Romance Meets Life

Funke Akindele Seperated From Husband Kehinde Oloyede
Kris Jenner Teases Talk Show Viewers with Seeing Kim Kardashian's Baby
JK Rowling Joins The Ranks of Authors Writing Under Pseudonyms
Short Story - Still Being Played By The Madam
Skip the Chemicals, and Make Your Own All Natural Sunscreen
Winning Image At Job Interviews - How To Dress For An Interview
Kindle Fire or $199 Giveaway International - Summer 2013
Physically Yours by Nnenna Marcia - Guest Author

Funke Akindele Seperated From Husband Kehinde Oloyede

Posted: 15 Jul 2013 04:04 PM PDT

It was just last year that popular Nollywood actress, Funke Akindele got married to Kehinde Oloyede, amidst a lot of media furore. Reports are that the marriage may be on it's last legs. This is according to a Facebook post made by Kehinde Oloyede which it seems he has deleted. He wrote:

"It's with heavy heart that am announcing the separation of me nd ma wife Mrs olufunke akindele,we've both agreed to go our separate ways coz of irreconcilable differences.we still best of friends nd we 4ever remain gud friends.
...
"Am doing just fine, gettn along without u,don't need u anymore in ma life.u d greatest mistake av made in recent time.

Linda Ikeji reached out to Funke's publicist after reading the Facebook message, and according to her post, "they confirmed that the two have indeed gone their separate ways (for now). They've actually been having issues for a while and Funke had actually been planning to divorce him quietly, but Mr Oloyede decided to make it public. Funke also recently changed her BB name from Mrs Funke Akindele Oloyede to Everybody loves Jenifa. Funke and Kehinde got married on Saturday May 26th 2012."

I hope this is a temporary separation and the couple is able to work out their problems if that is possible.

Kris Jenner Teases Talk Show Viewers with Seeing Kim Kardashian's Baby

Posted: 15 Jul 2013 02:21 PM PDT

To promote her new talk show, Kris Jenner decided to tease everyone with a picture of her cuddling a baby wrapped in a white blanket. She posted the image on Twitter and Facebook, with the message ... "You never know who will stop by our show today #WatchKris" in order to draw views to the show's premiere.

However, Kim Kardashian's baby, North West did not make its debut at the show. This would have been the first public shot of North West since Kim Kardashian gave borth one month ago. But the media continues to wait as they also do for the royal baby. Actually, TMZ found out the baby in the picture belongs to a hair and makeup person on the set.

JK Rowling Joins The Ranks of Authors Writing Under Pseudonyms

Posted: 15 Jul 2013 11:08 AM PDT

Nora Roberts has done it, Stephen King has done, I do it, and now JK Rowling has experienced the author's life behind the veil, and joined our list. Her pseudonym is "Robert Galbraith", and while she tried to remain anonymous, JK Rowling couldn't sustain it. The Harry Potter author was last weekend uncovered as the author of a new detective novel called "The Cuckoo's Calling".

"The Cuckoo's Calling" follows Cormoran Strike, a war veteran turned private eye who investigates the supposed suicide of a model.

One of the professional reviews was from Publishers Weekly, which describes the book "in a rare feat… Galbraith combines a complex and compelling sleuth and an equally well-formed and unlikely assistant with a baffling crime in his stellar debut."

One reviewer on Amazon wrote;

This book is so well written that I suspect that some years down the road we will hear the author's name is a pseudonym of some famous writer. Lots of description made one feel like another occupant in the scene. You could feel the weather, the tension, the pain, the atmosphere in the gatherings.

The spotlight turned on Rowling who published a literary work in her own name last year because she has mentioned her love of detective books in the past. Also, journalists and bookworms had other clues - JK Rowling and Galbraith had the same agent, and Galbraith was the only client who had a silhouette instead of a photograph on the agency's Web site.

After all this speculation, Rowling finally came clean to the Sunday Times of London, "I had hoped to keep this secret a little longer because being Robert Galbraith has been such a liberating experience. It has been wonderful to publish without hype or expectation and pure pleasure to get feedback under a different name."

The Cuckoo's Calling has joined the list of No 1 Books on amazon after JK Rowling was outed as the real author. Check out [The Cuckoo's Calling]

Here's the fictional biography of Robert Galbraith that was given by the publisher:

Born in 1968, Robert Galbraith is married with two sons. After several years with the Royal Military Police, he was attached to the SIB (Special Investigation Branch), the plain-clothes branch of the RMP. He left the military in 2003 and has been working since then in the civilian security industry. The idea for protagonist Cormoran Strike grew directly out of his own experiences and those of his military friends who have returned to the civilian world. 'Robert Galbraith' is a pseudonym.

Such a load of a concocted bio. Makes you wonder how many other well known writers are behind the veil, right? Maybe my last anonymous pseudonym guest author is really Chimamanda Adichie? Or since we're switching genders too, maybe it's Helon Habila, or Teju Cole? LOL...

Short Story - Still Being Played By The Madam

Posted: 15 Jul 2013 02:33 PM PDT

"Wait Wait." My husband picks up his phone. "Mrs. Bamidele is calling," he said still looking at the screen.
I start kissing his ear and trail it down to his neck just the way I know he likes it. "Tell her you'll meet with her tomorrow, today is our day, now?" I whine as he starts to get up from the sofa.
"Babe you know I have to go!"

All this is funny to him, I can tell from the nonchalant way he has been brushing me off to the side lately. It wasn't supposed to be this way, how did we get here where this sort of behavior is now normal. In what world is it normal for a man to leave his wife while in the process of making love to go and satisfy his sugar mummy?

Mrs. Bamidele started all this; Tunde and I had gotten married after he graduated from University and after not being able to secure a job after 4 months, he got a job as a driver at the Bamideles. I was still in school but the job came with a room in their boy's quarters and since I was still in school didn't have a job either, madam let me stay with him in the boy's quarters.

It wasn't the best living condition but for the time being it worked. We didn't have bills, constant electricity and we were being fed so the salary he made was put towards my tuition and sending whatever change was left to our parents.

It was early October and the rainy season had just started, I had just started my last year in university and since Tunde usually got home around 9pm when he brought madam home from work, I figured I could use the time to catch up on my homework. Tunde rushed into the house and all I saw on his face was anger and I know he doesn't get angry easily so I knew something had to be very wrong.

"What is wrong, Tunde, what is it?" I quickly got up to his side to try and find out what was wrong.

"We are leaving, Folake, pack up our things, we are getting out of here."

"What! Why! Where are we going? What happened? Tunde please talk to me." I was pleading now. It's not like we had anywhere else to go.

"Madam fired me, she wants us to leave before she gets back." He starts packing our clothes into a big nylon bag because it's not like we had luggage.

"What did you do, Tunde please wait, sit down and talk to me. Maybe we can beg her." I pat the little chair in the corner of our small room.

"Folake, can't you hear me, She said we should leave!" He ignores my seat offer and continues packing.

When I finally got him to seat and talk to me, he explained that madam had made advances towards him and when he refused she told him that he was fired. I was livid, what does she want with my own husband when she has her own? Its women like her that ruin marriage for women like us who do everything we can to make our husbands happy. So she thinks she can flaunt her money at my husband and the world would stop.

I was so angry that I actually started packing up the rest of our stuff that Tunde had not gotten to. We were all packed when Tunde decided that his favorite shirt was still hanging to dry outside so he went to get it.

After thinking about our options if we left, I decided to reconsider. We didn't have family that we could run to; in fact both our family depended on us to provide for them with the little change he was making. Where would we go at this time of the night, who could we call and what options did we have?

When Tunde walked back into the house, I had a more remorseful look on my face hoping to persuade him to change his mind. "Olatunde mi, my husband, my love, why don't you just play along, shebi I'll soon be done with school and we can move away then. Please ehn, think about it, if you don't have a job how will our parents eat and my tuition is there and you know I only have one year left."

"Folake, are you crazy, do you know what you're suggesting?"

"I am not suggesting anything oh, just play along for a while till we can figure out what we want to do, even if it's to move out of here but at least we would have a plan. Jo, think about it my husband."

After that conversation and a lot of persuading, he went to beg madam that night when she got back and for the past 3 years I have pretended that I didn't know what was going on.

Now it's all about the random promotions at their family business, "business trips" every month and the occasional long nights at work.

No doubt my husband loves me and never ceases to show it but I cannot complain about his sugar mummy knowing he will throw it back in my face. I was the one who wanted this, well, not this as in how he's ignoring me right now but all of his relationship with her is my own doing.

We might have moved out of the Bamidele's boys quarters but my husband is definitely still being played with by madam.

_____________

Hi, I'm Moriam. I'm curious and I love cooking. I also like to write short stories. If you haven't check out Part one and two of Love's Pain. If you love recipes, check out my blog too.

Skip the Chemicals, and Make Your Own All Natural Sunscreen

Posted: 15 Jul 2013 08:02 AM PDT

By Michelle Pino

Summer is a time when the sun's rays are more direct, and people typically pursue more outdoor activities to take advantage of the extra hours of sunlight. However, increased sun exposure means a greater need for sunblock. Most commercial sunblocks contain active ingredients that are present in two forms: mineral and chemical filters. Each type of filtering ingredient uses a different mechanism by which the skin is protected from the sun's UV rays, and the product remains stable in the sunlight.

Unfortunately, these ingredients may pose a hazard to human health. Most sunscreens on the market utilize chemical filters, which may be comprised of a combination of three to six active ingredients: avobenzone, oxybenzone, octisalate, octocrylene, homosalate and octinoxate.

According to EWG.org, oxybenzone is found in 80 percent of the sunscreen products in the U.S. This product poses the greatest hazard of all the sunscreen ingredients that are used in the U.S. market. Consumers are advised to avoid oxybenzone because it may penetrate the skin and cause hormone disruption or allergic skin reactions (Calafat 2008, Rodriguez 2006, Krause 2012). Early research suggests there may be a link between high concentrations of oxybenzone and its metabolites and an elevated risk of endometriosis and lower birth weight in baby girls (Kunisue 2012, Wolff 2008).

Fortunately, there are natural alternatives to those who wish to avoid the risks that may be associated with using chemical and mineral-based sunscreens that are available commercially. The experts at Skana spa of the New York resort, Turning Stone have provided this recipe for a homemade sunscreen which is made at home with all natural ingredients.

What You Need

1/4 cup Diaper Rash Cream
1 tablespoon Coconut Oil
1 tablespoon Cocoa Butter
1 tablespoon Aloe Vera Gel
1 teaspoon Sesame Oil
1 teaspoon Beeswax

Combine all ingredients in a glass bowl. Set the bowl on top of a pan of boiling water. Melt all the ingredients together. Allow the mixture to cool. Store in a cool, dry place or in the refrigerator.

Diaper rash cream provides a protective barrier from the sun's harsh rays due to its zinc oxide content. Coconut oil is effective in blocking approximately 20 percent of UV radiation. Coco butter and sesame oil serve to add moisture to the skin while the sesame oil will remain stable despite exposure to sunlight. Beeswax will make the sunscreen mixture more water resistant. Nevertheless, reapplying after swimming or heavily sweating or every two hours is recommended.

References

http://www.ewg.org/2013sunscreen/the-trouble-with-sunscreen-chemicals/
http://www.onegoodthingbyjillee.com/2012/06/how-to-make-homemade-sunscreen.html
http://www.naturalnutritionadvisor.com/blog/?p=981
http://www.freewebs.com/jumblebox/healthF/sun.html

____________

Michelle Pino works at the Skana spa.

Winning Image At Job Interviews - How To Dress For An Interview

Posted: 15 Jul 2013 07:09 AM PDT

In a professional's life, no other time requires your image to be at the spotless best than while attending an interview. Due to the limited time available to make an assessment and the need to come to a fair conclusion, all areas of your image are scrutinized, quickly and thoroughly along with your competences: your appearance, speech, comportment, even your social media image.

To succeed and get the job you desire, you have to stand out. This article has been written to help you do just that, if you take your time to practice what is written here. The article is in four parts, intended to be released in series, so that you can have just enough per time to focus on and get right; the parts are:

Part 1: How to Dress for an Interview
Part 2: Responding to Questions
Part 3: Posture and Body Language
Part 4 : Mind Your e-Mage and After your Interview

PART 1 - HOW TO DRESS FOR AN INTERVIEW

Interviews are one of the occasions where first impression determines much of what happens within less than half an hour, and after. Dressing appropriately is not the ultimate judge of your competence; it may not get you the job by itself, but sure will give you a competitive edge and a positive first impression that could very well set the tone for the entire interview. If you must be taken seriously, and let your intelligence have a piercing impression on the panel, then you 'dress seriously' like someone who means business and actually respects the organization being represented by the panel.

Dressing shabbily to an interview could be a big distraction, so could 'overdressing'. Simplicity, not sophistication, is the word to bear in mind when appearing for an interview; that of course depends on the level or position you are being interviewed for.

The typical interview dress code is business professional, it is safe for any industry that you are into, whether creative or conservative, (although the creative ones such as IT and advertising could permit a more relaxed appearance). Interview dresses are generally not relaxed for the 'intending'. Women particularly need to be more concerned about their appearance because they have more areas to attend to-and get it wrong, besides, a woman's appearance seems to be more important than a man's especially if she is interviewed by a woman. It has been established that the rate of turns-downs for women at interviews is three times that of men's for improper dressing.

Generally, when appearing for an interview, you should look very neat, wearing clean, well-pressed and fitting clothes; moderate jewelry, well-groomed hair and nails; proper and polished shoes. Shoes are critical accessories. Many people judge taste, attention to details and diligence by just looking at your shoes. This may be subjective and unfair, but worth considering.

Interview Appearance Guidelines for Men

Suit: Matching suit in navy, black or gray (pin stripe or solid) is most appropriate. Alternatively, wear a navy blazer and gray slacks.

Shirt: Wear white or light blue, long sleeve, dress shirt

Tie: Choose silk tie in subtle pattern that would contrast with the jacket and coordinate with (not necessarily match) the shirt.

Shoes/Belt: Clean, heeled (not flat heel), lace-up leather shoes, well-polished too. Black is recommended strongly, you cannot go wrong with it. Also, wear a leather belt with unobtrusive buckle (forget about your spinning buckles here), it should blend with or match the shoes.

Grooming: Low-cut hair style is best and take care of your nails (clip them) and attend to mouth odour by chewing something minty before entering the room, or use a mint spray; don't leave the gum in your mouth!

Other Accessories: Your watch should not be too bogus, don't wear earrings even if you usually do, and don't wear more than a wedding band on your finger. Excessive cologne could cause allergic reactions from your interviewers, so keep it mild. Don't carry in a fabric laptop bag with you or your 'transparent folder' or that flat office file; better carry a briefcase or a simple portfolio that contains photocopy and originals of your credentials and Curriculum Vitae.

Interview Appearance Guidelines for Women

Suit/dresses: Choose skirt or trouser suit in dark colours (black, navy or gray); conservatively tailored dress (you should wear a jacket over it for more professional look); if the skirt is light, wear a dark coloured jacket. Skirt or dress should be knee length or slightly longer.

Shirt/blouses: Your blouse or shirt should provide a little more visual interest (than the man's) but avoid transparent, tight fitting, low neck line, waistline-revealing tops. Arms should be covered to the biceps at least.

Shoes: Wear low-heeled pumps or loafers in dark neutral colours; avoid open toe shoes best reserved for social occasions. Ensure it is clean, scuff-free and well-polished.

Grooming/Make-up: Attend to mouth odour as recommended for men, wear natural-looking make-up and clear nail polish.

Accessories: Do not carry a briefcase with a purse- one at a time. Use a thin necklace to accentuate your neckline and keep the pendant simple. Only one earring per ear and avoid the dangling ones, and only one ring per hand.

Some interview require certain dress codes, if you are not certain, call the human resources department of the company. Overall, the aim with the dress code guidelines is to draw attention to your face; what you are saying and your general deportment.

Now that you have dressed to impress the panel, how do you speak to complement your appearance? Read this in Responding to Questions

____________

This article series "Winning Image at Job Interviews" was written by Boye Falonipe, Principal Consultant at Noir Enhancement - Business Image and Protocol Consultant (www.noirenhancement.com ) Boye is the author of the essential manual on business dressing "Succeeding with Appearance in Business and Career" (www.succeedingwithappearance.com )

Twitter: @NoirEnhancement
Facebook: Boye Falonipe

Kindle Fire or $199 Giveaway International - Summer 2013

Posted: 15 Jul 2013 02:34 PM PDT

Do you love reading, do you want a free Kindle fire or $199? Bloggers and Authors have joined together and each chipped in a little money towards giving away a Kindle Fire HD 7". 1 winner will receive their choice of a Kindle Fire 7" HD (US Only), $199 Amazon Gift Card or $199 in Paypal Cash (International).

Kindle Fire HD 7" Giveaway

The winner will have the option of receiving a 7" Kindle Fire HD (US Only)

Or $199 Amazon.com Gift Card (International)

Or $199 in Paypal Cash (International)

There is a second separate giveaway for bloggers who post this giveaway on their blog. See details in the rafflecopter on how to enter to win the 2nd Kindle Fire.

Sponsor a future Kindle Fire Giveaway by signing up HERE.

Ends 8/15/13

Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader, Not A Writer http://iamareader.com and sponsored by the participating authors & bloggers. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Sponsoring Bloggers and Authors

Physically Yours by Nnenna Marcia - Guest Author

Posted: 15 Jul 2013 12:07 PM PDT

Nnenna Marcia writes under a pseudonym and is anonymous also. This may be credited to the fact that her first love in writing is erotica, and she is a proper Nigerian woman. Or it could just be that Nnenna wants to keep her personal life private for now. Her first book, Physically, Yours, was recently published, and she shared some tidbits about herself in the interview below. BTW, one lucky commenter will get a PDF copy of the book.

- Tell us about yourself.

My name is Nnenna Marcia – it is a pseudonym. It is a name I write erotica under so for this romance book 'Physically Yours' I decided to go with 'Nnenna Emm'. I am old enough to write 'lurvy stuff' but young enough to still be uncomfortable by what my parents would say if they found out I was writing erotica and romance!

- What inspires you to write?

Everyday life if I am honest; snatched conversations on the bus or tube, tangential thoughts, dreams and nightmares, conspiracy theories, science, and most importantly how it all fits together - Human relationships.

- Do you have a specific writing style?

I find I tend to favour dialogue over narration. But my thinking is, why bother hearing from a narrator when you can hear directly from the character?

- What are your current projects?

Well, I have just released this romance book set in Nigeria called 'Physically Yours' as I mentioned. It's about a sexy, sassy personal trainer called Anata who 'falls in friendship' with one of her clients - tall, dark, banker Afam, and the obstacles they have to get around( like the jealous ex Linda) that lead them to love.
But I also have another book coming from Erotic Review Books (www.erbooks.com) this summer. It's called 'Africa Hot: West African Tales of Sex and Love' and is an erotic collection of short stories plus one novella. I've been writing for the Erotic Review for a while so this project has been a long time coming.

- Do you see writing as a career or do you have another full or part time job?

I decided to go for broke – which is ironic considering that is what I am! I write full-time now.

- What is your favorite genre to write in? What Genre is this book?

I'm not sure that I care for genres...I suppose you have to know what your work is to be able to pitch it but genres irk me. I think they can be restrictive and maybe sometimes, formulaic. This works in romance though which is what 'Physically, Yours' is so you know the characters will end up together BUT I make everything else difficult/different; my heroine is beautiful and strong, the hero handsome as all get out but not afraid to be vulnerable. I think that is particularly important as they are African characters. You have to be careful what kind of message you are putting out there. You don't want the man to come across as too domineering or the woman too powerless. Strong, sexy, sensible and sensitive is what I go for. My four Ss.

- Tell us more about Physically yours, where can people buy it?

Physically, Yours is available as a paperback and Kindle ebook on Amazon UK and US and ALL other regional Amazon sites. (There is a 15% discount if you purchase a paperback through my CreateSpace estore by using this code: 8PQ4UJ3L)

- Can you share a little about your writing routine? How does your life impact in your writing?

To be honest, I write all the time. I snatch moments between chores and children, I write before I eat and after, before I go to sleep. It doesn't matter how many words. Writing is a skill and you need to build on it. It's pretty hard as a writer not to have life enter your art because you're essentially some kind of sponge for emotions and feelings and events around you. So if you were...say...a bad ex, I'm sorry but you're definitely going to make it into one of my books! Haha!

- This is your first novel. Tell us what inspired it, and details about how you got published.

Well, I heard the name of my heroine, I loved it and found my mind imagining what she would look like, sound like, be like. I think it just went from there. Next thing she had a love interest and he has a clingy ex...uh oh! I sat on the book for a few years before I decided to do something about it. I went the indie route because I didn't want a contract for this particular book. In fact, I turned down money to eroticise it! I know, broke and stupid right? But it just didn't feel right. I think that Anata has a story and she chose me to tell it. I didn't want to mess about with it.

- Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing?

Not finding enough time to do all I need to do in one day – although knowing me, I probably wouldn't stop to eat or drink or pee and I'd die. So, it's a good thing there are other people dependent on me. Stopping is good. You get to pull out of the little world you're creating and go back in with fresh eyes.

- When and why did you begin writing? When did you first consider yourself a writer?

As I child I thought everyone was a writer, in addition to whatever they were doing, if they so desired. It was bizarre for me to find that not everyone's heads made the types of pictures that mine did. And that not everyone wanted to write it down.

- What books have most influenced your writing?

There are just too many books to count! I must have read thousands!

- Who is your favorite author and what is it that really strikes you about their work?

Again, I can't say that I do have a favourite author. I love all kinds of books. I'm kinda into Sci-Fi, Fantasy and Spec-Fic at the moment and I have always loved horror. I did one of those writing analysis thingies to see who you write like and it told me I wrote like HP Lovecraft. So I researched him and it turns out that I like him too! His books are on their way to me soon. Also I like Joanna Trollope because she just has her finger on the pulse of human relationships...yes...I would love to live in her head for a day. She's very observant. I'm also very curious about Uwem Akpan so their book is on the way too!

If you had to choose, which writer would you say writes in about the same line or genre as your book? You know, like if you like this book, then you'll also like mine?

I will say if you like your characters modern, African, hot, independent, sassy, sexy, cool...then you should definitely get my book. If you still believe in happy – not sappy – endings in this dog-eat-dog world, you should buy my book. And if you believe that love can grow out a solid friendship, you should buy copies for your friends. Heck, leave a couple or three copies around that-friend-that-you're-hoping-will-be-more-than-a- friend's house. S/he'll get the message!

- Are there any new authors that have grasped your interest? What books are you reading now?

I'm reading Taiye Selasi's 'Ghana Must Go' and Helon Habila's 'Waiting for an Angel' – something old, something new. I like to keep it balanced.

- What comments do you have about the reading culture in Nigeria?

I think we used to read a lot in Nigeria when we were kids and along the way, say in the nineties there might have been a decline? It's coming back up again. But I know people like you Myne are doing a lot for the reading culture in Nigeria with all the books and magazines you edit, which is no mean feat. Also I am glad there are bodies like RWoWA (of which another good writer Kiru Taye is a member). Romance is popular for a reason. We all need escape even if it is just for a few hours.

I will say though, please my fellow Naija brethren, buy books o! BUY! Don't BORROW. Don't be like the spirit that borrowed limbs to marry a wife. Build a personal library for your and their kids. If you go to a doctor do you expect free treatment? No. So don't expect writers to write for free. Please, I have school fees to pay! LOL.

- Do you have anything specific that you want to say to your readers?

I just did; buy books, read books, review books. Abeg. Please. Ejo. Biko. And most importantly, buy Physically, Yours!

OLX

Monday, July 15, 2013