy and then feeling delinquent for not ‘doing enough’ to try and get people to notice my books.

Do you find it difficult to juggle your time between marketing your current book and writing your next book?
Yes. I’d always rather be writing or reading. I always feel a little bit unclean whenever I partake in something marketing related. I know it’s a necessary evil but I have to force myself to do it.

What advice would you give a new author just entering into the self-publishing arena?
Get an editor. Get a real cover artist. They say “don’t judge a book by its cover” but that’s not true. If your book’s cover looks like it was made in five minutes with MS Paint, people are going to assume the same lack of effort/care went into the writing too.

Besides writing, do you have any other passions?
I’m fond of computer games, though don’t throw the kind of time at them these days as I used to. I also like tabletop RPGs, and sci fi / fantasy movies.

Some fun facts about you, which do you prefer – dogs or cats? Chocolate or vanilla? Coffee or Tea? Talk or Text? Day or Night?
Cats. Chocolate. Coffee. Text. Does “late afternoon” count?

What’s next for you?
I’m currently writing The Harmony Paradox, a sequel to Virtual Immortality. After that, I’ll be working on Emma and the Silverbell Faeries – book 3 of the Widowswood series. (MG Fantasy). In November, an anthology of my short stories is coming out (The Far Side of Promise), and in December, One More Run, book 1 of the Roadhouse chronicles – a post nuke-apoc romance… with a dash of zombies – releases.


Nine Candles of Deepest Black
Matthew S. Cox
Published by: Curiosity Quills Press
Publication date: September 15th 2016
Genres: Horror, Paranormal, Young Adult

She saw it coming. She knew it would happen―but no one believed her.

Almost a year after tragedy shattered her family, sixteen-year-old Paige Thomas can’t break free from her guilt. Her mother ignores her, doting on her annoying little sister, while her father is a barely-functioning shell. He hopes a move to the quiet little town of Shadesboro PA will help them heal, but Paige doesn’t believe in happiness anymore.

On her first day at school, a chance encounter with a bullied eighth grader reawakens a gift Paige had forgotten, and ingratiates her into a pack of local outcasts. For weeks, they’ve been trying to cast a ritual to fulfill their innermost desires, but all they’ve done is waste time. After witnessing Paige touch the Ouija board and trigger a paranormal event, the girls are convinced another try with their new fifth member will finally work.

Once the darkness is unleashed, it’s not long before they learn it will give them exactly what they asked for―whether they want it or not.



Author Bio:
Born in a little town known as South Amboy NJ in 1973, Matthew has been creating science fiction and fantasy worlds for most of his reasoning life. Somewhere between fifteen to eighteen of them spent developing the world in which Division Zero, Virtual Immortality, and The Awakened Series take place. He has several other projects in the works as well as a collaborative science fiction endeavor with author Tony Healey.

Hobbies and Interests:
Matthew is an avid gamer, a recovered WoW addict, Gamemaster for two custom systems (Chronicles of Eldrinaath [Fantasy] and Divergent Fates [Sci Fi], and a fan of anime, British humour (





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Friday, September 23, 2016

#Excerpt: EVER TEMPTED by Odessa Gillespie Black


Straightening my tie, I walked around the corner. Smiling people held glasses, discussed life issues, and nodded amicably in my direction.

Who’s that? one woman thought.

He’s a looker, another thought.

I wish I had this girl’s money. At least she’s doing something for the community. I really shouldn’t be envious. A blonde stared toward the right corner of the patio.

Holding a wineglass and smiling, Allie stood in a circle of about twenty people, men in black suits and women in flashy dresses. As much as she had worried about fitting in, she settled nicely with her surroundings. Allie’s benefactor, the late Ava Rollins, would have run the first car out of the drive. She hated visitors.

The whispering crowd hushed, parting like the Dead Sea as I approached Allie.

She hadn’t noticed the decrescendo of voices, as she gestured and nodded.

The women’s thoughts were almost synonymous.

She’s so sweet; you can’t hate her for having it all.

We’ll be great friends. I can tell.

I can’t believe I thought she’d be snooty.

She’s gorgeous. Doesn’t even need that makeup. Pay attention to what she’s saying. Quit lusting, Bill. The guy’s thoughts were considerably more troubling, but this was something I’d have to contend with in loving a woman as strikingly beautiful as Allie was, inside and out. So tonight I wouldn’t kick anyone in the throat.

Who could blame them? Hadn’t I responded the same way?

I stood five feet behind Allie as she continued in light, happy conversation. She rarely wore her hair up. It was the fashion when we’d first met in the late 1860s, and though it was appealing, tonight, loose curls fell down her back.

Why is everyone looking behind me? Her heart rate steepened and an instant swell of pheromones thickened the air. Is he here? Allie straightened and glanced around.



BLURB:

An infinity of lives, only one eternal love . . . .

When Cole Kinsley asked Allie Knowles for her hand in marriage, he meant it. Death be damned. Nothing could keep them apart, not even a hundred years or more. Not even the vindictive spirit of Allie’s dead sister Grace. Released from her watery grave, she offers Cole a devil’s bargain. But to Cole, no price is too high when it comes to his beloved.

Allie thinks it’s almost too good to be true. A week of bliss alone with Cole. His promise kept, after all they’ve suffered at the hands of her sister. To feel the strength of his arms around her again. But when she learns of the sacrifice he made to be with her, she plunges into despair. Forever has slipped from their grasp—unless forever apart is their true destiny . . .

Buy links:






~~~~~~~~~~~~~
AUTHOR Bio and Links:


Odessa Gillespie Black lives in the beautiful North Carolina foothills with her husband, four children, Chihuahuas Little Bit and Rico, and rescued Lab and Pit mix, Mo. When not chasing dogs around the backyard and tackling the daily duties of mother-and-wife-hood, she enjoys watching horror movies and reading and writing paranormal romance. 

Readers can visit Odessa’s website at odessablack.wordpress.com, and find her on Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/OdessaGillespieBlack

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