Happy Hanukkah!

Wishing a very happy Chanukah to all my Jewish friends!

Never underestimate the importance of a good sense of humor. :)

A New Look For This Blog!

Hello readers,

My, how time flies! It's now just over two years since I first created this blog, on which I bestowed the highly imaginative title of Laura Pinto, Writer and Author. During these past two years, I haven't posted as much on the blog as I would have liked to. There's always something going on, something interesting or newsworthy that could conceivably find a place on these pages, and if it were up to me I would post here several times a week, if not daily. But life gets in the way. I have a full-time day job and a house and dog to take care of, all on my own. In order to preserve my strength and sanity, I have to prioritize, which means that non-essentials get pushed to the bottom of my list. But I'm hoping that all changes soon and that I have more free time to post on my blogs, as well as to maintain my web sites (some of which haven't been updated for years!).

In August of 2013, I published my first novel on Amazon Kindle, THE D.A.'s FOREVER. For the past several years, I've been hard at work on what was to be my first novel but will now be my second, LIFE ROCKS ON. There have been many long stretches of writer's block, but I've tried to work on the book at least on weekends, even if it was just to edit what was already written. Now the fog has cleared, and I'm writing in earnest again. LIFE ROCKS ON was first conceived in 2005, a full decade ago. I am hoping to give birth to it very soon.

In the meantime, I decided to change the focus of this blog from me, me, me to a little more of what's going on outside of myself. There's a big, wide and, at times, wonderful world out there, and I intend to put my two cents in on all manner of topics ranging from current events to entertainment to advice columns (which I read voraciously) to my two biggest interests, oldies music and the Law of Attraction. Few things will be off-limits, except for politics, religion, or anything of a negative or tragic nature. I have no desire to add power to negativity by talking about it here. As part of re-designing this blog, I gave it a new name: Laura Pinto ♥ Making Every Day Magical! The heart symbolizes what life and the Universe and all of creation is based on; the word "magical" refers to everyday miracles that we often take for granted (or, sadly, fail to notice). Every one of us has the ability to create magic on a daily basis. And it's my wish to demonstrate how to do exactly that, by sharing posts from some of the leading Law of Attraction teachers as well as my own personal experiences and observations.

For more info about me plus links to my sites, social networks and blogs, please visit my personal webpage, Laura's Websites (aka Laura Pinto Online) and my page on About.Me. Thank you for stopping by!

What Happens When 4 Greasers From the '50s Reunite in the '80s?

Find out in my Kindle* novel, THE D.A.'s FOREVER—just 99¢ through April 23, 2015.

(* No Kindle? No problem! You don't need a Kindle device to read a Kindle book; just download a free reading app for your PC, Mac, or smartphone, or use the Kindle Cloud Reader to read the book in your browser!)

From the book's official site:

It's 1988, and four men reunite for a special Fifties-themed homecoming celebration at their old New Jersey high school, thirty years after graduation. While in their teens, the boys had been known collectively as the D.A.'s (not so much a "gang" as a tight group of friends); but time and distance have brought changes and adult responsibilities. Letting go of the past proves challenging for the quartet, which consists of Frankie, the group leader and tough-guy greaser still playing the part at age 48; Denny, Frankie's best friend, whose misguided counsel to his 20-year-old son backfires in his face; Tony, the romantic, whose marriage and happiness are threatened by the reappearance of an old love; and Eddy, the straight-laced nerd and arguably most centered of the four thrown into emotional turmoil by the appearance of a new one. Now, all four must find the courage to leave the past behind as they come to terms with middle age and the realities of their diverse lives. NOTE: This book contains explicit language and sexual situations and is intended for mature audiences only.

Just click on any of the title links in this post to download your copy of THE D.A.'s FOREVER. (If you'd like to "try before you buy," you can read a sample from the book for free by clicking on its cover on the product page at Amazon.com.) And, remember—Kindle books can also be given as gifts! Act now to get your copy of THE D.A.'s FOREVER at this special price.

THE D.A.'s FOREVER by Laura Pinto—99¢ through 2/13/15

What happens when four greasers from the 1950s reunite in the ’80s? Plenty, as it turns out! Take a quartet of Jersey dudes in their late forties, add a large portion of midlife crises, toss in two chicks as seasoning, stir, and let simmer for a month or so; recipe yields four generous servings of trouble. THE D.A.'s FOREVER is a spicy dish, not for the timid of palate or faint of heart.

You can find out what happens when the '50s meet the '80s for less than the cost of a soft drink! THE D.A.'s FOREVER (no relation to the legal profession) is just 99¢ on Kindle through February 13, 2015. For info and links to purchase, click on the title. Now's a great time to download your copy—and, remember, Kindle books can also be given as gifts!

THE D.A.'s FOREVER is, first and last, a story about enduring friendship. It addresses everything from love to animosity, from lust to romance, from fidelity to infidelity, and—most tellingly—from youth to middle age. It’s part comedy, part drama, part satire, by turns funny and touching; it’s raunchy and sexy at times, romantic and sentimental at others. It’s a story of old love, of new love, and of a love that will never die. (Note: The D.A.’s Forever contains strong language and sexual situations.)