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Buzz Kill

by Teresa Trent

Genre: Cozy Mystery

Release Date: July 2013

Amazon

Book Description:

Betsy Livingston is planning a wedding so what could go wrong? After publishing a recipe for homemade calamine lotion in the newspaper, the ladies in the community church make a large batch. Everyone loves the stuff until someone in Pecan Bayou is found dead after using it. The town points to Betsy and she starts rethinking her whole career as a helpful hints columnist. Now she must clear her own name in between dress-fitting, cake-tasting, and all those things that turn a bride into a bridezilla. Is Betsy at fault or could there be something else that leads her down the aisle to murder?

Excerpt:

“Okay now, let’s see.” Mr. Andre lowered his head, revealing the roots of his mousse-spiked, bleached hair. He wore a dark maroon suit with a matching jewel-toned silk shirt unbuttoned midway, showing sparse hair on his skinny chest. “Do you have a photographer?”

“Yes,” I ventured.

“No,” Aunt Maggie cut in. “She has some guy who shoots kiddie team pictures.”

“Oh my.” Andre circled something on his clipboard. “No photographer.”

“And you’ve gone for a wedding cake tasting?”

“A tasting? I think I already know what vanilla and chocolate tastes like by now.”

Andre shook his head as if I were a child. “No, my dear. You will be pleased to find out there are other flavors like white amaretto, champagne – girl, you can even get peanut butter if that’s what floats your boat. So I take it you haven’t had a cake-tasting session?”

“You would be correct,” I replied.

“I see.” He circled another line. “And your flowers?”

“She’s using Lenny Stokes, and she’s already put a deposit down,” Aunt Maggie said.

Andre grimaced.

“I see. I’ll need his number and address so I can get in contact with him to put him on my approved vendors list.” He circled another line. “And what is the venue?”

“We are going to have the ceremony at the community church.”

Andre’s eyebrows raised as he nodded and smiled. I had finally done something right.

“Do you have any kind of documentation on this?” he asked.

“Not officially, no,” I said. “I have talked to the pastor about it, though and he says it’s open. We live in a small town, Andre. Documentation isn’t always required.”

“Mr. Andre,” he corrected.

“We just don’t have the same kinds of waiting lists like there are in the big city.”

He clutched his hand to his chest. “Well, that’s a relief.”

“And your invitations?”

“We weren’t going to send those out until mid-January. We were afraid people would lose them. I have them ordered.” Mr. Andre’s eyes slanted toward me. “Well, they’re not exactly ordered, but I do have them picked out.”

A pause hung in the air as Mr. Andre summoned up the strength to go on. “Are you sure we’re planning a wedding and not some kind of country barbecue where they cook a pig over a spit?” He clasped his hands together in front of him to emphasize his point. “You are in crisis mode, Madame Happy Hinter.”

I gulped. So maybe, just maybe, I hadn’t nailed down enough of the details. I felt a tear escape onto my cheek. Andre, used to overwhelmed brides, reached over to a satin-covered tissue box and slapped it down on the table in front of me.

“Dry your eyes, sweetie. We’ve got work to do,” he said. “You should know what a lucky girl you are. I just removed myself from a wedding on the same day. No one – I repeat, no one – does a wedding like Mr. Andre, but even I have my limits on troublesome brides and monster mothers. As fate would have it, I’m yours.”

He walked over to a filing cabinet and pulled out a large white leather binder. Mr. Andre’s picture was on the front, and underneath that, “Weddings Exclusively by Mr. Andre” was embossed in gold lettering.

“I don’t care what religion you are,” he said. “This, lovey, is your new bible. Carry this with you everywhere and fill it with notes, questions, business cards, quotes and everything – I mean everything – that has to do with your wedding. Is that clear?”

“Yes, sir,” I said and saluted before I could stop myself. Aunt Maggie broke out into a laugh, but Mr. Andre turned quickly, fixing his eyes on her. She quickly stifled her reaction and stood up a little straighter, becoming just another draftee in the world of white satin.

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The Secret Guardian by Wes Dodd - $20 Amazon Gift Card Giveaway

The Secret Guardian

by Wes Dodd

Wes Dodd was born in Lynchburg, Virginia in 1958, currently residing in Southside Virginia. He has two daughters and three grandchildren. Within the last couple years he has discovered a passion for creating and breathing life into great stories. He has published three novels: The Crimson Key, a mystery, The Secret Guardian, fantasy and Saving Faith, a romantic thriller.

Website | Blog

The Secret Guardian

Genre: Fantasy

Publisher: CreateSpace & BookTango

Release Date: April 2013

CreateSpace | Book Tango

Book Description:

A Sacred Society exists amongst us all. Believed only as a myth—its origin thrives in secret. Once transformed, each generation of its members become the elite of our society—some for good and some for evil as well. Troy Anthony, unknowingly and somewhat unwillingly, is about to join the elite, like his father before him. It takes a close family friend to ultimately expose the Secret to Troy, revealing his true destiny, and then she becomes a valuable ally. They inadvertently share a unique bond—one of which many doubt its very existence. Troy is taken to two magical places where he learns many secrets of the world, many of which we all have been curious about. It becomes an epic battle where Troy clashes with an evil tyrant, his father’s assassin, a distant cousin sharing many of Troy’s unique abilities.

Claire Anthony suddenly rose up in bed, escaping the nightmare which held her hostage. Breathing heavily as if running from fear, she threw back the deep heavy quilts and sat nervously on the edge of her bed. Still shaken, beads of sweat rolled down her forehead, gently sloping along her narrow cheekbones. Her silken auburn brown hair was drenched along the hairlines. She sighed heavily as she glanced at the clock on her night stand—2 a.m.

This was not a rare nightmare, but rather a recurring one, brought on by a Secret she had kept for many years, an ancient secret known by only a few. She needed to reveal the Secret to her son, Troy, even sooner than she wished. The Secret would change their lives forever if Troy decided to fulfill his destiny—like his father before him.

She noticed a mysterious shadow lingering on her rug from the bright moon shining through her window. Driven by curiosity, she walked to the window to take a peek, as if searching for someone or something in particular. The brilliance from the moon illuminated the entire farmyard, almost like day. After a thorough examination and seeing nothing out of the ordinary, she quietly returned to bed. She once again buried herself within heavy handmade quilts passed down to her from her grandmother, most of which Claire as a child watched her make.

Claire and her son, Troy, lived on her grandparents’ farm in Virginia where she was raised. She lost both of her parents in an auto accident when she was barely eight years of age. When her grandparents both passed, she inherited the farm. She and Troy moved back there after the loss of her husband, Bruce, in the North Tower during the 9/11 attacks in New York City. Much like herself, Troy had to deal with death at a very early age. After the tragedy and some healing time, she thought it best to get her son out of the city, which prompted her move back to the farm. The farm was nestled in a small valley amongst the Blue Ridge Mountains near the sleepy little town of Sweet Springs. Claire recollected the good times she had growing up there. The clean fresh country air and the friendly people made it a perfect place for raising her son and teaching him strong values. The beautiful scenery and a laid-back lifestyle made it perfect for her as well.

Claire was a slender woman of forty years, about five-and-a-half feet in height. Her vivid green eyes and captivating smile made everyone take notice when she entered a room. Even with hints of gray blending in with her auburn brown hair, she appeared to be at least ten years younger than her age. Many men had come calling on her, but she had turned them all away—graciously.

The next morning dawned cool and crisp with a bite in the air that rendered noses and cheeks rosy red, much like good old Saint Nick’s. The heavy frost had the appearance of a coating of freshly fallen snow. As the sun peeked over the horizon, the trees sparkled and glimmered as if infused with magic. The hillsides were speckled orange with pumpkin patches. The valley was consumed with the fragrance of seasoned oak and hickory burning in fireplaces. In the home of Claire and Troy, the aroma of freshly cooked bacon filled every room—making your tongue tingle, mouth water and stomach cry.

This aroma awakened Troy every morning at 6:30 sharp. He would always leap out of bed, bounce down the stairs, and be at the table anxiously waiting before his mother could finish preparing breakfast. This morning was oddly different. Claire had finished cooking and Troy was not yet at the table. She glanced at her grandmother’s antique clock on the old mantle—6:45. She was astonished, for she had never had to call him for breakfast before. She made her way to the hallway, then called up the stairs, “Troy, are you up yet?”

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Promotion & Giveaway: The Crimson Key by Wes Dodd

The Crimson Key

by Wes Dodd

Wes Dodd was born in Lynchburg, Virginia in 1958, currently residing in Southside Virginia. He has two daughters and three grandchildren. Within the last couple years he has discovered a passion for creating and breathing life into great stories. He has published three novels: The Crimson Key, a mystery, The Secret Guardian, fantasy and Saving Faith, a romantic thriller.

Website | Blog

The Crimson Key

Genre:Mystery

Publisher: Outskirt Press

Release Date: July 2012

Purchase

Book Description:

David Paige, a young detective from Charleston, S.C., is about to embark on an investigation of a lifetime—his own. After an unexpected tragedy shatters his perfect world, he discovers that his mother had been keeping a life-long secret from him, revealing that he is not who he believed he was. With no family member to turn to, David has to rely on his detective skills and a mysterious item left to him from his mother—a crimson-colored key.

The search for the truth takes David to New York City, where he runs head on into lies, deception and murder, all in an attempt to cover up a string of dreadful crimes. Then if this is not enough to deal with, he falls for the daughter of a prominent man, both sharing an undeniable attraction—which complicates his life even further.

It isn’t until a near-death experience, and help from his mother through several frightening nightmares, that the pieces of the puzzle finally begin to come together. The Crimson Key ultimately unveils many secrets, surprising many people including David—opening his eyes and heart as well.

Chapter 1

On a dark mid-November night in 1986, rain fell hard from the black sky above, rain bitterly cold like liquid ice. The fierce wind whipped it in sheets, punishing anything in its path. On the outskirts of Philadelphia in a suburban neighborhood, a fiery red Z28 slowly pulled to a curb in front of a small three-bedroom, single-story brick house. The driver, a distraught young woman, slowly leaned forward, resting her head on the leather-covered steering wheel. She cried uncontrollably. A few minutes passed before she finally reached up and turned off the ignition, silencing the motor and radio just as Michael Jackson’s Thriller was ending. She sat up straight once again, wiping her face in an attempt to regain her composure for the clandestine mission ahead of her. She cast a pair of glassy eyes to her right, drawn to a small basket much like a picnic basket in the dark leather seat beside her. While she gazed relentlessly at the basket, she realized once again that she had made the right decision.

Alice Paige rose up in her bed, awakened by a pounding on her door. She peered at the clock—1:07 a.m. She carefully placed her book on the nightstand, the book she was reading when she drifted off. “Who is at my door at one in the morning?” she thought to herself as she slipped on her heavy brown robe. Reaching the front door, she pulled the curtain back carefully, just enough to peek outside. Though the front was dimly lit and the rain poured down, she instantly recognized the figure that stood on her front stoop. The long blonde hair and familiar curvatures of her slender face could be but one person. Alice slowly opened the door and invited her twin sister, Amber, inside.

Alice and Amber were identical twins at birth, though now complete opposites in many ways. Alice had light ash brown hair that she kept very short. She never wore makeup and was considered plain-looking and ordinary in her ways. Amber, on the other hand, was gifted with rare beauty and a voluptuous figure. She did very well in beauty pageants and at age eighteen went off to New York City in pursuit of a modeling career. Alice remained hidden in her shadow.

Amber entered slowly, carrying an odd-looking basket covered entirely with a blue blanket, wet from the rain. She tugged a large suitcase on wheels that seemed to be very heavy. She sat the basket down gingerly, as if what lay hidden within might be fragile. Amber then fell into her sister’s arms, releasing a flood of emotions. She hugged Alice tightly, clinging firmly to her as if hanging on for dear life.   

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Wine Anyone? Rockin' Wine Tour & Wine Giveaway: Navigating The Eldercare Journey by Jodi Clock

A Must-Have Book!

Navigating the Eldercare Journey: Without Going Broke

by Jodi Clock

About The Author:

For over 25 years, Jodi M. Clock has worked in the ‘end-of-life planning’ industry, including family and corporately owned funeral homes, advance funeral planning companies, casket manufacturers and insurance agencies. Having personally witnessed the financial confusion that families endure, especially at an emotionally taxing time, Ms. Clock has centered her career on helping people to understand the options that are available to them. She currently writes and speaks about the basics of Medicaid and asset protection and is a seasoned expert in end-of-life directives.

Ms. Clock wrote Navigating the Elder Care Journey...Without Going Broke! to help people appreciate the important facts they need to know in order to make the right financial choices, in one easy-to- understand guide. It is her hope that through the personal stories, straightforward information, and family care plans which include checklists, she will help people manage this process. Her goal is for everyone to become informed on options available that will not leave their hard-earned assets unnecessarily exposed, potentially saving them hundreds if not thousands of dollars; qualify for Medicaid; and have their funeral expenses pre-paid, therefore allowing their loved ones the ability to focus on what’s important and not have anxiety or stress over finances.
When she’s not consulting or helping manage the family funeral business, she volunteers with The Noah Project, a no kill animal shelter. An avid animal lover and supporter, she has a house full of pets and enjoys spending time on the western Michigan shoreline.



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Genre: Non-Fiction / Aging Parents/ End of Life/ Eldercare / Financial Planning

Publisher: Windy City Publishers

Release Date: April 26, 2013

Amazon

Book Description:

“I don’t feel old.  I don’t feel anything until noon.

That’s when it’s time for my nap.” 

Bob Hope

We’ve all enjoyed a good laugh at the perils of getting older. But entering your Golden Years without any money is no joke. End-of life planning is a difficult subject to talk about - between facing mortality (either your parents or your own) to discussing the ever-confusing subject revolving around long term care options or understanding the differences between Medicare and Medicaid, or a living will vs. a living trust, there’s nothing fun about facing death and the issues that come with it.

Navigating the Eldercare Journey – Without Going Broke! can help reduce the challenges and minimize frustration encountered when you are placed in this situation. This easy-to-understand guide takes you from the basics of understanding long term care options that are available, how to seek out an elder care attorney and know if they are good fit for your needs, and how to qualify for Medicaid as a financial means to pay for care, including the benefits of funeral planning - in layman’s terms. Author Jodi M. Clock provides fundamental information regarding the basics in a way that helps you understand not only why her recommendations are important, but how you can minimize financial exposure regarding end-of-life events. Whether you are in a crisis situation or taking proactive measures, these valuable end-of-life solutions could safeguard you and your parents’ assets.

You have a choice – be proactive and preserve your money. Don’t leave it unprotected and unnecessarily taxed when you or your parents die. No matter how prepared you think you are, the reality of death is sobering, and expensive. When time is on your side, you can make well- thought-out, proactive decisions, enabling you to focus on what’s most important in life.

________________________

Praise for Navigating the Eldercare Journey:Without Going Broke!~



"Absolutely Essential Reading!" ~AuctionHugh, Amazon Reviewer



"This book was insightful and educational. The layout of the book (especially the key points) allows you to easily scan pages if you don't need to read the entire chapter."~Laura, Amazon Reviewer



"Everyone should have a copy of this book in their home. An easy read, but full of useful information. It relieved a lot of the stress I felt about this topic." ~Bill Sangster, Amazon Reviewer

________________________

When we're young, death is the farthest thing from our minds. As we grow older, death is the furthest thing from our minds, we're more worried about how we're not young anymore than we are of dying.

Truth is...

We all need to be thinking about the future, if not for ourselves, for our families. Navigating the Eldercare Journey - Without Going Broke! by Jodi Clock is THE perfect resource for the very thing we hate thinking about.

It's very well written and chock full of information you need to get things in order so your family, and you, have nothing to worry about when that time comes. I think this is a book that every single person should read and start planning ahead...Now!

Clock, owning a funeral home has seen it all and learned it all. She knows how to get through a death in the family and how to prepare without breaking your bank. It's a book you must pick up and read at least once to educate yourself and start preparing for your future.

Image Courtesy of tucowsinc.com

Excerpt One:

The Emergence of Medicaid Planning Medicaid planning is a new concept and is probably somewhat of a mystery unless it has impacted you or someone you love directly. Quite possibly, “You don’t know what you don’t know”. Receiving Medicaid assistance to pay for endof-life care is based primarily on net worth and income. Your financial assets cannot exceed a certain amount. If they do, you will be required to pay for your care privately until your assets are depleted to the point at which you do qualify. This often causes individuals to enter into a “spend down” cycle that depletes their personal nest eggs. With good planning, however, you can properly position and reallocate your assets to preserve your nest egg and also qualify for Medicaid.

Up until the last 20 years or so the need to reposition assets (i.e., to have all of the individual’s assets owned by a living trust) to qualify for Medicaid assistance didn’t exist. Why? The average life expectancy was not as long as it is today. In our parent’s generation, someone living to age 80 was equivalent to someone today living to be 90 or even 100 years old. Over the next 25 years, as the baby boomer generation begins to age, the number of people who will be in need of this type of planning will be tremendous. Organization is essential!

The criterion for Medicaid is specific, and if you need help understanding it, there are resources available. Don’t let the process be intimidating!

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Cassie Scot: ParaNormal Detective (Book 1) by Christine Amsden

Cassie Scot:

ParaNormal Detective (Book 1)

About The Author:

Christine Amsden has been writing science fiction and fantasy for as long as she can remember. She loves to write and it is her dream that others will be inspired by this love and by her stories. Speculative fiction is fun, magical, and imaginative but great speculative fiction is about real people defining themselves through extraordinary situations. Christine writes primarily about people and it is in this way that she strives to make science fiction and fantasy meaningful for everyone.

At the age of 16, Christine was diagnosed with Stargardt’s Disease, a condition that effects the retina and causes a loss of central vision. She is now legally blind, but has not let this slow her down or get in the way of her dreams. (You can learn more here.)

In addition to writing, Christine teaches workshops on writing at Savvy Authors. She also does some freelance editing work.

Christine currently lives in the Kansas City area with her husband, Austin, who has been her biggest fan and the key to her success. They have two beautiful children, Drake and Celeste.

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Genre: Fantasy

Publisher: Twilight Times Books

Release Date: May 15, 2013

Amazon

Book Description:

Cassie Scot is the ungifted daughter of powerful sorcerers, born between worlds but belonging to neither. At 21, all she wants is to find a place for herself, but earning a living as a private investigator in the shadow of her family’s reputation isn’t easy. When she is pulled into a paranormal investigation, and tempted by a powerful and handsome sorcerer, she will have to decide where she truly belongs.

Read The First Chapter Here

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Praise for the Cassie Scot Series:

From Publisher’s Weekly:

“In this entertaining series opener, Amsden (The Immortality Virus) introduces readers to the eponymous Cassie, a decidedly mundane member of a magical family. …Readers will enjoy Cassie’s fish-out-of-water struggles as she fights magical threats with little more than experience and bravado.”

Kim Falconer, bestselling author of The Spell of Rosette, Quantum Enchantment Series, had this to say:

“When sorcerers call the shots, what’s a girl without powers to do? Get ready for a ripper of a murder mystery full of romance and intrigue, where magic potions bubble, passions spark and vampires are definitely not your friend. Cassie Scot: ParaNormal Detective grabs you by the heart and won’t let go until the very last page. Well written, immersive and unputdownable. This is urban fantasy at its best. More please!”

Book Tour & Giveaway: Alizel's Song by Bill Pottle

Alizel's Song

by Bill Pottle

About The Author:

Bill is a martial artist, author, and university professor in Colorado. He tries not to take himself too seriously while his work explores the interplay between religion and science, fantasy and technology, and what it means to be a human. Bill earned his Master's Degree in Biological Engineering from Cornell University and lives happily ever after with his wife and daughter.
See www.facebook.com/events/425325374208644/ for detailsWebsite | Book Site | Facebook

Genre: Christian Fantasy
Publisher: Ellechor Publishing House
Release Date: March 3, 2013Amazon

Book Description:

An unranked angel, Alizel, tells the inside story of the rebellion of Lucifer and the fall of man. Join him as he strolls through Heaven’s gardens, ponders theological questions with other angels, and battles against others who have turned away.

This epic tale will take you from the inner workings of the quark to the interplay between galaxies, from what lies hidden in the soul to the fundamental questions of good and evil.

---

Praise for Alizel's Song!

“When Pottle told the story of Lucifer and man's fall he cleverly incorporated modern scientific theory into the biblical creation story.” ~ Carol Peterson, Amazon Reviewer
"Highly recommended for Fantasy Fiction lovers! ”~Rachel Shelley, Amazon Reviewer
"This book captured my attention from page 1, Cannot wait for the sequel. ”~Linda, Amazon Reviewer

Excerpt:

 Raphael, however, was braver than most. Alizel crouched behind the tree as he saw him approaching Luciferel slowly from behind, his soft footfalls beating a calm rhythm. Rafael had broad, even shoulders and was never in a hurry. Raphael, Alizel imagined, was a healer, although he may not have been aware of it at the time, since angels were never “injured” or in need of being healed. They were either perfectly healthy or in the Containment. Neither situation could be made better by anyone else’s help. The concepts of destruction and healing were only just beginning to dawn on them. Still, Raphael’s gentleness always made Alizel and the other Unranked feel safe in his presence, and he seemed to have a gift for fixing whatever troubled angels’ hearts. Alizel watched anxiously.

Luciferel was still hunched over the rail that guarded the Portal, and didn’t notice the other angel’s approach. Rafael stood there for a moment as if contemplating what to say, and then placed a firm hand on Luciferel’s shoulder.

Luciferel whipped his head around, fear shining in his eyes. His body relaxed slightly in Rafael’s presence but his expression was still guarded. Rafael’s countenance was serene but troubled. He was one of the few who could take in the full pain of another and still exude a soothing aura to those around him. Alizel wondered how much pain he had already absorbed from the rest of the angels…and how much more he would have to before this was all over.

Rafael just looked at his fellow Seraph, as if trying to probe the depths of Luciferel’s soul. He didn’t speak for several minutes, until Luciferel finally met his gaze. Rafael didn’t flinch, but the lines around his eyes drew downwards.

“What has happened to you?” Rafael seemed to already know, but asked his question more to see if Luciferel himself understood.

“I am becoming stronger,” he said, gasping for breath. If it weren’t for the seriousness of the situation, Alizel would have almost thought it to be a joke.

Rafael swept his soft brown eyes over Luciferel’s body and then raised his eyebrows. “You have rejected God’s power that sustains us. Your body is falling apart. If you do not let Him flow through you again, you will surely perish.”

“I will not die. I have found another power to sustain me.”

The shock of his words made Rafael look on in confusion. Alizel’s eyes narrowed as he listened. Was Luciferel bluffing? He certainly didn’t seem to be sustained.

“All this time,” Luciferel continued, each word labored, “we thought that was the only way that we could live. Yet only after blocking that vile substance did I find my own true power.”

“This power you speak of has left your body broken and damaged. This internal power cannot compete with God,” Raphael countered.

“It is still dormant, unused.” Luciferel waited to catch his breath before speaking more. “I am the first one to find this fiery power within me. I surely meant to perish. Why would I want to continue in a world where I must bow down to a Son of Mud? But my anger, my displeasure, my feelings against the current situation sustained my body. As these feelings grow stronger, so does my body. I just do not know how to channel this power yet.”

“You never doubted the Lord before. You must come back and let your body receive the Father again. You can still be bright!”

Alizel could tell Rafael’s mind was working furiously, probing to find a crack in the wall of resentment Luciferel had erected around himself.

“I was a fool then, surely. I did not understand that God only meant to betray us.” The more Luciferel talked, the stronger he seemed to become.

“There are uncertain times ahead, to be sure. But that is all the more reason we need you with us, as our leader.” Rafael was appealing to Luciferel’s sense of vanity now. “No one was able to lead as well as you or to command as much respect as you. What will we do without you?”

“Honestly?” Luciferel looked at him, but from Rafael’s expression it was obvious he didn’t see the same Luciferel looking back at him. “Honestly, I don’t care.”

Luciferel got up to leave. His gait was still hobbling, but he could walk away on his own. His words trailed after him. “Come find me if you come to your senses. Come find me if you want to be stronger.”

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