Tag: anthony avina

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Interview with Author Latashia Figueroa:

Hi there Latashia. On behalf of myself and our readers, thank you for taking the time to speak with us today.

Hi Anthony and thanks so much for having me.

Tell us a bit about you and your journey to becoming an author.

Well, I began working in the fashion industry right out of school. I always said to myself, “This is just temporary.” But I became really comfortable with the industry and the money. After eighteen years, the company downsized. At first, I began to send out resumes, hoping and praying I would get a call back right away. While I waited, I began to write. And I loved it! My mother reminded me that as a child I always wrote short stories and left them on her nightstand for her to read. I pushed forward. I published my first book, THIS WAY DARKNESS: Three Tales of Terror in 2014.

2) Tell us about the conception of Ivy’s Envy and the Want & Decay series overall.

I submitted a flash fiction short to a fellow writers blog. And the more I read it, the more I liked where I could go with the story. IVY’S ENVY is the first story in the Want & Decay trilogy. In the beginning of the book is an Edgar Allan Poe quote, “Sometimes I’m terrified of my heart; of its constant hunger, for whatever it is it wants…”  I believe we all can relate to that on some level. We all struggle with the hunger of want. The characters in the Want & Decay series are desperate people. The more desperate they are, the darker they become. And each of them will learn, sometimes want can cause our decay.

3) When you are writing, what aspect of the writing excites you more: the development of the overall plot or the creation of the characters?

Definitely the creation of the characters. When I write a story, I have to know the ending in order to get the overall picture. That takes time, its work. But, creating the characters, getting to know them, understand their motives, that’s exciting for me. When I create my characters, I have an interview with them. I write down questions and then answer as the characters would. This really helps me write for them.

4) What authors served as a source of inspiration for you and your writing?

I grew up on Stephen King and R.L. Stine. I really dig Ira Levin, Douglas Clegg and John FD Taff. But H.P. Lovecraft will always be top of the list for me. He was truly ahead of his time.

5) Where do you hope to go with your writing career in the future?

Wow. I’d really love to write a screenplay and do independent films. Not only would I like to write them but direct them. Yes, move over Jennifer Kent!

Bonus Questions:

With technology, self-publishing and e-readers quickly rising in popularity, which format do you prefer when reading a book: e-reader or

paperback/hardback copies?

I like e-readers, but I’ll always love holding an actual book in my hand; flipping and folding back the pages,the smell of the paper. And how wonderfully worn they look when they’ve been loved too much.

What advice would you give to aspiring authors out there?

I would pass on this quote I recently found. “Do not write to impress others. Authors who write to impress people find difficulty remaining true to themselves.”

Thanks again!

Author Website: http://latashiafigueroa-author.com/

Amazon Author Page: http://amazon.com/author/latashiafigueroa

Twitter: https://twitter.com/LatashFigueroa

Instagram: https://instagram.com/frayed_pages/

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★´¨)
(¸.•´¸.•*´¨) ¸.•*¨)
(¸.•´ (¸.•`IT’S LIVE★*´¨✫

Dᴇsᴇᴄʀᴀᴛɪɴɢ Sᴏʟᴏᴍᴏɴ by bestselling Author Lucian Bane is out!
Go get this twisted ‪#‎romance‬ ‪#‎thriller‬ TODAY!

Amazon link: http://amzn.to/1McfFHi

Blurb:

**WARNING***
This
book contains elements that may be disturbing and offensive. Please
read with caution if you are triggered by events depicting violence and
various forms of abuse.

On the seventh day of the seventh year… she desecrates.

Evil
keeps a formidable schedule in Weston, West Virginia. Every seventh
year, spirits from the town’s abandoned insane asylum seek worthy souls
to command. But this seventh year, a desecration unlike any before is
scheduled to ravage the town. And Solomon Gorge is lured to the
harrowing event by the screams of Silence.

@amazon

Murderous Little Darlings by John Hennessy Review:

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Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book from the author and
Booklover Catlady Publicity in return for a fair and honest review. Many
thanks!

A short, spine-tingling adventure with a surprise twist! That’s how this blogger would describe the story Murderous Little Darlings by John Hennessy.

This short story follows three siblings, all caught up in a web of intrigue as the eldest brother, Marcus, believes that they are vampires,
destined to hunt and kill whomever they please. The middle child, Rocco, fought the urge to feed and turn, but ultimately lost as a result
of his brother’s influence, leaving the youngest sister, Juliana, to fight Marcus for what is right and what is wrong. Yet the mystery
of the story showcases that no one truly knows what is happening to these three innocent looking yet deadly children. Are the children
merely suffering from a delusion, or are vampires truly walking among them?

While there were a few minor grammar and pacing issues in this first story, the overall theme, mystery and character development were highly
intoxicating to read, and left me wanting more as the final pages finished. The first of a planned series, this is a story that needs to be
delved into more, and that in my books is the true marks of a great story. This is worth the read, and I can’t wait to see the next installment
in the A Tale of Vampires series. Be sure to get your copy of the book now!

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Top 10 Horror Movies to Watch on Halloween:

Hey there everyone! Halloween is fast approaching, and if you guys know me at all, you know Halloween is one of my favorite all time
holidays. I love all things scary, frightening and horror filled, and one of my favorite pastimes is to watch horror movies. On Halloween,
I pick a handful of movies to watch, grab some tasty snacks, and then settle in for a scary night. So in that spirit, I thought I’d share
my top 10 favorite movies to watch around Halloween time!

10) Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street: Before you say anything, I know this is not the scariest film in the world. Yet I love
watching this because I love music, I love musicals, Johnny Depp and Tim Burton together is awesome, and the serial killer/comedy vibe is
just so addicting to watch. From beautiful scenes like the “Pretty Women” song sung between Johnny Depp and Alan Rickman, to the rage fueled,
emotional performance of “Epiphany”, this is a true masterpiece of horror comedy and musicals, and one of my favorite films to watch around
Halloween.

9) Stay Alive: One of the best parts of the horror genre is watching truly cheesy, poorly acted horror movies and laughing and jumping at the
film. One such film for me is Stay Alive, a horror film based on the video game industry and the legend of Elizabeth Bathory. While I love
the video game aspect of the film and the twist on a true serial killer like Bathory, the acting, the script and the pace of the film are
odd, challenging and downright silly at times. What makes this great though are the creepy atmosphere, the terrifying jump scares and the
brilliant integration of the video game scenario. If you want a film to make fun of and enjoy a few jumps, then watch Stay Alive.

8) Silent Hill: One of the scariest video games got a truly scary film adaption, and that is Silent Hill. While some of the acting was
choppy and the backstory wasn’t gripping, the creature of the film and the scares were definitely creepy, and there were some good actors
in this film that brought out the scare factor. Definitely worth a watch this Halloween.

7) Rob Zombie’s Halloween: This film became an instant hit for me when it came out. I’m a longtime Rob Zombie fan, (shoutout to House of a
1000 Corpses and The Devils Rejects), and getting to see his take on the classic film franchise was something I was excited to see. Bringing
a realistic, brutal sense of murder to the classic serial killer, Mr. Zombie took Michael Myers, gave him a terrifying origin story and then
brought true terror to a group of teens who’s innocent holiday turned into a nightmare. Beware of the brutal violence and nudity guys for
those who are squeamish, but it is worth the watch I promise.

6) The Houses That October Built: A new edition to the Halloween slate, this film really did a great job of capturing my attention. The
found footage style of the film was always a big draw for me, but the setting of the underground horror maze scene was a great change of
pace, and the film did a great job of building up the suspense. The film follows a group of friends who are trying to find the scariest
underground horror maze, but as they go through the circuit of horror mazes, they begin to see that certain “dedicated” horror actors are
taking the mazes to a whole new level, leaving behind the maze and bringing the horror directly to the friends. The characters are creepy
as hell, and the scares are definitely legit, so be sure to check this film out this Halloween.

5) Insidious: One of my favorite new horror franchises began with the first, Insidious. Patrick Wilson and Rose Byrn were great in this
film, bringing a connective feel to the film, but the paranormal entity in the film is terrifying, and the jump scares definitely will have
your heart pumping. This is one of my must watch films for sure.

4) 28 Weeks Later: While I love the Walking Dead and the slow zombie trend, what truly scares me is the fast paced, running zombies of the
28 Weeks Later film. A sequel to the popular British horror film 28 Days Later, the film features powerful actors and set an emotional tone
to the series overall. The character development is great in this film, as are the heart-pounding action and scares that come out of nowhere.
This is one of my all time favorite zombie films, and is a must watch for me.

3) Paranormal Activity: I am one of the people who personally love the entire Paranormal Activity series, but the first is something truly
special. I remember the hype about the film beforehand, in which the trailers showed horror-stricken audiences screaming at the shocking
scenes of the film. The low-budget film packs a might punch, bringing a real fear of the killer ghost that can’t be seen or fought. It is
one of the best films to truly scare me, and I watch it every year.

2) Scream: The late Wes Craven created what is truly one of the best horror films to date. The twist on the horror genre in which previous
horror films serve as a handbook to survive a real killer was and still is the greatest inspiration for future horror films. The cast is
amazing, and the pop culture references sprinkled throughout the script make this one of the most delectable scary movies that one can watch
on Halloween night. So grab the popcorn, get your drinks, turn off the lights, and be ready to watch the legendary Ghostface come to life!

1) Halloween: The original John Carpenter film is still the best horror movie to watch on Halloween. The legendary Michael Myers remains an
enigma for much of the film, never going in depth on his backstory or the cause of his killer nature. With nothing but his heavy breathing
to warn you, audiences cringe in terror as the monstrous man stalks his victims, walking casually as if sure of his kill. He never hesitates,
never speaks, and never runs away. He is a force of nature, a force of evil, and the essence of the things that go bump in the night. Plus,
the title kind of makes it the obvious choice for the number 1 spot on this list.

There’s my list guys. These are my top films to watch on Halloween. I could watch horror movies all day long, so there are a plethora of
films that didn’t make this list that will be watched on the day of or up to the day of Halloween. Yet these 10 films are something special
to me, and I hope they are to you as well.

What is your favorite film to watch on Halloween?

Book Review: Ivy’s Envy (Want and Decay Book 1) by Latashia Figueroa

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Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book from the author and Booklover Catlady Publicity in return for a fair and honest review. Many thanks!

Synopsis:

Latashia Figueroa’s riveting Want & Decay Trilogy follows the entangled lives of three people tormented by lust, jealousy, madness and
murder. In this first book, Ivy’s Envy, Ivy James has had a history of violence with the men she falls for. Her grandmother and parents
know what Ivy is capable of when things don’t go her way.

Now Ivy has become obsessed with Thomas Miles, a man who works at her office. She is certain that Thomas loves her too. But there are people
who stand in the way of Ivy and Thomas finally being together, like his wife, Deana. Determined to have the love that is their destiny, Ivy
will go down a very dark and twisted road to make Thomas hers, and hers alone. But Ivy is not the only one who has dark secrets, and
everyone involved will soon learn that pursuing love and passion to the extreme can lead to terrifying consequences.

Review:

The first word that comes to mind to describe this incredible story is simply wow. This book has a lot of elements that many different
readers will be invested in. There’s a great mix of suspense, thriller and horror elements to keep people invested, and what I liked a lot
about this read was the chilling journey inside the mind of a disturbed individual while still getting the suspenseful third-person feeling
when reading a crime story. What really got me was the twist ending. I won’t spoil it for you guys, but you’ll never see it coming, which is
always a refreshing change of pace when you get a surprise as you read the story.

The story opens up in a heart-pounding, adrenaline fueled kind of way, and then does a beautiful job taking the reader back on a journey into
the setup for this opening scene. Not everything is as it seems in this book, and as you continue to read the story, you’ll find yourself
devouring every page and wanting more, until you finally get to the end and realize you need a second story to satisfy your need. Luckily
this is the first of a trilogy, and this reviewer is highly anticipating the next addition to this amazing story.

I am naturally a positive reviewer, and so find it difficult to find faults with a story in general, and therefore spend most of my review
pointing out the positive aspects rather than the negative. Yet although there were only a few grammatical errors here and there, I found
absolutely no faults with this story. It was powerfully written, and the characters were so incredible to follow that you couldn’t put the
story down. This is a fast and easy read, and yet one you definitely don’t want to miss. If you are a fan of stories such as Gone Girl or
any stalker/thriller type of story, then this is the tale for you. Pick up your copy of Ivy’s Envy now, and stay tuned for the next installment
of the Want & Decay series! Links for the book are below!

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars!

http://www.amazon.com/Ivys-Envy-Want-Decay-Book-ebook/dp/B00ZVFYYTM

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How I Met Your Mother Fail: My Problem with the Finale:

SPOILER ALERT: IF YOU HAVEN’T SEEN HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER OR THE FINALE, DON’T READ AHEAD.

Now before I write this, let me state a simple fact: I loved How I Met Your Mother and all the characters over the course of it’s nine
seasons. While the ninth and final season had it’s hiccups, I even loved the emotional core of the season. This post however is one writer’s
perspective on the finale, and why I felt it failed to conclude the series story properly.

There are a few problems I had with the finale as both a fan and as a writer. First off, let’s start with the fact that the final episode
felt like a forced plot. Spending an entire season building up this massive weekend affair for Robin and Barney’s wedding, plus spending
the whole last season showing Barney and Robin’s progression as characters to evolve to a loving, more committed place, would have been
a great payoff. However, to end the series with Robin choosing her career over a balance of work and love, and having Barney return to
womanizing after the divorce, only to get a woman pregnant and become a father, seems a huge disservice to the growth each character
had towards the end of the series.

Now let’s talk about Ted and The Mother. The entire series has been this huge build up of meeting the mother. Everyone has been looking
forward to learning the mother’s identity, and then we spent the entire last season meeting and falling in love with the mother character.
It seems to me that the entire series led up to this beautiful relationship building between Ted and the Mother, and then we finally get
this relationship, and then she’s taken away by an unknown disease. Then, to end the series, the kids tell Ted to go after their aunt
Robin. To me, this seems like one of the biggest slaps in the face the audience could get.

To me, this, coupled with little things in the finale like Robin leaving the group because of another burst of unresolved feelings for Ted,
or the group loosing touch with one another after going through everything they went through together, made the finale a bust. The biggest
takeaway from the finale was that Barney, Robin and Ted seemed to regress to their season 1 selves, completely taking away the growth each
character had throughout the series.

The only people that seemed to grow as people were Marshall and Lily, and yet their success was not enough to wash away the bad taste this finale left. As a writer, I felt let down by the utter lack to faithfulness to the characters. If I had
written the show, I either would have alluded to Robin’s conflicting feelings for Ted throughout the series more often, with the Barney
relationship being a mistaken hook up and nothing more, or I would have let the mother live, and let Barney and Robin stay together, and the
group, including the mother, would stay together as a close-knit group of friends. To me at least, the name of the game would be growth for
these characters, and this finale was more about a total regression.

What do you guys think? Let me know in the comments below whether or not you guys liked the finale, or if you agree with my view on it.

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Really Professional Internet Person by Jenn McAllister Review

For some, the internet can be a scary place, filled with unknown danger. Yet those who know how to use it responsibly and practice safe
uses of that same internet can utilize this incredible tool can realize their dreams. There is something so refreshing about reading the
story of a young woman who overcame great struggles to see their dreams come true. This is where we come in with this memoir, Really Professional
Internet Person by Jenn McAllister.

This is the voice of the young YouTube generation, and yet it feels like a familiar story that a lot of teenagers go through. Struggles with
bullying, with family problems, and with finding their voice in the world. For those who don’t know her, Jenn McAllister is known by her
channel name on YouTube, jennxpenn. Amassing over 2 million subscribers on her channel, this young woman has already been on several tours,
starred in her first feature film, Bad Night, and now has written her first book. Her unique brand of dry humor has made her a staple in
the YouTube community, and this book serves as not only a memoir, but as her guide to YouTube success that has helped her over the years.
Now granted, she does a great job of stating that everyone is different, and no single guide is the right path for everyone searching to find
their voice on YouTube.

The writing in this book is fresh, mature and identifies with people of all ages. You can feel the emotions she felt pouring off the page,
and her genuine love for her craft and her appreciation to her audience are evident in every page. You will find yourself rooting for her
from the very start of the book, and without giving away any important developments in the memoir, her story and the messages she conveys
are not merely important, but rather integral to overcoming the struggle of not only school, but of life in general. It’s a message of
hardship, but it’s also a story of hope, and how hard work and determining what you are passionate about can set you on your own unique path
that only you can travel.

Overall this was a fantastic memoir. It’s been very reassuring to see these young stars utilizing their status with their fans to not only
tell their story, but to get the generations to come to pick up a book, and appreciate the written word. The future looks bright for Jenn
McAllister, and I highly recommend you pick up a copy of this book now!

@youtube

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Shovel Knight Gets His Own amiibo! First Indie Game with amiibo Compatibility

One of Several Indie Announcements Made During Nintendo’s Nindies@Night Event

REDMOND, Wash.–(BUSINESS WIRE)– During a presentation at Nintendo’s Nindies@Night event at EMP Museum in Seattle, Nintendo made several announcements about the future of independent games on the Wii U and Nintendo 3DS systems. These announcements included the reveal of a Shovel Knight amiibo figure from Yacht Club Games that unlocks exclusive features for the hit game on Wii U and Nintendo 3DS, making it the first indie game to support amiibo technology. Other reveals at the event include the upcoming launch of Kerbal Space Program for Wii U early next year with exclusive features and functionality, first-look Wii U debuts for Hive Jump and FAST Racing Neo multiplayer game play, along with exciting details concerning each of these anticipated Nindies.

For the first time, exclusive to the Wii U version of the game, players can scan the Shovel Knight a …
For the first time, exclusive to the Wii U version of the game, players can scan the Shovel Knight amiibo and take on Shovel Knight’s quest cooperatively with a friend. (Photo: Business Wire)

“Not only do we have a robust slate of indie games launching in the Nintendo eShop, but these games also contain features that can only be found on Wii U and Nintendo 3DS,” said Damon Baker, Nintendo of America’s Senior Marketing Manager of Publisher and Developer Relations. “Creating an amiibo that’s compatible with all current and future Shovel Knight games shows that our strong relationship with independent developers is constantly evolving.”

“It’s been a great honor to work directly with Nintendo, creating a Shovel Knight amiibo that sits beside their most beloved characters,” said Yacht Club Games. “We are elated to expand the world of Shovel Knight, and to keep developing unique game-play experiences on Nintendo’s platforms.”

For the first time, exclusive to the Wii U version of the game, players can scan the Shovel Knight amiibo and take on Shovel Knight’s quest cooperatively with a friend. On Nintendo 3DS and Wii U, the amiibo can be used to level up and customize Shovel Knight with new visual enhancements, relics and abilities. These abilities can then be used in new, exclusive amiibo challenge levels. To top it off, the amiibo figure will be supported in future Shovel Knight games.

Yacht Club Games also revealed that the free DLC for Shovel Knight that lets players play as fan-favorite enemy Plague Knight will launch in September. Shovel Knight can be purchased in the Nintendo eShop on Wii U and Nintendo 3DS for $14.99. Packaged retail versions of the game for both Wii U and Nintendo 3DS will also be available in North America this October.

Graphite Lab and Black Lantern Studios showcased the first playable version of Wii U-exclusive Hive Jump, demonstrating exclusive features for the platform. Hive Jump is a fast-paced multiplayer action platformer for up to four players. Players engage in run ’n’ gun combat with swarms of aliens, all the while avoiding traps and collecting resources. The developers discussed how the Wii U Game Pad would be used in the game, as well as plans for amiibo support, which will be included when it launches in the Nintendo eShop on Wii U in early 2016.

To talk about FAST Racing Neo, Shin’en Multimedia joined the presentation to discuss multiplayer game play. FAST Racing Neo earns the title “Fast” by throwing players into a futuristic racer with hyper-fast anti-gravity vehicles. Up to four players can race against each other in split-screen local multiplayer, with up to eight racers able to participate in online multiplayer. (Additional controllers are required for local multiplayer.) FAST Racing Neo will launch exclusively in the Nintendo eShop on Wii U before the end of the year.

Squad’s Kerbal Space Program, with the help of Flying Tiger, was announced for Wii U and will launch early next year. A physics-based space flight simulator, Kerbal Space Program allows players to manage their own space program by building and flying spacecraft. In the Wii U version of the game, players can control their ship from inside the cockpit using the Wii U GamePad controller, as well as create flight plans with the touch screen and steer with motion controls. The critically acclaimed Kerbal Space Program will launch in the Nintendo eShop on Wii U.

Nintendo also announced the latest content refresh to the Indie Game Revolution exhibition hosted by EMP. Visitors to the Seattle museum are now able to experience new award-winning Wii U games, including upcoming and recently released content like Typoman (Headup Games / Brainseed), Year Walk (Simogo / Dakko Dakko) and The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth (Nicalis, Inc).

In all, 19 games were available to play at the Nindies@Night event at EMP Museum, showcasing a variety of content for all attendees. All these upcoming games and updates coupled with recent efforts like Nindies@Home further reinforce the growing support Nintendo has shown for independent developers. With numerous other indie games launching on Wii U and Nintendo 3DS in the near future, fans will always find a wide variety of Nindies to play on Nintendo systems.

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Body Image in the 21st Century:

Have you ever thought about body image? I’m sure 99% of you guys out there probably have. Whether you’ve struggled on one end of the
spectrum or the other with weight, height, or some other identifying marker, body image is on most people’s minds. As a society, I like to
be positive and think that we have begun to mature, and to realize that we are all equal and beautiful, no matter what our race, body image,
background, sexual orientation or anything else that makes us unique. However, from time to time I’ll come across someone or something that’s
said that pins a certain group of people in a negative body image and light.

I happened to be online today, (I know, big shock!), and while I was on Facebook I saw a YouTuber I enjoy watching, Meghan Tonjes, post a video
in response to a video called Dear Fat People. Now, immediately the title of the video she was responding to conjured up some negative
connotations. As a big person, I generally don’t like to refer to heavy-set people as fat. When the word fat is generally used, it’s used as
an insult or in a derogatory sense. Upon watching the emotional, tearful video response by Meghan, I soon learned the concept behind the
video, and found my hesitation about the video was not for naught.

The video was made by a YouTube comedian named Nicole Arbour. While I don’t watch her videos much, I had seen bits and pieces of her throughout
social media and at the time had been considering giving her channel a shot. After watching her video however, I found myself instantly
writing her off. The video is supposed to be shot in a satirical voice. However the video comes across more like a young woman who berates
obese people into stopping their bad habits and does it supposedly out of love, to help people out. This is of course the most narrow-minded,
obtuse way of thinking I’ve seen from a YouTube entertainer thus far.

Now I’m a big believer in the YouTube community. I am not only a fan, but I’m a part of that community as well, having vlogged my daily life
for the last two years. So my criticism is in no way meant to hamper the YouTube community. The same goes for the people who happen to be
thin, skinny, thin yet curvy, or anything less than heavy set. In fact, the whole point of this blog post is to promote a healthy body image
for all people, no matter what. This is not to put down thinner people at all. This is directed at a single individual and the individuals
who promote this mindset.

Now, Nicole Arbour since the video has come out and said that if people don’t appreciate her brand of comedy, then they don’t have to watch
her videos. This is very true. Watching her videos or her posting videos in general is not my problem here at all. No, the problem I have
is the message she’s choosing to send to the thousands of people who watch her videos. Her attitude and behavior in this video suggest that
people who are obese, heavy-set or anywhere in that department should be ashamed of themselves. You can nearly hear the disgust in her voice
as she goes on what seems like a tirade about obesity.

A couple of things. First, if she doesn’t feel this way and did it purely out of comedy, then she needs to work on her timing, her voice
when presenting the jokes, and the wording of said jokes. However if this is something she truly believes, then she is promoting an unhealthy
body image. She says at the beginning of her video that fat shaming is something fat people made up. In the first few seconds of her own
video, she proves her unlimited narrow-mindedness to the world. When a person puts themselves out there in hopes of being an entertainer,
and garners a large audience of any size, they take on a responsibility, whether they like it or not. They are responsible for influencing
thousands, maybe even millions of lives who have decided to give them their attention.

Therefore, Nicole Arbour has seriously failed in her responsibilities. In this modern age, she has displayed some old world thinking. Unless
she is in fact a medical doctor and knows all of the various illnesses, disabilities, or mental factors that can cause obesity, (including
each and every persons personal home lives), then she has nothing to back up the facts she states in her video. Despite the causes of
obesity or a heavy-set image, no amount of finger-pointing should devalue a person’s body image.

Here is the bottom line people. Whether you agree with me or not, we are all equal. We are all beautiful, and even if we aren’t all attracted
to one another, we have to take off the blinders and see the beauty that resides inside and out of us all. I can honestly say that I’ve been
attracted to thin women, athletic women, curvy women, and heavy-set women. I’ve been attracted to women of all shapes, sizes, ethnicity and
more. Just as fat shaming exists, so too does skinny shaming. The purpose of this blog is to showcase that no matter what a persons
body size is, or what they look like, they are all beautiful. Don’t let people like Nicole Arbour come around and bully you into changing
your appearance. The only time a diet should come into play is to help with your health. Your physical appearance however, is gorgeous.
Men, we are all handsome, no matter what people say, and you women who may be self-conscious, know that you are incredibly beautiful.

In conclusion, no one should be ashamed of their body image. Trust me when I say I know what it’s like to be ashamed. I’ve battled that
feeling most of my life. I’m still a heavy set guy, and yet most of my food intake consists of healthy food. I’ve been dieting for a long
time now. Yet health problems and disabilities have hampered any sort of major weight loss I can achieve. I keep going for my health, but
I’m a big guy who is proud to be a big guy. No matter what, you guys will always have me in your corner, here to pick you up when you’re
feeling down. So if you are struggling with body image, reach out to someone. Whether you need a few words of encouragement on social media
from me, or you can talk to a parent, a sibling, a relative, a friend, or someone you love and who loves you, reach out and talk. And despite my thoughts on her video and the way she presented herself, don’t hate on Nicole or people like her, for they are forced to live their life in a horribly one-track frame of mind, and will not know what true happiness can feel like until they open themselves up to other ways of thinking.

Remember, you all are beautiful. Leave your thoughts and comments
down below, and be sure to share this blog with your family, friends and loved ones. This is author Anthony Avina, signing out. Long Days
and Pleasant Nights My Friends!

meghantonjes