Genre: Business
Author: Emily Chan
One of the toughest things about business school was the books. Dry application of theory presented in clinical absolutes that, like battle plans, failed at the first contact with the enemy. That is why, as a businessman, I found Emily Chan’s presentation of practical and useful business wisdom and strategies so refreshing. Harvard Business School Confidential is a field guide and whether you are CEO of a multinational corporation or job searching, she presents the, yes; theory, but more importantly, real life experience, relevant case scenarios and the secrets of making it all work.
Personal, Operations and Strategy. These are the broad categories Chan uses; she then breaks each one down into easy to assimilate chapters with titles like, “Plans Are Nothing, Planning Is Everything”. Each chapter giving the reader ideas to contemplate or new approaches to old problems. Consider the issues we all face in business and how they apply to the categories above; planning, promotion, communications, placement, process and control, among just a few. Chan presents them, explains them and offers solutions, incite and strategy that makes real-world sense. I found the writing compelling, the layout logical and professional and, most importantly, the message pertinent and compelling.
I highly recommend Harvard Business School Confidential to anyone in business, interested in business or contemplating attending business school. In fact, I would recommend this as a prerequisite for first year business school candidates. It would help make the theory make sense.
Reviewed by reviewer Gregory J. Saunders, Allbooks Review, www.allbookreviews.com
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons,
ISBN: 978-0-470-82239-5
Price $13.57
Nov. 2009
Monday, December 14, 2009
Friday, December 11, 2009
The Lost Gate
Genre: Fantasy
Author: R. D. Williams
Imagine if you will, a world of Wizards, Knights, and Elves, then add Gremlins, Goblins ans creatures of darkness intent upon domination through fear and slaughter. Long ago their world was nearly held in sway by a great evil, and now that same darkness threatens to cover all the lands once again.
This is a story for readers, who enjoy the realms of fantasy such as are provided by J. R. Tolken.
The story moves at a good clip with frequent skirmishes at the start, which build to frequent battles as the race against the evil forces escalates.
Unnaturally dark and gloomy weather adds a foreboding background as the main heroes in the story, Geltharin and Delphine, trek from one devastated village to another to join with forces who they aid and who will aid them in their quest to stop a seemingly invincible evil. Along the way, a romance of equals develops between these proud warriors of different cultures and races, who must hold their growing love in check, to meet the demands of war.
I found the dialog and narrative writing more than sufficient to create the scenes and the characters but sometimes wished the narrative was a little crisper, not because there was anything wrong with the writing but because I was anxious to learn what might happen next.
R. D. Williams lives and writes in Ohio where he is presently working on a sequel as is given away in the last line of the book: “Little did they know that their adventures were far from over. But that is yet another story....”
This is a good and fun read, and I highly recommend it to all who enjoy fantasy.
Reviewer: Pete Klein, Allbooks Reviews. www.allbookreviews.com
Title: The Lost Gate
Author: R. D. Williams
Publisher: Outskirts Press
ISBN-10: 1432708090
ISBN-13: 978-1432708092
Pages:324
Price: $13.95
Nov 2009
Author: R. D. Williams
Imagine if you will, a world of Wizards, Knights, and Elves, then add Gremlins, Goblins ans creatures of darkness intent upon domination through fear and slaughter. Long ago their world was nearly held in sway by a great evil, and now that same darkness threatens to cover all the lands once again.
This is a story for readers, who enjoy the realms of fantasy such as are provided by J. R. Tolken.
The story moves at a good clip with frequent skirmishes at the start, which build to frequent battles as the race against the evil forces escalates.
Unnaturally dark and gloomy weather adds a foreboding background as the main heroes in the story, Geltharin and Delphine, trek from one devastated village to another to join with forces who they aid and who will aid them in their quest to stop a seemingly invincible evil. Along the way, a romance of equals develops between these proud warriors of different cultures and races, who must hold their growing love in check, to meet the demands of war.
I found the dialog and narrative writing more than sufficient to create the scenes and the characters but sometimes wished the narrative was a little crisper, not because there was anything wrong with the writing but because I was anxious to learn what might happen next.
R. D. Williams lives and writes in Ohio where he is presently working on a sequel as is given away in the last line of the book: “Little did they know that their adventures were far from over. But that is yet another story....”
This is a good and fun read, and I highly recommend it to all who enjoy fantasy.
Reviewer: Pete Klein, Allbooks Reviews. www.allbookreviews.com
Title: The Lost Gate
Author: R. D. Williams
Publisher: Outskirts Press
ISBN-10: 1432708090
ISBN-13: 978-1432708092
Pages:324
Price: $13.95
Nov 2009
Threshing the Cosmic Chaff: The Reckoning of a Degenerate World
Genre: Christianity
Author: Gabriel North
A wake-up call for all God's children as the end of the world draws near.
Gabriel North, in his short philosophical work Threshing the Cosmic Chaff, wants to send a clear message to all people living in the world today. He wants everyone to know that God is real, and that this life is a temporary pause on the way to eternity. He warns against becoming too involved in material things, and losing faith altogether.
This book is labeled "Philosophy," but it's important to know that its audience is definitely Christian believers. North lays out a multifaceted, deeply felt series of arguments for belief, and for looking forward to the end of this life. His is a bold rhetorical style, and while his digressions are often distracting, his conviction is clear and often moving. However, this is obviously a self-published book, and would have benefited greatly from an editor. Fans of Christian polemics, and end-times treatises in general, will find something interesting here, but it may not be for general audiences.
Gabriel North lives in North America, in the Great Lakes region.
North's arguments are deep and, with a little streamlining, could have been very persuasive for his intended audience. However, poor editing and lack of focus make this an Average read.
Reviewer: J. Blackmore, Allbooks Reviews. www.allbookreviews.com
Title: Threshing the Cosmic Chaff: The Reckoning of a Degenerate World
Author: Gabriel North
Publisher: iUniverse
ISBN: 978-0-595-44400-7
November 2009
Author: Gabriel North
A wake-up call for all God's children as the end of the world draws near.
Gabriel North, in his short philosophical work Threshing the Cosmic Chaff, wants to send a clear message to all people living in the world today. He wants everyone to know that God is real, and that this life is a temporary pause on the way to eternity. He warns against becoming too involved in material things, and losing faith altogether.
This book is labeled "Philosophy," but it's important to know that its audience is definitely Christian believers. North lays out a multifaceted, deeply felt series of arguments for belief, and for looking forward to the end of this life. His is a bold rhetorical style, and while his digressions are often distracting, his conviction is clear and often moving. However, this is obviously a self-published book, and would have benefited greatly from an editor. Fans of Christian polemics, and end-times treatises in general, will find something interesting here, but it may not be for general audiences.
Gabriel North lives in North America, in the Great Lakes region.
North's arguments are deep and, with a little streamlining, could have been very persuasive for his intended audience. However, poor editing and lack of focus make this an Average read.
Reviewer: J. Blackmore, Allbooks Reviews. www.allbookreviews.com
Title: Threshing the Cosmic Chaff: The Reckoning of a Degenerate World
Author: Gabriel North
Publisher: iUniverse
ISBN: 978-0-595-44400-7
November 2009
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
The New Arthritis Cure: Eliminate Arthritis and Fibromyalgia Pain Permanently
Genre: Health
Author: Dr. Bruce Fife
“A diagnosis of arthritis is not a life sentence.” Dr. B. Fife
Treatment for Arthritis and Fibromyalgia currently consists of managing the symptoms, as the causes have yet to be fully understood. In this enlightening guide the author, Dr. Bruce Fife projects his theory, that both conditions are related to an underlying infection. His research has led him through a maze of possible viruses, fungi and bacteria, and he expresses his belief that the culprit lies within infected teeth and gums. Did you know that a tooth and socket comprise a joint? From the teeth, bacteria easily enter the blood stream, causing secondary infections in the joints.
One’s mind might leap to the conclusion, if it’s an infection then give me antibiotics. Just like life, it’s not that simple. If the secondary joint infection is caused by virus or fungi; antibiotics are useless.
Well- researched facts are presented to us in the beginning of the book, leading up to Dr. Fife’s ‘Arthritis Battle Plan.’ He warns us that some drugs i.e. non-steroidal and anti-inflammatory drugs may reduce inflammation but may have the high price of accelerated bone destruction.
Dr. Fife spends some time explaining the potential benefits of bee venom but fascinates the reader by presenting the extraordinary healing power of coconut oil. It seems the oil is comparable to natures own, mother’s milk. Both have properties, when broken down by the body, become antimicrobial. Unlike synthetic antibiotics, this more natural agent is not harmful to our body’s ‘good bacteria.’ In effect, coconut oil reduces systemic infection, thereby reducing infection in the joints.
The importance of proper diet is not ignored, and he stresses his opinion of the impact on health by refined sugar and grains. The Magic of Motion chapter addresses the need for weight bearing, yet low, impact exercise. Teaching us that although rest is important, inactivity will, in effect, ‘rust’ our joints. Lightening the amount of weight we put upon our joints is essential.
The book is completed with a summary of his Seven Steps to Beating Arthritis and Fibromyalgia. This is a drug free lifestyle, which he claims will not only eliminate pain but rebuild joint function, restoring mobility. Be adventurous and attempt his Seven-Day Whole Foods Challenge. The book leaves little doubt to its validity including index, numerous references, diagrams and endorsement from several satisfied followers. Dr. Fife has shared his knowledge in many other books promoting healthier choices, if nothing else a sense of hope.
Finishing my own further investigation, I intend to put coconut oil on my grocery list, adding it to my own attempt at relief, by living a healthier lifestyle. Watch out pharmaceutical companies, perhaps nature has provided the real cure. Highly Recommended!
Reviewer:Cheryl Ellis, Allbook Reviews www.allbookreviews.com
Available through Amazon.com or your local bookseller.
Title: The New Arthritis Cure: Eliminate Arthritis and Fibromyalgia Pain Permanently
Author: Dr. Bruce Fife, CN, ND
Publisher: Piccadilly Books, Ltd.
ISBN-13: 978-0-941599-82-5
Pages: 190
Price: US $15.95 November 2009
Author: Dr. Bruce Fife
“A diagnosis of arthritis is not a life sentence.” Dr. B. Fife
Treatment for Arthritis and Fibromyalgia currently consists of managing the symptoms, as the causes have yet to be fully understood. In this enlightening guide the author, Dr. Bruce Fife projects his theory, that both conditions are related to an underlying infection. His research has led him through a maze of possible viruses, fungi and bacteria, and he expresses his belief that the culprit lies within infected teeth and gums. Did you know that a tooth and socket comprise a joint? From the teeth, bacteria easily enter the blood stream, causing secondary infections in the joints.
One’s mind might leap to the conclusion, if it’s an infection then give me antibiotics. Just like life, it’s not that simple. If the secondary joint infection is caused by virus or fungi; antibiotics are useless.
Well- researched facts are presented to us in the beginning of the book, leading up to Dr. Fife’s ‘Arthritis Battle Plan.’ He warns us that some drugs i.e. non-steroidal and anti-inflammatory drugs may reduce inflammation but may have the high price of accelerated bone destruction.
Dr. Fife spends some time explaining the potential benefits of bee venom but fascinates the reader by presenting the extraordinary healing power of coconut oil. It seems the oil is comparable to natures own, mother’s milk. Both have properties, when broken down by the body, become antimicrobial. Unlike synthetic antibiotics, this more natural agent is not harmful to our body’s ‘good bacteria.’ In effect, coconut oil reduces systemic infection, thereby reducing infection in the joints.
The importance of proper diet is not ignored, and he stresses his opinion of the impact on health by refined sugar and grains. The Magic of Motion chapter addresses the need for weight bearing, yet low, impact exercise. Teaching us that although rest is important, inactivity will, in effect, ‘rust’ our joints. Lightening the amount of weight we put upon our joints is essential.
The book is completed with a summary of his Seven Steps to Beating Arthritis and Fibromyalgia. This is a drug free lifestyle, which he claims will not only eliminate pain but rebuild joint function, restoring mobility. Be adventurous and attempt his Seven-Day Whole Foods Challenge. The book leaves little doubt to its validity including index, numerous references, diagrams and endorsement from several satisfied followers. Dr. Fife has shared his knowledge in many other books promoting healthier choices, if nothing else a sense of hope.
Finishing my own further investigation, I intend to put coconut oil on my grocery list, adding it to my own attempt at relief, by living a healthier lifestyle. Watch out pharmaceutical companies, perhaps nature has provided the real cure. Highly Recommended!
Reviewer:Cheryl Ellis, Allbook Reviews www.allbookreviews.com
Available through Amazon.com or your local bookseller.
Title: The New Arthritis Cure: Eliminate Arthritis and Fibromyalgia Pain Permanently
Author: Dr. Bruce Fife, CN, ND
Publisher: Piccadilly Books, Ltd.
ISBN-13: 978-0-941599-82-5
Pages: 190
Price: US $15.95 November 2009
Seen & Sold: 51 Proven Ideas for Marketing Your Art in Any Economy
Genre: Self Help
Author: Missy Loewe
So, you think that you are the world’s next greatest artist! You may be right. However, if your work is not out there, being seen, being appreciated, then no one will ever know. There are ways to promote your art, creative ways that support your intuitive creative energies. Perhaps you should donate a work to a local charity auction; or, offer to display your work at a local business or restaurant; or, offer classes/workshops to promote your style of creativity. These are just a few ways to make your name. After all, you want people to recognize you for your art. Until you make your art visible, no one will even know that you are an artist, let alone a very talented one. Success as an artist demands that creativity crosses over into the realm of self-promotion. As Aristotle wrote, “We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.” It goes without saying, then, that success in what one does requires the habit of promoting what one creates.
Missy Loewe is an expert in the field of art promotion/art as a business. She founded and runs Visual Arts Consulting, an art business/marketing consulting firm, to help artists promote themselves, to make themselves visible so that the world knows about their work. Loewe wrote Seen & Sold: 51 Proven Ideas for Marketing Your Art in Any Economy to further assist visual artists in self-promotion.
Seen & Sold: 51 Proven Ideas for Marketing Your Art in Any Economy is a valuable tool with useful tips, timely quotes, and a solid mandate to promote the visual arts. For the serious artist who wants to earn recognition for his/her work, Seen & Sold: 51 Proven Ideas for Marketing Your Art in Any Economy is highly recommended by: Emily-Jane Hills Orford, Allbooks Reviews.
Title: Seen & Sold: 51 Proven Ideas for Marketing Your Art in Any Economy
Author: Missy Loewe
Publisher: Visual Arts Press
ISBN: 978-0-9825394-0-8
Pages: 77 pages
Price: $13.95 US
Nov.2009
Author: Missy Loewe
So, you think that you are the world’s next greatest artist! You may be right. However, if your work is not out there, being seen, being appreciated, then no one will ever know. There are ways to promote your art, creative ways that support your intuitive creative energies. Perhaps you should donate a work to a local charity auction; or, offer to display your work at a local business or restaurant; or, offer classes/workshops to promote your style of creativity. These are just a few ways to make your name. After all, you want people to recognize you for your art. Until you make your art visible, no one will even know that you are an artist, let alone a very talented one. Success as an artist demands that creativity crosses over into the realm of self-promotion. As Aristotle wrote, “We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.” It goes without saying, then, that success in what one does requires the habit of promoting what one creates.
Missy Loewe is an expert in the field of art promotion/art as a business. She founded and runs Visual Arts Consulting, an art business/marketing consulting firm, to help artists promote themselves, to make themselves visible so that the world knows about their work. Loewe wrote Seen & Sold: 51 Proven Ideas for Marketing Your Art in Any Economy to further assist visual artists in self-promotion.
Seen & Sold: 51 Proven Ideas for Marketing Your Art in Any Economy is a valuable tool with useful tips, timely quotes, and a solid mandate to promote the visual arts. For the serious artist who wants to earn recognition for his/her work, Seen & Sold: 51 Proven Ideas for Marketing Your Art in Any Economy is highly recommended by: Emily-Jane Hills Orford, Allbooks Reviews.
Title: Seen & Sold: 51 Proven Ideas for Marketing Your Art in Any Economy
Author: Missy Loewe
Publisher: Visual Arts Press
ISBN: 978-0-9825394-0-8
Pages: 77 pages
Price: $13.95 US
Nov.2009
Friday, December 4, 2009
The Secret in the Forest
Genre: Children
Author: Sheila Adam McIntyre
The Secret in the Forest is a tantalizingly mysterious novel with a touch of danger and a sprinkle of humour. Two adventure-loving adolescent boys ventured into the dark and much rumoured forest. During their time, it was the forbidden fruit of the town of Jacobsville, Wisconsin. However, they still continued on, spurred by the intriguing tale of an elder, Mr. Grayson. Although discouraged at first, they walked deeper and deeper into the forest where hey found a rotten old shack and a hynotizingly haunting and ghostly sight. Realizing that a ghastly crime had been committed, with the police disbelieving and the threat of grounding, it was up to them to figure out who did it BEFORE anyone else got hurt.
Sheila Adam McIntyre is an excellent author, writing from her own experience of growing up in a small rural town called St. Jacobs in Ontario, Canada. That simple country lifestyle has given life to the little dusty old town of Jacobsville, which I suspect is derived from the name "St.Jacob." A fascinating tale that shouldn't be missed! Highly Recommended by Cecilia Lee, Allbooks Review. www.allbookreviews.com
Publisher: infinitypublishing.com
ISBN: 0-7414-4409-6
Pages: 84
Price: US $9.95
Nov. 2009
Author: Sheila Adam McIntyre
The Secret in the Forest is a tantalizingly mysterious novel with a touch of danger and a sprinkle of humour. Two adventure-loving adolescent boys ventured into the dark and much rumoured forest. During their time, it was the forbidden fruit of the town of Jacobsville, Wisconsin. However, they still continued on, spurred by the intriguing tale of an elder, Mr. Grayson. Although discouraged at first, they walked deeper and deeper into the forest where hey found a rotten old shack and a hynotizingly haunting and ghostly sight. Realizing that a ghastly crime had been committed, with the police disbelieving and the threat of grounding, it was up to them to figure out who did it BEFORE anyone else got hurt.
Sheila Adam McIntyre is an excellent author, writing from her own experience of growing up in a small rural town called St. Jacobs in Ontario, Canada. That simple country lifestyle has given life to the little dusty old town of Jacobsville, which I suspect is derived from the name "St.Jacob." A fascinating tale that shouldn't be missed! Highly Recommended by Cecilia Lee, Allbooks Review. www.allbookreviews.com
Publisher: infinitypublishing.com
ISBN: 0-7414-4409-6
Pages: 84
Price: US $9.95
Nov. 2009
Gone Beaver
Genre: Historical Fiction
AUTHOR: Gil Schriber
Sometimes a man just has to follow his heart. John Tucker was such a man. After having lost his immediate family to the scourge of cholera he was passed along from one orphanage to another. After three years of this he decided to escape and head west into the mountains to find his Uncle Jack. Uncle Jack was a Mountain Man, the tales of whom John had heard since he was old enough to remember. This was where John Tucker felt his heart was leading. He would do what it took to escape the kind of life he had come to know and be free to do and be what he wanted. Along the way he learns love and makes lifelong friendships. But does he find that which he truly seeks?
In “Gone Beaver” Gil Schriber crafts a tale that is fast moving and full of adventure; the kind of adventure the reader can truly feel along with the characters. Mr. Schriber truly loves the atmosphere in which this tale is set. He shows this through the unapologetic way he presents this story. There is no sense of what could have or should have been. This is a trap into which it is all too easy to fall in the present day. It is simply a well- written saga of the men and women who blazed the trail that so many have followed.
This reviewer is also greatly appreciative that Mr. Schriber skillfully points out the differences between the tribes of Native Americans that make appearances in the story. Any reader should come away with the knowledge that the Blackfeet and the Shoshone were as distinct from one another as Germans are from Italians. The only fictions in this book are the characters. The types of people, the events such as the Rendezvous (and the happenings depicted), and the environment are all starkly real.
This love of subject and the accuracy of the setting make this book well worth the read and the passing along. This reviewer sincerely hopes that Mr. Schriber will continue the story of John Tucker. As the West changes with time and with the westward migration of so many people, the way of life of the Mountain Man would be over all too soon.
Highly Recommended by Reviewer: John Helman, Allbooks Review.www.allbookreviews.com
Title: Gone Beaver
Author: Gil Schriber
Publisher: Publish America
ISBN: 978-1-60749-469-0
Pages: 242
Price: $24.95 US
Nov. 2009
AUTHOR: Gil Schriber
Sometimes a man just has to follow his heart. John Tucker was such a man. After having lost his immediate family to the scourge of cholera he was passed along from one orphanage to another. After three years of this he decided to escape and head west into the mountains to find his Uncle Jack. Uncle Jack was a Mountain Man, the tales of whom John had heard since he was old enough to remember. This was where John Tucker felt his heart was leading. He would do what it took to escape the kind of life he had come to know and be free to do and be what he wanted. Along the way he learns love and makes lifelong friendships. But does he find that which he truly seeks?
In “Gone Beaver” Gil Schriber crafts a tale that is fast moving and full of adventure; the kind of adventure the reader can truly feel along with the characters. Mr. Schriber truly loves the atmosphere in which this tale is set. He shows this through the unapologetic way he presents this story. There is no sense of what could have or should have been. This is a trap into which it is all too easy to fall in the present day. It is simply a well- written saga of the men and women who blazed the trail that so many have followed.
This reviewer is also greatly appreciative that Mr. Schriber skillfully points out the differences between the tribes of Native Americans that make appearances in the story. Any reader should come away with the knowledge that the Blackfeet and the Shoshone were as distinct from one another as Germans are from Italians. The only fictions in this book are the characters. The types of people, the events such as the Rendezvous (and the happenings depicted), and the environment are all starkly real.
This love of subject and the accuracy of the setting make this book well worth the read and the passing along. This reviewer sincerely hopes that Mr. Schriber will continue the story of John Tucker. As the West changes with time and with the westward migration of so many people, the way of life of the Mountain Man would be over all too soon.
Highly Recommended by Reviewer: John Helman, Allbooks Review.www.allbookreviews.com
Title: Gone Beaver
Author: Gil Schriber
Publisher: Publish America
ISBN: 978-1-60749-469-0
Pages: 242
Price: $24.95 US
Nov. 2009
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Thumb Flagging
Author:Jerome Peterson
Genre: Travel/adventure
Bohemian Bum, Hippie Hobo, traveler within the American illusion of freedom. Thumb Flagging is a story of hitchin’ cross country, jumpin’ trains and hoping for the thousand dollar ride. Willy is the worldly philosopher with seemingly no roots, free and ready to hit the road. Jay is the innocent; tentative and afraid, insecure and easily led. Willy talks Jay into dumping their jobs for a few day and heading from sunny Arizona to visit Jay’s sister in Colorado, an easy trip unless your thumb flagging. Jay reluctantly agrees to the adventure and enters an entirely new world; the world of the footloose and free Bohemian Bum.
Yes, this is a story about hitchhiking, but it is more as well. It’s about one man’s growth, it’s about philosophy, it’s about psychology and sociology, and ultimately, it’s a love story. Peterson is able to wrap in about every human emotion and deal with them realistically. Jay starts out as the reluctant and fearful traveler and finishes his personal journey as king of the road. You see his strength and confidence build and feel him develop and confirm his morals and sense of place, all while friends, enemies and chance acquaintances spin in and out of his life. That’s the story of the road, a story that crisscrosses the country from Arizona to Colorado then California and all the way to Main and back.
What made the story most interesting to me was the cross section of society Jay encounters. We all have our impressions and prejudices when we see a thumb flagger. And, though our preconceived notions may be right or way wrong, this book takes you in an entirely different direction. It isn’t the hitcher that’s interesting; it’s the people that are compelled to pick them up. The sad, the disaffected, the do-gooders and the crazies, when a car stops you never know what you’ll get. And when you get that “thousand dollar ride,” it’s all worthwhile.
This is an interesting read, well written and a story with many lessons if you will let them in.
Reviewed by Allbooks reviewer Gregory J. Saunders www.allbookreviews.com
Publisher: Eloquent Books
ISBN 978-1-60693-750-1
Price $32.50 US
Oct. 2009
Allbooks Reviews INTERVIEW: (Please put your answers in black)
Please state your name and location. (city and State or Province, Country)
Jerome Peterson Sonora, CA USA
Tell us the title and publisher of your book:
Thumb Flagging Eloquent Books an imprint of AEG Publishing Group
Tell us about yourself: I dabble in writing songs, articles, poetry, and short stories; but, my passion is novels. I carry a pocket notebook and pen everywhere I go, including to work. I’m constantly writing down character images, phrases, or plot ideas that strike me. I enjoy arts of all kind. When I’m not writing I sketch I compose instrumentals on my guitar, as well as vocal songs; although I don’t sing as well as I would like to. Other interests I have are reading, spirituality, stargazing, gardening and houseplants, baseball, and sailing. I’m 52 years old and have been married for thirty years.
When was the book released? March, 2009
Give us an overview of your book. By looking at the cover and title the reader assumes it is about hitchhiking. It definitely is about hitchhiking, but there so much more. Thumb Flagging is a coming of age story about a young man who loses his identity only to find it. The unconventional part is that the main character takes to the road to accomplish this goal; unknowingly using the rides and people he meets to show him his shortcomings, and to teach him truth. Also thrown into the pot of character adjustments, are a couple of mysterious stalkers, a canine companion, and other suspenseful encounters that sharpen the main characters perception; as well as, spirituality, philosophy, psychology, sociology, and of course love. I believe the loneliness for love is the strongest force in the book that carries the main character through his misfortunes and ultimately helps him fulfill his goal of a new identity.
What inspired you to write this book? My wife and I were sitting around recalling our youthful travels. As we shared unique hitchhiking stories the idea to write a book about the adventures came to me. I didn’t want it to be totally true life so I meshed my imagination in order to develop compelling characters and an intriguing plot. There are actually a lot of dull hours on the road and of course I didn’t want to write about those times.
How is your book different from other books in this genre? I believe Thumb Flagging would be categorized as a road adventure. It is different from other books in this genre because it deals with so many emotions from hate to love. It also deals with how to handle or accept these emotions by simply applying silly therapies to genuine that work if followed through with.
Where can people buy your book? www.eloquentbooks.com/thumbflagging; Amazon. Com; Barnes and Noble, Borders, and Goodreads. My blog also list many other online venues. My blog is thumbflagging.blogspot.com.
Are you working on another book? If so when do you expect it to be published? Yes. The first of 2010.
If you self published, what advice can you give to fellow writers?
If published traditionally, tell us how you benefited: I benefited by the overwhelming support and the ability of working with a publishing group that persuade people that I don’t see and go places I can’t.
Can you share one of your marketing successes with us? I don’t have any as of yet.
How did you find Allbooks Reviews and what are you hoping for in your relationship with us? A site I follow called, “The Verb”, passed on a list of book reviewers. Allbooks Reviews was basically at the top of the list. I was very impressed with the services that they offer.
Was the low cost a surprise? What other things would you like Allbooks Reviews to offer writers? Yes it was.
Thank you for this interview and best of luck with your book. You are welcome. And thank you.
Genre: Travel/adventure
Bohemian Bum, Hippie Hobo, traveler within the American illusion of freedom. Thumb Flagging is a story of hitchin’ cross country, jumpin’ trains and hoping for the thousand dollar ride. Willy is the worldly philosopher with seemingly no roots, free and ready to hit the road. Jay is the innocent; tentative and afraid, insecure and easily led. Willy talks Jay into dumping their jobs for a few day and heading from sunny Arizona to visit Jay’s sister in Colorado, an easy trip unless your thumb flagging. Jay reluctantly agrees to the adventure and enters an entirely new world; the world of the footloose and free Bohemian Bum.
Yes, this is a story about hitchhiking, but it is more as well. It’s about one man’s growth, it’s about philosophy, it’s about psychology and sociology, and ultimately, it’s a love story. Peterson is able to wrap in about every human emotion and deal with them realistically. Jay starts out as the reluctant and fearful traveler and finishes his personal journey as king of the road. You see his strength and confidence build and feel him develop and confirm his morals and sense of place, all while friends, enemies and chance acquaintances spin in and out of his life. That’s the story of the road, a story that crisscrosses the country from Arizona to Colorado then California and all the way to Main and back.
What made the story most interesting to me was the cross section of society Jay encounters. We all have our impressions and prejudices when we see a thumb flagger. And, though our preconceived notions may be right or way wrong, this book takes you in an entirely different direction. It isn’t the hitcher that’s interesting; it’s the people that are compelled to pick them up. The sad, the disaffected, the do-gooders and the crazies, when a car stops you never know what you’ll get. And when you get that “thousand dollar ride,” it’s all worthwhile.
This is an interesting read, well written and a story with many lessons if you will let them in.
Reviewed by Allbooks reviewer Gregory J. Saunders www.allbookreviews.com
Publisher: Eloquent Books
ISBN 978-1-60693-750-1
Price $32.50 US
Oct. 2009
Allbooks Reviews INTERVIEW: (Please put your answers in black)
Please state your name and location. (city and State or Province, Country)
Jerome Peterson Sonora, CA USA
Tell us the title and publisher of your book:
Thumb Flagging Eloquent Books an imprint of AEG Publishing Group
Tell us about yourself: I dabble in writing songs, articles, poetry, and short stories; but, my passion is novels. I carry a pocket notebook and pen everywhere I go, including to work. I’m constantly writing down character images, phrases, or plot ideas that strike me. I enjoy arts of all kind. When I’m not writing I sketch I compose instrumentals on my guitar, as well as vocal songs; although I don’t sing as well as I would like to. Other interests I have are reading, spirituality, stargazing, gardening and houseplants, baseball, and sailing. I’m 52 years old and have been married for thirty years.
When was the book released? March, 2009
Give us an overview of your book. By looking at the cover and title the reader assumes it is about hitchhiking. It definitely is about hitchhiking, but there so much more. Thumb Flagging is a coming of age story about a young man who loses his identity only to find it. The unconventional part is that the main character takes to the road to accomplish this goal; unknowingly using the rides and people he meets to show him his shortcomings, and to teach him truth. Also thrown into the pot of character adjustments, are a couple of mysterious stalkers, a canine companion, and other suspenseful encounters that sharpen the main characters perception; as well as, spirituality, philosophy, psychology, sociology, and of course love. I believe the loneliness for love is the strongest force in the book that carries the main character through his misfortunes and ultimately helps him fulfill his goal of a new identity.
What inspired you to write this book? My wife and I were sitting around recalling our youthful travels. As we shared unique hitchhiking stories the idea to write a book about the adventures came to me. I didn’t want it to be totally true life so I meshed my imagination in order to develop compelling characters and an intriguing plot. There are actually a lot of dull hours on the road and of course I didn’t want to write about those times.
How is your book different from other books in this genre? I believe Thumb Flagging would be categorized as a road adventure. It is different from other books in this genre because it deals with so many emotions from hate to love. It also deals with how to handle or accept these emotions by simply applying silly therapies to genuine that work if followed through with.
Where can people buy your book? www.eloquentbooks.com/thumbflagging; Amazon. Com; Barnes and Noble, Borders, and Goodreads. My blog also list many other online venues. My blog is thumbflagging.blogspot.com.
Are you working on another book? If so when do you expect it to be published? Yes. The first of 2010.
If you self published, what advice can you give to fellow writers?
If published traditionally, tell us how you benefited: I benefited by the overwhelming support and the ability of working with a publishing group that persuade people that I don’t see and go places I can’t.
Can you share one of your marketing successes with us? I don’t have any as of yet.
How did you find Allbooks Reviews and what are you hoping for in your relationship with us? A site I follow called, “The Verb”, passed on a list of book reviewers. Allbooks Reviews was basically at the top of the list. I was very impressed with the services that they offer.
Was the low cost a surprise? What other things would you like Allbooks Reviews to offer writers? Yes it was.
Thank you for this interview and best of luck with your book. You are welcome. And thank you.
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Leviathan's Master: The Wreck of the World's Largest Sailing Ship
Genre: Historical Fiction
AUTHOR: David M. Quinn
Captain George W. Dow knows the sea from spending most of his life on ships in all types of weather. When his seven-masted sailing ship encounters several rough ocean storms in a row, both it and the crew are left more than tattered.
Dow knew the 400-foot schooner’s history and reluctantly accepted the post to transport over two million gallons of kerosene from the U.S. to London. The T.W. Lawson started its first, and last, transatlantic crossing in late 1907 with a small, hurriedly selected crew.
The tale of the largest sailing vessel’s ocean crossing is compelling at a very human level. The author weaves the survival tale of his great, great uncle with dialogue and descriptive historical facts to create a story that ebbs and flows as waves on an ocean. It is engaging and intriguing to be brought back in time for such an event, in such a personal way.
David M. Quinn was born in Tennessee and grew up in the Washington, D.C. area. His passion for genealogy led him to uncover remarkable stories within his family history. He shares the story of his great, great uncle Michael Quinn, in the historical novel, It May Be Forever - An Irish Rebel on the American Frontier, published in 2005.
In the annual USA Book News competition, Leviathan’s Master is a 2009 Award-Winning Finalist in the Historical Fiction category of the National Best Books Awards.
Leviathan’s Master is a highly recommended read for anyone interested in seafaring tales. It is gripping. Reviewer: Lisa Haselton, Allbooks Reviews.
Available through Amazon.com and other online venues.
Title: Leviathan’s Master: The Wreck of the World’s Largest Sailing Ship
Author: David M. Quinn
Publisher: iUniverse
ISBN: 978-1-4401-5535-2
Pages: 110
Price: $10.95
Nov. 2009
AUTHOR: David M. Quinn
Captain George W. Dow knows the sea from spending most of his life on ships in all types of weather. When his seven-masted sailing ship encounters several rough ocean storms in a row, both it and the crew are left more than tattered.
Dow knew the 400-foot schooner’s history and reluctantly accepted the post to transport over two million gallons of kerosene from the U.S. to London. The T.W. Lawson started its first, and last, transatlantic crossing in late 1907 with a small, hurriedly selected crew.
The tale of the largest sailing vessel’s ocean crossing is compelling at a very human level. The author weaves the survival tale of his great, great uncle with dialogue and descriptive historical facts to create a story that ebbs and flows as waves on an ocean. It is engaging and intriguing to be brought back in time for such an event, in such a personal way.
David M. Quinn was born in Tennessee and grew up in the Washington, D.C. area. His passion for genealogy led him to uncover remarkable stories within his family history. He shares the story of his great, great uncle Michael Quinn, in the historical novel, It May Be Forever - An Irish Rebel on the American Frontier, published in 2005.
In the annual USA Book News competition, Leviathan’s Master is a 2009 Award-Winning Finalist in the Historical Fiction category of the National Best Books Awards.
Leviathan’s Master is a highly recommended read for anyone interested in seafaring tales. It is gripping. Reviewer: Lisa Haselton, Allbooks Reviews.
Available through Amazon.com and other online venues.
Title: Leviathan’s Master: The Wreck of the World’s Largest Sailing Ship
Author: David M. Quinn
Publisher: iUniverse
ISBN: 978-1-4401-5535-2
Pages: 110
Price: $10.95
Nov. 2009
Unintended Consequences
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Genre: Memoirs/Self-Help/Personal Growth
Author: Bill Shaner
Bill Shaner was a successful businessman. Everything was going right in his life and he was living a successful life. That all changed when Shaner almost lost his life in a construction accident. He survived, only to be told that there was a 99% chance that he would never walk again. However, he defeated the odds by walking again, and piecing together his life after a tragedy that could have paralysed him, both physically and psychologically.
Shaner’s journey of recovery led him on a spiritual journey that pulled him out of a deep depression, where fear was his constant companion. He discovered (or re-discovered) spiritual truths, universal laws, and life lessons. These, and more, are shared in his book, Unintended Consequences. He writes his story in an easy-to-read manner, and includes his own insights and personal experiences of his transformation through tragedy.
Bill Shaner used the lessons learned from his own personal tragedy to help inspire others. Unintended Consequences is Shaner’s first novel. He currently lives in Florida.
For an inspirational read, Unintended Consequences is recommended by:
Margaret Orford, Allbooks Reviews.
Title: Unintended Consequences
Author: Bill Shaner
Publisher: Pantha Publishing
ISBN: 978-0-615-22766-5
Pages: 256 pages
Price: $13.99 US
Oct. 2009
Genre: Memoirs/Self-Help/Personal Growth
Author: Bill Shaner
Bill Shaner was a successful businessman. Everything was going right in his life and he was living a successful life. That all changed when Shaner almost lost his life in a construction accident. He survived, only to be told that there was a 99% chance that he would never walk again. However, he defeated the odds by walking again, and piecing together his life after a tragedy that could have paralysed him, both physically and psychologically.
Shaner’s journey of recovery led him on a spiritual journey that pulled him out of a deep depression, where fear was his constant companion. He discovered (or re-discovered) spiritual truths, universal laws, and life lessons. These, and more, are shared in his book, Unintended Consequences. He writes his story in an easy-to-read manner, and includes his own insights and personal experiences of his transformation through tragedy.
Bill Shaner used the lessons learned from his own personal tragedy to help inspire others. Unintended Consequences is Shaner’s first novel. He currently lives in Florida.
For an inspirational read, Unintended Consequences is recommended by:
Margaret Orford, Allbooks Reviews.
Title: Unintended Consequences
Author: Bill Shaner
Publisher: Pantha Publishing
ISBN: 978-0-615-22766-5
Pages: 256 pages
Price: $13.99 US
Oct. 2009
Allbooks Review December 2009 Newsletter
Season’s Greetings to all
Nominate us for a listing in Writer's Digest's 101 Best Sites
of The Year. Please send your nomination, along with our web
name Allbooks Review and our URL www.allbookreviews.com
to: writersdig@fwpubs.com Subject "101 Sites".
Thank you for all of your support.
*****************************************************************************
ALLBOOKS REVIEW IS NOW ON iFOGO. Be sure and join the Albooks Review Author’s Group where we can share our success and our mistakes.
FEATURE
Authors! There’s Power and Profit when you get FREE Publicity
by Kathleen Gage The Street Smarts Speaker and Author
One of the greatest ways to promote a book is with free publicity. It is not difficult to secure publicity if you know what you are doing. With all that is available on the Internet it’s even easier than ever. The fact is, many times your potential readers will pay attention to free publicity more than they do with paid advertising…especially when it comes to promoting a book.
There are ample opportunities to get publicity if you keep your eyes and ears open. Some authors make a feeble or one-time attempt at gaining publicity and if they don’t immediately get massive coverage they give up. They are under the mistaken notion that either they will never get free publicity by their own efforts. They either give up or they believe they have to hire a PR firm.
For someone on a limited budget, hiring a PR firm may not be a solution. The fact is, you can learn how to get publicity by your own efforts; and lots of it. You can literally get thousands, tens of thousands or even hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of free publicity if you know where to focus your attention.
Social networks are fast becoming a great way to get visibility thus creating the opportunity for publicity. Think of it this way; you become a reliable source in specific areas. People know they can count on you for great information. Over time, people turn to you as an expert. And some of those people may likely be in a position to give you exposure via the Internet through web radio, teleseminars, other social networks and blogs.
The key is to gain the mindset that you are a resource before you are a vendor. It is also to see how you can create win/win opportunities for others. Do that and publicity will be yours for a long time to come.
Kathleen Gage, The Street Smarts Marketer™, is an Internet marketing advisor who works with spiritually aware speakers, authors, coaches and consultants who are ready to turn the knowledge into money-making products and services. Visit http://www.kathleengage.com for free resources to build your online presence and credibility.
Allbooks Review is offering an Author’s Page, for $75 per year. You prepare your page to tell readers anything you like. Bio, book titles, where to purchase, link to website, etc. Include a photo of yourself, and a covershot for your books, one or ten+ it is up to you.
Each additional year is only $25. Get a full page ad that you can send your readers to. Just like having a website without the fuss.
Contact me at: allbookreviews@aol.com for details.
Remember to post your book signing, guest speaker events on our Bookstore page. Simply send us an email with details of your events and we will be happy to post them. Just part of the Allbooks service to our authors.
Success Stories
We love to hear of your success stories, submit them to us at: allbookreviews@aol.com
A LETTER RECEIVED FROM ONE OF OUR AUTHORS:
Dear Shirley,
I am writing to say thanks so much for the 2009 Allbooks Editors Choice award for 'WE ARE ALL ONE' in the Inspiration & Spirituality category. Since receiving your award there has been a noticeable increase in media interest in my work and I have been offered more radio and magazine interviews as well as creating a platform for a variety of other opportunities.
I was offered (and accepted) a publishing deal for my next book 'NAKED BEING', and I believe the Allbooks award of January 2009 played a significant role in that. My new book is published by O books and is due to be released in May 2010. It's already listed on Amazon.com:
http://www.amazon.com/Naked-Being-Undressing-Your-Transforming/dp/1846943035/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1258992944&sr=1-4
To any budding writers out there, I highly recommend the professional and honest services offered by Allbooks and can personally vouch for the prestige and media interest which an Allbooks award can bring.
Thanks again Shirley, and all the very best for the future,
In peace and love, Jonathan ( J.M.Harrison author of 'WE ARE ALL ONE' and 'NAKED BEING'). www.we-are-all-one.net
************************************************************************************************
I thought I’d fill you in on Robert Fates journey since I reviewed for the first Baby Shark stories. He’s still writing and is as good as ever. A while ago he sent me a pre-release copy of Baby Shark: Jugglers At The Border. It was excellent and entertaining as well. I’m not sure if you have followed him but Juggler’s was his fourth in the series. What is more interesting is that the original Baby Shark –is now being made into a movie. Robert Fate is published by Capital Crime.
**************************************************************************************************
Shirley A. Roe has released her third and final historical fiction in the Whittaker Family series, Return to Whittakerville. Copies can be orderedfrom: www.theebooksale.com or www.amazon.com.
TIP:
Tip: As family and friends gather for the holiday season, pay attention to those stories and funny anecdotes. You might be able to use them in your next book! (Change the names, of course)
Allbooks Review Interview:
Please state your name and location. (city and State or Province, Country)
D. Wayne Dworsky
New York, New York, USA
Tell us the title and publisher of your book:
The Carpenter of Auguliere
Tell us about yourself:
I am an avid reader, writer, and reviewer
When was the book released?
The book was released August, 2006
Give us an overview of your book:
The Carpenter of Auguliere is the classic tale of good and evil, set in a far-away place in times past.
What inspired you to write this book?
The story came to me in a dream, driving me to recall tales my grandfather told from the “old” country.
How is your book different from other books in this genre?
Although my book is folklore, it has a modern aura.
Where can people buy your book?
The book is available from Amazon.com, Barns&Noble.com, Borders.com and from the distributor at Atlasbooks.com
Are you working on another book? If so when do you expect it to be published?
I do have a sequel in mind, but it has not found its way to paper yet. However, I have another book, a sci-fi, which is complete and looking for a market.
If you self published, what advice can you give to fellow writers?
Seek out the internet and exploit its options.
If published traditionally, tell us how you benefited:
Can you share one of your marketing successes with us?
Best marketing strategy is direct mail.
How did you find Allbooks Reviews and what are you hoping for in your relationship with us?
I found Allbooks Reviews by browsing Amazon.com. I am hoping for more exposure and discovery.
Was the low cost a surprise? What other things would you like Allbooks Reviews to offer writers?
Yes, I found the low price a pleasant surprise. I hope that Allbooks will continue to support writers and encourage them and give them hope for explosure.
Thank you for this interview and best of luck with your book.
Thank you. And I am honored to have the opportunity to share my view on writing.
Allbooks Review wishes to thank all of the authors that have made this another banner year for us. We are here to help you make the most of your book. Wishing everyone a very happy, healthy and prosperous new year for 2010.
Nominate us for a listing in Writer's Digest's 101 Best Sites
of The Year. Please send your nomination, along with our web
name Allbooks Review and our URL www.allbookreviews.com
to: writersdig@fwpubs.com Subject "101 Sites".
Thank you for all of your support.
*****************************************************************************
ALLBOOKS REVIEW IS NOW ON iFOGO. Be sure and join the Albooks Review Author’s Group where we can share our success and our mistakes.
FEATURE
Authors! There’s Power and Profit when you get FREE Publicity
by Kathleen Gage The Street Smarts Speaker and Author
One of the greatest ways to promote a book is with free publicity. It is not difficult to secure publicity if you know what you are doing. With all that is available on the Internet it’s even easier than ever. The fact is, many times your potential readers will pay attention to free publicity more than they do with paid advertising…especially when it comes to promoting a book.
There are ample opportunities to get publicity if you keep your eyes and ears open. Some authors make a feeble or one-time attempt at gaining publicity and if they don’t immediately get massive coverage they give up. They are under the mistaken notion that either they will never get free publicity by their own efforts. They either give up or they believe they have to hire a PR firm.
For someone on a limited budget, hiring a PR firm may not be a solution. The fact is, you can learn how to get publicity by your own efforts; and lots of it. You can literally get thousands, tens of thousands or even hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of free publicity if you know where to focus your attention.
Social networks are fast becoming a great way to get visibility thus creating the opportunity for publicity. Think of it this way; you become a reliable source in specific areas. People know they can count on you for great information. Over time, people turn to you as an expert. And some of those people may likely be in a position to give you exposure via the Internet through web radio, teleseminars, other social networks and blogs.
The key is to gain the mindset that you are a resource before you are a vendor. It is also to see how you can create win/win opportunities for others. Do that and publicity will be yours for a long time to come.
Kathleen Gage, The Street Smarts Marketer™, is an Internet marketing advisor who works with spiritually aware speakers, authors, coaches and consultants who are ready to turn the knowledge into money-making products and services. Visit http://www.kathleengage.com for free resources to build your online presence and credibility.
Allbooks Review is offering an Author’s Page, for $75 per year. You prepare your page to tell readers anything you like. Bio, book titles, where to purchase, link to website, etc. Include a photo of yourself, and a covershot for your books, one or ten+ it is up to you.
Each additional year is only $25. Get a full page ad that you can send your readers to. Just like having a website without the fuss.
Contact me at: allbookreviews@aol.com for details.
Remember to post your book signing, guest speaker events on our Bookstore page. Simply send us an email with details of your events and we will be happy to post them. Just part of the Allbooks service to our authors.
Success Stories
We love to hear of your success stories, submit them to us at: allbookreviews@aol.com
A LETTER RECEIVED FROM ONE OF OUR AUTHORS:
Dear Shirley,
I am writing to say thanks so much for the 2009 Allbooks Editors Choice award for 'WE ARE ALL ONE' in the Inspiration & Spirituality category. Since receiving your award there has been a noticeable increase in media interest in my work and I have been offered more radio and magazine interviews as well as creating a platform for a variety of other opportunities.
I was offered (and accepted) a publishing deal for my next book 'NAKED BEING', and I believe the Allbooks award of January 2009 played a significant role in that. My new book is published by O books and is due to be released in May 2010. It's already listed on Amazon.com:
http://www.amazon.com/Naked-Being-Undressing-Your-Transforming/dp/1846943035/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1258992944&sr=1-4
To any budding writers out there, I highly recommend the professional and honest services offered by Allbooks and can personally vouch for the prestige and media interest which an Allbooks award can bring.
Thanks again Shirley, and all the very best for the future,
In peace and love, Jonathan ( J.M.Harrison author of 'WE ARE ALL ONE' and 'NAKED BEING'). www.we-are-all-one.net
************************************************************************************************
I thought I’d fill you in on Robert Fates journey since I reviewed for the first Baby Shark stories. He’s still writing and is as good as ever. A while ago he sent me a pre-release copy of Baby Shark: Jugglers At The Border. It was excellent and entertaining as well. I’m not sure if you have followed him but Juggler’s was his fourth in the series. What is more interesting is that the original Baby Shark –is now being made into a movie. Robert Fate is published by Capital Crime.
**************************************************************************************************
Shirley A. Roe has released her third and final historical fiction in the Whittaker Family series, Return to Whittakerville. Copies can be orderedfrom: www.theebooksale.com or www.amazon.com.
TIP:
Tip: As family and friends gather for the holiday season, pay attention to those stories and funny anecdotes. You might be able to use them in your next book! (Change the names, of course)
Allbooks Review Interview:
Please state your name and location. (city and State or Province, Country)
D. Wayne Dworsky
New York, New York, USA
Tell us the title and publisher of your book:
The Carpenter of Auguliere
Tell us about yourself:
I am an avid reader, writer, and reviewer
When was the book released?
The book was released August, 2006
Give us an overview of your book:
The Carpenter of Auguliere is the classic tale of good and evil, set in a far-away place in times past.
What inspired you to write this book?
The story came to me in a dream, driving me to recall tales my grandfather told from the “old” country.
How is your book different from other books in this genre?
Although my book is folklore, it has a modern aura.
Where can people buy your book?
The book is available from Amazon.com, Barns&Noble.com, Borders.com and from the distributor at Atlasbooks.com
Are you working on another book? If so when do you expect it to be published?
I do have a sequel in mind, but it has not found its way to paper yet. However, I have another book, a sci-fi, which is complete and looking for a market.
If you self published, what advice can you give to fellow writers?
Seek out the internet and exploit its options.
If published traditionally, tell us how you benefited:
Can you share one of your marketing successes with us?
Best marketing strategy is direct mail.
How did you find Allbooks Reviews and what are you hoping for in your relationship with us?
I found Allbooks Reviews by browsing Amazon.com. I am hoping for more exposure and discovery.
Was the low cost a surprise? What other things would you like Allbooks Reviews to offer writers?
Yes, I found the low price a pleasant surprise. I hope that Allbooks will continue to support writers and encourage them and give them hope for explosure.
Thank you for this interview and best of luck with your book.
Thank you. And I am honored to have the opportunity to share my view on writing.
Allbooks Review wishes to thank all of the authors that have made this another banner year for us. We are here to help you make the most of your book. Wishing everyone a very happy, healthy and prosperous new year for 2010.
Thursday, November 26, 2009
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Allbooks Reviews, clients are our greatest advertising
Nov. 2009, Dear Shirley,
I am writing to say thanks so much for the 2009 Allbooks Editors Choice award for 'WE ARE ALL ONE' in the Inspiration & Spirituality category. Since receiving your award there has been a noticeable increase in media interest in my work and I have been offered more radio and magazine interviews as well as creating a platform for a variety of other opportunities.
I was offered (and accepted) a publishing deal for my next book 'NAKED BEING', and I believe the Allbooks award of January 2009 played a significant role in that. My new book is published by O books and is due to be released in May 2010. It's already listed on Amazon.com:
http://www.amazon.com/Naked-Being-Undressing-Your-Transforming/dp/1846943035/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1258992944&sr=1-4
To any budding writers out there, I highly recommend the professional and honest services offered by Allbooks and can personally vouch for the prestige and media interest which an Allbooks award can bring.
Thanks again Shirley, and all the very best for the future,
In peace and love,
Jonathan ( J.M.Harrison author of 'WE ARE ALL ONE' and 'NAKED BEING').
www.we-are-all-one.net
I am writing to say thanks so much for the 2009 Allbooks Editors Choice award for 'WE ARE ALL ONE' in the Inspiration & Spirituality category. Since receiving your award there has been a noticeable increase in media interest in my work and I have been offered more radio and magazine interviews as well as creating a platform for a variety of other opportunities.
I was offered (and accepted) a publishing deal for my next book 'NAKED BEING', and I believe the Allbooks award of January 2009 played a significant role in that. My new book is published by O books and is due to be released in May 2010. It's already listed on Amazon.com:
http://www.amazon.com/Naked-Being-Undressing-Your-Transforming/dp/1846943035/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1258992944&sr=1-4
To any budding writers out there, I highly recommend the professional and honest services offered by Allbooks and can personally vouch for the prestige and media interest which an Allbooks award can bring.
Thanks again Shirley, and all the very best for the future,
In peace and love,
Jonathan ( J.M.Harrison author of 'WE ARE ALL ONE' and 'NAKED BEING').
www.we-are-all-one.net
Monday, November 9, 2009
Someone Stop This Merry-Go-Round
Genre: Memoirs/Health
Authors: Alberta H. Sequeira
‘Warning,’ due to the graphic nature of this story……………………
This potent memoir is about Alberta Sequeira, her husband, Richie Lopes and their daughters, Debbie and Lori. Taking a quick glance at the family photos included, one might assume they look like the typical, small town, picture perfect family. A memoir that reads like a horror story, when the nightmare could no longer be contained behind closed doors.
Richie, had become an alcoholic, which is a disease affecting millions of people. Sadly, most of us will at some time, know or love someone with this demon. Alcoholism, predominantly hereditary, is always life altering, not just to the victim but the family and friends too.
As the disease progresses, behavioral changes begin. These changes happen slowly, so at first they are overlooked, suddenly they become unmanageable. The alcoholic is in a constant state of confusion, decision making becomes catastrophic, confidence disappears, their job suffers along with their health, and denial is prevalent. Nothing is as important as that drink, and the temporary escape they believe it will provide. Worse than not having a drink, is facing the inevitable physical and emotional withdrawal.
Richie had become physically abusive while suffering blackouts. In her many valiant attempts to keep their family together, Alberta endured in silence for a long time. She watched this well respected, easy- going man, that she still loved and had based her future on, deteriorate to the point of no return. Always shattering his promise to quit drinking cost him his business, accumulated unpaid bills, brought the threat of losing their home to the government, their marriage shattered and finally cost him his life. He was 45 years old.
The author, Alberta Sequeira, proves to us that life can move on, and she has. Now married to Al Sequeira, living in Rochester MA, she draws strength from his loving support, as well as from her daughter, Debbie. They courageously keep the painful memories from the past open, their goal is hope! Hope, that by reading their gut wrenching story, it will somehow reach and help other families battle this demon. Her desire to help people, has propelled Alberta, not only to write, but she is a frequent speaker at rehabs, or any organization working towards understanding the effects of alcoholism. Showing her battle strength again, she has promised us a sequel next spring, into the years following Richie Lope’s demise and the path Lori stumbled into.
This honest, truthful insight into alcoholism, written with the best of intentions, is well presented and although sad, her purpose is fully delivered and I highly recommend it. Reviewer: Cheryl Ellis, Allbooks Review www.allbookreviews.com
Available through Amazon.com or your local bookseller.
Title: Someone Stop This Merry-Go-Round
Authors: Alberta Sequeira
Publisher: Infinity Publishing
ISBN-13: 9780741454157
Pages: 344
Price: US$18.95 October 2009
Authors: Alberta H. Sequeira
‘Warning,’ due to the graphic nature of this story……………………
This potent memoir is about Alberta Sequeira, her husband, Richie Lopes and their daughters, Debbie and Lori. Taking a quick glance at the family photos included, one might assume they look like the typical, small town, picture perfect family. A memoir that reads like a horror story, when the nightmare could no longer be contained behind closed doors.
Richie, had become an alcoholic, which is a disease affecting millions of people. Sadly, most of us will at some time, know or love someone with this demon. Alcoholism, predominantly hereditary, is always life altering, not just to the victim but the family and friends too.
As the disease progresses, behavioral changes begin. These changes happen slowly, so at first they are overlooked, suddenly they become unmanageable. The alcoholic is in a constant state of confusion, decision making becomes catastrophic, confidence disappears, their job suffers along with their health, and denial is prevalent. Nothing is as important as that drink, and the temporary escape they believe it will provide. Worse than not having a drink, is facing the inevitable physical and emotional withdrawal.
Richie had become physically abusive while suffering blackouts. In her many valiant attempts to keep their family together, Alberta endured in silence for a long time. She watched this well respected, easy- going man, that she still loved and had based her future on, deteriorate to the point of no return. Always shattering his promise to quit drinking cost him his business, accumulated unpaid bills, brought the threat of losing their home to the government, their marriage shattered and finally cost him his life. He was 45 years old.
The author, Alberta Sequeira, proves to us that life can move on, and she has. Now married to Al Sequeira, living in Rochester MA, she draws strength from his loving support, as well as from her daughter, Debbie. They courageously keep the painful memories from the past open, their goal is hope! Hope, that by reading their gut wrenching story, it will somehow reach and help other families battle this demon. Her desire to help people, has propelled Alberta, not only to write, but she is a frequent speaker at rehabs, or any organization working towards understanding the effects of alcoholism. Showing her battle strength again, she has promised us a sequel next spring, into the years following Richie Lope’s demise and the path Lori stumbled into.
This honest, truthful insight into alcoholism, written with the best of intentions, is well presented and although sad, her purpose is fully delivered and I highly recommend it. Reviewer: Cheryl Ellis, Allbooks Review www.allbookreviews.com
Available through Amazon.com or your local bookseller.
Title: Someone Stop This Merry-Go-Round
Authors: Alberta Sequeira
Publisher: Infinity Publishing
ISBN-13: 9780741454157
Pages: 344
Price: US$18.95 October 2009
Nutshell Guides
Genre: Astrology/Yoga/Chinese Medicine/I-Ching
Title: Nutshell Guides: I-Ching, Traditional Chinese Medicine, Yoga and Astrology
Authors: Susan Hui, Ines Laimins and Lorie Torpey
A tiny boxed set of four guides that will peak your curiosity from the moment you open the box.
Four guides that contain charts and bullet points, are quick and easy to read, entertaining and fun, all in one box! Yoga, takes you through the poses, explains the breathing technique and introduces energy. Astrology, describes ascendants, planets, sun signs, and houses, giving readers a brief yet complete picture of astrology. Traditional Chinese Medicine, explains Nature and the Five Phases and how they affect you. The Zang-fu Theory is discussed. I –Ching, gives readers an Interpretation Chart. Each individual guide will answer your questions, give you inspiration and start you on your way to a new discovery. The format is new and interesting, little fold out charts instead of pages. The books fuse Eastern and Western philosophy, wellness and lifestyles, presented in a charming and entertaining style. Four great guides in a “Nutshell.” Great gift idea for those interested in Holistic practices or those that are just curious.
Susan Hui, Ines Laimins and Lorie Tropey live in Hong Kong. They call themselves the “Nutshell Girls.” Susan is from Hong Kong, while Ines and Lorie are originally from the US. The girls’ backgrounds include banker and former TCM enthusiast, dentist and current astrologer, and former fashion editor now a yoga teacher- Great credentials for creating these handy little guides.
Highly recommended for everyone spiritual and/or curious on your gift list by Reviewer: Shirley Roe, Allbooks Review. www.allbookreviews.com
Publisher: Nutshell Publishing
ISBN-13: 978-988-17966-1-5
Pages: 4 tiny guides in boxed set
Price: $39.99 US
Distribution everywhere
Nov 2009
Title: Nutshell Guides: I-Ching, Traditional Chinese Medicine, Yoga and Astrology
Authors: Susan Hui, Ines Laimins and Lorie Torpey
A tiny boxed set of four guides that will peak your curiosity from the moment you open the box.
Four guides that contain charts and bullet points, are quick and easy to read, entertaining and fun, all in one box! Yoga, takes you through the poses, explains the breathing technique and introduces energy. Astrology, describes ascendants, planets, sun signs, and houses, giving readers a brief yet complete picture of astrology. Traditional Chinese Medicine, explains Nature and the Five Phases and how they affect you. The Zang-fu Theory is discussed. I –Ching, gives readers an Interpretation Chart. Each individual guide will answer your questions, give you inspiration and start you on your way to a new discovery. The format is new and interesting, little fold out charts instead of pages. The books fuse Eastern and Western philosophy, wellness and lifestyles, presented in a charming and entertaining style. Four great guides in a “Nutshell.” Great gift idea for those interested in Holistic practices or those that are just curious.
Susan Hui, Ines Laimins and Lorie Tropey live in Hong Kong. They call themselves the “Nutshell Girls.” Susan is from Hong Kong, while Ines and Lorie are originally from the US. The girls’ backgrounds include banker and former TCM enthusiast, dentist and current astrologer, and former fashion editor now a yoga teacher- Great credentials for creating these handy little guides.
Highly recommended for everyone spiritual and/or curious on your gift list by Reviewer: Shirley Roe, Allbooks Review. www.allbookreviews.com
Publisher: Nutshell Publishing
ISBN-13: 978-988-17966-1-5
Pages: 4 tiny guides in boxed set
Price: $39.99 US
Distribution everywhere
Nov 2009
The Geronimo Corndogs
Genre: Fiction/Humor
Author: Richard Palombi
Part history, part humor is what this story is. Set during the great depression with real life characters such as John Dillinger, Baby Face Nelson, and Pretty Boy Floyd, and the fictional Geronimo Corndogs. The tale begins with Dillinger and the Geronimo Corndogs, when they ask him to join a foursome bowling team in a league. From there begins a humorous tale of Dillinger and the Corndogs on a spree of muffed bank robberies, FBI chases and the pig stampedes.
With PETSA wreaking havoc in their desire to bring down Augustus, “the pet felon” and the jailbreaks, Melvin Purvis, J. Edgar (Hoover,) (the) F.B.I. and some funny (goings on) in the courts, including Augustus’ prison sentence as a “pet felon,” the story is part reality with a heavy dose of tongue-in-cheek humor.
While the characters are taken from the annals of the FBI with their Public Enemy #1, the Corndogs bring a unique aspect to the history of felons like John Dillinger, Baby Face Nelson, and Pretty Boy Floyd. The Nelsons foster one of the Corndogs (John Luther) and act as his surrogate parents while trying to teach him the finer points of being a criminal. They soon find out that John Luther is criminally dysfunctional and will never make it as a bank robber. Read about the various trials that the bank robbers have when working with the Corndogs.
If you enjoy a touch of humor in a story, this story is for you, with shortcuts that end up going to places unintended. Reviewer, Bob Medak Allbooks Review.
Available from: Amazon, Barnes and Noble
Title: The Geronimo Corndogs
Author: Richard Palombi
Publisher: Stonegarden.net Publishing
ISBN: 1-60076-153-4
Pages: 186
Price: $9.95
Nov. 2009
Author: Richard Palombi
Part history, part humor is what this story is. Set during the great depression with real life characters such as John Dillinger, Baby Face Nelson, and Pretty Boy Floyd, and the fictional Geronimo Corndogs. The tale begins with Dillinger and the Geronimo Corndogs, when they ask him to join a foursome bowling team in a league. From there begins a humorous tale of Dillinger and the Corndogs on a spree of muffed bank robberies, FBI chases and the pig stampedes.
With PETSA wreaking havoc in their desire to bring down Augustus, “the pet felon” and the jailbreaks, Melvin Purvis, J. Edgar (Hoover,) (the) F.B.I. and some funny (goings on) in the courts, including Augustus’ prison sentence as a “pet felon,” the story is part reality with a heavy dose of tongue-in-cheek humor.
While the characters are taken from the annals of the FBI with their Public Enemy #1, the Corndogs bring a unique aspect to the history of felons like John Dillinger, Baby Face Nelson, and Pretty Boy Floyd. The Nelsons foster one of the Corndogs (John Luther) and act as his surrogate parents while trying to teach him the finer points of being a criminal. They soon find out that John Luther is criminally dysfunctional and will never make it as a bank robber. Read about the various trials that the bank robbers have when working with the Corndogs.
If you enjoy a touch of humor in a story, this story is for you, with shortcuts that end up going to places unintended. Reviewer, Bob Medak Allbooks Review.
Available from: Amazon, Barnes and Noble
Title: The Geronimo Corndogs
Author: Richard Palombi
Publisher: Stonegarden.net Publishing
ISBN: 1-60076-153-4
Pages: 186
Price: $9.95
Nov. 2009
Friday, November 6, 2009
As Long As He Needs Me
Genre: Psychological Romance
Title: As Long as He Needs Me
Author: Mary Verdick
Author, Mary Verdick has written a romance novel for today’s times. While most romances end when the couple finally overcome obstacles and get together, As Long as He Needs Me spans thirty five years of marriage. In essence this romance is saying, “Here’s the rest of the story.”
A middle-aged couple, Clem and Kitty Johanssen, who have had their share of ups and downs in marriage, embark on a cruise to celebrate their 35th wedding anniversary. Before the ship ever sets sail, two young swindlers get all of their cash. This incident starts their vacation on a sour note and soon through a series of slowly revealed flashbacks we learn the true history of their relationship.
Clem seems to withdraw within himself and Kitty reacts by finding solace in an array of different characters on the ship. It seems that although this marriage has lasted thirty- five years, it may not last until the end of the cruise! As the chasm widens between the couple, the reader is privy to the hard work and compromise that is takes in this day and age to make a marriage work. We see the fears, weaknesses and strengths of Clem and Kitty.
I read this book in it’s entirety in one day. I wanted to see what would happen to this relationship. By the end of the book, Ms. Verdick has created the feeling that the Johanssen’s are real people and the reader cares about what happens to this relationship. A good read and a good story.
Reviewed by: Donetta Garman, Allbooks Review www.allbookreviews.com
Publisher: Outskirts Press
ISBN: 978-1432724276
List price: $16.95
Nov 2009
Title: As Long as He Needs Me
Author: Mary Verdick
Author, Mary Verdick has written a romance novel for today’s times. While most romances end when the couple finally overcome obstacles and get together, As Long as He Needs Me spans thirty five years of marriage. In essence this romance is saying, “Here’s the rest of the story.”
A middle-aged couple, Clem and Kitty Johanssen, who have had their share of ups and downs in marriage, embark on a cruise to celebrate their 35th wedding anniversary. Before the ship ever sets sail, two young swindlers get all of their cash. This incident starts their vacation on a sour note and soon through a series of slowly revealed flashbacks we learn the true history of their relationship.
Clem seems to withdraw within himself and Kitty reacts by finding solace in an array of different characters on the ship. It seems that although this marriage has lasted thirty- five years, it may not last until the end of the cruise! As the chasm widens between the couple, the reader is privy to the hard work and compromise that is takes in this day and age to make a marriage work. We see the fears, weaknesses and strengths of Clem and Kitty.
I read this book in it’s entirety in one day. I wanted to see what would happen to this relationship. By the end of the book, Ms. Verdick has created the feeling that the Johanssen’s are real people and the reader cares about what happens to this relationship. A good read and a good story.
Reviewed by: Donetta Garman, Allbooks Review www.allbookreviews.com
Publisher: Outskirts Press
ISBN: 978-1432724276
List price: $16.95
Nov 2009
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Thumb Flagging
Title: Thumb Flagging
Author: Jerome Peterson
Genre: Travel/Adventure
Bohemian Bum, Hippie Hobo, traveler within the American illusion of freedom. Thumb Flagging is a story of hitchin’ cross country, jumpin’ trains and hoping for the thousand dollar ride. Willy is the worldly philosopher with seemingly no roots, free and ready to hit the road. Jay is the innocent; tentative and afraid, insecure and easily led. Willy talks Jay into dumping their jobs for a few day and heading from sunny Arizona to visit Jay’s sister in Colorado, an easy trip unless your thumb flagging. Jay reluctantly agrees to the adventure and enters an entirely new world; the world of the footloose and free Bohemian Bum.
Yes, this is a story about hitchhiking, but it is more as well. It’s about one man’s growth, it’s about philosophy, it’s about psychology and sociology, and ultimately, it’s a love story. Peterson is able to wrap in about every human emotion and deal with them realistically. Jay starts out as the reluctant and fearful traveler and finishes his personal journey as king of the road. You see his strength and confidence build and feel him develop and confirm his morals and sense of place, all while friends, enemies and chance acquaintances spin in and out of his life. That’s the story of the road, a story that crisscrosses the country from Arizona to Colorado then California and all the way to Main and back.
What made the story most interesting to me was the cross section of society Jay encounters. We all have our impressions and prejudices when we see a thumb flagger. And, though our preconceived notions may be right or way wrong, this book takes you in an entirely different direction. It isn’t the hitcher that’s interesting; it’s the people that are compelled to pick them up. The sad, the disaffected, the do-gooders and the crazies, when a car stops you never know what you’ll get. And when you get that “thousand dollar ride,” it’s all worthwhile.
This is an interesting read, well written and a story with many lessons if you will let them in.
Reviewed by Allbooks reviewer Gregory J. Saunders www.allbookreviews.com
Eloquent Books, ISBN 978-1-60693-750-1
Price $32.50 US
Oct. 2009
Author: Jerome Peterson
Genre: Travel/Adventure
Bohemian Bum, Hippie Hobo, traveler within the American illusion of freedom. Thumb Flagging is a story of hitchin’ cross country, jumpin’ trains and hoping for the thousand dollar ride. Willy is the worldly philosopher with seemingly no roots, free and ready to hit the road. Jay is the innocent; tentative and afraid, insecure and easily led. Willy talks Jay into dumping their jobs for a few day and heading from sunny Arizona to visit Jay’s sister in Colorado, an easy trip unless your thumb flagging. Jay reluctantly agrees to the adventure and enters an entirely new world; the world of the footloose and free Bohemian Bum.
Yes, this is a story about hitchhiking, but it is more as well. It’s about one man’s growth, it’s about philosophy, it’s about psychology and sociology, and ultimately, it’s a love story. Peterson is able to wrap in about every human emotion and deal with them realistically. Jay starts out as the reluctant and fearful traveler and finishes his personal journey as king of the road. You see his strength and confidence build and feel him develop and confirm his morals and sense of place, all while friends, enemies and chance acquaintances spin in and out of his life. That’s the story of the road, a story that crisscrosses the country from Arizona to Colorado then California and all the way to Main and back.
What made the story most interesting to me was the cross section of society Jay encounters. We all have our impressions and prejudices when we see a thumb flagger. And, though our preconceived notions may be right or way wrong, this book takes you in an entirely different direction. It isn’t the hitcher that’s interesting; it’s the people that are compelled to pick them up. The sad, the disaffected, the do-gooders and the crazies, when a car stops you never know what you’ll get. And when you get that “thousand dollar ride,” it’s all worthwhile.
This is an interesting read, well written and a story with many lessons if you will let them in.
Reviewed by Allbooks reviewer Gregory J. Saunders www.allbookreviews.com
Eloquent Books, ISBN 978-1-60693-750-1
Price $32.50 US
Oct. 2009
The Judas Ride
Genre: Fiction, Christian, General
Title: The Judas Ride
Author: Peggy Sue Yarber, PhD
Imagine an unwed pregnant teenager, drug and alcohol addiction, rape, broken homes, abuse and the setting of a poor neighborhood ruled by street gangs. Add to the mix, Pastor Manny, an eccentric, immigrant pastor that worships John Wayne and follows sports and who wants to make a difference.
Young, 16 year-old Sonia is pregnant, with the possibility of two different fathers. She is being rebellious and leaves her middle class neighborhood to run with the “bad boys”. Once she is pregnant, she enjoys the attention, but too soon reality sets in.
“I hate this baby, I want it out of me. I want to be pretty again,” Sonia whined in a shrill voice.
“The baby is mine, right? And I say you have it and that’s final.
“You only want me to have it so I’m ugly and no one will want me….
As each chapter unfolds, in the fast paced, gripping book, we are reminded of the consequences of our actions and the dangers of going so far there seems to be no way out. Hence, the title The Judas Ride. Once Judas Iscariot betrayed Jesus by kissing him on the check and the coming chain of events were set in motion, the “ride” could not be stopped.
The assortment of troubled characters seems to be taken out of the tragic headlines of the evening news, as they wind their way into the heart. The violence and darkness, if not condoned, becomes understood as each of the character’s lives comes to light. Tragedy lurks just around the corner and secrets kill; but hope lingers, as a pastor’s unconditional love and often-harsh words inspire hardened hearts to turn to God.
Miss Yarber has raised the awareness of the struggles and plight of too many of today’s youth. This novel gives the reader a conscience and we can no longer sit back in the safety of our suburban and rural homes and turn a blind eye to what is happening, a neighborhood at a time, in cities across our nation.
The eclectic cast and riveting story, not to mention the imaginative book cover, create a book that I would highly recommend to others.
Reviewed by: Donetta Garman, Allbooks Review www.allbookreviews.com
Publisher: Tate Publishing
ISBN: 978-1-60799-801-3
List price: $15.99
Oct 2009
Title: The Judas Ride
Author: Peggy Sue Yarber, PhD
Imagine an unwed pregnant teenager, drug and alcohol addiction, rape, broken homes, abuse and the setting of a poor neighborhood ruled by street gangs. Add to the mix, Pastor Manny, an eccentric, immigrant pastor that worships John Wayne and follows sports and who wants to make a difference.
Young, 16 year-old Sonia is pregnant, with the possibility of two different fathers. She is being rebellious and leaves her middle class neighborhood to run with the “bad boys”. Once she is pregnant, she enjoys the attention, but too soon reality sets in.
“I hate this baby, I want it out of me. I want to be pretty again,” Sonia whined in a shrill voice.
“The baby is mine, right? And I say you have it and that’s final.
“You only want me to have it so I’m ugly and no one will want me….
As each chapter unfolds, in the fast paced, gripping book, we are reminded of the consequences of our actions and the dangers of going so far there seems to be no way out. Hence, the title The Judas Ride. Once Judas Iscariot betrayed Jesus by kissing him on the check and the coming chain of events were set in motion, the “ride” could not be stopped.
The assortment of troubled characters seems to be taken out of the tragic headlines of the evening news, as they wind their way into the heart. The violence and darkness, if not condoned, becomes understood as each of the character’s lives comes to light. Tragedy lurks just around the corner and secrets kill; but hope lingers, as a pastor’s unconditional love and often-harsh words inspire hardened hearts to turn to God.
Miss Yarber has raised the awareness of the struggles and plight of too many of today’s youth. This novel gives the reader a conscience and we can no longer sit back in the safety of our suburban and rural homes and turn a blind eye to what is happening, a neighborhood at a time, in cities across our nation.
The eclectic cast and riveting story, not to mention the imaginative book cover, create a book that I would highly recommend to others.
Reviewed by: Donetta Garman, Allbooks Review www.allbookreviews.com
Publisher: Tate Publishing
ISBN: 978-1-60799-801-3
List price: $15.99
Oct 2009
Sunday, November 1, 2009
A Land Beyond Ravens
Genre: Historical Fiction
Title: A Land Beyond Ravens
AUTHOR: Kathleen Cunningham Guler
Fifth century master spy, Marcus ap Iorwerth, enjoyed being the go-to man for ferreting out information. He is a master of disguise and was trusted by many for thirty years. But now he knows too much about everyone and one slip of the tongue can mean his death.
During this time of King Uther, Marcus constantly blends into the landscape to find answers to looming questions that give men power. Uther’s teenaged son, Arthur, is next in line to the throne most people think will be available with Uther’s pending death.
Marcus supports Arthur moving into his rightful place, however Marcus’ wife’s psychic visions forecast the toughest battle and not the most pleasant outcome.
Novelist Kathleen Guler presents a clear portrait of this historical time period and the people who lived it. Her combination of verifiable research and use of myths from the time period are woven together to create a story from the perspective of other characters living in the time building up to King Arthur, Merlin, and the knights of the Roundtable.
Kathleen Cunningham Guler is the author of the award-winning Macsen’s Treasure series that includes Into the Path of Gods, In the Shadow of Dragons, and The Anvil Stone. She studied Celtic history and Arthurian legend for almost thirty years in the U.S. and Great Britain. She has published numerous articles, essays, reviews, short stories, and poetry.
A Land Beyond Ravens is a recommended read for anyone interested in Arthurian legend, mystery, spy, adventure, or romance. Reviewer: Lisa Haselton, Allbooks Reviews.
Available through Amazon.com and other online venues.
Title: A Land Beyond Ravens
Author: Kathleen Cunningham Guler
Publisher: Bardsong Press
ISBN: 978-0-9660371-6-6
Pages: 384
Price: $25.95
October 2009
Title: A Land Beyond Ravens
AUTHOR: Kathleen Cunningham Guler
Fifth century master spy, Marcus ap Iorwerth, enjoyed being the go-to man for ferreting out information. He is a master of disguise and was trusted by many for thirty years. But now he knows too much about everyone and one slip of the tongue can mean his death.
During this time of King Uther, Marcus constantly blends into the landscape to find answers to looming questions that give men power. Uther’s teenaged son, Arthur, is next in line to the throne most people think will be available with Uther’s pending death.
Marcus supports Arthur moving into his rightful place, however Marcus’ wife’s psychic visions forecast the toughest battle and not the most pleasant outcome.
Novelist Kathleen Guler presents a clear portrait of this historical time period and the people who lived it. Her combination of verifiable research and use of myths from the time period are woven together to create a story from the perspective of other characters living in the time building up to King Arthur, Merlin, and the knights of the Roundtable.
Kathleen Cunningham Guler is the author of the award-winning Macsen’s Treasure series that includes Into the Path of Gods, In the Shadow of Dragons, and The Anvil Stone. She studied Celtic history and Arthurian legend for almost thirty years in the U.S. and Great Britain. She has published numerous articles, essays, reviews, short stories, and poetry.
A Land Beyond Ravens is a recommended read for anyone interested in Arthurian legend, mystery, spy, adventure, or romance. Reviewer: Lisa Haselton, Allbooks Reviews.
Available through Amazon.com and other online venues.
Title: A Land Beyond Ravens
Author: Kathleen Cunningham Guler
Publisher: Bardsong Press
ISBN: 978-0-9660371-6-6
Pages: 384
Price: $25.95
October 2009
Beyond the Maps Boundary: A Timely Adventure
Genre: Fantasy/ebook
Title: Beyond the Map's Boundary: A Timely Adventure
Author: Nibi Soto, Illustrated by Chris Humphreys
They are the protectors and guardians of those trapped in time, and in each generation their journey begins again.
Mattie has grown up knowing nothing of her Inheritance, the complicated gift that will be bestowed on her upon her mother's death. She has never had any idea of the high destiny people in her mother's line have had for ages. When her mother disappears, she is forced to learn all this the hard way, and there is someone who does not want her to live to use her new talents.
Beyond the Map's Boundary is somehow both charming and tense, and the world the characters inhabit is deep and complicated, perfect for realistic fantasy. The only dark spot is that the characters are never allowed to flesh out as "real" people. Soto seems to wish for simplicity in the personalities of her creations, but what results are two-dimensional people who act in ways that seem to have no reason. The reader may get the sense that the author wanted something to happen, and made her characters do whatever it took to achieve that, even if this meant strange or contradictory behaviour. This could perhaps be linked to the author's desire to make this a tale for all ages, but this method does not quite succeed. If Soto continues the story in another book (and I hope she does), more emphasis on the characters will lead to a much more fleshed out narrative, and more compelling dialogue.
Nimi Soto's education has been varied and eclectic, and she draws on this wealth of experience in her creative projects. She currently lives in Utah, surrounded by family.
The action is riveting, and the plot will absolutely draw the reader in. The level of detail demands that this story be re-read and appreciated for its nuances. However, the weakness of the character voices and personalities make this an Average read.
Reviewer: J.Blackmore, Allbooks Reviews. www.allbookreviews.com
Available at: http://beyondthemapsboundary.com, www.Amazon.com
Title: Beyond the Map's Boundary
Author: Nibi Soto, illustrated by Chris Humphreys
Publisher: Thornock International Productions, Inc.
ISBN: 0-6152882-51
Pages: 309
Price: $9.95
October 2009
Title: Beyond the Map's Boundary: A Timely Adventure
Author: Nibi Soto, Illustrated by Chris Humphreys
They are the protectors and guardians of those trapped in time, and in each generation their journey begins again.
Mattie has grown up knowing nothing of her Inheritance, the complicated gift that will be bestowed on her upon her mother's death. She has never had any idea of the high destiny people in her mother's line have had for ages. When her mother disappears, she is forced to learn all this the hard way, and there is someone who does not want her to live to use her new talents.
Beyond the Map's Boundary is somehow both charming and tense, and the world the characters inhabit is deep and complicated, perfect for realistic fantasy. The only dark spot is that the characters are never allowed to flesh out as "real" people. Soto seems to wish for simplicity in the personalities of her creations, but what results are two-dimensional people who act in ways that seem to have no reason. The reader may get the sense that the author wanted something to happen, and made her characters do whatever it took to achieve that, even if this meant strange or contradictory behaviour. This could perhaps be linked to the author's desire to make this a tale for all ages, but this method does not quite succeed. If Soto continues the story in another book (and I hope she does), more emphasis on the characters will lead to a much more fleshed out narrative, and more compelling dialogue.
Nimi Soto's education has been varied and eclectic, and she draws on this wealth of experience in her creative projects. She currently lives in Utah, surrounded by family.
The action is riveting, and the plot will absolutely draw the reader in. The level of detail demands that this story be re-read and appreciated for its nuances. However, the weakness of the character voices and personalities make this an Average read.
Reviewer: J.Blackmore, Allbooks Reviews. www.allbookreviews.com
Available at: http://beyondthemapsboundary.com, www.Amazon.com
Title: Beyond the Map's Boundary
Author: Nibi Soto, illustrated by Chris Humphreys
Publisher: Thornock International Productions, Inc.
ISBN: 0-6152882-51
Pages: 309
Price: $9.95
October 2009
Saturday, October 17, 2009
How to Use Herbs, Nutrients & Yoga in Mental Health Care
Genre: Health/Psychology
Title: How to Use Herbs, Nutrients & Yoga in Mental Health Care
Authors: Richard P. Brown, MD Patricia L. Gerbarg, MD Philip R. Muskin, MD
This impressive, essential guidebook made me really take the time to read. As someone with a health care background and a person that suffers from some of the problems discussed, I learned and absorbed a great deal of useful and new information.
Striding along with today’s world of knowledge, where the consumer has the option of taking care of their own healthcare choices, these doctors/teachers have collectively researched, shared their outstanding knowledge, added a large dose of experience and produced an encyclopedia style, resource book. Their work instructs us on the integration of herbs, hormones, vitamins and Yoga with Western Style pharmaceuticals. The empathy is directed towards Mental Health Care.
Instead of just suggesting the herbs are good for a certain affliction, they systematically explain how each one works and why. They are not shy about the possible adverse effects, especially when mixing with medications or physical problems. I now have further insight into many subjects such as Alzheimer’s disease and what really happens to the brain. Using concise points, called Clinical Pearls, Case Studies and Tables, we learn how an herb like Rhodiola rosea can be taken alone or in combination with other medications. I believe I now truly understand how long term effects of continuous trauma or stress can physically affect our brain.
Ultimately the goal is complete remission, but even if the amount of prescription chemicals consumed could be cut down or the benefits enhanced with fewer detrimental side effects to the physical body, a huge benefit would be achieved. Am I passionate about the possibilities? Yes! I watch someone close to me deteriorate on a daily basis, her condition now being blamed on the adverse effects of years of the ingestion of pain medications, after multiple invasive surgeries.
Written in understandable layman’s terms, it is precisely detailed and should be an addition to the library of all mental healthcare providers, educators and health resource facilities. Many subjects are covered including ADD, Menopause, Cancer, Fibromyalgia, Arthritis and more. With textbook accuracy, the authors include a resource guide, glossary and index.
Dr. Brown is an expert in herbal medicine, first learning about plant medicine from his grandfather, in the hills of Kentucky. He teaches full-day courses on Integrative Psychiatry.
Dr. Brown has participated in yoga and meditative practices for over 30 years and is a certified teacher.
Dr. Gerbarg has lectured on a range of topics in psychiatry and psychoanalysis. She has become increasingly involved in research and writing about alternative and complementary medicine as well as the health benefits of mind-body practices.
Dr. Muskin’s specialties are psychosomatic medicine, psychopharmacology, and psychological aspects of medical illness. He teaches subjects such as mood disorders, AIDS, panic disorder and much more.
It is with applause, that I Highly Recommend this book. Reviewer: Cheryl Ellis, Allbook Reviews www.allbookreviews.com
Available through Amazon.com or your local bookseller.
Title: How to Use Herbs, Nutrients & Yoga in Mental Health Care
Authors: Richard P. Brown, MD Patricia L. Gerbarg, MD Philip R. Muskin, MD
Publisher: W. W. Norton
ISBN-13: 978-0-393-70525-6
Pages: 441
Price: USA $34.95 CAN $38.50 July 2009
Title: How to Use Herbs, Nutrients & Yoga in Mental Health Care
Authors: Richard P. Brown, MD Patricia L. Gerbarg, MD Philip R. Muskin, MD
This impressive, essential guidebook made me really take the time to read. As someone with a health care background and a person that suffers from some of the problems discussed, I learned and absorbed a great deal of useful and new information.
Striding along with today’s world of knowledge, where the consumer has the option of taking care of their own healthcare choices, these doctors/teachers have collectively researched, shared their outstanding knowledge, added a large dose of experience and produced an encyclopedia style, resource book. Their work instructs us on the integration of herbs, hormones, vitamins and Yoga with Western Style pharmaceuticals. The empathy is directed towards Mental Health Care.
Instead of just suggesting the herbs are good for a certain affliction, they systematically explain how each one works and why. They are not shy about the possible adverse effects, especially when mixing with medications or physical problems. I now have further insight into many subjects such as Alzheimer’s disease and what really happens to the brain. Using concise points, called Clinical Pearls, Case Studies and Tables, we learn how an herb like Rhodiola rosea can be taken alone or in combination with other medications. I believe I now truly understand how long term effects of continuous trauma or stress can physically affect our brain.
Ultimately the goal is complete remission, but even if the amount of prescription chemicals consumed could be cut down or the benefits enhanced with fewer detrimental side effects to the physical body, a huge benefit would be achieved. Am I passionate about the possibilities? Yes! I watch someone close to me deteriorate on a daily basis, her condition now being blamed on the adverse effects of years of the ingestion of pain medications, after multiple invasive surgeries.
Written in understandable layman’s terms, it is precisely detailed and should be an addition to the library of all mental healthcare providers, educators and health resource facilities. Many subjects are covered including ADD, Menopause, Cancer, Fibromyalgia, Arthritis and more. With textbook accuracy, the authors include a resource guide, glossary and index.
Dr. Brown is an expert in herbal medicine, first learning about plant medicine from his grandfather, in the hills of Kentucky. He teaches full-day courses on Integrative Psychiatry.
Dr. Brown has participated in yoga and meditative practices for over 30 years and is a certified teacher.
Dr. Gerbarg has lectured on a range of topics in psychiatry and psychoanalysis. She has become increasingly involved in research and writing about alternative and complementary medicine as well as the health benefits of mind-body practices.
Dr. Muskin’s specialties are psychosomatic medicine, psychopharmacology, and psychological aspects of medical illness. He teaches subjects such as mood disorders, AIDS, panic disorder and much more.
It is with applause, that I Highly Recommend this book. Reviewer: Cheryl Ellis, Allbook Reviews www.allbookreviews.com
Available through Amazon.com or your local bookseller.
Title: How to Use Herbs, Nutrients & Yoga in Mental Health Care
Authors: Richard P. Brown, MD Patricia L. Gerbarg, MD Philip R. Muskin, MD
Publisher: W. W. Norton
ISBN-13: 978-0-393-70525-6
Pages: 441
Price: USA $34.95 CAN $38.50 July 2009
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Short stories collection with outstanding characters!
Genre: FICTION (collection of seven short stories)
Title: SCREWING THE POOCH
Author: J.B. BERGSTAD
The best thing about this collection of short stories is the author’s outstanding skill at character development. I’m a huge fan of books that are character-driven; in fact, much more so than plot-driven. The reason for that? Well, if the characters captivate me, then I’m happy with the story, no matter what happens. And Bergstad’s seven short stories are definitely page-turners, for exactly that reason.
Screwing the Pooch features stories built around themes such as coming of age, romance, truth and humility, alcoholism, rape, murder, horror and redemption. In virtually all of the stories, the author employs characters that leap off the page, along with compelling narrative, vivid use of sensory scene setting, and rich metaphors, successfully drawing us into his worlds. A couple of his stories required extensive backstory, which the author was able to skillfully disperse, yet not detract from the story flow. Ask any writer, this is not easily done. The first tale, Milton’s Pickle, has a coming of age theme revolving around a seven-year-old boy who comes to terms with a neurotic, imbalanced mom and schoolyard bullies. The next story, Bear Claw at the Coffee Caker, is a romantic tale involving a blind ex-football star and a waitress with a damaging and shameful past. The Puppy Murders is another coming of age story, dealing with boyhood bravado. I particularly liked the way the author handled the prepubescent dialogue and emotions. The fourth yarn, called The Brass Rail, was my favorite: a naked and shocking yarn about an alcoholic. Bergstad knows the disease of alcoholism well and it shows in this gritty, realistic portrayal, which culminates in a very sobering ending. Rot Like Me, the next story (and my runner-up favorite), is just Pure-D ol’ fantastically written horror. The author treats us with his excellent grasp of locker room banter and some chilling, gruesome scenes that’d make Stephen King squirm. And just when you think the horror has ended, there’s more to come. The sixth tale, Dear Daniel, deals with a letter from a remorseful father to his son and harkens back to the 1950’s: cherry hot rods, Ethyl gas, Glasspack mufflers, drive-in movies, Lucky Lager beer, ‘church keys’, and Pall Mall cigarettes. Toss in the horror of a hit and run accident and you’ve got an engaging premise. And the final story, Hank Straker, SA, starts out as a depressing tale of unendurable loss but ends with an ironic twist and a terrific, satisfying ending.
Well, by now you’ve probably guessed that I’m recommending this collection of short stories. In all honesty, I have to tell you that I thought a couple of them ended a bit too abruptly, but it didn’t matter because the author’s superb character development and scene-setting skills completely compensated for it. Pick up a copy of Screwing the Pooch. You won’t be sorry.
Recommended by reviewer: Jan Evan Whitford, Allbooks Reviews
Published by: Woodside Publishing Group Books. ©2007, 2009
ISBN: 978-0-615-28406-4 Trade Paperback
208 pages
Sept. 2009
Title: SCREWING THE POOCH
Author: J.B. BERGSTAD
The best thing about this collection of short stories is the author’s outstanding skill at character development. I’m a huge fan of books that are character-driven; in fact, much more so than plot-driven. The reason for that? Well, if the characters captivate me, then I’m happy with the story, no matter what happens. And Bergstad’s seven short stories are definitely page-turners, for exactly that reason.
Screwing the Pooch features stories built around themes such as coming of age, romance, truth and humility, alcoholism, rape, murder, horror and redemption. In virtually all of the stories, the author employs characters that leap off the page, along with compelling narrative, vivid use of sensory scene setting, and rich metaphors, successfully drawing us into his worlds. A couple of his stories required extensive backstory, which the author was able to skillfully disperse, yet not detract from the story flow. Ask any writer, this is not easily done. The first tale, Milton’s Pickle, has a coming of age theme revolving around a seven-year-old boy who comes to terms with a neurotic, imbalanced mom and schoolyard bullies. The next story, Bear Claw at the Coffee Caker, is a romantic tale involving a blind ex-football star and a waitress with a damaging and shameful past. The Puppy Murders is another coming of age story, dealing with boyhood bravado. I particularly liked the way the author handled the prepubescent dialogue and emotions. The fourth yarn, called The Brass Rail, was my favorite: a naked and shocking yarn about an alcoholic. Bergstad knows the disease of alcoholism well and it shows in this gritty, realistic portrayal, which culminates in a very sobering ending. Rot Like Me, the next story (and my runner-up favorite), is just Pure-D ol’ fantastically written horror. The author treats us with his excellent grasp of locker room banter and some chilling, gruesome scenes that’d make Stephen King squirm. And just when you think the horror has ended, there’s more to come. The sixth tale, Dear Daniel, deals with a letter from a remorseful father to his son and harkens back to the 1950’s: cherry hot rods, Ethyl gas, Glasspack mufflers, drive-in movies, Lucky Lager beer, ‘church keys’, and Pall Mall cigarettes. Toss in the horror of a hit and run accident and you’ve got an engaging premise. And the final story, Hank Straker, SA, starts out as a depressing tale of unendurable loss but ends with an ironic twist and a terrific, satisfying ending.
Well, by now you’ve probably guessed that I’m recommending this collection of short stories. In all honesty, I have to tell you that I thought a couple of them ended a bit too abruptly, but it didn’t matter because the author’s superb character development and scene-setting skills completely compensated for it. Pick up a copy of Screwing the Pooch. You won’t be sorry.
Recommended by reviewer: Jan Evan Whitford, Allbooks Reviews
Published by: Woodside Publishing Group Books. ©2007, 2009
ISBN: 978-0-615-28406-4 Trade Paperback
208 pages
Sept. 2009
A truly unique approach to novel writing
Genre: Literary Fiction
An internet enhanced novel
Title: Until the Deep Water Stills
Author: Michael Robert Dyet
Author, Michael Dyet, has written a tantalizing tale which is further enhanced by internet interaction of the reader. I read this ground-breaking novel in two ways to get the full impact. First I read the book just as a traditional novel. Then I went back and read the book, using the author’s website and his suggested readings, which added dimension to the story and genuine human qualities to the characters.
The first chapter draws in the reader as it introduces two of the five main characters featured in this gripping book. Jayce and Katherine (Kat) have a heated discussion because she no longer wants to be a stay at home Mom and wants to go back to work. Jayce settled himself on the dock needing time to decode what had just happened. “I’m feeling fenced in.” The words rattled around inside his head with the hollow knock of things left unsaid. It was impossible not see that she was unhappy. How unhappy was the critical question. If she went back to work she would be out of radar range. She might begin to believe that she could live without him. The couple is also dealing with the possibility that something could be wrong with their 15-month old baby.
Next we are introduced to Bryan and Grace. Grace is Jayce’s sister and husband to Bryan. Recently they lost their daughter, Sarah, from an accidental drug overdose at a rave party. This seems to be the inmost event which has caused several lives to spin out of control. The question lingers, is love ever enough?
Enter a social activist named Faith that touches each of these characters in different ways. She seems to have the knack to bring out the strongest personality traits in people.
The most engaging thing about this book is how real it seems, especially as you read each of the characters journal entries (on the internet). It is as if you are sneaking a glimpse into the most private parts of a person’s life, showing how fragile and tenuous life really is.
I was reminded time and again, through Mr. Dyet’s writing, how everything we do affects someone else’s life. Those things we do may seem small, but the thread that connects all of us and the synchronicity of our lives is unmistakable.
The well developed characters and the effectively told story, not to mention the striking book cover, create a book that I would highly recommend to others. Michael Robert Dyet has set a new bar for authors. His unique approach to the written word infused with internet enhancement may well be the literary wave of the future.
Reviewed by: Donetta Garman, Allbooks Review www.allbookreviews.com
Publisher: Idiomatic
ISBN: 978-0981199504
List price: $16.95
An internet enhanced novel
Title: Until the Deep Water Stills
Author: Michael Robert Dyet
Author, Michael Dyet, has written a tantalizing tale which is further enhanced by internet interaction of the reader. I read this ground-breaking novel in two ways to get the full impact. First I read the book just as a traditional novel. Then I went back and read the book, using the author’s website and his suggested readings, which added dimension to the story and genuine human qualities to the characters.
The first chapter draws in the reader as it introduces two of the five main characters featured in this gripping book. Jayce and Katherine (Kat) have a heated discussion because she no longer wants to be a stay at home Mom and wants to go back to work. Jayce settled himself on the dock needing time to decode what had just happened. “I’m feeling fenced in.” The words rattled around inside his head with the hollow knock of things left unsaid. It was impossible not see that she was unhappy. How unhappy was the critical question. If she went back to work she would be out of radar range. She might begin to believe that she could live without him. The couple is also dealing with the possibility that something could be wrong with their 15-month old baby.
Next we are introduced to Bryan and Grace. Grace is Jayce’s sister and husband to Bryan. Recently they lost their daughter, Sarah, from an accidental drug overdose at a rave party. This seems to be the inmost event which has caused several lives to spin out of control. The question lingers, is love ever enough?
Enter a social activist named Faith that touches each of these characters in different ways. She seems to have the knack to bring out the strongest personality traits in people.
The most engaging thing about this book is how real it seems, especially as you read each of the characters journal entries (on the internet). It is as if you are sneaking a glimpse into the most private parts of a person’s life, showing how fragile and tenuous life really is.
I was reminded time and again, through Mr. Dyet’s writing, how everything we do affects someone else’s life. Those things we do may seem small, but the thread that connects all of us and the synchronicity of our lives is unmistakable.
The well developed characters and the effectively told story, not to mention the striking book cover, create a book that I would highly recommend to others. Michael Robert Dyet has set a new bar for authors. His unique approach to the written word infused with internet enhancement may well be the literary wave of the future.
Reviewed by: Donetta Garman, Allbooks Review www.allbookreviews.com
Publisher: Idiomatic
ISBN: 978-0981199504
List price: $16.95
Words at Work by Lynda McDaniel
Genre: Business
Title: Words at Work
Author: Lynda McDaniel
Words at Work is exactly what is says it is, words to be used by professionals in the work environment. McDaniel is a writer and coach and she uses her experience to guide reluctant writers through the pitfalls of poor construction, etiquette and grammar. If you are in business in any capacity that requires written communication, your creation is your calling card, your introduction and ultimately, your resume. In this day of email and instant messages, many of us will never meet the person on the other side. In fact we may never even talk to them on a telephone. You will be judged solely on your written word.
As a professional, I have had the opportunity to read and use the wisdom from many self help books and the key is finding one that is timely, doesn’t demean and is immediately useful. McDaniel achieves this by teaching you the process from beginning to end, including the little used rough draft and self-critique. In order to become a good writer, you need to become your audience. McDaniel shows you how to see your writing through the eyes of others, how to target your audience and how to make more out of less.
I found her insight, experience and teaching style a very nice blend. Whether you are just starting out, well seasoned or just wondering if your style is helping or hurting, Words at Work will give you the answer. It is a great desk reference that I completely recommend.
Reviewed by Allbooks reviewer,Gregory J. Saunders
Association For Creative Business Writing,
ISBN 0-615-30426-5
Price $12.95
Title: Words at Work
Author: Lynda McDaniel
Words at Work is exactly what is says it is, words to be used by professionals in the work environment. McDaniel is a writer and coach and she uses her experience to guide reluctant writers through the pitfalls of poor construction, etiquette and grammar. If you are in business in any capacity that requires written communication, your creation is your calling card, your introduction and ultimately, your resume. In this day of email and instant messages, many of us will never meet the person on the other side. In fact we may never even talk to them on a telephone. You will be judged solely on your written word.
As a professional, I have had the opportunity to read and use the wisdom from many self help books and the key is finding one that is timely, doesn’t demean and is immediately useful. McDaniel achieves this by teaching you the process from beginning to end, including the little used rough draft and self-critique. In order to become a good writer, you need to become your audience. McDaniel shows you how to see your writing through the eyes of others, how to target your audience and how to make more out of less.
I found her insight, experience and teaching style a very nice blend. Whether you are just starting out, well seasoned or just wondering if your style is helping or hurting, Words at Work will give you the answer. It is a great desk reference that I completely recommend.
Reviewed by Allbooks reviewer,Gregory J. Saunders
Association For Creative Business Writing,
ISBN 0-615-30426-5
Price $12.95
Sunday, June 28, 2009
The Activation, Aaron Anderson
December 21, 2012, what does this date mean to you? The end of the world?
You know “The Secret” now it is time for “The Activation.”
According to author, Arran Anderson’s character, God, Dec. 21, 2012 is the date that the great shift will start to occur and the fabric of the world will begin splitting apart. On one side of the frequency will be those who have already managed to raise their personal vibration to a level of higher consciousness, while on the other side, will be those who are still in the old frequency, who may not survive.
Scary? You bet! What if God were one of us? is the story of a man with amnesia. Joe, or God, wakes up on a bus with no memory of who he is or why he is here. He soon comes to realize that he has been sent with a great message; a message that will awaken the true spiritual nature of all humans. Will society accept Joe as God or will they simply brush him off as another homeless lunatic? The issue is a complicated one that becomes more complicated as Joe takes on the church, the ancient teachings of most religions and the human ego. This is a big job for a man that no one has ever seen before. Can people accept the fact that God is one of us?
Although this book is classified as fiction, the message is real. The teachings of the ancients are finally beginning to make sense, but we must open our eyes to the new reality.
The world as we know it IS changing. The economy is plummeting, climate change is rampant, wars are being fought that cannot be won, and the old beliefs and systems do not work anymore. The end of world? I believe the world as we know it, is already coming to an end and this book will help people to make the transition, hopefully to a new, and better, world.
Aaron Anderson has been an active member of the spiritual community for more than forty years. His life experiences and studies contribute to the book’s authenticity. The writer has an easy, smooth flowing style. Readers are educated subtly while reading the dialogue between God and the other characters. Unlike other New Age books, the reader does not get bogged down with an overabundance of ‘scripture like’ vocabulary. The book is entertaining and well written by an informed author. He is a man with a message, the message that the time has come for YOU to create a New World, a New Energy, for a New Age.
Highly recommended by reviewer: Shirley Roe, Allbooks Review.
Publisher: Transformational Novels
ISBN-13: 978-1-588988652
Pages: 368
Price: $ n/a
June 2009
You know “The Secret” now it is time for “The Activation.”
According to author, Arran Anderson’s character, God, Dec. 21, 2012 is the date that the great shift will start to occur and the fabric of the world will begin splitting apart. On one side of the frequency will be those who have already managed to raise their personal vibration to a level of higher consciousness, while on the other side, will be those who are still in the old frequency, who may not survive.
Scary? You bet! What if God were one of us? is the story of a man with amnesia. Joe, or God, wakes up on a bus with no memory of who he is or why he is here. He soon comes to realize that he has been sent with a great message; a message that will awaken the true spiritual nature of all humans. Will society accept Joe as God or will they simply brush him off as another homeless lunatic? The issue is a complicated one that becomes more complicated as Joe takes on the church, the ancient teachings of most religions and the human ego. This is a big job for a man that no one has ever seen before. Can people accept the fact that God is one of us?
Although this book is classified as fiction, the message is real. The teachings of the ancients are finally beginning to make sense, but we must open our eyes to the new reality.
The world as we know it IS changing. The economy is plummeting, climate change is rampant, wars are being fought that cannot be won, and the old beliefs and systems do not work anymore. The end of world? I believe the world as we know it, is already coming to an end and this book will help people to make the transition, hopefully to a new, and better, world.
Aaron Anderson has been an active member of the spiritual community for more than forty years. His life experiences and studies contribute to the book’s authenticity. The writer has an easy, smooth flowing style. Readers are educated subtly while reading the dialogue between God and the other characters. Unlike other New Age books, the reader does not get bogged down with an overabundance of ‘scripture like’ vocabulary. The book is entertaining and well written by an informed author. He is a man with a message, the message that the time has come for YOU to create a New World, a New Energy, for a New Age.
Highly recommended by reviewer: Shirley Roe, Allbooks Review.
Publisher: Transformational Novels
ISBN-13: 978-1-588988652
Pages: 368
Price: $ n/a
June 2009
Title: HARRISVILLE Author:MARK GORDON SMITH
Genre: FICTION
According to the book jacket, this debut novel promises to be “simply one of the best novels to come along in years . . . poignant and compelling.” My opinion? The author definitely delivers on that promise; in fact, the author captivated me right away with his lyrical, almost poetic writing style. Smith proved himself to be quite a wordsmith, e.g., “At high noon on the day Adam Davis was born, it was so hot that birds fell from the trees, stunned into comas from air so thick that they could hardly breathe.” In addition, the author proved to be a master storyteller and his sensually rich scenes reminded me of James Lee Burke. In the final analysis, I suppose some might be tempted to classify Harrisville as women’s literature because of the passion and ongoing romantic tension but I happen to believe anyone who enjoys good writing will like this book
Primarily set in the WWI era (one of my favorites), Harrisville has a sort of a Steinbeck’s East of Eden flavor to it. However, instead of ultimate sibling rivalry, a love triangle provides all the tension, suspense, and ultimately—tragedy and redemption. Passionate confrontations and manipulations between two young men for the heart of a woman result in a chain of tragic events, which forever change their lives and the small town they call home. Deeply steeped in rich metaphors, and haunted with a touch of the supernatural, Harrisville will keep you up late, turning pages.
Although Harrisville is Mark Gordon Smith’s debut novel, he’s previously penned two non-fiction books: Tuscan Echoes and Tuscan Light. He currently lives in North Carolina and is working on the third volume of his Italian Trilogy. I’ve not read his non-fiction but as for Harrisville, I was thoroughly impressed. The only criticisms I can muster are minor. In a few places, I got a little confused and distracted with commingled points of view and unexplained writing shifts from past tense to present. However, Smith promises editorial corrections in future editions so I expect these minor difficulties will be attended to. Of course, the acid test of a good book is whether or not it’s difficult to put down, right? Well, I definitely had trouble putting Harrisville down.
Highly Recommended by reviewer: Jan Evan Whitford, Allbooks Reviews www.allbookreviews.com
Published by: Almar Books ©2009
ISBN: 978-0-9740983-8-8
Hardback edition, 309 pages
Cover Price: US $23.35
June 2009
According to the book jacket, this debut novel promises to be “simply one of the best novels to come along in years . . . poignant and compelling.” My opinion? The author definitely delivers on that promise; in fact, the author captivated me right away with his lyrical, almost poetic writing style. Smith proved himself to be quite a wordsmith, e.g., “At high noon on the day Adam Davis was born, it was so hot that birds fell from the trees, stunned into comas from air so thick that they could hardly breathe.” In addition, the author proved to be a master storyteller and his sensually rich scenes reminded me of James Lee Burke. In the final analysis, I suppose some might be tempted to classify Harrisville as women’s literature because of the passion and ongoing romantic tension but I happen to believe anyone who enjoys good writing will like this book
Primarily set in the WWI era (one of my favorites), Harrisville has a sort of a Steinbeck’s East of Eden flavor to it. However, instead of ultimate sibling rivalry, a love triangle provides all the tension, suspense, and ultimately—tragedy and redemption. Passionate confrontations and manipulations between two young men for the heart of a woman result in a chain of tragic events, which forever change their lives and the small town they call home. Deeply steeped in rich metaphors, and haunted with a touch of the supernatural, Harrisville will keep you up late, turning pages.
Although Harrisville is Mark Gordon Smith’s debut novel, he’s previously penned two non-fiction books: Tuscan Echoes and Tuscan Light. He currently lives in North Carolina and is working on the third volume of his Italian Trilogy. I’ve not read his non-fiction but as for Harrisville, I was thoroughly impressed. The only criticisms I can muster are minor. In a few places, I got a little confused and distracted with commingled points of view and unexplained writing shifts from past tense to present. However, Smith promises editorial corrections in future editions so I expect these minor difficulties will be attended to. Of course, the acid test of a good book is whether or not it’s difficult to put down, right? Well, I definitely had trouble putting Harrisville down.
Highly Recommended by reviewer: Jan Evan Whitford, Allbooks Reviews www.allbookreviews.com
Published by: Almar Books ©2009
ISBN: 978-0-9740983-8-8
Hardback edition, 309 pages
Cover Price: US $23.35
June 2009
Fifty Confessions Author: Paul Kiritsis
Genre: poetry
Fifty Confessions is the new collection of poems by award winning poet Paul Kiritsis. The poems reveal, in a raw and very personal fashion, his descent into the darker regions of his own psyche, due to the influence of an undiagnosed illness. The complexity of this descent is influenced by his interests in mythology, occult philosophy, Western alchemy, history, psychology and English literature.
The beginning of the book explains in prose what happened to him during the summer of 1992. Kiritsis was revelling in the excitement of returning from a farm holiday, and was looking forward to his first year of high school when, over the course of a week, he realised that something had changed, and things didn’t feel right within him anymore. He became convinced that he was dying, but although he regularly attended church, he couldn’t bring himself to confess his mortal fears to his local priest.
At the age of twenty-one, he was forced to have a blood test because of his worsening physical symptoms. He was then confronted with what he calls the “unknown enemy”: an undiagnosed illness that all but one of his medical practitioners dismissed as a psychological or illusionary illness.
The poetry of Fifty Confessions is, therefore, an intensely personal revelation of what it is like to live with such an illness. These confessions are grouped chronologically, written in the form of a poetical diary, as he addresses and battles with himself, the illness, the medical profession and the drug companies.
Kiritsis’ modern free verse is sometimes immediate, and at other times he expresses himself through the characters and philosophies of myth, legend and religion. The relationships within this world are frequently dark and troubled. The poems graphically allow the reader to perceive the world through the eyes of a man who is suffering from an indeterminate yet real "unwellness." By openly admitting his fears, frustrations and anger, the poet enables the audience to identify with how someone can live for years with an illness that modern medicine does not understand.
However, there are moments of light and hope. Even though in A Stroke of Wrongness he writes that, "The light seems so much farther, The earth much less nurturing. The water has lost potency In quenching my thirst," his Neo-Platonic or Gnostic belief in a god can appear hopeful. In Have Faith In The Silent Footfalls Of Love, the Divine Physician is described, “As real as the oxygen We breathe into our lungs; Ready to blow fresh Air into their lives If only they just believed.”
Kiritsis offers no simple solutions; this is not a book of happy endings and easy answers, but there is a sense of acceptance and potential hope at the conclusion. In the epilogue, the character of Aphrodite declares, "And when the Golden Age does dawn I’ll scry the old world's stillness, To prove to you that The seed and the sword Cannot be crushed by illness."
Wheldon Curzon-Hobson Allbooks Reviewer. www.allbookreviews.com
Publisher: iUniverse.com
Format: Paperback
Price: $12.95
Number of pages: 164 pages
June 2009
Fifty Confessions is the new collection of poems by award winning poet Paul Kiritsis. The poems reveal, in a raw and very personal fashion, his descent into the darker regions of his own psyche, due to the influence of an undiagnosed illness. The complexity of this descent is influenced by his interests in mythology, occult philosophy, Western alchemy, history, psychology and English literature.
The beginning of the book explains in prose what happened to him during the summer of 1992. Kiritsis was revelling in the excitement of returning from a farm holiday, and was looking forward to his first year of high school when, over the course of a week, he realised that something had changed, and things didn’t feel right within him anymore. He became convinced that he was dying, but although he regularly attended church, he couldn’t bring himself to confess his mortal fears to his local priest.
At the age of twenty-one, he was forced to have a blood test because of his worsening physical symptoms. He was then confronted with what he calls the “unknown enemy”: an undiagnosed illness that all but one of his medical practitioners dismissed as a psychological or illusionary illness.
The poetry of Fifty Confessions is, therefore, an intensely personal revelation of what it is like to live with such an illness. These confessions are grouped chronologically, written in the form of a poetical diary, as he addresses and battles with himself, the illness, the medical profession and the drug companies.
Kiritsis’ modern free verse is sometimes immediate, and at other times he expresses himself through the characters and philosophies of myth, legend and religion. The relationships within this world are frequently dark and troubled. The poems graphically allow the reader to perceive the world through the eyes of a man who is suffering from an indeterminate yet real "unwellness." By openly admitting his fears, frustrations and anger, the poet enables the audience to identify with how someone can live for years with an illness that modern medicine does not understand.
However, there are moments of light and hope. Even though in A Stroke of Wrongness he writes that, "The light seems so much farther, The earth much less nurturing. The water has lost potency In quenching my thirst," his Neo-Platonic or Gnostic belief in a god can appear hopeful. In Have Faith In The Silent Footfalls Of Love, the Divine Physician is described, “As real as the oxygen We breathe into our lungs; Ready to blow fresh Air into their lives If only they just believed.”
Kiritsis offers no simple solutions; this is not a book of happy endings and easy answers, but there is a sense of acceptance and potential hope at the conclusion. In the epilogue, the character of Aphrodite declares, "And when the Golden Age does dawn I’ll scry the old world's stillness, To prove to you that The seed and the sword Cannot be crushed by illness."
Wheldon Curzon-Hobson Allbooks Reviewer. www.allbookreviews.com
Publisher: iUniverse.com
Format: Paperback
Price: $12.95
Number of pages: 164 pages
June 2009
Memoirs, Norma Jean's Sun
Your candle burned-out long before
Your legend ever did.
Those simple words from Elton John’s famous song, “Candle in the Wind”, could easily apply to the lives of many people. To Kris Courtney, these words touched his own heart at a time when he mourned the death of his mother, Norma Jean. A beautiful woman in her youth, Norma Jean met the challenges of life with grace and dignity and perseverance. She did not give up when her first and only child was born severely crippled. She wept when the doctors put her newborn baby into a body cast in an attempt to straighten his spine and his limbs. Through the countless surgeries during his grow-up years to correct his hands, arms, legs, feet, Norma Jean would declare with great insistence: “Fight, Kris, fight.” One defeat after another did not set her back until, in the end, the fight was her own, a battle against cancer that she could not beat.
Norma Jean’s Sun is Kris Courtney’s tribute to a mother that sacrificed everything for her severely crippled son. Courtney is an artist in both paint and words. In his touching memoir, he captures the essence of a tragic life and the beauty that lies beneath the surface. His words paint a picture of a hardship and a suffering that only few could imagine. Using a painter’s brush, Courtney scratches out his emotional story in an abstraction of language that parallels a life that just will not give up. As his mother told him many times, this remarkably talented man continues to “Fight”.
Norma Jean’s Sun is a story about differences and the tragedies that life presents a person who is visibly different from the rest. Norma Jean’s Sun is recommended by: Emily-Jane Hills Orford, Allbooks Reviews.
Available at: Amazon and ebay
Title: Norma Jean’s Sun
Author: Kris Courtney
Kris Courtney Books
ISBN: 978-0-578-02059-4
Pages: 287
Price: not listed
May 2009
Your legend ever did.
Those simple words from Elton John’s famous song, “Candle in the Wind”, could easily apply to the lives of many people. To Kris Courtney, these words touched his own heart at a time when he mourned the death of his mother, Norma Jean. A beautiful woman in her youth, Norma Jean met the challenges of life with grace and dignity and perseverance. She did not give up when her first and only child was born severely crippled. She wept when the doctors put her newborn baby into a body cast in an attempt to straighten his spine and his limbs. Through the countless surgeries during his grow-up years to correct his hands, arms, legs, feet, Norma Jean would declare with great insistence: “Fight, Kris, fight.” One defeat after another did not set her back until, in the end, the fight was her own, a battle against cancer that she could not beat.
Norma Jean’s Sun is Kris Courtney’s tribute to a mother that sacrificed everything for her severely crippled son. Courtney is an artist in both paint and words. In his touching memoir, he captures the essence of a tragic life and the beauty that lies beneath the surface. His words paint a picture of a hardship and a suffering that only few could imagine. Using a painter’s brush, Courtney scratches out his emotional story in an abstraction of language that parallels a life that just will not give up. As his mother told him many times, this remarkably talented man continues to “Fight”.
Norma Jean’s Sun is a story about differences and the tragedies that life presents a person who is visibly different from the rest. Norma Jean’s Sun is recommended by: Emily-Jane Hills Orford, Allbooks Reviews.
Available at: Amazon and ebay
Title: Norma Jean’s Sun
Author: Kris Courtney
Kris Courtney Books
ISBN: 978-0-578-02059-4
Pages: 287
Price: not listed
May 2009
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Tune in to Shirley A. Roe on Blog Radio Sat. 21st
Shirley A. Roe will be on www.blogtalkradio.com/Adrienna-Turner on Saturday, Feb. 21st at 9 p.m CST or 10 p.m EST
Shirley will be discussing both Allbooks Review, how to get your book reviewed and promoted for a very reasonable price. As well as her own 3 fiction novels.
The topic of the show is Secrets of Success, everyone tune in.
Shirley will be discussing both Allbooks Review, how to get your book reviewed and promoted for a very reasonable price. As well as her own 3 fiction novels.
The topic of the show is Secrets of Success, everyone tune in.
Monday, February 16, 2009
From Movie City to Music City USA
Script Writing Genre: Self Interest/
Title: From Movie City to Music City USA
Author: Randall Rutledge
Every movie “want-to-be” whether actor, producer, or scriptwriter, should pick up a copy of this book. Filled to overflowing with facts, advice, contact info including phone numbers, and warnings, over 25 years of experience in pursuing the “dream.” Avoid the mistakes that the author has made and learn from his experience.
Randall Rutledge takes readers on a journey that began at the age of 20 when he relocated to Hollywood and started his acting career as an extra. His career progressed during which, he tried assistant casting director, screenplay writer, producer and even songwriter.
The amount of information found between the covers of this book is mind-boggling. Topic such as agents, fees earned, portfolio needs, how to write a resume and even how to get your own Star on the Walk of Fame. This book will soon become the –“New Actor’s Handbook” and should be found in every “want-to-be’s” luggage before hitting the streets of Hollywood or Broadway.
This reviewer cannot say enough about the well written, concise and easy to understand volume of information that this one little book contains.
Highly Recommended by Reviewer: Shirley Roe, Allbooks Review. www.allbookreviews.com
For more information visit the author’s website: www.randallrutledge.com
It will soon also be available from www.amazon.com
Title: From Movie City to Music City USA
Author: Randall Rutledge
Publisher: self
ISBN: 978-0-9821496-0-7
Pages:
Price: $ 12 ebook, print $17.50
Title: From Movie City to Music City USA
Author: Randall Rutledge
Every movie “want-to-be” whether actor, producer, or scriptwriter, should pick up a copy of this book. Filled to overflowing with facts, advice, contact info including phone numbers, and warnings, over 25 years of experience in pursuing the “dream.” Avoid the mistakes that the author has made and learn from his experience.
Randall Rutledge takes readers on a journey that began at the age of 20 when he relocated to Hollywood and started his acting career as an extra. His career progressed during which, he tried assistant casting director, screenplay writer, producer and even songwriter.
The amount of information found between the covers of this book is mind-boggling. Topic such as agents, fees earned, portfolio needs, how to write a resume and even how to get your own Star on the Walk of Fame. This book will soon become the –“New Actor’s Handbook” and should be found in every “want-to-be’s” luggage before hitting the streets of Hollywood or Broadway.
This reviewer cannot say enough about the well written, concise and easy to understand volume of information that this one little book contains.
Highly Recommended by Reviewer: Shirley Roe, Allbooks Review. www.allbookreviews.com
For more information visit the author’s website: www.randallrutledge.com
It will soon also be available from www.amazon.com
Title: From Movie City to Music City USA
Author: Randall Rutledge
Publisher: self
ISBN: 978-0-9821496-0-7
Pages:
Price: $ 12 ebook, print $17.50
Beyond the Ordinary and more
Genre: Short Stories
Title: Beyond the Ordinary….and more
Author: Haley Adams, Kirsten Bussiere, Leslie Crone, Michael Gertenschtein, Kanishk Goomer, Cletus Kim, Andra Popescu, Annecy Spencer, Guy Tzizis, Emily Wang, and Grace Xie under the direction of Emily-Jane Hills Orford.
Beyond the Ordinary….and more, is a collection of short stories written by young Canadians; stories that depict their history, their delightful ancestry, and some famous Canadian heroes and heroines.
This reviewer cannot give enough praise to these talented young people and their most generous and extraordinary mentor, Emily-Jane Hills Orford. Written in the first person voice of grandfathers and great grandfathers, great and great-great grandmothers, great grandfathers, mothers and fathers, the stories are filled with heartfelt emotion. Haiku and poetry written from a much older soul, than the physical age of the poet, and excellent historical accounts of some of Canada’s famous people and animals will fill the reader with delight.
The colours of a
Sari all swirling around
Impossible to
Tell one dye from another
The colours of my Grandma
The colours of a Sari by Kanishk Goomer pg. 11
Colours of a history, colours of a country and colours of Canadians all swirl around, impossible to tell one from the other: The colours of Canada. Well done my young friends, I shall look for much more from you in the future. Beyond the Ordinary, indeed!
Five out of five stars-Highly Recommended by reviewer: Shirley Roe, Allbooks Reviews www.allbookreviews.com
For more information visit: www3.sympatico.ca or email: ejomusic@sympatico.ca
Title: Beyond the Ordinary….and more
Author: Student members of Association for Bright Children, Ottawa Region
Publisher: Baico Publishing
ISBN: 978-1-897449-45-5
Pages: 91
Price: $12.95 CDN
Title: Beyond the Ordinary….and more
Author: Haley Adams, Kirsten Bussiere, Leslie Crone, Michael Gertenschtein, Kanishk Goomer, Cletus Kim, Andra Popescu, Annecy Spencer, Guy Tzizis, Emily Wang, and Grace Xie under the direction of Emily-Jane Hills Orford.
Beyond the Ordinary….and more, is a collection of short stories written by young Canadians; stories that depict their history, their delightful ancestry, and some famous Canadian heroes and heroines.
This reviewer cannot give enough praise to these talented young people and their most generous and extraordinary mentor, Emily-Jane Hills Orford. Written in the first person voice of grandfathers and great grandfathers, great and great-great grandmothers, great grandfathers, mothers and fathers, the stories are filled with heartfelt emotion. Haiku and poetry written from a much older soul, than the physical age of the poet, and excellent historical accounts of some of Canada’s famous people and animals will fill the reader with delight.
The colours of a
Sari all swirling around
Impossible to
Tell one dye from another
The colours of my Grandma
The colours of a Sari by Kanishk Goomer pg. 11
Colours of a history, colours of a country and colours of Canadians all swirl around, impossible to tell one from the other: The colours of Canada. Well done my young friends, I shall look for much more from you in the future. Beyond the Ordinary, indeed!
Five out of five stars-Highly Recommended by reviewer: Shirley Roe, Allbooks Reviews www.allbookreviews.com
For more information visit: www3.sympatico.ca or email: ejomusic@sympatico.ca
Title: Beyond the Ordinary….and more
Author: Student members of Association for Bright Children, Ottawa Region
Publisher: Baico Publishing
ISBN: 978-1-897449-45-5
Pages: 91
Price: $12.95 CDN
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Babylon's Tablet of Destiny by Jack Dunn
Genre: SUSPENSE/THRILLER
Title: BABYLON’S TABLET OF DESTINY
Author: JACK DUNN
Indiana Jones meets The Omen—only much scarier, because of current events. These are the thoughts that kept coming to mind as I eagerly leaped into Mr. Dunn’s thriller. Right away, the hair on my neck stood up when he introduced the radical Islamic plan to destroy America: “First, we’ll raise prices lowering the value of their dollar and then the bankers will raid their treasury.” Whoa! How familiar does that sound? And as I delved further into the fast-paced story, I was immersed in a journey and quest around the world where the villain is profoundly evil and the heroes are everyday folks required to step up to extraordinary circumstances. There’s multi-dimensional involvement with Islamic fundamentalists, archaeological legends, the Catholic Church, Mafia, and even a young woman with psychic visions. And for you readers who’re into history and non-fiction, there’s an added treat in store for you because the author infuses a bonanza of related biblical and archaeological information.
Along with Lisa Weinstein, Jonathan Anderson searches for valuable items looted from the Iraq during the current war. They’re wondering how all this relates to a multi-national banking conspiracy that’s been created to destroy the American economy. Meanwhile, an evil spirit searches for an ancient tablet that could open the entrance to the underworld and change the destiny of the world. A Catholic priest pursues his own quest, instigated by the involvement with a young girl with psychic visions that will “suck the energy out of you”. Will these “visions” require an exorcism, or are they some bizarre form of divine intervention? Mr. Dunn skillfully ties it all together, believe me.
Since there’s no author bio at the end of this novel, I’m guessing he’s an archaeologist, a historian, or both. Regardless, the research for this thriller is flawless, imparted by extensive blocks of exposition. To be honest, I have to say that I found myself plowing through and skimming some of the historical data in order to get back into the plot, but that’s probably just me—more into drama. Strictly from a fiction standpoint, I found the author’s writing to be crisp and well edited, his dialogue authentic and his transitions smooth. Since there was so much historical information imparted, I especially liked how he kept the chapters short and ended them by leaving me salivating for more. Plotting is definitely the author’s strong suit; the plot is complex, full of twists, and peppered with plenty of false leads and blind alleys. And did I mention scary? According to Mr. Dunn, President Woodrow Wilson once admitted how fearful he was of “self-serving politicians and credit controlled by a small group of dominant men”. Sound familiar?
A Great Read, by reviewer: Jan Evan Whitford, Allbooks Reviews
Published by: Raider Publishing International ©2008
ISBN1-935383-05-1, Trade paperback, 266 pages Jan. 2009
Title: BABYLON’S TABLET OF DESTINY
Author: JACK DUNN
Indiana Jones meets The Omen—only much scarier, because of current events. These are the thoughts that kept coming to mind as I eagerly leaped into Mr. Dunn’s thriller. Right away, the hair on my neck stood up when he introduced the radical Islamic plan to destroy America: “First, we’ll raise prices lowering the value of their dollar and then the bankers will raid their treasury.” Whoa! How familiar does that sound? And as I delved further into the fast-paced story, I was immersed in a journey and quest around the world where the villain is profoundly evil and the heroes are everyday folks required to step up to extraordinary circumstances. There’s multi-dimensional involvement with Islamic fundamentalists, archaeological legends, the Catholic Church, Mafia, and even a young woman with psychic visions. And for you readers who’re into history and non-fiction, there’s an added treat in store for you because the author infuses a bonanza of related biblical and archaeological information.
Along with Lisa Weinstein, Jonathan Anderson searches for valuable items looted from the Iraq during the current war. They’re wondering how all this relates to a multi-national banking conspiracy that’s been created to destroy the American economy. Meanwhile, an evil spirit searches for an ancient tablet that could open the entrance to the underworld and change the destiny of the world. A Catholic priest pursues his own quest, instigated by the involvement with a young girl with psychic visions that will “suck the energy out of you”. Will these “visions” require an exorcism, or are they some bizarre form of divine intervention? Mr. Dunn skillfully ties it all together, believe me.
Since there’s no author bio at the end of this novel, I’m guessing he’s an archaeologist, a historian, or both. Regardless, the research for this thriller is flawless, imparted by extensive blocks of exposition. To be honest, I have to say that I found myself plowing through and skimming some of the historical data in order to get back into the plot, but that’s probably just me—more into drama. Strictly from a fiction standpoint, I found the author’s writing to be crisp and well edited, his dialogue authentic and his transitions smooth. Since there was so much historical information imparted, I especially liked how he kept the chapters short and ended them by leaving me salivating for more. Plotting is definitely the author’s strong suit; the plot is complex, full of twists, and peppered with plenty of false leads and blind alleys. And did I mention scary? According to Mr. Dunn, President Woodrow Wilson once admitted how fearful he was of “self-serving politicians and credit controlled by a small group of dominant men”. Sound familiar?
A Great Read, by reviewer: Jan Evan Whitford, Allbooks Reviews
Published by: Raider Publishing International ©2008
ISBN1-935383-05-1, Trade paperback, 266 pages Jan. 2009
Your Health and the Information Age
The Internet is always in a state of evolution as it increases its presence in our everyday lives. The Internet has many different functions: that of entertainment, of communication, and of information. People around the world depend on the Internet more and more for all of the above functions. But when we think of the Internet, do we really think about health care?
Many people do, in fact, use the Internet to search for information: about diseases, about treatments, or about alternative treatments. People also use it for communication with support groups. However, do we ever think about interacting with our doctor over the Internet? In fact, there is a move towards online doctoring – through e-mail and video conferencing. With this trend, there are security issues, telephobias and tele-addictions, and a big, wide, open sea with no clear start point.
This is where Peter Yellowlees book will become useful. It is an excellent resource for those who are starting to, or currently are, using the Internet for health care. The book is organized into chapters, with subsequent sub-headings, touching on everything from the changing face of healthcare, to searching the web and changing the ways that doctor’s work. At the end of each chapter, there is a summary of points of what was discussed in that chapter. Throughout the book, there are website addresses, which are useful starting websites to aid people in the research about a particular illness or related topics. At the conclusion of the book, there is a long list of useful resources for additional reading on different topics related to the book.
Peter Yellowlees is a doctor, who has lived in the UK, Australia and the USA. He currently works for the University of California Davis. He is internationally recognised as an expert on healthcare over the Internet.
This book is definitely worth a read if you have ever researched health over the Internet, or are considering participating in e-Health. Recommended by: Margaret Orford, Allbooks Review.
www.InformationAgeHealth.com It is also available through most online booksellers including Amazon and Barnes and Noble, and from www.iUniverse.com
Title: Your Health in the Information Age – How you and your Doctor can use the Internet to Work Together
Author: Peter Yellowlees
Publisher: iUniverse
ISBN: 978 – 0 – 5955 – 2775 - 5
Pages: 188 pages
Price: $17.95 US
Jan. 2009
Many people do, in fact, use the Internet to search for information: about diseases, about treatments, or about alternative treatments. People also use it for communication with support groups. However, do we ever think about interacting with our doctor over the Internet? In fact, there is a move towards online doctoring – through e-mail and video conferencing. With this trend, there are security issues, telephobias and tele-addictions, and a big, wide, open sea with no clear start point.
This is where Peter Yellowlees book will become useful. It is an excellent resource for those who are starting to, or currently are, using the Internet for health care. The book is organized into chapters, with subsequent sub-headings, touching on everything from the changing face of healthcare, to searching the web and changing the ways that doctor’s work. At the end of each chapter, there is a summary of points of what was discussed in that chapter. Throughout the book, there are website addresses, which are useful starting websites to aid people in the research about a particular illness or related topics. At the conclusion of the book, there is a long list of useful resources for additional reading on different topics related to the book.
Peter Yellowlees is a doctor, who has lived in the UK, Australia and the USA. He currently works for the University of California Davis. He is internationally recognised as an expert on healthcare over the Internet.
This book is definitely worth a read if you have ever researched health over the Internet, or are considering participating in e-Health. Recommended by: Margaret Orford, Allbooks Review.
www.InformationAgeHealth.com It is also available through most online booksellers including Amazon and Barnes and Noble, and from www.iUniverse.com
Title: Your Health in the Information Age – How you and your Doctor can use the Internet to Work Together
Author: Peter Yellowlees
Publisher: iUniverse
ISBN: 978 – 0 – 5955 – 2775 - 5
Pages: 188 pages
Price: $17.95 US
Jan. 2009
Friday, January 2, 2009
Friends
I walk through the doorway and enfold her into my open arms. She is fragile both emotionally and physically; her body feels thinner as we embrace. Is it possible that she is a widow at such a young age? It is hard to believe that he is actually gone. How I loved that ornery, opinionated man. His humor was one of a kind and his love for her shone with the brilliance of the sun on his face. I will all of my strength into her as we stand molded together, oblivious of everything and everyone around us. This woman is my friend and I will support and encourage and accompany her through her grief. My eyes are teary but I fight the urge, trying to be strong for her. I withdraw slowly, placing a gentle kiss on her cheek. I smile and she returns the smile with tearing eyes on her mournful face.
It has been years since that day but the memory is fresh and clear in my mind as if it were yesterday. I don’t know if it was the feeling of absolute oneness with another human being that I felt at that particular moment, or my sympathy for my friend’s pain, that keeps the thought close but I will never forget that moment.
Friends, people that reach out and engrain themselves deep into your heart until they are a part of who you are, a part of your soul. That feeling is rare and precious and it is forever.
It started out as a weekly get together; a time when three friends could get together to laugh or cry; a time to help her forget her grief, if even for a few hours. But it grew into much more than that, it was something to look forward to, something special and wonderful. Our number soon grew from two to four and we became the Ya- ya girls. The name adopted from a movie we watched during one of our weekly get togethers. A movie about friendship and four wild and crazy women who loved and cared for each other. From that day on we called ourselves the Ya ya girls and even made silly hats as a sort of initiation. Each hat was decorated with memorabilia of our excursions, plus several tacky items just for fun. We looked ridiculous but we felt wonderful. We belonged.
Let me introduce the Ya ya girls. First, my name is Shirley, I am a writer and this is my story. Second we have Jean, our young widow, next is Carol the kindest, gentlest woman you ever wanted to know and fourth but not least Carol’s sister, the feisty, often outspoken Barbara. Our fifth and honorary Ya ya is Sue, Jean’s sister. Sue lives quite a distance from us but joins us whenever she is in town.
As I said, it all began with Carol and I trying to keep Jean distracted, but the four of us soon blended and merged into a tight group.
Sue joined the group the day we drank bottles of Boone’s Farm Wine and all giggled and laughed until we cried. We are not sure if it was the wine or the company, but she was made an honorary member and the laughing continues still.
I remember the day we took Carol to the hospital with dizzy spells, the rest of us paced the waiting room filled with worry and concern for our dear friend. We chatted and joked to distract ourselves but our thoughts remained in the emergency room with Carol. No family was closer. Fortunately, some medication and a few doctor’s visits put our friend back in the fold. We drove her crazy with our fussing but she put up with it because she knew we cared.
Jean met a wonderful gentleman a few years later and many humorous get-togethers were spent discussing his assets and liabilities. Finally she married him with all of the Ya ya’s in attendance. Sue, who planned the wedding very carefully, was most concerned that we would show up wearing our Ya ya hats and ruin the seriousness of the occasion. We held back until the reception but then it was a Ya ya day and everyone thoroughly enjoyed themselves. Sue, throwing caution to the wind, quickly produced a highly decorated Ya ya hat of her own. Sisters indeed!
Shirley A. Roe
It has been years since that day but the memory is fresh and clear in my mind as if it were yesterday. I don’t know if it was the feeling of absolute oneness with another human being that I felt at that particular moment, or my sympathy for my friend’s pain, that keeps the thought close but I will never forget that moment.
Friends, people that reach out and engrain themselves deep into your heart until they are a part of who you are, a part of your soul. That feeling is rare and precious and it is forever.
It started out as a weekly get together; a time when three friends could get together to laugh or cry; a time to help her forget her grief, if even for a few hours. But it grew into much more than that, it was something to look forward to, something special and wonderful. Our number soon grew from two to four and we became the Ya- ya girls. The name adopted from a movie we watched during one of our weekly get togethers. A movie about friendship and four wild and crazy women who loved and cared for each other. From that day on we called ourselves the Ya ya girls and even made silly hats as a sort of initiation. Each hat was decorated with memorabilia of our excursions, plus several tacky items just for fun. We looked ridiculous but we felt wonderful. We belonged.
Let me introduce the Ya ya girls. First, my name is Shirley, I am a writer and this is my story. Second we have Jean, our young widow, next is Carol the kindest, gentlest woman you ever wanted to know and fourth but not least Carol’s sister, the feisty, often outspoken Barbara. Our fifth and honorary Ya ya is Sue, Jean’s sister. Sue lives quite a distance from us but joins us whenever she is in town.
As I said, it all began with Carol and I trying to keep Jean distracted, but the four of us soon blended and merged into a tight group.
Sue joined the group the day we drank bottles of Boone’s Farm Wine and all giggled and laughed until we cried. We are not sure if it was the wine or the company, but she was made an honorary member and the laughing continues still.
I remember the day we took Carol to the hospital with dizzy spells, the rest of us paced the waiting room filled with worry and concern for our dear friend. We chatted and joked to distract ourselves but our thoughts remained in the emergency room with Carol. No family was closer. Fortunately, some medication and a few doctor’s visits put our friend back in the fold. We drove her crazy with our fussing but she put up with it because she knew we cared.
Jean met a wonderful gentleman a few years later and many humorous get-togethers were spent discussing his assets and liabilities. Finally she married him with all of the Ya ya’s in attendance. Sue, who planned the wedding very carefully, was most concerned that we would show up wearing our Ya ya hats and ruin the seriousness of the occasion. We held back until the reception but then it was a Ya ya day and everyone thoroughly enjoyed themselves. Sue, throwing caution to the wind, quickly produced a highly decorated Ya ya hat of her own. Sisters indeed!
Shirley A. Roe
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