Using Social Media Sites To Promote Music

Apps, social media and the Internet have changed the face of the music industry forever.  At one time, a musician needed someone from the music industry or an agent to get their music heard by the masses.  Today, any musician needs only to turn to the Internet and self-promotion to put their music out for the world.

Cults and Consumers [Infographic]

Cults have always fascinated the human psyche. The Bible and Greek literature mentions religious cults and their strange practices. Today, modern culture is obsessed with cults; references to Charles Manson and the Jonestown Massacre are commonplace. Thousands of cults are expected to exist today with millions of Americans involved, many of whom would not define themselves as cult members.

Of course, the definition of cults has evolved. Marketing professionals draw on the psychology of cults to attract consumers to certain products. A marketing cult positions itself as a select club that targets the truly dedicated brand fanatics and draws on users’ obsession with the product. By collecting enough dedicated fans, the club propagates itself as users reach out to other potential consumers and promote the brand. Strong leadership and overtures to promoting the public good, just like in a real cult, keep members hooked. Sound like any companies you know?

France 'will not yield to terrorists' on hostages

France 'will not yield to terrorists' on hostages (via AFP)

Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said Wednesday that France would not give in to "terrorists" after the kidnapping of seven members of a French family in northern Cameroon. Seeming to exclude the possibility of paying a ransom, Fabius told the National Assembly: "We must do the maximum (to free the…

Cover Reveal: The Witch Hunter

Today, we’re hosting our first cover reveal ever! And, we are starting in a big way as our first one is for a book that has got bite and all... Yep, it is a cover reveal for none other than The Witch Hunter itself.

The Witch Hunter is the first book in a new paranormal romance series by author Nicole R. Taylor.

Take a look at the gorgeous cover and let us know what you think...

By the way, while you're here, do feel free to find out more about the book and its author.

Enjoy!

Loup Dargent

About The Witch Hunter

I was born into the world covered in blood, and that's exactly the way I left it.

Ever since, I have been damned to walk the boundary between life and death alone. Unwillingly turned and left to my nightmare, I have seen men commit countless horrors and committed many of my own.

My origins shall remain unknown, my true self hidden. I have been called by many names, but in this life I am known as the Witch Hunter. I have been asleep these past 150 years, until I was awoken by a haunting call

Join Us For 'The Radio Murders: The Collectors' Cosmic Blast

For this second Cosmic Blast hosted by LoupDargent.info, Chuck Collins, author of  The Radio Murders: The Collectors is giving away a $50 Amazon Gift Card and 5 Signed copies of his book.to some of this blog's lucky readers. Cool, isn't it?

All you need to do to enter is filling the form at the end of this post... Worth the effort, don't you think?

   

Good luck and enjoy!

Loup Dargent

Shaking Up The Stereotype With Male Nursery Workers

Traditionally, it’s always been women who’ve taken job roles in nurseries. Looking after children tends to appeal to their maternal instincts; nursery worker roles bring out their nurturing, caring side. However, all of that is changing. With recent male additions to the role, the stereotype of female nursery workers is about to be blown out of the water.

Characters To Watch Out For In Classic Murder Mysteries

Murder mysteries are fairly common on the big screen and on the small screen and many of these stories see the recurrence of some familiar characters. When you take your seat in the cinema for a crime drama, or you sit down to watch the latest murder mystery on TV, you should be prepared to do a little detective work of your own.

The first element of a viewer's detective work comes from recognising some of the archetypal characters of the crime drama genre. Working out the motives and personalities of these characters is what makes watching murder mysteries such good fun.

The K. B. Lever's Immortal Companion Tour 2013 Hosted at LoupDargent.info Today!

Nope, you are not dreaming... Author K. B. Lever has agreed to stop by during  her current, and busy, tour of the Blogosphere to promote her books here, in the (relative) comfort of our TARDIS-like virtual office, on the 13 February 2013.... which is...yep... today!

(That also makes LoupDargent.info one of her Immortal Companion Tour 2013's official hosts... cool  isn't it?)

Enjoy!

Loup Dargent

PS: We've even opened a virtual coffee/tea area especially for the occasion, but you'll have to get your own teas or coffees though (I'm nobody's tea boy! Jeeez!)...

Author K. B. Lever in Her Own Words

I grew up in Simpsonville, South Carolina and moved to Charlotte, North Carolina at the age of twelve. Until then, my life simply revolved around softball, writing, and cheering on the N.C. State Wolfpack by my father’s side.

A true desire to write began once I reached my high school years. Poems and Short stories filled my notebooks for Science, History, and Math. But by graduation, a second passion would prove to be far too great for me to ignore – the desire to help people.

My career path led me into the field of emergency services. I became a professional firefighter, which after a few years led to the promotion of Fire Lieutenant.

Concurrently, I expanded my studies to become an Emergency Medical Technician. I have since resigned from the fire department and chose to advance my career in the medical field to become a Paramedic Crew Chief. It has thus far been a rewarding career that has brought me a life full of happiness, constant rewards, and getting to help the public in a most drastic time of need.


After the birth of Ava, my daughter, I decided that I needed to write her story. For the first time in years, I picked up a pen and began writing. It was a small, leather bound journal that allowed me to write all of her accomplishments, life experiences, and memories that wouldn’t be able to fit into a baby album. It unknowingly lit a fire within me that I wouldn’t be able to shake.

The Billionaires of the World [Infographic]

It may be true that 14 of the world’s 25 richest people live in the United States, but it doesn't necessarily follow that Americans make up the richest population on Earth.

If the 25 wealthiest Americans pooled their money together, however, they would create a $500 billion fund. To give a better idea of how much money that is, one person would have to spend $1.3 billion each day in order to spend it all in a year.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, the world’s 10 wealthiest men are all older than 50. Three of these men reside in the U.S., but the richest of them, telecommunications mogul Carlos Slim Helu, lives in Mexico with his $69 billion fortune.

It will surprise no one that Bill Gates is the richest man in America, and the second richest man in the world, a ranking which he owes to his $61 billion fortune. The Microsoft mogul is $17 billion richer than the world’s next wealthiest man, Warren Buffet.

Surviving Death Row [Infographic]

Imagine the terror of standing in a court of law and being sentenced to death. If you were guilty, it would be terrifying. If you were innocent, it would be doubly terrifying, as you stand there and wonder why people are going to end your life over something you know you didn't do. The problem is that the justice system is flawed. It's based on a jury of our peers, but those peers aren't perfect and until a few decades ago, there wasn't a scientific way for innocent folks to prove they didn't commit a murder they were charged with.

Thanks to DNA evidence, people are now getting scientific proof that they are innocent of the crime of murder. People that sat on death row for decades are now being set free thanks to DNA evidence that they didn't commit the crime. We'll never know how many innocent people died because DNA evidence wasn't available, but we do know that these 300 men were very lucky.

Pope Benedict XVI's resignation: Live Report

Pope Benedict XVI's resignation: Live Report (via AFP)

1326 GMT: After a cardinal is chosen, he is asked if he agrees to become pope and what name he wishes to be known by. He immediately becomes Pontifex Maximus, or the Holy Roman Pontiff. The dean of the college of cardinals then steps on to the Vatican's main balcony and declares: "Habemus Papam!",…

Police deploy to contain racist Israeli football supporters

Police deploy to contain racist Israeli football supporters (via AFP)

More than 600 Israeli police deployed on Sunday outside Jerusalem's Teddy stadium to contain possible racist protests by football supporters during a visit by an Arab team, a security spokesman said. "We put 600 to 700 uniformed and plain clothes policemen in place to avoid any disorder and restrain…