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The Birth of Harlequin Japan The existence of Harlequin Manga might surprise you. In fact, you might not have known it even existed at all. But true story: it’s been published in Japan since the late ’90s before it returned to the English-language market a handful of years later. Harlequin Manga got its start thanks to the global popularity of Harlequin romance. For many people, Harlequin is the brand most associated with romance — with all the pros and cons that connection may entail....

Like a lot of life-changing discoveries, I stumbled upon my first queer fantasy romance story accidentally. My first brush with queer characters in fantasy began with Cassandra Clare’s The Mortal Instruments series. While the central focus of the series is the pairing between a straight couple, Clary and Jace, it was queer characters like Alec and Magnus (#Malec) who later became more important to me than the main couple. Soon I began to read romance fantasy books where the main characters belonged to the LGBTQ+ umbrella in one way or another and found a long list of rewarding titles – all of which, unfortunately, could not make it on this list for brevity’s sake....

I never understood that. Not just because that’s not what hallucinations are, but also because I don’t really visualize when I read. I don’t have complete aphantasia, but I can’t hold images in my head. I get flickers or indistinct pictures. I certainly don’t see a whole movie play out in my head when I read, and I don’t particularly want to. I’ve learned that I am in the minority on this....

In fact, they’re already doing it. Folks like Stephens, who is the “curriculum director” of Utah Parents United, a “parental rights” group closely aligned with Moms For Liberty, are sharing that their ratings system is being implemented already. Stephens also does not deny — and in fact considers it publicity — that BookLooks has been called out as a Moms For Liberty joint. So how will this happen? To their credit, it’s clever....

When I saw that she was going to be at my favorite indie bookstore for an author talk on The Rest of the Story a few years back, I knew I had to see her, despite the fact that I was far older than her target audience. I purchased the book before her talk, expecting it to be another coming-of-age novel unfolding in the suburbs. I thought a signed copy would be a nice gift for my teenage sister....

Since TikTok’s emergence into the literary scene, she’s been dubbed the “Queen of BookTok,” accumulating over 800,000 followers and hundreds of videos under the hashtag #colleenhoover. According to Hoover’s publisher Atria, her most popular books on TikTok have spent a combined 151 weeks on The New York Times bestseller list. Novels like It Ends with Us published in 2016 were back on the list in 2022 with staying power. What about Hoover and her books has resonated so much with TikTok?...

Winnie The Pooh Baby Shower invitations These printable invitations showcase the more modern, Disney versions of Pooh and Piglet. These classic Winnie the Pooh baby shower invitations are also available in a blue and a pink colorway. You can also order custom invitations, no printing required! Food ideas Whether you decide to serve themed food, or to simply present your go-to party snacks with a cute, themed label, here are few ways to quell the rumbly in everyone’s tumbly....

Start With What a Theme is Not A theme is not a topic or a summary of the text, nor is it the plot. In other words, if you are solely thinking of what happened in the story or where, then you are not necessarily exploring theme. However, identifying the topic, plot, and other elements like setting may help you see a theme eventually. Start with finding these. It is usually much easier to identify these elements than the theme, and they should contribute to you finding themes to consider later....

Painting bookshelves is surprisingly easy and affordable. Generally there are three types of bookcase redos: 1) painting or refinishing a thrift store find in an ultra-stylish color for an eclectic home filled with highly personal belongings; 2) painting a cheap, pre-manufactured, flatpack bookcase because you’re on a budget but still want some personal flair; 3) doing everything in the second category on steroids because you’re going for a custom, built-in look for a fraction of the price....

Vocabulary Before we get into different punctuation, let’s get on the same page regarding poetry punctuation vocabulary, shall we? End Stop — This is punctuation that occurs at the very end of a line. Twinkle twinkle little star, Enjambment — This is when a line breaks, but does not end with punctuation. Twinkle twinkle little star, Caesura — This is when punctuation happens inside a line, anywhere except at the end of the line....

Love to read? Love great deals? Early Bird Books brings you free and bargain eBooks that match your interests. You can sign up for free, read the books on any device, and the books are yours to keep. Sign up to our eBook deals newsletter and start getting great deals on bestselling titles today! Learn more at earlybirdbooks.com. In 2020 I lost my dream job. My position was removed due to budgetary cuts due to…COVID-19?...

I Don’t Want To Waste My Money On Something I’ll Hate Libraries are an unbelievable resource for many reasons and many properly funded libraries carry physical books, ebooks, and audiobooks. And if they use Hoopla you don’t have to wait for an ebook or audiobook listed in their catalog, you can just read it immediately. Zero money spent. Ebook sales are another great way to acquire a book and although not zero dollars spent, it may help reduce your trepidation to try something for $1....

There is so much going on here, but the short version is this: Omar Currie noticed a boy in his class being bullied for being “feminine,” including being called “gay.” Currie (who is gay himself) addressed this by reading the picture book King & King by Linda de Haan & Stern Nijland to the class. Apparently, this worked: the bullied kid felt “for the first time that he was okay just the way he was....

Horror is usually sitting right beside fantasy when it comes to dark fantasy books. There are certain topics that can be traced back to the horror genre that you can find in dark fantasy, like death, monsters, suspense, and so many others that will take so much space if I name them. Even if the whole book isn’t about one theme, you can definitely spot them inside dark fantasy. That’s what makes it so interesting....

Wake of War is a timely account of the lengths those with power will go to preserve it, and the determination of those they exploit to destroy everything in the name of freedom anew. The United States is a crumbling republic. With the government floundering and national outrage growing by the hour, a rebellion has caught fire. The Revolutionary Front, led by Joseph Graham, has taken control of Salt Lake City....

What is camp, anyway? It might involve camping or the wilderness, or it might not. Camp is less about hiking and biking and getting into the lake (like camping) and more about an organized summer program that’s supervised by older teens and adults. Camp has often served as a bridge for childcare during the months when young people are out of school but parents are still working. While it once was fairly focused on being set outdoors in some capacity, whether it was a day camp or a sleep away camp, it’s common now to see a million different types of camp....

Need even more mermaids in you life? You might be interested in 9 of the best mermaid picture books, some mermaid books for kids of all ages, and these mermaid stories from around the world. Everyone who reads this story will want an aquicorn of their own, trust me. And the message about conserving our oceans is perfect for little ones who love the ocean.

All that excess mojo, though, seems a shame to waste. What can aspiring gentlelady-killers learn from Mr. Darcy? Here’s a seven-step guide to imitating the Playboy of Pemberley. 1. Be rich. Like seriously, private -jet, Russian mobster, Tony Stark rich. This is helpful for a lot of reasons, not in the least of which is…. 2. Target women in dire financial straits. The less able they are to provide for themselves, the better, especially in cases where…...

The first line of Virginia Woolf’s Mrs. Dalloway is probably one of the best-known first lines in literature. When it was published in 1925, Woolf had already published three previous novels but only one in a similar style, Jacob’s Room. She came to be known as a pioneer of the stream-of-consciousness style of writing, in which we’re not only in the main character’s head, but feeling everything they feel. We experience fragments of thought not only from Mrs....