 Finding one’s true passion is a rare gift and having the courage to pursue it is even more rare. Rashid Darden is truly special because he has accomplished both, knowing his path was as a novelist and that he was willing to cast aside the security of a 9 to 5 in order to see his dream come to fruition. Not only this, but as a writer he has tackled subject matter that is unique and offered a different perspective that makes him truly one of a kind. He’d already written a play and made a name for himself as a poet while studying at Georgetown University and the D.C. native continued writing, working on what would become a series of novels, the “Lazarus Trilogy” as well as a collection of poetry. After more than a decade of working at non-profits, all the while continuing to write when he could, Darden decided to make the big leap to full-time novelist. He put in the hard work of learning the publishing business, as well as how to enhance his work, and his next book proved to be an ambitious project that took readers into a world spanning the continent of Africa to an America bonded to slavery, and took the author himself across the country visiting historic slave sites and illuminating the past for students and fans, leaving them enlightened and inspired.  “Birth of a Dark Nation” is the first book of a new series by Rashid Darden that explores vampire lore from an African perspective. It does what Darden succeeds at best, offering a unique point of view that is often missing from mainstream literature. The author has found an eager audience for his latest work, indicated by the efforts of a very successful crowd-funding campaign that nearly doubled its initial target goal. Due to the funds Darden raised he was able to travel to various states lecturing and spreading the word about his new novel. He has also managed to inspire the next generation of writers who will surely take a page from the author’s playbook.
Tackling historical time periods, confronting the harsh realities of racial and cultural differences, and wrapping it around a genre like horror is no easy feat but Rashid Darden set his sights on its accomplishment and it looks like he’s won. “Birth of a Dark Nation” currently has a 5 star rating on Amazon and is the kind of springboard any author needs when kicking off a new series. Considering that many would-be novelists never get as far as one book, Darden has managed to etch out an impressive career for himself filled with praise from his readers, accolades from his peers and the satisfaction that comes from giving back to society. There are many ways one can spend a lifetime. It’s inspiring to see one being spent writing words that aim to educate, enlighten and uplift. Rashid Darden is that kind of writer. For more information please visit www.rashiddarden.com
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 A trip to the movies or a flip through television channels reveal a level of violence that has become so acceptable that we usually don’t bat an eye to it. Although violence in entertainment is nothing new, what one writer in California is doing in fiction is. D.G. Flamand has created an entire line of non-violent literature that has found an audience from children to adults and is growing every day. Flamand travels from city to city introducing his books to one reader at a time, many of them who have found a connection to the priceless moral lessons the author plants like seeds within the pages of his stories. These seeds are like magic beans growing into a giant beanstalk striving to push mankind to greater heights where we all become giants of a more kind nature.
Instead of violent acts like fist fighting, car crashes or waged wars, Flamand delivers landscapes filled with characters of compassion, integrity and purpose. His books demonstrate that we don’t need the threat of some great evil ready to do us in. Having worthwhile goals, helping others and being a better person are much better motivations for any protagonist to have. This is an entirely new approach to storytelling because stories are no longer about barely making it past some dangerous threat so we can etch out our survival. No, now the story becomes about how to achieve a better world from where we currently stand, the only real threats coming from our own lack of knowledge or uncertainty of character. It is a unique way to tell a story and one of those simple ideas that we wonder why no one had thought of it before. Thankfully D.G. Flamand put his finger on an idea that may just change everything. We have all witnessed the power of a good story. We know the strength of word of mouth and how movements can spring up so quickly they take the world by storm. It is totally feasible that non-violent literature will not only begin to catch wind and turn into a wildfire of an idea but it may already have done so. D.G. Flamand not only writes dozens of non-violent books but also hosts a violence-free writing contest twice a year. It is producing a new crop of writers of non-violent literature who are already producing works and affecting each of their own respective communities. Flamand is becoming a Johnny Appleseed kind of figure. He is the father of a movement that is producing results. Children are learning valuable life lessons and their parents are becoming just as enlightened. New titles continue to pour out from the author and the horizon is nothing but bright. It would not be surprising to someday see his name mentioned alongside Lewis Carroll, Aesop, The Grimm Brothers and C.S. Lewis because D.G. Flamand has given the world something just as, if not more, valuable. There are no wicked witches, big bad wolves or mad queens in his stories, but there are imaginative worlds with relatable characters. They will surprise you because instead of running away from someone, they are usually running towards them; trying to help, demonstrating the greatness that is in everyone. An exceptional author can change something inside of us. D.G. Flamand is exceptional. For more information please visit www.dgflamandbooks.com  There are lots of people that dream of being a writer but never put in the time to actually write. Bruce Boyers is a real writer, putting in the hard work at his craft producing words upon words which have landed everywhere from websites and blogs to promotional materials and works of fiction. His career as a freelance writer allowed him to perfect a control over the written word which most aspiring writers never achieve. Boyers took his writing skills to the next level with the creation of a science fiction world filled with spaceships and adventure but also introducing a totally unique character: a private investigator by the name of Dragon, a sci-fi Sherlock Holmes that has a passion for solving cases like Boyers' passion for writing great stories.
Bruce Boyers lives in Glendale, California. At a very early age he became influenced by science fiction and the works of people like Ray Bradbury and Rod Serling. It was no surprise that he would one day return to the world of science fiction but it may have come as a surprise to many in the field that he would be starting with such a fresh, vibrant and engaging protagonist with his first published story "Cabal." With a single short story Boyers gave us one of the most bold and intelligent heroes to be added to the pantheon of science fiction in quite a while. Dragon is an intergalactic investigator that spans the galaxy solving cases that no one else can. He is a true professional, the guy you hire when you need discreetness and assurance that the job will get done. Dragon has a fantastic sidekick by the name of Parts, not human by any means but gives Dragon a reliable ally that can act more humanely than most humans. Boyers' story in "Cabal" is one of gripping momentum that forces one to turn pages because you are invested in finding out the mystery and solving the case right along with Dragon. He stays ahead of the reader, never taking an obvious path but instead leads you straight into unforeseen territory filled with excitement and very big payoffs. "Cabal" is currently available with more Dragon Intergalactic Crime Chronicles soon to be published in a book. If you are a fan of the very best of science fiction tales and enjoy the stories of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, you have a very rewarding trip to take with Bruce Boyers. Enjoy the ride! To read "Cabal" by Bruce Boyers please visit http://www.amazon.com/Cabal-Dragon-Intergalactic-Chronicles-ebook/dp/B005WL1Z7Y For more information on Bruce Boyers please visit www.boyersmarketing.com  Catherine Weaver grew up in Northern California and decided to use the inspiration of the Golden State's landscape to create an entirely new universe for readers. It has its own alternate history of California filled with griffins, amazons, magicians, and leprechauns. Weaver manages to connect this alternate universe to our own in the pages of her book "Gold Dust" which successfully gives middle readers a tale packed with imaginative and magical themes. Her writing has managed to weave together one of the most original stories to come around in quite a long time and although written for a younger audience, readers of all ages will find something to take away from this adventurous world sprung from the mind of a California dreamer. Weaver's family ties to California stretch back five generations and many members of her family were or are writers, poets and artists. From a young age she discovered works like "The Lord of the Rings," "Stranger in a Strange Land," "1,001 Arabian Nights" and others which set her on a creative path. She received professional training in music, theater and dance which resulted in her ability to play the trumpet, sing in choir, perform Shakespeare, dance in any style and is also a professionally trained mime. Through it all she recognized her skill to tell a story and added writing to her long list of artistic credentials. One day while marveling at the beauty of her native California she realized there was a lack of stories which took place in the culturally and story rich state. Catherine Weaver saw a hole and she immediately set out to fill it and lucky for us she planted a story as equally rich in flavor as the landscape which inspired it. "Gold Dust" is the story of Alex Lee, a young girl with her attention on homework, boys and her recently changed mother. Alex's mom is completely lifeless when she comes home from work and her normal cheerful self when she calls home from work. Alex is clueless as to the cause and one day meets a leprachaun named Martin that injects a bit of magic into her life that leads to her discovery of an entirely different version of California that is somehow tied to her mother. Transporting herself to another world and mastering the use of magic through exercising her imagination and helping others along the way, all lead to Alex's empowerment and the betterment of two worlds because of it. The book reminds you of "Alice in Wonderland" or "The Chronicles of Narnia" in its use of transporting the main character from one world into another, yet the way it is done and all that follow are very unique. Weaver is able to make a world of griffins, leprechauns and magic seem utterly acceptable and completely appropriate to the story. She has you believing that gold does contain magical properties and that some trees have beautiful spirits living within that can carry you to a more magical version of the world you're living in. This story is important because it offers readers the idea that the world does not have to be lifeless and dull, that instead it is filled with wonderful, magical beauty and adventure. It sparks the imagination, encourages us to be better and not only make our world better but be on the look out for other worlds. Catherine Weaver has constructed an entire fantasy world and built a bridge to it that, although newly erected, will continue to carry adventurous dreamers across for many years to come. "Gold Dust" is the first in a series of books starring Alex Lee and I am sure this gifted author will give us more magic, more imagination and through a little more gold dust, she just might start another Gold Rush in California. For more information on Catherine Weaver: Her Blog: http://islandofcalifornia.blogspot.com Her Book: http://thebookcity.com/cweaverbooks.html 
 Ron Kule is a man out to make a difference through his art. Practically every written work he has published helps people across our planet in some way. Whether it's his book "Chef Tell - The Biography of America's Pioneer TV Chef" featuring a forward by Regis Philbin or his book "Sell Better, Sell Easier, Sell Anything Artfully," which is currently helping to grow businesses globally or his incredibly inspirational book on The University of South Carolina's NCAA National Championship baseball team, Kule's books are impacting and improving others. His book "Carolina Baseball: Pressure Makes Diamonds," which he co-wrote with J. David Miller, even helps the The Ray Tanner Foundation, which donates all of its net profits to help build a Miracle Field to give physically disabled children the chance to play baseball.  Ron Kule's book about Chef Tell chronicles the life and times of the TV Showman Chef, who was a genuine pioneer in his field. It has received numerous glowing reviews from celebrities and opinion leaders and is an exciting account of a dynamic individual who's story has now come to light for fans. Kule has done a remarkable job bringing this tale to the public. His tackling of what happens in front of and behind the cameras promises to make a big effect when it reaches the hands of an eager audience. The book "Chef Tell: The Biography of America's Pioneer TV Showman Chef" is available September 1st, 2013 but can be pre-ordered on Amazon.com using the following link: http://www.amazon.com/Chef-Tell-Biography-Americas-Pioneer/dp/1626360049/ref=sr_1_8?ie=UTF8&qid=1366390440&sr=8-8&keywords=chef+tell REVIEWS for "Chef Tell - The Biography of America's Pioneer TV Chef" by Ron Kule Besides these non-fiction volumes, Ron Kule has also left his mark in fiction and poetry. His short story "ThunderCloud and The Old Man" was published in Better World Stories for a Better World, he wrote a young adult novel called "ThunderCloud" which he plans to grow into a series, and has also written a sci-fi thriller "Aleria" and a children's book called "Tiny Friends." His poems have been published by Artists for a Better World International, Artists in Action International and The International Library of Poetry, to name a few. Ron Kule currently lives in Clearwater, Florida and continues to set the bar high with future collaborations on non-fiction works as well as putting forward a steady stream of fiction and poetry. Amongst his writings and art is an overwhelming effort to help mankind, to create an impact in areas it is definitely needed and accomplish an inspirational spirit which lights a path for tomorrow's authors and poets to follow. Everyday he is changing our world for the better in a powerful way. To learn more about Ron Kule please visit his website: www.ronkulebooks.com Watch this video to learn more about the Miracle Field Ron Kule is helping to build:  Stephen Cook has had an adventurous life but none of his exploits have yielded the same tenacity he has for the profession of writing. He took something that began as a hobby and turned it into a career. His beginnings as a hobbyist fiction writer quickly turned into much more the moment he decided to approach his writing head on and without any back offs.
He completed his first book of science fiction short stories "Genghis Kant," which one reader said "…is hilarious - everyone should buy it - it is easily as funny as Hitch-hiker's Guide to the Galaxy, Spinal Tap and Terry Pratchett," and one of his short stories, "Vara Stakis" was accepted for publication in a British Anthology. He is a regular contributor to the American Liberty Beacon project, published two books of poetry, writes sci-fi, supernatural, humor but has also written a couple of very important non-fiction works, including a book on the subject of economic reform titled, "The Worm in the Apple." It is Cook's attempt at exposing the current monetary system as a huge fraud and he takes pride in knowing he has done his part to educate people about such an important and penetrating issue. On top of this, Stephen Cook is also a freelance copywriter contributing written works for websites, newsletters, advertisements, and press releases. He is also a regularly featured columnist for The Sussex Newspaper in England and publishes the free online satirical newspaper The Daily Scare. Stephen Cook is definitely a man that knows what he wants from life. He has followed his life's passion for the written word and today his writings are found all across our planet. You can find out more about Stephen Cook and discover his works for yourself on his website: For more information please visit: http://stevecookwriter.blogspot.co.uk http://ablecopywriting.blogspot.co.uk |
Michelangelo once said, "I saw the angel in the marble and carved until I set him free.” At Artists Run This Planet we see Earth as our marble and we hold a chisel and hammer up to it every day. This beautiful canvas of a planet waits for us to paint it daily. Gone are the days of suppressing art, of pursuits less noble than creating. We have the technology available to create in any medium, and faster than ever before. As artists we are the creators of every new innovation and idea that takes shape. We are mankind’s continual hope and driving force — “Artists Run This Planet." - David Carus, Art Planet CEO & FounderArchives
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