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Our worst nightmares are not fiction. They are real. A chilling story by CSI creator Anthony E. Zuiker. Volume 1 also available.
One Eyed Jack is a graphic novel by CSI Las Vegas creator Anthony Zuiker. Illustrated by BRĂO, adapted by Felipe Cagno & with lettering by Deyvison Manes. We are impressed by this important story and invite you to check out this project on Kickstarter
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The lives of a rock star with ties to the occult and a young rookie kid who idolizes him collide through their broken homes built by the music business.Â
Breakaway Daily interview with Kim Berry, Princeâs hair stylist of twenty-nine years
Prince said âI want some braids.â I was like, âOkay, good. Iâm going to part it off and make it really neat.â Prince said âNo. No, just braid it.â I said, âOh, youâre not going to do me like that!â He said, âKim, just braid it.â It wound up being one of his most iconic looks. We would come out to the concert and all the women in the front rows would have that. I was telling people, donât encourage him! Stop wearing the hairstyle!Â
Read full interview on Breakaway Daily.
Photo by Steve Parke from his book Picturing Prince.
An emotional interview with Kim Berry, Princeâs hair stylist of twenty-nine years
The woman behind many of Prince's iconic hair styles gives Breakaway Daily an intimate look at the famously private musician as we tour the Prince Exhibit.
"...It was the God in me that saw the God in him..." - Kim Berry
Read full interview on Breakaway Daily.Â
Photo: Kim Berry stands in front of "Le Petit Prince" by Troy Gua at the Weismann Art Museum. Photo by Breakaway Daily.
Prince Celebration 2018: Exclusive coverage from Paisley Park in Minnesota featuring photo diary by Steve Parke
Fans, friends and family marked the second anniversary of Princeâs passing with an epic four-day celebration at Princeâs Paisley Park in Chanhassen, Minnesota. Celebration 2018 honored the unique life and legacy of the prodigiously talented cultural icon Prince Rogers Nelson. The four-day special event took place between April 19th and 22nd at Princeâs historic home and recording sanctuary outside Minneapolis at Paisley Park. Celebration 2018 welcomed fans from around the world into an inspired environment of live music, panel discussions and special presentations highlighting Princeâs tremendous talent, influence and importance as a composer, musician, producer, live performer and filmmaker.Â
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Celebrating family diversity: Interview with Big World, Little Om author Mera Mallick
Everyone is different and everyoneâs families are different. Thatâs important because the world needs all kinds of people and all kinds of love. After all, love is love! If we can accept what makes us special we can live more free lives, rather than follow the status quo of false images the current media floods us with everyday. Big World, Little Om is a project that celebrates diversity by teaching children about understanding and compassion. Characters experience real world situations such as facing gender identity questions, having two moms or dads, parental separation and more.
Dalal releases new contemporay classics EP titled The Quiet Heart in October
Music gave this world meaning to the chaos.
DALAL, is an Austrian born and raised recording artist, film composer and songwriter. Influenced by Beethoven, Prince, Kylie Minogue and Celine Dion Dalalâs music has pushed her to the forefront of up and coming artists. Dalal is a direct descendant of Franz Seraph von Bruchmann, lyricist for world-renowned composer Franz Schubert. When she began her musical career in the United States, she topped the Billboard Breakout Charts in the US and the UK pop commercial and dance charts. As a film composer she was nominated for her work for the documentary HAIR (HULU) together with her producer Nate âImpactâ Jolley.Â
She is currently working on various film scores and a much anticipated pop album is planned to be released beginning of 2018. Â Oct 13th, 2017 sees the release of a contemporary classics EP titled âTHE QUIET HEARTâ distributed by The Orchard, a subsidiary of Sony Music Entertainment.Â
Find out more about Dalal by visiting her official website.Â
Majestic cloud that appeared over Minnesota last week resembles The Purple One
The image was taken Tuesday night (May 16th) at the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport and has since sparked a lot of conversation online.
The photo was captured by Tiffany Mattick who was driving down 494 towards the airport with her daughter when the clouds caught their eye. At the time, they didnât see any specific shapes, she told The Current.Â
Mattick didnât look at the picture her daughter had snapped until after she was done driving. Once she saw the unique cloud formation, she posted it to Facebook, where friendsâ interpretations included Sasquatch, Elvis, the Loch Ness Monster, and a surfing or snowboarding Jesus. -Â The Current.
Her co-worker Jill Smith also shared the image on Twitter.Â
âIt wasnât like oh, thereâs Prince, letâs take a picture,â Jill Smith told The Current. âWhat we saw in that picture was beautiful clouds and light, just the sun coming towards the clouds,â she said. âThereâs a lot of things you can see in that picture. And so thereâs just different elements to it and perspectives.â
UK barber Trevor McClintock shares helpful tips to male grooming
Trevor McClintock is a barber and male beauty expert with over twenty-five years of industry experience. He combines a traditional approach to grooming with a distinctly modern flair. He currently runs a popular, self-titled barbershop in Bedford, UK.
âIt isnât just girls that need to look after their hair, men too should make sure that they have hair that is just crying out to have fingers run through it,â Trevor says. âThinning hair, dandruff, and the dreaded baldness, all make it harder to have beautiful hair when you are a man, but thankfully there are things that you can do to make sure that you feel amazing and look great too!â
Trevorâs top tips for healthy looking hair includes getting some exercise, treating scalp problems right away, staying hydrated, eating a good diet, and sticking on an egg mask. Eggs are packed full of protein, which is not only great when you eat them, but they can also make for a great treatment for dry and brittle hair. Trevor recommends that if you are suffering with hair that is lacking in shine and moisture then you should mix a raw egg with your favourite shampoo, applying this to wet hair and rubbing it in, before washing it out thoroughly.
When it comes to facial hair, taking good care of your beard so that it looks its best is vital. A moustache is not just a moustache, it is so much more than that! It can not only be classically styled, but can transform a manâs face. Trevor has put together the three most popular styles, ready for you to try out for yourself as well as the ultimate guide to trimming your beard.
Get all of Trevorâs grooming tips by visiting the blog on his Barber website.
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Breakaway Daily interview with Patrice Shavone Brown, author of self-help book Secrets Of A Crazy Mental Health Counselor
Patrice Shavone Brown admits in Secrets Of A Crazy Mental Health Counselor that counselors are not perfect. Counselors keep secrets and they have issues too. The book pulls back the veil to reveal that counselors, like the rest of us, have a lot of things they have to deal with each day. It goes into the world of one counselor, Patrice Shavone Brown, who has never had life easy. You will learn about her deep dark struggles, the kind of struggles no one will ever reveal. This book will leave you inspired to find out someone else is struggling and has still managed to keep going. If you are a counselor, aspiring counselor, entrepreneur, or anyone facing difficulties in their lives each day, you will no doubt find this book helpful. The book tells a story about life issues and how to overcome all traps that have been set up to make people fail; it teachers people to stay motivated even when they are faced with adversities. âEveryone has their own individual self-worth, uniqueness, talents and gifts which are given for a purpose,â says Patrice. âLearn how to be an overcomer of those barriers to fulfill your purpose in life!âBREAKAWAY DAILY: Secrets Of a Crazy Mental health counselor will be able to help a lot of people. Do you plan any follow up books?
PATRICE: Yes, I do plan on following up with three additional books after this one. A Fat Girls Confidence is the next follow up. Followed by Restoring Bodies And Minds Therapy Workbook and The Motivational Room. I have a children's book that will be released June 15, 2017 called We Blend Well Together. Each book that I named has a self-help purpose behind it. Each book that I write will be purposely focused on the family, individual and or children. I'm a writer that focuses on the unit not just one person or thing.
BREAKAWAY DAILY: What do you think makes a strong self-help book?
PATRICE: A strong self-help book is based on the actual experience of the expert. The self-help techniques that are being shared should really be able to help and should have already been tested. No one wants to read a self-help book that doesn't really help give clarity about the particular topic discussed. The solutions expressed in the self-help book should be reliable to the readers.
âI'm different. The world needs more different people stepping up & speaking their truths.â
BREAKAWAY DAILY: What inspired you to write Secrets Of A Crazy Mental Health Counselor?Â
PATRICE: My inspiration is my passion as a counselor to help people each day. You see I have been helping people for thirteen years professionally, but I actually started helping others as a child. Certain people are called to complete specific jobs for the lord! I am working and walking within my purpose that he has made for me. I want people to know that counselors have issues too. We are not perfect by sling shot. We make mistakes, but ethics paints a picture of moral robots. I also wanted to share my secrets as a counselor, my success story and my failures.
BREAKAWAY DAILY: What are your ambitions for your writing career?Â
PATRICE: My ambitions is keep sharing me with the world. I'm different and the world needs more different people stepping up and speaking their truths. My writings will forever live on even when I'm dead, so that's more than enough ambition for me. My writings speak of who I am with my African American culture as a counselor.
BREAKAWAY DAILY: When did you decide to become a writer?
PATRICE: That's funny, I have always been a writer. I just decided last year to publish my works and writing because the world was missing my voice, my views and my experiences. As an expert, I have so much information about myself, culture and career that's been voided for years. Now is my time to share myself with the world in hopes of motivating and inspiring little girls and boys all over. I need to be a motivation for the single moms and teenage girls or any woman who has struggled in her love life, career, parenting and education.
BREAKAWAY DAILY: While writing Secrets Of A Crazy Mental Health Counselor, was there anything challenging?
PATRICE: Yes, as I wrote Secrets Of a Crazy A Mental Health Counselor I was challenged by time. You see I wrote my entire book; no ghost writers or editors. I was time challenged because I am still a full time counselor, full time mom without a nanny, and now a full time writer. Along with this I had three loved ones battling Cancer. My best friend Calvin Fuller died on May 3, 2017 as I pushed for a release date. My other friend is still battling cancer, and my mom was in the hospital paralyzed battling cancer as I battled this book with my story. So time has not been in my side while writing this book.
BREAKAWAY DAILY: What do you like to do when not writing?
PATRICE:Â In my free time I love to travel, laugh, listen to music, sing, drink wine and be worry free!
BREAKAWAY DAILY: Being worry free is definitely the best pastime! How can readers discover more about you and your work?
PATRICE: They can visit RestoringU.com and/or RestoringMyself.com and contact me directly there.Â
Secrets of A Crazy Mental Health Counselor is available on Amazon.Â
Extensive coverage of Celebration 2017 from Princeâs Paisley Park in MinnesotaÂ
Fans, friends and family marked the first anniversary of Prince's passing with an epic four-day celebration at Princeâs Paisley Park in Chanhassen, Minnesota.  Two thousand fans from around the world gathered April 20th to 23rd to enjoyed live performances, panel discussions, exclusive concert screenings and guided tours during Celebration 2017. The historic event held at Princeâs private estate, production compound and recording sanctuary outside Minneapolis highlighted his tremendous talent, influence, and importance as a composer, musician, producer, live performer, and filmmaker.Â
WATCH EXCLUSIVE VIDEO FROM CELEBRATION 2017
Prince was born in Minneapolis and resided in the Minneapolis area throughout his life. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame legend sold over one hundred million records worldwide, making him one of the best-selling artists of all time. He won seven GRAMMYÂŽ Awards, a Golden Globe Award, and an Academy AwardÂŽ for the film Purple Rain, all of which are displayed at Paisley Park.
Celebration 2017 was a time to gather and honor the purple one. Fans quickly snatching up tickets starting at $550 for the four-day event (double the price of what Prince charged for a seven day event back in the early 2000â˛s.) The community that attended Celebration 2017 spanned all age groups, ethnicity and countries. Individuals came from across the globe including the UK, South Africa, Japan, Sweden, Germany, Spain, Norway, Netherlands, Australia, Thailand, France, Canada, and throughout the USA.
Celebration 2017 made history in bringing to Paisley Park musicians crossing all four decades of Princeâs performing career including The Time, The Revolution, New Power Generation (NPG) and 3RDEYEGIRL.Â
The event also brought together those who worked closest with Prince and who knew him best. Close creative collaborators, designers, engineers, technicians, special guests and friends spanning five decades in Princeâs life â from his childhood in North Minneapolis through to his stratospheric success in the 80s, his groundbreaking and chameleon-like artistic development in the 90s and 2000s, and his creative output through recent years.Â
Prince was an entertainer, but what resonated the most from the people who worked throughout his career with him is the love and respect they have for him as a human being.
Paisley Park offers fans the unprecedented opportunity to tour the legendary, 65,000-square-foot complex that served as the center of Princeâs creative universe all year round. The tour features thousands of artifacts from Princeâs personal archives, including iconic concert wardrobe, awards, musical instruments and concert memorabilia. Operated by P Park Management, guided tours take visitors throughout the extensive main floor of Paisley Park, including recording and mixing studios where Prince recorded, produced and mixed most of his biggest hits, exhibit spaces that chronicle his films, Princeâs private NPG Music Club, concert hall and soundstage.Â
In addition to guided tours of Paisley Park, Celebration 2017 featured up to five hours of event programming that took place in Paisley Parkâs multi-purpose soundstage each day. The massive soundstage is where Prince filmed countless music videos, held private events, as well as rehearsed and performed for concert tours. The soundstage was also the site for the filming of the Sign Oâ The Times concert movie and Prince's Rave Un2 the Year 2000 New Yearâs special. It has also hosted countless untold late-night jams with musicians including Miles Davis, Maceo Parker, George Clinton, Larry Graham, Lenny Kravitz, and Alicia Keys, to name just a few.
At Paisley Park, Prince constructed and inhabited a creative reality that was wholly unique, allowing him to fluidly develop music and artistic works spontaneously and without limitation.Â
Prince collaborated with a wide array of musicians, recording engineers, graphic designers, photographers, video producers, stylists, clothing designers, production and business personnel. The unique panel discussions for Celebration 2017 brought together many of the people who shared this time with Prince at Paisley Park and who worked with him to actualize his creative visions including recording, performing and shifting culture as an inimitable icon.Â
Celebration 2017 reflected the spirit of the inaugural Prince: A Celebration event, hosted by Prince and held at Paisley Park June 7th to June 13th in 2000. This event welcomed fans into an immersive Prince experience that showcased Paisley Park, many of Princeâs rarely seen stage outfits and instruments, alongside special events and exclusive music performances.Â
In subsequent years, Prince hosted similar immersive fan experiences at Paisley Park including Prince: A Celebration âThe Rainbow Childrenâ in 2001 and in 2002 with Xenophobia. Celebration 2017 carried on in this spirit of community and connection, welcoming global Prince fans into a truly unique and celebratory experience highlighting the life, creative works, unique achievements and enduring legacy of Prince.Â
âBe proud that your love for Prince is greater than your sorrow.â - Damaris Lewis
As Princeâs grand shinning symbol watched over the impressive soundstage during Celebration 2017, we took comfort that he was somehow watching over us. That symbol came to represent the love and spirit he wished on humanity, as people rejoiced in the honor and privilege of his works.Â
Celebration goers were welcomed by NPG dancer and model Damaris Lewis and encouraged to be fully present during the weekend. âItâs up to you to continue his legacy,â and noted âIf you are a fan of Prince, you are a part of his legacy.âÂ
The day kicked off with a screening of the HITnRUN Tour with Prince and 3RDEYEGIRL from May 25, 2014 at the Ziggo Dome in Amsterdam. The dayâs panel discussion featured New Power Generation members including moderator Jim McGuinn from The Current, Levi Seacer, Morris Hayes, Tony Mosley, and Damon Dickson focusing on their years with Prince from 1989-2000. Â
During breaks, music videos from Prince and his protĂŠgĂŠs were shown in the food tent. Princeâs sister Tyka Nelson also mingled with fans and thanked them for coming to Paisley Park to honor her brother's memory.
Princeâs longtime friend and collaborator, George Clinton with Parliament Funkadelic brought the house down as the surprise guest for the weekend's first concert. George Clinton revolutionized R&B during the â70s, twisting soul music into funk. He also appeared in Princeâs 1990 film Graffiti Bridge, and on the same very stage back in 2000 for the Rave Un2 The Year 2000 televised concert.Â
Further highlights of the day included a panel on Princeâs iconic guitars. Dave Russo, creator of the Cloud guitar from Purple Rain, said that the guitar was made from scratch in three weeks. His former guitar tech Takumi Suetsugu revealed a long debated about mystery of what happened to Princeâs âdisappearingâ guitar he threw into the air during his out of this world 2004 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame guitar solo. Takumi said that Prince had given him specific instructions; he was to catch the guitar after Prince threw it into the air and then run out into the audience and give it to Oprah! [Watch the performance here.]
On April 21st, the anniversary of Princeâs transcendence, family members Alfred Jackson, Joel Weinshanker, Norrine Nelson, Sharon Nelson, Tyka Nelson joined the crowd in a minute of silence followed by a minute of applause.
The concert footage Friday would amplify the emotions of the day. Prince's Piano and a Microphone Gala footage from the first show at Paisley Park on January 21st, 2016 was screened. The concert took place on the very stage that the audience were now seated in front of. Many in the audience shed tears because the performance was so heartfelt and touching.Â
Fridayâs programming featured a panel and performance by Princeâs original backing band The Revolution featuring Matt Fink, Brown Mark, Bobby Z, Wendy Melvoin and Lisa Coleman. The Revolution also appeared in the Oscar winning film Purple Rain, as well as performed on the best-selling album of the same name. This marked the first time The Revolution had ever performed a concert at Paisley Park.Â
âWhen youâre nervous like that, use that feeling.â Wendy shared with the audience the best advice that Prince had once given her. âCut your body and mind in half and youâll play right on or behind the beat, thatâs where the funk is.â
The Revolution also shared how Prince didnât go to the acting or dance class the rest of the band members had to go to during Purple Rain filming. They mentioned they found it strange to see him riding a motorcycle in the film since it wasnât really his thing. The 1985 album Around the World in a Day was completed before the Purple Rain Tour and during this period, Prince didnât like turning cars off. He left cars running for hours and encouraged others to do the same, saying that heâd pay for the wasted gas! Another neat tidbit that was shared was that Prince enjoyed fried egg sandwiches made by Lisa!
A panel on Princeâs iconography also took place on Friday with photographers Afshin Shahidi, Randee St Nicholas and Steve Parke. Steve Parke was one of the main photographers for Celebration 2017 and took many of the photographs featured here. Both Steve and Afshin are publishing books featuring rare never before seen images of Prince. Randee followed Prince around during the 21 Nights residency in London and shot him every night between 2 a.m. and 9 a.m. for three weeks straight, most of the images she captured were pictures of Prince being Prince.Â
Saturday began with footage from the final Purple Rain Tour stop on April 7, 1985 in Miami. Audio of that performance has floated around for years, but most fans in attendance agreed that this was the first time they had ever seen video footage of the show.Â
Prince's fashion and personal style were the topic of the first panel with Kim Berry, Stacia Lang, Debbie McGuan and Arturo Padilla.
Next was the recording & engineering panel featuring insight into his studio process with recording engineers Susan Rogers, Dylan Dresdow and Chris James (who was nominated for a Best Engineered Album Grammy in 2017 for his work on Princeâs HITnRUN Phase 2.)
The concert on Saturday evening was a performance by Morris Day and The Time, the Minneapolis based band that Prince formed and produced in the 1980s. The Time also appeared in Purple Rain and Graffiti Bridge.Â
Morris Day invited several audience members to join the group on stage in an epic dance off.Â
On Sunday, the final day of Celebration 2017, Princeâs presence was once again felt as a rainbow appeared over Paisley Park (view photo on Pinterest). In true magic, "Rainbow Children" played as guests walked inside.
The final concert screening was Princeâs electrifying Nude Tour from Tokyo in 1990. The day also featured panel discussions and performances from Andre Symone, 3RDEYEGIRL, Shelby J, Liv Warfield and members of the NPG. Panel discussions on Princeâs early days at the famed Minneapolis music club, First Avenue was also highlighted.
Celebration 2017 came to an emotional end when video footage of Prince performing a heartfelt âPurple Rainâ during his Welcome 2 America Tour was unexpectedly screened on the soundstage while the NPG played. It was gut-wrenching. The nineteen person supergroup backing up their leader in a poignant tribute culminated Celebration 2017. Tears began to flow in earnest for many in the audience because it became even more apparent that we had lost a talent that will never be duplicated.Â
âThis what had been missing from every single Prince tribute this past year,â Princeâs designer Stacia Lang said on her Instagram. âPrince himself lit the stage on fire and spoke to every single one of us, in code, gifting us with everything we needed to hear to go on.â
While live music and special events took place at Paisley Park, there were also nearly two dozen other events around the Twin Cities tied into Fridayâs one-year anniversary. There was a street party Saturday night outside First Avenue, Record Store Day at Electric Fetus, The Timeâs guitarist Jesse Johnson playing at Bunkerâs, a Textile Centerâs exhibit of Prince quilts, and other related tributes.
In addition to Paisley Park, Several Minneapolis-St. Paul area landmarks were also bathed in purple light after sundown including U.S. Bank Stadium, IDS Center, Interstate 35W Bridge, Hennepin County Lowry Avenue Bridge, and Target Field. Fans were encouraged to wear purple on April 21st and to share pictures via social media using #PaisleyPark and #Celebration2017.
A Prince4Ever Tribute Fence, built in the interior grounds of Paisley Park along the grass adjacent to the north parking lot, now displays archived fan-donated memorial messages and artifacts originally attached to the exterior perimeter fence in the weeks following Princeâs passing last year. Visitors who purchased tickets to Celebration 2017 and scheduled tours throughout April have the opportunity to view the Prince4Ever fence and add personal tribute messages as part of their overall Paisley Park tour experience.Â
For more information about Paisley Park, visit OfficialPaisleyPark.com and follow their social media platforms on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
View Breakaway Dailyâs Twitter Moments, Pinterest Board, Stumbleupon & Youtube Playlist for more Celebration 2017 coverage.Â
Explore our Prince section directly at BreakawayDaily.com/Prince or PrinceDaily.com
Photo credits: Paisley Park Studios / Steve ParkeÂ
Minnesota has declared Friday as "Prince Day" to honor the legacy of the homegrown music legend, who passed away April 21st of last year
The proclamation coincides with Celebration 2017 taking place at Paisley Park, and the Memorial Street Party at First Avenue this weekend in memory of Prince.Â
This is the third state-wide Prince Day since the artistâs passing, following June 7 (which would have been his 58th birthday) and the October 13th Official Prince Tribute at the Xcel Energy Center.
For full coverage of Prince visit Breakaway Dailyâs tribute section directly at PrinceDaily.com
2day, and everyday, Breakaway Daily honors The Purple One on PrinceDaily.com
We remember the legendary artist everyday, not just April 21st, because his talent and art will live 4 ever. Visit our Prince tribute section directly at PrinceDaily.com regularly this weekend for full coverage of everything happening in and around Minneapolis including Celebration 2017 at Paisley Park, First Avenue's Memorial Street Party, and more.Â
Interview with MM Beeman about his debut novel exploring Christianity, ancient Egypt and fostered youth
MM Beeman is a Christian fiction writer with a story to tell. Not his personal story, but the story of God and a kid named Nick Banner. He hopes to encourage young readers and adults to find wisdom in the word of God. He holds MA Degrees in both Special Education and Evangelism and Church Planting, as well as an undergraduate degree in History. Teaching for ten years in the field of Special Education, primarily with youth who are behaviorally challenged, has given him a strong desire to help kids better fall in love with reading and has helped formulate the structure, pacing and messages in his writing. With his debut novel he hopes to encourage young adults to read, while engaging the adult reader.
BREAKAWAY DAILY: Tell us about your debut novel, Nick Banner & The Pharaoh's Greed?
My story revolves around the main character Nick Banner. Heâs so much like many of the hurting kids that I have worked with over the past ten years. A little bit mad at the world, very much lost, and not sure where or if he even fits in. As a foster child for most of his life he has experienced more than his share of instability. As he approaches his fifteenth birthday, Nickâs world collides with the forces of the supernatural when he gets caught up in a world of angels, demons and an evil corporation that will stop at nothing to capture the staff of Moses â something they think he can help them acquire.
BREAKAWAY DAILY: What inspired you to write this?
MM BEEMAN: The heart for this book was in place long before I even knew I would write it. Having spent many years as a teacher of students with behavioral difficulties, I have seen the pain that kids who have lost their biological families go through. I wanted to capture some of the feeling of lostness that young people feel when their world goes upside down. I have also utilized reading aloud to my students on hundreds of occasions and am thrilled when I see kids who have very little positive escape in life lose themselves in stories. That was and remains my inspiration.
BREAKAWAY DAILY: Thatâs beautiful. How would you say that it differs from other young adult novels out there?
MM BEEMAN: My unique experiences working with kids certainly plays a role. I have seen all sides of human behavior. I also strive to communicate as clearly and concisely as possible to a wide range of individuals. This book is written to immediately grab the attention and not let go. At times this means letting the reader form more of an opinion regarding the characters than me forcing an opinion on them. There is also an underlying message of spiritual hope that is noticeably absent from most current youth literature. Finally, as this book reflects my own thoughts and processes, I would dutifully hope that there is no one else out there just like me. The world would recoil at such a thought.
BREAKAWAY DAILY: Why present day Portland and ancient Egypt?
MM BEEMAN: Ancient Egypt is a fascinating place. I have seen typically disinterested kids focus intensely when talk of Pharaohâs, pyramids, and Egyptian gods come up. Egypt also tied in well with my desire to base the book on a Biblical storyline. As far as Portland being the modern setting, this was primarily a happenstance of geography. It was my home when I began the book, but also has enough character as a city that there are many strange avenues one can travel down.
BREAKAWAY DAILY:Â Your illustrations are remarkable, who did them?
MM BEEMAN: Through a series of strange connections, we were able to bring Lukas Ketner on board. Lukas is an illustrator who has done work with Dark Horse Comics, The Walking Dead graphic novels, and Image Comics. He is amazing to work with, and to be honest, we were extremely lucky that he could squeeze us in. Lukas has also agreed to do the covers and mini illustrations for books 2 and 3 of the Nick Banner series. His art completely brought my characters to life, and for that I am extremely grateful.
BREAKAWAY DAILY: This reads like a graphic novel and the illustrations lend to that; why not go full out and make it a graphic?
MM BEEMAN: I have attempted to draw illustrations on the whiteboard in my classroom. My studentâs mocking laughter quickly dispelled any ideas of my artistic ability. I find great comfort in the written word and that is where my passion is.
BREAKAWAY DAILY: You work between Christianity and Kemetic tradition (Egyptian paganism) for your story and characters. Â What was it like combining the two for this story?
MM BEEMAN: There is an intentionally minimalist approach when it comes to the theology behind either belief system. Human emotions such as greed, revenge, longing and envy are not exclusive to any one belief system. In light of that, I focused more on each individual and their motivation. In my experience, this is what connects us as humans and as readers.
Read more to see for yourself, Nick Banner & the Pharaoh's Greed is available on Amazon. For more information on MM Beeman, visit his official website.
BOOK GIVEAWAY
Want to win a free E-book copy of Nick Banner and the Pharaoh's Greed? Simply enter our sweepstakes for your chance to win one of five free copies!Â
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Sometimes It Snows In April: 1 year ago 2day, Prince per4ormed what would be his final 2 concerts on earth at his Piano A Microphone Tour in Atlanta
This stunning never b4 seen photo of Prince and his new purple Yamaha piano was photographed on April 13th, 2016 at Paisley Park by Madison Dubè, backdrop by Martin Homent.
Prince would transcend exactly a week after performing two Piano And A Microphone shows at the Fox Theatre in Atlanta. The above photos was taken by a concert goer after Purple Rain was performed; the last song at the last show.
As the one-year anniversary of music legend Princeâs death nears, Atlantaâs Fox Theatre, the venue where he held his last large-scale concert, plans to honor The Purple One in a grand way.Â
The Fox Theatre will post a rolling rotation of lyrics from Princeâs iconic song âPurple Rainâ on its marquee from 9 a.m. to 11:59 p.m. on April 21, said Cindy Stoltz, a spokeswoman for Fox Theatre.Â
âThe Fox Theatre will always have the bittersweet distinction of being Princeâs last stage performance,â Jamie Vosmeier, a spokesman for Fox Theatre told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. âThe marquee tribute will give Prince fans a moment to reflect on the man, the artist and the music, which is now a part of history.â
Fans are welcome to take pictures of the marquee throughout the day, but the Fox will not have a designated area for fans who gather on April 21. (Source)
Setlists:
7:00 pm show
10:00 pm show
On April 14th Prince would also post his final Instagram photo:
On April 20-23 Paisley Park will be holding Celebration 2017, a three day event to pay tribute to Prince. Join Breakaway Daily for exclusive coverage of the event on BreakawayDaily.com/Prince or PrinceDaily.com
Kingdom Of Scaba is a novel that will blow your imagination to a whole new level
Twins live relatively normal lives at home on Earth, but they are drawn to voices in their heads asking them to âcome to the party.â At the party, they find that the partygoers are really some kind of spirits, and before long theyâre taken away to another world beneath Earth known as the kingdom of Scaba. The twins live in the palace of the evil king, who has recently taken the throne after the untimely demise of the good king who preceded him. The new king uses children as slaves for his people, and the twins are the latest to become enslaved. Some teenagers who live in the city outside the palace are captured, and shortly afterward they band together to escape. The teens battle with the law, are thrown in and out of jail, and tortured. However, after some conflict, the palace children and the city children join forces. They are instilled with mystical powers they obtained from their friends in the fantasy world, and they triumph over the evil king. Happier and wiser for the trip, the children are able to return to the human world.
Synopsis
Jamal and his twin sister Lillian have disturbing dreams and hear voices. They are ten years old and live normal lives on Earth, but this changes when they choose to follow these voices and do as they command. The voices say âcome to the party,â which leads the kids to a party their new next door neighbor is having. However, this neighbor turns out to be a spirit of some sort, and so do the rest of the partygoers. Jamal and his twin are captured and unceremoniously taken through a portal, fit onto a magic carpet, and taken down into a wondrous, fantastical city. The city is in the kingdom of Scaba, and in the city there is a great palace. The city flashes different colors, and huge winged tigers breathe fire to keep the city warm. There are small, fluffy, colorful dwarf ponies no bigger than cats, cobra-headed people and lion-headed people. The snake-headed people are known as the Makash, and they dominate the kingdom, while the lion-headed people are known as the Shakam, and they are a lazy race that for the most part is served by the children. Elephants and zebras are common means of transportation. The ponies are known as the Moback, and they are fun-loving and gentle.
At the palace, Jamal and Lillian meet the king of the Scaba, BERMUDA, a somewhat odd Shakam with a stiff tail who is very cruel and clever. The last king, a good king, died after a trip he undertook in the human world. He leaves behind his daughter, the Princess Filda, a Shakam, who does not see eye to eye with Bermuda. Under Bermuda, human children have been turned into slaves. Filda and others in Scaba adamantly oppose Bermuda, but his power is great.
Jamal and Lillian live as palace children tending to Filda and her kind-hearted, naĂŻve son Prince Dushan, who is only a few years old. There are many other palace children who have very prestigious jobs relative to their enslavement, such as dancing, playing in the court band, and even painting. These children eat in the food court where human food is served (the children cannot eat the food of Scaba), and from the other kids Jamal and Lillian learn about Scaba and its past. More importantly, they learn that they cannot escape, although this does not deter Jamal or Lillian, who immediately begin planning how to get away.
Soon, the twinsâ escape plans are realized. They get out of the palace without much trouble and cling to the bottom of a cart leaving town. There are multiple gates, and they get through almost all of them but then are discovered at the last second. However, it seems there was never any real possibility to escape because the king has a crystal ball through which he can see the movements of everyone outside, meaning there is no place for anyone to hide. Moreover, Jamal and Lillian learn that even had they gotten out of town, the only way to get back to their own world is to take a magic carpet to the top of a hill upon which sits the portal to the human realm. The portal is heavily guarded, and a flying carpet hard to obtain; in addition, humans cannot pilot flying carpets, which makes it impossible for humans to hijack a carpet. Â
In the meantime, another group of kids is taken into the kingdom of Scaba; among there are Dana, a girl who showed disdain for her father when he wouldnât let her drive his dream car, and who subsequently wrecked his car when she stole it; Steven, who loves biology and dissection; Adam, a young boxer; Nora, who loves dancing and hip-hop; and SARA, who plays violin and is jealous of her sisterâs beauty. They try to escape at the onset of their capture, but they are wrangled up and sent about their duties in the city. Thus, they are city children, not palace children; like Jamal and Lillian, they want to escape, and they are in and out of prison quite a lot.
Sikwel, one of the kingâs cruel makash commanders, is put on their case to keep them in line. Nothing changes in the attitudes of the children; they persist in their attempts to flee, even though they are beaten when they try to escape. Finally, Sikwel punishes them with a âhomeless kidsâ stamp that means no Makash or Shakam can feed them; as a result, eventually they will starve to death on the streets. The teens begin to raid the food courts for sustenance. Over time, they get better at judging the weaknesses of the Makash. During this time, they also begin planning how to get into Sikwelâs office and take his key, the first step toward getting a magic carpet and getting out of Scaba.
The king gets tired of these homeless kids, and he calls Sikwel weak. Sikwel needs to take care of the problem or he will be punished. The kids take up the offer of a successful gambling Shakam named STOM. He will give the children food and opportunities if they fight Makash children in the ring. The children agree because itâs a good opportunity, and currently they are doing little better than surviving. In the ring they each beat up their rival Makash, a fact that Stom predicted, knowing well that these children have been fighting bigger Makash for some time. Stom bet on the kids and not against them (unlike everyone else), so he wins a lot of money.
However, Stom didnât realize that his winning would make the others at the fight angry. The angry people go after Stom and the kids; at that very moment, Sikwel arrives and arrests the children. Instead of killing them, he says he will spare them if they agree to enter the grand competitions, which pit the city children against the palace children in a no-rules tournament. The winners will receive more free time and a chance at being freed. The losing team has to work very hard. The divide between the palace children and city children fosters competitiveness and mistrust, which the king wants. The teens agree, knowing the proximity to Sikwel over the coming days will be their chance to break into his office and get the key. Â
The palace children, led by Jamal and Lillian, enter the competition, too. They need to win in order to advance their growing objective to save not just themselves, but to save the kingdom. They will do so with the help of Princess Filda. Â
The palace children win the grand competitions, which leaves a sour taste in the mouths of the city children. However, this divide does not ultimately separate the two groups. The teens have gotten the key and have become friends with Wajdbeer, a physician. Wajdbeer helps the teens when the guards are trying to identify who stole Sikwelâs key. Sara stole the key, but in so doing injured her shoulder. Wajdbeer heals her with an herb just before her participation is discovered. He then has the children, especially Steven, help him extract the hormone that grants the Makash their power to shoot woufs, or blasts of energy. He wants to give the children this power, so they can surprise the evil king, and restore goodness to the world. When the children fail in another attempt get to the hill top portal, they agree that fighting the king is the only way to escape. Â
Before long, Jamal finds Wajdbeer, who Filda told him to meet. The palace children have developed mental powers by using the full capacity of their brains with the help of Princess Filda and the city kids bestowed with the power to fire Woufs.. On their previous attempt to escape, the teens lost Adam and SHISHAR, their Shakam friend who flew the magic carpet, and they decide to save them from imminent hanging using these powers. They succeed in this endeavor, and use their new powers to kill many villainous guards along the way.
The children, all together now, begin to study magic with Wajdbeer, and eventually joined the runaway army headed by commander Medan, the husband of Princess Filda. They use glass shields to deflect enemy woufs, and are aided by the flying fire-breathing tigers (called the enar), as well as the Moback. The children use cunning and magic to defeat the armies of Bermuda, and eventually to defeat Bermuda himself, who turns out to be a mysterious and evil human named Solar, who used the disguise of Bermuda to become king.
After the battle, the children celebrate, and then return home triumphant. Over the course of their time in Scaba, they learned a lot about honesty, friendship, and good and evil.
Kingdom of Scaba is available in audio book format and PDF.