{"id":995,"date":"2021-04-18T04:01:50","date_gmt":"2021-04-18T04:01:50","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/gator4073.temp.domains\/~uomomb\/stevenbale.com\/index.php\/colibri-wp\/"},"modified":"2024-12-04T21:49:41","modified_gmt":"2024-12-04T21:49:41","slug":"colibri-wp","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/stevenbale.com\/","title":{"rendered":"Front Page"},"content":{"rendered":"<div data-colibri-id=\"995-c1\" class=\"style-190 style-local-995-c1 position-relative\">\n  <!---->\n  <div data-colibri-component=\"section\" data-colibri-id=\"995-c2\" id=\"overlappable-2\" class=\"h-section h-section-global-spacing d-flex align-items-lg-center align-items-md-center align-items-center style-711 style-local-995-c2 position-relative\">\n    <!---->\n    <!---->\n    <div class=\"h-section-grid-container h-section-boxed-container\">\n      <!---->\n      <div data-colibri-id=\"995-c3\" class=\"h-row-container gutters-row-lg-2 gutters-row-md-2 gutters-row-2 gutters-row-v-lg-2 gutters-row-v-md-2 gutters-row-v-2 style-712 style-local-995-c3 position-relative\">\n        <!---->\n        <div class=\"h-row justify-content-lg-center justify-content-md-center justify-content-center align-items-lg-stretch align-items-md-stretch align-items-stretch gutters-col-lg-2 gutters-col-md-2 gutters-col-2 gutters-col-v-lg-2 gutters-col-v-md-2 gutters-col-v-2\">\n          <!---->\n          <div class=\"h-column h-column-container d-flex h-col-lg-4 h-col-md-4 h-col-12 style-713-outer style-local-995-c4-outer\">\n            <div data-colibri-id=\"995-c4\" class=\"d-flex h-flex-basis h-column__inner h-px-lg-3 h-px-md-3 h-px-3 v-inner-lg-3 v-inner-md-3 v-inner-3 style-713 style-local-995-c4 position-relative\">\n              <!---->\n              <!---->\n              <div class=\"w-100 h-y-container h-column__content h-column__v-align flex-basis-100 align-self-lg-start align-self-md-start align-self-start\">\n                <!---->\n                <div data-colibri-id=\"995-c5\" class=\"h-icon style-714 style-local-995-c5 position-relative h-element\">\n                  <!----><span class=\"h-svg-icon h-icon__icon style-714-icon style-local-995-c5-icon\"><!--Icon by Font Awesome (https:\/\/fontawesome.com)--><svg version=\"1.1\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" xmlns:xlink=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/1999\/xlink\" id=\"heart-o\" viewBox=\"0 0 1792 1896.0833\"><path d=\"M1664 596q0-81-21.5-143t-55-98.5T1506 295t-94-31-98-8-112 25.5-110.5 64-86.5 72-60 61.5q-18 22-49 22t-49-22q-24-28-60-61.5t-86.5-72-110.5-64T478 256t-98 8-94 31-81.5 59.5-55 98.5T128 596q0 168 187 355l581 560 580-559q188-188 188-356zm128 0q0 221-229 450l-623 600q-18 18-44 18t-44-18l-624-602q-10-8-27.5-26T145 952.5 77 855 23.5 734 0 596q0-220 127-344t351-124q62 0 126.5 21.5t120 58T820 276t76 68q36-36 76-68t95.5-68.5 120-58T1314 128q224 0 351 124t127 344z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/span><\/div>\n                <div\n                  data-colibri-id=\"995-c6\" class=\"h-text h-text-component style-716 style-local-995-c6 position-relative h-element\">\n                  <!---->\n                  <!---->\n                  <div class=\"\">\n                    <h2>Rome&nbsp;<em style=\"color: rgb(43, 146, 216); font-family: &quot;Playfair Display&quot;;\">Sweet<\/em>\n                      <br>Home.\n                      <br>Was she <em style=\"color: rgb(43, 146, 216); font-family: &quot;Playfair Display&quot;;\">ready <\/em>to return?<\/h2>\n                    <p>\n                      <br>\n                    <\/p>\n                  <\/div>\n              <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n          <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n        <div class=\"h-column h-column-container d-flex h-col-lg-4 h-col-md-4 h-col-12 style-717-outer style-local-995-c7-outer\">\n          <div data-colibri-id=\"995-c7\" class=\"d-flex h-flex-basis h-column__inner h-px-lg-3 h-px-md-3 h-px-3 v-inner-lg-3 v-inner-md-3 v-inner-3 style-717 style-local-995-c7 position-relative\">\n            <!---->\n            <!---->\n            <div class=\"w-100 h-y-container h-column__content h-column__v-align flex-basis-100 align-self-lg-start align-self-md-start align-self-start\">\n              <!---->\n              <div data-colibri-id=\"995-c8\" class=\"h-icon style-718 style-local-995-c8 position-relative h-element\">\n                <!----><span class=\"h-svg-icon h-icon__icon style-718-icon style-local-995-c8-icon\"><!--Icon by Font Awesome (https:\/\/fontawesome.com)--><svg version=\"1.1\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" xmlns:xlink=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/1999\/xlink\" id=\"heart-o\" viewBox=\"0 0 1792 1896.0833\"><path d=\"M1664 596q0-81-21.5-143t-55-98.5T1506 295t-94-31-98-8-112 25.5-110.5 64-86.5 72-60 61.5q-18 22-49 22t-49-22q-24-28-60-61.5t-86.5-72-110.5-64T478 256t-98 8-94 31-81.5 59.5-55 98.5T128 596q0 168 187 355l581 560 580-559q188-188 188-356zm128 0q0 221-229 450l-623 600q-18 18-44 18t-44-18l-624-602q-10-8-27.5-26T145 952.5 77 855 23.5 734 0 596q0-220 127-344t351-124q62 0 126.5 21.5t120 58T820 276t76 68q36-36 76-68t95.5-68.5 120-58T1314 128q224 0 351 124t127 344z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/span><\/div>\n              <div\n                data-colibri-id=\"995-c9\" class=\"h-text h-text-component style-716 style-local-995-c9 position-relative h-element\">\n                <!---->\n                <!---->\n                <div class=\"\">\n                  <h2>She could have had him <em style=\"color: rgb(43, 146, 216); font-family: &quot;Playfair Display&quot;;\">wrapped <\/em>around her <em style=\"color: rgb(43, 146, 216); font-family: &quot;Playfair Display&quot;;\">finger<\/em>&#8230;<\/h2>\n                  <p>\n                    <br>\n                  <\/p>\n                <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n          <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n      <\/div>\n      <div class=\"h-column h-column-container d-flex h-col-lg-4 h-col-md-4 h-col-12 style-719-outer style-local-995-c10-outer\">\n        <div data-colibri-id=\"995-c10\" class=\"d-flex h-flex-basis h-column__inner h-px-lg-3 h-px-md-3 h-px-3 v-inner-lg-3 v-inner-md-3 v-inner-3 style-719 style-local-995-c10 position-relative\">\n          <!---->\n          <!---->\n          <div class=\"w-100 h-y-container h-column__content h-column__v-align flex-basis-100 align-self-lg-start align-self-md-start align-self-start\">\n            <!---->\n            <div data-colibri-id=\"995-c11\" class=\"h-icon style-720 style-local-995-c11 position-relative h-element\">\n              <!----><span class=\"h-svg-icon h-icon__icon style-720-icon style-local-995-c11-icon\"><!--Icon by Font Awesome (https:\/\/fontawesome.com)--><svg version=\"1.1\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" xmlns:xlink=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/1999\/xlink\" id=\"heart-o\" viewBox=\"0 0 1792 1896.0833\"><path d=\"M1664 596q0-81-21.5-143t-55-98.5T1506 295t-94-31-98-8-112 25.5-110.5 64-86.5 72-60 61.5q-18 22-49 22t-49-22q-24-28-60-61.5t-86.5-72-110.5-64T478 256t-98 8-94 31-81.5 59.5-55 98.5T128 596q0 168 187 355l581 560 580-559q188-188 188-356zm128 0q0 221-229 450l-623 600q-18 18-44 18t-44-18l-624-602q-10-8-27.5-26T145 952.5 77 855 23.5 734 0 596q0-220 127-344t351-124q62 0 126.5 21.5t120 58T820 276t76 68q36-36 76-68t95.5-68.5 120-58T1314 128q224 0 351 124t127 344z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/span><\/div>\n            <div\n              data-colibri-id=\"995-c12\" class=\"h-text h-text-component style-716 style-local-995-c12 position-relative h-element\">\n              <!---->\n              <!---->\n              <div class=\"\">\n                <h2>If he didn&#8217;t have a <em style=\"color: rgb(43, 146, 216); font-family: &quot;Playfair Display&quot;;\">ring <\/em>wrapped around his.\n                  <br>\n                <\/h2>\n                <p>\n                  <br>\n                <\/p>\n              <\/div>\n          <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n      <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n  <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-colibri-component=\"section\" data-colibri-id=\"995-c13\" id=\"testimonials\" class=\"h-section h-section-global-spacing d-flex align-items-lg-center align-items-md-center align-items-center style-267 style-local-995-c13 position-relative\">\n  <!---->\n  <!---->\n  <div class=\"h-section-grid-container h-section-boxed-container\">\n    <div data-colibri-id=\"995-c33\" class=\"h-row-container gutters-row-lg-2 gutters-row-md-2 gutters-row-0 gutters-row-v-lg-2 gutters-row-v-md-2 gutters-row-v-2 style-275 style-local-995-c33 position-relative\">\n      <!---->\n      <div class=\"h-row justify-content-lg-center justify-content-md-center justify-content-center align-items-lg-stretch align-items-md-stretch align-items-stretch gutters-col-lg-2 gutters-col-md-2 gutters-col-0 gutters-col-v-lg-2 gutters-col-v-md-2 gutters-col-v-2\">\n        <!---->\n        <div class=\"h-column h-column-container d-flex h-col-lg-auto h-col-md-auto h-col-auto style-276-outer style-local-995-c34-outer\">\n          <div data-colibri-id=\"995-c34\" class=\"d-flex h-flex-basis h-column__inner h-px-lg-2 h-px-md-2 h-px-2 v-inner-lg-2 v-inner-md-2 v-inner-2 style-276 style-local-995-c34 position-relative\">\n            <!---->\n            <!---->\n            <div class=\"w-100 h-y-container h-column__content h-column__v-align flex-basis-100 align-self-lg-start align-self-md-start align-self-start\">\n              <!---->\n              <div data-colibri-id=\"995-c35\" class=\"h-global-transition-all h-heading style-277 style-local-995-c35 position-relative h-element\">\n                <!---->\n                <div class=\"h-heading__outer style-277 style-local-995-c35\">\n                  <!---->\n                  <!---->\n                  <h2 class=\"\">Reader Reviews<\/h2>\n                <\/div>\n              <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n          <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n      <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n    <div data-colibri-id=\"995-c14\" class=\"h-row-container gutters-row-lg-2 gutters-row-md-2 gutters-row-0 gutters-row-v-lg-2 gutters-row-v-md-2 gutters-row-v-2 style-268 style-local-995-c14 position-relative\">\n      <!---->\n      <div class=\"h-row justify-content-lg-center justify-content-md-center justify-content-center align-items-lg-stretch align-items-md-stretch align-items-stretch gutters-col-lg-2 gutters-col-md-2 gutters-col-0 gutters-col-v-lg-2 gutters-col-v-md-2 gutters-col-v-2\">\n        <!---->\n        <div class=\"h-column h-column-container d-flex h-col-lg-4 h-col-md-6 h-col-12 style-269-outer style-local-995-c15-outer\">\n          <div data-colibri-id=\"995-c15\" class=\"d-flex h-flex-basis h-column__inner h-px-lg-3 h-px-md-3 h-px-3 v-inner-lg-3 v-inner-md-3 v-inner-3 style-269 style-local-995-c15 position-relative\">\n            <!---->\n            <!---->\n            <div class=\"w-100 h-y-container h-column__content h-column__v-align flex-basis-100 align-self-lg-start align-self-md-start align-self-start\">\n              <!---->\n              <div data-colibri-id=\"995-c16\" class=\"h-icon style-270 style-local-995-c16 position-relative h-element\">\n                <!----><span class=\"h-svg-icon h-icon__icon style-270-icon style-local-995-c16-icon\"><!--Icon by Font Awesome (https:\/\/fontawesome.com)--><svg version=\"1.1\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" xmlns:xlink=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/1999\/xlink\" id=\"quote-right\" viewBox=\"0 0 1664 1896.0833\"><path d=\"M768 320v704q0 104-40.5 198.5T618 1386t-163.5 109.5T256 1536h-64q-26 0-45-19t-19-45v-128q0-26 19-45t45-19h64q106 0 181-75t75-181v-32q0-40-28-68t-68-28H192q-80 0-136-56T0 704V320q0-80 56-136t136-56h384q80 0 136 56t56 136zm896 0v704q0 104-40.5 198.5T1514 1386t-163.5 109.5T1152 1536h-64q-26 0-45-19t-19-45v-128q0-26 19-45t45-19h64q106 0 181-75t75-181v-32q0-40-28-68t-68-28h-224q-80 0-136-56t-56-136V320q0-80 56-136t136-56h384q80 0 136 56t56 136z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/span><\/div>\n              <div\n                data-colibri-id=\"995-c17\" class=\"h-text h-text-component style-271 style-local-995-c17 position-relative h-element\">\n                <!---->\n                <!---->\n                <div class=\"\">\n                  <p>\u201cThe text flows fast and sure and it&#8217;s a real page turner. The chapters are well structured and just the right length to keep the story moving. Also, the alternating narrator structure might have been an issue and instead it works very\n                    smoothly. The two &#8220;voices&#8221; are so distinct and all the characters are well defined. The book is also funny. It has some very nice comic moments to it.<\/p>\n                  <p>I laughed out loud more than once, and that&#8217;s rare.\u201d<\/p>\n                <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n            <div data-colibri-id=\"995-c18\" class=\"d-block style-272 style-local-995-c18 position-relative h-element\">\n              <!---->\n              <div class=\"h-image__frame-container-outer\">\n                <div class=\"h-image__frame-container\">\n                  <!---->\n                  <!---->\n                  <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"200\" height=\"200\" src=\"https:\/\/stevenbale.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Angela-200x200-1.jpg\" class=\"wp-image-1044 style-272-image style-local-995-c18-image\" alt=\"romance reader novels\" srcset=\"https:\/\/stevenbale.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Angela-200x200-1.jpg 200w, https:\/\/stevenbale.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Angela-200x200-1-150x150.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 200px) 100vw, 200px\" \/>\n                  <div class=\"h-image__frame h-hide-lg h-hide-md h-hide-sm style-272-frameImage style-local-995-c18-frameImage\"><\/div>\n                <\/div>\n              <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n            <div data-colibri-id=\"995-c19\" class=\"h-global-transition-all h-heading style-273 style-local-995-c19 position-relative h-element\">\n              <!---->\n              <div class=\"h-heading__outer style-273 style-local-995-c19\">\n                <!---->\n                <!---->\n                <h5 class=\"\">Angela <\/h5>\n              <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n            <div data-colibri-id=\"995-c20\" class=\"h-text h-text-component style-274 style-local-995-c20 position-relative h-element\">\n              <!---->\n              <!---->\n              <div class=\"\">\n                <p>Literature Professor<\/p>\n              <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n          <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n      <\/div>\n      <div class=\"h-column h-column-container d-flex h-col-lg-4 h-col-md-6 h-col-12 style-269-outer style-local-995-c21-outer\">\n        <div data-colibri-id=\"995-c21\" class=\"d-flex h-flex-basis h-column__inner h-px-lg-3 h-px-md-3 h-px-3 v-inner-lg-3 v-inner-md-3 v-inner-3 style-269 style-local-995-c21 position-relative\">\n          <!---->\n          <!---->\n          <div class=\"w-100 h-y-container h-column__content h-column__v-align flex-basis-100 align-self-lg-start align-self-md-start align-self-start\">\n            <!---->\n            <div data-colibri-id=\"995-c22\" class=\"h-icon style-270 style-local-995-c22 position-relative h-element\">\n              <!----><span class=\"h-svg-icon h-icon__icon style-270-icon style-local-995-c22-icon\"><!--Icon by Font Awesome (https:\/\/fontawesome.com)--><svg version=\"1.1\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" xmlns:xlink=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/1999\/xlink\" id=\"quote-right\" viewBox=\"0 0 1664 1896.0833\"><path d=\"M768 320v704q0 104-40.5 198.5T618 1386t-163.5 109.5T256 1536h-64q-26 0-45-19t-19-45v-128q0-26 19-45t45-19h64q106 0 181-75t75-181v-32q0-40-28-68t-68-28H192q-80 0-136-56T0 704V320q0-80 56-136t136-56h384q80 0 136 56t56 136zm896 0v704q0 104-40.5 198.5T1514 1386t-163.5 109.5T1152 1536h-64q-26 0-45-19t-19-45v-128q0-26 19-45t45-19h64q106 0 181-75t75-181v-32q0-40-28-68t-68-28h-224q-80 0-136-56t-56-136V320q0-80 56-136t136-56h384q80 0 136 56t56 136z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/span><\/div>\n            <div\n              data-colibri-id=\"995-c23\" class=\"h-text h-text-component style-271 style-local-995-c23 position-relative h-element\">\n              <!---->\n              <!---->\n              <div class=\"\">\n                <p>&#8220;Steven, I truly love your writing style and you had me laughing more than once and I think I even shed a few tears &#8230; my kind of book!<\/p>\n                <p>I especially loved the format of going back and forth between the characters. It leaves the reader in suspense and yet allows them to understand the individual perceptions of the same incident, making them wonder how they might react in\n                  the same scenario. I just loved the overall message of the power of following one\u2019s heart &#8230; that little voice, that if we listen, guides us to where we should be.&#8221;<\/p>\n              <\/div>\n          <\/div>\n          <div data-colibri-id=\"995-c24\" class=\"d-block style-272 style-local-995-c24 position-relative h-element\">\n            <!---->\n            <div class=\"h-image__frame-container-outer\">\n              <div class=\"h-image__frame-container\">\n                <!---->\n                <!---->\n                <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"400\" height=\"400\" src=\"https:\/\/stevenbale.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/AvatarMaker-3.png\" class=\"wp-image-1784 style-272-image style-local-995-c24-image\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/stevenbale.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/AvatarMaker-3.png 400w, https:\/\/stevenbale.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/AvatarMaker-3-300x300.png 300w, https:\/\/stevenbale.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/AvatarMaker-3-150x150.png 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/>\n                <div class=\"h-image__frame h-hide-lg h-hide-md h-hide-sm style-272-frameImage style-local-995-c24-frameImage\"><\/div>\n              <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n          <\/div>\n          <div data-colibri-id=\"995-c25\" class=\"h-global-transition-all h-heading style-273 style-local-995-c25 position-relative h-element\">\n            <!---->\n            <div class=\"h-heading__outer style-273 style-local-995-c25\">\n              <!---->\n              <!---->\n              <h5 class=\"\">Michelle<\/h5>\n            <\/div>\n          <\/div>\n          <div data-colibri-id=\"995-c26\" class=\"h-text h-text-component style-274 style-local-995-c26 position-relative h-element\">\n            <!---->\n            <!---->\n            <div class=\"\">\n              <p>Avid Reader<\/p>\n            <\/div>\n          <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n      <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n    <div class=\"h-column h-column-container d-flex h-col-lg-4 h-col-md-6 h-col-12 style-269-outer style-local-995-c27-outer\">\n      <div data-colibri-id=\"995-c27\" class=\"d-flex h-flex-basis h-column__inner h-px-lg-3 h-px-md-3 h-px-3 v-inner-lg-3 v-inner-md-3 v-inner-3 style-269 style-local-995-c27 position-relative\">\n        <!---->\n        <!---->\n        <div class=\"w-100 h-y-container h-column__content h-column__v-align flex-basis-100 align-self-lg-start align-self-md-start align-self-start\">\n          <!---->\n          <div data-colibri-id=\"995-c28\" class=\"h-icon style-270 style-local-995-c28 position-relative h-element\">\n            <!----><span class=\"h-svg-icon h-icon__icon style-270-icon style-local-995-c28-icon\"><!--Icon by Font Awesome (https:\/\/fontawesome.com)--><svg version=\"1.1\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" xmlns:xlink=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/1999\/xlink\" id=\"quote-right\" viewBox=\"0 0 1664 1896.0833\"><path d=\"M768 320v704q0 104-40.5 198.5T618 1386t-163.5 109.5T256 1536h-64q-26 0-45-19t-19-45v-128q0-26 19-45t45-19h64q106 0 181-75t75-181v-32q0-40-28-68t-68-28H192q-80 0-136-56T0 704V320q0-80 56-136t136-56h384q80 0 136 56t56 136zm896 0v704q0 104-40.5 198.5T1514 1386t-163.5 109.5T1152 1536h-64q-26 0-45-19t-19-45v-128q0-26 19-45t45-19h64q106 0 181-75t75-181v-32q0-40-28-68t-68-28h-224q-80 0-136-56t-56-136V320q0-80 56-136t136-56h384q80 0 136 56t56 136z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/span><\/div>\n          <div\n            data-colibri-id=\"995-c29\" class=\"h-text h-text-component style-271 style-local-995-c29 position-relative h-element\">\n            <!---->\n            <!---->\n            <div class=\"\">\n              <p>&#8220;Best book I&#8217;ve read in a long time! My husband and I have both finished the book. It made us laugh and cry. The writer had a beautiful ability to paint a picture that illuminated the strong emotions. Very well done!&#8221;<\/p>\n            <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n        <div data-colibri-id=\"995-c30\" class=\"d-block style-272 style-local-995-c30 position-relative h-element\">\n          <!---->\n          <div class=\"h-image__frame-container-outer\">\n            <div class=\"h-image__frame-container\">\n              <!---->\n              <!---->\n              <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"400\" height=\"400\" src=\"https:\/\/stevenbale.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/AvatarMaker-5.png\" class=\"wp-image-1786 style-272-image style-local-995-c30-image\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/stevenbale.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/AvatarMaker-5.png 400w, https:\/\/stevenbale.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/AvatarMaker-5-300x300.png 300w, https:\/\/stevenbale.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/AvatarMaker-5-150x150.png 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/>\n              <div class=\"h-image__frame h-hide-lg h-hide-md h-hide-sm style-272-frameImage style-local-995-c30-frameImage\"><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n          <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n        <div data-colibri-id=\"995-c31\" class=\"h-global-transition-all h-heading style-273 style-local-995-c31 position-relative h-element\">\n          <!---->\n          <div class=\"h-heading__outer style-273 style-local-995-c31\">\n            <!---->\n            <!---->\n            <h5 class=\"\">Donna<\/h5>\n          <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n        <div data-colibri-id=\"995-c32\" class=\"h-text h-text-component style-274 style-local-995-c32 position-relative h-element\">\n          <!---->\n          <!---->\n          <div class=\"\">\n            <p>Amazon Reader<\/p>\n          <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n      <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n  <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-colibri-component=\"section\" data-colibri-id=\"995-c36\" id=\"reusable-sections-2\" class=\"h-section h-section-global-spacing d-flex align-items-lg-center align-items-md-center align-items-center style-526 style-local-995-c36 position-relative\">\n  <div class=\"background-wrapper\">\n    <div class=\"background-layer background-layer-media-container-lg\">\n      <!---->\n      <div class=\"overlay-layer\">\n        <div class=\"overlay-image-layer\" style=\"background-color: rgb(246, 248, 250); opacity: 0.57;\"><\/div>\n      <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n    <div class=\"background-layer background-layer-media-container-md\">\n      <!---->\n      <div class=\"overlay-layer\">\n        <div class=\"overlay-image-layer\" style=\"background-color: rgb(246, 248, 250); opacity: 0.57;\"><\/div>\n      <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n    <div class=\"background-layer background-layer-media-container\">\n      <!---->\n      <div class=\"overlay-layer\">\n        <div class=\"overlay-image-layer\" style=\"background-color: rgb(246, 248, 250); opacity: 0.57;\"><\/div>\n      <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n  <\/div>\n  <!---->\n  <div class=\"h-section-grid-container h-section-boxed-container\">\n    <!---->\n    <div data-colibri-id=\"995-c37\" class=\"h-row-container gutters-row-lg-2 gutters-row-md-2 gutters-row-0 gutters-row-v-lg-2 gutters-row-v-md-2 gutters-row-v-2 style-527 style-local-995-c37 position-relative\">\n      <!---->\n      <div class=\"h-row justify-content-lg-center justify-content-md-center justify-content-center align-items-lg-stretch align-items-md-stretch align-items-stretch gutters-col-lg-2 gutters-col-md-2 gutters-col-0 gutters-col-v-lg-2 gutters-col-v-md-2 gutters-col-v-2\">\n        <!---->\n        <div class=\"h-column h-column-container d-flex h-col-lg-6 h-col-md-6 h-col-12 style-528-outer style-local-995-c38-outer\">\n          <div data-colibri-id=\"995-c38\" class=\"d-flex h-flex-basis h-column__inner h-px-lg-2 h-px-md-2 h-px-2 v-inner-lg-2 v-inner-md-2 v-inner-2 style-528 style-local-995-c38 position-relative\">\n            <div class=\"background-wrapper\">\n              <div class=\"background-layer background-layer-media-container-lg\">\n                <!---->\n                <div class=\"overlay-layer\">\n                  <div class=\"overlay-image-layer\" style=\"background-color: rgb(246, 248, 250); opacity: 0.76;\"><\/div>\n                <\/div>\n              <\/div>\n              <div class=\"background-layer background-layer-media-container-md\">\n                <!---->\n                <div class=\"overlay-layer\">\n                  <div class=\"overlay-image-layer\" style=\"background-color: rgb(246, 248, 250); opacity: 0.76;\"><\/div>\n                <\/div>\n              <\/div>\n              <div class=\"background-layer background-layer-media-container\">\n                <!---->\n                <div class=\"overlay-layer\">\n                  <div class=\"overlay-image-layer\" style=\"background-color: rgb(246, 248, 250); opacity: 0.76;\"><\/div>\n                <\/div>\n              <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n            <!---->\n            <div class=\"w-100 h-y-container h-column__content h-column__v-align flex-basis-100 align-self-lg-start align-self-md-start align-self-start\">\n              <!---->\n              <div data-colibri-id=\"995-c39\" class=\"h-text h-text-component style-529 style-local-995-c39 position-relative h-element\">\n                <!---->\n                <!---->\n                <div class=\"\">\n                  <p><em style=\"font-family: &quot;Playfair Display&quot;;\">Back Cover Blurb<\/em><\/p>\n                <\/div>\n              <\/div>\n              <div data-colibri-id=\"995-c40\" class=\"h-text h-text-component style-531 style-local-995-c40 position-relative h-element\">\n                <!---->\n                <!---->\n                <div class=\"\">\n                  <p><em style=\"font-family: &quot;Open Sans&quot;;\"><br><\/em><\/p>\n                  <p><em style=\"font-family: &quot;Open Sans&quot;;\">Laura, a feisty Italian language tutor,&nbsp;loves to glam with glitterati, but isn\u2019t sure if&nbsp;returning to Rome is the best way to avoid bumping into a past she\u2019d sooner avoid. After she lands,&nbsp;her student, Alex, asks for her help to find a missing family will. When the will-quest finds them both in Rome, the walls of professionalism start to crumble as the&nbsp;battle to deny their feelings for each other begins. Even though Alex is cute in a boyish kind of way, the idea of dating her flannel-obsessed, younger&nbsp;student never crossed&nbsp;her mind&nbsp;until now.<\/em><\/p>\n                  <p><em>Just as Alex starts to wonder if Laura&nbsp;would consider a kid who lives with his parents and has zero Instagram followers, his attending and overly protective mother plots against his amorous intentions.&nbsp;She wouldn\u2019t dare let her son date an older woman. Especially an Italian!<\/em><\/p>\n                <\/div>\n              <\/div>\n              <div data-colibri-id=\"995-c41\" class=\"h-x-container style-881 style-local-995-c41 position-relative h-element\">\n                <!---->\n                <div class=\"h-x-container-inner style-dynamic-995-c41-group style-881-spacing style-local-995-c41-spacing\"><span class=\"h-button__outer style-619-outer style-local-995-c42-outer d-inline-flex h-element\"><a h-use-smooth-scroll=\"true\" href=\"https:\/\/books2read.com\/u\/mgePEX\"  data-colibri-id=\"995-c42\" class=\"d-flex w-100 align-items-center h-button justify-content-lg-center justify-content-md-center justify-content-center style-619 style-local-995-c42 position-relative\"><!----><!----> <span>I want fiesty<\/span><\/a>\n                  <\/span>\n                <\/div>\n              <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n          <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n        <div class=\"h-column h-column-container d-flex h-col-lg-6 h-col-md-6 h-col-12 style-876-outer style-local-995-c43-outer\">\n          <div data-colibri-id=\"995-c43\" class=\"d-flex h-flex-basis h-column__inner h-ui-empty-state-container h-px-lg-2 h-px-md-2 h-px-2 v-inner-lg-2 v-inner-md-2 v-inner-2 style-876 style-local-995-c43 position-relative\">\n            <!---->\n            <!---->\n            <div class=\"w-100 h-y-container h-column__content h-column__v-align flex-basis-100\">\n              <!---->\n            <\/div>\n          <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n      <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n    <div data-colibri-id=\"995-c44\" class=\"h-row-container gutters-row-lg-0 gutters-row-md-0 gutters-row-0 gutters-row-v-lg-0 gutters-row-v-md-0 gutters-row-v-0 style-535 style-local-995-c44 position-relative\">\n      <!---->\n      <div class=\"h-row justify-content-lg-center justify-content-md-center justify-content-center align-items-lg-stretch align-items-md-stretch align-items-stretch gutters-col-lg-0 gutters-col-md-0 gutters-col-0 gutters-col-v-lg-0 gutters-col-v-md-0 gutters-col-v-0\">\n        <!---->\n        <div class=\"h-column h-column-container d-flex h-col-lg-auto h-col-md-auto h-col-auto style-536-outer style-local-995-c45-outer\">\n          <div data-colibri-id=\"995-c45\" class=\"d-flex h-flex-basis h-column__inner h-ui-empty-state-container h-px-lg-2 h-px-md-2 h-px-2 v-inner-lg-2 v-inner-md-2 v-inner-2 style-536 style-local-995-c45 position-relative\">\n            <!---->\n            <!---->\n            <div class=\"w-100 h-y-container h-column__content h-column__v-align flex-basis-auto\">\n              <!---->\n            <\/div>\n          <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n      <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n  <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-colibri-component=\"section\" data-colibri-id=\"995-c50\" id=\"about-3\" class=\"h-section h-section-global-spacing d-flex align-items-lg-center align-items-md-center align-items-center style-828 style-local-995-c50 position-relative\">\n  <!---->\n  <!---->\n  <div class=\"h-section-grid-container h-section-boxed-container\">\n    <!---->\n    <div data-colibri-id=\"995-c51\" class=\"h-row-container gutters-row-lg-2 gutters-row-md-2 gutters-row-2 gutters-row-v-lg-2 gutters-row-v-md-2 gutters-row-v-2 style-829 style-local-995-c51 position-relative\">\n      <!---->\n      <div class=\"h-row justify-content-lg-center justify-content-md-center justify-content-center align-items-lg-stretch align-items-md-stretch align-items-stretch gutters-col-lg-2 gutters-col-md-2 gutters-col-2 gutters-col-v-lg-2 gutters-col-v-md-2 gutters-col-v-2\">\n        <!---->\n        <div class=\"h-column h-column-container d-flex h-col-lg-auto h-col-md-auto h-col-auto style-830-outer style-local-995-c52-outer\">\n          <div data-colibri-id=\"995-c52\" class=\"d-flex h-flex-basis h-column__inner h-px-lg-2 h-px-md-2 h-px-2 v-inner-lg-2 v-inner-md-2 v-inner-2 style-830 style-local-995-c52 position-relative\">\n            <!---->\n            <!---->\n            <div class=\"w-100 h-y-container h-column__content h-column__v-align flex-basis-100 align-self-lg-center align-self-md-center align-self-center\">\n              <!---->\n              <div data-colibri-id=\"995-c53\" class=\"h-global-transition-all h-heading style-832 style-local-995-c53 position-relative h-element\">\n                <!---->\n                <div class=\"h-heading__outer style-832 style-local-995-c53\">\n                  <!---->\n                  <!---->\n                  <h2 class=\"\">For Laura, the <em style=\"font-family: &quot;Playfair Display&quot;;\">dolce vita <\/em>has turned sour<\/h2>\n                <\/div>\n              <\/div>\n              <div data-colibri-id=\"995-c54\" class=\"h-lead h-text h-text-component style-833 style-local-995-c54 position-relative h-element\">\n                <!---->\n                <!---->\n                <div class=\"\">\n                  <p><span style=\"font-weight: 400; font-size: 22px; font-family: &quot;Open Sans&quot;; color: rgb(64, 85, 169);\">A shameful past has made the dolce vita of Rome as bitter as a bad espresso. Will she face her demons? Or is younger man the sweetener she needs?<\/span><\/p>\n                <\/div>\n              <\/div>\n              <div data-colibri-id=\"995-c55\" class=\"h-x-container style-883 style-local-995-c55 position-relative h-element\">\n                <!---->\n                <div class=\"h-x-container-inner style-dynamic-995-c55-group style-883-spacing style-local-995-c55-spacing\"><span class=\"h-button__outer style-619-outer style-local-995-c56-outer d-inline-flex h-element\"><a h-use-smooth-scroll=\"true\" href=\"https:\/\/books2read.com\/u\/mgePEX\"  data-colibri-id=\"995-c56\" class=\"d-flex w-100 align-items-center h-button justify-content-lg-center justify-content-md-center justify-content-center style-619 style-local-995-c56 position-relative\"><!----><!----> <span>dolce vita please<\/span><\/a>\n                  <\/span>\n                <\/div>\n              <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n          <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n        <div class=\"h-column h-column-container d-flex h-col-lg-auto h-col-md-auto h-col-auto style-836-outer style-local-995-c57-outer\">\n          <div data-colibri-id=\"995-c57\" class=\"d-flex h-flex-basis h-column__inner h-px-lg-2 h-px-md-2 h-px-2 v-inner-lg-2 v-inner-md-2 v-inner-2 style-836 style-local-995-c57 position-relative\">\n            <!---->\n            <!---->\n            <div class=\"w-100 h-y-container h-column__content h-column__v-align flex-basis-100 align-self-lg-center align-self-md-center align-self-center\">\n              <!---->\n              <div data-colibri-id=\"995-c58\" class=\"d-block style-837 style-local-995-c58 position-relative h-element\">\n                <!---->\n                <div class=\"h-image__frame-container-outer\">\n                  <a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.ca\/Ketchup-Carbonara-witty-Italian-cookbook-ebook\/dp\/B0BM4Z42YL\/ref=sr_1_1?crid=FQXSZ27DD511&amp;keywords=ketchup+and+carbonara&amp;qid=1706563317&amp;s=books&amp;sprefix=ketchup+and+carbonara%2Cstripbooks%2C165&amp;sr=1-1\"\n                    h-use-smooth-scroll=\"true\" class=\"image-link\">\n                    <div class=\"h-image__frame-container\">\n                      <!---->\n                      <!---->\n                      <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1305\" height=\"898\" src=\"https:\/\/stevenbale.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/cropped-1733345277.png\" class=\"wp-image-1857 style-837-image style-local-995-c58-image\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/stevenbale.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/cropped-1733345277.png 1305w, https:\/\/stevenbale.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/cropped-1733345277-300x206.png 300w, https:\/\/stevenbale.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/cropped-1733345277-1024x705.png 1024w, https:\/\/stevenbale.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/cropped-1733345277-768x528.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1305px) 100vw, 1305px\" \/>\n                      <div class=\"h-image__frame h-hide-lg h-hide-md h-hide-sm style-837-frameImage style-local-995-c58-frameImage\"><\/div>\n                    <\/div>\n                  <\/a>\n                <\/div>\n              <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n          <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n      <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n  <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-colibri-component=\"section\" data-colibri-id=\"995-c59\" id=\"about-the-author\" class=\"h-section h-section-global-spacing d-flex align-items-lg-center align-items-md-center align-items-center style-198 style-local-995-c59 position-relative\">\n  <!---->\n  <!---->\n  <div class=\"h-section-grid-container h-section-boxed-container\">\n    <!---->\n    <div data-colibri-id=\"995-c60\" class=\"h-row-container gutters-row-lg-2 gutters-row-md-2 gutters-row-0 gutters-row-v-lg-2 gutters-row-v-md-2 gutters-row-v-2 style-472 style-local-995-c60 position-relative\">\n      <!---->\n      <div class=\"h-row justify-content-lg-center justify-content-md-center justify-content-center align-items-lg-stretch align-items-md-stretch align-items-stretch gutters-col-lg-2 gutters-col-md-2 gutters-col-0 gutters-col-v-lg-2 gutters-col-v-md-2 gutters-col-v-2\">\n        <!---->\n        <div class=\"h-column h-column-container d-flex h-col-lg-auto h-col-md-auto h-col-auto style-473-outer style-local-995-c61-outer\">\n          <div data-colibri-id=\"995-c61\" class=\"d-flex h-flex-basis h-column__inner h-px-lg-2 h-px-md-2 h-px-2 v-inner-lg-2 v-inner-md-2 v-inner-2 style-473 style-local-995-c61 position-relative\">\n            <!---->\n            <!---->\n            <div class=\"w-100 h-y-container h-column__content h-column__v-align flex-basis-100 align-self-lg-start align-self-md-start align-self-start\">\n              <!---->\n              <div data-colibri-id=\"995-c62\" class=\"h-text h-text-component style-474 style-local-995-c62 position-relative h-element\">\n                <!---->\n                <!---->\n                <div class=\"\">\n                  <p><span style=\"font-family: &quot;Open Sans&quot;;\">Meet the author:<\/span><\/p>\n                <\/div>\n              <\/div>\n              <div data-colibri-id=\"995-c63\" class=\"h-text h-text-component style-477 style-local-995-c63 position-relative h-element\">\n                <!---->\n                <!---->\n                <div class=\"\">\n                  <p><em style=\"color: rgb(32, 42, 84); font-size: 50px; font-weight: 300; font-family: &quot;Playfair Display&quot;;\">Steven Bale<\/em><em style=\"font-family: &quot;Playfair Display&quot;;\">&nbsp;<\/em><\/p>\n                <\/div>\n              <\/div>\n              <div data-colibri-id=\"995-c64\" class=\"h-text h-text-component style-478 style-local-995-c64 position-relative h-element\">\n                <!---->\n                <!---->\n                <div class=\"\">\n                  <p><em>Before I could walk, the dust of the prairies had powered my diaper more than talcum. There&#8217;s no doubt, you can take the boy out of the prairie, but you can&#8217;t take the prairie out of the boy.It didn&#8217;t take long for my parents to give up on minus thirty degrees Celsius and shoveling snow to get to the toaster. So they packed us up, threw away the cat&#8230;sorry&#8230;&#8221;lost&#8221; the cat and drove our GMC Suburban over the Rockies, where it came to a sputtering death on Vancouver Island.<\/em><\/p>\n                  <p><em>Ever since, I&#8217;ve been trying to find my way back to a place that can never been found.<\/em><\/p>\n                  <p><em>Until I met my wife.<\/em><\/p>\n                  <p><em>She was petite, dark and beautiful, the perfect exotic beauty to carry me away from my severe case of &#8220;islanditis.&#8221; There was only one problem: I looked like a five year old, and my parents thought I was two.<\/em><\/p>\n                  <p><em>Anyway, I eventually managed to convince mum and dad that I could tie my shoelaces and get married all by myself.<\/em><\/p>\n                  <p><em>As cheesy as it sounds, life with my wife has become my muse to write. Luckily, she&#8217;s more gorgonzola than cheddar.<\/em><\/p>\n                  <p><em>Did I just compare my wife to cheese? Oh boy. I&#8217;m gonna pay for that one.<\/em><\/p>\n                  <p>\n                    <br>\n                  <\/p>\n                <\/div>\n              <\/div>\n              <div data-colibri-id=\"995-c65\" class=\"h-x-container style-885 style-local-995-c65 position-relative h-element\">\n                <!---->\n                <div class=\"h-x-container-inner style-dynamic-995-c65-group style-885-spacing style-local-995-c65-spacing\"><span class=\"h-button__outer style-619-outer style-local-995-c66-outer d-inline-flex h-element\"><a h-use-smooth-scroll=\"true\" href=\"https:\/\/books2read.com\/u\/mgePEX\"  data-colibri-id=\"995-c66\" class=\"d-flex w-100 align-items-center h-button justify-content-lg-center justify-content-md-center justify-content-center style-619 style-local-995-c66 position-relative\"><!----><!----> <span>i want steve&#8217;s book<\/span><\/a>\n                  <\/span>\n                <\/div>\n              <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n          <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n        <div class=\"h-column h-column-container d-flex h-col-lg-auto h-col-md-auto h-col-auto style-480-outer style-local-995-c67-outer\">\n          <div data-colibri-id=\"995-c67\" class=\"d-flex h-flex-basis h-column__inner h-px-lg-2 h-px-md-2 h-px-2 v-inner-lg-2 v-inner-md-2 v-inner-2 style-480 style-local-995-c67 position-relative\">\n            <!---->\n            <!---->\n            <div class=\"w-100 h-y-container h-column__content h-column__v-align flex-basis-100 align-self-lg-start align-self-md-start align-self-start\">\n              <!---->\n              <div data-colibri-id=\"995-c68\" class=\"style-481 style-local-995-c68 position-relative h-element\">\n                <!---->\n              <\/div>\n              <div data-colibri-id=\"995-c69\" class=\"d-block style-479 style-local-995-c69 position-relative h-element\">\n                <!---->\n                <div class=\"h-image__frame-container-outer\">\n                  <div class=\"h-image__frame-container\">\n                    <!---->\n                    <!---->\n                    <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1182\" height=\"1180\" src=\"https:\/\/stevenbale.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/cropped-Steve-Mid-Res.jpg\" class=\"wp-image-1881 style-479-image style-local-995-c69-image\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/stevenbale.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/cropped-Steve-Mid-Res.jpg 1182w, https:\/\/stevenbale.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/cropped-Steve-Mid-Res-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/stevenbale.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/cropped-Steve-Mid-Res-1024x1022.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/stevenbale.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/cropped-Steve-Mid-Res-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/stevenbale.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/cropped-Steve-Mid-Res-768x767.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1182px) 100vw, 1182px\" \/>\n                    <div class=\"h-image__frame h-hide-lg h-hide-md h-hide-sm style-479-frameImage style-local-995-c69-frameImage\"><\/div>\n                  <\/div>\n                <\/div>\n              <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n          <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n      <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n    <div data-colibri-id=\"995-c70\" class=\"h-row-container gutters-row-lg-0 gutters-row-md-0 gutters-row-0 gutters-row-v-lg-0 gutters-row-v-md-0 gutters-row-v-0 style-199 style-local-995-c70 position-relative\">\n      <!---->\n      <div class=\"h-row justify-content-lg-center justify-content-md-center justify-content-center align-items-lg-stretch align-items-md-stretch align-items-stretch gutters-col-lg-0 gutters-col-md-0 gutters-col-0 gutters-col-v-lg-0 gutters-col-v-md-0 gutters-col-v-0\">\n        <!---->\n        <div class=\"h-column h-column-container d-flex h-col-lg-auto h-col-md-auto h-col-auto style-476-outer style-local-995-c71-outer\">\n          <div data-colibri-id=\"995-c71\" class=\"d-flex h-flex-basis h-column__inner h-ui-empty-state-container h-px-lg-2 h-px-md-2 h-px-2 v-inner-lg-2 v-inner-md-2 v-inner-2 style-476 style-local-995-c71 position-relative\">\n            <!---->\n            <!---->\n            <div class=\"w-100 h-y-container h-column__content h-column__v-align flex-basis-auto\">\n              <!---->\n            <\/div>\n          <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n      <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n  <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-colibri-component=\"section\" data-colibri-id=\"995-c72\" id=\"why-i-wrote-kc\" class=\"h-section h-section-global-spacing d-flex align-items-lg-center align-items-md-center align-items-center style-463 style-local-995-c72 position-relative\">\n  <!---->\n  <!---->\n  <div class=\"h-section-grid-container h-section-boxed-container\">\n    <!---->\n    <div data-colibri-id=\"995-c73\" class=\"h-row-container gutters-row-lg-0 gutters-row-md-0 gutters-row-0 gutters-row-v-lg-0 gutters-row-v-md-0 gutters-row-v-0 style-464 style-local-995-c73 position-relative\">\n      <!---->\n      <div class=\"h-row justify-content-lg-center justify-content-md-center justify-content-center align-items-lg-stretch align-items-md-stretch align-items-stretch gutters-col-lg-0 gutters-col-md-0 gutters-col-0 gutters-col-v-lg-0 gutters-col-v-md-0 gutters-col-v-0\">\n        <!---->\n        <div class=\"h-column h-column-container d-flex h-col-lg-auto h-col-md-auto h-col-auto style-465-outer style-local-995-c74-outer\">\n          <div data-colibri-id=\"995-c74\" class=\"d-flex h-flex-basis h-column__inner h-px-lg-0 h-px-md-0 h-px-0 v-inner-lg-3 v-inner-md-3 v-inner-3 style-465 style-local-995-c74 position-relative\">\n            <!---->\n            <!---->\n            <div class=\"w-100 h-y-container h-column__content h-column__v-align flex-basis-100 align-self-lg-start align-self-md-start align-self-start\">\n              <!---->\n              <div data-colibri-id=\"995-c75\" class=\"h-global-transition-all h-heading style-467 style-local-995-c75 position-relative h-element\">\n                <!---->\n                <div class=\"h-heading__outer style-467 style-local-995-c75\">\n                  <!---->\n                  <!---->\n                  <h2 class=\"\">Why I <em style=\"font-family: &quot;Playfair Display&quot;;\">wrote&nbsp;<\/em>a <em style=\"font-family: &quot;Playfair Display&quot;;\">romance&nbsp;<\/em>novel<\/h2>\n                <\/div>\n              <\/div>\n              <div data-colibri-id=\"995-c76\" class=\"h-text h-text-component style-468 style-local-995-c76 position-relative h-element\">\n                <!---->\n                <!---->\n                <div class=\"\">\n                  <p>I&#8217;ve always said that my wife and I were a couple of diversity before diversity was cool. Marrying an older Italian woman has inspired me to write our story and the difficulties we faced confronting our cultural and age differences.\n                    Besides, I didn&#8217;t have much choice. She told me to.<\/p>\n                  <p>Even though diversity has become more of a political slogan these days, for us, it posed a great deal of challenges that helped us grow as individuals and as a couple. I remember when we first started dating. Me: a young, soapy faced\n                    &#8220;man&#8221; of twenty-something. Her: a gorgeous Roman sophisticate with sun-kissed skin and a &#8220;what are you doing with that guy?&#8221; look about her. Hand-in-hand. We strolled into a store together. When I went to pay, the cashier asked me:\n                    &#8220;So? Who&#8217;s paying? You or your mom?&#8221;<\/p>\n                  <p>This is our story.<\/p>\n                <\/div>\n              <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n          <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n        <div class=\"h-column h-column-container d-flex h-col-lg-auto h-col-md-auto h-col-auto style-469-outer style-local-995-c77-outer\">\n          <div data-colibri-id=\"995-c77\" class=\"d-flex h-flex-basis h-column__inner h-ui-empty-state-container h-px-lg-2 h-px-md-2 h-px-2 v-inner-lg-2 v-inner-md-2 v-inner-2 style-469 style-local-995-c77 position-relative\">\n            <!---->\n            <!---->\n            <div class=\"w-100 h-y-container h-column__content h-column__v-align flex-basis-100\">\n              <!---->\n            <\/div>\n          <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n      <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n  <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-colibri-component=\"section\" data-colibri-id=\"995-c78\" id=\"overlappable\" class=\"h-section h-section-global-spacing d-flex align-items-lg-center align-items-md-center align-items-center style-191 style-local-995-c78 position-relative\">\n  <!---->\n  <!---->\n  <div class=\"h-section-grid-container h-section-fluid-container\">\n    <!---->\n    <div data-colibri-id=\"995-c79\" class=\"h-row-container gutters-row-lg-0 gutters-row-md-0 gutters-row-2 gutters-row-v-lg-0 gutters-row-v-md-0 gutters-row-v-2 style-192 style-local-995-c79 position-relative\">\n      <!---->\n      <div class=\"h-row justify-content-lg-center justify-content-md-center justify-content-center align-items-lg-stretch align-items-md-stretch align-items-stretch gutters-col-lg-0 gutters-col-md-0 gutters-col-2 gutters-col-v-lg-0 gutters-col-v-md-0 gutters-col-v-2\">\n        <!---->\n        <div class=\"h-column h-column-container d-flex h-col-lg-6 h-col-md-6 h-col-12 style-193-outer style-local-995-c80-outer\">\n          <div data-colibri-id=\"995-c80\" class=\"d-flex h-flex-basis h-column__inner h-px-lg-3 h-px-md-3 h-px-2 v-inner-lg-3 v-inner-md-3 v-inner-2 style-193 style-local-995-c80 position-relative\">\n            <!---->\n            <!---->\n            <div class=\"w-100 h-y-container h-column__content h-column__v-align flex-basis-100 align-self-lg-center align-self-md-center align-self-center\">\n              <!---->\n              <div data-colibri-id=\"995-c81\" class=\"h-icon style-194 style-local-995-c81 position-relative h-element\">\n                <!----><span class=\"h-svg-icon h-icon__icon style-194-icon style-local-995-c81-icon\"><!--Icon by Font Awesome (https:\/\/fontawesome.com)--><svg version=\"1.1\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" xmlns:xlink=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/1999\/xlink\" id=\"paper-plane\" viewBox=\"0 0 1792.0013 1896.0833\"><path d=\"M1764 11q33 24 27 64l-256 1536q-5 29-32 45-14 8-31 8-11 0-24-5l-453-185-242 295q-18 23-49 23-13 0-22-4-19-7-30.5-23.5T640 1728v-349l864-1059-1069 925-395-162q-37-14-40-55-2-40 32-59L1696 9q15-9 32-9 20 0 36 11z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/span><\/div>\n              <div\n                data-colibri-id=\"995-c82\" class=\"h-global-transition-all h-heading style-195 style-local-995-c82 position-relative h-element\">\n                <!---->\n                <div class=\"h-heading__outer style-195 style-local-995-c82\">\n                  <!---->\n                  <!---->\n                  <h1 class=\"\">FREE SAMPLE CHAPTERS:<\/h1>\n                <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n            <div data-colibri-id=\"995-c83\" class=\"h-text h-text-component style-196 style-local-995-c83 position-relative h-element\">\n              <!---->\n              <!---->\n              <div class=\"\">\n                                <div class=\"ml-form-embed\"\n                     data-account=\"3272194:u4t1d8k3o6\"\n                     data-form=\"4350292:i4o9i7\">\n                <\/div>\n            \n                <p><span style=\"color: rgb(40, 40, 40); font-family: &quot;Open Sans Regular&quot;; font-size: 12px;\">By signing up you give permission for me to email you.<\/span><\/p>\n              <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n          <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n      <\/div>\n      <div class=\"h-column h-column-container d-flex h-col-lg-6 h-col-md-6 h-col-12 style-365-outer style-local-995-c84-outer\">\n        <div data-colibri-id=\"995-c84\" class=\"d-flex h-flex-basis h-column__inner h-px-lg-2 h-px-md-2 h-px-2 v-inner-lg-2 v-inner-md-2 v-inner-2 style-365 style-local-995-c84 position-relative\">\n          <!---->\n          <!---->\n          <div class=\"w-100 h-y-container h-column__content h-column__v-align flex-basis-100 align-self-lg-start align-self-md-start align-self-start\">\n            <!---->\n            <div data-colibri-id=\"995-c85\" class=\"d-block style-824 style-local-995-c85 position-relative h-element\">\n              <!---->\n              <div class=\"h-image__frame-container-outer\">\n                <a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.ca\/Ketchup-Carbonara-witty-Italian-cookbook-ebook\/dp\/B0BM4Z42YL\/ref=sr_1_1?crid=FQXSZ27DD511&amp;keywords=ketchup+and+carbonara&amp;qid=1706563317&amp;s=books&amp;sprefix=ketchup+and+carbonara%2Cstripbooks%2C165&amp;sr=1-1\"\n                  h-use-smooth-scroll=\"true\" class=\"image-link\">\n                  <div class=\"h-image__frame-container\">\n                    <!---->\n                    <!---->\n                    <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"512\" height=\"512\" src=\"https:\/\/stevenbale.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Steven-Bale-Brush-O-Orange-Transparent-LS.png\" class=\"wp-image-1700 style-824-image style-local-995-c85-image\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/stevenbale.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Steven-Bale-Brush-O-Orange-Transparent-LS.png 512w, https:\/\/stevenbale.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Steven-Bale-Brush-O-Orange-Transparent-LS-300x300.png 300w, https:\/\/stevenbale.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Steven-Bale-Brush-O-Orange-Transparent-LS-150x150.png 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 512px) 100vw, 512px\" \/>\n                    <div class=\"h-image__frame h-hide-lg h-hide-md h-hide-sm style-824-frameImage style-local-995-c85-frameImage\"><\/div>\n                  <\/div>\n                <\/a>\n              <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n          <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n      <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n  <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-colibri-component=\"section\" data-colibri-id=\"995-c90\" id=\"share\" class=\"h-section h-section-global-spacing d-flex align-items-lg-center align-items-md-center align-items-center style-420 style-local-995-c90 position-relative\">\n  <!---->\n  <!---->\n  <div class=\"h-section-grid-container h-section-boxed-container\">\n    <!---->\n    <div data-colibri-id=\"995-c91\" class=\"h-row-container gutters-row-lg-0 gutters-row-md-0 gutters-row-0 gutters-row-v-lg-0 gutters-row-v-md-0 gutters-row-v-0 style-434 style-local-995-c91 position-relative\">\n      <!---->\n      <div class=\"h-row justify-content-lg-center justify-content-md-center justify-content-center align-items-lg-stretch align-items-md-stretch align-items-stretch gutters-col-lg-0 gutters-col-md-0 gutters-col-0 gutters-col-v-lg-0 gutters-col-v-md-0 gutters-col-v-0\">\n        <!---->\n        <div class=\"h-column h-column-container d-flex h-col-lg-auto h-col-md-auto h-col-auto style-435-outer style-local-995-c92-outer\">\n          <div data-colibri-id=\"995-c92\" class=\"d-flex h-flex-basis h-column__inner h-px-lg-0 h-px-md-0 h-px-0 v-inner-lg-0 v-inner-md-0 v-inner-0 style-435 style-local-995-c92 position-relative\">\n            <!---->\n            <!---->\n            <div class=\"w-100 h-y-container h-column__content h-column__v-align flex-basis-100 align-self-lg-start align-self-md-start align-self-start\">\n              <!---->\n              <div data-colibri-id=\"995-c93\" class=\"h-text h-text-component style-470 style-local-995-c93 position-relative h-element\">\n                <!---->\n                <!---->\n                <div class=\"\">\n                  <h1>SHARE<\/h1>\n                  <p>\n                    <br>\n                  <\/p>\n                <\/div>\n              <\/div>\n              <div data-colibri-id=\"995-c94\" class=\"style-433 style-local-995-c94 position-relative h-element\">\n                <!---->\n                <div class=\"d-flex flex-wrap h-social-icons justify-content-lg-center justify-content-md-center justify-content-center\">\n                  <div class=\"social-icon-container d-inline-flex\">\n                    <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/stevenbalebooks\" target=\"_blank\" h-use-smooth-scroll=\"true\">\n                      <div class=\"icon-container h-social-icon h-global-transition\" style=\"fill: rgb(59, 89, 152);\">\n                        <div class=\"h-icon-svg\" style=\"width: 100%; height: 100%;\">\n                          <!--Icon by Font Awesome (https:\/\/fontawesome.com)-->\n                          <svg version=\"1.1\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" xmlns:xlink=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/1999\/xlink\" id=\"facebook-square\" viewBox=\"0 0 1536 1896.0833\">\n                            <path d=\"M1248 128q119 0 203.5 84.5T1536 416v960q0 119-84.5 203.5T1248 1664h-188v-595h199l30-232h-229V689q0-56 23.5-84t91.5-28l122-1V369q-63-9-178-9-136 0-217.5 80T820 666v171H620v232h200v595H288q-119 0-203.5-84.5T0 1376V416q0-119 84.5-203.5T288 128h960z\"><\/path>\n                          <\/svg>\n                        <\/div>\n                      <\/div>\n                    <\/a>\n                  <\/div>\n                  <div class=\"social-icon-container d-inline-flex\">\n                    <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/stevenbalebooks\" target=\"_blank\" h-use-smooth-scroll=\"true\">\n                      <div class=\"icon-container h-social-icon h-global-transition\" style=\"fill: rgb(29, 161, 242);\">\n                        <div class=\"h-icon-svg\" style=\"width: 100%; height: 100%;\">\n                          <!--Icon by Font Awesome (https:\/\/fontawesome.com)-->\n                          <svg version=\"1.1\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" xmlns:xlink=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/1999\/xlink\" id=\"twitter-square\" viewBox=\"0 0 1536 1896.0833\">\n                            <path d=\"M1280 610q-56 25-121 34 68-40 93-117-65 38-134 51-61-66-153-66-87 0-148.5 61.5T755 722q0 29 5 48-129-7-242-65T326 550q-29 50-29 106 0 114 91 175-47-1-100-26v2q0 75 50 133.5t123 72.5q-29 8-51 8-13 0-39-4 21 63 74.5 104t121.5 42q-116 90-261 90-26 0-50-3 148 94 322 94 112 0 210-35.5t168-95 120.5-137 75-162T1176 746q0-18-1-27 63-45 105-109zm256-194v960q0 119-84.5 203.5T1248 1664H288q-119 0-203.5-84.5T0 1376V416q0-119 84.5-203.5T288 128h960q119 0 203.5 84.5T1536 416z\"><\/path>\n                          <\/svg>\n                        <\/div>\n                      <\/div>\n                    <\/a>\n                  <\/div>\n                <\/div>\n              <\/div>\n              <div data-colibri-id=\"995-c95\" class=\"style-471 style-local-995-c95 position-relative h-element\">\n                <!---->\n              <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n          <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n      <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n  <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-colibri-component=\"section\" data-colibri-id=\"995-c96\" id=\"purchase-now-2\" class=\"h-section h-section-global-spacing d-flex align-items-lg-center align-items-md-center align-items-center style-493 style-local-995-c96 position-relative\">\n  <!---->\n  <!---->\n  <div class=\"h-section-grid-container h-section-boxed-container\">\n    <div data-colibri-id=\"995-c103\" class=\"h-row-container gutters-row-lg-2 gutters-row-md-2 gutters-row-2 gutters-row-v-lg-2 gutters-row-v-md-2 gutters-row-v-2 style-497 style-local-995-c103 position-relative\">\n      <!---->\n      <div class=\"h-row justify-content-lg-center justify-content-md-center justify-content-center align-items-lg-stretch align-items-md-stretch align-items-stretch gutters-col-lg-2 gutters-col-md-2 gutters-col-2 gutters-col-v-lg-2 gutters-col-v-md-2 gutters-col-v-2\">\n        <!---->\n        <div class=\"h-column h-column-container d-flex h-col-lg-auto h-col-md-auto h-col-auto style-498-outer style-local-995-c104-outer\">\n          <div data-colibri-id=\"995-c104\" class=\"d-flex h-flex-basis h-column__inner h-px-lg-2 h-px-md-2 h-px-2 v-inner-lg-2 v-inner-md-2 v-inner-2 style-498 style-local-995-c104 position-relative\">\n            <!---->\n            <!---->\n            <div class=\"w-100 h-y-container h-column__content h-column__v-align flex-basis-100 align-self-lg-start align-self-md-start align-self-start\">\n              <!---->\n              <div data-colibri-id=\"995-c105\" class=\"h-global-transition-all h-heading style-499 style-local-995-c105 position-relative h-element\">\n                <!---->\n                <div class=\"h-heading__outer style-499 style-local-995-c105\">\n                  <!---->\n                  <!---->\n                  <a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.ca\/Ketchup-Carbonara-witty-Italian-cookbook-ebook\/dp\/B0BM4Z42YL\/ref=sr_1_1?crid=FQXSZ27DD511&amp;keywords=ketchup+and+carbonara&amp;qid=1706563317&amp;s=books&amp;sprefix=ketchup+and+carbonara%2Cstripbooks%2C165&amp;sr=1-1\"\n                    h-use-smooth-scroll=\"true\">\n                    <h1 class=\"\">PURCHASE NOW<\/h1>\n                  <\/a>\n                <\/div>\n              <\/div>\n              <div data-colibri-id=\"995-c106\" class=\"h-divider style-500 style-local-995-c106 position-relative h-element\">\n                <!----><span class=\"h-divider__line style-500-line style-local-995-c106-line style-500-line style-local-995-c106-line\"><\/span><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n          <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n      <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n    <div data-colibri-id=\"995-c97\" class=\"h-row-container gutters-row-lg-2 gutters-row-md-2 gutters-row-0 gutters-row-v-lg-2 gutters-row-v-md-2 gutters-row-v-2 style-877 style-local-995-c97 position-relative\">\n      <!---->\n      <div class=\"h-row justify-content-lg-center justify-content-md-center justify-content-center align-items-lg-stretch align-items-md-stretch align-items-stretch gutters-col-lg-2 gutters-col-md-2 gutters-col-0 gutters-col-v-lg-2 gutters-col-v-md-2 gutters-col-v-2\">\n        <!---->\n        <div class=\"h-column h-column-container d-flex h-col-lg-auto h-col-md-auto h-col-auto style-878-outer style-local-995-c98-outer\">\n          <div data-colibri-id=\"995-c98\" class=\"d-flex h-flex-basis h-column__inner h-px-lg-2 h-px-md-2 h-px-2 v-inner-lg-2 v-inner-md-2 v-inner-2 style-878 style-local-995-c98 position-relative\">\n            <!---->\n            <!---->\n            <div class=\"w-100 h-y-container h-column__content h-column__v-align flex-basis-100 align-self-lg-start align-self-md-start align-self-start\">\n              <!---->\n              <div data-colibri-id=\"995-c99\" class=\"h-x-container style-879 style-local-995-c99 position-relative h-element\">\n                <!---->\n                <div class=\"h-x-container-inner style-dynamic-995-c99-group style-879-spacing style-local-995-c99-spacing\"><span class=\"h-button__outer style-887-outer style-local-995-c100-outer d-inline-flex h-element\"><a h-use-smooth-scroll=\"true\" href=\"https:\/\/books2read.com\/u\/mgePEX\"  data-colibri-id=\"995-c100\" class=\"d-flex w-100 align-items-center h-button justify-content-lg-center justify-content-md-center justify-content-center style-887 style-local-995-c100 position-relative\"><!----><!----> <span>i love italian romance<\/span><\/a>\n                  <\/span>\n                <\/div>\n              <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n          <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n      <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n    <div data-colibri-id=\"995-c101\" class=\"h-row-container gutters-row-lg-2 gutters-row-md-2 gutters-row-0 gutters-row-v-lg-2 gutters-row-v-md-2 gutters-row-v-2 style-494 style-local-995-c101 position-relative\">\n      <!---->\n      <div class=\"h-row justify-content-lg-center justify-content-md-center justify-content-center align-items-lg-stretch align-items-md-stretch align-items-stretch gutters-col-lg-2 gutters-col-md-2 gutters-col-0 gutters-col-v-lg-2 gutters-col-v-md-2 gutters-col-v-2\">\n        <!---->\n        <div class=\"h-column h-column-container d-flex h-col-lg-auto h-col-md-auto h-col-auto style-495-outer style-local-995-c102-outer\">\n          <div data-colibri-id=\"995-c102\" class=\"d-flex h-flex-basis h-column__inner h-ui-empty-state-container h-px-lg-2 h-px-md-2 h-px-2 v-inner-lg-2 v-inner-md-2 v-inner-2 style-495 style-local-995-c102 position-relative\">\n            <!---->\n            <!---->\n            <div class=\"w-100 h-y-container h-column__content h-column__v-align flex-basis-100\">\n              <!---->\n            <\/div>\n          <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n      <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n  <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Rome&nbsp;Sweet Home. Was she ready to return? She could have had him wrapped around her finger&#8230; If he didn&#8217;t have a ring wrapped around his. Reader Reviews \u201cThe text flows fast and sure and it&#8217;s a real page turner. The chapters are well structured and just the right length to keep the story moving. Also, [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"page-templates\/homepage.php","meta":{"_wp_convertkit_post_meta":{"form":"0","landing_page":"0","tag":"2307294"},"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-995","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/stevenbale.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/995","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/stevenbale.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/stevenbale.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stevenbale.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stevenbale.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=995"}],"version-history":[{"count":20,"href":"https:\/\/stevenbale.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/995\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1925,"href":"https:\/\/stevenbale.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/995\/revisions\/1925"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/stevenbale.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=995"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}