Saturday, September 30, 2023

First Ten Books in the Dark Musicals on Sale for $0.99 Each!

 


To celebrate the release of Sectarian, every other books in the Dark Musicals series will be on sale for $0.99 until the end of October! Grab a copy now and get all eleven books for under under $15! 

Friday, September 29, 2023

The Dos and Don'ts of Introducing Solid Foods to Your Infant

During the first months, the baby enjoys the taste of the mother's milk. If there are no obstacles to breastfeeding, it is recommended to maintain exclusive breastfeeding until the baby is six months old and continue breastfeeding while introducing solid meals. If breastfeeding is not possible, the parents should replace it with the baby formula, for example, the best organic hypoallergenic formula or another formula suitable for their little one.




During the first months, the baby enjoys the taste of the mother's milk. If there are no obstacles to breastfeeding, it is recommended to maintain exclusive breastfeeding until the baby is six months old and continue breastfeeding while introducing solid meals. If breastfeeding is not possible, the parents should replace it with the baby formula, for example, the best organic hypoallergenic formula or another formula suitable for their little one.

What to Do

Serve vegetables first. If your baby accepts the delicate taste of veggies at the very beginning, it will positively affect their eating habits in the future. Typically, if vegetables are i
ntroduced to an infant’s diet first, the child will eat more vegetables later in life than children who start with fruit. 

Introduce simple flavors first. It is recommended to start supplementing the diet with simple, single-ingredient meals. Firstly, typical complementary foods, such as vegetables, porridge, gruel, and fruit, should be introduced. Gradual thickening of milk or baby formula by adding gruels and cereal porridges is a practical way to familiarize the baby with new consistencies.

Mix the flavors. An infant accustomed to variety early on will accept new flavors more easily in the following months. Once you’ve introduced two different products to your baby and ensured their body can digest them, try mixing them in one meal. A varied menu also promotes the nutritional value of the diet.

What Not to Do

Don’t underestimate delicate flavors. Do not add salt, sweeten, or season your meals. Providing unsweetened and unsalted meals is crucial because of the long-term impact on the child's health and the development of appropriate eating habits later in life.

Don’t overfeed your baby. Introduce new foods gradually, starting with around 1-2 teaspoons. In the first year of life, breastfeeding or formula feeding remains the most essential part of nutrition. Initially, it's just about trying and getting used to the new tastes and textures.

Don't get discouraged after the first few tries. The situation when an infant doesn’t accept a new taste does not mean you should give up. Sometimes, it takes many tries, even 10-15, to fully accept a new taste. It is also not worth giving up when the baby rejects the new consistency. Vomiting reactions and spitting out are signs of adaptation, not difficulties with swallowing. In this way, the baby copes with throwing pieces of food from the mouth that they cannot yet chew for swallowing.

Remember: the first thousand days of a baby’s life are a vital period of their development. It is the parent who decides WHAT the baby will eat, WHEN, and HOW the food will be served. The child decides IF they will eat and HOW MUCH they will eat.



Saturday, September 23, 2023

To Celebrate the Release of Sectarian, Phantom is FREE & Every Other Book in the Series is $0.99!


Erik Patko is living in the shadow of his celebrity parents. Returning to the family theater’s summer show is a constant reminder that he’ll never meet their expectations, but the seashore town of Cape May is the perfect setting to confess his love to his friend Priscilla and may give them an edge on the competition later when they audition for their college production of Renters.

Resident drag queen Curtis Hawthorne is thrilled to be cast in the starring role in Sexy Boots at the Ange du Palais, but not everyone wants the show to succeed. With protestors outside the door and a saboteur within, the curtain may fall on this performance before Curtis takes his closing bow.

Despite the growing tension between them, these two musical theater stars will join forces to face off against the Millsboro Church when the hateful leader targets the people they love.

 ***********************

To celebrate the release of Sectarian, Book 11 in the Dark Musicals series, Phantom, Book 1 is FREE and every other book in the series is marked down to $0.99 for a limited time! Follow the Patko family and their colorful cast of friends through two generations of musical theatre performances! Find the entire series exclusively on Amazon




Sectarian, Dark Musicals: A New Cast is Available NOW


Erik Patko is living in the shadow of his celebrity parents. Returning to the family theater’s summer show is a constant reminder that he’ll never meet their expectations, but the seashore town of Cape May is the perfect setting to confess his love to his friend Priscilla and may give them an edge on the competition later when they audition for their college production of Renters.

Resident drag queen Curtis Hawthorne is thrilled to be cast in the starring role in Sexy Boots at the Ange du Palais, but not everyone wants the show to succeed. With protestors outside the door and a saboteur within, the curtain may fall on this performance before Curtis takes his closing bow.

Despite the growing tension between them, these two musical theater stars will join forces to face off against the Millsboro Church when the hateful leader targets the people they love.

Friday, September 22, 2023

Thunderstruck is FREE on Amazon


Taranis, the Celtic god of Thunder, has spent an eternity longing for the touch of a single mortal woman. He has followed her through incarnations, but always his powers were too much for her to bear.

Tara is a deaf woman, struggling to fit in the hearing world. She hides a gentle heart behind a tough exterior. Will she let down her defenses when a handsome mute tries to win her heart?

And even if she does, can Taranis’ love come without a death sentence?


Friday, September 1, 2023

Brushed by Fate is FREE for Labor Day Weekend


Elisa Manna gave up on romance after a string of abusive relationships. She comes off as a brusque biker, but beneath her rough exterior she longs for something more.

Scott Heron is a Marine veteran trying to cope with the residual effects of war. His art is his only refuge from the dark memories that haunt him. 

When fate nudges them together, they can't deny there's chemistry, but Elisa is terrified of commitment and Scott's physical and emotional scars make him abrasive and unpredictable. Can these two wounded warriors overcome their damaged past and paint a new future together?




If you are new to the series, check out Falling Star and In Perfect Harmony. While each story is stand-alone, it's best to read them in order!


Saturday, August 26, 2023

Destiny is #FREE on Amazon


Gabriella is a witch. The problem is, she doesn't remember. She repressed the memories of her powers years ago when her mother was murdered. Now, the warlock who was responsible for her mother's death has set his sights on Gabriella. He is determined to use her fear to turn her to the dark side of magick…even if it kills her. Her mother's spirit is reaching out to warn her, but even that she pushes away. Desperate to save her daughter, the spirit finds a male witch–one that just happens to be in love with Gabriella. Darron is more than willing to help but the two young witches will have way more to battle than just an evil warlock. There are overbearing jocks and petty rich girls who get tempers flaring and often set Gabrielle and Darron at odds.

There is more to the story than Gabrielle and Darron could even imagine. There are terrible secrets to be revealed, battles to be waged, and lives will be lost. Only after Gabrielle and Darron both come to terms with who they really are and open themselves up to the true meaning of magick, can they have any hope of fulfilling their destiny.  


Gabriella and Darron thought their magickal battle was over when they defeated the evil warlock, Richard. When her Aunt Donna seeks Gabriella's help in rescuing her catatonic daughter from the Dark Coven, Gabriella discovers that her cousin holds a power within her that would be catastrophic in the hands of the evil witches. Her coven sets out on a journey that may be their last. Along the way, they meet new allies, face devastating treachery, and battle not only the Dark Coven, but the darkness within themselves. When Gabriella finally comes face to face with the cousin she never knew existed, her true destiny is unveiled and the fate of the mortal world is in her hands.