(NewsUSA) - He has been praised by some of the top thriller writers in the business. His work has been compared to that of John le Carré and Brad Thor.

“My mission,” says author William Maz, “is to use fiction writing to ask some of the larger questions that interest people everywhere: how does the world function, what is the best way to spend our lives, why do people and countries do what they do, and, the ultimate question, is there something more than this life?”

Maz takes all those objectives to the pages, first in his debut hit THE BUCHAREST DOSSIER, in which CIA agent Bill Hefflin must stay one step ahead of assassins, find his lost love, track down billions hidden in the offshore accounts of Romania’s tyrant, and unravel the secret surrounding a KGB mole.

The book, which has won numerous awards including the Chanticleer International Book Awards 2020 Grand Prize Winner in Global Thrillers, 2022 National Indie Excellence Award Winner for Thrillers and the 2022 American Fiction Award Winner for Mystery/Suspense, already has been optioned for a major motion picture by Cody Gifford (son of Kathy Lee and Frank Gifford) of Gifford Media Group.

Now, Bill Hefflin is back in Bucharest—immersed in a cauldron of spies and crooked politicians in his exciting follow-up spy thriller THE BUCHAREST LEGACY: The Rise of the Oligarchs (Oceanview Publishing).

The CIA is rocked to its core when a KGB defector divulges that there is a KGB mole inside the Agency. They learn that the mole’s handler is a KGB agent known as Boris. CIA analyst Hefflin recognizes that name—Boris is the code name of Hefflin’s longtime KGB asset. If the defector is correct, Hefflin realizes Boris must be a triple agent, and his supposed mole has been passing false intel to Hefflin and the CIA. What’s more, this makes Hefflin the prime suspect as the KGB mole inside the Agency.

Hefflin is given a chance to prove his innocence by returning to his city of birth, Bucharest, Romania, to find Boris and track down the identity of the mole. It’s been three years since the bloody revolution, and what he finds is hordes of spies, corrupt politicians, and a country controlled by the underground and the new oligarchs, all of whom want to find Boris. But Hefflin has a secret that no one else knows—Boris has been dead for over a year.

Author William Maz has received high praise from some of the industry’s masters.

“The Bucharest Legacy is a story of duplicity piled onto duplicity that will keep you guessing right to the end,” says Steve Berry, New York Times best-selling author.

 “The Bucharest Dossier is an accomplished debut—a love story inside an espionage thriller inside a historical record, with all three elements working together to maximum effect. Very impressive and very recommended,” says Lee Child, New York Times best-selling author.

New York Times bestselling author F. Paul Wilson calls The Bucharest Dossier “compulsively readable . . . a wrenching, action-packed story of love lost and regained.”

To learn more about William Maz and his work, visit www.williammaz.com. To purchase THE BUCHAREST LEGACY, go to https://bit.ly/3m3xZf7.

(NewsUSA) - Once upon a time, many people proposed to their significant other with grandma’s engagement ring. There’s something to be said for family tradition. However, whether or not you inherit a piece of heirloom jewelry, there’s something unique and personal about a modern, hand-made, custom engagement ring.     

“Bold and beautiful; modern and contemporary,” says the website of award-winning jewelry designer Cornelis Hollander.     The Scottsdale, Arizona-based company has four decades of awards and testimonials for its dramatic engagement ring designs inspired by the eye-catching geometry and clean lines of Art Deco style.       

“Our diamond rings are exceptional because they are made uniquely for the wearer, making them exclusive, memorable and personal. Your ring is the ultimate storyteller of your style and commitment,” according to Cornelis Hollander’s son, Walter Hollander, who inherited the company from his father.     The signature design collection of Cornelis Hollander includes styles for every taste.     

- Strong but sweet: The Burcht setting features an arc of pave diamonds that sits beneath a precious metal bridge holding a stunning center stone.     

- Clean and classic: The Een is a best-seller with its clean setting and timeless appeal.  Four elongated prongs showcase a center stone, with two additional diamonds on each side, plus a row of bead-set diamonds along the band.     

- Ultramodern and edgy: The Kader pushes the envelope of boldness in jewelry, perfect for those who embrace the unexpected. The ring features a thick channel that holds an off-center stone in a way that maximizes its brilliance.     

- Perfect fit: The Zwaar is “our boldest and most beautiful setting,” according to the company website. The square design can accommodate most gemstone shapes, and a center stone between two walls that allows the matching wedding band to slide through the middle for a unique piece that catches eyes and turns heads.     

For a truly personal touch, the Cornelis Hollander team can help you design your own unique engagement ring, and turn any vision into a reality. Any Cornelis Hollander designs can feature moissanite or diamond as the center stone. The company remains in the hands of the Hollander family, and all designs are manufactured by skilled craftsmen in their Scottsdale, Arizona, studio.     

Visit cornelishollander.com for more details and to explore a distinctive collection of handcrafted engagement ring designs. 

(NewsUSA) - When was the last time you thought about the health of your nails? In fact, healthy nails are not only attractive, but they are also important to overall health.     

Nails can even be a window into underlying serious disease. Proper nail care helps keep your hard-working hands and feet looking and feeling their best by decreasing infection risk and breakage. As temperatures start to rise and RSVP season kicks into high gear, it’s time to show your nails some love.     

According to Dr. Dana Stern, a board-certified dermatologist and an Assistant Clinical Professor of Dermatology at the Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York City, the most common mistakes people make when it comes to caring for their nails are choosing the wrong products and using the wrong tools.     

“We need to think about nail care in the same way we think about skin care and pay more attention to products we’re using and how we focus on not just the look of our nails but the underlying health,” says Dr Dana.     

Dr. Dana, the only dermatologist who devotes her entire practice to nail diagnosis, treatment, and surgery, is a go-to dermatologist for patients seeking advice on how to treat nail conditions and gel damage, as well as the best ways to keep their nails healthy and beautiful. Some common nail complaints she hears from patients are dryness, weakness, ridges, and aging related nail issues. She also hears her patients talk about dry, brittle nails from all the hand washing and use of hand sanitizer.     

Dr. Dana shares her top three tips to improve the look and health of your nails:     

First, when you’re choosing products, be mindful of the ingredients and steer clear of harmful chemicals such as formaldehyde, a known carcinogen and an ingredient that is in many nail strengthener formulas. Just as you wouldn’t want to use a product with harsh substances on your face or body, the same goes for products you put on your nails.     

Second, stop using abrasive emery board nail files. These files can be damaging, as they cause microscopic tears at the tips of the nails. Instead, look for glass or crystal files that will give your nails a smooth edge and won’t cause snags or tears.   

 Lastly, always wear gloves when doing wet work around the house or garden, such as washing dishes. Nails are like little sponges, and over-saturation will weaken the nail, making it prone to breakage.     

To promote nail health and help consumers take care of their nails at home, Dr Dana developed  the Nail Renewal System, which uses plant-based science to combat brittle, ridged, weak and over-processed nails. Hailed by celebrities as a nail miracle, the system produces healthy, lustrous nails within minutes of the first treatment.     

“Skin care products have progressed in line with scientific advancements, so why haven’t nail care products? It is time for a nail care brand that does more than merely mask the issues -- that revolutionizes the way people care for their nails,” says Dr. Dana.   

“In the same way that exfoliation improves the health of your skin, the Nail Renewal System is designed to remove damaged, superficial nail cells and promote hydration to improve the health of your nails,” she explains. “I like to call it a buff with benefits.” The Nail Renewal system is the first nail treatment with glycolic acid for essential exfoliation, and the product is free of formaldehyde, parabens, artificial fragrance, dyes and other toxic ingredients often found in nail care products.     

Another key ingredient is in the hydrating formula of the Nail Renewal System. Pistacia Lentiscus is a natural nail strengthener derived from the sap of a unique evergreen tree in the Mediterranean.     

The biggest myth Dr. Dana hears in her practice? “Nails do not need time to breathe in between color applications -- they don’t have lungs.” Actually, nails receive oxygen from increased blood flow resulting from exercise. So cardio is not only good for your heart, but also for your nails.     

Need more incentive to show your neglected nails some love? A nail trend that’s sweeping the fashion runways and featured in magazines is  “#TheNakedManicure.” In the same vein as the “no makeup” makeup look, it features shiny, clear nails you can show off with confidence without the pitfalls associated with polish and time and money spent at the salon.     

Dr. Dana’s Nail Renewal System is distributed through Rare Beauty Brands, a global brand platform of purpose-driven beauty brands.  

Visit drdananails.com for more information.