We are excited for the release of 52 Love: Weekly Love Lessons by Tonya Todd!
52 weekly doses of love advice to inspire all the hearts in your life.
Great stories with powerful relationships impact us time and time again. Whether your favorites consist of Elizabeth and Darcy, Sherlock and Watson, the Ring fellowship, or Professor X and Magneto, we can all say love is eternal. Those kinships create memorable moments that outlast the pages and live beyond the silver screen and often are cherished by their readers. If the hectic pace of life has taught us anything, it’s the importance of making time to preserve relationships with the people occupying our homes and hearts so that our stories last long enough for a sequel.
52 Love offers practical applications for consciously nurturing the love in a romantic partnership, without heteronormative thinking and gender-role assumptions. In weekly installments, this playful guide suggests bedrock principles for strengthening relationships and the heart. The exercises ask readers to stretch a bit beyond their boundaries while offering a wide range of ways to explore new avenues of applying love to everyday life. Whether the relationship is new or decades old, 52 Love provides 52 love lessons for couples of all ages, genders, backgrounds, or affection preferences.
You can order this book in all formats directly from our 4HP Website and receive 10% OFF using coupon code 4HP10!
When it comes to love and romance gods, usually the first to come to mind is Aphrodite, or Venus with the epic art work of long hair and a clam shell motif. Hot on her heels is usually her adjacent partners including Cupid and Eros. Exactly what is their roles in romance according to legends and their own connections to love. Taking a dive into my latest release Bulfinch’s Age of Fables, featuring volume 1 from the textbook sized tome Bulfinch’s Mythology (featuring all 4 volumes), let’s discover exactly all the gods, goddesses, and creatures covered in associate to love and romance.
Anteros
This is the avenger of slighted love as well as the symbolized reciprocal love. Granted less is known about this god and again, he is often lumped together with Cupid and Eros. I love to think there is a specific god who will honor true, sincere love and romance while defending it, or at least slaying those who would break such sacred bounds. Another story implies he was birthed by Aphrodite to provide a brother to Eros to help him grow, to which he did so rapidly in Anteros’ presence (via advice from Themis who noted he was childlike because of his solitude).
Aphrodite, or Venus
Ah, the notorious goddess of love and beauty. Her creation on the other hand falls on three common variations. Some say she is the daughter of Zeus (Jupiter) and Diones while others claim she sprang forth from the foam of the sea. Older beliefs claim she is the personification of Aer’s genital after Kronos (Saturn) dismantled his father and his body gave birth to the world as we know it. Interestingly enough, despite all her proposals from the gods, Zeus made arrangements for Vulcan, the creator of his lightning bolts, to be married to her. There is even reference that she wears a magical embroidered girdle or belt called Cestus that is said to inspire love from others. Often she is associated with doves, swans, and roses which are stables for marketing Valentine’s Day.
Cupid
Now, he is sometimes mashed in as Eros in accounts, but in the reference of this role, he is said to be the son of Aphrodite (and not hatched from an egg in the night of Chaos). He is famous for shooting darts of desire into the bosoms of both men and gods.
Erato, a Muse
This was one of the nine muses who was accredited as the creator and overseer for love-poetry. Many of her sisters were in charge of other aspects of art and poetry, but out of all of them, she is the only one who is specifically associated with romance and love.
Eros, or Love
Issued from an egg? What! Love was hatched in this case in the night while floating on Chaos. In most accounts he is very similar to modern understanding of cupid, armed with a bow and arrow. Unlike cupid, Eros’ arrows alongside the torch in which he lights them, is to make the world more vivid by piercing through the darkness he was born in to produce life and joy. Alongside Earth and Erebus, there is belief via a Greek tragedy these three were the first of beings.
Narcissus
Someone who could only love himself. Pursued by the nymph Echo, he ignored her and all others. Fiana didn’t care for such a handsome mortal ignoring the affections of her nymphs. A prayer went out, and was awarded, that he may fall in love and receive no affection. What they didn’t expect, this would unfold in the form of Narcissus falling for his own reflection in a fountain. Unable to turn himself away, he plunged arms and all in time and time again. Eventually he drowned to which his body turned into a flower, also by the same name.
Nessus, the Centaur
This is a strange, lesser known aspect of the Hercules legends. In short, he was famous for helping people across rivers for a fee. When he attempted to run away with Hercules’ wife, Dejanira, he was shot in the heart. As a dying apology, he insisted she keep some of his blood as a charm or curse to ‘preserve the love of her husband.’ Later, Hercules’ love wavered when his affection grew for Iole, she enchanted the garment with the blood. The moment he placed it onto him, it poisoned him and he could no longer remove it as it stuck to his skin. In short, he was marked as being unfaithful or possibly considered to be such.
Pygmalion
Hated women so much, he sculpted one of his own vision. He loved the statue greatly, falling in love to the point of kissing it every day and gifting it bright shells, polished stones, birds, flowers, beads, and amber. It’s even written he bestowed the inanimate objects a “young girls love” meaning affection on par to a young girl’s display towards a first love or crush, from compliments to more. He even adorned her with jewelry of the finest materials including pearls. Venus was amused by this and answered his prayer and turned her into a real girl. Yes, this is very much like a Pinocchio story! Fun fact, this statue is labeled Galatea who is later recognized as a sea-nymph.
Discover More
Like the information you see here? Check out Bulfinch’s Age of Fables. This book is a public domain remake, meaning it was originally published over 70+ years ago and has been redesigned to improve aesthetics and utilize search function in PDF and eBook formats. To add to the overall look and feel, public domain images and artwork have been added to show how these legends and topics have influenced not only the literature referenced by Thomas Bulfinch, but artists through the centuries.
Mythology is full of tales of love, and a popular in modern retellings is often Hades and Persophene. But they weren’t alone! And much like their own story, can we really label such tragic tales as love stories or romance at all. Regardless, taking a dive into my latest remake Bulfinch’s Age of Fables here are some of the stories that stuck out. Read more on these throw the eyes of Thomas Bulfinch in the book itself, but here’s my take and cliffnotes.
Adonis and Aphrodite
A short-lived romance. In fact, Aphrodite fell victim to Cupid’s arrow while out playing under the shade of trees. The wound deeper than she had expected, fell under this spell the moment Adonis was spotted. She soon grew obsessed over the youth, and the moment she left his side, he fell victim to his confidence. Throwing a spear at a wild boar, it turned on him and attacked. By the time Aphrodite turned her swans and pulled the chariot around, his death was assured. It is said she beat on herself and pulled her hair out over the grief.
Cephalus and Procris
First off, Cephalus is said to have been a gorgeous man with a love for sports. In short, he was sought after by the gods. Just after marrying his charming and devoted wife Procris, he was pursued by Aurora, the goddess of dawn, daybreak, and sunrise known for riding her chariot across the sky from east to west. After he refused her time and time again, she abandoned her pursuit after the javelin wielding brute who was happy with his wife. After loosing his dog in the woods, someone overheard him talking seductively to an unknown entity while resting against a tree. When word got back to his wife Procris, she followed him the next day when he continued his search. She watched as he ran himself ragged looking for the dog, until at long last, he leaned once more against a tree, seducing the breeze. She began crying in the pushes, to which an alarmed Cephalus threw his javelin. He hit his mark, and unknowingly, slayed his wife who said in her dying breath, “I implore you, if you have ever loved me, if I have ever deserved kindness at your hands, my husband, grant me this last request; do not marry that odious Breeze!”
Daphne and Apollo
This poor nymph was actually a victim of Cupid’s ego. In short, when Apollo bragged about the power of the arrows he shot, Cupid decided to show this god the power behind his own. Apollo pursued Daphne endlessly, unable to break the dart of desire to be with her and have her as his own. Apollo was taken aback how an arrow to the heart was more powerful than any medicine or remedy he could imagine, nothing could cure him. Peneus or Gaea are accredited for “saving her” by turning her into a laurel or olive tree to escape Apollo under Cupid’s spell.
Glaucus and Scylla
Why does no one talk about this or do retellings of this interesting hot mess. I mean, dark romance and monster lovers would love to see a modern revision! Glaucus started life as a mortal fisherman, but plunged into the water and let Posiedon and Tethys wash away his mortality. From here, he became a merman with long sea-green hair, broader shoulders, and fish tail where thighs and legs had once been. One day, he came across Scylla, a gorgeous water nymph rambling on the shore. He showed himself to her. It did startle her, but he poured over his life story and how he came to be before confessed he fell in love at first sight. When she ran from him, not returning his affections, he sought counsel from Circe for guidance. In short, she told him to pursue a more willing woman and look elsewhere, for she did not meet his affection. When Glaucus informed her he would not, she grew madly jealous and wanted Glaucus’ affection and devotion for her own. Unable to change his mind and unwilling to punish the god she was crushing on, she threw all her rage against Scylla herself. Poisoning Scylla’s bathing waters, the water nymph found being waist deep had made waist down turn into a tentacle, serpent, and barking monster mess. Anger filled her to have been changed in such a way and she devoured many fishermen and sailors in revenge. Strangely, Thomas Bulfinch doesn’t cover what Glaucus’ thoughts were of what unfolded.
Halcyone and Ceyx
Again, a tragic tale of a happily married king and queen. King Ceyx went to seek out the Oracle of a matter where he angered the gods because of his grief from losing his brother. When he told his wife Halcyone of his plans, shudder ran through her and she paled. She did her best to change his mind, discourage him with brutal tales and even saying: “What fault of mine, dearest husband, has turned your affection from me? Where is that love of me that used to be uppermost in your thoughts? Have you learned to feel easy in the absence of Halcyone? Would you rather have me away?” In the end, he made the journey, the gods destroyed him and his ship. She is said to leap from the cliffs to his lifeless body. It is here she is transformed into a Halcyon, or type of cliff nesting kingfisher. In other stories, she is said to become a hummingbird.
Persephone and Hades
We’ve seen the reimagined versions and more common stories, but many have forgotten the original tellings. In short, while Persephone was out collecting lilies and violets in her apron, Hades saw her from afar on his chariot. From that first moment, he loved her and immediately carried her off. As he urged his steeds on calling them by their names, Persephone cried out to her family and friends. She let go of her apron, a falling of flowers to symbolize her grief and a striking imagery painted here. When they hit the river Cyane, Hades struck the ground with his trident and gave passage to Tartarus. The story mostly focuses on Ceres or Demeter’s investigation and hunt for her daughter. Angry how many feared Hades and kept information from her or how the soil even betrayed her. It’s a mother’s revenge story more than anything as she retaliates against all who did not stop, interfere, or tell her something about her kidnapped daughter. In fact, in some accounts she’s riding a chariot pulled by winged dragons when she makes her way into the underworld to retrieve her daughter from Hades in Elysium.
Pyramus and Thisbe
You can easily consider this the original variation of what inspired Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. These two were neighbors and after a gathering, fell madly in love. Their homes shared a wall to which a crack allowed the two lovers to communicate to one another after their parents had forbidden them from marrying. In short, Thisbe went to a meeting place outside the city at a fountain. There a lioness with a bloodied mouth spooked her to hide between nearby boulders. It was here that the lioness chewed and bloodied her veil, to which Pyramus would discover. Unable to imagine life without Thisbe, assumed dead, he took his own life. Thisbe returned to the fountain to discover Pyramus dead and thus, followed him. Thus the phrasing, “…as love and death have joined us…” is associated to many modern vows.
Discover More
Like the information you see here? Check out Bulfinch’s Age of Fables! This book is a public domain remake, meaning it was originally published over 70+ years ago and has been redesigned to improve aesthetics and utilize search function in PDF and eBook formats. To add to the overall look and feel, public domain images and artwork have been added to show how these legends and topics have influenced not only the literature referenced by Thomas Bulfinch, but artists through the centuries.
We are excited for the release of by Virgil Henry!
Welcome to Academic Purgatory.
Professor Virgil Henry, our 30-year veteran of higher education, has finally reached the base of Purgatory Mountain. There, his climb will begin: battling greedy administrators, lazy colleagues, and the seven deadly sins of higher education on his way to the summit.
Will he be complacent? Will he be a rabble-rouser? Will he fall victim to his hubris and be banished to the Ivory Tower? Read along as Virgil takes on the establishment while trying to change things from the inside out. While climbing the mountain isn’t a Sisyphusian effort, the boulder is certainly heavy.
You can order this book in all formats directly from our 4HP Website and receive 10% OFF using coupon code 4HP10!
We are excited for the release of Grabbing a Slice of “Minnesota Nice” by Lucas Lamont!
Minnesota has a code, don’t cha know?
Knowing this code is essential for living in the state famous for an accent only the Coen Brothers could replicate. But if you only focused on the accents in Fargo, you might have missed the nuance.
After all, there has to be some reason Minnesotans live in a state where winter lasts six months out of the year. What is it? We call it “Minnesota Nice.” It permeates all aspects of life, including the way we talk, what we eat, how we entertain guests, the way we practice our faith, and how we enjoy the great outdoors.
Do you want to know more—or better yet, know someone in your life who should? Grab a copy today so you can have something to set your coffee mug on. Plus, it’s thick enough you’ll really annihilate that fly that won’t stop buzzing around.
You can order this book in all formats directly from our 4HP Website and receive 10% OFF using coupon code 4HP10!
The first volume of Haunter’s Tale is crawling to life with its release date set for October 31, 2024, by Accomplishing Innovation Press. This spine-chilling anthology promises to haunt your nightmares and transport you into a world filled with ghoulishly original stories, true ghost accounts, eerie artwork, and terrifying backstories. It’s not just a book; it’s an experience that will leave even the bravest readers questioning what is real and what is fiction.
James-Michael Roddy, the fiendish genius behind some of the most notorious Halloween events, has announced the launch of Haunter’s Tale Volume I. With this anthology series, Roddy promises to take fear to new heights by bringing together talented horror and haunt designers alongside their devoted fans. The anticipation among the horror community is palpable as they eagerly await this collection of terror-inducing tales.
Haunter’s Tale Volume I offers a unique collection unlike any other. Each page is filled with dread-inducing content that will keep you on the edge of your seat. Here’s a glimpse of what you can expect:
Original Stories: Immerse yourself in ghoulishly original tales that will send shivers down your spine.
Fear-Filled Film Scripts: Explore scripts from the minds of the best horror writers, guaranteed to give you goosebumps.
True Accounts of Famous Haunts: Discover the chilling true stories behind some of the most infamous haunted locations.
Ghostly Photographs: Be captivated by unsettling images that capture the essence of the supernatural.
Haunting Artwork: View haunting artwork created by esteemed artists in the genre that will linger in your mind long after reading.
Volume I of Haunter’s Tale features an introduction from none other than renowned horror legend, Tom Savini. Known for his groundbreaking special effects work in horror films, Savini’s introduction sets the tone for the spine-tingling journey that awaits readers.
Just a Book…or Something More?
As you immerse yourself in the pages of Haunter’s Tale, remember to keep reminding yourself, “It’s only a book.” This anthology is designed to push the boundaries of fear and blur the lines between reality and fiction. It’s an emotional rollercoaster that will leave you breathless and questioning your own sanity.
Enter the World of Haunter’s Tale
Do you dare enter the world of Haunter’s Tale? This is more than just a book; it’s an experience. It’s a celebration of the horror genre and the talented creators who bring it to life. With each volume, Haunter’s Tale aims to provide a platform where horror enthusiasts can come together, share their work, and inspire one another.
The Podcast: Expanding the Horror Universe
Along with the book series, a new hour-long podcast will also be launched. This podcast will further expand the platform for creators to showcase their dark creations and insights. Each episode will feature interviews with horror creators, discussions about the genre, and readings of original works. It’s a must-listen for any fan of horror.
Haunter’s Tale Volume I is more than just a book; it’s a gateway to a world of terror. With its release on October 31, 2024, by Accomplishing Innovation Press, this anthology series is set to become a cornerstone of horror literature. So, gather your courage, turn off the lights, and enter the world of Haunter’s Tale… if you dare!
We are excited for the release of 10 Steps to Save Your Editors Sanity by Dr. Jenifer Paquette!
Dreading the moment when your manuscript comes back from the editor dripping in red lines?
You can save both of you time and energy with a few basic steps. Sending your work to an editor can be a nerve-wracking experience, but it is possible to make the moment worth celebrating if you have confidence in your writing quality and edit for the most common issues that plague manuscripts. Follow these 10 steps before hitting send and your editor will thank you!
Part One: Start with the Big Picture
Step One: Consider Point of View
Step Two: Fix Pesky Dialogue Formatting Stuff
Part Two: Zoom in to Examine the Nitty Gritty
Step Three: Up Your Verb Game
Step Four: Use Punctuation as Intended
Step Five: Track Your Bad Habits
Part Three: Come Over to the Deep End—you’ll be fine!
Step Six: Tweak Your Sentence Structure
Step Seven: Add Sentence Variety
Part Four: Before You Click “Send”…
Step Eight: Know What You Want
Step Nine: Create a Style Sheet
Step Ten: Just Breathe
You can order this book in all formats directly from our 4HP Website and receive 10% OFF using coupon code 4HP10!
We are excited for the release of How to Eat Like a Normal Person by Kait Richardson, RDN, LD!
This is not a diet book because let’s face it: the last thing you need is another list of foods to avoid, rules to follow, or pills to take to “boost your metabolism” (Psst, they don’t exist).
Diets that guilt you for eating fruit and tell you to skip breakfast for the sake of weight loss say they’re healthy when in reality, they’re disordered. Rather, this book is a collection of stories and strategies to teach you how to eat like a normal person, and restrictive dieting is anything but normal. There is no single body type nor metabolism.
As a registered dietitian and ex yo-yo dieter, Kait Richardson knows first-hand that too many rules around food lead to anxiety, binge eating, poor body image, and distressing health outcomes. They create dysfunction around hunger cues and often leave you in a worse place than where you started (mentally and physically). Plus, diets teach you nothing about how to fuel YOUR unique body!
How to Eat Like a Normal Person will guide you through the journeys of six women who struggle with obsessive dieting. This book provides applicable tools and journal prompts to help women go from an all-or-nothing mentality to finding balance and peace with their diets. The strategies in this book are designed for:
Yo-yo dieters
Perfectionists
Emotional eaters
Binge eaters
And women overwhelmed by the conflicting diet information out there!
If you want to feel confident in your skin, boost your energy, and experience control around food for the first time in your life, How to Eat Like a Normal Person will forever transform how you think about food. After applying the strategies in this interactive workbook, you will never need another diet again!You can order this book in all formats directly from our 4HP Website and receive 10% OFF using coupon code 4HP10!
We are excited for the release of Comic Lit Vol 1 by Alyson Shelton, Eric Lee, Kelly Gaines, Seth Singleton, AA McCartney, Heath Fodor, A.R. Farina, Tonya Todd, and Anthony D. Holt Jr.!
Comic books are high art.
They—and their graphic novel counterparts—harken back to classic literature and artworks. Through a series of essays, the authors will illustrate that modern pop culture characters are direct descendants of classic works of literature and their visual depiction is inspired by the works of master artists.
Join us as we peel back layers to discover gothic influences, representations of badass females, uses of the mask, and the new look of Rappaccini’s Daughter as well as discuss teaching comics in college, Black identity and power, mythological and religious tie-ins, and many more correlations hidden within the pages of action-packed heroes and villains. The essayists in this collection are, first and foremost, comic book fans with extensive backgrounds in art, film, education, literature, and writing.
Comics Lit Vol. 1 contains essays by Alyson Shelton, Eric Lee, Kelly Gaines, Seth Singleton, AA McCartney, Heath Fodor, A.R. Farina, Tonya Todd, and Anthony D. Holt Jr. Foreword by Bryan Edward Hill.
You can order this book in all formats directly from our 4HP Website and receive 10% OFF using coupon code 4HP10!
As the clock ticks down, dear fiends and phantoms, the veil between the living and the dead grows thinner. Soon it will be October 31, 2024, the day when Accomplishing Innovation Press unleashes the first volume of Haunter’s Tale upon the world. This spine-chilling anthology promises to be a ghastly delight, overflowing with ghoulishly original stories, eerie true ghost accounts, haunting artwork, and much more. For those who revel in horror, this is one book you won’t dare to miss!
At the helm of Haunter’s Tale is none other than James-Michael Roddy, a name that evokes images of some of the biggest Halloween events around the globe. With his diabolical genius and extensive experience in the horror genre, Roddy ensures that this anthology will be a masterpiece of terror. He has brought together the most talented horror/haunt designers and fans to create an unforgettable reading experience. The anticipation for its release date is palpable, with horror enthusiasts everywhere eagerly awaiting their chance to delve into the darkness.
Haunter’s Tale Volume One is no ordinary collection; it is a plunge into the depths of horror and hauntings. Each volume will feature:
Ghoulishly Original Stories: From twisted minds come new and terrifying tales that will leave you unable to sleep at night.
True Ghost Accounts: Chilling real-life encounters that will make your blood run cold.
Haunting Artwork: Visually stunning pieces that capture the essence of each story’s eerie atmosphere.
Backstories and More: Gain insight into the inspiration and creation of each spine-tingling tale.
In-Depth Interviews: Take a peek into the dark worlds of these masterminds as they discuss their creations.
Keep Repeating, It’s Only a Book
Volume One, titled Haunters and Hauntings, will kick off the series with a bang. Featuring an introduction from the legendary Tom Savini, a revered figure in the horror community, this volume sets the stage for what’s to come. Savini’s unique insights and experiences add an extra layer of depth and terror to the collection, ensuring that readers are in for a truly immersive experience.
Haunter’s Tale goes beyond simply showcasing stories and artwork; it celebrates the talented and dedicated creators behind them. The ultimate goal of this series is to provide a platform where horror enthusiasts can come together, share their work, and inspire one another. Every creator has a unique perspective on the genre, and Haunter’s Tale aims to give them the opportunity to share it with the world.
To complement this terrifying new book series, an hour-long podcast will also be launched. This podcast will serve as an extension of the Haunter’s Tale platform, offering in-depth interviews with horror creators. Take a deep dive into the minds behind the madness as they engage in thought-provoking conversations about all things horror, and read spine-chilling renditions of the stories featured in the anthology.
So brace yourselves, dear readers. The world of Haunter’s Tale is dark, twisted, and waiting to be explored. Enter if you dare, but remember to keep repeating: it’s only a book… or is it?
