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The Best Apple Cobbler I’ve Ever Had

Foodies

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September 2, 2024

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Sweet spiced apples are blanketed with a soft, fluffy topping in this comforting, homestyle apple cobbler. Give the apple filling a quick pre-cook on the stove, and then top with an easy batter that comes together in 1 bowl—what a dream!

apple cobbler with cinnamon sugar and ice cream on top.

After enjoying many over the years and recently testing 9 variations—yes, NINE!—my team and I are confident THIS is the one and only apple cobbler recipe you ever need to make. (It’s definitely the only way we will ever make it again, because I’m tired of trying other variations. LOL)

Here’s Why You’ll Love It:

Comforting, homey feels: A buttery soft topping cloaks a warm, gooey apple filling with lots of cozy spice flavor. This is perfect comfort food to cuddle up with on chilly fall evenings. If apple trees could give hugs, this is what it would feel like.
Easier than pie: No question apple pie is a favorite dessert, but it’s also a true labor of love. A fruit cobbler requires no chilling or cooling steps, no special tools, and no decorating skills! If you can slice apples and stir, you can make this apple cobbler. A great beginner baking recipe.
Quicker than pie: Sometimes we need a crowd-pleasing dessert that’s ready to eat sooner rather than later. Apple crisp also fits the bill.
Simple ingredients: You likely have most of these basic ingredients in your kitchen already. It’s also a nut-free, egg-free baking recipe.

plates of apple cobbler servings with vanilla ice cream on top.

Ingredients You Need for Apple Cobbler & Why:

Butter: A little melted butter goes in the filling, and the rest goes in the topping.
Brown & White Sugars: Thanks to its molasses content, brown sugar adds flavor as it sweetens the apple filling. We’re using white granulated sugar in the topping, because brown sugar can weigh it down. (Tried and tested that, trust me!)
Lemon Juice: A squeeze of lemon keeps the apples’ flavor fresh and bright.
Flour: Just a bit in the filling, to thicken it. The rest is for the topping.
Spices: Cinnamon, nutmeg, and allspice: apples’ favorite spices. We include them in this apple cake, too.
Buttermilk: Buttermilk is your best bet here, for the softest, most delicious topping. You can use low-fat or whole buttermilk, whichever you can find at the store. If you can’t find it at all, whole milk works. No need for a buttermilk substitute, because we’re not really looking for a highly acidic ingredient.
Vanilla & Salt: Flavor enhancers.
Baking Powder: This leavener lifts the topping up as it bakes.

ingredients on marble counter including buttermilk, baking powder, salt, vanilla, flour, sugar, butter, and spices.

Recipe Testing Apple Cobbler – 9 Times

It took us a surprisingly long time to figure out the best way to make apple cobbler—which is supposed to be a relatively simple dessert. To pre-cook the apples or not to pre-cook the apples? Slices or chunks? Biscuit topping or batter topping? Apples on top or apples on the bottom? My lead recipe tester, Beth, and I just couldn’t seem to get it quite right.

First, we started out by testing a biscuit-style topping, like we use on peach cobbler and berry cobbler. However, peaches and berries are both a lot juicier than apples, and the biscuit-topped variations kept coming out unappealing and dry.

So we switched to testing a batter-based apple cobbler, like how we make this easy cherry cobbler. But those kept failing us, too. The apples were too heavy to sit on top of the batter, and prevented the dish from baking through. Keeping the butter separate also created strange and unappetizing-looking craters on top. They all tasted pretty gummy, too.

dishes of failed apple cobbler recipes.

Back to the drawing board. We knew what didn’t work for apple cobbler. So what did?

This Is How You’ll Start: Peel and Slice the Apples

Start with the apple filling. You can skip peeling the apples if you’d like, but many prefer peeled apples in desserts. I use and love (affiliate link) this OXO peeler. Slice up the apples and place them in a saucepan.

Success Tip: Pre-Cook the Apple Filling

Just a few minutes of gentle cooking gives the apple slices a head start on softening and releasing some juice so the filling doesn’t dry out. Plus, they get coated in a gooey cinnamon-spice brown sugar sauce that thickens up nicely as it bakes.

We tested this step by baking the apples in the oven for the pre-cook step, but they didn’t become as gooey and soft. Instead, they dried out.

The stove is the best choice.

apple slices in pan and shown again spread into blue dish.

Transfer the apple filling to a lightly greased baking dish. Next, you’ll…

Whisk Together the Batter for the Topping

You’ll appreciate that the batter for the topping comes together with just 1 bowl and a whisk!

After multiple rounds of testing (whole milk, apple cider, apple juice, sour cream…), the champion ingredient for this apple cobbler topping was clearly the thick and creamy buttermilk. Pour and spread the batter over the apple layer in the baking dish, and then top with a sprinkle of cinnamon-sugar. Use a butter knife to give the topping a gentle swirl, for a subtle marbling effect. Look how pretty!

batter in bowl and shown again in blue baking dish with cinnamon swirled on top.

This cinnamon apple cobbler takes less than an hour to bake. You’ll know it’s done when the apple filling is bubbling up around the edges… and by the glorious baked apple smell wafting through your kitchen!

This cobbler is best served warm; no need to wait for it to completely cool. (Music to your ears and taste buds.)

What are the best apples to use in apple cobbler?

Firmer apples are ideal for baking. Avoid soft, mealy, and mushy apples. For depth of flavor, it’s best to bake with a mix of tart and sweet apples. Use tart Granny Smith, Braeburn, Jonathan, or Pacific Rose. And use sweet Jazz, Honeycrisp, Pink Lady, or Fuji. For a detailed list of my favorite apple varieties and when to use each, you can visit my post The Best Apples for Baking.

What size pan is best?

Any 3–4-quart baking dish works, such as a 9×13-inch dish. The pictured one is by Magnolia Home and no longer available; this rectangle pan and this oval pan are similar.

Can I freeze this dessert?

You can, but it’s 100x better fresh. I found that the apple filling dried out a bit after freezing and thawing, and the cake-like topping is a bit wet. If you want to try it, however, freeze baked and cooled cobbler for up to 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator and see reheating instructions below.

Can I halve this apple cobbler recipe?

Yes. See detailed instructions below.

Vanilla ice cream is this dish’s best friend and I’m pretty confident no one will turn down a drizzle of salted caramel sauce, either.

apple cobbler in a blue baking dish with caramel and cinnamon, topped with vanilla ice cream.

apple dessert on white plate with vanilla ice cream.

From my kitchen to yours, here is the best apple cobbler I’ve ever had. (And I’ve had way too many at this point.)

Print

Apple Cobbler Recipe

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star
5 from 1 review

Author: Sally
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour (includes pre-cook)
Total Time: 1 hour, 20 minutes
Yield: serves 12
Category: Dessert
Method: Baking
Cuisine: American

Description

Sweet cinnamon-spiced apples are blanketed with a soft, fluffy topping in this comforting, homestyle apple cobbler. Give the apple filling a quick pre-cook on the stove, and then top with an easy batter that comes together in 1 bowl—what a dream! See Notes for best apples to use and how to halve the recipe, if needed.

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350°F (177°C). Lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking pan (or any 3–4-quart baking dish works).
Pre-cook the apples: Melt 2 Tablespoons of butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add the apple slices, brown sugar, lemon juice, flour, and spices. Cook, stirring, for 5 minutes, or until the apples are coated and begin to soften. Transfer apple filling to the prepared baking pan.
Make the topping: Whisk the melted butter and sugar together in a medium bowl. Add the buttermilk, vanilla, flour, baking powder, and salt, and whisk until combined and mostly smooth. Some small lumps are OK. Pour and spread the batter over the apples. Sprinkle cinnamon-sugar evenly over the top. Use a butter knife to gently swirl the topping as best you can (the apples get in the way a bit, and that’s fine).
Bake on the center rack for 48-55 minutes or until the topping is golden and the apple filling is bubbling around the edges. If you find the top of the cobbler is browning too quickly in the oven, loosely cover it with aluminum foil (I usually do this about halfway through baking). Remove from the oven, place on a cooling rack, and allow to cool for at least 5 minutes before serving.
Serve warm, room temperature, or cold; on its own or topped with vanilla ice cream and/or salted caramel sauce.
Cover leftovers tightly and store in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Reheat in the microwave or bake, covered, in a 300°F (149°C) oven, for 20 minutes or until heated through.

Notes

Make Ahead Instructions: I do not recommend preparing and refrigerating the cobbler, unbaked, because the batter thickens the longer it sits. Also, the baking powder is initially activated once mixed with wet ingredients. The only way to prepare ahead of time is to cook the apple layer, cool, cover, and then refrigerate it for up to 2 days. Bring to room temperature before using.
Freezing Instructions: This dessert is 100x better fresh. The apple filling dries out a bit after freezing and thawing, and the cake-like topping is a bit wet. If you want to try it, however, freeze baked and cooled cobbler for up to 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator. See reheating instructions in step 6.
Special Tools (affiliate links): Vegetable Peeler | Saucepan | Silicone Spatula | 9×13-inch (3–4-quart capacity) Baking Dish (the one pictured is by Magnolia Home and no longer available; this rectangle pan and this oval pan are similar | Glass Mixing Bowl | Whisk | Cooling Rack
Apples: I like to use a mix of tart (like Granny Smith) and sweet (like Honeycrisp) apples. Here are the best apples for baking.
Buttermilk: You can use either low-fat or whole buttermilk. If you can’t find either, use whole milk. No need to make a buttermilk substitute with lemon juice or vinegar. Avoid lower-fat milk.
Serving Suggestion: Top with a drizzle of salted caramel sauce and/or vanilla ice cream.
Can I Halve This Recipe? Yes; use a square 8-inch pan or round 9-inch cake pan or pie dish (square 9-inch pan is too big). Follow the recipe above, but halve all of the ingredients. The pre-cook time for the apples is about the same. The bake time is about 40 minutes.
Can I Use Pears Instead? Yes. Same amount. The pre-cook step may need to be reduced if the pears are particularly soft, probably around just 3 minutes.

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How Cisco AACPC Partner IP Consulting Transformed IT for Low…

Health & Wellness

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September 2, 2024

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The Empowering Partner Success blog series highlights the African American Cisco Partner Community (AACPC), supporting channel partners, and individuals positively impacting partner diversity and the communities they serve.

As we celebrate National Black Business Month, it’s essential to highlight the impactful work of Black-owned businesses and their contributions to various industries. One such example is Cisco AACPC Partner IP Consulting, who has played a pivotal role in helping Lowell Light and Power combat cyber threats and achieve their IT goals.

With 86% of global IT leaders wanting to empower a distributed workforce with seamless access to applications and high-quality collaborative experiences, IP Consulting is in a unique position as a Premier level Cisco partner to deliver customer value leveraging their expertise and Cisco Powered Services.
Sources: Cisco Partner ABT data; Cisco Accelerating Digital Agility Report 2021; Cisco Global Workforce Survey: The Rise of Hybrid Workplace Report, Oct. 2020

A Strategic Partnership for Success

Lowell Light and Power, a utility company serving over 3,000 customers in Lowell, MI, faced significant challenges with their VoIP solution. After months of costly troubleshooting and performance issues, they turned to IP Consulting for a comprehensive solution.

“The relationship that we’ve cultivated with IP Consulting and the partnership that’s formed there has really been integral to our success as a utility, and we’re confident that that partnership will continue to be foundational moving into the future,”
– Charlie West, General Manager of Lowell Light and Power

Comprehensive IT Solutions

IP Consulting, a Cisco Premier Partner since 2008 and part of the AACPC for four years, provides a top-down, comprehensive approach to meet Lowell Light and Power’s IT needs, including UCaaS based on Cisco Webex, network infrastructure security, and disaster recovery.

A Roadmap for Success

After conducting a thorough network assessment, IP Consulting documented and presented their findings in an easily digestible way. They built a roadmap for success, resulting in significant cost savings and enhanced trust in their cybersecurity partnership.

IP Consulting’s efforts have given Lowell Light and Power the confidence to focus on their core business, knowing that their IT infrastructure is secure and efficient.

Expanding the Relationship

IP Consulting looks forward to continuing to expand their relationship with Cisco to offer more solutions to customers like Lowell Light and Power. Their commitment to delivering top-notch cybersecurity services is evident in their work with 24 schools through Cisco’s HBCU IT Modernization Initiative and the deployment of IT infrastructure for the YELLOWHAB immersive school experience.

As we honor National Black Business Month, it’s clear that the contributions of Black-owned businesses like IP Consulting are invaluable. Their dedication to excellence and strategic partnerships are driving success and innovation across industries.

Together, Cisco partners and customers are powering an inclusive future for all.

We’d love to hear what you think. Ask a Question, Comment Below, and Stay Connected with #CiscoPartners on social!

Cisco Partners Facebook | @CiscoPartners X/Twitter | Cisco Partners LinkedIn

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Best New Vampire Books For Teens & Adults

People & culture

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September 2, 2024

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Last Updated on August 1, 2024 by Jella Erhard

Read the most anticipated new vampire books you won’t be able to put down. Explore the most exciting new vampire book series for adults, steamy new vampire romance novels, and dark ya vampire books for teens.

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Most Anticipated New Vampire Books For Adults & Teens

*Disclaimer: Some links on AsianaCircus.com are affiliate links. If you click through and make a purchase we may receive a small commission (at no additional cost to you).

Welcome to our list of the most exciting new vampire book releases. We collected some of the most thrilling, dark, and romantic vampire stories for teens and adults. You’ll find here fantasy and fiction vampire novels that will make you think and take you to new and inspired worlds.

You’ll also find here some steamy new vampire romance novels, horror vamp stories, and dark academia books with vampires you won’t be able to put down as well as bloody-good YA vampire book series that will surely get you hooked. If you’ve been looking for the best new fantasy books then you’re at the right place because some of these books will surely make your list.

RELATED: Best Vampire Books Of All Time

You’ll find here everything from slow-burn romances to hilarious stories, eccentric characters, and unique tales inspired by the most beloved immortal creatures of literature. Explore new and exciting worlds as well as new monster books that will introduce you to your favorite stories in a new way and surprise you with fun new twists.

Get ready for some chills, laughs, epic adventures, and many swoon-worthy moments because these beguiling new vampire books have it all.

Ready to vamp up your reading list? Dive into the latest blood-curdling tales where age-old legends get a fresh, modern twist. No longer just the night’s bad boys and sultry sirens, today’s vampires are navigating high school, love triangles, and even the odd existential crisis.

Whether you’re adulting or still in the YA phase of life (aren’t we all?), there’s a fanged tale out there waiting to sweep you off your feet… or at least give you a little nibble. So, grab your garlic, hold tight to your stakes, and let’s moonwalk into the world of fresh new vampire books.

Bless Your Heart by Lindy Ryan

Vampire Mystery, Southern Gothic Charm, Unearthed Secrets, Strong Female Leads

Get Your Copy HERE
Publication Date: April 2024
Genres: Mystery-Horror, Southern Gothic

Synopsis:

In Bless Your Heart, Lindy Ryan serves up a Southern-fried mix of mystery, horror, and sass. Picture this: it’s 1999 in a small Southeast Texas town, where the Evans family ladies have been running the only funeral home for ages.

Ducey, Lenore, and Grace Evans are your typical undertakers, except when they’re not. Things go from calm to full-on crazy when Mina Jean Murphy decides to rise from the dead, bringing along the Strigoi, aka your original nightmare vampires.

The Evans women, each packing her own brand of moxie, are suddenly fighting an ancient evil that’s turning their neighbors into creatures of the night. Enter Grace’s daughter Luna, who’s about to get a crash course in undead butt-kicking, Evans style.

As Deputy Roger Taylor starts snooping around, the Evans have more on their plate than just coffins and cosmetics. They’re digging up family secrets that are as dark as their new vampiric visitors.

Bless Your Heart is one of the funniest new Southern Gothic vampire books with a twist. Expect a gruesome, gripping read with heart, humor, and a whole lot of Southern charm.

Bride by Ali Hazelwood

Vampyre-Werewolf Alliance, Forbidden Romance, Political Intrigue

Get Your Copy HERE
Publication Date: February 2024
Genres: Vampires, Paranormal Romance, Fantasy

Synopsis:

In Bride, Ali Hazelwood whisks us away to a world where Vampyres and Werewolves aren’t just myths. Meet Misery Lark, a Vampyre councilman’s daughter who’s been flying under the radar among humans. But now, she’s back in the supernatural spotlight, roped into a marriage with a Werewolf for peacekeeping.

Enter Lowe Moreland, the Alpha of the Weres, who’s as unpredictable as they come. He’s got power and isn’t afraid to use it, but Misery? She’s on a mission that’s personal, and Lowe’s territory is just a stepping stone.

Their marriage is all business, no pleasure – or so they think. As they start living under the same (probably very large and spooky) roof, something shifts. The vampyre bride and the werewolf alpha

find themselves in a tangled web of politics and emotions they didn’t see coming. Misery’s secret agenda meets Lowe’s alpha authority, and sparks fly in the most unexpected ways.

Bride is a rollercoaster of forbidden love, political chess, and personal quests set in a paranormally charged world.

Whispers of Ruin by Brenda Davies

Paranormal Encounters, Forbidden Romance, Dark Creatures

Get Your Copy HERE
Publication Date: January 2024
Genres: Adult Fantasy, Paranormal Romance, Vampires

Synopsis:

Step back into the Shadow Realms with Whispers of Ruin, where Brenda Davies ramps up the supernatural stakes. Picture Kaylia and Brokk, our brave adventurers, on a mission in the Doomed Valley – a place as cheerful as its name suggests.

They’re after the crudue vine, the only hope to save Lexi, but this isn’t your average grocery run.

The Valley’s infamous for its ‘enter if you dare’ vibe, and as Kaylia and Brokk dive in, they’re ready for danger. What they’re not ready for are the chilling surprises and the whispers that seem to follow them like a bad cold. And let’s talk about the sparks flying between them – it’s like mixing fire and dynamite.

As they navigate this perilous terrain, those eerie whispers aren’t just background noise; they’re holding onto a secret that could turn their world upside down.

Whispers of Ruin is one of the spiciest new vampire books for adults with a darkly atmospheric world. Get ready for a ride through a world where treachery lurks in every shadow.

Visions of Flesh and Blood by Jennifer L. Armentrout and Rayvn

Fantasy World Building, Backstories, Artistic and Literary Exploration

Get Your Copy HERE
Publication Date: February 2024
Genres: Vampires, Fantasy Companion, Short Stories

Synopsis:

Dive deep into the world of Blood and Ash/Flesh and Fire with Visions of Flesh and Blood, the ultimate fan’s bible co-authored by Jennifer L. Armentrout and Rayvn.

Narrated by the one and only Miss Willa, it’s part research dossier, part personal diary – a unique mashup that brings you up close and personal with your favorite characters. Ever wondered what makes them tick or yearned for more behind-the-scenes gossip?

This vampire compendium has everything from original short stories and scenes that’ll make you feel like you’re catching up with old friends.

And let’s not forget the visual feast it offers – from sketches to full-blown art pieces, it’s like walking through a gallery of your beloved fantasy universe.

For the die-hard fans, it’s like finding the missing piece of your favorite fantasy puzzle. Prepare to see the Blood and Ash/Flesh and Fire world in a whole new light.

Mistress of Lies by K.M. Enright

Blood Magic, Vampiric Courts, Betrayal

Get your copy HERE
Publication Date: June 2024
Genres: Dark Romantic Fantasy, Vampire Fiction, Political Intrigue

Synopsis:

In Mistress of Lies, K.M. Enright whisks us away into a dark, romantic fantasy where blood magic isn’t just a party trick – it’s power. Meet Shan LeClaire, a powerhouse born to a Blood Worker with a not-so-stellar rep.

She’s all about mastering blood magic, running a spy network, and stacking up power chips. Her vengeance quest kicks off with a bang – or more like a sinister family coup.

Then there’s Samuel Hutchinson, the guy with a ‘gift’ that feels more like a curse. He stumbles into the magic and mayhem world after bumping into a victim of a magical serial killer. His detective hat leads him straight into the vampire king’s lair, and let’s just say, it’s not your average royal court.

Shan, Samuel, and the mysterious Royal Bloodworker Isaac get roped into a mission by the Eternal King to catch the serial killer. As their paths cross, Samuel finds himself tangled in Shan’s complex web of desires, secrets, and revenge plans.

It’s a world where blood is more than just life – it’s a currency of control and a tool for revenge. Samuel is in over his head, trying to balance his conscience with the darkness that surrounds him, while Shan navigates her ambitions and her heart.

An Education in Malice by S.T. Gibson

Academic Rivalry, Vampire Lore, Forbidden Knowledge

Get Your Copy HERE
Publication Date: February 2024
Genres: Dark Academia, Vampire Fiction, Mystery

Synopsis:

Get ready for a trip to the dark side of academia with An Education in Malice. S.T. Gibson, who gave us the cult favorite A Dowry of Blood, brings us to the hallowed and haunting halls of Saint Perpetua’s College in Massachusetts.

This isn’t your typical uni; it’s a place dripping with secrets, where ambition is as vital as blood and weird rituals are part of the curriculum.

Enter Laura Sheridan, the new kid on the block, who instantly locks horns with Carmilla, the campus enigma. Their academic sparring soon morphs into something deeper, all under the eagle eye of their poetry prof, De Lafontaine, who’s got a bit of a creepy obsession with Carmilla.

As the plot thickens, Laura starts to feel some strange cravings. She and Carmilla get tangled in a dangerous game involving cutthroat politics, a faculty that’s literally thirsty for blood, and some old-school magic. The stakes? Knowledge, power, and deciding just how much they’re willing to sacrifice for it.

Heart of Night and Fire by Nisha J. Tuli

GET IT HERE

Publication Year: 2023
Genres: Vampires, Fantasy Romance, Epic Adventure, Mythological

Synopsis:

Bask in the radiant glow of Heart of Night and Fire, the inaugural tale from The Nightfire Quartet, steeped in an intoxicating blend of romance and suspense. Meet Zarya, a magic-bearer caged by secrets, yearning for truth.

Her journey leads her to Dharati, a mesmerizing city echoing with enchantments, rakshasas, and Aazheri sorcery. Yet, lurking in the shadows, nocturnal horrors rise.

As Zarya throws her lot with the city’s defense, her dreams become ensnared by the tantalizing and cryptic Rabin. But is he an ally or adversary?

Nisha J. Tuli unveils a resplendent universe, drawing from rich Indian mythos. Perfect for those pining for passion, magic, and monumental choices.

22| Carmilla: The First Vampire by Amy Chu

Buy It Here

Publication Year: 2023
Genres: Dark Fantasy Comic Book, Mystery, LGBTQ+

Synopsis:

Venture into the neon-lit streets of 1990s New York City with Carmilla: The First Vampire. Amidst the bustling Lunar New Year celebrations, a fervent social worker takes on a detective’s mantle, uncovering a chilling string of murders targeting homeless LGBTQ+ women.

Her investigation leads her to Carmilla’s, a cryptic Chinatown nightclub. Here, not only does she find romance but also confronts harrowing truths about herself and a concealed past.

Drenched in Chinese folklore and inspired by the original gothic novel that birthed vampire tales, this book weaves a mesmerizing story of identity, obsession, and concealed family lore.

Carmilla is a queer, feminist retelling set against a backdrop of Chinatown’s underbelly, perfect for those craving a vampiric tale fused with rich cultural nuances and compelling mysteries.

21| Vampires of El Norte by Isabel Canas

Buy It Here

Publication Year: 2023
Genres: Vampire, Supernatural Western, Historical Fiction, Romance

Synopsis:

Hold onto your cowboy hats, folks. Vampires of El Norte ain’t your typical Wild West showdown. Isabel Canas takes us to 1840s Texas-Mexico, where the only thing wilder than the vaqueros is… yep, you guessed it, vampires.

Nena’s been toe-to-toe with these fanged fiends before, but when her old flame Néstor gallops back into her life, things heat up (and not just because of the Texas sun). Their steamy reunion? Plagued by past ghosting (literally and figuratively) and, oh, a bloodsucking blast from the past.

As stakes (and not just the wooden ones) rise amidst war, will love conquer or will they just end up another vampire’s midnight snack?

Vampires of El Norte is for those who love a sprinkle of history, a dash of romance, and a good ol’ vampire showdown—this rootin’ tootin’ tale’s for you.

20| The Witch and the Vampire by Francesca Flores

Buy It Here

Publication Year: 2023
Genres: Vampires, Queer Fantasy, Retelling, Romance

Synopsis:

Take the classic Rapunzel tale, add a dollop of witchy wonders, a sprinkle of vampire vibes, and voilà! You’ve got The Witch and the Vampire. Ava’s a witch turned vamp, and she’s got a serious bone to pick with her dear ol’ mom.

Meanwhile, Kaye, her ex-BFF and budding Flame witch, is dead set on nipping the vampire problem in the bud—even if that means turning on Ava.

But here’s the twist: when they find themselves in a creepy forest teeming with deadly trees and high-flying vamps, it’s clear that frenemies might have to get friendly again. As past feelings stir and danger lurks, can they trust each other long enough to survive?

Francesca Flores serves a delightful mix of fantasy, romance, and “will they, won’t they” tension. Perfect for anyone who loves a spicy retelling with unexpected turns.

19| Till the Sun Dies by H. M. Darling

Buy It Here

Publication Year: 2023
Genres: Vampires, Romance, Urban Fantasy, Paranormal

Synopsis:

Elope with us to the romantic streets of Paris in Till the Sun Dies, where Adalyn flees the predictable to embrace the unpredictable. Paris—where dreams are reborn and hearts are mended. Just when Adalyn thinks she’s finding her feet, in whirls Holland with a dance of charm and sunlight.

But here’s the kicker—our sunshine boy, Holland, isn’t just your average dreamboat; he’s got fangs. As Adalyn grapples with her newfound passions and the age-old magnetism of vampire romance, she’s left at a crossroads: chase love in the City of Light with her enchanting vampire or return to the life she once knew?

H.M. Darling paints a tale of love, self-discovery, and the allure of the eternal. A must-read for those who believe love can shine, even in the darkest nights.

18| In Nightfall by Suzanne Young

Buy It Here

Publication Year: 2023
Genres: Vampires, Urban Fantasy, Thriller, Paranormal

Synopsis:

Pack your raincoat and stake, and let’s dive into In Nightfall, where rainy Oregon gets a Buffy-esque twist. Suzanne Young, acclaimed New York Times bestselling author, drags us to Nightfall, a tiny town with 846 souls and…some other things that go bump in the night.

When party culprits Theo and Marco land there for summer detention with their eccentric grandma, it’s just soggy beaches and strange house rules. Enter Minnow and her mesmerizing gang—the allure, the mystery, the…fangs?

Suddenly, grandma’s “be home before dark” mantra doesn’t seem so quaint. Theo’s in for a lot more than a quiet summer retreat.

Young masterfully crafts a tale that’s part small-town charm, part chilling mystery. Perfect for thrill-seekers wanting a sprinkle of supernatural in their summer reads.

17| Scarlet by Genevieve Cogman

Buy It Here

Publication Year: 2023
Genres: Vampires, Historical Fantasy, Paranormal, Adventure

Synopsis:

Dive into the whirlwind that is Scarlet, where 1793’s French Revolution gets a vampiric remix. Genevieve Cogman crafts a world where guillotines aren’t the only ones thirsty for blue-blooded necks—enter stage, our aristocratic vampires.

Amidst the chaos, the enigmatic Scarlet Pimpernel is saving both the posh and the paranormal. But the plot thickens when housemaid Eleanor is whisked into the heart of Paris, mistaken for a French noble doppelgänger.

Beyond ruffled gowns and revolutionary cries, Eleanor discovers a shadow war, pitting vampires against their ancient adversaries.

With a refreshing twist on the Scarlet Pimpernel tale, Cogman serves a decadent cocktail of history, magic, and bloodlust. Ideal for those who love classics reinvented with fangs and fervor.

16| The Ruined by Renee Ahdieh

Buy It Here

Publication Year: 2023
Genres: Vampires, Fantasy, Romance, Adventure

Synopsis:

Wrap up warm and journey back to the magic-sprinkled world of The Ruined, the captivating finale to Renee Ahdieh’s New York Times bestselling series that began with The Beautiful. Sylvan realms are at loggerheads and the winter winds are howling.

With the Winter Court teetering on the brink, gallant Bastien musters every friend and force from New Orleans. Simultaneously, our heroine, Celine, nestled in the Summer Court, is grappling with trust issues.

With war drums echoing, she pairs up with Ali, seeking a time-twisting mirror to alter destiny itself. Yet, as foes catch wind of Bastien’s mortal maneuvers, they’re determined to bring the battle to his doorstep.

Renee Ahdieh’s thrilling series finale is a perfect storm of fey politics, tempestuous love, and choices that resonate. A must-read for vampire fantasy romantics.

15| Smolder by Laurell K. Hamilton

Buy It Here

Publication Year: 2023
Genres: Vampires, Urban Fantasy, Paranormal Romance, Thriller

Synopsis:

Get ready to RSVP for the most anticipated undead nuptials in “Smolder.” Vampire hunter Anita Blake is set to tie the knot with Jean-Claude, America’s premier vampire king.

But, hold the champagne—St. Louis is under siege from an ancient menace, and not even Jean-Claude’s vampiric prowess can fend it off.

The stakes? Every vampire in the US risks being gobbled up by this looming shadow. Their glimmer of hope? A blast from the past, a long-lost love.

Laurell K. Hamilton serves a tantalizing mix of romance, suspense, and supernatural showdowns. Perfect for those craving dark romance with a side of nail-biting tension.

14| Filthy Rich Vampires: Three Queens by Geneva Lee

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Publication Year: 2023
Genres: Vampires, Urban Fantasy, Paranormal Romance, Adventure

Synopsis:

Fasten your fangs, because Three Queens from Geneva Lee’s scintillating Filthy Rich Vampire series is here to whisk you into the glamorous underbelly of the vampire elite. Amidst Solstice splendor, Thea and Julian navigate a labyrinth of twisted loyalties and old vendettas.

When a treacherous clue lures them to Venice, Julian’s dark past casts a shadow. Facing his inner demons, Julian grapples with the man he once was.

Meanwhile, latent magic courses through Thea, pushing them both to the edge. As the magical realm teeters, love and fate collide in a high-stakes dance.

Filthy Rich Vampire promises a bite you won’t forget and it’s perfect for those craving romance, ancient secrets, and high-voltage drama,

13| The Scarlet Veil by Shelby Mahurin

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Publication Year: 2023
Genres: Vampires, Paranormal Romance, Urban Fantasy, Adventure

Synopsis:

Dive deep into The Scarlet Veil, the enthralling extension of the beloved “Serpent & Dove” universe. Freshly minted huntswoman Célie, six months into her sacred vows, is gearing up to safeguard Belterra alongside her dashing fiancé, Jean Luc.

But shadows from her past creep close, whispering chilling tales. Now, a formidable foe emerges from the gloom—a darkness that might ensnare Célie.

Shelby Mahurin dishes out a delicious cocktail of passion, duty, and supernatural suspense. A riveting read for those seeking dark romance with a touch of danger and destiny.

12| City of Gods and Monsters (House of Devils #1) by Kayla Edwards – New Adult Vampire Book, 2022

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City of Gods & Monsters has beautiful and atmospheric world-building, a story that will pull you right in, and it has a slow-burn romance story. However, it’s also intended for those who are over the age of 18 because it’s also often violent, has mature and explicit content, and deals with drug abuse and suicide as well among many other triggering subjects so keep that in mind before you start reading.

The story is set in the dangerous and imaginary city of Angelthene where vampires, werewolves, witches, and other supernatural creatures roam the streets. And its heroine is Loren an ordinary girl who just tries to stay alive in this insane place.

One day Loren and her friend are attacked on the streets and instead of Loren, her friend gets taken. The abductors soon demand ransom and ask for Loren’s life in exchange for her friend’s safe return. Loren has to partner up with Darien the leader of the Seven Devils, the most feared Darkslaying circle in the city.

However, when more and more women start disappearing and then soon turning up dead they realize that there is much more to the story than her failed kidnapping.

If you’re looking for new dark romance books with vampires then don’t miss this thrilling read.

City of Gods and Monsters is a new dark adult vampire book that will surely give you chills.

11| Shadow Kissed by (Marked by Blood #1) Rebecca L. Garcia – New fantasy Vampire book series, 2022

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If you love slow-burn romance, vampires, and dark fantasy stories then Shadow Kissed is the vamp book you should definitely put on your TBR. It’s also a great choice for those who’re not only into vampires but witches too and are looking for magical new books about witches and other supernatural creatures.

The story follows Olivia a sorceress and her Guild in the mortal kingdom. However, darkness has come to their home too and Olivia’s mom and best friend are taken. Before Olivia could get away she’s captured by a vampire named Sebastian who says he just wants to protect her. But when Olivia is taken to the City of Nightmares – the most dangerous place in the vampire kingdom – she realizes she is a prisoner.

Olivia has to use all her power and wits to survive and get out of this dangerous place while also finding a way to help her loved ones.

Shadow Kissed is a new dark fantasy vampire book set in a lush and thrilling world and is a great choice for adults and teens as well.

10| Darknesses by Lachelle Seville – LGBTQ+ New Vampire Book for adults, May 2022

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Do you love retellings? Then Darknesses is the new vampire novel you should check out. The story follows Oasis who gets approached by the famous Van Helsing Institute who need her help to finally kill the most dangerous and first vampire who ever lived, Dracula himself.

Well, herself, in this case since in this thrilling modern gothic vampire love story Dracula has a new face and a new name, Laura. While Oasis has her own issues she soon falls in love with Laura. They both mean danger to the other but will not let go easily…

Darknesses is one of the most exciting LGBTQ+ romance vampire books of 2022 and is a perfect choice for those who love the original Dracula story set in the contemporary US.

9| Belle Morte by Bella Higgin – New YA Vampire Book For Teens, April 2022

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If you’re looking for an easy YA vampire romance book then pick up this fun fantasy romance story. The story is about Renie who decides to investigate the infamous celebrity vampire house where humans are paid to be living donors and the place her sister entered but never returned from.

She soon finds out that the Belle Morte has more dark secrets than she suspected and she’s in danger of falling for her mortal enemy, Edmond Dantès, one of the sexiest vampires in the house.

Belle Morte is one of the most fun new YA vampire books for teens who love action-packed fantasy stories with love triangles set in modern age England.

RELATED: Best New Elf Books For Adults

8| Lover Arisen (Black Dagger Brotherhood #20) by J.R. Ward – New Vampire Romance Book For Adults, April 2022

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A new steamy and dark addition arrives this year to grow the fantastic Black Dagger Brotherhood vampire book series. If you can’t get enough of vampire romance books for adults then you should pick up this thrilling new vamp romance story.

Lover Arisen promises to be just as intense and surprising as the other Ward books with some big changes that could end the Brotherhood forever. You’ll meet some old and new characters in this story that mainly follows Balthazar and its heroine Erika.

Balthazar is on a search for the Book of Spells because a demon named Devina possessed him. To his biggest surprise, Balthazar falls in love with a human, Erika. However, when the unlikely couple falls for each other they also become the gateway for the rebirth of an old and powerful enemy of the Brothers.

Lover Arisen is one of the most anticipated new vampire books for adults in 2022 that’ll surely make your reading time steamier.

You Might Also Like: Best Vampire Movies & Series on Netflix

RELATED: New Fae Books to Read

7| Compelled (Shadow Beast Shifters #5) by Jaymin Eve – New Urban fantasy romance book, March 2022

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Not a fan of the Shadow Beast Shifters vampire book series yet? Don’t worry because Compelled is a standalone story so you’ll be able to enjoy its twists and turns even if you haven’t read any of the other books.

Readers will get to follow Simone and Lucien’s story. While Simone doesn’t plan on returning to supernatural worlds that exist outside of Earth her plans quickly change when she receives a summon to participate in a selection that will find a new mate for an ancient vampire master she accidentally awakened.

Since the participation is non-negotiable Simone has no other choice but to ask for Lucien’s help. Lucien agrees and enters the selection and their plan is to pretend to fall for each other during the process. But soon pretense becomes all too real.

Compelled is a magical new fantasy vampire book for adults who love steamy romances set in lush and thrilling worlds filled with mysteries and danger.

RELATED: Best New Reverse Harem Books

6| Woman, Eating by Claire Kohda – New Thriller Vampire Novel For Adults, April 2022

Buy It Here

If you’ve been looking for a truly unique new vampire novel then Woman Eating is definitely the right choice for you. The story is about Lydia, a 23 years old art graduate who lives alone for the first time in London, England.

Lydia is a mixed-race vampire who wants to find a way to balance her deep-seated desire to live amongst humans with her incessant hunger for their blood. She lives alone in her windowless studio and tries to find a way to develop as a woman and artist while also buying enough fresh pig blood to stay alive.

This funny and meaningful story explores many themes including finding one’s self and dealing with our demons. Lydia also tries to deal with her mixed ethnic heritage, and her difficult relationship with food, while also trying to find a way to happily exist in the world.

If you’ve been looking for new thriller books with unique stories then you should check out Woman Eating.

Woman Eating is a thrilling new fiction vampire novel for adults who love meaningful, funny, and creative stories.

5| This Charming Man (Stranger Times #2) by C.K. McDonnell – New Comedy Vampire Book, February 2022

Buy It Here

If you’re a Terry Pratchett and vampire fan then this dark and hilarious vampire novel will be your new favorite book to read in 2022. This new adult vampire book has everything a reader wants; mystery, thrills, and lots of laughter-inducing lines.

Stranger Times is a contemporary vampire book series and This Charming Man is the second book of the series. Strange and hilarious things start to happen after more vampires appear on the streets of Manchester and start murdering locals. No one is happy about the new situation and they have to find a solution before things get out of hand.

This Charming Man is one of the funniest new vampire books for adults in 2022 set in Manchester.

4| Dead Collections by Isaac Fellman – LGBTQ+ New Vampire Novel For Adults, February 2022

Buy It Here

Dead Collections is a gripping and humorous romance story that explores what it means to be at home in your own body.

The story is about Sol and Elsie who form a fast and strong bond after meeting. However, Sol has a secret, he suffers from an illness called vampirism. He spends most of his time hiding from the sun in his basement office.

As the two characters fall in love, they learn together how to navigate the realities of transphobia and the stigmas of carrying the “vampire disease.” It’s a perfect choice for those who don’t like fantasy and prefer to read fiction since the supernatural elements are so well integrated into the story that you won’t be bothered by them

It’s a story filled with eccentric and fascinating characters, hilarious dialogues, and thought-provoking themes that will make you think and feel all the feels.

Dead Collections is a thought-provoking new vampire novel for adults who love unique stories and beautiful love stories.

3| The All-Nighter (The All-Nighter #1-5) by Chip Zdarsky – New Vampire Graphic Novel, March 2022

Buy It Here

if you’re into graphic novels with beautiful art and unique stories then check out The All-Nighter. This fun vampire story has a new twist on superheroes and the importance of found family.

The story’s main character is Alex who works in The All-Nighter diner, the only place in town that’s open from sunset to sunrise. The diner is run by Alex and his fellow vampires who agreed to blend into human society.

However, Alex gets bored with just flipping burgers, and when he gets inspiration from his favorite superhero movies he decides to use his powers to fight bad guys. He soon realizes that his decision will have big consequences both for himself and for everyone else he wanted to protect.

The All-Nighter is a fun and charming new vampire graphic novel about found family and unlikely superheroes.

2| Crowbones (The Others #8) by Anne Bishop – New Dark Vampire Romance Book, 2022

Buy It Here

If you’re into dark fantasy books for adults and YA Readers and love getting lost in thrilling fantasy vampire book series then you should check out The Others vamp series.

Crowbones is set in a world that’s filled with various paranormal beings including shape-shifters and vampires. Our heroine is Vicki who runs a rustic resort called The Jumble. On Trickster Night, Vicki decides to host a party for her friends where humans and the others would mix and party together.

Everything goes just fine until a guest arrives dressed as Crowbones, the Crowgard bogeyman. However, the impostor and a shape-shifting Crow soon get killed, and when the connection between their death becomes clear Vicki and her guests start to fear that the real Crowbones may have come to The Jumble.

Crowbones is one of the most exciting new dark fantasy vampire books of 2022 that’s perfect for teens and adult readers as well.

1| House of Hunger by Alexis Henderson – New Vampire Gothic Horror Novel, September 2022

Buy It Here

House of Blood promises to be one of the most thrilling new horror books of 2022 filled with dark twists. The story follows Marion Shawn a young girl who’s hopelessly trying to get out of the slums. however, everything changes for on the day when she finds a peculiar listing in the newspaper:

“WANTED – Bloodmaid of exceptional taste. Must have a keen proclivity for life’s finer pleasures. Girls of weak will need not apply.”

Marion applies for the bloodmaid position at the notorious House of Hunger and soon she heads to the far north where wealthy nobles live in luxury and drink the blood of those in their service. She founds herself in the center of a new dark and twisted world where Countess Lisavet leads a hedonistic court. She is both feared and loved and she soon takes a special interest in Marion.

Soon, even more dangerous things start to happen when her fellow bloodmaids begin to go missing in the night., Marion needs to learn the rules of her new home before she ends up dead herself.

House of Hunger is one of the most anticipated new horror vampire books of 2022 for adults who love enthralling gothic novels.

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The Labyrinthine Rules That Created a Housing Crisis

Health & Wellness

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September 2, 2024

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Jerusalem Demsas On the Housing Crisis — *This article has been adapted from the introduction of* On the Housing Crisis: Land, Development, Democracy.

Consider how a home is built in America. Long before the foundation is poured, the first step is to check the rule books. For the uninitiated, the laws that govern the land appear hopelessly technical and boring, prescribing dozens upon dozens of requirements for what can be built and where. Zoning ordinances and other land-use regulations or zoning ordinances reach far beyond the surface-level goal of preserving health and safety. Instead, they reveal a legal regime stealthily enforcing an archaic set of aesthetic and moral preferences. Preferences that flourished out of a desire to separate Americans by race have evolved into a labyrinthine, exclusionary, and localized system that is at the core of the housing crisis—and very few people know about it.

In America, we’ve delegated the power over how our land is used to the local level, and seeded the process with various veto points. We’ve done this under the misguided assumption that decentralization will make the process more democratic. In reality, this system has resulted in stasis and sclerosis, empowering small numbers of unrepresentative people and organizations to determine what our towns and cities look like and preventing our democratically elected representatives from planning for the future.

From the July/August 2023 issue: Colorado’s ingenious idea for solving the housing crisis

Say you own a single-family home. You and your partner bought it during the pandemic purchasing frenzy, and now you find yourself blessed with a child. You decide that you’d love to have your father move in with you to help with child care when you return to work. Although you love your dad, making sure he has his own living space is probably best for everyone involved.

So you decide to build a little backyard cottage, sometimes called a “granny flat,” a “mother-in-law suite,” or, more formally, an “accessory dwelling unit.” But then you discover that your property is not zoned for a secondary home, no matter how small. You’re annoyed—It’s not like I’m trying to build an apartment building, and this is my land right? You go to city hall and ask the planner to help you fill out an application for a variance. You’re pretty handy, so you’ve worked out the specifications for the home you’re building (again, on your property) and you submit your application to the city.

Next you attend a city-council meeting, where you’re No. 3 on the agenda. You wait your turn for hours, thinking, Who could possibly have time for this? while listening to people who claim to be your neighbors—you don’t recognize them—complain about bike lanes. Finally, you’re up, and you get a question about parking availability. You tell the council that your father is going to share your car, and that you already have a two-car driveway and a garage. You’re then peppered with questions about whether the structure will cast shadows on your neighbors’ property, whether you intend to rent out the unit someday, whether you’ve looked into potential environmental damage to your lawn, whether you promise to respect the historic integrity of the neighborhood. Someone makes a comment about “out-of-towners” with their big money coming and driving up the prices. But then the meeting is over, and you hope that’s the last of it.

It isn’t. In the following months, you’re asked to make a bunch of changes to your plan and resubmit it. Unfortunately, someone on your block has made it his business to draw out this process as long as possible. He is frustrated by all the new homes going up as the suburb grows. Apparently he thinks they’re ugly. You end up negotiating directly with him and realize that, if you reconfigured the cottage and got all the legal approvals necessary to satisfy his concerns, you’d have to shell out an extra $20,000 that you don’t have. Often, you consider giving up.

But let’s say the local authorities get around to granting permission. That’s not necessarily the end of the road. A determined opponent could sue, claiming that your little cottage will degrade the environment or that you ignored some minor permitting technicality, or he could fight to get your neighborhood added to a historic registry, and on and on. Proving that you’ve actually harmed the environment or degraded the neighborhood character is secondary; the claim alone is enough to keep your plans—and your life—in limbo.

Not every story about housing development is quite this miserable, but many are. The most unlikely part of this saga is that our protagonist even tries to get an exception from the existing, restrictive rules. Most people wouldn’t bother with a variance; they would just give up. Developers don’t like to bother with variances, either; they want to avoid the serpentine process our unlucky hero found herself trapped in.

Jerusalem Demsas: Meet the latest housing-crisis scapegoat

For our fictional new parent, the costs are weighty: A grandfather is deprived of the chance to live with his family, a grandchild is deprived of that relationship, two parents are forced to shell out thousands of dollars for day care, and the people who wanted to buy the grandfather’s home now have to look elsewhere. The knock-on effects are endless. The parents will have less money to save for their child’s future, and they will drive up the demand—and thus prices—for day-care services; they may even have to subsidize the grandfather’s elder care. These individual setbacks can seem minor, but multiplied across tens of thousands of communities, they add up to a national tragedy.

The American population is growing, and aging, and in many cases looking for smaller houses. But the types of homes Americans need simply don’t exist. All across the country, local governments ban smaller houses (have you tried looking for a starter home recently?), apartment buildings, and even duplexes—the sorts of places a grandparent, or a young person, or a working family might want to live. The shortage has been estimated at 4 million homes, and that scarcity is fueling our affordability crisis. In the end, whatever does get built reflects the cost of delays, the cost of complying with expensive requirements, the priced-in threat of lawsuits, and, most important, scarcity.

Americans are aware by now that the housing affordability crisis is acute, but many don’t understand what’s causing it. All too often, explanations center on identifying a villain: greedy developers, or private-equity companies, or racist neighbors, or gentrifiers, or corrupt politicians. These stories are not always false, nor are these villains imaginary, but they don’t speak to root causes.

I’ve told these stories myself, often identifying NIMBYs as the villains. This term, an acronym for “not in my backyard,” is used to refer specifically to those who support something in the abstract but oppose it in their neighborhood. But NIMBY has experienced the sort of definitional inflation that happens to all successful epithets and now refers to anyone who opposes development for the wrong reasons.

An intense focus on the moral failings of various people and organizations can be a distraction. Exposing terrible landlords is important, but perhaps even more important is addressing why they have so much power. Pointing out that a billionaire is trying to thwart the construction of townhouses in his affluent neighborhood is useful, but even more useful is understanding why he might succeed.

I believe that opposing housing, renewable-energy development, or even bike lanes for bad reasons is wrong (and my disdain for people who do so is evident in many of these articles). But NIMBYs are a sideshow. A democracy will always have people with different values. The problem is that the game is rigged in their favor. NIMBYs haven’t won because they’ve made better arguments or because they’ve mobilized a mass democratic coalition—I would very much doubt that even 10 percent of Americans have ever seriously engaged in the politics of local development. NIMBYs win because land politics is insulated from democratic accountability. As a result, widespread dissatisfaction with the housing crisis struggles to translate into meaningful change.

Jerusalem Demsas: Housing breaks people’s brains

When democracies fail to translate voter desires into reality, we should try to identify what’s causing the disconnect. In this case, the trouble is that our collective frustration about our economic outcomes is directed at elected officials who have little or nothing to do with how our land is used. We should change that.

The politics of land should play out in the domain of democratic participation instead of leaving it to the zoning boards, historic-preservation committees, and courtrooms. Instead of relying on discretionary processes subject to review by countless actors, governmental bodies, and laws, states should strip away veto points and unnecessary local interference.

In general, debates about how our land is used should happen where more people are paying attention: at the state level, where governors, watchdog institutions, and the press are able to weigh in and create the conditions for the exercise of public reason. Not at the hyperlocal level, where nobody’s watching and nobody’s accountable.

Right now we have theoretical democracy: democracy by and for those with the lawyers, time, access, and incentive to engage in the thorny politics of land. But despite the pretty name of “participatory democracy,” it is anything but. “Democracy is the exercise of public reason,” the political philosopher John Rawls wrote. Relatedly, the economist and philosopher Amartya Sen argued that “democracy has to be judged not just by the institutions that formally exist but by the extent to which different voices from diverse sections of the people can actually be heard.”

All 340 million of us could, I suppose, become obsessed with land-use regulations and show up at dozens of meetings a year to make our voices heard. We could worm our way into sparsely attended communities and spend hours going back and forth with the unrepresentative actors who have the time, the money, and a curious combination of personality traits, and who have already hijacked this process. But we won’t. And a true democracy does not simply offer the theoretical possibility of involvement in decision making: It offers institutions that can hear us where we are. The rules that govern land are the foundation of our lives. Americans should take a closer look into how they are determined.

This article has been adapted from the introduction of On the Housing Crisis: Land, Development, Democracy.

On The Housing Crisis: Land, Development, Democracy

By Jerusalem Demsas

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Losing Connie

Travels

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September 2, 2024

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Earlier this month, the spinal CSF leak community lost a bright light when Connie Rim passed away. Her Facebook page, called My CSF Leak Story, was where she detailed her long fight trying to get sealed and healed. A few days after she passed, her husband posted words from Connie about her death, sharing it with the world.

Connie sustained her leak 5 years ago during spinal surgery, and tirelessly rallied her body and mind in her attempts to get care and find her way back to a place of less pain. Like me, she found solace in sharing this journey publicly. In her case, via videos that she posted to Facebook and TikTok, detailing her many debilitating symptoms, explaining the procedures and tests she got, and patiently answering questions.

When someone is chronically ill and takes a break from treatments, there is inevitably a swell of people asking why. “Why aren’t you doing more?”, as if it’s up to you to not be better. As if there’s full control of the long tightrope you need to walk on when you’re dealing with multiple complex conditions. Despite her openness and raw, unflinching videos, people still asked Connie this question.

Perhaps in response to this, or for other reasons (I don’t know), in May 2023 Connie posted a long list of procedures and tests and doctors she’s seen right before she headed out to Mayo for more leak diagnostics and procedures: “This cannot be my life. This is not a life. I’ve been fighting to get better and advocating for myself as much as possible but in truth, I’m tired now. Nothing is as easy as it once was,” she wrote then.

By this point, she had been to leak specialists and still her leak(s) were not sealed. She was in constant pain. She reposted that list, updated, a few days before her death.

She did get treatment after that May 2023 post, one that brought her pain down a little bit. We could all feel her joy and hope when it did. But that treatment failed, and when it failed it brought a new, terrible set of symptoms. Since late January 2024, she experienced severe stabbing pain from three to over twenty times daily, at what she classified as a level 10 pain. To be in pain all day, and then layer upon that a new and persistent, paralyzing pain… I can’t imagine.

By mid-May, she was gone.

Reading between the lines of the message her husband posted, she hit a wall where the excruciating pain she experienced moment to moment couldn’t be managed.

“Some days, I’ve been given 10-15 minutes of my precious baseline pain, and for that. I’m grateful. But during the remaining 23 hours and 45 minutes, I was always crying, fighting, and, at times, in so much pain that I could do anything but curl in a fetal position in darkness,” she wrote.

Her family and husband were loving and kind, she had a lot of support, and she had a community who rallied around her. I understand that those amazing things may not be enough when you are trapped in a body that tortures you.

Studies show that in a chronic state, pain can disrupt the communications between brain cells, leading to a reduction in the ability to process emotions — especially negative emotions. Pain changes your brain. I experienced a version of this myself not long after my leak began: already in chronic pain for years but not yet aware of mast cell diseases, I ate a particularly high histamine meal of spaghetti and shared a glass of wine with my family. It was this meal during those initial leak days, before I went to Duke for treatment, that tipped my body its new, unruly state. After that meal, I had full-body burning and nerve pain 24/7. And it didn’t go away. It felt like I was being dipped in acid, with no respite from the torture.

It was a fellow patient who urged me to think about MCAS, given my symptoms. I hadn’t heard of mast cell activation syndrome before. With no doctors to support me, I scrambled to get my mast cells under control and try to make it stop. During those weeks of absolute hell, until I found over-the-counter medications that worked for me, I begged a close friend to help me find a way out forever. (They declined, were compassionate throughout, and instead tried to find me a grief therapist locally. What helped in this case wasn’t therapy, it was finding respite from the fire-burn all over my body thanks to antihistamines and a low-histamine diet.)

And that was how I felt with only a few weeks of torture.

Connie lived with that pain that for many years. As she said in her writing, “The pain determines my emotions, NOT the other way around (as some people believe).”

Her passing hit the leak world very hard. Even those who did not know Connie personally often watched her videos on TikTok or Facebook, or interacted with her on the groups. In my case, I was virtual friends with her for years and we exchanged audio messages about strategies, told jokes, tried to keep ourselves sane in this Groundhog Day world we lived in when staying sealed felt like a pipe dream.

And yet, despite the pain and the exhaustion and the procedures, Connie remained joyful where she could, she appreciated what love she had in her life, especially her deep and beautiful love for her husband, and saw humour where she was able. She had tons of support. The pain determined her emotions, as she said. She was a prisoner of her constant agony.

I feel angry for her and her family, and for all of us. In looking at that long procedures list, it feels like she was failed so many times along the way. Even as recently as this year, she presented to the ER and later shared a video explaining that the on call doctor said her symptoms were psychosomatic. How can you look at that blisteringly long list of treatments and think it’s psychosomatic?! The ongoing nerve damage and tissue damage, and scar tissue that can entrap her nerves, it all makes sense looking at the long list of what her body had been through.

But no, she was told it was all in her head.

That’s part of what leaves me rattled, for anyone with this condition or other invisible conditions where metrics for diagnosis and treatment are not cut and dry. I’m working on the slides with the US and other spinal CSF leak foundations for the annual awareness week for this condition, called leakweek (which starts June 3rd). In it, we share the different types of diagnostics and note that normal imaging does not rule out a spinal CSF leak. Normal opening pressure does not rule out a spinal CSF leak. Normal anything does not rule it out; we are trapped in this endless loop of being unable to ‘prove’ quantitatively what we have other than symptoms, yet often we are told we aren’t reliable narrators when sharing our symptoms.

And so we try, we try so hard.

We present ourselves firmly but without panic, but not TOO jokingly else we seem ‘not sick enough.’ We keep spreadsheets, we share data, we come armed with supporting studies but not TOO many, else it seems like we think we know too much. Outside the few leak experts out there, who are thankfully training doctors often, this dance continues. It’s exhausting to live in pain and to lose your mobility and so much more, but add the suspicion and disbelief to the mix and it drags your soul down to the ground.

Because despite the advocacy, despite the education, the myths persist.

Outside the leak experts, patients report that doctors still think a lumbar puncture leak is “self-limiting” (i.e., that it goes away on its own — I wish!). Many still doubt the existence of spontaneous intracranial hypotension (SIH), where a leak can occur suddenly; this can be due to a bone spur or calcified disc gnawing into the dura til it tears, or a coughing fit, or lifting heavy weights, or something else being the last straw for a weakness in the dura mater the patient wasn’t aware of. And a more recently-discovered type of leak, a CSF-venous fistula, can be elusive on existing imaging types, though a newer photon counting CT machine is spotting them more frequently. Canada doesn’t have one, and the US only has a few.

The brutality of this condition is hard to accurately put into words. Not only the pain itself but the uncertainty and uphill battle in getting care. It’s commonly misdiagnosed and under-diagnosed. The mental health burden is also significant: a quality of life study in spinal CSF leak patients from 2023 found that over half of the respondents (64.2%) endorsed suicidality, and 22.4% had demonstrated suicidal behaviour. A 2024 study about quality of life in chronic post puncture patients (like me) found substantial mental health challenges with depression, anxiety and stress experienced by 83%, 98%, and 88% of the respondents, respectively.

It’s like a big cosmic joke, “hey, there’s a condition that often does not show on imaging, where specialized imaging also involves making a new hole in the dura mater to look for the original leak, where the vast majority of medical students don’t learn specifics of SIH or long-term puncture leaks in in current med school curricula, and where we can’t yet figure out why chronic patients have a really hard time getting sealed and sometimes end up with new leaks after treatment.”

***

August 2024 marks 7 years of leaking for me.

In these very difficult intervening years, I’ve learned a lot of things about myself, and about my body. About the illusions of safety I used to have. About how life just isn’t fair.

The part that hits hardest has always been that stability feels like an illusion. It’s so tenuous. Moments where I get respite from the pain are so few and far between, but with frequent anaphylaxis and severe MCAS in the mix, it feels like the edge of that knife is so thin. I often joke that I’m in bed now, but we will all be in bed eventually as we age. I just got there first. Underneath the humour is the knowledge that Connie’s story is sadly not the exception. That there are other patients barely hanging on as they wait for science to evolve and be able to bring them lasting relief.

Every day, my inbox is full of patients who can’t get treatment for their spinal CSF leaks. Doctors who laugh at them for asking for atraumatic needles for a lumbar puncture, despite studies showing it makes a significant difference in lowering the risk of a post-puncture spinal CSF leak. Families who say that their kids or siblings or spouses are faking it, that they’re “just lazy”, that they just “don’t want to be better”.

Show me a chronically ill person, in constant pain, who doesn’t want to get better?! If they’re out there, they are a rarity. Every patient I know, and I know many due to my public platforms, is like Connie: advocating fiercely, organizing efficiently, keeping hope as best they can, and desperately wanting to get well.

I haven’t gone back for treatment because repairs don’t hold for me. I have complicating factors like MCAS and adhesive arachnoiditis that make outcomes more risky and less curative than the average patient. But that that doesn’t mean I’ve given up. I’ve said it before: acceptance does not mean you’ve given up. Like Connie, I have much to be grateful for. But even acceptance, even finding joy again, isn’t enough to eclipse unrelenting pain. Thankfully, I am not in the kind of pain Connie was in, and by sharing all of this I am not trying to make her death about me. It’s more that her passing feels like it could have been any of us in this tight knit community. I respect her choice, and I am also heartbroken that she was backed into a corner by her pain and felt like she had to make it.

This post isn’t my usual, I know. I’m angry. I’m devastated. And it’s lit a fire under me to continue my advocacy work as much as my body allows. People sometimes ask why I’m so involved with the Spinal CSF Leak Foundation in the US, since it’s unpaid and I have my own business to run. (I am now the Vice-President of the Board). Advocacy is why. Connie is why. Connie, and other patients like her. Other patients like me. For those of us who are chronic, where repairs don’t hold, who are also waiting and hoping. For the patients who can’t get to care because they don’t have doctors who know leaks in their areas. For those who need resources to help their families to understand.

In supporting the Foundation, and working with sister nonprofit organizations in Canada and the UK, I can hopefully bring about more change than I can do as one writer with a leak.

I’ve been meaning to share all of these thoughts since I learned of Connie’s passing earlier this month, but it honestly messed me up too much to put words to paper. Today marks the beginning of duradash®, though, and I’m fundraising for spinal CSF leak research. So I thought it was a good day to share, and to try and dust myself off and keep persisting. What else can I do but try and transmute my rage and my grief about Connie’s death and the unfairness of it all into something that can move the needle on all of this mess?

In August 2017, I knew nothing about spinal CSF, nothing about leaks other than the ones in water pipes, and nothing about needle types or gauge. I had never heard of the dura mater. Years later, there’s a lot I wish I knew then, but all I can do is keep writing and sharing, raising funds for the cause, and hopefully help someone else get care sooner than I could.

I will always be thankful to Connie for her fierce determination and desire to educate others no matter what she was going through.

Since I sustained my leak 7 years ago, there has been a lot of progress and research and advances in the field.

Losing Connie shows us how we have so much farther to go. 💔

If you’d like to support me in raising funds for spinal CSF leak research, please see my duradash® campaign page here. I set a goal of $1000 but have already eclipsed it thanks to my Instagram community; I will be upping the goal to $2000 later this week. The 2-week fundraiser will end June 8th, 2024.

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Grichuk, D-backs’ bats relentless in rout of Dodgers

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PHOENIX — For the first two games of the series, both the Dodgers and D-backs scored in bunches early in the game. In Sunday’s contest, however, it was only the D-backs who flexed their muscles, as they put together an eight-run second inning and cruised to a 14-3 win at Chase Field. The two teams will wrap up the series Monday afternoon. After combining to score 11 runs in the first inning the previous two games, neither team scored in the first inning, but the good vibes didn’t continue for Dodgers starter Justin Wrobleski. Making his sixth big league start,…

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Simon Denny on Christoph Büchel at Fondazione Prada, Venice

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September 2, 2024

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Simon Denny on Christoph Büchel at Fondazione Prada, Venice

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Monsters Among Us: Mark Austin Slaughter killed Brandon Glen…

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Brandon Glen Broadway

Find-A-Grave: Brandon Glen Broadway
37-year-old man killed in Jonesboro shooting
Jonesboro homicide suspect arrested in Oklahoma
Man sentenced to 30 years for murder
Arkansas Man Gets 30-Year Sentence for Murdering ‘Victim Who Had Been in Fear’ of Him
Jonesboro Man Sentenced For Killing Bono Man In 2020

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How G2 Remains Committed to Authentic Reviews in an Age of A…

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At G2, we continue to embrace artificial intelligence (AI) by finding ways to work smarter and bringing new innovations to the market for software buyers and sellers.

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Celeb Baby Bumps Guess Who!

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September 2, 2024

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Celebrity Baby Bumps -- Guess Who!

These moms-to-be have been puttin’ in that work, and if anyone deserves a day off to kick back and relax, it’s these growin’ n’ showin’ ladies! Before they go into labor, strap on your bibs and see if you can spill the baby mama rockin’ her pregnant belly in the baby bump pic!

From rappers to singers … reality TV stars and more, our growing gallery is filled with pregnant gals galore! Push through the holiday and take a scroll through these celebrity baby bumps … Can you namedrop the expecting mothers before they pop!?

Happy Labor Day!

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