{"id":1135,"date":"2020-12-10T18:00:00","date_gmt":"2020-12-10T07:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/starlaarts.com\/?p=1135"},"modified":"2022-05-09T13:23:39","modified_gmt":"2022-05-09T03:53:39","slug":"december-2020-update","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/starlaarts.com\/index.php\/2020\/12\/10\/december-2020-update\/","title":{"rendered":"December 2020 Update"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"1135\" class=\"elementor elementor-1135\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-section-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-71c5790 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"71c5790\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-row\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-ac63149\" data-id=\"ac63149\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3fffb1c elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"3fffb1c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-text-editor elementor-clearfix\">\n\t\t\t\t<p>Christmas carols played in the background as my son and I placed the last decorations on the tree. Smiling, I watched with delight as my husband switched on the lights. Wrapping my arms around them both, we stood there, admiring our work, while my cup filled up with festive cheer.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-0531432 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"0531432\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-row\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-bc8e390\" data-id=\"bc8e390\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-bda19be elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"bda19be\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\"><u><b>Crystal's Crucible: Beta Readers Needed<\/b><\/u><\/h3>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f2026c9 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"f2026c9\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-text-editor elementor-clearfix\">\n\t\t\t\t<p>I am so close to finishing the latest novel in the <i>Phoebe Braddock Books <\/i>that I can taste the excitement, or is that the eggnog? Anyway, I am looking for volunteers to read this story and provide valuable feedback.\u00a0<\/p><h4>What you get as a beta reader:<\/h4><ul><li>A free electronic copy of my book<\/li><li>Your name printed in the acknowledgements<\/li><li>My eternal gratitude\u00a0<\/li><\/ul><h4>About this book:<\/h4><p>Crystal&#8217;s Crucible is a suspense filled forbidden romance involving a young chemistry graduate and her new boss.<\/p><p><b>Warning:<\/b> This book contains coarse language, explicit scenes, situations where consent is dubious, and graphic depictions of violence and drug use.<\/p><h4><b>Want to beta read this book?<\/b><\/h4><p>If you would like to be one of the first people to read this novel and provide feedback, please apply below.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a7d8a12 elementor-widget elementor-widget-button\" data-id=\"a7d8a12\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"button.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-button-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-button elementor-button-link elementor-size-sm\" href=\"https:\/\/forms.gle\/TdQCfi97fwWtaZ5j8\" target=\"_blank\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-content-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-text\">Beta Read Crystal's Crucible<\/span>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-a229595 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"a229595\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-row\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-36d5cc5\" data-id=\"36d5cc5\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-89df08e elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"89df08e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\"><b><u>Excerpt from Crystal's Crucible<\/u><\/b><\/h3>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-cd9532b elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"cd9532b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-text-editor elementor-clearfix\">\n\t\t\t\t<p>After attempting to rub the Mondayitis from his eyes, Adam pushed the button on the coffee machine and stared blankly at the cream-coloured plasterboard wall of the breakroom. He winced as the harsh grinding noise started. <i>God, I\u2019d hate to work in a caf\u00e9.<\/i><\/p><p>\u2018Oh, good, you\u2019re here.\u2019 Michael popped his head around the door. \u2018I need to see you in my office.\u2019<\/p><p>Adam groaned. \u2018I haven\u2019t even had my first cup yet, Mike.\u2019<\/p><p>\u2018Sorry boss, but this is kinda urgent.\u2019<\/p><p>With a sigh, Adam poured a splash of milk into his brew and took it with him as he followed Michael. Being the Administration Manager, Michael Higgins was situated near the front of the building. This meant traversing the open plan office area where several people looked up from their cubicle desks to smile and greet Adam. He gave each of them a polite nod and even fended off a couple of questions by pointing to his steaming hot drink.<\/p><p>Two men in suits rose from their seats when Adam entered the room. The older looking of the two stepped forward to offer his hand. \u2018Adam Fairfax? I\u2019m Detective Edward Draper and this is my partner, Detective Brett Hammond.\u2019<\/p><p>Adam\u2019s body stiffened as he shook their hands. <i>What the hell do the police want?<\/i> \u2018What can I do for you, Detectives?\u2019<\/p><p>Detective Draper gestured for him to sit as Michael closed the door. It was cramped with the four of them squeezed into Michael\u2019s poky office.<\/p><p>\u2018We might be more comfortable in the board room,\u2019 Adam suggested.<\/p><p>Draper shook his head. \u2018It\u2019s okay, we won\u2019t take much of your time.\u2019<\/p><p>Perching himself on the vacant chair, Adam took a sip of his coffee before placing it on the desk.<\/p><p>\u2018We found one of your employees this morning.\u2019<\/p><p>Adam exchanged furrowed brows with Michael before returning his attention to Draper. \u2018Found who and how?\u2019<\/p><p>\u2018Robert Landon was found dead, from an apparent suicide.\u2019<\/p><p>All the blood drained from Adam\u2019s face. \u2018<i>Oh God!<\/i> Robert killed himself? Why on Earth would he do that?\u2019<\/p><p>\u2018That\u2019s why we wanted to talk to you,\u2019 Hammond explained.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Christmas carols played in the background as my son and I placed the last decorations on the tree. Smiling, I watched with delight as my husband switched on the lights. &hellip;<\/p>\n<p class=\"read-more\"> <a class=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/starlaarts.com\/index.php\/2020\/12\/10\/december-2020-update\/\"> <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">December 2020 Update<\/span> Read More &raquo;<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1136,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":true,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"default","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[21,11,79],"tags":[23,24,22],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/starlaarts.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1135"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/starlaarts.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/starlaarts.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starlaarts.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starlaarts.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1135"}],"version-history":[{"count":12,"href":"https:\/\/starlaarts.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1135\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1148,"href":"https:\/\/starlaarts.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1135\/revisions\/1148"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starlaarts.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1136"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/starlaarts.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1135"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starlaarts.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1135"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starlaarts.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1135"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}