Straight to Audio Productions, LLC

Happy Haunting from Quirky Polygamist Country!

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Kent Harrison Hayes is more than just a fabulous actor with a pretty face. Although he is well known in Utah for his acting and directing chops, Kent is an artist in every sense of the imagination.  Kent has honed the fine skill of enhancing photos to the point where they look like brilliant paintings.  This unique process is called "photo reimagining." Check out some of his commissioned pieces:   http://www.kentharrisonhayes.com/commissions.html When Kent isn't busy working in theatre, film and audio productions, he serves as co-owner and agent of Center Stage Real Estate  http://www.kentharrisonhayes.com/contact-me.html As if all these skills aren't enough to keep Kent busy, he is also a web designer. See what Kent can do for your website needs:   http://www.kentharrisonhayes.com/contact-me.html

The book, Please Forgive Me, I Forgive You by Mary Elizabeth Taylor is one of the most difficult stories I have ever read. Liz's traumatic tale begins with her being brutally raped and beaten when she was just five years old. From there, things just get worse. As a teenager, Liz turns to drugs as a way to cope with the difficulties in her life. She gets into a lot of trouble and at one point is put in a facility where she is molested by the person who is her care taker. Once released from that situation, Liz continues to do drugs as a way to escape the hell that her life has become. Liz turns to crime as a way to support her drug habit. She is arrested and thrown in jail and then prison countless times. In the book, Liz posts all the mug shots taken during her numerous incarcerations. The progression of her drug use is horrifyingly depicted in these photos as she steadily gets worse. None of the jails Liz is incarcerated in offer much in the way of reh

June is Pride month, a time to celebrate diversity and embrace members of the LGBT Community.  In St. George, a Pride Festival was staged at Vernon Worthen Park. I was happy to meet up with so many loving friends and neighbors who came out for unity. Despite the warm temperatures, festival goers found plenty of ways to stay cool. Josh Warburton, owner of the Independent Newspaper and a candidate for Washington County Commissioner, used the event as a way to spread a message of diversity. Dorothy Engelman, a candidate for Utah Senate Seat 29 and Executive Director at the Erin Kimball Memorial Foundation, talks about her inclusive platform with St. George News Online. I'm so proud of all the Utah residents who use their voice to speak out for equality.  Love Wins!

They say you should never judge a book by it's cover, but that's exactly what I did when it came to The All-Girl Filling Station's Last Reunion by Fannie Flagg. And why not? The cover was done up in bright colors featuring a pleasant, old time drawing of cute girls on roller skates pumping gas. And with Fannie Flagg as the author, what could possibly go wrong? Things started well enough with this novel which opened with Mrs. Sookie Poole trying to deal with her insufferable, domineering mother. Nicked named “The Winged Victory,” Sookie's mother, Lenore, should have been hysterical. Unfortunately, that's where the good times ended for me. Lenore turned out to be more annoying than funny, so I was happy when the story revealed that Sookie had secretly been adopted. The plot then shifts back to 1939 when the Jurdabralinski family opened Wink's Phillip's 66 in Pulaski, Wisconsin. When the U.S. Enters World War 11 after the bombing at Pearl

I've long been familiar with the work of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and his infamous character, Sherlock Holmes. What caught me off guard is learning this British author had penned a mystery called A Study in Scarlet which made numerous references to the LDS Church and Brigham Young https://www.amazon.com/Study-Scarlet-Arthur-Conan-Doyle/dp/1599866749 I did a little research and learned this short story was the first Sherlock Holmes mystery. My initial interest was related to the author's references to the Salt Lake Valley and the LDS Church. I was astounded to discover that Brigham Young was named in this story, and portrayed as a bit of a dictator who would smite any opponent or apostate who he viewed as a threat to the community he established in Utah. The actual plot of A Study in Scarlet involved a man who was seeking revenge against the LDS Church for forcing a young woman into a marriage against her will, and murdering the man who raised her when he tried

What happens when you die? Perhaps you've heard stories about people “walking towards the light.” Others report feelings of extreme well being. But how much stock can one put into these reports? A lot, if you ask me, especially when the report is coming from a neurosurgeon. Proof of Heaven by Dr. Eben Alexander is the most detailed account of a near death experience that I have ever been made aware of https://www.amazon.com/Proof-Heaven-Neurosurgeons-Journey-Afterlife/dp/1451695195?ie=UTF8&*Version*=1&*entries*=0 After suffering from a rare illness, Dr. Alexander went into a coma that essentially shut down the part of the brain that makes us human. During that period, Dr. Alexander had some very vivid encounters which seem to support the stories told by others who had near death experiences http://www.ebenalexander.com What made this account especially unique is that Dr. Alexander explains his encounters with the Divine in scientific terms. Origi

Straight to Audio Video Director Dorothy Engelman with Adele Park The Dixie Center in St. George was rocking last night at St. George residents gathered to support diversity during the 2016 Equality Utah Celebration http://www.equalityutah.org.   Audio Book Voice Actor Garry Peter Morris with Adele Park I was thrilled to see that many of the voice actors, video actors and support staff from Straight to Audio Productions turned out to show their support for Equality. Adele Park with Margie Scott and Jessica Park I am so pleased that working for equality in Utah is a family value.  It's always fun to celebrate with family! Now that the party is over, the question is this:  What are you going to do to celebrate Equality in Utah?

I have been a longtime fan of Nelson DeMille's novels so I was thrilled when I stumbled across a work I wasn't aware of. I unearthed The Quest in audiobook form at a garage sale. Anticipating another captivating story, I quickly popped this into my cd player. Looking back, I see that I didn't need to rush on this one http://www.nelsondemille.net/books/quest.asp?id=desc Unlike some of DeMille's other stories that moved at lightening speed, The Quest seemed like it was slogging through molassas. Indeed, when looking at the Amazon review for this, I see that DeMille reworked an earlier version of this, doubling the length of the story. I think this was my big problem with The Quest – it's way too long. The story is about two male reporters and a female photographer who both men are romantically involved with. I have no problem with stories that involve strange relationships with conscenting adults, but this particular scenario made me a lit

If you are selling your home or looking to buy a new one, I highly recommend Center Stage Real Estate.  Garry Peter Morris and Kent Harrison Hayes are knowledgeable, friendly Real Estate Agents ready to go to work for you!  

If I had to describe The Boys in the Boat by Daniel James Brown in one word it would be “inspired.” http://www.danieljamesbrown.com This true life story is about nine working class boys from Washington State whose oar crew competed in the 1936 Olympics headed up by Hitler. Rowing isn't a sport I've ever tried or even been interested in watching. However, due to the deft writing skills of Brown, I found myself cheering for this team from it's humble beginnings to the pinnacle of their success in Berlin. Taking center stage in this saga is Joe Rantz, a young man who was abandoned by his family. His story is heart-wrenching to read, but all the more enjoyable when Rantz emerges as a victor. Although I knew the outcome of this story, Brown is so skilled in the way he presented it, I found myself on the edge of my seat at times. This is the mark of a truly great writer. By the end of the book, it would be hard to think anything other than, “Ho

The May/June Issue of Etched Magazine is now out http://elanwoman.com I was happy to contribute this article about the upcoming Summer Solstice

Straight to Audio Productions LLC, an Audie Award winning production company, is looking to hire the following talent for a commercial video shoot: Female Actor to play young polygamist wife – should be in their 20s or early 30s. Female Actor to play Punk Rock D.J. – should be in their 20s or early 30s. Choreographer who knows how to teach hip hop moves The job involves half-day video shoots on Tuesday, July 12 , Thursday, July 14 , and Friday, July 15 . Applicants must be able to work all three days. Compensation is $100. Video actors will also be required to do a one-hour audio recording session on Thursday, May 19 at 11am. An additional $25 will be offered for the recording session. Auditions will be done by appointment only on Friday, May 13 from 11am until 1pm. Please send a short paragraph describing your acting or choreography experience along with a headshot to Cindy Clemens by Wednesday, May 11, 2016 cindyclemens@aol.c

Fling 

Listen to a sample of Gadzooks:   http://tinyurl.com/GadzooksAudiobook

Etched Magazine has long been recognized as a visually stunning periodical. Big, glossy pictures allow the reader to experience an "off the beaten path" view of the stark beauty of the South West. Etched Magazine has won Utah Best of State honors for visual design in the Arts and Entertainment Category on two different occasions. Now, Etched Magazine is proving it's more than just a pretty face by being recognized as the 2016 Literary Arts Winner https://www.facebook.com/etchedmagazine/ This honor is especially gratifying to Darci Hansen, Editor and Publisher of Etched Magazine. Hansen has long placed an strong emphasis on telling the stories of the people and places of the South West in a unique, organic way http://www.elanwoman.com I am so proud of the editorial and design staff at Etched Magazine for all their wonderful accomplishments. I didn't start writing for Etched until the final issue for 2015, so I am not able to take any credit for

For those who haven't spent a lot of time in the desert, it may seem like an endless sea of various shades of red and brown.  And sometimes it is.  But in the Spring, Mother Nature treats the desert to a blanket of wildflowers. I spend a great deal of time exploring the desert on my ATV.  Nothing quite beats the Spring in terms of perfect riding temperatures and beautiful scenery. One of the desert flowers found in abundance behind my house is Globe Mallow.  This happy orange plant is so intriguing, I couldn't help but include it in one of my audiobooks. I am also enamored with indigo, but the elevation in my backyard desert is too low for the plant to grow in abundance.  However, I did spot some desert flowers that were indigo in color, though I'm not sure what the actual name of this plant is. I am always so astonished at how many different plants bloom in the desert. What a wonderful way to celebrate Spring in Southern Utah!

Generally speaking, I don't believe in or follow diets. To me, the word “diet” equates with something temporary, so I don't view it as a real lifestyle change. Nonetheless, I found myself wanting to drop a few pounds for a photo shoot, so going on a temporary eating plan to accomplish this goal seemed reasonable. To assist in the process, I purchased a book called The Hungry Girl Diet by Lisa Lillien http://www.amazon.com/The-Hungry-Girl-Diet-Portions/dp/1250061024 I was attracted to this book because I like to eat! I was happy to discover the book outlined very reasonable meal plans which, when followed, will lead to weight loss. I was pleasantly surprised by how ordinary and normal the menu selections were. In other diets I have tried, the plans cut out whole food groups or require you to eat or drink weird things in attempt to whittle down the waistline. When I first started The Hungry Girl Diet , I balked at the instruction to write down everything

If you're looking for a good scare, Revival by Stephen King isn't the place to find it. However, King is still the master at character development, and Revival most certainly delivers in this area. To be honest, it's not really fair to expect King to keep readers up at night with every single book he hammers out. My guess is that when it came to Revival , King's aim was to write something unsettling without all the terror that usually permeates his books. http://www.amazon.com/Revival-Novel-Stephen-King/dp/1476770395/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1458565382&sr=1-1&keywords=revival+by+stephen+king Revival is about a character named Jamie Morton who develops a friendship with Charles Jacobs, a preacher and new-age healer. Jacobs not only preaches about the miracles performed by Jesus, he pulls off a few himself using a strange form of electricity. The story begins when Jamie is just an impressionable young boy and continues into his adu

Celebrate St. Patrick's Day on the radio. Please join me on January Jones Sharing Success Stories for a little Quirky Humor and a lot of Blarney!  http://www.blogtalkradio.com/januaryjones/2016/03/17/january-jones-adele-park-st-patricks-day

Filmaker Monica Fox  is helping Americans learn about the nutritional value of breadfruit through a series of new videos  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtWUUDHE10BLRj-E-iMiRPg Fox is involved with a program called Trees That Feed Foundation which plants trees to provide food, jobs and a healthy environment in countries like Jamaica, Haiti, Costa Rica, Barbados and Ghana  http://www.treesthatfeed.org Fox produced the films through her company, MagicFox Productions http://www.monica-fox.com/sitemap/ Fox has worked in the video and film industry for more than 30 years.  During that time, she has produced travel films shown on PBX and Discovery Networks, as well as a number of documentaries, training films and commercials. To learn how you can hire Monica Fox to work on your next video or film project, connect with her on LinkedIn:  http://tinyurl.com/MonicaFox

I just found this interesting site called Fiverr https://www.fiverr.com This is a great place for anyone who is looking for a unique way to gain exposure to their brand for just five bucks.  Services range from photo editing to passing out flyers on college campuses.  I decided to give it a try and had an artist named Zaza make this "painting" rendition of my headshot.

They say you shouldn't judge a book by it's cover. Don't Let Anything Dull Your Sparkle by Doreen Virtue is an example of why this is true. The cover of this book is certainly enticing, but the content doesn't “sparkle” as the title would indicate. Interestingly, the title also has the word, “dull,” which may be more appropriate http://www.amazon.com/Dont-Anything-Dull-Your-Sparkle/dp/1401946275/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1456836309&sr=8-1&keywords=don%27t+let+anything+dull+your+sparkle Don't Let Anything Dull Your Sparkle goes into great detail about how trauma victims behave long after the crisis has ended. Residual fear, anger and depression are often present in people who have undergone abuse. This may lead to problems with current relationships, and Virtue's book aims to help resolve some of those issues. Virtue accurately observes that people who have experienced trauma often unknowingly seek out others who have also been

There is no greater blessing than the gift of being able to work with people you truly love and admire.  That's why I was so excited when Life Coach Cindy Clemens invited me to shoot and edit a video for her website  http://cindyclemens.com The video shoot was held on a beautiful Saturday morning at Red Mountain Spa. A number of women showed up to learn more about Cindy's Recipe for Joy. The Joy workshop is one of Cindy's newest classes from her Injoy Life program. Split into three sections, the program helps people to Return to Joy, Live from Joy and Launch with Joy.  To that end, Cindy had participants at the Saturday workshop craft their own pink Joy boxes in which to store their hopes, dreams and joys! To help people learn more about the Injoy Program, Cindy offers a number of complimentary tools: http://cindyclemens.com/tools-for-you/  In addition, Cindy offers a free newsletter loaded with great links to sites that promote joy and welln

They say you get what you pay for, and in the case of The Survivors Club by Lisa Gardner, this is certainly true. I picked up this work as an audiobook from a garage sale. I only paid a couple of bucks for this, and that was all it was worth to me personally, though many would disagree. http://www.amazon.com/Survivors-Club-Thriller-Lisa-Gardner/dp/0345544242/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1455802297&sr=1-2&keywords=the+survivors+club In all fairness, “slasher books” really aren't my thing. In doing some research on the author, Lisa Gardner, I discovered she is a New York Times Bestselling Author http://www.lisagardner.com The Survivors Club is about three women who have lived through violent episodes with the so-called College Hill rapist. The subject matter was disturbing at best, but I definitely knew what I was in for in reading the synopsis on the back of the audiobook. That being said, Gardner did do a great job in throwing in some unexpe

If you were lax in beginning your 2016 New Year's Resolutions, you're getting another chance to make them happen as the Chinese New Year kicks off today. The Chinese New Year is characterized by one of 12 animals which appear in their zodiac. 2016 is the Year of the Monkey. The Monkey is the ninth animal in the Chinese zodiac. People born under this sign are described as being quick-witted, curious and mischievous. The lucky numbers for those born under the sign of the Monkey are 1, 7, and 8. The colors associated with this sign are white, gold and blue which should make for an interesting discussion for those still debating the colored dress which some see as white and gold and others see as blue and black. Famous people born under the Sign of the Monkey include Selena Gomez, Demi Lovato, Miley Cyrus, Nick Jonas, Cuba Gooding Junior, Mick Jagger, Halle Berry and Owen Wilson. While the Sign of the Monkey is considered to be the most unlucky symbol in the Ch

The Science of Getting Rich by Wallace D. Wattles is a well known work recommended by many self-help and motivational writers http://www.amazon.com/Science-Getting-Wattles-Wallace-Paperback/dp/B00ZY92T3S/ref=sr_1_11?ie=UTF8&qid=1454531618&sr=8-11&keywords=the+science+of+getting+rich I listened to this in audiobook format, narrated by Eliza Foss http://www.elizafoss.com While I enjoyed Foss's narration on The Mermaid Chair by Sue Monk Kidd, her voice and style did not work for me in The Science of Getting Rich . In fact, not much worked for me at all with this project. As an audiobook writer and producer, I rarely ever write a bad review, choosing instead to stay silent on presentations that I don't care for. I'll make an exception here, with the caveat that I recognize both the writer and the narrator likely gave this work 100 percent of their effort. My reasons for writing a less than glowing review are due to the fact that this work is t

Contagious by Jonah Berger attempts to explain the science of why things go viral. http://www.amazon.com/Contagious-Things-Catch-Jonah-Berger/dp/1451686579/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1453233688&sr=1-1&keywords=contagious Berger's work takes up where Malcolm Gladwell's The Tipping Point leaves off. http://www.amazon.com/Tipping-Point-Little-Things-Difference/dp/0316346624/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1453233916&sr=1-1&keywords=tipping+point Gladwell's book is an overview of how ideas and social behavior go viral, while Berger's work takes an in-depth look at the common characteristics of things that become contagious. Gladwell's and Berger's books compliment each other, and provide helpful tips for getting a product or idea to spread. Contagious outlines six principals that prompt people to share content, opinions and ideas. They can be one or more phenomenon including include social currency,

A Note from Adele:  This story was submitted to my blog by Kenneth Weene, an educator, psychologist, minister and author of several books.  I became associated with Kenneth through his work as a co-host on It Matters Radio http://www.blogtalkradio.com/itmattersradio  Kenneth will be soon be releasing another book called "Times to Try the Soul."  In the meantime, enjoy this piece of "flash fiction." The Terrier and the Bull By Kenneth Weene As he had every Sunday afternoon for fifteen years, Travers Dunworthy searched the Internet for any references to the Blessed Sacredbody Church or the town of Sacredbody, Utah. As leader of the community and bishop of the flock, it was his self-appointed responsibility to make sure no slur would go unanswered, no slight unmet. Fifteen years and not once had there been cause for concern—indeed not even a mention of church or town. Travers had seen to it; the church and the town his grandfather had founded rema