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Poorest County in Kentucky

McCreary County ranks #1 for the third year in a roll!

 

I have lived in this county my entire life. I love the forest, the river and nature. Just so you know, The Daniel Boone National Forest actually owns 43% of the county and 18% goes to the National Park Service, what we call the Big South Fork. It is great living in a small town with so much nature, but there comes a time when you need to look past the old ways and embrace the future.

When I say embrace the future, I'm talking about opening your arms to things that will help your county grow. We have 1 company who makes tents for the military, but there are 4 different factories, I believe. 2 grocery stores: Kroger and Save-a-lot. 1 Rite Aide. 2 Dollar Stores and 2 Family Dollars. About 10 places to eat, that's counting small places in the gas stations. Where do people work in this county? We need jobs and we need money. 

The county is poorer than dirt. According to our local paper, we are $350,000 in debt. How does this happen? We have no jail. We get loans from other counties to house our criminals. The jail we had was shut down because they said it needed to be redone. It will cost thousands of dollars to do this. Where does this money come from? And the bigger question,How do we get out of debt?

The county came to a conclusion that taxes needed to be raised. They wanted to raise restaurant tax and the taxes of residence in the county. ??? If you only have a few thousand people, about 2700 who work in the county, who will be taxed? According to the meeting the town had they want to tax everyone except government officials, teachers and I believe health care workers... Who is left to be taxed? The workers who work for minimum wage at restaurants, grocery stores and gas stations. It blows my mind. Does the county think this is the best action to crawl out of a debt with a county whose median income is 20,972 dollars? I think of the saying, 'squeezing blood from a turnip'.

Last year we had a chance to vote in alcohol. Where you could buy it in grocery stores. Before you get all crazy and say, no the kids will get a hold of it. Well, there are more bootleggers in this county then places to work.It's easier for them to get it now than from a grocery store. It didn't pass because the churches, a bunch, band together. We are surrounded by counties who got with the times and accepted what would help them. Would it help us? I don't know, but it couldn't have hurt us either.

Blog Tour

Thank You, Ultimate Fantasy Books

 

When my first book was published a few years ago, I was new to the publishing world. I had no clue what I needed to do, as an author, to promote and share my book with others. I realized fast it was a journey unlike none I could have imagined. As the months went by and my second book was published, I noticed book tours were what blogs loved to do. It was a way for authors to have their books showcased on a wider view. I had wanted to do this. Unfortunately being a one income family I had to depend on my book sales for money to put back into the advertising. It was hard for me to find a reasonably priced company that would do what I expected. Seeing Ultimate Fantasy Books on Goodreads and reading posts on Google+ helped me make my decision. When book three was published, I decided to take the next step in advertising and have my book placed in a tour.

The moment I sent you the information about my book and you decided to host the tour, I knew it was the right move. When I read the blog posts, reviews, spotlights and interviews it made me realize I made a great decision. Having so many blogs volunteer to be part of the tour gave me hope for the future. I had doubts about my abilities as an author and they showed me I do have fans out there. I just have to reach them.

Ultimate Fantasy Book Tours was wonderful. I appreciate the hard work and the exposure you brought to me and my books. It is a journey I would happily do again. And a company I would greatly recommend to another.

Thank you, Aoife and Ultimate Fantasy Books, for a wonderful week!

Check out Ultimate Fantasy Books for your next tour!

http://www.ultimatefantasybooks.com/

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Immurement Review

Immurement

Book 1 The Undergrounders Series

by Norma Hinkens

 

 Every year for Christmas my son buys me a book. I love that he gives me stories I wouldn't normally pick out on my own and through him I discover new and exciting worlds. 

Immurement was one of those books I wouldn't have picked up. I'm not a fan of apocalyptic genres but I have read a few just to get an idea of what they are all about. I loved the cover of this book. I'm going to post the cover I have since there is another. I liked how the front gives you an impression of what the pages tell but leaves you wondering just why there is destruction. I was off put when I read the girl had an M16 but on the cover it isn't like one I have ever seen. It looks more like a bolt action 22. 

Inside, I discovered an independent girl who would do anything to save the people she loved. She battles Sweepers, Rogues and her own kind to rescue her brother from a place who uses people for spare parts. I found myself rooting for others to sweep her off her feet, especially when she had thought her true love was gone. When she starts on her journey, she doesn't know that the people she can trust most are the ones she was taught to hate. A good lesson, you don't know who your friends are until you need them most. To be honest, I was sad when one person died. I wanted them to live because I liked them more than any other. He made the story. He showed her what true humanity was. 

I liked how the end made you want to read the second book. I found myself surprised but in a good way. There was action, drama and emotion I felt with each word. Norma done a fantastic job creating her world with the help of Idaho. I feel as if I know the mountains there. With her words, she painted a vivid picture.