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New at Hayley’s Comments: Contributing Writers!

Yes! Hayley’s Comments is expanding. Hayley’s Comments will now have contributing writers and new weekly columns. Watch tomorrow for our first post from Linda Seccaspina.  Linda Seccaspina was born in Cowansville Quebec. She is an avid blogger, photographer and author. She used to own clothing stores in Ottawa and Toronto Ontario Canada from 1974-1996 called Flash Cadilac, Savannah Devilles, Nightmares and Flaming Groovies.

If you are not already familiar with Linda’s work, she will surely make a lasting impression tomorrow with her first post on Hayley’s Comments “Suicide- Inner Voices that Carry.” The article is about suicide and the place it had in Linda’s life. Linda has included some of her photography which enhances the piece and makes her story even more chilling. The post itself channels Sylvia Plath and the emotions in this story are so raw and real that I don’t think even Meryll Streep could perform it as well as Linda tells it.

Linda will be our first contributing writer. All the new contributing writers have great stories to tell. For the most part they can be described as strong women who made it through hell and back and lived to tell the tale. Make sure you stop by tomorrow to check out Linda’s post!

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A Woman’s Message to Rush

Hi Everyone- Please check out my new article that is being featured at the moment on The Huffington Post.

“A Woman’s Message to Rush”

Follow this link

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Shell News

Here is an article written by another writer about my book, I Know Why They Call a Shell a Shell. His name is Stan Horzepa. You might’ve seen him around this blog a few times. You should definitely check it out! In the article he mentions that even without a Kindle you can download and read my Ebook. He links a site that allows you to download a free Kindle app for your phones, tablets, Ereaders, and/ or computers and a Kindle Cloud Reader that allows you to read the book on your browser. Here is that link. It’s a very informative piece.

In other news about my book, there is one 5 star review by writer Linda Seccaspina on the Shell’s Amazon page. Her review states:

“For anyone out there that has no idea about the history of this author; she has done so much in so little time. Hayley has been writing about her life and other things she feels that we show know about on the beloved Huffington Post. You have to be very special to write on that venue and this book also showcases her great words. Some might not be easy to digest in the book as sometimes we do not like to face the truths that are out there these days. This is a book that every woman AND man should read and I have a feeling this is not the first we will see from Hayley. Hayley, you have done us all proud! Brava!”

That’s a great review!

Finally, for those of you who are not yet into the whole Ebook revolution, a physical paperback copy shall be available for purchase shortly. I’ll keep you posted.

 

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Why I Wrote My Memoir

“One morning, I unexpectedly awoke from a beautiful dream. I was on a cruise ship, it was early in the morning, the sun had just started to come up. I went outside onto the main deck. I walked to one side of the ship. I leaned against the rail and watched the pastel hues of pinks, blues, and oranges, dance gloriously on the ocean’s soft currents. It wasn’t often I got up to see an early morning sunrise and certainly had never seen one this beautiful. Upon a second glance at the water, I was stunned by what I saw. Within the glittering ocean waded thousands of beautiful dolphins.”

(From I Know Why They Call a Shell a Shell)

This was the first time the dolphins ever appeared to me. It was a breathtaking site, but being a strong believer of shamanism, I knew that it was no mistake, that it was more than a dream.

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My First Book is Out!

This morning, I am excited to announce that my first book “I Know Why They Call a Shell a Shell”  is now available for download on Amazon.com

Here is the book’s synopsis:

Told through the lens of the sea, each of the book’s five sections chronicle the main character’s journey away from tumultuous love affairs by weaving stories of her past with stories from literature, music, and visual art of both modern and classical significance.

After nearly being murdered by a boyfriend, Hayley promises herself that she will never let a man abuse her again. She figures that making this change, from dating abusive men to normal ones, should be as easy as flicking off a light switch, but soon finds that even after she’s made the conscious decision to no longer involve herself in unhealthy relationships, the rest of her has yet to catch up with that thought. Still caught up in the dramaturgy of her relationships’ past, she sets off on an emotional voyage to discover how she ended up on the shores of coastal New England.

The book is a work of creative non-fiction, a memoir of sorts. The e-version is available for download. Retail price $9.99

You can find it by following this link.

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American Kitsch

Just one of the Paul Bunyon and Babe the Blue Ox I sawon this trip, Northern California

Connecticut has been determined to be the state with the highest percentage of Italian people. Although I live in the best area in the country for Italian food, I don’t go to any of those independently owned Italian restaurants. Being raised by my half Italian mother was enough to make me capable in the kitchen. I don’t like to brag… lol…but most will agree my sauce is better than any they’ve ever tasted, so why would I bother to go to a Italian restaurant? For years, I scoffed at the idea of going to one when I can just make my own food. Indian food is another story, I cannot make Indian food to save my life! It was rare that I ever went to an Italian restaurant until one day when they locally built an Olive Garden. Continue reading

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Don’t Go Breakin’ Your Heart

For all the times somebody broke my heart, I’ve broken my heart three times over. What am I talking about you ask? Coveting. I should’ve paid attention in Sunday school (sorry, Mrs. Fredericksen), as I’m pretty sure there is a Commandment against this. Coveting is worse than it sounds, in fact I didn’t even realize that I’d been doing it for all these years.

I am the master if relationships- relationships in my mind, that is. I meet a guy, date him, talk to him, things are all around going well. In my mind, however, I am already picturing the progression of this not-even-a-relationship’s relationship. In my mind I am imagining how he is going to fall hard for me, so hard that it will pain him to be away from me for long. On top of that, I picture that he will be a guy who actually treats me with respect, for once.

It starts off good, but then suddenly comes a landslide and he falls off of a cliff. He stops calling. I can’t figure out why. Doesn’t he want everything to fall into place the way I’d pictured it? Doesn’t he want to fall in love with me and see how wonderful and caring of a person I am? Especially to a guy who deserves my adoration… Doesn’t he know what he’s missing? Doesn’t he want to go with me to Vermont for the weekend like I’d planned we’d do in a month or two? And what about Valentine’s day? Wasn’t he going to be my date? This is my internal dialogue, I want to make that clear. He did not disappear because I vocalized this, no. These thoughts never left my mind, until now, of course.

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The Problem with Homophobia Now on HuffPost

Hi Everybody,

Please check out my article, “The Problem with Homophobia,” and other articles that are now on The Huffington Post

“The Problem with Homophobia”

“The N-Word, the B-Word, and Rihanna”

“In Memory of Video Stores”

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The N-Word, The B-Word, and Rihanna on Huff Post

If you haven’t yet read this please check out my new article, “The N-Word, The B-Word, and Rihanna ” on The Huffington Post.

A Dutch magazine claims to have used highly offensive terminology to refer to Rihanna in an affectionate manner. Oh really? Lots of people are offended and rightfully so. The two words, the “N-word” and “bitch,” share similarities when it comes to their evolution. Both are derogatory terms and both refer to very specific demographic groups. The “N word” has roots as old as our nation, while the root’s of the derogatory term “bitch” are even older.

Read the rest here

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The Problem with Homophobia

File:Bachmann2011.jpgIn this country, homophobia runs rampant. We are constantly hearing stories of bullied teens committing suicide because they are ashamed to exist in a world where they feel they will never be accepted because they are gay. In the old days, people, both gay men and women, were forced to marry into heterosexual relationships in order to maintain some sort socially acceptable facade. Even today, where major progress has been made, when it comes to acceptance of homosexual people, there are still plenty hiding from their true identities. Where there are people lying to themselves about who they are, there are unsuspecting victims who will likely be part of the wreckage left in their trail.

Over the last few years I have dated two closet homosexuals, without realizing it, at first. One of them kept making plans to go to the movies with his friend, instead of me, while the other was awkward in every possible interaction with me. Shaking when he went in for the kiss and then slowly backing away from any physical contact with me at all.

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