Today, our author, Adam Santo,  shared a moment in his life to bring awareness to National Child Abuse Prevention month. His post 'Leave the Belt On' is a thought provoking piece about child abuse and what children remember of their youth.

What a year it has been for all of us. The world almost came to an end (again), our faith in Wall Street sits on a fiscal cliff like lemmings waiting to take that final step over the edge, an outcry over SOPA went out to the masses, and Facebook tried the stockmarket.  We had a run for our money in 2012. Now that the Mayan calendar has run out, what will 2013 bring us?
On a personal note I accomplished a few goals. Two more books went out with my name on them - Ocean's Fury (a tale from your own view of events about a cruise ship in peril) and Temperature: Bitter Cold. They are available at any online bookstore along with Temperature: Dead and Rising.
I also had a small book signing locally to kick off the release of Temperature: Bitter Cold with some of the proceeds going to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research (It's never too late to donate. Contribute directly or purchase a book to help out). I also made time to print out fanfare for the coming novel - Get quality work at VistaPrint http://vistaprint.tellapal.com/a/clk/34Bhzd .
The holidays would not be the same without family there to support you. I had a great support team this year, which allowed me to spend way too much time in my office to finish writing instead of partaking in routine events around the house. So, to make up for it I stopped blogging, making notes for the next manuscript, and killed off the majority of time I spend on social networks promoting my work to spend quality time here in my home. Time management isn't my friend and Santa forgot to gift wrap me some. I hope to fix that in the coming year by spreading my time evenly between family, a paying job, and my passion to write. To that end, I want to wish everyone Happy Holidays and good tidings for the coming year.

Our author, Adam Santo, offers this fun and festive holiday post for your enjoyment. From our family to yours - Happy Holidays!


Delicate flakes of ice trickle down from lofty white clouds on a cold November eve. Smells of forgotten memories lift on a light breeze towards your car; pumpkin pie - still warm from baking - rests in your hands for the awaiting kitchen already filled with delectable treats. Yes, Thanksgiving is upon us.

We take the time each year to reunite with friends, relatives, and reminisce about the ones we've lost. Our year is spent being busy with tedious work schedules and inner family turmoil that ends with the holidays; a needed break from the ordinary routines of life. We sometimes bring our tresses with us to joyous family gatherings where we should be happy to be with ones that love us, but forget those concerns when we are welcomed into our childhood homes with a warm embrace of a parent. To be thankful is more than a holiday: it's a celebration of life.

Live what is given to you to its fullest. Know that one bad moment cannot ruin a lifetime of love. We all have jaded hours speckling our past, but a light always shines ahead. Be thankful for the little things that remind us we are only human.

Thanksgiving bring out the good in us all for a special night. Why keep your gratitude chained to one day? I think it a misnomer to believe we actually 'thank' anything until our heads bow at the dinner table. Do you think about what your thankful for leading up to dinner? We are grateful - in a sense - for the time we spend with loved ones without expressing it fully. Our words of thanks come at the end of a Thanksgiving night when we say, "goodbye" and "I love you" to family members. Make sure it doesn't stop there.

The next day is another well celebrated day, it's "The Day After Thanksgiving Sale". Remember what yesterday meant to you and carry well-wishing on through the new year. It's a stretch, but I'm sure if we pull together it can be done. Now, hands off that half-off toaster. I saw it first...