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October 9, 2019
The Magician's Apprentice was recently reviewed on the Love Bytes (LGBTQ Book Reviews) blog and received 4.5 stars!!! I'm so happy with the success this book has been having. Over a month in and it's still in the top 10 in LGBT fantasy on Amazon! I put so much into this story over so many years, it's wonderful beyond words to be having this experience now.
>> Read the Review here.
For those of you who are wondering, the Dragon Mage Chronicles will be released soon as well. I'm doing a final editing of the books and hope to be releasing them very soon.
Thanks again to everyone who has offered me so much support and encouragement in my writing over the years. You all are an amazing group of people. :)
Amazon link
Smashwords link
September 11, 2019
I'm giving away a free ebook of my newly released m/m fantasy novel The Magician's Apprentice to one lucky winner! The giveaway starts now and ends September 18th, 2019 at 11:59 p.m. To enter, just click the link below to visit The Blogger Girls' website and enter the Rafflecopter giveaway:
https://thebloggergirls.com/2019/09/11/the-magicians-apprentice-by-j-a-jaken-exclusive-excerpt-giveaway/
September 1, 2019
Ready for adventure and romance in a world filled with magic and dragons? The Magician's Apprentice by J.A. Jaken is now available!!!
Buy Link (Kindle ebook): getBook.at/MagApp
Buy Link (Smashwords ebook): www.smashwords.com/books/view/954309
Buy Link (paperback): getBook.at/MagAppPB
The Magician's Apprentice
by J.A. Jaken
Novel (108,000 words)
Genre(s): Fantasy/Adventure, M/M Romance
Jander Teregnan has never wanted anything more than to become a mage--to serve his king and defend his country as he explores his natural talent at commanding the strange power known as magic. Of course every apprentice needs a master, which comes with its own set of challenges...especially when the master he's chosen for himself is none other than Andrei Teresh, personal advisor to the king and master mage of the city of Vallerin.
Andrei, however, has more pressing problems on his mind than dealing with the unsolicited advances of one untrained mage-apprentice. A fierce and merciless army of unknown intent is sweeping across the land, threatening the kingdom he has sworn to protect. Even worse, dragons--long thought to have withdrawn from the world of mankind--are emerging once again and spreading chaos in their wake. Somehow, Jander must find a way to help; not only to prove that he can be of use in the defense of his kingdom and become a mage, but also to secure his place at the side of the man he hopes to claim as master both of his magic and his heart.
August 24, 2019
I've received the proof for the paperback version of The Magician's Apprentice, and it is so beautiful!!! This story was 20 years in the making, and it feels absolutely unreal to hold this newest incarnation of it in my hands right now. It's changed a bit since the original version that I posted to the egroup all those years ago, with added scenes and depth to flesh out the characters and the world they live in. But it's still the same story I fell in love with way back then.
If you would like to see more information about the book, you can find it here:
http://jajaken.com/novels/magiciansapprentice.htm
And I've recently revamped the webpage for the Dragon Mage Chronicles series, which follows after:
http://jajaken.com/novels/dragonmagechronicles.htm
Feel free to check them out. I'm especially excited over the book covers for the Chronicles series. :)
August 18, 2019
The Magician's Apprentice is now available for preorder!!! You can get it through Amazon Kindle or Smashwords at the moment. The print version will be available very soon:
Buy Link (Kindle ebook): getBook.at/MagApp
Buy Link (Smashwords ebook): www.smashwords.com/books/view/954309
This book is so very dear to my heart. Some of you may remember it in its previous version, which I wrote in the year 2000. It's changed a lot since then, with added scenes and more depth, although it is the same basic story as before. I believe this was the first story with original characters I ever wrote that I was brave enough to share with other readers, and the outpouring of love and encouragement I received over it is largely responsible for my courage in continuing to write original fiction in later years. From the comments to the friendships to the fabulous artwork, thank you so very much to each and every one of you who has come along with me on this journey. ♥
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The Magician's Apprentice
by J.A. Jaken
Novel (108,000 words)
Genre(s): Fantasy/Adventure, M/M Romance
Jander Teregnan has never wanted anything more than to become a mage--to serve his king and defend his country as he explores his natural talent at commanding the strange power known as magic. Of course every apprentice needs a master, which comes with its own set of challenges...especially when the master he's chosen for himself is none other than Andrei Teresh, personal advisor to the king and master mage of the city of Vallerin.
Andrei, however, has more pressing problems on his mind than dealing with the unsolicited advances of one untrained mage-apprentice. A fierce and merciless army of unknown intent is sweeping across the land, threatening the kingdom he has sworn to protect. Even worse, dragons--long thought to have withdrawn from the world of mankind--are emerging once again and spreading chaos in their wake. Somehow, Jander must find a way to help; not only to prove that he can be of use in the defense of his kingdom and become a mage, but also to secure his place at the side of the man he hopes to claim as master both of his magic and his heart.
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August 16, 2019
I just got the ebook proof for The Magician's Apprentice, and it is so very beautiful!!! Oh wow, oh wow, oh wow. This story is incredibly dear to my heart, and I put a lot of myself into creating this newest version of it. I can't wait to share it with all of you. *bounces excitedly*
I'll post the release date here as soon as I get more information. :D
August 12, 2019
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Drumroll please! The Ouroboros Prophecy, sequel to Pathfinder, is now available in paperback. *happy dance*
Buy Link (print): getBook.at/Path2PB
Buy Link (Kindle ebook): getBook.at/pathfinder2
Buy Link (Smashwords ebook): www.smashwords.com/books/view/936288
Summary:
A vision drawn from the mind of a dying member of an Outrider clan draws Shai and Lorne back into the city of Nhil-Rhar, where they are pulled into a deadly conspiracy. Pathfinders are having dreams of destruction and chaos, criminal factions are battling openly in the streets, and a mysterious virus has been unleashed in the Agency's computers. On the fringes of it all lurks a dark figure that Shai can sense but not see, a figure that is neither pathfinder nor guide yet somehow--impossibly--more powerful than both. Time is running out, and if he doesn't solve the mystery of the ouroboros prophecy, not only his life but the lives of the Outriders and everyone in Nhil-Rhar will be forfeit.
Wow, I hadn't realized how long this book was until I saw how many printed pages it turned out to be. Part of me still can't believe I finally wrote this story (it's been years in the planning), but here is the undeniable proof of it in my hands. These are the days that make me very happy to be a writer. :)
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August 8, 2019
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It's finally here!!! My m/m scifi novel Pathfinder is now available in paperback. Here are the links where you can find it:
Buy Link (print): getBook.at/PathPB
Buy Link (Kindle ebook): getBook.at/pathfinder
Buy Link (Smashwords ebook): www.smashwords.com/books/view/934973
Summary:
Shai discovers he is a pathfinder and is desperate to find a genetically suitable partner to prevent his extrasensory talents from running amok. Unfortunately those talents make him a target for the brutal crime lords and other violent denizens who inhabit the city of Nhil-Rhar. Shai needs to learn how to use his pathfinder senses—no matter how much they terrify him—before he's trapped in a partnership that will enslave him for the rest of his life.
This story has gone through so many incarnations since it was first written, all the way back in 2003 when I was approached by MAS-Zine (an online publication of m/m abuse themed original fiction) and asked if I might like to contribute a story to their publication. I had never written original fiction before then (fandom was my entire world in those days), at least not any that I shared with anyone other than myself. But I was encouraged by the interest and intrigued by the idea, and I very much wanted to be a part of this project. So to my computer I went, and I began to write.
I had no idea the story would turn out to be so complex, or so beloved by so many readers who have contacted me over the years to tell me how much they enjoyed reading it. Through the writing I also fell in love with Shai and Lorne and the dystopian world they inhabited, and I very much wanted to see their story continue. It took a long time, but I finally succeeded in that goal as well when I wrote the sequel to Pathfinder, which I called The Ouroboros Prophecy. If it's possible, I think I love that story even more than the original. ♥
And after all of that, there's still a sense of unreality every time I hold a printed novel that I've written in my hands. I love the sound of the flipping pages, and looking at the words to see characters and scenes that I created coming to life on the page right there in front of me. It feels a bit like a reward for all of the blood, sweat, and tears that go into writing a book. It reminds me why I go through all of the trouble and effort to write the stories I do, to create these worlds. Or at least to put down on paper the worlds that live inside my head. ^_^
The print version of The Ouroboros Prophecy is also in the process of being published and will be available very soon!
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July 27, 2019
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The Charming is now available in paperback!!! Here are the links where you can find it:
Buy Link (print): getBook.at/CharmPB
Buy Link (ebook): getBook.at/JAcharm
Summary:
Clayton MacAllister is a man who has let life pass him by. Haunted by the loss of his first love, he's given up on it all—work, family, even himself—until the night when a mysterious stranger named Mal approaches him at a bar and begins to insinuate himself into Clay's life. At first Clay is flattered by the attention and gives himself up willingly to Mal's insidious seduction, but over time he begins to recognize the darker edge to Mal's charms and the lures Clay has begun to submit himself to. However, by the time he recognizes the truth of what he's fallen prey to, it might be too late to escape.
This is the first of my recent re-releases that has been converted to print format. I'm always so excited by it!!! There's really nothing like holding a paperback of a novel I've written in my hands, to feel the weight of it and flip through the pages. ♥ ♥ ♥
I plan to work on releasing the others very soon!
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July 26, 2019
I've been working hard preparing the paperback version of The Charming, and just submitted the final draft for review on KDP! I'm anxious because this is the first paperback book I've released using Amazon's new print distribution center instead of CreateSpace. It's actually quite a bit easier, I think, and I believe it went really well. I'll post a link to it here just as soon as it becomes active.
If this one turns out to be a success, I'll go ahead and convert each of my other re-releases to paperback as well. It will take a little bit of time, but not as much as I was originally anticipating.
Thank you to all of you who have been so supportive during this process. I can't tell you how much your encouragement has meant to me. ♥
For those of you who might be interested in the ebook version of The Charming, you can find it here:
Buy Link (Amazon): getBook.at/JAcharm
Clayton MacAllister is a man who has let life pass him by. Haunted by the loss of his first love, he's given up on it all—work, family, even himself—until the night when a mysterious stranger named Mal approaches him at a bar and begins to insinuate himself into Clay's life. At first Clay is flattered by the attention and gives himself up willingly to Mal's insidious seduction, but over time he begins to recognize the darker edge to Mal's charms and the lures Clay has begun to submit himself to. However, by the time he recognizes the truth of what he's fallen prey to, it might be too late to escape.
July 12, 2019
Entering the House of Silence is now available! Four young men find themselves drawn to the service of the House of Silence, the famous brothel that caters to the whims of the elite and powerful. One of them discovers how intense that service can be. An anthology of stories set in the House of Silence:
Buy Link (Amazon): getBook.at/EtHOS
The House of Silence is the story of an elite male bordello that centers around the male prostitutes and the clients whose lives are impacted there. The series follows the intertwining stories of several different characters, both staff and visitors to the establishment, to create a tale of sensuality, mystery, intrigue, and romance.
"The author takes you on a fantastically written journey to an alternate reality of old-worldly grandeur, in which an opulent brothel with secret passageways is home to beautiful young men and their charismatic, but mysterious master, Charon Marque. [...] You, too, will get sucked into the seductive world inside the House and the lives of its occupants."
-The Blog of Sid Love
Find out more about the House of Silence series here: http://www.jajaken.com/novels/houseofsilence.htm
July 8, 2019
The Charming is now available!!! This is a book where I let my id run free for a bit, indulging a little of my darker side. Gay paranormal fantasy with a darker edge, this one presses a lot of my semicon and m/m erotica buttons:
Buy Link (Amazon): getBook.at/JAcharm
Clayton MacAllister is a man who has let life pass him by. Haunted by the loss of his first love, he's given up on it all—work, family, even himself—until the night when a mysterious stranger named Mal approaches him at a bar and begins to insinuate himself into Clay's life. At first Clay is flattered by the attention and gives himself up willingly to Mal's insidious seduction, but over time he begins to recognize the darker edge to Mal's charms and the lures Clay has begun to submit himself to. However, by the time he recognizes the truth of what he's fallen prey to, it might be too late to escape.
Some reader reviews:
"This story is darkly erotic and extremely well written. You are pulled into the scenes and you can actually feel Clay’s unease even as you feel his pleasure, you feel his neediness even as you feel his questioning of his own actions, and you feel his desperation even as you feel his hopelessness."
"So much of this story hit all the right spots for me. I loved reading about the devious nature of Mal's relationship with Clayton. I loved the gradual build of debauchery that Clayton is slowly forced into."
"This story draws you into a world where a man’s pleasure overshadows his unease, where he will endure discomfort and fear for the eventual blissful release of orgasm, and when he eventually does begin to question his reactions, he begins to see the truth, but it could be too late."
July 6, 2019
Entering the House of Silence is now available for preorder!
Buy Link (Amazon): getBook.at/EtHOS
Four young men find themselves drawn to the service of the House of Silence, the famous brothel that caters to the whims of the elite and powerful. One of them discovers how intense that service can be. An anthology of stories set in the House of Silence:
Danny's Interview
Haunted by the abuse he suffered at the hands of his father's family, Danny Bordelain set out to make his own way in the world. Sheer chance brought him to the attention of the House of Silence and the House's enigmatic Master, Charon Marque.
Vincent's Interview
Once upon a time, Vincent Michaelis arrived at the House of Silence looking for succor after the vicious destruction of his family and his home. This is the story of his arrival at the House and his first introduction to the House's Master, Charon Marque.
Reiji's Interview
Reiji Kendo has lived his entire life on the streets, having learned from hard experience that the only person he could ever depend on is himself. One day, he accidentally draws the notice of Charon Marque, owner and unequivocal Master of the notorious House of Silence, and everything he's ever known changes.
Tam's Interview
Tam Temetria would do anything to shake off the notoriety and responsibilities that came of being a part of the Temetria family. Determined to break free and forge his own way in the world, he stumbles across the path of the House of Silence and draws the attention of Charon Marque, the House's Master.
Shockroom
Reiji Kendo has always been one of the House of Silence's most versatile employees, willing to do whatever it takes to make both the client and his Master happy. In return Charon Marque, the Master of the House, vowed to always keep him safe. That promise is put to the test when a mysterious visitor by the name of Lord Darwin Montgomery arrives and requests Reiji's services for a night of unanticipated, ruthless entertainment.
July 2, 2019
In the mood for a gay paranormal thriller with a darker edge? The Charming is now available for preorder!!! It will be released on Monday, July 8th.
Buy Link (Amazon): getBook.at/JAcharm
Clayton MacAllister is a man who has let life pass him by. Haunted by the loss of his first love, he's given up on it all—work, family, even himself—until the night when a mysterious stranger named Mal approaches him at a bar and begins to insinuate himself into Clay's life. At first Clay is flattered by the attention and gives himself up willingly to Mal's insidious seduction, but over time he begins to recognize the darker edge to Mal's charms and the lures Clay has begun to submit himself to. However, by the time he recognizes the truth of what he's fallen prey to, it might be too late to escape.
Some reader reviews:
"This story is darkly erotic and extremely well written. You are pulled into the scenes and you can actually feel Clay’s unease even as you feel his pleasure, you feel his neediness even as you feel his questioning of his own actions, and you feel his desperation even as you feel his hopelessness."
"So much of this story hit all the right spots for me. I loved reading about the devious nature of Mal's relationship with Clayton. I loved the gradual build of debauchery that Clayton is slowly forced into."
"This story draws you into a world where a man’s pleasure overshadows his unease, where he will endure discomfort and fear for the eventual blissful release of orgasm, and when he eventually does begin to question his reactions, he begins to see the truth, but it could be too late."
June 7, 2019
Welcome to the House of Silence....
I am very happy to announce that volumes 1, 2, and 3 in the House of Silence series are now available!!! In addition, you have the option of buying volumes 1 and 2 together as a combined set.
The House of Silence is the story of an elite male bordello that centers around the male prostitutes and the clients whose lives are impacted there. The series follows the intertwining stories of several different characters, both staff and visitors to the establishment, to create a tale of sensuality, mystery, intrigue, and romance.
"The author takes you on a fantastically written journey to an alternate reality of old-worldly grandeur, in which an opulent brothel with secret passageways is home to beautiful young men and their charismatic, but mysterious master, Charon Marque. [...] You, too, will get sucked into the seductive world inside the House and the lives of its occupants."
-The Blog of Sid Love
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Exodus: The House of Silence Volume #1
Buy Link (Amazon): getBook.at/HoS1
Buy Link (Smashwords): www.smashwords.com/books/view/941473
Novel (101,000 words)
Genre(s): Gothic, Suspense, BDSM, M/M
The House of Silence is an elite male bordello catering to the obscenely rich. No matter how extreme or mundane the fantasy, the House is rumored to serve. Master Charon employs a group of versatile, beautiful young men, some lewd, some innocent, many with tragic pasts and hidden secrets of their own, who depend on him for safety. This unpredictable mix erupts when danger threatens. A powerful nobleman strikes out at Charon and his staff, seeking to destroy them all if he's not given what he wants: one of the boys to keep for his own.
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Ricochet: The House of Silence Volume #2
Buy Link (Amazon): getBook.at/HoS2
Buy Link (Smashwords): www.smashwords.com/books/view/941469
Novel (70,000 words)
Genre(s): Gothic, Suspense, BDSM, M/M
The sanctuary of The House of Silence is shattered when an influential client presents Master Charon with an ultimatum: hand over Vincent, or he'll destroy the House. When Charon refuses, he is plunged into a nightmare of reprisals, forcing him and his beautiful young men to fight for their lives, their sanity, and their right to exist. Why are some powerful men willing to destroy the House of Silence to get hold of one male prostitute? What secret threatens the governments of two countries? Charon, Phoebe - the head of security - and all the young men of the House of Silence will have to work together, tapping into long-hidden resources and long-denied histories for their safety and survival. To thwart the forces aligning against them, they'll need to unlock the secrets buried deep in the House's past. How much is one man's life worth to them?
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Consort: The House of Silence Volume #3
Buy Link (Amazon): getBook.at/HoS3
Buy Link (Smashwords): www.smashwords.com/books/view/941471
Novel (137,000 words)
Genre(s): Gothic, Suspense, BDSM, M/M
On the surface, the business of the infamous House of Silence is obvious enough, but its carefully cultivated veneer of political neutrality is threatened when a lover from Master Charon’s youth arrives with an urgent message from the queen, prompting jealousy from Reiji and putting the whole house on edge. The House’s unique resources are called upon to investigate one of the local cabals which is overstepping its bounds, snatching up disproportionate amounts of territory and capital beyond its domain. When Tam goes missing, Charon and the boys are caught up in a web of intrigue, peril, and sensuality that may end up costing them their lives.
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May 29, 2019
The first three volumes in the House of Silence series are now available for preorder! They will be released on June 7, 2019. In addition, there is an option to purchase the first two volumes (Exodus and Ricochet) together as a combined set.
Find more info on the series here: jajaken.com/novels/houseofsilence.htm
May 26, 2019
I feel like I'm neck deep in far too many writing projects these days, which is an overwhelming and wonderful experience. I can easily remember what it was like to be lost in drought where it felt like ages between projects, and the wait between finishing a novel and seeing it in print could literally stretch for years. Becoming my own publisher is the best move I've ever made. It's brought back that immediacy between my writing and the sharing of it that I've been missing, and has lit a spark of excitement in me for writing that's been missing for far too long.
With the return of the rights to my novels from FFP, I've been caught up in getting all of those ready for re-release. Plus I have the fourth book in the Sacred Guardian series that needs a final polishing before it's ready for publication. I'm getting The Magician's Apprentice ready for release (finally!!!) along with its follow-up series, The Dragon Mage Chronicles.
On top of that, I've been getting an itch to start writing some new stories again. My muses have been working overdrive on that, and I've been telling them firmly to just settle down and let me finish the projects I'm currently working on first. So far they've been listening, but it's hard. I actually feel excited about writing again, which I haven't felt in a very long time.
I've actually accomplished quite a lot this year, though. Just to keep my head organized, here is my current to do list. I'm going to list the projects I've completed in addition to the ones that I still have pending, just so I can see visually that I am making progress no matter how far behind I feel:
Done:
* Pathfinder
* The Ouroboros Prophecy (Pathfinder 2)
* His Whipping Boy
* Nicholi's Vengeance
To Do:
* Exodus (The House of Silence 1)
* Ricochet(The House of Silence 2)
* Consort (The House of Silence 3)
* Entering the House of Silence (anthology)
* The Charming
* The Caves of Time (Sacred Guardian series #4)
* The Magician's Apprentice
* Stormdrake (Dragon Mage Chronicles I)
* Seadrake (Dragon Mage Chronicles II)
* Firedrake (Dragon Mage Chronicles III)
* Wardrake (Dragon Mage Chronicles IV)
Wow, there's a lot more titles there than I thought I'd written. Looking at it listed out this way, it seems as though I'm a quarter of the way done? Yikes. But I do feel accomplished over what I've managed to achieve, and I'm really proud of the work I'm creating. That's what matters in the long run, I think, and that I keep keep moving forward one day at a time. It's hard work, but I really do enjoy it.
I'm going to include hyperlinks to the stories in the list up above just in case any of you are interested in reading some more about them. I think the first two books in the House of Silence series will be ready for release in a couple of weeks (I'm thinking June 7th?), but I have no firm dates for the rest of them yet. I'll let you all know when their release dates get closer.
Thank you to all of you who have given me such amazing encouragement and support in my writing endeavors over these past years. You're amazing and wonderful and I love all of you. I really couldn't have done any of this without you. ♥
May 24, 2019
Nicholi's Vengeance is now available!!!
Buy Link (Amazon Kindle): getBook.at/NsV
Buy Link (Smashwords): https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/939751
Read a free preview here: >> FREE PREVIEW
Novel (110,000 words)
Genre(s): Gay, Fantasy, Slavefic
Nicholi's world goes up in flames when soldiers invade his country, leaving chaos in their wake. Captured and enslaved in a foreign land, Nicholi struggles to cope with the nightmare of slavery and adapt to the terrifying and inexplicable world he is thrust into. He draws courage from a steadfast determination to get justice for his murdered family and-he hopes-peace to himself by finding and killing the man responsible for the destruction of his village. Yet through it all, Nicholi's greatest enemy might not be foreign powers or enemy soldiers, or even in the self-serving machinations of his fellow slaves, but himself.
Here are some reader reviews:
"NICHOLI'S VENGEANCE is a world-spanning, epic tale of courage, vengeance, and sacrifice with a varied cast of richly drawn characters...which, at its heart, satisfied my itch for m/m slavefic every step of the way."
"This hooked me from the first chapter. The story veers away from the typical rescuer-romance tropes, instead presenting a variety of counterparts that have their own flaws, desires, and problems to deal with... If you're a fan of slavefic, this is one you won't want to miss!"
"I really liked this story, it has it all: love, hate, vengeance, captivity, war, slave, master, and an incredible story that should not be missed. Enjoy the ride!!"
"I just finished reading this book for the second time. It's wonderful to find a book that can actually make you be emotionally involved with characters that have many levels to their personalities (just like real people!)"
"I'm glad to say the story here was solid with very likeable characters who were easy to relate to. I was rooting for Nicki the whole time."
"This story veers away from the typical rescuer-romance tropes, instead presenting a variety of counterparts that have their own flaws, desires, and problems to deal with. The supporting characters really drew me in; they seemed so real and lifelike. The lines blur between good and bad, slave and free, desired and feared."
"As the story progresses, the clearly defined villain becomes a bit less clear, raising the question of who is really the bigger offender in the enslavement of others: the individual directly responsible, or the society that allows it to be done."
>> Click here for older updates.
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