Cherie Burbach, Author of 100 Simple Ways to Have More Friends

An interview with author Cherie Burbach about her nonfiction book 100 Simple Ways to Have More Friends.

Tell us a bit about yourself.
I’m a freelance writer and mixed media artist. I enjoy making soup for my husband, I love Jesus, and I never miss a Packer game.

Describe the purpose of your book in a few sentences.
My book, 100 Simple Ways to Have More Friends, offers ideas for meeting new people and nurturing the friendships you already have. It’s a resource you can read straight through or go back to occasionally when you’d like some ideas on improving your friendships.

Who do you think would most appreciate this book?
I think anyone that has ever been frustrated by the process of meeting new friends or figuring out how to get along better with their friends would enjoy it. People who are lonely or just want folks in their corner who “get them” would benefit as well. It’s for anyone who wants to connect easier with others. I think the desire for better relationships is pretty universal with most of us.

What inspired you to write a book about having more friends?
I’ve been writing about relationships for over a decade and hear from readers all the time about their questions about friendships. I wanted to write a resource that would enjoyable to read in one sitting or that could be used again and again when you just wanted an encouraging word about making friendships work.

Author Cherie Burbach.

How does social media affect modern friendships?
Social media can help us communicate better with our friends or it can complicate things. It depends on what we’re using it for. There is no replacement for face to face contact, so people who use social media in place of seeing their friends in person often feel lonelier and “left out” of things. Social media is great just to say “hey,” and connect in addition to the other things we do with friends, but it isn’t a substitute for hanging out with them.

What do you think are some of the biggest mistakes people make when trying to start/find new friendships?
Not giving enough time to getting the friendship going and trying to be “close” too soon. It takes time to meet new people and find the right friends for you.

What do you have in mind for your next writing project?
I just released a book of poetry called Angel Toughness and after that I’m working on finishing a novel I have started.

More Information
Check out Cherie Burbach's website
Buy 100 Simple Ways to Have More Friends on Amazon

Raqee S. Najmuldeen, Surreal Photography and Effective Advertising

Today we are interviewing Raqee S. Najmuldeen, the author of "Surreal Photography and Effective Advertising."

Tell us a bit about yourself.
I'm photographer, image maker and design lecturer graduated from University Malaysia Sarawak with a PhD in Design Technology.

Describe the purpose of your book in a few sentences.
This book can be used to initiate methodologies for producing ideas, and to enhance the process of idea formulation during brainstorming sessions particularly for new and unusual ideas for campaign designs for print advertisements.

Who do you think would most appreciate this book?
This book is aimed at teams and professionals in the communications industry. This book emphasized the significance of Surreal Photography giving an opportunity for the individuals to practice new styles. Therefore, besides expanding their skills in visual rhetoric, they will also be able to apply the concept of Photo-Surrealism and cognitive strategies in their daily professional practice. The book is incredibly useful particularly for new and unusual campaign ideas for the press, events, and promotions.

What inspired you to write a book about using surreal photography in advertising?
When I was a second year faculty student in 1994, I was fond of reading magazine called Computer Graphics World which was published in the US before going out of print. Through this magazine I was exposed to many unrealistic images characterized as bizarre. At the time several questions came to my mind, such as how do graphic designers transcend photorealism to achieve a more flowing, expressive style?.

When did you first become interested in surreal photography?
When I practiced teaching at the Faculty of Fine Arts, I provided my students assignments urging them to move from reality to what's behind reality or make images more realistic particularly in advertising.

Why is surreal photography so effective in advertising?
The adoption of Surreal Photography in advertising can achieve a strong appeal in consumers towards the item advertised, and an enhanced, efficient and functional form of advertising. It can therefore be said that Surreal Photography is a valuable tool that has the ability to emphasize the main features of the items advertised and can create an edge in brands and their marketing.

Are there certain types of advertising that benefit more from surreal photography?
This book proposes that advertisers can explore and employ Surreal Photography particularly for new and unusual campaign ideas to be used in the press, events, and promotions.

What are some of the biggest mistakes designers make when using Surrealism in advertising?
Many related issues will have to be considered before using Surreal Photography. Firstly, the designer has to identify the recipients, the size, type of advertising (is it printed ad or billboard) its location..etc.

It is a huge mistake when an image is complex or when each recipient understands it in a different way. If an advertisement upon being seen the first time and the recipients will have to think what it is all about, it is a definite failure. These days, no recipients want to waste time on making out what the message in an advertisement is all about.

What was the most interesting thing you uncovered while doing research for the book?
More research is needed in the area and it is foreseen that more interesting findings can be made with further research. The uncovered topic is driven by the following questions: Are there other strategies that can be applied to make the reality more realistic? What is their role in objectification of content?

What do you have in mind for your next writing project?
I may translate the book into another language.

Is there anything else you'd like potential readers to know about your book?
The book is in black and white to reduce printing cost. I did a lot of effort to design the cover which delivers a clear message of the content. I chose a photo among thousands of photos, fonts among thousands of fonts and colors among thousands of options. The cover shows a lying girl and a white rabbit looking into two different directions. Of course, there is no real relationship between the rabbit and girl and this is so called Juxtaposition, one of the surrealist techniques that have been explained in this book. 

In the end, I would like to thank you for shedding light and writing on some of the ideas contained therein.

Relevant Links 
Buy the book on Amazon
Find the book on Facebook

Nefretiti A. Morant, Author of Across the Sands

Nefretiti A. Morant is the author the historical fiction novel Across the Sands.

What inspired you to write Across The Sands?
I've always been a big fan of historical fiction and costume dramas. Shows like Master Piece Theater, Downtown Abbey, The Tudors, anything set in the past with drama, scandal and a love twist woven in.   I was motivated to write Across The Sands because while watching theses type of shows or movies in this genre, I would be annoyed that the only characters of color (if any) were either flat, lifeless, or enslaved persons.

But why the 14th century, and why Africa?
I wanted to write a story set in a time when Africans were known in the world as affluent, regal and proud.  Mansa Musa’s pilgrimage was infamous for putting Mali on the mid-evil world's map.  For centuries his name and Mali were synonymous with wealth, power and generosity. To this day he is still the richest man in history.  That’s why I chose 14th century Mali.

Tell us about the characters in Across The Sands.
The main character Awa Camara is the daughter of one of Mali's wealthiest families.  Her father Seydou Camara is a wealthy salt merchant. In 14th century Mali salt held as much value if not more that gold.  Seydou has three very different children.  Mahmaudou the eldest and only son is expected to follow in his father's footsteps.  But Mahmaudou wants to be a priest and study at Mali's Sankore University.  Awa the middle child and main character has been betrothed to Mansa Musa's son Maghan.  Awa does not want to marry Maghan, or anyone else for that matter.  Since she was a child she's desired one thing and one thing alone; to explore the world while traveling on a caravan.  But of course this is unconventional and  dismissed as foolish childhood fantasy.  Now the youngest daughter Sira is  known for her primness and beauty and wants nothing more than to marry a rich man.  In Across The Sands you will meet these three as well as a colorful array of characters from Mali's various social classes.  I'm really excited about the release of this book.

How long have you been writing?
I started writing poetry when I was a teenager.  In my early twenties I toyed with characters in short stories, but I never thought about publishing any if them.  It wasn't until about three years ago that I decided to do something with the poems and character sketches I had crammed into my nightstand drawer.  I decided to start a poetry blog which is now the showcase for all of my publications.  And to tell you the truth I wasn't sure if I could write a book, but after a few months of starting my poetry blog I decided to try.  I mean I new nothing about starting a website or a blog, but I had done it.  So I figured why try writing a book.  I began working on Perspectives and lets just say it been a rewarding journey.

What are the rewards as you put it?
Well I'd have to say that the reward comes from a satisfaction of achieving something that I value highly. Before I even wrote my first poem, I was a reading fanatic.  As a child, teen and young adult I would lose myself in the words of authors like Mildred D. Taylor, Toni Morrison and Walter Mosley.  Their works would ignite my imagination.  I've always respected the magic of words on paper and how they have the ability to create vivid pictures in your mind.  In that aspect I find being a writer rewarding.  To be a part of creating that type magic as you would.  That's probably why  now that I've started I can't stop.

How many books have you written and what are they generally about?
Across The Sands is my ninth novel.  I also have a book of poetry.   My books are about people who learn and grow as they move through the journey of life.  Everyone has a story, and our stories make up the fabric of our society.   Through my works I'm telling the story of the human experience.   Everyday and through every experience and circumstance we change, we grow and we learn something about ourselves and what we are capable of.  I dedicated to that message.  You know the saying; The journey defines the destination.

Nine novels, three years, do you ever get writers block, and if so what do you do?
I'm sure all writers do, but once I get get stuck in a particular story and lets say I'm stuck for more than a few days, I'll put it down and start another book.  I actually stopped and started Across The Sands three times over the course of two years.  If I get stuck, and don't know where to go next,  I'll just stop and start working one something else.

So what's next?
To tell you the truth, I'm not sure.  I've been working on a sci-fi novel off and on.  I'm not sure if I'm ready to dive into that or if I should do another historical fiction piece.  I really enjoyed writing "Across The Sands" and I am tempted to do a few more historically fictional works.  I guess my fans will have to wait and see.

How do you juggle it all, being a wife, mother, employee, and author?
I get asked this often and sometimes I'm not even sure how I do it.  I just make the time for writing, even if it means waking up at 4:30 am everyday.  I think when you’re passionate about something, I mean really passionate about it, you can't not feed that passion.  It lingers, whispering at the very core of everything you think, see and do.  That's how writing is for me.   I can't not write, it's just such a big part of who I've become.

What do you hope to achieve through your writing?
I want to touch people with my writing, and not only my writing, but my whole experience.  I hope that one day when I'm a best selling author, sitting on a beach working on my next master piece,  there'll be someone somewhere who looks at my dedication and perseverance and say's; if she can do it I can too.  I want my journey to serve as an inspiration of how anything is possible if you're willing to work hard and believe you deserve it.

What tips or words of encouragement do you have for other writers who are just starting out.
Be persistent. It's so important in the self publishing indie industry.  Marketing, and making your book stand out at a time when writing and publishing is virtually at everyone's fingertips is no easy feat.  But those who are not willing to go the distance will drop out of the race early on.  If writing is truly your passion, just keep at it.  Like everything else in life, with time, dedication and perseverance you'll find yourself crossing the finish line.

Watch the Across the Sands Book Trailer:

Relevant Links
Buy Across the Sands on Amazon 

Cut Dog Music, Rap/Hip-Hop Group

Today we are interviewing CUT DOG MUSIC, a passionate new rap group.



Tell us a bit about how Cut Dog Music got started.
CDM was started about 4 years ago. At first we just wanted to make music for fun. Our producer had been making beats for a long time so we always had beats to rap to. We all were in college at the time so any free time we had we would link up and make music. The group started with 3 of us originally but as time went on we discovered that our other friends could rap as well.

What are CDM’s influences?
I say this all the time but we really inspire and influence each other. Everyday and not just in music. We are like a family so we always think about each others opinion and try to incorporate each others swag into every song.

What is the process of working on a track like for CDM?
The overall process isn’t a long one. Basically we find a beat and kill it. Who ever comes up with the dopest hook first gets the hook. And writing verses are nothing, sometime we freestyle verses.

Do CDM members produce their own music or does CDM work with an outside producer?
We do have our own producer but until we break into the industry fully we are working with outside producers. And we are always looking for new sounds.

What does CDM hope to accomplish with their music?
We really want to travel and reach different parts of the world. Reaching the Billboards wouldn’t be too bad either but we are just taking it one track at a time and really saying humble.

Where can people find out more about CDM?
They check our website which will be updated every step. ( CUTDOGMUSIC.COM ) Or our Twitter and Instagram ( @cutdogmusic ) but everything is linked to our website so that should be easy.

What’s next for CDM?
We have about 100 unreleased tracks ready to go so we are going to wait until the dust settles from this album and then release another project to keep our name out there .

Is there anything else you’d like to add?
Yes. Go to CutDogMusic.com and Check out the new self titled album by the newest group to hit the scene CDM. If you like it go get it at all digital media outlets. Thanks for your time

Relevant Links
http://cutdogmusic.com 
www.twitter.com/cutdogmusic

Julianne Smith-Devereaux, Author of I GOT OUT ALIVE!

Today we are interviewing Julianne Smith-Devereaux about her non-fiction book, "I Got Out Alive! One Woman's Journey Outside of America's Most Dangerous Cult, The Illuminati."

Tell us a bit about yourself.
Well, I was born in Hollywood, California and I am 48, soon to be 49 years old this year. I am married and have a 15 year old son and live outside of California at this time. I obviously cannot tell you where, because of 'Them'.

Describe your book in a few sentences.
It is Non-Fiction, everything that is written in this book happened. Period. Nothing is made up for the reader to be more 'interested', 'scared' or just for 'shock value'.

Who do you think would most appreciate this book?
I think anyone would enjoy this book. Especially anyone who has children, Pastors, Church goers and young adults. To be informed that these 'People' DO exist, The Illuminati are NOT a 'myth' and that they LOVE to recruit young adult's to do their 'less-important deed's'. Such as young people on College campus', Summer Camp's for specific undertakings like Football camp, Cheerleading Camp, any sport's camp's, really. Even Church camps. Mainly Christian Church camps because they are the 'opposite' side of the coin, so to speak. It gives them great joy to recruit Christians into the Fold, or Organization.
 

Author Julianne Smith-Devereaux.

What inspired you to write down the story of your escape from the cult?
I really wanted to tell my story for a very long time. I kept getting thwarted because of my father being around me almost 24/7. So, obviously, I couldn't write it then. Plus I was also worried that the people who did indeed read it, wouldn't take me seriously, think that I was just some 'whack-job' or made this up just to get attention. Stupid, stupid reason's. I finally HAD to warn parent's, and to tell people in general, that these Sick, Sick, People, like I have said before, do exist. They are everywhere. Not just in one area of the United States. But, literally, everywhere. Mainly the recruiter's. The Member's of this group, we used to call them 'They', (probably still do), basically live all over the world. 'They' would have meetings, twice a year, usually in Europe. At a different location everytime as well. To keep their meeting location's secret of course. Sometimes at The Bohemian Grove. Also a place that I have been too.  

Your father was an important member of the cult you were raised in. Describe your father for us. Would outsider suspect he was in a cult?
Well, he still is the 'Head' of this Organization. He was recruited by his father as well. My father is a cold man, never shows his emotions, very domineering, no one in his employ would question a thing that he told them to do. Because they knew what the consequences would be. Right now he is in his early 60's. He looks like he is in his 40's. Long black hair. Almost down past his hips. He 'fell' for me, I am going by what he actually told me here, because of my brain, my 'looks', and I guess he felt that he could trust me. When I was little, like every young girl, I worshiped him. I worshipped the ground he walked on. And whatever he told me to do, I did. Just to make him happy. As far as people suspecting that he was 'in' a Cult? No way. They would think he was a European or someone not born in this Country. Probably because of his long hair. He looks almost Greek or Middle Eastern. And he is Middle Eastern. Syrian. So, I am half Syrian. And I sure as hell don't look Syrian.    

What do you think are some of the biggest misconceptions people have about cults in America?
The only thing that I've heard from other people regarding or about Cult's is negative things. And they are true. So, in answer to your question, I don't think they have any misconceptions at all. To me, now that I know a lot about Cult's, they are all pretty bad, evil or 'negative' in their beliefs.

You were indoctrinated from an early age. At what point did you start to question what your father and his bodyguard was telling you?
At around 11 years old. At that time I started to wonder why I was told to assasinate people that I didn't even know. I didn't, or, rather, wasn't told what they had done to deserve it. At 11, that was as far as my thought's went. It wasn't until I was in my early twenties that I realized that not every girl or woman slept with their father and wasn't treated as a 'wife' figure to their father, either. He kept me pretty segregated from other girls my age, so I wasn't having sleep-overs, watching how their families interacted either. So I never had anyone to compare it to. 

Part of your indoctrination was to be trained as an assassin. Can you tell us a bit about your training?
Yes, that was part of it. Probably the last part of my training. I remember I was always practicing shooting. I started my training before I was even a year old. My father would take me from the maid, right after a bath, and he would be completely naked, except for a towel wrapped around his waist. He hadn't taken a shower or anything, so he still had 'the day's' smell on him, his cologne smell, his own body smell on him. Things or smell's like that. Anyhow, he would take me and lay on his bed, on his back and lay me on his chest. While I was laying on his chest, he would talk to me in a soothing voice. Saying the same things over and over. Never changing the tone of his voice. He did this every day, after work, until I was 3 years old.

I am assuming, so I would get used to his 'smell' and his 'calming' voice. He wanted me all to himself. I figured that out when I was around 4 years old. I am pretty sure that he wanted me to, no matter what, think that he was the one I could trust. The only one I could run too when 'in trouble' or scared. Things like that. And I did. For many years. That was the very first part of my training. I don't know the order of it all. But I do know sensory deprivation was part of it. I was placed inside of an all white room with nothing inside of it. Nothing. Just me. At first They would play extremely loud music. Like hard, hard rock. Loud crap. Not even what I would call music. They would play that for two day's straight. Then, at some point, they would shut it off. I would have, I thought, silence for at least a day or so. Or be able to leave the room. After about 20 minutes? And that is just a guess because my ear's were just all screwed up. Trying to get used to the silence again. Then, they would blow (I do not know HOW they did this) through the vent in the room, the smell of a delicious meal. At dinner time it would be a freshly cooked steak, or some kind of meat; maybe potroast or something. Then the smell of fresh mashed potatoes, things like that. This same thing would go on during breakfast, lunch, and, of course, dinner time. Between those times, I would call them the 'Food Times, I would hear that blaring hard rock, horrid, music again. This went on for 3 days. And I was never fed during those 3 day's either. So, you could imagine how horrible it was on the last day. I was finally fed on the last day, too. When I had digested the food, there was no restroom, so I had to 'go' in the room. I picked a corner of the room. I remember the far corner behind me to the left. Since I had zero clothes on, I was constantly freezing. Come to find out, they had the air conditioning on at 60 degrees. It blew ALL DAY. After the air conditioning and the smell of food, after I hadn't eaten in 3 day's, it stopped. No more super freezing air and no more food smell. By that time, I was so desperate, I was either crying or laughing hysterically. This was after 1 month of this. Going on 24/7. No breaks, no shower, nothing. Finally, after 3 months of this, the lights dimmed to a 'normal' lighting arrangement, the music, to me at least, was quieter, and I was being fed, gradually, but every day. After a full week of this (seven day's) my father walked in. I looked up expectantly and stood up and ran into his arm's. He made it that way so that it looked like He was my 'rescuer' or 'savior'. It was all mind games, mind games, mind games. All to the end of that. My father being my rescuer.

One of the other major training sessions I had was 'How To Fight... Like A Man'. This included me learning how to fight. With your fist's. They wanted me to be able to basically fight men, other member's of The Org., etc. And They gave their all as did I. After my trining session's. It finally got to the point where I could 'beat up' a man, a woman, anybody, really. In case I did actually get caught on one of my 'missions' overseas. I remember one day, my father's main bodyguard, who is tall as Hell and worked out everyday, would come into the 'work-out' room. Or, during one of these excersises, the actual Fighting Excersises, it was usually held in my father's Gym. Of course, like always, They would all be there. Just to watch. He was told to fight me, physically, like he was fighting a grown man. At this point, I had only two day's of training. So, basically, none at all. I was beat to a literal pulp. Bloody, broken, nose, jaw, ribs, and my left arm. My arm was a compound fracture. But since my father had his own personal surgeon/doctor, my arm was operated on at my father's home. So as not to, obviously, cause any unwanted attention.

Basically all of my training were things of that sort. I learned how to Fence. My father taught me that all himself. He was a great Fencer and he wanted me to be one too. Swords are still my passion. I love swords. I used to collect them, actually.         

When you revisited your memories to write this book, what was the experience like?
I knew that it would be a very tough, emotional, roller-coaster ride. I had a lot of years of therapy before I wrote this book. And since having my son and being married, yes, in that order, :) it made me grow up in such a way to where I just could NOT believe that a child should, let alone could, be brought up this way. Not to mention being put through ALL of this by one of your parent's. At that time, looking at my son and just thinking about his gifted life, and then comparing his to my life at his age, I knew it was time to write it. I HAD to let other parent's know who was out there and what they did and do and will continue to do. I wanted them to not be ignorant on this subject at all. So, I had to figure out a way to write this book and keep me and my son safe. But, my son first and foremost. I knew my husband would try his damndest to keep both of us safe. So, I just thought, 'Screw it. I am doing this now. And I did. And, like I thought, it WAS an emotional roller-coaster. But I got through it alright. I feel that I can get through anything pretty much. Now anyway.   

How do you think reading your book will impact people?
I would hope that, mostly, it will open their eye's. I hope that they will, at first, not believe what 'this girl' endured. But at the same time, be thankful that they did read it and know that they have a new 'box' of knowledge in their mind. They will know what to look for if their child/young adult gets involved in something like this. The sign's are almost exactly the same as if they started using drugs. They get distant, not talk or share as much as they used too about their day at school/college. The hard part, though, about this sort of thing, is that once kids are IN college, they are by law, adults. The LAST thing that they want to do is share with their family. Hell, they had to do that when they were in Elementary up to Senior year in High School. If they say that they are 'too busy to come home for a certain holiday'... one where they ALWAYS came home. That could be a sign. I say 'could' because they could actually have something going on with friends that is totally normal. I don't want every parent who reads this book to become paranoid. And then possibly get all in their young adult's lives 'all of a sudden'. Then their kid's will back off on purpose. Just to be rebellious. 

What do you have in mind for your next writing project?
Well, since this book was my first. IS my first, and it ends when I am still trying to keep my father and especially THEY at bay, I would like to write a follow up to it. It just depends on how it goes. IF I had to write something totally different? Probably FICTION! Something not so close to home. That would be nice.

Is there anything else you'd like potential readers to know about your book?
I would first like to thank them immensely for buying AND reading it. If some of them are a tad bit 'squeamish' at heart? Please read a little at a time. But, mostly, I would like them to take away the knowledge of what I have said before. This IS going on. Every day, every hour, every week and every minute. I have an idea of where ALL of these 'missing' kid's' are. After you read my book, you will too. Just try convincing the police. Let alone FINDING Them. Or where THEY are. They are everywhere. But the one's that would most likely get caught are the recruits. Who know absolutely nothing about the inner workings of this Group, Cult, Order, whatever you want to call 'They'. Catching Them, and I can tell you this from actual experience, will be basically, IMPOSSIBLE. One hundred percent. I just hope that they are aware of their child's involvement before they are so wrapped up in it that they will never see them or hear from them again. EVER.
That's about it. Thank you. 

Relevant Links
Buy I GOT OUT ALIVE! paperback on Amazon
Buy I GOT OUT ALIVE for Kindle on Amazon
Buy I GOT OUT ALIVE! on Smashwords
Buy I GOT OUT ALIVE! on Biblio

Interview with Blogger Kelly Cox

Today we're interviewing Kelly Cox, founder of Kelly Cox at Home, a blog about debt-free living, Christianity, and home life.

Tell us a bit about yourself.
I’m a Christ follower, blessed wife, and lover of all things HOME!  My heart is passionate about the Lord, our family, debt-free living and all things that make up and happen in our home.  Also, I’m completely crazy about my husband and thankful to do this journey called life with him.

Describe your blog for readers unfamiliar with it.
My blog covers tips, techniques and ideas on how to budget, save money, live below your means, and to be debt free.  Also, I share my passion for the Lord, scripture and how I enjoy to manage and maintain our home. 

What inspired you to start a blog on Christianity, debt-free living, and other aspects of your life at home?
My hope is to have a home business one day, and this blog is the first steps toward that goal.  I enjoy to write, journal and have even done some public speaking and training during my career.  I hope to inspire others to live debt free, give more, save money and manage their homes heartily unto the Lord.  Looking around me, I notice people restricted by debt and their financial decisions.  I believe with hard work, a budget and a willingness to change that people can move toward financial freedom which would be a blessing in their homes.  As a Christian, I love to study the Bible and what it says about money, family and the home. 

You have a section on your blog about attending college debt-free. Can you tell us a bit about your experience with attending college without debt?
When I was 18 years old, I had the desire to pay for college debt free.  My parents were not able to help me financially with my education so I worked hard to obtain every scholarship possible.  God blessed my efforts!  However, I had to attend community college and live at home so I wouldn’t have to take out any loans.  Thankfully, I chose to live at home and my scholarships paid for my first 2 years and then I transferred to a state university to complete my 4 year degree.  I worked full time, continued to utilize my scholarship money and paid for my education without taking out ANY loans!  I am so grateful that I heeded the warning of Proverbs 22:7 where it says the “borrower is servant to the lender.”  I chose a different path and have never regretted the decision. 

How do you decide what to blog about?
I have a long list of ideas that I want to write about and I’ve not run out yet!  Plus, I’m always adding to the list as I think of new topics.  My goal is to write about things that God has shown me and hope it will bless others.  Also, I’m learning new tips and techniques for our home all the time and enjoy to share them as I feel led. 

You sometimes feature guest posts on your blog. How does an interested person find out more about this?
Several of my site’s guest blog submittals are from a Christian Blogger Facebook group that I joined called The Peony Project.  I’ve added a page on my blog where people can get more information to submit a guest post for consideration.  Recently, I’ve enjoyed guest posting on sites like Money Saving Mom and Sarah Titus, both because it was an honor and increased my blog’s traffic.  YAY!

Is it difficult to balance blogging with family life?
Sometimes the balance is tough!  I’ve had to learn how to manage my time more wisely.  Time with God and our family is top priority in our home.  I keep a list of goals for the day, week and month and try to be sure to keep my blog work in line with what’s most important.  Since I began this site, I’ve changed my blog routine several times and have become more efficient.

How do you hope to impact your readers?
I hope to encourage, inspire and bless them.  I pray that God will guide my words, topics and thoughts and channel them to be a help at the right time for someone.  Hopefully, the blog will give ideas to people on how to manage their finances and home in a way that blesses them and brings the Lord glory.

Is there anything you'd like to add?
My blog journey has just begun and I look forward to building the site and readership.  Please feel free to follow my blog on Twitter, Facebook and Pinterest!  Also, I welcome comments on my site and try to always write you back!  Email me any questions or topics that you’d like to hear more about.  Blessings!

Amalia Moerman Pavlidi, Soprano, Teacher & Vocal Academy Founder

Amalia Moerman Pavlidi is a soprano, singing teacher, yoga instructor, and founder of Pavlidi Vocal Academy.

Tell us a bit about your background in music.
I have studied classical singing in Florence Italy. I have studied music theory grade 8 and piano until grade 6. In 2014 I have obtained my diploma in vocal coaching from London with Ria Keen.
I have done performances all over Europe. Last year I signed a contract with a famous ageny which took me a step further to my stage career.

What inspired you to take your love of music a step further and start a vocal academy?
My passion for it! I want to help singers or singing students become complete performers.

What classes or instruction do you offer?
We do offer classical singing classes, contemporary singing classes, music theory classes, piano for singer classes, yoga for singers, musical classes for kids, and vocal coaching classes.
 

Soprano Amalia Moerman Pavlidi.

What experience level do you teach? Do you teach absolute amateurs?
We do teach all levels, from complete beginners to professionals.

In addition to working with students in your studio, you do workshops and seminars online. Tell us about them.
We do offer online workshops which are mostly theoretical. This helps students to know more about singing, about vocal studies about their bodies. We launched it 6 months ago and we already had 2 with huge success. Distance learning worhshops give you the opportunity to learn from wherever you are.

What’s the most rewarding thing about teaching students?
When I see their effort and then their improvement and love and passion for our work.

What do you think are the biggest misconceptions people have about singing lessons?
Most people come and think it is an easy thing to do! You just open your mouth and sing...No!
Singing is a serious art and you need to be determined and committed. To be able to sing you need first to learn technique, to learn how your body works, to learn theory of music, to learn aural skills and in the end to combine all your knowledge and add your soul to your song.

One of the more unique classes you offer is yoga for singers. What benefit does yoga have on singers?
I am very happy for this question. I have studied Yoga and massage therapy. I have noticed so many benefits that I decided to add it to our programs. Yoga is a way to discover optimum body alignment, breathing and metal focus. Some of the  benefits for a singer are:
1.    Increases metal focus.
2.    Improves flexibility, strength, posture and
3.    releases tension from the body.
4.    Relaxes the nervous system
5.    increases body awareness
6.    Give lungs room to breathe

For someone interested in contacting you about taking lessons, how should they do that?
In our webiste we have a contact form a student can dirreclty from there send us a message.
We do also provide our email adress pavlidivocalacademy@gmail.com .

Is there anything else you’d like to add?
I would like to thank you for the opportunity you gave me to talk about my work.

Relevant Links
www.pavlidivocalacademy.com

Eric Thirteen, Los Angeles Director and Producer

Today we are interviewing LA-based director and producer Eric Thirteen.

Tell us a bit about your background in film.
It’s weird actually, my background is actually in engineering. I never went to film school. For a long time I thought I’d spend the rest of my life in Silicon Valley writing code. Eventually my dreams started to be crushed by bureaucracy there, and I think I fled to Los Angeles to avoid suffocating to death. Navigating the politics of film became a cute challenge compared to what I was used to.
 
What first got you interested in directing and producing?
Penn Jillette had written a movie, Adam Rifkin was going to direct it, and they were crowdfunding. I emailed Penn (who I had barely ever corresponded with at that point) and told him I wanted to come to LA and work on it. I dropped everything I was doing, drove to LA and lived on that set. I’d sit next to Adam all day picking his brain and watching him work. I couldn’t get enough of it. The set felt like where I belonged.
 
You recently re-mastered and re-released a concert film about The Birthday Massacre. Tell us a bit about what originally inspired you to make the film.
That was before I even started work in tech, it was really the first thing I ever did. I was following the band around on tour at the time. It was a big deal that they were finally playing outside Canada. I was documenting it all like a digital pack rat. First it was photos, then video of individual songs. Everyone in the US had waited so long to see them play here that I think we wanted to savor the moments.

I wanted to push that as far as I could and see if I could make a whole multi-angle concert. I was spending everything I had on the tour so there was no budget to do it properly. I ended up cutting together something like the Blair Witch of concert films. I put it together and gave it to the band as a congratulations gift for completing their US tour.
 
What made you decide to re-release the film?
I made the entire thing on home equipment when it was just becoming possible to do something like that. Getting it cut and distributed online when YouTube was so new was a technological feat in and of itself. I didn’t expect it to get as much attention as it did, and I certainly didn’t know I’d end up working in film. When I got to Hollywood, the first thing I decided to do is remaster it and give it a proper modern release.
 
Can you tell us what the remastering process is like? 
I went back to the masters and did a new mix in 5.1 surround. Every step of the way, the focus was on detail. Preserving the live sound and feel. The color was never touched in the original release either, so I graded it for the first time. It was a matter of combing through every scene and pushing the colors apart. Getting the skin color away from the fog color so there would be a nice contrast. I’m able to do things today I wouldn’t even have thought of back then.

You’re also are involved with Double Feature, one of the longest running movie podcasts on iTunes. For readers unfamiliar with the podcast, can you describe it for us? 
Yeah, I produce and edit and cohost and the whole deal over there. The aim of Double Feature is to pair two films up every week and talk about why they’re both awesome. If you’ve ever seen a movie and thought “why do people like this so much?” Double Feature kind of exists to answer why. Over time though, more and more people are getting involved with that show. We’ve been getting listeners in on the schedule and everything through Kickstarter every year.
 
It’s your third year crowdfunding the podcast. What made you decide to go the crowdfunding route? Were you surprised by the response?
Crowdfunding has enabled weirdos to bypass the system and go right to their audience. You don’t need to get the permission of an out of touch middleman who doesn’t understand you or the audience in the first place. It’s the reason we even started podcasting. We didn’t want to convince a radio station to hire us, that never would have happened. You put your stuff out there, and if you can get it to the people it speaks to, they’re going to vote with their dollar. Every campaign is nerve-wracking. At the same time though, it’s incredibly validating once it’s funded. It’s a sort of proof that what you’re doing is worth doing in the first place.
 
What can you tell us about your next film project?
I’m in preproduction on a short film I’ll be directing in September. I wrote it when I was making the transition out here and going through some nightmarish stuff. It’s my little art-as-therapy piece. We haven’t announced anything yet, but there’s some people on it I’m really excited to work with. We want to take it to festivals and make some new friends.

Relevant Links
Find Eric Thirteen on IMDB
Check out the Double Feature movie podcast

Daniel Wicharz, Online Payment Industry Expert

Today we are interviewing Daniel Wicharz about the online payment industry.

Tell us a bit about your background in online payment providers.
I have worked in the online industry since 2007 and did work for leading companies such as Apple, Google, PayPal and Skrill.

What first got you interested in the field of online payment?
I liked the online payment industry from its very beginning in the late 90s. Buying something from abroad, from other continents fascinated me in that time and I still remember I bought some software abroad and paid with cash on delivery in that time. I thought straight away: there must be a better way to pay for that online. This “dream” became true very quickly.

What’s the most fulfilling part of working in this field?
Since I worked in the republic of Ireland for more than 5 years covering the German market from there I can tell you that working in the field is much more efficient as you get to meet and greet people. Even though we do have video chats and all kinds of tools nowadays nothing beats a face to face meeting and since I am a good driver I make a decent mileage every year to meet our customers on a regular basis. This fosters their trust, boosts sales and helps me doing my job.

For people who aren’t familiar with online payment, can you explain what a digital wallet is?
A digital wallet is basically an online account where you set your favorite payment options. This is usually a credit card, or in some continental European markets an alternative payment option such as direct debit or an online bank transfer.

Most people are comfortable with using services like Paypal and Skrill, but some people worry about security. Are online payment providers as secure as using a credit card at a restaurant?
Well I am sure there is more security online than in a physical location at the POS (point of sale). This is due to the fact that people simply can read your card details “on the fly”. I would compare it to the likelihood of something happening while flying versus driving a car. So after all people are more scared of flying, but it is illogical because it is certainly more secure than driving a car, the same is with using a card online (secured by SSL for instance) instead of physically handing your card over the counter.

Bitcoins are in the news a lot these days. Can you tell us a bit about them? Are they accepted by most online payment providers?
Bitcoin itself is an interesting technology but has not proven that it can get mass adoption. To be honest I am not confident it will ever become as important as real FIAT money, nevertheless it is a technology trend and worth to be observed. Future will tell if there is any benefit to online shoppers or webshops, however I haven’t seen many online companies accepting it yet.

It seems the industry is changing a lot recently, with new services constantly being released. What changes do you see on the horizon?
I am sure that online payments will evolve also to payment options in physical stores and credit cards will become virtual. Meaning: why do I need the physical plastic card, if I can simply use my mobile device which I carry with me anyway? So I am confident we will stick to the card schemes as they are, only the device will be different and cash will disappear at least in the industrialized nations in a short time frame.

With the internet becoming more available worldwide, do you see the field of providing online payment growing? 
Yes to both. The internet is far more than computers, it can and already does replace for instance a paper TV guide in most homes, it becomes mainstream to use applications and as mentioned will also ultimately be the way of payment also in physical locations. I am sure this trend will foster and even expand in the future.

Is there anything else you’d like to add? 
Having all our funds under the control of our bank accounts and credit cards we will have a better payment experience and tackle fraud and crime at the same time. Pick pockets do have a difficult future in a world where no cash exists and fraud prevention tools stop suspicious activities. Also no more money can get lost like in the past when people lost for instance their wallet or purse in public transport. So it benefits the overall society and the individuals.

Relevant Links
Connect with Daniel Wicharz on LinkedIn
Connect with Daniel Wicharz on XING

Brittney Mulliner, Author of Live Again

Brittney Mulliner is the author of the YA novel titled "Live Again."
 
Tell us a bit about yourself.
I’m a major bookworm! My husband has asked me what I love more, him or my kindle and he didn’t believe me when I chose him first. I have my kindle with me at all times. My motivation to wake up and get to the gym before work is knowing that I’ll have thirty minutes to read while I do cardio. I love becoming so involved in a story that I’m falling in love with the characters, crying with them, rooting for their successes and cringing at their embarrassments.

Describe the plot of “Live Again” in a few sentences.
Live Again picks up where Begin Again left off. We finally know Aubrey’s story and now watch her overcome another huge mystery. She grows a lot and becomes her own person. It’s a coming of age book with the angsts of a teenager mixed with drama and suspense.

Who do you think would most appreciate this book?
It’s a YA book involving high school teens, but there is so much more to the story and I think adults enjoy it, too.

Tell us a bit about the protagonist, Aubrey Tate.
Aubrey may seem like she’s a typical spoiled teen, but as you get to know her you watch her overcome things so much bigger than the average girl her age has to face. She’s strong and independent rather than being a damsel in distress.

In the previous book, “Begin Again,” Aubrey was settling into her new life. Now she’s settled in until a note changes everything. Without giving too much away, what can you tell us about this note?

Author Brittney Mulliner.

This note changes everything in Aubrey’s life from that moment on. Live Again starts just after she gets it, and the drama picks up immediately.

In “Live Again,” does Aubrey experience the same problems with guys as she did in the first book?
She has a few experiences that help her mature. Boys in high school come and go so quickly and she has to deal with heartbreak, but she makes up her mind and follows her heart this time.


Who was your favorite character to write?
I love Gage. He started out as a character that was only supposed to make one appearance in Begin Again, but I couldn’t leave him behind. He was the friend and comedic relief that Aubrey needed.

What inspired you to write this YA series?
I had a dream about a stalker following me and my best friend around our hometown. When I woke up and actually remembered it (which rarely happens) I wrote it down and over the next few days I added more details and it evolved into the story really, really quickly and effortlessly.

 Are there any authors who have influenced your writing style?
The author that inspired me to start writing is CL Stone. I’m so addicted to her two series! Her descriptions of characters and setting are spot on. Her books made me want to contribute to the world of YA.

Tell us about your creative process, from initial idea to published manuscript.
The ideas come very naturally. I actually have the characters talking out scenes in my head like when I’m driving or exercising or grocery shopping, and they usually don’t go away until I write it out. I try to outline and storyboard early on in the process, but characters have a way of taking control and completely changing my plans. I don’t try to keep things going according to my outline because I’ve found it’s harder to force things to go one way than just letting things play out. Writing dialog is easier for me so I usually write out scenes of that then go back to add descriptions and details. My mom is my first reader and has become my sound board for ideas. When I’m stuck I’ll talk to her about the characters and what’s happening and she always tells me to trust my instincts which is usually just what I need.

How do you feel about the increasing popularity of ebooks?
I swore I would never give up paperbacks. I love the smell, the feel, and even the sound of turning a page…but I’m a big, fat traitor. Having all of my books with me all the time on my kindle is possibly the single best thing that has happened to me in the past two years.

What are your goals as a writer for the next ten years?
My goal is to publish three books a year and hopefully be in a position one day to make writing my fulltime job.

Is there any aspect of writing you don't like?
It can be very isolating. Luckily, I have amazing writing groups that I talk to regularly that help me feel connected to other people in the same situation.

What do you have in mind for your next project?
I’m currently writing book three in the series. It will be from Mckayla’s perspective and takes place a few years after Live Again. I’m really excited to tell her story as well as having the readers see what happens with Aubrey.

An excerpt from "Live Again":

“I need you.”

He closed his eyes for a moment, and when they opened he looked down at me. One step towards me was all I needed to throw my arms open and wrap them around him. I was openly crying now and made no moves to cover it up. I was broken, and he knew what to do to fix me.

Slowly his arms wrapped around me, holding me tight. “I need you too, but I can’t stand back and watch you with other guys. I don’t want to give you an ultimatum, but I need to know that you chose me. I don’t want to just be your friend anymore. I want you to be mine, just mine.”

Relevant Links
Visit Brittney Mulliner's site 
Buy "Live Again" on Amazon
Buy "Live Again" on Barnes and Noble

Mirriam Musonda-Salati, Model, Designer, Entrepreneur & CEO

Mirriam Musonda-Salati is a Model, Fashion Designer, CEO of ZBIL a charity Organization, entrepreneur and long-lived style visionary.

Be Gorgeous Styles by Mimmie is a unique online ecommerce destination that offers an exhaustive selection of fashion, footwear, jewelry, hair products & extensions, health & beauty products, for both men and women.
 

Zambian Bridge for Inclusive Living (ZBIL) is a non-governmental organization (CBO) that was founded on the fundamental principle of selflessly serving the people with disabilities in Zambia with the ultimate aim of uplifting their social and economic status through empowerment, and helping children who have no parents.

Tell us about your background in the fashion industry.
I have modeled in countless print campaigns, and starred in—and danced—in the music video for MP’s “No Dull Yourself.” And Mista Silva a Ghanaian Artist’s Azonto music video In addition, I worked directly with such events as The Miss Zambia U.K. Beauty Pageant, the Cancer Research Charity Fashion Show and Children’s Charity Fashion Show, which also inspired me to start up my own charity organization ZBIL (Zambian Bridge for Inclusive Living) which I am currently working on and I plan to eventually start a school back in my home country.

I am actually currently working on starting an orphanage Centre which in turn I pray to God that will turn out to be very successful, it’s my ultimate dream to be able to help those children.

What first attracted you to fashion?
The time I really decided that I was going into fashion, was after I took part in the Beauty Pageant (Miss Zambia UK Beauty Pageant), this was an amazing experience and that I really enjoyed being a part of and what’s more this was for a very good cause as well, so it was like doing something I really love and at the same time giving back to the people.

You’re unique in that you’re a CEO, a model, and a designer, among other things. Do you think having all these roles has given you a unique perspective on the fashion industry?
Most certainly, in that as a young industrialist in the fashion business, I greatly comprehend what my company should offer to the young and ever-changing generation. My fashion background allows me to make sure that the products I am offering is luxurious, affordable and fashionable catering for all members of the society. And also having worked for charity projects, and having an African background gives me all the motivation and dedications I need to go forward with my projects.

Tell us a bit about your work with Be Gorgeous Styles.
Well after taking part in the fashion shows, I figured I love fashion and what’s greater is that I create and design my own clothes and also to let other people experience and look gorgeous in my own fashion designs.

You’re also the CEO of ZBIL, a charity organization. Your designs have received a lot of praise. Can you tell us a bit about your design process?
I believe, it is important to stay updated with the latest trends in the fashion styles in order to achieve real confidence and attractiveness in the middle of a crowd. Anyway, what are the things that embody the latest trends in the stated industry? In order to find the latest changes in the field of fashion style industry, look into the latest models of accessories and footwear that were created for men and women. There are several clothing stores in the market nowadays who can offer new clothing products for all the people in this world.

But only the Be Gorgeous Styles by Mimmie can offer the best examples of such products to the consumers at affordable prices because everybody should be inspired as a woman, man, kid and teenager, we are all encouraged to look and feel beautiful about ourselves.

One of the things you’ve done at ZBIL is diversified the products, delving into children’s and men’s wear. Why was it important for you to branch out with the company?
Ha ha... ZBIL is totally different, Be Gorgeous Styles is a Fashion Company and ZBIL is a charity Organization, and as for expanding the company it feels good to have to increase the customer revenue and also to give children and Men the chances to experience the beautiful gorgeous clothing by Mimmie. And plus the chance to have extra financial gain couldn’t hurt much. Lol

What do you think are some of the biggest conceptions people have about the fashion industry?
To be honest with you, I haven’t really given it that much thought, I believe people will have their opinions about anything no matter what, and as long as you know you are doing what you love and are very motivated, always do the best you can, people will always be people with their views and opinions.

What are your goals for the next ten years?
Like I said earlier, I my ultimate goal is to make sure that my charity is very successful because eventually I would like to start a school and name it after my grandparents who both passed away about 10 years ago, and to help all the orphan children who needs all the help. As well as helping children I feel it’s important to assist those elderly people who do not have anybody to help with them every day necessities and other assistance they may need mentally and socially.

Is there anything else you’d like to add?
 I would like to thank God for giving such a wonderful family and my partner whose is always there to support me when I need support and most importantly I would like to thank you my father for always being such a wonderful man and my inspiration for wanting to work very hard and never give up on my dream.

Outside of my career, I enjoys poetry (reading and writing), Science & Geo, sports, shopping (!) and traveling. I also continue to study the latest psychological and criminological principles & practices, with the goal of ultimately helping to improve our society through the development of new theories and findings.

I also continue to be inspired by my father—who was also a self-starter and a successful businessman throughout his career, ultimately serving as Director & Chairman of Cavendish University and a CEO of KSM Investment Group Company.

Relevant Links

http://www.begorgeousstylesandbeauty.com
http://www.mirriammusondasalati.net
http://www.zbil.org
http://www.mirriammusondasalati.com
http://www.begorgeousclothing.com

Faye Hall, Author of Mistress of Purity

Faye Hall is the author of the historical erotic romance novel "Mistress of Purity."

Tell us a bit about yourself.
I was born and raised in North Queensland, Australia.  I married the love of my life in 2013 (though we met each other over 20 years ago) and between us we have 9 children.  I have been writing romance since I was in high school and currently have 4 eBooks with Red Sage Publishing.

Describe the plot of “Mistress of Purity” in a few sentences.
When Gareth obeyed his father’s widow’s request for him to return to Sarina to collect his inheritance, never could he had imagined he’d find her to be the same woman he’d loved so passionately a few weeks before.  The secrets that Gareth unveils upon returning to his late father’s estate become a near obsession to him, revealing to him not only the truth about Prue, but also the man his father had truly been.

Who do you think would most appreciate this book?
"Mistress of Purity" has a very intricate web of tales to tell which ultimately joins the lives of all the main characters together through love, lust, lies, deceit and murder.  There is also an underlying love story told between two sub characters which I feel is extremely heartwarming too.

Tell us about the selection of this book’s title, “Mistress of Purity.”
The title came about as more of an idiom than anything else because when the affair between Gareth and Prue first began he did think to set her up as his mistress, indulging in all her innocence.  When Gareth was requested to return to Sarina though and back in the company of Prue he realized the cruel irony that she was in fact his father’s widow and maybe not quite as innocent as he first thought – hence becoming a tongue-in-cheek version of his ‘Mistress of Purity’.

Tell us a bit about our protagonists, Prue and Gareth.
Prue was a wonderful character to create.  She has a soft and vulnerable side to her, but she struggles so much through this book to keep that hidden and portray a very strong front that she is often far from feeling.  She’s also very determined to get revenge on the man who tried to kill her father and is reluctant to let anything get in her way.

Gareth starts off quite a cold character, having held a lot of reluctance to let anyone close to him emotionally.  Because of his abusive childhood, he wants to share little more than a physical relationship with Prue.  As the book progresses though Gareth soon finds he is willing to sacrifice near anything for even an ounce of love from this woman.

All of your books are set in the rural areas of North Queensland. What is the allure of this area for you?
Most of it comes from my childhood.  I grew up in a rural area of North Queensland and was raised on stories and photos of the area and it made me wonder just what it must have been like for my ancestors when they first moved to this country and helped develop the townships.  I also like being able to show that Australia has just as an intriguing and beautifully romantic history as other parts of the world.

Your novels incorporate elements from multiple genres (romance, suspense, mystery, etc). Have you always wanted to write stories with aspects from different genres? Or did this just develop naturally as you wrote?
A bit of both really.  I have always loved romance, be it in books or in the movies, but I have always needed more than just the love story to keep me interested.  When I started to write my own stories I set out to incorporate this ‘more’ in my books but as I kept writing it all kind of took on a life of it’s own.

Who was your favorite character to write?
My favorite character from "Mistress of Purity" to write would undoubtedly be Prue.  She has so much to tell, and so many things she is searching for answers to.  She also has so many sides to her personalities including a fiery, stubborn side that I just loved writing dialogue for.

Are there any authors who have influenced your writing style?
A few have.  I have always enjoyed the romance novels of Amanda Quick, but I have equally enjoyed the mystery of Agatha Christie too.

How do you think you've evolved as a writer since when you first started?
My editor with Red Sage Publishing, Rosie Murphy, has taught me heaps since my first book was contracted.  Most of all is to try not to head hop too much throughout a book or you risk confusing your readers.

How do you feel about the increasing popularity of ebooks?
I’m of two minds about it.  From an author’s point of view I love that eBooks are taking off as it makes submissions to publishers so much easier as everything can be done via email which allows for quicker communication.  It also allows for quicker and more spontaneous sales from readers you might not have reached a few years ago.  But there is always the thing that a writer craves to see their book in print and be able to walk in to a shop and see their name on the cover of a book.  As a reader too I still prefer paperbacks.

Is there any aspect of writing you don't like?
I dislike writing a synopsis.  Honestly my one pet hate.  I can sit and type out a few thousand words a day easily, usually resulting in a near 100,000 script but ask me to condense that into a few paragraphs or a few pages then I usually chuck a hissy fit and carry on like a child as my poor husband would tell you.

What do you have in mind for your next project?
Coming up next for me are a few things – I’m currently waiting to hear back about two other manuscripts and I’m about a third of the way through book number 7 – "Lust & Chastity" – my own take on a seven deadly sin and one of the heavenly virtues.

Is there anything else you'd like potential readers to know about your book?
The first draft of "Mistress of Purity" was written almost 20 years ago.  I wrote it in a matter of three days whilst listening to Fleetwood Mac and eating copious amounts of chocolate.  Since then the manuscript has been rewritten about 4 times until the final product was taken up by my publisher.

Relevant Links 

Buy the Book

Buy the book from the publisher's site
Buy the book on Amazon

Faye Hall Social Media
Check out Faye Hall's website 

Visit Faye Hall's blog 

Like Faye Hall's author page on Facebook
Connect with Faye Hall on Facebook 

Follow Faye Hall on Twitter 

Check out Faye Hall on Goodreads 

Find Faye Hall on Tumblr 

Check out Faye Hall on Pinterest 

Follow Faye Hall on Instagram 

Check out Faye Hall on Flipagram
Visit Faye Hall on Youtube

Byron Neary, Managing Director of Yougottohaveit Group

Byron Neary is the Managing Director of Yougottohaveit Group.

Tell us a bit about YOUGOTTOHAVEIT.
Yougottohaveit was started in 2005 by Byron Neary as a web development company in South Africa. Yougottohaveit expanded to other horizons in 2009 of which hosting was one. As of 2011 we expanded to the United States and Europe and currently have 4 operational data centers in operation.

What kind of dedicated servers does YOUGOTTOHAVEIT offer?
We offer 2 dedicated servers namely Black Core Dedicated and Blue Core Dedicated.

What are the fees per month?

Black Core Dedicated ($170) & Blue Core Dedicated ($280)

Can you tell us a bit about the specifications for each of the dedicated servers?
Black Core Specifications:
Intel Core i7-2600
16 GB DDR3 Memory
2 x 1 TB Hard Drive
1 Dedicated IP

Blue Core Specifications:
Intel Core i7-3770
32 GB DDR3 Memory
2x 2 TB Hard Drives
1 Dedicated IP

Both available with 100Mbit Uplink and 10 TB Bandwidth

How should someone determine whether they should get the black core dedicated or the blue core dedicated?

Black Core is ideal for web applications, email server, webmail, web api services and all general server purposes Windows and Linux based. The blue core is ideal for corporate applications with excess of 100000 Unique Hits per month.

Does YOUGOTTOHAVEIT offer additional IPs with its dedicated servers?

Yougottohaveit offers /29 Subnet for ($29) and /28 ($49) Subnet as well. We are proud to say that all subnets are instantly approved no questions asked.

How many locations are available?

Texas (USA), Cape Town( South Africa), Amsterdam (Netherlands), Dallas (USA), available.

Is support available?

Yes, we offer an always available (24/7) support service via a ticketing system and email.

Why should someone use YOUGOTTOHAVEIT for their dedicated server needs over other companies?

Yougottohaveit offers a quick setup time, excellent support and unbeaten prices, with latest hardware.

Relevant Links

Check out the Yougottohaveit website for more information